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Xi's Southeast Asia visit deepens shared commitment to neighborhood amity, cooperation

Xinhua) 09:21, April 19, 2025

Chinese President Xi Jinping greets the welcoming crowd during a grand welcome ceremony held by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

* Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations.

* A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

* Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia visit, his first overseas trip this year, highlighted China's dedication to deepening traditional ties, expanding practical cooperation and advancing its vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighbors.

The tour, which took him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, also signaled China's renewed push to reinforce regional stability and prosperity, and its determined support for regional economic integration as global protectionism and unilateralism continue to mount.

CLOSER COMMUNITY

Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. He also underscored the importance of building a community with a shared future grounded in mutual respect, win-win cooperation and shared development.

In a signed article published ahead of his state visit to Vietnam, he stressed that China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, which is guided by the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China's commitment to pursuing the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors.

In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said.

In Vietnam, Xi said that building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

In Malaysia, Xi said that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

In Cambodia, Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism.

China's development has benefited not only itself but also many other countries, including Malaysia, said Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC), noting that the vision of a community with a shared future -- "sharing weal and woe" -- has won widespread support.

"As long as we uphold equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust, we will surely walk hand in hand even further on the journey ahead," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the deeply-rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, setting an example for South-South cooperation.

GREATER CONNECTIVITY

A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

In Vietnam, Xi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly witness the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

"Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers," said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In a joint statement on deepening bilateral ties and practical cooperation issued during Xi's visit, China said it is ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam.

Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can boost bilateral trade while enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

In Xi's state visit to Malaysia, the two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity.

Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

MAKING REAL DIFFERENCE

During his visit to Cambodia, Xi said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities.

Over the years, key BRI projects in Cambodia have yielded tangible benefits for local people. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has become a thriving industrial hub, attracting more than 200 international enterprises and institutions while creating 32,000 jobs.

The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway, has cut travel time between the two cities from over five hours to under two, significantly enhancing connectivity. Meanwhile, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has given a strong boost to the tourism sector, operating 17 routes by the end of last year.

"The future of Cambodia-China relations is bright and full of potential," said Mengdavid from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. "With the continued efforts of both countries' leaders, we can expect an even more dynamic, mutually beneficial and resilient partnership that will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond."

In Malaysia, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering a wide range of projects, which are taking root in Malaysia and making a difference for local people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Such projects have not only promoted technology transfer and created numerous jobs, but also helped uplift regions that were previously less developed, which truly reflects the BRI's vision -- always putting people's well-being first, said Majid, the PPMC president and a former Malaysian ambassador to China.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Gerber has issued a second nationwide recall of its edible teething sticks after discovering the products were still available for purchase on store shelves.

The well-known baby company initially recalled and discontinued its 'Sooth N Chew' teething sticks on January 31.

The first recall was sent out after the company received customer complaints about choking, including one incident that led to an emergency room visit.

However, Gerber issued a second recall on Friday after recent reports revealed that the products were still being sold on some retailers' shelves and online, according to the FDA.

'We have been working with the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) on this recall and will cooperate with them fully,' the company said in the press release.

'Again, we sincerely apologize for any concern or inconvenience this action represents to parents, caregivers and retail customers.'

The popular edible teething sticks are meant to ease teething pain and are marketed to parents and guardians of children six months and older.

They come in strawberry-apple and banana flavors.

Gerber has issued a second nationwide recall of its edible teething sticks after discovering the products were still available for purchase on store shelves and online

The well-known baby company initially recalled and discontinued its 'Sooth N Chew' teething sticks on January 31 after receiving customer complaints about choking, including one incident that led to an emergency room visit

The popular product is meant to ease teething pain and are marketed to parents and guardians of children six months and older

The recall includes all lot codes of the following products:

Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks  Strawberry Apple (3.2oz)  UPC: 0 15000 04618 7

Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks  Banana (3.2oz)  UPC: 0 15000 04608 8

Soothe N Chew Teething Sticks  Banana (1.59oz)  UPC: 0 15000 01015 7

The recalled products were sold online nationwide, as well as to physical retailers in Puerto Rico and across 45 states - excluding Alaska, New Mexico, North Dakota, West Virginia and Wyoming.

Consumers are still advised not to feed the recalled products to their infants or young children, Gerber warned.

Those who bought the teething sticks should return them to stores where they were purchased for a full refund.

Gerber advised consumers who still spot the recalled products on shelves to avoid purchasing them.

Parents and caregivers with questions can contact Gerbers 24/7 support line at 1-800-4-GERBER (1-800-443-7237).

Anyone concerned about an injury or illness related to this recall should contact their family's healthcare provider.
With Donald Trump's tariffs on all imports and the skyrocketing cost of cocoa, this Easter is shaping up to be the most expensive one yet for chocolate candy lovers.

Every year, Americans spend billions on sweet treats during the 'big four' candy seasons - Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays - with Easter alone bringing in a whopping $5.4 billion in candy sales last year, according to the National Confectioners Association.

However, this Easter looks quite different, thanks to the soaring cocoa prices.

And with Trump's controversial global tariff plan, traditional treats like chocolate bunnies and bars tucked into hidden eggs may be harder for Americans to afford.

'If you know you're going to grill this weekend and chicken prices are high, maybe you're more likely to make hamburgers or pork chops rather than chicken breasts,' Joseph Balagtas, professor of agricultural economics, told The Guardian.

'But chocolate-chip cookies without chocolate chips are a little tough.'

Over the last year, the price of chocolate candy specifically has surged, largely due to a poor climate and bean disease in West Africa, which is home to 70 percent of global cocoa production.

Experts estimate the cocoa shortage to be more than 400,000 tons, leading to rising cocoa prices across the globe, The Guardian reported.

With Donald Trump's controversial tariffs on all imports and the skyrocketing cost of cocoa, traditional treats like chocolate bunnies and bars tucked into hidden eggs may be harder for Americans to afford this Easter

Every year, Americans spend billions on sweet treats during the 'big four' candy seasons - Valentine's Day, Easter, Halloween and the winter holidays - with Easter alone bringing in a whopping $5.4 billion in candy sales last year

Over the last year, the price of chocolate candy specifically has surged, largely due to a poor climate and bean disease in West Africa , which is home to 70 percent of global cocoa production

For decades, cocoa cost around $2,000 per ton, but in 2024, that number peaked at over $12,000 - leading to massive companies, including Hershey, having to raise their prices while also struggling to keep up with consumer demand.

Earlier this month, Trump unveiled a new round of tariffs starting at a baseline of 10 percent, upending industries including beauty products, supermarket goods and even sex toys.

With his aggressive tariff policies now in effect, chocolate prices are expected to climb even higher than they are now, The Guardian reported.

Though economists aren't positive how the new tariffs will play out in the end, the Yale Budget Lab estimated that they could cost the average American household nearly $4,000 a year, with prices rising three percent across all goods - including chocolate products.

When Trump announced the latest round of reciprocal tariffs in early April, he had a clear message for companies across the US: 'If you want your tariff rate to be zero, then you build your product right here in America'.

However, that is simply not possible for the chocolate business.

The cocoa plant, essential for making chocolate candy, only grows in tropical climates, and the US just has two - Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Therefore, nearly all the cocoa used to make American chocolate is internationally imported.

'The United States produces, I'm going to generously say, 100 tons of cocoa a year,' Greg D'Alesandre, co-owner and chocolate 'sourcerer' for Dandelion Chocolate in California, told The Guardian.

Earlier this month, Trump unveiled a new round of tariffs starting at a baseline of 10 percent, upending industries including beauty products, supermarket goods and even sex toys

Economists estimate that the tariffs could cost the average American household nearly $4,000 a year, with prices rising three percent across all goods - including chocolate products

Chocolate makers, both big and small, are now feeling the pressure of the tariffs, as they are not only paying more for cocoa, but are also dealing with rising costs of packaging and shipping

'We use about 120 tons of cocoa a year, and Dandelion is considered a very, very small chocolate maker,' he added.

'There's no chance that the US can make all the cocoa that we actually need.'

Chocolate makers, both big and small, are now feeling the pressure of the tariffs, as they are not only paying more for cocoa, but are also dealing with rising costs of packaging and shipping.

'I'm more concerned about packaging prices,' Oliver Holecek, owner of Primo Chocolate in New York, told The Guardian.

'Most paper manufacturing happens in China, and there's just really not a lot of great resources in the US yet.'

Trump's tariffs could also drive up shipping costs, particularly if American ports become clogged as they attempt to collectively navigate this 'new normal'.

Now, for smaller chocolate businesses with far fewer resources than major manufacturers, the future of success is becoming increasingly uncertain and unpredictable.

'I've known three chocolate makers that have gone out of business over the last three years because there's too much turmoil in pricing,' D'Alesandre told The Guardian.

'It's very difficult to make a plan for it... we're doing our best to make plans, but a lot of it is wait and see.'

The cocoa plant, essential for making chocolate candy, only grows in tropical climates, and the US just has two - Hawaii and Puerto Rico. Therefore, nearly all the cocoa used to make American chocolate is internationally imported

Some of the items that are expected to become more expensive in the near future thanks to the global tariffs include: Ray Bans, Botox, sex toys, Nespresso, Oura Rings, hospital beds and Birkenstocks

Trump has appeared unmoved by the chaos he enacted on global markets, explaining that he viewed the nation as a patient needing emergency surgery.

'It was an operation. Like when a patient gets operated on and it's a big thing. I said this would exactly be the way it is,' the president told reporters on the South Lawn of the White House earlier this month.
Walmart is accelerating its push to dominate another area of retail  gas stations.

The company plans to open 40 to 45 fuel station convenience stores next to its main stores this year  more than double last years count  and keep up that pace for the next five years.

The expansion will bring Walmarts total to around 460 fuel station locations by the end of the year. The retailer opened its first one back in 2014.

Walmart is not just building more. It increasing existing store sizes and reworking layouts to attract more customers.

Bosses reckon the stores not only encourage impulse buys like snacks and drinks but also help drive more traffic to Walmart's main stores.

But Walmart execs say prices wont change. The new stores will continue offering the same prices on snacks and drinks as the main stores.

'Studies have shown that fuel stations at retailers will bring more people inside the bigger store, but Walmart also incorporates its grocery pickup with fuel trips for added convenience,' retail consultant Scott Benedict told Talk Business & Politics.

'On top of fuel stations, the convenience store allows for more impulse buys from tobacco, to fountain drinks or lottery tickets that Walmart might not get otherwise.'

Walmart announced its plans to expand the size of over 45 fuel stations and convenience stores this year

Walmart's convenience store and fuel station number will rise to more than 450 following the new builds

Meanwhile, Walmart has been in the news this week after it emerged it is rolling out a new creepy AI-powered checkout at Sam's Club, its warehouse based rival to Costco.

As part of the move, all self-checkouts are being removed from Sam's Club's 600 stores.

Walmart had been operating gas stations since the 1990s, initially through a partnership with Murphy USA.

They later began testing several convenience-store-type concepts and opened its first location in Arkansas in 2014. It later opened other locations in Texas and began testing out an online order pickup option in Colorado.

The expansion will mean the stores and fuel stations are located across 34 states.

'We're continuing to invest in our nationwide physical store footprint,' said Dave DeSerio, VP of fuel and convenience at Walmart.

'By adding fuel and convenience stations this year, we are bringing even more value to our customers.'

Members of the Walmart+ loyalty program can save up to $0.10 per gallon at any fuel station, along with other participating retailers.

Multiple retailers include fuel stations and gas pumps at select locations.

Sam's Club has become a popular option for shoppers.

Walmart is implementing a five-year strategy in order to increase the amount of fuel stations and convenience stores

Kroger grocery store chain operates over 1,000 gas stations in 16 states throughout the US.

Pumping gas at a fuel station is also a perk for Costco members at many of its locations.

Costco is looking to also increase the number of gas stations by 60, and even changed the hours of its existing ones to make them open longer.

'Generally, our stations are now staying open an hour later than they did previously with some opening earlier as well,' said Costco CEO Ron Vachris.

The company is implementing a five-year strategy for store and gas station growth, with this year being being one of the most crucial.

'I would call this year one of a pretty aggressive growth strategy,' DeSerio told Modern Retail.

'I want to stair-step it so that we don't sprint while we're still learning how to run, and I think it's really important. I want to do it right.'

Daily Mail has reached out to Walmart for comment regarding the fuel station and convenience store expansion.

Meanwhile, Walmart has been in the news this week after it emerged it is rolling out a new creepy AI-powered checkout at Sam's Club, its warehouse based rival to Costco.

As part of the move, all self-checkouts are being removed from Sam's Club's 600 stores.
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Comrades! We have stopped one person from entering the UK. This person is a nasty anti-illegal immigration intellectual from France.

The Peoples Republic of Soviet Britain will not tolerate anti-immigration intellectuals from other countries like France into our country, but everyone else, including terrorists, drug dealers, dangerous criminals, rapists, Islamists, and the entire Third World are welcomed.

The French anti-migration philosopher has been banned from entering Soviet Britain.

Renaud Camus, the French novelist, has been barred from travelling to the United Kingdom to speak on immigration later this month.

Remember, having an opinion or free speech is not allowed in the PRSB.

INGSOC NOTICE 0009238293-1002992993987-0926720065776873-0912-Z

REGINALD BUNGLEFENSTER, 23, OF 10 POL POTTY ROAD, EAST CROYDON, SECTOR 21, ENGLAND, HAS BEEN AWARDED TWO PACKETS OF USED CONDOMS, ONE ROLL OF USED TOILET PAPER AND 3 MINUTES NET ZERO CREDIT ON HIS SMART METER FOR REPORTING HIS ENTIRE VILLAGE WHEN THEY COMPLAINED AFTER THE SOVIET BIG STATE BUSSED IN THOUSANDS OF FAKE ASYLUM SEEKERS IN TO THE VILLAGE. THE ENTIRE VILLAGE CONSISTING OF 324 PEOPLE, 128 DOGS, AND 493 CATS WILL BE LIQUIDATED ON SATURDAY. REMEMBER COMRADES, LOOK, LISTEN, REPORT!
The Peoples Republic of Soviet Britains, chief Peoples Collectivist Taxation Officer, Commissar Reeves, has outlined why it is important for Soviet Britain to merge closely with our Soviet comrades in China.

SOLIDARITY WITH OUR COMMUNIST CHINESE COMRADES

We have seen this disgusting and vile Donald Trump display by the imperialistic capitalist jackals of the United States trying to alienate and damage our Chinese communist comrades with his tariffs. Soviet Britain is not aligned with Trump, who is inanely trying to stop the CCP and PLA increasing their military power to liberate the globe from whats left of democracy.

When I made my trip to China to meet my handlers, they were very nice to me. China will be our liberators, they will come and bring peace by crushing the USA and others who stand in their way.

We therefore find only solidarity with our CCP comrades, because when they do attack, Britain will simply hand everything that is left of our country after years of Labour rule, which will probably not be much.

There is no threat to the Soviet UK. I can freely drive a Chinese electric vehicle, knowing that it is spying on me and sending data straight to Beijing. This is perfectly fine, because were spying on every action in the UK as well, so one way or another, I know I am in safe hands and this is for the security of myself and others that I am watched all the time.

When the Chinese attack, America will be defeated, and we will cheer this on, thanking our Chinese comrades for their bravery in defeating the imperialistic parasite, the United States of America.

FUCK TRUMP

Later on in the day, Commissar Reeves was asked about a possible trade deal with the USA and Soviet Britain.

Fuck the American hyenas, coyotes and their trade deal. We do not deal with fascist, Nazi scum like Donald Trump and his eyelinered sidekick J.D. Vance. Fuck them! We are with China! Not the American peasant rats.

INGSOC NOTICE 0007776493-653292993987-096665450065776873-0002-F65

PETER MONKFRIT, 7, OF 32 MAO MAO ROAD, DUNCHURCH, SECTOR 13, ENGLAND, HAS BEEN AWARDED A CARTON OF NET ZERO JUICE FOR REPORTING HIS ENTIRE CLASS WHEN THEY MADE CHING CHONG SOUNDS DURING A SCHOOL PRESENTATION OF THE PEOPLES LIBERATION ARMY. THE ENTIRE CLASS IS SCHEDULED FOR LIQUIDATION ON SUNDAY, AND THANKS TO COMMISSAR MILIBANDS NET ZERO JUICE INITIATIVE, THEY WILL BE PROCESSED AFTER LIQUIDATION. REMEMBER COMRADES, LOOK, LISTEN, REPORT!
A Lifford-based priest charged with attempted sexual communication with a child has been remanded in custody.



Fr Edward Gallagher appeared before a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court, sitting at Dungannon Magistrates Court on Saturday morning.

Gallagher, a 58-year-old with an address at Orchard Park, Lifford, appeared via video link from a custody suite at the Waterside PSNI station.



Gallagher is the curate for the Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick parishes, which include St Patricks Church in Murlog, Lifford, where he is the regular celebrant.



He is charged that on dates between April 2, 2025 and April 17, 2025 that he attempted sexual communication with a child.



Gallagher spoke only to confirm his date of birth and to say I do when asked if he understood the charge against him.



A PSNI constable told Judge Steven Keown that he could connect the accused to the charge.



Barrister for Gallagher, Mr Stephen Chapman BL, instructed by McGeady Molloy Solicitors, said there was no bail application and asked that the court remand his client until May 1.



Mr Chapman said: At the moment, there is an issue over addresses. We are in conversation with the police about that and there may be a resolution to that in the next 10 days.



Mr Chapman indicated there will be no bail application on the next date.



He said Gallagher was only in receipt of modest stipends and applied for legal aid.



Legal aid for this appearance was granted and Gallagher was remanded in custody to appear before Derry Magistrates Court on May 1.



Born in Brooklyn 1966, Gallagher spent the first part of his life in New York before the family relocated to Derry in 1977.



He attended St Columbs College in Derry, later entering the seminary at Maynooth. He was ordained a priest in June, 1994 and he first served in the Holy Family parish in Ballymagroarty.



Gallagher spent five years as a missionary priest in Belize and had spells in Cappagh and Limavady before serving for two years as the administrator of the Long Tower parish in Derry.



For seven years, he was the parish priest in Greencastle, Co Tyrone until 2022 when he was appointed as PP of Moville - a role he had until his relocation last year.
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Derry priest Fr Edward Gallagher, who is charged with attempted sexual communication with a child, has been suspended from ministry.

Gallagher was this morning remanded in custody when he appeared before Derry Magistrates Court, sitting in Dungannon.

Last year, he was appointed as curate for the Camus, Clonleigh and Leckpatrick parishes, which include St Patricks Church in Murlog, Lifford.

However, the Diocese of Derry has confirmed to Donegal Live that the 58-year-old cleric has been suspended.

The diocese takes such matters very seriously and as such has, in addition, commenced its own internal investigation, which will only take place in a manner which does not impede the criminal investigation, a spokesperson for the diocese said.

Fr Gallagher is suspended from ministry.

As charges are now before a court, it would not be appropriate for the diocese to comment further until the completion of the criminal proceedings.

Gallagher was not in his clerical clothing and wore a grey tracksuit when he appeared via video link from the Waterside Police Station.

He is charged that on dates between April 2, 2025 and April 17, 2025 that he attempted sexual communication with a child.

Gallagher spoke only to confirm his date of birth and to say I do when asked if he understood the charge against him.

The diocese spokesperson added: If anyone has any allegations or concerns regarding child abuse, they should contact the PSNI and Social Services in Northern Ireland, or An Garda Siochana and Tusla in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition, contact for diocesan safeguarding can be found on the diocesan website (derrydiocese.org) or on posters in churches within the diocese.

A PSNI constable told Judge Steven Keown that he could connect the accused to the charge.

Barrister for Gallagher, Mr Stephen Chapman BL, instructed by McGeady Molloy Solicitors, said there was no bail application and asked that the court remand his client until May 1.

Mr Chapman said: At the moment, there is an issue over addresses. We are in conversation with the police about that and there may be a resolution to that in the next 10 days.

Mr Chapman indicated there will be no bail application on the next date.

He said Gallagher was only in receipt of modest stipends which would now obviously cease due to the nature of the charge and applied for legal aid.

Legal aid for this appearance was granted and Gallagher was remanded in custody to appear before Derry Magistrates Court on May 1.
Urgent action has been called for to tackle what a trade union has termed the growing workload crisis for teachers in Northern Ireland.

The Nasuwt has contended that teachers are working beyond their contracted hours and placing their mental health in jeopardy.

Union members are set to introduce a motion to this effect at their annual conference in Liverpool.

The motion praises the Think1265 campaign, which highlights information to teachers and school leaders about their contractual rights, as pivotal in exposing workload breaches and empowering educators to reclaim their work-life balance.

It also called for bold and clear measures, including inspection bodies prioritising teacher health and wellbeing, mandated meetings between inspection teams and Nasuwt representatives and stronger accountability mechanisms for schools that breach contractual agreements.

Nasuwt general secretary Patrick Roach said schools and governments must act to alleviate pressures on teachers.

Teachers in Northern Ireland are working beyond their contracted hours, facing burnout and mental health challenges, while receiving little to no meaningful support, he said.

Schools and governments must act now to alleviate these pressures before the profession becomes unsustainable.

Tackling teacher workload is not optional  it is an urgent imperative to secure the future of education.

National official for Northern Ireland Justin McCamphill said workload crisis is having an immediate and harmful impact on teachers health and wellbeing.

This is not just a matter of contracts  it is a matter of humanity, he said.

Teachers deserve to work in conditions where their mental health and personal lives are respected. The time for change is now.

Responding, a Department of Education spokesperson said Minister Paul Givan wants to ensure that teachers have the time and space to focus on what matters most  teaching, learning and supporting pupils in the classroom.

That is why he listened to concerns from trade unions and is in the process of establishing an Independent Review Panel, which will examine all aspects of teachers workload, they said.

The three-member panel, comprising an independent chair, a member nominated by the unions and a member nominated by management side will examine workload and report to the minister by the end of November.

In addition, a suite of measures to address workload concerns has been agreed with teaching trade unions and will now be progressed.
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The ship has sailed for water charges or privatisation of supply, but myriad problems remain with the quality and nature of water provision in Louth, the Dail has been told.

Louth Sinn Fein TD Ruairi O Murchu used some of his Leinster House speaking time last week to highlight the impact that years of what he said was underinvestment in water infrastructure is having on Dundalk and North Louth.

He said there is already an impact of residential and industrial development in Dundalk, with large companies having to develop their own capacity and water infrastructure and Louth County Council is engaging with Uisce Eireann about it.

There are also problems with wastewater systems in the Dundalk South area. Deputy O Murchu said: Recently, an Bord Pleanala refused to give permission for a development of 500 houses on the basis of the insufficient capacity.

As the Minister of State is aware, in the Haggardstown area, temporary initial water treatment systems are being installed.

It is a significant issue in the sense that it could lead to added costs for housing if developers have to pay for such systems. These are issues that need to be addressed.

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And he highlighted the flooding in parts of the Cooley peninsula and the near-flood events in Dundalk at the end of 2023, due to deficiencies in the wastewater system.

He said: This is an issue that requires to be addressed. I have raised the issue here previously in regard to Hackballscross during Storm Eowyn. It took days and weeks to deal with the issue. It always happens when the electricity is cut off that there is a logjam in the system and that must be addressed.

I have spoken many times about the brown water in Dundalk, which relates to manganese. There is a pilot scheme, and I am told there has been progress in terms of finding a solution.

I was told that this would happen in 2026. We must make sure that happens. We must also ensure that better communication takes place.
Victims of disgraced surgeon and paedophile Michael Shine have met the Taoiseach as part of their bid to have a Commission of Investigation into alleged sexual abuses.

The group has urged Micheal Martin to authorise a public inquiry into alleged sexual abuses by Shine, aged 93, who was convicted of assaulting nine boys at two trials in 2017 and 2019.

The group, Dignity4Patients, is calling for a public inquiry to probe claims that authorities knew about the decades of abuse that happened at a hospital in Co Louth and at Shines private practice and failed to prevent it.

He had worked as a senior registrar at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital in Drogheda from 1964 to 1995.

Many of the survivors claim that the Medical Missionaries of Mary religious order, which was in charge of the hospital, was aware of the alleged abuse for years.

More than 200 victims have settled civil actions against the Medical Missionaries of Mary.

The victims met with Mr Martin at his office in Dublin, where they spoke of the abuse they suffered as young boys and teenagers.

Peter OConnor, who was originally from Dundalk, was allegedly abused by Shine in 1975 after undergoing an operation as a teenager.

I was a teenager, and I knew what had happened was wrong, he said.

I was very innocent then and I suffered a lot of jokes from people, about being one of Shines boys. The dogs on the street knew he was abusing boys.

Mr OConnor said he became a heavy drinker and only stopped drinking alcohol in recent years.

He is sceptical that the state will agree to a public inquiry.

I never had any form of help whatsoever from the state, he said.

The meeting with the Taoiseach went pretty much as I expected, a lot of airy talk.

If theres a Commission of Inquiry, Id be really surprised.

The dogs in the street knew what he was doing. It wasnt a world that I was aware of. I was really, really innocent and we had such a huge respect for doctors and Shine was many, many levels above that again.

Larry Torris, who lives in Dundalk, was a 10-year-old when he was allegedly abused by Shine in 1994.

It was during hospital treatment in 2022 that he discovered he was a former patient of Shine, and began having flashbacks while undergoing treatment a year later.

I have panic attacks and have been diagnosed with PTSD. I was only 10 when it happened, he said.

I slowly came to understand why I always had darkness over me and didnt particularly know who I was.

The first instance of Mr Shine happened in 1964, for me it was 1994, 30 years after it first happened.

How is it possible this can happen over a long period of time by one individual?

Ian Armstrong, from Drogheda but who was living in Meath at the time he was abused, attended hospital for treatment to a hand injury when he was around the age of 18.

He said: Mr Shine was the best surgeon around and he performed surgery on my hand. I had appointments with him after that and he seriously abused me.

I havent felt the same since. I am broken. I couldnt understand why he was doing a full body check at the appointment.

I knew what he was doing was wrong. I cant get out of my head what happened. It happened to so many of us.

We just want a Commission of Investigation. Time doesnt matter. Its healing in the head and its good to be listened to.

Cianan Murray, from Duleek, was the first survivor to go public about his abuse in 2009.

He was aged 16 when he was abused after he received treatment for a cut to his eye at the hospital.

I was abused in 1972 and gave a statement to the guards in 1995. They never came back to me and in 2009 I got on to the guards again. I said, whatever happened to my statement? They said, we couldnt find your records, they went missing in the hospital, so were not pursuing your case and you anymore, Mr Murray said.

He is Europes most prolific paedophile. Jimmy Savile had 300 victims. Theres a French surgeon (Joel Le Scouarnec) on trial who had 300 victims. At the moment, Shine has 366 victims.

We need to find out how could this have happened, and please, God, make sure it never happens again.

Id like the truth to come out because so many people have been involved in covering this up.

He had 360 victims and nobody said nothing. Since 1995 Ive been on depression and sleeping tablets.

What Shine did has been an open secret.

Gerard Murray was aged four when he was allegedly raped by Shine.

He attended hospital as a child for a hernia operation.

He sexually abused me and I can still remember his breath whispering over my shoulder as he was raping me, he said.

I cant really put into words how it affects me, but I grew up with a sense of shame, guilt, feeling unsafe and had an overpowering sense of self hatred.

I became addicted to alcohol and drugs and became homeless and attempted suicide. My life was destroyed.

Were looking for a Commission of Investigation because people knew Michael Shine was sexually abusing children and young boys, yet was never stopped.

It happened over decades. Im 26 years clean and sober, thats despite the state. Ive been failed by every institution in this country.

The Taoiseach didnt say yes but didnt say no either, and we need some form of accountability, truth and justice.

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Adrienne Reilly, CEO of Dignity for Patients, said they remain cautiously optimistic that Mr Martin will agree to a public inquiry.

We feel that he listened and heard what we said, and in particular, we made it known to him that we have expertise about inquiry models, Ms Reilly said.

Were not starting from zero. Were an organisation that comes with 50% of the work already done.

Weve done a lot of deep thinking and had extensive discussions with the group about an inquiry model and what that may look like, how long it would take, where money should come from, costings and all the things that are a concern to the government.

We made that very clear to the Taoiseach today and I think he really heard us on that front.

A spokesperson for Mr Martin said: The Taoiseach welcomed the opportunity to meet with members of Dignity4Patients today.

The accounts of the abuse so many people suffered over the years were truly harrowing and enormous in scale.

The Taoiseach thanked them for telling their stories. They discussed the need for answers, and the best ways to achieve those answers.

The groups said they plan to meet with the Minister for Health and the Taoiseach agreed to reflect on the issues raised in todays meeting and to continue to engage.
There were just four homes available to rent in Dundalk, within either the standard or the discretionary rate of the Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) Scheme, over the three dates surveyed in March for the latest Simon Communities of Irelands quarterly Locked Out of the Market report.

The report found 1,119 properties were available to rent at any price within the 16 areas surveyed in Ireland over the three dates surveyed, including 17 in Dundalk, a drop of six compared to the last report. .

The Housing Assistance Payment (HAP) is a social housing support for people who have a long-term housing need and is provided by the local authority.

One of the HAP properties available to rent in Dundalk during the three days of the survey was a property for a couple/one parent household with two children through a standard HAP rate.

There were three properties available under a discretionary HAP rate for Couple/One Parent + 2 Children households, a facility available to local authorities to pay an uplift of 35% on HAP rates.

An average of 16 properties were available to rent in Dundalk each day during the study period. Monthly rents ranged from 1,000-1,395 for onebedrooms, 1,300-2,500 for two bedrooms, and 1,400-2,300 for three bedrooms. According to Daft.ies Rental Price Report, the average rent in Louth has increased by 5.3% since last year and now sits at 1,791.

Nationally, the report found just 41 properties available within standard or discretionary HAP limits across the 16 study areas.

31 (76%) of the 41 properties available through HAP were in Dublin. In Dublin, the discretionary rate allows up to an additional 50% on the standard rate; this is limited to 35% elsewhere in the country.

In 10 out of the 16 study areas there were no properties available to rent through HAP in any household category. These include Athlone, Cork City Centre, Cork City Suburbs, Galway City Centre, Co. Leitrim, Limerick City Suburbs, Limerick City Centre, Sligo Town, Portlaoise, and Waterford City Centre.

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Ber Grogan, Executive Director at the Simon Communities of Ireland, said:

The findings from the latest Locked Out of the Market report continue to highlight the deepening crisis in Irelands private rental sector, particularly for people on low incomes who rely on HAP supports.

With most of the properties concentrated in Dublin, the vast majority of the country remains effectively locked out of the rental market. In 10 of the 16 areas surveyed, there were no properties available within HAP limits at all. That is not a housing system thats working for those most in need.

Outside of Dublin, HAP tenants face an uphill struggle with little to no access to suitable or affordable homes, with discretionary limits proving insufficient to meet current rental prices. This leaves families and individuals with impossible choices: remain in emergency accommodation, face prolonged experiences of homelessness, or take on unaffordable rents in an unstable private rental market.

We urgently need increased supply of affordable and secure housing. Targeted action is required now, to prevent further homelessness and ensure people can access and sustain a home. It beggars belief to think that Rent Pressure Zones (RPZs) could be scrapped at the end of this year. Were asking the Minister to extend this legislation for at least one year to give people some certainty while alternatives are being discussed.
The median house price for houses sold with the Dundalk Eircode A91 in February 2025 was 329,999, according to figures released by the CSO (Central Statistics Office) in their Residential Property Price Index report.

The county wide median house price for Louth now stands at 330,000.

Of the 46 houses sold in Dundalk in February, 21 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 21 to former owner-occupiers and 4 were to non occupiers.

Twenty-eight of these houses were existing builds while eighteen were new homes.

The median price of the new houses sold was 372,500 and the median price of existing houses sold in February was 274,000.

In Drogheda, the median price of residential properties sold in A92: Drogheda in February 2025, was 357,000.

Of the 91 houses sold in Drogheda in February, 42 were to first time buyer owner-occupiers; 42 to former owner-occupiers and 7 were to non occupiers.

Thirty-one of the houses sold were new houses and sixty were existing. The median price for the new houses sold was 374,999 while for existing houses it was 381,500.

Commenting on the national numbers, Niall Corkery, Statistician in the Prices Division of the CSO, said: Residential property prices rose by 8.0% in the 12 months to February 2025, down from 8.2% in the year to January 2025. In Dublin, residential property prices saw an increase of 7.1%, while property prices outside Dublin were 8.7% higher in February 2025 when compared with a year earlier.

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In the 12 months to February 2025, house prices in Dublin rose by 7.7% while apartment prices increased by 5.3%. The highest house price growth in Dublin was in Fingal at 9.0% while both Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown and South Dublin saw a rise of 7.2%.

Outside Dublin, house prices were up by 9.0% and apartment prices rose by 4.9%. The region outside of Dublin that saw the largest growth in house prices was the Border (Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan, and Sligo) at 13.4%, while at the other end of the scale, the Mid-East (Kildare, Louth, Meath, and Wicklow) saw a 5.8% rise.

Households paid a median or mid-point price of 360,000 for a residential property in the 12 months to February 2025. The highest median price paid for a dwelling was 670,000 in Dun Laoghaire-Rathdown, while the lowest was 185,000 in Leitrim.

The most expensive Eircode area over the 12 months to February 2025 was A94 'Blackrock' with a median price of 747,750, while F45 'Castlerea' had the least expensive price of 148,000.
The case of a north Louth family whose daughter was recommended for invasive hip surgery at Childrens Health Ireland that did not go ahead after the parents sought a second opinion has been raised in the Dail by Sinn Fein.

The parents of the girl told Deputy Ruairi O Murchu how they were stunned when a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in the North said that that not only did their daughter not need the surgery, he was shocked that any doctor would have recommended it.

The case was raised in the Dail on Thursday by Sinn Fein deputy leader Pearse Doherty TD during leaders questions which focused on the fallout from the reviews of scoliosis and other surgeries at Childrens Health Ireland hospitals.

Deputy O Murchu said the family had contacted him after reading about the Childrens Health Ireland review and outlined how their daughter, who was a patient at the hospital from 2016 when she was 14 months old until she was just past three, had been diagnosed with hip dysplasia.

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The Louth TD said: "The consultant was adamant that surgery, which would have required sawing into her hip bone and reshaping the socket was needed. This is despite the fact that the child had not shown any symptoms, and, because of this, the parents sought a second opinion from a specialist in the North in 2019.

"Not only did the consultant say that the child did not need the surgery, she also didnt have hip dysplasia and the specialist was horrified that that a doctor had made such an error of judgement. This was a situation that spanned from 2016 to early 2019 and the parents have told me that they were under so much stress about the impending surgery that when they were told it was not needed, the relief was incredible."

He said the child is now involved in gymnastics and "that may not have been the case if this surgery had gone ahead". Deputy O Murchu said: It would have been extreme torture, and no-one would put their kids through that if it was not necessary. People put their trust in doctors, and, in this case, that has been shattered. There has been abject failure in this case and I suspect that it might be systemic.

He said that while there were around 560 children being reviewed by an independent expert for the years 2021-2023, "we need to ensure that all the cases are taken into account".
Its vital that pharmacies in Louth come on board to deliver the free HRT that women need, local Fine Gael TD Paula Butterly has said.

Deputy Butterly has said that she is calling on pharmacies across Louth to sign up to the HRT scheme, to ensure women receive the medication and healthcare they need and have been promised.

I am grateful to Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill for engaging with all stakeholders including the Irish Pharmacy Union. Implementing the free HRT scheme announced by her predecessor was always a priority for the Minister since she took office", Deputy Butterly commented.

Minister Carroll MacNeill is committed to supporting each participating community pharmacy by paying them a 5 dispensing fee per HRT medicine/product dispensed to all eligible patients, including those existing patients under the GMS/DPS Schemes and for all other patients prescribed HRT (private patients), and 1,000 once-off grant to every participating community pharmacy.

The symptoms women encounter during perimenopause and menopause are varied and womens lives can be hugely impacted. HRT is such an important medicinal regime for women and can positively improve their lives and make daily living much easier."

The local TD added: I would urge all pharmacies in Louth including those the Irish Pharmacy Union represent to engage with the scheme proposed by the Minister. Women need the support of their local trusted pharmacist when embarking on any medication and if any changes are needed during their treatment. I expect that they will contact their own pharmacies in their droves to ask that they be provided with the free medication they are now entitled to.

I would ask all pharmacies in Louth to join the scheme and to continue to deliver quality healthcare for their communities."
A burglary at an Apache Pizza outlet in Cork city was detected on CCTV and now the culprit has pleaded guilty to carrying out the crime.

Joe OSullivan, aged 39, of Cork Simon Community, indicated his plea of guilty at Cork District Court.

Sergeant John Dineen said the Director of Public Prosecutions directed summary jurisdiction and Judge Philip OLeary also accepted jurisdiction. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, indicated a plea of guilty.

Sergeant John Dineen said that the owner of Apache Pizza reported a burglary at his premises on Sheare St, Cork, on January 27.

CCTV was reviewed and a man could be seen pushing open the front door at approximately 4.30am.

The man then opened the till and took 350 in cash from it, before leaving at 5am.

Joe OSullivan was identified as the suspect. Minimal damage was reported to the property, Sgt Dineen said.

Mr Buttimer, the solicitor, said that the accused was pleading guilty to carrying out the burglary.

While Mr OSullivan was amenable to having the case finalised, the matter had to be put back to give the owner of the property an opportunity to make a victim impact statement, in case that arises.

Judge OLeary adjourned the matter until April 24.
Preparations are understood to be at an advanced stage for a planning application to develop hundreds of student apartments on the derelict site of a former Magdalene laundry and orphanage on Corks northside, which suffered its latest serious fire this week.

A property development firm is believed to be working on the final stages of a planning application for permission to build in excess of 250 units for student accommodation on the derelict eight-acre Good Shepherd Convent site.

If the proposed development receives planning permission, it is believed it would be the largest such single private development of student accommodation in the city, exceeding the capacity of the 623-bed Bottleworks development on Carrigrohane Rd.

The Good Shepherd site has been on Cork City Councils derelict sites register since 2019.

Moneda Developments, which is listed as the sites owners on the citys derelict sites register, was granted planning by An Bord Pleanala in 2018 for apartments on the site, but those plans were never progressed, and planning lapsed in December 2023.

Planning application

Now, another property development firm is understood to be weeks away from submitting a planning application for the site under the large-scale residential development process.

The news comes after the latest fire to occur on the site. The alarm was raised just before midnight on Wednesday, when neighbours witnessed a major blaze breaking out in the former Magdalene laundry section on the western end of the site.

Seven units of Cork Fire Brigade attended the fire, working past dawn on Thursday to bring it under control.

Seven units of Cork City Fire Brigade worked into the early hours of Thursday morning to bring under control a serious fire at the former Good Shepherd convent and Magdalene laundry in Sunday's Well. Picture: Donal O'Keeffe

During the fire, a section of the first floor collapsed, bringing down two heavy cast-iron baths, posing a danger to firefighters working below.

The latest incident is the most serious blaze at the site since a major fire in 2022 gutted the eastern block of the convent.

A garda forensics team carried out an examination of the scene on Thursday in an effort to establish the cause of the fire.

Criminal damage

Describing the blaze as an incident of criminal damage by fire, a garda source said investigations were ongoing.

There are 110 nuns buried on the site, and a vandalised stone cross on the western end of the site has the names of 30 women who were incarcerated in the Magdalene laundry and are believed to be buried in a mass grave.

However, some of the women named on the headstone are also listed as being buried at another graveyard in Cork.

The site is also the final resting place of Ellen Organ, a four-year-old child who has been venerated as Little Nellie of Holy God, the so-called unofficial patron saint of Cork since her death in the orphanage in 1908.

Local residents have repeatedly warned that security on the site needed to be increased lest a tragedy occur there.

Asked to comment, Cork City Council said it had placed the former convent on the derelict site register in 2019 and has applied the Derelict Site Act since then.

The site continues to incur annual derelict sites levies as per the legislation, a spokesperson said.

Cork City Council will continue to work with the owners through the planning process to facilitate the development of this large, complex and important site.
An emergency meeting of Cork City Council has been called to discuss the councils decision to cease a programme whereby it acquired properties that landlords planned to sell.

The tenant-in-situ scheme allows local authorities to purchase rental properties from landlords who are selling, ensuring that tenants facing possible eviction due to the sale could continue to rent from the authority.

A circular issued by the Department of Housing, Local Government, and Heritage on March 31 stated there would be a capital funding allocation of 20m for Cork city in 2025.

Insufficient

Alison ORourke, the director of the housing directorate, said the councils review of the circular, the programme parameters, conditions, and the allocation, indicated that the funding received will be insufficient to adequately cover current commitments from 2024 into 2025.

Ms ORourke added: The impact of funding will, unfortunately, mean that the 2025 acquisition programme is now ceased. We have determined that the allocated funding has been exhausted.

The council acquired 135 homes in 2024, among them 79 tenant-in-situ acquisitions. A further 33 homes were at the sale agreed stage at the end of the year.

Ms ORourke said the council was discussing the matter with the Department of Housing, and envisage that commitments will be honoured.

Reacting to the councils decision to cease the scheme, Sinn Fein city councillors, with the support of Workers Party councillor Ted Tynan, have convened an emergency special meeting of the council.

Councillor for the Cork city north west ward, Kenneth Collins, said the meeting is scheduled to take place on April 29.

Reverse the decision

It will give plenty of time to reverse the decision and save families from homelessness, he said.

We need to know what will happen to the 33 families who had thought their homes were sale agreed and had celebrated finally having permanent, secure housing.

A spokesperson for the Department of Housing told The Echo: It is the clear focus of the Government to increase the supply of new-build social and affordable homes. Increasing the overall housing supply is key to addressing the housing challenge and preventing, and ultimately eliminating, long-term homelessness.

The Government is also committed to the continuation of the second-hand social housing acquisitions programme and targeting those acquisitions at those most vulnerable.
District Court sittings should be retained in Youghal and not moved across the county bounds to Dungarvan, three East Cork councillors have suggested, in a motion that was discussed at this weeks meeting of Cork County Council.

According to the motion brought by Fianna Fails Anne Marie Ahern, Fine Gaels Michael Hegarty, and Independent councillor Mary Linehan Foley, the moving of court sittings which is proposed to go ahead in June would have a negative impact on current services and employment, and could leave the local Garda station closed for a number of days during each sitting.

Detrimental

Ms Ahern told the council that it would be detrimental to the area if the sittings were to be moved from their current location at the Mall House in the town.

Were looking forward to keeping the conviction rate in East Cork low, but the actual basis for the motion is the fact that theyre looking to move the court services from the Mall House in Youghal down to Dungarvan, she said.

It will actually cause Youghal Garda Station to close for possibly a minimum of two to three days a week where wed be left with no Garda presence in Youghal town which isnt acceptable.

Ms Ahern said that she would also like to add an invitation for justice minister Jim OCallaghan to come to the area to meet the three councillors proposing the motion, to discuss the matter further.

Opposed

Ms Linehan Foley recalled that something similar had been attempted in 2022, but that this had been opposed by the then Cork East TD Sean Sherlock, and the move did not happen at that time.

It must also be mentioned that people would have to travel, people on low incomes that wouldnt be able to travel to Dungarvan.

Youve family courts, circuit courts, all types of courts that are in the Youghal area for the Youghal people  we must not sit back on this.

Mr Hegarty said it would be very unfair to people who were involved or concerned to have to travel to Dungarvan.

Its crucial that this service is retained and maintained for the benefit of those that have to use it.

A number of other councillors contributed to the debate supporting the motion asking the council to write a letter to the Minister seeking this move to be stopped.

The motion was subsequently passed by the council.
A Cork TD has called on the housing minister to implement a programme for Government commitment to allow the first home scheme (FHS) to cover second-hand homes.

The FHS, which was launched in July 2022, is a shared equity scheme.

It was designed to help bridge the gap for eligible first-time buyers between their deposit and mortgage, and the price of their new home.

Under the scheme, the State will pay up to 30% of the market value of a home in return for a stake in the ownership of the property.

Scope

In April 2023, the scope of the scheme was extended to include the tenant home purchase scheme for renters who wished to buy their home from a landlord who had issued them with a notice of termination and has indicated a wish to sell.

In September of the same year, the FHS was also expanded to include self-builders who have a site but do not have the funding to complete the construction.

Responsibility for the operation and management of the FHS falls to the First Home Scheme Designated Activity Company, on behalf of its shareholders: the State, Allied Irish Bank, Bank of Ireland, and Permanent TSB.

The scheme is currently available only for the purchase for new properties.

However, the programme for Government contained a commitment that it would be made available to people wishing to purchase second-hand properties.

Commitment

Speaking in the Dail, Seamus McGrath, Fianna Fail TD for Cork South Central, asked housing minister James Browne when he intended to implement that commitment.

Responding to Mr McGrath, Mr Browne said he was conscious of the commitment to work with the banks to expand the first home scheme to first time buyers of second-hand homes.

This is being examined by my department, said the minister.

I have requested the first home scheme to undertake the required analytical and technical work to examine the potential for such an expansion as soon as possible, Mr Browne added.

Speaking to The Echo about the FHS, Mr McGrath said that he was glad that the scope of the scheme was being expanded to include second-hand properties, and that work was currently ongoing to ensure that expansion would come about.

It will be an important financial help for first time buyers, and I will continue to pursue the issue until it is operational, he said.
Water, particularly the River Lee as it flows into Cork Harbour, is a strong theme for me as I try to fulfil my role as lord mayor.

Two weeks ago, I had the honour, along with Taoiseach Micheal Martin, to officially open the Marina Promenade.

Theres no better symbol of health and wellbeing than how we in the city interact with the river.

It is often such an intimate part of who we are.

When I meet visitors to City Hall, I often try to explain the importance of our coat of arms and the motto that lies underneath it: The image of a boat sailing between two castles.

It is a snapshot from a time when Cork city centre was not the roads we know now, but a series of waterways, this location being present day Castle St.

The motto underneath, in Latin, Statio Bene Fida Carinis, or in English, A Good Harbour Safe for Ships, has always been seen as a statement of how Cork looks towards the rest of the world as a trading city inviting traffic to it, as much as we travel with goods and people to other parts of the globe.

I tell our visitors that we should interpret that motto, these days, as being A Good City Safe for People, because we now have new people living and working amongst us, which makes us a stronger city and a better place to be.

French naval vessel

On Good Friday I had the opportunity of receiving the captain of the French naval vessel FS Aconit.

We have very close, continuing, strong relations with France and its people.

Throwing the Dart

Often we get to play with the water. Today, the traditional Throwing the Dart into the harbour takes place.

I put on my mayoral chain, my robe, and an admirals hat.

The Lord Mayor of Cork , councillor Dan Boyle hosted a Civic Reception for Coras Iompair Eireann (CIE) to celebrate 80 years since its formation. The reception was attended by many past and present employees of CIE. Pictured signing the visitor's book is 95-year-old Haulie Lynch who gave 47 years service to CIE as Mr Dan Boyle, Joe Walsh, Eoin Dinneen and Stephen Hackett look on. Picture: Brian Lougheed.

A naval vessel takes us far into the harbour, where the dart gets thrown in, and where it lands in the water is meant to signify the area the lord mayor and the city council claims jurisdiction!

It doesnt have a legal basis but its a fun tradition to upkeep.

European Maritime Day

Cork City Council officials are also spending a lot of time organising for a special occasion that is happening in May. That is when Cork will host European Maritime Day.

This is a day designated by the European Union to take place in one city in Europe each year in which our reliance on oceans and seas gets talked about, and discussion as to how policies can be made better.

We are looking forward to welcoming a few thousand visitors to our city, many of whom will be representing national governments, as well as high level people from the European Union.

A document entitled The Oceans Pact is being released by the EU Commission as part of the conference.

These days it certainly seems to be a case of water, water everywhere!
Acclaimed Cork novelist, playwright, and documentary filmmaker Conal Creedon is among a number of writers to sign a petition calling on the Government to protect their work from AI technologies.

The Government said it is working to implement an EU law on AI that is due to come into force later this year, while Meta said its AI model training is consistent with existing law.

The protest, by the Irish Writers Union (IWU), submitted a petition with over 1,500 signatures to the Department of Enterprise in Dublin city on Thursday.

The demonstration was held in response to reports from The Atlantic, which claimed that Meta has used millions of books and research papers to train its AI generator, Llama.

The allegations have profound implications for Irish authors, the IWU said.

The union has claimed that dozens of its members have had their work used for AI training without their permission.

Cessation

It is encouraging writers to call for the cessation of use of their work for AI training, negotiate terms for continued use of their work, and request compensation for any past unauthorised use of their work.

The unions petition also called on the Irish Government to play its part in protecting its citizens from copyright infringement.

We call upon you to communicate with Meta and insist that the rights, interests, and livelihoods of authors are adequately protected, said the petition to junior minister Niamh Smyth, who is responsible for AI and digital transformation.

Specifically, we, the undersigned, call on you as minister responsible for protecting EU copyright law from being violated in AI training to summon senior executives of Meta to provide a detailed response to the allegations that they have engaged in wholesale copyright infringement and to provide unequivocal assurances that they will respect the copyright of authors, not engage in unlawful conduct, and will pay authors for all historic infringements.

Conal Creedon is among those to sign the petition.

Consent

When contacted by The Echo, Mr Creedon said he would be horrified if his works were used to train Metas AI engine without his prior consent.

As I see it, the kernel of the issue is consent  and it is advisable not to give consent without full knowledge and transparency  AI training could be a metaphor for so many activities.

I would be concerned about AI style cloning, he said.

This technology does raise so many ethical questions.

Labour TD and media spokesman Rob ODonoghue echoed the IWUs calls for the Government to take urgent action to defend Irish writers.

Irish writers are standing up to one of the worlds most powerful tech companies, and they deserve the full backing of the Irish Government.

The creative sector faces enough challenges without billion-dollar corporations helping themselves to books, stories, and ideas.

A spokesperson for Meta said: We respect third-party intellectual property rights and believe our use of information to train AI models is consistent with existing law.

Adapting

Junior minister Niamh Smyth said EU and Irish policies and legislation are adapting to address challenges linked to the rapid advancement of AI.

She said Irish authorities were working to implement the EUs Artificial Intelligence Act relating to general-purpose AI models, from August 2.

From that date, providers of general-purpose AI models available in the EU must make available on request to the European Commissions AI Office and national competent authorities, technical documentation on the model, including its training, Ms Smyth said.

They must also put in place a policy to comply with union law on copyright and related rights, and make publicly available a detailed summary of the content used for training the model.

The European Commissions AI Office is facilitating the drawing up of a code of practice for providers of general-purpose models, with the participation of civil society organisations, academia, independent experts, and industry.

She said the code of practice, due to be completed in May, will set out commitments to ensure AI model providers fulfil their obligations.

Enforcement structures

This department is working across Government to establish effective implementation and enforcement structures for the EU AI Act, she added.

On March 4, 2025, Government approved the designation of an initial list of eight public bodies as competent authorities responsible for implementing and enforcing the act within their respective sectors.

Additional authorities and a lead regulator, who will co-ordinate enforcement of the act, will be designated by a future government decision to ensure comprehensive implementation of the act.

My officials are closely monitoring legal, policy, and technical developments in the areas of both copyright and AI.

We are actively involved in EU and international discussions to balance technological innovation with the protection of creators rights, and we will continue to engage with industry representatives and artists on these matters.
Many moons ago, when I was a teenage cub reporter, the manager of the local bingo hall on my patch asked me to come along and judge an Easter bonnet competition.

Ive no idea why he asked me, like, I dont think I put millinery down on my CV or anything. (I found out much later that the editor had been asked first and had told the manager to ask me, possibly while a strange glint gleamed in her eye).

Anyway, along I went, and I sat through several full houses before a dozen or so ladies of a certain age were told to don their fancy home-made bonnets and parade on the stage before me. And a fine, imaginative array of hats they were too.

I was then ushered to the stage where I made all the right noises about the wonderful hats, it being so hard to select the best one, and that, really, everyone was a winner.

With that, I announced that Doris and her clever Easter egg hat was my favourite - and the proud recipient of the 10 bingo hall voucher - and crikey, all hell then broke loose.

The losers (who I had expressly announced were really winners too, remember) were not happy, not happy at all. In fact, they were affronted.

As delighted Doris tottered to the stage to collect her prize from me, the beaten ladies murmurings of dissent grew louder until they began shouting about a fix, egged on by the non-participants in the bonnet parade.

This being a northern English town, you might picture a bunch of battleaxes like Hilda Ogden, Ena Sharples, and Blanche Hunt hurtling abuse at a shrinking boy, whose suit was wearing him rather than the other way round.

The bingo hall manager, recognising the kind of outrage that clearly often accompanied a full house win, reacted swiftly. Beckoning me off the stage, he steered me to a hidden exit door behind the curtain, and told me to keep walking until I found the fire exit - and then keep walking until I reached my bus-stop.

Ever since, Ive had an allergy to stages of all kinds, and an admiration for anyone who chooses to perform or speak on then. Not so much a case of stage fright on my part, more a case of stage post-traumatic stress disorder. If I even catch sight of an Easter bonnet tomorrow, Ill break out into a rash.

However, on Monday night just gone, I think I finally found some kind of redemption, and that stage experience of almost 40 years ago was finally banished from my mind - consigned to the memory banks of history.

Sitting with my family, I proudly looked on as my nine-year-old daughter, Laura, actually performed on the famous Cork Opera House stage.

She was just one of 226 members of the Aideen Johnson School of Dance, based in Macroom and Dunmanway, who performed a brilliant series of dances as part of their end-of-year show, called Reach For The Stars.

There was fierce excitement, and not a few nerves, Im sure, among parents and children - but all involved performed beautifully, putting into practice months of preparation and rehearsal.

There was modern dance, intertwined with ballet and gymnastics-style moves, to pop songs, as well as to classic stage tracks from the likes of The Wizard Of Oz.

How brilliant that the Opera House can accommodate young local people, as well as the stars that regularly take to its stage and entertain Cork audiences, to create an evening that will live long in the memory of all those there.

The show was a tribute to the dance school teacher Aideen Johnson and her team of helpers.

The school, created in 2017, aims to provide an environment for children to learn dance, but also to have a space where they feel they can be themselves. Its a blend of teamwork and individual creativity that allows children to grow and experience art at a young age.

The school aims for every student to leave class every week with a smile on their faces and grow in confidence through dance, says Aideen.

That mission was accomplished on Monday night.

The schools motto is Find your Fire, and her 226 girls and boys certainly did that in the famous and storied old Cork city building, which is celebrating its 170th anniversary this year.

In her eight years, Aideen has seen thousands of students pass through her doors, and the number of classes she runs has soared from three to 22!

She attributes a large part of the dance schools success to their appearances at Macroom St Patricks Day parades - as well as word of mouth, parents telling parents, and friends telling friends.

Aideen had been running her end-of-year shows in Macroom Leisure Centre, but began to realise she needed a bigger stage - so she reached out to the Opera House who were only too happy to accommodate her.

She had lots of help on the night, including from her long-time assistant Martina OLeary, and stage manager, Emer ONeill, who really had her hands full with 226 excited youngsters!

Originally from Macroom, Aideen began dancing at age seven and went on to spend three years studying dance in Liverpool.

After that, she performed on stages in Morocco, Egypt, and England, was involved in a Lady Gaga tribute show, and worked at Trabolgan Holiday Village for three years.

One of her protegees, Nadia Silwa, who is heading off to the Stella Mann College of Performing Arts in England, took a bow on the Opera House stage this week. Nadia also trained in Footdreams Performing Arts with Aideens late friend, Tracey ODonovan Linnane.

Every Corkonian knows there is no greater honour than to perform to a full house on the Opera Houses famous old boards - how amazing that this privilege can also extend to young performers from across the county.

I wondered on Monday how many of these talented dancers making their stage debuts will go on to forge careers on the stage on the back of that first thrilling night.

Take a bow, Aideen, and all the wonderful performers from her School of Dance.
I cant believe that, at 40 years old, Im telling you about my first-ever trip to Cyprus Avenue in Cork.

For many years, I felt going to a gig there was off the cards because the stage was upstairs, and when I was a teenager and in college, there was no lift that I was aware of.

There were definitely acts I wanted to see, but with events like Live At The Marquee in our lives, I could get plenty of musical fixes each summer.

Back in October, my great friend Edel and I made a trek to Ballydehob to see an artist, Ryan McMullan, who hails from Belfast. He was doing a pub-crawl style set of gigs to promote his album Redesign.

That small, intimate gig where he was literally 2ft from us was something special. It was so lovely that, immediately afterwards, Edel set about seeing where he was playing next and, you guessed it, it was Cyprus Avenue.

I initially dismissed it, thinking it would not be accessible to me, being the creature of habit I am, but Edel is someone not to give up easily and went about checking what the story was.

Everything on Google told her there was a lift and that wheelchair users could access the venue, so we booked tickets with glee.

On the day itself, I got a serious case of The Fear. This particular fear rises from the pit of my stomach and stems from the fact that on too many occasions, I arrived somewhere and was not able to get in, or got in but ended up really uncomfortable without being able to use a wheelchair accessible toilet.

Julie had a positive experience at the gig and said she'll be going back again. Image: Julie Helen

I didnt want to ruin things on Edel. Its one thing to avoid a place because I feared it might not be accessible to me, but its totally different to build up hopes only to have them dashed.

We set off early and decided to have dinner beforehand in the Kingsley Hotel.

We were both driving so a couple of colas were the order of the day.

Then we made our way to town, remarking on how the city had changed since our teenage years. We parked in Grand Parade and were strolling to the venue with ample time, so we stopped for a scrumptious scoop of Ginos ice-cream, another staple of our youth.

We joined the queue for Cyprus Avenue and made our way to the top quickly. Once there, one of the staff took my phone to scan our tickets and another opened a door for the lift. It was small, and I must admit, it didnt look brand new, so maybe I had truly missed it for all these years.

Once we got upstairs, we settled near the edge and Edel had a tall stool. All the tables were high so I decided not to have drinks so I wouldnt be reaching too much. I knew my view was going to be obstructed by the crowd but really didnt want to be up at the very front so I settled in.

Edel went on a scout to check if there was an accessible bathroom, and there was, guarded by friendly staff, which actually meant it was super-clean too. Nobody could just decide to use it on a whim.

I saw another girl using a wheelchair and we joked amongst ourselves that I wasnt the only one any more because there was many a night out back in the day when I was.

Im glad to have company, glad we can be visible, and glad we can enjoy all our great Rebel City has to offer. Well done, Cyprus Avenue. Well be back.
Founded in 2005 as an Ohio-based environmental newspaper, EcoWatch is a digital platform dedicated to publishing quality, science-based content on environmental issues, causes, and solutions.

A Florida manatee at Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida. David Keep / iStock / Getty Images Plus

The Trump administration has proposed a rule that would eliminate endangered species habitat protections in the United States.

The rule change would rescind the regulatory definition of harm to no longer include habitat modification for endangered and threatened wildlife under the Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Environmentalists said the move would cause critically endangered species to become extinct due to activities such as logging, mining and development, reported The Associated Press.

The Trump administration is trying to rewrite basic biology  like all of us, endangered species need a safe place to live, said Drew Caputo, vice president for lands, wildlife and oceans with Earthjustice, in a press release from the nonprofit public interest organization. This misguided new proposal threatens a half-century of progress in protecting and restoring endangered species. We are prepared to go to court to ensure that America doesnt abandon its endangered wildlife.

Noah Greewald, the Center for Biological Diversitys endangered species director, said the biggest contributor to extinction is habitat destruction, The Associated Press reported.

The proposed rule would pave the way for timber, oil, mining and other extractive industries, as well as the government and individuals, to destroy habitat where endangered species live, even if the damage to habitat harms those species, Earthjustice said.

The proposal rejects a U.S. Supreme Court ruling from 1995 that upheld how the definition of harm applied to habitat destruction.

Justice OConnors ruling at the time said that the landowner who drains a pond on his property, killing endangered fish in the process, would violate the ban on harm to endangered wildlife.

The Trump administrations proposed rule change would legalize such harmful actions.

For 50 years, the ESA has saved numerous species  including iconic American species like bald eagles, gray wolves, Florida manatees, and humpback whales  from extinction. One key to this success has been its definition of harm, which recognizes the common-sense concept that destroying a forest, beach, river, or wetland that a species relies on for survival constitutes harm to that species, Earthjustice said. When species disappear, ecosystems become at risk of wide-range collapse.

More than a third of species are already at risk of extinction, in large part because of habitat destruction.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife and National Marine Fisheries Services argued that habitat modification is not an intentional targeting of species  called take  and therefore shouldnt be considered harm.

Environmentalists said the take definition has always included acts that harm species, and that the Supreme Court upheld the definition of harm.

Greenwald said the proposed rule cuts the heart out of the Endangered Species Act, reported The Associated Press.

He argued that Florida panthers and spotted owls are both protected by the inclusion of habitat destruction in the current rule. The rule change would mean that someone who builds a development or carries out logging in a forest would be able to do so unimpeded if they said they didnt intend to cause harm to endangered species.

A Florida panther. ygluzberg / iStock / Getty Images Plus

If (you) say harm doesnt mean significant habitat degradation or modification, then it really leaves endangered species out in the cold, Greenwald said.

The rule has been published in the Federal Register, triggering a 30-day public comment period that will be open until May 19.

Caputo said if the rule is adopted, environmental groups will challenge it in court.

Patrick Parenteau, emeritus professor at the Vermont Law and Graduate School, said the question is can the Trump administration repeal a rule previously upheld by the Supreme Court that is therefore subject to precedent.

Parenteau said the current harm definition has mandated the conservation of many, many millions of acres of land that have helped keep species alive.

Habitat is life, right? said Maxx Philipps, the Center for Biological Diversitys Hawaii and Pacific Islands director, as The Associated Press reported. And without it, there is no recovery and without recovery, there is only extinction.
(Photo: Vatican News)Pope Francis visits Regina Coeli Prison in Rome on April 17, 2025

Pope Francis visited Rome's Regina Coeli prison on Holy Thursday, marking a return to the historic penitentiary where he celebrated liturgy in 2018.

As part of the Easter activities, the Pope and the Chief Rabbi of Rome, Riccardo Di Segni, exchanged messages of mutual good wishes, in a tradition of fraternal dialogue and interreligious friendship.

"I wish to extend my most cordial and fraternal greetings to you and to the beloved Jewish Community of Rome," the Pope wrote to the Chief Rabbi of Rome, according to Vatican News.

"This celebration recalls how the Almighty delivered His beloved people from slavery and led them to the Promised Land. May the eternal and merciful God be with you even today, and may He accompany your community with the abundance of His blessings."

The preceding day, Pope Francis marked Holy Thursday with a visit to Rome's Regina Coeli prison, continuing a tradition he has observed since the beginning of his pontificate of drawing close to those living behind bars.

While unable this year to celebrate the liturgy of the Lord's Supper and the Washing of the Feet, the Pope greeted inmates personally, offered them words of encouragement, and gifted each of them with a Rosary and a pocket-sized Gospel, Vatican News reported.

"I have always liked coming to prison on Holy Thursday to do the washing of the feet like Jesus," the Pope told those gathered.

"This year, I cannot do it, but I want to be close to you. I pray for you and your families."

Around 70 detainees of different ages and nationalities welcomed Francis in the central rotunda of the historic prison, located in Rome's Trastevere district.

He was met with cheers and chants from those gathered inside, as well as from inmates watching from the upper windows.

Shouts such as "Freedom!", "Pray for us!", "Pray for Palestine" and "We are with you!" echoed through the courtyard.

Pope Francis responded with simple gesturesraising his hand in greeting and offering a thumbs-upbefore addressing them from the car: "Pray for me," he said.

The Holy Father spent about 30 minutes inside the facility, greeting inmates and members of the prison staff.

Many of the detainees wore wooden Rosaries around their necks, and several held prayer booklets or Gospels.

One young man asked for an extra copy of the Gospel to give to his sister upon release. Others knelt, kissed the Pope's hand, or leaned forward to make brief contact with him.

One inmate, Ferdinando, handed the Pope a handwritten note: "May the light of the Lord illuminate my life and that of my family. Thank you, Pope, for your presence." Pope Francis paused with him for a moment to ask about his family and assured him of his prayers.

According to Vatican News, another young man, Matteo, 26, asked the Pope to sign his copy of the Gospel.

"He briefly shared his personal story with the Holy Father, saying he had been imprisoned after defending his partner from an assault. He claimed the situation was misunderstood and led to false testimony," Vatican News reported.
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Artist Anne Nordhaus-Bike has had an article about one of her paintings published in the Rosicrucian Digest, Volume 103, No. 1, 2025. The issue is devoted completely to art.

Published by the Rosicrucian Order (Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, or AMORC), an international community of philosophers studying natural laws in order to live in harmony with them and tracing its origins to ancient Egypt, the Rosicrucian Digest is an international online magazine that focuses on topics related to science, history, the arts, mysticism, and spirituality. It has been published continuously since 1915.

Nordhaus-Bike's article is "Ma'at's Feather and the Art of Transformation." In it, she tells about her oil painting Ma'at's Feather.

In ancient Egypt, Ma'at was a female deity whose name meant "truth." After death, every person came face to face with Ma'at, who weighed the individual's heart, which housed his or her soul, against a white feather. If the scales balanced, the person entered paradise. If the heart outweighed Ma'at's feather, the person had to stay in the underworld.

The article features a full-color reproduction of the painting Ma'at's Feather by Anne Nordhaus-Bike.

"The red background alludes to the heart that Ma'at must weigh as well as the spiritual fire and personal sacrifice that assist inner growth," Nordhaus-Bike said. "Touches of gold indicate spiritual riches obtained from inner purity and heartfelt devotion. The white feather floats in air and has turned almost completely purple, symbolizing a kind of spiritual achievement or royalty beyond simple purity."

The issue of Rosicrucian Digest can be accessed at https://www.rosicrucian.org/rosicrucian-digest-art. Nordhaus-Bike's article is at https://tinyurl.com/MaatFeather. An audio version of the article, read by Nordhaus-Bike, is at https://tinyurl.com/MaatFeatherAudio.

See Nordhaus-Bike's blog post about the painting and article here: https://artistanne.com/1227/magazine-publishes-anne-nordhaus-bike-maats-feather-oil-painting-and-article/
The mayor of the DR Congo town near where a boat caught fire earlier this week told AFP on Saturday that at least 33 people had died in the disaster, significantly fewer than previously reported.

More than 200 passengers were crowded onto a wooden boat on the Congo River in northwest DRC on Tuesday when the blaze broke out, said the mayor of Mbandaka, Yves Balo.

"We count 195 who have survived, including 22 burn victims who are being cared for at Wangata general hospital, and 33 deaths, with 29 people already buried and four more still at the morgue," Balo told AFP.

The disaster occurred near Mbandaka, the capital of Equateur Province, at the confluence of the Ruki and the vast Congo River -- the world's deepest.

The mayor's toll, the first official one from the blaze, was far lower than that of at least 143 deaths previously given to AFP.

Josephine-Pacifique Lokumu, head of a delegation of national deputies from the region, had put the toll at 143.

And Joseph Lokondo, a local civil society leader who said he helped bury the bodies, put the "provisional death toll at 145: some burnt, others drowned".

Bako said the discrepancies over the death tolls were due to people having confused the numbers from previous disasters, which are frequent on the Congo River.

He was speaking after having met deputy interior minister Eugenie Tshiela, who flew into Mbandaka from the capital Kinshasa on Saturday.

- 'Never forget you' -

Funerals were already underway in the provincial capital Mbandaka on Friday, according to videos filmed by local journalist Eric Liyenge Ekamba shared with AFP.

The footage showed vehicles arriving with coffins that were then transported by Red Cross workers and displayed under a large tent.

In another video, at least 11 coffins are seen under the tent as people walk around the site as if to pay their last respects.

In front of one coffin, a photo of a woman is displayed with the message: "Maman Bolangi Souzane, we will never forget you."

After the ceremony, Red Cross workers and other volunteers carried out burials at an area cemetery, as seen in the footage.

Several families directly retrieved the bodies of their loved ones once they were found, according to testimonies.

- Hope fades for missing -

Lokumu said the blaze was caused by a fuel explosion ignited by an onboard cooking fire.

"A woman lit the embers for cooking. The fuel, which was not far away, exploded, killing many children and women," she added.

Videos circulating on social media showed flames leaping from a long boat stranded far from shore, with smoke billowing from the wreckage and people aboard smaller vessels looking on.

Search efforts continued on Saturday, "but the chances of finding survivors or additional bodies are slim, three days after the tragedy", a humanitarian source told AFP, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

A vast central African nation that covers 2.3 million square kilometres (900,000 square miles), the DRC suffers from a lack of practicable roads. Planes serve only a limited number of cities and towns.

As a result people often travel on lakes, the Congo River -- the second longest in Africa after the Nile -- and its winding tributaries, where shipwrecks are frequent and the death tolls often heavy.

A chronic absence of passenger lists often complicates search operations.

In October 2023, at least 47 people died after a boat navigating the Congo sank in Equateur.

More than 20 people died in October last year when a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern DRC, according to local authorities.

Another shipwreck on Lake Kivu claimed around 100 lives in 2019.

mbb/jj/sbk
Following a strong performance in 2024, global trade is now facing headwinds from a surge in tariffs and rising trade policy uncertainty, according to a World Trade Organization (WTO) blog.

The volume of world merchandise trade is projected to decline by 0.2 per cent this yearalmost three percentage points (pps) lower than it would have been without the recent policy shifts. A modest recovery of 2.5 per cent is expected in 2026.

If enacted, reciprocal tariffs would reduce global merchandise trade growth by an additional 0.6 pps, the blog by Ralph Ossa noted.

After a strong 2024 performance, global trade is now facing headwinds from a tariff surge and rising trade policy uncertainty, a WTO blog said. The world merchandise trade volume may fall by 0.2 per cent this year, with a modest 2.5-per cent recovery likely in 2026. World GDP is now expected to grow by 2.2 per cent in 20250.6 pps below the baseline predictionbefore reaching 2.4 per cent in 2026.

A wider spread of trade policy uncertainty could cut growth by a further 0.8 pps. Taken together, these risks would lead to a 1.5-per cent decline in world merchandise trade volume this year, it said.

The disruption in US-China trade is also expected to trigger significant trade diversion, raising concerns among other markets about increased competition from China. As trade is redirected, Chinese merchandise exports are projected to rise by 4-9 per cent across all regions outside North America.

At the same time, US imports from China are expected to fall sharply in sectors such as textiles and apparel, creating new export opportunities for other suppliers able to fill the gap. This could open the door for some least-developed countries to increase their exports to the US market, observed the WTO blog.

World gross domestic product (GDP) is now expected to grow by 2.2 per cent in 20250.6 pps below the baseline predictionbefore recovering slightly to reach 2.4 per cent in 2026.

The largest impact will again be in North America, where growth is projected to slow by 1.6 pps, followed by Asia (down by 0.4 pps) and South and Central America and the Caribbean (down by 0.2 pps).

While reciprocal tariffs alone would have a limited effect on global GDP, a wider spread of trade policy uncertainty could nearly double the projected GDP loss, bringing it to 1.3 pps below the baseline scenario, the blog added.

Fibre2Fashion News Desk (DS)
Deepika Padukone recently announced that her 2015 film Piku will be re-released in theatres to celebrate its 10th anniversary. She shared the news on Instagram, posting a video that features Amitabh Bachchan and some unforgettable moments from the film. The re-release is scheduled for May 9, 2025, offering fans the opportunity to revisit the heartwarming journey of Piku and her father, Bhaskor Banerjee.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by aaAAAaaaAAAa aaaaAAAaAAAaAAAa (@deepikapadukone)

Piku tells the story of an aging father, Bhaskor Banerjee, struggling with health issues, and his daughter Piku, who is balancing her life while taking care of him. Their road trip to Kolkata serves as a pivotal moment in their relationship, where they grow closer despite their differences. Amitabh Bachchans portrayal of Bhaskor earned him his fourth National Film Award for Best Actor. The film, made on a budget of Rs 42 crore, went on to gross Rs 141 crore globally, solidifying its place as both a critical and commercial success.

In the video, Amitabh Bachchan recalled their road trip, saying, Nomoshkar (Hello). Piku, remember? Piku, Bhaskar da, they went on a road trip. Dont remember? Watch this. It was an amazing road trip. It was unpredictable and unforgettable. He added, There were emotions, laughter and tensions too. Piku is re-releasing at your nearest theatres. Do watch, wont you? His words bring back the emotional depth and humour that made Piku so memorable.Deepika also shared a personal note in her post. She penned, A film that will always have my heart - PIKU is back in theatres on 9th May, 2025 to celebrate its 10th Anniversary! Irrfan, we miss you! And think about you every so often The message reflected her love for the film and served as a tribute to her late co-star, Irrfan Khan, who left a lasting impact on everyone involved with the film.




"I remember Javed saying that we are from similar backgrounds and do the same kind of work, we should be friends and be on the same side. We made a very weak attempt with Javed and Raj Babbar to bury the hatchet, but that never happened. It is not like the press created it all. There was definitely an inherent rivalry."



Smita Patil and Shabana Azmi, two important faces of parallel cinema in India and considered Shyam Benegal's proteges, didn't always see eye to eye. These two contemporaries were pitted against each other, and their tale of rivalry is well known. During an exclusive conversation with Filmfare's Editor-In-Chief Jitesh Pillaai for In The Ring With Filmfare, the actress opened up about her rivalry with the late Smita Patil. During the conversation, the veteran actress revealed that Javed Akhtar and Raj Babbar tried to resolve the issues between them, but it did not work out.





See Also: Exclusive: Shabana Azmi Accepts Being More Privileged Than Javed Akhtar







She said, "Strangely, I was supposed to do Manthan, the role that Smita did, and she was supposed to do the role that Abha Dhulia did. Some crazy thing happened, and Shyam never forgave me for it. He wanted me to be there for 32 days and at that time, I was working in a lot of mainstream cinema. So I told Shyam that it is a 10-day work and I will give him 16. He was so offended that he said you should leave the film. Strangely, at that time, Smita was supposed to do Kanneshwara Rama with MS Sathyu, and her days coincided with her B.A exams. After she left, Sathyu came to me at the last minute and said, "She got a valid reason, and we are all going on the sets, so you do it." So, I did the film. And Shyam got more offended at that. This mess-up happened." When asked about Smita Patil allegedly losing out on films to Shabana, the actress responded, "There were lots of imaginary roles that she thought I had snatched from her, but it was nothing like that. We were Shyam Benegal's favourite and he was very clear on who to take for which film." Azmi then also revealed that she was supposed to do the film Manthan, which ultimately went to Smita Patil.
A Reunion Decades in the Making

Anticipation Builds Ahead of Audio Launch

The buzz around Thug Life has officially hit a new high with the release of its first single, Jinguchaa. Dropped on April 18, the song marks the beginning of the films musical rollout and offers fans a vibrant taste of whats to come. With a full-scale audio launch event now confirmed for May 16, 2025, the stage is set for an exciting promotional journey for one of the years biggest Tamil film releases.Bringing together three icons of Indian cinemaKamal Haasan, Mani Ratnam, and A.R. Rahmanthe track blends festive energy with cinematic flair. Jinguchaa carries the spirit of celebration, designed around a wedding setting, and features Vaishali Samant, Shakthisree Gopalan and Adithya RK on vocals with lyrics written by Haasan himself. According to reports, the creative process was swift and seamless: Haasan wrote the lyrics in about an hour, while Rahman composed and produced the track shortly after. Their long-standing rapport is evident in how quickly and effectively the piece came together.Alongside the audio release, a short teaser video gave audiences a glimpse into the films colourful and kinetic visual style. While the full context of the song within the story remains under wraps, its expected to play a key role in a major celebratory sequence in the narrative.Thug Life brings Mani Ratnam and Kamal Haasan back together after nearly four decades. Their last collaboration, the 1987 crime drama Nayakan, is still regarded as a landmark film in Indian cinema. This time, the pair is joined by A.R. Rahman, whose long history with Ratnam has produced some of Tamil cinemas most beloved soundtracks.The films ensemble cast includes a powerhouse lineup: Silambarasan TR, Trisha Krishnan, Joju George, Ashok Selvan, and Aishwarya Lekshmi. The music video of the first single also revealed that Bollywood actress Sanya Malhotra would be features in the film. At its center is Kamal Haasans portrayal of Rangaraya Sakthivel Nayakara figure surrounded by mystery, ideology, and inner conflict.The upcoming audio launch on May 16 is expected to be a grand affair, with appearances from the cast and crew and possibly live renditions of the soundtrack. With Rahman composing and Haasan actively contributing as a lyricist, expectations are high for a diverse and dynamic musical album.Produced by Raaj Kamal Films International, Madras Talkies, and Red Giant Movies, Thug Life is eyeing a worldwide release on June 5, 2025. With its first single already striking a chord, the film is poised to dominate conversations in the months ahead.
Alpha 1 (A1) AI Tutor Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits FuturEdge Charter Academy and Future Home of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Nevada, Spotlights AI-Powered Learning Innovation

AI Tutor demo

Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida, Erica Donald, Shubham Pandey, Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy PTAA

(PTAA Nevada - STEAM-Focused Charter School) U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Future Edge Academy today, joining students and educators for a special event at the charter school campus. The visit - hosted at Future Edge Academy (the future home of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy Nevada) - featured a student-led assembly and a live demonstration of a cutting-edge AI tutoring platform. During the assembly, PTAA leadership officially announced the launch of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA) Nevada this coming August, highlighting a groundbreaking educational model centered on artificial intelligence and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Secretary McMahon's presence underscored federal support for innovative approaches in K-12 education, as the Future Edge campus - a STEM-designated school known for integrating emerging technologies like AI into learning (Home - FuturEdge Charter Academy) - prepares to become PTAA Nevada's first location.

PTAA Nevada to Launch in August 2025 with AI & STEAM Focus

PTAA Nevada will open for the 2025-26 school year as a tuition-free public charter school, bringing PTAA's successful tech-driven curriculum to Nevada. Part of a national network of PTAA campuses operating in Texas, Arizona, and Colorado, the North Las Vegas school will emphasize project-based learning, coding, robotics, and creative arts alongside core academics. "Our mission is to empower and engage students through an inquiry-based STEM/STEAM curriculum that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and innovation," said Shubham Pandey, Founder of PTAA and incoming Executive Director of PTAA Nevada. "By infusing AI and advanced technology into the classroom, we aim to inspire the next generation of innovators." PTAA Nevada's launch in August 2025 marks the organization's latest expansion and a bold step toward redefining how students learn in the digital age.

Alpha 1 AI Tutor Platform Demonstrated by PTAA Founder

A highlight of the event was the live demo of the new Alpha 1 (A1) AI Tutor platform, led by its Founder Shubham Pandey - who is also PTAA's founder. Pandey showcased A1 Tutor's real-time, interactive capabilities by engaging with students in a mock tutoring session. The AI tutor responded to questions, worked through problems on a digital whiteboard, and conversed using both voice and text, demonstrating the potential of multimodal AI in education. "The A1 Tutor can think, listen, talk, and draw in sync with our students," Pandey explained, emphasizing how the system provides instant feedback and step-by-step guidance tailored to each learner's needs. Key features of the A1 AI Tutor demonstrated include:

Real-time multimodal learning: The AI can simultaneously utilize a virtual whiteboard for visual illustrations while interacting through natural voice and text, creating an immersive 1:1 tutoring experience.

Interactive problem-solving: Students can ask questions out loud or via chat, and the A1 Tutor adapts its explanations on the fly-drawing diagrams, highlighting concepts, and adjusting the difficulty of problems in response to student input.

Personalized support: Powered by advanced generative AI, A1 analyzes each student's progress and misconceptions in real time, providing immediate clarifications and personalized hints. This adaptive approach mimics the attentiveness of a human tutor, boosting student confidence and engagement.

The demonstration captivated attendees as the AI solved math and science questions with the students, exemplifying how such technology can supplement classroom learning. Secretary McMahon observed the session and even interacted with the A1 Tutor herself, remarking on its potential to support teachers and differentiate instruction for diverse learners. "This is an inspiring example of innovation in education," Secretary McMahon said. "Seeing students work with an AI tutor that can cater to their individual learning pace is truly remarkable. Technology like this holds great promise for leveling the playing field and empowering our educators nationwide."

Nationwide Rollout and Vision for U.S. Students

Following the Nevada pilot showcase, PTAA announced that the A1 AI Tutor platform will launch across all PTAA campuses nationwide in August 2025, aligning with the start of the new school year. Students at PTAA's existing schools in Texas, Arizona, and Colorado will gain access to the AI tutor as part of their regular learning resources. According to Pandey, integrating A1 Tutor throughout PTAA's network will provide thousands of students with on-demand help in various subjects, both during school hours and for homework support. In the long term, PTAA's goal is even more ambitious: to make the A1 Tutor available free for every student in the United States. "Our vision is to ensure every child - not just those at PTAA - can have a personal AI tutor," Pandey said during the presentation. "By harnessing AI, we can provide personalized learning support at scale, potentially bridging gaps for underserved communities. We are working toward a future where A1 Tutor is a free resource for all American students, enabling equal access to quality tutoring." This long-term commitment drew enthusiastic applause from the audience, which included local parents and community members eager to see Nevada at the forefront of AI-driven education.

Local and state officials also attended the assembly in a show of support. Rudy Pamintuan, Chief of Staff to Nevada's Lieutenant Governor and Vice Chair of PTAA Nevada's board of directors, was on hand for the event . Pamintuan praised the collaboration between Future Edge Academy and PTAA, noting that such partnerships "expand educational opportunities for our students and attract innovative programs to North Las Vegas." The presence of Secretary McMahon and state leadership at the Future Edge campus signifies a strong public-private commitment to advancing education through technology in Nevada.

Quotes from the Event

Linda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education: "PTAA Nevada and the A1 Tutor platform are proof that innovation in education is alive and well. I was excited to see AI technology being used to engage students in real time. When we empower educators with these kinds of tools, we give every student a better chance to succeed. "

Shubham Pandey, Founder of PTAA and A1 Tutor Creator: "We are honored to have Secretary McMahon visit and witness our vision for the future of learning. Today's demonstration is just the beginning. Come August, PTAA Nevada will lead the way in showing how AI can personalize education for each child. Our long-term dream is to offer the A1 Tutor free to every U.S. student, because personalized learning should not be a privilege, but a right."

Distinguished Guests

The event was also attended by Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida and his wife, Erica Donald, who is involved in several education initiatives nationwide. Congressman Donalds spoke about the potential of tools like A1 AI Tutor to support educators by giving them better insights into student progress and tailoring growth plans. He noted that performance tracking and AI-powered feedback loops could make education more strategic and individualized than ever before.

Erica Donald emphasized the opportunity for personalized learning, stating that platforms like A1 are key to meeting students where they are - academically and emotionally - and giving them the support they need to move forward confidently.

Media Contact and Further Information

Media Contact:

Israel Alvarado- Director of Communications, Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA)

Email: ialvarado@ptaa.org

Further Resources:

Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy Nevada Official Site: https://nevada.ptaa.org

Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA) National Information: https://ptaa.org

(End of Press Release)

Contact Information

Israel Alvarado

Web media

ialvarado@ptaa.org



SOURCE: PTAA.org

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Family-run institution joins an exclusive cohort of five global awardees in 2025 for championing authentic Indian cuisine abroad.

The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has bestowed its prestigious Annapurna Certificate upon New Delhi Restaurant, the pioneering Indian eatery on Tjuvholmen. Owner Baljit Singh Padda accepted the lifetime-validity plaque in New Delhi on 9 April, marking the first time a Norwegian restaurant has received the honour. Indian embassies and high commissions worldwide collect nominations, which are then evaluated by an ICCR-appointed jury to select the final recipients.

India's Annapurna Certificate Aware Ceremony

Family run institution joins an exclusive cohort of five global awardees in 2025 for championing authentic Indian cuisine abroad.

Established in 1982, New Delhi began as a 40-seat family bistro and has grown into a multi-location group serving around 5 000 guests each month. The restaurant's menu celebrates classic North-Indian dishes-such as Rogan Josh and Tandoori Halibut-prepared with seasonal Norwegian produce.

Baljit Singh Padda notes, "My father was Norway's first Indian chef in 1982, and for 42 years we have worked to share India's culinary heritage with Norway. This certificate belongs to every member of our 70-strong team."

Why the Annapurna Certificate matters

Introduced in 2023 as part of India's cultural-diplomacy programme, the certificate recognises restaurants that not only preserve authentic recipes but also broaden perceptions of Indian cuisine. Recipients must have operated for at least five years, serve substantial numbers of diners and actively engage in cultural outreach.

The accolade has already been awarded to trail-blazers such as Namaste India in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Naans and Curries in San Jose, Costa Rica, underscoring its truly global scope. By honouring these establishments, ICCR designates them as India's culinary ambassadors, charged with expanding the horizons of Indian food culture wherever they operate.

About New Delhi Restaurant

From its flagship restaurant New Delhi at Tjuvholmen, Baljit's restaurant group now also operates additional restaurants in downtown Oslo and Solli. All spice blends are ground in-house daily, and the wine list has been curated to pair Norwegian seafood with India's layered flavours. A public "Annapurna Tasting Journey" menu will launch on 1 May to celebrate the award, and an open-house reception with representatives from the Embassy of India in Norway is planned for early June.

Contact Information

Baljit Singh Padda

Restauranteur

post@newdelhi.no

SOURCE: New Delhi Restaurant
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer consumer campaigns have long been a key engine for economic growth. Now, Shanghai is stepping into the global spotlight with a bold "urban consumption experiment." On 18 April, the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season was officially launched at Xujiahui Centre, unveiling innovative concepts such as "240-Hour Products" and City Customised Events, aiming to redefine the summer experience across retail, travel, and lifestyle.

The inaugural "Shanghai Summer" delivered strong results. According to China UnionPay, foreign card spending increased by 68.2% during the 2024 campaign. Key commercial zones stood out: Huaihai Road recorded a 208.6% increase (average spend: RMB 1,597), while Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road rose by 119.9% (average spend: RMB 1,998). Total offline consumption across the city reached RMB 815.9 billion, up 8.2% year-on-year, with dining up 26.9%.

In 2025, Shanghai will roll out a cluster of international-level summer events. "240-Hour Products" will integrate top-tier city resources to offer overseas visitors an all-in-one immersive "starter kit" experience. China Eastern Airlines is offering direct discounts on group flight packages across 30 international routes, supported by smart mobility tools such as English-language versions of Air Travel Assistant and AutoNavi Map.

In payment, China UnionPay enables foreign card acceptance at 65,000 merchants across Shanghai. Visa is co-developing "Payment-Friendly Zones" to enhance QR code payments and tax refund experiences for international travelers. A "Shanghai Summer" themed card and spending promotions further support this multi-channel payment ecosystem.

Visitors can enjoy transport and retail benefits with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, valid on the metro, ferry and sightseeing tunnel. Travel platform Trip.com has launched a "Discover Shanghai" page with integrated "Shanghai Express" free city tours for a seamless digital experience. Dining has also been elevated through multilingual menus and themed culinary campaigns by Marriott and Jin Jiang, available in Chinese, English and Korean.

Culture is central to this year's offering. The 2025 "Shanghai Summer" will bring together global lifestyle IPs such as immersive activations from Shanghai Disney Resort, the LEGO China-hosted "World Play Festival," and POP MART's "Summer Trend Play" campaign. Fusing trends, food, music, and local creativity, the campaign will transform the city into a vibrant, multi-sensory celebration of summer-bursting with global flair and urban energy.

The multilingual official site www.shanghaisummer.com is now live, featuring an AI assistant and virtual avatar "Shanghai Xiaoxia" to support itinerary planning and interactive exploration. Global KOLs will join the campaign across platforms including Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and TikTok-bringing Shanghai's summer vibe to the world.

From the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, Shanghai extends a renewed invitation to the world-a meticulously crafted urban journey, showcasing the city's international appeal to shop, enjoy and explore.

Media Contact: Lulu media@shanghaisummer.com

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SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer consumer campaigns have long been a key engine for economic growth. Now, Shanghai is stepping into the global spotlight with a bold "urban consumption experiment." On 18 April, the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season was officially launched at Xujiahui Centre, unveiling innovative concepts such as "240-Hour Products" and City Customised Events, aiming to redefine the summer experience across retail, travel, and lifestyle.

According to China UnionPay, foreign card spending surged by 68.2% during the 2024 campaign period. Key commercial areas stood out significantly: Huaihai Road saw a 208.6% increase in overseas card spending (with an average spend of RMB 1,597), while the Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road area rose by 119.9% (average spend: RMB 1,998). Total offline consumption in Shanghai reached RMB 815.9 billion, marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase, with dining consumption up by 26.9%.



The "240-Hour Products" initiative will bring together top-tier city resources to provide overseas visitors with an immersive "starter kit" experience. China Eastern Airlines will offer direct discounts on group flight packages across 30 international routes, supported by smart mobility tools such as the English-language versions of Air Travel Assistant and AutoNavi Map.

In payment, China UnionPay enables foreign card acceptance at 65,000 merchants across Shanghai. Visa is co-developing "Payment-Friendly Zones" to enhance QR code payments and tax refund experiences for international travelers. A "Shanghai Summer" themed card and spending promotions further support this multi-channel payment ecosystem.

Visitors can unlock transport and retail perks with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, valid for metro, ferry, and sightseeing tunnel rides. Travel platform Trip.com has launched a dedicated "Discover Shanghai" page, featuring integrated "Shanghai Express" free city tours to offer a seamless digital experience. The city's dining scene has also been elevated with multilingual menus and themed culinary campaigns from Marriott and Jin Jiang, available in Chinese, English, and Korean.

Culture takes center stage in this year's campaign.The 2025 edition of "Shanghai Summer" will spotlight global lifestyle IPs through immersive activations - including experiences from Shanghai Disney Resort, the LEGO China-hosted "World Play Festival," and POP MART's "Summer Trend Play" campaign. By blending global trends with food, music, and local creativity, the city will be transformed into a vibrant, multi-sensory celebration of summer, bursting with international flair and dynamic urban energy.

The multilingual official website www.shanghaisummer.com is now live, featuring an AI-powered travel assistant and virtual avatar, "Shanghai Xiaoxia," to help visitors plan itineraries and explore the city interactively. Global KOLs will take part in the campaign across platforms including Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and TikTok - bringing the essence of Shanghai's summer to audiences around the world. From the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, Shanghai offers a renewed invitation to the world - a thoughtfully curated urban journey that highlights the city's global charm as a destination to shop, enjoy, and explore.

Media Contact: Lu media@shanghaisummer.com

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DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit , one of the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume, met with H.E. Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Finance of Vietnam, to express Bybit's strong support for the country's regulatory sandbox initiative and its vision to build a safe, transparent, and innovation-friendly digital asset ecosystem.

Hosted at the Ministry of Finance headquarters, the meeting centered on Vietnam's efforts to establish a comprehensive legal framework for crypto assets. Minister Nguyen Van Thang outlined the Government's plan to launch a pilot sandbox mechanism that will allow regulators to test the issuance and trading of crypto assets in a controlled environment. This initiative is designed to mitigate risks, strengthen investor protection, and ensure regulatory readiness before introducing official legislation.

A key part of the discussion focused on safeguarding the market against illicit activities. The Minister emphasized the importance of robust compliance frameworks, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, to prevent the misuse of digital assets and support the country's financial security.

In response, Ben Zhou welcomed Vietnam's measured and responsible approach to digital asset regulation and reiterated Bybit's long-standing commitment to compliance:

"Vietnam's forward-thinking regulatory sandbox is a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology. At Bybit, we are fully aligned with the Government's focus on investor protection and financial integrity," said Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit. "We are proud to share our expertise in KYC, AML, and global compliance standards, and we look forward to supporting Vietnam in building a resilient, secure, and dynamic crypto economy."

Bybit expressed its readiness to collaborate with Vietnamese authorities on several fronts, including system architecture design, transaction oversight, and the implementation of international best practices in AML/KYC. The exchange also proposed support in capacity building, such as training financial regulators and sharing experiences from other jurisdictions.

Minister Nguyen Van Thang welcomed Bybit's proactive approach and assigned the State Securities Commission to coordinate with Bybit on concrete proposals. He also commended Bybit's reputation for strong financial capabilities, technological resilience, and its adherence to legal and regulatory requirements in the markets where it operates.

This meeting underscores Bybit's growing role as a trusted international partner for regulatory dialogue and innovation. It also highlights Vietnam's readiness to embrace blockchain technology while ensuring financial safety and public confidence in the digital asset space.

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com .

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press .

For media inquiries, please contact: media@bybit.com

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

Discord | Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn | Reddit | Telegram | TikTok | X | Youtube

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BRISBANE, Australia, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- The Institute of Information Management (IIM) Australia is pleased to announce the successful conclusion of its 2025 Annual Conference, Induction, and Investiture Ceremony, held on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Mantra on Queen, Brisbane.

With the theme "Navigating Data Integrity and Compliance in the Australian Digital Landscape," the event brought together distinguished professionals, industry leaders, inductees, and guests from both the public and private sectors. Participants joined both in person and virtually to explore emerging challenges and opportunities in data governance.

The conference began with an opening address by IIM International President, Amb. (Dr.) Oyedokun Ayodeji Oyewole, CCDOA, FIIM. In his remarks, Dr. Oyewole emphasized the growing significance of data integrity and compliance in an era of rapid technological change and increasing regulatory demands.

A key highlight of the day was the keynote presentation delivered by Ms. Kate Carruthers (FGIA, MAICD), Director of Info Sphere Education Pty Ltd, Sydney. Her address, titled "The New Rules of Data: Compliance, Conflict, and Competitive Advantage," offered attendees a compelling exploration of the evolving regulatory environment in Australia and beyond. Ms. Carruthers examined global data management trends, the human dimension of data, and practical strategies for organizations navigating new compliance frameworks.

She shed light on critical developments such as the Privacy and Other Legislation Amendment Act (December 2024), the Cyber Security Act 2024, and updated standards impacting critical infrastructure and financial institutions. Emphasizing integrated federal legislation, mandatory ransomware reporting, and enhanced protections for vulnerable groups-including children and victims of doxing-Ms. Carruthers underscored the imperative for organizations to embed data integrity, trust, and transparency into their core operations.

The event also featured the formal induction of new members into the IIM Australia community across various categories, including Honorary Fellow, Professional Fellow, and Associate Member. The investiture ceremony recognized these individuals' outstanding contributions to the field of information management and their dedication to upholding professional excellence.

The 2025 Annual Conference reaffirmed IIM Australia's unwavering commitment to promoting thought leadership, regulatory awareness, and excellence in data governance amid the ongoing digital transformation.

For further information about IIM Australia and upcoming events, please contact:

Institute of Information Management (IIM) Australia

Hillcrest, Queensland Australia

Email: info@iim-africa.org

Celestine Achi

Cell: +234-08099997175

Email: Celestine.achi@gmail.com

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Die Finanzwelt ist im Umbruch! Nach Jahren der Dominanz erschuttert Donald Trumps erratische Wirtschaftspolitik das Fundament des amerikanischen Kapitalismus. Handelskriege, Rekordzolle und politische Isolation haben eine Kapitalflucht historischen Ausmaes ausgelost.



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Indias forex reserves rose by $1.5 billion to $677.8 billion for the week ended April 11. This marked the sixth consecutive weekly increase, reflecting that Indias economy remains robust despite turbulent times read more

On Friday, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said that the countrys forex reserves increased by $1.5 billion to $677.8 billion for the week ended April 11.

This is the sixth consecutive week the Indian forex has seen a jump. The overall reserves jumped by $10.8 billion to $676.2 billion in the previous reporting week ended April 4.

It is pertinent to note that the forex reserves reached an all-time high of $704.9 billion in September. Meanwhile, Gold reserves surged by $638 million to $79.997 billion, PTI reported.

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The data released by the RBI showed that for the week ended April 11, foreign currency assets, a major component of reserves, rose by USD 892 million to USD 574.98 billion.

More from Business How Indian fintech startups are driving Malaysias UPI-like digital payments revolution

The foreign currency assets include the effect of appreciation or depreciation of non-US units like the euro, pound and yen held in the foreign exchange reserves.

The apex bank noted that the Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) were down USD 6 million at USD 18.356 billion. Indias reserve position with the IMF was also up by 43 million at USD 4.502 billion in the reporting week.

The declining trend for earlier weeks was due to revaluation and forex market interventions by the RBI to help reduce volatility in the rupee. The central bank said these declines have reversed in the last six weeks.

It is pertinent to note that an increase in the foreign exchange reserve also helps in bolstering the rupee vis-a-vis the US dollar and is good for the economy. Hence, the recent increase of foreign exchange reserve has made the rupee stronger.

A strong forex reserve enables the RBI to intervene in the spot and forward currency markets by releasing more dollars to prevent the rupee from going into a free fall.

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The figure reflects the strengthening of the external sector of the economy despite geopolitical tensions that have triggered economic uncertainty and instability in the world market.

With inputs from agencies.
Indias pharma exports hit a record $30 billion in FY25, a 31% surge in the month of March. The US remains the largest market despite tariff threats from US President Donald Trump read more

A pharmacist checks weight of paracetamol, a common pain reliever also sold as acetaminophen, tablets inside a lab of a pharmaceutical company on the outskirts of Ahmedabad. Representaitve Image

Indias annual drug and pharmaceutical exports touched a record $30 billion in FY25, marking a 31 per cent surge in March. According to The Hindu, the exports stood at $30467.32 million, 9.39 per cent higher than the $27851.70 million clocked in FY24.

Pharmaceuticals Export Promotion Council Director General Raja Bhanu noted that pharma exports touched $30 billion for the first time, exceeding the FY25 target of $29.38 billion. The performance in the sector in the month of March stood out the most.

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While the shortage of generic prescription drugs in the US markets initially raised hopes, US President Donald Trumps announcement to impose 26 per cent tariffs on Indian exports raised concerns. However, it is pertinent to note that the Trump tariffs, which are currently on hold for 90 days, did not apply to pharma exports.

More from Business How Indian fintech startups are driving Malaysias UPI-like digital payments revolution

According to official data, pharma exports in March rose 31.21 per cent YoY. The next best performing month in the fiscal year was January, when the exports rose 21.47 per cent to $2590.88 million ($2132.92 million).

The US remains the prime market

Despite Trumps reciprocal tariff threats, the US continues to remain the largest market for Indian pharma exports, accounting for more than one-third of the trade. The exports to the US were 14.29 per cent at $8953.37 million. Meanwhile, the UK, Brazil, France and South Africa were other countries in the top five importing from India, but account for a combined less than 10.5 per cent of the exports.

There has been a contraction of 1.78 per cent in regards to exports to South Africa. During the 11 months of the fiscal year, the top 25 countries-markets where the exports declined were the United Arab Emirates (by 17.70 per cent); Turkey (16 per cent); Sri Lanka (14.60 per cent); The Netherlands (13.79 per cent), China (10.60 per cent) and Belgium (7.37 per cent). The decline in exports was 3.80 per cent to Mexico and 0.14 per cent to Thailand, official data showed.

When it comes to regional data, NAFTA, Europe, and Africa were three major regions, together amounting to 76 per cent of Indian pharma exports. Among regions where the exports declined were Africa (by 1.74 per cent) and North East Asia (4.30 per cent).

With inputs from agencies.
Raid 2 is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, and Krishan Kumar. The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series read more

The makers of the eagerly awaited Raid 2 have launched their new song, Tumhe Dillagia soulful recreation of the iconic classic by the legendary Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Reimagined by composer Rochak Kohli and brought to life through Jubin Nautiyals evocative vocals, the song features poignant lyrics by Manoj Muntashir and Purnam Allahabadi, capturing a deep emotional undercurrent that mirrors the films themes of trust, longing, and hidden truths.

Set against the backdrop of a vibrant festive celebration, the song offers a tender interlude in the filmhighlighting the growing connection between Ajay Devgn and Vaani Kapoor. While the moment feels warm and intimate, it subtly hints at the inner turmoil faced by Ajays character, as a storm brews silently in another part of his world.

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Tumhe Dillagi has always been one of those timeless songs that stayed with me, As I child , then as a boy and now as a man I am still enjoying this timeless magic of Nusrat Saab says Jubin Nautiyal. Theres a deep sense of yearning in this version that I tried to carry through every note. It speaks to the silences between two people, the emotions that linger unspoken. Recreating a song Ive long loved was both a privilege and a challengeto hold on to its soul while bringing my own voice to it.

Reimagining a classic like Tumhe Dillagi came with a sense of responsibility, adds composer Rochak Kohli. The original holds such emotional weight, and my aim was to honour that while giving it a texture that fits into the 80s/ 90s world of Raid 2. Its about blending nostalgia with a cinematic context that feels fresh, yet deeply rooted in feeling.

Helmed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 is anticipated to be the most engrossing entertainer of the year. The battle lines are drawn, and the stakes are high  are you ready for the ultimate showdown?

The movie stars an ensemble cast: Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Vaani Kapoor, Supriya Pathak, Saurabh Shukla, and Amit Sial, among other celebrated actors joining this high-stakes sequel.

Raid 2 is produced by Bhushan Kumar, Kumar Mangat Pathak, Abhishek Pathak, and Krishan Kumar. The film is presented by Gulshan Kumar and T-Series and is a Panorama Studios production. Directed by Raj Kumar Gupta, Raid 2 is set to release theatrically on 1st May 2025.

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On April 19, 1975, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched Aryabhatathe countrys very first satellite into space. Named after the ancient Indian astronomer, the satellite was launched aboard a Soviet rocket, Kosmos-3M, from Russia. It was also the day when the American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord, marking the start of the colonies struggle for independence from British rule read more

Named after the renowned 5th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer Aryabhata, the 360-kg satellite carried instruments to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and ionospheric research. Image courtesy: X

Its April 19, and the date marks a landmark moment for Indias journey into space.

On this day back in 1975, the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) launched Aryabhatathe countrys very first satellite. Named after the ancient Indian astronomer, the satellite wasnt just an experiment; it was a giant leap that gave Isro the confidence to step into the world of satellite technology.

Found this interesting? If you are a history geek who loves to learn about important events from the past, Firstpost Explainers ongoing series, History Today will be your one-stop destination to explore key events.

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April 19 also marks a pivotal moment in American history. In 1775, the first shots of the American Revolutionary War were fired at the Battle of Lexington. It was the beginning of the countrys fight for independence from British colonial rule.

But this date is also remembered for a far more tragic reason. On April 19, 1995, Oklahoma City was the site of one of the worst domestic terrorist attacks in American history. A massive truck bomb exploded outside a federal building, killing 168 people and injuring hundreds more.

Here is all that happened over the years on April 19 across the world.

India launches its first satellite Aryabhata

On 19 April 1975, India made a bold leap into the space age with the launch of its first satellite, Aryabhata.

Named after the renowned 5th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer, the 360-kg satellite carried instruments to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and ionospheric research.

Aryabhata was quasi-spherical in shape with 26 flat faces measuring 1.59 metres across and 1.19 metres in height, noted Space India, Isros in-house journal, in its April-June 2000 edition commemorating the satellites 25th anniversary. The satellite featured solar cells covering a surface area of 36,800 sq cm, generating around 46 watts of power.

Named after the renowned 5th-century Indian mathematician and astronomer, Aryabhata, the 360-kg satellite carried instruments to conduct experiments in X-ray astronomy, solar physics, and ionospheric research. Image courtesy: Isro

Aryabhatas launch was made possible through a crucial partnership between India and the Soviet Union. Under an agreement signed in 1972, the USSR provided both technical support and the launch vehicle needed to get the satellite into space.

Aryabhata was carried aboard a Kosmos-3M rocketan established workhorse of the Soviet space programmeand launched from the Kapustin Yar site in Russia.

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The successful mission wasnt just a scientific win; it marked a turning point in Indias space ambitions and secured its place among the select group of nations with satellite capabilities.

From that humble beginning, we have grown to the highest levels of maturity in satellite technology. To date, we have conceived and built 131 satellites of various types for a variety of applications. At the moment, we have 55 satellites in orbit, Isro Chairman V Narayanan told The Hindu.

The dawn of the American Revolution

On April 19, 1775, the American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, marking the start of the colonies struggle for independence from British rule.

British troops had been ordered to march from Boston to seize colonial military supplies stored in Concord and to arrest rebel leaders. At Lexington, they were confronted by American militiamen. A shot rang outits origin still unknownand in the chaos that followed, eight colonists were killed and several others wounded.

The American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts, marking the start of the colonies struggle for independence from British rule. Imge courtesy: Wikimedia Commons

The British continued to Concord but faced stiff resistance. At the North Bridge, colonial militiamen exchanged fire with British troops, forcing them into a chaotic retreat back to Boston. Along the way, colonial forces launched ambushes, using guerrilla-style tactics.

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By the end of the day, British casualties numbered 73 killed, 174 wounded, and 26 missing. American militias lost 50 men, with 39 wounded and five missing.

Oklahoma City bombing

On 19 April 1995, the United States witnessed one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in its historythe Oklahoma City bombing.

At 9:02 am, a Ryder truck packed with explosives detonated outside the Alfred P Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. The massive explosion ripped through the nine-storey structure, instantly killing 168 people, including 19 children, with several hundred more injured.

The blast destroyed nearly a third of the building, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars were incinerated, and more than 300 nearby structures were damaged or reduced to rubble.

On 19 April 1995, the United States witnessed one of the deadliest domestic terrorist attacks in its historythe Oklahoma City bombing. Image courtesy: FBI

The attack was carried out by Timothy McVeigh, a Gulf War veteran, and his accomplice Terry Nichols. Motivated by anti-government sentiment, McVeigh later said the bombing was revenge for the federal governments handling of the Waco standoff in 1993, when 76 men, women, and children died in a fire during an armed standoff with federal agents in the Texas city. McVeigh believed that the government had declared war against the American people.

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McVeigh was convicted and executed in 2001. Nichols received a life sentence. The investigation in this case was one of the most exhaustive in FBI history.
As Indias astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla heads to the International Space Station on the Axiom-4 mission, he wont be alone  a group of nearly indestructible micro-animals called tardigrades, or water bears, are going along too. But why are these microscopic creatures part of Indias space research? Heres everything you need to know read more

Axiom Space is counting down to the Axiom-4 crew launch, expected no earlier than May this year. Representational Image/AI-generated via Firstpost

India is preparing to take another significant leap in space research as the Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) collaborates with Axiom Space for the upcoming Axiom-4 mission.

Set to launch soon, the mission will see astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla head to the International Space Station (ISS) for 14 days aboard a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

As part of this mission, one of the most intriguing scientific payloads from India will be an experiment on an extraordinary group of microscopic creatures known as tardigrades, also called water bears or moss piglets.

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The Voyager Tardigrades experiment, one of seven Indian experiments approved for the Axiom-4 mission, is set to study these resilient organisms under the unique conditions of microgravity.

The @Axiom_Space Mission 4 (Ax-4) crew has completed their @NASA training ahead of their mission to the @Space_Station! In Houston, the crews training teams celebrated this milestone with a mission plaque hanging and cake cutting ceremony  a NASA tradition.  pic.twitter.com/ZoZ1cBuWpU  NASA's Johnson Space Center (@NASA_Johnson) April 11, 2025

The studys goals include observing how these creatures revive from suspended states, their reproduction rates in orbit, and how their gene expression compares with Earth-based control samples.

The findings could offer valuable insights for long-term space exploration, especially as India prepares for its Gaganyaan human spaceflight programme.

Who are the water bears? Understanding the creatures that can survive space

Tardigrades are minute, segmented micro-animals with eight legs ending in claws or pads. They were first identified in 1773 by German zoologist Johann August Ephraim Goeze, who called them kleiner Wasserbar, or little water bear.

The name Tardigrada, meaning slow walker, was later given in 1776 by Italian biologist Lazzaro Spallanzani.

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Typically ranging from 0.1 mm to 0.5 mm in length (though some species may grow to 1.3 mm), these organisms are plump-bodied and possess a tough outer cuticle.

Their slow, lumbering motion has earned them considerable attention and affection in both the scientific community and pop culture. Some scientists have even referred to tardigrades as a charismatic phylum.

Tardigrades are found in nearly every environment on Earth  from mountain peaks and deep-sea trenches to polar ice and tropical rainforests. They often inhabit mosses, lichens, soil, leaf litter, and marine and freshwater ecosystems.

These creatures are able to withstand extreme conditions that most life forms cannot survive. They have demonstrated the ability to endure complete dehydration, extreme temperatures, high and low atmospheric pressures, intense radiation, and even the vacuum of outer space.

Astonishingly, their survival strategy includes entering a dormant state called cryptobiosis, in which their metabolic functions come nearly to a halt.

In this state, they can withstand harsh environments and reanimate once favourable conditions return  such as rehydration with water.

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Their body, composed of roughly 1,000 cells, uses a haemocoel (fluid-filled body cavity) for circulation, lacking lungs, gills, or blood vessels. Instead, they rely on diffusion for gas exchange.

Why are tardigrades going to space again?

The Voyager Tardigrades experiment to be conducted on the ISS builds on earlier studies that have showcased the organisms remarkable hardiness in extraterrestrial environments.

From understanding biological processes to enhancing India's capabilities in space exploration, read to learn more about the research @ISRO will be conducting. https://t.co/hFoXSr5arq pic.twitter.com/JdI39myPQ5  Axiom Space (@Axiom_Space) April 15, 2025

Tardigrades were first proposed for space research in 1964 due to their resistance to radiation and extreme stress.

Actual experimentation began in 2007 during the European Space Agencys FOTON-M3 mission.

In that study, tardigrades were exposed to spaces vacuum for ten days in low Earth orbit  and they survived. Upon return to Earth, researchers successfully revived the creatures simply by rehydrating them.

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Further milestones followed. In 2011, tardigrades travelled aboard NASAs STS-134 mission to the ISS, expanding research into their viability in low-Earth orbit environments.

In 2019, they were onboard the Israeli lunar lander Beresheet, which unfortunately crash-landed on the Moon. The tardigrades were inside a capsule and might still remain preserved in some form, though no formal recovery has been undertaken.

Now, with Indias participation in the Axiom-4 mission, tardigrades are returning to the ISS in a far more structured and experiment-driven context.

According to a statement from Axiom Space, the Voyager experiment will will examine the revival, survival, and reproduction of tardigrades on the International Space Station, comparing gene expression patterns between space-flown and ground control populations. Understanding the molecular mechanisms of their resilience could inform future space exploration and lead to innovative biotechnology applications on Earth.

This study is expected to help scientists better understand how living systems function under microgravity and cosmic radiation  conditions that astronauts would be exposed to during long-duration missions, such as trips to Mars or lunar settlements.

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Relevance to Isros Gaganyaan

The findings of this experiment are not just of academic interest; they hold tangible implications for human spaceflight.

By investigating the molecular and genetic mechanisms of resilience in tardigrades, researchers may discover ways to protect astronauts from the harmful effects of deep-space radiation.

This is of critical importance as Isro moves forward with its Gaganyaan mission, which aims to send Indian astronauts into space on an indigenous platform.

Moreover, understanding how tardigrades enter and exit states of suspended animation may also offer new strategies for the long-term preservation of biological samples, including human tissues or even entire organisms during interplanetary travel.

This has potential crossover applications in biotechnology, medicine, and preservation sciences here on Earth.

Why tardigrades fascinate scientists

Aside from their biological significance, tardigrades have carved out a place in popular culture.

Their endearing movements, resilience and near-mythic survivability have inspired everything from crochet patterns to statues in churches, T-shirts, keychains and even scientific mascots.

They have been dubbed by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson as evidence that Earth might well be the planet of the tardigrades.

In a testament to their popularity, Milnesium tardigradum was even crowned winner of The Guardians 2025 Invertebrate of the Year competition.

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With inputs from agencies
Over 42,000 pilgrims in India have lost the chance to perform the sacred Hajj pilgrimage this year. While Saudi Arabia has allowed 10,000 more Indian pilgrims, others will miss it. We explain this and more in our weekly roundup read more

Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque during the annual Hajj pilgrimage in their holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia August 8, 2019. File Photo/Reuters

The Supreme Court is hearing a bunch of petitions filed against the Waqf Act, 2025, which was recently passed by Parliament. The top court has barred the Centre from implementing certain provisions of the legislation until the next date of hearing.

Mehul Choksi, who is wanted in India in the Punjab National Bank (PNB) loan fraud case, has been taken into custody in Belgium. The fugitive diamantaires arrest came following an extradition request by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).

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BluSmart, a popular electric ride-hailing startup, has suspended its services. A rival of Uber, the cab service operated in Delhi-National Capital Region, Mumbai and Bengaluru. But what has put a break on its wheels?

Heres all this and more in our weekly wrap from India.

1. The Supreme Court has indicated it could put a stay on three key aspects of the Waqf Act, 2025. The top court has flagged provisions of the law related to waqf-by-user, the inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Boards and Council, and the powers granted to the District Collector to change the status of a disputed waqf property.

We do not stay a legislation normally at this stage of the challenge unless in exceptional circumstances. This appears to be an exception, a three-judge bench presided by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna noted after a days hearing. The contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, passed by Parliament earlier this month, has sparked protests in several parts of the country. In this report, we explain the key points of the legislation that could be stayed by the Supreme Court.

2. India is awaiting diamond trader Mehul Choksis extradition from Belgium. However, it could be a long process before he finally returns to his homeland to face justice in the Rs 13,500 crore Punjab National Bank loan fraud case.

Choksi fled India in 2018, weeks before the alleged scam came to light. Reports surfaced last month that Choksi is living in Belgiums port city of Antwerp along with his wife, Preeti Choksi, a Belgian citizen. Now, India is seeking his extradition from the European country. But one of the factors that could complicate his extradition to India from Belgium is the businessmans Antiguan citizenship. We explain in detail why Choksi is unlikely to be in India soon.

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3. The Supreme Court has ruled that Urdu can be used on the signboard of a municipal council building in Maharashtra. Upholding the verdict of the Bombay High Court, the top court allowed the use of Urdu, along with Marathi, on the signage of the Patur Municipal Council building in Akola district.

The Supreme Court has ruled Urdu can be used on signage. File Photo/Reuters

Language is not religion. Language does not even represent religion. Language belongs to a community, to a region, to a people; and not to a religion, a Bench of Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and K Vinod Chandran stated, lamenting that colonial powers, despite the Indian origin of Urdu, associated the language with Muslims and Hindi with Hindus. Read our report on the apex courts ruling here.

4. Over 42,000 pilgrims in India would miss the sacred Hajj pilgrimage this year. This comes after the Combined Haj Group Operators (CHGOs) missed the deadline of the Saudi authorities to fill more than 52,000 slots.

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However, after the Indian governments intervention, Saudi Arabia has allowed private operators to send 10,000 Indian pilgrims for the Hajj pilgrimage in Mecca. What are CHGOs? How many Indians were supposed to visit the Hajj this year? Read this story to know more.

5. BluSmart, an electric ride-hailing startup, has stopped its services after the securities market regulators order against its promoters in an alleged loan fraud case. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (Sebi) launched an investigation into Gensol Engineering, a solar energy company, which procured electric vehicles and leases them to BluSmart.

Gensol Engineerings founders, Anmol Singh Jaggi and Puneet Singh Jaggi, are also promoters of BluSmart. Sebi has accused the Jaggi brothers of directing substantial loan amounts for personal use, including buying a luxury apartment in Gurgaon. How has the controversy impacted BluSmart? What does the cab services future look like? We explain in this report.

6. Akshay Kumars Kesari Chapter 2 has brought Sir Chettur Sankaran Nair to the limelight. The movie depicts Nairs notable legal battle against the British Empire in the aftermath of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre of 1919.

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Sir Chettur Sankaran Nairs legal battle against the British Empire is featured in Kesari 2. Wikimedia Commons

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also recently showered praise on Nair, an Indian jurist and nationalist born in Kerala. What is the courtroom battle featuring Kumar as Nair that Kesari has shown? Who was Sankaran Nair? Read our story to find out.

7. Is the paneer you are relishing real? Or is it fake paneer that you are clearing off the plate? Indians were forced to wonder after an influencer and YouTuber, Sarthak Sachdeva, accused Gauri Khans Mumbai restaurant, Torii, of serving fake paneer.

In a viral video, he can be seen carrying out an iodine test, which turned the paneer blue  presumably a sign of starch, meaning adulteration. But is this a sure-shot method of identifying fake paneer? And how harmful can such paneer be? We dig into it in this report.

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US President Donald Trump has declassified over 10,000 pages of long-classified documents tied to the 1968 assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy. The release includes FBI memos, assassin Sirhan Sirhans handwritten notes and firsthand witness interviews, shedding light on the investigation and reigniting public interest in one of Americas most significant political tragedies read more

US Senator Robert F Kennedy, D-NY, speaks to campaign workers, June 5, 1968, as his wife Ethel, left, and California campaign manager and speaker of the California Assembly, Jesse Unruh, look on, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. File Image/AP

Nearly six decades after the assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy, the United States government has made public more than 10,000 pages of documents linked to the investigation into his killing.

The files were released following an executive order by President Donald Trump, who directed federal agencies to declassify material related to major historical events including the assassinations of Robert F Kennedy (RFK), President John F Kennedy and civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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The declassified trove contains a wide range of investigative materials  from FBI evidence reports and Justice Department memos to autopsy images, handwritten notes by the assassin Sirhan Sirhan, witness interviews and personal correspondences addressed to the US government in the wake of the tragedy.

These records offer a deeper glimpse into the events surrounding RFKs murder, the profile of his killer, and the ensuing public and official reactions.

US Senator Robert F Kennedy, D-NY, tells reporters that he is a candidate for his partys presidential nomination on March 16, 1968, in Washington. File Image/AP

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that the release was made possible through coordinated efforts with the National Archives and other federal agencies.

Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to @POTUS leadership and commitment to maximum transparency. pic.twitter.com/Wvy2fkS9Ai  DNI Tulsi Gabbard (@DNIGabbard) April 18, 2025

Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to @POTUS leadership and commitment to maximum transparency, she wrote on X.

RFKs final moments and the aftermath

US Senator Robert F Kennedy, younger brother of President John F Kennedy, was assassinated just after midnight on June 5, 1968, in the kitchen pantry of the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles.

Moments earlier, he had delivered a victory speech celebrating his win in the California presidential primary. As he exited through the pantry, he was shot multiple times by 24-year-old Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian-Jordanian man who used a .22-caliber revolver.

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In addition to fatally wounding Kennedy, the shooting left five other individuals injured. Sirhan was subdued at the scene and later convicted of first-degree murder.

He was initially sentenced to death, but the sentence was commuted to life imprisonment with the possibility of parole after Californias Supreme Court temporarily invalidated the death penalty in 1972.

Sirhan Sirhan, right, accused of assassinating Senator Robert F Kennedy, is seen with his attorney Russell E Parsons in Los Angeles in June 1968. File Image/AP

Some of the newly released records describe the immediate chaos following the attack. A June 12, 1968, FBI memo recounts the distraught reaction of Kennedys widow, Ethel Kennedy, who reportedly told an ambulance worker to keep your hands off him.

Another witness said she knocked over a TV news camera and struck a reporter in the chest at the hospital.

Revealing Sirhans writings and background

Among the most revealing portions of the documents are photographs and scans of handwritten notes by Sirhan Sirhan. On the outside of an empty envelope, Sirhan wrote: RFK must be disposed of like his brother was.

In other notes, he expressed what the FBI termed an unshakeable obsession with killing Kennedy. One such entry reads, My determination to eliminate RFK is becoming more [and] more of an unshakeable obsession.

In addition to the notes, the files include FBI assessments of Sirhans mental and physical condition. A 1968 FBI memo noted that he had fallen from a horse in 1966 and suffered a head injury.

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LAPD mug shot of Sirhan Sirhan, accused of assassinating Senator Robert F Kennedy at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Archives.gov

Family members told investigators that his behaviour significantly changed following the accident. Sirhans acquaintances painted a mixed picture of his personality, describing him variously as a friendly, kind and generous person, but also as brooding and impressionable, with strong political convictions and an interest in mysticism.

The documents also reveal a chilling interaction with a sanitation worker, who told investigators that shortly after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.s assassination, Sirhan declared his intent to shoot RFK.

When the garbage collector, who was Black, told Sirhan he supported Kennedy because he believed the senator would help Black Americans, Sirhan reportedly replied, Well, I dont agree. I am planning on shooting the son of a bitch.

Public and official responses

The assassination of RFK drew reactions from around the world. The files include condolence letters from foreign dignitaries and heads of state addressed to the US Department of State.

Additionally, many documents feature correspondence from ordinary Americans, reflecting widespread grief and disbelief.

The assassination also sparked a wave of conspiracy theories similar to those that followed the killing of President John F Kennedy.

Some theories questioned whether Sirhan acted alone, suggesting the possibility of a second gunman or alleging that intelligence agencies may have played a role.

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These theories were partially fuelled by conflicting eyewitness accounts and references to unusual figures at the scene, such as a woman in a polka-dot dress or someone shouting, we shot him.

While these theories are referenced in the newly released documents, no new concrete evidence has emerged to substantiate claims of a broader conspiracy. Nonetheless, some advocates and members of the Kennedy family continue to question the official narrative.

RFK Jr applauds the release, doubts official account

US Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr, the senators son, expressed gratitude for the release of the files. Lifting the veil on the RFK papers is a necessary step toward restoring trust in American government, he said in a statement.

RFK Jr was 14 years old at the time of his fathers death and has long questioned the conclusion that Sirhan was solely responsible.

Breaking with many of his siblings, RFK Jr met with Sirhan in prison and supported his 2021 bid for parole. A parole board initially approved the request, stating that Sirhan was unlikely to reoffend, but California Governor Gavin Newsom overturned the decision in 2022.

Sirhan Sirhan reacts during a parole hearing on February 10, 2016, at the Richard J Donovan Correctional Facility in San Diego. File Image/AP

In 2023 and again in 2024, Sirhans subsequent parole requests were denied.

Continued transparency efforts

Fridays release represents only a portion of the files the Trump administration has committed to making public.

According to Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, another 50,000 pages of documents related to RFKs assassination were located in CIA and FBI archives and are currently being processed for declassification.

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Agencies are also continuing to search federal storage facilities for additional relevant records.

The files were published online by the National Archives and Records Administration, with limited redactions to protect sensitive personal information, such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth.

This comes after the administration faced criticism in March over the release of unredacted personal data in documents related to President John F Kennedys assassination.

AP quoted Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics and author of The Kennedy Half-Century, who acknowledged the enduring public interest in these cases but cautioned against expecting sensational revelations. I hope theres more information. Im doubtful that there is, just as I said when the JFK documents were released, he noted.

Trump has positioned himself as a proponent of government transparency, particularly concerning major historical events.

His administration has also promised forthcoming disclosures related to the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who, like RFK, was killed in 1968.

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Legacy of Robert F Kennedy

Robert F Kennedy remains an enduring figure in American political history. Regarded by many liberals as a champion of civil rights, social justice, and the fight against poverty, his death is often seen as a pivotal moment that shifted the country onto a more conservative trajectory.

Kennedy began his public career under the administration of his brother, President John F Kennedy, who appointed him Attorney General. After JFKs assassination in 1963, Robert remained active in politics and was elected as a US Senator from New York in 1964.

In 1968, he entered the presidential race, garnering strong support from a diverse coalition of Americans.

His assassination, just two months after Kings murder, marked the loss of another transformative figure during one of the most turbulent periods in US history.

With thousands of pages still to be reviewed and further releases expected, the public and historians alike may gain additional insight into the circumstances and legacy of Robert F Kennedys death.

With inputs from agencies
Bhabesh Chandra Roy was killed on Thursday after he was abducted from his home. He served as the vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a well-known figure in the minority Hindu community in the country read more

The Students Against Discrimination and Jatiyo Nagorik Committeethe groups that formed NCPsupported the propaganda that attacks against Hindus were mostly due to political reasons and were 'exaggerated' by Indian media. Image: Jatiya Nagarik Party or National Citizen Party, written on placard (AP Photo)

India on Saturday condemned the killing of Hindu minority leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Bangladesh, saying that his death follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government.

Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity.

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We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh.

This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2025

More from India Why Bangladesh arrested a model for 'threatening' diplomatic ties

We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions, he added.

Who was the Hindu leader?

Roy, 58, served as the vice president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a well-known figure in the minority Hindu community in the country.

He was also a member of the Biral upazila of Dinajpur.

How was he killed?

Roy was allegedly beaten to death on Thursday after he was abducted from his home. His wife, Shantana Roy, said that Bhabesh was at home when he received a call in the evening, which was reportedly made by his killers to confirm his location.

Half an hour later, four men barged into his home and abducted him on a motorcycle. According to Daily Star, Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.

On the same day, the attackers brought his unconscious body back to his home in a van.

Family members, with the help of locals, quickly transported him to the Biral Upazila Health Complex. He was subsequently transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead upon arrival. His body was then sent for an autopsy.

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Ankaras gift of military assets, like an old warship, to Male in such a short span points only to the possibility of Turkey wanting to develop strategic interest in the Indian Ocean Region read more

Even as common neighbours, India and Sri Lanka have signed what possibly is the first bilateral defence cooperation MoU of the kind in South Asia; Maldivian President Mohamed Muizzu seemed to have revived his early plans to usher in another extra-regional power in the form of Turkey.

After obtaining three of the promised six Turkish drones for aerial surveys of the vast seas surrounding the atoll nation during his maiden overseas foreign visit, Muizzu has now obtained a gift of an old warship from President Recep Tayyip Erdogans government in Ankara.

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Media reports, quoting Turkish defence ministry sources, have claimed that the Dogan-class fast-attack missile boat, GCG Volkan (P-343), has been refurbished and will be handed over to the Maldives National Defence Force (MNDF) before June. Training for Maldivian personnel has already begun in Turkey, and there will be additional training when it arrives in Maldivian waters to be handed over.

According to these reports, the Dogan-class FAC, designed by German shipbuilder Lurssen Werft, marked a significant milestone in Turkish naval modernisation, being the first platform in the nations fleet to integrate the US-designed Harpoon anti-ship missile system. The ship thus offers over-the-horizon strike capabilities and high lethality in maritime engagements.

As may be recalled, Turkish drones were aimed at replacing the continued deployment of India-aided fixed-wing Dronier aircraft, flown by Indian military pilots in the absence of MNDF counterparts who did not take wings, as expected. Of course, after a series of high-level meetings initiated by President Muizzu and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at their first meeting, this one in Dubai, the Dornier and also an Indian helicopter are back in action, flown by civilian pilots from India, with reportedly restricted use for evacuating flood victims and critically ill persons from distant atolls and islands.

However, what Muizzu could not achieve one way or the other was to replace the closest Indian neighbour as the near-so sole supplier of staples, including rice, sugar and wheat flour, by importing them wholesale from distant Turkey. The intervening Houthi attacks on the commercial shipping fleet in the Red Sea made the alternate circuitous route even more uneconomical. In the end, India continues to supply the staples and also medicines, which Muizzu wanted to import from Europe or the US, which is even more distant from Maldivian shores.

Now the social media joke doing the rounds in the Maldives is how well Muizzu is going to defend the nations sovereignty and territorial integrity (but from whom?) and both India and Sri Lanka would have to rush all their naval assets to face off the threat to their sovereignty, instead. P-343 is said to be longer and older than the India-gifted and refitted vessel, Huravee, that has been in the service of the MNDF for years now. Unlike the Turkish vessel, this one is not a missile-loaded attack craft. Some veterans claim even if not now, the Turkish vessel could be fitted with missiles  again, to target who?

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Overnight threats

Jokes apart, questions are being asked about the need for expanding the MNDF coast guard wing or creating a new naval wing, which is what attack craft of the Turkish kind serve, that too in the midst of the economic crisis of the past year. If still the current dispensation anticipated overnight external threats to national security, which is where an attack craft of the kind has use, then it should have taken the nation into confidence.

The argument is that at least Parliaments 241 National Security Committee should be taken into confidence. If it is only an internal threat, say, of terrorism, and not a rebellion within the MNDF, then a naval craft serves no purpose  and could become a sitting duck for the attackers to make a point, if any. Again, the 241 committee should come into the picture.

Thats what the previous Solih government did when Muizzus mentor and then-political boss, former President Abdulla Yameen, expanded the scope of his motivated India Out campaign. Having demanded the withdrawal of the two Indian air machines and their pilots at the end of his presidency (2013-18), Yameen, under the Solih dispensation, claimed that the Indian-funded UTF coast guard harbour on the Uthuru Thila Falhu Island was instead aimed at hosting an Indian naval base.

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Though Yameen as president had sought the harbour, when voted out, his attitude towards the northern neighbour changed overnight. And when the Opposition stalled parliamentary proceedings for days together, then-President Mohamed Ibrahim Solih cleared a proposal for all members of the 241 committee, sworn to secrecy, to read the UTF agreement with India but without taking down notes or making a copy.

The initial silence that overwhelmed after panel members had read through the agreement was broken when non-MPs in Yameens camp and journalists supportive of him would not stop. Some of them are at present Parliament members, representing the Muizzu-led ruling Progressive National Congress (PNC), a creation of Yameen.

Real imaginary

Through all these, Muizzu has been sending out confusing messages/signals, which in turn seem to flow from a confusing and at times contradictory assessment of national security, real and imaginary. The Maldives, even with the Turkish craft, cannot really fend off external security threats to the nations territorial integrity across the vast EEZ, even if it does not really threaten sovereignty.

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If the government still aimed at using such vessels for tackling massive drug smuggling to the Maldives or through Maldivian waters, its like deploying a bulldozer to swat a fly. In the contemporary context, its like China deploying submarines to reportedly tackle Somali pirates a decade and more back. The real intention, including port calls at Sri Lankas Colombo, was to test the unique viscosity of the Indian Ocean waters.

The Maldives is already a member of the Colombo Security Conclave (CSC), along with India, Sri Lanka, Mauritius and more recently Bangladesh as members, and Seychelles as an observer. Though Mauritius had chosen the Male session of the annual conclave in 2022 to become a full-fledged member before Muizzus time, his government chose to boycott the Mauritius session, later claiming that they did not have proper briefing by the outgoing Solih dispensation. In all fairness, the Maldives participated in the next session. Of course, the CSC addresses only non-traditional security concerns, beginning with human security.

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IOR ambitions

Thus the question arises as to what purpose two Turkish drones earlier and a Turkish attack craft now serve the Maldives, where low population spread across the vast Indian Ocean, in 1,200 inhabited islands, also affects personnel demands of the MNDF. Does it mean that on a future day, the government would clear a proposal for hiring non-Maldivians for national security duties  if that is what it takes?

In turn, which is the likely country from which the government would rope in experienced naval personnel or veterans? It cannot be India, Sri Lanka or any other nation in the region. Zeroing in on Turkey itself is a real possibility, but that is for another day  just as the likelihood or otherwise of obtaining missiles for the new vessel.

In short, Ankaras gift of military assets in such a short span points only to the possibility of Turkey wanting to develop strategic interest in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). The Maldives under Muizzu may only provide the base for President Erdogan to launch his ambitious project if it is only a beginning. If so, it is going to upset the security equilibrium in the IOR beyond past imagination and consequent preparations.

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Already, the US has been around in these parts in the form of the Diego Garcia base. China, as the new entrant to the superpower game, may not have got a military foothold but has Sri Lankan territory under its strategic control, in Hambantota. Indications and, by implication, the India-Sri Lanka defence cooperation MoU is believed to be aimed at securing the region against visible Chinese expansionism. Yet, China still wanted free passage and port-call facilities for its spy ships, in Sri Lanka and Muizzus Maldives.

Incidentally, at the peak of Muizzus bountiful hate speech against India on his return from the state visit to China, in mid-January 2024, New Delhi began fast-tracking work on the INS Jayatu base on Minicoy Island, which some of the Maldivian governments from the days of President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom had claimed as theirs.

But no Maldivian per se expects any threat from India for the foreseeable future. Instead, it makes sense for them, too, that Indian strategic depth, military strength and political will all are required to secure the IOR for the regional nations, especially from extra-regional powers that are out to covet one or more of them, in terms of their own geo-strategic ambitions and tit-for-tat competition. There is clarity among IOR nations in the region that they just cannot manage external threats and security  now or ever.

Quad sense

The argument that after the India MoU, signed during Prime Minister Modis Sri Lanka visit this month, Colombo will be pressured to sign up for the US-led Quad does not make sense, for a nation like the Maldives to quiz around. India itself has clarified more than once that it would not be a part of security and military aspects of Quad. With the result, the US created AUKUS with Australia and the UK to address those strategic and security concerns. If so, Sri Lanka or even the Maldives or any of the South Asian nations sign up for Quad, thinking it is a security arrangement, then it will be their decision independent of any Indian angle.

All of it now raises the question of what Turkey is up to in these parts. The way Muizzu especially chose Turkey for his first official visit as president and China for his maiden visit, that too in quick succession, had led to Maldivian social media claims that in Muizzus Maldives, both extra-regional powers are finding common ground, common foothold, if that is what they required  and thus upset the status quo.

Alternatively, there is also a half-jest theory that if India had problems with China and had expressed its reservations to the Muizzu dispensation, New Delhi might not have expressed its views on Turkey entering the IOR with strategic intent. And for Muizzu to be able to win over at least a part of Maldivian public opinion, including that of those Yameen voters that went with him, he would then have to revive the staples pact with Ankara and ensure that he received rice, flour and sugar in the coming year(s) at the very least.

Self-contradictions

Incidentally, the day news reports appeared about Turkey gifting the attack craft to the Maldives, Muizzu was hosting Sultan bin Abdulrahman Al-Mushid, CEO of the Saudi Fund for Development (SFD), to launch a project to build 400 affordable housing units in the suburban reclamation island of Hulhumale. The government also obtained an additional loan of $17 million from Riyadh for completing works in the Male International Airport, commenced by the Solih dispensation. At a brief ceremony, President Muizzu also conferred the title, Order of the Dignified Rule of Muleege Dynasty on the visitor.

Maldivian self-contradictions, involving Saudi Arabia and Turkey, did not end there, either. As may be recalled, there were reports of Saudi Arabia cancelling President Muizzus maiden overseas visit, literally at the last minute, only when he decided to fly to Turkey, not long after taking over in November 2023.

Whats more, in a very rare case, Parliaments subject committee sat over an Opposition MDP members private bill for barring Israeli passport-holders over the nations Gaza war, for over 300 days. It is another matter that the committee cleared the suspension of three Supreme Court judges, presumed to be unfavourable to the Muizzu dispensation, within hours, if not minutes.

With the hurried appointment of a new judge in place of one of the three who quit later, the bench strength continues at five against the total seven. The ACC and police investigations into the other two remain incomplete. In the absence of a full bench, the SC has not been able to take up constitutional cases for over a month and a half, starting with the pending plea against Muizzus safety valve of an anti-defection law. As it turned out, President Muizzu declined assent to a bill, which was voted in by the brutal majority, for downsizing from the SC Bench strength from seven to five, which was changed only by the previous dispensation.

Incidentally, in the case of the suspension of three justices, both the parliamentary committee and the full House cleared the bill in double-quick time once the decision had been made  but with a crucial amendment, obviously at the instance of a reluctant government. Accordingly, Israelis holding dual citizenship, hence twin passports, are exempt from the ban. It is clearly aimed at pleasing and placating someone, but not certainly the Israeli government of controversial Prime Minister Benjamin Bibi Netanyahu.

The writer is a Chennai-based Policy Analyst & Political Commentator. Email: sathiyam54@nsathiyamoorthy.com. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Constructive engagement with the Talibanmotivated by strategic necessity rather than ideological alignmentmay pave the road for a more stable Afghanistan and a more balanced regional order read more

Interestingly, the Taliban also want to engage directly and bilaterally with the US. Representational image/Reuters

In a remarkable turn of events, the US appears to be recalibrating its posture toward the Taliban, indicating a newfound interest in engaging with the regime that now rules Afghanistan. An American delegation visited Kabul recently on March 20, 2025, led by Adam Boehler, the US Special Envoy for Hostage Affairs, and Zalmay Khalilzad, former US envoy to Afghanistan, and met with top Taliban officials there.

This visit, along with reports of the US planning to reopen its embassy in Afghanistan, highlights Washingtons recognition of the rapidly evolving geopolitical dynamics, particularly Chinas expanding strategic footprint in the region.

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While initially most countries remained hesitant to engage with the Taliban and cautiously were following the developments there, China, driven by pragmatic foreign policy and strategic calculations, was one of the first governments to engage directly with this regime.

Beijing continues to host Afghan delegates, strengthen diplomatic ties, and extend its presence through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects and other strategic engagements. The expanding of Chinas influence in Afghanistan has led Washington to reconsider its strategy, as it does not want its geostrategic rival, Beijing, to completely dominate the geopolitical landscape of Afghanistan. The US withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021 created a power vacuum that Beijing is now actively seeking to fill.

Today, Chinas global ascent has reached a point where it can no longer be confined to, nor contained within, the Indo-Pacific alone. Strategies focused solely on limiting its influence in that region are proving inadequate. Its geopolitical influence today spans across every continent, encompassing the Western Hemisphere, Asia, Africa, Latin America, Central Asia, and key maritime domains.

As a result, the US is contemplating a comprehensive, globally integrated strategy to challenge Chinas expanding influence. Against this backdrop, countering Chinas growing presence in Afghanistan also becomes increasingly significant, as Beijing rapidly deepens its strategic foothold there. Moreover, in a recent development, China granted Afghanistan 100 per cent tariff-free access to its markets, effective from December 1, 2024, enhancing Beijings strategic leverage in the region.

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Beyond geopolitical competition with Beijing, terrorism is a key driver of Washingtons renewed focus on Afghanistan. With the Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) still posing a threat, Washington is exploring avenues of cooperation with the Taliban in intelligence and counterterrorism operations.

Notably, the United States appears to be increasingly willing to engage the Taliban directly, bypassing Pakistan. Years of deception and double-crossing by Islamabad have significantly eroded American trust, necessitating a more pragmatic approach from the US.

Interestingly, the Taliban also want to engage directly and bilaterally with the US, having faced similar manipulation by Pakistan, which has historically used the group to further its own strategic objectives.

Moreover, media reports suggest that the US may resume operations at the Bagram Airbase, which was formerly central to Americas military operations in Afghanistan. Allegedly, a covert agreement has been reached between Washington and the Taliban, with the latter receiving certain concessions in return.

If true, this could indicate a growing level of strategic coordination between the Pentagon and the Taliban, potentially aimed at curbing not only Chinas influence in the region but also Irans. Although the Taliban may not publicly support US activities against Iran, even limited cooperation could provide Washington the regional foothold it seeks.

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Trumps potential engagement with the Taliban is also driven by geoeconomic rationale. Afghanistan has huge quantities of critical mineral reserves, estimated at about 1.4 million metric tonnes, including vast reserves in Helmands Khanneshin carbonatite site. These critical rare earth minerals are essential for new technologies, clean energy transitions, and supply chain diversification. As China moves to dominate these sectors, the US desires access to these key strategic assets and resources to maintain its economic and technological competitiveness.

This geoeconomic imperative for engaging with the Taliban is also complemented by the transactional personality of Trump. Personalities like Donald Trump, who prioritise transactional diplomacy over a value-based approach, align well with the Talibans similarly pragmatic approach. Trumps approach to international engagements, which focused on practical outcomes rather than moral arguments, makes such an engagement possible.

Furthermore, engaging with the Taliban could potentially moderate their behaviour as they seek international recognition and legitimacy, compelling them to adhere to global norms and standards. Engaging with the Taliban through a pragmatic and constructive approach that prioritises peace, stability, and regional securityrather than focusing on democratic liberal standardswould benefit Afghanistan, its neighbours, and the broader international community.

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New Delhi has already taken a pragmatic stance by engaging with the Taliban, realising that engagement, not isolation, provides a path to influence and regional stability. In early 2025, New Delhi intensified its diplomatic outreach with the Taliban when Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met Afghanistans Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in Dubai to explore deeper political and economic cooperation, including trade via Irans Chabahar Port.

The US appears to be headed in a similar direction, recognising that engagement is frequently a more effective tool than disengagement on the intricate chessboard of global affairs. Furthermore, US involvement in Afghanistan aligns with Indias broader strategic interests. Given both countries comprehensive global strategic partnership, they can collaborate on developmental projects and capacity-building initiatives in Afghanistan. Such cooperation would also help counterbalance Chinas expanding influence in the region, and pursuing joint efforts in Afghanistan becomes even more important in light of Chinas deep pockets.

In conclusion, the evolving geopolitical realities in Afghanistan are compelling key global actors, particularly the United States and India, to reassess their strategies toward the Taliban regime. The shifting dynamicsmarked by Chinas deepening influence, lingering terrorism threats, and competition over critical mineral resourcesnecessitate a pragmatic approach that prioritises engagement over isolation.

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As Washington signals a willingness to re-engage with Kabul, potentially even through strategic concessions and cooperation, this recalibration reflects a broader move to safeguard long-term regional and global interests.

For India and the US, collaborating on developmental and strategic projects in Afghanistan can provide an opportunity to strengthen their strategic presence while simultaneously counterbalancing Chinas expanding influence there.

Finally, constructive engagement with the Talibanmotivated by strategic necessity rather than ideological alignmentmay pave the road for a more stable Afghanistan and a more balanced regional order.

Imran Khurshid is a visiting research fellow at the International Centre for Peace Studies, New Delhi. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Feature: Chinese language gains popularity among Ghanaian students as bilateral ties deepen

Xinhua) 09:46, April 19, 2025

A contestant sings a Chinese song during a competition to mark the Chinese Language Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 17, 2025. As the bilateral ties between Ghana and China deepen, Ghana has seen a growing number of Chinese learners who aspire to make a difference in their lives. (Xinhua/Seth)

ACCRA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Afua Ampaw, 13, a second-year junior high school student at the Cornerstone International Academy in Accra, the Ghanaian capital, has been learning Chinese for years.

Her interest was first ignited while watching Chinese movies and dramas. "As I started watching the dramas, I realized how beautiful Chinese culture and language are, and I took an interest in them," Ampaw told Xinhua on Thursday during a competition to mark the Chinese Language Day at the Confucius Institute at the University of Ghana (CIUG).

"When I found out about the Confucius Institutes, I decided to take my first step, to come here and learn Chinese," she said.

After enrolling in the course, Ampaw quickly proved to be a fast language learner. "I was able to write 50 characters after learning them within one month."

She said the Chinese language has bolstered her understanding of Chinese culture, including the values of diligence, honesty, and discipline, which have benefited her immensely in life.

Moreover, she is eyeing more opportunities. "You can have the chance to go and study in China. There are many business opportunities as China-Africa relations continue to grow and strengthen," she said.

Ampaw is one of numerous Chinese language enthusiasts in Ghana who have benefited from the expansion of language education programs provided by three Confucius Institutes across the country. As the bilateral ties between Ghana and China deepen, Ghana has seen a growing number of Chinese learners who aspire to make a difference in their lives.

Nyameba Akuoko-Acheampong, a 10-year-old learner from the Rising Sun Montessori School, won the first prize in her category.

"I was overjoyed when my name came up as the winner. I urge all my peers to encourage themselves and get involved with learning Chinese, because it can take them far in life," she said.

Jonathan Atandzi, headteacher of the Rising Sun Montessori School, said the school has seen year-on-year improvement in learners' assimilation of the language due to the dedication of the educators and the perseverance of the learners.

According to him, this marks the second consecutive year the school has won an award in the same category. "These awards show how serious we are with the language and the curriculum that we run in our schools."

"For logistics, we don't have much of a problem. Since we collaborate with the Confucius Institute, they always support us with qualified teachers to teach the language at our school," Atandzi added.

Clement Appah, Ghanaian director of the Confucius Institute at the CIUG, expressed optimism about the growing enthusiasm for Chinese language learning in Ghana.

"The fact that more and more people are getting interested in learning Chinese means that we have more people potentially able to communicate in Chinese and able to represent Ghana when it is needed," he said. "I expect that the Ghana-China relationship will continue to improve, and more and more people will get to understand the Chinese culture."

A contestant sings a Chinese song during a competition to mark the Chinese Language Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 17, 2025. As the bilateral ties between Ghana and China deepen, Ghana has seen a growing number of Chinese learners who aspire to make a difference in their lives. (Xinhua/Seth)

Contestants pose for a group photo during a competition to mark the Chinese Language Day in Accra, Ghana, on April 17, 2025. As the bilateral ties between Ghana and China deepen, Ghana has seen a growing number of Chinese learners who aspire to make a difference in their lives. (Xinhua/Seth)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
The Modi governments dual approachleveraging both domestic strengths and international expertiseis intended to fast-track the transition towards a robust, self-reliant shipbuilding ecosystem read more

The heavy reliance on imported tonnage is a missed opportunity for India. Representational image: Wikimedia Commons

Indias shipbuilding programme evokes echoes of a storied past; for instance, HMS Minden, built by the Wadiasa Mumbai-based business housewas the very ship aboard which the US national anthem, The Star-Spangled Banner, was composed in 1814.

Just as that ship carried the ideals that would reshape a nation, today India is trying to harness its maritime prowessspanning from homemade stateoftheart warships to the formidable aircraft carrierto set sail on a transformative journey in commercial shipping.

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At present, India spends a staggering $105 billion annually on foreign-built cargo vessels plying trade from the country.

This heavy reliance on imported tonnage is a missed opportunity. The strategic imperative now is to domesticate this capability: to shift from renting ships abroad to building them at home. Its easier said than done.

Recognising the need for a finance shortcut, India has begun nudging banks towards providing guarantees for shipbuilding. In the last budget this vision was bolstered by the introduction of a Maritime Development Fund (MDF). Designed to underpin Indias maritime sector, the MDF aims to channel financial assistance through both equity and debt securities. With an initial corpus pegged at 25,000 croreof which the government will contribute 49 per centthe remaining balance is expected to flow from major port authorities and a growing cadre of private investors.

India has reached out to South Korea and Japan, and coastal states are competing to offer land and shipyard infrastructure. In a bid to accelerate Indias engineering and labour advantage, the government is offering generous terms to attract foreign investments.

This dual approachleveraging both domestic strengths and international expertiseis intended to fast-track the transition towards a robust, self-reliant shipbuilding ecosystem.

Private players too are beginning to take calculated risks in this revitalised sector. The Adani Groups foray into shipbuilding at Mundra will be the test case. While others, like Larsen & Toubro, are also making significant investments.

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Forty-five shipyards have registered under the shipbuilding financial scheme, of which 19 have utilised the benefits for building 144 vessels, for which financial assistance of Rs 385.16 crore has already been provisioned.

Yet private involvement needs to be boosted beyond current programmes if critical mass is to be achieved. A financial incentive linked to production is urgent.

One of the worlds largest shipbuilders, HD Hyundai, is looking at Tamil Nadu as a possible shipyard location.

With the right political will, the shipping minister has Cabinet rank (a first), and a concerted push towards financial innovation and strategic investments, India can chart a new course in shipbuilding. Without more reforms, however, especially easier long-term finance, this shipbuilding dream could well be dead in the water.

The writer is a senior journalist with expertise in defence. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Indias IT sector isnt just being taxed; its being tested. Tariffs may sting, but theyre not the real threat. The existential challenges come from automation, artificial intelligence, political unpredictability, and our own complacency read more

Tariffs may be the least of the industry's problems. The real issues are structural, like how services are delivered, how labour is deployed, and how technology redefines what clients need. Representational image: REUTERS

On April 2, 2025, US President Donald Trump issued an executive order slapping a 27 per cent tariff on Indian goods. The reciprocal tariffs sent predictable ripples across Indias export community. Industries fretted over disrupted shipments, and newspapers rushed to estimate the losses in textiles, gems, and electronics. Though later Trump announced a 90-day pause on tariffs on trade partners, except China, to facilitate trade negotiations.

What remained mostly untouched, at least on paper, was Indias flagship export to the USIT services. Protected under the WTOs General Agreement on Trade in Services (GATS), software and backend systems remained duty-free. No tariffs, no customs, no headlines.

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But that safety is an illusion. The threats are neither loud nor official. They are quiet, creeping, and in many ways, more dangerous.

The Real Cost of Hardware

Software is borderless, but the systems that run it are not. Laptops, servers, and networking infrastructure power the IT industry. If the hardware becomes expensive, so does the business.

The Trump tariffs significantly raise costs for devices assembled in India, especially compared to competitors like China (54 per cent) or Vietnam (46 per cent). This might seem like a win, but theres a catch. Many Indian IT companies operating in the US also import this hardware. The ripple effects could quietly eat into margins, especially for startups or midsized firms.

The Visa as Trade Barrier

Indias IT success has long depended on a simple but fragile arrangement: train engineers in India, and send them to the US when needed. The H-1B visa was the bridge that allowed this system to function. During Trumps earlier tenure, denial rates for these visas rose from 6 per cent to nearly 24 per cent. Indian nationals, who receive more than 70 per cent of these visas, were disproportionately affected.

Unlike tariffs, which are measurable, visa denials are opaque. They arrive without explanation and leave companies scrambling. Without this labour mobility, the offshore-onsite model collapses. Local hiring in the US is expensive. Nearshoring adds complexity. Neither preserves Indias edge.

What tariffs could not do, paperwork might!

Crystal Ball

In Indias IT circles, Accenture is not merely a competitor but a bellwether for the industry. In Q2 2025, the firm reported 8.5 per cent revenue growth, largely from the public sector and financial services. Generative AI contributed $1.4 billion in new bookings. Yet the stock fell 7 per cent.

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The message? Even growth isnt enough in this environment. Because the US government, a major client for Accentures federal services unit, may cut back spending. The markets are not responding to failure. They are responding to uncertainty. And that uncertainty over government budgets, client behaviour, and technologys next turn is what now surrounds Indias IT sector.

AI: The Real Disruption

Amid the noise of tariffs and visas, a quieter revolution is unfolding. AI tools like Cursor and GitHub Copilot are not futuristic promises. They are already changing how code is written, tested, and deployed.

Tasks once assigned to teams in Bengaluru or Hyderabad are now handled by AI systems that never sleep and never miss a deadline. Junior roles, the ones that formed the bulk of Indias offshore model, are disappearing first. What remains is exception handling, critical thinking, and oversight. In other words, the harder parts. The expensive parts.

The Bernstein report, AI Unleashed, lays it out starkly: AI subscriptions cost less than a junior Indian engineer and can be deployed at scale without attrition, without HR overhead, and without bathroom breaks! And Indian firms are not unaware. They are adopting AI, building internal platforms, and training staff. But the cultural and operational barriers are real.

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Most US firms still cannot manage a centralised, up-to-date data platform. The idea of a seamless, data-driven organisation remains a corporate aspiration, not a reality. Even when AI is deployed, it quickly falls out of sync. By the time a model is approved, tested, and rolled out, a better one is already available publicly.

And all of this comes at a cost. Setting up AI infrastructure is expensive. Promising a return on investment in year three or four is not something most publicly listed companies are willing to entertain.

Indias Weakness Isnt TalentIts Innovation

Ironically, India leads the world in AI skill penetration, with over 96 per cent of Indian professionals reportedly using AI tools at work. But where are the breakthroughs?

Despite housing over 1,600 AI startups, most are focused on low-hanging fruits like chatbots, automation scripts, and dashboards. Deep tech, patentable IP, or foundational models? Rare.

India contributes just 0.2 per cent of global AI patents, with China at 61.1 per cent and the US at 21 per cent. The real bottleneck isnt what we arent building but not building the right things.

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What This Means for Indian IT

The easy growth is over. Tariffs may be the least of the industrys problems. The real issues are structural, like how services are delivered, how labour is deployed, and how technology redefines what clients need.

The companies that survive this transition will be the ones that adapt, not just in tools, but in thinking. They will stop chasing volume and start building value. They will focus on roles AI cannot yet replace: complex integration, high-stakes consulting, and domain-specific insights. This requires more than investment. It requires clarity. And the willingness to let go of models that no longer serve.

The Manufacturing Lifeline?

Tariffs might hurt software indirectly, but they do open an opportunity in electronics manufacturing.

With China, Vietnam, and Thailand facing US tariffs of 3654 per cent, Indias 27 per cent looks relatively mild. The US imports $7 billion worth of smartphones and $1.8 billion worth of telecom hardware from India. Schemes like the Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) are already luring global majors to set up shop here. If India plays this right by improving infrastructure, easing logistics, and ensuring policy consistency, it could become the new electronics hub.

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But manufacturing will not rescue IT. These are parallel lanes, not replacements.

Conclusion: Tested, Not Taxed

Indias IT sector isnt only being taxed; its being tested.

Tariffs may sting, but theyre not the real threat. The existential challenges come from automation, artificial intelligence, political unpredictability, and our own complacency. The era of coasting on English skills and low costs is over.

Survival now demands reinvention: build what others havent, solve what AI cant, and rethink what it means to be valuable. Those who fail to evolve may still show up in quarterly reportsbut not in the future.

Kanishq Agarwal is a strategy consultant who advises senior political leaders on campaigns, communication and policy. Aryaman Sharma (X: @AryamanBharat) is an analyst working at the intersection of manufacturing, economic policy, and national strategy. The views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the authors. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.
Beijing is betting on economic interdependence to cement its influence in Southeast Asia, but unless it addresses long-standing anxieties, Chinas charm offensive may fall short of displacing US primacy in the region read more

Vietnam's communist party general secretary To Lam (R) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) during a meeting at the office of the Party Central Committee in Hanoi on April 14, 2025. Image: REUTERS

As US-China competition continues to reshape global geopolitics, Chinese President Xi Jinpings April 2025 tour of Southeast Asia emphasises Beijings intent to consolidate its regional foothold through economic diplomacy. Framed as a mission to promote stability and certainty in an increasingly polarised world, Xis trip to Vietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodia was not only high on symbolism but rich in strategic undertones.

Xis tour began on April 14 in Hanoi. Xi met Vietnams Communist Party General Secretary, To Lam, and struck a tone of ideological unity. In a turbulent world, China and Vietnam have brought valuable stability and certainty, Xi stated, urging both countries to jointly oppose unilateral bullying acts and defend the global free trade system. Xi emphasised the importance of stable supply chains, presenting China and Vietnam as allies in the fight against protectionism.

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The visit yielded a slew of memoranda on supply chain cooperation and a joint railway project, along with a pledge to boost Vietnamese agricultural exports to China. While few details were disclosed, the agreements symbolised closer integrationdespite ongoing maritime tensions and lingering distrust rooted in past conflicts.

Vietnam remains one of Chinas most vocal regional critics in the South China Sea, but economic pragmatism continues to drive bilateral engagement. With US tariffs of 46 per cent targeting Vietnamese exports perceived as Chinese proxies, Hanoi has strong incentives to maintain trade ties with Beijing even as it deepens relations with the US and other partners.

The next stop was Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, before concluding in Cambodia on April 18. While official statements focused on deepening cooperation, the elephant in the roomthe South China Seawas hard to ignore. Chinas sweeping maritime claims continue to rankle both Vietnam and Malaysia, who have overlapping claims and have resisted Beijings assertiveness in contested waters.

Malaysia is a key regional player and the current chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Discussions centred on a planned upgrade to the China-ASEAN Free Trade Agreement, which could eliminate many tariffs across the bloc. ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn told Chinese state media that the updated agreement would bring more tariffs down to zero in many cases, broadening trade integration across sectors.

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Malaysia plays a pivotal role in Chinas regional strategy. It has actively supported Beijings participation in the upcoming ASEAN-Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) summit in May and hosts several flagship Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) projects, including an $11.2 billion railway. China is Malaysias largest trading partner and a major source of foreign direct investment. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, who has visited China three times since taking office in late 2022, has walked a fine lineseeking deeper economic ties with Beijing while also maintaining channels with Washington.

However, Malaysia too has been hit by US tariffs24 per cent in its case (though it has been paused for three months)due to perceptions of acting as a transshipment hub for Chinese exports. Like Vietnam, it finds itself squeezed between economic opportunity and strategic caution. The South China Sea remains a sensitive point, especially after recent Malaysian efforts to explore hydrocarbons in contested waters sparked diplomatic tensions. Still, Anwars government has continued to pursue a policy of balanced engagement, wary of becoming entangled in great-power rivalry.

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Xis final stop in Cambodia highlighted Chinas ambitions to anchor long-term influence in the region through soft power and infrastructure diplomacy. The two governments pledged to accelerate work on the Diamond Cooperation Framework, a broad initiative that includes the Industry and Technology Corridor and the Fish and Rice Corridorprojects designed to connect industrial zones and agricultural hubs with Chinese markets and expertise.

In total, 37 cooperation agreements were signed during the visit, covering sectors such as trade, investment, finance, agriculture, education, health, tourism, womens affairs, and water management. Xi also emphasised support for Cambodias strategic autonomy and sovereign development pathlanguage that stands in sharp contrast to Western emphasis on democratic governance and human rights.

All three countries on Xis itineraryVietnam, Malaysia, and Cambodiahave been impacted by the Trump-era US tariffs, which remain largely intact. Cambodia, in particular, has been subjected to tariffs of up to 49 per cent, as it is viewed as a conduit for Chinese transshipments.

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Xi has seized upon this discontent to frame China as a responsible major power committed to open markets. A trade war and tariff war will produce no winner, and protectionism will lead nowhere, Xi wrote in an op-ed in Vietnams Nhan Dan newspaper, calling for regional unity in defence of globalisation and multilateralism.

For Xi, this tour is more than just diplomacyits a calibrated response to Trumponomics and the growing appeal of economic nationalism. Analysts note that Xi sees US President Donald Trumps disruption of the liberal international order as an opportunity. By positioning China as a stable and dependable economic partner, Beijing hopes to fill the leadership vacuum left by the Wests retreat from multilateralism.

Yet, challenges remain. While China retains significant economic clout in Southeast Asia, regional perceptions are shifting. According to The State of Southeast Asia Survey 2025, 52.3 per cent of respondents said they would prefer to align with the US over China (47.7 per cent)a reversal from 2024, when China had a narrow edge. Still, China has made gains in trust: 36.6 per cent of respondents expressed confidence in Beijing in 2025, up from a low of 19 per cent in 2021, while distrust has declined from 50.1 per cent to 41.2 per cent.

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China also continues to rank as the regions most strategically relevant dialogue partner, with a mean score of 8.80. Six of the 10 ASEAN countriesBrunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailandrated China as their top strategic partner, reflecting their deep trade ties and participation in BRI projects. But concerns persist. Beijings heavy-handed tactics in the South China Sea and the Mekong River, its occasional use of economic leverage, and fears of interference in domestic affairs continue to hinder its soft power outreach.

In sum, Xis Southeast Asia tour reflects Chinas growing awareness that hard power alone cannot win hearts and minds in the region. Through trade, infrastructure, and high-level diplomacy, Beijing is betting on economic interdependence to cement its influence. But unless it addresses long-standing anxietiesparticularly around maritime disputes and economic coercionChinas charm offensive may fall short of displacing US primacy in Southeast Asia.

The author is a former ambassador to Germany, Indonesia, Ethiopia, ASEAN and the African Union. He tweets @AmbGurjitSingh. Views expressed in the above piece are personal and solely those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect Firstposts views.

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Several stories have emerged revealing how students facing life-threatening situation found creative ways to survive, including using chewing gums to stick paper to windows read more

Florida State University students wait for news amid an active shooter incident at the schools campus in Tallahassee. Source: AP

On Thursday (April 17), the Florida State University (FSU) campus in United States Tallahassee was rocked by a mass shooting incident, resulting in the death of two students. The suspect was later identified as Phoenix Ikner, the son of Leon County Sheriffs deputy Jessica Ikner. Now, several stories have emerged revealing how students facing life-threatening situation found creative ways to survive.

Chewing gum comes to rescue

Jeffrey LaFray, one of the students who were at the campus at the time of shooting, told ABCs Good Morning America how their teacher came up with a great idea to fend off the shooter.

The teachers idea included sticking paper to window using chewing gums so that the shooter couldnt see inside the classroom.

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The teacher was asking if any of us had tape to tape up some paper. And no one had tape, and so some of us, we just got out our gum and started chewing so we could stick some paper to the windows, LaFray said.

Another graduate student, Madison Askins, shared a harrowing account of how she survived the shooting. She and a friend were walking near the student union building when she was struck in the back. In a desperate bid to stay alive, she pretended to be dead. Her quick thinking likely saved her life.

When I was shot in the buttocks from behind, I fell to the ground, kept my eyes shut, and played dead. I released all the muscles in my body, closed my eyes, and held my breath. And I would take short breaths in between when I needed to, she told ABC News.

She recalled hearing the shooter reload his weapon and then yelling at students: keep running.

The shooting happened near the universitys student union. After the initial gunshots were fired at around 11:20 am ET, some students and parents headed to a bowling alley to hide and also crammed into an elevator, AP reported.

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Police later shot and wounded the suspect after he refused to follow the command.
Hundreds of passengers were crowded onto a wooden boat on the Congo River in northwest DRC on Tuesday when the blaze broke out read more

Rescue efforts continue after the fire and sinking of a boat on the Congo River. AFP

At least 143 people died and dozens more went missing after a boat carrying fuel caught fire and capsized in the Democratic Republic of Congo, officials said Friday.

According to Josephine-Pacifique Lokumu, head of a delegation of national deputies from the region, hundreds of passengers were crowded onto a wooden boat on the Congo River in northwest DRC on Tuesday when the blaze broke out.

The disaster occurred near Mbandaka, capital of Equateur Province, at the confluence of the Ruki and the vast Congo river  the worlds deepest.

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A first group of 131 bodies were found on Wednesday, with a further 12 fished out on Thursday and Friday. Several of them are charred, Lokumu told AFP.

Joseph Lokondo, a local civil society leader who said he helped bury the bodies, put the provisional death toll at 145: some burned, others drowned.

Lokumu said the blaze was caused by a fuel explosion ignited by an onboard cooking fire.

A woman lit the embers for cooking. The fuel, which was not far away, exploded, killing many children and women, she said.

Missing loved ones

The total number of passengers on board the doomed vessel was not known but Lokumu said it was in the hundreds.

Some survivors were rescued and admitted to hospital, Lokondo said.

But on Friday, he added, several families were still without news of their loved ones.

A vast Central African nation, the Democratic Republic of Congo suffers from a lack of practicable roads.

As a result travel often occurs on lakes, the Congo River and its tributaries, where shipwrecks are frequent and the death tolls often heavy.

A chronic absence of passenger lists often complicates search operations.

In October 2023, at least 47 people died after a boat navigating the Congo sank in Equateur.

More than 20 people died in October last year when a boat capsized on Lake Kivu in eastern DRC, according to local authorities.

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Another shipwreck on Lake Kivu claimed around 100 lives in 2019.
The death toll from the US strike on Yemens Ras Isa fuel port rose to 80 as Houthis vowed to retaliate against American aggression. Meanwhile, Iran, which will hold round 2 talks with the US, condemned the Trump administration and called the attack barbaric read more

A screengrab from al-Masirah TV purportedly shows the aftermath of US strikes on the Ras Isa fuel port in western Yemen. Reuters

The death toll in the US strike on Yemens Ras Isa fuel port rose to 80 as rescue workers struggled to take hold of the situation. The toll was confirmed by the Houthi-run health ministry, which included civilians and rescue workers. The Friday incident has now become the deadliest attack since Washington launched its campaign against the Iran-backed militant group.

The rebels Al-Masirah TV, citing local officials, said the toll from the strike had risen to 80 dead and 150 wounded. Ras Isa fuel port, where the attack took place, was touted as a major economic site in Yemen. Analysts believe that the attack sends a message to Iran as the country already receives mounting pressure from US President Donald Trump over its nuclear programme.

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Soon after coming back to the White House, Trump threatened to annihilate Yemens Houthis after the group conducted several attacks on the Red Sea as a protest against Israels military operation in Gaza. Earlier this year, the Trump administrations first strike on the Yemeni group drew backlash after its plans were shared on a Signal chat group, which later got leaked to the public.

Houthis vow to fight back

Soon after the attack, Houthis released a statement in which the group vowed to fight back. In the immediate aftermath, the Iran-backed group said that it had targeted two US aircraft carriers and a military site near Israels main airport.

The American military buildup and continued aggression against our country will only lead to more counterattacks and attack operations, clashes and confrontations, the Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Saree told a rebel-organised protest in the capital, Sanaa. According to The Guardian, the US strikes hit several areas but were mostly concentrated around the port facility. Hence, the dead included truck drivers and emergency responders.

It is pertinent to note that the Ras Isa terminal has a storage capacity of 3 million barrels and was the first port built for oil exports from Yemen, about 40 years ago. The US has vowed to keep attacking Yemens Houthis, in its biggest military operation in the Middle East since Trump took office in January, unless the Houthis cease attacks on Red Sea shipping.

Meanwhile, Iran called the Friday attack barbaric while Hamas denounced the strikes as blatant aggression. Hours after the US strike, Israels military said it had intercepted a missile launched from Yemen. However, the experts are now questioning the practicality of the US war aims in Yemen.

With inputs from agencies.
Although it has not named anyone in its report, the government has claimed that the assassination plot was hatched by criminal structures in complicity with political sectors defeated at the polls read more

Ecuador's President and candidate for reelection Daniel Noboa addresses the media as the electoral council says he has won the presidential election, in Santa Elena, Ecuador. Reuters

Ecuador was put on maximum alert on Saturday after an alleged assassination plot against the recently reelected President Daniel Noboa was foiled, the government notified.

A military intelligence report said that assassins are entering Ecuador via Mexico and other countries to carry out terrorist attacks against Noboa. The report was leaked on social media earlier this week.

We strongly condemn and repudiate any intention against the life of the president of the Republic, state authorities or public officials, Ecuadors Ministry of Government said in a statement early Saturday.

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The state is on maximum alert, it added.

Noboa won the race in an April 13 runoff vote, but his main rival Luisa Gonzalez has accused him of committing grotesque electoral fraud.

Although it has not named anyone in its report, the government has claimed that the assassination plot was hatched by criminal structures in complicity with political sectors defeated at the polls.

Ecuadors electoral council and international observers have dismissed claims of fraud in the runoff vote, but Mexico and Colombia have yet to officially recognise Noboas win.

Who is Daniel Noboa?

Noboa, 37, used to be the owner of an event organising company when he was 18 and then joined his fathers Noboa Corp., where he held management positions in the shipping, logistics and commercial areas. He began his political career in 2021, when he won a seat in the National Assembly and chaired its Economic Development Commission.

What are his plans to fight crime?

Noboa defeated leftist lawyer Luisa Gonzalez in the October 2023 runoff of a snap election triggered by the decision of then-President Guillermo Lasso to dissolve the National Assembly and shorten his own mandate as a result. Noboa defeated her again in Sundays runoff election.

The new term will allow Noboa, 37 and heir to a fortune built on the banana trade, to continue some of his no-holds-barred crimefighting strategies that part of the electorate finds appealing but which have tested the limits of laws and norms of governing.

With inputs from agencies
The ongoing US-China trade war has caused growing concern with economists warning it could push the US into recession. Trumps tough stance including steep tariffs, is hitting American consumers harder than China. Despite internal challenges, China has shown resilience, leveraging rare earths and tightening regional ties particularly with Vietnam. While Trump anticipates China will cave, the situation risks hurting US economic interests more with Chinas political stability providing a strategic advantage in the face of ongoing tensions. read more

The US and China appear locked in a prolonged and bruising standoff over trade, a deadlock threatening to send shockwaves through global markets and economies. The escalating trade war between the two countries shows no signs of abating and if experts are to be believed, the longer it drags on, the clearer it becomes that the US economy may be suffering more than its rival.

Experts said that Trumps strategy seems built on the hope that Chinese President Xi Jinping will eventually buckle under economic pressure and seek a truce. But that assumption is proving misguided. If anything, its the US that appears increasingly eager for a resolution, while China stands its ground, carefully managing the damage and leveraging the trade standoff to its strategic advantage.

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With China tightening trade ties in Asia and using nationalist messaging, the US risks economic vulnerability and experts warn the country may be headed toward recession.

Even after Trumps much-publicised 90-day pause on some of his so-called Liberation Day tariffs  a move made to calm a jittery stock market  US tariff rates remain at their highest level in over 90 years. For the average American household, this amounts to a hidden tax hike.

Economists have estimated that these tariffs could cost a middle-income family an extra $1,700 a year, a financial strain that could weigh on consumer spending and push the country closer to recession.

China certainly faces its own economic challenges, including underemployment and a deflationary cycle that shows little sign of ending. The trade war could cost the country millions of jobs and spark domestic unrest, yet China has shown little sign of caving. Instead, Beijing has worked proactively to shield its economy from American pressure, tightening trade ties across Asia, particularly with Vietnam.

Xi Jinpings recent visit to Vietnam, which saw the signing of dozens of trade and cooperation agreements, highlights Chinas efforts to recalibrate supply chains and deepen regional partnerships amid rising US tariffs. Vietnam, an industrial hub heavily reliant on Chinese imports and US exports has been working to adjust its trade practices under pressure from Washington, even as it negotiates to avoid its own set of American tariffs.

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Beyond Vietnam, Chinas broader response has revealed its long-term preparation for a conflict like this one. Beijings countermeasures have targeted American vulnerabilities with a mix of retaliatory tariffs, export restrictions on critical minerals, and investigations into US companies operating in China  a calculated and flexible approach designed to maximise leverage while minimising domestic disruption.

One of Chinas most powerful weapons in this standoff is its control over rare earth elements, which are vital to US industries ranging from electronics to defence manufacturing. China supplies 72 percent of the worlds rare earths and holds a near-monopoly on six of the heavy rare earths used in high-tech and military applications.

The US military, for example, depends on these materials for producing everything from submarines to fighter jets  a single F-35 uses nearly 900 pounds of rare earth metals, while a submarine can require more than four tons.

China has already moved to restrict the export of these minerals, along with rare-earth magnets, where it controls 90 percent of the global supply. This places the US in a vulnerable position, as developing alternative sources for rare earths is a slow, costly and environmentally challenging process that could take decades.

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Beijings response to Trumps tariff offensive has gone beyond the economic front. The Chinese government has placed officials on what it calls wartime footing and launched a global diplomatic push to rally opposition against U.S. trade policies. Chinese state media, directed by Communist Party propaganda authorities, have turned to nationalist messaging, including the circulation of old speeches by Mao Zedong vowing defiance against foreign pressure.

This hardline response contrasts with Chinas earlier attempts to avoid a trade conflict, which included months of diplomatic outreach aimed at preserving what it has consistently described as a mutually beneficial trade relationship with the United States. But Trumps tariffs have forced Chinas hand, much as similar actions did in 2010, when Beijing halted rare-earth exports to Japan during a territorial dispute  a move that quickly pushed Tokyo into conciliation.

While Trump may believe alternative rare-earth sources can be found, the reality is that mining and processing these materials in the U.S. faces steep regulatory and environmental hurdles, making Chinas dominance difficult to dislodge in the short term.

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A full-scale trade war is likely to hurt both nations, but economic forecasters increasingly warn that the US may feel the pain first. Unlike Trump, Xi has the political cushion to frame the conflict as another chapter in Chinas long struggle against Western interference, using nationalism to deflect domestic dissatisfaction and strengthen his grip on power.

Theres no question that Chinas trade practices merit tough scrutiny and standing up to unfair competition is the right instinct. But Trumps tariff-first strategy is isolating America from its allies and exposing its own economic weaknesses. According to experts, in the end, Trump hasnt brought a winning hand to the table but has brought a tariff to a gunfight.
A latest report revealed that 50 per cent of American weapons left in Afghanistan during the Taliban takeover have been sold, smuggled and lost in the hands of militant groups. The UN raised alarms that around half a million weapons have reached the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates read more

An explosive report found that over half a million US weapons obtained by the Taliban in Afghanistan have been lost, sold or smuggled to several militant groups. The revelation, made in a BBC report, claims that the United Nations believes some of these weapons have fallen into the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates.

A former Afghan official, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC that the Taliban took control of around one million weapons and pieces of military equipment after it regained control of Kabul in 2021. The official said that many Afghan soldiers surrendered or fled, abandoning their weapons and vehicles when the Taliban took over the country. The source noted that several military equipment were simply left behind by US forces.

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As per the report, the cache included American-made firearms, such as M4 and M16 rifles, as well as other older weapons in Afghan possession that were accumulated from decades of conflict. Sources told the BBC that during the closed-door meeting in Doha last year, the Taliban admitted to the UN Security Councils Sanctions Committee that at least half of this equipment is now unaccounted for.

UN raises a new alarm

In a report published in February, the United Nations raised concerns that these weapons may have reached the hands of al-Qaeda affiliates. The international body argued groups such as Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan, the East Turkestan Islamic Movement, and Yemens Ansarullah movement were accessing Taliban-captured weapons or buying them on the black market.

When the BBC asked Hamdullah Fitrat, deputy spokesperson for the Taliban government, about the latest revelation, the Taliban official said that it took the protection and storage of weapons very seriously. All light and heavy weapons are securely stored. We strongly reject claims of smuggling or loss, he said.

Meanwhile, in a 2023 UN report, the body said that the Taliban allowed local commanders to retain 20 per cent of the seized US weapons. These commanders are affiliated with the Taliban but often have a degree of autonomy in their regions. The UN also noted that gifting of weapons is widely practised between local commanders and fighters to consolidate power. The black market remains a rich source of weaponry for the Taliban.

Trumps tryst with weapons

In the past, Trump has repeatedly said that he will reclaim weapons from Afghanistan. The Republican firebrand often mentioned how $85bn of advanced weaponry was left in the country once the Taliban took over.

Afghanistan is one of the biggest sellers of military equipment in the world, you know why? Theyre selling the equipment that we left, Trump said during his first cabinet meeting of the new administration. I want to look into this. If we need to pay them, thats fine, but we want our military equipment back, he added.

In response to Trumps remarks, Zabihullah Mujahid, the Talibans chief spokesperson, told Afghan state TV: We seized these weapons from the previous administration and will use them to defend the country and counter any threats.

Ever since the takeover, the Taliban has been frequently seen parading American weapons, including at Bagram Airfield, which served as the main US-NATO base. Hence, itll be interesting to see how Trump would react to the latest revelation.

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The White House took a swipe at The New York Times and Senator Chris Van Hollen on Friday, editing a headline in bold red to send a strong message. The clash centres around a deported migrant linked to a gang and a senators visit to a prison in El Salvador. read more

The White House on Friday criticised both The New York Times and Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen over a headline about a deported migrant from Maryland. The news story was about the senator meeting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been deported to a high-security prison in El Salvador.

Fixed it for you, @NYTimes.



Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen  hes NOT coming back. pic.twitter.com/VoAphh2ZPY  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2025

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In a post on X, the official White House account shared a screenshot of the New York Times article titled Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador. But in the version posted by the White House, the words wrongly and Maryland man were crossed out in red and replaced with MS-13 illegal alien, along with the added phrase whos never coming back.

At the centre of this political controversy is 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Garciaan undocumented migrant the White House says is a known member of the violent MS-13 gang. He had been living with his family in Maryland before being deported in March as part of a wider crackdown on migrants with alleged gang ties.

Supreme Court calls deportation a mistake

However, the US Supreme Court later ruled that Garcias deportation was a mistake, with Justice Sonia Sotomayor saying there was no legal basis for his arrest or removal. Despite this, the Trump administration has refused to allow him back into the country.
A 21-year-old Indian student was shot and killed in Canada after being hit by a stray bullet while waiting at a bus stop. Harsimrat Randhawa, a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, was on her way to work when the incident happened. read more

Indian student killed by stray bullet after getting caught in crossfire in Canada's Ontario. Image: X

A 21-year-old Indian student was killed in Canadas Ontario after being hit by a stray bullet, news agency PTI reported.

Harsimrat Randhawa was waiting at a bus stop on her way to work when someone in a car opened fire. She was a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

Hamilton Police said she was an innocent bystander and have launched a homicide investigation into the shooting, which happened on Wednesday.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently  IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) April 18, 2025

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The Consulate General of India in Toronto expressed grief over her death. In a post on X, the Consulate General said We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario.

As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time, the official said.

Hamilton Police said they received reports of a shooting around 7:30 pm local time near Upper James and South Bend Road in Hamilton. When officers arrived, they found Harsimrat Randhawa with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was taken to hospital but did not survive.

Police said video footage showed that someone in a black car fired at people in a white sedan. Both cars drove away soon after the shooting.

Some of the bullets also hit a nearby house, entering through the back window while people were inside watching TV.
Iran told the United States in talks last week it was ready to accept some limits on its uranium enrichment but needed water-tight guarantees that President Donald Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Friday read more

Iran believes reaching an agreement on its nuclear programme with the United States is possible as long as Washington is realistic, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Friday on the eve of a second round of talks with the Trump administration.

If they demonstrate seriousness of intent and do not make unrealistic demands, reaching agreements is possible, Araqchi told a news conference in Moscow after talks with Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov of Russia.

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Iran had noted the United States seriousness during a first round of talks on the deal, which took place in Oman last week, Araqchi said. The second round is set for Saturday in Rome and will be held through Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, Irans foreign ministry spokesperson, Esmaeil Baghaei, said.

Given the contradictory positions we have heard from various U.S. officials over the past few days, we expect the U.S. side to first provide an explanation in this regard and to remove the serious ambiguities that have arisen regarding its intentions and seriousness, Baghaei told state media without elaborating.

Iran told the United States in talks last week it was ready to accept some limits on its uranium enrichment but needed water-tight guarantees that President Donald Trump would not again ditch a nuclear pact, a senior Iranian official said on Friday.

Trump has threatened to attack Iran if it does not reach a deal with the U.S. over its nuclear programme, which Iran says is peaceful but the West says is aimed at building an atomic bomb.

Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They cant have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific, Trump told reporters on Friday when asked if he would consider letting Tehran keep a civil nuclear programme.

Lavrov said Russia was ready to assist, mediate and play any role that will be beneficial to Iran and the U.S.A.

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Moscow has played a role in Irans nuclear negotiations in the past as a veto-wielding U.N. Security Council member and signatory to an earlier deal that Trump abandoned during his first term in 2018.

Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei sent Araqchi to Moscow with a letter for President Vladimir Putin to brief the Kremlin about the negotiations. Araqchi will also visit Beijing within the next few days, the Iranian state news agency IRNA reported on Friday, without providing further details.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said earlier on Friday that the U.S. administration is looking for a peaceful solution with Iran but will never tolerate the country developing a nuclear weapon.
A second round of negotiations between Iran and the United States over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program ended Saturday after several hours of talks, Iranian and American officials said. read more

In this handout video grab taken from a footage released by the Italian Foreign Ministry on April 19, 2025, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani (R) shakes hands with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi at the Italian Foreign Ministry in Rome. AFP Photo

The United States and Iran on Saturday concluded a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehrans nuclear programme, with Iranian media saying the discussions took place in a constructive atmosphere.

Irans foreign minister says the next round of talks in Oman with US envoy Steve Witkoff will be on April 26; experts to meet before.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei told Iranian state TV immediately after the negotiations that Iran will continue the path of the talks with seriousness to see crippling economic sanctions on his country lifted.

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Iran will continue as far as talks go on constructively and purposefully, he added.

After the talks concluded, Iranian state TV reported that because of this constructive atmosphere that has been created, it is likely that in the coming days, the parties would hold more discussions.

Iranian officials described the negotiations as indirect, similar to the recent talks held last weekend in Muscat, Oman, where Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi acted as an intermediary, moving between separate rooms to relay messages.

The very fact that discussions are taking place marks a significant moment, considering the long-standing hostility between the two nations since Irans 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis.

The tensions escalated further when President Donald Trump, during his first term, withdrew the U.S. from the Iran nuclear deal in 2018  a move that triggered years of attacks and unsuccessful efforts to revive the agreement, which had imposed strict limits on Tehrans uranium enrichment in return for easing economic sanctions.

With inputs from agencies
Elon Musk has announced plans to visit India later this year after a phone call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi about working together on technology and innovation. read more

Billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk said on Saturday that he is planning to visit India later this year. His announcement came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he had spoken to the billionaire about technology.

It was an honor to speak with PM Modi.



I am looking forward to visiting India later this year! https://t.co/TYUp6w5Gys  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2025

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Musk also said it was an honour to speak with PM Modi and thanked him for the opportunity.

I am looking forward to visiting India later this year! Musk said in a post on his X social media platform.

PM Modi said on Friday that he had a phone call with Musk about working together on technology and innovation, in a post on X. However, he did not mention when the conversation took place.

PM Modi, speaking about his conversation with Musk, wrote on X, Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains.

Earlierin February this year, PM Modi met Elon Musk during his official visit to the US. Musk was also joined by his three children. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the two discussed boosting ties between Indian and US organisations in areas like innovation, space, AI, and sustainable development during the meet.

Elon Musk is seen as a key figure in US President Donald Trumps administration and leads the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge), which aims to cut government spending and reduce the federal workforce.

His upcoming visit to India comes as SpaceXs Starlink awaits approvals to launch satellite internet services in the country. The company has partnered with Jio and Airtel, and its top executives recently met Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal to discuss the required clearances.

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An Italian court upheld life sentences for Pakistani parents who killed their daughter, Saman Abbas after she refused to marry her older cousin read more

- A stuffed toy squirrel and by now long dried flowers are left in tribute near the ruins of a farmhouse in Novellara, northern Italy, Friday, Feb. 10, 2023, where the body of Pakistani Saman Abbas was found in November 2021, nineteen months after she had disappeared. File Image: AP

A court in Italy upheld the life sentences of Pakistani parents who were found guilty of killing their 18-year-old daughter because she refused an arranged marriage with her older cousin. The body of the girl named Saman Abbas was discovered buried in a farmhouse near her fathers office back in 2022.

The authorities found the body 18 months after she was first reported to be missing. After a thorough investigation, it was discovered that the young woman was murdered by her family, and since her neck was broken, the investigators believed that she died by strangulation.

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The recent judgment in the case came on Friday following an appeal from Abbass parents to reduce the sentence. The authorities started suspecting that her parents were involved in the killing since they flew from Milan to Pakistan while the girl was still classified as missing.

What the case is about

In the Friday ruling, Abbass mother, Nazia Shaheen, father Shabbir Abbas, uncle Danish Hasnain, and two cousins were sentenced for her killing. Hasnian was originally sentenced to 14 years imprisonment but has since been re-sentenced to 22 years.

It is pertinent to note that Shabbir Abbas was extradited from Pakistan to Italy to serve his sentence, while Abbass mother was tried in absentia. She was eventually arrested near the Pakistani-occupied Kashmir border after she managed to escape prosecution for three years.

Meanwhile, the young girls uncle and cousins fled to France and Spain but were also later arrested. Even in the recent hearing, the family continued to deny any wrongdoing. Shabbar Abbas went on to tell the court in the earlier hearings that never in my life did I think of killing my daughter.

The Abbas family moved to northern Italy from Pakistan when Saman was 14. The court filings stated that her family was deeply angered when she quickly adapted to Western culture. According to The Associated Press, she chose not to wear a head covering and posted photos of kissing her boyfriend in the streets.

She reportedly told her boyfriend that she was afraid for her life because she refused her parents demand to marry her older cousin back in Pakistan. According to the BBC, she spent several months living under the care of social services but eventually returned to her family home before her murder.

With inputs from the Associated Press.

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Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Saturday to not allow the use of their territories for any terror attacks against each other as the leaders of the two nations met in Kabul to rebuild ties unsettled due to militancy and expulsion of Afghan refugees. read more

Pakistan and Afghanistan agreed on Saturday not to permit the use of their soil for terrorist activities against one another, as both sides sought to mend strained ties caused by militant violence and the expulsion of Afghan refugees.

The understanding was reached during a daylong visit by Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul, where he held talks with Afghanistans top leadership on issues of mutual concern.

During the trip, Dar met Acting Afghan Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund and held delegation-level discussions with Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who had extended the invitation for the visit.

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Dars visit came against the backdrop of Pakistans intensified crackdown on illegal Afghan refugees and Islamabads growing security concerns, with authorities insisting that Afghans must enter the country legally, with valid visas.

Addressing the media after the talks, Dar said that the agreement with Afghanistan was a key for the improvement of ties and that none should be allowed to carry out illicit activities to harm the other side.

We have requested our hosts that we have to work together for the progress, betterment and peace and security of the region, he said, adding, For that, neither will we allow anyone to use our soil to conduct illicit activities in Afghanistan and graciously nor will you allow anyone (to use Afghan soil). Both countries will strictly deal with and no one will be permitted to use their land against the other for any security (risk) or terrorism, Dar said. If someone from any country does, the other can take action against such elements and stop them, he added.

The relationship between Islamabad and Kabul has steadily deteriorated since August 2021 after the hasty withdrawal of the US from Afghanistan and Taliban taking the control there.

Pakistan has maintained that these armed groups operate from within Afghan soil  a claim that Afghan officials have denied  maintaining that no one can use Afghan soil against any country, local media reported ahead of Dars visit.

According to a statement by the Foreign Office (FO) here, Dars extensive discussions with Muttaqi comprised discussions on a comprehensive range of topics pertaining to bilateral relations.

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Their discussions underscored the need to devise strategies for enhancing cooperation across diverse areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, transit, connectivity, and people-to-people contacts, it said.

The deputy prime minister emphasised the paramount importance of addressing all pertinent issues, particularly those related to security and border management, in order to fully realise the potential for regional trade and connectivity, it said.

The Afghan side, in a statement, said that Muttaqi expressed his deep concern and regret over the situation of Afghan refugees in Pakistan and their forced deportation in talks with FM Dar.

He strongly urged Pakistan authorities to prevent what his government said was the erosion of the rights of Afghans living there and those coming there.

Muttaqi added that Afghanistan was eager to expand trade, transit, and joint projects with Pakistan and reminded the visiting delegation that concrete steps should be taken to resolve problems.

According to the statement, Dar said that Afghan refugees would not be mistreated and Pakistan would take serious steps in this regard, adding that the properties and capital of Afghan refugees were their property and no one could seize their goods.

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He also promised that Pakistans security agencies would prevent any arbitrary action in this regard.

Dar also showed determination to further expand bilateral trade and transit with Afghanistan and promised to provide necessary facilities in these areas.

The statement said FM Dar invited the Afghan diplomat to pay an official visit to Pakistan to continue the high-level visit.

Meanwhile, in Peshawar, an aide of Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur accused the federal government of ignoring the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in talks with Afghanistan.

Chief Minister Gandapur is a prominent leader of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf:, founded by Imran Khan, the former prime minister and arch-rival of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) at the federal level.

Adviser to Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Saif welcomed the process of talks with Afghanistan, although delayed, but said ignoring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in talks is a sign of irresponsibility. The adviser, in a statement, said the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had requested the federal government in this regard many times and clarified that the negotiation process cannot be fruitful without taking all stakeholders into confidence.

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Saif said that the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government had sent the terms of reference  emphasising to include all stakeholders including tribal elders  for talks with Afghanistan to the federal government three months ago, Saif added.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, which shares its western border with Afghanistan, is currently the most vulnerable to terror attacks as Pakistan has witnessed increased activity of armed groups activities since the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in 2021.

With inputs from agencies
Pakistans foreign minister visited Kabul on Saturday to meet Taliban leaders, just days after Islamabad expelled over 85,000 Afghan migrants, many of them children, in a strict deportation drive. read more

Pakistans foreign minister arrived in Afghanistan on Saturday to meet Taliban leaders after the country expelled over 85,000 Afghans, many of them children, in just over two weeks, news agency AFP reported.

Islamabad is carrying out a tough campaign to remove more than 800,000 Afghans by the end of April.

These include people whose residence permits were cancelled, some of whom were born in Pakistan or have lived there for many years. Every day, Afghan families are rushing to the border, afraid of being raided, arrested, or separated from loved ones.

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Pakistans foreign office said Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and a team of ministers are in Afghanistan for a one-day visit to meet top Taliban leaders, including Prime Minister Hasan Akhund.

A video shared by the foreign office showed Dar being warmly welcomed in Kabul by Mohammad Naeem, the deputy foreign minister for financial and administrative affairs.

There will not be any sort of leniency or extension in the deadline, Pakistans deputy interior minister Tallal Chaudhry told a news conference on Friday.

When you arrive without any documents, it only deepens the uncertainty of whether youre involved in narcotics trafficking, supporting terrorism, or committing other crimes, he added.

Pak minister calls Afghans terrorists and criminals

Pakistans interior minister has previously called Afghans terrorists and criminals, but experts say this is likely a political move to pressure the Taliban government over rising security issues, as well as to use them for their anti-India agenda and the use of terrorism as a foreign policy measure.

Minister Naqvi said on Friday nearly 85,000 Afghans, most of them without proper documents, have returned to Afghanistan since early April.

Mostly children among leaving

The UN refugee agency said more than half of those leaving are children. They are entering a country where girls are banned from secondary schools and universities, and women face severe work restrictions.

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Afghanistans refugee ministry told AFP on Saturday that around 71,000 Afghans have returned through the two main border crossings between 1 and 18 April.
India and Saudi Arabia share close and friendly ties with a long history of socio-cultural and trade contacts. As strategic partners, the two countries share strong bilateral relations across various areas, including political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, health, education, culture and people-to-people ties read more

(File) Prime Minister Narendra Modi, right, shakes hand with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before the start of their meeting in New Delhi on February 20, 2019. AP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Saudi Arabia next week at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the upcoming April 22-23 visit will be the first visit of the Prime Minister to the country in his third term.

Previously, he has travelled to the Saudi kingdom twice in 2016 and in 2019.

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The visit follows the State Visit of Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit and co-chair the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

India and Saudi Arabia share close and friendly ties with a long history of socio-cultural and trade contacts. As strategic partners, the two countries share strong bilateral relations across various areas, including political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, health, education, culture and people-to-people ties.

Indias relations with the Kingdom have evolved into a stronger and enduring partnership in the past decade, expanding into many strategic domains, with growing investment commitments, broadening of defence cooperation and intensive high-level exchanges across sectors, the MEA statement said.

The visit of PM Modi reflects the importance India attaches to its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

It will provide an opportunity to further deepen and strengthen our multi-faceted partnership, as well as to exchange views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to the MEA.

The Prime Ministers upcoming visit comes at a time when the US and Iran are holding talks with Washington seeking a deal on the latters nuclear programme and tensions in West Asia with the Hamas-Israeli conflict.

PM Modis visit also comes ahead of the expected visit of US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia next month.

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India and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947. In 2010, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

There have been regular high level exchanges between India and Saudi Arabia. Beginning 2024-till date, there have been 11 Ministerial-level visits from India to Saudi Arabia from India to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Foreign Minister and Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025 respectively.

Saudi side extended excellent cooperation during Operation Kaveri for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan via Jeddah.

Riyadh is also seat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). India and GCC secretariat have maintained good relations and regular dialogues at official level. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Riyadh in September 2024 to co-chair the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting.

Saudi Arabia is Indias fifth largest trading partner and India is Saudi Arabias second largest trade partner. During FY 2023-24, Indias imports from Saudi Arabia reached USD 31.42 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth USD 11.56 billion. In 2023-24, bilateral trade stood at USD 42.98 billion, with Indian exports at USD 11.56 billion and imports at USD 31.42 billion.

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Major commodities of export from India to Saudi Arabia include engineering goods, rice, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, food products, ceramic tiles. whereas, major commodities of import for India from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, chemicals, plastic and products thereof etc.

Indian investment in Saudi Arabia has increased in recent years reaching approximately USD 3 billion (August 2023). The total Saudi investment in India has been about USD 10 billion. ). These investments are across diverse sectors such as management and consultancy services, construction projects, telecommunications, information technology, financial services and software development, pharmaceuticals, etc.

Saudi Arabia remained Indias third largest Crude and Petroleum products sourcing destination for 2023-24. India imported 33.35 MMT of crude oil in 2023-24 from Saudi Arabia, accounting for 14.3 per cent of the Indias total crude oil imports. In 2023-24, Saudi Arabia was the third largest LPG sourcing destination for India, accounting for 18.2 per cent of the total LPG imports of India for 2023-24.

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Another area of partnership is the India-Saudi Arabia defence ties that have strengthened in recent years.

The first ministerial visit on the defence side in over 12 years took place when the then MoS (Defence) Ajay Bhatt visited Riyadh for the World Defence Show in February 2024. India and Saudi Arabia enjoy extensive naval cooperation and two editions of the bilateral naval exercise, Al Mohed Al Hindi, have been concluded so far. Additionally, both sides have close cooperation in defence industries and capacity building.

Indian community in Saudi Arabia is 2.7 million strong and is a living bridge between the two countries. Indian diaspora contribution to the economic development of Saudi Arabia is widely recognized. Number of Indians in Saudi Arabia is increasing steadily. Over the last year, an estimated one lakh Indians came to Saudi Arabia for employment.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Firstpost staff.)
The ceasefire will last 30 hours starting 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 19 (Moscow time). However, Putin cautioned Russian forces regarding potential violations of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces during the 30-hour halt read more

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced an Easter ceasefire in the Ukraine conflict.

The ceasefire will last 30 hours starting 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 19 (Moscow time).

Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce, Putin said in televised comments.

The president made the announcement after meeting with Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, asking Kyiv to show goodwill and observe the temporary truce.

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However, Putin cautioned Russian forces regarding potential violations of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces during the 30-hour halt.

At the same time, our troops must be prepared to react to possible violations of the ceasefire and provocations by the adversary, to any aggressive actions, Putin stated.

The Russian Defence Ministry later also confirmed the ceasefire. In a statement, it said, The ceasefire is being introduced for humanitarian purposes and will be observed by the Russian Joint Group of Troops, provided it is mutually observed by the Kiev regime.

The announcement comes amid a proposal from the United States that was presented to European leaders during Secretary of State Marco Rubios visit to Paris this week.

Notably, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned Thursday (April 17) that Russia could step up attacks on Ukraine during and after Easter.

We know what Russia is preparing for," he said, adding, Now, ahead of Easter, and after it, new Russian attacks are possible.

Last month, Putin agreed to pause strikes on Ukraines energy infrastructure for 30 days following a call with US President Donald Trump. Despite that, both Ukrainian and Russian officials have pointed to continued attacks, suggesting the truce has been shaky at best.

Ukraine said it was ready for a broader US-supported 30-day ceasefire, but Putin has not fully committed to that proposal. Over the weekend, Russian media reported that Putin accused Ukraine of breaching the energy truce over 100 times, though he also claimed Russia still holds a favourable position along the front lines.

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Kursk 99% reclaimed

In the televised meeting, Valery Gerasimov also claimed that Russian forces have reclaimed 99 per cent of the territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region in an incursion launched in August.

In the areas of the Kursk region where the Ukrainian armed forces mounted an incursion, the main part of the territory is now liberated. Thats 1,260 square kilometres, 99.5 percent, Gerasimov said in the meeting.
Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds of prisoners in the largest exchange since the Russian full-scale invasion started over three years ago. read more

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, April 18, 2025, the Russian BM-21 "Grad" self-propelled 122 mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russia and Ukraine announced on Saturday that they had carried out one of the largest prisoner swaps since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion over three years ago.

According to Russias Defense Ministry, 246 Russian soldiers were brought back from Ukrainian-controlled territory. In return, 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were exchanged for 15 injured Russian troops requiring immediate medical attention, described by Moscow as a gesture of goodwill.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that 277 Ukrainian warriors had been freed from Russian captivity.

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Russias military chief of staff Valery Gerasimov said Saturday that troops had retaken over 99 percent of territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region in an incursion launched in August.

In the areas of the Kursk region where Ukraine armed force mounted an incursion, the main part of the territory is now liberated. Thats 1,260 square kilometres, 99.5 percent, Gerasimov told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting.

Earlier today, Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons. The announcement came on the same day as Russias Defense Ministry said its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the ceasefire another attempt by Putin to play with human lives." He wrote on X that air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine, and Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

Putins announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

With inputs from agencies
Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year. read more

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Friday, April 18, 2025, Russian soldiers launch a Supercam intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

Russian forces have driven Ukrainian troops out of one of their final positions in the Kursk region, officials confirmed on Saturday. The Russian Defense Ministry announced that its troops had captured the border village of Oleshnya during offensive operations.

Units of the North military group have liberated Oleshnya in the Kursk region, the ministry said in a statement.

Meanwhile, the Russian state news agency TASS reported that fighting is still underway to oust Ukrainian forces from Gornal, located around seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

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With the recapture of most of the region, where Ukrainian forces launched a surprise incursion last year, Russian and North Korean troops have largely stripped Kyiv of a valuable bargaining position.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russia has pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, officials said Saturday.

According to Russias Defense Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement. The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal  in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

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Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russia has pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, officials said Saturday.

According to Russias Defense Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement. The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

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The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal  in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

The United States will move on very shortly if no deal is reached to bring an end to the war in Ukraine, said President Donald Trump said Friday, adding that negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding war.

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There is no specific number of days, but quickly, we want to get it done, Trump told journalists, after his Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Washington would walk away if peace between Moscow and Kyiv were not doable.

With inputs from agencies
While they cannot really describe the properties of the shade they saw, five people have said that it was sort of " blue-green", but they added that this description does not capture the full essence of their experience read more

Theres a new colour on the palette and no one knows about it yet. Scientists have claimed to have found a new hue that no one has seen before.

A couple of researchers manipulated their eye cells by having laser pulses fired into their eyes which simulated the retina beyond its natural capacity and produced a colour unknown to the humandkind.

While they cannot really describe the properties of the shade they saw, five people have said that it was sort of " blue-green", but they added that this description does not capture the full essence of their experience.

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Ren Ng, an electrical engineer at the University of California, Berkeley, said, We predicted from the beginning that it would look like an unprecedented colour signal but we didnt know what the brain would do with it. It was jaw-dropping. Its incredibly saturated.

The researchers released an image of a turquoise square to provide a rough visual reference for the colour theyve named olo, but emphasised that the true hue can only be perceived through precise laser stimulation of the retina.

There is no way to convey that colour in an article or on a monitor. The whole point is that this is not the colour we see, its just not. The colour we see is a version of it, but it absolutely pales by comparison with the experience of olo, Austin Roorda, a vision scientist on the team told The Guardian.

How was the experiment conducted?

Humans start perceiving the thousands of colours after light falls on the colour-sensitive cells on the retina called cones. Three types of cones, long (L), medium (M) and short (S), that are sensitive to colour based on the lights wavelength.

The team at Berkeley aimed to overcome this challenge. They started by charting a small section of a persons retina to locate the exact positions of their M cones. Using a laser, they then scanned the retina, and each time the laser aligned with an M conecompensating for any eye movementit delivered a brief, precise pulse of light to activate that individual cell before proceeding to the next one.

The colour lies outside the natural visual spectrum because it results from the near-exclusive stimulation of the M conessomething that natural light is incapable of producing. The name olo is derived from the binary code 010, representing that among the L, M, and S cones, only the M cones are activated.

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Zelenskyys statement came after Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine starting 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 19 (Moscow time) read more

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Saturday (April 19) claimed Russia was still attacking Kyiv forces using drones even as President Vladimir Putin earlier announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire earlier in the day.

Zelenskyy said the continued attacks showed Moscows true attitude to Easter and the lives of people.

Taking to X, the Ukrainian president claimed: As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives  at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine

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Shahed (attack) drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life, he added, without clarifying whether his nation would observe the proposed truce.

His statement came after Putin announced a 30-hour ceasefire in Ukraine starting 6:00 pm on Saturday, April 19 (Moscow time).

Putin made the announcement after meeting with Russian General Staff Chief Valery Gerasimov, asking Kyiv to show goodwill and observe the temporary truce.

However, Putin cautioned Russian forces regarding potential violations of the ceasefire by Ukrainian forces during the 30-hour halt.

Ukrainian foreign minister reacts

Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha meanwhile warned Russias words cant be trusted. He said Kyiv has endured a long history of his statements not matching his actions. We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words, he wrote on X.

Later, Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraines national security and defence council, claimed Russia continued pounding Ukrainian cities.

The Russians keep firing on all fronts  just like before, he wrote on X.

The heaviest shelling is in the East. So much for Putins so-called ceasefire. He never meant to keep it.

News agency AFP also cited several Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines in reporting that they were sceptical of the truce announcement.

I think this man (Putin) is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we dont trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing," AFP quoted a soldier as saying.

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(With inputs from agencies)
The viral Dubai chocolate, made of pistachio, shredded pastry, and milk chocolate, was launched by Emirati chocolatier FIX in 2021. Two years later, a post on TikTok turned the bars into a global sensation, amassing over 120 million views and driving up its demand read more

Service employees offer "Dubai Chocolate" in a Lindt shop to customers during the sell of limited bars of the Chocolate, in Aachen, Germany, AP

The world is facing a pistachio shortage after the viral sensation Dubai chocolate took over the confectionery world, owing to its unique taste. The meteoric rise of the chocolate bar can be attributed to TikTok, whose one video gave it the popularity that it enjoys to date.

The viral Dubai chocolate, made of pistachio, shredded pastry, and milk chocolate, was launched by Emirati chocolatier FIX in 2021. Two years later, a post on TikTok turned the bars into a global sensation, amassing over 120 million views and driving up its demand.

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Giles Hacking, of nut trader CG Hacking, told the Financial Times that craze over the chocolate has also raised pistachio prices from $7.65 a pound a year ago to around $10.30 a pound now. The pistachio world is basically tapped out at the moment, he said.

The chocolate isnt inexpensive. Lindts Dubai edition is priced at 10 for 145 grams in the UK, more than twice the cost of its other bars.

Despite the high price, demand is so strong that some stores are reportedly restricting the number of bars each customer can purchase. Additionally, Lindt and UK supermarket Wm Morrison have introduced pistachio cream Easter eggs.

Crunch in Pistachio production

The stocks of the nuts were already dwindling before the chocolate was launched due to a bad harvest year in the US in 2024.

Hacking said, There wasnt much in supply, so when Dubai chocolate comes along, and [chocolatiers] are buying up all the kernels they get their hands on . . . that leaves the rest of the world short.

According to Irans customs office, Iran, the worlds second-largest pistachio producer, exported 40 per cent more pistachios to the UAE in the six months leading up to March 2025 than it did in the entire previous year.

UK discontinues Toblerone

The Dubai chocolate is not only causing a global shortage of pistachios, but is also stealing the spotlight away from beloved treats like Toblerone.

The triangular-shaped chocolate treats have been discontinued in the UK as people have a taste for other delights now.

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A spokesperson for Toblerones maker, Mondelez, said the decision to cease production in Britain was difficult and was taken because of changing tastes.
Chinas government says it supports and has taken part in research to determine COVID-19s origin, and has accused Washington of politicizing the matter, especially because of efforts by U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate read more

The logo of the World Health Organization is seen at the WHO headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland. File image/ Reuters

On Friday, Republican President Donald Trumps White House launched a COVID-19 website, blaming the coronaviruss origins on a lab leak in China while criticising Democratic former President Joe Biden, former top US health official Anthony Fauci, and the World Health Organization.

The website also criticised policies such as social isolation, mask requirements, and lockdowns.

When Trump took office in January, he began a 12-month process of pulling the United States, the WHOs single largest financial donor, from the organisation.

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Fauci, Biden, and the WHO had no immediate response.

Soon after taking office, Trump also said that Fauci, who has faced threats since leading the countrys COVID-19 response, should hire his own security and ended U.S. security for him.

A CIA spokesperson said in January that the CIA has assessed that the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely to have emerged from a lab than from nature. The CIA had said it had low confidence in its assessment and that both scenarios - lab origin and natural origin - remain plausible.

Chinas government says it supports and has taken part in research to determine COVID-19s origin, and has accused Washington of politicizing the matter, especially because of efforts by U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate.

Beijing has said there was no credibility to claims that a laboratory leak likely caused the pandemic.
Forty people, including high-profile politicians, businessmen and journalists, were being prosecuted in the case. More than 20 have fled abroad since being charged read more

Ahmed Nejib Chebbi, head of the National Salvation Front, speaks during a news conference in Tunis, Tunisia. File image/ Reuters

A Tunisian court handed jail terms of 13 to 66 years to opposition leaders, businessmen and lawyers on charges of conspiring, a case the opposition says is fabricated and a symbol of President Kais Saieds authoritarian rule.

Rights groups say Saied has had full control over the judiciary since he dissolved parliament in 2021 and began ruling by decree. He dissolved the independent Supreme Judicial Council and sacked dozens of judges in 2022.

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TAP state news agency quoted a judicial official as saying the sentences ranged from 13 to 66 years. It did not provide further details about the sentences.

The trial started in March and has been postponed twice.

Forty people, including high-profile politicians, businessmen and journalists, were being prosecuted in the case. More than 20 have fled abroad since being charged.

Some of the opposition defendants - including Ghazi Chaouachi, Issam Chebbi, Jawahar Ben Mbrak, Abdelhamid Jlassi, Ridha Belhaj and Khyam Turki - have been in custody since being detained in 2023.

In my entire life, I have never witnessed a trial like this. Its a farce, the rulings are ready, and what is happening is scandalous and shameful, said lawyer Ahmed Souab, who represents the defendants, on Friday before the ruling was handed down.

Authorities say the defendants, who also include former officials and former head of intelligence, Kamel Guizani, tried to destabilise the country and overthrow Saied.

Some of the countrys most prominent opposition politicians - including Nejib Chebbi, the leader of the main National Salvation Front opposition coalition - are among the defendants in this case.

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The authorities want to criminalise the opposition. Chebbi said on Friday.

Saied rejects accusations that he is a dictator. He said in 2023 the politicians were traitors and terrorists and that judges who would acquit them were their accomplices.

The opposition leaders involved the case accuse Saied of staging a coup in 2021 and say the case is fabricated to stifle the opposition and establish a one-man, repressive rule.

They say they were preparing an initiative aimed at uniting the fragmented opposition to face the democratic setback in the cradle of the Arab Spring uprisings.

Most of the leaders of political parties in Tunisia are in prison, including Abir Moussi, leader of the Free Constitutional Party, and Rached Ghannouchi, the head of Ennahda - two of Saieds most prominent opponents.
The Ukrainian government has added Beijing Aviation And Aerospace Xianghui Technology, Rui Jin Machinery and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining to its list of sanctioned entities. All of these companies are reportedly registered in China read more

Ukraine has sanctioned three Chinese companies over their alleged involvement in the production of advanced Iskander missiles to be used in the war. The development comes a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that China has been supplying weapons to Russia.

The Ukrainian government on Friday added Beijing Aviation And Aerospace Xianghui Technology, Rui Jin Machinery and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining to its list of sanctioned entities. All of these companies are reportedly registered in China.

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Today, we have expanded our Ukrainian sanctions against nearly a hundred more entities  natural and legal persons, most of whom are involved in the production of such missiles  Iskanders  like those that struck our Kharkiv, Zelenskyy said in a statement.

China rejects Zelenskyys claims

China on Friday rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyys claim that Beijing is supplying lethal weapons on the battlefield.

The Chinese side has never provided lethal weapons to any party in the conflict, and strictly controls dual-use items, foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

Zelenskyy said that Ukraine has intelligence proving that China is giving artillery and gunpowder to Russia, without giving any details and saying that Kyiv is ready to discuss the matter with Beijing.

Meanwhile, Beijing has said that its position on the Ukraine issue is consistent and clear.

We have always actively made efforts for a cessation of hostilities and peace talks, Lin said.

Ukraine detains Chinese soldiers

Zelenskyys comments come just days after Ukraine showcased two Chinese soldiers captured while fighting for Russia. Both men confirmed that Russian officers commanded them, communicating through gestures due to the language barrier.

Previously, Zelenskyy claimed that at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting on Russias side. Kyiv made this assertion before capturing the two soldiers, which provided the first public evidence suggesting Chinese nationals may be involved in the war.

With inputs from agencies
The letter that set off the battle between Harvard University and the Trump administration was sent to the university by mistake and was unauthorised, two officials close to the matter revealed read more

Students walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The university is locked in a battle with the US president, who has declared a funding pause as well as threatening to revoke its tax-exempt status. Reuters

The letter which set off the tussle between Harvard and US President Donald Trumps administration was unauthorised and sent by mistake, an official close to the matter revealed. On April 11, the prestigious American university received an email from the Trump administration that included a series of demands regarding hiring, admissions and curriculum.

Some of these demands were so onerous that Harvard officials had to take on the White House and contest the demands. The protest from the university set off a tectonic battle between Harvard and Trump himself.

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However, two people familiar with the email told The New York Times that the mail from the White Houses task force on antisemitism should not have been sent and was unauthorised. It is pertinent to note that the controversial letter was sent by the acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, Sean Keveney, a member of the antisemitism task force.

The letter debacle

The official told the NYT that it is unclear what prompted the letter to be sent last Friday. However, there are different accounts within the Trump administration over how the matter was mishandled. As per the report, some people at the White House believed that the letter was sent prematurely, according to the three people, who requested to remain anonymous.

Meanwhile, others in the administration thought that it was meant to be circulated among the task force members rather than sent to Harvard. However, the letter came at a time when Harvard was in talks with the task force established by Trump. The letter took the university by surprise, and Harvard eventually concluded that a deal between the two entities would ultimately be impossible, NYT reported.

A senior White House official said that the administration eventually decided to stand by the letter and blamed Harvard for not continuing discussions. It was malpractice on the side of Harvards lawyers not to pick up the phone and call the members of the antisemitism task force whom they had been talking to for weeks, said May Mailman, the White House senior policy strategist. Instead, Harvard went on a victimhood campaign.

Despite the whole drama, Mailman still believes that there is a potential pathway to resume discussions if the university, among other measures, follows through on what Trump wants and apologises to its students for fostering a campus where there was antisemitism.

The task force and the entire Trump administration are in lockstep on ensuring that entities that receive taxpayer dollars are following all civil rights laws," a spokesman for the antisemitism task force said in a statement. Harvard later pushed back on the White Houses assertion that it should have checked with the administrations lawyers before going public.

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The letter was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11 as promised, Harvard said in a statement on Friday. Recipients of such correspondence from the US government  even when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreach  do not question its authenticity or seriousness.

It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the governments recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government meant to do and say. But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences on students and employees and the standing of American higher education in the world," the university added.

The letter left Harvard shocked

For the last two weeks, Harvards lawyers, William Burck and Robert Hur, were communicating with representatives from the Trump administration: Josh Gruenbaum, a top official at the General Services Administration; Thomas Wheeler, the acting general counsel for the Department of Education; and Keveney.

During the back and forth, both Burck and Hur were expecting a letter from the task force. However, they were shocked when the letter finally arrived. On Monday, Harvard publicly said that it could not accede to them, and soon after the statement was released, Harvards lawyers received calls from Gruenbaum.

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In the call, Gruenbaum initially admitted that he and Wheeler did not authorise sending the latter. However, he changed his story quickly and maintained that the letter was supposed to be sent at some point, just not on Friday when the dialogue between the two sides was still constructive, a source told the NYT.

The clarification came a little too late, since the battle broke out between the university and the Trump administration shortly after Harvard publically rejected the demands from the task force. In response to Harvards decision to fight, the White House announced that the POTUS was freezing $2.2 billion in grants to the school. Within a day, he was threatening to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status.
A Texas school district banned the Virginia state flag for elementary school students due to its depiction of nudity. The Texas Freedom to Read Project condemned the move as censorship, sparking the age-old debate read more

The flag of the state of Virginia has been banned for younger students in a Texas school district because it depicts the Roman goddess Virtus standing over a slain tyrant, with her falling toga exposing her left breast. The consolidated independent school district of Lamar, near Houston, expressed apprehension with the image last year.

The district eventually decided to remove a section about Virginia from its online learning platform used by third through fifth graders, typically encompassing ages eight to 11, sparking row over the flag, Axios reported. The Texas Freedom to Read Project, a group that opposes censorship and book bans in the state condemned the move and said that the new ban unlocked a new level of dystopian, book-banning, and censorship hell in Texas.

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The removal of the flag automatically prevents students in the district from learning about the state of Virginia in the districts online research database, PebbleGo Next, Axios reported. The group said it had filed a public records request following the omission.

The school district justifies its move

In response to the request, the school district acknowledged that Virginia was removed from the website due to the lesson violating the school boards local library policy banning any visual depictions or illustrations of frontal nudity in elementary school library material.

This is not the first time the flag of Virginia has been scrutinised. Back in 2010, the flag was part of a debate about what constitutes sexually explicit material in the states school libraries. At that time, then state attorney general Ken Cuccinelli created special lapel pins that edited the seal to cover the breast.

Intrestingly, the battle over the flag and the states seal dates back to 1776 when the commonwealth wanted to appear strong during the war of independence over British rule and hit on the image of Virtus, wielding a sword and spear, and the inscription Sic Semper Tyrannis or Thus always to tyrants, next to a body and fallen crown.

At that time, the tyrant was symbolic of the King of England, George III and Virtus was seen more as a warrior than a Roman deity. Over the years, the logo was adapted in various ways. In 1901, Virginia officials decided to depict the bare breast to clearly show that the figure towering over the tyrant was clearly a female.

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In the 2010 row, there were debates over Virtuss nipple and the University of Virginia political scientist Larry Sabato mocked conservatives over censorship efforts. When you ask to be ridiculed, it usually happens. And it will happen here, nationally. This is classical art, for goodnesss sake," he remarked at that time.
US President Donald Trump fired IRS acting commissioner Gary Shapley after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent complained about not being informed about his appointment. The development came amid brewing animosity between Bessent and Musk read more

Gary Shapley, who has served as the acting commissioner of the IRS. File Image / AP

US President Donald Trump sacked the acting commissioner of the US Internal Revenue Service after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly complained that the agency head was appointed without his knowledge. According to a report by The New York Times, the Bessent complained that Gary Shapley was chosen for the role without him knowing and only under the instruction of Doge head Elon Musk.

A source close to the matter told NYT that Bessent believed that the Doge head had done an end-run around him to get Gary Shapley installed as the interim head of the IRS. However, the agency reports to Bessent and the Treassurey secretary should have a say on the person who leads it.

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The NYT report cited five anonymous sources with the knowledge of the situation, all of them said that Bessent was displeased with the appointment. The so-called department of government efficiency reportedly pushed for the appointment of Shapley using channels within the White House.

Bessents deputy will take charge for a while

While Shapley is dismissed from the role, Michael Faulkender, the current deputy secretary of the US treasury, is expected to become the next acting head of the tax-collecting agency, NYT reported. Meanwhile, Missouri congressman Billy Long, who was appointed by Trump to hold actually hold the position is currently waiting for his Senate confirmation.

Earlier this week, it was reported that Long had significant personal debt, which was abruptly paid off using campaign contributions acquired after Trump announced his intention to nominate him to lead the IRS.

The seat of the IRS head has been a matter of contention within the Trump administration. Shapley was chosen by Trump on Tuesday after previous interim head, Melanie Krause, resigned from the office. rause departed from her role at the IRS after the agency agreed to a deal to share tax information of undocumented immigrants living in the US with federal agents.

When asked about the recent development, Karoline Leavitt told the NYT that disagreements are normal. Its no secret President Trump has put together a team of people who are incredibly passionate about the issues impacting our country. Disagreements are a normal part of any healthy policy process, and ultimately, everyone knows they serve at the pleasure of President Trump," she said in a statement to the American news outlet.

While the internal power struggle is going on, the IRS has reportedly been planning to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status following pressure from the Trump administration. However, it is against the law for the president to direct the IRS to conduct an investigation or audit.
A U.S. airstrike on Yemens Houthi-controlled Ras Isa port killed over 70 people, targeting fuel supplies and escalating Trumps campaign, impacting daily life in the area. read more

In this photo taken from video released by Al Masirah TV channel shows a burning oil tanker after U.S. airstrikes targeted the Ras Isa oil port held by Yemen's Houthi rebels in Hodeida, Yemen. AP

A US airstrike on an important oil port held by Yemens Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded many others, the Iranian-backed rebel group said Friday, marking a major escalation in the military campaign President Donald Trump launched against the faction last month.

The overnight strike on the Ras Isa port sent massive fireballs billowing skyward and turned tanker trucks into burning wrecks. It was the first American attack on a Houthi-controlled oil facility in the new US bombing campaign. It also came just before the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the US and Iran over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen.

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The US is targeting the Houthis because of the groups attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel. The Houthis are the last militant group in Irans self-described Axis of Resistance that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

The port is a major hub for incoming fuel shipments that power areas of Yemen held by the Houthis, and analysts say the airstrike could seriously affect daily life there.

The Houthis, who said the attack killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others, aired graphic footage of the aftermath on their al-Masirah satellite news channel, showing corpses strewn about the port and smashed tanker trucks. They denounced the strike as a completely unjustified aggression.

It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades, the group said in a statement.

US Central Command declined to answer any questions about possible civilian casualties but referred to a statement in which it said this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen.

US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years, it said in its statement.

A US official said the attack sent a message to those supplying fuel to the Houthis despite sanctions. The official spoke to The Associated Press on the condition of anonymity to provide details not yet made public.

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Hours after the US strike, the Houthis launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, the Israeli military said. Sirens sounded in Tel Aviv and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the Houthis said they shot down another American MQ-9 Predator drone, which the US official acknowledged.

The ports strategic significance

The Ras Isa port is a collection of oil tanks and equipment that sits in Yemens Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, which has been targeted by intense US airstrikes in recent days.

Before the Houthis took control of Yemens capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and sent the government into exile, oil from the countrys energy-rich Marib governorate moved through Ras Isa for export. But since the Houthis dont control that region, the port now serves as an import hub for gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas that help power those parts of Yemen the Houthis control.

A deadly escalation of Trumps Yemen campaign

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The new US operation against the Houthis under Trump appears more extensive than attacks on the group were under President Joe Biden, an AP review found. The new campaign started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting Israeli ships again over Israel blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip.

From November 2023 until this January, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors. That has greatly reduced the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.

Assessing the toll of the month-old US airstrike campaign has been difficult because the military hasnt released information about the attacks, including what was targeted and how many people were killed. The Houthis, meanwhile, strictly control access to attacked areas and dont publish complete information on the strikes, many of which likely have targeted military and security sites.

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The Ras Isa port airstrike is the deadliest known attack yet in the month-old campaign. The actual cost in lives is hard to assess, said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project, a think tank.

Since they are targeting civilian areas, theres a lot more victims. But its also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims  or tend to stress only the civilian victims, Nevola said.

Further complicating the situation is the US strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage, which might have killed about 70 fighters.

Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters, al-Basha said. However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicized.

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The AP analyzed satellite images of the port provided by Planet Labs PBC that showed destroyed oil tanks and vehicles, and what appeared to be oil leaking into the Red Sea.

Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst with the Dutch peace organization PAX, said it appeared at least three fuel storage tanks had been destroyed and that oil had leaked from mooring pipelines.

The US airstrikes continued overnight into early Saturday, with the Houthis reporting them in Yemens al-Jawf, Sadaa and Sanaa governorates.

The US accuses a Chinese company of aiding Houthi attacks

A US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, accused a Chinese commercial satellite image provider, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., of directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on US interests.

During a briefing with reporters, Bruce did not elaborate in detail. But she acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the company linked to the Peoples Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target US warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor.

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Bruce said Beijings support of the satellite company  contradicts their claims of being peace supporters.

Responding to a question about the allegation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Friday: I am not familiar with the situation you mentioned. However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability.

Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation, Lin said. Who is promoting talks for peace and deescalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure?

The company didnt respond to request for comment. The US Treasury sanctioned it in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force the Wagner Group as it fought in Ukraine.

It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The US government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures.
The United States is open to recognising Russian control of Crimea as part of a potential peace deal with Ukraine, according to a CNN report. The proposal, which includes an immediate ceasefire, was recently shared with Ukrainian and European officials in Paris. Talks are expected to continue next week in London. read more

The net result is that the Russian president is in a position where he sees the opportunity to impose a Russian-designed peace settlement on Ukraine. Representational image: Reuters File

The United States is willing to accept Russian control of Crimea as part of a peace deal with Ukraine, CNN reported, citing a source familiar with the plan.

The proposal includes an immediate ceasefire and was shared with Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday.

According to the CNN report, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation and discussed the peace proposal.

A source said some parts of the plan still need to be worked out, and the US will meet with European and Ukrainian officials in London next week to continue talks.

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Russia took control of Crimea in 2014 from Ukraine following a military invasion  a move most of the world considers illegal and does not recognise, including the referendum held there.

Zelenskyy rules out territorial concessions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rejected any suggestion of handing over territory to Russia. He has made it clear that Ukraine will never accept Russian control over any part of its land, including Crimea. He also criticised Trumps envoy Steve Witkoff on Thursday for what he called a pro-Russian approach to ending the war.

We will never consider Ukrainian lands as Russian, Zelenskyy said. There can be no discussion about our territory before a ceasefire.

US might step back from brokering the peace deal

Meanwhile, Donald Trump suggested the US might step back from trying to broker peace if either side makes negotiations too difficult.

If one of the two parties makes it very difficult, well just say, Youre being foolish, and walk away, Trump said.

Still, Trump sounded more hopeful about reaching a peace deal between the two nations. I think we have a really good chance. Its all coming to a head, he said.

Trumps comments followed Rubios statement in Paris, where the Secretary said the US may abandon peace efforts within days if no progress is made.

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We need to quickly figure out if this can work, Rubio said after talks with European, Ukrainian, and Russian officials.
The Supreme Court had earlier noted that deportations are only possible if the ones who are supposed to be removed from the US have the chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals read more

The US Supreme Court on Saturday paused the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members, citing an 18th-century law. In a brief judgment, the top court ordered the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelan nationals held in Texass Bluebonnet Detention Centre until further order of this court.

The court was hearing an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union, arguing that deportations under the Trump 2.0 administration seem to be moving in the direction of removal under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

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The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court, the court order said.

The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.

The Supreme Court had earlier noted that deportations are only possible if the ones who are supposed to be removed from the US have the chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals.

We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process," ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email to the Associated Press.

What is the Alien Enemies Act?

The Alien Enemies Act of 1798 is a US federal law that grants the president the authority to detain or deport non-citizens from countries at war with the United States. Enacted during the presidency of John Adams, it was designed to protect national security during times of war or predatory incursion by foreign powers.

The act has only been invoked three previous times in US history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps.

The Trump administration contended it gave them the power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.

With inputs from agencies

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Washington has had troops in Syria for years as part of international efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, which rose out of the chaos of the countrys civil war to seize swaths of territory there and in neighboring Iraq over a decade ago read more

A soldier from the US-led coalition holds the hand of a boy during a joint U.S.- Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) patrol in the countryside of Qamishli in northeastern Syria. File image/ Reuters

The United States will roughly halve the number of troops it has deployed in Syria to less than 1,000 in the coming months, the Pentagon said Friday.

Washington has had troops in Syria for years as part of international efforts against the Islamic State (IS) group, which rose out of the chaos of the countrys civil war to seize swaths of territory there and in neighboring Iraq over a decade ago.

The brutal jihadists have since suffered major defeats in both countries, but still remain a threat.

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Today the secretary of defense directed the consolidation of US forces in Syria to select locations, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement, without specifying the sites where this would take place.

This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the US footprint in Syria down to less than 1,000 US forces in the coming months, he said.

As this consolidation takes place US Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of (IS) in Syria, Parnell added, referring to the military command responsible for the region.

President Donald Trump has long been skeptical of Washingtons presence in Syria, ordering the withdrawal of troops during his first term but ultimately leaving American forces in the country.

As Islamist-led rebels pressed forward with a lightning offensive last December that ultimately overthrew Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, Trump said Washington should NOT GET INVOLVED!

Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, & THE UNITED STATES SHOULD HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. THIS IS NOT OUR FIGHT, Trump, then the president-elect, wrote on his Truth Social platform.

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Years of war against IS

The 2014 onslaught by IS prompted a US-led air campaign in support of local ground forces  the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Iraqi government units.

Washington also deployed thousands of American personnel to advise and assist local forces, with US troops in some cases directly fighting the jihadists.

After years of bloody warfare, Iraqs prime minister announced a final victory over IS in December 2017, while the SDF proclaimed the defeat of the groups caliphate in March 2019 after seizing its final bastion in Syria.

But the jihadists still have some fighters in the countryside of both countries, and US forces have long carried out periodic strikes and raids to help prevent the groups resurgence.

Washington stepped up military action against IS in Syria in the wake of Assads overthrow, though it has more recently shifted its focus to strikes targeting Yemens Huthi rebels, who have been attacking international shipping since late 2023.

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US forces in Iraq and Syria were repeatedly targeted by pro-Iran militants following the outbreak of the Gaza war in October 2023, but responded with heavy strikes on Tehran-linked targets, and the attacks largely subsided.

Washington for years said it had some 900 military personnel in Syria as part of international efforts against IS, but the Pentagon announced in December 2024 that the number of US troops in the country had doubled to around 2,000 earlier in the year.

While the United States is reducing its forces in Syria, Iraq has also sought an end to the US-led coalitions presence there, where Washington has said it has some 2,500 troops.

The United States and Iraq have announced that the coalition would end its decade-long military mission in federal Iraq by the end of 2025, and by September 2026 in the autonomous Kurdistan region.
Political violence has increased in Bangladesh under the watch of the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. The US advisory coincides with the brutal killing of a prominent Hindu leader in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh read more

Bangladesh has seen a remarkable rise in civil unrest and communal violence recently. (Reuters)

The US on Friday (April 18) reinstated its travel advisory for Bangladesh, issuing a Level 3: reconsider Travel alert for the entire country and a Level 4: Do Not Travel warning for the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The US cited heightened risks of violence, crime, and kidnapping in Chittagong Hill area for its advisory. The Level 4 advisory covers the Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban districts.

Regions rocked by communal tensions, violence

These regions have experienced serious security challenges in recent times. There have been multiple incidents of communal tensions, acts of terrorism, and politically motivated violence, such as the use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and active shooter situations.

In addition, kidnappings have emerged as a growing concern. Some of these are related to personal disputes, while others appear to target individuals from religious minority communities, adding to the overall instability and risk in these areas.

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State Dept employees banned from visiting

According to media reports, the US State Department employees are now banned from visiting these areas.

Do not travel to these areas for any reason, the advisory stated. It added that prior approval from Bangladeshs home ministry was mandatory before travel to these areas.

The advisory also urges US citizens to reconsider travel to these areas due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism.

Political violence has increased in Bangladesh under the watch of the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus.

The advisory comes amidst continuing political instability in the country following the ouster of former PM Sheikh Hasina in August last year.

US citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, since they could turn violent with little or no warning, the advisory added.

Hindu leader killed in Bangladesh

The advisory also coincides with the brutal killing of a prominent Hindu leader in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh.

The body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58-year-old resident of Basudebpur village, was recovered on Thursday, according to Bangladeshi media. Roy was reportedly the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area.

Indian government on Friday slammed Bangladesh for systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government. A statement issued by the foreign ministry called on the Bangladesh authorities to protect all minorities in the country.

We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions, the statement said.

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In his address, the Israeli PM reiterated his commitment to prevent Iran from going nuclear. He also attacked his critics for accusing him of failing to strike Iranian nuclear sites read more

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks at the plenum, in Israel's parliament, the Knesset, in Jerusalem, November 18, 2024. Reuters file

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu in a recorded message said Palestinian militant group Hamas rejected a proposal to return half of the remaining living hostages over the weekend, insisting he wont capitulate to demands of ending the war.

If we capitulate to the dictates of Hamas now, all the great achievements of the war, which we achieved with the merit of our soldiers and our fallen and our heroic injured, all these achievements will disappear, Netanyahu said.

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As your prime minister, I will not capitulate to murderers who committed the worst massacre against the Jewish people since the Holocaust. Capitulation like this will endanger the country and endanger you, he added.

Netanyahu also dismissed claims that Israel would re-impose war on Hamas after all hostages are returned by the militant group, saying that is not how international diplomacy works.

Committed to prevent Iran from going nuclear

In his address, the Israeli PM reiterated his commitment to preventing Iran from going nuclear. He also attacked his critics for accusing him of failing to strike Iranian nuclear sites, arguing that the same critics in past opposed his actions against the Shiite nation.

It is amusing to listen to the criticism of those who opposed the actions I took to harm and delay Irans nuclear program in the past, actions without which Iran would have had a nuclear weapon 10 years ago, Netanyahu asserted.

Tensions over Israels approach to Iran have deepened, with Opposition Leader Yair Lapid accusing Netanyahu of missing key chances to act against Tehran.

Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett added that Netanyahu has repeatedly failed to follow through on his tough rhetoric. These criticisms came after reports emerged that US President Donald Trump recently blocked an Israeli plan to strike Irans nuclear sites. While not denying the reports, Trump stated he was not in a hurry to approve such military action, signalling caution despite rising concerns about Irans nuclear ambitions.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2024.
Ann received her bachelor's degree in English writing from Taylor University in Indiana. Ann and her husband have two children and a rascal called Wimbledon, a miniature schnauzer named for their love of tennis. Ann currently writes feature stories and entertainment content for The Daily Sentinel's news, Lifestyle and Off the Clock sections.
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The front exterior of the Mother Teresa Place, an apartment complex of 40 units specifically reserved for individuals age 50 and older who are experiencing chronic homelessness, meaning they have been without a home for more than a year or have been without a home at least four separate times in the past three years, on April 11, 2025. Each apartment is fully furnished and ready to move in, with everything provided from cleaning supplies like mops and brooms to clean sheets and a shower ready for use.
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Haiti 'awash' with guns leaving population 'absolutely terrified'

By Daniel Dickinson

17 April 2025 - Hundreds of thousands of guns are being used by gangs to exert control and spread terror in Haiti, according to the UN's designated expert on the human rights situation in the Caribbean country.

The island nation has suffered from a series of humanitarian, economic, political and security crises in recent years and it is widely believed that gangs control up to 90 per cent of the capital, Port-au-Prince.

William O'Neill spoke to UN News following a recent visit to Haiti.

William O'Neill: The situation in Haiti regarding guns is absolutely catastrophic. The country is awash in guns, probably in the hundreds of thousands in a population of 11 million.

The gangs have access to an increasing number of high calibre weapons, and a seemingly endless supply of ammunition and some gangs have weapons that pierce armour. This is very dangerous because the Haitian National police and the multinational security support mission led by Kenya are really relying on their armoured vehicles to provide them protection.

There have been recent incidents in which a Kenyan police officer was injured by a projectile inside his vehicle and it is happened to some of the Haitian National Police officers as well.

The gangs have powerful automatic weapons that fire many rounds per minute as well as sniper rifles which some gang members have been trained on. People can be hit from a long distance, and you can imagine the terror that causes.

You are a frequent visitor to Haiti, especially to vulnerable communities there. What are people there telling you about the pervasiveness of guns?

The gangs have weapons that cause immense violence and the people I have met say that it is absolutely terrifying.

Gangs use these firearms, to take territory, to keep out other gangs and to battle with the police, but also to control and dominate people and commit many types of

human rights violations simply because they have this power that that literally flows from their possession of firearms.

We interviewed some victims, survivors of sexual violence, and it was clear from their testimony that the gangs flaunt their weapons as if to say "do this or else."

People face the threat of death unless they comply with the gangs.

Haiti does not make firearms nor ammunition. How are they getting into the country?

They come in primarily from the United States, some directly on small ships that leave overwhelmingly from Florida. There i an increased number from the Dominican Republic, still originating in the US, that come over the border, which is very porous.

There was actually a quite active guns-for-drugs trade with Jamaica which predates the crisis, but even those guns mostly originate in the US. Relatively recently, guns have been flowing from Colombia some from FARC and other the Colombian armed groups that were turning a weapons or had the weapons confiscated.

The key is to stop the flow of ammunition, because if the gangs run out of ammunition, then it would not matter what kind of guns they have. They would be finished as they have no popular support.

What is being done to stop the trafficking of these weapons?

Not enough. The head of the Haitian frontier police told me they only have 350 officers to guard a 400 km border. They have one drone, insufficient vehicles and admit they cannot even control the official border crossings.

There is a failure at the ports; there is not a single scanner in the whole country. A large metal scanner could check what is coming in these containers. So that is a huge problem.

On the Haitian side, there is a lack of resources and some corruption. On the US side, there is been an ongoing lack of commitment in terms of inspecting outgoing shipments, although inspections have increased a bit lately under domestic pressure in the United States.

The people hate the gangs, so they would be in major trouble if they lost the source of their strength. So, the US needs to increase the inspections much more.

What more needs to be done?

There needs to be more investigation of the trafficking networks in Florida. Recently there have been several prosecutions and heavy sentences, one involving a former Haitian gang leader who had been extradited to the United States.

His trial testimony revealed how he was obtaining guns from the United States that led to others being arrested, including some Haitian nationals in the US. Heavy sentences would be a big deterrent. If traffickers could end up with 10/15/20 years in a federal penitentiary, they might recalculate their risk reward assessment and say, "you know, it is just not worth it."

How reliable a partner is the US right now?

I think the US has become more sensitive to this problem and how dealing with it would actually alleviate one of the administration's major concerns which is Haitian migrants trying to get into the United States.

People recognize that if there is security in Haiti, then the incentive or desperation to get out of the country would diminish quite a bit.

Bringing stability to a neighbour, which is suffering greatly would allow that country to develop economically and in peace. At the same time, you would reduce this push factor of migration of desperate Haitians wanting to leave the country.

The Dominican Republic also has a huge interest in stability in Haiti, as there are concerns about the violence spilling over. I think the Dominican Republic is stepping up efforts to stop this illegal trafficking to Haiti of arms and ammunition.

It is also important to remember that there is a UN Security Council arms embargo.

There is a legal obligation on all countries to take steps to make sure their extraterritorial obligations on the human rights situation in Haiti are connected to following the arms embargo.

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Security Council Press Statement on Sudan

Press Release

Security Council

SC/16046

17 April 2025

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Jerome Bonnafont (France):

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern over escalating violence, including in and around El Fasher, North Darfur.

Council members strongly condemned the repeated attacks on El Fasher as well as on Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps for internally displaced persons in recent days by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). They expressed deep concern at reports that RSF attacks had resulted in the deaths of at least 400 civilians, including children and at least 11 aid workers. They called for RSF to be held accountable for these attacks.

Recalling resolution 2736 (2024), Council members reiterated their demand that RSF halt the siege of El Fasher and their call for an immediate halt to the fighting and for de-escalation in and around El Fasher.

Council members called on the parties to the conflict to protect civilians and comply with their obligations under international law, including international humanitarian law, and fulfil resolution 2736 (2024), as well as abide by their commitments under the Jeddah Declaration. They also called for RSF as well as all perpetrators of attacks on civilians, and human rights violations and abuses, in Sudan to be held accountable.

The members of the Security Council called upon all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian personnel, their premises and assets in accordance with their obligations under international law. They also called on the parties to allow and facilitate, in a manner consistent with relevant provisions of international law and the United Nations guiding principles of humanitarian assistance, including humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence, safe and unhindered humanitarian access into and throughout Sudan.

The members of the Security Council expressed deep concern at the two-year anniversary of the Sudan conflict and its impact on the people of Sudan and the region. Council members called on the parties to the conflict to seek an immediate cessation of hostilities. They encouraged the parties to engage, in good faith, in political dialogue towards a durable ceasefire and a comprehensive, inclusive and Sudanese-owned political process. They called on the parties to use the opportunity of UN-led proximity talks to agree to steps to rapidly deliver these goals and work towards a sustainable end to the crisis in Sudan.

Council members urged all Member States to refrain from external interference which seeks to foment conflict and instability and instead to support efforts for durable peace and reminded all parties to the conflict and Member States to adhere to their obligations to comply with the arms embargo measures as stipulated in paragraphs 7 and 8 of resolution 1556 (2004) and reaffirmed and renewed in resolution 2750 (2024).

The members of the Security Council reaffirmed their strong commitment to the sovereignty, unity and territorial integrity of Sudan.



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WRAIR-Africa protects force health at Justified Accord '25

By Zeke Gonzalez April 18, 2025

NAIROBI, Kenya -- The Walter Reed Army Institute of Research - Africa conducted disease surveillance in support of Justified Accord 2025 from Feb. 10-21, in Kenya.

Justified Accord is U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise in East Africa. The 2025 iteration involved more than 1,500 participants from 20 countries, including Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia, Morocco, Tunisia and the United Kingdom. The exercise is designed to strengthen multinational cooperation as well as regional security.

WRAIR-Africa supported the exercise by identifying pathogens in the environment and coordinating with medical personnel to ensure appropriate protective measures. The team conducted daily vector surveillance, collecting mosquitos, sandflies and ticks for pathogen testing, as well as analyzing wastewater samples.

During the exercise, WRAIR-Africa identified nine major pathogen threats including the bacteria that causes Q fever, the bacteria that causes epidemic typhus, jingman tick virus, and norovirus. The findings were shared with Role 1 medical assets and health protection personnel to mitigate risks to participating service members.

"By telling the force health protection (FHP) and health service support (HSS) personnel that the pathogen is in the environment, you can keep the soldiers safe," said Maj. John Eads, Chief of Entomology at WRAIR-Africa. "Something like norovirus is a particular threat-that's the pathogen that takes out cruise ships all the time because of how easily it spreads. Identifying it before it spreads is essential to getting preventative measure in place and keeping service members healthy."

WRAIR-Africa's role in the exercise was essential to protecting force health, but it also provides a second major benefit: an opportunity to learn.

In addition to surveillance, WRAIR-Africa used the exercise as an opportunity to assess support needs for large-scale combat operations. This included evaluating the effectiveness of tools such as rapid diagnostic tests that don't require cold-chain storage, which can be limited in austere environments.

"Participation in Justified Accord embeds us with the warfighter so we can see where there are gaps," said Eads. "During and after the exercise, we ask: what products are necessary in large-scale combat operations? It's an opportunity to determine how WRAIR-Africa can further support force health protection and Health Service Support."

Following the exercise, WRAIR-Africa compiled a report to inform future surveillance operations and refine its support strategies for forward-deployed environments.

About Justified Accord

Justified Accord is U.S. Africa Command's largest exercise in East Africa. Led by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and hosted in Kenya, Djibouti and Rwanda, this year's exercise will incorporate personnel and units from 23 nations and five observer countries. This multinational exercise builds readiness for the U.S. joint force, prepares regional partners for UN and AU mandated missions, and increases multinational interoperability in support of humanitarian assistance, disaster response and crisis response.

Justified Accord content can be found on the official Justified Accord DVIDS feature page.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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A week in Liberia strengthening Public Affairs partnerships

By Tech. Sgt. Andrew Schumann April 18, 2025

MONROVIA, Liberia -- Arriving in Liberia for my first visit to the African continent, I was unsure of what to expect. However, I knew my purposeto share my expertise as a public affairs specialist and state partner in the Michigan Air National Guard with the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL).

Organized by U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), and as part of the State Partnership Program (SPP), I had the privilege of participating in a military-to-military workshop from Jan. 19-24, 2025. This mission brought together a diverse team from across the military public affairs domain.

Joining me were U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Kakaris, a broadcaster from Armed Forces Network Europe in Sembach, Germany, and U.S. Army Maj. Joe Legros, a public affairs officer currently assigned to SETAF-AF in Vicenza, Italy. Together, we provided public affairs training to a select group of AFL soldiers at a military training center in Mambah Kaba, Liberia.

Our lead partner, Maj. El Dorado Jebboe, AFL public affairs officer, guided a motivated and dedicated group of soldiers through the training. We covered topics such as media relations, photography, interviewing techniques and command messaging strategiesskills essential to telling their story and connecting with the Liberian public.

Although we were there to teach, the mission quickly became a collaboration. The AFL soldiers brought valuable perspectives and shared challenges, demonstrating a passion for building trust and transparency through public affairs.

One standout moment occurred during an interview exercise to practice strategic communication. As the soldiers applied their newly learned skills, their confidence grew with each response. By the end of the training, their progress was evident, showcasing an eagerness to learn and strengthen their communications capabilities.

"This training builds enthusiasm with our members to take on further missions," said Maj. Jebboe. "With upcoming events such as Liberian Armed Forces Day and field training exercises, the skills learned here during this public affairs training will help sell the image of Armed Forces Liberia."

His words highlighted the broader goal of our mission: not just teaching technical skills but fostering a foundation for lasting communication between the AFL, the Liberian public and the world audience.

The mission aligned seamlessly with the objectives of the U.S. Defense Department's SPP, which pairs U.S. National Guard units with foreign military organizations to foster long-term relationships, enhance interoperability, and support regional stability.

As part of the Michigan National Guard's partnership with Liberiaactive since 2009this mission underscored the enduring strength of the bonds we've built over the years.

Over the course of this partnership, Michigan and Liberia have collaborated on numerous initiatives, including disaster response training, medical readiness exercises and leadership development programs. These engagements have not only enhanced the AFL's capabilities but have also created lasting friendships and mutual understanding. For example, previous missions focused on engineering and infrastructure development have helped Liberia improve its logistical networks and emergency preparedness, further strengthening the country's resilience.

Managed by the National Guard Bureau, the State Partnership Program supports more than 100 partnerships worldwide. It leverages the expertise of National Guard members to build enduring connections and promote mutual understanding between the United States and partner nations.

However, the program is more than military training. It is about fostering relationships built on trust, cooperation and mutual respect.

For me, this mission underscored the importance of our role as public affairs professionals. It's not just about capturing photos or writing storiesit's about empowering others to share their narratives and foster meaningful connections.

In Liberia, I witnessed the power of these connections firsthand. I am proud to have contributed to strengthening the AFL's capacity to communicate and engage with the public.

Returning to Michigan, I carry with me a deep appreciation for the AFL's dedication and a renewed sense of purpose in my work. This mission was a powerful reminder of the value of partnerships and the impact of shared knowledge.

About the State Partnership Program

The Department of Defense's State Partnership Program has been successfully building relations for more than 30 years and now includes 106 partnerships with 115 nations around the globe.

Current partnerships in U.S. Africa Command's area of responsibility include:

Benin, Ghana, Togo | North Dakota National Guard (2004, 2014)

| North Dakota National Guard (2004, 2014) Botswana, Malawi, Zambia | North Carolina National Guard (2008, 2024, 2024)

| North Carolina National Guard (2008, 2024, 2024) Burkina Faso | District of Columbia National Guard (2018)

| District of Columbia National Guard (2018) Cabo Verde | New Hampshire National Guard (2021)

| New Hampshire National Guard (2021) Djibouti | Kentucky National Guard (2015)

| Kentucky National Guard (2015) Gabon | West Virginia National Guard (2024)

| West Virginia National Guard (2024) Kenya | Massachusetts National Guard (2015)

| Massachusetts National Guard (2015) Liberia, Sierra Leone | Michigan National Guard (2009, 2024)

| Michigan National Guard (2009, 2024) Morocco | Utah National Guard (2003)

| Utah National Guard (2003) Niger | Indiana National Guard (2017)

| Indiana National Guard (2017) Nigeria | California National Guard (2006)

| California National Guard (2006) Rwanda | Nebraska National Guard (2019)

| Nebraska National Guard (2019) Senegal | Vermont National Guard (2008)

| Vermont National Guard (2008) South Africa | New York National Guard (2003)

| New York National Guard (2003) Tunisia | Wyoming National Guard (2004)

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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US, Senegal strengthen noncommissioned officer corps through targeted development program

By Sgt. 1st Class Solomon Navarro April 18, 2025

OURO SOGUI, Senegal -- U.S. Soldiers with the 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB), assigned to U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), partnered with the Armed Forces of Senegal to build a more empowered and professional noncommissioned officer (NCO) corps through a tailored development program.

The initiative, spearheaded by Military Advisor Team 2112 (MAT 2112), 2nd SFAB, focuses on empowering Senegalese NCOs to take a more active role in unit operations, improving mission command and strengthening overall unit cohesion.

"The strategic goal is to create a professional, consistent leadership culture that strengthens the Senegalese Army's operational capacity," said U.S. Army Capt. Nicolaus Solari, team leader and officer in charge of MAT 2112. "By focusing on foundational leadership at the NCO level, we're enabling a more self-reliant and capable force that can support regional security and stability operations."

The program was developed following direct observation of operational gaps during joint training events. MAT 2112 identified that Senegalese companies often relied heavily on officers, leaving NCOs underutilized. In response, the team introduced weekly NCO professional development sessions, peer-led training meetings and leadership discussions tailored to the Senegalese operational environment.

Senior enlisted leadership played a key role in delivering the program. U.S. Army Master Sgt. Kevin Dellinger, team sergeant for MAT 2112, emphasized a collaborative and discussion-based approach over lecture-style instruction.

"We found that Senegalese NCOs responded best to open dialogue," said Dellinger. "By treating them as peers and tailoring our topics to their concerns, we created a culture of trust and mutual learning. Leadership challenges are often universalit's about helping each other grow."

The program's early results are already visible. Senegalese NCOs now plan and execute training events, leading small-unit rehearsals and taking initiative in the fieldreducing their commanders' burden and increasing unit flexibility.

"The shift has been remarkable," Dellinger said. "NCOs who once deferred to officers are now stepping into leadership roles confidently. We've seen junior leaders running rehearsals and mentoring their teams with minimal oversight."

One key innovation was rotating platoon leaders into observation roles during training. This allowed them to see their units operate from a wider perspective and engage in real-time feedback sessions, ultimately helping to refine tactics, techniques and procedures.

The training is also designed to be sustainable and resource conscious.

According to Dellinger, the team aligned instruction with U.S. Army standards while adjusting for local conditionsfocusing on field exercises, discussion-based learning and leadership-focused training that didn't require heavy logistical support.

"This is about expectation management," Dellinger said. "The Senegalese are disciplined and dedicated. Our goal was to maintain high standards without creating an unsustainable model."

Junior enlisted advisors from MAT 2112 also played a role in mentorship and daily interaction with Senegalese NCOs. Drawing from experiences with multinational partners in previous assignments, they supported practical leadership discussions and helped reinforce mission command principles.

As Senegal prepares to play a larger role in future regional security efforts, including multinational exercises, programs like this help ensure readiness and interoperability with U.S. and partner forces.

"This training enhances future joint operations by aligning expectations for leadership and decision-making in the field," said Solari. "It's a building block toward a more integrated, capable coalition."

The NCO development initiative reflects SETAF-AF's long-term approach to security cooperation: partner-led, U.S.-enabled efforts that build lasting capacity.

"Our aim is to develop a self-sustaining force," Solari said. "When their NCOs succeed, the entire force becomes more capableand that's a win for both Senegal and the region."

About 2nd SFAB

The 2nd Security Force Assistance Brigade (2nd SFAB) is a specialized U.S. Army unit focused on training, advising, assisting, enabling, and accompanying operations with allied and partner nations. SFABs are designed to enhance the capabilities of foreign security forces, thereby contributing to global security and stability.

About SETAF-AF

SETAF-AF provides U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Army Europe and Africa a dedicated headquarters to synchronize Army activities in Africa and scalable crisis-response options in Africa and Europe.

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April 18, 2025

Release

Statement From Chief Pentagon Spokesman Sean Parnell Announcing the Consolidation of Forces in Syria Under Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve

Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria.

This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS' appeal and operational capability regionally and globally. This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces in the coming months.

During the last ten years, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS has made major gains, including those which led to the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019. Additionally, U.S. Central Command has launched dozens of air strikes over the last year to further degrade ISIS capabilities and deny them the ability to regain strength.

As this consolidation takes place, consistent with President Trump's commitment to peace through strength, U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria. We will also work closely with capable and willing Coalition partners to maintain pressure on ISIS and respond to any other terrorist threats that arise.

The threat of terrorism is not confined to the Middle East, and we will be vigilant across every continent to ensure that ISIS has nowhere to hide. We are committed to ensuring our partners' ability to further degrade ISIS and other terrorists within the region. An essential line of effort in degrading ISIS strength is reducing the populations of displaced and detained ISIS-linked individuals in camps and detention facilities in northeast Syria; we call on the international community to repatriate their nationals.

The Department of Defense continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and the ability to make dynamic force posture adjustments based on evolving security situations on the ground. We will provide more updates as they are available.

https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/4160500/

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Iran urges international community to end silence and inaction against U.S. attacks on Yemen

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemns U.S. attacks on Ras Isa, a port located in northern Al Hudaydah in Yemen, and urges the international community to end its inaction and silence against the violations of human rights and international law by the United States in Yemen.

The U.S. army conducted airstrikes in Yemen, killing and injuring tens of Yemeni civilians and destroying the port, Esmaeil Baqaei wrote in his Telegram channel on Friday.

He described the U.S. airstrikes in Yemen as a blatant act of aggression and a severe violation of the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law.

Baqaei emphasized that the U.S. acts of aggression in Yemen, carried out in full support of the occupation and genocide perpetrated by the Zionist regime in occupied Palestine, have turned the United States into an aider and abettor in Israel's crimes in Palestine and the region.

Baqaei also warned that the continuation of U.S. military aggression in Yemen, the destruction of the country's vital infrastructure, and the killing of its people have not only encouraged the Zionist regime to persist in its crimes in Gaza and the West Bank but have also escalated regional insecurity and posed a threat to international peace and security.

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Iran: Massacre of children in Gaza is 'crimes against humanity and genocide'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs says that children are being slaughtered through "relentless, brutal bombardment and cruel starvation."

"These are not only morally outrageous; they are the most heinous acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under international law," Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on his X page on Friday, referring to the crimes of the Israeli regime in Gaza.

"This is not medieval history. This is not the Dark Ages. It has been happening for consecutive days over the past 2 years," Baqaei wrote, adding that a spokesperson for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Palestine has confirmed that, since the beginning of the Gaza war, an average of 27 children have been killed each day.

Baqaei went on to say that the United Nations General Assembly has repeatedly condemned the Israeli regime's aggressions, the International Criminal Court has gathered evidence of genocidal acts against Palestinians, and the International Court of Justice has formally ordered the Israeli regime to prevent genocide and punish incitement to it.

"And yet, the killing continues..."

Calling for the "Israeli regime, its enablers & apologists" to be held accountable, he said, "Children are slaughtered by relentless brutal bombardment and from cruel starvation."

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The President meets with U.S. Members of Congress

President of the Republic of Lithuania

April 18, 2025

President Gitanas Nauseda met on Friday with U.S. Congressmen Keith Self, Timothy Kennedy and Derek Tran.

During the meeting, the President expressed gratitude for the strong and consistent support of the U.S. Congress to Lithuania and the Baltic States. He emphasized that the presence of U.S. military forces in Lithuania remains a cornerstone in ensuring the security of both our country and the entire region.

The President also highlighted that the United States continues to be a strategic partner in developing the capabilities of the Lithuanian Armed Forces. One-fifth of Lithuania's military acquisitions come from the U.S., with plans to further expand this cooperation.

According to the President, Lithuania recognizes that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own security. In this regard, Lithuania is setting an example by significantly increasing defense funding, actively developing its national division, strengthening the defense industry, boosting investments in host nation support, and providing support to Ukraine.

The President noted that the upcoming NATO Summit in The Hague will be a key opportunity to reaffirm the strong transatlantic bond and the Allies' commitment to increasing defense spending, strengthening the defense industry, and ensuring long-term political and military support for Ukraine.

The President's Communication Group

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OSCE-Led Training Enhances Ammunition Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic

OSCE | Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe

18 April 2025

From 1 to 11 April 2025, eighteen specialists from the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic completed a training course on safe storage, surveillance and transportation of ammunition. The course was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Bishkek, in collaboration with the Ministry of Defense of the Kyrgyz Republic and with support from the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Germany.

This 2-week intensive training course, led by experts from Bundeswehr Verification Center (BwVC), equipped participants with in-depth technical knowledge and practical skills in handling ammunition safely in line with international standards. The training adhered to globally recognized frameworks, including the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG), the UN "Orange Book," the Agreement concerning the International Carriage of Dangerous Goods by Road (ADR), and OSCE best practice guides.

Throughout the course, participants gained hands-on experience and insights into the safe storage, surveillance, and transportation of ammunition, all of which are crucial for enhancing national security and ensuring compliance with international regulations. By following the best international practices, the training reinforced the Kyrgyz Republic's commitment to improving ammunition safety management, contributing to the country's overall security infrastructure.

This session marked the final phase of training delivered so far by the German Armed Forces from 2023 to 2025. Throughout this period, a total of 65 personnel from the Ministry of Defense were successfully trained.

**This initiative is part of an ongoing series of activities within the extra-budgetary project "Improvement of Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) and Conventional Ammunition (CA) Life-Cycle Management Capacity of the Ministry of Defence of the Kyrgyz Republic," supported by Austria, France, Germany, Norway and Switzerland.

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22 Naxals arrested in separate operations in India's Chhattisgarh

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 10:00, April 18, 2025

NEW DELHI, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Twenty-two Naxalites were arrested in three different search operations in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, police said Thursday.

The search operations were jointly carried out by the contingents of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force on specific intelligence information in Bijapur district, about 443 km south of Raipur, the capital city of Chhattisgarh.

Police also claimed the recovery of explosives from the arrested.

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Hezbollah chief warns Israel: We have our options; our patience has its limits

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 7:15 PM

Hezbollah's Secretary-General Sheikh Naim Qassem has issued a stark warning to the Israeli regime, stating that the Lebanese resistance movement has numerous options at its disposal in the face of Tel Aviv's violations of its ceasefire with the group.

"We have options and we fear nothing. If you persist, you will see, at the right time, what we decide to do," the resistance leader emphasised, delivering a live televised address on Friday.

"Anyone who thinks we are weak is delusional," he added.

The remarks came amid the regime's daily violations of the ceasefire agreement that was clinched late last year with the aim of ending Tel Aviv's deadly escalation against Lebanon that had claimed the lives of around 4,000 people throughout more than a year.

Sheikh Qassem emphasized that the regime's ongoing efforts to undermine Lebanon's sovereignty and the resistance's presence would face unyielding retaliation.

He stressed that Hezbollah's strength and unity with Lebanon's national army and people ensured that the regime would not achieve its goals.

"We face the occupation through the strength of our position, national unity, building of the army, and readiness of the resistance. We will not, and have never, surrendered," the resistance leader noted. "As long as the resistance existsand it will remainalongside the national army, the Lebanese people, and their supporters, Israel will never be able to achieve its objectives."

'Israel's expansionist ambitions: A threat to Lebanon's sovereignty'

Sheikh Qassem also condemned the Israeli regime's ongoing rhetoric regarding "disarmament" of Hezbollah, calling it a thinly-veiled attempt to weaken Lebanon and further Tel Aviv's expansionist goals.

"Israel is expansionist; it is not content with occupied Palestine and seeks to take Lebanon as well," he explained.

The Hezbollah chief reminded that the resistance in Lebanon was born out of a necessity to confront Israeli occupation and aggression, stating, "The resistance is a response to occupation, and if the Lebanese state is unable to protect the land and its citizens by itself, then it is only natural for the resistance to exist."

Hezbollah's weaponry was solely dedicated to confronting Israeli aggression, Sheikh Qassem said, roundly refuting claims that the resistance's arms were a destabilizing factor within Lebanon.

The Hezbollah leader, meanwhile, warned that those calling for disarmament of the resistance, particularly through force, were serving the Israeli regime's agenda.

"Their goal is to create division between the resistance and the army," Sheikh Qassem said, but stressed that "there will be no [such] division."

"We will not allow anyone to disarm Hezbollah or the resistance. This idea must be erased from your vocabulary."

'Hezbollah's resilience: A key to Lebanon's defense'

The resistance leader reflected on Hezbollah's decades-long history, stating that the movement's remarkable achievements had been crucial in protecting Lebanon from Israeli aggression.

"The strength of the resistance in Lebanon lies in the great and impactful achievements it has made over the past 40 years," he said, noting that the movement's enduring commitment had prevented Israel from realizing its objectives.

The group deployed its armaments effectively in the face of Israeli wars in 2000 and 2006, forcing the regime into beating a humiliating retreat on both occasions.

Throughout more than a year of intensified Israeli attacks that had begun in October 2023, the movement also successfully staged hundreds of retaliatory strikes against the occupied Palestinian territories, besides thwarting numerous Israeli military incursions.

Sheikh Qassem credited the resistance with securing the ceasefire agreement through its reprisal operations, pointing out that the regime's aggression would not have ceased without Hezbollah's steadfastness.

"Without that resilience, there would have been no agreement, and Israel would have continued its aggression," he noted.

'America greatest evil, sponsor of cancerous tumor named Israel'

The resistance official, meanwhile, described the United States, the Israeli regime's most dedicated ally, as "the greatest evil."

He called the US the sponsor of "the cancerous growth that is Israel, which must be eradicated."

Sheikh Qassem additionally underlined that Lebanon could not fall under American tutelage, and that Washington had to respect the will of the Lebanese people for independence and refrain from interfering in its affairs.

The official's remarks concerned efforts by successive American administrations and Washington's allies to pressure Beirut into trying to marginalize Hezbollah.

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Almost entire population in Gaza relies on food aid: UN agency

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 7:05 PM

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) has called for the entry of aid into Gaza, as almost the entire population in the besieged strip relies "entirely" on food assistance, amid Israel's genocide there.

"Two million people in Gaza, most of them displaced and without income, rely entirely on food assistance," the UN agency said in a post on social media platform X on Friday.

"As stocks dwindle and borders remain closed, Gaza needs food now," it stressed.

Israeli newspaper Haaretz on Thursday confirmed that "for more than six weeks, no shipments of food, medicine, tents or any other form of aid have entered the Strip."

An editorial published by the daily said Israel's policy of starving Gazans has "become an openly declared policy and even a source of pride" in recent months.

"This policy is based on a populist and false narrative that links humanitarian aid for Gazans to Hamas' military capabilities. The result is a continuing humanitarian crime," said the editorial, noting that thousands of children were hospitalized in March alone due to severe malnutrition.

The editorial further said the "severe" hunger crisis is compounded by a "lack of clean water, widespread tent-dwelling, the collapse of sewage and waste collection systems, the destruction of the healthcare system and more."

Israel launched the campaign of genocide in Gaza on October 7, 2023, after Hamas carried out Operation Al-Aqsa Flood in retaliation for Israel's intensified atrocities against the Palestinian people. It has killed at least 51,065 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 116,505 others

Last January, the Israeli regime was forced to agree to a ceasefire deal with Hamas, given the regime's failure to achieve any of its objectives, including the "elimination" of the Palestinian resistance movement or the release of captives.

Despite the ceasefire, Israel has blocked humanitarian aid from entering Gaza since March 2.

On March 18, the regime resumed its relentless bombing of Gaza, breaking the two-month ceasefire.

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Israeli attacks kill at least 50 across Gaza as heavy strikes hit north, south

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 4:47 PM

Dozens of Palestinians, including women and children, have lost their lives in new Israeli strikes on Gaza, as the regime's genocidal war continues unabated across the besieged Gaza Strip.

Medical sources said at least 50 Palestinians were killed in Israeli airstrikes targeting multiple areas of the Gaza Strip since dawn on Friday.

More than half of the casualties were in Gaza City and northern Gaza, but deadly attacks have occurred throughout the blockaded region, including in Khan Yunis and Rafah in the south.

A family of 10 has been reported killed in an Israeli attack on a Khan Yunis home Friday morning.

In northern Gaza's as-Saftawi area, at least four individuals, including two children, were killed in an airstrike.

A separate attack targeted a makeshift barber shop in central Khan Younis, resulting in the deaths of six Palestinians.

Meanwhile, northeast of Rafah in the south of the Gaza Strip, a Palestinian woman was killed in a bombardment.

In the northern at-Twam area, two displaced Palestinians died after an attack on a tent. Meanwhile, three people were killed in an airstrike on a house located on as-Sikka Street in Gaza City's Zeitoun neighborhood.

The Israeli military continues its relentless bombardment of Gaza, inflicting further casualties and widespread destruction across the Palestinian territory.

Meanwhile, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has condemned the killing of Palestinian children in Gaza in what he described as Israel's "relentless brutal bombardment" and "cruel starvation".

"These are not only morally outrageous; they are the most heinous acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under international law," Baghaei said in a post on X.

"The Israeli regime, its enablers & apologists, must be held accountable."

The death toll from Israel's genocidal war on the besieged enclave has now exceeded 51,000, with more than 116,500 others wounded since the genocidal war began in October 2023.

Since the beginning of the war in October 2023, Israel has signaled its desire to rid Gaza of its local Palestinian population.

The Israeli prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, has said that Israel will implement US President Donald Trump's scheme for the resettlement of much of Gaza's population in other countries.

Palestinians and Arab countries have universally rejected Trump's proposal, which human rights experts say would violate international law.

Palestinians in Gaza say they don't want to leave, and fear another mass expulsion like the one that occurred during the war surrounding Israel's creation in 1948.

The Trump administration has expressed full support for Israel's decision to end the truce and to cut off aid. Trump's West Asia envoy, Steve Witkoff, has been desperately trying to broker a new ceasefire, more favorable to Israel.

The Hamas resistance movement has said it will not release dozens of remaining captives without a complete Israeli withdrawal from Gaza and a lasting ceasefire.

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'No force can disarm us': Hezbollah official

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 4:37 PM

A senior Hezbollah official has dismissed calls for disarmament of the Lebanese resistance movement, stressing that no force could strip the group of its weapons, which are a cornerstone of Lebanon's defense strategy against the Israeli regime.

Speaking to Lebanon's Nour Radio, Hajj Wafiq Safa, head of Hezbollah's Liaison and Coordination Committee, rejected recent discourse surrounding so-called disarmament of the resistance, describing it as a narrative promoted by agitators online.

"The word 'disarmament' exists only on social media and among the provocateurs," he said.

"To the resistance's cradle I say: Everything you hear is maneuvers. Do not be swayed by them. No force can disarm us," the official added.

Hezbollah's weapons have, over many decades, proven an indispensable defensive firepower in the face of incessant and indiscriminate Israeli aggression and the regime's ambitions to occupy more Lebanese territory than the country's Shebaa Farms.

The group deployed its armaments effectively in the face of Israeli wars in 2000 and 2006, forcing the regime into beating a humiliating retreat on both occasions.

Since October 2023, when the regime began markedly intensifying its deadly attacks on the country, the movement has also been successfully staging hundreds of retaliatory attacks against the occupied Palestinian territories, besides thwarting numerous Israeli military incursions.

'Hezbollah-Amal alliance stays firm on security decisions'

Safa emphasized that all security and military appointments in Lebanon continued to reflect the unified position of the alliance between Hezbollah's representatives in the Lebanese parliament and the Amal Movement at the legislature.

The statement came after several declarations by Hezbollah officials, highlighting the group's officially recognized role within Lebanon's political and defense frameworks, especially in responding to threats to national interests posed by external interference.

Last week, Hezbollah lawmaker Ihab Hamadeh said that proposals to disarm the resistance amounted to "an Israeli project backed by American tools," warning that "those who imagine stripping Lebanon of its strength are working in the service of Israel."

Call for trust in Hezbollah, its leadership

Safa also appealed to the Lebanese people to place their trust in the movement's leadership, invoking the legacy of the group's former secretary-general, Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah, a revered figure within the resistance and beyond, who was assassinated during intense Israeli airstrikes against the capital, Beirut, last year.

"Trust Hezbollah and its leadership just as you trusted the late Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah," he urged.

The official reiterated that any future debate about Lebanon's defensive posture had to come only after cessation of Israeli hostilities and withdrawal of the regime's occupying forces.

"The discussion is solely about a defensive strategy once Israel withdraws and stops its aggression," he explained.

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Yemen targets Tel Aviv, US aircraft carriers in pro-Gaza operations

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 4:05 PM

Yemeni armed forces have conducted fresh military operations against Israeli and US targets in support of Palestinians in Gaza, as the death toll from the Israeli war on the strip has surpassed 51,000.

On Friday, army spokesman Yahya Saree said the Yemeni armed forces fired a ballistic missile, called Dhu al-Faqar, at "a military target in the vicinity of Ben Gurion airport in the area of Occupied Yaffa [Tel Aviv]".

He added that the Yemeni forces also "conducted a dual military operation targeting the US aircraft carriers, [USS Harry S.] Truman and [USS Carl] Vinson, and their accompanying warships in the Red and Arabian Seas."

It was the first attack to target the recently-deployed USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier, according to the statement.

The spokesman also said the Yemeni air defenses managed to shoot down another US "MQ-9" drone over Sana'a.

"The US military buildup and ongoing aggression against our country will only lead to more counterattacks, targeting, clashes and confrontations," he stressed.

Despite the intensified US strikes on Yemen, Saree reiterated that Yemen will continue to conduct pro-Palestine operations until the Israeli aggression on Gaza ends and the siege is lifted.

"The enemy will reap nothing but disappointment, failure, and defeat from escalating aggression against our country," he said.

Saree made the remarks during pro-Gaza protests in the capital Sana'a.

On an almost a weekly basis, Yemenis have been staging mass protests across the country to decry the Israeli atrocities in Gaza, and to reiterate their support for their country's retaliatory operations.

Since the onset of Israel's genocidal war on the Gaza Strip in October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading towards ports in the occupied territories.

The Israeli regime's bloody onslaught on Gaza has so far killed at least 51,065 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injured more than 116,505 others. Thousands more are also missing and presumed dead under rubble.

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US airstrikes on Yemen's Ras Isa oil port kill 74 people

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 2:47 PM

The US military has struck the western Yemeni oil port of Ras Isa, leaving dozens of workers and paramedics dead, and dozens more injured.

The facility in Hudaydah governorate was hit at least two times on Thursday night, with the second strike coming as civil defense and rescue teams were extinguishing fires and recovering victims.

A spokesperson for Yemen's Health Ministry said at least 74 people have been killed and 171 wounded in those attacks.

The attacks are among the deadliest since the US launched air raids on Yemen after US President Donald Trump took office in January. In March, two days of US attacks killed more than 50 people, Yemeni officials said.

Ras Isa hosts an oil pipeline and port that are "critical and irreplaceable infrastructure" in Yemen, according to the United Nations Development Programme.

The Yemeni government slammed the attack as a clear war crime aimed at supporting the Zionist regime and enabling it to continue the Gaza genocide.

It said the strikes prove that the US deliberately attacks civilian infrastructure in Yemen with false justifications.

The government vowed that this crime would not pass without painful punishment, and the US would reap nothing but humiliating defeat and failure.

The US military claimed the port was a source of fuel for the Ansarullah resistance movement.

The governorates of Sana'a, al-Bayda and Hudaydah were also hit with multiple strikes.

The United States intensified its deadly attacks on the country last month at President Donald Trump's direct orders.

Washington claims the raids are strictly aimed at protecting shipping activity around Yemen, alleging that the regional waterways' maritime security had been endangered by Sana'a.

Yemeni officials have, however, roundly rejected such claims, underlining that the country only targeted vessels belonging to the Israeli regime and ships taking supplies to it.

The operations implemented by Yemen's Armed Forces began in October 2023, when the Israeli regime, the US's most cherished regional ally, began taking the Gaza Strip under a genocidal war.

More than 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, have been killed as a result of the warfare, which receives hugely enhanced and unstinting arms support on the part of Washington.



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Hayya: Hamas ready to hold talks for 'comprehensive' peace deal

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 11:28 AM

The Palestinian resistance group Hamas has declared its readiness to immediately begin negotiations on a "comprehensive" peace deal in the Gaza Strip.

Hamas said on Thursday that it is opposed to any Israeli proposal for a partial Gaza ceasefire, reiterating that the truce between the two sides should lead to a permanent ceasefire and the withdrawal of the Israeli occupying forces from the besieged territory.

Khalil al-Hayya, the Palestinian resistance group's chief negotiator and head of Hamas in Gaza, said Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu has set "impossible" conditions.

"We will not be part of passing this policy," Hayya said in a televised speech broadcast on its official digital platforms.

"Partial agreements on Gaza serve only as political cover for Netanyahu's agenda of continued war, genocide and starvation," he explained.

He affirmed Hamas's readiness for an exchange of Israeli captives for Palestinian prisoners, reaffirming that Gazan leaders were after a full-scale peace agreement with Tel Aviv, including a lasting truce and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from the Palestinian land.

"We are ready to immediately engage in comprehensive package negotiations for the release of all Israeli hostages in exchange for an agreed number of our prisoners held by the occupation, a complete end to the war, full withdrawal from the Gaza Strip, the start of reconstruction, and the lifting of the blockade."

Netanyahu has long refused to end Israel's genocidal war against the Gaza Strip until Hamas's military and governing capabilities have been fully dismantled.

Israel's extremist finance minister Bezalel Smotrich said Tel Aviv would not end the war on Gaza until a "complete victory" is reached.

"The time has come to open the gates of hell on Hamas, to deepen the fighting until the complete occupation of the Strip, the elimination of Hamas, and the implementation of President Trump's plan for the voluntary exit and rehabilitation of Gazans in another country," he wrote on X.

Hayya also called for immediate international intervention to end the Israeli blockade on Gaza, warning that "over two million people in Gaza are being subjected to genocide by starvation."

More than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in Gaza in a brutal Israeli onslaught since October 2023, most of them women and children.





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Iran strongly condemns 'brutal' US airstrikes on Yemen's fuel port

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 11:21 AM

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has strongly condemned "brutal" US airstrikes on Yemen that targeted a fuel port and killed dozens of people.

Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday described the US attack as "a clear example" of the flagrant violation of the United Nations Charter and international law.

"The US aggressions against Yemen, which are carried out as part of this country's comprehensive support for the Zionist regime's occupation and genocide in occupied Palestine, have made the US an accomplice and partner in Israel's crimes in Palestine and the region," Baghaei said.

The spokesman warned that the continued US strikes on Yemen, the destruction of the country's vital infrastructure and the killing of people in the impoverished country "not only encourage the Zionist regime to continue its crimes in Gaza and the West Bank, but also serve as a factor in exacerbating insecurity in the region."

He also warned that the US aggression "poses a threat to international peace and security."

Meanwhile, Baghaei expressed Iran's solidarity with the Yemeni nation, calling on the international community to break their silence on the violations of international law and human rights by Washington.

The statement came as the US conducted airstrikes on the western fuel port of Ras Isa on Thursday, killing at least 58 people and wounding 126 others.

It was one of the deadliest since the US began its attacks on the country.

Since October 2023, Yemeni forces have carried out scores of operations in support of the war-hit Gazans, striking targets throughout the occupied Palestinian territories, in addition to targeting Israeli ships or vessels heading toward ports in the occupied territories.

In support of Israel, the US announced the formation of a maritime task force in the Red Sea in December 2023 to protect the passage of vessels bound for the Israeli-occupied territories.

The Yemeni forces responded by ramping up their strikes against strategic and sensitive Israeli and US targets.

The Yemeni forces paused their retaliatory strikes in support of the ceasefire that took effect in Gaza on January 19 before Israel broke it in March.





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Cambodia's controversial canal project gets boost on Xi visit

Public-private partnership contract signed for Funan Techo Canal that would link Cambodian capital with the coast.

By RFA Khmer 2025.04.18 -- A pet project of Cambodia's ruling Hun clan to build a canal linking the capital with the Gulf of Thailand got a boost as Chinese President Xi Jinping's rounded off a three-nation tour of Southeast Asia on Friday.

The Cambodian government reported the signing Thursday of a public-private partnership contract with China worth $1.15 billion to fund Cambodia's Funan Techo Canal project.

The ambitious project was launched last year but work stopped soon after groundbreaking amid questions over funding for the 151 kilometer (94 mile)-long canal that would link a branch of the Mekong River to a port on the Gulf of Thailand.

Prime Minister Hun Manet posted on Facebook that he met with Wang Tong Zhou, president of the China Communications Construction Company to discuss the construction of the canal. Senate President Hun Sen also posted that in his meeting with the Chinese president, Xi voiced support for the project.

Cambodian Deputy Prime Minister Sun Chanthol said on Facebook that the two sides signed five agreements, including the public-private partnership contract, a shareholder agreement, an investment agreement, an engineering, procurement and construction contract, and an operation and maintenance contract.

Cambodia's state-run Agence Kampuchea Presse said Cambodia investors hold a 51% stake and Chinese investors 49%. The participating companies include Cambodia's Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation, Phnom Penh Autonomous Port, Sihanoukville Autonomous Port and China Road and Bridge Corporation. It said the project would support 50,000 direct and indirect jobs, and planned completion is by 2028.

Groundbreaking for the canal on Aug. 5, 2024 - longtime leader Hun Sen's birthday - but the project appears to have made little headway since then.

The canal, which would run from near the capital Phnom Penh to the Gulf of Thailand coast, would reduce Cambodian dependence on Vietnamese ports for sea trade. But the project has raised concerns in Vietnam where the rice-growing Mekong delta is vulnerable to sea water incursions if the flow of fresh water down the Mekong and into the delta is reduced because of the canal.

Kim Sok, a spokesperson for the Cambodian National Resistance Council, a group formed by prominent exiled opponents of Hun Sen, told RFA the government is trying to get China to help complete the Funan Canal before the 2028 general elections in Cambodia.

The Chinese president left Cambodia on Friday, returning to Beijing after a five-day regional swing with earlier stops in Vietnam and Malaysia.

On the trip, Xi sought to present China as a dependable trading partner for Southeast Asia at a time when governments there are worried about the impact of increased U.S. tariffs on their exports.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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US Air Strikes Targeting Yemeni Oil Port; Houthis Say Attack Killed 20 People

By RFE/RL April 18, 2025

The US military said it destroyed a key Yemeni fuel port held by Houthi rebels, who said the air strikes also killed 20 people and wounded 50 others.

The US military's Central Command said its forces took action on the port of Ras Isa to eliminate a source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels and deprive them of revenue.

"The objective of these strikes was to degrade the economic source of power of the Houthis, who continue to exploit and bring great pain upon their fellow countrymen," Centcom said in a statement.

"This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully," Centcom said.

The US air strikes have hammered the Houthis in a campaign launched by President Donald Trump on March 15 to end their attacks on civilian shipping and military vessels in the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden.

Houthi attacks have hampered shipping through the Suez Canal -- a vital route for world seaborne traffic -- forcing many companies to send their ships around the tip of southern Africa.

The Houthis denounced the attack.

"This completely unjustified aggression represents a flagrant violation of Yemen's sovereignty and independence and a direct targeting of the entire Yemeni people," the Houthis said in a statement carried by the Houthi-controlled SABA news agency. "It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades."

Health Ministry spokesman Anees Alasbahi said the preliminary death toll stood at 20, including five paramedics.

There were also "50 wounded workers and employees at the Ras Issa oil port, following the American aggression," he said on X.

"The death toll is likely to rise as body parts are still being identified," he added.

The number of dead represented one of the highest reported death tolls since Trump vowed that military action against the rebels would continue until they are no longer a threat to shipping.

The Ras Isa port lies along the west coast of Yemen on the Red Sea.

Centcom said ships have continued to supply fuel via the port despite Washington designating the rebels a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year. The Centcom statement did not specify the source of the fuel.

US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce commented earlier on April 17 about China's participation in Yemen. Bruce told journalists that the Chinese satellite firm Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company was "directly supporting" the Houthis.

Bruce said their actions and Beijing's support of the company, "is yet another example of China's empty claims to support peace."

With reporting by AP and Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-yemen-air-strike- port-ras-isa-oil/33389009.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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What Xi says: Fujian's answer to rural revitalization

People's Daily Online) 10:02, April 19, 2025

Editorial Notes:

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, worked in southeast China's Fujian Province for 17 and a half years, during which he initiated a range of important and innovative ideas and advanced a series of major practices.

With Fujian and its people always on his mind, Xi has made important directives and instructions concerning Fujian's development time and again since the 18th CPC National Congress in 2012.

During his visits to Fujian, Xi emphasized the essential role of developing industries that align with local specific conditions to further rural revitalization.

Xi called for coordinated efforts to promote tea culture, the development of the tea industry and the use of technology in the sector. He said that the tea industry should be committed to green development, strengthen awareness of branding, and create a better marketing and distribution environment, so as to consolidate industrial foundations for rural revitalization.

He also urged the province to break new ground in deepening integration between scientific and technological innovation and industrial innovation.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Du Mingming)
Chisinau's Expulsion of Russian Diplomats Worsens Moldova-Transnistria Dialogue

Sputnik News

20250418

TIRASPOL (Sputnik) - The expulsion of Russian diplomats from Moldova complicates interaction and worsens the atmosphere of dialogue between Chisinau and Tiraspol, Transnistrian Foreign Minister Vitaly Ignatiev told Sputnik.

"Such steps certainly complicate interaction and worsen the atmosphere of dialogue. It is important to understand that the peacekeeping operation is the main and most effective mechanism for maintaining peace and security on the Dniester, which has proven its high functional stability over 33 years," Ignatiev said.

Chisinau is actively avoiding negotiations with Tiraspol and continuing its blockade measures, further increasing pressure on the region, he added.

Ignatiev also pointed out that Moldova is increasingly using legal mechanisms for political purposes. He specifically referenced the recent arrest of Yevgenia Gutsul, the head of Gagauzia, as an example of how Moldova is utilizing legal measures to advance its political agenda.

Transnistria expects the European Union to encourage Chisinau to negotiate with Tiraspol rather than promote the militarization of Moldova, Ignatiev said.

"We expect that sooner or later the European Union will realize that in order to achieve a sustainable settlement, it is much more effective to encourage responsible behavior of Chisinau in the negotiation process and promote the development of practical solutions in the interests of the population rather than to promote the militarization of the Republic of Moldova, which according to its constitution should be a neutral state," Ignatiev said in an interview.

The minister recalled that the EU participates in the 5+2 international negotiating format as an observer. The EU's functionality is clearly defined by the 2005 document on the rights and obligations of observers, which provides for the promotion of a political settlement by exclusively peaceful means, Ignatiev said.

"The EU has a significant influence, acting as an important trade partner for both sides, as well as a key political ally and a constant donor to Moldova, a labor market for hundreds of thousands of Moldovan citizens," the minister said.

On March 31, the Moldovan Foreign Ministry declared three members of the Russian diplomatic mission in Chisinau personae non gratae under the pretext of their alleged involvement in activities incompatible with their diplomatic status.

 Sputnik

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Prime Minister Young of Trinidad and Tobago

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 18, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Prime Minister Stuart Young of Trinidad and Tobago to reaffirm the strong U.S.-Trinidad and Tobago bilateral relationship, emphasizing shared priorities in regional energy security and economic cooperation. Secretary Rubio recognized that energy security is important to Trinidad and Tobago's prosperity and economy. Any outcomes of sanctions upon the Maduro regime and Venezuela is in no way indicative of our relationship with Trinidad and Tobago and the value we place on it. The Secretary recognized the strategic importance of Trinidad and Tobago's energy initiatives, and Young's effective leadership in this area. Both sides agreed that we are going to work very closely to find a solution that achieves U.S. objectives regarding Venezuela without harming Trinidad and Tobago. He welcomed Prime Minister Young's exploration of viable options that support the country's energy needs while remaining consistent with U.S. sanctions policy.

Prime Minister Young emphasized his government's continued commitment to responsible energy sector development and regional security cooperation. Secretary Rubio reiterated the United States' support for democratic governance and long-term stability across the Caribbean.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 18, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to brief him on the peace proposal presented yesterday to the Ukrainian delegation in Paris and to Russian officials by telephone. The Secretary expressed President Trump's and the United States' hopes that this proposal will be accepted and will lead to a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Secretary stressed, while our nation has been committed to helping end the war, if a clear path to peace does not emerge soon, the United States will step back from efforts to broker peace.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio Remarks to Press

US Department of State

Remarks

Marco Rubio, Secretary of State

Le Bourget Airport Paris, France

April 18, 2025

SECRETARY RUBIO: I think it's important to remind everybody that the Ukraine war is a terrible thing, but it's not our war. We didn't start it. The United States has been helping Ukraine for over the last three years, and we want it to end. But it's not our war. I wanted everyone to understand that. And the reason why I make that point is the President has spent 87 days at the highest level of this government repeatedly taking efforts to bring this war to an end.

We are now reaching a point where we need to decide and determine whether this is even possible or not, which is why we're engaging both sides. As you know, Ambassador Witkoff has had not one, not two, but three meetings with Vladimir Putin to determine the Russian perspective on this and understand what it would take for them to end it. We - General Kellogg, myself, and others - have had repeated engagements with the Ukrainians.

So we came here yesterday to sort of begin to talk about more specific outlines of what it might take to end the war, to try to figure out very soon - and I'm talking about a matter of days, not a matter of weeks - whether or not this is a war that can be ended. If it can, we're prepared to do whatever we can to facilitate that and make sure that it happens, that it ends in a durable and just way.

If it's not possible - if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen - then I think the President's probably at a point where he's going to say, well, we're done. We'll do what we can on the margins. We'll be ready to help whenever you're ready to have peace. But we're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end.

So, we need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable in the - over the next few weeks. If it is, we're in. If it's not, then we'll have to - we have other priorities to focus on as well.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Michael Gordon, Wall Street Journal. The State Department said yesterday that a framework had been presented - both sides: to the Ukrainians, to the European officials, and to the Russians. What does the framework say? What issues does it resolve?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, I'm not going to tell you what the framework says because when you start negotiating these things through the media and so forth, they fall apart. And it's a broad framework. It's a framework that gets us into a position to see - look, there are going to be differences; there's no - no one's saying this can be done in 12 hours. But we want to see how far apart it is and whether those differences are - can even be narrowed, if it's even possible to get movement within the period of time we have in mind.

So, we've talked about outlines with both sides. I thought we had positive meetings yesterday. Obviously, the Ukrainians have to go back home, they have to run it by their president, they have to take into account their views on all of this. And we hope to hear back from them very soon. But we need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term. Because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on, from our perspective. The President feels very strongly about that. He has dedicated a lot of time and energy to this, and there are a lot of things going on in the world right now that we need to be focused on.

So, this is important, but there are a lot of other really important things going on that deserve just as much if not more attention. So we want to do everything we can to be helpful. We had a good meeting yesterday. I thought the French, the British, the Germans were very constructive, were very helpful. We thanked them for hosting this, and hopefully we'll have another meeting early next week at some point where we'll have some more definitive answers about how close we are to actually making progress. But this isn't going to go on forever.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, Leon Bruneau, Agence France-Presse. In your conversations yesterday with the Europeans and the Ukrainians, I'm sure you spoke about security guarantees for Ukraine in case of a ceasefire. Could you give us a sense of what that could look like, and is the U.S. ready to back up any eventual European reassurance force for Ukraine?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, that gets into a level of specifics that we're not ready to discuss publicly yet. Obviously, the term "security guarantees" came up because they come up in every meeting. We've heard about it. And it's not an illegitimate desire. Every sovereign nation on Earth has a right to defend itself. Ukraine will have a right to defend itself and to enter into whatever agreements it wants to enter into on a bilateral basis with different countries and so forth.

So, I mean, it was discussed, but I don't - and (inaudible) have to be part of any sort of conversation. Ukraine - in order for there to be peace, we recognize that Ukraine has to feel like it has the ability to defend itself from a future attack from anyone. Every country in the world has that right. But, I think everyone recognizes that Ukraine's ability to defend itself is going to be a part - it's its right as a country and will be a part of any agreement. But we're not working yet on that level of specifics. I think that's something we can fix and solve in a way that's acceptable to everyone.

I think we have bigger challenges that we need to figure out whether it's even possible within the short term. I can tell you this: This war has no military solution to it. It really doesn't. It's not going to be decided with - neither side has some strategic capability to end this war quickly. And so what we're talking about here is avoiding thousands and thousands of people from dying over the next year. We're trying to avoid that. We saw what happened last weekend with a missile strike in Sumy, where people died on Palm Sunday. We're just going to see more like that. On both sides we're going to see more of that, and we're trying to prevent it.

But we're not going to continue to fly all over the world and do meeting after meeting after meeting if no progress is being made. So if they're serious about peace - either side, or both - we want to help. If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on. We're going to move on to other topics that are equally if not more important in some ways to the United States.

QUESTION: Secretary of State, is this process involving the Europeans going to be the process going forward now for Ukraine talks? And who from the U.S. team will be attending talks in London next week?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, it depends what the talks will be about next week. As I said, if it's just going to be a meeting to have another meeting, we'll figure that - whether it'll happen. I'm hoping that it's a meeting where we're going to get more specificity.

So we're going to work through that. We don't even have a date set. It'll be early next week. Obviously, we're having - there's a holiday weekend, so people have to move around and get to their places and get back. We'll - but having another meeting somewhere in Europe is not going to be a problem, and we can make that happen to have the right people there. I'm willing to come myself if the meeting is going to be productive.

But I can - what was the first part of your question again?

QUESTION: And is this going to be the process going forward?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Oh, look, we've always worked through the - I mean, we've always - we talk to our allies consistently. I myself have had multiple engagements with not - the Germans, the French, the Brits, but also the Italians have been at some of these meetings as well in the past. So we've had these conversations with them before. So, they offered to host us here today, or yesterday, and it was - I think they were very helpful, very constructive. We'd like them to remain engaged. I think they can help us. I think the UK and France and Germany can help us move the ball on this and then get this closer to a resolution. I thought they were very helpful and constructive with their ideas.

So we welcome their input. We welcome their involvement. We think it's important. There are probably elements of this as well. I always remind everybody that part of the sanctions against Russia, many of them are European sanctions that we can't lift, if that were ever to be part of a deal. So they're going to have to be involved no matter what. It's their continent. This is happening on the continent of Europe, and so obviously European powers will care deeply about what happens.

So, they have a stake in this and we recognize it, and they - but in the end I think we all want the same thing. I think from the U.S. perspective, we've spent three years, billions of dollars supporting the Ukrainian side, and - but now we've reached the point where we have other things we have to focus on. We're prepared to be engaged in this as long as it takes, but not indefinitely, not without progress. If this is not possible, we're going to need to move on. I think the President feels strongly that we've dedicated a tremendous - we've done more in 80 days than Biden ever did to bring this war to an end. So, we've dedicated the - almost the entirety of the President's first hundred days in office at the highest levels possible to trying to achieve a peace here. And if it's going to happen, we want to help. But if it's not going to happen, we need to know now because we have other things we have to deal with.

QUESTION: Mr. Secretary, James from Fox News. In terms of your discussions with Foreign Minister Lavrov yesterday, what gave you the indication that he's also willing to move forward given that they hadn't accepted the framework of the ceasefire already, in terms of now from your discussions, why you feel that (inaudible) be (inaudible move forward?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, look, I spoke to Minister Lavrov yesterday because when we have these kinds of meetings, it's important for you to communicate to the other side, otherwise they don't know what happened; now they're relying on rumors or whatever's out there. So I spoke to him very directly. I said we had a meeting today with the Ukrainians. We proposed an outline. We didn't go into specificity about it, but I think he has an understanding of some of the elements of it. I'm sure he does. I said we thought it was constructive.

We thought it was positive that nobody rejected anything, nobody got up from the table and walked away. They're going to go back to their capital, spend a few days mulling over it, come back to us early next week. And also wanted him to know that the French and the British and the Germans were very constructive and helpful. That was the gist of the conversation. And I think it's important when you're dealing with things like this, especially with the Russians who we just haven't communicated with for three and a half years, I think it's important that that communication happen. And likewise when we've had meetings with Russians in the past or when Secretary - when Ambassador Witkoff has traveled to meet with Putin, we've informed the Ukrainian side of what happens so that we don't have a breakdown in trust and things of that nature.

QUESTION: Quick, just on Iran really quick. Was there any discussion yesterday with your European counterparts on any of the Iran negotiations? Are they also sharing the President's vision of Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon?

SECRETARY RUBIO: Well, for the Europeans, they have an important decision to make very soon on snapback - on the snapback of sanctions - because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal. As you saw, the IAEA was in Tehran yesterday, issued public statements saying Iran is as close as it's ever been to nuclear weapons. The President's made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen. We're hoping that talks continue and that they're fruitful and that they're - that they can lead to something. We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one. It has to be something that actually not just prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon now, but in the future as well, not just for 10 years with some sort of sunset provision or the like.

So we discussed that, obviously, because the Europeans, the E3, have a decision to make on snapback. Because I believe we should all anticipate, based on the public comments yesterday, that they're about to get a report from the IAEA that says not just is Iran out of compliance but Iran is dangerously close to a weapon, closer than they've ever been. And then they're going to have to make a decision about whether they want to reimpose these sanctions. And if Iran is not in compliance, they have to reimpose the sanctions. So that's going to be a factor in all this and that's why it was important we talk to them about it before our talks on Saturday.

QUESTION: Thank you.

SECRETARY RUBIO: All right? Thank you, guys.

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"Defending Palestine means defending humanity, peace and justice"

Presidency Of The Republic Of Turkey

18.04.2025

Addressing the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine meeting, President Erdogan said: "Defending the Palestinian cause is not only about defending an oppressed people. Defending Palestine means defending humanity, peace and justice as well. The Palestinian cause is a fight for honor by a people subjected to all forms of oppression, barbarism and massacres for nearly a century."

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan delivered a speech at the meeting of the Group of Parliaments in Support of Palestine in Istanbul.

"ISRAELI GOVERNMENT IS MASSACRING OUR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN A STATE OF COMPLETE MADNESS"

President Erdogan said: "Defending the Palestinian cause is not only about defending an oppressed people. Defending Palestine means defending humanity, peace and justice as well. The Palestinian cause is a fight for honor by a people subjected to all forms of oppression, barbarism and massacres for nearly a century. Besides all this, the Palestinian cause, in essence, is a struggle to become a human and to remain a human. It is a cause that belongs not only to Muslims but to every person with a conscience. This cause, without doubt, is a matter of conscience beyond being a matter of politics."

President Erdogan stated: "Since October 2023, our brothers and sisters in Gaza and Palestine have been enduring one of the gravest banditries of the last century. The Israeli government is massacring our Palestinian brothers and sisters in a state of complete madness, with utter indifference towards children, women, babies, or the elderly. Children and women constitute the majority of the nearly 60 thousand Palestinians brutally killed by Israel. More than 7 percent of the population have either been murdered or maimed. 212 journalists, working to tell the world about the facts on the ground, have been executed. The day before yesterday, they martyred a female journalist along with 10 others from her family. Hundreds of doctors, nurses and healthcare professionals have become a target to bullets, with humanitarian aid workers murdered. Babies have died in broad daylight due to lack of access to water, medicine and food."

"INTERNATIONAL LAW HAS BECOME A TOOL TO CEMENT THE POWER OF THE POWERFUL INSTEAD OF SERVING JUSTICE"

"What is more alarming is that all of these oppressions and barbarities have been unfolding for exactly 18 months right before the eyes of the whole humanity, including the so-called civilized world," President Erdogan stressed. "Journalists are being killed and international media outlets are just watching. Children are being killed and human rights advocates are just watching. Healthcare professionals are being murdered and the West is just watching. Institutions like the UNRWA are being targeted for shutdown and the United Nations is just watching the process. Those who have been preaching freedom, rights, law, and press freedom for years have been continuing to play ostrich for 18 months in the face of Israel's policy of massacre."

President Erdogan went on: "A global order that fails to stand by the oppressed is destined to become a mere instrument of the tyrants. Today's world has become a captive to an order that keeps silent in the face of the oppressor and applauds the oppression. The international law has become a tool to cement the power of the powerful instead of serving justice. The rule of law has been replaced by an order of law tailored for certain persons and states. Many institutions and organizations, from the United Nations to the European Union, have failed the test in Gaza, acting in violation of the very principles they promote."

"IT IS HIGH TIME FOR A NATION WHO THEMSELVES EXPERIENCED HOLOCAUST 75 YEARS AGO TO SPEAK UP AND STAND AGAINST THE GENOCIDE"

"Those who remain silent while Palestinians are being killed have been trying to normalize the genocide by labelling the resistance waged by the people of Gaza against occupation as terrorism. Once again, I would like to make it clear that we as Turkiye reject these slanders and this black propaganda. The Palestinian people have been putting up a struggle of liberation against occupation forces," President Erdogan pointed out.

"I call on not only the individuals with a conscience, but also the Israeli people to take action against the disaster their government is dragging them into," the President underlined. "I believe that it is high time for a nation who themselves experienced Holocaust 75 years ago to speak up and stand against the massacres, genocide, atrocities and murders being committed in Gaza and other Palestinian territories, and to say 'stop' to their administrators."

"WE MAINTAIN OUR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR OUR PALESTINIAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS WITHOUT ANY BREAK"

President Erdogan continued his remarks as follows: "Turkiye has been one of the countries that have raised the strongest objection to the genocide and that have taken concrete steps against Israel. We have thankfully performed well on this issue. Along with our state's official bodies, our NGOs, charities, and our business community have mobilized for Palestine and Gaza. Halting trade with Israel, we have taken a brave step in this regard. We maintain our humanitarian aid for our Palestinian brothers and sisters without any break. We have delivered over 101 thousand tons of humanitarian aid supplies to Gaza, with the support of the brotherly countries in the region. I hereby offer my gratitude to them. We will continue to extend our helping hand to Gaza in the future as well. Israel, on the other hand, is once again showing its ugly face by blocking aid to Gaza since March 2. The Israeli government is now resorting to hunger, thirst, and lack of medication in an attempt to destroy the innocent people whom it couldn't kill through bombing."

"Do not forget that every crime that goes unpunished further emboldens the perpetrator. In this regard, we attach great importance to the case filed with the International Court of Justice against Israel. We have made an application to intervene in the case for Israel to be held accountable to justice. Our NGOs continue to provide the court with files and evidence. Sooner or later, we will inshallah see Netanyahu and its murderous gang being tried at international courts," President Erdogan stated.

"WE WILL TIRELESSLY MAINTAIN OUR EFFORTS UNTIL AN INDEPENDENT AND SOVEREIGN STATE OF PALESTINE IS ESTABLISHED"

"Israel's aggressions and disregard for law is not limited to Palestine," President Erdogan underscored. "Attacks on Syria and Lebanon show that the Netanyahu government doesn't want peace in the Middle East. It is working to prevent Syria and Lebanon from achieving stability by fueling ethnic and sectarian divisions. It is seeking to spread the conflicts to the broader region by constantly provoking extra-regional actors. Colluding with terrorist organizations, it is playing a very dangerous game. In other words, it is acting like a rogue organization, not like a legitimate state. We think this is not sustainable. Israel cannot safeguard its own security by destabilizing its neighbors."

President Erdogan added: "At this stage, our priorities are establishing lasting ceasefire immediately, delivering uninterrupted humanitarian aid to our Gazan brothers and sisters, and ensuring that occupation forces fully withdraw from Gaza. In this framework, I hope that the ceasefire negotiations mediated by Qatar and Egypt are finalized as soon as possible. It is of critical importance to launch the reconstruction efforts without delay following the establishment of ceasefire. The support of all the brotherly countries represented here for the plan prepared under Egypt's leadership is crucial. I would like to take this opportunity to re-emphasize that we will tirelessly maintain our efforts until an independent, sovereign and territorially-united state of Palestine, with al-Quds its capital, is established based on the 1976 borders. No matter how it's packaged, any proposal that seeks to expel Palestinians from the land they have lived on for thousands of years holds no value for us. Do not forget that Gaza belongs to the people of Gaza, Palestine to the people of Palestine."

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U.S. Transfers Two 34m Patrol Boats to Tunisia During Visit of USS Mount Whitney to Celebrate 220 Years of U.S.-Tunisian Maritime Partnership

US Navy

18 April 2025

From U.S. 6th Fleet Public Affairs

TUNIS, Tunisia -- The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), arrived in Tunis, Tunisia, for a scheduled port visit on April 17, to reinforce the enduring partnership between the United States and Tunisia.

The Blue Ridge-class command and control ship, USS Mount Whitney (LCC 20), arrived in Tunis, Tunisia, for a scheduled port visit on April 17, to reinforce the enduring partnership between the United States and Tunisia.

On the same occasion, the Tunisian Navy conducted a commissioning ceremony for two American 110-foot (34-meter) Island Class Patrol Boats, which the United States transferred to Tunisia, the latest in a series of U.S. equipment contributions that strengthen Tunisia's capacity to secure its maritime borders and advance regional security.

As the flagship of U.S. 6th Fleet, Mount Whitney plays a key role in maritime security and cooperation throughout the Mediterranean and African theaters. The visit underscores the U.S. commitment to regional stability and its enduring strategic partnership with Tunisia, a U.S. major non-NATO Ally.

"The USS Mount Whitney's visit is especially meaningful because it falls during the 220th anniversary of the 1805 Battle of Derna, when, through the support and cooperation of Tunisia, the U.S. military defeated maritime terrorism to make a more stable and secure region for commerce and economic development," U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Tunisia Joey Hood said.

During the visit, the ship hosted a reception, welcoming military, diplomatic, and civic leaders from Tunisia. The event served as a platform to celebrate bilateral cooperation and discuss shared goals in maritime security, regional defense, and future engagements.

The U.S. and Tunisia have worked closely for decades on military training, professional development, and counterterrorism efforts. This visit by Mount Whitney adds another chapter to the strong legacy of collaboration between the two countries.

"This visit underscores the vital role strong partnerships play in ensuring maritime security," Commander, U.S. 6th Fleet Vice Adm. J. T. Anderson said. "We are grateful for the opportunity to engage with our Tunisian counterparts and reaffirm our commitment to working together for a more stable and secure Mediterranean."

Mount Whitney, forward deployed to Gaeta, Italy, operates with a combined crew of U.S. Sailors and Military Sealift Command civil service mariners in the U.S. 6th Fleet area of operations in support of U.S. national security interests in Europe and Africa. The U.S. 6th Fleet, headquartered in Naples, Italy, conducts the full spectrum of joint and naval operations, often in concert with allied and interagency partners to advance U.S. national interests, security and stability in Europe and Africa.

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USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group arrives in Guam

US Navy

18 April 2025

From Lt. Cmdr. Tim Pietrack, USS Nimitz (CVN 68)

APRA HARBOR, Guam -- Aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), flagship of Carrier Strike Group (CSG 11), embarked Carrier Air Wing (CVW 17) and destroyers USS Gridley (DDG 101), USS Lenah Sutcliffe Higbee (DDG 123) arrived in Guam for a regularly scheduled port visit, April 18.

As a sovereign part of the U.S., Guam plays a vital role in enabling the Navy's ability to operate forwardsupporting logistics, command and control, and fleet readinesswhile strengthening our posture to deter adversaries and respond rapidly across the Indo-Pacific.

"The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group's arrival in Guam highlights the island's vital role as a strategic outpost in the Western Pacificessential for projecting power, deterring adversaries, and responding to crises across the Indo-Pacific," said Rear Adm. Maximilian Clark, commander, Carrier Strike Group 11. "It's always an honor to return to Guamwhere our service members are welcomed like family, and where our presence truly matters. The Nimitz Strike Group is proud to be in GuamAmerica's critical terrain and gateway to maintaining stability in the region."

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group (NIMCSG) departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific, March 21.

NIMCSG consists of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9.

NIMCSG is operating in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy's largest forward-deployed numbered fleet and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

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United States - Italy Joint Leaders' Statement

Briefings & Statements

The White House

April 18, 2025

President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni held their first official meeting yesterday in Washington, D.C., where they confirmed their resolve to promote a mutually beneficial relationship and further strengthen the U.S. - Italy strategic alliance across security, economic, and technological issues.

U.S.- Italy Cooperation for Security

The U.S. and Italy underscore that the war in Ukraine must end, and fully endorse President Trump's leadership in brokering a ceasefire and delivering a just and lasting peace.

The U.S. and Italy reiterate the unwavering commitment to NATO and to the principle of developing their collective and individual capacity to contribute to the Alliance's goals. We therefore commit to ensuring our national security and defense are aligned and funded to meet the challenges of today, and critically, the risks of tomorrow.

Our defense cooperation must rely on a deep and extensive transatlantic supply chain. We are facing a complex security environment, and we are ready to further increase defense equipment and technology cooperation, including co-production and co-development that strengthen U.S. and Italian defense industrial capacity and protect it from foreign adversaries.

The U.S. and Italy reaffirm their shared commitment to counter illegal immigration and to ensure that legal migration is used as a tool to benefit our nations and not to create a security problem for our citizens. We will step up our common efforts to eradicate international organized crime groups engaged in migrant smuggling and human trafficking.

The U.S. and Italy confirm their joint effort to fight the production, distribution, and sale of illicit synthetic drugs, especially synthetic opioids and the criminal networks trafficking these drugs, which collectively damage the health, security, and well-being of our citizens and people around the world.

U.S. - Italy Cooperation for Shared Prosperity

The United States and Italy agree to work to ensure that trade between the United States and Europe is mutually beneficial, fair, and reciprocal.

We highlight the importance of information technology to enabling free enterprise across the Atlantic. We agreed that a non-discriminatory environment in terms of digital services taxation is necessary to enable investments from cutting-edge tech companies.

We welcome American investments in AI computing and cloud services in Italy to maximize the opportunities of digital transformation and support Italy as the key regional data hub for the Mediterranean and North Africa.

Developing a workforce that can deliver on the needs of our economies is vital. The United States and Italy are proud partners in industrial endeavors that will benefit employment in both countries, playing a vital role for each other's supply chains and strengthening our industrial bases. Italy will contribute to the maritime renaissance of the U.S. shipbuilding sector, while the U.S. will look into the investment opportunities offered by the increasingly positive Italian business environment, including through the incentives granted by the new Single Special Economic Zone (SEZ) established in Italy.

The U.S. and Italy cooperate to strengthen energy security by further encouraging the diversification of Italy's energy supply source and by increasing exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas to Italy in a mutually beneficial manner.

The U.S. and Italy will work together to develop the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century, connecting partners by ports, railways, and undersea cables and stimulating economic development and integration from India, to the Gulf to Israel, to Italy, and onward to the United States.

Following the example of the President Trump's successful Abraham Accords approach, the U.S. and Italy will cooperate on crucial infrastructural projects and consider leveraging on the Mattei Plan's potential.

U.S. - Italy Cooperation for Technology

The United States and Italy recognize the need to protect our national critical and sensitive infrastructure and technology, which is why we commit to using only trusted vendors in these networks. There is no higher trust than our strategic alliance, which is why there can be no discrimination when it comes to U.S. and Italian vendors.

We are proud to partner on Space Technology, including through two Mars Missions in 2026 and 2028, and lunar surface exploration on future Artemis missions.

As we transition to and innovate on the technologies of the future, such as 6G, AI, quantum computing, and biotechnology, we also commit to exploring opportunities for enhanced partnerships in these critical industries that protect our data from adversaries that would exploit it.

Invitation to Visit Italy

President Trump accepted Prime Minister Meloni's invitation to pay an official visit to Italy in the very near future. There is also consideration to hold, on such occasion, a meeting between U.S. and Europe.

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Russo-Ukraine War - 18 April 2025 - Day 1150

Su M Tu W Th F Sa 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30

A number of claims and counterclaims are being made on the Ukraine-Russia conflict on the ground and online. While GlobalSecurity.org takes utmost care to accurately report this news story, we cannot independently verify the authenticity of all statements, photos and videos.

On 24 February 2022, Ukraine was suddenly and deliberately attacked by land, naval and air forces of Russia, igniting the largest European war since the Great Patriotic War. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a "special military operation" (SVO - spetsialnaya voennaya operatsiya) in Ukraine in response to the appeal of the leaders of the "Donbass republics" for help. That attack is a blatant violation of the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. Putin stressed that Moscow's goal is the demilitarization and denazification of the country. The military buildup in preceeding months makes it obvious that the unprovoked and dastardly Russian attack was deliberately planned long in advance. During the intervening time, the Russian government had deliberately sought to deceive the world by false statements and expressions of hope for continued peace.

"To initiate a war of aggression... is not only an international crime; it is the supreme international crime differing only from other war crimes in that it contains within itself the accumulated evil of the whole." [Judgment of the International Military Tribunal]

The UK Ministry of Defence reported that adjacent to Russia's Kursk and Belgorod oblasts, Russian forces have conducted large-scale aerial attacks on the Ukrainian oblast of Sumy. Russia highly likely intends to continue offensive activity in the region in order to reclaim the contested Kursk territory.

In central Donetsk oblast, Russia contests several key urban strongholds such as Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Russia has been attempting to capture these areas throughout 2025. In southern Ukraine there have been few instances of Russian advances, however it is highly likely that Russia has prioritised other axes.

In Kharkiv oblast, Russia has persisted in making assaults towards the rail and logistics hub of Kupiansk. To the north of Kupiansk, Russian forces have maintained a bridgehead at the village of Zapadne, west of the Oskil river. Ukrainian Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and artillery strikes are reportedly hindering attempted Russian pontoon crossings.

The General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that in total, since the beginning of this day, there have been 124 combat encounters. Ukrainian defenders continue to decisively interrupt the attempts of the Russian enemy to advance deep into Ukrainian territory, giving him a fiery impression.

Russian zagarbniki launched four missiles and 75 aviation strikes using nine missiles and 124 cab. In addition, 1014 kamikaze drones were recruited for impact and carried out more than 4,400 shelling at the positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

In the Kharkiv direction, the Russian enemy three times attacked the positions of Ukrainian defenders in the area of vovcans ka and towards small sapkivka.

In the direction of Kupyans komu, Russian forces carried out nine offensive actions near Zagrizovoye, Petropavlivka and towards Pi any and Nova Kruglyakivka.

In the Lyman direction, the Defense Forces repelled 12 assaults of positions near the settlements of Grekivka, Nadia, Nove, Novomikhailivka, Kolodyazi, Yampolivka, Torske. Four more clashes are underway.

In the sivers komu direction, Russian forces twice attacked in the areas of spirnogo and verkhnyokamens kogo, one fight is still ongoing.

Since the beginning of the day in the Kramators komu direction, Russian forces attacked four times in the area of Chasovoye Yar, west of Andriyivka and towards Stupochok and White Mountain.

On the Torets komu direction today, 21 encounters took place. Russian forces tried to storm the positions of Ukrainian units in the areas of Toretsk, Diliyivka, Leonidivka, Ozaryanivka, Dachny, Crimea and Friendship, at the moment seven fighting are still ongoing.

In the Pokrovsky direction, since the beginning of this day, the Russian enemy attacked 46 times in the areas of settlements Tarasivka, Novotoretske, Elizavetivka, Lisivka, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, Bogdanivka, Suha Balka, Stara Nikolaivka, Zvirove, Udaachne, Andriyivka and in the directions of Oleksandropol and Mirolyubivka. Ukrainian defenders have repelled 38 attacks, eight more clashes continue so far.

Today in this direction, according to preliminary data, 252 Russian occupants have been defecated, of which 124 are irrevocably. In addition, Ukrainian soldiers destroyed a tank, a combat armored vehicle, 12 units of automobile equipment, 23 motorcycles, five AMP control points, a mortar, two REB vehicles, a satellite means, nine AMP; also damaged a self-propelled artillery rig, a tank, two cannons, two units of automobile machinery and three motorcycles.

In the Novopavli direction Ukrainian defenders repelled seven attacks of the Russian zagarbnikiv in the areas of Konstantinopol, Veselogo, Free Field and in the direction of Odradnogo, another attack is ongoing. Air strikes were suffered by Green Field, Mirne and Novopil.

In the Gulyaipil direction, Russian aviation struck unguided aviation missiles on Gulyaipol and Malinivtsi.

In the Orihiv direction, Ukrainian defenders repelled three Russian attacks in the area of Scherbakov, Stepovoy and in the direction of Mala Tokmachka, one fight is still ongoing. Novodanilivka, magdalinivka and stepnogirs k were under the air strikes.

In the pridniprovsk direction, Russia caused an air strike on Mykolaivka.

In Kur ini took place 22 combat with Russian zagarbnikami, so far there is one fight. Russian forces launched 16 air strikes, dropped 28 controlled bombs, carried out 286 artillery shells, including six of the reactive systems of arson-fire.

Active Russian offensive actions are not recorded in Gulyajpils ky and Pridniprovsky directions.

The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered nine group strikes by precision weaponry and attack unmanned aerial vehicles, as a result of which Ukrainian defence industry enterprises, infrastructure of military airfields, weaponry, ammunition, missile, attack unmanned aerial vehicles, and uncrewed surface vehicle depots, UAV operators training centres as well as temporary deployment areas of Ukrainian armed formations and foreign mercenaries were engaged.

In the morning, the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation delivered a group strike by long-range precision weaponry and unmanned aerial vehicles at key unmanned aerial vehicle production facilities and infrastructure objects of Ukrainian military airfields. The goals of the strike have been achieved. All the assigned objects have been engaged.

Over the past week, units of the Sever Group of Forces continued to eliminate Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) formations on the territory of Kursk region. Aviation, unmanned aerial vehicles, and artillery inflicted losses on manpower and hardware of one tank brigade, four mechanised brigades, three air assault brigades, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), one marine brigade, and five territorial defence brigades. In Belgorod and Kharkov directions, losses were inflicted on units of five mechanised brigades, one motorised infantry brigade, one air assault brigade, one coastal defence brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and four territorial defence brigades.

During the week, more than 1,900 enemy troops were neutralised in the area of responsibility of the Sever Group of Forces and 64 Ukrainian servicemen surrendered. The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) losses amounted to up to six tanks, 39 armoured fighting vehicles, 99 motor vehicles, six MLRS launchers, including two U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launchers, 46 field artillery guns, two anti-aircraft missile systems, eight electronic warfare stations and counter-battery radars, ten ammunition and materiel depots.

Units of the Zapad Group of Forces took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of five mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, two assault brigades, one artillery brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), three territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) losses amounted to more than 1,730 troops, two tanks, and 13 armoured fighting vehicles, including three U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers. In addition, 45 motor vehicles, 30 field artillery guns, including seven NATO-made 155-mm self-propelled artillery systems and howitzers, 12 electronic warfare stations and counter-battery radars, and 21 ammunition depots were neutralised.

As a result of active operations, units of the Yug Group of Forces liberated Kalinovo and Valentinovka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Losses were inflicted on formations of seven mechanised brigades, one airmobile brigade, three assault brigades, one artillery brigade, one regiment of unmanned aerial systems of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), three territorial defence brigades, three national guard brigades, and the Azov Special Operations Brigade.

Over the past week, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) losses amounted to more than 2,170 troops, two tanks, 27 armoured fighting vehicles, including four U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers and one Stryker armoured personnel carrier. Seventy-four motor vehicles, 35 field artillery guns, including four Western-made 155-mm field artillery guns, six electronic warfare stations, 27 ammunition, fuel, and materiel depots were neutralised.

As a result of decisive actions, units of the Tsentr Group of Forces liberated Yelizavetovka and Preobrazhenka (Donetsk People's Republic).

Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of six mechanised brigades, two assault brigades, one airborne brigade, three jaeger brigades, one UAV brigade, one assault regiment of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), one marine brigade, and four national guard brigades.

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) losses amounted to more than 2,680 troops, two tanks, 20 armoured fighting vehicles, including seven U.S.-made M113 armoured personnel carriers. Thirty-five motor vehicles, 34 field artillery guns, including six U.S.-made 155-mm Paladin, one French-made CAESAR, and one Polish-made Krab self-propelled artillery guns were neutralised.

Units of the Vostok Group of Forces continued advancing into the depth of enemy defences. Losses were inflicted on formations of two mechanised brigades, one jaeger brigade, one airmobile brigade, one air assault brigade, one mountain assault brigade of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), one marine brigade, three territorial defence brigades, and one national guard brigade.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 1,020 troops, one tank, eight armoured fighting vehicles, 20 motor vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, including three NATO-made field artillery guns as well as four electronic warfare stations.

The Dnepr Group of Forces' units took more advantageous lines and positions. Losses were inflicted on manpower and hardware of three mechanised brigades, one mountain assault brigade, three coastal defence brigades of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), and three territorial defence brigades.

The AFU losses amounted to more than 540 troops, four armoured fighting vehicles, 56 motor vehicles. One U.S.-made HIMARS MLRS launcher, 12 field artillery guns, nine electronic warfare stations and counter-battery radars, and 16 ammunition depots were neutralised.

Over the past week, air defence units shot down one F-16 aircraft of the Ukrainian Air Force, 45 U.S.-made JDAM guided aerial bombs and 29 HIMARS MLRS projectiles as well as 1,618 fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles.

In total, since the beginning of the special military operation, the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) losses amounted to 661 aircraft,283 helicopters, 52,592 unmanned aerial vehicles,603 anti-aircraft missile systems, 22,920 tanks and other armoured fighting vehicles, 1,541 MLRS combat vehicles, 23,820 field artillery guns and mortars, 34,317 units of support military vehicles.





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MS-13 Member Sentenced to Over 12 Years for Kidnapping, Witness Retaliation, and a Firearms Offense

Friday, April 18, 2025

For Immediate Release

Office of Public Affairs

An MS-13 member and Honduran national, illegally in the United States, was sentenced today to 147 months in prison for kidnapping, retaliating against a federal witness, and unlawful possession of a firearm.

According to court documents and statements made in court, on Nov. 5, 2023, Bayron Wuifredo Santos-Recarte, 27, of Honduras, together with other associates of La Mara Salvatrucha 13, better known as MS-13, kidnapped a former federal witness at gunpoint in the parking lot of a laundromat in Nashville, Tennessee. The witness was kidnapped because, eight months prior, he had testified during a federal racketeering trial against MS-13 members. Specifically, the witness testified that MS-13 members tried to shoot and murder him on two occasions over a drug dispute.

During the kidnapping, the victim was held in a truck for hours while being assaulted with a firearm, hammer, and machete. While Santos-Recarte and others assaulted the witness, they also questioned him about why he testified against MS-13 and threatened him with death. After the victim was finally able to escape and call for help, he was treated at a local hospital for serious injuries, which included fractured bones, internal bleeding, and an injury to his kidney.

"The defendant, an MS-13 member, kidnapped a former federal witness and tortured him with a machete, hammer, and gun. This violence and obstruction of the American legal system is core MS-13 conduct and exemplifies why MS-13 has been designated a foreign terrorist organization," said Matthew R. Galeotti, Head of the Justice Department's Criminal Division. "The Department remains focused on eliminating this organization. There is more to come. Thank you to the prosecutors, ATF, and our local law enforcement partners for their relentless pursuit of justice."

"We will do whatever it takes to protect witnesses from harm," said Acting U.S. Attorney Robert E. McGuire for the Middle District of Tennessee. "If a witness is retaliated against, our office will bring the full might of federal law enforcement to bear on holding those responsible accountable for their crimes."

"On numerous occasions, individuals are silenced from 'speaking out' due to threats, intimidation, or the risks of serious harm," said Acting Special Agent in Charge Jason Stankiewicz of the Nashville Field Division of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). "In this case, the victim/witness was kidnapped, terrorized, and physically assaulted by relentless, gang-affiliated criminals. Witness intimidation is a serious federal offense and anyone who retaliates against a government witness will be held fully accountable under the law. ATF remains committed to working alongside our state, local, and federal law enforcement partners to reduce violent crime and diminish the presence and influence of these dangerous and deadly criminal organizations in the communities that we serve."

When identified as one of the kidnappers and confronted by law enforcement, Santos-Recarte admitted driving the truck used in the kidnapping and knowing that the witness testified against MS-13 members during a trial. Santos-Recarte also admitted helping others force the witness into the truck at gunpoint and being present while others assaulted the victim. When federal agents arrested Santos-Recarte, he was in possession of an assault rifle.

In December 2024, Santos-Recarte pleaded guilty to kidnapping, retaliation against a federal witness, unlawful possession of a firearm by an illegal alien, and conspiracy charges. After he serves his sentence, he will be deported from the United States.

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Explosives, and Firearms investigated the case with assistance from the Metro Nashville Police Department.

Trial Attorneys Matthew Hoff and Christopher Matthews of the Criminal Division's Violent Crime and Racketeering Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Ahmed Safeeullah of the United States Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee prosecuted the case.

Topic: Violent Crime

Components: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)

Criminal Division

Criminal - Violent Crime and Racketeering Section

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

USAO - Tennessee, Middle

Press Release Number: 25-403

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Australian PM pledges to stand up for national interests against Trump on trade

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:56, April 18, 2025

CANBERRA, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has said that he would stand up for national interests in response to U.S. tariffs during the second leaders' debate of the election campaign.

Albanese, leader of the governing Labor Party, and opposition Coalition leader Peter Dutton on Wednesday night went head-to-head for the second time on the campaign for the May 3 election in a debate that mostly focused on domestic affairs.

The candidates were asked about how they would negotiate with U.S. President Donald Trump over a 10 percent tariff placed on imports from Australia.

Albanese said that the government has "put forward a proposition" to the United States but would not "budge" on pharmaceutical, biosecurity or media laws that have been identified by the Trump administration as trade grievances.

"We will stand up for Australia's national interests," he said.

He said that Australia has made it "very clear" that the tariffs were an act of "self-harm by the United States."

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Canada's party leaders debate U.S. tariffs, annexation threat before elections

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 16:56, April 18, 2025

OTTAWA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Leaders of four major Canadian parties debated countermeasures against the U.S. tariffs and annexation threat on Thursday, one day before advance voting for the federal election scheduled for April 28.

Canada's Prime Minister and Liberal leader Mark Carney, Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre, Bloc Quebecois leader Yves-Francois Blanchet and New Democratic Party leader Jagmeet Singh took part in the debate in English on TV.

The debate focused on five main themes, including U.S. tariffs and threats to Canada, affordability and the cost of living, energy and climate, and public safety and security.

Like the debate in the French language on Wednesday, there were no knockout punches, nor any major gaffes by any leaders. All parties agreed that Canada needs to keep up its counter-tariffs and continue to show strength in the face of the U.S. annexation and economic threats.

Currently, the ruling Liberals hold a marginal advantage over the Conservatives, according to the latest polls.

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Chinese, Vietnamese defense ministers jointly preside over 9th China-Vietnam Border Defense Friendship Exchange

Ministry of National Defense of the People's Republic of China

Source China Military Online EditorChen Zhuo 2025-04-17 19:06:39

BEIJING, April 17 -- From April 16 to 17, Chinese Defense Minister Admiral Dong Jun and Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang jointly presided over the 9th China-Vietnam Border Defense Friendship Exchange and held talks.

Admiral Dong Jun said that Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, has just paid a successful state visit to Vietnam, during which the leaders of the two parties and two countries have jointly planned a better future for China-Vietnam ties. "The two militaries should be aligned with the relationship orientation of 'comrades and brothers', further enhance strategic communication, deepen exchanges at all levels and in all fields, improve the quality and effectiveness of border defense friendly exchanges, continuously expand pragmatic cooperation, and make greater contributions to accelerating the construction of a strategically significant China-Vietnam community with a shared future," he stated.

General Phan Van Giang said that under the leadership and promotion of leaders from both parties and countries, the current bilateral relationship is going well, and political mutual trust is getting strengthened. Vietnam firmly adheres to the one-China principle and supports the cause of China's national reunification. "As an important part of the bilateral relationship, the cooperation between the two militaries has been continuously deepened and achieved remarkable results. Vietnam is willing to join hands with China to build a more pragmatic pillar of security cooperation and bring more benefits to the two countries and their people," he said.

During the exchange, Admiral Dong Jun and General Phan Van Giang jointly inspected border troops, visited the smart ports, schools and villages, planted friendship trees together, watched the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam joint patrol in the waters of the Beibu Gulf via video link, and witnessed the signing of relevant cooperation documents.

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Xi Jinping Meets with President of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 17, 2025 23:33

On the afternoon of April 17, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping met with President of the Cambodian People's Party and President of the Senate Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Cambodia are not only friendly neighbors but also ironclad friends. Building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and a choice of the people. Both countries are currently at a critical stage of national development. The two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound changes unseen in a century.

Xi Jinping stressed that China believes that Cambodia's road to national development and revitalization will become wider and wider. China will, as always, support the Cambodian People's Party in leading the Cambodian people to maintain national stability and economic development, and support Cambodia in playing a more important role in the regional and international arena. The two sides should make good use of the newly established "2+2" strategic dialogue mechanism between foreign ministers and defense ministers of the two countries to strengthen strategic coordination. The two sides should keep closer practical cooperation across various fields, advance the development of Cambodia's Industrial Development Corridor and "Fish and Rice Corridor", and strengthen cooperation in energy, transportation and other sectors, so that Cambodia can share more in China's development opportunities.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China is ready to engage in exchanges and mutual learning with Cambodia on major topics such as strengthening party building and advancing reform and development, and to deepen friendly cooperation between China's National People's Congress and the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference with the National Assembly and Senate of Cambodia.

Xi Jinping noted that history has shown an unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity. Unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support from the people, and no country wants to return to isolation. The trade wars undermine the multilateral trading system and disrupt global economic order. All countries should unite and firmly keep the reins of national security and development in their own hands, uphold mutual respect, pursue mutual benefit and win-win results, seek common development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind. As Asia stands at a new starting point of collective rise, China will continue to follow the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness and the policy of developing friendship and partnership with neighboring countries, maintain the continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, deepen friendship and cooperation with neighboring countries, extend the benefits of Chinese modernization to its neighbors, promote the building of a community with a shared future with neighboring countries, and work together to advance modernization in Asia.

Samdech Techo Hun Sen expressed a warm welcome to President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia, stating that the visit is of great significance to Cambodia. Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping and the Communist Party of China, China successfully achieved last year's growth target and made remarkable achievements in scientific and technological innovation, for which the Cambodian side extends its heartfelt congratulations. Noting that China is Cambodia's most steadfast supporter and most reliable partner for cooperation, Samdech Techo Hun Sen said China's support has made significant contributions to Cambodia's economic and social development and improvement of people's lives, for which the Cambodian side expresses its deep gratitude. Cambodia firmly pursues the one-China policy, supports China's positions on the Taiwan question and on issues related to Xinjiang and Xizang, and opposes any forces' interference in China's internal affairs. Cambodia and China enjoy ironclad friendship, and the two countries' decision to build an all-weather community with a shared future in the new era will make further progress, promoting high-level, high-quality and high-standard development of bilateral relations. The two countries will always move forward hand in hand, stand together through thick and thin and share a common future. Cambodia is willing to strengthen strategic security cooperation with China and expand bilateral trade. More Chinese enterprises are welcome to invest in Cambodia. Cambodia will work with China to promote the deepening of people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and intensify the crackdown on online gambling and telecom fraud. The Cambodian side highly appreciates China's constructive role in world peace and sustainable development, and supports the Belt and Road cooperation and the three major global initiatives proposed by China, which are conducive to safeguarding the common interests of the international community and promoting world peace, security and stability. Noting that trade wars and tariff wars have undermined the legitimate interests of all countries and triggered turmoil in the international situation, he said Cambodia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China and jointly address various risks and challenges.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Wang Xiaohong, among others, were present.

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President Xi Jinping Holds Talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 17, 2025 23:58

On the evening of April 17, President Xi Jinping held talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh. The two leaders agreed on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and announced designating 2025 as the China-Cambodia Tourism Year.

President Xi pointed out that the ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia is built upon a shared historic legacy, a solid political foundation, and a powerful momentum from within. No matter how the international landscape evolved, the two countries have always led the way in building a community with a shared future for mankind. As transformation unseen in a century accelerates around the world, further advancing the China-Cambodia community with a shared future is fully in line with the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China will, as always, support Cambodia in advancing along a development path suited to its national conditions, support the Cambodian government in achieving successes in governance, and support Cambodia in playing a more important role in regional and international affairs. Building the all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era marks a new starting point in the bilateral relationship. The two sides should ride the momentum, further implement the updated action plan on building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future, strengthen solidarity and cooperation, and accelerate the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative. They should bring their mutual political trust to a higher level, expand their mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality, ensure greater security, have more frequent people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen strategic coordination of higher standards, so as to deliver greater benefits to the peoples of both countries.

President Xi emphasized the importance to make good use of the China-Cambodia Intergovernmental Coordination Committee, advance the "2+2" strategic dialogue between the foreign and defense ministers of the two countries, and step up exchanges through party-to-party, legislative and other channels, so as to jointly respond to risks and challenges and safeguard shared interests. China is ready to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia. The two sides should vigorously advance high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continually enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts. China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia. It will keep the mega-size China market open to Cambodia, and import more premium agricultural products from the country. The two peoples should deepen mutual understanding and friendship, and promote civilizational exchanges and mutual learning. China will continue providing government scholarships to Cambodia, support the establishment of a China-Cambodia youth dialogue and exchange mechanism, and encourage more exchanges among local governments, media organizations and think tanks, so that the two peoples will move ever closer to each other. The two sides should take stronger and more effective measures to resolutely crack down on online gambling and telecom fraud, and safeguard public security and normal interactions among regional countries.

President Xi underscored that China and Cambodia, as important forces of the Global South, must keep to their shared values of peace, solidarity and cooperation, oppose all acts of unilateralism and bullying, and practice true multilateralism. The two sides must firmly resist bloc rivalry and camp-based confrontation, strengthen coordination and cooperation within frameworks such as ASEAN and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, jointly safeguard the hard-won peace and development in the region, and contribute to a community with a shared future for mankind.

Prime Minister Hun Manet stated that Cambodia-China relations have been guided by the spirit of mutual respect and equality over the years, and China is Cambodia's most reliable and trusted friend. President Xi's visit is of great significance, as it will deepen political mutual trust and boost efforts to build the all-weather Cambodia-China community with a shared future in the new era. Cambodia congratulates China on its economic and social achievements, and is convinced that China, under President Xi's strong leadership, will realize its Second Centenary Goal as scheduled. Cambodia appreciates China's strong support for Cambodia's economic development and political independence. Cambodia is firmly committed to the one-China policy, and supports China in safeguarding its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Cambodia remains steadfast in growing friendship with China. It is ready to maintain high-level exchanges, strengthen strategic and security cooperation, and deepen the ironclad friendship with China. China is Cambodia's largest trading partner and source of foreign investment. Cambodia is ready to strengthen cooperation with China in trade, investment, industrial and supply chains, agriculture, and infrastructure development, jointly combat online gambling and telecom fraud, intensify people-to-people exchanges including in education and culture, and ensure the success of the Cambodia-China Tourism Year. Cambodia highly appreciates China's constructive role in international and regional affairs, and supports the vision of a community with a shared future for mankind, the three major global initiatives, and the Belt and Road Initiative put forth by President Xi. As unilateralism destabilizes the world, and the multilateral trading system is under pressure, China has demonstrated leadership and provided valuable stability for the world. Cambodia will strengthen coordination and cooperation with China to safeguard the common interests of both sides.

After the talks, the two leaders jointly witnessed the exchange of over 30 bilateral cooperation documents, including on industrial and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, public health and media.

The two sides issued the Joint Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Kingdom of Cambodia on Building an All-Weather China-Cambodia Community with a Shared Future in the New Era and Implementing the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Wang Xiaohong attended the above activities.

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Xi Jinping Meets with Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 17, 2025 23:55

On the evening of April 17, 2025 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Cambodian Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

Xi Jinping extended his best wishes to Norodom Monineath Sihanouk for the Khmer New Year. Xi Jinping noted that King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a symbol of China-Cambodia friendship. Together with the elder generation of Chinese leaders, he personally forged an unbreakable ironclad friendship between China and Cambodia, and we will always remember the historic contributions he made. Noting that Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk is a witness and promoter of China-Cambodia friendship, Xi Jinping said she has a special friendship towards the Chinese people, and she well deserves to be awarded the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. Xi Jinping also said that China, as her second home, welcomes her visit at any time.

Norodom Monineath Sihanouk said President Xi Jinping is the greatest friend of Cambodia, and this visit is a great honor for all the Cambodian people. She is very pleased to see that the China-Cambodia friendship forged by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries has been continuously consolidated and developed. She expressed confidence that the ironclad friendship between the two countries will grow even deeper and more unbreakable. She sincerely wishes the Chinese people greater achievements on the path to national rejuvenation under the leadership of President Xi Jinping.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi and Wang Xiaohong, among others, were present.

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Xi Jinping Meets with Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 17, 2025 23:00

On the afternoon of April 17, 2025 local time, Cambodia's King Norodom Sihamoni met with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh.

When Xi Jinping arrived by limo, Norodom Sihamoni warmly greeted him at the alighting point of his limo. The honor guards lined up on both sides of a red carpet.

Noting that Cambodia has recently celebrated the 20th anniversary of King Norodom Sihamoni's enthronement and the Khmer New Year, Xi Jinping said he is delighted to visit the beautiful Cambodia at the invitation of King Norodom Sihamoni, extending his heartfelt New Year greetings to the Cambodian people. Xi Jinping said that Cambodia's national development is thriving, and he believes that under the blessings of King Norodom Sihamoni, the hardworking and intelligent Cambodian people will surely build an even more prosperous and stronger nation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Cambodia share a millennia-old friendship, with their people having always striven together and thrived together. Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China and Cambodia have stood by each other in good faith and with mutual assistance, offering unwavering support on issues related to each other's core interests and major concerns. China and Cambodia set a model for equality, sincerity, mutual trust, and mutually beneficial cooperation for win-win results between countries of different sizes. China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, bringing tangible benefits to the Cambodian people.

Xi Jinping stressed that China values its friendship with the Cambodian royal family, and spoke highly of the important contributions made by the Cambodian royal family to the cause of China-Cambodia friendship over the years. Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward the ironclad friendship between the two countries jointly forged by the elder generation of Chinese leaders and King Father Norodom Sihanouk, enrich the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with the features of the new era, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. China firmly supports Cambodia in safeguarding stability, accelerating growth and improving people's well-being, and in following a development path that suits its national conditions. As China advances modernization at home, it will create more opportunities for Cambodia and other neighboring countries and write a splendid chapter of China-Cambodia all-weather community with a shared future for the new era.

Norodom Sihamoni, on behalf of the Cambodian royal family, Senate, government, and people, warmly welcomed President Xi Jinping's visit. Norodom Sihamoni said the friendship between Cambodia and China was forged and cultivated by the elder generation of leaders of the two countries. With the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened, with progress being made every month and tangible results achieved year after year. The Cambodian side firmly abides by the one-China principle, highly appreciates the three major global initiatives put forth by President Xi Jinping and appreciates the huge development opportunities brought to Cambodia via the Belt and Road cooperation. President Xi Jinping's visit is a historic one, which will deepen the ironclad friendship between the two countries, enrich the Diamond Hexagon cooperation framework and take Cambodia-China relations to a new level. Cambodia is also willing to enhance coordination and cooperation with China within such multilateral mechanisms as ASEAN-China Cooperation and Lancang-Mekong Cooperation, and jointly promote regional peace, stability and prosperity.

Norodom Sihamoni presented the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar to Xi Jinping.

Norodom Sihamoni said President Xi Jinping holds special friendly feelings towards Cambodia and has made outstanding contributions to promoting the development of Cambodia-China relations, adding that Xi Jinping is a great friend of Cambodia. He expressed the belief that under the leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will achieve greater development accomplishments and play a more important role in international and regional affairs.

Xi Jinping said this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people. This honor belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.

In the evening, Norodom Sihamoni held a welcome banquet for Xi Jinping.

Cai Qi, Wang Yi, and Wang Xiaohong, among others, attended the above events.

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Chinese FM responds to new US ambassador to Japan's agitation of 'pushing back' against China

Global Times

By Shen Sheng Published: Apr 18, 2025 07:03 PM

Regarding a media inquiry over the new US Ambassador to Japan who landed in Japan on Friday claimed that the US and Japan need to work together to align their defense forces to "push back against a country like China," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian responded that the duty of a diplomat is to foster friendly ties between countries rather than vilify other countries, sow discord and stoke confrontation.

China has always been a force for peace, stability and progress in the international community. The world sees very clearly who is flexing muscles, inciting confrontation and threatening peace, Lin said on Friday's routine press briefing.

According to Reuters on Friday, Glass told reporters at Haneda airport that "We sit with Japan in a very tough neighbourhood. You have Russia, you have China, and you have North Korea," claiming that the allies needed to "push back against a country like China."

Xiang Haoyu, a research fellow at the China Institute of International Studies, told the Global Times on Friday that the US' persistent hype of the so-called "China threat" to Japan is a strategic move to bind Japan to its anti-China chariot, in a bid to ease trade frictions between the two countries.

This is not the first time Glass has smeared China. During his previous ambassadorial stint as envoy to Portugal during US president Donald Trump's first term between 2017 and 2021, Glass had warned of China's growing influence in Portugal and criticized Lisbon for allowing Chinese investment in telecommunications and other strategic sectors, Kyodo News reported earlier this month.

But he faced a backlash from Portuguese political leaders after he pressured the European country to choose the US over China or risk the consequences, said the Kyodo News.

Glass, a businessman from Oregon with a background in investment banking and real estate, was confirmed as ambassador to Japan by the US Senate last week.

In addition to the ambassador, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte have also been among those who have hyped the so-called "China threat" during their visits to Japan.

During Rutte's visit, Japan released its annual government foreign policy report, which stressed the importance of Tokyo deepening ties with Washington while also reiterating its policy of promoting a "mutually beneficial relationship based on common strategic interests" with China.

The US is intensifying pressure on Japan in areas such as trade, market access, currency policy, and defense spending, leaving Japan under significant internal pressure and forced into difficult compromises.

At the same time, the current US government's view of alliance relationships as transactional is eroding the strategic trust between the two countries. This has led to hidden cracks beneath the seemingly close Japan-US alliance, exposing increasingly pronounced structural tensions between strategic dependence and national interests, according to Xiang.

Previously, Glass said he was "extremely optimistic" that a deal will be reached between the US and Japan in negotiations over US-imposed tariffs, Kyodo News reported Friday.

However, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said Monday that Japan will not make compromises for the purpose of quickly concluding upcoming tariff negotiations with the US. "We do not intend to make one compromise after another to conclude negotiations swiftly," Ishiba told a session of the Budget Committee of the House of Representatives, according to the Kyodo News.

"After experiencing a series of recent changes, Japan seems to hold a conflicted mindset toward its relationship with the US," Xiang said. He further noted that despite Japanese companies having already made significant investments in the US, the current US government remains unsatisfied. If Japan is forced to relocate more of its industries, it could face a serious risk of "industrial hollowing-out."

Blindly yielding to US pressure could undermine Japan's economic sovereignty and long-term interests, the expert said, questioning whether Japan would once again repeat the mistakes of the Plaza Accord signed 40 years ago.

"What Japan needs is to strengthen its strategic resolve and its ability to formulate an independent policy toward China," he added.

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Trump says tariff deal with China likely within 3-4 weeks

China's commerce ministry also said it had been maintaining working-level communication with US counterparts.

By Taejun Kang for RFA

2025.04.18

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- U.S. President Donald Trump said that Washington and Beijing were in talks on tariffs, expressing confidence that the world's two largest economies would reach a deal over the next three to four weeks.

The U.S. and China are waging a tit-for-tat trade battle, which threatens to stunt the global economy, after Trump announced new tariffs on most countries. Specifically, the U.S. has imposed tariffs up to 145% on Chinese imports, prompting China to retaliate with tariffs reaching 125% on American goods.

"We are confident that we will work out something with China," he said during a late Thursday afternoon executive order signing in the Oval Office.

"Top officials" in Beijing had reached out to Washington "a number of times" said Trump, adding that the two sides have had "very good trade talks" but that more remained, though he offered no evidence of any progress.

Asked about timing on any agreement, Trump said: "I would think over the next three to four weeks."

Trump declined to say if he had spoken to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

He also declined to say whether he would raise further the current tariffs he has imposed on Chinese imports but said: "I may not want to go higher, or I may not want to even go up to that level. I may want to go to less, because, you know, you want people to buy."

Trump also expressed confidence that the sale deal of Chinese social media app TikTok he seeks would be forthcoming.

"We have a deal for TikTok but it is subject to China so we will delay it until this thing gets worked out," he said, adding that the deal would not take more than "five minutes" to finalize after discussions take place.

Trump said earlier in April that China's objections to new U.S. tariffs stalled a deal to sell off TikTok and keep it operating in the United States.

Trump administration officials have been working on an agreement to sell the U.S. assets of the popular social media app, owned by China-based ByteDance, to an American buyer, as required by a bipartisan law enacted in 2024. But this also requires China's approval.

Trump's remarks came a few hours after China's commerce ministry said it had been maintaining working-level communication with its U.S. counterparts.

"China's position has been consistent - it remains open to engaging in economic and trade consultations with the U.S. side," commerce ministry spokesperson He Yongqian said.

Noting that the unilateral imposition of tariffs was entirely initiated by the U.S. side, she quoted an old Chinese saying "It is the doer of the deed who must undo it" to urge the U.S. to correct its approach.

"We urge the U.S. to immediately cease its maximum pressure tactics, stop coercion and intimidation, and resolve differences with China through equal dialogue on the basis of mutual respect," she said.

Nvidia chief's visit to China

Jensen Huang, chief executive of U.S. chipmaker Nvidia, said on Thursday that China was a "very important market" for his company after the U.S. imposed a ban on sales of its H20 artificial intelligence chips to the country.

"We hope to continue to cooperate with China," Huang said in a meeting with Ren Hongbin, head of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, cited by China's state-run broadcaster CCTV.

Huang arrived in Beijing earlier in the day at the invitation of the trade organization.

His visit comes at a time when the U.S. imposed restrictions on the export of Nvidia's H20 chips to China, tightening its grip on advanced AI technology trade with Beijing as part of Washington's strategy to pressure China amid an ongoing tariff battle.

Nvidia said Tuesday it was notified by the U.S. government on April 9 that exporting its H20 chips to China would now require government approval. It separately said that the restriction would remain in place indefinitely.

While the H20 chip has relatively modest computing power, it has other features that make it suitable for building high-performance computing systems.

The U.S. government reportedly based its decision on concerns that the H20 chips could be used in or adapted for Chinese supercomputers. Until now, the H20 was the most advanced artificial intelligence chip legally exportable to China.

The H20 chip gained attention following its use by DeepSeek, a Chinese AI startup, which in January unveiled a cost-effective and competitive AI model trained using the chip.

Huang reportedly met DeepSeek founder, Liang Wenfeng, in Beijing, to discuss new chip designs for the AI company that would not trigger the new U.S. bans.

Edited by Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Trade war with US triggers wave of factory 'holidays' in China's export hubs

Chinese manufacturers pivot to social commerce platforms to sell unsold goods at bargain prices.

By Qian Lang for RFA Mandarin 2025.04.18 -- As the U.S.-China trade war heats up, businesses in major export hubs in southeastern China are announcing factory "holidays" - halting production and slashing employee wages and work hours - while turning to social commerce platforms to sell stockpiled goods, as they grapple with a sharp drop in overseas orders.

It's a phenomenon sweeping across China's export-driven provinces like Zhejiang, Guangdong, and Jiangsu, where manufacturers - weighed down by a large backlog of unsold merchandise - are issuing a flurry of "holiday notices" to announce they are suspending operations at factories.

To clear large piles of inventory, companies are now resorting to selling the leftover export goods through social commerce platforms, such as TikTok and Taobao, at heavily marked-down rates.

Merchandise ranging from yoga pants and footwear to home appliances and blankets  originally intended to be exported to the U.S.  are now being sold online by Chinese export companies or their employees at bargain prices, multiple videos reviewed by RFA on Douyin, the Chinese version of TikTok, show.

The world's two largest economies have been engaged in an escalating tariff war that threatens to roil global trade and upend supply chains, while sparking growing concerns over a full U.S.-China decoupling.

U.S. President Donald Trump has levied duties of 145% on imports from China - and up to 245% on some products. Beijing has retaliated with a 125% tariff on U.S. goods.

On Thursday, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone, expressing confidence that Washington and Beijing could reach a deal on tariffs "over the next three to four weeks."

This follows the U.S. administration's move to exempt certain products, including smartphones and laptops, from the recently announced duties.

But in China's top tech-oriented export strongholds like Dongguan city in Guangdong province, Suzhou in Jiangsu, and Jiaxing in Zhejiang, the immediate fallout of the trade dispute is apparent in factory floors filled with towering stockpiles of unshipped goods.

Stockpiles of unsold goods

In a sprawling 20,000-square-meter warehouse in Jiaxing - a prefecture-level city where exports made up 75% of the total trade volume of 481.84 billion yuan (US$66.51 billion) in 2024 - heaps of merchandise originally meant to be exported now lie abandoned, according to a video posted by an unnamed Douyin user.

He noted that products once valued at over US$100 in the U.S. market now struggle to sell even at deeply discounted rates of a few dollars.

"The tariff war has caused a lot of foreign-trade leftover goods," he said.

"Any piece of clothing here can sell for US$100 dollars (in the U.S.), but now it is being sold by tons, and the average price of one piece is only a few cents, and still no one is buying it ... It's impossible to survive."

U.S. footwear brand Crocs' signature rubber clogs - which typically retails for $30-$70 a pair in the U.S. - are now being offloaded for mere pennies in China, the vlogger said.

Crocs has production facilities in China. In February, it projected Chinese imports will account for about 15% of its inventory and that its fiscal 2025 profits could decline by about $11 million due to tariff headwinds.

But even products that have historically been targeted solely for the domestic market have not been spared, as U.S. tariffs threaten China's slow and still-fragile consumer sentiment recovery, buoyed by a slew of stimulus measures to drive consumption.

Take the case of the iconic 400-year-old traditional Chinese knife brand Zhang Xiaoquan. Exports account for less than one percent of the Hangzhou, Zhejiang-based company's annual sales, but its knives are being sold by the tons at the price of just a few cents per knife, the vlogger said in a video post on Douyin.

Pivot to social commerce

Further north in Jiangsu's Suzhou city - where foreign trade volume hit a record 2.62 trillion yuan (US$358.9 billion) in 2024 - one factory is pushing its employees to sell its overstocked blankets online, another video posted on Douyin by an employee showed.

According to the employee of Suzhou Lively Home Textiles Factory who posted the video, a factory manager managed to sell more than 60 blankets by tapping his own relatives, friends, and acquaintances to whom he made half those sales.

At the same factory, which mainly produces blankets, employees were also informed that their working hours will be reduced and that only their basic wages would be paid, due to the challenges in exporting to the U.S.

"We are now facing a trade war, which has affected our orders ... If you have a good job outside, you can leave," the factory manager can be seen telling nearly 100 female employees, in the same video posted on Douyin.

As more people take to selling online, e-commerce companies say they are finding it hard to compete with heavily discounted prices of leftover export goods being sold via social commerce platforms.

"With the new tariffs in the trade war, it is impossible to make a profit. In general, business in all sectors is not good this year," Zhang, an e-commerce entrepreneur in Yangzhou, Jiangsu, told RFA.

Like the other businessmen and experts RFA interviewed, Zhang provided only his first name for safety reasons.

Reliance on exports

China's so-called "troika" of consumption, investment, and trade that drives the country's economic growth actually only has one left: foreign trade, Chen, a Guangdong-based scholar, told RFA.

"China has little domestic demand because the average income of Chinese people accounts for too low a proportion of GDP, so their consumption capacity is not good. China cannot afford to lose the U.S. market," he added.

To be sure, the intensifying tariff war has put to the test Chinese President Xi Jinping's "dual circulation" strategy - which designated China's domestic market as the mainstay of its economy and emphasized a reduction in traditional reliance on export-led growth.

Experts argue that China remains highly reliant on the U.S., its top export market, to which it exported goods worth $438.9 billion in 2024.

"I have worked in the manufacturing industry for more than 10 years and I understand clearly the ratio of China's population to manufacturing. This economic situation (now) can be said to be unprecedented (and not seen) in decades," said Chen Xiang, who previously worked as a manager in export factories in Zhejiang, Jiangsu and Guangdong - where many have now issued "holiday notices."

One clothing export company in Jiangsu province issued a holiday notice announcing a suspension in production from mid-April until end-June.

Meanwhile, an electrical appliances manufacturer in Guangdong's Dongguan city announced a one-month shutdown citing a lack of orders.

RFA also found that dozens of companies in Zhejiang - where exports accounted for 70% of the province's gross domestic product in 2024 - had posted holiday notices.

In Zhejiang, more than 50% of its export companies are expected to stop production and take a "long holiday," after the Labor Day public holiday on May 1.

"It's like this in Jiangsu, Zhejiang, with even more factories in Guangdong now closed. People in some places can hardly survive. With tariffs increased to this extent, China-U.S. trade is almost decoupled," Chen told RFA.

In 2024, China's total manufacturing output reached 40.5 trillion yuan (US$5.65 trillion). Foreign trade volume - exports and imports - was 43.85 trillion yuan (US$6.1 trillion), of which exports accounted for 25.45 trillion yuan (US$3.49 trillion).

Edited by Tenzin Pema and Mat Pennington

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Xi's Southeast Asia visit deepens shared commitment to neighborhood amity, cooperation

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:21, April 19, 2025

* Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations.

* A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

* Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia visit, his first overseas trip this year, highlighted China's dedication to deepening traditional ties, expanding practical cooperation and advancing its vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighbors.

The tour, which took him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, also signaled China's renewed push to reinforce regional stability and prosperity, and its determined support for regional economic integration as global protectionism and unilateralism continue to mount.

CLOSER COMMUNITY

Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. He also underscored the importance of building a community with a shared future grounded in mutual respect, win-win cooperation and shared development.

In a signed article published ahead of his state visit to Vietnam, he stressed that China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, which is guided by the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China's commitment to pursuing the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors.

In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said.

In Vietnam, Xi said that building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

In Malaysia, Xi said that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

In Cambodia, Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism.

China's development has benefited not only itself but also many other countries, including Malaysia, said Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC), noting that the vision of a community with a shared future -- "sharing weal and woe" -- has won widespread support.

"As long as we uphold equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust, we will surely walk hand in hand even further on the journey ahead," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the deeply-rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, setting an example for South-South cooperation.

GREATER CONNECTIVITY

A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

In Vietnam, Xi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development.

"Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers," said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In a joint statement on deepening bilateral ties and practical cooperation issued during Xi's visit, China said it is ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam.

Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can boost bilateral trade while enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

In Xi's state visit to Malaysia, the two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity.

Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

MAKING REAL DIFFERENCE

During his visit to Cambodia, Xi said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities.

Over the years, key BRI projects in Cambodia have yielded tangible benefits for local people. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has become a thriving industrial hub, attracting more than 200 international enterprises and institutions while creating 32,000 jobs.

The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway, has cut travel time between the two cities from over five hours to under two, significantly enhancing connectivity. Meanwhile, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has given a strong boost to the tourism sector, operating 17 routes by the end of last year.

"The future of Cambodia-China relations is bright and full of potential," said Mengdavid from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. "With the continued efforts of both countries' leaders, we can expect an even more dynamic, mutually beneficial and resilient partnership that will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond."

In Malaysia, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering a wide range of projects, which are taking root in Malaysia and making a difference for local people.

Such projects have not only promoted technology transfer and created numerous jobs, but also helped uplift regions that were previously less developed, which truly reflects the BRI's vision -- always putting people's well-being first, said Majid, the PPMC president and a former Malaysian ambassador to China.

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KCNA Detailed Report on Completion of Third-stage Project in Hwasong Area

Korean Central News Agency of DPRK

Pyongyang, April 18 (KCNA) -- The military-civilian builders in the DPRK have attained the huge goal for the capital city construction, set forth by the 8th Congress of the Workers' Party of Korea, year after year without fail, while upholding the WPK Central Committee's plan and long-cherished desire with miracles of creation. Through their stubborn and dynamic continuous struggle, they successfully completed the third-stage project in the Hwasong area in a short span of one year and thus provided a decisive guarantee for the completion of 50 000 flats in Pyongyang. In this regard, the Korean Central News Agency issued a detailed report on April 17.

According to the report, another large architectural group was built in the Hwasong area with the appearance of a distinctive urban district different from the first- and second-stage districts and with a peculiar and good combination of skyscrapers, high-rise apartment houses, educational and public health facilities and different kinds of modern neighbourhood-serving networks like commercial, public catering, technical and recreation service facilities. So the Hwasong area has turned into a center and model that can lead the existing areas of the capital city to civilization and enlightenment with political, economic and cultural functions as a full-fledged city administrative district.

Another proud entity that has sprung up in the Hwasong area is a brilliant fruition of the wise leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un , a prominent revolutionary and great master of creation and construction, and precious outcome of the indomitable stamina and extraordinary creation spirit of our people dynamically advancing with the strong will to overcome difficulties and bring changes and development in order to realize the long-cherished desire of the WPK with single mind and loyalty.

Saying that it is the true nature and duty of our Party and government to keep unconditionally the promises made to the people in the face of any hardships, the respected General Secretary Kim Jong Un gave meticulous guidance over the preparations for the grand construction of a new stage so that it could be substantially pushed forward with, and energetically led the whole course of the project.

He perfected over 660 designs so that the third-stage area could have a peculiar style different from the preceding stages so as to provide material and cultural wellbeing of higher level to the people.

Looking up to the General Secretary who pressed the blasting button at the groundbreaking ceremony in February 2024 and warmly encouraged the builders to firmly guarantee the construction struggle, launched by our Party as a patriotic undertaking for eternal prosperity, with eye-opening results of transformation, those builders in the Hwasong area hardened their strong will to successfully implement the plan of the Party Central Committee with fresh miracles and innovations.

The construction of 10 000 flats at the third stage in the Hwasong area was a great creation struggle beyond the existing stages in size and quality as a group of houses and public and service buildings, including educational, public health, commercial and public catering establishments, were to be built at the same time in an area of over 90 hectares and a total floor space of nearly 1.52 million square meters.

As befitting the pioneers ushering in a great golden age of capital city construction, the military-civilian builders kindled the flames of creating miraculous Hwasong speed and myth by displaying the indefatigable spirit.

In a short span of time after the groundbreaking ceremony, more than 1.66 million cubic meters of earth were successfully excavated for the foundation. And the foundation concrete placing was completed in a short period, and the housing framing project was carried out in earnest.

At the third-stage project, more vigorous sci-tech activities were conducted to put the construction work on an industrial and modern basis of higher level.

While inspecting the construction site in April last year, Kim Jong Un stressed that the housing construction is the most important task for providing the people with a beautiful cradle of happiness, so it is necessary to perfectly conclude even the finishing process with the goal of completing it on the highest level to be impeccable even in the distant future.

With a resolve to uphold the Party's far-reaching plan for providing the people with better material and cultural wellbeing with thoroughgoing executive ability, the builders successfully built such colorful commercial, public catering, technical and recreation service facilities with strong symbolic and specific characters as the Hwasong Kumgang Restaurant of overpass style, the Hwasong Vehicle Service Station and the 300-seat video game house.

Preparations for landscaping suited to the modern urban division were made with foresight. So more than 69 400 trees were planted and over 300 000 square meters of lawn created.

Officials and workers across the country made solidarity innovations for the construction of 10 000 flats at the third stage in the Hwasong area.

Officials and primary information workers of many units, art squads and mobile art squads in different parts of the country visited the construction sites to further stir up the revolutionary enthusiasm of builders out in implementing the Party's decision.

The third-stage housing construction in the Hwasong area was completed at last and the task for the fourth year of the construction of 50 000 flats in Pyongyang successfully carried out, thanks to the boundless loyalty and staunch offensive spirit of the military-civilian builders who have worked fresh miracles and myths, regarding as their highest honour and pride the trust of the Party Central Committee which put them forward in the vanguard of the capital city construction.

The report said that the emergence of another architectural group of 10 000 flats again in Pyongyang is a striking demonstration of the great Party's spirit of continuous revolution and the inexhaustible potential of our powerful country.

As long as there is the wise leadership of the great Comrade Kim Jong Un and the invincible might of our single-minded unity rallied around the Party Central Committee, the new era of Pyongyang prosperity of socialist Korea will continue with more vigorous creation and innovation and our country will shine more brilliantly as an ideal land full of the people's happiness, the report stressed. -0-

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Meeting with Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of President Trump, and Marco Rubio, U.S. Secretary of State.

Elysee - President of France

Posted on 17 April 2025

President Emmanuel Macron received Steve Witkoff, Special Envoy of President Trump, and Marco Rubio, United States Secretary of State, for a meeting followed by a working lunch on Thursday, April 17, 2025, at the Elysee Palace.

The meeting was attended by Jean-Noel Barrot, Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs, and Emmanuel Bonne, diplomatic advisor and G20/G7 Sherpa to the President of the Republic.

Joining the discussions were Keith Kellogg, Special Envoy of the United States; Jonathan Powell, National Security Advisor of the United Kingdom; Jens Plotner, National Security Advisor of the Federal Republic of Germany; Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff to the President of Ukraine; Andriy Sybiha, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine; and Rustem Umerov, Minister of Defense of Ukraine.

This meeting provided an opportunity to talk about the peace negotiations aimed at ending Russia's aggression against Ukraine.

It followed President Macron's conversations with President Trump and the work carried out within the coalition of willing countries, co-chaired by the United Kingdom and France, which met at the Elysee Palace on March 27.

The discussions also served as an occasion to address tariff issues as well as the situation in the Middle East, with a view to de-escalating tensions in the region.

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INS SUNAYNA (IOS SAGAR) ARRIVES IN MOZAMBIQUE UNDER SAGAR MISSION TO STRENGTHEN MARITIME TIES

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 6:05PM by PIB Delhi

INS Sunayna, currently on deployment to Africa as Indian Ocean Ship IOS SAGAR arrived at Nacala Port, Mozambique on 17 Apr 25. The ship had earlier participated in the inaugural session of the India-Africa maritime partnership exercise AIKEYME 25, at Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania.

IOS SAGAR is a unique mission based on the Government of India's regional initiative of maritime collaboration titled SAGAR, which stands for Security and Growth for All in the Region. The mission is aimed at fostering international cooperation between India and several African countries.

The ship was flagged off on her mission from Karwar on 05 Apr 25 by Hon'ble Raksha Mantri. She had embarked 44 naval personnel from nine friendly foreign nations, including Comoros, Kenya, Mozambique, Tanzania, Mauritius, Seychelles, Sri Lanka, Madagascar and Maldives, on her departure from India.

On her arrival at Nacala, the ship was welcomed by Commander Nelson H. Mabjaia, Chief of Commission, with the Mozambique Naval Band in attendance.

A range of collaborative activities and outreach programs are planned to be held during the port stay, aimed at promoting capacity building, operational synergy, and community engagements with the Mozambique Navy. These include joint training on Visit, Board, Search and Seizure (VBSS) drills as well as firefighting and damage control procedures. The ship will also host a deck reception on board for local officials and dignitaries in a celebration of maritime friendship.

Community interactions by the ship's crew will feature a yoga session to promote wellness and health, ship visits for Indian diaspora and local school children, an interschool quiz competition focused on maritime awareness and regional history as well as a guided tour for military cadets of the Nampula Military Academy, to offer firsthand insights into naval operations.

On completion of her port visit, the ship will embark personnel of Mozambique Navy as Sea Riders for a joint surveillance mission in the Mozambique Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), reaffirming the shared commitment to maritime security and countering non-traditional threats.

The port call marks a significant milestone enhancing maritime cooperation and interoperability between the Indian and Mozambique Navies. It also underscores India's enduring commitment to strengthening maritime partnerships in the Indian Ocean Region, enhancing mutual trust, and fostering collective regional security in consonance with the vision of the SAGAR initiative.

___________________

VM/SKS 90/25

(Release ID: 2122722)

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Defence Secretary Concludes Two-Day UK Visit; Co-Chairs 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group Meeting

India - Press Information Bureau

Ministry of Defence

Posted On: 18 APR 2025 9:40AM by PIB Delhi

Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh concluded a two-day visit to London from April 16-17, 2025, leading a high-level Indian delegation for the annual bilateral defence dialogue with the United Kingdom. During the visit, he co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting with Mr. David Williams, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence.

Both sides reviewed the evolving regional and global geopolitical landscape and reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening defence ties. The discussions were held in the context of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 and the Roadmap to 2030, which continues to steer cooperation between the two nations. The Defence Secretary also interacted with the UK's National Security Adviser, Mr. Jonathan Powell, with talks focused on expanding tri-service military engagements and strengthening collaboration between the two countries' defence industries.

Addressing participants at the India-UK Defence Industry Roundtable, organised by the UK India Business Council, Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh highlighted the growing capabilities of Indian start-ups across key defence domains such as naval systems, drones, surveillance, defence space and aviation. He encouraged UK companies to explore partnerships with these agile innovators, noting their potential to deliver cost-effective and cutting-edge solutions.

The Defence Secretary also said that India is working closely with the UK Ministry of Defence to develop an Industrial Cooperation Roadmap to guide future industry engagement. He invited UK firms to invest in India's dedicated Defence Corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where they can take advantage of state-level incentives and a rapidly evolving defence manufacturing ecosystem.

*****

SR/KB

(Release ID: 2122599)

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Lavrov says Moscow supports Tehran-Washington talks

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Moscow, IRNA -- Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says his country welcomes the willingness on Iran and the United States for reaching tangible agreements on Iran's nuclear program as the two countries have engaged in indirect talks since last Saturday.

Lavrov made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araqchi in Moscow on Friday. He said that Tehran's legitimate interests have to be taken into consideration in the course of talks with the American side.

Highlighting the negative impact of U.S. unilateral exit from the 2015 nuclear deal of six world powers with Iran, Lavrov said that Russia, nevertheless, supports the beginning of talks between Iran and the United States.

Moscow will help facilitate resolving issues surrounding Iran's nuclear program, he said, while stressing that efforts to include non-nuclear issues in negotiations between Iran and the U.S. are unacceptable.

Lavrov also referred to an Iran-Russia Joint Economic Cooperation meeting, due to be held in Moscow on April 23-25, adding that the meeting will focus on implementation of joint projects.

He said that the meeting is to be held while the volume of trade between the two countries reached nearly $5 billion in 2024.

9341**9417

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Upcoming developments not to affect Iran's relations with Russia: Foreign Minister

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Moscow, IRNA -- Iran's relations with Russia will not be affected by the upcoming developments, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in what seemed to be a reference to the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington.

Araqchi made the remarks in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov in Moscow on Friday, describing his meetings with the Russian president and foreign minister as "constructive".

He stressed that relations between Iran and Russia are on the right path and the two countries have regular consultations.

Araqchi said that in a meeting earlier today with his Russian counterpart, they have discussed a wide range of issues. "With a comprehensive strategic deal signed, relations between the two countries are now at a strategic level... we are well on our way to long-term cooperation."

He referred to Iran's invitation of Russian President Vladimir Putin for a visit to Tehran, expressing hope that the visit will take place during the current year.

The Foreign Minister expressed Iran's satisfaction with the ratification of the long-term cooperation pact between Iran and Russia by the Russian State Duma and the Federation Council. He added that the treaty is also on the Iranian Parliament's agenda and will be approved and implemented soon.

Araqchi also addressed the indirect talks between Iran and the United States, set to continue in Rome on Saturday, noting, "We are waiting to hear the viewpoints of the American side. If there is enough seriousness and determination, it is likely that a deal can be achieved."

He emphasized that Iran will approach the talks on Saturday with seriousness and full determination, despite serious doubts about the intentions of the other side.

"We are fully prepared for a peaceful solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear program, and if there is a similar will on the other side and they do not make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is possible."

The Foreign Minister also expressed Iran's appreciation for Russia's role in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and expressed hope that Moscow would continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

"We will continuously keep our friends in Russia, and of course China, informed about the developments," Araqchi said, emphasizing his confidence that constructive feedback will contribute to progress on this path.

9341**9417

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Foreign Minister Araqchi says he will attend the 2nd round of Iran-U.S. indirect talks in Rome

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Moscow, IRNA -- Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says that he will make a visit to Rome, the capital city of Italy, on Saturday to hold the second round of indirect talks between Iran and the U.S.

In response to IRNA, referring the second round of Iran-U.S. indirect talks, Araqchi said on Thursday evening that Rome will not host the talks, but is the place of the talks.

The government of Oman will host the indirect talks between Iran and the United States, and Iran attends the place which will be specified by the host.

Oman's Foreign Ministry on Apr 18, 2025 said that the second round of talks between Iran and the United States will be held in Rome on April 19.

"The second round of talks between representatives of the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America will be held in Rome this Saturday. The talks will aim to achieve further progress toward a fair, binding and sustainable agreement," the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday.

6125**2050

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President Pezeshkian: Iran and Saudi Arabia can be role model for regional cooperation

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Apr 18, 2025

Tehran, IRNA -- In a meeting with Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud in Tehran on Thursday, President Masoud Pezeshkian has stressed the neeed for consolidating cohesion in Islamic world, and called for the expansion of bilateral cooperation between Iran and Saudi Arabia in all sectors to help resolve regional issues.

President Pezeshkian pointed to deep religious, cultural and historical commonalities among Muslim nations, and emphasized the need for strengthening Islamic unity.

The President described cohesion among Islamic countries as the prerequisite to peace, security and sustainable economic development in the region, and said that dispute and poverty in Muslim nations are not appropriate for the Islamic Ummah.

He noted that heads of Islamic nations can present an inspiring example of co-existence, welfare and progress for other societies.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is fully ready to expand its ties with Saudi Arabia in all arenas," Pezeshkian said.

The President welcomed the formation of joint working groups in political, economic and security affairs, and said that Iran and Saudi Arabia can rely on their common capacities to resolve regional issues without any foreign intervention.

President Pezeshkian expressed hope that the friendship between the two nations will consolidate interests of the Islamic world and dissuade adversaries of interfering and sowing discord among Muslim countries.

He expressed readiness to host Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud in Tehran.

The President, meantime, pointed to the plight of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip, and said that if the Islamic states achieve real unity, the Zionist regime would not be able to create such a humanitarian catastrophe in the besieged area.

The Saudi minister, for his part, conveyed warm greetings of the Saudi King and Crown Prince to the Iranian president, describing his meetings with Iran's officials as positive and constructive.

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UN sees U.S.-Iran nuclear talks as "good sign": spokesman

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 09:04, April 18, 2025

"We very much hope that the dialogue between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran yields a positive outcome, which we're seeing the lowering of tensions in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, and between the two countries," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a daily briefing.

UNITED NATIONS, April 17 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations views the second round of negotiations between the United States and Iran this weekend as "a good sign," and hopes it will yield positive results, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.

The second round of U.S.-Iran indirect negotiations will be held in Rome on Saturday, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. The two sides will discuss Tehran's nuclear issues and Washington's sanctions.

"We very much hope that the dialogue between the United States and the Islamic Republic of Iran yields a positive outcome, which we're seeing the lowering of tensions in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, and between the two countries," Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN secretary-general, said at a daily briefing.

"We understand that there will be a second round from what I've seen, I think this weekend, which in itself is a good sign," he said. "We will obviously be following it very closely."

In early March, U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders, proposing negotiations on Iran's nuclear program, while Iran later agreed on indirect talks.

The first round of U.S.-Iran indirect talks was held in the Omani capital of Muscat last week. The White House said in a statement that the discussions were "very positive and constructive." Iranian Foreign Ministry described their talks as "constructive."

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Iran: World must hold Israel accountable for mass murder, targeting children

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 2:10 PM

Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Esmail Baghaei has called on the international community to quit turning a blind eye to Palestine and hold the Israeli regime accountable for its crimes, including the killing of children, in Gaza.

"This is not medieval history. This is not the Dark Ages. It has been happening for consecutive days over the past 2 years," Baghaei said, warning about the apathy towards the massacre and ethnic cleansing of the Palestinian nation.

He referred to a report from the UN Children's Fund in Palestine on the ongoing genocide, pointing to the severity of the situation amid an inadequate will to put an end to the occupiers' atrocities.

"A spokesperson for the UN ... confirms: 'Since the beginning of the Gaza war, an average of 27 children have been killed each day,'" Baghaei said.

The regime's forces have killed some 19,000 children, including 274 newborn babies and 876 infants below the age of one year, in Gaza since October 2023, Hamas said in a statement last week.

Despite repeated condemnations by the United Nations General Assembly, evidence of genocidal acts gathered by the International Criminal Court (ICC), and formal orders from the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to prevent genocide and punish incitement to it, the Israeli regime's killings persist unabated, Baghaei regretted.

"Children are slaughtered by relentless brutal bombardment and from cruel starvation. These are not only morally outrageous; they are the most heinous acts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide under international law," he said, adding, "The Israeli regime, its enablers and apologists, must be held accountable."

Israel launched a genocidal war on Gaza on October 7, 2023, but it failed to achieve its declared objectives despite killing 51,065 Palestinians, mostly women and children, and injuring more than 116,505 others.

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Agreement within reach if US makes no unreasonable, unrealistic demands: Iran FM

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 1:49 PM

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says an agreement with the United States is possible as long as Washington does not put forward "unrealistic" demands.

Araghchi made the remark in a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow on Friday, a day ahead of a second round of indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, which is scheduled to be held in the Italian capital, Rome.

"We will only negotiate over the nuclear issue and other topics will not be included in these negotiations," he said.

"I believe there is a possibility of reaching an agreement if they [Americans] demonstrate seriousness of intent and make no unrealistic and unreasonable demands," he added.

The top Iranian diplomat cited Washington's threats and its so-called maximum pressure policy as Iran's reasons for holding indirect talks with the US.

He, however, emphasized, "The path of diplomacy is open. Indirect talks are not complicated and can lead to an agreement."

He said Tehran spotted a certain level of the United States' seriousness during the first round of talks in the Omani capital Muscat on April 12.

The Iranian foreign minister cast serious doubt over US intentions following Washington's contradictory positions.

"We have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side but we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations with full seriousness and determination," he pointed out.

He once again voiced Tehran's full readiness to find a peaceful solution to its peaceful nuclear program.

Speaking to reporters in Moscow earlier on Friday, Araghchi said Tehran will assess and decide on the path ahead of negotiations based on the approach of the United States in the second stage of indirect talks in Rome.

Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy for Middle East affairs, led the first round of indirect talks in Muscat. Both sides described the talks as positive and constructive.

On Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the indirect talks between Iran and the US in the Omani capital have been "implemented well in their initial steps," but added that the Islamic Republic is "very skeptical" of the other side.

During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a previous agreement on Iran's nuclear program and launched a maximum pressure campaign against the country.

Trump restored that policy after returning to the White House for a second term in January, but he has since signaled a willingness to make a new deal to replace the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran's leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal and threatening military action if Tehran refused.

Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with the US under pressure and threats, but said indirect talks remain an option.

Ayatollah Khamenei's message conveyed to Putin

Elsewhere in the presser, Araghchi said during his Thursday meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, he handed over a message from Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to him, which included various bilateral and regional issues.

The top Iranian diplomat noted that he held "useful" talks with the Russian president, which demonstrate that Tehran and Moscow are advancing relations.

He said Putin was officially invited to travel to Tehran and expressed hope that the visit would take place this year.

He noted that Iran and Russia have drawn up plans to promote economic cooperation regardless of sanctions imposed on both countries.

"Of course, this does not mean that the two countries recognize the legitimacy of the sanctions, but they have designed their economic cooperation in such a way that even in the presence of sanctions, they can achieve desirable results," Araghchi explained.

Russia ready to play any role in Iran-US talks: Lavrov

The Russian foreign minister said his country is ready to play any role in the negotiations between Iran and the US on a potential nuclear deal.

"We are ready to help, mediate and play any role that, from Iran's point of view, will be useful and that will be acceptable to the United States," Lavrov added.

"We proceed from the fact that the only option for an agreement, as the [Iranian] Minister just said, is an agreement exclusively on nuclear issues," he said, stressing that it is "a fundamental point."

The Russian foreign minister also noted that Putin was "very pleased" with Thursday's meeting with Araghchi.

"Yesterday's meeting emphasized the unprecedented dynamics of our political dialogue," Lavrov said.

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IRGC kills ringleader of Jaish al-Adl terror group behind deadly attacks in SE Iran

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 11:16 AM

Iran's Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Ground Forces have delivered a blow to the Jaish al-Adl terrorist group during an anti-terrorism military operation in Sistan and Baluchestan province, killing a ringleader of the group.

The operation, carried out by servicemen from the IRGC Ground Force's Quds Base, was based on intelligence provided by the Islamic Republic of Iran Police Intelligence Organization and support from local residents. It took place in the Kurin District on Friday and was part of the ongoing "Martyrs of Security" campaign, which has been active in recent months.

As a result, a high-profile leader of Jaish al-Adl terrorist group, identified as Wali Muhammad Shahbakhsh, was eliminated. He was wanted for a series of terrorist attacks carried out in the region last year.

IRGC Ground Force servicemen confiscated a cache of weapons and munitions in this operation.

Es'haq Mokhtari, a member of Iran's volunteer Basij forces, was also shot and killed during the heavy exchange of gunfire with Jaish al-Adl terrorists.

Sistan and Baluchestan province, which borders Pakistan, has witnessed several terrorist attacks targeting both civilians and security forces over the past years.

Terrorist groups carrying out attacks against Iranian interests in the southeastern and southwestern parts of the country are believed to be linked to foreign intelligence services.

On October 26 last year, ten members of Iran's law enforcement forces were killed in a terrorist attack in the Gohar Kuh district of Taftan County in the province.

The so-called Jaish al-Adl terrorist group claimed responsibility for the assault, which was one of the deadliest in the province in recent months.

The group has carried out numerous terrorist attacks in Iran, primarily in Sistan and Baluchestan. Its tactics include the abduction of border guards as well as targeting civilians and police stations within the province to incite chaos and disorder.

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IAEA deputy chief to visit Tehran for technical discussions: Iran nuclear spox

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 11:00 AM

The spokesman for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) says a deputy director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit Tehran within the next two weeks as part of technical discussions between the two sides.

Behrouz Kamalvandi made the remarks on Friday after IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi concluded a two-day trip to Tehran, where he visited an exhibition of Iran's nuclear achievements and held talks with Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and AEOI chief Mohammad Eslami.

Kamlavandi said that the IAEA deputy head will hold discussions in Iran aimed at resolving some issues, which are repeatedly mentioned in the agency's reports about the country's nuclear activities.

Those issues, he added, "do not actually help advance technical goals, but have rather paved the way for further pressure on Iran."

He also emphasized that Grossi's visit was "pre-arranged" within the framework of ongoing interactions between the Islamic Republic and the UN nuclear watchdog.

Grossi was initially expected to arrive in Tehran on Saturday, but his visit was brought forward as it coincided with Iran-US indirect talks, Kamalvandi said.

He further noted that during Grossi's meeting with Eslami, the latter highlighted Iran's insistence on its nuclear rights and said no one can speak to the Iranian nation with a language of threat.

Additionally, he said, Eslami censured recent claims by Grossi, who said Iran has enough enriched uranium to make six or seven nuclear weapons.

Iranian officials considered Grossi' statements "against the principles of the Safeguards Agreement and stressed that Iran has not taken any action contrary to its commitments."

Over the past years, Iran has recorded many achievements in its peaceful nuclear energy program in defiance of US sanctions as well as hurdles created by the West.

As one of the first signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran has also been closely cooperating with the IAEA.

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FM: Iran to 'judge' how to proceed after Saturday talks in Rome

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 9:30 AM

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will assess and decide on the path ahead of negotiations based on the approach of the United States in the second stage of indirect talks that is set to be held in Rome, Italy.

While speaking to reporters in Moscow on Friday, Araghchi announced his upcoming trip to Italy, emphasizing Iran's "seriousness" in the ongoing talks about the country's peaceful nuclear program, which commenced last Saturday in Muscat.

Asked about contradictory remarks made by US officials since the first round of talks, Araghchi said, "In these talks, our stance is clear and we have expressed it clearly to the other side. Our remarks haven't changed and will not change; and we don't speak in different ways every day. We expect the other parties to be present in the talks with seriousness and stability of opinion and firmness in their steps."

"In this case, talks can move forward and have a productive outcome," he added.

The minister further said, "On Saturday, we will participate seriously in the indirect talks, and based on the approach of the other party, we will assess and judge how we should continue on this path."

He also noted that Oman will continue to mediate the negotiations, with Italy being just the venue of the event.

Rome is just "the location of the talks," adding Oman "remains the host for the indirect talks between Iran and the US."

"We will be present in the location specified by the host (Oman). The responsibility for mediation, facilitation, and establishing indirect communication continues to lie with the Foreign Minister of Oman and the government of that country," Araghchi said.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Iran's top diplomat noted that several countries, including China and Russia, have expressed their readiness to contribute to facilitating the talks, but "we are indeed carrying out this work through Oman. Our friends, such as Russia and China, that have previously played a role in the nuclear talks, can have a role and provide assistance" in the new negotiations, he stated.

Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the US president's special envoy for Middle East affairs, led the first round of indirect talks in the Omani capital of Muscat on Saturday. Both sides described the talks as positive and constructive.

On Tuesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the indirect talks between Iran and the US in the Omani capital have been "implemented well in their initial steps," but added that the Islamic Republic is "very skeptical" of the other side.

During his first term in office, US President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from a previous agreement on Iran's nuclear program and launched a maximum pressure campaign against the country.

Trump restored that policy after returning to the White House for a second term in January, but he has since signaled a willingness to make a new deal to replace the 2015 deal, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

On March 12, Trump sent a letter to Iran's leadership, asking for negotiations to reach a new deal and threatening military action if Tehran refused.

Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with the US under pressure and threats, but said indirect talks remain an option.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Calls For Russian Support In Nuclear Talks

By RFE/RL April 18, 2025

Iran's foreign minister has called for Russia to play a role in high-stakes negotiations over the fate of Tehran's nuclear programs, as he cast doubt on US intentions ahead a new round of talks.

Speaking on April 18 alongside Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Abbas Araqchi said he still believed an agreement was possible.

The Iranian diplomat was set to meet with White House special envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome on April 19, for a second round of talks over Iran's atomic programs.

"Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations," Araqchi said during a joint appearance in Moscow.

Last week's first round of talks in Oman was the highest-level negotiations between Tehran and Washington since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.

Western countries, including the United States, have long accused Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons. Tehran has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that its efforts are aimed at civilian purposes, like electricity generation.

Earlier in the week, Witkoff called for an end to all of Iran's uranium enrichment programs. International inspectors say Tehran has managed to refine its uranium stocks to 60 percent -- which is close to the threshold at which uranium is considered weapons-grade.

Araqchi responded on April 16, saying that Iran's enrichment efforts were not up for discussion.

"If there is similar willingness on the other side, and they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is likely," Araghchi said.

Since taking office in January, Trump has ratcheted up the pressure on Iran, including by sending more US Air Force and naval assets to the region. But he's also forced direct talks with Iranian officials.

"I'm not asking for much," Trump said in comments earlier this month, "but they can't have a nuclear weapon."

With reporting by Reuters

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-us-nuclear- talks-russia-araqchi-lavrov/33389352.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's talks with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi

18 April 2025 17:16

658-18-04-2025

On April 17-18, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi paid a working visit to Moscow. He was received by President of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin, where the Iranian minister handed him a message from the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ali Khamenei. Abbas Araghchi also had talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

The ministers had a detailed review of the entire range of diverse bilateral relations which officially advanced towards the comprehensive strategic partnership level after the new fundamental inter-state treaty was signed in Moscow on January 17.

Sergey Lavrov and Abbas Araghchi praised the advanced nature of political dialogue promoted primarily through trustful communication between the Russian and Iranian presidents. The ministers agreed to move forward with trade and economic cooperation, focusing on the implementation of joint projects, in accordance with respective agreements reached during Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian's visit to Moscow on January 17, and in light of the 18th meeting of the permanent Russian Iranian Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation scheduled for April 23-25.

The parties had a meaningful exchange of views on key issues on the global and regional agendas, including the situation in the Middle East, Syria, the South Caucasus and the Caspian region. Special attention was given to the range of issues pertaining to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action regarding Iran's nuclear programme. The ministers reaffirmed their mutual commitment to deepening all-round collaboration at the leading multilateral avenues, primarily the SCO and BRICS.



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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's statement and answers to media questions at a joint news conference following talks with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sayyid Abbas Araghchi, Moscow, April 18, 2025

18 April 2025 17:06

657-18-04-2025

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Today, we engaged in comprehensive discussions with my colleague, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Abbas Araghchi. These talks reaffirmed our commitment to achieving further positive outcomes in our bilateral relations and international collaboration, building upon the agreements reached by our Presidents and in light of my visit to Tehran in February of this year.

Our joint assessment is that Russian-Iranian relations are of a distinctive nature, fully aligned with the spirit of comprehensive strategic partnership. These bonds continue to develop dynamically, despite the complex regional and global situation, as well as the attempts to exert pressure on our nations in order to hinder the development of both Iran and the Russian Federation, the goal overtly declared.

On April 8, 2025, the State Duma ratified the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran. This treaty was signed during the official visit of President Masoud Pezeshkian to the Russian Federation in January 2025, and on April 16, 2025, the Federal Council approved the ratification law.

We are confident that the enactment of this historic document will have a positive impact on our collaboration across all spheres, both bilaterally and on the international stage.

Our political dialogue remains highly active. Recently, our Presidents have met on three occasions: in Ashgabat on October 11, 2024, at the Interconnection of Times and Civilisations International Forum; in Kazan on October 23, 2024, on the sidelines of the BRICS Summit; and on January 17, 2025, during the official visit of President Pezeshkian to the Russian Federation.

Today, as a follow-up to the meeting at the Kremlin yesterday, where President Vladimir Putin received Minister Araghchi, we focused on a range of specific issues on the international agenda and discussed bilateral matters in greater detail, particularly in the realm of trade and economic cooperation.

Our trade turnover has demonstrated positive growth. By the end of last year, it increased by more than 13 percent, nearly matching the record figures of 2022 (approximately $5 billion). This upward trend continues despite the aforementioned severe sanctions imposed by the West against the Russian Federation and the Islamic Republic of Iran, in blatant violation of the United Nations Charter, WTO regulations, and other international legal agreements.

We reviewed the preparations for the upcoming 18th meeting of the Intergovernmental Commission on Trade and Economic Cooperation, which will take place here in Moscow from April 23 to 25, 2025. Key topics for discussion include bilateral infrastructure, logistics, and investment cooperation, particularly the implementation of the flagship project to construct the Bushehr Nuclear Power Plant and the Resht-Astra railway section, financed through a Russian loan as part of the International North-South Transport Corridor. This corridor will play a pivotal role in significantly expanding trade, economic, and other ties across our shared region.

We agreed to expedite the implementation of existing agreements to create the necessary conditions for the effective and comprehensive realisation of these projects. We also endorsed the further intensification of business ties. We are confident that the Free Trade Agreement between the Eurasian Economic Union and the Islamic Republic of Iran, which will enter into force on May 15, 2025, will facilitate the expansion of trade turnover and the simplification of mutual trade procedures.

We engaged in a constructive discussion of pressing international issues. We are of one mind when it comes to the importance for all countries to respect international law, primarily, the principles of the UN Charter in their entirety and interrelation, rather than selectively, as our Western "colleagues" often do.

We have a vested interest in strengthening the Group of Friends in Defence of the UN Charter which was established in 2021 and is drafting policy papers and circulating them in the General Assembly and other UN bodies.

Countering illegal, destructive, unilateral, and coercive restrictions was among the priorities that we discussed today. These restrictions cause more harm to the countries that levy them, and international trade, than they do to the countries on the receiving end, because they sharply limit competition and all other principles underlying the WTO and other entities serving the global economy.

We agreed to continue substantive work on these issues. In addition to counteraction at the political level within the UN and other multilateral platforms, we will continue to apply bilateral efforts in order to taper off the effect of these illegal sanctions to zero. We are fully confident that we will be able to accomplish this.

We agreed to step up cooperation at the SCO and BRICS. We had a substantive discussion of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the nuclear programme of Iran. We both believe that Washington scuttling this plan in 2019 marred the general atmosphere of the talks. Nevertheless, we welcomed the push (as far as we can tell) to reach objective and mutually acceptable agreements, including the ones that have been and continue to be discussed by the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States.

Without a doubt, Russia is willing to facilitate this process and will support in every possible way the agreements that factor in the legitimate interests of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

We have coordinated our strategies with regard to other matters of international politics, including the situation in the Palestinian territories, which is a matter of deep concern, as well as the developments in Syria after the change of government in December 2024, and in the Middle East in general. We continue cooperating as part of the Caspian Five and on South Caucasus issues.

I believe our talks were productive and held on time. We will continue to carry out the principled agreements reached by our respective presidents and to maintain constant contact.

Question (retranslated from Persian): On April 19, indirect talks between the delegations of Iran and the United States will take place in Rome. We have spotted mixed signals coming from the United States. Do you think the Americans are genuinely willing to come to terms?

Sergey Lavrov: I think my colleague Abbas Araghchi has just answered this question. So, I will pass the microphone to him.

Question: The US media reported some time ago that President Trump had asked President Vladimir Putin to mediate negotiations with Iran. Is this request being reviewed and what format of the deal does Moscow see as the most acceptable to ensure security in the region?

Sergey Lavrov: I noted in my opening remarks that we are prepared to help, to mediate, and to play any role that will be useful and acceptable to the United States from Iran's point of view.

We believe that an agreement focusing exclusively on nuclear matters is the way forward if we want to reach an agreement, as the Minister just said. Notably, the Islamic Republic of Iran is willing to look for an agreement as part of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. This is a matter of principle that must be taken into account by those who are trying to saddle the talks with non-nuclear issues and thus create a situation that is fraught with risks.

Question (retranslated from Persian): We are glad to be in an environment that came into being after the big treaty between Russia and Iran had been signed and the leadership of both countries had said that our countries had reached the level of strategic partnership. How is work to simplify visa requirements for tourists and other categories of travellers going?

Sergey Lavrov: A number of steps had been taken before the agreement was signed aimed at easing visa regulations for certain categories of applicants. The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the many countries included on the electronic visa list that was introduced last year. This is the most simplified procedure.

In addition, we are now taking additional steps with regard to a number of documents in order to fully exempt embassy staff, both diplomats and holders of service passports, from visa requirements.

The draft agreement on visa-free tourist travel for citizens of Russia and the Islamic Republic is nearly complete. Importantly, this work began before the treaty was signed and before it came into force.

But the fact is that the strategic partnership opens up more opportunities for people-to-people contacts, and that both sides will strive to make these contacts as comfortable as possible.





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Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's opening remarks during talks with Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran Sayyid Abbas Araghchi

18 April 2025 13:28

654-18-04-2025

Mr Minister,

Friends,

We are delighted to welcome you to the Foreign Ministry for these talks.

On March 17, 2025, President Vladimir Putin held a long and substantive conversation with you, which he found highly productive. Yesterday's meeting further underscored the unprecedented momentum in our political dialogue.

On January 17, 2025, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran Masoud Pezeshkian paid an official visit to the Russian Federation. I had the pleasure of visiting Tehran in February 2025.

President Pezeshkian's visit saw the signing of a historic interstate treaty that formally established the strategic nature of our partnership. On April 16, 2025, the Federal Assembly of Russia completed the ratification process for this landmark document. The treaty lays a solid foundation for the continued and effective expansion of our bilateral collaboration and for strengthening coordination on the international arena.

I look forward to discussing all these matters in detail today. Once again, I warmly welcome you and your delegation.





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Threats of Strikes on Iran's Nuclear Facilities Are 'Unacceptable' - IAEA Chief

Sputnik News

20250418

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi called threats of strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities "unacceptable."

"The IAEA has always emphasized that threats against Iran's nuclear facilities are unacceptable and that the attacks that are being discussed could not only worsen existing problems, but also create more serious environmental consequences," Grossi was quoted as saying by the IRIB news agency on Thursday.

On Wednesday, The New York Times newspaper reported that US President Donald Trump did not allow Israel to attack Iranian nuclear facilities after he decided to pursue diplomacy with Tehran. Israeli officials were allegedly ready to attack Iran in May and counted on US support, promising to set back Tehran's nuclear program by a year or more.

 Sputnik

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What You Need To Know Before The Next Round Of US-Iran Talks

By Kian Sharifi and RFE/RL's Radio Farda April 19, 2025

Iranian and US negotiators will hold a second round of indirect talks on April 19, a week after concluding discussions that both sides described as "constructive" and "positive."

While the first round was hosted in Oman, the second will take place in Rome. Omani diplomats will continue to mediate the talks.

Here's where things stand ahead of the next round of negotiations over Iran's nuclear program -- with the possibility of military action still looming.

Witkoff's Reversal On Enrichment Limits

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who is leading the US negotiating team, caused a stir when he publicly reversed his position on Iran's nuclear program.

On April 15, he said Iran would need to limit its uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent -- the cap set by a 2015 nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

But within hours, Witkoff walked back the comment after a backlash from hard-liners who favor dismantling Iran's program. In a statement on social media, he said Iran "must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program."

The about-face appeared to confuse Iranian officials. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Iran's chief negotiator, responded that Washington's "true position must be clarified at the negotiating table."

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful and has ruled out dismantling it.

Jalil Roshandel, director of the Security Studies Program at East Carolina University, told RFE/RL's Radio Farda that the Trump administration is unlikely to maintain its hard-line stance.

"Trump can get a win by accepting the 3.67 percent limit in exchange for other concessions, such as extending the UN sanctions sunset clause set to expire in October," Roshandel said.

Expanding The Scope Of A Deal

Another sticking point is whether a potential deal will focus solely on Iran's nuclear activities or also address its missile program.

In an April 15 interview with Fox News, Witkoff said the Rome talks would also cover "verification on weaponization," including missiles.

But Iran has long refused to negotiate over its missile arsenal, which it considers a vital part of its defense strategy.

The Islamic republic used drones and missiles in two attacks on Israel last year -- the second of which was described as the largest single ballistic missile attack in history.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a former US diplomat and a nonproliferation expert, said expanding the scope of talks could complicate progress.

"It's not surprising that the Trump team would want to put missiles back on the table," Fitzpatrick told Radio Farda. "But it would make negotiations much more difficult because of Iran's steadfast position that missiles are essential to its defense and deterrence posture."

European Powers Sidelined

Britain, Germany, and France -- collectively known as the E3 -- are also signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal and played a key role in previous attempts to revive it.

This time, however, they appear to have been completely sidelined. Even though the next round of talks will be held in Italy, it will be Oman -- not the Europeans -- handling mediation.

State-affiliated media in Iran have welcomed the E3's exclusion. The Tehran Times, an English-language newspaper, claimed -- without evidence -- that the three nations are so frustrated by "their exclusion" that they offered Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, their backing to become the next UN chief if he helps "demonize" Iran.

The paper argued that this move is aimed at justifying the return of UN sanctions -- something the E3 have threatened by the end of June if Tehran fails to reach a deal with the United States.

US Military Pressure In The Region

Trump has repeatedly warned that he would resort to military action against Iran's nuclear program if a deal isn't reached.

Amid rising tensions -- and a US bombing campaign targeting Tehran's allies in Yemen -- Washington is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East.

Last month, the United States dispatched at least six B-2 bombers to a joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia, a small island in the Indian Ocean. This week, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was sent to reinforce the USS Harry S. Truman already stationed in the region.

Analysts believe Iran takes Trump's threats seriously, but it remains unclear whether Tehran is willing to risk air strikes on its key nuclear sites.

Trump has said Israel would play a leading role in any such attack.

According to The New York Times, Israel had been preparing to launch air strikes against Iran -- with US assistance -- as early as May, but was held back by Trump in favor of pursuing diplomacy.

With reporting by Reza Jamali and Hannah Kaviani of RFE/RL's Radio Farda

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/iran-nuclear-talks-rome-witkoff- reversal-missiles-trump-threats/33388458.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Statement by Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide on the situation in Myanmar

Government of Norway

News story | Date: 17/04/2025

In this period of Thingyan, the Foreign Minister of Norway, Mr. Espen Barth Eide, expresses his deepest sympathies and condolences to all those affected by the Earthquake of 28 March in Myanmar and hope that this time can be used to stop the violence and provide relief to the survivors.

My deepest sympathies and condolences to the peoples of Myanmar following the earthquake that struck central Myanmar on March 28, 2025.

In this period of the Water Festival Thingyan and New Year in Myanmar, it is an occasion to pay tribute to those who lost their lives, and all the local responders who continue to do the heaviest lifting in assisting those affected.

I welcome the announced commitments of temporary unilateral ceasefires, and call on those armed actors in Myanmar who have not yet done so to do the same. I call on all parties to fully respect, extend and broaden these measures to allow safe and unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance throughout Myanmar. I urge the SAC to stop airstrikes and for all armed actors to cease hostilities.

I fully support the efforts of the ASEAN and the UN in facilitating humanitarian delivery, their call for cessation of hostilities and for wider, inclusive dialogue among all Myanmar stakeholders, consistent with the objectives of ASEAN's 5 Point Consensus and UNSCR2669. I assure our willingness to assist in those efforts. This is an opportunity for all parties to put the people of Myanmar at the centre.

May this new year bring hope and peace.

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ASEAN chair talks to Myanmar's exiled government officials for the first time

The meeting comes a day after the chair's controversial meeting with Myanmar's junta chief.

By RFA Burmese 2025.04.18 -- Myanmar's exiled civilian government held a meeting with the chair of the regional bloc ASEAN for the first time, amid mounting international pressure over the bloc's engagement with the war-torn country's military regime.

The virtual talks between delegates from the National Unity Government, or NUG, and Anwar Ibrahim, the Malaysian Prime Minister who also serves as the bloc's chair, focused on Myanmar's worsening humanitarian crisis, compounded by ongoing civil conflict as well as a recent devastating earthquake, according to the NUG.

"What we have said continuously is that we want ASEAN to simply recognize, accept and understand Myanmar's reality. We think it's a start," Nay Bone Latt, the spokesperson for the NUG's Prime Minister's Office, told Radio Free Asia.

"We hope that more than this, the Myanmar people will be better understood and from this, we can probably come to create a good situation."

Ibrahim also expressed hopeful views, calling the conversation "constructive."

"Trust-building remains essential, and it is vital that this continues to be an ASEAN-led effort," he said on his X social media account. "We will continue to engage all parties in support of peace, reconciliation and the well-being of the people of Myanmar."

Ibrahim's move is widely seen as an effort to balance or mitigate criticism following a separate in-person meeting on Thursday in Bangkok between him and junta chief Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing, which was also attended by Thailand's former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

The leaders discussed aid by ASEAN in the aftermath of last month's earthquake that killed more than 3,700 people in Myanmar, the country's state-run broadcaster MRTV reported.

The ASEAN has played a frequent, though largely ineffective, role in trying to resolve Myanmar's deepening civil war since the junta seized power in a 2021 coup.

In the aftermath of the coup, ASEAN put forward the Five-Point Consensus - a peace framework calling for an immediate end to violence, the delivery of humanitarian aid, the release of political prisoners, and inclusive dialogue involving all parties.

However, Myanmar's junta has consistently defied these conditions while remaining a member of the bloc. As a result, ASEAN has barred the junta's political representatives from its high-level summits but has stopped short of taking more forceful action.

Critics say the bloc's principle of non-interference has rendered it powerless to hold the junta accountable, allowing the regime to prolong the conflict without consequence. Human rights groups and pro-democracy advocates have also accused ASEAN of legitimizing the military by continuing to engage with it diplomatically.

Several ceasefires - including China-brokered ones - have repeatedly collapsed, as fighting between the military and dozens of ethnic rebel groups and pro-democracy forces continues to rage across the country.

'Step forward'

For Myanmar's opposition groups, the meeting marks a rare and significant step forward, said China-based analyst Hla Kyaw Zaw.

"For ASEAN, this is the first time it has formally engaged with revolutionary forces," she said. "Strangely, Senior Gen. Min Aung Hlaing accepted this time that the ASEAN chairperson would meet with the NUG."

Her remarks refer to Ibrahim's statement that the junta did not object when he informed them of his plan to speak with representatives of the NUG - a shift in tone, given the junta's previous stance.

Since the 2021 coup, the military regime has labeled the NUG and its allies as "terrorists" and has consistently opposed any international recognition or engagement with them.

Translated by Kiana Duncan. Edited by Taejun Kang.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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Joint Press Release on the Fifth Round of Maritime Cooperation Dialogue Between China and Pakistan

Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the People's Republic of China

Updated: April 16, 2025 19:28

On April 15, 2025, the fifth round of China-Pakistan Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation was held in Beijing. Director-General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Foreign Ministry Hong Liang and Additional Secretary (Asia-Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan Imran Ahmed Siddiqui co-chaired the dialogue.

Both sides positively evaluated the progress made since the fourth round of dialogue, had an in-depth exchange of views on communication and cooperation in areas such as maritime security, marine economy, marine science and technology, and the marine environment, and reached broad common understandings.

Both sides agreed that high-level maritime cooperation is an essential part of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan. The two sides will jointly build a maritime community with a shared future between China and Pakistan. The two sides also agreed to continue maintaining communication on maritime situations, strengthen coordination and cooperation on maritime policies, and constantly deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation in the maritime field.

Both sides agreed to hold the sixth round of China-Pakistan Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation in Pakistan at an appropriate time next year.

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Sixth Round of Pakistan-Bangladesh Bilateral Consultations

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Pakistan and Bangladesh convened the Sixth Round of Foreign Secretary-Level Bilateral Consultations in Dhaka on 17 April 2025, following a hiatus of 15 years. The talks, led by Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch (Pakistan) and Foreign Secretary Md. Jashim Uddin (Bangladesh), were held in a cordial atmosphere and reflected a shared resolve to revitalize bilateral engagement.

The two sides held a comprehensive exchange on political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation, underpinned by shared history, cultural affinities, and the common aspirations of their peoples. Satisfaction was expressed at recent high-level contacts in New York, Cairo, Samoa, and Jeddah, which have helped reenergize the bilateral relationship.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum through regular institutional dialogue, early finalization of pending agreements, and enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and connectivity. Pakistan offered academic opportunities in its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh offered technical training in fisheries and maritime studies. The Bangladeshi side also acknowledged scholarship offers from private universities in Pakistan and underscored the need for deeper cooperation in the education sector.

Recognizing connectivity as a priority, the two sides welcomed the launch of direct shipping between Karachi and Chittagong and emphasized the importance of resuming direct air links. They also expressed satisfaction over the progress made in easing travel and visa facilitation.

The Bangladeshi side appreciated recent performances by renowned Pakistani artists in Dhaka, while the Pakistani side encouraged reciprocal cultural exchanges. Prospects for broader cooperation in sports, media, and cultural institutions were discussed, including the finalization of various MoUs in these areas.

On multilateral issues, both sides reaffirmed the need to revitalize SAARC in line with its founding principles. The Foreign Secretary appreciated the vision of the Bangladeshi leadership and expressed hope that the SAARC process would remain insulated from bilateral political considerations.

The Foreign Secretary also briefed the Bangladeshi side on the situation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), emphasizing the need for an early resolution of the dispute in accordance with UN Security Council resolutions and the aspirations of the Kashmiri people.

While reviewing the Middle East situation, the two sides strongly condemned the ongoing Israeli aggression and grave human rights violations in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, particularly in Gaza.

The Foreign Secretary held separate meetings with Hon'ble Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus and Hon'ble Foreign Adviser Mr. Md. Touhid Hossain. Discussions focused on regional integration, economic linkages, and the importance of insulating bilateral ties from external pressures. A shared commitment to a forward-looking partnership emerged. The Foreign Adviser looked forward to the forthcoming visit of Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Pakistan.

While thanking the Hon'ble Chief Adviser for the warm hospitality, Foreign Secretary Amna Baloch conveyed best wishes to him from Pakistan's leadership.

The next round of Consultations will be held in Islamabad in 2026.

Islamabad.

107/2025

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Transcript of the Weekly Press Briefing by the Spokesperson, Friday, April 18, 2025

Pakistan Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Assalam-o-Alaikum,

Welcome to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

I welcome you all at the weekly press briefing.

At the invitation of Acting Afghan Foreign Minister, Deputy Prime Minister/ Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, will lead a high-level delegation to Kabul tomorrow. During the day-long visit, he will call on the Afghan Acting Prime Minister; meet Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs; and hold delegation-level talks with Acting Foreign Minister.

The talks will cover entire agenda of Pak-Afghan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interests, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties.

The Deputy Prime Minister's visit is a reflection of Pakistan's commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan.

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Peter Szijjarto, paid an official visit to Pakistan on 17 April 2025.

Accompanied by a high-level business delegation, Minister Szijjarto's visit  his second to Pakistan  underscored the enduring and robust partnership between the two nations.

In addition to their private meeting, the two Ministers held delegation-level talks. During the discussions, both sides emphasized the importance of enhancing collaboration in key areas, including trade and investment, energy security, agricultural development, scientific research, and cultural exchange.

During the visit, Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and an Agreement were signed in the areas of Culture (2025-2027), Archaeology and Cultural Heritage, and the Abolition of Visas for Diplomatic Passport holders.

The visiting Minister called on the Prime Minister and met with the Minister of Commerce. Together with the Commerce Minister, he inaugurated the Pakistan-Hungary Business Forum.

The visit coincided with the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and Hungary.

Pakistan and Bangladesh convened the Sixth Round of Foreign Secretary-Level Bilateral Consultations in Dhaka on 17 April 2025, following a hiatus of 15 years. The talks, led by Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch and Foreign Secretary of Bangladesh Md. Jashim Uddin, were held in a cordial atmosphere and reflected a shared resolve to revitalize bilateral engagement.

The two sides held a comprehensive exchange on political, economic, cultural, educational, and strategic cooperation, underpinned by shared history, cultural affinities, and the common aspirations of their peoples. Satisfaction was expressed at recent high-level contacts in New York, Cairo, Samoa, and Jeddah, which have helped reenergize the bilateral relationship.

Both sides emphasized the importance of maintaining momentum through regular institutional dialogue, early finalization of pending agreements, and enhanced cooperation in trade, agriculture, education, and connectivity. Pakistan offered academic opportunities in its agricultural universities, while Bangladesh offered technical training in fisheries and maritime studies. The Bangladeshi side also acknowledged scholarship offers from private universities in Pakistan and underscored the need for deeper cooperation in the education sector.

The mortal remains of eight Pakistani nationals, tragically killed in a terrorist attack in Mehrestan, Iran, were repatriated to Bahawalpur, Pakistan aboard a PAF C-130 aircraft on Wednesday night. Pakistan's Consul in Zahidan was also present on the flight.

Upon arrival, the Bahawalpur Administration took custody of the remains and ensured their prompt delivery to the bereaved families.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received a telephone call from the Foreign Minister of Iran, Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, wherein the latter while offering condolences on the tragic death of 8 Pakistanis in Iran assured full cooperation in bringing the perpetrators to justice and repatriating the mortal remains of the victims.

The Iran FM also briefed the DPM/FM regarding the 12th April talks between Iran and the US in Oman, which the DPM/FM appreciated and encouraged.

Pakistan welcomes the talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United States of America that were held on 12 April 2025 in Muscat under the good offices of Oman.

Pakistan considers that dialogue and diplomacy will promote peace and stability in the region and advance the objectives of resolution of differences and disputes on the basis of negotiations and mutual respect. We encourage the parties to continue to follow this path.

Pakistan commends the Sultanate of Oman for its valuable role in facilitating and hosting these talks.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received the UN Under Secretary Generals Jean-Pierre Lacroix (DPO) & Atul Khare (DOS) on the sidelines of the UN Peacekeeping Preparatory Meeting, co-hosted by Pakistan & Republic of Korea in Islamabad.

DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's longstanding commitment to UN peacekeeping and recalled Pakistan's proud legacy in the peacekeeping arena.

Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar received the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Housing, Communities & Local Government of the United Kingdom, Lord Wajid Khan. They discussed issues of mutual interest.

DPM/FM reiterated Pakistan's commitment to a strong, broad-based, multifaceted Pakistan-UK partnership and appreciated the British Pakistani community's role in fostering goodwill between the two countries.

At the invitation of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Secretary General of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Nurlan Yermekbayev, is currently visiting Pakistan. He is heading a delegation comprising of officials from the SCO Secretariat in Beijing.

The Secretary General held meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister & Foreign Minister. He will also meet Minister of Commerce and Foreign Secretary. He will visit National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and the Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI).

The visit of the Secretary General of the SCO provides an opportunity for Pakistan to engage with the SCO Secretariat while highlighting its perspective and priorities for making SCO mechanisms more effective in advancing shared regional security and economic goals.

On April 15, the Fifth Round of the Pakistan-China Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation was held in Beijing. The dialogue was co-chaired by Additional Secretary (Asia-Pacific) of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan, Imran Ahmed Siddiqui, and Director General of the Department of Boundary and Ocean Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China, Hong Liang.

The two sides agreed to hold the Sixth Round of the Pakistan-China Dialogue on Maritime Cooperation in Pakistan at an appropriate time next year.

The 15th round of Pakistan-Russia Consultative Group on Strategic Stability was held in Islamabad on 16 April 2025. Additional Foreign Secretary (Arms Control & Disarmament), Tahir Andrabi and Russian Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, S.A. Ryabkov, led the respective delegations.

The two sides held detailed discussion on international security, regional and global stability and various aspects of arms control, disarmament, and non-proliferation.

The second round of Pakistan-Jordan Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) were held on 10 April 2025 in Amman. Pakistan side was led by Foreign Secretary Ambassador Amna Baloch, Jordanian delegation was led by Ambassador MajedT. ALQATARNEH, Secretary-General for Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan.

Foreign Secretary expressed deep appreciation for Jordan's efforts to ensure stability, peace and security across the Middle East and its strong resolve in combating terrorism. She praised the role of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan in hosting refugees from Palestine, Syria and other neighboring countries.

DPM/FM Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar delivered a Keynote Address at the conclusion of UN Peacekeeping Ministerial Preparatory Meeting, held in Islamabad.

He stressed the need for a renewed commitment to multilateralism, integrating technological solutions to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and to hold accountable perpetrators of attacks against the UN peacekeepers. He also paid tribute to Pakistan's illustrious and proud UN peacekeeping legacy.

Pakistan strongly condemns the bombing of the Baptist Hospital in Gaza by Israeli occupation forces. This attack, part of a pattern of targeting medical facilities, constitutes a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law. That it occurred on Palm Sunday, a sacred occasion for Christians, underscores Israel's blatant disregard for religious sanctity and civilian lives.

Pakistan demands an immediate end to Israel's ongoing atrocities, which have resulted in the indiscriminate killing of innocent and unarmed Palestinians, including women and children, and the systematic destruction of civilian infrastructure.

Israel's relentless assaults have crippled Gaza's healthcare system, depriving critically ill patients of vital medical care. Coupled with the blockade on humanitarian aid, these actions reflect a deliberate strategy to prolong suffering and entrench conflict.

Pakistan calls for an immediate halt to the hostilities by Israeli occupying forces and reiterates its support for the two-State solution, with a viable, independent and sovereign State of Palestine on pre-June 1967 borders with Al Quds Al Sharif as its capital.

Pakistan urges the international community to take decisive action to hold Israel accountable and protect Palestinian civilians from further violence.

We wish to set the record straight regarding remarks made by the Spokesperson of the Indian Ministry of External Affairs regarding Jammu and Kashmir, yesterday. India's arbitrary designation of the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir as its so-called Union Territory is null and void, ipso facto.

Jammu and Kashmir is an internationally recognized disputed territory whose final status is to be determined in accordance with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions and aspirations of the Kashmiri people. Rather than making baseless claims, India should vacate the large territories of Jammu and Kashmir under its forcible occupation for the last 77 years.

His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), will undertake an official visit to Pakistan from 20-21 April 2025.

The high-level visit reflects the deep-rooted, fraternal relations between Pakistan and the UAE, and underscores the two countries' shared commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation across all areas of mutual interest.

At the invitation of the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister, Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar, the Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the Republic of Rwanda, Ambassador Olivier J. P Nduhungirehe is visiting Pakistan from 21-22 April 2025. During the visit, Foreign Minister Nduhungirehe will be holding talks with the Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister.

Apart from calling on the Prime Minister and the Chairman Senate, the Foreign Minister of Republic of Rwanda will also have meetings with some key Federal Ministers. Foreign Minister Nduhungirehe will also officially inaugurate the High Commission of the Republic of Rwanda in Islamabad.

I thank you.

*

(Tahir Khan, NNI News Agency): You just announced Foreign Minister's visit to Kabul. My question is that is there any possibility of signing any agreement between the two countries. Because I have heard that progress took place on something after the visit of the Special Envoy to Kabul and also the Afghan Commerce Minister's visit to Pakistan. The second part of this question is about the JCC meeting. We have seen only two tweets from the Special Envoy. So, are there any details that you can share? Is there any possibility of signing of an agreement?

(Mateen Haider, GTV): As you mentioned that Pakistani FM will be meeting his Afghan counterpart and several other Afghan officials. Can you please share that whether the details of the Afghan nationals who cross over Pakistan through Pak-Afghan border and indulged in terrorist activities will be shared with the Afghan side and will Pakistan demand them to be handed over?

(Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): According to media reports investigations have revealed that an Afghan commander has been found involved in planning the attack on PAF Masroor Airbase Karachi. Moreover, Indian secret Agency has also been found involved in the attack. Your comments on this.

Spokesperson: First of all, this is part of our efforts to develop good positive relations with Afghanistan. As in my previous briefings, I have been emphasizing the kind of relations Pakistan desires between two neighbouring countries, which are bound together with so many layers of complementarities and commonalities. That's the kind of relationship. We want, good friendly neighbourly relations as it should be. You are aware of our concerns which have been articulated very clearly. The key concern remains centered on security. So when we say that the entire range of bilateral agenda will be covered, security would be covered and would be addressed there. Secondly about agreements, I do not have any details right now. It is a very important and significant visit and it reiterates our commitment to develop friendly, good neighbourly relations with Afghanistan. This is in line with the priority that we have given to this relationship. You rightly mentioned the visit of the Special Representative and then JCC meetings followed by the visit of Afghan Commerce Minister. These are all part of the process and efforts on both sides to improve relations and entire agenda of the bilateral relations will be covered during the visit.

About your specific question, I cannot comment on the operational issues but what I can say is that the question of sanctuaries and terrorism has been raised multiple times and we will keep raising it. We want to find an amicable solution to this challenge.

(Abdullah Momand, Dawn News): Bangladeshi Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin while addressing a press conference in Dhaka, following the talks between Pakistan and Bangladesh clearly raised historically unsettled issues with Pakistan including formal public apology for atrocities allegedly committed by Pakistani troops in 1971 during Bangladesh war of independent as well as 4.3 billion dollars in terms of pending dues. What are your comments on this?



(Salman Ali Awan, Bol News): The four issues highlighted by Bangladeshi FS, what is Pakistan's stance on them and will they be discussed in the upcoming Foreign Minister's visit to Bangladesh?

(Naveed Siddiqui, Business Recorder): Digital forces are actively propagating anti-Pakistan narrative on rapprochement with Bangladesh. What are your comments and there are reports of visit of Deputy Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Dhaka?

Spokesperson: What I can say as Naveed Sahab rightly mentioned here is torrent of fake news or sensational news by forces which I do not need to point out which are trying to undermine the growing reproachment between Pakistan and Bangladesh. But for record let me say: the Foreign Secretary level consultations took place in a very cordial and constructive atmosphere. The conduct of these consultations after a gap of 15 years is a testimony to the existing goodwill and cordiality between Pakistan and Bangladesh. Such misleading reports must not undermine the significance of this important development in bilateral relations. Some outstanding issues were indeed discussed during the consultations. However, both sides stated their respective positions on them in an environment of mutual understanding and respect.

Naveed Sahab's question about Deputy Prime Minister's visit, we will keep you informed as soon as dates are finalized and everything is put in place.

(Khalid Mahmood, Express News): Sir, as we know that Afghan Minister visited Pakistan, has Pakistan discussed about American weapons left in Afghanistan? Secondly, Ishaq Dar will be visiting Afghanistan tomorrow, will he discuss the same issue there?

Spokesperson: If you are referring sir to the Afghan Commerce Minister visit, I'll refer you to the Commerce Ministry and I just want to say it's a very important positive development in the Pakistan Afghan relations and both sides will discuss the entire agenda of bilateral relations.

(Aijaz Ahmed, GNN News): My question is regarding the recently held minerals forum and Pakistan U.S. relations. It is being said that amid trade war between China and America, major developments are going on which include America participating in the mineral summit which has apparently offended China. Pakistan has to take one side, what is our policy in this regard?

Spokesperson: Sir, about the details of this minerals forum, the technical details and information about related discussions, I'll refer you to the Ministry of Petroleum. China is our strategic partner, all-weather friend, it's a decades old strategic partnership between the two neighboring countries which is characterized by strong trust, mutual respect, and it is based on the UN charter principles. We also historically have strong relations with the U.S. and this is part of our efforts to have good relations with all countries of the world. There's no question of a binary choice. We follow policy of friendship that serves our interests well and defend our country. We believe that Pakistan Minerals Investment Forum provided a level playing field for investors across the globe to invest in minerals sector in Pakistan. More than 2000 participants attended the minerals forum, including 300 international delegates from the United States, China, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, Finland and Denmark. During the forum, several Chinese companies along with others attended the forum and expressed their interests in investments in mineral sectors.

(Mazhar Iqbal, Daily Sindh Post): Sir, if you are in position to brief us something about the diplomatic efforts going on there at the United States particularly to tackle reports of a law against some important personalities in Pakistan.

Spokesperson: I have earlier responded to this question in the past two to three briefings. We are interacting with the US government. The Deputy Prime Minister had two high-level telephone exchanges with the U.S. National Security Adviser and Secretary of State. Their conversations were very amiable, very amicable and forward looking. We look forward to further strengthening of Pakistan U.S. relations, which are decades old, and strengthened by the presence of a large Pakistani diaspora, which has done so well there. About individual Congressman's views or any statement, they issue, I don't comment on that.

(Namra Sohail, PTV News): Sir, Indian External Affairs Minister Jaishankar, has said that Pakistan is now trapped in its own web of terrorism, referring to security incidents in KPK and the Balochistan. So, what do you have to say about that?

And secondly, Prime Minister Modi has called Muslim youth Puncture makers in a recent statement, what are your comments regarding these views of the highest office holder of a country which calls itself a secular state. Thank you.

Spokesperson: About the second question, I find it extremely regrettable. All those involved in manual labour should be respected. However, mentioning an entire community in a derogatory manner, for us is yet another manifestation and proof of growing bigotry in India. That's what I can say.

And about the other question, Indian External Affairs Minister said a lot of things while addressing a university, including that there was no need to spend precious time over Pakistan and about terrorism and everything. It is lamentable that the Indian leadership at different levels continues to invoke Pakistan in their public discourse. The phenomena show an incredible obsession with Pakistan. The Indian External Affairs Minister's saying that he did not want to spend his precious time on Pakistan is particularly ironical as he keeps on discussing Pakistan every now and then. We also take strong exception to the Indian leaders continued diatribe in the context of terrorism. India's false narrative of victimhood cannot divert international attention from its own dismal human rights record and its involvement in terrorism and targeted assassinations in foreign territories.

(Anas Mallick, Capital TV): I think most of the questions on the Afghan visit have been answered. The visit of the Foreign Minister, the KP government, because this is a recurring question that has been asked from you, they have been saying that they've sent TORs terms of reference of engagement with the Afghan government to the Foreign Office. Is there someone from the KP government accompanying the Foreign Minister tomorrow for his visit? And will the matter of these US weapons that have been sold, allegedly sold, rather, as per BBC report, would that be taken up during the visit tomorrow, with the Afghan side? Thank you.

Spokesperson: About composition, let me check, because the visit has been finalized, and I do not have all the details, but let me check. My own understanding is that it is a functional visit with a heavy agenda, so all the relevant departments, technical experts are there. But I am not aware of whether anyone from KPK government is part of the delegation, or if there is a requirement for that.

About your specific question, what I can say at this point, as the curtain raiser also mentions all the issues on the bilateral agenda will be discussed in a very open manner. We look forward to it. The visit is a very important positive development in Pakistan-Afghan relations, and we hope it will pave the way for greater understanding and nurturing and rekindling of friendship and deepen relations between the two countries.

(Zeeshan Yousafzai, Dunya TV): I have two questions. It is being reported in International media that during Foreign Secretary's visit to Bangladesh, it was demanded that Pakistan will apologize to Bangladesh for alleged atrocities committed in 1971 war and that it will pay back some debt.

My second question is regarding US weapons left in Afghanistan. According to a recent report published by Afghan Taliban half of US weapons have disappeared. Disappearance of weapons was the biggest concern of Pakistan. Don't you think it is too late?

(Khawaja Nayyar Iqbal, Media Today): According to Washington Post's claim, American weapons were used in Jaffer Express attack. Your comments.

Spokesperson: Three questions are linked. All the issues on the bilateral agenda will be discussed during the Foreign Minister's visit.

About Mr. Mohmand's question, you have supporters here! I had had addressed that question and I will repeat it: some outstanding issues were indeed discussed during the consultations; however, both sides stated their respective positions on them in an environment of mutual understanding and respect.

(Khalid Mahmood, Express News): Shafqat Sahab, Saudi Arabia has banned Pakistanis for five to six months. What are your comments on this? What are the latest updates?

Secondly, 65,000 Hajis are facing problems. Did Pakistan take up this matter on high level with Saudi Arabia?

Spokesperson: Regarding your second question, Ministry of Religious Affairs is dealing with it. But I will still check. On both parts of your question, I will try to get the factual situation. I have seen a media report, that there is a list of 14 countries that they have temporarily stopped issuing visas for long term. It is not just Pakistan, but let me check the full details of that.

(Anwar Abbas, 24 News HD): I have two questions. Regarding Asif Merchant, it has been 1.5 years that America has neither provided information about Asif Merchant nor provided consular access to Asif Merchant. Will we take this matter to an International Court as it is the violation of Vienna Convention?

Secondly, has any evidence been found regarding India's involvement in Jaffar Express incident? Any details?

Spokesperson: About the Jaffar Express question, the operational matters and investigations are going on. I had explained in my first press conference after this tragic incident, that we have clear technical evidence that the perpetrators of this attack were in touch with their handlers in Afghanistan. But I had also emphasized that we have had proof of Indian deep involvement in fanning and promoting terrorism in Balochistan.

About Asif Merchant case, US side has not shared any data on Asif Merchant so far. We are awaiting response from the US Justice Department on this issue.

(Azaz Syed, Geo News): Several times we have been giving statements, the government have been issuing statements regarding BLA and TTP. You yourself have been issuing statements. So, what is the latest information? Where is Mufti Noor Wali Masood, right now? Where is Bashir Zeb, what is the information? What is their location? If you may share.

Spokesperson: This is a specific question of operational nature. I will try to get information and get back.

*

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Press release on Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov's telephone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio

17 April 2025 21:41

652-17-04-2025

On April 17, 2025, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had a telephone conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital. These discussions involved representatives from Ukraine, France, and several other European nations. It was underscored that these contacts were in alignment with the framework of ongoing consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent dialogue between President of Russia Vladimir Putin and Steve Witkoff in St Petersburg.

Sergey Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.

The Foreign Minister and Secretary of State concurred on the necessity to maintain prompt communication channels, particularly in light of forthcoming meetings scheduled by American and European officials with Ukrainian representatives next week.

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Secretary Rubio's Call with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov

US Department of State

Readout

Office of the Spokesperson

April 17, 2025

The below is attributable to Spokesperson Tammy Bruce:

Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The Secretary conveyed to his Russian counterpart the same message the U.S. team communicated to the Ukrainian delegation and our European allies in Paris: President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace. The encouraging reception in Paris to the U.S. framework shows that peace is possible if all parties commit to reaching an agreement.

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Lai calls for more trade, tech collaborations with U.S.

ROC Central News Agency

04/18/2025 08:54 PM

Taipei, April 18 (CNA) Taiwan looks forward to enhancing collaborations with the United States in areas such as trade and technology, President Lai Ching-te () said on Friday during a meeting with a visiting U.S. Congressional delegation.

Lai told the group led by U.S. Senator Pete Ricketts (R-NE) that such collaborations allow both sides to leverage their strengths and jointly promote prosperity and development.

Speaking at the Presidential Office in Taipei, the president called for a "secure and sustainable economic and trade partnership" between the two sides and joint efforts to build "non-red supply chains" -- manufacturing networks that operate independently of Chinese involvement -- to meet geopolitical and climate change challenges.

The American delegation, which is on a visit to Taiwan from Wednesday to Saturday, focused on security issues across the Taiwan Strait amid growing Chinese military intimidation, including a large-scale joint navy and air force exercise around Taiwan's main island on April 1.

"In the face of rising aggression from Communist China, we will help Taiwan with its self-defense ... We will continue to provide the services and tools that you need to be able to provide for your self-defense," Ricketts said.

Ricketts is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee's Subcommittee on East Asia, the Pacific, and International Cybersecurity Policy.

Senators Chris Coons (D-DE) and Ted Budd (R-NC) joined him in the meeting.

The U.S. is "committed to peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific," Ricketts said.

"We want to see peace across the Taiwan Strait; we oppose any unilateral change in the status of Taiwan," he added.

Coons, meanwhile, said the U.S. would be "present, will be engaged ... in ensuring that any dispute, any challenges across the Strait will be resolved peacefully and that Taiwan will have the resources it needs for its self-defense."

(By Lai Yu-chen and Teng Pei-ju)

Enditem/cs

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Mainland's Taiwan affairs official meets with former KMT chairperson

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 13:15, April 18, 2025

NANJING, April 17 (Xinhua) -- Chinese mainland official Song Tao met here on Thursday with a delegation led by Hung Hsiu-chu, former chairperson of the Chinese Kuomintang (KMT) party.

Song, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, stressed that despite the complex and challenging situation across the Taiwan Strait, the shared aspiration of compatriots on both sides for closer ties and more frequent exchanges remains unchanged.

The fundamental fact that both sides of the Strait belong to one China remains unchanged, and the historical trend that the two sides of the Strait must and will be reunified remains unchanged, he added.

Song reiterated that the mainland will adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 Consensus, firmly oppose "Taiwan independence" and external interference, safeguard peace and stability across the Strait, expand cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation and deepen integrated development.

Hung said that people on both sides of the Strait are all Chinese.

She expressed the hope that the two sides will jointly uphold the one-China principle, oppose "Taiwan independence," strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and work together toward the goal of national reunification and rejuvenation.

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Mainland urges Taiwan businesses to jointly resist external risks, challenges

People's Daily Online

(Xinhua) 14:48, April 18, 2025

NANJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese mainland official on Friday urged Taiwan business people and businesses to join hands in resisting external risks and challenges.

Song Tao, head of both the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, made the remarks during a meeting with representatives of Taiwan business people held in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province.

Song said the tariff war launched by the United States cannot alter the solid fundamentals, strong resilience, and long-term positive trajectory of the mainland's economy.

"We have the wisdom and capability to tackle and overcome all challenges. The mainland will always be a strong backing for Taiwan business people," he said.

The mainland will study and address the problems and difficulties faced by Taiwan business people and enterprises, introduce practical and effective policy measures, ensure equal treatment, increase support, and strengthen cross-Strait industrial and supply chain connectivity, Song said.

Song expressed the hope that Taiwan business people and enterprises will remain confident and forward-looking, actively engage in cross-Strait exchanges and cooperation, and work together to withstand external risks and challenges.

Representatives of Taiwan business people at the meeting said that the unfair tariffs imposed by the United States have seriously impacted the global trade order and brought certain pressure and influence on some export-oriented Taiwan enterprises.

The mainland's institutional advantages and economic resilience are the fundamental guarantees for resisting risks, they noted.

As the mainland also boasts a complete industrial system, a broad market space, and huge investment and consumption potential, Taiwan business people and enterprises are full of confidence in overcoming difficulties, with timely support from governments at all levels.

The representatives said that Taiwan businesses will actively participate in the cooperation and integrated development of industrial and supply chains across the Taiwan Strait, integrate into the new development pattern, and seek new and greater development opportunities and space.

They said the vast number of Taiwan-funded enterprises have always stood with the mainland, resolutely support the country's countermeasures against the United States, and are confident that they will win this tariff war together.

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Taiwan ruling party requires members to report China trips amid security concerns

The decision comes as Taipei investigates suspected Chinese infiltration of government aides.

By Alan Lu for RFA

2025.04.18

TAIPEI, Taiwan -- Taiwan's ruling party now requires its members to report their plans before visiting China, including Hong Kong and Macau, in response to growing concerns over Chinese espionage.

Taiwan and China have repeatedly accused each other of spying, with Taiwan arresting several individuals it claims were recruited by Beijing to gather intelligence or influence public opinion. Beijing typically denies any involvement in espionage activities targeting Taiwan, calling the accusations "groundless" or "politically motivated."

Lai Ching-te, Taiwan's president and chairman of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party, or DPP, announced Wednesday that all party members must now report in advance and submit a follow-up report if they travel to China or have contact with individuals linked to the Chinese government.

"Any betrayal of the party's core values for personal gain must be met with strict disciplinary action and the harshest legal consequences," Lai told the party's weekly meeting.

In addition to the requirement to report China visits, Lai also issued measures such as enhanced internal education for party members to strengthen awareness of national security and legal responsibilities. He also demanded stricter oversight of legislative and local council aides, with party caucuses tasked with developing specific protocols and training programs.

The moves follow recent Chinese espionage cases against the DPP.

According to Taiwan's law enforcement, a current presidential adviser and a former foreign ministry staffer are accused of working together to help DPP members recruited by China gather classified information, including details of Taiwan's president and vice president's official visits to diplomatic allies.

Apart from that, a former DPP aide at the Legislative Yuan, Taiwan's parliament, is suspected of receiving cash and cryptocurrency from Chinese intelligence agencies while abroad. He is reported to have provided classified information from the Legislative Yuan.

"The DPP is a natural target for infiltration," Lai said of the cases, pointing out that in recent years, some former party officials dramatically shifted their stance on national sovereignty after leaving office, which he sees as a reflection of China's long-term infiltration efforts.

Ho Cheng-Hui, the deputy secretary-general of Taiwan National Security Institute, said that conventional espionage cases involve top-tier officials such as a military general or a higher-up government official, but in Taiwan's recent cases, political aides have become a primary target.

With access to sensitive information, government officials are now potential risks, said Ho, adding that the administration's new measures are a step in the right direction, but "much broader reforms are still needed."

"Strict control over classified documents should be enforced, ensuring that only authorized individuals - ideally just one person - can view such materials," Ho told Radio Free Asia.

"Aides or secretaries should not be allowed access. Additionally, regular audits and random inspections should be implemented," said Ho, highlighting the need for comprehensive background checks and access control based on security clearance.

Ho also stressed the importance of "preventive measures."

"Focusing solely on punishment after incidents occur often means the damage has already been done," he explained.

Taiwan's Premier Cho Jung-tai said Thursday the government will strengthen national security by updating civil servant background checks. A proposal is expected within two weeks, with plans to refine vetting based on access to classified data and introduce regular or random reviews.

China sees Taiwan as a breakaway province that must eventually reunite, even by force if necessary, even though the democratic island has been self-governing since it effectively separated from mainland China in 1949 after the Chinese civil war.

Beijing views Lai, a pro-independence advocate, as a separatist and has increased military drills, economic pressure, and diplomatic isolation to counter his leadership.

Edited by Taejun Kang and Mike Firn.

Copyright 1998-2025, RFA. Used with the permission of Radio Free Asia, 2025 M St. NW, Suite 300, Washington DC 20036. For any commercial use of RFA content please send an email to: mahajanr@rfa.org. RFA content April not be used in a manner which would give the appearance of any endorsement of any product or support of any issue or political position. Please read the full text of our Terms of Use.

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PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

ROC Ministry of National Defense

2025/04/18

PLA activities in the waters and airspace around Taiwan

1.Date

6 a.m. Apr. 17 (Thu.) to 6 a.m. Apr. 18 (Fri.) (UTC+8)

2.PLA activities

11 sorties of PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN ships and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected as of 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. ROC Armed Forces have monitored the situation and employed CAP aircraft, Navy ships, and coastal missile systems in response to detected activities.

1140418_PLA activities

1140418_PLA air activities in the vicinity of Taiwan

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PM call with President Trump of the United States: 18 April 2025

Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke to the President of the United States Donald Trump.

18 April 2025

The Prime Minister spoke to the President of the United States Donald Trump this afternoon.

The leaders began by discussing the ongoing and productive discussions between the UK and US on trade. The Prime Minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest.

The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen.

They agreed to stay in touch.



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Readout of President Donald J. Trump's Call with Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom

Briefings & Statements

The White House

April 18, 2025

Today, President Donald J. Trump held a call with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. The two leaders discussed bilateral trade, ongoing talks to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution, and regional security in the Middle East. President Trump shared he looks forward to his upcoming State Visit with His Majesty King Charles III in the United Kingdom later this year.

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The arms and military equipment Germany is sending to Ukraine

Germany - Federal Government

Germany provides support for Ukraine by supplying equipment and weapons, these come from supplies of the Federal Arms Forces and from deliveries from industry financed from the Federal Government's funds for security capacity building. An overview.

Thursday, 17 April 2025

This list provides an overview of military assistance provided by the Federal Republic of Germany to Ukraine. This military assistance is delivered in two different ways: on the one hand there are the Federal Government funds for security capacity building, which are used to finance deliveries of military equipment and other material from industry. On the other hand, there are deliveries from Federal Armed Forces stocks. In total, the Federal Republic of Germany has so far provided or committed for future years military assistance with a value of approximately 28 billion euro.

Funds for the security capacity building initiative in 2024 alone for military assistance to Ukraine amount to approximately 7.1 billion euro. From these also Germany's contributions to the European Peace Facility of the European Union (EPF) are financed. From the EPF expenditures for military assistance to Ukraine can be re-imbursed to EU member states1. In addition to that there are authorisations to enter commitments in the following years currently amounting to approximately 6 billion euro.

So far already approximately 5 billion euro (2023) and approximately 1.6 billion euro (2022) were spent on military assistance to Ukraine. Additional approximately 2.9 billion euro have been committed in the first two years of the war for deliveries, which will arrive only in the years 2025 to 2028.

Since the beginning of the Russian armed attack on Ukraine on February 24, 2022 Germany has delivered material from Federal Armed Forces stocks amounting to approximately 5.2 billion euro reflecting estimated replacement values. Also, more than 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers have received military training in Germany. Expenses for this training so far amount to approximately 282 million euro. Additional expenses, not calculated here, result from medial treatment of injured soldiers.

Delivered military support to Ukraine:

(Changes compared to the previous update in bold)

Armoured fighting vehicles

269 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP)* (before: 203)

ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 2 (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

ammunition for main battle tank LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

103 main battle tanks LEOPARD 1 A5* with spare parts (joint project with Denmark)

140 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

78 tracked all-terrain vehicles Bandvagn 206 (BV206)*

11 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (command vehicle)*

158 MG3 for LEOPARD 2, MARDER and DACHS

5 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (repair and recovery vehicle)*

66 Armoured Personnel Carriers (APC)*

18 LEOPARD 2 A 6 main battle tanks with ammunition and spare parts (German share in joint project with further LEOPARD 2 operators)

50 MRAP vehicles DINGO

54 M113 armoured personnel carriers each with 2 MG and spare parts* (systems of Denmark, upgrades financed by Germany)

Air defence

16 Kinetic Defence Vehicle (Diehl Defence)* (before: 12)

330,000 rounds ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) (before: 292,000)

IRIS-T SLM missiles*

60 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD with spare parts

IRIS-T SLS missiles

6 air defence systems IRIS-T (SLM/SLS)*

4 PATRIOT launchers (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

16 air surveillance radar TRML-4D*

AIM-9L/I-1 Sidewinder missiles

Sea Sparrow missiles

3 air defence systems PATRIOT with spare parts

PATRIOT missiles

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

4,000 rounds practice ammunitions for self-propelled anti-aircraft guns

500 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STINGER

2,700 Man Portable Air Defense Systems STRELA

Artillery

9 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway) (before: 6)

454,000 rounds 155mm ammunition (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*) (before: 427,000)

24,000 rounds 122mm ammunition* (before: 23,000)

25 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000 with spare parts (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

7 howitzer tubes M109 155mm*

21,000 rounds 155mm smoke/illuminating ammunition

ammunition for multiple rocket launchers MARS II

3 multiple rocket launchers HIMARS

155mm precision guided ammunition* (SMArt, VULCANO)

5 multiple rocket launchers MARS II with ammunition (German share in joint project with USA and Great Britain)

20 rocket launchers 70mm on pick-up trucks with rockets*

counter battery radar system COBRA*

10 laser target designators and portable fire control modules for VULCANO artillery ammunition*

Drones and anti-drone systems

619 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts* (before: 549)

1,050 strike drones HF-1* (before: 900)

80 unmanned surface vessels* (before: 70)

30 tracked unmanned ground vehicles Gereon RCS*

49 drone detection systems*

684 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN*

211 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD*

46 reconnaissance drones HORNET XR*

60 reconnaissance drones Golden Eagle*

2 reconnaissance drones VT-4 Rochen*

200 mobile drone jammers*

88 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

70 frequency range extensions for anti-drone devices*

180 RF 360 fieldkits - drone detection systems*

93 drone sensors*

18 reconnaissance drones Primoco ONE*

1 LUNA NG reconnaissance system*

10 anti-drone guns*

12 electronic anti-drone devices*

Military Engineering Capabilities

28 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts* (before: 22)

65 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts* (before: 61)

81 mine ploughs* (before: 79)

200 portable mine clearing systems H-PEMBS*

material for explosive ordnance disposal (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

25 mobile, remote controlled and protected mine clearing systems*

27 bridge-laying tanks BEAVER with spare parts and 5 bridges*

90 mine detectors*

12 armoured engineer vehicles DACHS with spare parts*

6 High Mobility Engineer Excavators

500 tool kits with blasting material*

19 heavy and medium bridge systems and 12 trailers

2 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 3

12 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

Protective and Special Equipment

123 ground surveillance radars* (before: 82)

1,508 laser range finders * (before: 1,321)

347 infrared binoculars* (before: 255)

100 underwater scooter * (before: 45)

290 border protection vehicles* (before: 287)

230 field glasses*

15 air assault vehicles Caracal*

15 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

52 mobile antenna mast systems*

58,000 combat helmets

331SatCom terminals*

750 night vision goggles*

IT equipment*

2,000 LED lamps*

84 outboard motors

400 IR cameras*

3 Satcom surveillance systems*

1 naval mine clearance system*

2,667 Crypto Phones*

90,600 safety glasses (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

1 PCB printer*

1 antenna hub station

1,288 binoculars

5 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

10 radio jammers*

40 laser target designators*

1 radio frequency system

3,000 field telephones with 5.000 cable reels and carrying straps

1 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

6 mobile decontamination vehicles HEP 70 including decontamination material

10 HMMWV (8x ground radar capability, 2x jamming/anti drone capability)*

1 high frequency unit with equipment*

Logistics

262 trucks Zetros*

78 tankers Zetros*

24 tank transporter tractor M1070 Oshkosh*

473 vehicles (trucks, minibuses, all-terrain vehicles) (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

181 Pick-ups*

40 protected vehicles*

90 truck tractor trains 8x8 HX81 and 90 semi-trailers*

25 trucks MAN TGS*

46 load-handling trucks and roll of containers*

34 load-handling trucks 15t*

14 tracked and remote controlled infantry vehicles THeMIS*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

16,917 man-portable anti-tank weapons RGW 90* (before: 16,000)

3,769 assault rifles G3

5,800 assault rifles MK 556* (before: 5,000)

493,400 tourniquets (before: 343.400)

15,300 sleeping bags (before: 14,766)

4,750 assault rifles HK 416*

1,420,000 first aid kits*

34,000 120mm mortar ammunition*

467,000 rounds ammunition 40mm*

450 machine guns MG5*

484 precision rifles HLR 338 with 314,000 rounds ammunition*

881 rifles CR 308*

73 assault rifles AK-47

more than 60 million rounds of ammunition for fire arms (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

88.400 wool blankets

370,000 chest seals*

19,480 anti-tank mines (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

220 grenade launchers GMG*

200 machine guns MG4*

emergency power generators

250 tents

1 million trauma bandages*

3,500 pistols SFP9*

110 machine gun MG3 with 500 spare barrels and breechblocks

2 field hospitals*

93,000 smoke grenades*

100,000 m detonating cord and 115.000 detonators

rescue boats*

6.132 camouflage nets (from Bundeswehr and industry stocks*)

6,000 ponchos*

450 snow chains

205,000 single module group rations

medical material

10 All Terrain Tracked Carrier Warthog (ambulance)

49 ambulances*

30,000 winter clothing sets

27,477 backpacks

1,202 Infusion kits

8 dental sterilizers

2 hangar tents*

8 lift trucks*

295 generators

168 mobile heating systems*

Mi-24 spare parts*

spare parts for heavy machine gun M2

116,000 winter jackets

80,000 winter trousers

240,000 winter hats

320,000 pre-packaged military Meals Ready

67 fridges for medical material*

3,000 anti-tank weapons Panzerfaust 3 with 900 firing devices

50 Bunkerfaust with 15 firing devices

100,000 hand grenades

5,300 explosive charges

350,000 detonators

100 auto-injector devices

15 palettes military clothing

1,200 hospital beds

18 palettes medical material, 60 surgical lights

protective clothing, surgical masks

1 field hospital (project jointly financed with Estonia)*

Diesel and gasoline*

10 tons AdBlue*

500 medical gauzes*

MiG-29 spare parts*

Military support to Ukraine in planning/in execution

(due to security concerns, the Federal Government abstains from providing details on transportation modalities and dates until after handover)

Armoured fighting vehicles

25 infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

9 AiTO30 FDC (wheeled infantry fighting vehicle RCT-30 with mobile fire direction center)*

131 Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAP)*

22 LEOPARD 1 A5 main battle tanks* (inter alia joint project with Denmark and the Netherlands)

ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 2*

ammunition for main battle tanks for LEOPARD 1*

ammunition for infantry fighting vehicles MARDER*

Air defence

10 air defence systems IRIS-T (SLM/SLS)* (before: 6)

IRIS-T SLM/SLS missiles*

PATRIOT missiles

120 Man Portable Air Defense Systems IGLA*

2 PATRIOT launcher*

10 self-propelled anti-aircraft guns GEPARD*

2 air defence systems SKYNEX with ammunition*

GEPARD ammunition*

Artillery

more than 200,000 projectiles 155mm*

54 wheeled self-propelled howitzers RCH 155*

19 self-propelled howitzers Panzerhaubitze 2000*

more than 100,000 projectiles 122mm*

7 wheeled self-propelled howitzer Zuzana 2* (project jointly financed with Denmark and Norway)

Drones and counter-UAV systems

316 reconnaissance drones VECTOR*

30 reconnaissance drones RQ-35 HEIDRUN*

21 anti-drone sensors and jammers*

2.950 strike drones HF-1

332 reconnaissance drones SONGBIRD*

40 drone detection systems*

Helicopter

6 Sea King Mk41 multi-role helicopters with spare parts

4 AMPS self-protection systems for helicopters*

Military Engineering Capabilities

5 armoured recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2*

material for explosive ordnance disposal*

2 mobile and protected mine clearing systems Ahlmann*

Protective and Special Equipment

1,100 ground surveillance radars*

92 laser range finders*

1,660 combat helmets*

10,000 safety glasses*

10 mobile reconnaissance systems SurveilSPIRE*

110 border protection vehicles*

11 communications electronic scanner/jammer systems*

Logistics

20 Zetros refrigerator trucks*

1 load-handling trucks 8x6 with 7 roll of containers*

2 tractors and 4 trailers*

Combat Readiness and Survivability

8,000 man-portable anti-tank weapons*

3.420 anti-tank mines PARM*

84,000 rounds ammunition 40mm*

39 CR 308

16 precision rifles HLR 338*

* Deliveries from industry stocks financed by German funds for security capacity building. Some of the deliveries require upgrades or productions is ongoing; also training measures take place.

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China rejects groundless accusations, political manipulation over Zelensky's claim of arming Russia

Global Times

By Chen Qingqing Published: Apr 18, 2025 04:00 PM

In response to an inquiry about a Reuters report that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed that China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia, the first time he has openly accused Beijing of direct military assistance for Moscow, the Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that China's position on the Ukraine issue remains consistent and clear.

"We have worked actively for a ceasefire and to promote peace talks. We have never provided lethal weapons to any party to the conflict, and strictly controlled the export of dual-use items," Lin said on Friday's press briefing.

Ukraine knows that clearly and has said publicly that most of Russia's imported military components came from the US and other Western countries. China firmly opposes groundless accusations and political manipulation, said Lin.

Weapons are directly used on the battlefield, while gunpowder is a dual-use item, meaning it can be used for both military and civilian purposes, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military affairs expert, told the Global Times on Friday.

"China strictly controls the export of both types of items. The Chinese government has long made it clear that it will not provide weapons or any dual-use items, including gunpowder, to either side in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This position has been consistent and unwavering," Song noted.

Song pointed out that the root cause behind such accusations could be the unfavorable situation on the battlefield for Ukraine.

Russian forces are trying out a new tactic of larger-scale assaults involving several hundred troops, Reuters reported, citing Ukraine's military.

The change signals a possible break with the tactics which Russia has leant on for over two years, sending in tiny groups of infantry to seep slowly through Ukrainian lines, according to Reuters.

Meanwhile, Ukraine said on Thursday that Kiev and Washington had signed a memorandum as an initial step toward clinching an agreement on developing mineral resources in Ukraine, and US President Donald Trump said the accord could be signed next week, Reuters reported on Friday.

The Ukrainian side has been facing mounting pressure to reach a deal with the US, which may also have led to such groundless accusations against China, as it might be a way for the country to gain more support from Western countries, especially by pressuring the US, Cui Heng, a scholar from the Shanghai-based China National Institute for SCO International Exchange and Judicial Cooperation, told the Global Times on Friday.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned on Friday that if it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, the US needs to abandon its efforts within "days" and move on, CNN reported.

In recent years, China has introduced a series of measures on export control of dual-use items. One of the recent measures includes the regulations that came into effect on December 1, 2024. The regulations include detailed measures for license management, control list and supervision of export control of dual-use items, as reported by the Xinhua News Agency.

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China dismisses Ukraine's allegation of weapon supplies to Russia as 'groundless'

Iran Press TV

Friday, 18 April 2025 3:17 PM

China has rejected as "groundless" Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's allegations of supplying weapons to Russia.

In a press conference in Beijing on Friday, China's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian said China had never made lethal weapons available to any party in the Ukraine crisis, adding that the country is a neutral party to the conflict.

"China's position on the Ukrainian issue has always been clear," he said. "It has been actively committed to promoting a ceasefire and ending the conflict, as well as encouraging peace talks."

Lin made the comments a day after Volodymyr Zelensky accused the country of providing Russia with weapons, including gunpowder and artillery.

In a similar move last week, Zelensky accused China of deploying 155 soldiers to assist Russia in the conflict, claiming Russia was "dragging China into this war."

China responded to the accusations, suggesting that any Chinese nationals fighting in Ukraine may have done so independently.

China's foreign ministry warned "relevant parties" in the Russia-Ukraine conflict to "refrain from expressing irresponsible remarks."

"I would like to reiterate that China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party," Lin said last week. "We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis."

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Rubio Signals Impatience In Ukraine Talks; Says US 'Ready To Move On'

By RFE/RL April 18, 2025

The United States' top diplomat signaled impatience with European officials as two days of talks to find a resolution to the Ukraine conflict wrapped up.

The April 18 comments by Secretary of State Marco Rubio came as Russia continued to pound Ukrainian targets, including the country's second largest city, Kharkiv, where a missile strike wounded dozens of people.

Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, released the text of an agreement that would pave the way for US companies to invest in Ukraine's valuable mineral resources.

Ukrainian and US negotiators have struggled to agree on a deal, and a White House meeting between President Donald Trump and Ukraine's Volodymyr Zelenskyy in February imploded in acrimonious accusations.

Rubio met in Paris with top European officials amid efforts to find a resolution to Russia's war on Ukraine, which is now in its fourth year.

He was joined by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff who met with Russian leader Vladimir Putin last week for what he described as five hours of talks. Witkoff has met three times with Putin, Rubio said.

After a phone call in February, Trump and Putin announced intentions to start direct peace talks, something Trump's predecessor, Joe Biden, had avoided since the start of the Russian invasion.

The US push for direct talks with Moscow has worried European officials, who fear Ukraine could end up at a disadvantage in any final agreement between Washington and Moscow.

Speaking to reporters as he departed Paris, Rubio said the United States will walk away from trying to broker a peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that a deal can be done.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end," he said. "We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on."

"If it is, we're in," he said. "If it's not, then... we have other priorities to focus on as well."

"The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it's not our war," Rubio said.

European officials had been "very helpful and constructive with their ideas," Rubio also said.

"We'd like them to remain engaged.... I think the UK and France and Germany can help us move the ball on this and then get this closer to a resolution," he said.

Rubio's comments highlight growing frustrations in the White House over the lack of progress on the Ukraine conflict. During his election campaign, Trump pledged to end the war within his first 24 hours in the White House.

Asked to confirm what Rubio had said, Trump told reporters at the White House that Rubio was right: the United States will "take a pass" on brokering further Ukraine war talks unless there is quick progress from Moscow and Kyiv.

When asked how quick progress must be, Trump said there was "no specific number of days" and added: "Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'You're foolish. You're fools. You're horrible people' -- and we're going to just take a pass," Trump said. "But hopefully we won't have to do that."

Rubio also said he spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov after the Paris talks and had told him they had been constructive.

That upbeat tone was reflected in the State Department readout of the April 17 phone call between the two diplomats.

In its readout, however, the Russian Foreign Ministry again mentioned the phrase "root causes of the Ukraine crisis."

That's a term that Putin himself has used repeatedly, referring to wider geopolitical issues not directly connected to the invasion: for example, NATO's expansion in Europe, or Ukraine's overall sovereignty.

Russia has conditioned its agreement to a cease-fire on Ukraine halting its mobilization efforts and an end to Western arms supplies, both of which have been rejected by Ukraine.

Speaking during a visit to Rome, US Vice President JD Vance sounded a more upbeat note about the state of talks.

"Since there are the negotiations I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close," he said as he met with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Separately, Ukrainian officials on April 18 released the text of a agreement on access to Ukraine's valuable mineral resources, including rare earths.

Kyiv and Washington have been trying to agree on a deal that Trump says would allow Ukraine to compensate for billions of dollars in US weaponry supplied over the course of the war.

An attempt to sign a pact in February collapsed in acrimony, after Zelenskyy clashed with Trump and Vance in the Oval Office.

The text of the memorandum lays out an economic partnership deal with the United States and setting up an investment fund for Ukraine's post-war reconstruction. Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said officials would travel to Washington next week to formally sign the deal.

In addition to Kharkiv, Russian strikes also targeted a bakery in the northern town of Sumy, less than a week after a deadly Palm Sunday strike. Prosecutors said the April 18 strike left one person dead and another wounded.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service

Source: https://www.rferl.org/a/rubio-russia-ukraine-peace- talks-europeans-paris/33389235.html

Copyright (c) 2025. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.

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Russian Forces Liberate Valentinovka in Donetsk People's Republic

Sputnik News

20250418

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russia's Battlegroup Yug has taken control of the settlement of Valentinovka, in the Donetsk People's Republic, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The settlements of Kalinovo and Valentinovka in the Donetsk People's Republic were liberated by active actions of the units of Battlegroup Yug," the ministry said in a statement.

The Ukrainian military has lost over 1,020 soldiers and a tank in battles with Russia's Battlegroup Vostok over the past week, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Friday.

"The units of Battlegroup Vostok group continued to advance deep into the enemy's defenses. ... The enemy lost more than 1,020 servicemen, a tank, eight armored combat vehicles, 20 vehicles, 18 field artillery guns, three of them produced in NATO countries, as well as four electronic warfare stations," the ministry said in a statement.

Russia's Battlegroup Yug has eliminated more than 2,170 Ukrainian military personnel, while Battlegroup Tsentr has eliminated over 2,680 Ukrainian soldiers and two tanks and taken control over the villages of Yelizovetovka and Preobrazhenka in the Donetsk People's Republic, the ministry added.

In battles with Russia's Battlegroup Sever, Kiev lost over 1,900 soldiers, while 64 of them surrendered, the ministry also said, adding that Battlegroup Zapad eliminated over 1,730 Ukrainian soldiers.

"The units of Battlegroup Dnepr of forces took more favorable lines and positions. They eliminated the manpower and equipment of three mechanized mountain assault brigades, three Ukrainian coastal defense brigades, and three territorial defense brigades. The Ukrainian armed forces lost over 540 servicemen, four armored combat vehicles, and 56 vehicles. A US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher, 12 field artillery guns, nine electronic warfare and counter-battery stations, and 16 ammunition depots were also destroyed," the statement read.

 Sputnik

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Lavrov, Rubio Hold Phone Call on Ukraine Conflict

Sputnik News

20250418

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced.

The Secretary of State informed the Minister about his contacts with Ukraine, France, and several other European countries, which he had with Witkoff.

It was emphasized that these contacts were part of consultations between Washington and Moscow, including the recent conversation between President Putin and Witkoff in St. Petersburg.

Lavrov confirmed Moscow's readiness to continue joint work with American colleagues to reliably eliminate the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.

 Sputnik

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Centers for National Resistance Training to Open in Every Region of Ukraine

President of Ukraine

18 April 2025 - 14:09

Centers dedicated to preparing citizens for national resistance will soon be operational in every region of Ukraine. The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution outlining the procedures for establishing and operating these centers, along with the requirements governing their activities.

This initiative follows a directive issued by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a meeting with representatives of civil society.

The document was developed under the coordination of Deputy Head of the Office of the President Iryna Vereshchuk. Working sessions included representatives from the Ministry of Defense, the General Staff of the Armed Forces, the Territorial Defense Forces, regional military administrations, as well as civil society and volunteer organizations.

Center heads will be appointed by regional councils based on nominations from regional military administrations, which will also be responsible for oversight, monitoring, and quarterly reporting to the Ministry of Defense.

The Territorial Defense Forces will approve a standardized training program, and the centers' leadership and instructors will primarily be selected from among military veterans. Instructors for national resistance will undergo training and certification at higher education military institutions.

"The preparation of civilians to resist the enemy is an integral component of our defense capability and one of the factors in deterring the enemy. It is also a driving force behind societal resilience and unity," emphasized Iryna Vereshchuk.

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NEW YORK, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of Edison International (NYSE: EIX) between February 25, 2021 and February 6, 2025, both dates inclusive (the Class Period), of the important April 21, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline in the securities class action first filed by the Firm.

SO WHAT: If you purchased Edison securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than April 21, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs Bar. Many of the firms attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made materially false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Edisons claim that Southern California Edison Company (SCE) used its Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) program to proactively de-energize power lines to mitigate the risk of catastrophic wildfires during extreme weather events, was false; (2) this resulted in heightened fire risk in California and heightened legal exposure to Edison; and (3) as a result, defendants statements about Edisons business, operations, and prospects, were materially false and misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis at all relevant times. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Edison class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=33590 call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investors ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm or on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

case@rosenlegal.com

www.rosenlegal.com
SINGAPORE, April 18, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- General Omi Beef Trading Co., Ltd., a trading company specializing in Omi beef, exports Omi beef from Shiga Prefecture to Singapore through its own business and will further spread the Omi beef brand through a wholly owned subsidiary.

OMIGYU TRADING SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., a wholly owned subsidiary of General Omi Beef Trading Co., Ltd. (Head office: Moriyama City, Shiga Prefecture / CEO: Takaoki Nishino), opened its first franchise store, "STEAK SUDAKU" Telok Ayer store (3 Boon Tat St) on Monday, April 14, 2025.

[STEAK SUDAKU]

"STEAK SUDAKU" is a fast-casual restaurant with Omi beef steaks as its main product, and offers quick delivery and service. The new brand name "Sudaku" has the following meaning, and is a coined word using Chinese simplified characters that is similar in sound and meaning to the Japanese word "Sudaku (gather)".

-Xi: joy, enjoy

-Da: achieve

-Ju: gather

The meaning behind "Sudaku": A place where people can gather and have fun.

[Store details]

Store name: Steak Sudaku Telok Ayer

Address: 3 Boon Tat St, Singapore 069612

Opening hours: 11:00-15:00 (last orders 14:30) 17:00-21:00 (last orders 20:30)

Opening date: Monday, April 14, 2025

Instagram: @steak_sudaku_telok_ayer

[To apply for a franchise]

Application URL: https://forms.gle/2U7hCBbxvhhZUM8Q8

[Company information]

Company name: OMIGYU TRADING SINGAPORE PTE.LTD.

Head office: 20 COLLYER QUAY #12-06 20 COLLYER QUAY SINGAPORE 049-319

Business: Import business, restaurant business, franchise business

RALPH POH

P.RALPH@OMIGYUCORP.CO.JP
NEW YORK, April 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Leading securities law firm Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP announces that a lawsuit has been filed against Atkore Inc. (NYSE: ATKR) and certain of the Companys senior executives for potential violations of the federal securities laws.

If you invested in Atkore, you are encouraged to obtain additional information by visiting https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc.

Investors have until April 23, 2025, to ask the Court to be appointed to lead the case. The complaint asserts claims under Sections 10(b) and 20(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 on behalf of investors who purchased Atkore stock. The case is pending in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois and is captioned Westchester Putnam Counties Heavy & Highway Laborers Local 60 Benefits Fund v. Atkore Inc., et al., No. 25-cv-01851.

Why was Atkore Sued for Securities Fraud?

Atkore manufactures electrical, safety, and infrastructure products including polyvinyl chloride water and electrical conduit pipes (PVC Pipe). During the COVID-19 pandemic, shipping costs rose dramatically, leaving foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers unable to profitably sell PVC Pipe in the U.S. As shipping prices returned to normal when the pandemic subsided in 2022, foreign PVC Pipe manufacturers gradually returned to the U.S. market. Shortly thereafter, in late 2022, the price of PVC Pipe began to decline.

As alleged, Atkore repeatedly misrepresented that post-pandemic PVC Pipe price declines were the result of pricing normalization that reflected competitive dynamics and assured investors that the Company would continue to successfully compete in the post-COVID-19 market.

On July 24, 2024, an activist investor named ManBear published a report titled Pipe Price Fixing which accused Atkore and three of its competitors of using the commodity pricing service OPIS to coordinate pricing actions and fix the price of PVC Pipe.

In truth, it is alleged that Atkore engaged in an anticompetitive price-fixing scheme that artificially inflated the price of PVC Pipes.

The Stock Declines as the Truth is Revealed

On February 4, 2025, Atkore announced disappointing earnings and reduced guidance, disclosing that the plastic pipe and conduit product category declined mid-single digits during the quarter compared to high single digits in the prior year, and largely attributed the guidance reduction to Atkores PVC Pipe business, stating, roughly $75 million or 3/4 [of the guidance reduction] is on the PVC side. This news caused the price of Atkore stock to decline nearly 20%, from $79.72 per share on February 3, 2025 to $64.13 per share on February 4, 2025.

On February 14, 2025, Atkore disclosed that it received a grand jury subpoena from the U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division seeking the production of documents relating to the pricing of the Companys PVC pipe and conduit products.

Click here if you suffered losses: https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc.

What Can You Do?

If you invested in Atkore you may have legal options and are encouraged to submit your information to the firm.

All representation is on a contingency fee basis, there is no cost to you. Shareholders are not responsible for any court costs or expenses of litigation. The firm will seek court approval for any potential fees and expenses.

Submit your information by visiting:

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc

Or contact:

Ross Shikowitz

ross@bfalaw.com

212-789-3619

Why Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP?

Bleichmar Fonti & Auld LLP is a leading international law firm representing plaintiffs in securities class actions and shareholder litigation. It was named among the Top 5 plaintiff law firms by ISS SCAS in 2023 and its attorneys have been named Titans of the Plaintiffs Bar by Law360 and SuperLawyers by Thompson Reuters. Among its recent notable successes, BFA recovered over $900 million in value from Tesla, Inc.s Board of Directors, as well as $420 million from Teva Pharmaceutical Ind. Ltd.

For more information about BFA and its attorneys, please visit https://www.bfalaw.com.

https://www.bfalaw.com/cases-investigations/atkore-inc

Attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.
ZURICH, Switzerland, April 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The $XPL presale is entering its final 48 hours, and the energy is electric across the XRP community. With the countdown now measured in hours, not daysthe remaining allocation is being claimed at a record pace, and the presale page is witnessing its highest activity since launch.

XploraDEX is rewriting the playbook for decentralized exchanges by integrating artificial intelligence into every layer of the trading experience. This isnt just another DEXits a full-fledged, AI-powered trading ecosystem custom-built for XRPL. And now, the opportunity to get in before launch is almost gone.

Purchase $XPL Token

Over the past few weeks, XploraDEX has drawn massive attention for its innovative approach. AI-powered trade signals, automated execution, personalized dashboards, and strategic portfolio optimization are just some of the tools that will empower traders to outmaneuver volatile markets.

What makes $XPL Token stand out isnt just the techits the timing. With XRPs ecosystem evolving rapidly, XploraDEX arrives at a pivotal moment when traders are seeking smarter tools, faster performance, and more control over their strategies.

Heres what early $XPL backers are getting access to:

First access to AI features at launch

Discounted trading fees across all pairs

Entry into exclusive staking programs

Priority whitelist for future token offerings via Launchpad

Voting rights in protocol governance decisions





Join $XPL Presale Round

As of this announcement, over 85% of the presale allocation has been claimed. High-volume wallets have increased their buying pressure in anticipation of the listing, while thousands of smaller wallets have also joined, signaling a wave of grassroots support.

The $XPL Presale isnt just about buying earlyits about entering a DeFi project that brings actual innovation to the XRPL landscape. And with platform rollout set to begin shortly after the presale ends, early buyers will be at the forefront of one of the most technologically advanced launches on XRPL to date.

Participate in $XPL Presale

There are 48 hours left on the clock. After that, $XPL will go public at a higher price, and the early-entry advantages will be gone. If youve been considering your entrythis is your last, best chance to do it before the rest of the market catches up.

Join the $XPL Presale While Its Still Open: https://sale.xploradex.io

For Live Updates & Community Buzz: Website | $XPL Token Presale | X | Telegram

Contact:

Oliver Muller

oliver@xploradex.io

contact@xploradex.io

Disclaimer: This press release is provided by the XploraDEX. The statements, views, and opinions expressed in this content are solely those of the content provider and do not necessarily reflect the views of this media platform or its publisher. We do not endorse, verify, or guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of any information presented. We do not guarantee any claims, statements, or promises made in this article. This content is for informational purposes only and should not be considered financial, investment, or trading advice.

Investing in crypto and mining-related opportunities involves significant risks, including the potential loss of capital. It is possible to lose all your capital. These products may not be suitable for everyone, and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved. Seek independent advice if necessary. Speculate only with funds that you can afford to lose. Readers are strongly encouraged to conduct their own research and consult with a qualified financial advisor before making any investment decisions. However, due to the inherently speculative nature of the blockchain sectorincluding cryptocurrency, NFTs, and miningcomplete accuracy cannot always be guaranteed.

Neither the media platform nor the publisher shall be held responsible for any fraudulent activities, misrepresentations, or financial losses arising from the content of this press release. In the event of any legal claims or charges against this article, we accept no liability or responsibility.

Legal Disclaimer: This media platform provides the content of this article on an "as-is" basis, without any warranties or representations of any kind, express or implied. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies, errors, or omissions. We do not assume any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information presented herein. Any concerns, complaints, or copyright issues related to this article should be directed to the content provider mentioned above.

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/0545d2e8-bb84-47e1-bd67-166232904fa0
WASHINGTON, April 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to former CIA advisor and global financial strategist Jim Rickards, one of the most consequential laws in American history has never been repealed, rewrittenor used.

That may be about to change.

Rickards says a forgotten piece of federal legal code first introduced during the 42nd Congress following the Civil Warmay soon be revived, thanks to a Supreme Court decision in 2024 that rebalanced the regulatory power of U.S. agencies.

Its still on the books, Rickards says. But for more than a century, its been locked behind red tape. Until now.

A Law That Was Never RescindedJust Restricted

The legal section in question resides within Title 30 of the U.S. Code . Originally designed to manage the growth and use of Americas vast public lands, the policy was quietly shelvedtrapped under modern regulatory barriers and agency discretion.

You can go read the sections22 to 42 to be exact, Rickards explains. Its pretty dry stuff. But the implications are massive.

No one ever deleted the mechanism. They just stopped letting anyone use it.

Rickards believes this overlooked policy may represent one of the most significant untapped opportunities in modern U.S. history.

The Chevron Doctrine Comes Down  and the Locks May Come Off

In 2024, the Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine a decades-old precedent that gave federal agencies wide authority to interpret laws without court oversight. Rickards says this decision effectively disables the firewall that had restricted access to this 19th-century legal pathway.

Trumps Supreme Court overturned the Chevron Doctrine, Rickards says. It essentially gave so-called government experts kill shot power. But thats over now.

Now for the first time in half a century  we can go get [these resources]!

What This Law Actually Unlocks

The statute, Rickards explains, doesnt control financial assets or currencyit governs what lies beneath the surface of federally controlled U.S. land. Copper, lithium, silver, and other high-demand materials are embedded across the western U.S., sitting idle under legal structures never fully implemented.

We have all these essential materials right under our feet, Rickards says. And yet, were the only nation that locks them up.

About Jim Rickards

Jim Rickards is a lawyer, economist, and former advisor to the CIA, Pentagon, and U.S. Treasury. Over the past four decades, he has helped shape global financial strategy, advised on geopolitical threats, and authored six bestselling books, including Currency Wars and The Road to Ruin. He is widely regarded as a leading authority on hidden legal and economic levers inside the U.S. system.
New York City, April 19, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) --

Toenail fungus, medically known as onychomycosis, is more than just a cosmetic concern. It's a persistent issue that affects millions of individuals across the globe, causing discomfort, embarrassment, and recurring infections that are difficult to manage with traditional remedies. The frustration of dealing with yellow, thick, brittle nails  especially when treatments fail  can take a toll on confidence and overall wellness. We understand this struggle.

Over-the-counter creams, harsh oral medications, and risky surgical procedures have long dominated the toenail fungus treatment space. Yet, they often come with limited effectiveness or serious side effects. For many, the cycle of fungal regrowth and disappointment never seems to end.

This is where the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device steps in as a game-changing alternative. Using low-level laser therapy (LLLT), a clinically validated and non-invasive light-based solution, Lumonail brings next-generation nail care directly to your home. With its advanced technology, ease of use, and impressive results, Lumonail is quickly becoming one of the most talked-about devices for resolving persistent fungal infections from the root. Its safety and effectiveness will give you the reassurance you need.

In this comprehensive review, we will explore the underlying causes of toenail fungus, why traditional options fall short, and how Lumonail stands out in the crowded space of at-home treatments. You'll also learn about the science behind LLLT, real-world testimonials, how it compares to competitors, and all the essential purchasing details. Armed with this knowledge, you'll be empowered to make an informed decision about your nail health.

If you're tired of hiding your toes and are ready to experience pain-free, fungus-free nails with a safe, doctor-recommended solution, this guide is your first step. Don't let toenail fungus control your life any longer. Consider purchasing the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device today and take the first step towards healthier nails.

Understanding Toenail Fungus

What Is Toenail Fungus and Why Is It So Common?

Onychomycosis, commonly known as toenail fungus, is a prevalent condition caused by fungal organisms called dermatophytes. These microscopic fungi thrive in warm, moist environments such as shoes, public showers, gyms, and swimming pools. Once they invade the nail bed, they feed on keratin, the protein that forms the nails structure, causing discoloration, thickening, brittleness, and even painful detachment of the nail in severe cases.

It often starts subtly: a small white or yellow spot under the tip of the toenail. Over time, it can progress, distorting the shape of the nail, emitting odor, and spreading to surrounding nails and skin. Many people dont seek help until it becomes visibly noticeable, which can allow the fungus to take deeper root and become much harder to eliminate.

Why Are So Many Treatments Ineffective?

Despite the abundance of creams, polishes, powders, and oral antifungal medications, toenail fungus remains notoriously hard to treat. Topical options often struggle to penetrate the thick, hardened nail plate and reach the source of the infection. Meanwhile, oral medications like terbinafine can come with liver-damaging side effects and may require extended treatment cycles, yet still have a high relapse rate.

Even prescription solutions frequently require months of application and follow strict hygiene protocols to be effective  a frustrating experience for anyone looking for simple relief.

Whats worse is that untreated or undertreated fungal infections can persist for years, spread to fingernails or other areas, and contribute to long-term nail damage or secondary infections, particularly in those with diabetes or poor circulation.

The Hidden Toll of Toenail Fungus

Aside from the physical symptoms, the emotional toll of nail fungus is significant. Embarrassment about foot appearance can lead to reduced confidence in social settings, hesitancy to wear sandals or open-toe shoes, and even a loss of motivation to maintain foot hygiene. This can spiral into a cycle of neglect, which further allows the condition to worsen.

Many sufferers report feeling stuck between inadequate home remedies and risky pharmaceuticals, never quite achieving the clear, healthy nails they desire.

Why Theres a Growing Need for a Modern, Non-Invasive Solution

As awareness grows about the drawbacks of chemical treatments, there's been a surge of interest in safer, device-based alternatives  especially those utilizing emerging technologies like light therapy. Low-level laser therapy (LLLT), in particular, is gaining traction for its ability to deliver results without harming surrounding skin or requiring the use of systemic drugs.

Thats where Lumonail shines. Its designed specifically to address the core issues of traditional fungus treatments  lack of penetration, lengthy regimens, and unwanted side effects. Lumonail stands out with its painless, drug-free protocol that users can apply at home, making it a convenient and effective solution for toenail fungus.

Tired of hiding your feet? Take control of nail fungus the safe, painless way with Lumonail. Order now and see clearer, healthier nails in just weeks!

Introducing Lumonail: A Breakthrough in Nail Fungus Treatment

What Is the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device?

The Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device is an innovative at-home treatment solution designed to tackle nail fungus using low-level laser therapy (LLLT). Unlike conventional antifungal products that only treat the surface of the nail or pose risks to internal organs, Lumonail penetrates the nail bed with medical-grade light to directly combat the fungal infection at its source.

This sleek, handheld device represents a game-changer for nail health  offering a non-invasive, drug-free, and clinically backed alternative for anyone struggling with persistent or recurring toenail fungus. Its compact, easy to use, and engineered for safe daily use by individuals of all ages. Plus, with its portable, cordless, and USB-rechargeable design, Lumonail fits seamlessly into any tech-savvy lifestyle.

Key Features That Make Lumonail Stand Out

Low-Level Laser Therapy (LLLT) : The core technology behind Lumonail is a powerful beam of 470nm blue light combined with a 905nm laser. This dual-wavelength setup delivers targeted energy that disrupts fungal cells and promotes healthy nail regrowth without harming surrounding tissue.

: The core technology behind Lumonail is a powerful beam of 470nm blue light combined with a 905nm laser. This dual-wavelength setup delivers targeted energy that disrupts fungal cells and promotes healthy nail regrowth without harming surrounding tissue. Pain-Free and Side Effect-Free : Users feel no discomfort during treatments. There are no harsh chemicals , no irritation, and no systemic impact like with oral antifungals.

: Users feel no discomfort during treatments. There are , no irritation, and no systemic impact like with oral antifungals. Portable and Convenient : With a cordless, USB-rechargeable design, Lumonail fits into any lifestyle. Simply place it over the affected nail for a 7-minute session  no creams, no waiting, no mess.

: With a cordless, USB-rechargeable design, Lumonail fits into any lifestyle. Simply place it over the affected nail for a 7-minute session  no creams, no waiting, no mess. FDA-Cleared Device : Lumonail is cleared for home use, offering peace of mind for safety and efficacy. It's the same light therapy technology trusted by podiatrists, now in a consumer-friendly format.

: Lumonail is cleared for home use, offering peace of mind for safety and efficacy. It's the same light therapy technology trusted by podiatrists, now in a consumer-friendly format. Automatic Timer Function: Each session is precisely timed for optimal results, eliminating the guesswork and helping users stay consistent with their treatment regimen.

A Dermatologist-Recommended Innovation

The growing acceptance of light-based fungal therapy by medical professionals speaks volumes. Dermatologists and podiatrists increasingly recommend LLLT as a primary or complementary treatment for nail fungus, especially for those who cant tolerate systemic medications or prefer natural, cutting-edge LLLT devices.

Lumonail brings this advanced care into your home  offering a doctor-recommended solution without the cost and hassle of clinical visits.

The Social Buzz: Why Everyones Talking About Lumonail

Lumonail has quickly become a viral TikTok and Instagram favorite, with real users sharing their journeys of transformation  from hiding their feet to proudly showing off clear, healthy nails. This social buzz not only showcases the effectiveness of Lumonail but also provides a community of support and inspiration for those struggling with toenail fungus. The sleek design and tech-forward approach to skincare resonate with modern consumers looking for fast, effective solutions that fit into their lifestyle.

Ready to take the first step towards healthier nails? Try Lumonail today and experience the difference for yourself. Its not just another anti-fungal product. Lumonail represents a new category of biohacking nail hygiene, blending modern tech with user-friendly design to help you reclaim your confidence and comfort.

How Lumonail Works: The Science Behind the Device

Targeting the Root of the Infection with LLLT

What truly sets Lumonail apart from conventional treatments is its use of low-level laser therapy (LLLT) a medically recognized, non-thermal technology that penetrates through the nail plate to target the infected area directly beneath. Most creams and liquids struggle to bypass the dense keratin of the nail, but LLLT works from the inside out, delivering energy that damages the fungal cells while supporting tissue repair and nail regrowth.

Using dual wavelengths of 470nm blue light and 905nm infrared laser, Lumonail disrupts fungal DNA and halts replication. This stops the spread of the infection and begins the healing process right at the origin  the nail matrix.

Light-Based Therapy Thats Painless and Safe

The treatment process is completely pain-free and doesnt involve heat, chemicals, or abrasion. Lumonail delivers controlled light energy deep into the nail bed while leaving healthy tissue untouched. Theres no burning, itching, or tingling sensation during or after use. And because its free from any pharmaceutical ingredients, its safe for people with sensitivities or those who cant take antifungal drugs due to liver or kidney issues. This safety is especially important for individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes, compromised immunity, or circulation issues, where traditional treatment methods may pose risks.

This is especially important for individuals with underlying conditions like diabetes, compromised immunity, or circulation issues, where traditional treatment methods may pose risks. Lumonail's non-invasive, non-thermal treatment process makes it safe for use by individuals with these conditions, providing a much-needed solution for those who may be at higher risk from traditional treatments.

Treatment Protocol: How to Use Lumonail

Using the device is simple:

Place the Lumonail device over the affected toenail.

Press the power button to initiate a 7-minute treatment session.

The device automatically shuts off after the session is complete.

Repeat daily (or twice daily for severe cases) for 412 weeks depending on infection severity.

Most users start seeing improvements in 24 weeks, with full nail clarity appearing over several months as the healthy nail grows out.

This automated timer function eliminates guesswork, ensuring consistent and optimal use every time. It simplifies the treatment process, making it easy to incorporate into your daily routine.

How Fast Does Lumonail Work?

Results can vary based on the severity of the infection and individual health factors. However, many users report:

Reduced discoloration and thickness within 34 weeks

Stronger, smoother nail growth after 68 weeks

Clear, fungus-free nails within 12 weeks or more with daily use

What makes Lumonail so effective is its ability to treat the entire infected area  not just the surface  and support healthy nail regrowth without the side effects or interruptions common in chemical-based treatments. This effectiveness gives you the confidence and hope that Lumonail can deliver the results you're looking for, without the drawbacks of other treatments.

Why This Technology Outperforms the Rest

Unlike DIY remedies like vinegar soaks or tea tree oil, and unlike creams that sit on top of the nail, Lumonail delivers scientifically-backed LLLT directly where its needed.This makes it ideal for persistent, hard-to-treat infections, offering users a modern, high-tech toenail rescue that actually delivers.

Say goodbye to creams and risky pillsLumonail uses FDA-cleared light therapy to fight fungus from the root. Try it today and start your nail recovery journey.

Real User Testimonials and Success Stories

Real Experiences from Real People

One of the most compelling aspects of the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device is the growing number of users who are seeing visible results  and sharing them online. From verified reviews to social media posts, Lumonail has built a strong reputation as a reliable, at-home nail fungus cure for people tired of ineffective treatments and constant recurrence.

Many users report visible improvements within the first month of consistent use, with nails gradually clearing up, feeling stronger, and growing healthier with each passing week. These stories are not just about aesthetics  they reflect a profound sense of relief, comfort, and a return to normal daily routines like walking barefoot or wearing sandals.

"Ive tried everything from prescription pills to essential oils. Lumonail is the first thing that actually worked without side effects. I saw a difference in just a few weeks."

 Samantha R., 52

"As someone with diabetes, I couldnt risk oral antifungals. Lumonail gave me a safe and painless option that worked better than expected. My nails are finally clearing up."

 Dennis H., 64

"This device is a total game-changer. I didnt want to go the route of chemicals again. I used it every night, and by week five, my nail color started to normalize."

 Karla M., 38

The Power of Visual Proof

Photos dont lie  and thats why before-and-after comparisons are a major reason Lumonail has gone viral. Many users share clear progress shots of nails that were once yellowed, thick, and brittle  now smooth, pink, and growing out healthy. These images give potential buyers the assurance that the results are not just theoretical, but tangible and attainable.

This visual transformation contributes to why the device is trending as an Instagram-famous nail gadget  it's not just treating a problem, its delivering visible success stories that people are proud to show off, making you part of a growing trend and excited about the possibilities.

Expert Endorsements and Trust Building

Lumonail is not just consumer-approved. It's gaining traction among dermatologists, podiatrists, and holistic practitioners who are turning to light-based fungal therapy as a drug-free, modern approach to chronic infections.

Medical professionals praise its:

Ability to treat fungus without harming healthy tissue

Non-systemic nature  no impact on organs like liver or kidneys

Ease of use for seniors or people with mobility concerns

With expert endorsements and an expanding user base, Lumonail continues to strengthen its status as a dermatologist-recommended solution and a safer, smarter alternative to medications or in-clinic lasers.

Lumonail, a revolutionary toenail fungus treatment device, vs Other Toenail Fungus TreatmentsWhy Traditional Methods Fall Short

For decades, people have relied on topical creams, oral antifungal drugs, and home remedies to treat nail fungus. While these solutions offer varying degrees of relief, they often fail to deliver consistent, long-term results  especially for moderate to severe cases.

Topical treatments struggle to penetrate the nails thick keratin structure, which allows the infection to persist beneath the surface. Oral medications like terbinafine or itraconazole may reach deeper but come with potential side effects, including liver toxicity, nausea, and interactions with other prescriptions. These side effects can range from mild discomfort to severe health issues. Even when successful, relapse rates remain high.

Home remedies like vinegar soaks, baking soda, or essential oils can offer temporary relief or help maintain hygiene, but they rarely address the fungus at its core  and lack clinical backing.

This inconsistency leaves many sufferers feeling frustrated, desperately seeking a better, safer option.

How Lumonail Compares to Topical Creams

Penetration Depth : While creams act on the surface, Lumonails LLLT technology reaches into the nail bed, where the infection truly resides.

: While creams act on the surface, Lumonails LLLT technology reaches into the nail bed, where the infection truly resides. Application : Creams require twice-daily applications and can be messy or time-consuming. Lumonail uses automated light sessions lasting just 7 minutes.

: Creams require twice-daily applications and can be messy or time-consuming. Lumonail uses lasting just 7 minutes. Effectiveness: Lumonail users often see faster, more noticeable results than those relying on topical products alone.

Lumonail vs Oral Antifungal Medications

Safety Profile : Oral drugs may cause gastrointestinal distress or liver damage. Lumonail is a drug-free , side effectfree device.

: Oral drugs may cause gastrointestinal distress or liver damage. Lumonail is a , side effectfree device. Convenience : Medications often require blood tests and months of prescriptions. Lumonail can be used independently at home without supervision.

: Medications often require blood tests and months of prescriptions. Lumonail can be used without supervision. Relapse Risk: Laser-based treatments like Lumonail are shown to reduce recurrence by destroying the fungal environment without suppressing the immune system.

Lumonail vs Other Light-Based Devices

Technology : Some devices use only blue light or lower wavelength LEDs that dont penetrate deeply. Lumonail combines 905nm laser and 470nm light to ensure optimal effectiveness.

: Some devices use only blue light or lower wavelength LEDs that dont penetrate deeply. Lumonail combines to ensure optimal effectiveness. Design : Compact and USB-rechargeable , Lumonail is optimized for daily use with auto shut-off , making it ideal for busy lifestyles.

: Compact and , Lumonail is optimized for daily use with , making it ideal for busy lifestyles. FDA Clearance: Lumonail is cleared for safe, at-home use, a claim not all competitors can confidently make.

Why Lumonail Wins the Comparison

Lumonail stands out because it combines the precision of clinical-grade technology with the convenience and safety of a personal care tool. Its ideal for those who:

Want to avoid drugs and chemicals

Have tried and failed with creams or prescriptions

Need a maintenance solution to prevent recurrence

Seek a modern, tech-driven answer to a stubborn problem

Purchasing Lumonail: Pricing, Warranty, and Customer Support

Where to Buy the Lumonail Device

Lumonail is conveniently available exclusively through its official website at get-lumonail.com. This ensures that buyers receive the genuine, FDA-cleared device and can access special pricing and guarantees that are not available through third-party marketplaces. Its not sold on Amazon, eBay, or in retail stores  a strategy that helps prevent the circulation of counterfeit products and protects customer satisfaction.

Lumonail Pricing Options

As of the latest promotion, Lumonail offers tiered pricing based on quantity:

LumoNail Pricing and Bonuses

LumoNail offers a range of pricing options designed to cater to diverse needs and budgets, making it accessible for everyone looking to eliminate stubborn nail fungus effectively. Here's a breakdown of the pricing structure and the accompanying savings:

Pricing Options

1x LumoNail Price: $99.95 each Total Cost: $199.90 Discount: Save 50% Ideal for first-time users who want to experience the benefits of LumoNail before committing to multiple units.

2x LumoNail Price: $74.95 each Total Cost: $399.80 Discount: Save 65% Perfect for those who may want a backup device or share with a family member. The significant savings provide added value.

3x LumoNail Price: $59.97 each Total Cost: $599.70 Discount: Save 70% This package is an excellent choice for individuals or families needing multiple devices for faster treatment.

4x LumoNail Price: $49.98 each Total Cost: $799.60 Discount: Save 75% This option offers the best savings per unit, making it ideal for those who want to ensure comprehensive treatment for everyone.



Additional Bonuses

Quick Results: Users can expect visible improvements in their nail health within weeks, making these packages a worthwhile investment.

Users can expect visible improvements in their nail health within weeks, making these packages a worthwhile investment. Drug-Free Treatment: LumoNail utilizes advanced clinical-grade light therapy, providing an effective and medication-free solution to nail fungus.

LumoNail utilizes advanced clinical-grade light therapy, providing an effective and medication-free solution to nail fungus. 30-Day Money-Back Guarantee: Customers can try LumoNail risk-free, ensuring satisfaction with their purchase.

With these attractive pricing options and bonuses, LumoNail presents a compelling choice for anyone aiming to achieve healthier nails quickly and efficiently.

Each unit comes with a USB charging cable, easy-to-follow instructions, and access to lifetime customer support. This means you can always get help with any questions or issues you may have. Occasional discount codes or limited-time offers may also be available directly on the site, making it easy to find the best deal.

Warranty and Risk-Free Return Policy

Lumonail comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. If you arent satisfied with your results for any reason, you can return the product within 30 days for a full refund  no questions asked.

Additionally, the company offers a 1-year manufacturers warranty, covering any defects in materials or workmanship. This demonstrates confidence in the product's durability and builds trust with first-time buyers.

Fast Shipping and Discreet Packaging

Orders are typically shipped within 2448 hours and arrive in 3 to 5 business days across the U.S. Shipping is free on select bundle packages. Packages arrive in discreet, unbranded boxes to protect your privacy, a feature that respects your need for discretion, especially when dealing with sensitive conditions like nail fungus.

Customer Support and Contact Info

Lumonail offers reliable support through multiple channels:

Email : help@spark-tek.co

: help@spark-tek.co Phone : 1-866-353-3756

: 1-866-353-3756 Live Chat: Available on the official website during business hours

Their U.S.-based support team is trained to help with device use, return requests, and general product questions. This responsive and clear support structure further cements Lumonail as a customer-first brand with professional standards.

Conclusion: Why Lumonail Is the Smartest Solution for Toenail Fungus

Toenail fungus is not just a cosmetic nuisance  its a persistent, often embarrassing condition that can impact self-esteem, comfort, and overall foot health. We understand the struggle you've been through, and after reviewing all the treatment options, its clear that topical creams, oral medications, and home remedies often fall short due to limited effectiveness, high recurrence rates, and unwanted side effects.

Thatsexactly where Lumonail sets itself apart.

Using clinically proven LLLT (low-level laser therapy), the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device delivers advanced light-based treatment directly to the nail bed  where the infection actually lives. It avoids the downsides of pharmaceuticals, doesn't rely on messy creams, and empowers you with its portable, USB-rechargeable, and pain-free design that fits effortlessly into any lifestyle.

From cutting-edge laser technology and FDA-cleared safety to thousands of real-user testimonials, Lumonail has quickly become a game-changer for nail health. Whether youre dealing with early signs of infection or battling chronic fungal issues that have resisted everything else, Lumonail offers a next-gen solution built for results and reliability.

Key Takeaways

Lumonail is a non-invasive, drug-free, and dermatologist-recommended device for treating nail fungus at home. Priced competitively, it offers an affordable and effective solution for toenail fungus.It uses dual-wavelength LLLT technology to deeply penetrate the nail and eliminate fungus at its source. Its simple and user-friendly design makes it easy for anyone to use at home.It outperforms creams, pills, and old-school remedies by offering safe, targeted relief with visible results in weeks, providing you with the comfort and reassurance you've been seeking.With a 30-day money-back guarantee, fast shipping, and ongoing customer support, Lumonail ensures satisfaction from purchase to treatment.

So if youve been hiding your feet, hesitating to try another disappointing product, or simply want a modern, clinically backed method to reclaim clear, healthy nails  Lumonail is your answer.

Take the first step toward fungal-free feet and order today through the official Lumonail website. Your toes  and your confidence  will thank you.

Frequently Asked Questions About Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device

How does the Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device work?

Lumonail uses low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to emit dual-wavelength light that penetrates the nail bed, disrupting fungal cells from the inside out. Unlike topical creams that sit on the nails surface, Lumonails laser technology reaches deep into the nail matrix, stopping the fungus at its root and promoting healthy nail regrowth without chemicals or side effects.

Is Lumonail a clinically proven treatment for nail fungus?

Yes. The LLLT technology used in Lumonail is clinically studied and supported by dermatologists and podiatrists as a safe and effective method to treat onychomycosis (fungal nail infections). It is FDA-cleared for at-home use and designed to deliver professional-grade results with consistent use, ensuring your safety and peace of mind.

How often should I use the Lumonail device?

For best results, use Lumonail once per day for at least 7 minutes on each affected nail. In severe or advanced cases, you may increase usage to twice daily. Continue treatment for 8 to 12 weeks or until healthy nail growth is fully restored. Using Lumonail consistently increases the chances of long-lasting, fungus-free results, providing a convenient and hassle-free solution.

When can I expect to see results with Lumonail?

Most users notice visible improvements within 3 to 4 weeks, including reduced nail discoloration and smoother texture. Complete results  clear, healthy nail regrowth  often occur within 10 to 12 weeks, depending on the extent of the infection and how quickly your nails grow. This proven effectiveness will give you the confidence to use Lumonail for your nail fungus.

Is Lumonail better than antifungal creams or pills?

Yes. Antifungal creams often fail to penetrate the nail plate, and oral medications carry risks of liver damage and drug interactions. Lumonail offers a non-toxic, drug-free alternative with laser precision to target infections at the source  with no known side effects. Its also suitable for individuals who cant take oral antifungals due to medical reasons.

Can I use Lumonail for fingernail fungus too?

Absolutely. Lumonail is effective for treating fungal infections on both toenails and fingernails. The device, designed to be compact and ergonomic, is safe and easy to use on any nail, as long as it fits securely during the treatment session.

Is Lumonail painful or uncomfortable?

No. Lumonails treatment is completely pain-free, silent, and non-invasive. There is no heat, vibration, or irritation during use. Its ideal for individuals seeking a safe and comfortable solution for nail fungus without the risks of harsh chemicals or prescriptions.

Does Lumonail prevent future nail fungus infections?

Yes. In addition to treating active infections, Lumonail can be used as a maintenance tool to help prevent future fungal outbreaks. Weekly use after your nails are clear can help maintain healthy nail hygiene, especially if youre exposed to moisture,gyms, locker rooms, or communal showers.

Can Lumonail be shared among family members?

Yes, the device can be safely shared within a household as long as it is cleaned properly after each use. To prevent cross-contamination between users, wipe the surface with alcohol or a disinfectant cloth and ensure it is completely dry before the next use.

Is there a risk of damaging healthy nail tissue?

No. Lumonail is engineered to target fungal cells specifically, without harming surrounding skin or healthy nail tissue. The light is calibrated to a therapeutic range that is safe, effective, and does not alter the integrity of non-infected areas.

What comes in the box when I order Lumonail?

Each Lumonail order includes:

The Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device

USB charging cable

Step-by-step user instructions

Access to customer support

A 30-day money-back guarantee and 1-year warranty

Dont let nail fungus steal your confidence another day. Get Lumonail and enjoy fast, drug-free treatment with visible results. Your clear nails start here.

Company : Lumonail

: Lumonail Email : help@spark-tek.co

: help@spark-tek.co Order Phone Support: +14242504182

Disclaimer and Affiliate Disclosure

The information provided in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy, reliability, and completeness of the content presented, no guarantee is made that the information is free from errors or omissions. The publisher, content contributors, and associated parties do not assume any responsibility or liability for any inaccuracies, typographical errors, outdated information, or the consequences of any actions taken based on the content contained herein.

This article is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Readers are encouraged to consult with a qualified healthcare provider or physician before beginning any treatment or using any product mentioned in this article, especially if they have a pre-existing medical condition, are taking prescription medication, or are pregnant or nursing.

The Lumonail Toenail Fungus Device is a consumer product marketed as an at-home wellness tool. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Statements regarding this product have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Individual results may vary. Testimonials and user reviews reflect personal experiences and are not guaranteed outcomes.

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Red Bull happy with Tsunoda despite crash

Red Bull is happy with Yuki Tsunoda's performance so far.

Yuki Tsunoda, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Red Bull

After Liam Lawson was essentially the slowest driver in the entire field in Australia and China, Red Bull ousted him and put Tsunoda at the wheel.

A conspicuous gap to Max Verstappen remains, but team advisor Dr Helmut Marko declared after Suzuka and Bahrain that the Japanese driver will remain in the sister Red Bull for the remainder of 2025.

However, on Friday in Saudi Arabia, Tsunoda awkwardly crashed the car.

Marko, though, was completely unfazed: The speed is good, and the gap to Max is absolutely pleasing.

Indeed, 24-year-old Tsunoda reports that he is gradually building up confidence in the car with a setup and a driving style that is similar to Verstappen's.

The feeling in the car was actually good, he said after the Friday crash. I felt really comfortable, both on the long run and on the faster short runs.

Tsunoda confirmed that he is meeting Red Bull's expectations so far.

I am still learning of course, but at the same time I also have to show some pace, he said. "But as long as I am where Red Bull wants me to be in qualifying and the race, I can use the free practice sessions to learn.

I know that if I can tap into my full potential, I can probably beat him, Tsunoda added, referring to quadruple world champion Verstappen.

Verstappen's countryman and fellow racing driver, Renger van der Zande, warns Tsunoda not to get too confident.

The little man has a big mouth, he laughed. "But he really shouldn't get it seriously in his head that he's going to beat Max.

"Everyone gets pretty close, but every time someone thinks they've finally got him, it goes wrong. The nice thing about Yuki is that it doesn't seem like he cares about all of that.

He swears a bit, but he's pretty relaxed. Even when he crashed, I think he still thought it was all a bit funny.

Similarly, amid all the talk about post-race arguments and crisis meetings at Red Bull after the Bahrain GP calamity, Tsunoda didn't let any of it bother him.

I mean, in the meeting after the race, there was not the most pleasant atmosphere in the engineering room, he said. "Everyone was just saying their feelings about the race.

I don't know what the bosses were talking about. Maybe Max had another meeting - I don't know.

(GMM)
Rumours Colapinto sponsor missed a payment

Jack Doohan says he continues to rise above all the talk about his situation at Alpine.

Jack Doohan, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Alpine

Actually, following reports that the team will keep the rookie Australian at the wheel at least until the summer, the speculation about Franco Colapinto has actually subsided somewhat.

Earlier, suggestions that team advisor Flavio Briatore was poised to axe Doohan in favour of Colapinto were rife. But in Bahrain last weekend, rumours swirled around the paddock that the Argentine reserve driver's sponsors may have missed a due sponsorship payment.

When asked about the situation at Jeddah, Doohan answered: "I've tried not to think about it.

"We know internally what my contract situation is, and for the rest, I always knew it was bound to fluctuate. All I can focus on is what the team and I came here to do.

It's good that we've shown some good things in the last four races and the rhythm is there. There are a lot of strengths to build on, and now it's just a matter of putting all that together and, for sure, we'll be able to achieve great things.

Indeed, Doohan's recent form has been reasonable alongside Pierre Gasly - but also true is that Gasly is absolutely excelling, both in Bahrain and again in Saudi Arabia where he even topped the timesheets in initial practice.

Briatore declared after Bahrain that if the car already had a Mercedes engine rather than an underpowered Renault unit, Gasly could have been on the front row.

I said I could be world champion next year, Gasly said on Friday, having declared a day earlier that his ambitions for 2026 with a customer Mercedes engine and gearbox are sky-high.

So yes, I think Alpine has what it takes to fight at the front of the grid.

(GMM)
Signing Verstappen would be exciting

As the rumours around Max Verstappen's future continue to build, Aston Martin is not denying that it would be "exciting" to sign the Red Bull driver.

Max Verstappen, Jos Verstappen, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Red Bull

On the Saudi Arabian GP weekend, La Gazzetta dello Sport is reporting that the Lawrence Stroll-owned team is offering the Dutchman a staggering $300 million for the 2026, 2027 and 2028 seasons - financed by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund PIF.

The potential deal is the main topic in the Jeddah paddock.

Aston Martin's multiple denials so far are cautious. Team boss Andy Cowell said the Silverstone based team is incredibly fortunate to have two experienced drivers signed for the next two years .

When asked if that means there is no room for Verstappen, he added: I'm saying that my head's full of improving the company so that we can make a fast race car for Lance (Stroll) and Fernando (Alonso).

However, in a similar line of questioning by Sky Italia afterwards, Cowell admitted: It would be exciting to work with Max.

A team spokesman also told Osterreich newspaper: "It's normal for the media to speculate about the driver market.

Our focus is on giving Lance and Fernando a more consistent and competitive car, so that both of them can achieve great results with it.

Verstappen is also being linked with Mercedes and even Alpine, while the quadruple world champion simply giggled out loud at a question from an Italian journalist asking if he would consider going to Ferrari.

His friend and title rival Lando Norris thinks a sabbatical cannot even be ruled out. You never know, said the McLaren driver. Max has said many times that he wants to go do other racing in other categories and enjoy his life.

George Russell - out of contract at Mercedes - admitted in Jeddah that it would be completely understandable if the team wanted to sign Verstappen, as he is the best driver .

But James Vowles, the Williams boss who is still close to his former boss Toto Wolff, pointed out that signing Verstappen comes with a lot of downsides .

What Mercedes has already is a great culture with two drivers that are delivering near to the peak of the car, and with one that's on the way up, he said. So I personally don't think that's the place for him.

Red Bull's bosses Christian Horner and Dr Helmut Marko, however, are playing down the noise about Verstappen, which Horner says is all originating from outside the team .

Inside the team, Max ensured everyone here on Thursday of his commitment. Everything else is just speculation, Horner insisted.

On the track, the Red Bull is clearly still behind the McLarens, especially on long run pace, although Marko said it was the best Friday in a long time .

I understand, Dutch commentator Olav Mol told Ziggo Sport, "that they were already using more engine power - completely against their usual nature.

But did you see the long runs? he exclaimed. Oscar Piastri was seven to eight tenths faster than everyone else.

(GMM)
Carlos Sainz, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Williams

McLaren Formula 1 Team

Lando Norris (1st, 1:28.267): "A good start to the weekend and a productive first day on track, getting comfy in the car and building confidence. We've got good data available with plenty of laps recorded, so I'll keep working hard overnight with the team, focusing on the different areas we've identified in preparation for tomorrow's Qualifying."

Oscar Piastri (2nd, 1:28.430): "A solid Friday. It was a little bit of a trickier day, but I think the pace in the car is good. The competition doesn't seem far away, so we need to iron out a couple of things to put us in the best place for Qualifying. We'll review it all tonight and set ourselves up well for tomorrow."

Andrea Stella, Team Principal: "It's been a positive first day here in Jeddah, where we were able to complete a number of important test items and establish a reasonable performance baseline. We completed a good number of laps, enabling the drivers to build confidence, which is particularly important at this high-speed, but technically challenging circuit. Having said this, the field seems very tightly packed, and we will need to extract the maximum potential from the car for Qualifying. We have plenty of data to analyse this evening and look forward to getting back on track tomorrow."

Scuderia Ferrari HP

Charles Leclerc (4th, 1:28.749): "We are missing a bit of pace compared to the cars in front of us, but if we put everything together tomorrow it should be a close Qualifying. We all seem to be quite close, with McLaren a step ahead, but we will focus on ourselves and see what we can extract tomorrow."

Lewis Hamilton (13th, 1:29.371): "It was a challenging day. We're still chasing the right balance between the front and rear axles, and I'm struggling a bit with consistency across the lap at this stage. There's work to do tonight, but the team's fully focused and we'll keep pushing to find the improvements we need."

Oracle Red Bull Racing

Max Verstappen (3rd, 1:28.547): "Today we tried some different things with the car and worked to find a different direction. I think we learned a lot from the sessions today, but it is still not quite where we want the car to be. I think at the end of the day you just have to go from your own feeling and assess what you get from the car. Over one lap it's a bit better but the long runs are still tough. Compared to Bahrain, the grip levels and set up of the car is completely different so it is very difficult to compare to last week, but it is still clear that we want to be faster. For tomorrow, it is difficult to say how competitive we will be; the McLarens look really competitive. There is still a bit of work to do and things to understand, so we will see."

Yuki Tsunoda (6th, 1:28.963): "First, a big apology to my Team today about the accident, I just turned in too much and clipped the wall and inside wheel. I had damage after that and just had no control. It is frustrating because the pace was looking good, so it's a shame but also a positive, as I was getting the car in a good window. We had limited time on the long run, caused by myself, so I can't really complain. I didn't want it to end up this way. My last soft run was also compromised with the warmup and everything, so we don't have a great read for qualifying but so far, the weekend has felt pretty okay. Importantly, my confidence level is still pretty good here."

Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team

George Russell (7th, 1:28.973): "It was a slightly messy day from our side. We didn't manage to get too many clean laps in, owing to both traffic and a few efforts where we didn't quite the tyres in the right window. We tried some different things across both cars, which was definitely valuable learning for both Kimi and myself. I think we've found the direction we will move in now. We were probably stronger in FP1 than FP2 ultimately. We didn't quite take the step forward with the car that we were hoping too, but I don't think there's anything that we can't improve overnight to come back stronger for Qualifying tomorrow. It was a shame not to get the long run data in due to the red flag in FP2, but everyone else is in the same boat. It's not controversial to say that McLaren looked like they were clear in front but I'm hopeful we can be in the fight for best of the rest once again as we head into the weekend."

Andrea Kimi Antonelli (11th, 1:29.242): "It was quite a tricky day out there today. It proved difficult to get too many clean laps in, but I'm pleased with what we were able to achieve. We worked on a lot of details, and I was able to build my confidence on the track. It is a circuit that demands a lot of confidence in the high-speed and you need to get the car close to the walls. Overall, it was positive even if I got slightly too close to the wall on the exit of the final corner on my last lap on the Soft tyre in FP2. I'm looking forward to the rest of the weekend now. It looks pretty close with many of our competitors behind McLaren. We don't know the relative fuel loads and Power Unit modes of others, so we just need to focus on ourselves. We will work hard analysing the data overnight and look to come back stronger tomorrow."

Andrew Shovlin, Trackside Engineering Director: "We had a solid start to the weekend in FP1. The track was actually pretty clean from the start, although the higher track temperatures do cost a bit of grip. George was able to set some strong times in the early running and Kimi was a little back from there, but this is another track that he is learning in an F1 car and it was good to see him making progress with each lap. We were pretty happy with the single lap performance as the session came to a close, although we knew we had some work to do on the long run. We made a few changes into FP2, partly to account for the cooling track and also in an attempt to further refine the balance. In the later session, the car was a bit tricker for both drivers so we'll pick through those changes on the simulator overnight and decide what to keep and what to discard. We didn't get a read on the long run due to a combination of the red flag and a few delays in our own programme. However, McLaren still look quick and we'll be working on the assumption overnight that they are the ones to beat."

Aston Martin Aramco F1 Team

Fernando Alonso (15th, 1:29.662): "We managed to get some clean laps in today, but it looks like the pace is a little behind where we want it to be. There will be a lot of traffic management in Qualifying and you need to have some luck too. We will look at the data tonight and hopefully put together the best package for tomorrow and try our best to challenge for the top ten."

Lance Stroll (18th, 1:30.007): "Not the most competitive day for us, but let's see what we can learn from the data and come up with overnight to improve for tomorrow. Conditions here are tricky and it will be a tough mission to put it all together in Qualifying but we will work hard and put the work in."

BWT Alpine F1 Team

Pierre Gasly (8th, 1:29.106): "Overall I am pleased with our Friday Practice today. I had a great feeling in the car in Free Practice 1 and it is always nice to top a session even if it is only Practice. I felt like the car was good enough to push right away, which is a good sign on a high-speed circuit like this one. It was tricky at times and we struggled a little more in Free Practice 2 with general grip. We know this session is more representative to what we will experience for Qualifying tomorrow, so certainly that gives us some things to understand and get on top of ahead of tomorrow's running. We'll take it session by session; it is all very tight as usual with just a tenth or two splitting a number of cars. We are not too far away, though, there is room for improvement and we just need to nail it tomorrow."

Jack Doohan (17th, 1:29.912): "It has not been the easiest of Fridays for us but there have still been plenty of learnings to take from the two sessions. It's such a high-speed circuit and you need to build confidence to really be able to push the car. On my side, I felt quite comfortable on the Medium tyre. We have not yet clicked with the Soft compound so there are a few things there for us to understand. I am sure we will get on top of it ahead of Qualifying and hopefully maximise the potential of the package. Free Practice 3 will no doubt be hot again like Free Practice 1 earlier today. We will do our best to refine those details and be in a position to put ourselves up the order towards the top 10 and in the fight for Qualifying."

MoneyGram Haas F1 Team

Oliver Bearman (16th, 1:29.754): "FP1 was difficult. I was struggling with similar issues to what I had in Bahrain practice sessions, just lacking confidence on the brakes and having a few lock-ups. We made a change for FP2, we put the brakes back from a race where they worked very well, and that was the case again, it was much better in the afternoon. On the other hand, we suffered a little bit on performance runs in FP2 missing a little bit, especially jumping onto the soft tire, so we have a bit of work to do. It's difficult to say where we are, it's really tight, but I think if we put everything together we can be in the mix, we just have a few things to finetune."

Esteban Ocon (19th, 1:30.019): "It was obviously a very busy one today and there are now quite a lot of things we need to look at. It hasn't been the easiest day, but as usual on a Friday, we gather data, and we try and improve things  the important day is tomorrow when we qualify. We'll do everything we can to put it together on Saturday and hopefully we'll have a bit more pace. It's always difficult to say where we'll be. This is a tough track and you need as much confidence as you can from every corner  you need to feel at one with the car. That's what we'll be working on tonight."

Ayao Komatsu, Team Principal: "It was a pretty tricky Friday. We struggled in sector one  the high-speed section  the car isn't consistent or predictable enough to give confidence to the driver. We tried some different set-up options in FP2, and learned something interesting, so we're now focused on improving the car overnight. I think everyone is struggling with degradation on high-fuel so we also need to get on top of that. There's lots to work on tonight to improve the car and then have our best go at it tomorrow."

Visa Cash App Racing Bulls F1 Team

Isack Hadjar (12th, 1:29.306): "It's the fastest street circuit that exists, so it requires a lot of focus, it's really tough but really enjoyable. It was hard to get the balance together today, I feel like there is still room for improvement, which is reassuring because I know it's not the best we can do. It's the fastest street circuit that exists, so it requires a lot of focus, it's really tough but really enjoyable. I will definitely be better tomorrow after a night of sleep. These cars give you so much confidence, we will be fighting for Q3 tomorrow, but making it is a different story."

Liam Lawson (14th, 1:29.488): "The track lives up to the hype, it was very fast, very cool. We had a productive day and tried a lot of different things. FP1 was busy, but it was nice to drive an F1 car here as it's the first time I've done that. The track lives up to the hype, it was very fast, very cool. We had a productive day and tried a lot of different things. Tyres wise, we'll try and learn what we can before tomorrow. It's hard to tell how we're doing pace wise as we still need to find some time relative to some of our competitors in the midfield. Alpine and Williams were strong today, so we need to make a step, but that's what we're working on hard now."

Alan Permane, Racing Director: "At a track like this, mileage is important with the high speed and walls to think about, the drivers need time to be able to push to the limit. Quite a tough day today where we started off on the back foot. We have a new rear wing for this event, and we saw a small issue with it after the first run of FP1. That caused us to revert to an earlier specification and we lost some running time doing this. At a track like this, mileage is important with the high speed and walls to think about, the drivers need time to be able to push to the limit. For FP2, things were much better and were in a much happier place. Neither driver is particularly satisfied with their car though, we've got a few balance issues to sort out in the first part of the lap; after we get around the first few corners, things start to calm down a little bit, so we'll be working that overnight."

Williams Racing

Carlos Sainz (5th, 1:28.942): "A positive first day for us here in Jeddah. We've made some good steps forward from FP1 to FP2, trying some different things with the set-up and my driving style to try to extract more from the car. The lap on the Soft tyre was proof of those steps and, although it's only Friday, the feeling around this tricky track was positive overall. Let's see if we can keep it up tomorrow!"

Alexander Albon (10th, 1:29.220): "It's a lot of fun to drive around this track with so many high-speed sections. It's going to be very close in Qualifying, so there's some fine-tuning to be done ahead of the session. Tyres are always a talking point here, especially when the track cools off throughout the session. We're usually good at getting the tyres in the right window, so let's see how tomorrow's session goes."

Stake F1 Team Kick Sauber

Nico Hulkenberg (9th, 1:29.193): "Jeddah is a really impressive track to drive, with its high-speed sections, rapid changes of direction and overall dynamic layout. It's a demanding circuit. I am pleased we managed to get the car into a good window in FP1 and were able to complete our standard Friday programme in FP2. We gathered valuable information on the tyres and made some structural adjustments to the setup between the sessions. There is still work to do overnight to refine the details, but it's encouraging to see that we are firmly in the mix."

Gabriel Bortoleto (20th, No Time): "It definitely wasn't the day I had hoped for here in Jeddah  it's my first time driving this circuit in a Formula One car, so missing out on valuable track time was frustrating. Unfortunately, a fuel leak discovered after FP1 meant we couldn't run in the second session. These things can happen, and the team did everything they could to fix the issue  I'm grateful for their effort  but it just wasn't possible in the time available. I still managed to complete a few laps in FP1, which gave me an initial feel for the circuit. It's encouraging to see Nico finishing the day in the top ten; that gives us a strong reference. Now it's all about learning as much as I can from the data and from Nico to be fully prepared for tomorrow and to make the most of the final practice session ahead of qualifying."
George Russell, Saudi Arabian GP 2025

 Mercedes

McLaren signalled its intent for pole position at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix with a dominant display in final practice, as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri topped the timesheets in sweltering conditions.

Norris posted a session-best 1m27.489s on his final soft-tyre run, edging out team-mate Piastri by 0.024s after the Australian had previously led the way with a 1m27.513s. Both drivers dipped under last years pole time, underlining McLarens formidable pace ahead of qualifying.

The pair had trailed Max Verstappen briefly during the first runs, the Red Bull driver producing a 1m29.077s to displace Piastri. But McLaren quickly responded, with Piastri reclaiming the top spot before Norris vaulted back ahead with his fourth effort.

Mercedes George Russell emerged as the most credible challenger, climbing to third late in the session with a 1m28.214s  but that still left him 0.725s behind Norris. Verstappen improved on his final attempt to slot into fourth, 0.845s down, but logged fewer laps than rivals and reported issues with engine braking.

Ferrari once again lacked the one-lap pace to threaten the top, as Charles Leclerc was fifth, nearly nine tenths adrift and voicing concerns over the SF-25s limits. Carlos Sainz was further behind and notably beaten by the impressive Williams of Alex Albon, who took sixth.

Yuki Tsunoda rebounded from his FP2 crash to take ninth after late repairs by his Red Bull crew, slotting between Albon and Mercedes rookie Andrea Kimi Antonelli. Tsunoda praised his team over the radio for their fast work in getting the RB21 ready in time.

Lewis Hamiltons struggles continued, ending 12th in the second Ferrari after again failing to generate adequate grip on soft tyres. He trailed even RB's Isack Hadjar and finished 1.291s off Norris pace.

Qualifying in Jeddah begins at 8pm local time (5pm GMT), with McLaren now clear favourites to convert their dominant practice form into pole.
Kaakie was talented but didnt have time for music  JMJ

Joy Entertainment Showbiz News Apr - 18 - 2025 , 22:05 2 minutes read

Ghanaian music producer JMJ has addressed rumours about the departure of his former artiste, Kaakie, from his Xtra Large Music record label.

In a conversation on Daybreak Hitz with Andy Dosty, JMJ shed light on the reasons behind their split.

According to JMJ, Kaakie wasn't passionate about pursuing music as a long-term career.

He recounted that he once heard Abeiku Santana ask Kaakie on radio if he had chopped her money or done anything bad to her but she said no.

What I know that you people didn't know was that Kaakie loved music, but she wasn't passionate about it, he noted.

JMJ further explained that Kaakie's busy schedule, balancing university life and music, made it challenging for her to dedicate time to her craft.

Kaakie didnt have time for music but she was soo talented that,just 10minutes in the studio would blow your mind. So she had little time, and don't forget, she was also in school. She was in Uni at the time, and nursing is not an easy course. So she was balancing the two, which I understood.

But the truth of the matter is that Kaakie loved music, but she didn't see music as a long term career that she was going to pursue, he added.

JMJ's revelation provides insight into the reasons behind Kaakie's departure from Xtra Large Music.

It appears that Kaakie's priorities shifted towards family life and education, leading her to pursue other paths.

Meanwhile Kaakie has announced that she will soon return to active music business.
Next article: Trump administration looking at closing nearly 30 overseas embassies

Previous article: Meet the Philippine man nailed to cross for 36th time to mark Good Friday

Easter celebration: Thousands join Stations of the Cross procession in Jerusalem

Graphic.com.gh International News Apr - 18 - 2025 , 23:03 2 minutes read

Thousands of pilgrims joined the annual Stations of the Cross procession in the old town of Jerusalem as Christians around the world were marking Good Friday.

In the years leading up to the current Gaza war, tens of thousands used to attend the pilgrimage that marks significant moments in Jesus Christ's final day up to being placed in the tomb.

But following the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on October 7, 2023, the number of pilgrims from abroad has declined dramatically.

Meanwhile, Israel has significantly curbed crossings from the occupied West Bank.

According to a dpa reporter at the scene, turnout at this year's procession was higher than in 2024, including more people from abroad as well as many Arab Christians from Jerusalem.

Singing and praying, pilgrims walked along the Via Dolorosa - Latin for "Way of Sorrows." Some were carrying wooden crosses as a reminder that Christ was forced to carry the cross he was later nailed to along this route.

The route, which includes a total of 14 stations, leads from the Church of the Flagellation to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christ was buried, according to Christian belief.

According to Ibrahim Faltas, a Catholic priest of the Franciscan Order and Custodian of the Holy Land, Israel only allowed 6,000 Christians from the occupied West Bank to enter the country to attend Easter celebrations this year.

Only some 180,000 people in the Jewish state of 10 million are Christians.

East Jerusalem and the West Bank are estimated to be home to some 50,000 Christians, while some 1,000 are said to be living in sealed-off Gaza.

Easter is the holiest holiday for Christians worldwide. On Good Friday, they mark the cruxifixion of Christ while Easter Sunday commemorates his resurrection from the dead.
Previous article: Trump warns US may withdraw from Ukraine peace talks if progress is not achieved

Meet the Philippine man nailed to cross for 36th time to mark Good Friday

Graphic.com.gh International News Apr - 18 - 2025 , 23:22 2 minutes read

Catholics in the Philippines marked Good Friday with gory re-enactments of the suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ, including one grandfather nailed to a cross for his 36th time, amid warnings of temperatures reaching dangerous levels.

Churches nationwide were also packed with devotees attending Masses and prayers, while others joined various religious processions despite temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius in places.

In over a dozen areas in the country, penitents were nailed to wooden crosses while others whipped their backs bloody as an annual ritual for thanksgiving, penance and prayers.

The most popular site of the crucifixions is the village of San Pedro Cutud, about 60km (37 miles) north of Manila, where thousands of visitors gathered to witness the extreme acts of faith.

Ruben Enaje, 64, took the lead role in the tradition in San Pedro Cutud and was nailed to the cross for the 36th time after carrying a wooden cross weighing 27kg (60lbs) for nearly 2km.

The grandfather of seven said he had to make adjustments to the cross he carried to make it lighter from the original weight of 37kg.

Unfortunately, I am getting weaker with age, he said ahead of the ritual. The cross has become too heavy for me to carry so I had to shave off 10kg.

I will try to still take part in the ritual next year, but if not, I know someone will take my place and continue the tradition, he added.

In the nearby village of Sta Lucia, 60-year-old Joselito Capili was nailed to the cross for the 20th time.

Capili, a part-time construction worker, said he started being crucified in 2002 to pray for healing of his father who was diagnosed with cancer. While his father died one year later, he continued the vow to seek protection for his family.

We are all healthy, my wife, two children and my six grandchildren, he said. We have a good life but Im afraid I wont be able to do this much longer. I already get dizzy because Im old. Maybe I can continue only for a few more years.

The Catholic Church does not encourage the extreme acts of faith, but does little to stop the practice.

Good Friday is a solemn Christian observance that commemorates the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ; it falls during Holy Week and leads up to Easter Sunday, in which the faithful celebrate his resurrection.

Easter week is the most important religious event in the Philippines, where more than 85 per cent of the population is Catholic.

Most of the week had been declared public holidays to allow Filipinos to visit their home provinces or take holidays. Government offices, private companies and commercial establishments are closed.
Next article: Meet the Philippine man nailed to cross for 36th time to mark Good Friday

Trump warns US may withdraw from Ukraine peace talks if progress is not achieved

bbc.com International News Apr - 19 - 2025 , 06:21 4 minutes read

US President Donald Trump has said the US will "take a pass" on brokering further Russia-Ukraine talks if Moscow or Kyiv "make it very difficult" to reach a peace deal.

The US president told reporters in the Oval Office on Friday that he was not expecting a truce to happen in "a specific number of days" but he wanted it done "quickly".

His comments came hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US would abandon talks unless there were clear signs of progress within days.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," Rubio said, adding that the US had "other priorities to focus on".

This comes as Russian strikes on Ukraine continue, with two people reported killed and more than 100 injured in the north-eastern cities of Kharkiv and Sumy on Friday.

Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, and Russian troops have been advancing - albeit slowly - in eastern Ukraine.

President Vladimir Putin has placed a number of conditions on any potential ceasefire.

When asked about a deal between Russian and Ukraine, Trump said: "We're talking about here people dying. We're going to get it stopped, ideally.

"Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're going to just take a pass."

Despite the Trump administration's initial confidence that it could secure a deal quickly, attempts to reach a full ceasefire have yet to materialise, with Washington blaming both sides.

Following a meeting with European leaders in Paris about a potential ceasefire on Thursday, Rubio told reporters on Friday: "We need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable."

"If it's not going to happen, then we're just going to move on," he said about truce talks.

He admitted that a peace deal would be difficult to strike.

Trump had said before he re-entered office that he would stop the fighting in the first 24 hours of his presidency.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked to respond to Trump saying he expected an answer from Russia on a ceasefire, said "the negotiations taking place are quite difficult".

"The Russian side is striving to reach a peace settlement in this conflict, to ensure its own interests, and is open to dialogue," he said.

During a meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Friday, US Vice-President JD Vance said he was still "optimistic" about ending the Ukraine war.

"I want to update the prime minister on some of the negotiations between Russia, Ukraine, and also some of the things that have happened even in the past 24 hours," he said.

"I won't prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war - this very brutal war - to a close."

Vance's comments followed separate news that Ukraine and the US took the first step towards striking a minerals deal, after an initial agreement was derailed when a February meeting between Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky erupted into a public shouting match.

On Thursday, the two countries signed a memorandum of intent on setting up an investment fund for Ukraine's reconstruction as part of an economic partnership agreement.

The aim is to finalise the deal by 26 April, the memo published by the Ukrainian government says.

The details of any deal remain unclear. Previous leaks have suggested the agreement has been extended beyond minerals to control of Ukraine's energy infrastructure, as well as its oil and gas.

Ukrainian negotiators have tried to resist Trump's demands that a joint investment fund would pay back the US for previous military aid, but have seemingly accepted his claim that it would help the country recover after the war ends.

The memo said the "American people desire to invest alongside the Ukrainian people in a free, sovereign and secure Ukraine".

Zelensky had been hoping to use the deal to secure a US security guarantee in the event of a ceasefire deal, telling European leaders last month that "a ceasefire without security guarantees is dangerous for Ukraine".

The US has so far resisted providing Kyiv with security guarantees.

The White House argues the mere presence of US businesses would put off Russia from further aggression, but that did not exactly work when they invaded in 2022.
Ahanta West MP launches initiative to introduce Ahanta language in schools

Graphic.com.gh Apr - 19 - 2025 , 02:57 1 minute read

The Member of Parliament for Ahanta West, Mavis Kuukua Bissue-Boateng, has taken a significant step toward preserving the Ahanta language by inaugurating a committee dedicated to integrating the language into the educational curriculum.

The initiative aims to extend beyond Ahanta West, targeting all five constituencies within Ahantaland, with a particular focus on Sekondi-Takoradi.

This ambitious project seeks to revitalise the Ahanta language and culture, ensuring its transmission to future generations.

The newly formed committee comprises representatives from the Ahanta Language Project, the Ghana Education Service, the traditional councils of Upper Dixcove, Lower Dixcove, and Ahanta, the local council of churches, and Radio Ahanta.

Their mandate is to coordinate previous efforts and develop a comprehensive strategy for teaching the Ahanta language in schools.

In a statement shared on her official Facebook page on 18th April 2025, the MP reaffirmed her commitment to the project, stating: We have started the journey to bring the Ahanta language to the classroom The committee will start work immediately, and I will constantly update you, my dear brothers and sisters, on our progress and the support we may need.

One commenter praised the initiative, writing: A very positive move by a very humble and respectful MP. To begin, Ahantas must stop pretending to be Fantis because theyre not. They need to promote their language, culture, and make Sekondi-Takoradi an Ahanta-speaking area.

Another added: Good work done. All must congratulate our MP for the good work and stop politicisation of everything in Ahantaland. Congratulations!
Ghana National Fire Service intensifies measures to curb market fires

Beatrice Laryea Apr - 19 - 2025 , 01:23 1 minute read

The Ghana National Fire Service (GNFS) is ramping up its efforts to prevent fires in markets across the country, acknowledging that some incidents are the result of deliberate actions.

According to the Divisional Officer II and Public Relations Officer of the GNFS, Desmond Ackah the Service is collaborating with market authorities to strengthen fire safety, particularly in areas with wooden infrastructure, which are more susceptible to fire outbreaks.

In an interview on JoyNews on Friday, DO II Ackah highlighted the need for modern fire prevention measures, including the installation of early warning systems and the construction of adequate escape routes to ease evacuation in the event of a fire.

He noted that congestion in many markets significantly hampers emergency response efforts.

One of the persistent challenges facing the GNFS, he added, is limited access to water due to an insufficient number of fire hydrantsa responsibility managed by the Ghana Water Company.

We are in discussions with Ghana Water to ensure the provision of more hydrants, he said.

He mentioned that the GNFS is also stepping up public education efforts. Officers are conducting outreach visits to educate traders on the safe handling of flammable materials and other fire prevention practices.

DO II Ackah called on the public to cooperate with fire service personnel during these visits.

Through enhanced partnerships, education, and infrastructure improvements, the GNFS aims to significantly reduce the frequency and impact of market fires nationwide.
iOS 18.4.1: update your iPhone right now to apply this new emergency security fix

GraphicOnline Apr - 19 - 2025 , 10:22 2 minutes read

Apple has issued an urgent call for all iPhone users to update their devices immediately following the discovery and patching of two dangerous zero-day security vulnerabilities that were actively exploited in what the company described as an extremely sophisticated attack.

The new emergency update, iOS 18.4.1, is now available and applies to a wide range of Apple devices, including iPhones (XS and newer), iPads, Mac computers running macOS Sequoia, Apple TV devices, and even the recently launched Apple Vision Pro.

According to a security bulletin released by Apple, the company became aware of the flaws after they were used in targeted attacks against specific high-profile individuals. "This attack was against specific targeted individuals," Apple confirmed, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

The first vulnerability, listed as CVE-2025-31200, was discovered jointly by Apple and Googles Threat Analysis Group. It is located within CoreAudio and allows remote code execution on a device simply by processing a malicious audio file. The second flaw, CVE-2025-31201, was found in Apples Remote Participant Audio Control (RPAC) framework and can be exploited to bypass an important iOS security feature known as Pointer Authentication.

Though Apple has not disclosed the exact method used in the attacks, the companys strategy is to withhold technical details initially to give users time to update and prevent hackers from replicating the exploits. Apple hasnt shared any additional details regarding how these zero-day flaws were exploited in this extremely sophisticated attack, the statement noted.

The company warned that while such vulnerabilities are often first used to target high-level individuals such as CEOs, politicians, and activists, the techniques tend to trickle down to ordinary users eventually, making the update critical for everyone.

Security experts have echoed Apples urgency, advising users not to delay in applying the patch. Hackers love to go after people running outdated software as theyre easy targets, one advisory said. Users are also encouraged to practise strong cyber hygiene, including avoiding suspicious links and attachments, and ignoring emails that create a sense of urgencyoften classic signs of phishing scams.

This latest security patch brings Apples total number of zero-day fixes for 2025 to five. While that figure might raise concerns, experts say it reflects Apples ongoing commitment to quickly addressing threats and protecting user data. However, the responsibility ultimately rests with users to install the updates and secure their devices.

iPhone, iPad, and Mac users are advised to check their settings and install iOS 18.4.1, iPadOS, or the latest macOS update without delay to shield themselves from these known threats.
President Mahama preaches sacrifice, love and unity at Good Friday Miracle Service

Beatrice Laryea Apr - 19 - 2025 , 05:56 3 minutes read

President John Dramani Mahama has called on Ghanaians to embrace the spirit of sacrifice, justice and national unity in his Easter message delivered at the 2025 Good Friday Miracle Service held at the Independence Square in Accra.

Speaking before a packed crowd at one of the countrys largest annual Christian gatherings, the President emphasized the importance of carrying one anothers burdens and living lives rooted in truth, love, and purpose.

In a message deeply aligned with the spiritual and moral themes of Easter, President Mahama urged citizens to reflect on their personal sacrifices, their commitment to Christ and their responsibility to one another.

"Today, we gather not just as a congregation or a churchwe gather as a family of believers united by the message of the cross. Good Friday is a solemn occasion it is, for many of us, emotional, because it reminds us of the pain, the rejection, and the ultimate sacrifice of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. It reminds us of the suffering He endured so that we might have lifeand have it more abundantly," he said.

"As we remember His suffering today, we are all called to respond not only with gratitude but with actionto tell the world about the sacrifice He made for us. We are called to live lives that reflect the love of Christ," he stressed.

Citing Isaiah 53:3-5, Luke 23:34, John 15:12-13, and Galatians 6:2, President Mahama urged Ghanaians not to merely profess Christianity, but to truly embody the character of Christ by showing love, offering help, and supporting one another.

"My brothers and sisters, if Christ laid down His life for us, how much more should we be willing to lay down our pride, resentment, division, and hatred toward one another? We must not merely pretend to be Christians. We must not just claim to be followers of Jesus Christ. We must live Christ-like lives. So if anyone among you, in this assembly or congregation, is holding a grudge or in conflict with someone, this is the moment to let it go. Leave that burden here, and go back to that person and show them lovethe same love that Christ has shown you," he said.

"We are also called to carry one anothers burdens, as Paul teaches in Galatians 6:2. This means we must help each other, love one another, and support one another through lifes struggles. Many around us are sufferingnot only spiritually, but physically, emotionally, and materially. Some havent even eaten today because they simply cannot afford a meal. Thats why Christ calls us to give generously.

"There are also those among us who have more than enoughyou had breakfast, you had lunch, and when you return home, theres fufu, light soup, and aponkye waiting for you. We must learn to share in the burdens of others."

The President further encouraged the nation to let the hope of the resurrection inspire resilience, affirming that with Christ, Ghanaians can overcome any challenge.

Are we standing for justice? Are we living as the salt and light we are called to be? he asked. Even when the night is darkest, we must trust in Christ. Though Friday may be the darkest day, resurrection is coming. We must walk together in unity and in truth.

Good Friday Miracle Service

The Good Friday Miracle Service, organized by Evangelist Dag Heward-Mills and the United Denominations Originating from the Lighthouse Group of Churches, drew thousands of worshippers from across Ghana and beyond.

Centred on themes of salvation, healing, and the message of the cross, the service featured powerful moments of prayer, worship, healing, and mass altar calls.

Evangelist Heward-Mills urged the congregation to come in faith, declaring: Bring the sick, bring the broken, bring the lost  Jesus still saves, heals, and delivers!

Many worshippers, some of whom arrived hours before the 3 p.m. start, described the atmosphere as electric and life-changing.
The Small Business Administration Guam Branch Office, which has offered local businesses and startups free advice, loan assistance, and help during disasters for decades will be shuttered, branch Executive Director Ken Lujan confirmed Friday.

Lujan told the Pacific Daily News that the Guam branch, which covers all of Micronesia for the SBA Hawaii District Office, was caught up in SBAs recently announced, force reduction.

On March 21, the SBA under the Trump White House announced plans to layoff of 43% of its workforce.

But theres only one SBA employee at the Guam Branch Office: Lujan.

The office director said that he got a same-day notice on Friday that he was being let go after 40 years running the Guam branch office.

As a result of being the only employee, we got no choice but to close the office, Lujan said.

According to Lujan, the office has been operating on Guam since Typhoon Karen flattened the island in 1962.

He said hes been on the ground coordinating the arrival SBA disaster response teams from Hawaii after Typhoons Paka, Omar, Pongsona and, most recently, Mawar.

The disaster team calls me up and says, Ken, we got some people coming from Hawaii to be landing in Guam a couple hours, we need you to set some things up, he said.

After typhoons and even after COVID-19 struck the island, SBA was on the spot to help provide disaster loans and grants to keep businesses and residents on their feet.

We were involved in helping the community survive, Lujan said. With the loan programs we had and the grant moneys that we issued out during COVID.

If it werent for that, lot of businesses would have closed. A lot of employees who have lost jobs, they wouldnt be able to continue to survive, he noted.

Besides disaster response, Lujan said hes helped get SBA guaranteed loans to new and existing businesses, who might not be able get financial support without federal support. Advice to new upstarts, and businesses looking to get into federal contracting, have also been offered free of charge.

If we dont have that capability here, then that cant help grow the economy, he said, which was a concern as both Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marianas faced economic uncertainty.

We dont have a voice

None of those services will go away entirelybut there will be no SBA representatives in this time zone able to assist locals with SBA loans they secured. Thats a big deal, he said, especially for older clients who may have trouble using computers.

Nor will there be anyone employed to advocate for local issues to the SBA, he said.

You wont have a someone to speak for the for the community. We dont have a voice, Lujan added.

He said SBAs partners at University of Guam Small Business Development Center can still provide counseling and advice to local businesses, but the program is also partially funded by the SBA.

While that funding is secure for the year, Lujan said hes concerned that federal downsizing could push further in years to come.

After touching the labor force within the federal agencies, they may be now looking at program rejection, he said. But whos to say?

Lujan said hes fortunate to have all my ducks in a row as far as retirement.

He said hes been contemplating retirement for some time, and hoping to get some funding so that he could hire on and train up someone to replace himself, and continue providing the same service to the community.

The executive director said hes built the office up to what it is over the years that hes been on the job.

Unfortunately, Ive been waiting for the last four years, and now see a light at the tunnel, he said.

But decades helping folks after disasters has helped him keep up a positive outlook.

I even say to a lot of people when a typhoon hits, I say, For every calamity, theres an opportunity. So this may give me an opportunity to do something else that I havent done in 40 years.

Residents and business owners looking to contact the Guam SBA branch should instead reach out to the district office in Hawaii. Two employees at the Hawaii office were also let go, Lujan told the PDN.

Call 808-541-2990 or email hawaiigeneral@sba.gov.
A jury voted unanimously to convict Paul John Tuncap Cruz of child abuse as a third-degree felony on Friday in Superior Court of Guam Judge Vernon P. Perezs courtroom, according to a news release from the Office of the Attorney General of Guam.

Cruz was charged in connection to the November 2023 death of his 1-year-old son Pablo Cruz.

It was the second jury trial connected with the infants death. In December 2024 a jury also found the childs mother, Giltinan Ramangmou, guilty of negligent homicide and child abuse. both as third-degree felonies.

Ramangmou was sentenced to serve three years in jail and three years of supervised release.

During the first trial, Chief Medical Examiner Jeffrey Nine said the boy showed signs of battered child syndrome, and the cause of death was likely from repeated blows to the head. He also said the baby was underweight and severely malnourished.

Attorney General of Guam Douglas Moylan said that the case was a difficult one. The jury took a day and a half to reach a verdict.

Paul Cruz did not directly hurt his infant son, but neither did he get him immediate attention after the mother injured their child, he said. Given Cruzs crime, we will ask Judge Perez to impose the maximum sentence of five years.

Moylan credited his trial team of prosecutor Cristopher O. Grey; investigator Jerome Lorenzo; and paralegal Raya K. King. Moylan added that Grey is an off-island and unclassified hire as a prosecutor.

Another verdict

Earlier in the week, another prosecution team secured a conviction in the trial of Gregorio Jason K. Pangelinan. The 12 jurors returned unanimous guilty verdicts for theft by receiving a motor vehicle as a second-degree felony, and possession of a Schedule II controlled substance as a third-degree felony.

Moylan thanked his team, namely prosecutor J. David Griffin, investigator Frank R. Santos, paralegals Raya K. King, Juliet Erese and Carene Blas, and victim advocate John Castro.

The jury took just 47 minutes to reach a guilty verdict, said Moylan. Given Pangelinans extensive criminal history, his office will ask for the maximum sentence of 15 years.
A sailor with the USS Nimitz has been reported missing and the Guam Police Department is asking the communitys help to find him.

Gabriel D. Holt was last seen between Hotel Nikko Guam and Gun Beach at 11:57 p.m. Friday, according to GPD.

He is 6 feet tall, 192 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.

He was last seen wearing a white tank top, green shorts, and gray shoes.

Residents with information should call 911 or the Tumon Precinct Command at 671-649-6330.

The aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, along with an embarked carrier air wing and two destroyers, arrived for a scheduled port visit on Guam Friday.

The Nimitz Carrier Strike Group departed Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington, for a regularly scheduled deployment to the Western Pacific on March 21.

The strike group is made up of USS Nimitz (CVN 68), Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 17, and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 9.
GTA unveiled its latest village mural by local artist Jeff Ejan in front of the Agana Heights gymnasium.

Ejan (@soft.kor on Instagram) painted Mannginge which is part of GTAs Village Mural Project.

Launched in 2022, the Village Mural Project was created to support local artists and beautify villages across the island in partnership with Guams mayors.

Through vibrant, meaningful public art, the initiative aims to celebrate cultural identity and community pride while inspiring the next generation, GTA said.

Mannginge, in CHamoru, refers to the act of showing respect to elders by sniffing or kissing the back of their hand or cheek symbolizes a deep connection to heritage, much like the recognition of a familiar scent tied to home and tradition.

Technological advance is inevitable, and it comes with an ever-evolving western pop culture. The thinning of traditions, language, and practices have been at a high. We must be the bridge to pass down treasures our fore families have gifted us. Stories, signs of respect, and language will be lost if not integrated and taught to the next generation, Ejan, whose work can be seen on several prominent buildings throughout Tumon, said in a statement.

He added, We should embrace progression but also remember to share the beautiful cultures that make us unique. Share a story, teachings, or language to another islander and youll find out we have more things in common. Thank you to my elders both blood and island adoptive for sharing.

Adding another meaningful layer to the mural, the logo on the right pays tribute to retired Mayor Paul McDonalds 32-year legacy of service to the Agana Heights community.

His decades of leadership promoted strong family values, support for manamko (elders), empowerment of youth, and advancement in education and sports.

Sharon Davis, vice president of community engagement and external affairs at GTA, emphasized the significance of cultural preservation in tandem with innovation.

As a company deeply rooted in Guams growth, we know that technology is only one part of our future, she said in a statement. Projects like the Village Mural Project are important reminders to celebrate and preserve our cultural heritage. Jeff Ejans Mannginge beautifully captures this message.

Mayor Richard Arroyo of Agana Heights expressed his appreciation for the mural and its deeper meaning.

This mural is more than just artits a tribute to our history, culture, and the progress we continue to make as a community, he said. It adds vibrancy and depth to Agana Heights, reminding us of the importance of honoring our traditions while embracing the future. I thank GTA and Jeff Ejan for bringing this meaningful vision to life.
Guam recently welcomed a delegation of young journalists from Japan as part of the Mainichi Kids Reporter Program, a cultural and educational initiative co-hosted by the Guam Visitors Bureau and the Mainichi Shogakusei Newspaper.

The program offered a unique opportunity for Japanese elementary school students to experience Guam firsthand and share its stories with their peers back home, according to a release from the Guam Visitors Bureau.

Established in 1936, the Mainichi Shogakusei Newspaper is a daily publication tailored for elementary school students in Japan. It presents domestic and international news in an accessible manner, with all kanji characters accompanied by furigana (phonetic readings), making it readable for children as young as first graders. The newspaper aims to cultivate young readers interest in current affairs and global events from an early age.

The delegation comprised students selected from over 540 applicants across Japan, reflecting strong enthusiasm for Guam as an educational destination.

During their time on the island, the students explored Guams natural beauty, rich CHamoru culture, and historical landmarks, deepening their understanding of its identity and charm.

One of the most memorable moments of their stay was a visit to the Office of the Governor, where the children took part in an office tour, learning about Guams government functions and leadership. The highlight of their visit was the students formal interview with a government official, asking thoughtful questions they had prepared in advance.

We were honored to host these bright young reporters and proud to show them the heart of Guam, said Regina Nedlic, GVBs Japan senior marketing manager. Their curiosity and enthusiasm reminded us how powerful cultural exchange can beespecially with the next generation.

The students articlesbased on their firsthand experienceswill be published in the Mainichi Shogakusei Newspaper.

The newspaper is expected to serve as a promotional tool (sales kit) in the Japanese education and travel market, showcasing Guam as an ideal destination for school trips and youth educational programs.

It is a rare opportunity for a child to be able to meet and interview a foreign leader and then experience her country. Guam is the perfect place for these young journalists to gain that overall understanding of a Pacific island, which is easily accessible to them. We hope to welcome more young journalists from Japan and the region as a part of our Educational and Group Support programs, GVB General Manager Regine Biscoe Lee said.
Gracie Manibusan, a freshman at Notre Dame High School won the fourth annual Guam Poetry Out Loud contest, the Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency announced in a release.

The competition was held on March 15 at the Guam Museum in Hagatna and was hosted in conjunction with the Office of the Governor, the National Endowment for the Arts and the Poetry Foundation.

Poetry Out Loud is a national initiative that encourages students to engage deeply with poetry through memorization, performance, and a dynamic recitation competition.

This is the 20th anniversary of the Poetry Out Loud program.

Rounding out top honors were Nikolette Salas, from Tiyan High School in second place and Teuila Keresoma from Guahan Academy Charter School finishing third.

Other participants included Madison Lujan from Southern High School and Alicia Bacani from Okkodo High School.

Manibusan will advance to represent Guam at the Poetry Out Loud National Finals in Washington, D.C., this May. There she will compete against other state and jurisdiction champions for national recognition. Guest judges presided over the competition, and evaluated student performances on criteria including physical presence, voice and articulation, and accuracy.

Artistic expression in any form fosters critical thinking, CAHA acting Director Angie Taitague said. It is essential that we provide platforms like Poetry Out Loud where our youth can harness such abilities while drawing connections between contemporary life and literary history.

In addition to the competition, performances by guest poets were featured.

Sponsors and partners of the event included the Coast360 Federal Credit Union, Bank of Guam, BankPacific, Promotions Specialties, Triple J Ent., KFC, Infusion Coffee & Tea Guam, GTA, Breaking Waves Theater Co. and the Guam Public Library System.

Poetry Out Loud aligns seamlessly with CAHAs mission to promote artistic practice among artisans while offering residents opportunities to learn about art in its diverse manifestations; a testament to CAHAs commitment to embedding arts into daily life on Guam.

The Guam Council on the Arts and Humanities Agency is Guams state arts agency dedicated to inspiring creativity through artistic practices interwoven into everyday experiences for all.
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Postal Code
The Project Gutenberg eBook of Center pieces and lunch sets in crochet work This ebook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this ebook or online at www.gutenberg.org . If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Center pieces and lunch sets in crochet work Author: Anne Orr Release date: April 16, 2025 [eBook #75880] Language: English Original publication: Nashville: Anne Orr, 1915 Credits: Bob Taylor, Aaron Adrignola and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CENTER PIECES AND LUNCH SETS IN CROCHET WORK ***

[Pg 1]

Center Pieces and Lunch Sets

IN

CROCHET

WORK Price 25 Cents

PUBLISHED BY

Anne Orr

NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE

[Pg 2]

Instructions for Plate No. 1

Illustrated on Cover Page

MATERIALS6 balls Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 10, Steel Crochet Needle No 8.

SMALL MEDALLION

Ch 6, join, 3 ch, 18 t in ring, join; ch 8, join in 5th t; repeat around until you have 4 loops; 15 d in each loop.

MEDIUM MEDALLION

Ch 6, join, ch 3, 18 t in ring, join; ch 4, t in first t, ch 1, t in next t, ch 1, repeat around, join; ch 4, dt between first t, ch 8, 2 dt in between second t, repeat around until you have 9 scallops, then d around, making 15 d to each scallop.

LARGE MEDALLION

First Rowch 6, fasten. Second RowFill in 18 trebles. Third Row18 t in every stitch, with 2 stitches between, then fasten. Fourth Row4 trebles in first space, ch 2, 1 t in next space, ch 2, 4 t until all are filled. Fifth Rowch 6 in every space until filled. Sixth Rowch 6 in every center of ch 6. Seventh Row4 t in every 6 ch and 2 ch, between the 4 t until all are filled. Eighth Row4 t, 1 stitch between, 3 ch, take up 2 ch with a short stitch, then ch of 3 again, and 4 double stitches, until all are filled. Ninth Row2 dt in every 4, t with 8 ch between. Tenth Row15 d stitches in every ch that forms the scallop.





ANNE ORR PUBLICATIONS Cross-stitch Designs, in black and white, Set A, Published 1914. Cross-stitch Designs, in color, Set B, Copyrighted January 1915. Cross-stitch Designs, in color, Set C, Copyrighted June 1915. A Book of Centerpieces and Lunch Sets, Copyrighted September, 1915.

[Pg 3]

A Book of

Center Pieces and Lunch Sets

Arranged and Published by Anne Orr

INSTRUCTIONS

FOR CROCHETING

STITCHES

CHAIN: Make a loop, insert hook, throw thread over hook, and draw a loop through first one made. Each loop is a chain stitch.

SINGLE CROCHET: Make chain, insert hook through second last chain, throw thread over hook, draw through, throw thread over hook, draw through both loops at once.

TREBLE CROCHET: Throw thread over hook twice, draw a loop through foundation chain, throw thread over again, draw through the two loops, throw thread over and draw through two, thread over and draw through last two.

DOUBLE CROCHET: Throw thread over hook and draw a loop through foundation chain; throw thread over hook and draw through two loops, thread over hook and draw through last two loops.

PICOT: Chain 4 and make single crochet in fourth chain from hook.

SLIP STITCH: Insert hook in foundation chain, draw a loop through it and the loop on hook.

ABBREVIATIONS

chstands for chain spstands for space. scstands for single crochet. h trstands for half treble. dcstands for double crochet. pstands for picot. tcstands for treble crochet. mstands for mesh. sl ststands for slip stitch. f mstands for fancy mesh. ststands for stitch. l mstands for long mesh.









Copyrighted 1915

by

Anne Orr

Nashville, Tenn.







PRICE 25 CENTS

[Pg 4]

Instructions for Plate No. 2

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 24 INCHES

MATERIALS6 balls Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 10, Steel Crochet Needle No. 8.

Each leaf must be worked separately.

First RowChain 14, sl st back into 7th st of ch, forming ring 7 ch join into last st of ch, forming 2d ring.

Second Row6 ch, miss 3 st of ring, 1 sc into 7th st of ch, 4 ch, 1 sc, join into connecting of the two rings, 4 ch, 1 sc, join to top st of small ring, 6 ch, 1 sc, join into same st, 4 ch, 1 sc, join into connection of two rings opposite other ch 4, 4 ch, 1 sc, join into 4th st of next ring, 6 ch st sl at top of leaf.

Third RowSl st 9 times over every ch of 6 and sl st 6 times over every ch of 4 around leaf, join.

Fourth RowSc into top of each sl st around leaf, join.

Fifth Row9 sc, join into top of each 9 sc, 6 ch, sl st back to 4th st of ch 6, forming a picot, 1 sc, join into top of 2d sc, skipping one sc, repeat until 16 sc are set around leaf, each separated by a picot, 9 sc, join into top of each 9 sc, join, finishes leaf.

The second leaf is made same as first leaf until sixth row.

Sixth Row3 sc, join to each 3 sc, place 1st leaf by 2d and sl st to 3d, sc from the beginning of leaf, 1 sc back to 2d leaf top of sc, repeat 3 times to join together, 3 sc, join into each 3 sc, making 9 sc on leaf, 6 ch sl st back to 4th st of ch, forming picot, 1 sc, skip 1 sc, join to top of 2d sc, 2 ch join into 2d picot of other leaf, 2 ch, 1 sc, skip one, 1 sc, join to 2d sc, 2 ch, join to next picot of leaf, joining the two together, 2 ch, 1 sc, join to 2d sc, 6 ch sl st back to 4th st in ch, 1 sc, join into next 2d sc, repeat twice, 7 ch, join to 3d picot on next leaf, turn, fill ch 7 with 12 sc, sl st to top of sc, 6 ch, sl st back to 4th st in ch, 1 sc, go into 2d sc, repeat twice, 2 ch, 1 sc, join to 2d sc, 7 ch, join back to 2d sc of 12 in ch 7, turn, fill in with 10 sc, leaving st of ch, 7 ch, join to next 2d sc in ch 7, repeat until 6 spokes are made, leaving sp at top of each, 2 ch, join to 3d picot of other leaf, then fill out around the 6 spokes, making 6 sc in each, join to top of sc, 6 ch, sl st back to 4th st in ch for picot until you have 16 sc around leaf same as the first leaf, 9 sc join. Make each scallop in same manner, joining each to preceding by 3d and 4th picots at side. For the upper edge 2 sc, join in 1st sp at side of leaf, 5 ch, 3 sc, join into each 3 sc in middle of 9 sc, 5 ch 2 sc, join into 2 sc, join at connection of leaf, 2 sc, join at connection of other leaf, repeat around.

Lower EdgeFasten in 2d picot on side of leaf, 5 ch, sl st to 2d picot on the other leaf, 5 ch join into next second picot, 5 ch join to top of 1st spoke, 5 ch join to 2d spoke, repeat around, fill in each ch 5 with 6 sc picot 6 sc to each, repeat around.









[Pg 5]





[Pg 6] Instructions for Plate No. 3

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 18 INCHES

MATERIALS3 balls of Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 10, Steel Crochet Needle No. 8.

Tc around piece, join.

First Row2 tc into 2 tc, 4 ch, skip 4, dc 2 tc to 2 tc, repeat around, join.

Second Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 4, repeat around.

Third Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 5 times, 5 ch, 12 tc into ch of 5, repeat around.

Fourth Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch, repeat 4 times, 5 ch 3 tc between 3d and 4th tc 3tc into same, 1 ch, 3 tc between 6th and 7th tc, 3 tc into same, 1 ch, 3 tc between 9th and 10th tc, 3 tc into same, 5 ch to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Fifth Row5 ch to sl st to ch 5, repeat 4 times, 3 sc between 3d and 4th tc, 3 sc into same, 2 ch, 3 sc between 9th and 10th tc, 3 ch, 3 sc between 15th and 16th tc, 3 sc into same, 5 ch to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Sixth Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 4 times, 3 sc between 3d and 4th, 1 ch, 3 sc into same, 4 ch 3 sc between 3d and 4th sc, 1 ch, 3 sc into same, 5 ch 3 sc between 3d and 4th sc, 1 ch 3 sc into same, 5 ch to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Seventh Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 4 times, 5 ch 3 sc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 sc into same, 5 ch 3 sc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 sc into same, 5 ch 3 sc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 sc into same, 5 ch to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Eighth Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 4 times, 3 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 5 ch 3 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 5 ch 3 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 5 ch sl st to ch 5, repeat around.

Ninth Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 4 times, 3 tc into ch 1, ch 1 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into middle st of ch 5, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 1st 1 ch, 1 ch 3 tc into same st, 1 ch 3 tc into 2d ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 3d ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into middle st of ch 5, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 5 ch sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Tenth Row5 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat 4 times, 5 ch 3 tc into 1st ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 2d ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 3d ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 4th ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 5th ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 6th ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 1 ch 3 tc into 7th ch 1, 1 ch 3 tc into same, 5 ch sl st to middle st of ch 5, repeat around.

Eleventh Row4 ch sl st to every 3d st around.

Twelfth Row4 ch sl st to middle st of ch 4, repeat around.





[Pg 7]

[Pg 8]

Instructions for Plate No. 4

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 27 INCHES

Pineapple and Shamrock Design

MATERIALS5 balls of Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 15, Steel Crochet Needle No. 9.

Make a chain of 64, turn.

First Row1 sc into 5th st of ch, 3 ch sl st to 3d st of ch from sc, 3 ch, 1 sc to 3d again in ch, 3 ch sl st to 3d st of ch, 3 ch, 1 sc to 3d st of ch, 3 ch, sl st to 3d st of ch, 3 ch, 3 sc into each 3d of ch, 8 ch, skip 8 ch, st, 1 sc into 9th st of ch, 2 ch, 1 sc into same st, repeat 4 times, into same st 8 ch, skip 8 st of ch, into 9th st, sc 9 times, 8 ch, skip 8 st of ch, into 9th st, sc 1 2 ch sc 1 same st 4 times, turn.

Second Row5 sc into 1st ch of 2 sl st to top of sc, 5 sc into 2d ch 2, sl st to sc, 5 sc into 3d ch 2, sl st to sc 8 ch, sl st to 1st of sc 9, 4 ch, sl st to 2d st of sc 9, 4 ch, sl st to 3d st of sc, 4 ch, sl st to 4th of 9, 4 ch, sl st to 5th st of 9 sc, 4 ch sl st to 6th st of sc 9, 4 ch sl st to 7th st, 4 ch sl st to 8th st, 4 ch sl st to 9th st, 8 ch, sl st to sc 1 5 sc into ch 2, sl st to sc 2, 5 sc into ch 2, sl st into sc 3, 5 sc into ch 2, sl st to sc 4, 8 ch, 2 sc into 1st sc, 1 sc into 2d sc, 2 sc into 3d sc, 6 ch, 1 sc to 1st sc, 6 ch 1 sc to 2d sc, 6 ch, 1 sc into 3d sc, 1 ch, 1 sc into 3d st of ch, turn.

Third Row4 ch 1 sc to 1st sc, 3 ch sl st to 3d st, 3 ch 1 sc to 2d sc, 3 ch sl st to 3d st, 3 ch 1 sc to 3d sc, 3 ch sl st to 3d st, 3 ch 2 sc into 1st sc, 1 sc to 2d sc 1 ch, 1 sc to 4th sc, 2 sc into 5th sc, 8 ch, 1 sc to middle point of leaf, 2 ch 1 sc to same st, repeat 4 times, 8 ch sl st to ch 4, repeat across, 8 ch sc to leaf, repeat as before, turn.

Fourth RowForm leaf as in 2d row, 8 ch sl st to ch 4, repeat across, 8 ch sl st to sc 1, repeat leaf, 8 ch 2 sc to 1st sc, 1 sc to 2d sc, 1 ch, 1 sc to ch 1, 1 ch 1 sc to sc 2d, 2 sc to last sc, 6 ch 1 sc to 1st sc, 6 ch, 1 sc to 2d sc, ch 6 1 sc to 3d sc, 1 ch 1 sc to 3d st, turn.

Fifth RowRepeat as in 3d row to sc in 1st sc, 1 ch, 1 sc to 2d sc, repeat, skipping one sc each time, 8 ch to middle leaf, repeat same across as row 4, turn.

Sixth RowSame as 4th row, turn.

Seventh RowSame as 5th row, turn.

Eighth RowSame as 6th row, turn.

Ninth RowSame as 7th row, turn.

Tenth RowForm leaf, 8 ch sl st to ch 4, 8 ch, repeat same as row 8, turn.

Eleventh RowSame as 9th row until point of pineapple, 1 sc 1 ch, repeat 4 times in to sl st 8 ch 1 sc to point of leaf, repeat 4 times, turn.

Twelfth RowForm leaf 8 ch to 1 sc form leaf, 8 ch to 1st sc form leaf, and repeat as in 10th row, turn.

Thirteenth RowSame as 11th row to 1 st sc, 2 sc into 1 st sc, 1 sc to 2d sc, 8 ch 1 sc to 5th sp, repeat 4 times, 8 ch, 9 sc into last st of sc, 8 ch 1 sc to point of leaf, repeat 4 times, turn. Makes 1 scallop, repeat until large as desired.









[Pg 9]

[Pg 10] Instructions for Plate No. 5

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 27 INCHES

MATERIALS9 balls of Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 15, Steel Crochet Needle No. 9.

Chain 6, join.

First Row22 sc, join into ch 6, join.

Second Row5 ch, sl st to top st of 2d sc, 5 ch sl st to top of 4th sc, repeat around, making 11 loops.

Third RowDraw thread up loosely and sl st into middle of 1st loop of 5 st, 3 ch sl st into 2d loop of ch 5, and repeat around.

Fourth Rowsl st into ch 3, 4 sc join into same ch 3, sl st into ch 3, sl st join into 2d ch 3, 4 sc into same ch 3, sl st into same ch 3 sl st into 3d ch 3, and repeat around.

Fifth Row15 ch st, throw thread over needle once and join back into 6th st of ch from last end, forming a small ring on end of ch, 1 ch, 1 sc, skip 1 st of ch, go into 2d st from ring, making a sp, 1 ch, 1 sc, skip 1 st, join into 2d st of ch from last sp, making 3 sps, 11 sc, joined over rest of ch of 15, filling it in, throw thread over needle once and go into top of middle of lower fan, turn, 5 ch, throw thread over needle once, go into top of 9th sc of 11th sc, 1 ch 1 sc, join to top of 10th sc, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to top of 11th sc, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to top of 12th sc, turn, make 5 ch st, throw thread over needle once, join to top of 1st sc, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to top of 2d sc, 1 ch, 12 sc, fill in ch 5, throw thread over needle once and go in between lower fans turn, repeat the same for each spoke until around and join.

Sixth Row5 ch, sl st into ch 5 on point of spoke, repeat around.

Seventh Row8 sc joined into ch 5, repeat same around and join.

Eighth Row5 ch, sl st to top of middle st of 8 sc in ch 5, 5 ch sl st between 8 sc into ch 5, repeat around.

Ninth Row4 ch, sl st into middle of loop of ch 5, repeat around.

Tenth Row1 sl st into ch 4, 5 sc into same ch of 4, 1 sl st into same ch of 4, 1 sl st into next ch 4, 5 sc join into same ch of 4, sl st into same, and repeat around.

Eleventh RowSame as 5th row.

Repeat the 5th, 6th, 7th, 8th, 9th and 10th rows over 3 times in rotation, as given, and the last time leave off 8th, 9th and 10th rows, stopping on the one same as 7th row.

Start scallop, 8 sc joined to each lower 8 sc, 2 ch 12 sc, skip 2, lower sc, st and join into each, 12 sc 2 ch, skip 2, st of sc 8 sc into each lower 8 sc, repeat around.

Second Rowsl st into top of 2d sc of the 8 sc, repeat into 6 st of the 8 sc, leaving one, 3 ch, 12 sc join into each of lower 12 sc, 3 ch sl st into 2d st of 8 sc for 6 times, leaving one, 3 ch 12 sc join to each lower 12 sc, and repeat same around.

Third Rowsl st join to 2d sl st, repeat 5 times, 4 ch 1 sc join to top of 1st sc of 12, 1 ch 1 sc join to 2d st of sc 12, repeating 12 times, 4 ch sl st to 2d lower sl st, repeat into each lower sl st, and repeat same around.

Fourth Rowsl st into 2d sl st below, sl st into each 4, sl st 4 ch, 1 sc join to 1st sc 1 ch, 1 sc join to 2d sc, repeat across the 12 sc, ch 4, and repeat around.

Fifth Rowsl st 3 times into 4 lower sl st, 5 ch, 1 sc join to 1st sc of 12, 2 ch, 1 sc join to 2d sc of 12 sc, repeat around.

Sixth Rowsl st twice into lower sl st of 3, 5 ch, 1 sc join to top of 1st sc of 12 sc, 2 ch, 1 sc join to 2d sc of 12 sc, repeat around.

Seventh Rowsl st once into lower sl st of 2, 5 ch, 1 sc join to 1st sc of 12 sc, 3 ch, 1 sc join to 2d sc of 12 sc, repeat across, 5 ch, sl st 1 to sl st 2, repeat around, 3 ch, 1 sc join to middle st of ch 5, 3 ch join to 1st sc, 3 ch join to 2d sc, and repeat around.

Edgesl st into ch 3, 1 ch sl st into same ch, 1 ch sl st into same, repeating 5 times into each ch of 3 around.





[Pg 11]

[Pg 12] Instructions for Plate No. 6

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 32 INCHES

Shell Center Piece

MATERIALS6 balls of Silkine Crochet Cotton No. 10, 1 Steel Needle No. 9.

Chain of 12 st, join, hold ch ring around finger, wrap thread around finger with ch 3 times, sl st and tie, sl st over ch and thread 27 times making a padded ring.

First Row6 ch, 1 sc, join to 3d sl st of ring, 3 ch, 1 sc, skip 2 sl st in ring, join in 3d, repeat 9 times, join.

Second Row3 ch, sl st to top of sc, repeat around.

Third Row6 sc, join into ch 3, sl st to top of sc 1, repeat around.

Fourth Row4 ch, sl st to top of sc 1, holding petals that are made over with finger so ch 4 will be underneath petals, repeat around.

Fifth Row8 sc, join into ch 4, sl st 1, repeat around.

Sixth Row1 sc, join to 2d st of sc 8, 2 ch, 1 sc, join to same st, 4 ch, 1 sc, join to 5th st of sc 8, repeat same over 7 petals, 4 ch, 1 sc, join to 2d st of sc 8, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to 5th st of petal, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to next petal, 2d st, 1 ch, 1 sc join to 5th st of petal, 4 ch, join.

Seventh Row1 sc, join in ch 2 between sc, 2 ch, 1 sc, join in same, 4 ch, 1 sc, join in next ch 2 and repeat same 14 times, 1 ch, 1 sc, join in lower ch 4, 1 ch, 1 sc, join in to top of sc, repeat across, join.

Eighth Row2 sc, join into ch 2 between sc, 2 ch, 2 sc, join into same, 4 ch, 2 sc, join to next ch 2, repeat around 14 times, 1 ch, 1 sc, join into ch 1, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to top of sc, repeat across.

Ninth RowSame as 8th row.

Tenth Row3 sc, join into ch 2 between sc 2, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, 4 ch, 3 sc, join into next ch 2 between sc 2, repeat same 14 times, finish across same as last row.

Eleventh Row3 sc, join into ch 2 between sc 3, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, 2 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 4, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into next ch 2 between sc 3, repeat around 14 times, finish across as before.

Twelfth RowSame as 11th row, except ch between fans are 4 ch, sl st, to lower sl st, 4 ch, back to fan.

Thirteenth Row3 sc, join into ch 2 between sc 3, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, 9 ch, sl st to ch 2 between sc 3, repeat around to last fan, 3 sc, join into ch 2 between sc 3, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, repeat across as before.

Fourteenth Row3 sc, join into ch 2 of fan, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, fill in ch 9 with 14 sc, repeat around to last fan, make fan, and finish across same as before.

Fifteenth RowMake fan, 5 sc, join into each first five sc in ch 9, 4 ch, skip 4 sc in ch 9, 5 sc, joined to top of each last 5 sc in ch 9, 4 ch, 4 sc join to top of 4 sc in ch 9, skipping 4 sc each time repeat around and make fan. Make sp across same as before.

Sixteenth RowMake fan the same, 6 ch, 3 sc, join into ch 4, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, repeat around, make fan. Sps across the same.

Seventeenth RowMake fan the same, 1 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 6, 1 ch, 3 sc, join into ch 2 of fan, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into same ch, repeat around. Make fan, repeat across the same.

Eighteenth RowMake fan the same, ch, sl st to middle of lower ch, 3 ch, 3 sc, join into ch 2 of fan, 2 ch, 3 sc join into same, repeat around and across spaces, finishing one Medallion.

Repeat same directions for each.





[Pg 13]

[Pg 14] Instructions for Plate No. 7

SIZE OF LUNCH PIECE, 45 INCHES

Medallion Center Piece

MATERIALS10 balls of Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 50, Steel Crochet Needle No. 13.

Chain of 8 st, join.

First Row32 sc into ch of 8 st, join.

Second Row2 sc join between 1st and 2d sc, 2 ch 2 sc join between 2 sc, skipping 2 sc, repeating 12 times, 4 ch sl st between 2 sc, skipping 2 sc, repeat 3 times.

Third Row4 ch, 3 sc join into 1st ch 2, 2 ch, 3 sc join into same, 4 ch, 3 sc, into 2d ch 2, 2 ch, sc 3, into same, repeating 11 times, 4 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 4, repeat 4 times.

Fourth Row4 ch, 3 sc into ch 2 between sc 6, 2 ch, 3 sc into same, 4 ch 3 sc into 2d ch 2 between sc 6, repeat same 11 times, 4 ch, sl st to middle st of ch 4, repeat 5 times.

Fifth RowSame as 4th row.

Sixth Row4 ch 3 sc into ch 2 of 1st sc 6, 3 sc into same, 5 ch, and repeat as in 5th row.

Seventh Row4 ch sl st into ch 2 of 1st sc 6, 6 ch, 1 sc, catch all 4 lower ch 4, draw loosely, 6 ch sl st into ch 2 of 2d, sc 6, repeating around all the fans, 4 ch, join across as before.

Eighth Row4 ch, 9 sc into ch 6, going into ch 6, 9 times around to ch 4, repeating across as before.

Ninth Row4 ch, 3 sc join to top st of 4th, 5th and 6th sc of sc 9, 4 ch and repeat around to ch 4, and repeat ch 4 across.

Tenth Row4 ch, 3 sc into ch 4, 2 ch, 3 sc into same, repeating around to ch 4, repeat across ch 4 as before.

Eleventh Row4 ch, 3 sc into ch 2 of sc 6, 5 ch into 2d ch 2 of sc 6, repeating around to ch 4, repeat across ch 4 as before.

Twelfth RowSame as 11th row.

Thirteenth Row4 ch, 1 sc into ch 2 of sc 6, 3 ch, sl st back through sc 1, repeating 6 times, 5 ch 1 sc, catching up all 3 ch of 5, draw loosely, 5 ch 1 sc into ch 2 of 2d sc 6, repeat same as before, around to ch 4, repeat ch 4 across as before.

To join MedallionsCatch the point of 3d shell of 2 medallions and sl st together, and fill in between each with ch of 4 back and forth to top, then across ch 4 on top and repeat until all are joined.









[Pg 15]

[Pg 16] Instructions for Plate No. 8

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 27 INCHES

Pineapple and Acorn Design

MATERIALSFour balls of Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 10, Steel Crochet Needle No. 8.

First Rowtc around center piece.

Second Row2 tc into top of 2 lower tc, ch 4, skip 3 lower tc and tc 2 into top of 4th, repeat around, join.

Third Row5 ch, sl st in middle of ch, ch 4, repeat around.

Fourth Row2 tc into ch 5, 1 ch, tc 2, to ch 5, 4 ch, 14 tc into ch 5, skip 1 link, repeat around, join.

Fifth Row2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc to ch 1, 4 ch, sl st to 1st, tc of 14, 4 ch, sl st to 3d of tc 14, 4 ch, sl st to top of 5th tc, 4 ch sl st to 7th of tc 14, 4 ch, sl st to 9th of tc 14, 4 ch sl st to 11th of tc 14, 4 ch sl st to 13th of tc 14, 4 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc to ch 1, 4 ch sl st to 1st, tc 14, and repeat around.

Sixth Row2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 4 ch sl st to middle of ch 4, repeat around.

Seventh RowSame as 6th row.

Eighth Row2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 5 ch, sl st into middle of ch 4, repeat around.

Ninth Row2 tc into 1st ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 2 tc into 2d ch 1, 1 ch 2 tc into ch 1, 5 ch, sl st into ch 4, repeat around.

Tenth Row2 tc into 1st ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc in ch 1, 1 tc into 2d ch 1, 3 ch, 1 tc into ch 1, 2 tc into 3d ch 1, 1 ch 2 tc into ch 1, 5 ch sl st to ch 4, repeating around.

Eleventh Row2 tc into 1st ch 1, 1 ch 2 tc into ch 1, 1 ch 12 tc into ch 3, 1 ch, 2 tc into 2nd ch 1, 1 ch, 2 tc into ch 1, 5 ch sl st to ch 4, repeat around.

Twelfth Row4 tc into 1st ch 1, 1 ch 1 tc into top of 1st tc of 12, 1 tc into top of 2d tc, 2 tc into top of 3d tc, 1 tc to 4 tc, 1 tc to 5th tc, 2 tc to 6th tc, 1 tc to 7th tc, 1 tc to 8th tc, 2 tc to 9th tc, 1 tc to 10th tc, 2 tc to 11th tc, 1 tc to 12th tc, 1 ch, 4 tc into 2d ch 1, 6 ch to middle of ch 4, repeat around.

Thirteenth Row4 ch sl st to top of each 3d st around.

Fourteenth Row4 ch into middle st of ch 4 around.

Fifteenth RowSame as 14th row.

Sixteenth Row5 ch sl st back into 2d st of ch, 2 ch sl st into middle st of ch 4, repeat around.





[Pg 17]

[Pg 18] Instructions for Plate No. 9

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 36 INCHES

MATERIALS2 spools of Carpet Warp, Steel Crochet Needle No. 5.

First Row5 ch, 3 sc join all into 1st st of ch 1 ch 3 sc join into same st 2 ch, turn, 3 sc join into ch 1 between sc 3, 1 ch, 3 sc join into same st, 2 ch, turn and repeat over until 25 fans are made, 6 ch, join into ch 2 at side of 1st fan, 6 ch, join into ch 2, side of 2d fan, repeat until 9 loops are made, turn.

Second Rowsl st over the 6 ch, st 10 times, in each, until 9th loop sl st over 5 times, leaving half the loop, turn.

Third Row6 ch sl st to middle st of loop 2, repeat across, turn, sl st over ch 6, going in each 10 times as before until last loop is reached, sl st 5 st over leaving half of loop, turn.

Fourth RowRepeat same as 3d row.

Fifth RowSame as 4th row.

Sixth RowSame as 4th row.

Seventh RowSame as 4th row.

Eighth RowSame as 4th row.

Ninth RowSame as 4th row.

Tenth RowLeaves only one loop, sl st over, going in 10 times, sl st over the side of loop left going in 5 times, repeat down all loops the same, 2 ch, 3 sc, join into ch 1 in fan. 1 ch, 3 sc join into same st, 2 ch, turn.

First Row around point3 sc join in ch 1 in fan, 1 ch 3 sc join into same st. 1 ch, 1 sc, join into ch 2, by side of fan, 1 ch, 1 sc to side of fan. 1 ch 1 sc between fan, repeat around, point and join to ch 2 by 1st fan, turn.

Second Row4 ch 1 sc, into ch 1, repeat around, 3 sc join in ch 1 of fan, 1 ch, 3 sc to same, 2 ch, turn.

Third Row3 sc, join in ch 1 of fan, 1 ch 3 sc into same st, 4 ch, join to ch 4, repeat around, join to ch 2 of fan, turn.

Fourth Row5 ch, join to ch 4, repeat around making fan as before, turn.

Fifth RowMake fan, repeat ch of 5 around as before, turn.

Sixth RowSame as 4th row.

Seventh RowSame as 5th row, join to last of ch 2, turn.

Eighth Row8 sc, filling in ch 5, sl st 1 into 2d ch 5, 8 sc fill in next ch 5, repeating around and make fan as before, making 25 fans as at first for 2d point and repeat as in first point until 6 points are made and join fan between points, join thread to middle of scallop, 8 ch join to middle scallop on opposite point, turn, sl st over 14 times, 1 ch join in point of scallop, 8 ch, sl st to middle of loop, 8 ch join to point of fan, turn, sl st over 14 times each loop, turn, 2 ch 1 sc join to each 3d st of loop across, turn, 4 ch, sl st to ch 2, repeat across, turn. 4 ch, sl st ch 4 across, turn, 8 sc fill in ch 4, sl st 1 into 2d ch 4, repeat across row across top of fans around piece, 3 sc join in ch 2 on side of fan, 1 ch 3 sc join to next ch 2 by side of fan, repeat around.





[Pg 19]

[Pg 20] Instructions for Plate No. 10

SIZE OF LARGE CENTER PIECE, 18 INCHES. SIZE OF DOYLIE (LARGE) 12 INCHES.

SIZE OF DOYLIE (SMALL) 6 INCHES.





Star Lunch Set

MATERIALS 10 balls Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 15, Steel Crochet Needle No. 7.

Center Piece

First RowChain of 6, join, 3 sc, join in chain, 2 ch 3 sc, join in ch, 2 ch; repeat 8 times same into ch, join.

Second Row2 sc, join to top of 1st sc, 1 sc join to 2d sc, 2 sc join to 3d sc; 2 ch, 2 sc, join to 1st sc as before, and repeat around, join.

Third Row2 sc join to 1st sc, 1 sc to 2d sc, 1 sc to 3d sc, 1 sc to 4th sc, 2sc to 5 sc, 2 ch 2 sc to 1st sc, and repeat as before, and around, join.

Fourth RowSame as 3d row; widen with 2 sc in 1st and last st of each sc of diamond, join.

Fifth RowSame as 4th row.

Sixth RowSame as 4th row.

Seventh RowSame as 4th row.

Eighth RowSame as 4th row.

Ninth RowSame as 4th row.

Tenth RowSame as 4th row.

Eleventh RowSame as 4th row.

Twelfth RowSame as 4th row.

Thirteenth RowSame as 4th row.

Fourteenth RowSame as 4th row.

Fifteenth RowSame as 4th row.

Sixteenth RowSame as 4th row.

Seventeenth Row1 sc, join to 2d sc of diamond and repeat across diamond, leaving one sc out on each side to narrow down; 2 ch, 1 sc, join to top of 1st sc of diamond, 2 ch 1 sc join to 1st st of next diamond. Repeat around, join.

Eighteenth RowSame as 17th row, making 2 more sp each time between.

Nineteenth RowSame as 18th row.

Twentieth RowSame as 18th row.

Twenty-first RowSame as 18th row.

Twenty-second RowSame as 18th row.

Twenty-third RowSame as 18th row.

Twenty-fourth RowSame as 18th row in diamond, 7 sp, 4 sc into 8 sp; 7 sp make diamond, always leaving 1 sc on each side of diamond.

Twenty-fifth RowSame as 24th row for diamond, 8 sp 2 sc, join to 1st sc, 1 sc to 2d sc, 1 sc to 3d sc, 2 sc join to 4th sc, 8 sp, repeat around.

Twenty-sixth RowSame as 25th row, making one less on each side of diamond, and adding 2 sc on each side of points started.

(1) RowSame as 26th row. (7) RowSame as 26th row. (2) RowSame as 26th row. (8) RowSame as 26th row. (3) RowSame as 26th row. (9) RowSame as 26th row. (4) RowSame as 26th row. (10) RowSame as 26th row. (5) RowSame as 26th row. (11) RowSame as 26th row. (6) RowSame as 26th row. (12) Row2 ch 1 sc join to 1 sc of sp; repeat across; 2 ch join to 3d sc of point; repeat around.

Scallop

1 tc join into ch 2, 1 ch 1 tc join into same; repeat 12 times, going to same ch; sl st into 3d sp; 1 tc join into 3d sp. 1 ch 1 tc join in same sp; repeat 12 times; repeat same around. 4 ch join to sp between tc, 4 ch, join in sp, repeat around.

Second Size Piece

Made by same directions as Center Piece, until 8 rows are made.

Ninth Row-Same as 17th row in directions of Center Piece. Repeat same until 8 rows are made, making 2 sp more each row and 2 sc less on diamond. Add Scallop same as Center Piece directions.

Small Piece

Same directions as Center Piece for 6 rows.

Seventh RowSame as 17th row. Repeat same directions as Center Piece for 6 rows. Add Scallop, same directions as Center Piece.





[Pg 21]

[Pg 22] Instructions for Plate No. 11

SIZE OF CENTER PIECE, 20 INCHES SIZE OF PLATE DOYLIE, 12 INCHES

SIZE OF TUMBLER DOYLIE, 6 INCHES





Lunch Set in Novelty Braid and Crochet

MATERIALS6 balls Cordonnet Crochet Cotton No. 30, 18 yards Novelty Braid No. 4, Steel Crochet Needle No 10.

Center Piece

Circular piece of irish linen 28 inches across, turn in narrow hem and sc very closely around over hem and join.

First Row3 ch, 1 sc, join to top st of sc, 1 ch 1 sc, join to top of next sc, repeating around, join to chain 3 at beginning.

Second RowSame as 1st row.

Third RowSame as 1st row.

Fourth Row4 ch, 1 sc, join to 1st sc, 2 ch 1 sc, join to 2d sc, repeat around, join to ch 4 at beginning.

Fifth RowSame as 4th row.

Sixth Row3 ch, sl st into ch 2, repeat around.

Seventh RowSame as 6th row.

Eighth Row4 ch, sl st into ch 3, repeat around.

Ninth RowSame as 8th row.

Tenth RowSame as 8th row.

Eleventh Row2 ch sl st into 1st loop in novelty braid, 2 ch join to ch 4, 2 ch join to 1st loop in next block of braid, 2 ch join to ch 4, 4 ch join to last loop of braid, sl st into first loop of next block of braid, 4 ch join to lower ch 4, 2 ch join to last loop in braid, 2 ch join to next block of braid 1st loop, 2 ch join to ch 4, 4 ch join to last loop of braid, 1 ch join to 1st loop on next block of braid, 4 ch join to lower ch 4, repeating around.

Twelfth Row4 ch join in first loop of braid on upper side, 4 ch join to last loop on same block of braid, 2 ch join to 1st loop on next block of braid, 4 ch join last loop on same block, repeat around.

Thirteenth Row4 ch, join into ch 2, joining blocks of braid, repeating 4 times into same ch, 6 ch to next ch 2 between blocks 6 ch join to next ch 2, repeat around.

Fourteenth Row4 ch join to ch 4, 4 ch join to next ch 4, 4 ch join in ch 6, 4 ch join to ch 6, repeat around.

Fifteenth RowSame as 10th row.

Sixteenth RowSame as 10th row.

Seventeenth RowSame as 10th row.

Eighteenth RowSame as 11th row.

Nineteenth RowSame as 12th row.

Twentieth RowSame as 13th row.

Twenty-first RowSame as 14th row.

Twenty-second RowSame as 15th row.

Twenty-third RowSame as 15th row.

Twenty-fourth RowSame as 15th row.

Twenty-fifth RowSame as 15th row.

Twenty-sixth RowSame as 11th row.

Twenty-seventh RowSame as 12th row.

Twenty-eighth RowSame as 13th row.

Twenty-ninth RowSame as 14th row.

Thirtieth RowSame as 15th row.

Thirty-first RowSame as 15th row.

Thirty-second Row5 ch, sl st back into 2d st of ch 5, 2 ch join into ch 4, 5 ch, sl st back to 2d st of ch 5, 2 ch join to ch 4, repeat around.

Plate Doylie

Circular piece of Irish linen 12 inches across, turn in small hem, sc over closely around, make by same directions as centerpiece up to 8th row, finish with row 32 of centerpiece.

Tumbler Doylie

Circular piece of Irish linen 5 inches across, turn in small hem, sc over hem closely.

First RowSame as 1st row in centerpiece.

Second RowSame as 2d row in centerpiece.

Third RowSame as 8th row in centerpiece. Repeat same directions as centerpiece to 18th row, finish with row 32.





[Pg 23]

[Pg 24] Instructions for Plate No. 12

Rose Lunch Set

MATERIALS5 balls Silkine Crochet Cotton No. 30, 2 bolts of Novelty Braid, 1 Steel Crochet Needle No. 11.

Center Piece Insertion

Make rose in center, 5 ch st and join.

First Row6 ch, 1 sc, join in ch 5, 2 ch, 1 sc, join into ch 5, repeat 7 times, join.

Second Row6 sc, join into ch 2, 1 sl st to lower sc 1, repeat 7 times.

Third Row4 ch, sl st into lower sl st, repeat 7 times.

Fourth Row9 sc, join into ch 4, sl st to lower sl st, repeat 7 times. Make 13 roses.

Take Novelty Braid, have two ends, tie with thread, every 3d block in braid cross the braid and tie, repeat 13 times, join to first end and tie, place rose in between tied braid, join thread to middle loop in block of braid, 5 ch st, sl st back to 2d st, 2 ch sl st to middle st of petal in rose, 5 ch, sl st back to 2d st, 2 ch, sl st to middle loop in next block of braid, repeat around the rose and repeat same until the 13 roses are in.

First RowAbove braid join thread to 1st loop in braid, 6 ch, 1 tc, join in middle loop in block of braid, 3 ch, 1 tc, join to last loop in same block of braid, 3 ch, 1 tc, join in middle of sp between blocks in braid, repeat around, join.

Second Row4 tc, join into ch 3, 1 ch, 4 tc, join into next ch 3, repeat 8 times, 4 tc, skip 2, ch 4, go into 3d ch 4, repeat same around, join.

Third Row1 tc, join in ch 1 between tc 4, 1 ch, 1 tc, join into same ch 1, tc 1, join into next ch 1 between tc 4, repeat same 7 times, 1 tc, skip 1 sp, go in 2d ch 1 between tc 4, repeat around, join.

Fourth Row2 sc, join to ch 1, 3 ch sl st back to top of sc, 2 sc, join to next ch 1, 3 ch sl st back to top of sc, repeat around, join.

First RowBelowBraid same as 1st row above.

Second RowSame as 2d row.

Third RowSame as 3d row.

Fourth Row3 sc, join into ch 1, 3 ch, sl st back to top of last sc 3, repeat around, join.

Center Piece Edging

Make 26 roses same as in Insertion. Fix braid the same, making 26 loops same as the 13 in Insertion, join roses in the same.

First Row above braidSame as 1st row in Insertion.

Second RowSame as in Insertion.

Third Row1 tc, join in ch 1 between tc 4, 2 ch, 1 tc, join into same ch 1, 2 ch, 1 tc, join to 2d ch 1 between tc 4, repeat 7 times, 1 tc, skip 1 sp, go in 2d ch 1 between tc 4, and repeat around.

Fourth RowSame as 3d row.

Fifth Row4 sc, join into ch 2, 3 ch, sl st back to last sc 4, repeat around.

First Row below braidsame as 1st row below braid for Insertion.

Second RowSame as 2d row for Insertion.

Third RowSame as 3d row above braid.

Fourth Row2 tc join into ch 2, between lower tc 2, 2 ch, 2 tc, join into same ch. 2 tc, join into 2nd ch 2, between tc 2, 2 ch, 2 tc, join into same ch, repeat around.

Fifth Row3 ch, 1 tc, join into ch 2 between tc 2. 3 ch, sl st, back to top of tc, repeat same 4 times into same ch, 3 ch, sl st, between tc 2. 3 ch, 1 tc, join into next ch 2, between tc 2, repeat same around.

Second Size Piece of Lunch Set

MATERIALS2 balls of Silkine Crochet Cotton No. 30, 1 bolt Novelty Braid, 1 Steel Crochet Needle No. 11.

Make 8 roses by same directions as rose in centerpiece, 1 size smaller braid, take 2 ends of braid and tie, skip 3 blocks in braid, cross and tie, repeat until 8 loops are made, join and tie, take the 8 roses and fill in each 8 loops by same directions as for centerpiece.

First Row top of braid1 tc, join to 1st loop in block of braid, 2 ch, 1 tc, join in middle loop in block of braid, 2 ch, 1 tc, join in last loop of block, 2 ch, 1 tc, join in sp between block of braid, repeat same around, join.

Second Row3 tc, join into ch 2, repeat 8 times, skip 2 sp, 3 tc, join into ch 2, repeat around, join.

Third Row2 tc, join between 3d and 4th tc, 1 ch, 2 tc, join between next 3d and 4th tc, repeat 7 times, 2 tc, skip, 6 tc, join between 6th and 7th tc, and repeat same around.

Fourth Row2 tc, join between 2d 2 tc, 1 ch, 2 tc, join between next 2 tc, repeat 5 times, 1 tc between tc 2, repeat same around, join.

Fifth RowSame as 4th row, join.

Sixth RowSame as 4th row, join.

Make rose with 3 rows of petals, same directions as for centerpiece, place in center sp, join thread middle of rose petal, 4 ch, sl st back to 2d st of ch, 2 ch, join to tc 2, 4 ch, sl st back to 2d st of ch, 2 ch, join between petals, repeat around until rose is filled in.

First Row below braidSame as 1st row above.

Second Row4 tc, join in 2d ch 2, 1 ch, 4 tc, join in next ch 2, repeat 12 times, 4 tc, skip 2, ch 2, go in 3d ch 2, repeat around, join.

[Pg 25]

Third Row1 tc, join in ch 1 between tc 4, 2 ch, 1 tc, join into same ch, 2 ch, 1 tc, join in next ch 1, repeat around, join.

Fourth Row2 tc, join into ch 2 between tc, 2 ch, 2 tc, join into same ch, 1 ch, 2 tc, join into next ch 2 between tc, repeat 9 times, skip one ch 2, 1 tc, join between tc, skip ch 2, 2 tc, join to next ch 2, repeat as before around and join.

Fifth RowSame as last row on centerpiece.

Third Size Piece of Lunch Set

MATERIALS2 balls Silkine Crochet Cotton No. 30, 1 bolt Novelty Braid, 1 Steel Crochet Needle No. 11.

Make 5 roses of one row of petals, tie and fix braid same as in second piece, fill in sp between braid with rose same as in second piece.

First Row above braidSame as 1st row above in second piece, making sc st instead of tc.

Second Row3 sc, join into 2d ch 2, 3 ch, sl st back to last sc, 3 sc, join to next ch 2, repeat 4 times, 3 sc, skip 2 ch 2, go in 3d ch 2, repeat as before around.

Fill rose in center same as in second piece.

Same directions for finishing lower edge as in second piece.

Fourth Size Piece of Lunch Set

Piece of braid 8 blocks long, tie, 1 sc, join to 1st loop in braid, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to middle loop, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to last loop of block, 1 ch, 1 sc, in sp between blocks, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to next block, 1st loop, repeat around, join.

Second Row1 sc, join to top of lower sc, 1 ch, 1 sc, join to next sc, repeat around, join.

Make rose same directions and fill in sp same as second piece.

On lower side of braid use same directions as in second piece.









[Pg 26]





[Pg 27]
















Haiti - FLASH : Important Security Council meeting on Haiti





On Monday morning, April 21, 2025, the UN Security Council will hold an open briefing on Haiti, followed by closed consultations. Maria Isabel Salvador, Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH), will brief on recent developments in Haiti and the Secretary-General's latest report, which was circulated to Council members on April 11 and covers developments since January 13, 2025.



This briefing will be the first Security Council meeting on the situation in Haiti since the members received Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' February 24 letter containing strategic recommendations on options for UN support to Haiti. In his letter, Guterres stated, "[...] at this stage, the transition to a UN peacekeeping operation (blue helmets) is not a feasible option." https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44373-haiti-flash-first-details-on-antonio-guterresproposal-to-the-security-council.html



It is essential that Security Council members discuss the need for UN member states to provide more personnel, funding, and equipment to the Kenyan-led Security Support Mission in Haiti.



In her report, Ms. Salvador describes several gang attacks in the Port-au-Prince area, increasing pressure on previously safe neighborhoods and raising fears of an "imminent collapse" of the State's presence in the capital. It also highlights the gangs' attempts to extend their control beyond Port-au-Prince.



In lieu of a UN peacekeeping operation, the Secretary-General recommended, among other things, the establishment of a UN support office funded by assessed contributions to provide logistical and operational support to the MMSS to strengthen its capacity to conduct robust and targeted operations with the Haitian National Police against criminal groups. He also called for "increasing and strengthening the Mission's strength and equipping it with additional military capabilities and lethal equipment provided bilaterally by Member States to address current gaps," as well as strengthening its intelligence gathering and analytical capabilities. Antonio Guterres also requested that the UN provide support to security forces and non-UN programs to support those who choose to leave criminal groups and to assist Haitian authorities in investigating, prosecuting, and detaining high-risk individuals arrested by the MMAS.



Guterres, while acknowledging that the Haiti Support Mission can help fill capacity gaps in local security forces, is concerned that the mission remains in the deployment phase and lacks the capabilities and equipment for sustainable operations. The Haiti Support Mission recently reached 1,000 personnel; the current strength represents 40% of the 2,500 personnel envisaged in its concept of operations.



The Haiti Mission relies on donors for its essential equipment. Many of its armored vehicles are unsuitable for the urban environment of Port-au-Prince. A shortage of spare parts has rendered 50% of the armored vehicles unusable. Capability limitations, particularly in air support, medical support, and communications systems, further hamper the Mission's effectiveness and raise concerns about the safety of personnel.



The assessment indicates that the mission requires enhanced intelligence capabilities from additional specialized units for effective planning and joint support operations...



See also :

https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-44373-haiti-flash-first-details-on-antonio-guterresproposal-to-the-security-council.html



SL/ HaitiLibre


















Feature: Cooperation with China to boost Thailand's space industry development

Xinhua) 13:35, April 19, 2025

Atipat Wattanuntachai, the mechanical lead engineer of the Satellite Manufacturing Division of Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Sriracha, Chonburi Province, Thailand on April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

BANGKOK, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Aerospace-related elements can be seen everywhere in Thailand's Space Krenovation Park, located in Sriracha, Chonburi Province, about two hours' drive southeast from Bangkok.

Research and development institutions such as the Space Technology Center and the National Satellite Manufacturing Center from Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) are located in the park.

In front of the exhibition area of THEOS-2, Thailand's low earth orbit satellite, Atipat Wattanuntachai, the mechanical lead engineer of the Satellite Manufacturing Division of the GISTDA, pointed to a vibration testing equipment and said that the machine is from China and can evaluate the performance and reliability of the satellite through vibration testing, providing guarantee for the launch and operation of the satellite.

"Thanks for China's support for Thailand in the space technology field, the cooperation with China has promoted the rapid development of Thailand's space industry," Atipat said.

The GISTDA is a national public agency affiliated to Thailand's Ministry of Higher Education, Science, Research and Innovation. The purpose of the agency is to promote the development of aerospace and geographic information technology in Thailand, as well as satellite development and satellite remote sensing image services.

Phee Choosri, deputy executive director of the GISTDA, said that China is an important partner in the fields of Thailand's aerospace technology and geographic information. Currently, the GISTDA has collaborated with more than 10 Chinese organizations in these fields, covering from applied research to upstream industries and even space exploration.

Last year, China and Thailand signed two memorandums of understanding to cooperate on exploration and peaceful use of outer space as well as on an international lunar research station.

The lunar sample from China's Chang'e-5 mission was exhibited in Thailand for the first time in July last year, attracting a large number of Thai people to visit.

And China's Chang'e-7 lunar exploration mission will have onboard a Thailand-developed global space weather monitoring device, which is designed to observe cosmic radiation and space weather from the lunar perspective.

"Space exploration is a mission that Thailand attaches great importance to. And the cooperation with China in Chang'e mission provides Thailand with the opportunity to get involved in high-tech projects, promoting the development of Thai space technology, and cultivating Thai talents in the fields of aerospace technology," said Phee.

The cooperation between China and Thailand in space technology has been continuously deepening in recent years. China successfully retrieved its first reusable and returnable test satellite, Shijian-19 in October last year, and Shijian-19 has carried payloads from foreign countries including Thailand and Pakistan.

Phee said that China's Shijian-19 provided Thailand with the payloads opportunity to send Thai high-quality rice seeds into space, with the goal of cultivating rice that can withstand harsh environments, contributing to national food security and the future development of the space economy.

Talent cultivation is also a focus of the cooperation in aerospace technology between China and Thailand. The GISTDA has worked with China's Wuhan University to offer a master degree program in geographic information science.

Thailand is also a member of the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO), headquartered in Beijing, which has carried out various exchange activities in space technology, including satellite development and human resource development.

Atipat said the greatest beneficiaries of these projects are the young generation who have space dreams. Through cooperation and exchanges or further studies in China, these young Thai people have learned cutting-edge technologies in the aerospace field, further igniting their space dreams.

"China is one of the world's leading aerospace powers and an important promoter of the global space economy and industry. Deepening cooperation with China in the aerospace field will bring many important opportunities and benefits to Thailand," said Phee.

He hoped Thailand's space technology can reach the world's leading level and occupy a place in the future space economy.

This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows the exhibition hall of Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Sriracha, Chonburi Province, Thailand. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

Phee Choosri, deputy executive director of Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), speaks during an interview with Xinhua in Bangkok, Thailand on April 8, 2025. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

This photo taken on April 8, 2025 shows the ground station of Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA) in Sriracha, Chonburi Province, Thailand. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
On April 7, after a long delay, Samsung gave the go-ahead for the major One UI 7 update based on Android 15. The Galaxy S24 series and the foldable models Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 made the start. But that was just the beginning.

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The manufacturer has published an overview showing which smartphones and tablets will receive the update  and in which month. However, the latter information should be taken with a pinch of salt.

Samsung's One UI 7 candidates have been determined

The list of update candidates dates back to April 11 and was therefore published just a few days before the abrupt pause in update distribution. Due to the forced break, the schedule for one or the other device could be delayed and possibly postponed by a month. Not too many changes are to be expected, as the rollout has already started again in Samsung's home country of South Korea. In this country, it should also continue soon.

As soon as it starts again, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 and Z Flip 6 foldables will also receive One UI 7 in addition to the Galaxy S24 series, if they have not already received it.

According to the roadmap, a whole series of Galaxy smartphone and tablet models will be supplied with the update in May. The rollout will continue in June and July. The following devices are included:

April 2025

Galaxy S24 Ultra

Galaxy S24 Plus

Galaxy S24

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Flip 6

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May 2025

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Fold 4

Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G

Galaxy Z Flip 5

Galaxy Z Flip 4

Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G

Galaxy S24 FE

Galaxy S23 Ultra

Galaxy S23+

Galaxy S23

Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy S22 Ultra

Galaxy S22 Plus

Galaxy S22

Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G

Galaxy S21 Plus 5G

Galaxy S21 5G

Galaxy S21 FE 5G

Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra, S10 Ultra 5G

Galaxy Tab S10 Plus, Galaxy Tab S10 Plus 5G

Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra, S9 Ultra 5G

Galaxy Tab S9 Plus, S9 Plus 5G

Galaxy Tab S9, S9 5G

June 2025

Galaxy A55 5G

Galaxy A54 5G

Galaxy A53 5G

Galaxy A35 5G

Galaxy A34 5G

Galaxy A33 5G

Galaxy A25 5G

Galaxy A16, A16 5G

Galaxy A15, A15 5G

Galaxy A14, A14 5G

Galaxy M53 5G

Galaxy M33 5G

Galaxy XCover 7

Galaxy XCover 6 Pro

Galaxy Tab S9 FE, S9 FE 5G, S9 FE+, S9 FE Plus 5G

Galaxy Tab S6 Lite

Galaxy Tab Active 5, Tab Active 5 5G

Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro 5G

Galaxy Tab Active 4 Pro

Galaxy Tab A9, A9 Plus 5G

July 2025

Galaxy A05s

Galaxy Tab A9

One UI 7: New AI functions not for all models

The update introduces all kinds of new functions, and Samsung has also revised the user interface and system app icons. Samsung has also separated the quick settings and the notification bar  and you can switch between them with a horizontal swipe gesture.

Samsung will not be rolling out all the new AI functions that were announced with the Galaxy S25 for older and mid-range devices. For example, the Galaxy A56, which was presented at the beginning of March, did not have Galaxy AI on board. Instead, the manufacturer relies on a slimmed-down AI package called Awesome Intelligence, which includes Google's Circle-to-Search. The Galaxy Xcover Pro 7 presented in April will also not receive the full range of AI features.

According to Samsung, AI features such as writing support, Drawing Assist and the Audio Eraser will only make it onto fairly recent devices with sufficient computing power:

Writing support

Galaxy S24 series

Galaxy S24 FE

Galaxy S23 series

Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Flip6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Flip 5

Galaxy Tab S10 series

Galaxy Tab S9 series

Drawing Assist

Galaxy S24 Series

Galaxy S24 FE

Galaxy S23 series

Galaxy S23 FE

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Flip 6

Galaxy Z Fold 5

Galaxy Z Flip 5

Galaxy Tab S10 series

Galaxy Tab S9 series

Audio Eraser

Galaxy S24 Series

Galaxy S24 FE

Galaxy Z Fold 6

Galaxy Z Flip 6

Galaxy Tab S10 series

Samsung is late: Android 16 is almost ready

While Samsung is still distributing the update to One UI 7, Google is already finalizing the next version of the operating system. Android 16 is due to be released as early as June 2025. This puts the South Korean manufacturer in a bit of a bind, as Samsung's developers have to work on One UI 7 and One UI 8 at the same time.

However, it is clear that Samsung is working hard on One UI 8: Sammobile bloggers got their hands on an early version of Samsung's Android 16 update and got it running on a Galaxy Z Flip 6. Rumor has it that Samsung's next foldable generation, expected in July, could ship with One UI 8 based on Android 16.

(afl)

Don't miss any news  follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn or Mastodon. This article was originally published in German. It was translated with technical assistance and editorially reviewed before publication.
Instead, the government is focusing on alternative strategies for growth as it prepares for upcoming fiscal framework negotiations. These include changes to tax policy and new measures aimed at improving productivity and economic output.

Finlands government will not pursue increased immigration as a means to support economic growth during the remainder of its term, Finance Minister Riikka Purra confirmed on Wednesday.

Speaking to Yle, Purra dismissed calls from major economic interest groups and government-appointed experts who have urged an increase in labour-based immigration. The government will not take measures to increase immigration, she said.

Earlier this year, the Confederation of Finnish Industries (EK) called for a net annual inflow of 45,000 foreign experts to offset workforce shortages. The proposal was echoed by a taskforce led by Varma CEO Risto Murto, which advocated for a controlled expansion in international student numbers and targeted recruitment of highly educated professionals from abroad.

While those recommendations have gained traction among business leaders, the government has chosen to take a different path.

According to Purra, the cabinet is considering tax cuts as one of its core economic tools. Helsingin Sanomat reported that reductions in earned income taxation are under review. Purra confirmed this, but declined to reveal which income brackets would be affected.

There are no details to disclose yet, she told Yle. I've long maintained that the tight taxation on wage earners' income needs to be addressed.

The government is also reviewing the possibility of lowering marginal tax rates for top earners. A February study from the Research Institute of the Finnish Economy (Etla) concluded that high marginal tax rates discourage work and limit economic output more than previously assumed.

Coalition parties reportedly differ over which income groups should benefit from the proposed tax cuts. Some parties have called for broad-based reductions across income levels, while others favour targeted relief for higher earners.

There are four parties in the coalition, each with its own interests, Purra said. Inevitably, compromises will be made, and hopefully the outcome will be a good one.

The budget talks are taking place amid weak growth forecasts and strict targets for public finances. The government remains committed to stabilising the national debt-to-GDP ratio by the end of its term.

If we introduce growth measures that cost money, such as tax cuts, we must also be able to finance them in the short term, Purra said.

While some economists argue that cutting taxes for high-income earners could stimulate economic activity and eventually offset lost revenue, Purra stressed that any such effects must materialise quickly.

Our fiscal targets are tied to this term, she added. That means we need to see results within a tight timeframe.

HT
According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the first classified licence authorised the export of drone defence systems to Israel.

Finland has introduced a policy of withholding key details from some arms export licences, breaking from two decades of full transparency. The Ministry of Defence confirmed that, since June 2021, certain permits have been issued in encrypted form, concealing the exporter, recipient, and equipment type.

The application came from Sensofusion, a company based in Vantaa, which declined to comment. Internal Ministry documents reviewed by journalists confirm that Israel formally requested the confidentiality.

Ministry representative Riikka Pitkanen said the change reflects a shift in the international security environment. She added that classification may also occur at the request of either the exporting company or the recipient government, particularly to protect trade secrets or national security.

Between mid-2021 and early 2025, the Ministry has issued 19 encrypted export licences covering deliveries to eight countries. Pitkanen stated that these decisions are grounded in Finlands freedom of information laws and international data protection agreements. Finland currently holds such agreements with more than 20 states.

Before the change, all arms export licences were publicly disclosed. From 2000 to 2020, thousands of permits were issued with complete transparency. Researchers say the sudden shift in 2021 marks a significant departure from previous norms.

Kari Paasonen, a researcher at the Tampere-based Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, called the policy shift a substantial change in Finlands arms export oversight. He said buyers usually request the confidentiality and noted the first encrypted permit coincided with an export to Israel, though he said the reasons for this timing remain unclear.

Paasonen, who studies Finnish arms trade, especially with Israel, said one possible explanation is the increasing strategic importance of Finnish defence products. Pitkanen echoed this view, suggesting that past exports may not have involved sensitive equipment warranting such protections.

The Ministry insists the number of classified permits remains small. In 2024, only eight encrypted licences were issued, compared to hundreds of standard permits. But Paasonen warned that the scale of exports under a single licence can vary widely, from spare parts to entire shipments of military vehicles.

Even one permit could include fifty armoured vehicles, he said. If the information is concealed, public oversight of these political decisions becomes harder.

The Ministry has declined to name other countries that requested encrypted licences. It maintained that each decision undergoes legal review and must meet thresholds under Finnish law.

According to Yle, many of the confidentiality decisions reference national security interests and bilateral security agreements between Finland and recipient countries. Pitkanen confirmed this, noting that data protection treaties signed with foreign governments often provide the legal basis for secrecy.

While the government defends the changes as necessary under current conditions, researchers and transparency advocates argue that less public information undermines democratic oversight. Paasonen noted that citizens rely on official disclosures to assess political decisions about arms exports, which he described as inherently political acts.

Finlands arms exports have included personnel carriers and surveillance equipment in recent years. Under the previous policy, each of these exports would be disclosed with full details. Since 2021, the policy has created a parallel track of classified approvals shielded from public view.

HT
The data comes from the MoniSuomi 2022 study by the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). The survey, published in February 2024, analysed responses from 7,838 people born abroad or with foreign-born parents. It covered perceived health, access to services, and psychological well-being.

One in three immigrants in Finland report not receiving enough doctors appointments to meet their health needs, according to a national survey. The findings raise concerns about access to care and equality in the countrys healthcare system.

The proportion of immigrants reporting insufficient doctors appointments rose from 25 percent in 2018 to 33 percent in 2022. This compares with 25 percent among the general population. Access issues were more severe among immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa (43 percent) and from Russia and the former Soviet Union (36 percent).

The issue affected both genders. Among immigrant women, 34 percent reported insufficient access to doctors in 2022, up from 27 percent in 2018. For men, the figure rose from 23 to 33 percent. In comparison, 27 percent of women and 22 percent of men in the general population reported similar issues.

There were also regional disparities. In wellbeing services counties such as Helsinki, West Uusimaa, Satakunta, and Central Finland, immigrants more often reported insufficient medical services than the general population. In these areas, the proportion ranged between 31 and 38 percent.

The THL report also highlighted rising psychological distress among immigrants. In 2022, 23 percent of immigrants reported mental health concerns, up from 17 percent in 2018. The figures were higher than for the general population, where 18 percent reported distress. The increase was most pronounced among immigrants from the Middle East and North Africa, with 29 percent of men and 26 percent of women affected.

Men from Russia and the Soviet Union (24 percent), and Southeast Asia (24 percent) also showed increased rates of mental health concerns. Among women, those from Russia and the Soviet Union (26 percent), and from other European countries excluding Estonia and Russia (25 percent), reported more distress than their Finnish-born counterparts.

Age also played a role. Young adults aged 2029 reported the highest levels of psychological distress, but older immigrants aged 5074 also experienced more distress than their Finnish-born peers. In this age group, 19 percent of immigrant men and 23 percent of immigrant women reported psychological difficulties, compared with 11 and 12 percent among the general population.

Immigrants in some regions reported more distress than others. In North Ostrobothnia, Pirkanmaa, Central Finland, and the VantaaKerava area, psychological distress among immigrants was significantly higher than in the general population.

The MoniSuomi 2022 survey used a stratified sample of 18,600 individuals, drawn from Finlands population register. The questionnaire was available in 20 languages, and 44 percent of those contacted responded. The survey was conducted between September 2022 and March 2023.

Sedeer el-Showk, writing for Yle, noted that national registers in Finland do not collect ethnic data. Instead, surveys rely on proxies such as country of birth or language spoken at home. THL researchers acknowledge this limitation, which makes it difficult to fully quantify racial discrimination in healthcare settings.

The THL findings support earlier concerns about unequal treatment. Immigrants were also more likely to report facing discrimination in social and health services due to gender or income (9 percent versus 4 percent in the general population).

THL officials say the information will be used to guide public policy and improve healthcare planning. The data also contribute to the national monitoring of integration and service equality.

HT
Even if you do everything right, work hard and pay taxes, its not always enough. Especially if youre a foreigner, Kakl wrote.

A Kurdish refugee living in Finland has spoken publicly about the challenges faced by migrants navigating the countrys labour market. In a column published on Saturady by Helsingin Sanomat , Aral Kakl described how discrimination, insecure work, and social exclusion push some immigrants into undeclared employment.

Before arriving in Finland, Kakl worked as a journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan. After fleeing for safety and being sent to Finland under the EU asylum system, he retrained as a chef.

Since then, he has worked across the country under zero-hour contracts without a single permanent job offer. I travel from lunch kitchen to lunch kitchen, he said. Thats the reality for a refugee in Finland.

Kakls account was published alongside a report by Helsingin Sanomat, which documented how some immigrants in Finland engage in undeclared work to survive financially. While Kakl says he has never worked off the books, he said he understands those who do.

There are many reasons behind the phenomenonnot just money, but power, fear, and survival, he wrote. Some act out of greed, but often its about being treated unequally.

According to Kakl, the recent cutbacks to social support and job market exclusion leave many migrants in precarious situations. He criticised the stereotyping he experiences in the workplace, saying he is often seen only as a Middle Eastern man and is met with suspicion.

When someone finally tells me a joke, I live off that moment for a week, he said.

Despite repeated obstacles, Kakl said he refuses to take undeclared jobs offered by compatriots because he does not want to contribute to the growth of what he calls a shadow society.

That kind of parallel community hears only its own voice and sees only its own people, he said. Its children play only with each other. I dont want to be part of a system that pushes people into the shadows.

He acknowledged the personal toll of trying to fit in and the pushback he receives both from anti-immigrant voices and from fellow immigrants who fear open discussion might damage the communitys image.

Silence offers no protection, Kakl wrote. It only hides the truth.

He added that even highly educated immigrants often find themselves marginalised. Despite holding a law degree and 17 years of experience in journalism and NGOs, he works today as a cook.

I no longer believe I can break down the wall between the worlds of Finns and immigrants, he wrote. But maybe I can build a window.

HT
The research, led by Professor Nikku Madhusudhan at the University of Cambridges Institute of Astronomy, identified molecules known as dimethyl sulfide (DMS) and dimethyl disulfide (DMDS).

Astronomers using the James Webb Space Telescope have detected chemical traces in the atmosphere of a distant exoplanet that may point to the presence of microbial life. The discovery centres on K2-18b, a planet located 124 light-years from Earth, and could mark a major step in the search for extraterrestrial biology.

On Earth, both gases are only produced by marine microorganisms such as phytoplankton. Their detection on another planet has led scientists to consider the possibility of biological activity beyond Earth.

The findings were published in The Astrophysical Journal Letters. The Cambridge team used Webbs Mid-Infrared Instrument to confirm earlier suspicions, following an initial signal detected last year using a different set of instruments. The presence of carbon dioxide and methane had already been observed in the planets atmosphere.

The latest analysis suggests the concentrations of DMS and DMDS could be thousands of times higher than those found in Earths atmosphere. If the association with life is real, then this planet will be teeming with life, Madhusudhan said.

K2-18b is believed to be a Hycean world, a term coined by Madhusudhans team to describe planets with global oceans beneath hydrogen-rich atmospheres. The planet orbits a small red dwarf star within the habitable zone, where temperatures allow for liquid water.

The telescope observed light from the host star as it passed through the planets atmosphere, picking up faint chemical signatures. This method, known as transmission spectroscopy, allows researchers to identify gases based on how they absorb specific wavelengths of light.

Although the signals for DMS and DMDS were detected independently and with strong intensity, the research team has not claimed definitive evidence of life. The current analysis has reached a statistical confidence of three sigma, equivalent to a 99.7% certainty. Scientific convention requires a five-sigma threshold, or a 99.99994% probability, before a discovery is accepted as definitive.

The findings have prompted both excitement and caution. Professor Catherine Heymans, Astronomer Royal for Scotland and an astrophysicist at the University of Edinburgh, said that the origin of the detected gases remains uncertain. Even with perfect data we can't say for sure that this is of a biological origin, she told the BBC.

Other scientists not involved in the study have raised alternative explanations. Some researchers suggest the gases may arise from unknown geological or chemical processes unrelated to life. Others question the nature of K2-18b itself. Proposed models describe it as a mini-Neptune, a Hycean world, or even a molten rocky planet, each scenario implying different atmospheric and surface conditions.

Dr Subhajit Sarkar, part of the Cambridge research group, noted that the absence of ammonia supports the ocean hypothesis, as ammonia could be absorbed by a deep liquid body. But other interpretations remain under discussion.

Independent research teams are now expected to reanalyse the data. The Cambridge group plans to release its full dataset to facilitate external verification. Madhusudhan said that with additional telescope time  estimated between 16 and 24 hours  they could achieve the level of statistical certainty required for a discovery.

Dr Eddie Schwieterman, an astrobiologist at the University of California, Riverside, said he found the results intriguing but noted that confirming the presence of DMS would require further testing. His own models suggest that if DMS is present in the quantities proposed, it would typically be accompanied by ethane, a gas that has not been detected.

Others, such as Dr Nicolas Wogan at NASAs Ames Research Center, suggest K2-18b may have no solid surface at all and could be a small gas giant. This would significantly reduce the likelihood of any form of life as currently understood.

The debate underscores the challenges of interpreting remote signals in planetary atmospheres. The data gathered by Webb is highly sensitive but limited to spectral imprints, meaning scientists must infer a planets properties through indirect observation.

Since the launch of Webb, researchers have targeted planets that lie in the habitable zones of their stars. The detection of potential biosignatures on K2-18b is the strongest result so far in that effort, but it is far from conclusive.

Madhusudhan acknowledged the limitations of the findings. We want to be really thorough, and make more observations, he said. Its a big claim if true, so we have to be careful.

The research team estimates that confirmation of the detected signals could be achieved within one to two years. Until then, K2-18b remains a candidate for life  one that represents both a significant step in scientific progress and a reminder of the uncertainties that come with exploring distant worlds.

HT
In February, the number of births fell 7.6 percent year-on-year to 90,500. This is 7,400 fewer than February 2024.

Russias birth rate has dropped to its lowest point since the early 19th century, according to state data released this week. Figures from the Russian Federal State Statistics Service ( Rosstat ) show only 195,400 births registered across the country during January and February 2025. This marks a 3 percent fall compared to the same period last year.

Demographer Alexei Raksha said this figure represents the lowest monthly total since the early 1800s.

Preliminary estimates for March suggest between 95,000 and 96,000 children were born. This would bring the total for the first quarter of 2025 to approximately 293,000 to 294,000 births. Rosstat has not yet confirmed the official March figures.

The drop in births has outpaced the decline in deaths. While 331,100 people died in January and February, down 5.2 percent from last year, the natural population decline still reached nearly 119,000 in just two months.

This continues a pattern seen in previous years. Russia recorded 1.222 million births in 2024, the lowest annual number since 1999. Compared to 2014, the annual number of births has dropped by one third. Since 2016, the natural population decline has exceeded three million people.

In several regions, the fall in birth rate has been more severe. In Smolensk, births fell by 26.6 percent. In Kostroma, the drop reached 21.6 percent. Karelia saw a decline of 19.4 percent. In Arkhangelsk, births dropped by 18.7 percent, and in Oryol, by 18.6 percent.

The natural population decline is not spread evenly. In Kaluga and Ivanovo, the number of deaths was twice that of births. In Vladimir and Belgorod, three times as many people died as were born.

The Russian government has introduced several initiatives to address the trend. These include tighter abortion restrictions, state support for larger families, and the promotion of what officials describe as traditional values. These policies have so far failed to reverse the demographic trajectory.

Rosstat projections based on the 2020 census expect the number of annual births to continue declining. By 2027, the number may fall to 1.14 million. A slight recovery is forecast for the late 2020s, but annual births in 2045 are still expected to remain around 25 percent lower than pre-2014 levels.

Even if the number of annual deaths stabilises around 1.8 million, Russias population is expected to shrink by roughly half a million people each year.

Under Rosstats baseline scenario, Russias population will fall to 138.8 million by 2046. In a less optimistic scenario, the population could decrease to 130 million, returning to levels last seen in 1897 during the Russian Empire.

Demographic projections also indicate a shift in the countrys age profile. By the early 2040s, the number of children and teenagers is expected to fall by 26 percent to 20 million. Their share of the population would fall from 18.5 percent to 14.2 percent. The share of elderly residents is forecast to increase from 24.5 percent to nearly 27 percent by 2046.

Russias highest recorded population was 149 million in 1993. The current trend suggests a long-term reversal of this peak.

HT
The late-night ruling came just hours after lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed an emergency appeal alleging the administration was preparing to deport dozens of detainees to El Salvador in violation of an earlier Supreme Court decision.

The United States Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to suspend planned deportations of Venezuelan nationals under the Alien Enemies Act, following claims that detainees were denied basic legal protections.

The court's brief order instructed the administration to pause removals "until further notice". Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. Alito stated he would provide a full explanation at a later time.

The case centres on the use of the Alien Enemies Act, a law from 1798 last invoked during World War II. It allows the U.S. president to detain or deport nationals from countries deemed hostile during wartime. President Donald Trump has used the provision to target Venezuelans he claims are affiliated with the gang Tren de Aragua, which he designated a terrorist organisation earlier this year.

Since March, the administration has deported more than 130 Venezuelans under the act, sending them to the Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT) in El Salvador. The prison, known for its overcrowding and secrecy, has drawn international criticism for alleged human rights violations.

Civil rights lawyers say many of those targeted had no proven links to gangs. Some received deportation notices only in English, despite not speaking the language. Others were not informed of their right to contest the deportation in court.

One deportee, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was mistakenly removed from the country. Although his deportation was acknowledged by the government, officials now claim he belongs to MS-13, an allegation his family denies. The Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his return, but government officials have publicly stated he will "never" re-enter the U.S.

The administrations actions triggered legal proceedings in multiple jurisdictions, including Texas, Louisiana, and Washington, D.C. At a hearing on Friday, U.S. District Judge James Boasberg said he was troubled by the nature of the notices given to detainees, describing them as potentially out of step with due process obligations. He declined to block the deportations himself, citing procedural limitations, but the Supreme Court intervened within hours.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign, representing the Justice Department, told the court that there were no current plans for deportations but insisted that the administration reserved the right to proceed. Ensign had made similar remarks during the first round of deportations, which continued even as legal challenges were under way.

The Department of Homeland Security denies any intention to ignore court orders. A spokesperson stated on Friday that we are complying with the Supreme Courts ruling, but declined to offer details of specific operations.

The administrations use of the Alien Enemies Act has drawn comparisons to internment policies during World War II, when thousands of Japanese Americans were detained without trial. Legal experts and human rights advocates have warned that the current approach bypasses constitutional safeguards.

El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele has supported the deportations and allowed the detainees to be housed in his countrys maximum-security prison. Bukele has mocked U.S. judges publicly and rejected efforts to clarify the status and treatment of those transferred from the U.S.

The ACLU has filed several cases across the country, each representing Venezuelans at risk of being deported without a hearing. While the government has agreed not to deport individuals involved in those cases while litigation continues, it has refused to impose a broader moratorium on deportations under the act.

In Saturdays court filing, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt warned that detainees faced indefinite confinement abroad without trial. Dozens or hundreds of proposed class members may be removed to a possible life sentence in El Salvador with no real opportunity to contest their designation or removal, the filing stated.

The Supreme Court had previously ruled on April 7 that deportations under the Alien Enemies Act are permitted only if detainees are given notice and the chance to argue their case in court. Critics say the Trump administration has ignored that requirement, setting the stage for what some lawmakers are calling a constitutional crisis.

Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, who visited Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, said the man had been transferred from CECOT to a different prison and described the treatment as deeply troubling.

HT
AN antique carpet worth thousands of pounds has been put up for auction by Henley Town Council.

The Pedestal, an auction house in Stonor, has consigned a large Ushak carpet that was originally in the Mayors Parlour in the town hall.

The carpet, which had been held in storage at the town hall, has a guide price of between 10,000 and 15,000 and is currently up for auction online until just after 5pm next Thursday.

The councils finance strategy and management committee agreed to the sale because the carpet was not being used.

The carpet has been identified as a late 19th-century Ushak carpet from West Anatolia in Turkey and measures 606cm by 366cm, which is considered larger than average.

Ushak carpets use a particular family of designs. Common motifs include medallions, stars and various geometric patterns. They also incorporate natural elements such as vines, leaves and palmettes.

The carpets get their name from the city of Usak in West Anatolia, which was a major centre of rug production from the early days of the Ottoman Empire.

Guy Savill, one of the directors at the Pedestal, said the rug was one of the largest the auction house had ever dealt with.

Mr Savill, who previously worked as the UK director of furniture and works of art at Bonhams, said it was rare to come across a carpet of both that age and size.

He said: This is probably the biggest late 19th century carpet we have sold. A lot of carpets of that sort of age havent survived.

Big room size carpets are rare because often they were made in relatively small numbers, and obviously there was a point in time where they got very worn and the market wasnt there for them so they were disposed of by people.

If you wanted to buy a late 19th century Ushak of a smaller size its not going to be cheap but would be cheaper than this. This is at this sort of price point because of its unusual size.

Mr Savill explained that Ushak carpets were popular on the market due to their contemporary colour pallette and thick wool weave.

The carpets traditionally use Angora wool, known for its silky texture, brilliance and longer fleece than average wool. He said: Ushak carpets generally are reasonably commercial and they are something the market responds quite well to.

Where Ushak differs from Persian carpets, which dominate the market certainly for antique carpets, is that they offer a different colour palette.

Although they are from the 19th century or early 20th century, they often offer a more contemporary colour palette so it blends better with contemporary interiors.

Its a sort of noticeable move away from the sort of colours you see in Persian carpets. You will get colours that are really quite unusual in Ushak carpets.

The other thing you get with Ushak carpets is that they are a different weave. And what you end up with is a thicker pile, so they feel rather more luxurious.

So when you are walking on it, it provides more cushioning than a conventional Persian carpet might.

The rug from the Mayors Parlour features shades of orange and dark teal which Mr Savill said you would struggle to find in a Persian carpet of a similar age. He said the rug had signs of light wear but was in relatively good condition.

Mr Savill said that for buyers, this was often not a problem. Often the market for room-size antique carpets can be very accepting of light wear as it gives that sort of country house feel, he said.

Although wear generally on most antiques isnt particularly desirable, there is a sort of a fashion trend for light wear on big room-size carpets just because it gives that lovely period feel that often people or decorators are trying to achieve.

The Pedestal was founded in 2016 by a team of senior London specialists.

After holding a number of pop-up auctions, it moved to a fixed premises at The Dairy on the Stonor Park estate in 2020.

It works with a variety of collectors, dealers, decorators and curators from around the world. It specialises in fine and early oak furniture, sculpture, silver, ceramics, rugs, fine art, lighting, clocks, and Oriental works of art.
"Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" aired on TV in Cambodia

Xinhua) 13:37, April 19, 2025

This photo taken on April 17, 2025 shows the launch ceremony of the Cambodian version of "Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" in Phnom Penh, Cambodia. On the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia, a TV program -- the Cambodian version of "Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" was launched on TV here on Thursday. (Xinhua/Sun Nan)

PHNOM PENH, April 17 (Xinhua) -- On the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinping's state visit to Cambodia, a TV program -- the Cambodian version of "Classics Quoted by Xi Jinping" was launched on TV here on Thursday.

Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen sent a congratulatory letter expressing warm congratulations on the broadcast of the program.

The program, produced by the China Media Group, carefully selected Chinese classics quoted in Xi's important speeches, articles, and talks, focusing on themes such as ecological protection, cultural inheritance, exchanges and mutual learning of civilizations, and modernization construction, said a press release on the launching event.

"With an international perspective and vivid and real pictures, it shows the essence of China's excellent traditional culture to Cambodian audiences and explains the profound historical and cultural foundation of President Xi Jinping's thoughts on governing the country," said the press release.

The program is being broadcast on the National Television of Cambodia and other Cambodian media.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Chappell Roan is "obsessed" with guinea pigs.

Chappell Roan is 'obsessed' with guinea pigs

The 27-year-old pop star has a passion for the rodents and, at one point had four of her own but also offered her services at a rescue shelter for a period of time.

Speaking on the 'Las Culturistas' podcast, she said: "I'm really glad that guinea pigs have their own culture online because I'm a guinea pig girl.

"I'm just obsessed with them. I had four at a time but they passed away. I think they're the cutest animals on earth. I volunteered at a guinea pig rescue for a year. I love rodents in general and the guinea pig community online is awesome."

In the years before she found global fame with hits like 'Pink Pony Club' and 'Good Luck, Babe!' filmed her four guinea pigs for a music video and spoke about the adoption process.

She wrote on Instagram at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in May 2020: "these lovely ladies were so sweet and sat while we filmed. I adopted them from @laguineapigrescue in 2018 because I thought having a guinea pig would remind me of home since I had one I adored in 4th grade.

At the time, the Grammy Award-winning star admitted that she "did not ever think" she would have so many but just found so much "joy" in caring for her furry friends, and urged others to consider adopting pets rather than buying them.

She said: "I did not ever think I would have 4, but here we are. It brings me so much joy taking care of them, especially in quarantine. They make me laugh every single day because theyre such tiny animals with big personalities. Theyre def not an easy, low maintenance pet whatsoever but I love them and they r precious to me Sonic-tri color Honeydew- black Gogo-gray Nadine- long hair. Ps please consider adopting rather than buying at pet stores and support local shelters."
The United States and Iran on Saturday resumed high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear programme, a week after an initial round of discussions that both sides described as "constructive".

The Oman-mediated talks in Rome began at around 0930 GMT, according to a US official and Iranian state television.

Images broadcast by Iranian state television showed Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arriving in the Italian capital, with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff also set to participate in the talks.

Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said the "two delegations are in two different rooms" at the Omani ambassador's residence, with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi passing messages between them.

The meeting comes a week after the two sides had what Iran called indirect talks in Muscat. Those were the first discussions at such a high level between the foes since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord in 2018.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Following his return to office in January, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran.

In March he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed nuclear talks while also warning of military action if diplomacy failed.

"I'm not in a rush" to use the military option, Trump said Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."

On Friday, Araghchi said Iran "observed a degree of seriousness" on the US side during the first round but questioned their "intentions and motivations".

In a social media post early Saturday, Baqaei said Tehran was "aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences".

The leader of mediator Oman, Sultan Haitham bin Tariq, is due in Moscow in the coming days, according to his office and the Kremlin, which said he would discuss with President Vladimir Putin "current questions on the international and regional agenda" and other issues.

In an interview published on Wednesday by French newspaper Le Monde, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb.

During Trump's first term, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers which offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Tehran complied with the agreement for a year after Trump's withdrawal before scaling back its compliance.

Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His US counterpart in Rome, Witkoff, is a real estate magnate Trump has also tasked with talks on Ukraine.

Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 limit in the deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to decide on whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would automatically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance.

The option to trigger the mechanism expires in October this year.

Iran has previously warned it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered.

Grossi, who met Iranian officials in Tehran this week, said the US and Iran were "at a very crucial stage" in the talks and "don't have much time" to secure a deal.

Iranian officials have insisted that the talks focus only on its nuclear programme and lifting of sanctions.

Araghchi said a deal with the US was "likely" if Washington refrained from "making unreasonable and unrealistic demands", without elaborating.

Analysts had said the United States would push to include discussions over Iran's ballistic missile programme and its support for militants in the Middle East.

Araghchi said Iran's right to enrich uranium was "non-negotiable", after Witkoff called for its complete halt. Witkoff had previously demanded only that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal.

On Friday US ally Israel affirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to prevent this.

Khamenei on Tuesday said Iranians should not pin hopes on progress in the negotiations which "may or may not yield results".
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday announced a surprise Easter truce in Ukraine, set to last until midnight on Sunday in what would be the most significant pause in the fighting throughout the three-year conflict.

The short-term order for Russia's troops to halt all combat activity -- which Ukraine has not said if it will match -- comes after months of US President Donald Trump pushing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree a truce.

He has so far failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin and the US has threatened to withdraw from talks if no progress is made.

"Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce," Putin said in televised comments during a meeting with the Russian chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov.

Air raid alerts blasted across Ukraine on Saturday afternoon, including in the capital Kyiv, but ended right as Putin's order apparently came into force.

Easter, a major holiday for Christians, is celebrated on Sunday.

Putin said the truce was motivated by "humanitarian reasons".

"We are going on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, while our troops must be ready to resist possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy," Putin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a social media post responded with scepticism, accusing Putin of attempting to "play with human lives".

He did not say whether Ukraine would halt fighting during the period.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga said that Putin's statements could not be trusted and Ukraine was waiting for "actions, not words" after Putin earlier rejected a proposed 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire.

Andriy Kovalenko, a Ukrainian official tasked with countering disinformation, posted on X that "Russians on all fronts keep firing as they did before. Most of all in the East."

In the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk close to the front line, soldiers told AFP that any truce would not have a lasting impact.

Putin "might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don't trust (Russia)," said Dmitry, a 40-year-old soldier.

"These 30 hours will lead to nothing, I don't see any result. The killings of our people and theirs will 100 percent continue," he added.

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday also held a large prisoner-of-war exchange, with each side saying they had handed back more than 240 captured fighters.

Russia on Friday abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets after each side accused the other of breaking a supposed deal without any formal agreement put in place.

The latest truce proposal will show "how sincere is the Kyiv's regime's readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks", Putin said.

Zelensky said that drone attacks were ongoing just before Putin's order was set to start.

"Yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives -- at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on X, some 15 minutes before the order came into force.

"Shahed (attack) drones in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and toward human life," the president added, without saying whether Ukraine would observe the proposed truce.

The air alert in Kyiv stopped right at 1500 GMT.

Previous attempts at holding ceasefires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 were not implemented after both sides failed to agree on them.

Ukraine last month agreed to Trump's proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, only for Putin to reject it.

In Kramatorsk, one soldier, Vladislav, 22, recalled a ceasefire agreement soon after the start of armed hostilities in 2014, the year Russia seized the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine.

That truce collapsed days afterwards.

"I feel like it's going to start again after a while, and it's going to go on and on," he said of the conflict.

Ukraine and Russia said they had each returned 246 soldiers being held as prisoners of war in a swap mediated by the UAE.

Zelensky said the total of returned POWs now stood at 4,552.

Gerasimov also said Russian troops had retaken nearly all of the territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region in an incursion launched in August.

"The main part of the territory... is now liberated. That's 1,260 square kilometres, 99.5 percent," Gerasimov told Putin.

Russia earlier Saturday said it had retaken the penultimate village still under Ukrainian control in its Kursk frontier region.

Kyiv had hoped to use its hold on the region as a bargaining chip in the talks.
Some students who experienced the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School seven years ago have now survived their second school shooting in less than a decade while attending Florida State University (FSU).

An active shooter was reported to be on FSU's campus in Tallahassee on Thursday, killing two and leaving six injured.

"I was walking, and this guy pulls up in an orange Hummer," an FSU student who saw the shooter told NBC News. "And he gets out with a rifle and shoots in my direction."

However, senior Ilana Badiner already knew how to respond to the incident.

"I kind of knew the drill already," she told CNN.

Having survived the 2018 shooting in Parkland, Florida, which occurred while she attended a middle school adjacent to the high school, Badiner watched students sprinting towards bathrooms and hallways and realized something was wrong.

"I've been through this before. It was a similar situation," Badiner said.

She alerted the instructor of the bowling class she had actively been attending.

"I didn't know why everyone else would be running and they were leaving all their belongings behind and definitely knew there was an emergency," she said.

Her instructor, Stephanie Horowitz, was also a survivor of the Parkland shooting, having been a freshman at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School when the incident occurred.

"I had a feeling it was an active shooter situation before I even heard," Horowitz said in an interview with CBS. "We were lucky that some of my students looked out of the glass doors and saw everybody running."

FSU student Josh Gallagher, who had been in the FSU law library when the shooting occurred, posted to social media about surviving a second shooting, having been present at Parkland.

"After living through the MSD shooting in 2018, I never thought it would hit close to home again. Then I'm in the FSU Law Library and hear on alarm: active shooter on campus. No matter your politics, we need to meetand something has to change. Prayers to the victims and families," he wrote to X.

After living through the MSD shooting in 2018, I never thought it would hit close to home again. Then Im in the FSU Law Library and hear on alarm: active shooter on campus. No matter your politics, we need to meetand something has to change. Prayers to the victims and families.  Josh Gallagher (@JoshBGallagher) April 17, 2025

Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter was killed in the 2018 shooting, took to social media to release a statement on the FSU shooting.

"America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU. Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student union today," he began.

"As a father, all I ever wanted after the Parkland shooting was to help our children be safe. Sadly, because of the many people who refuse to do the right things about reducing gun violence, I am not surprised by what happened today," he continued.

America is broken. My daughter Jaime was murdered in the Parkland school shooting. Many of her friends who were lucky enough to survive that shooting went on to attend FSU. Incredibly, some of them were just a part of their 2nd school shooting and some were in the student  Fred Guttenberg (@fred_guttenberg) April 17, 2025

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported the death of Sergeant Major Ghaleb Sliman Al-Nasasra, 35, during fighting in northern Gaza on Saturday. This marks the first Israeli combat fatality in the Strip since the ceasefire with Hamas broke down in March.

Al-Nasasra, a tracker from the southern city of Rahat, served in the Northern Brigade of the Gaza Division. He was killed during a rescue operation near Beit Hanoun, following an ambush believed to have been staged by Hamas fighters.

Initial reports indicate that IDF troops had uncovered a tunnel near the border fence and were working to demolish it when they came under attack. Around 1:00 p.m., a squad from the 414th Battalion approached a military vehicle when terrorists opened fire with a rocket-propelled grenade, severely injuring a female officer and a combat medic.

Roughly 30 minutes later, a rescue force dispatched to the area was hit by an explosive device, resulting in Al-Nasasra's death and the critical injury of another tracker from the Northern Brigade.

All injured personnel were evacuated for medical treatment, and their families have been notified.

The IDF has reported that at least 412 Israeli soldiers have died since the start of the ground offensive in Gaza on Oct. 27, 2023, following Hamas's unprecedented attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised Elon Musk on Wednesday, telling university students he was a pioneer comparable to legendary Soviet rocket engineer Sergei Korolev.

The comments came as Russia and the United States forged closer ties under President Donald Trump's administration, of which billionaire SpaceX founder Musk is a key figure.

"You know, there's a man -- he lives in the States -- Musk, who, you could say, raves about Mars," Putin told students on a visit to Bauman University, a Moscow college that specialises in science and engineering.

"These are the kind of people who don't often appear in the human population, charged-up with a certain idea."

"If it seems incredible even today, such ideas often come to fruition after a while. Just like the ideas of Korolev, our pioneers, came about in due time," Putin added.

Korolev is considered the father of the Soviet space programme, developing the first satellite Sputnik as well as Vostok 1, which carried first cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin into orbit in 1961.

Musk, the world's richest man and Trump's most powerful advisor, is the head of SpaceX -- a US company that launches rockets for NASA and owns the Starlink satellite internet network.

Musk has been a frequent critic of Ukraine, which is currently battling a three-year Russian offensive.

The billionaire accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky last month of wanting a "forever war", and in February said Kyiv had gone "too far" in the conflict.
Cutting ties with China would be "very foolish," says British chancellor

Xinhua) 13:43, April 19, 2025

LONDON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said on Friday that it would be "very foolish" for the United Kingdom (UK) to disengage from China, emphasizing the importance of continued economic cooperation.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Reeves expressed support for strengthening ties with China rather than building new barriers.

"China is the second biggest economy in the world, and it would be, I think, very foolish to not engage. That's the approach of this government," Reeves said ahead of a scheduled trip to Washington next week.

Reeves pointed to her visit to China earlier this year, where she participated in the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue alongside leading British financial services firms, including HSBC, the London Stock Exchange Group, Standard Chartered, and Prudential.

She said the visit aimed to boost the ability of British financial services firms to operate in China by securing more licenses and quotas for British businesses. That visit resulted in a deal she estimated to be worth around 600 million pounds (795.93 million U.S. dollars) to the British economy.

Reeves also voiced support for Chinese fast fashion company Shein listing on the London Stock Exchange, and said she would be happy to ride in Chinese-made electric vehicles despite so-called "spying fears."

According to The Telegraph, her comments signal the British government's ongoing commitment to deepening trade and financial ties with China - an agenda championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (1 pound = 1.33 U.S. dollar)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
A Florida man has been sentenced to prison time after he allegedly stole a butcher shop knife and used it to violently attack a woman in a supermarket.

Jammacar Rodkesh Gayle brutally attacked a woman with a knife following a verbal conflict between the two in June 9, 2023. He was sentenced to 12 years behind bars for the incident on Monday.

The 2023 incident occurred at Port Charlotte, at the supermarket butcher's counter. The victim approached Gayle and his girlfriend after Gayle's girlfriend began using offensive language around their small children, asking them to stop. Gayle's girlfriend then began arguing with the victim.

The victim obtained half of her order from the butcher shop and returned to obtain the rest of her order, upon which the argument between her and Gayle's girlfriend continued.

Gayle picked up a frying pan that had been for sale and began walking toward the victim with it, intending to confront her using the pan, but one of his children grabbed the pan out of his hands. Gayle then picked up a knife that was also listed for sale.

Gayle approached the victim with the 8-inch kitchen knife and slashed her abdomen four times before fleeing the market, leaving his girlfriend and children at the scene. The victim was able to pursue him and exited the butcher shop, attempting to photograph his car's license plate.

Gayle returned to intimidate the victim, still holding the knife. His girlfriend and children caught up to him and they all fled the scene, returning to their home in North Port. The victim returned to the shop where bystanders and witnesses to the incident called law enforcement.

The victim was then med-flighted to a trauma center in Lee County where she was given life-saving care.

Gayle was identified by the Charlotte County Sheriff's Office through surveillance video and license plate readers. The investigation was aided by the North Port Police Department.

He was arrested by U.S. Marshals while in Queens, New York, and taken to Charlotte County to face the charges against him. He was convicted of of aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.

Originally published on Lawyer Herald
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Bidwell House Museum to Host Online Discussion on Historical Interpretation

MONTEREY, Mass.  The Bidwell House Museum will present an online lecture titled "Creating History: The Art of First Person Interpretations" on Thursday, April 24, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.

The program will explore the process behind historical reenactments, particularly in relation to the museum's living history events. Past participants in the Bidwell House Museum's American Revolution reenactments will discuss their approaches to historical interpretation, their interest in history, and their preparation for such events.

The speakers for this program include:

Emma Cross, a historian from Williamsburg, Virginia, with 29 years of experience in museum work, including 22 years at the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. She is the owner of Meadows and Stars, llc, a historical performance company. At the Bidwell House Museum in October, she will portray Frederika Charlotte Riedesel.

Michele Gabrielson, a public school history teacher and 18th-century historic interpreter specializing in colonial women printers, 18th-century chocolate makers, and Mercy Otis Warren. She is the secretary for the Mercy Otis Warren Society and the coordinator for the Battle Road Guides for the Battle of Lexington and Concord reenactment. Gabrielson has received awards including the Rising Star Award for Public History by the Massachusetts History Alliance and has been recognized by the Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution and the Massachusetts Society of the Cincinnati. She will portray Mercy Otis Warren at the Bidwell House Museum in October.

Sandy Spector, a Revolutionary War reenactor since 2000, who currently interprets Martha Washington. She has portrayed Mrs. Washington in various states and venues, including the National Park Services Washingtons Headquarters. Spector is also writing a book about Martha Washington from her perspective. She will portray Martha Washington at the Bidwell House Museums opening program on May 17.

Richard Smith, who has lectured and written on antebellum United States history and 19th-century American literature since 1995. He has worked as a public historian and Living History Interpreter in Concord for 26 years, portraying Henry David Thoreau. He has authored or edited 11 books and is a regular contributor to Discover Concord. He will portray Henry David Thoreau at the Museum in October.

Registration is required for the online lecture and can be completed on the Museum website at https://www.bidwellhousemuseum.org/event/creating-history-the-art-of-first-person-interpretations/ . Access details will be emailed to registrants in advance.

The lecture is free for Bidwell House Museum members and $15 for non-members, with one registration required per household.

The grounds of the Bidwell House Museum are open daily from dawn until dusk, free of charge. Guided tours of the historic house will be available by appointment starting on Memorial Day. The museums full program of events is available at www.bidwellhousemuseum.org.
MassDOT Announces Road Work in West Stockbridge and North Adams

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  The Massachusetts Department of Transportation (MassDOT) has announced upcoming road work in West Stockbridge and North Adams. These projects may lead to traffic delays.

West Stockbridge - I-90 Work

MassDOT will conduct bridge painting operations on I-90 westbound at mile marker 1.3 in West Stockbridge from Tuesday, April 22nd, through Friday, April 25th. Work hours are scheduled daily from 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Additionally, guardrail work will take place on I-90 eastbound between mile marker 1.0 and mile marker 3.0. This work is scheduled from Monday night, April 21st, through Thursday night, April 24th, with work hours from 7:00 p.m. to 5:30 a.m. the following morning, concluding on Friday, April 25th.

Lane closures will be in effect during these periods. MassDOT indicates that at least one travel lane will remain open at all times. Police details will be present to manage traffic flow.

Motorists traveling through these areas should anticipate delays and are advised to reduce speed and exercise caution. Signage will be in place to direct traffic through the work zones.

North Adams - Route 2 Sign Removal

In North Adams, MassDOT crews will perform sign removal work on Route 2 at mile marker 16.2, west of the North Adams/Florida town line. This work is scheduled for Tuesday, April 22nd, from 7:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Signage, law enforcement details, and message boards will be used to guide drivers through the work area.

Drivers in the area should expect delays, reduce speed, and proceed with caution.

All work schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions.
St. Agnes' Academy seventh-grader Andrew Milholland displays his Cabot Grand Prize award experiments on how certain metals react to water, salt water, vinegar and bleach. Katelyn Therrien of Hoosac Valley did her project on family fingerprints. Mila Krol and Josslyn Rustay from St. Agnes' Academy in Dalton tested three materials to see which works best for insulation. Zoanna Brown, six-grader from JFK Middle School in Northampton, earned the Boyd Biomedical Award. Ashlen Delecroix, Aurora Stevens, and Iyanah Russel from Hoosac Valley with their project on how pill bugs react to different sound waves. Gemma Radzick, Brielle Kirchner, and Beatrice Allessio of St. Agnes did their project on the best water filtration and took home an Environmental Science Excellence Award. Dylan Clark-Slattery of Hoosac displays findings on how music may affect a person's heart rate. PreviousNext

Region 1 Science Fair Showcases Middle School Students' Projects

NORTH ADAMS, Mass.  Middle school students from around Region 1 displayed their science projects at Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts on Wednesday.

More than 50 projects showcased a wide range of topics students were interested to test and learn from, including how energy drinks affect your heart rate, wind energy efficiency, water filtering, and more.

Hoosac Valley Middle School eighth-grader Dylan Clark-Slattery showed how music may affect a person's heart rate. He said he wanted to test this solution after his grandfather survived a heart attack.

Ashlen Delecroix, Aurora Stevens and Iyanah Russel, also from Hoosac Valley, did their project on how pill bugs react to different sound waves. They originally thought pill bugs would react well to rock music but found classical more inviting.

"We expected them to move closer to rock because they live in more like populated areas with louder sounds and so we expected them to move closer to louder sounds," Ashlen said.

St. Agnes' Academy seventh-grader Andrew Milholland was awarded the Cabot Grand Prize. He did his project on how different materials like aluminum, copper, iron, and titanium react when they hit water, salt water, vinegar and bleach.

"The reason I did this project is to figure out what materials to use when working with pools because pools have bleach and salt water and kitchens have vinegar and water and that's the main reason I did it to see what materials to use when working with those things," Andrew said.

Mila Krol and Josslyn Rustay, also from St. Agnes in Dalton, tested three materials to see which works best for insulation since they both love to ski. They took home the Chemistry Excellence Award.

More from St. Agnes: Gemma Radzick, Brielle Kirchner and Beatrice Allessio did their project on the best water filtration: store bought or homemade. They took home the Environmental Science Excellence Award.

Hoosac's Katelyn Therrien did her project on family fingerprints, stemming from her love of animals and how they express different patterns.

"I always love animals and watching cop shows and so my thought was like, 'OK, so every animal like giraffes and zebras they all have unique patterns, so everyone says that humans do, so where do we get our fingerprints from?'" she said.

Other participating schools were Drury Middle/High School, Greenfield Middle School, Hopkins Academy, John F. Kennedy Middle School, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School, Saint Michael's Academy, and Academy Hill School.

Students received feedback on their projects from judges from MCLA, General Dynamics, Boyd Biomedical, Berkshire Museum, and Fuss & O'Neil.

The top scoring projects are eligible to enter the statewide Massachusetts Science and Engineering Fair as well as the International Science and Engineering Fair.

Results

Cabot Grand Prize Award

"How do different materials react to diverse environments?" Andrew Milholland, St. Agnes' Academy

First Place

Environmental Science Excellence: "Homemade or Store bought?" Gemma Radzick, Brielle Kirchner, Beatrice Allessio, St. Agnes

Chemistry Excellence Award: "Best Clothing Materials for Insulation" Josslyn Rustay and Mila Krol, St. Agnes

Lemelson Early Inventors: "Does milk plastic stand up to other biodegradable straws?" Ava Rossi, Layla Pulley and Emilynn Jackson, Hoosac Valley Middle High School

Boyd Biomedical Award: "Vinegar and Baking Soda Titration" Zoanna Brown, John F. Kennedy Middle School in Northampton

Fuss & O'Neill Chemistry Award: "Baking Muffins With Four Flours: Finding Variations" Clara Kelsey, Greenfield Middle School

Second Place

Biology Excellence: "Family Fingerprints" Katelyn Therrien, Hoosac Valley Middle

Engineering Excellence: "Manipulating Rocket Designs to land utilizing physics" Astrid Knyt and Ella Maier, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Fuss & O'Neill Biology Award: "Growing Plants in Microgravity" Emma Bankert, Regina You, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Behavioral Science: "A Study on The Effect of Physical Activity on Visual and Auditory Reaction Time (VRTS vs. ARTS)" Jack Binnall, Aarav Nandakumar, Academy Hill School in Springfield

Excellence Awards

Physics Excellence Award: "Wind Turbine Efficiency" Stephen Sims and Dashiell Rendulic, Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School

Third Place

"Is your Dominant hand more sensitive than your non dominant hand" Ella Ely, St. Agnes

"Does an added material affect the size and rate of growth of a mung bean" Jacoby Scovil, St. Agnes

"Analyzing the effect of road color on Earth's albedo" Emily Hanselman, St. Michael's Academy in Springfield

"Sole shine" Mason Barbieri and Darnell Clayton, Hopkins Academy in Hadley

"How do energy drinks affect certain parts of your body?" Maija Raymond, Addison Whitmore, Mallory Sullivan, St. Agnes

"The effect of precipitation change on growing plants" Janessa Jangrow, Hoosac Valley

"RC Cars:" Chase Chretien, Riley Barnes, Hoosac Valley

"Wind Energy Efficiency" Sullivan Duquette and Thomas Kuzdeba, St. Agnes

"Samantha's Soda Science Fair Project" Samantha Rider, Greenfield Middle
Children race across The Common to hunt eggs in Pittsfield. See more photos here.

North County, Pittsfield Hold Egg Scrambles



Above, ready, set, go in Williamstown; below a mad scramble for eggs in Clarksburg. See more photos here. CLARKSBURG, Mass.  A number of egg scrambles were held in the Berkshires on Saturday ahead of Easter.

The light spring ran didn't stop hundreds of children from darting across lawns and fields to search for treasure in the form of plastic eggs.

Peter A. Cook VFW Post 9144 held its annual event at the town field named in memory of Cook, Clarskburg's only Vietnam War casualty. Children in four age categories ran, or toddled, across the field to grab brightly colored eggs.

The returned to the pavilion for juice and cookies and, if they were lucky, a large basket for the holders of tickets hidden in four eggs.

Remedy Hall and Milne Library in Williamstown scattered eggs across the library lawn  and in bushes, up in trees, on benches and tucked among the blooming daffodils. The rain started just at the signal was given but the eggs were scooped up in a matter of minutes.

Children who found an egg with a blue ticket could pick a toy or game from an assortment set up under a tent.

The annual Pittsfield Eggstravaganza brought hundreds to The Common to chase eggs, search for a golden one and get their picture taken with the Easter Bunny.

Two thousand eggs were scattered across the park and six of the golden eggs were found: Brantley Jones, age 10; Ryder Ireland, 8; Emily Spear, 5, Koda Mackey-Todd, 4; Carson Underhill, 4; and Myles Cook, 3.
President Donald J. Trump's recently effected tariffs are already changing the world, especially China after it was given the largest reciprocal tariff by the administration. While tech companies with products relying on China for parts, manufacturing, and assembly are affected, e-commerce platforms are also set to suffer from it.

Amazon Chinese Sellers Raise Their Prices Amidst Tariffs

A Chinese trade association, which represents over 3,000 merchants selling on Amazon, previously released a statement amidst the Trump tariffs taking effect in the United States which claimed that it is now hard to sell their products to the US market.

The Shenzhen Cross-Border E-Commerce Association led by Wang Xin claimed that there are only two options for Chinese sellers on Amazon to survive their business, and it is either to get out of the US market or raise their prices.

Some sellers are already opting to leave, while there are several merchants who chose to stay but at the cost of increasing their selling prices significantly.

According to Xin, because of the imposed tariffs that are now at a whopping 145%, "It'll be very hard for anyone to survive in the US market," with the cost structure of Chinese goods facing the overwhelming decisions of the Trump administration.

It was not revealed by Xin or the report how much the Chinese sellers on Amazon are raising their prices, but since the tariffs are at a significant rate, it is expected to double or mark up more than this figure. And since this targeting of China is a specific move by the Trump administration, no merchant or product is safe from the tariffs as long as they hail from the Mainland.

Is It Still Worth It to Buy Chinese Products From Amazon?

According to ArsTechnica, Amazon CEO Andy Jassy said that the Chinese sellers on their platform would face the grave effects of the tariffs, but that would not be the case moving forward. Jassy claimed that he expects that the tariffs' effects would later on be passed to US buyers as the consumers would have to buy the product for their needs or wants.

With this, the biggest loser among all are not the Chinese merchants, suppliers, and workforce, but the United States public who would be forced to buy imported goods, particularly those from China, at a premium.

That being said, this does not cancel out the fact that Chinese businesses will suffer from the tariffs, especially as the e-commerce platform had already effected several changes to curb its effects. Recently, Amazon Haul has changed its focus to selling items that ship from their US warehouses instead of sourcing the products from China directly despite this being the main point of this feature.

Originally published on Tech Times
Five people have died and two more remain missing after powerful waves struck Australia's eastern coast at the start of the Easter weekend, prompting renewed safety warnings from authorities.

In southern New South Wales, a man's body was recovered from the water near Tathra on Saturday. His death follows a string of fatal incidents in the state, where a 58-year-old fisherman and two other men were found dead on Friday in separate drownings.

Rescue teams are currently searching for a man swept into the water near Sydney. In Victoria, tragedy struck when a group was caught in the surf off San Remo on Friday. One woman drowned, and another man remains unaccounted for.

"One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to," Victoria Police confirmed.

Premier of Victoria Jacinta Allan called the events an "awful start" to the holiday weekend.

"My thoughts are with the family of someone who has lost their life in such tragic circumstances, and potentially there is more difficult news to come," she said.

Hazardous surf conditions have pummeled Eastern Australia in recent days. Adam Weir, head of Surf Life Saving Australia, cited sobering data to urge the public to stick to patrolled beaches.

"But these coastal locations can present dangers, some that you can see and some that you can't, which is why we have some simple advice: Stop, Look, Stay Alive," he said.

The series of incidents has sparked concern among emergency services, who continue to monitor conditions and assist with ongoing search operations.
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Fans of Joe Wrights 2005 film adaptation of Pride and Prejudice have Emma Thompson to thank for one of its most memorable lines.

The big screen version of Jane Austens classic novel, which starred Keira Knightley as Elizabeth Bennet and Matthew Macfadyen as Mr Darcy, is about to return to cinemas to mark its 20th anniversary.

To celebrate the films milestone birthday, Wright, who has since directed films such as Atonement, Anna Karenina and Darkest Hour, revealed how Thompson played a key role in creating one of the most loved moments in the script.

Midway through the film, Elizabeth discovers that her close friend Charlotte Lucas (Claudie Blakley) has accepted a marriage proposal from Mr Collins (Tom Hollander), the cringe-worthy curate who Elizabeth has previously rejected herself.

Defending her decision, Charlotte tells Elizabeth: Im 27 years old. Ive no money and no prospects. Im already a burden to my parents, and Im frightened.

She then warns Elizabeth not to judge her for opting for a stable, albeit loveless, marriage rather than chasing romance.

open image in gallery Charlotte Lucas' speech about her decision to marry for stability, not love, has become a fan favourite ( Focus Features )

In the years since the films release, the line has become a meme for fans of the adaptation, with many suggesting that it inadvertently captures the sense of dislocation felt by some millennial and Gen Z viewers.

In an interview with Mashable, Wright revealed that he and screenwriter Deborah Moggach approached Thompson, who had previously won an Oscar for her adaptation of Austens Sense and Sensibility, for some assistance with a little bit of the dialogue.

Deborah Moggach wrote the screenplay and did an amazing, amazing job, and then we asked Emma Thompson to help with a little bit of the dialogue, Wright explained.

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And I went round to her house, very nervous, with my little briefcase, and we walked up onto Hampstead Heath onto a hill. And she said, Sit down, take out your notebook and take notes.

open image in gallery Emma Thompson previously won an Oscar for her adaptation of Austen's 'Sense and Sensibility' ( Getty Images )

Then, Wright said, as she improvised scenes, [he] wrote them down. One of those scenes was Charlottes speech.

And I remember her just coming out with those lines and me scribbling them down, he said. And her ending with, Dont judge me, Lizzy, dont you dare judge me.

Wright revealed that he ended up almost crying at what Thompson had just miraculously come up with, and said that the scene continues to resonate with viewers because theres a truth to it all.

Pride and Prejudice will return to UK cinemas next week.
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Haley Joel Osment has issued a fulsome apology after police bodycam footage from his recent arrest showed him using disgraceful language.

The 37-year-old former child actor was picked up on Tuesday by authorities at the Mammoth Mountain ski resort in Mammoth Lakes, California, and charged with public intoxication and cocaine possession.

Following Osments arrest, police bodycam footage was obtained by the New York Post. In it, the Sixth Sense star is seen using hostile language with the arresting officer, calling them a f***ing Nazi. Once in the patrol car, he can be heard hurling an antisemitic slur at the officer.

The Pay It Forward actor has since apologized in a statement for his behavior.

Im absolutely horrified by my behavior. Had I known I used this disgraceful language in the throes of a blackout, I would have spoken up sooner, Osment shared with People magazine. The past few months of loss and displacement have broken me down to a very low emotional place.

The incident comes months after he lost his home in the devastating Los Angeles wildfires. The actor has struggled to obtain any financial payout from his insurance company, sources told TMZ.

open image in gallery Haley Joel Osment has been charged with public intoxication and cocaine possession after his arrest earlier this month ( Mammoth Lakes Police Dept )

But thats no excuse for using this disgusting word, Osment acknowledged. From the bottom of my heart, I apologize to absolutely everyone that this hurts. What came out of my mouth was nonsensical garbage  Ive let the Jewish community down and it devastates me. I dont ask for anyones forgiveness, but I promise to atone for my terrible mistake.

The Mono County District Attorneys office announced the misdemeanor charges Thursday against the actor, who is due to be arraigned on July 7.

open image in gallery Haley Joel Osment said he's been at a very low emotional place these past months ( Getty Images )

This isnt Osments first run-in with the law. In 2006, he was arrested after driving his car into a brick pillar, which flipped his vehicle over and left him with a broken rib and injured shoulder.

A month after the incident, Osment was charged with misdemeanor DUIs and pleaded no contest to driving under the influence of alcohol and possession of marijuana.

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He was ordered to attend 60 hours of an alcohol rehabilitation program as well as Alcoholics Anonymous meetings for six months. He was also ordered to pay a $1,500 fine.

In a 2019 interview with The Independent, Osment insisted that childhood fame didnt affect him the way it has for many other child stars.

I think sometimes theres an expectation for there to be that darkness, he said. But I think there are a lot more stories of people who had positive experiences working as children and didnt have that kind of cliched storyline going forward. And thats been the case for me.

Osment added: I realize that Im very lucky, because there were other kids who maybe didnt have parents that looked out for them, or worked on film sets that were not wholesome, or where they were not protected. But that was not my experience.
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Ryan Coogler, director of the forthcoming X Files reboot, has confirmed he has spoken to Gillian Anderson, the shows original lead.

The 38-year-old Black Panther director has just celebrated the release of his new horror film, Sinners, starring Michael B Jordan. Coogler said he was looking forward to turning his attention back to the series, which is immediately next on his slate.

Ive been excited about that for a long time and Im fired up to get back to it, he said on the Last Podcast on the Left. Some of those episodes, if we do our jobs right, will be really f***ing scary.

The original show ran for nine seasons between 1993 and 2002 (and two revived seasons in 2016), and followed FBI agents Fox Mulder (David Duchovny) and Dana Scully (Gillian Anderson) as they investigate paranormal phenomena.

Coogler confirmed he had spoken with Anderson about the show as she was finishing off work on the forthcoming science-fiction movie,Tron: Ares.

Shes incredible and fingers crossed there, he said. Were going to try to make something really great, bro, and make something for the real X-Files fans and maybe find some new ones.

News of the reboot was confirmed in 2023, although the shows creator, Chris Carter, had suggested at the time that Duchovny and Anderson would not return.

open image in gallery Coogler said he had spoken to Anderson about the shows reboot ( Getty )

Last year, Carter revealed that the shows producers had originally been hesitant to recruit Anderson, as she did not fit their idea of sexy. She subsequently went on to become a firm fan favourite.

Carter was asked Where is the sex appeal? about The Crown actor.

Even though Gillians beautiful, she wasnt their idea of sexy, he explained. First, because they didnt understand what I was trying to do with the show. And she was an unknown, so that never helps.

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open image in gallery Anderson starred as FBI Agent Dana Scully in the popular series ( FOX )

Anderson was eventually cast as Agent Scully and the shows success ignited her acting career, which has seen her land roles in Netflixs The Crown, Sex Education, and the BBC drama series The Fall.

She previously opened up about the network disagreeing with her casting.

All these other actresses from the theatre community in New York were being flown in because I wasnt good enough for The X Files, she said on the NPR podcast Fresh Air. So I was auditioning suddenly with Jill Hennessy and Cynthia Nixon. Anyway, eventually I ended up getting the job.
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The brother of former Real Housewives of Orange County star Lydia McLaughlin was fatally shot by police in California.

Geoffrey Shyam Stirling was shot and killed by law enforcement during a routine traffic stop on the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach, according to TMZ.

Stirling, 45, was reportedly riding his motorcycle when police pulled him over on April 17.

Sources said he was being uncooperative and at least one Newport Beach officer shot him. No law enforcement officials were injured.

The California Attorney General's Office has since launched an investigation into the incident.

In a statement confirming the death to TMZ, McLaughlin, 44, said: My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn.

McLaughlins TMZ statement was followed by a cryptic post on Instagram. The reality star alum took to her channel to share an image with the message, He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

open image in gallery Lydia McLaughlins brother was fatally shot by police in Newport Beach, California, at age 45 ( Getty )

Next to the post, she wrote: Because of the pain of Good Friday, we have the JOY of Easter Sunday. #JesusIsLord.

Also on Instagram, the Newport Beach Police Department revealed more details about the incident.

On April 17, 2025, at approximately 9:15 p.m., a Newport Beach Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop on a motorcycle on West Coast Highway between Superior Avenue and Hoag Hospital, the post read. The rider, identified as Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, a 45-year-old resident of Laguna Niguel, was stopped for a traffic violation.

Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer. During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officers duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred.

Additional officers responded to the scene and rendered medical aid to Stirling until personnel from the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived. Stirling was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased, the post continued.

The Independent has contacted McLaughlins representatives for comments.

McLaughlin only appeared in Real Housewives of Orange County for seasons eight and 12. Shes also starred in Tamras OC Wedding, Whats Up Orange County, and Meetings with Remarkable People.

The on-screen star has been married to her husband Doug McLaughlin since 2006.
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India is planning to bring in eight more cheetahs from Africa  this time from the southern African country of Botswana  as part of its controversial plan to reintroduce the species in Asia.

The cheetah relocation project began in September 2022, when India brought in eight of the big cats from South Africa and Namibia, marking the worlds first intercontinental translocation of the species.

Subsequently, over a dozen more cheetahs were brought in from Africa, raising Indias tally of the big cats to 20.

With eight of them dying due to causes such as kidney failure and mating-related injuries, and new cubs being born, the current number of cheetahs in India stands at 26.

All the cheetahs currently live at the Kuno National Park in the central Indian state of Madhya Pradesh.

Now, the country is planning to import eight more cheetahs from Botswana in two phases, with plans to bring in the first four of the felines in May, the state government said in a statement on Friday, citing officials of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).

More cheetahs are also expected to be brought in from Kenya, according to the statement.

open image in gallery India South Africa Cheetahs ( Associated Press )

Currently, the Kuno National Park is the only home to Indias cheetahs, but plans are also being made to relocate some of the big cats to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary (GSWS) in the region bordering Madhya Pradesh and the adjacent state of Rajasthan, the statement said.

Indias cheetah reintroduction project has come under widespread criticism from environmental scientists for lacking conservation and scientific merit.

A study, published earlier this year in the journal Frontiers in Conservation Science, raised concerns regarding the cheetahs welfare due to high mortality rates demonstrated thus far.

open image in gallery ( Department of Forest/ Madhya Pradesh )

Researchers have criticised the project, saying its sole focus may not be on the conservation of cheetahs  a species classified as vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Experts have raised concerns that the project, costing an estimated $50m-60m, could involve other agendas, including an alleged request from Namibia that India withdraw its ban on ivory trade in exchange for relocating its cheetahs.

The Indian government has, however, dismissed these claims.

Ethical concerns have also been raised, including the unjust social impacts of the project on local stakeholders, as well as the lack of consultation and transparency.

The latest statement from the Madhya Pradesh government also notes that the state has filed a petition in Indias top court seeking permission to launch a cheetah safari in Kuno.
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Manizha Bakhtari is on a mission to show that resisting the Taliban doesnt mean wanting a war again in her home country. As the last serving female ambassador from Afghanistan anywhere in the world, she is at the forefront of efforts to deny the Islamist group the international recognition it badly craves.

The UN still refuses to recognise the legitimacy of the Taliban regime in Kabul, in place since Nato forces withdrew from the country and the last democratically elected government collapsed in August 2021. Individual countries are following the UNs lead, but many now host Afghan diplomatic missions led by Taliban appointees, often out of practicality rather than ideology.

Austria, where Bakhtari leads the Afghan embassy, has held firm. And from there, Bakhtari is trying to spread the message across Europe that it would be a mistake to recognise or deal with a Taliban regime that fosters extremism and denies women many of the most fundamental rights.

Her story has started gaining attention, and is now the subject of an 80-minute documentary entitled The Last Ambassador that received a standing ovation at last months Copenhagen International Documentary Film Festival. It follows her journey from being first appointed as envoy to Austria by the previous Ashraf Ghani-led administration to her present status as head of a mission disowned by Kabul. It also shows her activities running secret classes for Afghan girls banned by the Taliban from attending school.

In an interview with The Independent at a conference on Afghanistans future hosted by Madrid earlier this year, Bakhtari explains what resistance means for her.

Resisting the Taliban doesnt mean that I want war in Afghanistan, she says. That is how many politicians treat us in this world, believe me  they see [the word] resistance and theyre like you are warlords and you want another war in your country. It is very painful, you know, because resistance does not mean to take [up] arms again. It means to stand against injustice.

The Taliban has done its best to get rid of critical voices from the previous administration and, like in many countries, it issued a diktat firing Bakhtari shortly after capturing Kabul. But Austria still recognises her accreditation, so she continues to represent the interests of Afghan nationals in the country.

open image in gallery Bakhtari continues to raise the republic governments flag at her diplomatic mission ( Sourced/The Independent )

I am not taking orders from them  Taliban men, she says. My legitimacy is not coming from the Taliban approval. Whatever they say, whatever their rule, it is their problem. Not mine. I dont have to accept their words because they have not been recognised within and outside of Afghanistan. They do not even have legitimacy among our own people.

Over the past four years, Taliban representatives have steadily taken over more and more missions around the world, with Norway the latest European nation to accept an appointee from the group last month. India held out until the tenure of the last Afghan ambassador reached its time limit, and then quietly ushered in an official agreeable to the Taliban in late 2023. And the Afghan embassy in the UK was closed in September 2024, at the request of the British government, after the Taliban sacked all its staff.

Asked whether it is inevitable that foreign governments will be forced to deal with the Taliban as Afghanistans de facto rulers, Bakhtari is adamant. Lets forget the fact that the Taliban have been a terrorist group and put it aside, because right now the international community wants everyone to forget this, she says,

What about their policies today? Not 20 years back  lets concentrate on the past four years  forgetting their suicide attacks and atrocities. What have the Taliban done for the prosperity and welfare of Afghans? Jobs? Respected basic human rights? Forget about girls education for a second. What about boys education? What are our boys studying? the ambassador asks.

They do not have proper education or educated teachers. The Taliban have long altered the curriculum and are teaching regressive subjects to millions of Afghan boys who earlier studied under working Afghan women. So yeah, I am not taking orders from those who are yet to be recognised by even one authority, she says.

Though Bakhtari is the only female Afghan ambassador still standing, she is not alone as a woman working through diplomatic channels for the interests of the old Afghan republic. At the Herat Security Dialogue in Madrid, The Independent also met Nigara Mirdad, deputy head of mission at the now shut-down embassy of Afghanistan in Poland.

Mirdad was in hospital in September last year with her 11-year-old daughter, who has diabetes and needed insulin, when the ambassador informed her that their Warsaw mission was being closed. She says she tried to fight back but in vain, and without any funds coming in from Kabul, she appealed to the diplomatic missions in Canada, Germany and the UK to help her pay for gas in the bitter sub-zero Polish winter.

She recalls how it felt when she watched TV coverage of the Taliban sweeping Kabul in 2021. I didnt eat for days and the tears wouldnt stop rolling down my face, she says.

Both Mirdad and Bakhtari knew what was coming for Afghan women under Taliban rule  the same horror they endured as young women in their early twenties.

open image in gallery Nigara Mirdad, deputy head of mission at the Afghanistan embassy in Warsaw, speaks at an event in Poland ( Sourced/The Independent )

In 1996, when she was just 12 years old, Mirdad recalls, Taliban militants entered the Panjshir valley and her neighbourhood prepared to fight. People said girls and women should be killed and thrown in the rivers to prevent the Taliban from touching them, and the Afghan men should go and fight the Taliban. And from that time, it stayed in my mind  if the Taliban comes closer, me and the women of my family will be killed and thrown in the river, she says.

Like Bakhtari, she has received threats from the Taliban in recent years. I received many messages from the Taliban supporters and even the spokesperson of the Talibans interior affairs ministry after they came to power. He said: OK, you wait when we take all the embassies in Europe, we will see you, she says.

Bakhtari says women like them are seen by the Taliban as a threat to their control. They hate women. [They] fear that educated and empowered women will confront them and the structures of oppression they have built. With education, with empowerment and with the ruling society, women will question them, she says.

She says women cannot afford to give up their country, or the idea that things can change. We cannot afford to lose hope, she says. That is the only thing keeping millions in Afghanistan alive.
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Call them dire wolves. Dont call them dire wolves. Colossal Biosciences, the biotechnology company from Dallas, Texas, that wants to de-extinct the woolly mammoth and dodo, doesnt care what you call Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi  just that theyre here.

Were going to call them de-extinct dire wolves. You can call them proxy dire wolves or Colossal dire wolves. Or, you can call them gray wolves with 20 edits that recreate functional dire wolves in the ecosystems of today, Colossals chief scientist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Beth Shapiro told The Independent.

Colossal, which calls itself the worlds first and only de-extinction company, says that de-extincting the dire wolves is a stride forward on the treadmill of scientific progress  but frustrated conservation groups say the gene-edited wolves are a part of the problem.

The Colossal dire wolves were made using gray wolves genetic information and by extracting ancient DNA from fossils found in Ohio and Idaho. But, in the wild, gray wolves are struggling. Theyre being hunted, and have lost their natural habitat.

Its frustrating that theres time and energy devoted to bringing back an animal when we have gray wolves already, Regan Downey, the Wolf Conservation Centers director of education, told The Independent.

A keystone species that helps to keep the balance in their ecosystem, gray wolves stand to lose federal protections. The House Natural Resources Committee passed a bill that would remove the animals from the endangered species list. Lets make sure that theyre not going extinct, Downey urged.

open image in gallery Distinctive traits of the dire wolf include light thick fur and muscular jaws, while they are also much larger than grey wolves (Colossal Biosciences via AP) ( AP )

Many conservationists raise valid ethical concerns when it comes to the whole concept of de-extinction. The dire wolves are coming to a greatly changed planet, stricken by the human condition: climate change, pollution, and much of the issues that have led to our biodiversity crisis and the sixth mass extinction. Multiple studies have painted a bleak outlook for Earths wildlife in the coming decades, with some more adapted to a warming or changing world than others.

Dire wolves have obviously not adapted to this changing world, and Downey noted that it was upsetting the de-extinct wolves were created without a place in the American landscape for them.

Through widespread criticism about its projects, Colossal asserts that conservation is at the heart of its decision-making and that its work represents an opportunity to improve stability in ecosystems.

In its announcement of the dire wolves birth, other fascinating news did not get the same headline attention: Colossal had cloned two litters of red wolves.

Red wolves are the most critically endangered wolf in the world; only 16 of them still exist in the wild. Currently 270 red wolves are living in captivity, with plans for them to be released.

Wolf Conservation Center senior research scientist Dr. Joseph Hinton said in a statement that the immediate concern for the survival of red wolves is threats like cars or hunters, which cloning doesnt protect them from. Cloning is a solution in search of a problem that doesnt exist for red wolves, he said.

open image in gallery Red wolves are critically endangered. Only between 15 and 17 roam their native habitats in eastern North Carolina. Conservationists say there are more immediate methods to promote long-term survival for the species ( Business Wire/AP )

The new litters of red wolves may look more like dire wolves were believed to have appeared tens of thousands of years ago. In previous renderings, dire wolves are shown with reddish brown coats and gnashing teeth. They were not just ancient versions of gray wolves  although a pre-print Colossals scientists published this week suggests they were much more wolf-like than previously thought. As big as the largest of the modern gray wolves, the carnivorous ancient canids that roamed the Americas were closely related to todays jackals. They feasted on horses, ground sloths, bison, and camels. Their life span, however, is similar to modern wolves: typically under a decade.

Dire wolves are very much the dominant species of canine during the Ice Age. And, at the end of the Ice Age around 13,000 years ago, dire wolves became extinct, explained Los Angeles County Natural History Museum Vertebrate Paleontology Curator Dr. Xiaoming Wang, possibly because their prey are disappearing which was maybe related to humans.

He said the cause of their extinction is controversial, and tied to climate change and species competition. When they disappeared, the gray wolf took over.

open image in gallery An artist's rendering shared by the National Park Service shows feeding dire wolves thousands of years ago. They ate horses and ground sloths ( NPS Photo )

But the Colossals dire wolves will be different than their forefathers in all sorts of ways, says Wang.

The three individuals that they managed to clone probably wont have the kind of behavior or repertoire that a normal dire wolf would have because a lot of the behavioral things are taught through parental care, he noted.

There are other aspects of the de-extinct dire wolves that may seem more likely in a Game of Thrones episode than a museum. The de-extinct dire wolves have a larger and stronger body and fuller coat. Theyre also white.

Shapiro said that when they extracted DNA from the fossil they found and studied their genetic information, they saw that they had light-colored coats. Using edited cells that were implanted into surrogate dog mothers, Colossal was able to imbue those features onto six-month-olds Romulus and Remus, and their three-month-old sister Khaleesi.

open image in gallery Did biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences just de-extinct dire wolves? Co-founded by billionaire Ben Lamm and American geneticist George Church, it just announced the birth of three fluffy, white pups ( Business Wire/AP )

The wolves are kept on a secure ecological preserve that spans 2,000 acres in a secret location. Romulus and Remus are bigger than when they made those little howls in a video shared by Colossal. Now nearly fully sized, they playfully tramp around a grassy enclosure, unaware of the ethical controversies their births have created.

So, is what Colossal doing good or bad? The reality is pretty murky. To conservationists, ultimately, the de-extinct dire wolves are a distraction from the gray and red wolves that need immediate help, funding, and support.

Shapiro, who was part of the team that first retrieved dire-wolf DNA from fossils in 2021, said recent actions to revoke protections of gray wolves are terrible and not what we need. Even so, she said that the pace of change in the world is faster than evolution by natural selection can keep up with, and that the future of biodiversity conservation has to include some aspect of these biotechnologies.

Colossals chief animal officer Matthew James says their efforts are complementary to species conservation work.

I think one thing thats been lost so far  is this idea that were pitching these technological platforms as a silver bullet solution for conservation, and thats not the case, he said.
On a June day in 2015, George Powell was the luckiest man alive. He had been metal-detecting in a field near Leominster in Herefordshire with his mate, Layton Davies. To put it kindly, George has been in a lot of trouble in his life. He had amassed 22 convictions for 55 offences, such as burglary and deception. He was quite vain about his appearance. He had several elaborate, quite visible tattoos.

In one photo, he wears reflector sunglasses and an unbuttoned white shirt that reveals his tanned upper body. Layton Davies, by contrast, had been a model metal detectorist. He had almost always done the right thing. He was a school caretaker from Pontypridd. A grandfather. Perhaps his mistake was agreeing to go to Leominster with George. Layton drove, taking George in his VW Campervan on the 110-mile round trip.

We may never know why they chose that particular field. I havent calculated the odds, but it is fair to say they were incredibly long. There have only ever been a handful of discoveries on the scale that George was about to make. After some hours of detecting and the usual nothing  ring pulls, bits of tractors and the like  his detector went off. Beep, Beep.

George stopped and began digging. Layton joined him. There, beneath the surface, they struck gold. Not just gold. A lot of silver, too. A 1,000-year-old hoard of Anglo-Saxon coins and jewels. It must have been a Eureka moment of some magnitude.

What they had stumbled on was a Vikings stash, buried  and we can be quite precise about this  in the year 879. We dont of course know who buried it or why, we just know that a great heathen army (of Vikings) had passed through the area that year. One among them must have wanted to hide their trophies, which were no doubt the result of an orgy of pillaging. The unlucky Viking may have intended to retrieve them later, but never made it back. Instead, those coins and baubles remained there beneath the surface for 1,136 years  until George unearthed them. Not so much a Norse marauder as a Newport buccaneer.

We only know what George and Layton found that day because they took a photo of it all, heaped unceremoniously on top of a Tesco carrier bag. The photo was eventually analysed and recreated with small coin-shaped discs by Dr Gareth Williams, an expert consultant in both Viking and mediaeval coins, who was then working at the British Museum. He estimated approximately 300 coins. The value was as much as 12m.

But, it was difficult to be sure because the hoard had vanished. While the pair cleverly deleted the photo when they were trying to disguise their tracks, it did not take the police long, once they began investigating, to undelete it. To say that the evidence was damning would be an understatement.

As George and Layton well knew, there are laws that determine what you must do when you find buried treasure. Finders are not keepers. Treasure belongs to the state, and the 1996 Treasure Act says you must declare it to the coroner within 14 days.

But thats okay because, ordinarily, it will be valued, bought by a museum, and the proceeds shared between the finder and the owner of the land.

Normally, a detectorist seeks permission from the landowner before detecting in their field. They make a deal to share any proceeds, usually a 50/50 split. George had sought permission, but for a different field and a different tenant. I think he was too intimidated to approach the owner of the field where he found the hoard. He called him the lord of the manor, because the owner was actually a nobleman  Lord Cawley.

open image in gallery Some of the treasure uncovered by the duo in Herefordshire ( Worcester Crown Court )

George was the luckiest man alive. If only he and Layton had done the right thing, they would likely have become millionaires, and Lord Cawley would have done pretty well out of it too (even better than he eventually did). If only.

Instead, unfathomably, they decided not to hand in the hoard but to steal it and sell it themselves. And as you might imagine, a whole trail of chaos, the story of the new BBC Fools Gold podcast, which I helped to create, ensued.

Initially, George and Layton could not contain themselves; they boast-posted some pictures of the coins on a Detecting Wales website and took them to a coin dealer, Paul Wells, at an antiques emporium in Cardiff. They were giddy with excitement at that meeting. George had to be told to calm down and shut the f*** up. Wells made a mistake and took a small handful of coins for safekeeping. He ended up arrested alongside George and Layton and a fourth man, Simon Wicks, who also had the misfortune to know George of old.

Wicks met George at a service station on the M4 and then went to a Mayfair coin dealer with some incredibly rare coins which he denied George had given to him at the meeting. The patina of the coins precisely matched others that were recovered from the hoard.

When they realised the authorities were on to them, George and Layton made a show of doing the right thing and went to report their discoveries to the finds liaison officer at the National Museum of Wales. They handed over three beautiful pieces of gold jewellery  and two coins which they said was all they had found. That, of course, was a lie.

open image in gallery George Powell has been on the run since failing to pay a court-orded 600,000 ( Gwent Police )

It took West Mercia Police four years to unravel the facts and bring the case to trial at Worcester Crown Court. In 2019, the four men were lined up in the dock accused of various offences related to the theft of the hoard. Kevin Hegarty, the KC who prosecuted George and Layton and two others at the eventual trial, observed that it was as if the hoard had a bewitching effect on all who encountered it.

In his evidence, Dr Williams described the great historical significance of the hoard, notably the almost unheard-of coins depicting two Saxon Kings side by side  Alfred and Ceolwulf  indicating an alliance previously unknown to historians. The coins were rewriting our national history. Each one of those so-called two emperor coins was worth upwards of 50,000. No one could say how many were in the hoard because no one other than George and Layton had ever seen it all.

As was his right, George never gave evidence at his trial. Layton did, however, and attempted to claim they had already owned the coins and merely taken them to the field in a rucksack and laid them out on the Tesco bag to claim false provenance.

Unsurprisingly, the jury did not swallow that version of events, and all four men were convicted. All but Wells went to prison. A family man and hitherto reputable dealer, he had suffered considerably with his physical and mental health and received a suspended sentence. George served the longest prison term of six-and-a-half years.

open image in gallery Coins from the Viking hoard found by Powell and Davies ( Worcester Crown Court )

But that was not the end of his troubles. The law assumed he had the benefit of the coins and subjected George and Layton to Proceeds of Crime confiscation orders of 600,000 each. If they did not pay (or return the missing coins), they would serve a further five years and three months in prison.

Evidently, they did not have the money or the coins  for who in their right mind would want to go back to prison for another five years if they could avoid it?

Layton accepted his fate last autumn and returned to jail. George has been at large ever since, ducking and diving. When he should have been in court, he went on holiday to Turkey and met a new girlfriend, Tracey, but that relationship did not make it to Christmas.

In November, Gwent Police put a wanted poster of George on its Facebook page. George began commenting on the post as George Dennis Blackbeard. He said he did not like the mugshot they had used, as it had been taken when he had a hangover. He made fun of the police.

Seeing the posts, Holly Morgan, then a trainee journalist at the South Wales Argus, reached out to George and he responded. Morgan knew nothing about the background of Georges case and took his protestations of innocence at face value. He promised her the interview of her career, with him.

open image in gallery Metal detectorists near Kingsdown, Dover, on the hunt for buried treasure ( David Anstiss/Geograph )

For the podcast, we began working with Morgan to try to talk to George, hoping to finally find out what he had done with the rest of the coins, even though, he said, he would take that secret to his grave.

There were (quite properly) hand-wringing conversations about the ethics of interviewing a suspect on the run. Arrangements were made and cancelled. George was arrested and released after a few days in a northern prison. (Gwent Police reissued their wanted notice while he was actually in custody.)

George said he was going home to Newport to get a fresh trim and hoped to meet Morgan. He sent her a video of the hotel room where he was staying and proposed meeting for a drink in the bar opposite. But she was focused on an interview that we would both attend. At one stage, George agreed to talk  but only if we bought him a new suit and a metal detector to use as props for his portrait photos.

We havent met yet. Perhaps we will end up visiting him when he finally returns to prison. There is so much for George to explain, not least the mystery of the missing coins  with potentially as many as 250 still out there somewhere.

open image in gallery The podcast Fools Gold is available on BBC Sounds ( BBC )

In 2023, two men, Craig Best and Roger Pilling, were convicted and imprisoned for five years after attempting to sell just over 40 coins from the hoard to an American dealer. Best had been arrested in the bar of Durhams Royal County Hotel while trying to sell three sample coins to a broker for the US buyer. In fact, the broker was an undercover detective and Best and Pilling had been the victims of a police sting. They claimed they had bought their coins from John at a service station.

Was John in fact George?

I have tried to put myself in the shoes of George Dennis Powell, but it is not easy.

I wondered how he felt when Lord Cawley received the entirety of the proceeds of the sale to the Hereford Museum of the small part of the hoard that had been recovered. The hoard will form the centrepiece of the museums big refurbishment.

The museum paid exactly 776,250 (the sum settled by the Treasure Valuation Committee) and the whole of it went to Lord Cawley. He told me it was like winning the lottery.

Surely, George has thought about that and what might have been his, if he had done the right thing.

David James Smith is the associate producer of Fools Gold, an eight-part BBC Wales podcast narrated by Aimee-Ffion Edwards for BBC Sounds
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Police investigating the murder of a woman who was last seen leaving work a week ago have discovered her body.

Paria Veisi was reported missing after leaving her workplace in the Canton area of Cardiff at around 3pm on Saturday 12 April.

Her body was discovered by South Wales Police at an address in Penylan, Cardiff, on Saturday, the force said.

A 41-year-old man from Penylan has been charged with murder, preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body and assaulting a person occasioning them actual bodily harm.

A 48-year-old woman from Australia Road, White City Estate, London, has been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

They both appeared at Cardiff Magistrates Court on Saturday. Both have been remanded in custody until their next appearance at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday April 22.

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell, said: This brings our search for Paria to a sad and tragic end. Parias family, all those who knew her, and those in her local community, will be deeply saddened and shocked by these latest developments. Family liaison officers are continuing to support Parias family.

I would like to thank all those who have come forward so far with information since our appeal was launched.

There will continue to be detectives and crime scene investigators working in the Penylan area over the next week.
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The parents of the youngest victim of the Manchester Arena attack have hit out after the bombers brother had access to hot oil to launch an attack on prison guards.

Heartbroken Andrew Roussos said it was crackers that Hashem Abedi had access to a pan of hot butter and the materials to make a blade which he used to stab prison officers at maximum-security HMP Frankland, in Durham, last week.

His eight-year-old daughter Saffie-Rose Roussos was just five metres from Abedis brother Salman when he detonated a suicide bomb at an Ariana Grande concert at the Manchester arena on 22 May 2017, killing 22. His wife Lisa, 56, barely survived the blast, which embedded 126 pieces of shrapnel in her body.

The family, who for a time believed Saffie had been killed instantly, since learned she survived for 69 minutes and that opportunities to save her were missed.

open image in gallery Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi attacked guards inside HMP Frankland last week ( PA Media )

For the family, who have co-written a book about their fearless daughter, the recent prison attack represents yet another failure from the authorities in the fight against the Abedi, who is serving a 55-year minimum sentence for helping his brother plan the bombing.

I mean, it is crazy, Mr Roussos told the Daily Mail. It's crackers. How does a man like that get access to A, B and C, whatever it is, to allow him to make knives? He's able to be there with a pan of hot butter? On what planet is that... I mean, you can't even get your head around it.

The Prison Service has launched a snap review into whether protective body armour should be given to front-line staff and suspended the use of kitchens in separation units - used to keep high-risk prisoners away from the rest of population - in response to the shocking incident.

Asked about Abedi, who was known to MI5 along with his suicide bomber brother before the atrocity, the father, 51, said: These people are what they are: extremists, murderers. We shouldn't be surprised when they try to maim and kill. It's like getting a dog then being surprised when it barks.

But I do blame the authorities, because it is their job to stop them. I blame the system for letting these people do what they did - and what they are still doing, even when they are inside and supposedly in the most secure prison possible.

The softer you are, the more they walk all over you. They [the authorities] were soft from the start - they had the intelligence on these guys, and still they let them slip through the net.

open image in gallery Saffie Roussos, 8, was the youngest victim of the terrorist attack in May 2017 ( Manchester Arena Inquiry )

Lisa, who was told there was a 90 per cent chance she would never walk again after the blast, said she refuses to dwell on the brothers that took her daughters life.

I refuse to give them my thoughts, she said. But I do believe that it's wrong to let all these extremists live together and talk together in prison. They must be having a great time, being fed and watered and allowed to hang out together.

The familys attempt to sue MI5 last year failed because too much time had passed since the bombing.

From the moment the bomb was detonated - in fact even before it, given what MI5 knew - it has been a complete shambles with one thing after another, added Lisa.

So many mistakes were made. So many times people say, That shouldn't have happened. Now this. If you made it up, people would say it was too far-fetched.

The public inquiry into the bombing identified a string of failures in the emergency response to the terror attack, including a failure to declare a major incident, shortages of first responders with only one paramedic at the scene for the first 40 minutes after the explosion and fire crews taking too long to attend.

The inquiry chairman Sir John Saunders said victim John Atkinson's injuries were survivable "had he received the care and treatment he should have", adding: "In the case of Saffie-Rose Roussos, it is highly unlikely that she could have survived her injuries.

"There was only a remote possibility she could have survived with different treatment and care."

open image in gallery Saffie Roussos father Andrew (right) carried her coffin into Manchester Cathedral as she was laid to rest ( PA )

The parents, who have relocated to rural Dorset with their surviving son Xander, have brought Saffies bedroom with them.

The eight-year-olds pink slippers sit by her bed, along with her straw hat and sunglasses, while a cuddly toy of snowman Olaf, from Disneys Frozen, sits in the corner.

Paying tribute to Xander, now 19, who has helped the family pull through, Mr Roussos added: That lad became a man. He and Saffie were inseparable but very different - she was fearless and he was more timid. But he's become the fearless one now.

SAFFIE: The Youngest Victim Of The Manchester Terror Attack And Her Family's Fight For Justice, by David Collins, is published by Silvertail Books on 24 April at 12.99
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Teachers are raising concerns about the detrimental influence of social media personalities, such as Andrew Tate, on student behaviour, citing a rise in misogyny and sexism within schools.

A recent survey conducted by the NASUWT teaching union revealed that nearly three in five teachers (59 per cent) believe social media contributes to the declining behaviour of students.

The poll surveyed over 5,800 NASUWT members across the UK in January.

Its findings were released during the NASUWTs annual conference held in Liverpool over the Easter weekend.

A key motion to be debated at the conference focuses on the increasing use of social media, messaging apps, and online gaming platforms by far-right and populist movements for recruitment purposes.

The motion urges the unions executive to collaborate with teachers in assessing the potential risks these movements pose to young people.

It adds that the union should work with the government to support teachers in challenging far-right and populist narratives presented to young people.

open image in gallery Influencer Andrew Tate is a self-described misogynist ( AP )

A number of teachers who responded to the NASUWTs survey on behaviour referenced the negative influence that Mr Tate has had on male pupils.

One teacher said: I have had boys refuse to speak to me and speak to a male teaching assistant instead because I am a woman and they follow Andrew Tate and think he is amazing with all his cars and women and how women should be treated. These were 10-year-olds.

Another said: In an all-boys school, low socio-economic area, the Andrew Tate phenomena had a huge impact on how they interacted with females and males they did not see as masculine.

One teacher said: We had some incidents in school with derogatory language towards female staff (eg boys barking at female staff and blocking doorways so they couldnt leave the classroom), as a direct result of Andrew Tate videos.

Another said: In a secondary English class last year, a group of boys opted, despite discouragement, to write a persuasive essay on why Andrew Tate is the Goat (greatest of all time) which included praise of his view that women are a mans property  All of the parents were contacted and were appalled.

open image in gallery The Netflix drama Adolescence examines themes of misogyny and online bullying ( AP )

Television drama Adolescence, which examines so-called incel (involuntary celibate) culture, has prompted a national conversation about sexism and online safety.

In March, prime minister Sir Keir Starmer said there was no simple solution to stop boys from being dragged into a whirlpool of misogyny as he hosted creators of the Netflix drama at Downing Street.

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: Misogyny, racism and other forms of prejudice and hatred may have attracted greater media attention of late, but it is clear from our data that these behaviours are not a recent phenomenon.

There is an urgent need for concerted action involving schools, colleges and other agencies to safeguard all children and young people from the dangerous influence of far-right populists and extremists, and to ensure that our schools and colleges are safe places for learners and for staff.

Mr Roach said teachers could not be left alone to deal with these problems.

open image in gallery Keir Starmer meets with writer Jack Thorne and producer Jo Johnson (right) of the television show Adolescence ( PA )

We need a multi-agency response to improve social media literacy, critical thinking skills, and to expose disinformation and false narratives.

We are urging the government to lead a national effort to tackle the root causes of poverty and deprivation and keep children safe online.

A Department for Education (DfE) spokesperson said: We know the rise of dangerous influencers is having a damaging impact on our children, which is why we are supporting the sector in their crucial role building young peoples resilience to extremism as part of our plan for change.

Education can be the antidote to hate, and the classroom should be a safe environment for sensitive topics to be discussed and where critical thinking is encouraged.

Thats why we provide a range of resources to support teachers to navigate these challenging issues, and why our curriculum review will look at the skills children need to thrive in a fast-changing online world.

This is on top of wider protections being brought in for children with the Online Safety Act, to ensure children have an age-appropriate experience online.
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A teenage boy crushed to death by heavy machinery on a farm harboured dreams of becoming a farmer when he was older, his devastated family said.

Harry Moss, 14, was fatally injured when he became trapped in an agricultural accident in Malvern, Worcestershire, on Thursday  just a month before his 15th birthday.

Another man was also injured and taken to hospital, but his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

Harrys father, Lewis Moss, 39, said it was not yet clear how his son died or what job he was doing at Hillview farm in Malvern.

In a tribute on Mail Online, he said: All Harry ever wanted to be was a farmer. He loved everything about the countryside and everything about farming, he said.

At a very early age, he set his sights on being a farmer when he left school.

He was such a lovely lad. He was polite, hard-working, and he was never any trouble to me.

I never had a single worry about him. He would have been 15 in a month and I cannot believe he has gone. He was my world.

open image in gallery Ambulances rushed to Hillview Arena in Malvern ( Google Maps )

He added: At the moment all the police have told me is that they are investigating his death because it is unclear how he died. They say they will look at all the circumstances. For now, all they have told me is that Harrys death is unexplained.

The keen angler was the oldest of five, with three younger brothers and a sister.

His mother, Hollie McMurra,y posted a video on social media of Harry playing around with friends dressed as a police officer at school.

She said: My firstborn forever in my heart. Harry you did me so proud but boy you were 14 and working too hard! Farmer forever, I love you so much.

Family friend Maggie Murrihy launched a GoFundMe page to help cover the cost of his funeral.

She wrote: As everyone is aware, Harry passed away under tragic circumstances. Harry Moss was the most amazing teenager who had his whole life ahead of him.

It was tragically taken at just the young age of 14, him being the eldest sibling of the family.

He was an amazing big brother and son and lived his life like a little homing pigeon  if he left home it was either to do what he loved, farming or fishing.

No parent should have to go through this unimaginable pain or receive this kind of news, and I know nothing can help with the pain. Im hoping this will ease any financial burdens regarding his passing and funeral costs.

Harry Moss was the best and will be given the best send-off. Lets as a community make this happen!

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has been informed of the death, and an investigation has been launched alongside West Mercia Police.

A spokesperson for West Midlands Ambulance Service said: We were called to an incident at an address off Blackmore Park Road in Malvern, Worcestershire at 8.50am.

We sent two ambulances, three paramedic officers, a Basics emergency doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulances from Cosford and Strensham to the scene.

On arrival, crews found a teenage boy in a critical condition and immediately began administering advanced life support.

Sadly, despite best efforts, nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased at the scene.

A man was also treated by crews for serious injuries and conveyed under emergency driving conditions to Worcestershire Royal Hospital.

A spokesperson for the HSE added: We have visited the site and are working with West Mercia Police with their investigation.
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Pub across the country will be ringing the last order bell a little later than usual on VE day, as closing time gets pushed back to 1am for the 80th anniversary.

The prime minister has given the green light for pubs and bars to stay open two extra hours on Thursday 8 May.

Sir Keir Starmer has called for the nation to unite in honour of the wartime generation as the UK marks 80 years since VE Day.

He said it was a moment to remember the incredible sacrifices made during the Second World War and to celebrate the peace and freedom they won.

Extending pub hours, he added, would give people the chance to raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.

open image in gallery The PM has given the green light for pubs and bars to stay open two extra hours on Thursday 8 May ( PA Archive )

Pub hours have been relaxed before for occasions of exceptional national significance such as the Euro 2024 final and King Charles coronation weekend.

Michael Kill, chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said extending pub hours would give the industry a boost.

He said: As someone with a strong family background in the armed forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served.

VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together.

At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.

VE Day commemorations will start on the May bank holiday on Monday 5 May.

The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags and there will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London.

On 8 May, there will be a party at Horse Guards Parade showed live on BBC One.
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Tens of thousands of people took to streets on Saturday across the UK in protest against the betrayal of the trans community after a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.

The rally in central London is estimated by organisers to have attracted 20,000 demonstrators, while thousands more gathered in towns and cities up and down the country for dozens of other protests, with more planned in the coming days.

Trans rights groups, trade unions and community organisations came together for what was billed as an emergency demonstration in Parliament Square, with activists demanding trans liberation and trans rights now. Some waved flags and held banners, with placards stating trans rights are human rights and trans women are women seen among the signs being held aloft.

open image in gallery Campaigners take part in a rally organised by trans rights groups, trade unions, and community organisations at Parliament Square in central London on Saturday ( PA )

The protests have been organised in response to a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday in which the UKs highest court confirmed the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex. This means transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate.

Speaking to The Independent from Parliament Square on Saturday, Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride In Labour, which is one of the organisers, branded the ruling a betrayal of the trans community, and accused the Supreme Court of not including trans people in coming to its conclusion.

The 21-year-old, from Preston, said: It feels like a betrayal, because were in a country that will boast about our equality and personal protections, that every person is their own individual and free to do as they wish  then were told by the state that the way we identify isn't a valid way to identify. Its a betrayal by the courts, especially when they didnt include trans people when coming to that ruling.

open image in gallery Avery Greatorex, left, attended the demonstration in central London on Saturday ( Avery Greatorex )

Speaking of her reasons for travelling to the capital to protest, she said: We have come out today to pressure the government and the public to stand with the trans community, as right now all across the country there are lots of very scared trans people, because the implications of this ruling could be massive.

The ruling means trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in womens sports, according to the head of Britains equalities watchdog.

But Ms Greatorex also pointed to the less obvious but equally damaging consequences, especially those affecting members of the trans community who are already vulnerable. Theres a lot of concern that people already needing support are now feeling that support being whipped away from them, she said.

open image in gallery The march in central London is among the dozens planned following the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman in equalities law ( PA )

She cited the new barriers trans women could face accessing safe spaces like refuges. Being unable to access these necessary refuges, that puts them at really great risk of the people whove made them victims, she said.

Before the march, at least two statues were daubed with graffiti, with f** rights and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and trans rights are human rights sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts.

The Metropolitan Police confirmed it was investigating damage to seven statues.

The government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought clarity and confidence for women and service providers, while a Labour party source said prime minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a common sense position on the subject from an activist stance.

open image in gallery The ruling means trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in womens sports, according to the head of Britains equalities watchdog ( PA )

Ms Greatorex described the energy of the absolutely ram-packed crowd in London on Saturday as incredible, with people in every direction. She added that there is a lot more anger and passion than she has seen at previous protests.

Among the other groups supporting the London protest were Trans Kids Deserve Better, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.

open image in gallery Ms Greatorex described the energy of the absolutey ram-packed crowd in London on Saturday as incredible ( PA )

A rally and march organised by Resisting Transphobia took place in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon and drew a large crowd.

According to a list compiled by What the Trans!?, 38 demonstrations have been planned across the UK this month and next, including a protest outside the British embassy in the Netherlands.

Ms Greatorex said: Its an international push  its the same struggle wherever we are in the world. The solidarity is incredible.
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More than 70 refugee charities and human rights organisations have called on Yvette Cooper to shut a prison-like former RAF base housing asylum seekers in Essex.

Just weeks after the High Court found the home secretary acted unlawfully in housing three asylum seekers at the facility, the campaigners have piled pressure on Ms Cooper to shut the unsafe and unsuitable site for good.

Sir Keir Starmer this month declined to set a date for when the former RAF station will be shuttered, despite pledging to close it during the general election.

open image in gallery An aerial view of RAF Wethersfield in Essex (Joe Giddens/PA) ( PA Archive )

And following the closure of the Bibby Stockholm barge, as well as the announced closure date of the RAF Napier asylum camp, the coalition of organisations called the continuation of Wethersfield ever more indefensible.

In a letter coordinated by the charity Asylum Matters, they said: People seeking asylum should be housed in communities, not camps. Placing people seeking protection in camp accommodation on ex-military sites is inhumane, and causes profound and long-lasting additional trauma to people who have already experienced conflict, oppression, abuse, torture and trafficking.

The recent judgment by the High Court of Justice regarding the unlawful treatment of three victims of torture, trafficking and/or serious violence at ex-RAF Wethersfield adds to the growing body of evidence that camps like this are wholly unsuitable and unsafe for people seeking protection.

Both Wethersfield and Napier must close now, so that no more vulnerable people are put at risk and no more government money is wasted.

open image in gallery Home secretary Yvette Cooper is facing fresh calls to close the camp ( PA Wire )

Signatories include Humans for Rights Network, Refugee Action, City of Sanctuary UK, the Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants, and Choose Love, as well as local support groups from across the country such as the Refugee and Migrant Forum of Essex and London (RAMFEL), and Asylum Link Merseyside. It was also backed by wider civil rights groups including the Runnymede Trust.

Labour MP Nadia Whittome told The Independent: I've met people who have been housed in Wethersfield and they told me of the mental health crisis gripping the site. It is a completely inappropriate place for people seeking asylum to live, many of whom have been through immense trauma.

The government did the right thing in shutting down the Bibby Stockholm. Now it must close Wethersfield too.

The letter also said camps which segregate people seeking asylum stoke community division and act as a magnet for far-right agitators and said ending the use of such camps is more important than ever in the wake of the Southport riots last summer.

open image in gallery Nadia Whittome described meeting people who have been housed in Wethersfield ( Nadia Whittome )

The Independent has repeatedly drawn attention to conditions on the Wethersfield site, including speaking to residents about the mental health crisis unfolding inside.

One described how seeing people attempt suicide has become almost routine, while another said fights were common, especially in the dining room over food portions.

Last year The Independent also revealed the slew of ambulances being called to attend incidents at Wethersfield amid a rise in the number of men attempting suicide.

Initial plans were for up to 1,700 migrants to be housed at the airfield, but there are currently around 580 on the site.

The government is reluctant to close Wethersfield as doing so could scupper its mission to scale back the use of hotels for asylum seekers and drive up the cost of accommodation for migrants.

And despite pledging to end the use of hotels and barges to house asylum seekers, The Independent revealed this week that the government has awarded a contract allowing for their provision until 2027.

The wide-ranging agreement  which covers transport, accommodation and venue bookings for the public sector  includes services for asylum seekers, released prisoners and rough sleepers.

The Home Office was contacted for comment.
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Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to follow in Donald Trumps footsteps and appear more regularly in front of the media.

Labour MPs have called on the prime minister to act more like the US president, who has made surprise calls to live TV news shows and held long meetings with cabinet members on camera.

The result is that Mr Trump dominates news coverage in the US, with a growing number of senior Labour figures believing Sir Keir would do well to adopt the tactic.

But Sir Keirs public interventions are limited and usually reserved for what Labour deem major announcements, such as the PMs decision this month to ease rules on carmakers transitioning to electric vehicles in the wake of the US tariffs being imposed.

open image in gallery Labour MPs want Keir Starmer to take a more hands-on approach with the media ( PA )

At press conferences, Sir Keir only takes a handful of questions from pre-selected journalists, often ignoring other members of the media who attend.

One minister told The Guardian: Trump and [the vice-president] JD Vance have shown the advantage of getting out there and not worrying about making mistakes.

In the run-up to the election, Vance did multiple disastrous podcast interviews, but people did not focus on them for long. Eventually he started getting noticed for the things he wanted to say.

They added: That style of media strategy seems to make a lot more sense than making the occasional appearance on the [BBC] Today programme or Laura Kuenssberg.

open image in gallery Donald Trump makes regular media appearances ( AFP/Getty )

Another Labour MP added: I watched the first few days of the Trump administration with envy. He was out there making announcements all the time.

Imagine if we had done the same thing. It doesnt even matter whether your announcements are going to happen  the point is you are telling people who you are and what you want to do.

The Trump administrations calculation appears to be that the risk of making gaffes is outweighed by the benefit of being more visible.

And Boris Johnsons former chief of communications, Lee Cain, who has since established public relations firm Charlesbye, backed Sir Keir taking a more proactive approach.

He told The Guardian: Politicians need today to be able to communicate in 30 seconds on TikTok, but also for three and a half hours on Joe Rogan.

The line to take is dying, the grid is dying, he added. That whole process where we send politicians on to news programmes with a goal of not saying anything, not creating news, not making a mistake, killing authenticity  is a failing strategy.

A recent analysis by his firm found Mr Rogans podcast now attracts almost as many daily listeners in the UK as BBC Radio 4s entire output for the same period.
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A federal website about Covid-19, which once featured information on vaccines, testing and treatment, now supports the theory that the pandemic originated with a lab leak.

The covid.gov website has been transformed and now suggests Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus first began spreading, is home to a research lab with a history of conducting virus research with inadequate biosafety levels.

It also features a photo of President Donald Trump walking between the words lab and leak under a White House heading.

The page also accuses Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of pushing a preferred narrative that Covid-19 originated in nature.

open image in gallery Trump's rebranded Covid site ( https://covid.gov/ )

The origins of Covid have never been proven.

Scientists are unsure whether the virus jumped from an animal, as many other viruses have, or came from a laboratory accident.

A U.S. intelligence analysis released in 2023 said there is insufficient evidence to prove either theory.

open image in gallery The coronavirus first began spreading in Wuhan , China ( AFP via Getty Images )

Its common for government websites to get a makeover from one administration to the next, but the latest overhaul has been more extensive than usual. Public health data was scrubbed, particularly any information involving transgender people. The Pentagon also removed photos that were believed to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.

The covid.gov site used to include information on how to order free Covid tests and described how to stay up to date with your Covid-19 vaccine, saying its the best way you can protect you and your loved ones. It advised people how to get treatment right away if they get sick and added links to learn more information about long Covid.

About 325 Americans have died from Covid per week on average over the past four weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As of April 5, less than a quarter of adults in the U.S. have gotten an updated Covid vaccine.

Millions worldwide have had long Covid, with dozens of widely varying symptoms, including fatigue and brain fog.
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A Texas doctor was filmed treating patients at a clinic with a visible measles rash on his face, a week before Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. met him and praised him as an extraordinary healer.

A video posted by the anti-vaccine group Kennedy once led, Childrens Health Defense, on March 31 shows Dr. Ben Edwards wearing scrubs and talking with parents and children in a makeshift clinic he set up in Seminole, Texas.

Seminole is ground zero of the outbreak that has sickened hundreds of people and killed three, including two children.

In the video, Dr. Edwards confirms he has measles, stating the infection began the day prior.

"Yesterday was pretty achy," Edwards says in the video. "Little mild fever. Spots came in the afternoon. Today, I woke up feeling good."

Measles is most contagious for about four days before and four days after the rash appears and is one of the world's most contagious diseases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Doctors and public health experts said Edwards' decision to go into the clinic put children, their parents and their community at risk because he could have spread it to others. They said there was no scenario in which Edwards' conduct would be reasonable.

Kennedy met with Edwards about a week after the video was posted by Children's Health Defense, the group Kennedy led for years until December. In an April 6 post on X, Kennedy said he visited with these two extraordinary healers, including Edwards and another doctor, and praised their use of two unproven treatments for measles.

open image in gallery Dr. Ben Edwards with a measles rash on his face ( AP Photo )

Even as measles has exploded in Texas and spread across the country, Kennedy, the nation's top health official, has declined to consistently and forcefully encourage people to vaccinate their children and remind them that the vaccine is safe.

Kennedy's post drawing attention to Edwards is inappropriate but unsurprising given Kennedy's record, said Dr. Craig Spencer, a medical doctor who is also a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health.

"I think it is, unfortunately, perfectly on-brand for how he thinks that medicine should be practiced," Spencer said. "And that is what makes me remarkably uncomfortable and extremely concerned and scared for the next three-and-a-half years.

It was unclear whether Kennedy knew that Edwards had gone into his clinic while infected with measles before meeting him. A spokesperson for Kennedy said he is not anti-vaccine and that he is committed to improving childrens health in America and has re-deployed resources to Texas to help with the current outbreak. He did not answer why the health secretary chose to meet with and praise Edwards rather than any of the other doctors in West Texas who have been treating children in the outbreak.

Edwards told The Associated Press in an email that he interacted with zero patients that were not already infected with measles during the time he was infectious. Therefore, obviously, there were no patients that were put in danger of acquiring measles since they already had measles.

open image in gallery Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, stands with Dr. Ben Edwards, right ( Copyright 2025 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.AP Photo/Annie Rice, File )

But Jessica Steier, a public health scientist, said the video shows Edwards in the room with people who do not appear sick, including parents of sick children and the people who visited the clinic from Children's Health Defense. She also questioned what steps Edwards was taking to confirm people were sick with measles, rather than relying on guesswork.

Steier, who runs the Science Literacy Lab, said while there may be some extraordinary emergencies where it would be appropriate for a sick doctor to work, this is not one of those situations because there is no shortage of providers who are not infected. She also pointed out that the video shows Edwards was not wearing a mask.

You have the HHS secretary lifting him up," she said. "You know, its so, so dangerous. I really feel for the people who are on the ground.

Childrens Health Defense has sued a number of news organisations, among them the AP, accusing them of violating antitrust laws by taking action to identify misinformation, including about the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccines.

Kennedy's promotion of a doctor who has touted unproven measles treatments is wholly irresponsible but is in line with Kennedy's long public record of anti-vaccine views, said Dr. Paul Offit, a pediatrician at Childrens Hospital of Philadelphia. He said Kennedy has carried those views to his new job as the head of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

"Hes not the director of Childrens Health Defense anymore. Hes responsible for the health and well-being of children in this country, Offit said. It's an emergency, but Kennedy is not treating it that way.
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Three people are dead following a small plane crash in Nebraska on Friday.

According to the Federal Aviation Administration, a Cessna 180 crashed into the Platte River in Fremont, Nebraska, at around 8.45 p.m. local time.

Three people were on board the aircraft. The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the incident.

The victims have been identified by the Dodge County Sheriff's Office as 43-year-old Daniel Williams of Moundridge, Kansas, 50-year-old Jeff Bittinger, and 48-year-old Randy Amrein, both of Fremont, Nebraska.

Its not clear what caused the crash.

The Independent has contacted the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and the National Transportation Safety Board for comment.

Small plane crashes are not common but the development is the latest in a series of crashes involving Cessna planes on the back of multiple high-profile aviation disasters this year.

Earlier this month, a Cessna 210 crashed shortly after takeoff from Boca Raton Airport. In February, a Cessna 172S and a Lancair 360 MK II collided at Marana Regional Airport just northwest of Tucson.

Two people were on board each of the aircraft.

Data from the National Transportation Safety Board does not show an uptick in aviation accidents overall. So far, the data this year does not indicate a potential increase from the two prior years. The majority of documented plane crashes in 2025 have involved small private planes.
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Western North Carolina is fending off more raging wildfires spanning hundreds of acres this week.

The blazes are burning less than a month after multiple fires tore across the state as well as South Carolina amid warm and dry conditions.The flames in the Tar Heel State have fed on debris left over from Hurricane Helene last fall, resulting in mass evacuations and the destruction of multiple homes.

After rainy weather offered some relief earlier this month, North Carolina lifted a statewide ban on open burning. Officials told residents to remain vigilant, and that lifting the ban did not apply to fires started within 100 feet of an occupied dwelling.

Weve received some well-timed, much-needed rain over the last couple days which has helped reduce fire danger, allowing us to lift burn ban restrictions across the state, said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. However, we are still in the midst of spring wildfire season and our recent wildfire activity, especially in Western North Carolina, is a reminder to remain vigilant about burning safely and responsibly.

That was before the start of the Rattlesnake Branch fire and the most recent Bee Rock Creek fire.

open image in gallery Multiple wildfires have started in the days since a burn ban was lifted in North Carolina. The Bee Rock Creek fire has grown this week amid windy weather ( U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina/Facebook )

While the Rattlesnake Branch fire has been contained by firefighters, the Bee Rock Creek fire is holding strong in steep and forested terrain.

Rain isnt expected in the area of the fire until next week. Some social media users are calling for the states burn ban to be reinstated.

Time to declare another burn ban, no rain for the next three weeks and lots more windy dry days, Stu Art said in a post on the North Carolina Forest Service Facebook page.

I was thinking the same thing, replied Simone Lipscomb.

open image in gallery The Bee Rock Creek fire has forced evacuations for part of McDowell County. The county is home to more than 44,000 residents ( U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina/Facebook )

The Bee Rock Creek fire started on Tuesday, nine miles northwest of the city of Marion. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The blaze has forced evacuation orders around the Pisgah National Forest.

An air quality alert was also issued for the evacuation area through midnight on Saturday due to the choking wildfire smoke.

By Friday afternoon, the fire had grown to 856 acres with 10 percent containment. Another windy day was expected to make continuous firefighting efforts tricky.

Firefighters will also be mopping up along Armstrong Creek Road, extinguishing hotspots to secure containment lines. Crews are prepping the Blue Ridge Parkway as a potential containment line by removing downed vegetation from Hurricane Helene, the North Carolina Forest Service said.

Elsewhere, firefighters were working to combat the 790-acre Haoe Lead fire, which is not yet contained. Located about an hour away, that fire was started by a lightning strike.

open image in gallery The slightly smaller Haoe fire was started by a lightning strike. The blaze is not contained ( U.S. Forest Service - National Forests in North Carolina/Facebook )

Increased wildfire danger is expected across the country due to the impacts of human-caused climate change. Rainier weather will cause the growth of more vegetation that can dry out and become fuel during the drier and hotter months. Warmer temperatures will also lead to faster and stronger Atlantic hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico that take aim at the Southeast.

But, there are immediate steps that people can take to protect themselves from catastrophic wildfires.

As a resident, you can do things like cleaning up any leaves or pine needles in your yard, clearing dead trees and other vegetation around your home, and avoiding outdoor fires when environmental conditions are right for wildfires, the National Academy of Medicine said this week.
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When Edye Raines heard the explosion from her office in downtown Oklahoma, she took off running. Then she realized the noise was coming from a nearby building where her two young children spent their days in child care, and true panic set in.

Harrowing footage of the chaos in the seconds following the Oklahoma City bombing 30 years ago captured a frantic mother with fiery red hair pushing through the crowds of people who had spilled out of their offices in the downtown area.

As she raced toward the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, the devastation confirmed her worst fear. She knew her two babies, 3-year-old Chase and 2-year-old Colton, were gone.

My heart just sank, she recalls in a new National Geographic docuseries, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America.

God wasnt going to take one and leave the other without his brother. I knew that.

Both Chase and Colton were among the 168 lives  including 19 children  lost on the morning of April 19, 1995, in the Oklahoma City bombing, which remains the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history.

open image in gallery The north side of the Albert P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City shows the devastation caused by a fuel-and fertilizer truck bomb that was detonated on April 19, 1995 ( AFP via Getty Images )

30 years later, its most haunting images, still etched in our minds, are brought back with a new three-part docuseries, as told by those who lived through the tragic day.

The series premiered on April 2 at 8 p.m. ET on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu.

The Independent took a look back at the tragedy ahead of the docuseries release.

The building quickly resembled a war zone

The morning of April 19, 1995, began like any other day in Oklahoma City.

Until 9:02 a.m., when a bomb exploded outside a federal building, sending the city into chaos as first responders raced to save those trapped inside.

The Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building housed offices of such federal agencies as the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Drug Enforcement Administration and Housing and Urban Development, and a federal employee credit union and military recruiting offices.

A third of the building had been reduced to rubble, with many floors flattened like pancakes. Dozens of cars were incinerated and more than 300 nearby buildings were damaged or destroyed.

open image in gallery Rescue teams search for bodies in the rubble of the federal building in Oklahoma City on April 24, 1995 ( AFP via Getty Images )

Haunting images of the Oklahoma City bombing that encapsulated the horror of the attack have remained embedded in the American psyche for decades.

One of the most iconic is the photo captured by Charles Porter IV, of firefighter Chris Fields carrying the limp, bloodied body of one-year-old Baylee Almon from the wreckage of the building.

Footage of rescue workers carrying out children, covered in blood and debris, were eerily similar to images from a war zone.

I laid there, basically buried alive, waiting to die

Amy Downs was working as a teller for the Federal Employees Credit Union in the federal building when her office exploded.

Footage from the docuseries shows a vibrant office atmosphere as the tight-knit group of employees, mostly female, swapped stories over their morning coffee and joked about the cute ATF agents who came in to take out money for lunch.

It was my friend group, it was my emotional support, Downs said. It was more than just a job.

On the day of the bombing, Downs had just sat down at her desk, which was about 20 feet away from the buildings glass windows. Then everything changed.

open image in gallery National Geographic's new docuseries, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America, premieres on April 2 at 8/7c on National Geographic and streams the next day on Disney+ and Hulu ( National Geographic )

Downs fell three floors before becoming buried under ten feet of rubble. There was silence all around her, she recalled.

I was still in my chair, she said. I was upside down buried in the rubble. But my right hand was sticking out of the rubble, it was free.

Nearly an hour later, rescuers located her after seeing her hand and hearing her calling out for help. They promised to get her out, but there was hesitation in their voices, she recalled.

I was thinking please don't leave me. Please.

Believing another bomb was imminent, rescuers were forced to retreat leaving Downs alone and terrified. It was completely silent, she said.

I remember trying to make myself fall asleep, she said. Maybe if I fall asleep, Ill die in my sleep. But I couldn't make myself fall asleep. There was nothing I could do.

I lay there, basically buried alive, upside down in my chair in this rubble just waiting  waiting to die.

Downs was one of the last survivors to be pulled from the rubble.

The blast killed 18 of Downs 33 co-workers that day. She later helped identify them by their clothing.

Downs now serves as the president and CEO of the same credit union and uses her second chance to help others as a motivational speaker who shares about living with survivors guilt and overcoming trauma.

She also underwent her own health journey, going from 355-pounds as a teller to completing a full Ironman at age 50 as CEO, according to her LinkedIn page.

Finding out her babies were gone

Outside the collapsed building on that horrifying day, Edye Raines clutched onto a co-worker as they stared up at the smoke billowing out of the wreckage of the building, knowing her children were inside.

open image in gallery Edye Raines sons Chase and Colton were in the daycare that was located inside the Murrah building when the bomb went off ( Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum )

It was Raines brother, who worked for Yukon Police Department at the time, who found her boys.

He came back and had this look on his face of just complete horror, she said. I knew right then that Chase and Colton were soaring with the angels. I just already knew.

I lived for those boys, Raines continued as she wiped away her tears. Every ounce of my being went into making sure that they were being cared for and loved and happy. But most importantly they loved each other  so much. Im just glad theyre together.

The docuseries, produced by 72 Films, features countless other stories of survival and heroic rescue efforts, powerful first-hand testimony from witnesses  some sharing their stories for the first time  as it gives a moment-by-moment account of the unthinkable tragedy.

The Oklahoma City bombing was a tragedy that deeply impacted America, but in its wake, we saw extraordinary strength, compassion, and resilience, said Tom McDonald, EVP of Global Factual and Unscripted Content at National Geographic.

By sharing these firsthand accounts, we honor the survivors, families and heroes who respondedensuring this pivotal moment in history is never forgotten.

Timothy McVeighs arrested and execution

On April 19, 1995, a former U.S. Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck loaded with explosives outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

Inside the vehicle was a powerful bomb made out of a deadly cocktail of agricultural fertilizer, diesel fuel, and other chemicals, according to the FBI. McVeigh got out, locked the door, and headed towards his getaway car. He ignited one timed fuse, then another.

It became the worst act of homegrown terrorism in the nations history.

open image in gallery Timothy McVeigh was executed for his lead role in the bombing ( Getty Images )

The bombing happened just two years after the first attack on the World Trade Center, leading some to immediately speculate that Middle Eastern extremists were the culprits before the FBI later discovered that two white Americans were responsible for the attack.

Former U.S. soldier Timothy McVeigh was convicted in 1997 on 11 counts of murder, conspiracy and using a weapon of mass destruction in the explosion. He was executed in 2001.

Another ex-soldier, Terry Nichols, was convicted on similar charges for his role in the bombing and sentenced to life without parole after the jury deadlocked on the death penalty.

Both men were motivated by contempt for government, the hatred sharpened by the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, the Associated Press reported.

I was relieved because I thought Im not going to have to read a quote from him in the paper every day, Amy Downs said after McVeigh was sentenced to death. It was a very good part in my healing journey, but no, it didnt wrap it up in a bow, and its closed and its finished. I dont know if that ever happened.

In the place where the Murrah Building once stood, is now the Oklahoma City National Memorial with168 chairs on display, each chair representing a victim, ensuring that the images of that day, and the stories behind them, are never forgotten.

The human spirit is amazing. When I look back, thats what I see, Downs added. When I see all the stories, all the people who have overcome all the difficulties that resulted from this, I choose to focus on how we overcame instead of the evil that caused it.
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Some Democrats worry that Elon Musk may be pushed out of government before they can target him in the midterm attack ads, according to a report.

Musks time as the Trump administrations special government employee is coming to an end in May or early June, but many expect the White House to extend the role or find another way to keep him in a front-line position.

The unelected billionaire has proved an effective target for the Democrats after he has gutted federal agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency, but the party is concerned about their strategy if Musk takes a step back, Politico reports.

As long as hes there using a chainsaw to all the programs that people back home rely on and need to make ends meet, of course were going to make him a central character, Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, the co-chair of the House Democrats' messaging committee, told the outlet.

At some point, he will become a liability for the president, and they will sever ties. And we will adjust as we head into the midterms, Trahan conceded.

open image in gallery Musks time as the Trump administrations special government employee is coming to an end in May or early June, but many expect the White House to extend the role or find another way to keep him in a front-line position. ( Getty Images )

The sentiment was backed by Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland. There is some concern in some quarters that Trumps going to kick him to the curb, and then we spent all this time sort of building this guy up as a focal point, but hes gone, Ivey previously told HuffPost.

Democratic pollster Paul Maslin said that Musk is literally and symbolically the best foil for the party. Trump has taught us that politics works best when youre simple and clear, and going after Musks power grab and Musks money grab  is simple, he told Politico.

But not everyone is despairing about the Democrats strategy if Musk is no longer front and center in the run up to the midterms. Others point out that he is just one part of the message the party needs to land about the economy.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton said that Democrats are going to win by reminding voters that Republicans are failing at lowering costs because they are too busy pushing tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

open image in gallery The unelected billionaire has proved an effective target for the Democrats after he has gutted the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency. ( Getty Images )

Elon is, and forever will be, an instantly recognizable manifestation of the fact that House Republicans dont work for the American people, they work for the billionaires, Shelton told Politico in a statement.

Musks potential departure doesnt mean the Democrats cant remind voters about his unpopularity next year, similarly to how they retook the House in 2018 during Trumps first term, others noted.

When Democrats saved the Affordable Care Act during the first Trump administration, we still were able to campaign on the fact that we saved the Affordable Care Act when Republicans were trying to take peoples health care away, Democratic Rep. Greg Casar of Texas told HuffPost. If we fire Elon Musk, were still gonna be able to say that, yeah, were against billionaires stealing your money for themselves.

Musk has proved unpopular with the public, according to recent polling, and the DOGE boss faced ridicule over the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this month.

The SpaceX CEO inserted himself in the race, handing out $1 million checks to two voters, campaigning in the state while wearing a cheesehead head and, perhaps most significantly, backing GOP pick Brad Schimel to the tune of $20 million. Susan Crawford decisively defeated the Musk-backed opponent.
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The Donald Trump administrations insistence the Maryland resident deported to El Salvador by mistake is a member of the criminal gang MS-13 can be traced back to a single unnamed police informant, a review of court documents reveals.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, is a construction worker and father of three with no criminal record who was arrested and sent to a notorious mega-prison on March 15, a decision a Justice Department attorney subsequently conceded was the result of an administrative error.

But rather than comply with a federal court order that it facilitate Abrego Garcias return, the administration has dug in its heels, ignoring the campaign for the detainees release being led by his wife and instead preferring to make accusations about his background.

Abrego Garcia has admitted that he first entered the United States illegally in 2012 but denies having any association with MS-13.

The only basis for thinking otherwise comes from a Prince Georges County Police report into his arrest, along with three other men, for loitering in the car park of a branch of Home Depot in Hyattsville, Maryland, in March 2019.

Abrego Garcia protested that he was simply looking for work and was not ultimately charged with a crime.

open image in gallery Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been wrongly deported ( AP )

However, the arresting officer completed a Gang Field Interview Sheet in which he noted that Abrego Garcia was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie with decorations of rolls of money covering the eyes, ears and mouth of the presidents on the separate denominations.

Officers know such clothing to be indicative of the Hispanic gang culture, the filing said, suggesting that the graphics on the hoodie were a covert reference to MS-13s see no evil, hear no evil and say no evil motto.

Crucially, the sheet also cited a tip from a confidential police informant, described as a proven and reliable source, who alleged that Abrego Garcia was a chequeo in the gangs Westerns clique, which operates out of New York, a city in which the immigrant has never lived, as his lawyers have argued in court.

While the loitering accusation amounted to nothing, Abrego Garcia was nevertheless held in custody by immigration authorities.

Although he was given no reason for his detention, his lawyers claimed, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) claimed they were interested in him in connection with a murder investigation.

Immigration judge Elizabeth Kessler, presiding over his case, said at the time that ICEs reasoning does appear at odds with the Gang Field Interview Sheet, which states that the respondent was approached because he and others were loitering outside of a Home Depot.

open image in gallery Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcias wife, is leading the calls for his return to the United States ( Reuters )

She nevertheless refused to grant him asylum, saying the polices unnamed tipster appears to be trustworthy.

However, Judge Kessler also said: Although the court is reluctant to give evidentiary weight to the respondents clothing as an indication of gang affiliation, the fact that a past, proven, and reliable source of information verified the respondents gang membership, rank, and gang name is sufficient to support that the respondent is a gang member.

Her decision was later upheld on appeal by another judge, causing Abrego Garcia to be refused bail and remain in custody.

That October, Abrego married U.S. citizen Jennifer Vasquez Sura and applied for asylum, which Judge David Jones did not grant him, although he was awarded a withholding of removal order to bar his deportation to El Salvador, a ruling the Trump administrations actions last month may have violated.

Judge Jones accepted that Abrego Garcias life could be placed in danger if he was returned to El Salvador from the Barrio 18 gang, whose attempts to extort his mothers pupusa business led to the familys escape to the U.S. years earlier.

Abrego Garcia was finally released and, according to his lawyers, attended annual check-ins with immigration officials without fail and without incident, which was the end of his citizenship troubles until Trump returned to office.

With even the U.S. Supreme Court ordering the administration to bring about his return, the White House has so far preferred to attack the media and smear the victim. On Wednesday the Department of Homeland Security claimed Abrego Garcia had drugs and rolls of cash about his person during the Home Depot arrest, a detail not mentioned on the aforementioned gang interview sheet.

open image in gallery Abrego Garcia with Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen in El Salvador on Thursday April 17 2025 ( X )

The White House has released Maryland court documents revealing that Vasquez Sura filed for a protective order against her husband in 2021.

She has since dismissed the matter, telling Newsweek in a statement: After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution following a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order, in case things escalated.

Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling.

To the fury of President Trump, Maryland Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen has now flown out to El Salvador and succeeded in securing a meeting with Abrego Garcia.

If you listen to President Trump and the Trump administration, you would think that the U.S. courts have found that Mr Abrego Garcia is part of MS-13. But in fact, they have not found that, he told reporters in El Salvador this week.

In fact, recently, a U.S. federal court judge said that the Trump administration did not have evidence to support the claim that he had ever been part of MS-13. In fact, Mr Abrego Garcia is legally in the United States. In fact, an immigration judge found years ago that it would put his life in danger if he was returned to El Salvador.

I want to emphasize that President Trump and our Attorney General Pam Bondi and the vice president of the United States are lying when they say that Abrego Garcia has been charged with a crime or was part of MS-13. That is a lie.
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President Donald Trump bragged this week that gas is down to $1.98 a gallon in a couple of states.

In fact it isnt, anywhere.

No state had an average gas price even close to $1.98 per gallon [as of} Wednesday, CNNs Chief White House Correspondent Kaitlan Collins posted on X after fact-checking by the network.

The two states that were tied with the lowest average gas price on Wednesday, Mississippi and Tennessee, were both at $2.70 per gallon, according to data provided by Triple A.

No state had an average gas price even close to $1.98 per gallon on Wednesday. The two states that were tied with the lowest average gas price on Wednesday, Mississippi and Tennessee, were both at $2.70 per gallon, according to data provided by AAA.https://t.co/FdblqPCE8A  Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) April 17, 2025

While gas prices are down, the national average was about $3.17 per gallon on Wednesday, according to the AAA data, wrote CNNs chief fact-checker Daniel Dale. Drivers were unlikely to find even a single individual gas station selling a gallon for $1.98 or less.

GasBuddy, a firm that tracks prices at tens of thousands of gas stations around the country, found zero stations selling for under $2.

The White House was unable to substantiate Trumps figures, though spokesperson Harrison Fields chided reporters to get out of their big city bubble and check the gas prices in Middle America  where theyre also not $1.98.

Yet Fields claimed theyre at record lows.

Gas prices arent near record lows in a single state. Current prices are far above record lows, Patrick De Haan of GasBuddy said in an email to Dale.

Trump also claimed to reporters that the high price of eggs plummeted 92 percent, which is also not true.

The day Trump took office, Grade A eggs in the U.S. were $5.81 a dozen. Last month they were up to a record high of $6.23 a dozen, according to the latest Consumer Price Index reported April 10.

The president has also claimed that his tariffs  paid by American companies importing foreign goods and the U.S. consumers buying the products  were bringing in $2 billion a day.

The federal agency that collects the tariffs says the country has collected $500 million on the levies since April 5.
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President Donald Trump posted a statement from the Oval Office Friday with what appeared to be a digitally altered image that Trump said was the hand of a Maryland father who was deported to a brutal El Salvador prison following officials unproven claims he is a member of the MS-13 gang.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is the subject of a string of court orders up to the nations top court demanding that the Trump administration facilitate his return to the United States, where he has been living for the last 14 years. The administration, however, has insisted without evidence that he is a gang member, even though officials initially admitted his deportation was an administrative error.

Now, the president has displayed what he claims to be such evidence  a black-and-white close up photograph of a hand that Trump identified as Abrego Garcias with tattooed knuckles, including MS-13 written out above four symbols  that many internet sleuths are already saying was Photoshopped.

The Independent has reached out to the White House and a lawyer for Abrego Garcia for comment.

This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such a fine and innocent person. They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though hes got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc., the president posted on Truth Social on Friday evening.

Courts have not found that Abrego Garcia was a member of the gang.

As for beating up his wife, Trump was apparently referring to a short-term pointed to a protective order filed by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, in 2021; she dissolved the order a month later.

open image in gallery Donald Trump posed with what appears to be a digitally altered image and claimed Kilmar Abrego Garcia has 'got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles' in what appears to be a digitally altered image ( Donald Trump / Truth Social )

I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job Trump continued.

Government attorneys have never referenced the tattoos in court filings to support their claims that Abrego Garcia is a gang member. Their allegation rests on the word of a confidential police informant who in 2019 claimed the Maryland father was a member of MS-13s Westerns clique, which operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

Several social media users expressed doubt over the authenticity of the image of a hand Trump held in the post.

Linda Higgins, a former Minnesota state senator, wrote on X: Hey Old Man, @realDonaldTrump, have someone teach you about Photoshop. This is an excellent example of altering a photo, in this case to make your illegal actions look good. But instead you look foolish.

MS-13 looks like it was typed on the photo, one user remarked.

Another commented: Ummmm. Pardon my cynicism but you can see that looks clearly Photoshopped right? Right?

Images of Abrego Garcia posted on his wifes TikTok account also capture the knuckle ink but dont have MS-13 spelled out.

Some social media sleuths, however, claim Abrego Garcias wife has been trying to censor his tattoos, pointing to her April 6 post. Red heart emojis cover his hand, which is draped around her in the photo.

open image in gallery Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, wipes away tears during a Friday press conference held by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen ( REUTERS )

The president issued his statement with the photo just hours after Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador in the hopes of aiding in Abrego Garcias release, gave a press conference explaining his meeting with the detained man and the strange events that followed.

Nayib Bukele, the countrys president, posted photos of the pairs meeting at the senators hotel that featured salt-rimmed glasses that he claimed were margaritas.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps [and] torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele mocked in a social media post on Thursday. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.

The dressed-up glasses were placed on the table by Bukeles aides, Van Hollen said at a Friday news conference.

When I first sat down we just had glasses of water on the table, maybe some coffee, Van Hollen said. As we were talking, [an] official came over and put two other glasses on the table  This is a lesson, the lengths President Bukele would do to deceive people about whats going on.

He added that Bukeles aides initially tried to stage the meeting near the hotels pool.

They want to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie, the senator said.

After Bukele posted the photos, a handful of rightwing internet personalities and Republican lawmakers became laser-focused on Abrego Garcias hand tattoos.

Thats an interesting tattoo for just a regular Maryland man to have on his hand, conservative commentator Benny Johnson remarked in a post that included a zoomed-in photo of Abrego Garcias hand. This image also doesnt feature MS-13 written out.

On Thursday, an appeals court unanimously rejected the administrations request to block a court order to enforce a Supreme Court ruling requiring the government to facilitate the release of Abrego Garcia.

The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, one of the appellate judges wrote.
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A Salvadoran father living in Maryland was moved out of a brutal jail in his home country after Donald Trumps administration wrongfully deported him there, according to Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen who managed to visit him in El Salvador.

During his last day in El Salvador to check on the welfare of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, whose removal from the country is facing intense legal scrutiny and urgent court orders for the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the United States, the Maryland senator briefly met with the Maryland dad at his hotel.

There, Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen that he was moved from the notorious Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, to a facility in Santa Ana, roughly 37 miles (60 kilometers) away.

open image in gallery A photograph provided by Senator Van Hollens office on April 17 shows the Maryland official meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongfully deported from the United States on March 15 ( AP )

News of Van Hollens surprise meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday night was preempted by El Salvadors president Nayib Bukele, who shared a picture on social media showing the men sitting at a table with glasses dressed up like cocktails.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps [and] torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele wrote. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.

Those margaritas were placed on the table by Bukeles aides, Van Hollen said.

When I first sat down we just had glasses of water on the table, maybe some coffee, he said. As we were talking, [an] official came over and put two other glasses on the table  This is a lesson, the lengths President Bukele would do to deceive people about whats going on.

Bukeles aides initially tried to stage the meeting near the hotels pool, according to Van Hollen.

They want to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie, Van Hollen said at a news conference at Washington Dulles International Airport Friday on his return from El Salvador,.

open image in gallery Advocates for Kilmar Abrego Garcia joined Senator Van Hollen at Dulles Airport on April 18 ( REUTERS )

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcias experiences snatched from Maryland to be incarcerated in a foreign prison have been traumatizing.

"His conversation with me was the first communication he'd had with anybody outside of prison since he was abducted," Van Hollen said. He has "experienced trauma," said the senator, who noted that Abrego Garcia characterized his deportation as an "illegal abduction."

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia told him he was okay, and had been able to see a doctor for a blood pressure condition.

Images and descriptions of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia are the first accounts of his wellbeing since he was removed from the United States on March 15. He has spent more than a month inside El Salvador jails despite a court order from an immigration judge in 2019 that prevents his removal from the country for humanitarian reasons. He fled El Salvador as a teenager in 2011 and is now a sheet-metal apprentice in Maryland, where he has been living with his wife and 5-year-old child, both U.S. citizens. The couple is also raising two other children from a previous relationship.

When I told him his wife and family sent their love and were fighting for Kilmar to return every day, he said he was worried about all of you, said Van Hollen, addressing Abrego Garcias family.

Abrego Garcia was placed in a cell  with about 25 other prisoners when he arrived at CECOT, Van Hollen said.

He said he was not afraid of the other prisoners in his immediate cell, but that he was traumatized by being at CECOT and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell blocks who called out to him and taunted him in various ways, he said.

But roughly nine days ago, Abrego Garcia was moved to another detention center in Santa Ana.

We all thought he was at CECOT until I met with him, Van Hollen said.

The White House and Republican lawmakers have blasted the senator for his trip to El Salvador while administration officials seek to justify Abrego Garcias removal from the country introducing spurious allegations of criminality against him, none of which have been submitted in court.

That is who the Democrat Party is going to provide aid, solace and comfort to? White House deputy chief of staff for policy Stephen Miller told reporters on Friday. How broken is that mans heart, how broken is his conscience?  His heart is reserved for an illegal alien who's a member of a foreign terrorist organization. I am beyond appalled.

open image in gallery Stephen Miller and other White House officials blasted Senator Van Hollen for his trip to El Salvador as the administration seeks to justify Kilmar Abrego Garcias removal with allegations of criminality against him ( Getty Images )

An intelligence memo prepared for Homeland Security and dated April 17 alleges that Abrego Garcia was suspected of labor/human trafficking over a traffic stop in 2022. He was driving a car with several other passengers and received a warning citation from a highway patrol officer for driving with an expired license. He has never been convicted or charged with trafficking.

Former federal prosecutor Elie Honig told CNN the evidence is no smoking gun.

The most important point here is the police let him go, said Honig, calling it a huge leap to go from the facts we have to this man is a human trafficker.

Officials have also labeled Abrego Garcia a leader of MS-13, but the allegation rests on a statement from an unnamed police informant in 2019. The informant reportedly claimed Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13s Westerns clique, which operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

Abrego Garcia, his family and attorneys have flatly rejected the allegations.

Administration officials have also sought to justify his removal and detention by pointing to a protective order filed by his wife in 2021. His wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura dissolved the order a month later.

Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process, she said in a statement to CNN Wednesday. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling. Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.

The order does not justify federal agents abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation, she added. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him.

open image in gallery Cesar Abriego Garcia and Cecilia Garcia de Abrego, the brother and the mother of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, joined Senator Van Hollen after his arrival from El Salvador on April 18 ( REUTERS )

Administration officials have also accused Van Hollen of failing to advocate for the victims of violent crime committed by immigrants. During an emotional appearance at the White House this week, the mother of Rachel Morin accused the senator of failing to acknowledge her daughters murder.

My response is that my heart goes out to the family of Rachel, Van Hollen said Friday. I am very glad that a court of law convicted her killer and is going to punish her killer in a court of law. The reason we have courts of law  is to punish the guilty, but also to make sure that those who have not committed crimes are not found guilty and arbitrarily detained.

He said the administrations attempts to conflate the issues goes to the heart of what I talked about.

The case is not just about one man, Van Hollen said.

As the federal courts have said, we need to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home to protect his constitutional rights to due process, he said. If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else.

The Trump administration wants to flat-out lie about what this is about, he added. They want to change the subject. They want to make it about something else, and they are flouting the orders  to facilitate his return.

Last week, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to facilitate his release from custody in El Salvador, noting that officials agreed sending him there was illegal.

On Thursday, a three-judge federal appeals court panel in Washington, D.C., stated that the government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order.

Facilitate is an active verb, Ronald Reagan-appointed appellate judge J. Harvie Wilkinson wrote. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear.
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This Sunday will mark a special moment for Christians, as the Catholic and Orthodox churches celebrate Jesus resurrection on the same day.

The rare alignment of the churches, which have been divided on the way to determine the date of Easter for more than 400 years, has sparked hopes for a permanently unified date, even drawing support from Pope Francis.

However, beneath the surface of this shared celebration lay lingering tensions and mistrust between the two major Christian communions.

Calendars and calculations differ

The movable date for Easter follows a seemingly straightforward rule: the Sunday following the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. But the two churches started using different calendars after Pope Gregory XIIIs adaptation in 1582, when the Western church adopted the Gregorian calendar while the Eastern Orthodox Church kept the older Julian one.

Moreover, each church uses its own ecclesiastical calculations for lunar cycles and the equinox, which dont neatly match scientific projections.

The result is that Easter dates can be as much as five weeks apart. They can coincide in back-to-back years, or a decade can pass without it happening.

Pope Francis wish

Days before his five-week hospitalisation, Pope Francis referred to this years Easter celebration while invoking the 1,700th anniversary of the historic Council of Nicaea, when Christian leaders gathered to settle foundational disputes about the faith.

"Once again, I renew my appeal: Let this coincidence serve as a sign  a call to all Christians to take a decisive step toward unity around a common date for Easter, Francis said while leading prayers at the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome.

open image in gallery Pope Francis and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew ( AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino, File )

Francis invitation, delivered at the end of a prayer for Christian Unity with Orthodox priests present, wasnt new.

Returning from a trip to Turkey in 2014, he told reporters on the plane that a unified date would be logical.

It is a bit ridiculous, he said, then staged a pretend conversation: Tell me, your Christ, when is he resurrected? Next week? Mine was resurrected last week.

He has found an ally in Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a fellow octogenarian and spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians. The two speak to one another like brothers, Francis has said. For his part, Bartholomew has called Francis our elder brother and described the Easter initiative as a real step toward repairing old conflicts.

Only winners, no losers?

The idea of a common Easter has been discussed since the 1960s, with interest often peaking when celebrations coincide. The key obstacle has always been the implication that one side would need to concede.

Protestants, who follow the same calendar as Catholics, have also been in on the discussions.

The Geneva-based World Council of Churches  a fellowship of Orthodox and Protestant bodies  has proposed a compromise. It suggests using modern astronomy, basing the calculation on Jerusalem time and following the same basic rule set centuries ago.

It has never been more important than now, because we live in a polarised world and people all over the world yearn for more unity, Lutheran Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, a senior WCC official, said from his home outside Berlin. All other questions  on calendar, on time, on the moon and the stars and everything  its not primary; its secondary."

Strings attached

While the popes wishes may carry powerful influence through the Vaticans highly centralised authority, Bartholomews role is largely symbolic over the self-governed national and local churches. And discussions between Russia, the Orthodox worlds most populous country, and churches of other Orthodox-majority countries remain stalled due to the war and church divisions in Ukraine.

Further complicating prospects for consensus is a history characterised by centuries of mistrust, largely driven by wariness in the East about the Vaticans supremacy.

open image in gallery The Epitaph Procession at the Catholic Cathedral Basilica of St Dionysius the Areopagite in Athens on Good Friday ( AP Photo/Thanassis Stavrakis )

At a Holy Week service on Monday in Athens, Father Anastasios welcomed parishioners into the Church of Saint Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, a restored stone chapel near the Acropolis.

He said he supports forging bonds with Christianity's other branches  but with caution.

We can try to build bridges, but we cannot distort our faith or the traditions of our ancestors, or the dogmas Christ himself handed down," he said.

"There are deeply rooted differences. From my view and that of many people here, the unity sought in the past by the Roman Catholic Church often wasnt sincere; it came with strings attached, was more about dominance than genuine reconciliation.

Great harmony

As dialogue between the churches slowly unfolds, common Easter celebrations are already a practical reality in a few places. The Orthodox Church in Finland switched dates in the 1920s to align celebrations with the Lutheran majority. And Catholics in Greece  while making no official change to their calendar  have celebrated with the rest of the country since 1970.

Joseph Roussos, a member of a Catholic community on the Greek island of Syros, took his first trip to the Vatican last month.

At age 67, he remembers when Easters in Greece were separate: when schools and shopkeepers on the island closed for different holidays, and the church bells tolled mournfully during two distinct Holy Weeks.

It wasnt a good situation. But when we did celebrate Easter together, there was great harmony, he said.

We live very well (today), and its truly beautiful. I hope it stays that way.
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U.S. Vice President JD Vance met with senior Vatican officials on Saturday, following a remarkable papal rebuke of the Trump administrations crackdown on migrants and Vances theological justification.

Vance, a Catholic convert, arrived in Vatican City for an appointment with the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

In a statement, the Vatican said the two sides had cordial talks that included an exchange of opinions concerning countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.

While the Vice President's schedule didn't formally include a meeting with Pope Francis, who is recovering from pneumonia, there was speculation of a possible brief encounter.

The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration, in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It has expressed alarm over the administration's crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the war in Ukraine and Gaza.

It is clear that the approach of the current U.S. administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years," Parolin told La Repubblica on the eve of the Vance visit.

open image in gallery U.S. Vice President JD Vance and his family attend a Good Friday service inside St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican ( AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino )

As the U.S. pushes to end the war in Ukraine, Parolin reaffirmed Kyiv's right to its territorial integrity and insisted that any peace deal must not be imposed on Ukraine but is built patiently, day by day, with dialogue and mutual respect.

Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St. Peters Basilica after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

Papal rebuke on migration

Francis and Vance have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy, and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative U.S. Catholic Church.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called postliberal.

Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights. They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting upon their vision of the common good.

Just days before he was hospitalised in February, Francis blasted the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity. In a letter to U.S. bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

A Latin concept of love

Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris. He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care, to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vances understanding of the concept.

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote. The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

open image in gallery Vance and his wife, Usha Vance, left, with their daughter Mirabel and son Vivek ( AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino )

Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didnt address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there are things about the faith that I dont know.

While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, Vance has recently posted prayers for Francis recovery.

On Friday, Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service in St. Peters, a two-hour solemn commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.

But the pope has begun receiving visitors, including King Charles III, and this week ventured out of the Vatican to meet with prisoners at Rome's central jail to keep a Holy Thursday appointment ministering to the most marginalised.

He has named other cardinals to preside over Easter services this weekend, but officials haven't ruled out a possible brief greeting with Vance.

Im grateful every day for this job, but particularly today, where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday, Vance posted on X. I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.
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Volodymyr Zelensky has dismissed an Easter truce announced by Vladimir Putin on Saturday, saying Russian forces have continued with artillery fire.

Mr Putin ordered a 30-hour stop to military fire from 6pm Moscow time [GMT 1500] to midnight Moscow time on Sunday [GMT 2100], while warning Ukraine his troops would repel any violations of the truce.

His announcement, which came after US president Donald Trump warned of abandoning peace talks, was followed by accusations from Mr Zelensky that Russian soldiers were continuing to launch attacks.

Russian assault operations continue in some areas of the front and Russian artillery does not subside, Mr Zelensky wrote on social media on Saturday evening.

Later on Saturday night, in another social media post, Mr Zelensky, who said Kyiv would adhere to the truce, said attacks were continuing in the Kursk and Belgorod regions  both Russian areas where Ukrainian troops have crossed the border into.

open image in gallery Vladimir Putin declares unilateral 30-hour Easter ceasefire in Ukraine ( Reuters )

Hostilities continue, and Russian strikes persist, wrote Mr Zelensky. Russian artillery can still be heard in certain directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leader's promise of silence. Russian drones are in use. In some areas, the situation has become quieter.

Earlier, Mr Zelensky said Kyiv would adhere to the truce, and said it would be ready to extending it beyond 20 April. He said that in March, Ukraine agreed to a 30-day immediate ceasefire after talks with the US, but it was rejected by Russia.

That proposal remained on the table, said Mr Zelensky, who wrote: Thirty hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance.

Responding to Mr Putin's announcement of a truce, Ukraine's foreign minister Andriy Sybiha said the Russian president cannot be trusted. "Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions, he wrote on social media.

The temporary truce was declared by Mr Putin at a meeting with his chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov. During the televised meeting, Mr Putin said: Based on humanitarian considerations... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period.

open image in gallery Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine will keep the peace ( AFP/Getty )

"We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions."

In recent weeks, the US has been involved in direct talks with Russia and Ukraine over ending the war, which started when Russia launched an invasion in February 2022.

But patience appears to be running out for Mr Trump, who on Friday doubled down on Washingtons threats the US would abandon peace talks unless there were clear signs of progress.

He spoke shortly after secretary of state Marco Rubio warned the US may move on" from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting.

Meanwhile, with the declaration of the 30-hour truce came the announcement from Russia and Ukraine that hundreds of prisoners were swapped on Saturday in the largest exchange since the war started.

Russias ministry of defence said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv and that, as a gesture of goodwill, 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Mr Zelensky said that 277 Ukrainian warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.

Earlier on Saturday, before the truce was announced, Russia said its soldiers had pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russia's Kursk region. Russian forces took control of the village of Oleshnya on the border with Ukraine, the ministry said.
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Vladimir Putin has declared a Easter truce in Ukraine, ordering his forces to end hostilities at 6pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday.

The Russian Defence Ministry said it had given instructions on the ceasefire to all group commanders in the area of the "special military operation", which is the Kremlin's term for the war.

However, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian air defence units had hours earlier repelled an attack by Russian drones saying this showed Moscow's true attitude to Easter and the lives of people.

The Russian president has an extensive history of breaking peace agreements. Last month, Mr Putin broke an energy infrastructure ceasefire hours after telling Mr Trump his forces would stop attacks.

Earlier this year, Mr Zelensky handed a document to Mr Trumps Ukraine envoy detailing what he said were the 25 ceasefires Russia had violated since the start of its aggression in 2014. .

Below, we look at some of those agreements and how exactly these previous ceasefires broke down.

The Minsk Agreements

open image in gallery Talks between Vladimir Putin, Francois Hollande, Angela Merkel and Petro Poroshenko lasted through the night in 2015 ( Retuers )

After pro-Russian president Viktor Yanukovych was ousted in 2014 following the Euromaidan revolution, Mr Putin sent plainclothes Russian soldiers into the southern Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea, and then into the eastern Ukrainian regions of Luhansk and Donetsk.

Fighting quickly broke out as Russia denied involvement. Moscow claimed it was Ukrainian separatist forces.

Nonetheless, by September of that year, Ukraine, Russia and the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) convened for the first of what would be many peace talks. They were brokered by the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE).

On 5 September, the first of two agreements was signed in the Belarusian capital of Minsk.

Its provisions included prisoner exchanges, the delivery of humanitarian aid and the withdrawal of heavy weapons.

But a day later, Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council announced that Russian troops had fired at Ukrainian positions at least 10 times. The ceasefire failed to materialise into anything substantive.

By the turn of the year, fighting had intensified. Pro-Russian insurgents attacked Ukrainian positions at Debaltseve, a transport hub near the administrative line between Donetsk and Luhansk, eventually forcing a Ukrainian withdrawal by mid-February.

At that point, a second agreement was underway in Minsk, this time overseen by German chancellor Angela Merkel and French president Francois Hollande.

The agreement came into effect on 15 February but lasted only a few minutes, as Russian units fired on a Ukrainian checkpoint near Zolote in Luhansk Oblast, according to Ukraine's military.

Easter and Christmas ceasefires

open image in gallery Pro-Russian fighters patrol the streets of Makiivka, in the suburbs of the eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk in 2015 ( AFP/Getty )

For the next four years, Russia and Ukraine agreed to several ceasefires a year, often timed with Christmas, Easter or the harvest, around June/July.

Not a single one held for very long.

On several occasions, the OSCE helped broker agreements, but skirmishes broke out quickly. Neither side believed a truce could hold.

Soldiers would fire at one another within hours of the supposed start of a ceasefire. The OSCE said both sides would also deny them access to inspect military equipment, though they said the Russian-backed rebels were typically guilty of the more serious violations of ceasefire agreements.

Back in 2022, just a few months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a ceasefire was proposed to take place between 21 and 25 April.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres put forward the idea, aiming to "open a series of humanitarian corridors" and allow for the "safe exit of all civilians wishing to leave areas of confrontation".

But the plan never came to fruition.

While Ukraine expressed support for the proposal, Russia rejected it, saying it did not want to give Kyivs forces a chance to rest.

Russias deputy permanent representative to the UN, Mr Dmitry Polyansky, called the proposal insincere and claimed it would give Ukrainian troops more time to regroup and receive weapons.

Zelenskys 2019 and 2020 attempts

open image in gallery Ukrainian soldiers ride an armoured vehicle to Debaltseve, eastern Ukraine, Donetsk region ( AFP/Getty )

It was just two months after the comedian-turned-politician Mr Zelensky assumed his role as the president of Ukraine that he found himself opposite Mr Putin for the latest round of peace talks.

Ms Merkel and the new French president Emmanuel Macron oversaw the talks.

In a written statement, the countries agreed to the release and exchange of all conflict-related detainees by the end of 2019.

They also pledged to disengage military forces in three additional regions of Ukraine by the end of March 2020, without specifying which regions would be affected.

But it was a deal that was doomed to fail.

We saw differences today, Mr Macron admitted at the time. We didn't find the miracle solution, but we have advanced on it.

The following July, another agreement was struck, one that did reduce the level of fighting but never quite stopped it completely.

2025 energy infrastructure ceasefire

Mr Putin broke his promise to Mr Trump to stop attacking Ukraines energy infrastructure just hours after his agreement with the US president.

In a readout of a call between the two leaders in March, the Kremlin said Mr Trump had requested that Russia refrain from striking energy infrastructure. It added that Mr Putin had responded positively to this request and had immediately given the Russian military the corresponding command.

But Russia fired several ballistic missiles and nearly 150 drones across Ukraine a few hours later, cutting off electricity in the eastern city of Slovyansk, damaging two medical facilities in the northeast Sumy region, and wounding people in the capital of Kyiv.

Russian state media then claimed that Ukrainian drones had hit an oil facility in the Krasnodar Krai region, sparking a small fire at an oil depot located near the village of Kavkazskaya. Russian site Shot posted a video of a fire in what seemed like an industrial area, but it was unclear if this was of the actual attack. Ukrainian governmental and local authorities posted extensive footage of Russias attacks.
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The life sentences for a Pakistani couple convicted of murdering their 18-year-old daughter in a so-called honour killing after she refused an arranged marriage have been upheld in an Italian appeals court.

The body of Saman Abbas was found in an abandoned farmhouse near the fields where her father worked in northern Italy in November 2022, 18 months after she disappeared.

The appeals court in the northern city of Bologna said on Friday that she was killed with the participation of the whole family.

The court upheld a life sentence for both the teenagers father, Shabbir Abbas, and her mother, Nazia Shaheen.

Two cousins, who had been previously cleared by a lower court, were also sentenced to life in prison.

Samans uncle, Danish Hasnain, was also sentenced to 22 years in prison for his involvement in the murder. He had been previously given a 14-year sentence.

open image in gallery Nomanoulaq Nomanoulaq arrives at a hearing of the trial for the alleged murder of his cousin ( AP Photo/Luca Bruno, File )

The court case, in Reggio Emilia in northern Italy, became the most high-profile of several criminal investigations in Italy in recent years dealing with the slaying or mistreatment of immigrant women or girls who rebelled against their family's insistence that they marry someone chosen for them.

So-called honour killings are common in Pakistan, where family members and relatives sometimes kill women who dont follow local traditions and culture or decide to marry someone of their own choice.

Italian prosecutors contend that Saman was murdered by her family on May 1, 2021. A few days later, her parents flew from Milan to Pakistan.

Her father was later arrested in Pakistan and extradited to Italy for prosecution. Her mother was convicted in absentia but was arrested in May last year after three years on the run.

Abbas uncle, two cousins, her father and her mother went on trial first in February 2023. All the defendants have denied wrongdoing.

open image in gallery A policeman patrols near the crumbling farmhouse where the body of Saman Abbas was found ( AP Photo/Luca Bruno )

Saman Abbas had emigrated as a teenager from Pakistan to the farm town of Novellara in Italys northern region of Emilia-Romagna. She quickly embraced Western ways, including shedding her headscarf and dating a young man of her choice. In one social media post, she and her Pakistani boyfriend were shown kissing on a street in the regional capital, Bologna.

According to Italian investigators, that kiss enraged Abbas parents, who wanted her to marry a cousin in Pakistan.

The young woman was last seen alive on April 30, 2021, a few hundred yards away from where her body was discovered in surveillance camera video as she walked with her parents on the watermelon farm where her father worked.

Abbas had reportedly told her boyfriend that she feared for her life because of her refusal to marry an older man in her homeland.

An autopsy revealed a broken neck bone, possibly caused by strangulation.

In 2019, Italy made coercing an Italian citizen or resident into marriage, even abroad, a crime covered under domestic violence laws.

Following Abbas disappearance, Italys union of Islamic communities issued a religious ruling rejecting forced marriages.
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The US will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned.

Mr Rubios threats came at the start of the Easter weekend, after Russias latest attack on Ukraine left one person dead and 98 injured in Kharkiv on Friday morning. US officials said last month that the US president hoped to secure a ceasefire agreement by 20 April, a symbolic date on which Western and Orthodox celebrations of Easter will overlap this year  and one that is fast approaching, with no deal currently in close sight.

Thursday showed signs of some progress in the US talks with Ukraine, after Donald Trump said he expected to sign a minerals deal with Kyiv next week. Negotiations had been delayed after his explosive Oval Office clash with Ukraines president Volodymyr Zelensky in February.

But in another stark shift, after meeting with European and Ukrainian leaders on Thursday, Mr Rubio said Mr Trump was prepared to declare Well, were done on the peace talks, adding that the US has bigger challenges that we need to figure out.

Theres no one saying this can be done in 12 hours, he said. But we want to see how far apart it is. We need to figure out here, now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if its not, then I think were just going to move on.

open image in gallery The US has warned it will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached ( AP )

There was no immediate comment from Paris, London, Berlin or Kyiv on Mr Rubios statement, although three European diplomatic sources told reporters that his comments reflected growing frustration in the White House over Russias intransigence on ending the war.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov responded that some progress on a peace settlement had already been made, insisting that Russia is striving to resolve the conflict. He said that Moscow remained open to dialogue with Washington but that contact was difficult.

Vice-president JD Vance added later on Friday that the US is optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close.

open image in gallery US secretary of state Marco Rubio says his country has bigger challenges that we need to figure out ( AP )

The discussions in Paris on Thursday  which Mr Zelenskys office described as constructive and positive  were the first substantive, high-level and in-person talks on Mr Trumps peace push at which European powers have been present.

Mr Rubio said the Europeans have a central role to play in any peace pact  especially as their sanctions on Russia, over which Washington has no control, would likely need to be lifted in order to secure an accord. He called the talks constructive and said the response to the US peace framework he had presented was encouraging.

Mr Trump promised during his election campaign to end the war in Ukraine within his first 24 hours in the White House. He then moderated that claim on taking office, as obstacles to a deal mounted.

open image in gallery Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a rocket attack in a residential area of Kharkiv on Friday ( EPA )

Mr Trump has put pressure on both sides to come to the negotiating table, threatening tougher sanctions on Russia or an end to billions of dollars worth of US military support for Kyiv. Both Ukraine and Russia took part in US-brokered talks in Saudi Arabia, which resulted in a partial ceasefire but nothing more.

Russia has kept up a series of deadly strikes on Ukrainian cities, according to officials there, wounding scores of civilians days after missiles killed at least 34 during Palm Sunday celebrations in the northern city of Sumy  an attack Mr Trump called a mistake. The strike on Kharkiv, Ukraines second-largest city, in the early hours of Friday, struck a densely populated neighbourhood four times, its mayor Ihor Terekhov reported.

The US and Ukraine do, however, appear to be nearing a long-delayed deal to grant the US access to Ukraines vast mineral resources, which has been intertwined with Mr Trumps push for peace. Mr Trump announced on Thursday, We have a minerals deal, and Ukraines economy minister said the following day that the two countries had signed a memorandum of intent, with the potential that a more comprehensive agreement could be arrived at later.

open image in gallery Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky clashed in the White House in February at a meeting where they were due to sign a deal on sharing Ukraines mineral riches and discuss a peace deal with Russia ( AFP via Getty )

But if Washington walks away from the ceasefire talks, efforts to broker a peace will likely flounder, because no other nation is able to bring similar pressure on both Moscow and Kyiv.

Russian president Vladimir Putin has said he wants Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join Nato, Russia to control the entirety of four Ukrainian regions it has claimed as its own, and the size of the Ukrainian army to be limited. Kyiv says those demands are tantamount to demanding its capitulation.
Donald Trumps presidential envoy Steve Witkoff compared Elysee Palace to the Republicans Mar-a-Lago resort during a visit to France for Ukraine security talks.

Mr Witkoff joined Marco Rubio and other top European officials for meetings on Thursday (17 April) before Emmanuel Macron brought them together for final talks.

The US Secretary of State has warned that the US will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached.
Vladimir Putin said humanitarian considerations were behind his decision to announce a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday, 19 April.

The Russian president said he assumes the Ukrainian side will follow its example and stop hostilities and Russias armed forces would be ready to repel possible ceasefire violations and provocations.

Based on humanitarian considerations, today starting from 6pm (3pm GMT) to 12am Monday the Russian side announces an Easter ceasefire, Putin told his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at a meeting in the Kremlin.

A Russian Defence Ministry spokesperson said instructions on the ceasefire were given to group commanders in the area of the "special military operation," the Kremlin's term for the war.
Colin Farrell has said he will put his son James, who has Angelman syndrome, into a long-term care facility.

The Oscar-nominated star of The Banshees of Inisherin, who recently won a Golden Globe for HBO series The Penguin, has previously opened up about his 21-year-old sons diagnosis.

Angelman syndrome is a rare disorder that affects the nervous system and causes developmental delays amongst other issues. Last year, Farrell (48) launched a foundation to provide support for people and families with intellectual disabilities in honour of James.

Now, he has revealed that he and his ex-partner Kim Bordenave have come to the tricky decision to put their son into a facility due to fears he would be left alone if anything should happen to them.

Its tricky  some parents will say, I want to take care of my child myself, and I respect that, Farrell (48) told Candis Magazine. But my horror would be, what if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, Jamess mother, Kim, has a car crash and shes taken too  and then James is on his own?

Farrell said that James would then become a ward of the State, adding: And he goes where? Wed have no say in it.

The actor added that he and Ms Bordenave are exploring options and hope to find somewhere we like where he can go now, while were still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes.

He continued: We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.

Colin Farrell his son James in Dublin in December 2009. Photo: Phillip Massey/FilmMagic

Colin Farrell at Irish Life Dublin Marathon 2024

Farrell previously spoke out on the fact that when James turned 21 in September last year, they would no longer be eligible for the affordable and accessible programmes provided to families with children who have special needs.

Once your child turns 21, theyre kind of on their own, Farrell told People.

All the safeguards that are put in place  special ed classes  that all goes away. So, youre left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society, and more often than not is left behind.

Last year, Farrell reflected on the profound moment he watched his son walk for the first time, telling People: I knew they [Jamess carers] were working on walking, the Dublin actor said. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me]. It was so profound. It was magic.

He continued: Ill never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears.

Farrell has another son, 14-year-old Henry Tadeusz Farrell, with Alicja Bachleda-Curus.
Catherine Martin was not told of overspend issues, despite department advice

The Arts Council assured then arts minister Catherine Martin that it was following public spending rules for technology projects, the same year the organisations spend on a doomed IT upgrade hit 6m.

In February 2023, officials at the Department of Arts told the Arts Council that it should consider telling the minister about the status of the now infamous project in its annual letter to her.

But a copy of the letter to the minister prepared in July of that year, released under Freedom of Information law, reveals that issues and overspend on the information and communications technology (ICT) project were not mentioned.

Instead, the letter told Ms Martin that the Arts Council complies with the Public Spending Code and ensures that the guidelines for the appraisal and management of fixed asset expenditures, such as ICT, are being complied with.

A report by the Department of Arts after the scale of the waste of public money on the project became clear, found that both the Arts Council and the department had failed to follow the public spending code.

It emerged earlier this year that the Arts Council had spent almost 7m on the now-abandoned project, which was designed to be a new system for processing and managing grant applications.

When the project was first planned in 2019, it was expected to cost 3m and take two-and-a-half years.

By the time it was abandoned, the cost of the project had reached 6.675m, despite the Arts Council still having no functioning system.

It is still using the outdated and awkward applications system that it had in 2019, before a new one was first proposed

Had the doomed project continued, it would not have been ready until 2028 at the earliest. The Comptroller and Auditor General has written off 5.3m over the fiasco.

Arts Minister Patrick ODonovan announced earlier this year that he was setting up an external review into the botched IT project. Mr ODonovan also released a report that the Department of Arts had carried out itself after Ms Martin was made aware of the controversy last summer.

The departments own report revealed that, in February 2023, the Department of Arts held a liaison meeting with the Arts Council to discuss the state of the project.

The report said: The February 2023 liaison meeting minutes record that the department advised the Arts Council that details of the BTP [Business Transformation Programme] project may require inclusion in the chairs letter to the minister for 2023.

The minutes also record that the department would prepare a brief note to update the minister. There is no record that the note was prepared.

The project was also not referenced in the letter. By the end of December 2023, the Arts Council had spent a total of 6m on the project. The same year, government funding for the Arts Council increased from 78m at the beginning of 2020 to 128m by the beginning of 2023.

There was no record that the Arts Council had sought approval for some of the large increased budgets for the project, and there was also an instance where there was no record found of the department raising concerns about a lack of approval for increased funding.

The investigation by the Department of Arts found the Arts Council was not prepared for the nature and scale of the project. It relied heavily on outside contractors.

The Arts Council did not respond to a request for comment.

In February, the Irish Independent revealed that an internal Arts Council report from 2021 said it should stop or pause the highly controversial IT project.

A lessons learnt report, carried out in the middle of the project, found there was a prevalent culture of risk acceptance in the Arts Council, which exposed the state agency to impacts to its budget and schedule.

By 2021, there was still no functioning system and the budget for the doomed project was still around 2.8m.

That summer, the Arts Councils own Business and Finance Committee was tasked with approving an additional spend of 622,000 to bring the total budget for the project to 3.492m.

According to minutes of that committee meeting, the budget increase was agreed on the condition that the Department of Arts was informed and that a lessons learnt report was completed and submitted to the committee.

That internal report flagged a number of fundamental issues with how the project was being run.

At key times in the project, the Arts Council accepted the risk rather than challenging or rejecting, the report said.
Conor McGregor has cast doubt on his ability to run for the Irish Presidency, in his interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

The American right-wing commentators interview with the Irish MMA fighter, which took place in the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Dublin on Tuesday, was released on Friday on Carlsons social media channels.

During the 54-minute interview, the US interviewer spoke with McGregor about his ambitions for the Presidency, immigration, as well as McGregors plan to single-handedly fix Irelands housing crisis and Irelands economic crisis.

Carlson did not ask McGregor about the decision of a jury that he had assaulted Nikita Hand, at the conclusion of a civil trial in which she alleged he raped her.

Conor McGregor and Tucker Carlson interview. Photo: Conor McGregor/Instagram

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 18th

Echoing his comments on immigration to Ireland when he met Donald Trump in the White House on St Patricks Day, in an appearance that caused disquiet in the Government, McGregor told the interviewer: This is our public wealth being administered into private hands and enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration that is changing the fabric of my country.

The Crumlin native added that Ireland needs amendments to the Constitution".

We need to remove this tight grip that the political elite have over the public. And that is it, that is our goal here, he said.

"I operate my businesses and my entire life on fairness. Our Government elite is doing the absolute opposite. It has to change. Our culture is being erased, he said.

When asked how Ireland is doing, he said: "Like a lot of countries in the Western sphere, it is being governed by people with ill intentions for its people.

"They don't have the interests of their people at heart. However, our country stays strong. Our people are strong-willed, strong-minded.

When asked by the host why he cant run for President, Mr McGregor responded: There are stipulations. You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are mostly party affiliates.

The MMA fighter also said that he doesnt believe Ireland is a democratic country and that they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage.

Mr McGregor, who has several convictions for road traffic offences, said the Traffic Corps of An Garda Siochana is one of the most successful divisions in our police force, for convictions.

He added: It has caused an untold stress on the people of Ireland. I wonder the number of suicides and the number of lives lost and families destroyed over the stress of the traffic core institution, being caught driving without tax or no NCT."

On his Presidential bid, he said: "Im just gonna keep requesting the democratic process to play out and allow people to decide and see where it falls.

Mr McGregor was interviewed by the controversial pundit, who hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News until he was fired by the corporation in 2023, on Tuesday afternoon before visiting the Crumlin natives pub, the Black Forge Inn, for lunch.

Conor McGregor and Tucker Carlson interview from McGregor's Instagram account

In November 2024, McGregor was found civilly liable in a High Court damages case in Dublin taken by a woman who accused him of rape.

Nikita Hand won her claim against McGregor after accusing the fighter of raping her in a penthouse room at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018. Ms Hand was awarded 250,000 in damages.

A judge at the High Court later said the jury had conclusively determined that McGregor had raped Ms Hand. McGregor is appealing against the outcome of the civil case.
A judge has told a 44-year-old man that he is far too old to be coming back before the courts after he admitted to his role in the theft of a handbag from an unlocked car outside a jewellers in Dublin.

James OCallaghan, of Saint Andrews Court, Dublin 2, appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a Section 4 theft offence arising from an incident outside Bridge Jewellers on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, shortly after 1pm on October 21, 2020.

Detective Garda James McNeill told the court that the handbag had been taken from an unlocked Mercedes parked outside the shop.

The court heard that OCallaghan was not the person who physically removed the bag but was identified from CCTV footage and later arrested. The court heard he cooperated with gardai and helped recover the stolen items.

His solicitor Michael OBrien said that although OCallaghan had not taken the bag, he accepted that he was involved and "fully aware" of what had happened. Counsel described the offence as a stupid mistake and a slip of the mind, adding that OCallaghan knew it should not have happened. The court heard O'Callaghan was extremely remorseful and had assisted gardai in locating the items.

Mr OBrien added that OCallaghans previous convictions largely related to road traffic matters and dated back to the years between 1999 and 2003. The solicitor submitted that the incident was out of character for his client.

The defendant, whom the court heard lives with his mother and is currently unemployed, has 10 previous convictions, including those for having no insurance, drink-driving and criminal damage. His most recent conviction dates from 2021.

Mr OBrien told the court that his client was currently on social welfare, paying 80 a week in rent and 60 a week in family support.

OCallaghan said he regretted his involvement and apologised to the court.

However, in passing sentence, Judge Catherine Ghent said: It wasnt a stupid mistake - it was a choice. A choice was made to engage in something that leaves a person in fear and causes stress.

She also noted that no apology had been offered to the injured party prior to the court appearance.

Taking into account the cooperation with gardai and full recovery of the property, the Judge imposed a 400 fine, giving O'Callaghan eight months to pay.

I dont want to see you in court again, she told him. Youre far too old for that.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
The mother of a child with autism has said her first-hand experience of everyday challenges inspired her to upgrade her barbershop with a dedicated sensory room.

The Grafton Barber launched Irelands first autism-friendly barbershop in Walkinstown, Dublin, this week.

The space was designed by Amanda Masterson, owner of the Walkinstown branch and mother of Hayley, who was diagnosed with autism two years ago.

Ms Mastersons first-hand experience of the sensory challenges many children face during everyday routines inspired her to create a space tailored to neurodiverse children, especially those with autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

Its not really just about lowering the music or the lights  theres a lot more to it

The reason I wanted to get the sensory room in is because my own daughter was diagnosed with autism, she told the Irish Independent.

Ive been nine years in business and wanted to do something slightly different. When she got the diagnosis, I knew it had to be something to do with that.

I thought of getting the sensory room in. There was possibly one or two other places that would have sensory mornings that would lower the music down and dim the lights and a couple of colourful things on the wall, but I wanted to go that little bit of a step further for an actual room.

Its not really just about lowering the music or the lights  theres a lot more to it.

The sensory room is at the back of the barbershop.

Amanda Masterson with her daughter Hayley Keogh in Ireland's first autism-friendly barber shop with sensory room in Walkinstown, Dublin. Pic:Mark Condren 17.4.2025

Its quite a long shop, and its a closed-off room, she said. Ive got a wall built, just a door on it, and then all the sensory equipment is in it. Theres a bubble tube, there are mood cubes, I have a chair in there as well to cut hair and loads of different toys for them to play with, as well, just the art of distraction.

The Grafton Barber already has plans to roll out similar rooms across other locations.

Im hopeful to be highly involved in it. I have the franchise in Dundrum as well, Ms Masterson said. I dont just think that this is going to be a success, I know it will be. So I plan to roll it out as well in Dundrum.

I truly welcome this new sensory barber in Walkinstown. Its thoughtful, inclusive and long overdue

The Walkinstown branch officially opened The Day Dreamers sensory room on Thursday, when families were invited to visit the shop to explore the space and meet the team. Appointments can be booked through Booksy.

One in 36 children are diagnosed with ASD, a condition that is almost four times more common in boys than girls, according to the CDCs Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network.

Fianna Fail TD Catherine Ardagh welcomed the opening of the sensory room in Walkinstown.

A basic haircut can be a really overwhelming experience for many children and adults with autism and sensory sensitivities, so I truly welcome this new sensory barber in Walkinstown, she said.

Its thoughtful, inclusive and long overdue. I want to sincerely congratulate Amanda Masterson and her team for leading the way and creating a space where everyone can feel comfortable, understood and respected.
RTE said it is processing a data access request from Ryan Tubridy and his agent Noel Kelly, which is believed to have cost the broadcaster more than 100,000 so far.
Freemasons regret Conor McGregor-Tucker Carlson interview being held in their venue

The Freemasons of Ireland will donate money they earned from hosting the Conor McGregor and Tucker Carlson interview at their Dublin venue to charity.

The Irish Independent reported yesterday that the group regretted allowing the interview to take place at the Freemasons Hall on Molesworth Street in Dublin.

In an email from the Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Ireland Philip Daley, members were told that the organisation said they would have not accepted a booking from a US media group if they knew it was being used for the interview.

The much publicised interview was filmed last Tuesday in the hall before the former MMA fighter, who has signalled his intention to run in the presidential election later this year, later hosted the presenter at his pub.

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 20th

The Freemasons of Ireland categorically denies any association with the interviewer or interviewee and regrets that such an interview took place on our premises, Freemasons members were told in an email this morning from Philip AJ Daley, the groups Grand Secretary.

We apologises [sic] to our members and confirm that steps have been taken to avoid a recurrence.

In a statement to the Irish Independent, the organisation said their venue is available for private event hire and was booked by a media company.

The Freemasons said they did not know who the participants and content were and if they did, the booking would have not been allowed.

The Historic Freemasons Hall venue is available for private event hire. The Freemasons of Ireland accepted a booking from a media company and if the participants and content had been known the booking would not have been accepted, the group said.

Speaking today on RTEs This Week on Sunday, Mr Daley said they would now be donating the money they received to a suitable charity.

He said that the amount they received for the booking was between 1,000 and 2,000.

He also said the group have changed their booking protocol.

"In fact no media booking will now be accepted until we have the full details at the booking time, he said, declining to explain what a suitable charity would be.

He said they had asked for the booking details, but only received information of the interview at the very last minute. He explained how in his wisdom he allowed for the booking to go ahead, because he was afraid of the story spin if it was cancelled.

He added; I am not a fan of Mr McGregor by any means. we made a mistake, we put our hands up.

McGregor cast doubt on whether he would run for the Aras in the interview with the former Fox News host, which aired on Friday night.

During the 54-minute interview, the US interviewer spoke with McGregor about his ambitions for the Presidency, immigration, as well as McGregors plan to single-handedly fix Irelands housing crisis and Irelands economic crisis.

Carlson did not ask McGregor about the decision of a jury that he had assaulted Nikita Hand, at the conclusion of a civil trial in which she alleged he raped her.

When asked by the host why he cant run for President, McGregor responded: There are stipulations. You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are mostly party affiliates.

The former MMA fighter also said that he doesnt believe Ireland is a democratic country and that they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage.

On his Presidential bid, he said: "Im just gonna keep requesting the democratic process to play out and allow people to decide and see where it falls.

Cabinet ministers were left blindsided when McGregor went to the White House on St Patricks Day to meet US President Donald Trump as well as a number of other high-level members of the administration.

This is our public wealth being administered into private hands and enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration that is changing the fabric of my country, McGregor said in the interview.

The Crumlin native added that Ireland needs amendments to the Constitution".
Urgent need to address gaps found in National Economic and Social Council report, director says

The National Economic and Social Council report says there's too much emphasis on ramping up wind power. Photo: Bord na Mona

Government advisers have questioned the Coalitions renewable energy policy, saying there is confusion over its aims, costs, benefits and outcomes.

Analysis by the National Economic and Social Council (NESC) says key actors in the public and private sectors are not on the same page in relation to the clean energy transition.

It concludes that, much of Irelands policy action for transition in the power sector is headed into fog, where visibility and certainty are low.

The report also suggests there is too much emphasis on going big on wind power with a view to exporting clean electricity, rather than simply providing enough to meet national demand.

Current policy is to aim to install wind turbines capable of producing 37 gigawatts (GW) of electricity when, the NESC said, 16GW would more than meet national demand now and long into the foreseeable future.

The report further questions why demand is being built up ahead of supply by, for example, encouraging power-hungry data centre growth in advance of having renewable energy to supply the centres.

The council believes there is a conundrum, if not contradiction, inherent in the current drive demand to drive supply approach, the report said.

If growth in demand precedes and exceeds renewables development, on top of that needed to decarbonise existing demand, then the States climate objectives risk being undermined, while enterprise, energy, investment and climate policy risk being misdirected.

The NESC said the criticisms must be seen as a guide to action.

It is important that these findings do not lead to paralysis, Dr Cathal FitzGerald, NESC senior analyst said.

The energy transition is of paramount importance and must be progressed despite all the complexities involved.

The cost of inaction would be enormous and devastating.

The NESC is the national advisory body to the Taoiseach and the Government and provides research and advice on key issues relating to the countrys economic, social and environmental development. Members are appointed by the Taoiseach and include representatives of business, employers, trade unions, agriculture, community and voluntary groups, environmental organisations, heads of government departments and independent experts.

Its director, Dr Larry OConnell, said: The council believes there is an urgent need to address the strategic gaps identified in this report in a way that reinforces both the energy transition and economic resilience.

The report comes just days after the Government talked up its renewable energy ambitions at a global conference in Denmark. In a progress report by Enterprise Minister Peter Burke published at the event, the Government reiterated its 37GW goal.

The availability of abundant, reliable green energy will drive clean, sustainable growth in energy-intensive sectors, together with numerous opportunities for economic growth and job creation, he said.

The NESCs report said there is a lack of clear evidence to back such assertions.

The council finds a complex landscape of assessments of enterprise opportunities, it said. There is no single, comprehensive estimate available to policymakers of the sales, exports, and jobs etc that can be expected from delivering transition targets.

Taoiseach Micheal Martin said he would be acting on NESC's recommendations and was inviting ministers and private and public sector representatives to a forum on renewable energy in the coming weeks.
Former Dancing With The Stars judge Julian Benson has died at the age of 54.

The TV star, who was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis from an early age, died surrounded by family and friends earlier today.

It brings to an end an extraordinary life in which the RTE star defeated the odds the doctors gave him as a child.

At the time, his mother was given the diagnosis that he was not expected to live into his teens.

His death follows his kidney transplant last October.

Speaking at the time, he said he had only had 90 minutes notice before the surgery.

Announcing his death this afternoon, his family said: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Julian Benson.

"Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends, after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

"His strength, warmth, and sparkle remained with him until the very end.

"A talent agent, dancer, and choreographer, Julian became a household name in 2017 when he joined the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars.

"Affectionately known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly, custom-made jackets, he quickly became a show favourite.

Julian Benson

Today's News in 90 Seconds - April 19th

Producer Larry Bass and chief executive of the TV company, ShinAwil, said: We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend Julian Benson. Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance and talent to the world.

"His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation - his legacy will live on forever.

Julian was one of a kind, and will be forever missed. The world lost a bit of sparkle today.

A spokesperson for RTEs Dancing With The Stars said: We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend Julian Benson.

" Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance & talent to the world. One of a kind, he will be forever missed.

The talent agent turned entrepreneur worked tirelessly to raise awareness around cystic fibrosis and recently opened a purpose built house in Dublin to accommodate the families of CF patients, which he called his "gold medal" moment.

He documented this journey for a special episode of RTE's Room to Improve alongside Dermot Bannon.

Afterwards he said his body responded so well to the transplant that he felt like a million dollars.

You dont realise how ill you feel until youre given a new lease of life, he added.

With dialysis and all that, youre full of toxins and your body is under stress. My body feels like its 21 again, its amazing.

Six weeks after the transplant, on December 7, he presented his sold-out annual event, the Winter Wonderland gala ball.

The funds raised went towards a project close to his heart, Tranquility House.
Conor McGregor cast doubt on his planned run for the Aras in a much-advertised interview with US media figure Tucker Carlson yesterday.

Filmed at the Freemasons Hall in Dublin, the pair discussed everything from McGregors upbringing in Crumlin to why he might not be able to run for the presidency later this year.
Ireland will be hosting something called the European Political Community (EPC) next year, and its a very big deal.

The EPC was set up in the wake of the brutal Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. You might think it involves some of the EU 27, such as those in Nato, but youd be wrong.
The little town of Auvers-sur-Oise, 27km north of Paris, is where painter Vincent Van Gogh spent the last two months of his life in June and July of 1890.
The newly renamed Slievenamon Unit now provides an additional 33 beds and can be accessed via the new link corridor from the main hospital, following significant investment. Photo by John Kelly

Minister Carroll MacNeill addressing guests at the opening of the new unit in Tipperary University Hospital. Photo by John Kelly

Pictured cutting the tape at the official opening of the Slievenamon Unit, Tipperary University Hospital by Jennifer Carroll MacNeill Minister for Health, surrounded by staff members of Tipperary University Hospital and guests. Photo by John Kelly

The opening of a new unit at Tipperary University Hospital has given Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill confidence that the health and well-being of people in the south east will be significantly improved.

The former St Michaels Unit has been extensively refurbished and renamed the Slievenamon Unit. The capital investment saw the upgrade of the inpatient accommodation and link corridor to the main hospital building to provide access to all other hospital services. It now consists of 33 inpatient beds, six single en-suite rooms and nine three-bed rooms with en-suites.

Speaking at the official opening last Thursday, Minister Carroll MacNeill said: The Slievenamon Unit (SMU) at Tipperary University Hospital is enabling a greater number of people to access the care they need in their own community.

During the opening of this remarkable new facility, I personally observed the strong energy and dedication of both patients and staff. This excellent example of care at Tipperary University Hospital gives me confidence that the health and well-being of our patients in the south east will be significantly improved in the coming months and years.

Martina Queally, REO for HSE Dublin and South East explained: The former St Michaels Psychiatric unit, which closed in 2012, was renovated during the initial phase of the pandemic to address the expected surge in Covid-19 patients requiring hospital care.

This newly renamed Slievenamon Unit now provides an additional 33 beds and can be accessed via the new link corridor from the main hospital, following significant investment.

Regionally, Tipperary University Hospital covers a wide catchment area of Tipperary, west Waterford, counties Kilkenny, Cork and Limerick and the units opening reflects the commitment to delivering high-quality patient care in the south east, allowing more patients to receive their care closer to home for people living in these counties.

Dr Aamir Majeed, clinical director at Tipperary University Hospital, added: The units opening has had a significant impact on reducing the number of patients needing admission having to wait on trolleys in our Emergency Department.

We have over 100 nursing and support staff employed providing hospital diagnostic, therapy and support services to SMU. We are delighted to welcome its opening as it provides a physical environment that allows our staff to care for patients with dignity, privacy and comfort.
The Moscow State Institute of International Relations is the Oxbridge of Russias foreign policy world and has trained the countrys diplomats since Stalins time.

Its graduates, who include Sergei Lavrov, the foreign minister, are known for their encyclopaedic grasp of international treaties and polyglot language skills, allowing them to argue the Kremlins case in any corner of the world.
Rescuers reach for the smashed gondola of the Mt Faito cable car near Naples. Photo: Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/ via AP

Three tourists, including a brother and sister from Britain, were among four people killed when a mountain cable car plunged into a ravine south of Naples, an Italian official said on Friday
U.S. Vice President JD Vance went to the Vatican on Saturday to meet senior Catholic Church officials who have been sharply critical of his administration's policies, in the first such in-person talks of the second Trump presidency.
Israeli strikes kill at least 43 in Gaza as 40 targets are bombed

US ambassador visits Western Wall as mediators work to restore the broken ceasefire

Palestinians gather as they mourn next to the bodies of the people killed in an Israeli strike in Beit Lahia, in the northern Gaza Strip. Photo: Reuters

Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled Associated Press Sat 19 Apr 2025 at 03:30







Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 43 people yesterday including children, hospital workers said, as the new US ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem.
When nearly 1,000 Israeli Air Force veterans signed an open letter last week calling for an end to the war in Gaza, the military responded immediately, saying it would dismiss any active reservist who signed the document.
Classmates of the suspected Florida State University (FSU) gunman say he espoused white supremacist and far-right rhetoric for years prior to Thursdays shooting, where two people were killed and six more were injured.

Phoenix Ikner (20) got into arguments with fellow students over gross things he said in class, and was known to take his comments up to the line. He also reportedly boasted of the fact that he had access to firearms at home.
US senator meets with wrongly deported father in El Salvador

Republicans insist Garcia is in a gang called MS-13 but court ruled he can return to the US

Democratic US Senator Chris Van Hollen meets Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man wrongly deported to El Salvador by the administration of President Donald Trump, at a location given as El Salvador. Photo via X/Handout via Reuters

Theodoric Meyer Washington Post Sat 19 Apr 2025 at 03:30







Democrat senator Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, a Maryland resident who has been imprisoned in the country since the Trump administration mistakenly deported him there last month.
Easter 2025: Easter Sunday 2025 will be celebrated on April 20. It is one of the most holy days in Christianity. This day marks the rebirth of Jesus Christ. As per the New Testament, he was put to death under the Roman ruler Pontius Pilate. He came back to life on the third day after Good Friday. This rebirth is a key part of the Christian faith. It shows victory over sin and death.

Easter comes at the end of the 40-day Lent period. It follows Holy Week, which includes Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (the Last Supper), Good Friday (the day Jesus died), and Holy Saturday. People across the world take part in church services, family get-togethers, and fun activities like Easter egg hunts and special meals.

Easter Sunday 2025: Historical and religious significance

Easter is the most important festival for Christians. It marks the rising of Jesus Christ from the dead. This is believed to have happened three days after he was killed by the Romans at a place called Calvary. This event is the heart of the Christian faith. It shows victory over death and the promise of life forever.

Easter 2025: Religious significance

As per the New Testament, Jesus was caught, put on trial, and given a death sentence by Pontius Pilate. This was because he said he was the Son of God. His death on the cross is remembered with great sorrow on Good Friday, which is two days before Easter Sunday. On Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate his return to life. It proves that Jesus is the Messiah and the Son of God. It shows that he beat sin and death, and gave hope of saving all people.

King Charles IIIs 2025 Easter message

King Charles III shared a touching Easter message. He spoke about how humans can show both great cruelty and great kindness. He praised brave aid workers who help others in war zones. The King talked about the power of faith, hope, and love; saying that love is the greatest of all. He also said that caring for others is a value shared by Christianity, Judaism, and Islam.

His message reminded everyone that Easter is about love and compassion. He ended by wishing everyone a peaceful and blessed Easter, even during tough times in the world.

There are three virtues that the world still needs  faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love, UK King Charles wrote in his Easter statement, echoing the core message of love in all religions. pic.twitter.com/sBj3puVWkG  Scarlett Lewis (@ScarlettMLewis) April 19, 2025

What is the connection between Easter and Lent?

Easter is the final day of Lent. Lent is a 40-day time of fasting, prayer, and saying sorry for sins. It starts on Ash Wednesday and ends with Holy Week. Holy Week has important days like Maundy Thursday, which remembers the Last Supper. Good Friday marks the day Jesus was put on the cross. Easter Sunday is the day Jesus came back to life.

How is Easter celebrated all over the world?

Easter traditions are different in every country and culture.

Italy: In Florence, there's a big fireworks show called Scoppio del Carro.

In Florence, there's a big fireworks show called Scoppio del Carro. France: A big size omelette is made in Bessieres using thousands of eggs.

A big size omelette is made in Bessieres using thousands of eggs. Poland : People decorate eggs called pisanki and celebrate Wet Monday by splashing water on each other.

: People decorate eggs called pisanki and celebrate Wet Monday by splashing water on each other. Greece: The Holy Fire from Jerusalem is passed to people during a midnight church service.

The Holy Fire from Jerusalem is passed to people during a midnight church service. Philippines : Men and women walk in separate processions that meet at the church to show Jesus comforting Mary.

: Men and women walk in separate processions that meet at the church to show Jesus comforting Mary. Bermuda: People fly colourful kites and eat codfish cakes and hot cross buns.

People fly colourful kites and eat codfish cakes and hot cross buns. Australia: Instead of the Easter Bunny, they have the Easter Bilby to protect native animals.

Instead of the Easter Bunny, they have the Easter Bilby to protect native animals. Guatemala: Streets are decorated with bright carpets made of flowers and colored sawdust.

Good Friday remembers the day Jesus was crucified and died. It is a serious day of mourning, fasting, and thinking about Jesus's pain and sacrifice. Good Friday and Easter Sunday are part of the Paschal Triduum. Its a three holy day that shows Jesuss suffering, death, and rising from the dead.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Happy Easter 2025 images: Easter, also called Resurrection Sunday, is an important festival for Christians. It marks the return of Jesus Christ to life and stands for hope, fresh starts, and new beginnings. In 2025, Easter will be celebrated on Sunday, April 20. It comes at the end of Holy Week and the 40 days of Lent. On this day, families and friends gather for prayers, special meals, and fun customs like sharing wishes and Easter egg hunts.

These eggs stand for new life and happiness. This set of over 10 pictures, wishes, posters, HD wallpapers, and WhatsApp status images will help you share the joy of Easter 2025 with your dear ones.

Easter 2025: Important dates

Below is the required important dates for Easter 2025 listed:

Good Friday: April 18, 2025

April 18, 2025 Easter Sunday: April 20, 2025

April 20, 2025 Easter Monday: April 21, 2025

Top Happy Easter 2025 wishes and greetings to share with loved ones

Below are the Top Happy Easter 2025 wishes and greetings to share with loved ones to share with gf/bf and loved ones listed:

Wishing you a joyful Happy Easter 2025 filled with love, hope, and beautiful Easter images to brighten your day.

Happy Easter Sunday 2025! May your home be blessed with peace, happiness, and colourful Easter photos all around.

Sending warm Easter 2025 greetingsmay your heart bloom with joy and your WhatsApp status shine with festive wishes.

May the miracle of Easter 2025 bring you new beginnings, sweet moments, and HD wallpapers of springs beauty.

Celebrate Easter 2025 with family and friendsshare laughter, blessings, and the best Easter wishes on social media.

Happy Easter 2025! Let your day be filled with chocolate treats, cheerful posters, and bunny-approved happiness.

May your Easter 2025 be bright with hope, colourful eggs, and the spirit of renewal in every WhatsApp image you share.

Top Easter 2025 HD wallpapers and posters for your desktop and mobile

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Beautiful Easter images and photos: Celebrate Easter Sunday 2025

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Best WhatsApp status images for Easter 2025

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Easter 2025 celebration ideas: Decorations, baskets, and more

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Meta AI

Download Free Easter 2025 images and posters for social media

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Freepik

Happy Easter 2025 images | Credit: Meta AI

In 2025, both Western and Eastern Christian churches will celebrate Easter on the same day, which is a rare and special event. This has led to joint efforts like Pasqua Together 2025, where Christian groups are planning shared events and meetings. Big church leaders, including Pope Francis and the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople, will take part.

These events aim to bring different Christian groups closer and promote unity. This year also marks 1,700 years since the Council of Nicaea, making the message of togetherness and shared faith even stronger.

For more informative articles on historical and upcoming events from around the world, please visit Indiatimes Events.
Coldplays third night in Seoul turned into something unforgettable when Jin from BTS stepped onto the stage alongside Chris Martin to perform The Astronaut live. And it was just as magical, emotional, and heart-melting as ARMY had imagined. Coldplay and Jin had collaborated for The Astronaut in October 2022. The British band had previously collaborated with the K-pop septet for My Universe in 2021.

Jin and Coldplay reunite on stage

On April 19, 2025, BTS' Jin joined Coldplay at Goyang Stadium, Seoul, for a performance of their collaboration song The Astronaut. Jin's appearance was previously teased by Chris Martin, who had responded to a fan query about the BTS vocalist's joining them with a "maybe."

Before performing, Jin was seen in the crowd enjoying the concert just like a fan, holding a sign that said, "Can I sing The Astronaut with you? It was his sweet gesture to tease his surprise performance, and fans immediately knew something big was coming.

 Jin is waiting for Chris Martin to choose his The Astronaut sign! #ColdplaySeoul 3/6  @ciii_real pic.twitter.com/lQXDxwxNMV  Coldplay Access (@coldplayaccess) April 19, 2025

Once he got on stage, Jin told the crowd, Before going to the military, my last stage was Coldplays stage. Now my first concert after discharge is also Coldplays concert. Chris Martin replied, Its all because of you we have this relationship with BTS. And just like that, fans were crying all over again.

#JIN: Before going to military my last stage was Coldplay stage, now my 1st concert after discharge is also coldplay's Concert.



Chris Martin: It's all because of you we have this relationship with #BTS 



pic.twitter.com/Q4pbp7hKS6  BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) April 19, 2025

Jin and Chris Martin deliver a memorable live performance of The Astronaut

As soon as the opening notes of The Astronaut started playing, the energy instantly shifted. Jin began the song with his mesmerizing vocals, while Chris played the piano beside him.

You could hear the crowd cheering mid-performance, ethereal vocals, but even Chris Martin looked like he was in awe. As the song went on, their voices blended perfectly, filling the stadium with emotion and giving fans a moment theyll never forget. Check out the complete performance below:

FULL Performance of #Jin Singing The Astronaut at Coldplay Concert Day 3! #JinxColdplaypic.twitter.com/z4T1y3ygFU  BTS Charts Daily (@btschartsdailyc) April 19, 2025

If youve been with Jin since his solo debut, you know how much The Astronaut means to him and ARMY. Released on October 28, 2022, it was his goodbye-for-now gift to ARMY before he enlisted. Written with Coldplay, the song carried so much emotion, and hearing it live again after all this time brought back all the bittersweet memories associated with the song.

Jin X Coldplay: A night ARMY will never forget

For ARMY, it was nothing short of a dreamy moment, as they had been wanting something just like this ever since Jin's discharge to mark a full circle moment. Check out how fans reacted to this reunion.

Why does it look like Jin proposed to Chris, and Chris said yes



JIN X COLDPLAY REUNION#JinxColdplaypic.twitter.com/LFcgdHtQ8Q  JA (@jinniesarchives) April 19, 2025

the way seokjin and chris hugging at first 



JIN X COLDPLAY REUNION #JinxColdplay pic.twitter.com/4VAANQxF1P pic.twitter.com/rREYLEZLGT   (@jinakgay) April 19, 2025

adora at the coldplay concert and posted jin and chris performing the astronaut  pic.twitter.com/QHFLmqdkBU   fai  bts year  (@myyouwithjk) April 19, 2025

Jin previously made a guest appearance at Coldplay's Music of the Spheres concert in Buenos Aires in 2022 before enlisting for his military service.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Ahead of the crucial Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025 clash between Delhi Capitals (DC) and Gujarat Titans (GT) at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, the star batsman of DC, KL Rahul, brutally roasted mentor Kevin Pietersen, and the conversation has now gone viral on social media.

KL Rahul's viral comment has left social media in splits. On Friday evening, just ahead of the contest between DC and GT, DC's mentor, Kevin Pietersen, was spotted meeting GT's captain, Shubham Gill, during a training session.

This is when Gill asked Pietersen, "Hello, how are you, brother? What's happening?" The conversation quickly moved to Kevin Pietersen, who was discussing his role as Delhi Capitals' mentor. Pietersen pointed out that nobody really knows what a mentor is.

KL Rahul brutally roasts mentor Kevin Pietersen

During the ongoing exchange between Gill and Pietersen, the spotlight shifted to KL Rahul, who took a savage dig at the former England captain after he mentioned his recent trip to the Maldives.

KL Rahul, in a savage comment, replied, "A mentor is someone who goes to the Maldives for two weeks mid-season." The banter was not just limited to a viral video; the official video of the conversation between the duo has also been uploaded on the Instagram page of the Delhi Capitals.

Delhi Capitals uploads the banter between KL Rahul and Kevin Pietersen

Delhi Capitals uploaded the video with a caption reading, "Thanks, KL, now we know what a mentor does."

Watching the video, netizens couldn't keep calm, and they shared their reactions. One said, "Love their bond so much"

"I loving this KP-KLR bond!!! Admin please post more videos of them," another said.

Credit: Instagram

KL bhai taking full revenge for all the things KP said in past 

He is taking revenge on all the tweets about him and his birthday cake smash 

Delhi Capitals form in IPL 2025

Delhi Capitals, led by captain Axar Patel, are standing at the top of the IPL 2025 points table list with 10 points from six matches, and it will be thrilling to watch them play against the Gujarat Titans today, April 19, 2025.

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Kim Soo Hyun's legal team is on a hunt to find a woman who claimed to be the aunt of the late actress Kim Sae Ron. This is the same woman who sparked a storm by alleging that Kim Soo Hyun had a romantic relationship with Kim Sae Ron when she was underage and even contributed to her tragic death.

Now, Kim Soo Hyun's legal reps are on a mission to find her true identity, whether it's her name, phone number, or even a registration number, referring to her as "so-called fake aunt."

Why is Kim Soo Hyun's legal team on a hunt to track down Kim Sae Ron's aunt?

The whole Kim Soo Hyun mess began when a woman appeared on a Garosero Research Institute's YouTube channel, where she introduced herself as Kim Sae Rons aunt. During the broadcast, she made some shocking claims about Kim Soo Hyun, including accusations that he was involved with Sae Ron from a young age and had something to do with her death.

Credit: X

But Kim Soo Hyuns agency, Gold Medalist, quickly pointed out that Kim Sae Rons mother doesnt have a sister, calling into question the womans alleged familial connection. They even speculated that she might just be a close family friend rather than a real aunt.

In response to these damaging claims, Gold Medalist filed a criminal complaint against the Garosero Research Institute and the woman for illegally distributing a photo that caused Kim Soo Hyun embarrassment.

Kim Soo Huns legal team committed to finding fake aunt amid defamation case

The actor's legal team, LKB & Partners, is working relentlessly to identify the woman who has been accused of falsely claiming to be Kim Sae-ron's aunt. In a statement, they revealed that the "so-called fake aunt" has yet to be identified, but they remain confident her identity will be uncovered soon.

According to the legal team, "If we can verify even one of the following  name, phone number, or resident registration number  then well have no problem." They explained that such information would allow them to proceed via telecom providers or official registration documents.

Though the aunts details are still pending, the team expressed confidence in the police investigation. "Were trying to speed that up ourselves as well," they added. The team also mentioned that contact information may be secured through phone records tied to other co-defendants in the case.

Its still difficult to predict when the first court hearing will take place, but its likely the civil trial will proceed in parallel with the ongoing criminal investigation," the statement mentioned.

Meanwhile, Kim Sae Ron's bereaved family earlier defended the "fake aunt" when called out by YouTuber Lee Jin Ho, stating she's genuinely Kim Sae Ron's aunt and has done no harm. They expressed confusion over Lee's actions and suggested they'd be the ones taking legal action if someone falsely claimed to be Sae Ron's relative.

For all the latest K-drama, K-pop, and Hallyuwood updates, keep following our coverage here.
Bollywood actress and Punjab Kings franchise's co-owner Preity Zinta cleared all the rumours related to the viral quote doing rounds on social media about Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) captain Rishabh Pant.

The whole incident started when an X (formerly called Twitter) user dropped a so-called quote from Preity Zinta, claiming that she allegedly took a dig at Rishabh Pant after the previous years mega IPL auction.

The viral quote read, We had both Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyeroptions we could have taken but we wanted a big performer. The quote was shared by an X user named @GurlabhSingh.

Credit: X

PBKS co-owner Preity Zinta calls the quote linking to her fake

Social media is all about spicy rumours, especially when something is linked to IPL or any celebrity name is involved in it, and no one would have imagined that Zinta would step in to dismiss the fake news about her.

What happened?

In the post, the user claimed that the quote was Zintas response to Rishabh Pants controversial statement, in which he confessed that his only concern was being selected by Punjab Kings during the auction.

The particular interview with LSG owner Sanjiv Goenka went viral at the time, and it left PBKS fans heartbroken.

However, Zinta did not waste time and quickly cleared the air on the quote using her name. She took to her X (formerly called Twitter) and said, I am sorry, but this is fake news.

Im so sorry but this is FAKE NEWS !  Preity G Zinta (@realpreityzinta) April 19, 2025





Netizens shared their reactions to the fake news

Noticing Preity Zinta's reaction, netizens replied, saying, Fake News gets views  so he wont delete it seems

Fake News gets views  so he wont delete it seems  Sandiip Gandotra (@sandeepg1979) April 19, 2025





Another said, PZ is being targeted again and again

On the other hand, the user himself replied to Zinta, saying, Ma'am, if Rishabh Pant can sit with Vikrant Gupta and Sanjiv Goenka on international TV and say anything about our Punjab Kings, then why can't we say the same?

Ma'am, if Rishabh Pant can sit with Vikrant Gupta and Sanjiv Goenka on international TV and say anything about our Punjab Kings, then why can't we say the same?  Gurlabh Singh (@gurlabhsingh610) April 19, 2025

Bhai gussa to aata hi hai chahe Rishabh Pant bhi Apna hi hai, lekin Rishabh Pant ko Punjab Kings ke bare me nahi bolna chahiye tha

To stay updated on the stories that are going viral follow Indiatimes Trending.
Greece's Independent Authority for Public Revenue (AADE) is expanding its digital surveillance system to cover a wider range of businesses, starting this summer with event venues hosting weddings, baptisms, and corporate parties.

The move is part of a broader effort by the AADE

to crack down on tax evasion and underreporting of transactions, utilizing its advanced digital customer log system , or " ."

Following recent implementations in car repair shops, rental companies, parking lots, car washes, and tire services, the AADEs digital oversight will soon include event venues and reception halls, gyms, beauty salons, physiotherapy clinics, dance schools, and hotels and organized accommodations.

The system works by cross-referencing client activity with reported receipts via the MyData e-invoicing platform, aiming to identify discrepancies that could indicate undeclared income.

The digital system automates what used to be a manual "book of clients." Businesses scan license plates and issued receipts upon vehicle entry and exit.

This allows for real-time matching of customer presence with corresponding financial records, enabling the AADE to flag inconsistencies and conduct targeted audits remotely.

For example, in a repair shop, the cars plate number is scanned upon entry, and the receipt or invoice is scanned and uploaded upon exit.

If a vehicles presence isnt matched with a valid transaction, the system can trigger immediate inspections.

AADE officials state that this system streamlines operations and reduces risks for businesses by automating client registration and updates, eliminating manual documentation, and linking customer entries with receipts to simplify tax compliance.

The system's safeguards help businesses avoid mistakes or omissions that previously resulted in fines.

In parallel, mandatory electronic invoicing for business-to-business transactions will begin this fall, following approval by the European Commission.

This aims to eliminate fake invoices and VAT fraud by ensuring that both issuers and recipients confirm invoice data and by automatically cross-checking transactions with bank records.

The rollout starts with large enterprises, eventually expanding to smaller businesses. Incentives for compliance include faster tax refunds, a three-year statute of limitations on audits, and extra depreciation for investments in digital infrastructure.

As the digital net tightens, the AADE is signaling a new era of transparency and control over financial reporting in Greece.

   iefimerida.gr
Credit rating agency Standard & Poors upgraded Greeces sovereign credit rating to BBB from BBB- on Friday, with a stable outlook.

The move solidifies Greeces position within investment-grade territory, signaling confidence from international markets amid a volatile global environment.

S&P first restored Greece to investment grade in October

2023 and revised the countrys outlook to positive in April 2024.

It is now the third of five credit agencies recognized by the European Central Bankafter Scope and DBRSto issue an investment-grade upgrade for Greece in recent months.

Strong Fiscal Track Record

In its statement, S&P attributed the upgrade to Greeces continued fiscal discipline, improved tax compliance, and resilient economic growth.

The agency said these factors allow the country to exceed its fiscal targets and support ongoing debt reduction.

Despite a challenging global backdrop, S&P projects that Greeces net debt-to-GDP ratio will fall steadilyby six percentage points annuallyover the next four years.

The agency also pointed to the Public Debt Management Agencys cash buffer, estimated at 15% of GDP, as an added safeguard covering nearly three years of debt maturities.

We raised our long-term sovereign credit rating on Greece to BBB/A-2 from BBB-/A-3. The outlook is stable, the agency said.

Finance Minister Kyriakos Pierrakakis welcomed the development, calling it a strong signal of confidence in Greece, especially during times of global uncertainty.

Greece is returning to the map, climbing another step in the investment-grade ladder, Mr. Pierrakakis said in a statement.

Citing the S&P report, Mr. Pierrakakis noted that Greece is projected to maintain primary budget surpluses of 2.7% through 2028, while the economy is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 2.4%.

By the end of that period, the country's debt is expected to be 50 percentage points lower than in 2019one of the most significant reductions globally in recent years.

S&P also highlighted that employment has returned to pre-crisis levels, with forecasts indicating further declines in unemployment and broad-based income growth.

The BBB rating marks the beginning of a new era of economic openness, competitiveness, digitalization, and innovation, Mr. Pierrakakis said. Greece is now a stable and reliable business destination.

Broader Government Response

Deputy Prime Minister Kostis Hatzidakis also praised the upgrade, stating that it validates the governments six-year record of economic reforms, despite criticism from opposition parties such as Syriza and Pasok.

While some continue to doubt the progress made in recent years, one credit agency after another confirms the improvement in Greeces economic standing, Mr. Hatzidakis said.

He underscored S&Ps recognition of the governments fiscal prudence and its efforts to combat tax evasion.

This upgrade is not just a success for Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis governmentit is a success for the entire Greek people, Mr. Hatzidakis added.

The upgrade comes as Greece seeks to attract more foreign investment and solidify its economic recovery following a decade-long debt crisis.

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New data from analytics firm AirDNA reveals that occupancy rates for rentals listed on platforms like Airbnb fell to 45% in March 2025, down from 49% during the same month last year.

Greeces short-term rental market is undergoing a shift, as a surge in available properties is beginning to

outpace even the rising demand from travelers. New data from analytics firm AirDNA reveals that occupancy rates for rentals listed on platforms like Airbnb fell to 45% in March 2025, down from 49% during the same month last year.

The decline in occupancy is not due to waning interestdemand has actually increased. The number of overnight stays booked rose by 10% year-over-year, reaching 522,000 compared to 474,000 in March 2024. However, the supply of available properties also expanded by 5%, and the total number of nights on offer grew even more sharplyby 20%, from 964,000 to 1.15 million. The result has been a dilution effect: more options on the market have made it harder for hosts to maintain high occupancy levels, even amid growing interest.

This shift comes as Greece experienced a mild slowdown in inbound travel during March. Many international tourists opted to delay their visits until April, aligning their trips with the Orthodox Easter holiday, a popular time for travel within the region.

Traveler preferences have also played a role in shaping market dynamics. Properties at the highest and lowest ends of the price scaleluxury and budget accommodationsfared relatively better than mid-range listings. Occupancy in these two categories dropped by an average of 6.6%, while mid-tier rentals saw steeper declines, approaching 9%.

The figures point to a growing mismatch between supply and demand in the middle of the market, possibly reflecting shifting consumer priorities or greater competition among hosts in that segment.

Thessaloniki, Greeces second-largest city, emerged as a notable exception to the national trend. There, high-end and luxury rentals posted year-over-year increases in occupancy, rising by 4% and 6% respectively. Meanwhile, more affordable properties underperformed, reinforcing a broader pattern seen across global travel markets: a rising preference for premium experiences among travelers willing to spend more for comfort, quality, and exclusivity.

#AIRBNB #GREECE
Former vice presidential candidate under the umbrella of Labour Party, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed, has advised President Bola Tinubu to give up contesting in the 2027 presidential election.

Datti Baba called on President Tinubu that his time is up as Nigerians would demand for true democracy in the next general election.

The LPs chieftain led this out during an interview on Arise Television programme on Friday, saying that the signs of an electoral loss for the former Lagos governor could not have been clearer.

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Datti-Baba said: I expect Tinubu to throw in the towel. If he is that smart a politician, I expect him to be.

READ MORE: Supporting Tinubus Second Term Isnt Betrayal Of PDP  Umo Eno

You know that I always tell the truth. For someone to have organised in 2007, culminating in his electoral heist in 2023, that person must be super smart, and I am not praising him at all.

If he is that smart, everything is there to show that he is going to lose in 2027. There are two possible candidates that I cannot mention, and they are the nemesis of Tinubu. It is proven that APC is a lying party, because Buhari did not fight corruption or provide security, nor will Tinubu do this.

So going forward, I see APC losing this election and I see Nigerians somehow uniting and seeing someone like me saying look, if you cannot practice this democracy, then Nigeria is not for you and they will decide for the first time to practice giving no room for bad leadership in Nigeria and gradually, we will begin to heal our land.

We will begin to recover, unite, and take each other as brothers and sisters. Their time is up.
Operatives of Anambra State Police Command have arrested a suspect, identified as Chidiebere Mbene, for allegedly killing a secondary school student, Nwokedi Somtochukwu, and raping the victims sister.

It was gathered that Mr. Mbene invaded the residence of Mr. and Mrs. Nwokedi, the deceaseds parent, who are said to be teachers in Unubi community, Nnewi South Local Government Area of the state, on Tuesday night.

INFORMATION NIGERIA learnt that the suspect, armed with a pump-action gun, scaled the fence of the teachers compound and shot the boy at close range in the chest immediately upon sighting him. He then raped the victims sister before escaping.

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This was confirmed in a statement on Friday by Spokesman for Anambra State Police Command, Tochukwu Ikenga.

Ikenga disclosed that the suspect was apprehended with the help of some members of the community.

READ MORE: Anambra Police Apprehend Six For Using Sick Persons To Beg For Money, Recover Cash, Phones

He said: The Commissioner of Police Anambra State, Ikioye Orutugu, 18th April 2025 commended the Nnewi community for their collaboration with the police in apprehending an alleged serial rapist Chidiebere Mbene m aged 33 years.

The suspect is allegedly involved in the murder of one Nwokedi Michael Somtochukwu a 15-year-old boy in Unubi, Nnewi South Local Government Area on 15th April 2025.

The suspect also allegedly raped the elder sister of the deceased before he fled the scene. He also noted the Commands willingness to continue to leverage on community support to effectively apprehend suspects as well as identify unrepentant criminals in the state.
The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Uzo-Uwani Local Government Area of Enugu State has announced the indefinite suspension of former senator Chuka Utazi, citing accusations of anti-party behavior.

Utazi, who served as senator for Enugu North from 2015 to 2023 under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), joined the APC in 2024. Despite his defection, local APC leaders allege that the former lawmaker has continued to show allegiance to his former party, triggering the disciplinary move.

According to a notification addressed to the APC state chairman, Ugochukwu Agballah, the suspension followed a formal complaint from members of Utazis ward, Nkpologu.

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The complaint alleged the senators involvement in recent PDP activities, including participation in party meetings and a public endorsement of Governor Peter Mbah for a second term in 2027.

Party officials also cited video evidence of Utazi purportedly speaking against the APC and promoting the PDP in public spaces.

Following the petition, a disciplinary panel was constituted on April 8, 2025, and the senator was invited to respond to the allegations but reportedly failed to appear.

After reviewing the panels findings on Friday, Uzo-Uwani APC executive committee adopted the recommendation for suspension.

The committee found the conduct of Senator Utazi highly disappointing, repugnant and unbecoming of a bona fide member of APC, and hence, recommended his indefinite suspension from the party, the letter read.
Nigerian comedian Oluwaseyitan Aletile, widely known as Seyi Law, has fully endorsed President Bola Tinubu, expressing strong confidence in his ability to transform Nigeria.

In a recent appearance on the Teju Babyface Deep Dive podcast, shared on X Saturday, Seyi Law, who had openly campaigned for Tinubu during the 2023 general elections, stated that no other politician, including Peter Obi or Atiku Abubakar, possesses the capability to effectively lead the country if Tinubu fails.

The comedian also shared his concerns about the credibility of both Obi and Atiku.

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Referencing past controversies, he mentioned an incident during Peter Obis time as governor of Anambra State, where an aide was allegedly found with N200 million in cash, which was meant for contract execution.

READ MORE: Even If Peter Obi Wears Jesus Garment, Ill Never Support Him  Seyi Law

He also pointed to the public disagreement between former Anambra Governor Willie Obiano and Peter Obi, in which Obiano alleged that Obi had demanded N7.5 billion.

Seyi Law condemned what he referred to as selective judgment by certain Nigerians.

The 41-year-old entertainer emphasised that his support for Tinubu is based on genuine belief, not bias, and urged Nigerians to adopt an objective approach when evaluating political figures.

He said, I want to be 70 and 80 and I see my children enjoying the benefit of the sacrifice Ive made today because I tell you wholeheartedly, not with any sentiment, if Bola Ahmed Tinubu cannot redirect the ship of Nigeria, no politician currently can do it. None! Not Atiku, not Peter Obi, none of them. Not with what I know about all of them.

You know somebody was talking with me one day. I know that this one is going to come with another backlash, but lets say it. Somebody was talking with me one day, and he said you are not supporting somebody.

And I said, If you heard that a governors aide once had about N200 million cash in his car and the governor said he should go and deliver it somewhere, claiming it was for a contract and they caught the person, would you support that kind of governor? The person said, Nah the people, whether they rule this country be that, why would I support such a person?

And I said that person is Peter Obi. Google it. But you dont know about that because you choose to be blind by your followership. This is true and can be confirmed. Google it. I said there was a governor who once supported another candidate who wanted to become a godfather until this person fought against him.

And the person came out to say that he was demanding N7.5 billion from him for the money he used to support him. And he said, Nah, those APC governors, and I said that person is Peter Obi. That was what Obiano said.

Once it is the person they support, automatically it becomes a lie. But when it is another person, it is the truth. It doesnt work that way. The truth is not selective.
Ex-Ekiti State Governor, Ayodele Fayose, has expressed his readiness to once again oppose former Vice President Atiku Abubakar if he decides to contest the 2027 presidential election.

Fayose, a prominent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), made the statement on Friday while addressing journalists.

He restated his disapproval of Atikus 2023 presidential ambition and made it clear that his position remains unchanged should Atiku throw his hat into the ring again.

I publicly worked against Atiku, and I am saying for the second time, if Atiku comes again, I will work against him. It is time to learn our lesson, he stated.

The former governor blamed the PDPs ongoing internal crisis on its refusal to adhere to the partys zoning principle, arguing that the 2023 ticket should have gone to the South after President Buharis eight-year tenure.

Fayose emphasised that equitable power rotation is crucial for maintaining party unity and national cohesion. He stressed that the failure to zone the presidential ticket to the South in 2023 created deep divisions within the PDP.

After eight years of a Northerner, it is the turn of a Southerner, which could involve someone from the East, South West or South South, he said.

He further noted that even if the zoning agreement is not formalized, it should be respected in the spirit of fairness and national balance. Fayoses comments have added momentum to the ongoing debate within the PDP on power rotation and the way forward ahead of the 2027 elections.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has signaled his willingness to reconcile with suspended Rivers State Governor, Siminalayi Fubara, but on one conditionan apology.

Speaking during a media chat in Abuja on Friday, Wike stated that peace is possible if Fubara approaches the matter with sincerity and remorse.

The political fallout between both men has continued to deepen since Fubara assumed office in 2023, shortly after Wikes transition to a ministerial role.

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Their rift has had major consequences in Rivers State, including a split in the State House of Assembly and rising concerns over governance and security.

The crisis eventually prompted President Bola Tinubu to intervene, suspending Fubara for six months and appointing a sole administrator to oversee the state.

Addressing the lingering tension, Wike dismissed the notion that meaningful efforts were being made to restore order. He challenged local stakeholders to actively seek peace, suggesting they have instead fueled the unrest.

Has anybody approached anybody? I dont like people who are hypocrites. I have told her to mention an elder in Rivers running around the governor who has taken steps to achieve peace? Wike said.

He added that the withdrawal of the impeachment threat against Fubara was a direct result of President Tinubus involvement, stating that true reconciliation can only happen if theres honest communication from Fubara.

The day Mr President intervened, the assembly people immediately withdrew the impeachment notice. Im open to forgiveness if he comes sincerely, he said.

The crisis remains one of the most prominent political battles in the countrys South-South region.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, has said that his plan was to get Rivers State Governor, Sim Fubara removed and not to be suspended.

Wike noted that President Bola Tinubu saved the oil rich state from crisis and anarchy by suspending Governor Fubara and declaring a state of emergency in the state.

Recall that INFORMATION NIGERIA had reported that President Tinubu in March, 2025, announced a six months suspension for Governor Fubara, his Deputy, Ngozi Nma and the states House Assembly over unending political beef in the state.

Reacting to the development in a press briefing in Abuja on Friday, Wike said that the action of the President prevented calamity in Rivers State.

READ MORE: Emergency Rule: I Cant Adapt To Military Style  Ex-Rivers Magistrate Justifies Resignation

He said: As a politician, I am not happy with the declaration of Emergency Rule in Rivers state. I wanted the outright removal of the governor.

But for the interest of the state, the president did the right thing to prevent anarchy in the state.

However, people must tell the truth. The governor was gone. He was gone, yes so when people say the president did this, I say they should be praising him.

Every morning, they should go to the president and ask, Can we wash your feet for saving us?

Mr president came in and saved the situation, saved Rivers people from that calamity and anarchy.
The Imo State Police Command has apprehended three suspected Eastern Security Network (ESN) members in Okigwe Local Government Area.

The suspects were captured by the commands tactical section in coordination with local vigilante groups, according to Henry Okoye, the state police spokesperson, in a statement issued on Friday.

Okoye stated that the suspects, identified as Onyekaba Ikenna Innocent (21), Ugwu Ikenna (31), and Ofor Kasarachis (37), were arrested on Thursday based on an intelligence report.

READ MORE: NSCDC Uncovers Five Illegal Oil Dumps, Arrests Seven In Abuja

The spokesperson noted that the team recovered an AK-47 rifle, two pump-action firearms, 18 live cartridges, several mobile gadgets, laptops, and a cash sum of N10.3 million.

On sighting the operatives, the suspects opened fire, resulting in a gun battle during which three suspects were arrested, namely: Onyekaba Ikenna Innocent (21), Ugwu Ikenna (31), and Ofor Kasarachis (37), while two others escaped into the surrounding ., the statement reads.

Recovered from the scene were one AK-47 riffle, two pump-action guns, eighteen live cartridges, mobile devices, laptops, and 10.3 million in cash. Investigations reveals the money was contributed by IPOB members to finance terrorism.

With Easter approaching, the ommand assures Imolites of robust security across the state. In collaboration with sister agencies, patrols, surveillance, and checkpoints have been intensified to ensure a safe and peaceful celebration.

Residents are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious activity to the nearest police station or via 08034773600.
The Kano chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) is currently experiencing internal divisions over the potential return of Senator Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, former Governor of Kano State, to the party.

Kwankwaso, who was recently expelled from the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) after serving as its 2023 presidential candidate, has reportedly shown interest in rejoining the APC, a move that has generated mixed reactions within the party.

At a press briefing on Friday, the APC state chairman, Abdullahi Abbas, confirmed the rumors, expressing enthusiasm over Kwankwasos potential return.

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He welcomed the move, describing it as a positive development for the party. However, he made it clear that individuals with a history of insulting APC leaders, including President Bola Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima, must first apologize before being considered for re-admittance.

We have received reports that the leader of the NNPP, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, who was expelled from his party, is preparing to return to the APC. This is a welcome developmentwe are happy and pleased about it, Abbas stated.

While some party members are open to Kwankwasos return, others are adamantly opposed.

Ahmed Aruwa, the APC spokesperson, voiced strong objections, arguing that Kwankwasos return would cause confusion and division within the party.

He also pointed to Kwankwasos controversial tenure as governor, particularly the demolition of structures in Kano, as a reason for his rejection.

We do not welcome him. After committing numerous wrongs against the people, he now seeks to return? We will not accept that, Aruwa said.

Despite these objections, Kwankwasos loyalists in the NNPP, led by figures like Dr. Hashimu Sulaiman Dungurawa, have shown unwavering support for him, declaring that they would follow Kwankwaso wherever he chooses to go.

However, Kwankwaso has yet to publicly address the speculation surrounding his political future, leaving his next move uncertain.
Renowned content creator and activist Mr Macaroni has criticised Bashir Ahmad, former aide to ex-President Buhari, for his remarks directed at Rahama Saidu, the TikToker who condemned the Kano governor after her shop was demolished and subsequently set on fire.

The issue arose when the Kano Urban Planning and Development Authority (KNUPDA) tore down part of Saidus shop.

KNUPDA argued that the structure was constructed illegally on public pathways, breaching city planning regulations.

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READ MORE: Fans React As Davido Claims He Once Lived In Face Me I Face You Apartment

Saidu expressed her outrage in an Instagram post, blaming the incident on Abba Yusuf, the state governor.

Several hours later, the demolished shop was found burning, though the cause of the fire has not been determined.

In response to the fire incident, Ahmad criticised Saidu for speaking out against the governor, calling it completely wrong.

He also referred to the burning of her shop as condemnable and ridiculous and urged the Kano government to ensure justice is upheld.

I honestly didnt want to say anything about this Rahama Saidus issue. What she did was completely wrong, she shouldnt have called out the Governors name in that manner, he wrote via X.

However, the treatment she received afterward, especially the burning of her shop, is absolutely ridiculous and condemnable. Nothing can justify such an act.

I sincerely hope the Kano Government will intervene, ensure justice is served, and the perpetrators are held accountable.

However, Macaroni disagreed with Ahmad, arguing that it was wrong to suggest that a citizen should not criticise the governor, who is a public servant.

In a Friday post on X, the actor pointed out that Ahmads message did not directly condemn the destruction of Saidus property, but instead seemed to blame her for voicing her frustrations.

This is a former Presidential Media aide who has OON attached to his name telling the world that it is wrong for a citizen to criticize the Governor who is a public Servant, he wrote.

There is no justification for the destruction of Rahama Saidus properties!!! And the first part of Bashirs message blames the victim instead of outrightly condemning the attack!

So a citizen expressing her frustrations is justification for the destruction of her properties? Do the people no longer have the right to express themselves?

You love to defend oppression when it affects others but turn around to condemn it when it affects you. Despicable!

SEE BELOW:
Former Ekiti State Governor Ayodele Fayose has expressed concern about the current state of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), stating that the party is in dire need of a miracle for it to recover.

Speaking during an interview on Saturday, Fayose highlighted the growing discontent within the party and emphasized that its issues date back several years, leaving it in a state of disarray.

Fayose criticized the lack of unity and structure within the PDP, pointing out that internal factions are preventing progress.

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He explained that there is no clear direction, as leaders within the party are focused on personal interests rather than collective growth.

He likened the situation to sweeping with a single broom, noting that only collective effort could bring about meaningful change.

He also addressed the future of presidential politics in Nigeria, particularly the role of Southerners after the tenure of President Bola Tinubu.

Fayose boldly declared that a Southerner would struggle to ascend to the presidency following Tinubus term, signaling a significant political shift.

According to him, the PDP must be careful in handling its internal dynamics and not rely on external associations like the Governors Forum or the Ministers Forum, which he argued hold no constitutional authority within the party.

He said: The situation in the party is unfortunate and regrettable because the problem didnt start today, we have a backlog of issues and the party has not called for any reconciliation and its everybody doing their thing; everybody is defending their tea, cup, and position.

When you use one broom to sweep, you will catch no impact but when you use the whole broom to sweep, you will get the impact.

Its not a denied fact that all is not well with the PDP and except a miracle that can bring this party to the dreamed destination, and its a dream that may not happen if care is not taken.

Its has affected the party even within the National Working Committee, show me the peace? Show me the command, where the directives are coming from, nowhere.

I was a governor and I gave my best, I never decamped even when it wasnt going easy with me, I faced the government of the day.

People can say what they like but after Asiwajus tenure, let a Southerner come out, I will also come out and say a Southerner cant be president of Nigeria.
At least one person has been killed at the scene of the two-storey building that collapsed on Oremeta Street in Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos State.

It was gathered that 12 persons were rescued in the unfortunate incident which occurred on Saturday.

This was contained in a statement by Permanent Secretary of Lagos State Emergency Management Agency, Damilola Oke-Osanyitolu.

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He said that said the emergency responders on the ground would get to ground zero for other victims still trapped under the rubble.

Oke-Osanyitolu said: A two-storey building collapsed; weve activated the Lagos State Emergency response plan under the watch of the Governor, Mr Babajide Sanwo-Olu, and you can see that were painstaking in the way were responding and the operation is ongoing.

I need to remind the good people of Lagos State to remain cool, calm and collected.

READ MORE: Building Collapse Kills Three Persons In Lagos

Were working with all the local people; were working with all the primary responders and were on top of the situation.

Responding to the concern of some of the residents that many could still be trapped, he said, Theres no roll call but the most important thing is that were going to get to ground zero.

By the time we get to ground zero, well see everything that is in there and were going to give a comprehensive report. The governor is aware of the situation and has been coordinating the response plan.

Meanwhile, the South-West Coordinator of National Emergency Management Agency, Mr. Ibrahim Farinloye, said: The cause of the collapsed building has yet to be ascertained as of the time of writing this report. Twelve victims have been rescued, one adult dead.
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, on Friday, issued a stern warning to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), alleging that ongoing disunity and insincerity among party leaders may once again cost them victory in the next general elections.

Wike, who spoke during a media interaction in Abuja, criticized former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the PDP Governors Forum over what he described as internal deceit and lack of commitment to the partys stability and future.

Atiku had recently initiated talks to form a coalition of opposition parties aimed at challenging the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) in the 2027 elections.

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However, his effort met resistance from within the PDP, including from Governor Seyi Makinde, who stated that the governors are not aligned with the coalition plans.

Wike did not mince words while addressing the matter. He accused the partys leadership of repeating the same missteps that led to their defeat in 2023.

He said: Those who said they want a coalition are not truthful to themselves, and those in the party are not useful; its just a matter of interest.

The former Rivers State governor further emphasized that the Governors Forum has no constitutional authority within the PDP and criticized its influence over the partys affairs.

He cautioned that unless internal reforms are prioritized and impunity is addressed, the PDP risks alienating its base and facing another loss at the polls in 2027. His remarks have stirred fresh debate about the partys direction and unity heading into the next election cycle.
A search and rescue operation by the Zamfara State Police Command has resulted in the recovery of six abducted individuals.

In a statement, the commands spokesperson, DSP Yazid Abubakar, said the victims were rescued on Friday after a joint patrol team of police officers and Community Protection Guards spotted an ash-painted Peugeot 206 abandoned by the roadside along the Anka-Gummi Road.

Abubakar stated that, suspecting a case of abduction, the security team swiftly initiated a search operation, which resulted in the successful rescue of the six victims.

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READ MORE: NSCDC Uncovers Five Illegal Oil Dumps, Arrests Seven In Abuja

According to him, the rescued individuals were identified as Bakiru Masama, Alyh Masama, Aminu Bukkuyum, Ahmad Masama, Umar Jema, and Shehu Mulluwa.

The statement partly read, The rescued persons have since been reunited with their families. The state Commissioner of Police, CP Ibrahim Balarabe Maikaba, commended the operatives for their prompt response.

He reassured the public of the commands relentless effort in collaboration with sister security agencies to rescue all kidnapped victims and ensure the safety of lives and property across the state.

CP Maikaba further urged residents to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities to the nearest security agency for immediate action.
Visa-free policy boosts Bosnia-China relations: Sarajevo tourism leader

Xinhua) 13:47, April 19, 2025

SARAJEVO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The visa-free regime is injecting fresh momentum into Sarajevo's tourism industry, as China and Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) mark the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations this year, said the president of the Sarajevo Canton Tourist Board in a recent interview with Xinhua.

Haris Fazlagic emphasized that the visa-free policy, launched seven years ago, has significantly strengthened people-to-people exchanges. Chinese tourists were the top group of foreign visitors to Sarajevo in 2018 and 2019, he said.

Although global travel slowed during the pandemic, 2024 saw a strong recovery, with nearly 65,000 Chinese visitors and over 48,000 overnight stays recorded.

Sarajevo, known for its multicultural charm and historic sites like Bascarsija and the Tunnel of Hope, has become a key stop on the "Balkan route" favored by Chinese tourists. Interest in the city's connection to the film "Walter Defends Sarajevo" remains especially strong.

Fazlagic emphasized that the visa-free policy continues to build confidence in the tourism sector. "Plans are underway to further develop infrastructure and facilities tailored to the specific preferences of Chinese tourists," he said.

Key initiatives include enhancing accommodation capacity, particularly in the luxury tourism segment, and organizing cultural events that appeal to Chinese audiences, added Fazlagic.

Looking ahead, Sarajevo aims to introduce direct flights, expand cooperation with Chinese partners, and introduce digital payment apps tailored to Chinese tourists. Fazlagic sees the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries as an opportunity to deepen tourism, cultural, and economic ties.

BiH and China established diplomatic relations in May 1995. The visa-free policy agreed by the two countries officially took effect on May 29, 2018.

This agreement allows holders of valid ordinary passports of both countries to enter, transit through, or stay in the other country for up to 90 days within a 180-day period without needing a visa, provided they are not engaging in work, study, or long-term residence.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Former Ogun State Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, has spoken out against the recurring violence in Plateau State, calling for renewed efforts toward peaceful coexistence among Nigerias diverse population.

He made these remarks at a merit award ceremony during the 11th Triennial National Conference and 101st Anniversary of the Ansar-ud-Deen Society of Nigeria in Abeokuta on Saturday.

Amosun expressed deep concern over the actions of violent groups across the globe who, under the guise of religion, have brought untold hardship and tarnished the image of Islam.

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He listed Boko Haram and Lakurawa in Nigeria, along with ISIS and Al-Qaeda in other parts of the world, as examples of how extremist ideologies have distorted the faiths message of peace.

According to Amosun, this years conference theme, Islam and Muslims: Roles and Relevance in a Pluralistic World, is especially pertinent, emphasizing the need for Muslims to lead conversations around tolerance and peaceful living.

Islam, through its continuous faith, prayer, charity, fasting, and pilgrimage, emphasises the importance of mutual understanding, tolerance, and compassion in interactions with fellow Muslims and people of other faiths, he said.

The former governor lamented that what should unify people religion has been weaponized, fueling hate and division.

He urged Nigerians to embrace diversity and use it as a force for unity rather than conflict, particularly in light of the recent killings in Plateau, which he described as unnecessary and tragic.

Amosun further encouraged Muslim leaders to take a stand against extremist narratives and instead amplify the true values of Islam, peace, fairness, and respect for human life.
Akwa Ibom State Governor, Umo Eno has reacted to viral reports, describing him as a betrayal of Peoples Democratic Party, following a recent public declaration over President Bola Tinubus second term support.

Recall that Governor Eno, who was elected in 2023 under the umbrella of PDP supported the partys presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar during the last general election.

On Tuesday, he said that President Tinubu, a member of the All Progressives Congress will complete his eight-year tenure with his full supports.

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Speaking at a rally in Ikot Ekpene LGA of the state on Thursday, following backlash on his statement, Eno said that his choice is rooted in sincerity and will be explained in due time.

He said: Me, I dont know how to speak from two sides of the mouth, he said. The other day, I said I was going to support Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, people said why do I say so?

READ MORE: More Crisis Hits PDP As Akwa-Ibom Gov Backs Tinubu For Second Term

In the night, they go there and go and tell the Baba we will support you, in the afternoon, they do another thing.

Me Im supporting baba Bola Ahmed Tinubu for second term. When the time comes, I will tell you the reason, the time has not come yet. But let me keep it first. Theres no point lying to yourself.

I will tell you the reason when the time comes, and you will see with me why we should support him so that he can complete what he has started.

You will see what he is doing for our state, and you will know why we should not go elsewhere.

So, if you want another support, wait  when he finishes, we will now support another person.

Akwa Ibom does not know how to flip-flop, he said. That does not stop me from being a member of my party. I am entitled to my own opinion.
The 29-year-old woman had gunshot wounds to the head and chest, police said. Her car's windshield had 11 gunshot holes. Read more

A woman was shot several times late Friday night in West Philadelphia, while an 8-year-old in the car was found unharmed, according to police.

Around 11:25 p.m., police responded to a call about a person with a gun on the 5700 block of Ludlow Street.

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There, a 29-year-old woman with gunshot wounds to the head and chest was found lying in the street next to the open drivers-side door of a red Hyundai Elantra, police said.

Video from the scene from 6abc shows 11 bullet holes in the Elantras windshield.

The woman was taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, where she was pronounced dead at 11:48 p.m., police said. Police later identified the woman as Imani Naim, of Delaware.

Police Inspector D.F. Pace told reporters at the scene that an 8-year-old boy was in the car when the shooting unfolded.

[He] was taken by police to a safe location and is now with family members and will be questioned as to what he might know of the incident, Pace said.

Naim was dropping off her aunt and the child, her cousin, at a house on Ludlow Street when at least one person shot her multiple times, said Police Deputy Commissioner Frank Vanore. The aunt had already gone inside a house on that block, he said, and the child was in the back seat and was not injured.

Police do not have a motive for the crime, said Vanore, but believe Naim was targeted. Investigators are scouring surveillance footage to identify a suspect, he said.

Police ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact the Philadelphia Police Departments Homicide Unit at 215-686-3334 or submit an anonymous tip by calling the departments tip line at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

So far this year, Philadelphia has seen 58 homicides, according to PPD crime statistics. A $20,000 reward is available to anyone with information that can lead to an arrest.
Yolanda Fowler at Temple University Hospital, September 14, 2023. The state's nursing shortage is expected to grow. Read more

Imagine nearly every seat in Philadelphias Wells Fargo Center  over 20,000 seats  are empty. Thats the scale of Pennsylvanias projected shortfall of registered nurses by 2026, according to the Hospital and Healthsystem Association of Pennsylvania.

Hospitals in the state report an average 14% vacancy rate for registered nurses. In rural areas it is much higher.

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This shortage, of course, is not just in hospitals. It also affects long-term care facilities, outpatient clinics, and home health agencies, which compete with hospitals for a limited pool of registered nurses, licensed nursing professionals, and nursing support staff.

We are a senior associate dean of nursing and clinical professor of nursing at Drexel Universitys College of Nursing and Health Professions in Philadelphia, and a dean and professor of nursing at Duquesne Universitys School of Nursing in Pittsburgh.

We know that the nursing shortage in Pennsylvania, while not the worst in the U.S., is severe and jeopardizes the health care that patients receive.

What caused the shortage?

Pennsylvanias nursing shortage is the result of long-standing issues in education, workforce retention, and health care delivery.

Education bottlenecks: Nursing schools in Pennsylvania and nationwide turn away thousands of qualified applicants each year due to faculty shortages, limited classroom space, and scarce clinical placements. More than 65,000 qualified applications were turned away from U.S. nursing programs in 2023 alone, according to a report from the American Association of Colleges of Nursing.

A key issue is the lack of preceptors. Preceptors are experienced nurses who teach students in real-world settings. A shortage of preceptors directly limits how many students can complete their education.

Aging workforce: More than a third of Pennsylvanias registered nurses are 55 or older. This demographic reality means many are nearing retirement.

Burnout and attrition: The COVID-19 pandemic worsened already high levels of stress, burnout, and mental health strain for nurses. Many left the profession early due to emotional exhaustion, family and personal health concerns, unsafe staffing ratios, moral injury, and lack of institutional support.

Uneven distribution: While Pennsylvania may have a sufficient number of licensed nurses on paper, those nurses dont all still work in the profession. And among those that do, they are not evenly spread across roles or locations. Rural hospitals, long-term care centers, behavioral health settings, and maternal-child health units are experiencing acute shortages.

Cost to patients

For patients and their families, the consequences of the nursing shortage are delayed care, fewer interactions with providers, and less time for compassionate, personalized support. Overextended nurses face increased workloads, raising the likelihood of delayed interventions, medication errors and inadequate patient education. These factors undermine quality of care.

Limited access to nursing care can increase hospital deaths, infections and readmissions, reduce early detection of health issues, and slow the response to life-threatening conditions such as stroke, sepsis, and cardiac arrest.

In Pennsylvania, patients may experience longer emergency room wait times, delayed discharges or transfers to nursing homes or rehabilitation centers, and service disruptions in rural and underserved areas.

Effect on nurses

Over 600,000 registered nurses across the U.S. plan to leave the workforce by 2027, according to a 2023 analysis by the National Council of State Boards of Nursing.

Many cite stress as their reason for leaving the profession. New graduates often leave within their first two years, feeling unprepared for the emotional and operational realities of practice.

In Pennsylvania, the shortage has created a feedback loop. Understaffing increases pressure on those who remain. A 2023 National Council of State Boards of Nursing survey found that 41% of nurses under age 35 reported feeling emotionally drained.

Meanwhile, some experienced nurses choose to retire early or shift into nonclinical roles for better schedules, slower pace, and improved quality of life.

This turnover erodes institutional knowledge, increases costs for onboarding and overtime, and limits the capacity to mentor incoming staff.

Whats being done

To help address the problem, Gov. Josh Shapiro in March proposed a $5 million Nurse Shortage Assistance Program. If approved by the General Assembly, the program would cover tuition costs for nursing students who commit to working in Pennsylvania hospitals for three years after graduation.

HB 390 is also currently under review in the Pennsylvania General Assembly. It aims to establish a $1,000 tax deduction for licensed nurses who serve as clinical preceptors.

To meet the growing demand for nurses, Pennsylvania hospitals are partnering with colleges and universities to expand clinical training capacity, streamline pathways into nursing, and develop innovative education models such as hybrid and accelerated programs.

Hospitals statewide are also offering substantial sign-on bonuses, loan forgiveness programs, housing stipends, and flexible scheduling to attract nurses.

To improve nurse retention, health care organizations have introduced structured residency programs, mentorship networks, and clear career advancement pathways designed to reduce burnout and enhance professional satisfaction.

They are also increasingly using virtual nursing, telehealth services, and AI-driven administrative tools to reduce nurses workloads, enhance patient interactions, and address staffing gaps.

And some Philadelphia and Pennsylvania colleges offer refresher and license reactivation programs for retired or inactive nurses who want to rejoin the workforce. Duquesne offers a nurse faculty residency to increase the number of high-quality nursing faculty.

What more could be done?

Continuing Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs are another solution. These federal grants, reauthorized under the March 2020 CARES Act, help fund nursing pathways and the availability of high-quality nursing care for patients nationwide.

On April 1, the Trump administration announced plans to restructure the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and the future status of these programs is not yet known.

Research consistently demonstrates that care provided by nurses who have earned a bachelors degree or higher directly leads to better patient outcomes, improved safety, and overall health. A commitment to shoring up the nurse pipeline in Pennsylvania is a commitment to improving the well-being of individuals and communities across the state.

Kymberlee Montgomery is senior associate dean of nursing at Drexel University; Mary Ellen Smith Glasgow is a professor of nursing at Duquesne University.

This article is reprinted from The Conversation.
Matthew Skic, of Morristown, N.J., director of Collections and Exhibitions (left), and Michael Hensinger, of Fishtown, senior manager of K-12 Education (right), are dressed as Minute Men from the Massachusetts Militia for the opening of the new exhibit, Banners of Liberty, which showcases original Revolutionary War flags at the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia. They fired shots to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the "shot heard 'round the world," which started the American Revolutionary War. Read more

The Museum of the American Revolution on Saturday unveiled the largest exhibit of Revolutionary War flags in more than two centuries, featuring about half of the 30 flags still known to exist.

The Banners of Liberty exhibit opening coincided with the 250th anniversary of the shot heard round the world that started the American Revolutionary War during the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts.

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We are standing among flags that have not been together since the Continental Army disbanded, said James Taub, associate curator, in the museums first-floor Patriots Gallery, where the flags are framed and behind protective glass and will be on display until Aug. 10.

The flags, many of which were likely used in battles in the Philadelphia region, had been scattered for years, some in personal collections and only recently discovered. They hail from Concord, N.H., Schenectady, N.Y., Hartford, Conn., Freehold, N.J., Wilmington, Baltimore, Harrisburg, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia.

The idea for the exhibit originated about five years ago, and over the last couple of years museum officials have been negotiating with owners of the flags to bring them to Philadelphia, Taub said.

Part of this job  and I didnt think I would have [to do] that when I got a history degree  is you have to be able to network, schmooze, so I could borrow flags, he said.

Most of the flags are owned by public and private institutions, but private individuals own some of them.

Until 2023, the 2nd Spartan Regiment of Militia flag was squirreled away in an attic of descendants of Revolutionary Army Col. Thomas Brandon, who was from Pennsylvania. It had been flown by a South Carolina militia unit. Now, it is owned by the public library in Spartanburg, S.C.

The flag features a rattlesnake  a common American Revolution symbol at the time  and a dog, believed to be a reference to Shakespeares Othello, in which a dog symbolizes a bloodthirsty man, Taub said.

So now the question we have to ask ourselves is: Are the snake and the dog friends? he said. Are they saying were bloodthirsty men and were going to fight for American liberties? Or is the snake fighting a bloodthirsty dog in this form of a British person?

Taub said there probably are more flags hidden in attics and he hopes the 250th anniversary may get people to take a look at their own collections.

During the war, the flags were used to mark the position of a unit on the battlefield or ends of a line, Taub said. There was no standard design, befitting an army of soldiers who were still trying to figure out who they were and the new country they were fighting for, he said.

Another flag, from the 2nd New Hampshire Regiment, features a circular chain with the names of the original 13 states written inside each link, surrounding the words: We are one.

Only one of the flags, the Commander in Chiefs Standard, belongs to the museum. It is the flag that George Washington is believed to have kept with him in camp and on the battlefield, Taub said, and also features the earliest known use of 13 stars as an American symbol.

The 1st Pennsylvania Battalion flag, which includes the earliest known usage of the phrase United We Stand, is back in Philadelphia likely for the first time since the Revolution, Taub said. The flag originally was in the possession of Philadelphia soldier Josiah Harmar and most recently was owned by the City of Cincinnati. To get it released for the exhibit, the flag was transferred to the Cincinnati History Museum, Taub said.

For me, its one of my favorites in this exhibit because as a Philadelphian, this is a return of our history to the city, and the Cincinnati History Museum was more than happy to loan it, he said.

Some flags came from individuals, like the 8th Virginia Regiment flag on loan from New Jersey collectors Brian and Barbara Hendelson.

Most of the flags are made of silk, which is easy to paint on; a couple are wool bunting, Taub said. Pulaskis Legion Standard flag was made by the Moravian Single Sisters of Bethlehem  described as a community of unmarried women. It features four flaming bombs, one in each corner.

Its a once-in-a-many-lifetimes opportunity, museum president and CEO R. Scott Stephenson told a crowd gathered for a ceremony before the exhibits opening, which also was heralded in a proclamation by Philadelphia Mayor Cherelle L. Parker.

Two museum workers in Revolutionary garb fired replicas of muskets from that period to reenact that famous initial shot in 1775. (No bullets used, of course.) But in this case, it was the shot heard  by none.

Still nothing on the second try.

Third time has to be the charm, Stephenson said.

And it was, yielding cheers from the crowd.

Shortly after the ceremony ended and just a couple of blocks away, another event marking the first shots of the American Revolution began on Independence Mall, this one aimed at President Donald Trumps administration and what critics are calling his executive overreach.

About 2,000 people, according to police estimates, gathered with flags and signs at the No Kings! protest and march held by 50501, a national grassroots organization that came about after Trumps inauguration. The name signifies 50 states, 50 protests, one day, said Ben Fitzgerald, a Haverford College junior from Connecticut, who was on the protest planning team.

We hope to send a message to our congresspeople, to the Trump administration, that were not complicit, the 22-year-old philosophy major said. We are fighting back, and we demand that they take their hands off our fundamental rights.

Staff writer Michelle Myers contributed to this article.
Lauren Webb, of Delaware County, recreates a childhood photo with her now 13 year-old daughter Cameron (left) with her friend Charlotte Sutch, 14, outside the still-closed Playland's Castaway Cove Apr. 16, 2025. (The original photo was made with Camerons older brother Chase.) Opening soon, it is the only amusement park left on the Ocean City Boardwalk after last years closure of Wonderland Pier. Read more

OCEAN CITY, N.J.  Never mind Gillians Wonderland Pier and its famous and somewhat-histrionic demise at the height of last summer. Hasnt everyone heard enough?

Less than five blocks down the boardwalk, at Playlands Castaway Cove, there is still an amusement park pulse in Ocean City.

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This surprises some people, says Brian Hartley, vice president of Castaway, the family-owned mid-boardwalk landmark that dates back 65 years (older, in fact, than Wonderland Pier, unless you consider Wonderlands predecessor Fun Deck).

Gillians is closed, we are still here, Hartley said a few days before Playlands April 18 opening, as workers buffed bumper car decks, programmed new arcade games, and awaited inspectors. It has been a push to get the word out. People confuse us with them.

They think there are no rides in Ocean City, he said.

Despite a devastating electrical fire in 2021 that destroyed Castaways arcade and toppled its signature pirate ship, this amusement park has been consistently drawing crowds to 11th Street, even while Gillians was mostly petering out over on Sixth.

This season, a new arcade building will open with a new pirate ship to be installed on the front roof, replacing the one lost in the fire. Several new rides have been added.

In the future, a new roller coaster will be installed on the arcade building roof with views up and down the boardwalk and out to sea.

Hartley says theyre moving rides to open up spaces for people to better move around, as people are concerned that with Wonderland Pier closed, Castaway will be crowded.

The Tidal Wave is going on the deck, Hartley said, referring to the oscillating spiderlike ride, which will open up more space. Already this year, people were peering in, and early spring breakers were calling to see if Playland was open during the week. Bad weather postponed a planned mid-April opening.

Half-price tickets are available through April 27. (Charmingly, Playland only sells paper tickets that, in theory, never expire.) They do not accept Wonderland tickets or loaded plastic cards.

Castaway Cove was known as the place your kids graduated to from Wonderland (at age, say, 6), while Wonderland continued to live off the nostalgia of its iconic kiddie Wet Boats and Fire Engines, which were so old they were grandfathered in to not have any height requirement.

Some of those rides could resurface at Storybook Land, about 12 miles west of Atlantic City, owner Jessica Panetta says.

Details are to come, but the iconic fairy tale amusement park for younger children purchased the fire engine ride and other pieces from Wonderland.

We did get a few things from there that Wonderland fans will surely notice once theyre restored and out, she told The Inquirer.

 READ MORE: Phillies' original mascots live on at Storybook Land

While Castaway didnt buy any of Wonderlands kiddie rides, and most of his kiddie rides have a 36-inch height requirement, Hartley says there is fun to be had for all sizes and ages. Theres the lovely hand-painted carousel from Italy, the iconic Kansas-manufactured Chance train ride, number 396, beach buggy rides, and the slingshot.

Hes got new rides, including a new coaster and a ride called the Storm, and the entire arcade is brand new, with a focus on games that offer a physical interaction, like a motorcycle to ride, or, yes, actual Skee-Ball.

The future of Wonderland

Truth is, if Wonderland had been all that crowded before the abrupt closing announcement sent people scurrying for one last windy Ferris wheel ride and ignited a firestorm of outrage, itd probably still be open.

Now, developer Eustace Mita is forging ahead with his plans for Icona in Wonderland hotel resort, and he told The Inquirer he plans to present his plans to City Council in May.

Awaiting an engineering report, he says he also may attempt to reopen the 6th Street Pizza shop and arcade that front the boardwalk, which he acknowledges might not be the best move, business-wise.

Painters were going over the whitewashed facade last week to make it presentable, Mita said.

The problem is every dollar we spend is like throwing it into the ocean, Mita said by text message. This would be strictly from our love, of Ocean City and the boardwalk, to at least not have everything be dark and lacking energy.

And maybe throw a little shade at the new arcade at Castaway? Who knows? The two parks have had a complicated relationship, even before Mayor Jay Gillians mother, Jean, divorced Wonderlands founder Roy Gillian and married Dave Simpson of the Castaway Cove Simpsons.

The two places have long jockeyed for attention from visitors.

It was only in the late 1990s that Castaway was given zoning permission to bring in bigger rides requiring more horsepower, Hartley said. After that, Castaway began drawing more and more business from families with older children as a series of financial setbacks doomed Wonderland.

Still, nobody wanted to see Gillians fail. In an era of Disneyland and other corporate amusement parks with enormous footprints, the family amusement parks on the Jersey Shore boardwalks  the Moreys parks in Wildwood, the Steel Pier in Atlantic City, Fantasy Island in Beach Haven, the Casino Pier rides in Seaside Heights  seem worth preserving, and treasuring.

Its a shame, Hartley said. There should be enough business for two parks. We would have liked to see them stay around. You know, given the history, the memories that people had, they filled a niche. But we can only control what we can control.
Wilfredo P. Rojas, 73, of Mickleton, Gloucester County, cofounder and retired director of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons Office of Community Justice and Outreach, cofounder of the National Homicide Justice Alliance and the Norris Square Civic Association, former first vice president and communications chair of the Gloucester County NAACP, writer, and social worker, died Saturday, April 5, at Cooper University Hospital of complications from a ruptured brain aneurysm he suffered in 1979.

Born in Puerto Rico, Mr. Rojas came to Philadelphia with his family when he was 6 and almost immediately became a social activist and humanitarian. He protested against racial discrimination in elementary school, cofounded Latino activist groups in high school, and spent the rest of his life feeding, educating, defending, and uplifting disadvantaged people of all races wherever he was.

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He got a job as a social worker with the Philadelphia Department of Prisons in 1987 and was appalled by the systemic flaws that created injustices for the incarcerated, their families, the correctional officers, and prison staff. So he proposed an office of community justice and outreach to address the problems, and he was named its first director in 1997.

Over the next 15 years, until his retirement in 2012, Mr. Rojas developed procedures and programs that improved prison services and increased rehabilitation and training opportunities. He created morale-building activities for prison staff and facilitated overall cooperation.

He was always a man of ideas, said his wife, Carmen Marrero. He was always socially conscious, and he always looked out for the underdog. He believed in servant leadership.

Mr. Rojas was also the longest-serving president of Philadelphias Puerto Rican Alliance, cofounder of the Police-Barrio Relations Project, and first member of color on the East Greenwich Township Joint Planning and Zoning Board. He helped organize the local Puerto Rican Independence Party and ran unsuccessfully for Pennsylvania state representative in 1984 and 86, and for the East Greenwich Township Committee in 2013.

Know that I am laser focused on empowering people to take up the continuing fight for justice and equality of opportunity through diversity and inclusion of folks of all backgrounds. Mr. Rojas to Front Runner New Jersey in 2018

I always like to engage myself in the communities in which I live, he told NJ.com in 2013. Its just a passionate thing that I have. I want to symbolize that the community can come together, stop the bickering, and look at the businesses, government, and community to work together.

Personally affable as well as politically radical, he was a serial collaborator. In 1970, he partnered with Juan Ramos to form the Philadelphia chapter of the Young Lords activist group. In 1983, he joined with Nayda Cintron to establish the Norris Square Civic Association, and he worked with his former wife Aleida Garcia to start the National Homicide Justice Alliance in 2015 after their son, Alejandro, was murdered.

He fought injustice against all people, he told Front Runner New Jersey in 2018, because diversity means nothing without inclusion.  As minorities, we have to use whatever weapons we have to depart information to the public and strategize with them in an effort to get them to take action.

He created free meal programs and clothing drives for neighbors, and especially championed increased funding for schools and libraries. He wrote stories, columns, and blog posts about all kinds of issues for Front Runner New Jersey, the South Jersey Journal, and Community Focus.

He was tireless, family and colleagues said, and much of his success came after a ruptured brain aneurysm in 1979 that required a long hospital stay and months of grueling rehabilitation. The guy never stopped, said Juan Gonzalez, a longtime friend and fellow activist. He had incredible spirit and resolve.

I learned so much from him about reentry, violence prevention and interventions, politics, family, unity, behind the walls, and life itself. A friend on Facebook about Mr. Rojas

Mr. Rojas earned many service awards for his achievements, including the 2017 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Champion for Justice Award from the Governors Advisory Council on Volunteerism and other groups. In an online tribute, a friend called him a wonderful man who lived his life in the service of others.

His wife said: He was always a fighter. He never gave up easily.

Wilfredo Paul Rojas was born Feb. 14, 1952, in Yabucoa, Puerto Rico. He was raised with other young relatives by his great-aunt and great-uncle in North Philadelphia and picked blueberries in South Jersey fields in the summer.

He was an altar boy at St. Peter the Apostle Roman Catholic Church on North Fifth Street and later thought seriously about becoming a priest. Instead, after leaving high school early, he passed his General Educational Development exams and earned bachelors and masters degrees in human services and counselor education at Antioch Colleges local night school.

He was sharp and had great facility with the language. He had a gift of the tongue. Colleague and friend Angel Ortiz

Angel Ortiz, a former city councilmember and onetime director of Community Legal Services, hired Mr. Rojas as a paralegal in 1976. He was incredibly energetic, bright, and verbal, Ortiz said.

He was promoted to social work supervisor in the prisons department in 1992 and joined the executive leadership group when he became director of the justice and outreach office in 1997.

He married Carmen Reyes, and they had daughters Enid and Rebecca. After a divorce, he married Aleida Garcia, and they had a son, Alejandro. They divorced, and he married Carmen Marrero in 1995, and they had daughters Rachel and Veronica and a son, Neumann. His son Alejandro and daughter Rachel died earlier.

Mr. Rojas lived in Northern Liberties, Olney, and Fishtown in Philadelphia, and he and his wife moved to East Greenwich Township in Gloucester County in 2011. He was an avid Phillies and Eagles fan, and he hosted Super Bowl parties even when the Eagles werent playing.

He was active with the Knights of Columbus and spent memorable vacations in Wildwood, Disney World, and Puerto Rico. He doted on his family.

A friend said in a tribute: Wilfredo was always fun to be with. His wife said: He had a strong personality, great sense of humor, and compassion for people. He could make friends with anybody.

In addition to his wife and children, Mr. Rojas is survived by nine grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, his former wives, several siblings, and other relatives. A grandson died earlier.

Services were held April 10.

Donations in his name may be made to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, 269 Hanover St., Hanover, Mass. 02339.
Watching a video of President Donald Trumps cabinet members lavishly praising him a week ago reminded me of the effusive earnestness of former Soviet politburo members toward their communist party chairman.

Our government appears to be in the grip of a similar Cult of Personality, in which everyone must extol the Great Leader  and none dares criticize any decision, no matter how dumb.

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You might also say the White House is enmeshed in a Cult of Ignorance. This particular round of cabinet praise was for another of Trumps ill-informed tariff moves, which are tanking a healthy U.S. economy and driving it towards a recession.

The same level of presidential ignorance has propelled a global trade war. And it lies behind Trumps attacks on Americas most valuable resources at home  including higher education, scientific research, and security institutions. It is also making America more vulnerable to enemy attack.

Whats so terrifying is that the Great Leader rejects any advice from the knowledgeable, even though he clearly doesnt know what he is doing  about tariffs, an aggressive Russia, or winning the technological race between America and China. Those who could inform him are either fired or not welcome in his administration to begin with.

The level of self-harm being wreaked on the country by the know-nothing in the Oval Office is already so dire that I believe it will boomerang, when it begins to bite ordinary Americans so hard that even Trump supporters have to realize he is a con man. And when a few non-brain-dead GOP senators can no longer stand the damage he is inflicting on the United States.

Here are but a few of the endless examples of how Trumps Cult of Ignorance is making America less great.

Lets start with his efforts to destroy Harvard University and other top centers of American learning, using the transparent excuse of trying to fight antisemitism on campus.

The presidents effort to punish Harvard  after it refused his demand for a virtual government takeover of the private university  has a more far-reaching aim. So does his threat to end its tax-exempt status, and his vow to freeze $2.2 billion in research funding. Ditto for similar attacks on other centers of scientific research, including the University of Pennsylvania.

 READ MORE: The 250th anniversary of Paul Reveres ride reminds us that ordinary citizens can defeat tyrants | Trudy Rubin

He is clearly heating up a far-right culture war designed to show his base he is destroying a bastion of the elite who supposedly sneer at Middle America. But what the president ignores  or might not even know  is that much of the money he wants to remove goes toward grants for cutting-edge research that makes Americas leading universities the most respected in the world.

So, as Harvard president Alan Garber pointed out in a letter to the university community, Trumps attack threatens the prospect of life-changing advances  from diabetes to breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, quantum science and engineering. Harvard professors will also lose funding for work on tuberculosis and Lou Gehrigs disease (ALS), and on research on space travel  work the government had just requested be expanded.

Trump calls Harvard University a joke. But as Harvard medical professor David Walt told CNN: Cancellation of funding to researchers across the U.S.  will cost lives that could potentially have been saved in the future. This is going to have devastating consequences  for years to come. The U.S. is ceding our science and technology leadership to China and to other countries.

What does this have to do with combating antisemitism, which Harvard has already agreed with the government to tackle head-on? Nothing. Yet, the presidents refusal to connect the dots on how his war on higher education hurts our country results in hacking away at one of Americas greatest strengths.

And by the way, so do his threats to eliminate visas for foreign students. He must be ignorant of the stats that foreign-born scientists who studied here are key to American research in so-called STEM fields, meaning science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

According to a 2021 study by the National Science Board, 43% of STEM workers with doctorate degrees in the United States were foreign-born, and most probably earned those doctorates in America. And 58% of the computer and math doctorates working here, who drive the development of artificial intelligence, were born outside our country.

 READ MORE: Laughter curdles as Trumps assault on U.S. intelligence agencies mimics satire | Trudy Rubin

So who is stupid? Our great universities and the foreign students who earn U.S. doctorates, or a president who refuses to grasp he is killing the source of the science and tech research that makes America great?

But when it comes to ignorance, Trumps approach to tariffs gives the word new meaning. The president has obsessed about the benefits of tariffs for years, calling himself Mr. Tariff Man. Yet, he still fails to grasp who pays for tariffs, insisting falsely to voters during the election that if we put tariffs on China, Beijing would shell out. Moreover, a prominent economist who coauthored a paper the Trump team cited in support of its numbers wrote in the New York Times that they got it all wrong. His tariff math is a joke.

For the record, as Economics 101 specifies (did Trump never take an economics course when he attended Penns Wharton School?), tariffs are paid by the importer, and usually passed on to the consumer as price increases. Thus, Trumps tit-for-tat tariff war on China  apparently, he never expected Beijing to retaliate  is already causing prices to rise for all the goods we import, including iPhones and other electronics. And it is killing major U.S. exports.

Trump had to wage a hasty retreat after Apple CEO Tim Cook came crying to the White House that Iphone prices would skyrocket. And Cook is only one of the people who are rushing to complain  along with farmers, small-business associations, semi-conductor manufacturers and the auto industry  since Trumps ill-considered, erratic trade war will cause ugly economic damage across the economy as a whole.

Yet, even today, with the stock market tumbling, Trump appears blithely oblivious to the impact of tariff policies. He threatened the termination of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Thursday, after Powell had the audacity to say the obvious: Trumps tariff games will lead to higher prices and a recession. Never mind that firing Powell  one of the few adults who can check the presidents economic blunders  would no doubt cause the markets to crater.

No room here to go into the foreign policy wreckage Trumps Cult of Ignorance is already producing. His utter confidence in his own genius leaves him at the mercy of foreign leaders like Vladimir Putin who can easily manipulate his maniacal ego. And I still recall his October interview with the Wall Street Journal editorial board in which he predicted Xi Jinping would quickly bow to his tariffs, which would prevent any attempted takeover of Taiwan. Say what?

Still, until the country wakes up, or supine cabinet members stand up, there is no end to the Trump cults madness. It rests with Democrats, civil society, and sane economists and fact-based media to keep reminding the public that this president does not know what he is doing.

And that the harm he inflicts comes not from wisdom, but from an ego run wild.
Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins visits the Martin Family Dairy Farm near Myerstown in Lebanon County Monday, Apr. 14, 2025 for an agricultural roundtable discussion on farmers concerns, including President Trumps tariffs. Read more

The fight between Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros administration and the U.S. Department of Agriculture over canceled funding for food banks escalated last week after USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins accused the governor of playing political games when he urged the department to restore a $13 million contract.

Last month, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture filed an administrative appeal urging the USDA to reconsider a decision to cancel a contract that would have provided $13 million over the next three years for Pennsylvania food banks to purchase food from local farmers. If the decision was not reconsidered, Shapiro warned, he would consider taking legal action.

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President Donald Trumps administration announced plans in early March to end the $470 million Local Food Purchase Assistance program. While the program was established during the COVID-19 pandemic it had become a key source of funding for Pennsylvania food banks  making up 18% of the food purchase budget at Philadelphias Philabundance.

Food banks across Pennsylvania worried that the decision would result in fewer and less nutritious meals as food insecurity continues to increase across the state.

But during a trip to Pennsylvania on Monday, Rollins dismissed the concern about the cuts, arguing that Shapiro and others either had wrong information or were purposefully misleading the public.

The money, she claimed, was sitting in state coffers, without offering specifics about where the money came from.

Governor Shapiro, who I actually respect, is playing some games here, Rollins said from a Lebanon County dairy farm. Since I moved into the head of the USDA, we have released almost a billion dollars into food banks, into food programs all around this country.

So this just isnt accurate. I think the Democrats are playing games, she added.

On Thursday, Shapiros agriculture secretary, Russell Redding, shot back with a letter explaining that Rollins had incorrect information.

The program, Redding explained, is funded through reimbursements that are provided only after Pennsylvania has already sent funds to food banks across the state. Until the end of July, Redding said, Pennsylvania would continue to spend and request reimbursement according to prior contracts.

But a contract, agreed to in December by President Joe Bidens administration, provided for an additional $13 million over the next three years. The Trump administration, Redding said, canceled that contract under the argument that the program no longer met the USDAs goals.

Pennsylvania has held up its end of the bargain. LFPA funds have been used by food banks across the Commonwealth to buy food directly from Pennsylvania farmers, in furtherance of the programs essential goals, Redding wrote. The LFPA program falls squarely within the core mission of the USDA to strengthen American agriculture by giving farmers a new, reliable market outlet for their fresh foods, while encouraging the consumption of healthy, local food, by all Americans, regardless of income.

The cuts to the program came as food banks have said they are facing need that rivals the early days of COVID-19 and anticipate an increase in hunger in the coming months.

George Matysik, executive director of Share Food Program, which serves the Philadelphia region and has lost around $8 million from various cuts, including this one, said in a statement Friday he appreciated Shapiros efforts to advocate for the program.

Hunger is not a game, and there is nothing political about hundreds of thousands of school kids and families being hungry in our state, said Matysik, who has been sharply critical of the Trump administrations cuts. The harsh reality is that working Americans are hurting more than ever, and toying around with reckless funding cuts and tariffs is only pushing preventable pain and food prices higher.
Ive written before about my hometown of Athlone and complained a lot about how it turns its back on the Shannon, its best feature. But I cant change the fact that I feel at home there, it is part of me, so no more complaining today.

I cant claim to be a part of Athlone, however, not since my mother died in 2014. My only connection is her (and my fathers) grave in Cornamagh cemetery which is where I placed a colourful planter on Mothers Day this year.
From a young age, Mallow entrepreneur Sinead Keary wasnt afraid to put in the graft. Even if it was just a part-time gig at Topshop.

I remember going in with a big presentation with ways to wear outfits, she recalls. The interviewer was like  no-one asked you to do this, Sinead. Where are you off to?

Thats how much I wanted it though, she says. Keary, who is the daughter of Bill Keary, the man behind the eponymous car dealership, and a sister to Sarah Keary, a make-up artist with her own collection of products, clearly has business in the blood.

Keary remembers, at age 11, attending a boarding school in Thurles, spending all week planning the outfit shed wear to the train station.

I was lending things to my friends, she says, as she recalls those early years divvying out fashion advice to her classmates, early indications of where her talents might lie post-education.

For the ineffably cool it girls of the 90s and 00s, former high street giant Topshop was king, and landing that part-time job in the Opera Lane store piqued her interest far more than her academic studies.

I did Arts in UCC, I didnt really know what to be doing, she admits. All I knew was I loved fashion. I didnt know how Id make that a job.

After college, she took up a full-time role with the high street giant and moved to Dublin to work in the flagship store, the mecca for the Manic Pixie Dream Girl whose currency was ditsy floral tea dresses and Jamie jeans.

Quickly progressing through the ranks, she worked her way up to the styling and visual merchandising teams in the St Stephens Green shop.

Fashion is not the clearest career path. I felt lost along the way, she says, [But] I knew if I rolled up my sleeves and worked hard, it would guide me somewhere.

Topshop led her to the personal shopping department of Brown Thomas, where she began to develop her own repeat customer client base. As her reputation grew, so did her Instagram following, which she was now using to find clients.

Sinead Keary: Fashion is not the clearest career path. I felt lost along the way." Picture: Brid O'Donovan.

I was gaining a very small following, and that grew steadily over the years.

That following now sits pretty at 47k for Kearys personal Instagram (and over 105k for her fashion label).

It was a really interactive following. I never did an ad. All I wanted to do was share what I was loving and my top tips on what to wear for your height and shape.

Sinead Keary The Label was born when the personal stylist noticed followers and clients were crying out for a sartorial uniform of sorts.

Everyone was chasing the next viral dress, but people were forgetting the basics, she says. Inspired by her sister Sarahs success launching her own makeup brand By SK, Keary bit the bullet and went out on her own for the first time in her professional career.

I was able to leave a full-time job that I loved and start a personal shopping business. I was booked up to six weeks in advance.

During lockdown, she delved into her savings to self-fund the business of her dreams  an ethical fashion brand with staying power.

The whole world went into lockdown. All the shops were closed. I had no work. This thing, it was all in my head, and I never had time to do it until then.

At first, she was reticent.

Sinead Keary: I was walking on the beach that day and the phone just started blowing up. The website kept crashing. Picture: Brid O'Donovan.

I thought, maybe this isnt a good time. The world was a scary place. But I got working on it and I launched it in November 2020, and thats the day it all sold out.

I covered the chunk of the initial order with my own money. I wanted to have full control over it.

In fact, she made over 60k in sales that day, an unprecedented amount for an unprecedented time.

I was walking on the beach that day and the phone just started blowing up. The website kept crashing.

Today, the label is a one-stop shop for women looking to build their dream capsule wardrobe, with top influencers Lydia Mullen, and most recently Sophie Murray, bringing even more women into the fold.

I wanted to build a capsule wardrobe  cami, blazer, jeans  clothes you could wear as separates and mix and match [because] in my personal shopping days, these were the things that would always sell out in the shops, Keary explains.

But she felt she could curate a considered edit which would use what shed learned from years of personal shopping to ensure those staple pieces were items youd want to wear again and again.

Just five years after launching, Sinead Keary the Label now has pop-up stores in Kildare Village and Dundrum Town Centre, and she is just back from shooting a campaign in Paris.

I knew that a cami would be better if it had a bra hook in it, she says by way of example, nobody likes anything clingy on the tummy.

For her latest collection, summer linens, she focused on a strong double-lining for the white linen shorts to ensure they wouldnt be transparent, while the material is one that is resistant to creasing.

No one wants to use an iron on holiday, she says.

Just five years after launching, the brand now has pop-up stores in Kildare Village and Dundrum Town Centre, and she is just back from shooting a campaign in Paris.

Kearys campaign imagery draws on real life inspiration rather than following the fashion worlds usual ultra-polished look. She credits her collaborators with helping her find what resonates with her audience, photographer Naomi Gaffey being one.

She shoots products on how it looks best on a woman. We have that relationship where I almost dont have to give too much of a brief anymore.

Unlike a lot of high street brands, Keary also caters for sizes six up to 20.

A linen dress from Sinead Keary's latest collection

Im the fit model. Im a size medium. Im not the UK six that most fit models are in design houses.

Thanks to the democratisation of fashion, were seeing more diversity in the fashion world. From Celia Holman-Lee to Grece Ganham, Keary believes true style transcends age.

Our target audience is not a single age. We have everyone from their 20s up to 60s, 70s, and its growing all the time.

Plans for the future are already in the mix.

Our turnover doubled last year, and we have great plans  were plus on the year so far.

The Sunday Times reported that the brand enjoyed a multimillion euro turnover last year, but Keary is mortified when I start talking about figures.

I get so uncomfortable speaking about money, she admits. I need to get better at it. Women need to get better at talking about money. We really struggle with it.

It is perhaps surprising given that her father, Bill Keary, is the man behind a car dealership with reported turnover of 320m last year. But Keary says he started from humble beginnings, selling cars for his uncle Paddy, and he has certainly taught his children the value of money.

White linen shorts from Sinead Keary The Label

I was working as a receptionist in my familys garage at the age of 15. It was very much, theres a phone there, you can answer it, and you can get some money then.

What did she learn from the Keary patriarch?

Its not all passion, she says. Theres plenty of stress too. I was very much around the highs and lows of the business. Ill never forget the years when Dad was trying to keep the business alive during the

recession.

There was constant chat of business in the house, Keary adds, which surely helped her and her sister with their own ambitions.

I think that was a great thing to be around, she says. I went into business not with a rosy this is going to be so easy [attitude] but more of a realistic view of what running a business is like.

Im so proud of this business and Im very, very proud to be from Cork.

Sinead Keary The Labels linen collection is available now, sineadkeary.com.

SHOOT CREDITS

Photos: Brid ODonovan

Location: Signature Suite and The Sidecar,

The Westbury, Dublin

Makeup: Sarah Keary using By SK

Hair: Ella from Blow Hair
The minister for education has pledged to restore thousands of vulnerable students access to vital therapeutic supports with a new national service beginning in the next school year.

The Irish Examiner highlighted numerous cases where schools lost access to in-school therapies, such as speech and language and occupational, when therapists were removed during 2020.

It left parents and teaching staff at special schools warning that children were missing out on key parts of their education.

Helen McEntee has now confirmed she plans to introduce a new national therapy service in education under her own department, beginning with special schools during the 2025/26 school year.

This is ahead of a wider roll out, commencing at the start of the 2026/27 school year.

She also plans to roll out these vital services eventually to special classes in mainstream schools.

The service will be under the remit of the National Council for Special Education (NCSE).

Overlapping with the closure of schools during the pandemic, the HSEs Progressing Disabilities Services (PDS) model for children and young people saw services reconfigured and clinicians relocated from their special schools and onto Childrens Disability Network Teams.

These teams, which are managed by the HSE and voluntary disability organisations, face their own set of challenges, including significant staff vacancies and increasing referrals.

Responsibility in this area is also split, with some overlap between departments, different agencies, and Government ministers, mainly the HSE, the Department of Disability, and the Department of Education.

Last August, the previous government announced it was to begin restoring in-school therapies with a pilot project running in 16 special schools.

However, recruitment was an issue.

Last month, it emerged the HSE was still running recruitment in two of the six schools in Cork.

Ms McEntee says her initial focus with the new national therapy service will be on introducing speech and language therapy and occupational therapy into special education schools.

This is expected to be expanded into other therapeutic areas, such as physiotherapy, over time.

Meanwhile, the Department of Education and the National Council for Special Education has now sanctioned 399 special education classes for the next academic year.

These classes are expected to provide 2,700 new spaces in special classes attached to mainstream schools.

Up to 400 classes can be sanctioned this year.

The minister has warned one school it may be compelled to open a class under legislative powers called Section 37.

An update is likely once the schools return after the Easter holidays.

Ms McEntee said that number should be 400 but that she was engaging with one further school.

The minister also recently announced that all student teachers will now undertake mandatory placements in special education settings.
A Catholic priest has been remanded in custody after being accused of alleged attempted sexual communication with a child.

Edward Gallagher, 58, of Orchard Park, Lifford appeared via videolink from Strand Road Police Station before a special sitting of Derry Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon on Saturday morning.

Wearing a grey coloured jumper, Gallagher was told he has been charged with attempted sexual communication with a child between April 2 and 17 2025.

When asked whether he understood the charges, Gallagher replied, I do.

A police constable said they believed they could connect the accused to the charge.

A defence lawyer said there would be no bail application at this stage, and also requested that his client be remanded until May 1 while there is what he described as an issue over addresses, adding that they are in conversation with police around that and hopeful of resolution in the next week to 10 days.

He said there would be no bail application on that date.

He also applied for legal aid for his client.

He would have been in receipt of a modest stipend, the circumstances of the case are as such that that will obviously cease, he said.

District Judge Steven Keown said the defendant should be produced via video link for a court sitting on May 1, and granted a limited legal aid certificate for that day.

Earlier this week a spokesperson for the Derry Diocese said it was aware of an incident outside a hotel in Derry involving a priest.

The spokesperson said: The diocese knows that a video of the incident has been posted online and we understand the PSNI have been involved.
A Welsh illustrator detained at the Canadian border, while attempting to leave the US, and held for 19 days in a detention centre in Washington state after misunderstanding the terms of her visa.

A German engineer with a green card, remanded in American detention upon re-entry after visiting Europe for a week.

An Australian, working full time in the US where he lived with his partner and child, deported from the country after taking a two-day trip to his birthplace to spread his sisters ashes.

Those are just a small selection of the, mostly visa-related, immigration horror stories that have come from the United States over the past three months. More will undoubtedly follow as the Trump administrations immigration clampdown continues apace.

It is little wonder that travel to the US has begun to decline, given the aggressive targeting of alleged illegal immigration precipitated in the fledgling months of Trumps second term.

Even students heading on the traditional Irish J1 visa summer in the States have been warned by the Union of Students in Ireland that taking part in anything which could be construed as activism while living there is now fraught with peril. Suddenly travelling to America has become much more complicated.

Many nations  Germany, the UK, and Canada being amongst the most prominent  have responded to the recent spate of stories from the American border with updated travel advice for their citizens, flagging for example the White Houses recent executive order asserting that it recognises two sexes, male and female, a statement that could pose issues for transgender or non-binary travellers.

Notwithstanding the drop-off in Irish passenger numbers, the Department of Foreign Affairs has not as yet issued updated advice for travellers to the US, although a spokesperson noted that all such advice is reviewed regularly and updated. Asked specifically about travel to the US, they said:

As in all cases of international travel, its important that Irish citizens are aware of the local context, and that local laws apply to you as a visitor and it is your responsibility to follow them.

Its important to be aware that some activities that would not be problematic at home may be seen as improper, hostile, or even illegal in another country, they added.

The US governments international trade administration runs a monthly tally of overseas visitors to the US. In March 2025, just over a month into the second coming of Donald Trump, tourists visiting America from the top-20 countries by that metric fell by 10%.

The drop in US-bound travellers from European countries was particularly stark. The influx of German tourists fell by 28% year-on-year. Spains figures fell by 25%. Even the UK fell by 14.3%.

Ireland was no exception. In March, 38,852 people left these shores for the US, a drop of 27% from the same month in 2024. Thats roughly 15,000 people choosing to stay home from a relatively small country population-wise rather than visit the US.

It is also likely not a coincidence  in February the same metric showed visitors into America from Ireland down by 3.2%.

Last December, the figure was up 5.1% year-on-year. Irish people have clearly decided to stay home, at least for the time being.

Students heading on the traditional Irish J1 visa summer in the States have been warned by the Union of Students in Ireland that taking part in anything which could be construed as 'activism' while living there is now fraught with peril. File picture: iStock

Its a definite trend, said Irish Travel Agents Association president Angela Walsh, adding that the drop off in travellers has been easily noticed.

Its a confidence issue. Because the whole thing is relatively new and at present information is piecemeal I think that people, in the absence of facts, are creating their own narrative.

That narrative [of US inhospitability] is reflecting the lack of confidence, and its become self-perpetuating. And now people are thinking Im not going to go unless I have to. The trend is attributable to a lack of facts.

She doesnt think that a lack of faith in the American visa system is necessarily driving the average Irish travellers new hesitancy.

I think people are just more nervous in general, more cautious, she says, adding that people in her line of work are now being asked questions they wouldnt have been asked before.

Most of the travel scare-stories emanating from America since January have involved either working visas or green cards (which bequeath the right to live and work in America permanently), with a common denominator often tending to be a blip, typo, or an empty field in a visa application, or a historic minor misdemeanour  what hitherto might have been seen as a minor obstacle now blown up into a full-scale issue.

Despite the negative press, in some ways little has changed in recent times  the US customs and immigration authorities have always been vested with robust powers, and inviting their suspicion would never have been a particularly wise choice  not 30 years ago, not today.

However, that the Trump administration is leaning into those powers is undeniable.

Can they affect those who are merely tourists and visitors? In short, yes they can, but that doesnt mean that they are likely to. Or at least, not yet.

All foreign nationals entering the United States are required to do so on a visa or permission of some description, to be applied for in advance. The tourist variant is known as Esta (electronic system for travel authorisation), which typically remains valid for a period of two years from issue.

The people who use ESTA, they go through the same process as anyone else, says Jim OMalley, a New York-based, Limerick-born immigration lawyer.

Whats been happening is that Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice) is enforcing ideological parameters and if they feel or deem that a person is somewhat ideologically not in line, or repulsive, then they have the authority now to stop them from travelling.

They always have had unfettered authority really, on the issue of entry to the United States. That historically was handled with civility and realism. Unfortunately, those norms seem to be evaporating quickly.

Irish Travel Agents Association president Angela Walsh said: 'If someone was feeling a doubt about their visa, Id encourage them not to go.' Picture: Justin Farrelly

So would, say, a random historic tweet, speaking mockingly or critically about Trump, be enough to see entry barred?

Yes, and were seeing that on the ground now. The issue of non-US citizens entering America is broadly seen as foreign policy here, and that is mostly under the control of the administration.

And this issue appears to be really important to this administration, although it doesnt appear to achieve much in terms of furthering American interests or the wellbeing of its citizens, Mr OMalley said.

He underlines however that were talking about extreme situations here.

I dont know how many hundreds of thousands of people go through every day. The vast majority will be admitted in and have a nice day. 99.9% will not have a problem, but the 0.1% who do, it becomes an anomaly, and it gets massive attention.

Whats more concerning is people who are returning from a temporary departure who have put down roots in the US. The same thing can happen to them. These are pople who to all intents and purposes are American-based, who have homes and mortgages. Thats a bit shocking.

One common fear among travellers to the US amid the ideological trappings of its new government is the thought of their phone being confiscated at customs. Yes, it is a thing, and yes, the American customs and border patrol (CBP) very much have the power to do so, and to ask you to unlock it for them.

If youre coming as a visitor on Esta, or as a visa holder, you have limited privacy rights as far as your electronic devices go, said Irishwoman practicing immigration law in Chicago. Fiona McEntee.

So a traveller can refuse access to their phone, but can also expect to be refused entry if they do.

What are they looking for? In prior times, the thinking would have been to identify content indicating that the terms of a travel visa were being breached if someone was obviously working in the US. Things are a little different now.

WhatsApp and photographs are big things, says McEntee. Irish people love their memes, their jokes, but you have to factor in that CBP could see it, and theres this idea of dissent against the administration.

They have all the discretion and all the power. This administration is flexing their muscles in terms of people who disagree with them, and its being ramped up, she said.

Just be mindful whats on your phone. People have had issues with WhatsApp in the past.

Ideology aside, its valid to wonder what consideration is being given to US tourism amid the current climate, with merchant banking group Goldman Sachs claiming this week that America could be set to lose $90bn  albeit in a worst case scenario  in lost tourism dollars in 2025 alone, as travellers choose to stay away.

Its a head-scratcher, said McEntee.

"There are a lot of things from tourism that are beneficial to the US, but that doesnt seem to come into it. Also international students, who contribute billions and subsidise American tuition via their fees.

But this administration just wants to do what it wants to do. It is adamant about certain narratives being put forward and consequences dont seem to matter.

People are having adverse feelings about coming here now, and that just makes me sad. America is supposed to be multicultural.

On the other hand, there will always be people who will come, for business, for a holiday. They just need to take precautions and to be aware of the things that could cause them trouble.

Travellers to the US dont want any bother, but the US administration doesnt seem to care, said Mr OMalley.

I can understand why people wouldnt want the discomfort and uncertainty, regardless of right or wrong.

If someone wants to see the Grand Canyon, they dont want to be troubled with the remote possibility that they would be rejected.

Has the administration factored that in? I dont think they care too much about tourism from Europe, to be honest.

So will that put people off going?

I think people who have been holding off will book eventually, said Ms Walsh

Its such a personal choice for everyone.

But the biggest thing driving the current nervousness is the instability.

I can understand the reluctance  people are thinking why should we go there when we can just go to Spain or Portugal?.

"And if someone was feeling a doubt about their visa, Id encourage them not to go.

She then chooses her words carefully.

What I would say is, this doubt, the lack of stability, the negative narrative  its not creating a very attractive overall picture.

You put all those together and youd want to have a very good reason to go.

In terms of tourism inbound to Ireland however, Walsh thinks the current situation could stand in our favour.

Its very stable here. The experiential trip to Europe is big on the American list. I dont see that decreasing.
America is not China, but Donald Trump's recent actions send out a chilling message to the media, legal community, business world, academia, those involved in the arts, and even government employees.

Most disturbingly, moves to silence those with dissenting voices threaten a core tenet laid down in the US constitution, that of free speech, and if continued will have repercussions far beyond the 50 states.
On one level, you might be tempted to say Jack Chambers has some neck. Last Wednesday, the minister for public expenditure wagged a finger at people who objected to new infrastructure and housing. In particular, he hit out at those who objected to development on the basis it undermined the character of their area.

Theres too much tolerance for this in how systems are designed. Im seeing examples in recent months of housing getting stopped because it undermines the character of the area. What does that mean? he said.
Some years ago, towards the end of my decorated military career, I found myself on a patrol with a Russian officer, a rather monosyllabic chap named Evgeniy. We were stationed together along the Blue Line in South Lebanon, and our job was to drive around in a white UN Land Rover and observe and report any violations on either side of this imaginary boundary between Israel and Lebanon.

The threat level at the time could be generously described as calm, but tense, which basically meant we could go about our business with little fear of a Merkava tank firing at us (though, you never know) or being shaken down by a local Hezbollah rep.

Those were long days, made longer if you were paired with somebody who had clearly taken a vow of silence before he left the monastery in Novosibirsk. To be clear, I had no evidence Evgeniy had ever been a monk, but his dedication to prolonged silences was such that one could only assume he had received some formal training in the discipline.

Those patrols might last eight hours  thats a lot of minutes to fill, and, like two cops in a stakeout movie, much of the time was spent parked on a hill staring into space waiting for something to happen.

What compounded my suffering was that after shift ended, we would return to base and write our report together before cleaning up and cooking and eating dinner. Then, the day mercifully over, we would retire to bed in  yes, youve guessed it  a shared box room.

One day, out of nowhere, as the two of us watched a shepherd herd his goats somewhere south of Marwahin, the Russian finally broke.

What did you do?, he asked, his words suddenly taking on the importance of hand grenades, what did you do before this?

Stunned, I steadied myself and sought clarity.

What do you mean? Before I joined the military, or before I came here?

Before here.

Delighted with myself, I began to explain with great vigour my last three years' experiences as a senior officer in Athlone. The courses I had done. The KPIs I had met. The commute down the N4. So happy was I to be speaking aloud I cared little for how brutally boring the material was.

Finally, it was the Russian's turn to speak.

What about you? I asked, suddenly scared I had expended all the oxygen in the car put aside for conversation. Where were you stationed?

I thought of them both and rather wished there was more of the monosyllabic Russian cosmonaut in her, and the loquacious California princess in him.

He looked at me and pointed a single towards the heavens.

Space.

Confused, I sought clarity. I was aware my comrade was a pilot because of the wings on his uniform, but little else.

You fly fixed-wing or helicopters?

He shook his head, pointing up again. Cosmonaut. I was on International Space Station. Twelve months.

Suddenly my couple of years writing performance appraisals for soldiers in the midlands seemed a tad inadequate.

I felt robbed. The man Id sat beside in silence alongside for more hours than there were olives on the trees had lived in outer space for an entire year and opted not to tell me. Aggressively opted not to tell me.

Every day Id filled the vacuum between us within inane babble, humming songs and asking and answering questions myself. All the while he sat there beside me, slurping pot noodles. Then one day he tells me he lived in outer space.

Im a curious fella, Evgeniy, I thought to myself. And Im easily impressed. You might have fucking told me.

No matter. The seal was broken. Perhaps his silence was a byproduct of the solitude he endured sitting in a tin can 400 km above our planet, orbiting earth 15 times a day for an entire year. In that context, his laconism was easily forgivable.

What would he tell me now? Would this rather atomic revelations suddenly open the door to a vault of profound philosophical ruminations on the insignificance of human existence? Is the sun yellow or white? Or farts really flammable up there? Can you really see Nick Faldos ego from space?

Instead, I had little choice but to park the pain of the betrayal lest the momentum be lost and keep things simple.

What was it like?

There was a pause which seemed to last longer than the travel time between the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy and the Milky Way (about 42,000 light years).

It was sheeeet, he said, a noodle dripping down his chin onto his tunic.

More silence.

Would you go back? I was desperate now, like Kate Winslet on the raft trying to keep Leonardo di Caprio talking to her at the end of Titanic.

Niet.

We sat there watching the shepherd coral his goats down the side of a sun-scorched hill, the day unfurling in front of us like a star that had burned out 700 million years ago.

He didnt speak again.

I thought of Evgeniy this week when I read pop star Katy Perry went to space. She left the earth's atmosphere for approximately four minutes, and when she returned, she kissed the ground like Nelson Mandela coming out of Robben Island after 27 years' incarceration.

I thought of them both and rather wished there was more of the monosyllabic Russian cosmonaut in her, and the loquacious California princess in him.

Its never the ones you want.
The bare bones of the commission of investigation into the Grace case had a familiar ring. The commission took eight years to complete its work and cost 13.5m. Its report was comprehensive, professionally compiled yet light on culpability over the treatment of a highly vulnerable person, both as a child and an adult.

Reaction from politics and the media has been more vocal in criticizing the outcome than would usually be the case, most likely because of the human tragedy at the centre of it. But, for the greater part, the results chimed with other commissions.

On March 4 last, a commission of investigation into questions over a Nama land deal was published. That took eight years to complete at a cost of 14.4m. It was initiated following allegations in the Dail of serious corruption in a deal in the North involving Nama, known as Project Eagle.

The commission ultimately concluded that, contrary to the original allegations, Nama got the best price in the deal, although there were some issues around a success fee paid to an individual.

A breakdown of the costs showed that in the last two years of the investigation, from January 2023 to March 2025, the chair of the commission, Susan Gilvarry, received 560,000. One solicitor working for the commission, Susan Connolly, received 443,510, while a barrister, Darren Lehane got 454,729 over the two-year period.

Last Wednesday, the day after the publication of the report into the Grace case, Taoiseach Micheal Martin told Pat Kenny on Newstalk that since 1998 the state has spent half a billion euro on inquiries.

Some have been impactful and led to change, he said. But the enormity of the costs when we still need resources for the children of today, particularly children in very, very disadvantaged backgrounds or with significant dysfunctional backgrounds, it is arguable that some of those resources would be better spent on looking after them and facilities.

Quite obviously, this state has an inquiry problem, or maybe just an accountability problem. There are trends in how inquiries are initiated and completed. There have been attempts to rein in costs and cut down on time, but with only qualified success. The public has been consulted in one attempt to put the brakes on the runaway train yet the response was, in effect, to just drive on.

The dawn of this era of overblown, wildly expensive inquiries coincided with the opening up of society. In the early 1990s, the old authorities that had defined the State were in retreat. Questions were being asked of power centres like never before and answers were being questioned.

The Beef Tribunal

In such a milieu, the Moses of inquiries, leading lawyers to the promised land, was the Beef Tribunal. It began with serious allegations of malpractice and corruption in the beef industry over a thing called export credit insurance, in which the State underwrote beef exporters, principally, Larry Goodman.

The new dawn dictated that the only inquiry which could be trusted was a tribunal, conducted in public.

The evidence was often dramatic, particularly as leading politicians of the day like Charlie Haughey, Albert Reynolds and Des OMalley gave evidence and old enmities surfaced. It lasted three years and contributed to the collapse of two coalition governments.

The result, again setting a trend, was wishy washy. Huge money had been lost, some crazy and questionable political decisions taken, vested interests looked after, yet nobody was really culpable for anything.

The chair of the tribunal Liam Hamilton was promoted to the office of chief justice within months of delivering his report. Questions were asked as to whether he would have got the job had he delivered a report that called to account some of those who were still occupying the executive branch of government.

The beef tribunal lasted three years and would ultimately cost around 40m. There was general agreement that this could never be allowed to happen again.

And then it did two years later, setting off a flurry of tribunals that would stretch and weave through the following 15 years. Charlie Haugheys money, and allegations surrounding Michael Lowry (yes, the very same man) in government, along with the excavation of decades of dodgy planning decisions, were the subjects for a raft of tribunals.

Commissions of Investigation

By the early 2000s, the cost was exercising a major strain, prompting then Minister for Justice Michael McDowell to introduce a new law, the 2004 Commission of Investigation Act. This was designed to conduct much if not most of the inquiry behind closed doors, in order to cut down on legal fees.

It would also curtail legal challenges by witnesses. By 2004, there was a constant traffic across the Liffey from Dublin Castle to the High Court from witnesses eager to assert their rights.

The new commission was certainly an improvement in terms of cost and time, but the premise for the big inquiry persisted, and still does today.

It all begins with serious allegations of corruption of one sort or another, usually either in the Dail or the media. Crucially, the matter at issue has not been investigated by the proper authority at that point, be it within the public sector, the political arena or by the gardai.

Therefore trust in the system to deal with it is already reduced. From the opposition perspective there is hay to be made, with calls for all dirty linen to be washed in public. The media, certainly in those days, were all on board as any tribunal was bound to produce plenty of juicy copy.

From the government perspective an inquiry takes the issue off the daily political agenda, parks it, and provides cover to refuse to say anything more about it. Comfort is taken by the government of the day that by the time the inquiry reports, the world will have moved on and the original issue might be long forgotten.

'Close to impossible'

Then there is the process. Notwithstanding moving of hearings behind closed doors, basic legal principles still apply. And in this jurisdiction, the rights of individuals, long asserted in places like the Supreme Court, add greatly to the complexity and length of inquiries.

As Judge Peter Charleton  who chaired the Disclosures Tribunal in 2018  noted in a lecture the following year, the rights of witnesses are not dissimilar to the rights of a person on trial for murder.

The rights of we, the people, paying for the entire process and with an urgent entitlement to know what has gone wrong in our country in order to make our country better  have been forgotten, he said.

He pointed out that Ireland had responded to the need to balance the rights of those being criticised and the general public by heaping procedural right on procedural right in such a way as to make the functioning of tribunals close to impossible.

The judge said: Surely a better approach is to trust the tribunal to actually do the inquiring, to turn the model from that of a criminal trial to one where counsel for the tribunal does the examination, where the key parties have the right to legal advice, and where the impulse to resort to judicial review and delay is resolved by the simplicity of that procedure.

His observation explains, to some extent, why it all takes so long and costs so much. A person on trial for murder may be convicted of a heinous crime and spend the rest of their lives locked up.

The defendant is up against the might of the State and the trial is focused on guilt and innocence. Of course, he or she is entitled to a full panoply of rights.

The witness to an inquiry is assisting in an attempt to establish facts. Usually, the witness is not the focus, and if they are, what is at issue is reputation rather than any specific sanction. In such a milieu, the Irish legal culture dictates that the rights of the individual completely supersede the rights of the public.

Mixed success

The commission model has had mixed success. Some, like that about garda allegations of malpractice, were expedited, inexpensive and productive. Results would suggest the most recent commissions were not. There have been at least 14 such commissions over the last 20 years.

Another feature introduced has been the scoping inquiry, which is effectively an examination of the facts to ascertain whether a full commission is required. The most recent of these was one into events around the killing of cyclist Shane OFarrell in 2011 by a man who should have been in prison at the time.

The scoping exercise has recommended that a commission is not required, but Mr OFarrells family and some politicians are still campaigning for one.

Another way?

Is there a better way of doing things? One possibility is to instil a greater culture of accountability in organisations which would alleviate the need for a full blown inquiry.

For instance, last month the Childrens Ombudsman Niall Muldoon called for a child death review process in bodies like the HSE and Tusla. This is standard practice in other countries and designed to be accountable to bereaved families. Yet here there is no consistent review nor any statutory right for parents to information.

Unless a review process is put in place there is a likelihood that at some point in the future a tragedy will result in a controversy that will fuel suspicions about transparency and lead to calls for a public inquiry. That is what has been happening across Irish life for the last 30 years and will continue without cultural change.

When the Taoiseach laid out the enormous cost and questionable use of resources in his interview on Wednesday, Pat Kenny responded: But we also need to get to the truth, and we need to find the perpetrators of any wrongdoing and deal with them according to the law.

I agree, Micheal Martin replied. And we should be able to do that more effectively using the institutions that have been established to do that in the first place.

The looming question, however, is whether there is the political will and drive to bring about such a sensible solution in the public interest.
Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in US history, former president Bill Clinton will return to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing.

Mr Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-storey federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He will deliver the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible.

Mr Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children.

He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget.

The nations eyes were there. The nations heart was broken there, Mr Clinton said in a video statement posted to the Clinton Foundation website.

I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible.

Mr Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum several times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries.

Among the memorials top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorials president and chief executive officer.

We knew when we built this place we would someday reach a generation of people who werent born or who didnt remember the story, Ms Watkins said.

I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids.

Saturdays ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8.30am local time, was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but has been moved inside an adjacent church because of inclement weather.
US vice president JD Vance is meeting with the Vaticans number two official, following a remarkable papal rebuke of the Trump administrations crackdown on migrants and Vances theological justification of it.

Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, was due to meet on Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

There was speculation he might also briefly greet Pope Francis, who has begun resuming some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.

Mr Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peters Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.

Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St Peters Square at The Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Francis and Mr Vance have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse.

Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy, and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

Mr Vance, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called postliberal.

Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting upon their vision of the common good.

Just days before he was taken to hospital in February, Francis blasted the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.

In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris.

He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care, to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept.

JD Vance, and his wife Usha Vance, left, with their daughter Mirabel, attend a Good Friday service led by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti (AP/Alessandra Tarantino)

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote.

The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

Mr Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views.

During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Mr Vance did not address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there are things about the faith that I dont know.

While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for Francis recovery.

On Friday, Mr Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service in St Peters, a two-hour solemn commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
The US Supreme Court has blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th-century wartime law.

In a brief order early on Saturday, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Centre until further order of this court.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented. The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Centre until further order of this court.

We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process.

The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals.

We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.

On Friday, two federal judges had refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns.

Early on Saturday, the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.

The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an emergency filing early on Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to president Donald Trumps use of the act.

The act has only been invoked three previous times in US history, most recently during the Second World War to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps.

The Trump administration contended it gave them the power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.

Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring the removal of detainees until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.

But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state.

President Donald Trump speaks with reporters during a swearing-in ceremony for Dr Mehmet Oz (Alex Brandon/AP)

District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported.

He also baulked at issuing a broader order prohibiting the removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals had not started yet.

But the ACLUs Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday.

In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish.

ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it, Ms Brown wrote.

Mr Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E Boasberg in Washington, DC, that the administration initially moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation.

But since a judge banned deportations in that area, it has funnelled them to the Bluebonnet facility, where no such order exists.

He said witnesses reported the men were being loaded on buses on Friday evening to be taken to the airport.
Kremlin forces have pushed Ukrainian troops from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, officials said.

Russias Defence Ministry said its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

The Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement.

State news agency Tass said Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, seven miles south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian armed forces out of Gornal in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is under way in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday.

It said 33 were intercepted and another 36 were lost, probably having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraines State Emergency Service said on Saturday.

Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

Russias Defence Ministry said its air defence systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.
JD Vance has met the Vaticans number two official amid tensions over the US crackdown on migrants, with the Holy See reaffirming good relations but noting an exchange of opinions over international conflicts, migrants and prisoners.

The Vatican issued a statement after the US vice president, a Catholic convert, met the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

There was no immediate word if Mr Vance stopped to meet Pope Francis, who has been resuming official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.

The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration, in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality.

JD Vance at St Peters Basilica (Kenny Holston/New York Times/AP)

It has expressed alarm over the US crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Francis has also changed church teaching to say capital punishment is immoral and made prison ministry a hallmark of his papacy.

Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican statement which said the talks were cordial and that the Vatican expressed satisfaction with the administrations commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience.

There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners, the statement said.

Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.

The reference to serene collaboration appeared to refer to Mr Vances accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling illegal immigrants in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim.

It is clear that the approach of the current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years, Mr Parolin told La Repubblica daily on the eve of Mr Vances visit.

As the US pushes to end the war in Ukraine, he reaffirmed Kyivs right to its territorial integrity and insisted that any peace deal must not be imposed on Ukraine but is built patiently, day by day, with dialogue and mutual respect.

JD Vance is welcomed by Italian premier Giorgia Meloni (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Mr Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services at St Peters Basilica after meeting Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.

On Saturday, after introducing his family to Mr Parolin, the Vances had a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.

Francis and Mr Vance have tangled over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

After a public appeal from Francis weeks before Mr Trump took office, Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. Mr Trump is an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment.

In one of his only outings since his near-death hospital admission for pneumonia, Francis this week visited Romes central prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates.

The vice president, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called post-liberal.

Post-liberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBT+ rights. They envision a counter-revolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting on a vision of the common good.

Days before he was admitted to hospital in February, Francis condemned the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.

JD Vance with his wife Usha and their children (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris. He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care  to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept.

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote.

The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

Mr Vance has acknowledged Franciss criticism but said he would continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he did not address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there were things about the faith that I dont know.

While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for the pontiffs recovery.

On Friday, Mr Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service at St Peters, a two-hour commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
Iran and the United States will begin having experts meet to discuss details of a possible deal over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, a top Iranian diplomat said on Saturday after a second round of negotiations in Rome.

The comments by Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi, who met with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff for several hours, suggest movement in the talks.

The experts will meet in Oman before Mr Araghchi and Mr Witkoff meet again in Oman on April 26, Mr Araghchi said.

There was no immediate readout from the US side after the meeting at the Omani Embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighbourhood.

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (Ludovic Marin, Pool Photo via AP)

However, President Donald Trump has been pushing for a rapid deal with Iran while threatening military action against it.

The talks were held in a constructive environment and I can say that is moving forward, Mr Araghchi told Iranian state television.

I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.

He added: This time, we succeeded to reach a better understanding about a sort of principles and aims.

Police and reporters stand outside the Omani Embassy in Rome during a closed-door meeting between US and Iranian diplomats (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Iranian officials described the talks as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between them in different rooms.

That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given the decades of enmity between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the US Embassy hostage crisis.

Mr Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from Irans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting off years of attacks and negotiations that failed to restore the accord that drastically limited Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

At risk is a possible American or Israeli military strike on Irans nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on their threats to pursue an atomic weapon.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have spiked over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and after US airstrikes targeting Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded dozens more.

Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon, Mr Trump said Friday. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.
Russia and Ukraine said on Saturday they had swapped hundreds of prisoners in the largest exchange since the Russian full-scale invasion started over three years ago.

Russias ministry of defence said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv and that, as a gesture of goodwill, 31 wounded Ukrainian prisoners of war were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr said that 277 Ukrainian warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.

The news came as Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

A Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine (Russian defence ministry press service via AP)

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm on Saturday to midnight on Easter Sunday, both Moscow time.

Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18.00 to 00.00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.

I order that all military actions be stopped for this period, Mr Putin said at a meeting with chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, the Kremlins press service quoted him as saying.

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin said.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal ... in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the ceasefire another attempt by Putin to play with human lives.

He wrote on X that air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine, and Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

Mr Putins announcement came after US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

Russian soldiers launch a Supercam intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle in Ukraine. (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP)

Mr Trump spoke shortly after secretary of state Marco Rubio warned that the US may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting.

In January 2023, Mr Putin had ordered his forces in Ukraine to observe a unilateral, 36-hour cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas.

Mr Zelensky had stopped short of stating his forces would reject Putins request, but dismissed the Russian move as playing for time to regroup its invasion forces and prepare additional attacks.

The ceasefire announcement came on the same day as Russias defence ministry said its forces pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region.

Russian forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine, the ministry said.

Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement.

The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency Tass, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal  in order to completely liberate the Kursk region.

Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday.

It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraines state emergency service said on Saturday. Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

Russias ministry of defence, meanwhile, said its air defence systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.
A British couple died after a cable car wire in southern Italy snapped and the brakes failed when they were 20 seconds away from arriving at the top, it is believed.

Graeme Winn, 65, and Elaine Winn, 58, were among the four people who died in the crash on Thursday at Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia near Naples, according to a spokesman for the local mayors office.

The couple, from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, were part of a local bikers group and visiting the country as tourists, it is understood.

An Israeli national and the Italian driver of the cable car also died and a fifth person was seriously injured in the incident, it was reported.

A spokesman for Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, the mayor of Castellammare, told the PA news agency: The cable car that was descending and entering the station at the bottom stopped and the brakes switched on because there was something that wasnt working so it triggered the safety systems and it stopped.

We are hypothesising that as the cable cars were moving at the same time. The one at the top was meant to arrive, (it) was around 20 to 25 seconds from the entrance of the station at the top, except the wire broke and the brake did not work because the cabin started to move backwards as it was on a slope.

An aerial view of the crashed gondola of the cable car near the top of Mt Faito (Salvatore Laporta/AP)

It went backwards and ended up on a pylon and it fell.

It didnt fall perpendicular at 25 metres, it went a lot further back.

The first thing that wouldve happened is that the wire snapped and then the brakes didnt work.

At the moment its all a hypothesis that the wire snapped and the brakes system did not start.

Ten people had to be taken down from the other cable car, the spokesman said.

(PA Graphics)

An investigation over multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster charges has been opened by Italian prosecutors, according to reports

The mayor said on Facebook there will be a day of mourning and all events for the Easter holiday cancelled.

Firefighters, police and Italys alpine rescue were sent to the scene, which is between the popular tourist areas of Pompeii and Sorrento.

The EAV public transport firm, which runs the cable car, said the service had reopened a week ago with all required safety conditions.

Checks were being carried out by investigators on the cable car and the possibility that strong wind was among the causes of the incident.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington DC, where she was meeting US President Donald Trump.

The other cable car was nearing the lower station at Castellammare di Stabia near Naples when it stopped (Salvatore Laporta/AP)

A British tourist said she saw people being taken down from one cable car in a harness after the incident.

Megan Pacey, 50, from London, was with her husband, James Ross, and their children Hannah, 10, and Luke, eight, when they saw a suspended cable car.

She said: We were within a minute or two of (the incident) happening.

They started winching people down from the cable car. We watched the first couple of people come down in a harness and as we left, there was a sense of urgency that had kicked in.

She said she saw flowers and candles on the steps outside the railway station on Friday and emergency services remained at the scene.
Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow but voiced scepticism after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine starting on Saturday.

The announcement from Kyiv came as Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange since Moscows full-scale invasion started over three years ago.

Mr Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting on Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday to midnight following Easter Sunday.

Mr Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if Russia is genuinely ready to observe a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will mirror that approach and strike only in defence.

He said such a gesture, particularly over the Easter weekend, could reveal Moscows true intentions.

Russian soldiers launch a Supercam intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle in Ukraine. (Russian defence ministry Press Service via AP)

If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20, Mr Zelenskyy said on Telegram.

That will reveal Russias true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.

Mr Zelenskyy added that, according to military reports, Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along parts of the 600-mile long front line.

In response to the ceasefire announcement, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had in March agreed unconditionally to the US proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days, which Russia rejected.

A Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine (Russian defence ministry press service via AP)

Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days, Mr Sybiha continued, writing on X.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.

Mr Putins ceasefire announcement came after US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

The two sides, meanwhile, exchanged hundreds of POWs on Saturday. Russias ministry of defence said that 246 Russian service members were returned from Ukraine, and 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Zelenskyy said that 277 Ukrainian warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.

Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.

Most of the Ukrainians freed in the latest prisoner exchange are young people born after 2000, Ukraines co-ordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said on Friday.

Outside a hospital in Ukraines Northern Chernihiv region, where recently freed POWs were brought after the exchange at the border, dozens of relatives stood waiting.

Thousands of POWs remain in captivity. The exchange is the fourth this year and the 63rd since the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

On the battlefield, Russias defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from the village of Oleshnya, one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

The Associated Press was unable to verify the claim immediately from Russia.
Ann Arbor (Special to Informed Comment; Feature)  On December 17, 2024, a group of Palestinian and Palestinian-Americans filed a complaint against the State Department with one simple ask: That the Department obey the Leahy law with regard to Israel.

The Leahy law prohibits U.S. assistance to foreign security force units credibly implicated in gross violations of human rights. When I was working in the State Department, we vetted over 200,000 requests for assistance annually, and prohibited assistance to thousands of units from countries all over the world even from NATO ally Turkey.

The only exception: Israel.

Despite years of credible reports of human rights violations by Israeli security forces  including in the State Departments own human rights reports  the Department has never prohibited assistance to a single Israeli unit.

Department officials insist that Israel does not get special treatment under the Leahy law. This is false. There is a special Leahy vetting procedure for Israel, one that applies to no other country: the so-called Israel Leahy Vetting Forum (ILVF). The ILVF is a byzantine and delay-ridden process. Moreover, for any other country, decisions to prohibit assistance are made by action officer experts versed in the law, the facts of the cases, and the foreign security forces in question.

But not for Israel.

For Israel, such decisions are made at the political level, either by the Deputy Secretary of State (the Departments second-highest official) or the Secretary. And in the only reported instance where an ILVF recommendation for prohibition of Israeli units managed to reach the Secretary, he refused to act, reportedly in order not to jeopardize ceasefire negotiations.

Under the Leahy law, however, such speculation is not grounds for refusal to execute the law. Even if it were, the link between applying U.S. law and ceasefire negotiations is non-existent. And certainly that excuse has evaporated since Israel unilaterally broke the ceasefire in March.

What is not speculation is that implementation of the law will provide concrete incentive for Israeli security forces to stop committing human rights violations. And we certainly know the consequences of failure to implement the law: continued Israeli impunity to commit gross violations of human rights, and worldwide loss of U.S. credibility.

When he was Senator, Secretary Rubio wrote that implementing the Leahy Law for Israeli units would strengthen Israels enemies. The reality is exactly the opposite. Israels enemies have drawn regional and international strength and support from reports of human rights violations by Israels security forces, including tens of thousands of deaths of women and children, while Israels strategic objectives have been undermined by the inability  or unwillingness  of Israeli forces to minimize civilian harm and respect international standards on the treatment of both civilians and combatants.

And U.S. interests have suffered due to our support for Israeli security forces that have committed human rights violations. Like Israel, the U.S. has become increasingly isolated in the world and has hemorrhaged credibility and diplomatic influence, especially in the global south.

This badly weakens the U.S. in our strategic competition with China and Russia. McDonalds, Starbucks and other high-profile U.S. businesses face boycotts in the Middle East because of their perceived support for Israel. Maritime shipping and U.S. military installations have come under attack, and American soldiers have been killed. None of this is in the U.S. interest.

Implementing the Leahy law with regards to Israel is a modest proposal. It does not require any new law, nor any new initiative, nor any new funding. It does not decrease the overall funding for Israel. It would only affect units that have committed gross violations of human rights; rights-respecting units continue to be eligible for assistance. And the power to remedy the ineligibilities is in Israels hands: units can again receive assistance if Israel holds responsible security force members accountable for violations.

For ordinary Americans, this lack of enforcement raises basic questions: do you want your tax dollars going to foreign security force units that engage in the most serious human rights violations? If that isnt bad enough, do you want your tax dollars going to foreign security force units responsible for the deaths of American citizens? Appallingly, Israeli units responsible for the deaths of American citizens Shireen Abu Akleh, Aysenur Ezgi Eygi, and Omar Assad continue to be eligible for U.S. taxpayer-funded assistance.

The lawsuit is groundbreaking in basing claims on the Administrative Procedure Act, which requires uniform administrative practices, and prohibits practices like the ILVF that are arbitrary and capricious. The lawsuits claims are strengthened by the Supreme Courts 2024 decision in Loper Bright v. Raimundo, which allows courts greater latitude to scrutinize departments administrative decisions.



File. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, then Florida senator, addressed attendees during a presentation at the 20th Human Rights Initiative Conference in Washington, D.C. The U.S. Southern Command-sponsored conference commemorates two decades of the Human Rights Inititiative, and a close partnership with civil and military authorities in the region. (Photo by Raymond Sarracino/U.S. Southern Command Public Affairs). Public Domain. The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) visual information does not imply or constitute DoD endorsement. H/t Get Archive.

This lawsuit is also part of a crucial national debate. The current administration is also refusing to obey the law in a number of other areas, including immigration, corrupt practices, and the rights of federal employees. Preventing this lawlessness lies at the heart of our democracy: under Article II of the Constitution, the executive branch is required to take care that the Laws be faithfully executed. There is no constitutional exception to this responsibility.

Ominously, the State Departments specious rationale for not enforcing the Leahy law with regard to Israel appears contagious. Echoing Secretary Blinkens far-fetched concerns about upsetting the Gaza ceasefire, a recent memo from Secretary Rubio purported to justify the deportation of a Columbia University student on the risible pretext that the students presence in the U.S. would undermine the Middle East peace process.

Enough. The U.S. has consistently urged other countries to abide by the rule of law. We must do that in our own country as well.
( Middle East Monitor )  The ongoing Israeli genocidal war against the Palestinian people in the Gaza Strip since 7 October 2023, which has lasted for over 560 days, has killed over 50,000 people, including more than 16,000 children. This includes nearly 200 infants who were born and martyred during the war.

A UN investigation concluded that the occupying forces committed acts of genocide in the Gaza Strip through the systematic destruction of reproductive healthcare facilities. They deliberately attacked and destroyed the main fertility centre in the Strip and prevented the aid and medicine necessary to ensure safe pregnancy, childbirth, and neonatal care. This means that the ongoing war on Gaza has partially destroyed the reproductive capacity of Palestinians through the systematic destruction of the reproductive health sector.

In addition to this, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA) announced that more than 4,000 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Gaza who have been diagnosed with severe malnutrition. This number is likely to increase, especially after crossings have been closed since the beginning of Ramadan, causing a major shortage in the food rations received by pregnant or breastfeeding women. This has resulted in malnutrition among infants and contributed to the deterioration of their health, including premature and newborn babies.

A new phenomenon has emerged in Gaza hospitals, which is dwarf babies, meaning they are shorter than average due to malnutrition. This is in addition to increased early miscarriages and premature labour, whether due to malnutrition, pregnant women inhaling toxic gases, or the starvation policy they face at the hands of the occupation



Malnourished, Digital, Midjourney, 2025

The genocide in Gaza has also witnessed a rise in congenital malformations in newborns, including those affecting the heart, feet, brain, reproductive organs and lower extremities. These malformations are discovered by doctors after birth, increasing the number of those suffering from birth defects. Their statistics recorded hundreds of newborns with congenital deformities and disorders, at least 20 per cent of whom died. This increase is due to several factors, most notably the explosive materials dropped by aircraft and tanks on Gaza, which carry toxic, radioactive and phosphorous materials, resulting in an increase in the rate of birth defects in newborns admitted to NICU incubators, the spread of many infectious viruses, a lack of hygiene, and malnutrition among mothers, in addition to 3,5000 children at risk of dying of malnutrition.

Some reasons for this are the repeated displacement of nearly 500,000 children under the age of ten, who are in need of vaccinations, and the death of many newborns immediately after birth due to their abnormal size. Meanwhile, mothers are burdened by exhaustion, fear, hunger and dehydration, and instead of giving birth to their children peacefully, they are instead giving birth to them while moving from one displacement location to another. The estimated population growth rate in Gaza has dropped from 2.7 per cent to just one per cent, and the birth and fertility rates have dropped dramatically as a result of couples refraining from having children due to the prevailing conditions and fears for the health of the mothers and children. The number of new marriages during the aggression has also dropped to extremely low levels.

The Gaza war has exposed the extreme suffering of pregnant women and newborns. There are currently 50,000 pregnant women, amid a severe shortage of the medications they need, in addition to malnutrition and a lack of medical follow-ups, which has negative effects on the health of pregnant women and their unborn babies. They are now at risk due to the collapse of the health system amidst the raging war. The repeated displacement has also led to some miscarriages, with their suffering beginning in the prenatal and continuing to the postnatal stages. They face death because they are forced to frequently move from one place to another, and also suffer from a lack of food, vitamins and other major issues. In addition to this, natural childbirth takes longer than usual.

Al Jazeera English: Women and girls suffer triply in Gaza: UN

Pregnant women experience pain during caesarean sections and after birth, the baby does not receive breast milk due to the lack of food. This forces mothers to begin the process of providing baby formula, as newborns do not receive the essential vitamins and minerals for growth. As for mothers, they face health problems after giving birth. The UN Population Fund revealed that Gaza doctors no longer see newborns that are normal in size, because their mothers suffer from hunger and dehydration on a daily basis. We are facing the nightmare of the largest humanitarian crisis, as newborns arrive at hospitals in very critical conditions, showing signs of weakness and paleness due to the mothers malnutrition.

Coinciding with this deliberate Israeli policy of targeting pregnant women, newborns and foetuses in their mothers wombs, the ongoing war has witnessed a new phenomenon: the targeting of mothers who had been impregnated through artificial insemination. Their complex treatment process has been interrupted following the halting of the flow of medical supplies and the bombing that destroyed thousands of frozen foetuses. In fact, on the first day of the war alone, approximately 50 Gazan mothers were in the middle of hormone injections, preparing to remove the foetus at Al-Basma Fertility and IVF Centre, while others were only days away from receiving their embryos.

Israeli air strikes also killed 4,000 frozen foetuses in various obstetrics and gynaecology clinics across Gaza. Half of these belonged to couples who were unable to undergo additional treatment, making their condition extremely dangerous or requiring follow-up care, especially as the pregnancies of many of these women would be difficult, even though thousands of them receive prenatal care. Those who give birth remain without medical care, meaning maternal and neonatal mortality rates have soared, with Gaza suffering a 300 per cent increase in miscarriages.

These figures reveal the frightening fates that await pregnant women in Gaza, ranging from death to miscarriage and premature birth. The ongoing genocide has increased the threat to their lives and the lives of their newborns. Data indicates that the number of births in Gaza has reached 180 per day, with some even forced to give their newborns only water due to their malnutrition and the lack of formula in pharmacies and hospitals. There are hundreds of mothers who experience great difficulties in breastfeeding their children, and therefore, it is not surprising that the rate of miscarriage, dangerous premature births and caesarean sections has increased, and newborns are at risk of dying due to undernourishment.

Meanwhile, in 2023, before the outbreak of the war on Gaza, the fertility rate among women in Gaza reached 3.38 children per woman, which explains the huge number of births in the Strip during the war. However, this fertility rate may be affected in the coming years. All of this confirms that future Palestinian generations are in real danger due to the genocidal war, and that there is great fear for women. This will result in a negative change in the image of Palestinian society in Gaza in several aspects. This will be seen in the imbalance in the number of women, whose numbers have dropped as a result of their targeting by Israel, a reduction in birth rates and subsequently the effects such factors will have on Gazas labour force.

The views expressed in this article belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect the editorial policy of Middle East Monitor or Informed Comment.

Via Middle East Monitor






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - A 69-year-old British man is nursing a broken heart and empty pockets after falling victim to a romance scam that cost him Ksh14.5 million (85,000).

Sharing his painful story with the BBC, the widower from Leiston, Suffolk, revealed how he transferred his life savings to a woman named Anita, believing he had finally found love again after losing his wife, Pauline, in 2019.

A former UN worker, the man said he met Anita through a friend he knew from his time in Nairobi.

Their virtual romance quickly blossomed, leading him to agree to relocate to Nairobi and marry her.

He sent her large sums of money to help prepare their new home. But upon arriving in Kenya, Anita vanished - without a trace.

Devastated and broke, the man returned to the UK, where he spent six weeks homeless, relying on shelters in Guildford and Woking.

Now living in shared accommodation in Staines-upon-Thames, he survives on his pension, often left with just 20 (Ksh3, 429) each month.

"I've got nothing, I've got nobody, I've got zero," he shared.

"If I can't do something to change things, then what's the point?"

While he admits to ignoring warnings, he blames his banks for failing to intervene.

"I know I did a stupid thing, but I am a victim They did not protect me enough."

His heartbreaking experience comes amid a reported 60% rise in romance fraud over the past four years.






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - Once chauffeured in motorcades and addressed as Your Excellency, former Vihiga County Deputy Governor Caleb Amaswache now walks the streets of Luanda town, hawking firewood to survive.

Amaswache, who served under former Governor Moses Akaranga, is grappling with life after office.

Life hasnt been easy, he admits, reflecting on the silence from former allies and the harsh reality of trying to make ends meet.

I need a job. I am asking His Excellency William Ruto to consider those who were once in Government.

We are all Kenyans and the President should take care of all of us, he pleaded.

Amaswache hopes to raise Ksh200,000 in capital to start a small business and support his daughter, who is still in school.

I just want to support her and get back on my feet, he said.

Today, his only reminders of a once-powerful past are faded portraits of him beside dignitaries.

His story is a sobering reminder that without planning, life after power can be unforgiving.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - Seven Chinese nationals have been convicted by the Kapenguria Law Courts for engaging in illegal mining activities along the Wei-Wei River in Sigor, Pokot Central Sub-County.

Their arrest followed an operation conducted on February 12th, 2025, by officers from the Mining Investigations Unit alongside officials from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime Affairs, in an effort to crack down on unlicensed mining activities.

The enforcement team stormed a site and discovered ongoing mining activities in blatant disregard of the law. Seven individuals, Wang Youping, Xian Zhenming, He Zhouming, Wang Xiadodong, Zhao Zhenewei, Guan Qiang, and Deng Chun were arrested on-site.

At the site, there were six lorries used for ferrying the rock and soil particles scooped, a water boozer, two excavators, two bulldozers, one caterpillar, two high-powered generators, and a still container used as a store of equipment.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the seven came to Kenya and started mining activities in West Pokot without a License or any supporting documents from the Ministry of Mining, Blue Economy and Maritime affairs.

Two of the suspects, Xian Zhenming and Deng Chun, were found to be unlawfully present in the country without work permits or alien registration certificates. Samples collected from the site for analysis at the Government Mining laboratory confirmed the minerals to be Quartz.

The case proceeded swiftly, and on April 17, 2025, all seven accused appeared before Principal Magistrate Court No. 2 at the Kapenguria Law Courts.

They each pleaded guilty to the charges brought against them and were convicted on their own pleas. For engaging in unauthorised mining activities, each of the accused was fined Sh 3,000,000, with a default penalty of one year in prison.

Furthermore, for working in Kenya without a valid permit, they were fined Sh400,000 or face an additional year in prison if unable to pay.

The court handed down further penalties for Xian Zhenming and Deng Chun, who were convicted of being unlawfully present in the country.

Each was fined Sh200,000, with a default sentence of six months' imprisonment.

Upon completion of their respective sentences or payment of fines, the two are to be repatriated to China.

All sentences are to run consecutively.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - Mumias East MP, Peter Salasya, is over the moon after welcoming his newborn son.

The outspoken legislator shared a heart-melting photo of the little one bundled up in cozy clothes, peacefully sleeping.

Overflowing with pride, Salasya gushed over his baby boys cuteness and asked Kenyans to help name him.

He is one day old. Let us celebrate him. Help me to name him, he captioned the sweet post.

Kenyans quickly flooded the comments with warm congratulations and name suggestions for the newest little star in town.

The Kenyan DAILY POST






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - A multi-agency team deployed to crack down drug traffickers operating from the Northern Frontier District to the Capital have nabbed a suspected trafficker, Jane Njeri Muigai, in whose possession was discovered 294g of Cocaine.

The arrest followed the interception of a Nairobi-bound bus from Moyale, at a roadblock manned by the team.

Exhibiting behaviour signaling to "the guilty ones are always afraid", female law enforcers isolated the 28-year-old for a thorough search, thereby confirming their suspicion.

The suspect has been booked at Moyale Police Station, as anti-narcotics officers take up the matter to instigate legal processes.

Via:DCI.






Saturday, April 19, 2025 - The return of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiangi from the U.S has stirred political waters, especially after Jubilee Party officially endorsed him as their 2027 presidential flagbearer.

Welcomed at Jomo Kenyatta International Airport by Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka, Matiangis arrival marked the beginning of intense political speculation.

While hes yet to declare his presidential ambitions publicly, one ODM lawmaker is already pouring cold water on the idea.

Homa Bay Town MP, Peter Kaluma, has dismissed Matiangis potential bid, saying the former CS is punching above his weight.

Kaluma mocked the small turnout at the airport, claiming only ten people showed up to receive him, and that he couldnt even muster the courage to address the press.

Kaluma advised Matiangi to start lower, perhaps with a gubernatorial seat, where he can learn the ropes of elective politics.

In a surprising twist, he even offered to mentor Matiangi on the political journey.

Kaluma also noted that relying on the 700,000 Gusii votes wont cut it, stating that success in Kenyan politics lies in building a broad national coalition.Bottom of Form

The Kenyan DAILY POST
Conor McGregor's hour-long sit down interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson was released on Friday evening, with the controversial fighter taking aim at what he branded the "ill intentions" of those in Government.

Carlson, a prominent right-wing American commentator who has previously interviewed Vladimir Putin, visited McGregor in his Dublin pub on Tuesday evening to discuss the fighter's plans to run for the presidency later this year.

In the interview, which was filmed in the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Dublin and broadcast on Carlson's social media channels, McGregor criticised the Government, who he said was responsible for the "erasure of Irish culture" and what he called "mass" immigration.

The former mixed martial arts star also admitted that his presidential ambitions may not get off the ground as Ireland is "not a democratic country."

He told Carlson, who was fired by Fox News in 2023, that "like a lot of countries in the western sphere, it [Ireland] is being governed by people with ill intentions of its people."

The Dubliner claimed: "They have not got the interest of their people at, at its heart. However, our country stays strong."

In a segment of the interview referring to "Irelands economic crisis," McGregor said the rising cost of living was a "national emergency" without offering solutions.

On the issue of immigration, McGregor continued with his hardline stance, claiming the citizens of Ireland "do not feel like first rate citizens" and "what is going on here is an abomination, a travesty, and it cannot continue for much longer".

He was not challenged on any of his statements by Carlson and went on to accuse the Government of using what he called "intimidation tactics".

On his meeting with US president Trump in the Oval Office on St Patrick's Day, which was sharply criticised by the Government and opposition here, McGregor said: "We had a great moment in the Oval Office with president Trump where we got to speak before the press, in the White House where we got to speak our case, it was the first time it had happened in our history, really."

On the question of tariffs, McGregor said "tariffs are no good for nobody" but he didn't provide any details on what next steps the US or EU should take.

"The people of Ireland are struggling to heat their homes. So there are many people who are seeing this tariff situation as a 'we got you' moment for our Government," he said.

When asked about his ambitions to run for the Aras later this year, McGregor said he was of the belief that "the era of the politician must end", but admitted his presidential ambitions may not succeed.

"There are stipulations. You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are mostly party affiliates."

McGregor also told Carlson he doesnt believe Ireland is a democratic country and that politicians "will have to answer to their constituents at some stage."

When Carlson asked him to respond to CNN's description of him as "the leader of Irelands far-right", McGregor said: "All of these terminologies mean nothing to me. I'm a family man. I'm an employer of the country. I'm a supporter of many people and I care about my land and the safety of its citizens and the prosperity of its citizens."

McGregor is currently appealing the result of a civil case after a jury found he had assaulted Nikita Hand in a Dublin hotel room in 2018, and ordered him to pay damages. The case was not raised at any stage during the interview.
Stephen Maguire

A young Co Donegal family have appealed for help after their son was diagnosed with a rare blood disorder  just months after his mum was diagnosed with leukemia.

Four-year-old Zach McCrossan from St Johnston recently began showing signs of fatigue recently which worried his family.

After many tests and bone marrow biopsies, Zach has now been diagnosed with a rare blood disorder.

His only chance is a bone marrow transplant, which isnt available in Ireland.

Hes now been referred to the Princess Maxima Center for Pediatric Oncology in Utrecht, Netherlands, where hes expected to be an inpatient for at least 3 months.

It is the latest challenge facing the McCrossan family.

In February, Zach's mother Patrice (nee Rodgers) discovered she had acute myeloid leukemia.

The 32-year-old was rushed to Galway Hospital for treatment days later before being transferred to St. James in Dublin for a bone marrow transplant.

Unfortunately, the transplant wasnt as successful as the family had wished, and Patrice now travels regularly to Dublin for DLI therapy and is still receiving chemotherapy treatments to keep her disease at bay.

Since the news broke, the local community has shown an incredible outpouring of support for Patrice, her husband, Gary, and their four children aged between 7 months and 9 years.

But now the couple are being forced to turn their attention to help their little boy, Zach.

Dad Gary said the news of Zach's illness has hit them hard but they are doing their best to stay strong.

He said "Its devastating to think of our family being split up once again. We are doing our best to stay strong, but the emotional and financial toll is enormous.

"Patrice will need to continue her own treatments at home while also being there for Zachand for our other children, Casey, Hollie, and little Tillie.

"We are humbly asking for support to help bring our family to the Netherlands so we can be with Zach during this incredibly difficult time.

"Whether it's a small donation, a share, or simply keeping us in your thoughts  it all means the world. Thank you from the bottom of our hearts," he said.

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the family cope with the financial strain.
Preparations are underway for Macras 81st AGM, which this year will be hosted by Clare Macra in Ennis - at which Kilkenny woman Josephine ONeill will officially take the reins as President of the organisation.

The event will take place on Saturday, May 10, in the Woodstock Hotel in Ennis.

This years event will be a busy occasion, with not only the usual reports and discussion of motions and recommendations but also the handover to the newly elected presidential team.

Read next: PICTURES - Kilkenny school welcomes loved ones for annual 'La na Muirnini'

The team will consist of Josephine ONeill as President, Andrew Dunne as Leinster Vice President, William Clancy as Munster Vice president and John Duffy as Northwest Vice President.

Speaking at the recent Macra election count, outgoing President Elaine Houlihan said: I am delighted to be handing over Macra to Josephines safe hands and wish her the very best of luck as she adjusts to her new role.

Once the business of the day has been completed, attendees and delegates will enjoy a banquet meal before taking to the dance floor.

Evening banquet tickets are priced at 50 and can be purchased from the Macra website by visiting www.macra.ie/agm. For accommodation bookings, contact the hotel directly.
Kilkenny Archaeological Society invites you to: Kilkenny Connections with the 2nd World War - Eight stories 80 years on, a lecture by historian Larry Scallan

As we approach the 80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe day, it is fitting that we have a look at and relate a number of the many stories that involve Kilkenny women and men from this often-overlooked part of our social and military history and heritage.

There are records of a Kilkenny born Australian dairy farmer, RAF pilots and gunners a submariner, military nurses and Chaplins. As well as our own local security forces 1939/45. All gave some and some gave all.

The lecture takes place in Rothe House on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, starting at 8pm. Admission 8 for members,10 for non-members.

Read next: Scenic region of Kilkenny to be showcased to huge national audience on RTE

Comdt. Larry Scallan is a former Commandant who joined the Irish defence forces in 1988 and served in various capacities in Ireland, Europe, and with the United Nations in Kosovo and Lebanon. He finished his military career as the Commanding Officer, Support Company, 3rd Infantry Battalion at James Stephens Barracks in Kilkenny, where he still maintains contact by hosting regular tours of the barracks, studying its history and lecturing.

Scallan is also a freelance tour guide for Kilkenny Military Heritage Tours, specializing in bespoke and group walking tours around Kilkenny Medieval City, with a focus on the Irish revolutionary period 1860-1923 and Irish participation in World War.
Starmer, Trump discuss trade, security over phone

Xinhua) 13:48, April 19, 2025

LONDON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to free and open trade while emphasizing the protection of national interests during a call with U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday afternoon, according to a statement from Downing Street.

The two leaders began by discussing the ongoing trade negotiations between Britain and the United States. Both sides signaled optimism about reaching an agreement.

They also exchanged views on the key international issues, including the situations in Ukraine and Iran, as well as recent military action taken against the Houthis in Yemen.

Their phone talk follows the U.S. administration's decision earlier this month to impose sweeping tariffs on countries across the world. Though Trump later introduced a 90-day pause on some of the tariffs while keeping a baseline of 10 percent tariffs on imports to America, including on British goods, the British car industry, as well as steel and aluminum exports, still faces a 25 percent tariff if relevant products are sold to the United States.

In an interview on Monday, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said there was a "good chance" a trade deal with Britain could be reached, adding that Washington is working closely with the British government.

On Thursday, Trump also hinted during remarks at the White House that a state visit to Britain is being planned for September.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Sunday embarked on a visit to Brazil to participate in the 11th BRICS Parliamentary Forum where he is scheduled to prese ...


A second round of high-level talks between US and Iranian delegations on Tehrans nuclear program began in Rome on Saturday. The talks are led by US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
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ABBEYLEIX library is hosting a wonderful art display by talented Latvian born artist Inguna Mainule-Finnerty, who holds a masters degree in art and process.

Inguna has spent the last 25 years living in Ireland, beginning in Kildare, then Dublin before settling in Portlaoise with her husband.

In 2015, Inguna held her first solo exhibition, also in Abbeyleix library, and the subject for her works is a talented local artist named Mary Ryan, who exhibited her works in Bloom HQ, Mountrath last year. Both artists had studied art together in Abbeyleix FEC. Inguna said that a teacher was passing by the library in 2015 and saw the painting of Mary in the window. She recognised the subject as one of her pupils from when she was younger and purchased it.

Speaking to the Laois Nationalist while hanging her works, Inguna said that she is delighted to be showing her works in Abbeyleix library again, especially a decade on from her last exhibition there.

She said: As a child, my mother said that I always had a talent for art and that I took after my grandfather. Art was a subject in school in Latvia and I really enjoyed it. After school, I went on to become a paramedic, but after several years I discovered that that wasnt for me. Following a tragedy in her life, Inguna returned to art and creativity, which, she said, gives her healing.

She said: Theres a great therapeutic side to art. It is healing and painting can heal everybody. People who might struggle mentally can find great healing through painting. After my tragedy, my mother reminded me of my love for painting and I got back into it bit-by-bit and that is what made me smile after. Inguna left a large drawing of her subject on a table as part of the exhibition with colouring pencils and crayons, inviting people who visit to add colour to the piece themselves. She also brought two potted bamboo plants, which, she says, represents renewal, growth, life and living in general.

Ingunas art journey began in Abbeyleix FEC in 2015/2016. Her passion for art led her from Abbeyleix to studying fine art at TU Dublin, where she graduated with honours in 2019. She then went on to complete a masters degree in art and process at MTU Crawford College of Art & Design in Cork in 2020.

Her dedication and talent have been recognised in many ways, including winning the 2019 regional award for the island of Ireland in the Global Undergraduate Awards for her art project. The same work was also shortlisted for the prestigious RDS Visual Art Awards that year.

Over the years, she has exhibited her work in Ireland and Latvia, with highlights including shows at the Royal Hibernian Academy (RHA) in Dublin, Gallery of Modern Art in Waterford (GOMA) and a powerful site-specific installation in Daugavpils, Latvia. In 2024, she was honoured to serve as a judge for the Global Undergraduate Awards, helping to recognise and support emerging artists.

Senior library assistant Vera Quinn said that Ingunas exhibition is well worth a visit. She said: We are delighted to have such a talented artist as Inguna back to us after ten years with her wonderful exhibition. The exhibition is on show for the month of April and we wish Inguna every success. The artist can be contacted by emailing mainuleinguna@gmail.com and by searching @Inguna Mainule-Finnerty on Instagram.
The Showing of the Tartan Parade passes by on lower Main Street during the 2022 Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival in Bethlehem on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2022. Donna Fisher | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

USA Today 10Best readers are apparently in love with the Lehigh Valley.

The national publication has built a following in recent years through its popular 10Best series, which picks the best of just about everything related to U.S. tourism from coast-to-coast.

It honored another one of the regions gems this week.

Bethlehems Main Street, according to the publications most recent installment of the series, has been crowned the most charming main street.

A panel of USA Today 10Best travel experts nominated 20 main streets across the nation as some of the most charming in the country before turning it over to the people. Readers could cast a vote once per day through April 7, when voting closed.

Christmastime visitors to Bethlehem shop in the Center City downtown on Nov. 30, 2014, along Main Street. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

Bethlehems Main Street beat out runner-up Emporia, Kansas for the nations top spot. Ogden, Utah finished third.

Heres what the publication said about the winner:

Main Street in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is super walkable, and offers lots of dining options ranging from Spanish to Thai. There are also numerous watering holes and a chocolate trail that runs through this part of downtown. The centrally located Historic Hotel Bethlehem is an ideal base for a weekend getaway to the Lehigh Valley.

Jack Garrity, 5, of Bethlehem, stands still as David Graham, left, and Tobin Renwick, right, juggle around him on Main Street in Bethlehem during a performance of The Red Trouser Show at Musikfest on Aug. 8, 2015. Matt Smith File Photo | lehighvalleylive.com contributor

So what else in and around the Lehigh Valley has been recognized recently in USA Todays 10Best contests? Heres a sampling of nine other hometown heroes that made 10Best lists in the past two years:

Historic Hotel Bethlehem topped the 10Best list of the nations best historic hotels for 2024. Its also either won or placed in previous years.

Musikfest in 2023 placed 10th in the 10Best list of the nations best music festivals.

Easton Public Market, which has previously been named the nations best public market in the series, is currently in the running for 2025. Voting closed Monday, April 14, with the winner set to be announced at noon Wednesday, April 23.

Dorney Parks Iron Menace roller coaster earlier this year nabbed the No. 4 spot on the 10Best for best new theme park attraction.

Easton Garlic Fest in 2023 took the No. 8 spot in the best specialty food festival.

Crayola Experience was No. 10 in 2023 on the 10Best list for childrens museums.

Christkindlmarkt was No. 5 in 2024 in the publications rankings for best holiday market.

Camelback Resort won the top spot on the 10Best list of best place for snow tubing in 2024.

New Years Eve PEEPS Chick Drop at SteelStacks came in sixth place in 2023 for best New Years Eve drop.

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Authorities investigating why a man set fire to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros official residence are probing whether the suspect was motivated by the Democrats Jewish faith or positions on Israels war in Gaza.

Police have said that Cody Balmer of Harrisburg harbored hatred toward Shapiro. Several search warrants released Wednesday offer the first details about a potential motive for the arson attack early Sunday in a room where only hours earlier Shapiro and his family celebrated Passover with members of the Jewish community.

Balmer called 911 less than an hour after the fire erupted, promised a confession and talked about Palestinians being killed, police wrote in search warrants.

Exactly what the man was trying to say and who he was referencing isnt clear from the partial quotations included in the search warrants. Police quoted Balmer as saying our people have been put through too much by that monster. Balmer also related that Governor Josh SHAPIRO needs to know that he ...will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people, police wrote.

During a police interview after turning himself in, Balmer admitted to harboring hatred towards Governor Shapiro, according to a police affidavit that did not expand on that point. Police obtained search warrants for Balmers electronic devices and a storage locker seeking any writings or notes that contain the name of Josh Shapiro (or a) reference to Palestine, Gaza, Israel or the current conflict in Gaza.

Shapiro declined to talk about a motive Wednesday, saying prosecutors will ultimately determine what prompted the attack. Its not for me to answer that, he said.

The governor on Friday appeared in Bethlehem to visit with first responders and highlight proposals in his 2025-26 proposed budget aimed at strengthening fire companies and preventing disasters before they happen, according to his office.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference at the governor's official residence discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. AP Photo/Marc Levy

The governor has been publicly critical of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus government and the nature of Israels military action in Gaza, but also has backed the countrys right to defend itself from Hamas.

Balmer, 38, was diagnosed with bipolar disorder but did not believe the assessment, his brother, Dan Balmer, told The Associated Press. He said he twice helped Cody get treatment at the Pennsylvania Psychiatric Institute.

In court on Monday, Balmer denied having any mental illness and described himself as an unemployed welder with no income or savings. A judge denied bail and ordered him held on charges including attempted homicide, terrorism and arson. He did not enter a plea.

Dauphin County chief public defender Mary Klatt said in a statement that a preliminary hearing would be delayed for the purpose of determining his competency to stand trial and that Balmer will be represented by a team of attorneys due to the complexity of this case.

The allegations, if true, demonstrate the devastating consequences of severe mental illness, Klatt said.

Balmer told police he planned to beat Shapiro with a small sledgehammer if he encountered him after breaking into the building, according to court documents filed in this latest case of violence against political figures in the U.S.

U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi said she spoke with Shapiro. She described the arson as absolutely horrific and said she believes the alleged culprit wanted to kill him.

Federal authorities are working with state law enforcement and doing anything we can to help convict the person who did this, she added.

State police announced that an independent, third-party expert will assess risks and vulnerability of the governors official residence. Shapiro said steps will be taken to strengthen safety systems while adding he has faith in his security team and state police.

Dan Balmer said his brother had displayed concerning behavior, including the night before the fire, when he flipped over a table at the home where Cody Balmer lived with their parents.

A search warrant says he scaled a nearly 7-foot-high (2-meter-high) security fence, eluded police, smashed a window with a hammer and tossed a lit beer bottle filled with gasoline into the piano room. Then, he broke a second window, climbed inside the state dining room and remained inside for about a minute, lighting a second Molotov cocktail before kicking open a door and fleeing, the warrant says.

Shapiro said he, his wife, their four children and another family celebrated Passover on Saturday night and then were awakened by state troopers pounding on their doors and forced to evacuate at about 2 a.m. Firefighters extinguished the fire and no one was injured.

The governor said he and his wife have had many conversations with their children since the attack.

Its very hard as a parent, to answer to children, like why does this stuff happen, he said. Why are there people out there that want to do harm to others? Those are hard questions to answer for kids.

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Health department staff members enter the Andrews County Health Department measles clinic carrying doses of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025, in Andrews, Texas. AP Photo/Annie Rice

Michigan officials confirmed a new measles outbreak Thursday near Grand Rapids, bringing the U.S. to eight states with active outbreaks of the vaccine-preventable disease. Earlier this week, Pennsylvania declared an outbreak in Erie County as well.

Last week, U.S. measles cases topped 700, with Texas reporting the majority of them. Two unvaccinated elementary school-aged children died from measles-related illnesses near the epicenter of the outbreak in rural West Texas. An adult in New Mexico who was not vaccinated also died of a measles-related illness.

Even as the virus continued to spread and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention redeployed a team to West Texas, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. claimed in a televised Cabinet meeting April 10 that measles cases were plateauing nationally. The U.S. has more than double the number of measles cases it saw in all of 2024.

States with active outbreaks  defined as three or more cases  include Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, Oklahoma, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and New Mexico.

The multistate outbreak across Texas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Kansas confirms health experts fears that the virus will take hold in other U.S. communities with low vaccination rates and that the spread could stretch on for a year. The World Health Organization has said cases in Mexico are linked to the Texas outbreak.

Measles is caused by a highly contagious virus thats airborne and spreads easily when an infected person breathes, sneezes or coughs. It is preventable through vaccines, and has been considered eliminated from the U.S. since 2000.

Heres what else you need to know about measles in the U.S.

How many measles cases are there in Texas and New Mexico?

Texas outbreak began in late January. State health officials said Tuesday there were 20 new cases of measles since Friday, bringing the total to 561 across 23 counties  most of them in West Texas. Two more Texans were hospitalized, for a total of 58 throughout the outbreak, and Reeves County logged its first case.

State health officials estimated Tuesday that about 4% of cases  fewer than 25  are actively infectious.

Sixty-five percent of Texas cases are in Gaines County, population 22,892, where the virus started spreading in a close-knit, undervaccinated Mennonite community. The county has logged 364 cases since late January  just over 1% of the countys residents.

The April 3 death in Texas was an 8-year-old child, according to Kennedy. Health officials in Texas said the child did not have underlying health conditions and died of what the childs doctor described as measles pulmonary failure. A unvaccinated child with no underlying conditions died of measles in Texas in late February  Kennedy said age 6.

U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., left, arrives at Reinlander Mennonite Church after a second measles death, Sunday, April 6, 2025, in Seminole, Texas. AP Photo/Annie Rice

New Mexico announced five new cases Tuesday, bringing the states total to 63. Three more people are in the hospital, for a total of five since the outbreak started. Dona Ana County reported its first case. Most of the states cases are in Lea County. Two are in Eddy County and one in Chaves County.

State health officials say the cases are linked to Texas outbreak based on genetic testing. New Mexico reported its first measles-related death in an adult on March 6.

How many cases are there in Kansas?

Kansas has 37 cases in eight counties in the southwest part of the state, health officials announced Wednesday.

Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray and Morton counties have fewer than five cases each. Haskell County has the most with eight cases, Stevens County has seven, Kiowa County has six.

The states first reported case, identified in Stevens County on March 13, is linked to the Texas and New Mexico outbreaks based on genetic testing, a state health department spokesperson said. But health officials have not determined how the person was exposed.

How many cases are there in Oklahoma?

Cases in Oklahoma remained steady at 12 total cases Tuesday: nine confirmed and three probable. The first two probable cases were associated with the West Texas and New Mexico outbreaks, the state health department said.

A state health department spokesperson said measles exposures were confirmed in Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Rogers and Custer counties, but wouldnt say which counties had cases.

How many cases are there in Ohio?

The Knox County outbreak in east-central Ohio has infected a total 20 people as of Tuesday, according to a news release from the county health department, but seven of them do not live in Ohio. In 2022, a measles outbreak in central Ohio sickened 85.

The Ohio Department of Health confirmed 30 measles cases in the state Thursday. There are 14 cases in Ashtabula County near Cleveland, 14 in Knox County and one each in Allen and Holmes counties. The state count only includes Ohio residents.

The outbreak in Ashtabula County started with an unvaccinated adult who had interacted with someone who had traveled internationally.

How many cases are there in Indiana?

Indiana confirmed six connected cases of measles in Allen County in the northeast part of the state  four are unvaccinated minors and two are adults whose vaccination status is unknown.

The cases have no known link to other outbreaks, the Allen County Department of Health said April 9.

How many cases are there in Pennsylvania?

In far northwest Pennsylvania, Erie County health officials declared a measles outbreak Monday after finding two new cases linked to a measles case confirmed March 30.

The state has had nine cases overall this year, six of which are not linked to the outbreak, including international travel-related cases in Montgomery County and one in Philadelphia.

How many cases are there in Michigan?

Montcalm County, near Grand Rapids in western Michigan, has three linked measles cases. State health officials say the cases are tied to a large measles outbreak in Ontario, Canada.

The state has seven confirmed measles cases as of Thursday, but the remaining four are not part of the Montcalm County outbreak. Michigans last measles outbreak was in 2019.

Where else is measles showing up in the U.S.?

Measles cases also have been reported in Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Maryland, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Vermont, and Washington.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines an outbreak as three or more related cases. The agency counted seven clusters that qualified as outbreaks in 2025 as of Friday.

In the U.S., cases and outbreaks are frequently traced to someone who caught the disease abroad. It can then spread, especially in communities with low vaccination rates. In 2019, the U.S. saw 1,274 cases and almost lost its status of having eliminated measles. So far in 2025, the CDCs count is 712.

Do you need an MMR booster?

The best way to avoid measles is to get the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine. The first shot is recommended for children between 12 and 15 months old and the second between 4 and 6 years old.

People at high risk for infection who got the shots many years ago may want to consider getting a booster if they live in an area with an outbreak, said Scott Weaver with the Global Virus Network, an international coalition. Those may include family members living with someone who has measles or those especially vulnerable to respiratory diseases because of underlying medical conditions.

Adults with presumptive evidence of immunity generally dont need measles shots now, the CDC said. Criteria include written documentation of adequate vaccination earlier in life, lab confirmation of past infection or being born before 1957, when most people were likely to be infected naturally.

A doctor can order a lab test called an MMR titer to check your levels of measles antibodies, but experts dont always recommend it and health insurance plans may not cover it.

Getting another MMR shot is harmless if there are concerns about waning immunity, the CDC says.

People who have documentation of receiving a live measles vaccine in the 1960s dont need to be revaccinated, but people who were immunized before 1968 with an ineffective measles vaccine made from killed virus should be revaccinated with at least one dose, the agency said. That also includes people who dont know which type they got.

What are the symptoms of measles?

Measles first infects the respiratory tract, then spreads throughout the body, causing a high fever, runny nose, cough, red, watery eyes and a rash.

The rash generally appears three to five days after the first symptoms, beginning as flat red spots on the face and then spreading downward to the neck, trunk, arms, legs and feet. When the rash appears, the fever may spike over 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the CDC.

Most kids will recover from measles, but infection can lead to dangerous complications such as pneumonia, blindness, brain swelling and death.

How can you treat measles?

Theres no specific treatment for measles, so doctors generally try to alleviate symptoms, prevent complications and keep patients comfortable.

Why do vaccination rates matter?

In communities with high vaccination rates  above 95%  diseases like measles have a harder time spreading through communities. This is called herd immunity.

But childhood vaccination rates have declined nationwide since the pandemic and more parents are claiming religious or personal conscience waivers to exempt their kids from required shots.

The U.S. saw a rise in measles cases in 2024, including an outbreak in Chicago that sickened more than 60.

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Laois and Offaly are bottom of the list for national funding to support young people, and they have been so for years.

That is despite Laois having one of the youngest populations in Ireland, with over 21% of the population under 24 years.

The LOETB has been trying to get the Minister for Education and Youth to meet them and hear why they deserve more money.

Laois Offaly Education and Training Board (LOETB) first asked Minister for children Roderic O'Gorman in the last Government, and now are pleading with the new Minister, Helen McEntee TD.

Portlaoise Municipal District Cllr Caroline Dwane Stanley is chair of the LOETB Youthwork committee.

She highlighted the poor funding, speaking at the March meeting of Laois County Council.

"We are bottom for funding for youth in the country. They are trying to highlight this. They tried to get a meeting with the Minister for Education and Youth when it was Roderick O' Gorman. I ask you to send a letter to the new Minister, Helen McEntee to request her to meet a deputation. Offaly have done the same.

"We're the fastest growing population and one of the youngest. To be at the bottom is a shame. We have to try and keep this on the radar," she said.

Director of Services Carmel McNicholl agreed.

"We'll be fully supportive in your request to meet the Minister," she said.

The funding pays for the work of YouthWork Ireland Laois, who organise the Electric Youth competition for Electric Picnic. It also covers Laois School of Music.

In a funding statement, LOETB outlined the unfairness of funding to their youth services.

"The total funding for LOETB Youth Services in 2021 was 427,253. This was almost 300,000 less than the second lowest region receiving 706,988.

"At that time this equated to 13.68 per person between the ages of 10 and 24 years, representing 69% less than the average of 43.84 per person across all 16 ETBs.

"In 2024, LOETB administered 693,057 in funding across Laois and Offaly, equating to 19.57 per Young Person 10-24 years.

"Despite having one of the highest percentages of young people 10-24 years in the state i.e. 20.7%/36,275 (Census 2022), and the very welcomed increase in funding over the 3 years, LOETB Youth Services have consistently received the lowest level of youth work funding compared to the other 15 ETBs," they say.

Linda Tynan is LOETB Director of Schools (Including Youth and Music).

"It is essential that all stakeholders deliver in ensuring there is a positive outcome in terms of increased funding to cater for the expressed needs of the young people in Laois and Offaly. We are hopeful that we will receive the full support of all stakeholders in this regard," she said.

Read also: Meet the Laois Rose entrant with pride for Portlaoise

Joe Thompson is the LOETB Youth Development Officer.

Young People have clearly articulated real concerns in relation to levels of anxiety, stress, cost-of-living, transport, social media and are calling for youth-focused spaces, mental health service, access to transport and choice of activities within their communities. Young People have given a clear mandate to those of us in position of influence and authority. Now, let us make it happen. he said.
Police in Northern Ireland have issued an appeal around a blue backpack in their search for missing Mayo man George Brennan.

The 38-year-old from Claremorris was last seen on Wednesday, April 2 in Ballycastle, County Antrim, and his friends and family have not heard from him since.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is assisting An Garda Siochana in their search for Mr Brennan.

George Brennan, 38, from Co Mayo, was last seen on Wednesday April 2 in Ballycastle, Co Antrim (Family Handout/PA)

While he is missing from County Mayo in the, it is believed he may have links to the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and the Mid and East Antrim area.

On Saturday, the PSNI made a specific appeal in relation to the location of a blue-coloured backpack which Mr Brennan was seen carrying.

We would ask that anyone who believes they may have seen this backpack, or who has information as to its whereabouts, get in touch, they said.

READ NEXT: ALERT: Gardai issue urgent appeal to motorists as they attend multiple road crashes

Mr Brennan is described as being 62 in height and 100kg in weight. He has brown hair and blue eyes.

According to the PSNI, he had previously been seen on CCTV in the Spar shop in Moyle Road in Ballycastle on April 2.

At that time, he was wearing a black zip-up top, dark jeans, runners and was carrying a blue hiking backpack.

Another sighting of him, reported to the PSNI, indicated he was seen with a backpack hitch-hiking at the Lisnakilly roundabout outside Limavady, County Derry at around 4.45pm on Monday, April 14.

The caller said they saw the man get into a white van with writing on the side that was travelling in the direction of Ballykelly, also in Derry.

Mr Brennan's family is asking members of the public across the island of Ireland to share Georges photo and to appeal widely on social media to help raise awareness.
Almost 1,200 homes, farms and businesses near Kinlough can now access high-speed fibre broadband, thanks to the latest rollout under the National Broadband Plan (NBP).

National Broadband Ireland (NBI), the company delivering the Governments fibre-to-the-home network, confirmed that properties in the rural surrounds of Kinlough, Tullaghan and Aghanlish are now eligible to connect to the NBI network. These connections offer minimum speeds of 500 megabits per second and are part of a wider plan to bring future-proofed broadband to 12,000 premises in Leitrim.

To date, more than 6,800 properties across the county can now place an order, with connections already available in areas including Keshcarrigan, Manorhamilton and Carrick-on-Shannon. NBI said 1,815 Leitrim premises have already been connected, and that network build works are continuing across the county. Over 1,300 additional homes and businesses near Rooskey are due to be connected by this summer.

Leitrim will benefit from 46 million in Government investment under the NBP, the biggest investment in rural Ireland since electrification. CEO of NBI Peter Hendrick said the rollout is already transforming digital access in rural communities.

We are delighted to announce that almost 1,200 Leitrim premises in the Bundoran deployment area can now order high-speed broadband through the NBI network, he said. Were encouraging anyone in the area to check their Eircode on the NBI website and place an order today.

Nationally, NBI has now passed over 350,000 homes, businesses and farms, with more than 122,000 already connected. The average take-up rate sits at 33%and exceeds 50% in areas where the network has been live for more than 18 months.

NBI operates as a wholesale provider, with 71 broadband retailers signed up to offer services through the network. Locals can check connection availability and register for updates at www.nbi.ie. Broadband Connection Points have also been activated at several community facilities in Leitrim, offering free public access to high-speed internet while the fibre network continues to expand.

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A YOUNG woman who left school during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic and who felt lost after being told getting an apprenticeship would be nearly impossible is on the way to becoming a carpenter thanks to her perseverance and a programme run at TUS.

Katelyn ODonnell, from Patrickswell, County Limerick, aged 21, was one of 38 students who graduated from the Access to Apprenticeship programme at the universitys Moylish campus on April 4.

The national programme, which piloted at Moylish in 2022, focuses on empowering young people aged 16 to 24 from disadvantaged backgrounds, helping them gain access to apprenticeship opportunities.

I had just finished transition year and I wanted to do a trade and anyone I talked to told me I may as well forget about it... or I'd never have a chance getting an apprenticeship as a girl, explained Katelyn.

READ MORE: TUS triumphs at national awards ceremony for adult learning

She added that this really affected her confidence and made her apprehensive to apply for the apprenticeship programme. I didn't even want to apply for the course. I didn't think I'd get into the course because I'd been told that, said Katelyn.

The Limerick woman entered the male-dominated apprenticeship programme feeling daunted but said that the boys looked after her. I haven't witnessed any people or employers treat me differently because I'm a girl.

Katelyn is hopeful that the outdated notion that apprenticeships are solely for men will end and that more women will be encouraged to undertake apprenticeships in the coming years. In my course there was only me and one other girl and I was even surprised to see another girl... you don't hear of girls getting into these things, she explained.

Upon beginning the course, Katelyn was more focused on learning the trade of carpentry but found herself torn between electrical and carpentry. She said that the 12-week programme gave her a taste of all trades including motor mechanics, welding and carpentry. She also has the opportunity to undertake work placement with Irish Rail as part of the course.

I decided to give Irish Rail a shot and I just kept thinking about carpentry throughout the whole thing so after the two weeks I decided to go with carpentry. Katelyn is doing a carpentry apprenticeship currently.

Katelyn's confidence has grown immensely since undertaking the apprenticeship programme proven by her ability to give a speech at the graduation ceremony earlier this month. It's after changing my outlook completely. I think it's forced me to put myself out there but I'm reaping the rewards of it, she remarked.

Speaking at the ceremony, Katelyn said: Completing the programme last June was a turning point for me. Since then, Ive never looked back. Im proud to say that Ive secured an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery.

She continued: It showed me that I have the same ability and opportunities as anyone else, and it ultimately helped me secure the apprenticeship I once thought was out of reach.

Concluding her inspiring speech, Katelyn stated: To anyone who feels uncertain or unsure about their path, I want them to know that sometimes the most difficult decisions lead to the greatest opportunities.

Im proof that perseverance, a little courage and the right support can open doors you never thought possible.

Presenting the awards, TUS President, Professor Vincent Cunnane, said: This innovative programme equips students with the tools they need to enter the workforce, breaking historical cycles of disadvantage while addressing real skills gaps.

Todays ceremony not only marked a key milestone for graduates but also underscored TUS ongoing mission to deliver accessible, high-quality education that prepares students for real-world challenges.

The programme has been particularly impactful in supporting students from regeneration areas, where the progression rates have historically been low.

In her address, Dr Maria Kyne, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Technology, TUS, acknowledged the significant impact these programmes have on communities. This programme is not only shaping the future of our graduates but also the communities they come from. They provide a vital opportunity for personal and professional growth, breaking down barriers and creating new pathways for those who need them most.

As Katelyn continues with her apprenticeship in carpentry, she said her end goal is to start her own business. It's kind of something that I've always wanted to do. I grew up as a tomboy, I used to be out the back building things with scrap pieces of wood and stuff like that and now I get to actually build things for our customers.

She continued: Every little job I do means something to not just me but to a lot of other people as well. And the creativity as well, you get to put your imagination into the jobs that you do.

Speaking about what she would tell others who are struggling to stay in school and hoping to pursue a trade, Katelyn said not to panic. I don't think school is for everyone. I think trades are becoming more and more popular and it's not something that people look down on anymore.

Operating on TUS Moylish and Athlone campuses, the Access to Apprenticeship (ATA) programme  funded by the Higher Education Authority - offers a 12-week, Level-6 special-purpose award that blends practical skills training, personal and professional development, and work placement.

Of the 38 who graduated on the day, 19 are already doing apprenticeships  including in motor, electrical and plumbing trades.
A NEW neo-natal unit at the University Maternity Hospital is expected to be complete this year, the Government has announced.

In an update on the capital plan, Health Minister Jennifer Carroll MacNeill, and local TD Kieran ODonnell, a Minister of State for older people, have given an overview on various projects in Limerick and nationally.

An extension to St Itas Hospital in Newcastle West is also expected to be ready by later this year.

And, it is hoped construction of a new primary care centre at St Josephs Hospital campus in the city could also get under way.

The much-anticipated 96-bed block at University Hospital Limerick (UHL) is undergoing construction, with work on a second building also kicking off.

READ MORE: Cars, cash and luxury goods seized during garda raids targeting Limerick-based crime gang

The building of a second block is at detailed design stage.

Construction of a new blood science and pathology facility is also under way in Dooradoyle, it is stated in the Governments capital plan.

And in the courtyard at UHL, building of a new 16-bed emergency ward is under way.

Also on the cards in Dooradoyle, and at detailed design stage, is a new three-storey building linked to the existing cancer services outpatient day ward.

In readiness for the new neo-natal unit at the Ennis Road hospital, staff have been relocated into a temporary unit.

As for the long-awaited relocation of the maternity hospital to the grounds of UHL, the HSE says this is at appraisal stage.

Elsewhere, a building contractor is being sought for a new surgical hub at the former Scoil Carmel at OConnell Avenue in the city centre after the development secured planning permission last year.

It is hoped that this will take the pressure off UHL by serving patients with scheduled surgeries.

A construction company is being sought by the HSE to deliver a new ambulance base at Rosbrien, to replace the existing facility opposite UHL.

And a 75-bed unit at St Camilluss Hospital at Shelbourne Road on the citys northside for older people is being refurbished and replaced.

In a similar vein, the refurbishment and extension of a community nursing unit for older people at St Itas in Newcastle West is ongoing and expected to be ready later this year.

It will bring 12 new beds, and the upgrade of eight existing sleeping spaces.

HSE bosses are also looking to purchase outright an office building in Mungret Street near the Limerick Milk Market.

This is currently used to support people experiencing drug and alcohol addiction, as well as aiding in the health of members of the Traveller community.

In Pallasgreen, three units will be built as part of the HSEs decongregation strategy.

This is aimed at moving disabled people from congregated settings to homes in the community.

Another complex for similar use is to be established at Lisnagry.

And the HSE wants to buy an existing building at Grove Island in the city.

This is currently being rented by the Brothers of Charity and in use as a disability adult day centre.

Mr ODonnell said: I welcome the publication of the HSE capital plan which highlights a significant investment in our healthcare infrastructure. I am pleased to see a number of projects coming to fruition in the Mid West region this year. Public investment in capital projects ensures the best quality environments for our older people.

Ms Carroll MacNeill added: The HSE Capital Plan sets out the priorities for investment in 2025 in order to deliver a better, more sustainable health service for everyone. A significant number of projects have been funded across the Mid West region, delivering the appropriate infrastructure that will enable us to deliver quality services to people closer to home.
New Delhi: New collections, lightweight designs, and discounts on making charges are among the offers jewellers are using to lure customers amid soaring gold prices ahead of Akshaya Tritiya.

India, the world's largest consumer of gold jewellery, witnesses a big jump in gold buying around this time of the year due to festivals like Ugadi and Gudi Padwa, leading up to Akshaya Tritiya on 30 April. Hindus see buying the yellow metal on Akshaya Tritiya as a symbol of prosperity.

However, this year, gold prices have surged close to the psychological mark of 1 lakh per 10g. On 17 April, the spot prices soared to an all-time high of 97,310 per 10g for 24 carat and 89,200 per 10g for 22 carat over renewed geopolitical concerns and a weakening US dollar.

High gold prices often result in customers exchanging old gold instead of buying new to preserve wealth.

Old gold exchange has gone up by 30-35% versus two years ago," said Suvankar Sen, managing director and chief executive, Senco Gold Ltd, which operates 171 stores across the country.

Also read | Gold demand stalls as prices spike, futures trade at discount amid volatility

To be sure, the prices for 24-carat gold have rallied 23.84% over the past year and 38% over the past two years.

At Titan Co. Ltd-owned jewellery brand Tanishq, elevated gold prices resulted in sluggish consumer demand at lower price points, leading to single-digit buyer growth. In contrast, demand at higher price bands sustained, resulting in high double-digit growth in ticket sizes, it said in its March quarter update released last week.

The company, which operates 500 Tanishq stores across the country, reported 24% year-on-year growth in its domestic jewellery business due to a significant increase in gold prices. It has yet to announce its March quarter earnings.

Shares of Titan are down 5.76% on BSE since 18 April 2024.

Wary customers

Though customers remain wary, retailers continue to push offers ahead of the 30 April festival.

We are bringing out new collections and lightweight jewellery made to fit into customers' budgets. We are offering discounts on gold rates and making charges," Sen added.

Also read | What RBI's proposed norms mean for co-lending, gold loans

Senco Gold is also offering 0% deduction on exchange, even for gold purchased from other jewellers.

Shares of Senco Gold are down 24% over the past year.

This year, sentiment remains strong, while we see customers being more careful and planned in their purchases," said Arun Narayan, vice-president, marketing and retail, Tanishq, Titan.

"Our approach, therefore, has been to respond with meaningful solutions like our Rivaah Golden Advantage purchase plan, Best Gold Rate, and our old-gold exchange programme that has mitigated the impact of rising gold rates," he said.

Tanishq, too, has introduced a large collection of lightweight traditional and contemporary designs.

Consumers have become more discerning due to the upward movement in gold prices, agreed M.P. Ahammed, chairman, Malabar Group. Auspicious days to buy gold, such as Gudi Padwa, Baisakhi, and Akshaya Tritiya, and the wedding season, have boosted consumer sentiment. As a result, walk-ins or footfalls to our stores have been healthy."

Malabar Gold & Diamonds is offering customers up to 25% discount on the making charges, a flat 25% discount on the making charges of precious stones and uncut diamond jewellery, and up to 25% discount on the diamond value.

Also read | Investors rush to cash in on gold ETFs as volatile equities keep them on edge

Our advanced booking facility is witnessing overwhelming response, as it allows customers to book jewellery with a minimum down payment of 10% of the total value and pay the rest based on the booked rate or the prevailing market ratewhichever is lower," Ahammed added.

Such offers help cushion the impact of a future rally in gold prices.

However, the desire for exquisitely crafted jewellery will remain strong even though preferences and budgets for gold jewellery may evolve, said Sandeep Kohli, CEO, Indriya-Aditya Birla Jewellery, which operates 21 stores.

We offer buyback policies and promotions. Our customer-owned gold exchange policy is very attractive, as under this policy, customers get 100% of the metal value," he said.

Distress at the local level

Local jewellers said high prices are pushing more consumers to exchange or even sell their old gold. People are exchanging gold, and some are even selling it because the price has gone too high, and they expect a fall in prices to buy again, which I feel is not very likely amid US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes and other economic conditions," said Sarthak Anand, director, Anami Jewellers, a store in Delhi's Lajpat Nagar market.

Anand said more consumers returned to stores to remake fresh pieces from old gold, making up 30% of the store's sales between March and mid-April versus a year ago.

Remaking accounts for about 10-12% of the stores daily business. Consumers also sell old gold, with 15% of sales coming from there. The sale of new ornaments stands at about 55% currently versus 80% on average over the last two years when gold prices were lower.
Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent appointed his deputy, Michael Faulkender, as the next acting commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service after reports the current leader of the agency, Gary Shapley, had been installed at the urging of Elon Musk without Bessents knowledge.

Trust must be brought back to the IRS, Bessent said in a post to X on Friday, calling Faulkender the right man for the moment.

Bessent said Shapley  who gained fame in conservative circles after claiming the Justice Department had stalled an investigation into whether former President Joe Bidens son had underpaid his taxes  would remain among my most senior advisors. Joseph Ziegler, another IRS employee removed from the Hunter Biden case, will also be ensured a long-term senior government role, the Treasury Secretary said.

The move came hours after the New York Times reported that Bessent approached President Donald Trump to complain that Musk had gone around him to get Shapley appointed as the acting head of the agency.

The switch means that the IRS will now have its fifth acting commissioner since Trump took office less than 100 days ago  and its third in less than a week. The agencys previous head, Melanie Krause, resigned after the Treasury Department agreed to provide taxpayer data to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement facilitate deportation efforts, despite longstanding privacy rules.

The upheaval comes as the IRS has taken center stage in Trumps push to strip universities and non-profit groups he sees as political enemies of their tax-exempt status.

I dont know whats going on, but when you see how badly theyve acted and in other ways also, so well, well be looking at it very strongly, on the tax exempt status subject, Trump told reporters on Thursday in the Oval Office.

IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel, who was appointed by former President Joe Biden, resigned in January shortly after Trumps inauguration and was replaced by Doug ODonnell, who stepped down one month later.

Faulkender previously led the Paycheck Protection Program in Trumps first administration. He will remain in the position until Billy Long, a former member of the House of Representatives, is confirmed by the Senate.

2025 Bloomberg L.P.
(Bloomberg) -- Exporters at Chinas largest trade fair have been discouraged from closing or leaving their stations early as organizers push them to maximize opportunities to attract sales amid an escalating trade conflict with the US.

The first phase of the Canton Fair was from Tuesday to Saturday, while the next will be from April 23-27. The final one is from May 1-5.

The foreign trade situation is grim and complex, according to a notice by the organizers of the Canton Fair to business delegations and trade associations. The circular has been widely circulated on Chinese social media platforms, and verified by two exhibitors who declined to be identified.

Do not dismantle the booths early, and staff should not leave the exhibitions early, the notice dated earlier this week said, adding this was to better help enterprises use the Canton Fair platform to expand markets and obtain orders.

President Donald Trumps 145% tariffs on imports from China has created a crisis for many of the countrys exporters. Beijing has tried to support these firms by pledging to promote domestic consumption, accelerating government spending, and creating more opportunities to sell to local customers.

It is unclear what conference organizers hope to achieve by asking exhibitors to stay until the end, as companies pay for their own booths and the people to staff them. Canton Fair organizers did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside of regular business hours.

If enterprises are found to withdraw their booths and exhibits in advance, the qualification of the business group for the current exhibition will be cancelled, according to the notice.

--With assistance from James Mayger.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
Manesar, Haryana-headquartered original electronics designer and manufacturer VVDN Technologies, on Friday, inaugurated an assembly line to make laptops locally, and a facility to produce components for telecommunications and networking devices.

The new facilities, coupled with VVDNs in-house designing capability, will make this the first time that more than 50% of the cost of making a laptop will contribute to revenue generated from India.

In an interview with Mint, Puneet Agarwal, chief executive of VVDN Technologies, said that with its new local manufacturing efforts, the company is already seeing 40% of the cost of making a laptop contributing to domestic revenue. All of these efforts contribute towards adding 10-40% to domestic value addition. We are already rolling out laptops from our assembly line, where 40% of the revenue accounts for domestic value addition," he said.

We are also a design-led manufacturer, and all our product reference designs are in-house. If we take the design aspect into account, the domestic value that we are adding to telecom equipment and laptops goes well above 50%," Agarwal added.

Domestic value addition refers to the net revenue generated from operations within a country without depending on imports. This includes manufacturing components, sourcing raw materials, making equipment for the manufacturing process, and designing the device being made.

VVDNs announcement on Friday is the first one after the Centre approved a $2.7-billion components incentive scheme on 28 March, where the Union government will offer up to 10% turnover-linked incentive and up to 25% capital expenditure-based incentive to electronics firms that build devices, components and specialized manufacturing equipment in India.

Union IT minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who inaugurated VVDNs assembly line on Friday, said the move can give us a big advantage compared to many other countries, which don't have this much design talent."

Reaping dividends

VVDN, on this note, will be an applicant to the Centres components incentive scheme to maximize cash flow and broaden its operating margin.

Electronics manufacturing is today employing about 2.5 million people, handling some of the most complex equipment. The sector has increased 5x in the past 10 years. Today, the sector has topped $130 billion. Electronics exports have increased 6x in the past 10 years, nearing $40 billion," Vaishnaw said.

VVDN, Vaishnaw added, has over 5,000 design engineers in the countrytaking a big leap from the legacy systems and designing products where AI is embedded in the product itself."

The move is helping firms such as VVDN Technologies already reap dividends. Agarwal told Mint that the company is already cash-flow positive, and has strong growth opportunities going forward."

The companys financial filing with the Registrar of Companies (RoC), accessed by Mint, said it crossed $250 million in annual revenue in FY24. Agarwal did not offer a revenue projection for the previous fiscal, i.e. FY25. But, the executive said that based on its anticipated order book and expansion of capabilities, VVDN Technologies is not in the market for a private equity or venture capital funding round, or a public listing this fiscal year.

We may consider plans for a public listing multiple years down the line, but at least for now, we dont have any fundraising plan in mind," Agarwal said.

Earlier this month, VVDN Technologies rolled out locally-made laptops for the Taiwanese electronics conglomerate brand, Asus. The company currently has an assembly line capacity of producing 20,000 laptops per month from its Manesar plant, which Agarwal said can be ramped up to 100,000 units monthly, depending on demand.

Dependence on other nations

Beyond devices, the production facility also focuses on components such as printed circuit boards (PCBs), mouldingwhich is used to make the external casing on laptops and other devices, and toolingor mechanical equipment used to manufacture these components.

In each of these, most raw materials and core components are already being sourced from within India itself, Agarwal said. In areas such as the making of device moulds, most of the operation is sourced through supply chain entities in India itself. In electronic devices such as network switches and routers, core electronics components are still imported from various nationswhich we are working on reducing in the long run," he added.

Industry experts have repeatedly highlighted Indias dependence on nations such as China for core electronics and networking components, and critical raw material such as processed metals for networking hardware and battery cells, as the key roadblock for Indias electronics economy. Targets set by the Centre have sought to make electronics a $500 billion annual revenue generator by 2030.

On 10 April, Mint reported that Indias electronics exports could comfortably cross $50 billion in the next five years. Crucially, industry analysts have said that alongside ramping up annual revenue, Indias key goal is to increase domestic value addition of electronics and related equipment and componentswhich is estimated to be between 10-20% for now.

The Centre is looking to incentivize ways for private firms to expand domestic value addition significantly by focusing on local design capability, since India has a lot of design engineering talent. Through incentives, India can draw global supply chain entities to the country, and the current geopolitics can push India to become a more important part of a distributed supply chain away from China," said Ashok Chandak, president of the industry body, India Electronics and Semiconductor Association (Iesa).

Mint further reported on 16 April that the Centre is also looking to roll out a broad-based design-linked incentive scheme as part of its overhaul of the India Semiconductor Mission. Such a move will further bode well for VVDN Technologies, which is already designing devices and manufacturing components locally to add increasing value to the Indian electronics supply chain.
India-China trade relations: Amid the growing trade imbalance due to US President Donald Trump's tariff hikes worldwideIndias deficit with China hit $99.2 billion. In the current scenario, China has reached out for economic collaboration. In a recent interview with The Times of India, Chinese Ambassador Xu Feihong said China's intent to welcome premium Indian goods and help Indian businesses tap into Chinas massive consumer market.

The Chinese Ambassador's message signal a potential shift in the economic dynamics between the two nations despite heightened global trade uncertainty due to Trump tariffs. While Chinas market presents commercial opportunities for Indian exporters, Xu also urged India to create a more level playing field for Chinese enterprises operating within its borders to foster deeper cooperation.

India-China trade talks renewed? Indias trade deficit with China surged to a record level in the fiscal year ended March 31, almost touching the $100 billion-mark, latest government data showed, even as officials fear that the Indian market may see decreasing Chinese goods, with the US slapping a 245 per cent tariff on imports from China.

India exported goods worth $14.25 billion to China in 2024-25, a 14.4 per cent dip from $16.66 billion the previous financial year (2023-24), according to detailed trade data released by the commerce ministry on Wednesday.

In 2024-25, India imported Chinese merchandise worth $113.45 billion, a 11.5 per cent jump from $101.73 billion imported the previous financial year. The data showed Indias imports from China registered a robust double-digit growth while Indian exports to the country contracted, leading to huge trade deficit of $99.2 billion.

Xu told The Times of India that China has never deliberately pursued a trade surplus, arguing that such imbalances evolve naturally with market forces. Valuing Chinas super-sized market will unlock greater commercial opportunities for Indian companies, he said, pointing to spikes in Indian exports of chili peppers, cotton yarn and iron oreup by 17 per cent, 240 per cent, and 160 per cent respectively in FY24.

Trade surveillance India has activated its newly-formed Import Monitoring Committee, tasking it with keeping a close watch on key Chinese exports to the USespecially electronics, machinery, textiles, toys, and solar equipmentthat are now at greater risk of being dumped into the Indian market.

India has sharpened its trade surveillance tools to stave off a potential surge in imports, as the tit-for-tat tariff war between the US and China intensifies, prompting exporters in the two countries to look for alternative markets for their products. Chinese and American goods, meant for each other's markets, could be routed to India via Vietnam, Indonesia and Nepal.

Also Read | Chinatown merchants in the US are feeling the bite of tariffs
Washington, DC [US], April 19 (ANI): After a long wait of over one year, Season 2 of 'Ahsoka' has finally arrived. The two teases came out of the Ahsoka panel on Friday night at the Star Wars Celebration in Tokyo, reported Deadline.

The panel announced that the movie is set to go into production next week. Actor Hayden Christensen is coming back as Anakin Skywalker -- Anakin is the Jedi Master of Ahsoka in the series, reported Deadline.

According to the outlet, the major surprise came with the 'Game of Thrones' actor Rory McCann stepping in to play evil Jedi Baylan Skol after the death of Ray Stevenson

Also, Admiral Ackbar (Star Wars Character) is returning in the series and will be going head-to-head with Thrawn, said Ahsoka creator Dave Filoni.

"It took all of my effort to resist writing the line -- 'It's a trap!' Because I'm like, I can't do that, that would be so lame. Because this guy can't always get into traps. You'd think he would see it this time," joked Filoni as quoted by Deadline.

According to the outlet, Stevenson died in May 2023 before season one of Ahsoka debuted. He played a key antagonist who locks horns with Rosario Dawson's Ahsoka.

Dawson worked with McCann 20 years ago in Oliver Stone's Alexander. She concurred with Filoni that when it came to filling in Stevenson's shoes, it boiled down to an actor and their eyes. McCann possessed that intensity.

Filoni got emotional when remembering Stevenson.

"Season 2 was predictably a big challenge because of losing Ray. I knew Ray from working on voice acting with him. It was a challenge for me to consider continuing for a while. But I have a wonderful support group in Jon (Favreau) and Rosario (Dawson)", said Filoni as quoted by Deadline
London, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said he and President Donald Trump held productive talks on the ongoing discussions towards a trade agreement with the US to address the hefty import tariffs imposed by the American administration on countries around the world.

Downing Street said the phone call on Friday also covered the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the recent US strikes on a Yemeni port to target Houthi rebels.

The call came soon after Trump told reporters at the White House that his proposed second State Visit at the invitation of King Charles III is expected in September, a timeline yet to be confirmed by Buckingham Palace.

The prime minister spoke to the President of the United States, Donald Trump, this afternoon, a Downing Street spokesperson said in a readout of the call.

The leaders began by discussing the ongoing and productive discussions between the UK and the US on trade. The prime minister reiterated his commitment to free and open trade and the importance of protecting the national interest, the spokesperson said.

The leaders also discussed the situation in Ukraine, Iran and recent action taken against the Houthis in Yemen. They agreed to stay in touch, the spokesperson added.

The trade deal is being pursued against the backdrop of Trump's 10 per cent tariffs on UK goods and a higher 25 per cent on imports of cars, steel and aluminium.

Britain has resisted going down the route of counter-tariffs adopted by the European Union in the hope of a mutually beneficial deal.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is in Washington next week for meetings with G20 and G7 finance ministers and to attend the International Monetary Fund annual summit. It will mark her first meeting with Trumps Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during which the UK-US trade pact will be high on the agenda.
Ford Motor has stopped shipping pricey pickup trucks, SUVs and sports cars to China to avoid tariffs that have shot up in recent weeks, the latest effect on the auto sector from the Trump administrations escalating trade war.

The company halted shipments this week of F-150 Raptors, Mustang muscle cars and Bronco SUVs built in Michigan, as well as Lincoln Navigators made in Kentucky, according to people familiar with the matter.

Chinas recent countermeasures in response to U.S. import taxes have pushed tariffs on those vehicles as high as 150%, the people said. The F-150 Raptor sells for nearly $100,000 in China.

We have adjusted exports from the U.S. to China in light of the current tariffs," a Ford spokeswoman said, without specifying models or timing.

The China export business represents a small but profitable operation for Ford. The automaker began shipping some of its most-recognizable nameplates to the country about a decade ago, in part to burnish its brand image among Chinese car buyers.

Last year, Ford shipped about 5,500 Broncos, F-150s, Mustangs and Navigators to China. That is below the annual average of more than 20,000 vehicle exports to China over the past decade.

The company also exports U.S.-built engines and transmissions to China. Those shipments have continued despite the decision to halt exports of assembled vehicles, the people with knowledge of Fords moves said.

Ford imports one model from China, the Lincoln Nautilus, which now is subject to a hefty tariff. Those shipments have continued, the company spokeswoman said.

Auto executives have been scrambling to react to a series of on-again, off-again tariffs that the Trump administration has put in place in recent months. A 25% tariff on vehicles and parts, duties on steel and aluminum and soaring taxes on Chinese imports threaten to dent the profits of auto suppliers and car companies, analysts and executives have said.

Fords sales in China have shriveled in recent weeks along with those of other global carmakers, hurt by the rise of Chinese car brands. The American automaker sold about 400,000 vehicles last year in the country, including cars produced jointly with Chinese partner companies, down from about 1.3 million in 2016.

Today, Ford has been using its factories in China as an export hub, shipping cars to southeast Asia and South America. The companys operating profit from its China operations was about $900 million last year, Ford Vice Chairman John Lawler said at an investor conference this week.

Write to Mike Colias at mike.colias@wsj.com
AMONG THE many complaints made by President Donald Trump is that America has been much more generous than European countries in providing military and economic aid to Ukraine. On February 12th he claimed that America had given Ukraine $350bn in aid, whereas the Europeans had provided just $100bnand that in the form of loans rather than grants.

The disparity, he avers, justifies his demand that America should take control of an estimated $500bn-worth of rare-earth and other minerals in Ukrainenot as a means to ensure future support but as back payment for past assistance.

Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, retorted on February 18th that financially and militarily, Europe has brought more to the table than anyone else. And we will step up." Who is right?

The most authoritative numbers are compiled regularly by the Kiel Institute, a German think-tank. Its latest report, published on February 14th, shows that European contributionsindividually from governments and collectively from European institutionsoutstrip Americas aid.

Start with the grand total (see chart 1 and 2). Countries worldwide have allocated 267bn ($280bn) in aid to Ukraine, or roughly 80bn per year. America remains the single most important donor by a wide margin but European countries, including the EU, have collectively surpassed its efforts, with 132bn in allocated aid compared with Americas 114bn (although America remains slightly ahead on military aid). Add other commitments yet to be delivered or specified and the gap grows yet wider. However, almost 90% of the financial aid from EU institutions has been in the form of loans (albeit with very generous terms). Roughly 60% of Americas financial aid is given as grants.

View Full Image (The Economist)

Our third chart shows how this has cumulated over time. European support has remained relatively stable since 2022, while American aid has been far more volatile. Its support slowed in 2023 and 2024 amid partisan wrangling in Congress, then picked up again with the passage of a new supplemental bill, and accelerated at the end of Joe Bidens term.

View Full Image (The Economist)

Europes biggest donor is Germany, which has provided some 17bn (including financial, humanitarian and military aid and excluding what is channeled through EU donors). Britain is second, with 15bn, followed by Denmark (see chart 4). But Europes biggest economies have the capacity to do much more. Annual commitments by Germany and Britain, along with America, work out to just 0.2% of their GDPs. Aid to Ukraine thus looks more like a minor political pet project rather than a major fiscal effort," concludes the Kiel report.

View Full Image (The Economist)

Indeed, in 1990 Germany allocated a greater share of its GDP to support Kuwait than it has for a war on Europes doorstep. Similarly, America committed significantly more money per year during the Korean, Vietnam and Iraq wars.

As a share of their output, the Baltic and Nordic states stand out (see chart 5). Estonia and Denmark, for example, have committed more than 2% of their pre-war GDP to supporting Ukraine in bilateral aid.

Generally speaking, the closer a countrys capital is to Russia, the higher its aid to Ukraine as a share of GDP (see chart 6). For example, Latvia and Lithuaniawhose capitals are both less than 1,000km from Moscowcontributed 2% of their pre-war GDP. Japan, however, provides more bilateral aid than France, Italy and Spain in absolute terms and as a share of its GDP, despite being more than twice as distant from Moscow.

View Full Image (The Economist)

European leaders have been sent a clear message by the Trump administration: Stark strategic realities prevent the United States of America from being primarily focused on the security of Europe," as the defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, put it. European countries are already doing more than America to aid Ukraine. If America pulls further funding, they will need to do more still.

 2025, The Economist Newspaper Ltd. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
A pizza chain knows how to make great pizzabut running a tech support centre, processing payroll, tracking inventory, ensuring legal compliance, or managing a secure cloud network across continents? Thats not its core business. So, it outsources all that to a third-party IT services firm.

That modeloutsourcing the back officeput Indian tech giants like TCS, Infosys and Wipro on the global map. But theres another, increasingly popular route.

Instead of outsourcing, the pizza chain could build its own tech and support arm in Indiaone it fully owns and operates. Thats where consulting firms like ANSR, Gloplax, Stratinfinity, and Bridgepath Innovations come in. They help global companies set up Global Capability Centres (GCCs)captive hubs that manage everything from hiring and compliance to infrastructure and day-to-day operations.

Read this | What lies ahead for GCCs in India after a pivotal year

Most of the consulting companies helping MNCs were set-up after the pandemic. None of them have more than 50 people. Their scope of work includes helping the GCCs get land, legal clearances, and hiring talent.

ANSR: Turnkey giant

The biggest in the consulting business, and one of the oldest, is ANSR.

Bengaluru-based ANSR was established in 2003. It employs 150,000 people to run more than 150 GCCs in the country today.

The company sets up GCCs in three phases: design, establishment and running.

As part of the design phase, ANSR guides the MNC on picking the right city to set up shop in, hire the talent, handle the legal compliances, and sets up an organisational structure. This phase typically takes up to eight weeks.

Once the design is approved, ANSR sets up the GCC and this takes up another eight weeks.

Then you get into operations (the last phase), where we could support our customers long-termfive years, three years, 10 years, or 20 years," said Lalit Ahuja, chief executive of ANSR.

On an ongoing basis, we run their offices, and we have a massive footprint of 11 million square feet. Our customers dont have to be distracted by what it takes to run an office, to run an internet circuit, to provide security, all of that," said Ahuja.

ANSR charges one price for everything. This is typically 30% the cost of running a GCC.

While ANSR has established its presence in the country, its business is now being challenged by the emergence of smaller players, who merely rely on the consulting aspect and partner with other service providers to keep costs low.

These companies, such as Gloplax and Bridgepath Innovations, take only a cut for the consulting-led services that they offer to the parent companies rather than having an annual contract with the GCC they are establishing and running.

Read this | Culture is the most important aspect of how you run a GCC: Tescos Sumit Mitra

Mint could not ascertain the financials of these smaller companies and their managements declined to share their financials.

Gloplax: Building GCCs without running them

Much like ANSR, Bengaluru-based Gloplax offers consulting services to clients but does not run the services of the GCC.

Gloplax was set-up in August 2019 by Aveek Mukherjee, a former Wells Fargo executive, who was an integral aspect in setting up the financial services companys GCC operations in India. Mukherjee is also the managing director.

For Gloplax, the focus is on understanding the company at a deeper level. The consulting company sends its employees to the parent company to understand processes and based on that assessment, suggests an operating model including a job structure and talent acquisition. But it does not run the delivery centre.

We'll give you operating models, you know, hiring the right people. We'll sit with you and get the job description straightened out. Make sure that all the structures you're creating for those delivery teams are actually in order," explained Mukherjee, adding that his company does not run the delivery of the GCC. We want you to run it because then you have ownership. It's your team. End of the day, it's just another location for you," said Mukherjee.

While Gloplaxs processes might seem similar to its larger peers, its focus areas are different. Rather than putting its energy in the large Fortune companies, the company is looking to increase its presence amongst mid-market companies, those that do not fall within the Fortune bracket.

We keep hearing about the big guys like JP Morgan, HSBC or Target, but they are actually a very small portion of the overall GCC population. The larger population (of GCCs) is actually mid-sized companies trying to make something out of it. Our entire programme, our platform designs and our product is towards that mid-segment," said Mukherjee.

Bridgepath Innovations: The Counsel

Gloplax is not the only company to follow a unique structure. Its cross-town peer, Bridgepath Innovations, has a similar style of functioning.

Today, its becoming a trend with companies to say that if nothing works, start a GCC. There are very few companies that provide independent consulting on whether large multinationals must even start GCCs. Companies dont understand why they are building a GCC. We tell them this is what it is and what they actually need," said Ramaswamy Narayanan, chief executive of Bridgepath Innovations.

Started in 2023 in Bengaluru, Bridgepath employs about 10 employees, most of whom are consultants on a contractual basis. Much like Gloplax, Bridgepath relies on its consulting service to run captive centres for a few and considers them as images of their parent companies.

Read this | Nano giants: Niche tech firms fuel Indias next GCC wave

Bridgepath partners with firms specialising in real estate, legal services, and hiring, while focusing solely on consulting. We charge 8-15% of the total cost of running the GCC from our clients," said Narayanan, adding that his company has worked with three Fortune 500 companies in the last 15 years.

A growing marketand room for boutique players

India had 1,700 GCCs in FY24, up 32% from March 2019, which implies that a GCC is being set up in the country every third day.

These GCCs generated about $64.6 billion in revenue in FY24. The countrys IT industry was worth $269 billion the same year.

Further, the GCCs, in aggregate, employ 1.9 million people, said Piper Sandler analysts Arvind Ramnani, John Nutt, and Caden Dahl, in a note dated 23 March.

Unlike earlier, companies setting up GCCs in India today are smaller. Earlier, mostly the Fortune 100 companies came to establish GCCs. Now in the last two to three years, a lot of mid-market companies have come to set-up GCCs. Any company, $300 million to $800 million in size, wants to start a GCC," said Viswanathan K.S., an independent tech advisor and former vice-president of Nasscom.

The former Nasscom vice-president of industry initiatives added that digitisation is driving this change. Now, it is easy to establish GCCs in less than five months. An abundance of digital-ready talent in India is driving these companies to set up shop here," added Viswanathan.

Today, the largest GCCs in the country include JP Morgan, HSBC, Morgan Stanley, and Goldman Sachs. These captives employ more than 10,000 employees each.

Also read | Mint Primer: Why Karnataka is placing its bets on a GCC gold rush

More than 875, or half of the countrys 1,700 GCCs, are based in Bengaluru, while Hyderabad has about 355. The rest are located in cities such as Delhi NCR, Pune, and Chennai.

Nasscom estimates the number of Indian GCCs will touch 2,200 by March 2030, with a market size of $105 billion. While the GCC pie is set to get bigger, so is the scope for boutique firms sprouting up to open and run these GCCs.
NEW DELHIWhen President Trump opened his first trade war on China in 2018, a company called Zetwerk was just beginning to connect global customers with Indian suppliers of things like sheet metal and precision parts.

Today, it has a network of more than 10,000 suppliers and seven of its own electronics factories. Its latest facility, making parts for washing machines and other appliances, opened in March.

The first trade war helped India riseand Trumps second one could be transformative, said Josh Foulger, the head of Zetwerks electronics business.

Is this Indias moment?" said Foulger. Yes."

With most Chinese exporters cut off for now from U.S. consumers by high tariffs, companies are looking for alternative places to produce and export to the U.S.adding up to a golden opportunity for India.

That doesnt mean India will take its chance. The worlds most populous nation has long trailed not just China but also smaller countries with nimbler governments. The number of people working in agriculture dwarfs the number employed in manufacturing.

Global high-tech firms and retailers say India is a harder place to do business than China or Vietnam, owing to government red tape, restive labor groups and an often-punitive approach to compliance and taxation. Vietnam, a country of 100 million people, export more iPhones to the U.S. from India, and the country currently accounts for about 20% of iPhone final production, according to market research estimates.

Most Indian goods face only a 10% U.S. import tariff.

Indias election last year, in which Prime Minister Narendra Modis ruling Bharatiya Janata Party lost its outright majority, sent a clear message that many voters were dissatisfied with job prospects and low wages.

India now has a critical window for opening up with no local or national election on the horizon for about a year, said Tanvi Madan, an expert on India at the Brookings Institution.

The moment could be as important for India as the end of the Cold War, when it fell into a financial crisis caused by the collapse of the Soviet Union, then Indias largest trading partner. In response, India opened up to foreign investment and cut a plethora of rules and regulations known as the license raj," sparking faster growth.

India has always worried about what opening up to the world will do to it," said Madan. It should be thinking about what the world can do for it."

Indias foreign minister, S. Jaishankar, said this month that the upending of global trade had focused our own minds on the need for correcting what I would call a certain skewed nature of our openness to the global economy."

Still, companies find India remains prone to regulatory flip-flops and head-scratching interpretations of tax laws, leading to penalties or lengthy legal disputes.

India has demanded $1.4 billion for back taxes going back 12 years from a unit of German automaker Volkswagen, and an equivalent amount as a penalty, alleging it misclassified shipments imported into India to evade customs duties. The company denies wrongdoing, and has challenged the order in court.

You think about China 30 years ago and Vietnam now, you have government officials in their localities waking up every day thinking, How can I make it easier for companies to come here and invest?" said an executive with a U.S. firm long active in India.

Yet smartphones offer an example of what India can do when it puts its mind to it. A decade ago, when India started focusing on building phones, its annual mobile-phone exports were only about $250 million. Now the figure is more than $22 billion, with Apple accounting for about three-quarters of that.

A factory in Karnataka operated by Taiwans Foxconn is coming on line this year and will eventually add annual production of 20 million phones, rivaling Foxconns flagship plant in the neighboring state of Tamil Nadu.

Officials say a network of suppliers is growing up to feed the final assembly. New York state-based Corning, which has long made scratchproof glass for Apple phones, plans to start production in Tamil Nadu this year.

Smartphones offer an example of what India can do when it puts its mind to it.

Companies say smartphones are benefiting from the governments attention and support, including manufacturing subsidies. India said this month it would extend the subsidies to phone components it now largely imports, and it has upgraded the freight terminal at Tamil Nadus main airport to address bottlenecks that sometimes left vehicles carrying products waiting on the highway.

Foulger, the executive who connects global companies with Indian suppliers, was the country head for Foxconn in India before joining Zetwerk last year. He said the country still needed improvement on the most important quality for a global supply chain: consistency.

His mantra is to plan ahead, which he said he often repeats when he hears a supplier citing a string of public holidays as the reason for a delay or a worker blaming Bangalores notorious traffic for being late.

All of these things have to be like this 128-piece orchestra working in sync to make this happen," said Foulger. Its going to be a journey, its going to take some time, but because of Indias inherent strengths I think we will prevail."

Write to Tripti Lahiri at tripti.lahiri@wsj.com
New Delhi: For India's dreams to pump up growth with a heavy dose of infrastructure spending, the latest data on highway building provides a tough reality check.

Highway building in FY25 lagged previous year's levels while new project awards remained virtually unchanged, latest data for the period up to February showed. While construction was completed on just about 8,330 km against over 9,088 km built the previous year, awards were around 4,874 km, almost identical to the previous year's 4,872 km. Even if March throws up a surprise, the construction will still remain far short of the 12,000 km targeted for the year.

The slowdown in construction and awards comes despite record capital expenditure of over 2.35 trillion. The Union budget for FY25 allocated 2.72 trillion for the road ministry, which is primarily responsible to building highways across the country.

Road building that peaked at around 13,000 km in FY21 has plunged in the years that followed to 10,000-11,000 kms per annum.

Also read | India new highway construction likely hit 7-year low as focus shifts to upgrades

The hybrid annuity model (HAM) dominated projects awarded in FY25. About 26,156 crore worth of HAM and BOT (build-operate-transfer) projects were awarded in FY25 up to February, with the bulk of going it into HAM projects. In HAM, the government supports developers with 40% of project cost at the beginning of construction, while the developer has to get 60% of equity into the projects at later stage. In BOT, the entire construction risk is borne by contractor, who recovers money through tolls after the highway becomes operational.

New projects

The fewer kilometers of highway construction should not be looked at as a slowdown in highway construction, as the government is now taking up complex projects including construction of higher laned highways and access-controlled expressways," an executive at a private sector highway developer said on condition of anonymity.

According to Kuljit Singh, partner and infrastructure leader, EY India, there is significant scope for new highway development and expansion in India, as four-lane highways still comprise a small share of the network.

Also read | Highway maintenance plan strengthened to lessen bumpy rides

it would be important to also focus attention on enhancing the pace at each of level of project development i.e. increasing pace of land acquisition and land compensation payments, increasing pace of state govt support, increasing pace of utility shifting, tree clearing and encroachment removal, increasing pace of preparing viable DPRs etc. Unfortunately, on such pre-development activities, little information is available and hence, we end up seeing spikes and plunges in highway bidding and construction," Singh said earlier.

Road and highways minister Nitin Gadkari recently said the only target that the government is now looking at is to touch 100 km of highway construction per day. This would mean more than tripling the current rate of around 30 a per day.

The road ministry hopes to achieve around 12,000 km road construction over next decade, after which it may slow down as most highways required in the country would have been built and focus would shift to maintenance.

Also read | Green routes: Highways identified for e-trucks, buses

Under the Vision 2047 plan, the road ministry is targeting 50,000 km of access-controlled highways that would add more lane kilometer to the network as most of these would be 4-8 lane networks. So, in terms of lane kilometers, more additions would be made in the highway network across the country, but linear km coverage would remain slower than post-covid levels of over 10,000 km per annum.
Mumbai: Asias financial markets were rattled earlier this month after the US announced sweeping tariffs, imposing a blanket 10% duty on all imports and targeting key economies like India, China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand with steeper levies. China retaliated swiftly, slapping duties as high as 125% on US goods, escalating tensions into a full-blown trade war.

In India, the Nifty 50 plunged over 5% in four days post tariff announcement, while the India Volatility Index (VIX) shot up 65.7% to 22.8 on 7 April its sharpest single-day spike since 2007. Though US President Donald Trump partially rolled back tariffs on 9 April, offering a 90-day pause for most nations (excluding China) , anxiety lingers.

While markets initially rejoiced at this move, fueling a rebound in the blue-chip index Nifty 50, uncertainties linger. US recession anxieties cast a long shadow, and the eventual expiry of tariff reprieve poses a looming threat to exposed businesses. In this precarious landscape, where can investors find genuine safety?

Also read Market holiday hangover? Unravelling the mystery of truncated trading weeks

Market experts shared their insights with Mint to identify sectors and stocks expected to weather potential trade-induced slowdowns or a full-blown recession, offering a refuge for investors.

Threat & opportunity

Aamar Deo Singh, senior vice presidentresearch at Angel One identified four sectorselectronics, jewellery, textiles, and pharmaas the most exposed. Pharma sectorcurrently tariffs have not been announced, but there is bound to be a significant announcement by Donald Trump, so that could have an impact on our pharma companiesto a negative extent. So, that is something well have to seehow the pharma companies actually manage this, because that will hit their cost competitiveness and will increase their prices. Whether US demand holds up is a crucial questionstudies suggest that tariffs could add $3,800 to $4,000 to annual household expenses," he said.

Yet, he pointed out Indias relative advantage. The tariffs imposed on India are far lower than those on countries like China, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Cambodia. While India faces about 27% tariffs, others are looking at much higher rates."

On sectoral winners, Singh said, Electronics exports could benefit. Textiles is another key sector, valued at about $2.5-3 billion, which holds potential for significant growth. If we play our cards right, we could capture a larger share of US-bound exports."

Singh highlighted Arvind and Tata Chemicals as key stocks well-positioned to navigate market volatility. Arvind has surged 20% over a year, benefiting from its export-oriented strategy and vertically integrated operations. Meanwhile, Tata Chemicals, despite a 23% correction in a year, remains his favorite due to its global footprint and diversified business model, making it resilient in these uncertain markets.

Also read Boom to brakes: Bulk and block deals fizzle out amid market volatility

History speaks

Akshay Chinchalkar, head of research at Axis Securities, emphasized on lessons from past market downturns. During the 2008 global financial crisis, the Nifty dropped 60% over 10 months, and all sectoral indices fell. Yet, the least damage was seen in defensive pockets: Pharma, fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) and information technology."

Chinchalkar noted that the tariff situation marks a new template" for global markets. Stagflation risks are rising by the day. Volatility itself has become more volatile, and large, outsized moves are being witnessed across every asset class and nearly on a daily basis."

He recommended focusing on companies with high earnings visibility, market leadership, and sectoral dominance." His firm remains overweight on large private sector banks, telecom, consumption, hospitals, and interest-rate proxies.

We are cautious on tech due to global headwinds and concentration risk in mega-cap names. If the tariffs-led upheaval pushes the US economy into recession, the domestic tech sector will be impacted due to reduced discretionary spending," he added.

His top recommendations include banking heavyweights ICICI Bank and HDFC Bank, telecom leader Bharti Airtel, FMCG player Varun Beverages, healthcare stocks Max Healthcare and Lupin, along with capex-oriented plays APL Apollo Tubes and Kalpataru Projects, following recent price corrections.

The banking sector shows strong fundamentals, with ICICI Bank delivering 27% returns over the past year and maintaining a healthy 17% return on equity (RoE). HDFC Bank, despite experiencing slower deposit growth after its merger, continues to demonstrate structural strength with 24% annual returns.

Bharti Airtel has surged 50% over the year, driven by tariff hikes that have boosted revenue and strengthened the bottom line, with expectations of increased dividends by 2026. The consumer sector presents an interesting case with Varun Beverages - despite a 15% year-to-date correction. Analysts remain bullish given its favorable positioning for seasonal demand and robust distribution network.

Also read Decoding today's market crash in charts: The hard truths you need to know alongside signs of resilience

Local shield

According to Vikas Jain, head of research at Reliance Securities, sectors linked to domestic consumption and autos are better insulated.

Export-driven sectors like IT and pharma will be among the worst hit due to tariffs, as there is still no clarity on the extent of these duties," he said. In terms of data points, sectors related to exports remain vulnerablefor instance, the IT sector has already declined post tariff announcement."

On the other hand, he added, The consumer sector stands to benefit as domestic demand may improve. With two rate cuts of 25 basis points each, the sectorwhich was previously on a declining trendhas started to show some positive momentum since then."

Within autos, Jain expects Bajaj Auto and Hero MotoCorp to see momentum, while Tata Motors may face pressure due to export exposure. He also sees upside in Voltas, Havells, and Blue Star, driven by margin improvements and volume growth.

Safety trio

Sunny Agrawal, head of fundamental research at SBI Securities, sees potential in sectors least exposed to global trade.

Consumption staples, power utilities, and large financials offer relative safety in downturns, especially in a tariff recession," he said. His top ideas include Emami, Indian Hotels, ITC Hotels, NTPC, Power Grid, REC, and PFC.

Agrawal also likes large lenders such as Bank of Baroda, and housing finance players like Bajaj Housing Finance, PNB Housing, and Bajaj Finance. Among autos, he highlighted M&M, Escorts, and Uno Minda as beneficiaries of rural resilience and infrastructure spending. In cement, Ultratech, Ambuja, and JK Lakshmi were cited as long-term structural bets.

Demand driven

Amit Jain, co-founder at Ashika Global Family Office Services, also advised investors to focus on companies with limited global exposure. FMCG, domestic-focused banks, healthcare (with minimal exports), and insurance sectors offer relative insulation from tariffs and global slowdown risks, backed by steady cash flows and resilient demand," he said.

He named HUL, ITC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, and Dr. Reddys as preferred plays. Many of these have historically shown strong resilience during downturns. Their robust balance sheets and focus on domestic demand help them weather global shocks better than most."

Vishnu Kant Upadhyay, AVPresearch & advisory at Master Capital Services, echoed the defensive tilt. While no sector is immune to economic shocks, FMCG, healthcare, utilities, and diversified businesses have shown lower downside risk during market turmoil."

FMCG companies producing essentials see steady demand. Healthcare needs remain inelastic. Utilities, too, offer predictable earnings due to regulated pricing and necessity-driven consumption," he added.
Penny stock under 5: Sellwin Traders shares will be in focus on Monday, April 21, as the consumer products company announced its expansion plans to open more retail outlets in several Indian cities, as per the official release.

The company plans to open 12 new retail outlets across the major cities in India in the upcoming 12 months under a franchise model. The firm also plans to invest 15 crore in this expansion plan, which is projected to generate a revenue of 23.5 crore due to the rising demand for heritage-rich products and high-quality goods.

Sellwin Traders Ltd. plans to open 12 new outlets across major Indian cities over the next 12 months under a franchise model. Backed by a strategic investment of Rs. 15 crore, the expansion is projected to generate Rs. 23.5 crore in revenue, driven by growing demand for heritage-rich, high-quality food products, said the company in a press release on April 18.

According to the official release, the company is also planning to expand its operations to international markets like the Middle East, Africa, Europe, the Americas, Australia, and Russia. The global portfolio of the company will feature a selection of fresh vegetables, processed foods, cereals, mango pulp, and sulphur-less jaggery, all focused on purity, nutrition, and traditional Indian taste.

Sellwin Traders Share Price Sellwin Traders shares closed 1.8 per cent higher at 3.39 after Thursday's stock market session, compared to 3.33 at the previous market close. The Indian stock markets were closed on Friday, April 18, on account of the Good Friday holiday.

Also Read | Stocks to buy under 100: Mehul Kothari recommends three shares to buy or sell

The shares hit their 52-week high levels at 5.89 apiece on November 1, 2024, while the 52-week low level was at 2.71 per share on April 15, 2025, according to data collected from BSE. The shares are currently placed above their year-low levels.

Sellwin Traders shares have given stock market investors nearly 22 per cent returns in the last three stock market sessions, and 11.4 per cent gains in the last five trading sessions.

However, on a year-to-date (YTD) basis, the shares have lost 26.13 per cent in 2025. As of Thursday's stock market close, the company's market capitalisation (M-Cap) was at 76.24 crore.
A few weeks ago, I was obsessively checking my phone, hoping to see a notification from Google Docs. I had shared a piece with my editor and wanted to hear her thoughts. A day passed. Then two. Nothing.

A few days later, while opening the doc for something else, I noticed shed already made comments and editsall sitting there silently. I just never got the notification.

After a little digging, I discovered I now had to manually enable notifications to be alerted if someone made changes to my documenta setting I didnt remember touching. I had been getting updates smoothly for years. So, who was at fault? The app or the device?

This, Ive since realised, is our new normal. Our phones are constantly buzzingsomeone liked something, someone sent a meme, someones going live. So we mute things. Group chats. Promotional apps. Ive turned off push notifications for all social platforms. But whats frustrating is that even the apps we dont muteEmail, WhatsApp, Google Docs in my caseoften go quiet.

Last month, Swaraj Ghosh, a 30-year-old financial professional from Delhi, didnt receive a Gmail notification about his banks KYC request. Luckily, he saw the email while manually scrolling through his inbox a few days later. I had to visit the bank to update my account information because of this," he says.

Sometimes, when I turn on my data or Wi-Fi after a long time, I dont receive all my WhatsApp notifications," says Pooja Sanwal, 21, a marketing professional from Mumbai. She now checks most apps manually after having revoked push notifications permission for them. Otherwise, Id just blame myself that there are so many notifications constantly pouring in, its easy to miss some."

Also read: 30 essentials for a summer at home

Its a paradox of our times: were more reachable than ever yet constantly missing the memo. Somewhere between the mute buttons we hit in self-defence and the background decisions our apps make for us, the useful also gets filtered out with the fluff.

A cursory search for not getting notifications" on Google, Reddit or X throws up the usual suspects. Truecaller notifications often get suppressed on iPhones. Slack users routinely complain about missed @mentions. There was widespread clamour recently about iPhones failing to deliver push notifications. And if youve enabled Androids battery optimisation feature, techies will tell you: it often kills off certain push alerts unless you manually whitelist them app by app.

Essentially, weve built a system so bloated that it now eats its own alerts. A notification ecosystem that is both overwhelming and unreliablelike building a house with 50 doorbells, and not telling anyone which ones actually work.

And the real tragedy? No one can tell if the silence is a bug, a feature, or just your phone doing what it thinks is best for you.

No wonder we blame ourselves. Maybe we turned something off. Maybe we forgot to check the right box. Maybe were just bad at being available. So we play detective. We check the settings. Uninstall and reinstall apps. We google why am I not getting notifications for so and so". We write to support. Restart the phone. And then we wait, hoping our device decides were notification-worthy again.

But what if its not us? What if, somewhere down the line, our machinesin their endless pursuit of efficiencystarted ghosting us? And now, were stuck in this situationship.

Also read: AI tools to help you stay calm in a complex world
Delhi saw strong winds accompanied with dust storm yesterday on April 18, Friday, giving some relief to Delhiites from the heatwave. The temperature dropped from 36 to 27 degrees celsius. According to the Indian Meteorological Department data, Narela, Pitampura and Mayur Vihar recorded 0.5 mm of rainfall.

Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Delhi weather The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted that Delhi will witness light rain and thunderstorms on Saturday, April 19, as the heatwave in the northwestern region of the country starts to decrease. Saturday will begin with partly cloudy skies, turning generally cloudy by evening.

The maximum temperature is likely to be around 38 degrees celsius, while minimum 26 degrees celsius on Saturday. This weather is expected to continue till April 20, with clear skies forecast for April 21.

The regional met centre in New Delhi in its Saturday forecast said, "Partly cloudy sky becoming generally cloudy sky towards evening. very light rain/drizzle. Thunderstorm/lightning/duststorm accompanied with sustained surface wind speed reaching 40-50 kmph gusting to 60 kmph."

The city saw a maximum temperature of 41 degrees Celsius, 4.2 notches above normal, the IMD said.

Meanwhile, the air quality in the afternoon on Friday was in the poor category, with an Air Quality Index (AQI) reading of 219. According to the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB), an AQI between 0 and 50 is considered good, between 51 and 100 satisfactory, between 101 and 200 moderate, between 201 and 300 poor, between 301 and 400 very poor, and between 401 and 500 severe.

Also Read | Bengaluru weather: IMD issues yellow alert for rainfall till Sunday

Weather in other states of India Rajasthan continued to suffer under intense heat on Friday, with numerous locations recording maximum temperatures above 45 degrees Celsius. However, the weather department has forecast that strong winds and dust storms beginning April 20 may offer some respite from the such conditions. Areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh could also experience heavy rainfall, snowfall or hailstorm on April 19 due to a western disturbance that is nearing the Western Himalayan region.
Tesla CEO and billionaire Elon Musk will visit India this year, he said in a post on X, while talking about his interaction with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

It was an honor to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!, his post said. Musk was responding to PM Modi' post on X on April 18.

Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains, PM Modi had posted.

Their previous meeting in Washington Modi met Elon Musk in February during the Prime Minister's visit to the US. Musk's three children had accompanied the billionaire during the meeting with Modi at Blair House in Washington DC on February 13.

Before the meeting in DC, Modi and Musk had met two times  California in 2015 and New York in 2023.

Tesla, Starlink in India The Modi-Musk talk on Friday comes at a time Musks companies, Tesla and Starlink, have expressed interest in the Indian market. Tesla is in discussions with Indian officials about building a factory in the country, according to reports.

Also Read | Tesla Model Y spotted testing in India ahead of alleged launch

In March this year, Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Jio announced a deal with Musks Space X to launch Starlink satellite internet services in India. Jio will also establish a mechanism to support customer service installation and activation. Meanwhile, telecom major Bharti Airtel announced on March 11, 2025, that it had signed an agreement with SpaceX to bring a high-speed satellite internet service, Starlink, to India.

According to reports, Tesla could drive into India in the next 2-3 months and has started the process of certification and homologation in India. Musk's electric vehicle (EV) giant is unlikely to manufacture in India.

According to CNBC-TV18 report, Tesla wants to enter India with lower import duties without immediate manufacturing plans. Tesla share price has declined by over 30 per cent in the past month and is down 35 per cent on a year-to-date (YTD) basis. The weakness in the EV giants stock follows disappointing sales figures and investor concerns that Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Elon Musks potential involvement in the Trump administration may be diverting his focus from the company.
India will soon welcome eight more African cheetahs from Botswana as part of the ongoing Project Cheetah initiative, according to an official statement from the Madhya Pradesh government. The translocation will take place in two phases, with four cheetahs expected to arrive by May 2025 and the remaining four in the subsequent months.

The announcement was made during a high-level review meeting held in Bhopal on Friday, chaired by Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change Bhupender Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav.

Officials from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) confirmed that preparations are underway for the translocation and that efforts are also being made to bring more cheetahs from South Africa and Kenya.

Efforts are underway to bring more cheetahs from South Africa, Botswana, and Kenya to India. Eight cheetahs will be brought to India in two phases. There is a plan to bring four cheetahs from Botswana to India by May. After this, four more cheetahs will be brought. At present, consent is being developed on an agreement between India and Kenya, NTCA officials stated, according to a press release cited by India Today and Times of India.

Project Cheetah, launched in 2022, is Indias ambitious initiative to reintroduce the extinct species of cheetahs in the wild. So far, more than Rs. 112 crore has been spent on the project, with about 67% allocated to cheetah rehabilitation activities in Madhya Pradesh alone.

In a significant expansion of the project, the cheetahs arriving from Botswana will not be housed in Kuno National Park, where most of the current population resides, but instead will be relocated to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary.

Located near the Rajasthan border, Gandhi Sagar will serve as a second home for the cheetahs, and an inter-state conservation corridor is being developed through an agreement between Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan.

Also Read | Cheetah Veera gives birth to two cubs at Kuno National Park

Kuno National Park currently houses 26 cheetahs, including 14 cubs born in India. According to forest officials, the adult cheetahs are monitored 24x7 through satellite-enabled collar tracking. Among them, female cheetahs Jwala, Asha, Gamini, and Veera have successfully given birth since their arrival.

To support the expansion to Gandhi Sagar, training is underway for local cheetah mitras  trained volunteers and forest staff  to enhance monitoring and conservation efforts.

Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh government has filed a petition with the Supreme Court seeking permission to initiate cheetah safari activities in Kuno. This permission is necessary to start safari in forest areas or eco-sensitive zones. The decision on this petition is yet to be made, the statement said.

Also Read | India awaits fresh batch of cheetahs from Kenya as project nears two year mark

India began its reintroduction efforts on September 17, 2022, with the release of eight cheetahs (five females and three males) from Namibia in Kuno. This marked the worlds first intercontinental translocation of cheetahs. In February 2023, twelve more cheetahs from South Africa joined the population.
A special National Investigation Agency (NIA) court on Saturday reserved the Malegaon blast case verdict for May 8, a PTI report said.

The verdict was reserved following the completion of trial, almost 17 years after it shook the town in Maharashtra's Nashik district. Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped on a motorcycle went off near a mosque in Malegaon, a town about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.

Accused in the Malegaon bomb blast case During the course of trial, the prosecution had examined 323 prosecution witnesses, of which 34 had turned hostile. Lieutenant Colonel Prasad Purohit, BJP leader Pragya Singh Thakur, Major Ramesh Upadhyay (retired), Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are facing trial under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

In April last year, a special NIA court had asked the Mumbai NIA team to reach out to the agency's Bhopal team to physically verify the health of Thakur.

Also Read | Appear in court or face action: Special NIA court to Pragya Singh Thakur

The court had allowed her exemption based on the medical reports. However, observing that her absence in recording the CrPC 313 statement was obstructing the court proceedings and delaying the trial, the court had asked the investigation agency to file a detailed report about her health.

Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur was arrested by Maharashtra ATS in 2008 in connection with the case.

History of the case While the case was initially being probed by the Maharashtra Anti-Terror Squad (ATS), it was later transferred to the NIA in 2011. In 2016, the NIA had filed a chargesheet, giving a clean chit to Thakur and three other accused  Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki and Shivnarayan Kalsangra.

The NIA had said that it did not find any evidence against them and they should be discharged from the case. However, the NIA court had ruled that Thakur will face trial, and the rest  Sahu, Takalki, and Kalsangra  were absolved from the case.

Charges against the accused The special court, on October 30, 2018, framed charges against seven accused under the stringent UAPA and IPC. They are facing trial under sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA and under IPC sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups).

Recording of the testimony of the prosecution witness was completed in September last year.
BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty, while requesting for the imposition of the President's Rule in West Bengal in the wake of deadly violence in Murshidabad said that at the very least, the military should be deployed in the state for two months during the elections.

Ive requested many times, and Im still requesting the Home Minister. At the very least, please deploy the military inside for two months during the elections. If they are deployed, then fair elections will happen, IANS quoted him as saying.

He also criticised the Bengal Police and said, Whenever theres a riot or disturbance, they just bring a chair, sit down, and watch like its a performance. And once it's over, they pack up their chairs and go home. Thats their job. Eyes closed, everything ignored

Mithun's jibe at Mamata Banerjee Mithun, while talking about West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, said, "If that madam (Mamata Banerjee) really wanted to, everything could be shut down in just one day. Just one day, and it would all be over. But until now, she hasnt even said anything. Anyway, thats a different matter. In Bengal right now, Sanatani people, Christians, Sikhsall our brothersthey are not going to vote for this party. Their time is over now, so you have to keep their vote bank happy. Thats why no matter what wrong is done, nothing will be said against them..."

Mithun on Waqf Bill in Bengal He said he believed that the Waqf Amendment Act was just an excuse and used as a cover, whereas the real agenda was something else. I believe the Waqf Bill is just an excuse. It was used as a cover the real agenda lies elsewhere, and thats why the riots happened. Now, who's behind it? Madam (Mamata Banerjee) keeps saying she wont allow the land to be taken, she wont let this happen why does she keep making such statements? I dont know if she considers herself above the President. But shes not, right? Shes just the Chief Minister of one of the 28 states. The Bill has already been passed in both Houses and signed by the President... the IANS report quoted him as saying.

Also Read | Murshidabad violence: Bengal police constitutes 9 Members SIT to probe unrest

The Waqf Bill is supposed to be for our Muslim brothers and their women. But actually, what has happened is that the leaders have taken over all the lands and used them for their own purposes  some built godowns and rented them out. Whatever money came from selling or renting, they earned from it  fine, no problem. But if they had given something to the Muslim brothers, to my Muslim sisters, then it would have been a different matter. But they are just enjoying all the benefits themselves, Mithun added.

When asked what he thinks about the West Bengal Governor visiting the violence-affected areas, Mithun said, "He should have gone earlier. They delayed it; they werent allowing him to go. The people dont need money they need the mental strength that someone is standing with them. But even if they want to go, they wont be allowed. Just sit and keep getting beaten what can I say?"

Murshidabad violence Violence erupted in West Bengal's Murshidabad district and Jangipur during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act on April 11 and 12, with clashes between demonstrators and police resulting in stone-pelting and torched police vehicles.

After the Calcutta High Court order, BSF has deployed five companies to support state police operations, IG South Bengal Frontier Karni Singh Shekhawat said on Saturday.

Three people were killed on Friday night in Murshidabad in the aftermath of mob violence in the district, West Bengal Police said.
Delhi building collapse: The death toll jumped to 11 after a 20-year-old four-storey residential building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area in the early hours of Saturday, leaving 11 other people injured, officials said. Till date, 22 victims have been rescued.

Among the deceased was the building's landlord, who has been identified as Tehsin, 60-years-old.

Rescue operations in final stage, 22 victims rescued A total of 22 victims have been rescued, as of Saturday, 10:28 pm. The rescue operation is currently in its final stage, and is expected to conclude in the next 1.5-2 hours (around 12 am), said second-in-command of the 16 Battalion, NDRF, Praveen Kumar Dahiya.

Earlier in the day, Delhi CM Rekha Gupta had expressed her condolences and ordered a probe into the incident, reported PTI.

Here are 5 key points from the incident:

1. Delhi building collapse: Who, how many people died? As of Saturday, April 19, 6pm, a total of 11 people have died due to the building collapse.

Among the victims is the buildings landlord, identified as 60-year-old Tehsin, mentioned a report by Hindustan Times, citing Delhi Police's records.

Also Read | 11 people killed, video captures moment when building collapsed in Mustafabad

Eight of the eleven people who lost their lives in the tragic building collapse were members of the same family. Among the deceased are three women and four children.

2. Delhi building collapse: How did the building tumble? A police source said construction work in "two-three shops" on the ground floor could have led to the collapse.

"Waste water from the sewer has been seeping into the walls of the buildings for years, and over time, the moisture has weakened the structure, causing the walls to develop cracks," said Salim Ali, another resident, reported PTI.

Other locals also expressed concern about the fragile state of four to five buildings in the area.

3. Delhi building collapse: When did it happen? As per multiple reports, the building collapsed around 2:39 am, while most occupants were asleep inside. Rajender Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer of the Delhi Fire Service, told the Indian Express that the department was alerted at 2:50 am.

Police stated that several families were living in the building on rent.

4. Delhi CM Rekha Gupta orders probe Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered a probe into the incident and expressed sadness over the incident. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss, she said on X.

5. Neighbours nowhere to be seen Harrowing visuals of the rescue operations surfaced on social media shortly after the building collapsed.

"Two men and two daughters-in-law stay here. The oldest daughter-in-law has three children, the second daughter-in-law has three children... right now, we don't know anything. They are nowhere to be seen," an eyewitness had earlier recounted the horror in the morning.
As many as 8-10 people are still feared trapped under the debris after a four-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said. Four people were killed in the incident.

Meanwhile, eyewitnesses share details of the incident as rescue operations continue.

Shehzad Ahmed, who lost two nephews in the fatal incident, told ANI, "The building collapsed around 2.30-3 am. It was a four-storey building. Two of my nephews have died. My sister, brother-in-law and niece are also injured. They are admitted to GTB Hospital..."

A local said that they had not seen their neighbours hours after the incident.

"Two men and two daughters-in-law stay here. The oldest daughter-in-law has three children, the second daughter-in-law has three children... right now, we don't know anything. They are nowhere to be seen," She said.

Also Read | Terrifying video captures moment when building collapsed in Mustafabad | WATCH

8-10 people are still feared trapped, said Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), North East District

Earlier today, the four-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said.

According to the latest update, four people have succumbed to their injuries, and 14 people were rescued after a four-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area on Saturday morning, police said.

Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East District, told ANI that the incident took place at 3 am.

Fourteen people were rescued, but four among them succumbed...It was a four-storey building...The rescue operation is underway. 8-10 people are still feared trapped," he said.

Also Read | Delhi Assembly to discuss Mustafabad name change, CAG report on DTC today

According to officials, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police have reached the spot, and a rescue operation is currently underway.

Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, told ANI that they received a call regarding a house collapse around 2:50 am.

"We reached the spot and found out that the entire building has collapsed and people are trapped under the debris...NDRF, Delhi Fire Service are working to rescue the people...," he said.
The Indian Army on Friday ordered an inquiry after a university professor accused the troops of assaulting him during checking of vehicles at a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, PTI reported citing officials.

Police have also registered an FIR against unidentified army personnel, they said.

Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident and said such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour.

Professor Liaqat Ali sustained head injuries in an alleged assault near the border village of Laam late on Thursday night. A video has since emerged online, reportedly showing the professor bleeding.

Watch the video here:

An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by army personnel in Rajouri district. The army had inputs on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted, the Army said.

Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty, with whom he got into a scuffle. However, an inquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law, the army said in a statement in Jammu.

It said the army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counter-terror operations.

All sections of society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area, the statement said.

The alleged incident took place when Ali and some of his relatives, including his cousin brothers serving in the army and ITBP, were returning to Kalakote after attending the pre-wedding ceremony of one of their relatives.

Officials said an FIR under Sections 126(2) dealing with crime of wrongful restraint and 115(2) -- voluntarily causing hurt -- of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Nowshera police station against unidentified army personnel for a thorough investigation.

Ali, a professor at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) posted in Delhi, wrote a post on X claiming he was "assaulted" without any reason.

My entire family is in the army. I've always been proud of that. Proud of the uniform, the service, the sacrifice. But today, what I experienced shook that pride to the core. Without any reason, without any question, I was assaulted -- hit on the head with a weapon by the very people I once trusted blindly," Ali said in the post that also had a picture showing him bleeding, PTI reported.

It made me realise one terrifying truth: if the system chooses to, it can 'encounter' any human being -- without evidence, without trial, without justice. There's no apology that can undo this wound. Only one haunting question remains -- has justice now become the privilege of the uniform alone? the professor wrote.

Ali got nearly half-a-dozen stitches to close his wound besides undergoing necessary tests at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu.

I was sitting inside the vehicle when army personnel came and asked for my identity. I came out of the vehicle as a matter of respect to show my identity card but they started beating me with their weapons, the professor told reporters, PTI reported.

He said he saw his younger brother, who is in ITBP, also knocked to the ground along with him.

The army is our countrys pride I want nobody to be treated like this and justice be given to me, Ali said.

Here's what Mehbooba Mufti said Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, urged the army to take immediate and strict action against those responsible for this shocking incident.

Such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour, she said.
India on Saturday lashed out at Bangladesh over the alleged abduction and subsequent killing of minority Hindu leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy. In a statement on X, India said that the Bangladesh government must live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities.

Taking to microblogging platform X, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh, Jaiswal wrote.

This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity, he added.

Condemning the incident further, Jaiswal called on the interim government in Dhaka to ensure protection for all minorities, including Hindus.

We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions, he said.

Also Read | Hindu community leader abducted, killed in Bangladesh

Who was Bhabesh Chandra Roy? Bhabesh Chandra Roy was a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh. He was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, as per a media report on Friday.

A resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, 58-year-old Bhabesh Chandra Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad.

Also Read | Hindus should keep weapons at home: Bengal BJP leader Dilip Ghosh stirs row

His body was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star reported quoting his wife and the police. Roy's wife Shantana told the media outlet that he received a phone call around 4:30 pm and claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.

Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises, the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community of the area, was found lying unconscious he was sent back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. He was declared dead upon arrival.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia from April 22-23, his first trip to the kingdom after six years amid a tumultuous period for the global economy.

PM Modi will be meeting Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman, to further deepen and strengthen ties between the two nations, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement Saturday.

Modi will be in Saudi Arabia shortly after a planned visit by US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz to India.

What's on agenda Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri on Saturday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia would provide an important opportunity to discuss pressing regional and global developments, including the situation in West Asia, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the threat to maritime security posed by Houthi attacks.

"This is a very important opportunity to compare notes on several issues of mutual concern in the related to the regional situation as well as the global developments and what you have referred to the attacks by the Houthis with regard to shipping and navigation, etc, is obviously something that India has been closely monitoring as well and also watching with some concern," Misri said.

"The developments in the region, including, most recently we have obviously great concerns about freedom of navigation, the safety and security of our vessels and sea," he added, referring to the strategic significance of the Red Sea and nearby waterways amid growing instability," he added.

Misri also said that discussions about the evolving situation in West Asia, especially the Israel-Palestine conflict, would also feature prominently.

PM Modi will also visit a factory employing Indian workers and will interact with them during his visit to Saudi Arabia.

Several MoUs between the two sides are also expected to be signed. Some of these are in the final stage of approvals and brushing up, and we will have more details to release about these during the course of the visit. I also mentioned in my earlier remarks the importance of the People to People relationship between the two countries. As I said, nearly 2.7 million Indians live and work in the kingdom. The Indian community comprises the second largest group of Indians living abroad, Misri said on Saturday.

Saudi Crown Prince Bin Salman's India visit Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud visited India for three days in September 2023.

Saudi Arabian Prime Minister and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud had attended a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. He also met President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and other ministers during the event.

While talking about the India-Saudi Arabia ties, the Crown Prince said that there was no disagreement at all during the history of the relationship but "there is cooperation to build the future of our country and create opportunities. Today we are working on future opportunities.

The $43 billion bilateral trade Trade between the two nations was about $43 billion for the year 2023-24 with exports to the Gulf kingdom comprising mainly petrochemical and petroleum products, according to Indias Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Indian investments in Saudi Arabia have also increased in recent years, reaching a cumulative figure of approximately $3 billion in August 2023.
India and France are likely to sign a deal that will see New Delhi buying 26 Rafale Marine aircraft for the Indian Navy. The deal, touted as the largest-ever between the two countries and India's defence sector, is likely to be signed on April 28, according to a report.

As per a report by news agency ANI, the deal will be signed in the presence of French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu.

The Rafale deal is reportedly going to be worth 63,000 crore, and will be signed in the presence of senior officials from both sides, ANI reported.

Where will India-France sign the Rafale deal? As per the report by ANI quoting sources, the deal is poised to be signed in New Delhi, outside the Defence Ministry headquarters in South Block.

The Defence Minister of France is likely to land in New Delhi on Sunday evening and depart on late Monday evening.

Also Read | India clears 63,000 crore deal to buy 26 Rafale Marine fighter jets for Navy

India clears largest-ever defence deal India had cleared its largest-ever defence deal for 26 Rafale-Marine combat aircraft with France earlier this month on April 9 at a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi under a government-to-government deal.

This government-to-government contract will include 22 single-seater and four twin-seater jets, along with a comprehensive package for fleet maintenance, logistical support, personnel training, and indigenous component manufacturing.

In July 2023, the defence ministry approved the purchase of 26 Rafale (marine) jets from France, primarily for deployment on board the indigenously built aircraft carrier INS Vikrant.

The ministry had also cleared procurement of three Scorpene submarines from France.

What are the new Rafale Marine combat planes? These fighters will be operational from INS Vikrant and will support the existing Mig-29 K fleet.

The Indian Air Force already has a fleet of 36 aircraft acquired under a separate deal inked in 2016. The IAF Rafale jets operate from their two bases in Ambala and Hashinara.

The deal for 26 Rafale-Ms will increase the number of Rafale jets to 62 and increase the number of 4.5-plus-generation aircraft in the Indian arsenal.

A new tender from the Indian Air Force for competition for multirole fighter aircraft is expected to be issued soon.
Seelampur murder case: Delhi Police on Saturday deployed heavy force as locals continued to protest over the murder of a 17-year-old boy, and demanded justice even as the prime suspect 'Lady Don' Zikra was arrested.

A 17-year-old boy, Kunal, was killed just a few metres from his house, after he stepped out to buy milk to prepare tea for his ailing father on Thursday. Since then, tension gripped the area as hundreds of locals staged protests with posters saying Hindus are migrating and Please help, Yoji ji written on them.

However, the protests continued even on Saturday, foloowing which, security has been beefed up in the area with the deployment of police and Rapid Action Force (RAF).

Speaking to media persons, the victim's aunt demanded that the accused be encountered.

"A 16-year-old boy has been killed. There is no justice... I am his auntWe demand the accused to be encountered," said the victim's family member when asked about their demands.

Meanwhile, Delhi court sent 'Lady don' Zikra, to two days' police custody on Saturday.

The Delhi Police told the court they needed her custody to arrest the other accused and to recover the weapon used in the crime.

According to the police, Zikra's cousins, Sahil and Dilshad, attacked the boy, Kunal, with knives. Both accused are still on the run, and the police are searching for them, reported ANI.

Zikra has worked as a bouncer for jailed gangster Hashim Baba's wife

Earlier, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said that justice would be served in the case of the 17-year-old boy who was stabbed to death and later declared dead at Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital.

"I have spoken to the Police commissioner on the murder of a 17-year-old boy, Kunal. He was attacked with knives and was rushed to the Jai Prakash hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival," Gupta told reporters.

Meanwhile, the victim's mother said she had not received any updates from the police and accused the authorities of helping the culprits escape.

How the accused killed Kunal? The accused reportedly gave a warning to Kunal on Thursday morning before executing the murder in the evening, reported PTI quoting sources.

"The accused got hold of Kunal opposite a Shiv-Parvati temple in the area. While two persons stabbed him, two others watched," a source said.

Kunal somehow managed to enter a clinic just a few steps away from the crime scene, where the doctor tried to save his life by applying cotton on his wound.
Shivamogga BJP MP BY Raghavendra criticised on Saturday the incident wherein some students were allegedly asked to remove their Janivaras (sacred thread worn by Brahmins) before entering the CET examination hall at centres in Bidar and Shivamogga districts of Karnataka

"This is wrong and a serious injustice. I strongly condemn this. Whether such an incident has happened intentionally or unintentionally," Raghavendra said.

He said the government must take action to ensure it does not happen again.

"Such incidents against Hinduism are happening again and again. Measures must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. Whoever is responsible, the government must take action against them," Raghavendra said.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla slammed the Congress-led Karnataka government over the incident.

Poonawalla said, ... This incident has brought Congress' and Karnataka government's mentality to the fore... This is being done in every area of the INDI Alliance...

"From Kolkata to Karnataka, Hindus are either being killed or they are being cancelled. Being a Hindu is a crime in Kolkata, and looking like a Hindu is a crime in Karnataka. This incident is an introduction to the mentality of Congress and the INDI Alliance...," he added.

What happened exactly? A Common Entrance Test (CET) was held this week to select students for the admission into professional courses.

Officials were quoted by PTI as saying that in Bidar, a student had to return home without writing the Maths paper on Thursday morning, after the screening committee at the examination centre in Sai Spoorthi college allegedly asked him to remove the janivara before entering the exam hall.

A police official said, "The boy apparently pleaded the staff [comprising police personnel part of the frisking team] to allow him into the hall since there was no scope of him indulging in any malpractice by wearing janivara,"

"However, he was not allowed by the staff alleging there was a possibility of him harming himself. He was asked to remove the scared thread and then enter the examination hall. But he refused to do so and left the centre without appearing for the Maths paper," the official added.

The CET aspirant was later allowed to appear for the Biology exam wearing the sacred thread in the (Thursday) afternoon, he said. "The same student had appeared for the Physics and Chemistry papers a day before wearing the sacred thread without any issue," officials added.

Meanwhile, in Shivamogga, police said three students were allegedly asked to remove their janivaras by the security staff at the Adichunchanagiri PU college exam centre on Wednesday.

As per the allegations, one of the students refused to remove the sacred thread and he was allowed to write the exam, while the other two removed janivara before entering the exam hall.

"We have not received any complaint from the parents yet. But as per inquiry, when we questioned the college authorities, they said that only the building is given for examination from their side and that they don't have any role in conducting or facilitating the entrance exams while the staff at the examination centre claimed that they did not ask any students to remove their shirts or the sacred thread. As per regulation, all they asked them was to remove the kashi dhara (scared thread worn around the wrist)," a senior police officer said.

What did the student say: 'I was asked to remove janivara' The student who missed the exam in Bidar said on Saturday, "I was asked to remove the janivara and come, by the college management and three people who looked like police. They told me that I will be allowed to write the paper only after that."

"Only I was told to do it, others were allowed normally after checks," the student alleged.

"I told them that we, in the Brahmin community, are not allowed to remove janivara and I was allowed for Physics and Chemistry papers, why such a restriction for Maths paper. They said, proper checks were not done for other papers and they were doing it now. I requested for 45 minutes...," he reportedly said.

Show cause notice issued Shilpa Sharma, Deputy Commissioner of Bidar told PTI that as soon as the matter came to their notice, a show cause notice was issued to the chief examiner of the said centre and that an inquiry has been initiated into the matter.

She said that Superintendent of Police (SP) Bidar also assured that he would give show cause notice to the frisking team so that such incidents are not repeated.

Meanwhile, Higher Education Minister M C Sudhakar said that if such an incident has happened as alleged, it is condemnable, and such things cannot be accepted.

"I will get a detailed report, based on which it will be decided what action to be taken in accordance with law, against those responsible," he said.

Minister for School Education and in-charge of Shivamogga district Madhu Bangarappa also condemned the incident and said he will direct the officials concerned to take action against those responsible.
On Friday night, Filmmaker and actor Anurag Kashyap on Friday issued a public apology after remarking the Brahmin community, which sparked controversy amid the ongoing 'Phule' debate.

In a detailed note shared on Instagram, Kashyap expressed regret, stating, No action or speech is worth your daughter, family, or friends.

Earlier in the day, the Maharaja actor faced significant backlash for his controversial statement, where he said he would urinate on the Brahmins.

Seet the latest post here:
SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has denied that his company is currently involved in building the proposed Golden Dome missile defense shield for the United States, despite a news report suggesting otherwise.

In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Musk wrote: SpaceX has not tried to bid for any contract in this regard. Our strong preference would be to stay focused on taking humanity to Mars. If the President asks us to help in this regard, we will do so, but I hope that other companies (not SpaceX) can do this.

The comment follows a Reuters report that SpaceX, along with software company Palantir and drone maker Anduril, is among the frontrunners to play a major role in developing the high-tech missile shield, dubbed Golden Dome. According to news report, the plan is seen as a key part of President Donald Trump's national security vision.

Reuters: 1,000 satellites and space-based interceptors proposed The news report, citing unnamed sources, said the proposed system would involve launching a network of 400 to 1,000 satellites to detect and track incoming missiles. A separate fleet of 200 attack satellites, possibly armed with lasers or missiles, would intercept and destroy threats mid-air.

However, the sources also said that SpaceX is not expected to participate in weaponising the satellites.

According to the news outlet, the three-company group met recently with senior officials from both the Trump campaign and the Pentagon to present their concept for the Golden Dome. The system is reportedly modeled on Israels Iron Dome but on a much larger, space-based scale.

White House and Pentagon briefed on options The news publication further reported that more than 180 companies have expressed interest in contributing to the Golden Dome, including defense startups like Epirus, Ursa Major, and Armada.

Trump cites missile threats as catastrophic The concept of the Golden Dome missile shield was formally introduced in a January 27 executive order by Trump, who described a missile strike as the most catastrophic threat facing the United States.
Michelle Obama, 61, made a bold and stylish public appearance in Los Angeles on Thursday (April 17), flashing her wedding ring amid persistent rumors about trouble in her marriage to former President Barack Obama.

While Barack Obama did not accompany her during the outing, Michelle and her brother and podcast co-host, Craig Robinson, were seen walking and chatting cheerfully with staffers at The Academy headquarters. The Obamas, married since 1992, havent been spotted together publicly since December 2024, following their intensive efforts to support Kamala Harriss presidential campaign.

Michelle took a step back from the public eye following Donald Trumps win, which sparked unfounded rumors about a rift in their marriageespecially after Barack attended Trumps inauguration alone.

People had to assume we were divorcing Addressing the chatter directly during an appearance on Sophia Bushs Work in Progress podcast last week, Michelle pushed back with clarity and confidence.

The interesting thing is that when I say no, for the most part, people are like, I get it, and Im OK, she said, referring to her decision to avoid political events.

So much so that people, they couldnt even fathom that I was making a choice for myself, that they had to assume that my husband and I are divorcing.

She laughed off the divorce speculation, noting that people struggle to understand a grown woman just making a set of decisions for herself.

Time for Big Girl decisions Michelle explained that stepping away from the political spotlight was not about marital strain, but personal growth.

After years of doing the work, of doing my job as first lady, it was time to make some big girl decisions and own it fully, she said.

If not now, when? What am I waiting for? she added. Now is the time for me to start asking myself these hard questions of, Who do I truly want to be every day?

Redefining purpose She noted the joy of saying yes to things that bring her happinesswhether that means spending time with friends or simply deciding how long she wants to stay in a place.

If a girlfriend calls and says, Lets go here, I can say Yes! I can. And Im trying to do that more and more.

Back in the spotlight, on her own terms Michelle made her first public appearance of 2025 on The Jennifer Hudson Show in March, and shortly after, launched a podcast with her brother Craig Robinson. The project offers a more personal lens on her life and valuesand has given her space to speak candidly about her choices.

Thats what society does to us, she said. If it doesnt fit into the stereotype of what people think we should do, then it gets labeled as something negative and horrible.

Verdict: No trouble in paradise While rumor mills may continue to speculate, Michelle Obamas latest public appearancewith wedding ringspeaks volumes. Not only is she still very much committed to her marriage, shes also committed to herself.

Also Read | Mugshot mania: How ChatGPT is turning usernames into viral arrest records
Former Senator Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot on June 5, 1968, at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles following a speech celebrating his triumph in Californias presidential primary. He succumbed to injuries on June 6. His assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, was found guilty of first-degree murder and is serving life in prison. He acknowledged to obsession of killing RFK, revealed 10,000-pages of records released by the Trump administration on Friday related to the Robert F. Kennedy's assassination.

Many of the files had been made official earlier, while others had not been digitised and placed for decades in federal government storage facilities. Their release continued the revelation of historical investigation documents directed by Trump in January. The US National Archives and Records Administration posted approximately 229 files containing the pages on its website.

What do Robert F. Kennedy files reveal? The RFK files contained pictures of handwritten notes by Sirhan, the gunman, who stated the Democratic presidential candidate must be disposed of and admitting an obsession with killing him.

According to the report, a search of Sirhans bedroom in Pasadena disclosed several handwritten notes, comprising one written on May 18, 1968. My determination to remove RFK is becoming more the more of an unshakeable obsession. RFK must be disposed of like his brother was, one note mentioned in the file read. This note indicated to Kennedys older brother, former US President John F. Kennedy, who was assassinated in 1963.

Sirhan told his garbage collector that he planned to kill Kennedy following the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr's assassination on April 4, 1968. The sanitation worker, a Black man, stated he planned to vote for Kennedy because he would assist Black people. Well, I dont agree. I am planning on shooting the son of a bitch, Sirhan responded, the man informed investigators.

Tulsi Gabbard on RFK files According to AP, US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard stated that the RFK files' release will shine a long-overdue light on the truth". Nearly 60 years after the tragic assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy, the American people will, for the first time, have the opportunity to review the federal governments investigation thanks to the leadership of President Trump," Gabbard said.
Senator Chris Van Hollen said the wrongful deportation and imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia symbolises a broader assault on the US judicial system by the Trump administration. Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States, the Maryland Democrat told reporters upon his return from a three-day trip to El Salvador.

Van Hollen speaking at Washington Dulles International Airport, accused the White House of blatantly, flagrantly defying a US Supreme Court order that directed the administration to assist in Abrego Garcias return. Its very clear that the president, Trump administration, are blatantly, flagrantly disagreeing with, defying the order from the Supreme Court.

Tears and uncertainty Van Hollen was joined by Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, who wiped away tears as he relayed her husbands emotional remarks about missing his family. The senator met Abrego Garcia on Thursday at a detention center in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where he had been moved from the feared CECOT mega-prison.

He told me he was afraid while being held with 25 other inmates, Van Hollen said. While he acknowledged the conditions were better at the new facility, he also noted that their conversation was closely monitored by Salvadoran officials.

Bipartisan battle over immigration and executive power The Abrego Garcia case has become a flashpoint in the immigration debate. Democrats say President Donald Trump is violating the rule of law and undermining judicial authority. Republicans counter that Democrats are defending a man they claim is an MS-13 gang member  despite there being no criminal charges or evidence of gang affiliation.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt stated that Abrego Garcia will never live in the United States of America again. Trump said on Friday, His prison record is unbelievably bad and labeled him an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist.

Trump also mocked Van Hollen, posting on social media that the senator looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention.

Bukele stages photo op Adding fuel to the fire, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele posted staged photos from the meeting between Van Hollen and Abrego Garcia, including drinks garnished to look like margaritas. Neither of us drank them, Van Hollen clarified, calling it a propaganda ploy.

Bukele added insult to injury, posting that Abrego Garcia gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.

Courts push back The legal fight continues. ICE admitted that Abrego Garcias deportation was due to an administrative error. Despite this, the Trump administration has refused to repatriate him. On Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the governments request to block further legal action and ordered sworn testimony from administration officials.
President Donald Trump announced Friday that his administration will reclassify tens of thousands of federal workers  a move that government experts say could make mass layoffs of the US government employees easier. Donald Trump declared on social media that from now on, the career government employees who work on policy matters will be classified as schedule policy/career.

Following my Day One Executive Order, the Office of Personnel Management will be issuing new Civil Service Regulations for career government employees. Moving forward, career government employees, working on policy matters, will be classified as Schedule Policy/Career, and will be held to the highest standards of conduct and performance, Donald Trump said.

The US president warned that if the federal government employees working in policy sector refuse to encourage the policy interests of the President, they will be fired too. He said this change will allow the US government be finally run like a business.

If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job. This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be run like a business. We must root out corruption and implement accountability in our Federal Workforce! Trump said.

Trumps move enforces a Day One executive order that could strip job protections from much of the 2.3 million federal workforce, effectively making them at-will employees.

How Trump's plan opens door to more federal layoffs Speaking of the employment reclassification of tens of thousands of federal workers, a professor at the Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan told Reuters that it could open door for Donald Trump to fire more employees as nearly everyone in the US government is involved in touching policy matters in one way or another.

As many as 50,000 employees of the federal government are in line to be fired.

The new order is broad enough that hundreds of thousands of people could be reclassified, the professor said, before firings begin.

Over 260,000 federal workers have already been fired, have taken buyouts, retired early or have been earmarked for termination since Trump took office.
After the 29-year-old Kilmar Abrego Gracia, who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, made the first appearance since his arrest, US President Donald Trump took to social media to share an alleged altered photo of Kilmar's hand and linked it to the MS-13 gang, stating he is not fine and innocent.

This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such a fine and innocent person. They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though hes got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc. I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN! Trump said.

Also Read | Volvo Group to fire 800 workers as Trump tariffs trigger market uncertainty

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia? Kilmar, a citizen of El Salvador, was illegally deported from the United States on March 15, 2025. He was residing with his wife and three children in Maryland. Kilmar was arrested in a Home Depot parking lot in Hyattsville, including three other men for loitering".

The Trump administration accused him of being a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang and used that to defend itself for deporting him to his home country irrespective of a judges order from 2019 barring him from being sent there. It further called the move an administrative error. He met Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat, in El Salvador on Thursday after his temporary release on April 17.

Netizens react One of the users mentioned, Trump posts faked Image of Kilmar Abrego Garcia's hand. Matt Novak of Gizmodo pts out the photo of Abrego Garcia w/Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-MD) from Thurs clearly shows no MS-13 tattoo shop on either hand - nor in earlier photos. Another said, Why did Donald Trump just lie to the American people even more about Kilmar Abrego Garcia being a gang member? Just had ChatGPT closely examine this photo that Donald Trump is holding, and clearly, even AI technology can confirm that the "MS13" was photoshopped onto this image."

Why does US want Kilmar to stay in El Salvador? If he [Mr Abrego Garcia] ever ends up back in the United States, he would immediately be deported again. He will never live in the United States of America, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a press briefing. She again accused Kilmar of being a member of the MS-13 gang, citing court findings, but his lawyer and family have refuted that he was ever in the gang.
The US issued a 'Bangladesh Travel Advisory' this week, urging citizens to avoid the Chittagong Hill Tracts region due to heightened security risks. The advisory, updated on April 18, issued a Level 3: reconsider Travel and a Level 4: Do Not Travel alert for the country.

'Do Not Travel' The US government's advisory urged citizens to avoid travelling to The Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts).

Also Read | Hindu community leader abducted, killed in Bangladesh

Even if someone decides to travel to Bangladesh, they must keep THIS in mind:

Avoid demonstrations and political gatherings; demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and quickly escalate into violence. Monitor local media for breaking events and be prepared to adjust plans. Do not physically resist any robbery attempt. Get to a safe area and report any criminal incident to local authorities. Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts including updates on consular services and so it is easier to locate you in an emergency. Review the Country Security Report for Bangladesh. Visit the CDC page for the latest Travel Health Information related to your travel. Prepare a contingency plan for emergency situations. Please review the Travelers Checklist. The advisory highly recommend people to buy insurance before you travel and check with travel insurance provider about evacuation assistance, medical insurance, and trip cancellation coverage. Why the US issued this advisory for Bangladesh? The US advisory cited "communal violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security risks" as reasons to avoid travelling to particular areas in the country.

It also warned of a "risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Bangladesh."

The travel advisory read, Since summer 2024, civil unrest and violent clashes have largely subsided with the formation of the Interim Government. Occasional protests continue with potential for violent clashes.

Conditions may change on short notice. US citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, since they could turn violent with little or no warning, the travel advisory warned.

It further stated that travelers should be aware of petty crime, such as pickpocketing in crowded areas.

"In addition, crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute most criminal activity in Bangladeshs major cities, but there are no indications foreigners are targeted because of their nationality. These crimes tend to be situational, based on time and location," it added.

The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh, particularly outside of Dhaka, due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources.

It said that due to the risks, US government employees working in Bangladesh are prohibited from non-essential travel within Dhaka outside of the diplomatic enclave.
The US Supreme Court on Tuesday blocked a lower court order that would have forced the Trump administration to reinstate thousands of federal employees terminated as part of a sweeping effort to shrink the federal workforce.

The decision came in response to an appeal from the administration after a California federal judge ordered that 16,000 probationary employees be returned to work while a legal challenge to the firings proceeds. The justices action means those employees will remain on paid administrative leave at six federal agencies for now.

Mass firings under scrutiny Since taking office, President Donald Trump has pushed to downsize the federal bureaucracy. According to lawsuits filed in both California and Maryland, at least 24,000 probationary federal employees have been let go, though the administration has not confirmed the number.

The firings have drawn legal challenges from labor unions and nonprofit groups, who argue that the dismissals violated federal employment laws and bypassed required procedures.

Judge: appalled by firings US District Judge William Alsup in San Francisco, who issued the blocked order, ruled that the terminations were improperly directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and its acting director. He ordered the rehiring of workers at the Departments of Veterans Affairs, Agriculture, Defense, Energy, Interior, and the Treasury.

Alsup criticised the administration for what he described as an effort to sidestep employee protections. He noted that many workers received positive performance evaluations shortly before being terminated.

Also Read | Explosive DOJ filing: Trump attacker wanted a rocket launcher or Stinger missile
Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community, was allegedly abducted and killed in Bangladesh. Bhabesh Chandra Roy was reportedly kidnapped from his home, taken to Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh and and beaten to death.

Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star said quoting police and family members.

Who was Bhabesh Chandra Roy? Bhabesh Chandra Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. He was also a prominent leader in the Hindu community of the area.

What happened to Bhabesh Chandra Roy? His wife has informed that he had received a call to confirm his presence at home. Shantana said the call was made by those who abducted and killed Bhabesh Chandra Roy.

About some time later, four men arrived at his residence on two bikes and kidnapped him. He was taken to Narabari village where he was thrashed.

Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises, the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.

Bhabesh Chandra Roy was unconscious when he came back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. However, he was declared dead upon arrival.

The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, as saying that preparations were underway to file a case.

He said police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.
A heartbreaking powerful portrait of a 9-year-old Palestinian boy who lost both arms during an Israeli attack in Gaza has been awarded the 2025 World Press Photo of the Year, organisers announced on Thursday (April 17).

The photo, taken by Palestinian photographer Samar Abu Elouf for The New York Times, captures young Mahmoud Ajjour with his arms amputated just below each shoulder. The image was selected from over 59,000 entries submitted by nearly 3,800 photographers across 141 countries, according to CBS News.

"This is a quiet photo that speaks loudly. It tells the story of one boy, but also of a wider war that will have an impact for generations," said Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of the World Press Photo organization.

A mother's heartbreak Abu Elouf said the moment Mahmoud understood his injuries was deeply emotional.

"One of the most difficult things Mahmoud's mother explained to me was how when Mahmoud first came to the realization that his arms were amputated, the first sentence he said to her was, 'How will I be able to hug you?'" Abu Elouf said in a statement released by World Press Photo.

Context of conflict and pain The World Press Photo organisation said Mahmoud was injured in March 2024 while fleeing an Israeli airstrike. According to the contests citation, he had turned back to urge his family to keep running when an explosion severed one of his arms and severely damaged the other.

The image comes amid the ongoing war in Gaza, sparked by Hamas October 7, 2023 terrorist attack on Israel, in which militants killed around 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducted 251, according to Israeli authorities.

Heavy toll in Gaza The Health Ministry in Hamas-ruled Gaza reports that over 51,000 Palestinians have died in the Israeli offensive, which began in response to the October 7 attack. The ministry says more than half the casualties are women and children. More than 116,000 people have reportedly been wounded.
Iran and the United States have agreed to resume indirect nuclear talks next week, following a second round of negotiations in Rome that both sides described as taking place in a constructive atmosphere, according to Iranian state media.

The atmosphere of these talks was constructive, Iranian state TV reported Saturday, echoing comments from the Tasnim news agency.

Indirect dialogue via Oman Negotiations were led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and President Trumps Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, who communicated indirectly through an Omani mediator.

Officials noted that Araqchi and Witkoff only interacted briefly at the end of the first round in Muscat, which was also described as positive.

Iran pushes for a reasonable and logical deal Ahead of the talks, Araqchi reiterated Irans commitment to diplomacy in a meeting with his Italian counterpart.

All parties involved in the talks should seize the opportunity to reach a reasonable and logical nuclear deal, he said, as quoted by Iranian state media.

Such an agreement should respect Irans legitimate rights and lead to the lifting of unjust sanctions on the country while addressing any doubts about its nuclear work.

Speaking in Moscow on Friday, Araqchi added: Reaching an agreement with the US is possibleas long as Washington is realistic.

Rome as a diplomatic bridge Italy has embraced its role as host of the talks, with Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani posting on social media: Rome becomes the capital of peace and dialogue. I encouraged (Araqchi) to follow the path of negotiation against nuclear arms.

The hope of the Italian government is that all together may find a positive solution for the Middle East.

Tehran warns against unrealistic expectations Despite the optimistic tone, Iranian officials sought to manage expectations, amid reports speculating that a deal could soon lift sanctions.

Supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei offered a cautious stance: I am neither overly optimistic nor pessimistic, he said earlier this week, signaling a wait-and-see approach.

Trump reinforces pressure campaign Speaking to reporters on Friday, President Trump reaffirmed his administrations hardline stance: Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They cant have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.

Since returning to the White House in January, Trump has revived his maximum pressure strategy, which previously led to the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear accord and reimposition of harsh sanctions.

Nuclear dispute at the core

Washington is pressing Tehran to halt its enrichment of uranium beyond civilian energy needs, which the US suspects could be used to build an atomic weapon.

Iran maintains that its programme is peaceful, but says it wants binding guarantees that the US will not backtrack on any new deal.

Iran sets firm red lines A senior Iranian official, speaking anonymously, outlined Tehrans key demands:
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday (April 19) announced a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, just as US President Donald Trump issued a sharp warning to Moscow over rising tensions in the conflict.

Putin instructed his forces to halt hostilities starting from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) until midnight on Sunday.

The announcement came during a televised address in which Putin spoke directly to Russias chief of general staff, Valery Gerasimov, outlining the terms of the pause.

"An Easter truce" "Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce," Putin said in televised comments.

The move is intended to honor the religious significance of the Orthodox holiday, traditionally observed with reflection and peace.

Hopes for reciprocal calm While the ceasefire is unilateral, Putin expressed hope that Ukraine would mirror the gesture.

However, the Russian president also made it clear that his military must remain vigilant. He instructed Gerasimov to prepare for any potential violations.

Trump issues ultimatum to warring parties The ceasefire declaration came just hours after the US President delivered a stern warning to Moscow and Kyiv, stating that the United States would withdraw from brokering peace talks if there is no visible progress soon.

"Very shortly," Trump replied when asked whether the US would exit the process. "No specific number of days, but quickly. We want to get it done." He added that if either Russia or Ukraine made negotiations unworkable, the U.S. would just take a pass.

Also Read | US restaurants survive on cheap Chinese caviar; but that may change soon

"You're foolish, you're horrible people" In unusually sharp language, Trump criticised potential spoilers to the peace process:

"Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say: 'You're foolish. You're fools. You're horrible people'  and we're going to just take a pass."

Asked if he believed Putin was stalling, Trump said: "I hope not Ill let you know soon."

He also emphasised, "Nobodys playing me. Im trying to help I know when people are playing us, and I know when theyre not."

Trump had previously boasted that he could end the war within 24 hours if he were in charge, a claim he later clarified as sarcastic. Despite this, the President reiterated his commitment to finding a diplomatic solution while expressing frustration with the drawn-out conflict.

Also Read | Why Britain has so far dodged Donald Trumps tariffs
In Amitabh Bachchans career-defining 1973 blockbuster Zanjeer, the villain Seth Dharam Dayal Tejamemorably played by Ajit of the  Lily, dont be silly " famewas the epitome of cinematic menace. But even that flamboyant celluloid character paled in comparison to the real-life figure who may have inspired the name: Jayanti Dharma Teja.

In Indias rogues gallery of flamboyant business tycoons, few stand out as vividlyand controversiallyas Teja. A consummate hustler of the Nehruvian era, his rise was a heady mix of financial sleight-of-hand, strategic charm, and psychological intrigue. His fall, when it came, was as swift and dramatic as his ascent.

The chameleon of capital

Born into an influential Brahmo Samaj family in Berhampore, Andhra Pradesh, Dharma Tejas early life was steeped in politics and privilege. His father, a Congress leader, regularly hosted giants like Subhas Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi.

Read this | How Manu Manek aka Black Cobra went from college trader to market marauder

Tall and imposing, Teja earned a masters in Chemistry from Mysore University, then went on to study nuclear physics at Purdue University in the US. There, he was mentored by none other than Enrico Fermiand even counted Albert Einstein and Robert Oppenheimer among his acquaintances.

His life was a continuous parade of the glamorous and powerful. His first wife, Betsya wealthy, older Jewish-Americanhelped him gain social capital in elite circles. His second wife, the glamorous Ranjit Kaur, added further sheen to his image.

Before reinventing himself as a suave, cosmopolitan businessman capable of charming everyone from seasoned diplomats to hard-nosed bankers, Teja served as vice president of a magnetic tape manufacturing company that became hugely profitable, earning him fame and fortune.

He also established a network of research labs across the US, further adding to his growing wealth.

The great shipping dream

Then, in what may have been a shrewd calculationor a moment of hubrisTeja decided to return to India. His first stop: a meeting with then Prime Minister Jawahar Lal Nehru. It would set the stage for his most audacious performance yetand ultimately, his undoing.

Tejas pitch was irresistible. With government backing and international loans, he promised to build an Indian shipping line to rival the worlds best. The year was 1961, and the patriotic appeal landed perfectly. Nehru instructed his officials to guarantee loans worth crores. Global banks, reassured by the governments endorsement, quickly followed suit.

Teja used this largesse to acquire 26 ships and launch Jayanti Shipping Corporation, which soon cornered nearly half of Indias expanding maritime trade.

What followed was a masterclass in financial sleight-of-hand. Teja conjured the illusion of a thriving shipping empire that, in reality, floated on borrowed money and smoke. Behind the scenes, he orchestrated a complex web of shell companies across jurisdictions, spinning paper trails so dense that auditors would spend years trying to make sense of them.

Read this | Fortune and fraud: The spectacular life and death of biscuit king Rajan Pillai

One of his more cunning manoeuvres involved purchasing aging vessels at highly inflated prices through his own offshore firmseffectively using loan money to pay himself, while logging the deals as standard business expenses. Another trick: taking out insurance on ships that mysteriously developed problems" soon after coverage kicked in.

Fall from grace

The ruse couldnt last forever. In 1966, Prime Minister Indira Gandhiwhose sons Teja had befriended in Londonordered an inquiry. Teja fled to Europe with his wife and later resurfaced in New York. When Indian authorities pushed for extradition, he pulled off one final escape, this time to Costa Rica, where President Jose Figueres granted him diplomatic protection and even a passport.

That bold move backfired. During a subsequent trip to Europe, Teja was arrested at London airport and extradited to India. In court, he made the sensational claim that hed conducted secret diplomatic missions for the Indian governmentleaving the judge dumbfounded.

In 1972, Teja was sentenced to three years in prison for forgery and falsification of accounts. The scale of his deception stunned financial investigators. But prison was no deterrenthe used the time to write poetry and prose, seemingly unrepentant.

The return of the maverick

Remarkably, Tejas story didnt end there.

Despite serving a jail term and remaining in default on his taxes, Teja found an unlikely champion. When questions arose over how he was still able to travel abroadhis passport was meant to be impoundedPrime Minister Morarji Desai told Parliament in 1978: Teja is free to come and go whenever he chooses. The country has got more from him than what he owes."

But his successor, the no-nonsense farm leader Charan Singh, was less indulgent. Outraged that Teja had flown out of the country without a valid passport, he ordered a case to be filednot against Teja, but against Pan Am, the airline that flew him.

Teja did return to India in 1983, but by then, the mystique had faded and his firepower was spent. He died in New Jersey in 1985, leaving behind more questions than answers.

Also read | Alagappa Chettiar's legacy of fortune and philanthropy

Was Jayanti Dharma Teja a conman with a flair for theatrics or a misunderstood visionary undone by his own ambition? How did he weave such an intricate web of deception under the very noses of Indias top political leaders?

The legend remains, somewhere between genius and grifter.
Behind the nondescript facade of a light-industrial building in Kyiv, an eclectic crew of video-gamers, architects, scientists and film-makers is mass-producing deep-strike drones and cruise missiles.

They do not look like old-style defence types, but they are transforming Ukraines war. Three years ago they were making 30 drones a month. Now they are up to 1,300 a month, ranging from slow drones ($580,000 for a set of ten) to a new ballistic missile (at $1m a piece). They cost a fraction of what foreign ones do, and are based on open-source designs, meaning that they are not bound by foreign-usage restrictions. We dont want to have any dependence on Americas politics," says the firms founder, whose name cannot be disclosed for security reasons.

When Russia launched its full-scale invasion in 2022, Ukraines war-fighting effort utterly depended on American and European supplies. Yet over the past three years its own military manufacturing capacity has gone from $1bn- to $35bn-worth of materiel per year, according to Oleksandr Kamyshin, a presidential adviser overseeing the industry.

Faster than anyone would have predicted, Ukraine is becoming self-sufficient in many types of weaponry. But big gaps remain. Ukraine still cannot make systems capable of knocking out incoming Russian missiles.

Manpower is another problem. Mobilisation has been mishandled: troops rotations away from the front are infrequent; draft agents seize people arbitrarily; and the government has hesitated to lower the age of conscription.

Still, the army has grown, and elite units continue to attract recruits. Most important, drones have sharply reduced Russias numerical advantage: according to some estimates, 75% of all casualties suffered by the Russian army are inflicted by them.

Ukraines worst fragility may be not military but political. Since the start of the war, many liberal and moderate Ukrainians have faced a dilemma. Drawing attention to incompetence, corruption or mismanagement by the government risks undermining international support.

But keeping silent means accepting Volodymyr Zelenskys increasing monopoly of power, which has sometimes undermined the states effectiveness and even the war effort itself. While the Western media and European leaders have lionised Zelensky and turned him into a celebrity, we feel trapped," says Yulia Mostovaya, the editor of ZN.UA, an independent online daily.

If criticising Mr Zelensky was difficult before Mr Trump attacked him in February for being a dictator", doing so now is all but impossible. Ukrainians have rallied around the president to such an extent that he appears to be considering holding elections. If Zelensky feels he has no competitors, that means elections are approaching," quips one official. In preparation for the possibility of them, the state appears to be tightening its grip.

In February Petro Poroshenko, who leads the largest opposition party, was penalised for unspecified threats to national security". His assets have been frozen. He is also being charged with treason" in a legal case which looks to critics like lawfare. The sanctions in effect bar him from contesting any election.

However much Ukrainians may dislike Mr Poroshenko, many see this as a dangerous precedent. If Poroshenko can be barred from an electoral process without any court decision, so can anyone else," says Olexiy Honcharenko, a member of Ukraines parliament, the Rada.

Civil-society activists are also being harassed. Vitaly Shabunin, an anti-corruption crusader, who had enlisted in the first days of the war while also exposing graft in Ukraines defence ministry, has long been targeted. His latest investigation was met with snide vengeance. To punish him, he has been sent close to the front; details of his work there are sent daily to the authorities. Such methods recall Vladimir Putins early years of rule, says Mr Shabunin, at least in their pettiness.

Ukraines politics is a far cry from Russias, and concentrating power is a natural consequence of war. But some of Ukraines staunchest supporters increasingly worry it may be going too far.

True, Ukraines democracy was never really based on the rule of law. Its pluralism was provided by the diversity of its regions, the competing interests of its power groups, and a vocal civil society that relied on the support of Western embassies and the media. But all these checks are being weakened or removed.

In the name of efficiency, power is being concentrated not in the government or the parliament, but in the hands of a few unelected officials in the presidential administration, including Andriy Yermak, the chief of staff, Dmytro Lytvyn, Mr Zelenskys speechwriter, and Oleh Tatarov, who oversees the security agencies.

The administration is reluctant to share power not just with opponents but with anyone seen as a potential rival. Loyalists are rewarded with seats on the boards of state firms. Those who show too much independence, have too much popular support or enjoy direct lines of communication to Western countries have been fired or sidelined. This includes Valery Zaluzhny, the popular commander of Ukrainian forces, removed in February 2024 and sent to be ambassador in London. Others pushed out include Oleksandr Kubrakov, a former minister of infrastructure; Dmytro Kuleba, a former foreign minister; and Mustafa Nayem, who led the agency for reconstruction.

Differences of opinion and critical media are seen as a threat, rather than a strength. Sevgil Musaeva, the editor of Ukrainska Pravda, the countrys leading independent online publication, complains that instead of dealing with the reasons that prompt journalistic investigations, the presidential office responds by restricting access, targeting advertisers and seeing any contact with its journalists as treachery. This is not systemic censorship, but if we dont resist, the free space will disappear before we know it," she says.

Ukraines move towards more authoritarian rule is unsurprising given the pressures it faces as the war grinds on well into its fourth year. Yet the risk is that it undermines the countrys self-organising resilience. As Mr Honcharenko puts it: We have demonstrated that a small democracy can resist a larger autocracy and turn itself into a porcupine. But a small autocracy can be swallowed by a larger one."

 2025, The Economist Newspaper Limited. All rights reserved. From The Economist, published under licence. The original content can be found on www.economist.com
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday blamed CJI Sanjiv Khanna for alleged civil wars in the country, while also tearing into the Supreme Court for trying to dictate the Parliament by asking the President to take a decision within three months.

In a post on X, Dubey said in Hindi that the Parliament should close down if the Supreme Court makes laws.

Kanoon yadi Supreme Court hi banayega to Sansad Bhavan bandh kar dena chahiye, he said.

The BJP MP's comment came following the Centre's assurance to the court that it would not be implementing some of the contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act till the next day of hearing after the court raised questions over them.

Supreme Court leading India towards anarchy In comments made to news agency ANI, Nishikant Dubey accused the Supreme Court of taking the country towards an alleged anarchy.

The apex court's recent decision to set a timeline for the President of India to take a decision on the bills sent to her has triggered a fresh round of debate.

How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate that Parliament?... How did you make a new law? In which law is it written that the President has to take a decision within three months? This means that you want to take this country towards anarchy. When the Parliament sits, there will be a detailed discussion on this, Dubey was quoted as saying by ANI.

In remarks made to PTI, the BJP MP from Jharkhand accused the Supreme Court of arrogating to itself Parliament's legislative powers by striking down laws passed by the legislature and even giving directions to the President who, Dubey noted, is the appointing authority of Supreme Court judges.

Dubey appeared to question the court's critical observations on the Act's dilution of the "Waqf by use" provision, saying it has sought documentary proof in cases involving temples, including Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, but has chosen to ignore the similar need in the ongoing case.

Citing Article 368 of the Constitution, he said that law-making is the job of Parliament, and the Supreme Court is meant to interpret the laws.

Nishikant Dubey blames CJI Dubey also held Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, responsible for the "civil wars" happening in the country.

Chief Justice of India, Sanjiv Khanna, is responsible for all the civil wars happening in this country, he was quoted as saying by ANI.

His comments came after Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kalyan Banerjee demanded the resignation BJP leader and Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the Waqf Bill, Jagdambika Pal.

VP Jagdeep Dhankhar attacks Supreme Court Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar also opposed the Supreme Court's recent ruling of setting a time limit for the President to take a decision.

Dhankhar has also been maintaining that the apex court was wrong in striking down the National Judicial Appointments Commission Act in 2015.
(Bloomberg) -- A group of Venezuelan men filed urgent requests to the US Supreme Court, a federal appeals court and two trial courts to block their imminent deportation, saying President Donald Trumps administration appears poised to send them to a notorious prison in El Salvador without the required chance for judicial review.

The flurry of activity included an emergency hearing Friday evening before US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, where a Justice Department lawyer said no deportation flights are planned for that night or Saturday.

Lawyers for the men filed their requests less than two weeks after the Supreme Court let Trump resume trying to deport alleged Tren de Aragua gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. But the high court ruled they must get reasonable time to challenge their deportation in a federal court in the district where theyre being held.

Boasberg said that because the men are detained in Texas, he doesnt have authority to rule on the dispute.

At this point, I just dont think I have the power to do anything about it, Boasberg told lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union representing the men.

The allegations raise fresh questions about the administrations compliance with the high courts order. The Supreme Court request went to Justice Samuel Alito, who is assigned to handle emergency matters from Texas. Alito, one of the courts most conservative justices, can either act on his own or refer the matter to the full, nine-member court.

With Boasberg saying hes unable to act, the case now hinges on an order by the high court, or decisions on similar emergency requests filed with a New Orleans-based federal appeals court and a federal district judge in the Northern District of Texas, where many of the men were recently transferred.

Without judicial intervention, potentially hundreds of people may be removed to a possible life sentence in El Salvador with no real opportunity to contest their designation or removal, lawyers for the men said in their Supreme Court request.

The group had been told they will be deported as soon as Friday afternoon and had already been loaded onto buses, according to a court filing.

Boasberg halted the hearing for 30 minutes so Justice Department lawyer Drew Ensign could gather more information about possible flight plans. When he returned, Ensign said he had spoken with officials at the Department of Homeland Security. They said that while there were no plans to remove people Saturday, they reserve the right to remove people, Ensign said.

ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said: That doesnt give us confidence there wont be planes.

The detainees allegedly had been given an English-only notice that didnt explain how they could contest their deportation or how much time they had to do so.

The notice the government is providing does not remotely comply with the Supreme Courts order, lawyers for the men said in their Supreme Court filing.

Boasberg on March 15 unsuccessfully ordered the government to turn around planes that were carrying people to the Salvadoran prison without first getting judicial review of their cases.

At the hearing, Ensign said that Washington was not the appropriate place to file so-called habeas corpus petitions to contest the deportations. Boasberg ultimately agreed, saying they should raise it in the Northern District of Texas or with the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals.

Gelernt said many of the men were moved to the Northern District of Texas after a judge in the Southern District of Texas issued a temporary order barring their deportations. Ensign said they had been moved there from all over the US. Gelernt said lawyers for the men would file petitions in all 94 judicial districts in the US.

Asked earlier Friday about whether he had authorized the operation, Trump said I dont know about the group youre talking about, but if theyre bad people, I would certainly authorize it, yeah.

Separately, a federal appeals court in Washington on Friday temporarily blocked Boasberg from starting criminal contempt proceedings stemming from the March 15 events.

The administrative stay gives the appeals court more time to consider how it will handle Boasbergs conclusion that government officials showed willful disregard toward his order. The three-judge panel laid out a briefing schedule that concludes next Friday.

The Supreme Court case is A.A.R.P. v. Trump, 24A1007.

--With assistance from Hadriana Lowenkron.

(Updates with Supreme Court case name and number at end of story.)

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
(Bloomberg) -- Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar is in Afghanistan for a day-long visit to hold talks with the countrys Taliban leaders amid a recent deterioration in ties.

Dar, whos also foreign minister, will have meetings with high-ranking Taliban officials including Prime Minister Mullah Mohammad Hassan, Pakistans foreign affairs ministry said in a post on X. Its the first such high-level visit from Pakistan since the Taliban seized power in 2021.

The two sides will discuss relations in the political, economic, trade and cultural fields, especially the issue of forced deportation of Afghan refugees from that country, Talibans deputy spokesman in Afghanistan, Hamdullah Fitrat, said on X.

Dars visit takes place at a time when ties between the two nations are at a low over accusations by Islamabad that the Afghan Taliban have given refuge to the Pakistani militants.

Pakistan is also carrying out a campaign of forcing undocumented Afghans to leave the country by April 30. Nearly a million Afghans have either voluntarily returned or been forcibly deported since September 2023, according to a report by United Nations International Organization for Migration.

Taliban has criticized the move to expel Afghans and called it heinous. Afghanistan is already suffering from a struggling economy and a lack of international aid.

Pakistan has partially blamed Afghan citizens, the largest diaspora group living in the country, for a surge in militant attacks. It is fighting multiple insurgent groups, the most notable one is Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan, or TTP, who pledged allegiance to Afghan Taliban. TTP has vowed to target local businesses including listed firms owned by Pakistans powerful army.

Pakistan said the return of the Afghan Taliban to power emboldened TTP militants and provided them with weapons, funding, and safe havens on Afghan soil  claims the Taliban have denied. Last year was the deadliest in a decade for Pakistans security forces, with at least 685 forces killed, according to Dawn news outlet.

More stories like this are available on bloomberg.com
In an 8-0 vote, the Hamilton County School Board voted to oppose a bill put forward by state Senator Bo Watson. If signed into law, it would allow school districts to require proof of U.S. citizenship to attend. The districts would also be allowed to charge tuition fees to those who can't.
As the trial of the man accused of killing a Baylor School graduate continues, we are learning more about the events leading up to the victims death.
Chinese vice premier meets Russian energy minister

Xinhua) 14:38, April 19, 2025

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing on Friday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that cooperation in the energy sector is an important cornerstone of practical cooperation between China and Russia, providing strong support for the high-level development of bilateral relations.

He said that China stands ready to work with Russia, following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on energy, steadily advance major projects, actively expand new areas for cooperation, and bring tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

He called on the two countries to strengthen coordination and interaction under multilateral mechanisms and promote the establishment of a fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system.

Tsivilev said the Russian side fully supports the multilateral initiatives proposed by China, always regards China as a reliable partner, and is willing to promote in-depth and substantive energy cooperation to further contribute to the high-level development of Russia-China relations.

Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
UPDATE: A podcast started by a juror on the murder trial for Jasmine Pace has reached #1 in Top Series on Apple Podcasts.

The 10-episode podcast, titled "SEQUESTERED: A Juror's Perspective on the Murder Trial for Jasmine Pace", follows the story of juror number 11, Sara Reid.

"Dive deep into the gripping, real-life courtroom drama of SEQUESTERED, a 10-episode podcast that offers an exclusive, behind-the-scenes look at the State of Tennessee v. Jason Chen trial," says the podcast's description. "Narrated by Sara, Juror #11, who served on the sequestered jury during the high-profile murder trial in Chattanooga, Tennessee, SEQUESTERED takes listeners through each day of the intense nine-day trial, from jury selection to the final verdict and sentencing."

SEQUESTERED shares Sara's experience and the responsibilities jurors face in a trial with such heavy repercussions, exploring the "emotional burden, ethical dilemmas, and profound responsibility of serving on a jury where justice hangs in the balance".

The podcast is complete with courtroom audio, commentary from District Attorney Coty Wamp, and insight from Juror #11.

"Above all, SEQUESTERED is a tribute to Jasmine Pace  honoring her life, her story, and the truth about what happened to her."

Visit the Sequestered podcast website for more information.

PREVIOUS STORY: Sixteen Davidson County residents uprooted their lives to travel to Chattanooga and serve as jurors.

They were sequestered due to the magnitude of public attention and media coverage of Jason Chen and Jasmine Pace.

Juror number 11, Sara Reid, says they could not have their phones or even watch television.

"How much time we spend on our phones really becomes evident when you're face to face with a group of people you've never met. You're kind of forced to get to know each other, said Reid.

Jurors were given one five-minute call back home every night, but were prohibited from talking about the trial to anyone including each other.

"We're getting fed, like you said, hours of information. So much information. You have to just kind of store that away until the end of the trial when it's time to discuss, said Reid.

"SEQUESTERED": Juror in Jason Chen murder trial shares experience in podcast A Nashville juror on the Jason Chen murder trial in Chattanooga will detail her experience i

The goal of the prosecutors, District Attorney General Coty Wamp and chief homicide prosecutor Paul Moyle, flipped from proving Chen killed jasmine to proving premeditation, which is required for a first-degree murder conviction.

"We already knew he murdered her. They said he did. We already knew he abused a corpse. They said he did. So, what wasn't even a question for us. What it came down to was, was this planned, said Reid.

Seven days were spent in the courtroom hearing the facts of the case, before the jury was sent back to deliberate.

"We had all this evidence. We had all this explanation. The facts are there, but there is still the decision to be made. That was basically what the whole thing was hinging on, said Reid.

The jurors spent 45 minutes deliberating before coming to their decision, guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse.

A very short period of time.

"Should we talk more about it? We were supposed to flick the light on when we were ready, and I remember the bailiff came in and was like I see you flicked the light on. Did you mean to? And we were like yeah, said Reid.

It is up to the group of twelve to determine if he could be eligible for parole after 51 years.

Members of jasmine's family, including her sister, father, and cousin testified at the sentencing hearing.

"I think her family fought so hard and looked so hard and did such a good job. They were a key element, said Reid.

Jurors deliberated almost an hour to determine Chens sentence.

Reid says watching Chens mother on the stand was impactful, but ultimately they came to the decision that he should never be eligible for parole.

Jason Chen requests new trial after sentenced to life in prison for murdering Chen's attorney claims the evidence brought in the trial was insufficient, and Chen was denied a fair trial.

"Jasmine's family doesn't get to see Jasmine in 51 years like Jason's could, and that just isn't fair. That is not justice, said Reid.

Reid says the details of jasmine's murder were gruesome and she is still working to cope with what happened.

A way she is working on that is releasing a podcast called Sequestered: a juror's perspective of the murder trial for Jasmine Pace.

"I feel like I can bring the perspective from the jury box. And the added layer of being sequestered and being pulled from my life for a week and a half to serve on this, was an honor, said Reid.

Reid took advice from General Wamp, putting Jasmine in the spotlight with the name.

"I said it that way, because of what Coty Wamp said in her closing statements. This is the trial for Jasmine Pace, and I want it to be about her, said Reid.

We spoke to General Wamp, who is supportive of what Reid is doing.

"We've got to focus more on victims and less on criminal defendants. That is what she is doing with this podcast. My message at least struck her, and I appreciate that. And I can't wait to listen to the podcast,  said Wamp.

The first episode is scheduled to air Monday.

Sixteen Davidson County residents uprooted their lives to travel to Chattanooga and serve as jurors.

They were sequestered due to the magnitude of public attention and media coverage of Jason Chen and Jasmine Pace.

Juror number 11, Sara Reid, says they could not have their phones or even watch television.

"How much time we spend on our phones really becomes evident when you're face to face with a group of people you've never met. You're kind of forced to get to know each other, said Reid.

Jurors were given one five-minute call back home every night, but were prohibited from talking about the trial to anyone including each other.

"We're getting fed, like you said, hours of information. So much information. You have to just kind of store that away until the end of the trial when it's time to discuss, said Reid.

The goal of the prosecutors, District Attorney General Coty Wamp and chief homicide prosecutor Paul Moyle, flipped from proving Chen killed jasmine to proving premeditation, which is required for a first-degree murder conviction.

"We already knew he murdered her. They said he did. We already knew he abused a corpse. They said he did. So, what wasn't even a question for us. What it came down to was, was this planned, said Reid.

Seven days were spent in the courtroom hearing the facts of the case, before the jury was sent back to deliberate.

"We had all this evidence. We had all this explanation. The facts are there, but there is still the decision to be made. That was basically what the whole thing was hinging on, said Reid.

The jurors spent 45 minutes deliberating before coming to their decision, guilty of first-degree murder and abuse of a corpse. A very short period of time.

"Should we talk more about it? We were supposed to flick the light on when we were ready, and I remember the bailiff came in and was like I see you flicked the light on. Did you mean to? And we were like yeah, said Reid.

It is up to the group of twelve to determine if he could be eligible for parole after 51 years.

Members of Jasmine's family, including her sister, father, and cousin testified at the sentencing hearing.

"I think her family fought so hard and looked so hard and did such a good job. They were a key element, said Reid.

Jurors deliberated almost an hour to determine Chens sentence.

Reid says watching Chens mother on the stand was impactful, but ultimately they came to the decision that he should never be eligible for parole.

"Jasmine's family doesn't get to see Jasmine in 51 years like Jason's could, and that just isn't fair. That is not justice, said Reid.

Reid says the details of jasmine's murder were gruesome and she is still working to cope with what happened.

A way she is working on that is releasing a podcast called Sequestered: a juror's perspective of the murder trial for Jasmine Pace.

"I feel like I can bring the perspective from the jury box. And the added layer of being sequestered and being pulled from my life for a week and a half to serve on this, was an honor, said Reid.

Reid took advice from General Wamp, putting Jasmine in the spotlight with the name.

"I said it that way, because of what Coty Wamp said in her closing statements. This is the trial for Jasmine Pace, and I want it to be about her, said Reid.

We spoke to General Wamp, who is supportive of what Reid is doing.

"We've got to focus more on victims and less on criminal defendants. That is what she is doing with this podcast. My message at least struck her, and I appreciate that. And I can't wait to listen to the podcast,  said Wamp.

The first episode is scheduled to air Monday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin looks on during Russian-Qatari talks at the Grand Kremlin Palace, April 17, in Moscow, Russia. Qatar's Emir met with Putin for talks on Ukraine and energy.
Longford-based charity making a global impact has received a generous donation from local business Sealtec.

The company recently gifted a Stihl chainsaw to New Growth, an organisation working with remote communities in Simthali, central Nepal.

The chainsaw will be instrumental in clearing roads often blocked by landslides and dense forestroutes that are vital for accessing markets, healthcare, and other essential services.

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In a region with limited infrastructure, even small tools can make a life-changing difference.

This donation is more than just a toolits a lifeline, said Sean Keighran, General Manager of New Growth.

It will help us keep access routes open, speed up construction at our nursery, support recovery efforts after landslides, and make daily life more manageable for the community.

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New Growth currently supports over 1,500 households in Simthali through fruit and nut tree donations, cash crop initiatives, and a clean stove program that improves household health.

The organisation also works alongside local communities to restore forests using sustainable agroforestry techniques, creating lasting environmental and economic benefits.

The contribution from Sealtec and Origo highlights the power of local businesses to drive global change.

To learn more or to support the project, visit: www.newgrowth.eu
Two women who were involved in the theft of over 800 worth of groceries were given the benefit of the Probation Act at Longford District Court.



Marina Iordacha (24) of Apartment 106, The Cube Sandfordy, Dublin 18 and Irina Stoica (34) of the same address were both charged with two counts of theft.



Sergeant Enda Daly said the women were charged in connection with two thefts from the Tesco Supermarket in Longford town.

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On November 26, 2024 the women stole groceries to the value of 379.30, and on November 24, 2024 they stole groceries to the value of 437.



Marina Iordacha had 440 in court as compensation for the injured party. Solicitor Brid Mimnagh said Ms Iordacha is a mother of one and saved her social welfare to pay back the money.

Noting the defendant had one previous conviction from 2012 Judge Owens dealt with the matter by way of Section 1.2 of the Probation Act.

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The court heard Ms Stoica had no previous convictions.

The defendant paid 100 to the court poor box and Judge Owens also dealt with the charge under Section 1.2 of the Probation Act.
An Irish community is in mourning following the tragic death of local teenager Dessie O'Kelly, who was killed in a tractor crash in Leitrim on Tuesday.

Dessie, 18, was a passenger on the tractor when it crashed on the R204 at Aghavilla at around 3.10pm. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver, also in his late teens, was taken to Cavan General Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Local Fianna Fail Councillor Paddy O'Rourke spoke to Newstalk about the heart-wrenching impact of the tragedy. "Unfortunately we are left without one of the finest young men from our parish," he said. "To say that the parish has been numbed by this is an understatement because it has hit us like a ton of bricks."

Cllr O'Rourke added that Dessie had completed his Leaving Certificate and was enrolled in an agriculture course. "The young man was 18 years of age, completed his Leaving Certificate and was doing a course in agriculture," he said. "His whole life was ahead of him."

The loss has sent shockwaves through the close-knit community of Carrigallen, with Cllr O'Rourke expressing the disbelief many are feeling. "It's beyond comprehension that somebody could go out in the morning and not come back to his family and loved ones at that age," he said. "He would have had a lot of colleagues at school... in the course he was doing... and the entire area has been stunned by this.

Carrigallen Vocational School, where Dessie had been a student, has offered support to students and former classmates. The school issued a statement: "It is with deep sadness that we remember former student Dessie OKelly who passed away yesterday. The sympathies of all our school community are extended to his family and friends at this sad time."

Dessie was well-known in the local farming community, and his passing has left many reeling. Local parish priest Fr John McMahon described him as a "helpful and great young fellow," and expressed his condolences to the O'Kelly family.

The community of Carrigallen continues to rally around Dessie's family, offering their support as they cope with this unimaginable loss.

The funeral mass for Dessie O'Kelly will take place in St. Mary's Church, Drumeela, on Easter Sunday at 2pm, followed by burial in the adjoining cemetery. Dessie will repose at his home in Drumloona, Carrigallen, on Good Friday, April 18th, from 4pm to 8pm, and on Easter Saturday, April 19th, from 5pm to 8pm.

READ MORE | Disastrous Easter weather warning forecast as Met Eireann issues Status Orange
Saudi Minister of Defense Prince Khalid bin Salman (center) meets with Major General Mohammad Bagheri, chief of staff of Irans Armed Forces (left), and Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei (right) on April 17. (Khamenei.ir)

In an unprecedented move, Saudi Arabias defense minister, Prince Khalid bin Salman, visited Tehran on April 17 for high-level talks with senior Iranian officials, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Major General Mohammad Bagheri, Chief of Staff of Irans Armed Forces and a senior member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

While the symbolic nature of the visit drew attention, it was Khalids meeting with top Iranian military leaders that stood outmost notably, Bagheri. Bagheri pointedly referenced the United States and Israel, stating that joint naval exercises between Iran and Saudi Arabia would help deter external interference in the region.

Echoing this sentiment, Ali Akbar Ahmadian, secretary-general of Irans Supreme National Security Council, called for enhanced military coordination and emphasized the need for unity among Islamic states in countering Israels destabilizing role in the Middle East.

The primary purpose of Khalids trip was to deliver a letter from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. During their meeting, Khamenei stressed the importance of regional cooperation, asserting that helping each other is better than relying on othersa thinly veiled reference to Riyadhs longstanding security ties with Washington.

Khamenei promptly shared details of the meeting on his X account, posting seven updates in total. One urged the two nations to overcome the hostile motives of those opposed to warming relations. Another offered Iranian support to Saudi Arabia in areas where the Islamic Republic has made progressa likely allusion to Irans expansive drone and ballistic missile stocks, which form the regions largest arsenal and are exported globally.

Strategic timing amid escalating regional tensions

This highly choreographed diplomatic overture unfolded against a backdrop of mounting tensions between Tehran, Washington, and Jerusalem. On the same day as Khalids visit, bunker-busting munitions and other advanced US military hardware arrived at Nevatim Airbase near Tel Aviv. Meanwhile, Israeli defense officials reportedly prepared for a potential strike on Irans nuclear infrastructure as early as May. Former President Donald Trump, responding to such reports, refused to rule out a military response to Iranian nuclear proliferation.

The timing, seniority of delegation, and unusually warm reception in Tehran suggest that Riyadh was not merely extending reassurances but seeking them from Iran in return. The Kingdom likely conveyed its intent to remain on the sidelines should a direct confrontation between Iran and the West unfoldpotentially assuring Tehran that Saudi territory and airspace would not be made available to the US for launching attacks. This posture would align with earlier reporting from April 1 suggesting that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait privately informed Iranian officials of their refusal to support American military operations against the Islamic Republic.

The thaw in relations follows the March 2023 China-brokered agreement to restore diplomatic ties between the two countries, ending a seven-year rupture. Under this framework, Iran and Saudi Arabia committed to reopening embassies, respecting mutual sovereignty, and abstaining from interference in each others internal affairs. They also agreed to revive bilateral accords, including a 2001 security cooperation agreement and a 1998 memorandum on collaboration in trade, technology, and culture.

Strained ties during the Obama era

Tensions between Riyadh and Tehran worsened during the administration of President Barack Obama. Just two days after the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) was signed in July 2015, thenSaudi Foreign Minister Adel al Jubeir warned that sanctions relief could embolden Iran to ramp up its destabilizing activities. We hope that the Iranians will use this deal to improve their economy [] not for adventures in the region, Jubeir cautioned.

That concern proved prescient. As early as 2009, Iran had begun channeling increasingly advanced weaponry to the Houthis in Yemen, including ballistic missiles and small arms. This robust support substantially enhanced the Houthis ability to challenge Saudi military operations. Despite a sustained air campaign by Riyadh, Tehrans arms pipeline kept the conflict alive with no clear Saudi victory in sight.

In an attempt to mollify Saudi apprehensions over the JCPOA, the Obama administration authorized a $1 billion arms package for Riyadhs anti-Houthi campaignpart of a broader strategy to balance engagement with Tehran by bolstering the USs Gulf allies military capabilities.

Closer ties but limited action under Trump

Relations between Washington and Riyadh tightened during the first term of President Donald Trump, who selected Saudi Arabia for his first foreign visit in 2017. That trip culminated in a $110 billion arms deal, part of a broader $350 billion, 10-year defense and investment package aimed at countering Iranian influence.

During this period, Riyadh grew more vocal in its condemnation of Tehran. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman likened the Islamic Republics supreme leader to Hitler in 2017 and, in 2018, pledged the Kingdom would pursue nuclear parity if Iran acquired atomic weapons.

When Iran downed a US surveillance drone in June 2019 and Washington opted against retaliatory strikes, the Islamic Republic escalated its posturestriking Saudi Aramcos facilities in September 2019 with 18 drones and three missiles, showcasing its offensive capabilities and Saudi Arabias vulnerability.

Riyadhs calculated shift

These developments appear to have shaped Saudi Arabias reassessment of its strategic posture. Tehrans message to Riyadh during the April 17 visit was clear: the US is no longer a reliable guarantor of regional stability, and de-escalation with Iran and its proxies is in the Kingdoms best interest.

Saudi Arabias military campaign against the Houthis has markedly subsided since the UN-brokered ceasefire in April 2022. By 2023, diplomatic normalization with Tehran was underway. In 2024, the Kingdom extended an invitation to an Iranian delegation to participate in the World Defense Show, signaling an unprecedented level of defense-sector openness between the two former rivals.

Janatan Sayeh is a research analyst at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies focused on Iranian domestic affairs and the Islamic Republics regional malign influence.
Democrats must quickly appoint Trump opponent, says Luxembourg chair

As the second presidency of Donald Trump picks up steam - with trade war threats, immigration crackdowns and a defiant stance against traditional allies - the Democrats must move to put up an opposition, the party branchs chairman in Luxembourg has said.

The Democratic party has been left without an obvious leader since President Joe Biden exited the campaign and Vice President Kamala Harris failed to defeat Trump, said Patrick Canning, the chairman of the Democrats Abroad in Luxembourg, in an interview on Wednesday.

There is no larger-than-life personality like Trump on the Democratic side, said Canning. He believes, however, that US Senator Bernie Sanders and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (known as AOC) will be the kingmakers to choosing the next presidential candidate, even if he does not think either of them would be able to win.

Cargolux collects cash while it waits for price-fixing case decision

Luxembourg freight airline Cargolux recouped more than 9 million in interest on EU fines against its anti-competitive behaviour that were reduced or annulled, but the company is waiting for the blocs top court to decide on whether it should pay 80 million for joining a worldwide price-gouging cartel.

The EUs 9 million repayment last year to the Grand Duchys global air freight carrier settles a dispute over who keeps the interest on fines the European Commission wrongly imposed and collected in competition matters.

Cargolux did not respond on Thursday when asked by the Luxembourg Times if the recovery relates to the cartel case now being considered by the European Court of Justice (ECJ) or another competition violation.

Come to Dubai! Realtors set sights on Luxembourg buyers looking for better deals

Dubai has long been a destination for foreign investment in its property market, and while Luxembourg so far holds only a small share in that portfolio developers and real estate brokers are actively pursuing potential buyers with promises of higher return on investment than at home.

Foreign nationals hold around 43% of the total value of all Dubais residential property, according to the EU Tax Observatory. Luxembourgs share in that market - as of 2022 - included 72 properties worth 25 million owned by 45 Luxembourg residents. The median value of these properties was, at the time, around 240,000.

What keeps Luxembourg financial CEOs up at night

Competitiveness, consolidation and cost pressures are weighing on the minds of Luxembourgs financial services CEOs, with banks and fund firms investing heavily in technology while facing a tangle of sometimes contradictory regulations, industry leaders have said.

The comments came in response to a survey published by the consultancy PwC earlier this month that found Luxembourg CEOs have expressed considerably more concern over their companies economic viability over the long-term.

According to the PwC survey, 38% of Luxembourg CEOs believed their companies would remain viable for the next ten years compared to 51% two years ago. That is a noticeable drop and lower than the global average (55% this year and 59% in 2023).

Luxembourgs SES paid its new CEO 5.2 million last year

State-backed Luxembourg satellite pioneer SES last year paid its chief executive more than 5 million - twice his predecessors last annual payout, the Luxembourg Times has found.

The vast majority of the 5.2 million the company paid its top executive in 2024 went to Adel Al-Saleh, who took over the job on 1 February 2024 from interim CEO Ruy Pinto. He ran the company temporarily after the sudden June 2023 departure of former CEO Steve Collar, who made 2.38 million during his last full year in charge in 2022.
April 19, 2025: On February 2nd two American B-1B bombers bombed targets in Syria and Iraq. This was in retaliation for an Iranian-sponsored attack on the U.S. Tower 22 supply facility Jordan. An Iran-backed group used armed drones to kill three American soldiers and wound 40 others. The B-1Bs flew from a base in the United States and returned there after the mission was completed. Total time in the air was 34 hours and the mission covered about 45,000 kilometers.

This air strike, and many earlier ones, was an example of the U.S. Air Force Global Strike capability. This capability has been evolving since the U.S. Air Force was established in 1947. Formerly the U.S. Army Air Forces, both these organizations regularly used long range strike missions. In 2003 the Department of Defense's Strategic Command or STRATCOM got four new jobs. These included global strike with long range bombers or ICBMs. In addition work continued on integrated missile defenses, integrated information operations by collecting and using information collected via satellites or America's worldwide network of listening stations, and global command, control, communications, computers, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance. STRATCOM merged with the Strategic Command, which controlled ICBMs and long range bombers carrying nuclear weapons.

STRATCOM worked with Space Command that controlled space satellites and space operations in general. The new STRATCOM had to develop techniques for working with other areas of the Department of Defense. The main reason for putting all these jobs into STRATCOM was because of the need to eliminate competing bureaucracies and insure that needed information was collected and distributed in a timely manner.

In 2005 the air force received several B-52 and B-2 bombers to serve as the Global Strike Force. This meant that one or more of these aircraft were on alert and ready to take off immediately, and put bombs on any target on the planet, within twelve hours of getting the order. This assignment was mainly directed at Iran and North Korea, because of the nuclear weapons development programs underway there. The Global Strike bombers could arrive overhead with nukes of their own, if the situation warranted it, but would most likely be armed with dozens of conventional smart bombs.

In 2009 air force revived SAC or Strategic Air Command as the Global Strike Command. SAC was disbanded in 1992 because it became unemployed when the Cold War ended in 1991. Then, because of a number of embarrassing problems with nuclear weapons security over a three years period, inspections became more strict and frequent. Scary inspections have become fashionable again, and commanders who didnt get with the program were headed for early retirement. The word from on-high was that the units handling nuclear weapons had to be fanatics about nuclear safety and security. This is a switch from more laid-back post-Cold War practices.

All this was a return of the old SAC attitudes. After the first few mishaps handling nukes, many in the air force began trying to revive SAC. Why just act like SAC, when what is really needed is a revival of SAC. This is one of those rare cases where it is recognized that the good old days were better. Or, in this case; meaner, tougher, more effective and safer. The new Global Strike Command or GSC did what SAC once did. That meant control over all air force nuclear weapons and ICBM and heavy bomber delivery systems. This came after 17 years of trying to do without SAC.

In 1992, SAC, which had control of air force nuclear bombers and missiles since 1946, was disbanded and the ICBMs, and their crews, were transferred to the new Space Command. SAC had long been the butt of many jokes, for being uptight and fanatical about security and discipline. Everyone tolerated this because, after all, SAC had charge of all those nuclear weapons, heavy bombers and ICBMs. When Space Command took over, they eased up on the tight discipline and strictness about procedure that had been the hallmark of SAC for decades. The old timers complained, but many of the young troops liked the new, looser, attitudes.

Officers operating the ICBMs were no longer career missileers, but Space Command people. Time that used to be spent on studying nuclear weapons security and missile maintenance issues, was now devoted to subjects of more concern to Space Command like satellites and communications. Standards fell; efficiency slipped.

Then in 2005, the missile crews lost their Missile Badge, and had it replaced with a generic Space Command badge. Then there was much angst when it was discovered that six nuclear cruise missiles had accidentally been mounted on a B-52 and flown halfway across the country. How could this happen? The old timers knew. While many of these older officers and NCOs were pleased when SAC went away early in their careers, they knew that it was that act, and the subsequent loosening up, that led to the lax attitudes that put those six unnoticed nukes on that B-52. All this was part of a major, post-Cold War reorganization of the air force. It was the beginning of the end of a decades old tradition of handling nuclear weapons safely and securely.

Subsequently the air force brass reinstated the Missile Badge, for any missile crew member who belonged to a missile crew that was certified CMR by passing strenuous inspections and declared Combat Mission Ready. The badge was used for decades, until 2005, when it was withdrawn and replaced by the generic Space Wings of the Space Command, which took control of the ICBMs in 1993. SAC, it turns out, has been coming back quietly for quite some time. And now it's back for real, with a new name, but the same old attitudes.
Two individuals were indicted on Thursday after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars worth of products from makeup stores across the state, according to Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy Cruzs office.

Ana Pacheco, 20, and Kevin Jhonalerth Pereira Morales, 24, are both charged with one count each of aggravated organized retail crime, the district attorneys office wrote in a press release.

Pacheco pleaded not guilty in February to related charges in Hingham District Court while Morales is not in custody. A warrant was issued for Morales arrest after Thursdays indictment.

Pacheco will be scheduled to appear for her arraignment at a later date.

The incidents happened back in October 2024. A loss prevention officer assigned to Sephora told Hanover police that a woman was seen on surveillance footage shoplifting at Sephora locations in Hingham and Hanover. Officials determined that it was Pacheco, who had been arrested recently for shoplifting at a Sephora in Pennsylvania, according to Cruzs statement.

Officials said that the footage showed Pacheco working with other individuals, including Morales, to steal nearly $7,000 worth of products from the Sephora in Hingham and approximately $5,000 from the Sephora in Hanover.

The investigation further revealed a pattern of similar thefts involving Pacheco and Morales at Ulta Beauty stores across Massachusetts, according to the district attorneys office.

The pair is accused of the October 2024 thefts of over $2,000 in products from an Ulta in Northborough, followed less than an hour later by an almost $5,000 theft from a Framingham Ulta, according to the statement.

Pacheco and Morales are accused of entering an Ulta in Braintree that same evening and stealing close to $2,000 in high-end products, Cruzs office wrote. The following day, they were captured on surveillance at an Ulta in Woburn stealing approximately $4,600 in cosmetics and fragrances.

They were also linked to two thefts at an Ulta in Westwood, including one in July 2024, where $300 in merchandise was stolen, and another incident in October 2024, where $213 in products was stolen.

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Trump administration freezes $2.2 billion in grants to Harvard over campus activism. In this photo, Hundreds of demonstrators gather on Cambridge Common during a rally at the historic park in Cambridge, Mass., calling on Harvard University to resist what organizers described as attempts by President Trump to influence the institution. (Erin Clark/The Boston Globe via AP, File) AP

Harvard University rejected demands by the Trump administration this week, sounding a rare note of defiance among higher education institutions  which have often stayed silent or capitulated when pressed by federal action.

Some are looking at this moment as a potential turning point for higher education in an environment where most are still fearful of speaking up or fighting back against threats from the federal government.

We felt that there was less fear ... as soon as Harvard made that decision, said Jennifer Lundquist, a UMass Amherst professor and organizer.

Following Harvards decision, Columbia University  which largely accepted previous federal demands  walked back some of its compliance, stating that the institution would not allow the federal government to require us to relinquish our independence and autonomy.

Since Harvards announcement, there has been widespread support for Harvards resistance from the universitys community members and even former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

At the same time, it invigorated faculty and higher education leaders to speak up or continue their organizing.

Nearly 80 former and current college presidents signed a Tuesday letter condemning the federal administrations demands to Harvard.

I think anyone who cares about the historic partnership between the federal government and higher ed and what thats meant for our country should be speaking out right now. I really applaud and admire [Harvard] President Garber, Phil Hanlon, former Dartmouth President and signee, told MassLive.

While a few presidents are leading the way in speaking out against the Trump administration, including those who share a place in the Ivy League with Harvard, there hasnt been a public movement to work together.

But some in academia  led largely by faculty  are trying to change that.

Little NATO treaties

The faculty senates of several of the Big Ten schools decided to band together in mutual defense. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is doing something similar.

The aim is to create an alliance with immediate shared legal and public relations resources.

The faculty senates at Rutgers University, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Indiana University at Bloomington and Michigan State University are among the institutions that have passed resolutions to create a Mutual Defense Compact to defend academic freedom, institutional integrity, and the research enterprise.

The University of Massachusetts Amherst: The commonwealth's flagship campus sign on Butterfield Terrace on Aug. 3, 2024. (Kalina Kornacki)

The faculty senate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst passed a similar resolution on April 10, calling for nearly 250 land-grant and public universities to come together against Trump.

They intend to create another alliance among Massachusetts institutions to share not only public relations and legal resources but also strategies and templates for what is the line we wont cross as a coalition when faced by potential federal demands, said Lundquist, who was among those who drafted the initial resolution.

They are also aiming to create protest movements across institutions and other sectors that are being impacted by the federal government to start converging together on Washington, Lunquist said.

The resolution comes after Lundquist and other faculty organized a letter signed by around 5,000 people at universities and colleges across the country calling for higher education to stand together.

When we started working on the letter, there had been very few leaders of higher ed institutions who were faculty who had spoken out against these attacks against higher education, said Kathy Roberts Forde, another leader and UMass Amherst professor.

As we noticed that kind of silence, we thought were just getting more and more alarms, she said.

Faculty building coalitions across institutions is almost a necessary step so that presidents and leaders can feel like they have institutional backing to speak out publicly, Roberts Forde said.

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC described the alliances as little NATO treaties and called for the institutions to go faster to solidify the alliance before the administration attacks all of the institutions.

Any school that wants to survive what Trump and Vance are doing here, what their agenda is here, for American universities and colleges  any school that wants to survive whats coming their way, better find a way to not have to fight alone," Maddow said on MSNBC.

What has happened at Harvard so far

Harvard was the second institution, after Columbia, to be sent a letter detailing a list of demands the institution would have to comply with. In Harvards case, $9 billion in federal funding to the school and its affiliates was in danger of being canceled.

The institution refused to comply this week, resulting in the U.S. Department of Education stating that it would immediately freeze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value to the school.

The government has also threatened to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status and the Department of Homeland Security is requiring the institution to submit detailed records of foreign students visa holders illegal and violent activities before the end of the month. The administrations threat is that Harvard will otherwise not be able to enroll international students, who make up 40% of its student body.

At least a dozen Harvard students or recent graduates have also had their student visas revoked  something that institutions across the country are experiencing at high numbers.

The Trump administrations latest demands at Harvard occurred on Thursday when the U.S. Department of Education sent the institution a records request, demanding that it disclose foreign investments.

U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called the records request the first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities.

Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said Harvard has filed Section 117 reports for decades as part of its ongoing compliance with the law.

In reaction to some of the freezes on federal funding and other federal actions, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health is facing a significant budget crisis resulting in layoffs and the non-renewal of two building leases.

Why havent more fought back in higher education?

The fear of speaking out against the Trump administration is palpable across higher education.

Out of over a dozen institutions MassLive reached out to for a conversation with a college or university president about Harvards resistance to the Trump administration and whether higher education should band together, all declined. Many of those presidents have largely stayed out of the media.

Some leaders have told MassLive they dont want a target on their back. Thats a sentiment some leaders feel when their own universities dont have Harvards vast resources, according to Rob McCarron, president and CEO of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

Instead of being a unified cohort, many institutions are just trying to understand how the flurry of federal actions taken regarding higher education will impact their community, McCarron said.

One of the stated goals of the Trump administration was to flood the zone  was to send so many things at different sectors that it would be hard to react to, he said. I think thats part of whats happened.

There is a reasonable fear that the presidential administration will retaliate against higher education leaders who speak out against Trump, said Jon Fansmith of the American Council on Education.

Maine, which refused a federal demand to ban trans athletes from participating in womens sports, is now getting sued by the Trump administration  a move Fansmith characterized as retaliation.

Look at whats happening in the state of Maine, right? Look at what happened in Princeton, where their president wrote an op-ed attacking what the Trump administration has done in Columbia, equating it to McCarthyism and the Red Scare, and suddenly they get their funding frozen, Fansmith said.

It is not unreasonable to think this administration will be petty and vindictive because they have been petty and vindictive so far, he said.

How Harvards actions might change higher ed resistance

The Harvard University campus. Trea Lavery/MassLive

While some institutions might still be scared to speak out, Harvards decision to resist the Trump administration has changed the narrative and provided a new template for what other institutions could do when they are being targeted by the federal government, Fansmith said.

You might not like Harvard, but you really want the best researchers in the world doing the kind of work that theyre doing at Harvard because it makes our economy stronger, it makes peoples lives healthier, Fansmith said.

Harvards response might empower other institutions to feel comfortable speaking out, he said.

This administration, theyve targeted six or so institutions with these funding freezes so far; theyve talked about up to 60 more. If they keep pushing at this, I cannot imagine that there wont be an effort in the courts and in public opinion to push back in a unified way, Fansmith said.

Weve seen statements from across the higher ed community in support of Harvard and opposition to the administrations actions, of those, I think, are getting more and more prevalent since Monday, he said.

Pushing back on divide and rule

Jan-Werner Muller, a Princeton politics professor, said institutions must work together despite the chaotic and confusing environments occurring on each college campus.

Universities must realize that the government is adopting a divide-and-rule tactic: they should collaborate on a shared litigation strategy, take a common approach in getting the public on their side, and do everything possible to have Congress push back against Trump treating money allocated by the legislature as if it were a private slush fund to be used for political blackmail, Muller wrote in a Guardian opinion piece.

One of the ways institutions have been banding together is through lawsuits.

While MITs President Sally Kornbluth declined an interview, a college spokesperson said she continues to press the case for MIT in Washington, D.C., including by working closely with peer schools and, when appropriate, going to court.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Cambridge on July 2, 2024. Juliet Schulman-Hall

The institution pointed to MIT joining other institutions on Monday in filing a lawsuit over the Energy Departments new 15% cap on indirect research costs.

Antisemitism as a smoke screen

The governments initial demands of Harvard, released early in April, centered on fighting antisemitism.

Expanded demands submitted to the university last week went well beyond that purview  including allowing the government to audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and forcing the university to hire people with alternate viewpoints.

The Harvard community isnt naive about the potential for further impacts by the Trump administration, according to Mathias Risse, Harvard professor and the director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

We do understand that the federal government is a formidable enemy to have, and that their goal clearly isnt to fight antisemitism on campus but to inflict harm on Harvard. We also understand that this might go on for several years, Risse said.

Risse described the explanation the Trump administration is using of antisemitism as total nonsense and gaslighting.

McCarron agreed, stating that the Harvard letter shows that the intent of the government was to take over command and control of the university and give away its constitutional rights.

McCarron said its clear higher education is being targeted.

Antisemitism is not solely a higher education issue. Its a societal issue, McCarron said. Where do you see the administration going to the lengths theyre going against higher education to fight antisemitism?

Statements of support for Harvard

Many presidents have been silent since the Trump administration began attacking higher education.

Others have been more vocal, writing in statements to MassLive that Harvard made the correct decision to push back against the Trump administration.

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson is one of them.

I want to take this opportunity to commend Harvard and thank President Garber and the Harvard Corporation for taking this courageous and principled stand. In doing so, Harvard has shown what it means to defend whats at stake for institutions of higher education across the country, she said in a statement to MassLive.

Smith College president Sarah Willie LeBreton

Smith Colleges president, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, said in a statement that Harvards stance has been inspirational.

The work we do as educators is deeply useful to Americans, and the world. I applaud Dr. Garbers leadership, she said.

Princetons president, Christopher Eisgruber, wrote on LinkedIn that Princeton stands with Harvard and encouraged people to read Garbers powerful letter in full.

He told NPR that the list demands from the administration to institutions like Columbia are a threat to academic freedom.

If the government starts using the clout it gets from the funding it provides to sciences and engineering to invade that academic freedom, it will compromise things that are fundamental to the excellence of American universities and that are really integral to the pursuit of knowledge and the strength of our society, he said.

Stanfords President, Jonathan Levin, wrote in a statement that Harvards objections to the federal governments letter are rooted in the American tradition of liberty, a tradition essential to our countrys universities, and worth defending.

Wesleyan President Michael Roth also applauded Harvard for standing up for the shared values of higher education.

Federal funding for universities must not depend on a loyalty oath. Leaders in civil society  in higher education, business, and in religious institutions  must resist compromising on their core missions. The health of our democracy depends on the freedom to work with the federal government without having to follow the ideological dictates of those in power, Roth said.

For UMass Amherst faculty members Lundquist and Roberts Forde, statements from higher education leaders are powerful as they show more are willing to speak out since Harvards pushback.

There is a major threat here, not just against higher education, but in every sector of our society. We cant afford not to act, Lundquist said.
Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez hang one of two replica lamps used to signal the movement of British troops on April 18, 1775, the night before the Battle of Concord. The lamps will hang in the lobby of the Wood History Museum for 90 days. Dave Canton

Everyone should know, On the 18th of April in 75, hardly a man is now alive who remembers that day and year, as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote.

It was that day, 250 years ago that Paul Revere and his cohort of riders waited for the signal, lamps set in the belfry of the Old North Church in Bostons North End. One if by land, and two if by sea, Longfellow wrote. It was two  the British, called the Regulars by the colonists, were coming across the Charles River by boat. Revere rode through the countryside warning colonials that British troops were moving their way.
April 19, 2025: China is upset over how neighboring North Korea has turned to Russia as an ally and now ignores traditional patron China. This is largely because Russia turned to North Korea for weapons, munitions and soldiers to use in the Ukraine War, and paid them so much for this that they cozied up to Russia. China waits for that war to end so it can enforce its traditional control over North Korea.

This is largely because the 1950-53 Korean War lies and deceptions linger longer because China and North Korea want it that way. Yet China and North Korea remain intertwined. For example, in 2005 China hosted delegates from China, Russia, Japan, South Korea, the United States and North Korea for talks over the situation in North Korea. China put forward a proposal to solve the dispute over North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile program. China proposed North Korea get needed economic aid, and give up its weapons. The dispute was now over how fast North Korea got the aid, and how strict the inspections would be of the dismantling of the weapons programs. China doesn't want a meltdown in North Korea, and a flood of starving refugees coming across the border. China also does not want South Korea to take over North Korea, putting a major democracy on their border. China was trying to get North Korea to reform its economy like China did, but the North Koreans are rather inept at this, and the North Korean economy is in far worse shape than China's ever was. The United States, South Korea and Japan refused because North Korea has made such promises many times and broken them all.

Meanwhile North Korea continues to be a threat more than 70 years after the Korean War ended. That happened in 1953 when an armistice was signed. While prisoners of war were exchanged, the soldiers remained facing each other along the four kilometers wide DeMilitarized Zone or DMZ that stretched from coast to coast. This was a ceasefire agreement, not an end to the war. All attempts at negotiating an end to the war in the last 72 years have failed. The three years of fighting caused 140,000 American casualties, including 33,651 dead. South Korean troops suffered 415,000 killed, while other nations fighting North Korea suffered 15,000 casualties. The communist forces suffered 1.5 million killed, most of them Chinese because North Korea would have lost without massive reinforcements from China. There were also several million civilian dead, mainly in North Korea.

After the war, North Korea experienced a period of economic growth as its industrial facilities were rebuilt with Russian aid. Between 1904 to 1945, Korea was a Japanese colony, and in the north Japan built mines, railroads and factories. The south, which always had more farmland and was turned into a largely agricultural area to help feed Japan. During the Korean war, industrial and transportation facilities were heavily damaged, and reconstruction was slower in the south.

In the 1970s, foreign investment in the south began to grow, and local entrepreneurs began to start, or expand their businesses. By the 1980s, North Korea's centrally planned economy was falling apart because so much money was diverted to military spending, and lack of marketing resulted in products that could only be sold to other communist nations. When the Soviet empire fell apart in 1991, the markets for most North Korean goods disappeared. Corruption and lack of investment in agriculture resulted in food shortages, as well as the collapse of most industrial enterprises, except those that made weapons. Food aid from the Soviet Union ceased and that led to widespread hunger in North Korea during the 1990s when several million civilians (more than 10 percent of its population) starved to death.

Post-1991 documents from the Russian archives showed that Stalin appointed Kim Il Sung as ruler of North Korea and in 1950 ordered him to invade South Korea and unite Korea. When that did not work, Russia ordered China to rescue the North Koreans. China complied and told Russia that the Chinese debt for assistance in the 1949 Chinese Communist Party victory during the 22 year long civil war was paid. China no longer sought advice or guidance from Russia.

In 2010, an article appeared in a Chinese magazine describing the beginning of the Korean War in 1950. What was unusual about the article, in a government approved publication, was the frank admission that North Korea had started it all, by invading South Korea. But once news of the article spread, and was posted on Internet sites, the Chinese government ordered the article withdrawn and denounced it as untrue. The unofficial reason was that China wished to avoid angering North Korea. This, despite the fact that Chinese participation in the war killed or wounded over a million Chinese soldiers. Even Chinese leader Mao Zedong lost a son in Korea.

Since 1950, it had been the official Chinese position that the war started with a South Korean invasion of the north, to which the north responded by moving into South Korea. For decades, all communist nations accepted this version, even though all evidence pointed towards the north invading first. Then, in the 1990s, the Russian government released telegrams sent before 1960, by Russian and North Korean leaders, making it clear that Russia wanted the invasion, and that North Korea duly carried it out.

Chinese troops entered North Korea in late 1950, to prevent American forces from occupying all of Korea, and that resulted in a two-year stalemate along the current inter-Korean border which is now the DMZ Demilitarized Zone. To justify the Chinese losses, and maintain good relations with North Korea, China continued to insist that South Korea had started the war, even after everyone agreed that Russian leader Josef Stalin and North Korea had been the instigators.

What this incident really tells North Korea is that China has admitted the truth about who started the war by authorizing the article's publication in the first place but is sorry for this accident and officially sticks by the earlier lie.
Since at least November, more than 150 animals have been sent out of Worcester as the citys only animal shelter refuses new intakes due to reaching capacity, creating a growing crisis for the citys Animal Control.

Typically, the Worcester Police Departments Animal Control unit works closely with the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL). But the rescue, which currently has 34 dogs, stopped taking in new animals months ago.

Instead, the police department has had to work to find new places to put 156 animals, including 105 dogs and 51 cats, between November 2024 and April, Worcester police spokesperson Joseph Cersosimo told MassLive.

The Worcester Police Departments Animal Control unit has seen a higher intake of dogs, specifically unclaimed strays, animals taken into custody through violations and animal cruelty investigations since November, said Mike Keiley, vice president of the animal protection division of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell), who works closely with WARL.

After the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) conducted an inspection of WARL between December 2024 and January, the shelter almost received a cease-and-desist order from accepting new animals, Keiley said. MSPCA-Angell stepped in to assist and agreed to help WARL address its capacity problem.

WARL did not respond to MassLives request for comment.

And the problem possibly started even before November, Keiley said.

I would say theyve probably been at capacity for longer than [November], just because theyre really representing one of the only shelter systems in the Worcester area altogether, Keiley said. And Worcester is the second largest city in Massachusetts. Theres no doubt theres incredible need.

Without being able to leave dogs with WARL, Animal Control has been working with other animal control units across the state to rehome dogs in need of adoption or to scan chips to reunite lost dogs with their families.

Additionally, Worcesters animal control officers have been buying some of the food for the animals, a Feb. 26 Facebook post from Worcester police read.

Since there is such a great need, donations are being requested from the public, the post read.

In March, Worcester police posted about more than a dozen dogs rescued that were in need of new homes after they were surrendered to police or picked up off the citys streets.

We have a surplus of them now and were looking for people to adopt, Cersosimo told MassLive.

The departments Facebook post featured a video of the dogs that officers have rescued in recent months. Since the post went up on March 31, it has received nearly 200,000 views and 430 people have commented.

But MSPCA-Angell said WARL isnt the only shelter in need  most of the states shelters, including MSPCA-Angells shelters, have seen higher numbers of intake needs. MSPCA-Angell operates with four adoption centers that have accepted locally and nationally surrendered animals.

" We choose to be at capacity because were trying to help so many other organizations and individuals," he added.

After hearing of Worcesters problem and to combat the capacity problem shelters are facing across the state, the MSPCA announced the formation of the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support, or MASS, Coalition. The group is comprised of several groups, including the Worcester Animal Rescue League, Boston Animal Control, Thomas J OConnor Animal Control and Adoption Center, Dakin Humane Society and Berkshire Humane Society.

The coalition really does aim to increase adoptions and ultimately reduce euthanasia for animals that are stuck in shelters and helping to get them out so that they can have a successful outcome, Keiley said.

In dealing with its own capacity issue, MSPCA-Angell has developed various strategies to move animals through our system and [get] animals adopted efficiently, Keiley continued. Thats what were trying to share: what strategies are working for us with the other shelters that were working with.

Among these strategies is relying on people to foster dogs, according to Sara-Rose Brenner, senior public relations manager with MSPCA-Angell. By giving a dog a home setting to be in, it frees up a kennel for any dog that is surrendered or is taken into the organizations custody following an animal cruelty case. However, its not as permanent as a dog being adopted.

Its not a forever situation, she said. The goal is to find forever homes.

Social media has been another tool to get the word out about animals looking for new families, she continued. It has also helped to spread awareness of the capacity issue and send out to prospective pet owners a plea for help.

The other strategy that has been and will soon be implemented again next week is fee-waived adoption events. From April 21 to April 27, all of the MASS Coalition shelters will take part in the Big Dog Energy fee-waived adoption events for dogs over 1 year old.

Such events are held during vacation weeks with the hope of more turnout at shelters where people can bring out the whole family to adopt, Brenner said.

Past fee-waived adoption events have contributed to lowering the number of dogs at different shelters, including WARL, Keiley said. However, without a new plan in place, the Worcester shelter could not reopen to accepting new animals due to limited staffing and not to sacrifice [their] bandwidth by increasing their intake again.

In addition, MSCPA-Angell officials will be on the ground at these shelters, including WARL, to provide more assistance and, in WARLs case, lower its capacity from 34 dogs down to around the single digits, Keiley said. Through its partnership with MSCPA-Angell, WARL will have a better operational plan to move forward so animals can move efficiently and effectively through their system and not get backed up in care, Keiley added.

We would identify to MDAR that we believe that WARL is ready to confirm what the capacity for care should be, Keiley said. Then MDAR would do an inspection and sign off on it to resume intake. Its going to take longer than we anticipated. We want them to open when they are ready to open without targeting a date. It could be May, it could be later than that.

However, people can still make appointments with the Worcester Animal Rescue League if they choose to adopt. Adoption fees on the Worcester Animal Rescue Leagues website vary from cats to dogs to smaller animals like rabbits.

This problem reflects a nationwide trend of animal shelters reaching full capacity, Keiley said. In 2020, MSPCA-Angell had an intake of 451 dogs. That number grew incrementally until 2024, when the intake number more than tripled to 1,437 dogs in MSPCA-Angells care.

The important backdrop to this is animal welfare has gone through some turbulent times in the last several years, starting with COVID-19, Keiley said. ... We saw the entire nation be more excited to adopt animals during COVID-19 and less relinquishment of animals to animal shelters.

During the return to work phase later in the pandemic, operations at Massachusetts animal shelters saw drastic changes with staff and leadership turnover, Keiley said.

The shelter has seen a change in leadership as well. Kristin Mullins LinkedIn page states shes still the executive director and a recorded voicemail message to the executive directors phone number still says her name. But the shelter confirmed with MassLive that she is no longer in that role. Kathy Jamieson is currently the interim executive director of the Worcester Animal Rescue League.

Shelters during the pandemic also saw a low intake of dogs despite a high interest in adoption, Keiley said. As more people returned to work in person, this flipped as interest dropped and shelters saw intakes increase.

It was the perfect storm of all challenges [that] really locked up animal welfare and created all these big challenges, and thats reflected here at Worcester Animal Rescue League, but not unique to Worcester Animal Rescue League, Keiley said.
Local charity Mayo Cancer Support Association was officially conferred with full membership of the National Cancer Control Programmes (NCCPs) Alliance of Community Cancer Support Centres (ACCSC) at a ceremony in Dublin on April 2 last.

Based at Rock Rose House in Castlebar, Mayo Cancer Support is a registered charity that has been providing emotional support to local people affected by a cancer diagnosis or bereavement for over 25 years.

Its services include professional one-to-one counselling, complementary therapies, group activities, survivorship programmes, and childrens services - all of which are available free of charge to cancer patients/survivors and their loved ones.

READ: Family and friends of late Aghamore footballer James McNeive to climb five mountains for charity

The ACCSC aims to establish and grow a forum for the development of community-led cancer supports and to advocate for the development of integrated pathways of care for cancer patients and their loved ones.

Full membership of the Alliance is the equivalent of a 'Q Mark' for community cancer support centres like Mayo Cancer Support, demonstrating that they are compliant with the NCCPs Best Practice Guidance in terms of the delivery of community-based psycho-social services and survivorship programmes for those living with and beyond cancer.

Manager of Mayo Cancer Support, Ms Orla Gillespie, explained that the attainment of full ACCSC membership was one of a number of key projects pursued by the organisation in 2024, to mark its 25th anniversary.

It involved engaging in a rigorous self-assessment and peer review process to demonstrate that the services it provides are operated to best practice standards.

Ms Gillespie paid tribute to the staff and board members of Mayo Cancer Support for engaging and cooperating with the process so enthusiastically.

Securing full Alliance membership means service users and medical professionals alike can be more assured than ever of the quality and efficacy of the services offered by the charity at Rock Rose House and at its outreach centres in Ballina and Achill, she concluded.

For more information on Mayo Cancer Support visit the website https://www.mayocancersupport.ie or email: info@mayocancersupport.ie or call 094 9038407.
AI-driven symptom checkers are changing the way individuals determine their health from the comfort of their homes. With millions of consumers browsing online for solutions to health questions, these clever applications fill the gap between ambiguous symptoms and actionable knowledge, giving peace of mind and next-step clarity within mere minutes.

In this article, we take a look at the best AI symptom checker apps available, measuring their strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities against one another to find you the best, most accurate, and easiest-to-use solution.

Symptom Checker: What is It?

A symptom checker is an internet-based application that assists users in determining possible health problems based on their symptoms. Powered by artificial intelligence and medical databases, the applications provide immediate health informationadvising users whether they need to visit a doctor or treat symptoms at home.

As per David Feinberg, ex-VP of Google Health, 7% of Google's daily search results are related to health, which constitutes approximately 70,000 health queries each minute, Telegram reported.

This indicates the world's need for reliable, rapid, and easy-to-reach medical information, now more crucial than ever for symptom checkers.

Docus AI Symptom Checker: Ideal for Personalized AI Health Analysis

Docus AI Symptom Checker is a breakthrough for its innovative artificial intelligence and user-friendly design. It's designed for speed, precision, and customizability, offering personalized symptom analysis in an easy 3-step process.

Pros:

Personalized AI-backed health insights specific to every individual

Natural language input support for ease of using words of one's own for symptoms

Either multiple or individual symptom entries

Multilingual option (13 languages: Spanish, French, Arabic, and others)

Easy, actionable guidance for when to seek medical care

Cons:

For more detailed insights and reports, users have to upgrade to Docus AI Doctor

Why It's Great: It's a balance between accuracy and simplicity, making it perfect for anyone who desires instant and useful answers without a cluttered interface.

Ada Symptom Checker: Most Comprehensive AI Diagnosis

Supported by medical experts and a comprehensive knowledge base, Ada offers customized symptom checks across a broad range of conditionsfrom trivial complaints to obscure diseases.

Pros:

Accuracy AI with access to the extensive medical library

Step-by-step guided tests

Follows multiple symptoms

Has a library of conditions

Cons:

Lengthy multi-step process (10+ questions)

No free-form, natural language input support

No next-step suggestions after diagnosis

Why It's Great: Great for users who want thorough assessments, though it might be too detailed for occasional health checks.

Symptomate: Ideal for Detailed Reports

Created by Infermedica, Symptomate provides organized, AI-driven health analysis. It takes users through a series of specific questions before presenting a list of potential conditions.

Pros:

Precise results without bogging you down with possibilities

Provides detailed health reports

Accepts multiple symptom inputs

Cons:

No natural language support

No clear action guidance after diagnosis

Why It's Great: Perfect for individuals who need a clean, medically based report but are comfortable conducting additional research on next steps.
The Supreme Court on Saturday blocked, for now, the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law.

In a brief order, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center until further order of this court.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The Supreme Court had said earlier in April that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given a reasonable time to contest their pending removals.

We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process," ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.

On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men launched a desperate legal campaign to prevent their deportation, even as one judge said the case raised legitimate concerns. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.

The administration is expected to return to the Supreme Court quickly in an effort to persuade the justices to lift their temporary order.

The ACLU had already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trump's use of the act.

The act has only been invoked three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gave them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.

Following the unanimous high court order on April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.

But there had been no such order issued in the area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet, which is located 24 miles north of Abilene in the far northern end of the state.

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadn't started yet.

But the ACLU's Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday. In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish.

ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it, Brown wrote.

Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that the administration initially moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation. But since a judge banned deportations in that area, it has funneled them to the Bluebonnet facility, where no such order exists. He said witnesses reported the men were being loaded on buses Friday evening to be taken to the airport.

With Hendrix not agreeing to the ACLU's request for an emergency order, the group turned to Boasberg, who initially halted deportations in March. The Supreme Court ruled the orders against deportation could only come from judges in jurisdictions where immigrants were held, which Boasberg said made him powerless Friday.

Im sympathetic to everything youre saying, Boasberg told Gelernt. I just dont think I have the power to do anything about it.

Boasberg this week found there's probable cause that the Trump administration committed criminal contempt by disobeying his initial deportation ban. He was concerned that the paper that ICE was giving those held did not make clear they had a right to challenge their removal in court, which he believed the Supreme Court mandated.

Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department, disagreed, saying that people slated for deportation would have a minimum of 24 hours to challenge their removal in court. He said no flights were scheduled for Friday night and he was unaware of any Saturday, but the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to remove people then.

ICE said it would not comment on the litigation.

Also Friday, a Massachusetts judge made permanent his temporary ban on the administration deporting immigrants who have exhausted their appeals to countries other than their home countries unless they are informed of their destination and given a chance to object if they'd face torture or death there.

Some Venezuelans subject to Trump's Alien Enemies Act have been sent to El Salvador and housed in its notorious main prison.
The Twins have designated right-hander Matt Canterino for assignment, reports Phil Miller of the Minnesota Star Tribune. Thats the corresponding move to open a 40-man spot for prospect Luke Keaschall, whose promotion was reported yesterday. Catcher/infielder Mickey Gasper has been optioned to Triple-A Saint Paul to open an active roster spot for Keaschall.

Canterino, 27, underwent season-ending shoulder surgery about a month ago. Injured players arent allowed to be placed on outright waivers. Unless some club out there wants to trade for Canterino, hell be on release waivers in the coming days.

That recent surgery is just the latest in a series of health issues that have derailed Canterinos trajectory. Once upon a time, he was a very promising prospect. The Twins selected him in the second round of the 2019 draft. He then put up a 1.44 earned run average in his first 25 professional innings.

He hasnt been able to pitch much more than that in the subsequent years. The 2020 minor league season was canceled by the pandemic. Canterino logged 23 innings in 2021 with a 0.78 ERA and 37 innings in 2022 with a 1.95 ERA, battling through ongoing elbow problems. He eventually underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2022.

The talent was enough that the Twins didnt want him to be exposed to the Rule 5 draft, so he got a 40-man roster spot in November of 2022. He then missed all of 2023 while recovering from his surgery. A return in 2024 seemed possible until shoulder problems set him back. As mentioned, those shoulder issues ultimately resulted in surgery about a month ago.

At this point, Canterino hasnt pitched in any official game action since the summer of 2022 and he wont be returning soon. The numbers have been good, including huge strikeout totals, but the health problems have been so considerable that the Twins would be forgiven for running out of hope about his future.

Sometimes, in these situations, a player will be released and then rejoin his club via a minor league deal. The Twins would likely have interest in that scenario, as they could keep Canterino around without giving him a roster spot. However, he would have the ability to speak with the 29 other teams before signing a new pact.

Photo courtesy of Chris Tilley, Imagn Images
ANN ARBOR, MI  Severe cuts proposed at the National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) would shutter a Great Lakes data network which aids fishermen and helps forecast threats to beaches and drinking water intakes.

The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) is facing potential shutdown of its real-time data network of buoys and meteorological towers under a fiscal 2026 Trump administration budget proposal that cuts roughly $1.6 billion from NOAA.

The proposed cuts are detailed in a budget passback memo obtained by the San Francisco Chronicle and other news outlets.

The White House Office of Management and Budget proposes eliminating the Great Lakes buoy systems parent program, the Integrated Ocean Observing System (IOOS), as part of a proposed halving of the National Ocean Service line office budget.

The proposal is part of a broader Trump administration effort to slash the federal budget and workforce which has already resulted in job cuts at the Great Lakes Environmental Research Laboratory (GLERL) in Ann Arbor, where GLOS is based.

Former NOAA officials and researchers say the proposed budget effectuates a Project 2025 goal to entirely break up the agency and privatize much of its services.

If Congress approves the proposed budget cuts, GLOS program managers say the buoy and tower network would go offline within a couple months.

This map is going to go dark, said Jen Boehme, GLOS chief executive.

The Great Lakes Observing System (GLOS) uses Seagull, a cloud-based data platform to make data on Great Lakes water and weather conditions freely available. GLOS

The loss of an 8-state observation network appears in conflict with goals in the White House OMB passback memo, which says the Department of Commerce is being refocused on core activities such as enforcing trade laws, producing core statistical products, conducting leading edge R&D, and collecting essential scientific observations like ocean and weather data to support navigation and forecasting.

The memo calls for eliminating functions misaligned with the presidents agenda and the expressed will of the American people, and curtailing climate programs at NOAA.

The GLOS nonprofit is almost entirely funded through federal dollars, according to its 2024 annual report. The NOAA IOOS program supplied roughly $3.3 million last year, which was supplemented by roughly $860,000 in infrastructure law grants.

That funding supports deployment of more than 250 of buoys, towers, underwater gliders and high-frequency radar which aids weather forecasting, search-and-rescue operations, maritime navigation, flood warning and harmful algae bloom and alerts.

The systems nearshore buoys are popular with commercial and recreational anglers, who can text a buoy for water temperatures and other conditions.

Its high-frequency radar system in the Straits of Mackinac helps map the speed and direction of currents to aid navigation and improve emergency response.

The observing systems data is freely available on Seagull, an online dashboard GLOS says is used by anglers, boaters, tour operators, scuba divers, beachgoers, water treatment plant managers, researchers, vessel pilots and cruise ship operators.

This is a huge economic benefit because the data we provide is free, Boehme said. Folks dont have to pay a subscription fee for this information. Its simply there.

About 70 percent of the system users are folks who just want to figure out, is it safe to go to the beach? Can I go out on my boat today? Boehme said. These are tools and observations that arent replaceable by the NOAA programs that would remain.

In Ohio, the buoy network extends inland up the Maumee River watershed and measures nutrients bleeding off farmland, which Heidelberg University researchers use to help NOAA forecast the severity of the annual toxic algae bloom in Lake Erie.

Models used in algae forecasting are housed at GLERL in Ann Arbor. That facility is also facing elimination under the proposed budget, which closes the NOAA Office of Oceanic and Atmospheric Research.

The GLERL lab has already lost 35 percent of its staff this year, according to former staff members who testified before a Michigan Senate committee this week.

Without GLERLs expertise and data, beach forecasts will lag or disappear entirely, leaving the public unaware of dangerous conditions such as rip currents, E. coli outbreaks or harmful algal blooms, said former communications specialist Nicole Rice. The U.S. Coast Guard will lose access to critical wind, wave and ice forecasts, slowing down life-saving search-and-rescue operations.

The Lake Erie algae forecast goes away if GLERL closes, Boehme said.

Models are expensive. They need a lot of data and they need a lot of computing time, she said. Not having our federal partners at the table is going to put a big dent in the region-wide efforts to continue to support the Great Lakes.

Sign up to receive Lake Effect, MLives weekly climate and environment newsletter.

Related stories:

NOAA Michigan lab crippled by Trump cuts

Trump EPA accidentally cancels $40M for Michigan

Trump pledges to save Lake Michigan from carp

Trump EPA launches blitz of rollbacks

Radio network will track Lake Erie conditions
Michael Devon Webb, 21, of Highland Township, was charged with first degree murder in the death of Rachel Wooten, 23

OAKLAND COUNTY, MI  The fiance of a 23-year-old woman who was fatally shot this week has been charged with murder.

Michael Devon Webb, 21, of Highland Township, was charged with first degree murder in the death of Rachel Wooten, 23, Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald announced Friday, April 18.

Wooten was pronounced dead at the scene Tuesday, April 15, when police responded to reports of a shooting in a Highland Township home.

RELATED: Woman, 23, fatally shot by fiance, police say

Police found Wooten with a gunshot wound in her neck, which prosecutors say was shot from very close range.

Webb was also found in the home with a non-fatal gunshot wound, which police say was from the same bullet that killed Wooten, according to the news release.

Wooten and Webb were in a relationship and lived together. They had a child together, a 6-month-old infant who was found inside the home unharmed on Tuesday.

Rachel Wooten was just 23 and a mother of an infant, Prosecutor Karen McDonald said. Her entire life was ahead of her, until it was ended in what appears to be a domestic violence tragedy. She wont be there for her child or other loved ones in her life. Im committed to bringing her killer to justice.

First-degree murder is punishable by a mandatory sentence of life without parole, the prosecutor said.

Domestic violence is the leading cause of serious injury or death for women aged 18-24 in the United States according to the American College of Surgeons, according to the prosecutors office.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline is available 24 hours a day to provide tools and support for domestic violence survivors. If you, or someone you know, are experiencing abuse call at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) for help.
Willie Ray Cummings, Jr., 29, was found guilty on eight counts including carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and resisting and obstructing police, according to a news release from Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton. Cody Scanlan

FLINT, MI  A Flint man was convicted of multiple felonies after was found in illegal possession of a ghost gun and assaulted a police officer during his arrest.

Willie Ray Cummings, Jr., 29, was found guilty on eight counts including carrying a concealed weapon, felon in possession of a firearm, and resisting and obstructing police, according to a news release from Genesee County Prosecutor David Leyton.
The 70 Michigan Army National Guard soldiers will gather with family and invited guests at 11 a.m. Saturday at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor.

ANN ARBOR, MI - Soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard are gathering Saturday morning for a send-off as they prepare to assist military operations in the Middle East.

The 70 soldiers will gather with their families and invited guests at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 19 at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor, according to a press release from Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist and Brigadier General Scott L. Meyers are also expected to be at the event, which will be held in the colleges Morris J. Lawrence Building, 4800 E Huron River Drive.

The soldiers are assigned to the 1171st Medical Company Area Support based out of Ypsilanti and are deploying to the Middle East in support of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).

The unit will provide medical support for Operation Inherent Resolve and are anticipated to be deployed for up to a year.

The operation is a more than decade-long effort against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.

The Michigan National Guard provides trained, combat-capable forces worldwide in support of the national security strategy.

They also provide defense support of civil authorities in response to federal emergencies within the United States and state emergencies within Michigan.

The units last deployment was in 2019 to Poland in support of U.S. European Command (EUCOM).
Evan Kodak from Austin, Texas, performs a trumpet solo during the French-American youth orchestras performance at Crossroads Village & Huckleberry Railroad in this Flint Journal file photo. (Brice Tucker, MLive.com) Brice Tucker | btucker@mlive.com

GENESEE COUNTY, MI -- Its one year, two months, and 14 days before the country will celebrate its semi-quincentennial birthday, but the county is starting to make plans for a local celebration at Crossroads Village and Huckleberry Railroad.

The county Board of Commissioners gave initial approval to establish America 250 -- Genesee County Commission on April 16, and to provide $250,000 in hotel tax funds to support its work.

A resolution establishing a local planning group could be given final approval by commissioners when they meet as a full board next week.

The county resolution calls for the creation of a local commission with one resident appointed by commissioners from each of the nine commission districts.

Other America 250 commission members would be appointed by the Michigan Township Association, Small Cities & Villages Association, Flint City Council, and Genesee Intermediate School District.

A representative of the higher education community and two representatives from the Genesee County Historical Society would be appointed by Delrico Loyd, chair of the county commission.

County Director of Administration Joshua Freeman told commissioners in a memorandum that appointments are expected to be made by June 2 and those appointed will serve through Sept. 20, 2026.

The resolution approved by commissioners says no more than $50,000 from the budget for the event will be used to contract with a business thatll support the commissions work.

In appropriating these dollars, the goal is to attract tourists to our area as we celebrate the semi-quincentennial, Freeman wrote.

In 1973, the county approved the creation of Crossroads Village as the areas bicentennial project and set aside funding for planning its dedication on July 4, 1976.
The Holland project moved up in the 2025 maintenance plan after surveys revealed shoaling that could impact commercial vessel traffic and potentially cost the local shipping industry up to $1.9 million annually. U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

HOLLAND, MI - Dredging will begin this week at the entrance of Holland Harbor.

The U.S. Corps of Engineers Detroit District will start dredging the entrance to Holland Harbor as early as Thursday, April 24 to remove shoaling across the federal channel, a press release stated.

Shoaling is a wave pattern that causes sediment to increase in an area, resulting in underwater accumulation of sand and debris.

The Army Corps said a shoal formed in the winter months across the entrance to the harbor that, if not addressed, could potentially impact commercial dredging and the local shipping industry in general.

Dredging is the removal of that increased sediment.

If the sediment is too high and ships cannot enter the harbor carrying their maximum load, they are forced to take less freight.

A loss of just 4 to 5 feet of channel depth, which would force light loading, would result in a loss of about $1.4 to $1.9 million per year to the shipping industry at Holland Harbor, according to Corps of Engineers Great Lakes  System Analysis of Navigation Depths.

Holland Harbor was already scheduled for dredging in the 2025 maintenance work plan.

King Co. Inc., based in Holland, will dredge about 12,400 cubic yards of sediment hydraulically.

Hydraulic dredging essentially vacuums sand from the bottom and pipes it to a nearby spot offshore.

Dredged sediment will be placed 8 to 12 feet deep on the lake bottom, south of the harbor.

The Army Corps said this allows the beach to be nourished by replacing eroded sediment without the impacts of heavy machinery or pipes onshore.

The project will cost $344,480 out of a three-project contract that also includes Grand Haven and St. Joseph Harbors.

After finding the shoaling in Holland, we asked the contractor to prioritize the harbor in their spring schedule to keep commercial vessel traffic moving without impact, said Liz Newell Wilkinson, the operations manager at the Grand Haven Office of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Detroit District. Our staff works hard to get out early after ice out to survey and identify potential problem areas in the Great Lakes Navigation System.

Holland Harbor is considered a deep draft commercial harbor with a federally authorized channel depth of 23 feet at the entrance.

Dredging is authorized for 24-hours a day operation.

The public is asked to adhere to all safety signage, public notices and broadcast warnings to mariners.

Grand Haven dredging stalls

The Grand Haven dredging project was rescheduled to 2026 after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers pushed back against a mandate from the state to test for pollution.

READ MORE: Army Corps balks at testing Michigan harbor sediments for pollution

The Michigan Department of Environment, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) wants the sediment tested for PFAS chemicals.

The state agency is concerned that sediment dredged from Michigan harbors may inadvertently contaminate drinking water supplies, depending on where it ultimately ends up being deposited.

On March 26, the U.S. Army Corps rejected an internal request for funding for the testing. They say PFAS testing in Grand Haven and elsewhere threatens to drive up dredging costs if the sediment is toxic enough to require landfilling.

In Grand Haven, harbor businesses say the dredging delay threatens to drive up road construction costs if cargo deliveries cost more because ships cant float-in as much material.
Thunderstorms swept across Michigan early Friday evening, but the rain that fell wasnt exactly refreshing. It was more like little mud splatters.

This dirty rain left windows streaked and cars spattered with droplets that dried and left dust and dirt behind.

So what was the culprit behind this mess? It was likely dust from the southwestern United States that was carried across the country and over the Great Lakes with tonights storm system.

A meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Grand Rapids said its likely the dust was mixed in with the incoming air that was about 8,000 to 15,000 feet aloft when the stormy conditions rolled into West Michigan and moved east across parts of the state.

Its the same air that was at ground level on Thursday over New Mexico, where the winds were strong and would have swept up dust and dirt particles at the surface.

Friday's satellite image shows a brown tint to the cloud cover over Michigan. NOAA

Other area meteorologists said they noticed that satellite images today showed a brown tint to the cloud cover. The sky also was dingy-looking before the late afternoon and evening storms swept in.

So if youre like me and often count on a good rainy day for a free car wash, may you have better luck with our next storm!
UK Board Result 2025: Class 10 & 12 Pass Percentage

The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) has released the overall pass percentages along with the declaration of the UK Board Result 2025. This year has shown a significant performance by students in both Class 10 and Class 12.

Class 10 (High School) Pass Percentage: 90.77%

Class 12 (Intermediate) Pass Percentage: 83.23%

These numbers reflect a commendable improvement from last years statistics. In 2024, the Class 10 pass percentage stood at 89.14%, while Class 12 was 82.63%.
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Badrinath Priests slams Urvashi Rautela on her temple claim: It is not her temple...

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Emily in Paris' THIS character will not come back in season 5, here is what we know

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Harshad Arora reacts to Preetika Rao's 'man who sleeps with every woman' comment on him: 'Move on; Get out of that fantasy'

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Jack OTT: When and where to watch Siddhu Jonalgadda's spy drama

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On Ambedkar | Jyoti Nisha: Root of Brahminical & Dalit patriarchy is same but Dalit men are slightly kinder, ours is a shared struggle

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Prabhas returns from month-long vacation in Italy, to continue filming for The Raja Saab: Report

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Suriya addresses wife Jyothika as his 'Kannadi Poo, Jo'; gives couple goals at Retro trailer launch event

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Manish M. Suvarna is Senior Correspondent at Moneycontrol. He writes on the Indian money markets, RBI, Banks and NBFCs. He tweets at @manishsuvarna15. Contact: Manish.Suvarna@nw18.com

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8 cheetahs from Africa to be brought to India, 4 of them arriving from Botswana in May

Chhabi Kala

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Delhi govt to roll out 70 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs by May: Health official

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FM Sitharaman to participate in G20, IMF-World Bank meetings during 11-day visit to US, Peru

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From Amer Fort to Taj Mahal: JD Vances first India visit itinerary at a glance

Deblina Halder

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Govt raked up 'Waqf by user' issue to create dispute over such properties: Mallikarjun Kharge

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India, France to sign deal for Rafale-M fighter jets for Indian Navy on April 28: Report

Tamal Nandi

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India main player on world stage today, will surely be contender if decision made on UNSC expansion: IGN Chair Amb AlBanai

Armaan Bhatnagar

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Google wins some, loses some in monopoly case against US, vows to appeal

MC Tech Desk Read the latest and trending tech newsstay updated on AI, gadgets, cybersecurity, software updates, smartphones, blockchain, space tech, and the future of innovation.

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New ChatGPT feature uses your past chats for smarter web searches

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Ankita Chakravarti

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Oppo A5 Pro 5G with IP69 rating and 5800mAh battery to launch in India on April 24: All the details

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Shaurya Shubham

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Invite your friends and family to sign up for MC Tech 3, our daily newsletter that breaks down the biggest tech and startup stories of the day

Shaurya Shubham

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PM Modi to visit Saudi Arabia on April 22-23 for key talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, defence cooperation on agenda

Pragya Trivedi

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Vladimir Putin declares 'Easter Truce' in Ukraine conflict amid US proposal, ceasefire to last until 30 hours

Pragya Trivedi

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China, Cambodia reaffirm commitment to multilateral trade system, regional stability

Xinhua) 14:50, April 19, 2025

PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Cambodia on Friday expressed strong opposition to trade protectionism and reaffirmed their commitment to a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The commitment was underscored in a joint statement issued when Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Cambodia, where the two countries highlighted their mutual goal of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era and implementing three China-proposed global initiatives.

The statement emphasized their dedication to maintaining a trading system that is predictable, rules-based, transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive.

The two sides are of one mind that trade and investment restrictions pose a threat to economic security and the international trade order.

They recognize the WTO's importance as a platform for trade rule-making, review, and dialogue and cooperation, and acknowledge its crucial role in promoting trade and investment liberalization and facilitation.

The two countries also vowed to defend the legitimate rights and interests of all WTO members, and pledged to work together towards the reform of the organization.

They also pledged to push for practical outcomes at the organization's 14th ministerial conference, and advance economic globalization towards a more open, inclusive, universally beneficial, balanced and win-win direction.

On regional security, China and Cambodia reiterated the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region, voicing opposition to the formation of exclusive "small circles" and camp-based confrontation, as well as the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the deployment of missiles. They warned that such actions could trigger an arms race and jeopardize regional peace and stability.

The two sides agreed to promote the building of an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, and to contribute more to the region's stability and prosperity.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia? US man deported to El Salvador despite no criminal conviction, sparks legal showdown

Pragya Trivedi

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A random breath test (RBT) site outside Sydney's Royal Easter Show snagged a handful of offenders in a 'short' amount of time on Friday morning.

A random breath test (RBT) outside Sydney's Royal Show on Friday morning snagged a handful of offenders in a 'short' amount of time, police said. Source: NSW Police/Sutherland Shire Police

The Easter long weekend is one of the most dangerous and busiest times on Australian roads. As thousands of motorists take off for a beachside holiday or to visit loved ones, police are also hitting the streets in an attempt to deter illegal behaviour.

Just hours after kicking off Operation Easter 2025, NSW police revealed a random breath test (RBT) targeting revellers entering Sydneys Royal Easter Show at 9am on Good Friday snagged some offenders very quickly.

People often ask why we do RBTs in the morning? Officers from Auburn Highway Patrol demonstrated yesterday exactly why, the Traffic and Highway Patrol Command said online.

In a short time police detected two drivers with a mid-range blood alcohol concentration. One was unlicensed and the other had obtained his licence the day before. He was also behind the wheel of a car that had been unregistered for over three years.

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Both were charged and the newly licensed driver quickly had his fresh licence suspended, police said.

Family SUV towed after police find shocking detail on tyres

Another vehicle that entered the RBT site was found to have the tyres so worn that the steel belts were showing on his family SUV. The mans car was issued a major grounded defect notice and he was forced to tow it from the area.

These drivers and vehicles are exactly the ones we do not want on our roads, especially in an area filled with families, police said.

A family SUV was also found to have 'tyres so worn that the steel belts were showing'. Source: NSW Police

In the Sutherland Shire local officers said they will be conducting RBTs every day and night over the Easter weekend, and shared a photo of one of their secret locations. Locals were quick to respond that the spot wasnt as hidden as authorities believed.

If youve had a few, you need a plan B. Organise a lift, rideshare or public transport. The alternate is a lift with us to the police station. You dont even get to pass go, the Sutherland Shire Police Area Command said.

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Double demerits in force across Australia over Easter weekend

Double demerits are in force across most of the country. Those caught breaking the rules  including speeding, using a mobile phone and not wearing a seatbelt  can expect heavy penalties, authorities have warned.

NSW, Western Australia and the ACT will have double demerits in place between April 17-21 and April 24-27 this year. Although double demerit points apply all year around in Queensland, police operations have ramped up to help drivers make safe choices.

Victoria, South Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania are free from double demerits with normal penalties, plus extra police patrols, in place.

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It comes as the death toll on Australian roads has risen over the long weekend in prior years. At least 16 people lost their lives across the Easter long weekend in 2023, which increased to 23 last year.

With NCA NewsWire

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Dozens of habitat pods have been installed on the side of a busy road in Queensland. Source: Sunshine Coast Council

Roads pose a constant threat to native wildlife by cutting them off from important areas for breeding, food and shelter. It's an all too common scene in Australia to see animals harmed on the side of the highway, with recent NRMA statistics revealing there were over 12,000 wildlife-related road claims in the past year.

But one Aussie council has been praised by its residents for installing dozens of "tiny cardboard teepees" on the edge of an overpass after removing overgrown invasive weeds and replacing them with native species.

Sunshine Coast Council recently upgraded its one-of-its-kind 150m wildlife bridge on Creswell Road, in Meridan Plains, which acts as a crucial corridor for native animals such as insects, frogs, reptiles and small mammals like sugar gliders, bush rats and bandicoots from habitats south of the bridge, with reserves on the north.

"This overpass has a wide strip, about five metres wide of bushy vegetation, and [council] weeded out all of the invasive plants and reseeded it with native ones," ReHatch inventor Dr Alexandra Carthey explained.

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For mammals that primarily live in trees, such as possums and squirrel gliders, there is a 130m long elevated rope bridge, but for ground-dwelling animals, the plants will "take a while to grow" before they are safe to use, meaning that they'll be of no use to small critters for shelter until they are bigger.

It's hoped that the cardboard habitat pods, which last in the environment for a year before breaking down, will bridge that 12-month gap.

ReHabitat pods are made of cardboard and designed to biodegrade. Source: Sunshine Coast Council

The pods will provide shelter for native animals while the native plants grow. Source: Sunshine Coast Council

What are habitat pods?

Known as ReHabitat, the pods were originally designed as a solution "after bushfires", but they work "just as well" in this scenario too, inventor Carthey told Yahoo. "The initiative makes a lot of sense even if it looks funny."

Carthey is a wildlife ecologist at Macquarie University who came up with the idea in 2020 after the Black Summer bushfires.

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"We saw injured wildlife surviving bushfires, but there was no cover left in those burnt environments, so they became sitting ducks for predators," she said. In the aftermath of bushfires, feral cats and foxes have been able to easily hunt without the impediment of thick bush where animals can usually hide away.

Searching online, Carthey saw temporary shelters for humans after disasters and wondered "why don't we do this for animals?"

The pods are designed with flatpack cardboard that can be fit together in the field, and biodegrades over time.

"They start to collapse and fall apart and cardboard peels open, but we want that to happen," she explained. Once it starts to decompose, more critters like lizards and beetles move in. "They have a whole lifecycle that we're discovering," she said.

The idea has been used in multiple scenarios around the country, most recently in the Grampians National Park after it was scorched by bushfires, as well as by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to monitor native mice on predator-free islands.

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While being used alongside a road was not her initial vision for the pods, Carthey said she "loves it".

"I think it's great," she said. "As long as it's benefiting wildlife, it's all good."

The 130m long elevated rope bridge was replaced with new and durable ladder-style rope netting. Source: Sunshine Coast Council

Council's bold move to protect wildlife

Councillor Tim Burns said the area was weeded and replanted with 530 native plants which they hope will soon become home to small mammals, frogs, insects and reptiles.

"We know wildlife moves across the region and our team at Council has undertaken studies to understand this further, Burns said.

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"Our surveys have shown that the Cresswell Road bridge is used by a large variety of native animals as safe passage over the busy Caloundra Road. It provides a crucial north-south connection across what would otherwise be a significant barrier to their movement."

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A local university is looking into the mysterious discovery which hasn't been seen in over eight years.

A rarely-seen deep sea creature washed up on a popular beach has left Aussies stumped by the sad sight. The juvenile thresher shark's lifeless body was discovered by a young surfer earlier this week, prompting a local university to investigate the circumstances surrounding its death.

The small shark was found on Wednesday at Seaford Beach, just days after a great white shark was spotted swimming in the shallows 15 minutes down the South Australian coast earlier this week.

Anton Covino, who runs the state's Shark Watch platform, told Yahoo News the animal was showing no obvious signs of injury. "Shark scientists from Flinders University actually went down there and picked it up for an autopsy and biological examination," he said.

Anton explained there have been several reports about sharks washing up on beaches recently, but can't be sure if there is an increase in incidents or simply that more people happen to be seeing it when it happens.

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It's the second thresher shark to wash up on a South Australian beach that Anton has been involved in, with sightings becoming rarer as they face extinction due to overfishing. The first sighting was in 2017, where an over two-metre thresher was found with visible bite marks on it.

It is unknown what caused the death of the juvenile shark. Source: Facebook/South Australia Shark Watch

Sightings of thresher sharks increasingly 'rare'

There are three species of thresher shark and "all three are globally listed as vulnerable due to catch in commercial fisheries", Lawrence Chlebeck, Marine Biologist and Campaigner at the Humane Society International, previously told Yahoo News.

Lawrence said the sharks are "pretty rare these days" and "definitely not likely to be found washed ashore".

"They are generally a pelagic (open-ocean) species, but it's always possible for them to cruise nearer to the shore. Of course, with the changing climate, ocean currents are changing as well, often bringing unexpected species into new areas," he explained.

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The sharks use their impressively large tails for hunting, which sets them apart from other sharks in the ocean.

"The actual length of the tail is the longest part of the body. That's what makes up most of their length," Anton said "The tail is very powerful, like a weapon or a tool that it uses to stun its prey, and it actually incapacitates the prey or the fish, [so it's] able to scoop up a whole bunch of fish at one time."

Mystery over what killed shark that washed up on beach

SA Shark Watch are eagerly awaiting the results of Flinders University's investigation into the shark's death  which could shed light on the situation. Yahoo News has reached out to the university for comment.

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Potential predation would be an obvious answer, but the shark in question had no visible wounds or injuries  and usually predators like to eat their meal rather than have it wash up on shore. Natural factors such as disease or pollutants in the water could be also be viable explanations.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Yves here. Perhaps one answer to why researchers are underwhelmed by the linguistic accomplishments of apes is that, as fellow primates, we set unduly high expectations for them. Another might be that parrots are so good at pronunciation, and when highly trained, communication, that apes dont seem as impressive as they ought to be given their higher cognition level. YouTube has a decent number of videos of high-vocabulary parrots, some as below who werent even to be so articulate:

But the relative performance of parrots may simply say that humans are not yet very good at instructing the great apes.

By Michael Erard, the author of Bye Bye I Love You: The Story of Our First and Last Words. His previous books include Um : Slips, Stumbles, and Verbal Blunders, and Babel No More: The Search for the Worlds Most Extraordinary Language Learners. He is a researcher at the Center for Language Studies at Radboud University in Nijmegen, the Netherlands. Originally published at Undark

In many Western societies, parents eagerly await their childrens first words, then celebrate their arrival. Theres also a vast scientific and popular attention to early child language. Yet there is (and was) surprisingly little hullabaloo sparked by the first words and hand signs displayed by great apes.

As far back as 1916, scientists have been exploring the linguistic abilities of humans closest relatives by raising them in language-rich environments. But the first moments in which these animals did cross a communication threshold created relatively little fuss in both the scientific literature and the media. Why?

Consider, for example, the first sign by Washoe, a young chimpanzee that was captured in the wild and transported in 1966 to a laboratory at the University of Nevada, where she was studied by two researchers, Allen Gardner and Beatrice Gardner. Washoe was taught American Sign Language in family-like settings that would be conducive to communicative situations. Her human companions, wrote the Gardners in 1969, were to be friends and playmates as well as providers and protectors, and they were to introduce a great many games and activities that would be likely to result in maximum interaction.

When the Gardners wrote about the experiments, they did note her first uses of specific signs, such as toothbrush, that didnt seem to echo a sign a human had just used. These moments werent ignored, yet you have to pay very close attention to their writings to find the slightest awe or enthusiasm. Fireworks it is not.

Her first sign  a begging gesture  appears about halfway through an article that the Gardners published in the journal Science, in a table of signs that Washoe used reliably. The first gesture that Washoe made spontaneously, independently of any deliberate training, was an open hand extended, palm up. She did this in situations when she wanted some help or if the humans had an object she wanted.

Later, she added a wrist movement to the sign. A beckoning, the Gardners described it. It was easily added to the list of her words. The scientists called this first sign come-gimme, describing it as a beckoning motion, with wrist or knuckles as a pivot. Its almost as if she were babbling, reaching for motor control itself, then finally achieving it. Come-gimme. She was between 1 and 2 years old at the time  about the same age as many humans spoken first words.

The Gardners had an elaborate protocol for formally agreeing that Washoe had acquired a sign: It had to have a reported frequency of at least one appropriate and spontaneous occurrence each day over a period of 15 consecutive days. Based on this protocol, her three other signs in the first seven months were more, up, and sweet.

True, the Gardners were sober scientists, but there was little celebratory flavor in their reports, nor in most of the media accounts that followed. Even her obituaries omitted it. There were exceptions, however, including a 1974 documentary titled The First Signs of Washoe. Another came from Jane Hill, a linguistic anthropologist who closed a 1978 article on ape language with a loose bit of hyperbolic flourish: It is unlikely that any of us will in our lifetimes see again a scientific breakthrough as profound in its implications as the moment when Washoe, the baby chimpanzee, raised her hand and signed COME-GIMME to a comprehending human. Profound? Few others seemed to think so.

The first human word pronounced by an ape appears to have been the French word feu, for fire, even if calling it a word is a stretch, since the young chimpanzee Moses didnt know what it meant. An American named Richard Garner bought him on an expedition to west-central Africa in the late 19th century, and Moses only knew that his human friend would give him corned beef if he made certain sounds with his mouth.

Garner, who was investigating monkey language, was disappointed that Moses had not progressed further, yet the articulation of feu was quite as nearly perfect as most people of other tongues ever learn to speak the same word in French, he wrote. Other sounds made by Moses were mamma; the German word for how, wie; and the word for mother in a local Ghanaian language, nkgwe.

In 1909, a captive chimpanzee named Peter was brought to psychologist Lightner Witmer at his clinic in Philadelphia. Dressed in top hat and wearing roller skates (mainly so he wouldnt escape by climbing things), saying mama was among his tricks.

A colleague of Witmers, a tattooed adventuring anthropologist named William Furness, also tried his hand at the talking ape game. Over six months, he taught a female orangutan to pronounce papa by pressing its lips together, until one day she did something amazing: her first word! One day of her own accord, out of lesson time, she said Papa quite distinctly and repeated it on command, Furness wrote. Of course, I praised and petted her enthusiastically; she never forgot it after that and finally recognized it as my name.

About four decades later, two Americans, Keith and Catherine Hayes, home-reared a chimpanzee named Viki, treating her like a like a human child to test her developmental capacities. After training her to grunt on command (speak), the Hayeses taught her to vocalize mama by manipulating her lips. She soon learned to make the proper mouth movements herself, and could then say mama unaided  softly, and hoarsely, but quite acceptably. Her other three words: papa, cup, up.

But reactions to these performances were subdued, compared to the florid reception that human first words typically receive. In the early 20th century, a chemistry professor named W. G. Bateman became so enamored of his childrens language that he published a small collection of first words. At one moment something is not and at the next moment itis and we do not know what miracle fills the infinitesimal gap, he wrote.

Another famous first word by an ape came from Kanzi, a bonobo born at the Yerkes Regional Primate Research Center in 1980, then moved to the Language Research Center at Georgia State University. A young scientist there, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh, had been teaching chimpanzees how to use a keyboard with visual symbols called lexigrams. Savage-Rumbaugh also taught Matata, Kanzis adopted mother, who proved to be a bad lexigram learner.

To everyones surprise, Kanzi began using lexigrams, having learned them indirectly. His first button push was for the symbol chase, Savage-Rumbaugh recalled: He would look over the board, touch this symbol, then glance about to see if I had noticed and whether I would agree to chase him.

Only after Kanzi and Matata were separated did the extent of his abilities become clear. On his first day alone with the keyboard, he used it 120 times. One of the first things he did that morning was to activate apple, then chase, Savage-Rumbaugh wrote in a 1994 book about Kanzi. He then picked up an apple, looked at me, and ran away with a play grin on his face. Within four months, he had learned to use more than 20 symbols. He was just shy of 3 years old. And in his lifetime, he would learn hundreds more.

In her account, Savage-Rumbaugh listed the first 10 words that Kanzi, Mulika, and Kanzis half-sister, Panbanisha, had produced. In general, she wrote, the apes first words reflected their own particular interests.

And those interests varied widely. Kanzis first 10 words were orange, peanut, banana, apple, bedroom, chase, Austin, sweet potato, raisin, ball. Panbanishas were milk, chase, open, tickle, grape, bite, dog, surprise, yogurt, soap. And those of Mulika were milk, key, t-room, surprise, juice, water, grape, banana, go, staff office.

Critics of the results of these ape language experiments argued that the utterances of a 2-year-old child didnt qualify as language yet, and in the early days of Chomskyan linguistics even human first words werent interesting because they gave no inkling of linguistic structure. Therefore, it was the strings of signs or symbols by apes that received far more attention. The production of novel combinatoral utterances, Sue Savage-Rumbaugh wrote, is a powerful communicative process that characterizes all languages. And if the prize is grammar, the lonely word loses currency.

As it happens, a combination of signs brought significant attention to Washoe in the 1960s. Apparently, she signed water and bird upon seeing a swan. Roger Brown, a noted Harvard psychologist who had studied word learning in children, said at the time this two-word sequence was like getting an S.O.S. from outer space. (No such hyperbole was directed at Washoes first signs.)

More than a decade later, an orangutan named Chantek at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga built a vocabulary of about 150 modified American Sign Language signs. H. Lyn Miles, an anthropologist who worked with Chantek, told me she reported downplaying his first words for several reasons. One was the fear that attributing first words to animals would be perceived as anthropomorphism.

We wanted the apes to be precocious. But since they were not our biological children, we didnt harp like human parents and repeatedly encourage first words like mama and dada, or even up, as we urged them into our loving arms, she wrote in an email.

Critics of ape language research also maintain that the apes only learn words to get what they want, not to ask questions about objects or persons, or perform social functions. Indeed, Chanteks first words were FOOD-EAT and DRINK. We somewhat underplayed the first words, Miles wrote.

Another reason for her reluctance to focus on first words was sexism, Miles reported. Some female scientists battled the perception that they couldnt be objective or nonemotional, so they went out of their way to not be perceived as maternal. The last thing we needed in this patriarchal scientific culture was to appear as if we were over-bonding with the ape as if he/she were a child and highlight first words like a baby shower or getting babys first teeth, Miles wrote.

And yet, she told me, her personal reaction to Chanteks first words were joyful and ecstatic.

Buried in our language histories are ideas about first words that we didnt know we had. One is the notion that mama  meaning mother  is everyones natural first word. Another is that animals cant have first words. It violates a category, somehow; it asks us to believe something that we cant quite recognize. Some scientists who have worked with apes did, of course, but they werent ever able to persuade their scientific peers and other doubters that the animals were communicative agents, legitimate speakers, valid conversational partners.

And yet, the first symbols, words, or signs of apes have remained significant parts of the researchers private experiences. One researcher, Mary Lee Jensvold, had her first experience in 1985 with a signing ape with Koko, a gorilla who had been taught to sign by Penny Patterson in the early 1970s.

I had just had a conversation with a nonhuman, and its impact on me was far more significant than the details of the conversation, she remembered later. She felt as if shed spoken with a child.

Eventually she would work with a number of chimpanzees in graduate school and afterword, including Washoe. In a chapter in the 2020 anthology Chimpanzee Chronicles, Jensvold recalled entering Washoes room when the ape was close to death in late October, 2007. Deborah Fouts, a scientist who had taken over from the Gardners, said, Washoe, Mary Lee is here.

Washoe lifted her arm toward Jensvold. The human told the chimpanzee how much she loved her. Then, Jensvold wrote, she took her last breath.
U.S. Sen. Marsha Blackburn accused Vanderbilt University Medical Center this week of "concealing" diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) programs in a letter to VUMC President Jeffrey Balser. Blackburn cites a January executive order from President Donald Trump demanding that entities receiving federal funding end such programs. The health care giant insists that it has eliminated all DEI programs in compliance with Trumps order.

VUMC Responds to Conservative Outrage Over Pediatric Transgender Clinic Hospital says it will pause procedures on minors while noting it has not performed genital surgeries

Blackburns accusations directly correspond with a Fox News report published March 18, itself based on an anti-DEI campaign by nonprofit Consumers Research. All accusations relate to information on VUMC webpages. The spat continues an ongoing fixation on VUMC by conservative media ignited in large part by far-right podcaster Matt Walsh in September 2022 over gender-related care provided by the hospital. Blackburn cites the incident in her letter.

According to a press release from the Tennessee Republican leaders office, VUMC recently scrubbed its website of references to DEI initiatives at the institution despite the centers Office of Health Equity, Office of Diversity and Inclusion, and Office for Diversity Affairs being seemingly still active. Fox News includes screenshots that claim to show password-protected VUMC webpages related to DEI.

The VUMC health care system legally separated from Vanderbilt University in 2016 but remains closely tied to the university, particularly its medical school. The federal government funded $66 million in research at VUMC via the National Institute of Health this fiscal year, Blackburn says  money that comes with a responsibility to align with the Presidents executive orders.

The medical center insists that it is in full compliance with the White House.

Vanderbilt University Medical Center is eliminating all DEI programs and is fully complying with Executive Actions on DEI, reads a statement from John Howser, chief communications officer at VUMC. Shortly after the Executive Orders were issued, VUMC began removing related content on internal and external websites to reflect the termination of these programs. VUMC will continue to comply with federal mandates and directives.

Metro Sues Trump Administration for $14 Million After Being Ghosted Unpaid federal grants leave the city scrambling to figure out the extent of Nashvilles growing budget hole

Blackburns accusations fuel an ongoing panic among institutions reliant on federal funding. Since Trumps return to the White House, Republicans have targeted universities and other federal grant recipients to either comply with conservative positions on cultural issues or jeopardize precious operating dollars. Nashville recently sued the Trump administration over $14 million after being ghosted over promised grant money. Weeks ago, VUMC acknowledged an internal hiring freeze as it prepares for an expected $250 million in lost federal dollars.

While Trump and other Republicans have made ideological war against many of the nations top universities, Blackburn praised Vanderbilt University itself as recently as last week when she appeared onstage as a featured speaker at the schools Summit on Modern Conflict and Emerging Threats. The same week, Vanderbilt researchers rallied against funding cuts by the White House.
HHS Secretary Kennedy will likely investigate the following environmental exposures as CAUSES OF AUTISM and brain damage in children

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has called for an end to "epidemic denialism" so that issues of public health importance (like the autism epidemic) can be addressed at the root cause. The root causes can be traced back to the unaddressed environmental toxins in air, water, food, and medicine. Speaking to growing concerns, Kennedy challenges the widespread assertion that rising autism diagnoses are simply due to improved diagnostic methods. He argues that autisms disproportionate impact on young people and the absence of severe cases among older adults point to modern, man-made environmental factors as primary culprits.

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and associated conditions such as speech delays, chronic health issues, and brain damage continue to rise, with California recording record numbers of cases, with 1 in 12.5 boys being diagnosed on the spectrum. This report synthesizes cutting-edge research and documented findings to identify critical environmental factors  vaccines, chemical exposures, and electromagnetic fields (EMF)  that may contribute to these conditions. It concludes with actionable recommendations for the HHS to investigate further, leveraging emerging data and historical public health documents.

The Vaccine-brain damage connection

Autism rates in the U.S. have surged over the past two decades, with no clear medical consensus on underlying causes. California, a bellwether state for health trends, now reports historic highs in ASD diagnosis rates. Concurrent with this rise have been increases in childhood vaccine schedules, environmental chemical exposure, and digital device use. This report aligns with data from environmental attorney Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Dr. Denis R. Zimmerman, who revealed suppressed evidence linking vaccines to immune-mediated brain damage in susceptible children.

Immunological Mechanisms Documented in CDC Literature:

Dr. Zimmerman, a renowned pediatrician, submitted a sworn affidavit in 2007 revealing that the Department of Justice was informed of vaccine-induced autism cases as early as 2003. His findings, supported by seven peer-reviewed studies, implicate immune activation triggered by vaccines in children with genetic vulnerabilities. Specifically:

Fever and immune stimulation: Vaccines that induce fevers in developing infants may overwhelm immature neuroimmune systems, particularly in subgroups with genetic polymorphisms (e.g., COMT gene variants), leading to regression.

Toxic adjuvants: Aluminum adjuvants, present in many vaccines, are neurotoxic at elevated doses. Animal studies, cited in the CDCs leaked 300-page document, link aluminum to microglial activation and synaptic pruning abnormalities observed in ASD brains.

Thimerosal (Ethylmercury): Persistent concerns over mercury exposure from pediatric vaccines remain unresolved, with studies showing cumulative effects may disrupt brain development. While efforts have been made to remove mercury from vaccines, most flu shots and DTaP vaccines contain brain damaging mercury.

CDCs Silent Admissions: Internal documents obtained by Children's Health Defense contain admissions between 20012016 confirming autoimmune encephalopathy (brain inflammation) in vaccine recipients. While the CDC publicly denies these findings, the data underscores a need for transparency in long-term safety studies.

Environmental chemicals as a catalyst

Chlorine dioxide and neurodevelopmental harm

Autism expert Kerri Rivera explains that chlorine dioxide, a common water disinfectant, has neurotoxic effects when inhaled or consumed. A MDPI-linked case series notes its potential to disrupt mitochondrial function and oxidative pathways critical for neural development. Common exposure sources include treated drinking water and industrial processes, raising concerns about synergistic risks with vaccine ingredients.

Other Chemicals:

Phthalates (Plasticizers): Found in food packaging and hygiene products, these endocrine disruptors correlate with ASD via hormonal interference.

Pesticides (Glyphosate and pyrethroids): Agricultural runoff and urban pesticides are linked to oxidative stress markers in children with ASD.

Acetaminophen (Tylenol): A Johns Hopkins birth cohort study analyzing umbilical cord blood discovered that newborns exposed to the highest levels of acetaminophen were twice as likely to develop attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and nearly three times as likely to be diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) during childhood compared to peers with lower exposure. The research, part of growing evidence on acetaminophens potential as an endocrine disruptor, highlights these heightened risks tied to in-utero exposure.

Antibiotics in utero and early life: In a Swedish population control based study, maternal and early-life antibiotic use was associated with an increased risk of autism and ADHD in childhood.

Electromagnetic fields and digital exposure

A MDPI-published study connects early smartphone use with neurodevelopmental delays. WiFi and 5G signals may alter calcium ion signaling in the brain, impacting neurotransmitter systems vital for speech and social interaction. Infants developing brains absorb RF radiation 10x more than adults, raising alarms about cumulative effects.

The synergistic theory of triple-whammy exposure

The convergence of vaccines (immune stressors), chemicals (mitochondrial toxins), and EMF (energy disruption) may create a toxic synergy, especially in genetically susceptible children. Dr. Zimmermans affidavit highlights cases where vaccine-induced fever combined with environmental toxin exposure triggered irreversible regression.

The CDCs disputed 300-page document reportedly includes:

Case Series 20012016: Autopsies showing aluminum in brain stem areas involved in speech and gut function.

Measles-Mumps-Rubella (MMR) Data: Elevated febrile seizures post-vaccination, correlated with future ASD diagnosis.

Case studies: CDC admissions and leaked data

1. The Hannah Poling Case: A 2008 settlement acknowledged vaccine injury caused autism-like symptoms, though the CDC denied broader implications.

2. The Denmark TEDSS Cohort: A 2020 study funded by Danish authorities found higher ASD rates among vaccinated groups, prompting calls for Phase IV vaccine safety trials.

Pathways to prevention: Strategic research directions

To honor the mandate for evidence-based policy, the HHS could undertake:

Recommendation 1: Subgroup analysis of vaccine responses

Identify genetic and biomarker profiles (e.g., metallothionein deficiencies, COMT single nucleotide polymorphisms) that increase ASD risk post-vaccination.

Action: Partner with academia to analyze VAERS reports and biobank samples for hidden patterns.

Recommendation 2: Chemical exposure mapping

Establish a National Biomonitoring Network to track environmental toxin exposure in pregnant women and young children.

Prioritize chlorine dioxide, glyphosate, and aluminum as top targets.

Recommendation 3: Electromagnetic safety reassessment

Fund independent studies on RF/5G exposure limits for children under 3 years.

Advocate for stricter EMF regulations aligned with precautionary principles.

Recommendation 4: CDC Transparency Act

Demand reevaluation of the leaked 300-page document by a neutral panel using Interpretive Structural Modeling (ISM) to map systemic cause-and-effect chains.

Transparently audit Longitudinal Childhood Development Programs (LCDPs) to track neurodevelopmental trends.

Recommendation 5: Clinical trials for mitigation strategies

Test interventions like Nrf2-activating agents (e.g., sulforaphane) and mitochondrial support therapies in high-risk cohorts.

Autism and neurodevelopmental disabilities demand a paradigm shift beyond nature vs. nurture. By addressing the trinity of vaccines, chemicals, and EMF exposure, the HHS can empower communities with actionable science. Delaying studies or dismissing uncomfortable truths risks compounding harm generation after generation. The scientific community can no longer deny the brain damage epidemic and refuse to investigate environmental causes like vaccine, glyphosate, endocrine disrupting chemicals, antibiotics, and even basic medicines like acetaminophen.

Sources include:

X.com

HHS.gov

SharylAttkinson.com

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

Pubmed.gov

CBSNews.com

MDPI.com

MDPI.com

Hub.edu

Pubmed.gov

MDPI.com
Kava: The Pacifics healing wonder

Kava, or Piper methysticum, has been cultivated and used for at least 3,000 years in the Pacific Islands, especially in Vanuatu Fiji, Samoa and Hawaii. It plays a crucial role in social, spiritual and medicinal practices, fostering bonding, communication and conflict resolution in indigenous communities.

Kava is a member of the pepper family, characterized by its large, heart-shaped leaves and robust root system. The roots, rich in kavalactones like kawain, dihydrokavain, methysticin and yangonin, are ground into a powder and mixed with water to create the traditional beverage. These compounds are known for their anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic properties.

Modern research highlights kavas potential in managing anxiety, insomnia and muscle tension, with studies showing its effectiveness in reducing anxiety levels in adults with generalized anxiety disorder. However, kava should be used with caution to avoid liver toxicity. Use only high-quality, standardized extracts under medical guidance.

Beyond its medicinal use, kava is central to the social and cultural fabric of Pacific Island societies, often consumed in communal settings to enhance well-being and facilitate dialogue. Anecdotes from Vanuatu demonstrate kavas role in empowering individuals to speak up and resolve conflicts amicably.

Kava is known for its distinctive bitter, numbing taste and can be incorporated into various wellness recipes, such as smoothie bowls, herbal teas, bath soaks, meditation mixtures and massage oils, offering a blend of traditional and modern therapeutic applications.

Kava, scientifically known as Piper methysticum, is a plant that has captivated the interest of wellness enthusiasts, researchers and traditional healers alike. Native to the Pacific Islands, kava has a rich history that dates back thousands of years, steeped in cultural significance and therapeutic potential.

Brief history of kava

Kava's origins can be traced to the South Pacific, where it has been cultivated and used for centuries by indigenous communities. The plant is believed to have been first domesticated in Vanuatu and then spread to other islands such as Fiji, Samoa and Hawaii. The exact timeline of its discovery is uncertain, but archaeological evidence suggests that kava has been in use for at least 3,000 years. (Related: 9 Herbs that can support mental health.)

In traditional Pacific Island societies, kava is used for a variety of purposes beyond its medicinal value. It is a central element in social gatherings, where it is consumed to create a sense of well-being and facilitate communication. The preparation and sharing of kava are often accompanied by storytelling, singing and other cultural practices.

An anecdote from the island of Vanuatu illustrates the communal nature of kava consumption. During a village meeting, a young man named Tama was struggling to express his concerns about a community issue. After drinking kava, he found the courage to speak his mind, leading to a productive and amicable resolution. This anecdote highlights the plant's role in fostering dialogue and harmony within communities .

Kava is known for its distinctive sensory characteristics. The root is typically a light to dark brown color and has a rough, fibrous texture. When prepared as a beverage, kava has a thick, milky consistency and a bitter, slightly numbing taste. The numbing effect is particularly pronounced on the lips and tongue, which is often described as a unique and pleasant sensation.

Phytonutrients and health benefits

Kava is a member of the pepper family. The plant grows to a height of about two meters and is characterized by large, heart-shaped leaves and a robust root system. The roots, which are the primary source of the plant's active compounds, are ground into a fine powder and mixed with water to create the traditional beverage.

Kava contains a unique group of compounds known as kavalactones, which are responsible for its pharmacological effects. The main kavalactones include kawain, dihydrokavain, methysticin and yangonin. These compounds have been studied for their anxiolytic, sedative and analgesic properties. Kava also contains flavonoids, tannins and volatile oils, all of which contribute to its overall health benefits.

Kava has gained attention in modern times for its reported health benefits, particularly in managing anxiety and promoting relaxation. Studies have shown that kavalactones can bind to GABA receptors in the brain, producing a calming effect without causing cognitive impairment. This makes kava a natural alternative to prescription anti-anxiety medications for some individuals.

Research also suggests that kava may help alleviate symptoms of insomnia, reduce muscle tension and enhance mood. A meta-analysis published in the Journal of Clinical Psychopharmacology found that kava extract was effective in reducing anxiety levels in adults with generalized anxiety disorder.

However, kava should be used with caution. Excessive consumption, especially of poor-quality kava products, can lead to side effects such as liver toxicity. Therefore, it is recommended to use kava under the guidance of a healthcare professional and to choose only high-quality, standardized extracts.

Culinary and medicinal uses

While kava is most commonly consumed as a beverage, it can also be incorporated into various wellness recipes. Here are a few suggestions:

Kava smoothie bowl - Blend a small amount of kava powder with banana, mango, and coconut milk for a soothing, tropical treat.

- Blend a small amount of kava powder with banana, mango, and coconut milk for a soothing, tropical treat. Kava herbal tea - Mix kava powder with chamomile and lavender to create a calming evening tea.

- Mix kava powder with chamomile and lavender to create a calming evening tea. Kava bath soak - Add kava powder to a warm bath for a relaxing and aromatic experience. Kava meditation mixture - Combine kava powder with honey and warm water to create a drink that can be sipped during meditation sessions.

- Add kava powder to a warm bath for a relaxing and aromatic experience. Kava massage oil - Infuse kava powder in a carrier oil like coconut or jojoba to create a relaxing massage oil.

Kava, with its rich cultural heritage and potential health benefits, continues to intrigue and benefit those who explore its health-supporting properties. From its roots in the Pacific Islands to its growing popularity as a natural wellness aid, kava offers a unique blend of tradition and modern therapeutic applications.

This story is not medical advice and is not intended to treat or cure any disease. Always consult with a qualified naturopathic physician for personalized advice about your specific health situation or concern.

For more fascinating insights into superfoods and their natural wonders, visit NaturalNews.com. Its a treasure trove of articles that will deepen your understanding of the healing power of food.

If youre into cutting-edge technology with a health twist, try Brighteon.ai. Created by Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, this AI model is a free download that you can run on your own device. Its all about sharing knowledge freely and bypassing the filters of censorship.

And if youre looking for a place to openly discuss everything from nutrition to natural remedies without any holds barred, Brighteon.com is your go-to spot. Dont forget to check out their free speech social media platforms, Brighteon.IO and Brighteon.social, where the conversation is always lively and uncensored.

Watch this video to learn about the many ways kava works t0 calm the body and mind.

This video is from the East West Herbal Apothecary channel on Brighteon.com.

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Sources include:

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Russias migrant dilemma: Balancing security and human rights amid rising xenophobia

The March 22, 2024, terrorist attack at Moscows Crocus City Hall  linked to Tajik suspects  killed 144 people, triggering a surge in xenophobia, discriminatory policies and violence against Central Asian migrants in Russia.

The Kremlins response includes mass expulsions, occupational restrictions and weaponized citizenship laws, mirroring failed Western European migration policies rather than Russias historical "Moscow model" of integration.

Analysts warn that punitive measures risk destabilizing society, contrasting with past imperial strategies that prioritized loyalty over forced assimilation. Central Asian migrants now face systemic exclusion, including denied education and banking access.

Migrants report brutal harassment by police and far-right groups, with attacks documented on social media. Legal hurdles  like arbitrary conscription threats and frozen bank accounts  compound their vulnerability.

Human rights organizations urge Russia to prosecute xenophobic crimes, repeal discriminatory laws and uphold international obligations, warning that security measures must not come at the cost of human rights.

On March 22, 2024, a horrific attack at Moscows Crocus City Hall reshaped Russias approach to migration  and its 3.3 million Central Asian laborers. The attack, carried out by suspected Tajik nationals, killed 144 and injured hundreds. In its aftermath, xenophobic harassment, discriminatory policies and violence against Central Asian migrants have surged. As Russias president Vladimir Putin pledges to protect national interests, the country faces a critical choice: clamp down on migrants to prevent future unrest or uphold its legal obligations to prevent human rights abuses.

The Kremlins response  expelling migrants en masse, restricting occupational rights and weaponizing citizenship  is rooted in historical anxieties. Analysts warn that replicating Western Europes failed migration strategies, as opposed to Russias Moscow model of assimilation, risks destabilizing a society already strained by war and economic decline.

Historical precedents and the perils of replicating Western failures

Russia has long managed diversity differently than Western states. Since the 15th century, its Moscow model of empire embraced allegiance over assimilation, integrating Tatars and other groups into the state structure through loyalty and service. Modern Central Asian migrants, however, lack the institutional ties of imperial days.

According to Timofey Bordachev, program director at the Valdai Club, Europes colonial legacies and overly permissive migrant policies have spurred political fragmentation. Western nations failed to integrate second-generation migrants, who grew up feeling excluded, he writes. Russia, Bordachev argues, must avoid rigid ideological dogma and instead craft tailored solutions  like Persian Gulf nations controlled migratory frameworks  to sustain stability.

Yet Russias actions since the Crocus attack suggest a reliance on punitive measures. New laws permit arbitrary expulsions, bar migrant children from schools without proving Russian fluency, and exclude them from key sectors like education and public transport.

The rise of xenophobia and suffering in shadows

Central Asian migrants describe a climate of fear. A 34-year-old Tajik laborer in Moscow told Human Rights Watch, Every day we face discrimination, cruelty on the part of law enforcement. Russian police and far-right groups have exploited the environment, brutalizing migrants and ransacking informal settlements.

A Human Rights Watch report, Living in Fear and Humiliation, details brutal attacks filmed by assailants on social media. Tajik and Uzbek workers in construction and service sectors face beatings, pepper-spray assaults and slurs describing them as infidels.

The state has compounded the crisis. Over 200,000 migrants with legal status were locked out of bank accounts due to a faulty registry of controlled persons. Families are torn between military conscription threats or deportation under Russias war in Ukraine. Youve been working here for so many years... now protect us! migrant advocates report officers demanding enlistments.

A global call for accountability

Human Rights Watch urges Russia to reverse restrictive policies and prosecute xenophobic violence under hate-crime laws  a charge rarely applied. The report also highlights Kyrgyzstans condemnation of attacks, with its foreign ministry urging Moscow to protect its citizens.

United Nations and OSCE bodies have demanded accountability for violations and reform of discriminatory laws. Syinat Sultanalieva, the reports author, emphasized, [The Crocus attack] cannot justify massive rights abuses. Russia must investigate violence, hold perpetrators accountable and retract abusive legislation.

A crossroads between security and equality

Russias harsh response to migration betrays Bordachevs advocacy of flexible, pragmatic solutions. Instead, it echoes  and inflames  the very tribalism Western nations hoped to avoid. With global eyes on Moscows handling of its most vulnerable during war, history waits to judge whether the worlds largest nation can reconcile security with equity.

As migrants await justice, Russias leaders face a stark question: Will the Kremlin repeat Europes mistakes, or forge a path that honors both stability and the souls who build it?

Sources include:

RT.com

HRW.org

BigNewsNetwork.com
Trump chooses negotiation table over Israeli airstrikes in key Iran policy decision

Trump rejects Netanyahu's push for a U.S.-backed military strike on Iran, opting for diplomacy instead.

Israeli plans included commando raids and airstrikes on Irans nuclear sites, requiring American support.

U.S. officials warned an attack could trigger a wider regional war with no clear exit strategy.

Trumps decision reflects rare caution, prioritizing negotiations over military confrontation despite hawkish pressure.

The humanitarian and economic costs of another Middle East conflict heavily influenced the White Houses stance.

President Donald Trump has refused to support Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus proposed military strike on Iran, choosing instead to pursue diplomatic negotiations with Tehran. The decision, confirmed by multiple administration officials, follows months of internal debates over whether the U.S. should back Israel in a risky bombing campaign aimed at crippling Irans nuclear facilities.

With military involvement requiring significant American resources and the potential for catastrophic Middle East escalation, Trumps restraint signals a rare preference for pragmatic diplomacy over the kind of aggressive posturing that has defined much of his foreign policy.

The rejected Israeli plan

According to reports, Netanyahus government had developed detailed military contingencies for an attack on Irans nuclear sites as early as May, with plans ranging from commando raids on underground facilities to a week-long aerial bombardment campaign. U.S. support would have been crucial, both for providing advanced weaponry  including B-2 stealth bombers and bunker-busting munitions  and for defending Israel against inevitable Iranian retaliation. Yet despite Netanyahus persistent lobbying, Trump ultimately sided with advisers cautioning that such an operation could ignite a devastating regional war with no clear exit strategy.

Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard reportedly delivered an assessment warning that the U.S. military buildup in the Middle East, including the deployment of additional aircraft carriers and missile defense systems, risked provoking an unintended larger conflict. Her warning resonated with key officials, including Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and White House Chief of Staff Susie Wiles, who collectively convinced Trump that diplomacy should be the first priority.

Diplomacy as the safer path

While Trump has built his political brand on muscular foreign policy rhetoric  including past threats to totally destroy Iran  his second-term approach reflects a surprising caution. His administration is now engaged in indirect talks with Tehran, seeking to limit Irans uranium enrichment without repeating the Obama-era nuclear deal he once lambasted.

Hawks within his cabinet, such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz, reportedly pushed for supporting Israels strike plan, while outside allies like Senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton publicly pressured Trump toward military action. But with Irans weakened economy and waning regional influence, Vance and others argued that negotiations offered a lower-risk path to curbing its nuclear ambitions.

Netanyahu, however, remains impatient. In a telling remark during his April White House visit, he insisted any deal should allow signatories to go in, blow up the facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision with American execution. His frustration reflects Israels longstanding strategy of covert sabotage and preemptive strikes against Iranian nuclear assets, tactics that have delayed but not eliminated Tehrans progress. Yet even some of Trumps most hawkish advisers acknowledged that without direct U.S. involvement, an Israeli-led attack would likely fail to achieve its goals.

The costs of another war

Beyond strategic concerns, the humanitarian and economic consequences of a new Middle East conflict weighed heavily on Trumps decision. With the U.S. already entangled in a costly bombing campaign against Yemens Houthi rebels  a conflict that has exacerbated regional instability  expanding hostilities to Iran risked spiking global oil prices, endangering American troops, and inflaming anti-Western sentiment across the Muslim world. Moreover, Irans mutual defense pact with Russia means any large-scale strike could escalate into a broader geopolitical crisis.

For now, Trumps restraint aligns with growing skepticism among U.S. allies and even factions within Israel about the wisdom of military confrontation. While he insists all options remain on the table, his choice to prioritize talks, however tentative, offers a fleeting chance to avert another generation-defining war.

The Trump administrations rejection of Netanyahus Iran strike marks a pivotal shift toward cautious, interest-driven diplomacy  an approach that balances legitimate security concerns with the realization that another Middle East war would serve neither America nor Israels long-term stability. Even as hardliners fume, the presidents decision underscores a sobering truth: Bombs alone cannot dismantle Irans nuclear program, but they can unleash chaos that far outweighs their perceived benefits.

Sources for this article include:

News.Antiwar.com

NYTimes.com

ZeroHedge.com
Trumps bold trade overhaul reaches a crossroads with Italy, as fair deals promise sparks global attention

President Trump emphasizes his "fair trade" agenda, using tariffs as leverage in negotiations with Japan, the EU and Mexico, aiming to reduce U.S. trade deficits and rebalance relationships.

The U.S. has imposed (but temporarily suspended) high tariffs (24% on Japan, 20% on the EU) to pressure trade partners into bilateral deals, threatening key exports like Japanese autos and Italian luxury goods.

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni navigates tensions between advocating for Italys economic interests and maintaining EU unity amid Trumps disruptive trade policies.

Trumps transactional approach risks destabilizing $1.8T in EU-U.S. trade, sparking fears of retaliatory tariffs and a shift away from multilateral cooperation toward protectionism.

The outcome of ongoing negotiations will test whether Trumps aggressive tactics yield "fair" deals or deepen trans-Atlantic fractures, with Italys stance potentially influencing broader EU strategy.

President Donald Trump underscored a strategic shift in U.S. global trade diplomacy on Thursday, touting productive recent talks with Mexico and Japan as he prepares for a White House meeting with Italys Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a critical juncture in recalibrating trade relationships. The April 17 discussions follow a controversial 90-day pause on retaliatory tariffs targeting Japan and the European Union (EU), part of Trumps broader campaign to erode longstanding trade imbalances he claims have crippled American industry. At stake are multibillion-dollar trade flows, a fractured trans-Atlantic alliance and Italys role as a potential mediator  balancing tariffs and shared security interests. The Presidents unorthodox approach, blending high-stakes brinkmanship with campaigning-like negotiation tactics, has reignited debates over the economic impacts of protectionism versus free-market resilience.

Strategic leverage: Tariffs, talks and a global marketplace remade

The weeks developments crystallize Trumps fair trade agenda, which seeks to dismantle what he calls unilaterally unfair trade deals. During a Truth Social post, Trump highlighted discussions with Mexicos president and Japans top trade officials, asserting momentum toward mutually beneficial terms. They were productive  really productive, he stated, signaling confidence that countries including China now seek bilateral agreements.

The centerpiece remains the reciprocal tariffs announced in March, including a 24% levy on Japanese imports and a 20% EU tariff. Though suspended pending negotiations, the move represents an escalation beyond traditional tariff disputes. For Japan, the stakes are profound: the countrys auto and tech sectors  critical to its economy  face threats to exports worth billions. Similarly, Italys luxury goods, Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and Prosecco wine  valued at 40 billion ($45.5 billion) annually  hang in the balance.

Trumps negotiating calculus is clear: Use tariffs as leverage, then pivot to talks. What we dont want to do is to be taken advantage of anymore, he told Breitbart News. The deals will be fair for everybody. Administration officials have framed the approach as a response to persistent U.S. trade deficits, which Trump attributes to unilateral concessions in deals like NAFTA.

Melonis balancing act: Italy as EUs unlikely bridge

Melonis Thursday meeting with Trump marks a delicate political tightrope walk. As Italys first female prime minister and leader of a far-right coalition, she is expected to advocate for her nations economic interests while addressing broader EU-U.S. tensions. Yet her ideological alignment with Trump  on issues like immigration curbs and skepticism of multilateralism  contrasts sharply with Italys European alliance obligations.

EU envoys emphasized that Melonis discussions are not formal trade negotiations, as such authority rests with Brussels. Still, analysts say her willingness to engage individually with Trump could reshape European strategy. Italys surplus with the U.S. is too important to leave unaddressed, noted Antonio Villafranca of Milans ISPI think tank. But Meloni must also avoid alienating EU partners who see the White Houses tariffs as reckless.

Melonis agenda spans defense spending, Ukraine policy and energy security. While Rome boasts the EUs largest U.S. trade surplus, its NATO military budget of 1.49% of GDP falls below the 2% target Trump has demanded. The meetings symbolism may matter as much as its substance. Photos with Trump send a message, said Teneo analyst Wolfango Piccoli. But behind them, expectations are clear: How much can she secure for Italy without undermining EU unity?

Broader implications: When economic diplomacy meets geopolitical fractures

The talks occur amid deepening concerns over global trade stability. The EUs annual exchange with the U.S. exceeds $1.8 trillion, linking manufacturing, agriculture and technology supply chains. U.S. efforts to reset trade terms threaten this interdependence while reinvigorating debates over whether fairness requires isolationism or collaboration.

Historically, Trumps trade policies have prioritized a transactional view over institutional alliances  a reversal from decades of multilateral approaches under prior presidents. His 2017 tariffs on steel and aluminum, along with protracted disputes with China, laid groundwork for todays confrontations. Yet, critics warn, such tactics risk igniting proactive retaliation from major economies.

Greeces Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, in an interview with Breitbart, expressed optimism that win-win deals could materialize, a sentiment Trump echoed: Deal[s] will be made with every one of them; theyll be fair deals for everybody. Behind this rhetoric lies durable skepticism from EU leaders, who fear fairness equates to American dominance.

The chess match continues

As Trumps economic doctrine reshapes global trade dynamics, Italys Meloni faces a defining moment  one that could either inflate her reputation as a forceful negotiator or expose the risks of side-stepping Brussels. For the White House, the gamble is equally high: leveraging tariffs and diplomacy to deliver on promises of economic renewal while navigating eroding alliances.

With tariff durations set to expire in staggered increments, the coming months will test whether Trumps fair trade vision translates into written accords  or becomes another chapter in a recurring cycle of punitive measures. For now, Melonis ability to secure clarity on Washingtons priorities may decide whether Italy emerges as trade policys unlikely broker or gets caught in the crossfire.

Sources include:

YourNews.com

NPR.com

Breitbart.com
Footage of the creature's playful antics have been making the rounds this week as Shellharbour tries to take the title of NSW's Top Tourism Town.

Footage of the Sammy the seal's playful antics have been making the rounds this week as Shellharbour tries to take the title of NSW's Top Tourism Town. Source: Bec Dunning/Janine Cable/Destination Shellharbour

As Aussies spend their Easter weekend lolling on the shorelines of beaches and rivers across the country, one town is attempting to lure even more visitors with its colourful local mascot  Sammy the seal.

Several videos of the playful creature frolicking in the water under Windang Bridge have been making the rounds online this week as residents in Shellharbour push for the coastal city to be named NSWs Top Tourism Town.

In the footage, Sammy can be seen performing his  or her  trademark move of lying upside-down with their flippers in the air, amusing locals and travellers, some of which said they hoped to catch a glimpse of the beautiful seal when they stop by.

Hes definitely got a mind of his own, Bec Dunning, from SUP Shellharbour, told Yahoo News. We pretty much go past him almost every day.

Dunning, who spotted Sammy once again on Wednesday wagging his tail at her and a customer while hiding behind one of the bridges concrete pylons, explained the seal has been living in the area for years.

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A lot of the residents say that hes always been here. Weve had up to three seals underneath, and recently its just been the one, she said. They do those little barrel rolls. We sort of wonder if theyre using the pylons on the bridge for a bit of a massage.

There are also often lots of fish that Sammy likely snacks on throughout the day.

Why is Sammy upside-down with his flippers in the air?

Speaking to Yahoo, Sea World Curator of Animal Welfare and Operations, Mitchell Leroy, explained that Sammys adorable upside-down manoeuvre is called sailing and is a way for the animal to thermoregulate.

Meaning that they use the flippers above the water to either cool down or in most cases warm up. This means they dont have to get out of the water just to stay warm, he said.

Sammys adorable upside-down manoeuvre is called 'sailing' and is a 'way for the animal to thermal regulate'. Source: Bec Dunning/SUP Shellharbour

Leroy added that it is quite common for seals to inhabit locations for periods of time. There are many who move away during the year for different life stages, such as breeding season, only to return to the locations where they spend other times such as winter.

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It is most likely dependent on prior learning and success in behaviours such as successful hunting, predator avoidance or mate selection.

Seal's cheeky Meerkat move cracks up local

Dunning told Yahoo that Sammy can sometimes gets a little scared, especially if there are jet skis around or construction on the bridge.

But generally we can go under there, chill out for a little bit, have a good look at him and then move on and see him on the way back as well, she said.

Once I came through with a couple of guests, and couldnt see him, and then all of a sudden he popped up behind us, had a look like a little Meerkat, and sort of followed me for a little bit, and then pushed away, and went swimming off somewhere else, the local added, laughing about the seal's cheeky antics.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

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Troy was fishing for barramundi in Queensland's far west ahead of the Easter weekend when he realised he wasn't alone.

An Aussie fisherman is urging others not to get 'too complacent' after having a very close call with a crocodile in a Queensland river. Source: Troy/Dragonpearl Seafoods

An experienced Aussie fisherman is warning others to always remain alert after an incredibly close call with a hungry  and very annoyed  crocodile hoping to catch an easy meal in a murky rural river.

Earlier this week, Troy, who runs Queensland-based Dragonpearl Seafoods, was fishing for barramundi near the Leichhardt River, in the states far west, when he noticed he and his staff werent alone. Footage shows Troy pulling one his nets filled with a smorgasbord of fish into his tinnie, only to reveal a four-metre croc tangled on the other end.

He was in the net pinching fish out of it, and then got his snout tangled a little bit, he told Yahoo News, adding that while occasionally fishers will accidentally snag one of the animals, its not something that happens very often.

As Troy struggles to pull the strong croc to the surface to cut it free, the men can be heard stepping back in shock as it emerges from under the swaying boat. The animal appears to be surprisingly docile as Troy places his gloved hand just centimetres from its ensnared mouth and slashes the net with a knife.

We just got to be careful that he doesnt launch into the boat, the fisher tells the man filming, who admits his heart is racing. Once it was free, the crocodile dropped out very easily, Troy told Yahoo.

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We got him away safely and alive. I would suggest that croc probably got himself caught in a net before. They learn very quickly. Theyre very smart animals and a lot of the time they wont sort of act up or play up, theyll almost play dead until you get them free, and then they go about their business.

However, Troy commented online that not all crocs are as chill as this one. We are lucky we didnt lose a limb, he said.

Crocodile lets fishermen know he's 'not happy'

After spending a few days in the area collecting fish for customers ahead of the Easter weekend, the men realised they had company.

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We had an inkling because he chewed up one of our bubbles (a hard polystyrene ball that is clipped to the net) the night before, and the next day we actually caught him, Troy said, adding the territorial croc definitely wasnt happy they were there.

And as a result of that, knowing that hes there and not afraid to try and come and get fish out of the net, we decided to pick up our gear and move downriver so that we were out of his area.

Troy said he had an 'inkling' there was a croc in the area after one of his bubbles was destroyed. Source: Troy/Dragonpearl Seafoods

The encounter was later logged with Queenslands Department of Primary Industries, as is required for interactions with all protected or endangered species.

We do our best to release any sort of protected or endangered species  that covers turtles, dugongs, sawfish, crocodiles  and the majority of the time they are all released unarmed with no problems, Troy said.

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But sometimes they do pass. We do our best to be on on top of our nets as often as possible to ensure that doesnt happen. Troy noted he checks his nets every three to four hours.

Close call with croc prompts warning to fishers

Troy said the close call with the croc served as a warning to all fishers to always keep their wits about them, especially when sticking their hands in the water.

We get really complacent at times, when youre sort of day in, day out, doing this as a job, but you definitely always have to be aware that these guys can be right there and you will not see them until its too late.

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10,000 Drivers Stranded After BluSmarts Sudden Suspension, Seek Immediate Release Of Pending Payments

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 22:54 IST

Nitesh Kumar Das, Organising Secretary of Gig Workers Association (GigWA), said that the association will protest if the demands are not met.

10,000 Drivers Stranded After BluSmarts Sudden Suspension, Seek Immediate Release Of Pending Payments. (AFP)

BluSmarts sudden suspension of services has left over 10,000 driver partners without income, sparking widespread confusion and outrage. The unexpected shutdown has affected not only daily commuters but also sparked outrage among the platforms drivers, who say they were not informed in advance.

The Gig Workers Association (GigWA) raised strong concerns about the sudden suspension of BluSmarts services and said that drivers have been left without clarity on their employment status. The association alleged that numerous drivers are still waiting for pending payments and the weekly incentives of Rs 8,000 that the company had promised.

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As per the GigWA statement, the BluSmart drivers are also demanding immediate disbursal of their pending arrears.

The Gig Workers Association (GigWA) expresses deep concern over the abrupt suspension of operations by BluSmart, a major electric ride-hailing service in India. This unexpected halt has left thousands of drivers without income or clarity about their employment status," it said in a statement.

The suspension comes after the allegations by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) against BluSmarts co-founder. Anmol Jaggi, for misappropriating funds intended for electric vehicle procurement. SEBI has initiated a forensic investigation into Gensol, the affiliated company involved in the alleged financial irregularities.

GigWA, on behalf of BluSmart drivers, has also demanded immediate compensation equivalent to three months income to all affected drivers, ensuring financial stability during this period of uncertainty."

They have also urged the company to arrange alternative employment opportunities for affected workers at BluSmart.

Offer alternative employment opportunities or facilitate job placements for the displaced drivers to mitigate the impact on their livelihoods," it said.

The sudden cessation of BluSmarts services has not only disrupted the lives of its drivers but also raised concerns about the accountability of platform-based companies towards their workforce," it said.

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Nitesh Kumar Das, Organising Secretary of Gig Workers Association (GigWA), said that the association will protest if the demands are not met.

Till its suspension, BluSmart had over 10,000 active driver partners.

First Published: April 19, 2025, 22:54 IST
Are Banks Open Or Closed Today, April 19? Check Bank Holiday List For This Month

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 07:55 IST

Are Banks Open Today, April 19? Saturday is a weekend but the banks will remain open today as usual as it is the third Saturday of the month.

Bank Holiday Today: Are Banks Open Or Closed?

Are Banks Open Today, April 19? If you are planning to visit your bank branch, it is necessary to check the holiday list for banks. Today, April 19, Saturday is a weekend but the banks will remain open today as usual as it is the third Saturday of the month.

Bank branches remain closed on a number of bank holidays approved by the RBI. As per the standard banking schedule, all banksboth public and privateacross India also remain closed on the second and fourth Saturdays of every month.

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April 19 is the third Saturday of the month.

Are Banks Open Today And Tomorrow?

Today (April 19), both public and private banks will remain open across the country. So, customers can visit bank branches today.

Customers can access banking services through ATMs, mobile banking apps, and online banking platforms for essential transactions across the country irrespective of the bank holidays.

Tomorrow (April 20), the banks will remain closed across the country as it is a Sunday.

Timings of Banks?

Most major banks in India, including SBI, Bank of India, and Punjab National Bank, operate between 10 A.M. and 4 P.M., while ICICI, HDFC, Axis, Yes Bank, and Kotak Mahindra Bank usually function from 9:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. or 3:30 P.M., depending on the branch. Bank of Baroda has slightly extended hours, operating between 9:45 A.M. and 4:45 P.M. or 10 A.M. to 5 P.M., and Canara Bank typically works from 10 A.M. to 3:30 P.M.

Bank Holidays List For April 2025  State-Wise

Banks will remain closed for up to 15 days in April 2025 due to public holidays, including the second and fourth Saturdays and Sundays. Customers are advised to be aware of these holidays in advance to avoid any inconvenience with banking services.

Heres The Full List Of Bank Holidays In April 2025:

Holiday Day of the Week April 1  Year-end Bank Closing/Sarhul Tuesday April 5  Babu Jagjivan Rams Birthday Saturday April 10  Mahavir Jayanti Thursday April 14  Ambedkar Jayanti/Vishu/Bohag Bihu/Tamil New Year Monday April 15  Bengali New Years Day/Himachal Day/Bohag Bihu Tuesday April 16  Bohag Bihu Wednesday April 18  Good Friday Friday April 21  Garia Puja Monday April 29  Bhagwan Shri Parshuram Jayanti Tuesday April 30  Basava Jayanti/Akshaya Tritiya Wednesday

State-wise Bank Holidays in April 2025

State/City Holidays in April 2025 Agartala (Tripura) April 1, 14, 15, 18 Ahmedabad (Gujarat) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Aizawl (Mizoram) April 10, 16 Belapur (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Bengaluru (Karnataka) April 1, 10, 14, 18, 30 Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) April 1, 10, 18 Bhubaneswar (Odisha) April 1, 14, 18 Chandigarh (Punjab & Haryana) April 1, 14 Chennai (Tamil Nadu) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Dehradun (Uttarakhand) April 1, 14, 18 Gangtok (Sikkim) April 1, 14, 18 Guwahati (Assam) April 1, 14, 15, 16 Hyderabad  Andhra Pradesh April 1, 14, 18 Hyderabad  Telangana April 1, 5, 14, 18 Imphal (Manipur) April 1, 14, 18 Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) April 1, 15, 16 Jaipur (Rajasthan) April 1, 10, 14 Jammu (Jammu & Kashmir) April 1, 14 Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Kochi (Kerala) April 1, 14, 18 Kohima (Nagaland) April 1, 18 Kolkata (West Bengal) April 1, 10, 14, 15, 16, 18 Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Mumbai (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Nagpur (Maharashtra) April 1, 10, 14, 18 New Delhi (Delhi) April 1, 10, 18 Panaji (Goa) April 1, 14, 18 Patna (Bihar) April 1, 14, 18 Raipur (Chhattisgarh) April 10, 18 Ranchi (Jharkhand) April 1, 10, 14, 18 Shillong (Meghalaya) April 18 Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) April 15, 30 Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir) April 1, 14 Thiruvananthapuram (Kerala) April 1, 14, 18

Stock Market Holiday April 2025

Stock market will be closed for 11 days in April including Saturdays and Sundays. Along with these, market will be shut for three public holidays:

April 10 (Thursday)  Shri Mahavir Jayanti

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April 14 (Monday)  Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti

April 18 (Friday)  Good Friday

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 07:55 IST
Income Tax: Can You Change Tax Regime While Filing ITR?

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 09:35 IST

Income Tax Return: Salaried individuals and pensioners can switch tax regimes every year while filing their ITR, while taxpayers with income from business or profession can switch regimes only once in lifetime.

While filing ITR, the tax software or utility will ask if you want to opt for the new tax regime under Section 115BAC.

Income Tax: With the introduction of the new income tax regime under Section 115BAC, taxpayers in India now have the option to choose between the old tax regime (with deductions and exemptions) and the new regime (lower tax rates but no deductions). But, a common question many taxpayers ask is: Can I change my tax regime while filing the Income Tax Return (ITR)?

The answer depends on your source of income. There are two categories of taxpayers  salaried individuals (or pensioners) and individuals with business or professional income.

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Who Can Switch Tax Regimes While Filing ITR?

Salaried Individuals (or Pensioners):

Yes, salaried individuals and pensioners can switch tax regimes every year while filing their ITR. Even if you have informed your employer about choosing a particular regime for TDS purposes, you can change it at the time of filing your return.

For example, if you opted for the new regime with your employer, but later find the old regime more beneficial after calculating all deductions, you can switch to the old regime while filing ITR.

Individuals with Business or Professional Income:

Taxpayers with income from business or profession can switch regimes only once. Once they opt for the new tax regime, they can go back to the old regime only once in a lifetime.

After switching back to the old regime, they cannot choose the new regime again in future assessment years (unless they stop having business/professional income).

How to Choose or Switch Regime in ITR?

While filing ITR, the tax software or utility will ask if you want to opt for the new tax regime under Section 115BAC.

Choose Yes" if you want to opt for the new regime, or No" to stick with the old regime.

This choice directly impacts your tax calculation and payable amount.

If you are opting for the new regime and have business income, you must file Form 10-IEA before filing your ITR, starting from AY 2024-25 onwards.

When Will ITR Filing Start This Year?

The process of ITR filing usually begins in April after the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) releases the updated forms. For AY 202526 (Financial Year 202425), the forms are likely to be notified and available for electronic filing this month. Last year, the ITR forms were notified in February and e-filing began in April  indicating a trend toward early availability.

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However, for most salaried taxpayers, actual filing typically starts in late May or June once they receive Form 16  a key document issued by employers that summarises the salary paid and TDS deducted during the financial year. Employers are mandated to issue Form 16 by June 15 each year.

So while the filing portal may open in April, the bulk of salaried individuals usually begin filing in mid-June, once they have all required documents in hand.

About the Author Mohammad Haris Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More Haris is Deputy News Editor (Business) at news18.com. He writes on various issues related to markets, economy and companies. Having a decade of experience in financial journalism, Haris has been previously asso... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 09:35 IST
Uttarakhand Board Result 2025 Declared: 90.77% Clear 10th; 83.23% Pass 12th

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 11:40 IST

Uttarakhand Board Result 2025: UBSE has declared the Class 10 and 12 results. Students can check their results on ubse.uk.gov.in.

Uttarakhand Board Result 2025: Class 10th and 12th scorecards are now available on ubse.uk.gov.in.

Uttarakhand Board Result 2025: The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) has officially declared the Class 10 and Class 12 results today, April 19, 2025. Students can now check and download their Uttarakhand Board Results 2025 through the official websites  ubse.uk.gov.in and uaresults.nic.in.

UK Board Result 2025 Live Updates

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The total percentage of Uttarakhand Board 10th is 90.77 per cent. This year 1,13,238 students had registered, out of which 1,09,859 took the exam. Out of these, 99725 have passed.

A total of 1,08,980 students had registered for the Uttarakhand Board 12th examination 2025. Out of these, 1,06,345 appeared for the examination and 88518 passed. The total pass percentage of 12th is 83.23 per cent.

Uttarakhand Board 12th Topper List

Uttarakhand Board 12th Exam Topper List 2025:

1. Anushka Rana, 493 points

2- Keshav Bhatt, Komal Kumari- 489 marks

3. Ayush Singh Rawat- 484 marks

Uttarakhand Board 10th Topper List

Uttarakhand Board 10th Exam Topper List 2025:

1- Kamal Singh Chauhan and Jatin Joshi of Nainital have scored 496 marks out of 500.

2- Kanaklata of Tehri Garhwal has scored 495 marks out of 500.

3- Divyam, Priya and Deepa Joshi are at third position with 494 marks.

The UBSE conducted the Uttarakhand Board Class 10 and 12 examinations from February 21 to March 11, 2025. Around one lakh students appear for these exams annually. To pass, candidates must secure a minimum of 33 per cent in each subject. Students who have failed in one or two subjects will be eligible to appear for supplementary exams to improve their scores.

Where to Check Uttarakhand Board Result 2025?

The results are now available at:

 uaresults.nic.in

 ubse.uk.gov.in

How To Check UK Board Class 10th, 12th Result 2025?

Step 1: Visit the official website  ubse.uk.gov.in

Step 2: Click on the relevant link: UK Board 10th Result 2025" or UK Board 12th Result 2025"

Step 3: Enter your roll number, date of birth, and other required details

Step 4: Click on the Submit button to view your result

Step 5: Download and print your result for future reference

UK Board Result 2025: How To Check via SMS?

Step 1: Take a mobile phone and open the SMS app.

Step 2: Type in the format UT10Roll Number or UT12Roll Number.

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Step 3: Once written, students will have to send this text message to 56263.

Step 4: After the text has been sent, you will receive the result via SMS on your mobile phone.

About the Author Education and Careers Desk A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More A team of reporters, writers and editors brings you news, analyses and information on college and school admissions, board and competitive exams, career options, topper interviews, job notifications, latest in ... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 11:13 IST
Fancy Some Chicken Nugget That Hasn't Come From Real Chicken? Food Science Explained

Curated By :

Trending Desk Edited By: Anurag Verma



Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:05 IST

The Japanese researchers used a special device called a bioreactor to grow the cultured chicken made entirely of cells.

The Japanese researchers used a special device called a bioreactor to grow the cultured chicken made entirely of cells. (Image for representative purpose | YouTube screengrab / N'Oven Foods.

Scientists in Japan have created what may be the worlds biggest chunk of cultured chicken. It is a nugget-sized piece measuring about 7cm wide and 2cm thick, according to a paper published in the journal Trends in Biotechnology. Grown entirely from cells in a lab, it weighs around 11 grams and is far bigger than earlier lab-grown samples which were often less than a millimetre thick.

The work done by researchers at the University of Tokyo is a major breakthrough for those looking for more ethical and sustainable food options.

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How Was The Chicken Nugget Grown In Lab?

Making large pieces of meat in a lab has always been a tough task. Scientists have been able to grow small bits of tissue for years but those were less than 1 millimeter thick or about 0.04 inches. These pieces didnt feel or look like real meat because they were just small clumps of cells stuck together.

The Japanese researchers used a special device called a bioreactor to grow the cultured chicken made entirely of cells. This bioreactor worked like an artificial circulatory system. It had hollow fibres which are tiny tubes that acted like veins. These fibres delivered oxygen and nutrients to the chicken cells that helped them stay alive and grow in the right direction. The muscle cells were suspended in a gel and the fibres ran through it.

Also Read: Why Did Vintage RCB Trend During IPL Match Against PBKS At M. Chinnaswamy Stadium?

At first, the scientists started small, using 50 fibres to grow simple muscle tissue. Later, they increased the number to 1,125 fibres and produced over 10 grams of whole-cut chicken. The final piece was about 2 cm long and 1 cm thick.

Professor Shoji Takeuchi at the University of Tokyo said that hollow fibres had earlier been used in things like dialysis machines. Its exciting to discover that these tiny fibers can also effectively help create artificial tissues," he said as quoted by The Guardian.

At the moment, the hollow fibres used in the artificial circulatory system have to be removed by hand after the meat has grown. But the scientists are now working on using edible cellulose fibres instead which could stay in the meat and help adjust its texture.

The final piece was not made with food-grade materials, so no one has tasted it yet. Early chemical tests suggest the nugget has a mild, savoury flavour and chewiness comparable to real chicken meat."

What Makes This Different From Previous Lab Meat Efforts?

Previously, scientists could only grow small bits that are mostly tiny clumps of cells or minced meat stuck together with edible scaffolds. These were easier to grow but didnt resemble chicken breasts or thighs.

For them, a big hurdle has been getting oxygen and nutrients into the thick parts of the tissue. The Japanese team tackled this by using hollow fibres to create internal circulation. This lets nutrients reach deeper areas that help the cells grow properly and stay alive.

The key challenge in growing thick tissue is that cells in the centre can struggle to receive enough oxygen and nutrients, which may lead to cell death. Our system helped address this by providing internal perfusion, allowing us to support the growth of thicker, more consistent tissue," Takeuchi explained.

Why Does This Discovery Matter?

Lab-grown meat could offer a new way to produce food without raising or killing animals. This can help reduce the environmental damage caused by farming, lower greenhouse gas emissions and ease pressure on land and water resources.

It may also appeal to people concerned about animal welfare. And since the meat is grown in controlled conditions, it could be designed to include extra nutrients like zinc or selenium. As Professor Derek Stewart from the James Hutton Institute told The Guardian, This looks like a transformative step, its a really elegant solution. Theyve created something of a size and scale that people are hardwired to eat: its the chicken nugget model."

He also thought about adding masala sauce through the tubes to make a chicken tikka masala nugget. Id give it a go," he said.

Also Read: Why Scientists Are Struggling To Study T-Rex Fossils: Explained

Right now, only a few countries like Singapore, US and Israel allow the sale of cultured meat. In the US, only two companies are approved to sell it while states like Florida and Alabama have banned it.

Future Plans

Takeuchi mentioned that future versions of the bioreactor may require artificial blood to carry more oxygen to the cells, which would allow larger pieces of meat to grow. He believes that with sufficient funding, products using this method could be available in 5 to 10 years.

At first, it will likely be more expensive than conventional chicken, mainly due to material and production costs. However, we are actively developing food-grade, scalable systems, and if successful, we expect the cost to decrease substantially over time," he said.

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Also Read: Global Wine Sales Plunge To 60-Year Low: Whats Causing The Decline?

Researchers are talking to several companies about developing the technology further.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 12:05 IST
Bengal Governor Bose Tours Relief Camps In Malda, Murshidabad As Survivors Recall Waqf Protest Violence

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 23:14 IST

West Bengal Governor Dr. CV Ananda Bose visited violence-hit Malda and Murshidabad, met displaced families, and urged urgent rehabilitation and stronger border vigilance.

West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose meets with villagers displaced by the recent episodes of violence that erupted following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, at a relief camp at Par Lalpur in Malda. (IMAGE: PTI)

West Bengal Governor Dr CV Ananda Bose undertook a two-day visit to violence-hit areas of Malda and Murshidabad between April 18 and 19, amid tensions in the area following the violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The West Bengal governors media cells X account posted a statement following the visit.

According to the post, the West Bengal Governor visited relief camps and met displaced families from neighbouring Murshidabad who have fled violence and taken shelter at Parlalpur High School in Baishnabnagar.

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Communal clashes broke out in Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur in Murshidabad district on April 11 and 12, during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

The violence resulted in three deaths. So far, 274 people have been arrested for alleged involvement in rioting and vandalism.

Paramilitary and state police forces remain deployed in the affected areas.

The post said that he listened to the accounts of the survivors of the violence who spoke of abuse, assaults and the destruction of their homes during the April 11-12 clashes across parts of Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian, Jangipur and Shamsherganj.

The post added that he stressed the need for urgent rehabilitation of the displaced, including rebuilding homes, restoring livelihoods and reinstating security outposts such as BSF camps in affected areas. It also noted that Governor Bose had previously directed the Indian Red Cross Society to step in with relief measures.

During his visit, CV Ananda Bose allowed members of the media into the relief camp at the request of local residents, according to the Raj Bhavan socia media statement.

He also met families who fled violence at Mahananda Guest House in Farakka before visiting other affected zones including Samsherganj, Jafrabad, Dhulian and Bedbona.

The post further stated that the Governor had taken serious note of the atrocious situation" and terrible fear psychosis" faced by innocent civilians who fled from villages they called their own.

It further added he urged government bodies, NGOs and political groups to step in and help foster an environment of trust and peace.

The Raj Bhavan in its social media post underscored that the violence appeared premeditated" and warned of systematic attempts at cultural erasure.

The Governor, it said, called for stronger border vigilance, anti-radicalisation efforts and firm law enforcement to prevent future incidents and to bring those who perpetrated the violence to book.

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The Governor, the post added, reiterated that no force is stronger than the will of the people and warned against allowing nameless, faceless, stateless mercenaries" to run unchecked.

The Governors findings will be compiled into a report for further action.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Murshidabad, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 23:14 IST
Elon Musk Is Coming: What It Means For Tesla, Starlink, SpaceX, And India

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 22:27 IST

The announcement came after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday

This visit has been long overdue, as it was planned almost a year ago but did not happen. (File pic/Reuters)

Elon Musk, the man behind big brands like Tesla, SpaceX, X, and Starlink, has confirmed that he will visit India later this year. The announcement came after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday.

This visit has been long overdue, as it was planned almost a year ago but did not happen.

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But there have been fast-paced developments ever since Donald Trump became the US President earlier this year. Prime Minister Narendra Modi travelled to the United States and met Donald Trump, as well as Elon Musk, in a separate meeting this February.

Before this, the PM had met Musk in June 2022 when he invited the billionaire businessman to invest in India in electric mobility and Indias rapidly expanding commercial space sector.

The offer was on the table from Modi again this February  that Musk should invest in India in fields such as innovation, space exploration, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development.

And one soon heard about Teslas plans to set up shop in Delhi and Mumbai. India would be eager to learn if Musk plans a Tesla factory in Maharashtra too.

Tesla all charged up

Besides showrooms in Mumbais BKC Complex and Delhis Aerocity, Tesla is also planning to work on a massive charging site infrastructure for the electric vehicles it will sell in India, apart from facilities for battery cell material manufacturing. The battery cell is a critical component in Tesla vehicles and storage systems.

India is one of the fastest-growing EV marketsa market Musk cant ignore, India feels.

Over 1.5 million electric vehicles were sold in 2023. With government incentives and a huge tech workforce, India could be the next global hub for Musks ambitions. And with the tariffs issue resolving, hopefully with a trade deal between India and the US, Tesla could be the first entrant among Musks products into India.

Tesla is anticipated to face a lot of hurdles with China due to the ongoing tariff war. Hence, India is being seen as a good option.

Many are hoping for cheaper Teslas in a competitive market like India.

Starlink to log in

The second big offering from Musk for India could be the Starlink satellite internet going mainstream. This could mean fast internet connectivity for Indians.

Just last week, before Musks phone call with the PM, Starlinks top officials were in Delhi meeting commerce minister Piyush Goyal as well as officials from the telecom ministry. What the company wants is a licence to start satellite communication services in India, but the nations security establishment has been raising some issues.

What India desires, as per the countrys latest rules, is for companies like Starlink to set up a command centre here so that communication services can be suspended in a particular area that is sensitive or troubled. This is a national security demand.

Then, there is the need for interception. But Starlinks top brass coming to India shows Elon Musks company is eager to tide over the regulatory issues and make an entry into the massive Indian market, sources say.

The minister, Piyush Goyal, himself said that the discussions with Starlink have covered areas like the companys cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships, and future investment plans in India.

Musks company SpaceX has already signed agreements with Reliance Jio and Airtel for bringing fast internet connectivity to India.

So, the process of Starlinks impending entry into India seems to be in the last lap.

Will SpaceX take off?

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Then, of course, there is SpaceX, and the possibility of it entering the Indian space sector, which has been opened for private operators. Little has been heard on this from Elon Musks company, which plans to set up a colony on Mars, but given SpaceXs ability to manufacture and launch advanced rockets and spacecraft, India certainly wont mind a collaboration for its ambitious space plans.

But Musk loves surprises. So, expect the unexpected.

About the Author Aman Sharma Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More Aman Sharma, Executive Editor - National Affairs at CNN-News18, and Bureau Chief at News18 in Delhi, has over two decades of experience in covering the wide spectrum of politics and the Prime Ministers Office.... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 22:27 IST
Ghaziabad Man Dies By Suicide, Accuses Wife Of Harassment: After Me, They Might Kill'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 22:30 IST

In his letter, Mohit accused his wife and her relative of continuous torture and mental harassment.

Mohit married Priyanka in December 2020. (Representative image)

Ghaziabad Suicide: A man in Uttar Pradeshs Ghaziabad allegedly died by suicide by consuming poison, accusing his wife and her relatives of harassment and mental torture in a suicide note.

According to media reports, the victim, identified as 34-year-old Mohit Tyagi, employed with a private firm and a resident of Ghaziabads Modinagar area, took the extreme step after his wife, Priyanka Tyagi, fled with jewellery and threatened to file false complaints against him and his family.

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Mohits brother, Rahul Tyagi, has alleged that Mohit was under mental stress due to alleged mistreatment by his wife and her relatives. The victims family has filed a complaint at the Modinagar police station against Priyanka, her brother Puneet Tyagi, sister-in-law Neetu Tyagi, and maternal uncles Anil and Vishesh Tyagi.

Bitter Relationship

As per the reports, Mohit got married to Priyanka, a native of Sambhal district in 2020. This was Mohits second marriage. The couple was blessed with a son, Samarth, in 2021.

The relationship reportedly turned bitter soon after, with Priyanka and her family allegedly making persistent demands and false accusations against Mohit and his family. Mohits suicide letter, shared with several friends and relatives on WhatsApp before he consumed poison on April 15, explicitly names individuals he believed were responsible for his mental torture.

Priyanka Escapes With Gold Jewellery

As per the media reports, Priyanka had started stealing money from the house. Later, accompanied by her brother and another unidentified person, she took away all the gold jewellery in the house  worth between Rs 12 to Rs 15 lakhs  along with all the cash kept in the locker, after Mohits mother passed away in 2024.

The situation escalated six months ago when she left for her hometown with jewellery, cash along with her son.

Rahul revealed that Priyanka had been demanding additional jewellery from Mohit before the incident. The family claimed they had filed a police complaint at the time, but no action was taken.

What Triggered Mohit To Commit Suicide?

Priyanka subsequently filed a police complaint against Mohit in Sambhal. On April 15, Mohit allegedly received a phone call from Sambhals Chowda police station regarding the probe over the complaint lodged by his wife.

Shortly after, he messaged his acquaintances through WhatsApp, indicating that he was going to take his life and naming those he held responsible. Distressed, Mohit consumed poison the same day. He was rushed to a local hospital and later transferred to a Delhi facility for advanced treatment. But he died.

Mohits Suicide Letter

In his letter, Mohit accused his wife and her relative of continuous torture and mental harassment.

I and my family members kept trying my best to change Priyankas behavior, but it seemed as if she had married me for some other purpose, because from the way she behaved, anyone could guess that she had come not to get married but to extort a good amount of money from me and my family members or to trap me in a false case," Mohit claimed in the letter as reported by NDTV.

In the letter, Mohit alleged that Priyanka repeatedly attempted to terminate her pregnancy, prompting multiple hospital admissions in Modinagar, Meerut, and Ghaziabad. Mohit claimed that Priyanka expressed a lack of desire to raise the child, both before and after birth.

Mohit expressed concern for the welfare of his son, asking that the child be placed under the care of his paternal family.

I have no grief over dying, I am just sad that after my death, all these conspirators may kill my child Chiku," he said, adding, If I do not commit suicide, no one will believe my truth."

Mohit said that until Priyanka and all the others involved are not punished severely, his ashed shouldnt be immersed in Ganga.

He further stated, Flow my ashes in the River Ganges only when my wife and her family are punished," as reported by News24.

He urged Women Commission, Police Administration, CM Yogi Adityanath and the judiciary, to not spare the criminals.

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An FIR was registered under sections 108 (abetment of suicide), 305 (theft), and 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of trust) of the BNS against Priyanka and her family members.

This news piece may be triggering. If you or someone you know needs help, call any of these helplines: Aasra (Mumbai) 022-27546669, Sneha (Chennai) 044-24640050, Sumaitri (Delhi) 011-23389090, Cooj (Goa) 0832- 2252525, Jeevan (Jamshedpur) 065-76453841, Pratheeksha (Kochi) 048-42448830, Maithri (Kochi) 0484-2540530, Roshni (Hyderabad) 040-66202000, Lifeline 033-64643267 (Kolkata)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Ghaziabad, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 22:30 IST
India's Stern Message To Bangladesh After Hindu Leader's Killing: 'Protect All Minorities Without Excuses'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 14:23 IST

The MEA's reaction came after Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu leader in Bangladesh's Dinajpur district, was abducted from his home and brutally beaten to death.

Rising attacks on Hindu minorities in Bangladesh have strained relations with India. (PTI File Photo)

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday condemned the abduction and killing of Hindu leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy in Bangladeshs Dinajpur district, saying it follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities. Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village, was abducted from his house and beaten to death by goons on Friday.

We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government, even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity," said MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on X.

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We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh.This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2025

In a strongly worded statement, the External Affairs Ministry condemned the incident and reminded the interim government of Bangladesh to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions."

What Happened To Bhabesh Chandra Roy?

Bhabesh Chandra Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. He was also a prominent leader in the Hindu community of the area. His wife told local media that he was abducted by bike-born assailants after receiving a phone call on Friday. Witnesses saw him being taken to Naxalbari village, where he was brutally beaten to death.

The attackers reportedly sent his unconscious body back to his home in a van. Family members, with the help of locals, rushed Bhabesh to a health complex, from where he was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Congress Condemns Attack, Urges India To Raise Issue

The Congress party also condemned the brutal killing of Roy and said it was a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among religious minorities in the neighbouring country.

This is not an isolated incident. Over the past months, there have been repeated and deeply disturbing instances of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, from desecration of Hindu temples to targeted attack on the homes and businesses of minorities. This pattern of intimidation and brutality cannot be ignored," said Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on X.

The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death is a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 19, 2025

The Congress urged the Indian government to take up the matter with the highest urgency and prevail upon the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure a swift and transparent investigation and bring the culprits to justice.

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This comes amid a rise in attacks against the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas government, which has strained ties between India and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus interim government in Dhaka. India has time and again raised concerns about the atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Earlier, India rejected Bangladeshs statement on the violence in West Bengal during protests over the amended Waqf Bill, advising its eastern neighbour to focus on protecting minorities within its own borders. The Ministry of External Affairs said Bangladesh should stop making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling", and safeguard the rights of minorities there.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 13:40 IST
India, France Set To Finalise Rafale-Marine Fighter Jets Deal On April 28

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 22:16 IST

The procurement of the Rafale M fighter jets is expected to enhance Indias maritime defence capabilities.

A Rafale Marine fighter jet taxis on the flight deck of France's Charles de Gaulle nuclear-powered aircraft carrier operating in the Mediterranean Sea. India and France are set to finalize the Rafale Marine fighter jet deal in April 2025. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

India and France are set to finalise a major defense deal for the Rafale M fighter jets on April 28, defence ministry sources speaking to CNN-News18 said.

The deal was earlier approved by the Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) and is expected to enhance Indias maritime defence capabilities. The French Defence Minister is scheduled to visit India on April 27 ahead of the deals official signing.

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A report by Reuters said that the Indian Air Force currently operates 36 Rafale fighters, while the navys aircraft fleet mainly comprises Russian MiG-29 jets.

The Rafale M is a multirole fighter that can execute air superiority, ground attack, anti-ship and reconnaissance missions, according to media reports. The fighter jets are capable of nuclear delivery and equipped with Meteor missiles and AESA radar.

The Rafale M can supercruise at speeds above Mach 1 without using afterburners, making it more fuel-efficient and effective during extended missions.

Equipped with in-flight refueling capability, it enables extended range for maritime patrols and deep strike operations which is ideal for Indias vast maritime boundaries.

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It also features the Spectra Electronic Warfare System for active protection and can be used countering incoming missiles and hostile radar. The RBE2 Radar offers advanced targeting and tracking capabilities and enhances detection and engagement in both air and sea operations.

The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) had approved a 63,000-crore deal for procuring the fighter jets equipped to launch precision-guided munitions (PGMs), including laser-guided bombs, cruise missiles and air-to-ground munitions.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 21:53 IST
Murshidabad Mayhem: A Week On, 70-Year-Old Bids Adieu To Ancestral Home In Search For Safety

Reported By :

News18.com Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 09:58 IST

Krishna Chandra Pal and his wife recounted how an irate mob attacked their house, pelting diesel bombs, and looted their belongings, leaving them no choice but to leave the premises they once called home

The Pals leaving their ancestral home in search of safety. (News18)

Seventy-year-old Krishna Chandra Pal in Digri area, very close to Jaffrabad village  where the father-and-son duo was hacked to death in the violence  is the latest addition to a long list of Hindu residents from the area who are forced to flee, sensing a lack of safety.

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Citing upadrav" or rampancy of inn log"  attackers allegedly from the Muslim community  he was preparing to leave when News18 caught up with him.

I am leaving because of the rampant behaviour of these people. They have torched houses and are threatening to kill us. So why would we stay back?" asked Pal. Recounting the day when the anti-Waqf protest turned violent and later communal, he said thousands" attacked their house. I escaped from the back gate. They were hurling diesel bombs. Look, traces of that are still there," he said, pointing towards the balcony. The iron grill of the balcony is uprooted. The house bears tell-tale signs of a rampage, with materials scattered all around.

As he, along with his wife Lily Pal and another family member, Pratima Pal, carried their bags to an e-rickshaw to leave, Lily looked back at the house and broke down. When I came into the house as a new bride, I thought I would live and eventually die here. Never imagined that we would have to leave like this. But they didnt let us live here. I used the backdoor to escape along with my three daughters," recounted Lily. She claimed the attackers threatened to kill them with diesel bombs.

Lily not only lost her confidence to stay back but also cash and gold jewellery. Interactions with a series of victims revealed a pattern to the rampage where before torching houses, the attackers went on a looting spree. There were 100 grams of gold and Rs 3 lakh in cash in the house," Lily said, adding that everything was looted by the attackers.

I am leaving. I cant live here. I feel terrified and dread a mob coming from any direction. We want a camp by the Border Security Force (BSF). Otherwise, we will not survive here," she added.

The ghost of the Murshidabad communal attack has left an indelible scar on Lily as well as many who have fled to different parts, with a sizable chunk of refugees in the adjoining Malda district where a relief camp has been opened for them. Both NCW chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar as well as Governor CV Ananda Bose met the victims in their relief camp to listen to their ordeal.

Residents from the affected villages, including Jafrabad, Bedpara, Digri, have reason to believe that it was locals who perpetrated the attacks on the houses of Hindu families. Three peopleKalu Nawab, Dildar Nawab and Inzamul Haquehave been arrested for the murders of the father-son duo Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das. Haque, who is believed to be the mastermind of the double murders, is a resident of the neighbourhood where the killings took place and was apprehended from Suti area of the district late on Wednesday after night-long raids, Additional Director General (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar said. This further bolsters the claim of victims and survivors, hinting at a local hand as opposed to a Bangladeshi link.

The violence has also fractured the relationship between the two communities.

However, TMC MLA from the area Amirul Islam thinks the situation has improved". Speaking to News18, Islam said, Look, the situation has improved. It is gradually becoming normal. Those who went here and there have come back. We are trying to do our job. We are mending the water supply and electricity here It (the violence) shouldnt have happened. But it happened. We should maintain brotherhood. We have to live together." Even as Islam was speaking to News18, a local TMC leader tried to stop a visibly agitated Pal from leaving.

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Asked how he would allay fears of the likes of Pal, Islam said, Everyone here is a good person There is a panic in their minds. We are trying to make them understand that its their house and they should live here. Soon after the MLA left, Pal rebuked his wife for wasting time inside", hurriedly locked the doors and hopped onto the e-rickshaw to leave. As they left Digri, a despondent Lily Mandal could not help but look back at her house, one more time.

About the Author Anindya Banerjee Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More Anindya Banerjee, Associate Editor brings over fifteen years of journalistic courage to the forefront. With a keen focus on politics and policy, Anindya has garnered a wealth of experience, with deep throat in ... Read More

Location : Murshidabad, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 09:57 IST
PM Modis Saudi Visit: From Wars In Gaza, Ukraine To FTA Talks, Heres Whats On The Table

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 19:21 IST

PM Modi will visit Saudi Arabia to discuss bilateral ties, conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, Indian nationals in Saudi jails, defense ties, energy security and the IMEEC.

Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman shakes hands with Prime Minister Narendra Modi ahead of a meeting. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

Prime Minister Narendra Modis upcoming visit to Saudi Arabia on April 2223 will see key discussions around the conflicts in West Asia and Europe, with particular focus on the ongoing situation in Gaza and Ukraine.

The visit, taking place at the invitation of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, is expected to provide an opportunity for the two sides to exchange views on regional issues.

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Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said the West Asia crisis would figure in the talks, adding that India was glad" Saudi Arabia was playing a role in facilitating dialogue in the region. On a question about the Houthis, Misri confirmed the issue would come up during the discussions.

Houthis have affected global shipping by attacking ships across the Red Sea to express support for Hamas and protest Israels war on Gaza.

While India maintains a longstanding position supporting a two-state solution in Palestine, the Foreign Secretary highlighted that the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEEC) is being affected by security concerns in certain areas but he added there was no direct linkage" between the two.

Indian Nationals In Saudi Jails High On Agenda

The issue of Indian nationals imprisoned or detained in Saudi Arabia is expected to be high on the agenda during PM Modis visit. Misri acknowledged the large number of Indian nationals currently lodged in Saudi jails and said the Indian mission and consulates regularly take up these matters with local authorities.

He noted that India and Saudi Arabia have signed bilateral agreements on prisoner transfer and mutual legal assistance, though no transfers have yet taken place. This issue is allotted the highest priority," he said, indicating that it would be raised during the prime ministers meetings.

On the ongoing concerns around Haj pilgrims, particularly regarding operator formalities and quota management, the Foreign Secretary said India continues to engage with Saudi authorities to resolve pending issues. Facilitation of Haj is a very important issue for us," he added.

Defence Ties, Energy Security, IMEEC And FTA Talks On The Table As Modi Heads To Saudi Arabia

PM Modis visit to Saudi Arabia will be his third to the Kingdom and follows Crown Prince Salmans earlier visit to India. The visit builds on the Strategic Partnership Council established between the two countries during PM Modis last trip, where he was conferred Saudi Arabias highest civilian honour in 2016.

The focus will be on deepening defence and economic ties, regional connectivity projects like IMEEC and progress on the proposed FTA with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). The Foreign Secretary said the visit is important given the obvious significance of Saudi Arabia as a strategic partner" and highlighted its role in Indias energy security and in the Islamic world.

Saudi Arabia is Indias third-largest energy supplier and provides 18% of Indias LPG imports. Discussions on crude purchases remain part of closed-door talks, though the Kingdom continues to be seen as a reliable energy partner.

Defence cooperation is expected to feature prominently, with the two countries already having conducted joint land and naval exercises. India currently supplies ammunition to Saudi Arabia, and both sides are exploring further collaboration on defence industrial projects and procurement.

On the economic front, Indian companies such as L&T, Tata Group and Shapoorji Pallonji are already involved in Saudi Arabias NEOM giga-project, and discussions on expanding this engagement are expected during the visit. Modi is also expected to visit a factory in Jeddah employing Indian nationals.

Saudi Arabias sovereign wealth fund is set to invest in India, and a joint working group is in place to iron out investment concerns. We have assured the Saudi side about the treatment we give to other partners in terms of investments," the Foreign Secretary said.

Talks on the stalled India-GCC FTA could also see movement, with recent rounds between chief negotiators termed productive." Misri said the region remains a key area for Indias trade interests and energy imports and that both sides are keen to make progress."

India has also invited Saudi participation in the WAVES investment summit to be held in Mumbai next month.

Modi To Meet Indian Workers in Jeddah, Highlight Labour Contributions

As part of his visit to Saudi Arabia, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to engage with the Indian community during his stop in Jeddah, including a visit to a factory employing Indian nationals. The visit will be a gesture of appreciation for the nearly 2.4 million-strong Indian diaspora in the Kingdom, which is one of the largest overseas Indian populations anywhere in the world.

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Misri confirmed that the Prime Minister will visit a factory staffed by Indian workers, highlighting the governments focus on safeguarding labour welfare and strengthening people-to-people ties.

Indian workers form a vital backbone of Saudi Arabias labour force across multiple sectors and their well-being has been a priority for the government in bilateral discussions.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 19:21 IST
Presumed Dead And Cremated, Bihar Teen Returns Alive After 70 Days

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 19:17 IST

The teens family had also received a compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the government, as it was believed that he had died after being hit by a train on February 26.

The teen's family had also received a compensation of Rs 4 lakh from the government (Representative image)

In a surprising turns of events, a 17-year-old boy, who was declared dead and cremated over a month ago, has returned alive and safe in Bihars Darbhanga after 70 days, officials have said.

The teen went missing on February 8 and the boys family had lodged a missing complaint with Mabbi police. On February 26, a mutilated body (with a severed hand and leg) was found was found lying on the railway tracks in Allalpatti area, news agency PTI reported.

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According to Darbhanga SDPO Amit Kumar, the body, which was beyond recognition, was handed over to family members after officials confirmed that it was the remains of the missing teen.

The body was cremated, and the family was given Rs 4 lakh in compensation by the from the government, as it was presumed that he had died after being hit by a train on February 26.

However, days after his presumed death, the boy was found alive. The boy appeared before the Darbhanga District Court and claimed he was abducted. The minor recounted that he was abducted by three to four unidentified men who forcibly covered his mouth and took him away. He said he couldnt recall anything after that.

It was only later that the teen realised he had been taken to Nepal. However, he managed to break free from his captors and eventually returned home.

The boy also informed the court that he first made a video call to his brother to let him know he was alive.

His brother then went to Nepal to bring him home. Later, instead of reporting the matter to police, he chose to appear directly before the court.

Talking to reporters, Darbhanga SDPO said, We are investigating the matter and trying to ascertain the identity of the person who was cremated. The teen, who has returned alive, will also be questioned by police, as it is being claimed that he was kidnapped by certain people."

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On February 26, a mutilated body (with a severed hand and leg) was found in Allalpatti area along the railway tracks. The body, which was beyond recognition, was handed over to family members after officials confirmed that it was the remains of the missing teen," the police said.

(With inputs from PTI)

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : Darbhanga, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 19:17 IST
Shocked When I Lifted Veil: 22-Year-Old Man Duped Into Marrying 45-Year-Old Widow Instead Of Daughter

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 19:32 IST

Azim's suspicions arose when the maulvi mentioned the bride's name as Tahira, Mantasha's mother.

Representative Image

In a shocking incident, when a 22-year-old man, Mohammad Azim, arrived for his nikah ceremony found that a 45-year-old widow, the mother of the woman he thought he was set to marry, was behind the brides veil.

Azim from Meeruts Brahmpuri arrived for his nikah ceremony last week in Shamli, believing that he was about to marry a 21-year-old woman. But he was shocked to find the 45-year-old widow was behind the veil.

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According to Azim, on March 31, his elder brother, Nadeem and sister-in-law, Shaida, assured him that his marriage had been arranged with Shaidas 21-year-old niece, Mantasha, a resident of Fazalpur in Kankerkhera.

Azims suspicions arose when the maulvi mentioned the brides name as Tahira, Mantashas mother. Confirming his doubts, Azim lifted the veil to find Tahira, a 45-year-old widow, instead of his intended bride, Mantasha.

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He claimed to the police that when he refused to go ahead with the marriage or take the bride home, his brother and sister-in-law threatened to implicate him in a false rape case. Betrayed and fearing legal trouble, Azim returned home alone and approached the SSP office in Meerut on Thursday to file a complaint.

SSP Meerut Dr Vipin Tada said that a complaint has been received regarding the matter. A thorough investigation will be conducted, and necessary action will be taken based on the facts." The case is currently under investigation.

Location : Shamli, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 19:32 IST
Son Of Late Gangster Muthappa Rai Attacked By Gunmen Near Bengaluru, Hospitalised

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 10:26 IST

Ricky Rai, the son of late gangster and Jaya Karnataka founder Muthappa Rai, was shot by unidentified attackers near his home in Bidadi

Ricky Rai, son of late gangster and Jaya Karnataka founder Muthappa Rai | Image/PTI

The son of late gangster and Jaya Karnataka founder Muthappa Rai was allegedly shot at by unidentified attackers near his home in Bidadi, located in Karnatakas Ramanagara district, in the early hours of Saturday, said officials.

Ricky Rai is currently undergoing treatment at Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru, Ramanagara SP Srinivas Gowda said, adding that the firing incident occurred at around 1:30 am.

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The incident unfolded when Ricky was travelling to Bengaluru in his car. The police said that some unidentified people allegedly opened fire, and a bullet struck the vehicle.

#WATCH | Ramanagara, Karnataka: Ricky Rai, son of late gangster and founder of pro-Kannada organisation Jaya Karnataka, Muthappa Rai, was shot at by unidentified assailants near his residence in Bidadi, Ramanagara district, at around 1:30 am today. He has been referred to pic.twitter.com/925gBzAka2 ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

He was seated in the rear, along with his gunman, when the bullet pierced through the drivers seat, injuring both the driver and Rai.

A case has been registered and an investigation has been launched to nab the suspect, said officials, adding that they are reviewing CCTV footage and tracking road activity near the crime scene, while also planning to question the victims gunman and close associates.

So far, no arrests have been made and the motive behind the firing remains unclear.

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Muthappa Rai remains a prominent name in Bengalurus underworld history. He was once seen as one of the citys most powerful figures before claiming to have left behind his criminal past.

He passed away in 2020, but the recent attack on his son has revived memories of his notorious legacy.

First Published: April 19, 2025, 09:31 IST
Two African Cheetahs To Be Moved From Kuno To Gandhi Sagar As Govt Eyes Import Of Third Batch Soon

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:08 IST

The male coalition will be moved from Kuno to Gandhi Sagar on April 20. Only 12 adult African cheetahs and 14 captive-born now remain in India out of the 20 airlifted over the two years

The governments ambitious multi-crore wildlife project to revive cheetah population in India began in September 2022. (PTI)

With Project Cheetah in its third year, the government has now approved the introduction of African felines to another site in Madhya Pradesh  Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. As per the plan, a male coalitiontwo cheetahswill be relocated from Kuno National Park to Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary this Sunday.

We will release two males initially and see how it goes. The next steps will be decided following that. Adequate arrangements have already been made, and the enclosed area is about 15.5 sq km large," said Subhoranjan Sen, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF Wildlife), Madhya Pradesh.

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This follows the release of 17 cheetahssix adults and 11 of their cubsinto the wild early this year after extended captivity, preceded by multiple recaptures and tranquilisations. So far, the felines have ventured far and wide in hunt for prey, which has also dwindled around Kuno as acknowledged in the last action report.

The decision was taken during a review meeting of Project Cheetah chaired by Union environment minister Bhupendra Yadav and Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav on Friday. We are moving towards newer possibilities, with two sites in MP where cheetahs will be hosted. Apart from that, we are also working towards more rescue shelters, veterinary centres not only for cheetahs, but other animals in the state and other facilities to improve human-animal interaction," said Yadav.

The governments ambitious multi-crore wildlife project to revive cheetah population in India began in September 2022 with import of 20 adult cheetahs from Namibia, and then South Africa to Kuno National Park. But only 12 adults survived, along with 14 captive-born cubs following deaths due to multiple causes.

The forest officials have now fenced an area of 64 sq km in Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. All the leopardscompeting carnivores which can be a natural threat to cheetahswere captured and shifted outside although no direct conflict has been seen or observed between cheetahs and leopards so far at Kuno, according to officials.

Meanwhile, negotiations are on with South Africa, Kenya and Botswana to import a third batch of cheetahs to India this year to supplement the current population.

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This is also part of governments long-term plan to set up an Inter-State Cheetah Conservation Complex in the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape along the Madhya Pradesh-Rajasthan-Uttar Pradesh border for future cheetah population. A large part of this Inter-State Cheetah Conservation Complex is situated in the Chambal River basin, covering various districts in MP, Rajasthan, as well as Uttar Pradesh.

These multiple forest patches cumulatively cover an area of 10,500 sq km in MP and 6,500 sq km in Rajasthan. The target is still to establish a meta-population of 60-70 cheetahs in the next 25 years, with Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary as the second site for translocation.

About the Author Srishti Choudhary Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More Srishti Choudhary, Senior Assistant Editor at CNN-News18 specializes in science, environment, and climate change reporting. With over a decade of extensive field experience, she has brought incisive ground repo... Read More

Location : Madhya Pradesh, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 12:08 IST
'New Era Of Space Exploration': Union Minister Jitendra Singh Ahead Of Shubhanshu Shukla's ISS Trip

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 07:24 IST

Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, will fly to the International Space Station on a privately funded commercial mission in May.

Union Minister Jitendra Singh said Group Captain Shukla's journey marks a milestone for India's space collaborations.

Indian Air Forces (IAF) Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, a Gaganyatri or astronaut-designate, is set to travel to the International Space Station (ISS) in May as part of an Axiom-4 mission in May, the Central government announced on Friday, making him the first astronaut in four decades to fly to space after Rakesh Sharma.

Group Captain Shukla has spent the last eight months training with NASA and Axiom Space. He will fly to ISS on a privately funded commercial mission. India has reportedly paid over $60 million for the mission, which will launch on a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket with a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule carrying a four-person crew, lifting off from Floridas Kennedy Space Centre.

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After reviewing the work of the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Union Minister of State Jitendra Singh said, Group Captain Shuklas journey is more than just a flight  its a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration."

ALSO READ: How PM Modis Vision Is Propelling India Into Global Big League Of Defence, Space & Tech

Why Is This Project Important?

Singh said Group Captain Shuklas mission, scheduled for May, marks a milestone in Indias expanding international space collaborations. He stressed that the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum of projects like Gaganyaan reflect Indias commitment to becoming a global leader in space technology.

The commander of the Axiom-4 (Ax-4) mission will be former NASA astronaut Peggy Whitson, who now works for Axiom Space. The other two crew members are Slawosz Uznanski from Poland, who is a European Space Agency astronaut and will be a mission specialist, and Hungarys Tibor Kapu, who will also have the same role. Group Captain Shukla will be the missions pilot.

His journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness  all essential for Indias crewed space ambitions, an official statement said.

Shuklas flight is strategically significant as it focuses on operational readiness and global integration and underscores Indias growing engagement with public-private international partnerships in space. Union Minister Singh said these efforts were not only scientific in nature but also aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India.

Apart from this, ISRO is also set to launch the NISAR satellite, developed jointly with NASA, in June on board the GSLV-Mark 2 rocket, said Singh. In the following month, the agency will put BlueBird Block-2 satellites of US-based AST SpaceMobile Inc. in orbit using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.

ISRO is also set to launch the PSLV-C61 mission, carrying the EOS-09 satellite, which features a C-band synthetic aperture radar for high-resolution Earth imaging, under all weather conditions, day or night.

Who Is Subhanshu Shukla?

A decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla, 40, is the youngest of the ISRO astronauts. He was shortlisted under ISROs Human Spaceflight Program and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission.

Hailing from Lucknow, Group Captain Shukla is an alumnus of City Montessori School in Aliganj. Commissioned as a fighter pilot in 2006, he has accumulated over 16 years of service and more than 2,000 flying hours.

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He was commissioned into the Indian Air Force on June 17, 2006, and describes his career as a rollercoaster ride." He has excelled in his field, becoming a fighter combat leader and test pilot with experience in various aircraft, including the Su-30MKI, MIG-21, MIG-29, Jaguar, and Hawk.

(with PTI inputs)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 07:24 IST
University Professor Claims Assault By Troops In J&K's Rajouri, Probe Ordered

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 07:06 IST

An initial investigation into the matter revealed that a scuffle broke out between the two after the professor tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty.

Screengrab of video shared on X

A probe was ordered by the Indian Army on Friday after a university professor alleged assault by troops while they were checking of vehicles at a village in Jammu and Kashmirs Rajouri district, reported PTI citing officials.

The incident reportedly took place near the border village of Laam late on Thursday night, and the victim, Liaqat Ali, suffered injuries to the head. A purported video of the incident has also gone viral online. The clip shows the professor bleeding.

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According to an official statement by the Indian Army, it was revealed in the initial investigation that a scuffle broke out between the two after the professor tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty.

An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by army personnel in Rajouri district. The army had input on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted," said the Indian Army in an official statement.

Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty, with whom he got into a scuffle. However, an inquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law," it added.

It said the army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counter-terror operations.

All sections of society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area," the statement said.

The alleged incident took place when Ali and some of his relatives, including his cousin brothers serving in the army and ITBP, were returning to Kalakote after attending the pre-wedding ceremony of one of their relatives.

Officials said an FIR under Sections 126(2) dealing with crime of wrongful restraint and 115(2)  voluntarily causing hurt  of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Nowshera police station against unidentified army personnel for a thorough investigation.

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Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident and said such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour".

(With inputs from PTI)

Location : Rajouri, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 07:04 IST
What's On JD Vance' India Visit Itinerary? Akshardham Temple, Dinner With PM Modi And More

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 23:56 IST

The US vice president, his wife, Usha, and their three children  Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel  are scheduled to land at the Palam airbase in Delhi at 10 am on Monday on a four-day India visit.

US Vice President JD Vance with PM Modi | File Image

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will host a dinner for US Vice President J D Vance and Indian-origin Second Lady Usha on Monday evening, after holding talks with the American leader that are set to focus on trade, tariff and several other key issues, people familiar with the matter said on Saturday.

The US vice president, his wife, Usha, and their three children  Ewan, Vivek and Mirabel  are scheduled to land at the Palam airbase in Delhi at 10 am on Monday on a four-day India visit.

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The Vances will be welcomed on their arrival by a senior Union minister.

Besides Delhi, Vance and his family will travel to Jaipur and Agra.

Vance is expected to be accompanied by at least five senior officials, including from the Pentagon and the State Department, the people cited above said.

Hours after arriving in Delhi, Vance and his family are scheduled to visit the Swaminarayan Akshardham temple and could also go to a shopping complex selling traditional Indian handcrafted goods, they said.

At 6:30 pm on Monday, Modi will host Vance for talks that are expected to focus on an early finalisation of the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement as well as on ways to boost the overall trajectory of the ties between the two countries.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra are expected to be part of the Indian team to be led by Modi, the people said.

After the talks, the prime minister will host the Vances and the accompanying American officials for dinner.

The people cited above said Vance and his family will leave for Jaipur on Monday night.

In Delhi, the US vice president and his family are set to stay in the ITC Maurya Sheraton hotel.

On April 22, the Vances will visit a number of historical sites, including the Amer Fort, also known as the Amber Fort  a UNESCO world heritage site  the people said.

In the afternoon, the US vice president is scheduled to address a gathering at the Rajasthan International Centre in Jaipur, they added.

Vance is expected to delve into the broader aspects of the India-US relations under the Donald Trump administration during his speech that is expected to be attended by diplomats, foreign policy experts, Indian government officials and academia.

The US vice president and his family are expected to travel to Agra on the morning of April 23, the people cited above said.

In Agra, they will visit the Taj Mahal and Shilpgram, an open-air emporium showcasing various Indian artefacts, they said.

After concluding their trip to Agra, the Vances will return to Jaipur in the second half of April 23.

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Vance and his family will depart for the US from Jaipur on April 24, according to the people cited above.

In Jaipur, the Vances are set to stay at the elegant Rambagh Palace, a luxury hotel that once served as a royal guesthouse.

First Published: April 19, 2025, 23:56 IST
BJP Distances Itself From MPs Nishikant Dubey, Dinesh Sharmas Comments On Supreme Court

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 23:49 IST

BJP distanced itself from MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma's statements on the Supreme Court as JP Nadda emphasized respect for the judiciary and advised MPs to avoid such remarks.

BJP MP Nishikant Dubey addresses a press conference, in New Delhi. (IMAGE: PTI)

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) distanced itself from the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the Supreme Court on Saturday.

The statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma regarding the judiciary and the Chief Justice of India have no connection with the Bharatiya Janata Party. These are their personal remarks, and the BJP neither agrees with nor supports such statements. The party outrightly rejects them," party chief JP Nadda said in a statement, originally published in Hindi, on X.

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Four-term BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday launched a scathing attack on the Supreme Court and questioned its role in law-making.

He first made a terse post in Hindi on X and later, in remarks to PTI, accused the court of arrogating to itself Parliaments legislative powers by striking down laws passed by the legislature and even giving directions to the President who, Dubey noted, is the appointing authority of Supreme Court judges.

Kanoon yadi Supreme Court hi banayega to Sansad Bhavan bandh kar dena chahiye," the BJP MP said on X. His comment came following the Centres assurance to the court that it would not be implementing some of the contentious provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act till the next day of hearing after the court raised questions over them.

The Bharatiya Janata Party has always respected the judiciary and has willingly accepted its orders and suggestions. As a political party, we believe that the Supreme Court and all courts in the country are integral to our democracy and form a strong pillar for upholding the Constitution."

I have instructed both of them, and everyone, not to make such statements in the future," he further added.

Dubeys remarks came after the Centre told the Supreme Court it would hold off on implementing certain controversial provisions of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, following the courts sharp questions during a hearing on the matter.

The court is examining multiple petitions challenging the constitutionality of the law, which was passed by Parliament earlier this month.

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Taking aim at the courts observations, Dubey questioned why it raised concerns over the Waqf by use" clause without applying the same standard of scrutiny it has demanded in temple-related cases, including the Ram Mandir dispute, where documentary evidence was a key focus.

He cited Article 368 of the Constitution to argue that enacting laws is the sole domain of Parliament, while the Supreme Courts role is to interpret them  not interfere with legislative decisions.

First Published: April 19, 2025, 23:34 IST
BJPs Amit Malviya Calls Out Rahul Gandhis Nehru, Mahatma Podcast Gaffes: Routinely Dishes Out

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Last Updated: April 21, 2025, 10:43 IST

Amit Malviya took a jibe at Rahul Gandhi in a post on X, "Rahul Gandhi has taken a fancy to making these vlogs, with supplicants giving his rants a free pass."

Rahul Gandhi in a conversation with Congress leader Sandip Dikshit. (X)

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again made the headlines after he made a mistake while narrating history linked to his family, Mahatma Gandhis South African train incident and Indias struggle for independence from the colonial rule.

In a podcast-style conversation with his party colleague Sandip Dikshit, Rahul Gandhi said that Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train in the UK", after which his great-great-grandfather and his cousins" took revenge for the insult.

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Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Malviya took a jibe at Lok Sabha LoP in a post on X, Rahul Gandhi has taken a fancy to making these vlogs, with supplicants giving his rants a free pass. For instance, Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of a train on June 7, 1893, at the Pietermaritzburg railway station in South Africanot in England, as Rahul claimed. He was travelling in a first-class compartment (for which he had a valid ticket), but a white passenger objected to his presence due to Gandhis race. Despite his protests, Gandhi was forcibly removed from the train."

He added, Secondly, Jawaharlal Nehru, Rahul Gandhis great-grandfather, was only 3 years and about 7 months old at the time. So, the claim that he went to the Allahabad railway station and threw out some Britishers in retribution is clearly absurd. Yet, Rahul Gandhi routinely dishes out this kind of trash, and the legacy media consumes it uncritically."

Rajya Sabha MP Lahar Singh Siroya also pointed out the error, saying, that Nobody should learn history from Rahul Ji."

He said that the incident of Mahatma Gandhi being thrown out of a train in the UK never happened.

I watched this interview with curiosity because Rahul Gandhi was speaking about his great grandfather Pandit Nehru. However, I was very disappointed when I heard him say (at 2 mins 40 secs) that Mahatma Gandhi Ji was thrown out of the train in England," Siroya said.

I watched this interview with curiosity because @RahulGandhi was speaking about his great grandfather Pandit #Nehru. However, I was very disappointed when I heard him say (at 2 mins 40 secs) that Mahatma Gandhi Ji was thrown out of the train in England. I recorded the video on my pic.twitter.com/XDrEGJ1Xqw Lahar Singh Siroya (@LaharSingh_MP) April 19, 2025

The BJP legislator pointed out that Mahatma Gandhi was thrown out of the train in South Africa and not in England.

I recorded the video on my other phone so that they dont edit it out to cover it up later. I have also captured the auto caption in YouTube, which reflects what Rahul Ji exactly says. Nobody should learn history from Rahul Ji. Even a person like me who is not highly educated knows Gandhi Ji was thrown out of the train in South Africa. Sad that the Nehru Centre people, and all the intelligent Congressmen and Sandeep Dikshit Ji, who is a very nice person, did not spot this error before releasing the video," the BJP MP added.

Siroya further traded barbs at Rahul Gandhi saying that when Mahatma Gandhis incident took place in 1893, Jawaharlal Nehru was a mere-4-year-old kid.

Rahul Ji also says in the video that his great grandfather and his cousins went to Allahabad railway station to throw out some Britishers from first class compartments to avenge Gandhi Jis humiliation. In June 1893, when Gandhi Ji was thrown out of the train in South Africa, Nehru Ji was only 4 years old. Did a 4-year-old go to the railway station in Allahabad to protest?" he added.

His swipe at Rahul Gandhi also grazed Sandeep Dikshit, who was talking with Lok Sabha LoP in the YouTube video.

The Pietermaritzburg Railway Station Incident

The Pietermaritzburg Railway Station incident occurred on June 7, 1893, when Mahatma Gandhi, a young lawyer at the time, was evicted from a first-class train compartment in South Africa. The incident was a result of racial discrimination, as non-whites were not allowed in first-class compartments.

The incident holds great significance as it marked a turning point in Mahatma Gandhis life and his fight against racial discrimination. This incident became a catalyst for Gandhis activism and played a pivotal role in shaping his approach towards social and political change, ultimately influencing the Indian independence movement.

In 1997, former South African President Nelson Mandela conferred the Freedom of Pietermaritzburg posthumously on Mahatma Gandhi.

Rahul Gandhi Praises Jawaharlal Nehru

In the 32-minute conversation, Rahul Gandhi opened up about the deeper motivations behind his political journey and spoke about drawing inspiration from his great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru.

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In this Podcast-style conversation with Sandeep Dikshit, I speak about what drives methe pursuit of truthand how that pursuit is inspired by my great-grandfather, Jawaharlal Nehru. He wasnt just a politician. He was a seeker, a thinker, someone who walked into danger with a smile and came out stronger. His greatest legacy lies in his relentless pursuit of truth  a principle that shaped everything he stood for. He didnt teach us politics. He taught us to confront fear and stand for the truth. That need to seek, to question, to stay rooted in curiosity  it runs in my blood," the Congress MP said.

The free-wheeling conversation was posted on the former Congress chiefs X handle and YouTube channel.

About the Author News Desk The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 23:26 IST
From Swipes At Oppn To Training Guns On Judiciary, Decoding Dhankhars Design

Reported By :

CNN-News18 Edited By: Apoorva Misra



Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:14 IST

Beyond the image he cultivates of a happy-go-lucky Vice-President, Dhankhar is an astute probing mind that chooses his time and words carefully

As much a player to gallery as Venkaiah Naidu was with his witty one-liners, Dhankhar is known for his long speeches smattered with pointed comments. (PTI)

When Jagdeep Dhankhar became the Vice-President, it was seen as an attempt to make the Trinamool Congress uncomfortable in the Rajya Sabha. The TMC, which has always been the loudest voice in the Upper House, had a bitter association with Dhankhar in West Bengal when he was the governor and run-ins between chief minister Mamata Banerjee and him had become routine.

Taking on the TMC was not the only reason Dhankhar was chosen as the V-P. A jurist specialising in Constitutional norms was considered the most able candidate to take on a belligerent Opposition, which was more aggressive in Rajya Sabha than in the Lok Sabha. The TMC had warned opposition parties that things could be tough with Dhankhar as V-P". Over time, the other parties too realised that he was no pushover.

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As much a player to gallery as Venkaiah Naidu was with his witty one-liners, Dhankhar is known for his long speeches smattered with pointed comments. This is why he has often faced the Oppositions ire. Dhankhar, perhaps, is the only constitutional head to face two impeachment notices in recent times.

The instances are many. For example, last year, when Congress leader Jairam Ramesh slammed his decision to allow Jayant Chaudhary to speak about his late father, Dhankhar called him a person who can feast at the cremation ground", drawing strong opposition from the Congress. Also, the V-Ps move to term himself an Eklavya" of the RSS did not sit well with the Opposition, which claimed that it was proof of him being biased.

Dhankhar also missed no opportunity to hit out at opposition parties for their comments outside Parliament too. For example, when Rahul Gandhi travelled abroad and criticised the government for compromising on the Constitution, Dhankhar took a veiled swipe at him, saying: The pattern of prejudice against reservation has been handed over to a person holding a constitutional position, who is making serialised anti-India rants on foreign soil and is talking about ending reservations."

Recently, the V-P could not resist an attack on the Supreme Court for rejecting the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), calling it a dark day" and an act of glaring instance of severe compromise of parliamentary sovereignty and disregard of the mandate of the people".

More recently, he has come down heavily on the Supreme Court, calling Article 142 a nuclear missile which is used by the top court to run down legislations".

While many lawyers, legal experts and the opposition party may not agree with Dhankhar, the man chose his words carefully on a day when the top court was hearing the Waqf issue.

Dhankhar usually projects himself as a jester and loves to talk. He is open in his praise of his wife Sudesh and says he cannotand will notgo anywhere without her. But, beyond this image he cultivates of a happy-go-lucky V-P, Dhankhar is an astute probing mind that chooses his time and words carefully.

For the government, he ticks all the right boxes. His experience as jurist comes in handy while conducting affairs in the Upper House, while his background from Rajasthan bolsters his down-to-earth, risen-from-the-ranks image.

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However, for the Opposition, Dhankhar is someone who bends over backwards to please the prime minister and the government. They feel that under him, the Rajya Sabha has sunk to new lows. TMC leaders like Kalyan Banerjee are unrepentant in taking him on. He had once mocked and mimicked the V-P on the steps of Parliaments Makar Dwaar, bringing to fore the old enmity between the two sides.

Unbothered by the criticism, the Vice-President is clearly on a mission. Given his belief that the Parliament is supreme, his fight against the judiciary seems to be a clear attempt to assert the notion. The man is clearly on a path to take on the judiciary and possibly push for an NJAC-like legislation.

About the Author Pallavi Ghosh Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More Pallavi Ghosh has covered politics and Parliament for 15 years, and has reported extensively on Congress, UPA-I and UPA-II, and has now included the Finance Ministry and Niti Aayog in her reportage. She has als... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 12:14 IST
Heading For Reunion? Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Express Willingness To Unite For 'Maharashtra's Interests'

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 15:27 IST

Raj Thackeray founded the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena in 2006 after leaving Shiv Sena due to differences with Uddhav Thackeray.

Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have expressed willingness for a political reunion. (PTI/File)

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday indicated their willingness to unite for the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi people by keeping aside the differences between them.

In a candid interview with actor Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj Thackeray spoke on a range of topics, including Marathi identity, the upcoming Mumbai municipal elections, Eknath Shindes politics and a possible alliance with Uddhav Thackeray.

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The disputes and disagreements between us are minor, compared to greater causes. Maharashtra is far bigger than our personal issues. These matters are trivial in the fight for the existence of the Marathi identity. Coming together or working together isnt a difficult thingits only a matter of will. And its not just about me. I believe all Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single front," Raj Thackeray was quoted as saying by Loksatta.

The MNS Chief said that when he worked in Shiv Sena, he had no objections to working alongside Uddhav Thackeray, who now leads a divided faction of the Shiv Sena following a split engineered by Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in 2022. He said the ball was in Uddhavs court on whether he wanted an alliance, saying, I dont bring my ego into such small matters".

For me, the interest of Maharashtra is bigger and everything else is secondary before it. For that, I can set aside minor disputes, and Im ready to work with Uddhav. Only question is if he too is ready for it," further said Raj.

Willing To Set Aside Differences: Uddhav Thackeray

Responding to Raj Thackerays message of unity, Uddhav Thackeray also said that he was ready to set aside minor differences for the sake of Maharashtra and stressed that he had put an end to all fights between the cousins. However, he demanded clarity on whether the alliance should be focused on Maharashtras welfare or to fulfill the Bharatiya Janata Partys (BJP) interests.

For the sake of Maharashtra and the Marathi people, Im willing to set aside minor differences. Im appealing to all Marathi people to come together in the interest of Marathi identity," Uddhav said at a workers event in Dadar. But during the Lok Sabha elections, when we were opposing the BJP on various issues, had they (Raj Thackeray and his party) opposed the BJP at that time, their government would not have come to power at the Centre."

You cant extend support one day and oppose the next. You cant compromise when convenient. Whoever stands in the way of Maharashtras welfareI wont show them any hospitality. I wont invite them to my home. I wont sit alongside them," he added.

Responding to Raj Thackerays remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut said that while the MNS chief has expressed his willingness to put Maharashtra above his ego, Uddhav Thackeray has also stated that he is ready to set aside all differences for the sake of the state. He just does not want to share a table with the enemies of Maharashtra We will accept him," Raut said.

MNS-Shiv Sena History

Raj Thackeray founded the MNS in 2006 after he left the Shiv Sena party due to differences with his cousin Uddhav Thackeray, as he felt sidelined by the party. For the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Raj Thackeray offered his unconditional support to the states ruling Mahayuti alliance and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

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The MNS contested 135 seats in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, which yielded a resounding victory for the Mahayuti alliance. The BJP secured 132 of the 288 seats, followed by Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) with 57 and NCP with 41. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) was decimated, with Shiv Sena (UBT) winning 20 seats, Congress 16, and NCP-SP 10.

Despite failing to win any seats, Raj Thackerays party has emerged as a significant player in Maharashtras political scenario, capable of forming new power dynamics. In February, both Raj and Uddhav were seen sharing a candid moment at a wedding function in Mumbai, which ignited speculation over a possible reconciliation.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 14:44 IST
'Hope Boudi Can Sweeten His Words': Dilip Ghosh's 'Surprise Wedding' Sees Wishes Pour In And A Few Unexpected Absences

Reported By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 08:24 IST

Dilip Ghosh, former West Bengal BJP president, has chosen his life partner from within the party. Rinku Majumdar, an active worker of the BJP Mahila Morcha, is now officially Mrs Ghosh

Dilip Ghosh and Rinku Majumdar. (Photo: News18 Bangla)

Former West Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh tied the knot on Friday. The news came as a surprise to many within the Bharatiya Janata Party camp, as Ghosh used to be a pracharak associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. Pracharaks traditionally lead a life of celibacy, dedicated to the organisation. However, Ghosh is no longer a pracharak.

Ghosh has chosen his life partner from within the party. Rinku Majumdar, an active worker of the BJP Mahila Morcha, is now officially Mrs Ghosh. The wedding ceremony took place in a traditional Hindu manner and was attended by a small group of close associates and family members. However, the event attracted significant media attention due to Ghoshs stature in the political landscape.

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Sources within the BJP suggest that the news left a section of the party slightly surprised. Some leaders reportedly criticised the move, citing ideological concerns, while others chose to extend their congratulations personally. On Friday morning, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar and several senior party members including Samik Bhattacharya and Locket Chatterjee visited Ghosh to offer their best wishes.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee also sent flowers and conveyed her good wishes to the newlywed couple.

Speaking to the media, Dilip Ghosh expressed gratitude for the outpouring of support:

I am overwhelmed by the good wishes. Im confident I can manage both my political responsibilities and my family life."

Dilip Ghosh told News18 that he decided to get married because his mother is ill, and he also took her permission.

Rinku Majumdar, the bride, who has a son from a previous relationship, said, He is bold and straightforward. Im very happy that we have tied the knot." Interestingly, she proposed marriage to Dilip Ghosh.

The event wasnt without its political undertones. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh remarked, Though we have ideological differences, I hope Dilip-das new life begins on a happy note. He often speaks harshlyI hope Boudi (sister-in-law) can sweeten his words with some honey."

One notable absence sparked speculationleader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari did not publicly extend his wishes.

Everyone has come. All are wishing Dada. But the leader of opposition has not come. Is there some division?" said Kunal Ghosh.

Responding to the controversy, BJP general secretary Agnimitra Paul told News18, I couldnt attend due to prior commitments. Suvendu-da may also have had another engagement. Its not right to politicise someones personal life. It was Dilip Ghoshs personal decision."

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Interestingly, it is reported that the couple first met during their morning walksa routine Ghosh is famously known for.

This Saturday marks Dilip Ghoshs first birthday after his marriage, adding another layer of celebration to this new chapter in his life.

About the Author Kamalika Sengupta Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More Kamalika Sengupta, Editor, Digital East of News18, is a multilingual journalist with 16 years of experience in covering the northeast, with specialisation in politics and defence. She has won UNICEF Laadli Awar... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 06:00 IST
We Are Happy: Devendra Fadnavis On Uddhav And Raj Thackeray's Possible Reunion

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 19:42 IST

Earlier today, the Thackeray brothers indicated their willingness to unite for the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi people by keeping aside the differences between them.

Uddhav Thackeray, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Raj Thackeray (File)

Thackeray brothers possible reunion: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday expressed happiness over a possible reunion of Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray.

If the two come together, we will be happy about it, because if people settle their differences, it is a good thing. What else can I say about it?" he said.

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#WATCH | Mumbai: Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, If the two come together, we will be happy about it, because if people settle their differences, it is a good thing. What else can I say about it?" https://t.co/jXt2DOW3dj pic.twitter.com/9jHK9XYdQ6 ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

Earlier today, the Thackeray brothers indicated their willingness to unite for the interest of Maharashtra and Marathi people by keeping aside the differences between them.

In a candid interview with actor Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj Thackeray spoke on a range of topics, including Marathi identity, the upcoming Mumbai municipal elections, Eknath Shindes politics and a possible alliance with Uddhav Thackeray.

Read More: Heading For Reunion? Uddhav, Raj Thackeray Express Willingness To Unite For Maharashtras Interests

The disputes and disagreements between us are minor, compared to greater causes. Maharashtra is far bigger than our personal issues. These matters are trivial in the fight for the existence of the Marathi identity. Coming together or working together isnt a difficult thingits only a matter of will. And its not just about me. I believe all Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single front," Raj Thackeray was quoted as saying by Loksatta.

Responding to Raj Thackerays message of unity, Uddhav Thackeray also said that he was ready to set aside minor differences for the sake of Maharashtra and stressed that he had put an end to all fights between the cousins.

Political observers believe that there is a possibility of the MNS and Shiv Sena (UBT) wishing to resolve their political differences in view of the civic body elections, including the cash-rich Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, due in the state. However, the schedule for the civic polls has not yet been announced.

Earlier in February this year, the Thackeray cousins were seen sharing a candid moment at a wedding function in Mumbai. Uddhav and Raj were seen together at the wedding of a government official, Mahendra Kalyankars son in Andheri, which further intensified speculation of a thaw in ties between the two parties.

Earlier in December 2024, Raj Thackeray attended the wedding reception of Shounak Patankar, Rashmi Thackerays nephew, in Bandra. However, Raj and Uddhav reportedly arrived at different times and did not meet. A few days later, both brothers appeared at the wedding of Raj Thackerays sister Jaywanti Thackeray-Deshpandes son in Dadar.

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Raj Thackeray left the undivided Shiv Sena in 2005 when he resigned from the party and announced MNS on 9 March 2006 in Mumbai. Since then, their political paths have diverged.

In the last years state assembly elections, the Shiv Sena (UBT), which is part of the opposition MVA, won 20 seats, while the MNS drew a blank.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

First Published: April 19, 2025, 19:33 IST
Delayed Air India Flight Triggers Uproar, Passenger Assaults Airline Staff Member | Watch

Curated By :

News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 22:34 IST

Many users on social media expressed outrage and condemned the passengers action, while some blamed Air India for their service.

Screengrab of the viral video.

A tense confrontation unfolded at Delhis airport when a passenger physically assaulted an Air India staff member over a flight delay that stretched for hours, leaving travellers frustrated and exhausted.

According to a viral video, passengers aboard an Air India flight from Delhi to Mumbai were left frustrated and exhausted after an unexpected and unexplained delay of several hours. The flight, originally scheduled to depart at 11 PM, did not take off until 6:30 AM the next day.

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Passengers reported that they received little to no updates or communication from airline staff throughout the night.

Tensions escalated at the airport, with some passengers reportedly confronting staff. In one instance, a staff member was physically assaulted. The passenger who assaulted the staff member said, My fathers health is not good (Mere baap ki tabiyat khrab hai). Please understand our problems. Understand everyones problem."

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ghar Ke Kalesh (@gharkekalesh2)

Many users on social media expressed outrage and condemned the passengers action, while some blamed Air India for their service.

U cant hit anyone u gave him the right to hit any human They are also doing what they are told to do  dont take out ur frustration on staff take it to the management In a right way," one of the users wrote.

What choice do Indians have in flying ? Air india and Indigo..who cares about customer service when its a duopoly..both are equally bad," the other one said. Why Always air india ", a third user asked jokingly.

One passenger who shared a social media reel capturing the aftermath of the incident said that the flight, originally scheduled for 11 PM, was first rescheduled to 12:50 AM. Later at 12:50 AM, they started the boarding. When half boarding was completed, they informed that the flight would take off at 6 AM, and locked the boarding gate," she said.

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She further stated that after the boarding gate closed, around half of the passengers remained stranded, divided between the two sides. The airline staff only disclosed the pilot shortage after chaos erupted, and some staff members were seen laughing during the commotion. A refund and compensation message was sent to passengers around 3 AM."

As of now, Air India has not issued a formal statement addressing the specific reasons behind the delay. However, the flight took off at 6:30 AM and landed at 8:30 AM in Mumbai.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

First Published: April 19, 2025, 22:34 IST
UP Woman Accepts She Was Impregnated By Someone Else. But Threatens To Kill Husband If...

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:42 IST

The husband and wife reportedly had an argument over accepting the child, following which the woman threatened to kill and lodge a fake dowry case against her husband if 'he does not accept her child'. Mahrajganj police said that they are investigating the matter.

The incident surfaced shortly after a similar case was reported from Uttar Pradeshs Gonda district, where a woman allegedly threatened to kill her husband for opposing her extramarital affair.(Representative Image)

What began as a normal argument between a husband and wife took a shocking turn when the woman allegedly threatened to kill the man or frame him in a false dowry case. The incident occurred in Uttar Pradeshs Maharajganj district and stemmed from a dispute over the womans pregnancy. Following the husbands complaint, police intervened and have launched an investigation against the woman.

According to the police complaint, the couple tied the knot in June 2022, but trouble reportedly began soon after. The husband alleged that his wife consistently refused to engage in any physical relationship, which left him distressed. He also claimed that she frequently visited her parents home in Uttar Pradeshs Sant Kabir Nagar district. In November 2024, she allegedly left for her parental home once againthis time without informing him.

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EMPOWERMENT AT PEAK :Woman refuses to allow husband to have sexual relationship Frequently goes to her maternal home, becomes pregnant Confidently tells husband either you accept the child or I'll get you killed or implicated in false dowry case !@maharajganjpol pic.twitter.com/JA5vtMHXr3  Deepika Narayan Bhardwaj (@DeepikaBhardwaj) April 18, 2025

In February 2025, the man reached out to his wife, requesting her to return home. However, it was only in April that a twist unfolded, when the woman complained of stomach pain and was taken to the hospital, where doctors revealed she was 14 weeks pregnant. Shocked by the revelation, the man sought confirmation from multiple medical professionals, only to receive the same diagnosis each time. Upon confrontation, the woman allegedly confessed that the child was not his. She then reportedly threatened himdemanding he accept her, or else she would either kill him or falsely implicate him in a dowry case".

With the matter now under investigation, the Maharajganj police confirmed that a case has been registered at the local police station, and further legal proceedings are currently underway.

            MAHARAJGANJ POLICE (@maharajganjpol) April 18, 2025

Meanwhile, social media users quickly reacted in the comments, expressing shock and frustration over the situation. One user wrote, Now is the time for gender equality lawwhere else can innocent people turn? Scrap gender-biased laws and bring in gender-neutral legislation to empower all citizens, regardless of gender." Another commented, The husband should just accept his fate, reconcile with his wife, and raise the childbecause legally, he may have no other choice in India."

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Internet users reiterated how the Indian judiciary will leave the husband to bear the responsibility of the child, even if he files for a divorce. One wrote, But the court will say its yours. Like if somebody else is driving your vehicle & has an accident, then you are responsible as the LEGAL owner of the vehicle like here also you are LEGAL HUSBAND so its yours."

The incident surfaced shortly after a similar case was reported from Uttar Pradeshs Gonda district, where a woman allegedly threatened to kill her husband for opposing her extramarital affair. As per reports, she even referenced the chilling Meerut murder case and warned her husband that he could meet the same fate.

About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

News18's viral page features trending stories, videos , and memes, covering quirky incidents, social media buzz from india and around the world, Also Download the News18 App to stay updated!

Location : Mahrajganj, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 09:39 IST
Why Are Elon Musk-Giorgia Meloni Trending On The Internet? Here's The Catch

Curated By :

Trending Desk

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 18:55 IST

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met Elon Musk during her White House visit this week.

Internet users shared memes on Musk and Meloni's meeting. (Photo Credits: X)

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni recently visited the United States, where she happened to meet President Donald Trump alongside Vice President JD Vance and tech billionaire Elon Musk. During her White House trip on Thursday, Meloni had a reunion with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) chief. She also shared a video of their meeting, showing them sharing a brief hug before interacting.

As videos capturing their White House interaction went viral, internet users couldnt help but notice Musks expressions, with some even claiming that the Tesla CEO was blushing. Happy to see my friend Elon Musk again in Washington," Meloni captioned the post.

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Contenta di rivedere a Washington il mio amico @elonmusk pic.twitter.com/phKTwTcXyz Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) April 18, 2025

The wild guesses didnt just end there, as many even went on to call the duo a power couple," further creating hilarious baby names for their imaginary child. A user joked, You cant spell MELONI without ELON," while another added, Thinking about the appearance of a child with M+elon-i."

Elon is so socially awkward, he cant stop grinning, and Giorgia has a heart so full her smile bursts forth. This is beautiful and sincere. Wholesome. They have both paid such a high price to save their countries. I do believe they deserve some genuine happiness. Whether that is just as friends or if it becomes more. God bless and lead them both," one of them remarked. A user went on to comment, Elon and Giorgia Meloni need to have a kid and name it Eloni Meloni."

Social media users took the help of AI and even recreated an image of Elon Musk and Giorgia Meloni, with some pointing out a visible spark between the two. One wrote, Theres a spark between them, theres no question. Everyone can see and feel it!!"

It is worth mentioning that the Elon-Meloni" jokes gained momentum amid the dating rumours between the two that started last year. Musk even went on to address the rumours, and clarified, We are not dating. I was there with my mom. There is no romantic relationship whatsoever with PM Meloni."

We are not dating Elon Musk (@elonmusk) September 24, 2024

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On the sidelines of the social media buzz, the Italian PM also met President Donald Trump, who now expects to get a deal with the European Union over tariffs and trade.

About the Author Buzz Staff A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture. A team of writers at News18.com bring you stories on whats creating the buzz on the Internet while exploring science, cricket, tech, gender, Bollywood, and culture.

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Location : Delhi, India, India

First Published: April 19, 2025, 18:55 IST
Hindu Leader Bhabesh Chandra Roy Abducted, Beaten To Death In Bangladesh

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Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 09:01 IST

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, was reportedly abducted from his home by bike-borne assailants and beaten to death.

Attacks against Hindus in Bangladesh have increased since the ouster of Sheikh Hasina's government. (Reuters/Representative Image)

A prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Bangladeshs Dinajpur district, according to a media report on Friday.

The body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star reported, quoting police and family members.

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Roy was vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and held influence among the Hindu community in the area, according to the report. Police recovered Bhabeshs body around 10:00 pm last night.

What Happened?

Bhabeshs wife, Shantana Roy, told The Daily Star that he was at home in the afternoon when he received a phone call around 4:30 pm, which was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.

Around half an hour later, four men arrived on bikes and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises. Witnesses saw him being taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally beaten to death. The attackers reportedly sent his unconscious body back to his home on a van.

Family members, with the help of locals, rushed Bhabesh to a health complex, from where he was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival. Police sent the body to the hospital morgue for an autopsy.

Shantana Roy claimed she recognised two of the assailants. Police said preparations were underway to file a case and arrest the suspects involved.

Hindus Attacked In Bangladesh

Last month, a report by the Dhaka-based human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK) revealed a total of 147 incidents involving the vandalism of homes, temples, and business establishments belonging to the Hindu community across Bangladesh.

In these incidents, approximately 408 households were vandalised, including 36 cases of arson. Additionally, there were reports of 113 attacks on business establishments owned by members of the minority community, 32 attacks on temples and mosques belonging to the Ahmadiyya sect, and 92 incidents of idol vandalism in 92 temples.

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In September 2024, Prothom Alo, the countrys leading Bengali daily, reported that following the fall of the Awami League government, there had been numerous attacks on minority communities across the country, particularly targeting the Hindu community. In many areas, homes, businesses, and places of worship belonging to Hindus continue to be targeted.

India has time and again raised concerns against the atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: April 19, 2025, 08:59 IST
Indian Student Killed By Stray Bullet During Shooting Incident In Canada

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 10:27 IST

Harsimrat Randhawa was a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. She was fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles.

Harsimrat Randhawa, 21, was struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident in Ontario. (Photo: X)

In a tragic incident, a 21-year-old Indian student was killed in Canada after she was fatally struck by a stray bullet after shots were fired by a car occupant, as she was waiting at a bus stop on her way to work.

Harsimrat Randhawa was a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario. Her death is being investigated as a homicide that happened on Wednesday, according to the Hamilton Police, who said Randhawa was an innocent bystander.

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The Consulate General of India in Toronto said in a post on X, We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario."

As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time," the official added.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) April 18, 2025

According to a statement by the Hamilton Police, it received reports of a shooting near Upper James and South Bend Road streets in Hamilton at around 7:30 pm (local time). When police arrived, they found Randhawa with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was rushed to a hospital, but succumbed to her injuries.

Through video footage of the incident, investigators have determined that a passenger of a black car fired at the occupants of a white sedan. Shortly after the shooting, the vehicles left the scene.

Additionally, shots from the shooting incident also entered the rear window of a residence nearby where the occupants were watching television a few feet away. No one was injured in the home, police said.

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Investigators are asking anyone with dashcam or security camera footage between 7:15 pm and 7:45 pm near the shooting area to contact authorities and provide any information that can help further the investigation.

(with PTI inputs)

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Ottawa, Canada

First Published: April 19, 2025, 09:21 IST
Supreme Court Puts Brakes On Trump Administration's Move To Deport Venezuelan Migrants

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 21:28 IST

The US Supreme Court temporarily blocked the deportation of mostly Venezuelan immigrants in Texas. The Trump administration is ordered not to deport them until further notice.

Conservative justices Alito and Thomas were the dissenting justices in the case of Venezuelan immigrants being deported under the Alien Enemies Act. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

The US Supreme Court on Saturday temporarily blocked the deportation of a group of immigrants, mostly Venezuelans in Texas, who were allegedly being removed under the Alien Enemies Act by the US President Donald Trumps administration.

The Alien Enemies Act is an old law, dating back to 1798, that allows the US to detain or deport nationals of a foreign country if the US is at war with that country. Its controversial when applied outside of declared wars.

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The Supreme Court stepped in after a federal judge in Washington, DC, earlier said he didnt have the power to stop the deportations while highlighting that he found the situation concerning.

The immigrants filed an emergency appeal, saying they were being deported without proper notice or a chance to challenge it and the Supreme Court paused the deportations temporarily.

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The case is still being reviewed by a lower court in Louisiana. The Trump administration has been told not to deport anyone from this group until further notice.

Conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas disagreed with the decision to pause the deportations.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 19, 2025, 21:28 IST
Texas Man Held For Killing Father, Claims 'Aliens Took His Organs'

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 20:42 IST

According to the affidavit, the victim had sustained head injuries, had a slit throat, several stab wounds around his neck area and had been disemboweled.

Jaime Adrian Contreras, 39, was arrested on April 14 in connection with the murder. (X)

In a shocking and bizarre incident, a man in US Texas has been arrested for allegedly killing and disemboweling his father, saying that he believed aliens had harvested his organs days before the murder, El Paso Police Department said.

The accused, identified as 39-year-old Jaime Adrian Contreras was arrested earlier on Monday following the discovery of the body of his 74-year-old father, Victor Gerardo Contreras, inside their home, reported Independent.

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As per the investigative authorities, decomposed body was found after another son went to the house to check on him, having not heard from his father in weeks. Upon reaching, he noticed a foul odour coming from the residence and discovered his father dead. He was lying on a blood-soaked sheet in his bedroom, the report added.

According to the affidavit, the victim had sustained head injuries, had a slit throat, several stab wounds around his neck area and had been disemboweled.

Police said blood was found spattered throughout the home, suggesting a violent struggle took place, the New York Post reported.

Jaime was later found near Hueco Tanks State Park, driving his fathers Jeep Wrangler. He reportedly had a swollen hand and a deep cut on his finger, which he attributed to battling."

As per the courtroom filing, Jaime had informed the police that he believed aliens had harvested his fathers organs. The accused son added that his father was in heaven" and believed that the latter was an extraterrestrial, the news outlet added.

As per the report, another relative told the detectives that she had last spoken to the victim twice on April 5, and he had told her that Jaime was acting crazy again," and later that he had called the police. He called back later to say that the situation had been resolved.

The court documents also revealed that a neighbour observed Jamie behaving unusually and yelling on the street.

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Officers had previously attended the home multiple times in 2023, during which Jaime had told them that his father was an alien and that he did not recognise him, the report added, citing the affidavit.

Jaime is being held at the El Paso County Jail on a $2 million bond.

About the Author Shobhit Gupta Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He previously worked with Hindustan Times Digital (HTDS) and NDTV. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India ... Read More

Location : United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 19, 2025, 20:42 IST
Trump Official Tells Harvard That Letter Criticising University Was Mistakenly Sent: Report

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 17:11 IST

A senior Trump official informed Harvard that the controversial letter demanding changes in admissions and curriculum was unauthorized.

Students walk on the campus of Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

A senior official from US President Donald Trumps administration informed Harvard University officials that the controversial letter sent to the institution last week had not been properly authorised, The New York Times reported.

The letter, dated April 11 and attributed to the White Houses task force on antisemitism, included what Harvard officials described as sweeping and intrusive demands relating to its admissions policies, hiring decisions and curriculum. The university issued a public statement on April 14 pushing back against the administration.

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A report by the New York Times said that shortly after Harvard made its stance public, an official from the Trump administration reached out to the university claiming the letter had been sent in error.

Officials told the newspaper that the communication to the university was described as unauthorised".

The report said that Sean Keveney, the acting general counsel at the Department of Health and Human Services and a member of the antisemitism task force had sent the letter.

While its contents reflected internal discussions, confusion within the administration reportedly led to disagreement over whether the letter was meant for Harvard at all.

Some officials believed it was prematurely sent, while others said it was intended solely for internal circulation among task force members.

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Officials from the university said the letter arrived at a sensitive moment. The report added that Harvard had been in active dialogue with the task force for two weeks and believed there was still room to avoid a public dispute. Citing university officials it said that the tone and substance of the demands in the letter made reconciliation unlikely, the report said.

The newspaper said that the letter triggered a tectonic battle between one of the countrys most prestigious universities and a US President".

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 19, 2025, 17:10 IST
US Agrees To Recognise Russian Control Over Crimea As Part Of Ukraine Peace Deal: Report

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Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 07:57 IST

US President Donald Trump has pointed that the US might 'take a pass' on its efforts to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine.

People walking past a banner depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin in Sevastopol, Crimea (Credits: Reuters)

As a part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the United States is willing to recognise Russian control over Crimea. The peace proposal calls for an immediate ceasefire between the two nations. The framework was presented to Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday.

Reportedly, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also discussed on the proposal on call.

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Notably, Russia invaded Crimea in 2014. The move was widely criticised by the international community, who termed it illegal". Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy too refused to give away the region to Russia.

US President Donald Trump has indicated that the US might take a pass" on its efforts to mediate a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine if negotiations prove to be too challenging, CNN reported.

If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say, Youre foolish, youre foolish. Youre horrible people, and were just going to take a pass," Trump said.

The US President is also positive about the deal. I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. Its coming to a head right now," he said.

Meanwhile, some details on the agreement is yet to be finalised, and the US is likely to plan more on this with Europe and Ukraine in London next week.

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Trumps remarks came days after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, while speaking in Paris, emphasised the need to determine if it was possible to end the war or not.

We need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable," he told reporters before departing Paris.

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 19, 2025, 07:57 IST
'Communal Violence, Terrorism': US Issues New Travel Advisory For Bangladesh Amid Political Unrest

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:56 IST

The United States has issued a 'Level 4: Do Not Travel' alert for Chittagong Hill Tracts due to communal violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security risks.

Bangladesh has seen a remarkable rise in civil unrest and communal violence recently. (Reuters)

The United States has reissued its travel advisory to Bangladesh, warning travellers to reconsider going to the country due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism. The US has maintained a Level 3: Reconsider Travel alert for the country.

However, the US Department of State has issued a Level 4: Do Not Travel alert for Chittagong Hill Tracts due to communal violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security risks.

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Since summer 2024, civil unrest and violent clashes have largely subsided with the formation of the Interim Government. Occasional protests continue with potential for violent clashes," the advisory read. US citizens are reminded to avoid all gatherings, even peaceful ones, since they could turn violent with little or no warning."

The advisory also warned of risks of terrorist violence, including terrorist and other activity in Bangladesh. It warned US citizens of muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking in Bangladeshs major cities.

US government employees working in Bangladesh have been prohibited from non-essential travel within Dhaka outside of the diplomatic enclave. They are also required to obtain special authorisation to travel outside of Dhaka.

The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh, particularly outside of Dhaka, due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources," said the Department of State.

Social unrest intensified in Bangladesh after the fall of Sheikh Hasinas Awami League-led government in August 2024, after students protested against her controversial quota bill for government jobs. Islamist attacks on minorities, particularly Hindus, has been on the rise, prompting concerns from neighbouring India as well as the US.

Shortly before the US presidential elections, current President Donald Trump condemned the barbaric violence against Hindus, Christians and other minorities" by mobs in Bangladesh. He vowed to protect Hindu Americans and strengthen the relationship with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

India has time and again raised concerns about the atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. Earlier this month, Prime Minister Narendra Modi raised the issue of the safety and security of minorities in Bangladesh, including Hindus, during his meeting with Bangladesh Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus, held on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok.

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Moreover, widespread anti-Israel protests erupted in Bangladesh last week as thousands of people gathered in Dhaka, condemning Israels Gaza military offensive and calling for a boycott of Israeli-affiliated products. The protests, which turned violent in some areas, targeted well-known international brands such as Bata, KFC, and Pizza Hut.

The angry crowds targeted businesses perceived to have ties with Israel, resulting in property damage and disruptions to daily life. Bottles of soft drinks perceived to be Israeli-affiliated were smashed in a KFC restaurant in Mirboxtula, and police had to be deployed in the area.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)

First Published: April 19, 2025, 12:45 IST
Russias Vladimir Putin Announces Easter Truce In Ukraine War

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News18.com

Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 21:04 IST

Russian President Vladimir Putin Announces Easter Ceasefire In Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin enters a hall for a meeting at the Kremlin in Moscow. (IMAGE: AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced an Easter ceasefire into his three-year-old special military operation in Ukraine, according to news agency Associated Press.

Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce," Putin said in televised comments, while speaking to Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov.

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The ceasefire will start Saturday evening and last till midnight on Sunday.

Easter, a major holiday for Christians, is celebrated on Sunday.

I order for this period to stop all military action," Putin said, calling the truce based on humanitarian reasons".

We are going on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, while our troops must be ready to resist possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions," Putin said.

In 2022, during the early months of the war, Russia and Ukraine announced brief ceasefires to allow for the evacuation of civilians from besieged areas like Mariupol and to deliver humanitarian aid. However, these ceasefires were limited in scope and often broken by both sides.

He said that Gerasimov had told him Ukraine more than 100 times breached an agreement on not striking energy infrastructure".

The announcement came as Russian forces pushed Ukrainian soldiers from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region.

Gerasimov said troops had retaken over 99 percent of territory seized by Ukraine in the Kursk region in an incursion launched in August.

In the areas of the Kursk region where the Ukraine armed force mounted an incursion, the main part of the territory is now liberated. Thats 1,260 square kilometres, 99.5 percent," Gerasimov told Putin in the televised meeting.

The announcement also comes after the US agreed to make concessions with respect to the Crimean Peninsula.

A report by broadcaster CNN released earlier this week said that the US President Donald Trumps administration is ready to recognize Russian control of Crimea.

The announcement also comes days before the Trump administration prepares to sign a minerals deal with the Ukrainian government.

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The US President and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy earlier this week said that the nations could sign a deal that grants US corporations access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

Trump has advocated for a deal granting the United States privileged access to Ukraines natural resources and critical minerals, which he considers repayment for military aid provided by Washington to Ukraine during Joe Bidens presidency.

About the Author Shankhyaneel Sarkar Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More Shankhyaneel Sarkar is a senior subeditor at News18. He covers international affairs, where he focuses on breaking news to in-depth analyses. He has over five years of experience during which he has covered sev... Read More

Location : Moscow, Russia

First Published: April 19, 2025, 19:41 IST
Who Was Bhabesh Chandra Roy, Hindu Leader Abducted, Killed In Bangladesh?

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Last Updated: April 19, 2025, 12:01 IST

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, was abducted from his house and brutally beaten to death, amid rising violence against Hindus in Bangladesh.

Violence against Bangladeshi Hindus has been on the rise since last year. (PTI File Photo)

In yet another instance of minority violence in Bangladesh, a prominent Hindu community leader in the countrys Dinajpur district was abducted from his home and mercilessly beaten to death by a group of bike-borne assailants.

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, which is about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, according to The Daily Star, quoting police and family members.

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This comes amid a rise in attacks against the Hindu minorities in Bangladesh following the ouster of Sheikh Hasinas government, which has strained ties between India and Chief Adviser Muhammad Yunus interim government in Dhaka. India has time and again raised concerns about the atrocities against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh.

Who Was Bhabesh Chandra Roy?

Bhabesh Chandra Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. He was also a prominent leader in the Hindu community of the area.

Bhabeshs wife, Shantana Roy, told The Daily Star that he was at home in the afternoon when he received a phone call around 4:30 pm, which was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home. Around half an hour later, four men arrived on bikes and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises.

Witnesses saw him being taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally beaten to death. The attackers reportedly sent his unconscious body back to his home in a van. Family members, with the help of locals, rushed Bhabesh to a health complex, from where he was transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where on-duty doctors declared him dead upon arrival.

Congress Condemns Attacks On Bangladeshi Hindus

Taking to X, Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote, The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death is a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among religious minorities in the region."

This is not an isolated incident. Over the past months, there have been repeated and deeply disturbing instances of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, from desecration of Hindu temples to targeted attack on the homes and businesses of minorities. This pattern of intimidation and brutality cannot be ignored," he added.

The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death is a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among Jairam Ramesh (@Jairam_Ramesh) April 19, 2025

The Congress urged the Indian government to take up the matter with the highest urgency and prevail upon the interim government in Bangladesh to ensure a swift and transparent investigation and bring the culprits to justice.

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The incident took place on the same day India rejected Bangladeshs statement on the violence in West Bengal during protests over the amended Waqf Bill, advising its eastern neighbour to focus on protecting minorities within its own borders. The Ministry of External Affairs said Bangladesh should stop making unwarranted comments and indulging in virtue signalling", and safeguard the rights of minorities there.

Last month, a report by the Dhaka-based human rights organisation Ain O Salish Kendra (AsK) revealed a total of 147 incidents involving the vandalism of homes, temples, and business establishments belonging to the Hindu community across Bangladesh.

About the Author Aveek Banerjee Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More Aveek Banerjee is a Senior Sub Editor at News18. Based in Noida with a Master's in Global Studies, Aveek has more than three years of experience in digital media and news curation, specialising in international... Read More

Location : Dhaka, Bangladesh

First Published: April 19, 2025, 11:59 IST
What is not in dispute: Vincent van Gogh's last painting is called Tree Roots, and the actual tree roots he used as a model still exist in the village of Auvers-sur-Oise near Paris. What is very much in dispute: Who owns those roots? As the New York Times explains, the black locust tree to which the roots belong sits on private property but abuts a public road. The homeowners insist the roots belong to them, while the village insists they should be in the public domain. Each accuses the other of jeopardizing the site.
UPDATE

May 7, 2025 8:59 AM CDT

Two Belgian teenagers found with 5,000 ants in Kenya were on Wednesday given a choice of paying a fine of $7,700 or serving 12 months in prisonthe minimum penalty for the offensefor violating wildlife conservation laws. Magistrate Njeri Thuku said in her ruling that despite the teenagers telling the court they were naive and collecting the ants as a hobby, the particular species of ants they collectedmessor cephalotesis valuable and they had amassed thousands of them. Authorities said the ants were destined for European and Asian markets in an emerging trend of trafficking lesser-known wildlife species. The AP reports a lawyer for Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, both 19, called the sentencing "fair" and said her clients would not appeal.

Apr 19, 2025 2:30 PM CDT

Two Belgian teenagers were charged Tuesday with wildlife piracy after they were found with thousands of ants packed in test tubes in what Kenyan authorities said was part of a trend in trafficking smaller and lesser-known species. Lornoy David and Seppe Lodewijckx, two 19-year-olds who were arrested on April 5 with 5,000 ants at a guesthouse, appeared distraught during their appearance before a magistrate in Nairobi and were comforted in the courtroom by relatives. They told the magistrate they were collecting the ants for fun and didn't know it was illegal. In a separate criminal case, Kenyan Dennis Ng'ang'a and Vietnamese national Duh Hung Nguyen also were charged with illegal trafficking in the same courtroom, following their arrest while in possession of 400 ants.
Rocker Patti Smith has legions of fans, but longtime New York City restaurateur Keith McNally is not among them. In a New York piece excerpted from his upcoming memoir, McNally recounts how Smith and ex-boyfriend Robert Mapplethorpe (the famed photographer) were regulars at a restaurant called One Fifth in Manhattan during the 1970s. They would often come in with Sam Wagstaff, described as Mapplethorpe's benefactor, and all would be well. Except:
President Trump is opening commercial fishing in one of the world's largest ocean reserves, ending years of strict protection for a region rich in marine life. The executive order issued Thursday involves the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument, an area about 750 miles west of Hawaii that covers nearly 500,000 square miles. The monumentestablished by President George W. Bush in 2009 and expanded by President Obama in 2014contains more than 160 seamounts, coral atolls, endangered sea turtles, and whales. "The United States should be the world's dominant seafood leader," Trump said, describing the decision as an "easy one." He noted America's seafood trade deficit stands at more than $20 billion.

A second executive order instructs the Commerce Department to ease regulations for commercial fishing, aquaculture, and fish processing industries and tasks the Interior Department with reviewing all marine monuments with an eye on opening others to commercial fishing. The AP calls it "a dramatic shift in federal policy on fishing in US waters by prioritizing commercial fishing interests over efforts to allow the fish supply to increase." Environmentalists decried the move as well as the administration's assertion that measures like the Endangered Species Act and the Clean Water Act would provide adequate protection for the area, reports the New York Times.

Trump was joined in the Oval Office by a fisherman from American Samoa and Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen, American Samoa's delegate to the House of Representatives. President Trump criticized previous protections, saying, "It's so horrible and so stupid. You're talking about a massive ocean and they're forced to go and travel four to seven days to go and fish in an area that's not as good," a reference to how long it takes fishermen to reach non-protected areas.

story continues below

Radewagenwho had requested the reopening in a letter to Trump in January, citing the territory's dependence on fishing, especially tunacalled it a "sensible proclamation" that "is important to the stability and future of American Samoa's economy, but it also is fantastic news for US food security." Environmentalists, however, noted that the number of fish stocks that appear on the federal overfished list jumped to 47 in 2023 from 40 a decade prior; many worry the number will only continue to grow in light of lessened protections.
Police believe a UMass Boston college student spent part of his spring break attacking a Tesla dealership back home in Missouri. Owen McIntire, 19, of Parkville, Mo., was arrested after allegedly using Molotov cocktails to firebomb a dealership in Kansas City, reports the Boston Herald . Kansas City Police reportedly noticed smoke coming from a Tesla Cybertruck in the dealership's parking lot around 11:15pm on March 17. The officers couldn't put out the fire, and it spread to another Cybertruck and two Tesla charging stations. Police found an "unbroken suspected incendiary device" near the burning vehicles, and firefighters were eventually able to put out the blaze. According to the Boston Globe , the two vehicles had a combined value of $212,000.

An affidavit filed by law enforcement revealed that surveillance footage from a nearby residence allegedly shows a man getting out of a Subaru Crosstrek and walking toward the dealership while carrying a bag. The Crosstrek's license plate came back to McIntire, who investigators identified as the suspect. The affidavit says McIntire is a college student in Boston and that he was on spring break when the crime was committed. Airport surveillance video and posts on McIntire's Instagram and Facebook profiles confirmed he was in Kansas City during the timeframe. He made an initial appearance in federal court in Boston on Friday on charges of malicious destruction of property and unlawful possession of an unregistered firearm or destructive device, according to court records.

The incident is believed to be connected to the recent protests against Tesla due to displeasure with Elon Musk and his work with the Trump administration. The Washington Post reports the "Tesla Takedown" movement has led to weekly protests around the country, and that the controversy has impacted Tesla's sales and stock price. Attorney General Pam Bondi spoke about McIntire's arrest and warned that similar conduct won't go unpunished. "Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: You will not evade us," Bondi said. "You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it."
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Saturday that his forces would observe a ceasefire for humanitarian reasons in its battle against Ukraine on Easter Sunday. He said at the Kremlin that he assumed Ukrainian forces also would stop fighting, NBC News reports. Later in the day, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said his nation's military would reciprocate and suggested he'd go Russia one better. "If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20," Zelensky said on Telegram, per the AP . "That will reveal Russia's true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures."

Russia's defense ministry first announced that a prisoner exchange had been completed "as a gesture of goodwill." Details of Saturday's maneuvering:



Prisoner exchange : Russia said that 246 of its service members were returned and that 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were traded for 15 wounded Russian soldiers who need urgent medical care. Zelensky said 277 of his country's "warriors" were back home, per the AP. The deal was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

: Russia said that 246 of its service members were returned and that 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were traded for 15 wounded Russian soldiers who need urgent medical care. Zelensky said 277 of his country's "warriors" were back home, per the AP. The deal was mediated by the United Arab Emirates. The ceasefire proposal: The Kremlin said the pause would last from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday until midnight Sunday to coincide with Easter celebrations. "At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions," Putin said. Zelensky posted on X that "Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and toward human life." Less than an hour before the ceasefire was to take effect, he said, the drones were prompting air raid alerts to sound across Ukraine, per the Washington Post.

The backdrop : Russia has been widely criticized for an attack last weekend that killed civilians, including children, gathered for Palm Sunday services. President Trump called the strike a mistake, an assessment other nations disagreed with. The Trump administration has said it's losing interest in pursuing a peace deal, and Putin said Saturday that Russia is prepared to talk and welcomes the diplomatic efforts of the US and China.

: Russia has been widely criticized for an attack last weekend that killed civilians, including children, gathered for Palm Sunday services. President Trump called the strike a mistake, an assessment other nations disagreed with. The Trump administration has said it's losing interest in pursuing a peace deal, and Putin said Saturday that Russia is prepared to talk and welcomes the diplomatic efforts of the US and China. Past ceasefires: In 2022, the United Nations proposed an Easter truce that Ukraine agreed to and Russia rejected. Russia proposed a Christmas truce in 2023 that Ukraine turned down, per the Post. James Waterhouse of the BBC describes covering a holiday truce in early 2023: "I was in the front line city of Bakhmut at the time," he writes here. "The artillery fire didn't stop, and his invading troops didn't stop advancing."

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This file has been updated with Zelensky agreeing to a 30-hour ceasefire.
China, Cambodia pledge to implement China-proposed global initiatives

Xinhua) 15:06, April 19, 2025

PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China and Cambodia on Friday expressed readiness to fully implement the China-proposed Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative and Global Civilization Initiative.

The commitment was underscored in a joint statement issued when Chinese President Xi Jinping wrapped up his state visit to Cambodia, where both countries also highlighted their mutual goal of speeding up the building of an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

The two sides underscored their willingness to be frontrunners in the Global Development Initiative and to inject strong impetus into global development, especially the development of the Global South.

To implement the initiative, the two sides agreed to accelerate the advancement of the Industrial Development Corridor plan, leverage the China-Cambodia railway cooperation mechanism to jointly formulate a general plan for Cambodia's railway network, and speed up the implementation of the Fish and Rice Corridor cooperation plan.

They also agreed to work actively to promote the signing of the upgrade protocol of the China-ASEAN Free Trade Area at an early date within this year.

Cambodia supported Hong Kong's accession to the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and welcomed the Global AI Governance Initiative put forward by Xi.

They also agreed to jointly build a secure and stable industrial and supply chain, expand the use of local currencies in bilateral trade and investment, and enhance cooperation in the field of clean energy.

As for the Global Security Initiative, the two sides affirmed their commitment to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and to resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation in a peaceful manner, so as to make positive contributions to regional and global peace and stability.

China lauded Cambodia's crackdown on illegal online gambling, and the two sides voiced their willingness to continue to carry out the Year of Law Enforcement Cooperation activities.

China has actively promoted the resolution of international and regional hotspot issues, and Cambodia welcomes China's important and constructive role in this regard.

The two sides believe that the South China Sea issue should be resolved peacefully by sovereign states directly concerned through friendly consultations and negotiations, and any attempt to use the South China Sea issue to undermine regional peace and mutual trust will be counterproductive.

On the Global Civilization Initiative, they emphasized that both countries are ancient civilizations with long histories.

They jointly advocated for respecting the diversity of world civilizations, promoting the common values of humanity, and contributing to exchanges and mutual learning among human civilizations.

The two sides agreed to designate 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism and encourage their citizens to travel to each other's countries.

They also expressed willingness to explore the establishment of China-Cambodia joint working group on cultural heritages to promote comprehensive cooperation in the field.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in US history, former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing. Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He delivered the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum. Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief after the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children. He says it was a day that he will never forget.

"I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago, coming here with Hillary to that memorial service and saying: 'You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes,'" Clinton said, recalling his first visit days after the bombing, when he spoke at a memorial service. "I do think we've kept that commitment." Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum numerous times since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries. On Saturday, he cautioned about the polarizing nature of modern-day politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence.

He said there is much the nation can learn from the "Oklahoma Standard," a term coined to reference the city's response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor, and kindness. "Today, Oklahoma City, America needs you," he said. "I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here, hearing these stories." Family members read the 168 names of those killed in the attack. A procession of bagpipe players from the Oklahoma City Fire Department led attendees across the street to the outdoor memorial built on the grounds where the federal building once stood. The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool, and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze, and stone etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others. (Raymond Washburn, who was blind, helped rescue five people from the rubble.)
Vice President JD Vance met with the Catholic Church's top diplomats at the Vatican on Saturday, in the shadow of Pope Francis' criticism of the Trump administration's deportation policy and Vance's theological defense of it. The tension was reflected in the official statements released after Vance met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's secretary of state, and Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the foreign minister, Politico reports. The Vatican reported that an "exchange of opinions" took place on international issues, "especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners."

A White House recounted the agenda differently, saying that Vance and Parolin "discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump's commitment to restoring world peace." The pope has expressed disapproval of the Trump administration's moves against immigrants while maintaining relations in keeping with the church's tradition of diplomatic neutrality, per the AP. Before the meeting Saturday, Parolin told an Italian newspaper that the "current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years."

This was the first in-person meeting between Vatican and administration officials, per CNN. Vance has no talk scheduled with the pope, though the Vatican hasn't ruled it out. The vice president, a convert to Catholicism, is spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family. He attended Good Friday services in St. Peter's Basilica after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni. On Saturday, the Vances were given a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.
Apr 19 (News On Japan) - A special video featuring Kogoro, Kid the Phantom Thief, and Conan was released following the Friday Roadshow broadcast of the movie Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram.

In Detective Conan: The Million-dollar Pentagram, the famed high school detective turned child, Conan Edogawa, finds himself entangled in a deadly treasure hunt in the historic city of Hakodate, Hokkaido. When a mysterious message from the elusive phantom thief Kid leads to the reemergence of a legendary samurai sword, Conan must race against time to unravel the clues hidden within the star-shaped Goryokaku fortress. As secrets from Japans past resurface and Kid's true intentions remain unclear, Conan confronts a high-stakes battle of wits, deception, and danger. Loyalties are tested, and history comes alive in this cinematic showdown between truth and illusion.

Source: Netflix Anime
SAN JOSE, Calif., April 17, 2025 /CNW/ -- (TSXV:SEV) (OTCQB:SPVNF) Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. ("Spectra7" or the "Company"), a leader in high-performance analog semiconductors for broadband connectivity markets, such as AI networks, hyperscale data centers, and AR/VR, today announced results of its annual and special meeting of shareholders held on April 17, 2025 (the "Meeting").

As part of the Meeting, the Company's shareholders (the "Shareholders") approved the proposed sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company (the "Sale Transaction") pursuant to the terms of the previously announced asset purchase agreement dated March 7, 2025 between the Corporation and Parade Technologies, Ltd. (the "Purchase Agreement"). Shareholders also approved the proposed delisting of the Company's common shares from the TSX Venture Exchange (the "TSXV"), conditional upon the approval and completion of the Sale Transaction.

The Sale Transaction is expected to close in the week following the Meeting, but remains subject to the satisfaction or waiver of the remaining conditions precedent set out in the Purchase Agreement. Please see the Company's news release dated March 7, 2025 and the management information circular relating to the Meeting dated March 18, 2025 for a comprehensive description of the Sale Transaction and Purchase Agreement.

Shareholders also voted to:

authorize the creation of new Control Persons (as such term is defined in the policies of the TSXV) in connection with the exercise of outstanding pre-funded warrants of the Company;

elect Raouf Halim , Omar Javaid , Roger Maggs , Christopher Morgan , and Ronald Pasek as directors; and

, , , , and as directors; and appoint MNP, LLP, Chartered Accountants as auditor for the ensuing year.

ABOUT SPECTRA7 MICROSYSTEMS INC.

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. is a high-performance analog semiconductor company delivering unprecedented bandwidth, speed and resolution to enable disruptive industrial design for leading electronics manufacturers in virtual reality, augmented reality, mixed reality, data centers and other connectivity markets. Spectra7 is based in San Jose, California with a design center in Cork, Ireland and a technical support location in Dongguan, China. For more information, please visit www.spectra7.com.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

CAUTIONARY NOTES

Statements in this press release contain forward-looking information. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "anticipates", "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may" and "will". The forward-looking statements included in this press release, including statements regarding the Sale Transaction and the receipt of necessary TSXV approvals and satisfaction of other closing conditions.

In respect of the forward-looking statements and information included in this press release, Spectra7 has provided such in reliance on certain assumptions that it believes are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the ability of the parties to the Purchase Agreement to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, necessary approvals to complete the Sale Transaction and the ability of such parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Sale Transaction. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this news release. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond Spectra7's control. Such risks and uncertainties include but are not limited to: the risk that the Sale Transaction may not be completed on a timely basis, or at all; risks that the conditions to the consummation of the Sale Transaction may not be satisfied; the risk that the Sale Transaction may involve unexpected costs, liabilities or delays; the risk that, prior to the completion of the Sale Transaction, Spectra7's business may experience significant disruptions, including loss of customers or employees, due to transaction-related uncertainty or other factors; the possible occurrence of an event, change or other circumstance that could result in termination of the Sale Transaction; risks that the Sale Transaction may have a negative impact on the market price and liquidity of the common shares of Spectra7; risks related to the diversion of management's attention from the Company's ongoing business operations; risks relating to the failure to obtain necessary TSXV approvals; risks related to trade tariffs and retaliatory trade measures, specifically between the United States and Canada; foreign exchange risk; and other risks inherent to completing a cross-border transaction of this nature. Further, failure to obtain the requisite approvals or the failure of the parties to otherwise satisfy the conditions to or complete the Sale Transaction, may result in the Sale Transaction not being completed on the proposed terms, or at all. In addition, if the Sale Transaction is not completed, and Spectra7's business continues in its current form, the announcement of the Sale Transaction and the dedication of substantial resources to the completion of the Sale Transaction could have a material adverse impact on Spectra7's share price, its current business relationships (including with future and prospective employees, customers and partners) and on the current and future operations, financial condition and prospects of Spectra7.

When relying on forward-looking statements to make decisions, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Details of additional risk factors relating to Spectra7 and its business, generally, are discussed under the heading "Business Risks and Uncertainties" in Spectra7's Management's Discussion & Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2024, a copy of which is available on Spectra7's SEDAR+ profile at www.sedarplus.ca. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Except as otherwise required by applicable securities statutes or regulation, Spectra7 expressly disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

For more information, please contact:

Matt Kreps, Managing Director

Darrow Associates Investor Relations

[email protected]

214-597-8200

Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.

Omar Javaid

Chief Executive Officer

[email protected]

SOURCE Spectra7 Microsystems Inc.
Earlier this month, a Montana man admitted to sexually exploiting and abusing at least eight girls in Bozeman and Billings.

In a scheme to produce child sex abuse material, Tyrell Forest Anderson manipulated underage girls into sharing sexually compromising photos of themselves, which he saved and shared. To do it, Anderson used one of the most popular social media platforms on the planet.

Theres not one social media platform, website or gaming device where theres not child predators or people looking to exploit a child, said Dustin Grant, a supervisory agent with the FBI based out of Salt Lake City. Youre going to come into contact with some kind of offender at some point if you have access to these platforms.

In the past two decades, tech-based sexual abuse has added an additional layer to a dilemma fraught with complexity and anguish. The ubiquity of the internet has spurred advocates and law enforcement to scramble to stay ahead of the pace of technology, assist the survivors of abuse and hold their abusers accountable.

Internet service providers and social media companies like Meta are mandated by federal law to report child sex abuse material. The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, a non-profit organization designated by the U.S. government as the clearinghouse for reporting child sexual abuse, tallied over 36 million Cybertips in 2023. Most of those tips came from ISPs and social media companies, and were related to the sharing of child sex abuse material. NCMEC noted in its annual report for that year that sextortion and sexually explicit images generated through artificial intelligence were also becoming more common.

In Montana, the states Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, which includes law enforcement across local and federal jurisdictions, received nearly 3,000 Cybertips relayed to it last year. Most of those came through NCMEC, according to data from the Montana Department of Justice. Task force members searched 460 devices during their 869 investigations in 2024 and combed through over 182 terabytes of data.

In Andersons case, a teenage girl in Gallatin County reported to the Bozeman Police Department in 2022 that Anderson had sent her several sexually graphic messages through the social media platform Snapchat. The subsequent investigation on the part of Bozeman police department revealed that Anderson had been using Snapchat for two years to coerce multiple underage girls in the Bozeman area into sex or sending sexually explicit photos in exchange for money, nicotine or drugs, court documents said.

In February 2024, Anderson started badgering a teenage girl in Yellowstone County to meet with him, persuading her to send him explicit photos and sharing child sex abuse material with her. That same month, he engaged in a similar exchange with a 14-year-old, sending her sexually graphic photos through Snapchat, including an unsolicited shot of his genitals.

The most recent trend in child sexual exploitation that Grant and other law enforcement agencies have confronted is sextortion, children sharing sexually explicit photos of themselves only to have those images used as collateral against them. Teenage boys aged 13 to 17 have been the most common targets of sextortion in recent years. The offenders have included individual people and entire criminal enterprises. Predators have used sextortion to ply survivors for financial gain, or more images.

Theres still a variety of other exploitation cases that are a hot topic, but (sextortion) is whats happening more frequently, said Grant, who supervises the Violent Crimes Against Children program for FBIs Salt Lake City division, which covers Montana, Utah and Idaho.

Along with Snapchat, Grant said the most popular apps for predators to use are TikTok and Instagram.

The problem of online sexual predators isnt new, but the digital landscape in which they operate has become exponentially more diverse. Social media platforms have granted offenders ease and access, said Jennifer Simmons Kaleba with the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network. The most common misconception for survivors of internet child sex abuse, she said, is parents convincing themselves that it cant happen to their kids.

On Thursday, a federal judge sentenced a Lolo man to 20 years in prison for similarly using Snapchat to coerce teenage girls into sending him explicit photos and then sharing those images. When confronted by Missoula County detectives, Erik Robert Salazar admitted to receiving images depicting children engaged in sexual conduct.

Kaleba, the vice president for communications at RAINN, likened the behavior of those who sexually abuse children online to grooming to gain a childs trust, make them feel safe with a friendly demeanor and then use that front to get the images and videos they want.

The impact of this tech abuse mirrors that of in-person abuse, she said, Survivors feel anxiety, post-traumatic stress and shame. And we have to take it as seriously as any other kind of sexual abuse.

Workers at RAINN and other advocacy groups have campaigned for over a year for the passage of the Take It Down Act, federal legislation that would criminalize the sharing of nonconsensual intimate images online, and require the platforms where those images were shared to delete those posts. On the importance of that bill, which earlier this month became eligible for a vote in the House of Representatives, Kaleba noted an online safety survey of over 1,000 minors conducted by the non-profit Thorn.

Of those surveyed, one in 17 reported having been the victims of sextortion. One in five of the preteens surveyed reported that they'd had an online sexual interaction with someone they believed to be an adult. The most common apps where underage users reported having sexual interactions were Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook.

At the start of the month, Gov. Greg Gianforte signed a bill passed in this year's State Legislature that specifically criminalized the act of grooming. Per that same law, computer-generated child sex abuse material, including images created through artificial intelligence, have been added to state's definition of the crime of sexual abuse of children.

A second bill currently making its way through the Montana House of Representatives would make it a crime to share "explicit synthetic media," images and videos of identifiable people generated through artificial intelligence. The bill would also mandate that AI platforms cooperate with the Montana DoJ in investigations to identify the creator of those explicit images.

When we create laws that prioritize the protection of children, said Penny Ronning, an advocate based in Billings who founded the Yellowstone Human Trafficking Task Force, that is when we are going to see changes to systematic abuse.

Tech-based child sex abuse is inextricably linked to human trafficking, an entrenched illicit industry in which someone is coerced by violence, threats or lies into doing something against their will.

One recent global financial report calculated that $346.7 billion connected to human trafficking had flowed through the worlds financial markets in 2024, over a third of which was concentrated in the Americas. Industries connected to human trafficking, like pornography, have moved their presence online.

Ronning, Grant and Kaleba all had a message for parents and caregivers: talk to your kids. Ronning said the chances are good that children know cell phones and other smart devices better than their parents, and that puts them in danger of either seeing sexually explicit content or being victimized. When parents dont have frank, age-appropriate conversations about what sex is and what healthy sex is, their children will be taught through the internet.

Parents need to be comfortable having those conversations at a very young age, Ronning said.

If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence, including image-based sexual abuse, RAINNs National Sexual Assault Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support to survivors and their loved ones in English and Spanish at: 800.656.HOPE (4673) and Hotline.RAINN.org and en Espanol RAINN.org/es.
The Wyoming Supreme Court on Wednesday heard arguments to determine whether abortions are healthcare. The outcome of the case could define the future of abortion access in Wyoming.

The state is seeking to reverse the ruling of a Teton County judge that ruled that abortion is healthcare and that laws passed by the legislature in 2023 could not go into effect.

The 2023 legislation, if it goes into effect, would pass a near-total ban on abortions.

Wyoming Deputy Attorney General Jay Jerde represented the state and argued the 2023 legislation does not violate subsections A and C of Article 1, Section 38  which details the right of healthcare access in the Equality State.

Subsection A details that each competent adult shall have the right to make his or her own health care decisions and subsection C says that the legislature may determine reasonable and necessary restrictions to protect the health and general welfare of the people.

Jerde argued that Subsection C does not even apply to abortion as abortion is not healthcare.

If a pregnant woman decides to get an abortion for reasons unrelated to her health, then by definition, that can't be healthcare, Jerde argued.

He added that even if the court finds that abortion is healthcare, subsection A would prohibit abortions to take place as it mandates that people have their own right to make healthcare decisions.

Jerde said that if a woman is receiving an abortion for health reasons, she is also affecting the health and healthcare of the unborn baby.

In effect, she's making a healthcare decision for two people, Jerde said.

Attorney Peter Modlin, who represented the group, argued that the laws are not necessary and that it violates section 38, subsections C and D.

Subsection D says that the state will preserve health care rights from undue governmental infringement.

We looked, and the state looked as well for another example of a law that prohibited a specific medical procedure. We couldn't find one, and neither could the state, Modlin said.

Casper-based attorney Marci Bramlet argued that the 2023 legislation forces women to surrender their rights anytime they are pregnant.

The Wyoming constitution is not a grant of rights. It is a recognition of pre-existing natural rights, she said.

She added that the laws would violate the equal protections of people.

Wyoming Supreme Court judges took the case under advisement following arguments from both sides and rebuttal.

How we got here

The Wednesday arguments follow a years-long court battle stemming from 2023 legislation that would have enacted a near-total ban on abortions and a ban on abortion medication.

The Legislature in 2023 passed two bills: one banned nearly all abortions with exceptions of rape, incest or for the health of the mother, and the other bill outlawed chemical abortions.

The two laws were challenged in March 2023 through litigation filed in Teton County by a suit filed by health care providers, women within childbearing age and an abortion aid fund.

Wellspring was able to continue to operate as Teton County District Court Judge Melissa Owens put a hold on the bans while the suit was resolved.

Owens ruled in favor of the plaintiffs but the Wyoming Attorney Generals Office appealed the decision to the Wyoming Supreme Court shortly after the ruling.

The judge in her ruling said that banning abortion and abortion medication impedes on the right to make health care decisions.

The legislature has continued to pass abortion laws in the Equality State, including the 2025 legislative session.

New abortion case

A new suit is seeking to stop two bills passed during the 202 legislative session to go into effect.

The plaintiffs  composed of health care providers, a woman within childbearing age and an abortion aid fund  requested an order to halt the implementation of the laws while the new suit is resolved.

One of the bills requires surgical abortion facilities to be licensed as an ambulatory surgical center and be within 10 miles from a hospital where physicians have admitting privileges.

The other bill requires women planning to receive a chemical abortion to get an ultrasound at least 48 hours prior to an abortion. The bill does make make an exception for victims of rape or incest.

Retired Laramie County District Court Judge Thomas Campbell is presiding over the case and a decision on the temporary restraining order over the two laws is still being weighed.

To be granted the order, The plaintiffs must prove that they have a fair chance to win their case and that they will suffer irreparable harm if the new legislation is passed through.

Wellspring Health Access  Wyomings sole abortion clinic  is not currently providing abortions but the facility is still fully staffed.
A wildfire burning in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland, Cumberland County, initially burned 20 acres on Friday, April 18 and spread to 1,200 acres as of Saturday afternoon, April 19, fire officials said. NJ Department of Environmental Protection

A South Jersey wildfire has fanned out to an additional 200 acres as of Saturday afternoon but first responders have made significant headway, state officials announced.

The blaze in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland began Friday and the response extended into Easter weekend.

The wildfire, dubbed Dannys Fire, has now burned at least 1,200 acres  up from 1,000 acres Saturday morning.

In an update at 3:27 p.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said crews have made substantial progress and the blaze is now 75% contained. Thats up from 50% earlier in the day.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, the Forest Fire Service said.

So far, no homes or other buildings are under threat and no evacuations have been ordered.

The wildfire first broke out Friday at about 12:25 p.m. in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area located in Cumberland County.

Peaslee, at roughly 25,000 acres, is the second largest wildlife management area in New Jersey.

The blaze initially burned 20 acres before spreading to 500 acres Friday evening. It then grew to 800 acres by 10 p.m.

After passing 100 acres, regardless if in a remote area, wildfires are considered major incidents.

On Saturday at 10 a.m., the New Jersey Forest Fire Service said it swelled to 1,000 acres.

Sections of Union Road and Bennetts Mill Road  initially closed as firefighters responded to the scene  have since reopened, the state said Saturday afternoon.

Fire engines, bulldozers and ground crews were all on hand to aid in the response.

A helicopter and an air tanker, together capable of dropping about 900 gallons of water, were initially deployed as well.

The state said the next update on the wildfire is expected at around Noon on Sunday.

A wildfire burning in the Peaslee Wildlife Management Area in Vineland, Cumberland County, initially burned 20 acres on Friday, April 18 and spread to 1,200 acres as of Saturday afternoon, April 19, fire officials said. NJ Department of Environmental Protection

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Steven Rodas may be reached at srodas@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Bluesky at @stevenrodas.bsky.social.
A dozen Colombian nationals accused in a series of weekly home burglaries that targeted Asian business owners in New Jersey and other states are facing federal charges, authorities said Friday.

Police in Cedar Grove in Essex County started investigating area burglaries in December and have since assisted in the arrest of six men, the department said in a statement.

All of them are now in federal custody. Their names were not released.

Cedar Grove police worked with the Essex County Prosecutors Office, the FBI and Immigrations and Customs Enforcement to identify the burglars.

Authorities say those arrested are all part of a South American theft crew, which hit homes in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and North Carolina.

The six men were arrested as they were attempting to break into a home in the affluent Bergen County borough of Allendale, police said.

During the arrests, three vehicles were seized, officials said.

The group used devices like Wi-Fi jammers, GPS devices and police scanners to dodge authorities.

The burglaries caused hundreds of thousands of dollars in losses, authorities said.

Another six people were arrested by other agencies as part of a larger investigation. Their names and details about their charges were not released on Friday.

The FBI Newark did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Nicolas Fernandes may be reached at nfernandes@njadvancemedia.com.
Starbucks unveiled two new menu items that will debut in May. Patti Sapone | NJ Advance Media

April showers bring May flowers, and that also means that with the coming changes in months, chains will also debut their summer menus.

Starbucks is unveiling two new menu items for its summer menu that will start in May 2025.

The company gave a sneak peek of the summer menu to USA Today, which includes two new menu items and the return of its summer refreshers.

Heres what you need to know about the new menu items at Starbucks.

Starbucks new summer 2025 menu items

The following are Starbucks new summer 2025 menu items:

Iced Horchata Oatmilk Shaken Espresso Strawberries & Cream Cake Pop

Starbucks returning summer 2025 menu items

Starbucks is also bringing back some menu items introduced last year, which include the Summer Berry Refreshers.

The following Summer Berry Refreshers are returning to the menu:

Summer-Berry Lemonade Starbucks Refreshers Beverage: Lemonade is blended with raspberry, blueberry and blackberry and poured over raspberry-flavored pearls.

Summer Skies Drink: A coconut milk-based drink blended with raspberry, blueberry and blackberry poured over raspberry-flavored pearls.

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A proposal to turn parking lots at one of New Jerseys oldest train stations into a mixed-use complex with up to 400 apartments is beginning to move through a local approval process.

The Red Bank Borough Planning Board held a public hearing recently on a redevelopment plan that would allow two apartment complexes, five and six stories tall, around the shore towns NJ Transit center.

The apartments would be split between two parcels  a north and a south section  with at least 80 units set aside for affordable housing, according to planning documents.

On the north lot, the proposed project designates space for commercial buildings and an open green plaza that could host public gatherings. The plaza would be built around the train station and could feature decorative walkways, seating, public art, water features, food kiosks and cafes.

Facilities such as banks, restaurants, art spaces, bars, child care centers, urgent care facilities, and more could occupy the up to 60,000 square feet of ground floor space allocated for commercial use.

Red Bank NJ Transit Center redevelopment plan renderings Red Bank Planning Board

A vote on the proposal was postponed to April 23 following a lengthy two-hour public comment session where residents were divided over the project.

Some raised concerns that tall apartment buildings, congestion and increased traffic could change the character of their community. Others supported the plan, noting that Red Bank needs more affordable housing options for young families.

The development will be implemented without compromising the stations role as a transportation hub for the region. Rail and bus services, as well as pedestrian, bicycle and car access, will be maintained, according to the planning documents.

More than 700 parking spaces for both commuters and residents will remain available, along with two proposed parking garages, according to preliminary plans.

New streets with improved lighting, benches and public art will also be designed to make the area more pedestrian-friendly, developers said.

If the Red Bank Planning Board approves the redevelopment plan, the borough council will also need to vote on it. Site plans must be approved before the developer can begin construction.

In 2021, Denholtz was selected as the developer for the NJ Transit property near the Red Bank train station. For years, Red Bank has been planning the redevelopment of the 26-acre site into a modern community space.

Developers also said they will prioritize preserving the historic Red Bank train station, which was built in 1876. The station is famous for being a stop on a pre-World War II train trip by the King of England and is listed on both the National and State Registers of Historic Places.

In 2014, NJ Transit allocated $2.5 million to stabilize and renovate the aging station. The restoration returned the station to its historically accurate appearance.

Red Bank NJ Transit Center redevelopment plan renderings Red Bank Planning Board

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A cow found near U.S. Route 322 in Logan Township in South Jersey on April 19, 2025. Logan Township Police Department

An utter-ly baffled cow is safe and sound after escaping home and going on the lamb across a South Jersey community Saturday morning, local police said.

The Logan Township Police Department in Gloucester County announced around 9:30 a.m. that the cow had been discovered wandering near U.S. Route 322.

We cant make this up, the department wrote in a Facebook post, asking that anyone missing a cow come forward to claim it.

The department also put out a call for anyone with animal wrangling experience, saying lassos and lariats were not standard-issue equipment for patrol officers.

In a photo shared by police, the cow stands peaceably outside Leslies, a swimming pool supplies retailer.

Around an hour later, police said the cow had been successfully apprehended with the help of local residents.

Big thanks to them for helping moooove her along! the department wrote.

The cow, who was not immediately identified, will be brought to DREAM Park, a nearby equestrian facility.

This isnt the first time a cow has been on the loose in New Jersey. Back in December 2018, a cow named Brianna ended up getting out of a truck transporting her to a slaughterhouse.

The cow roamed along Route 80 in Paterson before officials from the Skylands Animal Sanctuary Rescue arrived to help catch her.

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AJ McDougall may be reached at amcdougall@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on X at @oldmcdougall.
Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., speaks during a news conference upon his arrival from meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, at Washington Dulles International Airport, in Chantilly, Va., Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) AP

When Chris Van Hollen was allowed to meet with abducted and imprisoned immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia on Thursday in El Salvador, its clear that the co-conspiring imprisoning government and President Donald Trump saw a chance to troll the Democratic senator and play to the MAGA base.

El Salvador officials surrounded the meeting  held in a luxury hotel far from the notorious CECOT prison, where Abrego Garcia had been incarcerated  with photographers and tried to pull a fast one by planting fake margaritas on the table, Van Hollen said.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!" President Nayb Bukele tweeted with photos on Thursday.

He added: Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.

Shortly after the meeting, Trump wrote that Van Hollen looked like a fool and called him a grandstander in a social media post.

On Friday, in a press conference in Washington, D.C., Van Hollen exposed the silly margarita stunt.

Turns out, Abrego Garcia is wasting away, but not in Margaritaville.

I should also just say, I mentioned the fake margarita, they actually wanted to have the meeting by the side of the pool in the hotel, Van Hollen said. They want to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar  which of course is a big, fat lie.

Van Hollen explained that when he first sat down with Abrego Garcia, there was water and coffee on the table. A few minutes later, one of the government officials placed two other glasses on the table  probably fake margaritas, he said, with salt or sugar on the rims.

Abrego Garcias glass was only partially filled to give the impression he had drunk some of the supposed margarita, Van Hollen said.

In his press conference, Van Hollen called on Americans to protest the imprisonment by taking economic action against El Salvador by refusing to travel there. He also encouraged them not to do business with companies who invest in El Salvador  a country he alleges is committing human rights violations.

He called it a bad look for the small nation.

This case is not just about one man, Van Hollen said. Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in America. If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else in America.

Van Hollen added that if the Trump administration has evidence that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang  the reason the administration says he was snatched and deported  it should present that evidence in a court, not over social media.

More Democrats have said they will fly to El Salvador to push for his release, but the partisan pressure hasnt yielded any results. Trump and Bukele have dug in on keeping Abrego Garcia out of the United States, even as officials in Trumps Republican administration have called his deportation a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return.

Democrats say the fight isnt just about one mans immigration status but about Trumps defiance of the courts that have repeatedly weighed in on the case.

A federal appeals court said Thursday in a blistering order that the Trump administrations claim that it cant do anything to free Abrego Garcia from the prison in El Salvador and return him to the United States should be shocking.

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Editors note: This story contains descriptions of sexual violence against children.

A congregant from the Golden Dawn Tabernacle in Tucson was charged Thursday with five counts of child molestation following an Arizona Daily Star/Lee Enterprises investigation in which he publicly admitted to sexually abusing a child.

Jose Mora, 57, was also charged with three counts of sexual conduct with a minor, a felony in which the perpetrator intentionally or knowingly engages in sexual intercourse or oral sexual contact with someone under 18.

Mora could face life in prison for those charges, depending on the age of the victim. For the alleged child molestation, which involves engaging in sexual contact with a child under 15, Mora could be sentenced to up to 24 years in prison.

The charges stem in large part from the series, Twisted Message, in which it was reported that Mora molested an 11-year-old boy from his church in 2012. The pastor, Isaac Noriega, is also under police investigation for failing to report those allegations, as required by law, but he has not been charged.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover confirmed that Mora has been booked into the Pima County Jail on an eight-count indictment.

PCAO thanks the Tucson Police Department for their thoughtful and methodical investigation and the witnesses and victims who trusted all of us in coming forward, Conover said in a statement. As this is a pending criminal matter, we will not be commenting further.

He admitted to molesting a boy. And his Tucson church protected him for years. A member of a Tucson church admitted he molested a boy. The pastor said he knew and never went to the police, flouting state laws that mandate reporting of such incidents.

Mora admitted in a September interview with the newspaper team that he touched the buttocks and genital area of a boy from his church. Mora said there were maybe four touching incidents with the boy at his home, including an incident where he entered a shower naked with the boy and hugged and kissed him.

Mora was about 45 when the incidents happened, and said he knew that the boy, Philip, was either 11 or 12 at the time. Philip said in an interview that Mora also penetrated him with his fingers and forced him to have oral sex, which Mora denies.

Police also uncovered additional allegations against Mora stemming from an incident in 2009, according to his initial court appearance. The details of that incident were not immediately available. Its unclear which charges relate to the 2009 incident and which relate to the 2012 incident.

Mora was detained April 10 by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI). He has an immigration hold, meaning he could be subject to deportation due to his immigration status.

Mora was initially in federal custody at the Eloy Detention Center, but he is now in custody at the Pima County Jail. He is being held in jail on a $250,000 cash bail. His next court hearing is April 24.

At Moras initial appearance Thursday, his public defender asked for a $50,000 bail since Mora does not have a criminal record. But the prosecutors office asked for a $500,000 bail because the allegations against Mora involve crimes against a child and because there are children living in Moras home.

Theres a continued risk and a concern for the safety of the public at large, the prosecutor said.

Pastor Noriega said Friday that he did not want to get involved when asked for comment on Moras arrest. He did not respond to a question about whether he had kicked Mora out of his church after hearing about the allegations.

I dont have to say anything, Noriega said. You lie too much, and you twist everything we say. Everything is twisted.

Noriegas church, the Golden Dawn Tabernacle, which also goes by its formal name Tabernaculo Emanuel, was the subject of a year-long news investigation by The Star and Lee Enterprises. Twenty former church members accused Golden Dawn of being a cult.

The newspaper series, Twisted Message, uncovered a pattern of Noriega not acting on child sexual abuse allegations. As a pastor, Noriega is a mandatory reporter who has an obligation to report such allegations to police or the Department of Child Safety. Failure to report child molestation is a felony.

The charges against Mora are the first criminal charges related to the church.

John Calvo, a former congregant who runs the Golden Dawn Tabernacle Research Website, which aims to hold the church accountable for abuses of power, said Moras arrest is a long time coming.

Calvo said he is grateful that authorities are taking the allegations seriously even though it has taken a long time to get to this point. Philip originally reported his allegations to police in fall of 2023, and the newspaper investigation was published in November.

I really hope that this is a wake-up call to the church, Golden Dawn Tabernacle, and that they stop sweeping allegations under the rug so that victims can come forward and have a voice, Calvo said. The victims in that church have been silenced since day one, and if they speak up, they get ostracized by Pastor Isaac Noriega.

Theres a culture of cover-ups and gaslighting the victims, Calvo said. I hope that other victims feel empowered to come forward and speak about their experiences so that justice will be served for all the wrongdoing that has taken place in the church.

Tucson police spokesperson Frank Magos said that more victims have come forward since Lee Enterprises and the Arizona Daily Stars last report on the church in early April. He encourages more victims to come forward.

Anyone with information can call Tucson polices child sexual assault unit at 520-837-7529.
Bubs Burgers opened its new restaurant in Mid-City on June 8 with a short menu of smash burgers and a remarkable story of a business that has thrived, not just in spite of the pandemic, but perhaps because of it.

At the center of that story is the legacy of a friend whose influence continues to guide the people behind Bubs Burgers, even though hes gone.

The new restaurant is a small, counter-service operation housed in the side building attached to Banks Street Bar. Open to all ages, it has its own dining room with a handful of booths, and it has a service window opening to the bar.

The menu (see below) has a handful of burger options, including a veggie burger, grilled cheese, fries, cheese fries, Brussels sprouts and soft drinks (harder stuff is served at Banks Street Bar, naturally).
During a House Education Committee discusion about a bill to revise membership of the state's Dual Enrollment task Force this week, Republican lawmakers passed an amendment introduced by Rep. Beryl Amedee, R-Gray, to replace one of the task force's member organizations, The Education Trust, with another group. Amedee argued the former's mission goes against federal efforts to remove DEI programs from U.S. schools.
A Palestinian aid worker who has laboured for more than 20 years to try and help people in the conflict-stricken West Bank will be speaking in Barnstaple on Sunday, April 27 as part of a whirlwind tour of the UK.

Mohammad Tamimi, founder and director of Hebron International Resources Network (HIRN), will be at the Castle Centre from 5pm for a free event hosted by the North Devon Palestinian Solidarity Campaign.

Mohammad has worked for more than 23 years with Palestinian communities dealing with Israeli occupation and ongoing strife between Israeli settlers and those already living there.

The pictures in this article are from the Masafer Yatta area of the West Bank featured in the film No Other Land, sent to North Devon PSC by friends who live there and showing the demolition of existing homes to make way for Israeli settlers.

Dave Clinch, secretary of the NDPSC, said: HIRN provides support to many of the most threatened and marginalised Palestinian communities in the West Bank, bringing the compassion, practical help and encouragement needed to remain resilient on their land in the face of the occupations many many decades of aggression, intimidation, and dispossession. It is also supporting people in Gaza through partners there.

Mohammad has worked tirelessly against the greatest odds inflicted by the settlers, the IDF (Israeli Defence Force) and the Israeli government. Destroyed schools have been rebuilt overnight, hospital treatment accessed for severely injured children, tuition fees provided for disabled and or promising students, computers acquired for schools, and many other projects.

He has made it possible for so many to achieve goals that would otherwise be impossible but which we just take for granted in Britain, he is a real human rights hero.

The Castle Centre talk about HIRNs work is free to attend and doors open at 4.30pm. refreshments will be available and people can make donations to HIRN if they wish.
Kris and Toni Kaminski feel comforted and safe in Mollys Room, a space inside a grief center that opened last month in Lancaster.

The Kaminskis infused the room with love for their daughter Molly, a college student who died in a car crash just a couple of miles away in March 2022.

Textured leaf decor once placed above Mollys bed is now fastened to a wall in Mollys Room. A bookshelf Molly ordered two days before she died is centered against one wall, displaying several plants and a book about flowers. Another wall is adorned with framed photos of the sky, pictures friends and family members have sent to the Kaminskis and meant to symbolize how they look up at the sky differently since Molly died.

Molly would be so happy that a place like this exists, said Gwen Mysiak, a family friend, co-founder of the grief center and longtime executive director of P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative.

The facility, called Western New York Compassion Connection: A Center for Grieving Children & Families, represents an expansion for P.U.N.T., a Buffalo-based nonprofit organization which stands for Perseverance, Understanding, Need and Teamwork. Helped by a $500,000 startup grant from New York State, the grief center  one of about 200 nationwide  provides a place where children, teens and adults navigating loss can connect through free services: peer-support groups as well as therapeutic and social activities. Here, total strangers can build deep bonds with one another, connected by loss, by the realization that they are not alone, and by the desire to support each other.

The center, a 6,400-square-foot former day care facility, has rooms for different age groups. That includes Little Lanterns (ages 5-7), Pathfinders (ages 8-12), Navigators (ages 13-18) and rooms for young adults and parents. The center is built on the peer-to-peer model, aiming to connect people who have experienced similar loss, but can refer clients in need of mental health support to area organizations.

In this space, the legacy of loved ones lives on while those using the services find hope, healing and understanding together. A parent meeting room is dedicated to Mysiaks late husband, Tom, who died unexpectedly in September 2022. In the Little Lanterns room, a kitchenette play area is called Carmellas Kitchen after Carmella Rossi, a 3-year-old who loved to cook but died in October 2020 of cancer. In the same room, a camping play area is named after Cooper McGrath, a 2-year-old who died in May 2021 from brain cancer. Cooper and his father, Jonathan McGrath, enjoyed camping together, especially during the isolation of the Covid-19 pandemic.

We wanted to make this camp something where other kids can play out their grief and just have him be a part of it, too, because legacy is an important thing, as you can see around here, said McGrath, co-founder of the grief center.

And, of course, there is Mollys Room.

A very lonely feeling

Molly Kaminski, 19, was bubbly, friendly and happy. She lived her life with passion, which she poured into her friends and school.

She was a student at the University at Buffalo, studying psychology and hoping to pursue a masters degree after her undergraduate years.

Late on March 2, 2022, Molly and one of her best friends, 19-year-old Makenzie Mycek, were killed when the car they were passengers in struck a tree.

There was no lead-up. There was no warning. There was just, for us, one night she left and did not come home, Kris Kaminski said. We were woken up by the police at 3 oclock in the morning, telling us that she had died.

Devastated, Kris and Toni Kaminski struggled to do anything for a while and didnt know what to do next. When she gained the courage to seek support, Toni Kaminski cold-called therapists to find an opening, which wasnt easy. Her counselor was a good fit, but that didnt give her the connection with other people who knew what she was going through. Kris Kaminski, who only felt purpose in connecting with people who could relate, realized there was nowhere for him to go.

Thats a very lonely feeling, Kris Kaminski said.

Mysiak, whose daughter was best friends with Molly and Makenzie, remembers waking up the morning after the crash and thinking about Kris and Toni. She worried about them finding the peer support they needed.

As it was, P.U.N.T. since 2013 had met the needs of grieving parents and siblings who had lost a loved one to pediatric cancer. Over the years, Mysiak was often asked if P.U.N.T. would expand the boundaries of its bereavement programming for any origin of loss and not just pediatric cancer. The data showed the need, Mysiak said, as one in 11 children in Erie County will lose a parent or sibling by age 18.

What Kris and Toni Kaminski were going through was the latest proof that a grief center was needed in Western New York.

Why arent we stepping out? Mysiak thought. Weve been doing this for 10 years. It just became clear that it was going to be up to our organization to figure it out.

P.U.N.T. got to work, holding trainings and organizing a child loss symposium in May 2023. Kris and Toni Kaminski attended the symposium and met peers, including a couple who had lost their son.

As time progressed, the Kaminskis helped to make the grief center a reality. Kris Kaminski said it gave them something to commit to and provided us with some purpose. Toni Kaminski attended every major funding meeting for the grief center, sharing her story and providing a face for why there was a need for expanded bereavement services.

Its a big part of why we got going with so much funding and why were here today, Mysiak said.

It does give me a purpose

On March 2  three years since Molly died  Kris, Toni and their son were at the Lancaster grief center, creating a room that Molly would love. A group of Mollys best friends surprised the family at the center.

As they worked together, Toni looked at one of the walls and said to her husband, This wall needs something.

Kris decided to go home to get the box that had been sitting, unopened, in their garage for almost three years: the bookshelf that Molly had ordered the Monday before she died.

The group assembled the bookshelf that day, finding the perfect spot in Mollys Room.

The Kaminskis remain involved with the grief center, where Toni Kaminski volunteers.

'None of us can do it alone': PUNT Pediatric Cancer Collaborative plans grief center P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative announced Monday that it has expanded its mission to welcome all of those faced with such grief in Western New York as part of its expanding bereavement program, now closer to the goal of opening a grief center modeled after the most caring and effective ones in the United States.

At the centers introductory night March 14, many of those who attended one group had lost their spouses and spoke about solo parenting. One couple in the group, however, had lost their son, so Mysiak instead had the bereaved parents volunteering that night speak to that family in another room.

Mysiak saw the powerful moment when the mother met Toni Kaminski and looked into her eyes.

Her first words were, Can I hug you?  Toni Kaminski recalled.

Toni Kaminski also is involved in a morning coffee meetup for bereaved moms at the center. They had their first meeting April 10, when seven moms talked over coffee for an hour.

There, inside Mollys Room, she recalled sitting next to another mom she had just met. They cried together. Relationships now, Toni Kaminski said, are zero to 60, where they often discuss the hardest things they have ever been through and build from there.

I think that this place, it does give me a purpose, Toni Kaminski said. I hope to continue to be involved here and share Mollys story.

Program offerings at WNY Compassion Connection can be found at wnycompassionconnection.org. The center, at 3966 Walden Ave., will launch its speaker series with a talk from 7 to 8 p.m. Thursday from Donna Schuurman, senior director of advocacy and education at the Dougy Center. Register at give.classy.org/speaker-series1.
PORTER - Millions of visitors are expected to return to the Indiana Dunes this year at a time when both the Indiana Dunes National Park and Indiana Dunes State Park face cutbacks and funding challenges.

The Indiana Dunes National Park ranks as one of Indiana's top tourist attractions with 3 million visitors a year.

Tourism brought $236.2 million in visitor spending and had an additional economic impact of $135 million in Porter County in 2023, the most recent year for which data was available, according to a study Indiana Dunes Tourism commissioned. It generates an estimated $25.6 million in taxes a year.

"Tourism is evolving. It is an exciting time to be in this industry," Indiana Dunes Tourism President and CEO Christine Livingston said during the State of the Indiana Dunes address at the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center in Porter Thursday. "We're not just heads and beds and big, splashy events. We're also in the business of placemaking now."

Indiana Dunes Tourism, Porter County's tourism agency, is pursuing a more sustainable and holistic approach to tourism, Livingston said.

"We need to look at how it impacts the people who are already here and keep our residents happy," she said. "Frankly, I don't think tourism has historically done a good job at that. I'm very committed to that."

Indiana Dunes Tourism has been trying to draw visitors beyond the beaches into the Duneland communities, encouraging them to patronize restaurants, coffee shops and other local businesses. It has apps like the Coffee and Sweets Trail that point visitors to local establishments.

"Toward the end of getting people to move people from the beaches to our communities in a meaningful way, we've got apps that motivate people," Livingston said. "We're trying to get people to shake off the sand south of the dunes. We're trying to move visitors into our communities to get them to appreciate what's here. It's also something locals really love."

The tourism agency is working with local communities to put together two promotional videos, one focused on tourism and others focused on economic development. For instance, it is now developing a tourism video for Porter County.

"We are the marketing arm for a lot of our partners," Livingston said.

Indiana Dunes Tourism has been making several upgrades to the Indiana Dunes Visitors Center, which draws 230,000 visitors a year. It added the Indigenous Cultural Trail, turtle sculptures and a massive new Indiana Dunes sign shaped like a sand dune.

Plans call for turning the current exhibit room into a larger gift shop featuring local businesses and artisans. The hope also is to bring the National Park Service gift shop operator Eastern National to sell essentials like binoculars.

Such upgrades are important because it draws 6,000 people a weekend, Livingston said. Lines can stretch out the door for events like the upcoming Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.

"Anytime we have a local here they say that they had no idea we were so popular," she said. "We have an amazing destination in our backyard."

The tourism agency is also looking to draw more visitors from local communities in Northwest Indiana, including with a newly published adventure guide that highlights lesser-known places to visit like Shirley Heinze Nature Preserves.

"You might think you know everything there is to do here but you do not," Livingston said. "It's amazing what people who live here don't know is right here."

The Indiana Dunes State Park has several projects planned, including burning 130 acres in the Dunes Nature Preserve that hadn't been burned since 2018, repainting the Nature Center and adding a new gift shop to its Nature Center, Property Manager Doug Lang said. The gift shop should open in three weeks, Lang said.

"It's something that's been needed to generate revenue for the state for some time," he said. "We get 115,000 visitors a year. The number one question is, 'Where do I get my Three Dunes Challenge shirt? Where do I buy that?'"

The State Park is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. It plans to celebrate with a birthday party this summer, unveil an interpretative sign highlighting its founders and launch a 100-year challenge of visiting historical sites.

It also hopes to use grant funding to add a mobility track chair and two playgrounds. It pland to pursue collaborations and partnerships to try to maintain services.

"One of our goals this year is to educate the public so we can promote responsible recreation  trash management, trash control management, water safety," Lang said. "It's no secret our National and State Parks are going to look a little different this year. We at the State Park and National Park have a duty to manage, protect, interpret and conserve our natural and cultural resources. We see millions of visitors and they're still going to come. We need to do that safely and responsibly. We can't shut our gates, nor do we want to close off these great places to the public."

The Indiana Dunes National Park has an annual budget of $15 million and up to 180 employees during the peak summer months. It historically has always been busiest during June, July and August, but is seeing more visitors year-round, Superintendent Jason Taylor said.

It's planning to pursue a Back to the Beach strategy this year to engage visitors.

"Most of our visitation happens at the beach," Taylor said. "We've been doing a lot of brainstorming and planning about how we show up at the beach more often, from a visitor protection standpoint, from an education standpoint to a resource protection standpoint. Each department has been asking, 'How do we add to this Back to the Beach strategy?' For instance, every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, we expect to have roving interpreters on the beach to deliver educational opportunities to the public. So that's going to be different. On beach hazard days, we plan to have portions of our entire workforce roving the beach not keeping people out of the water but keeping them informed, trying to make sure people know it's not safe to be in the water. You should see us on the beach more often this summer."
John Dillinger's infamous escape from the Old Lake County Jail in downtown Crown Point remains one of the best-known jailbreak stories in American history, with Dillinger allegedly whittling a piece of wood into the shape of a pistol, coating it in shoe polish and using it to trick guards to get into a jail cell. Thousands of visitors a year used to come to the Old Lake County Courthouse, where the Dillinger Museum in the basement told the story of the Great Depression-era bank robber, who was accused of robbing 24 banks and who the media sensationalized as a Robin Hood-type figure at a time when bankers could not be any less popular. He was imprisoned at the jail after being charged with gunning down Patrolman William Patrick O'Malley during a robbery of the First National Bank in downtown East Chicago. Thousands of visitors a year used to come to the Old Lake County Courthouse, where the Dillinger Museum in the basement told the story of the Great Depression-era bank robber, who was accused of robbing 24 banks and who the media sensationalized as a Robin Hood-type figure at a time when bankers could not be any less popular. He was imprisoned at the jail after being charged with gunning down Patrolman William Patrick O'Malley during a robbery of the First National Bank in downtown East Chicago.

The museum displayed memorabilia like Dillinger's bloodied pants, a submachine gun and a photo of his lifeless face after he was gunned down outside the Biograph Theater in Chicago. But, like Dillinger himself, the museum came to a sudden, shocking end in 2017, closing overnight.

Now one of the largest antique stores in Crown Point, a city so known for its antique stores that buses full of visitors come to shop at them, plans to launch a new Dillinger Museum. Crown Antique Mall, 545 E 110th Ave., in Crown Point, is now displaying a collection of Dillinger memorabilia it plans to grow over time into a small Dillinger Museum as a marketing tool to bring in visitors.

The collection includes Dillinger's shirt and shoes and replicas of his Tommy gun, death mask and wooden gun. It also has photos, bobbleheads, shot glasses and other paraphernalia.

More than 30 items are now on display.

"It's artifacts from John Dillinger, family members and Crown Point," owner Mark Kratkoczki said. "We definitely want to share the history. It's important. He's a pretty important figure in local history. I'm in the business of selling and preserving history."

Kratkoczki runs the Crown Antique Mall, which consists of two side-by-side buildings spanning 26,000 square feet just a half mile from Exit 249 on Interstate 65. More than 160 vendors sell their wares there.

He is a collector himself, who acquired the items that had been passed down to Shirly Vanatta, the granddaughter of Everett Dillinger, John Dillinger's uncle. The memorabilia had been documented during a 2017 auction and has been verified by a living relative, Kratkoczki said.

It's being displayed in the lounge along with a jail cell for people to pose for pictures in while "locked up."

The display includes Dillinger's baby shoes and clothes, a brick from the Old Lake County Jail and a crew member badge from when the movie "Public Enemies" was filmed in Crown Point.

"I've always had a passion for collection and surrounding myself with history," Kratkoczki said. "It never ends. You're always on the hunt. You're always looking to find big treasures."

It includes a bullet Dillinger fired from a Thompson submachine gun he stole during his escape from the Old Lake County Jail.

"He picked it up to replace the wooden gun he used in the escape," Kratkoczki said. "I've been working with a family member to help me authenticate the stuff. It was hidden in storage for years."

It's now on display in glass cases and is not for sale. Kratkoczki is looking to grow his collection, scouring auction sites.

"I'm looking to continuously grow it as items are found," he said. "Dillinger is a historical figure with local ties. It was a different time. He was revered almost like a folk hero. There's a whole fascination with outlaws, I guess. It's something that happened here in Crown Point."

Kratkoczki has run the Crown Antique Mall for the last six years. It was originally known as the Old Town Square Antique Mall when it was still located in downtown Crown Point, before moving closer to Interstate 65 to make way for a redevelopment project on the Old Lake County Courthouse Square.

He helped bring back Sheriff Lillian Holley's car that Dillinger stole for a homecoming event outside the Old Lake County Sheriff's House and Jail that hundreds of people turned out for.

"It's been 100 years and he's still as popular as ever," Kratkoczki said. "Anything related to him seems to be popular."

He's looking to bring back Holley's car for an upcoming car cruise on July 5. He often uses events to promote the Crown Antique Mall such as by having the wrestler Colt Cabana on April 26 and the wrestler Hacksaw Jim Duggan later this year.

"We try to bring in people to see the place for the first time," Kratkoczki said. "The Dillinger display couldn't be a better fit. It's absolutely the perfect marriage. People who are interested in the history are also going to (be) interested in the historical items we sell here. We've got a lot of different memorabilia whether from banks or high schools, varsity letter jacket and artwork, you name it. We have a lot of Crown Point history."

He plans to never sell the collection, which he will keep for public display.

"It's a very important history," Kratkoczki said. "When people leave, they take their own stories with them. We want to pass them on to generations to come."
A University at Buffalo graduate from India whose student visa was revoked earlier this month by the U.S. State Department filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday in Buffalo seeking to return to his post-graduate training program.

ICE revokes 4 UB student visas, 9 from recent graduates, some for traffic offenses The 13 F-1 visa holders had their records in the Exchange Visitor Information System "unexpectedly terminated" in the last week by ICE's Student and Exchange Visitor Program, the university said in a news release.

But even before his lawyers filed the lawsuit, Kiran Siddapura Manjunatha left the country out of fear he would be deported.

Kiran has experienced incredible stress and was so afraid of detention and being sent to a foreign country, like El Salvador, he immediately left the United States, according to the lawsuit.

President Trump said his administration would deport foreign students involved in pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses, but the government appears to have widened its crackdown. A traffic ticket in 2021 apparently is at the root of Manjunathas visa problem.

Across the nation, at least 50 students have sued over concern for their legal status in this country, according to an Inside Higher Ed review of court records. A lawsuit in Atlanta late Tuesday added 116 foreign students to the 17 who initially sued the government.

Manjunatha appears to be the first in Western New York to sue over a revoked visa.

More than 210 colleges and universities have identified 1,300-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department, including 13 at UB. Last week, UB confirmed 13 F-1 visa holders had their records in the Exchange Visitor Information System unexpectedly terminated by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

While the university did not have information about every case, in the cases for which it has details, the basis for revocation appears to be traffic offenses, a university official told The Buffalo News.

That appears to be the case with Manjunatha, who was charged with driving with an invalid license in Indiana when he first arrived in the United States.

Manjunatha graduated in 2023 with a masters degree in financial mathematics, and he completed a one-year, post-degree practical training program. Until earlier this month, he was in a two-year extended training program open to science, technology, engineering and mathematics graduates.

As part of that post-degree program, he held a prestigious position working at Citibank, according to his lawsuit.

But then came the April 2 notice that the Department of State revoked his student visa. Two days later, he received a notice from the university that ICE terminated his record in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System for failing to maintain status.

The SEVIS termination effectively stripped Kiran of his ability to work, and he was told he could no longer remain in the United States, according to the lawsuit.

His lawsuit ties his visa revocation to the Indiana traffic ticket four years ago.

When he arrived to the U.S. in 2021, Manjunatha had a drivers license issued in India, which he mistakenly thought would be valid in Indiana.

He rented a car from a rental company, whose employee told Manjunatha he could drive with the foreign license, according to the lawsuit.

Police in Indiana charged him with a misdemeanor for driving without a valid license. He performed 16 hours of community service and the criminal case was dismissed one year later.

Kiran has no other criminal activity and always maintained status in the United States, according to his lawsuit.

He was most recently inspected and admitted to the United States in February.

Kiran had maintained status and his offense for driving without a license was not for a crime of violence, according to the lawsuit. Kiran remains highly valued and supported by the University of Buffalo and Citibank.

But unless he regains his visa and lawful status to be in the United States, he has lost his ability to finish his post-degree program.

He also worries that the false, derogatory information about him in the governments system for maintaining information on nonimmigrant students and exchange visitors could render him permanently inadmissible to the United States.

Any false label that he is a national security or foreign policy threat will impact travel to another country, according to his lawsuit.

Kiran was in full compliance with the terms of his F-1 status, and he had not engaged in any conduct that could result in the termination of SEVIS or his status, according to his lawsuit.

The lawsuits asks the court to set aside the unlawful actions of defendants, reinstate Kirans status, restore his good name, and take all measures afforded by law to place Kiran in the legal status he was in on April 1.

Jesse M. Bless, a Massachusetts attorney representing Manjunatha, could not be reached for comment.

The lawsuit named as defendants Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
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"It has been a really wonderful way of life," says Bernice Monteleone who, with her husband, has raised minks for fur in the Illinois town of Elgin for more than 60 years. "We've raised six kids here and a bunch of grandkids."

But a bill in the Illinois legislature has mink farmers as nervous as, well, the minks about to become pelts. The law is meant to address the well documented role of minks in zoonotic pandemics like Covid and the ongoing bird flu (H5N1).

Mink farms were hotbeds of the Covid virus, infecting humans in two-way transfers. More recently they spread the continually mutating bird flu through airborne transmission. In fact, minks are so adept at catching and mutating viruses they are a favorite "model" for animal researchers.

Mink acuity also outlasts their lives. In Denmark during the Covid pandemic, slaughtered infected minks rose up from their graves after death like zombies due to the gasses their corpses emitted--leading to a call to cremate the mammals.

"Don't Tell the Public Where We Are"

In addition to infection-prevention regulations like distancing minks, Illinois' House Bill 2627 would require mink farmers to disclose their locations for the first time. Locations were hidden for a reason, say farmers--to prevent animal activists breaking in and releasing caged minks into the wild.

Fur is an easy target for animal welfare advocates; as opposed to meat which might be considered necessary, fur is clearly gratuitous and capricious and the killing methods shocking. To preserve the look of pelts, gassing and head-to-tail electrocution--from mouth and anus-- are used as killing methods.

Mink farmers consider the Illinois bill a blatant effort to ban the mink industry, while bill supporters say it is public health legislation.

Fur Popularity Sinking

Fur has had rough years in sales and image. As household budgets locked down during Covid, fur and other luxury goods appeared dispensable. But even before Covid, fur was a dying industry, pun intended.

Like fur farming, at least until the Denmark experience, "wild" fur from seal slaughter and trapping often flies under the radar (though deaths can be gorier). Not one pelt from the Nunavut Canadian seal kill a few years sold at a Toronto auction according to the Northern News Services. Combined with other unsold pelts, that made 11,000 seals, mostly babies, killed for no reason! Sorry about that.

Mink, beaver and coyote pelts were selling for one dollar in Pompey, New York according to published reports. Raccoon and opossum pelts sold for 25 cents. Luckily trappers often say they pursue their trade for the "fun" not the sparse money.

Where Would Someone Wear a Mink?

In addition to cruelty to animals and pandemic risks there is another question when it comes to fur and especially mink: Where would a woman wear a fur garment anyway today? To work, the gym or on a date where they'd feel like overdressed idiots (and turn off the politically correct)? To a dance or night club where they'd have to guard the garment all night? To visit their family in Molene once a year? To the opera?

The sad fact is the only place someone can wear a fur is shopping for a new fur which is why the second-hand stores are full of them.

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Late last century I figured out that I needed to work on a job dedicated to making the world a better place. I know not everyone can find such a job if they try. I appreciate all the other useful jobs that millions of people do -- if not the useless and destructive ones that millions of other people do. But I do want people to use some of their spare time to help out with the cratering world. In every moment of the past quarter century there have been people diligently creating catastrophes -- wars, ecosystemic destruction, mass incarceration, poverty, etc. -- and yet there have been moments in which people in my corner of the world have increasingly said things to me along the lines of "Wow it seems like maybe soon I'll need to ask you about that activism stuff."

A newly expanded book called The Evil of Banality by Elizabeth Minnich looks at how people come to do horrific things like genocides, but also how they allow horrible things to gradually develop. I'm thinking of the centuries-long but ever accelerating shifting of U.S. governmental power to Congress's executive, or the growth of the military industrial complex, or the normalization of animosity toward immigrants. Minnich's analysis is complex, but puts a lot of weight on the failure to think. Mass murder may often require a failure to think about the lives of the victims. Members of militaries are conditioned to kill without thinking, and often think about it with great suffering only afterwards. Sitting back and allowing a president to claim the power to imprison anyone may similarly require a failure to think about the lives of the first victims of that policy, as well as a failure to realize that one of the future lives may be your own -- as well as a failure to know one's potential and strategy for changing things. Supporting a genocide in Gaza with the argument that you are somehow thereby precisely opposing a genocide 80 years earlier in Europe may require a failure to think seriously about either genocide, or at least one of them.

Minnich looks into all variety of propaganda techniques, distractions, base motivations, careerism, obedience as a form of avoiding responsibility, obsession with a goal, etc., but puts a focus on denial, on refusal or failure to focus the mind. I think of Trump and gang speaking about the suffering of war victims in Ukraine while speaking and acting as if Palestinians were more a disease than a population. I think of authors cited in Minnich's book, like Samantha Power, pontificating about past genocides, while dutifully working for a government actively arming and supporting one. I think of all the editors and producers in U.S. media who 10 or 20 years ago scorned and mocked warnings of creeping fascism. I think of global broiling deniers. Minnich points to the strategy employed by Gandhi of nonviolently suffering abuse until those committing it were forced to think about it.

To the extent that this notion of failure to think seems helpful -- and I believe it is a great extent -- I would suggest two categories of it. The first is the one Minnich examines. She describes a prison guard who has abused prisoners who later regrets or objects to such abuse as "having returned to reflective thought." But said guard has returned to reflective thought within a culture that contains widespread understanding that what he has done is awful, understanding of which said guard had been aware all the time but had chosen to avoid or overrule. If, on the other hand, the same prison guard were to begin working for the abolition of incarceration entirely, or an organized popular refusal to consume fossil fuels, or the elimination of the livestock industry, or the dismantling of all nuclear weapons, he would probably be described more as engaging in creative thought than returning to reflective thought. If he were to propose the restoration of plantation slavery or theocracy, he would probably not be described only as failing to think about the suffering that would be created but also as proposing something so old that it's new. If -- to find a middle-ground that blurs the distinction I have in mind -- he were to suggest that his state in the United States at long last eliminate the 13th Amendment-like exception for slavery as criminal punishment that his state's constitution establishes or fails to ban, he would be either traveling to or returning to an idea that some are aware of and others not.

I'd like to live in a world in which someone might be said to have returned to reflective thinking when he or she ceased harming non-human creatures as well as human ones. Most of us don't live in that world right now. And yet it still requires a certain failure to think if you are to fail to work for the creation of that world. If engaging in slavery like others around you centuries ago was a failure to think, then phoning the cops today on someone suspiciously holding a peace sign whom you've just passed in your gas-guzzling SUV, cranking up the AC, and stuffing a hamburger in your mouth may also involve a failure to think.

Minnich writes about the attentistes in France under Nazi occupation, the people who wanted to wait and see what the Nazis might do before organizing any resistance to it. I imagine Senator Chuck Schumer dreaming of a team's captain jersey for the Attentistes, the new mascot for Columbia University. But those waiting and seeing whether we can survive nuclear weapons a bit longer or whether the collapsing environment collapses to a point of uninhabitability or whether shifting ever more government spending to war creates wars we don't survive -- all of these are also attentistes.

Minnich counsels pre-developing a culture of independence and resistance, conditioning oneself with good habits, but being prepared to think clearly in times of crisis. Whether we call them attentistes or unthinkers or the apathetic, the vast majority of people who do nothing in the way of civic participation beyond voting -- the people who say they are "not political" or "not an activist" -- always have the chance to get involved, by small or large steps. There is a first day for everything. And for anyone thinking, there is no time of non-crisis.

To people considering whether the moment has finally come to do something, I recommend a new book by Ralph Nader called Civic Self-Respect. Nader is in agreement with Minnich that how we behave -- as individuals and as organizations -- leading up to a crisis impacts how we behave in that crisis. Nader throws another term into the mix: idiots:

"Historians say 495 to 529 BCE, the time of the statesman Pericles, was the golden age of ancient Athenian democracy. The men (women were not allowed to vote, though they found ways to be influential) made an important distinction between Athenians who behaved as 'public citizens,' caring for and engaging in the city-state of some forty-five thousand voters, and those who cared only for themselves. The latter were called 'idiots,' or ignorant people, because they didn't improve society. Today, the word 'idiot' has taken on a different meaning, so we do not have a popular contemporary noun to describe the great majority of Americans who stay within their private lives and barely venture into the civic square except maybe to cast a vote."

Apart from one chapter on where rich people should put their money, this is not a book about what elites should do, but about what everyone should do. Nader provides numerous stellar examples of people who have become active in various areas, including the fields of working, shopping, tax paying, voting, parenting, and donating. He examines an array of barriers that overlap with Minnich's, including distraction, but also including learned helplessness. People don't just fail to try to change things because it hasn't occurred to them, but also because they've been taught that they are powerless, that things cannot be changed. So, they have to learn not only to care but also to be aware of what is possible and how to increase its likelihood.

We need education and organizing. We need radical vision and gentle nudging. We need to both support and challenge an opposition to a fascistic government that supports both human needs and endless war, that challenges elected officials but only if they are of a particular political party. All of this requires bravery and caring and thinking.
The White House COVID page promotes the lab leak theory. White House

A federal website that used to feature information on vaccines, testing and treatment for COVID-19 has been transformed into a page supporting the theory that the pandemic originated with a lab leak.

The covid.gov website shows a photo of President Donald Trump walking between the words lab and leak under a White House heading. It mentions that Wuhan, China, where the coronavirus first began spreading, is home to a research lab with a history of conducting virus research with inadequate biosafety levels.

The web page also accuses Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, of pushing a preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated in nature.

The origins of COVID have never been proven. Scientists are unsure whether the virus jumped from an animal, as many other viruses have, or came from a laboratory accident. A U.S. intelligence analysis released in 2023 said there is insufficient evidence to prove either theory.

Its common for government websites to get a makeover from one administration to the next, but the latest overhaul has been more extensive than usual. Public health data was scrubbed, particularly any information involving transgender people. The Pentagon also removed photos that were believed to celebrate diversity, equity and inclusion.

The covid.gov site used to include information on how to order free COVID tests and described how to stay up to date with your COVID-19 vaccine, saying its the best way you can protect you and your loved ones. It advised people how to get treatment right away if they get sick and added links to learn more information about long COVID.

About 325 Americans have died from COVID per week on average over the past four weeks, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. As of April 5, less than a quarter of adults in the U.S. have gotten an updated COVID vaccine. Millions worldwide have had long COVID, with dozens of widely varying symptoms, including fatigue and brain fog.

___

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institutes Science and Educational Media Group and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
A 13-year-old on an electric bike who was hit and dragged under a pickup truck Friday morning on US 99E in Albany is in stable condition, police said.

The crash happened around 7:10 a.m. at 29th Avenue and Pacific Boulevard, Albany Police Department said in a statement.

The child had failed to obey a traffic control device, or traffic light, police said, and was hit by the driver of a pickup truck. The juvenile was taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center. The childs full-face helmet likely saved their life, police said.

Police did not identify the child. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated, police said.

The minimum age to ride an e-bike in Oregon is 16. A bill in the Oregon Legislature would reduce the minimum to 12 for e-bikes that can provide motor assistance up to 20 mph.

 Fedor Zarkhin is a breaking news and enterprise reporter. Do you have a story? Reach him by phone or text at 971-373-2905 or by email at fzarkhin@oregonian.com.

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Here's where the leaders of Canada's main political parties are today.

All times are local.

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Liberal Leader Mark Carney

Carney will spend the morning in the Greater Toronto Area and will make an announcement in Whitby, Ont., at 9:30 a.m. He is scheduled to meet with a family in Newcastle, Ont., at 11:45 a.m. He will later travel to Peterborough, Ont., where he will hold a rally with local candidates at 1:30 p.m.

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Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre

Poilievre will be in British Columbia and is expected to hold a press conference in Richmond at 9:30 a.m.

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NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh

Singh will also be in B.C., and is expected to begin the day with an announcement in Burnaby at 8:30 a.m. and is expected to attend a parade later in the morning. Singh is set to travel to Victoria later in the day and will hold a campaign event at 6:30 p.m.

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Bloc Quebecois Leader Yves-Francois Blanchet

Blanchet is expected in Magog, Que., where he is expected to hold a press conference on his party's response to climate change at 11:30 a.m.

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Green Party leaders Jonathan Pedneault and Elizabeth May

Pedneault and May are expected in Nanaimo, B.C. on Saturday where they will hold a rally and birthday celebration for Pedneault's 35th birthday. The rally begins at 4 p.m., and the leaders are expected to be joined by local candidates.

---

This report by The Canadian Press was first published April 19, 2025.

The Canadian Press
A federal judge on Wednesday handed out years-long prison sentences to two Texas men who disguised themselves as DEA agents and robbed an Oregon marijuana grow at gunpoint in 2022.

Nevin Cuevas Morales, 23, was sentenced to more than 11 years in prison, and Michael Rey Acuna, 23, was sentenced to more than 5 years, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a statement.

Another defendant in the case, Juan Carlos Conchas, 23, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to charges of conspiring to interfere with commerce by robbery and conspiring to possess marijuana with the intent to distribute, prosecutors said.

The three men  along with Jose Manuel Lopez, 22, Alan Jaasiel Lopez, 19, and 22-year-old Jordan Allen Gammage, who have all pleaded guilty in the case  drove up to Medford in February 2022 disguised as federal drug-enforcement agents, prosecutors said.

Besides hats and sweatshirts with DEA and police printed on them, the men also had body armor, handguns and rifles, which they posed with in their hotel rooms days before the robbery.

On the afternoon of March 12, 2022, the group arrived at a home in rural Josephine County where marijuana was being grown  and burst inside with guns brandished, prosecutors said.

Inside the house, they held four adults and two children at gunpoint, bound them with duct tape and zip ties and assaulted one of them, prosecutors alleged. One of the women they restrained was seven months pregnant, and the children were ages 3 and 7, according to prosecutors.

 Tatum Todd is a breaking news reporter who covers public safety, crime and community news. Reach them at ttodd@oregonian.com or 503-221-4313.
Deep tread from an FBI vehicle used in the March 6, 2025, raid of ex-soldier Ruoyo Duan's Hillsboro home remain visible more than a month later. Federal agents raided the home around 6 a.m. and knocked out the home's front window to serve a search warrant as Duan, his wife and young daughter were inside, according to court records and neighbors. Neighbor Darlene Peterson said she heard, "rumble, rumble, rumble," saw red lights, heard a "big kaboom" and saw a big flash. "I was absolutely petrified," she said. Maxine Bernstein | Staff
Skylar Lee-Stiles, now 27, was sentenced to four years in state prison during a hearing Wed., April 9, 2025. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

A driver who crashed into a pedestrian crossing Southeast 82nd Avenue and then kept going was sentenced to four years in state prison last week.

Witnesses saw a white hatchback traveling at a very high rate of speed through a construction zone when it smashed into Edward Hanson as he crossed the busy thoroughfare near Southeast Flavel Street about 2 a.m. Feb. 5, 2024, court records say.

Hanson, a Rex Putnam High School graduate who was less than 24 hours shy of his 45th birthday, died of his injuries, leaving behind three children.

Hours later, a 911 caller reported hearing Skylar Lee-Stiles loudly talking on the phone as he removed the license plates from his crumpled Subaru Impreza in front of a Southeast 92nd Avenue apartment, according to a probable cause affidavit.

Lee-Stiles believed he had hit a person and that he may have killed him, the 911 caller said, according to the affidavit.

The now 27-year-old was arrested after being contacted by police and turning himself in. On April 9, he pleaded guilty to criminally negligent homicide, hit-and-run and reckless endangerment under the terms of a plea deal

Multnomah County Circuit Judge Christopher Marshall sentenced him to four years in state prison.

Edward Hanson. Family photo

At the hearing, several of Hansons children said his sudden death had caused untold pain and spiraling troubles in their own lives.

His sister, Honey Stone, told the judge Hanson was one of the most kind-hearted, empathetic persons youll never have the pleasure of meeting.

He was the only one that stood up for me growing up, she recalled.

Lee-Stiles declined to address the family and is now in custody at the state prison intake center.

Zane Sparling covers breaking news and courts for The Oregonian/OregonLive. Reach him at 503-319-7083, zsparling@oregonian.com or @pdxzane.

Our journalism needs your support. Please become a subscriber today at OregonLive.com/subscribe.
Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, is escorted into court for a hearing in the case. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren) AP

A judge says a former roommate of four University of Idaho students who were killed in 2022 can testify about seeing an intruder with bushy eyebrows around the time of the crime.

Defense attorneys for Bryan Kohberger had asked 4th District Judge Steven Hippler during a hearing earlier this month to bar any evidence referencing bushy eyebrows, because they say the roommates description is unreliable and irrelevant to the case.

But in a ruling released Friday, Hippler said the testimony can be used during Kohbergers trial on four murder charges set to begin later this year.

Kohberger, 30, is charged with murder in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental home near campus in Moscow, Idaho.

Kohberger, then a criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the deaths. Investigators said they matched his DNA to genetic material recovered from a knife sheath found at the crime scene.

When asked to enter a plea to the charges, Kohberger stood silent, prompting the judge to enter a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The roommate told police she saw someone wearing black clothing and a ski mask inside the home she shared with four roommates sometime before 4:19 a.m. on the day of the killings, according to court documents.

She was intoxicated at the time, and told police she couldnt remember any other facial characteristics but that the intruders bushy eyebrows stood out in her memory.

Kohbergers defense attorneys noted that the roommate also constantly questioned what she saw, that her attention was influenced by sleepiness and alcohol, and that her opportunity to see the intruder was seconds at most.

Allowing her to testify about bushy eyebrows when she couldnt provide enough details to allow a police artist to do a composite sketch would be unfair and prejudicial, causing a jury to believe Kohberger is guilty because of his eyebrows, his attorneys said.

But the judge disagreed.

There is a large gulf between a finding that a witness is not competent to testify about what they personally witnessed, and simply allowing impeachment by vigorous cross-examination, Hippler wrote. This is a matter for cross-examination.

Hippler also said that if Kohberger is convicted, his defense team cant use his medical diagnoses to explain his courtroom demeanor unless Kohberger takes the stand during the penalty phase.

Prosecutors had asked the judge to bar any testimony during the penalty phase about Kohbergers autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, as well as the developmental coordination disorder that Kohberger may have experienced in childhood.

The prosecution team said they didnt want mental conditions to be used to try to limit Kohbergers culpability if he is convicted.

But the defense team said they didnt plan on doing that at all, and that instead his autism spectrum diagnosis would be used to explain some of Kohbergers courtroom demeanor, like his tendency to hold eye contact for longer than expected, his ability to sit very still and his stoicism.

The judge said he hadnt noticed any strange behavior.

Not once has the Court perceived Defendant to be acting in an odd or incongruent manner or otherwise demonstrating signs at counsel table that would warrant any explanation to the jury. His demeanor has been entirely appropriate, Hippler wrote.

Introducing evidence about the autism spectrum diagnosis would likely confuse the jury and take up an undue amount of time in an already long trial, he said.

Still, the judge said, Kohbergers demeanor might become relevant if he takes the stand to testify. Kohbergers OCD diagnosis also might be relevant at some point, Hippler said, particularly since the defense team has said it causes Kohberger to experience sleep difficulties that led to a habit of nighttime driving and running to decompress.

If those scenarios arise during the trial, the judge said the attorneys should bring up the matter to him  outside the presence of the jury  so he can make a decision on whether the evidence should be introduced at that time.

-- Rebecca Boone, The Associated Press
The retrial for the 1994 assault took place in the Multnomah County Circuit Courthouse. Zane Sparling/The Oregonian

A Multnomah County jury on Friday unanimously convicted James Donald Jackson of raping an 18-year-old young woman at gunpoint on a Portland playground more than 30 years ago.

Jackson was first convicted in 1995 on charges related to the assault, which took place in 1994 when he was 30 years old. But jurors did not return unanimous verdicts on all counts. So, in the wake of the U.S. Supreme Courts 2020 ruling requiring unanimous verdicts, the case had to be retried.

The victim in the case, Amy Countryman, gave permission to have her name included in news coverage.

We are extremely thankful that the jury was clearly able to see the terror experienced by Ms. Countryman in 1994, Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Melissa Marrero, who supervised the prosecutors on the case, said in a statement. She has shown extraordinary strength, both when she was an 18-year-old girl and now more than 30 years later, in holding her rapist accountable.

In a statement, Countryman called going through the week-long retrial one of the hardest things I have ever done.

Now in her 40s, Countryman praised the prosecutors and also thanked Victim Advocate Suzanne Rapagnani for their incredible perseverance, hard work and support as they fought to keep rapist James Donald Jackson behind bars. Portland is a safer place thanks to them.

The jury concurred Jackson was guilty of first degree rape and second degree sex abuse.

Countrymen moved to Portland from Indiana in 1994 because she had friends in Oregons largest city and was hoping to find a job and start her future, prosecutors said. She met the defendant at Pioneer Courthouse Square and thought he seemed nice, prosecutors recounted. Then he took her to a playground, threatened her with a gun and raped her, they said.

After his original convictions for these crimes, Jackson was sentenced as a dangerous offender and could have been held in prison more than 50 years, potentially until 2048, they said.

If he had not been found guilty upon retrial, he could have been released from prison later this year, prosecutors said.

Deputy District Attorneys Jazmyn Ortiz and Chris Rothfus prosecuted the case.

Rothfus called the verdict a testament to the victims strength and courage to come back to court more than 30 years later and tell the jury this crime did happen, to hold James Donald Jackson accountable and to ensure that he cannot hurt anyone else.

Marrero, the supervising prosecutor, praised the work of Portland police detectives in 1994 for helping make the case in 1995 and again this year. Im also thankful for the willingness of Ms. Countryman and all the witnesses to come back to ensure that justice is done and a dangerous individual is kept off the streets, she said.

Jackson will be sentenced after a hearing scheduled for late July.

 Betsy Hammond oversees coverage of state politics and government as well as education, Portland City Hall, Multnomah County and homelessness. Reach her at betsyhammond@oregonian.com
Thousands of gray whales now migrating north from Baja California are in such poor shape and so few calves were born this winter that researchers and others worry they may be witnessing another die-off.

Researchers believe their poor condition is due to changing feeding conditions in the Arctic, which could mean the whales were already in poor shape last fall when they began their 12,000-mile migration to breeding and calving grounds off the coast of Mexico.

Now, early reports of their northern return are uniformly dismal.

At least 80 gray whales died this year in Bajas protected lagoons, where wintering females give birth to their calves and single adults look to mate. Volunteers on the California coast counting whales migrating north are reporting emaciated whales with record-low numbers of calves.

The gray whale by the numbers. NOAA Fisheries

Alisa Schulman-Janiger leads an effort just north of Los Angeles to count Pacific gray whales migrating north past Oregon toward summer feeding grounds in the Bering Sea.

This year, more than any other since Schulman-Janiger began heading the census in 1979, shes not liking what she sees.

The numbers so far are the lowest ever and the whales we are seeing are extremely emaciated, she told the Lincoln Chronicle. They have bulging ribs with shoulder blades and vertebrae visible even from shore. Its really just horrific.

Mothers with calves are nearly non-existent, she said, indicating the mothers are likely too unhealthy to birth and feed healthy babies.

During last falls southbound migration, Schulman-Janiger said, not a single calf was spotted, a phenomenon never before reported in the 40-year history of the groups census.

Fewer numbers of whales showed up this winter in the relatively remote lagoons along the coast of Mexico, likely meaning they had to travel farther south than normal to find food and the warmer water they prefer. That longer commute, in turn, translates directly to burning far more calories than during past migrations.

The distribution this year is far more extreme than what we have seen in the past, said Jorge Urban, head of the Marine Mammal Research Program at the University of Baja California Sur. There is a lot more work to do for us to really understand whats going on, but everything we are seeing right now is very sad.

Whale census takers in California report seeing much fewer female gray whales with calves this year as they head north to feeding grounds in the Arctic. NOAA Fisheries

A warming Arctic

Josh Stewart, an ecologist in Oregon State Universitys Marine Mammal Institute in Newport, traces the dangers facing gray whales directly to a massive Arctic warming trend that left many malnourished.

All the signs are indicating there has been a pretty intensive change in the Arctic, he said. Its one of the most rapidly warming places on the planet and what were seeing now are the impacts of climate change in real time.

Josh Stewart, an ecologist in Oregon State Universitys Marine Mammal Institute in Newport, traces the dangers facing gray whales directly to a massive Arctic warming trend that left many malnourished. Courtesy of Oregon State Universitys Marine Mammal Institute

That warming is a concern because its causing sea ice to melt faster and farther than usual.

In prior years, longer-lasting sea ice gives a type of algae on the underside of the ice time to fully mature. Once fully developed, the algae die and sink to the sea floor where, under normal conditions, their numbers are sufficient to essentially fertilize the sea floor. That triggers the growth of the shrimp-like creatures that gray whales prefer.

Now, less dying algae is making its way to the sea floor, Stewart said. Instead, its getting mixed into the water column, causing a huge shift in the amount of available biomass.

Stewart and other researchers are quick to note that this is not the first time gray whales have experienced significant declines in numbers and overall health.

They were hunted nearly to extinction in the mid-1800s and again in the early 1900s for their blubber, which was used mainly as fuel to burn oil lamps.

In 2016, NOAA researchers estimated the gray whale population at 27,000, declining to below 15,000 in 2023 before rebounding to a rough estimate of 19,000 in 2024.

Graphic shows the migration route of gray whales along the West Coast, overall whale numbers and calves born the last 30 years. NOAA Fisheries

NOAA declared an official Pacific gray whale unusual mortality event in December 2018. It wasnt lifted until November 2023, with peak whale strandings occurring over a two-year period starting in December 2018. During that span there were a total of 690 gray whale strandings, with 347 in the United States, 316 in Mexico and 27 in Canada.

An investigating team concluded that localized ecosystem changes, including both access to and quality of prey, caused widespread malnutrition that led directly to struggling whales washing up on West Coast beaches.

The number of whales counted so far this season illustrate just how far the population appears to have dropped compared to just one year ago, according to Schulman-Janigers census work in California.

In 2024, for instance, volunteers counted 224 gray whales traveling south and then 544 traveling north with 21 calves. During the southbound count this season, only 124 whales were tallied. The northbound count, with six weeks left, has plummeted to 419 whales, with only three calves observed.

This years count makes last years look like a lot, she said. And last year was terrible.

Survival strategies

Stewart and others acknowledge the obvious effects that a reduced food supply has on gray whales. But they also point out that grays, as opposed to krill-reliant blue whales, have an ability to change their foraging techniques. They can also feed on as many as 90 other species, including surface-dwelling krill, eel grass in the mid-waters and bottom-skittering crab larvae.

Gray whales have lived through huge periods of climate change in the past, from ice ages to more recent warming events, Stewart said. They are very adaptable. I dont think theyll go extinct, but their numbers have certainly dropped significantly in the past and they might again as the current number of gray whales will have to compete for diminishing food resources.

Knowing that thousands of gray whales are once again headed north past Oregon, researchers will be watching closely to see how many strandings will be reported in coming months.

There have already been strandings reported in Baja and elsewhere in California, said Jim Rice, who coordinates the Newport-based Oregon Marine Mammal Stranding Network. We know there are likely to be strandings here, as well, but hopefully not in record numbers.

In an average year between three and six gray whales end up stranded on Oregons beaches, he said.

A dozen or more would be quite a large number, Rice added. Really, anything over 10 would be exceptional.

The Oregon Marine Mammal Networks Jim Rice begins a necropsy on a blue whale at Gold Beach, Oregon, in 2015. Jared Hughey via NOAA Fisheries

Off the California coast, where Schulman-Janiger and her team are charting the migration, grays are just making their way past them heading north. During one recent session, Schulman-Janiger initially thought she was viewing a mother and calf. Upon closer inspection it turned out that the calf was a rib so unprotected by blubber that it was bulging far away from the whales body.

We have six more weeks to finish the northbound count and I hope to see a lot of whales, she said. I hope to see a lot of calves, but that doesnt seem likely. There havent been many strandings here yet, but I dont see how the whales I saw today are ever going to survive to Alaska.

Dana Tims is an Oregon freelance writer who contributes regularly to Lincoln Chronicle and can be reached at DanaTims24@gmail.com

More: Get to know 10 of Oregons most famous gray whales (photos and graphics)
A view of downtown Bend, Oregon, down Northwest Minnesota Ave. on April 17, 2025. The Deschutes County sheriff has been placed on a Brady list over false statements concerning his educational background. Jonathan Bach I The Oregonian/OregonLive

Deschutes County Sheriff Kent Vander Kamp provided false testimony and records related to his educational background, an investigation by District Attorney Steve Gunnels found.

That investigation, released Friday, led Gunnels this month to place the sheriff on his offices Brady list of law enforcement officers who lack credibility as witnesses in criminal proceedings.

Specifically, Vander Kamp claimed in sworn court testimony and in records submitted to Oregon State Police that he earned degrees from University of Southern California and University of Arizona. For years, no one questioned that.

Records Deschutes County Sheriff Kent Vander Kamp submitted show discrepancies in his educational record. Some records show falsely he graduated from University of Southern California and University of Arizona. An investigation showed he earned degrees from University of Phoenix and Trident University. Screenshots

But then Vander Kamp disclosed in his Voters Pamphlet statement last year that he had degrees from the University of Phoenix and Trident University. The election material did not include anything about USC or University of Arizona.

Knowingly submitting false information to the Voters Pamphlet is against Oregon law. After a contentious campaign, Vander Kamp won.

Records Deschutes County Sheriff Kent van der Kamp submitted show discrepancies in his educational record. Some records show falsely he graduated from University of Southern California and University of Arizona. An investigation showed he earned degrees from University of Phoenix and Trident University. Screenshot

The DAs investigation started in November, after a member of his office spotted the discrepancies, and it covered the sheriffs actions between 2013 and 2018, when he was deputy sheriff. USC and University of Arizona both told the DAs office they had no records of Vander Kamp ever attending classes there.

Sheriff Vander Kamp, while serving as an expert witness in DUII prosecutions, testified falsely about his education background, including while under oath, the DAs investigation said. This misrepresentation directly compromised his reliability as an expert in multiple cases.

It added: This investigation was as thorough as we can think about making it. After reviewing all available evidence, it became indisputably clear that when he testified as an expert witness, then Deputy Sheriff Vander Kamp provided false testimony and submitted contradictory and false records related to his education and background.

In a statement earlier this week, Vander Kamp said he disputed the DAs decision to place him on the Brady list.

I ask for your patience and understanding as we navigate this moment, and I will provide further updates as decisions are made in the days ahead, he wrote Monday.

He told The Bulletin newspaper Friday that a graphic designer he paid through a website made the errors on his resume. And I did make the mistake of reading that in court, he told the Bend newspaper.

 Beth Slovic is an editor on the public safety and breaking news team. Reach her at 503-221-8551 or bslovic@oregonian.com.

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People hold signs and chant slogans during a protest against the Trump administration, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) Lyne Sladkey / Associated Press

Opponents of President Donald Trumps administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nations democratic ideals.

The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the start of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner reading Impeach & Remove on the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

More than 1,000 people turned out for a rally and march that began and ended at Portland's Pioneer Courthouse Square. Handmade signs abounded. Jonathan Bach | The Oregonian

In Portland, more than 1,000 people gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square then marched up up Southwest Broadway Avenue, temporarily closing multiple streets to car traffic, before returning to the square. The mood was festive at times, with tuba and trumpet playing, under bright blue skies.

Most of the protesters carried signs, many of them denouncing the deportation of Kilmer Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian citizen living in Maryland whom the Trump administration deported in violation of a judges order.

Hands off our due process! read one marchers sign.

Outside Boston, Thomas Bassford was among those who joined demonstrators at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord. The shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775, heralded the start of the nations war for independence from Britain.

The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believed Americans today are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.

This is a very perilous time in America for liberty, Bassford said, as he attended the event with his partner, daughter and two grandsons. I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.

Elsewhere, protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government. Others organized more community-service events, such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters.

The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide protests against the Trump administration drew thousands to the streets across the country.

Organizers say theyre protesting what they call Trumps civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shutter entire agencies.

Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for no kings and resistance to tyranny.

Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those protesting in Concord, Massachusetts, said he was concerned Trump was creating a police state in America as he held up a sign saying, Trump fascist regime must go now!

Hes defying the courts. Hes kidnapping students. Hes eviscerating the checks and balances, Bryant said. This is fascism.

Protesters form a "Impeach & Remove" human banner on Ocean Beach during a protest against U.S. President Donald Trump in San Francisco. (Stephen Lam/San Francisco Chronicle via AP) Stephen Lam / San Francisco Chronicle

In Washington, Bob Fasick said he came out to the rally by the White House out of concern about threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, as well as Social Security and other federal safety-net programs.

The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.

I cannot sit still knowing that if I dont do anything and everybody doesnt do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live, said the 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia.

And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants as they marched from the New York Public Library north towards Central Park past Trump Tower.

No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state, they chanted to the steady beat of drums, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Marshall Green, who was among the protesters, said he was most concerned that Trump has invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the country is at war with Venezuelan gangs linked to the South American nations government.

Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that, said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.

Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she worried about Trumps executive overreach, citing clashes with the federal courts to Harvard University and other elite colleges.

Were supposed to have three equal branches of government and to have the executive branch become so strong, she said. I mean, its just unbelievable.

__

Associated Press reporters Claire Rush in Oregon, Joseph Frederick in New York, Rodrique Ngowi in Massachusetts and Nathan Ellgren in Washington contributed to this story. The Oregonian/OregonLive, including reporter Tatum Todd and photojournalist Allison Barr, also contributed from Portland.
Maxine Dexter conducts a TV interview at the Democratic Party of Oregon on Election Day. Late Friday, Dexter pledged to travel to El Salvador to demand the release of a man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration from the U.S., Kilmar Abrego Garcia. Sean Meagher/The Oregonian

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter of Portlands 3rd Congressional District is taking a page from Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen.

Late Friday, Dexter pledged to travel to El Salvador to demand the release of a man mistakenly deported by the Trump administration named Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Dexter has not said when she would travel to El Salvador.

A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison, she said in a statement. This is not just one familys nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia?

Kilmar Abrego Garcias story begins in his native El Salvador, but its become increasingly unclear where it will end.

The U.S. Supreme Court has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S. from a notorious Salvadoran prison, rejecting the White Houses claim that it couldnt retrieve Abrego Garcia after mistakenly deporting him.

Trump administration officials have pushed back against bringing him back, arguing it is up to El Salvador. The president of El Salvador said he lacked the power to return Abrego Garcia, saying it would be preposterous to smuggle a terrorist into the United States.

Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the U.S. for roughly 14 years, during which he worked construction, got married and was raising three children with disabilities, according to court records.

Trump administration officials said he was deported based on a 2019 accusation from Maryland police he was an MS-13 gang member. Abrego Garcia denied the allegation and was never charged with a crime, his attorneys said.

A U.S. immigration judge subsequently shielded Abrego Garcia from deportation to El Salvador because he likely faced persecution there by local gangs. The Trump administration deported him there last month anyway, later describing the mistake as an administrative error but insisting he was in MS-13.

 The Associated Press contributed to this report
The city of Portland broke ground on its $2 billion Bull Run water filtration plant near Gresham in 2024. City of Portland

Portland officials say they are no longer seeking an assist from state lawmakers to help stamp out opposition that has paused the citys controversial $2 billion water filtration project.

Senate Bill 936 would have allowed the Bull Run water treatment facility east of Gresham to circumvent Oregons typical land-use appeals process as legal challenges persist.
Sophie, a cat that wandered onto the White House grounds, is held by Francesca Chambers, White House Correspondent for USA Today, at the White House, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) AP

A gray cat wearing a collar and a name tag that said Sophie wandered into the White House grounds.

Sophie, a cat, wanders through the White House North Lawn at the White House, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) AP

After the cat meandered through the North Lawn on Friday morning, news reporters scooped it up and took it into the press area for safekeeping.

Alec Augustine carries his cat Sophie outside the White House after she was found wandering the White House grounds, Friday, April 18, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Tom Brenner) AP

The felines owner was called and went to pick it up.
Tipis are available to rent in the TeePee Village at Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Youve probably slept in a tent before. Maybe youve stayed in a yurt or glamped, as they say, in something a little fancier. But have you ever slept in a tipi?

Kah-Nee-Ta Hot Springs Resort, the recently reopened vacation destination run by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, gives visitors that option, with 20 tipis available to book throughout the year.

The tipis are found in the central Oregon resorts TeePee Village, nestled between the pool deck and the campground. Each tipi sleeps up to 10 people, and inside includes the simplest of amenities: a picnic table and a propane fire pit (gas costs $20 extra) on a circular concrete slab.

Kah-Nee-Ta warns guests that the tipis do not come with beds, but it seems that some of them are outfitted with at least one makeshift bed, made from folded-down deck chairs and padding from the poolside cabanas. That would mean guests only need to bring their own bedding, though it would be wise to pack an air mattress or camping pad, just in case you end up on the ground.

The tipis are not as closed off to the elements as a modern camping tent. Wind can blow through openings in the door, and bugs can certainly get in. Theres enough ventilation to use the propane fire pits, Kah-Nee-Ta says, which can be used for both heat and light. Its also worth noting that the canvas structures are not exactly soundproof, meaning you will hear and be heard by your neighbors.

Inside a tipi in the TeePee Village. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The pools are busy on a spring break weekend. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Jim Souers, CEO of Kah-Nee-Ta, said while some people were asking for more amenities inside the tipis, the resort was committed to keeping the experience more rustic.

We want them to be reflective of true tipis in that theyre set up on the ground and theres no insulation or no nothing, Souers said. Its similar to a tent, its just the tent that the Native Americans used.

Thats not to say that tipis are traditional to the Warm Springs tribe.

The Warm Springs, Wasco and Paiute people, who make up the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs, traditionally used smaller tule mat lodgings and wickups (recreations are on display at the Museum at Warm Springs); tipis were typically used by Indigenous peoples on the interior plains of North America, who made the portable lodgings out of buffalo hides.

Souers, who is a member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe of South Dakota, but who grew up on the Warm Springs reservation, said the tipi had since become emblematic of Native American culture, spreading out from the Great Plains to the rest of the country over the last century, especially as canvas replaced buffalo skin as the primary material.

He said the resorts tipis were created by Nomadics Tipi Makers based in Tumalo, which has been working with Kah-Nee-Ta for decades. The non-Native company is recognized throughout the country for its traditional craftsmanship and cultural responsibility, and creates about 750 tipis each year.

A tipi is designed with the famed She Who Watches petroglyph. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

Kah-Nee-Ta's tipis are made by Oregon company Nomadics Tipi Makers. Jamie Hale/The Oregonian

The 20 tipis made for Kah-Nee-Ta include 15 recreations of the tipis that were on site before the resort shut down in 2018. The other five tipis are new designs, made in collaboration with local artists, Souers said. They include broader motifs of buffalo and antelope, as well as some Warm Springs-specific imagery, like one tipi emblazoned with famed petroglyph She Who Watches.

Since Kah-Nee-Ta reopened last July, the tipis have been a hit. Souers said the TeePee Village tended to fill up in the summer, but also had plenty of visitors throughout the year, including a few in the cold of winter. The tipis have their own bathhouse, with hot showers and restrooms, as well as a camp cooking area and some special programming, like storytelling and smores making.

The TeePee Village is also steps from the pool deck and the Chinook Room restaurant, a casual place to eat breakfast, lunch or dinner. Each tipi comes with one resort pass, which gets you access to the pools and the rest of the activities at Kah-Nee-Ta (groups staying in the tipis need to purchase additional resort passes beyond the one).

And while there are other ways to stay at Kah-Nee-Ta, including the hotel and RV campground, the tipis offer an experience that for most guests will be a little bit different than theyre used to.

I think its an authentic experience, Souers said. And thats an experience I think they will cherish.

Tipis cost $119 to $179 per night; book one online at kahneeta.com.

-- Jamie Hale covers travel and the outdoors and co-hosts the Peak Northwest podcast. Reach him at 503-294-4077, jhale@oregonian.com or @HaleJamesB.

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Lyn Cramer, an endowed professor at OU Musical Theater, is retiring after over 30 years teaching higher education.

Cramer taught at Oklahoma City University for 11 years until Paul Christman, professor of musical theater performance at OU, urged the late Gregory Kunesh to hire Cramer in 2001. Within 48 hours, Cramer was hired to teach, choreograph and direct for OU Musical Theater.

The promise of being able to truly work with students who were studying acting, singing and dancing under one umbrella was my draw to this school, Cramer said.

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During her career, she has been awarded the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters Artistic Achievement Award and was named the 2005 Irene and Julian J. Rothbaum Presidential Professor of Excellence in the Arts by the Weitzenhoffer Family College of Fine Arts.

Gage Martinez, a musical theater senior, said Cramer is known to be strict but full of love. He said she isnt the type to sugarcoat things, and she encourages students to work hard.

She's able to take care of us while, at the same time, reminding us that we got a job to do, and we're the only people that are gonna be able to fulfill that job, Martinez said. She pushes us in the right direction. I'm gonna miss that."

Originally, Cramer went to school for vocal performance, but later switched to acting. With a hunger to direct, Cramer received her masters in directing at The University of Texas-Pan American.

The excitement of creating something was way more interesting to me, so much more of a draw, of a challenge, than just coming here to teach a bunch of advanced dancers, Cramer said.

During Cramers career, she taught many students who later went to Broadway or other exceptional places. Brian Marcum, a student of Cramers at Oklahoma City University, said he is thankful for the dance training he was given.

I've learned so much from her, Marcum said. But those first four years of being in her sphere were so formative in my dance training. I learned pretty much how to be a dancer from her.

After working in New York for a while, Marcum returned to Oklahoma to step into Cramers previous position at Oklahoma City University. Marcum said he had the opportunity to work alongside her as a choreographer during her time as a director. Currently, he is the artistic director of Music Theater Wichita where he works with Cramers students yearly.

She's one of four people that I attribute my career to, to be quite honest. Marcum said

During Cramer's time at Oklahoma City University, she made a slew of dance instructional videos with Cathy Roe that can still be found on YouTube.

Cramers experience in theater and dance extends beyond education. During a sabbatical, Cramer was urged by Fine Arts Dean Mary Margaret Holt to write a performance book. Cramer published her first book, Creating Musical Theatre: Conversations with Broadway Directors and Choreographers, in 2013.

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I jumped into a pool of which I knew nothing. You talk about not knowing what I'm doing, but I put together a proposal, (and) I sent it to a million publishing companies, Cramer said.

The book was centered around 12 professional artists like Kelli OHara, Rob Ashford, Andy Blankenbuehler and Susan Stroman and the conversations she had with them.

I thought about updating that one (book), and then I just thought, No, I'm never going to replicate the experience. It was one of the most wonderful experiences of my life, Cramer said.

In recent years, Cramer has directed and choreographed many shows for OU Musical Theater, such as Crazy For You, Pippin, Cabaret and her most recent show, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.

Cramer directed The Wild Party, which premiered in 2023 and was the first OU School of Musical Theater production with an all-female team of directors. In an interview, Cramer said the all-female team has been an asset to the production atmosphere.

While reflecting over the past 36 years, Cramer said her biggest takeaway is realizing she isnt in control of everything.

You must let things go so the quality of your life is not impaired, because if you try to control things, you just make yourself miserable, Cramer said.

Although Cramer is retiring from OU, she is not retiring from theater. Cramer has intentions to prioritize acting since transitioning out of choreographing due to chronic pain.

The day-to-day has worn me out absolutely, and the creative component is still what I love, Cramer said. And I can do that elsewhere, and these kids can still come work for me somewhere.

Martinez and Marcum share similar opinions that Cramer's retirement is well deserved for the work she has done but are sad OU students will no longer learn from her.

She's a trailblazer here in (OU Musical Theater), Martinez said. She's laid a lot of fantastic foundation and built up something wonderful. It's huge shoes to fill for whoever we end up hiring.

This story was edited by Madisson Cameron. Andrew Paredes and Avery Avery copy edited this story.
The first hearing of a newly formed committee to investigate financial operations within the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services was held Thursday at the state Capitol, following the announcement of four investigations into the department's finances.

On Tuesday, Oklahoma House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) announced the formation of a special committee with a 13-member panel. House Majority Leader Mark Lawson (R-Sapulpa) was appointed chair.

Allie Friesen, commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, said during her opening remarks that she also has several questions and concerns, but is hopeful that by the end of the meeting everyone will have a clear alignment about the situation of the department.

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Our goal is certainly to be a reliable and accountable, transparent organization, and unfortunately thats not what this organization inherited, Friesen said.

Friesen was appointed to her position in January 2024. She previously served as the director of clinical programs in behavioral health at INTEGRIS for about four years and has been licensed as a mental health professional since 2014.

We want to shine a light on the things that have not been seen before, and that is not to have some kind of witch hunt or to get anybody in trouble. That is to fix the system so that we can be accountable and that this legislative body feels comfortable and confident in appropriating dollars, knowing that theyre going where theyre supposed to go, Friesen said.

Friesen said she first became aware of the budget deficiencies about six weeks before the meeting when the department's interim Chief Financial Officer Skip Leonard discovered there were some concerns with the departments Title XIX funding, also known as Medicaid coverage. Friesen said the department may be short on the amount of funds needed for the 2025 fiscal year.

While the number at that point was not solid, Friesen said the department found a deficiency close to $63.7 million. The number was brought down to $43 million after Leonard worked alongside state Chief Financial Officer Aaron Morris.

On Monday, the department requested an additional $6.2 million from the Legislature for the 2025 fiscal year. According to a press release, the amount would ensure a balanced budget and the continued delivery of essential behavioral health services across the state.

Lawson asked Friesen why the department requested much less than the $43 million gap. Friesen said Leonard would be better fit to answer the question.

Rep. Carl Newton (R-Cherokee) asked how the department knew the source of that deficiency. Friesen said the concern was that the true amount the department required was not originally requested.

At a high level, it seems as if, historically, the required Title XIX funds that the department of mental health needed in order to pay the (Oklahoma) Health Care Authority for our portion of the cost was not adequately requested, Friesen said.

Rep. Anthony Moore (R-Clinton) asked when Friesen first spoke to someone from the Legislature about concerns. Friesen said the departments concerns first began on Dec. 6.

I want to be very clear that concerns are not specifically related only to Title XIX funding gaps, Friesen said. There are concerns across multiple areas, many of which we were able to resolve with amending internal processes, standing up checks and balances and accountability processes.

Moore asked if the department had ever questioned the Title XIX funding gaps in the departments budget meetings, which Friesen said they had not.

Ongoing investigations

On Monday, a day before the committee was announced, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced he would appoint an independent, third-party investigator to examine the department after multiple disturbing discoveries were found within the finances and practices of the previous leadership.

According to the release, the investigator will focus on all aspects of the department and ensure employment records, finances and contract practices comply with the law. The investigator will also regularly update the governors office and receive access to everything except protected health information housed at the department, according to the release.

Friesen wrote in the release that the department is open and willing to collaborate with the investigator.

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The Governor has been a steadfast partner as weve worked to implement accountability and transparency at this Department, Friesen wrote. My top priority is the well-being of the Oklahomans in our care, and I want to get everything out in the open so we can focus back in on our core mission. The department welcomes this investigation and will fully cooperate.

Friesen wrote in a letter to Stitt on March 5 that her staff discovered at least five years of structural budget deficiencies. Friesen wrote that the previous administration was paying old debts with current funding, leaving the department unable to fulfill financial obligations under the state Medicaid program.

In the letter, Friesen requested the state auditor conduct an investigation, which Stitt granted. In a letter to State Auditor Cindy Byrd, Stitt instructed Byrd to look into the departments financial management over the past five years and wrote he shared the same concerns as Friesen.

Funding for service providers

Last month, at least 23 service providers across the state received notices of potential funding cuts, as first reported by KFOR.

In Norman, The Virtue Center, a nonprofit that provides outpatient treatment for substance use disorders and mental health challenges, also received notice of funding cuts from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services.

The center has been open for more than 50 years and averages 1,500 clients per year, according to Teresa Collado, The Virtue Center's executive director and CEO.

Collado said the center received an email about two weeks ago from the accounting department of the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health stating that, due to financial restructuring, the department would not be paying value-based payments made since Oct. 1.

According to Collado, value-based payments help fill the gap for the costs of Medicaid and other reimbursements, which she said helped the center provide for the services.

There had been no discussions about any kind of budget issues,  Collado said. Our budgets had already been set, we have the people in place to provide these services. Without this funding, we will have to lay off people and serve fewer people.

Collado said the center typically receives about $800,000 from the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health. With the budget cuts, the center received $400,000.

Collado said the department may also be looking into cutting contracts. Three behavioral health clinics in Tulsa received a notice terminating their state contracts, as first reported by KOSU on April 11.

During the hearing, Friesen said the letters were not related to the budget gaps, but the department was working closely with the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services to resolve the issue. When asked if the department would stabilize the contracts and services that have ended or been laid off, Friesen said the largest impact was on the value-based payments.

I want to be clear how much I value not only our (Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinics) that are providing an enormous amount of coverage for hundreds of thousands of Oklahomans, but also our small community providers, and it has been a strategy from the very beginning of our time here to ensure that we develop a model in which both can exist, Friesen said.

The center currently has 18 full-time and four part-time staff members. In the case of layoffs, Collado said the center would have to lay off four employees.

We will be okay until July 1, and then, with fewer staff members, were going to not be able to see as many people, Collado said. I would say it would be about a 25% to 30% reduction in the number of clients that we see.

Collado said she has spoken with state legislators to put pressure on the department to honor the value-based payments. Collado said the city of Norman has been in contact with her and is also working with state lawmakers to help the center, which she said was supportive of the work the center does for the community.

Our mission is to help people, and we work with a lot of vulnerable people, Collado said. With recovery, the people that are not well, they become well, and they become great citizens of our community.  Its really a great investment for the state to invest in people suffering from addiction and other mental health issues, but without it, were going to experience more costs in the community.

This story was edited by Ismael Lele, Anusha Fathepure and Thomas Pablo. Ryan Little and Mary Ann Livingood copy edited this story.
The Oklahoma attorney generals office accepted a petition on Thursday to investigate Ward 1 Councilmember Austin Ball following his recent legal challenges.

Last week, Norman residents filed the petition after gathering over 300 signatures, according to Stephen Ellis, an OU philosophy professor. Ellis said residents tried gathering 1% of total votes in the 2025 mayoral election after speaking with attorneys.

Ellis said he filed the petition for Attorney General Gentner Drummond to investigate Ball, which could result in a writ of ouster. According to Oklahoma law, a writ of ouster is an order to remove an elected official from public office.

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We can't directly say this is not a petition for a writ of ouster, only a court judgment can determine that  there's no challenging the gist or any of that shit. If there are enough people who ask that, the AG is supposed to investigate, Ellis said. He may not investigate hard, but during the investigation, Ball can be suspended.

Ellis said Balls recent legal challenges, including pleading no contest to charges of embezzlement and making false statements in campaign expenditure reports, is reason for community members to seek his removal.

Council could decide that he had violated his oath of office, which makes sense, given that one of the things he pled no contest to was a public official filing false resort. So that's pretty clearly not doing his job, Ellis said.

April 8 Council Meeting

On April 8, Norman City Council adjourned its regular meeting before considering any action items due to failing to make quorum.

At 6:30 p.m., Mayor Larry Heikkila told the audience council would wait 15 minutes for Ball to attend the meeting. Heikkila adjourned the meeting at 6:39 p.m.

This is awkward, Heikkila said during the nine-minute period.

Heikkila thanked the audience for attending the meeting and promptly ended the meeting.

Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately  were going to have to adjourn because we do not have a quorum, Heikkila said. Thank you for coming, sorry about the inconvenience, have a good evening.

Ward 7 Councilmember and Mayor-elect Stephen Tyler Holman, Ward 4 Councilmember Helen Grant, Ward 6 Councilmember Joshua Hinkle and Ward 8 Councilmember Scott Dixon were in the nations Capitol as part of an annual Washington D.C. Fly-In with 17 other city representatives to advocate for funding priorities with federal legislators.

This conversation takes on increased importance this year given what is taking place currently in D.C. in regards to already appropriated dollars and jobs, Ward 2 Councilmember Matt Peacock wrote in a text to OU Daily on April 9.

City Attorney Rick Knighton and Ward 5 Councilmember Michael Nash told OU Daily during April 8s meeting they were unsure of Balls whereabouts.

Balls successor, David Gandesbery, was in the audience for the meeting on April 8. Gandesbery wrote in a Facebook post after the meeting that councils canceled meeting was a joke due to Balls absence.

There was 32 City employees in attendance and Life Church in his Ward 1 was presenting a new project, Gandesbery wrote. I encourage anyone from the community to reach out to the Mayor and Council to demand accountability.

Under Gandesberys post, Ball commented later that night that he was preoccupied with a family emergency. In the comment, Ball responded to former Ward 2 candidate and Care-A-Vans co-founder Russell Rice, who suggested residents check the Oklahoma State Courts Network to determine why Ball was absent.

Im the only family (my children) have so maybe the city should plan accordingly when they know that many people will be absent  in case of emergencies. And if I would have known it wouldn't have been an emergency, Ball wrote. But dont worry all, youll have your full communist council in just a few long weeks so in the meantime just enjoy Trump being president like the rest of us and tell your moms I said hello.

The OU Daily reached out to Ball on April 9 for comment. He did not respond.

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Peacock wrote he did not know where Ball was during the meeting and added Ball has not attended multiple recent meetings. Since being charged with embezzlement and false certificate by a public officer, Ball has missed special and regular meetings on Feb. 25, a special meeting on March 18 and the regular meeting on April 8.

I assume he does not plan to fulfill the duties of his term, Peacock wrote. In full transparency, its my opinion that Ball should resign effective immediately, so that the incoming (councilmember-elect) can be seated and give Ward 1 a voice.

Council members elected in February will be sworn in on July 1, the first Tuesday of the month.

Peacock wrote he has never seen council unable to fulfill a quorum due to absence in his three terms, adding council was informed in advance that attendance at the meeting would be important due to half of council being in Washington, D.C.

The April 8 agenda was postponed to a special meeting on Tuesday.

Balls legal trouble

On Jan. 30, Ball was charged with misdemeanor embezzlement and false certificate by a public officer.

The charges stem from an investigation conducted by the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigations into Balls campaign finances after a request was sent from the Norman Police Department. OSBIs investigator Adam York concluded that he believed Ball and his wife Kayla Ball embezzled campaign funds. York also believed Ball filed two false campaign finance reports.

According to a signed affidavit from York, several expenditures were called into question including a payment to Dental Depot for a tooth extraction that was listed as event preparation, payments to Walmart and payments for personal bills.

On Feb. 3, Ball told OU Daily he planned to turn himself in after a warrant was filed for his arrest.

Im gonna handle it in court, Ball said.

The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation released a statement on Feb. 4 confirming Ball turned himself in on Feb. 3.

On Feb. 11, Ball lost his reelection campaign to David Gandesbery, who received 64.78%, or 800, Ball received 23.81%, or 294, of the vote.

In late February, Ball pleaded not guilty to the charges.

In late March, Ball changed his plea to no contest, agreeing to a plea deal. Ball will serve a two-year deferred sentence. If Ball successfully completes the conditions of the deferred sentence, the charges will be dismissed.

According to court documents, conditions include a $50 payment Victim Compensation Assessment fee and a substance abuse evaluation within 30 days.

Ball wrote on Facebook he was trying to help his children and wanted to move forward.

Ive been doing my best to just keep a roof over their heads and make sure they have normalcy in their lives through all this, Ball wrote. While my campaign account was repaid and fixed, trying to survive on my VA disability and city council income has been a challenge and deciding whether to pay for a lawyer or 2 months rent wasnt really a choice at all given my kids have zero other financial support  Ultimately just glad to put this behind us and finish out my term the way we started, by putting Norman first and standing firm on what we believe in.

This story was edited by Ismael Lele, Ana Barboza and Anusha Fathepure.
Despite an increasing student population at OU over the past four years, voter engagement in each presidential election for the university's Student Government Association has steadily decreased.

In the most recent election, former SGA President Carter Strickland ran in the first uncontested election in a decade. On March 25, Strickland was impeached, which then led to his resignation on April 5. Former Vice President Avery Dunlap now serves as president.

When students returned to in-person classes in 2021, the number of votes in the SGA presidential election increased from the previous turnout by over a thousand, reaching a total of 3,297. During the following elections, that number shrank to 3,049 in 2022 and 2,792 in 2023.

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Fewer than a thousand people voted in the 2024 SGA presidential election that elected the Strickland-Dunlap administration.

Strickland and Dunlap collected 846 votes, about half as many that elected the previous Glasscock-Mortazavi administration, and received about 260 fewer than Glasscock-Mortazavis runners-up.

George Ahmadi, director of student government and organization services, said he doesn't necessarily think the decrease in voting is because OU students aren't engaged in SGA, but rather due to student attention being diverted to other campus organizations.

Student government has really created a nurturing environment where (registered student organizations) can thrive, get registered and just have an ecosystem where they can really be successful, Ahmadi said.

Ahmadi said he believes students are finding niches where they can find leadership roles and the university is doing a good job finding spaces for those students.

We have found these lanes where people can go, and somebody who might have been drawn to running for student body president may not necessarily be drawn to it as much now, because they have found these other opportunities, Ahmadi said.

There are currently over 500 registered student organizations at OU. At the March 11 general body meeting, the Undergraduate Student Congress unanimously passed the 2025 funding act for registered student organizations, which allocated a total of $395,076.74 to 286 RSOs.

Jhanvi Patel is a civic engagement fellow for Oklahoma Votes, a nonpartisan student organization focused on civic engagement. Patel said she doesn't think students have to be a part of student politics to be involved on campus. She said its never too late to contribute your voice to community issues.

I don't think that if you're not even at all interested in university politics that you will then never be interested in or not (be) prepared for real politics, Patel said. But, I mean, it's definitely a good starting point.

Ahmadi and Patel agree that engagement in student government reflects general engagement in national politics. According to Patel, it's natural to see people disillusioned with politics or have the feeling that their job is done after a national election.

In contrast to the last SGA presidential election, Ahmadi cited the increase in Undergraduate Student Congress members as evidence that students still find student government important.

If we just base it off of the success of student congress in the recruiting efforts that they've done this year, I think we can say yes, (students) are definitely engaged in student government, Ahmadi said. I would say the numbers in congress this year are pretty exceptional.

While SGA is always trying to improve involvement, Ahmadi said he felt the organization did a great job of advertising and politicizing the elections for congress representatives. Ahmadi said congress leadership did a great job filling in gaps in college representation as soon as possible after the elections.

The Undergraduate Student Congress is made up of 48 representatives elected by their respective academic districts. Before the April 15 congress general body meeting, when new members were sworn in after the early April election, there were 37 representatives in congress and 66 associates  nonvoting members of the body  with seven out of 14 academic districts without representation and two districts with vacancies.

Now, according to a roster Undergraduate Student Congress Secretary Chloe Harris sent in an email to OU Daily on Tuesday, there are 38 representatives, 78 associates, five districts without representation and one district with a vacancy. Some associates were representatives this semester who will not be returning to congress.

Last semester, there were 41 representatives and 58 associates, an increase compared to the 35 representatives and 41 associates in spring 2024.

Hannah Watts, former Associated Student Body president at the University of Mississippi, said her organization has worked to increase civic engagement through campaign funding initiatives.

At the University of Mississippi, there are six executive officers elected by the student body. Watts said that during her first year and the year before, the Associated Student Body president ran uncontested, as well as all of the six officer positions. During her sophomore year, Watts said, the president ran contested by one person and one executive officer position was contested. This past year however, every executive position was contested.

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Greek life, according to Watts, has a massive presence at the University of Mississippi. According to its website, more than 8,700 students are affiliated with greek life, making up about 30% of the 27,124 students enrolled across its seven campuses.

At OU, students in greek life make up about 30% of undergraduates. Undergraduate Student Congress Chair Hope Rhoads wrote in a text to OU Daily she thinks there is a good mix of greek and non-greek affiliated students in congress.

I am in Greek Life (and) so is (Dunlap), Rhoads wrote. I would say about 10-20% of our members are in Greek Life.

A student body heavily involved in greek life, Watts said, has resulted in high greek representation in their Associated Student Body, especially because greek organizations often reimburse students for funds they spend on election campaigning.

In an effort to help balance elections, Watts said her organization implemented a Future Leaders Fund, which reimburses campaign spending for students not involved in greek life.

We are predominantly, at this point, a greek campus. But in this last election cycle, we had the highest number of non-greek students run, Watts said.

The Future Leaders Fund, Watts said, was not picked up during the last election cycle, which some candidates did not realize.

I know that was upsetting for a few people, and that was also kind of my wake up call for when I was elected, Watts said, I was like, well, we need to bring it back.

Watts said the fund can only reimburse campaigns after the fact, which means candidates must have money to spend up front. She said this differs from some greek chapters, which can provide candidates funding before their campaigns.

Watts said students typically dont spend the maximum amount of money allowed for campaigns, and that the various programs to reimburse students don't typically cover all of their spending either.

Apart from its efforts with the Future Leaders Fund, Watts said her Associated Student Body recently capped the budget for executive office campaigns at $750 in an effort to encourage students who may not feel like they can afford to run a campaign. This year, Watts said the Associated Student Bodys department of justice voted to increase the campaign spending limit from $100 to $125 in an effort to increase engagement in senate races, which she said varies heavily depending on the seat.

(This change allows) people to campaign and maybe get their name out there, if that's something that would help them with their race and maybe entice them to run, Watts said.

At OU, the SGA Code Annotated limits funding to $500 for each campaign for SGA president, Campus Activities Council chair and Student Bar Association president and $50 for each candidate for student congress representative.

Ahmadi is hopeful for engagement in the next SGA presidential race. He said there's often a cyclical pattern to voter turnout.

It's important to note that people notice when there's an uncontested race and it kind of comes back the next year. It looks a little bit different, Ahmadi said.

When civic engagement disappears, Patel said people start identifying with unfounded opinions.

Being involved specifically gives you the critical thinking that you need to see fact from rumor, Patel said.

In an address to the Undergraduate Student Congress after becoming president, Dunlap said civic engagement is one of her top priorities among trust, accountability and collaboration.

I want to encourage us all in this time of transition to remember why we're here. We were all elected to serve our student body. I am excited to work and dig into civic engagement, student belonging and student services, Dunlap said. I really want to refocus our attention back to those issues after the past couple weeks.

This story was edited by Anusha Fathepure, Ismael Lele and Ana Barboza. Gretchen Schultz and Sophie Hemker copy edited this story.
A 28-year-old man is wanted for criminal attempted homicide and related offenses after Chambersburg police said he shot another person early Saturday morning.

Officers were sent to the area of East Washington Street and Central Avenue around 2:23 a.m., where they found a male with a gunshot wound in the leg, a police report said.

The condition of the victim is not known at this time, but police said his injuries were non-life-threatening.

Through an investigation, police determined Broderick R. Fields, of Chambersburg, was the shooter.

Police charged Broderick R. Fields, 28, after they said he shot another person around 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Chambersburg Police Department

Fields, who is considered armed and dangerous, is wanted by police as of Saturday.

Fields is also charged with aggravated assault, firearm not to be carried without a license and riot.

Anyone with information about Fields whereabouts is asked to call Chambersburg Police at 717-264-4131 or leave a tip on Crimewatch.
By Dan Nephin, LNP, Lancaster, Pa. (TNS)

Convicted killer Jere Bagenstose walked out of Lancaster County Prison shortly after 6:30 p.m. Thursday and into a bail bondsmans vehicle to be driven to his home after a judges order reinstating his $925,000 bail was processed.

A Lancaster County jury convicted the 70-year-old Pequea Township man last Monday of voluntary manslaughter in the killing of his estranged wife, Maryann Bagenstose, in June 1984. Her body has never been found.
FILE - Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, is escorted into court in 2023 in Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) AP

By Kevin Fixler and Alex Brizee, Idaho Statesman (TNS)

BOISE, Idaho  One of the two roommates who were left physically unharmed during an attack that left four University of Idaho students dead will be allowed to testify at Bryan Kohbergers murder trial that the intruder she saw inside their off-campus home had bushy eyebrows, the presiding judge ruled Friday.
A picture, provided by the Chambersburg Police Department, of a vehicle they said was involved in the March 24 shooting. Credit: Chambersburg Police Department Chambersburg Police Department

Police in Chambersburg arrested a 19-year-old man Friday after they said he was involved in a shooting last month.

Jan Pierre Manuel Rosario-Garcia, of Chambersburg, is charged with attempted homicide and aggravated assault for his involvement in a shooting near West Catherine Street and South Hackberry Drive on March 24, police said.
Pam Tillis and Lorrie Morgan perform the National Anthem at LP Field on Sunday June 9, 2013 in Nashville Tennessee.(Photo by John Davisson/Invision/AP) John Davisson/Invision/AP

Lorrie Morgan fans are sending prayers her way this week after it was announced that she has cancelled all of her concerts for the next two weeks to be with her ailing husband.

Morgans husband of 15 years, Randy White, has been receiving treatment for mouth cancer, according to The Tennessean.

Morgan, who has been touring with Alabama, will be replaced by Pam Tillis, the site said.

Morgans manager, Tony Conway, released a statement that said that White had been readmitted to a hospital in Middle Tennessee.

Morgan, who is a member of the Grand Ole Opry, has had more than 40 songs land on the Billboard Hot Country Charts. Three of those  Five Minutes, What Part of No, and I Didnt Know My Own Strength, made it to number-one on the charts.

White is Morgans sixth husband. Among her previous marriages, country music star Keith Whitley died in 1989. She was also married to country music star Sammy Kershaw from 2001-to-2007.
The Who's Roger Daltrey spins his microphone in front of drummer Zak Starkey at Fenway Park on Friday, Sept. 13, 2019, in Boston. (Photo by Winslow Townson/Invision/AP) Winslow Townson/Invision/AP

Zak Starkey has broken his silence after The Who fired him after 30 years with the band.

Im very proud of my near thirty years with The Who, Starkey told Rolling Stone. Filling the shoes of my Godfather, uncle Keith has been the biggest honor and I remain their biggest fan. Theyve been like family to me.

In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf, the drummer continued. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.

The Who reportedly made the move to cut ties with Starkey because the band was not happy with his performance playing a pair of Teenage Cancer Trust charity shows at Londons Royal Albert Hall, according to Rolling Stone.

After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, Im surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do? he continued. I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra of the Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.

Starkey is the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr.

Rolling Stone noted that The Who are not currently touring, but they have a pair of shows slated for Italy in July. The site said they have not named a replacement for Starkey at the moment.
By KATE PAYNE and HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH, The Associated Press

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Amid the abandoned chemistry notes and other debris left behind after a deadly shooting at Florida State University are lingering questions about how the stepson of a beloved sheriffs deputy tasked with school safety at a middle school became the accused gunman.

Dozens of patrol vehicles, including a forensics van, are stationed outside of Florida State Universitys student union building, the scene of a shooting, Thursday, April 17, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Kate Payne) AP

Political science student Phoenix Ikner was a long-standing member of a sheriffs office youth advisory council and was steeped in the family-like culture of the agency. When officers rushed to the universitys student union on reports of gunfire, authorities say it was the 20-year-old who used his stepmothers former service weapon to open fire, killing two men and wounding six others.

As people fled in terror, Ikner was shot and taken into custody. He invoked his right not to speak to investigators, and his motive remains unknown as he lies in a hospital bed.

The prosecutors office is weighing possible charges as stories emerge about a darker side. One classmate recalled him being kicked out of a student club over comments that other members found troubling.

This is horrific, Jimmy Williams, the chief of safety for Leon County Schools, said of the shooting. This is a horrible, horrible event.

Williams, who has known Ikners stepmother, Jessica Ikner, for a decade, said the allegations underscore that none of us are immune to tragedy.

Florida State University Student Union building after campus is closed following a shooting, in Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) AP

Classes and business operations will resume Monday, Florida State announced over the weekend.

I know it wont feel like a normal week, FSU President Richard McCullough said in message to students and employees Saturday. Its the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened. Please take care of yourself.

Suspect is the stepson of a beloved deputy

His stepmother, whose alma mater is Florida State, was reassigned from her position as a school resource officer Friday and granted the personal leave she requested, a sheriffs office spokesperson told The Associated Press.

When the alert went out of an active shooter at Florida State University, Jessica Ikner was on duty around 2 miles away at Raa Middle School. A sheriffs office spokesperson said Jessica Ikner worked to secure the campus to prevent anyone from entering as Raa went into lockout mode, along with all of the countys public schools. She was practiced at this work.

Last year, she was named an employee of the month by the sheriffs office, where she has worked for 18 years.

Police said they believed Phoenix Ikner shot the victims using his stepmothers former service handgun, which she had kept for personal use after the force upgraded its weapons.

Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil described Phoenix Ikner on Thursday as having been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family and engaged in a number of sheriffs office training programs, adding that it wasnt a surprise that he would have access to guns.

There was no record of his having a criminal record. And in Florida, training and a background check are not required to carry concealed guns in public.

An impromptu memorial shared online brings students bearing flowers into the evening near the center of the Florida State campus in sight of the Student Union building, Tallahassee, Fla., Thursday, April 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Gary McCullough) AP

Custody disputes and name change in his childhood

When Ikner was a child, his parents were involved in several custody disputes with his biological mother, court records show.

In 2015, when he was 10, his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, said she was taking him to South Florida for spring break in 2015 but instead traveled to Norway. After returning to the U.S., she pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She later moved to vacate her plea, but that was denied.

In the fall of that same year, Eriksen filed a civil libel-slander complaint against Jessica Ikner, along with several other family members. The complaint, which was later dismissed, accused them of harassing Eriksen and abusing Ikners position at the sheriffs office.

In 2020, at age 15, the suspect received court approval to change his name from Christian Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner, court documents show. His old name was a constant reminder of a tragedy he suffered, in the words of administrative magistrate James Banks, who approved the request, NBC News reported.

Banks observed that Ikner was a mentally, emotionally and physically mature young adult who is very articulate and very polite said he chose the new name as a representation of rising from the ashes anew.

Classmate says there were concerns

Reid Seybold and his classmates were working on a group project in a building a short, three-minute walk from the student union when someone ran in and warned them about the gunfire. They huddled together, the 22-year-old said, frantically firing off what they thought might be their final text messages to loved ones.

When Seybold found out who the suspect in the shooting was  that it was someone he knows  he was overcome with anger. Seybold was the president of a club that Phoenix Ikner joined when they were both studying at the local community college, now called Tallahassee State College.

Seybold said Ikner was known for espousing racist and white supremacist views that so alienated other members that the club asked him to leave the group.

He made people that uncomfortable, said Seybold, who also is studying political science at Florida State. I personally know him to have complained about how multiculturalism and communism are ruining America.

Suspect transferred to Florida State

Ikner transferred to Florida State after earning an associates degree at the community college, school officials said.

He didnt attract the attention of the school paper, other than commenting in a FSU story about a rally on campus against President Donald Trump.

Ikner, a registered Republican, described the protesters as entertaining because Trump was already set to be inaugurated. The comments have since been removed from the story, an editors note saying the move was to avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence.

Before Ikners Instagram was taken down, his bio quoted a verse from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms, reads Jeremiah 51:20, which scholars have interpreted to depict Gods judgment on Babylon. The empire is a symbol in the Bible of sinfulness and immorality.

Deputys family has stayed quiet

A Tallahassee Police Department patrol car was stationed Thursday evening near the street where the family lives, blocking reporters from approaching the familys home in a well-kept suburban neighborhood on the citys east side.

Phone messages left for Jessica Ikner at a number listed for her on a school resource website and another phone connected to her through public records were not immediately returned Friday. And a sheriffs office spokeswoman said she is not aware of the family putting out a statement or having a family spokesperson.

The only insight comes from the past statements. Nearly a decade ago, Jessica Ikner wrote a story posted on the Tallahassee Family Magazine website about childrens safety while surfing the internet, including tips to strengthen family bonds.

Build a trusting relationship with your child, she wrote. Let them know that if they do make a mistake they can still come to you about anything.
Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, right, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration, in a hotel restaurant in San Salvador, El Salvador, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Press Office Senator Van Hollen, via AP) AP

WASHINGTON  Kilmar Abrego Garcia, wrongly deported from the United States last month, told a visiting U.S. senator that he was moved from a notorious Salvadoran prison to a detention center with better conditions  a statement made during a meeting that the American lawmaker said was staged by the Central American countrys government to make it look like a retreat.

Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday that the Salvadoran man, who was living in Maryland, told him as they met Thursday that he had shared a cell with 25 prisoners and was fearful of many inmates at the mega-prison known as CECOT before he was moved to another center in Santa Ana, El Salvador.

The senator held an airport press conference after returning to the Washington area from El Salvador. He stood next to Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, who wiped away tears as Van Hollen shared some of her husbands comments about missing his family.

The senator, however, emphasized repeatedly to reporters that the case transcends the question of Abrego Garcias immigration status.

Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States, Van Hollen said. Its very clear that the president, Trump administration are blatantly, flagrantly, disagreeing with, defying the order from the Supreme Court.

The case has become a focal point in the immigration debate. Democrats accuse President Donald Trump of overstepping his executive authority and Republicans are criticizing Democrats for defending a man Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the fact he has not been charged with any gang-related crimes.

More Democrats have said they will fly to El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcias release, but the partisan pressure hasnt yielded any results. President Donald Trump and El Salvadors President Nayib Bukele have dug in on keeping him out of the United States, even as officials in Trumps Republican administration have described his deportation as a mistake and the U.S. Supreme Court has called on the administration to facilitate his return.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that Abrego Garcia will never live in the United States of America again.

Bukele posted images of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday and said that the prisoner gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Van Hollen said a Salvadoran government official placed other beverages on the table with salt or sugar on the rim, to make it look like they were drinking margaritas. Van Hollen said neither he nor Abrego Garcia drank from the glasses, which in the photo Bukele posted were garnished with cherries.

The fight over Abrego Garcia is the latest partisan flashpoint as Democrats have struggled to break through and push back during the opening few months of Trumps second time in office. A federal appeals court said Thursday in a blistering order that the Trump administrations claim that it cant do anything to free Abrego Garcia from the prison in El Salvador and return him to the United States should be shocking.

Republicans arent budging

But Republicans appear to have only become more determined to keep Abrego Garcia out of the country. They have sharply criticized Van Hollens trip and claimed that Abrego Garcia has ties to the MS-13 gang. His attorneys say the government has provided no evidence of gang involvement and he has never been charged with any crime related to such activity.

Democrats have time and again prioritized politics over the safety and security of Americans, Republican Sen. John Cornyn of Texas said in a statement Friday. It is utterly divorced from reality.

The Democratic senator posted a photo of his meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday evening but did not say anything else much except that he had called Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, to pass on a message of love and would provide a full update upon his return.

After days of denying that he knew much about Abrego Garcia, Trump on Friday said he knew Abrego Garcias prison record was unbelievably bad and called him an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist.

The president also responded Friday with a social media post saying Van Hollen looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention.

Lots of Congress members are visiting the prison, or trying

Several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that Abrego Garcias deportation was an administrative error. The governments acknowledgment sparked immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have dug in on the allegation that hes a gang member.

The fight has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him. The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy while the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.

Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the U.S. more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants  whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes  and placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison just outside San Salvador.
Police were sent to the 1700 block of Verbeke Street around 5:30 p.m. for a 17-year-old boy who was shot, county 911 dispatchers said. Madison Montag

Police in Harrisburg responded to a shooting Friday evening that injured a 17-year-old boy, according to county 911 dispatchers.

Dauphin County dispatchers sent police to the 1700 block of Verbeke Street around 5:30 p.m. for a 17-year-old boy who was shot in the leg.

Dispatchers said the teen was inside a vehicle on the block with a t-shirt tied around his leg.

After the shooting a dozen police cars lined the street and a few officers were seen collecting evidence from a Mitsubishi SUV with a flat tire parked on the block.

Police were sent to the 1700 block of Verbeke Street around 5:30 p.m. for a 17-year-old boy who was shot, county 911 dispatchers said. Madison Montag

A neighbor who has lived on the street for nearly 20 years told PennLive he was outside when the Mitsubishi drove up the street with a flat tire.

A woman inside the SUV asked the neighbor for help with the tire and also said a person had been shot.

First responders were then called to the area.

It is unclear where the shooting took place. However, a bystander who said she lives about 10 blocks away on Briggs Street said she heard one or two pops while she was sitting on her front porch.

The bystander also said she saw police collecting various articles of clothing in evidence bags near the Mitsubishi.

Police were seen speaking with a woman and two young males outside the home before leaving the area around 6:15 p.m.

No suspects or arrests have been announced in connection to the shooting as of Friday evening.

The condition of the 17-year-old boy is unknown at this time.
Hundreds of people gathered on the steps of the Pennsylvania Capitol Saturday as part of yet another 50501 Protest, a nationwide grassroots movement in opposition of Donald Trump, Elon Musk and several policies of the current administration.

The 50501 movement  which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, one day  has organized protests across the country since the beginning of February. Saturdays protest is one of many that have taken place at the Pennsylvania Capitol since Feb. 5.

Judging by the diversity of signs, Saturdays protest  which easily surpassed 600 people  was a giant umbrella for a laundry list of grievances. Reduced to a few words, the sentiment of the hundreds that filled the Capitols steps and spilled over onto both coroners of State Street was this: Resist, unite and fight.

The target of the signs, chants and the speakers wasnt just Trump, Musk and recent DOGE cuts. It was the ongoing ICE roundups and deportations; eviscerating the Department of Education and sweeping changes to health/medical personnel and policy under Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Above all, the resistance was against an overall, across-the-board reduction in rights, as perceived by the protesters.

One protester with a bullhorn and waving a pole with an American flag and a Love banner said Trumps election has him protesting every chance he gets.

Im here because I want to fight, the man who described himself as being in his 20s from Harrisburg and said his first name was Matt. I want to be a part of all of this. All the people here are coming together to show that we are not happy with this and that this is not OK.

As for his specific concerns, he said, Im just really upset to see the blatant corruption, the blatant authoritarianism that were seeing in our government. The lack of due process that were seeing for the people who are getting arrested and disappeared for simply having the wrong kind of thoughts, having the wrong color of skin, being from the wrong place. This is not what America is about, right?

Asked if his voice could reach all the way to the White House, what message would he deliver to Trump, Matt answered: I think I would tell him that we will not stand down, and that ultimately, we will choose the path of love. The path of love is the direction of this country. The path of love is how we create a better future for all of us. He [Trump] represents the path of hate. If anything, I wish he would just stand down.

Many guests spoke to the crowd throughout the protest, including State Rep. Dave Madsen (D), members of the Harrisburg Palestine Coalition, local labor union members and Harrisburg City Council candidate Basir Vincent.

This movement isnt about being top down, its about fighting neighborhood by neighborhood, block by block, Vincent said energetically to the crowd. We need a world where due process is respected, education is free from political control and where representation is not just a privilege, it is a guarantee.

Hillary Rothrock, the organizing director of Janelle Stelsons campaign for Congress, emphasized the importance of communities having their voices heard.

Tyranny begins when the truth is silenced, Rothrock said.

Rob and Doris Ulsh, an older couple from Harrisburg, dont think Trump is going to stand down anytime soon. Thats why both clutched signs saying, Impeach and Remove.

Donald Trump should have gone to jail 10 years ago. Hes a criminal, Rob said.

Instead, Trump is removing people from the country without due process, Doris added.

Im here to speak up for those people who are being arrested without due process, and I think if we let that go, were done for it, she said. Everybody is vulnerable, not just criminals  but everybody and anybody. Theyre being targeted by people whose faces are covered up with no legitimate reason to arrest them, she said, referring to ICE agents.

Nearby, three young men were clad in black face coverings and mirrored sunglasses. But they werent mimicking the stealth ICE agents. One of the men said the disguises were to prevent the government from identifying them and seeking reprisals.

Basically, its to protect myself, my friends and my family because we know that this current administration will take out anyone that they disagree with. They dont view this as a peaceful protest. They view us as essentially the terrorists and the bad guys. I have no idea if they knew my identity, what they would, what they could do to me. The man declined to give his name, but said he was 27 years old and drove two hours to join the protest.

The main thing that brings me here is the people that are getting swept up and disappeared, essentially, the man added. Whether that be for allegedly being a part of a gang or just speaking out on a college campus against genocide. Im here just to uphold the Constitution. Its as simple as that, whether its due process or freedom of speech.

Not doing so risked a further erosion of rights under Trump, the man said.

Not everyone was protesting, however. Two middle-aged Black men made their way through the crowd on their way downtown. When asked what he thought of the protest, one of the men identified himself as Shaun Glover of Harrisburg and said he voted for Trump, whose election was buoyed by increasing his support among minorities.

Hes the president now. Thats a good thing, Glover said of Trump. At the same time, he said the protesters have every right to voice their displeasure. Thats a good thing, too, he added.

Another Black man, who said his name was Chase and who described himself as a 32-year-old conservative, was leaning against a mailbox on Third Street and taking in the scene.

Im just watching, he said, bemused. Nobody likes anyone. They didnt like Biden last year. They dont like Trump this year.

His advice: Wait and see. Leave it in Gods hands.

Chase described himself as a one-time anti-government liberal who became conservative after progressives embraced all things government.

None of these parties are going to agree on nothing, he said. And Im not going to walk around here acting all crazy because no one can find a silver lining. He [Trump] is already in office. All we can do is give him a chance. I cant say hes done anything in particular thats made me mad. But I dont watch a lot of news.

Among all the signs favoring resistance, obstruction, the rule of law, the Constitution and railing against Trump, Musk, Kings and Nazis, one woman held a homemade poster that was truly unique. It said, Jeffrey Epstein didnt kill himself. Expose the predators.

Asked why with everything else going on this was her message, the 26-year-old who drove in from Indiana, Pa., said: Because I think everyone just forgot about it, and I think its actually a big deal -- like this is like a cover up. He did not kill himself.

The woman who gave her name as Sam said she wants all the governments Epstein documents made public and the list of high-powered guests to the so-called Epstein Island where underage girls were sexually abused to be exposed.

I just think that theres a secret thing going on, she said. Im just bringing attention to it. I dont think this should be brushed under the rug. It is a class issue. Its more the rich versus us normal people.

Turns out, everyone has their own reasons to protest.
Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding renewed his call this week to the U.S. Department of Agriculture to restore the recently slashed $13 million in federal funding to farmers who sell products to food banks. Dan Gleiter | dgleiter@pennlive.com
Convicted "pill mill" doctor Raymond J. Kraynak wants to withdraw his guilty plea on the grounds of ineffective counsel. John Beauge, for PennLive

WILLIAMSPORT  The convicted top prescriber of opioids in Pennsylvania in 2015 and 2016 appears to be suffering from buyers remorse, a federal prosecutor says.
In an interview with Fox News in 2023, then Senator J.D. Vance told a reporter, If the IRS can go after you because of what you think or what you believe or what you do, we no longer live in a free society.

Now we know that Vance and his partner have no interest in preserving our free society. The Trump administration is going forward with plans to eliminate tax exempt status for institutions that espouse points of view that are unacceptable to the regime.
Supporters of Communities in Schools of Pennsylvania (CISPA) recently gathered to celebrate the growing impact of our mission: surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.

As I reflected on the stories shared, I was deeply moved, not just by the individual successes but by the overwhelming sense of community that united everyone in that room.

At CISPA, we are firm believers in the transformative power of opportunity. From providing students with the resources they need to succeed academically to offering mentorship that guides them toward brighter futures, we are making a difference where it matters most. But what truly sets CISPA apart is our unwavering focus on the whole student, helping them feel seen, supported, and empowered to achieve their full potential.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro pauses during a news conference at the governor's official residence discussing the alleged arson that forced him, his family and guests to flee in the middle of the night on the Jewish holiday of Passover, Sunday, Apr. 13, 2025, in Harrisburg, Pa. AP Photo/Marc Levy

Pennsylvanians of all religions, races, cultures, and political parties are standing with our governor and his family to express outrage at the attack on his home, realizing it could have been far more tragic.

People throughout the nation are united in shock and overwhelming sadness at what such an attack says about our state and our nation. Unfortunately, President Donald Trump has not yet reached out to Gov. Josh Shapiro to express his support. We hope he does so soon to send a strong message of American solidarity against violence and hatred.
Fire damage from the arson at the Governor's Mansion in Harrisburg, Pa., April 13, 2025. Officials announced the arrest of a suspect during a press conference at the mansion. Commonwealth Media Services

By Jeffrey Lord

In the wake of the attack on the Governors Residence - an attack on Gov. Josh Shapiro and his family - it is a moment to reflect. And specifically to reflect both on the origins of Pennsylvania, where most reading this live. Not to mention to reflect on what Pennsylvanians can do to respond.
In an interview this week with Good Morning, America, Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro said he hadnt heard from the president about a fire set at the Governors Residence.

President Donald Trump has not said much about the attack, other than telling reporters at the White House on Monday the suspect was probably just a whack job.
Abby Sandoval has pink pigtails. She wears a pop star T-shirt. And she has no idea whats going on.

Shes being spoken to by an immigration judge in Fairfax County. A translator relays the message to her through headphones as she stares past him.

The 7-year-old swings her legs beneath the table. Her feet can't touch the ground.

The United States is seeking to remove Sandoval from the country. Each year, it pursues deportation against thousands of immigrant children, many of whom arrived as unaccompanied minors. The Richmond Times-Dispatch sat in on a day of juvenile immigration proceedings in Virginias immigration court in Annandale, where cases are heard for children from around the commonwealth.

Today, children attend hearings from Roanoke, Centreville, Virginia Beach and Henrico. Nearly all emigrated from Spanish-speaking countries.

There is Edith Castro, an 18-year-old who has been trying to find a lawyer on her own. She arrived in the States last April. The government is trying to return her to Bolivia, but Castro says that Brazil is the only country in which she would feel safe.

There is Diego Raymondo, who is 15 years old. He is here with his father, who says their family cant afford an attorney.

Do you fear for your son if he were to go back to Guatemala? the judge asks. His father says he would.

There is Candalenia Ramos, who is 11 years old. Seated beside Candalenia is her mother, Donya Ramos, who tells the judge that the family hasn't found a lawyer, although not for lack of trying.

Ive been trying to call, but no one picks up, she says through a translator.

Immigration Judge Jason Braun appears sympathetic. But the case requires motion. Braun says that he will move closer toward a removal for her daughter if the family doesnt lock down a lawyer by the end of the year.

Immigration proceedings in Virginia take place in a benign-looking office building in this suburb of Fairfax County. Theres no signage on the outside, and the inside is similarly sparse: The walls are stark white, plastered with signs encouraging self-deportation. Photographs are not allowed.

On Thursday, Braun is the designated judge hearing juvenile cases. His courtroom is similarly bare, with the exception of two baskets full of childrens books. The books go untouched throughout the days proceedings.

In waves, Braun welcomes in a new batch of families and children. Across from the children sits a lawyer for the Department of Homeland Security, whose job it is to prod cases forward as fast as the law will allow.

Today, the attorney for the Department of Homeland Security is Courtney Lutz. Lutz is often tasked to repeat a boilerplate line: That the government opposes any continuance in the childrens cases.

Even if they barely understand proceedings, some immigrant children take their cases seriously. One boy, Marlin Lopez, who recently turned 18, arrived in the U.S. as an unaccompanied minor. Hes going to school while living with his brother in Fairfax County.

Braun asks how Lopez arrived in court today. By myself, Lopez replies in Spanish. He says that his lawyer was supposed to appear in court today, but he hasnt shown up.

Marlins case, like many others, is continued for several months because he hasnt been able to find an attorney. Braun openly acknowledges the problem.

These agencies dont pick up the phone, says Braun. You need to keep calling, leave a message, and then call again in a few days.

If they are lucky, children do find attorneys to guide them through the process  whether it be to file for asylum or other special protections available to minors.

Brian Bucerto is among them, applying for a special visa protection available only to juveniles. If hes successful, he can then apply for a green card, which might not become available for years.

Bucerto crossed the border as a 13-year-old. He's 17 now attending his first court proceeding, says his lawyer, Antonio Ochoa.

They registered him at the border and then didnt tell him to be in court until four years later, says Ochoa.

Ochoa says it was lucky that Bucerto found a lawyer before he turned 18, when he would age out of protections available for children.

These are children that have been abandoned, says Ochoa. Theyve made a dangerous, international journey, and theyre crossing by themselves.

An industry of nonprofit law firms exists to guide those efforts. Beleaguered and overworked as they may be, these lawyers appear to be essential. Without them, proceedings meander on for months before judges who are hesitant to try children without any ability to advocate for themselves.

Thats part of the reason why the federal government has paid for their lawyers. In 2008, Congress passed legislation aimed at fighting human trafficking. The law calls on the government to ensure that minors have lawyers to the greatest extent practicable.

But in March, the Trump administration signaled it would no longer foot the bill for children's legal defense. In a memo, the administration told more than 100 nonprofits to stop representing migrant children. It also canceled a five-year contract that would have funded those firms.

Like many other of Trumps initiatives to reshape the government, the move elicited a swift backlash. Immigrant advocates sued the administration in court, alleging that the funding cut was violating an act of Congress.

Michael Lukens, executive director of the Amica Center for Immigrant Rights, said the funding cut was the biggest attack on immigrant children since Trumps zero-tolerance immigration crackdown in 2017, which resulted in the forcible separation of immigrant families and their children.

Were talking about the loss of attorneys and advocates for tens of thousands of children across the country, said Lukens.

Former immigration judges also critiqued the move, warning that without lawyers, proceedings would grind to a halt.

Even ICE attorneys, the so-called prosecutors in these cases, were grateful to these attorneys in court because it helped move the hearings along and reach a conclusion more quickly, said Jennie Giambastiani, a former immigration judge who presided over courts between 2002 and 2019.

Giambastiani called the cuts a continuation of Trumps family separation agenda.

Lawyers for the Trump administration say that the funding needed to be paused while the program was reviewed for fraud, abuse, and duplication. They have also argued that the 2008 law is discretionary, and doesnt require that the government pay for children to have legal counsel.

The government simply canceled a contract, a power which is within its right, their lawyers said. The lawyers cited a recent victory in the U.S. Supreme Court, in which justices ruled that it was legal for the administration to abruptly end grants related to diversity, equity and inclusion.

The case was heard by a federal court in Northern California, where U.S. Judge Araceli Martinez-Olguin found that a temporary block on the cut served the public interest. Under the order, the federal agencies are temporarily prohibited from stopping the flow of funds to childrens pro bono lawyers.

The administration has pushed for that restraining order to be repealed. And last Monday, the administration announced it would ask a higher appeals court to overrule Martinez-Olguins decision.

Last year, over 30,000 unaccompanied minors were processed in courtrooms like these across the country, according to data from the U.S. Department of Justice. That total doesnt encompass the totality of juvenile proceedings, as many children plead their cases with a caregiver or parent.

Despite the temporary pause, law firms say the funding cut has already pulled lawyers away from cases. And if it ends in the administrations favor, the situation could deteriorate, said Dominique Poirier, director of legal services with the pro bono firm Just Neighbors.

Id ask you to try and visualize a 5- or 6-year-old trying to represent themselves in court, sitting at a big table by themselves, in front of a judge in a black robe and next to an attorney whos trying to deport them, said Poirier.

Poirier's firm specializes in humanitarian cases. Currently, the firm's lawyers juggle up to 100 cases at a time, Poirier said.

That is our present-day scenario. The government has ceased funding legal representation for unaccompanied children. So thats what its going to look like.
Wei Zhu opened to 3,000 from early position and was called by Lewis Murray on the button and Gavin Ogilvy in the big blind for a three-way pot.

Ogilvy checked to Zhu, who continued for 3,500 on the 592 flop. Murray and Ogilvy both called.

Action checked through on the 2 turn; however, Ogilvy fired 22,000 into the middle after the 6 completed the board. Zhu quickly folded, but Murray counted out his stack before raising enough to put Ogilvy all in for approximately his last 30,000.

Ogilvy committed the rest of his stack into the middle and Murray turned over 99 for a full house. Ogilvy nodded his head in acknowledgment as he showed he held 87 for a rivered straight before exiting the tournament area.
A long Day 1d lasting nearly 15 levels and attracting 83 entrants has come to an end in the Australian Poker Open Main Event. John Perry emerged as the overall chip leader of the 11 remaining players after bagging up a massive stack worth 982,000. Perry's next-closest competitor for Day 1d is Australia's own Jackson Young, who ended with 763,000. Rounding out the top three was Pranav Bhatt, who bagged up 527,000 here at the luxurious Club Marconi at Doltone House Western Sydney.

Perry, who is a regular in the Australian poker scene with $1.6 million in live-tournament earnings, claimed a few key knockouts late in the evening to surge into the chip lead, including Nelson Dong after cracking Dong's kings on the stone bubble.

APO Main Event Day 1d Top Ten Chip Counts

Rank Player Country Chip Count Big Blinds 1 John Perry New Zealand 982,000 98 2 Jackson Young Australia 763,000 76 3 Pranav Bhatt Australia 527,000 53 4 Joe Antar Australia 483,000 48 5 Lewis Murray Australia 329,000 33 6 Weiran Pu China 253,000 25 7 Paris Sitzoukis Australia 236,000 24 8 Stev Lackovic Australia 189,000 19 9 Zhen Chen China 150,000 15 10 Adam Kharman Australia 134,000 13

Jackson Young

Day 1d Highlights

A muted start saw eight players sit down for the beginning of Level 1, but there was no lack of action as players steadily filled more seats throughout the day.

Lewis Murray vaulted up the chip counts early on after eliminating Gavin Ogilvy with a full house versus a straight. From that point on, Murray was able to maintain his momentum into a Day-2 berth.

Paris Sitzoukis also made it through to Day 2, thanks in part to catching a miracle river against Daniel Klinger's pocket aces shortly after late-registration had closed.

Action slowed considerably with 14 players left, with several players managing to double up as tension mounted approaching the Day-2 bubble. After nearly a full level without an elimination, Shanon Sung became another unfortunate victim to Perry after running pocket tens into Perry's pocket queens.

The next two eliminations came rapidly to put an end to Day 1d, first with Ehsan Amiri running pocket sixes into Joe Antar's pocket kings and followed quickly by Dong's elimination to Perry.

Ehsan Amiri

The penultimate starting flight for the APO Main Event is Day 1e, which is scheduled to begin at noon on Monday, April 21. All players who failed to earn a Day-2 berth can reenter an unlimited amount of times in the remaining starting flights up until late-registration closes.

Be sure to stick with PokerNews as we continue to bring you the action leading to the next Main Event Champion here at the 2025 Australia Poker Open!
Aiken, SC (29801)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Partly cloudy skies. Low 71F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star reporter

Bianca Moorman is a reporter for the Post and Courier North Augusta/The Star with a focus on community focused stories, arts, businesses, non-profits, events and any story with a human element. The Roanoke, Virginia native has journalism degrees from James Madison and Syracuse universities. She has written for papers in Georgia, Mississippi, Upstate New York and Virginia. Follow her on X at @biancarmooman.

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Moncks Corner, SC (29461)

Today

Watching the tropics. A few clouds. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph..

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Watching the tropics. A few clouds. Low 73F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph.
Charleston, SC (29403)

Today

Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy skies this evening. A few showers developing late. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
Columbia, SC (29201)

Today

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph..

Tonight

A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible early. Mainly clear. Low 72F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.
Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)

Today

Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%..

Tonight

Watching the tropics. Partly cloudy this evening followed by increasing clouds with showers developing after midnight. Low 76F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.
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Familyrun institution joins an exclusive cohort of five global awardees in 2025 for championing authentic Indian cuisine abroad.NEW DELHI, IN / ACCESS Newswire / April 19, 2025 / The Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) has bestowed its prestigious Annapurna Certificate upon New Delhi Restaurant, the pioneering Indian eatery on Tjuvholmen. Owner Baljit Singh Padda accepted the lifetimevalidity plaque in New Delhi on 9 April, marking the first time a Norwegian restaurant has received the honour. Indian embassies and high commissions worldwide collect nominations, which are then evaluated by an ICCRappointed jury to select the final recipients. Indias Annapurna Certificate Aware Ceremony Family run institution joins an exclusive cohort of five global awardees in 2025 for championing authentic Indian cuisine abroad.Established in 1982, New Delhi began as a 40seat family bistro and has grown into a multilocation group serving around 5 000 guests each month. The restaurant's menu celebrates classic NorthIndian dishes-such as Rogan Josh and Tandoori Halibut-prepared with seasonal Norwegian produce.Baljit Singh Padda notes, "My father was Norway's first Indian chef in 1982, and for 42 years we have worked to share India's culinary heritage with Norway. This certificate belongs to every member of our 70strong team." Why the Annapurna Certificate mattersIntroduced in 2023 as part of India's culturaldiplomacy programme, the certificate recognises restaurants that not only preserve authentic recipes but also broaden perceptions of Indian cuisine. Recipients must have operated for at least five years, serve substantial numbers of diners and actively engage in cultural outreach.The accolade has already been awarded to trailblazers such as Namaste India in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, and Naans and Curries in San Jose, Costa Rica, underscoring its truly global scope. By honouring these establishments, ICCR designates them as India's culinary ambassadors, charged with expanding the horizons of Indian food culture wherever they operate.About New Delhi RestaurantFrom its flagship restaurant New Delhi at Tjuvholmen, Baljit's restaurant group now also operates additional restaurants in downtown Oslo and Solli. All spice blends are ground inhouse daily, and the wine list has been curated to pair Norwegian seafood with India's layered flavours. A public "Annapurna Tasting Journey" menu will launch on 1 May to celebrate the award, and an openhouse reception with representatives from the Embassy of India in Norway is planned for early June.Contact InformationBaljit Singh PaddaRestauranteurpost@ newdelhi.no SOURCE: New Delhi Restaurant
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NEW YORK CITY, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 /WHY: New York, N.Y., April 18, 2025. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of securities of TFI International Inc. (NYSE:TFII) between April 26, 2024 and February 19, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), of the important May 13, 2025 lead plaintiff deadline.SO WHAT: If you purchased TFI International securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the TFI International class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36984 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than May 13, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions, but are merely middlemen that refer clients or partner with law firms that actually litigate the cases. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, during the Class Period, defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) TFI International was losing small and medium business customers; (2) as a result, TFI's TForce Freight revenue was declining; (3) TFI International was experiencing difficulties managing its costs; (4) as a result of the foregoing, the profitability of its largest business segment was declining; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about TFI International's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.To join the TFI International class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36984 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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NEW YORK, NY / ACCESS Newswire / April 19, 2025 /WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces an investigation of potential securities claims on behalf of shareholders of Eldorado Gold Corporation(NYSE:EGO) resulting from allegations that Eldorado Gold may have issued materially misleading business information to the investing public.SO WHAT: If you purchased Eldorado Gold securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. The Rosen Law Firm is preparing a class action seeking recovery of investor losses.WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the prospective class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=37849 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email case@ rosenlegal.com for information on the class action.WHAT IS THIS ABOUT: On February 5, 2025, Eldorado Gold issued a press release in which it provided an update on the construction progress on its Skouries Project. In pertinent part, this announcement stated that "[a]s previously disclosed, labour market tightness in Greece, particularly pronounced in construction, has continued to limit the availability of key construction personnel at Skouries, resulting in a slower ramp-up of the workforce and delayed progress in certain areas of the Project." Further, Eldorado announced that "[f]irst production at Skouries is now expected in the first quarter of 2026, followed by commercial production expected in mid-2026." On this news, Eldorado Gold's stock fell 11.2% on February 6, 2025.WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources, or any meaningful peer recognition. Many of these firms do not actually litigate securities class actions. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm , on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/ Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.---Contact Information:Laurence Rosen, Esq.Phillip Kim, Esq.The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.275 Madison Avenue, 40th FloorNew York, NY 10016Tel: (212) 686-1060Toll Free: (866) 767-3653Fax: (212) 202-3827 case@ rosenlegal.comwww.rosenlegal.com SOURCE: The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.
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Alpha 1 (A1) AI Tutor Pioneer Technology & Arts AcademyLAS VEGAS, NEVADA / ACCESS Newswire / April 18, 2025 /Secretary of Education Linda McMahon Visits FuturEdge Charter Academy and Future Home of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy of Nevada, Spotlights AI-Powered Learning InnovationAI Tutor demo Department of Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Congressman Byron Donalds of Florida, Erica Donald, Shubham Pandey, Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy PTAA(PTAA Nevada - STEAM-Focused Charter School) U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon visited Future Edge Academy today, joining students and educators for a special event at the charter school campus. The visit - hosted at Future Edge Academy (the future home of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy Nevada) - featured a student-led assembly and a live demonstration of a cutting-edge AI tutoring platform. During the assembly, PTAA leadership officially announced the launch of Pioneer Technology & Arts Academy (PTAA) Nevada this coming August, highlighting a groundbreaking educational model centered on artificial intelligence and STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Mathematics. Secretary McMahon's presence underscored federal support for innovative approaches in K-12 education, as the Future Edge campus - a STEM-designated school known for integrating emerging technologies like AI into learning (Home - FuturEdge Charter Academy) - prepares to become PTAA Nevada's first location.PTAA Nevada to Launch in August 2025 with AI & STEAM FocusPTAA Nevada will open for the 2025-26 school year as a tuition-free public charter school, bringing PTAA's successful tech-driven curriculum to Nevada. Part of a national network of PTAA campuses operating in Texas, Arizona, and Colorado, the North Las Vegas school will emphasize project-based learning, coding, robotics, and creative arts alongside core academics. "Our mission is to empower and engage students through an inquiry-based STEM/STEAM curriculum that emphasizes creativity, collaboration, and innovation," said Shubham Pandey, Founder of PTAA and incoming Executive Director of PTAA Nevada. "By infusing AI and advanced technology into the classroom, we aim to inspire the next generation of innovators." PTAA Nevada's launch in August 2025 marks the organization's latest expansion and a bold step toward redefining how students learn in the digital age.Alpha 1 AI Tutor Platform Demonstrated by PTAA FounderA highlight of the event was the live demo of the new Alpha 1 (A1) AI Tutor platform, led by its Founder Shubham Pandey - who is also PTAA's founder. Pandey showcased A1 Tutor's real-time, interactive capabilities by engaging with students in a mock tutoring session. The AI tutor responded to questions, worked through problems on a digital whiteboard, and conversed using both voice and text, demonstrating the potential of multimodal AI in education. "The A1 Tutor can think, listen, talk, and draw in sync with our students," Pandey explained, emphasizing how the system provides instant feedback and step-by-step guidance tailored to each learner's needs. Key features of the A1 AI Tutor demonstrated include:Real-time multimodal learning: The AI can simultaneously utilize a virtual whiteboard for visual illustrations while interacting through natural voice and text, creating an immersive 1:1 tutoring experience.Interactive problem-solving: Students can ask questions out loud or via chat, and the A1 Tutor adapts its explanations on the fly-drawing diagrams, highlighting concepts, and adjusting the difficulty of problems in response to student input.Personalized support: Powered by advanced generative AI, A1 analyzes each student's progress and misconceptions in real time, providing immediate clarifications and personalized hints. This adaptive approach mimics the attentiveness of a human tutor, boosting student confidence and engagement.The demonstration captivated attendees as the AI solved math and science questions with the students, exemplifying how such technology can supplement classroom learning. Secretary McMahon observed the session and even interacted with the A1 Tutor herself, remarking on its potential to support teachers and differentiate instruction for diverse learners. "This is an inspiring example of innovation in education," Secretary McMahon said. "Seeing students work with an AI tutor that can cater to their individual learning pace is truly remarkable. Technology like this holds great promise for leveling the playing field and empowering our educators nationwide." Nationwide Rollout and Vision for U.S. StudentsFollowing the Nevada pilot showcase, PTAA announced that the A1 AI Tutor platform will launch across all PTAA campuses nationwide in August 2025, aligning with the start of the new school year. Students at PTAA's existing schools in Texas, Arizona, and Colorado will gain access to the AI tutor as part of their regular learning resources. According to Pandey, integrating A1 Tutor throughout PTAA's network will provide thousands of students with on-demand help in various subjects, both during school hours and for homework support. In the long term, PTAA's goal is even more ambitious: to make the A1 Tutor available free for every student in the United States. "Our vision is to ensure every child - not just those at PTAA - can have a personal AI tutor," Pandey said during the presentation. "By harnessing AI, we can provide personalized learning support at scale, potentially bridging gaps for underserved communities. We are working toward a future where A1 Tutor is a free resource for all American students, enabling equal access to quality tutoring." This long-term commitment drew enthusiastic applause from the audience, which included local parents and community members eager to see Nevada at the forefront of AI-driven education.Local and state officials also attended the assembly in a show of support. Rudy Pamintuan, Chief of Staff to Nevada's Lieutenant Governor and Vice Chair of PTAA Nevada's board of directors, was on hand for the event . Pamintuan praised the collaboration between Future Edge Academy and PTAA, noting that such partnerships "expand educational opportunities for our students and attract innovative programs to North Las Vegas." The presence of Secretary McMahon and state leadership at the Future Edge campus signifies a strong public-private commitment to advancing education through technology in Nevada.Quotes from the EventLinda McMahon, U.S. Secretary of Education:"PTAA Nevada and the A1 Tutor platform are proof that innovation in education is alive and well. I was excited to see AI technology being used to engage students in real time. When we empower educators with these kinds
An outbreak of a strange disease has plunged poultry farmers in Maiduguri, Borno State, into a financial crisis, with many struggling to recover their investments.

The outbreak began in February and triggered widespread poultry deaths despite farmers efforts to implement biosecurity measures, including culling.

I lost 32 chickens, Sadiq Bukar, owner of Ibn Bukar Farm Centre, said. Despite culling and attempts to save the rest, the mortality was overwhelming.

Mr Bukar explained that mortality always occurred from the third day to the 21st day of an outbreak. During the period, he recorded 20 mortalities.

He said after reporting the mortality, his chickens were diagnosed, and Doxyjent 2020 was recommended for their treatment. However, the medication could not save 12 birds affected by the disease.

Doxyjent 2020 was recommended to me for their treatment, which saved the remaining chickens from the disease. While the 20 chickens died from the third day to the 21st day, the remaining 12 died between the 21st and 38th day, Mr Bukar added. After I sold out the chickens, I realised that I did not make any profit with all the costs, including the labour.

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Ten out of 15 smallholder poultry farmers that PREMIUM TIMES spoke with in Maiduguri in separate interviews said they experienced between 30 per cent and 50 per cent mortality of their chickens from February to mid-March.

For some, it may be the end of their businesses because they can no longer meet their financial obligations, especially to business partners. They revealed that they had bought some goods on credit.

Market woes compound financial strain

Adding to their woes, the farmers also faced market challenges. Consumers, disturbed by rising chicken prices due to the outbreak and biosecurity costs, are reluctant to purchase. Even the typically lucrative Sallah period did not alleviate the farmers financial burden, leaving them with unsold stock.

People dont understand the increased costs, Modu Gomna, a farmer who was in Bulunkutu Market to sell chickens a day after Sallah, said. People are pricing the chicken anyhow. They want me to sell a N14,000 chicken at N8,000. People are wicked.

The mortality rate, coupled with the expenses of protecting the remaining chickens, made profitability impossible, Musa Ismail, another farmer in Maiduguri, said, lamenting that he was forced to slash prices to sell his chickens.

I expected to sell at good prices during this Sallah, but the market surprised me. People do not seem to have money for the celebration. I had to slash my price by almost half, Mr Ismail said. He said he took that decision to recover his investment and not for profit.

The Borno State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development has not spoken about the disease. However, some farmers suspect the notorious bird flu because the outbreak coincided with the federal government confirming bird flu outbreaks in Kano, Rivers, and Plateau states.

Experts debate disease

Mohammad Jibrin, an animal scientist and owner of Desert Hatchery, one of the biggest hatchery firms in Borno State, said the symptoms did not conclusively confirm the disease was bird flu.

We have a dedicated ministry whose work includes confirming an outbreak of disease. They are in the best position to say it if it were bird flu.

Mr Jibrin, who has been in the poultry business for over 20 years, said poor management by poultry farmers could also be why smallholder farmers suffer.

We are lagging behind in poultry farm management. Our farmers do not take biosecurity very seriously. People go into the business without training or education. They access their poultry farms in the shoes and clothes they wear casually. They compromise on the poultry feed. They do not follow medication schedules, he said, warning that crises like this are inevitable unless people take the venture seriously.

In his reaction, Umar Maina, a veterinary doctor, said he suspected Newcastle disease based on the symptoms he saw..

Our suspicion is Newcastle disease, not bird flu. But they also share some similarities, Mr Maina said, confirming that the outbreak has affected many farms. He said a farm at the University of Maiduguri lost over 400 birds.

PREMIUM TIMES made several efforts to speak with the State Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development, but the officials did not agree to talk to journalists.

However, the Daily Trust newspaper reported that the Nigerian government issued a circular through the Chief Veterinary Officer of Nigeria in response to the bird flu outbreak, urging state veterinary offices to implement enhanced surveillance and biosecurity measures. These included public awareness campaigns and strict monitoring of poultry flocks.

The official said federal authorities were working closely with state governments to contain the outbreak and support affected farmers.

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Funmilayo Omo is the Managing Director of Enterprise Life Assurance Company (Nigeria) Limited.

With over 30 years of experience in the insurance industry, she has led multiple innovations and transformation projects that have improved financial inclusion and access to life insurance in Nigeria.

In this interview with PREMIUM TIMES, Mrs Omo speaks about her journey to leadership, the challenges shes faced as a woman in a male-dominated industry, and what it truly means to accelerate action as a woman in leadership.

PT: Can you tell us about your professional journey and how you became a CEO?

Mrs Omo: My career in the insurance industry spans over 30 years, and it has been a journey of learning, innovation, and leadership.

I started at African Alliance Insurance Plc, where I was deeply involved in launching groundbreaking initiativesdeveloping micro-insurance solutions, designing annuity products, and pioneering Takaful for the Family Takaful Office in Nigeria.

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These experiences shaped my understanding of the industry and fueled my passion for using innovation to drive growth.

Over the years, I embraced technology and financial inclusion, which led me to leadership roles that required a forward-thinking approach.

My studies at the China European Business School and Lagos Business School and my affiliations with the Chartered Insurance Institute and the Institute of Directors provided me with the strategic insights needed to navigate executive leadership.

In 2017, I was honoured to be appointed Managing Director of African Alliance, and in 2020, I took on the role of the pioneer Managing Director of Enterprise Life Assurance Nigeria.

Leading these organisations through digital transformation has been one of the most fulfilling aspects of my career. Seeing how technology makes financial services more accessible to everyday Nigerians confirms my belief that innovation is the key to creating lasting change in the insurance sector.

PT: In your opinion, how do women leaders inspire and empower others around them, especially other women?

Mrs Omo: In my journey in the Nigerian insurance industry, I encountered several challenges that were both systemic and personal.

Early on, there was a prevailing scepticism about women leading in a male-dominated field.

Introducing innovative digital solutions and pioneering new products like micro insurance and Takaful came with resistance from traditionalists who were reluctant to change established practices.

I overcame these hurdles by remaining steadfast in my vision and investing in continuous learning.

I built a strong support network through mentorship and by aligning with industry initiatives that championed gender inclusion.

Embracing technology allowed me to demonstrate tangible results, which gradually shifted perceptions and earned me the trust of stakeholders.

Ultimately, perseverance, clear communication, and the willingness to innovate not only advanced my career but also helped pave the way for future women leaders in the industry.

PT: What do you think is unique about women in leadership roles compared to men?

Mrs Omo: Women often bring a more holistic, collaborative, and empathetic approach to leadership.

While traditional leadership models sometimes emphasise authority and hierarchy, many women prioritise mentorship, inclusivity, and long-term sustainability.

This doesnt mean one style is better than the other, but it highlights the power of diverse leadership.

Women leaders tend to focus on fostering a culture where people feel heard and supported. We also champion innovation and adaptability, which are crucial in todays fast-changing business landscape.

PT: What challenges did you face as a woman in your industry, and how did you overcome them?

Mrs Omo: In my journey in the Nigerian insurance industry, I encountered several challenges that were both systemic and personal.

Early on, there was a prevailing skepticism about women leading in a traditionally male-dominated field. Introducing innovative digital solutions and pioneering new products like micro insurance and Takaful came with resistance from traditionalists who were reluctant to change established practices.

I overcame these hurdles by remaining steadfast in my vision and investing in continuous learning. I built a strong support network through mentorship and by aligning with industry initiatives that championed gender inclusion.

Embracing technology allowed me to demonstrate tangible results, which gradually shifted perceptions and earned me the trust of stakeholders.

Ultimately, perseverance, clear communication, and the willingness to innovate not only advanced my career but also helped pave the way for future women leaders in the industry.

PT: Can you share one of the most rewarding moments in your career that solidified your passion for leadership?

Mrs Omo: One of my most fulfilling moments was pioneering the launch of micro-insurance products at African Alliance Insurance Plc.

Seeing how affordable insurance solutions could transform lives, providing financial security to families who had never had access beforewas truly inspiring.

That experience reinforced my belief that insurance isnt just about policies and numbers; its about people. It showed me the power of leadership in driving meaningful impact, and it continues to fuel my passion for creating accessible and innovative financial solutions.

PT: What advice would you give to young Nigerian women aspiring to become leaders in their fields?

Mrs Omo: I would tell them to invest relentlessly in themselvespursue education, continually build your skill set, and stay curious about emerging technologies.

Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks. Surround yourself with mentors and like-minded peers who uplift and support you.

Never let traditional expectations or societal stereotypes limit your ambitions. Your unique perspective is your strength; use it to innovate and lead with confidence.

Remember, leadership is as much about resilience and vision as it is about strategy. Stay persistent, believe in your potential, and know that every step forward makes a difference not only for you but for the generations that follow.

PT: How do you balance the demands of being a CEO with other aspects of your personal life?

Mrs Omo: Balancing the demanding role of a CEO with personal life isnt about achieving a perfect 50/50 split every day, its about setting clear priorities, being intentional with your time, and leaning on a trusted support system.

I make it a point to delegate effectively and utilise technology to streamline operations, which frees up precious time to be fully present with family and pursue personal interests.

Over the years, Ive learned that setting firm boundaries and scheduling quality downtime not only recharges me personally but also enhances my effectiveness as a leader.

Ultimately, its about creating a sustainable rhythm where work and life feed into one another, ensuring I bring my best self to every aspect of my life.

PT: This years International Womens Day theme is Accelerate Action. What does this theme mean to you and how does it reflect your leadership approach?

Mrs Omo: For me, Accelerate Action is a mindsetits about seizing opportunities, driving change, and taking bold steps toward progress.

Throughout my career, Ive seen how timely decisions and innovative thinking can transform industries.

At Enterprise Life Assurance Nigeria, weve embraced this by leading digital transformation efforts that make insurance more accessible.

This theme is a call for women to step up, act, and create lasting impact. Whether its breaking barriers, mentoring the next generation, or driving change in our communities, we all have a role to play in accelerating progress.

Leadership isnt about waiting for the right momentits about making things happen now.

This interview was conducted in partnership with Women in Management, Business, and Public Service (WIMBIZ), a Nigerian non-profit organisation committed to advancing and empowering women in leadership. Mrs Omo is also a member of WIMBIZ.

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Motherhood should signify new beginnings, not a life-threatening experience. Yet, for millions of women around the world, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, pregnancy and childbirth continue to be fraught with danger.

Inadequate access to quality healthcare, a shortage of skilled birth attendants, poor infrastructure, and systemic failures have turned what should be a time of hope into a life-threatening experience.

Nigeria has one of the highest burdens of maternal and newborn mortality. Every day, women and infants die from preventable causesdeaths that reflect deep-rooted inequities in the healthcare system.

PREMIUM TIMES takes a closer look at the state of maternal and newborn health in Nigeria.

What data says

Maternal mortality remains a pressing global health challenge, with devastating effects on families and communities.

The leading causes of maternal and neonatal deaths can be attributed to severe bleeding (postpartum haemorrhage), infections, and high blood pressure disorders (eclampsia and pre-eclampsia).

A 2023 report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) highlighted the severity of the crisis, revealing that a woman dies from pregnancy-related complications every two minutes. This translates to nearly 800 deaths per day, the majority of which are preventable with adequate healthcare interventions.

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The situation is particularly dire in Africa, which accounted for 70 per cent of maternal deaths worldwide in 2020. Within the region, Nigeria was one of the worst-affected countries.

Data from the WHO estimates Nigerias maternal mortality ratio (MMR) at 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births, making it the country with the third-highest maternal mortality rate globally.

In April 2024, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, reported that approximately 57,000 Nigerian mothers died in 2023 due to pregnancy and childbirth complications.

Apart from maternal deaths, newborn survival remains a significant concern. A United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) report stated that approximately 262,000 babies die at birth in Nigeria each year, the second highest in the world.

All of this can be linked to poor healthcare infrastructure, limited access to skilled birth attendants, and inadequate emergency obstetric care.

Poor health system, other contributing factors

A recent investigation by Premium Times buttresses the reality of Nigerias inadequate healthcare system. The report exposed the severe lack of maternal care in Ogun State, where many women are forced to seek healthcare in neighbouring Benin Republic due to the poor state of local hospitals within that state.

The report highlighted the case of Kehinde Ogundipe, a Nigerian mother who carried quadruplets. With no access to a functional hospital in her state, she delivered at home, a scenario that could have led to fatal complications. It was only after her condition worsened that her neighbours rushed her and her newborns to Benin Republics Hopital De Zone De Pobe.

According to the 2023 Nigeria Maternal and Newborn Health Country Profile, the North-east zone experiences some of the countrys worst maternal and newborn health outcomes due to prolonged conflict, primarily driven by the Boko Haram insurgency.

The ongoing insecurity has led to widespread displacement, disrupted livelihoods, food shortages, and protection concerns, further straining maternal healthcare in the region.

A consultant family physician, Agbor Ebuta, linked Nigerias maternal and neonatal health crisis to systemic inefficiencies, with financial barriers being a major challenge.

Mr Ebuta said Nigeria consistently budgets an average of five per cent of its annual budget for health, which is grossly inadequate.

In addition, even when budgets are drawn up, actual release for the cash office falls short significantly, and is typically delayed, he said.

Mr Ebuta, who is also the vice president of the Medical Initiative for Africa, highlighted Nigerias weak health insurance, stating that it has less than 10 per cent coverage, which has left many to bear high out-of-pocket costs.

He noted that the shortage of healthcare workers is worsening the crisis, with only 55,000 doctors left in the country.

He said rural communities bear the brunt, with shortages in staff, infrastructure, and essential medicines, exacerbated by insecurity, which has driven healthcare workers to cities.

Mr Ebuta further explained that Nigerias weak primary healthcare system, is another concern, with less than 10,000 of 30,000 PHCs functional.

He said some of these PHCs are lacking basic equipment needed to provide effective health service delivery.

Comparing Nigeria to neighbouring countries, he mentioned Ghanas 70 per cent health insurance coverage, which has improved maternal care, while Cameroon lags at just two per cent.

Ghana presently has an insurance uptake of 70 per cent  which means that more members of the population have access to care. Cameroon has an insignificant health insurance uptake of two per cent, an abysmal figure when compared to Nigeria.

He emphasised that expanding health insurance, strengthening PHC supervision, improving healthcare worker welfare, ensuring budget transparency, and conducting regular audits are crucial to improving maternal and neonatal health.

Without these reforms, he warned, Nigerias high mortality rates will persist.

Impact of climate change on maternal and neonatal health

Beyond medical and socio-economic barriers, environmental factors are increasingly shaping maternal and newborn health outcomes in Nigeria.

Rising temperatures, worsening air pollution, and growing food insecurity, driven by climate change, have been linked to higher risks for expectant mothers and infants, particularly in tropical regions.

A study by the WHO found that for every one degree celsius increase in temperature beyond 23.9 degree celsius, the risk of infant mortality rises by up to 22.4 per cent.

Nicholas Adeniyi, a project officer at the Centre for Journalism, Innovation, and Development (CJID) and a climate change expert, explained that rising temperatures in tropical regions accelerate the breeding of microbes, nematodes, and disease-carrying insects, increasing the prevalence of infections such as malaria and Lassa fever.

Changes in weather patterns and rising global temperatures disrupt ecological balance, creating conditions that threaten maternal and neonatal health whose immune systems are more vulnerable, he said.

A study titled Climate Change Impacts on Maternal Health and Pregnancy Outcomes in Africa found that climate-related increases in tropical and waterborne illnesses disproportionately affect expectant mothers, contributing to higher maternal mortality rates.

Mr Adeniyi highlighted that beyond vector-borne diseases, climate-induced waterborne infections such as cholera and typhoid are also on the rise, particularly in flood-prone areas.

This aligns with a report from Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), which indicated in its 27 January  2 February 2025 cholera outbreak report that a surge in cases disproportionately affected rural communities with poor sanitation and inadequate healthcare facilities.

Mr Adeniyi further explained that while most people can rely on medications to treat these infections, pregnant women face higher risks, as many treatments could harm foetal development. In regions with limited healthcare access, the lack of timely medical intervention only heightens the danger.

Food insecurity, Mr Adeniyi noted, is another consequence of climate change and a growing threat to maternal and newborn health.

He explained that erratic weather patterns, prolonged droughts, and pest infestations have led to rising food prices and reduced availability of nutritious produce, worsening malnutrition among expectant mothers.

This concern is supported by a 2024 study published in the International Journal of Maternal Health, which found that food insecurity among pregnant women is a significant determinant of poor maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

The study highlighted how inadequate access to nutritious food during pregnancy increases the risk of maternal underweight, foetal growth restrictions, and long-term health complications for both mother and child.

Given the far-reaching effects of climate change on maternal health, Mr Adeniyi stressed the need for climate-inclusive health policies. He emphasised that climate change is not a sector-specific issue but an all-encompassing challenge that requires integration across various policies, including maternal health interventions.

The role of diagnostics in maternal and newborn health

Accurate and timely diagnostics are crucial in maternal and newborn healthcare, enabling early detection, effective treatment, and improved survival rates.

Oghenemaro Onoronu, business head of diagnostic instruments at ISN Products Nigeria, highlighted the importance of diagnostic advancements in improving maternal and neonatal care.

According to him, genetic testing, including non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), is a significant breakthrough in detecting potential health risks early.

Mr Onoronu added that automation in microbiology and haematology systems can enhance the detection of infections such as sepsis, which remains a leading cause of neonatal mortality.

While some progress has been made, especially in Lagos, where primary healthcare centres now have basic haematology machines, he stressed that access to quality diagnostics remains a challenge, particularly in rural areas.

Many facilities lack essential tools, leaving healthcare workers reliant on manual methods or portable ultrasound machines from visiting doctors.

Beyond infrastructure, he identified healthcare financing and skilled manpower as critical barriers to effective diagnostics.

He stated that many healthcare facilities struggle to procure essential diagnostic equipment due to limited funding.

Additionally, he mentioned that the shortage of trained personnel, particularly in maternal and neonatal care, limits the effectiveness of available diagnostic tools.

Making a financial comparison, he highlighted that other countries provide financial support for healthcare investments, but Nigerian banks often lack specialised loan packages for healthcare providers.

He emphasised the need for greater investment in automated diagnostic systems to improve early detection and intervention.

Mr Onoronu further pointed out policy efforts addressing these issues, stating that programmes like the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMI) and the recent push for free caesarean sections are steps in the right direction.

He added that sustained investment in diagnostics, healthcare funding, and workforce development will be essential in reducing Nigerias high maternal and neonatal mortality rates.

Bridging the gaps in maternal and neonatal healthcare

The theme for this years World Health Day, Healthy beginnings, hopeful futures, highlighted the importance of maternal and newborn health, recognising the well-being of mothers and babies.

The theme focused on ending preventable deaths and ensuring that every woman receives proper care during pregnancy and childbirth, while every newborn has the best possible start in life.

WHO said the campaign will urge governments and the health community to ramp up efforts to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, and to prioritise womens longer-term health and well-being.

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The Nigerian police said they have extradited Benjamin Nnayereugo who killed his girlfriend, Augusta Onuwabhagbe, a 21-year-old first-class student of Lead City University, Ibadan, Oyo State.

Also known as Killaboi, Mr Nnayereugo was extracted from Doha in Qatar, the police spokesperson, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, disclosed in a statement on Saturday.

Mr Adejobi said the suspect was extradited back to Nigeria in the early hours of Saturday.

He said the extradition was made possible through coordinated efforts with the Ministry of Justice, INTERPOL National Central Bureau (NCB), Force Headquarters Abuja and the Qatari Judicial Authorities.

Mr Adejobi added that the extradition followed a petition from the family of the deceased. According to him, the petition was submitted through their legal representatives on 29 September 2024.

The matter was assigned to INTERPOL NCB Abuja for investigation, the police spokesperson said.

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PREMIUM TIMES reports that in July 2023, Mr Nnayereugo allegedly killed Ms Onuwabhagbe at his Lagos residence. He later fled the country and subsequently released a video, admitting to the crime.

READ ALSO: Police detain activist for criticising Borno government official

Mr Nnayereugo was later arrested in Sierra Leone in October 2023, but he escaped following a prison break a month later. He was arrested under a false identity, Kanu Samuel.

Further intelligence gathering revealed that the suspect continued to evade law enforcement, traversing multiple regions including West Africa, East Asia and the Middle East, under forged identities before eventually relocating to Doha, Qatar on 24th January, 2025, Mr Adejobi said.

The suspect was arrested in Qatar under a false Guinea passport with the name Toure Abdoulaye.

The police said he secured illegal employment and concealed his identity with the false passport.

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On the cover pages of many Nigerian newspapers, the reactions of Former Rivers governor, Nyesom Wike to the suspension of the state government was the major headline.

I wanted Fubara out, not just emergency rule  Wike reveals, First News reported.

This Days headline read, Wike: Tinubu saved Fubara by declaring state of emergency, I wanted him out.



Vanguard reported, I wanted Fubaras outright removal Wike.

Wike opens up on Rivers crisis, Atikus coalition moves, others, according to The Matrix.

Meanwhile, The Nation reported,Easter: Tinubu orders decisive action on security.



Ahead 2027: Why oppositions fortunes appear gloomy, the Guardian headline read.



Orkar coup: Why I kept mute for 35 years  Gwadabe, Daily Trust reported.

Suspected herdsmen kill many in Benue, according to Tribune.



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How CBEX promoters used EFCC, CAC certificates to deceive 600,000 investors, Punch reported.



15,000 Nigerian children died of HIV last year  First Lady, The Hope reported.



Blueprint reported, Experts suggest way out for Nigeria, Africa as Trump tariff war rages.

Three Nigerian girls lured into sex trade by aunties rescued from Ghana, Daily Times reported.

Were not witches: Abandoned elderly seek family support, government intervention at Easter, an Independent newspaper headline read.

We thank Abiola Ayankunbi, a media management expert, for providing screenshots of the newspapers front pages.

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Governor Charles Soludos administration has fought heavy insecurity to a standstill in Anambra State, an official has claimed.

Christian Aburime, the spokesperson to Mr Soludo, said in an opinion article on Saturday that the state trembled the weight of fear of insecurity three years ago before the election of the governor.

He forwarded the article to PREMIUM TIMES.

Mr Aburime alluded to the frequent attacks by armed persons who killed many, razed facilities and kidnapped several people.

But under Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, a decisive battle began not just to secure lives and property but to lay the foundation for a peaceful, livable, and prosperous homeland.

Today, Anambra is no longer a dreaded zone; it is becoming a sanctuary of safety and peace, he claimed.

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What Soludo met on assumption of office and his response

Mr Aburime said Mr Soludo, on assumption of office, met nine local government areas that were under the grip of terror with gunmen occupying the areas.

His (Soludo) response was immediate, strategic, and unflinching.

The creation of a 250-man Anambra Vigilante Group Strike Force, coordinated security synergy, and high-tech interventions, including AI surveillance and robust intelligence gathering, dismantled over 60 criminal camps, he said.

Hidden shrines, decomposed bodies, ransom records: Anambra stared down its demons.

More efforts on insecurity

Mr Aburime said Governor Soludo further gave the war on crime and insecurity a new lease in January when he signed into law the Homeland Security Law of 2025.

The spokesperson noted that the new law established Agunechemba, a vigilante group, and integrated smart technology into law enforcement.

Beyond the new vigilante group, the new law also legalised a security operation called Udo Ka Achi tasked with the responsibility of checking insecurity in the state.

The security operation, according to the law, involves personnel of the newly created Agunechemba, Nigeria Police Force, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps and troops of the Nigerian army, among others.

Over 2,000 security operatives and 200 specialised vehicles were deployed, combing not just Onitsha or Awka and other crime-prone areas but also the psychological climate of the entire state.

The slogan Udo ga achi (peace shall reign) is no longer a wishful thinking; it is reality as Ndi Anambra can sleep with two eyes closed, live unmolested, work unrestrained, socialise freely and visit unscared, Mr Aburime said.

The governors spokesperson said Mr Soludo further addressed the palpable psychological fears among residents of Anambra by setting up the Truth, Justice and Peace Commission headed by Chidi Odinkalu, a professor.

This body explored root causes of insecurity, giving rise to the Bureau of Missing Persons, the first of its kind in Nigeria.

Governor Soludo is also passionately advocating value reformation  a mental and moral shift of Anambra youth from criminal get-rich-quick pursuits to the ennobling values of hard work, honesty, enterprise, and integrity as a sustainable path to wealth and good life, he stated.

Arrests of crime suspects

Mr Aburime said Mr Soludo also waged war against touts in markets and motor parks across Anambra State.

Over 1,500 touts were arrested by the Anambra State Special Anti-Touting Squad, restoring sanity in the bustling Greater Onitsha metropolis.

Twenty executive bills, ranging from Anti-Touting to Criminal Justice Reforms, have been signed into law, he said.

The spokesperson added that law enforcement and judicial reform also received attention from the governor.

With digital courtrooms, virtual hearings in 30 high courts and four correctional centres, and automated filing systems, Anambras justice delivery has evolved into a model of modern efficiency.

Small claims courts now resolve minor disputes swiftly, a vital innovation for the common man, he said.

Continuing, he said: Today, three good years on Governor Soludos crusade against insecurity and lawlessness is not just about arresting criminals; it is about building a just, wholesome society.

With a justice system that works, technology-driven enforcement, and strategic legislative reforms, Anambra has moved from anxiety to assurance, from fear to freedom.

Security is truly improving in Anambra, but

Arinze Ajazue, an entrepreneur at the popular Onitsha Main Market in Anambra State, told PREMIUM TIMES on Saturday that security has truly improved in the state.

However, Mr Ajazue, who has stayed in Anambra for over 20 years, said security worsened in Anambra under Mr Soludo in 2024 before the recent improvement.

For instance, last year, people were being abducted on a daily basis at Awka Road (in Onitsha).

The government continued denying the kidnap attacks until the kidnappers abducted a Catholic priest which Father Ebube Mounso spoke on before they set up Agunechemba, he said.

The entrepreneur argued that no local government area was under the occupation and control of gunmen in Anambra State in 2022.

He said that, at the moment, there have been fears in Anambra that Agunechemba operatives might have been set up for a different reason other than checking insecurity.

The truth is that when these people (Agunechemba operatives) came in, they worked very well. But now they are turning into another thing in society, he said.

Mr Ajazue explained that the security outfit has been accused of engaging in extortion of residents and extrajudicial killings in Anambra, citing the recent incident in Nnewi.

Soludos political opponents are now alleging that he set up the outfit to use them in the forthcoming election, he said.

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Melanoma is the most dangerous type of skin cancer, with a higher risk of death. It occurs when melanocytes, the cells that give the skin its tan, begin to grow out of control.

This abnormal growth of skin cells develops on areas of the skin exposed to the sun, like the face, neck, and arms, but it can also appear on parts of the body not typically exposed. The mole can grow in the nose and throat.

Like other types of skin cancer, the disease is caused by damage from ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun.

Contrary to the myth that skin cancers do not affect dark-skinned people. Research has shown that the disease can affect anyone irrespective of skin colour.

In Nigeria, skin cancer is the 6th most common type of cancer, and about 65,258 new cases of skin cancer occur annually.

Also, for every 100,000 people, about 52 are expected to get skin cancer annually, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH).

Melanoma makes up about three to five per cent of all skin cancers but accounts for about 75 per cent of the mortality.

However, Melanoma is highly curable if detected early.

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To help individuals identify potentially cancerous moles, the American Academy of Dermatology (ADD), in the 1980s, suggested the ABCDE rule. Several health bodies and professionals have since endorsed it.

The rule is a practical tool for the early identification of aggressive melanoma disease.

In this report, PREMIUM TIMES gives a breakdown of the ABCDE rule as highlighted by the ADD.

The rule

A  Asymmetry

Moles are common skin growths that develop when melanocytesthe cells that give your skin its pigmentgrow in clusters instead of spreading out evenly. They are usually healthy with uniform colour and do not change over time.

However, they can also be a symptom of melanoma. In this case, the moles are not typically symmetrical. One half of the mole is noticeably different in shape, size, or thickness from the other.

According to the ADD, this irregularity is a key red flag.

B  Border

Unlike health moles, which are smooth and even, the edges of potential melanomas are irregular, ragged, and scalloped. The ADD recommended paying attention to a moles poorly defined edge.

C  Color

According to the AAD, a melanoma mole has multiple colours or shades, such as brown, black, tan, red, white, or blue, instead of being one uniform color.

If the colour of the mole or pigmented spot varies from one area to the next, this could be a sign of melanoma.

D  Diameter

This focuses on the size of the mole. Sometimes, melanoma pigmentation can be small. But if it is larger than 6mm, it could be a symptom of skin cancer.

Health professionals equate this size to be about the size of a pencil eraser.

E  Evolving

This indicates a change in the moles size, shape, and colour, as well as when it starts to itch, bleed, or crust.

Health experts have urged patients to see a dermatologist immediately if they notice these symptoms, especially E, which indicates the swift changes in a mole.

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The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Olayemi Cardoso, and the banks Director of Legal Services, Salam-Alada Kofo, are facing contempt proceedings for alleged non-compliance with a Supreme Court judgement ordering the release of funds to a firm linked to the controversial Paris Club Refund.

The contempt suit was filed by Melrose General Services Limited, which claims the CBN has failed to fully implement a June 2024 Supreme Court judgement that reversed the forfeiture of its funds.

Judge Inyang Ekwo of the Federal High Court in Abuja has scheduled the next hearing for 4 June.

The Supreme Court had overturned an earlier forfeiture order obtained by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against Melroses assets, ruling that the anti-graft agency failed to prove the funds were proceeds of fraud.

Specifically, the Supreme Court ordered the release of N1.22 billion in Melroses Access Bank account and an additional N220 million, which had been paid out by Melrose to Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness as loan and investment.

While the CBN has refunded the N1.22 billion, Melrose alleges the N220 million remains unpaid.

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Contempt proceedings begin

In response, Melroses legal team, led by Chikaosolu Ojukwu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), filed a contempt suit marked FHC/ABJ/CS/532/2025 against the CBN governor, the Legal Services Director, the EFCC, and the Minister of Finance.

The company argues that the continued withholding of the N220 million constitutes a willful violation of the Supreme Court judgement, thus undermining the authority of the judiciary.

Mr Ojukwu cited the Supreme Courts ruling which granted Melroses application to set aside the forfeiture of both the N1.22 billion and the N220 million, emphasising that full compliance is legally required.

Court orders

On 27 March, Mr Ekwo granted Melrose permission to serve contempt notices (Forms 48 and 49) on the CBN officials through substituted means.

The court also approved similar services for the Minister of Finance.

In addition, Mr Ekwo issued an order attaching N220 million in the Federation Account or any other CBN-managed account pending further court directives.

The respondents were given seven days from the date of service to respond.

Disputed interpretation

But at the resumed hearing on 10 April, Melroses counsel, Segun Fiki, confirmed that all parties except the Ministry of Finance had responded to the contempt filings.

The CBN, represented by lawyer Abdulfatai Oyedele, filed a preliminary objection and counter-affidavit.

The lawyer argued that the Supreme Court did not mandate payment of the N220 million directly to Melrose but rather to the accounts of Wasp Networks and Thebe Wellness, where the funds were initially forfeited.

According to the CBN, Wasp Networks solicitors have requested N200 million, while Thebe Wellness has yet to claim the remaining N20 million.

The bank maintained that it has complied with the judgement and denied any wrongdoing.

The EFCC, represented by M. A. Babatunde, also filed a motion challenging its inclusion in the contempt proceedings, describing it as a misjoinder.

The case has been adjourned till 4 June, with the court expected to determine whether the CBN and its officials have defied the Supreme Courts ruling or whether their actions are defensible based on their interpretation of the judgement.

Background

The controversy is rooted in the multi-billion-dollar Paris Club Refund, which involved payments to consultants and contractors engaged by state and local governments to recover excess deductions made by the federal government between 1995 and 2002.

In March 2019, the EFCC alleged that former Senate President Bukola Saraki and some of his aides laundered a N3.5 billion Paris Club loan refund.

The N3.5 billion was allegedly part of the N522 billion loan refund disbursed to all the states of the federation in December.

The EFCC had sent a report to former President Muhammadu Buhari alleging that the said amount was paid by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) into the bank account of Melrose General Services, a company owned by Robert Mbonu, an associate of Mr Saraki.

NGF had reportedly hired Mr Mbonu as its consultant on the deal.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that several entities, including Melrose, claimed they were entitled to significant compensation for services rendered.

However, legal disputes arose over the legitimacy of the claims and the payments made, culminating in a series of court battles involving the Nigerian Governors Forum, the EFCC, and other stakeholders.

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In recent times, there has been deliberate and well-planned orchestration of falsehood against the vice presidents person and office in many multidimensional forms. These mischievous and totally fabricated reports are all in a bid to cause confusion and insinuate total clash in the Presidency. These reports seek to mislead the public into believing theres discord at the highest levels of government.

The latest in this string of disinformation is a report claiming that the Vice President has been refused entry to the Villa. This is a feeble attempt to traduce the person and office of His Excellency, Vice President Kashim Shettima, GCON. For the record, NOTHING OF THE SORT EVER HAPPENED.

The recent publication by some obscure blogs alleging that armed military units have barricaded the Vice President from accessing the Presidential Villa is not only the wildest expression of wishful thinking but a clear indication that the purveyors of these tales have exhausted both ink and imagination. It is a story so far removed from reality that it can only be entertained by those unfamiliar with the inner workings of the Nigerian government.

Earlier this week, the Presidency dismissed similar fake news regarding responsibility for the circulation of campaign posters bearing the images of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR. These stories reflect a desperate attempt to undermine the President and his Deputys fidelity to the rule of law and our constitution. Let it be known that those pushing these falsehoods do so in vain.

It is understandable, though regrettable, that the mischief-makers continue to underestimate the strength of the bond and goodwill between the President and the Vice President. However, their questionable sources or habitual reliance on misinformation have once again led them astray. These fairy tales they publish serve no purpose beyond mischief and distraction.

The Vice President remains focused on his duties and on supporting the President in achieving the aspirations of Nigerians. He does not have the luxury of time for distractions, particularly those born of the imagination of individuals intent on creating smoke where there is no fire. Hes not and will never partake in their media circus. It is a futile pursuit, even by the standards of the morally indifferent.

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We commend Nigerians across all divides who continue to express goodwill towards this administration and who have taken it upon themselves to fight the spread of fake news. Your trust and support are deeply appreciated. The covenant between this government and the citizens of Nigeria was made possible through a legitimate and constitutional process. No amount of falsehood or manufactured tension can shake the foundation of that democratic mandate. Not under the watch of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.

We encourage the public to disregard such malicious publications and the media to continue seeking information from credible sources and to approach sensational claims with the caution they deserve. This we owe ourselves collectively as a nation.

Stanley Nkwocha

Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications

(Office of The Vice President)

19th April, 2025

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One person has been confirmed dead and 13 others rescued after a three-storey building collapsed on Saturday in the Ojodu-Berger area of Lagos.

The building, which reportedly housed the popular Equal Right Restaurant, came crashing down around 8 a.m., catching residents and passersby unawares.

It was said to be undergoing construction work at the time of the collapse.

Emergency response teams from the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), and other agencies were deployed to the scene following a distress call received by NEMA at 8:32 a.m.

NEMA confirmed the casualty in a preliminary report, stating, Twelve victims have been rescued so far, with one adult confirmed dead.

However, that figure later rose to 13 rescued so far, including restaurant staff, customers, and an entire family who were inside the building when it gave way.

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The cause of the collapse remains undetermined, but residents say they had long raised concerns about the structural integrity of the building.

That building was a ticking time bomb, one resident who spoke anonymously told Punch. I barely went there to buy food because I was always afraid it would come down one day.

LASEMA has attributed the incident to unapproved structural modifications.

It was an old building converted into an eatery. Additional construction had been carried out on it before the structure finally collapsed, said LASEMAs Permanent Secretary, Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.

He said five adult women were among those rescued and treated at the scene.

We are proceeding methodically, using both heavy and light-duty equipment to get to ground zero, Mr Oke-Osanyintolu said. We have credible information that more people may still be under the rubble, so our search is ongoing, layer by layer.

By Saturday evening, a joint rescue operation involving NEMA, LASEMA, the Lagos State Fire and Rescue Service, the Nigeria Police, and other agencies was still underway.

NEMA and LASEMA have since cordoned off the site and launched a formal investigation.

This is a serious warning against tampering with ageing structures, Mr Oke-Osanyintolu warned, urging property owners to seek proper approvals before making alterations to existing buildings.

Building collapse epidemic

Saturdays collapse is the second in Lagos within a few weeks.

PREMIUM TIMES reported that a building under construction at Northern Vulture Estate on Chevron Drive, Lekki, collapsed, claiming the lives of a teenage boy and two men.

LASEMA said six others were seriously injured in that incident.

A young boy, about 15 years old, and two adult males were recovered, confirmed dead, and subsequently bagged by emergency responders, said Mr Oke-Osanyintolu.

The Lekki structure was later demolished after a full-scale search and rescue operation.

Investigations into the causes of both collapses are ongoing.

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Europeans would not allow Haiti breathe  France and Britain  imposed a blockade, making it difficult for Haiti to trade. Finally in 1825, France, with the backing of some European countries, sent a massive expedition to Haiti and, with military threat to invade the young nation, imposed a tax of 150 million francs or todays US$105 billion. It said the tax was compensation to the French government and former French slave owners for their loss of revenue from colonialism and slavery.

It was a day of mourning. Thursday, 17 April was exactly 200 years that France imposed an evil tax on Haiti for daring to stop slavery and securing its independence. Haiti, till date, is in deep crises mainly due to the debilitating effects of that criminal tax and interferences from Europe and the United States (US).

Haiti struck a death blow against slavery and colonialism by militarily defeating a combination of the French and British forces, after a 13-year war of liberation which began on 21 August, 1791. It was initially an uneven war in which the European armies had vastly superior military advantages, and the revolt was considered a walkover. But the enslaving countries did not factor in the determination of a people to free themselves from being owned like cattle. Despite the frightening casualties of over 350,000 black people killed in the revolt, the revolutionaries never gave up. For them, it was either victory or death. The Europeans did not concede defeat until about 75,000 of them had been killed. The British were the first to flee, abandoning their French first cousins. Then the French followed, and the heroic Haitians, on 1 January, 1804, declared independence.

The revolution produced some of the most brilliant fighters in world history: Toussaint Louverture, who led the revolt until his capture in 1802 and subsequent death in a French prison, and his successor, Jean-Jacques Dessalines.

After militarily breaking the back of the Europeans, Dessalines, on 23 June, 1803, wrote US President Thomas Jefferson. The revolutionaries had seized a US ship, The Federal. Dessalines, in releasing the ship, sent the letter through its captain, Nehemiah Barr. In it, he indirectly justified the Haitian Revolution on the basis of the US revolt against British colonialism. He also gave an update: The people of Saint-Domingue (Haiti) tired of paying with our blood the price of our blind allegiance to a mother country that cuts her childrens throats, and following the example of the wisest nations, have thrown off the yoke of tyranny and sworn to expel the torturers. Our countryside is already purged of their sight. A few cities are still under their domination but have nothing further to offer to their avid rapacity. He then assured Jefferson of good trade between their nations.

After independence, Dessalines, the new leader, declared: It is not enough to have expelled the barbarians who have bloodied our land for two centuries  We must, with one last act of national authority, forever assure the empire of liberty in the country of our birth; we must take any hope of re-enslaving us away from the inhuman government . In the end we must live independent or die.

However, the sins of Haiti were not just its humiliation of European super powers by black people employing superior military strategies and powers. For the Europeans, this first successful slave revolt was a bad example for all enslaved, colonised or oppressed peoples. The pointed lesson of the Haitian Revolution is that all oppressed people can liberate themselves no matter how powerful their oppressors are.

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The French ransom tax was paid off in 1947, leaving the Haitian economy in poor shape. But tragically, a conscienceless dictatorship backed by the Europeans took over the country ten years later. It was led by Francois Duvalier, alias Papa Doc, which not only brutalised the citizenry and stole the country blind, but also vastly increased its debts. When he died in 1971, his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, alias Baby Doc, continued the brutal dictatorship. He ruled for 15 years until a mass revolt ended his rule in February, 1986.

Perhaps the greatest danger the Haitian Revolution posed to the European enslavers and colonialists was its helping to free some other colonies like Brazil, Bolivia, Venezuela, Nicaragua, Ecuador, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Northern Peru and Guyana.

The Europeans were also alarmed that the Haitians planned to send liberation fighters to free Africa from the colonial masters. Dessalines had asked rhetorically: The Blacks whose fathers are in Africa, will they have nothing? He was assassinated two years after independence.

But the Europeans would not allow Haiti breathe  France and Britain  imposed a blockade, making it difficult for Haiti to trade. Finally in 1825, France, with the backing of some European countries, sent a massive expedition to Haiti and, with military threat to invade the young nation, imposed a tax of 150 million francs or todays US$105 billion. It said the tax was compensation to the French government and former French slave owners for their loss of revenue from colonialism and slavery.

The amount was three times the GDP of Haiti and the country, faced with military invasion and an economy weakened by blockade, was forced to agree. It took Haiti 122 years to pay this evil tax through French banks and the US Citibank.

The French ransom tax was paid off in 1947, leaving the Haitian economy in poor shape. But tragically, a conscienceless dictatorship backed by the Europeans took over the country ten years later. It was led by Francois Duvalier, alias Papa Doc, which not only brutalised the citizenry and stole the country blind, but also vastly increased its debts. When he died in 1971, his son, Jean-Claude Duvalier, alias Baby Doc, continued the brutal dictatorship. He ruled for 15 years until a mass revolt ended his rule in February, 1986.

In the 29-year iron rule by the Duvaliers, 40,000  60,000 Haitians were killed and many more tortured and injured. To achieve this level of bestiality, the Duvalier dynasty ran its own private militia called the Tontons Macoutes. Also, hundreds of thousands fled the country.

There is the need for the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to find a solution to the situation of the country They should also get the United Nations to resume its stabilisation mission in Haiti, which it abandoned since 13 April, 2017. This will be an independent force compared to Kenyan policemen backed by countries with private interests. The Haitian situation is a human, not race, problem. So, all humanity should join hands in ensuring a solution to it.

The post-Duvalier era was not so bright. By 1990, the country used 80 per cent of its income for debt repayment. The main leader who made a difference was Father Jean-Bertrand Aristide, who was elected president in December, 1990, after winning 67 per cent of the votes. He was overthrown in September 1991 for embarking on pro-poor schemes such massive education, healthcare and empowerment programmes. He was reinstated in 1994 through US pressure. He lost election the following year but was re-elected in 2000, with 92 per cent of the votes. However, Aristide was again overthrown in a 2004 coup, which he said was carried out by France and the US.

Meanwhile the centre could no longer hold in Haiti, a situation worsened by a 2010 category 7 earthquake in which 222, 570 were killed, over 300,000 injured, and 1.3 million displaced.

Haitian President Jovenel Moise was, on 7 July, 2021, assassinated in his home by foreign mercenaries. Haiti has since degenerated into a state of lawlessness under the control of armed gangs.

There is the need for the African Union (AU), in collaboration with the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), to find a solution to the situation of the country.

They should also get the United Nations to resume its stabilisation mission in Haiti, which it abandoned since 13 April, 2017. This will be an independent force compared to Kenyan policemen backed by countries with private interests. The Haitian situation is a human, not race, problem. So, all humanity should join hands in ensuring a solution to it.

Meanwhile, France should refund the freedom tax it started extorting from Haiti 200 years ago. You want to see the face of a thief? Look at France.

Owei Lakemfa, a former secretary general of African workers, is a human rights activist, journalist and author.

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Never before have Nigerians found themselves in such a dire predicament, where the fate of an entire nation hinges on the whims of a single individual. One man handpicks who becomes governor or sole administrator, decides who gets even a whiff of justice, and determines whether were allowed to peacefully protest the hardship we endure. It feels eerily akin to life in North Korea, where the Mount Paektu bloodline rules with absolute authority  or worse, King Leopolds Belgian Congo, governed like a private estate. In Nigerian street lingo: We don enter one chance.

From the very inception of his presidency, President Tinubus modus operandi has been brazenly transparent: surround himself with the ethically compromised and those with criminal indictments hanging over their heads, thereby binding them with the invisible chains of coercion and blackmail. The individual enthroned as Senate President did not contest in his partys senatorial primary election and was under investigation by the EFCC for allegedly looting a staggering N108 billion from his states coffers while serving as governor.

Equally unsettling is the appointment of Nigerias most senior judicial officer, the head of the judiciary, who, not long ago, presided over the judicial sleight of hand that inexplicably installed a fourth-place gubernatorial candidate as governor. At some point, one cannot help but wonder: Is this governance, or a dark ritual of political sorcery masquerading as statecraft?

One thing is indisputable: Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a master of political strategy. Over the years, he has astutely refined his political acumen, securing his enduring relevance and power in Nigerian politics. For a man who vacated the governors mansion in Alausa in 2007, surrounded by a large army of loyalists, he has continued to exert an almost dictatorial influence over the political direction of Lagos.

Those who dared challenge his authority learnt, oftentimes painfully, the extent of his power.

Having spent decades in the corridors of power, he has accumulated a formidable war chest, which he is always prepared to deploy with ruthless efficiency at the slightest provocation. His collaborators are acutely aware that loyalty to him is richly rewarded, and they are thus willing to risk everything for him. If they find themselves in trouble, the Godfather need only make a couple of calls, and any transgression, no matter how grave, can be overlooked.

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Initially, Tinubu presented himself as a civil rights advocate, and over the years, he cultivated relationships with human rights activists and intellectuals, many of whom still regard him as a comrade and, therefore, are reluctant to criticise his administration. Even when they do, their criticisms tend to be tepid, as if to preempt any accusations of harbouring a former ally. In this way, Tinubu has managed to establish connections across all strata of Nigerian society, including Uber volatile militant groups in the Niger Delta.

During the run-up to the election that propelled him to the presidency, it became abundantly clear that the inner circle of President Buharis administration had no love for Tinubu. In fact, they had a favoured candidate in the form of Senator Ahmed Lawan. Yet, Tinubu is not a man to be easily sidelined, even by the power brokers around a sitting president. Despite the intrigues and maneuverings, Tinubu prevailed, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In contemporary Nigeria, opposition politics has all but ceased to exist, despite the ongoing charades. What remains are fragmented, underfunded groups, most of whom, I am certain, would readily abandon their cause if the right incentives are offered by the ruling APC.

In the Labour Party, Julius Abures tenure as chairman was marked by in-fighting, and his eventual dismissal by the Supreme Court underscored the dysfunction within the party. Abure was widely regarded as a mole, allegedly receiving compensation from certain factions in Abuja. Then you have a fellow called Lamidi Apapa, who continues to assert himself as the partys leader, playing the role of a spoiler with abandon.

In the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the situation is no better. The party has been eviscerated from within by figures like Nyesom Wike and the defection of no-value-add but garrulous members such as Femi Fani-Kayode and Reno Omokri. Today, the PDP is reduced to a shell of its former self, with only the irrepressible Dino Melaye left to dance Baba wen no well, E dey shout emilokan. One can only speculate how much longer this charade will continue. Even in the face of Wikes blatant anti-party actions, the partys leadership couldnt even summon the courage to censure him.

An observer unfamiliar with Tinubus game might be baffled by some of his political decisions, particularly with regard to his appointments. Consider the astonishing speed with which he forgave Reno Omokri and Femi Fani-Kayode, offering them ambassadorial positions in his administration. These are two individuals who, prior to the 2023 election, engaged in a ceaseless campaign of vitriol, hurling insults and personal attacks at him.

Yet, Tinubu, having honed his political instincts on the streets of Chicago, understands human nature well  he knows when individuals are motivated by hunger rather than ideology. Both Omokri and Fani-Kayode were clearly desperate for sustenance, and now, Tinubu has promised to nourish them. Once they are adequately fed, he will ensure that their disruptive presence is relegated to foreign shores, where their nuisance value will be minimal.

How about Mr Nasir El-Rufai, the former governor of Kaduna state, who was one of the Presidents pillars of support when the Buhari-era Aso-Rock cabal wanted to derail his bid? Well, despite Tinubus best efforts to accommodate the little vile man (apologies to Professor Chidi Odinkalu), El-Rufai continues to be such a slimy serpent incapable of being trusted. Besides, he was such a huge political liability, too toxic, that no one wants to really embrace him.

However, BATs appointments also highlight a crucial shift in the political landscape. In todays world, moderation is no longer an asset, it is a liability. To capture the attention of any leader, one must either be an unrelenting supporter or a fierce adversary. The middle ground is barren; it breeds irrelevance. Both Omokri and Fani-Kayode are adept at playing this game, constantly shifting allegiances and sharpening their rhetoric to stay in the limelight. Renos vocal confrontations with Peter Obi and the Obidients likely cemented his place in Tinubus favour.

If you are wondering why the American Cable News Network (CNN), a historically balanced network with a slight liberal tilt, lags behind Fox News, a far-right echo chamber, in ratings, it is because of its inability to stake a claim in the ideological divide. The right despises CNN, while the left remains indifferent, uncertain of where the networks loyalties truly lie. What was once the gold standard in media reporting is now struggling to remain relevant.

Tinubus camp is acutely aware of the opposition, and although he controls the full apparatus of the state executive, legislature, and judiciary, he is unwilling to take any chances. He knows that the northern factions remain ambivalent, and that the power of a northern coalition, with its propensity for sacrificing personal ambition for the collective interest, is formidable. In response, he has deployed Hope Uzodinma and his faction to Katsina to bolster Mai Gaskiya, a man whose loyalty to the APC he intends to leverage for the 2027 election.

Thus, a president who presided over a dark era, one whose memory Nigerians are eager to erase, is now being repackaged as a revered figure. Yet, when it comes to the North, Buhari enjoys far greater street credibility than figures like Atiku Abubakar or Rabiu Kwankwaso, which may explain why the current president still seeks the company of a man he helped crown but whose support for his own quest to become president was lethargic at best.

Bola Ahmed Tinubu is the modern-day Machiavelli, and it is as if he reads The Prince daily, reminding himself that a ruler need not be concerned with ethics, but rather with the most effective means of achieving his goals.

While his actions may serve his personal political survival and benefit his loyalists, one remains skeptical that this strategy will ultimately serve the Nigerian people, who are being pummeled from all sides and left bewildered by the spectacle they are witnessing. As the saying goes, a rope that is drawn too tightly is bound to snap at some point. It is time the Lion King of Bourdillon lets Nigeria breathe.

Osmund Agbo is a US-based medical doctor and author. His works include Black Grit, White Knuckles: The Philosophy of Black Renaissance and a fiction work titled The Velvet Court: Courtesan Chronicles. His latest works, Pray, Let the Shaman Die and Maam, I Do Not Come to You for Love, have just been released.

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From these stories, it becomes evident that the repercussions of the actions of the mentioned politicians extend beyond individual victims, affecting public trust in political institutions and the very fabric of democracy. By shedding light on these scandals, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by victims of harassment and the urgent need for reform in political and social systems in Nigeria.

In recent years, the issue of harassment has emerged as a significant concern within the political landscape of Nigeria. High-profile politicians, who are often seen as role models and leaders, have faced allegations that highlight a troubling pattern of behaviour that undermines the principles of respect and integrity.

Harassment, whether physical, sexual, or emotional, is not merely a personal failing, it reflects systemic issues within political structures that often prioritise power over accountability. The cases of politicians like Godswill Akpabio, Elisha Abbo, and Dino Melaye are emblematic of a broader culture in which misconduct can go unchecked, leading to a cycle of silence and impunity. As these figures navigate their political careers, the repercussions of their actions extend beyond individual victims, affecting public trust in political institutions and the very fabric of democracy.

This piece will delve into the stories of a number of prominent Nigerian politicians accused of harassment, examining the implications of their actions on societal norms, gender dynamics, and the political climate. By shedding light on these scandals, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by victims of harassment and the urgent need for reform in Nigerias political and social systems.

The Nigerian Senate, an institution tasked with enacting laws and upholding ethical standards, has frequently found itself mired in these controversies that highlight systemic issues of power, gender inequality, and accountability. Several cases spanning allegations of sexual harassment, physical/verbal assault, and domestic violence offer a sobering lens into how these challenges manifest at the highest levels of government.

Among the notable figures fingered in controversies in Nigeria is Godswill Akpabio, a two-time former governor of Akwa Ibom State, former minister of Niger Delta Affairs and currently the president of the Senate. During his tenure as minister of Niger Delta Affairs, allegations of sexual harassment were made against him by Dr Joi Nunieh, the former acting managing director of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). The accusation is contained in a sexual harassment petition she filed against Akpabio, which has kept her in the media spotlight for weeks.

The most recent controversy involves Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who, on 28 February publicly accused Mr Akpabio of making inappropriate advances at her, including during a visit to his residence in Akwa Ibom State on 8 December, 2023. Her petition, first submitted on 5 March, was dismissed on a technicality under Senate order 40 (4), which prohibits senators from submitting petitions they have signed themselves. Undeterred, she resubmitted her complaint on 6 March, just moments before facing a contentious suspension from the Senate. The dismissal and subsequent suspension of Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan underscore the barriers women face in seeking justice within institutions that often prioritise protecting their own over addressing misconduct.

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Such tactics of intimidation are not new to the Senate. In 2016, Dino Melaye, then a senator representing Kogi West, verbally assaulted Senator Oluremi Tinubu during a closed-door session. According to multiple media reports, Melaye allegedly told Tinubu, Look, this is not Bourdillon (referring to the Lagos residence of her husband, Bola Tinubu). I will beat you up, impregnate you, and nothing will happen. While he later denied using the forgoing specific phrasing, he admitted to using harsh language, claiming that he was provoked. Melayes statements, steeped in aggression and derogatory undertones, drew widespread condemnation and spotlighted the hostile environment women face, even in the upper echelons of power.

In March 2019, Mr Godiya Akwashiki, then the deputy speaker of the Nasarawa State House of Assembly and senator-elect for Nasarawa North Senatorial District, was involved in a widely publicised incident in Abuja. He was assaulted and stripped naked by individuals who accused him of attempting to engage in an affair with the wife of Alhaji Danladi Envuluanza, a fellow politician from Nasarawa State. A video of the incident circulated widely, showing Akwashiki tied and beaten.

Akwashiki denied the allegations, stating that he had never met Mr Envuluanzas wife and that the incident was a setup to embarrass him. He claimed that Envuluanza had invited him to the location under false pretence, leading to the assault. Following the incident, the FCT Police Command conducted an investigation. The investigation did not substantiate the allegations against Akwashiki. Instead, it established a prima facie case against Mr Envuluanza and his associates, of criminal conspiracy, abduction, assault, defamation of character, and wrongful restraint.

This pattern extends beyond the Senate to members of the House of Representatives. In 2016, during a visit to Cleveland, United States, for the International Visitor Leadership Program, three Nigerian lawmakers faced serious allegations. James Entwistle, the US ambassador to Nigeria at the time, accused Mohammed Gololo, Samuel Ikon, and Mark Gbillah of misconduct, ranging from attempted rape to the solicitation of prostitution.

Mohammed Gololo, representing Gamawa Federal Constituency, was alleged to have grabbed a hotel chambermaid and solicited sex from her. Despite denying the accusation in a letter to the US Embassy, the fallout was severe, with his visa revoked alongside those of the other accused lawmakers.

Similarly, Samuel Ikon, representing Etinan/Nsit Ibom/Nsit Ubium Federal Constituency, was accused of asking car park attendants to procure prostitutes for him. While he categorically denied the claims, labelling them as a case of mistaken identity, the allegations cast a shadow over his tenure.

C Mark Gbillah, representing Gwer East/Gwer West Federal Constituency, was also implicated in soliciting prostitution. Gbillah dismissed the allegations as an affront to Nigerias National Assembly and threatened legal action against the countrys Department of State, Marriott Hotel, the Cleveland Council of World Affairs and the US State Embassy, requesting for damages. Despite their protests, the revocation of their visas and the consequent international embarrassment underscored the gravity of the allegations.

From these stories, it becomes evident that the repercussions of the actions of the mentioned politicians extend beyond individual victims, affecting public trust in political institutions and the very fabric of democracy. By shedding light on these scandals, we aim to foster a deeper understanding of the challenges faced by victims of harassment and the urgent need for reform in political and social systems in Nigeria. Through this exploration, we hope to encourage a dialogue about accountability and the critical importance of creating a safe and respectful environment for all individuals, particularly women, in the political arena.

Osaruonamen Ibizugbe is a media communications and gender advocate with a proven track record in the fight against gender-based violence, GBV in Nigeria. She currently leads the Gender Project at the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development CJID.

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I began to reflect on the politicians I had supported. I remembered the ones I had fought for, cried for, and lost sleep over. None of them remembered me when they got to power. Not even a thank-you message. Not even a call to check on my wellbeing They moved on. They upgraded their lives. But the supporters? They remained where they were  forgotten, used, and dumped That was when I made a decision.

There was a time in my life when I was deeply in love with politics. I was so consumed by it that I practically lived and breathed political discussions. I followed politicians everywhere, attended rallies, and stood by them like a loyal disciple. I was that person you would always find in the company of a politician, smiling, cheering, and defending him with all my heart. I argued with friends, lost relationships, and even quarrelled with family members  just because they supported the opposition. My loyalty was fiery. I believed in the vision and mission of my preferred candidates, and I defended them like my life depended on it. I saw politics as a game of ideas and loyalty, where passion, dreams, and patriotism should lead.

But then, something happened  something that changed my perspective forever.

I began to notice a pattern. A disturbing one.

I realised that the politicians I so dearly supported had one thing in common  they never joked with their immediate families. Once the elections were won, the dynamics changed overnight. Their wives were no longer just wives; they instantly transformed into Her Excellency, surrounded by sirens and security personnel. Their children, who once played freely with others, suddenly became big boys and big ladies, cruising in luxury cars and living in mansions.

They formed a new circle  of power, privilege, and prestige. Accessing them became nearly impossible thereafter. Youd need to book appointments weeks in advance or become a sycophant, a bootlicker, always singing their praises, even when they failed the people.

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Unless you are like our friend from Kogi State  who polished his boss shoes with his tongue, when his oga, the illustrious son of Ilorin, held sway. You wouldnt even get a response to your text message.

I had to pause. I had to borrow myself some sense, as we say in Nigeria.

I asked myself: What is the true purpose of politics in Nigeria? Why do people truly join politics?

After observing, researching, and thinking deeply, I came up with four key reasons:

1. Money  Politics in Nigeria is one of the fastest routes to sudden wealth.

2. Power  To control others, influence systems, and dominate conversations.

3. Popularity  To become a household name, at least for the duration of your tenure.

4. Prestige  To feel and act like a big man for eight years or more.

Thats the bitter truth. And thats why many people are obsessed with politics.

In reality, for most politicians, its never about the people. Its never really about service or nation-building. Its about self. Its about me, my wife, and my children.

I began to reflect on the politicians I had supported. I remembered the ones I had fought for, cried for, and lost sleep over. None of them remembered me when they got to power. Not even a thank-you message. Not even a call to check on my wellbeing.

They moved on. They upgraded their lives. But the supporters? They remained where they were  forgotten, used, and dumped.

That was when I made a decision. I decided to stop attaching my emotions to politics. I chose to observe from a distance and vote wisely  not blindly. I started asking deeper questions, like: What has this candidate done in their community? How have they treated people when they had a little power?

Over time, I realised that most politicians in Africa share a common trait  selfishness. Extreme, unapologetic selfishness. Many see politics as a jackpot, a business venture, not a call to serve.

And who suffers the most? The followers. The loyalists. The street soldiers who carry placards and chant slogans. The people who fight on social media, risking their reputations for leaders who wont remember their names once they win.

In Nigeria, politics is a family business. The earlier the followers realise this, the better for them. Until we understand this bitter truth, the cycle of disappointment will continue.

But we can choose differently. We can learn. We can evolve.

We must stop worshipping politicians. We must stop seeing them as gods. They are not divine; they are human  flawed, ambitious, and often self-serving.

Let us support policies, not personalities. Let us champion ideas, not individuals. Let us invest our loyalty in principles, not propaganda.

May God bless every Nigerian who still believes in a better nation. May He touch the hearts of our politicians to genuinely serve the people. And may Allah open the eyes, minds, and hearts of the followers to understand their worth  and stop allowing themselves to be used like disposable tools.

Our nation will only rise when the followers become wiser than the leaders.

Ire ooo.

Wole Arisekola writes from Ibadan.

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Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi has reaffirmed the administrations steadfast commitment to sustaining the Open Defecation-Free (ODF) status recently achieved by the state.

The governor made this statement when the National Task Group on Sanitation (NTGS) monitoring team paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House, Dutse.

Upon receiving the team, Governor Namadi described the visit as not only important but timely, stressing that the achievement of ODF status was no small feat, and sustaining it would require even greater effort, resources, and innovation.

The open defecation-free (ODF) status we have attained was not an effortless feat. Attaining it is difficult, but sustaining it is even more challenging. I want to assure you that the Jigawa State Government has put in place comprehensive strategies, backed by strong commitment and resources, to ensure the sustainability of our ODF status, he said.

He revealed that the state has established a high-level Steering Committee and a Technical Committee comprising key permanent secretaries and professionals to oversee and monitor the sanitation and hygiene programme which, he noted, underlines the states seriousness in maintaining cleanliness and public health standards.

Highlighting concrete interventions, the governor announced that the state is constructing toilets in public schools and markets across the state and also disclosed a public-private partnership (PPP) arrangement for the maintenance of market toilets, where private managers are offered subsidies in return for keeping the facilities clean and functional.

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This approach, according to him, ensures accountability and preserves the investment in sanitation infrastructure.

When it is managed by the private sector, they see it as a means of livelihood. They will maintain it better than if it is run by the government alone.

On the broader sanitation and environmental sustainability efforts, Mr Namadi mentioned that over five million trees were planted in the previous year, and the same target has been set for the current year, reiterating that every public outing by the governor now includes a component that promotes environmental protection.

The governor emphasised that flood control remains a priority for the administration, with task forces at both state and local levels proactively working on mitigation.

Regarding flood control, we are proactive. The Ministry of Environment and a dedicated Flood Mitigation Task Force are working hard to prevent flooding. We have both state and local task forces  the state team includes external experts in water management. They continuously advise the government on best practices. Local task forces implement these recommendations by creating barricades and other physical interventions to divert floodwaters away from communities.

He assured that Jigawa State would remain a beacon of progress in sanitation, health, and environmental resilience, with other states drawing lessons from its approach.

Governor Namadi then expressed appreciation to the NTGS team for their diligence and commitment, urging them to continue engaging with local communities to deepen the impact of their interventions.

Once again, thank you for visiting Jigawa State. We appreciate your diligence  not only did you visit, but you went around and engaged directly with the people. The feedback you gathered from beneficiaries is invaluable.

Earlier in his remarks, the NTGS Team Leader, Benson Attah, commended Jigawa State for achieving the ODF status, calling it a landmark achievement and a model for other states, urging the state to maintain this momentum through consistent policies, community involvement, and infrastructural investments.

Mr Attah also praised the level of political will shown by Governor Namadis administration, saying that it has created an enabling environment for impactful WASH initiatives.

I would like to commend Your Excellency for your commitment and the political will you have shown toward the improvement of water, sanitation, and hygiene in the state. Otherwise, there wouldnt have been any need to dispatch members of the National Task Group on Sanitation to conduct a monitoring visit to assess the sustainability of the Open Defecation Free (ODF) status in your state. So, we congratulate you on thisfor giving the state all the necessary support.

He pledged continued technical support from development partners to help Jigawa sustain and build upon its progress.

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Katsina State Governor, Malam Dikko Umaru Radda, has extended warm wishes to the Christian faithful across the state as they celebrate Easter.

In his message, Governor Radda reaffirmed his commitment to freedom of worship saying: As you gather with family and loved ones during this special time, I encourage everyone to pray for continued peace, security and prosperity in our dear state. We are dedicated to creating an environment where all citizens, regardless of faith, can thrive and fulfil their potential.

He noted the significance of Easter as a season of renewal, hope, and reflection on the ultimate sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Easter reminds us of the power of sacrifice, forgiveness, and redemptionprinciples that can guide us all as we work together to build a more prosperous and harmonious Katsina.

The Governor recognised the invaluable contributions of the Christian community to the peace, unity, and development of Katsina State. He also praised the Christian steadfast partnership in the Building Your Future agenda.

Governor Radda also urged all residents to use the Easter period as an opportunity to pray for Katsina and Nigeria, strengthening bonds of friendship and cooperation across religious lines.

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The Katsina State Government in partnership with the Genesis Energy Group has begun implementing its landmark $500 million energy infrastructure investment following last month Memorandum of Understanding signed in London. The partnership is recogised as one of the largest private sector-driven renewable energy investments in Northern Nigeria.

The initiative which aligns with Governor Dikko Umaru Raddas vision to industrialize Katsina, enhance public service delivery and inclusive growth by addressing the states energy deficit, will equally deliver clean, sustainable energy solutions through the development, financing, construction, and operation of major infrastructure projects across the state.

As implementation advances, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Power and Energy, Hafiz Ibrahim, and the Commissioner for Health, Musa Adamu Funtua, accompanied Genesis Energy Group executives led by Mrs Melissa Sikwila, Executive Vice President of Project Development and Investment, on technical site inspections of critical power projects.

The delegation visited two nearly-completed installations: a 1MW Solar Mini-Grid with a 1MWh Battery Energy Storage System at the Katsina State Government House, and a 250KW Solar System with a 300KWh Battery Energy Storage System at the Katsina State General Hospital. These pilot projects will reduce diesel generator dependence, lower operational costs, and ensure uninterrupted power supply.

During a strategy session at Government House, Mr Radda met with the Genesis team to discuss the detailed project rollout roadmap. Discussions focused on accelerating energy developments serving both urban centers and rural communities. Initial priority areas include the Green Economic Zone for agro-industrial enterprises, water treatment plants statewide, Umaru Musa Yaradua University, 102 Primary Healthcare Centres, and the Amadi Rimi Orthopedic Hospital.

Our goal is not just to deploy energy infrastructure, but to build lasting capacity and empower local communities through access to clean, resilient power, said Mrs Sikwila. Katsina State is setting the pace for what public-private partnerships in the energy sector should look like across Africa, Mrs Sikwila added.

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Governor Radda, however, emphasized his administrations commitment to fostering investment and innovation, stating, This partnership with Genesis Energy Group aligns with our strategic agenda to transform Katsina into a model for clean energy adoption and economic development. Reliable power is the foundation of industrialization, education, and healthcare, and we are proud to take this bold step forward.

The partnership is expected to attract additional private sector investment to Nigerias renewable energy sector, create jobs, support climate resilience, and promote inclusive development. Implementation of the first phase will commence immediately, with commissioning of the Government House and General Hospital systems scheduled in the coming weeks.

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The police have detained a man for five days for criticising the Executive Secretary of the Borno State Geographical Information Service, Adam Bababe, over flood prevention measures in the state,

Sultan Usman, a popular social media activist in Borno, was taken into police custody on Monday. His lawyer described his arrest and detention as unlawful.

How it began

After a flood disaster devastated homes and businesses in Maiduguri, the state capital, in September, flood prevention became a topical issue in the state,

Shorthly after the disaster, Mr Bababe, whose agency is responsible for land administration, appeared to blame, in a post on his X (formerly Twitter) handle, communities that resisted his agencys steps to implement flood prevention measures for the disaster.

Emergency Lovers of Borno kindly note that the government faced strong resistance from the public to enforce prevention, he wrote in September. Go through our activities and go around all flood-prone areas to ask them if we hadnt warned them or marked their houses since 2020. They know what they bought.

The post drew many reactions, including one from Mr Sultan.

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He wrote: This statement is like adding insult to injury. It is but an open admission that the government has failed in its responsibility. If the government failed to implement laws simply because of resistance from the people, then that government must be held responsible.

What of areas like Gwange, Gidan Dambe, Dikwa-lowcost, 505, College of Agric, Chad Basin, Lagos Street, Maiduguri, Kasuwan Shanu, Shuwari, Shokari, Madinatu, Muna, Custom, and some parts of Old GRA? Did you guys warn those areas? You can do better; it is not a blame game.

Mr Bababe said the activist made another statement on social media abusing him in March.

Although he acknowledged that the post was deleted immediately, Mr Bababe said he reported Mr Sultan to the police, leading to his arrest on Monday.

Mr Bababe promised to share the alleged March offensive post with this reporter, but he had not done so at the time of this report.

However, on Friday morning, Hamza Dantani, Mr Sultans lawyer, described the detention of the activist as illegal.

He said although the offence alleged against Mr Sultan was bailable, he was refused bail.

The crime he committed is bailable. But what annoyed me the most was that Engr. Bababe at first told me he was going to give an order for his release after he spent three days in detention, but he didnt. When I contacted him for the second time, he said he was briefed at the station and he changed his mind, Mr Dantani said,

He also faulted the involvement of the polices Crack Squad in the detention of the activist.

The Crack Squad deals with high-profile criminal offences like kidnapping, murder, armed robbery, and the rest, not this type of case, Mr Dantani said, accusing the police of lawlessness.

However, Mr Bababe denied responsibility for Mr Sultans ordeal.

I am not the police that I will detain someone. I only reported the matter to the police, and the police are doing their job, he said in a phone conversation with PREMIUM TIMES.

The official also questioned Mr Dantanis interest in the matter, claiming the lawyer was not hired by Mr Sultan or his family. He claimed the family had acknowledged their sons wrongdoing and had begged him for forgiveness.

Barrister Dantani didnt even go to the police station; he is just a social media lawyer. I spoke with the family of the guy, and we are even going to meet this afternoon, Mr Bababe said on Friday.

He said he would consider withdrawing the case from the police if the family agreed to his conditions. He did not disclose the conditions.

However, contrary to Mr Bababes assertion, Mr Sultans family said it engaged Mr Dantani in the case.

Usman Ngari, Mr Sultans father, told this newspaper during a telephone conversation that he personally engaged the lawyer.

I still have the text I sent to Barrister Dantani to help talk to Engr. Bababe about the case, Mr Ngari said, confirming that his son was arrested on Monday.

Police commissioner speaks

This reporter contacted the Borno State Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Lawal, who confirmed Mr Sultan was detained but said he was released around 2:30 pm on Friday.

The police chief, who spoke on phone, said the activist was arrested for abusing and threatening Mr Bababe without a concrete reason.

He said when Mr Sultan was asked why he made the post on social media, he didnt even know why he did what he did.

He said his family had begged on his behalf, and asserted that he had been released.

However, when contacted again at 3:11 p,m. on Friday, Mr Dantani said Mr Sultan was still in detention.

I just confirmed he has not been released, but negotiations are ongoing, the lawyer said over the phone.

Sultan released after familys apology letter

PREMIUM TIMES confirmed that the police finally released the detainee Friday night after obtaining an apology offerred on his behalf by his father.

Through a letter, Mr Ngari apologised for his sons wrongdoing.

In the correspondence titled: Undertaking and Apology Letter, Mr Ngari also assured Mr Bababe that such actions will not occur again.

Read the letter in full below:

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: UNDERTAKING AND APOLOGY LETTER

I, USMAN NGARI the biological father of SULEIMAN USMAN Popularty known as SULTAN IBN USMAN hereby write this letter to sincerely express my deepest regret and unreserved apology over the recent actions of my son, who made a public statement considered inappropriate and damaging to the image and personality of the Executive Secretary, Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe.

As a father and a responsible citizen, I wish to categorically state that his actions do not reflect the values and principles I have instilled in him. I acknowledge that the statements he made were misguided, disrespectful, and uncalled for.

I understand that such comments can cause serious reputational damage to public office holders and institutions, and for that, I am deeply sorry. I have spoken to my son at length, and he now fully understands the gravity of his actions and the pain they may have caused. He has expressed deep remorse and is willing to tender a public apology if necessary. I hereby undertake to ensure that such actions do not occur again in any form or manner whatsoever.

As for Hamza Nuhu Dantani, I only asked him to plead with Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe and his lawyer to kindly forgive my son. I did not authorise or assign him to represent me or my son as legal counsel in any capacity. Any Statements or utterances made by Hamza Nuhu Dantani are solely his and do not represent my views or position on this matter.

I humbly appeal to the Executive Secretary, Engr. Adam Bukar Bababe, and all relevant authorities to temper justice with mercy. As a father, I take full responsibility and assure you that corrective measures have been taken and will continue to be taken.

Thank you for your understanding and anticipated forgiveness.

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The Nigerian government has temporarily shutdown the Akanu Ibiam International Airport in Enugu State.

The Director of Public Affairs and Consumer Protection at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Obiageli Orah, announced this in a statement on Saturday.

Ms Orah explained that the airport was closed to enable urgent repairs on a damaged part of the runway.

There is a sudden and significant rupture in the asphalt surface at a critical section of the runway.

Hence, emergency repairs will be conducted on that portion of the runway from April 22nd to May 6th, 2025, she said.

The official stressed that FAAN closed the runway in compliance with the rules of the Nigerian civil aviation system.

Article Page with Financial Support Promotion Nigerians need credible journalism. Help us report it. Support journalism driven by facts, created by Nigerians for Nigerians. Our thorough, researched reporting relies on the support of readers like you. Help us maintain free and accessible news for all with a small donation. Every contribution guarantees that we can keep delivering important stories no paywalls, just quality journalism. SUPPORT NOW x Do this later

In compliance with Nigerian civil aviation regulations, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has, therefore, closed the runway during this period, she said.

Safety of travellers

Ms Orah further explained that the shutdown of the airport was part of the FAANs effort to keep travellers safe and upgrade the airport facilities.

As part of FAANs commitment to passenger safety and the modernisation of airport facilities, the runway will not be open for landings or takeoffs during the rehabilitation period, she said.

The official appealed to all travellers and airport users to exercise patience during the repair period.

FAAN appeals to all airport users and stakeholders for their understanding and cooperation during this time.

All flights to this airport will be diverted to nearby airports. We sincerely apologise for the late and unexpected notice regarding this closure, she stated.

Diversion, grounding of flights

Meanwhile, PREMIUM TIMES learned from airport officials in Enugu that flights intended to take off on Saturday morning were grounded after the shut down.

Some airlines, this newspaper further gathered, consequently suspended their flights scheduled to land at the airport.

The Air Peace on Saturday, for instance, suspended all their flights which had been scheduled to land at the airport.

The airline explained that suspension of their flights to the airport was in response to worsening airport infrastructure which, according to them, had continued to raise safety concerns.

At Air Peace, we prioritise safety first over convenience. We believe that if flights are not operated into this aerodrome for the next few days, it will allow the FAAN the opportunity to perform the necessary repairs on the runway, the airline stated.

It consequently announced that all flights scheduled for landing and take off at the airport would now be operated from another airport in Asaba, Delta State, Nigerias South-South.

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The Lagos State Police Command tried to justify the arrest and detention of Alabi Quadri for two months, after a court threw out its evidence-starved case against him even before prosecution started.

The courts decision aligned with the states Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) review that the police had no evidence of wrongdoing against Quadri, who gained widespread attention during the 2023 presidential election for standing in front of Labour Party candidate Peter Obis convoy.

In a statement on Saturday on X handle, the police spokesperson in the state, Benjamin Hundeyin, said Quadri, described as 17 years old by his lawyer and family, was arrested and charged in connection with a violent street fight that occurred on 22 January.

Mr Hundeyin stated that the incident happened in the Amukoko area of Lagos.

He disclosed that the incident involved a clash between groups of youths, resulting in several injuries, vandalism of public and private property, and reports of robbery targeting innocent passersby.

Mr Hundeyin said the police launched an investigation immediately after the disturbance.

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Members of the community provided crucial information, he said. Victims of the robbery also came forward and positively identified some of the perpetrators.

Downplaying the remand, he said following the police investigation, teenager Quadri and four others were arrested and charged in court.

The police said the court ordered their remand at a correctional facility pending the conclusion of legal proceedings.

The police claimed he was 18, but his family and lawyer argued he was 17, accusing authorities of manipulating his age to prosecute him inappropriately in a regular court. This echoes the handling of minors detained after last years #EndBadGovernance protest, where the police disregarded the law requiring that individuals under 18 in Nigeria be brought exclusively before juvenile or family courts.

Police statement Vs lawyers statement

However, teenager Quadris lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, earlier gave different insights into what led to Quadris arrest. The lawyer said the teenager was wrongfully accused due to a long-standing grudge.

Mr Effiong alleged that local thugs  identified as Lege and Baba Waris  abducted teenager Quadri near his home in January over a dispute stemming from financial donations he received after his viral encounter with Mr Obi.

His painful walk to prison can be attributed to the prolonged malice nursed by some self-acclaimed area boys who felt entitled to a share of the unexpected fortune that came Alabis way, Mr Effiong said.

He further claimed that teenager Quadri was framed by these individuals and that the robbery allegations were fabricated.

Mr Effiong also stressed that the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) later reviewed the case and found no evidence to support the armed robbery charge.

The DPPs legal advice led the court to order teenager Quadris release, drawing public attention and concern.

In response, the Lagos State Police Command, despite recording 18 years for teenager Quadri instead of 17 years, reiterated that its actions were based on due process and credible evidence.

All police actions taken in this case were carried out according to laid-down procedures, Mr Hundeyin said, urging the public to remain calm and allow the judicial process to run its course.

On Thursday, a magistrates court in Apapa, Lagos, where Quadri was charged by the police, struck out the case following the DPPs review that there was no evidence to sustain the case.

Mr Effiong, late Friday, pictures of himself with ex-presidential candidate Mr Obi and Quadri, after a meeting where, he said, Mr Obi made

Late Friday, Mr Effiong shared photos on social media of his meeting with ex-presidential candidate Mr Obi and Quadri, where, according to him, Mr Obi made a commitment to help Quadri to get the necessary training or education that he desires and deserves.

Earlier this month, Mr Obi contacted Mr Effiong, who was already handling Quadris case, to intensify efforts toward his release.

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Banswara/Amarathun  A decree proceeding has been initiated against the Government Upper Secondary School, Amarathun, after the Education Department failed to comply with a 2022 court order related to a tragic incident that occurred in 2012. The delay not only continues to deny justice to the bereaved family of the deceased laborer but has also thrown the academic future of over 700 students into uncertainty.

The case dates back to 22 September 2012, when Harish Charpota, a mason working on a classroom construction project under the RMSA scheme, was electrocuted within the school premises due to a live electric wire. The fatal accident happened during the school day around 1:30 PM. According to reports, the then principal, Anandilal Suthar, failed to ensure that the electric poles and wires were safely removed before allowing the construction work to beginan act of negligence that proved deadly.

Following a prolonged legal battle, the Banswara Court delivered its judgment on 04 March 2022, directing a compensation of 6,74,800, split in the ratio of 80:20 between RSEB and the Education Department. The latter's share amounted to 1,34,960 as principal plus 1,00,770 as interest accrued till March 2024, totaling 2,35,770. With further delay in payment, the amount has now risen to approximately 2,55,770 as of April 2025.

Despite several follow-ups by the current principal Mr. Arun Vyas, including registered letters, emails, and personal visits to the higher education authorities, no payment has been made. Financial proposals were reportedly sent from the District Education Officer (Secondary) Banswara to the Directorate in Bikaner, and a letter was also issued to the District Collector appointing Public Prosecutor Gaurav Upadhyay. Still, no decisive action has been taken to comply with the courts directive.

The matter was recently brought before the Gram Panchayat Amarathuns general assembly, where villagers, parents, and the victim's family unanimously demanded the immediate execution of the court order. The community has also appealed for a compensation of 2 crore to the victims family and government employment to a next of kin, as a step toward justice and relief.

Compounding the problem, electrical fittings at the school remain unsafe, increasing the risk of future accidents. The villagers have urged the government to immediately allocate funds to carry out proper wiring and electrical repairs throughout the campus.

With the Education Departments continued inaction, not only is the legacy of a retired principals negligence haunting the institution, but the lives and education of over 700 students now hang in the balance. The deceaseds father, Bholaram, has been forced to wander from office to office in his old age, waiting for justice that seems ever elusive.

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Udaipur: In a bold and progressive move, Sir Padampat Singhania University (SPSU), Udaipur has fully transitioned from traditional academic courses to an exclusive focus on skill-based, industry-aligned education. Spearheading this transformation is the university's visionary Vice Chancellor, Prof. Prithvi Yadav, who in a candid interaction with Dr. Munesh Arora, shared the institutions future roadmap underlining the urgency of embracing career-oriented education models.

Skill development is not just an option anymore, its the only way forward for higher education in India, Prof. Yadav emphasized. Traditional degree programs without practical skills are no longer relevant in todays competitive world.

A New Era in Professional Education

SPSU has now positioned itself as a next-generation universitywhere courses are carefully designed to meet the demands of evolving industries. Current offerings include:

Technology-driven programs

Business management courses

Innovative and interdisciplinary programs in science

Traditional programs have been completely discontinued at SPSU, Prof. Yadav affirmed. Our academic philosophy now revolves around practical learning, employability, and real-world relevance.

New Launches for Academic Year 202627

Taking a significant step under its Vision 2026, SPSU will launch two new undergraduate programs:

Bachelor of Architecture

Bachelor in Hospital Management

Both programs have been carefully curated in collaboration with industry experts to ensure a strong practical foundation and career prospects for students in their respective domains.

Aligning with NEP 2020

Prof. Yadav also laid stress on the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) and called upon faculty members to:

Move beyond traditional chalk-and-talk methods

Integrate vocational learning and hands-on experience

Adopt innovative pedagogy and student-centric approaches

Teachers must now come out of their comfort zones and align themselves with the dynamic goals of NEP 2020, he said.

A Model for Future-Ready Education

SPSU is setting an example by creating a learning environment that mirrors industry expectations, preparing graduates who are ready to work from day one. From teaching methodology to course content, every aspect is being designed to empower students with skills, confidence, and global opportunities.

With such a focused shift, SPSU is not just responding to changeit is leading it.

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Kota, Serious irregularities have been reported in the construction of a multi-storey building named Astitva Ananta, located opposite Nehru Park on Station Road, Kota. Residents of the adjacent 25-year-old Krishna Enclave colony have accused the builder of illegal and unsafe construction on disputed forest department land and have urged the Kota district administration to immediately seal the building. Investors have also been cautioned against putting money into flats in this building, as they may suffer financial loss.

Arvind Kumar Sharma, a resident of Krishna Enclave, stated that several homes in the colony are directly behind this high-rise. The builder has allegedly encroached upon the set-back area, building a permanent structure dangerously close to residential walls. As part of this construction, existing windows and doors that have been in place for 25 years have been completely blocked off by a newly erected high boundary wall, thereby obstructing natural light and ventilationa clear violation of residents easement rights.

Sharma further pointed out that the colonys long-standing sewage and drainage system has also been encroached upon and damaged, creating severe water disposal issues for the residents.

Based on official maps, municipal leases, and other sources, Sharma claimed that the area behind the homes, including the set-back, was originally a drainage channel (nala) used for water outflow. He asserted that no construction should be permitted on this historically significant drainage land.

He also mentioned that as per High Court directives, no building taller than 15 meters is allowed between residential colonies. However, this building appears to exceed the permitted height and is allegedly in violation of these legal norms. The area also falls within the catchment zone of the Chambal River, and parts of the nearby land remain submerged under 4 feet of water, raising further safety concerns.

Moreover, the location is reportedly within half a kilometer of the Chambal River and falls under the Gharial Sanctuary zone. The land is said to have been previously under dispute with the Forest Department, which further complicates its legal standing.

Mrs. Asha Jain, another resident, described the building as inherently unsafe. She noted that the structure, possibly 16-storeys tall, appears to have a weak base with no deep foundation or earthquake-resistant constructionraising serious safety concerns. According to her, regular piling and concrete pillars have been used in a simplistic manner, which is inadequate given the marshy nature of the land and the building's height.

She emphasized that this is nothing short of deception towards investors, who may face not just financial losses but also threats to life and property in the future. The residents of Krishna Enclave have demanded the immediate sealing of the building, failing which they have warned of taking legal recourse in court.

Source :
BEIJING, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A new vision for global education has emerged  one shaped by shifting student priorities, geopolitical challenges and the rise of non-traditional destinations.

The United States, once the most popular study-abroad destination for Chinese students, has failed to secure a spot among the top three in the latest evaluation of study-abroad destinations. It ranks fourth behind the United Kingdom, Singapore and Canada, according to the 2025 Blue Book on China's Study Abroad, released at the China Study Abroad Forum (CSAF) in Beijing on April 11.

Wang Daquan, Director of the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange, addresses attendees at the China Study Abroad Forum on April 11 in Beijing (WEI YAO)

Themed Quality, Trust and Safety: For the Sustainable Development of International Education, the forum highlighted shifting trends in global education and student mobility.

The CSAF was held in conjunction with the 30th China International Education Exhibition Tour (CIEET), which took place across Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou from April 11 to 20. The events were organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) and brought together educational institutions from around the world.

Since the launch of CIEET in 1999 and CSAF in 2004, the events have served as platforms for international institutions to connect with Chinese students and build stronger educational links.

At the forum, Xu Qingsen, Vice Minister of Education, reaffirmed China's commitment to "high-quality educational exchange" and two-way mobility. "We will improve our services for students going abroad, while attracting more international students to study in China. This forms the foundation of strong civic ties between nations," he said.

Forum guests also called for stronger ties through education. Maria Fasli, Acting Vice Chancellor of the University of Essex, the UK, emphasized that "no single country can solve today's global challenges alone," calling on graduates to become globally minded citizens.

The blue book, produced by a panel of over 30 experts who assessed 28 countries across multiple dimensions, revealed a growing diversification in destination and degree program choices among Chinese students.

Though the U.S. still ranked first in education quality and student employability, it failed to make the top 10 in terms of safety, and ranked only ninth in trust and openness.

The blue book highlighted mounting concerns with geopolitical tensions, restrictive academic policies and frequent safety reminders, which were cited as critical risk factors. On April 9, China's Ministry of Education issued an overseas study alert advising students to assess security risks when considering studies in certain U.S. states. The move came after the state of Ohio passed legislation restricting educational ties with Chinese institutions.

In addition to traditional destinations such as the U.S., the United Kingdom and Australia, this year's exhibition attracted universities from 24 other countries and regions, including several participants from Belt and Road Initiative countries including Kazakhstan, Hungary and Poland, with Ecuador and Viet Nam making their debuts. In total, 246 institutions took part in the events, which together hosted nearly 450 pavilions.

One student, Chen Bi, told Yangcheng Evening News she chose a one-year master's program in accounting at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University in Almaty, Kazakhstan. "It only costs a third of what I'd pay in Europe, and there's no language or GPA requirement," she said.

For Chen, who was recently laid off, the program offers both a breather and a stepping stone toward future employment back in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, where local governments offer incentives for returnees with degrees from overseas institutions.

Yet non-traditional destinations come with trade-offs. According to Yangcheng Evening News, many employers remain unfamiliar with lesser-known universities, which may disadvantage graduates in a competitive job market.

At the forum, Wang Daquan, Director of the CSCSE, said the employment consulting services CSCSE offers aim to bridge the gap between returnees and employers, noting over 310,000 students and 1,700 companies are already using the consulting platform.

"Students today seek more than a diploma. They want skills, cultural literacy and global perspective," Wang said during a press conference ahead of the forum.

CSCSE has also launched a Global Study Mobility Alliance, co-founded by 20 Chinese and international universities, and announced two new initiatives: Study Tours in China and Study Tours Around the World, aimed at fostering cross-cultural skills through short-term exchanges.

Comments to [email protected]

SOURCE Beijing Review
BEIJING, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- During a sub-forum on April 11, scholars, educators and international students from across the globe discussed the evolving importance of studying abroad, under the theme Study in China, Study in the World.

Themed "Quality, Trust and Safety: for the Sustainable Development of International Education," the China Study Abroad Forum (CSAF), held on April 11 in Beijing, highlighted shifting trends in global education and student mobility.

Representatives from Italy, Germany, the U.S., Egypt and China attend a sub-forum of the China Study Abroad Forum (CSAF), held on April 11 in Beijing (WEI YAO)

The event emphasized not only institutional cooperation, but also the broader value of cultural dialogue through international education. The gathering featured representatives from Italy, Germany, the U.S., Egypt and China, each sharing their views on intercultural learning and academic mobility.

Ma Xiaole, Dean of International Education at Shandong University, emphasized how Confucian philosophy has been creatively embedded in the university's programs for international students. "We teach Confucian values not only through books but through real-life, immersive experiences. Students participate in traditional ceremonies and explore how values like perseverance and moral integrity shape Chinese society today," she explained. "True understanding comes from living the culture, not just reading about it."

Representing Germany's DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Ole Engelhardt noted that Germany has facilitated academic exchange with China for over four decades. "What we consistently hear from German students is how their image of China changes after visiting  especially seeing how advanced and diverse it is," he said. He added that despite recent geopolitical uncertainties, visa access for Chinese students in Germany remains smooth.

Edilio Mazzoleni, Director of the Centre for Global Engagement and International Education, Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, shared personal reflections on his journey in China since 2005, emphasizing how trust, friendships and curiosity shaped his understanding of the country.

"I advocate for studying abroad because it gives you new lenses through which to see the world," he said, also announcing that the university plans to launch a Chinese-language program by 2026.

"My experience studying in China completely changed my life," said Mohamed Jihad, a foreign expert at the Center for International Cultural Communication of China International Communications Group, recounting his journey from language learner to becoming what he jokingly calls "a Chinese son-in-law." He emphasized that real understanding requires seeing China through first-hand experience  not through foreign media narratives.

Jason Patent, former Director of the Robertson Center for Intercultural Leadership at the University of California at Berkeley, stressed the need for students to develop intercultural skills. "Studying abroad isn't just about knowledge  it's about building the emotional and behavioral tools to thrive in unfamiliar environments," he said. His program takes students to seven regions around the world to prepare them for both academic and global leadership success.

The forum concluded by proposing that study abroad is a two-way bridge  helping the world understand China, and helping China connect with the world. As one speaker put it, the classroom may start in Beijing or Milan, but the real education happens in the space between.

The CSAF was held in conjunction with the 30th China International Education Exhibition Tour (CIEET), which took place across Beijing, Shanghai, Wuhan, and Guangzhou from April 11 to 20. The events were organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) and brought together educational institutions from around the world.

Since the founding of CIEET in 1999 and CSAF in 2004, the events have served as platforms for international institutions to connect with Chinese students and build stronger educational links.

Comments to [email protected]

SOURCE Beijing Review
SHANGHAI, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Summer consumer campaigns have long been a key engine for economic growth. Now, Shanghai is stepping into the global spotlight with a bold "urban consumption experiment." On 18 April, the 2025 "Shanghai Summer" International Consumption Season was officially launched at Xujiahui Centre, unveiling innovative concepts such as "240-Hour Products" and City Customised Events, aiming to redefine the summer experience across retail, travel, and lifestyle.

According to China UnionPay, foreign card spending surged by 68.2% during the 2024 campaign period. Key commercial areas stood out significantly: Huaihai Road saw a 208.6% increase in overseas card spending (with an average spend of RMB 1,597), while the Lujiazui-Zhangyang Road area rose by 119.9% (average spend: RMB 1,998). Total offline consumption in Shanghai reached RMB 815.9 billion, marking an 8.2% year-on-year increase, with dining consumption up by 26.9%.



The "240-Hour Products" initiative will bring together top-tier city resources to provide overseas visitors with an immersive "starter kit" experience. China Eastern Airlines will offer direct discounts on group flight packages across 30 international routes, supported by smart mobility tools such as the English-language versions of Air Travel Assistant and AutoNavi Map.

In payment, China UnionPay enables foreign card acceptance at 65,000 merchants across Shanghai. Visa is co-developing "Payment-Friendly Zones" to enhance QR code payments and tax refund experiences for international travelers. A "Shanghai Summer" themed card and spending promotions further support this multi-channel payment ecosystem.

Visitors can unlock transport and retail perks with the "Shanghai Pass" one-day ticket, valid for metro, ferry, and sightseeing tunnel rides. Travel platform Trip.com has launched a dedicated "Discover Shanghai" page, featuring integrated "Shanghai Express" free city tours to offer a seamless digital experience. The city's dining scene has also been elevated with multilingual menus and themed culinary campaigns from Marriott and Jin Jiang, available in Chinese, English, and Korean.

Culture takes center stage in this year's campaign.The 2025 edition of "Shanghai Summer" will spotlight global lifestyle IPs through immersive activations  including experiences from Shanghai Disney Resort, the LEGO China-hosted "World Play Festival," and POP MART's "Summer Trend Play" campaign. By blending global trends with food, music, and local creativity, the city will be transformed into a vibrant, multi-sensory celebration of summer, bursting with international flair and dynamic urban energy.

The multilingual official website www.shanghaisummer.com is now live, featuring an AI-powered travel assistant and virtual avatar, "Shanghai Xiaoxia," to help visitors plan itineraries and explore the city interactively. Global KOLs will take part in the campaign across platforms including Instagram, Xiaohongshu, and TikTok  bringing the essence of Shanghai's summer to audiences around the world. From the first weekend of July to the second weekend of October, Shanghai offers a renewed invitation to the world  a thoughtfully curated urban journey that highlights the city's global charm as a destination to shop, enjoy, and explore.

Media Contact: Lu [email protected]

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668630/Shanghai_Summer.jpg

Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668631/Xiaoxia_Avatar.jpg

SOURCE Shanghai Design Week
DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit , one of the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchanges by trading volume, met with H.E. Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Finance of Vietnam, to express Bybit's strong support for the country's regulatory sandbox initiative and its vision to build a safe, transparent, and innovation-friendly digital asset ecosystem.

From left to right: Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit, and H.E. Nguyen Van Thang, Minister of Finance of Vietnam, met on April 17 at the Ministry of Finance headquarters in Hanoi to discuss collaboration and support for Vietnams digital asset regulatory sandbox.

Hosted at the Ministry of Finance headquarters, the meeting centered on Vietnam's efforts to establish a comprehensive legal framework for crypto assets. Minister Nguyen Van Thang outlined the Government's plan to launch a pilot sandbox mechanism that will allow regulators to test the issuance and trading of crypto assets in a controlled environment. This initiative is designed to mitigate risks, strengthen investor protection, and ensure regulatory readiness before introducing official legislation.

A key part of the discussion focused on safeguarding the market against illicit activities. The Minister emphasized the importance of robust compliance frameworks, including Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols, to prevent the misuse of digital assets and support the country's financial security.

In response, Ben Zhou welcomed Vietnam's measured and responsible approach to digital asset regulation and reiterated Bybit's long-standing commitment to compliance:

"Vietnam's forward-thinking regulatory sandbox is a critical step toward unlocking the full potential of blockchain technology. At Bybit, we are fully aligned with the Government's focus on investor protection and financial integrity," said Ben Zhou, Co-founder and CEO of Bybit. "We are proud to share our expertise in KYC, AML, and global compliance standards, and we look forward to supporting Vietnam in building a resilient, secure, and dynamic crypto economy."

Bybit expressed its readiness to collaborate with Vietnamese authorities on several fronts, including system architecture design, transaction oversight, and the implementation of international best practices in AML/KYC. The exchange also proposed support in capacity building, such as training financial regulators and sharing experiences from other jurisdictions.

Minister Nguyen Van Thang welcomed Bybit's proactive approach and assigned the State Securities Commission to coordinate with Bybit on concrete proposals. He also commended Bybit's reputation for strong financial capabilities, technological resilience, and its adherence to legal and regulatory requirements in the markets where it operates.

This meeting underscores Bybit's growing role as a trusted international partner for regulatory dialogue and innovation. It also highlights Vietnam's readiness to embrace blockchain technology while ensuring financial safety and public confidence in the digital asset space.

About Bybit

Bybit is the world's second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, serving a global community of over 60 million users. Founded in 2018, Bybit is redefining openness in the decentralized world by creating a simpler, open and equal ecosystem for everyone. With a strong focus on Web3, Bybit partners strategically with leading blockchain protocols to provide robust infrastructure and drive on-chain innovation. Renowned for its secure custody, diverse marketplaces, intuitive user experience, and advanced blockchain tools, Bybit bridges the gap between TradFi and DeFi, empowering builders, creators, and enthusiasts to unlock the full potential of Web3. Discover the future of decentralized finance at Bybit.com .

For more details about Bybit, please visit Bybit Press .

For media inquiries, please contact: [email protected]

For updates, please follow: Bybit's Communities and Social Media

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SOURCE Bybit
BEIJING, April 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- On a recent sunny morning, as the temperature started to climb, the thunderous roar of machinery also appeared to be growing louder at a huge construction site on the outskirt of Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. With a towering crane periodically moving overhead, workers in white hard hats and colorful vests also moved around frequently.

"My boss said that we are targeting to finish this Gombak Station by the end of this year. That has been any about a year plus, and it will be completed," Ridzuan, a Malaysian technical engineer, told the Global Times. Although he has been part of the construction work for months, witnessing the progress firsthand, Ridzuan appeared to be at shock when describing the goal. "I don't know, but I think if it's another company, this could take at least two years and maybe even up to three years."

The Gombak Station, about 30 minutes away from downtown, is one of the major stops of the East Coat Rail Link (ECRL), a landmark cooperation project between China and Malaysia under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The 665-km railway is expected to be completed by the end of 2027, and once completed, will Malaysia's less-developed east coast with its economic powerhouse on the west coast, according to Xinhua.

Being built by China Communications Construction Co (CCCC), construction work of the ECRL is currently in full swing. And bustling scene at the Gombak Station offers of crucial window into the strong vitality of China-Malaysia BRI cooperation.

Rapid development

The ECRL became an important focus as the two countries aim to further upgrade bilateral ties and strengthen cooperation. In a joint statement issued on Thursday, China and Malaysia agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies.

In Kuala Lumpur, locals are quick to point out the long history of exchanges between China and Malaysia that started centuries ago, and the rapid development in bilateral ties since formal diplomatic ties started over 50 years ago and Malaysia was among the first to participate in BRI cooperation.

"In the case of Malaysia, China-Malaysia engagement has a centuries-old legacy to trace Malaysia is the first ASEAN member state building diplomatic ties with China," Ong Tee Keat, president of the Belt and Road Initiative Caucus for Asia Pacific and a former minister of transport of Malaysia, told the Global Times. "Bilateral ties embarked on a fast track in 2013 when Malaysia embraced the BRI."

The rapid development in China-Malaysia BRI cooperation is vividly displayed at major projects in Malaysia. In addition to the ECRL, there are also plenty of signs of the strong vitality in BRI cooperation between China and Malaysia.

Rising 452 meters above the heart of Kuala Lumpur's Tun Razak Exchange, the Exchange 106 tower stands as one of Malaysia's tallest structures, a gleaming icon etched into the city's skyline. From the 105th floor, the vibrant panorama of Kuala Lumpur unfolds in breathtaking splendor. Yet, beyond its stunning vistas, this towering marvel serves as a prime vantage point to glimpse the deepening currents of collaboration between China and Malaysia.

The 106-story skyscraper was built by Chinese State Construction Engineering Corp (CSCEC) and the speed of construction work, which lasted about 31 months, was marveled by many locals.

"Because of the location, many people can see the daily progress of the construction, so many people actually paid great attention. And many of them think this is truly unbelievable," Huang Yidong, vice general manager of Malaysia Main Branch of CSCEC, told the Global Times, adding that the project also involved various world-leading construction technologies.

Huang said that the Malaysia branch of CSCEC was established in 2013, the year the BRI was launched. "We comprehensively responded to the initiative," he said, "personally, I feel very proud after joining the work in Malaysia over the past nine years, including the Exchange 106 tower project."

Constant upgrading

Beyond the speed of its conduction, the Exchange 106 also provides a vantage point into the constantly upgrading of China-Malaysia cooperation. Stepping into the grand lobby of Exchange 106, a sprawling space on the right side commands attention, its bold "5G" signage glowing vividly. "This is our 5G technology experience zone," Pei Pei, the tower's marketing manager, told the Global Times, adding several Chinese companies, including Huawei, have rented space inside the building.

Emerging technologies are becoming a main focus of China-Malaysia collaboration. The joint statement issued on Thursday also stated that focusing on four key areas of digital economy, green economy, blue economy and tourism economy, the two sides will expand future economic cooperation. The two sides will also support the co-establishment of Belt and Road joint laboratories by universities from the two countries, according to the joint statement.

As the two countries continue to deepen BRI cooperation, there are also new emerging trends in bilateral collaboration, apart from major projects like the ECRL and the Exchange 106, thanks to deep, time-honored bonds shared by the two peoples.

On a hot Sunday afternoon with grueling heat, a group of young students in uniforms joked and laughed, while enjoying ice creams and drinks inside a drink store inside a shopping mall in Kuala Lumpur. The store's name is very familiar to many Chinese, especially students: Mixue Bingcheng - a Chinese tea drink chain known for its popular flavors and affordable prices and extensive network of stores across China, including in small towns.

For the same reason, Mixue has gained widespread popularity in the Malaysian market, with about 80 stores having been opened over the past two years or so, according to Khaw Chong Guan, a Mixue Franchisee in Kuala Lumpur.

Khaw said that another critical factor behind Mixue's rapid expansion is the cultural bonds between the two countries that make it easier for Malaysian consumers to adopt to Chinese products. "When Chinese brands come here, we have Chinese Malaysians to communicate with them, so there is an understanding. And it's easy to bring them to the market here," he told the Global Times.

In addition to the historical cultural ties, tangible mutual benefits are what makes the China-Malaysia cooperation successful.

At the construction site of the Gombak Station, Ridzuan was already counting the hours that could be saved from commuting when the ECRL will be completed. "It can reduce, I think, three hours or four hours. It's good for the people actually," he said.

SOURCE Global Times
NEW YORK, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ --

Why: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, announces it has filed a class action lawsuit on behalf of purchasers of securities of Ibotta, Inc. (NYSE: IBTA) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with Ibotta's April 18, 2024 initial public offering (the "IPO"). If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 16, 2025.

So What: If you purchased Ibotta securities you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement.

What to do next: To join the Ibotta class action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36526 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than June 16, 2025. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation.

Why Rosen Law: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company at the time. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers.

Details of the case: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement contained false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose the risks concerning Ibotta's contract with The Kroger Co. ("Kroger"). Kroger's contract was at-will, and Ibotta failed to warn investors that a large client could cancel their contract with Ibotta without warning. Despite providing a detailed explanation of the terms of Ibotta's contract with another large customer, there was not a single warning of the at-will nature of Kroger's contract. Rather than disclosing the very real risk of a major client walking away at any time, Ibotta provided boilerplate warnings concerning the importance of maintaining ongoing relationships with their clients. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages.

To join the Ibotta action, go to https://rosenlegal.com/submit-form/?case_id=36526 or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email [email protected] for information on the class action.

No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff.

Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/.

Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.

Contact Information:

Laurence Rosen, Esq.

Phillip Kim, Esq.

The Rosen Law Firm, P.A.

275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor

New York, NY 10016

Tel: (212) 686-1060

Toll Free: (866) 767-3653

Fax: (212) 202-3827

[email protected]

www.rosenlegal.com

SOURCE THE ROSEN LAW FIRM, P. A.
SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP announces that purchasers or acquirers of Constellation Brands, Inc. (NYSE: STZ) securities between April 11, 2024 and January 8, 2025, both dates inclusive (the "Class Period"), have until this upcoming Monday, April 21, 2025 to seek appointment as lead plaintiff of the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit. Captioned Meza v. Constellation Brands, Inc., No. 25-cv-06107 (W.D.N.Y.), the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit charges Constellation Brands as well as certain of Constellation Brands' top executives with violations of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

If you suffered substantial losses and wish to serve as lead plaintiff of the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit, please provide your information here:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/cases-constellation-brands-inc-class-action-lawsuit-stz.html

You can also contact attorneys J.C. Sanchez or Jennifer N. Caringal of Robbins Geller by calling 800/449-4900 or via e-mail at [email protected].

CASE ALLEGATIONS: Constellation Brands produces, imports, markets, and sells beer, wine, and spirits.

The Constellation Brands class action lawsuit alleges that defendants throughout the Class Period: (i) created the false impression that they possessed reliable information pertaining to Constellation Brands' Wine and Spirits business; (ii) failed to improve mix, inventory, and sales execution; and (iii) failed to disclose that investments made in media spend and price promotions as well as adjustments in sales capabilities to support distributor partners had not been as effective as they claimed.

The Constellation Brands class action lawsuit further alleges that on January 10, 2025, Constellation Brands announced its third quarter fiscal year 2025 results, revealing a significant miss on sales performance in the Beer segment and an even steeper miss for the Wine and Spirits segment. On this news, the price of Constellation Brands' stock fell.

THE LEAD PLAINTIFF PROCESS: The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 permits any investor who purchased or acquired Constellation Brands securities during the Class Period to seek appointment as lead plaintiff in the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit. A lead plaintiff is generally the movant with the greatest financial interest in the relief sought by the putative class who is also typical and adequate of the putative class. A lead plaintiff acts on behalf of all other class members in directing the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit. The lead plaintiff can select a law firm of its choice to litigate the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff of the Constellation Brands class action lawsuit.

ABOUT ROBBINS GELLER: Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP is one of the world's leading law firms representing investors in securities fraud cases. Our Firm has been #1 in the ISS Securities Class Action Services rankings for six out of the last ten years for securing the most monetary relief for investors. We recovered $6.6 billion for investors in securities-related class action cases  over $2.2 billion more than any other law firm in the last four years. With 200 lawyers in 10 offices, Robbins Geller is one of the largest plaintiffs' firms in the world and the Firm's attorneys have obtained many of the largest securities class action recoveries in history, including the largest securities class action recovery ever  $7.2 billion  in In re Enron Corp. Sec. Litig. Please visit the following page for more information:

https://www.rgrdlaw.com/services-litigation-securities-fraud.html

Past results do not guarantee future outcomes.

Services may be performed by attorneys in any of our offices.

Contact:

Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP

J.C. Sanchez, Jennifer N. Caringal

655 W. Broadway, Suite 1900, San Diego, CA 92101

800-449-4900

[email protected]

SOURCE Robbins Geller Rudman & Dowd LLP
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Beirut, April 19 : Hezbollah leader Naim Qassem has dismissed calls for the group to disarm, warning that any such effort was a "delusion" that would serve Israeli interests.

"No one will be allowed to remove the weapons of the resistance," Qassem said on Friday during a public address focused on Lebanon's defence strategy and the current political landscape.

"Israel wants to see Lebanon weak and defenceless so it can fulfill its expansionist ambitions."

He argued that proposals to disarm Hezbollah under the pretext of strengthening the state amounted to offering a "gift" to Israel, Xinhua news agency reported.

The resistance movement's weapons, Qassem said, were a response to Israeli occupation and aggression, and remained essential to safeguarding Lebanon's sovereignty.

"The Lebanese army alone is not equipped to defend the country," he said, asserting that Hezbollah's military role was necessary alongside state institutions.

The remarks escalate a simmering debate over Hezbollah's military autonomy, which has long divided Lebanese politics.

Qassem accused domestic critics advocating disarmament of promoting foreign agendas and inflaming artificial crises.

"The true danger is Israel's occupation and ongoing aggression," he said.

Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, during a visit to Qatar this week, reaffirmed his commitment to bringing all weapons under state control by 2025, emphasising that the process must be driven by "domestic consensus, not external dictates".

He also praised Hezbollah's "restraint" since a November truce with Israel, citing the group's handover of more than 100 positions near the Litani River.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam echoed the President's stance in an interview with Saudi broadcaster Al Arabiya, stating that "only the state may decide matters of war and peace".

Both Aoun and Salam, who have publicly questioned Hezbollah's military role, assumed office in recent months following more than a year of intense conflicts between the group and Israel.

Their appointments have been widely interpreted as a sign of Hezbollah's waning influence within Lebanon's political establishment.

Under the November ceasefire, Israel was meant to withdraw all of its forces from south Lebanon.

But despite the deal, its troops have remained at five south Lebanon positions that they deem "strategic".

Israel has also continued to carry out near-daily strikes against Lebanon -- including on Friday -- saying it is targeting members of Hezbollah.
Kigali, April 19 : At least 52 people have been killed and 107 others injured by disasters triggered by heavy rains in Rwanda since the beginning of April, an official said.

Adalbert Rukebanuka, director general of planning, policy, and risk reduction at the Ministry in charge of Emergency Management, told reporters on Friday in the national capital of Kigali that between April 1 and 16, the country recorded 390 disaster incidents.

"From April 1 to April 16, we recorded 390 disaster cases where 52 people died and 107 were injured. At least 19 houses collapsed, while 731 houses were damaged," he said.

Rukebanuka noted that the Ministry has identified 522 disaster-prone hotspots across the country, with around 22,000 households -- home to nearly 97,000 people -- currently at risk, Xinhua news agency reported.

He warned that 117 pieces of infrastructure, 23 public facilities, and more than 25,000 hectares of crops could also be affected by disasters caused by the ongoing heavy rains.

As part of emergency response efforts, he said more than 1,600 households located in high-risk districts, including Rusizi, Rubavu, Nyamasheke, Karongi, Rutsiro, Nyabihu, Nyamagabe, and Nyaruguru, should be urgently relocated.

Rukebanuka added that so far, 800 families living in high-risk zones have already been relocated and are now receiving shelter.

Since devastating floods and landslides struck the country's Western Province in May 2023, which claimed more than 100 lives and destroyed thousands of homes and critical infrastructure, Rwanda has been working to strengthen its disaster preparedness and response mechanisms.

The government launched emergency housing efforts, completing 904 houses in the immediate aftermath.

The Rwanda Meteorology Agency has issued a forecast indicating that April rainfall will surpass levels seen in previous years.

The expected rainfall will range from 100 mm to 350 mm, compared to the usual 100 mm to 300 mm.

The most intense downpours, between 300 mm and 350 mm, are predicted in Rusizi district, the eastern parts of Nyamasheke, the northern areas of Karongi, and the western parts of Nyamagabe and Nyaruguru.

Through the Contingency Emergency Response Component project, 900 homes have already been completed, with another 1,888 currently under construction, according to the Ministry.
London, April 19 : British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to free and open trade while emphasising the protection of national interests during a call with US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from Downing Street.

The two leaders began by discussing the ongoing trade negotiations between Britain and the US on Friday noon, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a readout from 10 Downing Street, the leaders addressed the ongoing "productive trade discussions" between the UK and the US.

Both sides signalled optimism about reaching an agreement.

They also exchanged views on the key international issues, including the situations in Ukraine and Iran, as well as recent military action taken against the Houthis in Yemen.

Their phone talk follows the US administration's decision earlier this month to impose sweeping tariffs on countries across the world.

Though Trump later introduced a 90-day pause on some of the tariffs while keeping a baseline of 10 per cent tariffs on imports to America, including on British goods, the British car industry, as well as steel and aluminum exports, still faces a 25 per cent tariff if relevant products are sold to the US.

In an interview on Monday, US Vice President J.D. Vance said there was a "good chance" a trade deal with Britain could be reached, adding that Washington is working closely with the British government.

On Thursday, Trump also hinted during remarks at the White House that a state visit to Britain is being planned for September.

It is the first time both Starmer and Trump have spoken since the latter unveiled an array of tariffs on countries on April 2 in what he dubbed "liberation day".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal, which Britain hopes can help soften the brunt of the tariffs.

However, Trump said on Thursday he was in "no rush" to reach any deals because of the revenues his new tariffs are generating.

Trump said lots of countries wanted to reach deals "frankly a more than I do", and that any agreements would come "at a certain point".
Gaza, April 19 : Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip killed at least 45 Palestinians and injured dozens of others, according to the Civil Defence in Gaza.

Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Civil Defence, said on Friday that in the southern city of Khan Younis, 10 people were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting a residential home belonging to the Baraka family, while six others, including two children and a woman, died after an airstrike on a barbershop.

"Multiple other strikes in Khan Younis reportedly killed eight more people, while two others were killed in southern Rafah city," he added.

In the north, at least 13 people were killed and several others wounded when a strike hit the Maqdad family's home in the Tal al-Zaatar area, Basal said, noting six were killed in airstrikes on two displacement tents in Gaza City, Xinhua news agency reported.

In a press statement, the Civil Defence warned that its emergency operations may grind to a halt in the coming days due to fuel shortages, which it attributed to the ongoing Israeli restrictions on aid and fuel entry.

In a separate attack in the same region, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians in the al-Tuwwam area, killing two Palestinians and injuring six others.

Another young man was also killed in an Israeli strike targeting a group of civilians in Jabalia.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement on Friday that, with the direction of intelligence, IDF troops are continuing their operational activity against militant organisations in Gaza, dismantling their infrastructure sites, and killing militants.

"The Israeli Air Force struck nearly 40 terror targets throughout Gaza, including terrorists, military structures, and weapons storage facilities," it said.

Further attacks were reported across Gaza, particularly in the eastern regions of Gaza City, including heavy shelling and airstrikes in the Shujaiya and Zeitoun neighbourhoods, with residential buildings being destroyed.

On Thursday alone, the Israeli army killed at least 45 Palestinians during intensified air, drone, and artillery strikes across the Gaza Strip, according to Palestinian medical sources, civil defence teams, and witnesses.

More than 51,000 Palestinians, most of them women and children, have been killed in Israel's ongoing war on Gaza since October 2023.
Washington, April 19 : US President Donald Trump's White House launched a Covid-19 website on Friday in which it blamed the origins of the coronavirus on a lab leak in China's Wuhan.

He also criticised former President Joe Biden, former top US health official Anthony Fauci and the World Health Organisation of suppressing the coronavirus origins.

The White House website now has an entire page dedicated to the Covid-19 lab-leak theory.

This comes weeks after the CIA issued a report saying that the lab-leak was likely.

The agency had previously said that it did not have enough information to determine the origin of Covid-19.

The new webpage is on the site that served as a resource for Covid-19 vaccination efforts. It now has a banner reading: "LAB LEAK, The True Origins of Covid-19."

President Donald Trump is also featured in the banner.

The 'lab-leak' page also accuses former Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Fauci and Biden of covering up the origins of coronavirus.

It says that the previous administration 'engaged in a multi-year campaign of delay, confusion and non-responsiveness' to conceal the truth.

"This website shows the true origins of Covid-19 and how Democrats and the media discredited alternative health treatments and the lab-leak theory," the White House said in a statement.

"The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2 publication, which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab-leak theory, was promoted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that Covid-19 originated naturally," the site said.

It further lists five key points, suggesting that Covid-19's origins were not natural.

1. The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.

2. According to the data, all cases of Covid-19 stem from a single introduction into humans, which is contrary to previous pandemics, where there were multiple spillover events.

3. Wuhan is home to China's foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research (gene altering and organism supercharging) without adequate biosafety.

4. The researchers at Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) were sick with Covid-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered at the wet market.

5. By nearly all measures of science, any evidence suggesting a natural origin of coronavirus would have already surfaced. But it hasn't.
Washington, April 19 : The US is reportedly prepared to recognise Russian control of the Ukrainian region of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, a media report said.

The potential concession is the latest signal that President Donald Trump is eager to cement a ceasefire deal, and comes as he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested on Friday that the administration is prepared to move on from its peace-brokering efforts unless progress is made quickly.

Crimea was taken by the Kremlin in 2014 following an invasion and subsequent referendum held under occupation, and the international community has resisted recognising the peninsula as Russian to avoid legitimising the illegal annexation.

Doing so risks undermining international laws and treaties prohibiting the taking of land through use of force.

But the move would be a boon for Russian President Vladimir Putin, who has long sought international recognition of Russian sovereignty in Crimea.

Putin so far has refused to agree to Trump's proposal for a broad peace deal.

The people said a final decision on the matter hadn't yet been taken.

The White House and State Department did not respond to a request for comment.

A US official familiar with the negotiations, asked about the possibility of recognising Crimea, declined to comment on the details of the talks.

"The longer this drags on, the harder it gets to justify our involvement," Trump told reporters, adding that if either side continues to delay the process, the US would stop pushing for a deal.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has opposed any proposal to surrender land to Russia.

He has repeatedly said that Ukraine will not accept any territory, including Crimea, as Russian.

Speaking in Kyiv on Thursday, he lashed out at Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff for allegedly adopting a pro-Russian stance.

"We will never consider Ukrainian lands as Russian," Zelensky said.

"There can be no discussion about our territory before a ceasefire."

Meanwhile, negotiations are taking place behind the scenes.

US officials recently made proposals in Paris to European allies, setting out a plan that would freeze the existing battles and permit a gradual relaxation of sanctions on Moscow if a permanent ceasefire is reached.

The plan would also take Ukraine's aspirations to join NATO off the negotiating table a" a long-standing Russian requirement.

The negotiations in Paris brought together officials from the US, France, Germany, the UK, and Ukraine.

In a private meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron and US envoy Witkoff also discussed what peacekeeping operations and ceasefire monitoring could be like in case of a negotiated agreement.

But Russia has little enthusiasm for a partial ceasefire.

The Kremlin just ended a 30-day ceasefire in attacks on Ukraine's energy infrastructure and still targets Ukrainian cities.

Last week, 35 were killed in Ukraine's Sumy in a Russian missile attack.

However, Kyiv is convinced that further talks can only be held if Russia too commits itself to stop attacking.
Islamabad, April 19 : Four terrorists were killed during a joint operation of security forces and law enforcement agencies in Pakistan's northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, the military said.

The intelligence-based operation was conducted in Swat district of the province, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the Pakistan Army, said on Friday in a statement.

Security forces engaged the terrorists at their location, killing all four terrorists, said the ISPR, adding that a huge cache of weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the terrorists' hideout, Xinhua news agency reported.

The killed terrorists were involved in numerous terror activities in the area, said the statement.

Earlier, security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation in the Maddi area of Dera Ismail Khan district on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, ARY News reported that during the first quarter of 2025, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) resulted in the deaths of 152 people, including police officers, security personnel, and civilians.

According to a report released by the KP Police, 302 individuals were also injured in these incidents.

The report noted that civilians were the most affected, with 45 deaths and 127 injuries reported between January and March.

The police force lost 37 members, with 46 others sustaining injuries.

Additionally, the Frontier Corps (FC) suffered the loss of 34 personnel, with 43 more wounded in the attacks, Ary News reported.

According to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think-tank, the nation saw a significant rise in terrorist activity in January 2025, with a 42 per cent increase compared to the previous month.

The report revealed that there were at least 74 militant attacks across the country, resulting in 91 deaths, which included 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants.

Additionally, 117 people were injured, including 53 members of the security forces, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.

KP remained the worst-affected province, followed by Balochistan.

In KP's settled districts, militants carried out 27 attacks, resulting in 19 fatalities, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants.
Mumbai, April 19 : Global head-turner Priyanka Chopra Jonas looked flawless even after being in a flight for over 24 hours.

Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) Global head-turner Priyanka Chopra Jonas looked flawless even after being in a flight for over 24 hours.

Priyanka took to Instagram, where she shared a close-up selfie of herself. Her skin looks smooth and glowing, even under close inspection and lighting. Her make-up is minimal, with a natural look, subtle eyeshadow, defined brows, and a soft pink glossy lip. She completed her look with a hat.

For the caption, she wrote: "Skin is skinning even after being on a plane for 24 hours, thank you, @fabricioormonde"

Priyanka had also shared a picture, which showed a flight map displaying a route over India, from Hyderabad. The green dotted line represents the flight path.

Earlier on April 18, Priyanka shared that she was glad her friend Namrata Shirodkar had a great time at her husband Nick Jonas' show "The Last Five Years."

Namrata watched "The Last Five Years" in New York and thanked the American pop star for a "spectacular show" and Priyanka for a "fabulous evening."

With her children Sitara and Gautham by her side, Namrata posted a picture on her Instagram stories section. The image had the wife of superstar Mahesh Babu and her children posing alongside Nick Jonas.

For the caption, she wrote, "Thank you Nick Jonas and Priyanka Chopra for a fabulous evening and a spectacular show!!! The Last Five Years."

Priyanka re-shared Namrata's post on her Instagram stories and commented, "So glad you all had a great time."

'The Last Five Years,' which is Jason Robert Brown's two-person musical, marks its first Broadway production. It has Nick alongside Tony Award winner Adrienne Warren.

It centers on two New YorkersJamie (Jonas), an up-and-coming author, and Cathy (Warren), an aspiring actresswhose love story unfolds over five years. Jamie's journey is presented in chronological order, while Cathy's is told in reverse, starting at the end of their marriage.

-- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text
New Delhi, April 19 : In a significant achievement, the pharmaceutical exports from India crossed $30 billion in the last financial year (FY25), with the US remaining as a key market with more than one-third of the country's pharma exports.

According to official trade data, the pharmaceutical exports reached $30,467.32 million in FY25, more than 9 per cent increase than $27,851.70 million in FY24.

In the month of March, the pharma exports registered more than 30 per cent surge (year-on-year) to $3,681.51 million, from $2,805.71 million in the same month last fiscal, according to data.

The exports to the US (in value terms) increased 14.29 per cent at $8,953.37 million in FY25. Other countries on top of India's pharma exports were the UK, Brazil, France and South Africa last fiscal.

Meanwhile, a report said last month that domestic pharmaceuticals market is expected to grow 8-9 per cent year-on-year in FY26. The report by India Ratings and Research (Ind-Ra) said the growth in the sector will be at 7.5-8.0 per cent year on year for FY25.

This is "against 6.5 per cent year-on-year in FY24 and 9.9 per cent YoY growth in FY23," said Krishnanath Munde, associate director at India Ratings and Research.

In February, the pharma market delivered revenue of 7.5 per cent year on year. This growth was driven by growth in price (5.2 per cent YoY) and new launches (2.4 per cent YoY), while volume growth continued to remain muted at negative 0.2 per cent YoY, the report said.

The sector reported growth at an average of 7.3 per cent year-to-date (YTD) in FY25. This was led by price growth (5.5 per cent), new launches growth (2.7 per cent), and volume growth.

The pharma sector in the country is witnessing rapid production growth. The Indian pharma sector has grown at 8 per cent CAGR and has also seen a 9 per cent increase in export rates in 2024, according to a report by McKinsey & Company.

The country also emerged as the world's largest supplier of generic medicines, with a 9 per cent pharma export growth rate, nearly double the global average, the report said.

IANS

na/
New Delhi, April 19 : A day after parts of Delhi-NCR experienced a sudden spell of thunderstorms, lightening and rain, bringing much-needed relief to the residents of the area who have been wilting under the scorching heat, the weather department has warned of more storms and lightning strikes on Saturday and Sunday and in the coming week.

Parts of Delhi and its surrounding areas experienced a brief but intense spell of rain on Friday evening and Central, southern, and western parts of the national Capital, including areas like Burari, Rohini, Badli, Model Town, Karawal Nagar, and many more, saw light to moderate rainfall, accompanied by gusty winds and thunderstorms.

According to the weather department the maximum temperature on April 19 will 38 degree Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 26 degrees Celsius as Delhi-NCR will continue to be rocked by thunderstorms and lightning.

According to the IMD, the weather on Sunday, April 20 will be cloudy and the maximum temperature will be at 38 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 25 degrees Celsius.

The cloudy conditions are expected to last till Monday and the maximum temperature will be at 39 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be 25 degrees Celsius, bringing much-needed relief to people and animals alike.

The weather department has predicted strong winds on April 22 in Delhi-NCR, however the maximum temperature will not go down any further and will continue to be 39 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature will be at 25 degrees Celsius.

However, this respite from the heatwave in the region is going to be brief and after April 23, the maximum temperature is expected to touch the 40 degrees Celsius mark.

The high speed winds and rain led to power outages in Delhi-NCR due to falling trees and branches.

Some areas in Western Uttar Pradesh saw billboards falling and wall collapses too, in which many people were killed and the police and the state administration are busy in relief and rescue measures.
Tourists pose for photographs on Kuta beach on the island of Bali on Jan. 4, 2019. Photo by AFP

Authorities in Indonesia's Bali, named Asia's most beautiful island this year, have vowed to show no mercy towards misbehaving tourists in order to protect the island's tourism reputation.

Bali's Governor Wayan Koster stated that he would take a "no mercy" approach to foreigners caught breaking the law or disrespecting Balinese culture, The Bali Sun reported.

This statement follows the recent deportation of a 27-year-old American tourist who was involved in aggressively damaging property at a local clinic.

The tourist was seen throwing furniture, tearing down curtains, and frightening other patients. He was removed from Indonesia via I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport on Monday, Jakarta Globe reported.

Koster emphasized that there would be no leniency, and the deportation should serve as a warning to all foreign visitors to Bali to obey local laws and respect Balinese culture and traditions.

In response to increasing misbehavior among foreign visitors, Bali authorities have introduced new guidelines to curb disruptive actions and enhance the island's tourism image.

Bali was named Asia's most beautiful island in this year's annual Reader's Choice Awards by DestinAsian magazine. In October last year, the island also received the same recognition from readers of Conde Nast Traveler in its Readers' Choice Awards.

In 2024, Bali welcomed 6.3 million international visitors, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. This year, it aims to attract 6.5 million tourists.
New Delhi, April 19 : The Centre on Saturday alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting pilgrims and tourists across the country.

The Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, said such frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts and paid advertisements on search engines like Google.

These scams involve the creation of professional-looking but fake websites and social media profiles and WhatsApp accounts offering services such as: helicopter booking for Kedarnath and Chaar Dhaam; guest house and hotel booking for pilgrims; online cab/taxi service bookings; and holiday packages and religious tours.

"Unsuspecting individuals, upon making payments through these portals, often realise they have been duped when no confirmation or service is received, and the contact numbers go unreachable," said the I4C.

People are advised to exercise extreme caution. Always verify the authenticity of websites before making any payments.

"Verify before clicking on 'sponsored' or unknown links on Google, Facebook, or WhatsApp. Cross-check bookings only through official government portals or trusted travel agencies," said the national cyber centre.

To contain the scams, the Indian Cybercrime Coordination Centre is taking multi-prolonged strategy. Scam Signals are being regularly exchanged with IT intermediaries like Google, WhatsApp and Facebook for proactive detection.

Cybercrime hotspots are being identified and state/UTs are being originated are being sensitised, and fake websites/advertisement and impersonating social media accounts access are being disabled on to protect citizens.

"Suspect checking and Reporting feature on National Cybercrime Reporting Portal is developed to facilitate hassle-free reporting," according to the I4C.

Meanwhile, the prevent the misuse of telecom resources for cyber-crime and financial frauds, the systems deployed by the I4C have reduced almost 97 per cent incoming spoofed calls.

The Department of Telecommunications (DoT) has developed an online, secure Digital Intelligence Platform (DIP) for sharing of information related to misuse of telecom resources among the stakeholders for prevention of misuse of telecom resources for cyber-crime and financial frauds.

IANS

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Kochi, April 19 : Controversial Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko, who had been evading police for the past three days, appeared at the North Ernakulam police station in Kerala on Saturday morning.

Police officials had served a notice at Chackoas residence on Friday, directing him to appear before them at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. The actor however arrived half an hour early.

According to sources, the police have prepared a set of 32 questions for Chacko to answer.

Investigators have also sought CCTV footage from six hotels in Kochi where he is believed to have stayed recently, along with his mobile call records for the past month.

The controversy began earlier this week when Chacko reportedly fled during a police raid linked to an alleged drug use case.

The issue surfaced after actress Vincy Aloshious accused him of misbehaving with her during the shoot of the film 'Soothravakyam' last year.

Although she initially refrained from naming the actor, she later identified Chacko as the one who misbehaved. She also said that Chacko spat a white powdery substance.

Aloshious had filed a complaint with the Kerala Film Chamber on the condition that the accusedas name would remain confidential.

However, the Chamber general secretary, Saji Nandiyattu, later disclosed Chacko's name to the media and assured action would be taken against him. Following this, Aloshious expressed her disappointment over the breach of trust and announced she would no longer cooperate with the proceedings.

On Friday, her father informed authorities that the family was not interested in pursuing the matter further, stating, "What happened on the film set can be settled within the film industry itself."

Interestingly, the families of Chacko and Aloshious have known each other for some time. While evading police on Friday, Chacko also took to social media to promote Soothravakyam, the film at the centre of the controversy.

Raj Mohan, a retired senior Kerala police official and former NIA officer, remarked that although Chacko fled from the police earlier in the week, the investigation can still proceed, as the question of limitation does not apply in this case.

Earlier this month, Chacko was also named by an arrested woman drug peddler, who claimed to have supplied drugs to him and actor Sreenath Bhasi.

The woman and her associates are currently in judicial custody. Following her arrest, the Excise Department announced that notices would be issued to both actors.
Chennai, April 19 : Well known actor Nasser, who has acted in director Karthik Subbaraj's eagerly-awaited explosive action entertainer 'Retro', has now disclosed how actor Suriya, despite sustaining an injury to the back of his head, returned in a brief while to continue shooting for the film.

Speaking at the grand audio and trailer launch event of the film, which was organised at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor stadium, Nasser said, "I have been watching Suriya from his first film. I have been seeing his growth. Firstly, he has a pure heart. Secondly, he is a dedicated actor who will give up anything to complete his duty."

The veteran actor, who praised Suriya's sense of commitment and dedication, said, "In this film, I even got angry (with his sense of commitment). I asked him, 'Why do you not get a dupe (to perform risky stunts)? Why do you take a risk everywhere?"

Nasser said that Suriya, in reply, had said,"No sir, I want to attempt it first and see. If I can't do it, then... But I will try at least two or three times. I must be the one to do it. When I watch the film, I mustn't feel that this person wasn't me."

The veteran actor then went on to disclose how Suriya had suffered a blow to his head while shooting for the film.

"When this film was being shot, Suriya suffered an injury to the back of his head. He just took a brief while to recuperate and returned to shoot again," Nasser said and turned to Suriya to say, "I advice you. We need you forever. So, be safe."

The film, which is scheduled to hit screens on May 1 this year, has a run time of Two hours 48 minutes and 30 seconds.

Apart from Suriya and Pooja Hegde, the film will feature a host of stars including Malayalam actors Joju George and Jayaram and Tamil actor Karunakaran.

Music for the film is by Santhosh Narayanan and cinematography by Shreyaas Krishna. Editing has been handled by Shafique Mohamed Ali and art direction is by Jacki and Mayapandi. The film, which will be high on action, will have stunts by Kecha Khamphakdee.

Interestingly, Suriya underwent special martial arts training in Thailand for this film.

-IANS

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-- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed
New Delhi, April 19 : The Uttarakhand Board of School Education (UBSE) officially released the results for Class 10 and Class 12 on Saturday. The results are hosted at: ubse.uk.gov.in and uaresults.nic.in.

This year, the pass rate for Class 10 students stands at an impressive 90.77 per cent. Out of 1,09,859 candidates who appeared for the exam, 99,725 successfully passed. For Class 12, the pass percentage is 83.23 per cent, with 88,518 students qualifying out of the 1,06,345 who took the exam.

Anushka Rana has topped the Class 12 board examination, while Jitin Joshi and Kamal Chauhan have jointly secured the top position in the Class 10 or High School category.

The official announcement of the results took place first at a press briefing held at the Board Office in Ramnagar. Later, the stateas Education Minister formally declared the results during a press conference in Dehradun.

The UBSE Class 12 Board exams were conducted between February 21 and March 11, 2025, at multiple exam centres throughout the state.

Approximately 1,09,713 students registered for the examination. Meanwhile, the Class 10 exams also took place over the same period, with more than 2.2 lakh students participating in total. Of these, around 1.13 lakh were Class 10 examinees.

To successfully pass the UBSE exams, students must obtain a minimum of 33 per cent in each subject, including practical components. Those who fail in one or two subjects will have the opportunity to appear for supplementary exams, giving them a second chance to improve their results.

The online mark sheets are provisional and should not be considered as the final document for admission purposes and students should collect the original mark sheet and pass certificate from their schools, officials said.

The Uttarakhand Board Class 10 and 12 exams were held from February 21 to March 11.
New Delhi, April 19 : Following the violent clashes in West Bengal's Murshidabad district in which three people were killed, BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty on Saturday called for the immediate imposition of President's Rule in the state. Issuing a stark warning he claimed that if Mamata Banerjee wins in the upcoming elections it could lead to another massacre.

In an interview with IANS, Chakraborty said, "President's Rule should be imposed as soon as possible. I have already requested it multiple times, and I'm doing it again now through you, to the Home Minister.

"At the very least, there should be a military presence for two months during the election period. Only then can we have fair elections. Whoever wins, wins. But from the day the Election Commission announces the election dates to one month after the results are declared, the Army should remain deployed.

"Because if the current ruling party wins again, it will lead to another massacre. Everything will repeat. That's why I am making this request."

This demand comes in the aftermath of the April 11 violence in Dhulian, Murshidabad, where protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned deadly. Three people lost their lives, and several others were injured, triggering a fierce political standoff between the state and central leadership.

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose visited the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad on Friday to assess the situation.

Reacting on this, Chakraborty commented, "He should have gone earlier. They delayed his visit and didn't allow him to go. These people don't need money, they need the mental strength of knowing someone stands with them. We wanted to visit too, but they didn't let us. People are being beaten up while sitting helpless, what can I say? It's heartbreaking."

Responding to the question of whether Muslims are being given a free hand under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government, Chakraborty claimed, "If Madam (Mamata Banerjee) wants, she can stop all this in one day. But she hasn't taken any strict action against even one person yet. The situation is such that now, Sanatani Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, none of them will vote for this party.

"Their traditional vote bank is shifting, so to keep their core voters happy, they're allowing these things to happen. Even if someone dies, it doesn't matter to them."
Seoul, April 19 : Former South Korean Interior and Safety Minister Lee Sang-min returned home on Saturday after an overnight police interrogation over his alleged involvement in former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's brief imposition of martial law late last year.

The former minister appeared before a special police investigation team at around 2 p.m. Friday as a suspect in the ongoing probe. He was released about 18 hours later at approximately 7:40 a.m. on Saturday.

He is suspected of directing the National Fire Agency to cut off power and water supplies to multiple media outlets critical of former President following Yoon's martial law declaration on December 3.

Lee reportedly denied the allegations against him. He is said to have spent more than three hours, beginning around 4 a.m., reviewing and making revisions to the official record of his statement.

Investigators are seeking to determine whether the utility disruptions were initially ordered by then President Yoon, and whether Lee carried out those instructions, Yonhap news agency reported.

The ongoing investigation includes testimony from fire department personnel as well as forensic analysis of materials seized during raids on Lee's home and offices in Seoul and Sejong in February, according to sources familiar with the probe.

Meanwhile, Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation's second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.

With the ruling, Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal.

Before taking the nation's highest office, Yoon began his career as a prosecutor in 1994, rising through the ranks to lead an investigation team into Park's corruption scandal that ultimately led to her ouster and subsequent imprisonment.

In 2019, he was appointed as the nation's top prosecutor under then South Korean President Moon Jae-in but clashed with the administration as he oversaw investigations into family members of former Justice Minister Cho Kuk.

Amid mounting pressure from the Moon administration, Yoon stepped down from his post in 2021, only to enter politics shortly after and win the presidential election in 2022 as the candidate for the conservative People Power Party.

Yoon's term was riddled with conflict with an uncooperative National Assembly dominated by the main Opposition Democratic Party (DP). Yoon exercised his presidential veto power against 25 Bills passed by the National Assembly.

Tensions with the DP appeared to reach an extreme in early December as the main Opposition introduced motions to impeach the country's top auditor and a senior prosecutor, with Yoon declaring martial law on December 3, which ultimately led to his downfall.
Sanaa, April 19 : The death toll from US air strikes on Yemen's fuel port of Ras Isa has risen to 80, with 150 other people wounded, Houthi-run health authorities reported on Saturday.

The strikes took place Thursday night, targeting the port and several concrete tanks used for storing imported fuel.

The victims are workers of the port, including five paramedics, Xinhua news agency reported.

The port, northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group.

The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014.

The attack marks the deadliest since Washington resumed its strikes on Houthi targets in mid-March.

Five paramedics were also among the casualties, said the television in an earlier report, adding that they were killed upon their arrival on ambulances at the scene, in the second wave of US air strikes on the port that took place overnight shortly after the first.

More than 14 air strikes on the fuel port were reported during the two waves, destroying concrete tanks storing imported fuel and igniting massive fires. The fires were extinguished within hours, said the report.

A resident confirmed to Xinhua that among the victims were employees, truck drivers, contracted workers, and civilian trainees of the port, adding that rescue teams recovering bodies and extinguishing fires were also targeted in subsequent strikes.

The port, northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014.

Earlier, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) confirmed in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday, "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

"The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation," USCENTCOM said on social media platform X. The United States redesignated the Houthi group as a terrorist organisation after President Donald Trump assumed power in January.

USCENTCOM alleged that the Houthis "use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import".

Shortly after the heavy air strikes, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani blamed the targeting of the fuel port on the Houthis, accusing the militia of transforming the port "from an economic facility serving Yemenis into a centre for smuggling weapons and fuel."

Meanwhile, Minister of Oil and Minerals Saeed al-Shamasi confirmed the readiness of government-controlled ports in Aden, Nishtun, Mukalla, and Mocha to receive fuel and food shipments sufficient to meet market demands across all regions of Yemen.

In response, the Houthis denounced the strikes as "a full-fledged war crime," dismissing the US and the Yemeni government's accusations and insisting that "the port is a civilian, not a military facility".

In a statement released on Friday, the Houthis said the US attacks were aimed at supporting Israel in crimes against the Palestinian people, vowing to continue their "support operations" for Palestinians. The group, meanwhile, claimed that it has successfully prevented all "Israeli navigation in the Red Sea."

It also assured citizens in northern Yemen that "the oil supply is stable," while warning that "the US crime will not pass without painful punishment."

Also on Friday, the Israeli military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen in the morning. The launch is believed to be made by the Houthis in retaliation for the US overnight air strikes.

In mid-March, Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason.
Mumbai, April 19 : Anant Mahadevan, the maker of "Phule" has requested Brahmin community to watch the film before forming an opinion. In an exclusive conversation with IANS, Anant Mahadevan opened up about his film, it's content and the changes suggested by the censor board.

Director Ananth Mahadevan's biographical drama "Phule" is based on the lives of social reformers Jyotirao Govindrao Phule and his wife Savitribai Phule. Ahead of its release, the film has been facing opposition from certain sections of the Brahmin community. After seeing the trailer of the film, a few members of the Brahmin community claimed that they had been portrayed in a "poor light".

The maker of "Phule", Anant Mahadevan has now requested the Brahmin community to first see the film and then give their opinion. He added that they have adhered to all the amendments suggested by the censor board.

Sharing his views on the changes suggested by the censor board, Mahadevan told IANS, "They were probably over cautious, and they had certain recommendations, certain tweaking which they wanted us to do- it was not really cut as such."

He asserted that even with these changes, the film does not lose its impact. "We adhered to that because we want to go by the law, but the only thing is that we have become a little over-sensitive, even if those words were retained, even if those points were retained, I don't think anyone would have objected to it, but somewhere we had to soften it, but let me assure you this will not reduce the impact of the film."

The makers were asked to remove terms such as aManga, aMahara, and aPeshwaia from the film. Additionally, the visual of a aman carrying a brooma was asked to be replaced with aboys throwing cow dung balls at Savitribaia, and the line a3000 saal purani gulamia was changed to aKai saal purania, among other things. Inviting everyone to catch "Phule" on April 25, the maker said that they have got a clean U certificate from the censor board.

He added that the CBFC itself has endorsed the film and said that the film should be seen by the younger generation because Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule started off in their teen a revolution that still continues. The project will see Pratik Gandhi as Jyotirao Phule, and Patralekha as Savitribai Phule.
Bhopal, April 19 : Senior BJP leader and Madhya Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla on Saturday criticised the Congress, accusing it of attempting to build pressure on investigating agencies in connection with the National Herald case.

The minister alleged that whenever Congress' top leadership faces "corruption charges", they start making excuses, blame the BJP and question central agencies' credibility.

Interacting with media persons in Datia, he said: "People booked under charges of corruption won't accept action, instead, they would blame the agencies and others. But, there is a law to take action. Congress is blaming the BJP and agencies because they have nothing to say in defence."

Notably, since the day the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed its first charge sheet on the high-profile National Herald case against Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, there has been relentless protest from the grand old party across the country.

In Madhya Pradesh, where the Congress is the main opposition, protests against the ED and the BJP are being organised by different wings of the state Congress in Bhopal and other parts.

In that sequence, the youth wing of the state Congress held a massive protest in Bhopal on Friday.

Senior Congress leaders, including ex-Chief Ministers Digvijaya Singh and Kamal Nath, as well as the party's state unit chief Jitu Patwari, have been relentlessly accusing the BJP's central leadership of misusing the investigating agencies to suppress the opposition.

The ED has filed a prosecution complaint against Sonia, Rahul and others in the National Herald case. The matter is listed for argument in Rouse Avenue Court, one of the six district courts in the national capital, on April 25.

The investigation by ED commenced in 2021, following a complaint by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy.

The complaint highlighted a criminal conspiracy by several prominent political figures, including Sonia, Rahul, Oscar Fernandes, Suman Dubey, Sam Pitroda and Young Indian for alleged involvement in a money laundering case.
Washington, April 19 : The US has reissued a travel advisory to its citizens stating that they must reconsider travel to Bangladesh due to civil unrest, crime, and terrorism in the country under the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus.

There is also a risk of terrorist violence, including terrorist attacks and other activity in Bangladesh, said the US Department of State travel advisory on Friday.

The advisory urged the citizens not to travel to Khagrachari, Rangamati, and Bandarban Hill Tracts districts (collectively known as the Chittagong Hill Tracts) due to communal violence, crime, terrorism, kidnapping, and other security risks.

"Kidnappings have occurred in the region, including those motivated by domestic or familial disputes, and those targeting members of religious minorities. Separatist organisations and political violence also pose additional threats to visitors to the region, and there have been instances of IED explosions and active shooting," the advisory stated.

"Prior approval from the Government of Bangladesh's Ministry of Home Affairs Office of Public Safety is required if you plan to travel to these areas. Due to the risks, US government employees working in Bangladesh are prohibited from traveling to the region," it added.

According to the advisory, the US government employees working in Bangladesh are prohibited from non-essential travel within Dhaka outside of the diplomatic enclave due to the risks involved. Additionally, US government employees working in Bangladesh must obtain special authorisation to travel outside of Dhaka.

The US government may have limited ability to provide emergency services to US citizens in Bangladesh, particularly outside of Dhaka, due to these travel restrictions, a lack of infrastructure, and limited host government emergency response resources, said the advisory.

Urging the US citizens to avoid demonstrations and political gatherings, the advisory asserted that demonstrations intended to be peaceful can turn confrontational and quickly escalate into violence.

"Travelers should be aware of petty crime, such as pickpocketing, in crowded areas. In addition, crimes such as muggings, burglaries, assaults, and illegal drug trafficking constitute most criminal activity in Bangladesh's major cities," it stated.
Ukraine is '90%' ready to agree to US peace proposal, if Russia does not do same, Trump may withdraw from negotiations  media

A senior official of the U.S. presidential administration said the Ukrainian Defense Minister told the U.S. officials that Kyiv is "90%" on board with the peace framework of President Donald Trump, presented this week in Paris by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and two special envoys, the New York Post said on Saturday, without naming the official's name or position.

"This coming week in London, we want to make a determination for a full and comprehensive cease-fire. The intent then is to have [discussions] with the Russians and then say, 'OK, this is your best and final offer,' to find out where both sides are at. And once we get that, then the next steps will be determined," the source said.

The source said the question now is whether Russia, which has previously blocked Trump's attempts to reach a full ceasefire and peace agreement, will agree to this offer.

The officials said Trump is ready to walk away from the negotiating table if he does not get Moscow's agreement, placing responsibility for the conflict on America's European allies.

To persuade Russia to come to the negotiating table, Special Presidential Envoy Steve Witkoff could offer Moscow a "carrot" of reduced sanctions and possibly unfreezing seized assets, the senior official said. "The carrot, for the Russians, is a look at, 'How do we reduce the sanctions that are currently on the Russians?' 'The other is, 'How do you handle the frozen Russian assets  that $300 billion that sits in Brussels, what happens with those, as well?" The source said.

But experts say such actions would contradict Trump's previous threats to increase financial pressure on Russia, which he has so far failed to do.

In particular, Alex Plitsas of the Atlantic Council said the U.S. president "has been very tough on the Ukrainians, cutting off intelligence support and military aid when he didn't feel that he was getting the immediate 'yes' that he wanted from the Ukrainians to agree to a cease-fire."

"The Russians have continued to violate any cease-fire that they have ever signed up for, refused to come to an agreement on the cease-fire on reasonable terms, continue to launch ballistic missile attacks and drone attacks and that are killing Ukrainian civilians. All of that is basically thumbing their nose at President Trump and looking to embarrass him on the international stage... A failure to be able to achieve the goal that he set out  of peace from Day One  and abandoning Ukraine to Russian aggression would be characterized as both a US and NATO loss across the board," Plitsas said.

He said the White House should instead take tougher action against Vladimir Putin, who "has not been held accountable for his actions in a meaningful way for the last 25 years".
New Delhi, April 19 : In a groundbreaking move to bridge the digital divide and empower remote border communities, the Indian Army has enabled seamless 4G and 5G mobile connectivity across high-altitude regions of Ladakh, including forward locations in Eastern and Western Ladakh, as well as the Siachen Glacier.

For the first time, troops deployed in some of the worldas most challenging and inhospitable terrains a" such as Daulat Beg Oldie (DBO), Galwan, Demchok, Chumar, Batalik, Dras, and Siachen a" now enjoy access to reliable high-speed mobile networks.

This development marks a major morale boost for soldiers posted at isolated, winter cut-off posts situated at altitudes above 18,000 feet, enabling them to stay connected with their families and loved ones.

The initiative is the result of a collaborative effort under the Whole-of-Government approach.

Leveraging its extensive optical fibre cable infrastructure, the Indian Army partnered with Telecom Service Providers (TSPs) and the Union Territory Administration of Ladakh.

The Fire and Fury Corps played a key role in facilitating this initiative, which has led to the installation of multiple mobile towers across Army infrastructure a" including four critical towers in Ladakh and Kargil districts.

This project is not only improving troop welfare but is also significantly transforming the socio-economic landscape of remote border villages.

By integrating aFirst Villagesa into the national digital network, the initiative is delivering a host of benefits: Bridging the digital divide, boosting local economies, promoting border tourism, enhancing emergency medical services, enabling educational access, strengthening local commerce, preserving cultural heritage, and curbing migration.

A particularly historic achievement was the successful installation of a 5G mobile tower on the Siachen Glacier a" the highest battlefield in the world. This feat underscores India's technological advancement and unwavering commitment to national development.

Local residents have welcomed the initiative with heartfelt appreciation. In these remote regions, mobile connectivity is no longer a luxury but a vital lifeline a" offering inclusion, opportunity, and a renewed sense of dignity.

This visionary effort by the Indian Army reinforces its enduring role in nation-building and echoes the spirit of Viksit Bharat a" India@2047, as the country charts its path towards inclusive growth and development.
Kolkata, April 19 : Women in Dhuliyan, one of the worst-affected areas in West Bengal's minority-dominated Murshidabad district, have urged the Centre to set up permanent Border Security Force (BSF) camps in violence-hit pockets to ensure their safety following recent communal unrest over protests against the Waqf Act.

On Saturday, a delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, visited Dhuliyan to meet those affected by last week's violence, most of whom are Hindus.

Several women broke down during their interaction with the delegation and pleaded for the permanent deployment of central forces.

"We won't survive without permanent BSF camps here. If needed, we are ready to offer our own land and homes for setting them up," said a woman, sobbing and touching the feet of a delegation member.

The NCW team assured locals that their concerns would be conveyed to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.

"We are here to stand with you in this moment of crisis. The whole country is watching and supporting you. We will submit a detailed report to the Centre and include the demand for permanent BSF presence in this region," a delegation member told the women.

Even before Saturday's visit, NCW member Archana Majumdar had stressed the need for permanent Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) camps in the region.

"The women victims in Murshidabad have clearly expressed the need for permanent CAPF deployment to ensure their dignity and safety. We will raise the issue with the Union government," Majumdar said on Friday.

Meanwhile, the Murshidabad district administration has prepared a preliminary report on property damage. According to initial estimates, over 250 houses and 100 shops -- mostly owned by Hindus -- were vandalized during the unrest.

"This is just the initial estimate. The actual figure may rise as we complete the detailed assessment," said a senior district official.
New Delhi, April 19 : Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday signalled steady progress in her government's plans to improve doorstep medical facilities by upgrading existing clinics and opening new ones to create 1,139 Ayushman Arogya Mandirs.

"Under the PM-ABHIM scheme, the Centre has given us funding to build 1,139 Arogya Mandirs in Delhi, which will provide treatment facilities to every resident of the city," CM Gupta said at an event to mark World Liver Day.

She also reiterated her government's commitment to deliver healthcare facilities to the public.

"Not a single person, whether from the marginalised section or from a well-to-do background, should be forced to run around for healthcare," said CM Rekha.

"It is our responsibility to have a good health infrastructure in the country and Delhi," she said, adding that the Capital offers medical services to people from across the country.

We are mindful of our responsibility to strengthen health infrastructure, strengthen our hospitals and upgrade our technology which is needed for people, she said.

She hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for paving the way for implementation of the Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana (AB-PMJAY) health insurance scheme in Delhi.

"It is not just an insurance scheme but an assurance scheme," said the CM, promising that the support being extended by the Central government is being used to serve the people better.

She also repeated her commitment to donate organs and said her government would soon launch an awareness campaign

In Budget 2025-26 presented on March 25, CM Gupta allocated Rs 320 crore for expansion of Health and Wellness Centres (HWC)/Ayushman Arogya Mandir (AAM) to ensure better primary healthcare facilities with the establishment of 400 HWC/AAM. These will be the new avatar of the previous government's 'Mohalla Clinic' scheme.

Another Rs 2,144 crore were allocated for Ayushman Bharat Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Yojana health insurance in addition to Rs 1666.66 crore proposed to the PM-ABHIM scheme under which critical care blocks and diagnostics will be strengthened.
New Delhi, April 19 : Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said that it was an honour to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.

The billionaire industrialist and PM Modi earlier discussed various issues, including an immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation.

"It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year," posted Musk on his X social media platform.

PM Modi on Friday held a discussion with Tesla CEO on a range of topics.

"Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains," PM Modi said on X.

The Prime Minister had met Musk in Washington during his visit to the US in February this year. "Had a very good meeting with Elon Musk in Washington DC. We discussed various issues, including those he is passionate about such as space, mobility, technology and innovation. I talked about India's efforts towards reform and furthering 'Minimum Government, Maximum Governance," PM Modi had stated on X after the meeting.

In another post, PM Modi shared glimpses of his candid moments with Musk's children, captioning it, "It was also a delight to meet Mr. Elon Musk's family and to talk about a wide range of subjects!"

PM Modi's conversation with Musk comes at a time when Tesla is reportedly poised to enter the Indian market. The development also comes against the backdrop of ongoing negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US.

Union Commerce and Industry Minister, Piyush Goyal, also held a meeting with top executives of Musk's Starlink in Delhi this week to discuss the company's investment plans for India.

"Met a delegation from Starlink, comprising Vice President Chad Gibbs & Senior Director, Ryan Goodnight. Discussions covered Starlink's cutting-edge technology platform, their existing partnerships & future investment plans in India," Piyush Goyal said on X after the meeting.

IANS

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New Delhi, April 19 : Following the violent clashes in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty has called for the immediate imposition of President's Rule in the state and emphasised the urgent need for Army deployment to restore public safety.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Following the violent clashes in West Bengalas Murshidabad district, BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty has called for the immediate imposition of Presidentas Rule in the state and emphasised the urgent need for Army deployment to restore public safety.

In a special interaction with IANS, Chakraborty raised serious concerns over the law and order situation in West Bengal. Accusing the state government of allowing targeted violence against Hindus.

Here's the full interview:

IANS: Are Hindus being deliberately targeted in Bengal?

Mithun Chakraborty: Youave already given the answer in your question. See, all this Waqf Act thing is just an excuse, the agenda behind it is something else. The new Waqf Act is meant for our Muslim brothers and sisters, but whatas really happening is that political leaders have grabbed land for their own use, some have built godowns, some have rented them out for profit. If this money had gone to support the Muslim community, to help their women, it would have been something else. But instead, the leaders are enjoying it themselves.

Hindus have been displaced, their homes destroyed. They never opposed anyone, they didnat protest, yet their houses were burned and ruined. Now, theyare surviving on 'khichdi' in temporary shelters. Theyave been made homeless. What was their fault?

IANS: Should it be assumed that Muslims have been given a free hand under Mamata Banerjeeas government, which is why this is happening?

Mithun Chakraborty: Look, if Madam wants, everything will be over in just one day, everything can be stopped in one day. She hasnat even taken one person to task yet. Anyway, thatas another issue. See, right now in Bengal, the Sanatani people, Christian people, Sikh people, all our brothers, they wonat vote for this party. Now that the time is over, they need to keep their vote bank happy. Thatas why even if something wrong happens, they wonat act against them, they want to keep them happy daily, regardless of who dies or what happens.

IANS: Can it be said that Hindus have become refugees in Bengal?

Mithun Chakraborty: Absolutely. Theyave become refugees because here everything is run by hooliganism, total hooliganism everywhere. And we donat want any riots, any conflicts, nothing. Weave always been saying just let fair elections happen, but they donat let that happen.

IANS: How do you see the role of West Bengal police? Donat you feel the police have been told to turn a blind eye when it comes to Muslims?

Mithun Chakraborty: Look, the police there go to watch functions. Wherever thereas rioting and chaos, they come with chairs and just sit and watch, they enjoy the function. Then they take their chairs and go home. Thatas their job, eyes closed, everything closed. In fact, they just enjoy the show and leave.

IANS: Do you think President's Rule should be imposed in Bengal?

Mithun Chakraborty: If this continues, then definitely, as soon as possible. Iave requested many times and even now Iam requesting the Home Minister through you. At least keep the military in for two months during the elections, if they stay, the election will be fair. Whatever happens then, let it happen. But from the day the Election Commission announces the date until a month after the result, the military should stay, because if they win, then it will lead to another massacre. Everything will happen again, thatas why Iam requesting this.

IANS: Do you feel that the Army is needed in Bengal right now?

Mithun Chakraborty: Right now, in the current situation, thereas an urgent need for the Army. Whatas happening definitely requires Army intervention.

IANS: These days, the Governor is also visiting violence-affected areas. How do you view that?

Mithun Chakraborty: He should have gone earlier. He was delayed. They werenat allowing him to go. People don't want money, they want the strength that comes from knowing that someone is with us, someone wonat let this happen. We want to go, but they wonat let us go. What can I say? Itas a very sad situation.

IANS: Who do you think is most responsible for the riots? Who is the face behind it?

Mithun Chakraborty: Iave been saying this, the Waqf Bill is just an excuse. Itas a cover-up, thereas a different agenda behind it. Thatas why the riots happened. Now whoas behind it? Madam says she wonat let the land be taken, why does she keep saying that? Is she above our President? No? Sheas just one Chief Minister among 28 states. Both houses have passed the Bill, the President has signed it, and she herself was in the House.

Sheas been a minister, she knows more about law than us. Still, she says she wonat allow it. If she doesnat allow it and now the order has come to take the land, when they go to take it, the riots will begin again. Then you understand whoas doing what and why.

IANS: Let me speak directly. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said in an IANS interview that Mamata Banerjee is responsible for the violence in West Bengal. Do you agree?

Mithun Chakraborty: Sheas speaking directly because she is the Chief Minister. I will speak too, and when I open my mouth in a few days, it will cost many people dearly. Thatas all Iall say for now, Iam just taking a little more time, nothing else.

IANS: Final question. Are you planning to visit the violence-affected areas?

Mithun Chakraborty: I want to go, but I havenat received permission yet.
Bengaluru, April 19 : Responding to the recent shootout targeting late underworld don Muthappa Rai's son and other crimes across the state, Karnataka Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Saturday that the law and order situation in the state was improving.

Speaking to the media in the backdrop of the shooting incident on the outskirts of Bengaluru, HM Parameshwara remarked that his statements often get distorted in the media, so he would be cautious in making comments.

"I received a briefing from the Bengaluru Police Commissioner this morning. All parameters, including cybercrime cases, have shown a decline compared to last year," Parameshwara said.

He added, "If someone says the law and order situation is not good, they must think carefully before making such a statement."

Regarding the shootout incident involving Muthappa Rai's son, Ricky Rai, HM Parameshwara stated, "I have been informed about the incident. Police officers have briefed me that the firing took place between 1 am and 2 am. I'm receiving updates. We are aware of the firing, and the victim has been admitted to hospital. I have sought further details. Additional police force has been deployed, and the investigation is underway."

Commenting on the caste census, HM Parameshwara stated that all ministers were being asked to share their opinions, and everyone was participating in the ongoing discussion.

"Eventually, the government and the Chief Minister will make a decision. It will be a Cabinet decision, not an individual one, and certainly not just the decision of CM Siddaramaiah," he clarified.

He further said, "The Opposition will make their claims, and we are observing them. It is a socio-economic and educational survey. The main objective, and the terms of reference, are to assess the status of communities in terms of social, economic, and educational factors. The survey was conducted with these goals in mind."

"During the process, numerical data was naturally collected and submitted to the government. The government now has to study it and use it to formulate policies and programmes," he added.

Parameshwara mentioned that some ministers have raised concerns about the reported population figures of their communities. "After studying the report, I believe this is one of the most scientifically-conducted enumerations of data. If the media accesses it, you will see the same."

"They collected minute details  for example, whether a family has a bore well, and whether it is functional or not. Signatures were taken from the family and the supervising officer during data collection. We have all that information," he said.

"The survey teams visited 1.37 crore families. All data has been verified with signatures. It's not possible to fabricate such a report as the Opposition alleges. The data is available with the commissionerate, and anyone can verify it," he emphasised.

When asked whether the caste data could be used for implementing internal reservation, Parameshwara responded, "Justice H.N. Nagamohan Das has been tasked with collecting data specifically related to SCs and STs. Once that data is available, it will be compared with this survey. There won't be any confusion. Let the survey be completed."

Speaking on the controversy involving the removal of a sacred thread during examinations, Parameshwara said, "It is a serious mistake. I do not agree with such an act. During exams, candidates are asked to follow certain guidelines, but this was an individual's mistake, and society as a whole does not support it."
New Delhi, April 19 : India and Saudi Arabia are expected to further strengthen their multifaceted partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to the Kingdom, next week.

aThe April 22-23 visit at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman will be PM Modi's third to the Kingdom after his previous visits in 2016 and 2019. It follows the State Visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit and co-chair the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.

"India and Saudi Arabia share close and friendly ties with a long history of socio-cultural and trade contacts. As strategic partners, the two countries share strong bilateral relations across various areas including political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, health, education, culture and people-to-people ties," read a statement issued by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).

"India's relations with the Kingdom have evolved into a stronger and enduring partnership in the past decade, expanding into many strategic domains, with growing investment commitments, broadening of defence cooperation and intensive high-level exchanges across sectors," it added.

The MEA stated that the visit of Prime Minister Modi reflects the importance India attaches to its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and it will provide an opportunity to further deepen and strengthen the multi-faceted partnership, as well as to exchange views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest.

With 'Neighbourhood First' continuing to be the guiding vision for the Modi government's foreign policy, the Prime Minister has mentioned before how India's relations with Saudi Arabia are one of the most important bilateral relationships in the extended neighbourhood.

India and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947 and it was 2010 that the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership.

However, the partnership has received a major boost over the last decade, especially after PM Modi's landmark visit to Riyadh in April 2016 that led to an enhanced and comprehensive cooperation in the political, economic, security and defence realms. During the visit, King Salman conferred the Kingdom's highest civilian honour, the 'King Abdulaziz Sash', on PM Modi.

Both countries decided to establish a Strategic Partnership Council (SPC) to steer the India-Saudi Arabia relationship during Prime Minister Modi's State visit to Saudi Arabia in October 2019.

The SPC has two pillars - the Political-Security-Socio-Cultural (PSSC) and Economic and Investment. While the External Affairs Minister and the Saudi Foreign Minister co-chair the PSSC, the economic pillar is co-chaired by India's Commerce and Industry Minister and the Energy Minister on the Saudi side.

There are also eight Joint Working Groups (JWGs) and sub-committees under the two pillars which conduct regular official level meetings.

The first Summit of the SPC was held in New Delhi in September 2023 and was co-chaired by PM Modi and visiting Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman.

Beginning 2024, there have been 11 ministerial-level visits between both nations. The Saudi Foreign Minister and Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025, respectively.

Riyadh is also the seat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and India and the GCC Secretariat have maintained good relations and regular dialogues at official level. In September 2024, EAM S. Jaishankar visited Riyadh to co-chair the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting.

On the economic front, Saudi Arabia remains India's fifth largest trade partner while India is Saudi Arabiaas second largest trade partner. During the Financial Year 2023-24, India's imports from Saudi Arabia reached US $31.42 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth US$ 11.56 billion.

Major commodities of export from India to Saudi Arabia include engineering goods, rice, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, food products, ceramic tiles. whereas, major commodities of import for India from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, chemicals, plastic and products, etc.

The total Saudi investment in India including that of PIF, other Saudi companies and Saudi backed Vision Fund, has been about USD 10 billion. Major investments include PIF's investment in Reliance Jio Platforms, Reliance Retail Ventures Limited, Oyo Hotels, Healthtech Healthifyme, etc. Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) has also acquired stakes in Daawat Foods Limited. SABIC has invested over USD 100 million in its technology and innovation Centre in Bengaluru.

Among the major Saudi investors in India are ARAMCO, Zamil Group, Al Fanar and Petromin. Indian investment in Saudi Arabia has also increased in recent years reaching approximately USD 3 billion in August 2023. These investments are across diverse sectors such as management and consultancy services, construction projects, telecommunications, information technology, financial services and software development, pharmaceuticals, etc. Many Indian companies and corporate groups such as L&T, TATA, Wipro, TCS, TCIL, Shapoorji and Pallonji, Air India, Go Air, Indigo, and SpiceJet, etc, have established a robust presence in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia remained India's third largest Crude and Petroleum products sourcing destination for Financial Year (FY) 2023-24. India imported 33.35 MMT of crude oil in FY 2023-24 from Saudi Arabia, accounting for 14.3 per cent of India's total crude oil imports. In FY 2023-24, Saudi Arabia was the third largest LPG sourcing destination for India, accounting for 18.2 per cent of the total LPG imports of India for 2023-24. Saudi Arabia is also one of India's major suppliers of fertilizers, particularly it is the second largest source of DAP for India.

On the diaspora front, the Indian community in Saudi Arabia is 2.7 million strong and acts as a living bridge between the two countries. Indian diaspora contribution to the economic development of Saudi Arabia is widely recognised. Number of Indians in Saudi Arabia is increasing steadily. Over the last year, an estimated one lakh Indians came to Saudi Arabia for employment.

The annual Haj pilgrimage and Umrah is another important component of India-Saudi bilateral relations. India's Haj quota stands at 175,025 pilgrims.
Mumbai, April 19 : In a significant development, estranged cousins Uddhav Thackeray and Raj Thackeray on Saturday signalled a willingness to set aside their past differences and unite for the larger cause of protecting Maharashtra's interests and preserving the Marathi language.

Uddhav Thackeray, who leads the Shiv Sena (UBT), and Raj Thackeray, founder of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), voiced strong opposition to the MahaYuti government's decision to make Hindi a compulsory subject from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.

Both leaders, speaking on separate platforms, suggested they were open to collaboration on issues crucial to the state's identity and culture -- particularly at a time when Marathi has been granted classical language status by the BJP-led central government.

In an interview with actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar, Raj Thackeray said, "The disputes and fights between Uddhav and me are minor -- Maharashtra is much bigger than all that. These differences are proving costly for the existence of Maharashtra and the Marathi people."

He added, "Coming together is not difficult, it's a matter of will. It's not just about my desire or selfishness. We need to look at the bigger picture. All Marathi people across political parties should unite and form a single party."

Raj Thackeray further distinguished his past political decisions from the rebellion led by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde. "I left Shiv Sena when MLAs and MPs were with me. Even then, I chose to walk alone because I couldn't work under anyone except Balasaheb Thackeray. I had no objection to working with Uddhav. The question is -- does the other side have the will to work with me?"

"If Maharashtra wants us to come together, let Maharashtra speak up. I don't let my ego get in the way of such matters," he said.

Responding at a Bhartiya Kamgar Sena function, Uddhav Thackeray expressed similar sentiments. "I'm ready to put aside petty disputes. I appeal to all Marathi people to unite in the interest of Maharashtra. But there is a condition -- when we pointed out in Parliament that industries were being shifted to Gujarat, if we had united then, we could have formed a government that worked for Maharashtra. We cannot keep switching sides -- supporting them one day, opposing them the next, and then compromising again."

"Anyone who acts against Maharashtra's interests -- I will not welcome them, invite them home, or sit with them. Let this be clear first, and then let us work together for Maharashtra," he asserted.

MNS general secretary Sandeep Deshpande welcomed the tone of reconciliation but posed a key question -- "Raj Thackeray rightly asked -- does the other party truly want to come together? Until that is clear, the conversation is incomplete. We all want what's best for Maharashtra. But do others feel the same way?"

Echoing the sentiment, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader and Leader of Opposition in the Legislative Council, Ambadas Danve said, "As a Marathi manoos, it's important for all forces to unite. Whether it is Uddhav or Raj, both are brothers. The political context may differ, but at the end of the day, the bond remains. There are many who are willing to mediate in this matter."
Shivamogga, April 19 : A police complaint has been filed against an officer attached to the Education Department on Saturday for allegedly denying entry to students wearing the sacred thread (Janivara) into the examination hall during the Common Entrance Test (CET) in Karnataka's Shivamogga district.

The complaint was lodged by Narataj Bhagavat, President of the Shivamogga District Brahmin Mahasabha, at the Doddapet Police Station in Shivamogga.

In his complaint, Bhagavat alleged that staff members at the examination centre cut the sacred threads worn by Brahmin students before allowing them to appear for CET.

"There is no rule mandating students to remove their sacred threads to appear for exams. Forcing Brahmin students to remove their sacred threads is an act of disrespect and an insult to the community. Strict action must be taken against the officer in charge of the examination centre," the complaint stated.

Amid the row, state Home Minister G. Parameshwara said on Saturday, "It is a serious mistake. I do not agree with such an act. During exams, candidates are asked to follow certain guidelines, but this was an individual's mistake, and society as a whole does not support it."

Large and Medium Industries Minister M. B. Patil said, "Whoever was responsible for not allowing students to wear the sacred thread to exams acted on personal bias. We strongly condemn this. Strict action will be taken against the individual. No particular religion or community should be targeted - it is a serious mistake. Along with action against the staffer, I urge the concerned minister to rectify the injustice done to the student."

The Karnataka BJP has urged Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to apologise for the issue.

Leader of the Opposition in the state Assembly R. Ashoka had slammed the Congress-led state government, saying, "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who once displayed hatred upon seeing 'Kumkum' and 'Kesari' (saffron), has now once again revealed his "anti-Hindu" mindset by expressing hostility towards the sacred thread (Janivara)."

In Bidar, this "anti-Hindu" Congress-led Karnataka government ruined the future of a student by denying him entry in an examination for refusing to remove the sacred thread, Ashoka alleged.

He noted that not only Brahmins but also Marathas and Vaishya communities wear sacred threads, and all these communities have been insulted.
New Delhi, April 19 : India on Saturday issued a sharp condemnation of the abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu community leader in northern Bangladesh, calling it part of a "pattern of systematic persecution" of minorities under the country's interim government.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) India on Saturday issued a sharp condemnation of the abduction and brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent Hindu community leader in northern Bangladesh, calling it part of a "pattern of systematic persecution" of minorities under the country's interim government.

Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal voiced India's grave concern, stating that the incident reflects an alarming trend of targetted violence against Hindus and other minority groups in Bangladesh.

"We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government, even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity," Jaiswal said in a post on social media platform X.

He added, "We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions."

India has previously expressed similar concerns over rising attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, but this latest incident has drawn particular attention due to Roy's prominence in the Hindu community.

Roy, who served as the Vice-President of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad, was abducted from his residence in Dinajpur district on Thursday evening. According to police and family accounts, he received a phone call around 4:30 p.m., after which four unidentified men arrived on motorcycles and forcibly took him to Narabari village. He was reportedly assaulted and later found unconscious. He was rushed to a hospital in Dinajpur, where he was declared dead on arrival. His wife, Shantana Roy believes the attackers used the call to confirm his location before carrying out the abduction.

Opposition leaders in India also slammed the shocking incident in the neighbouring country.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge highlighted that religious minorities, especially Hindus, are being persecuted in Bangladesh.

"Attacks on other religious minorities are also continuing. Recently, the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh made a very condemnable and disappointing comment about the northeastern states of India. The persecution of religious minorities in Bangladesh, human rights violations, and the attempt to erase the memories of the 1971 Liberation War are efforts to weaken the relationship between India and Bangladesh. From 1971 till today, India has always wished for peace and prosperity for all the people of Bangladesh. This is in the best interest of the subcontinent," he said.
U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday held a call with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the White House website said.

During the conversation, the parties discussed bilateral trade, a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine and the situation with regional security in the Middle East.

"Today, President Donald J. Trump held a call with Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the United Kingdom. The two leaders discussed bilateral trade, ongoing talks to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution, and regional security in the Middle East," the statement reads.

The U.S. President also said he looks forward to his upcoming state visit to the United Kingdom with His Majesty King Charles III, which will take place later this year.
Seoul, April 19 : Former South Korean Democratic Party (DP) leader Lee Jae-myung on Saturday won an overwhelming victory in a primary in the central Chungcheong region ahead of the June 3 presidential election.

Lee, who declared his presidential bid last week and is leading opinion polls for the presidential election, won 88.15 per cent of the total vote in a presidential primary in South and North Chungcheong provinces, and Daejeon and Sejong cities, according to party officials.

Lee defeated the DP's two other contenders by a large margin -- Gyeonggi Province Gov. Kim Dong-yeon with 7.54 per cent and Kim Kyung-soo, a former South Gyeongsang Province governor, with 4.31 per cent.

Lee's landslide victory in the first round of the party primary likely sets the stage for him to be selected as the liberal party's presidential candidate. The DP will hold three more similar regional primaries and pick its presidential candidate on April 27, Yonhap news agency reported.

"I will well uphold (people)'s aspiration to build a new nation," Lee told reporters after the primary's result came out.

Announcing his presidential bid last week, Lee vowed efforts to become "the best tool" to build a "true" Korea and prioritise efforts to boost economic growth.

The upcoming election is triggered by former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's ouster over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. Lee lost the presidential race to Yoon by a thin margin in 2022.

Meanwhile, Yoon, who dramatically rose from a top prosecutor to the presidency in about three years, became the nation's second President to be formally removed from office, with his surprise martial law bid rattling the nation for months and deepening political polarisation.

With the ruling, Yoon, 64, follows in the footsteps of former South Korean President Park Geun-hye, who was ousted in 2017 when the Constitutional Court upheld her impeachment over a corruption scandal.
Jaipur, April 19 : Preparations are in full swing in Jaipur to extend a grand welcome to United States Vice President James David (JD) Vance, who will be visiting India as part of his international tour.

Vance is scheduled to arrive in the country on April 21 for a four-day visit.

On Friday, Vance landed in Italy with his family and will touch down in India on April 21. After a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, he will travel to Jaipur later that evening.

According to officials, Vice President Vance will stay in Jaipur from April 21 to 24. On April 22, he will visit the historic Amer Palace in the morning, followed by an address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre.

The summit is expected to witness the participation of top officials from both countries, with Vance set to present his vision for strengthening bilateral trade ties.

On April 23, he will travel to Agra aboard a US Air Force aircraft to visit the Taj Mahal. After spending approximately three hours at the monument, he will return to Jaipur the same afternoon and tour the Jaipur City Palace later in the day.

He is scheduled to depart for Washington, D.C., at 6.30 a.m. on April 24.

A red-carpet welcome awaits Vice President Vance at Jaipur Airport. The Rajasthan government has mobilized personnel from various departments, and elaborate security arrangements are in place.

Temporary road closures are expected based on intelligence inputs, and plainclothes officers from the Rajasthan Police will be deployed alongside Vanceas security detail.

A 20-vehicle convoy will support the VVIPas movements in addition to his official motorcade, and a specially-equipped ambulance with senior doctors will accompany the delegation.

Emergency medical facilities have been set up at designated hospitals. A traditional Rajasthani welcome has been planned for Vance and his family at Amer Palace on April 22.

The family will don Jodhpuri safas and experience the cultural richness of the state through puppet shows, folk dances, traditional attire, and local cuisine.

The palace will remain closed to the public during the two-and-a-half-hour visit. Twelve trained guides have been appointed to provide historical insights about Amer and Jaipur, ensuring dignitary interactions are conducted at a suitable distance.

Amer Palace Superintendent Dr Rakesh Chholak confirmed that all preparations, including security measures and renovation work, have been completed.

Sources said External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will receive Vance upon his arrival in Delhi. The meeting with Prime Minister Modi is scheduled for April 21, with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Jaishankar also expected to attend.

The Foreign Minister may also accompany the US Vice President to Amer Palace the following day.

Later on April 22, after the Business Summit, Vance is expected to meet Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma and Governor Haribhau Bagade.

Vice President Vance will be accompanied by his wife Usha, their three children -- Ivan, Vivek, and Mirabel -- and senior US administration officials.

This visit marks the first by a US Vice President to India in 13 years, the last being Joe Bidenas visit in 2013.
New Delhi, April 19 : In view of the recent violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has demanded imposition of President's Rule in the state. Echoing this sentiment, BJP MP Manoj Tiwari strongly condemned the situation and stated that it is being demanded from all directions.

Speaking to IANS Tiwari said, "It is absolutely true that horrific violence is being inflicted on the Hindu community in West Bengal. Women are facing atrocities on a large scale, and the state government is busy shielding the criminals. As a result, there are growing demands for President's Rule from across the state."

"The West Bengal government is trying to protect criminals, which is condemnable," he added.

In a separate incident in Delhi's Mustafabad area, tragedy struck when a four-storey building collapsed around 3 a.m. on Saturday following intense overnight rain and thunderstorms. At least four people lost their lives, while 12 others are feared trapped under the debris. Rescue efforts are currently underway.

Commenting on the mishap, Manoj Tiwari said, "This is a deeply saddening incident. The building that collapsed is located in Mustafabad, which falls under my North East Delhi constituency. Four people have died, and rescue operations are ongoing. Once the operation concludes, I will visit the site personally."

Sandeep Lamba, Additional DCP (North East Delhi), confirmed, "Four among the 14 rescued succumbed to their injuries. The building was four stories high. Rescue operations are still ongoing, and eight to ten people are feared to be trapped."

Meanwhile, after a recent murder in Seelampur, posters indicating migration by Hindu residents have surfaced. Reassuring the community, Tiwari said, "No one needs to flee. Some of the criminals have been arrested, others identified, and the rest will be caught soon. I assure everyone, no criminal will be spared."
Patna, April 19 : JD(U) working president and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar's confidant Sanjay Kumar Jha on Saturday hit back at RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav over his remark against the state government, saying the latter should first explain the land-for-jobs scam, in which a probe is underway.

"Tejashwi Yadav should first explain how he became a millionaire," he said.

Highlighting the achievement of the Nitish government, Jha said: "Water taps have reached every household, roads have been built in villages, and electricity has reached remote areas."

Refuting Tejashwi's charge that the state government spent Rs 225 crore on buying 600 digital chariots for the Mahila Samvad campaign, which will be used as an electoral tool, Jha reiterated that the initiative is part of a women-focused development agenda and not a political stunt.

He also rejected Tejashwi's claims that "tenders are being rushed through to cover election costs, and local contractors are being sidelined".

Jha questioned the basis of Tejashwi's corruption claims and pointed out the development works of the Nitish government.

Tejashwi claimed that Chief Minister Nitish and JD(U) were "misusing" government funds under the guise of public outreach to fuel their political campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly polls.

Tejashwi's remarks come a day after the state government launched the 'Mahila Samvad' campaign for reaching out to over 2 crore women across Bihar.

The RJD has labelled it an election gimmick, while JD(U) said it is genuine social engagement.

On INDIA bloc's upcoming meeting in Patna, Jha said: "It's an election year - people from various parties will keep coming and going. But Bihar is progressing under Nitish Kumaras leadership, and in 2025, the NDA will fight unitedly under his leadership again. The so-called Grand Alliance has nothing substantial left in Bihar. Congress is irrelevant here."
New Delhi, April 19 : Amid the debate over Supreme Court's recent observations bringing President actions under judicial review and its criticism by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, apex court's former judge Ajay Rastogi on Saturday dismissed the talk of 'judicial overreach' and reiterated the Parliament's supreme power to amend provisions in the event of disagreement with the court's views.

Talking to IANS, Justice Rastogi dismissed the narrative of the judiciary and the executive being on collision course, underscoring judges' commitment to public welfare and their ability to withstand the perceived pressure due to dissection of their views.

"There is absolutely no pressure on judges. They function independently and fearlessly, no matter what the public thinks. We as judges work, with full commitment, in the interest of our institution and the public," said Justice Rastogi, at a time when the Opposition and the ruling BJP have crossed swords over propriety in connection with the SC's observations and its criticism.

Justice Rastogi also highlighted that the question of SC's recent observations setting a 'wrong precedent' did not arise, and the top court has the option of taking a final call on issues.

"I don't believe that it's a matter of judicial overreach or setting a wrong precedent. Each case has its own intricacies, and the court is always mindful of the fact as to which case deserves an interim order and which doesn't," he said.

Earlier this month, the top court, using its inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, resolved a standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi over the delay in granting assent to bills.

The apex court also termed the Governor's conduct a violation of the Constitution and specifically of Article 200.

In the process, the apex court, apparently, brought Presidential actions under judicial review by favouring a three-month deadline for granting assent to bills.

The controversy took a new twist after Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar used strong words against the judiciary, comparing Article 142 to a "nuclear missile" available to the judiciary against democratic forces.

Former Union Minister Kapil Sibal called Dhankhar's criticism an attack on the judiciary and a potential act of shaking public faith in courts.
Thiruvananthapuram, April 19 : Days after K.M. Abraham -- Chief Principal Secretary to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Chief Secretary -- wrote to the CM demanding a probe into alleged conspiracy by public activist Jemon Puthenpurackal and two others, the whistleblower has hit back, warning Vijayan against taking any such step.

In his letter to the Chief Minister on Saturday, Puthenpurackal pointed out that the Kerala High Court had already ordered a CBI probe into Abraham's alleged amassment of wealth -- based on his petition. He argued that any parallel probe initiated by the state government, as sought by Abraham, would be "illegal and procedurally invalid."

The Kerala High Court last week ordered a CBI investigation into Abraham after nearly a decade-long legal battle led by Puthenpurackal.

Amid growing calls for his resignation, Abraham, who currently serves as CEO of the Kerala Infrastructure Investment Fund Board (KIIFB), addressed speculation in his Vishu message to KIIFB staff, saying he would leave the decision on his future to the Chief Minister.

CM Vijayan, who had earlier taken a hard stance that no official would be removed based on mere allegations, appeared to soften his position. Reacting to the court-ordered probe against his trusted aide, Vijayan said Abraham too "has grievances" and is pursuing legal options -- hinting he might not act immediately.

In response, Puthenpurackal cautioned the Chief Minister against falling in line with Abraham's request, calling it an attempt to dilute or derail the CBI probe. "This is a cover-up move," the activist alleged.

Abraham, 66, retired as Chief Secretary in 2017 and has since remained one of Vijayan's closest advisors. With letters from both Abraham and Puthenpurackal now before him, the Chief Minister finds himself at the centre of a political and legal storm -- even as CBI sleuths are expected to soon serve a notice to Abraham, who is likely to move division bench of the High Court or the Supreme Court seeking to quash the High Court's single bench order.
Pune, April 19 : NCP (SP) MP Supriya Sule on Saturday strongly opposed the MahaYuti government's decision to introduce Hindi as the third compulsory language in classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi schools, saying it would not be tolerated.

"Undermining Marathi in the forceful implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 in Maharashtra would not be tolerated. I was the first to oppose the Education Minister's statement about making the CBSE board compulsory in Maharashtra. What is the need to replace the existing state board with CBSE? Before discussing the language issue, we must talk about the basic education infrastructure in the state," the NCP (SP) MP told media persons.

Citing the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), referred to by the Centre, Sule emphasised the need for evaluation of students' performance in mathematics, science and languages.

She said the government should not rush into implementing the NEP, as it would adversely affect students, and teachers were not prepared for the change.

"If the implementation of the NEP in Maharashtra causes any loss to the Marathi language, it will not be tolerated. Marathi will be the priority," she added.

Sule said that a stable and progressive government was expected after receiving a huge mandate in Maharashtra. "Unfortunately, in the last 100 days, there has been no remarkable progress," she added.

Sule's statement comes after the opposition has slammed the state government for its move. The Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis, has defended the government's decision, saying: "We have already implemented the New Education Policy. Therefore, no new decisions have been taken in this regard. It is our insistence that everyone in Maharashtra should know Marathi. Also, there should be a single language for communication across the country. Hindi is a language that can be a language for communication. Therefore, people should also learn Hindi, this is our effort."

The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray announced that the MNS will not tolerate this compulsion, and appealed to the state government to immediately withdraw the decision, saying, "If it is not withdrawn, then the struggle is inevitable."

Congress accused the BJP-led MahaYuti government of trying to destroy the Marathi language, identity and culture by imposing Hindi as a compulsory language in classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi schools.

The state unit chief, Harshwardhan Sapkal, said that the Marathi language is the identity and culture of Maharashtra, and the BJP government is trying to undermine this very culture.

"Unity in diversity is India's true identity, and the BJP is conspiring to erase that. The decision to impose Hindi as a compulsory language from the primary level is completely wrong and must be withdrawn immediately," he said.
New Delhi, April 19 : At least four people were killed and around a dozen trapped under the debris after a four-storey building collapsed in the Mustafabad area of east Delhi in the early hours of Saturday, officials said. Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered an enquiry and promised action against the culprits.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m., following intense overnight rainfall and thunderstorms that hit several parts of the city.

Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East District), said, "Four among the 14 rescued succumbed to their injuries... The building was four floor high. Rescue operations are ongoing, and eight to ten people are still feared trapped."

CM Gupta said in a message on social media post X, "My heart is deeply saddened by the tragic incident of building collapse in Mustafabad. An enquiry has been ordered into the incident and strict action will be taken against the culprits,"

"DDMA, NDRF, DFS and other agencies are continuously engaged in relief and rescue operations. Arrangements have been made for proper treatment of all the injured," she said.

Providing an update from the ground, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official Mohan Shaheedi said, "Around 12 people are feared trapped under the debris, including 9 adults and 3 children. According to information from local sources, 6 people have been rescued so far and shifted to the hospital. Two NDRF teams are present at the site, supported by Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, and volunteers."

He added, "Authorities are identifying cavities and possible locations under the debris where survivors may be trapped. Technical searches are underway using rescue dogs to detect any signs of life. If any indication is found, special focus is given to that area. The operation is highly challenging and is being carried out with the utmost care."

Teams from the NDRF, Delhi Police, Fire Services, and local volunteers continue to work tirelessly at the site.

The area has been sealed off as the rescue operation enters a critical phase. The exact cause of the collapse will be investigated once the rescue efforts conclude. Rescue operations are underway.

Deputy Speaker of Assembly and area legislator Mohan Singh Bisht, said, "I have requested the LG and MCD Commissioner to take action against negligent officials."

There are illegally building across Mustafabad and the incident has exposed the corruption in MCD and other departments like power discoms, he said.

Leader of Opposition in Assembly Atishi also expressed grief over the incident, urging AAP workers to help the tragedy-hit families.

Her party colleague and the Delhi Mayor said a probe has been filed into the incident and the guilty officials would soon be suspended.
Lucknow, April 19 : Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted extensive search operations at eight locations across Agra, Meerut, Noida, and Delhi in connection with a large-scale financial fraud involving M/s Unnati Fortune Holdings Limited (UFHL) and its promoter, Anil Mithas.

In a significant development, the ED has taken Anil Mithas into custody for seven days, following an order by the court.

During the recent raids, the agency recovered crucial documents, sale deeds, investment records, and digital evidence, which are currently under scrutiny, the ED said in a statement.

Officials said the evidence will be used to confront Mithas during interrogation as efforts continue to track the diverted funds.

According to the statement, the searches were carried out under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, targeting residential and office premises associated with UFHL and related entities.

ED officials said the operations aimed to trace and seize the "Proceeds of Crime" allegedly siphoned off by Anil Mithas and collect evidence of financial irregularities.

The investigation followed multiple FIRs lodged by Uttar Pradesh Police and the Delhi Economic Offences Wing against UFHL, its promoters, and others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code.

The ED has alleged that UFHL collected a staggering Rs 522.90 crore from homebuyers between 2012 and 2019 for a residential and commercial project named Aranya, located in Sector-119, Noida.

Despite the massive inflow of funds, the project failed to meet its construction deadlines, leading to widespread complaints by homebuyers to forums such as UP-RERA and local police, said the release.

In 2018, the situation escalated when a financial creditor filed for insolvency proceedings against the company at the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), Delhi, a case that remains pending.

According to the ED, forensic audits conducted by firms such as 'Currie & Brown' and 'BDO India LLP' have revealed that large sums meant for construction were instead diverted to shell companies, related entities, and defunct firms.

The money was moved through bogus transactions, including fake loans, inflated share premiums, and advance payments for non-existent materials. Several firms allegedly forfeited the money under dubious circumstances, severely affecting project progress and leaving hundreds of homebuyers in financial distress.

According to the ED statement, the investigation also found that multiple flats were fraudulently sold to more than one buyer, pointing to a deeper web of criminal conspiracy and organised financial fraud.

Charges under IPC Sections 420 (cheating) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) have been pressed against the promoters.
Kolkata, April 19 : West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose said on Saturday that restoring peace in violence-hit Murshidabad is the top priority, while asserting that people in the area are not happy with the state government.

"I have talked to people here, and they have complaints about the state government. I have provided them with a number so that they can directly contact my office. Restoring peace in the area is my only goal. I will also ask the state government to take appropriate action," the Governor told media persons after interacting with the family members of Late Hargobindo Das and Chandan Das, the father and the son killed in violence at Samserganj in Murshidabad last week.

The Governor also assured the family members that those who were responsible for the killing of the father and the son would not be spared.

So far, three people have been arrested in connection with the murder. "If others are involved, they will also not be spared," the Governor said.

During the interactions with the Governor, the local people also requested him to ensure that permanent Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) camps are set up in the locality to ensure their future safety.

"We have lost everything. We cannot even sleep a night out of fear. Our safety might be compromised again unless there are permanent CAPF camps here," one resident told the Governor.

Although Bose did not give any specific assurance regarding the fulfilment of their demand for permanent CAPF camps in the area, he provided the number of the "Peace Room" a Raj Bhavan in Kolkata, and asked the people to directly call the number in case any further security issues surface.

Earlier in the day, when a delegation of the National Commission for Women also reached the troubled area, the local women requested the delegation members to take up the issue of having permanent CAPF camps in the area with the Union government.

The delegation member also assured them of taking up the matter with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
Defense forces shoot down 33 enemy drones out of 87 at night, 36 more lost in location  Air Force

Photo: https://www.facebook.com/GeneralStaff.ua/

Ukrainian defenders shot down 33 Shahed type strike drones, as well as drones of other types launched by the Russian occupiers on the night of Saturday, April 19, according to the Telegram channel of the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU).

"As of 09:00, the shooting down of 33 Shahed type strike UAVs (drones of other types) in the east, north, south and the country was confirmed, while 36 enemy simulator drones were lost in location (without negative consequences)," the AFU said.

In total, the radio-technical troops of the AFU Air Force detected and escorted 95 enemy air attack vehicles  eight missiles of various types and 87 strike UAVs and other types of simulator drones. No missiles were reported shot down.

Aviation, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare equipment and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and the Defense Forces of Ukraine were involved in repelling the enemy air attack.

The enemy attack affected Odesa, Sumy, Kharkiv, Donetsk and Zaporizhia regions.
Chennai, April 19 : Crediting fans with being the sole reason for bringing director Mani Ratnam and him together for a film, actor Kamal Haasan said that their film together, 'Thug Life', would be a peace offering to fans and audiences.

Actor Kamal Haasan and director Mani Ratnam are working together after almost 38 years in 'Thug Life', their second film together after 'Nayagan', which was a cult classic and a superhit.

Speaking at the launch of the first single of the film, Kamal Haasan said, "Nothing has changed between Mani (Ratnam) and me. We used to sit on parked motor bikes on Eldams Road and chat. We have done about 25 per cent of what we spoke of. One is 'Nayagan' and the other is 'Thug Life'. We still have a long way to go. We dream big and then constrict it to fit our market and our budget."

He then admitted that both Mani Ratnam and he were responsible for not having collaborated earlier.

"Let me tell you the reason why we didn't get together all these years. It is us. The reason why we are together now is because of you. Because in our world of business, when we suggest a name, people immediately work out the math. Sometimes that math might work out, sometimes it might not. But when a judgement comes from the people, then exhibitors, distributors and everybody else bows their head. Is that not how new stars are formed?," he asked.

The iconic star then said, "This film is a peace offering and the fault lies with us. You (the fans, audiences) have been carrying both of us on each of your shoulders. We did not realise that.We can only apologise for it."

Thug Life, directed by Mani Ratnam, features Kamal Haasan in the lead. The film will also feature actors Silambarasan, Trisha, Joju George, Ashok Selvan and Abhirami in pivotal roles.

The film's full-fledged audio launch is to take place on May 16. This apart, a musical event is also scheduled to take place in Australia and the entire 'Thug Life' team is expected to participate in it.

Kamal Haasan plays a character called Rangaraya Sakthivel Naickan in this film, which director Mani Ratnam's production house Madras Talkies had described as "an epic tale of power, rebellion, and triumph."

The film has music by A R Rahman and cinematography by Ravi K Chandran. It has editing by Mani Ratnam's trusted editor Sreekar Prasad and stunts by the stuntmasters, Anbariv.
Mumbai, April 19 : Actor Emraan Hashmi, who is gearing up for the release of his upcoming movie 'Ground Zero', has expressed his gratitude to the BSF jawans for their relentless support to the film. He also shared that the film tells the story which is set in the world of BSF jawans.

The premiere of the film was held in Srinagar recently, where the actor along with the producers Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani addressed the attendees of the premiere.

Addressing the BSF officers, Emraan said, "All the officers and soldiers here have loved this film a lot. The credibility of this film and the scale of this film is your contribution. The support system provided by the officers and soldiers of BSF has played a crucial role in the making of this film. Without them, this film wouldn't have been made".

Farhan , on his part, said, "I would like you to watch this film as soon as possible. Before the audience, I would like you to watch this film. This film is about your world. This film is about a symbolic and landmark mission. Our brave BSF officers did this".

'Ground Zero' became the first Bollywood film in 38 years to premiere in Srinagar, the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir. The special screening took place on Friday evening at the Inox theatre.

Earlier, Emraan had shared with IANS that the film accurately represents the dedication and valour of BSF personnel, with their real-life experiences and contributions forming the core of the narrative.

He shared his deep appreciation for the Border Security Force (BSF) and emphasized how the film pays homage to their bravery and sacrifices. He also assured that 'Ground Zero' truly does justice to the BSF, making them the heart of the story.
Kochi, April 19 : Controversial Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko, who had been evading the police for the past three days, appeared at the North Ernakulam police station on Saturday morning.

After nearly three hours of questioning, police recorded his arrest under Sections 27 and 29 of the NDPS Act. As both are bailable offences at the station level, he will be released on bail after paying a fine. A formal case has also been registered.

Police had served a notice at Chackoas residence on Friday, directing him to appear before them at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday. He, however, arrived half an hour early.

Sources said police had prepared a set of 32 questions for the actor. During interrogation, Chacko reportedly admitted to using drugs after being confronted with digital evidence, including phone records and footage of his alleged participation in rave parties around Kochi.

Following his admission, police recorded his arrest and took him for a routine medical examination. An anti-doping test will also be conducted.

This is not the first time Chacko has faced drug-related allegations. In February, he was acquitted along with four women models in a 2015 cocaine use case after the prosecution failed to prove the charges.

Ahead of Saturday's questioning, police collected CCTV footage from six Kochi hotels where Chacko is believed to have stayed recently, along with his mobile call records from the past month.

The current controversy began earlier this week when Chacko reportedly fled during a police raid linked to a drug use case. The issue surfaced after actress Vincy Aloshious accused him of misbehaving with her during the shoot of the film Soothravakyam last year.

Although Aloshious initially withheld his name, she later identified Chacko, alleging he had spat a white powdery substance and behaved inappropriately.

She filed a complaint with the Kerala Film Chamber on the condition that the accusedas identity remain confidential. However, Chamber General Secretary Saji Nandiyattu later revealed Chacko's name to the media and assured action would be taken.

Following the disclosure, Aloshious expressed disappointment over the breach of trust and announced that she would no longer cooperate with the inquiry.

On Friday, her father informed authorities that the family was not interested in pursuing the matter further, saying: "What happened on the film set can be settled within the film industry itself."

Interestingly, the families of Chacko and Aloshious have reportedly known each other for some time.

While evading the police on Friday, Chacko also took to social media to promote Soothravakyam, the film at the centre of the controversy.

Raj Mohan, a retired senior Kerala police official and former NIA officer, noted that even though Chacko fled earlier in the week, the investigation remains valid, as the limitation clause does not apply in such cases.

Earlier this month, Chacko was also named by an arrested woman drug peddler who claimed to have supplied drugs to him and fellow actor Sreenath Bhasi. The woman and her associates are currently in judicial custody, and the Excise Department has said notices will be issued to both actors.

All eyes are now on AMMA (the Association of Malayalam Movie Artists) and the Kerala Film Chamber, which are expected to meet soon to decide the future course of action regarding Chacko.
Mumbai, April 19 : On the occasion of producer Vashu Bhagnani's birthday, his son, actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani, penned a warm note for his 'first hero & forever inspiration' Mumbai, April 19 (IANS) On the occasion of producer Vashu Bhagnanias birthday, his son, actor-producer Jackky Bhagnani, penned a warm note for his 'first hero & forever inspiration'

For Jackky, his father has always been more than just a parent, he is a role model. Jackky dropped some precious moments with his father on social media, along with an open letter to the man who influenced him the most:

Jaccky wrote, "Youave always been larger than life, Dad. As a kid, I looked up to you and thought you could do anything. It took me years to understand the strength behind your calm, the love behind your silence, and the bravery behind your choices. Even now, I find myself learning from the way you carry yourself, especially when life gets tough. Happy Birthday to my first hero, my forever inspiration. I love you more than words can say," along with a red heart emoji.

Jackky's actress wife, Rakul Preet Singh also wishes her father-in-law with a special Instagram post.

The 'Doctor G' actress dropped a perfect family pic of her celebrating Diwali with her husband and in-laws. Next, was a still of Rakul with Vashu on the beach. The last image gave us a glimpse of the producer's birthday celebration with his family.

Wishing her father-in-law, Rakul penned on her IG, "Happppy bdayyyyy dad @vashubhagnani_wishing you a year filled with growth , great health and things you desire . May your spirits always remain high .. your energy and zest for life is an inspiration.. thnkyou so much for everything you do for us and a bigger thankyou for making me feel so loved...happppy bdayyyyy once again."

Known for his sharp vision, Vashu Bhagnani, producer of superhits like "Coolie No. 1", "Bade Miyan Chote Miyan", and "Mujhe Kucch Kehna Hai", to name just a few, is also remembered as a trendsetter among his peers.
Mumbai, April 19 : Actress Manushi Chhillar has described her April so far to her InstaFam through her latest social media post.

According to the former Miss World, for her April has been all about shoots, events, painting, and workouts.

Dropping a quick overview of her month so far, Manushi wrote on her IG, "My #April so far...I might be juggling meetings, dubbing, shoots, events, painting, workouts, and wardrobe choices including wearing heels to the dock."

She posted a stunning picture with her mother, Dr Neelam Chhillar, and was also seen enjoying a dubbing session, along with a glimpse of her high-glam look for an event.

The album further incorporated some key moments of Manushi from the painting she made to her casual bathroom selfies, to her travel diaries.

April is extremely special for her as it is the birthday month of her mother.

"but April is her month #HappyBirthdayMonth to the best mom, best woman, my best friend, and the one who loves me most...I love you till," Manushi added in the post.

Talking about her professional commitments, Manushi will next grace the screen with the highly-anticipated drama, "Maalik", where she will be seen alongside Rajkummar Rao. Touted to be an action-thriller, the project will show Rajkummar in a gangster avatar for the first time.

Produced by Kumar Taurani and Jay Shewakramani, the movie will see Prosenjit Chatterjee, Medha Shankr, Huma Qureshi, Anshumaan Pushkar, and Swanand Kirkire in crucial roles, along with others.

The drama is helmed by Pulkit, known for his work in "Dedh Beegha Zameen", "Bose: Dead/Alive" and "Bhakshak".

"Maalik" is all set to release on June 20.

Over and above this, Manushi also has "Tehran", alongside John Abraham in her kitty.

Made under the direction of Arun Gopalan, the drama stars Hadi Khanjanpour, Madhurima Tuli, Adam Karst, Allon Sylvain, and Ido Samuel as the primary cast.
Bhopal, April 19 : Tension escalated in Sanodha village of Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district following a dispute between two communities, after which a shop was set ablaze.

The miscreants vandalised the nearby shops, intensifying chaos.

Upon receiving information about the disturbance, a team from the Sanodha police station rushed to the scene and attempted to pacify the crowd.

However, their efforts were met with resistance, prompting reinforcement from nearby police stations.

As the situation worsened, police lobbed tear gas shells and used minimal force to disperse the unruly crowd. The atmosphere in the village remained tense, with heavy police presence aimed at maintaining order.

Senior officials, including District Collector, Superintendent of Police (SP) Vikas Shahwal, ASP Lokesh Sinha, and SDOP (Sub-divisional officer) Prakash Mishra, are stationed in the area to oversee the situation.

District Collector Sandeep GR said the law and order situation is under control in the village.

After getting reports of a mob gathering in Sanodha village, the District Collector arrived at the scene with law enforcement and administrative officials, emphasising the priority of upholding law and order.

He urged the public to remain calm while investigations into the matter continue.

On the root cause of the matter, whether it is related to a "girl" whom a man took away from a different community, the Collector said the priority of the administration was to control law and order.

"Our prime concern is law and order, and efforts are being made to ensure stability in Sanodha village," he assured.

A section of the media has quoted a local legislator as saying that the origin of the dispute is an incident involving a young man from a particular community who took a girl from the village.

The legislator further stated that the accused youth has a history of criminal behaviour, which has fuelled tensions among residents.

Authorities are committed to resolving the situation and conducting a thorough investigation into the events leading up to the unrest, he said.
Shimla, April 19 : General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-In-C) Surya Command, Lt Gen Anindya Sengupta, on Saturday called on Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and discussed a host of issues, including fostering civil-military cooperation, enhancing strategic infrastructure, besides proposal to construct an airstrip in the picturesque, mountainous Spiti Valley.

The meeting underscored the importance of strengthening coordination between the Army and the civil administration, ensuring effective responses to security challenges, disaster management and development efforts in the region.

Given the state's strategic location, the Army plays a critical role in border security and national defence operations.

Lt Gen Sengupta briefed the CM on the current security situation and measures to enhance coordination with local law enforcement agencies.

The meeting also highlighted the Army's proactive role in humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations, with specific reference to the Army's swift response in Samej Khad of Rampur area that was badly hit last year by flash floods.

The Army's rapid response teams have been instrumental in rescue, relief and rehabilitation efforts during landslides, flash floods and extreme weather events.

Lt Gen Sengupta also discussed initiatives taken by the Army to promote socio-economic stability in remote areas by promoting border tourism and supporting reverse migration.

The Army reaffirmed its commitment to extend full assistance in the areas of Giu, Khanadumti, Kaurik, Tashigang, Lepcha, Shipki La and Komik, a statement by the Defence Wing said.

These efforts aim to revitalise border villages and integrate them more closely into the national mainstream. The meeting also highlighted the proposal for constructing a dual-use airstrip in the Spiti Valley to boost connectivity and tourism.

The Army also proposed the provisioning of an alternate approach road, stairway or ramp from the main highway to the Military Hospital in Shimla to facilitate easier access for routine patients and casualty evacuation during natural disasters.

CM Sukhu expressed appreciation for the Army's unwavering commitment to humanitarian service. He acknowledged the Army's swift and effective efforts, which have provided critical support to civilians in times of crisis.

The meeting also reviewed critical road infrastructure projects aimed at improving connectivity and strategic mobility. These roads gain importance not only for national security but also for local development and disaster response capabilities.

The Chief Minister and senior Army officers reaffirmed their shared commitment to regional development and national security. The meeting reflected the growing synergy between civil administration and military leadership in addressing strategic challenges and local needs in border regions.
New Delhi, April 19 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly condemned the continuing attacks on religious minorities in Bangladesh, particularly targeting the Hindu community.

His statement follows the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a well-known leader of the Hindu community in Bangladesh.

Taking to social media platform X on Saturday, Kharge accused the central government of failing to secure the interests of persecuted minorities through diplomatic engagement with Bangladesh.

"Religious minorities, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters, are constantly being persecuted in Bangladesh. The brutal murder of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community, is proof that @narendramodi ji's smiling meeting with the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh was a failure," he wrote on X.

Kharge referred to data recently presented in Parliament, stating that in just the last two months, there have been 76 attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, resulting in the deaths of 23 individuals.

He claimed that incidents of violence and intimidation against other minority groups have also continued there.

He also lashed out at a controversial comment recently made by the Chief Advisor of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus regarding India's northeastern states, calling it "condemnable and disappointing."

Further, Kharge alleged that attempts are being made in Bangladesh to "erase the historical memory of the 1971 Liberation War," a conflict in which India played a crucial role in securing Bangladesh's independence.

"The atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh, human rights violations and the attempt to eliminate the memories of the 1971 Liberation War are all efforts to weaken the relations between India and Bangladesh," he said.

He stated that India, ever since 1971, has stood for peace, stability, and inclusive progress in Bangladesh. "From 1971 to today, India has always sought peace and prosperity for all the people of Bangladesh, as is in the best interest of the subcontinent," he said further.
Rome, April 19 : The second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran kicked off in Italy on Saturday as both sides discuss Tehran's civilian nuclear programme and the termination of American sanctions against the country.

The talks led by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US President's Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are hosted by Oman's Embassy in Rome.

On Friday, addressing a joint press conference in Moscow with his Russian counterpart, Araghchi said that Tehran will approach the talks on Saturday with seriousness and full determination, despite "serious doubts" about the intentions of the other side.

"We are waiting to hear the viewpoints of the American side. If there is enough seriousness and determination, it is likely that a deal can be achieved," he said.

"We are fully prepared for a peaceful solution to Iran's peaceful nuclear programme, and if there is a similar will on the other side and they do not make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is possible," Araghchi added.

The Foreign Minister also expressed Iran's appreciation for Russia's role in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and expressed hope that Moscow would continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference in Paris on Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed hope that talks with Iran would be fruitful and could lead to something.

"The President made it clear that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon. That is not going to happen. We're hoping that talks continue and that they're fruitful and that they're  that they can lead to something. We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one. It has to be something that not just prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon now, but in the future as well, not just for 10 years with some sort of sunset provision or the like," said Rubio.

In the first round of Muscat talks held last week, Araghchi engaged in "indirect" discussions with Witkoff, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The talks focused on Iran's nuclear programme and the potential removal of the US sanctions.

The talks were proposed by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries  Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States  in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

However, the US withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress.
Tehran, April 19 : Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei has strongly condemned the US lethal airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa.

He made the remarks in response to the US airstrikes on the Yemeni port on Thursday, which killed at least 80 people.

Baghaei said the attacks were "a clear instance of the crime of aggression and in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles and regulations of the United Nations Charter and international law."

He stressed that the US "aggressions" against Yemen aligned with its "all-out support for Israel's occupation and genocide" in the occupied Palestinian territories, and would escalate insecurity in the region and threaten international peace and security.

The strikes started late Thursday night. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the victims included workers and employees of the port, who came under violent US airstrikes while on duty, Xinhua news agency reported.

The US Central Command has confirmed in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

The port, northwest of Yemen's Red Sea city of Hodeidah, has been a main lifeline for importing fuel into the areas seized by the Houthi group. The group has controlled vast areas of northern Yemen since it started a civil war against the government in late 2014.

Earlier, US Central Command (USCENTCOM) confirmed in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday, "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

"The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organisation," USCENTCOM said on social media platform X. The United States redesignated the Houthi group as a terrorist organisation after President Donald Trump assumed power in January.

USCENTCOM alleged that the Houthis "use fuel to sustain their military operations, as a weapon of control, and to benefit economically from embezzling the profits from the import".

Shortly after the heavy air strikes, Yemeni Information Minister Moammar al-Eryani blamed the targeting of the fuel port on the Houthis, accusing the militia of transforming the port "from an economic facility serving Yemenis into a centre for smuggling weapons and fuel."

Meanwhile, Minister of Oil and Minerals Saeed al-Shamasi confirmed the readiness of government-controlled ports in Aden, Nishtun, Mukalla, and Mocha to receive fuel and food shipments sufficient to meet market demands across all regions of Yemen.

In response, the Houthis denounced the strikes as "a full-fledged war crime," dismissing the US and the Yemeni government's accusations and insisting that "the port is a civilian, not a military facility".

In a statement released on Friday, the Houthis said the US attacks were aimed at supporting Israel in crimes against the Palestinian people, vowing to continue their "support operations" for Palestinians. The group, meanwhile, claimed that it has successfully prevented all "Israeli navigation in the Red Sea."

It also assured citizens in northern Yemen that "the oil supply is stable," while warning that "the US crime will not pass without painful punishment."

Also on Friday, the Israeli military reported intercepting a missile launched from Yemen in the morning. The launch is believed to be made by the Houthis in retaliation for the US overnight air strikes.

In mid-March, Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason.
Over the past day, the Defense Forces of Ukraine eliminated 1,180 Russian soldiers, 14 tanks, nine armored vehicles, 70 artillery systems, one MLRS, three air defense systems, 111 UAVs, three cruise missiles, as well as 208 units of vehicles, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said on Telegram on Saturday morning.

"Total enemy combat losses from February 24, 2022 to April 19, 2025 were approximately: personnel about 940,150 (1,180 more) people, tanks some 10,676 (14 more) units, armored combat vehicles some 22,266 (nine more) units, artillery systems some 26,600 (70 more) units, MLRS some 1,368 (one more) units, air defense systems some 1,139 (three more) units, aircraft some 370 units, helicopters some 335 units, operational-tactical-level UAVs some 33,176 (111 more) units, cruise missiles some 3,148 (three more) units, ships/boats some 28 units, one submarine, automotive equipment and tanker trucks some 45,162 (208 more) units, special equipment some 3,858 units," the department said.

The data is being clarified.
Gurugram, April 19 : Gurugram Police said on Saturday that the accused in the air hostess sexual assault case was a porn addict, an official said.

Gurugram Police Spokesperson Sandeep Kumar said that the accused used to watch porn videos habitually, which was also confirmed from the mobile phone recovered from him.

He said that during police interrogation, it was found that the accused has a B.Sc. (OT) degree from a private institute from the years 2019-2022, and he was an average student in studies.

"For the last five months, he was working as a treatment machine technician in the ICU of the hospital. The accused going to the victim at the time of the incident was confirmed from the CCTV cameras installed in the hospital," he said.

The Spokesperson said that during interrogation of the accused, it was also found that he had watched porn videos before the incident and even after committing the crime.

"Which is also being confirmed from the search history of the accused's mobile phone. He was produced before the court on Saturday, from where he was sent to judicial custody for further proceedings," he said.

Meanwhile, the SIT on Friday nabbed the accused, after analysing at least 800 CCTV cameras installed inside and outside of the hospital, who sexually assaulted the woman when she was on a ventilator.

The accused was identified as Deepak (25), a native of Muzaffarpur in Bihar. The accused had been working as a treatment machine technician in the ICU of the hospital for the past five months and was arrested in the Sadar police station area on Friday.

An official privy to the investigation said that the accused has confessed to his crime in the matter.

"While investigating the incident, eight police teams checked the footage of 800 CCTV cameras installed in the hospital, and around 50 hospital staff, including doctors, were questioned about the incident. Keeping in mind the seriousness of the incident, the police teams investigated from every angle and collected a lot of information related to the incident, as a result of which the police got great success in identifying the accused who committed the crime," said Arpit Jain, DCP (Headquarters).

On Thursday, Vikas Kumar Arora, Commissioner of Police, Gurugram, had constituted an SIT and ordered the identification and arrest of the accused.

As per the order of the Police Commissioner, an SIT was constituted under the leadership of Arpit Jain, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Headquarters, Gurugram, in which a total of eight different police teams were given special directions and deployed to collect information and evidence related to the incident.

Dr. Sanjay Durani, Medical Superintendent of the hospital, said in a statement that: "We have been informed that the police have identified a suspect who has been taken into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning allegations of sexual assault on a patient. On the basis of information provided to us by the police, we have suspended the suspect employee. As we await the final outcome of the investigation, we will continue to provide full support to the police."
New Delhi, April 19 : A four-storey building collapsed early Saturday morning in the Mustafabad area of east Delhi, killing 10 people, including the house owner, and trapping several others under the debris, officials said.

Chief Minister Rekha Gupta ordered an inquiry and promised action against the culprits.

The incident occurred around 3 a.m., following intense overnight rainfall and thunderstorms that hit several parts of the city. Sixty-year-old building owner Tehsin was also killed, while 11 others were rescued.

Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East District), said, "Four among the 14 rescued succumbed to their injuries... The building was four floors high. Rescue operations are ongoing, and eight to ten people are still feared trapped."

CM Gupta said in a message on social media post X that her heart is deeply saddened by the tragic incident of the building collapse in Mustafabad.

She said that an inquiry has been ordered into the incident, and strict action will be taken against the culprits.

"DDMA, NDRF, DFS and other agencies are continuously engaged in relief and rescue operations. Arrangements have been made for the proper treatment of all the injured," she said.

Providing an update from the ground, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) official Mohan Shaheedi said in the afternoon, "People are feared trapped under the debris, including nine adults and three children. According to information from local sources, 6 people have been rescued so far and shifted to the hospital. Two NDRF teams are present at the site, supported by Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police, and volunteers."

He added, "Authorities are identifying cavities and possible locations under the debris where survivors may be trapped. Technical searches are underway using rescue dogs to detect any signs of life. If any indication is found, special focus is given to that area. The operation is highly challenging and is being carried out with the utmost care."

Teams from the NDRF, Delhi Police, Fire Services, and local volunteers continue to work tirelessly at the site.

The area has been sealed off as the rescue operation enters a critical phase. The exact cause of the collapse will be investigated once the rescue efforts conclude. Rescue operations are underway.

Deputy Speaker of the Assembly and area legislator Mohan Singh Bisht said, "I have requested the L-G and MCD Commissioner to take action against negligent officials."

"There are illegal buildings across Mustafabad and the incident has exposed the corruption in MCD and other departments like power discoms," he said.

Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly Atishi also expressed grief over the incident, urging AAP workers to help the tragedy-hit families.

Her party colleague and the Delhi Mayor said a probe has been filed into the incident, and the guilty officials would soon be suspended.
New Delhi, April 19 : Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to embark on an official visit to the US and Peru, beginning April 20, where she is slated to participate in multilateral dialogues to showcase India's economic dynamism, as the country prepares a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US, it was announced on Saturday.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is set to embark on an official visit to the US and Peru, beginning April 20, where she is slated to participate in multilateral dialogues to showcase Indiaas economic dynamism, as the country prepares a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US, it was announced on Saturday.

During her visit to the US, the Finance Minister will visit San Francisco and Washington, DC, from April 20-25, according to a Ministry of Finance statement.

In San Francisco, FM Sitharaman would deliver a keynote address at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, titled aLaying the foundations of Viksit Bharat 2047,a followed by a fireside chat session.

The Finance Minister will also interact with top CEOs from prominent fund management firms during a roundtable meeting with investors, besides holding bilateral meetings with CEOs from top information technology (IT) firms based in San Francisco.

She will also participate in an event featuring the Indian diaspora in San Francisco and interact with the Indian community settled there, said the ministry.

In Washington, DC, FM Sitharaman will participate in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meetings, the Development Committee Plenary, IMFC Plenary, and Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) meeting.

On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings, she will hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries, including Argentina, Bahrain, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, United Kingdom, and the US; besides meeting EU Commissioner for Financial Services; President, Asian Development Bank (ADB); President, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB); United Nations Secretary-General's Special Advocate for Financial Health (UNSGSA); and First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

During her maiden visit to Peru from April 26-30, the Finance Minister will lead an Indian delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance and business leaders, highlighting the strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations between the two nations.

Beginning her visit in Lima, she is expected to call on the President of Peru, Dina Boluarte, and Prime Minister Gustavo Adrianzen, besides holding bilateral meetings with the Peruvian Ministers of Finance and Economy, Defence, Energy and Mines, and also holding interaction with local public representatives.

The Finance Minister will chair the India-Peru Business Forum meeting with prominent business representatives in attendance from both India and Peru.

FM Sitharaman will also hold an interaction with the Indian investors and businesses currently operating in Peru, as well as the Indian business delegation visiting Peru. The Finance Minister will also participate in a community event in Lima, where she will interact with the Indian diaspora living in Peru, according to the ministry statement.
New Delhi, April 19 : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday hailed the efforts of Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) in facilitating the first commercial sea shipment of the Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates to the US.

In a post on X social media platform, the Union Minister said this would create new opportunities for farmers to tap into the rising global demand for high-quality agri-products.

"Commendable efforts by @APEDADOC in facilitating the first commercial sea shipment of the prized Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates from Maharashtra to the US," said the minister.

"This milestone not only reflects the country's growing strength in horticulture exports but will also create new opportunities for our farmers to tap into the rising global demand for high-quality agri-products," he wrote.

The inaugural sea shipment of 4,620 boxes of Indian pomegranates, weighing approximately 14 tonnes, reached New York in the second week of March  well within five weeks of the point of departure from Ahilyanagar in Maharashtra.

The shipment was met with exceptional enthusiasm in the US state. The arrival quality was reported as "excellent" and customers were captivated by the remarkable visual appeal and the superior eating quality of the "Indian Bhagwa variety of pomegranates".

The arrival of this shipment heralds the potential of Indian pomegranates becoming a preferred choice in the competitive US market, according to a Commerce Ministry statement.

"The government has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market. APEDA has been supporting the export of Indian fruits like mangoes and pomegranates to USA by funding the pre-clearance programme," said APEDA Chairman Abhishek Dev.

Indian farmers will achieve better realisation when their fruit gets exported to premium international markets like USA. Indian mangoes have already reached annual exports of around 3,500 tonnes and we hope that pomegranates will also reach such strong numbers in the years to come, he added.

IANS

na/
Los Angeles, April 19 : Legendary guitarist Carlos Santana is sharing the details of the best concert he ever attended. Carlos revealed that the best experience for him was watching another legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix.

He shared that Hendrix played at the Northern California Folk-Rock Festival whilst he was high on acid, reports 'Female First UK'.

The 77-year-old musician's own band Santana was part of the line-up that performed at promoter Bob Blodgett's music event, which was held at Santa Clara County Fairgrounds in San Jose, California, between May 23 and May 25 in 1969.

As per 'Female First UK', the line-up also included Jefferson Airplane, Canned Heat, Chuck Berry, Taj Mahal, and The Jimi Hendrix Experience among many others. Carlos admits seeing Jimi play was "beyond superlatives" but he accepts the LSD drug he took, which has hallucinogenic effects, may have contributed to his memory of the gig.

Appearing on the 'In Service Of' podcast, he said, "Best show I ever saw was Jimi Hendrix live in Santa Clara Fairgrounds. I've seen Jimi many times but that day he was beyond supernatural. He was beyond superlatives. His canvas that day, the way he painted that guitar, it was so galactic. It was unbelievable. I'd never heard him play better  and I'd heard him play a lot of times after that day. But there was something extremely extreme that day".

He then added, "Of course, we were all on acid, the audience you know, and he was too. But he took us to this place, as far as they can take us in the universe, the galaxy, and back in one breath. You know, we were like, 'Who is this guy?'".

The 'Black Magic Woman' guitarist also reflected on growing up in San Francisco and attending gigs at the Fillmore, calling the iconic venue his "alma mater". He said, "I got to see Cream, Arthur Brown  I used to say, 'I don't have any money for you, but I gotta learn and you gotta let me in!' I was (going to) the Fillmore like a sponge, take everything from The Who, to Howlin' Wolf, to Steve Miller, to Chuck Berry. I'm still a sponge".

Now known by younger generations for hits like 'Smooth' featuring Rob Thomas, Santana said that he hopes the band's message resonates with every listener.
Hubballi, : April 19 (IANS) Union Minister for Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affairs Pralhad Joshi said on Saturday that 'Janivara' (sacred thread) is not only worn by the Brahmins, but is a part of the religious belief system.

"It's not just Brahmins who wear the Janivara. It is part of religious belief. The incident is an attack on this belief. The government must take this seriously and issue clear and specific guidelines," said the Union Minister while condemning the incident where students were allegedly forced to remove their 'Janivara' before taking the CET exam at centres in Bidar and Shivamogga.

He asked the state government that merely suspend the home guard involved in the case and wash its hands off the matter is not sufficient.

He accused the government, led by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, of constantly trying to distract people whenever controversies like the caste census or administrative failures arise.

Responding to the implementation of the proposed 'Rohith Vemula Act', the minister said: "It's nothing new for Congress to pull controversies upon themselves and then attempt to divert public attention. Who did they visit for the so-called caste census? Not a single household has been surveyed. When objections were raised, they quickly changed their stance, claiming it was an economic survey and not a caste census."

He added that the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and others in the Congress have no real concern for the nation, adding that they do not have a sincere or transparent stand on national integrity or the well-being of citizens.

"They are only interested in vote-bank politics. Rahul Gandhi is not doing politics for the welfare of the country. His focus is entirely on 24/7 vote-bank politics. Even the letter written by Siddaramaiah demanding the implementation of the 'Rohith Vemula Act' in the state is part of that strategy," he claimed.

Meanwhile, JD-S Youth Wing President Nikhil Kumaraswamy termed the incident 'wrong'.

"We must learn to respect the beliefs of every caste and religion. Denying a student the right to take an exam just because they are wearing the Janivara is not acceptable. I strongly condemn this incident. The government must ensure such things don't happen again," he told media persons in Bengaluru.

"Can someone use the Janivara to cheat? Can a student hide a chit in the Janivara? If someone wears a smart watch, asking them to remove it is justified. But forcing someone to remove a Janivara and insulting an entire community is not right," he added.

Nikhil said that strict action should be taken against those responsible, adding that they must be counselled and steps must be taken to ensure such incidents are not repeated.
New Delhi, April 19 : Over 10,000 driver partners of BluSmart have been left confused and without income after the electric ride-hailing company abruptly suspended its services.

The unexpected shutdown has not only affected daily commuters but has also sparked outrage among the platform's drivers, who say they were not informed in advance.

The Gig Workers Association (GigWA) raised strong concerns about the sudden suspension and said that drivers have been left without clarity on their employment status.

The association claimed that many drivers are still awaiting their pending payments and weekly incentives of Rs 8,000 that were promised by the company.

"This unexpected halt has left thousands of drivers without income or clarity about their employment status," GigWA said in a statement.

The group is demanding immediate payment of all pending dues, along with compensation worth three months' income for each affected driver to help them deal with the sudden loss of work.

The situation follows serious allegations against BluSmart's co-founder, Anmol Jaggi, who has been accused by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) of misusing funds meant for electric vehicle procurement.

SEBI has launched a forensic investigation into Gensol, a company linked to BluSmart, in connection with the matter.

Driver partners say they have been left completely in the dark. Many of them do not own the cars they drive and are now worried about their future.

GigWA has also urged the company to arrange alternative employment opportunities for the displaced drivers.

"The sudden cessation of BluSmart's services has not only disrupted the lives of its drivers but also raised concerns about the accountability of platform-based companies towards their workforce," it said.

Nitesh Kumar Das, Organising Secretary of GigWA, warned that if BluSmart does not meet their demands, the drivers will take to the streets in protest.

Until the service suspension, BluSmart had over 10,000 active driver partners on its platform.
New Delhi, April 19 : India on Saturday yet again slammed Pakistan's repeated attempts to highlight matters concerning India's internal affairs at the meetings of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC).

At a media briefing organised ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's two-day visit to Saudi Arabia next week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri debunked Pakistan's false claims and attempts to misuse the forum.

"It is a habit of longstanding, one that we have regularly spoken out against and also raised with our friends and partners in the OIC. There is a certain view about these shenanigans that Pakistan practices in the OIC on the part of our colleagues and friends amongst the other members of the OIC but we will continue to share our views and bring to their attention what exactly we think of these attempts that Pakistan habitually makes," Misri told reporters in New Delhi.

The OIC, an organisation with a membership of 57 states spread over four continents, terms itself as the "collective voice" of the Muslim world and endeavours to "safeguard and protect" the interests of the Muslim world in the spirit of promoting international peace and harmony among various people of the world.

Over the last many years, India has called out the need to correct some of the misperceptions about India that are perpetrated by countries like Pakistan in the OIC, asserting that the platform should not subverted by these vested interests for comments on internal affairs of India or for anti-India propaganda through biased and one sided resolutions.

India has also maintained that OIC has no locus standi in matters strictly internal to India, including that of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, which is an integral and inalienable part of India.

"It is regrettable that OIC continues to allow itself to be used by a certain country, which has an abominable record on religious tolerance, radicalism and persecution of minorities, to indulge in anti-India propaganda. We strongly advise the OIC to refrain from making such references in future," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has stated before, pointing towards Pakistan's repeated attempts.

India has enjoyed deep historical, economic, and strategic ties with the Islamic world which have further been boosted in the past decade under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

Several analysts believe that PM Modi has enhanced India's relationship with Muslim-majority countries in South Asia, Central Asia, and the Middle East to strengthen India's security and economy.

As PM Modi continues his outreach to the Islamic world and especially with the Arab world, India's engagement with the Gulf region, which supplies more than 60 per cent crude oil to India and the OIC nations, who have bilateral trade with the country exceeding $200 billion, has become more robust and multifaceted in the past 10 years.

Prime Minister Modi will be in Saudi Arabia on a two-day visit starting April 22 at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. This will be PM Modi's third visit to the Kingdom after his previous visits in 2016 and 2019. It follows the State Visit of Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit and co-chair the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council.
Mumbai, April 19 : Popular television actress Rashami Desai has urged Urvashi Rautela to not play games in the name of religion after her controversial statement on the "Urvashi Temple".

Upset about Urvashi's remark, Rashami wrote on her Instagram stories, "It's sad that ppl don't even take action against such nonsense...Bharat main Hinduism is becoming joke. BTW, she politically correct when she kept repeating her answer. Representing India and talking senseless on purpose....it's sad. Don't play game on the name of religion," with a broken heart and folded hard emojis.

Refreshing your memory, Urvashi reportedly claimed that there is a temple named after her, "Urvashi Temple" near Badrinath Dham. Not just that, she further expressed her desire to have something similar in South India as well.

The priests and locals, who consider the temple sacred, are unhappy with Urvashi's comments. They have even asked the government to take action against her for hurting religious sentiments.

Later, Urvashi's team issued a statement asking everyone to 'Listen to this video properly and then speak'

The statement read, "Urvashi Rautela said that there is a temple in my name in Uttarakhand, not Urvashi Rautela's temple. Now people don't even listen to things properly; just hearing 'Urvashi' or 'temple,' they assume that people worship Urvashi Rautela. Listen to this video properly and then speak."

Addressing the past references to Urvashi being labeled as "Damdami Mai" at Delhi University, they added, "Urvashi said, yes, at Delhi University, she was worshipped as 'Damdami Mai,' and there's a news article about it too. Legal action should be taken against those who made confusing remarks about Urvashi Rautela's statement."

"It is essential that before making baseless allegations or derogatory comments against any individual, the facts are thoroughly verified. Everyone in society should treat each other with respect and understanding so that everyone's rights can be protected," the statement concluded.
New Delhi, April 19 : Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged a "deep conspiracy" behind the inclusion of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's names in the Enforcement Directorate's charge sheet in the National Herald case.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday alleged a "deep conspiracy" behind the inclusion of Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi's names in the Enforcement Directorate's charge sheet in the National Herald case.

He claimed the action was politically motivated and part of a broader campaign of vendetta by the BJP-led Centre.

"You must have noticed how, as part of a big conspiracy, the names of CPP Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi have been included in the ED chargesheet in the National Herald case. But no matter whose names are included, we are not afraid," Kharge said, addressing a meeting of AICC general secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of party frontal organisations.

Kharge noted that just days before this development, properties linked to the National Herald in Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai were attached by the ED.

"There is no doubt that this is being done out of political revenge. 'Young Indian' is a not-for-profit company, which means neither shares nor profits of AJL (Associated Journals Ltd) can be transferred or taken. Yet, the BJP continues to mislead the public with lies. It is our duty to take the truth to the people," he said.

He also questioned the timing of the ED's action. "It cannot be a coincidence that the AICC session was held in Ahmedabad, and soon after, such a major move was made by the ED. I want to remind you that when we held the Congress session in Raipur under my leadership, Modi ji also unleashed ED and CBI raids on our leaders there, trying to derail the event. But we held it successfully."

Touching upon previous efforts to suppress the Congress, Kharge said, "Before the last Lok Sabha elections, our accounts were frozen. Still, the people doubled our strength in Parliament. The fight is far from over."

He also mentioned the party's strong stance against the Waqf (Amendment) Bill.

"The Congress united the entire opposition against the government's Waqf Amendment Bill. The matter is now before the Supreme Court, which has acknowledged the concerns raised by the opposition, particularly regarding the controversial 'Waqf by user' clause. This clause has been deliberately introduced to create confusion over Waqf properties."

Expressing confidence in the party's legal and political position, Kharge said, "We will win this battle too. Despite the BJP's misinformation campaign and attempts to mislead the public, we will continue to expose their conspiracy and present the truth."

He urged party functionaries to keep raising the pressing issues facing the nation. "We must work in a coordinated and strategic way. I also remind you to uphold the resolutions adopted at the Ahmedabad AICC session and help carry them forward."
The area of Ukrainian control in Kursk region of Russia has slightly decreased to the west of the district center of Sudzha and the village of Guevo, Sudzhansky district, according to maps from the operational update of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) on the Russian invasion, published on Facebook on Saturday morning.

The exact area of control in the summary as of 08:00 on Saturday is not indicated, but on the map it is slightly smaller than in the summary for the past several days in a row, when it remained unchanged. The change is not significant and did not affect any of the settlements.

However, according to the DeepState project, the area of Ukrainian control in Kursk region of Russia has not changed for several days in a row and, at least since April 15, has been 42.39 square kilometers with three bridgeheads, two of which are in Sudzhansky district (9.96 square kilometers opposite Sudzha and 21.08 square kilometers opposite the village of Guevo, a total of 31.04 square kilometers) and one 11.35 square kilometers near the village of Tyotkino, Glushkovsky district, Kursk region. The area of the "gray zone" with uncertain control, which includes villages on both sides of the state border in Kursk and Sumy regions, has now increased slightly and is 49.16 square kilometers, including the village of Guevo, Sudzhansky district, and the villages of Basivka and Zhuravka, Sumy region. In Glushkovsky district, the "gray zone" is 9.48 square kilometers. The area of the Sumy region under the control of Russian troops is still only 0.69 square kilometers without settlements.

According to Deepstate, the area of the "gray zone" in Krasnoyaruzsky district of Belgorod region of Russia has not changed since the beginning of the month and is 13.08 square kilometers. It includes the villages of Popivka and partly Demydivka. However, the General Staff, as before, does not report on the actions of Ukrainian troops in Glushkovsky district and in Belgorod region, and does not extend the gray zone to their territory on its maps.

According to the General Staff, over the past day, units of the Defense Forces of Ukraine have repelled 17 Russian attacks in Kursk region. In addition, the enemy carried out 38 air strikes using 72 guided bombs and also carried out 407 artillery shelling of positions of Ukrainian troops and settlements.

The day before, 21 combat clashes, 18 air strikes from 25 KAB guided bombs and 368 shelling were reported. On Wednesday, there were 14 clashes, 23 enemy airstrikes from 37 KAB guided bombs, and 413 shelling.
Sanaa, April 19 : The US army launched 29 airstrikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen on Saturday, while Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, vowed to retaliate.

According to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the pre-dawn US raids hit several locations in and around the capital Sanaa, as well as the provinces of Saada and Al-Jawf. No casualties have been reported yet as the Houthi group rarely discloses its losses.

The fresh airstrikes followed a deadly series of US attacks on Thursday night, which targeted and destroyed the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port and concrete tanks storing imported fuel. According to the latest update from Houthi-run health authorities early Saturday, at least 80 people were killed and 150 others wounded.

Many of the wounded were said to be in critical condition, and the death toll is expected to rise. Among the casualties were port workers and five paramedics, who were killed in a second wave of airstrikes while arriving on ambulances to assist the wounded, Xinhua news agency reported.

This marks the deadliest US raid since Washington resumed airstrikes against Houthi targets in mid-March 2025. The destruction of the Ras Isa port, located just northwest of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, represents a significant blow to the Houthis, as it is a vital source of fuel for the areas they control.

The US attack has sparked widespread condemnation from Iran and various human rights organisations. The Houthi group also issued a strong condemnation, pledging to retaliate if the airstrikes persist.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior figure within the group, was quoted by al-Masirah TV as saying: "We will have no red line. Any American interest in the Middle East, when the time comes, we will strike and bomb it. We will not stand idly by." He referred to US-related targets in the region, including oil fields in the Gulf, shipping lanes, and US aircraft carriers and warships in the Red and Arabian seas.

The US Central Command said in a statement on social media platform X on Thursday that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

The escalation comes after US President Donald Trump's administration designated the Houthi group as a "foreign terrorist organisation" on March 4. This move followed a series of attacks by the Houthis on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, which began shortly after the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza in late 2023.

On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a ballistic missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defence systems. They also claimed to have targeted US aircraft carriers, including the USS Harry S Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, with ballistic and cruise missiles. The US military has not commented on these allegations, though the US Central Command previously dismissed claims of attacks on the Truman as "outlandish."

Tensions between the Houthis and the Trump administration have intensified since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15. The strikes were aimed at deterring the group from attacking Israel and US warships.

The Houthis have said that their attacks are intended to pressure US-backed Israel to halt its offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave. They have also framed their actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
Ahmedabad, April 19 : Many questions are being raised about the conditions surrounding the early-evening clash between Delhi Capitals and Gujarat Titans at the Narendra Modi Stadium here on Saturday. A yellow warning was issued as the city is undergoing a heat wave with the temperature reaching as high as 41 degrees Celsius.

The conditions were so tough that veteran bowler Ishant Sharma was seen struggling and went off the pitch after bowling two overs. He was pictured looking exhausted on the Gujarat bench, and the commentators even suggested a possible heat stroke.

Fans took to social media to comment on how players were coping with the extreme heat in Ahmedabad. "Global warming is real. Ishant Sharma is completely exhausted in Ahmedabad heat," wrote one user on X.

After Gujarat Titans (GT) won the toss and opted to bowl first in the afternoon, both captains, Axar Patel and Shubman Gill, acknowledged the heat and admitted that it was a factor in their decision-making.

"I also wanted to field. I was confused as it was that hot. I was a little sceptical due to the weather. The bowlers might get tired in the sun. We will look to score well and look to defend," said Axar Patel, who hails from the same region, at the toss. "We will bowl first. It is very hot. The wicket looks very good. If you won't keep much grass, it would crack up," said Gill, who hails from Chandigarh, which also experiences high temperatures in summer.

Delhi racked up 203/8 in the first innings courtesy of an all-round performance which saw Axar Patel, Ashutosh Sharma, Karun Nair, and Tristian Stubbs all registered 30-plus scores, although no batters reached the half-century milestone.

For Gujarat Titans, Prasidh Krishna, who was seen struggling with camps due to heat, claimed four important wickets to put brakes on the Capitals' scoring rate. He too admitted the harsh conditions made it difficult for the fielding side.

"It was really, really hot. The intensity and pressure in a game are very hard to handle in such conditions. Sai finished off really well. Credit to Ishant. He bowled dots and kept the lid on the runs," said Krishna in the mid-innings chat with the broadcasters.
New Delhi, April 19 : Supreme Court's retired judge Ajay Rastogi on Saturday virtually disagreed with Rajya Sabha Chairman and Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar's 'nuclear missile' remark about Article 142 and its alleged misuse, saying the decision to use the inherent powers under the Article lies entirely in the domain of the court.

"When to exercise the powers under Article 142, what are the circumstances under which to exercise the power is always in the domain of the court," Justice Rastogi told IANS, countering the perceived tirade against the judiciary.

He said, in his personal view, a time has come that all parties must introspect.

"We are going wrong somewhere. The time has come that all stakeholders must introspect and find out a way which is in the interest of the institutions and in fulfilment of the mandate of the Constitution."

Earlier this month, the top court, using its inherent powers under Article 142 of the Constitution, resolved a standoff between the Tamil Nadu government and Governor R.N. Ravi over the delay in granting assent to bills.

The court used the powers for the purpose of declaring the 10 withheld Bills as deemed to have been assented on the date when they were presented to the Governor after being reconsidered by the State legislature.

The issue took a new twist after Jagdeep Dhankhar used strong words against the judiciary, comparing Article 142 as a 'nuclear missile' available to the judiciary against democratic forces.

The debate intensified with former Union Minister Kapil Sibal calling Dhankhar's criticism as an attack on the judiciary and a potential act of shaking public faith in courts. However, renowned lawyer Mahesh Jethmalani put his weight behind the Vice President for fulfilling his obligation of upholding the Constitution.

Justice Rastogi while talking to IANS ruled out the talk about friction between the legislature and the judiciary. "Giving interpretation on a legislation is judiciary's role. Parliament is supreme and has the power to amend a provision," he said.

The court should not feel offended if Parliament amends a provision, he said.

Justice Rastogi also dismissed the narrative of the judiciary and the executive being on collision course, underscoring judges' commitment to public welfare and their ability to withstand the perceived pressure due to dissection of their views.

"There is absolutely no pressure on judges. They function independently and fearlessly, no matter what the public thinks. We as judges work, with full commitment, in the interest of our institution and the public," said Justice Rastogi.
Agartala, April 19 : Tripura Tourism and Transport Minister Sushanta Chowdhury claimed on Saturday that the state government is exploring to introduce 'Seaplane Tourism' to promote tourism and connectivity in the northeastern state.

After holding a virtual meeting with a private airline company, who operate the Seaplane in various parts of the country, the minister said that there are several water-based tourism or aquatic tourism sites in Tripura and through the Seaplane, foreign and domestic tourists can visit those places.

"We have several water-based tourism or aquatic tourism places (in Tripura). Most famous of them are Chabimura, Narikel Kunja and Rudrasagar lake in southern and western Tripura," he said, adding that the proposed Seaplane venture would promote tourism as well as economy and connectivity in Tripura.

The Minister said that after Saturday's virtual meeting with the private airline company, the government would now study the new initiative and then would take a final decision.

"If we found that the Seaplane operation is viable, then it would be operated jointly by the Tourism and Transport departments," he said.

In India, there are two well-known 'water palaces' -- Jal Mahal in Jaipur, Rajasthan, and Neermahal in Tripura, and both attract a large number of foreign and domestic tourists.

Neermahal literally means 'Water Palace'. The place is a picturesque fairytale Royal mansion located in the middle of the Rudrasagar Lake, 53 km South of Agartala.

Erstwhile Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya built the palace in 1930 as his summer residence being inspired by the Mughal style of architecture.

Another water-based tourist place, Chabimura, is famous for its panels of rock carvings on the steep mountain wall on the bank of the Gomati River. There are huge images carved of Shiva, Vishnu, Kartika, Mahisasurmardini Durga and other Gods and goddesses. These images date back to the 15th to 16th centuries AD.

Dumboor Lake is a charming water body located 115 km south of Agartala. The beautiful lake is on the confluence of rivers Raima and Sarma. Boating facilities are available in Dumboor Lake. In one of the islands, 'Narkel Kunja' has been developed and is one of the best tourist destinations in Tripura.
Islamabad, April 19 : Pakistan and Afghanistan on Saturday mutually agreed to further their commitment to fortify bilateral relations and continue the latest series of engagements to address mutual concerns in important areas of security, connectivity and trade.

The agreement was reaffirmed during the day-long visit of Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to Kabul - the first of its kind by a high-level official of the Pakistan government following multiple bilateral diplomatic engagements between both neighbours.

During the visit, Dar had a one-on-one meeting with Afghanistan's Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi in which both sides expressed their desire to de-escalate tensions and make space for bilateral cooperation in various sectors that are mutually beneficial.

Both sides agreed that a sustained high-level engagement is the only way to address critical concerns, find solutions to the problems and cooperate with each other to negate misunderstandings.

Sources said that the meeting between Dar and Muttaqi yielded fruitful results as both sides discussed a wide range of bilateral issues. Both sides maintained focus on regional trade, people-to-people contact and importantly border management.

Dar laid emphasis on issues pertaining to border security, especially attempts being made by terror groups to infiltrate into Pakistan. Border management was also among the issues put forward by Dar.

Sources also revealed that Afghan Taliban asked Pakistan to share intelligence regarding presence of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) safe havens inside Afghan territory, assuring that they would take action against them if Islamabad would share more details with Kabul.

Experts, however, believe that the commitment may be limited to mere wordings and Afghan Taliban may not take any action against TTP.

"I do not think the Afghan Taliban will ever take any action against TTP, especially on the demand and intel provided by Pakistan. There is a clear anti-Pakistan sentiment in Afghanistan, within the Afghan Taliban, who criticise Islamabad for being a US ally against them," said Tahir Khan, a strategic analyst.

"Secondly, Afghan Taliban will never want to see deterioration within their cadre and have various factions defecting their camps due to their actions against TTP, just to please Pakistan," he added.

The meetings also addressed the issue of ongoing repatriation of thousands of illegal and Afghan Citizen Card (ACC) holders from Pakistan. Sources stated that the Afghan Taliban did not call on Islamabad to stop the process, but asked to show leniency with the Afghan nationals as reports of mistreatment and harassment of the deported continue to dominate headlines.
Shimla, April 19 : Principal Media Advisor to the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan, on Saturday clarified over allegations of BJP legislator and Leader of Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur, pertaining to the release of Rs 2.34 crore in the shape of government advertisements to the National Herald newspaper.

Terming the allegations as baseless and far from the truth, he said the BJP leaders were trying to mislead the people without ascertaining facts and were bent upon to malign the image of the Chief Minister on the issue, which would not be tolerated. He said that in two and a half years, the advertisements of Rs 2.34 crore have been given to the National Herald newspaper, whereas the BJP, during its regime under the leadership of Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, released the advertisements worth crores of rupees to their mouthpiece journals and magazines.

Citing examples, he said 'Organiser' and 'Panchjanaya' and 'Matrivandana' magazines and journals, considered to be the mouthpiece of the BJP, were given advertisements of more than Rs 2 crore.

Besides, 'Deep Kamal Sandesh', 'Chhatra Udghosh' magazine of the ABVP, the magazine brought out by RSS 'Tarun Bharat', published from Nagpur, to which advertisements of more than Rs 74 lakh were given by the BJP during its regime, the name of which the people have never heard. Over and above, the Thakur Government issued advertisements of more than Rs 2.93 crore to papers, magazines and journals associated with the BJP.

"I am astonished by the statement of the BJP leaders that the National Herald paper weekly is no longer published," Chauhan told the media here.

The National Herald weekly is regularly published from Delhi in English and 'Sunday Navjeevan' in Hindi. Besides, the Mumbai publication is also being taken out regularly.

He said the BJP, which was running a coalition government at the Centre, is harassing those associated with the Congress and other Opposition political parties by misusing central investigation agencies due to fear of its continuously decreasing popularity.
Patna, April 19 : In a significant political jolt to Janata Dal (United) and Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, former MLA Master Mujahid Alam, a prominent face of JD-U in Seemanchal, has resigned from the party over the Waqf Act.

Alam, a two-time MLA from Kochadhaman and the NDA candidate from Kishanganj in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, made the announcement in Kishanganj, where he also took down banners and posters of Nitish Kumar.

Alongside him, hundreds of supporters also submitted their resignations from the party.

"As Nitish Kumar's MPs supported the Waqf Bill in Parliament, I have decided to resign from the party's all posts, including the primary members," Alam said.

Earlier, Jan Suraaj founder Prashant Kishor, who recently visited Alam's native village Kairibirpur and spent time with him following Eid prayers.

The meeting, which lasted for over an hour, signalled the beginning of a potential political realignment in the region. Sources say Kishor has been actively working to bring influential local leaders into his fold, especially in Seemanchal, a region with a significant minority population and growing political volatility.

Master Mujahid Alam has long been regarded as one of Nitish Kumar's most trusted grassroots leaders in Seemanchal.

Despite his defeat in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections by 59,000 votes to the Congress candidate Mohammad Jawed, he retained strong support at the local level, known for staying active in public service even after electoral losses.

Since the Waqf (Amendment) Bill was passed in both Houses of Parliament, over 20 Muslim leaders have resigned from JD-U.

Master Mujahid Alam's exit not only signals deep dissatisfaction within the minority ranks of the JD-U but also comes at a time when the party is already facing criticism over its stand on the Waqf Act and governance decisions ahead of the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections.
New Delhi, April 19 : BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday stirred controversy with a sharp statement directed apparently at the judiciary amid the ongoing Supreme Court review of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Dubey questioned the judiciary's role in legislative matters, suggesting that if courts assume the task of lawmaking, the existence of Parliament becomes redundant.

The Supreme Court began hearing a series of petitions on Wednesday challenging the constitutional legitimacy of the newly amended Waqf Act, which had cleared both houses of Parliament earlier this month. Petitioners argue that certain provisions -- such as permitting non-Muslims in Waqf Boards and allowing for the removal of "Waqf by user" properties -- violate fundamental constitutional rights.

Taking to the social media platform X, Dubey posted in Hindi (translated in English): "If the Supreme Court is going to make the laws, then the Parliament building should be shut down."

The post was widely interpreted as a veiled criticism of the judiciary's involvement in scrutinising and possibly suspending aspects of the legislation.

During the hearings, the apex court took note of key commitments from the Central Government. Among them, the Centre assured the bench that no non-Muslim individuals would be appointed to any Waqf Boards or Councils until further orders were issued by the court. Moreover, the government committed that no Waqf properties, including those identified as 'Waqf-by-user', would be removed from official records or have their classification altered by District Collectors during this interim phase.

The top court had earlier indicated that it may stay some of the provisions of the amended Act, including those related to Waqf-by-user, inclusion of non-Muslims in the Waqf Boards and Council and the powers of the Collector to change the status of disputed Waqf lands.

However, after recording the assurances from the Centre, the Supreme Court granted the Union Government one week to file a preliminary response, supported by all relevant documentation. The next hearing in the matter has been scheduled for May 5.
New Delhi, April 19 : A team of negotiators, led by Commerce Secretary-designate Rajesh Agarwal, is likely to travel to Washington, DC, next week to advance discussions on the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

The high-level meetings are expected to take place over three days starting April 23, according to reports.

As per officials, the agenda for the talks has been finalised and will cover an extensive range of issues spread across 19 chapters.

These include key areas such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, trade in goods and services, customs facilitation, and regulatory cooperation.

This round of talks is being closely watched, with both New Delhi and Washington aiming to conclude an early harvest agreement before the fall deadline.

India and the US have targeted to conclude the first phase of the BTA by the fall (September-October) of this year, with an aim to more than double the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, from about $191 billion currently.

Both the nations are working to sign the first tranche of a BTA to bring down tariffs before the agreed timeline of the fall of 2025 as the the terms of reference for the pact have already been finalised.

"India and US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) terms of reference have been finalised when the US team was here. The first tranche negotiations will start virtually on the various chapters within this week, and the talks in the physical mode may start at the end of the month," Additional Secretary, Commerce, Rajesh Agarwal said this week

"India has decided to go for a path of trade liberalisation with the US," Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told journalists. He said both India and the US would benefit if the trade deal is wrapped up before the fall of 2025.

"When we said we want to do a first tranche of BTA with the US by fall, that doesn't mean we can't do it before fall. If we end up doing the BTA before fall, then it will be good for both India and the US," he added.

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is also set to embark on an official visit to the US and Peru, beginning April 20, where she is slated to participate in multilateral dialogues to showcase Indiaas economic dynamism.

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New Delhi: After the mass-uprising in Bangladesh and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led government, a deeply troubling trend has emerged in Bangladesh that threatens not only its internal stability but also the fragile peace of the broader South Asian region. The sudden and controversial release of over 300 individuals accused or convicted in militancy-related cases is not a matter of domestic politics alone - it is a regional security crisis in the making.

New Delhi: After the mass-uprising in Bangladesh and the fall of the Sheikh Hasina led government, a deeply troubling trend has emerged in Bangladesh that threatens not only its internal stability but also the fragile peace of the broader South Asian region. The sudden and controversial release of over 300 individuals accused or convicted in militancy-related cases is not a matter of domestic politics alone a" it is a regional security crisis in the making.

At the heart of this crisis is the post-August 5, 2024 reality of Bangladesh, where the military-backed government led by Muhammad Yunus has taken control amid controversy, suspicion, and fear. While Yunus' rise was celebrated by some as a victory of civil society and global recognition, his government's recent actions a" or rather inactions a" paint a far more complicated and disturbing picture.

Since the coup, courts and political actors in Dhaka have quietly overseen the release of individuals affiliated with some of the deadliest militant outfits in South Asia a" including Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB), Harkat-ul-Jihad-al-Islami (HuJI), Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT), and Hizb-ut-Tahrir. These groups have long been blacklisted not only by the Bangladeshi state but also by international counterterrorism frameworks.

Among those released are individuals convicted of murders, terror financing, bombings, and direct affiliations with transnational jihadist organisations. Some were involved in heinous crimes such as the 2016 Holey Artisan Bakery attack, which left 22 people dead, including foreign nationals. Others plotted assassinations of secular bloggers, academics, and activists in a period between 2013 to 2016 saw Bangladesh battling a wave of extremist violence.

The current regime claims that many of these cases were politically motivated by the previous Awami League government. While legal redress is every citizen's right, the sheer number, speed, and opacity surrounding these bail decisions have raised alarms among regional intelligence circles.

India, which shares a 4,096 km border with Bangladesh, cannot afford to take this lightly. Over the past decade, New Delhi has built a strong counter-terrorism partnership with Dhaka, leading to successful operations like the crackdown on JMB cells in West Bengal and Assam, the 2014 Burdwan blast probe, and real-time intelligence sharing to dismantle cross-border modules.

The release of hundreds of ideologically-committed militants a" many of whom retain digital access, sleeper network connections, and sympathisers a" risks reviving dormant extremist cells not just in Bangladesh but also within India's vulnerable northeast. Already propaganda materials linked to groups like Hizb-ut-Tahrir and Al-Qaeda-centric Jamaatul Ansar Fil Hindal Sharqiya (JAFHS) are re-emerging on encrypted platforms.

Indian states like West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, and Tripura, which have historically been soft targets due to demographic complexity and porous terrain, could once again find themselves in the crosshairs.

The issue is not limited to India and Bangladesh alone. South Asia, as a region, is already fragile a" torn by sectarian conflicts, refugee crises, climate displacement, and the growing shadow of geopolitical rivalries. The re-emergence of jihadi militancy in Bangladesh, a country once hailed for dismantling its extremist networks post-2016, could undermine regional cooperation frameworks such as BIMSTEC.

Worse still, it provides a fertile ground for global jihadist organizations like Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) and even ISIS-inspired groups to find new recruits and sanctuaries. These actors are adept at exploiting political vacuums, social disillusionment, and government missteps.

A militant resurgence in Bangladesh would thus not remain confined within its borders a" it could spill over into Myanmar's Rakhine state, India's northeast, and even further west towards Afghanistan and Pakistan, as part of the broader jihadist movement.

The current government and its supporters argue that many of these released individuals have repented. Some clerics and community leaders, including individuals like Mufti Jasim Uddin Rahmani, now claim to denounce violence. But deradicalization is not a speech a" itas a process, often years long, requiring structured psychological support, education, and active monitoring.

Releasing dozens of individuals within weeks without proper vetting, rehabilitation, or public transparency suggests not reform, but recklessness. Worse, it reeks of political appeasement, especially if the current regime seeks to court Islamist groups as a counterbalance to the secular forces that once championed the anti-militancy stance.

What's equally alarming is the growing narrative from certain government figures that the entire militancy crisis was a fabrication of the previous regime. This is not only historically false a" it is a slap in the face of victims, survivors, and the countless security personnel who laid down their lives to preserve the nation's peace.

In this stage, no one should stay silent. It is not only the security of Bangladesh but also the integrity of its counterterrorism investments in the region. The time has come for Bangladesh and India to initiate high-level bilateral talks specifically focused on security and militancy, while simultaneously reactivating intelligence cooperation frameworks to monitor the released individuals.

In addition, both countries should work together on the issue at BIMSTEC and other regional forums, pushing for a coordinated regional response mechanism to counter any resurgence of extremist activity. Equally important is the need to provide support to civil society organisations that are actively working on counter-radicalization, promoting secular education, and fostering community cohesion. Moreover, Both countries must advocate for international oversight, potentially through the United Nations or global human rights institutions, to ensure that justice and security are upheld during Bangladesh's transitional phase.

South Asia stands today at a critical juncture. The peace it has enjoyed a" though imperfect a" has been hard-earned. Bangladeshas battle against militancy, especially post-2016, was seen globally as a case study in resilience. Undoing that legacy through hasty political maneuvering is more than a miscalculation a" itas a threat.

For Yunus and his administration, the world is watching. For India, the message is clear: the neighbourhood is only as safe as its weakest link. If the current trajectory continues, itas not just Bangladesh that will pay the price but an entire region already brimming with fault lines. The cost of inaction is too high. The time to act is now.

(The writer is an expert on South Asia and Eurasia. He was formerly with Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses. Views expressed are personal)

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Iran has filed a lawsuit with the International Court of Justice and demands to annul the decision of the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) regarding the plane crash of the Boeing 737-800 NG of Ukraine International Airlines (UIA), flight PS752, in 2020.

"The present Application constitutes an appeal against the decision rendered by the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization on 17 March 2025 and formally notified to Iran on 11 April 2025, in proceedings commenced jointly by Canada, the Kingdom of Sweden, Ukraine and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland against the Islamic Republic of Iran on 8 January 2024 pursuant to Article 84 of the Convention on International Civil Aviation, Chicago, 7 December 1944. The proceeedings before the ICAO Council concern a disagreement relating to the interpretation and application of the Chicago Convention with respect to the erroneous shooting down of a civil aircraft in flight  Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 by Irans military on 8 January 2020," the court's press service said.

The court notes that with this decision, the ICAO Council rejected what it called Iran's "preliminary objection" to its competence to consider the application submitted to it regarding the Chicago Convention. In fact, Iran raised two separate and distinct objections in its previous objections filed in 2024. Iran asks the court to recognize that the decision "prejudiced in a fundamental way the requirements of a fair and just procedure because it wrongly treated Irans two separate and distinct objections as if there was only a single 'preliminary objection' to be voted on." However, Iran reserves the right to supplement or amend its appeal.

As reported, on January 8, 2020, a Boeing 737-800 passenger plane of the UIA airline, which was supposed to perform flight PS752 on the Tehran-Kyiv route, was shot down in the area of Imam Khomeini International Airport in Tehran immediately after takeoff. There were 167 passengers and nine crew members on board. All of them died. Among the dead were 11 citizens of Ukraine (including nine crew members), 82 citizens of Iran, 63 citizens of Canada, ten citizens of Sweden, four citizens of Afghanistan, and three citizens of Germany and Great Britain.

On January 11, the Iranian authorities admitted that the Boeing was mistakenly shot down by the Iranian military. Later, commander of the aerospace forces of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Amir Ali Hajizadeh stated that he takes full responsibility for the crash of the Ukrainian plane.

In 2023, an Iranian court sentenced ten Iranian military personnel for the downing of Ukrainian passenger plane flight PS752. One of the commanders was sentenced to ten years in prison, and nine others to from one to three years in prison.

In contrast, the International Group for the Coordination of Assistance to the Victims of Flight PS752, consisting of Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom, called the trials in the case of the plane crash a sham and that they should not distract the world's attention from Iran's failure to fulfill its international obligations and evasion of responsibility for its actions. "Neither the trials nor the verdicts announced this week have brought truth or justice to the families of the victims," the group said.

In January 2024, the International Group initiated proceedings within the ICAO Council against Iran for its violation of the 1944 Convention on International Civil Aviation. The ICAO Council ruled in favor of Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom and referred the case to consideration on the merits, despite Iran's attempt to challenge the ICAO Council's jurisdiction over the complaint about the downing of the civilian airliner.

In October 2024, the Coordination Group presented a Memorandum in the context of the consideration of the case of the downing of PS752 at the International Court of Justice of the United Nations. Ukraine, Canada, Sweden and the United Kingdom supported this key document in the case with irrefutable evidence of Irans violation of the 1971 Convention for the Suppression of Unlawful Acts against the Safety of Civil Aviation.
Rajouri, April 19 : The Jan Aushadhi Kendra at the GMC Associated Hospital in Rajouri has become a crucial pillar of support for the local population and migrant workers alike. Functioning under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Pariyojana (PMBJP), the government-run pharmacy Jan Aushadhi Kendra is now serving over 500 to 600 people daily, offering quality generic medicines at prices up to 90 per cent lower than those found in private pharmacies.

In a region where many struggle with limited incomes, the Kendra is easing financial pressure by making essential medications affordable and accessible. For countless families, this has eliminated the difficult choice between buying high-cost medicine and meeting other basic needs.

Shazia, a local resident, expressed her appreciation for the initiative: "I can now afford my blood pressure medicine without worrying about the cost. This scheme has been a blessing for people like me."

Doctors at GMC Rajouri have also lauded the programme, noting that affordable medicine has improved patient adherence to treatment plans and overall health outcomes.

Toheed Shehzad, who works at the Kendra, told IANS: "I've been working here for a while, and we see a huge crowd every day, even on half-working days like today. Around 600 people visit us daily. Our doctors support the scheme and regularly prescribe these affordable medicines. We have all the commonly required medicines for conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and acidity. For example, a medicine that costs Rs 22 here is sold for Rs 130a"140 in private stores. Another medicine we sell for Rs 50a"60 per strip is available outside for Rs 250. We source our stock from suppliers in Jammu or Delhi."

Customers have echoed similar sentiments, calling the initiative a major relief for economically weaker sections.

Alam Din Dar, a regular customer, shared: "I am truly thankful to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for starting these affordable medicine outlets. Medicines that cost Rs 1,500a"2,000 in private pharmacies are available here for just Rs 100a"200. These shops are a blessing for the poor. I come here regularly, and it has really helped me and many others."

Mukesh Kumar Sharma, a daily wage worker from Supaul, Bihar, added: "I want to thank PM Modi for this initiative. The low-cost medicines here help me save a lot of money. If I had to buy these from a private shop, I wouldn't be able to afford them. I'm really happy and grateful to the government for making this possible."

As the popularity of the Jan Aushadhi Kendra grows, residents remain hopeful that the centre will continue to meet rising demand and play a vital role in bridging the healthcare gap in underserved communities.
Jaipur, April 19 : Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Saturday said that efforts to promote border tourism in the region, particularly near Tanot Mata, continue unabated.

"The BSF has assured completion of ongoing works within the stipulated timeframe. Discussions were also held with the Chief Minister regarding further development. An amphitheatre is under construction near Tanot, where daily programmes can be held in collaboration with the Army and BSF. Its design is currently underway," the Union Minister told media persons after a review meeting in Jaisalmer

The minister said that the plans are also being considered for constructing a grand entry gate at the site, adding that the Home Minister has instructed that arrangements be made for tourists visiting Tanot to view the international border.

"A joint meeting of the Defence, Home, and Tourism ministries was earlier held under the chairmanship of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh in this context. Positive outcomes of these discussions will be visible soon," he added.

When asked about the condition of the Jaisalmer Fort, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Shekhawat emphasised that its preservation is a collective responsibility.

"Illegal construction in restricted zones is harming the fort's aesthetics and heritage value. The ASI has issued multiple notices, and I've instructed the administration to take strict action," he said.

Shekhawat also stated that efforts are being made to promote tourism in the district, even during the summer season.

Meanwhile, he strongly criticised the current law and order situation in West Bengal, calling it "painful" and likening it to the pre-Partition era.

Referring to the recent violence in Murshidabad, he said, "What is happening in Bengal today reminds one of Jinnah's Direct Action. The majority community is being targeted, atrocities are being committed on religious grounds, and the state government remains a mute spectator."

He accused Mamata Banerjee and her party of allowing Bengal to burn for political gain.

"This is a matter of grave concern in a free and democratic India," Shekhawat stated.

Responding to questions on the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Shekhawat said the changes were necessary to safeguard the interests of poor Muslims.

On the controversy surrounding the Disha meeting, Shekhawat clarified that notices were issued 15 days in advance, in accordance with official protocols.
New Delhi, April 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi will visit a factory in Jeddah and interact with Indian workers there during his visit to Saudi Arabia next week, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri told reporters during a media briefing ahead of the April 22-23 visit.

"Saudi Arabia hosts the second-largest Indian expatriate community in the world. Nearly 2.7 million Indians live and work in Saudi Arabia. It is a matter of great satisfaction that the Indian community in Saudi Arabia is very well regarded for their significant contribution to the national life and economic development of the kingdom," said Misri.

The visit to the factory would once again highlight the importance that PM Modi attaches to the welfare of Indian workers abroad.

Last December, Prime Minister Modi visited a labour camp in Mina Abdullah area of Kuwait with a workforce of around 1500 Indian nationals.

This was the first programme of his visit to Kuwait and the Prime Minister interacted with a cross-section of Indian workers from different states of India and enquired about their well-being during a memorable interaction.

In the last few years, the Indian government has undertaken several technology-based initiatives such as E-Migrate portal, MADAD portal and upgraded Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana for the welfare of Indian workers abroad.

In January, while inaugurating the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, PM Modi emphasised that he has always considered the Indian diaspora as ambassadors of India.

Expressing his joy in meeting and conversing with fellow Indians around the world, he said that the love and blessings he receives from them are unforgettable and always stay with him.

He extended his heartfelt gratitude to the Indian diaspora and thanked them for giving him the opportunity to hold his head high with pride on the global stage.

PM Modi highlighted that over the past decade, he had met numerous world leaders, all of whom have praised the Indian diaspora for their social values and contributions to their respective societies.

"India is not just the mother of democracy, but democracy is an integral part of Indian life," said the Prime Minister. He noted that Indians naturally embrace diversity and integrate seamlessly into the societies they join, respecting local rules and traditions.

Meanwhile, extending gratitude to the Saudi leadership for continued assistance, Foreign Secretary Misri said on Saturday that the kingdom plays an important role in facilitating the visit of thousands of Indian citizens for annual pilgrimages for Haj and Umrah.

The annual Haj pilgrimage and Umrah is an important component of India-Saudi bilateral relations with India's Haj quota standing at 175,025 pilgrims.

On the diaspora front, Indian community in Saudi Arabia is 2.7 million strong and acts as a living bridge between the two countries. Indian diaspora contribution to the economic development of Saudi Arabia is widely recognised. Number of Indians in Saudi Arabia is increasing steadily. Over the last year, an estimated one lakh Indians came to Saudi Arabia for employment.
Jaipur, April 19 : Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Saturday convened a high-level meeting at his residence to review the preparations for the upcoming visit of US Vice President J.D. Vance to the Pink City, an official said. Vance is expected to arrive in India on April 21 for a four-day visit.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister instructed officials to ensure timely and coordinated execution of all arrangements to make the US Vice Presidentas visit memorable and historic.

He emphasised the need for robust security measures and directed the police department to make advance preparations. CM Sharma also stressed the importance of effective traffic management across the city during the visit.

The Chief Minister further directed the district administration and concerned departments to appoint dedicated officers as in-charges for various tasks related to the US Vice President's visit.

During the visit, J.D. Vance will be accompanied by his wife, Usha Vance, their children, and senior officials of the U.S. administration.

The itinerary also includes a visit to Jaipuras historic landmarks.

J.D. Vance is scheduled to arrive in India on April 21 for a four-day visit.

On Friday, Vance landed in Italy with his family. He will touch down in India on April 21. After a scheduled meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi, he will travel to Jaipur later that evening.

According to officials, J.D. Vance will stay in Jaipur from April 21 to 24.

On April 22, he will visit the historic Amer Palace in the morning, followed by an address at the US-India Business Summit at the Rajasthan International Centre.

The summit is expected to witness the participation of top officials from both countries, with Vance set to present his vision for strengthening bilateral trade ties. On April 23, he will travel to Agra aboard a US Air Force aircraft to visit the Taj Mahal.

After spending approximately three hours at the monument, he will return to Jaipur the same afternoon and tour the Jaipur City Palace later in the day.

J.D. Vance is scheduled to depart for Washington at 6.30 a.m. on April 24.

Meanwhile, an official said that a red-carpet welcome awaits the US Vice President at Jaipur Airport.

The Rajasthan government has mobilised personnel from various departments, and elaborate security arrangements are in place.

Temporary road closures are expected based on intelligence inputs, and plain-clothed officers from the Rajasthan Police will be deployed alongside.

A 20-vehicle convoy will support the VVIPas movements in addition to his official motorcade, and a specially-equipped ambulance with senior doctors will accompany the delegation.

Emergency medical facilities have been set up at designated hospitals.

A traditional Rajasthani welcome has been planned for Vance and his family at Amer Palace on April 22.

The family will don Jodhpuri safas and experience the cultural richness of the state through puppet shows, folk dances, traditional attire, and local cuisine. The palace will remain closed to the public during the two-and-a-half-hour visit.

Twelve trained guides have been appointed to provide historical insights about Amer and Jaipur, ensuring dignitary interactions are conducted at a suitable distance.

Amer Palace Superintendent Dr Rakesh Chholak confirmed that all preparations, including security measures and renovation work, have been completed.
Patna, April 19 : In a major push for urban development in Bihar, the Central government has approved funding of approximately Rs 550 crore for the rejuvenation and modernisation of Motihari city.

The funding includes Rs 149 crore under the Namami Gange Mission and Rs 399 crore under the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT).

The announcement was made by Bihar's Urban Development and Housing Minister Jivesh Kumar Mishra during his visit to Motihari on Saturday, where he was accompanied by Member of Parliament Radha Mohan Singh.

The two leaders inspected proposed project sites and reviewed the blueprint of the planned developments.

Minister Mishra said that the multi-crore projects will focus on the rejuvenation of the historic Motijheel, the construction of a modern Sewage Treatment Plant (STP), linking all municipal drains to the STP and the development of walking pathways along both sides of the lake.

He emphasised that this effort is a joint initiative between the Central and state governments and will significantly improve sanitation, environmental quality, and urban infrastructure in Motihari.

"Rejuvenating Motijheel and improving water management systems are top priorities of the Central and state governments. These projects will not only enhance the city's beauty but also promote a clean and healthy lifestyle for residents," said Minister Jivesh Mishra while interacting with the media persons in Motihari.

The Namami Gange scheme, which aims to restore and clean the Ganga and its tributaries across Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal, has prioritised this effort as part of its outreach in Bihar.

Meanwhile, AMRUT continues to fund strategic infrastructure upgrades in selected cities across India.

This initiative is expected to transform Motihari into a model city in Bihar by improving basic amenities, boosting eco-tourism, and preserving its cultural and natural heritage.

With the Bihar assembly election around the corner, initiatives like this would woo the residents of the East Champaran district.
New Delhi, April 19 : The Congress on Saturday announced to launch major nationwide 'Samvidhan Bachao' (Save the Constitution) campaign to "safeguard constitutional values and promote social justice", amidst growing concerns over the alleged misuse of central agencies, particularly the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the ongoing National Herald case.

New Delhi, April 19 (IANS) The Congress on Saturday announced to launch major nationwide 'Samvidhan Bachao' (Save the Constitution) campaign to "safeguard constitutional values and promote social justice", amidst growing concerns over the alleged misuse of central agencies, particularly the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and the ongoing National Herald case.

The party has accused the BJP-led government of weaponising institutions for political vendetta. The party said the action in the National Herald case is a politically motivated "witch-hunt" targeting Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

In a high-level meeting convened by Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, senior party leaders, including AICC General Secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of frontal organisations, discussed the implementation of the Ahmedabad resolution titled "Nyay Path: Sankalp, Samarpan, Sangharsh."

The meeting laid the groundwork for the party's grassroots revival and nationwide mobilisation campaign aimed at defending constitutional values.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also outlined the party's latest organisational initiative, 'Sangathan Srijan Abhiyan', which was recently launched in Gujarat.

The core objective of this campaign is to strengthen District Congress Committees (DCCs) and energise local party units. As part of the drive, five observers will be appointed in each district, and new DCC presidents will be chosen by May 31. The campaign, which began in Gujarat, will now be expanded to other states.

Speaking to the media after the meeting, Congress General Secretary (Communications) Jairam Ramesh addressed the ongoing National Herald case, condemning the BJP's "malicious propaganda" against Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

He described the legal action as a politically motivated witch-hunt driven by 'vengeance, harassment, and intimidation'.

Ramesh further stated that between April 21 and 24, senior Congress leaders will hold press conferences across the country to expose what the party sees as a coordinated assault on democracy and the rule of law.

Ramesh also revealed that the party will roll out a large-scale 'Samvidhan Bachao' (Save the Constitution) campaign across the country. The campaign will unfold in four phases: state-level rallies from April 25 to 30, district-level mobilisations from May 3 to 10, assembly constituency-level campaigns from May 11 to 17, and a door-to-door awareness drive from May 20 to 30 to directly engage with citizens on constitutional issues.

Ramesh outlined the key aspects of the Ahmedabad resolution, which revolves around three central pillars: social, economic, and political justice. Under social justice, Congress has raised three major demands: a nationwide caste census, implementing reservations for SCs, STs, and OBCs in private educational institutions, and removing the 50 per cent ceiling on reservations.

On economic justice, the party is advocating for a legally guaranteed Minimum Support Price (MSP) for farmers based on the Swaminathan Commission recommendations, immediate farm loan waivers, and a focused plan to revive shuttered MSMEs across the country.

"The Constitution is under attack. Institutions like the ED are being misused, and the ones orchestrating this have a criminal mindset," Ramesh said, indirectly targeting top government figures.

He also reiterated that Congress would not be intimidated and would continue its fight for the Constitution, justice, and the soul of the nation.

"This is not a legal matter anymore - it's political persecution," Ramesh asserted.
New Delhi, April 19 : The Congress on Saturday accused the BJP of 'attempting to weaken the authority of the Supreme Court', following controversial remarks by BJP MP Nishikant Dubey amid the court's ongoing review of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

Congress leader Jairam Ramesh came out strongly against the ruling party, stating that the BJP is targeting the judiciary because it has held the government accountable on key constitutional matters.

"They are trying to weaken the Supreme Court," Ramesh told reporters. "The BJP is actively undermining the powers granted to the apex court by the Constitution, especially because the court has called out the government on issues like electoral bonds and the Waqf matter."

Earlier in the day, Dubey's comments stirred controversy after he posted on social media: "If the Supreme Court is going to make the laws, then the Parliament building should be shut down." Though cryptic, the message was widely seen as a direct attack on the judiciary's oversight of legislative matters.

Ramesh asserted that ministers and MPs from the BJP are intentionally targeting the judiciary. "Constitutional functionaries and BJP leaders are attacking the Supreme Court simply because it is upholding the basic structure doctrine. This is a coordinated attempt to erode judicial independence," he said.

Ramesh also highlighted the court's actions on other key issues -- including the electoral bonds case and the pending matter concerning the autonomy of the Election Commission -- to argue that the "BJP's frustration with judicial scrutiny is growing". "This is not about one law," he said. "It's about whether constitutional checks and balances will survive in Modi's India," he added.

Reaffirming his party's stance, Ramesh said the Congress supports a judiciary that is fully independent, impartial, and empowered under the Constitution. "We want a Supreme Court that is fearless and functions without interference. What's happening now is a systematic attempt to silence that independence."

The remarks come as the Supreme Court is hearing several petitions challenging the constitutionality of the amended Waqf Act, which was passed earlier this month. The petitioners have objected to provisions allowing non-Muslims to be included in Waqf Boards and permitting the declassification of 'Waqf-by-user' properties -- arguing that such changes infringe upon religious and property rights.

During the hearings, the Supreme Court took note of key commitments made by the Centre. The government assured that no non-Muslim appointments would be made to Waqf Boards or Councils until the matter is resolved. It also promised that 'Waqf-by-user' properties would not be denotified and that District Collectors would not alter their status during the interim period.

The apex court has granted the Centre one week to file a preliminary response, along with supporting documents. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for May 5.
Bhopal, April 19 : Madhya Pradesh BJP chief V. D. Sharma said on Saturday that the state unit will run a state-wide awareness campaign regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

He said that BJP workers make people aware of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, including how this crucial step of the Centre will ensure positive changes in society.

"The campaign will be run by different units of the BJP," he said.

He added that to make an elaborate plan for this purpose, the MP BJP leadership has started meetings with the members of the different units of the party.

"During meetings, BJP workers will be taught about the entire plan of the campaign so that when they visit people, they should be ready with facts about Waqf properties in those particular areas," he said.

Sharma also chaired a meeting of the members of the Scheduled Tribe (ST) and Scheduled Caste (SC) at the party headquarters in Bhopal.

"During the campaign, people will be taught how the Waqf properties have been illegally encroached and misused by some selective individuals. There is no account of income related to Waqf, and a new trend has started where they can stake a claim on any property," claimed Sharma.

He said that the party has taken the step after the Supreme Court started to hear petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Notably, after getting clearance from both Houses of Parliament, and then getting assent of President Droupadi Murmu on April 5, the Centre has implemented the Waqf (Amendment) across the country from April 8.

In Madhya Pradesh, there are more than 14,986 properties of the state Waqf Board, which are registered properties spanning 52,752 acres, as documented in official records.
Kolkata, April 19 : Just a day after the visit of West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, as many as 17 mini and handmade socket bombs have been recovered from West Bengal's Malda district adjacent to Murshidabad, which was on the boil last week after communal violence and riot-like situation broke out there after protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent.

On Friday, the Governor visited a relief camp at a school in Malda district, where several people displaced following the Murshidabad violence are currently housed.

According to sources, when the mini-socket bombs were discovered in a plastic bag hidden in a sugarcane field at Baishnabnagar area in Malda district, the Governor was touring the different troubled pockets in Murshidabad, interacting with the affected people there. Incidentally, the relief camp where the Governor visited on Friday was also at Baishnabnagar.

The plastic bag was first spotted by some local villagers, who immediately informed the local police station.

A team from the police station first arrived at the spot and cordoned off the place to ensure the safety of the people.

Later, the personnel from the bomb squad came, recovered the bombs, and defused them.

The police are not clear about who had brought the bombs and the intention behind bringing them.

The local residents have demanded enhanced security in the area following the development.

Sources aware of the development claimed that in case there had been a blast, the impact could have been 'quite alarming'.

On Friday, during his visit to the relief camp at Baishnabnagar, the Governor assured personal intervention in ensuring that each displaced family in the communal tension-hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal last week is completely rehabilitated.

"Several houses have been gutted. So the displaced families will be returned only after full rehabilitation is arranged for them. I personally came here to have first-hand experience of the prevailing situation. I will give a detailed report on the matter after going back," the Governor told mediapersons on Friday.

He was, co-incidentally, at a place quite close to the spot of the bomb recovery.
Gurugram, April 19 : Haryana Industry and Commerce Minister Rao Narbir Singh said that to ensure better infrastructure facilities for citizens, all development works proposed by the public within the framework of government norms will be given priority and implemented on the ground.

He emphasised that the all-round development of Gurugram remains a key priority for the state government.

Rao Narbir Singh said this while addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for various development works in village Mohammadpur, under the jurisdiction of Municipal Corporation Gurugram (MCG), on Saturday.

Gurugram Mayor Raj Rani Malhotra and Joint Commissioner Akhilesh Yadav were also present on this occasion.

The Cabinet Minister expressed gratitude to the people for electing him in the Assembly elections and assured them that he will always strive to uphold the trust and confidence with which they have sent him to Chandigarh as their representative.

While addressing the gathering, Rao Narbir Singh highlighted various government schemes and said that the present government is highly sensitive and fully committed to the holistic development of the state.

He emphasised his continuous efforts to make Gurugram a clean, beautiful, and pollution-free city, and urged the public to actively participate in these initiatives.

"Development schemes are being implemented at the ground level across Gurugram, and to ensure that these projects are completed with quality and in line with public convenience, your cooperation and vigilance are essential," he said.

The minister further appealed to the residents to regularly monitor development works in their respective areas and to report any irregularities directly to his office without delay.

Rao Narbir Singh stated that work is going on in full swing across all departments in the district and its positive outcomes will become evident in the near future.

He emphasised the government's commitment to fulfilling the hopes and aspirations of the people and ensuring that the benefits of various schemes reach the last person in the queue.

The minister further said that the construction of a community centre in village Mohammadpur will soon be completed by Haryana State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (HSIIDC), and land for the project has already been identified.

On this occasion, the Environment Minister also appealed to the public to contribute towards making Gurugram a polythene-free city. He said that since Gurugram is a prominent district in the National Capital Region (NCR), any positive and meaningful initiative taken here can inspire other districts to follow suit.
Photo: https://mfa.gov.ua/

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha held a call with his Latvian and Polish counterparts Baiba Braze and Radoslav Sikorski after a series of meetings held in Paris on Thursday.

According to the head of the Ukrainian foreign ministry, with the Latvian Foreign Minister they "discussed recent diplomatic efforts and exchanged views on next steps to end Russia's war and restore a fair peace."

"We also agreed on further joint work to increase pressure on Russia and hold it accountable for all its crimes," Sybiha said in X on Friday evening.

With Sikorsky, he said, he spoke about "synchronizing further efforts after the diplomatic talks yesterday in Paris aimed at bringing a just and lasting peace closer."

"We also focused on strengthening Ukraine's security as an integral part of European and transatlantic security," Sybiha said.

As reported, Sybiha had previously held telephone talks with the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs Kaja Kallas, during which the parties coordinated efforts ahead of upcoming international events.
Kolkata, April 19 : The joint platform of both 'genuine' teaching and non-teaching staff losing school jobs following the recent order of the Supreme Court earlier this month has called off its proposed "march to state secretariat" agitation which was scheduled on April 21.

A letter has been forwarded both to Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police by the joint platform informing about the decision to call off the agitation, the joint platform leader Asish Khamrui told the media on Saturday.

It has been learned that the decision to call off the agitation program was taken following a meeting with the office bearers of the joint platform with the top officials of both Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police.

According to Khamrui, in the wake of certain disturbing events in West Bengal (Murshidabad) violence recently, the officials of Kolkata Police and Howrah Police requested the joint platform to call off the scheduled programme on April 21.

"The cops have assured us that they will convey our demands Chief Secretary Manoj Pant about our demands in the matter. So considering the overall situation, we have decided to call off our scheduled 'march to state secretariat' on Monday," Khamrui.

The state secretariat Nabanna is located at Mandirtala in Kolkata-adjacent Howrah district and the security of the state secretariat is entrusted with both Kolkata Police and Howrah City Police.

However, in the letter sent to the police, a copy of which is available with IANS, the joint platform has made it clear the scheduled agitation programme has been called off "temporarily". In the letter, the joint platform has also urged for an immediate meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on the matter.

"Following extensive discussions with departmental officials, and in view of the assurances provided for a constructive and timely resolution to our demands, we have decided to temporarily withdraw the proposed programme. We remain hopeful that we will be given an opportunity to meet the Honorable Chief Minister soon so that our grievances may be heard and appropriate steps may be taken toward a comprehensive and lasting solution," the letter read.
Agartala, April 19 : The Bangladesh government has been constructing another big embankment along the Tripura part of the border along India, triggering tension among the Indian residents as the embankment may endanger the south Tripura district town of Belonia and adjoining border villages during monsoon flood.

A high-level delegation led by Tripura PWD Secretary Kiran Gitte would visit border town Belonia and other border villages on Sunday for an 'on the spot study', and possible effects on the Indian side due to the embankment construction by the Bangladesh government along Muhuri river, which divides the two countries.

Besides, the citizens of Belonia Municipal Council areas, villagers of Ballamukh, Ishan Chandranagar and adjoining villages in south Tripura district have expressed their serious concerns regarding the construction of the big embankment by Bangladesh.

Local CPI-M MLA Dipankar Sen requested the South Tripura District Magistrate and senior officials of Border Security Force (BSF) to take up the matter with the Central government for taking up the issue with the Bangladesh government.

Sen said that during his visit, villagers expressed their deep fear that due to the construction of the embankment during monsoon Muhuri river water would submerge district town of Belonia and several other adjoining villages, endangering over 1.50 lakh people.

A senior official of the Water Resource Department of Tripura Government Basudeb Das said that the government is looking into the matter with all seriousness.

"We have communicated the matter to the higher authorities," Das said, refusing to disclose further details.

Meanwhile, a similar embankment was also constructed by the Bangladesh government along northern Tripura's Unakoti district and that may also put in danger the district town Kailashahar and border villages during monsoon floods.

Seeking the Central government's intervention, the opposition Congress has organised agitations in Kailashahar.

Senior Congress leader and former Minister Birajit Sinha, who has been spearheading agitations against the controversial embankment along the Unakoti district, had said that the Bangladesh government is unilaterally constructing a big embankment on its land, and the embankment may endanger the district town of Kailashahar and border villages during monsoon floods.

Tripura Chief Minister Manik Saha earlier, in a letter to Union Home Minister Amit Shah apprised the embankment issue.

"The Chief Minister in his letter to the Home Minister, highlighted the potential effect of the Bangladeshi embankment in Unakoti district and possible floods on the Indian side. The Chief Minister has urged the Home Minister to take up the matter with the Bangladesh government to take appropriate steps by the neighbouring country," an official said.
Guwahati, April 19 : Special Task Force (STF) of Assam Police seized drugs valued at Rs 2.2 crore and arrested a woman drug peddler in Guwahati on Saturday, officials said.

An Assam Police spokesman said that the STF personnel, acting on information, arrested a woman identified as Sajida Begum (32) from Sawkuchi, near Guwahati, and 278.28 grams of heroin, worth Rs 2.2 crore.

"Rs 1,49,500 and a mobile phone were also recovered from her possession," he said.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma appreciated the STF personnel for the recovery of the drugs.

Saturday's drug seizure in Guwahati occurred within 24 hours after the seizure of drugs worth Rs 71 crore by the STF personnel on April 18. Heroin and highly addictive methamphetamine tablets, valued at Rs 71 crore, were seized during two separate operations at the Amingaon area in Assam's Kamrup district on Friday.

An official said that two drivers of two vehicles in which the drugs were transported were also arrested in this connection.

He said that during the search operation, the STF personnel recovered 2,70,000 Yaba tablets valued at Rs 67 crore from a truck, while 520 grams of heroin valued at Rs 4 crore, contained in 40 soap boxes recovered from a Hyundai car.

He said that both the methamphetamine tablets, also known as Yaba or party tablets and the heroin were smuggled from Myanmar.

"Drivers of both the vehicles, identified as Nur Islam (34) and Nazrul Hussain alias Ali Hussain (22) were arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act 1985," he said.

The official said that the April 18 operation was led by STF chief Parthasarathi Mahanta, who was assisted by Additional Superintendent of Police, STF, Kalyan Pathak.

Officials suspect that the highly addictive methamphetamine tablets were smuggled from Myanmar and brought to Assam via the neighbouring state, and were intended to be illegally traded to neighbouring Bangladesh or other parts of the country.

--IANS

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Bengaluru, April 19 : The Karnataka government on Saturday ordered to prepare a draft of the Rohit Vemula Act aimed at ending discrimination towards students of oppressed communities in educational institutions.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in his letter to the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, said that, "I have instructed my legal advisor and team to prepare a draft of the Rohit Vemula Act, a legislation that will act as a deterrent against discrimination in educational institutions."

Siddaramaiah said that the reference in your letter dated April 16, 2025, to the incident faced by Dr B.R. Ambedkar, as narrated by him, is indeed a sad reality even to this day.

"No child or adult must face the shame and stigma faced by Babasaheb. I too, deeply share your sentiments, we must join hands to bring the Dalits, Adivasis and Backward Classes into the mainstream. The oppressed classes must no more face any discrimination in our educational system. My government and I are committed to ensuring an egalitarian and equal society," said Siddaramaiah.

Rahul Gandhi, in his letter dated April 16, addressed to Siddaramaiah, said: "These are the words of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. Here he describes an incident during a long bullock cart journey: There was plenty of food with us. There was hunger burning within us; with all this, we were to sleep without food; that was because we could get no water, and we could get no water because we were untouchables."

Rahul Gandhi further said, "He (Ambedkar) tells us about his experience in school: I knew I was an untouchable, and that untouchables were subjected to certain indignities and discriminations. For instance, I knew that in the school I could not sit in the midst of my classmates according to my rank, but that I was to sit in a corner by myself."

Rahul Gandhi said, "I know you would agree that what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar faced was shameful and should not be endured by any child in India. It is a shame that even today, millions of students from Dalit, Adivasi and OBC communities have to face such brutal discrimination in our educational system."

Rahul Gandhi said that the murder of young people like Rohith Vemula, Payal Tadvi and Darshan Solanki is simply not acceptable.

"It is time to put a firm end to this. I urge the Karnataka government to enact the Rohit Vemula Act so that no child in India has to face what Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Rohith Vemula and millions of others have had to endure," he said.

Responding to this, Siddaramaiah said, "I thank Rahul Gandhi for his heartfelt letter and unwavering commitment to social justice. Our government stands firm in its resolve to enact the Rohith Vemula Act in Karnataka  to ensure no student faces discrimination based on caste, class, or religion. We will bring this legislation at the earliest to honour the dreams of Rohith, Payal, Darshan, and countless others who deserved dignity, not exclusion."

The Chief Minister said that this will be a step towards realising Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision of an equal, compassionate India.
New Delhi, April 20 : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has disassociated itself from the remarks made by two of its Members of Parliament (MPs) -- Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma -- regarding the judiciary and the Chief Justice of India.

The party clarified that these statements were "personal opinions" and do not reflect the BJP's stance.

The BJP emphasised its unwavering respect for the judiciary, which it considers a cornerstone of democracy and a vital protector of the Constitution.

BJP chief J.P. Nadda, in a post on X, distanced the party from the comments by the MPs.

"The BJP has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with such statements nor does it ever support such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements," J.P. Nadda said.

The party reiterated its commitment to accepting judicial orders and suggestions and has instructed its members to refrain from making such statements in the future.

Separately, Nishikant Dubey's comments targeting the Supreme Court have drawn significant attention.

Particularly, the word "anarchy'' which he has used and "inciting religious wars".

Dubey criticised the judiciary amid on-going hearings on the constitutionality of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025.

This Act has been challenged by petitioners who argue that it violates constitutional rights, including equality and freedom of religion.

The controversy has sparked political debate, with opposition parties like Congress accusing the BJP of attempting to undermine the judiciary.

During the hearings, the Central government assured the Supreme Court that it would not de-notify provisions related to 'Waqf-by-user' or include non-Muslim members in the Waqf Board.

This assurance followed the court's indication that it might consider staying certain parts of the law.

The case has highlighted tensions between legislative actions and judicial oversight, with critics expressing concerns about potential encroachments on constitutional rights.

Dubey's remarks echo earlier criticisms of the judiciary by Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, who questioned the role of judges in legislative matters.

These incidents have fuelled broader discussions about the balance of power between India's legislative and judicial branches and the implications for democratic governance.

The Supreme Court recently ruled that Governor R.N. Ravi's refusal to approve 10 bills in Tamil Nadu was both "illegal and arbitrary".

It set a three-month deadline for Presidential and gubernatorial approval of bills passed by the legislature for a second time.

Additionally, the court suggested that the President should consult the Supreme Court on Bills involving Constitutional issues.
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Media Contact

Gavin Gooden, BlastOne, 1 6144763000, [email protected], www.blastone.com

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Andre Aciman is a romanticif a reluctant onewho writes about the joy of finding love and the fleeting nature of amorous entanglements. Im a very cruel person, dont be fooled, but by and large I am romantic, Aciman says over Zoom from his Manhattan dining room, where he occasionally works. There is something magical that can happen between two individuals. It seldom lasts, but it happens. In fact, Aciman writes so well about love that readers often turn to his work for insights about matters of the heart. I have young readers who are basically looking at my books as an itinerary for what love can be, he says. Some readers fall in love with my prose, and some fall in love with themselves through my books.

Its easy to find things to connect with in Acimans workhis meditative, elegant books encourage self-reflection as they examine desire, yearning, and heartache; belonging and alienation; and memory and the passage of time. He has published five works of fictionincluding Call Me by Your Name (2007), his debut novel, which became an Oscar-winning film starring Timothee Chalamet, and Enigma Variations (2017), now in development as a Netflix series; multiple essay collections; and two memoirs: Out of Egypt (1994), about his exile from his birthplace, and Roman Year (2024), about his time living in Italy in the 1960s. His books have sold more than one million copies in the U.S., according to his publisher, FSG, and have been translated into more than 30 languages.

Acimans latest, Room on the Seaout in June from FSGis a collection of three novellas that explore love and loss. The Gentleman from Peru, infused with magical realism, centers on Raul, a mysterious (perhaps otherworldly) older man staying at a hotel on the Amalfi Coast, who meets a young woman named Margot, whom he may have known in another life. This sets up a mystical star-crossed-lovers scenario between the two characters as they explore the coast and discuss their pasts. Room on the Sea follows Paul, a lawyer, and Catherine, a therapistboth married and in their 60swho meet in a New York City courthouse for jury duty and spend the next five days flirting and trying to decide if they should act on their feelings. The final novella, Mariana, was inspired by The Portuguese Letters, a 17th-century volume of correspondence purportedly written by a Portuguese nun to a French officer. The story concerns a Midwestern woman in her 20s, working on a manuscript at an academy in Italy, who enters into a sexual relationship with an artist. But when he suddenly dumps her, she spirals into obsession as she looks for opportunities to see him again.

Aciman was born in Egypt in 1951. Growing up in Alexandria, the author spoke French at home and attended English schools. His motherwho contracted meningitis in infancywas deaf and nonspeaking and relied on him to communicate. I was her mouthpiece, recalls Aciman, who made phone calls for her and helped with job interviews. It was stressful. Acimans father, who introduced him to Marcel Proust, was unfaithful and often absent. He told me that he realized a week after getting married that it was a big mistake, Aciman says. It was wonderful to hear that he could be honest; at the same time, I resented his honesty.

In 1965, Aciman and his family were expelled from Egypt in the face of antisemitism and political unrest, events that would shape his writing on identity and loneliness. After leaving Alexandria for Rome, the family struggled financiallya source of shame for Aciman, who spent a lot of his time shuttered in his room reading paperbacks. In 1968 he moved to New York City, and in 1973 he earned a BA in English and comparative literature from Lehman College, followed by an AM and a PhD in comparative literature from Harvard University. Hes currently a distinguished professor at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, where hes been since 2001, and where he founded and directs the Writers Institute at the Graduate Center. Aciman met his wifethey have three sonsat a party in 1986. Shes beautiful, he says with a smile. She also encouraged him to write Out of Egyptthe book that launched his career.

Lynn Nesbit, Acimans agent, read Out of Egypt upon its publication and knew she wanted to work with the author. I remember exactly where I was when I read it, sitting in a small cottage in the country, Nesbit recalls. I was completely enraptured. The book made me laugh, it was sad, and it was entirely original.

Aciman describes himself as a sad personI tend to be more negative than positivewho feels rootless. His charming accent is an airy mix of French and Italian, yet somehow seems to be from neither place and all his own. I was already an outsider in Egypt, he says. No place feels like home, and no place felt like home to begin with. He says he isnt tethered to the present moment; the past and future are more enticing. I never read the newspaper, he admits. Im never interested in the here-and-now. Im interested in that which is timeless.

The novellas that comprise Room on the Sea were originally commissioned by Audible and first appeared in audio format, but Aciman says he always intended for them to appear in print. I dont write for Audible, he says. Thats not the fate of my work. When asked what motivates him as a storyteller, he says: Inhibition and desire. Ive always been torn by that, and thats what I write about.

Aciman is fond of psychological fiction and classic literature: Wuthering Heights is a favorite (Ive read it millions of times, he says), and anything by Marcel Proust. Jonathan Galassi, Acimans editor, points to the influence of Proust on the author. Proust is Andres big hero, Galassi says. The sense of missed connection, of imperfect love, these are very Aciman traits. Andres fiction feels like its out of another era. Theres nobody writing in America whos like this. Thats part of his magic.

In Room on the Sea, Aciman explores evergreen themes around love: characters let time slip away or take advantage of second chances, seize on love or fail to act on it, crumble under the torment of jealousy and heartache or sit with regret. Who does not fantasize 90% of the time? Aciman says. Basically, were not in the real world. We fantasize about what we should have said, what we could do.

When not writing, Aciman can sometimes be found riding his bicycle around Central Park, listening to a novel in French, Italian, or English. I dont know if Im riding the bicycle to listen to a novel, he says, or whether Im listening to a novel and might as well ride a bicycle. Hes always reflecting on human motivations and the possibilities of loveand how he can use his insights to connect with readers. I look for romance everywhere, he says.

Elaine Szewczyks writing has appeared in McSweeneys and other publications. Shes the author of the novel Im with Stupid.
Eric Chinski and Alex Star at Farrar, Straus and Giroux bought world English rights, at auction, to The AGI Chronicles by New York Times tech columnist and Hard Fork podcast cohost Kevin Roose (pictured l.) from Sloan Harris and Kari Stuart at CAA. The publisher called the book an unprecedented insiders account of the race to develop artificial general intelligence through firsthand reporting and interviews with AI industry leaders. Foreign rights have sold in the U.K., as well as in Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Publication date TBD.

Nicole Otto, Sierra Stovall, and Hayley Wagreich at Slowburn preempted North American rights to Autumn Woodss Sorrowsong University duology from Daisy Chandley and Rebecca Wearmouth at Peters Fraser and Dunlop. The publisher called the duology a dark academia romance in which a young woman enrolls in an elite Scottish university to seek revenge against a powerful family only to find herself entangled with the mysterious son of her enemy. Kinza Azira at Pan Macmillan preempted U.K. rights, with foreign rights sold in 12 other territories. The first, previously self-published title, Nightshade, is set to hit shelves this spring.

Rachel Page at Feminist Press acquired world English rights to Feral by Gabriela Jauregui, translated from the Spanish by Heather Cleary, from Carles Masdeu at Agencia Literaria Carmen Balcells. In the work of debut fiction, the publisher said, a group of future archivists narrate the story of four friends whose lives are thrown into disarray when one of them is murdered while working on an archeological dig. Publication is set for fall 2026.

Miriam Khanukaev at Random House picked up world rights, in an exclusive, to Jewish Currents contributing editor Maia Ipps debut novel, Sugar Truck, from Alia Hanna Habib at the Gernert Company. The book, per the publisher, is about an overthinking young academic who blows up her carefully curated life to follow a Lithuanian exchange student to the place her grandparents survived the Holocaust, setting off a series of destabilizing, funny, and revelatory misadventures. No publication date has been set.

Simon Spanton at Angry Robot took world English rights to Peter F. Hamiltons Arkship trilogy from Antony Harwood at the eponymous agency. The publisher called the sci-fi trilogy a fast-moving coming-of-age series where life on an expansive generation ship on a centuries-long journey to a new world takes a turn for the worst when the delicate cycle of life is disturbed. The three books in the seriesA Hole in the Sky, The Captains Daughter, and Queens of an Alien Sunhit shelves next January, June, and December, respectively.

In Brief
To wrap up 2024, the Book Industry Study Group updated its list of Book Industry Standards and Communications (BISAC) codes, used to standardize subject categories for books in the North American market, by adding 223 new headings and adjusting 129 existing codes. (One example: adding cozy to fiction/fantasy.) While publishing companies rely on BISACs to categorize their offerings, there is a consensus among independent booksellers that the system is, in the words of David Enyeart, manager of Next Chapter Books in St. Paul, Minn., an interesting but minor toolone that can cause more problems than it solves for some stores. Were sitting on 9,000 books, he said. I cant break them into 600 categories.

Next Chapter, Enyeart pointed out, contains 45 categories in its POS system that map onto spaces in the store, so we know where to shelve books and can compare and contrast sales. New or updated BISAC codes have no impact on Enyearts system. Were driven by sales data, he explained. Were not like libraries, which keep books forever and need that breadth.

Booksellers told PW that as a rule, indies dont need the granular kind of detail provided by the BISAC system. Instead, they must pay attention and look at each book, rather than relying on codes created or assigned by external entities, said Luisa Smith Smith, the head buyer at Book Passage in both Corte Madera and San Francisco, Calif. Thats even the case, she asserted, at such larger stores as the Corte Madera location. The store shelves 28,000 titles in 300400 subject categoriesmostly due to a large travel section and childrens departmentbut still, shelving is done according to customer tastes and bookseller preferences.

Noting that indie booksellers hope that someone will discover something on our shelves, Smith insisted that organic connection driven by market knowledge, not hyperspecific categorization, is what makes that happen. As an example, Smith cited Our Infinite Fates by Laura Steven (Wednesday, out now), a novel categorized as YA fiction/fantasy/romance, which she compared to the 2019 title This Is How You Lose the Time War by Amal El-Mohtar and Max Gladstone, categorized as fiction/science fiction/time travel.

BISAC misses connections between books that we booksellers make, Smith said. For us, its all about connecting the reader with the right book. We shelve books to guide customers between categories, not separate books. If there is a question about best store placement, she said, she is more likely to ask the publishers rep for recommendations.

Another concern, Smith said, is that drilling down into hyper-specific categories can pigeonhole some books and authors, in, for example, such a category as fiction/Indigenous/Indigenous futurism. Great Indigenous writers are great writers who happen to be Indigenous, she said. You risk ghettoizing certain subcategories if you follow BISAC too closely. While books by authors like Tommy Orange and Louise Erdrich are not categorized as Indigenous literature, books by lesser-known authorssuch as the nonfiction and poetry works of Linda LeGarde Grover, for instancesometimes are.

Like Enyeart, Smith acknowledged BISACs use for librarians, noting that chain stores and online retailers can also benefit from the system. But indies know our inventories, and should know the authors, she said. We should be the ones categorizing books for our customers.

In other cases, booksellers say, the categories dont drill down enough. At Charis, a feminist bookstore with a large LGBTQ+ inventory in Decatur, Ga., owner Sara Luce Look said she and her staff typically check Ingrams iPage database when there are questions regarding how to categorize a book; while she occasionally refers to BISAC, she said, its mostly just to look at updates, because, she said, shes a nerd who enjoys keeping up-to-date on BISAC. But the lack of filters in both the iPage database and BISAC, Look said, has proven problematic in the pasteven for customers.

For instance, when customers search for feminist, queer, or trans titles on the Charis websitea part of the American Booksellers Associations IndieCommerce platform, which is fueled by Ingramhomophobic or transphobic titles often pop up. People find books Charis would never carry, Look said, and we have to manually take them off our website.

Look recalled an instance when Abigail Shriers Irreversible Damage: The Transgender Craze Seducing Our Daughters topped the results on searches for books on transgender studies. Other transphobic books would also pop up, she said. They need to add to the category of transgender studies, criticism of transgender, so it doesnt all come up together.

Look said she is concerned about both who creates the categories and who assigns them. Not only do the searches pull up titles that offend her customers, she has also seen booksusually self-publishedthat are misrepresented. These self-publishers pick BISAC categories so as to be seen in as many places as possible, she said. That means that books categorized as, for instance, queer romance often have nothing to do with the category.

In the end, BISAC is just a tool, just like iPage and Edelweiss are tools, Look said. A bookseller is always going to be a better search engine to guide readers through all this.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio today held a call with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to brief him of the peace proposal presented yesterday to the Ukrainian delegation in Paris and to Russian officials by phone, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.

"Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke today with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte to brief him on the peace proposal presented yesterday to the Ukrainian delegation in Paris and to Russian officials by telephone. The Secretary expressed President Trump's and the United States' hopes that this proposal will be accepted and will lead to a durable and lasting peace in Ukraine. The Secretary stressed, while our nation has been committed to helping end the war, if a clear path to peace does not emerge soon, the United States will step back from efforts to broker peace," the department said on its website.
As members of the Georgian opposition and civilians continue to fight for a democratic and free Georgian state, the ruling Georgian Dream party has intervened. Over the past month, Georgian Dream has passed legislation that seeks to restrict freedoms within the country, such as the right for citizens to protest and organize. The laws are deliberately being created to undermine the work of the Georgian opposition and citizens, and it is an attempt to subject the country to the will of Georgian Dream.

Unsurprisingly, the effort was met with stiff resistance. In response to Georgian Dreams efforts to suppress Georgian freedoms, thousands of Georgians gathered in the street to protest the ruling party in the Georgian Parliament.

It is not the first time Georgians have demonstrated against Georgian Dream either. For years, members of the Georgian opposition and citizens voiced their opinions on how Georgian Dream is running the country. They have called for their country to establish closer ties with the European Union, reform the government, and allow greater democratic freedoms.

But Georgian Dream has ignored these demonstrations. Instead, it has pursued legislation that has seen the country scale back on its anticorruption reforms. The ruling party in Georgia has also opted to suspend Georgias bid to join the European Union. This was met by further protests and demonstrations, which lasted several months.

Now, Georgian Dream is seeking to further undermine opposition efforts. For example, during the recent winter months, Georgian Dream ordered security forces to use tear gas and water cannons to disperse demonstrators. Hundreds of protestors were arrested by Georgian police. In addition, the ruling party in Georgia has imposed stiff financial penalties on the protestors. Georgian security forces have even used facial recognition technology to identify protestors and issue hefty fines.

But the attempts to suppress Georgian freedoms have not ended there. According to opposition members, Georgian security forces have conducted raids on activists homes. Some Georgians have even received anonymous threats over the phone, where Georgians have been told not to protest against the government.

By using these tactics, Georgian Dream is hopeful that this will prevent members of the opposition and Georgian citizens from gathering. The ruling party in Georgia is also trying to use fear tactics to undermine the opposition.

But Georgian Dreams forceful efforts have been unsuccessful. Instead, it has encouraged and inspired Georgians to continue gathering to protest the actions and decisions made by Georgian Dream. This has further upset the ruling party in Georgia.

Now, Georgian Dream has adopted a new tactic. According to Transparency International (TI) Georgia, the Georgian government has begun targeting government officials and government officials. In a recent report by TI Georgia, around 700 civil servants from the Georgian Ministry of Defense, Tbilisi City Hall, the Justice House, and the Central Election Commission have been dismissed from their posts. Georgian Dream cited political grounds as why hundreds of civil servants had lost their jobs.

There are a few reasons why this may have occurred. First, TI Georgia suggested that Georgian Dream may seek to fully bring [the] public service under the partys control. Dismissing individuals who have spoken out against Georgian Dreams policies could allow the party to fill the empty positions with party loyalists.

Second, there are signs that TI Georgia has attempted to strengthen its control over the public sector by reducing the freedoms of various agencies. For example, the TI Georgia report stated that Georgian Dream has worsened legal protections for public servants, and that the ruling party had also abolished several public service reforms, thus creating a more challenging working environment. In addition, Georgian Dream has created various legislative artificial barriers for civil servants. This has made the work situation less desirable.

Finally, outside of public service, Georgian Dream has targeted nonprofit organizations and independent media outlets in Georgia. According to a recent report by Eurasianet, the ruling party in Georgia has taken steps to cut off revenue streams to nonprofits and independent media outlets with international donors or grants. Georgian Dream has falsely accused these organizations of having interests against the Georgian people and the Georgian state, but it is yet another attempt to crack down on Georgian society and submit organizations to their will.

These actions and developments taken by Georgian Dream are serious. But fortunately, members of the Georgian opposition and Georgian citizens will not back down. Numerous members of the opposition, citizens, and various organizations have vowed to continue fighting for their freedoms, democracy, and a stronger, independent Georgia.

No one is certain how the situation will unfold in Georgia. The government is making it harder for citizens to organize and protest Georgian Dreams actions, and the ruling party is doing everything possible stay in power.

Despite these tactics, the Georgian opposition and citizens remain committed to their cause. They are determined to see their country prosper, and they will do everything they can to ensure that they have a prosperous and strong nation. Time will tell how the Georgian oppositions efforts will fare.

Mark Temnycky is a nonresident fellow at the Atlantic Councils Eurasia Center and an accredited freelance journalist covering Eurasian affairs.
Season 2 of the travel docu-series, Conan O'Brien Must Go, is slated to premiere on Max May 8.

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A 90-second trailer released Friday shows New Zealand filmmaker Taika Waititi and Spanish actor Javier Bardem guest-starring on the show.

"In this riotously funny travel series, Conan O'Brien experiences local cultures and connects with fans he previously met on his podcast," Max teased.

Season 2 will include three episodes, airing weekly through May 22.
Disney has announced that Hayden Christensen will reprise his role of Anakin Skywalker in the Star Wars series, Ahsoka, Season 2.

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The news was announced Friday at Disney Celebration 2025 in Tokyo.

Christensen played the younger version of the villainous Darth Vader in 2002's Star Wars: Episode II -- Attack of the Clones and 2004's Star Wars: Episode III -- Revenge of the Sith, as well as the Disney+ series, Obi-Wan Kenobi.

His appearances in two Ahsoka Season 1 episodes were In a digitally de-aged form.

Deadline reported that Game of Thrones alum Rory McCann is also joining the cast of Ahsoka Season 2, replacing the late Ray Stevenson in the role of Jedi Baylan Skol.

Rosario Dawson plays the titular heroine -- Anakin's former trainee -- in the series.

The Hollywood Reporter said filming is to begin next week on the second season.
A new week is starting and the signs are feeling refreshed after the weekend. Some of us will be called to slow down, while others will be urged to make quick decisions and bold moves. Read ahead to see what this week has in store for you.
Starlink's application for offering satcom services in India had been held up for the company's inability to comply with mandatory ownership disclosure norms.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Tesla CEO Elon Musk during their meeting at Blair House in Washington, DC, February 13, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday, April 18, 2025, had a telephonic conversation with US tech billionaire Elon Musk on a range of issues, including technology, fuelling expectations that Tesla and Starlink could possibly enter the Indian market soon.

Musk, a member of US President Donald Trump's core team, has been engaged with India to start a retail operation for Tesla and also to set up a manufacturing plant for the electric car in the country.

In addition, Starlink, the satellite communications business of SpaceX -- steered by Musk -- is awaiting government approval to start its service in India.

The conversation between Modi and Musk comes against the backdrop of Trump administration's reciprocal tariffs -- now on hold till July 10.

The US and India are working on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) to navigate the tariff situation.

'The PM had a constructive conversation today with Mr Elon Musk, delving into a range of issues of mutual interest.

'The discussion revisited topics covered during their meeting in Washington DC earlier this year, underscoring the shared vision for technological advancement,' the prime minister's office said in a statement on Friday.

In a post on social media platform X, yet another of Musk's companies, Modi said India remains committed to advancing its partnerships with the US in technology and innovation.

While his satellite internet company Starlink has already announced partnerships with telecom operators Bharti Airtel and Reliance Jio to distribute its equipment and services in India, Musk's automotive and clean energy company Tesla has also been revving up to hit Indian streets but has been blocked by what it says are high import duties.

Of the two, Starlink seems to have received a stronger signal from the government so far.

Sources said the company could get an approval for India entry soon.

In March, Airtel and Jio had announced their customers would get access to Starlink's portfolio of satellite communication solutions.

Starlink provides satcom services in over 100 countries through a constellation of over 7,000 Low Earth orbit (LEO) satellites operated by SpaceX, the American spacecraft manufacturer, and launch service provider also owned by Musk.

Earlier this week, top Starlink executives including India market access director Parnil Urdhwareshe, and vice president Chad Gibbs called upon Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi.

Starlink's application for offering satcom services in India had been held up for the company's inability to comply with mandatory ownership disclosure norms overseen by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade under Goyal, among other issues.

Starlink's application for a global mobile personal communication by satellite services licence has remained under processing since November 2022.

The licence has already been granted by the Department of Telecommunications to Airtel-backed Eutelsat OneWeb and Reliance Jio's satellite arm Jio Space Limited.

The application has also dragged on due to the lengthy list of exemptions from certain provisions that Starlink has sought citing technical limitations, to operate in India.

According to GMPCS rules, the licensee must use satellites only for authorised services over Indian territory, excluding activities that could compromise national sovereignty and security, such as surveillance or electronic warfare, a regulation which has been repeatedly cited by India's strategic establishment.

Additionally, Starlink had also clashed with the government on rules that licensees must provide call data records to security agencies upon request.

Tesla reaching India

Though Tesla has not officially ventured into the Indian market yet, shortly after a meeting between Modi and Musk in Washington, DC in February, Tesla Inc had commenced the recruitment process in India.

The EV manufacturer focusing on renewable energy had opened 13 positions on LinkedIn for various roles, including back-end jobs and customer-facing roles.

In the past, Tesla and India have had an uncertain relationship with the brand delaying its entry into the Indian passenger vehicle market.

The major concern for the EV manufacturer has been the high import duties.

However, the Indian government addressed the concern last March by announcing the scheme for Manufacturing Electric Passenger Vehicles in India.

Though the guidelines are yet to be notified, the scheme includes reductions in the import duty on EVs.

However, it says global EV makers are required to set up local manufacturing facilities with a minimum investment of $500 million.

In the 2025 Union Budget, India reduced basic customs duty on high-end cars with a price tag of more than $40,000 from 110 per cent to 70 per cent.

This was seen as an invitation for manufacturers like Tesla.

Earlier this month, when the Trump administration imposed 25 per cent tariff on passenger vehicles (sedans, SUVs, crossovers, minivans, cargo vans) and light trucks, as well as key automobile parts (engines, transmissions, powertrain parts, and electrical components), with processes to expand tariffs on additional parts if necessary, a senior government official told Business Standard that India is open to propose a 0- to 1 per cent tariff on the import of automobile parts, if the US reduces its duty on the same.

Sources said the scope of the latest Modi-Musk talks may have also included bilateral affairs.

Musk is currently one of the most influential persons in the Donald Trump administration.

He spearheads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aimed at cutting government expenditure and reducing federal workforce.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
Asim Munir and his brand of short-sighted Pakistan army officers give no inkling of paying heed, changing course or learning lessons from the past, observes Rana Banerji, who headed the Pakistan desk at RA&W.

IMAGE: Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir. Photograph: Kind courtesy screen grab/Rasta News Network (RNN) TV

Pakistan army chief General Asim Munir's speech at the Overseas Pakistani Convention in Islamabad on April 16, where he harked back to Pakistan's creation on the basis of the 'two-nation' theory and re-iterated the oft-touted stance of former Pakistani politicians and generals about Kashmir being Pakistan's 'jugular vein', only revealed that senior Pakistani generals continue to remain mired in a narrow, India-centric time warp of unrelenting hostility, in which they continue to cite 'Indian machinations' as the cause of all their woes.

This approach is completely lacking in strategic vision, especially in the context of tackling resurgent terrorist forces through an alternate or additional path of compassion, dialogue, reconciliation and inclusive development.

Ever since Munir came to the helm of Pakistan's army in November 2022 in what some Pakistani military analysts may contend were rather controversial circumstances extending his date of retirement, he has had to struggle to assert his authority both over peer officers and the political Opposition which had been galvanised by ousted prime minister Imran Khan.

Not only was he from the 'secondary' Officers Training Scheme' against 'regular' Pakistan Military Academy, Kakul recruits, here was a former protege propped up by the military to displace the Sharifs referring openly to the hallowed military leaders as 'Mir Jafars', or 'neutrals like animals'.

The May 9, 2023 attack by irate masses on the Lahore corps commander's Jinnah House as well as at other locations like the army headquarters, Rawalpindi and several 'martyrs' memorials' all over the country was unprecedented and saw the army chief scraping the barrel to select and post a new corps commander to IV Corps, Lahore.

Since then, as happens with any other army chief in Pakistan, Munir was able to gradually assert his authority by bringing in his own loyalists like Lieutenant General Shahid Imtiaz (also from the officers training scheme stream) in crucial command slots like the X Corps, Rawalpindi, extending tenure of the then serving director-general, Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) Lieutenant General Nadeem Anjum and thereafter, bringing in Lieutenant General Mohd Asim Malik, son of a former general and 'sword of honour' holder at the 80th PMA long course as his new DG, ISI.

He held several meetings at Lahore garrison and elsewhere to appease/neutralise a section of retired generals like Amjad Shoaib and Naeem Lodhi who were advocating an olive branch to Imran.

However, despite efforts to manage the February 2024 general election and purge the higher judiciary perceived to be partial to Imran, the impression persisted that Munir was not working from a position of strength and had failed to erode the narrative of victimisation or persecution projected so successfully by Imran Khan, with the general masses feeling for the first time perhaps that the army as an institution was failing Pakistan.

The emerging middle class youth especially seemed demoralised and there has been talk of a sustained 'brain drain', with opportunities being sought, through illegal traffickers too, to leave for Europe.

Against this backdrop, the resurgence of terror both in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Tehrik e Taliban-led) and Baluchistan (Baluchistan Liberation Army-led), extending also to attacks on Chinese technical personnel deployed on CPEC projects created additional pressure, culminating in the Jaffer Express train hijacking on March 11, 2025.

Speaking at the in-camera national security briefing in the national assembly on March 18, Munir first spoke about the need to emerge as 'a hard State', where every institution of government would have to scrupulously follow the rule of law to provide effective governance.

Otherwise, the army could not keep on taking casualties indefinitely.

Formation of a new 'National Intelligence Fusion and Threat Assessment Centre' has been announced, to better co-ordinate work of intelligence agencies.

Recent visits by a section of overseas Pakistanis provided an opportunity to the army leadership to create divisions within the pro-Imran Pakistani diaspora based in the USA on the issue of Imran Khan's possible early release from prison.

The message also went out to Pakistan Tehrik e Insaf politicians, an already divided lot, that no such deal was in the offing, under possible US pressure.

A US lawmakers' delegation also visited Islamabad and met the army leadership separately (April 12-13, 2025).

With the IMF agreeing recently to continue the extended funding agreement and the army touting its stewardship of the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the two-day international minerals convention at Islamabad (April 8-9) offered another occasion to suggest that Pakistan was poised to move out of the woods!

At the Overseas Pakistanis Convention which followed (Islamabad, April 13-16) the entire federal government machinery was spurred into action to present a grand event.

Both Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Munir gave long speeches.

It is here that Munir seems to have take it on himself to deliberately project a position of a strong leader, standing firm on well learned edicts of Islam, giving a message of resilience and hope, also intended for disgruntled youth and leaving no doubt as to who was in charge. He talked of crushing terrorism with a strong hand.

Asim Munir's 'hard talk' notwithstanding, perceptive political commentators in Pakistan (Dawn: Zahid Hussain and former diplomat Ashraf Jahangir Qazi) have not been reassured.

They keep reminding the military that absence of 'a clear policy to win the trust of the people beyond the use of coercive power' which 'neither represents the interest of the people nor works for their welfare' reveals 'a colonial mindset', leaves little 'time to pull back from the brink and save the federation'.

Qazi entreats,'What is absolutely required is a Nelson Mandela-like initiative to help heal the country and bring about a national reconciliation.

'The emphasis would be on putting our tragic past behind us and holding people accountable, but not on prosecuting responsible individuals for their past crimes.'

Asim Munir and his brand of short-sighted army officers give no inkling of paying heed, changing course or learning lessons from the past.

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday transferred an assistant municipal commissioner after the demolition of a Jain temple in Vile Parle area of Mumbai sparked a controversy.

IMAGE: Members from the Jain community protest against the demolition of a Jain temple in Vile Parle area by Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), in Mumbai on Saturday. Photograph: ANI Photo

Members of the Jain community took out a protest march over the issue earlier in the day.

Navnath Ghadge, who was in charge of the K-east ward, has been transferred with immediate effect, municipal commissioner Bhushan Gagrani told PTI.

A team of K-east ward on April 16 demolished a Jain temple or 'chaitalaya' located inside Neminath Cooperative Housing Society, claiming it to be an unauthorised structure.

A protest march was taken to the ward office on Saturday. Paresh Shah of the Maharashtra Gaushala Sangh claimed that more 20,000 people including religious leaders and Maharashtra minister Mangal Prasad Lodha, local BJP MLA Parag Alavani and a few other political leaders participated in the march.

A delegation of protesters submitted a memorandum of demands and had a two-hour-long meeting with Ghadge, he said.

"The entire Jain community is anguished by the BMC's action," said Shah, demanding that the civic body suspend the officer. The temple was demolished without giving the trustees time to respond, he claimed.

Opposition Congress too slammed the BMC over the demolition.

Party leader Pawan Khera wrote on X that the Jain community had been hurt by the BMC's action of demolishing the '90-year-old' Digambar Jain temple without any hearing.

"What enmity does BJP have with tolerance and harmony in the country?" Khera asked.
Estranged cousins Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray have sparked speculation about a possible reconciliation with statements indicating they could ignore 'trivial issues' and join hands nearly two decades after a bitter parting of ways.

IMAGE: In this July 2023 photograph, a banner is seen near Shiv Sena Bhavan in Mumbai, asking MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray to come together. Photograph: ANI Photo

While Raj, who heads the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, said uniting in the interests of 'Marathi manoos' was not difficult, Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray said he was ready to put aside trivial fights, provided that those working against Maharashtra's interests were not entertained.

Uddhav's assertion was seen as a veiled reference to the MNS chief recently hosting Maharashtra deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, who heads the rival Shiv Sena, at his residence.

Without naming his cousin, Uddhav Thackeray said nothing should be done to help the 'thieves', apparent reference to Bharatiya Janata Party and Shinde-led Sena.

The buzz about rapprochement started after Raj Thackeray said in a podcast interview with film-maker Mahesh Manjrekar -- recorded weeks ago but released on Saturday -- that he had no issues when working with Uddhav in the undivided Shiv Sena.

The question is does Uddhav want to work with him, he said.

"For a bigger cause, our fights and issues are trivial. Maharashtra is very big. For Maharashtra, the existence of Marathi manoos (native Marathi-speakers), these fights are very trivial. I don't think it is a difficult task to come together and stay united. But the issue is of desire," said the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief.

"It is not the question of my wish or selfishness. We need to look at the larger picture. All Maharashtrians should form one party," Raj said when asked whether the estranged cousins could come together.

Later in the day, speaking at a Sena-UBT event, Uddhav Thackeray said, "I am also ready to put aside trivial issues and I appeal to everyone to come together for the sake of Marathi manoos."

Without naming Raj, he said had the latter opposed businesses from Maharashtra going to Gujarat, a government caring for the interests of Maharashtra would have been formed in Delhi and Maharashtra.

"It cannot be that (you) support (BJP during Lok Sabha polls), then oppose (during assembly polls) and again compromise. This cannot happen," said Uddhav, a former chief minister.

"First decide that whoever works against the interests of Maharashtra will not be welcomed at home, you will not go to their homes and break bread with them. Then talk about the interests of Maharashtra," he added.

During the Lok Sabha polls, Raj Thackeray had announced unconditional support to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Uddhav further said he was ready to set aside minor disagreements.

"I am saying I don't have fights with anyone, and if any, I am resolving them. But decide on this first," he said.

MNS spokesperson Sandeep Deshpande struck a discordant note, saying his party had a bad experience with Uddhav Thackeray during the 2014 assembly polls and 2017 civic body polls when there was a chorus of demand that the cousins should reunite.

"I don't think (Raj) saheb has given any proposal for an alliance after such a bad experience. Now they are asking us not to talk to the BJP. (But) If Prime Minister Narendra Modi were to call Uddhav, he will go running to the BJP," Deshpande said.

Shiv Sena-UBT leader Sanjay Raut said the two cousins share 'ties of blood'.

"Raj Thackeray has expressed his opinion. Uddhav ji has responded. Now let's wait and watch," Raut said.

Asked about the Uddhav's demands, he said they were not pre-conditions but feelings of people.

"The enemies of Maharashtra should not be entertained. Today's BJP is the number one enemy of Maharashtra," he said.

Speaking to reporters elsewhere, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said, "If they come together, we are happy. Estranged people should come together, and if their disputes end, it is a good thing."

Asked if this would have an impact in the BMC elections, he asserted that the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance will win the polls.

The statements by the cousins come as elections to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, pending for three years, could be held this year.

The issue of Marathi identity has come to the fore once again with the Sena-UBT opposing the 'imposition' of Hindi in Maharashtra after the BJP-led state government gave its nod to a three-language formula under NEP that involves teaching Hindi from Class 1.

Raj, nephew of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray, quit the party in January 2006, blaming Uddhav for his decision. He then launched the MNS which initially took a strident anti-North Indian stand.

But after winning 13 seats in the 2009 assembly elections, MNS was pushed to the margins. It drew a blank in the 2024 assembly polls.

Uddhav Thackeray received a major setback in 2022 when Eknath Shinde split the Shiv Sena and toppled his government.

In the assembly polls, the Sena-UBT was reduced to 20 seats.

The party will have to fight the Shinde-led Sena and BJP to protect its citadel of Mumbai in the civic polls.

Responding to a question by reporters, state Congress chief Harshwardhan Sapkal said if the two Thackeray families came together, there was no reason to object.

"When Raj Thackeray says his issues with Uddhav Thackeray are not bigger than Maharashtra, he must be hinting that BJP is causing harm to Maharashtra....that investment is going out of Maharashtra," he said in Pune. Notably, Congress and Shiv Sena-UBT are allies at present.

"The BJP is trying to undermine the language and culture of Maharashtra, and Raj Thackeray's stand seems to endorse this view," Sapkal added.
Russia is making great efforts to replace the leadership of the Republic of Moldova with people whom it can control, and if it succeeds, it will use the Republic of Moldova against Ukraine, Moldovan President Maia Sandu said.

In her speech in parliament, Sandu said Ukraine remains Moldova's shield, and the Chisinau authorities have a moral obligation to prevent Moldova from being used against Ukraine and from being drawn into war.

On the air of the Shadow Cabinet program on Jurnal TV, she said Moscow is making great efforts to influence the results of the elections in Moldova. "We saw this unprecedented interference last year, and it is quite obvious that this year it will try to influence the outcome of the elections. The Kremlin's stake is to change the country's leadership with people it can control. It is not only about the Republic of Moldova, because now Russia's interest is Ukraine. What the Kremlin will do if it manages to control the government is to use the Republic of Moldova against Ukraine," the head of state said.

"We have a 1,200-kilometer border with Ukraine. Imagine that overnight this border will turn from a border with a friendly country to a border with a country controlled by Moscow. Of course, there are risks for Ukraine, but at the same time the risks for the Republic of Moldova are also growing, because in this way Russia can drag Moldova into war," Sandu said.

She said that for the sake of the security of citizens, as well as in order not to further complicate the situation in Ukraine, this should not happen. "We have this moral obligation to remain on the side of good, to remain a friendly country," the Moldovan president said.

In her speech at the plenary session of parliament, she said that Moldova's state institutions must make every effort to ensure free and fair elections, and the judicial system must first punish those who organize vote-buying.

As reported, Sandu said the country should join the European Union within four years to guarantee itself peace, security and prosperity.
Two ice cream factory workers in Korba district were allegedly tortured by their employer and his aide who pulled out their nails and administered them electric shocks on suspicion of theft, police said on Saturday.

Image used only for representation. Photograph: Pixabay.com

The victims, Abhishek Bhambi and Vinod Bhambi, originally from Bhilwara district in Rajasthan, were hired through a contractor to work at the ice cream factory owned by Chhotu Gurjar in Khaprabhatti area under the Civil Lines police station limits, a police official said.

On April 14, Gurjar and his associate Mukesh Sharma accused the two workers of theft. The duo was stripped, given electric shocks, and their nails were pulled out, he said, adding that the video of the torture has gone viral.

The video clip shows a semi-nude man being administered electric shocks and thrashed, he said.

The two victims managed to escape and reach their native place in Bhilwara. They lodged a complaint at Gulabpura police station.

The Rajasthan Police registered a 'zero' FIR and forwarded the case to Korba police for further action, he said.

Under a zero FIR, victims can file complaints at any police station regardless of the crime's location.

Subsequently, a case was registered at Civil Lines police station in Korba on Friday against Gurjar and Sharma.

One of the victims, Abhishek Bhambhi, stated that he had demanded Rs 20,000 advance from his employer to pay for the instalment of his vehicle. When the owner refused, Abhishek expressed his desire to quit the job, which angered the accused who assaulted both workers, he said.

"No arrests have been made so far in the case and further investigation is underway", said Pramod Dadsena, Station House Officer (SHO) of Civil Lines police station.
A prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, a media report said on Friday.

IMAGE: People take out a protest rally under the banner of 'Bengali Hindu Suraksha Samiti' to protest against the attacks on minorities in Bangladesh, in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo

Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star said quoting police and family members.

Roy's wife Shantana told The Daily Star that he received a phone call around 4:30 pm and claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.

Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises,

the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.

Roy was unconscious when he was sent back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. However, he was declared dead upon arrival.

Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area.

The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, as saying that preparations were underway to file a case.

He said police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.

Meanwhile, India on Friday rejected remarks by Bangladeshi officials on violence in West Bengal and asked Dhaka to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities instead of indulging in virtue signalling.

"We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

"This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with India's concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free," he said.
India on Saturday condemned the alleged abduction and killing of a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh and called on the interim government in Dhaka to live up to its responsibility of protecting the minorities.

IMAGE: Members of the Hindu community hold a protest in Dhaka. Photograph: ANI Photo

In a social media post, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the 'brutal killing' of Bhabesh Chandra Roy follows a 'pattern of systematic persecution' of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

'We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh,' he said.

'This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity,' Jaiswal said.

'We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions,' he added.

There has been a sharp downturn in India-Bangladesh relations after deposed prime minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in August last year in the face of a massive anti-government protest.

The relations nosedived dramatically after the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus failed to contain attacks on minorities, especially Hindus, in that country.
A girl student from Guntur, who was pursuing her master's degree in the USA, died after a hit-and-run incident in Denton City, Texas, while returning home with a friend, her family members said on Friday.

Photograph: Reuters

V Deepthi was walking near the 2300 block of Carril Al Lago Drive on April 12 when a speeding vehicle struck her and her friend Snigdha, also from the Guntur district.

Deepthi sustained severe head injuries and succumbed on April 15, while Snigdha is undergoing surgery and is said to be in stable condition, the family members said.

Deepthi was expected to graduate this May. Her mother had spoken to her on Thursday.

"I spoke to her occasionally, and as she was in a hurry to attend classes, she told us she would call on Sunday when she would be free. That turned out to be the last call," said Hanumantha Rao, her father.

After completing all formalities, her body will be flown from the US on Saturday and is expected to reach Hyderabad by Monday morning, he added.

He mentioned that the family had sold farmland to support her education and had planned to attend her graduation next month. She was pursuing an MS at the University of North Texas.

Deepthi was a B Tech graduate from Narasaraopet Engineering College.

Telugu associations in the US are assisting with the formalities.
At least 25 Indian tourists were injured when the bus ferrying them to Nepal's Pokhara met with an accident in the neighbouring country's Dang district, police said on Saturday.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: ANI Photo

The police said 19 tourists were admitted to the community health centre in Tulsipur in this Uttar Pradesh's district, which shares a border with Nepal.

Three of the injured are in critical condition and are undergoing treatment in a Nepal hospital.

The accident on Friday is suspected to have been caused by a brake failure. Most of the injured are from Lucknow, Sitapur, Hardoi and Barabanki districts of Uttar Pradesh, the police said.

Receiving information about the accident, police from Nepal's Gadhawa reached the spot and admitted the injured to a local health centre from where 19 people were brought to Tulsipur.

Circle Officer (Tulsipur) Brijnandan Rai confirmed that 19 Indians were undergoing treatment at the local community health centre.

He added some of the injured were discharged after first aid while the condition of three was critical and they were being treated in a Nepal hospital.
Almost 17 years after a blast killed six people and left over 100 injured in Maharashtra's communally sensitive Malegaon town, the trial in the case got over on Saturday with the special National Investigation Agency court adjourning the matter to May 8 for judgment.

IMAGE: Police officials stand guard at a blast site outside a mosque in Malegaon, on September 9, 2006. Photograph: Punit Paranjpe/Reuters

The NIA, which probed the case, sought 'commensurate punishment' for the accused who include former MP and Bharatiya Janata Party leader Pragya Thakur.

On Saturday, the prosecution filed its final written arguments, marking the end of the trial, presided over by A K Lahoti, special judge for NIA cases.

The prosecution submitted that the blast in Malegaon -- a town with a sizable Muslim population -- was orchestrated by the conspirators to terrorize a section of Muslim community, disrupt essential services, create communal tensions, and threaten the state's internal security.

Six people were killed and over 100 injured when an explosive device strapped to a motorcycle went off near a mosque in the town, about 200 km from Mumbai, on September 29, 2008.

Besides Pragya Thakur, Lt Col Prasad Purohit, Major (retired) Ramesh Upadhyay, Ajay Rahirkar, Sudhakar Dwivedi, Sudhakar Chaturvedi and Sameer Kulkarni are the accused in the case, charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and Indian Penal Code.

The NIA said in its final submission that based on 'relevant, admissible, cogent, trustworthy, wholly reliable and proved evidence' it 'conclusively and cogently' established the crucial circumstances to form a complete chain of events.

It was established that the accused were 'directly involved in the part of larger conspiracy hatched amongst themselves and (were) instrumental in causing a bomb explosion,' the document said.

The blast took place during the holy month of Ramzan, just before the Navratri festival, the NIA pointed out, adding that the intention of the accused was to strike terror in a section of the Muslim community.

The act was part of 'their larger conspiracy' to 'establish 'Aryawrat (Hindu Rashtra)', the prosecution contended.

It urged the court to convict the accused 'for commission of serious terror offences' and award 'commensurate punishment' in the interest of justice.

During the trial, the prosecution presented 323 witnesses, of which 34 turned hostile.

The case was initially probed by the Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, before being transferred to NIA in 2011.

The central agency in its charge sheet filed in 2016 gave a clean chit to Thakur and three other accused- Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takalki and Shivnarayan Kalsangra- saying it found no evidence against them.

The court, however, discharged Sahu, Kalsangra and Takalki but ruled that Pragya Thakur will have to face the trial.

The charges framed against the accused on October 30, 2018, included sections 16 (committing terrorist act) and 18 (conspiring to commit terrorist act) of the UAPA and IPC sections 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy), 302 (murder), 307 (attempt to murder), 324 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 153 (a) (promoting enmity between two religious groups), among others.
The accused hospital staffer arrested in flight steward sexual assault case watched porn videos before and after committing the crime, Gurugram police said on Saturday.

Image used only for representational purposes. Photograph: Nino Care/Pixabay.com

This is confirmed by the search history of the accused's mobile phone, they said and added that he has been sent to 14-day judicial custody.

The accused, Deepak (25), a native of Bihar's Muzaffarpur district, was arrested on Friday by the special investigation team constituted in this case.

He allegedly carrying out digital rape on a 46-year-old flight attendant in the ICU room of Medanta Hospital on April 6.

Police said that he had been working as a technician in the hospital for the last five months and has confessed to the crime.

The accused was identified after police questioned hospital staff, including the doctors, and examined footage from 800 CCTV cameras, police said.
A technician allegedly working at Medanta Hospital in Gurugram was arrested on Friday in connection with the sexual assault on a flight attendant who was on a ventilator in the hospital, police said.

IMAGE: Police said they identified the accused after examining CCTV footage, interrogating the hospital staff and investigating various facts. Photograph: X

The accused has been identified as Deepak (25), a native of Bihar's Muzaffarpur, who had been living in Gurugram for some time, they said.

A senior police officer said that during the interrogation, the accused revealed that he joined Medanta five months ago after completing his bachelor's in Operation Theatre Technology at a private university in Gurugram.

Police said they identified the accused after examining CCTV footage, interrogating the hospital staff and investigating various facts.

"Over 50 employees of the hospital and some doctors were questioned, and footage from 800 CCTV cameras was examined. After multiple analyses, we finally identified the accused and arrested him today. He has confessed to the crime," said Dr Arpit Jain, DCP (headquarters), who led the special investigation team in the case.

The accused will be produced before the court on Saturday for further proceedings, and the probe is still underway, police added.

The incident came to light when the 46-year-old flight attendant lodged a complaint on April 14.

She alleged that she was admitted to Medanta Hospital on April 5 for some treatment. And, on the next day, April 6, a man carried out digital rape on her in the hospital ICU room, where two other nurses were also present who did nothing to stop him.
Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.

IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra Modi being presented a gift by Tesla CEO Elon Musk during a bilateral meeting at Blair House, in Washington, DC on February 14, 2025. Photograph: ANI Photo

The tech billionaire's remarks came a day after he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke and discussed the immense potential for collaboration in technology and innovation.

"It was an honor to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year!" Musk said in a post on X.

Musk is considered one of the most influential persons in the Donald Trump administration and is spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) aimed at cutting government expenditure and reducing the federal workforce.

After their talk on Friday, Modi took to X and said, "Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation."

"India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains," he added.
Amidst patrolling by central and police forces in the riot-hit parts of Murshidabad district, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose and National Human Rights Commission and National Commission for Women teams on Saturday separately visited the affected areas and interacted with the victims, assuring them of all possible help.

IMAGE: National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar meets the families affected by the Murshidabad violence at a shelter home, in Malda on Friday. Photograph: ANI Photo

The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), however, criticised the visits and questioned the political motives behind them.

Violence broke out in Samsherganj, Suti, Dhulian and Jangipur areas of Murshidabad over anti-Waqf Amendment Act protests on April 11 and 12 that left three persons dead and hundreds displaced as their homes were burnt down and vandalised by miscreants.

During his visit to the district, a day after meeting riot-displaced people in Malda relief camps, Bose went to the home of Harogobindo Das and his son Chandan in Jafrabad, Shamsherganj, who were killed in the violence.

He met their grieving families, listening to their pleas for justice and demands for security.

"I will look into their requests. They have asked for permanent BSF outposts in the locality as they were concerned about their security. I will take up the matter with the appropriate authorities. Some proactive action will definitely be taken. I have also shared with them the 'Peace Room' number (Raj Bhavan helpline)," Bose told reporters after visiting their residence.

Later, after speaking to locals in Dhulian Bazar area, Bose said, "I have asked them (the victims) to feel free to talk to me. They want justice and they will get it. I am with the people of Bengal. I will function within the Constitution and establish the rule of law."

On Friday, despite Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's request to postpone his visit, Bose visited Malda and met people who have taken shelter in a temporary relief camp after fleeing the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district.

A NCW delegation, led by its chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar, also met riot-hit people in Murshidabad district and assured them that the Centre would take necessary steps to ensure their safety.

During the visit, affected women shared their harrowing experiences from the recent communal violence and demanded the establishment of permanent BSF camps in select areas and called for an NIA probe into the clashes.

Rahatkar said, "I am dumbfounded by the agony these women are having to suffer. What they went through during the violence is beyond imagination."

The NCW chief assured the victims that there was 'no cause for worry' as the Centre is with you.

The villagers were seen holding placards that displayed messages such as 'We don't want Lakshmir Bhandar, we want BSF camp. We want security'.

Lakshmir Bhandar is an empowerment project for the poor and underprivileged women launched by the TMC government.

"From what we've seen so far, the situation is extremely distressing. We can feel their pain and sufferings," the NCW chief said.

Slamming the NCW's visit, the TMC raised serious questions about the commission's neutrality and political motivations behind its narrative against Bengal.

Party's Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said NCW member Archana Majumdar, who has been prominently featured in media reports talking about the visit, is a 'card-carrying BJP worker' who contested the 2021 Bengal elections on a BJP ticket before losing the race.

TMC state General Secretary Kunal Ghosh drew parallels to previous NCW visits to the state, particularly to Sandeshkhali, claiming they followed a familiar pattern of spreading misinformation.

"Why aren't they going to states other than Bengal? Where are they when there are atrocities against women in Manipur, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh? Ghosh said.

Ghosh also flayed the visit of the governor to the troubled zone commenting 'these synchronised visits by different central agencies and the governor to the same area points to the BJP's gameplan not to normalise the situation'.

A team from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) toured the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad, listening to the harrowing accounts of victims, an official said.

On Friday, the NHRC visited the displaced people of Dhulian at the Malda relief camp.

The Opposition BJP held rallies in Dakshin Dinajpur, Dumdum and Bhawanipore areas of Kolkata, condemning police and administration's role in Murshidabad violence.

They demanded the arrest of all those involved in the arson and attacks.

In the city, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari alleged that the West Bengal government has turned relief camps -- where riot-hit people have taken shelter in Baishnabnagar area -- 'detention' facilities, claiming that the administration is 'not allowing' outsiders to meet the inmates or assess their conditions.

West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee president Subhankar Sarkar also visited the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district and claimed that the riots were 'pre-planned' and that no local Muslims were involved in it.

Sarkar, who was accompanied by other senior members of the party, including Malda Dakshin MP Isha Khan Choudhury and All India Congress Committee observer Amba Prasad to Shamsherganj, spoke to the victims' families and demanded that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee should provide them jobs and take responsibility for the education of their children.

"Here (in Murshidabad), people of every community stay together. The local Muslims are not involved in the riots. This is preplanned violence. There are people who are trying to spread violence in Bengal because of binary politics," Sarkar added.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko expressed surprise that law enforcement officers did not contact his deputy Volodymyr Prokopiv in Kyiv and inform him of the suspicion of organizing a scheme to smuggle conscripts across the state border during his trip to Ivano-Frankivsk.

"Couldn't this [serving of suspicion] have been done in the city of Kyiv? He is here constantly, participates in voting, does not hide anywhere," Klitschko said on the air of the Kyiv 24 television channel.

He said Prokopiv's case concerns the beginning of hostilities, and only "three years later, it was pulled out and the charges began." At the same time, the mayor said that he "does not want to comment on the legal side of the case."

"A person went to Ivano-Frankivsk, at six in the morning guys in helmets, armor plates, tactical glasses, with weapons knock down the door of the hotel... And under the camera they hand a person who barely had time to put on a bathrobe a suspicion," Klitschko said.

As reported, Kyiv police and SBU notified Prokopiv on April 17 of suspicion under two articles of the Criminal Code of Ukraine: Part 2 of Article 332  illegal transportation of persons across the state border of Ukraine, committed by an official using his official position; Part 3 of Article 362  unauthorized actions with information that is processed in electronic computers, automated systems, computer networks or stored on media of such information, committed by a person who has the right to access it. According to the National Police, from May to June 2022, at his direction, information on more than 30 men of draft age who, without having legal grounds, crossed the border of Ukraine was entered into the Shliakh information system. Prokopiv, in turn, stated that the charges were politically motivated, the persecution of the opposition, and the "cleansing of local government in the capital."
Police have given a clean chit to Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary regarding his controversial statement about Holi and 'Jumma namaz' (Friday prayers).

IMAGE: Sambhal Circle Officer (CO) Anuj Chaudhary. Photograph: ANI on X

Before Holi, Chaudhary had told reporters after a meeting, "Holi is a festival that comes once a year, whereas Friday prayers take place 52 times in a year. If anyone feels uncomfortable with the colours of Holi, they should stay indoors on that day. Those who step out should have a broad mindset, as festivals are meant to be celebrated together."

A senior police official of Sambhal told PTI on Saturday, "CO Anuj Chaudhary has been given chit (for his Holi and Jumma namaz remarks)."

The senior police official refused to elaborate further.

Sambhal has been tense since November 24 when violence took place during a court-ordered survey of the Shahi Jama Masjid in the Kot Garvi area of the city. It resulted in the deaths of four people, with several others injured in the clashes that erupted between locals and security personnel. So far, 81 people have been taken into custody in connection with the case.

In the circumstances prevailing before Holi, Chaudhary emphasised the need for communal harmony and strict vigilance to maintain law and order.

He said peace committee meetings had been going on for a month at various levels to ensure smooth celebrations.

He urged both communities to respect each other's sentiments and also appealed to people to avoid forcibly applying colours on those who do not wish to participate.

"Just as Muslims eagerly await Eid, Hindus look forward to Holi. People celebrate by applying colours, sharing sweets and spreading joy.

"Similarly, on Eid, people prepare special dishes and embrace each other in celebration. The essence of both the festivals is togetherness and mutual respect," he had said.

Chaudhary's remarks had come under attack from a section of the people and a probe was launched following a complaint filed by former IPS officer Amitabh Thakur in March.

Reacting to the development, Thakur in a statement on Saturday said, "From the probe report, it is clear that the statements of Anuj Chaudhary and two other witnesses -- Jitendra Verma and Mohammad Yaseen -- were taken but surprisingly, my (complainant's) statements were not taken."

"This is sad and objectionable. I was also not allowed to submit my evidence. Hence, it is requested to provide an opportunity to the complainant to put forward his point of view, and the allegations be probed by a senior officer," Thakur said.
'If you follow the law, America offers opportunities. But those who violate the law will face the consequences.'

Kindly note the image has been posted only for representational purposes. Photograph: Kind courtesy katyveldhorst/Pixabay.com

Around 50 per cent of international students in the USA who have recently had their visas revoked or Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) records terminated were from India, according to the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), which collected 327 reports on these instances from students, attorneys, and university employees.

According to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records, at least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March.

In a press release issued on Thursday, the American Immigration Lawyers Association said it has, with the help of attorneys, students and university employees across the US, collected 327 reports of visa revocations and Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) terminations.

AP's report did not furnish a country-wise break-up of the 1,024 students. However, according to the data collected by AILA, 50 per cent of the 327 students were from India.

Of the rest, 14 per cent were from China, and other significant countries represented in this data include South Korea, Nepal and Bangladesh.

'The Department of State (DoS) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are aggressively targeting international students, including those without a history of protest, for visa revocation, termination of their status, and removal,' AILA said in a statement.

'Based on these reports, it is clear that transparency, oversight, and accountability are needed to prevent further arbitrary visa revocations and SEVIS record terminations. Finally, there should be a way for students to appeal SEVIS terminations that are inaccurate, without facing a gap in their employment or requiring the university to be involved, given the sheer numbers of those impacted,' it said.

In a related development, US Department of State spokesperson Margaret MacLeod told PTI in a virtual interview that the Donald Trump administration was rigorously enforcing immigration laws, including the Immigration and Nationality Act and the Alien Registration Act.

"If you follow the law, America offers opportunities. But those who violate the law will face the consequences," MacLeod said to a question related to the issues faced by Indian students in various US universities.

During his weekly press briefing on Thursday, Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the ministry of external affairs, said: 'We are aware that several Indian students have received communication from the US government regarding their F-1 visa status, which happens to be the student visa.

'We are looking into the matter. Our embassy and consulates are in touch with the students to provide support.'

MacLeod urged individuals residing in the US illegally, including relatives of Indian families, to voluntarily return to their home countries.

"There is still an opportunity to return to your homeland," she said, directing them to contact the Department of Homeland Security or use the CBP app to facilitate their departures.

She expressed hope that those who entered the country unlawfully would leave voluntarily to avoid stricter enforcement measures.

More than 330,000 Indian students were enrolled in US higher education institutions in the 2023-2024 academic year, a 23 per cent increase from the previous year.

The figure made India the country with the highest number of students in the US.

However, according to reports, the number of visas issued to Indian students fell 30 per cent in February -- the first month of the second Trump administration.

Speaking about US Vice-President J D Vance's visit to India, the American official said he would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi ahead of his private trip to Jaipur and Agra.

"They will discuss all the issues important for the two countries," MacLeod said.

According to the AP report from Washington, several of the 1,024 students, who have had their visas or legal status revoked in recent weeks, have filed lawsuits against the Trump administration, arguing the government denied them due process when it suddenly took away their permission to be in the US.

With inputs from AP and PTI reports

Feature Presentation: Ashish Narsale/Rediff.com
After about 48 hours of interrogation and counselling, police in Aligarh have released a 39-year-old woman and her daughter's fiance with whom she eloped recently, triggering a dramatic 10-day saga that shocked an entire village before culminating with their surrender on Wednesday.

Image used for representational purposes only. Photograph: Gerd Altmann/Pixabay

Sapna Devi (39), a resident of Manoharpur village, and Rahul (25) were arrested on Wednesday evening when they surrendered at a local police station after being on the run for 10 days.

Both maintained that they were in a relationship and had decided to tie the knot, saying nothing could compel Sapna to return to her husband and children.

After the couple's release on Friday night, SP Amrit Jain told reporters, "Both are adults and there is nothing in the law to compel them to change their mind. So we decided to release them."

Sapna's husband Jitendra, their three children along with other family members and neighbours staged a protest at the Mandrak police station for the past two days, mounting pressure for her return.

Her family members told mediapersons that if she 'expressed regret for her actions, we are prepared to forgive her and accept her back'.

They also said that if she didn't relent, 'she should be asked to return the jewellery and Rs 5 lakh she took with her while eloping.'

Sapna, however, has denied this claim, calling it 'completely concocted'.

A number of villagers from Manoharpur also alleged that Rahul was previously involved in similar 'mischievous' activities.

The duo's disappearance on April 6 sparked widespread outrage and speculation, particularly as it came barely 10 days before Sapna's daughter's scheduled marriage to Rahul from a neighbouring village.

After Sapna went 'missing', her panicked family members approached the police, only to discover that the groom-to-be was missing too.

At the time of their surrender, Sapna made it clear to the police that her relationship with Rahul was not a temporary affair but a committed one.

"It is not a short-term liaison. It's a lifelong relationship," she said.

According to police, the couple travelled to Sitamarhi in Bihar and then crossed over to Nepal before surrendering.

"As they sensed the noose tightening around their necks, the couple decided to return to Aligarh and surrender before the police," a senior police officer said.
Shiv Sena-Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asserted that his party will not allow making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra after the state government decided to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of classes 1 to 5.

IMAGE: Shiv Sena-UBT leader Uddhav Thackeray. Photograph: ANI Photo

Addressing an event of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the workers' wing of the Shiv Sena-UBT, Thackeray said his party has no aversion to the Hindi language but asked why it is being forced.

Thackeray claimed it is the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party's mission not to let people unite and to keep them under constant pressure so that they are occupied with their worries.

"We will not allow making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra," he said.

His remarks come amid the opposition's outcry over the Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi a mandatory third language for students of Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools across the state, in a departure from the practice of studying two languages.

He said, "We will do everything if you ask (us) with affection, but if you impose anything, we will oppose it. Why this force for (learning) Hindi?"

The former chief minister pointed out that it was his government that decided to make learning Marathi in the state compulsory.

"You have to say Jai Maharashtra if you want to live in the state," Thackeray added.

Targeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis-led Mahayuti, he asked if the state government was working for those who want to finish off Maharashtra and Marathi.

He further slammed Deputy Chief Minister and Shiv Sena leader Eknath Shinde, saying how his party can be subservient to those doing injustice to Marathi and then claim to be the inheritors of Bal Thackeray's legacy.

Referring to senior Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leader Bhaiyyaji Joshi's remarks earlier that any individual coming to Mumbai may not necessarily learn Marathi, the Sena (UBT) chief said Marathi should be made compulsory in Ghatkopar, a predominantly Gujarati-speaking suburb of the city.

On the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, he said his party opposed the legislation because non-Muslims are appointed on the Waqf Board.

"Then my basic question is, what is the guarantee that you (the government) will not appoint non-Hindus to Hindu religious organisations? This is the same question the Supreme Court has asked the government on the Waqf Act," Thackeray remarked.

He further claimed that his government was toppled because, as a chief minister, he had stalled the implementation of labour codes in the state.

Thackeray said that in workplaces where the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena union has a presence, party men should be hired to fill vacancies.

"Our men should be employed there. They must go to 'shakhas' once a week. It cannot be the case that they are with the Kamgar Sena at work and with other parties outside," he said.
If as critics point out, the environmental impact assessment study was commissioned only after the auction process got underway with not all the stakeholders getting to know of it, then the government has already compromised the trust it could have enjoyed with Kerala's public including its coastal communities, points out Shyam G Menon.

IMAGE: Congress General Secretary K C Venugopal in conversation with Congress MP Shashi Tharoor at the protest organised under the aegis of the Fisheries Coordination Committee at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, March 12, 2025. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

On March 4, 2025, the Kerala assembly passed a resolution urging the central government to withdraw its decision allowing deep sea mining off the state's coast.

According to The New Indian Express dated March 5, the resolution moved by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, 'expressed concerns about the potential harm to marine wealth, ecology, and the livelihoods of fishermen.'

Four days later, N K Premachandran, the Lok Sabha MP from Kollam, told me, "It is a unanimous resolution. It reflects the will of the people of Kerala. So, the Government of India will have to take it into consideration."

Premachandran belongs to the Revolutionary Socialist Party which is part of the United Democratic Front (UDF), at present the political Opposition in Kerala.

The passage of the assembly resolution was two days ahead of the state conference of the Communist Party of India-Marxist -- it anchors the Left Democratic Front (LDF) -- currently in power in Kerala.

The conference was scheduled to be held in Kollam, the sea bordering which, was location for the main thrust of the mining project.

Earlier in late February, there was a 24-hour strike in the state's fisheries sector over the mining issue.

In Kerala's districts enjoying a seashore, the fisher community has lived on the periphery of the majority's awareness.

Enduring an unsteady life owing to the very nature of the fishing economy and periodically displaced by natural calamity and infrastructure projects, they stay wary of schemes that fail to take stakeholders into consideration.

This and the absence of a formal in-depth study of the consequences of sea mining in Kollam, formed the gist of what Father Eugene Pereira, a priest long associated with issues concerning fisherfolk, told me in Thiruvananthapuram, late February 2025.

Hailing from the Latin Catholic denomination, to which most of the Christian fishers on Kerala's coast belong, Fr Pereira was previously among the activists seeking greater transparency and engagement with stakeholders in the now up and running Vizhinjam container transhipment terminal in southern Kerala.

Those like him, worried about fishers' livelihood and the marine environment, had stayed watchful ever since the Centre announced intentions of a Blue Economy policy, with deep sea mining mentioned among the activities planned.

Kollam's importance on India's mineral map has been known for long; onshore deposits of rare earths and minerals strategic to India's atomic energy establishment exist here along with extraction and processing.

But that is onshore. When it comes to the sea, Kollam is home to one of Kerala's biggest fisheries harbours.

It also has a sizable number of artisanal fishers. And most important of all, it is close to one of the most productive fishing grounds of the state -- the Kollam (Quilon) bank.

Any offshore mining activity here must be therefore properly studied for what impact it may have on the local fishing grounds as well as the fisher community dependent on the sea for sustenance.

A meeting in Kochi and the uncertainty about an environment impact study

In India, the law governing offshore mining is The Offshore Areas Mineral (Development and Regulation) Act, 2002.

In early August 2023, the Press Information Bureau (PIB), on behalf of the ministry of mines, posted a statement on amendments to this Act passed by Parliament.

The statement specifically mentioned the following resources delineated by the Geological Survey of India (GSI): 1,53,996 million tons of lime mud within the EEZ off Gujarat and Maharashtra coasts; 745 million tons of construction-grade sand off Kerala coast; 79 million tons of heavy mineral placers in the inner-shelf and mid-shelf off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra; phosphorite in the eastern and western continental margins and polymetallic ferromanganese (Fe-Mn) nodules and crusts in Andaman Sea and Lakshadweep Sea.

The people I spoke to regarding the Kollam controversy, were latched on to these changes -- the introduction of an auction regime for the blocks identified for mineral exploitation and the installation of state-owned public-sector units as the sole agency for mining, restricted to mineral deposits relevant to atomic energy.

They saw the private sector as welcome to extract other minerals.

On top of this, two other angles aggravated their concerns.

Although the potential for mining off Kerala and Kollam were known, the actual steps in this regard -- critics argue -- happened without all the stakeholders involved, being properly informed.

In early January 2025, a meeting took place at a hotel in Kochi as prelude to setting the auction process rolling.

"Some people from the fishing community came to know of this and they staged a protest at the venue," Fr Pereira said.

The PIB website has a statement (issued on behalf of the ministry of mines), dated January 11, 2025, about this meeting.

According to it, senior officials from the central and state governments attended the meeting.

It said the official representing the state government, 'delivered a key address underlining Kerala's strategic importance in the offshore mining sector. He showcased the state's vast deposits of construction sand and reaffirmed Kerala's commitment to promoting investor-friendly and sustainable mining practices.'

The statement added, 'Participants expressed keen interest in the identified blocks, particularly the three offshore blocks in Kerala, which hold immense promise for the state's construction and infrastructure industries.'

Another grievance, Fr Periera and some others unhappy with the government's approach to sea mining, highlighted, was the apparent absence of a detailed environment impact assessment report (those tracking the mining plan in southern Kerala, had not heard of one) even as the government held meetings anticipating auction.

After protests staged, there is now talk that an environment impact study has been commissioned.

Premachandran, the member of Parliament, also said this appears to have been the case.

Both the confirmation of such a study ordered and the ethical correctness in such a study commissioned after steps related to the auction process had been initiated (if that was the sequence followed), are crucial to form an opinion about its aptness.

None of these points could be cross checked with government officials.

I visited the office of the directorate of mining and geology in Thiruvananthapuram, hoping to speak to a senior official.

The official concerned was not available; he was gone to the state assembly likely because the mining issue was live there.

I also tried speaking to the senior official on the phone and left text messages requesting for an opportunity to speak.

There was no response. By then, the earlier mentioned assembly resolution stood passed.

The state had called upon the central government to withdraw its decision to mine in the seas off Kerala.

For critics of mining, the environment impact assessment report is as important a demand as discussions being held with all stakeholders.

They cited past instances in coastal projects, when environment related studies were done late, leading to suspicions around how reliable and impartial those studies had been.

IMAGE: A view of the Delhi protest. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

Caught in the middle: fishers and a rich fishery environment

Given little information forthcoming from the government, much of the media reporting so far about the proposed sea mining project at Kollam has used an overview by a senior academic as valuable reference point.

The lay of the continental shelf off Kerala, the underwater environment and the wealth of fish resources in the seas here have been the subject of scientific study since at least the late nineteenth century.

Dr A Biju Kumar, who heads the department of aquatic biology and fisheries at the University of Kerala, is among those continuing that tradition now.

For the past few years, he has explored and studied the fisheries resource in the waters off Kollam.

He has dived in the area and seen first-hand, the underwater marine ecosystem of the region.

The marine biologist had no difficulty realising what mining could do to the place.

He authored a small report, easy to comprehend, titled: Report on the Possible Impacts of Offshore Sea Sand Mining Off Kollam on Marine Biodiversity and Coastal Livelihoods.

For now, this is the go-to reference material for anyone wishing to comprehend the proposed sea mining project off Kollam and its potential consequences.

The commodity at the core of the Kollam-sea mining issue is sand.

'Driven by industrialization, population growth, and rapid urbanization, global demand for sand has surged. Aggregates -- comprising sand and gravel -- are now the world's second most consumed natural resource after water and the most extracted material,' Dr Biju Kumar's report said.

Over the past two decades, aggregate consumption has tripled, reaching an estimated 40 to 50 billion tons annually, a rate of extraction far exceeding natural replenishment.

The demand for sand in India has risen sharply thanks to urbanisation and infrastructure development.

Sand deposits are found within Indian territorial waters, extending up to 12 nautical miles from the coast and beyond in the country's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Surveys by the Geological Survey of India (GSI) have revealed substantial deposits of construction-grade sand at various locations including Ponnani, Chavakkad, Kochi, Alappuzha and Kollam (all in Kerala).

These are at depths ranging from 22 to 45 metres. As mentioned earlier from the PIB statement, the GSI has identified over 745 million tons of construction-grade sand off the Kerala coast and 79 million tons of heavy mineral placers in the inner-shelf and mid-shelf regions off Odisha, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra.

These deposits contain sand with purity levels ranging from 80 to 96 per cent and clay content between 4 to 20 per cent.

Originally sourced from rivers, the sand has undergone marine processes, making it suitable for use in construction after desalination.

According to Dr Biju Kumar's report, in the first phase of mining sand, extraction was to be carried out in Ponnani, Chavakkad, Alappuzha, Kollam North and Kollam South with interested mining companies required to submit expressions of interest by February 18 and the tender process completed by February 27, 2025.

There are two major problems here. The first is the long-known rich biodiversity of the Kollam (Quilon) Bank aka Kollam Paaru.

It is one of the most productive fishing zones on India's southwest coast. It is the seabed between 08'N and 09'N latitudes, within a depth range of 275 to 375 metres.

Falling between Kollam and Alappuzha, this region hosts deep sea prawns, shrimps, lobsters, sardines, mackerel and export-oriented squid varieties.

The Kollam bank is also significant for its submerged deep water coral reefs.

All corals are included in the Schedule 1 of the Wildlife (Protection) Act of India.

Surveys by the Fishery Survey of India have shown that the deeper offshore waters of Kollam are also rich fishing grounds.

The region's high productivity may be linked to the extended effects of upwelling, driven by drift currents extending towards the Wadge Bank further south (Wadge Bank is close to Kanyakumari).

Additionally, the shallow waters off Kollam have rocky reefs that serve as both feeding grounds and nurseries for juvenile fish.

Traditional fishers depend heavily on the rich fish stocks associated with these rocky reefs, for their economic survival.

The second major problem has two subsets. The first subset is linked to the ecological impact of mining for sea-sand.

Mining disturbs sediments in the region (at sea, such disturbance is not limited to where the mining is happening; it spills over into the neighbourhood) causing high turbidity and reduced light penetration.

'Light is crucial for phytoplankton, the primary producers in marine ecosystems, which support a large biomass of zooplankton and in turn, higher trophic levels. The disruption of this process negatively impacts the marine food web and species distribution,' the report said.

Mining also directly disturbs the sediments that serve as habitat for various marine organisms facilitating interactions that sustain seafloor biodiversity.

The disturbance caused by mining can disrupt the feeding and breeding of marine species in the deeper waters off Kollam; it can also upset the migration of species like 'karikkadi' shrimp affecting the livelihood of local fishers.

Further, mining can interfere with sea-current patterns, trigger water pollution, affect nutrient availability, cause decline in dissolved oxygen, potentially produce harmful algal blooms (caused when there is high nutrient loads in disturbed waters), increase the vulnerability of shoreline communities to storm damage and potentially impact the creation of mudbanks that sustain high fish populations (potentially because the impact of sand mining on mudbank formation is scientifically unclear still).

'The long-term impact of deep-sea and offshore mining on the global carbon cycle are still not fully understood but could be significant,' the report added.

IMAGE: The Fisheries Coordination Committee Kerala protest against the central government's sea sand mining project at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi, March 12, 2025. Photograph: Sanjay Sharma/ANI Photo

The crux of the problem

The second subset captures the crux of this mining controversy in Kollam.

While I could not get an idea of how far from shore the mining location is (whether it is well beyond the 12 nautical miles limit of territorial [state jurisdiction] waters or close to it) courtesy, senior officials at the directorate of mining and geology staying unreachable; Dr Biju Kumar said that the location despite distance from shore, lay in relatively shallow waters.

As the portrait of the region from the scientist's report would show, depth (both shallow and deep) is important for the rich marine life ecosystem off Kollam and the fishers dependent on it.

Fishers go wherever they can access potential catch with the equipment at their disposal.

Artisanal fishers typically work in shallow waters.

Viewed so, mining in shallow waters (with potential damage to marine ecosystem), even if it be beyond the 12 nautical miles territorial limit will interfere with the livelihood of artisanal fishers because of the tendency of fishers to go wherever the depth is manageable for their fishing crafts and fishing equipment.

The exact location of mining also matters when it comes to deciding whether the nearest state is eligible for mining royalties or not.

Typically, a state gets royalty if the mining is in territorial waters.

Beyond, the 12 nautical miles limit, royalties accrue to the Centre.

The PIB statement on the 2023 amendments to the offshore mining Act says clearly: 'Royalty, auction premium and other revenues from the production of minerals from offshore areas shall accrue to the Government of India.'

The feeling among those I spoke to, was that Kerala may get some royalty if the location is not far beyond the limit of territorial waters, or maybe, it will get nothing.

Here too, clarity could not be officially had.

Another angle here is that given over-fishing and the impact of climate change on the movement of fish stock, states would like to see their offshore jurisdiction limit extended.

Royalty matters because in addition to being income for a state, it is also part of potential financial resources to compensate those affected by big projects.

A state that gets no royalty would look like a complete loser.

All the above is without mentioning something else that has been puzzling observers.

The desalination process of so many tons of sand excavated from the seabed typically requires fresh water.

How is that proposed to be done and from where would the fresh water needed be sourced in times of Kerala's climate gone haywire with scorching summers also now around to cope with?

IMAGE: A protest against sea sand mining in Kerala, February 24, 2025. Photograph: Kind courtesy All India Fishermen Congress/X

Premachandran said that although the Kerala assembly has passed a unanimous resolution and the central government has to take note of it, the resolution does not put a stop to the tender process currently underway.

According to him, its completion is now set for April.

Speaking to me at the archbishop's house at Vellayambalam in Thiruvananthapuram, Fr Pereira was clear that sea mining has its share of detrimental effects.

It is best avoided in environmentally sensitive areas.

His minimum demand was to see a comprehensive study on the impact of sea mining in Kollam done by a reputed and trustworthy agency along with the government speaking to all stakeholders concerned and listening to what they have to say.

If as critics point out, the environmental impact assessment study was commissioned only after the auction process got underway with not all the stakeholders getting to know of it, then the government has already compromised the trust it could have enjoyed with Kerala's public including its coastal communities.

These are very real worries because although there has been the push for a Blue Economy internationally and some countries have gone in for sea mining, it is an evolving area as regards proper understanding of impact and consequences.

In some instances, consequences have been reportedly serious.

In direct proportion to how rapacious industrial consumption becomes, the more wary becomes other stakeholders in the larger ecosystem.

Besides the question of whether sand should be mined at all in the seas off Kollam, what we are seeing is a picture of poor trust between the government and other stakeholders.

Shyam G Menon is a freelance journalist based in Mumbai.

Feature Presentation: Aslam Hunani/Rediff.com
Riley Taylor, a senior at Leland & Gray Union Middle High School in Townshend, holds the dragon's head as part of a "Chasing the Pearl" dance during the Intensives Showcase on Friday, April 11, 2025. The dance was part of an Urban Chinese-American Culture learning experience.
A grass fire has spread to the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village ethnographic museum and led to the closure of a highway in Elk Island National Park and the evacuation of residents east of Edmonton and Fort Saskatchewan in the Canadian province of Alberta on Friday evening, the local Edmonton Journal said.

"A windswept wildfire east of Elk Island National Park, behind the Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, triggered evacuations Friday night, shutting down Highway 16 at the park, say RCMP," according to the statement.

In a 19.00 update, police confirmed that the fire had spread to structures in the Ukrainian Heritage Village and released a series of photos from the scene that showed significant damage to several structures. The extent of the damage was not disclosed in detail.

At the same time, police reported the evacuation of some residents of residential buildings located north of the highway and urged others to prepare for it.

Police were notified of the grass fire 50 kilometers east of Edmonton at around 17.30. According to them, at that time the fire was spreading uncontrollably due to strong winds. By around 21.00, it had been contained, the evacuation order was lifted, residents were allowed to return to their homes, and the highway was reopened to traffic.

According to CSC News, the fire destroyed several buildings in the Ukrainian Heritage Village. "At least one building reduced to rubble," the publication said.

After the fire was contained, police said crews would continue to battle the blaze and asked the public to avoid the area. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

The Ukrainian Cultural Heritage Village, an ethnographic museum founded in 1971, is made up of dozens of buildings and tells the story of Alberta's Ukrainian history, which began in the 1890s.
When the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan in 2021, they quickly banned music, declaring it un-Islamic.

Musicians faced threats, raids, and the destruction of their instruments.

Our homes were searched for what we had there, says Faiz Muhammad Sakhki, an Afghan musician now living in Peshawar. Our instruments were broken down, the instruments that we hid at home. Music is our passion, it is our love, and it is our profession.

Sakhki and fellow musician Baryali Wali are among many Afghans who have sought refuge in Pakistan since the Taliban takeover.

In cities like Peshawar, they have been able to continue performing Afghan music, even as cultural spaces have shrunk elsewhere.

Here, we can still work playing Afghan music. These possibilities don't exist in the West, Wali says.

But that fragile lifeline is now under threat.

Since April 1, Pakistan has intensified its deportation of Afghan nationals, with over 50,000 already forced to leave.

For musicians, the stakes are especially high.

Returning to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan would leave them facing an uncertain future and an end to their ability to perform or teach music.

Now, with an uncertain legal status in Pakistan and no clear path forward, these musicians are left in limbo -- unsure how much longer they can remain or whether the rich traditions they carry can survive displacement once again.

They fear that Afghanistans musical heritage -- including ancient instruments like the rebab -- is at risk.

If you take any of these [instruments] away, the whole ensemble is lost, says Sakhki. It is already disappearing.
Russia and Ukraine exchanged hundreds of prisoners of war in the latest swap brokered by the United Arab Emirates. Video filmed by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service shows emotional reunions between freed prisoners and their loved ones. The April 19 exchange saw 277 Ukrainian POWs return home, according to Kyiv, while Moscow says it received 246 service members. In total, more than 3,000 prisoners have been swapped through UAE-mediated exchanges since Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
Iranian and US negotiators will hold a second round of indirect talks on April 19, a week after concluding discussions that both sides described as constructive and positive.

While the first round was hosted in Oman, the second will take place in Rome. Omani diplomats will continue to mediate the talks.

Heres where things stand ahead of the next round of negotiations over Irans nuclear program -- with the possibility of military action still looming.

Witkoff's Reversal On Enrichment Limits

US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff, who is leading the US negotiating team, caused a stir when he publicly reversed his position on Irans nuclear program.

On April 15, he said Iran would need to limit its uranium enrichment to 3.67 percent -- the cap set by a 2015 nuclear deal that US President Donald Trump withdrew from in 2018.

But within hours, Witkoff walked back the comment after a backlash from hard-liners who favor dismantling Irans program. In a statement on social media, he said Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.

The about-face appeared to confuse Iranian officials. Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, Iran's chief negotiator, responded that Washingtons true position must be clarified at the negotiating table.

Iran has consistently maintained that its nuclear program is peaceful and has ruled out dismantling it.

Jalil Roshandel, director of the Security Studies Program at East Carolina University, told RFE/RLs Radio Farda that the Trump administration is unlikely to maintain its hard-line stance.

Trump can get a win by accepting the 3.67 percent limit in exchange for other concessions, such as extending the UN sanctions sunset clause set to expire in October, Roshandel said.

Expanding The Scope Of A Deal

Another sticking point is whether a potential deal will focus solely on Irans nuclear activities or also address its missile program.

In an April 15 interview with Fox News, Witkoff said the Rome talks would also cover verification on weaponization, including missiles.

But Iran has long refused to negotiate over its missile arsenal, which it considers a vital part of its defense strategy.

The Islamic republic used drones and missiles in two attacks on Israel last year -- the second of which was described as the largest single ballistic missile attack in history.

Mark Fitzpatrick, a former US diplomat and a nonproliferation expert, said expanding the scope of talks could complicate progress.

It's not surprising that the Trump team would want to put missiles back on the table, Fitzpatrick told Radio Farda. But it would make negotiations much more difficult because of Iran's steadfast position that missiles are essential to its defense and deterrence posture.

European Powers Sidelined

Britain, Germany, and France -- collectively known as the E3 -- are also signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal and played a key role in previous attempts to revive it.

This time, however, they appear to have been completely sidelined. Even though the next round of talks will be held in Italy, it will be Oman -- not the Europeans -- handling mediation.

State-affiliated media in Iran have welcomed the E3s exclusion. The Tehran Times, an English-language newspaper, claimed -- without evidence -- that the three nations are so frustrated by their exclusion that they offered Rafael Grossi, head of the UN nuclear watchdog, their backing to become the next UN chief if he helps demonize Iran.

The paper argued that this move is aimed at justifying the return of UN sanctions -- something the E3 have threatened by the end of June if Tehran fails to reach a deal with the United States.

US Military Pressure In The Region

Trump has repeatedly warned that he would resort to military action against Irans nuclear program if a deal isnt reached.

Amid rising tensions -- and a US bombing campaign targeting Tehrans allies in Yemen -- Washington is bolstering its military presence in the Middle East.

Last month, the United States dispatched at least six B-2 bombers to a joint US-British military base on Diego Garcia, a small island in the Indian Ocean. This week, the USS Carl Vinson aircraft carrier was sent to reinforce the USS Harry S. Truman already stationed in the region.

Analysts believe Iran takes Trumps threats seriously, but it remains unclear whether Tehran is willing to risk air strikes on its key nuclear sites.

Trump has said Israel would play a leading role in any such attack.

According to The New York Times, Israel had been preparing to launch air strikes against Iran -- with US assistance -- as early as May, but was held back by Trump in favor of pursuing diplomacy.

With reporting by Reza Jamali and Hannah Kaviani of RFE/RLs Radio Farda
Iranian and US negotiators agreed to hold a third round of high-stakes talks on Iran's nuclear ambitions, a positive signal amid mixed White House messages about potential military action and new demands on Tehran.

The April 19 meetings, held in Rome, were the second time that top-level negotiators from Washington and Tehran had met this month.

There was no immediate comment on the outcome of the Rome talks from the US delegation, which was headed by White House special envoy Steve Witkoff.

But news agencies quoted senior US officials as saying the sides made very good progress in the Rome discussions.

"Today, in Rome over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions," said an unidentified US official -- who also confirmed a statement by Iran that the two sides agreed to meet again next week.

AP also quoted a US official as confirming that Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Araqchi had spoken face to face.

Iran's foreign minister said the two sides had agreed to meet again on April 26 in Oman, where the first round took place.

"I believe technical negotiations at the expert level will begin in Oman on Wednesday [April 23)] and next Saturday we will meet in Oman and review the results of the experts' work to see how close it is to the principles of an agreement," Araqchi told Iranian state TV.

"It was a good meeting, and I can say that the negotiations are moving forward. This time we managed to reach a better understanding on a series of principles and goals," he said.

The United States and other Western countries have long accused Iran of trying to build nuclear weapons.

Tehran has consistently denied the allegations, insisting that its efforts are aimed at civilian purposes, such as electricity generation.

Conflicting Messages

Following his return to the White House in January, US President Donald Trump, who had previously withdrawn from a 2015 accord known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), revived a "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran.

Last month, he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader urging renewed talks while warning of military action if diplomacy failed.

In the past week, Trump and other White House officials have sent sometimes conflicting messages about the US approach to the talks. The White House has ordered heavy, long-range bombers to the region, along with a second aircraft carrier.

"I'm not in a rush" to use the military option, Trump told reporters on April 17. "I think Iran wants to talk."

On April 18, he told reporters: "I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific."

In an interview days earlier on Fox News, Witkoff said that the United States was open to Iran having some sort of limited nuclear program.

But he then walked back that position in a social media post, suggesting that the entire program needed to be dismantled.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, said he hoped the Iranian talks would be fruitful.

We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one, he said after meetings in Paris.

But, he added, It has to be something that not just prevents Iran from having a nuclear weapon now, but in the future as well.

Israel's Role

Israels role in the debate over Irans nuclear ambitions is also critical. Israeli officials have vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon, and Israel has not ruled out an attack on its nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to multiple news reports.

Trump has reportedly told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Washington did not support such a move.

Former officials and experts have long said that Israel would need significant US military support - and weapons - to destroy Irans nuclear facilities and stockpiles, some of which are in underground facilities.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Farda, AP, AFP, and Reuters
Afghan musicians were persecuted after the Taliban gained control of their country in 2021 and many fled to Pakistan. Those who remain there have found ways to continue their profession but now that Pakistan has launched a new campaign to deport Afghans, they are worried about their future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his country will abide by a 30-hour Easter cease-fire called by Moscow, but he accused Russia of already violating the truce by launching drone and artillery attacks on Ukrainian cities.

Separately, Kyiv and Moscow announced a major swap of prisoners of war on April 19, with more than 200 men being exchanged by each side.

On the battlefield, Russia's Defense Ministry said its forces had pushed Ukrainian troops from one of the last remaining villages they held in the Kursk region, which Ukraine had invaded more than eight months ago.

Kyiv had no immediate comment on the claim about retaking the Kursk region village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

If confirmed, however, it would move Russian troops closer to fully expelling Ukrainian troops from Kursk, which has been a persistent embarrassment for the Kremlin.

With Orthodox and Western Easter falling on the same day -- April 20 -- this year, Putin used a televised meeting with his top military commander to announce he was calling a two-day truce.

The cease-fire, Putin said, would begin at 5 p.m. CET on April 19 and run until midnight on Easter Sunday, April 20.

"We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example," he said while meeting General Valery Gerasimov.

"At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel any possible violations of the truce or provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions."

Zelenskyy quickly labeled the call "yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives."

Attack "drones in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and toward human life," Zelenskyy said in a post to X.

Zelenskyy said the short timeframe for the truce indicated Putin was not serious about ending the fighting and suggested the cease-fire be extended for 30 days instead.

"If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly -- mirroring Russias actions," Zelenskyy wrote on X.

"If the complete cease-fire truly holds, Ukraine proposes an extension beyond April 20," Zelensky wrote.

"That is what will reveal Russias true intentions, because 30 hours is enough to make headlines but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance," the Ukrainian leader added.

Anitta Hipper, the European Commission's lead spokeswoman for foreign affairs and security, said "Russia has a track record as an aggressor, so first we need to see any actual halt of the aggression and clear deeds for a lasting cease-fire."

"Russia could stop this war at any moment if it really wanted to.... We continue to support Ukraine for a long, just and comprehensive peace," she added.

Putin's proposal follows signals from US President Donald Trump and other US officials complaining about the slow progress in talks to resolve the Ukraine war, now in its fourth year.

Trump on April 18 said the Ukraine and Russia talks are "coming to a head" and he insisted that neither side is "playing" him in his push to end the conflict.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio, meanwhile, warned that the United States may "move on" from trying to secure a peace deal if there is no progress in coming days.

Putin has made holiday cease-fire proposals in the past. In January 2023, Putin ordered a 36-hour cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas. Zelenskyy dismissed the Russian call as playing for time to regroup its forces.

While Russian troops claimed painstaking progress against Ukrainian troops in Kursk, further to the east, Ukrainian troops continued to hold small slices of territory in Belgorod, another Russian border region.

Zelenskyy and his top military commander, General Oleksandr Syrskiy, announced the incursion into Belgorod last week.

With the weather turning, and sodden battlefield soil firming up, both Russia and Ukraine have launched small-scale spring offensives.

Russia's Defense Ministry also said on April 19 that its troops were trying to push Ukrainian forces out of Gornal, another Kursk region village some 11 kilometers to the south of Oleshnya.

Despite a tentative agreement on a limited cease-fire, Kyiv and Moscow have continued to pound one another with missiles and drones. Over the past week, Russian ballistic missiles have hit several civilian targets, killing or wounding scores of civilians.

In Kupyansk, a city east of Kharkiv that Russian troops have been struggling to advance on, Russian jets reportedly dropped more than a half-dozen "glide" bombs on targets in and around the city. The city's military administrator said at least five people were wounded.

Glide bombs are heavy bombs that are retrofitted with guidance systems, allowing them to be dropped by aircraft well out of range of Ukrainian air defense systems. Russian forces have used the weapons to devastating effect on Ukrainian defenses.

Ukraine's air force said Russia launched nearly eight dozen drones overnight on April 19. More were either intercepted or jammed electronically, the military claimed.

Russia's Defense Ministry said air-defense systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight.

Ukrainian and Russian officials also announced a major prisoner swap, with each side handing back more than 240 men, according to Russian authorities.

Zelenskyy said 277 Ukrainian "warriors" were returned from Russian captivity.

With reporting by RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service
The plan to resolve the war in Ukraine, presented by the United States to its European partners on Thursday, apparently does not include Washington's participation in ensuring Ukraine's security, which could be an obstacle to implementation, The Washington Post reports.

"The current Witkoff package would be hard for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to swallow... It [the plan] doesn't seem to include U.S.-backed security guarantees," the newspaper says, noting that this may become one of the obstacles.

Ukraine, according to the newspaper, in this case will be forced to rely on its own forces and assistance from Europe. However, "the Europeans don't have enough troops or modern weapons to deter an all-out Russian attack." "They lack the command-and-control systems needed to monitor a ceasefire and coordinate a response to future Russian aggression... Without U.S. satellite intelligence, Ukraine can't see Russia missile, drone or other attacks coming. Europeans don't have a good alternative," The Washington Post says.

As Bloomberg reported, citing sources, representatives of the authorities of European countries indicated that providing security guarantees to Kyiv is a key condition that guarantees the viability of any agreement.

According to the agency, the United States has familiarized its allies with the basics of a peace proposal for Ukraine, which, in particular, provides for the easing of sanctions against Russia.

The agency's interlocutors said the U.S. plan could lead to an effective freeze of the armed conflict while keeping the territories occupied by Russia under its control. Ukraine will be denied the opportunity to join NATO. The agency's interlocutors refused to disclose other details of the project.
Normal people try to plan ahead and keep on top of everyday things. If a lightbulb fails, we replace it. We dont watch every lightbulb in the house fail one by one over months and years and then complain that none of the lights work. Ideally, we even keep a few bulbs in the drawer for when the inevitable happens.

Its all about forward planning. If we are expecting twins, we might consider trading in the two-seater sportscar for something with a couple of rear seats. The last thing we would do is go the other direction and turn up at the hospital with a motorbike.

We look at our situation from time to time and adjust our plans to suit our needs and our best interests. We do this automatically, using our common sense We dont need to bring in consultants to tell us the motorbike idea isnt the best answer for when the twins arrive, and so we dont have to hand them the price of a car in return for their advice. We assess what we have and measure it against our future needs and make the required changes ahead of time.

Governments do the same, in theory anyway, with the taking of a national census. The last one told us Irelands population had increased by 8% (387,274 people) to 5,149,139 in the six years between the previous census of April 2016 and the most recent in April 2022. It was the first time in the 171 years since 1851 that the population of our 26 counties exceeded five million. That information was the equivalent of several flickering lightbulbs, reminding us we needed to buy a few new ones and maybe forget about the motorbike. But we did the opposite.

We failed to provide enough housing, but we also failed to read other signs. An increasing population with more money to spend means increased drug use and crime in general, but we failed to provide prison spaces to match this likely demand and so we have a revolving door of a bail system where people reoffend without any form of censure. There is simply nowhere to put them.

We need to build a new prison to track population numbers, but that will take far too long. In the meantime, why not ask the private sector to quickly build and operate a prison for people on remand? Such facilities work elsewhere, including our nearest neighbour where many of the mainstream prisons are owned and run by private companies.

A private remand prison would free up space in mainstream prisons and would stop the rash of crimes committed every day by recidivists out on bail. The courts are full of these cases, so removing them from the picture would allow those courts to function better.

Or do we wait for all the lights to go out before we start looking for bulbs?
JEE Main 2025 Results Declared: 24 Students Score 100 Percentile (Representative image)

The JEE Main exam was held in two sessionsJanuary and Apriland saw a massive turnout, with total of 15,39,848 unique candidates registered

JEE Main 2025 Results Declared: 24 Students Score 100 Percentile, latest news:

The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the results of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main 2025 Paper 1 (B.E./B.Tech) on Saturday, with 24 students scoring a perfect 100 percentile, ANI reported.

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The JEE Main exam was held in two sessionsJanuary and Apriland saw a massive turnout, with a total of 15,39,848 unique candidates registered across both sessions. Out of these, 14,75,103 candidates appeared for the exam.

In the January session, 13,11,544 students registered and 12,58,136 appeared. For the April session, 10,61,840 candidates registered, and 9,92,350 appeared for the test.

The computer-based examination was conducted in 13 languages across 300 cities, including 15 international locations such as Dubai, Singapore, Doha, and Washington DC.

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Of the 24 students who secured a perfect 100 percentile, Rajasthan produced the highest number with seven toppers, followed by Maharashtra and Telangana with four each. Uttar Pradesh had three, West Bengal two, while Gujarat, Delhi, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh had one each. Among the 24 toppers, two were female candidates.

The NTA also shared the category-wise percentile cut-offs for who can appear in JEE Advanced 2025. For general (UR) candidates, the cut-off was 93.10 percentile. It was 80.38 for EWS, 79.43 for OBC-NCL, 61.15 for SC, and 47.90 for ST. For PwBD candidates in the UR category, the cut-off was 0.0079 percentile.

To keep the exam fair and secure, NTA used strict measures like AI video analysis, 5G jammers, live CCTV, and biometric attendance. Still, results of 110 students were withheld for using unfair means, and 23 more were held due to ID issues, according to the report.

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Now that the JEE Main results are out, eligible students can appear for JEE Advanced, which is required for getting into the top IITs. As per ANI, 8,33,536 candidates registered for both sessions and 7,75,383 appeared. For those who gave both, the better score was used in the final result.
Online Booking Scam Targeting Travelers: Home Ministry Issues Nationwide Alert

frauds are being carried out through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and sponsored ads on Google and FB.

Online Booking Scam Targeting Travelers: Home Ministry Issues Nationwide Alert, Latest News:

In an alert issued across the country, the Indian Cyber Crime Coordination Centre (I4C), under the Ministry of Home Affairs, on Saturday warned the public about a surge in online booking scams, particularly targeting religious pilgrims and unsuspecting tourists, ANI reported.

According to the report, these frauds are being carried out through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, WhatsApp accounts, and sponsored ads on platforms like Google and Facebook.

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In a statement, the MHA said, "The I4C has alerted the public about online booking frauds, especially those targeting religious pilgrims and tourists across the country. These frauds are being perpetrated through fake websites, deceptive social media pages, Facebook posts, and paid advertisements on search engines like Google."

As per the report citing I4C, scammers lure victims with fake offers such as helicopter bookings for Kedarnath, the Char Dham Yatra, hotel and guesthouse accommodations, online cab or taxi services, and religious tour packages.

I4C has urged the public to report any suspicious websites via the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal (www.cybercrime.gov.in) or by calling the helpline number 1930 in case of fraud.

For reference, I4C advised that official bookings for Kedarnath helicopter services should only be made through the IRCTC portal at https://www.heliyatra.irctc.co.in, and Somnath Temple guest house bookings can be made at https://somnath.org.

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To tackle cyber fraud, I4C is implementing a multi-pronged strategy that includes scam signal sharing with platforms like Google and WhatsApp, identifying cybercrime hotspots in coordination with state and UT police, and conducting cyber patrolling to take down fake sites, ads, and impersonating social media accounts. A new feature on the cybercrime portal also enables easy reporting of suspicious websites, the report read.

( For more news apart from, 'Online Booking Scam Targeting Travelers: Home Ministry Issues Nationwide Alert, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Technician from Muzaffarpur Held in Sexual Assault Case Involving 46-Year-Old Air Hostess

The hospital administration has assured full cooperation with the investigation and confirmed that the accused has been suspended from duty.

Technician from Muzaffarpur Held in Sexual Assault Case Involving 46-Year-Old Air Hostess, latest News:

A technician from Muzaffarpur, employed at a private hospital in Gurugram, Haryana, has been arrested following allegations of sexually assaulting a 46-year-old air hostess while she was on a ventilator in the hospital's ICU, ANI reported citing police sources.

According to the report, Gurugram DCP Arpit Jain confirmed that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed on April 14 after the woman filed a complaint.

The accused, Deepak, a resident of Muzaffarpur, has been arrested. He had been working as a technician at the hospital for the past five months, said DCP Jain.

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The victim was admitted to the hospital following a drowning incident at a hotel where she was staying while visiting the city for professional training. The alleged assault occurred during her treatment in the ICU.

The hospital administration has assured full cooperation with the investigation and confirmed that the accused has been suspended from duty.

In a statement on Friday, the hospital's medical superintendent told Hindustan Times, We have been informed that the police have identified a suspect who has been taken into custody in connection with the ongoing investigation concerning allegations of sexual assault on a patient. Based on information provided to us by the police, the employee has been suspended.

He further added, As we await the final outcome of the investigation, we will continue to provide full support to the police.

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( For more news apart from, 'Technician from Muzaffarpur Held in Sexual Assault Case Involving 46-Year-Old Air Hostess, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Photo: https://www.facebook.com/ukr.embassy.italy

The exhibition of Ukrainian Easter eggs titled "Pysanka  the fragile beauty of Ukrainian art" opened in Rome with the assistance of the Embassy of Ukraine in Italy.

The exhibition features 74 unique original Easter eggs, which demonstrate the wealth of techniques and modern artistic vision and artworks of contemporary Ukrainian artists Larysa Iskiv, Lilia Babiak, Volodymyr Lutsyk, as well as watercolors by the project curator Alla Zarvanytska.

As the co-organizer of the exhibition, Head of the Italian-Ukrainian association Futura Nostra, Oleksiy Havrikov told Interfax-Ukraine "the exhibition provides an opportunity to show the Italian public the cultural traditions of Ukraine, because for them it is still Terra incognita in many ways."

"Italian society often continues to perceive Ukraine in post-Soviet imperial stereotypes, well supported by Russian propaganda, which has considerable influence on part of the country's political and intellectual elite. Therefore, the task we have set ourselves is, on the one hand, to show the antiquity and continuous continuity of Ukrainian culture, and on the other, its modernity, attractiveness and innovation," he said.
Explained: Why Punjab Decided to Extend Amritpal Singhs NSA Detention

He, along with nine others, was named as a co-accused in 12 FIRs filed against them.

Explained: Why Punjab Decided to Extend Amritpal Singhs NSA Detention, Latest News:

The detention of jailed Khadoor Sahib MP and pro-Khalistani activist Amritpal Singh has been extended by another year by the Punjab government.

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Singh's detention under the National Security Act (NSA) continues at Dibrugarh Jail in Assam. However, deliberations are ongoing on whether he should continue to be held in Assam or be shifted to another jail.

He, along with nine others, was named as a co-accused in 12 FIRs filed against them. However, the NSA detention of the other nine has not been extended.

According to a report by The Tribune, police officials cited additional evidence specific to Amritpal that sets him apart and marks him as a continued threat to the law and order situation in the state.

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The extension was reportedly approved by the state Home Department following a recommendation from the Amritsar District Magistrate, which was based on inputs from the police and intelligence agencies. The decision was made after thorough deliberation by the Department of Home Affairs and Justice, in consultation with the advisory board.

Amritpal Singh, a radical Sikh preacher and self-styled leader of 'Waris Punjab De', was arrested in April 2023 after evading police for over a month. His arrest followed the Ajnala incident on February 23, 2023, where he and his armed supporters stormed a police station near Amritsar, demanding the release of his aide. The violent clash, which involved breaking barricades and injuring police personnel, led to multiple serious charges against him, including attempt to murder, inciting communal disharmony, and obstructing public servants. He was later detained under the National Security Act (NSA) and has been held in Assam's Dibrugarh Jail since.

( For more news apart from, 'Explained: Why Punjab Decided to Extend Amritpal Singhs NSA Detention, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Punjab Extends MP Amritpals NSA Detention for Another Year (Image courtesy: HT)

Deliberations are ongoing on whether Amritpal will continue to be held in Assam or be shifted to another jail.

Punjab Extends MP Amritpals NSA Detention for Another Year, Latest news:

The Punjab government has extended the detention of jailed MP and radical Sikh preacher Amritpal Singh under the National Security Act (NSA) for another year.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, senior officials aware of the development said that a notice confirming the extension of the detention was to be served to the Dibrugarh Jail authorities and the NSA detainee, following due legal procedure. A team of Punjab Police had visited Dibrugarh Jail to complete the formalities.

Amritpal, whose current detention was set to end on April 23, was arrested in April 2023 and has since been lodged in Assams Dibrugarh Jail.

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All stakeholders, including state and central agencies, have thoroughly assessed the current law and order situation in the state, following which the decision to extend the detention was made, Hindustan Times quoted a senior government official as saying.

Deliberations are ongoing on whether Amritpal will continue to be held in Assam or be shifted to another jail.

Meanwhile, Amritpals key associate Papalpreet Singh and eight others were reportedly brought back to Punjab after the government decided not to extend their NSA detention. They are currently in the custody of Punjab Police.

Amritpal Singh rose to prominence for imitating the appearance, speech, and actions of Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, a controversial Khalistani separatist leader who was killed in 1984 during Operation Blue Star.

He was arrested in Mogas Rode village after a month-long manhunt, following the February 23, 2023, Ajnala incident. During the incident, Amritpal and his supporters clashed with police, stormed a police station near Amritsar while demanding the release of his aides, and allegedly brandished swords and firearms. They were booked for attempt to murder, inciting communal disharmony, assaulting police personnel, and obstructing public servants in the discharge of their duties.

Despite these charges, Amritpal won the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from the Khadoor Sahib constituency with a margin of over 1.9 lakh votes and took oath as a Member of Parliament in a closed session before the Lok Sabha Speaker on July 5, 2024.

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( For more news apart from, 'Punjab Extends MP Amritpals NSA Detention for Another Year, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Punjab Police Dismantles Two ISI-Backed Babbar Khalsa Terror Modules

The raids, based on precise intelligence inputs, led to the recovery of a significant quantity of arms and explosives.

In a major breakthrough, the Punjab Police has successfully dismantled two terror modules linked to Babbar Khalsa International (BKI), operating with backing from Pakistans ISI. These modules were being controlled from overseas locations in France and Greece, posing a significant threat to regional stability.

Massive Cache of Weapons Seized

The raids, based on precise intelligence inputs, led to the recovery of a significant quantity of arms and explosives. Among the items seized were:

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2 rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs) including a launcher

2 improvised explosive devices (IEDs), each weighing 2.5 kg

2 hand grenades equipped with detonators

2 kg of RDX with a remote detonation system

5 high-end pistols including Beretta and Glock models

6 magazines, 44 live rounds

A wireless communication set and 3 vehicles used in operations

First Module: France-Based Operation

The first module was orchestrated by Satnam Singh alias Satta, a France-based BKI operative originally from Hoshiarpur. Acting on inputs, the Special State Operations Cell (SSOC) Amritsar arrested four individualsJatinder alias Honey and Jagjit alias Jagga from Kapurthala, along with Harpreet and Jagroop from Hoshiarpur.

The operation uncovered an RPG (loaded), two IEDs, grenades with detonators, RDX, and multiple firearms. An FIR has been registered under the UAPA and the Explosives Act.

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In two intelligence-led operations, Punjab Police has successfully busted ISI-backed terror modules being operated by Babbar Khalsa International (#BKI) from abroad.



Total Recovery:

a2 RPGs (including a launcher)

a2 IEDs (2.5 kg each)

a2 hand grenades with detonators

a2 kg pic.twitter.com/NFQ9QkyGtC  DGP Punjab Police (@DGPPunjabPolice) April 19, 2025

Second Module: Greece-Pakistan Nexus

The second cell was directed by Jaswinder alias Mannu Agwan, a Greece-based handler from Gurdaspur with links to Pakistan-based terrorist Harvinder Rinda. A total of nine individuals, including a minor, were taken into custody from various parts of Punjab.

Police recovered an RPG launcher, two pistols, ammunition, and three vehicles. The case has been registered in Batala under the UAPA and relevant sections of the Explosives Act.

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Major Setback to Global Terror Networks

This double bust is being seen as a significant blow to transnational terror networks with roots in Punjab. Authorities believe these modules were preparing for high-profile attacks in the region.

The Punjab Police reaffirmed its commitment to intelligence-driven operations and proactive action to ensure public safety and maintain peace across the state.
Punjabi Student Dies After Being Hit by Stray Bullet in Canadan (Image courtesy: Hindustan Times)

The student, identified as Harsimrat Kahlon was enrolled at Mohawk College.

Punjabi Student Dies After Being Hit by Stray Bullet in Canada, Latest News:

A 21-year-old Punjabi student tragically died in Ontario's Hamilton city on Thursday evening after being struck by a stray bullet during an exchange of gunfire between groups in the area.

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The student, identified as Harsimrat Kahlon and enrolled at Mohawk College, was reportedly waiting at a bus stop around 7:30 PM on her way to work when the incident occurred.

Investigators believe the female was an innocent bystander struck by a stray bullet during a shooting in the area, Hamilton Police said in a statement on Friday.

According to a report by Hindustan Times, she sustained a gunshot wound to the chest and succumbed to her injuries.

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Video evidence revealed that a passenger in a black Mercedes SUV opened fire on the occupants of a white sedan, which then fled the scene shortly after the shooting.

Indias Consulate in Toronto expressed its grief over the incident, stating on X (formerly Twitter), We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of a young Indian student in Hamilton. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time.

Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen said at a press conference on Friday, I would like to extend my condolences to Harsimrats family. This is a young girl who had her whole life ahead of her and tragically lost her life because some thugs picked up a gun.

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Remember, Harsimrats family sent her to Hamilton to prepare her for her future, and now there is an empty seat at their dinner table, her aunts house, and her friends homes, he added.

A Mohawk College spokesperson also issued a statement: As a member of the Mohawk College community, we know this loss is being felt by many, and we will do everything we can to support Harsimrats friends, family, and the broader college community.

( For more news apart from, 'Punjabi Student Dies After Being Hit by Stray Bullet in Canada, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Canada's Federal Election: Advance Polling Begins, Jagmeet Singh Casts Early Vote

Voters have multiple options to cast their ballots, including Election Day voting, Advance Polling, and Mail-in Ballots.

Canada's Federal Election: Advance Polling Begins, Jagmeet Singh Casts Early Vote

Canada's federal election is scheduled for April 28, 2025, and advance polling began today, drawing a significant voter turnout. Among the early voters was federal NDP leader Jagmeet Singh.

Singh and his wife, Gurkiran Kaur Sidhu, cast their ballots on the first day of advance polling at the Burnaby-Central Advance Polling Station, located at Burnaby Central Secondary School (6011 Deer Lake Parkway), Babushahi reported.

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After voting, Singh urged Canadians to participate in the democratic process, saying, Its important for everyone to get out and vote.

According to the report, Singh has represented Burnaby South in Parliament since winning a by-election in February 2019, and he is now seeking re-election in the upcoming federal vote.

The advance polling period runs from April 19 to April 21, with voting hours scheduled from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. each day.

In addition to advance polling, Canadians can vote early at any Elections Canada office until Tuesday, April 22. These offices are open as follows:

Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m.  9:00 p.m.

Saturday: 9:00 a.m.  6:00 p.m.

Sunday: 12:00 p.m.  4:00 p.m.

Voters have multiple options to cast their ballots, including Election Day voting, Advance Polling, and Mail-in Ballots.

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According to the report, voters can also apply for a special ballot to vote by mail. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 22, and completed ballots must be received by Election Day.

Approximately 28 million Canadians are expected to vote in this election, which will decide 343 seats in the House of Commons. The majority threshold is 172 seats.

( For more news apart from, 'Canada's Federal Election: Advance Polling Begins, Jagmeet Singh Casts Early Vote, Stay tuned to Rozana Spokesman)
Hindu Leader Abducted and Murdered in Bangladesh; New Delhi Condemns Incident (Image Wikipedia)

Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was known as an influential figure within locality.

Hindu Leader Abducted and Murdered in Bangladesh; New Delhi Condemns Incident, latest News:

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu leader, was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur, Bangladesh, News 16 reported, citing a media source on Friday.

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The body of the 58-year-old, a resident of Basudebpur in Dinajpur district, was reportedly recovered on Thursday night around 10 PM  about 300 kilometers northwest of Dhaka, according to sources.

According to the report, Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was known as an influential figure within the local Hindu community.

What Happened:

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Roy's wife, Shantana Roy, told The Daily Star, as reported by News18, that he received a call around 4:30 PM while at home. The call was reportedly made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence.

About half an hour later, four men reportedly arrived on motorcycles and allegedly abducted him. According to eyewitnesses, he was taken to Narabari village, where he was allegedly beaten to death. His body was then reportedly sent back home in a van.

He was rushed to a local health complex and later referred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival. His body was subsequently sent for autopsy.

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Shantana claimed she recognised two of the assailants. However, no arrests have been made as of this report. Police are currently working to identify and apprehend the suspects.



Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal took to X, condemning the act, We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity. We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions.

Background: Attacks on Minorities

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Last month, a report by Dhaka-based human rights group Ain O Salish Kendra (ASK) documented 147 incidents targeting the Hindu community across Bangladesh. These included vandalism of 408 homes (with 36 cases of arson), 113 attacks on businesses, 32 assaults on temples and Ahmadiyya mosques, and 92 cases of idol desecration, the report stated.
April 19, 2025

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 19.04.2025, 13:55

HOLIDAY Christians the world over are today observing Holy Saturday, the last day before the Resurrection of Christ. The last preparations are made in silence for the upcoming great Christian holiday. According to Christian faith, while Jesus Christs dead body is lying in a tomb, his Spirit descends to hell to offer resurrection to the dead as well as to the living. On this day the religious service of the Holy Fire is being held in Jerusalem, during which, the Greek Patriarch of Jerusalem comes out of the Holy Sepulcher with burning candles and share the light with the believers. This light will also be brought to Romania on Saturday evening by the representative of Romanias Patriarchate to the Holy Land, Father Teofil Anastasoaie. Delegates are to get the light at the Henry Coanda Airport in Bucharest and will be taking it to believers at midnight concurrently with the news that Jesus has risen. We recall that Christians of all denominations are this year celebrating Easter on the same day, April 20th.

MAI More than 24 thousand employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry (MAI) are deployed these days on a daily basis with a view to easing traffic on the countrys roads, ensuring rapid intervention in case of emergency, preventing and fighting illegal deeds and saving lives during this mini Easter holiday. These employees will be supervising 14 thousand churches, where religious services are to be staged on this major Christian holiday, sources with the Ministry have announced. Firefighters have lately stepped up checking activities at churches, religious buildings and accommodation facilities, which usually get crowded on this holiday. 15 hundred suchlike buildings have been checked in the month of April alone in an attempt to prevent any possible blaze that might occur. According to the same sources, over one million Euros in fines has been applied. 16 hundred road policemen are to be deployed to monitor the crowded motorways. They will be using roughly 400 radar speed guns as well as alcohol and drug testing devices.

DRILL Roughly four thousand servicemen and 913 pieces of technical equipment from 10 allied countries, like Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania will be attending the multinational exercise Dacian Spring 2025, also known as DASP 25, over May 5th and 23rd. The exercise is planned and led by the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East and will be held concurrently in several training grounds. DASP 25 brings together structures belonging to all of Romanias defence forces  ground, air, naval and cyber warfare as well as troops from the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East and other allied structures. The drills main goal is to exercise collective defence operations and consolidate the integration of the participant forces into the command and control architecture of the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East. As a premiere, a Belgian battalion will be deployed on the Romanian soil.

WEATHER And now a couple of things about the weather in Romania, which today has highs above the average of this period and an overcast sky almost in the entire territory. Showers have been reported in the mountains and the surrounding regions in the countrys western half. The highs of the day are ranging between 13 and 22 degrees centigrade with a noon reading in Bucharest of 13 degrees.

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April 19, 2025 UPDATE

A roundup of local and world news

Newsflash

Newsroom, 19.04.2025, 20:00

EASTER Orthodox Christians, a majority in Romania, along with Catholics on Sunday are celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus Christ, the most important Christian holiday. Easter, which symbolizes the Resurrection of Christ, is being celebrated this year on the same date by all Christian denominations, a rare situation as the Western churches are using the Gregorian calendar whereas the Eastern churches the Julian one. The word comes from the Jewish word Pesach, which means passing. Originally the word was used to express the worlds creation by God and then it referred to the Exodus of the Jewish people from the Egyptian slavery. Easter is being celebrated three days in Romania and on this occasion the countrys Patriarch, Daniel, has conveyed a message urging to forgiveness and joy. We are wishing all the Romanians in Romania and in the Diaspora, peace, joy and good health together with the traditional Easter saying: Christ has risen! Indeed He has risen! the Patriarch went on to say.

MAI More than 24 thousand employees of the Romanian Interior Ministry (MAI) are deployed these days on a daily basis with a view to easing traffic on the countrys roads, ensuring rapid intervention in case of emergency, preventing and fighting illegal deeds and saving lives during this mini Easter holiday. These employees will be supervising 14 thousand churches, where religious services are to be staged on this major Christian holiday, sources with the Ministry have announced. Firefighters have lately stepped up checking activities at churches, religious buildings and accommodation facilities, which usually get crowded on this holiday. 15 hundred suchlike buildings have been checked in the month of April alone in an attempt to prevent any possible blaze that might occur. According to the same sources, over one million Euros in fines has been applied. 16 hundred road policemen are to be deployed to monitor the crowded motorways. They will be using roughly 400 radar speed guns as well as alcohol and drug testing devices.

DRILL Roughly four thousand servicemen and 913 pieces of technical equipment from 10 allied countries, like Belgium, Bulgaria, France, Italy, Luxembourg, North Macedonia, Poland, Portugal and Romania will be attending the multinational exercise Dacian Spring 2025, also known as DASP 25, over May 5th and 23rd. The exercise is planned and led by the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East and will be held concurrently in several training grounds. DASP 25 brings together structures belonging to all of Romanias defence forces  ground, air, naval and cyber warfare as well as troops from the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East and other allied structures. The drills main goal is to exercise collective defence operations and consolidate the integration of the participant forces into the command and control architecture of the Headquarters Multinational Division South-East. As a premiere, a Belgian battalion will be deployed on the Romanian soil.

CLIMATE According to Copernicus, the Earth observation component of the European Unions Space Programme, 2024 was the warmest year in recorded history in Europe. Data shows that Europe is warming twice as fast as the rest of the globe, which justifies the continents toughest policies aimed at curbing global warming. 2024 was the first year when the global average temperature exceeded pre-industrial level by 1.5 degrees Celsius. It was also the tenth consecutive year when the rising temperatures are setting record after record. In 2024 Europe was in for a very clear climate division, extremely hot weather and drought in its East being also hot and exceptionally humid in the West, which saw the most widespread flooding since 2013. Roughly 413 thousand people were affected by storms and flooding whereas 42 thousand by wildfires. While temperatures are on the rise, the number of freezing days is becoming shorter and shorter and 2024 boasts the lowest number of days with sub-zero temperatures, namely 90.

HEROES The Romanian troops killed in the line of duty in WWII will be commemorated in four cemeteries in Romania and abroad over April 22nd and April 28th, sources of the Romanian Defence Ministry have announced. The ceremonies will be held at the Cemetery in Honour of the Romanian WWII Heroes in Oarba de Mures, central Romania, the Alley of Honour for the Romanian Heroes in Budapest, Hungary, the Cemeteries of the Romanian Heroes in Zvolen, Slovakia and in Brno, the Czech Republic. The ceremonies will be attended, among others, by members of the Romanian Parliament in Bucharest, the Chief of Staff, the Logistic United Command and four servicemen wounded in operation theatres, as well as military cadets.

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The largest medical event in Ukraine - Breast Weekend 2.0 conference - will be held in Uzhhorod

On April 26, 2025, Uzhhorod will host the largest medical event in Ukraine - the Breast Weekend 2.0 conference, which will bring together industry leaders to share experiences, discuss modern techniques and the latest approaches in the field of aesthetic and oncoplastic mammoplasty. The conference is organized by Lita Plus Plastic Surgery Clinic.

The event will bring together more than 200 leading plastic surgeons, oncologists, cosmetologists, dermatologists and reconstructive surgeons to discuss topical issues of mammoplasty and at the same time support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

A separate part of the conference will be a special panel devoted to complex cases of recovery of people who were seriously injured during the war. It will be presented by Oleksandr Turkevych, co-founder of the Neopalymi charity project, an initiative that brings together doctors to help combat victims, including in the treatment of scars, burns, and severe injuries.

The main mission is medicine for victory

In addition to its scientific value, the conference has a key charitable goal: all funds raised will be used to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

During the gala dinner that will take place after the conference, an additional fundraiser will be held to help the Ukrainian military.

About the organizer: Lita Plus Clinic is a center for plastic surgery and aesthetic medicine that has already organized three charity conferences since the beginning of the full-scale invasion and purchased more than 10 vehicles for the military with the proceeds from previous events.

Program and key topics of the conference:

Modern techniques and new approaches in mammoplasty

Organ-preserving techniques for breast tumors

Analysis of complex clinical cases

Exchange of experience with leading Ukrainian specialists.

Speakers:

Serhiy Derbak, founder and head of Lita Plus clinic; Ruslan Humennyi, founder and plastic surgeon of PlastArt clinics; Vasyl Khrapach, MD, professor of the Department of Surgery at Bogomolets National Medical University; Yevhen Simulik, head of the Department of Microvascular, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the National Center of Surgery and Transplantation named after O.O. Shalimov; Sergiy Romanyuk, Head of the Surgical Department of the Artmedium Clinic, Doctor of the highest category; Denys Pominchuk, Founder of the VERUM EXPERT Clinic; Andriy Zhyhulin, Head and Founder of the Mammology Center at the LISOD Israeli Oncology Hospital; Bohdan Shevnya, Director of Altamedica Medical Center LLC; Oleg Savenkov, Head of the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the Garvis Clinic; Artem Fedosov, Head of the Mammology Center at the Innovation Clinic; Oleksandr Karpinsky, surgeon at the Lita Plus Clinic; Ihor Drobner, oncologist and mammologist at the Khmelnytsky Regional Anti-Tumor Center; Tetiana Shevchuk, oncologist and mammologist at the VERUM EXPERT Medical Center; Sergiy Chuklin, oncologist and mammologist at St. Paraskeva Medical Center; Dmytro Bukhteev, oncologist and mammologist at the Center for Mammology at LISOD Israeli Oncology Hospital; Dmytro Mozhayev, oncologist, plastic surgeon at the Harvis Clinic and Medical Plaza, etc.

Conference partners: Motiva, Polytech Ukraine, Mentor Optimum Ukraine, Mentor Askmed, Vaser, CareForm.

Media partners: General media partner - Interfax Ukraine news agency; TV partner - Inter TV channel, Pryamyy TV channel.

With the support of associations - UPRADAS, ESSA.

Date: April 26, 2025

Location: Uzhhorod, hotel complex Derenivska Kupil

Start time: 08:00.

Online registration, agenda and other information are available on the website: https://livesurgery-transcarpathian.com

Media accreditation: +38 095 123 28 83, [email protected] (contact person: Kira Skrypnyk).

Interfax-Ukraine is a media partner
The best-selling European automotive brand operating in India, Skoda Auto India, recently launched Kodiaq SUV in the country via CKD route. The company has had multiple new vehicles lined up to launch in India via CBU route. These included Petrol and Diesel powered vehicles along with EVs.

However, these vehicle import plans have been temporarily halted amidst the ongoing talks of a FTA (Free Trade Agreement) between Indian Government and European Union. According to Director of Skoda Auto India, Petyr Janeba, there will be a resolution on customs duty within the next three times and the company will then decide to greenlight future imports.

Skoda India To Halt Import Plans

Tariffs seem to be the talk of automotive town recently with US President Donald Trump making multiple headlines. Escalation and reduction of tariffs by US Government has created a certain uncertainty for many brands. For India, however, things are not so chaotic as the Indian Government is on the verge of signing a bilateral trade deal with the US.

For carmakers like Skoda Auto India, what matters more is the ongoing talks between Indian Government and European Union regarding an FTA (Free Trade Agreement) and both parties are likely to finalise this deal by the end of this year. Under this FTA, India is likely to reduce customs duty on cars by up to 100%.

For context, Indian Government currently levies up to 70% customs duty on vehicles that are priced below USD 40,000 (approx Rs 34.15 lakh). For vehicles that are priced above USD 40,000, customs duty increases to a staggering 110%. Once signed, this FTA with European Union will ensure European car brands like Skoda to import vehicles at just 10% customs duty.

Which cars are delayed?

Till the company gets clarity on customs duties, Skoda Auto India seems to have decided to halt any planned CBU vehicle launches. These include Superb Diesel 4X4 sedan, Kodiaq Diesel 4X4 SUV, Octavia and Octavia RS. It has to be noted that the recently launched Kodiaq SUV in Sportline and L&K trims are assembled at the companys facility in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.

Along with these ICE vehicle imports, Skoda has also halted the import of Enyaq electric SUV. The company also has plans to locally manufacture Enyaq in India. Which has been now deferred till Indian Government finalises on advanced fuel efficiency guidelines under CAFE 3 guidelines (Corporate Average Fuel Efficiency) as mentioned by Skoda Auto India Director Petyr Janeba.

He further mentioned that it currently doesnt make sense to proceed with CBU vehicle launch plans when there is a major downward revision expected in customs duties. Within the next three months, there will be a resolution on customs duty and then the company can decide on launching EVs and premium Diesel vehicles.

Source
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 19. Kazakhstans Minister of Internal Affairs, Yerzhan Sadenov, took a working trip to the French Republic and the Kingdom of the Netherlands, where he rubbed elbows with leaders of European and international police organizations, where the aim was to bolster cooperation in the realm of security and tackle the challenges and threats, Trend reports.

In Paris, the minister held talks with Frances Minister of the Interior, Bruno Retailleau, during which they discussed the current state of cooperation under the 2009 Agreement on Combating Crime.

"Special attention was given to issues of readmission and information exchange in the area of migration control. Both parties confirmed their readiness to implement the Readmission Agreement signed last year. The French side also expressed its willingness to support the simplification of visa procedures by EU countries for Kazakh citizens," the press service of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Kazakhstan stated.

Following the bilateral meeting, the two sides signed a roadmap to strengthen cooperation in combating crime, including transnational organized crime, drug trafficking, illegal migration, extremism, and cyber fraud.

The Kazakh delegation also visited the Paris operational center, the Special Task Force Brigade, and the Cyber Center of France's Ministry of the Interior.

"During the visit to Lyon, the minister met with Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza. They discussed practical areas of cooperation  primarily in the fields of international investigations, combating fraud, and cybercrime. Issues related to improving coordination mechanisms and expanding access to new Interpol databases were also addressed," the ministry noted.

Additionally, in The Hague, Kazakhstan's Minister of Internal Affairs met with Europols Deputy Executive Director Andrei Linta. The discussions focused on cooperation prospects in countering cybercrime, extremism, and illegal migration, as well as information exchange through Europol channels.

An agreement was reached to initiate the development of an operational agreement between Kazakhstans Ministry of Internal Affairs and Europol, which will open a new level of interaction with law enforcement agencies of EU member states.

To recall, in December 2024, the National Central Bureau of Interpol, under the auspices of Kazakhstans Ministry of Internal Affairs and the Asset Recovery Committee affiliated with the Prosecutor Generals Office, executed a Memorandum of Cooperation designed to enhance synergies in the fight against economic offenses and the illicit transference of assets.

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Insomnia is a significant health and quality of life concern for older adults, with up to half of all adults over the age of 65 experiencing insomnia symptoms. In a new study, researchers in the Penn State College of Health and Human Development and at Taipei Medical University analyzed five years of data from older adults in the United States. They found higher levels of both insomnia symptoms and sleep medication use were associated with higher risk of disability a year later.

Every year a person experienced an incremental increase in insomnia symptoms, their risk for becoming disabled in some aspect of their daily life increased by 20%, according to the researchers. A similar level of risk was associated with increased usage of sleep medications. People who regularly experienced insomnia symptoms and used sleep medication were at the highest risk of disability affecting their daily activities.

Results of the study, recently published in the journal Sleep, indicate the importance of properly treating insomnia, the researchers said.

"When we evaluated the relationships between disability, insomnia and sleep medication use, we found that as older people used more sleep medication or experienced more insomnia symptoms, they moved more rapidly towards greater disability," said Orfeu Buxton, Elizabeth Fenton Susman Professor of Biobehavioral Health at Penn State, Social Science Research Institute co-funded faculty and co-author of the study.

The researchers analyzed data from 6,722 participants in the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), which captured a national sample of Medicare beneficiaries over the age of 65. The team used more than 22,000 individual observations from the first five waves of data collection -- gathered between 2011 and 2015.

The NHATS data included annual measures of disability data using a validated questionnaire. The questionnaire asked about self-care activities including dressing, eating, using the toilet and showering. It also asked about mobility activities including getting out of bed, moving around indoors and going outside.

To quantify the relationship between these variables, participants' data were measured on an established numeric scale for disability. For each self-care activity, participants were classified as "fully able" to complete the activity on their own; "vulnerable" to disability if they used accommodations, reduced their participation in the activity, or had difficulty with tasks; or "assistance" if they could not complete an activity without help. A classification of "fully able" was scored as one point; "vulnerable" was scored as two points; and "assistance" was scored as four, with higher scores representing higher levels of disability.

Any score increase of two or more on a person's overall score represented a clinically meaningful level of disability related to self-care or mobility, according to a previous study by other researchers.

The NHATS data included five frequency levels of both insomnia symptoms and sleep-medication use -- never, once a week, some nights, most nights, and every night. "Never" was scored as one point, and each level was worth one more point up to "every night" being scored as five points.

For every level of increase in the frequency of reported insomnia symptoms, the disability score was -- on average -- .2 higher the next year. For every level of increase in the frequency of reported sleep medication use, their disability score was -- on average -- .19 higher the next year.

"These results indicate that both insomnia and sleep medication use may be contributing to disability," said Tuo-Yu "Tim" Chen, assistant professor in the program in global health and health security at Taipei Medical University in Taiwan and lead author of the study. "As an average example, these numbers suggest that an older adult who increased their sleep medication use from 'never' to 'every night' over the course of five years would be likely to develop a clinically significant disability. On an individual level, we cannot predict risk so specifically, but if an older adult has prolonged sleep problems and/or sleep-medication use over time, they are very likely to become disabled."

According to a prior study by the same research team, sleep medication makes falling more likely for older adults. Buxton said they suspect falls are one important reason that sleep medication was associated with higher levels of disability.

Many studies have demonstrated the physical, mental and emotional harm that insomnia can cause, the researchers said. The connection they found between insomnia symptoms and disability confirmed their hypothesis.

Because both insomnia and sleep medication may contribute to disability, older people need to manage their insomnia safely and effectively, according to Soomi Lee, associate professor of human development and family studies at Penn State and co-author of the study.

"Insomnia can decrease a person's quality of life both directly and indirectly," Lee said. "Any older adult who experiences insomnia or uses sleep medication needs to talk to their physician about sleep. When physicians know about sleep problems, they can review the patients' medications to make sure that drug interactions are not triggering insomnia. Physicians also can connect older adults with care that manages insomnia more safely than medication."

Cognitive behavioral therapy, which helps people identify and modify thought or behavior patterns, is a safe and effective treatment for insomnia, the researchers said.

"Many older adults think sleep disruptions are a natural part of aging, but they are a real problem that must be addressed," Lee explained. "And that problem is unlikely to improve unless people talk to their doctors. There are not enough sleep clinics, especially in rural areas, so older people may need to advocate for themselves to get proper treatment."

The National Science and Technology Council of Taiwan helped support this work.
Sediment cores drawn from four lakes in Guatemala record the distinct direction that ground shaking traveled during a 1976 magnitude 7.5 earthquake that devastated the country, according to researchers at the Seismological Society of America's Annual Meeting.

The earthquake, which killed more than 23,000 people and left about 1.5 million people homeless, took place along the Motagua Fault, at the boundary between the North American and Caribbean tectonic plate boundary.

Severe ground shaking from the 1976 earthquake caused landslides and sediment-laden turbidity currents that can be seen clearly in cores taken from the lakebeds. Normally, researchers might expect that this shaking would produce the thinnest sediment deposits in lakes furthest away from an earthquake, since seismic waves weaken as they travel away from an earthquake epicenter.

But in the Guatemalan lakes, the cores with the thickest sediment traces of the earthquake occur at the end of the fault rupture, said Jonathan Obrist-Farner, a geologist at Missouri University of Science and Technology. "What we see is lakes that are actually the closest to the epicenter but just away from the rupture path have very thin deposits."

Jeremy Maurer, a geophysicist also at Missouri University, suggested that the unusual pattern had in this case recorded the directivity of the 1976 shaking.

It's not unusual for scientists to find evidence of past earthquakes in lake sediment cores, Maurer added, noting examples from New Zealand to Turkey that offer a glimpse at how far away a particular earthquake could have an impact.

"What hasn't been done as much is looking at where these lakes are located in relationship to the fault," said Maurer. "Are they off-axis or on-axis? Does the direction of the rupture have an effect on sediment deposits?"

When the U.S. Geological Survey collected field data after the 1976 earthquake, "they found, for example, adobe houses that were 10 kilometers south of the main rupture path that were still standing, yet those that were actually on the fault trace and towards the propagation direction all collapsed," said Maurer. "I think there's a lot of evidence that points to the directivity of the rupture and now we're just looking at it sedimentologically from the lakes."

The researchers began recovering and analyzing cores from the lakes in 2022. "We thought it would be a very interesting opportunity to not just look at the 1976 earthquake, but actually learn a little bit more about the paleoseismic history of the plate boundary, which we know very little of," said Obrist-Farner, who is originally from Guatemala.

Although there was a brief rush of seismologists to the region after the 1976 earthquake, the impacts of a 36-year civil war and sparse instrumentation have left the plate boundary poorly monitored. Paleoseismic data like the lake records are important for building a more complete picture of the country's seismic risk.

Last year Obrist-Farner's team retrieved their largest cores yet from the lakes, with lengths of sediment that may represent up to four thousand years of lake history. Their initial analysis shows evidence of the 1816 earthquake of at least magnitude 7.5 that is known mostly from historical documents.
ASTANA, Kazakhstan, April 19. By agreement between the presidents of Kazakhstan and Russia, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev received the Russian Minister of Energy, Sergei Tsivilev, who delivered a personal message from the President of Russia, Trend reports.

In the course of the meeting, the prospects for partnership in the energy sector were discussed, which is one of the key areas of cooperation between Kazakhstan and Russia.

Kazakhstan is actively developing cooperation with Russia in the field of nuclear energy. In January 2025, Kazakhstan's Minister of Energy, Almassadam Satkaliyev, announced that "Rosatom" is on the shortlist of potential contractors for the construction of the country's first nuclear power plant. However, the final decision on the supplier will be made in the first half of 2025, taking into account Kazakhstan's national interests and international commitments. Also in April 2024, Russia and Kazakhstan signed an intergovernmental agreement to construct three coal-fired thermal power plants (TPPs) in the cities of Kokshetau, Semei, and Ust-Kamenogorsk.

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Investors' attention over the coming week will be on developments on the geopolitical front, including a meeting between Iranian and US negotiators at the weekend.

They will also be keeping an eye out for any signs of a potential breakthrough in talks between the US, Ukraine and Russia, as well as on the trade front.

Also of great importance will be a steady stream of US corporate results, even as investors try to glean whether or not the US is headed towards, or perhaps already in, a recession.

According to analysts, whether or not the US is already in a recession will be the key to stock markets' performance over the next few months.

Tesla, Boeing and Alphabet, in particular, will be in focus, on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, respectively.

Against that backdrop, Wednesday will bring with it a reading on public sector net borrowing requirements in the UK during the month of March, on Wednesday, and for UK retail sales on Friday.

Also on Wednesday, S&P Global will release the preliminary results of its Purchasing Managers' surveys covering manufacturing and services in the UK, euro area and US during the month of April.

Financial markets will also be waiting on the preliminary results of the University of Michigan's consumer confidence survey on Friday.

Rate-setters in Beijing will meet to decide on policy on Monday.

UK markets will remain closed on 21 April in observance of Easter Monday.

Monday 21 April

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Antofagasta

Tuesday 22 April

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Consumer Confidence (EU) (15:00)

GMS

Logistics Development Group, N4 Pharma , Woodbois Limited

FINALS

Arecor Therapeutics , Ebiquity

AGMS

AIQ Limited (DI), Beazley

Wednesday 23 April

INTERIMS

AB Dynamics, Ten Lifestyle Group

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Balance of Trade (EU) (10:00)

Crude Oil Inventories (US) (15:30)

GFK Consumer Confidence (GER) (07:00)

MBA Mortgage Applications (US) (12:00)

New Homes Sales (US) (15:00)

PMI Composite (EU) (09:00)

PMI Composite (GER) (08:30)

PMI Composite (US) (14:45)

PMI Manufacturing (GER) (08:30)

PMI Manufacturing (EU) (09:00)

PMI Manufacturing (US) (14:45)

PMI Services (EU) (09:00)

PMI Services (GER) (08:30)

PMI Services (US) (14:45)

FINALS

Finseta, Gresham House Energy Storage Fund, Northcoders Group

EGMS

Secure Property Development & Investment (DI)

AGMS

AFC Energy, Bellevue Healthcare Trust (Red), Bunzl, Entain, NATWEST GROUP, Nichols, Smithson Investment Trust

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

Quilter

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

PMI Composite (09:30)

PMI Manufacturing (09:30)

PMI Services (09:30)

Public Sector Net Borrowing (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Gulf Keystone Petroleum Ltd Com Shs (DI)

Q1

PensionBee Group

Thursday 24 April

INTERIMS

ASOS, Tracsis

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Diageo, Hansard Global

INTERIM EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Kier Group

QUARTERLY EX-DIVIDEND DATE

City of London Inv Trust, Custodian Property Income Reit, JPMorgan Claverhouse Inv Trust, Supermarket Income Reit

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Continuing Claims (US) (13:30)

Durable Goods Orders (US) (13:30)

Existing Home Sales (US) (15:00)

IFO Business Climate (GER) (09:00)

IFO Current Assessment (GER) (09:00)

IFO Expectations (GER) (09:00)

Initial Jobless Claims (US) (13:30)

FINALS

Checkit, Pennant International Group

IMSS

Weir Group

AGMS

Greencoat UK Wind, Hikma Pharmaceuticals, Murray International Trust, Relx plc, Team, Weir Group

TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS

AJ Bell, ASOS, Inchcape, Jupiter Fund Management , Relx plc, Spirent Communications, St James's Place, Unilever

FINAL EX-DIVIDEND DATE

Alpha Group International, AVI Japan Opportunity Trust , Bakkavor Group , Bodycote, Bridgepoint Group (Reg S) , Cairn Homes (CDI), Central Asia Metals, Derwent London, Drax Group, Eurocell , Haleon , Hammerson, Harworth Group, Hiscox Limited (DI), Legal & General Group, M. P. Evans Group, Me Group International, Morgan Sindall Group, Mortgage Advice Bureau (Holdings) , Ocean Wilsons Holdings Ltd., Octopus AIM VCT 2, PPHE Hotel Group Ltd, Public Policy Holding Company, Inc.(DI), Rightmove, Robert Walters, Rotork, Secure Trust Bank, Shaftesbury Capital, Spirax Group, Stelrad Group , Synectics, Thungela Resources Limited NPV (DI), Uniphar (CDI), Vesuvius, Wickes Group

Q1

Nokia OYJ

Friday 25 April

INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

JPMorgan Emerging Markets Inv Trust, Northamber, Redcentric, VinaCapital Vietnam Opportunity Fund Ltd.

QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE

Patria Private Equity Trust, Value and Indexed Property Income Trust

INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

U. of Michigan Confidence (US) (15:00)

EGMS

China Yangtze Power Co., Ltd GDR (Reg S)

AGMS

Me Group International, Pristine Capital, Senior

UK ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS

Retail Sales (07:00)

FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE

Crest Nicholson Holdings, Heavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, Kitwave Group, Oakley Capital Investments Ltd. (DI)
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 19. Kyrgyzstan imported 170,267 tons of gasoline in January-February 2025, a significant increase of over 51,900 tons, or 43.9 percent, compared to the same period in 2024.

According to data obtained by Trend from the National Statistics Committee, the total value of these imports reached $73.3 million, up $26.7 million, or 57.4 percent more than in January-February 2024

The main volume of gasoline was imported from Russia, totaling 168,745 tons. Smaller volumes were also imported from Kazakhstan (776.4 tons) and Belarus (745 tons).

By comparison, during the same period in 2024, Kyrgyzstan imported 118,300 tons of gasoline for $46.6 million, all of which came exclusively from Russia.

Kyrgyzstan's total foreign trade volume amounted to $2.07 billion in January-February 2025. The figure took a nosedive by 13.2 percent compared to the same period in 2024.

Exports totaled $314.4 million, down by 4.7 percent, while imports fell by 14.6 percent to $1.76 billion. Exports accounted for 15.2 percent of total trade, and imports made up 84.8 percent.
India's electronics manufacturing sector has experienced a fivefold growth over the past decade, crossing Rs 11 lakh crore and creating 25 lakh jobs, Union Minister for Railways, Electronics and IT Ashwini Vaishnaw said. The minister was speaking at the inauguration of VVDN Technologies' new SMT (Surface Mount Technology) Line in Manesar, Haryana.

He highlighted the sectors export boom, with electronics exports growing six times to ?3.25 lakh crore in the last 10 years. The new SMT line will enable VVDN to build advanced products like AI servers, networking gear, and motherboards boosting domestic manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports.

Vaishnaw emphasized Indias growing global reputation for reliable, IP-respecting electronics products. This is being recognised globally, he said, adding that the recently approved Rs 22,919 crore PLI scheme for electronics components will further accelerate growth.

The Manesar facility supports high-volume production with a capacity of 250,000 components per hour and handles PCB sizes up to 850mm x 560mm. It represents a major milestone for the Design and Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives.

Indias homegrown AI server Adipoli developed by VVDN. During his visit, Vaishnaw toured VVDNs advanced R&D labs, including the Server R&D Lab, 5G R&D Lab, and Video Image Tuning Lab. He also witnessedAdipoli developed by VVDN.

Highlighting another milestone, the minister noted that smartphones became Indias top export category in the first 10 months of FY25 a key success under the governments Production-Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme, which has played a pivotal role in transforming India into a global electronics manufacturing hub.
Rob Hirst, longtime drummer and founding member of the iconic Australian rock band Midnight Oil, has revealed he is battling pancreatic cancer, according to a recent report.

In a recent interview with The Australian, the 69-year-old musician, shared he has been dealing with the cancer for the past two years.

Hirst, who helped form Midnight Oil in the 1970s, spoke candidly about his health and ongoing fight for his life, sharing that he was officially diagnosed around six months after Midnight Oil completed the Australian portion of its farewell tour in October 2023.

Since then, he has been undergoing continuous medical care.

So its ongoing, Hirst told the publication. Ive had pretty much every treatment known to man  every scan, ultrasound, MRI. Ive kind of had the works.

Hirst shared that his cancer was detected early, with the tumor identified at stage three. He has since had surgery to remove the tumor, followed by a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, according to the report.

About Midnight Oil

Midnight Oil is one of Australias most iconic rock bands, known for their powerful live performances and a career that has stretched over 30 years.

The bands origins trace back to 1970 in Turramurra, a suburb on Sydneys north side, where teenagers Jim Moginie (guitar/keyboard) and Andrew Bear James (bass) began playing music together.

Hirst (drums/vocals) joined the duo a year later, and together they performed as a Beatles cover band called Schwampy Moose.

Affectionately called The Oils by their loyal fan base, the group has released 14 studio albums and two EPs, all widely regarded for their exceptional musicianship and strong messages.

By 1976, the band had evolved and rebranded as Farm. Realizing they needed a frontman, Hirst placed an ad in the Sydney Morning Herald, which led to Peter Garrett auditioning  and ultimately joining as lead vocalist.

That same year, they met their future manager Gary Morris, who would become an integral part of their team and is often referred to as the bands unofficial sixth member.

Guitarist Martin Rotsey also joined the group in 1976, completing the classic lineup.

The name Midnight Oil was chosen at random from a hat, marking the official start of a new era. The bands debut, self-titled album Midnight Oil, was released in 1978.

Known among fans as the Blue Meanie due to its dark blue cover, the album was recorded over just ten days during post-show studio sessions.

It achieved gold status in Australia and included the single Run By Night, which gained significant airplay on radio station 2JJkicking off a long-standing relationship between the band and the station.
Michelle Trachtenberg arrives for the Weinstein Company party following the 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards on Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Beverly Hills. The actress, 39, died in February. (AP Photo/Danny Moloshok) AP

New details have been released regarding the cause of death of actress Michelle Trachtenberg, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

The New York City Office of Chief Medical Examiner told the media outlet that the Gossip Girl star died in February at the age of 39 from complications related to diabetes mellitus.

Her death has been classified as natural, and his conclusion was reached based on results from laboratory testing, according to the report.

Trachtenberg, widely recognized for her roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Harriet the Spy, was found dead in a Manhattan apartment.

According to the NYPD, officers responded to a 911 call just after 8 a.m. on Feb. 26 at a luxury high-rise in Manhattan, as reported by NBC.

Upon arrival, police found Trachtenberg unresponsive and unconscious. She was pronounced dead at One Columbus Place, located on West 59th Street between Ninth and Tenth avenues, which sources confirmed was her residence, according to reports.

Sources indicated it was Trachtenbergs mother who discovered her and alerted emergency services. Authorities stated at the time that no foul play was suspected, and there were no signs of criminal activity.

ABC News reported that although no autopsy was conducted, toxicology results offered further insight into the circumstances surrounding her passing.

It is with great sadness to confirm that Michelle Trachtenberg has passed away, her representative shared with The Hollywood Reporter at the time. The family requests privacy for their loss. There are no further details at this time.

Trachtenbergs family had initially opposed an autopsy due to religious beliefs. Since authorities found no signs of foul play or criminal involvement in her death, the medical examiner honored the familys wishes and proceeded with only an external examination and laboratory testing to determine the cause, according to reports.

Sources previously told Page Six that Trachtenberg had received a liver transplant in 2024 and that her body may have rejected it.

Less than a week before she passed, Trachtenberg appeared to be in very bad shape while dining at Italian eatery Sartianos with friends, Page Six learned.

One of Trachtenbergs most recognized and celebrated performances was her portrayal of Dawn Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer in the early 2000s, where she starred alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Over the course of her career, she took on numerous roles in both film and television, including her breakout performance in Harriet the Spy and her fan-favorite role as Georgina Sparks on Gossip Girl.

According to Cleveland Clinic, diabetes is a common condition that affects people of all ages. There are several forms of diabetes; Type 2 is the most common.
The U.S. State Department has reissued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for Colombia, a popular cruise destination. (AP Photo/Wilfredo Lee) AP

With spring travel in full swing, the U.S. State Department has reissued a Level 3: Reconsider Travel advisory for a popular destination featured on several cruise itineraries.

On April 17, a Level 3 warning was issued for Colombia due to civil unrest and the risk of kidnapping  factors cruise travelers should take into consideration.

The State Department routinely updates its travel advisories to help keep U.S. citizens informed and safe. These advisories are categorized from Level 1: Exercise Normal Precautions, the lowest level, to Level 4: Do Not Travel, the highest.

A Level 3 advisory urges travelers to carefully reconsider visiting the country due to significant safety and security risks.

The State Department specifically advises against travel to Arauca, Cauca (excluding Popayan) and the Colombia-Venezuela border region due to high levels of crime, kidnapping, armed conflict, and the risk of arbitrary detention.

Travelers are also warned about violent crimes such as murder, assault and robbery, as well as organized criminal activities, including extortion and kidnapping.

In fact, as Norwegian Cruise Line shifts its focus to Caribbean sailings  including expanded visits to Great Stirrup Cay  its presence in South America is coming to a halt.

The Norwegian Star, part of the Norwegian Cruise Line fleet, has wrapped up its final season in the region, where it previously visited ports in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, and even ventured to Antarctica.

With the cancellation of its South American itineraries for the 20252026 season, Norwegian currently has no ships scheduled to return to that part of the world for at least the next two years.

If you must travel to Colombia, the State Dept. advises:
BISHKEK, Kyrgyzstan, April 19. Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers and Chief of Staff of the President of Kyrgyzstan, Adylbek Kasymaliev, will take part in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) during his working visit to Washington, DC, Trend reports via the cabinet.

As part of the visit, Kasymaliev is scheduled to meet with senior WBG leadership, including Managing Director of Operations Anna Bjerde and Vice President for Europe and Central Asia Antonella Bassani. The meetings will cover a wide range of topics related to the current WBG project portfolio in Kyrgyzstan, as well as prospects for expanding cooperation in key areas.

Special emphasis will be directed towards the progressive enhancement of the strategically pivotal Kambarata-1 Hydropower Plant initiative. A series of bilateral accords are anticipated to be executed subsequent to these deliberations.



Kasymaliev is anticipated to engage in a strategic roundtable dialogue with stakeholders from the Kyrgyz-American Business Council, encompassing key representatives from the US business ecosystem.



Furthermore, the chairman is set to convene strategic dialogues with C-suite executives from leading US enterprises to elucidate Kyrgyzstans investment viability and explore actionable frameworks for synergistic collaboration.

The visit program also includes meetings with representatives of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and the Global Partnership for Education (GPE). These discussions aim to strengthen collaboration in the education sector, attract funding for educational programs, and explore IsDB participation in future infrastructure projects.

To note, the 2025 Spring Meetings of the WBG and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) will take place in Washington from April 21 to 26.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Susan Bourne first moved into the New York City Housing Authoritys South Beach Houses complex over 40 years ago.

But following a stroke in 2013 that left her partially paralyzed, she has been battling NYCHA to allow her to return home.

The 71-year-old has now filed a lawsuit against the housing authority which, she alleges, violated her rights by failing to provide reasonable accessibility modifications, or an alternative apartment to accommodate her needs as a person who uses a wheelchair.

Unable to return home

As indicated in the complaint, Bournes condition was brought to NYCHAs attention on several occasions since her stroke in 2013.

Despite these notices, the complaint alleges, NYCHA began a nonpayment eviction proceeding around January of 2014. This initial case was eventually dismissed by the court in February of 2017, as detailed in the complaint.

In January of 2018, Bourne was cleared to leave Sea View Rehabilitation Center  where she resided since 2014  so long as the necessary modifications were made to her apartment, her sister, identified in the complaint as Mary, allegedly told NYCHA.

The housing authority did not respond to those requests, according to the lawsuit.

In December of 2018, the Sea View Rehabilitation Center sent NYCHA a letter informing them that the center was ready to discharge Bourne in January 2019, if the space was modified, according to the filing.

The lawsuit claims NYCHA again failed to act.

Instead, around this same time, court documents state NYCHA attempted to evict Bournes son from his home on the grounds that the tenant of record, Bourne, was allegedly no longer entitled to ownership of the residence.

Bourne asserted her tenancy rights, and on Nov. 26, 2019, the parties agreed to take the licensee holdover proceeding off the calendar.

NYCHA allegedly began an administrative tenancy termination in 2021, for, among other things, failing to occupy the apartment, as stated in the complaint. As accessibility modifications were not made to her NYCHA apartment, Bourne was still living in Sea View Rehabilitation Center, where she still resides today.

Weve been met with a lot of resistance

NYCHA finally agreed to make modifications to Bournes residence after a request by Bournes court-appointed legal advocate in May of 2023, however, the agency requested that the accommodations be simplified, court documents allege.

Following another request, Bournes counsel learned in October 2023 that she was approved for both modifications and a transfer, as shared in the complaint.

Despite the approval, as of early April 2025, NYCHA has not implemented a single modification, the court documents allege.

On the transfer front, Bourne has not faired much better.

On Jan. 9, 2024, NYCHA told Bournes counsel that an accessible two-bedroom apartment may be suitable for Bourne. However, NYCHA would first need to make any necessary repairs, as detailed in the complaint.

Court documents allege that NYCHA did not provide any updates on this supposed transfer and instead, at a hearing on April 2, 2024, Bourne learned that a major comprehensive modification program was taking place at Todt Hill, another NYCHA site, and as such, some of these tenants would be relocated to the South Beach Houses.

Moreover, she was allegedly told that these tenants would receive priority over Bourne. As alleged in the complaint, NYCHA is in violation of both federal law and its own rules in prioritizing external transfer requests.

On Aug. 29, 2024, another letter was sent to NYCHA requesting the accommodations and the withdrawal of NYCHAs ongoing termination proceeding against Bourne, court documents state. As of early April 2025, NYCHA has allegedly not responded to the request.

In being unable to return home for years, the complaint says that Bourne has suffered immense emotional distress because of the situation.

In addition to suing NYCHA, Bourne is also suing Jamie Rubin in his official capacity as board chair of NYCHA, and Lisa Bova-Hiatt, in her official capacity as chief executive officer of NYCHA.

Bourne requests a trial by jury, and is seeking: the termination of the tenant termination administrative proceeding; the reasonable modifications to her apartment; compensation for damages and expenses incurred due to the alleged violations; and reasonable attorneys fees.

My biggest goal for her is to just get her back home, Samantha Sobers, an attorney representing Bourne, said. It just seems like such a no-brainer and weve just been met with a lot of resistance. While I understand obviously theres a lot of red tape and a lot of procedural hurdles, which I do understand, it just seems like were coming up against things that arent necessarily procedural hurdles. Were just being kind of stymied and so I guess the goal of all of us here is in order to get her back home as quickly as possible.

Both NYCHA and The New York City Law Department declined to comment at this time.
New York City has temporarily paused enforcement of its mandatory composting program for most residential buildings. (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo) (Staten Island Advance/Mike Matteo)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- New York City is pumping the brakes on enforcement of its new mandatory composting program, temporarily pausing fines for most residents as they grow accustomed to the citys new trash rules.

On April 1, the city began enforcement of the mandatory composting program, which requires all New York City residents to separate their organic waste, like food scraps and yard trimmings, from the rest of their trash.

But with residents across the city expressing confusion with how the program operates, officials have decided to hold off on issuing any more fines to most residents while the administration conducts additional educational outreach.

In an effort to facilitate even higher participation, we will conduct additional outreach and education on composting before issuing fines to the most persistent offenders who repeatedly refuse to compost, the mayors office said.

However, not all buildings have been temporarily exempt from receiving fines.

The administration said that large buildings with 30 or more units that receive more than four warnings will continue to face fines of $100.

Fines for all other buildings are expected to resume by the end of the year, though an exact date was not provided.

City Hall stressed that although enforcement has been temporarily paused for most New Yorkers, composting remains mandatory across the five boroughs.

Councilmember David Carr, a Republican who represents Mid-Island and parts of South Brooklyn, issued a statement urging the administration to do away with the fines permanently.

The recent announcement that fines will not be issued to buildings with fewer than 30 units for not separating organics from trash is proof that these fines were set to hurt working- and middle-class New Yorkers and that separate organics collection never needed a fine to work. We should now pass the legislation I submitted with my Common Sense Caucus colleagues to get rid of the fines permanently, the statement read.

Who has to compost?

The owners of all residential buildings in the five boroughs, including single-family home owners, have to separate organic waste from the rest of their trash.

City officials are implementing separate rules for commercial businesses, city schools and other non-residential entities.

Residential penalties for non-compliance with the new organic waste rules will be the same as recyclable violations once they resume by the end of the year.

Residential buildings with fewer than nine units will be charged $25 for a first offense, $50 for a second and $100 for subsequent offenses. Larger residential buildings face fines of $100 for first offenses, $200 for second offenses and $400 for subsequent offenses in a six-month period.

What needs to be composted?

Residents need to separate all organic waste from their other trash, including yard and food waste.

Yard waste includes things like plants, leaves, twigs and grass. Food waste is made up of things like meat, bones, dairy, fruits and vegetables. Food-soiled paper products like napkins, tea bags and paper plates also need to be separated.

Non-soiled paper products should remain with traditionally recycled materials. Items like wrappers, pet waste, medical waste, diapers, foam and hygiene products should remain in the traditional trash, according to the Department of Sanitation.

How will compost be collected?

Curbside collection of organics mirrors that of traditional recyclable materials. Residents should put those organic items out the same day and time they do so for recyclables.

City residents will need to place their food waste in separate labeled bins of 55 gallons or less that can be lined with any clear bag.

Yard waste can also be stored inside the bin, but for times when New Yorkers might have more leaves or grass trimmings, they can be placed in brown paper or clear plastic bags outside the bin. Large sticks and branches under 2-feet by 4-feet can be bundled with twine and left outside the bin as well.

How can I get a bin?

The Department of Sanitation had made free bins available for residents of Staten Island, the Bronx and Manhattan, but residents can no longer order them at no cost.

Official 21-gallon bins are available through the citys contracted manufacturer, Otto, for about $43, but any labeled bins of 55 gallons or less can be used.

What happens to the waste?

Most organic waste collected citywide gets anaerobically processed at the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.

On Staten Island, the organic materials are transported to a compost facility located on part of the former Fresh Kills Landfill.

Waste processed at the Newtown Creek facility is broken down into gases, mainly methane. The process is similar to what would happen at a landfill, but instead, the city collects that natural gas to be used as a resource.

The Staten Island facility, which saw an expansion earlier this year, turns the organic waste into compost. The city sells 60% of that compost to landscapers, while distributing the remainder to city parks, community groups and residents.
Parishioners of the Church of St. Christopher and St. Margaret Mary participate in the Way of the Cross reenactment around the church with the Rev. Michael Cichon on Good Friday, April 18, 2025, in Grant City. (Owen Reiter for the Advance/SILive.com) Owen Reiter

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  Dozens of devoted parishioners of the Church of St. Christopher and St. Margaret Mary R.C. Church held their third annual Way of the Cross procession on Good Friday, the day Christians solemnly observe Jesus final walk before his crucifixion.

The Rev. Adaly Rosado led costumed parishioners as they reenacted the 14 Stations of the Cross, reflecting on Jesus final day.
St. George's Pier 1 is shown Monday, July 1, 2024. On Tuesday, at a Community Board 1 committee meeting, a representative from the city Economic Development Corporation will give an update on the progress of the pier's renovations. (Advance/SILive.com | Paul Liotta) (Advance/SILive.com | Paul Liotta)

STATEN ISLAND, N.Y.  New York City agencies will give updates on several traffic safety measures and community improvement projects during Staten Island Community Board meetings this week.

The following meetings are scheduled, according to representatives from each of the Islands three Community Boards:

Community Board 1

There will be a virtual Waterfront Committee meeting on Tuesday, April 22, at 6:30 p.m.

At the meeting, Diana Switaj, of the city Economic Development Corporation, will give an update on the progress of Pier 1 renovations in St. George.

To attend, visit Zoom. The meeting ID is 736 422 6579.

The Transportation Committee will meet on Thursday, April 24, at 5 p.m.

During the meeting, there will be updates and follow-ups on several New York City Department of Transportation projects, including the status of the stop light installation review at Milford Drive and Endor Avenue, Emerson Hill.

There will also be an update on the circulation and safety improvements at Bard Avenue and Forest Avenue, West Brighton, and school safety measures at PS 57, Clifton.

The status of the stop sign feasibility study at Watchogue Road and Glascoe Avenue, Westerleigh, will be discussed, and a review is planned of the pedestrian safety improvement options at Lortel and Slosson avenues, Castleton Corners.

Also on the agenda is a discussion about traffic and safety concerns on Metropolitan Avenue, West Brighton, and an open request for DOT evaluations and recommendations.

To join the meeting, visit Zoom. The meeting ID is 627 927 7100. The passcode is 666722.

Community Board 2

Community Board 2 has no meetings this week.

Community Board 3

On Tuesday, April 22, at 7 p.m., there will be a general board meeting and public hearing in the auditorium of Lady Help of Christians R.C. Church, 23 Summit Street, Tottenville.

During the meeting, routine board business will be conducted, including project updates and neighborhood concerns.

Open to the public

All Community Board meetings and meetings of their committees are open to the public. They provide an excellent opportunity for residents to learn about happenings in their neighborhood and surrounding areas. Below is more information about the Islands three Community Boards:

Community Board 1

Arlington  Castleton Corners  Clifton  Concord  Elm Park  Fort Wadsworth  Graniteville  Grymes Hill  Livingston  Mariners Harbor  New Brighton  Port Richmond  Randall Manor  Rosebank  St. George  Shore Acres  Silver Lake  Stapleton  Sunnyside  Tompkinsville  West Brighton  Westerleigh

The board chairman is Nicholas Siclari. The district manager is Joan Cusack. The telephone number is 718-981-6900.

Community Board 2

Arrochar  Bloomfield  Bulls Head  Chelsea  Dongan Hills  Egbertville  Emerson Hill  Grant City  Grasmere  High Rock  Lighthouse Hill  Midland Beach  New Dorp  New Springville  Oakwood  Ocean Breeze  Old Town  Richmond  South Beach  Todt Hill  Travis

The phone number is 718-568-3581. The fax number is 718-568-3595. The chairman is Fred Guinta. The district manager is Debra A. Derrico.

Community Board 3

Annadale  Arden Heights  Bay Terrace  Charleston  Eltingville  Great Kills  Greenridge  Huguenot  New Dorp  Oakwood  Pleasant Plains  Princes Bay  Richmond Valley  Richmond  Rossville  Tottenville  Woodrow

The office phone number is 718-356-7900. The district manager is Charlene Wagner.
Real Time host Bill Maher got in a lot of hot water with his fans after he spoke glowingly of President Donald Trump after chowing down at the White House with the commander-in-chief.

And now Maher, a frequent critic of the president, is punching back.

HuffPost reported that Maher thinks he isnt getting enough credit for speaking truth to power during the Trump dinner.

Maher, in fact, said he considers himself a hero after the White House meal.

I should be a hero for going there and doing those things and saying those things to the president. Im not the villain here, Maher said on TMZs 2 Angry Men podcast.

I had the opportunity to go to the White House and talk to the president and not give up my principles, Maher said. It seems like nobody noticed that. I didnt go MAGA.

I had the opportunity to talk to Donald Trump and say things to him that maybe he never hears, Maher went on. Literally to speak truth to power. I shouldnt take that opportunity?

Not that Maher expects that he influenced Trump.

Do I have great hopes that saying anything to him is going to change anything? No, Maher said. But you have to try.

Maher appalled fans when he said Trump was gracious and measured during the dinner and showed an ability to laugh at himself.

Maher on Real Time said that the president gave him a very generous amount of time, and a willingness to listen and accept me as a possible friend.

Longtime fans of Maher were quick to pounce.

One Reddit thread was titled, I think Im out, with fans saying they planned to stop watching his program.

I didnt think Bill was this naive, one longtime fan posted to Reddit.

Trump also gave Maher a personal tour of the White House. Rapper Kid Rock and UFC CEO Dana White were also at the dinner.
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Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size It is a good sign, surely, that Doctor Who and his new time-travelling companion seem to get along. When we enter the room to interview Ncuti Gatwa and Varada Sethu in New York, they are in fits of laughter. It is the back end of a conversation about their mothers washing dishes. And if that tells us next to nothing about the new season of Doctor Who, it does tell us that numbers one and two on the call sheet  still crying with laughter  have developed a rapport. With The Doctor (Ncuti Gatwa) and Belinda Chandra (Varada Sethu), the Tardis is now populated entirely by people of colour for the first time. Chemistry was inbuilt with us, Gatwa says. Because wed broken the ice with Boom. This is a reference to the third episode of the last season, the 14th since the series was revived in 2005, in which Sethu made a guest appearance as a solider called Mundy Flynn. It went so well that this time shes been invited back and given top billing, with a character called Belinda Chandra who is connected to Mundy in ways that (in typical Doctor Who style) shall come to be revealed. Loading Are we witnessing another case of spatial genetic multiplicity, fans will ask? Or was it just that Gatwa and Sethu liked each other? It was the perfect balance for me, says Sethu, once shes stopped laughing about washing dishes. Because I didnt have any of the anxiety that I, 100 per cent would have had, if I was just told I was going to be the companion and Id never met Ncuti before.

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As it is, Sethu flies into the role of Belinda, a hard-working nurse who many years ago had a star named after her as a gift from a then-boyfriend, and pulls it off with aplomb: this is a different kind of Doctors companion, as much an antagonist and dissenter as a loyal lackey. She is a companion who doesnt want to be a companion, Sethu says. The whole season is about how she wants to go home  she doesnt want to be involved in his world. I think shes a very astute woman who can read people very well and isnt afraid to hold them to account. Thats what she brings to the Tardis: shes not afraid to call the Doctor out on when he crosses a boundary and say, I think youre dangerous. And I dont want to be part of the sport. Ncuti Gatwa loves that Doctor Who showrunner Russel T. Davies promotes inclusivity on the popular series. Loading Certainly in the first episode of the new run, in which robots kidnap Belinda and the Doctor flies in to bring her back to Earth, the two of them are a partnership of equals. What we normally see is the Doctor and his companion going into space, the companion willingly and starry eyed, following the Doctor wherever he goes, Gatwa says. This time they have to put their heads together to try to figure out how to get a distinctly unamused Belinda back to Earth in time for her next shift.

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Within that, the Doctor has to release so much ego and control, says Gatwa, who points out that his Doctor is all about ego and control. Its a very humbling yet enriching relationship for him, and they have to get really vulnerable with each other, and just sort of, whats the word  relinquish themselves to the situation that they have no power in, either of them. So its very interesting ground to play, and I dont think weve seen that dynamic before. It wont have escaped your notice that this is a storyline about equality and mutual understanding, so it fits in with Doctor Whos tenor ever since writer Russell T. Davies took back the reins to the series he revived (and made good again) in 2005. After a successful introduction last season, Varada Sethu is now the Doctors companion. Davies never passes up an opportunity to promote inclusivity and a progressive agenda, despite criticism in the UK where the series is filmed that it has become too woke. (Doctor Who celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2023, when some viewers criticised its introduction of transgender and non-binary characters, as well as a scene in which David Tennants Doctor realised he had a crush on Sir Isaac Newton.) Loading I love it, says Sethu, who has already noted that the Tardis will now be occupied entirely by people of colour for the first time. I relish the opportunity to challenge things that should be challenged. Gatwa adds: Thats what you want as an actor. Intelligent scripts that will challenge our minds and hopefully make people think about things. He [Davies] does sprinkle all these themes into his scripts, but humour or drama is always the vehicle by which we get that message. Theres always a very interesting way that the message is delivered.

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They both highlight a plot strand from the first episode that looks at toxic masculinity. Its addressed in a metaphor, Gatwa says. But the metaphor is comical. So the reveal is like, LOL! but its also tragic. It allows people to think about things. Ncuti Gatwa and Doctor Who showrunner Russell T Davies at the Virgin Media British Academy Television Awards in 2022. Credit: Getty Of course, if Doctor Who was just messaging and metaphors, it would alienate its younger audience at a stroke. Now that its part of the Disney+ empire it needs to appeal to a global audience of all ages and creeds. Sethu has also starred in Disneys Andor  part of the Star Wars universe  so she knows what obsessive fandom feels like. I learnt the hard way through Andor how to deal with the pressure, she says. Theres a way of taking that love, the fandom, as support, as something that uplifts you, instead of it feeling like a pressure that weighs down on you. With Disney money behind both productions, the sets and props were stunning, Sethu says. It was all there in front of you. Its very easy to play as an actor opposite a giant robot, if the robots actually there. Gatwa adds: Its so exciting that Disneys on board with Doctor Who. The scripts that Russell writes are so huge and crazy and wild  as they should be, for a show thats set in time and space  and now we can really bring them to life.

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Review Eating outUltimo Are these viral Japanese sandwiches worth a 40-minute wait? Our verdict  and how to avoid the queues  at Sydneys hottest new takeaway spot, where the sandwiches start at $3. Lenny Ann Low April 20, 2025 Save Log in , register or subscribe to save recipes for later. You have reached your maximum number of saved items. Remove items from your saved list to add more. Save this article for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them anytime. Got it Share

1 / 12 One of Japans most famous sandwich shops opened a Sydney outpost in mid-March. Janie Barrett 2 / 12 Chicken namban Japanese fried sandwich. Janie Barrett 3 / 12 A work in progress. Janie Barrett 4 / 12 Creme brulee fried sandwich. Janie Barrett 5 / 12 Pistachio cream fried sandwich. Janie Barrett 6 / 12 Chef Andrew Leung. Janie Barrett 7 / 12 Yuzu mojito. Janie Barrett 8 / 12 Tsukimi teriyaki fried sandwich. Janie Barrett 9 / 12 Egg salad fried sandwich. Janie Barrett 10 / 12 Worth a late afternoon drive by. Janie Barrett 11 / 12 Strawberry matcha. Janie Barrett 12 / 12 The bread is cooked in hot, bubbling oil. Janie Barrett Previous Slide Next Slide Japanese$$$$ Is it worth queuing 40-minutes beside five lanes of city traffic for a viral Japanese deep-fried sandwich? The answer, if youve passed the top half of Harris Street in Ultimo this month, appears for many people to be yes. Age.3, one of Japans most famous sandwich shops, opened a Sydney outpost in mid-March. For the first week or so, queues lasted two hours. Crowd fervour was so high that a team of white-capped Age.3 staff could be seen nimbly chaperoning people away from the hurtling cars and whizzing e-bikes just metres from stores front door. Chicken namban Japanese fried sandwich. Janie Barrett

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At times, the line for this tiny shops sandwiches snaked along the street and into a nearby alleyway. Social media was awash with influencers breaking apart crisp, golden triangles of deep-fried shokupan milk-bread to show layers of whipped cream with various sweet fillings, or assemblages of tuna mayo, grilled cheese, curry, chicken namban, egg salad, noodles and more. Last week, the queue had lessened to about 40-minutes. Shorter but still a long time to wait for a sandwich, viral or not. So, are they worth it? The best way to settle this is to avoid the queues. I drove past Age.3 five times over four days and determined that the least busy time to visit was after 4.30pm. You could line up from 10.30am (which I witnessed people doing one Saturday morning) and still claim first in the door. But sauntering in during the late afternoon without the crowds feels easier, and removes the dizzying effect of prolonged anticipation. Creme brulee fried sandwich. Janie Barrett Age.3s shop is a bright, modern, welcoming space with plenty of attentive staff members checking if you need help with the menu and its 32 sandwich options. You can watch the kitchen crew working like billy-o to make the sangers, or watch a screen showing Age.3s founder and head chef, Kohei Matsushita, cutting towers of fried bread in sweeping, dramatic shots akin to Mission: Impossible stunt footage.

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Until recently, Matushita was in there too, having flown to Sydney to lead the kitchens early days. After inventing the sandwiches at Fruits Sand Three, a shop in Fukuoka, he has also overseen Age. 3 (pronounced ah-geh-san a Japanese word-play for deep-fried and sando) stores opening in Tokyo, Shanghai and Hong Kong. I order six varieties of the sandwich. The bread is cooked in hot bubbling oil, before being cut diagonally, sliced open and packed with fillings. Each is a glistening boat with fancy cargo. Ive chosen sweet whipped cream (only $3), ganache matcha, pistachio, creme brulee, tsukimi teriyaki and chicken namban (at $12.50 the most expensive option). Pistachio cream fried sandwiches. Janie Barrett The savoury fillings are best. The nambans sweet-and-sour battered chicken pieces on creamy egg salad just edges out the teriyaki option. The latters mix of strong flavoured mini-burger with gooey half-boiled egg is nicely chewy but seems too salty.

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Then its dessert in hyperdrive. The creme brulees glazed top covers a fat custard heart, and the plain whipped cream, although teeth-janglingly sweet, is a good match with the fried bread. Ganache matcha and pistachio sandwiches are pretty, with chocolatey cubes and speckled nuts respectively, but the amount of cream may wear you down. After eating two savoury and four sweet versions, each wrapped in special greaseproof paper pockets, I can say that the winning element is the bread. With a texture that conjures up doughnuts, the crunchy coating of a battered sav, and bread pan-fried in butter, Age.3s sandos are best with less filling. Consider removing three-quarters of the cream (or half the fried chicken), ordering the coffee einspanner cold brew, and focusing on the crunchy golden-fried dough between sips instead. Perhaps not worth a 40-minute wait, but certainly worth a late afternoon drive-by. Three more Japanese sandwiches to try Punpun Pillowy sandwiches are filled with steamed-custard egg, smashed beef patties and pickles, and sesame-crusted fried chicken with curry salt. Also serving excellent coffee from global specialty roasters. 249 Victoria Street, Darlinghurst, instagram.com/punpuncity Cafe Monaka This dapper, oak-lined northern beaches spot offers a traditional Japanese breakfast set and an impressive range of green teas. However, its the katsu sando loaded with pork loin, sweet mustard, shredded cabbage and tonkatsu sauce that brings the most fans. 2/24 Waratah Street, Mona Vale, cafemonaka.com.au Sandoitchi Sydneys original katsu sando specialist. Try the panko-crumbed prawn and sweetcorn patty with yuzu mayo and tangy mustard on custom bread. Shop 3, 113-115 Oxford Street, Darlinghurst, sandoitchi.com.au Good Food reviews are booked anonymously and paid independently. A restaurant cant pay for a review or inclusion in the Good Food Guide.

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Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins is facing up to 15 years in a Russian jail after being criminally charged for fighting in defence of Ukraine against Vladimir Putins invasion.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the government would use whatever means possible to advocate for Jenkins, who was feared dead earlier this year before being revealed to be alive and in Russian captivity.

A new photograph of Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins has been released by the Luhansk Peoples Republic Prosecutors Office.

The Prosecutors Office for the occupied territory of Lugansk said it had approved the indictment in the criminal case against 33-year-old Australian Commonwealth citizen Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins, accusing him of being a mercenary in an armed conflict.

The office also shared a new photograph of Jenkins, dressed in a blue and yellow coat and holding a book.
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The Great Barrier Reef is suffering its second bleaching event in as many years, with the marine park authority reporting corals in distress due to an underwater heatwave stretching 1300 kilometres from Townsville to Cooktown.

Bleaching is a major threat to the health of the reef and its World Heritage status, both of which are key to tourism and the fate of the seat of Leichhardt, held by the Coalition on a tight 3.4 per cent margin by long-serving MP Warren Entsch, who is retiring at this election.

It is the sixth time in 10 years that mass bleaching has hit the 2300 kilometre long jewel in the crown of the worlds coral ecosystems and an interjection in the Leichardt contest, based around Cairns, where paramedic Jeremy Neal is running for the Coalition against former professional basketballer and Labor candidate Matt Smith.

The candidates vying to replace Entsch claim they have the right plan to safeguard the reefs health, while their parties clash over climate science. Neal said his party embraced practical solutions while Labor was all talk.
Trump 2.0 is testing us all in unexpected ways. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has discovered what it is to be ghosted  after calling Albanese a very fine man, Trump is now refusing to take his calls.

Opposition Leader Peter Dutton is suffering from allegations that he is too simpatico with the US president, to the extent where he was compelled to tell voters this week, near-pleadingly: I dont know the president. I have never met him  I dont know Donald Trump.

The all-female occupants of Blue Origins flight (clockwise from top left): Katy Perry, Gayle King, Aisha Bowe, Kerianne Flynn, Lauren Sanchez and Amanda Nguyen. Credit: NYT

Some have been tested by being sent, apparently unlawfully, to a notorious El Salvadorean prison, and others have been publicly humiliated at the White House while on a break from defending their country from aggressive authoritarian rule.

Meanwhile, most women I know would have happily spent the week minding their own business.
Become an expert at making cavatelli

Learn to make Molises most famous pasta shape with Molise Cuisine. Under the guidance of experts, youll learn the traditional way to make cavatelli and youll get to taste them too. Beyond the kitchen, the companys activities provide insights into Molises culinary heritage, offering enriching experiences for food enthusiasts. Many nearby agriturismi (farm stays) also offer cooking lessons, such as La Ginestra, located just out of Campobasso. Along with sleeping and eating here, you can learn to make cavatelli among other local delights. See facebook.com/molisecuisine; laginestra.info Summer Campania Making limoncello tiramisu at Giardino di Capri. Cook and dine in a private garden villa on the isle of Capri

While Capris majestic waters and landscapes dont need too much of a sales pitch, Australian Holly Star and her Caprese husband, Gianluca dEsposito, have found a unique way to showcase the islands authentic food. At their villa and garden in Anacapri, they offer bespoke and sustainable culinary activities: think private garden dining or making ravioli capresi or torta caprese and limoncello in a tailored cooking class. Enjoy a tasting of local wines and the couples extra virgin olive oil. If cooking isnt your thing, youll have the garden to yourself while they cook for you. See giardinodicapri.com

Sardegna Aperitivo and glamping collide at Sa Mola. Go glamping in an ancient olive grove

Sa Mola Experience allows you to stay in an ancient olive grove in this aperitivo-meets-glamping hotspot. For four generations, the Cadoni family has been crafting exquisite extra virgin olive oil in the quaint village of Escolca (about an hour north of Cagliari). As the sun sets, guests indulge in regional wines paired with a delectable assortment of olives, cheeses, artisanal breads and expertly cured meats. Then you retreat for the night in your glammed-up tent or 1970s-style camper van. See oliosamola.com/glamping Basilicata Opulent Palazzo Margherita also offers four-day cooking courses.

Culinary delights at Francis Ford Coppolas hotel

Immerse yourself in the opulence of Palazzo Margherita, the breathtaking 19th-century palazzo owned by legendary filmmaker Francis Ford Coppola. Enrol in the hotels four-day cooking course, where you venture out to markets and prepare a different menu each day, or spend a few hours at a local masseria (farmhouse), tasting wine and learning to make pizza. With the rustic dishes and family-like atmosphere, you will feel right at home  here, youre not just a guest, but an honorary member of the Coppola dynasty. See thefamilycoppolahideaways.com Autumn Piemonte Giuseppe and his truffle dog Luna. Credit: Katie McKnoulty Head into the Langhe woods for a truffle hunt

There is nothing more Piedmont than hunting for truffles. At various times of the year, you can experience the real deal with a hunter and trained dogs in the woods, with simulated hunts on offer the rest of the time. The hunters will guide you through the process and explain the nuances of finding these rare delicacies. There are many providers in the area, such as Giuseppe  a third-generation hunter  and his adorable dog, Luna. See trufflehuntingalbalanghe.eu

Veneto Prosecco territory: A church in San Vigilio, between Valdobbiadene and Conegliano. Credit: Getty Images Immerse yourself in the land of Prosecco

Spend a few days in Prosecco territory, an area that comprises 50,000 acres of vineyards heritage protected by UNESCO. Base yourself in either Conegliano or Valdobbiadene: the two towns are connected by a road called Strada del Prosecco (literally Prosecco Road). Book in with luxury operator Imago Artis for a guided trip of the area. For a unique experience, La Vigna di Sarah offers Prosecco picnics on its estate and night harvest events guided by the full moon. See iatravel.com; lavignadisarah.it Tuscany Enoteca Marilus founders, sommelier Marco Lami and cookbook author Emiko Davies.

Experience multi-day slow travel adventures

KM Zero Tours is a boutique slow travel company based in Chianti with tours that promote sustainable tourism and support local communities. Choose from a three- or seven-day stay and see Italy through local producers and artisans with cooking classes, bread- and pizza-making, wine tastings, olive oil farm visits and cheese making demonstrations. Untold Italy run multiple day tours in Tuscany and beyond for small groups. The company takes you to the heart of each destination with bespoke activities such as food tours, tastings and feasts in unforgettable locations. Slow travel combines with seasonal food and natural wine at Enoteca Marilu and Cooking School in hilltop San Miniato. Here, award-winning Australian-Japanese food writer and author Emiko Davies and her Tuscan-born sommelier husband, Marco Lami, run weekly market and cooking classes, wine tastings and special events. See kmzerotours.com; untolditaly.com; enotecamarilu.com Winter Trentino-Alto Adige Christmas time in Bolzano. Credit: Getty Images Take a street food tour in Bolzano

Let experts guide you through Bolzano, a quaint town where youll discover businesses that are a living testimony to local history. Youll get to savour at least five delicacies along the way, from the best sausage in town to breads and sweets. Finish up with wine or craft beer. All the while, youll see monuments and learn about this multicultural regions fascinating and complex history. Tours at Christmas time mix food with light shows and decorations, creating a magical atmosphere. See bolzanostreetfoodtour.com

Emilia Romagna Lara and Massimo Bottura outside their boutique countryside hotel, Casa Maria Luigia in Modena. Fast cars, slow food: the full Bottura experience

Nothing says Emilia-Romagna more than renowned chef Massimo Bottura. Get organised well in advance and book a lunch or dinner at Osteria Francescana: you wont regret it. Cant get a booking? Try Franceschetta58, Botturas casual bistro, which never disappoints. Stay at Casa Maria Luigia, the Botturas plush boutique countryside estate where walls are swathed in Gucci wallpaper, and jazz, art and antique lovers will rejoice. In nearby Maranello, enjoy a contemporary trattoria meal at the Ferrari/Bottura venture, Cavallino, and breathe in the real Made in Italy with a visit to the Ferrari museum. See osteriafrancescana.it; casamarialuigia.com; franceschetta.it; ferrari.com Friuli-Venezia Giulia Grazing delights in a traditional osmiza. Credit: Fabrice Gallina/PromoTurismoFVG
There was the pool furniture in the background. There were the tropical drinks, which looked to be margaritas garnished with cherries. And then there were the deported prisoner and the US senator, sitting and chatting.

That senator, Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, accused El Salvadors government of aiming to paint the picture of a leisurely respite for the wrongly deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia by staging their meeting with drinks appearing to be alcohol, and angling to set the meeting by a hotel pool.

Bukele posted photos of US Senator Chris Van Hollen seated with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, including with the drinks, garnished with maraschino cherries. Credit: X / @nayibbukele

Van Hollen referred to the stagecraft with a term that had ricocheted around social media for much of the day: Margaritagate.

Nobody drank any margaritas or sugar water or whatever it is, the Democratic senator said on Friday (Saturday AEDT) , calling the whole situation a lesson in the lengths that [El Salvadors President Nayib] Bukele will do to deceive people about whats going on.
The Trump administration has replaced the US governments main portal for information about COVID-19 with a website arguing that the virus leaked from a Chinese lab.

The move throws the White Houses weight behind a theory of the viruss origins that is so far not backed by direct evidence and that many scientists consider less likely than the idea that it emerged at a wild-animal market.

Government websites that used to deliver information about COVID-19 and allow people to order tests now redirect to this lab leak webpage.

Covid.gov and Covidtests.gov  government websites that used to deliver information about COVID-19 and allow people to order tests  now redirect to the lab leak webpage.

Carrying an image of US President Donald Trump flanked by the words Lab Leak, the new page is illustrated by a satellite image of Wuhan, China, the city where COVID-19 began spreading, and says it will describe the true origins of COVID-19.
Gunmen disguised as soldiers kill 12 people at Ecuador cockfight



Quito, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025



Criminals dressed in fake military uniforms opened fire on spectators at a cockfight in rural Ecuador, killing 12 unarmed people and wounding several others, police in the violence-plagued South American nation said Friday.

Security footage of the Thursday night attack showed a group of at least five men entering the arena and opening fire with automatic rifles on a crowd of dozens in the rural community of La Valencia in northwest Ecuador.

The attackers were dressed in replica military uniforms -- a common tactic of criminal gangs in the country, which averaged a killing every hour at the start of the year as cartels vie for control over cocaine routes that pass through Ecuador's ports.

The footage, circulated on social media, showed spectators flinging themselves to the ground and taking cover under their seats.

"We have 12 people deceased as a result of an armed attack by a criminal group," police colonel Renan Miller Rivera said in a statement Friday.

He said several people were injured, without giving a number.

After the attack, police found discarded "military-style uniforms" and two abandoned cars on a nearby highway, Miller Rivera added. One of the cars had been set on fire, the other had overturned.

Ecuador is home to an estimated 20 criminal gangs involved in trafficking, kidnapping and extortion, wreaking havoc in a country of 18 million squeezed between the world's biggest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

In recent years, the nation has been plunged into violence by the rapid spread of transnational cartels that use its ports to ship drugs to the United States and Europe.

About 73 percent of the world's cocaine passes through Ecuador, according to an interior ministry report.

Large parts of the country are under a state of emergency recently renewed by President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected to a second term in elections last Sunday.

On the campaign trail, he suggested US special forces should be deployed to Ecuador to tackle drug violence and floated legal reforms to allow US bases to operate in the country.
Gunmen disguised as soldiers kill 12 people at Ecuador cockfight



Quito, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



Criminals dressed in fake military uniforms opened fire on spectators at a cockfight in rural Ecuador, killing 12 unarmed people and wounding several others, police in the violence-plagued South American nation said Friday.

Security footage of Thursday night's attack showed a group of at least five men entering the arena and opening fire with automatic rifles on a crowd of dozens in the rural community of La Valencia in northwest Ecuador.

The attackers were dressed in replica military uniforms -- a common tactic of criminal gangs in the country, which averaged a killing every hour at the start of the year as cartels vie for control over cocaine routes that pass through Ecuador's ports.

The footage, circulated on social media, showed spectators flinging themselves to the ground and taking cover under their seats.

"We have 12 people deceased as a result of an armed attack by a criminal group," police colonel Renan Miller Rivera said in a statement Friday.

He said several people were injured, without giving a number.

Police have detained four people, including a "target of intermediate value," national police chief Victor Hugo Zarate wrote on the X social platform.

After the attack, police found discarded "military-style uniforms" and two abandoned cars on a nearby highway, Miller Rivera added. One of the cars had been set on fire, the other had overturned.

Ecuador is home to around 20 criminal gangs involved in trafficking, kidnapping and extortion. They have wreaked havoc in the country of 18 million squeezed between the world's biggest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

In recent years, the nation has been plunged into violence by the rapid spread of transnational cartels that use its ports to ship drugs to the United States and Europe.

About 73 percent of the world's cocaine passes through Ecuador, according to an interior ministry report.

Large parts of the country are under a state of emergency recently renewed by President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected to a second term in elections last Sunday.

On the campaign trail, he suggested US special forces should be deployed to Ecuador to tackle drug violence and floated legal reforms to allow US bases to operate in the country.
Iran, US to hold second round of high-stakes nuclear talks in Rome



Rome, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



The United States and Iran are set to resume high-stakes talks Saturday on Tehran's nuclear programme, a week after an initial round of discussions that both sides described as "constructive".

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi arrived in Rome, images broadcast early Saturday by Iranian state television showed, where he was set to join Oman-mediated talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

They come one week after the two sides conducted what Iran called indirect talks in Muscat. Those were the first discussions at such a high level between the foes since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord in 2018.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

Following his return to office in January, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran.

In March he sent a letter to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed nuclear talks while warning of military action if diplomacy failed.

"I'm not in a rush" to use the military option, Trump said on Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."

On Friday Araghchi said Iran "observed a degree of seriousness" on the US side during the first round but questioned their intentions.

"Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's (Saturday's) negotiations," he said at a press conference in Moscow.

In a social media post early on Saturday, Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran was "aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences".



- 'Crucial stage' -



In an interview published on Wednesday by French newspaper Le Monde, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb.

During Trump's first term, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers which offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Tehran complied with the agreement for a year after Trump's withdrawal before scaling back its compliance.

Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His counterpart in Rome, Witkoff, is a real estate magnate Trump has also tasked with talks on Ukraine.

Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 limit in the deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to decide on whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would automatically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance.

The option to trigger the mechanism expires in October this year.

Iran has previously warned it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered.

Grossi, who held talks with Iranian officials during a visit to Tehran this week, said the US and Iran were "at a very crucial stage" in the talks and "don't have much time" to secure a deal.



- 'Non-negotiable' -



Iranian officials have insisted that the talks only focus on its nuclear programme and lifting of sanctions.

Araghchi said a deal with the US was "likely" if Washington refrained from "making unreasonable and unrealistic demands," without elaborating.

Analysts had said the United States would push to include discussions over Iran's ballistic missile programme as well as Tehran's support for militants in the Middle East.

Araghchi said Iran's right to enrich uranium was "non-negotiable", after Witkoff called for its complete halt. Witkoff had previously demanded only that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal.

On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the country's military capabilities were off limits in the discussions.

Iran's regional influence and its missile capabilities were among its "red lines" in the talks, the official IRNA news agency reported.

On Friday US ally Israel affirmed its unwavering commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to prevent this.

Khamenei on Tuesday said Iranians should not pin hopes on progress in the negotiations which "may or may not yield results."
Japanese warships dock at Cambodia's Chinese-renovated naval base



Phnom Penh, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



Two Japanese warships made a port call at Cambodia's Chinese-renovated naval base on Saturday, the Japanese embassy said, the first vessels to dock at the site that has raised concerns in Washington.

The United States has said the Ream Naval Base, located off Cambodia's southern coast, could give China a key strategic position in the Gulf of Thailand near the disputed South China Sea, which Beijing claims almost in its entirety.

Cambodian senior officials have repeatedly denied that the base is for use by any single foreign power, following US media reports in 2022 saying the new facilities at Ream base -- originally built partly with US funds -- would be exclusively for the Chinese navy.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and a delegation from China's People's Liberation Army inaugurated the base early this month.

Hun Manet said during the opening that the base had "nothing to hide" and denied the new and improved facility would be for Beijing's "exclusive" use, saying ships from other countries would be allowed to dock.

Media access to the base was restricted on Saturday when the Japanese vessels Bungo and Etajima from the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force (JMSDF) made a port call.

"We are glad to witness the visit to the renovated Ream Naval Base," the Embassy of Japan in Phnom Penh said in a statement sent to media, adding that it is "a historically significant event".

"We are aware that the Royal Government of Cambodia has been willing to make the base open to all the countries," the embassy said, adding that the visit would "enhance trust and confidence".

Cambodia has long been one of China's staunchest allies in Southeast Asia, and Beijing has extended its influence over Phnom Penh in recent years.

Under former leader Hun Sen -- Prime Minister Hun Manet's father -- China poured billions of dollars into infrastructure investments, while Washington's relationship with Phnom Penh has deteriorated in recent years.

Chinese President Xi Jinping this week wrapped up a tour of Southeast Asia, ending in Cambodia, in which he sought to strengthen regional trade ties.

Beijing has since 2022 been contributing to a revamp of the Ream Naval Base, which was originally built partly using US funds.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. A step forward has been made in the second round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, held in Rome, Italy, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi told journalists, Trend reports.

He stated that Iran is continuing its efforts to reach a better understanding on the nuclear issue, and that the talks have now entered a new phase.

Araghchi added that technical meetings between experts from both sides will be held in Oman on April 23 as part of the ongoing negotiations. The minister noted that these expert-level discussions aim to define the framework of a potential agreement.

According to the FM, the third round of talks is scheduled for April 26.

Meanwhile, the second round of indirect talks on April 19 was led by Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Special Envoy for Middle East Affairs Steve Whitcoff, with Omans Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi acting as mediator.

Earlier, on April 12, similar discussions took place in Muscat, Oman, also led by Araghchi and Whitcoff, focusing on Irans nuclear program. Those talks were described as constructive and held in a spirit of mutual respect.
Sultan of Oman to meet Putin in Moscow



Moscow, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



The Sultan of Oman will visit Moscow Tuesday to hold talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Kremlin and Muscat said Saturday, as the Gulf state mediates high-level talks on Iran's nuclear programme.

The Kremlin said the talks with Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq would cover "current questions on the international and regional agenda" as well as developing cooperation in "trade and economic" and "finance and investment" spheres.

The Sultan of Oman's office said in a statement that Putin had invited the monarch for a two-day state visit starting Monday.

"The visit comes within the context of promoting relations between the Sultanate of Oman and the Russian Federation in a manner that meets aspiration of the two countries," the royal court said.

It said the leaders would discuss "areas of cooperation between the two countries in various spheres and means of boosting them to serve the joint interests".

The United States and Iran on Saturday held talks in Rome on Tehran's nuclear programme mediated by Oman, a week after an initial round of discussions that both sides described as "constructive".

burs/giv
US, Iran to hold more nuclear talks after latest round



Rome, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



The United States and Iran concluded a second round of high-stakes talks on Tehran's nuclear programme on Saturday, agreeing to meet again in a week for further discussions.

The Oman-mediated talks in Rome lasted about four hours, Iranian state television reported, describing the atmosphere as "constructive".

"The two sides agreed to resume indirect talks at a technical level over the next few days and subsequently continue at the level of two senior negotiators next Saturday," April 26, Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on X.

Oman said the third round would be in Muscat, returning to the site of the first talks a week ago.

Those were the first discussions at such a high level between the foes since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear accord in 2018.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

After Saturday's talks, Oman's foreign ministry said Iran's top diplomat Abbas Araghchi and US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff had agreed to keep negotiating.

The talks, it said, "aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran (is) completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy".

It said the talks are "gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible".

Araghchi called the discussions a "good meeting" that yielded progress.

"This time we managed to reach a better understanding on a series of principles and goals," he told Iran's state TV.

Baqaei said the delegations had been "in two different rooms" at the Omani ambassador's residence, with Oman's Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi passing messages between them.

Tehran and Washington have had no diplomatic relations since shortly after Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution.

After returning to office in January, Trump revived his "maximum pressure" campaign of sanctions against Iran.

In March he wrote to Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei urging renewed nuclear talks while also warning of military action if diplomacy failed.

"I'm not in a rush" to use the military option, Trump said Thursday. "I think Iran wants to talk."

On Friday, Araghchi said Iran "observed a degree of seriousness" on the US side during the first round but questioned their "intentions and motivations".



- 'Crucial stage' -



In an interview published Wednesday by French newspaper Le Monde, the United Nations nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was "not far" from possessing a nuclear bomb.

During Trump's first term, Washington withdrew from the 2015 accord between Tehran and world powers that offered Iran relief from international sanctions in return for curbs on its nuclear programme.

Tehran complied with the agreement for a year after Trump's withdrawal before scaling back its compliance.

Araghchi was a negotiator of the 2015 deal. His US counterpart, Witkoff, is a real estate magnate Trump has also tasked with talks on Ukraine.

Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 percent, far above the 3.67 percent limit in the deal but still below the 90 percent threshold required for weapons-grade material.

On Friday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged European countries to decide whether to trigger the "snapback" mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would automatically reinstate UN sanctions on Iran over its non-compliance.

The option to trigger the mechanism expires in October.

Iran has previously warned it could withdraw from the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty if the mechanism were triggered.

Grossi, who met Iranian officials in Tehran this week, said the United States and Iran were "at a very crucial stage" in the talks and "don't have much time" to secure a deal.



- 'Non-negotiable' -



Iranian officials have insisted that the talks focus only on its nuclear programme and lifting of sanctions.

Araghchi said a deal was "likely" if Washington refrained from "making unreasonable and unrealistic demands", without elaborating.

Analysts had said the United States would push to include discussions over Iran's ballistic missile programme and its support for militants in the Middle East.

But Araghchi said Saturday the US side had "not raised any issues unrelated to the nuclear topic so far".

He said earlier this week Iran's right to enrich uranium was "non-negotiable", after Witkoff called for its complete halt. Witkoff had previously demanded only that Iran return to the ceiling set by the 2015 deal.

On Friday US ally Israel affirmed its commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to do so.
Equatorial Guinea denies sending Russia troops to fight in Ukraine



Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



Equatorial Guinea's vice president on Saturday denied the central African country was sending troops to fight alongside Russian soldiers in Ukraine, contrary to an AFP report published earlier this week.

Taking aim at an article in Le Monde, credited to the French newspaper with AFP, Teodoro Nguema Obiang likewise denied the small Spanish-speaking nation on the Atlantic coast had hired Russian mercenaries.

It cited newspaper Diario Rombe, based in Spain and close to Equatorial Guinea's exiled opposition, which said that the country's military agreements with Russia include a recruitment operation for the Kremlin's offensive in Ukraine.

"I come to deny the information about the sending of Equatorial Guinean troops to Russia to fight in Ukraine; this is a falsehood," Nguema, son of longtime autocrat Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, wrote on X.

According to the vice president, young Equatorial Guineans who go to Russia "do not go to war, but to train in the prestigious universities of the Russian Federation".

And "at the end of their studies, (they) proudly return to the country to contribute to the defence of the homeland", added the vice president, known by his nickname Teodorin.

Published on Friday, the AFP article reported, citing sources in the capital Malabo, that Russian mercenaries were present in the country for the personal security of president Nguema, the nation's ruler for the past 45 years, and his family.

"Here we do not have mercenaries but instructors who help us in the framework of cooperation and collaboration with Russia, as well as with other friendly countries for the training of human resources in the defence and security sector," vice president Teodorin said.

The 2024 military agreements refer to the dispatch of Russian instructors for military training purposes.

But according to military sources, no such training has been organised since the first Russian contingent arrived in August 2024.

Meanwhile foreign paramilitaries continue to arrive in the country along with equipment, weapons and vehicles, according to security sources contacted by AFP.

Their current number is estimated at around 300, the same sources added.

Under the Obiang family, freedom of expression has been limited in the former Spanish colony.
UN chief 'gravely concerned' about US strikes on Yemen



United Nations, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is "gravely concerned" about air strikes conducted by the United States in Yemen, a spokesman said Saturday, after rebels there said the attacks killed some 80 people and wounded 150.

Guterres "is gravely concerned about the air strikes conducted by the United States over the course of 17 and 18 April in and around Yemen's port of Ras Issa, which reportedly resulted in scores of civilian casualties, including five humanitarian workers injured," spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement.

The strikes on Ras Issa aimed to cut off supplies and funds for the Huthi rebels that control large swathes of the Arabian Peninsula's poorest country, the US military said.

It was the deadliest attack of Washington's 15-month campaign against the Iran-backed group.

Guterres expressed fears of damage to the port and "possible oil leaks into the Red Sea," Dujarric said.

He also called on the Huthis to halt their ongoing missile and drone attacks on both Israel and shipping in the Red Sea "immediately."

The US military has hammered the Huthis with near-daily air strikes for the past month in a bid to finally stamp out their attacks on shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

The Huthis say their attacks are in protest at Israel's blockade of aid to Gaza, where it is waging a bloody war on Palestinian militant group Hamas.

Dujarric said Guterres remained "deeply troubled" by the threat of further escalation in the region, and that he urged all sides to "exercise utmost restraint."
Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon? Gary Lineker, Mary Berry and Anthony Joshua among famous faces on Centre Court on day five

Who's in the Royal Box at Wimbledon Centre Court on day five?
He added: Competition for Chinese preferment has led to a race to the bottom, with universities feeling they have no choice but to take risks around UK intellectual property, the safety of students, academic freedom, and even UK national security.
The UNHCR said return hubs could appropriately be explored and that it could play a role in supporting countries to use them as long as it does not conflict with its mandate to protect refugees.
Weather Alert

Take action to protect yourself and others  extreme heat can affect everyones health. Determine if you or others around you are at greater risk of heat illness. Check on older adults, those living alone and other at-risk people in-person or on the phone multiple times a day. Watch for the early signs of heat exhaustion in yourself and others. Signs may include headache, nausea, dizziness, thirst, dark urine and intense fatigue. Stop your activity and drink water. Heat stroke is a medical emergency! Call 9-1-1 or your emergency health provider if you, or someone around you, is showing signs of heat stroke which can include red and hot skin, dizziness, nausea, confusion and change in consciousness. While you wait for medical attention, try to cool the person by moving them to a cool place, removing extra clothing, applying cold water or ice packs around the body. Drink water often and before you feel thirsty to replace fluids. Close blinds, or shades and open windows if outside is cooler than inside. Turn on air conditioning, use a fan, or move to a cooler area of your living space. If your living space is hot, move to a cool public space such as a cooling centre, community centre, library or shaded park. Follow the advice of your regions public health authority. Plan and schedule outdoor activities during the coolest parts of the day. Limit direct exposure to the sun and heat. Wear lightweight, light-coloured, loose-fitting clothing and a wide-brimmed hat. Never leave people, especially children, or pets inside a parked vehicle. Check the vehicle before locking to make sure no one is left behind. Humidex values reaching 40 are expected. A heat event is expected Saturday to Sunday. What: Daytime highs of 31 to 33 degrees Celsius and a humidex of 40. Overnight lows of 21 to 25 degrees Celsius, providing little relief from the heat. When: Saturday to Sunday, coming to an end Sunday night. ### For more information: https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/how-protect-yourself.html https://www.canada.ca/en/health-canada/services/climate-change-health/extreme-heat/who-is-at-risk.html Please continue to monitor alerts and forecasts issued by Environment Canada. To report severe weather, send an email to ONstorm@ec.gc.ca or post reports on X using #ONStorm.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi is in Rome, Italy, today to take part in the second round of indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States, the spokesperson for the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Esmail Baghaei told reporters, Trend reports.

Baghaei stated that the second round of indirect talks will be held today in Rome, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Envoy to Middle East Affairs, Steve Witkoff.

He further explained that, like the first round, the negotiations will be conducted indirectly with the mediation of the Foreign Minister of the Sultanate of Oman, Sayyid Badr Al-Busaidi.

The Iranian official added that the venue of Rome for the second round was proposed by the Omani Foreign Minister and accepted by both Iran and the US.

"Iran's peaceful nuclear program fully complies with international law, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT). Iran preserves its legal right to utilize nuclear energy for peaceful purposes by fulfilling its obligations under the internationally accepted framework," he noted.

Baghaei made it clear that Iran's position in the talks is all about lifting the illegal sanctions hanging over the country and addressing the worries surrounding the nuclear matter. This position was also brought to the table during the first round of discussions.

"In light of the contradictory statements made by various US officials in recent days, Iran expects the US side to clarify its stance in the first step and address the serious doubts raised about their commitment to the negotiations," he added.

To note, on April 12, indirect talks between Iran and the US on Irans nuclear program were held in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Winkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect.

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As many as 9,600 police officers will be present daily in the vicinity of places of worship during Easter to ensure public safety, spokesman for the Romanian Police Bogdan Ghebaur told a news conference on Patriarchate Hill in Bucharest.

Between April 18 and 21, in order to keep publicorder and safety, both in areas with a large influx of people and in the vicinity of places of worship, there will be 9,600 police officers, on average, daily. Along with them, the other law enforcement officers of the Ministry of Internal Affairs act at national level to secure public order and peace," said Ghebaur.

According to him, measures were provided for keeping order in crowded places, in the vicinity of places of worship, where religious services are to be held, as well as in tourist, recreational areas and near border crossings.

Nationwide, an average of 1,600 highway police officers in places with a high risk of accidents and at times with heavy traffic, to combat speeding, prevent accidents and road blockages, as well as for the direction, fluidisation and control of traffic on the main communication routes to and from tourist resorts.

In order to monitor road traffic and coordinate traffic devices, helicopters from the General Aviation Inspectorate will be used on the main arteries when heavy traffic is expected. In order to prevent serious traffic accidents and maintain a cautious attitude in traffic, highway patrols will act on average using 450 devices throughout the country.

"We recommend all citizens to take into account a minimum of self-protection measures in order to spend the Easter mini-breask in peace. Drive accordingly and attentively, especially on the night of Resurrection, when we have people moving to places of worship. In crowded areas, do not let children play unsupervised, tell them that they are only allowed to leave with your permission and teach them to call the police whenever they need help. Be sure to lock your home when you leave home. In case of emergency or if you have assisted, or you are aware of the commission of any antisocial act, call with confidence to the nearest policeman or to the Single Emergency Service 112," Ghebaur said.

A similar message came from the spokesperson of the Romanian Gendarmerie, Ana Maria Burchi, who recommended all those who will participate in the events of this period to avoid involvement in actions likely to disturb the smooth running of events, to respect the recommendations of the law enforcement agencies, to pay special attention to children, and if they witness the commission of illegal acts, to use the support of the gendarmes who are ready to offer them help.

"Every day over 6,000 gendarmes are present at all the events that take place in the public areas in order to avoid any incidents. On the night of Resurrection, about 8,000 gendarmes will be in the streets to ensure public peace at national level near more than 14,000 places of worship, but also on people's travel routes," Burchi said.

Public PRDERmeasures are intensified and preventive actions are carried out in areas with intense traffic and arteries in order to avoid possible situations that may disturb the smooth running of events.

"On the seaside, at the resorts where there is a large number of tourists, such as Mamaia, Vama Veche, Mangalia and Costinesti, the gendarmes will set up mobile intervention teams ready to respond in case of disturbance of public order. (...) Every day over 170 mountain gendarmes are on the routes and tourist resorts, equipped and prepared to intervene to provide support to people in difficulty, and also in case of deviations from the legal norms."

Spokesman for the General Emergency Managment Inspectorate (IGSU) Marin Adrian says that at the operational level, about 5,000 firefighters a day, using over 4,000 pieces of technical hardware are mobilised to ensure rapid intervention in providing emergency medical assistance, extinguishing fires and rescuing people in danger.

"Considering the specificity of these days, marked by a large participation of believers in religious services and an increase in activities in tourist areas, our institution has intensified checking, paying increased attention to places of worship, accommodation establishments inside monasteries, tourist accommodation establishments as well as economic facilities in areas with high affluence," according to the IGSU official.

At the same time, he said that training sessions were organised for priests and clergy personnel on emergency evacuation procedures and the correct use of fire extinguishers. AGERPRES
The Holy Fire will be flown from Jerusalem to Bucharest this evening by the Romanian Patriarchate's official Teofil Anastasoaie, and will be offered to the delegates of the dioceses at the Henri Coanda International Airport.

Subsequently, the diocesan centres, through their deaneries, will distribute the Holy Fire to each parish, the Press Office of the Romanian Patriarchate informed.

Also this year, the Holy Fire will be carried, through a delegate of the Metropolitan Church of Moldavia and Bukovina, from Bucharest to Chisinau, where it will be offered to the parishes of the Metropolitan Church of Bessarabia.

The Holy Fire will be received at the Patriarchal Cathedral, by Patriarch Daniel.

"Bringing and offering the Holy Fire of Jerusalem to all parishes within the Romanian Patriarchate is, therefore, both a testimony of ecclesial unity and a manifestation of the Easter joy shared on the occasion of the great feast of the Resurrection of the Savior Jesus Christ," according to the Romanian Christian Orthodox Church (BOR).

Inaugurated by Patriarch Daniel in 2009, the tradition of flying in the Holy Fire from Jerusalem on Holy Saturday continues in the Centennial Year of the Romanian Patriarchate.

The Holy Fire is considered a miracle of Christian Orthodoxy that happens every year on Easter in Jerusalem, during Great Vespers of Holy Saturday, between 12:30hrs and 14:30hrs, when a fire is lit above the Holy Sepulchre that descends from heaven, manifesting itself differently every year and which, in the first minutes, does not burn.

The fire is brought to the faithful by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Holy Sepulchre is inspected as early as Good Friday, immediately after the funeral service. Those who make the check - so that there is no suspicion of staging - are civilian policemen, who are not Christians. Usually, there are three of them: an Arab, a Turk and a representative of the State of Israel. Their role is to inspect the room of the Holy Sepulchre so that there is no source of fire. He also physically controls those who will enter there at the time of the religious ceremony. Then, at the right time, the lights go out, the door is sealed, and only the guards remain at the entrance.

After the service, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, dressed only in a white sticharion, with an epithelium and a girdle, goes to the Holy Sepulchre. At the entrance, he is searched by the police in the presence of witnesses belonging to all denominations. The patriarch unseals the entrance to the tomb and enters the first room, in the Chapel of the Angel, accompanied - according to tradition - only by an Arab of the Islamic religion. Further, the patriarch enters the actual room of the tomb alone and kneels in front of the slab.

Later, after prayer, the people in the church often have the opportunity to observe a light like lightning coming through the dome above the Chapel of the Holy Sepulchre. Pilgrims compare this light to a globe that spreads into small pieces. The light reaches the slab of the Holy Sepulchre, thus igniting the cotton wool sprinkled on top.

The role of the patriarch is to take this lighted cotton wool in his hands and place it in two golden cups. He returns to the Chapel of the Angel to light up two bundles of 33 candles each, then goes out and distributes the fire to the faithful. AGERPRES
When a group of St. Louis police officers came up with the idea of a podcast revolving around cops and their stories, nobody figured that Paige Spears would someday be a featured guest.

But one Thursday last month, in the basement of Colombos Cafe & Tavern on Manchester Avenue where the Brighter Side of Blue podcast is produced, Spears sipped a soft drink and kept himself collected. He had been released from prison days earlier, thanks largely to the podcast. The basement was filled with cops who had come to watch the taping.

Spears was not an innocent man wrongly accused. He was guilty as charged. He and a pal robbed a liquor store in Ferguson in 1988. For Spears, it was his third strike. He had committed his first robbery when he was 16. He did two and a half years, came out worse than when he went in, and committed three more robberies He did six years of a 15-year sentence, and then robbed the liquor store.

A jury convicted him of first-degree robbery and armed criminal action. Judge Steven Goldman sentenced him to life in prison for the robbery and 30 years for armed criminal action.

Three strike laws were all the rage. The sentencing rated a single paragraph in the police-courts round-up of the Post-Dispatch.

So how did the podcast come to champion Spears cause?

That story began on Christmas Eve of 2021, when Steve James and Derrick Brookfield were victims of a street robbery in Wellston. They gave up their wallets and cell phones but were shot, anyway. Brookfield was killed. James survived but was partially paralyzed.

James has a knack for painting and came up with the idea of using photos to paint portraits of murder victims and then giving the portraits to the grieving families. Major Ron Martin of the North County Police Cooperative, who had met James during the investigation into the Wellston shooting, mentioned the portraits to John Frank, a retired sergeant from the city who produces Brighter Side of Blue.

James was a guest on the podcast last May. Officers delivered one of his portraits to the mother of a murder victim.

James is Spears half-brother, and he told Frank about Spears life sentence. Actually, James called Frank and patched Spears in on the call. Im doing life and I never hurt anybody, Spears said. I see murderers come and go, he said.

Frank was caught off-guard. I dont think we can help you, he said. Were cops and retired cops, he said. Still, he promised to look into the case. He found several old newspaper columns. Shouldnt it count for something that Spears never shot anybody? If you ever talk to anybody who has been on the wrong end of a gun, he or she will tell that their first thought  and it is overwhelming  is, Please dont kill me.

The columns pointed out that there is already an incentive for robbers to shoot their victims. No witnesses. We ought to consider the message we are sending to the streets when we give a life sentence to a man who didnt shoot.

Certain crimes demand life imprisonment. Robbery isnt one.

Also, there was a legalistic argument. When Spears was sentenced, a life sentence meant, for parole purposes, 50 years. A subsequent law changed that number to 30, but the law was not retroactive.

Those columns did not move the needle in any way. I did get some positive feedback from a few people inside the prison administration. Spears is an example of a man who has been rehabilitated, they said. He has completed every program the system offers, and has taught most of them.

Every time somebody committed a murder and pleaded it down to manslaughter, which happens a lot, I thought of Spears.

In 2021, I heard from Spears longtime attorney, Herman Jimerson. (He did not handle the original trial.) Theres gong to be a hearing to reduce his sentence, Jimerson said. Prosecuting attorney Wesley Bell is for it. So is former Attorney General Mike Wolff, Jimerson said. The hearing was called off at the last moment. The judge who was scheduled to hear it decided the court did not have the authority to reduce a sentence.

Some good came from the failed hearing. Spears family and friends had a protest outside the courthouse. Television got interested. Chris Hayes of KTVI (Fox 2) and Holden Kurwicki of KSDK (Channel 5) did reports.

A model prisoner. A changed man.

So Frank brought the idea to his podcast mates, J.J. Joyner, Danny Howard and Tommy Sawyer. They were, of course, men who had spent their careers putting people into prison. Should they help a guilty man get out?

But they understand, perhaps more than most, the profound difference between robbery and murder. They decided to help. The only path out of prison was a commutation. Then-Gov. Mike Parson was a former sheriff. He held cops in higher regard than he did journalists.

Lots of people reached out. They wouldnt necessarily want their names used, Frank told me.

Parson commuted the sentence, and Spears was paroled. Frank went to the prison in Farmington to welcome him to freedom.

I chatted with Spears at the podcast taping, and then visited him at his mothers home in Florissant a few days later. She is 88. She was at a doctors appointment the day I visited.

Spears talked about rehabilitation and change. The prisons have good programs, he said, but they only work if you want them to. Real change comes from inside, he said.

He said he became a real Christian in prison, and that helped. It was actually a return, he said. His parents were churchgoers. His dad drove a garbage truck. Spears was the fifth of eight kids, and the only one who got in any serious trouble.

Hes 64, and he hopes to find work. Maybe counseling of some sort.

He said he went to a Social Security office to get a copy of his Social Security card. He lost the original years ago. The clerk told him they no longer take walk-ins, but then she relented and went to her computer.

Youre dead, she said.

Apparently, somebody had stolen his number during the years he was locked up, and then that person died.

Im sure it will get worked out, Spears said.

I asked what happened to Michael Clark, his partner in the liquor store robbery. It was Clark who had the gun. They were tried together and sentenced together.

Hes still in prison, Spears said.

Two men were arrested for the murder of Brookfield and the shooting of James. Their cases are still pending.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. A reasonable agreement on Iran's nuclear program could benefit all parties involved, said the Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi, Trend reports.

Speaking today at a meeting in Rome with his Italian counterpart, Antonio Tajani, Araghchi pointed out that a nuclear agreement with Iran could be a win-win situation for everyone involved.

As he noted, Iran is ready to voluntarily address any doubts regarding its peaceful nuclear program through the removal of unilateral sanctions against the country and the building of trust.

Araghchi added that Irans nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and based on its values and defense doctrine, the country considers weapons of mass destruction unacceptable.

During the meeting, the Italian minister highlighted that hosting talks between the United States and Iran is of high value for Italy.

"Italy is interested in strengthening relations between the two countries and is ready to offer any assistance to ensure the success of the negotiations between Iran and the US," he stated.

To note, on April 12, indirect talks between Iran and the US on Irans nuclear program were held in Muscat, Oman. The discussions, led by Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi and the US Special Representative for Middle East Affairs, Steve Winkoff, were described as constructive and based on mutual respect. The next round of talks will take place today in Rome.

Stay up-to-date with more news on Trend News Agency's WhatsApp channel
ST. LOUIS  At least 1,000 people marched through downtown Saturday to protest President Donald Trump, Elon Musk and what they decried as anti-democratic policies as hundreds of similar protests took place across the U.S.

An initial crowd of a few dozen people quickly multiplied as people gathered in Kiener Plaza park under umbrellas or hooded ponchos. Protesters marched down Market Street to City Hall, then back to Kiener Plaza, repeating chants opposed to anything from immigrant deportations to fascist USA.

Were seeing the dismantling of our democracy and our government happen right before our eyes, said Lauren Wolfe, 33, of St. Louis. The main thing we as people can do is get loud.

The event was originally organized as a March for Science to oppose federal cuts to research funding. But organizers called it off about an hour before start time due to inclement weather.

People came anyway, either because they unaware of the cancellation, or because they were determined to voice their concerns publicly.

It was one of five protests scheduled for Saturday throughout the region, with two Tesla takedowns at the automakers dealerships in south St. Louis County and Chesterfield. A couple other protests were planned in St. Charles.

Opponents of the Trump administration took to the streets of several communities across the U.S. Saturday, citing a wide range of concerns, from the detention of Columbia University protester Mahmoud Khalil to cuts to higher education and research funding.

For Laura Hazelip, 69, Saturdays protest was the third protest shed been to in recent weeks.

Hazelip drove to St. Louis from Marthasville on Saturday morning. She said she was worried the country would go back to being racist because of the clawing back of diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Trumps ignoring of the constitution also concerned her, she said.

Everybody needs to hit the streets, Hazelip said. Otherwise, youre just letting it happen.

Fernando Vigil, a middle school science teacher, held a sign that read OUR FUTURE DEPENDS ON SCIENCE!

Were setting ourselves up for a world where people cant envision a need for science, said Vigil, referring to the Trump administrations cuts of grants to fund scientific research.

There were also strong sentiments among some that the democratic structure of the US never worked, especially for minorities. Members of the local Party for Socialism and Liberation led the protest after several other groups backed out due to the weather.

Angel Flores, a postdoctoral student of US history at St. Louis University, at one point encouraged the crowd to join the train of socialism.

United States capitalism is a Cybertruck heading to hell, no matter who drives it, Flores said during a speech in front of City Hall.

The protest started at 12 p.m. and ended around 1:30 p.m.

There were no arrests or counterprotesters.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Supreme Court on Saturday blocked  for now  the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under an 18th century wartime law.

The court directed the Trump administration not to remove Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center "until further order of this court." Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. The Supreme Court said earlier this month that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance and "reasonable time" to argue their case in court.

"We are deeply relieved that the Court has temporarily blocked the removals. These individuals were in imminent danger of spending the rest of their lives in a brutal Salvadoran prison without ever having had any due process," ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said in an email.

The Trump administration later Saturday filed paperwork urging the high court to reconsider its hold.

We are confident we will ultimately prevail against the onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of these terrorist aliens than those of the American people, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a social media post.

On Friday, two federal judges refused to step in as lawyers for the men sought to prevent their deportation. Early Saturday, the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals also refused to issue an order protecting the detainees from being deported.

The ACLU already sued to block deportations of two Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet facility and sought an order barring removals of any immigrants in the region under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an emergency filing early Friday, the ACLU warned that immigration authorities were accusing other Venezuelan men held there of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang, which would make them subject to President Donald Trump's use of the act.

The act was invoked only three previous times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to hold Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration contended it gives them power to swiftly remove immigrants they identified as members of the gang, regardless of their immigration status.

Following the unanimous high court order April 9, federal judges in Colorado, New York and southern Texas promptly issued orders barring removal of detainees under the AEA until the administration provides a process for them to make claims in court.

However, no such order was issued in the far northern area of Texas that covers Bluebonnet.

U.S. District Judge James Wesley Hendrix, a Trump appointee, this past week declined to bar the administration from removing the two men identified in the ACLU lawsuit because Immigration and Customs Enforcement filed sworn declarations that they would not be immediately deported. He also balked at issuing a broader order prohibiting removal of all Venezuelans in the area under the act because he said removals hadn't started yet.

The ACLU's Friday filing included sworn declarations from three separate immigration lawyers who said their clients in Bluebonnet were given paperwork indicating they were members of Tren de Aragua and could be deported by Saturday. In one case, immigration lawyer Karene Brown said her client, identified by initials, was told to sign papers in English even though the client only spoke Spanish.

"ICE informed F.G.M. that these papers were coming from the President, and that he will be deported even if he did not sign it," Brown wrote.

Gelernt said in a Friday evening hearing before District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that the administration moved Venezuelans to its south Texas immigration facility for deportation. However, since a judge banned deportations in that area, it funneled them to the Bluebonnet facility. He said witnesses reported the men were loaded on buses Friday evening to be taken to the airport.

With Hendrix not agreeing to the ACLU's request for an emergency order, the group turned to Boasberg, who initially halted deportations in March. The Supreme Court ruled the orders against deportation could only come from judges in jurisdictions where immigrants were held, which Boasberg said made him powerless Friday.

Boasberg this past week found probable cause that the Trump administration committed criminal contempt by disobeying his initial deportation ban. He was concerned the paper ICE gave to those held did not make clear they had a right to challenge their removal in court, which he believed the Supreme Court mandated.

Drew Ensign, an attorney for the Justice Department, disagreed, saying people slated for deportation would have a "minimum" of 24 hours to challenge their removal in court. He said no flights were scheduled for Friday night and he was unaware of any Saturday, but the Department of Homeland Security said it reserved the right to remove people then.

ICE said it would not comment on the litigation.

Also Friday, a Massachusetts judge made permanent his temporary ban on the administration deporting immigrants who exhausted their appeals to countries other than their home countries unless they are informed of their destination and given a chance to object if they'd face torture or death there.

Some Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador under the act and housed in a notorious prison.

PHOTOS: A look at immigration and the US border with Mexico
Three Army units will deploy to Europe and the Middle East in the summer as part of regular unit rotations, the Army announced Friday, April 18, 2025. (U.S. Army)



WASHINGTON  Three Army units will deploy to Europe and the Middle East in the summer as part of regular unit rotations, the Army announced Friday.

The 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Infantry Division from Fort Riley, Kan., will deploy to Europe to replace the 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Armored Division, which is based at Fort Bliss, Texas, and train alongside NATO forces.

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 1st Cavalry Division from Fort Cavazos, Texas, will also deploy to Europe to replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team of the 3rd Infantry Division, which is based at Fort Stewart, Ga.

The U.S. launched Operation Atlantic Resolve in 2014 after Russias initial invasion of Ukraine when it annexed the Crimean Peninsula. The operation  meant to bolster NATOs eastern flank and dissuade Russian forces from entering the alliances territory  grew larger after Russias 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade of the 4th Infantry Division from Fort Carson, Colo., will deploy to U.S. Central Command to replace the 101st Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade, which is based at Fort Campbell, Ky.
Army Staff Sgt. Joel De La Cruz briefs other soldiers prior to training Syrian Free Army troops at a combat outpost in Syria on Feb. 7, 2025. (Fred Brown/U.S. Army)



WASHINGTON  U.S. troops in Syria will begin to consolidate their operations in the country, shutting down some bases in the coming months and leaving less than 1,000 service members there, the Pentagon announced Friday.

This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading [the Islamic States] appeal and operational capability regionally and globally, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement.

The military is shuttering three of its eight small operating bases in Syrias northeast region, The New York Times reported. The bases are Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates and a third much smaller facility.

About 600 troops will be pulled out from Syria, according to an Associated Press report that cited an unnamed U.S. official.

The removal of troops will return U.S. forces in Syria to a level that they had been for years, after a multiyear campaign to defeat ISIS. The U.S. had maintained about 900 troops in the country to ensure ISIS militants did not regain a foothold, but also to prevent Iranian-backed militants from trafficking weapons across southern Syria.

The number of U.S. troops there was increased to more than 2,000 after the Oct. 7, 2023, attacks by Hamas militants in Israel as Iranian-backed fighters targeted American forces and interests in the region in response to Israels bombardment of Gaza. Three U.S. soldiers in Jordan were killed by a drone fired by an Iranian-backed militia in January 2024.

In December 2024, Syrian President Bashar Assad fled the country. In the months since, Syrians displaced by more than a decade of war have returned home, but the country remains unstable. Israel has targeted Syrian weapons installations, and there are some indications that ISIS is trying to reconstitute itself, and Iranian-backed militias in Syria remain a threat to U.S. interests.

As this consolidation takes place, consistent with President [Donald] Trumps commitment to peace through strength, U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria, Parnell said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A drone flies at Fort Cavazos, Texas, in October 2023. (U.S. Army)



WASHINGTON  Shooting drone video footage of national defense sites would be treated as a crime and punishable with imprisonment under new legislation introduced by two military veterans in Congress.

The Espionage Act of 1917 already prohibits the photography of sensitive military sites but the statute makes no mention of videography  an omission that Reps. Jen Kiggans, R-Va., and Don Davis, D-N.C., hope to correct.

Their proposed bill would amend the law to include video in the list of criminal information-gathering means to address a growing use of drones by adversaries such as China.

The lawmakers said Congress needed to take swift action as adversaries increasingly attempt to obtain unauthorized access to aerial footage of defense sites.

As a Navy veteran who represents of one of the most military-heavy districts in the country, I know how critical it is to safeguard our national defense infrastructure and protect sensitive national security information, Kiggans said.

The Drone Espionage Act would hold bad actors accountable, impose serious repercussions and protect national security, she said.

Last year, Kiggans was among scores of lawmakers who raised alarm over a spate of mysterious drone sightings in Virginias Hampton Roads area, which is home to 18 military installations and 120,000 active-duty, Reserve and civilian personnel.

Drones were also spotted along the East Coast, most prominently in New Jersey.

The White House has repeatedly denied any malicious activity, saying some of the drones were authorized for research purposes while others were a combination of lawful commercial drones, hobbyist drones and law enforcement drones.

Lawmakers continue to remain concerned about foreign surveillance, however.

A Chinese citizen living in California was sentenced to four months in prison late last month for flying a drone for nearly an hour over Vandenberg Space Force Base in November and taking aerial photos of the installation.

The man, a lawful permanent resident of the U.S., had conducted a search for the phrase Vandenberg Space Force Base Drone Rules and messaged with another person about hacking his drone to allow it to fly higher than it could otherwise, according to the Justice Department.

He was arrested prior to boarding a flight to China and pleaded guilty to one federal count of violating the national defense airspace. His sentence also includes a year of supervised release and $225 in fines.

Those caught taking video of a military site, particularly using a drone, with the aim of harming national defense would be subject to a fine, 10 years of imprisonment or both under the legislation proposed by Kiggans and Davis.

We need a common-sense approach to protect our military installations and safeguard classified information, said Davis, a former Air Force officer.
BAKU, Azerbaijan, April 19. Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered a suspension of all combat operations from 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, until midnight on Monday, Trend reports.

He made the announcement on Saturday during a meeting with Chief of the Russian General Staff Valery Gerasimov.
Dermot Feeney (44) was part of a two man gang who forced their way into Candy Cloud, along Longford towns Main Street.

Dermot Feeney (44) had 85 previous convictions to his name before he broke into a local vape shop and was found armed with a three inch blade less than two weeks later.

Dermot Feeney was handed down a suspended five month prison sentence for his role in a break-in at a vape store in Longford town last June.

A recidivist criminal with almost 90 convictions to his name has blamed his latest spate of offending that saw him break into a midlands based vape store less than two weeks before he was found armed with a knife in broad daylight on his battle with drug addiction and the break-up of his marriage.

Dermot Feeney (44) of Victory Court, Longford town pleaded guilty to both offences at a sitting of Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens.

Feeney, the court heard, was part of a two man gang who forced their way into Candy Cloud, along Longford towns Main Street at around 4am on June 22 last year.

Sgt Mark Mahon, for the State, said his co-accused who had been detained at the scene subsequently named Feeney as his accomplice, resulting in both men being arrested and taken to Longford Garda Station for questioning.

Dermot Feeney was handed down a suspended five month prison sentence for his role in a break-in at a vape store in Longford town last June.

He said both men made full admissions as to their culpability in the incident and their role in theft of approximately 520 from the store.

In the wake of that incident, the court heard details of how Feeney was arrested for a second time just 13 days later, this time as the recovering drug addict was spotted acting suspiciously along a section of the midlands towns N63 carriageway.

Sgt Mahon said when officers stopped and searched Feeney under the Misuse of Drugs Act, they discovered a three inch black handled knife concealed in the lining of his coat.

In drawing a line under the States evidence, Sgt Mahon provided details of some of Feeneys 85 previous convictions.

Among them, he said included offences for burglary, two of which culminated in five and two month stints respectively behind bars alongside convictions for assault and obstruction.

His most recent conviction, the court heard, came in December 2020 for drugs possession, an offence that led Feeney to being hit with a 200 fine.

Defence solicitor Frank Gearty described his clients role in the burglary episode as being that of a hanger-on and someone who was labouring from both a predilection to drugs as well as the dissolution of his marriage.

He had no business going in there and Dermot was in a very, very bad place at that time, Mr Gearty explained.

He was not his full self by any means. He was abusing drugs, his marriage had come to an end and it was causing shocking depression and anxiety.

Dermot Feeney (44) had 85 previous convictions to his name before he broke into a local vape shop and was found armed with a three inch blade less than two weeks later.

Mr Gearty said Feeneys rationale to arm himself with a knife had been fuelled by a displaced belief that everyone was out to get him, a perception which had been exacerbated by a habitual drug dependency and his own difficulties in remaining of sober habits.

In spite of those challenges, Mr Gearty insisted Feeney was doing his level best to adhere to bail conditions imposed on him last July to tackle his addiction issues and obey a curfew.

He said Feeneys demeanour in court illustrated the Longford mans continued progress, saying his coherent and articulate appearance paled in comparison to the figure that had been largely responsible for his criminal past.

Mr Gearty said while there was no denying Feeneys shocking record, he implored the court to hold its hand in issuing a custodial sentence, an argument he contended was backed up by his clients own desire to seek full and meaningful rehabilitation.

He wants to continue to prove to himself and to society that he is not going to be a pest basically by arriving into a business premises in the middle of the night, stated Mr Gearty, while insisting Feeney was no longer resorting to carrying knives.

Judge Owens said, despite those assurances, the court could not ignore Feeneys relevant previous convictions as she handed down a five month prison sentence for the burglary charge, suspending its duration for a period of 18 months.

The knife possession charge, meanwhile, was taken into consideration.
James OCallaghan pleaded guilty to a Section 4 theft offence arising from an incident outside Bridge Jewellers on Shelbourne Road, Dublin.

A judge has told a 44-year-old man that he is far too old to be coming back before the courts after he admitted to his role in the theft of a handbag from an unlocked car outside a jewellers in Dublin.

James OCallaghan, of Saint Andrews Court, Dublin 2, appeared before Dun Laoghaire District Court, where he pleaded guilty to a Section 4 theft offence arising from an incident outside Bridge Jewellers on Shelbourne Road, Ballsbridge, shortly after 1pm on October 21, 2020.

Detective Garda James McNeill told the court that the handbag had been taken from an unlocked Mercedes parked outside the shop.

The court heard that OCallaghan was not the person who physically removed the bag but was identified from CCTV footage and later arrested. The court heard he cooperated with gardai and helped recover the stolen items.

His solicitor Michael OBrien said that although OCallaghan had not taken the bag, he accepted that he was involved and "fully aware" of what had happened. Counsel described the offence as a stupid mistake and a slip of the mind, adding that OCallaghan knew it should not have happened.

The court heard O'Callaghan was extremely remorseful and had assisted gardai in locating the items.

Mr OBrien added that OCallaghans previous convictions largely related to road traffic matters and dated back to the years between 1999 and 2003. The solicitor submitted that the incident was out of character for his client.

The defendant, whom the court heard lives with his mother and is currently unemployed, has 10 previous convictions, including those for having no insurance, drink-driving and criminal damage. His most recent conviction dates from 2021.

Mr OBrien told the court that his client was currently on social welfare, paying 80 a week in rent and 60 a week in family support.

OCallaghan said he regretted his involvement and apologised to the court.

However, in passing sentence, Judge Catherine Ghent said: It wasnt a stupid mistake - it was a choice. A choice was made to engage in something that leaves a person in fear and causes stress.

She also noted that no apology had been offered to the injured party prior to the court appearance.

Taking into account the cooperation with gardai and full recovery of the property, the Judge imposed a 400 fine, giving O'Callaghan eight months to pay.

I dont want to see you in court again, she told him. Youre far too old for that.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Christopher Slator (40), who was jailed for the shooting dead of Michael Barr at a Dublin pub, carried out the attack on the prison guards at Mountjoy.

A CONVICTED murderer serving a life sentence for a gangland killing threw cartons of milk at two prison officers and punched a third in the face.

Christopher Slator (40), who was jailed for the shooting dead of Michael Barr at a Dublin pub, carried out the attack on the prison guards at Mountjoy.

Judge John Hughes gave him another 10 months jail time, but said it was academic given Slators life sentence.

The accused, from Carnlough Road, Cabra, pleaded guilty to assaulting two of the officers and assault causing harm to the third.

He has been in jail since he was found guilty in 2022 of the murder of dissident republican Michael Barr, who was shot dead at the Sunset House Pub in 2016, at the height of the Kinahan-Hutch feud.

Dublin District Court heard while in Mountjoy on July 20 last year, Slator threw cartons of milk at two officers on duty in the prison. When a third prison guard intervened to de-escalate the situation, Slator struck him across the face with a punch which knocked him to the ground.

Michael Barr

The injured party did not make a victim impact statement but a medical report was submitted to the court.

Slators criminal record also includes convictions for drug dealing and possession of a phone in prison.

He was apologetic in the extreme for the assaults, his solicitor said.

The case had been listed for a contested hearing previously and the prosecution were in difficulty that day but notwithstanding that, Slator had decided to mark a guilty plea.

He was attending school in prison and his three children and partner visited him every two weeks. His solicitor asked the judge to be as lenient as he could.

Judge Hughes said any sentence he could impose was academic because of the existing life term. He gave Slator credit for his guilty plea but said it was an aggravating factor that the assaults happened in a place of incarceration.

He said it was a serious matter and the assault had an effect on the prison officer who was injured.

He sentenced Slator to 10 months on the more serious charge with five months each on the other two, to run concurrently.

Michael Barr was the manager of the Sunset House on Summerhill Parade and was socialising there on 25 April 2016 when two armed men wearing 'Freddy Krueger' style masks burst in and shot him before fleeing to a car.

A Special Criminal Court trial heard Slators DNA was discovered on a mask and runner inside the getaway car which was found on fire a short distance from the murder scene.

The court also found it highly suspicious that Slator fled the jurisdiction the following day by booking flights to Dubai with a co-accused.

Slator, who had denied murder, was found guilty. He has since appealed his conviction, arguing that key DNA evidence should not have been admitted at his trial. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgement.

Slator was the third man to be convicted of the murder with David Hunter (43) of Du Cane Road, White City, London, and Eamon Cumberton, of Mountjoy Street, Dublin 7 also imprisoned for life for the offence.
The court heard that Garda Niall McGahern stopped a car on Whitestown Way, Tallaght, after noticing the driver acting suspiciously

A man who told gardai that he had been using a large butchers knife in his car as a "makeshift screwdriver" for fixing the windscreen wipers has been fined 150.

Adam Printo (26), of Sundale Villas, Jobstown, Tallaght, Dublin 24, appeared before Tallaght District Court earlier this week, where he entered a guilty plea to a charge under Section 9 of the Firearms and Offensive Weapons Act.

The court heard that on October 20, 2023, Garda Niall McGahern stopped a car on Whitestown Way, Tallaght, after noticing the driver acting suspiciously while stopped at traffic lights.

When questioned by gardai, Printo produced a large butchers knife from inside the car but was unable to explain why he had it.

The court heard he was arrested and taken to Tallaght Garda Station, where a small amount of cannabis was also found on him.

Defence counsel, Lauren Flanagan BL, told the court that her client had been using the knife as a makeshift screwdriver earlier that day to fix the windscreen wipers. She added that her client was employed full-time in a warehouse, earning around 500 a week, and has no previous convictions or history of addiction.

Ms Flanagan also highlighted that the car was in poor condition, a claim not disputed by Garda McGahern.

The knife was presented in court as evidence in a plastic bag.

Judge William Aylmer convicted Printo and imposed a 150 fine, giving him three months to pay. Printo was informed of his right to appeal.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Darren Kane pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

A 43-year-old man who was found with cocaine in a parked camper van has avoided a conviction after a judge noted he has since turned his life around and is now helping others in addiction recovery.

Darren Kane, of Butterfield Close, Rathfarnham, Dublin 14, was discovered asleep in the drivers seat of a Volkswagen camper van at around 1:50am on 9 May 2021, at the Spawell Service Station. Gardai told the District Court that they found cocaine worth 140 in the passenger seat.

Kane pleaded guilty to possession of the drugs under section 3 of the Misuse of Drugs Act.

The court heard he has 27 previous convictions, including five under the same act, and was previously handed a 10-month suspended sentence in May 2022 for a Section 15 drugs offence.

However, his defence counsel told Tallaght District Court that Kane had made remarkable progress since then.

The court heard he had completed a 20-month residential programme at Cuan Mhuire and obtained a Level 6 qualification in psychology.

The court also heard that he was now volunteering to support others in addiction recovery and had spoken at a graduation event in March 2024, sharing his journey and the importance of second chances.

Judge Deirdre Gearty noted that Kane appeared to have turned his life around and was now a positive influence on others in the position he once found himself in.

Applying the Probation of Offenders Act, Section 1.1, Judge Gearty decided that no conviction should be recorded.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.
Karis Martin (26) was also caught with stolen property including a hair straightener and e-scooter in a series of other encounters with gardai around the city.

A mother of one found arguing with a man and falling intoxicated around a Dublin park told gardai she had been smoking meth all day.

Karis Martin (26) was also caught with stolen property including a hair straightener and e-scooter in a series of other encounters with gardai around the city.

Judge John Hughes jailed her for six months when she appeared in Dublin District Court.

Martin, with addresses at city hostels, pleaded guilty to theft, possession of stolen property and public order offences.

The court heard she was seen in a verbal argument with a man at Mount Pleasant Park in Dublin 6 on May 1 last year and told gardai she had been looking to buy drugs. She was extremely intoxicated and stated she had been smoking meth all day, a garda said.

Separately, she kicked a desk at Rathmines garda station, breaking part of it off, after she was arrested for hurling abuse at officers in the street.

In other incidents, she was caught with a stolen e-scooter and with a hair straightener from a hairdresser. Martin had 113 previous convictions.

She had mental health issues which led to impulsive behaviour, had been taking drugs since the age of 12 and ended up in a cycle of addiction, her lawyer said.
Sophie Brady and sister were abused by cousins

A petition by two sisters, who were abused by their cousins, seeking harsher sentencing for sex offenders has garnered more than 6,000 signatories.

Sophie Brady and her older sister were abused her cousin, David Hamilton, who pleaded guilty the sexual assault of Sophie and guilty to rape, oral rape and sexual assault of her sister in Co Meath on dates between 2004 and 2008.

He was sentenced to serve seven-and-a-half years, with the final 12 months suspended.

The sentence was reduced on account of an early guilty plea, and the fact the crimes were committed while Hamilton was a minor.

David's brother Jonathan pleaded guilty to one count of rape and sexual assault of Sophies older sister on one occasion on a date in 2005.

David and Jonathan Hamilton

He was sentenced to three years with the final six months suspended.

Writing on Change.Org, where the petition is being hosted, Sophies older sister wrote: As survivors of sexual violence, my sister and I demand reform in the Irish legal system.

Our abusers received sentences of 2.5 and 6.5 years, respectively.

These sentences fall drastically short of reflecting the severity, the harm caused, and the extended periods during which the crimes occurred.

Sexual violence is a devastating crime that takes a toll on the victim for the rest of their life, necessitating a robust response from our judicial system.

We urge the authorities to impose harsher sentences for sexual offenders.

This isnt just about us. Sexual violence is a pervasive problem not only in Ireland but worldwide.

According to the Rape Crisis Network Ireland, around 12% of girls and 5% of boys have experienced sexual violence.

With such troubling statistics, it is evident that the current punitive measures in place are not sufficient deterrence.

Moreover, we demand that Ireland's judges must have more autonomy in sentencing, especially in the case of offenders just months under 18.

The legal system currently grants these offenders the leniency of being treated as 'children'.

While it is important to consider the age and maturity of offenders in a balanced justice system, the gravity of their crimes should not be overlooked, diluting the punishment they rightly deserve.

We appeal to the Irish government to reconsider its stance on sexual abuse cases.

Let our justice system reflect the deep-seated pain victims feel, let it act as a deterrent, and let it be a beacon of hope for those who have suffered.

The time for change is now. Please sign this petition to support harsher penalties for sexual violence and abuse.

Anyone wishing to sign the petition can do so at: www.change.org/p/demand-harsher-sentences-for-sexual-violence-and-abuse-in-ireland
Jesus of Nazareth, whose death in Jerusalem is commemorated by Christians during Holy Week, was a historical figure who lived and died 2,000 years ago. For millions of believers, he is also the son of God, who rose on the third day, and the founder of a religion that spread throughout the Roman Empire in a relatively short period of time. Most experts believe in the historical existence of Jesus, although there are immense gaps in the knowledge about his life. The facts are scarce, sometimes contradictory, and, in many cases, lost in the mists of legend. Some experts even consider him a literary figure shaped by the four evangelists who wrote their texts decades after his death.

One of the greatest experts on the biblical and historical figure of Jesus was a journalist for this newspaper, Juan Arias, a former correspondent in Rome and Brazil, first editor of the literary supplement Babelia, readers advocate, theologian, a former priest who covered the Second Vatican Council, author of books such as Jesus, That Great Unknown, and one of the most beloved people in the EL PAIS newsroom. Every year at Christmas and Easter, he wrote texts about Jesus full of wisdom and tolerance. He died last November at the age of 92, and many readers have been left orphaned by the humanity of his reflections.

In one of his articles, Juan Arias explained that biblical scholars believe that, of all the things attributed to Jesus in the Gospels, only 12 phrases are literal, including no one is a prophet in his own land, render unto Caesar what is Caesars and unto God what is Gods, and it is harder for a rich man to be saved than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.

History or myth, legend or reality, the Jewish man known as Jesus has managed to endure for more than 2,000 years, not only as a religious fact, but as an unprecedented phenomenon, capable of seducing millions of people, believers or not, Juan wrote in another text, in which he made it clear that the deepest mystery has nothing to do with his existence, or even with faith, but with a permanence that is due, in large part, to the genius of the anonymous authors of the Gospels.

Fresco from the Scrovegni Chapel in Padua, a masterpiece by Giotto. Eric VANDEVILLE (Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images)

The search for the historical Jesus seems inexhaustible, perhaps because following this path means, at its core, exploring the boundaries that separate faith from reason: although faith is above facts, even for millions of believers, the importance of a real Jesus is undeniable. Every year, new books are published that join the debate, some of which leave a profound mark, as was the case with The Invention of Jesus of Nazareth by Spanish Open University professor Fernando Bermejo Rubio, whose expanded 2023 edition continues to be sold in bookstores. There is also Heresy (2024), by historian Catherine Nixey, who has followed the entire documentary trail of Jesus to offer a far from complacent version of the character. Now, a new essay by Elaine Pagels, an American professor of the history of religions at Princeton University and one of the leading experts on the subject, Miracles and Wonder: The Historical Mystery of Jesus, has just been published in the United States, sparking heated discussions among critics.

The three books offer a fresh, informed, and critical look at existing documents and testimonies, their contradictions, and the windows they offer to try to glimpse a real person hidden behind the construction of a religious discourse or, conversely, the critique of this new religion. In other words, they all have a political agenda: in the case of the evangelists, to articulate a religion that could grow within the Roman Empire  hence why they blamed the Jews for his death, despite the fact that Jesus was Jewish and crucifixion was a Roman punishment  while the Romans rejected what they considered a potential danger to the stability of the empire.

This is how Pagels, in her latest work, describes her first steps, as a student, in the search for a real Jesus. First, I learned that none of the accounts now called Gospels were written during Jesus lifetime. On the contrary, they were written anonymously, between 40 and 60 years after his death. I also discovered that none of the surviving first-century sources that mention Jesus are neutral. For while his devoted followers were writing Gospels, prominent members of the Roman elite were writing scathing attacks.

The texts that shaped Christianity, and therefore the image of Jesus, present enormous contradictions. They do not agree even on his birth or the date of his death: Mark, Luke, and Matthew speak of one day and John of another. However, there is considerable textual and archaeological information about Palestine in the first century AD, allowing historians to anchor their arguments in a fairly solid historical context.

Giotto's fresco in the Scrovegni Chapel, depicting Christ's entry into Jerusalem. Heritage Images (Heritage Images via Getty Images)

Non-Christian sources about Jesus, especially Jewish and Roman historians, are scarce and not even contemporary; but they are sufficient for the vast majority of researchers to consider his existence proven. Despite this, the most important ancient fragment that refers to Jesus, written by the first-century historian and politician Flavius Josephus, the so-called Flavian testimony, is considered a forgery by a considerable number of scholars. The text, from the year 93 AD, reads as follows: Now there was about this time Jesus, a wise man, [if it be lawful to call him a man, for he was a doer of wonderful works, a teacher of such men as receive the truth with pleasure.] He drew over to him both many of the Jews, [and many of the Gentiles. He was the Christ]; and when Pilate, at the suggestion of the principal men amongst us, had condemned him to the cross, those that loved him at the first did not forsake him, for he appeared to them alive again the third day, [as the divine prophets had foretold these and ten thousand other wonderful things concerning him]; and the tribe of Christians, so named from him, are not extinct to this day. (The fragments in brackets are the most problematic).

The first foundational text of Christianity is the Epistles of St. Paul, written in Greek two decades after the crucifixion. Of the 13 or 14 surviving letters  scholars disagree  only seven are considered authentic. And then there are the four Gospels. In his review of Pagels book in The New Yorker, Adam Gopnik summarizes the widely held view of the canonical Gospels. Written in Greek some forty to sixty years after the Crucifixion is thought to have happened. These were composed somewhere far from Jerusalem, in a language that Jesus and his disciples would not have known, by writers who could not have been eyewitnesses. The books are attributed, in probable order of composition, to Mark, Matthew, Luke, and John.

Nor can we speak of real authors, because they were only attributed to those names much later, in the second century. Beyond faith and history, the literary talent of those responsible for these texts is immense. Pagels points out as one of their greatest achievements their ability to transform a humiliating and shameful punishment in Ancient Rome  reserved for slaves, agitators who dared to confront the Empire, and renegades  into proof of Jesus divine mission.

Giotto's 'The Arrest of Christ.' The Scrovegni Chapel is considered a masterpiece of medieval art. Heritage Images (Heritage Images via Getty Images)

The balance between these three figures  the real Jesus, the divine Jesus, and the literary Jesus  continues to spark controversy and discussion because, as Marc Bloch wrote, Christianity is a religion of historians. Other religious systems may have based their beliefs and rituals on a mythology more or less external to human time. As their sacred books, Christians have history books, and their liturgies commemorate with their episodes the earthly life of a god, continues the French researcher, murdered by the Nazis in World War II and founder of the Annales School, which completely changed the way we view the past.

Christianity is a religion of stories that, in the end, have prevailed over history. In her book, Pagels recalls the same mystery that marked so many of Juan Arias wonderful texts: I cant resist wondering not only who Jesus was, but also who he is. What intrigues me is the astonishing persistence of Jesus, both rediscovered and reinvented. How did the rabbi known as Jesus of Nazareth come to be imagined as the son of God enthroned in heaven alongside the Lord of hosts? Two thousand years later, the answer to that question continues to shape the present.

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Fr Eddie Gallagher was arrested on Thursday after an incident outside a hotel in Derry.

A Catholic priest has been suspended by his diocese after he was remanded in custody charged with attempted sexual communication with a child.

The Diocese of Derry said it has commenced an internal investigation after Fr Edward Gallagher appeared via videolink at a magistrates court sitting in Dungannon this morning.

The 58-year-old, from Orchard Park, Lifford, works as curate in Clonleigh, Camus and Leckpatrick parishes in Donegal and Tyrone.

Gallagher was arrested on Thursday after an incident outside a hotel in Londonderry.

A video, widely circulating online, showed him being challenged by a group of so-called paedophile hunters.

Gallagher was dressed in a police-issue grey tracksuit during the brief hearing before a special sitting of Londonderry Magistrates Court sitting in Dungannon.

He appeared via videolink from custody at Strand Road Police Station.

He is charged that on dates between April 2 and April 17 he attempted to sexually communicate with a child under 16.

None of the alleged background facts were opened in court.

A police officer told the court he believed he could connect Gallagher to the charge.

Asked if he understood the charge, Gallagher replied I do.

Defence lawyer Stephen Chapman said no application was being made for bail.

He asked that his client be remanded in custody until May 1.

Asked why, he told District Judge Steven Keown: At the moment there is an issue over addresses, and were in conversation with the police over that and there may be a resolution to that over the next week to 10 days. So the next available videolink court that should be suitable will be May 1.

Mr Keown said his general approach is that cases should go for four weeks and then, once the defence have their ducks in a row, they can bring forward an application for bail".

He said the police should be put on notice if there is to be a bail application on May 1, but Mr Chapman clarified there will be no bail application on that date.

Mr Chapman also made an application for legal aid for his client.

He would have been in receipt of a modest stipend - the circumstances of the case are such that that will obviously cease, he added.

Mr Keown said he would grant a limited certificate for legal aid  in due course a properly vouched and fully informed legal aid application can be made.

The case was adjourned to May 1.

This afternoon, the diocese confirmed Gallagher has been suspended from ministry.

It said: The Diocese of Derry is aware that Fr Edward Gallagher has appeared in court in relation to serious charges of a sexual nature in relation to attempted sexual communication with a child.

The diocese takes such matters very seriously and as such has, in addition, commenced its own internal investigation, which will only take place in a manner which does not impede the criminal investigation. Fr Gallagher is suspended from ministry.

Priest charged with attempted sexual communication with a child

As charges are now before a court, it would not be appropriate for the diocese to comment further until the completion of the criminal proceedings.

If anyone has any allegations or concerns regarding child abuse, they should contact the PSNI and Social Services in Northern Ireland, or An Garda Siochana and Tusla in the Republic of Ireland.

In addition, contact for diocesan safeguarding can be found on the diocesan website (derrydiocese.org ) or on posters in churches within the diocese.

Gallagher is a former parish priest at Moville in Co Donegal, and Greencastle and Badoney Lower in Co Tyrone.

According to his social media page, he has also served as curate in the parish of Limavady, in Cappagh in Co Tyrone and Holy Family in Derry.

He is also a former administrator at Long Tower Parish, Derry, and a former associate pastor and pastor at Sacred Heart Parish in the city.

The diocese serves the Catholic congregation of 51 parishes across almost all of Co Londonderry, parts of Co Tyrone and Co Donegal, and a small area across the River Bann in Co Antrim.
Teona Baratashvili (38) was living in the UK, but her husband had no visa and she was trying to bring him illegally into this country when stopped in Dublin Airport.

A woman tried to smuggle her husband into Ireland with a fake residence card in an act of desperation to reunite her family.

Teona Baratashvili (38) was living in the UK, but her husband had no visa and she was trying to bring him illegally into this country when stopped in Dublin Airport.

She initially claimed they were not travelling together when she was challenged by officials, as the couple went through immigration separately, a court heard.

Judge Treasa Kelly gave her a three-month suspended sentence.

Baratashvili, with an address in Liverpool, pleaded guilty to assisting the unlawful entry of a person into Ireland and possession of a false residence card.

Dublin District Court heard on November 24 last year, the accused arrived in the airport on a Ryanair flight from Nice and went to immigration with a UK passport, saying she was travelling alone.

A Georgian male then presented at immigration and handed over a passport with no visa to stay in Ireland. Baratashvili was called back and questioned again.

When asked if they were together, she said no, but she then handed over a false Irish residence card with a photo in the likeness of the Georgian man who was stopped.

She told officials they were married and she had wanted him to come to Ireland to be closer to her.

It was an act of desperation to reunite the family

Baratashvili lived in the UK, and was aware of the visa requirements for Georgian nationals. Her own British passport was in order, the court heard.

The couple had previously attempted to travel together, but he was stopped in Naples because he had no visa.

The accused was compliant with the investigation and had no previous convictions, a garda said.

Baratashvili had been living in the UK and married her husband in 2022, her solicitor Holly Laher said. She had a son from a previous relationship who had only ever lived in the UK, and she was not in a position to return to Georgia with him, Ms Laher said.

It was an act of desperation to reunite the family, she said, and the accused accepted there was an element of forgery and deceit.

Baratashvili had spent five weeks in custody before she was able to take up bail.

The accused was working in England, and had a university degree.

Judge Kelly said it was a serious matter to try to bring someone into the country without a visa. She suspended the sentence for a year.
The father-of-three spoke to the Sunday World while awaiting sentencing saying it was the biggest mistake of his life

A family man and business owner who was jailed this week after he fired a shot from a handgun outside a pub had previously told the Sunday World how he was really sorry and would never drink again after the bizarre incident.

Pearse Daly, Ardee Street, Collon, previously pleaded guilty to one of four counts on the indictment that on February 3, 2024, at Ardee Street, Collon, he had possession of a .22 LR calibre Ruger model semi-automatic pistol.

The court heard had drank 10 pints at Watters Pub in Collon before exchanging words with a group of young men. He then went home and got the illegally-held firearm which he said he previously bought off a man in a pub.

He returned to outside the pub and there was pushing and shoving and the gun appears to have gone off accidentally before Daly dropped it on the ground.

He was jailed for two-and-a-half years at Dundalk Circuit Court this week.

The father-of-three spoke to the Sunday World while awaiting sentencing saying it was the biggest mistake of his life.

Ill never drink again, Mr Daly, who has no involvement in gangland crime and has no previous convictions, told the Sunday World last year, adding the whole thing was a f***ing disaster.

Pearse Daly

I want to be able to go see those people and say Im very, very sorry .

It was just stupid, stupid and so out of character. Ive never been in trouble with the guards. To honest with you, I didnt think it was a real feckin gun.

I thought it was like a pellet gun thing. I was in more shock when I was arrested for having a real gun.

He said he bought the weapon off someone who had got it from America who isnt a gangland criminal. Mr Daly said he thought he might use it to shoot foxes and vermin around his home but then put it away and forgot about it.

I was told it was a BB gun on steroids.

Apparently you can legally have it in Ireland for fishing. Im only looking into that now. If I had know it was a real firearm I wouldnt have touched it.

He said at the time he had 12 pints on the night and, perhaps wrongly, felt someone in the pub had slighted him.

He went to his house to retrieve the weapon before returning to the pub where he discharged it in a scuffle.

I thought this is going to scare the shite out of them. There was something stupid in the pub [where I thought someone was saying something] but possibly nothing was being said and I just made it up in my head

There was absolutely no legit reason. In sober mind looking at it there was absolutely nothing in it. When I was locked, I was thinking Ill scare him. Its an absolute disaster.

He said he thinks there were around five people outside the pub when the weapon went off.

It was in a scuffle and then it went off. When it went off it was a big bang. Thank God [no one was hit].

The guards were just on patrol thank god. It was just random on patrol. Im so happy they arrived.

Asked if he still had the gun in his hand when he arrived he said: I think it was thrown away after it went off because there was a such a noise.

He was arrested and had to deal with the worst hangover his life as gardai quizzed him over the weapon.

He said his wife not pleased when she heard what he did.

She has been great and so supportive [since], although she wants to kill me!

The next time I seen her I was in Cloverhill [Prison]. I was there for three weeks or something like that.

He was subsequently let out on bail ahead of his sentence hearing this week.

He said he felt so bad for what he did and wanted to apologise to the victims but couldnt do so ahead of sentencing as he is not allowed to speak to witnesses involved.

I just want to apologise to them and make sure they are alright.

If I walked to the pub which I had often done if that happened to me [I dont know what kind of impact it would have had]. I just hope that theyre alright.

He said the gardai have said they know hes a not a bad person involved in crime.

Im a stupid person but not a bad person

Its still horrible and scary. I hate to think how scary it was for the people there. They go for a drink and then this happen. Its just not right on all levels really.

Mr Daly is originally from Swords in Dublin and previously lived in Dublin.

He recently moved to the picturesque village of Collon with his family and felt it was the ideal place to raise a family as everyone was so friendly.

We only moved in three years ago and we were trying to get to know everybody and everybody is lovely. There is not one person who is bad in town, theyre so nice. Then for me to do that put such a mark on us. We dont go around shops now. I want to go around and apologise to everyone but Im afraid Ill bump into one of the witnesses.

The local postman stopped by and had a friendly chat with Mr Daly as we spoke to him outside his home.

Mr Daly said he hopes people locally know he is a decent hard-working family man who made a terrible mistake and not a gangland criminal.

I dont do drugs, I dont do anything like that. Ive never been in a row before in my life.

His only brush with the law before this was once for his tax being out of date on his car.

Once I had no tax on my car, Ive never been arrested or even been in a row. Ive never been in a gang. I dont know criminals. All my friends work very, very hard. Everything is straight.

Ive always worked since I was 16. I left school and got an apprenticeship, I was working in hotels for years and then started my own business four years go.

He said he drank too much when he committed the offence.

That was the problem. After having five [youd think], whats six or seven or eight.

Im off drink now since and I feel so much better.

He said going into Cloverhill Prison was a sobering experience.

When I was arrested I went to Cloverhill. I thought Id be in with TV licence people or something like that but I was in with real proper criminals. F***ing hell, it was the worst time of my life.

He said he was s***ing himself in the prison and didnt go out to the yard for exercise.

He said the prison was overcrowded and full of drugs.

People would say to me in prison do you want this or that and Id say no I dont do drugs.

They have all these lingo. I was a having a cigarette someone was saying to me any dust and I was saying sorry I dont do drugs and they were looking at the cigarette like I had 10 heads and saying tobacco is dust.

He said the prisoners he did meet were nice to him and didnt give him hassle.

All the prisoners I met were lovely. I didnt have a change of clothes for three weeks so the criminals were giving me t-shirts and socks and stuff like that they had sent in.

I was just being me. They were just slagging me. They were saying youll be grand. I was thinking no I wont, Im in here.

He said he was trying to work as hard as he could ahead of sentencing so there was some kind of fund for his family when he went into prison.

I do property maintenance for hotels and carpentry

Before all this I thought Id like to get into prisons to get contracts for work and stuff like that. Then I was sitting in there on the other side.

Im just trying focus on working and getting money in for the mortgage.

Ive been working the whole time, thats something to keep your mind off it. You need to do something.

Its just something I think about every single day. I had everything and now that could be taken away for something which was so stupid that I did.

He said whatever happens, afterwards he would like to keep living in Collon and show people he is not a bad person.

At his sentence hearing Judge Dara Hayes said it was unclear how the defendant came by the illegally held gun.

No one mercifully was injured - but that was by the grace of God. Why he had the gun is a mystery - why he thought it a good idea to go back for it, another.

The self-employed carpenter was the main breadwinner for his family and was assessed as being at low risk of re-offending.

A four-and-a-half-year sentence was imposed, with the final two years suspended on Mr Daly entering a good behaviour bond.
Moments later, she said, Ismael suddenly opened his belt and pants before touching himself in a sexual manner

Abdulasiis Ismael said his behaviour on the day of the incident was "outrageous" in an episode that has since resulted in his dismissal from his job with DPD Ireland.

Patients sitting in a doctors surgery in a midlands town had to be ushered from its public waiting area after a father of two entered in broad daylight and began masturbating in front of them.

Somalian asylum seeker Abdulasiis Ismael (41) of Room 201, Great Western Hotel, Frenchvill Lane, Galway pleaded guilty at a sitting of Athlone District Court to engaging in an act of masturbation at Newtown Medical Centre, Newtown Terrace, Athlone, Co Westmeath on August 7 last year.

The former DPD employee similarly entered a guilty plea to public intoxication following the incident which took place in full view of patients and staff members at the midlands based facility.

Sgt Orla Keenan, for the State, said it was at approximately 3pm that Ismael entered the doctors surgery and immediately began lying down on a chair in its public waiting room.

Abdulasiis Ismael (41) outside Athlone Courthouse.

Moments later, she said, Ismael suddenly opened his belt and pants before touching himself in a sexual manner and began masturbating.

The court was told how a member of the public spotted what Ismael was doing and alerted a receptionist.

Sgt Keenan said the episode resulted in staff members having to move other patients out of the waiting room as efforts were made to first approach Ismael to stop the unseemly behaviour.

When those efforts fell on deaf ears, a staff member asked Ismael to leave the premises which he refused to do.

Sgt Keenan said gardai arrived on the scene a short time later where they observed Ismael lying on his stomach across a chair while appearing highly intoxicated.

At the outset of a mitigation submission made on behalf of Ismael, defence solicitor Ciara Macklin applied for reporting restrictions to be imposed in order to preserve the African natives anonymity.

My client is concerned about the embarrassment that will follow from a conviction and he has asked me to ask (about) a reporting restriction, she said, adding how she was simply following instructions from Ismael.

Judge Bernadette Owens, however, said the issues surrounding publication fell outside the parameters of this particular case owing to the fact there was no singular identifiable injured party.

Ms Macklin, in continuing her address to the court, said her client accepted the facts of an outrageous incident that had left him extremely embarrassed and concerned for his future.

She said Ismael was a divorced father of two who arrived into Ireland on his own and without any family in September 2023.

Abdulasiis Ismael said his behaviour on the day of the incident was "outrageous" in an episode that has since resulted in his dismissal from his job with DPD Ireland.

Now residing in Galway as an asylum seeker, Ms Macklin said the accused had previous ties to Athlone and had formerly been a patient at the medical centre in question.

She said Ismael had travelled from Galway to Athlone on the day of the incident without an appointment having fallen foul of an alleged assault three days previously.

Ms Macklin said Ismael had been suffering from a lot of pain in its immediate aftermath and had been asked by a doctor as to the reasons behind his attendance on the day.

Judge Owens was told how the GP failed to draw a sufficient answer from Ismael, difficulties Ms Macklin put down to a language barrier and Ismaels slightly drowsy appearance during the consultation.

The local solicitor added she was in possession of a letter from a doctor based at Galway Bay Medical Centre dated some eight days after the Athlone incident.

Ms Macklin said its contents confirmed Ismael had sustained an injury on August 4 but it failed to detail the precise nature of that ailment.

The court was also told of how Ismael had since been fired from his role with the country's largest dedicated parcel delivery firm, DPD Ireland in the wake of the Irish Independents coverage of Ismaels initial appearance in court last November.

He was working for DPD at the time and as a result of the coverage of this incident and photographs that were published, he has lost his job and he is now in receipt of just 38 a week social welfare as an asylum seeker, she said.

Ms Macklin continued by revealing how Ismael had shown genuine remorse over his involvement in an incident that was likely to taint both his reputation and future employability potential going forwards.

He is extremely embarrassed, she said.

He tells me he had a genuine complaint, but he accepts his behaviour was outrageous and it shouldnt have happened to say the very least.

Unfortunately there is nothing he can do to cure that now, but he did want me to offer his apologies.

"He is extremely embarrassed and very worried about his future as this conviction will most likely prevent him (securing) any real gainful employment and is going to follow him wherever he goes.

In delivering her ruling, Judge Owens said Ismaels guilty plea was an admission he deserved credit for especially as it avoided staff from the medical centre having to forego their everyday duties by attending court and giving what she said could only be distasteful evidence.

She said the court was equally mindful of Ismaels lack of any previous convictions, stating that while intoxication is not ordinarily a defence, it may have been a factor on this occasion.

Ismael was consequently remanded on bail to a sitting of Athlone District Court on September 10 for the purposes of a probation report.
Its the latest incident on what is fast becoming Irelands most dangerous street

Innocent man sucker punched on Talbot Street in a new attack on deadly street

A vicious unprovoked attack took place on Dublins Talbot Street this morning as innocent bystanders went about their day.

SundayWorld.com has CCTV footage of the fight that saw one man being sucker punched in the face before two more vicious punches were landed on him.

The road was left bloodied as the victim ran to safety on the far side of the road.

The shocking video has been pixelated for legal reasons, but it is still clear how the attacker planned is surprise attack before launching.

The disgraceful incident is the latest attack to take place on the notorious street and happened just yards from where American tourist Stephen Termini suffered horrific injuries in July 2023.

Just last September an appalling gang brawl took place on the corner of Talbot Street and James Joyce Street.

And back in March of this year CCTV caught a vicious machete attack on the same street which instigate the Government approved facelift of the busy street.

Remarkably, the street in Dublins inner city has just undergone a 2m overhaul as the Government attempted to convince Dubliners that the streets are safe.

But this horror attack in broad daylight is the latest that has seen the capitals streets deemed unsafe to use.
Carlson did not ask McGregor about the decision of a jury that he had assaulted Nikita Hand, at the conclusion of a civil trial in which she alleged he raped her.

Conor McGregor has cast doubt on his ability to run for the Irish Presidency, in his interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson.

The American right-wing commentators interview with the Irish MMA fighter, which took place in the Grand Lodge of Freemasons in Dublin on Tuesday, was released on Friday on Carlsons social media channels.

During the 54-minute interview, the US interviewer spoke with McGregor about his ambitions for the Presidency, immigration, as well as McGregors plan to single-handedly fix Irelands housing crisis and Irelands economic crisis.

Carlson did not ask McGregor about the decision of a jury that he had assaulted Nikita Hand, at the conclusion of a civil trial in which she alleged he raped her.

Echoing his comments on immigration to Ireland when he met Donald Trump in the White House on St Patricks Day, in an appearance that caused disquiet in the Government, McGregor told the interviewer: This is our public wealth being administered into private hands and enriching people to bring in this influx of illegal mass migration that is changing the fabric of my country.

The Crumlin native added that Ireland needs amendments to the Constitution".

We need to remove this tight grip that the political elite have over the public. And that is it, that is our goal here, he said.

"I operate my businesses and my entire life on fairness. Our Government elite is doing the absolute opposite. It has to change. Our culture is being erased, he said.

When asked how Ireland is doing, he said: "Like a lot of countries in the Western sphere, it is being governed by people with ill intentions for its people.

"They don't have the interests of their people at heart. However, our country stays strong. Our people are strong-willed, strong-minded.

When asked by the host why he cant run for President, Mr McGregor responded: There are stipulations.

"You have four county councils which are controlled by the Government parties or you have to get 20 nominations of the Oireachtas, which are mostly party affiliates.

The MMA fighter also said that he doesnt believe Ireland is a democratic country and that they will have to answer to their constituents at some stage.

Mr McGregor, who has several convictions for road traffic offences, said the Traffic Corps of An Garda Siochana is one of the most successful divisions in our police force, for convictions.

He added: It has caused an untold stress on the people of Ireland. I wonder the number of suicides and the number of lives lost and families destroyed over the stress of the traffic core institution, being caught driving without tax or no NCT."

On his Presidential bid, he said: "Im just gonna keep requesting the democratic process to play out and allow people to decide and see where it falls.

Mr McGregor was interviewed by the controversial pundit, who hosted Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News until he was fired by the corporation in 2023, on Tuesday afternoon before visiting the Crumlin natives pub, the Black Forge Inn, for lunch.

Conor McGregor and Tucker Carlson interview from McGregor's Instagram account

In November 2024, McGregor was found civilly liable in a High Court damages case in Dublin taken by a woman who accused him of rape.

Nikita Hand won her claim against McGregor after accusing the fighter of raping her in a penthouse room at the Beacon Hotel in Dublin in December 2018. Ms Hand was awarded 250,000 in damages.

A judge at the High Court later said the jury had conclusively determined that McGregor had raped Ms Hand. McGregor is appealing against the outcome of the civil case.
Darren Prenter is charged with having lurcher-type dogs which attacked and fatally injured another animal

This is the Belfast man who has been charged over a dog attack in which another animal died.

Darren Prenter did not attend Belfast Magistrates Court on Tuesday, but he is accused of six offences, all alleged to have been committed on September 9 last year.

The 28-year-old, from Velsheda Court, is charged with having lurcher-type dogs which attacked and fatally injured another animal at an entry between Alliance Road and Ballysillan Playing Fields.

He is also charged with being in charge of Lurcher-type dogs which were off leads and not muzzled in the same spot.

District Judge George Conner adjourned the case to May 6 and ordered that an adjournment notice be sent to Prenter, who was previously accused of hare coursing.

At the time of the alleged offences at the Alliance Road and Ballysillan Playing Fields, he was subject to a two-month prison sentence, suspended for three years, after he admitted aggravated trespass on Glenwherry Moor.

Ballymena Magistrates Court was told in December 2023 that the moors game keeper alerted the police to suspected hare coursing the previous January.

When officers arrived, they found Prenter, 52-year-old Patrick Robert Shannon and Patrick McGourty (29) walking across fields with three lurcher dogs and a springer spaniel.

Police spoke to them, and they said they had been out walking their dogs, a lawyer said, adding that a search of the car revealed two dead hares behind the passenger seat.

Each man claimed they were looking for rabbits and foxesand that the hares were found by the roadside.

The court heard, however, it was likely the two dead hares had been coursed because there were puncture wounds.

The defence argued there was no evidence they had been killed on Glenwherry Moor.

Shannon, from Annesley Street; McGourty, from Cranbrook Court; and Prenter each admitted aggravated trespass on Glenwherry Moor.

All were handed suspended prison sentences.

Passing sentence, Judge Martina Connolly KC described hare coursing as disgusting and despicable.
"There has never been and will never be another Julian, he said.

Former RTE star Eoghan McDermott has paid tribute to his dear friend Julian Benson following the death of the Dancing with the Stars judge.

Earlier today, Julians family announced his death at the age of 54 following a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

Julian is survived by his brother Adrian, sister-in-law Rachel, and his beloved nieces and nephew, a statement released on behalf of the family said.

Julian adored his family with all his heart, and they were his greatest joy, the statement added.

Julian, who is best known for his role on the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars, was also a talent agent, dancer, and choreographer.

Following the news of his death, tributes have been pouring in from the showbiz world, including from ex-2fm presenter Eoghan McDermott who said the world is now a little duller.

As well as being close friends, Julian acted as McDermotts agent and the Dublin presenter described him as "the greatest friend, mentor and big-brother I never had.

Julian Benson

"There has never been and will never be another Julian, Eoghan wrote on Instagram.

We could all live ten lifetimes and not encounter a force of unbridled nature quite like him. He carried the burden of the most gruelling illness with a pep in his step and twinkle in his eye that defied all logic and circumstance.

Even in physically punishing moments, his default was a wicked cackle, a mischevious smile and a sincere gratitude for the gift of life, rather than the limitations imposed on that life. He lived bigger and burned brighter than he had any right to.

The kindest, most loyal, most outrageously mischievous gift of a human. We are all better for having lived in his orbit.

Having seen him rise and fall and rise again over the years, naively I thought he would just keep doing it. He was so invincible, until he wasn't. He went peacefully, with tales of love and gratitude and hugs and kisses.

"His legacy stands tall, his life's ambition of helping those like him and their families achieved. Tranquillity House will carry on his work. I'm so glad he got to see it."

Eoghan continued: You are and forever will be One of One. The greatest to ever do it.

The presenter, who recently welcomed his first chid  a baby boy named Kevin Jnr with his partner Alessandra Heredi  said he cant wait to tell his son about his great Uncle Jules.

McDermott finished the post by writing: Sleep well, dear friend.

One of 2fms standout stars, Eoghan left the station suddenly in February 2021 with no explanation given at the time for his departure.

In March 2022, Eoghan broke his silence in a statement to say false allegations had been made about him which were later fully retracted.

Celebrity architect Dermot Bannon was among the other celebrities to pay tribute to Julian Benson following his sad passing.

Taking to social media, Dermot wrote: Devastated to hear that Julian Benson has passed away, he had so many health issues to deal with but he always showed with his amazing energy and fun lifting the entire room, it was a real privilege to have known and worked with him over the last few years, he taught me so much about resilience and life, rest in peace Julian.

Professional dancer Karen Byrne, who joined the DWTS judging panel this year, branded Julian a true gentleman.

She said: So sad to hear the news of Julians passing. He was a true gentleman and always there to give his advice in this crazy industry that we work in. Captain Sparkle will be truly missed.

Former Miss World Rosanna Davison said Julian had  huge impact on those of us lucky enough to work with him and call him a friend.

She said: "I first met Julian way back in 2002, when he cast me in the UCD 2003 Fashion Show. He was a talented choreographer and producer, an inspiring teacher and gave me and all involved such confidence on stage.

Its hard to even express the positive impact he had, the encouragement he gave us and the enthusiasm he showed.
He will be remembered not only for his quick witty one-liners but also for his unwavering kindness and encouragement towards the contestants

The family of Dancing with the Stars judge Julian Benson have announced his death at age 54 following a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

The talent agent, dancer, and choreographer passed away surrounded by family and dear friends with his strength, warmth, and sparkle until the very end.

Julian is survived by his brother Adrian, sister-in-law Rachel, and his beloved nieces and nephew, a statement released on behalf of the family reads.

Julian adored his family with all his heart, and they were his greatest joy.

Julian became a household name in 2017 when he joined the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars.

Affectionately known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly, custom-made jackets, he quickly became a show favourite.

He will be remembered not only for his quick witty one-liners but also for his unwavering kindness and encouragement towards the contestants, the family statement reads.

Although he was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of two, he did not let this challenge define him, and decided to embrace life fully.

Julian Benson

He began dancing at the age of four and embarked on a professional career at just 14, an incredible achievement for anyone, let alone someone living with a chronic lung condition. His determination and passion became the driving force behind everything he did.

For over 40 years, Julian kept his diagnosis private, the statement adds. It was only in 2018, during an emotional appearance on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy, that he revealed his lifelong illness and shared his dream of creating a charity to support the CF community.

That night, he announced the birth of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (JBCFF) by declaring: I have Cystic Fibrosis, but Cystic Fibrosis doesnt have me.

Julians mission was to provide vital support and services to CF warriors and their families, including a home from home while their loved ones receive treatment in hospital, the statement adds.

His dream became a reality with the opening of Tranquility House  a space where families can find comfort and peace during difficult times.

This extraordinary achievement was made possible by the generosity of over 130 companies and individuals who believed in Julians vision.

The remarkable transformation of Tranquility House, featured on Room to Improve in January of this year, is a testament to the power of community and to Julians unyielding determination.

The family extend their heartfelt thanks to the Cystic Fibrosis team at St Vincents University Hospital, whose expertise and compassion supported Julian throughout his life.

They also thanked the ICU team at St Vincents, who cared for Julian with tenderness and kindness during his final days, and Transplant Team at Beaumont Hospital, whose care gave Julian renewed energy and allowed him to see his dream realised.

They paid tribute to the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, its board, committee, staff, supporters and the volunteers whose tireless work ensures Julians mission lives on

Julians sparkle remains alive in Tranquility House, in the continued work of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and in the hearts of all who knew him, the family added.

His energy, passion, and joy for life live on through the countless lives he touched, the community he built, and the legacy he leaves behind. Cha Cha Boom his iconic catchphrase  will forever be synonymous with his vibrant spirit, his unwavering zest for life, and the joy he brought to everyone around him.

The producer of Dancing with the Stars, Larry Bass of Shinawil, also paid tribute to Benson, saying they were deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend.

"Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance and talent to the world, a statement reads. His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation - his legacy will live on forever.

Julian was one of a kind, and will be forever missed. The world lost a bit of sparkle today.
This article discusses suicide and mental health issues. If you need support, helpline information can be found at the bottom of this story.

At age 27, Lynda Hills tried to take her own life in Tauranga after years of struggling with her mental health. She was left critically injured.

Now 43, shes a mum living in Hamilton and researching suicide prevention. She recently returned to the Bay of Plenty to share publicly, for the first time, her story of finding hope.

Growing up, Lynda Hills always struggled with her mental health.

She recalls having her first suicidal thought aged 8 or 9.

She was a good student but the challenges continued on and off through school, and she saw her first counsellor at 19.

In the eight years that followed, she would see psychologists and psychiatrists, try prescription medication and alternative therapies, and spend time in a mental health facility and a Christian respite centre.

Pretty much you name it, I tried it, she told the Bay of Plenty Times.

My sole focus was trying to get better.

Lynda Hills lived in Mount Maunganui for about 10 years. Photo / Megan Wilson

After dropping out of university three times, she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Te Reo Maori and mathematics, then studied primary school teaching.

Three weeks into her first fulltime teaching job in Tauranga in 2008, she found herself at a crisis point.

I was not coping at all.

She was admitted to a mental health facility and discharged after six weeks.

Friends helped her find relief teaching work, but her health went downhill after a bad break-up.

Her worried mum encouraged her to see a psychologist but Hills feared this would lead to being readmitted, which she felt she could not bear.

At this point, she had been battling bulimia, anxiety and depression for more than eight years.

She attempted suicide in 2009 at age 27.

The attempt left her critically injured in Tauranga Hospital and facing a 10% chance of survival.

In intensive care, Hills said she had a strange  near-death experience.

It felt like a force came through me 

It took away the suicidal thoughts that had plagued her for so long.

But she faced a long physical recovery.

Hills spent more than seven months in hospital and, over the years, has had 42 surgeries. She had to learn to walk again.

According to ACC, Im 69% permanently disabled.

I love my life

She shared her story publicly for the first time at a free community talk in Papamoa on April 4 about hope beyond suicide.

Today, Hills is a mum to two sons  Seneca, 5, and Ezekiel, 3. They love going to the beach together.

Mentally, she feels happy and grateful.

I love my life.

Health issues had stopped her return to teaching, but a discussion with a professor about life with disabilities set her on a new career path.

She said she had stopped using disabled parking, despite holding a permit, because people yelled at her when they saw she could walk.

It was a coping strategy  (I) tried so hard to be normal and fit in.

Former Bay of Plenty teacher Lynda Hills is a PhD student at the University of Auckland and is researching suicide. Photo / Megan Wilson

The professor told her many disabled people hid their pain or disability.

That blew my mind, that meeting, so I started using my permit.

She got her masters in disability and inclusion studies, and has started a PhD at Auckland University.

She researches suicide, including the risks and benefits of common treatments used for suicide prevention such as antidepressant and antipsychotic medication.

After graduating, she hoped to collaborate with medical professionals to create educational material focused on suicide prevention, to support frontline prescribers.

She hoped to one day also produce material for patients and support people.

Her lived experience has informed her research and goals.

In retrospect, she recognised she had other options apart from attempting suicide.

Hills said she was told if she took medication, she would feel a little bit worse for two or three weeks but would then feel better.

What I wished that Id done is  say I dont have two to three weeks in me."

She said a more collaborative relationship between patients and professionals would have been helpful, where we can both bring our expertise.

External support for her mother would have also helped Hills feel like less of a burden.

She wished she had been encouraged to have a voice in the facility she was admitted to.

Her dream was to start a charitable trust to establish a whare or healing centre near the water, that could be an alternative to other mental health facilities in situations like hers.

Where to get help:

 Lifeline: Call 0800 543 354 or text 4357 (HELP) (available 24/7)

 Suicide Crisis Helpline: Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) (available 24/7)

 Youth services: (06) 3555 906

 Youthline: Call 0800 376 633 or text 234

 What's Up: Call 0800 942 8787 (11am to 11pm) or webchat (11am to 10.30pm)

 Depression helpline: Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 (available 24/7)

 Helpline: Need to talk? Call or text 1737

 Aoake te Ra (Bereaved by Suicide Service): Call 0800 000053 or contact referrals@aoake-te-ra.org.nz

If it is an emergency and you feel like you or someone else is at risk, call 111.

Megan Wilson is a health and general news reporter for the Bay of Plenty Times and Rotorua Daily Post. She has been a journalist since 2021.
Que me pongo para ser sorprendente, curvilinea y elocuente?, (What do I wear to be surprising, curvaceous and eloquent?) raps Nathy Peluso (Argentina, 30 years old). The line has shifted from being a mere question to the name of a campaign that features the winner of three Latin Grammys posing for Adrian Cuerdo, a photographer who occupies a special place in the artists heart. The Zalando team proposed this campaign to me, and everything happened so naturally. The photos have been very pretty and we worked with Adri, who took photos of me early on, for [my 2018 album] La Sandunguera. Our reunion was very emotional, Peluso says from Mexico, after having to postpone the interview for a few days after coming down with the flu. Since Im so demanding, touring is a really intense process and sometimes I get sick. Its important to be very consistent so that you stay healthy. This job is like being an athlete and I recover fast, because my body is ready and Im well-trained, in every sense, she says.

Shes in the thick of her Grasa tour and its string of sold-out shows. The Sonar music festival has proudly announced her as one of the stars of its 2025 edition. In just a few years, she has gone from performing at the old SonarXS to headlining the lineup, says a press statement from the musical giant.

Nathy Peluso in the Zalando campaign. Adrian Cuerdo

Question. They say everything delicious makes you fat. In the era of Ozempic, is Grasa an homage to enjoyment?

Answer. I am a hedonist, so theres no fear of eating on my end, honestly. You can look at the word grasa [Spanish for the noun fat or grease] in many ways. When it comes to music, playing with grasa means hitting a groove. The title isnt really geared towards food, though at the same time, it is, because its always implicit in my philosophy: Im a bon vivant and I like my pleasures.

Q. The album features many ballads. Are they good for cutting the fat from, unburdening ones heart?

A. Totally. I love the ballads and the song Envidia [Envy], which is really powerful. Were playing it live and its turned out to be really special to share with people. The albums ballads arent that easy to digest, there are some radical ideas there. But at the end, without a doubt, they help to unburden ones little heart, dont they? They help you to feel.

Q. El dia que perdi mi juventud (The day I lost my youth) speaks of the loss of innocence. Being such a visible artist, is it necessary to put on a little armor and lose ones naivete?

A. Its a song about connecting with your intimate side, of personal discovery. I think that there are moments we experience at different moments in our life. There are songs that one makes to save oneself, and perhaps to save the other people who hear it. Its about sharing the processes, and I really believe that song is the one that best reflects that internal search.

Q. About that internal search  how do you stay in touch with yourself? It cant be easy in the world in which you move.

A. I dedicated myself to that years ago and I have a well-formed ecosystem. I stay true to my instincts and to what I feel. I surround myself with people who I love and who are good for me. I take good care of my energy, which I consider essential to staying well-aligned.

Q. In the BTS of the Zalando video, you say youre sexy, but not pretentious.

A. I like to be natural. I believe we all have that implicit beauty that comes from being natural. Sometimes when you try too hard to please others, the process becomes a bit forced and a bit more plastic, and it doesnt convey the same thing as when you are 100% real. I think in the end, you have to trust that there will always be someone who can see that natural sparkle we have.

Q. Is it important to you to fit in, or do you enjoy being outside the norm?

A. Its never been important to me to fit in  and in fact, I never have. But that is something Ive always seen as a good thing. In the end, its all about the perspective you have on things. I feel like not fitting in allows you the possibilities of being different, and standing out will always increase those possibilities, because thats what life is about: standing out, being unique.

Q. The song Erotika is a homage to the erotic salsa of the 1990s. The lyrics say, Mi tio me dijo que antes eran las cosas de otra manera. La gente hasta se queria. (My uncle told me that before, things were different. People even loved.) Why is loving and being loved complicated now?

A. I think that theyre moments. The truth is, I feel that as a society, we are in a moment of retrospection, analysis and fear. Sometimes people are so afraid of falling in love because doing so means giving themselves up and putting themselves to the test. In the end, people get burned out. Without a doubt, one is afraid of suffering, although I always believe that all these experiences make you stronger, they make you grow and they make you learn. So, I always give my all and trust that whatever comes is what I have to live through. Basically, I dont try to avoid anything. I think love is for the brave.

Q. Does it scare you to lose yourself in love?

A. To love someone well and let oneself be loved, there must be a friendship with oneself, so that one doesnt get lost. Its important to prioritize wellbeing, know how to choose and know how to set boundaries; all this allows one to not get lost along the way. Getting to a point in which you learn to achieve balance and take care of yourself. Its about not losing yourself, but instead taking risks and making yourself vulnerable. The wonderful thing is that when you do that, you feel things and to learn, you have to feel.

Nathy Peluso in the Zalando campaign. Adrian Cuerdo

Q. Do you still think men are afraid of powerful women, as you sing in the song Mafioso?

A. Of course, mami! That doesnt change. When it changes, well have this call again, but it seems to me that we still havent gotten to that change. But theres no reason to get down about it, youve got to stay magreando [keeping after it], like they say here.

Q. Being a continental breakfast, as youve called yourself  do you think its too much to demand that a creative has it all? It seems like artists are required to have the voice, be able to dance and deliver a coherent and perfect message, with no cracks.

A. I think that a real artist isnt overwhelmed by that, because its a given. An artist communicates and has something to say. Everyone has their ideals and something to share, even if it may not be what people want to hear. But in my case, I feel that the pressure comes more from my own demanding nature, not so much from having to fit into peoples canons.

Q. Being demanding of yourself and knowing that your imperfections are what makes you unique. How do you manage not to be bothered by them, being such a perfectionist?

A. Bother me  they always bother me, to tell the truth. That is something that you live with, because being demanding of oneself has its pros and cons. Its important to know how to work with that and gradually learn how to place better limits as your own boss, which you are. I dont complain. I like the life Ive built within those parameters.

Q. As an ambitious woman, is there a way to reach a healthy amount of ambition?

A. I have no idea. The truth is that until now, all the ambitions Ive had have been a bit extreme and excessive, but theyve also brought me to a place that Im proud of. I think that as you grow, you learn to deal with every one of these processes. I began this career when I was very young, and Ive always dreamed big. Because of that, its consumed me for a long time, but its also led me to achieve big things. And so, I think that ambition is an engine. An engine that consumes you, but is a normal thing, because with this career and this life, its very easy to pass that limit and have everything transform into a constant search for progress, which pushes you to forget the small details of everyday life. Its important to meditate and also concentrate on the small things, thats how you find balance.

Q. Youve said that the stage is your drug. Monica Naranjo recently told EL PAIS that she doesnt want to die onstage, that shes not that much of an artist. What about you?

A. In reality, I also hope I dont die onstage. Id prefer to do so in the country with horses, eating well  but I would like to be on the stage until Im very old. Its something that makes me very happy and I feel that for an artist, its a wonderful school, to get up there and experience the exchange that happens with your public. It would make me very happy to never leave that sacred space, but everyone has their own experience and learning process.

Q. Have you always had the strength to take charge of your career, or did you find it difficult to find your own voice? You finished an album and didnt want to release it because you werent satisfied with it, which is a bit complicated in your industry.

A. Ever since I arrived in this industry, I knew my criteria. There are no bigger demands than my own. The most difficult thing was to deal with my own inner leader, more so than with the industry.

Q. On your social media, you shared a short film in which you offer a look at the creative process of Grasa. You say, Imagine waking up one day and saying that what youve done is shit. Thats what it is to make an album. A brutal way to unmask the creative process once and for all, when its often so idealized, isnt it?

A. Its a very intense process and if you really dedicate yourself and give it your whole body, its like birth. You dont go back to being the same person after dedicating yourself like that. Making that album changed my life, not releasing it and then making Grasa. Theyre vital lessons and its true that people really idealize these processes, but thats normal. Ultimately, it all looks like a movie from the outside, but inside, its a very big commitment. Although, now that I think about it, its also like living a movie  just maybe not as rosy as people imagine.

Q. In the documentary you also say, Imagine sending a record to hell and it then being the prelude to the record of your life. Is Grasa the record of your life?

A. All the music I do is the soundtrack of my journey. I dont know if it will be the record of my life, its too soon to say. I just turned 30 and I have many more records to make, but without a doubt, its an album that for the past year and a half has impacted my way of seeing life, of seeing my public, of seeing my career and the way I see the possibilities. I hope that theyll all be like that, but its so beautiful to learn through the music.

Q. To make the album, you were inspired by identity crisis, the crisis brought by success and the crisis of ambition. Is crisis a good engine?

A. For me, crisis has never been a bad thing, because something stronger always emerges from crisis. Far from being decadent, it is a state of alert and alarm in which ways of surviving and becoming stronger are generated. It was definitely a super-intense crisis in every way, but thank God we got through it.

Q. Can you create from a place of peace and tranquility, or does there always have to be a certain imbalance?

A. You can create from any point of view. I dont agree that you always have to create from a place of unease or discomfort, although it is true that those states generate certain things  but so do peace and calm. I have written songs from a place of tranquility that also convey that. I think that Grasa is an album on which the energy with which it was made is very noticeable. It has an aggressive, strong and intense energy. I believe that we are channels and if we give our all and are honest with what we do, the audience notices that energy. You can make music from a place of calm and convey very beautiful things.

Nathy Peluso for Zalando. Adrian Cuerdo

Q. Every song on the album is accompanied by a video, in which you once again show your gifts as an actress.

A. I love all the branches of art. The more I can mix them together, the more I like it. I have fun seeing myself in those situations and challenging myself to be a character, something Ive been doing since I was very young.

Q. Fashion also helps when it comes to interpreting and creating roles. What is your relationship with it?

A. I like to create characters and tell stories. I feel that fashion is a great tool for dressing up who we are and what we want to express. For me, it is a fundamental aspect and I have learned about it through working with it. It is unimaginable the number of times it has allowed me to tell and relate things that I have wanted to convey to my audience, from the simplest to the most complex, both when making music videos and in my everyday life.

Q. You sing, Tienes que aprender a amarte, perra (You have to learn to love yourself, bitch). How is your self-love going?

A. The truth is, I love myself and I have a lot of consideration with myself. I think that we deserve compassion and consideration with ourselves. Everyone has their ups and downs, but the truth is I always have that very steady base of my own self-love, because I feel that its what keeps us strong. We have to be our own friends, but I wont deny that at the end of the day, a person also has insecurities.

Q. And those insecurities, being so visible and exposed to critics  does criticism make them grow or have you managed to get to a place where they dont matter to you?

A. It depends on the comments. There are some that bounce off, because theyre very superficial, but others that allude to things that are more profound, perhaps touch my morals a bit more. Im cured of fear. Ive always been very sure of myself and I always work with care, so I do what I do with humility and respect for others.

Q. To wrap things up, in Mexico your fans surprised you with a towel printed with an image of Luis Miguel. When are we getting that collaboration?

A. I see it as an impossible dream. Luis Miguel has only done one collaboration, and it was with Frank Sinatra. I respect him too much. Hes a big inspiration for me.

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The Prime Minister will fly to the United Kingdom on Saturday, where he will meet King Charles and British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.

Christopher Luxon said he will discuss "trade, security, and the geopolitical backdrop in Europe and the Indo-Pacific" with Starmer.

"New Zealand is a champion for free trade, and I look forward to talking to Sir Keir Starmer about what our countries can do together to support the rules-based trading system."

His visit will be an opportunity to reaffirm New Zealand's strong defence and security partnership with the UK.

"The UK is one of New Zealand's closest and most trusted partners, and for many Kiwis, it is where they base themselves on their OE.

"The UK is also important to New Zealand's prosperity. Our exports there grew by more than 20 percent in 2024 and are still growing."

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Photo/ Carl Court

Luxon will also visit Istanbul and travel to Gallipoli for ANZAC Day "to honour the commitment and sacrifice of all New Zealand war veterans".

"This will be the first visit by a New Zealand Prime Minister to Turkiye since 2015. It also coincides with the 110th anniversary of the ANZAC landings," said Luxon.

The trip comes as the tit-for-tat trade war between China and the US continues to play out.

Luxon's response to potential global economic upheaval was to hit the phones, calling world leaders to gauge the impact on their countries. A move later criticised by Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters.

Luxon said he would be "comparing notes on world trade, and testing what we can do together to buttress the rules-based trading system".

Part of that was exploring the role of the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) in promoting free trade as a path to prosperity, he said.

The trip also comes after the coalition released its long-awaited Defence Capability Review that set out a spending blueprint for the next 15 years.

The government announced it will invest $12 billion over the next four years for a "modern, combat-capable" defence force.

The plan will lift New Zealand's defence spending from just over 1 percent of GDP to more than 2 percent in the next eight years, a percentage threshold signalled by Luxon and Peters, especially due to expectations from the US.

The UK announced its own lift in defence spending earlier this year, also reported as a signal to the US.

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A new road safety campaign focuses on young drivers, urging them to ghost their mates, loved ones, and their phones by switching to do not disturb mode while driving.

The initiative, developed by ACC in partnership with NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi and New Zealand Police, encourages young drivers to Have a hmmm before starting the car.

ACC injury prevention leader James Whitaker said young drivers have the highest rate of fatal or injury crashes caused by distraction, mainly from phone use.

Young drivers are more likely to be on their phones while behind the wheel, Whitaker said. Were asking them to stop and think  and to put their phone on silent before they drive.

Whitaker said the campaign is social media-led to connect with young people, where they spend much of their time.

Were using the idea of ghosting  something young people associate with phones  and flipping it into a message of care and responsibility, he said. Its about protecting your mates by not texting or calling them when theyre driving.

Whitaker said drivers using phones face four times the crash risk of those who dont. Over half of young drivers  58%  admit to holding their phones while driving.

Director of land transport Brent Alderton said distracted driving remains one of the top causes of serious crashes.

Nearly 40% of New Zealanders admit they read or send messages while driving, Alderton said. We want people to take a simple step before starting the car  put the phone on do not disturb.

In 2023, distraction contributed to 15 fatal crashes, 116 serious injuries, and 1039 minor injuries, according to Ministry of Transport figures.

Director of road policing Superintendent Steve Greally said police will be enforcing phone use rules.

If youre caught using your phone while driving, youll get a ticket, Greally said. The best way to avoid that  and a crash  is to put your phone down. Its that simple.
Tauranga will commemorate Anzac Day on Friday, April 25, with ceremonies across the city to honour the service and sacrifice of New Zealands military personnel.

Councils, community groups and local Returned Services Associations have collaborated to organise dawn and civic services, providing the community with opportunities to reflect and pay tribute.

Tauranga Mayor, Olympian-turned-politician Mahe Drysdale, will deliver the welcome at the Civic Memorial Service.

On Anzac Day, communities around New Zealand come together to honour those who served, remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice, and acknowledge the contributions of our returned and current service personnel, Drysdale said.

I encourage everyone to attend a service and pay tribute to those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

The Tauranga RSA will host its final dawn service at the Cameron Rd site before relocating later this year.

The organisation has played a key role in supporting veterans and their families since 1918 and began hosting dawn services at its current location in 2009.

This years event will feature a special address and participation from HMNZS Te Mana and the New Zealand Defence Forces Hauraki unit.

Navy veteran and Tauranga RSA president Morton Anderson said the dawn service will be a significant moment of remembrance.

Its important to keep the memory alive, to pay respects to those who served and those who never made it home, Anderson said. These events are not just about remembering history, theyre about ensuring future generations understand the sacrifices made.

Royal Navy World War II veteran John Clark will mark his 100th birthday on Anzac Day and plans to attend the Civic Service. Clarks family will also host a private service in his honour, where he will receive a special gift.

Anzac Day is very poignant for John, as he reflects on the war and the terrible loss of life, Clarks family said.

He remembers some names of past friends on Anzac Day with great sadness.

In recent years, improved sound systems, cadet involvement and student participation have helped grow Taurangas Anzac Day commemorations.

The Tauranga RSA remains committed to veteran support and community projects as it prepares for a new chapter alongside the Mount Maunganui RSA.
Three lucky Lotto players from Auckland and Hamilton will be having an extra special Easter weekend after each winning $333,333 with Lotto First Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw.

The winning tickets were sold at Xpress Mart in Auckland, and on MyLotto to players from Auckland and Hamilton.

Powerball was not struck on Saturday evening and has rolled over to Wednesday night, where the jackpot will be $23 million.

Strike Four has also rolled over and will be $1 million on Wednesday night.

23 Lotto players win Second Division

Twenty-three lucky Lotto players will be celebrating today after each winning $16,252 with Lotto Second Division in Saturday nights live Lotto draw.

Five lucky players also won Powerball Second Division, taking their total winnings to $21,570.

The winning Powerball Second Division tickets were all sold on MyLotto to players from Auckland, Kapiti Coast and Marlborough.

The winning Second Division tickets were sold at the following stores:

Store Location MyLotto Whangarei Woolworths Whangarei Whangarei Pt Chevalier Lotto Plus Auckland Glen Innes Dairy And Lotto Outlet Auckland MyLotto (x5) (+PBx3) Auckland Greerton Lotto Tauranga New World Westend Rotorua MyLotto Hamilton MyLotto Otorohanga Waitara Post & Lotto Waitara MyLotto (+PB) Kapiti Coast MyLotto (x2) Wellington Richmond Night N Day Nelson MyLotto (+PB) Marlborough MyLotto Buller MyLotto (x2) Canterbury Fresh Choice Parklands Christchurch

Anyone who bought their ticket from any of the above stores should check their ticket as soon as possible in-store, on MyLotto, or through the MyLotto App.

Lotto NZ exists to return 100% of its profits to Kiwi communities through lottery grants programmes lottery grants programmes run by Te Puna Tahua NZ Lottery Grants Board.
Wampsville, N.Y.  The mother of a 9-year-old girl killed in a head-on crash in Madison County said Friday in court that her daughter paid the ultimate price for a drivers reckless behavior.

I will never forget the day that Charlee died, said the girls mother, Jordan King, of Fayetteville. It plays in my head daily. Mr. Noor didnt pay the ultimate price for his actions, but my little girl did.

Abdirashid Noor, 53, of Syracuse, was sentenced by Madison County Judge St. Michael Leger to one to three years in state prison for second-degree manslaughter, third-degree assault and multiple traffic violations, including reckless driving, unsafe passing and speeding.

At about 6:30 a.m. on June 28, 2023, Noor attempted to overtake a line of vehicles on Route 31 in the town of Sullivan. His car crashed into Kings vehicle, which was traveling in the opposite direction.

Charlee, who was in the back seat, died in the collision. King was hospitalized with a broken wrist.

In a courtroom filled with more than 20 family members and friends Friday, King gave an emotional statement about Charlee and all that shes lost.

She remembered Charlee as a genuine, happy and kind girl, and said she now lives with PTSD on a daily basis.

Charlee will remain 9-years-old forever, while the rest of the world goes on, King said. Every day since Charlee died, I wake up and I wish I was dead because the person I love most is no longer here, and its simply not fair.

Noor sat on the opposite side of the courtroom with his defense attorney, Heather Vincet, and a translator. He is originally from Somalia and came to the United States to escape a civil war, after living in a refugee camp for several years.

After King spoke, Noor made a statement, saying he is a parent himself and that he came to this country for survival and did not want to cause any harm. He apologized for what happened and said it was an accident.

Abdirashid Noor (center) was sentenced to one to three years in state prison on Friday, April 18, 2025, in Madison County Court for driving recklessly and killing a 9-year-old girl in 2023. Greta Stuckey

Before announcing Noors sentence, Leger addressed the courtroom.

In state prison, you need to reflect upon your reckless actions that day and spend the rest of your days somehow making up for what you did, Leger said.

In addition to the prison sentence, Noor will have his drivers license revoked for six months.

At the sentencing, J. Sam Rodgers, a Madison County senior assistant district attorney, said the DAs position had always been for Noor to plead guilty to the highest charge of manslaughter. He said three to nine years in state prison would have been appropriate.

The judge initially offered Noor a sentence of two to six years in prison, according to Madison County District Attorney William Gabor. Noor did not plead guilty. The judge then offered him a sentence of one to three years, Gabor said.

King said in December 2024 that the proposed prison sentence was a slap in the face and that it felt like Noor was being rewarded for not pleading guilty.

Jordan King and friends and family of Charlee could be seen crying as the sentence was given. Noor was placed in handcuffs by Madison County sheriffs deputies and escorted from the courtroom.

I believe Mr. Noor made a lot of choices that morning and he knew those choices were wrong, King said. He disregarded the fact that these choices would endanger the lives of others. And it is because of those choices that my daughter is dead and my whole world has been forever changed.

Staff writer Greta Stuckey covers breaking news. Have a tip, a story idea, a question or a comment? You can reach her at gstuckey@syracuse.com.
Angie Janas, Kate Hamill, Samantha Steinmetz, and Robyn Kerr in the 2019 production of "Pride and Prejudice" by Kate Hamill at Syracuse Stage. Michael Davis

What would Jane Austen, author of Sense and Sensibility, think of Kate Hamills impish, irreverent adaptation of her buttoned-up regency-era novel?

Ask the playwright herself, and shes quick with a definitive answer.

I havent been haunted by Jane Austen yet, said Hamill. So I think she approves.

Hamills fresh, fun, and fiendishly funny plays have become huge hits in the U.S. and abroad.

This year, she topped American Theatre Magazines list of Most Produced Playwrights in the country, with a whopping 18 productionsincluding the upcoming Syracuse Stage production of her first play Sense and Sensibility.

Although shes written original plays, Hamill made a name for herself with fleet-footed theatrical adaptations, including several from Austens collected works. Shes on a crusade to adapt them all.

These include Pride and Prejudice, which was produced at Syracuse Stage in 2019, featuring Hamillalso an accomplished actorand directed by her husband (then fiance) Jason OConnell.

The pair began their courtship while working on the original off-Broadway production of Sense and Sensibility in 2014 (Hamill played the lovestruck Marianne, OConnell the steadfast Edward), and have since worked alongside each other 13 lucky times, said OConnell.

Syracuse Stage audiences have seen at least three of these productions, including two where Hamill and OConnell shared the stage as actors: the streaming production of Talleys Folly and The Play That Goes Wrong from 2022.

Director OConnell and Hamillwho plays several roles in Syracuse Stages Sense and Sensibilityexpressed a genuine excitement for audiences to experience this new production, not only because of what the show means to them personally, but because of how the story remains relevant after more than 200 years.

OConnell points to the gossips, a chorus of socialites unique to this adaptation, whose omnipresent chatter follow Elinor and Marianne, the plays heroines, like a storm cloud. He likens this rumor-mill to modern day social mediaa constant flow of comments and judgments.

Would Austen approve of that implication? Of course, Hamill said: She had a really wicked sense of humor.

This interview has been edited for length and clarity.

Syracuse Stage: Why do you think this story still resonates today?

Kate Hamill: I come at every adaptation with a new play approach. So, I try to make every adaptation of a classic something that works for people who not only know the novel really well, but also for people who have never read or have no interest in reading the novel at all. For me, this play is about how people under patriarchy, especially women, are punished both for obeying the rules and breaking the rules. And it is also a comedy.

SS: Whats it like returning to this play after more than 10 years?

KH: I had a workshop of Sense and Sensibility recently with a company called Deaf West, with deaf and hearing actors, and Ive seen it in various other theaters. So Ive actually come back to it with some regularity, and it has a lot of lovely memories for me. I wrote this when Jason and I were falling in love, and after a really bad breakup, so coming back to it, 11 years later, I am feeling all those feelings. But now Im not working on it as a playwright, so it almost feels like I get to come at it with new eyes. I was interested in coming back to it because Jason was directing it, and I knew Jason would have so much to bring to it, so I kind of couldnt resist being in the room where it happened.

Jason OConnell: Thank you, and Im so happy that you are doing it. I always had my fingers crossed that she would want to do it and join me, and that she would be available. So Im very lucky in that regard. And for me, coming back to it, its much the same. Theres a lot of great memories, because I was an actor in the original production. But even more, Ive learned about Kates voice as a playwright with all the things shes done since, and having that context to bring back to her very first play is really interesting because in some ways its like that Kate Hamill style, the flavors of her writingthey pop in a different way now that there is a body of work that I can relate it to. And, yeah, it is the play where we met and fell in love. I mean, I was involved in the very first table reading that was in a broom closet or something.

KH: Yeah, and it was so long that we had to skip to the end. I think I had to cut 100 pages!

JO: And my recollection is that its still the same play we read that first night. Obviously, a lot got trimmed out, but I just remember how potent it was. I think its just everything I love about her. Its funny, and its heartfelt, and its really hyper intelligent, and very sassy, and very accomplished. Its amazingly accomplished for a playwrights first work, and its always had that feeling, no matter how many edits or changes.

SS: How do you think youve changed as people and artists since then?

KH: Were both more confident and more skilled. We both really like making a very positive work environment for everyone involved. Its part of why we love working at Syracuse Stage, because everyone here is really nice, and its like a really positive environment, as well as having great productions and audiences. But really, I just think we have both become more assured, and our voices are stronger.

JO: You know more about who you are, what you like, what your taste is. And you trust yourself as you get more experiences.

KH: And you find other artists you have a common language with. Obviously we have a common language, but a lot of people in this play, weve worked with a lot of them before, and you collect a community of artists who also have those values.

JO: Kindness is a big part of that. Kindness, patience, graciousness, respectfulness. And then also intelligence, and talent, and empathy. I mean, you need all of it, and there are many people out there who possess all those qualities, but there are also many who do not. And you have to collect the people who become your circle, and then you can put trust in them, and that enables you to feel freer.

SS: What are the moments from this new production that you are particularly excited for audiences to see?

KH: Well, Jason has built a new beginning for the play, which Ive never seen done before. When he first told me his idea for it, I was like: Really? I dont know. And then I saw it, and its really beautiful. It tinges the whole play with a kind of delicacy, and theres a real thread of emotional sensitivity and humor and depth in it that I have not always seen, paired with the sort of like hijinks and the humor. I think its really special hes built this play that is not only funny, but also really embraces, in particular, the journey of Elinor and Marianne in the shadow of their fathers death.

JO: Thats beautiful. Thank you. And theres some surprises that involve Kate that I dont want to give away. But yeah, Im very, very, very proud of the team that weve assembled. The actors and the designers are all doing beautiful work, and Im excited by what each and every one of them brings to it. I just cant wait for audiences to see the collective work of the entire company. Like our choreographer, Steph Paul, whos coming from New Yorkshes brilliant, and we feel really lucky to have her. Everybodys contributions are so beautiful. Theyre all heightening the things Ive been mulling over for months and months.

KH: Yeah, theres a lot of psychological depth to this production.

SS: What are some things on your Syracuse bucket list for when you come to town?

JO: Wegmans donuts.

KH: Yeah. Wegmans, Sunday morning. Thats my happy place. Every time I walk into Wegmans, Im like, This is how life should be.

JO: Kates from this part of New York, and when I first came here in 2019, directing Pride and Prejudice, she was like: Oh! Wegmans. And to me, that was like saying Piggly Wiggly, or Joe Bobs, or any name. That means nothing to me. Its a grocery store! And she was like Wait until you see it. And then it was like, Ohhhhh. Happiness, every time we go.

KH: Apizza Regionale is like

JO: Our favorite pizza restaurant in the world.

KH: And we live in New York! Its delicious. And I also love Strong Heartstheir cupcakes and peanut butter noodles. Oh man, and Phoebes is wonderful!

JO: Theyre right across the street, theyre so friendly, theyre so kind to us, and its such a cozy place to work. Were only talking about food related things, but thats kind of all we have time for outside of rehearsal!

KH: I love the mall.

JO: Oh yeah. The Carousel, is that still there? I love that. Actually, that was my first image for this play. A carousel, because of how the world of this play spins around.

KH: So theres a little Syracuse trivia!

JO: Yeah. We just love being here.

If you go:

What: Sense and Sensibility

Where: Syracuse Stage, 820 E. Genesee St. Syracuse

When: Wednesday, April 23 through Sunday, May 11. Evening performances at 7:30 p.m.; matinees at 2 p.m.

Length of performance: Approximately two hours and 15 minutes, including one 15-minute intermission.

Tickets: Start at $30 at SyracuseStage.org and by phone (315-443-3275)
John Fabiano, a Buffalo, NY native, left the tech world and now travels the globe documenting dogs and their relationship with humans, around them. He is photographed here in Buffalo with dogs Viola (L) and Loki (R) Provided photo | Colin Gordon Provided photo | Colin Gordon

After leaving the corporate tech world, one Upstate New York mans career has gone to the dogs, in the best way.

John Fabiano, originally from Amherst just outside of Buffalo, had long envisioned a globe-trotting adventure where hed photograph dogs in different countries and document their bonds with humans. Photography had always been a passion, starting as a hobby that began in high school that continued into adulthood as he traveled more frequently.

In 2020, during the downtime of the Covid-19 pandemic, he invested in his first high-quality digital camera and started taking photography lessons.

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo is of his own dog, Viola at Letchworth State Park. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

By 2022, a window of opportunity opened for Fabiano to leave his daily corporate grind. He took the leap, accelerating plans for his photography journey. He began reaching out to journalists, organizations and other photographers to share his idea, hoping someone might offer support.

He was blown away by their welcoming response.

I was a nobody. I didnt have a photography Instagram, Fabiano said. I would send them my personal Instagram with photos of my dogs. I really hadnt told anyone that I was doing this. I wanted to work on this on my own before announcing it and doing it.

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Bangkok, Thailand. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

That changed when he met a woman in Germany who bred German shepherds. Their connection was instant. She praised his photography, even calling him an artist.

The energy and motivation I had after that  I just felt like this has some legs, he said. If I can continue to interact and meet with people like this around the world, this is going to be incredible. I realized that the connections with the people that I meet are going to be just as important with the dogs that Im going to observe and photograph.

Since leaving on that first flight in 2023, his project, now called Wags Around the World, has taken him to 19 countries and counting. It has become his full-time career. He organizes his work into four categories: wild dogs, working dogs, purebred dogs and the underdogs.

Fabiano said he has encountered remarkable contrasts in the way dogs are treated and viewed around the world.

In Germany, for example, German shepherds are pampered, high-value animals with international demand.

In Greenland, dogs are working animals; tools for survival, not pets. He observed sled dogs chained outdoors year-round in the frigid Arctic Circle.

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Qaanaaq, Greenland. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

Its very ingrained in the culture there that dogs are part of the community to help them survive, he said. It was really remarkable to watch how much these dogs could accomplish. They could run for miles and miles, and then, you know, as soon as you stop, theyre ready to run again. Their endurance and will to work is incredible.

In India he focused on street dogs, animals without official owners. Some of them are in pretty dire situations, he said, but others get adopted by a block or an apartment building who feed them and look out for the canines.

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in the Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

Fabiano is still traveling today and is most recently spending time in the Netherlands. He has met therapy dogs, police dogs, truffle hunting dogs and more.

In October 2024, one of his photos earned him the title of Documentary Dog Photographer of the Year from Dog Photography Awards.

His beautiful photos also do good for all the good dogs out there. Fabianos annual Wags Around the World calendar supports local charities with a donation of a portion of the proceeds. Last year he teamed up with Friends of the City of Buffalo Animal Shelter to support their work in helping shelter dogs in need.

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Queensland, Australia. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

He had advice for anyone considering a leap into the unknown to follow a dream.

Youre never going to feel fully ready until you start really doing it, he said. I planned it out for a long time, it was years. It was coming to fruition and just days before I was leaving, I was packing and I almost had a mental breakdown that week because it was just so overwhelming that what I really wanted was coming real.

The stress melted away on his first flight to Germany.

You dont know what you dont know and you figure it out while youre in the endeavor, Fabiano said.

You can follow along with Fabianos travels on both Instagram and Facebook.

See more photos from Wags Around the World below:

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Tamarindo, Costa Rica. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in the Santa Fe, New Mexico. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Rochester, NY. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano

"Wags Around the World," founded by John Fabiano from Buffalo, NY, documents dogs and their relationships with humans all over the globe. This photo was taken in Queensland, Australia. Provided photo | John Fabiano Provided photo | John Fabiano
At 95 years old, Dolores Huerta continues to walk firmly along the same path she began in the 1960s, when she raised her voice alongside Cesar Chavez to demand fair wages, decent conditions, and respect for farmworkers in California, Arizona, and New Mexico, where she was born. Her slogan, Si, se puede (Yes, we can)  born as a defiant response to the skepticism of those in power and embraced as a rallying cry by generations who still believe in the possibility of change  continues to follow her wherever she goes.

Today, the struggle of Dolores Huerta  and of all those she has inspired  has evolved. The democracy that for decades was held up as a model of institutional stability and civic progress now seems to be faltering under the weight of rhetoric that casts migrants as enemies, of a president who deports people indiscriminately and without due process to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, and of a narrative that rewrites the history of exclusion as if it were a badge of national pride. In this climate, Huertas voice stands as both memory and resistance.

She believes  and repeats  that grassroots organizing remains the most powerful tool available to communities, and that a united voice can shift the foundations of power. Three months into Donald Trumps second term, as attacks on Latino communities intensify once again, the union leader remains vigilant. History has vindicated her, but it hasnt granted her rest. Speaking with steady conviction during a video call with EL PAIS, en route to the Immigrant Day of Action 2025 conference in Sacramento, California, she reflects on seven decades of activism, the enduring impact of the foundation that bears her name, and a legacy she refuses to allow to be silenced. Because, as she says, sometimes you have to get kicked in the butt to wake up.

Question. You have fought against racism and police brutality, issues that seem more urgent than ever today. How does it feel to see undocumented immigrants deported to El Salvador without due process, or sent to Guantanamo?

Answer. Whats happening is horrific. President Trump wants to scare migrants so theyll leave the country out of fear. Its a very sad tragedy were experiencing in the United States.

Q. In your words, how do you define Trump?

A. Hes a person who doesnt have much intelligence. Hes someone filled with resentment and hatred toward people of color, and he maintains that hatred, especially toward Mexicans. Trump is a fascist, and his goal is to hurt and destroy as many people as he can.

Q. What do you think is the key to resistance and defending what has been so hard won?

A. The key is to continue organizing. Now is our chance to prepare for the 2026 [midterm] elections. If we start organizing now, well be ready and able to elect more Democratic members of Congress. Currently, their majority is very small and fragile, but we can increase it and push back against these policies.

Dolores Huerta during an event where she received recognition for her work in the fight for labor rights, in Los Angeles, California. Rafael Rodriguez

Q. You were the person who coined the slogan Si, se puede. What does that phrase mean in todays context?

A. This phrase is not just an affirmation that we can, but that every person, every individual, has the power to do something. Today, more than ever, we know that if we organize, if we unite, if we take direct action, we can counter everything Trump is doing. And most importantly, we must organize to register people and motivate them to vote in the upcoming elections. We have to push them, convince them that their vote is key, essential to protecting our democracy.

Q. Do you still believe in boycotts as a political tool, especially against companies that support Trump?

A. Of course. There are corporations like Target, Walmart, Starbucks, McDonalds, and many others that seem afraid of Trump. Theyre eliminating their diversity, inclusion, and equity policies. So, we must make it clear to them that if they dont respect us, if they dont implement policies that create opportunities for people of color, women, and the LGBTQ+ community, then we will be the ones who wont give them our money.

Q. Youve said before that people sometimes need a kick to wake up. Is this one of those moments?

A. Yes, because when we see these horrific deportations, when we see them taking away visas from students, or from people from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, it makes you realize how serious all of this is. Theyre also taking away visas from many people who were already in the process of obtaining legal residency. Its very sad, very painful, and its definitely a moment that should wake us up.

Q. During the pandemic, in a video call with the children of Dolores Huerta Elementary School in San Francisco  many of them children of migrant families  you told them: When they tell us that we must return from where we came from, I respond: We are here, where we came from.

A. What I wanted to tell them is that many migrants who come to the United States do so because they are escaping very difficult situations: political persecution, hunger, or even the consequences of climate change. In some places, they can no longer plant crops, they can no longer harvest, and people simply have nothing to eat. But we must remember that this land was Mexico before it became the United States. Therefore, we must be a country with open arms, that welcomes with dignity those forced to leave their homes, as it did in the past with those who emigrated from Europe.

Q. Your legacy lives on not only in the streets and in history books, but also in the work of the Dolores Huerta Foundation.

A. Weve worked hard in education. A very clear example took place in Bakersfield, in Kern County, California. In 2014, we filed a lawsuit against the school district for expelling more than 2,000 high school students (mostly Latino) in a single year. We won that case, and thanks to that effort, today the number of expulsions has dropped to fewer than 21 per year. This demonstrates the impact that community organizing can have. We work from the grassroots, training local leaders in each community. We teach them that they have the power to solve their own problems, without having to wait for someone from outside to tell them what to do.

Dolores Huerta speaks at a protest demanding health insurance for low-income immigrants at the Capitol in Sacramento, California, in 2022. Rich Pedroncelli (AP)

Q. Are you still offering workshops on what to do if you are detained by ICE or the police?

A. Yes, they are very important. At the Dolores Huerta Foundation, in coordination with other groups, we have distributed thousands and thousands of Know Your Rights cards. These cards are a key tool for people to protect themselves. We know they have been helpful for many people, especially when they are detained by ICE or the police, as they let them know exactly what rights they have at that moment.

Q. If you could say one thing to the entire country right now, what would it be?

A. The United States has benefitted from all migrants. We know that millions have contributed to Social Security  money they will never be able to claim  and that contribution must be acknowledged. Its essential to value the work and the sacrifices migrants have made for this country. They should not be treated as criminals. Even though thats the narrative Trump has used, its one that must be challenged.

Q. How would you like to be remembered when you are gone?

A. As someone who has had a lot of faith in people, who believes in their ability to organize, I think its important to give people the tools they need to do that. Once they understand they have the power to organize, they can accomplish many things on their own.

Q. Do you feel like you have something left to do in life?

A. Yes, because we know there are still many homeless people, many who havent been able to obtain citizenship, many who havent registered to vote, and many who dont understand the importance of participating in the electoral life of the United States. If we can convince them, we can change everything. In our own community, there are also people who still havent learned the basics. They dont respect women who make decisions about their own bodies, non-binary people, and all those who choose to love someone of the same sex. We must understand that, as Benito Juarez said, respect for the rights of others is peace.

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Onondaga Community College has opened an Indigenous student center on campus. The college also has hired Irv Lyons Jr. to recruit more native students to campus. So far, he's helped enroll 15. Ankit Bandyopadhyay

Onondaga, N.Y. -- The Center for Indigenous and Native Students at the Onondaga Community College reopened with a new look earlier this month and a formal acknowledgment that the school stands on Onondaga Nation ground.

Irv Lyons Jr., Indigenous admissions counselor for the OCC, said that the renovations now include computers for Native students along with art contributions from OCC alum and Onondaga Nation member Brandon Lazore.

Lazores work shows other OCC students they can go on to do big things after college, Lyons said to syracuse.com | The Post-Standard.

He came from the same place that they did, Lyons said, and made it through doing hard work and getting his education.

Lyons joined OCC as an Indigenous admissions counselor in January with the goal of recruiting more Native students. So far, 15 additional students have enrolled.

Lyons said he hopes the center and the upcoming Haudenosaunee Arts Festival will help people see that the OCC honors Native presence in Central New York.

Onondaga Community College has opened an Indigenous student center on campus. Ankit Bandyopadhyay

The festival, on Aug. 9, will feature 45 different vendors, including food trucks, and arts and crafts. Additionally, a fashion show is planned along with music and various activities, Lyons said.

Lyons said the OCC Indigenous center, located at OCCs Mawhinney Hall room 345, is open for everyone to come in and learn about their culture.

For more information about the festival or the center, contact Lyons at i.t.lyons@sunyocc.edu.
What just happened? A pivotal legal decision has emerged from Nevada, where a federal judge has questioned the constitutionality of a controversial investigative tool known as a "tower dump." This law enforcement method allows police to collect data en masse from cell towers, capturing information on every device that connects to a tower during a specific time window. The practice, which can sweep up the location and identifying details of thousands of cell phones, has been widely used to aid criminal investigations  and has also sparked intense debate over privacy and constitutional rights.

The case at the center of this ruling involves Cory Spurlock, who faces serious charges including conspiracy to distribute marijuana and alleged involvement in a murder-for-hire plot. In an effort to place Spurlock at the scenes of the crimes, investigators obtained a warrant for a tower dump, which ultimately captured data from nearly 1,700 unique phones. The data, provided by a wireless carrier, revealed which phones had connected to specific cell towers near the alleged crime scenes during the relevant time frames.

Crucially, none of the individuals whose data was collected had given explicit consent for their location information to be shared, nor was there any mechanism for them to opt out.

When the case reached court, Spurlock's defense team argued that the warrant authorizing the tower dump was overly broad, effectively allowing police to track the digital whereabouts of countless innocent people. They contended that this amounted to a "general warrant"  the kind of indiscriminate search the framers of the Constitution explicitly sought to prohibit.

In her written opinion, US District Judge Miranda M. Du agreed, ruling that the tower dump constituted a search under the Fourth Amendment and that the warrant failed to meet constitutional standards for specificity and probable cause.

Despite this, Judge Du ultimately allowed the evidence from the tower dump to be used in Spurlock's trial. She explained that the officers involved had relied on existing legal standards, and that at the time of the investigation, there was no clear guidance from higher courts in the region regarding the use of tower dumps.

The implications of this ruling extend far beyond Spurlock's case. Privacy advocates have long warned that tower dumps, by their very nature, collect data on large numbers of people who have no connection to any criminal activity. In court, expert witnesses described how the data obtained could be used to reconstruct the movements and associations of every person whose phone connected to the targeted towers, raising concerns about mass surveillance and the erosion of privacy for ordinary citizens.

The Nevada decision follows a similar ruling in Mississippi, where another federal judge found tower dumps unconstitutional and barred their use in an FBI investigation. That case is currently on appeal, with the Department of Justice arguing that tower dumps are a critical tool for law enforcement and that the legal questions surrounding their use remain unsettled.

The broader legal landscape is complicated by the Supreme Court's 2018 decision in Carpenter v. United States, which held that police generally need a warrant to access historical cell-site location data. However, the Carpenter ruling was narrowly tailored and did not directly address the legality of tower dumps or other forms of bulk data collection, leaving lower courts to wrestle with how the Fourth Amendment applies in these contexts.

As legal challenges mount and conflicting decisions emerge across the country, many observers believe the Supreme Court may soon be called upon to clarify the constitutionality of tower dumps.
Li Ann Sanchez was born twice. The first time was 37 years ago, in the confines of the Chinanteca region, between the Mexican states of Veracruz and Oaxaca. Her second birth took place in Mississippi, after finishing a drag show in which she performed as Selena. The queer and African American audience dubbed her the star of the place. Since then, shes been known as Li Ann Estrella Sanchez (estrella meaning star in English).

Throughout her life, the Mexican activist has had to overcome the triple discrimination of being an immigrant, a trans woman and Indigenous. In 2018, she founded Communidad Estrella, translated as the star community. This not-for-profit organization is dedicated to defending the rights of undocumented migrants  regardless of race or nationality  with a focus on the LGBTQ+ community.

Following a landmark ruling in the state of Georgia, Sanchez obtained asylum status  becoming the first trans woman to receive it  and legal residency. This was after more than a decade of irregular status in the U.S. Between 2009 and 2010 (she doesnt remember the exact date), she was detained for 30 days for possessing hormones that she had bought at an illegal pharmacy.

Li Ann has also been a sex worker and a victim of human-trafficking networks operating along the border. In Cancun, when I wasnt even of legal age, I met a woman who [lured me]. She told me, Youre going to the United States, youll be taking care of an elderly woman and youll make a lot of money. I dont even know how they got me across. I woke up in Texas, locked in a room without seeing sunlight [...] I had sex with other young men at gunpoint. I dont know how to describe this evil, she confesses.

Fortunately, she was able to escape and returned to Mexico. But her stay was brief: just a few months later, she crossed the border again. At the time, Barack Obamas second presidential term was beginning. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids multiplied in many parts of the country. Under the 287(g) program, which establishes cooperation between local police officers and immigration agents, she was detained for the second time, with the added aggravating factor of having failed to comply with a prior court summons, which was on her record. Such an offense is considered to be a felony.

Many immigrants make the same mistake, because were unfamiliar with the American judicial system, she notes. She was incarcerated for a year. At the Atlanta City Detention Center  the first facility where she was held  they didnt know whether to place her with men or women. They criminalized me for being a trans woman. They dressed me in red, like the most dangerous criminals. They locked me up in solitary confinement, the famous hole. They performed horrific checkups on me; they broke my ear and they kept me on medication, like a mentally ill person. I was on the verge of being sexually assaulted, but I fought back, she recalls, describing the abuse she suffered during her detention. Unlike similar facilities in, say, California  which have rooms or cells exclusively for the trans community  Georgia doesnt offer these types of considerations for the LGBTQ+ population. Nor do the state facilities offer hormone therapy. No undocumented person [receives it] and thats one of our biggest demands, she adds.

Li Ann Sanchez at the Comunidad Estrella facility in Atlanta, Georgia. Megan Varner

After taking on her case, lawyers from Immigration Equality managed to secure her freedom. During the six years it took to obtain asylum and form her own organization, she was involved with other groups that are dedicated to informing the detained migrant community about their rights, reaching out to them in shelters and detention centers. She also succeeded in helping Mexican trans immigrants in the United States get their birth certificates rectified. As a result, each individual can be recognized by their own name and gender identity. I left prison with an enormous thirst for justice, hoping that no one else would be locked up in those unhealthy, inhumane conditions, suffering physical and emotional abuse. Those centers must close, she affirms. For years, I carried out my activism with an ankle bracelet that allowed them to track my every move, under the threat of deportation.

Donald Trumps return to the White House was followed by his signing of executive orders against inclusion policies in the federal government and gender variance, resulting in the denial of the existence of trans people. This has been a setback for Sanchez and her community. In fact, attacks against this group  far from decreasing  continue to grow. According to the Trans Murder Monitoring research project, 350 trans and gender-diverse people were murdered worldwide between October of 2023 and September of 2024: 70% of these deaths occurred in Latin America and the Caribbean. Meanwhile, in the United States, hate crimes increased from 31 to 41 during this same period.

Question. Under this new administration, what are the conditions for organizations that are working to defend the rights of the trans and migrant communities?

Answer. Were experiencing a new era of transphobia and xenophobia. We know that all the organizations that work on behalf of immigrants are being investigated. To protect ourselves, weve decided to [take down] our website. Were also being cautious when making statements. When we go out to protest, were covering our faces with masks, sunglasses and hats. Were also not sharing our events on social media. But we continue the fight.

Q. Did you pause your tours to educate the migrant and LGBTQ+ communities about their rights?

A. Through the efforts of many organizations, were keeping the community well-informed but ICE agents are using tactics that are leaving everyone defenseless. They wait for you on street corners, no matter for how long. They stay there until they catch you, either when youre coming home from work, or whenever you least expect it. I dont know if theyre monitoring [people] by phone to know what time they may arrive home or wherever theyre going, but thats whats happening in Atlanta.

Q. Do you have any records of arrests and deportations of LGBTQ+ immigrants that have occurred in recent weeks?

A. Theyve taken two. A Mexican woman arrived [in the U.S.] with CBP One. They came to her home, almost breaking down her door. She didnt show up for an immigration court date, so they arrested her. While she was detained, she told me: They came after me and I dont want to be in this country anymore. So, she signed her deportation form. We also recorded the case of a Honduran woman who was taken while she was shopping. She also decided to leave.

Q. For many LGBTQ+ migrants, returning to their countries of origin poses a risk to their lives

A. Thats right. Sadly, this was the case for one of our colleagues, Melissa Nunez. She lived between New York, Tennessee and Atlanta. She was a sex worker. She requested permission to travel to her country, Honduras (Sanchez doesnt specify her immigration status). When she returned [to the U.S.], she was denied entry due to Title 42 and was deported. A week or two later, she was murdered, in circumstances that are still unclear. [Members of] the LGBTQ+ community [who are] in this country as refugees cannot be expelled.

Q. Despite your activism and the protection afforded to you by your asylum status, are you afraid to go out on the streets now?

A. Yes, because executive orders are constantly changing. It all depends on how the president reacts. Maybe tomorrow hell decide that all trans people should cut their hair. What do I know?

Q. Youve fought for the closure of migrant detention centers, but Trumps immigration agenda is incentivizing them...

A. Im part of a coalition of organizations that remains focused on achieving this goal. Millions of dollars are being invested in detention centers where human rights are violated. And I say this because Ive experienced it. The government is paying $110 a day for each immigrant whos detained in these private prisons. Whats happening is that these companies are getting rich. Were just a business for them. When you investigate a little about who are behind these companies, youll find that theyre white people who hold power in the United States. Many of them supported Donald Trump. All of this is planned.

Li Ann Sanchez poses next to the mural honoring her work on behalf of LGBTQ immigrants, on Buford Highway in Atlanta, Georgia. Megan Varner

Q. Amid these circumstances, what programs are continuing at Comunidad Estrella?

A. We continue with our Salud y Vida program (Health and Life), which addresses everything related to HIV awareness, as well as hormone replacement therapy. Vivamos en Paz (Lets live in peace) is another project to prevent and address sexual assault or violence, bullying and more. We also promote the labor rights of the trans community.

We have a community center, which belonged to our co-founder, where we can meet and offer various types of assistance [to LGBTQ+ migrants]. We also continue to visit migrant shelters and detention centers to help [individuals] with whatever they need, including legal and psychological counseling. We dont provide this assistance directly, but we serve as a bridge with other organizations. Its a networking effort.

Q. Are you afraid that youll lose the aid or funding required to operate for the next four years?

A. We receive funding from larger organizations and have applied for federal funding. In this last [round of applications], we can no longer use the words trans, queer, immigrant... we have to be resilient.

Q. Whats your greatest wish since you started this fight?

A. [Getting my] U.S. citizenship.

Q. Really?

A. I wish I didnt have to fight for everything. To live without having to flee or be careful about what I say. Without having to suspend my organizations website, review the annual work plan, the brochures... my greatest dream is to live with dignity.

Li Ann Sanchez. Megan Varner

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The United States Supreme Court has ordered Donald Trumps administration not to deport a group of at least 30 Venezuelan immigrants currently being held at the Bluebonnet detention center in Texas. Authorities had planned to transfer them to El Salvador using a law from 1798 intended for wartime  the Alien Enemies Act  to imprison them in Nayib Bukeles high-security prison. With this decision, published early Saturday morning, a waiting period is now in effect until a lower court, specifically the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals, issues a ruling.

There is before the Court an application on behalf of a putative class of detainees seeking an injunction against their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The matter is currently pending before the Fifth Circuit. Upon action by the Fifth Circuit, the Solicitor General is invited to file a response to the application before this Court as soon as possible. The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the Supreme Courts decision states.

The ruling notes that Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito  both extremely conservative  voted against the decision. Alito will publish a dissent explaining his disagreement. The remaining seven justices  four conservatives and three progressives  supported the decision.

On Friday, two federal judges refused to intervene after the immigrants lawyers launched a desperate legal campaign to stop their deportation. The U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals has not yet ruled on the matter. One of the judges acknowledged the case raised legitimate concerns but said he could not rule on it after the Supreme Court recently determined that deportation orders could only be issued by judges in the jurisdictions where the immigrants are located.

Prisoners look out their cell as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, Wednesday, March 26, 2025. Alex Brandon (AP)

Trump is using a law intended for wartime to carry out expedited deportations. He accuses the immigrants of being members of armed gangs but has not proven it in court nor offered detainees legal safeguards. The administration mistakenly deported a Salvadoran migrant who was legally in the U.S., and rather than attempting to bring him back, it has tried to tarnish his image.

The Alien Enemies Act has only been invoked three times in U.S. history, most recently during World War II to detain Japanese-American civilians in internment camps. The Trump administration argued the law gives them power to swiftly remove immigrants identified as gang members, regardless of their immigration status.

In a recent ruling, a divided Supreme Court allowed Trump, in a 54 vote, to continue using the law but did not rule on its merits. That decision did affirm that immigrants must have a chance to challenge their deportation before being removed from the country, and that they must be given a reasonable time to access the courts.

The majority opinion stated that: For all the rhetoric of the dissents, todays order and per curiam confirm that the detainees subject to removal orders under the Alien Enemies Act are entitled to notice and an opportunity to challenge their removal.

In their dissenting opinion, the four female justices argued that the law used to justify these deportations only gives the president the power to detain and remove foreign nationals from a hostile nation or government when there is a declared war with that country or when a foreign nation threatens an invasion or predatory incursion into U.S. territory.

In their dissenting opinion, the four Supreme Court justices argued: The Act grants the President power to detain and remove foreign citizens of a hostile nation or government when there is a declared war with such nation or when a foreign nation threatens invasion or predatory incursion against the territory of the United States.

Before today, U. S. Presidents have invoked the Alien Enemies Act only three times, each in the context of an ongoing war: the War of 1812, World War I, and World War II. That changed on March 14, 2025, when President Trump invoked the Alien Enemies Act to address an alleged Invasion of the United States by Tren De Aragua, a criminal organization based in Venezuela. [...] There is, of course, no ongoing war between the United States and Venezuela, the justices emphasized, highlighting the clear illegality of using the law for these deportations

The justices warned of the authoritarian drift implied in applying a law without safeguards, flouting the letter of the law, and relying on a government that claims once deported and imprisoned, individuals cannot be brought back even if the government admits a mistake.

The dissenting opinion argued: The implication of the Governments position is that not only noncitizens but also United States citizens could be taken off the streets, forced onto planes, and confined to foreign prisons with no opportunity for redress if judicial review is denied unlawfully before removal. History is no stranger to such lawless regimes, but this Nations system of laws is designed to prevent, not enable, their rise.

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Gazans resort to turtle meat in hunt for food



Khan Yunis, Palestinian Territories, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2025



With food scarce in the besieged and war-battered Gaza Strip, some desperate families have turned to eating sea turtles as a rare source of protein.

Once the shell has been removed, the meat is cut up, boiled and cooked in a mix of onion, pepper, tomato and spices.

"The children were afraid of the turtle, and we told them it tasted as delicious as veal," said Majida Qanan, keeping an eye on the chunks of red meat simmering in a pot over a wood fire.

"Some of them ate it, but others refused."

For lack of a better alternative, this is the third time 61-year-old Qanan has prepared a turtle-based meal for her family who were displaced and now live in a tent in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza largest city.

After 18 months of devastating war and an Israeli blockade on aid since March 2, the United Nations has warned of a dire humanitarian situation for the 2.4 million inhabitants of the Palestinian territory.

Israel has accused Hamas of diverting aid, which the Palestinian militant group denies.

The heads of 12 major aid organisations warned on Thursday that "famine is not just a risk, but likely rapidly unfolding in almost all parts" of the territory.

"There are no open crossings and there is nothing in the market," said Qanan.

"When I buy two small bags (of vegetables) for 80 shekels ($22), there is no meat," she added.

Sea turtles are internationally protected as an endangered species, but those caught in Gaza fishermen's nets are used for food.

Qanan mixes the meat with flour and vinegar to wash it, before rinsing and boiling it in an old metal pot.



- 'Never expected to eat a turtle' -



"We never expected to eat a turtle," fisherman Abdel Halim Qanan said.

"When the war started, there was a food shortage. There is no food. So (turtle meat) is an alternative for other sources of protein. There is no meat, poultry or vegetables."

The UN's Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs has warned that Gaza is facing its most severe humanitarian crisis since the war began on October 7, 2023, triggered by Hamas's attack on Israel.

Fighting has raged in Gaza since then, pausing only twice -- recently during a two-month ceasefire between January 19 and March 17, and in a previous one-week halt in late November 2023.

The World Health Organization's regional chief Hanan Balkhy said in June that some Gazans were so desperate that they were eating animal food, grass, and drinking sewage water.

Hamas on Thursday accused Israel of using "starvation as a weapon" against Gazans by blocking aid supplies.

Fisherman Qanan said the turtles were killed in the "halal" method, in accordance with Islamic rites.

"If there was no famine, we would not eat it and leave it, but we want to compensate for the lack of protein," he said.
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There seemed to be nothing but smiles between Ivanka Trump and Karlie Kloss as they vacationed with their husbands amid ongoing speculation of a feud between them.

In pictures published by Page Six , Trump, 43, and Kloss, 32, are seen lounging on the beach and enjoying the water in Costa Rica.

The first daughter is pictured in a two-piece orange set riding the waves, while Kloss is in a beige, wide-brimmed hat and a black one-piece standing next to her husband, Joshua Kushner, on the sand.

Jared Kushner, Trumps husband, was photographed walking along the waters edge in a neon green bathing suit.

open image in gallery Karlie Kloss and Ivanka Trump seen smiling together on vacation in Costa Rica amid rumors the two arent on good terms ( Getty )

The pictures of the women enjoying themselves in the sun come after years of online chatter theorizing that Trump and Kloss arent on good terms despite being married into the same family.

These rumors were born from the fact that the supermodel has previously opened up about not voting for Donald Trump in 2016 or 2020.

Trump, on the other hand, has been by her fathers side, serving in his first administration and supporting him throughout his recent campaign.

And though she ultimately chose not to return to Washington D.C. with the rest of her family this time, Trump was right next to her dad inside the U.S. Capitol Rotunda this January for his inauguration.

Jared also served in the first Trump administration as Senior White House Advisor.

open image in gallery Trump married Joshua Kushner in 2009 ( Getty Images )

Last year, Trump and Kloss added fuel to the fire when people noticed the two werent in any pictures together at the Ambani wedding they both attended in India.

However, representatives for Trump and Kloss quickly shot down the feud speculation, telling Page Six the women had a good relationship.

Trump has been married to Jared since 2009, while Kloss tied the knot with Joshua in 2018.

open image in gallery Kloss and Joshua Kushner tied the knot in 2018 ( Getty Images for Fortune Media )

Neither Trump nor Jared was present for Kloss and Joshuas wedding in Wyoming that year, but they were spotted at the venue in the days leading up to the big day.

At the time, a White House spokesperson refused to comment on Trumps schedule or provide details on why she and her husband flew home before the couple said I do.

In a 2020 appearance on InCharge with DVF with Diane von Furstenberg, Kloss opened up about her relationship with Joshua.

I really followed my heart on choosing to be with the person that I love, despite any complications that came with it, she told the host. You know, I knew for me, it was worth it to fight for that.

I think that in my career too, you know, being true to my heart or being true to myself, when I know that something is not aligned with who I am, and the message I want to send to the world, or the kind of person that I want to be maybe that comes back to character, Kloss continued. But like, my heart often is telling me exactly what I need to hear. And I didnt always listen to it.

Kloss and Joshua announced they were expecting their third baby in March. The two already share two sons, Levi and Elijah.
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Its a sad day for Toblerone fans  the Swiss chocolate brands 360g dark chocolate bars have been discontinued.

A spokesperson for US firm Mondelez announced it would be pulling the bars from stores after 56 years, acknowledging the news may be disappointing for some consumers.

While failing to give a reason for the decision, they assured shoppers it would continue to invest in Toblerone.

The news arrives after months of confusion surrounding the bars whereabouts in shops.

Several customers raised their concerns on X/Twitter, with one asking: Does anyone know anywhere in the UK I can get a bar of Dark Toblerone. Ive spoken to Toblerone who said its not been discontinued but Ive been looking for absolutely ages and cant find them anywhere.

At the time of writing, its believed the dark chocolate bars will only be scrapped in the UK.

In 2023, Toblerone announced it would be removing the Matterhorn mountain peak from its packaging because of strict Swiss marketing rules.

When some of the chocolates production moved from Switzerland to Slovakia, the confectionery treat had to avoid restrictions surrounding Swissness, which blocks national symbols from being used to promote products that are not made exclusively in the country.

US firm Mondelez replaced the image of the 4,478-metre-high (14,690ft) mountain, which borders Switzerland and Italy, with a generic summit instead.

Toblerone, a honey and almond nougat chocolate bar, was named by combining the surname of its inventor, Theodor Tobler, and torrone, a toasted-almond nougat confection.

open image in gallery Toblerone Dark (360g) has been discontinued ( Getty Images )

It first went on sale in 1908 in Bern, the capital city of Switzerland.

Swissness legislation, introduced in 2017, states that national symbols cannot be used to promote milk-based products that are not made exclusively in Switzerland. For other raw foodstuffs, the threshold is at least 80 per cent.

Studies have shown that certain products branded as made in Switzerland are sold at 20 per cent more than similar goods from other origins.
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A student arrested after two people were killed and six more injured in a shooting on Florida State Universitys Tallahassee campus is the son of a sheriffs deputy, cops say.

Phoenix Ikner, 20, was taken into custody after Thursdays shooting, police revealed at a press conference.

Cops say he used a former service weapon owned by his mother to carry out the deadly attack. It has since been reported that Ikner had spent time training with law enforcement himself. It has also emerged that Ikner endured a tumultuous childhood, with another woman identified in court records as his biological mother accused of taking him abroad in March 2015 without his fathers consent when he was just 10 years old.

Ikner suffered significant injuries and is expected to be in the hospital for a while, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Friday, before stressing: Once he is released from that facility, hell be taken to a local detention facility where he will face the charges up to and including first-degree murder."

Below, we look at everything we know about the suspect and the attack:

Who is the suspected shooter?

open image in gallery Suspected FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner, 20, was taken into custody after Thursdays shooting, police revealed at a press conference ( Social media )

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil named FSU undergraduate Phoenix Ikner, a political science major, as the shooter. Ikner is the son of Leon County Deputy Jessica Ikner.

Deputy Ikner has been on the force for 18 years and also works as a school resource officer. Her profile appeared to have been removed from the Leon County Sheriff's Office website as of Thursday evening.

The 20-year-old was a long-standing member of the agencys Youth Advisory Council, McNeil said, and was part of the sheriffs office family. He added that it was not a surprise that Ikner had access to firearms, given his mothers job.

This event is tragic in more ways than you people in the audience could ever fathom from a law enforcement perspective, the sheriff said.

But I will tell you this, we will make sure we send a message to folks that this will never be tolerated here in Leon County, and I dare say, across this state and across this nation.

A fellow member of the Youth Advisory Council described Ikner to The New York Times as always in good spirits, helpful and always proposing really good ideas to help Leon County. He added that Ikner never spoke about guns or anything.

What is his background?

It was revealed on Friday that Ikner had a tumultuous childhood, including a fraught custody battle between his biological parents. It was suggested in court filings that the dispute had caused emotional and psychological harm that would be evident for years.

Given the child being the age of 11, will have memory impacted by the behaviors of all the defendants for the false claims done on his mother, and for the parental alienation of the close relationship of the minor child, the documents stated.

Ikner was originally named Christian Eriksen and Anne-Mari Eriksen is identified in court records as his biological mother. She was accused of taking him to Norway in March 2015 in violation of a custody agreement.

Anne-Mari Eriksen, who has joint U.S.-Norwegian citizenship, pleaded no contest and was sentenced to 200 days in jail, 170 of which she had already served, followed by two years of community control and two years of probation, according to the records.

open image in gallery Law enforcement vehicles parked outside the Florida State Student Union building after a shooting left two dead on campus ( AP )

She was ordered to have no contact with her son during that time but later attempted to vacate her plea, saying it had been made under duress, only for her appeal to be denied. It is unclear if the pair had had contact recently.

According to the Daily Mail, Eriksen posted Thursday on Facebook attacking her sons father and new partner, Deputy Ikner, for their parenting and failure to communicate with her about the shooting before subsequently deleting the message.

Speaking to ABC News Friday, she described the moment she heard that her son was the suspected shooter.

"When I heard what had happened, I was frantic -- thought he might be the one hurt. And then when I found out it was him I just collapsed at work," Eriksen told the outlet. "Theres so much that needs to be said about this, but I just cant talk without crying. We need time to process all this."

Susan Eriksen, Ikners maternal grandmother, blamed the 20-year-olds father and stepmother for having a negative influence over the smartest, sweetest kid.

They taught him how to hunt, theyre bigoted people, they hated a lot of people, the 79-year-old told the Daily Mail, noting that she hadnt seen the suspect in a decade.

What was his motive?

Investigators have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, with Revell telling reporters on Thursday that Ikner had invoked his right not to speak to investigators.

Revell stressed his belief that the suspect had acted alone and that there was no further threat to the public.

Meanwhile, classmates say he had espoused white supremacist and far-right rhetoric for years prior to Thursdays killing. A former president of Tallahassee States political discourse club, whose meetings Ikner attended, said he had been asked to leave after clashing with other members.

Reid Seybold told NBC News that the suspect was a fervent Donald Trump supporter who shared far-right views, including promoting white supremacy, which had made other members of the club uncomfortable and ultimately led to his expulsion.

Seybold said Ikners politics went beyond conservatism and explained: He had continually made enough people uncomfortable where certain people had stopped coming. Thats kind of when we reached the breaking point with Phoenix, and we asked him to leave.

Its been a couple of years now. I cant give exact quotes. He talked about the ravages of multiculturalism and communism and how its ruining America.

open image in gallery Investigators have not yet revealed a motive for the shooting, with Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell telling reporters on Thursday that Ikner had invoked his right not to speak to investigators ( EPA )

According to online records, Ikner lives in Tallahassee, registered as a Republican in 2022 and voted in last Novembers presidential election. Earlier this year, he was interviewed by his campus newspaper about anti-Trump protests taking place on the FSU grounds.

These people are usually pretty entertaining, usually not for good reasons, he told the outlet at the time.

I think its a little too late, hes already going to be inaugurated on January 20 and theres not really much you can do unless you outright revolt, and I dont think anyone wants that.

In addition, an Instagram account attributed to Ikner featured a disturbing quote from the Bibles Book of Jeremiah, declaring: You are my war club, my weapons for battle, with you I shatter nations, with you I destroy kingdoms. The account has since been taken down.

What happened during the shooting?

FSU police locked the campus down after reports of an active shooter emerged around midday on Thursday and instructed students to shelter in place.

An active shooter has been reported in the area of Student Union, the university said on X.

Police are on scene or on the way. Continue to seek shelter and await further instructions. Lock and stay away from all doors and windows and be prepared to take additional protective measures.

Multiple gunshots were reported, with eyewitness Mckenzie Heeter later saying she had seen a figure in an orange T-shirt and khaki shorts who looked like a normal college dude firing as many as 15 rounds on passersby from an orange Hummer.

open image in gallery Police say the two people killed in the shooting were not students at the university ( Reuters )

Law enforcement officers descended on the institution and social media was flooded with clips of students and faculty members cowering beneath desks and fleeing with their hands up, with many leaving behind rucksacks and picnics abandoned on the college lawn.

I could have sworn I saw a cop running after somebody and screaming something when we ran out, witness Will Schatz told The Tallahessee Democrat of his experience being evacuated from the Strozier Library.

Then when I got out, I heard seven to eight gunshots. Im not sure if that was the shooter shooting or if the cops shot the shooter.

Finally, reports emerged at around 1: 15 p.m. that a suspect had been taken into custody.

Who are the victims?

Although authorities refrained from revealing many details about the individuals who were killed, family members have since come forward.

Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba were identified as the two men killed in the shooting.

Morales was a father, husband and employee of FSU who worked in dining services, his older sibling said in a social media post. The FSU community paid tribute to him in an emotional vigil on Friday evening.

Morales didnt just do the job, he lived the job, Kyle Clark, the universitys vice president said at the vigil. He was dedicated to the mission of service and care for the Florida State University community...he made our dining experience feel like home for every student, especially those from South Florida.

Morales also worked as an assistant coach for the Leon High School football team. He led the team with dedication, integrity and a true passion for mentoring young athletes, the athletics department said in a statement. His commitment to the game and to shaping the lives of his players extended far beyond the field. He was a trusted coach, a respected colleague, and a cherished friend to many.

Morales was also a founding member of a well-known Tallahassee restaurant called Gordos. The owner said they were deeply saddened by the tragedy.

open image in gallery Robert Morales was identified as one of the two dead following Thursday's shooting at FSU ( Ricardo Morales Jr/ X )

Chabba, 45, didnt work at FSU, but happened to be there on Thursday as an employee of a campus vendor when the attack took place, attorneys for his family said Friday.

The father of two was a resident of Greenville, South Carolina.

Chabbas family is going through the unimaginable now, Bakari Sellers, a renowned civil rights attorney hired by the family, said. Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, theyre living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence.

Six others were transported to Floridas Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare in the wake of the incident. Five were wounded by gunfire while the sixth was injured while attempting to run away from the shooting, Revell said in a Thursday statement.

As of Friday morning, two victims were expected to be discharged later in the day, while three have improved and are in good condition and one remained in fair condition, a spokesperson for the hospital told the Washington Post.

Madison Askins, a 23-year-old FSU graduate student, told ABC News that she was shot in the buttocks before being forced to play dead to avoid the gunman.

Askins and her friend were walking on campus when her friend "took off running at the sound of gunshots. "Unfortunately, I fell," she told the outlet. The friend tried to help her up but As her friend tried to help her up, Askins was struck. The friend ran, which Askins said was valid.

At one point, she thought the gunman had walked away, so she planned on reaching for her phone to contact her loved ones: I wanted to call my dad, tell him I loved him.

She didnt. Instead, she said she heard the gunman getting closer and reloading his firearm. She recalled him saying calmly: "Keep running."

"I know for certain if I was moving he would've shot me again," she said, adding that she did not entertain the thought of dying.

Richard McCullough, FSU president, issued a statement following the tragedy. We are heartbroken. We are grieving with the families, friends, and loved ones of those who were lost. We are holding close those who are injured, and we are standing by everyone who is hurting, he said.

open image in gallery A grieving student mourns at an impromptu memorial set up for the victims on campus ( AP )

Ikner was also treated at the hospital after law enforcement shot him after he refused to comply with their commands, police have said. He is suffering significant injuries but is expected to survive, authorities said.

Student Emily Palmer told the same network from the safety of her student housing in the aftermath of the assault: Im shaking Its just a lot going on. Im concerned about my friends.
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A young mother who underwent a botched cosmetic surgery carried out by an unlicensed doctor in New York City has died, according to a GoFundMe update posted by the womans family.

Maria Penaloza Cabrera passed away on April 11, weeks after undergoing a butt lift implant removal procedure at her home on March 28.

Felipe Hoyos-Foronda, 38, allegedly performed the procedure at the womans home in Queens, New York, and administered lidocaine to Cabrera through a syringe, which prompted her to go into cardiac arrest.

She was transferred to a hospital, where doctors determined she had no brain activity and was not likely to survive the ordeal, according to USA Today.

Hoyos-Foronda was taken into custody the day of the attempted procedure as he tried to flee the country to Colombia. He was arrested at John F Kennedy International Airport. Police charged him with practicing medicine without a license and second-degree assault.

open image in gallery Felipe Hoyos-Foronda in an undated photo released by the New York City Police Department ( NYPD )

Authorities said Hoyos-Foronda advertised his unlicensed medical practice on TikTok, with prices for procedures, including Botox. Several of his posts included videos and photos of people undergoing procedures.

Officials have not yet determined the womans cause of death, but the Chief Medical Examiner is undertaking an investigation.

The GoFundMe page has raised just over $6,000 out of a $20,000 goal to help the womans relatives travel to the U.S. from Colombia. She leaves behind two young children.
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A man is in custody after police say he harassed an Iowa State University employee and threatened a mass shooting at the schools upcoming commencement ceremony.

Tanner Bandy, 28, is facing five counts of harassment and one count of stalking-possession of a dangerous weapon, according to local outlet KCCI. He was arrested on Thursday, one day after the woman he allegedly stalked reported his threats to the Iowa State University police department.

Bandy first began stalking the school employee in October, according to court documents reviewed by KCCI. He often left threatening voicemails at her home and other places he knew she went, the Ames Tribune reports.

"If I see you anywhere in  Ames I'm going to shoot you between the  eyes, Bandy allegedly said in one voicemail.

The harassment escalated in April when Bandy sent the woman a specific time, date and place he planned to kill her. Bandy said he would "shoot her and as many people as he can" during the schools commencement, according to court documents.

In a message to an unknown recipient, Bandy said he was looking forward to May 16, according to the Tribune . May 16 is listed on the Iowa State University website as the commencement date for graduate students and veterinary medicine students.

Bandy added that he was going to find a NATO AR-15 and "cut down people at this [expletive] commencement ceremony, according to the Tribune, citing court documents.

Evidence indicates Bandy intended to carry out his threats, the schools police department told KCCI. Police seized guns and ammunition while searching his belongings.

There is no longer a threat to students at next months commencement ceremony, police say, but higher security measures will be in place.

Bandy is from Nevada and does not attend Iowa State University. Hes being held on a $200,000 bond and will have his first hearing April 28.

The Independent has contacted Iowa State University for comment. The Independent was unable to determine if Bandy has retained an attorney.
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A student could face decades behind bars after being accused of firebombing a Tesla dealership in Missouri.

Owen McIntire is accused of setting fire to two Tesla Cybertrucks worth more than $100,000 each and damaging two charging stations worth $550 each on March 17 at around 11:16 p.m. in Kansas City, the Department of Justice said.

McIntire, a 19-year-old student at Bostons University of Massachusetts, appeared in federal court Friday and has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, Attorney General Pam Bondi said. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.

open image in gallery McIntire, a 19-year-old student at Bostons University of Massachusetts, appeared in federal court Friday and has been charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce. ( Department of Justice )

Prosecutors allege that McIntire used a Molotov cocktail to start the fire. A Kansas City police officer in the area spotted smoke coming from one of the Cybertrucks in the dealerships parking lots and also discovered a burnt rag next to the Molotov cocktail, according to an affidavit.

The officer attempted to extinguish the flames but was unsuccessful and a second vehicle caught fire. Fire fighters arrived at the scene and put out the blaze, the affidavit said.

McIntire was home for spring break at the time of the incident, according to the DOJ. Three witnesses gave descriptions that matched what McIntire was wearing that night, according to the affidavit.

The individual was wearing dark flowy clothing and a large, white-colored hat and carrying a light-colored bag, the affidavit said. The hat was later found in the backyard of a witness the day after the fire.

Another witness filmed a video of the fire and posted it on X, the affidavit said. The witness claimed they saw McIntire fleeing the scene.

open image in gallery McIntire was seen on surveillance footage at Kansas City International Airport after the incident, according to the DOJ. He was apprehended by officers back in Boston. ( Department of Justice )

The student was also allegedly captured on surveillance at Kansas City International Airport after the incident. Law enforcement found evidence pointing to McIntire after reviewing the students social media profiles, cell phone data and flight information, the affadavit said.

McIntire was apprehended after returning to school in Boston.

Bondi is cracking down on what she described as a wave of domestic terrorism against Elon Musks Tesla vehicles. The backlash comes after the billionaire has taken a central role in the Trump administration through the Department of Government Efficiency.

Last week, the DOJ charged a man with vandalizing a Tesla dealership in New Mexico and setting fire to the headquarters of the state Republican Party.

A criminal complaint charges Jamison R. Wagner, 40, with federal arson charges in connection with the vandalism in February at a Tesla showroom in Bernalillo, where authorities found two Tesla Model Y vehicles ablaze as well as spray-painted graffiti messages including Die Elon" and Die Tesla Nazi, the Associated Press reports.

The Justice Department has charged four other cases against people accused of using Molotov cocktails to destroy Tesla cars and fire stations.
The undocumented population in the United States ranges between 11 and 13 million people, depending on the source. However, the elimination of legal pathways that existed until now could add more than two million people to this number.

Its paradoxical that a government that has set itself the goal of expelling all undocumented migrants from the country is busy expanding its deportation list, pushing those with legal status into the shadows.

By canceling these programs, what theyre doing is increasing the number of undocumented immigrants in this country. And, not only that: theyre pushing them further into the shadows. Theyre pushing them further into illegality with these policies that seek to instill fear and panic among the immigrant community, explains Vanessa Cardenas, president of Americas Voice, a pro-immigrant non-profit association.

An undocumented person is someone who lacks papers that allow them to reside legally in a country. In the United States, undocumented migrants are considered undocumented because they entered the country secretly  avoiding an official border crossing  or their visas (work, tourist, or student) have expired, and they havent left.

Under the current administration, however, a new type of undocumented immigrant is on the rise: migrants who entered the U.S. legally and were granted temporary status that has now been revoked. This is the case for those who benefited from programs such as Temporary Protected Status (TPS) or humanitarian parole, or those who arrived through the CBP One app, designed to schedule appointments with immigration authorities. Added to these are the hundreds of international students who  despite being enrolled in the countrys universities  have now had their visas revoked.

Fear about who might be next to lose their status has spread among the immigrant community, after seeing how thousands of people lost their right to reside in the country overnight.

The Biden administration approved new programs to stem the growing number of undocumented migrants arriving in the U.S., which sparked an immigration crisis that cost him at the polls. To avoid further overwhelming the already strained border, authorities launched CBP One, an appointment-based app that allowed people to apply for asylum before entering the United States.

However, last week, the temporary protection granted to the 936,500 people who entered through this legal pathway until December 2024 was revoked. Several of them received letters ordering them to immediately leave the country through CBP Home, an app that has replaced CBP One and is supposedly designed for self-deportation.

Venezuelan migrants use the CBP One app to request asylum in the United States from Mexico, in January 2025. Fernando Llano (AP)

Its not yet known how many migrants who entered via CBP One already requested another permit before the new policy was implemented. Those who have not done so, however, have been placed directly on the list of undocumented migrants. Therefore, theyre subject to deportation by the current administration.

This is also the case for the 532,000 migrants who have been residing legally in the country thanks to the humanitarian parole program and who  starting April 24  will be added to the list of those eligible for deportation if they have not secured another form of protection. These individuals are Nicaraguans, Venezuelans, Cubans and Haitians fleeing situations of extreme violence. Biden granted them two-year-long residence permits, provided a U.S.-based sponsor took responsibility for them. It turns out that the dream of starting a better life  safe from the threats in their countries of origin  was short-lived.

Creating these legal channels is the best way to improve the immigration system. Let people know they dont have to enter the U.S. with a coyote [human trafficker]. Eliminating all these pathways isnt the solution to a problem that migrant advocacy organizations have been warning about for years, Cardenas warns.

Another half-a-million Haitian citizens have lost the legal status they previously enjoyed. This is because the Trump administration has canceled the TPS program, which granted these individuals work permits for a period of a year-and-a-half.

Designed to receive migrants fleeing armed conflict or crises caused by natural disasters, Biden extended it in March 2021 to receive 600,000 Venezuelans fleeing the growing instability in their country. Two weeks before the end of his term, the Democrat renewed the protection for another 18 months. Subsequently, Trump repealed it to increase his list of potential deportations. In the case of Venezuelans, however, a court ruling has temporarily halted their expulsion.

Haitian migrants board a bus bound for San Antonio after being released from Border Patrol custody as they crossed into the United States to seek asylum in 2021. Julio Cortez (AP)

Targeting the most vulnerable

For Leisy Abrego  a professor in the Department of Mexican, Chicano and Central American Studies at UCLA  the reason the number of undocumented migrants is increasing is to facilitate more deportations, thus keeping Trumps political base happy.

Since they have promised that theyre going to remove millions of people and arent doing it, they now have to figure out where to go, how to expand the definition of who they can remove, who the most vulnerable people are. And its much easier with those with temporary residence permits, because, since they werent undocumented, [the government] has the information on where to find them, she explains.

Among her students  some of whom are undocumented  Abrego sees firsthand how fear has spread through the universities. Even those who arrived with visas are afraid. International students, for example, dont have many rights; theyre the first to be attacked.

Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio boasted about having revoked more than 300 visas, most of which were issued to international students. If theyre taking activities that are counter to our foreign, to our national interest, to our foreign policy, well revoke the visa, Rubio declared.

Even naturalized students and those with green cards [which guarantee permanent residency] are afraid, because weve seen that these people  without legal reason  are being deprived of their liberty, Abrego affirms.

The first of these cases to hit the media was that of Mahmoud Khalil, who is being detained in a Louisiana facility for participating in the pro-Palestinian protests at Columbia University.

Muslim protesters pray in front of Columbia University's main campus during a protest against the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, on March 14 in New York. David Dee Delgado (REUTERS)

Visa revocations are now being carried out for minor reasons that previously didnt result in such a penalty. This has been especially prevalent in the current academic semester. A graduate student at the University of Minnesota  Dogukan Gunaydin  was detained by ICE on March 27 while heading to class. This was apparently due to a prior drunk driving conviction, as a senior Homeland Security official confirmed to CNN.

Some students have received notice that theyve lost their legal status, along with a suggestion that they self-deport rather than go to court and risk being detained.

Abrego emphasizes that  in addition to increasing the number of undocumented migrants  Trumps anti-migrant policies are causing a resurgence of racism. Its white supremacy. Weve seen it at [UCLA]. There are people in the classrooms who are saying what they already thought, because they now feel protected by an administration that tells them that its okay to treat people this way.

Migrant advocacy groups have challenged all the executive orders that violate human rights in court, achieving several victories. The governments battle with the courts will determine how many legal residents will have to leave the country or  like the rest of the undocumented immigrant population  have to live in the shadows.

Translated by Avik Jain Chatlani.

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Two parents in Madison, Wisconsin are in custody after police say they sexually assaulted their two-month-old baby  and had been plotting to do so since before the child was born.

Skyler Klassen, 22, and Madison Bishop, 21, are facing charges after Madison police found evidence related to child pornography on Klassens phone, reports local outlet WKOW.

Klassen admitted to sexually assaulting his two-month-old child while taking a video of the attack, according to the criminal complaint reviewed by WKOW.

open image in gallery Skyler Klassen was arrested in Nevada on April 8 ( Dane County Sheriff's Office )

Klassen was arrested in Nevada and extradited to Wisconsin on April 9, while Bishop was arrested on April 15.

Klassen faces charges of first-degree child sexual assault, incest, four counts of child exploitation and four counts of possession of child pornography, according to public records.

Bishop also faces one count of failure to act/sexual assault of a child and one count of conspiracy to commit first-degree child sexual assault.

open image in gallery Madison Bishop was arrested on April 15 ( Dane County Sheriff's Office )

Klassen and Bishop made detailed plans to assault the baby even before birth, the criminal complaint states. They discussed how they wanted to assault their child and sent each other images and videos of child pornography frequently, according to prosecutors.

The pair also made plans to sell their child.

The two are now in the Dane County Jail. Bishops preliminary hearing is scheduled for April 30, while Klassens preliminary hearing was waived.
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Indiana officials have finally solved the cold case of a young mother who was killed more than 50 years ago.

Twenty-six-year-old Phyllis Bailer and her three-year-old daughter were heading from Indianapolis to Bluffton, about 100 miles northeast, to visit her parents on July 7, 1972.

But they never made it and police found Bailers car empty the following morning around 10.30am.

While driving in Allen County, Indiana, a woman came across Bailers body and found her daughter in a ditch on the side of the road an hour later.

Police later determined the woman had been sexually assaulted and shot to death. The child was unharmed.

It ultimately took police five decades to discover who murdered her.

This week, the Indiana State Police announced Fred Allen Lienemann, a 25-year-old in 1972 from Gross Point, Michigan, was the likely assailant. According to a news release, Lienemann was born in the Anderson, Indiana area and had no connections to Bailer but a significant criminal history.

He was murdered in Detroit in 1985. Had he been alive, the Allen County Prosecutors Office would have charged him with murder, police said.

When Bailer died, police could not conduct DNA testing, which only gained prominence within the law enforcement community in the 1990s. Years following the murder, police managed to develop a DNA profile from evidence recovered from her clothing, eliminating the main suspect.

As DNA testing improved, officials continued working on the case. Last year, authorities collaborated with Identifiers International to help solve the case. Officials determined Lienemann was the killer in early 2025.

This case demonstrates the commitment the Indiana State Police Cold Case Unit, the Allen County Police Department, and the Indiana State Police Laboratory have for victims and victims families, the state police said in a written statement.

Not only does this work convict criminals, but it also answers questions that grieving families have had for decades regarding the deaths of their loved ones.
The following is the latest list of selected news summaries by Kyodo News.

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Beijing hosts "world's 1st" humanoid robot half marathon

BEIJING - The city of Beijing hosted a half marathon Saturday featuring humanoid robots together with amateur runners, describing the event as the first of its kind in the world.

The event came as the Chinese government is promoting the development of robots and artificial intelligence amid an intensifying technological rivalry with the United States.

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Central Tokyo trains partly suspended as track-switching work begins

TOKYO - Train services on Tokyo's busy Yamanote and Keihin-Tohoku lines were partially suspended Saturday as track-switching work began to construct a new line for faster access to Haneda airport, the operator said.

East Japan Railway Co. expects the suspension and reduction of services outside the suspended sections on Saturday and Sunday to affect around 550,000 people and has called on passengers to use subway and other railway companies' services.

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Widow of Japan ex-PM Abe links Taiwan's safety with that of Japan

TAIPEI - Akie Abe, widow of slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Saturday that Taiwan's security is directly tied to Japan's, offering her view on remarks made by her late husband about the self-ruled democratic island.

"What he truly meant was, if Taiwan is safe, then Japan is safe," Akie Abe said in a speech at a symposium in Taiwan on security in the Indo-Pacific region. Her husband said in December 2021, during a virtual appearance at a Taiwan think-thank event, "A Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan," a remark now widely known in Taiwan.

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London whale sculpture may contain 2011 tsunami debris

LONDON - A giant whale sculpture made of ocean plastic waste is being exhibited in London, but what was meant to raise awareness on pollution has caused an online stir in Japan, after the display contained what appeared to be debris from the 2011 tsunami.

In a post on the social media platform X, a user said, "I was surprised" after spotting the Japanese characters for "Ishinomaki" on the object, which was described as being made out of "waste."

----------

Japan's Onishi assumes ISS command, becomes 3rd Japanese commander

WASHINGTON - Japan's Takuya Onishi assumed command of the International Space Station on Friday, the U.S. space agency said, taking over the role from Russia's Alexey Ovchinin and becoming the third Japanese astronaut to take control of the orbital outpost.

The 49-year-old former All Nippon Airways pilot, who arrived at the space station last month, will lead scientific experiments with supplies to be delivered by a SpaceX cargo spacecraft next week.

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Japan seeks efficient use of official development aid with law change

TOKYO - Japan has revised a law to more efficiently use its official development assistance to respond to massive global development financing needs under its limited budget, with increased focus on steps to help mobilize private funds.

The revised law, which came into force Thursday, enables the Japan International Cooperation Agency to support companies in developing nations to issue bonds, such as for green projects, and acquire them in the early stages to lure more investors.

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Global executions in 2024 at highest in nearly decade: Amnesty

LONDON - Over 1,500 executions were confirmed across 15 countries in 2024, hitting the highest level since 2015, human rights organization Amnesty International said in its annual report.

While the majority of the 1,518 executions were conducted in Middle Eastern countries such as Iran and Saudi Arabia, the number of states carrying out capital punishment dropped to a record low, the group said in the report released in early April.

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Baseball: Shohei Ohtani takes paternity leave for birth of 1st child

ARLINGTON, Texas - Japanese baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani has taken paternity leave from the Los Angeles Dodgers, with his wife Mamiko due to give birth to the couple's first child in the coming days, the club said Friday.

Ohtani did not travel with the Dodgers for their series beginning that day against the Texas Rangers, marking his first absence of the season.



Video: Princess Mononoke tapestry at France pavilion at Osaka Expo
Most Outstanding Show doesnt necessarily mean its the best show, it just stood out, he said after being announced the winner by previous recipient and host Geraldine Hickey. Probably because I didnt wear pants.

The show, which the Philippe Gaulier-trained clown performs in nothing but a tuxedo jacket, flippers and his signature Elizabethan ruff as he pummels through the entire catalogue of the titular publishing house with an avalanche of puns and physical lunacy, was relentlessly praised by critics from The Age .

Garry Starr (aka Damien Warren-Smith) has taken home the top gong at this years Melbourne International Comedy Festival, winning the Most Outstanding Show award on Saturday for Classic Penguins .

It also marks a remarkable festival trifecta, as the show also took home the best comedy awards at Perth Fringe World in January and Adelaide Fringe Festival in March. He will now take the show to Sydney and Brisbane alongside a regional tour, before returning to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for an encore run.

In a post eight months ago on X, I made the prediction: Garry Starrs show Penguin Classics will at the least score a nomination for Most Outstanding Show at [Melbourne International Comedy Festival] next year, if not win.

Warren-Smith was one of nine nominees given the nod from the clandestine judging panel, beating out Ahir Shahs Ends, Brett Blakes Little Turd, Flo and Joans One Man Musical, Greg Larsens Geggy, Lou Walls Breaking The Fifth Wall, Olga Kochs Comes From Money, Rahul Subramanians Who Are You? and Scout Boxalls Gods Favourite.

It wasnt all bad news for Boxall, however, as Gods Favourite won the Pinder Prize, which comes with funding to take the show to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in July.

The Best Newcomer award, which in the past has launched the careers of Josh Thomas, Ronny Chieng and Sammy J, went to Jessica Barton for their show Dirty Work. Named after the late Lynda Gibson, The Golden Gibbo was won by Kate Dolan for The Critic. The award celebrates independent acts that pursue artistic creativity rather than chasing strictly financial gain.
The Narrow Road to the Deep North 

Australia has a rich and deep history of war films and TV series. From Vietnam to Gallipoli and Anzac Girls, we have found great value in telling our stories in times of conflict. The Narrow Road to the Deep North, set mainly in the harrowing confines of a POW camp on the Death Railway in Burma, is perhaps the most beautiful and harrowing of those I have seen, with a tender performance from Jacob Elordi at its centre.

Jacob Elordi as Dorrigo Evans and Olivia DeJonge as Ella in The Narrow Road to the Deep North.

Directed by Justin Kurzel and adapted by Shaun Grant from Richard Flanagans 2014 Booker Prize-winning novel, the five-part series is just as much a love story as it is one of war. It slides through time, from 1940 to 1989, following Dorrigo Evans (Elordi), a young doctor on the verge of being sent to war. He is engaged to Ella (Olivia DeJonge), who comes from a well-to-do Melbourne family who can secure Dorrigos future as a surgeon. However, when Dorrigo goes to visit his Uncle Keith (Simon Baker) before deployment, he is drawn to Keiths younger wife, Amy (Odessa Young).

Their affair is all-consuming, and its the memory of this that sustains Dorrigo when he is captured and sent to work on the infamous Death Railway and then, later, as an older man (now played by Irish actor Ciaran Hinds, with Heather Mitchell as the older Ella). The older Dorrigo is still ruined by his experiences in the war  outwardly successful and revered as a war hero, he is reckless in his personal life and uncompromising at work.
Large nets cover the outside of the tower to catch any loose chunks that fall from the facade. The windows are small, many loaded with old air-conditioners. Stickers warn against drilling because of asbestos. Signs of VicRoads tenancy are still evident, with murals of roads on the interior walls and old whiteboards scrawled with corporate gobbledegook. And then theres the old-fashioned H shape of the building, with two wings connected by a central cross-section that contains the lift and stairwell shaft. On top, sitting like a crown, is a crows nest that once housed the building caretaker.

Those tasked with making the project work are looking beyond such things. We have every hope that we can use the structure thats here, said Hannah Clement, acting chief development officer at Development Victoria. So thats the work over the next couple of months, to get in and have a look and just see what can be salvaged and hopefully reused. Readapting a building that opened in 1961, when it was home to the Country Roads Board, means that the early stages of that work would be ensuring that everything is still structurally sound.

A crucial step would be checking that any water that has penetrated the roof has not affected the concrete. The building is not up to seismic code and needs reinforcement, while balconies would also have to be installed on the outside  regulations have changed a lot in six decades. The Kew offices in 1961 on their opening day. The buildings housed VicRoads predecessor, the Country Roads Board. Credit: The Age But there are some advantages to working with an older structure, compared with adapting a modern office tower. The H shape is actually a benefit here, as it provides what is known as a shallow floor plate, which refers to the width of the building between its main exterior walls.

Getting sunlight and ventilation into the Kew building would be much easier than with newer offices, which tend to have deeper floor plates and more space between windows. This is the reason why only the southern office tower has been identified for reuse, with the smaller northern building to be demolished and replaced as part of the overall site redevelopment. The former VicRoads site in Kew will be redeveloped for housing. Credit: Development Victoria Taller ceiling heights are another benefit of older buildings, as that allows for pipes to be built in to provide plumbing for each individual dwelling. The central core of the building, which houses the lifts, can also be transformed to make room for utilities such as water and electricity to each floor.

Theres probably an over provision of lifts for residential use, said Clement. Those wells can instead be used for services. Loading All of this shows why theres still quite a way to go before transport nerds could move into the former nerve centre of Victorias road network, with construction expected to begin some time in the next two years. Development Victoria has recently completed public consultation, which will result in a community aspirations report to guide the projects future. A design and development overlay will restrict height limits to a maximum of 28.5 metres.

There have been calls from people such as federal Kooyong MP Monique Ryan for the site to be used for public housing; however the state government has opted against that idea. At least 10 per cent of dwellings will be allocated for affordable housing, a loosely defined term that is supposed to ensure buyers from low to moderate-incomes can cover other essential living costs. The former VicRoads building in Kew. Credit: Penny Stephens Boroondara Council is also pushing for the tail of the site, a piece of land 20 metres wide and 280 metres long that was once a railway line, to become a shared-use bike path. That idea is being considered by the state government; however the high price of real estate in Kew will be a factor in whether it becomes housing.

While the government is keen to see if adaptive reuse can work in Kew, it has ruled out doing so in the case of the 44 high-rise public housing towers in Melbourne, which will be razed and rebuilt by the Labor government. Loading Many of the towers date back to a similar era as the VicRoads office, and there have been calls for refurbishment over demolition. However, Shing said there were some key differences as to why the government was not opting to retrofit. Firstly, we dont have people living on these sites, the building is already vacant, she said. She said another factor was the size of the VicRoads building compared to the pre-fab concrete towers, which are between 20 and 30 storeys high.

With the towers redevelopment, we know that it would be upwards of $2 billion just to make them habitable, said Shing. As for whether the option of living in the old VicRoads building would prove attractive to home buyers, Shing said it would get a few pulses racing. She highlighted the sweeping views of the city and close access to amenities, including schools and public transport. Were talking about a large footprint in an area which has been traditionally very, very difficult to get into real estate, she said. We want to bring more opportunities for people to get into the property market.
Faith can be a fraught and inherently political topic in China. It is wedged at the juncture of CCP ideology, which is atheist and bans its 100 million members from holding religious beliefs, and the Chinese state which formally recognises and tightly regulates five religions: Catholicism, Protestantism, Daoism, Islam and Buddhism. When it comes to Catholicism, the Popes status as the supreme moral authority for Chinas approximately 10 million Catholics represents a particular challenge for the Chinese leadership and President Xi Jinping, who has asserted the supremacy of the party over all sectors of life in China. During his four-country Asia tour last September Pope Francis made clear his desire to visit China. Credit: AP But the question of the Popes China aspirations may hinge less on the power dynamics between Beijing and the Vatican, and more on Xis willingness to make a crude political play in service of his overarching ambition  to weaken American dominance and strengthen Chinas influence at the apex of the global system. A visit by the Pope would hand Beijing the imprimatur of one of the worlds leading moral figures to use in its defence against the US-led alliances claims of Chinas human rights abuses, particularly against persecuted Muslim Uyghur groups.

Welcoming the Pope to China will be a very much a public relations coup for China, which has tensions with so many nations, says Dr Kim-Kwong Chan, a retired pastor and longtime scholar of Christianity in China. Loading They will be able to say, Look even the Pope comes to China, so China seems to be quite well accepted by this moral religious figure of the world. Dr Michel Chambon says the Vatican sees China as a powerful global actor who it should be fostering closer ties with for its own soft power ambitions, particularly at a time when collaboration with Washington has become more strained under US President Donald Trump. The Pope going to China will be a slap in the face of Washington, says Chambon, a Catholic theologian at the National University of Singapore.

We dont just give the Pope for free. We try to negotiate, he says. Dispatching the Pope overseas usually involves a push by the Vatican to improve the situation for Catholics in the host country, or to seek its support for global humanitarian issues. Chambon doesnt think the Pope will be boarding a plane to Beijing any time soon, but says China hasnt shut the door on the idea either. For the Chinese side, getting the Holy See to abandon its diplomatic recognition of Taiwan, the self-governing island democracy that China regards as its own territory, is a prize Beijing is likely to pursue in future negotiations. Parishioners get ready for mass at the Xishiku Church in Beijing. Credit: Sanghee Liu The Vatican  which is on a shrinking list of 12 states to have formal ties with Taipei, and the only one in Europe  has been open about its desire to establish a permanent office in China, and some experts believe it would make the diplomatic conversion if it secured the churchs inroads to Beijing.

The Vatican has few cards in its hand, and it plays them very carefully. Taiwan is clearly one card, Chambon says. The Popes overtures to Beijing have come as part of the Vaticans controversial pursuit of a rapprochement with the Chinese leadership. This resulted in a landmark provisional accord struck in 2018 that sought to break a decades-long feud over who should have the authority to appoint Catholic bishops in China by setting out a process of joint recognition. The accord also served a mutual aim in seeking to resolve a split in the Catholic Church in China. For decades, it has been divided between the state-controlled Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association churches, monitored by the CCPs United Front Work Department, and so-called underground churches that rejected the governments interference and professed loyalty to the Pope, risking persecution from authorities. A wax statue of the Chinese Holy Mother and son in Manchurian dress from the Qing dynasty era inside the Xishiku Church in Beijing. Credit: Sanghee Liu The Vatican wanted to have a unified church operating in the open, and the Chinese also wanted to have also something out in the open under their observation and their monitoring systems, says Chan.

The terms of the agreement, which has been renewed three times, most recently in 2024 for four years, have never been fully disclosed. The Vatican has said it gives the Pope final decision-making power over appointments of new bishops and, in return, it has recognised illegitimate bishops appointed by Beijing without papal approval. But the terms were breached when the Chinese made a number of unilateral appointments in 2022 and 2023, forcing the Pope to retrospectively ratify them for the greater good. For the legions of critics in both China and the West, the accord surrendered too much control over religious freedom to Chinese authorities and came at the expense of buying the Popes muted criticism of human rights abuses, including the persecution of Uyghur muslim minority groups. Cardinal Joseph Zen, the former archbishop of Hong Kong, denounced the deal as an incredible betrayal. When Zen was arrested by Hong Kong authorities in 2022 for aiding pro-democracy activists during Beijings national security crackdown, critics noted the Popes silence. The Beijing Catholic community mark the beginning of the Lent period with ash crosses for a service at Xishiku Cathedral. Credit: Sanghee Liu Some people thought the underground church had suffered the most and then was thrown under the bus ... and that the Vatican were playing right into the hands of the government, says Father Paul Marani, an expert in Christianity in China at Santa Clara University.

Francis has consecrated 10 bishops since the 2018 accord, and today most Catholic churches in China are part of the state-sanctioned system. However, as many as 10 bishops who refused to sign up to the Vatican-China deal have faced indefinite detention, disappearances, police investigations, threats, surveillance, and interrogation, a report by the Hudson Institute think tank found. Loading For its part, the Vatican has conceded the accord was not the best deal possible but the best one it could get. There are no signs, however, that it has moved the dial on the Popes China tour aspirations. It does not seem to me that, so far, there are the conditions for this wish of the Pope to come to fruition, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, Vatican Secretary of State and a key architect of the accord, said last year.

The Xishiku Cathedral, one of the oldest and grandest churches in Beijing, is state-sanctioned. It bares the tell-tale embellishments of Xis sinicisation of religion campaign, which seeks to assimilate religions with Chinese culture while ensuring conformity with CCP ideology. The cathedrals ornate gothic towers are framed by traditional red Chinese pagodas, which sit either side of the building, and two large stone lion statues flank the steps leading to the entry  a striking visual metaphor for Catholicism wedged between Chinese culture. Inside, the religious iconography bears a distinctive Chinese flourish. A wax statue of the Holy Mother and Son depicts a Chinese Mary and Jesus styled in Manchurian clothes of the Qing dynasty. How deeply Xis sinicisation agenda has been incorporated into Catholic services and religious teachings across China is unclear, though state-issued regulations in 2021 called for clergy to love the motherland, support the CCP leadership and promote sinicisation through their sermons. The policy has added to the alarm shared by Francis critics who accuse him of selling out to the CCP. Supporters of the Vaticans approach say it is grounded in a pragmatic reality that Chinese state control reaches into all aspects of citizens lives and working within the system affords Catholics a relative degree of freedom to practise their faith.

Loading With Sundays mass due to start in a few minutes, Mr Zhang, 57, has paused in prayer before a statue of the Virgin Mary in the Cathedrals forecourt. A devout believer, he traces his familys Catholic roots back more than 100 years on both his father and mothers sides. He is confident he will be the first of his familys generation to see the Pope set foot in China. I will witness it. This is a hope of all Catholics in China. It will happen. We firmly believe this, says Zhang, a manager of a government social welfare organisation. The Pope is becoming more open, more inclusive. We [China] will further open up, too. The China dream is unlikely to die with Francis. The Vatican, a shrewd political operation that has honed the art of calculated diplomacy over centuries, is hedging its bets on the shifting epicentre of global power towards a rising China. The next pope may not be as gifted or confident with Chinese or Asian situations, but its going to remain a priority, says Chambon. The next election [for pope] will be probably the first time that, when they select candidates, they will check his view on China. It will be a key criteria that he has a subtle, constructive view on how to engage China.
LONDON - A giant whale sculpture made of ocean plastic waste is being exhibited in London, but what was meant to raise awareness on pollution has caused an online stir in Japan, after the display contained what appeared to be debris from the 2011 tsunami.

In a post on the social media platform X, a user said, "I was surprised" after spotting the Japanese characters for "Ishinomaki" on the object, which was described as being made out of "waste."

Ishinomaki was one of the cities in Miyagi Prefecture, northeastern Japan, that were hit hardest by the tsunami on March 11, 2011.

Another user posted an image showing a plastic basket bearing the name of a port in Kuji, Iwate Prefecture, that was also affected by the tsunami.

The plastic used in the sculpture was collected from beaches in Hawaii, according to Canary Wharf Group, a London-based property developer that exhibited the 11-meter-tall artwork.

Unveiled in a London business district on April 10, the sculpture was designed as a "reminder of the millions of tons of plastic waste swimming in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans."

The firm issued an apology on TikTok to those who were offended by the display.

But the artists who created the sculpture, Jason Klimoski and Lesley Chang of a New York-based architecture and design firm, defended their work on social media, saying that "not all of the 150 million tons of plastic is intentionally placed there -- or even waste."

They said on Canary Wharf Group's social media account that the sculpture is "another reason to be aware of what we use and how we use it, and to work together to protect our planet."

Related coverage:

Starbucks Japan to switch to green plant-based straws in January

Talks on global plastic pollution treaty fail to reach agreement

Research team develops plastic that breaks down in seawater
Super Parliament





VICE President Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar hit the nail on its head when he said that the judiciary cannot act as a Super Parliament and direct even the President of India to set timeline for taking decisions. The reference was clear -- to the direction of the honourable Supreme Court to decide the timeline for making up her mind on the assent to the Bill kept reserved by the Governor. Mr. Dhankhar felt that the Supreme Court was going beyond its brief to issue such directives to the executive -- which must not be done. Mr. Jagdeep Dhankhar, thus, has given vent to a critical issue that has been occupying the mind-space of people in domains of politics and power. In other words, he has meant that there can be umpteen reasons for which the executive is required to make certain decisions under several constraints (that cannot be explained). He has put before the nation an issue to be discussed thread-bare so that future decision-making by the higher layers of the power-structure is not affected negatively.

The obvious reference is to the issue in Tamil Nadu where the Governor kept decision on certain Bills in abeyance and referred those to the President. In this regard, Tamil Nadu has often been in the news. A more or less similar situation had arisen there when the Governor held back assent to certain Bills and referred those to the President. That was some years ago, and that time, too, sort of a constitutional crisis was foreseen by some quarters. There is a positive flip side to this issue, however. Because the judiciary in India is autonomous does not work under the political establishment, it is expected to keep working in the most non-partisan manner. In this case as regard to some Tamil Nadu Bills, when the President was felt to be taking too long a time to make up her mind on certain Bills, the honourable Supreme Court chose to direct the President not to cause any delays. Possibly, the Supreme Court felt that the delay in granting assent to certain Bills might be taking place because of some unstatable reasons possibly stemming from political considerations. Hence the directive -- which disturbed the Vice President who is also the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, the Upper House of the Parliament.

Naturally, Mr. Dhankhar is very averse to the idea of the judiciary acting like a super parliament -- which it should not since there is legal ground on which it can stand and hit at the executive -- going over and above the brief and power of Parliament. Even as the Supreme Court is readying for a Change of Guard with the retirement of the current Chief Justice and with assumption of office by his successor, the issue of judicial over-reach occupied the centrestage for whatever reason. There could be criss-cross opinions that many participants may express in public discourse that may follow. Nevertheless, the Vice President has done well to broach the subject once again so that some more detailed deliberation enlightens the public mind. The issue is of what is described as judicial over-reach or judicial activism. In an open system, each over-reach or an activist stance need not be scoffed at. But that also should not be interpreted as unhindered freedom to the judiciary to indulge in overtures that beyond its brief. There still may be people who may describe the Vice Presidents comment as over-stepping of his frame, but there may be others who would appreciate his stance. May this discourse, thus, to reach a logical conclusion in time to come -- of course without any political acrimony, without any social disharmony. When a nation accepts the principle of social collectivism, such debates and deliberations are to be expected. For, such a debate is integral to the method and manner of democracy.
33 Naxalites surrender in Sukma





SUKMA :

AT LEAST 33 Naxalites, 17 of them carrying a cumulative bounty of Rs 49 lakh, surrendered before security forces in Chhattisgarhs Sukma district on Friday, police said. While 22 cadres, including nine women, turned themselves in before senior officials of the police and Central Reserve Police Forces (CRPF) earlier in the day, later 11 others, including two women, surrendered before police officials, they said. The surrendered cadres cited disappointment with hollow and inhuman Maoist ideology and atrocities on local tribals, Sukma Superintendent of Police Kiran Chavan said. The official said they were also impressed by the State Governments Niyad Nellanar (your good village) scheme, aimed at facilitating development works in remote villages, and the new surrender and rehabilitation policy. As many as 22 surrendered Naxalites were active in the Maad (Chhattisgarh) and Nuapada (Odisha) divisions of Maoists, he said.

Chavan said the cadres included Muchaki Joga (33), deputy commander in PLGA (peoples liberation guerrilla army) company no. 1 under the Maad division of Maoists, and his wife Muchaki Jogi (28), a member of the same squad, who carried a reward of Rs 8 lakh each. Among the others were Kikid Deve (30) and Manoj alias Dudhi Budhra (28), both area committee members of Maoists carrying a reward of Rs 5 lakh each, he said. The official said seven surrendered cadres carried a bounty of Rs 2 lakh each, while another Naxalite carried a reward of Rs 50,000. He said the other surrendered cadres were also involved in multiple attacks on security forces.

The district police, District Reserve Guard (DRG), CRPF, and its elite unit CoBRA played a crucial role in their surrender, he said. The official said 11 other surrendered Naxalites were active in Badesatti village panchayat under the Phulbagdi police station limits. With this, Badesatti has become a Naxalite-free village panchayat, he said. Chavan said four of them carried a reward of Rs 2 lakh each, and one carried a bounty of Rs 50,000. Sukma panchayat declared Maoist-free: IN A major move towards Union Home Minister Amit Shahs mission to make India free of Maoist insurgency by March 2026, Badesetti Panchayat in Sukma district has officially been declared the first Maoist-free Panchayat in Chhattisgarh. The development followed the surrender by 22 Maoists, including 11 from Badesetti alone, before the security forces on Friday.

This signalled a breakthrough in the governments counter-insurgency and rehabilitation strategy. The mass surrender not only reflects a weakening of Maoist influence but also reaffirms HM Shahs ambitious deadline as increasingly within reach. Also, in Bijapur on Friday, security forces captured a Maoists' camp in an operation. The Badesetti Panchayat, according to the new policy, will get Rs 1 crore as reward for development work. With a collective bounty of Rs 8.5 lakh on their heads, their surrender has led to Badesetti Panchayat will also get other assistances from the government in employment generation.
Day 5 of Poonch operation: Security forces intensify hunt for terrorists





JAMMU :

WITH the operation to track down terrorists who escaped after an encounter in Poonch district entering the fifth day on Friday, a senior police official said security agencies have formulated an action plan by identifying areas with suspected terrorist presence. He said terrorism, which has re-emerged over the past one-and-a-half to two years, remains a reality in the region.

The combing operation at the Lasana belt of Poonch district has entered its fifth consecutive day on Friday, said Jammu region Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti. Troops of counter-insurgency force Romeo, Special Operations Group of the police, and Central Reserve Police Force are conducting search operations supported by sniffer dogs and aerial surveillance equipment, he said. A brief exchange of fire took place between terrorists and security forces in Lasana village in the district on Monday. IGP Tuti, who toured Poonch, said the district has been dealing with a new wave of terrorism. Terrorism is a stark reality here. It has resurfaced over the past one-and-a-half to two years. We have enhanced our capacity, he told reporters. Tuti said all necessary steps are being taken to combat terrorism and the police force is performing commendably.

He said a few days ago an incident occurred in Lasana, and a coordination meeting was held with security forces to formulate an action plan. Areas with suspected terrorist presence have been identified. We are taking action. You will see the results in the coming days, he said. The IGP maintained that infiltration routes are under constant monitoring. He further emphasised that intelligence inputs and ground assessments are utilised to realign operational strategies, and there is heightened surveillance and enhanced coordination among all agencies. Stressing that terrorists aim to create fear through selected targets, Tuti said that the security grid remains robust, alert and responsive. He reiterated that while the terrorists seek to destabilise peace and tranquility in the region, it is a collective effort to defeat them.
EPFO 3.0: ATM withdrawals, auto claims & faster service soon: Mandaviya





RANCHI :

THE Employees Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) is set to undergo a major digital overhaul to enhance services for over 9 crore beneficiaries, with Version 3.0 set to launch by May or June, Union Labour and Employment Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Friday. In coming days, EPFO beneficiaries will be able to withdraw funds from ATMs due to faster processing of claims on the newer Version 3.0, Mandaviya said in an interview with PTI. EPFO will soon implement Version 3.0 with the help of a robust IT platform to provide seamless and simplified services, including auto-claim settlements, digital corrections, and ATM-based fund withdrawals. The overhaul is aimed at making EPFO accessible and efficient, he said.

According to Mandaviya, the new version will eliminate the need for complex and lengthy form-filling processes or physical visits for claims and corrections. Beneficiaries will be able to update their EPFO accounts and mandates using OTP verification and conveniently monitor their pension entitlements or withdraw funds. Due to fast settlement of claims, the funds would be quickly available in the subscribers bank account, he added. He said EPFO currently holds a corpus of Rs 27 lakh crore with a sovereign guarantee and offers 8.25 per cent interest.

The Centralised Pension Payment System, already in place, benefits over 78 lakh pensioners by allowing them to receive pensions in any bank account across the country, removing the earlier requirement of maintaining accounts in designated zonal banks. The Minister said the government is also considering the integration of various social security schemes, including the Atal Pension Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Bima Yojana, and Shramik Jan Dhan Yojana, to streamline and strengthen pension coverage. In a move to enhance healthcare access for workers, Mandaviya said that beneficiaries under the Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) will soon be able to receive free medical treatment at hospitals empanelled under the Ayushman Bharat scheme. In addition, designated charity-run private hospitals will also be brought under its ambit to expand social security coverage. Currently, ESIC provides free treatment to about 18 crore people through 165 hospitals, over 1,500 dispensaries and around 2,000 empanelled hospitals. Mandaviya said the EPFO has significantly improved its grievance redressal mechanism following the rollout of Version 2.01, with complaints being reduced to less than half.

With the introduction of EPFO 3.0, the organisation aims to further improve accessibility and efficiency. In 2024-25, EPFO collected over Rs 3.41 lakh-crore in contributions through 1.25 crore electronic challan cum returns (ECRs) filed by employers. The Minister also highlighted efforts to extend social security to gig and platform workers, saying their current number exceeds one crore and is expected to double in the next five years. As part of this initiative, the Ministry of Labour and Employment signed a memorandum of understanding on April 15 with food delivery platform Swiggy to integrate gig and logistics employment opportunities with the National Career Service (NCS) portal. The partnership aims to create over 12 lakh job opportunities in the next two to three years. Swiggy will list its delivery, logistics and support roles on the NCS portal, helping more workers access employment opportunities. Mandaviya emphasised on the Governments focus on ensuring the effective implementation of various labour laws and the Mines Safety Act as part of its broader commitment to workers welfare. The Minister concluded by saying the EPFO  one of the largest social security organisations in the world  remains committed to simplifying processes for members and improving the ease of doing business for employers.
OSAKA - With Sunday marking one week since the opening of the six-month World Exposition on an artificial island in Osaka Bay, organizers and visitors are bracing for hot weather, as entrance gates and pavilions have been experiencing long lines.

The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition said it hopes to see an increase in daily visitors, which currently range from 40,000 to just under 80,000 on weekdays. If the current pace continues, attendance will fall short of the target of attracting 28.2 million people over the course of the event on Yumeshima through Oct. 13.

On the first Saturday since the event opened, visitors wearing hats and holding umbrellas for shade lined up at the east gate near Yumeshima Station, which connects directly to the expo site. The temperature reached 28.1 C, the highest since the expo began.

Hiromi Matsushita, a 36-year-old resident of Aichi Prefecture in central Japan, said after filling her bottle at a water station at the venue, "I'm happy I can drink cold water without creating trash."

People also formed long queues in front of pavilions set up by participating countries and regions, as some allowed entry without prior reservations.

Visitors to a joint pavilion by the five Nordic countries -- Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden -- can rent umbrellas while waiting outdoors, according to the facility's organizer. Water mist systems have been installed at the Oman and South Korea pavilions.

In contrast to the east gate, the flow of visitors arriving by bus was smoother at the other entrance gate, the west gate.

The association is encouraging visitors traveling by private car to use park-and-ride systems, in which shuttle buses transport people from three designated parking lots to the venue. The nearest lot, Maishima on Yumeshima, about 15 minutes from the expo site, still had available spaces.

The expo drew nearly 120,000 visitors on its opening day, April 13, amid concerns over rising construction costs, delays in pavilion completion and low public support.

To reach the target of 28.2 million visitors, the expo would need to draw an average of 150,000 people daily. The association hopes attendance will increase in the latter half of the expo period, as seen in past editions.

In the past week, heavy rain and lightning warnings forced access to the top of the Grand Ring -- the expo's symbolic wooden structure with a circumference of 2 kilometers that encircles the venue -- to be restricted.

Among the 158 participating countries and regions, India, Nepal, Vietnam and Brunei still have not completed their exhibits due to ongoing construction work on interiors and displays, according to the association.

Related coverage:

Osaka Expo draws 119,000 visitors on opening day amid rain

Osaka Expo opens for 6-month event focused on sustainable society

"Flying car" makes demo flight at World Expo venue before opening
Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary all set to welcome Cheetahs





By Bhavana Aparajita Shukla :

Cheetah Projects expansion plan: Authorities mull to introduce Cheetahs in Gujarats Banni Grasslands also

As the Cheetah Project is progressing well in the State, cheetahs in India are likely to shift to their second home Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary soon after the Kuno National Park (KNP). Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav made an important announcement on Friday saying Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary ready to host the animals soon. After attending, the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) meeting at Bhopal, he said that in-depth discussion was held on cheetah relocation in Friday meeting. Giving hint on relocation date, Minister Yadav said that preparations are nearly complete to relocate more cheetahs to the Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary. Sanctuary officials says it is expected to welcome the cheetahs on April 20.

The minister said that the NTCA meeting also mulled about upcoming plans of introduction of cheetahs in Gujarats Banni Grasslands alongside discussion on Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary relocation plan. Union Minister lauded States efforts to in forest conservation, eco-tourism and tribal welfare. Concern official says that all necessary preparations at Gandhi Sagar have been completed. The public will soon receive the official announcement about the cheetahs arrival. Gandhi Sagar Wildlife Sanctuary has been earmarked as an important link for long-term conservation of cheetahs, with the aim to establish a metapopulation of 60-70 cheetahs across the Kuno-Gandhi Sagar landscape, spread across MP and Rajasthan. Phase-1 of the project started in 2022, to restore the population of cheetahs, which were declared extinct in the country in 1952. It involves translocation of cheetahs from South Africa and Namibia to Kuno National Park.

Cheetahs are adapting well to the environment and habitat: CM

Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav will inaugurate the Cheetah Project in Khimla block of Neemuch on April 20. After the meeting, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav stated the Cheetahs became extinct in Asia, and it was reintroduced here from Namibia and South Africa. It is good news that Cheetahs are adapting to the environment and habitat here; their new generation is born here in our jungle, growing and liking the atmosphere here. According to the information, on April 20, Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav will reach Jawad and will address the programme after inaugurating the CM Rise School building and distributing benefits to the beneficiaries and performing bhoomipujan of new industries, various development and construction works. Thereafter, he will reach Rampur.
Haemophilic boy gets a new lease of life





Staff Reporter :

On February 9, Ajit Shende, a 16-year-old boy from a tribal-dominated region of Chandrapur district, was admitted to Ward No 20 of the Surgery Department at Government Medical College & Hospital, Nagpur, for treatment of a leg wound. Twenty days earlier, he had suffered a burn injury on his right leg due to a hot motorcycle silencer in an accident. The wound continued to bleed persistently. Based on his symptoms, doctors conducted a series of medical tests which revealed that the patient was suffering from Haemophilia B, a rare genetic bleeding disorder. In this condition, wounds fail to heal and continuous bleeding occurs. Such cases are extremely rare, affecting only one in a million individuals.

The team of doctors at Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), performed a complicated surgery and saved his life. Prior to arriving at GMCH, the patient had received treatment for three days at Sevagram Hospital, Wardha, and was then admitted at GMCH. The patients family immediately brought him to the hospital, where under the guidance of Dr Brijesh Gupta, Head of the Surgery Department, and Dr Pravin Bhingares team, the patient was admitted and emergency treatment was initiated. To save his life, an immediate amputation of the right leg was necessary. However, due to a deficiency of Factor IX (Factor IX deficiency, also known as Haemophilia C or Rosenthal syndrome, is a rare bleeding disorder where the body doesnt produce enough factor IX, a blood clotting protein. This deficiency can lead to prolonged bleeding, especially after surgery or injury, but the symptoms are generally milder compared to other types of haemophilia)  the surgery was highly risky. Under the guidance of Dean Dr Raj Gajbhiye and Medical Superintendent Dr Avinash Gawande, immediate coordination was done with Dr Sanjay Deshmukh, In-charge of the Haemophilia Unit at Daga Hospital, and District Civil Surgeon Dr Nivrutti Rathod, to arrange the required Factor IX.

A total of 50 vials of blood were provided for the patient. Following expert advice from Dr Vishwadeep, a haematologist at AIIMS, the medical team at GMCH successfully performed the complex surgery and saved the patients life. Key members of the surgery team included Dr Pravin Bhingare, Dr Anup Wakodkar, Dr Pradeep Shivsaran, Dr Pankaj Tongse, Dr Mahima Advaitya, Dr Revati Pullavar, Dr Shivalila Hosangadi, Dr Siddhi Chhajed, Dr Pranali Patle, Dr Yuhesh Khanna, as well as pathologists Dr Shailendra Jambhulkar, Dr Manjiri Makde, Dr Tripti Lade, and Dr Sandeep Poratkar. Sister-in-charge Asha Modak, along with nursing staff Pratima Uike and Bhatar Sangode, took compassionate care of the patient.

Dr Raj Gajbhiye stated, The administration did everything possible to save the young patients life. We are always committed to helping patients suffering from such rare conditions. Dr Avinash Gawande expressed, Hemophilia is a rare disease, and the combined efforts of District Civil Surgeon Dr Nivrutti Rathod, Dr Sanjay Deshmukh of Daga Hospital, and the doctors at GMC Nagpur helped ensure the patients life was saved through timely and effective treatment. Dr Sanjay Deshmukh added, Due to collective efforts and timely provision of Factor IX, we were able to save the patients life. The Daga Hemophilia Centre is a specialised facility where Factor 8, 9, 7, and FEEBA are provided free of cost for hemophilia patients.
Hindu community leader abducted, killed in Bdesh





DHAKA ;

A PROMINENT Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, a media report said on Friday. Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star said quoting police and family members.

Roys wife Shantana told The Daily Star that he received a phone call around 4:30 pm and claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home. Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises, the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted. Roy was unconscious when he was sent back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. However, he was declared dead upon arrival. Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, as saying that preparations were underway to file a case. He said police are working to identify the suspects.
Manuscripts of Bhagavad Gita, Natyashastra inscribed on UNESCOs Memory of World Register





NEW DELHI :

MANUSCRIPTS of Bhagavad Gita and Bharat Munis Natyashastra are among 74 new documentary heritage collections that have been added to UNESCOs Memory of the World Register. Entries on scientific revolution, womens contribution to history and major milestones of multilateralism from 72 countries and four international organisations are included in the register, according to UNESCO. The register consists of books, manuscripts, maps, photographs, sound or video recordings as a documentary heritage of humanity. The development comes on World Heritage Day on April 18. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a post on X, on Friday described the inscriptions as a proud moment for every Indian across the world.

The inclusion of the Gita and Natyashastra in UNESCOs Memory of the World Register is a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Gita and Natyashastra have nurtured civilisation, and consciousness for centuries. Their insights continue to inspire the world, he said. Preserved at the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute and codified around the 2nd century BC, the Natyashastra of Bharat Muni is an epitome of the Natyaveda, an oral body of knowledge of performing art containing 36,000 verses known as the Gandharvaveda, the UNESCO said in its citation list about the new inscriptions. Bharat Muni makes a groundbreaking statement in Natyashastra, asserting that no meaning can blossom forth without rasa, a profound contribution to world literature, it said. The Natyashastra embodies a comprehensive set of rules that define natya (drama), abhinaya (performance), rasa (aesthetic experience), bhava (emotion), sangita (music), among others, thus articulating the character of Indian theatre, poetics, aesthetics, dance and music.

The Manuscript collection of Bhagavadgita: ancient samgraha-grantha of Indian thought with worldwide readership and influence also now finds a place in the coveted UNESCO register. The Bhagavadgita, containing 700 verses in 18 chapters, is embedded within Bhismaparva of the epic Mahabharata. It takes the form of a dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna with armies lined up for the great war intended to free Arjuna of dejection, the citation read. Bhagavad Gita is a central text in the continuous, cumulative ancient intellectual Indian tradition, synthesising various thought movements such as Vedic, Buddhist, Jain and Carvaka, it said. Due to its philosophical breadth and depth, the Bhagavadgita has been read for centuries across the globe and translated into many languages, the citation added. Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat also took to X on Friday saying this was a historic moment for Bharats civilisational heritage. This global honour celebrates Indias eternal wisdom and artistic genius, the Minister said.

These timeless works are more than literary treasures -- they are philosophical and aesthetic foundations that have shaped Bharats worldview and the way we think, feel, live, and express. With this, we now have 14 inscriptions from our country on this international register, he posted and shared some images of the two texts. On Thursday, UNESCO added 74 new documentary heritage collections to its Memory of the World Register, bringing the total number of inscribed collections to 570, the world body said. Collections are added to the register by a decision of UNESCOs executive board, following the evaluation of nominations by an independent international advisory committee. Among the newly inscribed collections, fourteen pertain to scientific documentary heritage. Ithaf Al-Mahbub, submitted by Egypt, documents the Arab worlds contributions to astronomy, planetary movement, celestial bodies, and astrological analysis during the first millennium of our era, UNESCO said.

The archives of Charles Darwin (United Kingdom), Friedrich Nietzsche (Germany), Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (Germany) -- which contain the very first recorded X-ray photographs -- and Carlos Chagas (Brazil), a pioneer in disease research, have also been included. Several collections document key moments in international cooperation, including the Geneva Conventions (1864-1949) and their protocols (1977-2005) (Switzerland), the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (United Nations), and the 1991 Windhoek Declaration (Namibia), a global reference for press freedom, the UNESCO said in the statement. Documentary heritage is an essential yet fragile element of the memory of the world. This is why UNESCO invests in safeguarding -- such as the libraries of Chinguetti in Mauritania or the archives of Amadou Hampate Ba in Cote dIvoire -- shares best practices and maintains this register that records the broadest threads of human history, UNESCOs Director-General Audrey Azoulay said.
NHRC, NCW teams visit relief camps to meet WB riot victims





MALDA/KOLKATA :

WB Governor interacts with the displaced

TEAMS from the NHRC and NCW on Friday visited Malda relief camps to meet Murshidabad riot victims, even as West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose defied Chief Minister Mamata Banerjees appeal to defer his visit and interacted with the displaced, prompting the TMC to allege political provocation. During the Governors visit, inmates of the Parlalpur High School relief camp in Baishnabnagar, Malda  where few hundreds have taken shelter since the April 11-12 clashes  staged protests alleging police-imposed censorship, denial of access to visitors and inhumane living conditions. This camp feels worse than a prison. Police are not allowing us to meet anyone and narrate our ordeal, a camp resident told reporters.

Bose, who left for Malda this morning despite a request from the CM to postpone his trip in the interest of maintaining calm, said he wanted to independently verify ground reports. I am going to the field, Bose told reporters before boarding a train from Kolkata. I will meet the victims and verify the reports we have received. I will visit hospitals, residences of victims and the relief camps. Central forces and state police are working together to restore normalcy. After meeting the victims, I will submit my recommendations. At the camp, the Governor was seen interacting with children and patiently listening to the grievances of displaced families. Raj Bhawan officials accompanying him took note of the complaints. Tensions escalated briefly when angry camp residents broke barricades and surrounded district officials, accusing police of not letting them speak to the media or meet visiting relatives. Several women alleged harassment by police personnel and said they were being threatened at night to not talk to outsiders. Police are treating us like criminals.

We are being given dry rotis, bananas and stale rice. It is hard to tell whether we are in a refugee camp or a detention centre, a woman at the camp told reporters. In its suo motu cognisance of the violence, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) dispatched a fact-finding team to the area and has sought a detailed report from the State Government within three weeks. The NHRC members took note after talking to members of the affected families staying at the camp at the Parlalpur High School. The Commission on Tuesday had said that it had decided to send a team to conduct an on-the-spot inquiry into the incidents, considering the seriousness of the situation. A delegation from the National Commission for Women (NCW) led by chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also visited the camp to assess the condition of women displaced by the violence, which erupted during protests against the Centres amendments to the Waqf (Amendment) Act. I am shocked by the condition of women and children here.

They were forcibly evicted from their homes and have gone through unimaginable trauma, Rahatkar told reporters after interacting with camp residents. NCW member Archana Majumdar, accompanying Rahatkar, alleged that women were molested and driven out of their homes. It is the State Governments responsibility to ensure their safety. What is the TMC doing? Is the Government trying to turn West Bengal into another Bangladesh? Majumdar said. The NCW delegation is expected to spend the night in Malda before heading to Murshidabad on Saturday. The panel is scheduled to meet district officials, victims and eventually call on the Governor, Chief Secretary and Director General of Police in Kolkata on Sunday. The ruling Trinamool Congress criticised the visits by the Governor and NHRC and NCW teams, alleging that they were aimed at stoking tension in the already-volatile region. At least three people were killed and over 274 arrested in connection with the violence that engulfed Muslim-majority areas such as Shamsherganj, Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur in Murshidabad district.
Wanted gangster-turned-terrorist nabbed in US





NEW YORK/CHANDIGARH :

GANGSTER-TURNED-TERRORIST Harpreet Singh alias Happy Passia, wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab and who is alleged to have collaborated with Pakistans ISI and Khalistani group BKI, has been arrested in the US, officials said on Friday. Passia alias Jora, who had illegally entered the US, was arrested by the FBI and US Immigration and Customs Enforcements Enforcement and Removal Operations in Sacramento, the US federal law enforcement agency said. Punjab Police chief Gaurav Yadav said, the arrest is a major milestone in the success of war against terror, adding the matter has been taken up with the Central Government and efforts are on to extradite Passia. He said, between 2023-?2025, Passia played a central role in orchestrating targeted killings, grenade attacks on police establishments, and extortion across Punjab and other States.

Today, Harpreet Singh, an alleged terrorist responsible for terror attacks in Punjab, India, was arrested by the #FBI & #ERO in Sacramento. Linked to two international terrorist groups, he entered the US illegally and used burner phones to evade capture, FBI Sacramento said in a statement on X. Agents from the FBIs Legal Attache office in New Delhi informed Sacramento that Passi was wanted in connection with multiple terror attacks across Punjab, FBI Sacramento said. He had been evading capture by using untraceable burner phones and encrypted applications. This case reinforces the importance of international cooperation in apprehending those who threaten global security, it said. Official sources in Punjab said Passia is wanted for orchestrating 16 terror attacks, including 14 grenade strikes in the State and is also suspected to have collaborated with Khalistani terrorist group Babbar Khalsa International (BKI). In January, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had announced a cash reward of Rs 5 lakh on Passia in connection with a hand grenade attack on a house in Chandigarh in September last year. Passia and Pakistan-based designated BKI terrorist Harwinder Singh Sandhu alias Rinda were among the four accused named in a charge sheet in the case by the NIA. Punjab Police investigation had found that Passia provided the accused with explosives, weapons and logistical support through his local associates.

The September 2024 attack was intended to target a retired Punjab Police officer, who the assailants believed to be the occupant of the house in Sector 10, Chandigarh. A total of 33 FIRs have been registered at different police stations and 10 look out circulars have been issued against Passia, according to a dossier prepared by Punjab Police. Hailing from village Pashia in Amritsar district, Passia had left for Dubai in April 2018 and returned to India in February 2019. He went to London in October in 2020 and thereafter moved to the US. Passia was initially aligned with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang members including the US- based associates Darmanjot Singh (Darman Kahlon) and Amritpal Singh (Amrit Bal). This affiliation with the Bhagwanpuria gang marks the inception of Passias involvement in organised crime, laying the foundation for his subsequent collaboration with Rinda. Rinda, lately, roped in Passia for execution of terror attacks in the State.
SEOUL - South Korean parents often describe intense academic competition as "cram school warfare," but the mounting pressure is pushing more young people to forgo parenthood -- fueling the nation's declining birthrate.

"This really is a war. There's no turning back," says Ahn Ji Won (pseudonym), 49, a mother who lives in the suburbs of Seoul, expressing her distress about the intense focus on academic achievement in South Korea.

The intense competition means even some preschool-age kids attend private tutoring centers for extra preparation, often at a great expense.

According to the National Statistical Office, a total of 27.1 trillion won ($19 billion) was spent on sending elementary, junior high, and high school students to for-profit, private institutions called hagwons in 2023, up 4.5 percent from the previous year.

This was a record high for the third consecutive year, despite South Korea experiencing a declining birthrate. The monthly average per high school student amounted to 740,000 won.

Ahn's family pays out about 6 million won per month for cram schools for their two children, the eldest of whom is aiming to enter medical school after once failing his entrance exam and having to wait another year. Their younger son is in junior high school.

Both she and her husband work -- the latter for a life insurance company -- but the outlay takes up more than 70 percent of the household budget. "I have regretted having children at times because I have not been able to prepare (financially) for my old age," Ahn says.

Aside from the large sums of money many parents spend on private education, they also make huge sacrifices to support their children in any way they can in their studies.

It is common for students to change cram schools for different subjects. Indeed, there are even cram schools to enter other famous cram schools. On weekends and holidays, kids study from morning till night, with their parents occupied with transporting them to and from the schools.

In Daechi-dong, an affluent neighborhood in Gangnam, Seoul, where many major cram schools are located, the thoroughfare at night is gridlocked with cars driven by parents bringing their children home from the schools, their journeys accompanied by blaring traffic whistles of police. This regular scene has become known as "cram school hell."

Ahn's eldest son has been attending cram schools since elementary school. For junior high school, he would sleep less than five hours a night to prepare for his entrance exam. "The kids have absolutely no time to play, even on summer break," she says.

Since having to take a year off to prepare after failing his first medical school exam, her son has entered a famous preparatory hagwon in Daechi-dong, which has a good track record for students successfully passing the exam.

In an attempt to even the playing field and lessen the need to engage in private education, former South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol eliminated from 2023 extremely tough questions not covered by state schools from the country's standardized university entrance exam, or the CSAT.

However, this has had no noticeable effect, as parents anxious about the change in trends are doubling down on cram school education.

"Thanks to the (former) president, private education has become even more energized," Jeon Dae Geun, 42, a well-known entrance exam consultant and the president of HY Education, says sarcastically.

Consultants sell practice exams and preparation courses tailored to the school of choice to affluent clients, and the cost, under contract, is not cheap, ranging from 70 million to 100 million won per student per year. "The entrance exams are a battle of power for information," Jeon says.

Jeon revealed he sometimes wines and dines admissions officials to obtain information on university selection criteria and trends and to scout them for his company.

A family's financial position determines where their kids go to school and their future employment. Knowing firsthand the immense pressure put on parents to foot the bill for their children's academic achievement, Ahn often gives cautionary advice to her junior coworkers.

"If you don't want to give up your life, you shouldn't have children," she warns.

Related coverage:

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TAIPEI - Akie Abe, widow of slain former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said Saturday that Taiwan's security is directly tied to Japan's, offering her view on remarks made by her late husband about the self-ruled democratic island.

"What he truly meant was, if Taiwan is safe, then Japan is safe," Akie Abe said in a speech at a symposium in Taiwan on security in the Indo-Pacific region. Her husband said in December 2021, during a virtual appearance at a Taiwan think-thank event, "A Taiwan contingency is a contingency for Japan," a remark now widely known in Taiwan.

In Japan, when people care deeply about someone important, they wish them peace and safety, according to Akie Abe.

"I think my husband wanted to offer this heartfelt wish to the people of Taiwan, whom he dearly loved because Taiwan's peace and safety were closely connected to himself and to Japan," she said.

Shinzo Abe, Japan's longest-serving prime minister, was assassinated by a lone gunman during an election campaign speech in July 2022.

Abe remained friendly toward Taiwan even after stepping down as prime minister in 2020 due to health issues.

China regards Taiwan as a part of its territory.

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REAM, Cambodia - Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force vessels made a port call at a China-funded naval base in southwestern Cambodia on Saturday, marking the first such visit by a foreign vessel since the base was expanded.

The visit by the minesweeper tender Bungo and the minesweeper Etajima to Ream Naval Base on the Gulf of Thailand comes amid U.S. concerns over China's potential expansion of its overseas military presence.

The port call was made as Japan continues to pursue a "free and open Indo-Pacific" in the face of an increasingly assertive China.

Ahead of the port call, Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani expressed hope that the visit will help make the newly expanded base "more open."

A ceremony was held earlier this month to mark the completion of expansion work at the base in the Southeast Asian country, supported by Beijing. Following the upgrade, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet said all countries are welcome to use the facility.

China has been expanding its influence in Cambodia, with its naval ships anchored on rotation at the base near the contested South China Sea.

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Japan defense chief vows to enhance transport capacity with new unit

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Speaker, MBC, AMCU greet

|

IMPHAL, Apr 19 : Speaker of Manipur Legislative Assembly Th Satyabrata has greeted the people on the eve of Easter Sunday.

In his greetings, the Spea-ker said that Easter is a celebration of renewal, a reminder that even after the darkest night the dawn of hope arrives.

"As we rejoice in the resurrection of Christ, may His triumph inspire us to embrace new beginnings to rebuild with love and to walk forward in unity," he said.

"Manipur has endured hardships but Easter reminds us that no struggle lasts forever", he added.

Appealing to the people to rise above challenges, Satyabrata prayed for Easter to heal and unite the people of Manipur.

The Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) and the All Manipur Catholic Union (AMCU) have sent Easter greetings to the people, especially Christians.

This year Easter falls on April 20.

Easter Sunday is celebrated by Christians to mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The celebration of Easter marks the glorious resurrection of Jesus Christ, the cornerstone of "our faith" and the defining event in the redemptive history of humankind. It is a celebration that embraces the past, affirms the present, and offers hope for the future, said MBC, greeting the people.

"Easter calls us to renew our faith, to reflect on the promise of eternal life, and to live in harmony with one another. It is a reminder that through Christ's victory over death, we are invited to walk in newness of life with hope, peace, and purpose. May the triumph of Christ's resurrection fill your heart with unwavering hope, renew your spirit with divine grace, and lead you in the light of His eternal life," greeted the MBC. "On behalf of the Manipur Baptist Convention, I extend my heartfelt wishes for a blessed and joyous Easter to all both within the Church and beyond. May we journey forward in mutual respect, love, and co-existence," wished Rev K Losii Mao, general secretary, MBC in his Easter message to the people.

The All Manipur Catholic Union (AMCU) too wished love, hope, and peace of Christ, the risen Lord to all the faithful in the Archdiocese of Imphal.
Against the backdrop of last weeks communal violence in West Bengals Murshidabad district in which three people were killed, the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the BJP, is set to hold a Save Bengali Hindus rally in Kolkata on Saturday.

The rally will begin from the ancestral residence of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and culminate at the house of Dr Syama Prasad Mookherjee in Bhawanipur.

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The BJP has described the event as a symbolic march highlighting what it calls the deteriorating situation of Bengali Hindus in the state.

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The Calcutta High Court granted permission for the rally on Thursday, following a petition by the organisers.

This development comes amid heightened political tension in the state following the April 11 violence in Murshidabads Dhulian area.

The unrest erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to several others. The incident triggered a political storm, with both the state and central leadership trading accusations.

West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose visited the affected areas in Murshidabad on Friday to personally assess the situation.

On the other hand West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced a compensation package of Rs 10 lakh for the families of the deceased and assured housing support under the Banglar Bari scheme for those who lost their homes. She also instructed the Chief Secretary to submit a detailed report on the damage and relief measures.

We dont differentiate based on religion; our concern is the pain and loss suffered by every citizen, Banerjee stated in response to criticism.

However, BJP leaders have accused the state administration of suppressing facts.

Union Minister and BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar alleged a state-sponsored cover-up, claiming Hindu families targeted during the violence had to flee to Malda for safety.

He further alleged that local authorities were pressuring victims to vacate relief camps to block their interaction with National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) representatives.

This is not just administrative failure, its a complete collapse of constitutional protections, Majumdar wrote on social media platform X.
A repeated chase for Rs 2,400 power bill payment by the landlords provoked murder of a woman by their former tenants in Jamalpur, East Burdwan.

Police today arrested the tenants, Amit Bagdi and Kuber Gorai. Both were jute mill labourers.

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The elderly couple had suffered fierce midnight attacks by the tenant labourers out of grudge over power bill disputes that claimed the life of Mira Sarkar (72), while her 80-year-old husband Niladri was left gasping for life at their Abijhati residence.

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The maid of the couple was shocked to see a groaning Niladri lying on the floor of their bedroom and Mira lying in a pool of blood and not responding despite several calls. The neighbours assembled shortly after the maid screamed. They arrived soon after. The officials said that the woman was hacked to death with the help of a hammer and the old man was thrashed with baton and lashes. Niladri was shifted to the Burdwan Medical College & Hospital with marks of wounds.

The officials, during investigations, came to know that they were attacked out of grudge as the couple consistently was chasing for the Rs 2,400 power bill that they had not paid while vacating the residence three months ago. None was arrested, but the neighbours told police that the kin and relatives of the couple used to pay a visit to their house seldom.

On 14 October, 2024, the son and daughter-in-law of an elderly couple Nirmalendu Banerjee (82) and Ila (74) were arrested after bodies of the couple was found from their bedroom at Gopinathpur in Durgapur. The police charged that they were killed by their son and daughter-in-law over property. On 17 December, 2024, another solitary elderly couple Abhijit Josh (86) and Chhaburani (79) were hacked to death at Bhatar in East Burdwan. Later, a relative of the deceased couple were arrested on murder charges. The police had found that the couple was killed for property.
This video screenshot provided by the Houthi Media Center shows damaged vehicles after U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, April, 17, 2025. The deadly U.S. air raids have so far killed 74 people, wounded 171 others, and destroyed concrete tanks storing imported fuel, according to Houthi-run health authorities. (Xinhua)

SANAA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Yemen's Houthi group on Friday claimed responsibility for firing a "ballistic missile" toward Israel, which had been intercepted by Israeli defense systems.

The operation targeted "a military target in the vicinity of Ben Gurion Airport in central Israel using a ballistic missile, Zulfiqar," Houthi military spokesperson Yahya Sarea said while addressing a mass protest held to show solidarity with Palestinians.

The group also targeted U.S. aircraft carriers, USS Harry S. Truman and USS Carl Vinson, along with their escorts in the Red Sea and Arabian Sea, he added, noting this was the first time that the group had targeted USS Carl Vinson since its arrival in the Arabian Sea.

Sarea claimed the group also shot down another U.S. MQ-9 drone, the 20th it has downed since November 2023.

"We will not back down from continuing our support operations for the Palestinian people until the Israeli aggression on the Gaza Strip stops and the siege on it is lifted," Sarea said, while vowing retaliation against the ongoing U.S. airstrikes on Yemen.

The U.S. Central Command has not commented on the Houthi claims yet.

The latest Houthi attacks followed two waves of U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa on Thursday night. The deadly U.S. air raids have so far killed 74 people, wounded 171 others, and destroyed concrete tanks storing imported fuel, according to Houthi-run health authorities. The port has been a lifeline for importing fuel into the areas under the control of the Houthi group.

Tensions between the Houthi group and the U.S. military have escalated since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15 to deter the group from attacking Israel and U.S. warships in regional waters.

The Houthis, who control vast areas of northern Yemen, have been attacking Israeli targets since November 2023 to show solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. 

This video screenshot provided by the Houthi Media Center shows the scene after U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, April, 17, 2025.

The deadly U.S. air raids have so far killed 74 people, wounded 171 others, and destroyed concrete tanks storing imported fuel, according to Houthi-run health authorities. (Xinhua)

This video screenshot provided by the Houthi Media Center shows rescuers working after U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, April, 17, 2025.

The deadly U.S. air raids have so far killed 74 people, wounded 171 others, and destroyed concrete tanks storing imported fuel, according to Houthi-run health authorities. (Xinhua)

This video screenshot provided by the Houthi Media Center shows a blazing tank truck after U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa in Hodeidah, Yemen, April, 17, 2025.

The deadly U.S. air raids have so far killed 74 people, wounded 171 others, and destroyed concrete tanks storing imported fuel, according to Houthi-run health authorities. (Xinhua)
A three-member delegation from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) visited the Parlalpur camp on Friday. The team arrived at Malda town station around 10.30 a.m. by the Vande Bharat Express and headed straight to the camp.

There, they spent time listening to first-hand accounts from the displaced families and documented their grievances, including concerns about violence and the hardships theyve endured since being uprooted. The team declined to speak to the media, but sources confirmed a report will soon be submitted to Commission authorities in Delhi.

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In the wake of the recent violence in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, separate delegations from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW) visited Malda on Friday to assess the ground situation and meet victims taking refuge in relief camps.

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Around 400 families displaced by the 11 April violence in Suti and Samserganj have taken shelter at the school. While the exact number remains unclear, the NHRC members spent nearly an hour interacting with the affected families, inquiring about the sequence of events, the circumstances that forced them to flee, and their current living conditions. However, the team declined to speak to the media. Tension flared soon after the NHRC team left the premises, with protesters surrounding the police and alleging that they were being prevented from stepping outside the camp and even denied access to visiting relatives. The incident created a brief stir at the school premises.

Meanwhile, a six-member delegation from the NCW led by Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar also visited Malda on Friday, following reports of violence and atrocities against women during the clashes. The team had arrived in Kolkata on Thursday and travelled to Berhampore before heading for Malda. Ahead of their visit to the camps, NCW member Dr Archana Majumdar accused the police of trying to send victims back home prematurely. We have received information that the police are attempting to disperse the camp even before our visit. Had their intelligence worked effectively, this situation could have been avoided, she told the press.

According to state police reports, normalcy is gradually returning to the region, with 70 per cent of shops reopening and 85 displaced individuals already returning to their homes. However, many others have either migrated to Jharkhands Pakur district or continue to live in temporary relief camps. Both NHRC and NCW are expected to submit detailed reports on their findings to the central government upon returning to Delhi. Earlier on Thursday, the Raj Bhavan would do everything possible in collaboration with the Union and the state governments for the victims affected by the recent violence in the state.

Raj Bhavan will do everything possible for the victim in collaboration with the state and central government, Mr Bose said. He also stated that his visit to the violence-affected places was to get an objective view of the matter.I am going to the field to see for myself the realities of the field. I will have an objective view of the matter. The situation has been brought under control. We should take further steps to prevent similar instances in future. I will certainly visit Murshidabad. People from the area have requested to have a BSF camp there, he added.
West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar sparked major controversy after explicitly urging Hindus to hoard weapons. The remarks, especially made by a central minister, have been condemned as a gross violation of law and order and a direct incitement to violence.

Trinamul Congress has denounced the Bengal BJP chiefs call to arms as dangerous rhetoric seemingly intended to stir unrest following BJPs electoral setbacks in the region.

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As if spreading fake narratives and hate wasnt enough, now @BJP4Bengal chief @DrSukantaBJP is openly urging Hindus to hoard weapons. How much lower will this party stoop? This isnt politics. Its a shameless incitement to violence. A direct threat to law, order, and communal harmony. Bengal rejected your politics of hate. Now you want revenge through chaos? TMC posted on X.

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Legal experts note that the call to hoard weapons potentially violates Section 353 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which criminalises statements that may incite, any class or community of persons to commit any offence against any other class or community  an offense punishable by up to three years imprisonment.
In an exciting unveiling, the Trinamul Congress has shared first glimpses of the highly anticipated Jagannath Temple in Digha, set to be inaugurated on 30 April, Akshaya Tritiya day. The temple, which is being hailed as an architectural marvel, is poised to become a major spiritual and tourism landmark in West Bengal, attracting devotees and travellers from across the globe.

Sharing exclusive photos, TMC wrote on X-handle: Presenting the first glimpse of the majestic Jagannath Temple, set to be inaugurated on 30th April! Digha is ready to welcome devotees & travellers from across the globe.

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Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been a strong advocate for the project, with plans to further develop Digha as a prime destination for both spiritual and leisure travel. The temple will be inaugurated with religious ceremonies beginning a day earlier.

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During an administrative review meeting on the inauguration, the CM stressed her intention to prioritise access for common people over VIP attendees on the day of the event. I dont want too many VIPs to go to Jagannath Temple and we want that common people  who may not find means to go  should not be obstructed, she stated. The temples inauguration is a testament to TMCs commitment to promoting Bengals rich cultural heritage and enhancing the states spiritual appeal.
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Saturday condoled the loss of lives in a building collapse in the Mustafabad area of Delhi in the wee hours of Saturday.

Expressing grief over the loss of lives, former Delhi chief minister and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal in a post on X wrote, The building collapse in Mustafabad is extremely tragic. My heartfelt condolences to the families who have lost their loved ones in this accident. I appeal to all karyakartas to fully support the administration in the relief and rescue efforts.

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Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly and senior AAP leader said the building collapse in Mustafabad is extremely tragic.

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My condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this accident. I urge all AAP karyakartas in Mustafabad to assist the administration in the relief and rescue operations, she wrote on X.

Earlier in the day, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) Mayor and AAP leader Mahesh Kumar Khichi said the building collapse in Mustafabad is extremely heartbreaking and extended his deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident.

I have directed MCD Commissioner Ashwani Kumar to conduct an investigation into the incident and to suspend the officials found guilty of negligence. I appeal to all AAP karyakartas in Mustafabad to extend full cooperation in the relief and rescue operations and assist the administration in every possible way, he said on X.
A retired government officer was duped of over Rs 48 lakh by fraudsters posing as officials, who were later arrested by the Delhi Police, officials said on Saturday.

According to Deputy Commissioner of Police (South West) Surendra Chaudhary, the complainant, stated that on March 2, he received a WhatsApp call from an unknown number.

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The caller, identifying himself as Deepak Sharma from TRAI, informed the victim that a case had been registered against him under the PMLA Act at Colaba Police Station in Mumbai and asked him to cooperate with the investigation.

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The victim said he was kept on a video call for over 20 hours and was made to interact with multiple individuals posing as law enforcement officials.

Additionally, he was asked to provide detailed financial information, including bank accounts, fixed deposits, and life insurance policies. The fraudsters shared fake documents bearing official seals and stamps to gain his trust.

Under duress, he was forced to withdraw his PPF savings and break his fixed deposits, transferring the funds to accounts controlled by the fraudsters. The total loss amounted to Rs 48,59,308.

During the preliminary investigation, the police traced the IP addresses of the WhatsApp numbers used by the fraudsters to Hong Kong.

Through meticulous analysis of bank transactions and technical leads, the police identified and arrested two accused individuals  Thunga Rajkumar and Kapil Rambhau Patil  who were operating shell companies and fake bank accounts to launder the cheated funds.

Further investigation revealed that another accused, Pushkar Chanderkant Pakhale, had previously been involved in a case related to the fake supply of COVID-19 drugs and had a history of opening shell companies and fake bank accounts for a commission.

The police are continuing their investigation to apprehend other suspects involved in the scam and to unravel the larger network of cybercrime operatives, the DCP added.
A 25-year-old woman, Zikra Khan, was remanded to two days of police custody by a Delhi court on Saturday in connection with the murder of a teenager in Seelampur area of North-East district of the city.

She was produced before the court following her arrest on allegations of conspiring in the stabbing case.

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According to the police, her cousin Sahil, along with another accused, Dilshad, attacked the boy, identified as Kunal, with knives and subsequently absconded.

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Zikra is reportedly the bouncer for Hashim Baba gangsters wife, Zoya, and is said to be a well-known figure in the local underworld. She is known for her connections with criminals in Shahdara area.

Zikra is often seen carrying firearms and is alleged to lead gangs of criminals as well.

According to locals, she is frequently accompanied by a group of armed men and roams the streets carrying a pistol.

During interrogation, she told the police that her cousin Sahil had been attacked by two boys, including Kunal, in November last year.

Since Sahil was a minor at the time, his name was not mentioned in the FIR, but Zikra believed Kunal was behind the attack.

To avenge the incident, her cousin allegedly attacked Kunal, who later died while undergoing treatment in a hospital.
A tragic incident unfolded in the wee hours of Saturday, leaving four dead and 11 injured as a multi-storey residential building collapsed in northeast Delhis Mustafabad, police said.

According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), they were alerted about the incident at 02:50 AM following which 9 fire tenders were rushed to the reported location of Shakti Vihar, Dayalpur.

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Upon reaching the spot, the firefighters found that four individuals were buried under the debris and several others were trapped. Immediately, the rescue operation was commenced by the team to extricate the victim.

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The Delhi Police on this incident said, We were informed regarding the collapse of the building, which was owned by Tehsin, around 03:02 AM at the Dayalpur police station, a team was dispatched soon after receiving the information.

So far, 14 people have been rescued and shifted to GTB Hospital, out of which four were declared brought dead by the attending team of doctors, the officer said.

The deceased, identified as Chandi (23F), Danish (23M), Naved (17M), and Reshma (38F), were residents, while Shahid (45M), Rehana (38F), Ahmed (45M), Tanu (15F), and Zeenat (58F) are undergoing medical treatment; the others are injured.

As per the police officers, the NDRF (National Disaster Response Force) and ambulance were immediately called to initiate a rescue operation to locate and evacuate those who were missing.

Furthermore, senior officers were present at the site, while authorities have cordoned off the area and are investigating if any structural violations or negligence were involved. However, further details are awaited, the officer stated.
The Uttarakhand government will probe, identify and take back state Waqf Board properties encroached by the influential muslim community members to follow UP pattern of developing homes for poor and needy people on them.

Uttarakhand BJP has stated that We will investigate and unearth all 5700 Uttarakhand Waqf properties being misused by only a few influential people against the purposes they were meant for. These properties were never used for the rehabilitation and development of poor, needy, youths and women but handed out to a select group of influential people at throw away prices for developing five star hotels and other usages.

However after implementation of Waqf Amendment Act by the centre these properties will be identified and every inch of them will be used for the well being of the people, state and the nation said chief minister Pushkar Singh Dhami as he announced that his government will launch Waqf awareness campaign titled The rights of the poor will be given only to the poor from June 20 to May 5, 2025.

Dhami stated that his government will ensure that state Waqf properties are used for opening educational institutions and providing services for the poor youths and downtrodden section of the community.

He said through Waqf Amendment Act of the centre government will ensure that Uttarakhand Waqf is used for the welfare of pasmanda brothers and muslim community sisters without any interference in the religious sanctity of the board. Every inch of the boards land in the state will be examined and taken care of.

Dushyant Gautam, BJPs National General Secretary and Uttarakhand in-charge who was also a member of the Joint Parliamentary Committee on Waqf Amendment Bill 2024 said that misuse of Uttarakhand Waqf Board properties will be stoped and freed from the encroachers for their judicious management and distribution.

Permanent houses will be built on the freed Waqf lands similar to the Uttar Pradesh government for poor muslim women, divorced and widows and orphan children under Prime Minister housing schemes. Waqf properties should be used justifiably for the welfare of the poor. We will remove all illegal occupants from these properties through the law. Facilities like hospitals, educational institutions and community buildings will be developed for the poor people.

Gautum stated that those opposed to the Waqf Amendment Act will not be able to show their faces once the encroached properties are developed by the state government.

Uttarakhand Waqf Board Chairman Shadab Shams on the other hand informed that board members in the past made gross misuse of the unlimited powers given to them in the past.

They not only allowed board properties to be encroached but also grabbed large scale government and private land in the grab of the Waqf Board. A large number of its victims are from the muslim community. Most of the encroachments were done upon by Congress-Indi alliance leaders, Waqf Board and Muslim Personal Law Board officials. Now these land grabbers will face the music said Shams.

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The Kerala Police on Saturday arrested Malayalam actor Shine Tom Chacko in connection with alleged drug use.

He has been booked under Sections 27 (consumption of narcotic drugs or psychotropic substances) and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

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The Ernakulam North Police formally recorded the actors arrest under the NDPS Act, with sources confirming that bailable charges were invoked. The police have also filed a case against him under Section 238 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for destroying evidence and providing false information to protect an offender.

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Shine Tom Chacko appeared for interrogation at the Ernakulam Town North Police Station on Saturday around 10 am, following a summons issued for questioning in connection with an incident where he allegedly fled a hotel at Kaloor in Kochi city during a raid conducted by the District Anti-Narcotics Special Action Force (DANSAF) late on Wednesday night.

During questioning, Shine reportedly confessed to using the drug. When asked why he fled when the DANSAF team arrived at the hotel in Kaloor, Kochi, Shine stated that he did not realize it was the police knocking on his hotel room door during the narcotics raid and fled out of fear, mistaking them for individuals intending to harm him.

Meanwhile, police have collected samples for an anti-doping test from Shine Tom Chacko, who was arrested in the drug case. His hair, blood, and nail samples were taken and will be sent to the polices forensic laboratory in Thiruvananthapuram for analysis.

Last week, Malayalam actress Vincy Aloshious, in a complaint lodged with the Film Chamber, accused Shine Tom Chacko of inappropriate behavior on the sets of the upcoming film Soothravakyam. Earlier, Vincy Aloshious had posted an Instagram video alleging drug use and inappropriate behavior by the lead actor on the film set.

Interestingly, Shine Tom Chacko was acquitted in a 2015 drug case just days ago, on April 14, by the Ernakulam Additional Sessions Court, citing procedural lapses by the police during the drug seizure and arrest.
The awaited courtroom drama, Kesari Chapter 2, hit theatres on April 18. Led by Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday, the film has Karan Singh Tyagi at the helm. Set against the tragic incident of the Jallianwala Bagh massacre, which shook the nation, Kesari 2 is driven by years of burning rage. The title aims to present another side to the dark chapter of national history. Following its premiere, several B-town celebs, including Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal, and Arjun Kapoor, are lauding the film.

Following the release of Kesari Chapter 2, filmmakers and celebrities have shared their reviews, lauding the title. Sharing the films poster on her Instagram stories, Katrina Kaif wrote, An untold story told so beautifully by Karan Singh Tyagi, Ampritpal Singh Bindra. Anand Tiwari, so proud of you. Moreover, she also praised the star-cast of the intense film. Akshay Kumar, R Madhavan, and Ananya Panday were just terrific. Congrats Dharma Productions, Leo Media Collective and Karan Johar. Arjun Kapoor also wished the team love and strength. He penned, Proud to see stories like this being told. More power to the team. This ones gonna roar.

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Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Karan Johar (@karanjohar)



Vicky Kaushal showered praises on Akshay Kumar, R. Madhavan and Ananya Panday. The actor wrote, An untold story told with so much grit, sincerity and sensitivity! This is one hell of a directorial debut @karanstyagi. Kudos to @karanjohar @bindraamritpal @anandntiwari @apoorva1972 @adarpoonawalla for bringing this important chapter from our history to celluloid.@akshaykumar @actormaddy @ananyapanday @amitsial Absolute class. Absolute magic! DONT MISS!!!

Moreover, filmmaker Raj Mehta dubbed Kesari Chapter 2 a fabulous film. He penned, The kind that induces gooseflesh on various occasions and leaves you in awe of one mans stand against an empire! And who better to portray the man than @akshaykumar sir himself! What a roaring, yet subdued performance! Brilliantly supported by the amazing @actormaddy and a brilliant @ananyapanday!! Thank you @karanjohar for always enabling such mind-boggling stories and fascinating talents! Thats exactly what @karanstyagi is! Welcome to the movies, brother! You have made a grand entryand deservedly so. Your passion and tenacity shine through in every frame! Hats off. Huge congratulations and a tip of the hat to the entire cast and crew of the film!! Special mention to the music and score! The always dependable @azeemdayani overlooking an audio masterpiece!

Also Read: Big B announces Piku re-release: Deepika Padukone remembers Irfan Khan

Meanwgile, the film draws inspiration from the book The Case That Shook The Empire, by Raghu Palat and Pushpa Palat. In the film, Kumar stars as the fearless lawyer, Sir C Sankaran Nair, who sues the crown for genocide. However, going against the British Empire is nothing less than a herculean task. He faces the empires formidable lawyer, Neville McKinley, played by R Madhavan. As the two lock horns in the courtroom, history changes its face. Joining them in this intense showdown is Ananya Panday as Dilreet Gill, a female lawyer striving to break stereotypes.
Models present fashion designs of Vietnamese brand "MEL ESSENTIALS" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "La Mofiel" during a seaside show of the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

This photo taken on April 18, 2025 shows fashion designs displayed during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "DearWhite" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of Italian brand "CHARLIE LUCIANO" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of Italian brand "CHARLIE LUCIANO" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 18, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "DearWhite" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "La Mofiel" during a seaside show of the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Models leave after a seaside fashion show of "La Mofiel" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Audience watch a runway show of "OUTRIDE & NATURAL PARK" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "SIXA REV" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 17, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "La Mofiel" during a seaside show of the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 16, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

Models present fashion designs of Vietnamese brand "MEL ESSENTIALS" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 15, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "DearWhite" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)

A model presents a fashion design of "DearWhite" during the 5th China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) in Haikou, south China's Hainan Province, April 14, 2025. The 2025 China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE) fashion show, a side event of the 5th CICPE, staged its closing show here Friday evening.

Themed on "OASIS", the 2025 CICPE fashion show has held 22 runway shows and events with various Chinese and foreign designer brands from April 12 to 18. It is aimed at supporting excellent young designers across the world and helping their brands go global. (Xinhua/Pu Xiaoxu)
Hrithik Roshan and Amisha Patel together for the first time since Kaho NaPyar Hai. And the audience said, No thanks! A shocking apathy grips the narrative of Vikram Bhatts long-in-the-making love story.

Shocking, because after Ghulam, Kasoor and Raaz we expect a certain storytelling freshness and a technical polish in Bhatts cinema. What we get instead is a fagged-out film feverishly trying to pass off star power as absorbing cinema.

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Though Bhatt had promised a fresh retelling of the boy-meets-girl story, Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage takes the leap from the frying pan into the fire, as far as pushing the formulistic cart down the road of mainstream moviemaking goes.

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Amisha Patel looking positively distracted is Sapna, the dreamy-eyed Alice-in-blunderland who confides her miseries and misgivings in her Bhabhi(Nishigandha). Both the ladies have much to worry about. The men in the family are in the business of organised crime. Kiran Kumar as the patriarch Dholakia and Mukesh Tiwari as his volatile son Raman seem like hysterical replicas of Ajay Devgan and his faithful henchman Ganesh Yadav in the Company. They swear and snarl at every slight, imagined or otherwise.

After a clumsily staged shootout when Sapnas Sapno Ka Rajkumar Rohit(Hrithik Roshan) skids down Mumbais slippery highways on a motorcycle to rescue the damsel in distress, the film rapidly becomes an extended music-and-dance session with the lead pair meeting flirting romancing and dancing at the dandiya sessions during the nine evenings of the Navratri festival in Mumbai.

For a film to uphold a musical format for an extended period the music and songs have to be of an extraordinary quality. For a love story, and that too one which has the Kaho NaPyar Hai reputation to hold, Rajesh Roshans music score is inexcusably wishy-washy.

Hrithiks dancing, though still a wondrous sight, is totally out of character(with such dancing skills Hrithiks character Rohit should be training for professional dancing, not engineering). His sole tricks cannot hold up the feeble songs. Or for that matter, the pale soul-less and uninviting film which flatters only to deceive.

The characters are all loudly unidimensional: the timid rich girl, the affable working-class boy, the girls tyrannical father, and the boys genial happy-go-lucky parents.no filmmaker can do much with such trite stereotypical material. For all his intelligence and vision, Vikram Bhatt doesnt even try to infuse new life into the pale-going-on-stale drama. Weve seen the whole boy-girl routine in much better condition, even in the recent Aftab-Amisha starrer Kya Yehi Pyar Hai.

The absurdities compounded with the absurd ditties make the film oppressively unproductive. After a series of songs that take us from the venue of the sweaty Navratri dandiya dancing to the open-air fantasy land of Australia, when Rohit elopes with Sapna with the help of his predictably boisterous friends, the narrative bends into an ostensibly non-conformist shape.

Rohit hides Sapna in an all-boys hostel of an engineering college where the students quickly and protectively rally around the couple. The prolonged climax suddenly has the soft dancing engineering hero abandoning his gentle nature to resurface as Rambo with rippling muscles. As the climactic violence erupts like a sudden viral fever, blood oozes stylishly out of Hrithiks forehead. The same bloody stuff trickles out of Amishas poison-laden mouth after she decides to dance with death if not with love. But the time the bloody hell is sorted out and the hysterical out-of-control film comes to a screeching halt, we wonder who (un)made the film: Vikram Bhatt or some other proxy kitsch-creator like Raj Kumar Kohli or Guddu Dhanoa.

The prevalent tackiness takes us by shock. Hindi cinemas favourite best friend Vrijesh Hirjee appears in one campus canteen shot and then vanishes. Hes the one that got away easily, we guess. In one of the never-ending song sequences Hrithik and Amisha are put on a motorbike in a studio with a back projection showing the moving streets of Mumbai. Evidently, producer Mohan Kumar still lives in those not-so-good-old days when such tacky technique was permissible. But for todays audience that watches and appreciates Hollywood-calibre films like Raaz and Company, the shoddiness of presentation is inexcusable and unacceptable.

Cinematographer Pravin Bhatt (the directors father) struggles hard to instil some desperately missing sense and sensibility in a progressively declining narrative. Some moments such as the one at the outset where the couples faces are caught in a sensuous silhouette while the goons search for them are stylishly shot.

Amisha Patel, doing an encore of her role in Kya Yehi Pyar Hai faced a wardrobe crisis and a repertoire of frozen expressions. A greater tragedy than any that her morose character could imagine befell the character when audiences laughed loudly at the actress emotional scenes. As for Hrithik, he quickly needed to reinvent himself as an actor, removed from a dancing star. Even his best moments in this film, like the sequence at McDonalds where he pretends to puke to get an empty table, are not what one expects from a star of his charisma.

Going by the hoardings splattered all over the frames, almost the entire film seems to be sponsored by Coco-Cola. No wonder its so thanda.

While speaking to Hrithik Roshan back in the day after Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage flopped miserably, in spite of a series of recent debacles, he was upbeat and defiant. Far from being daunted, he was more determined to give all of himself to his forthcoming films. Well, a true hero is one who has the capacity to rise after he falls. That is how I have always wanted to be. Life is wonderful. It always teaches you new things. I object to my professionalism being questioned. They said I cancelled the shooting of Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage because my wife [Suzanne Khan] had a headache and that I manipulated my concerts to get a particular actress into the troupe because I was interested in her. They said I delayed Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage because this actress did not like Amisha Patel and that Suzanne was pressured into marrying me after she found out about my supposed affair. They even claim an eyewitness had seen me change in an actress van. That eyewitness has now conveniently gone back to his village. Either people who write such things think I am stupid or think they are too smart. I even offered to pay to bring the supposed eyewitness back. There was no response. I have no time to deal with such slander. I can imagine why Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan allowed these gossip magazines to get away with their lies  they just didnt have the time or support system to deal with such a situation. People ask me whether I am upset about Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage flopping. This will shock you  but I feel good about it. Initially, I was disappointed. But it made me realise a lot of things. I used to think that if a film sinks, everyone connected with it sinks too. In spite of Aap Mujhe not being appreciated, I have been liked in the film. All the papers and television programmes praised me. Karan Johar told me that Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage made him realise I am a star. He said the only people who are praised in bad films are superstars like Amitabh Bachchan. That jolted me out of my anxiety.

Sooraj Barjatya had not complimented me so much for Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham, where he found me nice but not good enough. It takes a lot for an actor to be recognised beyond an unacceptable product. For the audience to still have faith in me is quite amazing. Every major star has had a string of flops. That happens in every career. What is the fun of running without faltering? When you stumble, you enjoy the run more. I have always tried to be fair to everyone  I rationed dates to Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage and Na Tum Jaano Na Hum equally. I didnt foresee that both films would be released at the same time. That was stupid. Actually Aap Mujhe started right after the release of Kaho NaaPyaar Hai without a bound script. At the time I was in no position to demand anything. But I trusted Vikram Bhatt. I enjoyed listening to him narrate the subject. The film went through many changes thereafter. I enjoyed working on the film. It isnt a bad film. The story was old and cliched. But then, so was Kaho Naa Pyaar Hai. I hoped Aap Mujhe would rise above its plot in its treatment. That didnt happen. But its look went against it. Everything about the film looked downmarket. There were no colours or striking locations. The look was very 1980s. Aap Mujhe would have been a big hit in the 1980s. Vikram Bhatts film [Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage] was a family matter [its producer Mohan Kumar is Hrithiks relative]. With Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage I felt like I was fighting a one-man battle. Somewhere, all of us failed. It is as much my failure as the producers or directors. Sometimes it is best to leave yourself in the directors hand. Other times it could be lethal. A positive outcome of Aap Mujhe is that it made me realise I am a star. I didnt realise I was so huge. I always thought I was just a small part of a film. I was proved wrong. I worked as hard in Aap Mujhe Achche Lagne Lage as in Kaho NaaPyar Hai. I did my best. But it wasnt enough.
Rating: ****

All I remember of Kesari in 2019 is Akshay Kumars fake flowing white beard.

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There is nothing fake about Kesari Chapter 2: The Untold Story Of Jallianwala Bagh, although there are lots of white people in the cast(genuine ones, not fake goras except for Luke Kenny who does a hilarious takeoff on a Caucasian solicitor) and yes, plenty of beards too, none false. You could tug Madhavans facial hair to verify.

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Madhavan plays Neville McKinley, a wily compromised boozy lawyer who defends the indefensible General Dyer(Simon Paisley Day, excellent) who massacred hundreds if not thousands in Jallianwala Bagh on 13 April 1919.

Now 106 years later debutant director Karan Singh Tyagi revisits the carnage with so much compassion that it feels like yesterday once more. In the way he handles the characters, even the smaller ones and in the way he fictionalises the original tragedy without tampering with its essential gravity, Tyagi proves himself a master storyteller.

And this is only his first film! What a spectacular start!! Kesari Chapter 2 walks talks and feels like an epic. Like all true epics, it doesnt strive to be one. Tyagi focuses on telling the often-told story of Dyers demonical deed with minimum fuss and optimum impunity. There is a certain sassiness, audacity if you will, in a brown-skinned lawyer taking on the British empire.

The writer-director saves the claps for the martyrs, the victims of an unspeakable unforgivable outrage that occurred when we were not looking. Bringing it back with such a forceful impact couldnt be easy. Akshay Kumar as the intrepid Sankaran Nair sadly looks nothing like a Keralite (the belated effort to get into a mundu notwithstanding). Whatever he lacks in external prep he makes up for with his sincerity.

Regina Cassandra as his wife is well clothed for her role but seems to succumb to the sins of sketchiness. She is listless. Ananya Pandey as Shankarans assistant in court is surprisingly credible. Her role too is underwritten. But she succeeds in making an impact in her limited space.

In one media interactive sequence when a cocky journalist wonders how a woman can be in the courtroom(this is Colonial India) Ananyas Dilreet Gill retorts, Dont you have queens in England?

Coincidentally another favourite lighthearted moment in the taut narration features Ms Pandey when her prospective husband wonders how his mother would deal with a lawyer bahu.

For once Akshay is not in every frame. In fact, there is one lengthy courtroom interrogation of an eyewitness where his female assistant takes over while Akshay, for once, just watches.

This is not a film about celebrating a hero. Kesari 2 celebrates the lives of those hundreds of martyrs who perished in Jallianwala Bagh. When their names started scrolling in the end titles I had tears in my eyes. Every country-loving Indian would feel the same way.

Without aggressive jingoism and unnecessary flag-waving, this film hits where it hurts the most. Amidst the noisy violence of the senseless Jaats and Sikandars, Kesari Chapter 2 reminds us of the renewable relevance of the powerful dominating the weak.
Dhanush and Kriti Sanon are coming together for Anand L Rais intense drama, Tere Ishk Mein. Touted to be from the world of Raanjhanaa, the film will carry the themes of anger and obsession ahead. While the 2013 title starred Dhanush in the lead role opposite Sonam Kapoor, the upcoming chapter will feature the Crew star as the leading lady. Now, a clip of Kriti Sanon filming for the title in her hometown, Delhi, has been going viral on the internet.

Earlier this year, Kriti Sanon and Dhanush started filming for Anand L Rais Tere Ishk Mein. Now, a clip featuring the Mimi actress has stirred the internet. In the video, she is filming for the slated release in Delhi. In the leaked clip, fans can catch the actress dressed in a white top paired with blue denim. The clip features her riding the bus and walking the street while shooting. In the film, Kriti will portray the character Mukti, while Dhanush will take on the role of Shankar.

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Advertisement View this post on Instagram A post shared by Varinder Chawla (@varindertchawla)



Prior to this, back in February, Kriti announced the commencement of the films shooting. Taking to Instagram, she shared a story featuring a clapboard, announcing the first day of her shoot. With the picture, Kriti wrote, Day 1. Lets go! @aanandlrai @dhanushkraja @cypplofficial Such a good feeling being back on set Doing what I love the most!

Moreover, previously, clips and snapshots of Dhanush filming in Delhis SRCC college went viral on the internet. Several students took to social media to share clips and photographs of the actor filming on their college campus. One of the pictures showed Dhanush running through a crowd as the extras standing around him take notice of him.

Anand L Rais Tere Ishk Mein will bring together Dhanush and Kriti Sanon for the first time. Rai and Dhanush have previously collaborated on films like Raanjhanaa and Atrangi Re. Meanwhile, the upcoming film is Kritis first collaboration with the filmmaker.

Previously, in a conversation, the director opened up about the upcoming film and its connection to Raanjhanna. Rai told PTI, It is from the world of Raanjhanaa, but is it Raanjhanaa 2? No, it is not. When I say the world of Raanjhanaa, Im talking from the makers perspective, that Im spending on the emotions which were there in Raanjhanaa.

Also Read: Arshad Warsi to play a crucial role in SRKs King: Report
Senior BJP leader Vijender Gupta bagged a third-time victory in the Delhi Assembly polls with the highest margin. Known for having braved the brute majority of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) during the past 10 years in the Delhi Assembly as Leader of the Opposition, Gupta is now the Speaker of the Delhi assembly and says that he will bring things back to order, claiming that the assembly was not being run earlier as per democratic processes.

In an exclusive interview with The Statesmans Agraj Pratap Singh and Nikhil Vyas, he throws light on his plans for transforming the Delhi Assembly in terms of technology and sustainability. He also shares his views on the conduct of the opposition during recent sessions of the House.

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Q: You were the Leader of Opposition (LoP) in the past decade, and now the tables have turned. How will you run the House differently from your predecessors?

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A: What happened during the past was not good for democracy. There used to be one-sided action, and lack of debate and discussion. The House was run in a manner that was far from democratic practices, and more driven on vested interests. But now I am setting things right and have made it clear that the House will run as per the rulebook with zero compromise on democratic values. Accordingly, now we have started the question hour. Several such things that had been curtailed in the past 10 years are now being diligently incorporated.

Q. How do you look at the conduct of the opposition AAP in the Delhi Assembly?

A: I have made it clear that I will not treat the opposition members the way they treated me because this (Delhi) assembly is like a temple, and people have elected and sent us here with lots of hopes that we will resolve their issues. My message for the opposition is that they must take part in healthy and constructive debate and raise relevant questions, for which we started the question hour, and decided the private member day (Friday). This was something which did not happen during the past 10 years. Notably during the session, the ruling party and the opposition had sent in a calling-attention motion, and we turned down the ruling partys request and gave preference to the opposition, and the minister concerned gave his reply on that. However, despite the acceptance of their calling-attention motion, they kept away from the House. When the minister was replying, they deliberately stood outside the house. If you only want to do posturing, this is not the place for it. In fact regarding the discussion on the budget as well, time was given to the opposition to discuss without restricting them.

Q: What is your vision for the Delhi Assembly? Earlier, you had set a 100-day target for making it a evidhan sabha. What are other such initiatives taken by you?

A: I feel Delhi assembly should have become an e-Vidhan Sabha long back. But now I am sure that within 100 days, the next session of the House (Monsoon Session) will be held with the NeVA (National e-Vidhan Application). It is the vision given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which says one nation one application. Our assembly will be connected to the NeVA and work is being done for the same. Members will have desktops installed on their seats through which they will be able to access the application and do their work. This step will also take the assembly towards reducing the use of paper. Similarly, we are going to power the entire complex with solar energy. Work has already started with planning and surveys being conducted for the same, while a drone survey was also done of the rooftops in the assembly complex for solar panel installation. This move will save the Delhi Assembly Rs 15 lakh a month spent on electricity bills, other than being a major step towards sustainability and moving to green energy. We are also upgrading the media room where 25 computers with internet connection and printing facilities will be made available so that media can do its work efficiently.

Q. CAG reports have been a crucial point of discussion and since the assembly proceedings commenced, several of these reports have been tabled. Your comment.

A: As we all know that the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) is an institution that conducts departmental audits, paragraph wise, however it was compromised by the AAP and Congress governments. During the past seven to eight years, CAG reports were not tabled in the House, but now eight reports have been presented and also sent to the committees concerned. So far, eight out of 14 CAG reports on the previous governments performance have been tabled, out of which seven have been referred to the PAC (parliamentary action committee) and one to the committee on government undertakings. Within three months, the committees will submit their findings regarding the reports, and after that with due process further action will be taken.

Q: As a Delhiite, what do you feel about the way the city has transformed during the past three to four decades?

A: Delhi, despite being the national capital, had not received the treatment it deserved. For instance, the metro rail system should have come here way before, like in the sixties or seventies, when it was growing. Similarly, the city slowly became a victim of unplanned growth due to lack of coordination between planning and development. It is a dual challenge for the current dispensation as the city needs regeneration.

Q: What is your take on the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2025 ?

A: The Bill aims to update the Act. I believe the public at large is happy with the legislation. Only fanatics are troubled with it. The Act is going to improve the situation and contribute to public welfare. It is going to help bring those sections of the minority community in the mainstream which were earlier left behind.

Q. You have been a very popular leader in your constituency, this being your third victory in a row. Will it have an impact on your connection with the people?

A: My connection with the people of Rohini is very deep rooted and emotional. It is a very old and strong bond, and I dont consider the area as just a constituency, but my family. I have dedicated my life to the people and they have always shown love and support towards me. I have been like a family member to them, and try to be present in the thick and thin of life, and they have complete right on me. I always keep trying and put efforts to stay dedicated towards them, and take time out to be amongst the people and listen to their issues and accordingly work to provide the resolve.

Q: Talking of the historic Delhi Assembly complex, what are your plans for it?

A: The Delhi Assembly complex holds a lot of historical significance as it was originally the Old Secretariat, dating back to the British era, when in 1912, the capital was moved from Kolkata to Delhi. It also housed the Imperial Legislative Council and later the Central Legislative Assembly. We are planning to do something so that it can be opened for the public, and people can come and witness the iconic place when sessions are not going on, basically to develop it as a place where people can come and witness history. We are also thinking of coming up with a museum on the premises and displaying important historic things.
At least 11 people were killed and nearly a dozen injured as a four-storey residential building collapsed in northeast Delhis Mustafabad early Saturday morning, police said.

Police said they were informed about the incident at around 03:02 AM. The building with some unauthorised construction belongs to one Tehsin, who also died in the collapse.

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According to the Delhi Fire Service (DFS), they were alerted about the incident at 02:50 AM, following which 9 fire tenders were rushed to the spot.

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Initially, four people were buried under the debris, and several others were trapped and Immediately, the rescue operation was launched by the team to extricate the victims.

So far, 22 people have been rescued and shifted to the GTB Hospital, out of which 11 were declared brought dead by the attending team of doctors, a police official said.

The deceased were identified as the owner of the building, 60-year-old Tehsin, along with his wife Zeenat, his Son Chan and Daughter in law Chandani.

The others were identified as Danish (23M), Naved (17M), and Reshma (38F), Nazeem (30M), Tehsin (60M), Shahina (28F), Afreen (4F), Afan (2M), Ishaq (75M) and a six-year-old Anas.

Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (North East) Raman Lamba told The Statesman that the rescue operation was completed in the evening which was carried out by Delhi Police, NDRF and DFS.

Moreover, Lamba added that an investigation into the matter is being launched including registration of FIR against the builder as the owner died in the incident in due course of time.

Notably, MCD in a statement stated that the property is located in an unauthorized colony characterized by a densely populated area with narrow lanes.

The structure was reported to be around 20 years old and was fully occupied, it added.

The field staff of the Maintenance, Building, and Sanitation Departments are currently engaged in clearing the debris from the site as well as surrounding properties to ensure safety and support rescue operations.

CCTV footage of the collapse had gone viral on social media in which the building is seen collapsing like placards.

The neighbours recalled the horror of the collapse stating that they felt that an earthquake had struck the city.

 Two men and two daughters-in-law stay here. The oldest daughter-in-law has three children, the second daughter-in-law has three children, right now we dont know anything. They are nowhere to be seen, told an eyewitness to a news agency.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday said that Baba Saheb Bhimrao Ambedkar endured hardship and humiliation to break social barriers and earn respect for the entire country.

It was because of Baba Saheb that every citizen received the right to vote, he added.

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The Chief Minister was speaking at a seminar held at Gorakhpur Club as part of the Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar Samman Abhiyan.

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He said, Many leading countries with developed and modern democracies granted voting rights to black people and women much later, but India, with the formation of its Constitution, granted the right to vote to SC/STs, backward classes, and women during the very first general election of 1952. This was made possible because of Baba Saheb. The credit for binding the country with the thread of unity goes to him.

The CM further mentioned that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar worked tirelessly to draft the Constitution, but grew agitated when the Congress began making repeated amendments to it. Despite Congresss attempts to prevent his entry into the Constituent Assembly, Baba Sahebs popularity and commitment to the nation ensured his membership. He was later appointed Chairman of the Drafting Committee, although even that appointment faced opposition, including from Pandit Nehru.

There were conspiracies to stop him, but through his intelligence and hard work, he gave India a Constitution that made us the worlds largest democracy, the Chief Minister stated.

He highlighted that Dr Ambedkars contributions ensured SC/ST students received full scholarships, job reservations, and social dignity through inclusion in the mainstream. This is Baba Sahebs gift to the nation, he said.

The CM also accused Congress and the Samajwadi Party of creating division and unrest in society. He pointed out that in 1952, Congress prevented Dr. Ambedkar from winning elections and even awarded the opponent who defeated him with a Padma honor.

In 1954, the Congress fielded Ambedkars own personal assistant against him in a by-election, leading to another defeat. Dr Ambedkar only entered Parliament when a Hindu Mahasabha MP vacated the Pune seat, he said.

According to the Chief Minister, Congress feared Dr Ambedkars dedication, wisdom, and strong support for SC/STs and national unity. Rahul Gandhi now carries a copy of the Constitution, but its ironic because these are the same people who once disrespected Dr. Ambedkar, he said.

Yogi also recalled how Congress withdrew support from then-Prime Minister Chandrashekhar when he attempted to name a government building after Dr. Ambedkar. It was former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee who later completed the work, and PM Narendra Modi who built a memorial in Baba Sahebs honor.

The CM added that Baba Saheb achieved in 65 years what others could not accomplish in centuries. He criticized Congress for never building a single memorial for Dr Ambedkar despite being in power multiple times between 1947 and 2009. In contrast, he said, the BJP created five major memorials (Panchteerth) dedicated to him. Since 2015, November 26 is celebrated as Constitution Day, he added.

The Chief Minister said that while many may raise popular slogans in Dr. Ambedkars name, only the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) truly follows his values and ideals. He recalled that Baba Saheb had urged his followers to get educated, stay united, and resist injustice.

Citing an example from history, CM Yogi shared how Dr Ambedkar wrote letters to Hindus and Scheduled Caste communities during the atrocities committed by the Nizam of Hyderabad. In his letters, Baba Saheb advised people not to convert to Islam under pressure and instead relocate to Maharashtra if necessary, but never to bow before the Nizam.

When villages were being burnt down by the Nizam and his Razakars, Baba Saheb stood with the people, Yogi said, adding that it was Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel who ultimately freed Hyderabad and restored dignity to its citizens.

Speaking about his personal experience, the CM said that during his time as an MP, he visited Kushinagar after reports of starvation deaths among the Musahar community. At that time, the Samajwadi Party was in power in Uttar Pradesh. I found that ration cards meant for Musahars were held by SP officials, who were siphoning off the rations while the actual families starved, he said.

He added that today, under the BJP-led double-engine government, every Musahar, Tharu, Vantangiya, Chero, and Kol family in the state has land, a home, a ration card, and an Ayushman Bharat health card. He emphasized that the state is steadily moving towards the goal of zero poverty, with efforts to saturate welfare schemes so that no eligible person is left out. He also mentioned that under the PM Swamitva Yojana, over one crore people in Uttar Pradesh have already received land ownership documents.

Before 2017 in UP and before 2014 elsewhere, ration never reached the poor because those in power lacked the will to serve, he said. He added that encephalitis deaths, which mostly affected SC, ST, and minority children, went unchecked under previous governments.

While I stood alone with the BJP to fight this crisis, the SP and Congress never stood with the people in their pain, he said, noting that encephalitis is no longer a major threat thanks to collective efforts under BJP rule.

Yogi recalled that in 2012, soon after coming to power, the then-SP government announced plans to demolish memorials built in Lucknow in honor of icons like Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, Jyotiba Phule, Savitribai Phule, and Chhatrapati Shahu Ji Maharaj. We opposed it and said  if you try to destroy them, well resist, because these great personalities led the movement for social justice and gave voice to the voiceless.

He accused the SP of deliberately erasing Ambedkars legacy, citing examples like the removal of his name from Kannauj Medical College and the renaming of a proposed university in Lucknow from Kanshi Ram to one focused on Urdu, Persian, and Arabic. Our government restored these names because we honor these leaders for their values, not for political gains, he said.

The Chief Minister stated that despite four opportunities to rule the state, the SP failed to provide basic rights to the poor  homes, land, health cards, ration, and support for daughters marriages. In 2015-16, they even stopped scholarships meant for Scheduled Caste students, he added. They only developed their own families, while our mantra is Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas.

Taking a swipe at the opposition alliance, Yogi said, Parties in the INDIA bloc tried to mislead people during the Lok Sabha elections, but it was Prime Minister Modi who placed the original copy of the Constitution on his head while entering the new Parliament, a true mark of respect.

He accused the SP and Congress of trying to incite caste-based conflict. One SP MLA insulted Chhatrapati Shivaji and praised Aurangzeb. Their MP insulted Rana Sanga and glorified Babur, who demolished the Ram Janmabhoomi, he said.

Their leaders even belittled Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel while praising Jinnah  the man responsible for the violence against Hindus in Pakistan and Dalits in Bangladesh.
The Congress on Saturday condemned the brutal killing of a Hindu leader in Bangladesh and urged the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre to take up the matter with Dhaka stating that this was not an isolated incident.

The party also reiterated its demand that the safety, dignity, and rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh be protected in letter and spirit.

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Reacting to the murder of the Hindu leader, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge in a post on X wrote, Religious minorities, especially our Hindu brothers and sisters, are constantly being persecuted in Bangladesh. The atrocities against religious minorities in Bangladesh, human rights violations and the attempt to eliminate the memories of the 1971 Liberation War are efforts to weaken the relations between India and Bangladesh.

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Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his meeting with Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, Muhammad Yunus on the sidelines of the BIMSTEC Summit in Bangkok recently, he said, The brutal murder of Bhabesh Chandra Roy is proof that Narendra Modi jis meeting with the Chief Adviser of Bangladesh was a failure.

Echoing similar sentiments, Congress general secretary in-charge of Communications Jairam Ramesh said, The Indian National Congress strongly condemns the brutal killing of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a prominent leader of the Hindu community in Dinajpur, Bangladesh. The abduction and assault leading to his tragic death is a chilling reminder of the growing sense of insecurity among religious minorities in the region.

Noting that this was not an isolated incident, the Congress MP said, Over the past months, there have been repeated and deeply disturbing instances of attacks on minority communities in Bangladesh, from desecration of Hindu temples to targeted attack on the homes and businesses of minorities. This pattern of intimidation and brutality cannot be ignored.

Ramesh on behalf of the Congress, requested the Centre to take up the matter with the highest urgency and prevail upon the Government of Bangladesh to ensure a swift, transparent investigation, and bring the culprits to justice.

We reiterate our demand that the safety, dignity, and rights of religious minorities in Bangladesh be protected in letter and spirit. Silence and inaction are not options when such targeted violence is allowed to take root, he said in a statement.

The parliamentarian said the Congress stands in solidarity with the Hindu community in Bangladesh and with all those who believe in secularism, justice, and human rights.
Intensifying its attack on the Congress over the National Herald case, the BJP on Saturday alleged that the grand old party committed theft through fake rent agreements, advance rent payments, and fake advertisements.

Addressing a press conference at the partys headquarters here, BJP national spokesperson Pratyush Kanth said, Congress committed theft in the National Herald case through three methods: fake rent agreements, advance rent, and fake advertisements. These methods make it abundantly clear that for the Congress, corruption is not an exception but a way of life.

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Referring to the Enforcement Directorates chargesheet against Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and Congress Parliamentary Party Chairperson Sonia Gandhi in the National Herald case, he said, The Enforcement Directorates report showed that even after Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were granted bail, money laundering continued. The process didnt halt with the courts decision, indicating that corruption has become a habit for them.

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Attacking the Gandhi family, Kanth alleged that they managed to take control of property worth Rs 2,000 crore by paying a paltry Rs 50 lakh, which shows how deeply entrenched their corrupt mindset is.

They didnt spare a thought for the intent behind the lands allocation at the prestigious Bahadur Shah Zafar Marg. For them, ethics have always taken a back seat, he said.

Accusing the Congress of running a school of corruption, Kanth asserted that the people of the country are troubled by these revelations and that the entire theft is slowly being uncovered.

The Congress party has honed the craft of corruption, with one scandal after another. Congress has, time and again, used institutions as shields to cover its own tracks. For a country moving toward transparency and good governance, this legacy is nothing short of troubling, he said.

Kanth also urged Congress workers to redirect their protests not at the Enforcement Directorate or the BJP, but at the doorstep of their top leaders.
The Congress on Saturday resolved to launch a mass awakening campaign to counter the lies behind the misleading narrative surrounding the National Herald case, a party source said.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the partys General Secretaries, state in-charges, and heads of frontal organizations.

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The meeting, convened by party president Mallikarjun Kharge, aimed to chalk out plans for protests and demonstrations against the government over the alleged targeting of the partys top leadership, including Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, in the National Herald case.

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You must have noticed how, as part of a big conspiracy, the names of CPP (Congress Parliamentary Party) Chairperson Mrs Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Mr Rahul Gandhi have been included in the chargesheet in the National Herald case, he said.

But no matter whose name is included, we are not afraid. Just two or three days ago, the properties of the National Herald in Delhi, Lucknow, and Mumbai were attached. There is no doubt that all this is being done out of a spirit of revenge, Kharge said further in his opening remarks.

Young Indian is a not-for-profit company. This means that no one can take or transfer the shares, property, or profit of AJL. BJP people are misleading the public by spreading lies. We must tell the truth to the people, Kharge asserted, emphasizing, We must go among the people, make them aware of our side, and expose the BJPs conspiracy.

Young Indian Limited is the company that owns Associated Journals Ltd (AJL), which publishes the National Herald newspaper.

The Enforcement Directorate had filed a chargesheet before a special court in Delhi in the National Herald case, accusing Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and others of laundering Rs 988 crore.

Congress workers and supporters had also held protests outside Enforcement Directorate offices across the country on Wednesday following the agencys chargesheet against Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.
The murder of Congress leader Hemant Bhoyar has triggered heightened political tensions in Chhattisgarhs Kondagaon district, with the opposition alleging that the incident was a premeditated act involving a local BJP functionary.

The incident took place on Friday evening when Bhoyar, a panchayat member from Mulmula village, and his sister-in-law, Champai Bhoyar, the elected sarpanch of the same village, were returning home by motorcycle after attending to personal matters at the district headquarters.

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According to police reports, Hemant Bhoyar, a 35-year-old panch member from Mulmula village, was returning home on his motorcycle with his sister-in-law Champai Bhoyar, the village sarpanch, when a speeding car allegedly rammed into them near Dongripara village on Friday evening. Both victims were rushed to the district hospital, where doctors declared Hemant dead on arrival.

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What initially appeared to be a routine traffic accident has taken a distinctly political turn. The police have arrested Purendra Kaushik, a local BJP functionary, on charges of murder and attempt to murder. Kaushik had lost to Champai in last years sarpanch election, a defeat that sources say had left him embittered.

This was no accident, said former Congress MLA Mohan Markam. Kaushik had been threatening the Bhoyar family since his electoral defeat. The attack was deliberate and politically motivated. Senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Sushil Anand Shukla described the incident as a chilling example of political vendetta.

Kondagaon Additional Superintendent of Police, Kaushalendra Kumar confirmed that an FIR has been registered under the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). We are investigating all angles Kaushalendra said.

Police action was initiated after a group of Congress workers staged demonstrations outside the district hospital and obstructed traffic on the national highway, demanding prompt justice for the victims. The situation in Kondagaon remains tense but under control, with additional police forces deployed across key locations to prevent any further disturbances and ensure public safety.
ROME, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The second round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States concluded on Saturday in Rome, capital of Italy, with Oman's mediation, according to Italian media.

The atmosphere of the talks was described as "constructive," and the next round is expected to take place in the coming days, Italian Rai News reported.

The talks took place at the Omani Embassy in Italy and lasted nearly four hours. The format of the dialogue remained "indirect," as in the first round, Rai News reported. 
In what appears to be drumming up support for him, Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi, indicted by the Supreme Court, called on Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar in the national capital on Friday.

For his part, Dhankhar had criticised the recent apex court judgement, which has made 10 Bills of the Tamil Nadu Assembly inordinately delayed by the Governor and the President as deemed to have been assented, and the meeting takes place amidst reports of the Union Home Ministry planning to file a review plea.

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It also comes in the backdrop of the DMK hitting out at Dhankhar with Chief Minister MK Stalin who has hailed the verdict as historic. No one, however high, can be above the law. The same has been pointed out by our Honble Supreme Court, and its historic judgement is a step towards resetting the process. Hence, it is understandable that this welcome course correction has rattled many anti-democratic forces, was his rejoinder to Dhankhar, without naming him in a social media post.

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Despite his continuing turf war with the elected DMK government of MK Stalin, besides debunking the Dravidian ideology and its icons, Ravi is continuing in office even as his tenure ended months back. He has not been disturbed even in the recent reshuffle of gubernatorial occupants. Following the Supreme Courts strictures against him, he has found support not only from Dhankhar, who had described the verdict as judicial overreach, but from Kerala Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arkekar and the enfant terrible of the BJP, Nishikant Dubey, MP.

Losing no time, the Tamil Nadu government published in the gazette the 10 Acts, mostly pertaining to stripping the governor of the post of Chancellor of Universities and replacing him with the Chief Minister. This is the first time that Bills have become statutes without the signature of either the Governor or the President. Chief Minister Stalin had also convened a meeting of vice-chancellors of all universities to assert his authority.
Union Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman will embark on an official visit to the United States and Peru tonight.

During the visit to the US, she will visit San Francisco and Washington from April 20-25.

In the course of her two-day visit to San Francisco beginning April 20, the Finance Minister will deliver a keynote address at the Hoover Institution at Stanford University, San Francisco, on Laying the foundations of Viksit Bharat 2047, followed by a fireside chat session.

Mrs Sitharaman will also interact with top CEOs from prominent fund management firms during a Roundtable meeting with investors, besides holding bilateral meetings with CEOs from top information technology (IT) firms based in San Francisco.

She will also participate in an event featuring the Indian diaspora in San Francisco and interact with the Indian community settled there.

During the US visit, she will also participate in the Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, the 2nd G20 Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (FMCBG) Meetings, Development Committee Plenary, IMFC Plenary, and Global Sovereign Debt Roundtable (GSDR) meeting.

On the sidelines of the Spring Meetings in Washington, Mrs Sitharaman will hold bilateral meetings with her counterparts from several countries, including Argentina, Bahrain, Germany, France, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, and the US, besides heads of global financial institutions.

During her maiden visit to Peru from April 26-30, the Union Finance Minister will lead an Indian delegation of officials from the Ministry of Finance and business leaders, highlighting the strengthening bilateral economic and trade relations between the two nations.

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After BJPs criticisim of Congress government in Himachal Pradesh, giving Rs 2.35 crore advertisement to National Herald, Principal Media Adviser to Chief Minister, Naresh Chauhan in a rebuttal released data showning similar practice by the opposition when their party was in power.

Addressing media persons here on Saturday, Chauhan, while releasing the figures, stated that during BJP governments tenure advertisements amounting to around Rs 2.93 crore were issued to various publications associated with Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) published in UP, Maharashtra and Nagpur.

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He said that in the 5 years tenure of the previous BJP government, Rs 1.62 crore was given to the RSS mouthpieces Organizer and Panchjanya monthly magazines from New Delhi, Rs 20.20 lakhs to Bharat Prakashan and Rs 20.17 lakh to Matrivandana anothet monthly magazine linked to RSS, Rs 17.64 lakh of ABVP Shimla magazine, Rs 12.74 lakh to Vidyarthi Parishad Nidi Trust, Rs 7.74 lakh of Chhatra Udghosh, Rs 4.60 lakh to Deepkamal Sandesh, Rs 31.93 lakh to Tarun Bharat Magazine published from Nagpur and Rs 15.68 lakh to Educational Welfare and Charitable Society for advertisements.

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Chauhan said that this amount was not given to any daily newspaper, but favoured media house that were ideologically close. Questioning the outrage by BJP over National Herald, he said that this relects political hypocrisy, BJP should answer this.

He clarified that the advertisements in the National Herald were part of the state governments efforts to publicize government schemes and achievements. Accusing BJP of misleading the public he showed copies of National Herald and Navjeevan Sunday newspapers and claimed that they have been given Rs 1.01 crore of advertisements instead of 2.34 crore.

He said that the allegations of the BJP that the National Herald does not get publised were wrong and that he would send the copies of the same to BJP leaders Anurag Thakur and Jai Ram Thakur.
In a historic first for Jharkhands capital, the Indian Air Forces elite Surya Kiran Aerobatic Team mesmerised thousands of spectators at the Army Ground in Khojatoli, Namkum, on Saturday. Against the backdrop of clear skies and surging anticipation, nine Hawk Mk-132 jets sliced through the air in perfect synchrony, painting the sky with formations and the tricolour  a spectacle never before witnessed by Ranchis skyline.

The one-hour-long air show featured awe-inspiring manoeuvres  loops, barrel rolls, DNA formations, and crossovers  executed with razor-sharp precision. At several points, the aircraft maintained a daringly close distance of just five metres from each other, showcasing not only the IAFs aerial prowess but its discipline, dedication, and courage. The crowd erupted in cheers when the jets released coloured smoke to form the Indian flag mid-air  a moment of patriotic pride that left many teary-eyed.

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Union Minister of State for Defence Sanjay Seth and Air Chief Marshal VR Chaudharis representative, Air Chief Marshal Amar Preet Singh, were present to witness the event. They were received with floral bouquets and mementoes by Ranchi district officials. Deputy Commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and SSP Chandan Kumar Sinha, along with senior administrative and police officers, also attended the event.

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The air show was more than just a display of military might. It served as a beacon of inspiration for youth. Students from the CM School of Excellence, especially girls, were invited under a special initiative by the district administration. Their eyes lit up watching the airborne stunts, and many expressed a newfound ambition to serve the nation through the armed forces. One day, we will make our country proud too, said a student after interacting with the Surya Kiran pilots, who patiently answered their questions and encouraged their aspirations.

Adding to the inclusive spirit of the event, a PVTG (Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group) family from Amanburu village in Bundu block was specially brought in by the administration to witness the rare occasion. For them, the sight of fighter jets roaring across the sky was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Visibly moved, they thanked the authorities for the opportunity.

The Surya Kiran team, comprising some of the IAFs best fighter pilots, including Ajay Dashrathi, Jashdeep Singh, Kuldeep Hooda, Siddhesh Kartik, Vishnu, Ankit Vashishth, Gaurav Patel, Arjun Patel, and Diwakar Sharma, had been preparing for over six months to perfect the routines. Despite minor damage to a few aircraft due to Fridays rain and strong Saturday winds, the team pulled off a flawless display.

Speaking to the media, Minister Sanjay Seth praised the Indian Air Forces spirit and expressed pride that such a show took place on the land of Birsa Munda. He also announced that the Surya Kiran team will next perform in Patna on April 23. Governor Santosh Gangwar congratulated the IAF and organisers via social media, calling the show spectacular and unforgettable.

As the jets roared overhead, echoing chants of Vande Mataram and Bharat Mata ki Jai filled the air. Ranchi stood still, gazing upward, united in awe and patriotism. The air show continues on Sunday, offering another chance for the city to witness the sky-bound symphony of courage and discipline.
An Indian student was killed in the Ontario town of Hamilton in Canada after being hit by a stray bullet during gunfire, Hamilton police said. She has been identified as Harsimrat Randhawa from the Indian state of Punjab.

According to the police, Randhawa was studying at Mohawk College and was standing at the bus stop on her way to work when she was killed. The tragic incident took place on April 17 at approximately 7:30 pm (local time).

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The Indian student was hit on the chest and rushed to a hospital, but succumbed to her injuries during treatment.

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Hamilton Police are investigating a homicide after an innocent female bystander was struck by a stray bullet during gunfire on Upper James. On April 17, 2025, at approximately 7:30 p.m., Hamilton Police received reports of a shooting near Upper James and South Bend Road. When police arrived, they found a 21-year-old female with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was transported to hospital and later died from her injuries, the police said.

The police said that a passenger of a black Mercedes SUV fired at the occupants of a white sedan in gangland-style shooting. One of the bullets hit Randhawa, an innocent bystander. After the shooting, both the cars fled the scene.

Some of the bullets also entered the window of a nearby residence where the occupants were watching television a few feet away. Fortunately, no one was injured in the home.

The police have started an investigation into the case and efforts are on to catch the occupants of the cars involved in the firing.

Meanwhile, the Consulate General of India, Toronto, said that they were saddened by the tragic death of the Indian student and that they are extending all necessary assistance.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance the Indian mission said in a post on X.
The notorious Lawrence Bishnoi gang has reportedly issued a threat to the life of former Lok Sabha MP Sukhbir Singh Jaunpuriyas son, Ashok.

According to reports, Goldy Brar, a key member of the gang, conveyed the threat over the phone, targeting the two-time former MP and real estate baron Jaunpuriya.

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The caller reportedly demanded a ransom of Rs 5 crore for ensuring the safety of Jaunpuriyas son, Ashok. Jaunpuriya had represented Tonk-Sawai Madhopur parliamentary constituency for two consecutive terms (20142024).

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Sources said that no formal FIR has yet been lodged with the police.

The Lawrence Bishnoi-Rohit Godara gang has been in the news recently after the Rajasthan Anti-Gangster Task Force (AGTF) successfully sought the deportation of their key operative, Aditya Jain alias Tony, from Dubai and brought him back to India on April 4.

Tony is currently behind bars, and probe agencies are investigating various cases linked to the gang with his cooperation.
A day after he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the phone, Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.

It was an honour to speak with PM Modi. I am looking forward to visiting India later this year! Mr Musk posted on the social media platform X.

During their telephonic conversation yesterday, PM Modi and Mr Musk discussed a range of topics, including the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation.

Spoke to Elon Musk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year. We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains, PM Modi wrote on X later.

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Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has accused the Congress party of working against the states interests in the procurement of Yamuna water from Haryana for the people of the Shekhawati region.

Addressing a public meeting in Palsana town of Sikar district on Saturday, Sharma said the Congresss Haryana unit had committed in its manifesto for the 2024 assembly polls that, if returned to power, it would terminate the Yamuna water accord with Rajasthan.

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They did not stop there; now they are trying to frustrate and ridicule our efforts in this regard, raising questions about the prospects of success in the ongoing negotiations, he said.

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Contrary to this, Sharma asserted that the BJP-led government, since assuming office after the December 2023 assembly polls, has been consistently making efforts to bring Yamuna water to the thirsty districts of the Shekhawati region.

To bolster our efforts, Prime Minister Narendra Modi arranged a meeting with then Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and urged him to initiate talks with us and the Jal Shakti Ministry, paving the way for the availability of Yamuna water to Shekhawati, Sharma said.

Under the Prime Ministers guidance and supervision, Sharma added, the inter-state tripartite agreement has been reinforced and will soon enable the supply of Yamuna water to the region.

The Opposition Congress continues to raise doubts about our efforts, creating confusion and attempting to mislead the people, he alleged.

Many senior leaders from the Shekhawati region have served long tenures as ministers both in the state and at the Centre. However, in the past 70 years, they failed to bring Yamuna water to the region. They only offered lip service, whereas we in the BJP stand by our promises.

We mean what we say (Ham Jo Kahte Hain Voh Karte Hain), Sharma asserted.

Chief Minister Sharma began his three-day visit to various towns of the Shekhawati region on Saturday morning.
The removal of Dr Raj Kumar from the post of Director of Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) has taken a political turn in Jharkhand. BJP state president and Leader of Opposition Babulal Marandi has levelled serious allegations against the Hemant Soren-led government of promoting institutional corruption and punishing honest officers.

Marandi alleged that Dr Raj Kumar, a renowned neurosurgeon from Sanjay Gandhi PGI Lucknow and a member of the Dalit community, was pressured during RIMS Governing Body meetings to make suspicious payments to private diagnostic agencies  Healthmap and Medall. He claimed that despite audit objections raised by the Accountant General regarding such payments, undue pressure continued to be exerted. According to Marandi, the directors refusal to comply with verbal instructions became the primary reason for his dismissal.

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He demanded that Chief Minister Hemant Soren recommend a CBI inquiry into the entire matter to ensure transparency and accountability. Marandi said, If the Chief Minister truly believes in justice, he should get the reasons for this dismissal investigated by a central agency.

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Echoing similar sentiments, former Leader of Opposition Amar Kumar Bauri expressed concern about systematic political interference in the functioning of RIMS. At a press conference in Bermo, Bauri said, RIMS, which serves the most deprived patients of the state, has now become a victim of institutional decay under pressure from corrupt practices. He alleged that despite no proven charges or investigations against Dr Raj Kumar, he was removed to protect vested interests.

He warned that the states premier medical institution is being run under political pressure, where punitive action is taken for not following unofficial instructions. He stated, This government is sending a message that those who oppose corruption will be shown the door.

The BJP has put forward four main demands: a fair investigation into the process of Dr Raj Kumars dismissal, a CBI inquiry into the financial dealings with Healthmap and Medall, an independent investigation into the delay in establishing the central laboratory of RIMS, and a public clarification from both the Chief Minister and the Governor.

In response, Congress spokesperson Sonal Shanti termed the BJPs allegations as politically motivated. He asserted that the director was removed due to inefficiency and deliberate delays in departmental work. He said, There was no caste-based bias. Officers are removed due to their performance, not their identity.

Congress spokesperson accused the BJP of hypocrisy, citing past instances of corruption under BJP governments, including the JPSC scam and questionable practices by former health ministers. He stated that the current government is committed to eradicating corruption at its root and that its actions are being misrepresented by a party afraid of accountability.

Meanwhile, the health department, in an official release, stated that Dr Raj Kumar was removed due to consistent negligence, disregard for official instructions, and failure to expedite key departmental tasks. The health minister said that strict standards of responsibility are being enforced, and inaction will not be tolerated.

As the political blame game escalates, this episode has once again brought RIMS into the spotlight, raising profound questions about governance, transparency, and political accountability in Jharkhands health sector.
The Uttarakhand State Health Department is providing special high-altitude, quick-response, and emergency medical training to doctors and medical staff who will be deployed for the safety of devotees during the upcoming Chardham pilgrimage, starting from April 30.

Officials said that many lives could be saved through timely and prompt medical assistance for pilgrims, especially those coming from different parts of the country who are not accustomed to the Himalayan climate.

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As part of its preparedness for the 2025 Chardham Yatra season, the State Health Department has launched special training programs for doctors to address emergency health challenges at high altitudes.

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Department officials emphasized that the initiative aims to ensure a smooth, safe, and organized pilgrimage, with a focus on providing rapid medical care to devotees in the high Himalayan regions.

Special training is being imparted to doctors and medical staff to ensure the well-being of devotees and to handle emergency situations effectively.

Medical teams are being equipped with technical know-how to manage medical emergencies, potential disasters, and challenges due to limited resources in the high-altitude Himalayan areas, informed Health Secretary Dr Rajesh Kumar.

Training camps have so far been organized at Srinagar Medical College (en route to Kedarnath and Badrinath) and Doon Medical College in Dehradun, one of the major gateways for pilgrims.

Dr Kumar noted that pilgrims often face breathing difficulties, oxygen deficiency, blood pressure fluctuations, blisters, and other health issues at high altitudes. It is crucial for doctors to have adequate experience to provide immediate medical assistance under such conditions.

Key health issues covered in the training programs include acute high-altitude sickness, high-altitude pulmonary edema, cerebral edema, breathlessness, seizures, gastroenteritis, hypertension, cardiac emergencies, and strokes, he said.

Kumar added that several lives can be saved through timely diagnosis and treatment. The training also places special emphasis on safe patient access to air ambulances, drug management, and timely referral procedures.

Notably, the Uttarakhand government has invited doctors from other parts of the country, particularly those serving at AIIMS, to assist devotees during the upcoming Chardham pilgrimage.
SANAA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The U.S. army launched 29 airstrikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen early Saturday, while Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, vowed to retaliate.

According to the Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the pre-dawn U.S. raids hit several locations in and around the capital Sanaa, as well as the provinces of Saada and Al-Jawf. No casualties have been reported yet as the Houthi group rarely discloses its losses.

The fresh airstrikes followed a deadly series of U.S. attacks on Thursday night, which targeted and destroyed the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port and concrete tanks storing imported fuel. According to the latest update from Houthi-run health authorities early Saturday, at least 80 people were killed and 150 others wounded.

Many of the wounded were said to be in critical condition, and the death toll is expected to rise. Among the casualties were port workers and five paramedics, who were killed in a second wave of airstrikes while arriving on ambulances to assist the wounded.

This marks the deadliest U.S. raid since Washington resumed airstrikes against Houthi targets in mid-March 2025. The destruction of the Ras Isa port, located just northwest of the Red Sea port city of Hodeidah, represents a significant blow to the Houthis, as it is a vital source of fuel for the areas they control.

The U.S. attack has sparked widespread condemnation from Iran and various human rights organizations. The Houthi group also issued a strong condemnation, pledging to retaliate if the airstrikes persist.

Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, a senior figure within the group, was quoted by al-Masirah TV as saying: "We will have no red line. Any American interest in the Middle East, when the time comes, we will strike and bomb it. We will not stand idly by." He referred to U.S.-related targets in the region, including oil fields in the Gulf, shipping lanes, and U.S. aircraft carriers and warships in the Red and Arabian seas.

The U.S. Central Command said in a statement on social media platform X on Thursday that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

The escalation comes after U.S. President Donald Trump's administration designated the Houthi group as a "foreign terrorist organization" on March 4. This move followed a series of attacks by the Houthis on Israel and commercial vessels in the Red and Arabian Seas, which began shortly after the outbreak of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza in late 2023.

On Friday, the Houthis claimed responsibility for launching a ballistic missile at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport, which was reportedly intercepted by Israeli defense systems. They also claimed to have targeted U.S. aircraft carriers, including the USS Harry S. Truman in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson in the Arabian Sea, with ballistic and cruise missiles. The U.S. military has not commented on these allegations, though the U.S. Central Command previously dismissed claims of attacks on the Truman as "outlandish."

Tensions between the Houthis and the Trump administration have intensified since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15. The strikes were aimed at deterring the group from attacking Israel and U.S. warships.

The Houthis have said that their attacks are intended to pressure U.S.-backed Israel to halt its offensive against the Gaza Strip and allow humanitarian aid into the enclave. They have also framed their actions as a show of solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza. 
Tension erupted in Sanodha town of Sagar district in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday following the alleged abduction of a girl by a boy from another religion. Irate villagers ransacked and torched several shops in the area.

A heavy police force was deployed in the area to bring the situation under control.

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According to Collector Sandeep G R, information was received about a crowd gathering in the town, and officials from the police and district administration reached the spot to bring the situation under control.

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Local BJP MLA Pradeep Laria also arrived at the spot. He alleged that the boy, a Muslim, had abducted the girl. The MLA also charged that the boy has a criminal background.

The police have launched a search for the missing girl and the boy.
The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) on Saturday invited Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray to join hands in opposing the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra. Uddhav accepted Rajs offer, albeit with certain conditions, which he spelt out clearly.

It all began when actor-director Mahesh Manjrekar interviewed Raj Thackeray and asked him if it was possible for him to join hands with Uddhav Thackeray.

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Replying to Manjrekar, Raj Thackeray said, I am willing to set aside minor disputes to protect the interests of Maharashtra and preserve the Marathi language. This issue is very important for the existence of Maharashtra and the Marathi people. Therefore, I do not think that coming together is a difficult thing. This is not a matter of my desire alone or my selfishness. I think it is necessary to look at the larger picture. Marathi people of all political parties in Maharashtra should come together and form a single party.

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When asked to respond to his estranged cousin Raj Thackerays statement, Uddhav Thackeray said, I am ready to put aside petty disputes. I appeal to all Marathi people to come together for Maharashtra. But there is one condition, first decide that you will never invite home and serve food to those who act against Maharashtras interests, and only then talk about the welfare of the state.

When we raised the issue in the Lok Sabha that all industries were being shifted to Gujarat, we could have formed a government in Maharashtras interest by opposing it then. It does not work if we support the issue once, then oppose it later, and then compromise again. I will neither welcome nor invite anyone, nor sit beside anyone who comes in the way of Maharashtras interests. Decide this first, and then talk about doing things in the interest of Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray said.

Uddhavs statement referred to Raj Thackerays previous political flip-flops of first opposing the BJP and then joining hands with the BJP or compromising with it.

Hindi has been made compulsory. We will listen to everything with love, but if you force it on us, we will uproot your roots and throw you away. My cabinet decided to make Marathi compulsory in Maharashtra. Whoever resides in Maharashtra must learn Marathi. We will not allow Hindi to be forced upon Maharashtra, Uddhav Thackeray said.

Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Senas Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Raut, speaking to media persons on Saturday, respectfully referred to MNS President Raj Thackeray as Raj Saheb and said, Both are Thackerays and cousin brothers. That relation is permanent. They may have had some political differences, and so they took independent paths. We are looking at it from a positive perspective, but we shall adopt a wait-and-watch approach.

Earlier, on Friday, the student wing of the Raj Thackeray-led Maharashtra Navnirman Sena staged a protest in Navi Mumbai against the Mahayuti governments decision to make Hindi mandatory for school students from the first standard.

Hundreds of protesters waved banners and placards and burnt copies of the government resolution at Vashi in Navi Mumbai, near Mumbai, even as they raised slogans against the state administration, accusing it of attempting to impose a language in a region with a rich linguistic heritage.

Speaking to media persons on Friday, Maharashtra Navnirman Vidyarthi Sena (MNVS) claimed the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not contain any provision mandating Hindi as a compulsory subject.

This is an unwarranted imposition. Nowhere in the NEP 2020 is there a mention of Hindi being made compulsory, one of the student leaders said, drawing parallels with Tamil Nadus firm resistance to the imposition of Hindi and urging political parties across Maharashtra to unite in protest.

Meanwhile, Professor Narendra Phatak, executive president of the Sahitya Bharati and a member of the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Parishad, said that the Mahayuti governments move was unjust and burdensome for students.

He said the governments stand misrepresents the NEP 2020 and undermines the principles of the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).

This is a unilateral decision that will only fuel resistance against Hindi, which was never an issue in Maharashtra. Unfortunately, such policies allow specific groups to politicise the matter and initiate agitations, Narendra Phatak said.
The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Kerala will boycott the Left Democratic Front (LDF) governments fourth-anniversary celebrations.

Addressing media persons here, Leader of Opposition in the Kerala assembly V D Satheesan said on Saturday that the entire Opposition in Kerala will boycott the fourth anniversary celebrations of the LDF government. He said the government has no moral right to celebrate the fourth anniversary when the state is facing a severe financial crisis.

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The senior Congress leader asked what is there to celebrate when development and growth have stagnated beyond redemption.

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Stating that there is no governance in Kerala, Satheesan said the LDF governments ineptitude and splurge had pushed the state into a Rs 6 lakh crore debt trap.

This government has put Kerala in a debt trap, and the state is going through a financial crisis that it has never been through before. The basic classes have been completely ignored. The health, agriculture, and education sectors are facing a major crisis. The people in the hilly areas are suffering from wildlife attacks. In the last 4 months, 18 people have been killed in elephant attacks. Even the traditional things that are done to prevent wildlife attacks are not being done. The coastal region is also in drought. Kerala is sinking into a state where welfare schemes are being stopped and development activities are not being carried out, said Satheesan.

While the government is totally ignoring weaker sections, including ASHA and Anganwadi workers, during the fourth anniversary celebrations, it is spending Rs 15 crore on hoardings featuring only the Chief Ministers picture.

Alleging that the state has been gripped by the drug mafia due to political patronage given from the ruling party, he said there have been no attempts to dismantle the drug supply chain.

The second LDF governments fourth anniversary will be celebrated from April 21 to May 23, with both district and state-level programmes. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will kick off the celebrations at Kasargod on Monday.
In a significant push for urban infrastructure, Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh, along with Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, on Saturday inaugurated the first-ever Multi-level Parking Complex in the heart of Kathua town, marking a milestone in the regions transformation from a relatively lesser developed town to a modern urban hub.

In his address, Dr Jitendra Singh described the inauguration as a symbol of Kathuas rapid urban evolution, underscoring how a town once unfamiliar with personal vehicles now demands structured car parking solutions. There was a time when only three cars were visible in the entire city  one each belonging to the DC, SP, and Executive Engineer, he recalled.

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Today, we are inaugurating a full-fledged parking facility because of the sheer number of private vehicles. This transformation also reflects the aspirational rise in recent years of this once-overlooked town.

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Chief Minister Omar Abdullahs presence on the occasion was hailed by Dr Jitendra Singh, who hoped for closer Centre-UT cooperation. His presence here should indicate the shared commitment of the Centre and UT to jointly develop Jammu & Kashmir under the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said.

The Minister highlighted that the new parking facility is just one among several transformative projects that have changed Kathuas landscape in the last decade. From running Vande Bharat trains to upgrading the Kathua railway station, establishing three medical colleges in the constituency, launching a Biotech Park, and building an engineering and homoeopathy college, the region has witnessed a sweeping change in public infrastructure.

Dr Jitendra Singh emphasised that connectivity projects like the Express Corridor, which will soon enable direct travel to Delhi in five hours, are set to further boost mobility and economic prospects for the region. When that happens, youll realise just how dramatically the picture has changed, he said.

Beyond infrastructure, Dr Jitendra Singh touched upon social challenges such as illegal mining and drug abuse, which he said are now being firmly addressed. Kathuas name should no longer be linked with these issues.

The inauguration ceremony also spotlighted completed landmark projects like the bridge at Kediyan-Gandyal, Maharaja Gulab Singhs grand statue at the entrance to Jammu & Kashmir, and the setting up of a large stadium at Hira Nagar with BCCI support.

Dr Jitendra Singh noted in his closing remarks, Kathua is not just a town; it is a source of inspiration for the BJP and a living tribute to the sacrifices of national heroes like Syama Prasad Mukherjee.
Activists of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demonstrated here on Saturday and burnt the effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to protest the violence, loot and atrocities against Hindus in Murshidabad.

Groups of protesters from different parts, waving placards with inscriptions against Mamata Banerjee, gathered at the historic Manak Chowk Chaupad here on Saturday afternoon. They raised slogans against the AITC-led West Bengal government and protested against the riots, violence, and looting in Murshidabad, allegedly targeting Hindu community families.

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The protesters then burnt an effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, allegedly in protest against her governments appeasement policies. They also demanded Mamatas resignation.

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Addressing the gathering, local BJP MLA Balmukundacharya said that the people of West Bengal had given a clear mandate to the AITC and Mamata Banerjee in expectation of good governance and development in the state.

However, Mamata Banerjee and her party disregarded the popular mandate and opted to pursue appeasement politics with vested interests, he added.

Therefore, the CM should step down, or the President should impose Presidents rule to dismiss her government, the MLA said.

A series of violent incidents that broke out in Murshidabad in April 2025, during protests against the Waqf Act, 2025, has claimed at least three lives, left around 10 others injured, and caused widespread damage to public and private property.
Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday attacked the Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh, alleging that it funded the Agra violence to show that the Rajput society stands with it.

The so-called Karni Sena, which attacked the house of SP MP Ramji Lal Suman over his remarks on Raja Rana Sanga, is actually a Yogi Sena, he alleged.

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Addressing a press conference after meeting Ramji Lal Suman at his residence in the Sanjay Palace locality here, Akhilesh Yadav said, This is not the Karni Sena but the Yogi Sena, which is being funded by the government. The way the CMs supporters waved swords shows they want to intimidate backwards, Dalits, and minorities. Just as Hitler maintained an army to instil fear, this Yogi army is being used to suppress the voice of the people, he claimed.

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The SP president alleged that the Karni Sena targeted the residence of SP Rajya Sabha MP Rajilal Suman to intimidate the PDA.

The attack on the MPs residence was not spontaneous  it was part of a well-planned conspiracy. The attackers intended to spill blood and aimed to intimidate Dalits and minorities, he said.

Extending full support to Ramji Lal Suman, who was sitting beside him, Akhilesh Yadav said, I firmly stand with Dalit MP Ramji Lal Suman. I too am being threatened  that I would be killed like Phoolan Devi. Who is backing them?

Strict security arrangements were in place in the Hariparvat Police Station area in view of the SP presidents visit.
The Opposition Congress dharna and demonstrations in protest against the Enforcement Directorates (ED) charge sheet against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and other party leaders in the National Herald case continued for the fourth day on Saturday at the block level across the state.

Activists of the Youth Congress led the protests on Saturday at several locations, including Jaipur. Protesters in the state capital attempted to gherao the EDs state headquarters.

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The agitated youth tried to lock the main gate of the ED office, leading to a minor clash with the police. Several protesters were detained but were released after a short while, officials said.

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In protest against the filing of the charge sheet against the Gandhis, the Congress had earlier held a large demonstration at the ED office in the state capital on Wednesday.

Similar protests were staged at all district headquarters and in around 400 blocks on Friday. On Saturday, it was the turn of the partys frontal organization to take charge of the agitation.
In the old and new Great Game, Afghanistan has held a central position. Peter Hopkirk, in his path-breaking book The Great Game: The Struggle for Empire in Central Asia, chronicled the 19th-century geopolitical chessboard involving Britain and Russia. To prevent an armed conflict between British India and the Russian empire, both powers decided to declare Afghanistan as a buffer state ~ until the end of the Cold War reshaped Central, South, and West Asian dynamics. Following the complete US withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, and the re-assumption of power by the Taliban, the conflict-ridden country plunged into a legitimacy crisis, reflecting a coercive order in which political pluralism and emancipation of women became major casualties.

Now, almost four years down the road, the United States, under the new Trump administration, is again to re-establish its influence in Afghanistan by seeking control of the strategic Bagram air base. For the first time after August 2021, a high-powered US delegation led by veteran Afghanistan expert Zalmay Khalilzad visited Kabul in March, ostensibly to negotiate the release of a detained American tourist, George Glezmann. Taking advantage of that opportunity, Khalilzad and US hostage envoy Adam Boehler held talks with Afghanistans Foreign Minister and other Taliban officials. According to reports, the Talibans Foreign Ministry stated that Mr Glezmanns release was on humanitarian grounds and a goodwill gesture, while US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the deal a positive and constructive step.

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Qatar facilitated the American delegations visit to Kabul and mediated Glezmanns rele  ase. In a post on X, Afgha nistans Foreign Ministry added that the deal showed Afgha nistans readiness to genuinely engage all sides, particularly the United States of America, on the basis of mutual respect and interests. Why is there a relative thaw in the US-Taliban relations? Will the Taliban regime hand over Bagram air base to the United States?

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What are the implications of this recent shift for Pakistan and the wider region? President Trump had earlier criticised the Biden administrations chaotic military withdrawal from Afghanistan in August 2021, calling it incompetent and claiming that it compromised US national security interests, particularly by leaving around 80 billion dollars of weapons and abandoning Bagram air base. After resuming power in January 2025, President Trump now resolves to regain influence in Afghanistan without the use of hard power.

The nature of the projected deal between the Trump administration and the Taliban, and whether Washington will extend diplomatic recognition to Kabul, remains to be seen. It is pertinent to mention that while India, Russia, China, Iran and Pakistan maintain low-key de facto ties with the Taliban, Kabul still lacks diplomatic and political legitimacy.

Unlike Presidents Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani, who ruled Afghanistan for two decades with the US-Nato support and at least a semblance of democracy, the Talibans interim government rejects political pluralism, democracy and exclusive mode of governance. By barring girls and women from education and depriving half the population of their legitimate human rights, the Taliban have reverted to policies like their previous regime from 1996-2001. Even then, some countries, including the United States, are attempting to re-engage with Kabul to protect their strategic and economic interests.

This signals a new phase of the Great Game in Afghanistan, reflective of a 200-year history of invasions, interventions, and occupations by Britain, the Soviet Union and the United States. The new Great Game can be analysed from three angles. First, Afghanistan is infamous as a geopolitical trap that lures a potential aggressor, and once the country is occupied by a foreign power, it launches resistance. History has witnessed Britain, the Soviet Union and the US, all experiencing this fate. Foreign occupation has never been possible without local support, and it is well known that Afghan loyalty can be bought. After 9/11, millions of dollars were used to buy the loyalty of Afghan tribal chiefs who deserted the Taliban leading to its collapse.

This time, the new Great Game is employing a similar strategy as Trump seeks control of Afghanistan, particularly its strategic Bagram airbase, by offering carrots to the Taliban. In the coming weeks, increased American involvement in Afghanistan is expected via soft power: aid, investments and diplomacy. Second, Trumps core objective in reclaiming the Bagram airbase is to gain strategic leverage over Iran and Pakistan. Notably, it was from Bagram airbase that US Navy SEALs sneaked into Abbottabad, Pakistan, on 2 May 2011, to get hold of global terrorist Osama bin Laden. In the wake of Khalilzads mission to Kabul, alarmist conspiracy theories also suggest that the US may use Bagram as a base to intervene in Pakistan if political instability threatens its nuclear arsenal, to ensure that it does not reach Islamist forces.

While these claims can be rejected, the timing of Americas demand for Bagram base from the Taliban is significant. Since long, questions have been raised about the safety and security of Pakistans nuclear weapons in case there is an internal uphea  val. Pakistans nuclear control and command hierarchy has ruled out any threats to the safety and security of its nuclear arsenal. The Taliban governments reaction to the US demand for Bagram airbase for strategic use remains to be seen.

The Taliban regime in Kabul is firmly in position and has an anti-Pakistan stance. The Taliban may allow Washington to take control of Bagram air base. In return, the US may help end the Talibans diplomatic isolation and possibly hand over the $80 billion worth of weapons left behind during the 2021 withdrawal as a gift to Kabul. Additionally, the US might offer maintenance for these advanced weapons, thereby augmenting the Talibans military power. Third, the resurgence of the new Great Game in Afghanistan is now a reality and also poses challenges to its neighbour Pakistan in days to come. However India has reasonably good relations with the Taliban government in Afghanistan, and is also improving them further.

(The writer has been a senior IAS officer of the Punjab cadre and can be contacted at Kaushikiaspunjab@gmail.com)
Rating: *** 

In his directorial debut Telugu director Ram Jagadeesh shows tremendous empathy for the downtrodden. It is a risky thing to do, for what he defends here is a watchmans sons right to love an empowered girl although he stands accused of raping a minor.

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No self-respecting lawyer would touch a POCSO case, especially one as watertight as this. This is where cinema parts ways with reality. And what sweet sorrow this parting is! Jagadeeshs writing is astute and uncompromising. He is not afraid to plough into forbidden territory. The screenplay digs its claws into the defective, defunct clauses in our judicial system which the powerful and privileged use to their advantage or to teach their weak enemies a lesson.

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The film moves on familiar but firm ground, weaving into the rugged structure with an enticing concentration. Within no time we are cheering for the underdog actually two underdogs: the teenaged underdog Chandu (Harsh Roshan), who is locked away with the keys thrown away for no fault of his, and his novice lawyer Surya (Priyadarshi Pulikonda), who is grappling with the grammar of legalese, learning on the job, even as the young accuseds life and future hang in balance.Quite like the inexperienced lawyer in Gargi. But there is a difference. In Gargi the lawyer acquits a guilty man. In CourtState Vs a Nobody, Surya fights for a man, an innocent boy with no means to buy himself justice.

But the message is not hammered into the plot. There is a feeling of unconditional empathy that courses through the vein of this eminently watchable courtroom drama. The actors are sincere, and the film is technically sound, if not exactly jaw-dropping.

Travesty of justice is not new to Indian cinema. Unlike Saeed Mirzas Mohan Joshi Haazir Ho! or the overrated Marathi courtroom drama Court directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, this film doesnt plonk itself into the widening gulf between the haves and have-nots. Instead, Rama Jagadeesh ferrets out the places in the story which are drama-driven and then works his way through the crisis point into arresting areas of narrative dominance.

Sometimes the courtroom suspense seems somewhat forced and manipulative; also, the narrative ploy stack-all-odds-against-the- underdog-and-then-turn-them- around is as old as the hills. Nonetheless, the mood of earnest pursuit for justice wins the day. I found myself cheering for Chandu as much as I found myself loathing the patriarchal bully Mangapathi (Sivaji).

I cant say I didnt see the slap he gets coming at the end. It is all done in prominent brush strokes. But the aftereffect is cathartic.

The writer is a veteran film journalist and columnist. Views expressed are personal.
Puratawn by Sumon Ghosh, which stars Rituparna Sengupta, Sharmila Tagore and Indraneil Sengupta in lead roles, is an effort to capture the past while holding on to the present.

The urge to hold on to nostalgia and the sense of belonging for the past is a truth of life, which finds its contradiction when it is in conflict with the present. The film explores life as an interplay of the past and the present.

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Puratawn is special to Rituparna for a lot of thingsthe film explores the relationship between the mother and daughter. It is also a comeback to Bengali cinema for the veteran actor Sharmila Tagore after more than a decade. The film, produced by Rituparnas production house Bhavna Aaj O Kal, is special to the producer as it comes at a time when she lost her mother a few months back and says that she lived through every emotion which she portrayed on-screen.

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This wasnt a planned thing as the film was in the making when my mother passed away suddenly. We had already completed the shoot and were on the verge of release. We had to postpone the release because of her demise. I was completely shattered with the biggest debacle of my life, says Rituparna. The film is a tribute to her mother.

Going back in time, Rituparna says Sharmila Tagore had expressed her desire to act in a Bengali film, from where she started her acting journey. They both wanted to do a mother-daughter film. The film talks about how we deal with the past and how elderly people always cling to the past while trying to negotiate with the present and future. We all face this in our lives one way or the other. It is there in our subconscious that puratawn (ancient) or vintage things are so valuable to us, the Rajkahini actor adds.

Rituparna, who has worked with many senior actors in the past has enjoyed every moment of working with Sharmila Tagore. She terms the experience awesome. I have never met someone so positive, and so dedicated towards her work. She is compellingly beautiful and much involved in the nuances of the character she is playingit is a treat to watch her, says a mesmerised Rituparna.

The producer-actor remembers that while shooting, how Sharmila Tagore would narrate incidents of her earlier shooting days when the heroes were often late on sets and everyone waited for them. The senior actor is happy that heroines are well attended now and given a lot of importance on the sets.

Narrating her own experience of working with senior actors like Soumitra Chatterjee, Aparna Sen, Mithun Chakraborty, Sabitri Chatterjee, Supriya Devi, Victor Banerjeeetc., Rituparna says all these actors are inspirations.Working with them has given me a huge high. I want to be engaged with them more often and learn from their legacy.

Recounting her shoot for Soumitra Chatterjees last film, Belashuru, Rituparna said, There were so many beautiful scenes of mine with him in the father-daughter relationship. It will be most-ever memorable film in my life ever.

The senior actor has come a long way since her initial days in the industry. She set creative goals for herself and now finds them being fulfilled. How I have evolved as an individual and an actress. Ive been in the industry for the last 30 years and have seen huge differences in the industry. I love the inspiration which comes from my creative pursuit. I want to discover my life everyday. Im not a regular producer but in many aspects Puratawn is special as it is a signature film for my production house. Also, Sharmilaji has expressed in one of her interviews that this may be her last film. If that holds then it has huge significance for me.

Ask the immensely popular actor if she enjoys being treated as a star. It comes to me naturally. I enjoy being a star. I have worked hard for it and people have recognised me as a star, which is a privilege. I feel proud of it, pat comes the reply. Rituparna says the actors instinct always dominates her. The combination of an actor and star means a lot to me, it makes me complete and for my directors it opens up a bigger space to handle, says the star Rituparna.

Rituparna awaits release of her film, Goodbye Mountain by Indrasis Acharya, which also stars Indraneil Sengupta. Then she has Ittar with Deepak Tijori, who is making a comeback.
MANILA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A 10-wheeler delivery truck rammed into six vehicles in Zamboanga del Sur province in southern Philippines on Saturday, killing two people and injuring 14 others, authorities said.

According to the information office of Dumalinao town, where the crash occurred at around 10 a.m. local time, the driver of the delivery truck lost control of the vehicle after its brake malfunctioned while traveling east to Pagadian City from Zamboanga City, ramming into two trucks, a minivan, a motorcycle, and two tricycles.

A 76-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man were killed in the accident.

Emergency workers rushed the 14 injured people to a local hospital for treatment.

The truck driver surrendered to the police after the incident. 
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz said in a statement on Friday that he is committed, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and all parties, to leading a clear course of action to prevent Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Katz noted that when appointed defence minister in November last year, he pledged to achieve two main goals: preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons and winning the multi-front war.

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The military is currently fighting for victory in all arenas, he said, adding, We will not allow threats of annihilation against Israel.

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His remarks echoed a Thursday statement from Netanyahus office, which insisted that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons, Xinhua news agency reported. The Israeli rhetoric came ahead of the second round of nuclear talks between the United States and Iran, which will be held this weekend in the Italian capital of Rome.

The first round of indirect talks was held in Omans Muscat last week, with both sides describing the talks as constructive.

Omans Foreign Ministry will continue to mediate the second round of nuclear talks between US and Iranian officials scheduled to take place in Rome on Saturday.

In a statement, the ministry said the Italian capital was chosen as the new site for the talks due to logistical reasons, expressing hope that the discussions could make further progress toward reaching a just, binding, and sustainable agreement.

Oman also expressed appreciation to the Italian government for its cooperation and support in hosting the upcoming meeting.

With Omans mediation, Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi engaged in a first round of indirect discussions with US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff in Muscat on April 12, focused on Irans nuclear programme and the potential removal of US sanctions.

The talks in Muscat, described by both sides as constructive, followed US President Donald Trumps statement in early March that he had sent a letter to Iranian leaders, delivered through the United Arab Emirates, proposing negotiations on Irans nuclear programme. Iran later agreed on indirect talks.
High-level discussions and evaluations are currently underway in Islamabad after Bangladeshs financial claim to the tune of USD 4.32 billion from Pakistan as a fair share from the assets of undivided Pakistan before 1971.

Further, Bangladesh has also demanded USD 200 million received as foreign aid from countries and agencies to then East Pakistan during the extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone.

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The demands were raised during the sixth round of Foreign Secretary-level bilateral consultations between the two countries  held after a hiatus of 15 years  in Dhaka on Thursday.

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Bangladeshs Foreign Secretary Jashim Uddin and Pakistan counterpart Amna Baloch led their respective delegation at the Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) held at the State Guest House Padma.

Several sensitive issues between Bangladesh and Pakistan remain unresolved, including a formal apology from Pakistan for the genocide committed by the Pakistani armed forces in 1971; repatriation of stranded Pakistanis currently residing in Bangladesh; Dhakas rightful share of the undivided assets of Pakistan; transfer of foreign aid sent for the victims of extremely deadly November 1970 Bhola cyclone, etc.

Pakistan did not allocate Bangladesh its share of $200 million in foreign aid after the 1970 Bhola Cyclone and instead transferred the fund from the Dhaka branch of the State Bank of Pakistan to its branch in Lahore during the Liberation War.

Reportedly, Pakistan had utilized the funds to procure modern military equipment for its own use. Recently, Islamabad has expressed interest in transferring some of these military assets to Bangladesh as a form of settlement of its outstanding dues.

Pakistan may deploy these military assets within Bangladesh subject to mutual understanding.

These matters are now under continuous bilateral discussions and diplomatic engagement between both countries with Pakistans Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar also scheduled to pay an official visit to Dhaka on April 27-28.

The interim government in Bangladesh has formed a working group with the Pakistan High Commission in Dhaka to finalise the agreements that will be signed during Dars visit.

Evaluations are currently going on through various meetings to formulate a coordinated strategy regarding financial dues and the military equipment proposal and to prioritise national interests and regional diplomatic balance on the issue of historical entitlements.

During her visit, Baloch held separate meetings with Bangladeshi interim governments Chief Advisor Muhammad Yunus and Foreign Affairs Advisor Touhid Hossain, where they discussed issues of mutual interest.

Yunus, after his meeting with the visiting Pakistani Foreign Secretary, called for strengthening ties with Pakistan to boost mutual cooperation and explore trade and business potentials.

There are certain hurdles. We have to find ways to overcome those and move forward, Yunus said after Baloch called on him at the State Guest House Jamuna on Thursday.
Russia is ready to facilitate potential nuclear deal agreements between Iran and the US, provided that such accords respect Irans interests, countrys Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday.

We welcomed the willingness, as far as we can see, to achieve objective and mutually acceptable agreements, including those that are being discussed by Iran and the United States, Lavrov said in a joint press conference following talks with his Iranian counterpart Abbas Araghchi in Moscow.

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Russia is certainly ready to facilitate this process and will do its best to support the agreements that would take Irans legitimate interests into account, he added.

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Addressing the press conference, Araghchi said that the indirect talks between Iran and the US, are set to continue in Rome on Saturday. We are waiting to hear the viewpoints of the American side. If there is enough seriousness and determination, it is likely that a deal can be achieved, he said.

The Iranian Foreign Minister emphasised that Tehran will approach the talks on Saturday with seriousness and full determination, despite serious doubts about the intentions of the other side.

We are fully prepared for a peaceful solution to Irans peaceful nuclear programme, and if there is a similar will on the other side and they do not make unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is possible, said Araghchi.

The Foreign Minister also expressed Irans appreciation for Russias role in the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and world powers and expressed hope that Moscow would continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

We will continuously keep our friends in Russia, and of course China, informed about the developments, Araghchi said, emphasising his confidence that constructive feedback will contribute to progress on this path.

Araghchi and US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff are scheduled to hold the second round of their indirect talks on Saturday. The talks mainly center on Irans nuclear programme and the removal of the US sanctions on the country.

In the first round of Muscat talks held last week, Araghchi engaged in indirect discussions with Witkoff, facilitated by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad bin Hamood Albusaidi. The talks focused on Irans nuclear programme and the potential removal of the US sanctions.

The talks were proposed by US President Donald Trump, who threatened Iran with bombing and secondary tariffs if Tehran did not come to an agreement with Washington over its nuclear programme.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries  Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States  in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief.

However, the US withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress.
US President Donald Trumps White House launched a Covid-19 website on Friday in which it blamed the origins of the coronavirus on a lab leak in Chinas Wuhan.

He also criticised former President Joe Biden, former top US health official Anthony Fauci and the World Health Organisation of suppressing the coronavirus origins.

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The White House website now has an entire page dedicated to the Covid-19 lab-leak theory.

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This comes weeks after the CIA issued a report saying that the lab-leak was likely.

The agency had previously said that it did not have enough information to determine the origin of Covid-19.

The new webpage is on the site that served as a resource for Covid-19 vaccination efforts. It now has a banner reading: LAB LEAK, The True Origins of Covid-19.

President Donald Trump is also featured in the banner.

The lab-leak page also accuses former Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Fauci and Biden of covering up the origins of coronavirus.

It says that the previous administration engaged in a multi-year campaign of delay, confusion and non-responsiveness to conceal the truth.

This website shows the true origins of Covid-19 and how Democrats and the media discredited alternative health treatments and the lab-leak theory, the White House said in a statement.

The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2 publication, which was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab-leak theory, was promoted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that Covid-19 originated naturally, the site said.

It further lists five key points, suggesting that Covid-19s origins were not natural.

1. The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.

2. According to the data, all cases of Covid-19 stem from a single introduction into humans, which is contrary to previous pandemics, where there were multiple spillover events.

3. Wuhan is home to Chinas foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research (gene altering and organism supercharging) without adequate biosafety.

4. The researchers at Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) were sick with Covid-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered at the wet market.

5. By nearly all measures of science, any evidence suggesting a natural origin of coronavirus would have already surfaced. But it hasnt.


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Official sources claim that the terms of reference finalised between India and the United States as part of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) include about nineteen chapters on goods, services, and customs.



According to reports by agencies quoting Indian officials, the countrys delegation is set to visit Washington, D.C, next week to go over the proposed India-US BTA and iron out any issues before both democracies jump into official negotiations.

The BTA is expected to lift the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, from the current $191 billion.



Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, who is set to assume the post of the Commerce Secretary this October, is said to be leading the first in-person talks regarding the BTA as Indias chief negotiator.



These negotiatory meetings are scheduled to begin with the US from April 23, 2025, and expected to span over three days. A few weeks ago, a high-level US delegation visited India regarding the BTA. Among them was Brendan Lynch, the Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia.



The 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump is expected to give the officials of both sides enough breathing space to come to a mutually beneficial agreement.



Both India and the US have estimated that the first phase of the BTA would be finalised by October.



On Friday, a joint statement from the US and Italian governments termed the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) as one of the greatest economic integration and connectivity projects of this century, connecting partners and stimulating economic development and integration between India and America in the future. This happened at the heels of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni meeting US President Donald Trump for the first time officially at Washington, D.C.



Italy and the US are set to work together to develop the IMEC from India, to the GCC to Israel, to Italy, and then onward to the United States.



The Italy-US statement has many similarities with the United States-India Joint Leaderss Statement, issued after PM Narendra Modi visited Washington in February, where both leaders talked about enhancing diplomatic ties and increasing collaboration with the GCC.
The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) will deploy its elite COBRA (Commando Battalion for Resolute Action) force in Jammu and Kashmir. This is the first time a COBRA battalion will be active in the Union Territory.

The battalion will focus on Doda, Kishtwar, Rajouri and Poonch districts of Jammu. These areas are covered with dense forests and have witnessed a rise in militant activity in recent years.

COBRA units, created in 2008 for anti-Naxal operations, are specially trained for jungle warfare. They are known for their speed, mobility and ability to survive and fight in tough terrains without outside support. The need for COBRA in Jammu has grown as the region's forested hills have become a new hiding ground for militants. After attacking security forces, militants often disappear into the forests, making it difficult to track them down.

At present, anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir are mainly carried out by the CRPF, the Indian Army, and the J&K Police. The addition of the COBRA force is expected to strengthen these efforts, especially in forested areas where militants often hide after carrying out attacks.

The new battalion will work in close coordination with other security forces.

Security officials believe that the presence of COBRA commandos will limit the movement of militants and reduce their chances of surviving in remote forest areas.

The announcement to raise the new COBRA battalion was made during the CRPFs 86th Raising Day celebrations in Madhya Pradesh. The move follows directions from the Union home ministry.

With increased pressure from security forces in Kashmir, militants have shifted their focus to Jammu. They now operate in small groups in the hills and avoid contact with civilians.

A recent encounter in Kathua highlights the challenge. Three members of the Siafullah group, known for deadly attacks on security forces, were found hiding in the forests of Kishtwar.

Their presence and activities are a major reason behind the decision to deploy COBRA in the region.
During the recently concluded two-day visit of Defence Secretary Rajesh Kumar Singh to the UK, both countries reaffirmed their shared commitment to deepening defence ties. There were also talks focused on expanding tri-service military engagements and enhancing collaboration between the defence industries of the two countries.

Singh, who led a high-level Indian delegation for the annual bilateral defence dialogue with the UK, co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meeting with David Williams, Permanent Under Secretary of State for Defence.

Defence Secy Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh co-chaired the 24th India-UK Defence Consultative Group meet with his UK counterpart David Williams in London. Both sides reviewed defence ties, focusing on enhancing defence industry collaboration & boosting the #MakeInIndia initiative, pic.twitter.com/pUd8NHc5UW  Ministry of Defence, Government of India (@SpokespersonMoD) April 16, 2025

The discussions were held in the context of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership announced in 2021 and the Roadmap to 2030, which continues to steer the ties between India and the UK.

Singh also interacted with the UKs National Security Adviser Jonathan Powell.

ALSO READ: Make or buy? Experts call for bold reforms in Indias defence strategy

Addressing participants at the India-UK Defence Industry Roundtable, Singh highlighted the growing capabilities of Indian start-ups across key defence domains such as naval systems, drones, surveillance, defence space and aviation. He encouraged the companies in the UK to explore the possibility of partnering with these innovators from India, claiming that they are able to deliver cost-effective and cutting-edge solutions.

He invited UK firms to invest in Indias dedicated defence corridors in Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu, where they can take advantage of state-level incentives and a rapidly evolving defence manufacturing ecosystem.
WUHAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Every township and subdistrict across China now has at least one vaccination unit, bringing immunization services closer to people's doorsteps, according to the 2025 National Vaccines and Health Conference held Saturday in Wuhan, capital city of central China's Hubei Province.

Over 10 million people have already applied for and are using digital vaccination certificates, which provide lifelong coverage for individuals, according to the conference.

China has established a comprehensive four-tier immunization program management system at the national, provincial, municipal, and county levels, as well as a service network extending to the county, township, and village levels, Shen Hongbing, deputy head of the National Health Commission and head of the National Disease Control and Prevention Administration, said at the conference. This ensures timely and convenient access to vaccination for the public, he added.

By the end of 2024, China had more than 456,000 professionals engaged in vaccination services, Shen noted.

Official data presented at the conference showed that the coverage rate for vaccines under the national immunization program has remained above 90 percent. Incidence rates of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles, hepatitis A, and Japanese encephalitis have dropped to historic lows.

In recent years, China has allocated over 3 billion yuan (about 416 million U.S. dollars) annually to support the expansion of the immunization program, ensuring vaccine supply and safety, according to the conference. 
The Kerala Police, on Saturday, arrested popular Malayalam film actor Shine Tom Chacko in connection with a drug case.

The actor's arrest came after he was questioned for over an hour in connection with an incident in which he allegedly fled from a hotel in Kochi during a narcotics raid.

He is likely to be released on bail soon. According to police sources, there were contradictions in the statements given by the actor during the questioning. The police, who checked the phone call details and Google Pay data of the actor, asked him to explain why he contacted a drug dealer.

Police said he was booked under Sections 27 (consumption of any narcotic drug or psychotropic substance) and 29 (abetment and criminal conspiracy) of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

The medical examination and further proceedings will be conducted soon, police added.

On Saturday, Shine Tom Chacko appeared before the Kochi City Police for questioning in response to a formal notice issued by the police.

On Wednesday night, upon realising that the DANSAF (District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force) team had arrived, the actor had escaped from his third-floor room of the hotel he was staying, jumping out of the window onto a sheet covering the second floor and escaping through the staircase. As no drugs were recovered from the hotel, no case has been registered in connection with the incident.

Earlier, fellow actor Vincy Aloshious, in a complaint lodged before the Film Chamber, had accused Chacko of "inappropriate behaviour" under the influence of drugs.
BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Saturday launched another round of criticism at the Supreme Court, accusing it of inciting a "religious wars" in the country.

After Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar, the BJP MP attacked the SC by saying that under Article 368, only Parliament has the authority to make laws, while the apex court's role is limited to interpreting them.

#WATCH | Delhi: "...Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country. The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut..." says BJP MP Nishikant Dubey pic.twitter.com/ObnVcpDYQf  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

"The SC has the right to interpret the law...Article 368 states that only the Parliament has the authority to make laws in the country. But now the SC is saying that the President...governor should decide what to do within three months," Dubey told ANI.

#WATCH | BJP MP Nishikant Dubey says, "How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate that Parliament?... How did you make a new law? In which law is it https://t.co/CjTk4wBzHA pic.twitter.com/HYNa8sxBVt  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

Dubey's remarks against the SC came after Dhankar questioned the apex court's judgment effectively laid down a deadline for the President and Governors to clear bills.

"The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate the Parliament?... In which law is it written that the President has to take a decision within three months?" he lashed out.

#WATCH | Delhi | On BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's statement on the Supreme Court, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh says, "They are trying to weaken the Supreme Court...Constitutional functionaries, ministers, BJP MPs are speaking against the Supreme Court as the Supreme Court is saying one pic.twitter.com/LFjObsljXl  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

While terming the SC's action as "anarchy", Dubey said that there would be a detailed discussion in the Parliament regarding this.

"Supreme Court is responsible for inciting religious wars in the country...If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut," said the BJP MP.

#WATCH | Kolkata, West Bengal: On BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's statement on the Supreme Court, former Supreme Court judge Ashok Kumar Ganguly says, "Our country is a secular one... The SC is tasked to safeguard the essence of our Constitution, which is why, the SC has put some pic.twitter.com/vbeDLPGvY0  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

If SC is making the laws, then the Parliament should be shut down, he added.

#WATCH | Delhi: On BJP MP Nishikant Dubey's statement on the Supreme Court, AAP Spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar says, "He has made a very shoddy statement...I hope that tomorrow only, the Supreme Court will initiate suo-moto contempt proceedings against BJP MP Nishikant Dubey and pic.twitter.com/UljL7mCf2x  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

Dubey's remarks came amid petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 is being heard in the SC.

Meanwhile, Congress condemned Dubey's remarks. "Supreme Court is being targeted," said Congress senior leader Jairam Ramesh.

"Efforts are being made to weaken the Supreme Court. Different voices are deliberately coming up and the Supreme Court is being targeted. There is the issue of electoral bonds, the issue of Waqf has come up, the issue of Election Commission is about to come," he said.

Congress leader Manickam Tagore termed Dubey's remarks as "defamatory". "I hope that the Supreme Court judges will take this into notice as he is not speaking in Parliament but outside it. His attack on the Supreme Court is not acceptable," Tagore told ANI.
India on Saturday slammed Bangladesh over the alleged abduction and killing of a Hindu minority leader. External Affairs Ministry criticised Dhaka and called for the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting the minorities.

The 'brutal killing' of Bhabesh Chandra Roy was condemned by India. Taking to social media, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the recent killing follows a "pattern of systematic persecution" of Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.

We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh.

This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2025

"We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh," he said.

Earlier too there were incidents of protesters targeting Hindu minorities in the country after deposed PM Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka in August last year.

"We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions," he added.

#BangladeshViolence | In yet another atrocity against Hindus in Bangladesh, Hindu leader Bhavesh Chandra Roy was abducted and brutally killed@SaroyaHem brings you this report pic.twitter.com/cHih4ejaPu  WION (@WIONews) April 19, 2025

Massive anti-government protests broke out in the country last year forcing Hasina to flee to India. Since then Bangladesh-India relations have become strained. EAM S. Jaishankar on several occasions criticised the interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus for failing to contain attacks against the minorities.

Who was Bhabesh Chandra Roy?

Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a Hindu leader residing in Dinajpur's Biral was, reportedly, beaten to death last week after he was abducted from his home.

Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad. According to Roy's wife, he got a call around 4:30 pm on Friday. She told Bangladesh-based daily The Daily Star that four men arrived at his residence and abducted him.
Shiv Sena MP and party spokesperson Naresh Mhaske on Saturday condemned the use of artificial intelligence to recreate the voice of Balasaheb Thackeray during a recent rally in Nashik. Calling it a digital fraud, Mhaske demanded strict action against what he described as a deceptive and unethical political stunt.

Whatever remains of Uddhav Thackerays Sena will stoop to any level for votes, said Mhaske. Tomorrow, they might even show Balasaheb in a green shawl and woollen cap using AI. Its an insult to his legacy.

Mhaske likened the rival faction to counterfeit goods. Uddhavs Sena is no longer a political forceits a Chinese product. And like all cheap imitations, the public has rejected it.

He accused Uddhav Thackeray of exploiting Balasahebs legacy for political gain. There was once an insurance company sloganZindagi ke saath bhi, zindagi ke baad bhi. Uddhav Thackeray has done just that. He betrayed Balasaheb in life and continues to insult him after death. His so-called loyalty was always fakejust like the AI-generated voice he now uses.

Mhaske further stated, Uddhav Thackerays emotions are fake, his team is fake, and now his campaign is fake. Thats why he needs a fake voice. When political judgment fails, such imitation becomes the last resort.

If Balasaheb were alive, he would have strongly condemned Uddhav Thackeray in his own voice. He would have saidYou are nurturing the very Congress I vowed to bury. He would have kicked Uddhav out for selling out the true Shiv Sena, Mhaske asserted.

He went on to praise Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, saying, No matter how much pebbles try to shine like diamonds, they never will. Eknath Shinde, who embodies Balasahebs true ideals, is the real diamond. We dont need AI recreationsBalasahebs real voice lives on in our hearts and in the spirit of true Shiv Sainiks.

Taking a final dig at Aaditya Thackeray, Mhaske said, At least Uddhav Thackeray has his fathers legacy to distort and sell. But Aadityawhat legacy will you showcase? The many roles your father played and abandoned?
The student politics of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), known for its heated debates and strong tradition of activism, has once again found itself mired in controversy. The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNSU) election has been postponed indefinitely following two days of alleged violence and vandalism in the election committee office, marking an unprecedented pause in one of India's most politically active campuses. The violence happened over multiple extensions of the deadline for withdrawal of nominations.



In a notice circulated by the EC, they cited the events of April 17 and 18 and said, In light of major lapse of security and the environment of hostility, fear, and insecurity following the violence, it has been decided to put the entire election process on hold.



The final list of candidates that was supposed to be released on April 15 by the EC has been delayed as well, and they said, The election committee will resume the election process only after the safety of the EC members is ensured from the administration as well as the student organisation. The EC has also demanded strict actions against the perpetrator of the violence and vandalism.



The incident has deepened the ideological fault lines on campus, with both Left-affiliated groups and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) levelling serious allegations against each other.



Left-backed student organisations have strongly condemned what they call hooliganism politics by the ABVP. In their statement, they accused ABVP members of attempting to forcibly enter the EC office, breaking glass panes, intimidating security guards, and even holding EC members hostage. This is not agitation  it is an outright attack on democracy, the statement read, adding that the EC, being an autonomous and elected student body, cannot be pressured through threats and violence. The Left groups demanded immediate action and the protection of the EC to ensure free and fair elections.



In response, the ABVP rejected these allegations and instead accused the EC of being compromised by Left-leaning organisations. They alleged that the committee, under pressure from a Naxalite-aligned group, extended the nomination withdrawal deadline beyond April 17 in an unprecedented and irregular manner. According to their statement, this extension allowed certain candidates to switch positions strategically, raising serious questions about the transparency of the election process. The ABVP has demanded the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and an inquiry into what they called a fraudulent manipulation of the electoral process.



Though the final list of candidates is not out, the alliance is already underway. This time, unlike the past years, only AISA and DSF will be forming the left alliance, whereas AISF and SFI are joining BASPA. This election was already supposed to be a close fight, and fragmentation in the left front can lead to some major changes in JNUs campus politics. As per the campus students and party members, the elections will take place by the end of April, as semester exams are scheduled from May, making the further delay of JNSU impossible.
The Congress party is toying with the idea of forming a high-powered committee in Kerala to address the dilemma of being unable to directly remove K. Sudhakaran from the state party president post.

Discussions and rumours about a potential successor to Sudhakaran have circulated on multiple occasions in recent times. And the partys Kerala in-charge, Deepa Dasmunshi, had even held one-on-one meetings with select leaders to gauge their opinions on the matter. But the Congress High Command had later realised that any action without taking Sudhakaran into confidence may not work in the partys favour.

Sudhakaran was chosen to replace Mullappally Ramachandran as KPCC president shortly after the Congress suffered a defeat in the assembly elections. At the time, his elevation was widely supported by leaders in Kerala. There was optimism that his Kannur-style politics would revitalise the Congress, rekindle party workers' confidence, and bring fresh dynamism to the party. Sudhakaran had promised to transform the Congress into a semi-cadre party, setting high expectations for his tenure.

Crazy infighting of Kerala Congress !!!



MLA Siddique tries to squeeze in, but Opposition leader VD Satheesan shoves him aside and slides in himself. When Siddique tries again, KC Abu delivers a swift belly punch followed by a deadly elbow jab!



Im standing here, you move pic.twitter.com/adn7LoAfGN  Pratheesh Viswanath (@pratheesh_Hind) April 12, 2025

Four years on, Sudhakarans track record as KPCC president has been a mixed bag. Some of his promises, including the semi-cadre structure, remain unfulfilled. Additionally, doubts and rumours about his health and physical ability to perform his duties have surfaced. A growing perception that Opposition leader V.D. Satheesan and KPCC President K. Sudhakaran are not on the same page also affected the party.

Sudhakaran is dissatisfied with the idea of stepping down from his post. So, the party is now reportedly considering a proposal for a high-powered committeeconsisting of a select senior leaders, including the opposition leader and former KPCC presidentsas an alternative way to rejuvenate and run the organisational system of the party, while keeping Sudhakaran also satisfied.

The Nilambur by-election and the upcoming local body polls are the immediate challenges for the Congress. However, the partys current deliberations also appear to factor in the crucial assembly election year ahead. Recently, the KPCC leadership faced public ridicule after senior leaders were seen jostling for front-row visibility during the inauguration of the Kozhikode DCC officean episode that drew widespread criticism.
Political circles in Maharashtra are thrilled after Raj Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) opened up about an alliance with Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena faction. Any disputes or disagreements he has with Uddhav become trivial when it comes to matters concerning Maharashtra and the existence of the Marathi people, Raj Thackeray said.

Interestingly, former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray has responded positively to his cousin's statements. Speaking at a public podium, Balasaheb Thackeray's son confirmed that he too was willing to put all petty disputes aside for the benefit of Maharashtra.

Balasaheb's nephew Raj Thackeray was poised to be his political successor in Maharashtra before Uddhav's fast-paced growth began. Years after being sidelined, Raj Thackeray resigned from Shiv Sena in 2005 and founded Maharashtra Navnirman Sena the following year.

As speculations are rife about an alliance between the "Thackeray brothers", here are five things that Uddhav and Raj Thackeray said that will paint a clear picture of the story so far.

1. During an interview, MNS leader Raj Thackeray said that it was not difficult for him and Uddhav to come together. "We need to see the larger picture for Maharashtra and I am seeing that. What I am saying is that all the Marathi leaders from all the political parties in Maharashtra should come together and form a single party." Raj Thackeray confirmed that he has no problem forming an alliance with Shiv Sena "for the greater good of Maharashtra."

2. Marathi media reports quoted Raj Thackeray as saying: "...when I was in the Shiv Sena, I had no problem working with Uddhav. But does the other party want me to work with him?" Raj Thackeray further said, "If Maharashtra wants us to have an alliance, Maharashtra should go and tell him (Uddhav Thackeray). I never bring my ego into small things."

3. "Coming together, living together does not seem to be a very difficult thing. The matter is only a matter of desire because this is not my issue alone. What I am saying is that all Marathi people from all political parties should come together and form a single party," the 56-year-old leader said.

4. Uddhav's reaction to the development while speaking at the 57th annual general meeting of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena in Dadar on Saturday. "I am also ready to put aside petty disputes. I am appealing to all Marathi people to come together for the benefit of Maharashtra," he said.

5. "We didn't have any quarrels, but I still declare that our quarrels have been resolved. At that time, all Marathi people should decide whether to go with the BJP or come with me. Then give whatever support you want unconditionally. My only condition is the interest of Maharashtra," Uddhav Thackeray added.
During West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Boses visit to the Parlalpur High School relief camp in Baishnabnagar, Malda district, on Friday, large-scale protests broke out outside the premises. The Governor was meeting people displaced by the recent communal violence in Murshidabad.



Protesters, primarily local residents and relatives of camp inmates, accused the police of excessive force and misconduct. Parlalpur High School had been reportedly under heavy security since Friday morning. Entry and exit were strictly restricted, with even family members of the displaced being denied access.

Tensions began escalating shortly after the departure of teams from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and the National Commission for Women (NCW). By the time Governor Bose arrived in the evening, the situation had deteriorated significantly, reported Bengali daily Anandabazar Patrika.

The protesters voiced frustration over allegedly being denied access to their displaced relatives inside the camp and said they were still too fearful to return to their homes. They insisted that Governor Boses conversation with the displaced people be made public through the media.

Several protesters attempted to breach the police barricades, expressing a strong desire to speak with the Governor directly.

A significant number of the demonstrators were women, prompting the deployment of female police personnel to manage the crowd. Some camp residents accused the police of treating them like criminals and described the camps atmosphere as resembling a detention centre.

Though authorities initially resisted the protesters demands, they eventually gave in. The temporary barricades set up for the Governors security were removed.

Meanwhile, Governor Bose is expected to visit Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Thursday, a region badly hit by the violence that erupted during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025. He is also likely to visit other affected areas including Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur town later in the day.

Following several days of unrest last week, the law and order situation in Murshidabad has now been brought under control. Many displaced families who had fled to Malda or crossed into neighbouring Jharkhand have started returning, with the administration facilitating the safe return of others still away.

On Friday, Murshidabad District Magistrate Rajarshi Mitra, accompanied by Jangipur Police District Superintendent Ananda Roy, toured multiple areas under the jurisdiction of the Shamsherganj police station. They appealed to the displaced residents to come back home, assuring them that the administration is committed to providing all necessary support to help them resume normal life in a safe and peaceful environment.
Despite the Supreme Court of India regularly asking the Central government to appoint information commissions in Indiathe first appellate bodies under the RTI Act7 out of 29 information commissions were defunct for varying periods of time and two commissions continue to be defunct at present.

Speaking on the release of the Satark Nagrik Sangathans 'Report Card', former Supreme Court Judge Justice Madan Lokur said that governments were systematically undermining the RTI Act.

Citing the vacancies in information commissions, Justice Lokur explained that governments had found a way to undermine the RTI Act by not making appointments, which resulted in increasing backlog and long delays in the disposal of appeals and complaints.

Justice Lokur spoke of how the government amended the RTI Act in 2019 to weaken the autonomy of commissions, and how it has again been dealt a severe blow through the amendments made in the Data Protection Act. He said that by exempting all personal information from disclosure under the RTI Act, the Data Protection Act could provide a shield for corruption.

The report reveals a grim reality: four state commissionsJharkhand, Tripura, Telangana, and Goaare completely defunct, with no commissioners appointed.

As of June 30, 2024, over 4.05 lakh appeals and complaints are pending across 29 commissions. Maharashtra leads with 1.08 lakh cases.

Six commissions, including Maharashtra and Odisha, lack a Chief Information Commissioner, critical for managing operations. Eight CIC posts are vacant, despite a backlog of 23,000 cases.

The report also found that 41% of appeals are returned without an order, often for minor errors, forcing citizens to restart the process. And penalties? Only imposed in 5% of cases, letting violators off the hook.

The report also highlights that 57% retired government officials and only 9% women are working as information commissioners and none of these bodies are headed by a woman.

The report highlights that most commissions dont even publish annual reports, flouting the RTI Acts mandate.

Anjali Bhardwaj of SNS said that it was people who had struggled for the enactment of the RTI law and have used it extensively. She said that people ought to come together again and raise their voice to protect the RTI Act, highlighting the numerous ways in which the RTI Act was being underminedfrom the non-appointment of information commissioners to the amendments being made to weaken the provisions of the RTI Act.
A woman was arrested and three others detained in connection with the fatal stabbing of a teenager in northeast Delhi's Seelampur area.

Kunal Singh, 17, was stabbed near his house at around 7.30pm on Thursday. He was rushed to the JPC Hospital nearby but doctors declared him brought dead. The killing sparked off protests in the area, with several Hindu outfits demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.

"Ten teams have been formed to crack the case, and they are looking at all possible angles, Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), Pushpendra Kumar, told PTI. We have detained a few people for questioning. The case will be solved soon.

Who is Zikra?

The woman arrested has been identified as Zikra, known locally as lady don. She worked as a bouncer for jailed gangster Hashim Baba's wife, Zoya, who was arrested by Delhi Police in a drugs case.

New Seelampur, Delhi: Deceased Kunal's sister says, "He was my younger brother...he had gone out to get milk. He was hungry. Someone called him..." https://t.co/j5MnnNmdqq pic.twitter.com/gLcIYwCMIj  IANS (@ians_india) April 18, 2025

Reports suggest that Zikra was trying to form her own gang after the arrest of Zoya, with who she used to live.

"Zikra had ambitions to launch her own gang. She wanted to get close to Hashim Baba through Zoya and also wanted to get involved in her drugs business. However, her plans suffered a setback after the arrest of Zoya, who helped her procure arms and ammunition," PTI quoted a source as saying.

Zikra is notorious for her videos on social media where she is seen brandishing firearms. She was arrested earlier under the Arms Act. Out on bail, she had rented a house near Kunal Singh's place.

Kunal Singh's murder an act of revenge?

Kunals family claimed that Zikra was present when he was fatally stabbed.

PTI quoted police officers as saying that Zikra wanted to avenge her brothers stabbing. Since coming out of jail around 15 days before the Seelampur murder, she was on the lookout for a person named Lala who had allegedly beaten her brother, Hindustan Times reported. She had reportedly asked Kunal about Lala, and had got him stabbed when he could not help her.

Reports also suggest that the gang believed Kunal was part of the group that attacked Sahil. Kunals family says his murder could be an act of revenge by Zikras gang.

Security has been beefed up in the area with the deployment of police and Rapid Action Force.

Meanwhile, the ruling BJP and the opposition AAP are blaming each other for the "deteriorating" law and order situation in the capital.
RIO DE JANEIRO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Half of Brazilians saw U.S. President Donald Trump's trade policies as detrimental to their country's economy, according to a poll released Friday.

The negative perception was strongest among voters who supported Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the 2022 election, with 58 percent deeming Trump's policies harmful. Even among supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro, a Trump ally, 43 percent held the same negative view.

The findings came after Trump announced "reciprocal tariffs" on almost all its trading partners on April 2, affecting imports from Brazil.

While the Brazilian government has emphasized diplomacy, Lula da Silva recently signed into law a reciprocity act as a possible response to future trade measures by the United States or other countries. So far, no retaliatory tariffs have been triggered.

Beyond trade, the poll by research firm Ipsos-Ipec also gauged broader perception of the U.S. government's performance. Forty-nine percent of Brazilians said his administration has a negative impact on their country, while 29 percent saw it as positive. Only 2 percent were indifferent.

On the Trump administration's performance concerning the American people, 21 percent of respondents called his leadership "terrible," 19 percent "good," 19 percent "average," and 9 percent "bad."

The poll, conducted on April 3-7, surveyed 2,000 people aged 16 and older across 131 municipalities and has an error margin of 2 percentage points. 
The Congress party is apparently seen to be focusing on Gujarat more than the election-bound state of Bihar. Its approach stems from its long-term goal of challenging the dominant BJP's stronghold state where it has been out of power for decades.

In contrast, Congress's upcoming electoral battle in Bihar is constrained by its marginal role in the Mahagathbandhan. Added to it is the past reliance on RJD making it a secondary fiddle in the state. Therefore, the topline leaders of Congress find Bihar less urgent for high-profile interventions.

Also, the reason for Congress's high command seeking less indulgence in Bihars 2025 elections is that the polls there demand alliance-driven pragmatism over independent assertion. "The RJD is the natural leader of our alliance. It has popularity. It has a widespread grassroots foundation. So the Congress will follow the strategy contrived by the RJD. Therefore, involvement of central leadership is less required," a Congress leader said.

Since Congress is the principal opposition party in Gujarat and has a well-established political infrastructure across the state (although weakened), it offers the grand old party a chance to rebuild its image and organisation. Not only at the state level but also in the national political space. Also, with a longer timeline the assembly elections are slated for 2027.

Senior Congress leaders think that if the party can shake the saffron camp's political fortress (Gujarat), from where Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah belong, "the Congress can put the saffron camp in a tizzy which can subsequently reduce the dominance of BJP nationally," a senior Congress leader said.

Party's chief spokesperson, Gujarat, Manish Doshi told THE WEEK, "We acknowledge that there are shortcomings within our organisation, and we must emerge stronger. At present, we lack that required strength, which is why we've initiated the process of district-level appointments. This year is dedicated to organisational rebuilding, and we are moving forward with a positive and determined momentum."

Moreover, the partys narrative of BJPs fear in Gujarat may be more about rallying its base than reflecting ground realities, given the BJPs dominance in the state. In Bihar, the Congresss subdued presence could cede further ground to regional players if it fails to assert its relevance within the INDIA bloc. Balancing these priorities will be crucial for the partys revival.

For now, according to a Congress office bearer, the visits from Rahul Gandhi have pumped fresh momentum into the cadre and sourced cadre enthusiasm to a great extent. "We would try to keep this momentum alive until the Gujarat assembly elections. That is the plan," a Congress leader said.
Ahead of todays second round talks with the US, Iran sought Russias backing for a potential agreement with the United States on its rapidly advancing nuclear programme. Irans Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi briefed his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in Moscow on the initial discussions held in Oman last week.

Araghchi praised Russias role in the 2015 nuclear deal, which lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for restrictions on its nuclear activities. We are optimistic and expect Russia to maintain its supportive stance in any new accord, he said during a joint press conference.

Araghchi visited Russia on April 17 prior to the talks and also met President Vladimir Putin and delivered a letter from Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Describing the discussions as productive, Araghchi noted that all strategic issues between Iran and Russia were thoroughly explored. Earlier, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov expressed Russias support for the peace talks, hoping the negotiations would reduce tensions. We welcome contacts in Oman, as they may de-escalate tensions around Iran, Peskov told reporters, advocating for a diplomatic resolution.

However, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko clarified that Russia would not provide military support to Iran in the event of conflict with the US. Addressing Russias State Duma, Rudenko warned of catastrophic regional consequences and Russias desire to avoid further conflict.

The 2015 nuclear deal collapsed in 2018 after the US, under President Trump, withdrew unilaterally. Iran subsequently abandoned nuclear limits, enriching uranium to 60 per cent purity, nearing weapons-grade levels of 90 per cent.

Lavrov, meanwhile, affirmed Russias readiness to mediate, stating, We are prepared to assist and undertake any role Iran deems useful and acceptable to the US, focusing solely on nuclear issues. We proceed from the fact that the only option for an agreement is an agreement exclusively on nuclear issues.

The US is playing mind games with Iran as talks are ready to start. In Paris, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asked European allies to maintain sanctions on Iran, citing an impending IAEA report indicating Irans non-compliance and proximity to nuclear weapon capability. If Iran is out of compliance, sanctions must be reimposed, Rubio stressed.

Diplomacy, however, is still being given a chance. In Rome, Italys Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani met his Omani counterpart Badr Albusaidi, who is mediating the US-Iran talks. Tajani endorsed Omans efforts, expressing hope that the Rome discussions would accelerate a diplomatic solution vital for Middle East stability. Italy, Tajani added, stands ready to support initiatives promoting peace and international stability.

Khamenei, meanwhile, endorsed the progress of talks, but sounded cautious about their success. We shouldnt be overly optimistic about this dialogue, nor overly pessimistic," he said, speaking to senior officials in Tehran. He asked them not to tie Irans affairs to the talks. Of course, we dont fully trust them. We know who we are dealing with. But we are optimistic about our own capabilities.
Hamas has formally rejected Israels latest ceasefire proposal, calling it inadequate as there is no guarantee of a permanent end to the conflict or a complete withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza. Khalil al-Hayya, Hamass chief negotiator, made the groups stand clear via a video message from Qatar, accusing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of presenting a deal with unattainable conditions that neither halted the war nor ensured a full military exit.

The latest proposal by the Netanyahu government called for complete disarmament by Hamasa condition the group considers non-negotiableand offered no assurance of lasting peace, both of which are major sticking points for the Palestinian group.

The Israeli offer also included an initial 45-day ceasefire in exchange for the release of 10 of the 58 hostages held in Gaza since Hamass October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. It also included the release of Palestinian prisoners and commitments to discuss ending the war and resuming aid to Gaza.

Hamas make hostages offer.



Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas negotiating team leader, says all Israeli hostages could be freed  if Israel agrees to a full withdrawal, ends the war, and allows Gazas reconstruction to begin.#hamas #hostages #gazaisrael pic.twitter.com/Lgavjx7mEo  CGTN Europe (@CGTNEurope) April 18, 2025

For the first time, Israel formally insisted on a complete disarmament of Hamas, a demand al-Hayya called a violation of their fundamental right to bear arms. The deal outlined a phased release of the remaining hostages, starting with American-Israeli Edan Alexander as a gesture to the United States, followed by nine more hostages in exchange for 120 Palestinian prisoners serving life sentences and over 1,100 detainees held without charge since October 2023.

The Israeli proposal also required Hamas to provide details on surviving hostages in exchange for information about Palestinian detainees, along with the exchange of the remains of 16 deceased Israeli hostages for 160 deceased Palestinians bodies. However, Hamas, after days of deliberation, dismissed the offer, reiterating its demand for a comprehensive agreement that ends the war, secures a full Israeli withdrawal, and facilitates a broader prisoner-hostage swap.

A previous ceasefire agreement, concluded in January following pressure from both Donald Trump and Joe Biden, collapsed after its initial phase. Hamas sought to advance to the next stage, which included steps toward a permanent truce, but Israel pushed to renegotiate terms to free more hostages without committing to ending the conflict. When Hamas refused, Israel relaunched its offensive in Gaza last month.

Since then, Israeli military has seized roughly 30 per cent of Gaza, including parts of Rafah, resulting in over 1,600 deaths. Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has stated that his troops will maintain security buffer zones in Gaza, a stance that contrasts with Hamass demand for a complete withdrawal. Following Hamass rejection of the truce plan, far right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich called for an intensified assault, while Katz vowed to escalate with immense force if the hostages were not released. Mediation efforts by Egypt, Qatar and the United States have stalled, with no progress reported in the recent Cairo talks.

Meanwhile, Israels blockade on humanitarian aid has triggered a major crisis, described by UN officials as the worst since the war began. The renewed offensive has displaced over five lakh Gazans in under a month, with nearly 1,700 killed since March 18. The UN warns that lifesaving supplies are nearly depleted. With 90 per cent of water infrastructure destroyed, families resort to unsafe water sources.

Major aid organisations operating in the region have warned that Gazas humanitarian system faces total collapse. Over 2 million people remain trapped in the enclave, with mental health needs surging, infrastructure in ruins and essential services on the verge of failure. The UN Secretary General's spokesperson Stephane Dujarric highlighted the catastrophic situation, urging immediate action to address the crisis.

Two nights ago, Israeli strikes killed at least 37 people, mostly displaced civilians in a tented camp in al-Mawasi, where Israel had previously directed Palestinians to evacuate. The Israeli military said it was investigating, and claimed recent attacks targeted over 100 terrorist sites, including cells and infrastructure. Israel maintains that the blockade pressures Hamas into compliance, with Katz referring to growing tensions between Hamas and Gazas population.

The ongoing conflict has heightened concerns for the remaining hostages, particularly after Hamas reported losing contact with the group holding Edan Alexander following an Israeli airstrike. The United States condemned Hamass rejection, with National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt stating that it showed their disinterest in peace. He reiterated the Trump administrations stance that there would be severe consequences if the hostages are not freed.
In an unexpected attempt at humanitarianism, Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced an 'Easter truce' on Saturday, a unilateral decision to cease combat operations from 6 PM (Moscow time) till midnight on Sunday.

Today from 18:00 (8:30 PM IST) to midnight Sunday (2:30 AM IST), the Russian side announces an Easter truce, Putin said in televised comments on Saturday, in an interview with Russian Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov that was broadcast on state television. He added that he expected Ukraine to follow suit, and that this gesture would be a test of whether the regime there was interested in peace or not.

The Ukrainians, however, were sceptic, and quick to point out the irony of the situation: the fact that the announcement was made at the same time that an air raid alert sounded across the Kyiv region.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy wrote on X that the ceasefire was just another attempt by Putin to play with human lives, since air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine, and Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

Despite that, on Saturday, the two sides also saw the largest exchange of Prisoners of War (POWs) since the Russia-Ukraine conflict escalated to what Moscow had termed a special military operation, back in 2022. Russias Ministry of Defense said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv, while Zelenskyy said that 277 Ukrainian warriors had returned home from Russian captivity. Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their efforts in bringing about the exchange, as per an Associated Press report.

In the televised interview on Saturday, Putin also claimed that Kyiv was guilty of violating a deal 100 times to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure, which had been negotiated with America's help. He commanded Gerasimov to prepare an immediate response if this were to happen again, which would be a violation of the 'Easter truce'.

Russia has already declared and violated such ceasefires before, explained Anton Gerashchenko, a blogger and former Ukrainian Interior Ministry Advisor, on social media.

Both sides continue to blame the other for ceasefire violations as the conflict trudges on. Amidst this political blame game, the Trump administration is considering recognising the illegally-annexed Crimea as Russian territory as a part of its new draft framework to broker a peace deal between the two conflicted nations by putting the war in stasis, with Crimea, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia continuing to remain under Russian control.

Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say youre foolish. You are fools, you horrible people ... And were going to just take a pass. But, hopefully, we wont have to do that, Trump declared, as per a Guardian report.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio had echoed this sentiment at the Paris talks, where he explained that America's continued ceasefire support hinged on the question of whether the decision to resolve the conflict would be taken within days. If not, well shift our focus to other priorities, he had said during the talks in Paris, conveying the Trump administration's urgency to solve the issue, given that the US President had announced numerous times during his campaign that he would end the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

However, what complicates things is that America's dipomatic concession would be a violation of the UN charter and the post-1945 consensus that countries could not seize territories by force. A number of other countries, however, maintain their refusal to recognise Russias illegal takeover, as of now.
Russian drones are increasingly dropping RG-Vo grenades, which are hand grenades containing a poisonous substance to target Ukrainian soldiers on the ground, Kyiv alleged.

The battlefields of central-eastern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia have witnessed an increased use of hazardous RG-Vo grenades, Ukraines intelligence agency (HUR) was quoted as saying by Kyiv Post. Unconfirmed reports said that Iranian-made Shahed drones were being used by Moscow's soldiers to carry the chemically hazardous grenades. While some of the drones had chemical capsules to carry, others were coated in similar substances, these reports said.

WATCH | Viral war videos show Russian soldiers shot, explode before waving white flags after Ukrainian drone strikes in Donetsk's Pokrovsk

The frontlines of Zaporizhzhia are not far from civilian settlements like Shcherbaky and Russia is committing a war crime by stepping up the use of such weapons, Ukraine said.

Every day, Russia attacks Ukraine with drones, missiles, and aerial bombs. This week alone, there have been hundreds of strikes on our cities and communities  nearly 50 missiles, around 660 attack drones, and more than 760 guided aerial bombs launched by the enemy against our pic.twitter.com/0tK3H8WAn1  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) February 2, 2025

The Ukrainian intelligence department has identified the chemical substance being carried by some of these drones as concentrated chlorobenzylidenemalononitrile (CS) gas. A riot control agent, the use of CS gas has been banned under the Chemical Weapons Convention, Ukraine claimed.

The use of these chemical weapons has already claimed the lives of its soldiers in the region, Ukraine said.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

ALSO READ | Controversial ex-CIA analyst details how US devised a project to 'destabilise Ukraine and provoke Russia' which failed miserably

Units of the 'North' military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement. The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some 11 kilometres south of Oleshnya.Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.
Not long after claiming that Russian soldiers recaptured the village of Oleshnya in Russia's western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, Moscow on Saturday also claimed to have taken control of the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.

WATCH | Viral war videos show Russian soldiers shot, explode before waving white flags after Ukrainian drone strikes in Donetsk's Pokrovsk

Russia has been fighting to repel Ukrainian troops from Kursk since Kyiv sent its forces across the border in a lightning incursion in August 2024. Driving out the enemy completely from Kursk could strengthen Vladimir Putin's position when the matter comes to the negotiation table.

Its no longer only death from above that awaits Russia's hordes - ground drones are also now doing their part in Ukraine's fight for freedom.



A ground drone implodes a Russian shelter from within. pic.twitter.com/hZbdIpe5kS  SPRAVDI  Stratcom Centre (@StratcomCentre) April 19, 2025

For Ukraine, Shevchenko is strategically important as its elevated terrain is critical to establish a fortified defense line around Pokrovsk. Thus, they had toiled hard to drive the Russians out after an initial setback in January.

However, none of the Western news agencies could independently verify the fall of Shevchenko into Russian hands. The Russian Defence Ministry on Saturday also claimed that Ukraine carried out 10 attacks on the country's energy infrastructure over the past 24 hours. The U.S. brokered a 30-day moratorium in March between Ukraine and Russia against strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of violating it.

ALSO READ | Chemical grenades: Ukrainian soldiers killed by Russia's Iranian drones 'coated' in poison

A few days ago, pro-Ukrainian media reports had said that Russian commanders were sacrificing their men in large numbers in an effort to take Shevchenko. The defenders had fortified their positions around Shevchenko, giving the enemy no chance of advancing, they had said. Shevchenko has one of the largest lithium deposits on Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine had claimed to have cut off Russian reinforcement routes after making sudden advancements. Kyiv had reportedly entrusted ts battle-hardened Skala Regiment to protect Shevchenko. It was reported that Russian soldiers were asked to make most of the tree lines and vegetation to avoid drones during their advances. It remains unknown how they have managed to outgun the Skala Regiment in a matter of days.
Twenty-one-year-old Harsimrat Randhawa was on their way to work, waiting at the bus stop in Ontario, Canada, when tragedy struck in the form of a stray bullet.



Miscreants fired a volley of shots from a car towards the general direction of the bus stop, and the young Indian caught a stray one. Randhawa was pursuing her studies at the Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario, came the announcement from The Consulate General of India in Toronto.

Citing Hamilton police, the Indian consulate officials said that the student was an innocent victim of an unfortunate incidentfatally struck by a stray bullet in a shooting involving two vehicles.

We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently  IndiainToronto (@IndiainToronto) April 18, 2025

A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time, added the officials.

Local police statement puts the incident at about 7.30pm near Upper James and South Bend Road streets. By the time police reached the location, Randhawa was wounded with a gunshot wound to the chest. The student was immediately taken to a hospital, but she succumbed to her injuries.

#WATCH: Chief Frank Bergen Of Hamilton Police Services Sends Strong Message To The Thugs Involved In Shooting That Took The Life Of An Innocent Bystander 'Harsimrat Randhawa'  pic.twitter.com/saLoDK1xyQ  401_da_sarpanch (@401_da_sarpanch) April 18, 2025

Video evidence from the location helped police determine that the occupants of a white car were the target. A passenger opened fire from inside a black Mercedes SUV at the white sedan, and the Indian happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time. Both cars left the scene after the shooting.

Stray bullets also hit a residence nearby through its rear window. The residents were watching TV just metres awaythey were lucky that no one was injured, unlike the student. Randhawa had extended family in Toronto.

Harsimrats family sent her to Hamilton to prepare her for her future, and there is now an empty seat at their dinner table and an empty seat at her aunts house and her friends home, Hamilton Police Chief Frank Bergen said about the incident while extending his condolences to the victims family. Mohawk College also came forward to extend their condolences to her family and friends.

Local police requested people in the area for footage from dashcams and security cameras near the site of the incident between 7.15pm and 7.45pm local time, or provide any information to help further the investigation.

Hamilton alone has seen two more shootings this year so far. On March 6, 2025, at around 4.20am, multiple shots were fired near the intersection of Highway No. 8 and Fruitland Road, leading to the death of 16-year-old Faizaan Awan. On the same day, by late evening, the Hamilton Police Service received a call about a person at his home on Wakefield Lane in Waterdown. Local police and Emergency Services, on arrival, discovered the victim, Dirk NYHUIS, deceased inside the residence from gunshot wounds.
How do you deal with Donald Trump? The Federal Reserve chairman Jay Powell chooses to ignore the rantings and trust that his constitutional position as chairman of the central bank, reporting to Congress, will protect him.

Britain has opted to get along, which is why Rachel Reeves may be hopeful of returning to London with a trade accord of some kind when she attends the spring meetings of finance ministers in Washington next week.

Brussels has adopted a less fawning approach but has avoided the Zelensky trap of seeking to tell an unhinged American President that he knows best.

Where then does the president of the World Bank, Ajay Banga, sit in this universe?

He starts with a disadvantage in that he was thrust into the role by Joe Biden after Democratic grandees and climate change warriors Al Gore and John Kerry effectively defenestrated Republican predecessor David Malpass.

Banga's redeeming feature, as far as the White House and a Republican-dominated Congress is concerned, is that his previous job was chief executive of Mastercard, which means he has good private sector, financially literate credentials.

Hard to grasp: Ajay Banga starts with a disadvantage in that he was thrust into the role by Joe Biden

An inspirational president of the World Bank, in the image of some of his better predecessors, Robert McNamara and James Wolfensohn, he is not.

Banga regards media interest in the work of the World Bank as a bit of a chore.

His appearance at a Zoom briefing on the upcoming spring meetings of the Fund was a monologue followed by half-a-dozen questions, and lacked all the free-wheeling spirit of an open, live press conference.

Here was an opportunity for Banga to inspire. There are no shortage of humanitarian issues or war-torn countries to consider.

In Britain in the last week there has been some terrific and brave reporting by the BBC from Sudan on a war which has claimed 150,000 lives and is described by the United Nations as the world's largest humanitarian crisis.

David Lammy also had his best moment as Foreign Secretary, even if one profoundly disagrees with what he has to say about Israel-Gaza.

His determination to lead a 'pathway to peace' in Sudan, where charities say 30million people are desperately in need, is admirable.

The UK is promising an extra 120million for the region. Rich nearby Gulf states, riven with dissent over which rebel group they are supporting militarily in this horrific conflict, chose to sit on their hands.

Banga might have used his engagement with the media to make the case for unlocking US assistance, cancelled by Trump and Elon Musk, to a benighted region.

Instead of challenging his close neighbours at the White House in Washington, Banga's choice was to play down the loss of USAID funds.

These are the biggest source of emergency assistance across the globe. Banga insisted that 'aid is a temporary method to help countries'.

He expressed understanding for the fiscal problems of the West which had caused Britain, the US and others to take a scythe to official development assistance.

In choosing to desist from criticism of Trumpism, the World Bank president may be aiming to help unlock $80billion to $85billion for the next round of funding for the International Development Association which provides grants to the poorest countries.

Less of the dry bank manager and more humanity would be the courageous path.
This photo taken on April 19, 2025 shows Wuzhou kiln pottery wares at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli (2nd R) discusses about design of a Wuzhou kiln pottery ware at a workshop in Wuyi County of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on April 19, 2025 shows a finished pottery ware at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli (L) and his apprentice check unfinished pottery wares at a workshop in Wuyi County of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli applies glaze to a pottery ware at a workshop in Wuyi County of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli (L) watches as his apprentice Wu Chao opens the kiln at his workshop in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on April 19, 2025 shows Wuzhou kiln pottery wares at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

This photo taken on April 19, 2025 shows Wuzhou kiln pottery wares at different stages of production at a workshop in Wuyi County of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli (C) demonstrates Wuzhou kiln pottery making technique at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli makes a pottery ware at a workshop in Wuyi County of Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

An apprentice makes a pottery ware at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli (C) checks a finished pottery ware at his workshop in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Tourists visit a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)

Shao Wenli demonstrates Wuzhou kiln pottery making technique at a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum in Xili Village of Wuyi County, Jinhua City, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 19, 2025. The Wuzhou kiln pottery boasts a long-lasting development from generation to generation in Jinhua of Zhejiang. Shao Wenli, a representative inheritor of the Wuzhou kiln pottery, set up a Wuzhou kiln pottery workshop in 2009 to inherit and specialize in the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique. In the year of 2014, the Wuzhou kiln pottery firing technique was listed as a national intangible cultural heritage.

In recent years, Shao has led his team to integrate the traditional techniques with modern elements, as a way to inject new vitality into the inheritance of Wuzhou kiln pottery making. In addition, Shao has built a Wuzhou kiln pottery museum with a fusion of inheritance, research and exhibition, which can promote the development of Wuzhou kiln pottery industry and local cultural tourism. (Xinhua/Xu Yu)
Afghan interim government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi (R) holds talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Kabul, Afghanistan, April 19, 2025. (Photo by Zahir khan/Xinhua)

KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Afghan interim government's Acting Minister for Foreign Affairs Mawlawi Amir Khan Muttaqi held talks with Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar in Kabul on Saturday, the ministry said in a statement.

During the meeting, the two sides addressed a variety of bilateral concerns, including the situation of Afghan refugees, political relations, economic cooperation, and major projects, the statement added.

This is the second high-ranking Pakistani delegation to visit Afghanistan in the past three days.

A Pakistani delegation led by Mohammad Sadiq, special envoy for Afghanistan, traveled to Kabul on Wednesday to participate in the Joint Coordination Committee between Afghanistan and Pakistan. 
Tributes are pouring in for Julian Benson, a former judge on RTE's Dancing with the Stars, who has died.

The 54-year-old dancer, choreographer and talent agent passed away peacefully this Saturday, surrounded by his family and closest friends after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis.

Julian, was born in Adelaide, Australia, became a household name in Ireland in 2017 when he joined the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars.

Affectionately known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly, custom-made jackets, he quickly became a show-favourite with both contestants and viewers. He will be remembered not only for his quick witty one-liners but also for his unwavering kindness and encouragement towards the contestants.

READ NEXT: Production begins in Ireland of major new fantasy TV series, The Wayfinders

"Julian was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of two. But rather than let this challenge define him, Julian decided to embrace life fully. He began dancing at the age of four and embarked on a professional career at just 14  an incredible achievement for anyone, let alone someone living with a chronic lung condition. His determination and passion became the driving force behind everything he did," read a statement issued on behalf of his family.

For over 40 years, Julian, who moved to Ireland when he was aged 12, kept his CF diagnosis private.

However, in 2018, during an emotional appearance on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy, he revealed his lifelong illness and shared his dream of creating a charity to support the CF community. That night, he announced the birth of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation (JBCFF) telling viewers: I have Cystic Fibrosis, but Cystic Fibrosis doesnt have me.

His dream became a reality with the opening of Tranquility House in Dublin  a space where families can find comfort and peace during difficult times.

This was made possible by the generosity of over 130 companies and individuals who believed in Julians vision. The remarkable transformation of Tranquility House, which featured on Room to Improve in January of this year, is a testament to the power of community and to Julians unyielding determination.

Commenting on the death of Julian Benson, Larry Bass of ShinAwil - the production company behind Dancing With the Stars said he was deeply saddened to hear of his passing.

"He was a wonderful friend - our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance and talent to the world. His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation - his legacy will live on forever.

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend Julian Benson. Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance & talent to the world. One of a kind, he will be forever missed.



The world lost a bit of sparkle today



May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/QzJNnrI7vj  DWTS Ireland (@DWTSIRL) April 19, 2025

Mr Bass added that Julian was one of a kind, and will be forever missed. "The world lost a bit of sparkle today," he added.

Architect and broadcaster Dermot Bannon has also paid tribute to Julian. "Devastated to hear that Julian Benson has passed away, he had so many health issues to deal with but he always showed with his amazing energy and fun lifting the entire room, it was a real privilege to have known and worked with him over the last few years, he taught me so much about resilience and life," he said on social media.
On Friday, the Attorney General's Office filed a lawsuit against the city for allegedly violating the state's Sunshine Law.



Despite receiving a request for documents six weeks ago, the lawsuit says Mayor Quinton Lucas's office has failed to comply  denying Missourians their right to transparency.



Mayor Lucas' Office, however, said the mayor plays no role in the fulfillment of Sunshine requests.



"Today's new press release/legal case with the City is no different and continues Mr. Bailey's ongoing pattern of harassment of and infatuation with Mayor Lucas," a spokesperson for the mayor said.
Staff members check the faeces of Przewalski's horses at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

A staff member checks the Przewalski's horses at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

An aerial drone photo shows Przewalski's horses at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Przewalski's horses are seen at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Przewalski's horses and a foal are seen at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Staff members monitor and record the state of Przewalski's horses at a management station of the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

An aerial drone photo shows Przewalski's horses at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

An aerial drone photo shows Przewalski's horses and a foal at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

An aerial drone photo shows Przewalski's horses at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Przewalski's horses and a foal are seen at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Przewalski's horses and a foal are seen at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)

Przewalski's horses and a foal are seen at the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, April 17, 2025. The Przewalski's horse is listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature Red List of Threatened Species and is under first-class national protection.

Once extinct in China due to excessive poaching and environmental degradation, the Przewalski's horses were reintroduced to the country from Britain, Germany and the United States starting in the mid-1980s, and were raised in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and Gansu Province.

Since 2024, a total of 18 Przewalski's horses in three batches from Xinjiang have been released into the Helan Mountain Nature Reserve in Ningxia, as a way to protect the endangered species. On April 13 this year, a Przewalski's horse gave birth to a foal, marking the first case of breeding after the reintroduction of the Przewalski's horse in the nature reserve. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen)
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Wounded Gaza child's image wins 2025 World Press Photo award

An image of a wounded Palestinian child, taken by Palestinian journalist Samar Abu Elouf, has won the top prize at the 2025 World Press Photo awards

Saturday April 19, 2025 11:34 PM , Quds News Network

Gaza: An image of a wounded Palestinian child, taken by Palestinian journalist Samar Abu Elouf, has won the top prize at the 2025 World Press Photo awards.

The award winning photograph captures the haunting aftermath of Israels war on Gazas children  through the eyes of a 9-year-old boy who lost both arms in an airstrike.

Abu Elouf, herself a survivor of the genocide, took the photo in Doha, where the child, Mahmoud Ajjour, is now recovering.

"Silent but deeply expressive image"

The image, taken for The New York Times, shows Mahmoud with sunken cheeks, a pale face, and no arms  a visual record of the genocide unfolding in Gaza since October 7, 2023.

This is a silent but deeply expressive image, said Joumana El Zein Khoury, Executive Director of World Press Photo. It tells one boys story, but also that of a brutal war that will scar generations.

Mahmoud was injured in March 2024 during an Israeli bombing in Gaza City. Since then, over 51,000 Palestinians have been killed and more than 116,000 wounded, most of them women and children.

When Mahmoud woke up in a hospital bed without his arms, his first words were:

How will I hug you now?  a question he asked his mother.

That moment stayed with Abu Elouf.

I cried for days after photographing him, she said. It was not just an image. It was the pain of a homeland. It was my pain too.

Elouf forced to leave Gaza

Abu Elouf fled Gaza in October 2023 with her four children after surviving repeated Israeli bombings. She now lives in Qatar, in the same residential compound as Mahmoud. From there, she continues to document the lives of wounded Palestinians who were lucky to get medically evacuated from Gaza.

Her lens has captured women, children, and entire families whose lives were shattered. But this image of Mahmoud  a child robbed of his future  spoke louder than words.

Every photo I take is a piece of my heart, she said. Mahmoud and the others are not just subjects  they are part of my story.

Mahmoud now uses his feet to scroll on a phone, type messages, and open doors. He still needs help eating, dressing, and performing daily tasks. His dream is simple: to receive prosthetic arms and go back to being a normal child.

The jury praised the image for its emotional power and strong composition and use of light, calling it a photograph that forces us to ask hard questions  about justice, about childhood, about the future.

The winning image was selected from 59,320 entries by 3,778 photojournalists. It was one of 42 photos chosen this year.

"Israels war on Gazas children"

Other winners included images of drought in the Amazon and migrants crossing into the U.S.  but Samar Abu Eloufs photo stood out for a different reason: It gave a face to Israels war on Gazas children.

Ive always dreamed of taking the photo that would end this war, Abu Elouf said. If our images cant stop the killing, then what is the value of a photograph?

She is no stranger to global recognition. In 2024, she received the International Press Freedom Award from Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Her work has appeared in Reuters, The New Yorker, and The New York Times.

But this award is deeply personal.

I am from Gaza, she said. This is my face. This is my grief.

She added, This win means the world  not because of the prize, but because the message got through.

According to World Press Photo, more than 2,100 media outlets around the globe have published the image.

Abu Elouf says the photo will never stop hurting her. Every time I look at it, the joy of winning fades. But the real victory is that the world now knows Mahmoud  and what happened to him.

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COLOMBO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Record-breaking narcotics have been seized so far in April in Sri Lanka, with authorities confiscating over one ton of heroin and crystal methamphetamine, the Police Narcotics Bureau (PNB) said.

According to the PNB, 325.4 kg of heroin and 778.6 kg of crystal methamphetamine have been seized by Thursday. Over 3,000 suspects have been arrested.

In addition, the police seized 25.5 kg of hashish and 553 kg of Kerala cannabis.

Meanwhile, the Police Media Division said recently that a nationwide special operation has been launched to apprehend drug traffickers.

The Sri Lankan government has said that the eradication of drugs is a priority. 
ISLAMABAD, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Under China's rotating presidency, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) is placing a strong focus on defending multilateralism and promoting a fair, WTO-centered global trade system, SCO Secretary-General Nurlan Yermekbayev said in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua in Islamabad.

Yermekbayev emphasized that the SCO is firmly committed to building a transparent, open, democratic, and lawful international trading system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) playing a central role.

"We respect the sovereign rights of countries to shape their development paths, but we stand firmly in favor of fair and sustainable trade systems that benefit all," he said.

The secretary-general also highlighted the active leadership demonstrated by China since assuming the rotating presidency in 2024, calling it "very meaningful, rich in content and highly dynamic."

The SCO's focus under China's chairmanship extends beyond trade. Yermekbayev stressed that the chair's motto - "Carrying forward the Shanghai Spirit: SCO in Action" - reflects both the respect for founding principles and a push for practical cooperation. 
A graduate student from the University of California, Los Angeles was detained by U.S. Customs and Border Protection at the San Ysidro border crossing while attempting to re-enter the country from Mexico.

UCLA confirmed the detention but has not released the student's name or nationality. The student was able to contact a university affiliate before being taken into custody.

"The student remains in the custody of CBP and we are actively working to learn more information," said Mary Osako, UCLA vice chancellor for strategic communications, in a statement to the Los Angeles Times. "Our international students are an essential part of our Bruin community, and we remain fully committed to supporting their ability to learn and thrive at UCLA."

The incident comes amid a sharp increase in visa cancellations targeting international students, particularly those perceived to be involved in political activism the Trump administration deems dangerous for national security.

According to Inside Higher Ed, a publication which has been closely monitoring such developments, as of April 17, over 240 colleges and universities have identified 1,480-plus international students and recent graduates who have had their legal status changed by the State Department.

"We've been warning the university for weeks that students would be detained," said UCLA political science professor Graeme Blair to the Los Angeles Times at a rally held Thursday evening on campus which attended by some 150 students and faculty members.

The Department of Homeland Security and the State Department have not provided detailed explanations for most visa revocations. University staff often learn of visa terminations only after checking the SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) database, which is now being updated unilaterally by federal authorities.

In many cases, the cancellations have been based on background checks that flagged minor infractions, such as traffic violations. However, Secretary of State Marco Rubio previously stated that the U.S. was revoking visas of individuals whose actions were considered contrary to national interests, including participation in pro-Palestinian demonstrations and unrelated legal issues.

The scope of enforcement has expanded beyond campuses known for recent protests. Schools in New York, California, Texas, and Florida have reported significant numbers of visa cancellations. Harvard University is currently under scrutiny by DHS, which has requested detailed records of student visa holders following its refusal to alter its curriculum and hiring practices.

As of now, the reason for the UCLA student's detention remains unclear, and it is unknown whether her visa had been revoked prior to her attempted reentry.

Originally published on Latin Times
Members of a public health team to Myanmar pose for a group photo before departing from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Members of a public health team to Myanmar sort their outfit before departing from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

A family member of a public health expert helps sort his outfit before his departure from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

A member of a public health team to Myanmar bids farewell to his family and friends before departing from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Members of a public health team to Myanmar pose for a selfie before departing from the Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

Members of a public health team to Myanmar depart from Beijing Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei)

A staff member prepares to load public health supplies at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Staff members load public health supplies at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Staff members load public health supplies at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Supplies that go with a public health team to Myanmar are seen at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Members of a public health team to Myanmar board a plane at the Kunming Changshui International Airport in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)

Members of a public health team to Myanmar are seen during a departure ceremony in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, April 19, 2025. A 50-member Chinese public health team departed for Myanmar on Saturday to support post-earthquake public health efforts there.

The 7.9-magnitude earthquake, which jolted Myanmar on March 28, has claimed 3,726 lives and left 5,105 people injured, with 129 others remaining unaccounted for as of April 18, according to Myanmar's State Administration Council Information Team on April 19. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo)
The story of Crocifissione by Renato Guttuso.

This 1941 painting is considered a milestone in Italian 20th-century art and is among the best known works by the Sicilian painter Renato Guttuso (1912-1987).

It was commissioned by Alberto Della Ragione, an enlightened collector of works by Italian artists attached to the Corrente, an anti-fascist cultural movement based in Milan in the 1930s.

A naval engineer from Genoa, Della Ragione used his vast wealth to support many young experimental artists, including Guttuso who viewed him as a hero in a heroic moment for Italian art.

When Della Ragione saw the finished Crocifissione, however, he was so stunned that he refused to let Guttuso part with it, insisting that such a masterpiece remain in the artists personal collection.

In 1942, when Guttuso exhibited the enormous square canvas at the Premio Bergamo exhibition, it not only won second prize but also generated a storm of controversy.

Viewers were shocked by its widespread nudity, expressive nature and air of revolution.

However it was the depiction of a naked Mary Magdalene that attracted the most criticism, particularly from the Vatican which declared the painting sacrilegious and labelled Guttuso a pictor diabolicus (devilish painter).

The artists atheist and communist credentials also saw his painting denounced by the fascists who claimed that it exploited religion to depict the horrors of war.

The dramatic, richly-coloured crucifixion scene is made all the more graphic by the inclusion of instruments of torture: a hammer, large nails, a scissors and a knife.

The paintings power to shock and its strong cubist elements recall Guernica, painted by Picasso a few years earlier; the influence is particularly evident in the horse whose head writhes back from the terrible spectacle.

Guttusos unusual composition also disorientates the viewer  most of the faces are obscured, including Jesus who is identifiable by his pierced side and crown of thorns.

Guttuso claimed later that the paintings lack of costume was not intended to provoke scandal but was his way of avoiding either an ancient or modern setting, describing it as a tragedy of today.

The painting must also be remembered in the context of its times.

This is a time of war, Guttuso wrote in his diary, Abyssinia, gallows, decapitations, Spain. I wish to paint the agony of Christ as a contemporary scene...as a symbol of all those who, because of their ideas, endure outrage, imprisonment and torment.

For the next five decades the controversial work remained in Guttusos private collection in Rome, according to the wishes of his venerated patron.

Della Ragione died in 1973 but not before donating some 260 paintings to the people of Florence as a gesture of solidarity following the citys devastating floods in 1966, with the short but touching dedication to the Florentines: I give you my life.

In December 1986, a few weeks before he died, Guttuso summoned Italys culture minister and several witnesses to his home in Piazza del Grillo in Romes Monti district.

From his deathbed the artist donated 11 of his most cherished paintings, including Crocifissione, to the Galleria Nazionale dArte Moderna (GNAM) where it can be seen today.

Andy Devane

Photo: Roma, Galleria Nazionale dArte Moderna e Contemporanea. Su concessione del Ministero dei Beni e delle Attivita Culturali e del Turismo.
TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei on Friday strongly condemned the U.S. lethal airstrikes on the Yemeni fuel port of Ras Isa.

He made the remarks in a statement released by the ministry in response to the overnight U.S. airstrikes on the Yemeni port on Thursday, which killed at least 80 people.

Baghaei said the attacks were "a clear instance of the crime of aggression and in flagrant violation of the fundamental principles and regulations of the United Nations Charter and international law."

He stressed that the U.S. "aggressions" against Yemen aligned with its "all-out support for Israel's occupation and genocide" in the occupied Palestinian territories, and would escalate insecurity in the region and threaten international peace and security.

The strikes started late Thursday night. According to Houthi-run al-Masirah TV, the victims included workers and employees of the port, who came under violent U.S. airstrikes while on duty.

The U.S. Central Command has confirmed in a statement that it struck and destroyed Ras Isa on Thursday "to eliminate this source of fuel for" and "degrade the economic source of power" of the Houthis.

In mid-March, U.S. President Donald Trump ordered "decisive and powerful military action" against the Houthis after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason. 
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Members of Generation X were taught in movies that the hero never sold out to the system. For many, the culture was built around this impulse. Movies like The Breakfast Club, bands like The Clash, and even the death of Kurt Cobain all reflected this ethos. So, that generations working life has often been dismaying. Never sold out: Kurt Cobain of Nirvana. Credit: Getty Images The establishment that Generation X, in its youth, once resisted has largely melted down under the white heat of technological change. Nowhere is this clearer than in careers where Gen Xers saw their employment paths cut off as companies  or entire industries  were upended by technological change and shifts in the job market. Felicity Lenehan began a career in journalism in Sydney in the early 1990s. After departing for Europe, email and websites became commonplace. When she returned to Sydney in 2005, she was shocked to find the offices of a print magazine essentially emptied out.

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People had moved online. Even as she transitioned to more marketing-focused work, she found that her experience in traditional newsrooms no longer stood out in a job market flooded with bloggers. Publishers flattened out the structure and put everyone on as freelancers. So the experienced editors struggled to get work because, as she says, all of a sudden, everybody could say they were a writer because they had a blog. Michael J. Fox with a hoverboard in Back to the Future Part II. This pitted experienced freelancers against younger writers who would work for free or cheap, Lenehan said. A lot of colleagues lost their job and couldnt get work again because of their age. Looking back, Lenehan said she would have loved to rise through the ranks of newspapers, and she would have preferred to make a career in it. But the business model broke down. At the time, she thought the online space would thrive alongside print newspapers.

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Rather, the internet reshaped the media industry  and continues to. Part of what makes Generation Xs career journey so dismaying is that when the age set  born roughly from 1961 to 1981  was growing up, technology and the economy played by more predictable rules. Phone companies controlled telecommunications, media was centralised in broadcast, print and radio, careers were built within strong institutions. Felicity Lenehan is a Generation X worker whose career has been shaped by technological change. Credit: Nick Moir Then came the commercialised internet, then the mobile phone, then social media which placed the viral power of the internet on the iPhone. Each invention was sold as a tool of liberation to the public. At the same time, the structure of industries  finance, media, marketing, and eventually transportation with ride-share services  became wobbly and contracted. Not only did certain jobs largely disappear (receptionists, bank tellers, video store clerks)  but whole industries seemingly vanished (electronics repair, video stores). What had been a marketing job involving pamphlets and print design  requiring an artists eye  today frequently centres around SEO and viral videos.

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For peers who had been turned out of the industry, copy editors, marketing experts, Lenehan says: Its very sad to see people who are hugely passionate about what they do have to close their businesses down. They have found work but it hasnt quite been the same, she said. Waves of tech disruption have altered the job market for Generation X. Credit: AP While Baby Boomers embraced reforms meant to enrich the public while modernising the economy, for Generation X the real-world effect often introduced new insecurity into the workplace. In Australia, part-time work rose from 11.3 per cent in 1996 to about 32 per cent in 2018, a third of all employees, the McKell Institute reported in 2018, the period bracketing Generation Xs entry into the job market. While people in creative fields and media have been hard hit by technological change, its spread across numerous sectors. US-based Yuri Bertsch started at a help desk at a tech company in New York, and moved into quality assurance.

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Loading Better technology allowed the company to rationalise the work: Then half the team was downsized and let go, he said. He then spent nine months at another tech company on a help desk until that was outsourced to Pakistan. Bertsch, however, sees the role of Baby Boomers altering regulation as a driver of the disruption for Generation X. I feel like weve had the paths to prosperity destroyed in our faces at every step by the Boomers since we were teenagers. Director for the Centre for Future Work, Dr Fiona Macdonald, said Generation X were a generation that had an expectation that you enter the workforce, you develop skills, you had opportunities to move forward. The impact of technology, combined with the restructuring of workforces in the past 30 years has hit Generation X particularly hard, breaking the feature of career progression for many people, Macdonald said.

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AG: For one thing, because they are the pictures that so much of the population is influenced by, those people who dont follow the politics closely. And at the moment, Anthony Albanese looks happy and engaged every day in the stories, meeting interesting people, while Peter Dutton doesnt seem nearly as engaged. The Coalition campaign looks a little lifeless, as though preparing for something else. The two leaders on the election trail. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen, James Brickwood Fitz: You are looking at things in a different way ... AG: Well, that is what people see every night. They see this picture and that picture, the detail washes over them, but theyve got this sense that one side looks more interesting than the other, just in terms of pictures. It does have an impact. Fitz: What else do you see?

AG: The other thing thats going on is whats happening in America, with all the upheaval and change and flip-flops going on over there. The Coalitions tide has gone out with Trump. Do people want to start flip-flopping and changing government here? The mob does not want that. Fitz: You obviously cant make political comment, but in your memory, has one party ever started out so strong in a federal election campaign only to melt like an Icy Pole on Uluru in January once the campaign started and the electoral heat was turned up? Because in this campaign, weve seen such a rapid turnaround in the Coalitions fortunes its been staggering. AG: It reminds me a little bit of the 2004 election campaign when John Howard looked in real trouble against Mark Latham. But then once it was into the campaign, the Labor momentum just disappeared. Prime Minister John Howard and Opposition Leader Mark Latham crossing paths in the ABC radio studios during the 2004 federal election. Credit: Penny Bradfield. Fairfax. Fitz: I find it hard to believe the polls, some of which even say the ALP is going to have an expanded majority. One of the polls has even got it at 53.5 /46.5 to the ALP on two-party preferred. Do you believe its as bad as that for the Coalition?

AG: Well, that ones come out of the Herald pollster, Resolve, and theyve tended to be one of the worst pollsters for Labor. But theyve now picked up something which is occurring in every opinion poll  theres been a real change of mood. Perhaps the Labor Party has finally escaped the whole follow-up from the Voice referendum, which dogged them all through last year. I dont think anyone wants to talk about it any more, and so everyones just moved on. Fitz: And yet we all remember 2019, when Bill Shorten was meant to romp home, only to lose to Scott Morrison, of all people. The pollsters were all completely wrong. AG: Much of that was to do with the campaign that was going on against franking credits and changes to capital gains tax. Clive Palmer was painting it as a death tax, and the Liberal Party were also hammering on whether this was an unfair tax on retirees and that really had an effect on the electorate. And the Labor campaign had so many promises it was easy to paint it as being extreme on higher taxes. I think in the end, Labor just lost that election campaign with all that detail, the way John Hewson lost it in 1993 with all his detail on the proposed GST. And this campaign is just not like that. So there is less likely to be a surprise this time. Fitz: Have you been bemused, amused or shocked by the Liberal Party turning over some of its principal policies so early in this campaign? AG: To be honest, I dont watch it that closely, but certainly to have to execute two backflips in the campaign is embarrassing.

Fitz: Eden-Monaro used to be the famous bellwether seat  where goes Eden-Monaro, so goes the nation. For those of us watching Antony Green on the ABC on the night of Saturday, May 3, whats the seat we should be looking to, for an early indication of which way it is likely to go? AG: The seat thats now got the longest record of going with the nation since 1983 is Robertson, based around Gosford. Fitz: Do you believe that Peter Dutton might be in trouble in his own seat of Dickson? There was one poll I saw that had him behind 52-48 to Ali France, the Labor Party candidate. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese with Ali France, Labors candidate for Dickson, in Brisbane. Credit: AAP AG: Look, for over a decade, people have been telling me that Peter Dutton is in trouble in Dickson. Hes still not lost in all that time. So, I mean, well see what happens on the night. But there needs to be a more general swing in Brisbane before Dickson would fall. I cant see that right now, and Im always very doubtful of individual seat polls.

Fitz: Look, I know youre a numbers man, but after 40 years of this, youve got to have a very good gut feel to go with those numbers. What is your gut feel on this election? AG: The Coalition is going to struggle to make up enough seats to get ahead of Labor. If the Labor Partys vote holds up in Victoria, its nearly impossible for the Coalition to get more seats than Labor. The ALP will lose seats in Victoria, mainly in the eastern suburbs, but the question is whether the swing gets beyond those marginal seats that have been fought over the last couple of years and goes deeper, which currently looks unlikely. The problem for the Coalition is there are school holidays and public holidays for the next two weeks. So how do they get their message across when people are concentrating on other things? Fitz: I asked you this once about state elections, but lets do it federally. When all you election analysts get together for your annual dinner, with Mr Gallup up one end, Mrs Morgan and Mrs Poll and Nielsen down the side and its getting near midnight, whats your best war story of great federal elections youve known? Paul and Annita Keating on election night in 1993. Credit: AAP AG: The one I will always remember was my first one in 1993 above all else because we were having these arguments about whether Labor had won or not, and I kept insisting they had won  and the executive producer and all the ABC board was saying Keating cant possibly have won. And I won that argument.

Fitz: Leigh Sales has joked about wearing adult nappies on air on election night because its just seven hours of such unbroken intensity. Have you ever had to have a strategy to cope with being on air for seven hours? No coffee for you on the day? AG: No, its usually a bit easier for me because Im a bloke and I can usually nip out during leaders speeches. Fitz: You once told me that the late, great ABC journalist Andrew Olle pushed your career early, telling your mutual masters that you were the one, and should be hired full-time. Now, in his eulogy the equally late Paul Lyneham said he worked with Olle for most of his career and never knew which way he voted. Have you strained for a similarly political neutral profile? I dont report and I dont ask questions, so its easy for me to appear completely neutral. AG: Yeah, but to be honest, its easy for me. I dont interview people. Journalists have to ask questions, which sometimes means asking pointed questions from the other point of view, and therefore people say youre biased. So when I hear people say, Oh, more people at the ABC should behave like Antony Green, well, thats a ridiculous comparison because Im not a journalist like that. I dont report and I dont ask questions, so its easy for me to appear completely neutral.
Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Save articles for later Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time. Got it Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size This story is part of the April 19 edition of Good Weekend. See all 13 stories . It is just after dawn and we are surrounded by the peace and overwhelming natural beauty of the coastal Kimberley region of north-western Australia. Weve just taken a short 4WD trip through the pale, grass-strewn dunes  sacred land where initiation ceremonies guiding young boys through to manhood still take place. We emerge onto a vast rock shelf that overlooks a tidal estuary, also home to a set of ancient footprints, a series of child-sized markings in the rock alongside those of their elders, memories worn in by centuries of use by Aboriginal tribes who walked this path to the sea. There is not a soul to be seen, yet its teeming with life  birds feeding and warbling, the regular splash of fish. Through the dunes, the empty, pristine beach stretches as far as the eye can see, the turquoise water home to bountiful sea life, jellyfish and the odd croc. Soon the day will steam up and the oppressive humidity will close in, but for now the weather is idyllic, the atmosphere heightened by the sense we are the last  or the first  people on Earth. We are on the lands of the Bard/Bardi Jawi people of Lombadina, and local Goolarrgon Bard man and artist Darrell Sibosado is quietly discussing his country, its history and its significance to his people with his old friend and colleague Frances Rings, choreographer and artistic director of the Sydney-based national Indigenous performing arts company, Bangarra Dance Theatre. The day begins with the dawn and quietens with the setting of the sun or the cacophonous arrival of an electrical storm. The feeling of remoteness and isolation is no illusion. The population of Lombadina numbers a mere 20. It was nothing short of an epic journey for this Sydneysider to travel here, as far away from home as you can get within the mainland: a five-hour flight to Perth, a two-and-a-half hour flight to Broome and a three-hour, 4WD trip north to Lombadina and the Dampier Peninsula on a recently sealed, single-lane highway, experiencing a dramatic thunderstorm along the way. Today the community works with, and lives from, the land: fishing, crabbing, harvesting bush tucker to supplement whatever the general store in neighbouring Djarindjin has to offer. Time has a different rhythm here. The day begins with the dawn and quietens with the setting of the sun or the cacophonous arrival of an electrical storm. In many ways, life in Lombadina is largely the same as the 59-year-old Sibosado remembers from his childhood, when his family moved from Port Hedland back to his fathers community in the early 1970s. Back then, however, life was controlled by the Catholic Church  which still owns part of the land today, a strong point of contention. Sibosados overriding memory is of nuns adorned in habits, despite the 40-degree heat; of the bell that tolled regularly demanding you drop whatever you were doing and pray; of being forbidden to speak your own language. We are here with the permission of the local community at the behest of Rings and a small creative team from Bangarra. Photographer James Brickwood and I are the first media ever invited to accompany Bangarra on an on-country visit, the crucial first step that precedes any new show. The crew has been observing the customs, culture, lore and everyday life of this remote community and its connections with the land; stories and observations that will ultimately feed into and inform the stage production Illume, choreographed by Rings in collaboration with Sibosado, himself a sought-after visual artist. Come June, the show will have its world premiere at the Sydney Opera House, 5300 kilometres and a world away.

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Miles of aisles What is this place to you? It is a question Goolarrgon man and local leader Bundy (Brendan) Chaquebor asks Bangarras creative team as they wade knee-deep through the mangroves, spears in hand, in search of mud crabs. Its a mangrove, the sea, the ocean are various responses. The group had been discussing tropical cyclone Zelia, which had torn through the Pilbara, crossing the coast east of Port Hedland days earlier, leaving the roads flooded and trucks with crucial supplies unable to get through. Aisle after aisle of supermarket shelves in Broome lie bare of fresh fruit, vegetables, meat, dairy, coffee and bread, alarming many. Not in Lombadina. For us, this mangrove is our shopping centre. If that roads closed well come here, we dont need anything else. We can always get water, and an abundant supply of food, Chaquebor says. He goes on to show the group how to hunt mud crab  a spear thrust down a hole that returns a dull noise indicates theres nothing there; a high-pitched sound lets you know youre hitting shell. He teaches the group that mangrove wood gives the best flavour when building a fire to cook the crab, oysters, pipis and cockles the women have dug up; what tide will allow you to walk far out on mud flats left rich with shellfish; how to train your eye to home in on the dunes so they slowly reveal the concealed mission huts the community lived in for decades, and the middens, proof of occupation extending back thousands of years. From left: Darrell Sibosado, lighting designer Damien Cooper, cultural consultant Audrey (Pippi) Bin Swani and composer Brendon Boney during a Bangarra team meeting. Credit: James Brickwood Its transformative how they view country, respect it and understand it, says Rings, a Mirning woman from South Australia. Bundy is so intelligent in cultural ways, an incredible professor of his country. Its a small but rich, intensely beautiful, dynamic community and I love that they use the resources they have to become empowered today. It is these sorts of communities, the stories and knowledge people such as Chaquebor share that explain why Bangarra spends years establishing trust and relationships with the people of places like Lombadina, listening, observing and ultimately sharing through dance theatre their stories of resilience, survival and innovation, giving audiences a glimpse into  and understanding of  another way of life. Sibosado is the conduit between Rings and Lombadina. The pair first met in the late 80s at the fledgling NAISDA (National Aboriginal Islander Skills Development Association) performing arts college in Sydney. For Rings, dance was always her first language, as important as oxygen, and formal training was the obvious next step. For Sibosado, an adventurous, ambitious kid, it was a means of escaping Lombadina and the stifling control of the Catholic Church. Sydney beckoned, and after graduating from NAISDA he lived in the inner city for 30 years, working in the creative arts industry. But in 2015, the pull of home became too strong and he moved back to his family and the still-small community of Lombadina, in many ways just as he remembered it and in others, like a different planet. It is these worlds Rings is intent on exploring in Illume.

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Mission days The Catholic presence in Lombadina dates back to 1892 when Irish-born Matthew Gibney, Perths Roman Catholic bishop, purchased a pastoral lease named Lombadina close to the first mission established in the Kimberley at Beagle Bay. Lombadina Mission was set up in 1911 and soon run by the Sisters of St John of God. Life was basic: a convent was built for the nuns and paperbark huts served as a dining hall and a school that opened in 1917. Loading According to Sibosado, it was about 1935 when the last mob from the bush moved to live on the mission; Aboriginal children from across the Kimberley were brought in to live and be educated at Lombadina, sleeping in dormitories and returning to their families at Christmas, a practice that continued well into the 70s. Cultural practices and local languages were banned, while tribes from different cultural groups were forced to live side by side. Following the 1967 referendum and the later homeland movement, a desire for self-determination led certain Aboriginal communities to slowly assume control and leadership of their own people and affairs. The Sibosado family returned to Lombadina in 1972, in the dying days of the mission. We moved here to look after my husband Basils parents; Darrell was around five, says Darrells mum Caroline Sibosado. A Noongar woman from Port Hedland, Caroline was born at home with two Aboriginal midwives. Never went to hospital, she says proudly. Once they were back, Basil was put in charge of the missions large herd of cattle while Caroline worked in the mission office. Sibosado and his seven brothers attended the small local school and then, by arrangement with the Catholic Church, left to board in Perth for high school, a system that continues to this day. The bush church at Lombadina, built in 1932 during the communitys days as a Catholic mission when cultural practices and local languages were banned. Credit: James Brickwood

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From the late 1970s, Lombadina became a self- governing community and in the mid-1980s, Caroline and Basil co-founded the Lombadina Aboriginal Corporation. Caroline became its founding CEO, a position she held for 20 years. Now in her mid-80s and still a director, she is a hugely respected local elder, a practising artist who runs the communitys gallery and craft shop. Today, opinions on the occupation of Lombadina differ. Caroline appreciates the chance for local kids to be educated but acknowledges the ramifications. They werent the same as the stolen generations  they went home for holidays, they only came here for education, she says. The kids liked it here, because they knew what was going to happen from day to day. A lot of them stayed [in Lombadina], they married, but then it caused a lot of problems as well  people didnt have their own family with them all the time. I think its caused a lot of alcoholism and all this sort of stuff. Well, thats happened everywhere  Going to high school opened my eyes. Were talking about kids who came from a mission; the only white people they would see were the missionaries. Darrell Sibosado Sibosado sees it differently. It was total control, backed by the government and the police. They tried to stop us doing our ceremonies, but people just moved further up the hills. I couldnt wait to get out of here. Ive never been, Oh well, at least they [educated] us, because what they took was way more valuable to me and my people. Because we would have inevitably done something like this anyway. Get out he did, and from year 8, Sibosado boarded at St Norberts College in Perth before completing his final year in California, through the American Field Service program. Going to high school opened my eyes. Were talking about kids who came from a mission; the only white people they would see were the missionaries. But it was safe and comfortable. I wasnt just some kid being sent off to boarding school in the middle of nowhere; there were already kids I knew from all over the Kimberley. Sibosado with his mum Caroline Sibosado, also an artist, inside his bush shed, where he makes LED sculptural installations and prints. Credit: James Brickwood It was through NAISDA that Sibosado began witnessing Aboriginal cultural pride and activism. He met and became lifelong friends with the influential Page brothers: Bangarras founding artistic director Stephen, younger brother and dancer Russell, and older brother and composer David, who would all go on to become seminal members of Bangarra, helping create the stories the company would become known for here and abroad  stories that gave audiences precious insight into both the richness and trauma of Indigenous history and culture, urban and remote. Tragically, and after hugely successful and impactful careers, both Russell and David would go on to take their own lives. Today, their legacy continues to inspire.

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Other future leaders and friends who emerged from that time include artistic director Carole Johnson, performer Ronne Arnold, artists Tracey Moffatt and Michael Riley (a mentor of Sibosados), Bob Maza and Jimmy Chi (whose stage musical Bran Nue Dae, set in Broome, would go on to become a hit film). Coming off the mission, our parents had been caught up in that thing of Dont speak your language, leave your culture behind, but reaching Sydney and meeting all those people who were pushing back against that, I really gravitated towards them, Sibosado says. He stayed in Sydney, working in high-profile jobs with the then Australia Council for the Arts, Film Australia, the emerging Boomalli Aboriginal Artists Co-operative and Koori Radio, focusing on supporting young Indigenous musicians and artists. He loved it, embracing city life. Then, in 2013, his father Basil died and slowly but surely, everything changed. Creative spark It was in 2022, when Frances Rings was sitting quietly by herself on Broomes Cable Beach, that the idea of creating a new production celebrating the community of Lombadina began to emerge. She was in Western Australia with Bangarra, taking her production SandSong back to the Kimberley. At the time she was preparing to take the reins from Stephen Page, Bangarras charismatic and influential leader for more than 30 years. Keen to move the company in a new direction, Rings was interested in collaborating with other artists, bringing in new voices and stories to share with her dancers and audiences. Her mind kept going back to Sibosado, by now a successful artist in his own right, and his remote community of Lombadina, celebrated for its self-empowerment, economic and cultural innovation. I approached Darrell back then, a few years ago, and he said hed think about it, Rings recalls. Six months later he got back to me and said, Lets have a yarn. Its been a long time coming but thats the way it works with mob. Each time you go youre slowly building that relationship, conversation and trust, because we never assume that. Frances Rings Indeed, the cultural and creative process that goes into each and every Bangarra production takes years to evolve, from the early conversations so instrumental in setting up a relationship, to building the in-person trust with elders and the entire community, the discussions and guidance of the local cultural consultants who work with every new show, and the on-country visits themselves.

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What we find is that they descend downhill very quickly, and there are false allegations made, there are defamatory comments, and people think that they can get away with it. If there is a group of parents that are unhappy ... two becomes four, becomes eight, becomes 16 very quickly. McLean said teachers and principals should be more prepared to defend their reputations against their online detractors, in the courts if necessary. The problem is they have got away with it because schools are loath to act, she said. Teachers are loath to take legal action, but my advice is when it  becomes threatening, and its clearly defamatory, then teachers should be exploring all legal options.

If these adults do not see a consequence for their actions, theyre going to keep doing it. Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek, who retires this week after 55 years in education and 35 as principal at Berwick, said parents joined WhatsApp groups with good intentions. Berwick Lodge Primary School principal Henry Grossek says many principals deal with issues from parent WhatsApp groups. Credit: Joe Armao In fairness to parents, they get on these chatlines and arent aware of the dangers of using it as gossiping or carping sessions, Grossek said. Once you put it out there and someone repeats it, it can be distorted and become very harmful and destructive.

Loading A teacher at a government school in Melbournes south-east, who also asked to remain anonymous, recounted families exploding in fury on their WhatsApp groups over a bring-your-own-device-to-school policy. Parents felt bullied by the chat group into buying or not buying a device, and the teacher overheard one parent say to another at a mums brunch, Why did you buy one? We werent buying them, remember? Another parent, who had English as a second language, went to the office to demand her money back because chatter on WhatsApp led her to believe the policy had changed. We had to go into mega-crisis mode to try to calm families down, the teacher said.

It was very toxic. It can definitely become a breeding ground of misinformation. The Australia Catholic Universitys latest study of workplace safety for principals showed parents and caregivers were the alleged culprits in 87 per cent of complaints from school leaders about cyberbullying. The universitys investigator and former school leader Paul Kidson was himself the victim of a vitriolic social media campaign when he was a school principal.

Loading Theyre all consistently the same structure. It is: Im unhappy with the school. Im going to say what I like with impunity, Kidson said. Thats why some principals just say, I love my job, but if this is the way this community is going to respond, I dont need this. The academic said aggressive parents slandered or cyberbullied principals with impunity on social media, and that he knew of one case in which a cease-and-desist letter was sent to a family over their online behaviour. The aggression is not confined to parent-on-teacher confrontations, and Australian Primary Principals Association president Angela Falkenberg said spats between parents often broke out on WhatsApp chat groups.

Someone will make a comment saying, Thats hurtful, thats a bit mean, then its, Who are you calling mean?, she said. Falkenberg said principals were having to spend time soothing the hurt feelings of parents after WhatsApp chat group pile-ons. We are dealing with peoples children, it doesnt take much for people to get stressed very quickly, she said. Another principal at a private school in inner south-east Melbourne, who asked to remain anonymous, said hed heard secondhand a certain year level had been sounding off on a WhatsApp group about a gripe. But of course nobody contacts me directly to express a concern or ask a question on the matter at hand, he said.

We do get the occasional issue with aggressive parents on WhatsApp, but pretty isolated examples. Australian Education Union Victorian branch president Justin Mullaly also called for official intervention. The minister for education needs to reset system-wide expectations for respectful and appropriate conduct for all stakeholders in Victorias public schools, he said. Australian Principals Federation president Tina King said parents had a right to advocate for their children, but should do so respectfully. King said that as a last resort, Victorian schools could enact school community safety orders  banning parents from a school  for threatening or defamatory statements.
London/Kyiv: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of creating a false appearance of honouring an Easter ceasefire, saying Moscow continued to launch attacks overnight after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a unilateral temporary truce in Ukraine.

As of Easter morning, we can say that the Russian army is trying to create a general impression of a ceasefire, but in some places, it does not abandon individual attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine, Zelensky said in a post on X.

Despite Putins declaration of a ceasefire from 6pm on Saturday, Moscow time, to midnight on Easter Sunday, Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had recorded 59 instances of Russian shelling and five assaults by units across various areas along the front line, as well as dozens of drone strikes.

President Vladimir Putin and Russian Chief of General Staff Geneal Valery Gerasimov at the Kremlin on Saturday. Credit: AP

In later updates, Zelensky said that despite Ukraine declaring a symmetrical approach to Russian actions, the trend of increasing the use of heavy weaponry by Russian forces continues. He said, however, that it was a good thing, at least, that there were no air raid sirens.
She didnt see the gunman or hear the shots, but knew what was happening.

As a young man carried out a deadly shooting at Florida State University this week, Stephanie Horowitz looked out at the sprawling campus and saw a dreadful reminder that brought her back to when she was a teenager at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School during the Parkland massacre seven years ago.

People sit in front of a makeshift memorial outside the student union after the campus shooting at Florida State University on Thursday. Credit: AP/Kate Payne

You could almost see the silence. There was not a soul in sight and belongings left behind like open laptops and bags, Horowitz said in an interview.

I knew what that meant, because Ive done this before. I know what the aftermath of a school shooting looks like.
TRIPOLI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Libyan authorities said Saturday that four unidentified bodies were recovered near the town of Zillah, about 750 km southeast of the capital Tripoli.

"Four bodies were found buried deep in the desert, specifically near the town of Zillah, some of which had partially decomposed," the General Authority for Research and Identification of Missing Persons said in a statement.

Similar reports were also received from the cities of Murzuq and Sabha in southern Libya, and investigations are scheduled to begin within the next two days, it said.

On Thursday, Libyan authorities said three unidentified bodies were recovered near the city of Jufra, located some 650 km southeast of Tripoli.

In February, Jufra District Police reported the arrest of a group of migrant smugglers in Zillah accused of killing migrants and burying their bodies in the desert, as well as kidnapping, starving, raping, and selling migrants.

In late March, Libyan authorities said that they had freed 82 migrants who were held captive in Zillah by a criminal group demanding ransom, and that they had arrested four members of the criminal group.

One of the arrested admitted that 10 migrants had been tortured to death in captivity and that ransoms of up to 10,000 U.S. dollars per person were demanded, authorities said.

Because of the insecurity and chaos in Libya since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, many migrants, mostly Africans, chose to cross the Mediterranean to Europe from Libya. 
The John Simon Guggenheim Foundation announced Tuesday that Interim Associate Provost and Dean of the Arts and Humanities Roger Mathew Grant will be one of 198 Guggenheim Fellows in its 2025 classits 100th class of fellows. Grant, a scholar of music, joins academics, artists, scientists, writers, and other cultural visionaries from 53 different disciplines to receive the honor this year.

As established in 1925 by founder Senator Simon Guggenheim, each fellow receives a monetary stipend to pursue independent work at the highest level under the freest possible conditions. The fellowship will support Grants upcoming book Colonial Galant: Eighteenth-Century Music From Chiquitania, Bolivia, which details his work reconstructing and analyzing 18th-century music from rural Bolivia. The book will be published by the University of Chicago Press.

This is one of the biggest academic honors of my whole life, Grant said. Its incredibly meaningful. What Im most excited for is that it gives the project more visibility and that people will get interested in this music.

The music, which was mostly created for Catholic religious practice, was written by teams of Indigenous composers under colonialism collaborating with their colonizersJesuit missionaries. Some scholars have written about it from an historical perspective, discussing the cultural significance of the missions, but few have taken the music itself seriously, Grant said.

I find this to be quite surprising because the musical scores are really the only documents that we have in Indigenous hands that attest to life in the missions during the eighteenth century, Grant said. No one has really tried to understand what the musical language of these pieces is like, and to try to describe it in a technical and comprehensive way. So thats what Im trying to do in this book.

His book will start with the music, the physical scores, and with music analysis, he said. It will inquire about what performance may have looked like and how the music was taught and shared among people. Grant has traveled to Bolivia to work alongside the Indigenous Bolivian group Ensamble Moxos, which performs this music in the present day. Together with conductor Raquel Maldonado and Wesleyan students Sam Feuer 23 and Ale Philippedes 27, he is working to jointly structure pieces from the archive to get them into playable shape.

When I was down in Bolivia for the first time listening to the Ensamble Moxos perform this repertoire, I was just struck by a wall of joy and gratitude for being able to be there and listen to them do this, Grant said. Hearing this eighteenth-century music in this remote corner of the world, and being able to have that language in common with these interlocutors, that was just incredibly powerful for me.

Guggenheim Fellows are chosen from a rigorous applicant pool of nearly 3,500 and are selected on the basis of career achievement and promise. Since its founding, the Foundation has awarded over $400 million in fellowships to more than 19,000 fellows, including 125 Nobel laureates, and winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Fields Medal, Turing Award, Bancroft Prize, National Book Award, and other internationally recognized honors. The broad range of fields of study is a unique characteristic of the Fellowship program.

At a time when intellectual life is under attack, the Guggenheim Fellowship celebrates a century of support for the lives and work of visionary scientists, scholars, writers, and artists, said Edward Hirsch, award-winning poet and president of the Guggenheim Foundation. We believe that these creative thinkers can take on the challenges we all face today and guide our society towards a better and more hopeful future.
A notorious railway bridge on the N60 between Claremorris and Ballyhaunis is to be rebuilt.

Members of Claremorris Swinford Municipal District have approved a proposal by Mayo County Council to replace the existing Bekan Bridge and remedy the serious misalignment of the road. Councillors had been advised of several instances of debris falling from the structure. A public consultation evoked just one submission from a landowner, whose concerns are being met.

A technical approval process with Irish Rail is to be undertaken by the council and it is hoped that work will commence next year or, at the latest, in 2027.

Supporting the move, Cllr Richard Finn said the matter had been ongoing for years and welcomed the fact that there was light now at the end of the tunnel.

We look forward to the completion of this project. It will be a great help along that road because many a person has hit those walls with damage done to their own property. So it will be major progress also from the point of view of health and safety.

Cllr Patsy OBrien asked for a moment to think of the people who lost their lives there, saying: There have been many accidents at that bridge. It is one of those bridges that you cant see anything to the right of it until its too late, so this is certainly a good news story.

Cllr Alma Gallagher said the location was an accident blackspot, adding: There is also a vacant station house there below with a lot of history to it in terms of emigration, etc, which we would hope could also form part of a project. Compliments to the team and all involved in this work, it puts the emphasis now on how Irish Rail can improve bridges and I would like to see more of that in terms of other bridges in our district.

Cllr Gerry Murray noted that under the allocated funding, provision was being made for double tracking at the location.

In a written report, Senior Planner John McMyler, who recommended the project proceed, stated: The project will involve the construction of a new rail overbridge along with a road realignment of both approaches to the bridge in order to improve road safety at the site.

At present, there are safety concerns with many vehicular collisions occurring at the bridge where the parapet walls are being struck. There are sharp bends on both approaches with Vehicle Restraint Systems in place, which are continuously being struck also and require frequent repair/replacement.

Mr McMyler advised that works on the project, named the N60 Road Realignment and Rail Overbridge at Cuilbeg and Belesker, will comprise the construction of a new railway overbridge with approximately 700m road realignment to include an embankment and road carriageway construction or realignment. The proposed works are subject to specific grant allocations being made available.
CAIRO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- At least eight people were killed and 25 others wounded on Saturday in a traffic collision in southern Egypt's Minya province, provincial media office said in a statement.

A lorry hit a pickup truck which was carrying workers and children on the desert road of Tuna El-Gebel village, the office said. The statement urged residents to use safe means of transport, as pickup trucks are designed to transport goods, not people.

According to the statement, Minya province has been addressing its transportation problems over the past few months, banning pickup trucks from commuting people inside cities or on highways, and issuing licences to microbuses. 
On our emerald isle, where saints once walked and monasteries flourished like clover patches, the Catholic Church isn't dying - it's evolving. What some might mistake for institutional decline is, in fact, the birth pangs of something more sustainable, more inclusive, but still familiar.

Each morning across Ireland, increasingly spry septuagenarians rise from their beds and journey faithfully toward altars they've tended for decades. These men, once part of a robust army of the cloth, now represent the last battalion of a spiritual force that once conquered continents. But these ministries are no longer simply the domain of collar-wearing men. Church leadership is being reimagined through the involvement of the laity - women and men who feel called to serve their communities in new ways.

According to the Association of Catholic Priests, 15% of Ireland's remaining priests are over 75 and still working - presumably because celestial retirement benefits remain unclear - while a mere 2.5% are under 40. Once bursting with 500 eager young men in starched collars, the seminary at Maynooth now hosts just 20 seminarians. But rather than signalling an end, these figures represent a transition.

The mathematics is as brutal as it is straightforward: in the Clogher diocese alone, 37 parishes with 85 churches are served by 58 priests, half of whom collect pension benefits on the side.

"What we see now is priests in their mid to late seventies trying to run three parishes," explains Father Tony Flannery, who at 76 is what passes for a spring chicken in today's Irish clergy.

The reasons for this clerical drought are as numerous as they are predictable. Fr Flannery points to the Church's unwillingness to align with contemporary values.

"It's hard enough getting young people to go to mass," he notes, "and even more so when it is conducted by an 85-year-old."

The sexual abuse scandals have certainly accelerated this decline, though the decay was well underway before those horrors surfaced. Our modern world's obsession with "consumerism and materialism" leaves precious little space for contemplating the divine while scrolling through Instagram. Young Irish people, it seems, would prefer to swipe right instead of genuflect.

But where numbers decline, opportunity arises. A perfect example unfolded at St Muredach's Cathedral in Ballina recently where a spirit of joy and purpose filled the sanctuary as 64 laypeople from across the Diocese of Killala received their certificates in Lay Leadership. Having completed a two-year study course in Theology, Culture, and Ministry, which included parish placements, these graduates represent the future of parish leadership.

The ceremony, presided over by Archbishop Francis Duffy, marked the culmination of a formation journey designed to equip lay leaders with the skills and pastoral experience needed to co-lead ministry at parish level. This initiative was born out of the diocesan synodal listening process 'Placing Hope in Faith', which began in 2017 and which Pope Francis has invited all dioceses to undertake.

Many of these graduates are now engaged in co-leading funeral liturgies, offering compassionate support to grieving families, and ensuring that every parish has a team of well-trained ministers ready to serve. The course, under the direction of Dr Michael Gilroy and the Newman Institute, represents a concrete expression of the synodal vision that Pope Francis continues to encourage - one where laypeople and clergy journey together, sharing responsibility.

Similar initiatives are emerging across Ireland. Rather than importing clergy from Africa and India - a pragmatic but perhaps temporary solution some dioceses have attempted - the focus increasingly falls on preparing the laity for meaningful parish roles.

According to the Association of Catholic Priests, 15% of Ireland's remaining priests are over 75 and still working.

What's clear is that the Irish Church is experiencing not merely a crisis but a transformation. The institution that once dominated Irish life from the cradle to the grave is reinventing itself through necessity rather than choice. The faithful will indeed need to become more faithful than ever - not just to beliefs but to practical responsibilities once managed exclusively by men in collars.

For centuries, we Irish exported priests across the globe like spiritual Guinness, nourishing Catholic communities from Boston to Brisbane. Now, as the taps run dry at home, the remaining faithful face an unpalatable choice: adapt or watch two millennia of tradition dissolve like a communion wafer on the tongue. Perhaps what we're witnessing isn't death but metamorphosis - the Church not ending but changing form. Today's challenges call for creative responses, and the faithful are answering.

This moment of crisis for the Catholic Church in Ireland mirrors previous transformative periods in its long history. As one of the world's oldest and largest international institutions, the Church has demonstrated remarkable adaptability over two millennia. The most dramatic parallel might be the Second Vatican Council in the 1960s, which wrought the most dynamic changes to Catholic practices since the Council of Trent four centuries earlier. This precedent suggests that profound transformation, while painful, is not without historical context.

For we lay Catholics, such a metamorphosis causes a profound shift in our relationship with the institution. The diminishing presence of priests requires the faithful to step beyond traditional passive roles into active leadership. This aligns with existing Church teachings that recognise lay people are "active in liturgical and pastoral ministries for building up the Church" and that they "perform leadership and management functions for the Church".

Across Ireland, the bells still ring each Sunday. While fewer hear them than in decades past, those who respond are increasingly taking ownership of their faith communities. The Irish Catholic Church isn't fading into history - it's being reborn through the commitment of ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

The traditional model of parish life - one priest, one parish - may indeed be passing. But in its place, something potentially more vibrant is emerging: communities of active participants rather than passive recipients, sharing responsibility for nurturing the faith that has sustained the Irish people through centuries of challenge and change.

This builds upon centuries of tradition, as preaching by the laity has been established in various forms since at least 1200. Perhaps most significantly, the development of home-based faith communities that gather between infrequent sacramental celebrations will help maintain Catholic identity and practice, reimagining religious education to help individuals discover the richness of the Irish religious practice.

The Church in Ireland stands at a crossroads where either innovation will prevail or tradition - at least in its current form - will be subject to intense scrutiny. This transformation represents not just a pragmatic response to the clerical shortage but potentially a return to earlier models of the Christian community where the distinction between clergy and laity was less pronounced. Whether this constitutes evolution or decline depends largely on how successfully the laity embraces this responsibility and how willingly the institutional Church shares its authority.

The bells still ring, but fewer hear them. The candles still burn but cast longer shadows. And the faithful - those who remain - prepare for a future where faith itself must become more muscular, participatory, and responsible. As an optimist, I believe the Irish Catholic Church isn't dying; it's being reborn. As these newly trained leaders step into their roles across our Diocese, they deserve our support and gratitude. The Catholic Church in Ireland isn't facing last rites - it's experiencing resurrection.
Reading, PA (19601)

Today

Mostly sunny and pleasant with refreshingly low humidity! Great weather to celebrate the 4th of July!.

Tonight

Mostly clear skies and very comfortable overnight.
Allentown, PA (18103)

Today

Mostly sunny and pleasant with refreshingly low humidity! Great weather to celebrate the 4th of July!.

Tonight

Mostly clear skies and very comfortable overnight.
ULAN BATOR, April 19 (Xinhua)-- The Mongolian leg of the 18th "Chinese Bridge" -- Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign Secondary School Students, was held here Friday.

With the theme "Fly high with Chinese," the competition was part of a series of events to celebrate the Chinese Language Day in Mongolia.

A total of 25 finalists from seven schools across Mongolia competed in the final round of the "Chinese Bridge" contest in two categories: a theme speech, as well as a question-and-answer session, and a talent show.

Azjargal Baildagch, a 10th-grade student from the Khishig secondary school in Ulan Bator emerged as the champion and will proceed to the final round in China.

The competition, hosted by the Chinese embassy in Mongolia and organized by the Confucius Institute at the National University of Mongolia, aims to provide Mongolian secondary school students with a dream stage to showcase their Chinese proficiency and Chinese talents, inspiring children's enthusiasm to explore China. 
BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi's trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores," the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

During Xi's visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

Speaking of Xi's visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

Wang said that during Xi's Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

China's mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Ye Shan
by Xinhua writer Han Xiao

HAIKOU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Amid swaying coconut trees and the soft rustle of sea breeze, I arrived in China's southern island province of Hainan to cover the fifth China International Consumer Products Expo (CICPE).

Beneath the clear blue sky, Haikou's wave-shaped international convention center buzzed with energy. Crowds flowed through halls lined with dazzling displays of vehicles, cosmetics and homeware from across Europe, including the United Kingdom (UK), France, Italy and Slovakia, which captivated attention and sparked curiosity.

This year's guest country of honor, the UK, showcased 53 British brands -- a mix of long-established players in the Chinese market and first-time exhibitors -- signaling its ambition to deepen economic engagement with China, the world's second-largest economy.

Among the returning exhibitors was Tricker's, one of the UK's oldest shoemakers. "We're back because last year's expo significantly raised our profile in the market," said Mike Hofmann, managing director at Tricker's China.

"We see China not only as a sales market but also as a core place to invest and grow," he added, highlighting the encouraging signals from China's recent pro-consumption policies.

Just a few steps away, a subtle floral fragrance drew me toward a charming booth. It belonged to Aromatherapy Associates, a London-based wellness brand making its debut at the CICPE.

"Hainan's Free Trade Port is key to our cross-border strategy," said Yuan Quan, head of Aromatherapy Associates China. "We've seen a growing appetite among Chinese consumers for high-quality, therapeutic wellness products, which present great opportunities for us."

Health and wellness stood out as a defining theme at this year's expo. British biotech company Birmingham Biotech (BHM) chose the occasion to announce its official entry into the Chinese market.

"The expo opens doors to real-time feedback, collaboration and opportunity," said Michael Hsu, founder and CEO of BHM.

He noted that Chinese consumers' rising preference for drug-free, scientifically validated solutions aligns perfectly with the company's innovations.

"The Hainan Free Trade Port's policy advantages and openness to global cooperation make it an ideal destination for our localization plans," Hsu added.

"The sheer scale of the Chinese market is a powerful incentive," said Mark Clayton, chairman of the British Chamber of Commerce South China, noting that "the middle class here is larger than the entire population of the UK."

Driven by booming tourism, innovative policies, and robust retail growth, the island province of Hainan is rapidly becoming a vital domestic and international consumption destination, according to a white paper jointly released by KPMG China and the Moodie Davitt Report during the expo.

France showcased a national pavilion at the expo for the third consecutive year, featuring 12 French brands, including L'Oreal and Pierre Lannier, covering sectors such as cosmetics, luxury goods, health products and wines.

Familiar names also included Ducati, the legendary Italian motorcycle brand, and ETRO, the renowned Italian luxury fashion house, which set up a dedicated booth celebrating the 40th anniversary of its flagship Arnica fabric.

"China is rapidly evolving and has become one of our top-priority markets," said Fabio Lambertini, CEO of Ducati China.

"Hainan is a crucial node in our long-term vision," he added. With its winding coastal and mountain roads, he believes the tropical island has the potential to become a new hub for Ducati's immersive riding experiences and investment.

The Czech jewelry brand Krasna Duse -- meaning "beautiful soul" in Czech -- drew a constant stream of visitors with its shimmering displays. While browsing the cases, college student Ma Kanghui selected a pair of earrings. "The brand is completely new to me," she said. "The designs, with their Czech style, are so beautiful that I couldn't resist."

"Czech crystal has a unique charm and craftsmanship that I believe will conquer customers here in China," said the company president, Olga Kopalova.

This year marked Slovakia's debut with its own national pavilion, featuring a mix of skincare, wine, chocolate, and wellness brands. Pavol Kovarik, sales manager for Slovak beverage brand Cacaofe, said that his 22-hour journey from Vienna to Haikou via Chengdu was not only his first time in China but also the longest trip he had ever taken.

"I expected an inland Chinese city, but instead I arrived in a tropical paradise. Palm trees, beaches, and a vibrant atmosphere that I never imagined," Kovarik said.

"This is a fresh start for our presence in China's mega market. We also plan to attend exhibitions in Ningbo and Shanghai," he added. "For now, I am looking forward to taking a bullet train to Sanya after the expo and spend a couple of days there enjoying the beautiful beaches."

As the sun dipped below Hainan's horizon, the expo's buzz gradually faded, but the conversations it sparked about growth and cooperation are far from over. For many European brands, Hainan is more than just a stage for product display, it's a gateway to long-term relationships, evolving tastes, and mutual growth. 
Chinese President Xi Jinping greets the welcoming crowd during a grand welcome ceremony held by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Ding Haitao]

* Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations.

* A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

* Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

PHNOM PENH, April 18 (Xinhua)  Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia visit, his first overseas trip this year, highlighted China's dedication to deepening traditional ties, expanding practical cooperation and advancing its vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighbors.

The tour, which took him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, also signaled China's renewed push to reinforce regional stability and prosperity, and its determined support for regional economic integration as global protectionism and unilateralism continue to mount.

Closer Community

Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. He also underscored the importance of building a community with a shared future grounded in mutual respect, win-win cooperation and shared development.

In a signed article published ahead of his state visit to Vietnam, he stressed that China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, which is guided by the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China's commitment to pursuing the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors.

In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said.

In Vietnam, Xi said that building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

In Malaysia, Xi said that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. [Xinhua/Yao Qilin]

In Cambodia, Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism.

China's development has benefited not only itself but also many other countries, including Malaysia, said Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC), noting that the vision of a community with a shared future  "sharing weal and woe"  has won widespread support.

"As long as we uphold equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust, we will surely walk hand in hand even further on the journey ahead," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the deeply-rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, setting an example for South-South cooperation.

Greater Connectivity

A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

In Vietnam, Xi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly witness the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. [Xinhua/Shen Hong]

"Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers," said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In a joint statement on deepening bilateral ties and practical cooperation issued during Xi's visit, China said it is ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam.

Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can boost bilateral trade while enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

In Xi's state visit to Malaysia, the two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity.

Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

Making Real Difference

During his visit to Cambodia, Xi said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities.

Over the years, key BRI projects in Cambodia have yielded tangible benefits for local people. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has become a thriving industrial hub, attracting more than 200 international enterprises and institutions while creating 32,000 jobs.

The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway, has cut travel time between the two cities from over five hours to under two, significantly enhancing connectivity. Meanwhile, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has given a strong boost to the tourism sector, operating 17 routes by the end of last year.

"The future of Cambodia-China relations is bright and full of potential," said Mengdavid from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. "With the continued efforts of both countries' leaders, we can expect an even more dynamic, mutually beneficial and resilient partnership that will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond."

In Malaysia, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering a wide range of projects, which are taking root in Malaysia and making a difference for local people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. [Xinhua/Ding Lin]

Such projects have not only promoted technology transfer and created numerous jobs, but also helped uplift regions that were previously less developed, which truly reflects the BRI's vision  always putting people's well-being first, said Majid, the PPMC president and a former Malaysian ambassador to China.

(Source: Xinhua)

Editor: Ye Shan
GENEVA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Tristan Albrecht, co-chair of the Switzerland Film Commission, who is attending Beijing International Film Festival for the first time, said he will avail this opportunity to understand "what we can bring, how we can work together, what bridges can be made between the two countries."

Expressing his eager anticipation of a "big surprise" at the film festival ahead of his departure for Beijing, Albrecht told Xinhua in a recent interview in Sion, capital of the southern Swiss Canton of Valais that the first thing in Beijing was really to understand better how the film market works in China, as he planned to meet as many Chinese producers and film executives as possible.

It was really to "get a taste of the culture of the country and of the people, and of course, to watch the movies and understand the festival," he stressed.

Also as the head of the Valais Film Commission, Albrecht wears many hats: producer, cinematographer, editor, director, screenwriter and location sound mixer. Acknowledging Switzerland's film industry is smaller compared to China's vast market, he envisioned collaborations between Chinese and Swiss producers "on beautiful stories."

"Being able to tell stories that are coming, for instance, from China or having stories shared between China and Switzerland could be something very rich for our culture and for the stories that can be told," he said.

Noting that not many Chinese films are seen in Switzerland, Albrecht pledged more efforts to bring the Chinese cinema to his country, saying "This is probably part of the job, really to be able to see more of the Chinese culture and more of the Chinese movies here."

Albrecht said the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Switzerland to be marked this year is a good opportunity. "This anniversary and the length of our diplomatic relations show that we could go a step further and do something more, maybe in the film industry, but maybe also in other fields."

The 15th Beijing International Film Festival is taking place in Beijing on April 18-26, and Switzerland is this year's guest of honor. The Swiss film "Frieda's Case" will contend for the Tiantan Award. 
Marco Rubio said he and Steve Witkoff had come to Paris to begin to talk about more specific outlines of what it might take to end the war.
On Thursday, April 17, the rally Defend the Berlin4! Stop the deportation of genocide opponents! took place in front of the main building of Berlins Humboldt University.

The protest, organised by the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE) and the Student Council (AStA) of the Alice Salomon University of Applied Sciences Berlin, was directed against the threatened deportation of four activists who expressed opposition to the genocide in Gaza.

Although they have not been convicted in any court, the three EU and one US citizens have been ordered to leave Germany by April 21. Otherwise, they will be forcibly deported. Despite the deportation of one of the Berlin4 being temporarily suspended by a recent court decision, they are still in danger.

We are publishing here the speech that Katja Rippert gave on behalf of the IYSSE at the rally.

***

Dear fellow students, comrades and friends,

We, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality, have called for this rally today to mobilise broad and international support for the Berlin4, the four activists and opponents of genocide, and to prevent their impending deportation.

The attack on Shane OBrien, Roberta Murray, Kasia Wlaszczyk and Cooper Longbottom is an attack on all of us!

What is the alleged crime for which they are being criminalised?

All four protested against the genocide in Gaza, which, according to official figures, has claimed over 50,000 lives. Just a few days ago, the Israeli army once again bombed a hospital in Gaza City. According to the UN, around 500,000 peoplehalf a millionhave been displaced in the Gaza Strip.

Here in Germany, of all places, people are now to be deported again because they took to the streets to protest against genocide.

With baseless accusations and unprecedented proceedings normally reserved for serious criminals, the four activists are being deprived of their democratic rights.

This repression of the opponents of war at universities and at Gaza protests is only the beginning. An example is to be made of the Berlin4 in order to suppress any political opposition in the future.

Their persecution is directed against the entire working class and youth. First, they go after protesting students, immigrants, refugees. Who is next? Striking workers? Those who refuse to do military service?

This is also part of the comprehensive attacks on migrants and refugees in Germany. The coalition agreement between the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and Social Democrats (SPD) to form the next government heralds a drastic tightening of asylum policy. Refugees from Gaza are already being targeted. German authorities have suspended asylum proceedings for Palestinian asylum seekers from Gazawith the cynical justification that the situation on the ground is unclear.

Yesterday, the Federal Administrative Court allowed the deportation of two refugees to Greece, even though they face inhumane treatment, detention and catastrophic conditions there. This has implications for thousands of asylum cases.

We must fight back against these attacks: Stop the deportation of all refugees! No to the anti-migrant agitation! Defend your immigrant colleagues and fellow students against deportation!

The case of the Berlin4 goes far beyond the borders of Berlin. It is part of an international development. The trade war is escalating worldwide. With his new tariffs, Trump is preparing for a world war. Domestically, he is establishing the framework for a dictatorship and destroying all social programmes.

At universities in the United States, students like Mahmoud Khalil, who peacefully demonstrated against genocide, are being arrested and imprisoned.

The ruling class in America, just like here in Germany, is reviving the dictatorial methods and arbitrary criminalisation of the Nazis. We must not allow this to happen!

We are standing today at a historic site. In April 1933, the Nazis began to forcibly bring the universities into line with their ideology. On May 10, 1933, across the street hereon what is now Bebelplatzcheering Nazi students burned books by Jewish and Marxist authors: the works of Marx and Engels, the novels and poems of Heinrich Heine, Thomas Mann, Stefan Zweig and Erich Maria Remarque.

The book burning of 1933 is not just a grim reminder of the pastit is a highly contemporary warning.

Today, we are witnessing the establishment of a police state designed to criminalise and silence opponents of war, socialists, refugees and migrants. Freedom of expression is being trampled underfoot and protests against genocide are being beaten down.

Eighty years after the Second World War, the German government is supporting genocide and rearming on a scale not seen since Hitler. The Bundestag and Bundesrat [lower and upper house of parliament] have approved over a trillion euros in war loans.

Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz wants to supply Ukraine with German Taurus cruise missiles. This threat against Russia is reckless and extremely dangerous.

The Putin regime could interpret the delivery and use of the Taurus weapon as a declaration of war. Who can guarantee that Moscow will not respond with attacks on German targets?

The same politicians and journalists who justify every war crime committed by Israel by citing Germanys responsibility for the Holocaust have no qualms about waging war against Russia for the third time.

At the same time, they promote the rewriting of history and the relativisation of Nazi crimes. Here at Humboldt University, the teaching of right-wing extremist professor Jorg Baberowski trivialises Hitler and justifies the Nazis war of extermination against the Soviet Union.

The IYSSE fights for the principle: Scholarship instead of war propaganda! No trivialisation of Nazism and no arms research at our universities!

The federal government and all the capitalist parties, as well as the trade union leaderships, are accomplices in this pro-war policy.

In the Bundesrat, the Left Party has also approved rearmament, it defends the Israeli genocide and rigorously deports refugees in all the state governments in which it is involved.

Here in Berlin, many young people voted for the Left Party because it presented itself as an opponent of fascism, social inequality and war. Now, some are disappointed and confused. Why does the Left Party support genocide? Why does it vote for horrendous war expenditures?

It is time to dispel all illusions about the Left Party. There is nothing left-wing about the Left Party except its name. It is a pro-capitalist party that sees its task as controlling and suppressing a real movement from below.

It has proven this time and again in the past. Here in Berlin, we know this all too well. Its Stalinist predecessors helped organise the reintroduction of capitalism in the German Democratic Republic [East Germany] and the liquidation of factories there during the transition.

In the SPD-Left Party Senate (Berlin state executive) from 2001 to 2011, the Left Party ruined the capital with its austerity measures. It is also closely involved in the return of German militarism. Like all the establishment parties, the Left Party has paved the way for the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) with its anti-working-class austerity policies.

No, we cannot stop the genocide in Gaza and the deportation of the Berlin4 by appealing to these parties and those in power.

State repression and the escalation of war are not the result of the wrong policies of one politician or another. They follow a political logicthe logic of capitalism.

Worldwide, governments and financial elites can only maintain their power and wealth through authoritarian methods.

They are sitting on a powder keg. Anger is growing everywhere over the gulf between rich and poor. Social cuts and mass layoffs are imminent. The costs of war are to be passed on to the workers, and young people are to be sacrificed as cannon fodder.

The majority of the population rejects this pro-war policy. That is why those in power are increasingly attacking democratic rights. Their policy of repression is not an expression of strength, but of weakness. They are defending tooth and claw a social system that has failed and produces nothing but misery and war.

In Gaza, we see the descent of capitalism into barbarism every day, and millions of people are asking themselves: How can the escalation of war finally be stopped? How can deportations be prevented?

One thing is clear: not by putting pressure on governments and university administrations or appealing to the capitalist parties! That is a dead end, because they are pursuing their own objective economic and geopolitical interests in the wars.

We say: Students must orient themselves towards the working class, the only revolutionary force in society. The struggle against genocide and war will not be decided here on campus, but in the factories, ports and other workplaces around the world.

The international working class is a powerful social force comprising 3.5 billion people55 percent more than in 1991. In Germany, over 45 million people are employed.

Whether metalworkers or auto workers, bus drivers or nurses, parcel delivery drivers or childcare employees, the working class keeps society running every day and creates all of societys wealth. Many students also must work part-time to cope with rising rents and food prices.

The dangerous development of a third world war and the preparation of a dictatorship at home can be stopped if the working class is mobilised on the basis of revolutionary politics and the big banks and corporations are expropriated.

That this is possible is shown by a key event in history, which I would like to recall at the end of my contribution.

Exactly 108 years ago today, on April 17, 1917, the Russian revolutionary Vladimir Lenin addressed the Petrograd Soviet with a speech that went down in history as the April Theses. With this, Lenin, together with Leon Trotsky, paved the way for the working class to seize power a few months later, in October 1917.

The October Revolution ended the First World War. It proved that the workers were capable of stopping the bloody carnage.

However, the further course of the revolution also showed that first, the working class needed a revolutionary party like the Bolsheviks, which was politically prepared and led the mass movement. And second, that the revolution could only be defended if it was based on the programme of world revolutionand not on the nationalist politics that Stalin then promoted.

Today, we face the challenge of building such a revolutionary leadership in the working class throughout the world.

This is what we are fighting for in the International Youth and Students for Social Equality. As the youth and student organisation of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (Socialist Equality Party), we are part of the Trotskyist world movement.

Leon Trotsky defended the perspective of internationalism against Stalins reactionary nationalism. We must take up this struggle today!

We call on you to study Marxism and the lessons of history! Come to our book table and discuss these questions with us. Become active in the IYSSE, leave your contact details and, above all, support the defence campaign for the Berlin4!

Their fate depends on us building a revolutionary movement that fights against war and its root cause: capitalism.

As Rosa Luxemburg so aptly put it, we are faced today with the alternative: Socialism or barbarism!
The World Socialist Web Site invites workers and other readers to contribute to this regular feature.

Asia

Nation-wide strike by teachers in Nepal enters second week

Nepal Teachers Federation (NTF) members are maintaining their indefinite strike begun on April 7 to demand implementation of the School Education Act, which provides improved pay and conditions. Thousands of teachers gathered in Kathmandu on April 2 and have been holding demonstrations and sit-ins at Maitighar-Naya Baneshwor in the city centre. They are defying government instructions to end the strike and begin student enrolments for the new academic year.

The federation reaffirmed its position on Tuesday and directed all school principals and teachers to refrain from any official duties, including exam paper checking, publication of results, admissions, training sessions and participation in academic programs like seminars and educational trips.

The teachers oppose the governments failure to endorse the school education bill which has been in a parliamentary committee for over 18 months. The bill contains improved conditions for teachers, such as regular payment of monthly salaries, equal pay and entitlements with civil servants, retention of teachers under the federal government and lifting the entry age of teachers to 40. Teachers also want a dedicated hospital for teachers in line with army, police and civil service hospitals.

The federation is refusing to hold talks with the government. A federation spokesperson said, We have had ample dialogues and have reached different agreements in the past. Let the law be enacted incorporating the already-agreed provisions.

India: Karnataka truck owners end indefinite strike over diesel prices

Indefinite strike action begun on Monday over diesel prices and tolls by about 600,000 truck owners was called off yesterday, after talks with their union and the state government. Truck owners are complaining about the price of diesel, which has increased by 5 rupees since June 2024 when the government increased the sales tax on diesel from 18.44 percent to 21.17 percent.

Truck owners were also protesting the collection of toll fees at 18 state highway toll booths, unique to Karnataka. No other Indian state imposes such charges on state highways. The association wants the government to cease collecting the tolls and roll back the diesel price increase.

Although the indefinite strike exempted vehicles transporting essential commoditiesvegetables, food items, milk and medicinesthe near-complete halt of lorry movements from other states disrupted these supplies. The Karnataka State Lorry Owners and Agents Association has not released any information about the negotiations.

Mizoram state government workers employed in Centrally Sponsored Schemes demand permanent jobs

About 10,000 temporary government workers employed in Centrally Sponsored Schemes (CSS) in Mizoram state, stopped work on Tuesday to demand permanent jobs. The strike was organised by the All-Mizoram CSS Employees Coordination Committee.

A union spokesperson accused the government of using delaying tactics, saying that the government has no intention of solving the issue. The office memorandum has so many checklists which cannot be met by us since there were no recruitment rules pertaining to our appointments years ago, the spokesperson said.

The government implemented no work no pay to intimidate the striking workers, which they ignored and went ahead with the state-wide strike.

ASHA workers strike in Kerala enters third month

Some 26,000 ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activists) workers in Kerala have been on a state-wide strike since February 10 against poverty wages and poor conditions. They are determined to maintain their protest outside the Thiruvananthapuram Secretariat and are holding a protest hunger strike and have begun cutting off their hair.

Workers want their monthly wage increased from a meagre 7,000 rupees ($US80) to about 21,000 rupees, a 5,000-rupee pension, and withdrawal of the compulsory retirement age of 62. Workers complained that they only receive 4,000 to 5,000 rupees of the current monthly pay.

Although critical ASHA services have been crippled, the state government is refusing to give in to the workers demands and cynically attempted to wipe its hands of the dispute by promising to increase the ASHA honorarium only if the central government chips in.

Tamil Nadu power loom workers and owners strike

Power loom workers and owners in Coimbatore and Tiruppur have been on strike since March 19 demanding higher wages from textiles manufacturers. They began a protest hunger strike on April 11.

There are about 150,000 workers from thousands of power loom units in the region. The workers and small-business power loom owners want increased wages and prices to keep pace with the rising cost of living. The workers decided to strike after textile manufactures repeatedly ignored their demand.

Pakistan: Punjab health workers protest again over privatisation

Hundreds of workers from various health unions organised under the Grand Health Alliance (GHA) are continuing a province-wide protest they began on April 10 against privatisation.

Announced in March, the governments privatisation policy includes the outsourcing the operations of Basic Health Units (BHUs) and Rural Health Centres (RHCs). These facilities serve as the foundation of primary healthcare in the province. Public hospitals will also be privatised, according to the announcement.

The union bureaucracies say they oppose privatisation but have made clear to the government that they are willing to compromise and are calling for dialogue with the government to explore alternatives.

Bangladesh garment workers protest factory closure and unpaid wages

About 200 apparel workers from the AST Garments factory in Narayanganj blocked the Dhaka-Chattogram Highway on Tuesday to oppose closure of the factory and demand unpaid wages. They withdrew the blockade after officers from the Narayanganj Industrial Police and Siddhirganj Police Station forcefully intervened. The workers decided to act after learning on Tuesday that the factory had closed, and equipment removed without prior notice.

US tariffs on Bangladeshi garment exports, particularly the recent 37 percent tariff, are expected to have a devastating impact on the garment industry. The tariffs threaten to significantly reduce garment orders from US buyers, leading to factory closures, job losses, and a decline in household incomes.

Australia and the Pacific

Keolis Downer bus mechanics in Sydney strike for higher pay

About 50 heavy-vehicle maintenance mechanics employed by commuter transport contractor Keolis Downer struck this week at the Brookvale and Mona Vale bus depots in Sydneys northern beaches this week. They walked off the job for three hours on April 11 at 6 a.m. and 1 p.m. to demand a substantial pay rise and improved conditions.

The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) accused Keolis Downer of failing to negotiate proper pay and conditions. A union spokesperson alleged that members pay has not kept pace with industry rates, saying Keolis Downer is paying $41 an hour while other companies in the industry are offering $48 an hour. Workers want pay parity with other mechanics doing the same job.

Keolis Downer bus drivers continue industrial action in Newcastle

Keolis Downer bus drivers in Newcastle and Lake Macquarie in New South Wales turned off fare collecting machines indefinitely on April 3 to force the company to resume negotiations for a new enterprise agreement. The drivers, members of the Rail Tram and Bus Union (RTBU), are maintaining free travel for commuters.

A spokesman from the RTBU claimed Keolis Downer had repeatedly delayed negotiations by rostering local union delegates on shift leaving them unable to attend meetings. He said two key demands were a pay increase and at least 72 hours notice for changes to drivers shifts.

Fire Rescue Victoria administrative and technical staff strike for pay rise

Corporate, administrative and technical workers from Fire Rescue Victoria began a week of limited strike action on April 10 in their fight with the state Labor government for a pay rise. Workers at seven fire stations held two-hour stoppages on April 10 and 11 followed by two-hour end of shift stoppages at all FRV facilities from Monday to Thursday.

The United Firefighters Union (UFU) claimed these workers have gone without a pay increase for five years and the governments pay and conditions offer falls far short of their expectation.

St Marys Community Health workers in Tasmania strike over workload

Health and Community Services Union (HACSU) members at the state-owned St Marys Community Health Centre on Tasmanias east coast have been taking low level industrial action since March 25, complaining of being overworked, under-staffed, stressed, and taken advantage of. The Centre provides eight acute/palliative care beds, an Outpatient and Emergency service, physiotherapy and visiting services.

On April 11, staff stopped work for one hour and protested outside the facility accompanied by supporters from the community. Workers are demanding that the state Liberal government provide safe and manageable working conditions.

XXXX brewery workers in Queensland strike again for pay rise and protection of existing conditions

About 20 Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members from the Castlemaine Perkins brewery in Brisbane, which produces XXXX beer, struck for several hours on Thursday in a dispute over the companys proposed enterprise agreement. The action followed a 24-hour strike on April 1, which also included around 80 United Workers Union (UWU) members who are part of the dispute.

The unions have been in negotiations with the company since December, demanding a 15 percent pay rise over three years and retention of conditions for workers and apprentices. They claimed Castlemaine Perkins, a division of the Japanese-owned company Lion, is attempting to strip away crucial entitlements.

The company wants to include apprentices in the new agreement but not carry over existing entitlements, such as laundry allowance, side allowances and Christmas bonuses. Workers are also concerned that the company wants to impose new conditions when they access personal leave for significant health issues.

New Zealand senior doctors to strike over pay, staffing

Up to 5,500 senior doctors in the New Zealand public health system will go on strike next month for higher pay rates and workforce shortages. Association of Salaried Medical Specialists (ASMS) members voted on April 15 to walk out for 24 hours on May 1, with 86 percent voting in favour.

ASMS director Sarah Dalton said it was the unions first 24-hour strike since it was established in 1989. She said union has been negotiating with Health NZ since last August, but the organisation had not moved an inch.

Hospital specialists want a 12 percent pay rise but are being offered around 1 to 1.5 percent. Dalton said specialists with 15 years of experience were earning less than a first-year specialist in Australia.

A Health NZ spokesman said if the strike went ahead it could lead to 4,300 elective surgeries or specialist appointments being cancelled. Between 3,000 and 4,300 radiology procedures could also be postponed.

The industrial action follows ongoing strikes by medical laboratory workers and stoppages in December by 30,000 nurses over a pay dispute that remains unresolved.
A man walks past a homeless encampment in downtown Los Angeles, Wednesday, October 25, 2023. [AP Photo/Jae C. Hong]

The abrupt resignation of Ryan Johnson as interim CEO of the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA) reveals the true character a project that was always designed to serve private capital, not the public good. Far from a failure of vetting or due diligence, Johnsons appointmentand now his exitwas part of a deliberate strategy by Los Angeles County politicians and their financial backers to transform homelessness from a humanitarian crisis into a lucrative profit opportunity.

Johnson, whose tenure will end this fall, was hailed by LACAHSA board members as a visionary outsider who could bring creative funding solutions to the crisis of affordable housing. What they neglected to mention was that these solutions were drawn directly from the toolkit of finance capital: mechanisms of asset restructuring, market speculation, and opaque real estate maneuvers that benefit investors at the direct expense of the working class. In fact, Johnsons entire career has been characterized by the aggressive commodification of housing, under the guise of affordability and social benefit.

LACAHSA, a public entity created in 2022, is now tasked with managing over a third of the estimated $1.1 billion raised annually through Measure A, a regressive half-cent sales tax increase which was approved by voters in November. This measure, presented as a moral imperative to combat homelessness, was in fact a Trojan horse: a mechanism for funneling public funds into the hands of private equity firms under the cover of social concern.

Johnsons background made him the perfect figurehead for this operation. With previous roles in private equity, speculative real estate development, and a resume padded with unverifiable claims and unverifiable transactions, Johnson was handpicked. Fulham Square Capital, the firm he founded in 2023, allegedly raised over $120 million in equity and acquired over $350 million in distressed assets, converting 2,600 market-rate units into affordable housing.

But when pressed by journalists to provide even a basic list of these projects, Johnson hid behind investor confidentiality agreements. Legal experts have confirmed there is no prohibition on disclosing such information, only a reluctance to let the public see how their tax dollars are being used to underwrite private profit.

This duplicity runs straight to the top. Johnson was selected unanimously by a board that includes Democratic Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, Supervisor Holly Mitchell and self-styled progressive Nithya Raman, a member of the Democratic Socialists of Americaa faction of the Democratic Party. None of them raised a single concern about Johnsons opaque record or the contradiction of placing a private equity executive at the helm of a public housing agency.

Johnsons role was perfectly captured by Long Beach Mayor Rex Richardson, LACAHSAs board chair, who praised Johnson at the time of his hiring as an innovative and entrepreneurial-minded CEO. That is, not someone grounded in serving people in need, but a financial operator with the mindset to turn a social catastrophe into a business venture. The boards unanimous decision opened a new frontier for capital accumulation, with Johnson as its vanguard.

Johnsons previous ventures are riddled with contradictions and false claims. At the South Carolina-based Greenville Housing Fund, Johnson claimed to have grown assets from $5 million to $220 million. IRS filings show growth to just $81 million. He claimed to have saved a California nonprofit from bankruptcy in five monthsthe organization denied it was ever in financial distress. At Fulham, he promised disclosure of deals, then walked back his commitment the same day he announced his resignation. This pattern of puffed-up credentials, unsubstantiated impact, and retreat into the fog of financial confidentiality is precisely what LACAHSAs leadership found attractive.

Johnsons role at LACAHSA was that of a pathfinder. His task was not to lead a stable public institution, but to lay the groundwork for a newly financialized homelessness economy, where public dollars, raised disproportionately from working-class consumers through sales taxes, are handed to real estate syndicates under the cover of public-private partnerships.

LACAHSA Interim CEO Ryan Johnson [Photo: Ryan Johnson]

Now that this groundwork has been laid, Johnson can exit stage left. Another emissary of finance capital will be installed to oversee the next phase: the disbursement of taxpayer money upward into the hands of private landlords, construction firms and investment groups.

It is no accident that Johnsons resignation comes just as LACAHSA begins collecting its $400 million annual share of Measure A funding. The agency is now flush with public funds and freshly legitimized by the rhetoric of reform. The interim job of paving the road for profit has been completed.

This development vindicates earlier warnings issued by the World Socialist Web Site, which has consistently exposed how so-called progressive solutions to homelessness are nothing more than profit engines for finance capital. Behind the facade of concern and innovation lie the brutal mechanisms of capitalism, which seek to monetize every social ill, including the growing masses of unhoused people.

The very politicians and media figures who drape themselves in the language of justice and equity enabled this.

Bass, who built her reputation on social work and professed progressive values, presided silently over the hiring of a figure with an extensively disputed record. Pro-Zionist Nithya Raman, elected with the backing of the DSA and progressives, also offered no resistance. Instead, she joined the unanimous board vote to install Johnson, and later offered vague platitudes about accountability in homelessness programs when confronted with questions about his resume. Their participation in this charade exposes the true colors of the Democratic Party and its pseudo-left satellites in managing capitalisms most grotesque expressions.

As for Measure A, its regressive nature is a damning indictment of the entire funding framework. Sales taxes fall heaviest on the working poor, who spend a greater share of their income on taxable consumer goods. These are the very people most at risk of homelessness. Now, through Measure A, they are financing a system designed to fail them. Their contributions are being siphoned upward, redirected into the pockets of real estate developers, consultants, and bondholders, under the cynical guise of help.

Measure A was heavily promoted by the Democratic Party establishment, which wrapped it in progressive language and urgent appeals for moral responsibility. In reality, it shows the core hypocrisy of the Democratic Party, posing as defenders of the working class while constructing policies that extract wealth from workers and redistribute it to the capitalist ruling class. Behind the marketing campaigncomplete with ballot-box rhetoric about compassion and communitystood a bipartisan political machine fully aware that the funds would be funneled into public-private partnerships designed to enrich speculators.

Homelessness is not a market opportunity. It is the brutal consequence of a social and economic systemcapitalismthat subordinates all human needs to the pursuit of profit. And until that system is overturned, every solution offered by the likes of LACAHSA, no matter how well-branded, will only deepen the problem.

Johnsons resignation is not the end of a mistake: it is the signal that a plan has succeeded, the machinery is now in place, the money is flowing. And the capitalist politicians, from the right to the pseudo-left, are united in silence.

Only through independent, political mobilization of the working classone that rejects the capitalist parties and their political operativescan workers begin to fight back against the system that has made housing a commodity and turned human misery into a business model, and replace it with its progressive alternative, socialism.
An article published by the New York Times Thursday makes clear that the Trump administration and the far-right Israeli regime have developed detailed plans for a military onslaught on Irans nuclear facilities. It also confirms that US military assetsincluding a fleet of B-2 bomberswere deployed to the region in recent weeks in accordance with the joint-attack plan.

According to the Times account, US and Israeli military and political leaders have discussed operational plans for actions from underground commando raids to a week-long bombing campaign with bunker-busting munition, underscoring that Washington is on the brink of plunging the entire Middle East into a region-wide war that would have catastrophic consequences for millions of people.

The article, published under the byline of several Times authors with close ties to the White House and Americas military-security apparatus, revealed that the Zionist regime and Washington have been working in close consultation for months on plans to destroy Irans nuclear capabilities in an attack slated for as early as May.

President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as he leaves the West Wing of the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington [AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein]

According to the Times, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu initially pushed for an option that would have combined airstrikes with commando raids. The plan would have been a far more ambitious version of an operation Israel carried out last September, when Israeli forces flew by helicopter into Syria to destroy an underground bunker used to build missiles for Hezbollah

After shelving the commando idea, Israeli and American officials began discussing a plan for an extensive bombing campaign that would have started in early May and lasted more than a week. An Israeli strike last year had already destroyed Irans Russian-made S-300 air defense systems. The bombing campaign would have had to begin with striking remaining air defense systems, allowing Israeli fighters to have a clearer path to hitting the nuclear sites.

The reports publication was clearly timed to impact ongoing high-level talks between American and Iranian officials. These talks began last weekend in Oman and are scheduled to continue tomorrow in Rome. Trumps special envoy, the billionaire property speculator Steve Witkoff, is to meet with Iranian Foreign Minister Abas Araghchi to discuss Irans nuclear programme and possible relief on the brutal sanctions Washington has imposed on Iran since Trump unilaterally pulled the US out of the UN-backed Iran nuclear accord in 2018.

Trump has set a two-month deadline for reaching a new agreement with Iran, and has repeatedly declared that if the talks fail the US will attack Iran.

Thursdays Times article, which was based entirely on intelligence leaks, was meant to underscore this threat: either Iran capitulates to Washingtons demands, or it will face a combined onslaught by the American and Israeli militaries.

Although the article was framed in terms of Trump reining in Israels advanced plans for a major military operation and waving off an attack on Iran to give diplomacy a chance, the information presented demonstrates that in so far as there are disagreements, they are of a very limited tactical character. One passage reported that Vice President Vance argued in one discussion that Mr. Trump had a unique opportunity to make a deal. If the talks failed, Mr. Trump could then support an Israeli attack, Mr. Vance said, according to administration officials.

The fact of the matter is that American imperialism, both under Democratic and Republican presidents, has been preparing for years for a regime-change war to topple the bourgeois-clerical regime in Tehran and bring to power a puppet government entirely under Washingtons thumb. Preparations to carry this out have intensified dramatically over the past 18 months, while the US under Biden and then Trump has provided unflinching support for Israels genocide against the Palestinians. Throughout, Washington has viewed Israels rampage on multiple fronts in the Occupied Territories, Lebanon, Syria and beyond as a key component of a broader push to redraw the map of the Middle East so as to secure US hegemony against its rivals in the energy-rich and strategically critical region, above all China and Russia.

Irans bourgeois-clerical regime has long been riven by infighting between a moderate or reform faction seeking a rapprochement with the US and European imperialist powers, and a hardline faction committed to closer alignment with China and Russia.

Irans President Masoud Pezeshkian led a push for renewed talks with Washington in recent months, claiming that the election of Trumpa notorious anti-Iran war-hawkcould nevertheless provide an opening for sanctions relief. Ultimately, Irans Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Khamenei, gave his blessing to exploratory talks, but at the same time Tehran has continued to seek closer relations with both Russia and China, and has held separate talks with them over its nuclear program.

Araghchi visited Moscow on Wednesday, where he reportedly delivered a letter from Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The fact that the traditional hardliners have tacitly given their approval to talks with Washington reflects both the regional and domestic crises confronting Irans bourgeois-clerical regime. Since Israel launched its genocide against the Palestinians in October 2023 with US backing, Irans key allies in the regionHamas in Gaza, Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Syrias Assadhave either been severely weakened or overthrown. Irans ability to defend its own territory has also been seriously called into question following Israels assassination of Hamas political leader Ismail Haniyeh, while he was a guest of honour in Tehran in July 2024, and the Zionist regimes missile attacks on key military targets in Iran in late October.

At home, the regime sits atop a social powder keg, and social tensions have been intensified by the devastating impact of Western sanctions. In January, a report in a reform-aligned daily newspaper noted that 50 percent of the population lives below the poverty line of $450 per month, and that the Iranian currency, the riyal, fell by around 30 percent between September 2024 and January 2025, pushing up consumer prices still further.

These factors by no means preclude the possibility that the bilateral talks could fail. As the Times article makes clear, Trump and his advisers, far from ruling out military action, have merely determined to put it on hold for the time being. The fascist-minded President has himself repeatedly threatened to obliterate Iran. Given the mounting social and political crisis in the US, with rising popular opposition to Trumps drive towards dictatorship, a sudden and desperate turn to war with Iran to divert social tensions outwards is a real possibility.

The imminent prospect of a devastating military assaultnow spelled out in the Times articlecould just as well strengthen the forces within the Iranian regime calling for a more hardline stance to the West as those pushing for a rapprochement. The threat of a military onslaught would remain if the regime capitulates to Trumps sweeping demands for even more stringent restrictions on Irans civilian nuclear programme than were included in the previous 2015 nuclear accord. Moreover, the Trump administration has signalled that any deal would also have to include limits to Irans ballistic missile programmearguably Tehrans most important deterrent to a US attack.

The 2015 Iran nuclear accord, also known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, was agreed between Iran, the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council (the US, Britain, China, France, and Russia), and Germany. The UNSC resolution implementing the agreement allows for a so-called snapback of UN sanctions on Iran if Tehran is deemed by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to be noncompliant with the deal or if no new agreement is reached by October 2025. Given the ongoing US/NATO war on Russia in Ukraine and Trumps trade war with China, there appears little prospect of Beijing and Moscow consenting to the reintroduction of UN sanctions on Iran at the behest of the Western powers.

In recent years, China has emerged as Irans most important customer for its oil exports, in part because Beijing can organise trade in yuan to avoid US sanctions. Economic cooperation was formalised in a 25-year partnership agreement, which reportedly committed China to invest $400 billion in Iran in exchange for a steady supply of cheap oil. Tehrans relationship with Moscow has also deepened, with Iran providing drones for Russias war in Ukraine and receiving Russian defence equipment in return. In January, a military partnership agreement between the two countries was announced. As a result, both Beijing and Moscow would inevitably view a direct US attack on Irans nuclear programme as an attack on their economic and geopolitical interests in the regionone, moreover, that given the bitter conflicts between Russia and China on the one side, and the US on the other in Ukraine and Eastern Europe, the Indo-Pacific, and on the economic front, could rapidly escalate into all-out war.

For the European imperialists, referred to as the E3 in the context of talks on Irans nuclear programme, the threat of reimposing UN sanctions remains one of the few diplomatic tools they possess to influence the current talks, from which they have been all but excluded by Trump. In March, the E3 issued a joint statement with the US denouncing Iran, after the IAEAs latest quarterly inspection report revealed an increase in the amount of uranium Iran has enriched to a purity level of 60 percent, just short of the 90 percent needed to build a nuclear weapon.

While the European imperialist powers are in fundamental agreement with Washington on the need to reduce Irans regional influence and curtail its nuclear programme, the rift that has opened up between the transatlantic allies over recent months due to Trumps push for an accommodation with the Putin regime on the basis of a negotiated settlement to the war in Ukraine and his tariffs against the European powers underscores that they are not necessarily pursuing the same goal in reaching a new deal with Iran. The American and European imperialists could well find themselves in conflict over the talks or a unilateral military strike by Washington with Israeli support.

Even in the event of a new agreement between the US and Iran, the threat of a regional war will remain acute. Tehrans capitulation to American imperialist demands would escalate the conflicts between Washington on one side, and China and Russia on the other, and lead to them being fought out ever more directly. Moreover, it would be based on an agreement by the bourgeois-clerical regime to dismantle what remains of the economic and social concessions that were made to the working class in the wake of the 1979 Revolution, opening up the Iranian economy to ruthless exploitation by American capital. This process would further exacerbate the already sharp social tensions in the country, threatening the regimes downfall.

The only progressive way out of the looming war danger throughout the Middle East and the deepening social catastrophe for the Iranian masses produced by the competing imperialist and great-power interests is through the fight for socialism. Workers in Iran must unify their struggles with those of the working class throughout the Middle East, irrespective of their national and ethnic origin, and with the workers in the imperialist centres, to build a global anti-war movement. This movement must counterpose a socialist and internationalist programme in the fight for workers power to both the aggressive drive of American and European imperialism, and the bankrupt Islamism and nationalism of the bourgeois-clerical regime.
As one of the Socialist Equality Partys candidates in the federal election, I condemn the recent Victorian Supreme Courts dismissal of a legal challenge brought by residents of several of the towers that have been targeted by the state Labor government for demolition and privatisation.

SEP candidate Taylor Hernan speaking at the Neighbourhood Action Committee meeting on Saturday, 5 April 2025

The judgment, as the World Socialist Web Site has reported, served as a demonstration of class justice. Residents were effectively told that they had no right to a home, no right to be consulted prior to the government decision to obliterate their communities, and no right even to have access to secret government documents used to justify the public housing sell-off. The government, it was made clear, has free rein to take whatever measures it wishes with regard to public housing, regardless of the devastating impact on thousands of families, including refugees, single parents, and other vulnerable layers of the population.

Public housing residents and the entire working class must draw sharp political lessons from the legal caseabove all else, the urgent need to mobilise against the threatened demolitions through the Neighbourhood Action Committee that was established last month by a group of residents, with the active support of the Socialist Equality Party.

It is entirely legitimate for public housing residents to seek every opportunity within the legal system to challenge the government and its destructive agenda. However, countless historical examples in Australia and internationally demonstrate that legal battles for civil and social rights are effective only to the extent that they complement, and are ultimately subordinated to, the active mobilisation of working class people from below.

A different perspective animated the Supreme Court case. The lead plaintiff in the legal appeal was a former Greens party candidate for local council, and the Greens promoted the court challenge in the state parliament and publicly. Residents were told to place their hopes for a reprieve from eviction in the court system. The Greens have since said nothing, beyond state party leader Ellen Sandells comments reported by the Australian Associated Press (AAP), that the outcome was disappointing but that the fight was not over.

All of this is so much hot air. The Greens have no intention of fighting anything, including the destruction of the public housing towers. Their so-called campaign, to the extent that there is one, consists solely of moral appeals to the state Labor government to change its mind and reverse course.

That serves to conceal Labors character as a ruthless representative of big business and the banks, and to subordinate opposition to the destruction of public housing to the very party that is carrying it out.

That is not a mistake on the part of the Greens. No less than Labor, they are a party of the political establishment that defends the domination of private profit over social need.

That has found concrete expression on the issue of housing. On the last day of federal parliament in December, the Greens joined with the Albanese government to pass Labors housing legislation.

In doing so, the Greens dropped all of their phony demands, for an increase in social and public housing, for rent caps and other palliatives that they advance to win support. Instead, they voted for measures handing millions of dollars to the same property developers benefiting from the destruction of public housing by the state Labor administrations.

Now, amid the federal election campaign, the Greens entire pitch is for a coalition with Labor. That is, the Greens are signalling their support for Labors housing policies, which are premised on an end to public housing, further handouts to the developers and attempts to maintain the ultra-inflated housing prices, to the benefit of the banks and the billionaires.

After the Supreme Court ruling, one of the lawyers involved in the residents case told AAP: They have been passionate about asserting their legal rights and committed to this processit has been the only recourse available to have their voices heard. This was Louisa Bassini, who has previously stood as an election candidate for the pseudo-left organisation Victorian Socialists.

Bassinis statement that the legal system is the only avenue for residents to have their voices heard is false from start to finish. The courts ultimately function as instruments of the capitalist state, serving to uphold and advance state power and corporate profit accumulation.

The fact that the Victorian Socialists are covering this up, underscores the fraudulent character of their own election campaign. Its entire thrust, virtually indistinguishable from the Greens, is to peddle the sham that the powers-that-be can be pressured to grant concessions on housing and other essential social questions.

Notably, while the Victorian Socialists are seeking to win electoral support by peddling this reformism on housing, they have said virtually nothing about the planned destruction of the towers. That too is not accidental. It expresses the fact that this is a party of the affluent, inner-city upper middle-class, that is utterly indifferent to the plight of the most oppressed sections of the working class.

In opposition to all of these political traps, the SEP is explaining that residents need to themselves mobilise through the Neighbourhood Action Committee, turning out to other sections of the Australian and international working class. Action committees of public housing residents need to be established on every estate and within every working class community.

These committees need to send delegations to speak with meetings of different workers, such as builders, teachers, healthcare workers, public sector workers, as well as youth in the schools and universities. The broadest discussion must develop on the necessity for the entire working classthe only social force that can stop this wrecking operationto urgently intervene in defence of the tower residents.

In a statement issued earlier in the federal election campaign, I explained:

Secure, high quality, and affordable housing ought to be a basic social right for all. But this right will never be granted by the capitalist class and its political hirelings in parliamentit must be fought for! Ample resources exist to provide public housing for all who need it. These resources, however, are hoarded by the ultra-wealthy oligarchy at the top of society. Governments of all stripes, Labor and Liberal, have committed hundreds of billions of dollars to nuclear submarines and other instruments of war that are being readied ahead of the planned US-led attack on China, and which have already been directed to imperialist conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. An internationalist and socialist perspective is not some far off ideal, but rather the only practical program for the working class today. A workers government will liberate the productive forces of society, organise economic life not on the basis of maximising profit but rather satisfying social need, and oversee a massive redistribution of wealth to workers, youth and the oppressed.

I again extend the warmest support for and solidarity with the Neighbourhood Action Committee and urge all public housing residents, and other supporters of public housing, to join its ranks and step up the fight against the Labor governments destructive privatisation drive.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
To sign the petition demanding freedom for Bogdan Syrotiuk and learn more about the campaign, click here.

In the ongoing trial against Bogdan Syrotiuk, a 26-year-old socialist opponent of the US-NATO war in Ukraine against Russia, the prosecution continues to fail to provide evidence for its severe charges of high treason committed under martial law. The charges, which served as the basis for Syrotiuks arrest almost exactly one year ago, on April 25, carry a sentence of 15 years to life in prison. As a leader of the Young Guard of Bolshevik-Leninists (YGBL), which is in political solidarity with the International Committee of the Fourth International, Syrotiuk fought for the unity of the Russian and Ukrainian working class.

Bogdan Syrotiuk

The Ukrainian state prosecution constructed the entire case to identify Syrotiuks Trotskyist principles as evidence for state treason and thus criminalize Trotskyism. Central to the accusation of state treason is that Syrotiuk engaged in the preparation of publications commissioned by representatives of a Russian propaganda and information agency, the World Socialist Web Site. The principal evidence cited by the prosecution are articles authored by Syrotiuk and other writers for the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS), the publication of the International Committee of the Fourth International. Shortly after Syrotiuks arrest, the WSWS was officially banned in Ukraine.

Since January, every court session has been devoted to reviewing the prosecutions case point by point, but the prosecution has been unable to muster evidence. In the last court hearing on Monday, April 14, the prosecution called upon a technician who had installed the internet at Syrotiuks place as its witness. Yet the man, nominally a witness for the prosecution, could not recall anything that would have supported the charges of state treason. The court session lasted one hour.

The outcome of the proceedings so far is all the more remarkable since the Ukrainian Secret Service (SBU) has been working on this case since at least May 2023, when it began its investigation against Syrotiuk. The court sessions, which were initially set to begin in October, were postponed several times. Throughout the entirety of Syrotiuks persecution, the court has clearly been on the side of the prosecution. It has ruled routinely in favor of the SBU, copying the SBUs argumentation verbatim in its rulings, to prolong Syrotiuks detention. There is little question that behind the prosecution of Bogdan Syrotiuk stand not only the Ukrainian government, but also its backers in the NATO alliance.

Immediately upon Syrotiuks arrest on April 25, 2024, the ICFI organized a major international defense campaign to free him. A letter to the Ukrainian government calling for his freedom, authored by David North, the chairperson of the WSWS, was delivered to several Ukrainian embassies throughout the world. The Ukrainian government never answered it.

ICFI members and supporters hold pickets to free imprisoned Ukrainian socialist Bogdan Syrotiuk at Ukrainian embassies or consulates in (clockwise from top left) Berlin, London, Washington D.C. and Istanbul on June 13, 2024.

Internationally, major artistic figures such as Roger Waters and Ai Wei Wei as well as historians such as Mario Kessler and Christian Gerlach have supported the campaign to free Bogdan Syrotiuk. Many political tendencies have also condemned his imprisonment and called for his release, despite their political differences with the Trotskyist movement. These include Jill Stein from the Greens in the United States, and several groups and websites in Russia and Turkey. Most recently, the website of the Socialist Laborer Party in Turkey, and that of the Partisan Defense Committee, which is affiliated with the Spartacist tendency, have issued statements in support of Bogdan.

Even within Ukraine, despite the immense state repression, Bogdan Syrotiuk has found support. The anarchist-oriented website assembly.ua.org, the Ukrainian socialist Maxim Goldarb and the Ukrainian Militant group, among others, have supported the campaign to free him. It is also important to note that the trial is being held in Syrotiuks hometown in Pervomaisk, a city in southern Ukraine. The court sessions are open and have been mainly attended by supporters of Syrotiuk who, despite his youth, has long been a fixture of political life in this area and is widely respected for his commitment to political principle.

As the one-year anniversary of his arrest approaches, the WSWS reiterates its call for the immediate release of Bogdan Syrotiuk and all political prisoners in Ukraine. We urge all our readers to sign and circulate the petition demanding the freedom for Bogdan Syrotiuk.

This struggle must become the spearhead of the fight to mobilize the working class in Ukraine, Russia, the US, across Europe and internationally against war, the threat of dictatorship and fascism, and against capitalism.
ADEN, Yemen, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Malnutrition has been exacerbating an already dire humanitarian situation in war-torn Yemen, a non-governmental organization (NGO) warned Saturday.

"Malnutrition is a crisis inside the crisis. It has actually extremely amplified the situation and the vulnerability of the population in Yemen," Illaria Rasulo, head of mission of Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Yemen, said in a video posted on social media platform X.

"2024 was a very tough year, with the additional outbreak of acute watery diarrhea in whole Yemen," and extremely high levels of malnutrition recorded in MSF facilities, apart from measles outbreaks and sporadic cases of polio and diphtheria, Rasulo said.

"For 2025, we are expecting even more outbreaks," she predicted, noting a "dramatic" humanitarian situation in Yemen as many NGOs have to reduce their activities in or even leave the country amid fund cuts from major donors, including a funding freeze from the United States.

On Jan. 20, U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, which orders a 90-day pause in the country's "foreign development assistance."

Tensions between the Houthi group and the Trump administration have intensified since Washington resumed airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15, after the group announced plans to resume attacks on Israeli targets, citing Israel's blockade of humanitarian aid to Gaza as the reason.

In the deadliest raid since the renewed U.S. airstrikes, the U.S. army launched a series of attacks on Thursday night targeting and destroying the Houthi-controlled Ras Isa fuel port and concrete tanks storing imported fuel. According to an update from Houthi-run health authorities early Saturday, at least 80 people were killed and 150 others wounded.

Earlier on Saturday, the U.S. army launched 29 fresh airstrikes on Houthi targets in northern Yemen, while Mohammed Ali al-Houthi, head of the Houthi Revolutionary Committee, vowed to retaliate.

The U.S. airstrikes have sparked condemnation from Iran and various human rights organizations. 
Fatima Hassouna in Gaza. [Photo: Fatima Hassouna]

Fatima Hassouna, a 25-year-old Palestinian artist and photojournalist, was killed in an Israeli air raid in northern Gaza on Wednesday. Hassouna died, along with 10 members of her family, including her pregnant sister, in what media reports describe as a direct [missile] strike on their home.

The bombing occurred, as the Guardian reported, only 24 hours after

it was announced that a documentary focusing on Hassounas life in Gaza since the Israeli offensive began would be debuted at a French independent film festival that runs parallel to Cannes.

This raises an obvious question: Was Hassouna specifically targeted for death by the fascistic Israeli regime and military?

To answer that, the first thing one needs to do is dismiss with contempt the claims of Israel Defense Forces (IDF) officials, who lie as often as they draw breath. The Times of Israel, one of the chief cheerleaders of the genocide, reports

The IDF says the strike targeted a Hamas operative involved in attacks on soldiers and civilians. Prior to the strike, measures were taken to minimize the risk to civilians, including the use of precision munitions, aerial surveillance, and additional intelligence, it says.

The only thing certain about this brazen, cynical statement, which the IDF doesnt expect anyone to believe or care whether they do, is that its false from beginning to end.

French-Iranian director Sepideh Farsi, in whose documentary film, Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, Hassouna appears, commented that the young Palestinian was considering attending the festival in Cannes, which runs parallel to the official gathering.

According to Deadline,

She said, Ill come, but I have to go back to Gaza. I dont want to leave Gaza, said Farsi. I was already in touch with the French Embassy. Wed just started the process. I was worried about how to get her out and back in safely. I didnt want to have the responsibility of separating her from her family. Now the whole family is dead. Im trying to find out if her parents are dead but for sure Fatima and her sisters and brothers are dead. One of the sisters was pregnant. On a video call two days ago, she showed me her belly. Its so horrible and devastating. Fatima herself had gotten engaged a few months ago.

Farsi now fears that Hassouna many have been murdered because of her photojournalism work. She told Deadline:

I was trying to be a voice and accentuate her and now I dont know. I even feel guilty maybe they targeted her because the film was announced. I dont know. Well never know. she said. The Israeli army said it bombed the house because there was a Hamas officer in there, which is totally false. I know the whole family. Its nonsense. Its just so devastating.

All the circumstantial evidence certainly points toward the Netanyahu regime and the IDF having deliberately targeted Hassouna.

First of all, there is the damning fact thatas the International Federation of Journalists reported in Februaryat least 157 journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza, and many more injured, since the beginning of the Israeli onslaught in October 2023. In addition, innumerable Palestinian intellectual or artistic figurespoets, painters, scholarshave come under lethal fire from the Israelis, anyone in fact who might be able to articulate the hellish conditions and communicate them to a wide audience.

Moreover, quite concretely, the Zionist government had the unpleasant experience six weeks ago of seeing the four co-directors of No Other Land, which chronicles the savagery of Israeli ethnic cleansing in the occupied West Bank, receive a prize for Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards ceremony.

In retaliation for that, on March 24, settler thugs and Israeli soldiers set upon and beat Hamdan Ballal, one of No Other Lands directors, at his home in the West Bank. There no doubt have been discussions among top Israeli officials about seeing to it that no such international embarrassments like the Academy Award success recur in the future. A pre-emptive air strike on any potential award recipient or guest at a foreign film festival is entirely in keeping with the Nazi-like outlook of the Zionist ruling elite.

(No Other Land, incidentally, is now available for viewing in North America for the next three weeks, as part of an effort to raise money for the communities of Masafer Yatta that are being forcibly displaced by the Israeli army and settlers, as the film documents.)

There is always the possibility that Hassouna was merely another victim of the indiscriminate, criminal Israeli terror, missile strikes, artillery and tank fire and other attacks directed at civilians and intended to drive the Palestinian population out of Gaza, as part of the Netanyahu-Trump plan. Tens of thousands of Gazans have been killed in such brutal circumstances.

Frances Association for the Distribution of Independent Cinema (ACID), which runs the parallel festival at Cannes, issued a statement expressing horror at the news of Hassounas killing. According to Screen Daily, the statement read in part:

We met Fatima Hassouna when we discovered Sepideh Farsis film Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk. Her smile was as magical as her tenacity: bearing witness, photographing Gaza, distributing food despite bombs, grief, and hunger. Her story reached us, and we rejoiced at each of her appearances to know she was alive; we feared for her. Yesterday, we learned with horror that an Israeli missile targeted her building, killing Fatima and her family. We had watched and programmed a film in which this young womans life force was nothing short of miraculous. This is a different film than the one we will carry, support, and present in every theater, starting with Cannes.

The Guardian reported the comments of fellow journalists in Gaza, who

reacted with grief and anger at the news that an Israeli airstrike had taken Hassouna from them, just as she had feared it would. She documented massacres through her lens, amid bombardment and gunfire, capturing the peoples pain and screams in her photographs, said Anas al-Shareef, an Al Jazeera reporter based in Gaza. Miqdad Jameel, another Gaza-based journalist, called on people to see her photos, read her wordswitness Gazas life, the struggle of its children in war, through her images and her lens.

On social media, Hassouna had written

If I die, I want a loud death. I dont want to be just breaking news, or a number in a group, I want a death that the world will hear, an impact that will remain through time, and a timeless image that cannot be buried by time or place.

Now she is dead.
The Victorian Supreme Court earlier this month flatly rejected a legal challenge to the state Labor governments planned demolition of public housing towers in Melbourne, which was brought by a group of residents in three of the targeted apartment blocks.

The court ruling was a class decision, making clear that the residents have no real rights and that the government faces no legal restrictions in demolishing the towers and selling off the lucrative properties to corporate developers.

Public housing tower in Flemington, Melbourne

The legal action, brought by 479 residents from three of the first five of 44 high rise towers slated for demolition, aimed at halting the governments agenda on the basis that residents were not consulted before the decision was made and announced, and that residents rights were violated under the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act. The specific rights cited in the legal challenge were the right not to have residents home and family unlawfully or arbitrarily interfered with, their right to protection of family, and their right not to be deprived of their property other than in accordance with law.

On every ground, Supreme Court Judge Melinda Richards dismissed the residents case and sided with the government and its public housing agency, Homes Victoria.

She ruled that under the Housing Act, there is no requirement for Homes Victoria to consult with anyone before exercising its powers to manage land. On residents human rights, the court found that human rights protected by the Charter are not absolute, but may be subjected to lawful, reasonable, and justified limits, and that the limitation of Group Members right to home under s 13(a) [of the Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities Act] is reasonable and has been demonstrably justified.

This makes clear that the states recognition of human rights ceases immediately whenever critical issues related to the accumulation of corporate profit are concerned.

The 44 public housing towers are located on prime inner-city real estate. Their demolition and reconstruction by private developers will result in a massive windfall for construction and real estate companies.

This reality was covered up in the Supreme Court ruling. In one section of the judgement, the rights of hypothetical private apartment owners and renters were invoked against the rights of public housing residents.

Judge Melinda Richards declared: Also relevant are the rights of other Victorians who may be struggling to find housing in the current housing shortage. The implementation of the Redevelopment Program will substantially increase the amount of housing on the sites, to the benefit of a much wider group than the current renters in the Towers.

This absurd pseudo-legal argument underscores the political nature of the Supreme Court ruling. The rights of other Victorians who may be struggling to find housing in fact has no bearing on any aspect of the state Labor governments agenda. The entire ruling elite in Australia has engineered one of the most polarised housing markets among advanced capitalist countries, with the banks and ultra-wealthy property investors reaping extraordinary profits from exorbitant mortgages and rents charged on working people.

The Supreme Court ruling dismissed out of hand evidence provided by independent architects that the public housing towers can be refurbished, addressing structural and other issues without smashing up the long standing communities developed around the estates.

A report, Retain, Repair, Reinvest, by a non-profit organisation of architects called OFFICE, provided detailed expert evidence on how the existing towers could be maintained, also adding the same number of new units as the governments plan, while spending less than is allocated under the demolition agenda. Judge Melinda Richards responded to the report by invoking section 136 of the Evidence Act, which allows the courts to limit the use to be made of evidence if there is a danger that a particular use of the evidence might, (a) be unfairly prejudicial to a party; or (b) be misleading or confusing.

At the same time, the Supreme Court accepted Homes Victorias claim that it had commissioned an expert assessment that found that the towers could not be refurbished.

Judge Richards stated: In light of Mr Newports evidence [Homes Victoria chief Simon Newport], I am satisfied that Homes Victoria did obtain a feasibility assessment as to whether it would be possible to retrofit the 44 public housing towers. [] Newport was in my view an honest witness, and I have no reason to believe that he misrepresented the advice he had received about the feasibility of retrofitting.

The governments feasibility assessment has never been made public, and is therefore impossible to scrutinise and challenge. The Supreme Court earlier ruled that because the Homes Victoria documents were part of the state governments cabinet deliberations, they are immune from release.

The Supreme Court similarly dismissed residents arguments that they had not been consulted on the demolition decision.

The judge insisted that government authorities were fully aware of the significant disruption that the Redevelopment Program would cause existing renters, by disrupting their home life, their connections to local supports and services, and their links to their communities in the towers and the surrounding area, before concluding that I am not persuaded that a better understanding of these impacts could realistically have changed the [demolition] Decision.

The Supreme Court added that previous government promises to consult with residents were legally meaningless.

Under a government initiative begun in 202122, called Paving The Way Forward, residents were told that they would be involved in the key decisions that affect their home, neighbourhood, and services. During the residents legal case, Homes Victoria responded by insisting that this was merely a broader goal and not a specific undertaking that Homes Victoria or the Department would consult renters on all future decisions about the Towers. The court agreed, ruling that the promise of residents involvement in decision-making was not legally binding on Homes Victoria or the Victorian Government.

The Supreme Court ruling is indicative of the contempt and hostility that the ruling elite has towards public housing residents.

The judgement underscores the reality that a struggle to prevent the demolitions and privatisations cannot advance on the basis of appeals to the political establishment. The way forward has been shown by the group of residents who last month formed a Neighbourhood Action Committee. Its orientation was outlined in a resolution adopted at a forum organised by the Socialist Equality Party:

We resolve to establish a Neighbourhood Action Committee that must be independent of all pro-business political parties and organisations, including the trade union bureaucracies, the Greens and the various fake left organisations that promote futile efforts to appeal to and pressure the Labor Party. The Neighbourhood Action Committee will provide a forum for democratic discussion and debate over its future actions, as well as presenting accurate information to counter the propaganda campaign conducted by Labor and the media. This Committee will make a sustained appeal to the widest layers of the working class, the community and families, and all those who oppose this historic attack on public housing. Public housing is being privatised as part of a broad assault on the working class imposed by the Albanese Labor government, an assault on education, health and all social spending. An appeal must be made to construction and other workers to stop the demolition, including by strike action in defiance of the union leadership. Such a call should come from the Neighbourhood Action Committee, emphasising the shared interests of public housing tenants and all workers and youth in the fight against austerity, rising social misery and the social right to adequate and affordable housing for everyone.

Authorised by Cheryl Crisp for the Socialist Equality Party, Level 1/457-459 Elizabeth Street, Surry Hills, NSW, 2010, Australia.
This photo taken from video released by Al Masirah TV channel shows medics carrying a severely wounded person onto a stretcher after US airstrikes targeted the Ras Isa oil port held by Yemens Houthi rebels in Hodeida, Yemen, on Friday, April 18, 2025. [AP Photo/Al Masirah TV]

On Friday, the Trump administration launched a major airstrike against the Ras Isa oil port in western Yemen that resulted in the deaths of at least 80 people and injured over 150 others. Among the injured were port workers and civilians, as well as rescue personnel who were responding to the initial blast and who were then hit by a second, follow-up strike.

The strikes were the deadliest action ordered by President Donald Trump since the administration began an intensified bombing campaign last month in retaliation for Houthi attacks on Israel related to the Gaza genocide and US ships in the Red Sea.

The attack on the port began late Thursday, and it sent massive fireballs shooting into the night sky. The Houthis Al-Masirah satellite news channel broadcast graphic footage of the aftermath and showed corpses of dead people strewn across the site. Al-Masirah TV also reported that a total of 14 airstrikes hit Ras Isa.

A report in the New York Times said,

The bombings deadly toll plunged Hudaydah into grief, said Manal Ahmad, 35, who lives in the city. She said she personally knew families who had lost loved ones, and social media was full of posts mourning those killed. We saw the images of the victims and the extent of the destruction, Ms. Ahmad said in a phone interview. What legitimate target are they talking about? Whatever the goal wasif there even was oneI dont think it justifies the number of dead and wounded.

Ras Isa is a fuel port and oil storage facility in Yemens Hodeida governorate and located along the Red Sea. It is situated approximately 35 miles north of the port city of Hodeidah, which has a population of 735,000. Ras Isa is also close to Kamaran Island, which has been the target of recent US airstrikes. The port has a storage capacity of 3 million barrels.

The strikes on Hudaydahs ports are also a deliberate attack on the impoverished people of northern Yemen, who depend on the port region as the main conduit for fuel, food and aid for more than 20 million people.

In typical form, a statement from Central Command claimed the US

took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years.

Then in a statement of utter hypocrisy that is the calling card of US imperialism, the Pentagon said:

This strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen, who rightly want to throw off the yoke of Houthi subjugation and live peacefully.

When asked by the Associated Press about civilian casualties in the attack, the Pentagon refused to acknowledge any and declined to comment.

The attack on Thursday and Friday was a major escalation of the imperialist bullying by the Trump administration against the Houthi movement that dominates much of northwestern Yemen. The Ras Isa port is a critical fuel and oil hub in northern Yemen, and it is a strategic target for US imperialism.

The US Department of Defense (DOD) said the operation was aimed at disrupting the Houthis financial resources by destroying infrastructure tied to oil exports and fuel imports. The strikes were part of a Pentagon campaign dubbed Operation Rough Rider, which began in March 2025.

The aim is to impose US control over strategic Red Sea maritime routes and retaliate against Houthi missile and drone attacks, particularly those launched in solidarity with Palestinians, who are facing a genocidal campaign of extermination by the Israeli government in Gaza and the West Bank.

Additionally, the global strategic concerns behind the attack were revealed when US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a briefing with journalists that Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., a commercial satellite image provider, was guilty of directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on U.S. interests.

The Trump official did not elaborate on any details but instead referred to a story by the Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the firm was linked to the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army and has provided images enabling the rebels to target US warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea.

The Houthis condemned the strikes as war crimes and accused the US of targeting civilian infrastructure and intentionally causing mass casualties. In response, the Houthis said they launched retaliatory strikes on the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson in the Gulf of Oman. As of this writing, however, attempts by US news outlets to confirm with Central Command the Houthi retaliatory strikes have not been successful.

The Houthis also fired a missile at Israel shortly after the US air attack. Air raid sirens went off across Israels heartland with many instructed to head to bomb shelters. So far, there have been no news reports of any casualties.

The criminal nature of the attack on Ras Isa was accentuated by the fact that the US launched two strikes that were deliberately timed to cause maximum casualties. The double tap or double strike, which became a specialty during the Obama administrations drone assassination program in both Yemen and Pakistan, is a tactic that involves striking the same location with two munitions, usually separated by a short time frame, aiming to maximize casualties by hitting those who rush to the scene to help after the first strike.

Iran and Hamas denounced the US strikes as a violation of international law and acts of aggressive war. The French news agency AFP reported that Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said Tehran strongly condemned the barbaric US air strike, saying it is an example of aggressive crime and a blatant violation of the fundamental principles of the UN Charter.

The latest deadly air attack on Yemen comes three and a half weeks after the leak of military information to The Atlantic magazine by senior members of the Trump administration involving an earlier bombing that killed at least 53 people, including five children.

Jeffrey Goldberg, editor of The Atlantic, wrote on March 24 that he was inadvertently added to a group Signal chat, which included senior Trump administration officials, including US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, and discussed details of the imminent air strikes.

The fallout from the breach was seized on by the Democratic Party to criticize the Trump administrations lax data management practices as a threat to American military security that required a major congressional investigation. None of the Democrats had anything to say about the criminal nature of the military operation or the cavalier manner in which top Trump officialssuch as Vice President JD Vance, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubiodiscussed operations in which innocent Yemeni civilians would be murdered.
TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Saturday said the negotiations with U.S. delegations in Rome were held in a "constructive" atmosphere and are making progress, according to Iran's IRIB news agency.

He made the remarks at the end of the second round of the Omani-mediated indirect talks between Iranian and U.S. delegations, headed by him and U.S. Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff respectively, on Iran's nuclear program and removal of Washington's sanctions.

Araghchi described the four-hour meeting as "good" and "forward-moving," adding that both sides had reached a better understanding of several key principles and objectives.

He also noted that technical negotiations at the expert level are set to begin in Oman by Wednesday, where the details of the agreement's framework may be discussed.

He added that the negotiators would meet in Oman next Saturday again to discuss the result of the experts' work.

The just concluded indirect talks were the second round between U.S. and Iranian delegations. The first round of the talks was held last Saturday in the Omani capital Muscat, which were described by both sides as "constructive."

The talks followed U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to bomb Iran if the Middle Eastern country does not accept his offer for talks outlined in a letter sent to Iran's leadership in early March.

Iran signed a nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, with six major countries -- Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States -- in July 2015, accepting restrictions on its nuclear program in return for sanctions relief.

However, the United States withdrew from the deal in May 2018 and reinstated sanctions, prompting Iran to scale back some of its nuclear commitments. Efforts to revive the nuclear deal have not achieved substantial progress. 
AMMAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Jordan's Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Lina Annab announced Saturday a new archaeological discovery in the southeastern area of the Wadi Rum Reserve in southern Jordan.

The discovery consists of a royal Pharaonic hieroglyphic inscription bearing a royal seal belonging to the Egyptian Pharaoh Ramses III (around 1184 BC-1153 BC).

Annab said it is the first such inscription ever discovered in Jordan, which serves as tangible evidence of historical ties between Ancient Egypt and Jordan, as well as the wider Arabian Peninsula.

"Jordan is an open-air library with a very rich heritage of inscriptions," she said, noting that this hieroglyphic find offers an important new perspective on the country's written heritage.

Zahi Hawass, an Egyptian archaeologist, highlighted the importance of the discovery, which includes two cartouches bearing the name of Ramses III -- one referencing his birth name and the other his throne name, declaring him ruler of Upper and Lower Egypt.

Finding the name of Ramses III in southern Jordan is highly significant and could lead to further important revelations about historical ties between Jordan and Egypt dating back more than 3,000 years, said Hawass. 
Florida State University Panama Citys Early Childhood Autism Program (ECAP) clinic celebrated the grand opening of its new autism life skills room with a ribbon cutting ceremony on April 17.

The space, designed to resemble a modern apartment, offers students a real-world environment to practice essential daily tasks such as cooking meals, using a dishwasher, using a washing machine and dryer, folding clothes and making a bed.

Friends and family of the Ed Hickey Jr. Memorial Fund visit the new autism life skills room at Florida State University Panama City April 17, 2025. The trust donated $100,000 for the development of the education center. (Tyler Orsburn/News Herald)

This new furnished, mock apartment will allow us to teach a variety of living and learning, home-based skills, Amy Pollick, associate dean of academic affairs and the development director for ECAP, said in a press release. Having this space will allow us to enhance the reach of our program to meet the needs of older children, teens and young adults.

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The project was made possible by a $100,000 donation from the Edward F. Hickey Jr. Memorial Trust, the press release stated. Hickey, a pioneer in the Panama City Beach business community beginning in the mid-20th century, died at age 94 in 2021.

The same trust has provided second chance scholarships to FSU PC students from Panama City Beach and renovated the Fun Room at ECAP, in addition to supporting other local non-profits, including Backpack Blessings and the Bay County Public Library.

This article originally appeared on The News Herald: Families and staff applaud FSU PC's latest step toward independence for all students
As 4/20 Day approaches, cannabis enthusiasts in Texas face a unique challenge. Despite the growing acceptance of recreational marijuana across the country, Texas maintains its prohibition on legal cannabis.

However, nearby New Mexico offers a solution for those determined to celebrate. With legal dispensaries just a short drive away, Texans can cross state lines to purchase cannabis products legally.

Here are some of the top dispensaries in New Mexico to try. Just remember, you can't legally bring it back to Texas.

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More: New Mexico empowers Cannabis Control Division to crack down on illegal marijuana operations

Dark Matter in Sunland Park, New Mexico

Dark Matter is offering significant discounts for 4/20 Day. You can enjoy 25% off Frost Factory and Iron Lung, and 30% off Higher Cultures, Herbal Edibles, and Headspace. Additionally, there are 40% discounts on brands like Happy Trout & Hops, High Noon Cult Sonanza, Lost Love, Kaviar Schwagz, Everyday Weed, Wana One, Stoned Botanicals, High Desert Reef, and Bullhead Botanicals Full Spectrum Extracts. Gemmies (THC only) and Wyld are available at 50% off for even more significant savings. The event runs from Saturday, April 19, to Sunday, April 20.

Location: 1615 Appaloosa Drive, Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Top Crop Cannabis Co. in Sunland Park. New Mexico

Top Crop, the newly opened dispensary and parent company of Dark Matter, will offer the same specials. However, they will host their grand opening from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, April 19. Vendors will attend to celebrate, along with special deals and promotions.

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Deals include 25% off Frost Factory and Iron Lung, and 30% off Higher Cultures, Herbal Edibles, and Headspace. Additionally, there are 40% discounts on brands like Happy Trout & Hops, High Noon Cult Sonanza, Lost Love, Kaviar Schwagz, Everyday Weed, Wana One, Stoned Botanicals, High Desert Reef, and Bullhead Botanicals Full Spectrum Extracts. Gemmies (THC only) and Wyld are available at 50% off. The event runs from Saturday, April 19, to Sunday, April 20.

Location: 1621 Appaloosa Drive, Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Top Crop Cannabis Co. opened at 1621 Appaloosa Drive in Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Hi Life Dispensary in Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Join the pre-Easter celebration on Saturday, April 19. It's an all-day event featuring food, vendors, music, and giveaways. Some of the top New Mexico brands, including Hash Bros and Frost Factory, will also be in attendance. Deals include 50% off select rosin with the purchase of two or more grams.

Location: 15620 McNutt Road, Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Public Affair in Santa Teresa, New Mexico

Budtenders will be giving away free stuff on Friday, April 18. Enjoy up to 42% off, penny pre-rolls in the Penny Raffle, discount cards, a munchie bar, and free merchandise on Saturday and Sunday, April 19-20.

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Location: 5325 McNutt Road, Santa Teresa, New Mexico.

Mango Cannabis in Sunland Park, New Mexico

The Tulsa-based company Mango Cannabis opened its first retail dispensary store, a 9,000-square-foot building, in January. They will have 420 BOGO deals on numerous brands. Any item not already discounted will get 42% off. Starting Friday, April 18, through Sunday, April 20, you can receive a free goodies bag with your purchase. You must spend $50+ before taxes. Available while supplies last and limited to one per customer.

Location: 1051 McNutt Road, Sunland Park, New Mexico.

Aaron Bedoya is a manager and content strategist for the El Paso Times. He can be reached at abedoya@elpasotimes.com.

This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: Celebrate 420: Top cannabis dispensaries near Texas offering deals
About 1,000 people gathered on the state Capitol lawn Saturday for a protest event that was part of the nationwide 50501 movement that seeks to resist Donald Trump's administration and policies.

The protest was one of hundreds held around the country. The largely decentralized movement has focused on nonviolent resistance to what they see as an increasingly authoritarian and dangerous government. The event Saturday in Austin  a picnic with live music  was specifically focused on community-building, organizers said.

We are creating a family friendly environment where people can meet their neighbors and plug in to get connected with community organizations, said Sophia Mirto, a volunteer with the Hands Off coalition of Austin.

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The event featured five musical acts and eight speakers who focused on a range of local and national issues. Volunteers passed around petitions and protesters signed 1,000 postcards to send to the Supreme Court urging the justices to take action against the Trump administration.

Meagan and Micah Booth embrace after Meagan spoke about the impact of Department of Education cuts on her autistic child at the Hands Off protest Saturday.

Due to its promotion as a picnic, the protest attracted a number of families with young children. Emily K., who said she didnt want to give her last name, brought her three young daughters to the event, citing the importance of teaching them to stand by their values.

Sophie Harden, a recent Austin transplant, made it a point to bring her cousins. She said she wants to encourage more young people to come together and go to events like these.

Speeches brushed topics from resisting the privatization of Zilker Park to national foreign policy. Megan Booth spoke about the defunding of public education. Olli Hoffman represented Palestinian advocacy. And Dan Webber, a veteran and former Hays County sheriff's deputy, talked about the Trump administration's mass deportations, centering on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a legal immigrant and Maryland father who was deported to a prison in El Salvador by the Trump administration.

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Abrego Garcias story was a focal point of the event, with many holding signs calling for his return.

Ive arrested MS13, and Ive arrested Aryan Nation. Ive resuscitated a newborn just to watch her die again in my hands, Webber told the crowd. And I tell you that not one of the people responsible for any single or any number of crimes should be deprived of their right to due process.

The Hands Off coalition of Austin is a collaboration between advocacy organizations Third Act, Indivisible Austin, Indivisible Rosedale, #ResistAustin, and 50501 Texas. The coalition is grassroots, having started in social media under the hashtag #50501. It was built on the idea of 50 protests, 50 states, in one day.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: 1,000 people converge at Capitol to protest Trump's policies, picnic
JERUSALEM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Saturday evening that Hamas had rejected a proposal for the return of half of the living hostages in Gaza by demanding the end of the war and an Israeli military retreat from Gaza.

"If we capitulate to the dictates of Hamas now, all the great achievements of the war ... will disappear," said Netanyahu in a recorded video statement.

In the statement, the Israeli prime minister also dismissed the idea that Israel could deceive Hamas into freeing all the hostages and then resume the war, arguing that the international community would not accept such a move.

Earlier in the day, the Al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas, released a new video showing an Israeli hostage held in Gaza.

The four-minute video features Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot speaking on a landline phone, seemingly making a call to his family to continue their efforts for his release.

"My health is not good. I am screaming for death. Please, do this for me," he said at the end of the recording.

The Al-Qassam Brigades concluded the video with the message, "They will not return except in a capacity," in reference to the hostages.

It remains unclear when the video was recorded.

Israeli media reported that the video's release triggered demonstrations in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Beersheba, and Haifa, where thousands called on the government to secure the release of captives without delay.

Meanwhile, Israel's military operation has been continuing in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces said in a statement that its armored forces killed more than 40 Hamas militants in the Rafah area, southern Gaza Strip, over the weekend. 
(FOX40.COM)  City, state, and county officials broke ground in Stockton on Friday as they announced the beginning of the Lower San Joaquin River Project.

At the Tenmile Slough, a levee just behind Stocktons Brookside community, officials marked the first phase of the nearly $2 billion multi-year flood risk protection project.

Those in attendance at a ceremony included Representative Josh Harder, Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom, California Department of Water Resources, San Joaquin Area Flood Control Agency, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers, along with Stockton city and San Joaquin County leaders.

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The first phase is set to stretch up to 10 miles.

Barn fire in Stanislaus County claims lives of seven horses, two rescued

Lt. Colonel Ike Ukachi with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says its an approach that provides enhanced protection for approximately 264,000 people, safeguards roughly 71,000 acres, and protects an estimated $21 billion in property and critical infrastructure.

Officials say the work is set to take place over the next several years.

Together well be making improvements to the TS 30 Levee, including installation of a soil-bentonite cutoff wall that will leverage 50 feet deep to prevent water from seeping in or under the levee and into the community, Ukachi said. Well also reshape the levee, add rock armor to the water side of the levee, and construct a new maintenance access road.

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Congressman Josh Harder says a project like this was long overdue, and that recent storm events in other areas of San Joaquin County, in part, prompted this call to action.

We saw flooding in Downtown Stockton a couple of years ago, Harder said. We saw a flood in Acampo. I actually went and visited those homes that were completely underwater just two years ago.

Officials say the costs are set to be divided between the county and the state.

My hope is that we can actually get more federal support through the Army Corps to make sure that its not just the City of Stockton and the county thats picking up the bill because this project benefits across all of California, Harder said.

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But some residents shared concerns.

We have never flooded from the West. It is tidal, and the Delta is no threat to Stockton, said Stockton resident Sheller Gregerson.

In response, officials said the levee project is a critical measure to prevent any possible catastrophic events in the future.

There are absolutely some concerns, but 98 percent of the homes and businesses in Stockton are in a flood plain, Harder said.

Assemblymember Rhodesia Ransom (D-13) said she encourages residents to reach out to local officials to share their concerns.

Its important, I understand that folks may not feel that its necessary, but we are going to follow the science, were going to follow the data, and we know that theres a lot of risk in this state, and we dont want to wait until its too late to start making those investments, Ransom said.

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Officials say this first phase of the project is set to take place during the next year or longer depending on progress.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
One person is dead and another injured after a Chevy SUV crashed into the Peninsula hotel in the Streeterville neighborhood early Saturday morning, according to Chicago police.

A man, whose age and identity is currently unknown, and a 40-year-old man in the SUV traveling eastbound on Superior Street lost control and struck the building in the 100 block of East Superior Street around 2:42 a.m., police said.

The 40-year-old man was transported to Northwestern Memorial Hospital in critical condition. The other man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.

Police said they are investigating the cause of the crash.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  One person was seriously injured in a crash Friday evening, April 18, in El Pasos Lower Valley, El Paso Police said.

The crash involved one vehicle and happened at Loop 375 South and Americas.

One person was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries, police said.

A Fire Department spokesperson added that the person was transported with life-threatening injuries (Level 1 trauma).

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One other person was transported Code 1 (non-life-threatening), according to the Fire Department.

The crash happened at 6:30 p.m., the Fire spokesperson added.

The Special Traffic Investigations Unit has responded and is looking into what led up to the crash.

All southbound lanes along Loop 375 were closed because of the crash, the Texas Department of Transportation said.

After roughly four hours, all lanes on Loop 375 and Americas were reopened, according to TxDOT.

This is a developing story and we will update it as soon as we learn more.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
The Baltimore community gathered Saturday morning, close to where Freddie Gray was arrested in 2015, to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death in police custody.

A few hours later and several blocks away, activists held a rally calling for social justice as they marched from Penn-North Metro to Mondawmin Metro.

A decade ago, Freddie Gray, 25, died at Shock Trauma from a spinal injury one week after being transported inside a Baltimore City police van with no seatbelt used to secure him. In the weeks following his death, Baltimore was engulfed in protests focused on the systemic inequities that marked Grays life.

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Mayor Brandon M. Scott laid a wreath at a mural honoring Freddie Gray, about a block from where he was arrested in the 1700 block of North Mount Avenue and Presbury Street. Scott was joined by attorney William H. Billy Murphy, Jr. and Freddie Grays twin sister, Fredricka Gray, to memorialize his death.

We all know that 10 years ago that Baltimore, starting with the death of young Freddie Gray, went through what we call a kairos moment, Scott said. And today we are here at the request of the family who wish to lay a wreath  to really honor their beloved son, brother, cousin. Thats why we are here today.

Fredricka Gray wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with a photo of her brother. She was born 14 minutes after Freddie Gray.

I want to say thank you to all yall who supported us and been with us through the whole process, Fredricka Gray said. Its still justice for Freddie Gray, 10 years now.

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Murphy represented Freddie Grays family in a lawsuit against Baltimore City, eventually agreeing to a $6.4 million settlement. Murphy said the Baltimore community needs to keep moving forward for social equity, but he has confidence in the current leadership of the city and state.

We are happy that the mayor is placing a wreath at the mural depicting Freddie, Murphy said. The mural that reminds us what happened on that fateful day. Theres so much that happened as a result of Freddies death, and much of it good, a lot bad.

Scott said the city is still working to make improvements in reducing crime and enhancing the relationship between police and residents.

We all know that we are not the perfect Baltimore that we all want to be, Scott said. We doubled down on what we want to be after 2015 and the unrest that followed Freddies death. Yes, we are better and we will continue to get better each and every day and every way, whether that is here in Sandtown, across town in East Baltimore and all over West Baltimore. We will continue to work that way.

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Jaselle Coates has lived on the corner of Presbury and North Mount Avenue for 25 years. A Freddie Gray mural with the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and former Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall is painted on her side wall. She watched landscapers work on a nearby grass-filled lot and shook her head.

I havent seen this many city workers since I lived here, said Coates, who also grew up in West Baltimore. Not much has changed since Freddie Gray. They say the murder rate has gone down, but it hasnt gone down.

A few hours after the wreath laying, nonprofit advocate Peoples Power Assembly held a rally called Honor Freddie Gray & The Struggle Against Police Terror. Activists marched from Penn-North Metro to Mondawmin Metro.

Participants largely agreed that the city has a long way to go to improve policing and public safety issues. Some said things have gotten worse in the past decade.

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Joyce, 62, is originally from the Penn-North area and now lives in East Baltimore. Shes been sober for 24 years after struggling with drug addiction, but believes absolutely zero progress has been made in addressing the danger posed by addicts in her native neighborhood.

What they need to do is take that opioid money that they got and put it in this area, saturate this area, Joyce told The Sun. We have a lot of good people, intelligent, articulate folk up here. Theyre just hanging around here because they are addicted to fentanyl and other drugs.

Dejan Ernestel, in his 50s from the Belvedere Square area, said the extent to which policing in the city has improved depends where you are. He explained the Peoples Power Assemblys strategy to move public funds to foster civic engagement.

Instead of investing in police, we would invest more into the social services, Ernestel said. The importance of community control is people who are living in these neighborhoods can feel [like] part of the community.

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After Grays death, the city, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Baltimore Police Department entered into the consent decree after a DOJ investigation determined that years of systemic deficiencies at the department drove police to engage in unconstitutional practices, like using excessive force, retaliating against people engaged in free speech and unfairly policing Black Baltimoreans, including Gray.

The consent decree required Baltimore police to overhaul its transportation policies, including implementing extensive training and upgrading its vehicle equipment maintenance.

On Thursday, a federal judge terminated two sections of the consent decree governing the Baltimore Police Department, the first time sections of the 17-section agreement have been declared fulfilled.

Judge James K. Bredar ruled the police department has met the consent decrees requirements and sustained its progress in the way the department transports people in custody, and how it provides police officer assistance and mental health support.

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The Baltimore Police Department has improved tremendously since 2015 and we will continue to do that, Scott said Saturday.

Sun reporter Racquel Bazos contributed to this article. Have a news tip? Contact Todd Karpovich at tkarpovich@baltsun.com or on X as @ToddKarpovich. Contact Carson Swick at cswick@baltsun.com.
BALTIMORE  The Baltimore community gathered Saturday morning at the spot where Freddie Gray was arrested in 2015 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his death in police custody.

A few hours later and several blocks away, activists held a rally calling for social justice as they marched from Penn-North Metro to Mondawmin Metro.

A decade ago, Freddie Gray died at Maryland Shock Trauma from a spinal injury one week after he was injured riding inside a Baltimore City police van when he was 25 years old. In the weeks following his death, Baltimore was engulfed in protests focused on the systemic inequities that marked Grays life.

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Mayor Brandon M. Scott laid a wreath at a mural honoring Freddie Gray, about a block from where he was arrested in the 1700 block of North Mount Avenue and Presbury Street. Scott was joined by attorney William H. Billy Murphy, Jr. and Freddie Grays twin sister, Fredricka Gray, to memorialize his death.

We all know that 10 years ago that Baltimore, starting with the death of young Freddie Gray, went through what we call a kairos moment, Scott said. And today we are here at the request of the family who wish to lay a wreath  to really honor their beloved son, brother, cousin. Thats why we are here today.

Fredricka Gray wore a sweatshirt emblazoned with a photo of her brother. She was born 14 minutes after Freddie Gray.

I want to say thank you to all yall who supported us and been with us through the whole process, Fredricka Gray said. Its still justice for Freddie Gray, 10 years now.

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Murphy represented Freddie Grays family in a lawsuit against Baltimore City, eventually agreeing to a $6.4 million settlement. Murphy said the Baltimore community needs to keep moving forward for social equity, but he has confidence in the current leadership of the city and state.

We are happy that the mayor is placing a wreath at the mural depicting Freddie, Murphy said. The mural when everybody looks at it gets inspired. The mural that reminds us what happened on that fateful day. Theres so much that happened as a result of Freddies death, and much of it good, a lot bad.

We have to work harder each and every day to make sure that the dream that arose from Freddies death one day comes true  better housing, better food, better health care.

Scott said the city is still striving to make improvements in the reduction of crime and the relationship between police and residents.

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We all know that we are not the perfect Baltimore that we all want to be, Scott said. We doubled down on what we want to be after 2015 and the unrest that followed Freddies death. Yes, we are better and we will continue to get better each and every day and every way, whether that is here in Sandtown, across town in East Baltimore and all over West Baltimore. We will continue to work that way.

Jaselle Coates has lived on the corner of Presbury and North Mount Avenue for 25 years. A Freddie Gray mural with Martin Luther King and Thurgood Marshall is painted on her side wall. She watched landscapers work on a nearby grass-filled lot and shook her head.

I havent seen this many city workers since I lived here, said Coates, who also grew up in West Baltimore. Not much has changed since Freddie Gray. They say the murder rate has gone down, but it hasnt gone down.

A few hours after the wreath laying, non-profit advocate Peoples Power Assembly held a rally called Honor Freddie Gray & The Struggle Against Police Terror. Activists marched from Penn-North Metro to Mondawmin Metro.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Participants largely agreed that the city has a long way to go to improve policing and public safety issues. Some said things have gotten worse in the past decade.

Joyce, 62, is originally from the Penn-North area and now lives in East Baltimore. Shes been sober for 24 years after struggling with drug addiction, but believes absolutely zero progress has been made in addressing the danger posed by addicts in her native neighborhood.

What they need to do is take that opioid money that they got and put it in this area, saturate this area, Joyce told The Sun. We have a lot of good people, intelligent, articulate folk up here. Theyre just hanging around here because they are addicted to fentanyl and other drugs.

Charles County native Apryle Bennett, 24, attended Loyola University of Maryland and said she noticed an increasingly heavy police presence in the areas near campus, but doesnt feel that presence helped address core issues like public mistrust.

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Off of the campus, you just felt like people were caged in. They just felt very uncomfortable, Bennett said. Anywhere you go, theres a lot of police, but people dont really feel protected and safe because of intense questions they ask like, Where are you going? What are you doing?'

Dejan Ernestel, in his 50s from the Belvedere Square area, said the extent to which policing in the city has improved depends where you are. He explained the Peoples Power Assemblys strategy to move public funds away from policing to foster civic engagement.

Instead of investing in police, we would invest more into the social services, Ernestel said. The importance of community control is people who are living in these neighborhoods can feel [like] part of the community.

After Grays death, the city, the U.S. Department of Justice and the Baltimore Police Department entered into the consent decree after a DOJ investigation determined that years of systemic deficiencies at the department drove police to engage in unconstitutional practices, like using excessive force, retaliating against people engaged in free speech and unfairly policing Black Baltimoreans, including Gray.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The consent decree required Baltimore police to overhaul its transportation policies, including implementing extensive training and upgrading its vehicle equipment maintenance.

On Thursday, a federal judge terminated two sections of the consent decree governing the Baltimore Police Department, the first time sections of the 17-section agreement have been declared fulfilled.

Judge James K. Bredar ruled the police department has met the consent decrees requirements and sustained its progress in the way the department transports people in custody, and how it provides police officer assistance and mental health support.

The Baltimore Police Department has improved tremendously since 2015 and we will continue to do that, Scott said Saturday.



(Sun reporter Racquel Bazos contributed to this report.)


The number of people injured in the Russian missile strike on the northeastern city of Kharkiv on April 18 has risen to 120, Kharkiv Oblast Governor Oleh Syniehubov reported on April 19.

According to Syniehubov, 18 people remain hospitalized, including four children. Two adult patients are in critical condition.

The missile strike damaged more than 50 apartment buildings and over 30 vehicles. Emergency crews have been working to clear debris and restore basic services, the governor said.

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Russia attacked Kharkiv with ballistic missiles equipped with cluster munitions the morning of April 18, a day of religious significance to Ukrainians who observe Good Friday. The strike killed one person.

The Good Friday attack came less than a week after Russia inflicted a deadly missile strike on the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday.

The day after the Kharkiv strike, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on Easter weekend, ordering a halt to all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Russia continues to reject a U.S.-mediated proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire. Kyiv reiterated that it would be ready to accept the ceasefire if Moscow agreed to abide by the terms.

Read also: Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
BOSTON (WWLP)  A multi-agency operation across 20 locations on Tuesday and Wednesday resulted in the arrests of 16 alleged distributors from Massachusetts and thousands of grams of fentanyl and cocaine.

The Mass. Attorney Generals Office (AGO) announced on Saturday that this joint operation, called Operation No Love, began in March 2024 when members of the State Police Commonwealth Interstate Narcotics Reduction Enforcement Team (CINRET) began a narcotics investigation into a drug trafficking organization.

Woman charged with OUI in Bedford following crash with toddler in backseat

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The organization was allegedly involved in distributing fentanyl and cocaine in Bristol County. During the investigation, an undercover trooper conducted nine controlled drug purchases with a member of the drug trafficking group.

The investigative team then used surveillance, toll analysis, and court-authorized intercepts of cell phones to identify information about the organization, such as the hierarchy, primary suspects, vehicles, and narcotics supply sources.

By gaining this information, investigators were able to obtain search warrants for 11 locations in Taunton, two locations in Raynham, four locations in Fall River, and one location each in Falmouth, Pembroke, and Norton. On Tuesday morning, the team comprised of nearly 200 troopers and officers conducted searches at all locations.

In total, investigators seized approximately 2,280 grams of cocaine, 336 grams of fentanyl, 32 firearms, hundreds of ammunition rounds, high-capacity magazines, and $109,355 in suspected drug proceeds.

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On Wednesday, CINRET investigators, along with Fall River officers, received additional information regarding one of the Taunton locations and returned for another search. They found a loaded Diamondback 9mm pistol, another 1,028 grams of fentanyl, and 80 grams of cocaine.

The following suspects were arrested and arraigned in various district courts:

Yosef Ali, 49, of Fall River Trafficking in Fentanyl, 100 grams or More (1 count) Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or More (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $75,000

Jean Carlos Castillo Mendoza, 44, of Fall River Trafficking in Fentanyl, 100 grams or More (1 count) Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or More (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $150,000

Jorge Santiago, 36, of Taunton Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (2 counts) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $20,000

Jorge Arce, 46, of Taunton Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or More (1 count) Trafficking in Fentanyl, 36 grams or More (1 count) Possession of Ammunition without FID Card (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $100,000

Neftali Torres, 51, of Taunton Trafficking in Cocaine, 100 grams or More (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $25,000

Christopher McLaughlin, 43, of Taunton Trafficking in Cocaine, 18 grams or More (1 count) Trafficking in Fentanyl, 18 grams or More (1 count) Held without Bail

Shawn Roias, 35, of Taunton Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or More (1 count) Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class D Substance (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Possession of a Large Capacity Feeding Device (1 count) Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony (1 count) Bail set at $25,000

Courtney Whitmore, 27, of Taunton Trafficking in Cocaine, 200 grams or More (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $10,000

Val Bettencourt, 50, of Taunton Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance, Subsequent Offense (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $10,000

Brayton Crites, 26, of Taunton Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class A Substance, Subsequent Offense (2 counts) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $20,000

Andrew Williams, 27, of Raynham Trafficking in Cocaine, 18 grams or More (5 counts) Trafficking in Cocaine, 36 grams or More (2 counts) Distribution of a Class B Substance (3 counts) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $25,000

Sabrina Cohen, 27, of Taunton Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $1,000

Lucas Guimaraes, 29, of Norton Trafficking in Cocaine, 36 grams or More (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $25,000

Brian Szakaly, 27, of Raynham Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class B Substance (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Possession of a Firearm During Commission of a Felony (1 count) Bail set at $15,000

David Brasil, 45, of Falmouth Possession with Intent to Distribute a Class a Class B Substance (1 count) Possession of a Class C Substance (1 count) Conspiracy to Violate the Drug Laws (1 count) Bail set at $500

Mary Hunt, 59, of Falmouth Possession of a Class B Substance Bail set at Personal Recognizance

Lucas Guimaraes will also be arraigned at a later date in Attleboro District Court on the following charges: Trafficking Cocaine, 100 grams or more (1 Count) Possession of a Firearm During the Commission of a Felony (1 Count) Possession of a Firearm without FID Card (1 Count) Possession of Ammunition without FID Card (1 Count)



Local News Headlines

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  2025 will mark the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing.

We remember and honor those 168 who lost their lives on April 19, 1995, when a bomb went off in front of the Murrah building in downtown Oklahoma City.

168 Days to remember those lost in the OKC bombing: John A. Youngblood. Image courtesy Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

We want to remember John A. Youngblood, while honoring those who survived and thanking those changed forever.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
Ever since Donald Trump became President earlier this year, life has begun to feel unstable for most Americans for a myriad of reasons. (Can you believe it's almost been 90 days of this?)

For example, if you want to know what he did just last week, check out this article here.

But how exactly has Trump's presidency been affecting Americans so far? Well, ProffesorOfPain asked: "Americans, how do things really look in your day-to-day life after Trumps presidency began?" and so many people (like almost 20k) shared their thoughts. Here are some of the top answers below.

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1."I am a federal scientist for NOAA and  although we didnt have high hopes to not getting fired  we just found out were getting dismantled completely, sooooo. Other jobs in science fields are getting scarcer by the minute, as well. It sucks!"

Jacob Wackerhausen / Getty Images

 WakeUpTheMorning

2."Weekly status meetings now include the phrase: 'This client's plans are now on hold because of the tariffs' quite a lot."

 JMEEKER86

"My weekly meetings include a lot of 'update on these regulations/deregulations and removal of departments we're supposed to answer to.' It's very confusing how quickly everything keeps changing, snapping back, etc."

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 happyklam

3."This one guy at work can't retire now, so who knows how much longer I have to deal with his BS."

Thomas Barwick / Getty Images

 PainfullyLoyal

"Thats another problem. If people dont retire, theres no space for the new generation to move up and into jobs that can afford them housing."

 dualkiwi

4."I work at a seaport, so longshoremen and truck drivers are definitely freaking out as their jobs are vaporizing. This is in Oakland. Virtually none (or maybe very few) of these people are open Trump supporters."

 Perfect_Zone_4919

"Arent those pretty vital jobs? Are they disappearing because of fewer trades due to tariffs?"

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 Feral_doves

"Fewer trades -> fewer ships -> fewer people needed to unload ships."

 Perfect_Zone_4919

5."A lot of my friends have been laid off. My wife lost her job. My bills are higher than ever. Groceries cost more. Literally, everything is more expensive."

Douglas Rissing / Getty Images

 BioshockLGP

"Wait until a year from now when your utilities explode. Its coming. My job is now negotiating tariffs, and the outlook is ugly. Real ugly."

 alexgetshacked

"My wife and I have been planning for him to come back for five years. Weve paid everything off besides our mortgage, and were a couple of months away from that as well.

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We knew what this moron was gonna do, so we planned accordingly. Shame she still lost her job, and so many of my friends have, too. (I have friends in the foreign service and USAID.)

 BioshockLGP

6."More anxiety. People seem ruder and more stressed. Everything is more expensive; its awful, exhausting, and terrifying."

 watersigns

"Also, people who need help and are trying to get in with a psychiatrist are on long waiting lists because everyone needs something to cope. I'm currently on three waiting lists..."

 Quiet_Promotion_8860

7."My 401(k) is getting hammered."

Zeljkosantrac / Getty Images

 haditwithyoupeople

"This. Plus, extra paranoia at work. Everyone is afraid of layoffs because of the volatility and turmoil in the economy."

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 wvtarheel

8."Day to day? Fine  and I think that's true for most people. And that's the problem. Trump is doing real damage to our country, but the inertia is huge, and most of the problems he's creating now won't have serious consequences for months or years. So people are inclined to see all the complaints as Chicken Little talk. They don't understand why we built all these systems the way we did. They don't understand why our government powers were separated like they were. They don't understand trade, supply chain, or international relations. They don't understand any of it. They just know their day-to-day is fine, and Democrats are complaining about stuff, and they're glad someone finally stood up against trans individuals and immigrants. People who have retirement savings saw it take a huge hit, but even there, it doesn't impact your day-to-day... yet."

 needlestack

9."My kid came home from school and told me she has friends missing. We don't know if they ran from ICE or were taken, but ICE is here, and people are going missing."

Pacific Press / Pacific Press/LightRocket via Getty Images

 coffeeandconflict

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"As a Hispanic living in a predominantly Hispanic city, everyone I know is afraid. Doesn't matter if you're a legal citizen or not. I was born in the US, but even I'm afraid to go out now. There's no denying that just from my skin color, my heritage is Latin American. I can't hide that. There's no covering it up.

And we've seen that ICE doesn't give a single fuck if you get rounded up accidentally with illegals. If you're not carrying around your Jewish passport and birth certificate at all times when the Gestapo ICE asks for your documents, then you could potentially be deported to a concentration camp prison in Guantanamo Bay or, even worse, lost in a death prison in El Salvador.

I just don't know how much more obvious these parallels need to be for the Nazis MAGA to understand who they are now."

 Digitalion_

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10."My father-in-law, a Vietnam vet who has worked religiously for his entire life, teared up because they are raising his taxes, his insurance, and increasing his pharmaceutical cost as well as the cost of living. Hes spent his entire retirement terrified they will take away the social security he paid so much into. My friend's mom cried as she was explaining she would only live a week without her medication, and shes having to give up living on her own due to the cost of living. I lost my job in a nonprofit and had to let a staff of 15 go. My family of nurses, doctors, and scientists have been let go due to funding. No one around me has not been affected in a negative way. We are all poor or barely breaking into the middle class."

"So, I doubt anyone is losing in the stock market. But we lose daily with the higher cost of living and the unnecessary stress on the elderly. Then, we have to come to terms with what we will accept in our lives on a daily basis. While feeling helpless, knowing its up to our generation to fix the problems and not leave them to our children."

 ALTPerzonality

11."Watching the collapse of America in real-time is a nightmare. Everything I was told America stood for throughout my entire life is being thrown out the window in weeks, with zero fight from our elected representatives. DJT is throwing away the last 100 years of progress. He has destroyed the economy, jobs, leadership, science, education, social safety nets, civil rights, and human rights and is selling America's resources and future to the highest bidder. He is a corrupt crime syndicate who is robbing the country blind. He wants to buy crypto with our gold reserves  that alone should tell you everything. Protests will increase in size. Eventually, he will use a stupid excuse of protests to declare Martial Law and suspend elections. He is a traitor to the Constitution, his office, and the American Dream."

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

 ntgco

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"It sure is funny (so funny that it actually made me cry) that all your life, you're told things about American values and patriotism. Truth, justice, and the American Way, etc. Our rights, our government, and its checks and balances. And you assume everyone else is on the same page because all those things are surely parroted at you from childhood. And you're on board. Yeah, it makes sense. You're down.

But then you find out that many people you know don't actually believe in those things. It really throws your whole world in disarray." cinnapear

12."My family has advised me to carry passports/birth certificates and SSNs in the instance someone questions citizenship. I am a graduate student, and I was due to apply for an NIH (National Institute of Health) grant but was unable to do so due to harsh attitudes towards DEI. The NSF (National Science Foundation) fellowship I applied for reduced the number of awards given by 56% this year, and I was not one of the lucky ones who got awarded. As a result, I continue to work a full-time job along with my full-time research efforts (working seven days a week)."

"This makes me less present for my partner and stepchild while I pursue higher education with the intention of getting a better-paying job to afford the rising cost of living. My current job, which pays me, has paused promotions due to University funding concerns, so I am being given additional responsibility with no additional compensation.

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My entire gynecologist practice closed in early March, and I currently no longer have a GYN. I did not expect so many aspects of my life to be affected by this administration so quickly, and being upset is an understatement of the feelings I have on a regular basis."

 DramaticNobody4

13."I am an optometrist. There has been an uptick in patients with longstanding autoimmune diseases having flares of their uveitis and other ocular inflammatory conditions likely due to stress."

Igor Suka / Getty Images

 chicken-and-awfuls

14."Political dialogue among friends and family has always been fraught, but its at a whole new low now. Half of my family cant talk about politics at all without burning up friendships. The Right has gone full 'Dear Leader,' and The Left cannot find a suitable candidate to go up against someone with dozens of felonies who sexually assaulted a woman, and set up a fake school to defraud his fans and pretend the election was stolen from him. So, every day? Picking and choosing what you say, freaking out or holding your breath, and looking at all our leaders as failures. Its raining a lot, too."

 heathkay07

15."The anxiety is near constant. Im wondering all the time what fresh hell I will read about next. Its strange to continue with mundane tasks like oil changes or edging the lawn when our democracy is being dismantled, and innocent people are being kidnapped and sent to death camps."

Xavier Lorenzo / Getty Images

 Wonderful_Horror7315

16."I'm a mental health therapist. I've literally had client sessions to help them deal with their anxiety about what happens next."

 Mrs_Cake

17."My non-natural-born citizen friends dont go out as much. Im in software sales, and people are way more budget-conscious. I spend part of my days figuring out how to leave the US. Accounts are in the dumps. My local Whole Foods has no eggs. As a Jewish person, Im disgusted at how the White House is weaponizing antisemitism to forgo the First Amendment."

Edwin Remsberg / Getty Images

"Something thats very important to the Jewish faith is the ability to question. Its integral to the religion. Im not religious, but its one reason Im proud to be Jewish. Debate isnt looked at as a sign of faithlessness; the opposite, in fact. The White House is directly contradicting this."

 arieljoc

So, if you're American, tell us how things currently look in your day-to-day life after Trumps presidency began anonymously in the Google form or in the comments below.
CAIRO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi on Saturday reiterated Egypt's full solidarity and unshakable support to Jordan "in confronting all forms of terrorism and extremist groups" that seek to undermine its security and stability.

According to a statement released by the Egyptian Presidency, al-Sisi held a phone conversation with King Abdullah II of Jordan, during which the Egyptian president stressed "the crucial importance of joint cooperation to achieve the aspirations of the peoples for a safe and stable life."

King Abdullah II voiced appreciation for the Egyptian support, and highlighted the "historical and fraternal relations" between the two countries, said the statement.

The two also discussed the developments in Gaza and West Bank, among others, said the statement.

On Tuesday, Jordan's General Intelligence Directorate announced that 16 individuals had been arrested for involvement in plots "aimed at undermining national security and inciting chaos and material sabotage within the Kingdom."

The suspects were allegedly trained and financed in Lebanon, and involved in efforts to manufacture rockets and drones for illicit purposes. 
STERLING, Conn. (WPRI)  Two Sterling, Conn., residents are facing animal cruelty charges after nearly three dozen animals were discovered living in squalor.

Kelly Desnoyers, 36, has been charged with 35 counts of animal cruelty, and Nicole Desnoyers, 22, has been charged with 40 counts of animal cruelty.

Connecticut State Police said animal control officers who searched their property found 14 dogs, six kittens, five rats, two guinea pigs and two potbellied pigs, as well as a goat, pony, bearded dragon, chicken and rooster.

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Police said the animal control officers also uncovered three dead cats, two dead guinea pigs and one dead squirrel.

The investigation began back in February, when the animal control officers first received word of a possible animal hoarding situation involving a number dogs, according to the criminal complaint.

Police said those officers visited the Desnoyers residence that same day to check the animals wellbeing and were immediately overwhelmed by the strong smell of urine and ammonia coming from inside the home.

Kelly Desnoyers (Courtesy: Connecticut State Police)

Nicole Desnoyers (Courtesy: Connecticut State Police)

The officers also noticed garbage and dog feces strewn about the front steps, and could hear several dogs inside yelping in distress, the criminal complaint continued.

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No one was home at the time, according to police, and the animal control officers spent several days trying to get into contact with the homeowner.

Police said Kelly Desnoyers called a few days after their first visit and began belligerently screaming into the phone about how the animal control officers were harassing her and trespassing on her property.

Nearly a month later, animal control officers secured a court-approved search warrant for the residence, which is when the 34 animals were found and rescued from the home, which the criminal complaint noted was not livable and covered in garbage.

No visible food or water was seen in the home for the animals, the criminal complaint noted. Dogs were stacked three-to-four crates high, many of them having urine scalding and skin irritation from being in their own waste.

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Police also said the dead animals were discovered in an uncovered litterbox in the freezer.

There was also moldy food all over the counters and a flea infestation so bad that the bearded dragon had them in his tank, according to the criminal complaint.

Nicole Desnoyers was taken into custody Wednesday evening, and Kelly Desnoyers turned herself in a couple of hours later.

Kelly and Nicole Desnoyers were both released on $20,000 bonds and ordered not to keep or care for any animals.

Sterling is located just over the Rhode Island border.

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Police are investigating a murder-suicide after two people were found dead in their home on Friday, according to Troy Police Department Chief Shawn McKinney.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Troy police identified the residents as 60-year-old Laurie Neal and 67-year-old William Neal.

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Troy police were called for a welfare check in the 1400 block of Croydon Road at approximately 3:10 p.m., according to a previous News Center 7 report.

A mail carrier told authorities that the mail was piling up outside the house, according to McKinney.

A neighbor also told police that she has not seen the couple since April 13.

Officers decided to go inside the home after unsuccessful attempts to locate the residents and additional concerning facts, McKinney said.

Police found that the doors were barricaded with bungee cords.

The Troy Fire Department helped police get inside.

McKinney said preliminary findings suggest this was a murder-suicide, with Laurie being the victim of the homicide.

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Laurie and William were transported to the Miami Valley Regional Crime Lab for autopsies.

This incident remains under investigation.

News Center 7 will continue to follow this story.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A Memphis man died Saturday morning after a suspect opened fire on a vehicle at a Napier area gas station, according to police.

The shooting was reported just after 2 a.m. on Saturday, April 19 at the Honeysuckle Market convenience store, in the 100 block of Lafayette Street.

Drugs, gun recovered after police search suspicious vehicle in Madison

According to the Metro Nashville Police Department, a group of men was gathered near a white Chevrolet Malibu parked at a gas pump when a brief verbal interaction took place between them and the driver of a white Jeep at another pump.

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As the Jeep began to drive away, the suspect  who is pictured in surveillance footage wearing a black shirt with white lettering  allegedly fired shots at the vehicle, which accelerated and crashed into the convenience store.

(Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department) (Courtesy: Metro Nashville Police Department)

Two of the five occupants of the Jeep were reportedly transported to Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

At 10:30 a.m. Saturday, officials announced that one of the victims, 37-year-old Michael Robinson of Memphis, died at the hospital. The second victims injuries were described as non-critical.

(Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN) (Photo: WKRN)

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Authorities said the suspect left the scene in a black Nissan sedan.

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Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 615-742-7463. Callers can remain anonymous and qualify for a reward of up to $5,000 in homicide cases.

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 Find todays top stories on WKRN.com for Nashville, TN and all of Middle Tennessee.

This is a developing story. WKRN News 2 will continue to update this article as new information becomes available.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Two people were injured after a multi-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon, April 19, in El Pasos Upper Valley, according to the El Paso Fire Department.

The crash appears to be related to the theft of a vehicle from a car wash, according to preliminary information from El Paso Police.

The crash happened at 12:33 p.m. on April 19, near 4800 Love Road, near White Spur Park, El Paso Fire said.

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According to the Fire Department, one person was transported with serious injuries (code 3) and another was transported with non-life-threatening injuries (code 1).

El Paso Fire said they could not confirm how many vehicles were involved as they got different reports with three, four and five vehicles.

According to preliminary information provided by El Paso Police, a woman is in custody after allegedly taking a vehicle from a car wash on Sunland Park Drive with a child inside. The suspect was taken into custody along the 4800 block of Love, the same location and time as the crash.

The child was not injured, police said.



Police did not specify if the crash was related to the theft they are investigating.

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This is a developing story and will be updating you once we learn more.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Two people have died and another injured in a single car accident in the Morningside area of Sioux City.

The Sioux City Police Department said in a press release that the Sioux City Fire and Rescue and the Sioux City Police Department were sent to Transit Avenue and South Cecilia in the Morningside area for a vehicle accident Saturday at 4:26 a.m.

The press release said, they found a single vehicle crash with a driver and two passengers. Based on a investigation a white 2014 Infiniti QX80 was heading Eastbound on Transit Avenue at a fast speed.

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The driver lost control of the vehicle and hit a curb resulting in the car hitting a utility pole and hitting a front porch of a house.

The driver of the car was injured and transported to a hospital. The front seat passenger was pronounced dead on the scene, and the second passenger was transported to a hospital and later died from their injuries.

Names of the individuals involved are not being released at this time.

The incident is still under investigation.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to SiouxlandProud | Sioux City, IA | News, Weather, and Sports.
CHAPEL HILL, Tenn. (WKRN)  An investigation into two break-ins at a Chapel Hill pharmacy from last year resulted in the discovery of a multi-state crime spree, law enforcement announced Friday.

According to the Chapel Hill Police Department, two early morning break-ins happened at H&S Pharmacy in the 4700 block of Nashville Highway in July and December of 2024.

During the July incident, the suspects allegedly shattered the glass front door to get inside the store. Security footage captured two people focusing on medication behind the counter before leaving the scene in a four-door sedan, officials said.

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In the December burglary, authorities said three suspects entered the pharmacy using the same method, but only one medicine bottle was stolen before the individuals fled in a white Dodge Durango.

With Chapel Hill K-9s help, officers arrest man with multiple active warrants

The Chapel Hill Police Department worked diligently and gathered information from other jurisdictions that had similar burglaries in Tennessee including McMinnville, Winchester, Adamsville, Columbia, White Bluff & Kingston Springs, police posted on Facebook on Friday, April 18. Information gathered from these agencies showed numerous similarities including similar clothing, vehicles and break-in methods.

CHPD said it reached out to an FBI analyst, who used the data to develop potential suspects. Then, the department contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration and discovered agents in Mississippi were investigating similar burglaries, so they shared the suspect information.

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Through a joint investigation, law enforcement said they determined the suspects were involved in a crime spree targeting pharmacies in Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, and Tennessee.

In a federal criminal complaint filed in April, Xavier Jennings and Kendrell Cross were identified as two of the suspects involved in pharmacy burglaries in two Mississippi cities, as well as Chapel Hill, according to officials.

CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

In addition, the investigation revealed the same two men were linked to the theft of two Dodge Durango Hellcats from a car lot in another Mississippi city, which led to a high-speed chase where one of the drivers reportedly slammed into a deputys car and drove off. The suspects abandoned the stolen cars in a wooded area, but authorities said they arrested Cross  who was out on bond for prior burglary charges in Tuscaloosa, Alabama  after spotting him walking down the road in Mississippi.

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On April 3, police said a CHPD detective traveled to Tuscaloosa with a DEA agent to arrest Jennings, who was wanted in connection with roughly 20 pharmacy burglaries agents could tie him to, as well as various vehicle thefts.

Upon taking Jennings into custody, the odor of marijuana was emanating from his person, as well as from the apartment from which Jennings was residing at, CHPD said, so the Tuscaloosa County Sheriffs Office obtained a search warrant for the premises.

When they executed the warrant, law enforcement said they found bulk marijuana, firearms, a mask and gloves consistent with those worn during the burglaries, a window punch, and a vehicle scanning tool capable of programming new key fobs. Authorities also recovered the vehicles and other items of evidentiary value.

(Courtesy: CHPD)

(Courtesy: CHPD)

The CHPD detective also noticed clothing in the apartment that was worn in the Chapel Hill burglaries, according to officials.

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At the time of his arrest, police said Jennings was out on bond for unrelated theft and burglary charges in Huntsville, Alabama.

Police announced on Friday that both Jennings and Cross remain in custody pending further proceedings. Additional charges are expected as authorities investigate related burglaries across several Southern states.

No additional details have been released about the case.

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LEXINGTON, Mass. (AP)  Tens of thousands of people came to Lexington, Massachusetts, just before dawn on Saturday to witness a reenactment of how the American Revolution began 250 years ago, with the blast of gunshot and a trail of colonial flair.

Starting with Saturdays anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, the country will look back to its war of independence and ask where its legacy stands today. Just after dawn on the Lexington Battle Green, militiamen, muskets in hand, took on a much larger contingent of British regulars. The battle ended with eight Americans killed and 10 wounded -- the dead scattered on the grounds as the British marched off.

The regulars would head to Concord but not before a horseman, Dr. Samuel Prescott, rode toward the North Bridge and warned communities along the way that the British were coming. A lone horseman reenacted that ride Saturday, followed by a parade through town and a ceremony at the bridge.

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The day offers an opportunity to reflect on this seminal moment in history but also consider what this fight means today. Organizers estimated that over 100,000 came out for events in the two towns Saturday.

It's truly momentous, said Richard Howell, who portrayed Lexington Minute Man Samuel Tidd in the battle.

This is one of the most sacred pieces of ground in the country, if not the world, because of what it represents," he said. To represent what went on that day, how a small town of Lexington was a vortex of so much."

Among those watching the Lexington reenactment was Brandon Mace, a lieutenant colonel with the Army Reserve whose ancestor Moses Stone was in the Lexington militia.

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He said watching the reenactment was a little emotional.

He made the choice just like I made and my brother made, and my son is in the Army as well," Mace said. "... He did not know we would be celebrating him today. He did not know that he was participating in the birth of the nation. He just knew his friends and family were in danger.

The 250th anniversary comes with President Donald Trump, scholars and others divided over whether to have a yearlong party leading up to July 4, 2026, as Trump has called for, or to balance any celebrations with questions about women, the enslaved and Indigenous people and what their stories reveal.

What happened at Lexington and Concord?

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Historians can confidently tell us that hundreds of British troops marched from Boston in the early morning of April 19, 1775, and gathered about 14 miles (23 kilometers) northwest, on Lexington's town green.

Witnesses remembered some British officers yelled, Throw down your arms, ye villains, ye rebels! and that a shot was heard amid the chaos, followed by scattered fire from the British. The battle turned so fierce that the area reeked of burning powder. By day's end, the fighting had moved to about 7 miles (11 kilometers) west to Concord and some 250 British and 95 colonists were killed or wounded.

But no one knows who fired first, or why. And the revolt itself was initially less a revolution than a demand for better terms.

Woody Holton, a professor of early American history at the University of South Carolina, said most scholars agree that the rebels of April 1775 werent looking to leave the empire, but to repair their relationship with King George III and go back to the days before the Stamp Act, the Tea Act and other disputes of the previous decade.

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The colonists only wanted to turn back the clock to 1763, he said.

Stacy Schiff, a Pulitzer Prize-winning historian whose books include biographies of Benjamin Franklin and Samuel Adams, said Lexington and Concord galvanized opinion precisely as the Massachusetts men hoped it would, though still it would be a long road to a vote for independence, which Adams felt should have been declared on 20 April 1775.

But at the time, Schiff added, It did not seem possible that a mother country and her colony had actually come to blows.

A fight for the ages

The rebels already believed their cause was bigger than a disagreement between subjects and rulers. Well before the turning points of 1776  before the Declaration of Independence or Thomas Paines boast that We have it in our power to begin the world over again  they cast themselves in a drama for the ages.

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The so-called Suffolk Resolves of 1774, drafted by civic leaders of Suffolk County, Massachusetts, prayed for a life unfettered by power, unclogged with shackles, a fight that would determine the fate of this new world, and of unborn millions.

The revolution was an ongoing story of surprise and improvisation. Military historian Rick Atkinson, whose book The Fate of the Day is the second of a planned trilogy on the war, called Lexington and Concord a clear win for the home team, if only because the British hadn't expected such impassioned resistance from the colony's militia.

The British, ever underestimating those whom King George regarded as a deluded and unhappy multitude, would be knocked back again when the rebels promptly framed and transmitted a narrative blaming the royal forces.

Once shots were fired in Lexington, Samuel Adams and Joseph Warren did all in their power to collect statements from witnesses and to circulate them quickly; it was essential that the colonies, and the world, understand who had fired first, Schiff said. "Adams was convinced that the Lexington skirmish would be famed in the history of this country.' He knocked himself out to make clear who the aggressors had been.

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A country still in progress

Neither side imagined a war lasting eight years, or had confidence in what kind of country would be born out of it. The founders united in their quest for self-government but differed how to actually govern, and whether self-government could even last.

Americans have never stopped debating the balance of powers, the rules of enfranchisement or how widely to apply the exhortation, All men are created equal.

That debate was very much on display Saturday  though mostly on the fringes and with anti-Trump protesters far outnumbered by flag-waving tourists, locals and history buffs. Many protesters carried signs inspired by the American Revolution including, Resist Like Its 1775," and one even brought a puppet featuring an orange-faced Trump.

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It's a very appropriate place and date to make it clear that, as Americans, we want to take a stand against what we think is an encroaching autocracy, Glenn Stark, a retired physics professor who was holding a No Kings sign and watching the ceremony at the North Bridge.

Massachusetts' Democratic governor, Maura Healey, who spoke at the North Bridge ceremony, also used the event to remind the cheering crowd that many of the ideals fought for during the Revolutionary War are again at risk.

We see things that would be familiar to our Revolutionary predecessors  the silencing of critics, the disappearing people from our streets, demands for unquestioned fealty, she said. Due process is a foundational right. if it can be discarded for one, it can be lost for all.

___

Italie reported from New York.
ROCK HILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  Rock Hills Piedmont Medical Center treated the majority of patients involved in a school bus crash on Interstate 77 Thursday afternoon.

Buses from Lexington County were returning from a field trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame in Charlotte when a tire blew out on one of them, causing it to hit a guardrail and fall on its side. One student was killed and dozens more were injured.

Otherwise, 28 students and chaperones who had less severe injuries were transported to Piedmont. They have since been discharged.

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When we think about an ambulance bringing somebody in, they bring in one patient, when you have a mass casualty incident like this, we had ambulances showing up with three and four patients, said Jennifer Biggers, who leads the hospitals emergency management.

Jennifer Biggers says the hospital prepares for mass events like these.

Biggers said Piedmonts ER was ready because her team prepares for these exact types of incidents.

Every department in the hospital was involved in making that plan and then we started practicing, we drill it, we tabletop it, which means everybody comes into the room, we give a scenario, and we talk through it all the way to actually having drills in the ER, she said.

Queen City News also reached out to Atrium Health since the Carolinas Medical Center treated patients with more serious injuries, but they were unable to comment on the events. Three other hospitals in the Carolinas treated patients from the crash.

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April 19 (UPI) -- The bodies of the pilot and two passengers were recovered from the Platte River in Nebraska following a private airplane crash Friday evening.

A privately owned single-engine Cessna 180 Skywagon aircraft crashed into the Platte River at 8:45 p.m. MDT Friday night near Fremont, Neb., the Federal Aviation Administration announced.

Fremont is located about 40 miles northwest of Omaha in eastern Nebraska.

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Three were aboard the aircraft when it crashed for unknown reasons on Friday night, and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the matter.

The airplane's pilot was flying along the Platte River when it crashed and killed Daniel Williams, 43, of Moundridge, Kan., and Fremont residents Jeff Bittinger, 50, and Randy Amrein, 48, the Dodge County (Neb.) Sheriff's Office announced in a press release posted on Facebook.

First responders from a dozen area organizations, plus citizens equipped with airboats, responded to the crash site to assist with recovery efforts.

A NTSB investigator initiated an investigation after arriving at the crash site on Saturday afternoon, ABC News reported.

Officials at the Dodge County Sheriff's Office are asking people to avoid the crash site until further notice while the investigation is underway.
Students write Chinese characters during an International Chinese Language Day event at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, April 17, 2025. TO GO WITH "Ugandan students celebrate International Chinese Language Day with cultural performances" (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

KAMPALA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of students from schools and institutions across Uganda gathered on Thursday to celebrate the 16th United Nations International Chinese Language Day with vibrant performances, music, and dance.

The event, held at Makerere University, the country's largest public institution, was organized by the university's Confucius Institute under the theme "Chinese Language: A Gift Across Time and Space."

In a message delivered on his behalf by Robert Wamala, director of Research, Innovation, and Partnership at Makerere University, Vice Chancellor Barnabas Nawangwe commended the Chinese government, through its embassy in Uganda, for introducing the Chinese language in Ugandan schools.

"At Makerere University, we are proud to be part of this global dialogue. Through our collaboration with the Confucius Institute, we have witnessed first-hand the immense value of cross-cultural education in promoting mutual understanding, respect, and shared prosperity," Wamala said.

"Our students have not only learnt a new language but have gained a deeper appreciation of Chinese culture, philosophy, and history -- perspectives that broaden their world views and enhance their roles as global citizens," Wamala added.

Yvone Namwanje, a student at Wampeewo Ntakke Secondary School, said learning Chinese is part of her plan to seize future job opportunities. "More and more Chinese are investing in Uganda, and they will need interpreters. I want to work with those wonderful people and learn more about their cultures, movies, songs, and food," she said.

Chinese Ambassador to Uganda Zhang Lizhong described language as "a bridge of communication and a key to understanding a culture."

He expressed gratitude that the Chinese language is helping connect Ugandan students with the Chinese community in the country.

"The celebration reminds us that language learning is not only about mastering communication tools, but also about appreciating the immortal beauty of a civilization, fostering mutual respect and promoting shared understanding," Zhang said.

According to the United Nations, the International Chinese Language Day was designated "to celebrate multilingualism and cultural diversity as well as to promote equal use of all six of its official working languages throughout the organization." 

Chinese instructors teach students to write Chinese characters during an International Chinese Language Day event at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, April 17, 2025. TO GO WITH "Ugandan students celebrate International Chinese Language Day with cultural performances" (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)

Students of Confucius Institute at Makerere University entertain visitors with a dance during an International Chinese Language Day event at Makerere University in Kampala, Uganda, April 17, 2025. TO GO WITH "Ugandan students celebrate International Chinese Language Day with cultural performances" (Photo by Nicholas Kajoba/Xinhua)
Three people were killed when a small plane traveling south of Fremont, Nebraska, crashed into a river Friday night, authorities said.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office said that around 8:15 p.m. local time "a small plane was traveling along the Platte River south of Fremont when it crashed into the river."

"The three occupants of the plane have been recovered and are confirmed deceased," authorities continued.

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The victims were identified Saturday as 43 year- old Daniel Williams of Moundridge, Kansas, and 50 year-old Jeff Bittinger, and 48 year-old Randy Amrein, both of Fremont, Nebraska.

PHOTO: A small plane crashed into the North Platte River near Fremont, Nebraska, on April 18, 2025. (KETV)

"The Dodge County Sheriffs Office offers our deepest condolences to the family of the victims and the Dodge County Community," the sheriff's office.

The National Transportation Safety Board said the plane was a Cessna 180 and that an investigator from the agency would arrive at the scene Saturday afternoon.

MORE: Small plane crashes in Boca Raton, Florida; all 3 on board killed

The NTSB and the Federal Aviation Administration are leading the investigation. The cause of the crash is currently unknown.

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The Dodge County Sheriff's Office asked the community to avoid the area until further notice so that they may continue with their investigation.

3 dead after small plane crashes into Nebraska river originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
CHICAGO (WGN)  Three people were hospitalized after an argument led to a shooting in the front yard of a home on the citys West Side late Friday night.

Chicago police say just after 11:30 p.m., officers were called to the scene of a shooting with three reported victims in the 5000 block of West West End Avenue, in Austin.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

According to police, a preliminary investigation indicates that an altercation broke out between a group of people in the front yard of a home in the area. Amid the fight, a male offender pulled out a gun and opened fire on the victims before fleeing the scene in a black SUV.

Officers said three people were struck by gunfire, including an 18-year-old girl who was hospitalized in critical condition with a gunshot wound to her chest, a 17-year-old girl who was hospitalized in fair condition with a gunshot wound to her hip and a 19-year-old man who was hospitalized in good condition with a graze wound to his arm.

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Currently, it is unclear what sparked the altercation and authorities said no arrests have been made in connection with the shooting.

LATEST CASES: Missing people in Chicagoland

Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to contact CPD Area Four Detectives at 312-746-8251 or dial 911.

Those with information that could help authorities in their investigation can also leave a tip at CPDtip.com. Tips can be filed anonymously.

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Apr. 18SAN ANTONIO  Acting United States Attorney Margaret Leachman for the Western District of Texas announced in a Friday news release that federal prosecutors in the district filed 378 new immigration and immigration-related criminal cases from April 11 through April 17.

Among the new cases, a Mexican national named Cristo Jesus De Nasareth was arrested April 14 by U.S. Border Patrol agents from the Horse Patrol Unit along FM 170 near the U.S.-Mexico border. A criminal complaint affidavit alleges that when asked if he had any weapons on his person, Jesus De Nasareth told the agents he had a pistol inside one of his pockets underneath multiple layers of clothing. Jesus De Nasareth made his initial appearance in a federal court in Pecos on April 17, charged with one count of being an illegal alien in possession of a firearm and ammunition and one count of illegal entry.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement Removal Operations (ICE ERO) agents in San Antonio received notification that Mexican national Netsai Moreno-Suarez was arrested for a traffic violation on April 11. Moreno-Suarez was transferred into ICE ERO custody, charged with illegal re-entry. She was previously removed from the United States in August 2023 after being convicted for conspiracy to transport illegal aliens and being sentenced to five years of probation. If convicted, Moreno-Suarez faces up to 20 years in federal prison.

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On April 12, Janet Amanda Gonzales, of San Antonio, was arrested in Kinney County for allegedly transporting five illegal aliens further into the United States. A criminal complaint alleges that U.S. Border Patrol agents observed several individuals laying on top of each other on the backseat of Gonzales's vehicle as she arrived at an immigration checkpoint near Brackettville. Gonzales allegedly admitted that she was conspiring with other subjects to transport the illegal aliens for monetary gain. A convicted felon, Gonzales was sentenced in April 2021 to two years of probation for exploitation of child/elderly/disabled.

The following day, April 13, a USBP agent observed multiple people running away from the brush and enter a pickup truck on the side of Highway 277 near Texas Loop 79. The agent performed an immigration inspection on the individuals, allegedly discovering four illegal aliens and U.S. Citizen Roberto Hernandez. A criminal complaint alleges that Hernandez was contacted by a co-conspirator and asked to pick up a group of illegal aliens to transport them to a residence in Del Rio.

USBP agents arrested Mexican national Arturo Mendoza-Yerbafria near Sanderson on April 15 for illegal re-entry. Mendoza-Yerbafria has been thrice deported, most recently on May 15, 2024 through Laredo Columbia Bridge. He was convicted in March 2018 and sentenced to 366 days in prison for one count of bringing in and harboring aliens.

Honduran national Efrain Antonio Corroto-Herrera was arrested near Eagle Pass after records indicated he had been previously deported twice, the most recent removal being to Honduras on March 12 through Laredo. Corroto-Herrera was convicted in Austin on Feb. 26 for assault causing bodily injury, for which he received a sentence of 180 days confinement.

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Mexican national Zacarias Bautista-Emiliano was arrested by USBP agents for being an alien illegally present in the U.S, having been previously deported as recently as October 2024 through San Ysidro, California. The October removal was Bautista-Emiliano's fifth deportation and his criminal history includes a felony conviction in 2013 for lewd or lascivious acts with a child under 14. His criminal record also includes two additional felony convictions: illegal re-entry in New Mexico in 2014 and illegal re-entry in Arizona in 2022. Bautista-Emiliano received sentences of 46 months in prison and 40 months in prison, respectively, for those convictions.

In Austin, Honduran national Elvin Alexis Canelas-Morillo was placed into federal custody April 17. He pleaded guilty to assault causing bodily injury in a 2023 Travis County case and was sentenced to 179 days confinement. Canelas-Morillo has four prior removals, most recently in April 2022, and a lengthy criminal history that includes multiple immigration convictions, burglary of a building, and evading arrest. He now faces a charge of illegal re-entry.

Mexican national Heber Vivero-Martinez was also transferred to federal custody in Austin on April 17. Along with three prior convictions for illegal entry, Vivero-Martinez was convicted in 2019 for assault causing bodily injury. At the time of his transfer, he was serving 20 days in the Travis County Jail for a DWI charge. Vivero-Martinez's immigration record includes two removals in 2013 and four voluntary returns between 2007 and 2009.

In El Paso, Mexican national Adolfo Martinez-Padron was arrested and charged with illegal re-entry. He has been previously removed six times, most recently March 27 through Del Rio. Martinez-Padron's extensive criminal history includes two felony convictions for possession of a controlled substance, two DWIs, and assault causing bodily injury to a family member.

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Mexican national Santa Cruz Garcia-Morales was arrested in El Paso as well, having been previously removed from the U.S. four times and granted two voluntary removals. In 2023, Garcia-Morales was convicted in Salt Lake, Utah and sentenced to 180 days in jail for domestic violence in the presence of a child. In May 2024, he was sentenced to 18 months of probation in West Jordan, Utah for aggravated assault.

These cases were referred or supported by federal law enforcement partners, including Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), Immigration and Customs Enforcement's Enforcement and Removal Operations (ICE ERO), U.S. Border Patrol, the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the U.S. Marshals Service (USMS), and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), with additional assistance from state and local law enforcement partners.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Western District of Texas comprises 68 counties located in the central and western areas of Texas, encompasses nearly 93,000 square miles and an estimated population of 7.6 million people. The district includes three of the five largest cities in TexasSan Antonio, Austin and El Pasoand shares 660 miles of common border with the Republic of Mexico.

These cases are part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations (TCOs), and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces (OCDETFs) and Project Safe Neighborhood (PSN).

Indictments and criminal complaints are merely allegations and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.
BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB)  The 50501 Movement hosted a second Hands Off! protest on Saturday in Niagara Square, which marked one of hundreds of similar protests against President Donald Trump and his administration that took place across the nation this weekend.

Protesters gathered from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in what the movement described as a peaceful protest to protect American democracy. According to its website, the 50501 Movement stands for 50 protests in 50 states on one day and first gained traction on Reddit.

Its known now that we do not stand for whats going [on] right now, that we stand for an America with a natural sense of justice, not an authoritarian dictatorship that does whatever it wants, said Peter McNamara, a Power to the People NY organizer. We stand for real democracy and we demand it now.

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The gathering followed the initial Hands Off! protest that took place on April 5 in Niagara Square, which brought thousands of protesters to downtown Buffalo. It was one of over 1,200 demonstrations that were planned across the country that day.

Attendees remained in the square for Saturdays protest and some made speeches. According to the 50501 Movements website, there were 900 protests planned for Saturday across the United States.

Former Erie County Democratic Chairman and former county legislator Len Lenihan spoke about why he attended the protest and his hope to see a change in the government.

Im here to join in with the crowd to say that its not OK what Trump is doing to this country, you know, gutting the federal government, crashing the economy, walking away from Ukraine when theyre fighting for their lives, he said.

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One resident, Elmer Ploetz, said hes concerned and emphasized his message of making change by building community.

The Trump administration is doing so many things that are tearing apart the fabric of our culture and defying the laws, for example, abducting people that are not actually doing anything, abducting students for exercising free speech, and ICE has gotten out of hand, and thats just one of so many different issues, Ploetz said.

McNamara estimated that around 2,000 people showed up for Saturdays rally.

Latest Local News

Katie Skoog joined the News 4 team in April 2024. She is a graduate from the University at Buffalo. You can view more of her work here.

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(Reuters) - Gunmen killed 56 people in central Nigeria, AFP reported on Saturday, citing the governor's office.

AFP did not provide any further details.

(Reporting by Mrinmay Dey in Bengaluru; Editing by Richard Chang)
Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions injured at least six civilians over the past day, local authorities reported on April 19.

According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russia deployed eight missiles of different types, and 87 long-range drones  33 of which were shot down and 36 turned out to be decoy, on April 19.

Recent weeks saw Russia intensify its strikes against Ukraine's civilian infrastructure and residential areas as Moscow continues to reject a full ceasefire backed by Washington and Kyiv.

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In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, a 74-year-old man was injured amid 328 Russian strikes across 12 settlements, Governor Ivan Fedorov reported on April 19. The attacks included eight airstrikes, more than 200 drone assaults, and over 100 artillery attacks. A fire broke out at a vehicle depot in Zaporizhzhia city following a drone strike. Another attack in the village of Mahdalynivka damaged residential buildings, according to Fedorov.

In Kharkiv Oblast, the city of Kupiansk was struck by 10 guided aerial bombs, including a high-powered thermobaric ODAB-1500, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on April 19. Five civilians were injured as a result of the attacks. In Kharkiv citys Kyivskyi district, a Shahed drone hit a residential area, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. Further details are being clarified.

In Sumy Oblast, Russia shelled border communities 56 times, with 143 explosions recorded overnight. The attacks damaged homes, utility buildings, and vehicles across multiple settlements, but inflicted no casualties, according to Sumy Oblast authorities.

In Odesa Oblast, a Russian attack damaged several farming enterprises, the State Emergency Service of Ukraine reported. No casualties or injuries were reported.

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Read also: Youre fools  US may take a pass on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says

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A seven-year-old boy with autism who went missing from a restaurant in Queens Friday morning has been reunited with his mother after the tyke turned up hours later in Manhattan, police said.

The boy, who is nonverbal, disappeared from Dera Restaurant in Jackson Heights around 11:45 a.m., police said. He had been having breakfast with his mother at the South Asian eatery and slipped away when she went to the bathroom to wash her hands.

The boys mother quickly reported him missing and police combed the borough looking form him.

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Somehow, the little kid made it all the way to Manhattan, where a woman walking along E. 61st St. spotted him dart into traffic. The woman ran after the boy and was able to grab him and bring him back to safety before calling 911.

On 58th, he went across the crosswalk when it was still red, and there were cars coming, the Good Samaritan said at a press conference. And then when we hit 57th, the cars were going both ways and he ran into the middle of the street. There were two different cars going each way that stopped and they were honking their horns, and he just kept going, and I was trying to get him but I didnt want to get hit either, so he was a little more of a hero than I was running into the middle of the street.

Responding officers recognized the child from an alert they received and reunited the boy with his mother.

Its still not clear how the boy made it all the way to Manhattan, but his mother said he has an obsession with New York City landmarks.
BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Louisiana State Police are investigating a crash that killed a pedestrian Friday night on LA 408 near Governor Claiborne Drive.

Troopers said Patrick Dooley, 72, of Baton Rouge, was trying to cross the eastbound lanes of LA 408 when he was hit by two vehicles, a Toyota Camry and a GMC Yukon, traveling in the same lane.

State police said Dooley died at the scene from his injuries. A child in the Camry suffered minor injuries and was taken to the hospital. Everyone else in both vehicles was not hurt.

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Police said both drivers were wearing seatbelts, and impairment is not suspected, though routine toxicology tests are being done. No charges have been filed at this time.

St. Helena Parish deputies investigate after inmate found dead in cell

The crash remains under investigation.

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Less than an hour after he allegedly firebombed the Pennsylvania governor's mansion, the suspect called 911 and appeared to apologize and confess to the early Sunday attack, according to a newly released recording of the call.

"I don't really have an emergency. I would like to apologize," the suspect, 38-year-old Cody Balmer, is heard telling the operator in a recording of the call obtained by ABC News through a public records request.

Balmer refers to Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro and himself by name in the recording of the call, which has been cited in multiple warrants in the case.

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MORE: Exclusive: Gov. Shapiro gives sit-down interview from residence after arson attack

"Gov. Josh Shapiro needs to know that Cody Balmer will not take part in his plan for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people," Balmer is heard saying in the recording. "He needs to leave my family alone."

"He needs to stop having my friends killed," he continues in the recording. "Our people have been put through too much by that monster."

The damage to the residence's dining room by the fire was also mentioned in the call, according to the recording.

"All he has is a banquet hall to clean up," Balmer is heard saying in the recording. "I'm tired of offering extensions of peace. I only want to be able to provide for my children. I should not be taken to these extremes. It's not fair."

PHOTO: Investigators are on the scene after an overnight fire at the governor's official residence on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Marc Levy/AP)

The suspect said he wished "no harm onto anyone," according to the recording.

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"But that man, that man is doing serious, serious harm to probably yourself included," he continues in the recording. "And I do wish you the best, sir. You all know where to find me. I'm not hiding, and I do confess to everything that I've done."

Balmer's voice is rather calm throughout the roughly minute-long call, though he is heard taking a couple of deep breaths. It appears he hangs up before the operator can respond.

ABC News has reached out to Balmer's public defender for comment on the call and has not yet received a response.

MORE: Arson at Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence was 'domestic terrorism': Fire chief

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The 911 call was made at approximately 2:50 a.m. Sunday, according to search warrants.

Members of the Harrisburg Bureau of Fire responded to the governor's residence at approximately 2 a.m. that day for the report of a fire.

The attack happened hours after the Shapiro family hosted more than two dozen people for the first night of Passover. The assailant hopped a fence at the governor's mansion, broke windows, entered the residence and deployed Molotov cocktails made from beer bottles and gasoline, police said.

Shapiro and his family were in the residence at the time of the fire but were evacuated safely and not injured, according to state police.

PHOTO: Cody A. Balmer appears for a mugshot photo after being charged in connection with a fire at Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro's residence, April 13, 2025 in Harrisburg, Pa. (Dauphin County District Attorney's Office/Getty Images)

Balmer turned himself in and allegedly confessed to the fire, according to search warrants.

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He faces eight criminal charges, including attempted murder, terrorism and aggravated arson. So far, prosecutors have not invoked a hate crime law, which in Pennsylvania is known as ethnic intimidation.

He has yet to enter a plea to the charges.

Balmer -- a mechanic who had previously expressed disdain for Democrats on social media -- was denied bail at his arraignment on Monday.

During the hearing, his attorney said Balmer is indigent and asked for a "reasonable monetary bail," but the judge denied it, saying that while he appreciated that Balmer turned himself in, there were no conditions that could keep him from being a danger to the community.

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He is set to appear in court on April 23 for a preliminary hearing.

911 call made by suspect in arson attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro's residence released originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
DAR ES SALAAM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- At least seven people were killed and 15 others injured on Saturday after an ambulance collided with a three-wheeled motorcycle in Mufindi District in Tanzania's southern highlands region of Iringa, an official said.

Linda Salekwa, commissioner of the district, told Xinhua over the phone that the collision occurred at 6 a.m. local time.

Salekwa could not confirm whether any of the dead were in the ambulance, but said preliminary reports indicated that the victims on the motorcycle were on their way to a farm when the accident occurred.

She added that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the accident. 
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Local authorities issued public alerts on Saturday regarding a phone service outage impacting some carriers in Southern California, including a disruption to 911 emergency call services.

Specifically, the Oceanside and Carlsbad Police Departments informed the community that North County residents and those across San Diego County may experience difficulty reaching 911 due to this issue, which is currently affecting Verizon users in particular.

Protestors rally for constitutional protections, due process in San Diego

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Police said there have been reports of busy signals or call failures when attempting to contact emergency services. The outage has been traced to a fiber line issue, and while phone companies are actively working to restore full service, local authorities said there is no estimated time for repairs as of current.

Residents across the region are encouraged to call their local police departments non-emergency dispatch number if they cannot get through to 911 during an emergency. Oceanside residents can dial 760-435-4900, Carlsbad residents can call 442-339-2197, and those in the city of San Diego can dial 6195312000.

Authorities also stressed the importance of not testing the lines unless in a real emergency, to keep them available for those in urgent need.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

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(WHTM)  Tonight, Harrisburg voters had a chance to meet the five Democratic candidates running for Mayor and saw a feisty debate, particularly among the three city officials on stage.

The candidates in attendance were Harrisburg Mayor Wanda Williams, Harrisburg City Councilman Lamont Jones, Harrisburg City Treasurer Dan Miller, non-profit founder Tone Cook, and community activist Lewis Butts.

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The candidates debated issues ranging from crime, to bringing business back to downtown, to creating affordable housing for residents.

Jones pointed to Williams as to why the city has not accomplished its goals of lowering crime and bringing business back. Jones, Miller, and Williams each went back and forth arguing where city money was appropriated and who was creating a logjam for city initiatives.

Who is running for Harrisburg Mayor?

Miller argued that the city is not well managed and that leaders dropped the ball with repairing the Broad Street Market after a fire nearly two years ago. He also pushed for creating safer streets with a walkable downtown and marketing the city to outside residents.

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Williams, a first-term mayor, promoted successes from her first three years in office, but argued the City Council is blocking her agenda. She highlighted affordable housing and new businesses in the city during her tenure, and described herself as a proven leader for the city.

Williams also said if she loses the May primary she will challenge the Democrat nominee in the general election. There are no Republicans running in the May primary.

Jones said as mayor he would work to attract businesses to the city, pointing to how the West Shores economy is thriving. He called for COVID funds to be used for housing and encouraged home ownership.

Cooks main message was solving violence in the city, saying when people feel safe theyll return to downtown. He also highlighted his work with community youth and efforts to clean up blight in the city. He pledged multiple times to bring everyone to the table and highlighted his role as an outsider.

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Butts pushed several business initiatives, including an aquarium, in the city. He called for the city to have a theme to attract visitors and pitched multiple projects he said would generate revenue.

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The debate was moderated by abc27 anchor Dennis Owens.

Voters can rewatch the full debate on the abc27 News+ app, available for free on Roku, FireTV, and AppleTV devices.

The primary election is May 20, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The last day to register to vote is May 5, and the last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot is May 13.

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You can check your polling place on the Pennsylvania Voter Services website. Pennsylvanias primary elections are a closed primary, meaning registered Democrats will receive a ballot with Democrat candidates, and registered Republicans will receive a ballot with Republican candidates.

Check Your Voter Registration Status

The general election will be held on November 4, 2025, with a deadline to register to vote of October 20.

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KELOLAND News has received a statement from La Petite since this story aired at 5 p.m.

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Two women who worked at Sioux Falls day cares are facing child abuse allegations.

One incident was reported Tuesday and the other on Wednesday.

Both women are behind bars in Minnehaha County.

Child care provider checks, reporting in South Dakota

A 10 minute video captured inside NXTGen Kidz shows 38-year-old Chelsea Struss hitting toddlers, handling them roughly, and dropping one onto the ground face first according to an affidavit.

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The alleged victims are all one-year-old boys.

Court documents say a staff member in a hallway overheard Struss yelling at the children and stepped into the room to intervene.

Struss reportedly said she was over stimulated and had a lot going on.

This is never OK, parent Destiny Amyx said.

Amyx says her toddler was in the room during the alleged abuse.

I work with children with autism, and I know how hard it can be, but that is not an excuse. It is very serious, and its something Im still trying to process as a parent, Amyx said.

A statement on NXTGen Kidzs Facebook page says the business is saddened by the incident and remains committed to working with police on any misconduct by staff.

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Cost of chocolate doubled, Deadwood shop owners say

Investigators say the second case was reported in the 5100 block of South Cliff Avenue.

Thats the same block where La Petite Academy is located.

What we had found out was one of the employees, our suspect in this case, took some wood chips that were kind of in the playground area and pushed them into the childs mouth, said Sam Clemens with the Sioux Falls Police Department.

Mia Lopez, 22, is currently in jail in connection to the case.

Police say the four-year-old alleged victim wasnt physically hurt.

The Lincoln County States Attorney says criminal charges will be filed early next week.

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The court system is currently closed for the Easter holiday.

KELOLAND News spoke with the owner of NXTGen Kidz on the phone Friday.

She says Struss, who faces four counts of felony child abuse, is no longer employed there.

KELOLAND News also reached out to La Petite Academy which provided this emailed statement at 5:17 p.m.:

The safety and wellbeing of our children is our highest priority. Our staff members are expected to follow childcare regulations and uphold our policies at all times. We are providing our full cooperation in the investigation regarding this matter. We remain committed to providing a safe, nurturing learning environment for all children in our care and will continue to assist authorities in any way we can. La Petite Academy

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The full statement posted on NXTGen Kidz Facebook page can be read here:

On April 15th, a supervisor overheard a staff member yelling at a child and quickly intervened. The staff member explained that she was feeling stressed and overstimulated. Shortly thereafter, she received assistance from another staff member and was sent home within minutes. Since then, an investigation has been initiated. We have fully cooperated with the Sioux Falls Police Department and Child Protective Services during this process. The investigation includes reviewing past video footage to address any previous issues that may arise. We are saddened by the incident and remain committed to working with the police department to address any misconduct by staff at NxtGen. We hold our staff to a high standard and extend our sympathy to all families involved. NXTGen Kidz

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KINGSVILLE  Ryan Jenks was recently appointed to the Ashtabula County Board of Developmental Disabilities.

Jenks is the first person served by the Board of DD to be appointed to serve on the board.

I am proud to be part of the Ashtabula Board of DD, Jenks said in a Board of DD press release. I can bring my thoughts and input on what needs to be done.

Board of DD Director of Quality and Community Outreach Manda Jackson said Jenks appointment is a historic moment.

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Its really exciting for us to be a part of this movement, and really lead by example of encouraging people with disabilities to be a part of the decision making process, she said.

Jackson said this is a prime opportunity for someone to advocate for themselves.

Somebody served has a position at a table that can lead to true decision making and change within our system, she said.

Jenks went through a formal interview process, Jackson said.

The structure of our board appointments [is that] two come from the probate judge and five come from our commissioners, she said. Ryan is an appointment through probate.

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Jenks met with Probate Court Judge Albert Camplese and Board of DD Superintendent Toni Scurpa, then was formally sworn in, Jackson said.

The county board for a long time has promoted advocacy and supporting people we serve to know their rights, responsibilities and be able to advocate for whats important in their life, she said.

There were some state policy changes that led to Jenks coming to the board, Jackson said.

According to the Board of DD press release, new state legislation takes effect July 1 that emphasizes including someone who receives a boards services on the board.

The Ohio Revised Code has called for county boards to include people they serve for a long time, Board of DD Director of Operations and Human Resources Matthew Glidewell said.

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The new emphasis came with the 2023 biennium budget, where now the board is required to look for a capable individual served to serve on our board, he said.

Glidewell said it is great to have Jenks on the board as a representative for his community.

We may think we have the best intentions of the individuals that we serve at heart, but who better knows what people served need than people served themselves, he said.

Jenks will bring a new and welcomed voice to the board, Glidewell said.

We look forward to working with Mr. Jenks in the years to come, he said.

Jenks will be a great addition to the board, Jackson said.

He does actively receive our services, and he will bring new light and perspective to the initiatives that we focus on, she said.
FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  Not on our watch.

Fairfax County police posted those four words on the X platform Friday, along with a video that shows officers arresting a man accused of peeping into someones window.

The video includes footage from body-worn cameras as well as aerial night vision footage.

As it plays, you can hear an officer telling the person operating the camera from above to zoom in.

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Yeah, just to confirm, he is standing on top of an HVAC, the officer states. Looks like a mini split, looking into a window.

NOVA Wild Zoo break-in causes thousands in damages; people wanted by Fairfax County police

As the video rolls on, the perspective makes its way to ground level where another officer who is on foot yells: Show me your hands! Do not move!

Police, however, did move, taking the man into custody.

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The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) asked the Supreme Court on Friday to immediately intervene to block the Trump administration from deporting Venezuelan migrants being held in Texas to El Salvador under the rarely used Alien Enemies Act.

The ACLUs emergency application says many migrants are already on buses, presumably headed to the airport to be deported to a notorious Salvadoran megaprison where an initial round of more than 100 migrants were sent last month.

Emergency relief is necessary not only to preserve the status quo and prevent permanent and irreversible harm to Applicants, but also to preserve the courts jurisdiction, in light of the governments position that it need not return individuals, even those mistakenly removed, the application states, referring to the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

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The Supreme Court application is one of three courts considering the ACLUs plea for an immediate intervention. The group has filed similar requests with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, who serves in the nations capital.

At a hastily scheduled Friday evening hearing before Boasberg in the lower court, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign indicated there are no planned flights Friday or Saturday, pushing back on the ACLUs assertion.

Last week, the Supreme Court rejected the ACLUs original attempt to block President Trumps invocation of the Alien Enemies Act, to swiftly deport alleged gang members, saying the migrants needed to challenge their removals through a habeas petition, which must be filed where someone is physically detained.

The ACLU has since filed multiple class-action suits in judicial districts across the country in which the group says Venezuelan men are being held by immigration authorities under the possibility they will be removed under the rarely used wartime law.

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The law enables migrants to be summarily deported amid a declared war or an invasion by a foreign nation. The law has been leveraged three previous times, all during wars, but Trump contends he can use it because the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is effectively invading the United States.

The case at the Supreme Court arises from the Northern District of Texas, where the ACLU sued on behalf of two migrants, referred to in court filings by their initials, A.A.R.P and W.M.M.

Lower courts rejected requests to immediately block administration officials from removing migrants being held in the district after the government gave assurances the two plaintiffs would not be removed while their challenge is pending.

But the ACLU is now raising concerns that the government has begun to deport other members who are part of the ACLUs proposed class.

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Significantly, the relief sought here does not seek to prohibit the government from prosecuting any individual who has committed a crime, the ACLU wrote.

Nor does it seek release from immigration detention or prohibit the government from removing any individual who may lawfully be removed under the immigration laws. It asks only that this Court preserve the status quo so that proposed class members will not be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador before the American judicial system can afford them due process, the application continued.

By default, the request will go to Justice Samuel Alito, who handles emergency appeals arising from the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. He could act on the request alone or refer it to the full court for a vote.

In the meantime, the ACLU has asked Alito to issue an administrative stay blocking the deportations until the Supreme Court can resolve the application.

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Updated 6:48 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the removal of Venezuelan detainees accused under a wartime law of being foreign gang members early Saturday morning, after the ACLU argued the men were at risk of imminent removal to an El Salvadoran prison.

The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the court stated in an unsigned order.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

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The court's after-midnight intervention heightens its clash with the Trump administration over deportations. It suggests most of the justices are not willing to trust Trump officials to follow its earlier order giving detainees a right to a hearing before they can be deported.

The ACLU had asked multiple courts on Friday to temporarily halt the detainees' removal  arguing in one filing that the Trump administration was busing many of them presumably to an airport to be deported.

In a Friday hearing, Drew C. Ensign, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice, told U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that there were no current plans to deport individuals Friday or Saturday by plane presumably to El Salvador, but the Trump administration reserved the right to remove people on Saturday.

The ACLU asked the courts for an emergency order after Venezuelan detainees from across the country, including California, were transferred to the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, and, according to their filings, told they will be removed as soon as Friday night.

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The Trump administration flew hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants deemed members of Tren de Aragua last month to El Salvador, where they are being held in a notorious mega-prison called the Terrorism Confinement Center. Families of many of the men sent to El Salvador on the earlier planes say they are not gang members.

Read more: Appeals court won't halt order barring Trump administration from deportations under wartime law

The deportations kicked off a high-stakes legal battle testing the limits of President Trump's deportation plans and his power.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the wartime authority invoked by the administration could resume , but immigrants must be given proper notice and a chance to make their case in places where they were being detained.

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Boasberg, who had heard the earlier case about the administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, had ordered a temporary halt to removals. But despite the order, deportation planes were sent to El Salvador, where more than 200 people remain in prison.

The Trump administration has said that once individuals are outside of U.S. jurisdiction, there is little they can do to bring them back to the United States.

Recently, Trump and his top advisors met in the Oval Office with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and were almost gleeful in saying that nothing could be done to return any of those prisoners once they had left this country.

The court had said the administration had a duty to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported in error to El Salvador.

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If these people are removed to a foreign prison, perhaps for the rest of their lives, without any due process, it would be in clear violation of the Supreme Courts opinion, Lee Gelernt, ACLU attorney leading the case, told The Times on Friday.

The case began in a Texas federal court earlier in the week, when the ACLU asked Judge Wesley Hendrix to temporarily stop any removal on behalf of two individuals because they didnt have a chance to challenge their cases.

Read more: Trump asks Supreme Court for permission to resume deporting Venezuelan migrants under wartime law

Hendrix denied the request. By Friday, lawyers learned of more individuals being held and asked again, after reports circulated that removals were imminent. When lawyers didnt get a response that afternoon, they sought help from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th District and asked the Supreme Court to step in.

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Alito is the circuit justice for the 5th Circuit, which means that emergency appeals go to him first if they come from Texas, Louisiana or Mississippi. But apparently, he was not willing to move quickly to block further deportations.

That means Chief Justice John G. Roberts and six other justices put together the order without Alito or Thomas.

ACLU lawyers argued that the move was necessary because officials at Bluebonnet told detainees they will be deported and asked them to sign notices of removal in English based on their alleged affiliation with Tren de Aragua.

One man at the facility sent his wife a TikTok video depicting various detainees, according to a declaration submitted by ACLU lawyers from Michelle Brane, executive director of a nonprofit that provides services for asylum seekers. In it, one young man says they are all being labeled as members of Tren de Aragua. They arent allowed to call their families, and the detainees dont know where they will be removed to, he says in the video.

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Theyre saying we have to be removed, quickly, because we are a terrorist threat to the country, he says.

Another detainee says they were given a paper to sign but were told that, whether they signed or not, they would be removed from the country.

A third detainee says, We are not members of Tren de Aragua. We are normal, civil people. A fourth says, I don't have a deportation order. I have all my paperwork in order. I have my American children here," he says. I was arrested with no arrest warrant and they want me deported.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Donald Trumps administration is preparing to deport a new group of Venezuelan men detained in Texas, said the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in an emergency Friday court filing. ACLU lawyers urged the Supreme Court to block the administration from using the Alien Enemies Act to justify sending migrants to El Salvadors notorious prison system known for torture, extrajudicial killings, and other human rights abuses.

Migrants have already been placed on buses presumably headed to the airport and are at risk of being deported to prison in El Salvador, read the emergency application. Last month, the government sent 238 men to El Salvador without due process, citing dubious claims that the men had ties to gangs that the president has deemed terrorist organizations. CBS 60 Minutes released a report that found 75 percent of the Venezuelans  179 men  deported had no apparent criminal record.

Attorneys for the ACLU also filed similar requests for immediate intervention with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and U.S. District Judge James Boasberg in Washington, D.C.

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Last week, the Supreme Court ruled that the Trump administration could continue deporting migrants under the Alien Enemies Act, a wartime law from 1798. All nine justices agreed, however, that anyone the administration is seeking to deport under the act must receive notice and be given the opportunity to challenge the removal through habeas petitions  meaning that migrants have the right to have their detention or deportation reviewed by the federal court, but only for themselves and in the area where they are being detained.

In Fridays emergency filing, the ACLU said that Venezuelan migrants currently in custody in Texas were given notices that they were subject to removal under the act and could be deported as soon as Friday or Saturday. The governments lightning-fast timeline does not give the Venezuelan migrants a realistic opportunity to contest their removal under the AEA, argued the application, which also said that some of the notices were in English only and do not inform proposed class members of their right to contest the designation in a federal court. As far as the migrants in government custody and their attorneys know, the government is not giving notice to proposed class members immigration attorneys, stated the filing.

The ACLU said that any imminent deportations without proper legal review would be in direct contravention of the April 7 order from the Supreme Court.

Boasberg declined to issue an order late Friday blocking deportations from northern Texas, saying he lacks the authority to issue a nationwide order after the high court tossed his order earlier this month.

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Trump and his administration have continued to defy court orders, in what legal scholars have warned is escalating to a constitutional crisis. After the Department of Homeland Security admitted that it had wrongfully deported Kilmar Abrego Garcia to a Salvadoran prison mega-prison due to an administrative error, a district court judge ordered the Trump administration return him to the U.S.

The Supreme Court, noting that Abrego Garcias deportation was illegal, unanimously upheld that court order and directed the administration to facilitate his release and return to America. Trump and his administration have refused to comply, arguing the court didnt say that and that they dont have to do anything because Abrego Garcia is in the custody of El Salvador.

Trumps administration sought to halt the lower courts order with an appeal, but were quickly shut down by a three-judge panel on Thursday.

The judges wrote that Trump officials are asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, adding that his administration claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done. This should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.

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On Wednesday, Boasberg ruled that the administrations willful and knowing actions  and their stonewalling during subsequent hearings in his court  constitute probable cause for a finding of contempt. (That ruling was temporarily halted by an appeals court.)

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Lawyers for a group of Venezuelan migrants that the Trump administration has accused of being gang members asked the Supreme Court Friday to block what they believe to be an imminent new wave of deportations.

Dozens of the men have been told that they are going to be removed under the Alien Enemies Act imminently, lawyers with the ACLU wrote in a Friday court filing. Some are already being held at Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas and fear deportation, the attorneys said in a Texas district court.

The team of lawyers launched challenges in multiple courts on Friday, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

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In a related case in Washington, D.C. concerning the Venezuelan migrants, a Justice Department lawyer said Friday that he had spoken with the Department of Homeland Security. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow but I have also been told to say they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow," he said.

The migrants are at imminent risk of summary removal to places, such as El Salvador, where they face life-threatening conditions, persecution, and torture, and may remain for the rest of their lives, incommunicado, the lawyers wrote in their filing to the Supreme Court.

Not only do the immigrants face grave harm but the government appears to be carrying out removals without any due process, they argued.

The ACLU lawyers filed a photo of a notice that some of the migrants had received, showing that the government has determined they were members of the Tren de Aragua gang. These notices were only written in English; some migrants only understand Spanish and refused to sign, the lawyers said. The document shows a red stamp that says refused to sign on the signature line.

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Theres no box to check to say I want to contest, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said at a Friday evening hearing in federal court in Washington., The Washington Post reported. Theres nothing that says there is a right to contest, much less the time frame.

The Texas court later rejected the ACLU lawyers request, in part citing the tight deadline. The lawyers had noted that if the judge didnt grant a temporary restraining order or agree to hold a status conference before 1.30 p.m.  about 45 minutes after they filed their emergency petition  they would seek relief from an appeals court. The attorneys then filed in the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit.

The Supreme Court ruled this month that the Trump administration has the authority to deport migrants under the Aliens Enemies Act. But it also ordered that the government must provide detainees an opportunity to contest their removals in court districts nearest to the detention centers where they are being held.

The ACLU argued that immigrants are being picked up and moved to various locations so quickly that its difficult to arrange representation before theyre sent out of the country.

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A spokeswoman for the Department of Homeland Security refused to comment on the ACLUs claims in its filings. We are not going to reveal the details of counter terrorism operations, but we are complying with the Supreme Courts ruling, Tricia McLaughlin told The Post in a statement.

When asked about the planned deportations, President Donald Trump told reporters Friday: "If they're bad people, I would certainly authorize it."
WINDHOEK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Namibia's ruling South West Africa People's Organization, officially known as SWAPO Party, on Saturday marked its 65th anniversary, with party president Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah calling for unity, discipline, and improved service delivery.

In a statement, Nandi-Ndaitwah, who is also the president of Namibia, thanked supporters for their confidence in the party during the November 2024 general elections, and urged party members to continue working toward a more equitable and just Namibia.

"True transformation must involve every citizen in our quest for equity and justice," Nandi-Ndaitwah said.

She emphasized the need for continued vigilance and unity, urging members to work to ensure that the benefits of independence reach all Namibians.

Looking ahead to the regional and local authority elections later this year, Nandi-Ndaitwah called on party members to implement the SWAPO Party Manifesto and deliver quality services to citizens. Public servants were reminded to lead by example and act with integrity, transparency, and accountability.

"Let us all act with one mind and one heart in the best interest of the nation," she said.

Nandi-Ndaitwah also expressed concern over recent flooding across the country, acknowledging the efforts of government institutions and the cooperation of affected communities.

She called for a renewed commitment to building a fairer and more just Namibia, based on the principles of solidarity, freedom, and justice.

The ruling party was founded in 1960 as a liberation movement and has governed Namibia since the country gained independence in 1990. 
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) is suing President Trumps administration in federal court for targeting international students who had their legal status revoked.

The consequences of Defendants unilateral and unlawful termination are dire. The termination puts students out of lawful student status. Plaintiffs and the class face immigration detention and deportation. Plaintiffs and the class face severe financial and academic hardship. Further, Plaintiffs and the class are not able to obtain their degrees and work pursuant to the Optional Practical Training (OPT) program after graduation, ACLUs lawyers wrote in the class action lawsuit filed in New Hampshire.

Indeed, Defendants unilateral and unlawful terminations have severely disrupted the educational opportunities of students who are in the middle of their studies (and in the middle of a semester) and who are simply trying to obtain, often at considerable expense, an education in the United States while following all the rules required of them, the attorneys said in the lawsuit filed by several ACLU affiliates.

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Foreign students studying at U.S. universities and colleges have had their legal statuses terminated or their F-1 student visas revoked. As part of Trumps immigration crackdown, around 1,100 students at more than 170 schools have been impacted since late last month, The Associated Press tally has found.

International students have countered, filing lawsuits in states such as Wisconsin, Montana and New Hampshire and have secured temporary restraining orders that bar them, for now, from being deported from the country.

The American Civil Liberties Union appears far more interested in protecting foreign students than the civil liberties and safety of Americans. They should consider changing their name. It is a privilege to be granted a visa to live & study in the United States of America, Department of Homeland Securitys Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement to The Hill. When you break our laws and advocate for violence and terrorism, that privilege should be revoked, and you should not be in this country.

McLaughlin added that for case-specific inquiries related to visa revocation or individual revocation status, DHS defers to the Department of State.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters last month that over 300 student visas have been terminated and the figures climbed up daily.

International students who have participated in on-campus demonstrations protesting Israels war in Gaza have had their visas pulled. But some foreign students who have criminal records were also targeted.

We dont go into statistics or numbers; we dont go into the rationale for what happens with individual visas. What we can tell you is that the department revokes visas every day in order to secure our borders and to keep our community safe, and well continue to do so, State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said earlier this week.

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NEW YORK  Mayor Eric Adams administration joined a lawsuit with the Metropolitan Transportation Authority to contest the Trump administrations efforts to eliminate congestion pricing.

The MTA had initially filed suit with the support of Gov. Kathy Hochul, who effectively controls the transit authority, against the Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration in February. Both the city and state departments of transportation joined the legal case Friday, a spokesperson for the transit authority said.

In case there were any doubts, MTA, State and City reaffirmed in a court filing that congestion pricing is here to stay and that the arguments Secretary Duffy made trying to stop it have zero merit, said John J. McCarthy, the MTAs chief of policy and external relations, in a statement.

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President Donald Trump moved to nix the toll shortly after taking office, but the dueling parties agreed to keep it in place at least through early fall.

The move from Adams stands in contrast to his refusal to criticize Trump, following the Department of Justices successful efforts to dismiss federal corruption charges against the mayor.

He has also been tepid in public statements about the tolling program that charges drivers to enter Manhattan below 60th Street as a means of reducing traffic and raising money for mass transit.

Gothamist reported Thursday that the citys corporation counsel submitted a memorandum supporting the suit. A spokesperson for Adams did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

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Adams, a Democrat who recently announced he will run for reelection as an independent, has been lukewarm in his support for congestion pricing amid fraught battles over the programs fate between Trump and Hochul.

Adams has all but embraced Trump and instructed senior officials in his administration not to criticize the president, the online publication The City reported.

Trump  who moved to cancel the toll with a social media post that said CONGESTION PRICING IS DEAD. Manhattan, and all of New York, is SAVED. LONG LIVE THE KING!  has worried that it will hurt businesses still getting back on their feet after the pandemic.

The President is not a king, and Defendants have no right to demand compliance with the Administrations unlawful directives, the suit reads. Plaintiffs will continue to operate the Program as required by New York law unless and until Plaintiffs are directed to stop by a court order.

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The federal Department of Transportation did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Earlier this month, the departments secretary, Sean Duffy, toured the subway with Adams. Duffy has threatened to strip the MTA of federal funding if it does not do more to address crime on the subway.

I want the MTA to function really well, Duffy said two weeks ago. That's why the mayor and I are here together to partner up and figure out how we can work together to improve the ridership for those who take the subway.

Adams' spokesperson Allison Maser in a statement: The mayor has been abundantly clear that he is open to working with the federal administration  as demonstrated by his subway walkthrough with the U.S. Transportation Secretary  to ensure all New Yorkers have access to safe, affordable, and structurally sound transportation."

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"We also want to be sure our subway and bus system has the funds it needs, and the state should be able to make independent assessments of how to raise those funds," Maser added. "This was an amendment to a previously filed lawsuit by the MTA to add additional context that NYC DOT has gathered on the new program the state has instituted on city streets.

This article has been updated with a statement from the mayor's press team.
A former commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service has warned that the Trump administration is weaponizing the agency and priding itself on revenge.

John Koskinen, who held the role of IRS commissioner from 2013 to 2017, has sounded the alarm as the agency is considering revoking Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status following the public fallout with President Donald Trump, and has agreed it will share undocumented immigrants taxpayer data with the Department of Homeland Security.

The IRS has also been gutted by Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, the speed of which could render the next tax season a disaster, Koskinen, an Obama appointee who is now retired, told Mother Jones.

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This feels more like a total frontal attack, Koskinen said. And not only the budgetits the attempt to get access to protected data. And from the president suggesting that Harvards tax-exempt status ought to be reviewed, its just a small step to start ordering audits, even though thats illegal, and we start moving back toward the Nixon enemies list.

This is an administration priding itself on revenge, and the FBI director and the Department of Justice people are out there saying, in effect, Were going to get our opponents, Koskinen added when asked whether he believes Trump officials will succeed in making the IRS a tool of his retribution.

Thousands of IRS employees were let go as the agency was gearing up for the peak of the tax season.

John Koskinen, an Obama appointee who is now retired, sounded the alarm as the agency is considering revoking Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status following the public fallout with Trump. (Getty)

About 22,000 IRS employees have also offered to resign, according to theNew York Times, on top of the 7,000 probationary staffers who were already laid off. Those firings have been contested in court, but if they go ahead, the IRS will have lost about a third of the workforce this year, the newspaper reported last week.

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I am confident that includes a significant number of very experienced managers and executives, Koskinen said. Over 30 percent of the IRS has always been eligible for retirement, but they dont retire, because theyre committed to the mission. When, literally overnight, you lose that many people, youre losing leadership. Youre losing guidance and mentoring. You really are disabling the IRS.

He added that the IRS begins preparations for the next tax season in June or July. Theres a tremendous amount of reprogramming that has to go on, he said.

There has been turmoil at the agency since Trump took office. The Trump administration has already gone through three IRS commissioners after a spate of resignations and firings.

Melanie Krause resigned earlier this month after she had only learned of the deal with Homeland Security on Fox News. She was in the role for a little over a month after her predecessor Doug ODonnell retired in the face of Musks so-called DOGE operations at the agency, with looming pressure from immigration enforcement officials seeking broad access to taxpayer data.

Krause was replaced by IRS agent Gary Shapley, who was then fired by Trump after three days. Deputy Treasury Secretary Michael Faulkender has now been selected to take on the role.
The Washington Attorney Generals Office says the timing of a 2016 vote to change benefits payments for Franklin County leaders violated the states constitution.

Whether that means three former county commissioners will have to pay back some money is unclear.

The county could actually end up on the hook for more money, according to a previous legal analysis by the county prosecutors office.

The issue dates back to 2016 during the countys health care benefits cycle, which coincided with the general election.

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Former commissioners Brad Peck, Bob Koch and Rick Miller were overhauling the countys healthcare benefits to create a more attractive package to recruit new employees and retain others who they couldnt afford to simply pay more.

Many county employees and elected officials did not use the courthouses health insurance because they had coverage through a spouse, were retired military personnel or for other reasons.

By making the changes, the county could offer an attractive incentive while not paying employees any more than they already had budgeted for the benefits package.

Some employees received the full amount that would have been spent on their health insurance, about $1,600 per month by 2023, while others received a lesser amount for the difference between the cost of plans. The payments for most employees went into accounts that had to be used for medical expenses.

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The plan allowed some employees who had lifetime medical benefits the option to take a taxable stipend in place of healthcare benefits. The question being debated became whether that stipend for commissioners counted as a pay increase.

Elected officials in the county also receive stipends for other things, such as vehicle allowances.

The program proved popular among employees, but was later targeted as an area where the county could find significant savings. Changes made last year saved the county about $1 million, while still preserving some smaller payments to employees up to $600 a month.

The county has been waiting about two years for an opinion from the AGs office about the payments made to the former commissioners.

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In a Friday news release from the county, current commission Chairman Clint Didier said the county will be pursuing repayment.

Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier

This was never about settling scores, this was about providing transparency and an open government to the people of Franklin County, Didier said. We were elected to safeguard the taxpayers and their hard-earned money; this can never be allowed to happen again in Franklin County.

Koch, Miller and Peck responded in a joint news release, noting that the issue was complex and that further legal review will be needed to determine what, if any, repayment is required.

They argued that this is just the latest act of political retribution by the current board members.

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Before he left the board, Peck maintained that he was willing to work with the county once a proper legal review was completed.

Auditor Matt Beaton has previously said he believes Peck should pay back nearly $47,000 in payments made since 2016. Miller and Koch received about $20,000 in payments that would have otherwise gone toward health insurance.

The AGs review notes that it is strictly a legal analysis and does not make a recommendation on how to move forward. Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant has requested outside legal counsel handle the issue for the county.

Under state law the county will also likely have to pay for legal representation for the former commissioners because the vote was in the course of their duties.

What happened?

The county created a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association, or VEBA, pool which allowed employees who declined health insurance to take the money that otherwise would have gone to medical benefits and put it into a medical use account as a taxable cash benefit.

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While the discussion around the changes happened before the election, the final approval was approved a few days after.

The move did not increase anyones salary and benefits package, it just allowed employees who otherwise wouldnt elect to use the countys healthcare benefits to set up an account for medical uses with that money.

They said other the elected officials in the county were involved in the process and did not raise any objections.

Herald records show that Beaton did object to a series of unrelated pay increases voted on that day though. Those increases were set to be effective during their next terms.

Matt Beaton

Didier and Mullen later said they believed the benefits vote was an issue that needed to be looked into.

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In 2023, Beaton came to the commissioners to discuss a policy review that he believed indicated these payments were unconstitutional. Beaton has been the countys auditor since 2011.

The Municipal Research Service Center article is not a legal opinion, but served as the basis for the county to pursue a review by the AGs office. The MRSC is a nonprofit dedicated to helping local governments in Washington by providing legal and policy analysis.

Koch and Miller were no longer on the board at that time. Peck was still serving alongside Didier, elected in 2018, and Rocky Mullen, elected in 2020.

Franklin County Commissioner chairman Clint Didier, left, and commissioner Brad Peck have a contentious moment during an April 2022 meeting held in the courthouse meeting room in Pasco.

Didier and Mullen elected to take the countys health insurance during their time on the board.

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Peck resigned on Dec. 31, 2023, citing bullying and workplace toxicity. Stephen Bauman was appointed to fill his seat and won his first full term in November.

What did the AG look at?

The attorney generals office reviewed three key areas:

Can commissioners increase county contributions to their own health benefit plan in the middle of their term?





Can commissioners enact mid-term increases to cash payments to themselves when the payments equal the value to the cost of health benefits the commissioners opted out of receiving?

Can an incumbent commissioner enact a conversion of health benefits to equivalent value cash payments after winning the November election but before the new term of office begins?

The AGs office determined that while changes to a health plan does not necessarily constitute additional compensation, the changes are subject to timing restrictions that bar changes during their term.

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They deemed the conversion to a cash payment made in lieu of a health plan as a form of compensation, and said that the same areas barring mid-term changes must be respected.

The analysis said that while their question was about a specific scenario, the opinion is intended only to provide a legal analysis and should not be taken as advice on whether a specific action was lawful.

That means the decision to convert the benefits payments into a cash benefit did turn it into an increase in compensation, which should not have been voted on during a term of office.

Had they finalized their benefits process and taken the vote two weeks earlier, the commissioners likely would have been in the clear.

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Peck and Koch also had just been reelected, meaning the changes to the benefit packages, which would have started Jan. 1, 2017, would have been effective after their new terms began. The AGs analysis focused on election day, rather than when terms began.

Peck was challenged by Beaton in that race to retain his seat and Koch defeated Mullen.

What happens now?

It is unclear what the countys next step is.

In their joint statement, the former commissioners noted that elected officials acting in good faith have immunity from civil or other penalties for their actions in office.

The former commissioners said potential remedies could include paying back the county for the health care stipend dollars received or working with the county to put the correct amount of money into a health savings account.

The current board of commissioners were previously told by their legal counsel that because this money was already taxed, it is possible the county could actually end up paying them more, equal to the pre-tax value, when attempting to move it into a health savings account.

The benefit plan still exists in a reduced form after commissioners made major changes to it last year in an attempt to shore up the countys budget. They also created separate benefits pools for elected officials and another for commissioners, so that any future changes could be done by group.
Military deception must adapt rapidly to the age of AI.

Commanders in future wars will rely on AI to aid their staff in assessing the battlefield.

This creates vulnerabilities to fool the AI, especially for rigid militaries, US Army officers said.

Deception operations are the ultimate mind games of war. Manipulating enemy commanders into expecting an attack at the wrong place, or tricking them into underestimating your strength can be far more powerful than tanks or bombs.

But what if the enemy is enhanced by a thinking computer?

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Successful operations must now fool not only human commanders, but the AI that advises them, according to two US Army officers. And Russia and China  with their rigid, centralized command and control  may be particularly vulnerable if their AI is deceived.

"Commanders can no longer rely on traditional methods of deception like hiding troop movements or equipment," argue Mark Askew and Antonio Salinas in an essay for the Modern War Institute at West Point. "Instead, shaping perceptions in sensor-rich environments requires a shift in thinking  from concealing information to manipulating how the enemy, including AI systems and tools, interpret it."

Historically, commanders went to great lengths to fool enemy generals using misdirection, decoy armies and letting slip false war plans. Today, nations will have to focus on "feeding adversaries accurate if misleading data that can manipulate their interpretation of information and misdirect their activity," the essay said

The idea is to turn AI into an Achilles heel of an enemy commander and their staffs. This can be done by making "their AI systems ineffective and break their trust in those systems and tools," the essay suggests. "Commanders can overwhelm AI systems with false signals and present them with unexpected or novel data; AI tools excel at pattern recognition, but struggle with understanding how new variables (outside of their training data) inform or change the context of a situation."

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For example, "slight changes in a drone's appearance might cause AI to misidentify it," Askew and Salinas told Business Insider. "People are not likely to be thrown off by small or subtle tweaks, but AI is."

To determine enemy intentions or target weapons, modern armies today rely on vast amounts of data from a variety of sources ranging from drones and satellites, to infantry patrols and intercepted radio signals. The information is so copious that human analysts are overwhelmed.

The US Army's 38th Infantry Division set up this command post for a 2023 exercise. Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry/US Army

What makes AI so attractive is its speed at analyzing huge quantities of data. This has been a boon for companies such as Scale AI, which have won lucrative Pentagon contracts.

Yet the power of AI also magnifies the damage it can do. "AI can coordinate and implement flawed responses much faster than humans alone," Askew and Salinas said.

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Fooling AI can lead to "misallocation of enemy resources, delayed responses, or even friendly fire incidents if the AI misidentifies targets," the authors told Business Insider. By feeding false data, one can manipulate the enemy's perception of the battlefield, creating opportunities for surprise."

Russia and China are already devoting great efforts to military AI. Russia is using artificial intelligence in drones and cyberwarfare, while the Chinese military is using the DeepSeek system for planning and logistics.

But the rigidity of Russian and Chinese command structures makes any reliance on AI an opening. "In such systems, decisions often rely heavily on top-down information flow, and if the AI at the top is fed deceptive data, it can lead to widespread misjudgments," the authors said. "Moreover, centralized structures might lack the flexibility to quickly adapt or cross-verify information, making them more vulnerable to deception if they cannot protect their systems."

In other words, false images are fed to an enemy's sensors, such as video cameras, to try to get the AI to rush to the wrong conclusion, further blinding the human commander.

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Naturally, China and Russia  and other adversaries such as Iran and North Korea  will seek to exploit weaknesses in American AI. Thus, the US military must take precautions, such as protecting the data that feeds its AI.

Either way, the constant presence of drones in Ukraine shows that the sweeping maneuvers and surprise attacks of Napoleon or Rommel are becoming relics of the past. But as the MWI essay points out, surveillance can determine enemy strength, but not enemy intent.

"This means deception must focus on shaping what the adversary thinks is happening rather than avoiding detection altogether," the essay said. "By crafting a believable deception narrative  through signals, false headquarters, and logistical misdirection  commanders can lead enemy AI and human decision-makers to make ineffective decisions."

Like any scam, military deception is most effective when it reinforces what the enemy already believes. The essay points to the Battle of Cannae in 216 BCE, when a Roman army was nearly annihilated by Carthage. Intelligence wasn't the problem: the Romans could see the Carthaginian forces arrayed for battle. But Hannibal, the legendary commander, deceived Roman commanders into believing the center of the Carthaginian line was weak. When the Romans attacked the center, the Carthaginian cavalry struck from the flank in a pincer maneuver that encircled and decimated the legions.

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Two millennia later, the Allies used elaborate deception operations to mislead the Germans about where the D-Day invasion would take place. Hitler and his generals believed the amphibious assault would occur in the Calais area, nearest to Allied ports and airbases, rather than the more distant Normandy region. Fake armies in Britain, complete with dummy tanks and planes, not only convinced the Germans that Calais was the real target. The German high command believed that the Normandy landings were a feint, and thus kept strong garrisons in Calais to repel an invasion that never came.

Drones and satellites have improved battlefield intelligence to a degree that Hannibal could never have imagined. AI can sift through vast amounts of sensor data. But there still remains the fog of war. "AI will not eliminate war's chaos, deception, and uncertainty  it will only reshape how those factors manifest," the essay concluded. "While intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems may provide episodic clarity, they will never offer a perfect, real-time understanding of intent."

Michael Peck is a defense writer whose work has appeared in Forbes, Defense News, Foreign Policy magazine, and other publications. He holds an MA in political science from Rutgers Univ. Follow him on Twitter and LinkedIn.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, looks through a printout on the floor of the Alabama Senate on March 19, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

The Alabama Senate passed a bill Thursday that would require K-12 public schools to broadcast or perform the first stanza of The Star-Spangled Banner at least once a week during school hours.

SB 13, sponsored by Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, is a constitutional amendment that would need approval from state voters if passed by both chambers. The bill passed the Senate 25-6 and moved to the House for consideration.

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Its important that all our children will have the opportunity to hear the national anthem at least once a week, Allen said on the Senate floor.

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Allen, reading letters from students he said support the requirement, spoke at length as Senate Republicans were filibustering their own bills to keep Democrats from speaking. Democratic senators in a committee hearing in early April said that it would require students to be exposed to parts of the song, particularly the third stanza, which critics have said is an attack on Black Americans who escaped slavery by joining the British Army.

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro (left) speaks with Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale on the floor of the Alabama Senate on April 15, 2025 at the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery, Alabama. (Brian Lyman/Alabama Reflector)

Senate Minority Leader Bobby Singleton, D-Greensboro, said after the bills passage that it potentially violates childrens constitutional rights, particularly free speech.

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When you start talking about fundamental rights. I think thats going to be something thats going to be challenged in courts too, in terms of whether or not  the constitutionality of  can you make kids listen to that on a daily basis, who may not want to and refuse, Singleton said.

He also opposed making it a constitutional amendment, saying it would be a forever permanent piece of law, which he said was unnecessary. He said lawmakers should instead be focused on creating jobs and improving education in the state.

I, too, am America, but do I have to love something that talks about me and the history of my slavery, that degrades me and my people? No, I dont. So why make children have to sing that in school? Singleton asked.

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Gov. Mike Dunleavy and other state of Alaska officials pose for a photo with Taiwan President Lai Ching-te, center, and other government officials during Dunleavys trip to Taiwan last month. (Taiwan Office of the President photo)

JUNEAU  Republican Gov. Mike Dunleavy flew to Taiwan last month to pitch business and government leaders on Alaskas state-sponsored liquefied natural gas export project.

The same day Dunleavy and other Alaska officials arrived in Taipei on the unannounced trip, his office received an email from Chinas vice consul in San Francisco, Ba Yanfeng. The consulate was aware that Dunleavy was leading a trip to the province of Taiwan, and Chinese government officials wanted a meeting with his chief of staff, Ba said.

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Dunleavy had stepped into a simmering geopolitical conflict  an issue that Chinas government describes as the most important and sensitive in its relationship with the U.S.

Take a trip to the Asian island that could play a role in Alaskas future

China claims Taiwan as its own territory and regularly conducts military drills nearby  including some that have simulated blockades and involved firing missiles over the island.

The U.S. doesnt officially recognize Taiwans independence. But its a longtime ally, sells arms to the government and has committed in legislation to support the islands defense.

Taipei is Taiwans largest city. (Photo by Nathaniel Herz/Northern Journal)

In a formal follow-up note, the Chinese government said Dunleavys trip sends a very wrong signal to the Taiwan independence separatist forces, and it urged the governor to correct such mistakes and avoid their recurrence.

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But Dunleavy, in an interview, said he was undeterred.

I dont allow myself to get pushed around by too many entities or people, he said.

Alaska does significant trade with China, namely in seafood products, though thats diminished since President Donald Trump began levying tariffs during his first term. Still, Alaska exports more than $500 million in seafood products to China each year.

But amid Chinas broader, ongoing trade war with America, experts said its unlikely that the country will target Alaska with retaliatory action even if the LNG project moves forward with Taiwanese partnership.

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I think this is probably fairly low on Chinas list of priorities. They have a lot on their plate, said David Sacks, an expert on Taiwan and China and a fellow for Asia studies at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Sacks described the Chinese correspondence with Dunleavys office as pretty pro forma, even if it sounds strident. He also said theres nothing unusual about an American governor or legislator traveling to Taiwan  and he noted that other states, like Arizona, have done robust business with Taiwanese firms without prompting a backlash from China.

I think it would be fairly unprecedented for the Chinese to take aggressive action here that specifically targets Alaska, he said.

Dunleavys trip to Taiwan last month came amid a new push by his administration to recruit investment in the $44 billion LNG development. Top Trump administration officials have also been touting the project to Asian allies, and a private firm, Glenfarne, has taken over leadership of the development from a state agency.

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Dunleavys trip also included stops in Thailand, South Korea and Japan, where he met with politicians and corporate executives.

But his Taiwan visit garnered the most headlines. In Taipei, Dunleavy met for an hour with President Lai Ching-te and held a lunch with the vice president, according to his schedule. He also met with officials from Taipower, the countrys primary electric utility, and from the state-owned oil and gas company, CPC.

Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy shakes hands with Taiwans president, Lai Ching-te. (Taiwan Office of the President photo)

CPC has signed a nonbinding letter of intent to buy one-third of the LNG produced by the Alaska project, and the letter also contemplates investment in the development, according to a description by officials from the states gas pipeline agency. The letter itself is confidential, according to the agency.

Promoters of Alaskas LNG project, including Dunleavy and Republican U.S. Sen. Dan Sullivan, say that investment in and purchases of gas from the development can provide Asian allies with a secure source of fuel  with a shorter transit time than shipments from the Middle East. Importing Alaska gas would also lower Taiwans trade deficit with the U.S., which could curry favor with Trump.

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But its still far from certain that the project will be built. Alaskas government has spent decades studying construction of a gas line, and the current iteration of the project has been dogged by projected high costs.

Taiwanese investment in the project, and any American engagement with the islands government, also risk pushback from China.

In a prepared statement to Northern Journal, the spokesman for Chinas embassy in Washington, D.C., Liu Pengyu, called Taiwan an inalienable part of Chinas territory and urged the relevant U.S. side to cease all forms of official contact with Taiwan.

China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between the United States and Taiwan, under any pretext or in any capacity, the statement said.

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Dunleavy, in the interview, said he did not know how the Chinese government became aware of his visit to the island.

They wanted me to abort the trip, apparently, he said.

Dunleavy would not directly say whether he recognizes Taiwans sovereignty, calling that the biggest loaded question.

These are human beings, 23 million people. They would like to have a great relationship with the United States, he said. We want to sell energy. They want energy. Id love to partner.

Alaska has a long history of trade with Taiwan, and other state officials have traveled there in recent years, including two state senators in 2024. Former Gov. Frank Murkowski has visited more than a dozen times, including as an observer of one of Taiwans presidential elections.

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The Chinese response to Dunleavys trip, first reported by conservative news site Must Read Alaska, is pretty boilerplate, said Sacks, the expert from the Council of Foreign Relations.

But its ominous language could also be an attempt by the Chinese to ward off business dealings in Taiwan by an American official whos not well-versed in the islands tense political dynamics, Sacks added, in comments that were echoed by a statement from the U.S. Department of State.

Around the world, including in the United States, the Chinese Communist Party attempts to leverage economic and diplomatic pressure to try to prevent officials from interacting with Taiwan, the statement said. Robust cooperative activities with Taiwan, including by state leaders, are consistent with U.S. policy.

The statement added that the letter of intent from CPC is another example of the longstanding, deep, and growing trade and investment ties between the United States and Taiwan, which create American jobs and mutual prosperity.

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Sacks said he sees the LNG project as being in Americas interests  both because of its potential to reduce Taiwans trade deficit and to give its people a more reliable supply of energy.

But while Sacks described the risk of repercussions to Alaska as low, he also wouldnt completely rule them out. He pointed to a recent move by China instructing the nations airlines to stop accepting deliveries of jets made by Boeing.

The context might change now, because the Chinese are looking for ways  in a way that they werent before  to punish the Trump administration for the tariffs, Sacks said. I wouldnt foreclose that.

Nathaniel Herz welcomes tips at natherz@gmail.com or (907) 793-0312. This article was originally published in Northern Journal, a newsletter from Herz. Subscribe at this link.
Apr. 18Alexander Uballez, who oversaw the U.S. Attorney's Office in New Mexico for three years, is running to become the mayor of Albuquerque.

Uballez, who filed to run on Wednesday, officially announced he would vie for the top executive position in Albuquerque on Friday. The election so far is set to pit eight challengers against an incumbent seeking a third term, as residents express concerns about crime, an increasing number of unhoused residents and economic uncertainty.

Uballez told the Journal he wanted to push through what he called a choice between "someone who's ineffective and someone who's wrong."

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"We've really become disconnected from one another, and the pressures of just living have driven us to hate each other, not see each other as humans. We can change all this. There are proven strategies," Uballez said.

Uballez was nominated as the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico by former President Joe Biden on Jan. 26, 2022. He resigned from the job in February at the request of President Donald Trump.

Before leading the office, Uballez served as an assistant U.S. Attorney for six years. He also worked as a prosecutor in New Mexico's 2nd Judicial District Court for three and a half years. He received a law degree from Columbia Law School in 2011.

Although he has no experience as an elected official, Uballez said his experience as a prosecutor, combined with his two years at the helm of the U.S. Attorney's Office, would play a key role in addressing Albuquerque's crime and public safety issues.

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"I think there are politicians who profit off of the idea that we are divided," he said. "It's either all this or all that. It's sweep the streets and incarcerate everyone, or it's no one should ever be punished, and everyone gets handouts. This is not true. They are all lying to us. There are common-sense solutions."

The race for mayor is shaping up to be a competitive one.

City records show that nine candidates have filed to run.

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller is seeking a third term. He faces a challenger from the City Council, Louie Sanchez, as well as seven outside challengers, including Uballez; consultant and human resources executive Alpana Adair; former county economic development manager Mayling Armijo; Albuquerque resident Brian Fejer; former statehouse candidate Patrick Sais; retired fire chief Eddie Varela; and former sheriff Darren White.

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However, all nine candidates have an additional hurdle to clear: They need 3,000 signatures of registered voters before the June 21 deadline to get on the ballot.

The office of the mayor and councilors from Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9, who started their terms on Jan. 1, 2022, are all up for election. The election is set for Nov. 4.
Celestin Alexis Nono teaches a student to write Chinese on her notebook in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

by Arison Tamfu

YAOUNDE, April 20 (Xinhua) -- On the busy streets of Yaounde, the capital of Cameroon, there is a rapidly growing interest in learning the Chinese language.

In a bustling classroom at the Nocea International Institute of Languages, an entry-level Mandarin (standard Chinese language) course is underway.

"How are you? What is your name?" a teacher said in Chinese, repeating and using body language to make it easier for his students to understand.

Fascinated by Asian cultures, Celestin Alexis Nono, founder of the language center, began his journey to learn Mandarin in 2007 by enrolling in classes at the Confucius Institute at the University of Yaounde II.

"I have had a love for Chinese culture since I was little. I was part of the first batch of the Confucius Institute in 2007," the 45-year-old told Xinhua. Nono graduated from the institute and went to China for further study.

Completing a Chinese language course opened up a wealth of opportunities for him.

Nono could have pursued a career as an interpreter or explored various fields beyond language, but he chose to teach Chinese to Cameroonians and founded the Nocea International Institute of Languages for that purpose.

"China is now the world power in terms of development, and cooperation with China is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, as Cameroonians, we must strive to better benefit from the fruits of Sino-Cameroonian relations. This is what sparked the desire to teach Chinese language and culture," Nono said.

"We want our students to be able to learn the language according to international standards. This means that by the end of the training, students will be able to speak, listen, write, and read Chinese characters well," he added.

When the language center went operational in 2016, Nono was impressed because it attracted people from all walks of life, reflecting the growing number of Cameroonians interested in learning the Chinese language.

"It's no longer necessary to demonstrate that Cameroonians love the Chinese language," Nono said. "Mastering the language is becoming a necessary condition for greater success on a socio-economic and even strategic level."

He has also founded Sino-Africa Cultures, a non-governmental organization that encompasses the diverse ways China and Africa interact on a cultural level, including language, academic, and artistic groups, as well as non-governmental cultural initiatives.

A flagship program of the Sino-Africa Cultures is the Chinese Awakening Program.

"In this program, which is the educational model in China, we have practical Chinese classes and seminars that help students understand and better appreciate their dream careers. We also have kung fu classes and field trips to Chinese companies," Nono said.

He said learning the Chinese language has provided his students with a smooth career path as more Chinese firms operating in Cameroon are looking for translators while the Confucius Institute also needs more Mandarin teachers.

As the world celebrates Chinese Language Day on Sunday, Nono expressed hope that his contribution will further strengthen the relationship between Africa and China.

"We must go through the culture, through the language, to better understand China," he added. 

Celestin Alexis Nono (back) teaches his students Chinese in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)

Celestin Alexis Nono writes Chinese words on the board to teach his students in Yaounde, capital of Cameroon, April 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Kepseu)
For the record:

10:03 a.m. April 19, 2025: An earlier version of this story referred to Chad Augustin as the Pasadena police chief; he is the citys fire chief. The story also had said that the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness formed after the 2018 Woolsey fire. The coalition formed after the 1993 Old Topanga fire.



In the first 24 hours of the Eaton fire, Pasadenas communications director helped activate four different kinds of alerts to keep its residents apprised of evacuation orders, while also hopping on several news programs and doing interviews to share updates in real time.

Further east, when Arcadia joined the sphere of concern as the fire erratically tore through the San Gabriel foothills, the city's fire chief successfully advocated for unified commanders to issue more widespread evacuations than initially proposed.

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Then, when a shift in winds sent the fire on a terrifying march west, La Canada Flintridge officials stood ready to quickly alert and evacuate all residents, having activated its emergency operations center immediately after the fire broke out almost 12 hours earlier  even though the small city was initially miles from the blaze.

Meanwhile, many residents in Altadena  which would end up seeing the worst damage from the conflagration  felt left in the dark, seemingly lost in the chaos. Thousands found themselves waiting and waiting for alerts and evacuation updates, even as their neighborhoods came under siege.

It's a major point of frustration and anger in Altadena and has reignited concerns about how the unincorporated town is governed, how resources are allocated and how key communications are issued  especially compared to the many independent cities that surround it.

Read more: 911 logs show more than a dozen calls from burning west Altadena before evacuations ordered

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The fire "brought to the forefront the issues of us being unincorporated; in some ways it did put us at a disadvantage, said Darlene Greene, a member of Altadena's town council, which can pass along concerns or recommendations to Los Angeles County leaders, but holds no real governing power or spending authority.

Incorporated cities, in my opinion, just have more resources. ... I certainly think that hurt us," Greene said. Other cities "have coordinated efforts for emergencies. For us, we do have it [through the county], but anytime theres a middle person, theres gaps. ... Its not top of mind."

It's unlikely that Altadena could have fared better  even with its own city government  against the major ember-cast fire driven by hurricane-force winds, which fire officials say was impossible to fight at times, much less predict. But some local officials and residents wonder if dedicated resources and leadership could have improved the emergency response, especially surrounding evacuation alerts.

Reporting by The Times revealed that west Altadena did not get official evacuation alerts until hours after flames threatened the area, an issue that is now the subject of multiple investigations and reviews. It was in those neighborhoods west of Lake Avenue where 17 of the Eaton fire's 18 deaths occurred.

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Its catastrophic failure," said Seriina Covarrubias, a west Altadena resident who has been advocating for better public resources and government representation for the town since even before the fire. It just tells me that there was no centralized communication, no one was calling the shots and it was a hot mess."

Seriina Covarrubias stands outside her temporary residence recently. (William Liang / For The Times)

County officials, who were coordinating the evacuation decisions and alerts the night of the fire, still haven't provided any answers or explanation about what went wrong, and how they failed to systematically evacuate a large section of the community.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger, who serves as the de facto mayor for Altadena, was quick to criticize what she called the evacuation "epic fail" in west Altadena, but Barger said this specific shortcoming doesn't necessarily point to a larger issue about Altadena's resources or support. She and other county officials have declined to comment further on what happened with the evacuation alerts until the completion of an outside after-action review.

I know my unincorporated cities like the back of my hand," Barger said in an interview. Altadena, it is a focus, but I'm not ignoring the rest of my district."

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She pointed to her large, qualified staff that she said supports her and her work across her unincorporated communities, of which there are at least 63, including Altadena.

At the end of the day  I do stand tall with the representation this county has provided to Altadena," Barger said.

Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger hugs Pablo Scarpellini, whose wife's Spanish-immersion school burned down in the Eaton fire. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

While it's hard to make direct comparisons to nearby cities  particularly because the Eaton fire hit Altadena harder than any other jurisdiction  it appears that residents in surrounding cities had more avenues to receive communication, more focused leadership and more resources dedicated to their communities.

In the early hours of the Eaton fire, from about 1 a.m. to 3 a.m. Jan. 8., there was a significant time gap when no formal evacuation alerts went out. But once the late warning was issued for west Altadena around 3:30 a.m.  well after flames were in the area  alerts for sections of several cities nearby followed, first La Canada Flintridge, then Monrovia and Glendale. Those cities  which ended up with no damage from the fires  initiated their evacuations before the final late alert was issued for west Altadena at 5:42 a.m., according to records of archived alerts.

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As the fire continued west and overwhelmed crews in west Altadena, Pasadena was able to dispatch its police officers to evacuate and escort residents out of the Linda Vista area, neighborhoods just across from west Altadena. In La Canada Flintridge, officials sent out geographic-coded phone alerts from their emergency operations center, in addition to ones sent by the county. Even NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab, which has its own fire department, had its own emergency management team staffed 24/7 during the fire, sending out alerts to employees when necessary.

"When you're a full-service city, you have the ability to be a little more nimble and target some additional resources where there's need," Pasadena Fire Chief Chad Augustin said. While he and other city officials operated in a unified command structure throughout the Eaton fire  with the county and other agencies  "we're still ultimately responsible for our city."

And that is one of the most useful aspects of a hyperlocal government during a crisis: it can provide a central spot for questions, information and updates, said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Haynes Foundation, which supports research on governance and democracy in the L.A. region.

Read more: Edison says dormant powerline is a leading theory for cause of Eaton fire

"Theyre going to be taking your case and advocating," Sonenshein said. The real advantage of it all is you have local representatives. ... Theyre beating the drum about whats happening in the community."

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Though L.A. County does have extensive resources far above that of any small city, there's no avoiding the fact that Altadena is one small community in the most populous county in the country, Sonenshein said.

Its kind of easy for the unincorporated territory to fall through the cracks," Sonenshein said. This is a case where government structure has impacts."

And while there may be a renewed interest in getting Altadena better representation, proponents are clear that is far from the priority right now. Community leaders and members are entirely focused on recovery from the devastating fire, which destroyed more than 9,000 buildings, the vast majority in Altadena. When one Pasadena leader in January brought up the idea of annexation  absorbing Altadena into Pasadena  it stirred contempt, both for its timing and the idea itself, which has been shot down repeatedly by Altadena's fiercely independent-minded residents.

Sonenshein also pointed to the recent passage of Measure G, which over the next eight years will expand and potentially transform the county's government by adding four new supervisors and a county executive. He said that could change how Altadenans feel connected to and supported by the county government.

Seriina Covarrubias sits on the front steps of her temporary residence in Orange County recently. (William Liang / For The Times)

But for Covarrubias, this is an issue that has needed to be addressed for years, and was made devastatingly clear when her neighbors were left  literally  in the dark as the fire threatened their street. She lives in the evacuation zone that got the latest order to leave, just before 6 a.m., about six hours after the fire was reported in the area.

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Covarrubias, 42, along with her husband and their roommate, decided to leave on their own the evening of Jan. 7 before any evacuation alert. Many of her neighbors stayed behind, waiting to be told if they needed to leave.

They got out just barely," said Covarrubias, who is part of California Unincorporated, a group that works to improve how unincorporated areas are governed. "It was everything we were fighting against."

She said she got involved with the movement after it took two years of organizing and hard work to get two speed bumps installed on her street  something she considered a no-brainer safety issue. She thinks the best solution is for Altadena to become its own city.

It's exceptionally frustrating that no leader or agency has owned up to the evacuation failure  or provided an explanation  even now, more than three months after the fire, Covarrubias said.

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"It makes you feel  like the county just takes the money from the homeowners' taxes and runs," Covarrubias said. Theres not any leadership that has accountability right now."

But cityhood may not be the only solution. In unincorporated Topanga, residents have formed the Topanga Coalition for Emergency Preparedness, a volunteer group that provides real-time emergency updates and disaster information for the Santa Monica Mountains communities and also coordinates preparation efforts focused on wildfire resilience.

We do not believe the systems in place are good enough, said James Grasso, the group's president. Even with my foot in the door, its very difficult to get communications."

The group formed after the 1993 Old Topanga fire, when Grasso said people really struggled to find relevant and accurate information about evacuations, road closures, firefighting and other needed resources. And while the county's emergency procedures have since improved dramatically  he said there weren't official evacuation zones in many areas for years to come  he said getting key updates can still be confusing and inconsistent, particularly for the elderly or disabled. The group's team works to compile and tailor relevant information during an emergency for its perilous paradise community, as it did during the Palisades fire, Grasso said.

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We have no city government, we have no town government. Our government, in effect, is our supervisor, and our supervisor has a lot of areas. ... Its a huge district," Grasso said. We fight for everything that we have  because we understand, clearly, we need it."

Read more: Edison to bury more than 150 miles of power lines in wake of devastating L.A. County firestorms

While their group has a great relationship with Supervisor Lindsey Horvath, Grasso said there are still gaps in what their community needs  and the county has yet to fill them.

Interestingly, many of the people The Times interviewed in favor of more locally focused emergency operations for Altadena were clear that the on-the-ground firefighting  which operated as a mutual aid system during the Eaton fire  was not a driving factor in their position. Issues related to emergency planning, messaging and communications were the main concerns, which all fall under the purview of city officials.

Were all good partners, ... but our focus is our own jurisdiction, said Arcadia Fire Chief Chen Suen. He recalled that when the Eaton fire's unified command recommended parts of northern Arcadia be evacuated or issued warnings, he reviewed the situation with other city officials and decided to evacuate a larger area than initially considered.

Flames from the wind-whipped Eaton fire burn homes on Vinedo Avenue on January 7. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)

Its so much better to get people out during an event for safety reasons, than to  at the eleventh hour  try to get people out," Suen said in an interview with The Times.

The string of Arcadia's evacuation alerts went out on the county-run Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) system, which targets cellphones in a certain geographical area, but Arcadia officials also initiated its own protocols: posting on social media, using the city's opt-in alert system and activating its Police Department to go door-to-door, Suen said. The city had also warned residents in the first few hours of the fire that evacuations could soon become necessary.

West Altadena never received any evacuation warnings.

In Pasadena, officials also focused on the idea of redundancy: making sure there were several ways to reach residents with critical updates. The city uses its PLEAS alert system, a type of alert that will text or call residents who have signed up; a program called Nixle, which sends opt-in email or text information; and also appearances on local news and posts on its website and social media. And that is in addition to the county's WEA notices and police officers on the streets, said Lisa Derderian, a city spokesperson.

A firefighter is silhouetted against the flames of a burning home on Glenrose Avenue in Altadena the morning of Jan. 8. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times)

"Ultimately, in a unified command, we're collectively doing two things: You're looking out for the best interest of your city, but also you're collectively managing a large-scale incident  doing the most amount of good for everyone in need," said Augustin, the Pasadena fire chief. He said when his city has additional resources available, emergency staff looked to do things like additional door-to-door notifications or added patrols, which focused on his city but also expanded into Altadena when needed: "We knew no borders."

The county used its WEA system and Alert LA County messaging program as the "primary communication methods," to issue urgent and timely evacuation alerts during the L.A. firestorm, according to a statement from the county's Coordinated Joint Information Center. The CJIC provides public information during large-scale disasters through the county's Office of Emergency Management.

County officials, however, also recommend people sign up for their more local emergency notification systems, most operated by cities. Sheriff's deputies also worked to carry out evacuation orders on the ground, though many in west Altadena said they saw few to no first responders that night.

Read more: Untangling the mystery of failed Altadena evacuations: 'There should have been all sorts of red lights'

The CJIC declined to answer specific questions related to the Eaton fire until the after-action report is completed. But it did say it follows all state emergency management requirements and has eight different disaster management coordinators assigned to different regions to better tailor its response. In a statement, it called its emergency response a "collective effort more than that of any single organization, department, or jurisdiction."

It is, however, important to note that the community of Kinneloa Mesa  just east of Altadena  is similarly unincorporated, but had no reported issues with its evacuation alerts. The foothill community sits not far from where the Eaton fire broke out, and its evacuations were swift, with several of the first fire crews arriving there.

And for some, the evacuation alert issue in west Altadena is just that: one glaring issue, not a reason to go through the complicated and often expensive process of incorporation, or deal with more red tape or regulation.

Obviously something went wrong," said Connor Cipolla, another member of the Altadena Town Council. And while he emphasized that he wants answers and fixes so it doesn't happen again, he said he's not convinced Altadena would get better services as a city, and pointed to California's strong mutual aid system during fires.

An "Altadena strong" sign occupies the lawn of a home near the Altadena Golf Course recently. (Jason Armond / Los Angeles Times)

Altadenans love their autonomy, said Cipolla, who remembers living in Pasadena and constantly getting parking tickets. The quirkiness and the self-determination and not being overregulated  all those things are the free spirit of what it means to be an Altadenan.

Milissa Marona, another Altadena Town Council member, said she partially agrees with Cipolla  and with Greene, who pointed out that Altadena may be getting a bad deal as it remains unincorporated.

Part of what makes Altadena unique is its lack of local, complicated government, she said, but she also realized  especially after the delayed evacuation alerts during the fire  that it can be a weak spot.

It does somewhat leave a vulnerability there because we dont have the city resources," Marona said, "but I think the county did the best they could."

Times staff writer Terry Castleman contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
ALTOONA, Iowa  An Altoona familys home was destroyed in a fire on Friday morning.

The Altoona Fire Department responded to a report of a house fire in the 100 block of 21st Street SW at around 10:16 a.m. The fire department said neighbors reported hearing a loud explosion near the home.

When firefighters arrived at the scene they found flames and smoke coming from a rear window. The fire department said the fire was quickly extinguished and was contained to one room and the attic space above it. However, the entirety of the home sustained significant heat and smoke damage, the fire department said.

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Madison County Attorney files petition to formally remove Treasurer Amanda DeVos from office

A family of three  two adults and one child  and their pet cat resided at the home. The adults and child werent home when the fire broke out. Firefighters managed to locate the cat and said it appears to be doing well.

According to the fire department, the explosion that neighbors heard was likely caused by a phenomenon called a backdraft, which is the abrupt burning of superheated gases in a fire that occurs when oxygen is introduced into an oxygen-deprived environment. This can occur when a fire is in an enclosed space and a window or door is opened or broken.

The fire department said no injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

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The Altoona Fire Department was assisted by the Des Moines, Pleasant Hill, and Ankeny fire departments and the Altoona Police Department.

Metro News:

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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As a Jackson County judge continues to debate the potential sale of Independence Towers after a year-long receivership, tenants remain worried that they will not be heard  or protected  by the terms of the sale.

Trigild Inc., a San Diego-based company which Judge Charles McKenzie appointed as the receiver of the troubled apartment building at 728 N Jennings Road in May 2024, filed a motion in March requesting that the court approve the sale of the building to PG Independence Towers LLC for $2.8 million.

PG Independence Towers LLC is an Indiana-based shell company linked to Dynasty Properties Inc., an Illinois corporation owned by Vijai Ponnezhan, according to court records. Dynastys application to purchase Independence Towers was one of seven similar applications, according to court documents.

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As McKenzie questioned Trigild Vice President Nancy Daniels Friday, about 20 Independence Towers tenants and supporters lingered in the courtroom, hoping they would be allowed to speak despite not being a legal party to the sale.

McKenzie declined to make a final call on the proposed sale Friday, waiting to review a final report from Trigild. Before closing the hearing, he addressed tenants directly, declining on the basis of court protocol to let them speak but vowing to keep their interests in mind.

I am not ignoring anybody, and I am not ignoring any circumstances, McKenzie said, addressing the courtroom gallery. I am cognizant of the issues.

Tenants, however, worry that Fridays hearing signals that McKenzie will not include additional protections  such as mandates to speak with tenants or renew existing leases  in the final sale agreement for Independence Towers.

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Whether its a legally binding agreement or not, tenants should be afforded an opportunity to at least meet and ideally negotiate a lease agreement that protects tenants when the sale happens, Independence Towers resident and organizer Anna Heetmann told The Star. Tenants should be involved, and the law doesnt afford us an opportunity to be heard.

Finding a buyer

Daniels said Friday that the process for selling Independence Towers began six months ago, after Trigild decided to find a traditional buyer rather than putting the building up for auction.

A potential sale was always contemplated within the scope of this receivership, Daniels said Friday.

Daniels testified that one of the reasons Trigild hopes to choose Dynasty as a buyer for Independence Towers is the firms prior experience taking over residential buildings in distress.

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I am very much aware that when we have a multifamily [building] come into receivership, these are peoples homes, Daniels said.

Aaron Jackson, an attorney for Trigild, said Friday that Dynasty has expressed that if they bought Independence Towers, none of the existing leases would be modified or wiped out.

For Heetmann, though, Trigilds considerations are inadequate compared to direct tenant involvement.

It sounds like it was a robust process, but tenants were not involved in that process at all, Heetmann said. Weve been in a position where were let down time and time again by landlords who come in and fail to actually put money into the property.

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Fannie Mae has put upwards of $1.5 million into building repairs, maintenance and upgrades organized by Trigild throughout the marketing process, Zachary Hemenway, an attorney for Fannie Mae, said Friday. Jackson said additional delays to the sale process could make it difficult to maintain Independence Towers current market value, since the building is currently operating at a loss.

Rental income for the property is insufficient to perform all the repairs, Jackson said.

Legal battles

The proposed sale was discussed in court amidst multiple ongoing legal battles between Independence Towers owners, lenders, receivers and tenants.

Fannie Mae initially filed a lawsuit against FTW Investments  owned by former Independence Towers owner Parker Webb  in January 2024, alleging that FTW had defaulted on its initial loan and that its subsidiary had failed to properly manage the building. FTW countersued Fannie Mae, alleging breach of contract.

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Organized tenants first attempted to become party to the lawsuit in August when Heetmann filed a motion to intervene. Her motion was denied based on precedent.

Also in August, a former Independence Towers tenant and a former tenant of the nearby Stonybrook East apartment complex sued FTW and its partners, citing poor conditions and retaliation.

Trigild filed an emergency motion on March 21 to expedite the sale of Independence Towers to its potential new receivers. Webb filed a contrasting motion through 728 N Jennings Rd Partners LLC, claiming that the sale was too rushed.

The proceeds from the sale would go to lender Fannie Mae to pay the costs of the receivership as well as the balance of Webbs initial loan. Webbs LLC still owes over $5.5 million in debt related to Independence Towers, according to court documents, which would only be about half-covered by the proposed sale.

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Dynasty presented the second-highest offer during the search process, Daniels testified, coming in $50 under the highest offer.

Plagued by problems

Independence Towers has been plagued with poor living conditions and serious utility issues for some time, according to tenants, including plumbing and HVAC failures, pest infestations and mold. Some residents of Independence Towers formed a union with Kansas City tenants advocacy nonprofit KC Tenants in May 2024 after a two-week hot water shutoff in the building.

In June, an arson attempt in an Independence Towers apartment damaged several units on the lower floors of the building. In July, 3-year-old Tidus Bass fell to his death from an eighth-floor window, prompting felony child endangerment charges for residents Moses Bass and Destiny Lee Randle, who have now filed their own civil suit, claiming they attempted multiple times to get management to fix the faulty window latch.

Multiple unionized tenants have been withholding rent for seven months as of April, in what organizers have described as the Kansas City areas longest-running rent strike.

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Daniels testified that Trigild inherited a very distressed property and had to authorize expensive repairs to the garage, elevator, heating and cooling system and common areas.

From the day we took over until today, weve been addressing repairs on a regular basis, Daniels said. Its significantly better, but its very clear that this property needs a buyer who is willing to come in and make significant changes.

Heetmann, however, doesnt believe that the buildings condition has notably improved since Trigild took over.

Significantly is a very strong word, and I would not agree with that, said Heetmann. I will agree that there have been improvements made, but the pest situation is not, at least from my observation, not meaningfully improved.

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As negotiations over the potential sale of Independence Towers continue, Heetmann noted that tenants feel their advocacy has brought some improvements outside of the courtroom. Recently, a tenant report detailing broken equipment in the laundry rooms led to immediate repairs by property managers, Heetmann said.

Every time that weve been afforded any opportunity to be heard, or expressed whats been going on in the property, theres a reaction almost immediately, Heetmann said. What Ive learned about tenants rights is that we are the most protected when we stand together and when we speak up.

The final hearing on the proposed sale has not yet been scheduled.

Previous reporting by Robert A. Cronkleton and Noelle Alviz-Gransee contributed to this article.
EDITORS NOTE: Originally we reported that Amanda Lopez Askin was appointed by then Gov. Susana Martinez in 2018 to serve as Dona Ana County clerk. She was appointed that year by the County Comission.

EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Dona Ana County Clerk Amanda Lopez Askin is making a bid for statewide office.

Lopez Askin launched her campaign for New Mexicos secretary of state job last week.

Next years election for secretary of state will not feature an incumbent. Current officeholder Maggie Toulouse Oliver, a Democrat, is term limited out and cannot seek a third term.

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Lopez Askin said she was running to provide proven leadership in the Secretary of States Office to keep elections safe and help small businesses succeed.

Lopez Askin, a Democrat, was appointed Dona Ana County clerk by the County Commission in 2018. She was elected to full terms in 2020 and 2024.

I am running for secretary of state because its never been more important to protect New Mexicans right to vote, Lopez Askin said. With our elections under assault across the country, its important we have a secretary of state whos ready to stand up to election deniers and extremists.

Lopez Askin, in her second term as county clerk for New Mexicos second-largest county, has a record of fighting for secure elections, her campaign said in its announcement press release.

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In 2020, when our elections were under attack, Lopez Askin persevered, combating misinformation and pushing back on election deniers. She even partnered with law enforcement to keep election workers safe and voting running smoothly, the announcement said.

Her campaign also said that in her seven years as Dona Ana County clerk, Lopez Askin has helped new businesses cut through government bureaucracy so business owners can focus on the work they are passionate about, the press release said.

In this time of economic uncertainty, we need to make sure that New Mexicos small businesses can compete and thrive, Lopez Askin said. As secretary of state, I will provide certainty and stability for New Mexico businesses.

She will continue to serve in her role as county clerk while she runs for statewide office.

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Here is what the rest of her announcement said:

Lopez Askin is a proud public servant with deep roots in New Mexico. She was raised in Las Cruces by a proud, hard-working single mom who relied on support programs to provide a stable life for her children. With the support of her community, hard work and determination, Lopez Askin became a family and mental health therapist and dedicated herself to helping kids in foster care.

When the opportunity came to serve Dona Ana County as county clerk, she leapt at the chance to continue serving the community that has given her so much. As county clerk, Lopez Askin worked with Democrats and Republicans to ensure the integrity of our elections.

As secretary of state, Amanda will bring her lived and professional experience to serve all New Mexicans by making sure our elections remain safe, secure, and fair, providing transparency in campaign finance, and supporting New Mexicos businesses.



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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTSM 9 News.
Update

2:04 PM PT -- The judge granted Bri Stern's request for a temporary restraining order, and set a hearing for May 9.

1:38 PM PT -- Sources connected to Bri Stern tell TMZ ... She's been receiving threats from people who are clearly tracking her location while she's been traveling.

Meanwhile, Andrew Tate's attorney Joseph McBride says, "We have interviewed dozens of Ms. Sterns acquaintances over the past few weeks. We have learned that Bri Stern is an attention-starved OnlyFans model who can barely combine two sentences. People have lined up to tell us how bad a person she is, including two ex-boyfriends against whom she has made similar, meritless accusations."

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He adds, "Tony Buzbee (Bri's attorney) understands what dealing with this kind of nonsense is like. Not long ago, a woman accused him of misconduct; here is his response: 'This person has previously made the same outrageous claims against two other men. She isnt credible and her claims are ridiculous. This case will be dismissed.' I rest my case."

Tony Buzbee tells TMZ ... "Joseph McBride is a fool. I dont waste my time responding to fools. Bri stern is a hero. All alleged victims should admire her courage. Any attempts to attack or intimidate her wont be tolerated."

Continue reading original story below.

Andrew Tate's ex-girlfriend, Bri Stern, says she's in a race against time ... and fears what will happen to her when the controversial influencer returns to U.S. soil.

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Bri filed a request for a domestic violence restraining order Friday in L.A. County Superior Court ... and in the docs, she says it's essential she get it while Tate is in Romania dealing with his legal issues in that country.

TMZ.com

According to the docs, obtained by TMZ, Bri says Tate could be back in the States "in a matter of hours" and she's terrified because "he is violent." While they were together, Bri claims Tate repeatedly told her, "If you ever betray me you will regret it and I will ruin, your life, rape you ... and kill you."

TMZ broke the story ... Bri filed a lawsuit against Tate last month, alleging he beat her up during a sexual encounter at the Beverly Hills Hotel. She also reported that to police, and they're now investigating Tate.

Andrew Tate's Ex Bri Stern Expands on Relationship, Alleged Sexual Assault

In the new docs, she says she's feared for her life every day since filing that lawsuit.

The restraining order would require Tate to stay 100 yards away from Bri at all times, and have no contact -- in person or electronically -- with her.

We've reached out to Tate's camp for comment.
Anduril founder Palmer Luckey says the US shouldn't worry about developing AI weapons.

Luckey said the US has already opened 'Pandora's box,' so it might as well go all in.

The alternative is that China surpasses the United States in autonomous weaponry, he said.

Anduril founder Palmer Luckey says the US military already opened "Pandora's box" of AI and autonomous weapons, and it's too late to turn back.

During a TED Live event last week, Luckey said the United States should instead double down on developing AI-controlled weapons, otherwise China could outperform the United States in a future war fought with autonomous systems.

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"I want you to imagine something," Luckey told the crowd. "In the early hours of a massive surprise invasion of Taiwan, China unleashes its full arsenal. Ballistic missiles rain down on key military installations, neutralizing air bases, and command centers before Taiwan could fire a single shot."

Luckey said that in this scenario, it would "become clear" that the United States does not have the systems to respond quickly enough to fend off China.

"This is the war US military analysts fear most, not just because of outdated technology or slow decision-making, but because our lack of capacity, our sheer shortage of tools and platforms means we can't even get into the fight," Luckey said.

He said the best way to compete with China is to win the AI arms race.

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Luckey founded Oculus, which he later sold to Meta for $2 billion. Then, in 2017, Luckey founded the defense company Anduril, which produces and manufactures drones and other autonomous systems and weapons for the US military.

"I'll get confronted by journalists who say, 'Oh, well, you know, we shouldn't open Pandora's box,'" Luckey said. "And my point to them is that Pandora's box was opened a long time ago with anti-radiation missiles that seek out surface air missile launchers."

He added that some US military ships use anti-missile defense systems capable of "locking on and firing on targets totally autonomously."

"We've been in this world of systems that act out our will autonomously for decades," he said. "And so the point I would make to people is that you're not asking to not open Pandora's box; you're asking to shove it back in and close it again."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Peace activists marched through several German cities during the traditional annual Easter marches on Saturday, against the background of plans by Berlin and governments across Europe to massively increase spending on rearmament.

At the larger demonstrations, such as in Berlin, the Ruhr area, Wiesbaden and Kassel, initial police estimates suggested that several hundred people gathered in each location.

Central themes included the demand for disarmament and a nuclear-weapon-free world, as well as the end to wars, such as those in Ukraine and the Gaza Strip.

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"The Easter marches this year are particularly directed at the new government, demanding that Germany becomes capable of peace instead of being war-ready," said Kristian Golla from the Peace Cooperative Network, referring to the incoming coalition of conservatives and Social Democrats.

He said this is particularly true for the course in Ukraine policy: "The path to peace for the people in Ukraine does not lead through more and more weapons, but through negotiations," he said.

In some cities, the turnout at the Easter marches this year was larger than recently, according to the Peace and Future Workshop in Frankfurt. However, the Easter marches are now significantly smaller than at the peak of the movement in the early 1980s.

Criticism of some positions of the German peace movement

In Berlin, however, some people also gathered with Ukraine flags for a counter-demonstration. They held signs with slogans such as "Democracy must be defensible!" and "False pacifism kills."

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Green Party leader Franziska Brantner also expressed criticism of certain calls to demonstrate at the Easter marches.

"We share the desire for peace, absolutely," she told the weekly edition of the Berlin-based taz newspaper. However, with regard to the opposition to arms deliveries to Ukraine, which is defending itself against a full-scale Russia invasion, she added: "What bothers me about such calls to demonstrate is that being left-wing means being anti-imperialist, standing by the attacked, and not the aggressors."

Events in more than 90 cities

The Easter marches are organized locally by trade unions, left-wing and Christian groups, as well as peace groups.

According to various networks that coordinate the protests, there are expected to be actions in more than 90 cities over the Easter weekend, most of them on Holy Saturday.

A man holds a picture of Gandhi in front of the Palestinian bloc during the Easter March 2025. Sebastian Christoph Gollnow/dpa
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A throng of people gathered in Downtown Peoria once again to protest President Donald Trump and one of his close advisors, Elon Musk.

The Hands Off, 50501 movement, which stands for 50 protests, 50 states, and 1 movement, aims to protest the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration and its plutocratic allies, the movements website said.

On Saturday, April 19, protestors marched down Hamilton Boulevard to the U.S. District Courthouse before ending the march a few blocks away at the Peoria County Courthouse.

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An event organizer, Theresa Kuhlmann, said the protestors were there to speak out against Trump and his attempt to take away our liberties.

It was 250 years ago, yesterday, that Paul Revere sent out the warning that the British were coming, the British arent coming right now, but we have a man who wants to be king and take away our liberties, she said.

Among other things, she said they were there to protest and to get hands off democracy, Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security, among many others.

Kuhlmann said she was loving the number of people who showed up to the protest and march, stating that the number of people keeps growing.

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It just keeps growing and growing, there are cars coming down to park and the line was long, and it kept getting longer and longer and same thing with the people who are marching, she said.

Marchers were shouting and were seen carrying signs saying things such as hands off our democracy, liberty and justice for all, and you cant spell hatred without red hat.

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NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- In his hometown of Kitui in eastern Kenya, Nixon Nzioka has become one of the most sought-after transportation service providers.

Nzioka owns a tricycle, which he uses to transport agricultural products, household goods, water, and various construction materials such as sand, gravel, and stones.

"Business is good. There are only two of us in this trading center offering tricycle transportation services," Nzioka, who bought the Chinese-made machine five months ago, told Xinhua.

Nzioka said the purchase of the tricycle from Sincerity Holding Group, a Chinese company based in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi, has been one of the best decisions he has ever made, as he earns an average of 1,000 Kenyan shillings (about 7.7 U.S. dollars) a day.

The tricycle branded Apsonic is making inroads in Kenya's rural and urban areas, not only as a reliable means of transportation but also as a moneymaker.

"Before I bought the machine, I did some research and compared it to others on the market. The Apsonic won. It has a strong body, is bigger, and has good ground clearance, which is ideal for rural areas," said Nzioka.

Li Guo, general manager of Sincerity Holding Group Kenya, said the company entered the Kenyan market in 2023, and the quality of their products and good services have seen an increase in the number of customers.

Sincerity Holding Group started introducing electric products in 2022 as it embraces the greener future, he said. The group is continuously improving its products according to usage habits and the environment, and its electric tricycles will soon be sold in the Kenyan market.

According to Li, the company has employed 30 Kenyans, who mainly offer after-sales services to customers across the East African country.

Johanna Muiruri, a local employee of Sincerity Holding Group, said the services include engine oil changes, wheel replacements, and turn signal repairs.

"We also assemble the different parts of the machines once a customer buys them," said Muiruri, a trained mechanical engineer, adding that he has learned a lot of technology from the Chinese firm, which will help him in his future career.

Lucy Njoki, who lives in Loitoktok, about 230 km from Nairobi, said she bought her first machine from Sincerity Holding Group last May. She uses it to provide transportation services, including ferrying farm produce, sand, and firewood, earning about 6.9 dollars daily.

Njoki loves Apsonic tricycles because they are sturdy, have a larger size that allows her to carry many things, and have a low failure rate.

She noted that through the transportation business, she can feed her family, pay rent and school fees, and contribute 3 dollars a week to her savings group.

"I'm definitely going to buy a second Apsonic tricycle so that I can expand this business I do with my husband," she said, adding that with the tricycles, "my future is bright." 
Ben Meiselas flamed rival podcaster Joe Rogan during a discussion about whether Kamala Harris should have appeared on Rogans show during the 2024 campaign.

To me, Rogans a jerk and he spreads lies, Meiselas said on a new episode The Peoples Cabinet podcast, slamming the pro-MAGA podcaster.

Meiselas co-hosts the left-leaning MeidasTouch podcast with his brothers Brett and Jordan. The show dethroned The Joe Rogan Experience in February to become the top podcast in the countryand has hovered near the top of the charts ever since.

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I dont think [Harris] should have went on Rogan or any of those right-wing shows, Meiselas stated. The moment you go on a Rogan or a Charlie Kirk they are already going to be framing things in terms of issues that really arent the issues that need to be discussed.

Meiselas, who also co-owns Los Angeles Magazine, pushed back on efforts to create a liberal counterpart to Rogan. We shouldnt be chasing Who could be the next left version of Joe Rogan, he said, adding, Someone on the left shouldnt be like, Well I need to be a jerk and punch down.

Instead, Meiselaswhose podcast racked up 125 million downloads and views in March, nearly double Rogans 64 million downloadscalled for building a healthy, vibrant, pro-democracy, pro-truth ecosystem.

Rogan has faced criticism for spreading COVID-19 and vaccine misinformation and hosting conspiracy theorists. On a recent episode of his podcast, British conservative columnist Douglas Murray confronted him for hosting Ian Carroll, a YouTuber known for pushing antisemitic conspiracy theories.

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If you throw a lot of s--t out there, theres some point at which [saying] Im just raising questions is not a valid thing, Murray said. Youre not raising questions. Youre not asking questions. Youre telling people something  I feel youve opened the door to quite a lot of people. Youve now got a big platform and have been throwing out counter-historical stuff but a very dangerous kind.

Rogan invited both Donald Trump and Harris onto his show during the 2024 campaign. Only Trump made an appearance, after Rogan declined an invitation from the Harris team to travel to her for an hour-long interview, rather than sit for a three-hour interview in his Austin, Texas studio. He endorsed Trump on the eve of the election.
Protesters are gathering across the country as part of the grassroots 50501 movements Day of Action on Saturday in opposition to Donald Trumps administration. More than 700 actions were expected to take place, focused on issues including the environment, deportations, and the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.

The organization originated from a Reddit meme. Its name stands for 50 states, 50 protests, 1 day. An estimated 5 million came out for the organizations Hands Off rallies globally on April 5.

We, the American people, have banded together in the interest of a common goal; to end executive overreach and reject the authoritarian actions of the Trump Administration. We are not paid, or coerced into action. We are driven to act out of our own sense of what is right: decency, democracy, and civil liberty for all people, the movement writes on its website.

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The 50501 movement has called for a National Day of Action, also known as a National Day of Community Action, not a National Day of Protest, Hunter Dunn, national press coordinator for the organization, told Newsweek. There are plenty of demonstrations happening around the country as part of the day of action, but the primary focus of the day of action is speaking to the needs of your community.

He said that this action could mean a mutual aid drive in Southern California for people affected by wildfires. In New York City, it could mean a demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements deportations.

The goal here is community impact, not attendee numbers, he said.

Protesters gathered near the White House to demand that Kilmar Abrego Garcia be brought back to the U.S. The Maryland man was illegally deported to El Salvador and remains there despite a Supreme Court order to bring him back.

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A search for affiliated events yields more than 750 results. 50501 Michigan is planning a March for Mother Nature where attendees hold clean ups in local areas. In Lafayette, Louisiana, organizers are holding a Good Trouble March. In Tampa, Florida, activists gathered to protest the deportation of two Venezuelan immigrants to a mega-prison in El Salvador.

In New York City, people organized in front of the New York Public Library. Someone had drawn WE THE PEOPLE in chalk in the street.

Other areas are holding No Kings protests to mark the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution. In Concord, Massachusetts, Conan Walter held a sign that said, Stop fascism now.

This celebration is about us getting out from under the King of Englands authoritarian rule, Walter told The New York Times. That rule is trying to make a comeback today, and its important that people step up against that and meet the challenge.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  One of the lead organizers of the 50501 Portland protest, who identified himself as Darren, told KOIN 6 News hes a Marine Corps veteran who served in Afghanistan. And he spoke for the thousands of people who filled the streets of downtown Portland in the latest anti-Trump rally.

I really wish, Darren said, that my service wasnt useful for the benefit of some oligarchs.

This mass event  along with other similar events in cities all across the country  was once again a peaceful demonstration of First Amendment democratic rights.

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Theres a group of about 30 people who are working really, really hard behind-the-scenes to put all this together and make sure that everyone is safe, he said.

Shortly after noon, Portland police closed several streets in downtown because of the size of the march. Then around 1:30 p.m., the march ended as ralliers returned to Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Police later said, No injuries were reported and no arrests were made.

Anti-Trump protesters turn out to rallies in New York, Washington and other cities across country

Were done waiting while the current administration dismantles over 50 years of environmental protections, said a spokesperson for 50501 Portland. This system has failed our communities, our climate, and our future. Were marching to show that real change will come from the ground up and that We The People wont sit idly by while the rich destroy our lands for profit.

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Darren said he really appreciates the opportunity for all these people to get together with me and actually put some service to the community in a real good, tangible way.

Protesters take to the streets of Portlands Pioneer Courthouse Square on Apr. 19, 2025. (KOIN) PPB Dialogue Officers at a No Fascism protest at Pioneer Courthouse Square, April 19, 2025 (PPB) PPB Dialogue Officers at a No Fascism protest at Pioneer Courthouse Square, April 19, 2025 (PPB) A large crowd marched through the streets of downtown Portland during a No Fascism protest, April 19, 2025 (PPB) Thousands of people came to downtown Portland as part of a No Fascism rally against the policies of the Trump Administration, April 19, 2025 (KOIN) Thousands of people came to downtown Portland as part of a No Fascism rally against the policies of the Trump Administration, April 19, 2025 (KOIN) Thousands gathered at Pioneer Courthouse Square in downtown Portland in a No Fascism rally against the policies of the Trump Administration, April 19, 2025 (KOIN) Thousands marched through the streets of downtown Portland in a No Fascism rally against the policies of the Trump Administration, April 19, 2025 (KOIN)

Rep. Maxine Dexter to travel to El Salvador, demand release of mistakenly deported man

The next planned protest rally is Thursday, May 1, organizers said.

Similar protests were held at the same time in Vancouver. Organizers with Evergreen Resistance, a Washington state 50501 group, began at Vancouvers Tesla showroom and lined the sidewalks along Northeast Andresen Road and Fourth Plain Boulevard creating an X.

We need to get control of our government, said Vancouver protester John Meyer. Theyre doing some things that just financially, morally, dont make sense.

John Meyer was one of thousands who took part in the No Fascism rally in Vancouver, April 19, 2025 (KOIN)

Vancouver protester Kathleen Proudfoot said people were out in force with our neighbors, were with our friends, were with our colleagues. Were with people who are strangers now only because we havent met them.

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But they all shared a common goal, Proudfoot said.

Ending executive overreach and upholding the Constitution is a very big, important issue. Its a nonpartisan group as well, she said. This is not about being a Democrat or Republican, independent or Libertarian, anywhere in between. This is about standing up for our rights and before its too late.

Others rallies happened later Saturday in Beaverton as well as an Earth Day rally for climate justice in Portlands Caruthers Park.

The protests in the Pacific Northwest are part of the nationwide 50501 (50 protests, 50 states, 1 movement)decrying what they see as threats to the nations democratic ideals.

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Feds add Portland site to list of properties up for accelerated disposition

The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the start of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago. In San Francisco, protesters formed a human banner reading Impeach & Remove on the sands of Ocean Beach overlooking the Pacific Ocean.

Organizers around the US said theyre protesting against what they view as Trumps civil rights and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shutter entire agencies.

Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for no kings and resistance to tyranny.

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The Trump administration, among other things, has also moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
NEW YORK (AP)  Opponents of President Donald Trumps administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nations democratic ideals.

The disparate events ranged from a march through midtown Manhattan and a rally in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration of the shot heard round the world on April 19, 1775, marking the start of the Revolutionary War 250 years ago.

Thomas Bassford was among the demonstrators at the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord outside Boston. The 80-year-old retired mason from Maine said he believes Americans are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.

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This is a very perilous time in America for liberty, said Bassford, who was with his partner, daughter and two grandsons. I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom.

In Denver, hundreds of protesters gathered at the Colorado State Capitol with banners expressing solidarity with immigrants and telling the Trump administration: Hands Off! People waved U.S. flags, some of them held upside down to signal distress.

Thousands of people also marched through downtown Portland, Oregon, while in San Francisco, hundreds spelled out the words Impeach & Remove on a sandy beach along the Pacific Ocean, also with an inverted U.S. flag. People walked through downtown Anchorage, Alaska, with handmade signs listing reasons why they were demonstrating, including one that one that read: No sign is BIG enough to list ALL of the reasons Im here!

Elsewhere protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government. Others organized more community service-oriented events such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters.

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The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide demonstrations.

Organizers say they oppose what they call Trumps civil rights violations and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and to scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shuttering entire agencies.

Some of the events drew on the spirit of the Revolutionary War, calling for no kings and resistance to tyranny.

In Anchorage, a colonial reenactor in colonial garb held up a No Kings sign while the person next to him hoisted cardboard that read in part: The Feudal Age is OVER.

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Boston resident George Bryant, who was among those at the Concord protest, said he is concerned that the president is creating a police state. He held a sign saying, Trump fascist regime must go now!

Hes defying the courts. Hes kidnapping students. Hes eviscerating the checks and balances, Bryant said. This is fascism.

In Washington, Bob Fasick, a 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia, said he came out to the rally near the White House out of concern over threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, Social Security and other federal safety-net programs.

The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.

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I cannot sit still knowing that if I dont do anything and everybody doesnt do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live, Fasick said.

In Columbia, South Carolina, several hundred people protested at the statehouse holding signs with slogans such as Fight Fiercely, Harvard, Fight.

And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants as they marched from the New York Public Library north toward Central Park and past Trump Tower.

No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state, they chanted to a steady drumbeat, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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Marshall Green said he is most concerned that Trump invoked the wartime Alien Enemies Act of 1798 by claiming the country is at war with Venezuelan gangs linked to the South American nations government, even though a recent U.S. intelligence assessment found no coordination between them.

Congress should be stepping up and saying no, we are not at war. You cannot use that, said the 61-year-old from Morristown, New Jersey. You cannot deport people without due process, and everyone in this country has the right to due process no matter what.

Meanwhile Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she worries about executive overreach, citing clashes with the federal courts, Harvard University and other elite colleges.

Were supposed to have three equal branches of government, she said, "and to have the executive branch become so strong, I mean its just unbelievable.

__

Associated Press writers Claire Rush in Oregon, Joseph Frederick in New York, Rodrique Ngowi in Massachusetts, Nathan Ellgren in Washington and Meg Kinnard in Columbia, South Carolina, contributed.
AUSTIN (KXAN)  A 44-year-old man is dead following a road rage incident that happened last week in southwest Austin. The Austin Police Department said it is investigating the incident, per a news release from the agency.

On April 9, around 6:40 p.m., APD officers responded in the 6900 block of Scenic Brook Drive, near Highway 71. A caller reported a road rage incident resulting in an injured male in the middle of the road, the release said.

When officers arrived to the scene, they found the man, who police did not identify Friday due to the ongoing investigation. He was transported to a local hospital with life-threatening injuries, according to police. The man later died from his injuries Friday, April 18.

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An unidentified 57-year-old white man was believed to be involved in the incident, but police said no criminal charges are expected to be filed against him.

Police said there was no danger to the public, as this was an isolated incident. This is now being investigated as Austins 17th homicide of 2025.

At this time, investigators know there were other witnesses to the incident and requested any of them to contact APD at 512-974-TIPS. Tipsters can also submit a tip anonymously via the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KXAN Austin.
A divided federal appeals court panel on Friday temporarily halted U.S. District Judge James Boasbergs contempt proceedings against the Trump administration over its deportation flights to El Salvador last month.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit indicated its order is intended to provide sufficient opportunity for the court to consider the governments appeal and should not be construed in any way as a ruling on the merits of that motion.

But for now, it prevents Boasberg from moving ahead with his efforts to hold administration officials in contempt. The judge on Wednesday found probable cause for contempt, calling the governments refusal to turn around the March 15 deportation flights a willful disregard of the courts order.

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The three-judge D.C. Circuit panel was split 2-1. The two Trump appointees, Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, ruled for the administration. Judge Cornelia Pillard, an appointee of former President Obama, dissented.

In the absence of an appealable order or any clear and indisputable right to relief that would support mandamus, there is no ground for an administrative stay, Pillard wrote in a brief explanation.

Boasberg, an Obama appointee, has drawn Trumps ire since the judge last month blocked the president from using the Alien Enemies Act, a rarely used wartime law, to swiftly deport alleged Venezuelan gang members to an El Salvador mega-prison.

Last week, the Supreme Court lifted the judges order, ruling the migrants must be afforded judicial review but that they need to file their legal challenges where they are physically detained. Boasberg has still endeavored to press ahead with contempt proceedings, since his order was in effect for some time before the high court lifted it.

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And the D.C. Circuits ruling on Friday came just as Boasberg was thrust back into a new deportation flight battle.

The ruling landed within seconds of Boasberg wrapping an emergency hearing on a request from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to block what it says is a new, imminent wave of deportations to El Salvador.

At the hearing, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign insisted no flights are planned through Saturday but cautioned, I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow.

We feel stuck, and I dont know that the government has provided a satisfactory answer to how we wont be continuously stuck, responded Lee Gelernt, an ACLU attorney.

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Boasberg declined to intervene, saying the Supreme Courts ruling meant he had no authority to step in.

Im sympathetic to your conundrum. I understand the concern. I think theyre all valid, Boasberg told Gelernt. But at this point, I just dont think I have the power to do anything about it.

The ACLU still has pending requests with the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals and the Supreme Court for an immediate intervention.

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Apr. 19April 19, 2015  The Greater Bemidji Area Planning and Zoning Board has implemented a process where Bemidji residents can get a permit to have domestic honeybee hives within city limits and some neighboring townships. Any single-family residential unit  regardless of property size  is able to build a hive.

April 19, 2000  Amidst concerns from school district administrators and community members, City Manager Phil Shealy has confirmed that the city owns a 32-acre open area near Bemidji Middle School and Riverside School as an emergency option for pilots to put down their planes. Potentially rezoning the area will be discussed.

April 19, 1975  Beltrami County 4-H'ers gathered at the Bemidji High School auditorium to audition for Share-the-Fun, an annual springtime contest that involves music and theater. Members from 18 of the 34 county 4-H programs auditioned for the event, which is scored on delivery, general acting and costuming.

April 19, 1925  Parents are urged to enter the baby parade to be held at the new armory as a special feature of the Episcopal Church's Spring Carnival. Also at the carnival will be a Popular Young Lady contest, where young women will have the chance to win a $35 imported hand-embroidered Japanese silk kimono.
KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 918 Afghan families of 4,814 people returned to their homeland from neighboring Iran and Pakistan on Friday, Afghanistan's High Commission for Addressing Returnees Problems said in a statement Saturday.

According to the statement, the refugees have repatriated home via the Torkham border crossing in eastern Nangarhar province, the Spin Boldak border crossing in southern Kandahar province, and the Islam Qala border point in western Herat province.

According to reports, about 7 million Afghan refugees, most of whom are undocumented migrants, are currently living abroad. Most of them live in Pakistan and Iran. 
Its almost the end of Holy Week, the annual Christian commemoration of the betrayal, crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus. Faithful across the world are attending services to hear the Gospel, see reenactments of the key moments in the last seven days of his life and rejoice in the Good News  or at least have a big brunch with the family and let the kids look for eggs and chocolate bunnies.

Easter is supposed to be a happy time, but all I can think of is the people who persecuted Jesus. At a time when Christians are called upon to embrace Jesus message of love and charity, our president continues to revel in a cruelty thats, well, biblical.

Even if youre not a Christian, youre probably familiar with the Holy Week sayings and characters that illustrate the worst of humanity.

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A Judas, for instance, is as terrible a traitor as the apostle who turned Jesus over to the authorities. We accuse people of washing their hands when theyre in charge of a bad situation but refuse responsibility  a reference to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor who ordered the execution of Jesus despite his initial reluctance, as described in the Gospels. Commentators sometimes compare dictators to Herod, the king who ordered the massacre of children in his quest to kill the infant Christ.

President Trump is embodying all of this and worse with his campaign against undocumented immigrants and anything remotely associated with them.

Trump is attempting to deny birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, to babies born to parents who aren't citizens or lawful permanent residents. He is seeking to rescind legal status for hundreds of thousands of migrants and has ordered people in the country illegally to register with the federal government under the threat of fines and prosecution. He has also placed thousands of migrants on the Social Security Administration's list of dead people so they will be financially choked out of the country.

And were only three months into his second term.

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Read more: Trump officials' defiance over Abrego Garcia's deportation is 'shocking,' appeals court says

His underlings ape his ghoulish glee in making life miserable for undocumented immigrants.

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem has live-tweeted deportations while wearing makeup better suited for a Real Housewife and sporting a shiny Rolex watch. On Valentine's Day, the official White House Instagram account said, Roses are red/Violets are blue/Come here illegally/And well deport you, complete with a pink background, hearts and headshots of Trump and his border czar, Tom Homan. Earlier this month, the White House shared a video on X of handcuffed migrants being escorted by ICE agents, scored to Na Na Hey Hey (Kiss Him Goodbye).

This nastiness has reached a crescendo with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who crossed the border at age 16 to escape gang violence. An immigration judge denied his request for asylum in 2019 but allowed him to remain in the U.S. Since then, he has married, had a child and obtained a work permit.

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Abrego Garcia is now imprisoned in El Salvador, booted out of the U.S. without a court hearing and called a "terrorist" and MS-13 member by Trump, even though hes never been convicted of a crime. The Trump administration admits that deporting him was an administrative error.

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, right, speaks with Kilmar Abrego Garcia at a hotel Thursday in El Salvador's capital. (Press office of U.S. Senator Chris Van Hollen / Associated Press)

But instead of doing everything they can to return him to the U.S., they're doing everything possible not to  damn the law. And damn the human cost of leaving Abrego Garcia to languish in a prison sytem where inmates are crammed into cells and are increasingly being used as photo ops by Republican lawmakers.

Don't take my word for it. Federal judges have described Trump's actions as "illegal" or "shocking," with one judge calling the administration's insistence that it has no obligation to return Abrego Garcia to the U.S. a "fallacy."

There's a reason Trump is using illegal immigration to push the boundaries of America law, if not outright spitting on them: A big chunk of the American population is cheering him on. His supporters think they're not affected  that the only people being targeted are criminals. And even if immigrants without criminal records are mistreated  like Garcia and hundreds of others who didn't have a chance to contest their deportations  they had it coming anyway, since they never should have come to this country.

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Read more: Arellano: A thank you to the undocumented on the eve of Trump's deportation storm

If Trump's advisors are his apostles in selling his anti-immigrant crusade, the Pontius Pilate in this Passion play is El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, adored by the American right as the ne plus ultra of modern-day Latin American strongmen. Unlike the Roman prelate, though, Bukele is more than happy to keep his hands filthy with an unjust persecution.

In an Oval Office chat this week, Trump said that only Bukele could return Abrego Garcia to the U.S., and the Salvadoran president vowed that wouldnt happen. When Trump suggested that El Salvador should build more prisons to hold American citizens, Bukele agreed, adding that in order to liberate the American people, you have to imprison some.

On social media, Bukele mocked a recent meeting between Abrego Garcia and Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen, cracking that Abrego Garcia had "miraculously risen" from "death camps" and was "now sipping margaritas ... in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

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Instead of shuddering at these words, too many Trump supporters  many of whom are professed Christians  simply shrug.

The persecution of Abrego Garcia and other deported migrants reminds me of another Christian  German theologian Martin Niemoller, who wrote the poem that begins, "First they came for the socialists, and I did not speak out  Because I was not a socialist."

Niemoller was decrying the complacency of his countrymen as the Nazis rose to power by first targeting the most despised groups in German society. The prose is as famous as it is cliched, but Niemoller's message is the same one that we Christians take to heart during Holy Week.

Tyrants never want to stop. Only by standing with the least among us can good win  otherwise, evil rules.

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So which is it, Americans?

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
PHOENIX (AP)  Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs on Friday vetoed a Republican-backed bill intended to support the Trump administrations immigration crackdown by requiring local and state officials in Arizona to cooperate with federal enforcement efforts.

Under the proposal, local and state officials couldnt prohibit or restrict cooperation with federal immigration efforts or block the use of federal databases and grant funds related to immigration enforcement.

It also would force cooperation on immigration detainers  requests from the federal government to hold onto people already in state custody until immigration authorities could pick them up.

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I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state and local officials to take marching orders from Washington, Hobbs said in her veto letter.

Supporters say the measure is needed to ensure federal authorities can safely and more easily take custody of immigrants, rather than having to track them down later after they have already been released from state prisons or county jails.

Opponents say the state should leave immigration enforcement to the federal government and that the cooperation required in the bill would be expensive for local governments to carry out and would harm the cooperation local police get from people in immigrant communities.

They also point out that immigration laws passed by the Arizona Legislature in the past have led to legal problems, such as a 2013 racial profiling verdict against then-Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaios office for his signature traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.

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Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican from Gilbert, said his proposal aims to ensure that Arizona is a partner and not an obstacle where President Donald Trump's immigration efforts are concerned.

Under the bill, state prisons and county jails would be required to enter agreements with Washington to temporarily house people with detainers. Local agencies would be required to comply with detainers and tell judges who are determining bail when a given individual has an immigration detainer.

The bill would also require Arizonas attorney general to investigate alleged violations of the cooperation rules and let the attorney general sue to bring an agency into compliance. Supporters say state-shared revenues to local government could be withheld until compliance is reached.

Arizona's landmark 2010 immigration law also addressed the issue of state and local cooperation with federal immigration enforcement.

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The law bars state and local governments from limiting the enforcement of federal immigration law and lets residents sue over alleged violations.

State officials, immigrant rights advocates and an association representing counties say they are unaware of any such lawsuits being filed in the nearly 15 years since it was signed into law.

A little over a year ago, Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have made it a state crime for noncitizens to enter the state through Mexico at any location other than a port of entry. The Republican-led Legislature then bypassed the governor and voted to put a similar measure on the November 2024 ballot, which then won approval from voters.

Since Trump won a second term, Hobbs promised to work with his administration on issues like combating fentanyl trafficking, but has acknowledged the worries some families feel about the immigration crackdown.

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Hobbs has vowed to veto all bills sent to her in a standoff with the Legislature until there is a compromise on funding for a state agency that provides services for people with developmental disabilities.

GOP lawmakers say Hobbs has mismanaged agency funds. Hobbs counters that Republicans are leveraging the crisis for political warfare. She has said she is willing to veto even bills that she supports.
27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?

27,523 people played the daily Crossword recently. Can you solve it faster than others?
Video: When I saw the devastation, I just went back home and cried, Tornado in Cave City leaves town torn apart

LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders is asking a federal agency to reverse its decision about storm victims in the state.

The governors office said in a Friday statement that Sanders is appealing to FEMA to reverse its decision to deny the Arkansas Major Disaster Declaration for individual and public assistance. The declaration was for the storms and tornadoes that crossed the state on March 14 and 15.

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Arkansas to appeal federal denial for individual assistance after March 14 storms

The governors office statement said the following counties are in the original request: Baxter, Stone/Sharp, Hempstead, Independence/Randolph, Sharp/Randolph, Nevada, Independence/Jackson, Randolph/Clay, Woodruff, Clay, and Greene counties.

Arkansas communities are still recovering from this springs tornadoes, as the sheer magnitude of this event resulted in overwhelming amounts of debris, widespread destruction to homes and businesses, the tragic loss of three lives, and injuries to many others, The governor said. To relieve the burden on these counties, cities, and towns, I am appealing FEMAs decision to deny Arkansas Major Disaster Declaration request.

Noem says she plans to eliminate FEMA

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Sanders requested the Major Disaster Declaration relief on April 2. On April 18, she asked for a 30-day extension of time.

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BATESVILLE, Ark.  Officials with the Arkansas State Police are investigating after two people were found dead in a home earlier this week.

According to a release, agents with the ASPs Criminal Investigation Division have been called in to investigate a possible double homicide.

Officials said that on Tuesday, deputies with the Independence County Sheriffs Office responded to a request for a welfare check at a home in the 1600 block of Old Camp Road.

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Deputies said that when they entered the home, they found 53-year-old Teresa Owens Nelson and 71-year-old Patricia Anderson dead.

Officials said that their bodies were taken to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the manner and cause of death.

ASP officials have not named any suspects.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  Police are searching for an armed robber who forced his way into three homes in the Parkway Village area Friday.

Police said it all began at around 3:20 p.m. when a man entered a residence in the 3400 block of Eastport Cove, robbed the occupants, took a baby from a mom, entered another room, and struck someone in the head with his handgun.

The baby was not harmed or taken from the home.

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2 new cases of measles confirmed in TN

A short time later, police responded to a report of a suspicious person in the 3000 block of Claudette, also in Parkway Village.

The resident reported that a man in all black came into her home and closed the door behind him.

She screamed, causing the man to leave her house.

Another robbery was reported in the 3200 block of West Danville Circle in Parkway Village, and the victim says the man entered the apartment attempting to rob them at gunpoint.

3 arrested in Collierville in theft cases; guns, cash seized

MPD said that one of the victims was able to escape the apartment, and the man left seconds later without taking anything.

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Youve got to lock your doors behind you, Johnell Bridget, a Parkway Village resident. You have to stay aware of whats going on in your surroundings at all times.

Police stated that, based on the suspects description, behavior, and the close proximity in time and location, all three incidents are believed to be connected.

No arrest has been made. This is an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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The Army announced the latest rotation of units in Europe and the Middle East, including the return of a combat team that saw four of it soldiers die in a training accident in Lithuania last month.

The 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division from Fort Cavazos, Texas will replace the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division from Fort Stewart, Georgia. During the 3rd Infantry Divisions training in Lithuania, four soldiers were killed in an accident in March after their vehicle drove into a deep pond. Their disappearance prompted a week-long search of a local swamp with help brought in by the Lithuanian military. During their deployment, soldiers from 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were deployed to several eastern and central European countries, including Poland, Estonia and Lithuania.

The swapping of units are part of regular rotations of roughly 6,000 American forces deployed to locations across Poland and the Baltic states. As part of Operation Atlantic Resolve, soldiers head to Europe for nine months at a time and join multinational training events with regional U.S. Allies like Bulgaria, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

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3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Calvary Division, approximately 3,500 soldiers, recently wrapped a stint at the national training center to prepare for the deployment, a 1st Cavalry Division spokesperson told Task & Purpose.

Additionally, soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division based out of Fort Riley, Kansas are also headed to Europe this summer. Like the soldiers from 1st Cavalry Division, these soldiers completed a rotation at the National Training Center at Fort Irwin, California in February to prepare for the upcoming deployment.

They are replacing 3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division soldiers based out of Fort Bliss, Texas who headed to Poland last December and joined exercises across Eastern Europe.

The 4th Combat Aviation Brigade, 4th Infantry Division will head to the Middle East to support ongoing operations against the Islamic State group. The region saw more action over the last month when the U.S. stepped up attacks against Houthi rebels in Yemen after a three-month hiatus.

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In the year prior, soldiers assigned to Central Command were fighting a two-front war against both the Islamic State group and Iranian proxies launching drones and rockets from Iraq and Syria. The attacks on U.S. forces were prompted by Israels war against Hamas, U.S. officials said. The ongoing attacks were mostly thwarted with the exception of a Jan. 28 drone attack in Jordan that killed three U.S. soldiers.

The 4ID soldiers will replace the 101st Airborne Division Combat Aviation Brigade. Nearly 2,000 air assault soldiers from the 101st brigade deployed to the Middle East in February after a years worth of training for long-range, large-scale air assault operations, including nighttime missions. While in the Middle East they flew heavily around Erbil, Iraq.

The latest on Task & Purpose
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Artificial intelligence is quickly transforming our world, but its also producing a growing environmental footprint.

Data centers need massive amounts of energy to run and millions of gallons of clean water to keep the computers cool.

A Greener Mitten: Watch the special

According to the United Nations Regional Information Centre for Western Europe, a single ChatGPT search consumes 10 times more energy than a Google search.

Kalamazoo refill store aims to cut down on plastic waste

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The reason for the energy consumption has to do with how AI works. According to Massachusetts Institute of Technology Climate, every time a person enters a question into generative AI, that question is run through hundreds of billions of parameters. The more parameters there are, the more accurate the answer  and the more energy is consumed.

Clean water must be pumped through data centers to keep the computers running AI at a stable temperature. Experts say the water for the cooling centers needs to be as clean as drinking water to keep the systems from degrading.

According to Yale, water consumption by three Google data centers in The Dalles, Oregon, amounted to a quarter of the citys water supply.

Federal funding cuts could hurt lakeshore conservation efforts

DATA CENTERS ON THE RISE

The demand for AI means a demand for more data centers. According to UNRIC, the number of data centers has skyrocketed in the last decade, with nearly 8 million now in operation worldwide.

Data centers globally are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint. In West Michigan, the global data company Switch is installing a $5 billion data center. The facility in Gaines Township was installed in an existing building, with the company boasting 100% renewable energy.

Google and Microsoft plan to include green energy to help power their data centers, but it can be difficult to completely power a data center on renewable energy, like wind and solar because it is less reliably generated, according to MIT.

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Michigan an attractive place for Microsoft, Gaines Township official says

Global demand is rising for standardized rules to measure data center consumption. Without set standards, there is no way to consistently measure the environmental or ethical impact of AI from company to company. Recently, 120 countries in the United Nations have adopted guidelines to ensure AI benefits outweigh the costs.

AI COULD HELP REDUCE HUMANITYS ENVIRONMENTAL FOOTPRINT

AI could help reduce humanitys environmental footprint exponentially with its elite computational power and problem-solving ability. Data-driven solutions produced by AI have already accelerated efficiency in almost every industry.

Inside woodtv.com: A Greener Mitten

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AI is expected to help crack some of the hardest problems we are facing on our planet, from microplastics to warming. One scientist is using AI to help create flight paths for commercial aviation that would avoid moist layers of the atmosphere, reducing the number of airplane clouds we would see. This alone could reduce warming to the planet. Others are using AI to find the most efficient approach for watering crops, which would save time, money, and resources.

Eventually, the hope is that AI can help humanity make the leap to a world not dependent on nonrenewable resources.

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MANILA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people were killed and nine others injured after a speeding car plowed into people attending a religious procession in Negros Occidental province in central Philippines on Friday evening, police said Saturday.

The police said the crash occurred at around 7:30 p.m. local time in Bacolod City when a Good Friday procession was heading back to a church.

One died at the scene, while another died at a local hospital, the police added.

Good Friday is a solemn day of mourning and reflection for Christians, who often attend special church services and prayer vigils.

An initial investigation showed that the car carrying five Indian nationals, including the driver, hit a tricycle, a police patrol vehicle, and the participating devotees.

The driver was arrested and suspected of being under the influence of alcohol. 
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  The City of Savannahs Asian American and Pacific Islander Task Force (AAPI) in partnership with the Office of Multicultural Affairs at Georgia Southern University will host the Echoes of the East FestivalCelebrating the Beautiful Sounds of AAPI Culture on May 1.

The festival will feature live music and cultural performances, food vendors and artisan merchants, as well as educational community engagement opportunities that celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander culture.

The festival is free and open to the public. Individuals and families from all backgrounds are welcome to experience the AAPI heritage event. Free parking is available.

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The City established the AAPI in 2021 to give voice to Savannahians of Asian and Pacific Island decent. AAPI for Savannah seeks to promote harmonious relationships among the Asian American and Pacific Islander communities by bridging all cultures in Savannah and honoring the heritage and histories through education and celebration.

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Longtime NASA astronaut Don Pettit, who has ventured to space four times, returned to Earth on Saturday night from the International Space Station. Pettit, who turned 70 on Sunday, landed at 9:20 p.m. ET in a Soyuz spacecraft with Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, after a seven-month stay aboard the orbiting laboratory.

The scientist invented the first object patented in space  called the Capillary Beverage, Space Cup or Zero-G cup, which makes it easier to drink beverages in the absence of gravity, and he is also a celebrated astrophotographer known for capturing unique views of the cosmos.

The Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft is seen as it lands near Zhezkazgan, Kazakhstan, with NASA astronaut Don Pettit and Roscosmos cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner aboard, on Saturday. - Bill Ingalls/NASA

One of the things I like to do with my astrophotography is to have a composition and a perspective thats different than an Earth-centric one, typically showing an Earth horizon with the atmosphere on edge, the limb, and then some kind of astronomy, astrophotography, in relationship to that, Pettit said from the space station during an April 3 interview with astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson.

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Pettit said his photography is about the perspective of being in orbit.

Mission support members carry NASA's Don Pettit to a medical tent shortly after he landed in a Soyuz spacecraft in Kazakhstan on Saturday. He returned from a mission on the International Space Station. - Bill Ingalls/NASA

Earth is amazingly beautiful when your feet are firmly planted on the ground, and its beautiful from space, Pettit said. And its hard to say what is more beautiful. I think its because space is a unique opportunity we seek to focus on the beauty of being in orbit. If we had people living their whole life in orbit, when they come down to Earth, they would probably think that was the most beautiful perspective theyd ever seen.

Pettit takes his photos from the cupola on the space station, a favorite of crew members due to its seven windows that overlook Earth.

Here are some of his most unforgettable views of what its like to live in space that he captured over the past seven months.

The Milky Way appears beyond Earth's horizon on February 3 in a photograph Pettit took using a camera with low light and long duration settings as the space station orbited 259 miles above the Coral Sea off the coast of the Australian state of Queensland. - Don Pettit/NASA

Pettit, an avid astrophotographer, sets up camera hardware to photograph research activities inside the space station's Kibo laboratory module on March 15. - NASA

This January 13 photo from Pettit depicts an array of celestial sights, including the Milky Way, zodiacal light, orbiting Starlink satellites and stars that resemble pinpoints of light. The burnt umber band showcases airglow  light from Earth's upper atmosphere  and Earth's atmosphere is seen on edge. The sun is also about to rise, and city lights from Earth appear as streaks. - Don Pettit/NASA

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Pettit witnesses SpaceX's uncrewed Starship 8 break apart in the upper atmosphere and fall back to Earth on March 6. - Don Pettit/NASA

The Mediterranean Sea can be seen from the International Space Station. Sun glint off the Mediterranean Sea (infrared and converted to black and white)," Pettit described in an October 15 post on Instagram. "When the sun reflects off the ocean, watery details unseen with normal lighting shows up. Small centimeter differences in ocean height become visible, revealing hidden currents. - Don Pettit/NASA

Pettit's 30-second exposure image showcases an unexplained green cast over the Pacific Ocean. - Don Pettit/NASA

Space doesn't just appear dark to astronauts aboard the space station. They can also see stars, Pettit said. "I flew a homemade tracking device that allows time exposures required to photograph star fields," Pettit said in a post on Instagram. - Don Pettit/NASA

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A frame from a time-lapse video by Pettit shows thrusters firing on a SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft after it undocked and backed away from the station's forward port on the Harmony module. The orbital laboratory was soaring 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of Hawaii at the time. - Don Pettit/NASA

Using a blank, white laptop display as the illuminator, a polarizing filter and the space station's freezer, Pettit grew thin wafers of water ice in microgravity, revealing colorful, fragmented ice crystals. The freezer sits at minus 140 degrees Fahrenheit (minus 95 degrees Celsius). - Don Pettit/NASA

Pettit captures a stunning image of cosmic colors on January 27 as the sun begins to rise over the Pacific Ocean. This long-exposure image showcases the Milky Way above an aurora and airglow that shine closer to Earths horizon. - Don Pettit/NASA

In October, Pettit and NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick were stunned to see that the space station was flying through auroras. "We were not flying above the aurora; we were flying in the aurora," Pettit posted on Instagram. "And it was blood red. Caught off guard, we hastily set up our cameras, four of them, all snapping shutters as fast as they could, creating a syncopated rhythm that accented Natures artistic display presented before us." - Don Pettit/NASA

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Pettit documents the way bright lightning reveals distant clouds over the Pacific Ocean on a dark night in November. - Don Pettit/NASA

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An Atlanta federal judge issued a temporary restraining order on Friday, putting a stop to international students having their visas revoked for a few weeks.

The order from Judge Victoria Marie Calvert granted a restraining order to more than 100 students who filed the motion anonymously. It lasts for the next two weeks.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

It states that the defendants, including U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, must reinstate the students visa status.

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Thousands of international students nationwide say they have lost their visas over the last week, putting them at risk of possible deportation.

Attorney Dustin Baxter told Channel 2s Courtney Francisco that hes representing dozens of students in metro Atlanta who say they are among those who say their future is at risk.

What we understand is that DOGE was given access to all these student records, all these visa files, and they probably ran some AI that gave them all these hits if they searched for things related to arrests or tickets or citations, and they just were able to get a batch of people, Baxter said.

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Baxter said he and his clients filed a federal lawsuit asking a judge to stop the government from deporting them and reinstate their visa status.

These people are petrified that if they speak up that ICE is going to come knocking at their door. In fact, most of the people who have come to our case have indicated to us that they are just not going to leave their house, Baxter said.

He says that most of his clients studied at Georgia Tech, Georgia Southern, Kennesaw State, the University of Georgia and Emory University.

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You can read Judge Calverts full order below.

Order Granting Temporary Restraining Order by Jennifer Smith on Scribd
EDGAR COUNTY, Ill (WTWO-WAWV)  A warrant has been submitted to the Edgar County States Attorney Office for the arrest of a suspect in connection to an investigation.

A release from the Edgar County Sheriffs Office states, the investigation stems from the discovery of a deceased person found on April 12th along 1200th Road in Paris.



The Edgar County Sheriffs Office has followed leads, interviewed witnesses, and worked with other departments to develop a suspect.



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More information about this case, as it becomes available.

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As multiple rounds of gunfire erupted near Florida State Universitys student union minutes before noon on Thursday, students ran away from the campus trying to get to safety as the sound of emergency sirens grew louder.

Just two minutes after 911 calls reported the shooting, the suspect was shot by university police and taken into custody, authorities said. Despite the speedy response, the shooting left two dead and injured five others, sending shock waves through the university community.

The call went out, someone called it in, and immediately they responded to the scene and immediately neutralized the suspect and prevented this from being a bigger tragedy, FSU President Richard McCullough said at a news conference Thursday.

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As new details emerge about the suspected shooter, Tallahassee police are searching for motive as they investigate.

The suspect, 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, is the son of a Leon County sheriffs deputy and an FSU student, according to police. There do not appear to be any connections between Ikner and any of the victims, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said Thursday.

We will continue to vet that out. Well continue to follow the leads that come in, but at this current time, there does not appear to be any connection between the shooter and  even one of the victims, Revell said.

Ikner sustained serious injuries and will remain hospitalized for a significant amount of time before being transported to a local detention facility, Revell told CNN on Friday afternoon. At that point, he will face charges up to and including first degree murder, Revell said in a video message Friday.

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Two men  a university dining coordinator and an employee of a campus vendor  were killed. Officials have not yet identified the five victims who were wounded in the shooting.

Six patients who were hospitalized in relation to the shooting are in stable condition and expected to fully recover, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare said Friday. Five people were injured in the shooting and another person was injured while trying to run away, police said. The hospital declined to say whether Ikner was one of their patients.

Theyre all hurting and in pain and scared, but are doing remarkably well and are expected to fully recover, McCullough, who visited the victims at the hospital, told CNN Friday.

This is Floridas sixth mass shooting this year and the 81st across the country, according to the Gun Violence Archive. It comes seven years after a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, left 17 dead.

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As a father of several children, this is the thing we fear most. This is that random act of violence that seems to have no meaning or rhyme, reason to it, Revell said. To know that your child was on that campus, to know that your child may or may not have been involved and not know that, I can only imagine the terror and the fear.

Heres what we know about the timeline, suspect and victims of Thursdays shooting.

Student honors the deceased and injured students near the scene of a shooting at the Florida State University student center on April 18, 2025 in Tallahassee, Florida. - Miguel J. Rodriguez Carrillo/Getty Images

The shooting unfolded in less than 5 minutes

Around 11 a.m. Thursday, Ikner arrived at an FSU parking garage and stayed in the area for about an hour, intermittently going back to his vehicle, police said in a release Friday.

Then, Ikner left the parking garage at 11:51 a.m. About five minutes later, the first shot was fired.

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Ikner, using the deputys former service weapon, allegedly walked into multiple buildings and green spaces, firing seemingly at random. By 11:58 a.m., as students barricaded doors and texted their loved ones, multiple 911 calls reported an active shooter on campus.

The suspected shooter did not comply with commands, Revell said, and at noon, the suspect was shot and taken into custody, when he invoked his right not to speak, Revell said Thursday.

The suspect may have been prepared to shoot more people had he not been confronted by law enforcement not long after the shooting began, a law enforcement official familiar with the ongoing investigation said. Along with the service weapon found on the suspect, police recovered an AR-15 rifle in the car he drove to campus and a shotgun in the student union.

What we saw on April 17 was an extraordinary example of teamwork and professionalism in the face of a horrific event, Revell said in a statement Friday.

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With the investigation in its early stages and the motive still unknown, authorities are interviewing witnesses and victims, according to the release.

Suspect is an FSU student and deputys son

Ikner, a junior political science major at Florida State, has been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family and was involved with training programs, according to authorities.

A Selfie of FSU shooting suspect Phoenix Ikner taken from social media. - From social media

Its not a surprise to us that he had access to weapons, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said at a news conference Thursday.

Ikner had transferred to FSU this spring semester from Tallahassee State College, where he had received an associate of arts degree. Ikner had ties with local law enforcement as a member of the youth advisory council at the sheriffs office and as the son of a longtime deputy who serves as a local school resource officer, McNeil said.

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Five current and former students at Tallahassee State College told CNN Ikner made peers uncomfortable in class and during political discussions by expressing what they viewed as extreme views. Ikner described civil rights icon Rosa Parks as being in the wrong, defended the use of Nazi symbols, and disparaged pro-Palestinian and Black Lives Matter protesters, the students said.

Court documents reviewed by CNN also shed light on the tumultuous childhood of the suspect, showing how his mother and father battled in court over custody through nearly his entire life. The court records, which span nearly 17 years from the time Ikner was two years old until he was 19, detail acrimonious allegations between his parents, with one court filing by Ikners biological mother characterizing the child, then 10 years old, as being in the middle of a war.

Robert Morales, left, and Tiru Chabba - From Ricardo Morales/The Strom Law Firm

University community honors victims

Dedicated university employee Robert Morales and loving father of two Tiru Chabba were honored at a university vigil Friday.

They were deeply loved, and their absences leave a void that cannot be filled, said Kyle Clark, the universitys senior vice president.

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A memorial of balloons, bouquets of flowers, candles and stuffed animals could be seen near the universitys student union Friday along with messages of support like stay strong.

Morales, a dining coordinator, was a kind and patient person who would often surprise administrators and staff with homemade Cuban meals and pastries, Clark said.

Today we lost my younger Brother, his brother, Ricardo Morales, wrote in a post accompanied by family photos. He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. Im glad you were in my Life.

Art Smith, a celebrity chef who had previously worked alongside Morales, said hell remember him as a jolly man who always greeted others with a smile.

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Chabba, a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, was an employee with Aramark, a Philadelphia-based food service and facilities management company, according to attorneys representing his family.

Though it was supposed to be a celebratory time for Chabbas family as Easter approaches, his wife and two kids are now grieving the immense loss.

Tiru Chabbas family is going through the unimaginable now, attorney Bakari Sellers said in a statement. Instead of hiding Easter eggs and visiting with friends and family, theyre living a nightmare where this loving father and devoted husband was stolen from them in an act of senseless and preventable violence.

CNNs Taylor Romine, Elise Hammond, Tori B. Powell, Alaa Elassar, Casey Tolan, John Miller, Curt Devine, Audrey Ash, Hanna Park, Alisha Ebrahimji, Majlie de Puy Kamp, Yahya Abou-Ghazala, Mike Figliola and Devon Sayers contributed to this report.

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A 7-year-old nonverbal autistic boy with a gift of remembering maps was on his way to the Empire State Building when he disappeared from a Queens restaurant and traveled alone to Midtown Manhattan, his mother told the Daily News on Saturday.

He was very, very close [to getting there], grateful mom Farjana Akond said about her son Ruwaid Karims wild, two-borough journey to try to reach the famed landmark. I never thought that he could do that.

After walking out of the Dera Restaurant on Broadway in Jackson Heights around 11:45 a.m. Friday, Ruwaid surfaced about three hours later, four miles away, walking past 58th St. at Lexington Ave.

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I went to the restroom to wash my hands, and just in two minutes, I see he disappeared, the stunned mother recalled. Hes never been out on the street, so I was very worried.

Ruwaid was less than 25 blocks from the iconic skyscraper when a woman spotted him darting into traffic. She managed to grab him before he was hit and called 911.

He went across the crosswalk when it was still red, and there were cars coming, the Good Samaritan, who Akond identified as Christina, said at a press conference Friday. And then when we hit 57th, the cars were going both ways and he ran into the middle of the street. There were two different cars going each way that stopped and they were honking their horns, and he just kept going, and I was trying to get him but I didnt want to get hit either, so he was a little more of a hero than I was running into the middle of the street.

Cops quickly brought Akond to Midtown to be reunited with her son.

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Ruwaid and his mother are from Texas and were visiting New York City to take in the sights with Akonds sister, who had flown in from London.

We are just here for to visit the New York landmarks. Hes very interested in landmarks, she said of her son. [He wants to see] the Empire State Building and 1 World Trade Center. He wants to visit the [site of the] Avengers Tower.

Akond and Ruwaid had visited the Big Apple last year, but didnt get a chance to go to the Empire State Building. She knew it was on her sons list of places to go  but she never thought he would try to go on his own.

Police believe the architecture-loving tyke managed to take a train to Manhattan, Akond said.

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[The police said] theres no other options. To get there, he had to take the train, she said. Even on the cameras, they noticed that he went down in the subway.

It was a horrible three hours for me, she said. The only thing that was coming to my mind was what could happen while crossing the streets? Hes never been in the bus or train by himself. I was thinking all the bad stuff. It was tough.

On Saturday morning, little Ruwaid was smiling from ear to ear as he held two figurines in each hand  one of the Eiffel Tower, the other of the Statue of Liberty  and was raring to go on his next sightseeing adventure.

And hes got the whole trip mapped out in his head.

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He has a very good photographic memory of the maps, his mother said. So whenever he is with a device, he loves to browse the maps. He wants to see how to get there.

Hes OK, she said about her adventurous child. He feels like hes a big boy. Hes just OK. Like, theres nothing to worry about.
Ayotte at 100 days: A fast start, the next 100 could tell us more

Gov. Kelly Ayotte shared a laugh with state Rep. Ted Gorski, R-Bedford, prior to her State of the State speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics this past week.

As her 100th day in office passed last Saturday, Gov. Kelly Ayotte admitted having a sense of urgency about her work  and not because shes one of only two governors in America with a two-year term.

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I feel a sense of urgency in this office. Its not about the two-year term, but I see some of the challenges we face., Ayotte said during an interview in her office this past week. I love New Hampshire and I love to solve problems.

I wake up every day on this job with a sense of purpose. What can we get done today to keep whats special about New Hampshire and do things even better?

Ayotte, 56, is the first elected official in modern New Hampshire history to go from Washington, where she served in the U.S. Senate, to Concord and the governorship.

Republican Sen. Judd Gregg and Democratic Sens. Jeanne Shaheen and Maggie Hassan all served as governor before moving on to the Senate.

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100-Day Score Card

Heres a summary of some of the top priorities for Gov. Kelly Ayotte and where they all stand as she marked 100 days in office on Saturday

BAIL REFORM: Sign legislation to the system and close the revolving door for criminals. DONE

STATE BUDGET: Cuts spending but protects most vulnerable, no new taxes. TBD

IMMIGRATION REFORM: Sign anti-sanctuary city legislation. LIKELY

LANDFILL MORATORIUM: Three-year pause plus new regulatory framework LIKELY

EDUCATION REFORM: Ban cellphones in schools, education freedom account expansion LIKELY

PARENTAL RIGHTS: Sign legislation to give parents more access to info from schools LIKELY

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HIGHWAY SAFETY: New task force on distracted, wrong-way driving, speeding DONE

EDUCATION: Back higher ed, two-year reforms, dual enrollment UNKNOWN

HOUSING: Sign new housing incentive for energy, propose 60-day permitting reform DONE

MEDICAID: Retain high levels of eligibility, impose new co-pays for higher income clients UNKNOWN

I remember Judd and Jeanne telling me, This is a very different transition than you have experienced before, a much faster pace and little time to catch your breath, Ayotte recalled. Boy, were they right.

New U.S. senators go through an orientation process where seasoned veterans and experienced staffers calmly counsel them on how to set up their offices, prepare legislation and provide constituent service.

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New governors have only five weeks to prepare a two-year state budget, a more than 1,000-page document that they typically know little to nothing about before being elected.

Vermont is the only other state whose governor has a two-year term, and New Hampshire is the only state with an Executive Council with board-of-directors-like powers to approve all contracts and confirm appointments. All her agency heads have longer terms than the governor.

I did benefit from having a great mentor, Chris Sununu, who would get out the white board and sketch out for me the minefields to avoid tackling this budget issue or that, Ayotte said.

And for the first time in 15 years, the new governor came in, not to share credit for new initiatives her agency heads came up with, but instead to tell them it was time to cut spending.

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Some reluctance

Ayotte confirmed that not everyone was on board  at first.

We got some of them who worried that they couldnt complete the mission, of course we did, Ayotte said.

Its hard to do things differently, but I told them we all need to act like they were sitting around the kitchen table just like a New Hampshire family separating out the wants from the needs.

After Hassan unseated Ayotte from the Senate in 2016, Ayotte took seats on several corporate boards, and was named chair of the board of BAE Systems, the largest manufacturing company in the state, in 2021.

The business world gave me a perspective about the private sector and how government can either impede or put us in a strong position to succeed, Ayotte said.

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I am always open to learning; thats the only way you get better.

Deep into details

A little over three months in, Ayotte has earned the reputation as someone unafraid to dig into policy details and share opinions with legislators and agency heads, even if shes not asked.

Ive heard from time to time, Oh, the governor cares about this? Yes, the governor cares about this. Im not shy about sharing my opinion, Ayotte said.

Senate Ways and Means Committee Chairman Tim Lang, R-Sanbornton, said he likes this style, which contrasts with Sununu.

Ayotte at 100 days, fast start but the next 100 will reveal a llot

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Gov. Kelly Ayotte speaks with guests, including Flo Nicolas, right, and Anne Marie Therrien, center, of the Advanced Regenerative Manufacturing Institute (ARMI) after speaking at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics last week.

She straight on tells you what she thinks, theres no guesswork, no hidden agenda, Lang said.

Chris was cagier, hed keep his own counsel and that would leave you guessing sometimes.

Ayotte said people are getting used to the change.

I hope so, I think they are. People know what you see is what you get and I think they appreciate that, she said. It doesnt mean we always agree, but when we dont, I always try to say, OK, what do you see as a flaw in my thinking? because the response can bring us closer together.

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One speed  fast

Many on her staff worked on Ayottes campaign and were well aware that the Nashua Republican has only one speed  fast.

I knew what I was in for, said Chris Connelly, who stepped down as Hillsborough County sheriff to become Ayottes chief of staff after volunteering for weeks on the trail, often as her driver and trusted confidant.

Bring your A game to work every day; I wouldnt have it any other way, he said.

Budget Director James Geary, the only top aide who also worked with Sununu, has experienced Ayottes work ethic up close.

Shes called me as early as 6 a.m. and as late as 11 p.m. with comments or questions. She doesnt stop, Geary said.

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When former Senate President Chuck Morse of Salem ran against Ayotte in the Republican gubernatorial primary, only two GOP senators went with Ayotte. Sen. Bill Gannon, R-Sandown, was the first.

She has done everything she said she would, much like Trump has but with a softer, gentler, more accommodating approach that fits New Hampshire like a glove, Gannon said.

Kelly is willing to do a lot of the hard work behind the scenes that makes all the difference between a governor who gets results, as did Chris, and a governor who might be a good show horse that can get good press.

Ayottes signature achievement to date, a sweeping bail reform bill, was in danger of coming apart at one pivotal point as two GOP senators had late-process doubts about it.

Ayotte spent a long weekend in mid-March on the phone and meeting one-on-one with the wavering senators. The bill passed the Senate, 23-0.

I know its a lame take, but Id say flawless, said Neil Levesque, director of the New Hampshire Institute of Politics.

I cant think of one wrong move, one statement made by an exuberant aide she wants taken back, no over-the-top remark made either in private or leaked in public. Being governor is a pressure-cooker job and so far, so good  from what I can see, it has been a tour de force.

Ayotte at 100 days, fast start and next 100 could tell us more

Gov. Kelly Ayotte greeted guests after giving a State of the State speech at the New Hampshire Institute of Politics last week.

Big tests ahead

Deborah Arnie Arnesen of Concord, a radio talk show host and 1996 Democratic nominee for governor, said Ayottes next 100 days will be a bigger test.

Ayotte must battle conservatives in her own party who stripped her budget of more than $200 million for higher education, mental health, the arts and services for the developmentally impaired, Arnesen said.

I havent seen her fight yet. Does she have a spine or is she more malleable? Arnesen said.

Kelly has always been in the shadow. She was in the shadow of (late Sen.) John McCain in the Senate. She was in the shadow of Chris Sununu during this campaign, Arnesen said.

Were soon going to see the real Kelly Ayotte and see if she can stand up to those in her own party who want to do less when we need to do more.

Two decades ago, Republican strategist Mike Dennehy was a campaign director for then-Gov. Craig Benson while a young Ayotte became Bensons legal counsel.

Fair or not, she will be judged on whether she can put together a compromise state budget that enough people will be satisfied with that meets the needs of our state. I happen to think her experience in the U.S. Senate will help make her an excellent governor, Dennehy said.

Already failed?

To no ones surprise, Ayottes top political adversaries  Democratic Party Chairman Raymond Buckley and progressive advocacy group Amplify NH Executive Director Ryan Mahoney  have decided Ayotte has already failed the test.

Absent Kelly Ayottes first 100 days have been a complete and utter failure. Buckley said. Shes silent as Trumps tariffs threaten to shutter small businesses and derail the economy. Shes missing in action while Trumps federal funding cuts put our food pantries, family planning organizations, and public safety at risk.

Mahoney echoed, In just 100 days, Kelly Ayotte has handed Granite Staters higher prices, looming tax hikes, and silence when it mattered most. While families pay more at the grocery store, on housing, and in property taxes, Ayottes failed to deliver results and has been absent when New Hampshire needs strong leadership.

But Senate Democratic Leader Rebecca Perkins Kwoka of Portsmouth said shes liked some of what shes seen.

We have been able to sit down, and I appreciate that access to offer my views on things, Perkins Kwoka said.

I also happen to think shes got a very difficult job over the next two months to make sure the healthy economy we had continues and that some of these devastating cuts made to the House budget can be restored. On those fronts, Im hopeful we can work together.

Working on relaxing

Ayotte said shes still working on how to take time out from the job (Its intense, she said). One outlet is her workouts at Orangetheory, a gym known for its high-intensity, heart-pumping training classes.

Then theres Thunder, the Belgian Malinois puppy that her husband, Joe Daley, brought home after aggressively outbidding the field at a charity auction last summer.

That puppy makes you move, Ayotte said. If you have had a bad day, he helps you put it in the rear view.

Dad is the lead with Thunder, but there are times he wants Mom to rub the belly  its a great stress relief.

Ayotte has probably heard the whispers of some State House veterans who question surrounding herself with a staff that has little previous experience under the Golden Dome.

I am surrounded by an incredible group of people who are hardworking, loyal, committed and determined to stop at nothing to help make things better, Ayotte said.

This can mean looking out for one another, as when Ayotte insisted Communications Director Caroline Hawkes take a trip to London with her mother this weekend after routinely logging 80-hour weeks on the campaign trail.

Its so important to have an esprit de corps among your staff, Ayotte said.

klandrigan@unionleader.com
A rural Arizona school board could revisit a decision to build a seminary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on a high school campus after frustration and anger from parents boiled over at a listening session.

That session on April 16 culminated in Vail School District Superintendent John Carruth indicating he would take the community's concerns to the district's board, which could decide to "walk it back."

"As soon as we heard that there was concern, we opened up to the public and said, 'Hey, come in, tell us what your concerns are,'" Carruth told The Arizona Republic. "And if we need to walk a decision back, we'll walk a decision back."

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About 60 parents and residents filled in a room at the Vail School District office to voice their concerns about a contract between the district and the church, widely known as the Mormon church. The contract would permit the construction of a 1,300-square-foot seminary on the campus of Cienega High School in Vail, a community southeast of Tucson.

The building would be owned and operated by the district as a community room space, but the district entered into a 10-year lease agreement with the church, and there would be an option to extend for another 9.5 years. Outside of the lease agreement giving the church use between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. on weekdays, the facility could be used for other school programs or community needs, according to district documents. The church would also pay the district a monthly fee for rental, utility, and maintenance costs.

Retired teachers, residents and parents of students and former students said they felt enraged, frustrated and disenfranchised with how the agreement with the church was carried out.

Carruth told them that while the agreement with the church has been signed, the district is "functionally in a paused state as far as moving forward with design or construction or any of the other things."

Vail School District offices on April 18, 2025.

Community concerned about the separation of church and state

Most people who spoke at the meeting said they were concerned about the separation of church and state in public schools.

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Retired teacher and librarian Diana Roche was one of those people.

I'm not against the church at all; it has nothing to do with that. It's this idea that it should not be on a school campus during school instruction time," she said.

Others agreed with Roche and said they would prefer if the religious instruction were offered outside of school hours.

Roche also pointed to a letter from the district's legal advisers, DeConcini McDonald Yetwein & Lacy. The letter was a response to a secular group's request for the district to cease and desist from moving forward with the agreement. It said that while the building will be on district property, the location of the future building is "essentially a dirt lot that is separate from the school itself."

Attendees said decision lacked transparency, worried it could cost taxpayers

Attendees asked Carruth why the agreement was not brought before the public before the school board voted to execute the contract in March.

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If you had had little breakout sessions about this little problem, before this all erupted, we feel like 13 years of this has been planned behind our backs, and now it's being snuck, Roche said, adding she felt deceived.

Carruth, who became superintendent in 2020, said that while informal conversations were happening on and off for 13 years, there was no definitive plan to move forward with the plan until seven or eight months ago. Once the proposal moved forward, it was placed on the agenda for discussion at public meetings posted on the districts website.

Parent Geraldine Kleber said many in the community were not aware of the agreement until she posted about it on Facebook.

That's the only way these people found out about it because it was posted on Facebook that this meeting occurred and that it's approved, Kleber said.

How will public funds be used for the seminary?

Vail residents asked Carruth how he could be sure no public funds would be used in any way, direct or indirect, for the building.

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He said the building's rent payments would cover all maintenance and operational costs.

Additionally, Carruth pointed to the letter from the DeConcini law firm, which says the church would contribute about $500,000 to construct the building. Once constructed, it would pay $500 per month for utilities and maintenance, and $100 per month for rent.

Others asked about how the district would pay to fight this issue if it were to land in court, and if public funds would be used then.

Although Carruth said the case has not gotten to that point, he pointed out that the district has prepaid legal services through the districts insurance group.

District will not vet seminary staff

Carruth assured the public that the agreement followed state and federal law.

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"I will simply say that we have received legal guidance and we've been engaged with a team of lawyers who've looked over this," Carruth said. "When this first came to our attention, the first question was: 'Is it legal ... is it a legal framework?' ... The answer is yes ... They laid out the framework for what that is, assured us."

The superintendent reiterated that students who want to attend the seminary can do so during their free period, but they will not be excused from their normal school schedule.

He also said the vetting of seminary staff will be the responsibility of the church, not the school district, a detail that raised concerns among attendees about the safety of students on campus.

Carruth indicated the church is very concerned and highly paying attention to the adults overseeing the seminary.

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Throughout the almost three-hour meeting, Carruth apologized to the public for how the agreement between the district and the LDS was pursued and executed. He said that he underestimated the public's concern.

He said he will bring back the concerns to the board, which is also engaging with the church and the district's legal advisers about how to proceed.

Carruth told The Republic people at the meeting raised concerns about "deception and malice," but he insisted the decision to bring the proposal forward was made with good intentions.

"I can tell you from the bottom of my heart that is not the reason that we're here, Carruth said. We entered into this  with the intent to provide something beneficial to the district and receive a free public good, and something that can provide a safer place for a group of young people to go.

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Despite the large number of people who showed up to oppose the lease agreement, he said a significant number of people support the proposal. But he said those people did not want to attend the meeting, knowing it might create some concerns and tension.

Reach the reporter at sarah.lapidus@gannett.com. The Republics coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at supportjournalism.azcentral.com.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Vail School District may walk back plan for Mormon seminary at school
(WJW)  More than 400 infant swings sold on Walmarts website were recalled on Friday because of a suffocation risk to babies, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced.

The COMEONROA-branded electric infant swings were marketed for babies to sleep in, but according to the CPSC, they have an incline angle greater than 10 degrees in violation of the Safe Sleep for Babies Act.

Also, the recalled swings do not include the mandatory warnings needed for products that contain button cell and coin batteries, the CPSC said.

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Summit, Stark counties set Easter weekend OVI checkpoints

The product, manufactured in China, was sold on Walmart.com from January 2024 through February 2025 for roughly $80.

COMEONROA Infant Swings (Courtesy of CPSC)

The blue space-themed swings have a black base with a touch-screen panel, a star and a moon hanging plush toys, a pillow, a seat cover and a mosquito net with canopy, according to the recall.

A label under the seat reads Model No.: S-Y608 and Baby cradle swing.

There have been no reported injuries related to this recall.

Lawyer from Russia returning for 2nd night of Jeopardy! on Friday

Anyone who purchased one of these swings should stop using it immediately and reach out to Eonroacoo for a refund.

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Customers are urged to take a picture of the swing and send it with the message Recalled by email to eonroacoorecall@126.com. Customers should then throw away the swing.

Learn more about this recall right here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
SUVA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Fiji Taxi Association is pushing for clear rules that allow drivers to refuse passengers when they feel unsafe, calling on the transport authority to take stronger action to safeguard drivers across the country.

Local media reported on Saturday that violence against taxi drivers in Fiji is on the rise. The report said several drivers have taken to social media in recent weeks, sharing stories of being attacked.

The recent rise in attacks has created fear among drivers and a policy must be introduced to hold passengers accountable for bad behaviour, said the association's General Secretary Ashwin Lal.

The association is calling for an open discussion and urgent changes. 
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield National Cemetery will host a ceremony on Tuesday to memorialize veterans who were interred at the cemetery over the past five months without known family.

The service is set to take place at 10 a.m. April 22, at the Bakersfield National Cemetery located at 30338 East Bear Mountain Boulevard, Arvin, according to a release by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs. The precise location will be in the committal shelter 1 ceremony area.

Family and friends gather at Bakersfield National Cemetery

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The ceremony will include a eulogy said by Pastor Ty Barksdale, live bagpipe music and full military honors by the Bakersfield U.S. Army Memorial Honor Detail, according to the release.

The military honors will include a rifle salute, the playing of Taps and presentation of the American flag, the release said.

The department invited the public to attend and stand in as family to honor the veterans at the ceremony. There is no restriction to the number of attendees.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
OAKLAND, California  Former Rep. Barbara Lee on Friday took a healthy lead in the close race to be Oaklands next mayor, but stopped short of declaring victory.

While former council member Loren Taylor jumped out ahead on election night, late-arriving ballots broke decisively for Lee, who called the updated results encouraging.

Taylor had not conceded the race as of Friday evening, and his campaign couldnt be immediately reached for comment after the vote update.

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Tuesdays special election against former council member Taylor, a moderate, was the culmination of a fraught year in Oakland politics, triggered by the November recall of former mayor Sheng Thao. Thao, who had been elected just two years earlier, was undone by an FBI investigation, but also struggled to address a business exodus, an enormous budget shortfall and crime concerns that led voters to recall their district attorney on the same day.

If she prevails, Lee will face a challenging path forward. While crime rates have dropped, polls show voters are deeply pessimistic about their deep-blue citys future. Oakland is facing both a short-term budget deficit and a long-term financial imbalance that will likely require painful cuts that could anger powerful interests like public sector unions that helped propel her into office.

I decided to run for Mayor knowing that Oakland is a deeply divided City  and I ran to unite our community, she said in a statement Friday.

When Lee first jumped into the race, coming off an unsuccessful Senate run last year, her victory looked like a foregone conclusion. She quickly piled up endorsements from unions, business leaders, former mayors and players on both sides of the recall  a show of force that reflected the stature she had accrued over years as a progressive stalwart in Congress.

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But the race tightened down the home stretch as Taylor countered Lees emphasis on unity by leaning into an outsiders message. He argued Lees broad establishment support demonstrated she would perpetuate the dysfunctional politics that had brought Oakland down. He outraised Lee and drew the support of wealthy donors who had also waded into the recalls.

Those dynamics reflected a broader moment in Bay Area politics as a new generation of candidates  often buoyed by deep-pocketed donors  have challenged progressive governance, channeling voter discontent with homelessness and property crime.
Former Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif.) was projected to win a special election to become the next mayor of Oakland, according to Decision Desk HQ, in what became a closer-than-expected race amid growing voter dissatisfaction over the direction of the city.

Lee won the nonpartisan ranked-choice election over a field of more than a half dozen candidates, with the most prominent being former City Council member Loren Taylor, who was the runner-up to now-former Mayor Sheng Thao (D) in the 2022 mayoral race and emerged as this elections dark-horse contender.

Taylor had the initial lead after the first batch of votes were tallied Tuesday night with 48.2 percent of the vote, about 1,200 votes ahead of Lee, who had 45.7 percent.

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But after more than 40,000 additional mail-in ballots yet to be counted were tallied and announced Friday, Lee went ahead of Taylor by about 5 points, or nearly 5,000 votes. That was just enough to win a majority in the initial round of vote counting before any additional rounds of tallying in the ranked choice system need to be conducted.

Oakland has been without a permanent mayor since November, when Thao was recalled from office in a first for the city with more than 60 percent of voters in favor of her ouster. She was elected narrowly in 2022 to become the first Hmong American woman to serve as mayor of a major American city, but tensions rose under her mayoralty as she faced scrutiny over her handling of crime and law enforcement and her personal conduct.

The crime rate spiked particularly high in Oakland during the COVID-19 pandemic and remained higher than most other cities in the years in which many Americans began to resume normal activities. Homicides remained high while robberies and burglaries experienced a sharp rise in 2023, the first year of Thaos administration.

Crime appeared to be dropping in 2024 ahead of the election, but Thao also faced backlash over poor relations with the police union and missing a deadline to apply for a grant that would have given the city millions to address retail theft.

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A personal controversy also surrounded Thao after the FBI conducted a raid on her home in June, not commenting at the time on its purpose. Months after leaving office, Thao was indicted in January on bribery, conspiracy and mail and wire fraud charges, accusing her of conspiring with others to give business from the city to two businessmen in exchange for financial benefits.

Thao has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.

Lees victory was initially expected to be virtually ensured for the long-time former House member, who chose not to run for reelection last year for an unsuccessful bid for Senate, which she lost in the primary. She also had the endorsements of several notable local and state political figures, including interim Mayor Kevin Jenkins, former California Gov. Jerry Brown and former Mayors Libby Schaaf, Jean Quan and Elihu Harris.

Brown also previously served as Oakland mayor.

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But the race became increasingly competitive as the election approached, with two polls commissioned by Taylors campaign and a group supporting his campaign showing a tight race last month. Taylor also touted endorsements from some less high-profile but still influential figures, including San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan and former City Council President Pat Kernighan.

The race became a bit of a proxy battle of sorts within the Democratic Party with Lee as the long-time progressive leader and the choice of many establishment leaders and Taylor running on a more moderate platform and positioning himself as an outsider who would bring change to the city.

Lees website states that her priorities as mayor will be a public safety plan to ensure residents feel safe, providing unhoused people with housing and mental health and addiction services and improving the citys ethics regulations.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Markus Soder, Bavarian Prime Minister and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU), has said that future Chancellor Friedrich Merz will decide on the possible delivery of long-range Taurus missiles to Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; n-tv, a German TV news channel

Quote from Markus Soder: "It will be up to the new chancellor to decide [on delivery of Taurus missiles]."

Details: However, the Bavarian PM pointed to the limited resources of the German Air Force.

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"However, foremost, we need as many Taurus missiles for ourselves as possible," Soder said.

Soder called the Taurus missiles "the best weapon we have" and added that "even the Russians respect it".

Meanwhile, Lars Klingbeil, the co-head of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, insists that the CDU/CSU-SPD coalition will make a joint decision on Taurus for Ukraine.

Background:

Friedrich Merz himself has recently declared his readiness to provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles, subject to agreement with European partners.

The Kremlin criticised Merz over his readiness to provide Ukraine with Taurus long-range missiles.

The German conservatives are counting on a joint decision on Taurus with Scholz's party.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!
Markus Soder, the premier of Bavaria and one of Germany's most powerful conservative politicians, said a nationwide hourly minimum wage of 15 ($17) in 2026 is within reach.

The leader of the Bavaria-only Christian Social Union (CSU) said in an interview with Augsburger Allgemeine newspaper that he would back the work of a commission looking at the issue.

"The amount will be set by an independent commission, but 15 seems achievable," he said in the interview published on Saturday.

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Soder was a key player in recent coalition negogiations that put conservative politician Friedrich Merz on track to become chancellor in early May.

He noted that the coalition agreement struck between the CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats clearly states that the commission will continue to set the rate, which is currently 12.82 per hour.

Still, Merz recently suggested the 15 target may not be reached until 2027.
On this Good Friday, the Benedictine Sisters of Erie remembered the suffering and passion of Jesus Christ.

Their goal was to bring tranquility and hope to immigrants who are living in fear of deportation or of separation from family.

Shawn Giles loved ones inviting public to light up the town red for fallen firefighters

It was a day to reflect, slow down, and focus on the suffering of Jesus Christ. The Benedictines for Peace marked their 45th year of their Good Friday pilgrimage.

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The Benedictines, along with other concerned individuals, gathered to bring awareness to not only Jesus journey but also those who are suffering in todays society.

This year, their theme was The way of the cross; the way of the migrant.

Were really trying to open our eyes and our hearts to the suffering of immigrants nationally, but also those living in fear in our own communities, said Anne McCarthy, coordinator for Benedictines for Peace.

Longtime Erie jeweler Les Crago Jewelers retiring their business after 75 years

The pilgrimage started at St. Peter Cathedral, where the Benedictines and Bishop Lawrence Persico led a ceremony with song and reenactment. Then they began their silent walk.

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Organizers chose seven locations in downtown Erie to stop and pray that have a significant connection to their theme. One location was at Emmaus Grove.

Were stopping at St. Benedicine Education Center, who work with some of our community partners that are supporting refugees whose funding has suddenly been cut, McCarthy explained. Were stopping at Gannon, where six students where suddenly their visas revoked for no reason.

McCarthy said that even after 45 years, they continue to have an overwhelming amount of support from the community.

Gannon students file lawsuit over revoked visas, terminated records

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Let it break into our hearts and hopefully let it change our actions so that we can do what we can to protect them and advocate for them and really change our society, she went on to say.

Participants were then invited to the Mount Saint Benedict for a Good Friday service.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
BENTON, Ark.  Police in Benton are on the scene of an incident just off Interstate 30.

The Benton Police Department said officers responded to Macs Minnows and More in the 15900 block of North Service Road around 7:45 p.m. in reference to a disturbance between two people.

When they arrived, officers said they found a man dead.

Authorities said there is no threat to the public because of the incident.

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No suspect information has been released at this time.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-776-5947 or 501-778-1171 after hours.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KARK.
NEW BERN, N.C. (WNCT)  The New Bern area Shriners hosted the 58th Annual Fish Fry event on Friday, Apr. 18, 2025.

This event is to help fundraise for the Shriners Hospital in Greenville, South Carolina, which is their largest Orthopedic Hosptial in the southeast.

Were hoping to raise somewhere around $35,000. Thats after all of our expenses, Chairman of the 58th Annual Fish Fry, Cleve Woolard said. So that $35,000 goes directly to the hospital. And we have a road runners unit here that transports the patient from their home to the hospital. Dont cost them anything.

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This event took place at three different locations, the New Bern Shrine on Glenburnie Rd., the Burger King on Neuse Boulevard and Glenburnie Rd., and the intersection of Hwy 306 and Hwy 55 in Grantsboro.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WNCT.
City Engineer Luke Thoele informed the Effingham city council on Tuesday that bids will open on April 29 for several city projects, such as street resurfacing, sidewalk replacements, pavement patching and crack sealing.

Bids will also open on April 24 for the Santa Maria Extension project, which includes a half mile of street, water and sewer.

The streets being resurfaced are Circle Drive, Temple Avenue from Willow to Healy, Minnie Hills Drive, Lustig Lane and Steger Drive.

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That sidewalk replacement program is a huge asset and component in reducing liability costs for the city big time, and when you dont have that done on a regular basis, youd be amazed at how many more trips youll have in a potential liability claim for the city, said Deputy City Administrator Dennis Presley. Its all critical, and I think a lot of people dont realize how all that is critical and what it means directly to the residents.

This is great because there is a homeowner out there that is in dire need of a new sanitary sewer right now, said City Administrator Steve Miller. This is going to help fix some of that stuff. Its a big deal if youre in that block.

Public Works Director Jeremy Heuerman presented the low bid of $96,195 from Illinois Meter Company Utility Supply to replace the water main on West Jefferson from Maple Street to Oak Street. The work will be performed by the water department, and the materials will be paid for with the water funds.

Heuerman also announced the city was awarded about $19,000 from the Illinois Department of Transportation for a truck access route program to extend McGrath Avenue. This grant along with the other $960,000 in grant money will help the project move along.

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We could extend the roadway about 1,100 feet out there almost entirely by grant funding, said Heuerman. So thats almost zero tax dollars that would be used for this.

In other news, Tourism Director Jodi Thoele requested street closures for Fourth of July fireworks at Effingham High School. Thoele asked for the street closures of West Grove Avenue at Rainey Street, West Grove Avenue at Schwerman Street and Schwerman Street at Route 40 from approximately noon to 10:30 p.m. Thoele said theyll be working closely with the Effingham Police Department since theyve had issues previously with people attempting to go through their barricades.

Thoele also requested street closures for Outdoor Movie Nights on Friday, June 20 and Saturday June 21, hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Business Group. For June 20, she requested Jefferson Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street be closed from approximately 6:30 p.m. to 11 p.m., and for June 21, she requested Jefferson Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street, Washington Avenue from Third Street to Fourth Street and Fourth Street from Washington Avenue to Jefferson Avenue from approximately the same time.

Effingham Noon Rotary Club member Amanda McKay requested $20,000 from the citys tourism fund to help fund the citys Fourth of July fireworks, while the Club will raise the remaining $7,000.

The next Effingham City Council meeting is scheduled for May 6 at 5 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at an advance polling station in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, April 18, 2025. Canada's federal election advance polls opened on Friday, giving voters several days to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on April 28. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

OTTAWA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Canada's federal election advance polls opened on Friday, giving voters several days to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on April 28.

Canadians stood in long lineups in cities across the country. According to social media accounts, there was an hour-long wait to vote at many advance polling stations.

"There's high interest across the country and it's busy at a number of the polls," said Elections Canada spokesperson Dugald Maudsley, as reported by CBC News.

A high turnout on the first day of advance polling doesn't necessarily mean there will be a high overall turnout, but many signs are pointing in that direction, said Maudsley.

According to local media, Elections Canada said more than 130,000 Canadians have already voted by special ballot, more than double the number cast at the same point in the 2021 election. The agency issues special ballots to Canadians who don't want to wait until election day or for advance polls.

Nearly 5 million people voted at advance polls in the 2019 election, and 5.8 million did so in the 2021 campaign. Voter turnout was 67 percent in 2019 and 62.2 percent in 2021. 

Voters wait in line to cast their ballots at an advance polling station in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, April 18, 2025.

Canada's federal election advance polls opened on Friday, giving voters several days to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on April 28. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)

Voters cast their ballots at an advance polling station in Richmond, British Columbia, Canada, April 18, 2025.

Canada's federal election advance polls opened on Friday, giving voters several days to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on April 28. (Photo by Liang Sen/Xinhua)
Bacon is a big deal in the U.S. In fact, in 2020, research suggests that more than 268 million Americans consumed bacon in some format. The cut of processed meat is popular for a few reasons  it's a little sweet, pretty salty, and it's pleasantly crispy, too. It's also incredibly versatile. It can be fried or baked, served with eggs or grilled cheese, wrapped around chicken or scallops, or slapped in a cheeseburger.

But like many foods, bacon has some drawbacks. For one, it's processed meat, which means it comes with some serious health risks. According to the World Health Organization, it's a Group 1 carcinogen, which means it is known to cause cancer. On top of this, bacon products have also been caught up in a few major recalls over the years. Sometimes, bacon products are pulled from the market because they contain undeclared allergens, for example. Other items, it's because they contain metal, plastic, or even small rocks. On rare occasions, it's due to a risk of deadly foodborne bacteria making its way into the food supply.

But don't worry. If you're concerned about the safety of your bacon products, the Food Safety and Investigation Service (FSIS) is often quick to recall products from the market if they pose a risk. Intrigued? Find out more about some of the biggest bacon product recalls of the last few decades below.

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Read more: Beef Jerky Brands Ranked From Worst To Best

More Than 489,000 Pounds Of Sausage And Bacon Breakfast Sandwiches Recalled Due To Undeclared Sesame (2025)

breakfast sandwich on board - Lauripatterson/Getty Images

Breakfast sandwiches are a go-to for many Americans. In fact, research suggests that when it comes to the first meal of the day, around 45% of people in the U.S. say that a breakfast sandwich, usually loaded with ingredients like eggs, bacon, and sausages, is one of their favorites. But sometimes, unfortunately, things go wrong with prepackaged breakfast sandwiches. At the beginning of April 2025, Utah-based manufacturer Hearthside Food Solutions had to issue a recall for more than 489,000 pounds of breakfast sandwiches because they contained undeclared sesame, a common allergen.

Two types of prepared sandwiches were implicated in the recall, and both were sold under the Lettieri's brand. They were: Lettieri's Food to Go Bacon, Egg and Cheese French Toast Breakfast Sandwich, and Lettieri's Food to Go Sausage, Egg and Cheese French Toast Breakfast Sandwich. The issue was linked to the French toast used in the bacon and sausage sandwiches, which contained sesame flour, but this was not listed in the ingredients.

At the time of the recall, the sandwiches had already been sent to Army and Air Force Exchange Services across the U.S. Luckily, despite the fact that sesame is in the top nine most common allergens in the U.S., no reactions were reported as a result of the labeling error.

Custom Made Meals Recalled More Than 1,300 Pounds Of Bacon-Wrapped Chicken Due To Undeclared Milk (2023)

pile of bacon-wrapped chicken - Aritz Tabuyo Santos/Shutterstock

Sesame isn't the only allergen that can sneak its way into bacon products. In 2023, Custom Made Meals, a manufacturer based in Colorado, had to recall more than 1,300 pounds of bacon-wrapped chicken breasts because they contained undeclared milk. This means they were a health risk to anyone in the U.S. with an allergy to cow's milk. Research suggests that almost 2% of American children suffer from a milk allergy.

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In this instance, the problem was due to a labeling mix-up. The products, which were Bacon-Wrapped BBQ Seasoned Chicken Grillers, had been packaged with the wrong labels. This meant that the ingredients list on the back of the product was incorrect. Luckily, nobody reported any allergic reactions as a result of eating the bacon-wrapped chicken, even though it had already been sent to retailers in Alabama, Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, Georgia, and Missouri.

Smithfield Recalled More Than 185,600 Pounds Of Bacon Toppings Due To Fears Over Metal Contamination (2022)

bacon and bacon crumbles - Teri Virbickis/Shutterstock

Bacon bits are often used in everything from creamy pasta dishes to hearty soups, but one thing you definitely don't want to discover in your bacon dinner is a piece of metal. Unfortunately, that's what happened to one person after they purchased a bacon topping produced by the meat giant Smithfield. After they sent a complaint to the company, Smithfield was forced to recall more than 185,600 pounds of bacon topping (which had already been sent to retailers nationwide).

The affected products included Golden Crisp Patrick Cudahy Precooked Bacon Topping, Smithfield Precooked Bacon Topping, and Member's Mark Fully Cooked Bacon Crumbles. Luckily, nobody was injured by any metal pieces, which may have found their way into the product via broken machinery in the factory where it was produced. If a person accidentally bites down on a piece of metal, they could end up with oral or teeth injuries. If they swallow it, they could even end up with internal cuts.

In an abundance of caution, the FSIS urged anyone who had already bought any of the bacon products listed in the recall not to consume them. Instead, they were encouraged to throw them away or return them to the store for a refund.

More Than 246,000 Pounds Of Frozen Bacon Breakfast Wraps Over Concerns They Contained Small Rocks (2019)

El Monterey Egg, Potato, Bacon and Cheese Sauce Breakfast Wraps packet - Instacart

Another thing you don't want in your favorite bacon product? Small rocks. But unfortunately, in 2019, three El Monterey customers were not spared from this reality. The consumers had purchased the brand's Egg, Potato, Bacon and Cheese Sauce Breakfast Wraps, but were surprised to discover small rocks inside. One person even reported a potential injury as a result of consuming the breakfast wraps. As a result, the manufacturer of the wraps, Ruiz Foods, recalled more than 246,000 pounds of the product from shelves across the U.S.

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It was unknown exactly how the small rocks found their way into the breakfast wraps, but it could have been due to contamination in the factory where they were produced. Once again, like metal, eating a small rock by accident can cause serious harm. It's a choking hazard, for one, and it could also cause dental, mouth, or internal injuries. Fortunately, there were no further reports of any injuries associated with the El Monterey wraps.

Les Chateaux De France Recalled More Than 4,200 Pounds Of Bacon-Wrapped Scallops Due To Undeclared Milk (2017)

plate of bacon-wrapped scallops - Foodgraphy39/Shutterstock

Scallops are a popular seafood in the U.S. They can be prepared in many ways, from Alfredo pasta to frutti de mare, but they are also frequently enjoyed wrapped in bacon. However, in 2017, consumers were put at risk from this favorite seafood dish, when New York brand Les Chateaux De France sent more than 4,200 pounds of bacon-wrapped scallops to institutional locations in five states (New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Florida, and Pennsylvania) that contained undeclared milk. As mentioned earlier, this was a major risk, because milk is one of the top nine allergens in the U.S.

The problem was discovered during an FSIS food safety assessment, and it was this that prompted the recall. Fortunately, there were no confirmed allergic reactions to the bacon-wrapped scallops. However, anyone who was concerned was urged to not consume the product.

McCain Foods Recalled More Than 25,200 Pounds Of Bacon Fritters Due To Potential Plastic Contamination (2016)

McCain bacon fritters - TC Penguin Nation / Facebook

Nobody wants a foreign object in their food, but unfortunately, it does happen. Metal and small rocks are two examples of common unwanted materials in the food supply, but neither are as common as plastic fragments. In fact, plastic pieces are the most common foreign object that people find in their food. The material, which, again, often finds its way into products during the manufacturing process, was the cause of a 2016 McCain Foods recall.

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The brand was forced to pull more than 25,200 pounds of its McCain Early Risers Potato, Egg, Cheese, and Bacon Fritters. The products that are made for schools were recalled from food service distributors in 12 states after receiving a complaint from a consumer who had discovered a piece of plastic inside one of the fritters. Accidentally consuming plastic fragments comes with many risks, including choking and cuts. Luckily, nobody reported any injuries as a result of consuming the fritters.

Kraft Heinz Recalled More Than 2 Million Pounds Of Turkey Bacon Due To Fears It Could Spoil Before The Use-By Date (2015)

slices of turkey bacon - Big Joe/Getty Images

Turkey bacon is often considered to be the healthier alternative to pork bacon, but it still comes with its own set of risks. It's still made with potentially harmful preservatives, for example, and it contains sodium and cholesterol. It's also not immune from a recall. In 2015, for example, food giant Kraft Heinz had to recall more than 2 million pounds of turkey bacon sold under the Oscar Mayer brand due to fears the products could spoil before the best before date.

At the time of the recall, the products, which included uncured and cured bacon products from Oscar Mayer, had already been sent not just across the U.S., but also to retailers in the Bahamas and St. Martin. The issue was discovered by consumers, who realized the turkey bacon was spoiled before its best before date. Eating spoiled meat comes with a higher risk of foodborne illness, and unfortunately, in this instance, some people did get sick from eating the recalled product.

More Than 30,600 Pounds Of Bacon Bits Recalled Due To An Undeclared Allergen (2015)

pile of bacon bits - The Image Party/Shutterstock

As well as sesame and milk, soy is another top allergen in the U.S. Soy allergies are more common in children, but they do affect adults, too. In rare cases, products with soy could lead to life-threatening anaphylaxis if consumed by someone with an allergy. This is why, in 2015, Ohio company L&L Foods had to recall more than 30,600 pounds of bacon bits from manufacturers in Ohio and North Carolina. The products had been contaminated with soy lecithin, which is a food additive made from soy, during production. However, the allergen was not declared on the packaging.

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The uncured bacon bits were supposed to be used in salad kit products, but fortunately, the packaging error was discovered during an FSIS inspection of the L&L Foods product labels. There were no reports of any allergic reactions associated with the bacon bits.

DaBecca Natural Foods Recalled More Than 3,400 Pounds Of Apple Smoked Bacon Due To Misbranding (2014)

Close-up of smoked bacon - Yulia Naumenko/Getty Images

Not all packaging errors are associated with allergens. In 2014, Chicago-based company DaBecca Natural Foods had to recall more than 3,400 pounds of its Sliced Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon from institutional distributors in California and Texas. This was because the products were shipped out in packaging that did not have the USDA mark of inspection on the label.

The USDA mark of inspection is important  its purpose is to assure consumers that the meat product they are consuming has been thoroughly inspected and is safe to eat. For that reason, it should always be easy to find on product packaging. If a meat product is not appropriately inspected, there is no guarantee that it was produced in a safe, hygienic facility.

The packaging error was discovered during an FSIS inspection of the DaBecca Natural Foods facility. There were no reports of any health issues associated with the misbranded products.

More Than 80,000 Pounds Of Hickory Smoked Sliced Bacon Recalled Due To Misbranding (2014)

fried sliced bacon - Yendi08/Shutterstock

Sodium nitrite is a common food preservative, often found in meat products. It's used to help the food last longer, and reduce the growth of bacteria, like Clostridium botulinum, for example (which is the cause of botulism, a serious foodborne illness). On top of this, in bacon, it can also help to enhance taste and color. It's not without risks  sodium nitrite is also associated with an increased risk of cancer and heart disease.

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It's vital that foods with sodium nitrite are labeled accurately, so consumers can make informed decisions. In 2014, Abe's Finest Meats was forced to recall more than 80,000 pounds of hickory smoked sliced bacon, sold under the Cedar Creek brand name, because sodium nitrite was not listed on the packaging. At the time of the recall, the sliced bacon products had already been sent to distributors in two states: Florida and Georgia. There were no consumer health complaints associated with the recall.

More Than 3,600 Pounds Of Slab Bacon Recalled Due To An Undeclared Allergen (2014)

smoked slab bacon on a board - Fudio/Getty Images

In 2014, Michigan company Dearborn Sausage also had to issue a recall after a routine assessment conducted by the FSIS. As with L&L Foods, a packaging error meant that one of its products, Randy's Slab Bacon, had been sold with the wrong labeling. This meant that soy, an allergen, was not declared on the product, and resulted in a recall of more than 3,600 pounds of product.

Fortunately, the issue was only related to one retailer, which was selling the same product from Dearborn Sausage as both slab bacon and sliced bacon. The sliced bacon version had the wrong label, and did not appropriately list hydrolyzed soy protein, which is a common food additive derived from soybeans. There were no reports of ill effects or allergic reactions associated with the mislabeled bacon, but anyone who was concerned about experiencing any health-related problems was urged to contact their healthcare provider.

Transatlantic Foods Recalled Around 220,000 Pounds Of Pork And Chicken Products, Including Multiple Uncured Bacon Products, Due To A Lack Of Inspection (2014)

bacon sizzling in a pan - Douglas Sacha/Getty Images

The FSIS is in place to keep the food system as safe as possible. Every facility that processes animal products, including bacon, needs to be inspected to ensure that regulations are followed properly, and food products are produced in hygienic, clean environments. However, sometimes, brands slip through the net. This is what happened in 2014, when New York company Transatlantic Foods shipped more than 220,000 pounds of meat products, including uncured bacon, to retailers across the country without the appropriate inspections taking place.

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After receiving an anonymous tip, the FSIS discovered that Transatlantic Foods was manufacturing products in a facility that did not have an official Grant of Inspection. This means that consumers were at risk of potentially eating meat produced in an unsafe environment. Fortunately, a recall was issued, and there were no reports of illness associated with the uninspected products.

Around 37,600 Pounds Of Bacon Cheeseburgers Recalled Due To Foreign Material Contamination (2012)

Close-up of sam's choice bacon and cheese beef patties - Mix Content Channel / YouTube

There are three things you want in a bacon cheeseburger: bacon, beef, and cheese. One thing you certainly don't want? A piece of gasket. Unfortunately for one consumer, this is what they found when they opened up a pack of Sam's Choice Fireside Gourmet Angus Beef Patties with Bacon and Aged Cheddar. The products had been produced by Kenosha Beef International, a Wisconsin-based company, and the gasket piece likely broke off during manufacturing and embedded itself in the product.

Fortunately, the consumer did not experience any injuries as a result of the contamination, and there were no reports of anyone else finding any foreign objects in the products. However, to be on the safe side, a recall was issued for more than 37,600 pounds of bacon cheeseburgers, which had already been shipped to Indiana, Maine, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, and Wisconsin.

Around 380,000 Pounds Of Diced Bacon Recalled Amid Listeria Concerns (2011)

Close-up of diced bacon - Frank Nagel/Shutterstock

Regular inspections are carried out by the FSIS to stop foodborne bacteria from contaminating the food supply and causing dangerous outbreaks of foodborne diseases. However, sometimes, they still get through. In 2011, routine testing at a Canadian facility, operated by a company called Ailments Prince, discovered listeria, a harmful foodborne bacteria. Unfortunately, bacon products produced at this facility, including Napoli Cooked Bacon Topping and Stefano Brand Cooked Diced Bacon, had already been shipped to distribution centers in the U.S.

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The affected products were supposed to be sent on to foodservice locations, but the discovery resulted in a recall of more than 380,000 pounds of bacon products. Fortunately, while listeria bacteria can lead to an illness called listeriosis (which can be life-threatening for vulnerable individuals, particularly the elderly and the very young), there were no reports of health problems associated with the recalled products.

Read the original article on Mashed.
Bill Clinton, who was president at the time of the OKC bombing in 1995, spoke highly of Oklahoma's resilience, known today as the "Oklahoma Standard."
EAST SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR-TV)  New York grocery stores may soon be offering a new item on their shelves  wine. The state Senate recently proposed a new bill that could soon allow for the sale of wine in grocery stores across New York.

Under current law, the sale of wine in grocery stores is prohibited.

The bill, introduced by State Senator George Borrello (R-57), will allow for wine to be sold in grocery stores, but there is one catch. The bill calls to allow only wines that have been produced in the state or made with ingredients produced or grown in New York.

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19 years of fermenting the perfect bottle right in house, Lakeland Winery owner, Andrew Watkins, has mastered 50 different wines in his small facility. However, Watkins says this new bill has him worried because he has 450 other competitors that could be fighting for a spot on the shelves.

How many different wineries can a grocery store handle with the shelf space? Probably only the biggest wineries could be sold in those grocery stores, I definitely wont be allowed in, Watkins said.

Already running a very thin margin, Watkins said he believes if this bill is passed, it could put small wineries and liquor stores like his underwater.

Theyre not going to go to our winery to buy it. They are not going to go to the liquor store to buy it. Theyre going to buy it there because it is the most convenient way to purchase it, Watkins said.

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Even I got Thousand Islands, youll see a lot more of just those ones in grocery stores, compared to seeing a couple more of the oddball tinier wineries and it might even hurt them and we might end up having less wineries in New York State, Noah Curtis, manager at Pascales Liquor Square said.

With the possibility of a slim selection, some are arguing that this might not be as convenient as you think.

Maybe not what youre looking for, so youre still going to have to go to a second store either way and even that there, as of right now, there are more liquor stores in the area than there are grocery stores. So if it causes other liquor stores to close, youll see even less convenience, Curtis said.

The bill, as of Friday, is still in the State Senate committee. For the bill to pass, it would have to be passed by both the New York State Senate and the Assembly before heading to the Governors desk to be signed into law.

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Billy Long speaks during a press conference before filing for to be on the ballot in the Missouri GOP Senate primary on Feb. 22, 2022, in Jefferson City (Madeline Carter/Missouri Independent).

Former Missouri Congressman Billy Long received $137,000 in campaign contributions  just enough to pay off a personal loan to his campaign  soon after he was tapped to lead the Internal Revenue Service.

Some of the donations are connected to companies that will be policed by the agency Long has been nominated to run.

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According to recently filed financial disclosures, which were first reported on by the investigative journalism site The Lever, Long only raised roughly $36,000 in the last two years.

He was named as President Donald Trumps pick to lead the IRS in December, and in January received $137,000 in donations. He then paid back the remaining $130,000 in debt from a $250,000 loan he made to his unsuccessful 2022 U.S. Senate campaign.

The donations, and their timing, have renewed criticism of Longs appointment, which still awaits Senate confirmation. Senate Democrats have already called for a criminal investigation of firms with ties to Long that they allege are involved in fraudulent tax credit schemes.

Among the donors to Longs campaign are financial advisers from some of those firms.

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When they told Billy hed be in charge of revenue collection, did they forget to tell him that meant for the American people, not his own bank account? said Sean Nicholson, a longtime progressive activist and campaign consultant in Missouri.

Jordan Libowitz, vice president of communications for the liberal watchdog Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, said the timing of the donations and the explicit knowledge that theyd end up directly in Longs bank account, its hard to see them as anything other than an attempt to curry favor with the future head of the IRS.

Long did not respond to a request for comment.

After a career as an auctioneer and conservative radio host, Long served six terms representing a Southwest Missouri congressional district. He gave up his seat to run for U.S. Senate in 2022, losing in the GOP primary to now-Sen. Eric Schmitt.

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Long then worked for Lifetime Advisors and earned at least $5,000 in income from White River Energy. Both companies have drawn scorn from Senate Democrats, and intense media scrutiny, over their involvement in controversial tax credit programs.

In 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a limit on the amount of post-election funds a candidate can use to pay back personal loans. The majority found the limit an unconstitutional restriction on the freedom of speech, while the dissenting justices argued removing it would pave the way for political corruption.

Even if our broken campaign finance system allows this behavior, Libowitz said, it raises serious questions about future conflicts of interest and needs to be addressed in any hearings (Billy Long) has before Congress.
(WHTM)  4/20 is tomorrow, and a bipartisan bill was introduced to the State House earlier this week that would legalize adult-use cannabis in Pennsylvania.

The bill, introduced by Reps. Emily Kinkhead (D-20) and Abby Major (R-60), aims to establish a stable, well-regulated cannabis market that prioritizes public safety and public health, protects children from exposure, promotes social justice, and fosters economic opportunity.

According to the bills memo, Pennsylvania residents with medical needs have had access to cannabis through the states medical marijuana program, however, all but one of its neighboring states have legalized recreational adult-use cannabis.

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The memo says that when Ohio opened its cannabis market in 2023, a vast majority of its licenses were perched on Pennsylvanias border to capture Pennsylvania dollars. The memo asserts that in the first three months of operation, Ohio collected $15.5 million in tax revenue from legal recreational sales.

The memo says legalization of adult-use cannabis would not only boost local economies and create upwards of 30,000 new jobs, but also create a new revenue stream, allowing the state to reinvest in services like education, healthcare, and infrastructure. The bill also proposes ending the blanket criminalization of marijuana users, particularly in communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by cannabis-related arrests, while providing a robust pathway for those individuals and communities to participate in and benefit from the legal market.

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The memo adds that the bill aims to implement public health education to prevent misuse and avoid targeting children through responsible marketing and age verification measures.

The bill has not yet been submitted for introduction.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha, founder and director of the Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at Tufts University, speaks at the Massachusetts State House in Boston. Black maternal health advocates and researchers worry about federal funding cuts. (Courtesy of Birthlooms)

Before everything went black, Tamika Jackson felt like she was drowning. While in labor giving birth to her baby boy, her body felt heavy and her breaths shallow.

I cant breathe, she croaked to the anesthesiologist.

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If you couldnt breathe, you wouldnt be able to speak, she recalled the doctor telling her, dismissing her as having a panic attack.

Minutes later, the 37-year-olds lungs gave out. Her heart stopped beating.

Clinicians were able to resuscitate Jackson. Her baby boy was born via C-section, and the Michigan mom lived to tell her story of giving birth to Cree, whos turning 3 next month.

Jackson is now a maternal health organizer at Mothering Justice, a Michigan-based nonprofit. She spoke with Stateline while on a bus to the Michigan Capitol, where she participated in a Black Maternal Health Week panel and pushed for a legislative package  nicknamed the Michigan Momnibus  which aims to increase obstetric patient protections and improve care for moms of color.

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The Michigan Senate passed the package Thursday, and it now heads to the House.

Black moms like Jackson are three times more likely to die than white mothers and suffer higher rates of pregnancy-related complications.

But in its bid to eliminate federal diversity, equity and inclusion, or DEI, initiatives, the Trump administration has terminated community health grants and closed federal offices that support state efforts to tackle racial health disparities. Experts say the moves will hinder efforts to improve Black maternal health.

DEI is not about politics. Its about survival, Jackson said. This is about community-based solutions  and theyre undoing that.

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Jackson added that without federal dollars, Were going to be left trying to do a whole lot with a whole lot of nothing.

The Trump administration has cut grants for maternal health studies and research on health disparities in various populations, including patients of color and LGBTQ people. It has laid off most staff at the federal Division of Reproductive Health, and removed maternal health data from federal agency websites.

It also is considering cutting next years budget for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services from about $121 billion to about $80.4 billion, according to The New York Times. The administration plans to create a new Administration for a Healthy America, which would focus on maternal and child health, among other issues.

HHS and its National Institutes of Health did not return requests for comment in time for publication.

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DEI is not about politics. Its about survival.

 Tamika Jackson, Michigan mom and maternal health organizer at Mothering Justice

Researchers and advocates like Jackson say that amid the Trump administrations erasures, their work will continue.

Among those losing grants are nonprofits, health care systems and universities, including the Morehouse School of Medicine, a historically Black medical school in Atlanta, which received a $2.96 million grant for a center to improve the health of Black pregnant and postpartum women. Georgia has one of the highest maternal mortality rates in the nation.

We are reviewing the situation to assess how it may affect our research, a Morehouse spokesperson wrote in an email. More broadly, it is important that we all recognize the critical role medical research plays in developing potential life-saving innovation that will mitigate disease and improve the health and well-being of many people.

Tamika Jackson holds her baby boy Cree after regaining consciousness following a traumatic birth. (Courtesy of Tamika Jackson)

The Morehouse center was selected among an initial 10 research centers funded under the NIHs Maternal health and Pregnancy Outcomes Vision for Everyone, or IMPROVE, Initiative.

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Columbia University and community groups throughout New York also received the grants. One goal was to connect postpartum moms with doulas to detect conditions such as postpartum preeclampsia, according to principal investigator Dr. Uma Reddy, a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Columbia. Reddy said the grant was developed with communities who voiced their needs.

We can actually prevent these deaths and these serious complications, Reddy said. This is a way to focus on a high-risk population and provide them with the resources that they dont have available.

Tufts University maternal health scholar Ndidiamaka Amutah-Onukagha said shes had several meetings in Washington, D.C., get canceled, and while shes thankful to have almost completed one federal grant project, theres uncertainty about other grants shes applied for, including a Black postpartum support research initiative.

The professor runs the Maternal Outcomes for Translational Health Equity Research (MOTHER) Lab and Center for Black Maternal Health and Reproductive Justice at the Tufts University School of Medicine.

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It not only stalls progress, but it actually actively endangers the most vulnerable among us, she said. These policy decisions can cause and will cause lasting harm to people who are already underserved by our health care system.

Amutah-Onukagha said she is urging researchers and advocates to have cautious optimism.

Most people are in the space of gloom and doom. I do get that, and Im vastly in and out of that, she said. But because of the work that I do in maternal health, we have to remain optimistic. That lens cannot die. If it does, then the communities that we serve are going to be even more disadvantaged.

Amutah-Onukagha, who recently testified before the Massachusetts Joint Committee on Public Health, said her team will continue to work with organizations around the state, such as Birth Equity & Justice Massachusetts and Resilient Sisterhood Project.

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Were stronger in numbers, she said.

Diana Greene Foster, research director in reproductive health at the University of California, San Francisco, conducted the seminal Turnaway Study documenting the harms women suffer from abortion denials.

She was in the middle of another study, funded by a federal grant, tracking post-Roe abortions and the efficacy of health exceptions in abortion ban laws. Her team was interviewing emergency room doctors about whether they could provide abortions amid major pregnancy complications such as eclampsia, a serious consequence of preeclampsia, which is a dangerous form of high blood pressure that disproportionately affects Black mothers.

The administration pulled her grant.

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Foster, who is fundraising to continue her study, said she feels the administrations actions send a message of turning their back on science, on compassion, on caring about women.

Tina Sherman, a doula and national director of maternal justice at MomsRising, a nonpartisan women and mothers advocacy group, said she worries about data the administration has removed, including the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System.

The surveillance system is a comprehensive tool states use to track maternal health and formulate policies to improve it.

An attempt to erase the data, said Sherman, doesnt erase the harm that has been done and creates additional harm.

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Without data, states cant target where resources are needed and which communities are disproportionately harmed and how, said Sherman, who co-chairs the North Carolina Maternal Mortality Review Committee.

Were going to be going backwards, she said.

The Trump administration also canceled several grants focused on intimate partner violence, a leading cause of pregnancy-associated death which disproportionately affects people of color.

One such grant was supporting a University of North Carolina project studying intimate partner violence against pregnant women shortly before they give birth.

The issues remain. The urgency is pressing as it ever was. The reality is this: Black mothers and birthing people continue to carry the weight of a crisis that we did not create, Amutah-Onukagha said. We did not create it, but we are leading the fight to solve it and dismantle it, and we know that the systemic barriers existed before this administration.

They will continue to show up  but we will also continue to produce cutting-edge research here at the center.

Stateline reporter Nada Hassanein can be reached at nhassanein@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Apr. 18MORGANTOWN  MORGANTOWNThe need and the funding for food programs are heading in opposite directions according to one local official.

"This is really not a political issue, " Tom Bloom said. "This is common sense. Of all the programs to cut, why would you cut the most essential program in the state, the countryfeeding kids and feeding families ?

Bloom, a Monongalia County Commissioner and executive director of the nonprofit Pantry Plus More food program, posed the question during a recent discussion with The Dominion Post.

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He can foresee a looming disaster.

He got a sneak peek last weekend, when the number of people who showed up to the Mountaineer Food Bank's weekly food giveaway was as high as eversome 306 familiesbut the food available was a fraction of the typical amount.

PPM runs the giveaways and supplements the food on offer using donations, including items provided by local businesses, like Kroger, Walmart and Panera.

"Today, we received four pallets of food from MFB ... normally we receive 10 pallets, " he wrote in a social media post following the event.

He would later explain the food provided consisted of shelf stable items and didn't include any dairy or fresh produceboth staples in past deliveries.

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But the issue isn't with the Mountaineer Food Bank problemit's about funding.

Among the recent cuts in federal spending was more than $1 billion for local food programs, including Local Food Purchase Assistance, which allows the purchase of locally-grown food for schools and pantry programs, and the Emergency Food Assistance Program.

"We're working with Mountaineer Food Bank. They are pulling their hair out trying to see how they can continue to meet the needs. They are the middle man trying to get food out and I feel horribly for them, " Bloom said. "We're really concerned how we're going to meet the needs of people in West Virginia."

Bloom said the funding crisis was a main topic of discussion during a quarterly meeting of area pantries and feeding programs.

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He believes a significant portion of those pantries and programs won't exist this time next year if things continue on this trajectory.

"This is a huge story and it's nationwide. I do not understand why DOGE would be cutting such a needed program. It's not redundant and it's not wasteful. It's helping people make it. Most of the people who come to our programs are working. They have jobs but prices have gone up and they're having to make difficult decisions, " Bloom said. "The first couple times people come through, they're embarrassed, but it becomes a necessity."

One of the ideas being discussed is a coordinated effort to work with restaurants, event centers and stores to be able to retrieve prepared foodor food aging off of store shelvesand get it to a central location to be distributed quickly.

"Again, that will take time and energy, and probably a little bit of funding to get organized, but it may be something we need to look at. We're going to have to think out of the box because the need continues to be more and more, " Bloom said. "The crisis is here."

The Dominion Post reached out to representatives of the Mountaineer Food Bank, but did not hear back in time for this report.
A renovation project in a popular Cincinnati suburb started four years ago. It's finally ready for the public.

The city of Blue Ash announced a grand opening celebration for the renovated Towne Square in a community newsletter Friday.

According to the letter, the new Towne Square features a Veterans Memorial with a QR code to help people locate their memorial bricks, an expansive civic lawn, a multi-use pavilion and stage, a promenade seating area, various play areas, a dog park, restroom facilities, more parking and a Designated Outdoor Refreshment Area, also known as DORA.

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The square is located at the corner of Cooper and Hunt roads. City officials previously said the renovation will transform city-owned property into a "year-round hub of activity for residents and visitors alike."

Blue Ash will host weekly concerts at the square nearly every Friday between June 6 and Aug. 15.

The renovation has been in the works since 2021, when the city sought public input and residents voted on initial design concepts.

In 2023, Blue Ash City Council awarded a $9.1 million contract to Alpha Construction.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the completed project will take place at 9520 Towne Square Ave. on Saturday, May 3, between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. The celebration will include yard games, a DJ and a beer truck.

Lineup for weekly concerts held at Blue Ash Towne Square

The concert series is called "Park Pour Friday Concerts." The concerts will be held from 8 to 10 p.m.

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Check out the lineup below:

All concerts are held outdoors, rain or shine. In the event of inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances, the event staff will determine if the concert should be canceled.

Canceled concerts are not rescheduled or moved indoors. Cancelations will be posted in a pop-up alert on the homepage at blueashparksandrec.com.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Blue Ash renovation project that's taken four years is finally ready
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A body was found in a burning car on Furman University grounds, according to the Greenville County Coroners Office.

At approximately 9:30 a.m., the Travelers Rest Fire Department were called out to Duncan Chapel Road regarding a car fire on the campus of Furman University. After extinguishing the fire, officers report that a body was located inside the car.

The Greenville County Coroners Office were called out to identify the body. As of now, officials say that they are sill in the preliminary stages of investigation.

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The South Carolina Law Enforcement Division is currently heading the investigation.

7NEWS will continue to follow this story as more information is revealed.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  The Kansas City, Kansas Police Department confirmed on Friday that a body pulled from the Missouri River on Thursday has been positively identified as 39-year-old Brandon Anfinson.

Anfinsons family reported him missing from his home in the Argentine neighborhood of KCK on March 21.

KCKPD said since that time, law enforcement, family, friends and the community have conducted extensive searches of the area for him.

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On Thursday, Kansas City, Missouri Police and fire departments were called to 7808 E. Levee Road on a report of a body in the Missouri River. The body was positively identified as Anfinson earlier on Friday.

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KCKPD said the missing persons case has now become an active death investigation.

Anyone with information is asked to call the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
ULAN BATOR, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia has exported 72.3 tons of combed cashmere worth 8.5 million U.S. dollars in the first quarter of this year, official data released by the Mongolian Customs General Administration showed on Saturday.

The figure decreased by 55 percent compared with the same period of 2024, the data said.

Under the national campaign "White Gold," initiated by President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and implemented by the Mongolian government, a total of 198 billion tugriks (57.5 million U.S. dollars) are planned to be invested to increase the capacity of cashmere processing plants in the country.

As a result, by 2028, it is planned to increase the primary processing of cashmere in the domestic market to 100 percent, and the deep processing of cashmere to 40 percent.

According to the Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Light Industry of Mongolia, the country's cashmere export revenues are forecasted to reach approximately 700 million U.S. dollars.

Currently, there are about 50 enterprises operating in Mongolia with an installed capacity to process 119,000 tons of combed cashmere. 
BOSSIER PARISH, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Teachers in one north Louisiana school district can expect a pay raise.

The Bossier Parish School Board approved a $2,500 increase to base teacher salaries, coupled with a 4.75% increase for support personnel during their meeting Thursday night. The money comes from restructuring property millages, an increase in sales taxes, and a slight reduction in the retirement rate for the Louisiana School Employees Retirement System.

The board credited Chief Financial Officer Neesha Bamburg with helping make this raise possible without funds from the state or new property taxes. It is the largest pay raise in Bossier school history.

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This is long overdue and overly deserved for each one of you. I want to thank Neesha, Mr. Rowland, and the committee for going above and beyond even beyond our expectations for this raise for yall, said Erick Falting, Bossier Parish School Board District 12.

Also during the meeting, the school board passed a measure to follow a state mandate previously made by Superintendent Cade Brumley banning any courses related to DEI. The deadline for school districts across the state is Monday.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Bakersfield Police Department asked the community to assist in identifying a man suspected of burglary on Panama Street in March.

On March 16, the suspect forced entry into a business in the 4700 block of Panama Street, according to BPD.

He then forced his way through a wall into neighboring business  a smoke shop named Smokey Solution  and stole multiple items, police said.

BPD described the suspect as a man wearing a black beanie, black surgical mask, green jacket, black shirt, black gloves, black pants and black shoes.

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BPD released surveillance footage in which the suspect can be seen going through the cash register of the business to steal money as well as other items at the counter.

Anyone with information regarding this investigation is encouraged to contact Detective K. Guinn at 661-326-3953 or BPD at 661-327-7111.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons, during a Kremlin meeting. The ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday until midnight Sunday, coinciding with Easter celebrations, according to the Kremlin. Russias Ministry of Defense said afterward that 246 Russian soldiers were also returned from Ukraine to Russia in exchange for 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war, describing the swap as a result of negotiati
Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan is speaking out to counter J.K. Rowlings transphobic stance.

On Wednesday, the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that transgender women are excluded from the legal definition of women. After the decision was made, Rowling shared a post on X, formerly Twitter, celebrating the outcome. In the image, shes seen on an oceanfront balcony, cigar in hand, with a glass of wine raised.

The caption read, I love it when a plan comes together. #SupremeCourt #WomensRights.

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Coughlan caught wind of it, and had a few choice words for the author. In a now-expired Instagram Story, the actor shared a Thursday article from The Cut headlined, This Is A New Low For J.K. Rowling.

J.K. Rowling celebrated a ruling by the U.K. Supreme Court excluding transgender women from the legal definition of "women." Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images

Coughlan wrote, Keep your new Harry Potter lads, in reference to HBOs upcoming revival of the series, which Rowling is deeply involved with. The Irish actor added that she wouldnt touch [the series] with a ten-foot pole.

The Derry Girls star continued her support for the LGBTQ+ community in a follow-up Instagram video, urging allies to show up now more than ever.

I am completely horrified by the Supreme Courts ruling yesterday about trans people, she said. To see an already marginalized community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach churning and disgusting.

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She went on to say it was even more stomach churning to see people actually celebrate the ruling, a comment clearly directed to Rowling.

Nicola Coughlan said it was "stomach churning" to see people celebrating the U.K. Supreme Court's anti-trans ruling. Rodin Eckenroth via Getty Images

Coughlan also announced that she would be starting a fund for the U.K.-based non-profit Not A Phase, a charity supporting trans individuals.

If you are a cisgender person who is an ally of a trans person, I think now is the time to just sort of speak up and make your voice heard, she said. Let your trans, nonbinary friends and just the community at large know that youre there for them and will keep fighting for them.

Related...
DENVER (KDVR)  A Broomfield man was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after being convicted of killing his wife while impersonating her ex-boyfriend and stalking her.

Daniel Krug was accused of killing his wife, Kristile Krug, after her body was discovered in the garage of their home in 2023.

Broomfield man guilty after killing wife, posing as ex-boyfriend stalking her

Kristile was contacted by who she thought was an ex-boyfriend through text message about hooking up while he was in town, making comments about her loser husband and that he was watching her.

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She was soon after found dead in the garage of her home.

The husband called the police and asked them to perform a welfare check because his wife was not returning his messages. They arrived at the home and found her body.

Daniel was arrested on Dec. 16, 2023, two days after his wife was found.

Investigators said they found inconsistencies with the case and did an IP address trace for the sent messages, which linked back to the workplace of Daniel.

According to Kristils mother, three cameras were installed in the home due to concerns about the stalking threats.

Police discovered that the cameras were not recording during the time of the killing, and the camera in the garage had tape covering the lens. Cameras from neighbors homes also showed that nobody unknown to the family entered the house in the hours leading up to the killing.

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The police also found that the burner phone used to send the text messages was purchased with a gift card registered to Daniel.

Lawsuits filed over student visa revocations in Colorado

The ex-boyfriend who had been purported to send the messages was an eight-hour drive away in Utah during the time of the killing, and police said he was not considered a suspect.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
An Easter Prayer

Freedom for Southern Cameroons

U.S. Southern Cameroonian Christians Ask Congress to Help Secure the Freedom of U.S. Citizen Austine Forka Ajua and Journalist Being Held Captive and Tortured by the Oppressive Cameroon Government

Friends-Of-Ambazonia.Squarespace.Com

NEWS PROVIDED BY

GCG Strategies, LLC

April 19, 2025

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2025 /Standard Newswire/ -- On the heels of the European Parliaments resolution demanding the release of imprisoned journalist by the oppressive Cameroon government, U. S. Southern Cameroonian Christians traveled to Capitol Hill on April 3rd asking for support in the following:

Recognition and restoration of the stolen Independence of the people of Southern Cameroons.



 For the Government of The Republic of Cameroon to withdraw her troops from Southern Cameroons and return to their boundaries at Independence on January 1960.



 For the Government of the Republic of Cameroon to stop extra Judiciary arrest of Southern Cameroonians who try to visit their homeland that is under occupation without being arrested and imprisoned. A recent case is that of U.S. citizen Fokar Ajua.



 The number of Southern Cameroonians locked up in French Cameroons prisons, Refugees scattered all over neighboring African Countries, and IDPS are all looking forward to returning home to a Free, Safe and Independent Southern Cameroons-a.k.a Ambazonia.

Stop The Persecution of Christians

SOURCE GCG Strategies, LLC

CONTACT: Friendsofambazonia@proton.me

Related Links

Friends-Of-Ambazonia.Squarespace.Com


James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstones, speaks during an interview at Waterstones' flagship store in London, Britain, on April 17, 2025. From high-end urban streets to picturesque suburbs, Waterstones stands as one of Britain's most iconic bookstore brands. Yet only a decade ago, it was on the brink of bankruptcy, squeezed by the menacing rise of e-reading. Its revival is largely credited to one man who remains steadfast in his mantra -- placing the right bookstore in the right place. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

LONDON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- From high-end urban streets to picturesque suburbs, Waterstones stands as one of Britain's most iconic bookstore brands. Yet only a decade ago, it was on the brink of bankruptcy, squeezed by the menacing rise of e-reading. Its revival is largely credited to one man who remains steadfast in his mantra -- placing the right bookstore in the right place.

As both the managing director of Waterstones and CEO of Barnes & Noble in the United States, two major bookstore chains on two continents, James Daunt is a man of deep conviction when it comes to physical bookstores.

"Bookstores are for everyone," he said in an exclusive interview with Xinhua at Waterstones' flagship store on London's Piccadilly on Thursday.

"That's an incredible strength as a retailer -- you appeal to everyone, not just to women, not just to men, not just to young, not just to old. It's a place to come to for pleasure."

Daunt left a career at J.P. Morgan to open his first bookstore on London's Marylebone High Street in 1990. That original Daunt Books location has since become one of the city's most beloved places for book lovers -- now also a popular spot among Chinese visitors inspired by posts on social media platforms like Xiaohongshu, or "rednote."

In 2011, Daunt brought that same independent spirit to Waterstones at a time when digital readers like Amazon's Kindle were poised to render traditional bookstores obsolete. One of his first acts was to prove that wrong.

With a belief that each store should reflect its own character, Daunt delegated more autonomy to store managers, scrapping the same layouts and promotional plans and allowing individual shops to decide which books to stock and how to display them.

"We empower our booksellers, each store, to do whatever is sensible for its location," Daunt explained. "It's the vocational commitment to good bookselling that's allowing us to run these wonderful stores."

Another major shift came when Daunt ended the longstanding practice of publishers paying for guaranteed shelf placement -- a model that often resulted in unsold and returned stock. Instead, Waterstones handed the decision back to its booksellers and their customers. By 2023, only about 9 percent of books were being returned to publishers, down dramatically from 30 to 40 percent in previous years. Barnes & Noble has since adopted similar reforms.

After weathering the disruption of e-readers, bookstores today face a new challenge: distraction from social media. Still, Daunt remains optimistic.

"When I grew up, we were told we'd never read again because all we would do is watch television, and it was making our eyes 'square,'" he said. "Now we're applying that same narrative to the iPad, the iPhone, social media. But we now have more bookstores than we ever had -- publishers are publishing more."

He gestured to the headquarters of major publishers near the Thames. "You walk into a gleaming marble building, the most expensive offices in London. Is that because nobody's reading anymore? No. More and more people are reading with every passing year."

Books, Daunt argued, remain central to culture, which is fueling creativity, shaping movies and ideas, and thriving through new forms of engagement.

"When I started, we used to have bestsellers once or twice a year. Now it's once a month, once a week. But I'm always told nobody's reading anymore."

"TikTok has been an astonishing medium to convey the energy and experience of our stores," he said. "These young kids have done that brilliantly. We've become a venue for the social media encouragement of reading. It's propelled bestsellers in a way almost nothing else has done."

For Daunt, bookstores are always a place in everyone's childhood memory. "When you're in your twenties, it's part of courtship -- 'What are you reading?' 'What am I reading?' -- It's a physical space in which it's just lovely to be."

"If you put really good bookstores in front of people, they will buy more books. You'll see more people reading on the Tube, on the train, in the bus -- wherever it might be."

Looking abroad, Daunt recently visited Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, and found fresh inspiration. "The physical spaces, the architecture, the design, the presentation, and the fluidity with which it was being done were exceptional," he said. "We borrowed quite a lot of those things and use them today in Waterstones."

"Remember, not long ago, everyone said it was only going to be e-reading. No physical books. Too heavy to carry. But once we got our energy back and our confidence back, we started selling lots more." 

James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstones, speaks during an interview at Waterstones' flagship store in London, Britain, on April 17, 2025. From high-end urban streets to picturesque suburbs, Waterstones stands as one of Britain's most iconic bookstore brands. Yet only a decade ago, it was on the brink of bankruptcy, squeezed by the menacing rise of e-reading. Its revival is largely credited to one man who remains steadfast in his mantra -- placing the right bookstore in the right place. (Xinhua/Li Ying)

James Daunt, the managing director of Waterstones, speaks during an interview at Waterstones' flagship store in London, Britain, on April 17, 2025. From high-end urban streets to picturesque suburbs, Waterstones stands as one of Britain's most iconic bookstore brands. Yet only a decade ago, it was on the brink of bankruptcy, squeezed by the menacing rise of e-reading. Its revival is largely credited to one man who remains steadfast in his mantra -- placing the right bookstore in the right place. (Xinhua/Li Ying)
(NewsNation)  The judge in the Bryan Kohberger case has ruled that the surviving roommate in the University of Idaho college student killings can testify about the intruder having bushy eyebrows.

The defense team had wanted that information to be excluded from the case, according to NewsNations Brian Entin. Prosecutors wanted to use a selfie of Kohberger to show jurors he has the type of bushy eyebrows described by the roommate who allegedly saw a stranger in the home.

Ada County Judge Steven Hippler claimed that the testimony from the roommate had been remarkably consistent over the five interviews with police and during the grand jury, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Newly released court documents include this smiling selfie of Bryan Kohberger, allegedly taken on the morning four University of Idaho students were killed.

Hippler did not agree that the testimony would be unfairly prejudicial to Kohbergers case.

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D.M.s testimony about bushy eyebrows is highly relevant in this case. D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides. It is the jurys task to determine whether (the) defendant is that person, the judge wrote.

Judge to provide future written orders on remaining items in Bryan Kohberger case

This order was just the first of around 12 outstanding rulings that are expected from the judge. This comes after an all-day motions hearing from last week about how certain evidence can be used during the trial, according to the Idaho Statesman.

Hippler had issued several orders from the bench during the hearing, however, he said future orders would be coming on any remaining items.

FILE  Bryan Kohberger, accused of fatally stabbing four University of Idaho students, is escorted into court for a hearing in Latah County District Court, Sept. 13, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for a hearing at the Latah County Courthouse on June 27, 2023 in Moscow, Idaho. (Photo by August Frank-Pool/Getty Images) Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, appears at a hearing in Latah County District Court, Thursday, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool) FILE  Bryan Kohberger enters the courtroom for his arraignment hearing in Latah County District Court, May 22, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Prosecutors say they are seeking the death penalty against Kohberger, the man accused of stabbing four University of Idaho students to death in November 2022. Latah County Prosecutor Bill Thompson filed the notice of his intent to seek the death penalty in court on Monday, June 26. (Zach Wilkinson/The Moscow-Pullman Daily News via AP, Pool, File) FILE  Bryan Kohberger, left, who is accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, looks toward his attorney, public defender Anne Taylor, right, during a hearing in Latah County District Court, Jan. 5, 2023, in Moscow, Idaho. Law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested Kohberger, a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death, according to newly unsealed court documents. The records were made public Tuesday, Feb. 28. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, Pool, File) FILE  Boise State University students, along with people who knew the four University of Idaho students who were found killed in Moscow, Idaho, days earlier, pay their respects at a vigil held in front of a statue on the Boise State campus, Thursday, Nov. 17, 2022, in Boise, Idaho. The arrest of Bryan Christopher Kohberger in the Nov. 13, 2022 fatal stabbings of four University of Idaho students has brought relief to the small college town of Moscow, Idaho.(Sarah A. Miller/Idaho Statesman via AP, File)

Kohberger is accused of murdering Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin. The students were found with fatal stab wounds in an off-campus rental home in the early morning hours of Nov. 13, 2022.

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At the time, he was a graduate student at Washington State University in Pullman, Washington. This university is located about nine miles west of Moscow, Idaho.

Kohbergers trial is set to start in late July with jury selection. Prosecutors want to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  A Shreveport high schooler secured funding through a global food service company grant to help her community learn to reduce food waste and develop healthier eating habits.

The grant was awarded through the Stop Hunger Foundations YSA (Youth Service America) program, which was created by Sodexo food service. YSA funds support youth-led projects aimed at ending childhood hunger in local communities and were awarded to Aniyah Blunt, a student at Booker T. Washington High School.

Dr. Sharon F. Green of Oasis of Hope, Louisiana, said, Our youth are visionaries. Aniyah is a shining example of how young leaders can use their voice, creativity, and heart to impact families and communities.

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The teens project aims to help local families understand the importance of minimizing food waste and prepare meals efficiently using healthy and tasty recipes. She said she wants to be proactive about helping her peers make better food choices because she sees them increasingly being diagnosed with diabetes and other preventable health issues that are directly related to poor eating habits.

Through the initiative, Aniyah gets to lead by example as young participants in the GEMS (Girls Empowered for More Society) program join Southern University Shreveport Students, and Oasis of Hope Louisiana for an afternoon of service on Good Friday. The youth will serve seniors at the Martin Luther King Community Center after assisting chefs who will prepare the meals. The learning- and service-centered event brings together community members, students, and local leaders for a celebration of fellowship.

The Good Friday MLK Luncheon affirms the shared mission of all involved to uplift youth and build stronger, healthier communities.

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Oasis of Hope Louisiana is a nonprofit organization that focuses on STEAM by incorporating fun, hands-on activities designed to spark imagination and illustrate the connection between science, technology, engineering, and math, and everyday life.

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VESTAL, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  A staple service provider on Binghamton Universitys campus just celebrated its 50th anniversary with the college.

The Institute for Child Development on BUs campus was founded in 1974 as a place to improve the socialization, academics, and life skills of those living with developmental disabilities. The facility provides programs, resources, and training both to the university and the entire community.

Co-Director, Jennifer Gills Mattson says most recently, the institute has expanded diagnostic services in the area by over 200 percent, and has rolled out new programs for young, autistic, adults.

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We want to build a world that recognizes each person, supports their growth, and creates opportunities for autistic people and their families to pursue their hopes and their dreams at every stage of life, Mattson said.

Since being founded, the ICD has been housed in 3 different buildings on campus, and currently, is adjacent to the campus preschool behind the East Gym.

Gills Matson says currently on the national level, the demand for services and research far exceeds the amount of qualified workers.

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BINGHAMTON, N.Y. (WIVT/WBGH)  BU students were at the Ross Park Zoo today, hoping to inspire young scientists with a wildlife scavenger hunt.

Todays event was part of BioBlitz, which is when people document all of the wildlife in a particular area. Zoo-goers were encouraged to download an app called iNaturalist, and throughout their time at the zoo, take photos of any plants, critters, or wild animals, which are then uploaded to a database to be used by researchers around the world.

One grad student, Aly Milks says the data is used to study large-scale environmental change from migrations, to bloom times.

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A lot of iNaturalist is used by scientists to find locations of where some species are that might have not been previously identified. Or, if they want to do research, they can see that theres a particular species in an area. Go out and do research on it, Milks said.

Todays event at the zoo was just the precursor to tomorrows data collection taking place from 10 to 3 p.m. at the university nature preserve, in Lot-M. She says theyll be using iNaturalist at the zoo and the nature preserve through May 11th.

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The Hungarian government has begun distributing ballots for a national consultation asking citizens whether they support Ukraine's accession to the European Union. Budapest is openly urging voters to oppose it.

Source: a letter from the Hungarian government's information centre dated 19 April, seen by European Pravda

Details: In the letter, the Hungarian government calls for a vote against supporting Ukraine's accession to the EU, as, according to Budapest, this will "cause Hungary enormous losses".

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"It will cost every Hungarian family hundreds of thousands of forints a year, jeopardise pensions and support for farmers, and pose risks to security and the labour market," the letter says.

Budapest also argues that "accelerating Ukraine's accession in the current circumstances will destroy the Hungarian economy".

"We, the Hungarians, cannot accept that such an important issue is being resolved before our eyes. In the coming weeks, the government will provide detailed information on issues related to Ukraine's accession," the letter reads.

The Hungarian government has pledged that it will treat the results of the vote as binding.

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The letter urges Hungarian citizens to "take part in the vote" and "make a responsible decision".

Ballots will be delivered by the end of May.

Background:

On 5 March, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban announced a poll in Hungary on support for Ukraine's membership in the EU.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosaw Sikorski sarcastically commented on Orban's initiative.

The Hungarian government has held "consultations" on Ukraine, with questions formulated in a manipulative manner.

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URBANA, Ill. (WCIA)  There was a discussion about cuts to the medical community at Carle Foundation Hospital in Urbana on Friday.

The conversation between medical providers and Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski focused on possible Medicaid cuts and how that could impact patients. They also took a tour of Carles obstetrics department.

Carle Illinois College of Medicine says music can help post-surgery

Carles president said theyre still awaiting clarity on what Medicaid cuts could look like, and that the discussion today helped paint that picture.

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I really appreciated the congresswomans thoughtful questions about how it would impact families in Central Illinois, as well as health care providers, and it would, said Elizabeth Angelo, president of Carle Foundation. Some of the things that are being discussed would have a very dramatic impact on hospitals ability to provide care for families who are already struggling.

She said they also discussed Carles role as a safety net hospital for the region.

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A Brigham Young University graduate student from Japan who had his visa revoked  seemingly because of an old fishing violation  has now had his visa reinstated, his attorney said.

BYU Ph.D. student Suguru Onda got word Friday about the change, his immigration attorney Adam Crayk told KSL TV.

He is reinstated as if it was never revoked, Crayk said.

Outside of a couple of speeding tickets, Onda  a husband and father of five  had experienced only one legal hiccup during his six years of study in the United States. He was reportedly cited for harvesting more fish than his fishing license allowed during a 2019 outing with his Latter-day Saint church group.

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The fishing charge was later dismissed, according to Crayk.

Still, earlier this month Onda, who is a year away from earning his BYU doctorate in computer science, received notice that his student visa was being revoked.

He is counted among the two dozen or more international students attending Utah colleges and universities who have had their visa revoked in recent weeks.

I was surprised, Onda earlier told the Deseret News, but at the same time, Im seeing so much news about (student visa revocations); but I didnt expect it to happen to me.

The termination reason on Ondas visa revocation notice, said, Otherwise failing to maintain status. And the explanation said, Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their visa revoked, service record has been terminated.

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Crayk earlier told the Deseret News that his client went on a 2019 fishing activity with his Latter-day Saint ward.

He didnt catch a fish  but because he was the organizer or the face of the activity, (Onda) was cited for harvesting more than their license permitted.

Onda went to court, the attorney added, but the prosecutor was like, Yeah, were dismissing this  and it was dismissed.

But Crayk believes that the church fishing incident, despite the charge being dismissed, linked Ondas name with a potential criminal case and led to his international student visa being flagged and revoked.

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Ondas attorney said his low-key client has no history of posting politically charged content.

After the revocation notice, BYU told Onda he could work remotely on his dissertation if he had to leave the Provo campus.

A member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Onda has been studying at BYU for the past six years. He said the school has told him he could work remotely on his dissertation if he has to leave the Provo campus.

Onda said he was planning to stay in the United States for at least a few years after graduation. We love the community here, he said.

He added his family felt the support of their local congregation.

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A lot of families have reached out to me and brought us food and tried to offer help, Onda said. We couldnt do this without their help  so I really appreciate all of the community, and especially for the church.

Gov. Cox asked Trump admin for more info

Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said on Thursday that his office had reached out to the Trump administration for more information about the dozens of international students at Utah campuses who have recently had their visas revoked.

Weve asked them to give us a little bit of a heads-up when these things are happening. Wed like to understand better what the criteria are for those changes, Cox said.

The governor noted that some of the international students had criminal backgrounds that we were not aware of; that the universities were not aware of.

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For other impacted students, he added, that does not appear to be the case  and so we would very much like to figure that out.

Cox said in the past that President Donald Trump has talked about the importance of attracting the most talented and brightest from other countries to the United States. We know how important those visas are and how important immigrants are to building our economy.
This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

PROVO, Utah (ABC4)  BYU PhD student Suguru Onda will not be deported, according to a statement given to ABC4.com by his lawyer.

In the statement and later interview, Adam Crayk, Ondas lawyer, confirmed with ABC4.com that they had won the court case and that Ondas student visa has been reinstated.

[Were] elated, really happy, Crayk said in an interview. Earlier today, Onda and several others had filed a lawsuit and a temporary restraining order to have their legal statuses reinstated and not be deported while the case progressed.

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PREVIOUS: Its unfair: International PhD student at BYU speaks after his student visa was revoked

Around 1:30 p.m., Crayk told ABC4.com that somebody from the government informed BYU that Ondas status had been reinstated.

Look, I would love to say the reason was the lawsuit, Crayk told ABC4.com. Do I have that 100%? No. But I also know there were so many people that showed so much interest in this case  It just had lots of movement, and it was the right course of action.

Onda showed excitement at the news, saying how much he loved the support that he and his family had received throughout the ordeal. Onda is married with five children.

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We so excited about it, Onda said. So many people reached out to our family and helped in many ways  we really liked the people here.

Utah international students file lawsuit against Department of Homeland Security

Ondas research deals in AI and technology development. Across the United States AI has been used to pull visas from other international students. When asked about how his views on AI have changed during his ordeal, Onda didnt blame the AI.

AI is not perfect so sometimes it makes mistakes, Onda stated. At that point we can fix it  If they found out, then they just need to fix it. Thats the process, it doesnt have to be perfect.

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The lawsuit has 8 others along with Onda hoping for reinstatement of their statuses. At this point the lawsuit is still in its early stages and will take time to process. Updates will be provided as they become available.

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CALCUTTA, Ohio (WKBN)  Fridays dry and windy conditions meant an elevated fire alert across the area, and just before noon, Calcutta Firefighters responded to a brush fire near McGuffy and Dresden Avenue.

Multiple fire departments were called to help keep the fire from spreading to nearby businesses.

In a post on the departments Facebook page, they said firefighters were sent to a brush fire behind the TJ Maxx parking lot near McGuffy and Dresden Avenue in Calcutta just after 11:30 a.m. They were able to extinguish the fire before it spread to any businesses.

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In the post, they reminded the public that there is no burning allowed between 6 a.m. and 6 p.m. due to the burn ban and extra high winds and heat Friday.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  As the weather gets warmer, many people will head to the water to cool off. Whether its in the pool, a lake, or the river, people need take the necessary level of caution.

According to the CDC, there are 11 drowning deaths per day in the U.S., its the leading cause of death for children. But there are ways to help prevent drowning, some as simple as the color of your bathing suit.

Those brighter colors that will be more visible in the water whether youre in the pool or the lake or river. You know, something that makes you identifiable that people can see if something happens and they try to look for you, something theyd be able to identify you easily, said Myles Chamblee, director of the Calhoun County Emergency Management Agency. Thats not just your bathing suit bottoms but if youre swimming in the lake and boats are coming by, if its just your upper body, its not a lot to be seen there so you want to make sure that youre visible to others if something does happen.

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Hot start to summer predicted for most states. Map shows where itll be warmest

Calhoun County EMA says if your child does not know how to swim, they should always be in a flotation device approved by the U.S. Coast Guard. Chamblee says the approved floaties have a seal on them.

We just encourage everybody to be responsible, be mindful, be cautious while youre at the pool, especially if theres small children involved. You know identify somebody just to be the water watcher to watch those children even if they do have their life vests on but just to watch them and keep an eye on them if something happens and youre at the pool, at the lake, at the river, Chamblee said. If youre all in the water and something happens, you need somebody that can get help and call 911.

For more information from the CDC on how you can prevent drowning, click on the link here.

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MOSCOW, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Russia and Ukraine on Saturday exchanged 492 prisoners, said the Russian Defense Ministry.

It said that 246 Russian servicemen were "returned from Kiev-controlled territory," while 246 Ukrainian prisoners were freed as well.

It added that Russia has handed over 31 wounded prisoners to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Russian soldiers requiring urgent medical care.

The swap followed a negotiation process mediated by the United Arab Emirates, the ministry said. 
SACRAMENTO, California  A slim majority of California voters support the states coverage of undocumented residents health care  but not unconditionally  according to a new poll, offering rare insight into public opinion on a program facing fierce scrutiny from Washington and growing calls to cut back amid a budget shortfall.

The first-of-its-kind POLITICO-UC Berkeley Citrin Center survey shows 21 percent of voters believe California should continue to offer Medicaid to undocumented immigrants, even if it means the state is forced to make cuts elsewhere. Another 32 percent said the state should continue the program but prioritize people in the country legally if budget cuts are necessary.

Nearly a third (31 percent) said the state never should have opened up its Medicaid coverage to undocumented immigrants, especially working-age adults, while 17 percent believe the state should partially or fully reverse such coverage. The findings could offer direction for state lawmakers as they grapple with higher-than-expected costs in deciding on the next budget, said Jack Citrin, a longtime UC Berkeley political science professor.

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There's broad support for the state's Medicaid program for undocumented immigrants, Citrin told POLITICO, adding, though, that there was some nuance.

I think there will be resistance among the state government to cutting Medicaid, but if they have to, presumably they might start changing which undocumented get access, maybe limiting it to children and elderly people, rather than everyone,  tinkering with that.

California has been offering Medi-Cal, the states Medicaid program, to everyone who qualifies in the state  regardless of immigration status  since January 2024, as part of Gov. Gavin Newsoms pledge to bring the state closer to universal health care coverage. His predecessor, Jerry Brown, began allowing undocumented children onto Medi-Cal in 2016, and Newsom slowly expanded the age range until everyone qualified after he took office in 2019.

But the program has more recently become a political punching bag in conservative media, with MAGA figures arguing it shows the Democratic majority in Sacramento prioritizing immigrants over citizens. Thats been exacerbated by the larger-than-expected price tag for the program, which has greatly contributed to a multibillion-dollar shortfall for Medi-Cal.

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Its also made California a political target for the Trump administration as well as Republicans within the state amid a broader push for government cost-cutting and a crackdown on migration.

Democratic leaders, meanwhile, point to other factors driving the budget hole, such as higher pharmaceutical prices and an aging population.

The survey findings also show major differences between general voters and a separate group of policy influencers that was polled. The influencer group was far more likely to support the undocumented program, with 31 percent saying it should be continued even if it meant cuts elsewhere, and 45 percent supporting the program but wanting to prioritize people in the country legally if budget cuts were needed

Only 11 percent said the state should have never expanded Medicaid to undocumented residents  20 percentage points less than the general voting population.

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Among the voters, there were further divides between different demographic groups. Democrats were the most likely to support the program (77 percent generally favorable, though some with conditions) compared to Republicans  58 percent of whom said Medicaid should never have covered the undocumented population.

Citrin said independent voters appeared to be caught in between, though they tended to skew more toward the Republican view, and thats notable because independents are a large group in California and they're a growing group.

Yet more differences emerged among ethnic groups, with Hispanic and Asian voters the most supportive of maintaining the program, even if it meant making cuts elsewhere, both at 27 percent, compared to 17 percent for white, 14 percent for Black and 20 percent for other voters.

Hispanics and Asians are the most: the largest recent immigrant groups, Citrin said. [Even if] they themselves are not undocumented, it may be that they know people who are, or they're more sympathetic.

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The survey was conducted on the TrueDot.ai platform from April 1 to 14 among 1,025 California registered voters and 718 influencers.

To generate the influencer sample, the survey was emailed to a list of people, including subscribers to California Playbook, California Climate and POLITICO Pro who work in the state. Respondents in that sample included lawmakers and staffers in the state Legislature and the federal government.

Verasight provided the registered voter sample, which included randomly sampled voters from the California voter file. The modeled error estimate for the voter survey is plus-or-minus five percentage points.

Financial picture

It is a particularly precarious time for the public insurance program. California had to borrow $3.4 billion in March to fix a short-term cash flow problem and appropriate an extra $2.8 billion earlier this month to make ends meet through June. Overall, Medi-Cal this year is running about 7.5 percent higher than it was originally budgeted for last year.

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Providing health care to people is one of the most important and most popular things the government does, said Amanda McAllister-Wallner, the executive director of the health care consumer advocacy group Health Access. Its something thats worth the investment.

Those state budget pressures come as Congress lays out a plan to cut potentially hundreds of billions of dollars from the federal Medicaid budget over the next decade, which could lead to a full-scale restructuring of the program.

The cost of the program is more than anticipated. It is unsustainable, Erika Li, the state finance department's chief deputy director of budgets, testified at a recent hearing in the state Legislature. We are looking at ways to curb those costs.

Lis comments were the strongest indication yet that the Newsom administration is considering big changes or cuts to the health insurance program, which could be proposed to rein in costs during the governors May budget revision.

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As state and national pressure squeezes the Medi-Cal budget, the expansion to undocumented residents has drawn extra scrutiny, with Republicans calling to scale the benefits back and asking the federal government to audit the program.

Legislative Democrats, however, strongly oppose any solution that could unwind Medi-Cal for people without legal status and have instead been pushing for ways to tamp down on the cost of health care across the board.

Several things have contributed to the climbing caseload on Medi-Cal over the past few years, in addition to opening up the program to undocumented people.

Extra flexibilities introduced during the Covid pandemic have also made it so that fewer people get kicked out due to paperwork issues. The state also changed a law in 2024 to remove some financial barriers for seniors to qualify, meaning overall, there are more people on Medi-Cal. With the overall cost of care on the rise, that also means bigger bills.

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Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains, a family physician, said last week during a budget hearing that she was outraged by the way Republicans were talking about undocumented coverage.

People need to wake up and understand that health care is important, taking care of the vulnerable is important, Bains said. The talking point that covering undocumented people leads to increased health care costs is complete B.S.
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia (AP)  Two Japanese naval ships docked Saturday at Cambodias Ream Naval Base, whose recently completed Chinese-funded upgrade has heightened U.S. concerns that it will be used as a strategic outpost for Chinas navy in the Gulf of Thailand.

The visit by the two minesweepers, the 141-meter (463-foot) -long Bungo and the 67-meter (219-foot) -long Etajima, part of the Japanese Maritime Self Defense Force, marks the first foreign navy visit since the base's expansion project was completed earlier this month.

Tokyo has developed increasingly close ties with Cambodia in recent years, seeking to offset Chinas influence in the region, and Cambodia invited it to make the renovated ports first port call, widely seen as an attempt to allay Washingtons concerns.

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Both Japanese ships, making a four-day port call with a total of 170 sailors, docked at the bases new pier, where Cambodian officials, including Rear Adm. Mean Savoeun, deputy commander of the base, held a welcome ceremony.

Concerns about Chinas activities at the Ream base emerged in 2019 following a Wall Street Journal report alleging a draft agreement that would grant China 30-year use of the base for military personnel, weapon storage, and warship berthing. The U.S. government has publicly and repeatedly aired its concerns.

China and Cambodia have close political, military, and economic ties. They commenced the port project in 2022, which included the demolition of previous naval structures built by the U.S. at the base.

Cambodia has stated that warships from all friendly countries are welcome to dock at the new pier, provided they meet certain conditions. When Japanese Defense Minister Gen. Nakatani announced the planned visit on Tuesday, he said Japans port call symbolizes friendship with Cambodia and is key to regional stability and peace.

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He stated that the visit would help ensure Cambodia has an open and transparent naval port, while noting the concerns over Chinas growing efforts to secure overseas outposts for military expansion.

The port call came just one day after Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded a two-day state visit to Cambodia aimed at further strengthening Chinas strong ties with its closest ally in Southeast Asia.

A statement on Saturday from Japan's embassy in Cambodia stated that the two vessels are on a mission that began in January to visit 11 countries across Africa, the Middle East, South and Southeast Asia. The port call in Cambodia is considered a historically significant event for Japan-Cambodia relations," it said.

The embassy emphasized that the journey of the Japanese vessels underlines the importance of freedom of navigation, free and open international order based on international law, and its development."

In December last year, a U.S. Navy warship called at the nearby civilian port of Sihanoukville on a five-day visit. The visit by the USS Savannah, carrying a crew of 103, was the first in eight years by a U.S. military vessel to Cambodia.
CHEYENNE  If Greta Morrow could go back in time more than 20 years and tell herself that her battle with cancer would lead to the lasting legacy of Cheyenne Day of Giving, shes not sure her younger self would believe it.

What she does know is that even two decades ago, she felt called to support her community.

Morrow survived Stage 4 leukemia and lymphoma thanks, in part, to a bone marrow transplant. During her battle with cancer, Cheyennes First Presbyterian Church, where she was a deacon, had a blood drive and bone marrow donor registration drive to support her.

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The next year, I thought it would be neat if we could get the whole community to come together and give blood, register bone marrow donors, and maybe we could ask them to bring food to donate, Morrow said.

Though Morrows newfound understanding of the need for blood and bone marrow donors helped kickstart the event, her nearly 30-year teaching career also inspired her to include basic needs in the fundraising event.

Partnered with Needs Inc., COMEA House and Resource Center, and The Salvation Army, the first year of Cheyenne Day of Giving in 2006 saw 1,500 pounds of food donated. Last year, that number reached a record high of 29,305 pounds of food donated, along with items in other categories.

It continued to grow, and the community continued to support us, and we added ways to give, Morrow said. So now its what takes up the whole (Kiwanis) Community House, and we have lots of different ways to give. Its been an amazing show of support by the community.

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Though the event no longer includes a blood drive due to a lack of participants, the first Day of Giving included the option to give blood and register to be a bone marrow, organ or tissue donor.

The event has grown in ways to give, the number of congregations and businesses supporting it, the number of donations and the number of agencies helped through the years.

Its very humbling because we just took it one year at a time, Morrow said. I did it on my own for like a week, and then there was a committee. People just really wanted to help, and that was great. Gradually, over the years, the community has learned more and more.

Caroline Veit is one of those who has been with the Day of Giving since the beginning, though she doesnt consider herself a true founder. When Morrow was just starting out, Veit had just moved to Cheyenne from Virginia. Having worked for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, she, too, felt passionate about creating awareness about blood cancers and bone marrow donors.

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Often, when people get to the end of blood cancers, the only option is a bone marrow transplant, Veit said. ... Greta is a blood cancer survivor because of a bone marrow transplant, survived it, and continues to survive and thrive.

While the focus on the bone marrow registry and blood cancer awareness is still a part of the event, Veit said the Cheyenne Day of Giving has always really been about helping those who are sick or in need. That has extended from major illness to disability or dire financial situations.

The biggest change is the awareness, Cheyenne Day of Giving Board Treasurer Kristal Wood said. More and more people are aware of what we are and what we do. For a long time, it amazed me how many people had never heard of Cheyenne Day of Giving, but now I think our name is out there a lot more than it used to be.

Day of Giving has expanded over the years, helping organizations with a myriad of needs. Whether its food, personal care items, craft supplies, medical supplies, cellphones, housewares, furniture or financial donations, volunteers find a place for all contributions.

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People can even bring in leftover prescription medication, which the Wyoming Medication Donation Program will take in and either redistribute to those in need or properly dispose of.

No matter how the Day of Giving grows, the generosity of the local community grows along with it.

One of my mottos when I was teaching was, If everybody does a little, nobody has to do a lot, Morrow said. ... If we can educate the public about the needs in our community  and it goes all the way from food and personal care items (to) all the different ways we have to give and address needs in the community  if we can educate them about that, and they understand that, theyll respond. Its been shown to be true every year.
Two North Atlantic right whales, which are critically endangered, were spotted off the coast of Florida this past March.

Gulf Coast News reported that Captain Ryan Goebel from Sea Trek Charters first saw the whales by Fort Myers Beach.

"I'm driving in like normal, just like always," Goebel told the news outlet. "And I look off to the left side, and I see something in the distance ... So I pop up binoculars, and as soon as I pull them up, I see a blowhole shoot up in the air, and I'm like, that's a whale."

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Sea Trek Charters mate Chris Paul also commented to Gulf Coast News, "Everybody was screaming and hollering and jumping around, pushing everybody out of the way to try to get pictures. It was wild."

The whales were then seen a day later near Caxambas Pass, which is close to Marco Island.

The whales are named Koala and Curlew. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says they are named after koala- and curlew shorebird-shaped callosities, respectively. Callosities are rough, raised patches of skin on right whales' heads.

Koala and Curlew's appearance is even more incredible considering that, per the NOAA, North Atlantic right whales have only been seen four times in the Gulf of Mexico since 2000.

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An assessment of Curlew in April 2024 concluded that there is a high probability she is currently pregnant, but she hasn't been seen with a calf since then.

Pregnancies are a big deal for North Atlantic right whales because of their critically endangered status. There are only about 370 of them left. According to the World Wildlife Fund, fishing gear and warming oceans are some of their biggest threats.

The NOAA advises that everyone should stay 500 yards away from whales in the wild. It's also important to report sightings to 877-WHALE-HELP ((877) 942-5343).

Do you think America could ever go zero-waste? Never Not anytime soon Maybe in some states Definitely Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

The NOAA and the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission observe whales like these and others to help keep them safe. By taking care of the whales, we keep our fishing practices balanced and our planet healthy.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Several people were evaluated after an alarm went off on an American Airlines plane landing at Charlotte Douglas Airport Saturday morning.

According to reports from MEDIC, a carbon monoxide alarm went off on the plane just before 10 a.m.

ALSO READ: 1 hurt in plane crash at Hickory Regional Airport

At least six people were evaluated for minor injuries, according to MEDIC.

However, airport officials said the plane landed safely and the alert was canceled.

Channel 9 has reached out to American Airlines regarding the incident. We are waiting to hear back.

VIDEO: One hurt in plane crash at Hickory Regional Airport
POGA, Tenn. (WJHL)  A couples plan to bring what they say is a couples retreat to Carter County is facing public backlash on social media.

Originally from California, Bastian and Marisol Yotta traveled around the country before settling in Carter County. The couple said their goal is to build a spiritual retreat called Hidden Harmony to help couples reconnect.

We want nature, we want to have peace, and we want to start a new chapter, and now we are told we are not welcome? Bastian Yotta said.

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The Yottas left California and traveled for three years before settling in Carter County.

When we visited this property, we just felt right away the love for it, Marisol Yotta said.

The Yottas said they planned to build 11 domes on property they bought in Poga as part of a couples retreat called Hidden Harmony.

Much of the public backlash surrounds Marisols posting on adult content websites as a way of income.

With COVID, I couldnt see my clients in person anymore, she explained. I used to cook and give nutritional advice for the elderly. So, with that, I switched into social media and into other ventures.

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However, the Yottas said they are ready for a change in their life.

The setting Hidden Harmony should have been our new chapter where we said, you know what, now, after a few years, we move on, Bastian Yotta explained.

A Change.org petition has been created by Poga locals with the goal of stopping the construction on Hidden Harmony.

Part of the petition reads: I call home the same community where the Hidden Harmony project is planned to take root  a development scheme that threatens the integrity of our environment and rural Christian values. While it is every individuals right to choose their source of income, these kinds of businesses clash with our communitys long-held traditions and values that have served to shape our livelihoods.

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Bastian Yotta said he is surprised to receive this reaction from people in what he calls the Bible Belt.

Christ did not come to call the righteous, but the lost or wounded and the judged ones, Bastain Yotta said. Jesus said, Let he who is without sin costs the first stone, and I got stones thrown at me and us every single day. I dont understand it.

Carter County Commissioner Angie Odom received many messages from concerned citizens. She started looking into the proposed retreat.

Theyve only received like a little drawing that was not to the point of what is needed to even issue any type of permits, Odom said. With the state they are registered as a business. With the IRS they are registered as a business. But that doesnt mean that you can go ahead and start digging of the business until you know the right permit.

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The Yottas say they have fulfilled what was needed to get permits.

They told me, you need a permit for a campground and a permit for septic, Bastian Yotta said. I ask, what are their requirements? I fulfilled every single requirement.

Ginger Holdren, Carter County 5th District Commissioner, provided News Channel 11 with her statement on Saturday:

While I must follow the guidelines set forth by county and state, the opinions of the citizens carry great magnitude. A dear friend in my district stated the she is praying for a God block. Thats wise advice Ginger Holdren, Carter County 5th District Commissioner

The Carter County Planning and Zoning Committee will meet Tuesday in Elizabethton and will discuss the matter.

The Yottas say they plan to be in attendance.

Its good that we finally see face to face and they can approach us to ask questions, Marison Yotta said. I feel like it has been a game of telephone over social media and just starting rumors over rumors about what Hidden Harmony is and isnt whereas they havent approached us directly.

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News Channel 11 did reach out to the creator of the Change.org petition but have not heard back at this time.

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Political strategist James Carville has branded Bill Maher supremely naive after the comedian dined with President Donald Trump and praised him as an effective politician.

Carville, who helped get Bill Clinton elected to the presidency, hit out at Maher and accused him of giving Trump legitimacy.

The criticism comes after Maher, a longtime critic of the president, had a private dinner at the White House with Trump at the end of March. He made the surprise admission that, actually, he found Trump gracious and measured despite railing against him regularly on TV.

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So its no secret hes a friend of mine, Ive been on his show many times, Carville reacted to Mahers comments in the latest episode of his Politics War Room podcast, aired Saturday. I would defend Bill Maher to this extent: I think hes a supremely naive man, he said.

Carville told listeners that Trump is somebody who s***s on the Constitution, is a convicted felon, and is someone who he claims engages in every grift that you can imagine. The Democratic strategist accused Maher of lending legitimacy and credence to Trumps behavior.

Political strategist James Carville branded Bill Maher supremely naive after he praised Donald Trump following a private dinner the pair shared at the White House. (Getty Images for Amazon Studios)

Bill Maher, you were had, Carvilles co-host Al Hunt added.

Real Time host Maher, who previously called for Trump to be impeached, was invited to the dinner by their mutual friend, the musician and Republican Kid Rock.

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Maher accepted the invitation in an attempt to soften hostilities between the pair as theres gotta be something better than hurling insults from 3,000 miles away.

Bill Maher surprised viewers and political pundits when he said Trump was gracious during the White House dinner. (Max)

But the comedian was surprised to find that he enjoyed Trumps company, and said he was far different to the crazy man he watches on TV.

Why he isnt that in other settings, I dont know and I cant answer and its not my place to answer, Maher said on Real Time, adding: Im just telling you what I saw and I wasnt high.

The host continued: Honestly, I voted for Clinton and Obama, but I would never feel comfortable talking to them the way I was able to talk to Donald Trump. Thats just how it went down. Make of it what you will.

A crazy person doesnt live in the White House, Maher added. A person who plays a crazy person on TV a lot lives there, which I know is f***ed up. Its just not as f***ed up as I thought it was.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Friday nights thunderstorms left behind a muddy mess in West Michigan. But why?

WHAT HAPPENED?

The dirtiest rain in recent memory blanketed cars, windows and other surfaces after thunderstorms produced downpours around the Grand Rapids area. It was most notable on cars, with a thick brown mud-like substance caked on.

Mud rain coats a car in Grand Rapids on Friday, April 18. Mud rain coats a car in Grand Rapids on Friday, April 18. Mud rain coats a car in Grand Rapids on Friday, April 18.

WHY DID IT HAPPEN?

Much like the dust that produced West Michigans worst air quality on record last month, the answer likely lies in a windy Plains region. Dust and dirt from the Plains and southwestern United States was likely picked up by strong winds and lofted into the atmosphere. An approaching cold front concentrated the dust and shoved it north, along with the moisture and warmer temperatures.

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As thunderstorms moved into West Michigan Friday evening, the raindrops then collected the dust in the atmosphere and brought it down to the surface, leaving a coating behind.

The National Weather Service office in Grand Rapids hypothesized that the culprit was likely strong winds in New Mexico Thursday that lofted the dust into the atmosphere to begin with.

WHENS A GOOD TIME TO CLEAN IT OFF?

Area car washes are likely to be packed with drivers hoping to remove the muddy paste from their vehicles.

A car covered in mud rain goes through a West Michigan car wash on Friday, April 18. (Courtesy)

For those looking to clean their rides at home, the weather looks cooperative, with rain-free conditions anticipated through the day Saturday along with mostly cloudy skies and temperatures in the middle 50s.

The next chance of rain is expected to arrive later Sunday.

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EBENSBURG, Pa.  The Cambria County Conservation and Recreation Authority awarded a more than $2 million contract Friday for the final section of the Ghost Town Trail C&I Extension loop.

Kukurin Contracting Inc., of Export, had the low bid, pending review by necessary parties. The work will consist of building two bridges over roadways and construction of less than a mile of trail for a total of $2,732,732.

Were at the point I can see the finish line, CCCRA Executive Director Cliff Kitner said. Im excited to finally get there.

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Once it is complete later this year, the connecting piece will finish the only rail-trail loop on the East Coast and just the second in the country.

It is the linchpin to completing the Ghost Town Trail loop, CCCRA Board President Thomas Kakabar said of this trail section.

In December, a ribbon-cutting ceremony was held at the Ghost Town Trails North Street trailhead in Blacklick Township for completion of the first section of the final piece of the loop, which included trail-building and construction of a box culvert that the trail now runs through.

Kitner said work for the last portion had six bidders and the amount came in slightly higher than expected.

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Despite that, the work will move forward and be paid for through grants the authority has received from the Abandoned Mine Land Economic Revitalization program and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources.

In other business, the group discussed future installation of the Joseph Dushaw Rest Area in Ebensburg along the Ghost Town Trail. They approved a quote from Milkies Lawn & Landscape not to exceed $2,034 for gravel and stone to help develop the site.

Kitner said in discussing the project with Milkies, there may be some changes to the final design, but the work is coming along.

Alex Cruley, maintenance specialist, said he and fellow maintenance specialist Vincent Heiss will install benches in that area in the coming weeks.
Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

MOSCOW, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War was held at the Chinese Embassy in Russia on Friday.

The exhibition features 60 photos showcasing the arduous struggles of the Chinese people against Japanese invaders, the combat operations by Soviet volunteer air squadrons in China, the battles of the Soviet Red Army against the Japanese Kwantung Army in Northeast China and military exchanges between China and Russia in recent years.

"The exhibition is very impressive. I am so delighted to see so many well-preserved file photos," Russian sinologist Yuri Tavrovsky told Xinhua.

He hopes that these historical photos could be fully utilized to better tell the touching stories of the two peoples fighting side by side in war and their mutual support.

The photo exhibition was supported by the Chinese embassy and co-organized by the Eurasia Regional Bureau of Xinhua News Agency, the China Image Group and Zhongchengtong International Investment Co., Ltd.

More than 400 people attended the event, among them were representatives of the descendants of Russian veterans who supported China in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression. Representatives from Russia's political, military, academic and media circles, as well as non-governmental organizations, attended as well. 

Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Guests visit a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

A visitor is pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)

Visitors are pictured during a photo exhibition marking the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People's War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War held at the Chinese Embassy in Moscow, Russia, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Cao Yang)
Several elected officials in Centre County are sharing their support for Penn States international community as some students have had their visas revoked.

At least 22 students  who were not convicted of any crimes and were in diversion programs  have had their lawful status revoked, the Centre County district attorney said earlier this week. A Penn State administrator said the university isnt aware of any federal law enforcement activity, such as ICE, on campus related to this.

Tracy Langkilde, interim executive vice president and provost, said Penn State is providing support to every impacted student they are aware of. But the fear and anxiety the situation has brought to campus is palpable. State College Borough Council President Evan Myers felt that fear in the air while he attended an Asian Pacific Islander Desi American celebration last weekend.

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Those fears are real and have fueled many rumors of the presence of ICE and other federal enforcement agencies, Myers said during Mondays council meeting. ... Individuals can take a stand, but institutions need to do the same. What is happening is just wrong.

Penn State is one of at least 240 colleges and universities across the United States that have seen legal statuses revoked for some of their international students and recent graduates, according to Inside Higher Ed. This comes as the Donald Trump administration has made immigration one of its top priorities. As NPR reported earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the U.S. would revoke visas from students who engage in protests against the war in Gaza.

During a recent visit to State College, U.S. Sen. Dave McCormick, R-Pa., responded to a question about student visas being revoked but didnt directly address what was specifically happening at Penn State. Overall, McCormick said immigration to the U.S. has helped drive growth, opportunity and innovation  but added that illegal immigration has presented its own challenges.

So my view on this is we need to do two things at the same time: Be very rigorous in enforcing our immigration law, securing the border, making sure that the people here are good actors. Theres been people on legal status that have stolen state secrets, that violated campus research principles and so forth, he said. And, at the same time, continue to evolve and reform our legal immigration process so we can still continue to be that bright, shining light on the hill. And I think we can do both of those at the same time, but it has to start with enforcing the law.

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State College Mayor Ezra Nanes addressed the issue head-on during Monday nights council meeting. He said hes heard concerns from people at Penn State and within the community who are affected by this, and he has seen the impacts of the visa revocations.

He reassured the community that international students and families are wanted and welcomed in the borough.

(The revocations are) without warning, theyre without justification, and they have created a climate of fear and threat that many are feeling. But almost worse than that  if something could be worse than that  is that people in this community, international students and their families, who play a vital role in the economy, the culture of this town, who help us be who we are, they are feeling that they not wanted here, and that is truly devastating, Nanes said.

State Rep. Scott Conklin (D-Rush Township) echoed that sentiment, saying hes troubled by the visa revocations happening at Penn State, especially when the students havent been charged with any crimes.

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Due process should always be given, Conklin said in an email.

The district attorneys office was aware of these individuals and was handling the cases in a manner consistent with longstanding precedent. Penn State is our window to the world, and we can ill afford to disregard the judgment of local officials who have been successfully dealing with these issues for years, Conklin said.

Conklins statement came about a week after colleague and state Rep. Paul Takac (D-College Township) referred to the visa revocations as un-American. Takac, who has the University Park campus in his district, has been engaged with university leadership and law enforcement, and he said hes monitored federal actions and policies.

The targeting of international faculty, staff, or students erodes trust in our communities and diminishes our standing in the world, Takac said in a written statement.

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The Centre Daily Times reached out to other elected officials in Centre County, including U.S. Rep. Glenn GT Thompson (R-Howard), state Sen. Cris Dush (R-Brookville), state Sen. Wayne Langerholc (R-Richland Township) and state Rep. Kerry Benninghoff (R-Bellefonte) for comment on the visa revocations and asked if they supported the action.

Benninghoff declined to comment, saying it is a federal issue, and Thompson, Dush and Langerholc did not respond. Thompson also declined this month to participate in a livestream Q&A on local impacts of federal action hosted by the CDT, with reader-submitted questions. His office did not respond to a request for an interview on the same topic.
CHARLES COUNTY, Md. (DC News Now)  Two men have been arrested after the body believed to be of a missing Maryland mother was found on Thursday, according to the Charles County Sheriffs Office.

Charles County detectives and officers with the Prince Georges County Police Department found a body believed to be 23-year-old Lesbia Mileth Ramirez Guerra, buried in a heavily wooded area just outside of Cedarville State Forest.

The area where she was found was about 50 yards outside of the forest. And it was about 40 yards in a wooded area. And she was buried about 5 to 6ft below the ground, said Diane Richardson, spokesperson for Charles County Sheriffs Office.

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Guerra was initially reported missing by her boyfriend on April 2 after she had not been seen since leaving her home in Waldorf on March 31. Since then, detectives have been interviewing witnesses, reviewing digital evidence and following leads to find her.

Deputies: Boyfriend is person of interest in 23-year-old Waldorf mothers disappearance

Deputies say her boyfriend, Keycy Robinson Alexi Barrera Rosa, 24, was arrested and charged with murder. He is pending extradition to Maryland.

Additionally, Rosas uncle, Rolvin Eduardo Bererra Bererra, 37, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact. He is being held without bond at the Charles County Detention Center.

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It was a moment of relief for the detectives that they were able to tell her family we have found her. But it was very sad as well, Richardson said. And our our community has been such a great support and offering their prayers and support.

According to deputies, her body has been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Baltimore for an autopsy and identification.

Sheriff Troy D. Berry commented on Thursdays discovery, stating, While this was not the ending that we all hoped for, I am grateful to all those who worked so hard to find Ms. Guerra. On behalf of the Charles County Sheriffs Office, I offer our most sincere condolences to all of her family and friends.

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CHEYENNE  When she was 14, Kacee Lillie began designing clothes with a Cricut vinyl cutter and selling them out of her home in Minnesota. This soon expanded to creating earrings and then to selling her goods at craft and vendor shows.

Now 18, Lillie has opened her first public, physical location of the Kacee Lillie Boutique at Frontier Mall in Cheyenne  three months before graduating high school.

Its definitely a lot bigger now, but its not as big as I want it to be, Lillie said of her businesss footprint. So, theres definitely room to grow.

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Before opening in the mall, Lillie operated a boutique space in a 200-square-foot section of the Base Exchange on F.E. Warren Air Force Base between December and January. In February, Lillie moved to her new 1,200-square-foot location in Frontier Mall in the space formerly occupied by Francescas.

Kacee Lillie

Kacee Lillie Boutique is photographed inside Frontier Mall on Thursday in Cheyenne.

The boutique primarily features womens clothing  something that wasnt as popular on the Air Force base  as well as fashion accessories and art.

She said only around five people visited the shop at F.E. Warren each day, but now that number is closer to 50 or 70. Lillie said she hopes to expand options at the store to include more items for men and children, as well.

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However, Lillie is unsure how much and to what extent she will be able to grow her new boutique with question marks around what the reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump on nations like China will look like. Lillie imports many of the clothes in the store from overseas.

It hasnt impacted us yet, Lillie said. Were just more hesitant to get any of the inventory that we were before, because a lot of it comes from overseas. The tariffs are looking like theyre going to be 80% to 140%. ... Im not a professional at it, but its looking like its going to double the cost to get it in (the store), which will double the cost for (customers) to get it.

On Tuesday, the White House released a fact sheet saying the tariffs imposed on Chinese imports could grow to 245%.

China now faces up to a 245% tariff on imports to the United States as a result of its retaliatory actions, the fact sheet said. This includes a 125% reciprocal tariff, a 20% tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5% and 100%.

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Gusto, Inc. is a company that provides payroll, benefits and human resource management software for businesses. It released a resource article last week for small business owners.

It said the cost of imported goods will increase, supply chains may be affected, which may result in delays, and small business owners may feel pressure to increase prices for customers, which may affect relationships and patronage.

Lillie said she prides herself on developing personal relationships with some of her customers, knowing them by name and getting into conversations with them when they visit her store  something she said is less common at large multi-national corporate stores.

To prepare for some of the anticipated spike in prices, Lillie said she has turned to more local vendors to supply goods for her store, including locally made mugs, cuticle oils and art.

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In addition to the financial risks Lillie has taken to realize her dream of opening a boutique, she has sacrificed the traditional high school experience to pursue her business.

She moved to Cheyenne at age 17, when her mother was stationed at F.E. Warren. She did one semester at Cheyennes East High School before switching to virtual schooling so she could work part time on running her business and learning about business and part time working a job on the side to save up money to open the store.

Its definitely hard finding people who understand, she said. I started this when I was 14, so I went through all of high school with everyone wanting to party and saying lets go hang out. I cant, I have to work. Well, just call out, theyd say. Who am I going to call out to?

After she graduates, Lillie said shed like to spend more time focusing on marketing and growing her business and potentially take some college courses in business and marketing.

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Lillie gained most of her business knowledge through real world experience and hours of reading and watching videos. She said some of her high school business class assignments on how to start a business could take only two or three days. However, her real-world research would take two or three months to grasp a firm understanding of each step, she said.

While business has been slow the past few months, Lillie said she anticipates it will pick up during the summer, and she hopes more people will choose to shop locally instead of at a national chain store.

Lillie hopes to continue to grow her business, but said she wants to keep her expectations realistic and take it one step at a time.

I feel like if you put too much ambition into the world, youre going to be disappointed, she said. So, Id love for it to get bigger, like anything, but if it stays in one store, it stays one store, nice and cute. All I can hope is that its profitable and not just a money pit.
CHICAGO (WGN)  Chicago street festivals are facing rising costs and declining donations, prompting the formation of a coalition to try to save the events.

Launched on April 18, the Save Our Street Festival Coalition brings together nearly two dozen organizers. As a result of financial strain, Pamela Maass, executive director with the Wicker Park-Bucktown Chamber of Commerce, warns that many festivals may not be able to continue.

In 2024, we had an executive director meet-up of a number of chambers across the north and east side of the city, and we all had the same issue  2024 gate donations dropped, Maass told WGN anchor Ray Cortopassi on Fridays Evening News at 5 p.m. Some fests report anywhere between 25%. Festivals like Wicker Park Fest, the festival that my organization produces, gate donations dropped by almost 50% compared to the year before, so we really wanted to band together before festival season started.

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Pamela Maass joined WGNs Evening News at 5 p.m. on Friday, April 18, 2025 (Photo: WGN)

While overall attendance remains high, organizers note that the costs to produce the festivals have risen each year, in addition to the increasing expenses of security, EMTs, insurance, fencing, and portable restrooms.

Maass suggests that a funding misconception is also lending to dwindling returns for street festivals.

In 2024, festival attendees showed up at the gates with a very different attitude of I dont need to pay for this. My taxes pay for this, and we need to stop this misinformation in its tracks, Maass said. Street fests, in those little neighborhoods, those tucked away little gems, are all independently funded, and we need to make sure that messaging is very clear.

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A list of street festival organizers who have joined the coalition includes:

Belmont Sheffield Music Festival

Ribfest Chicago

Andersonville Midsommarfest

Taste of Randolph

Wells Street Art Fest

Chicago Pride Fest

Square Roots Fest

Roscoe Village Burger Fest

Ravenswood on Tap

Wicker Park Fest

Northalsted Market Days

Thirsty Ears Festival

Edison Park Fest

Lakeview Taco Fest

Edgewater Music Fest

Ravenswood Art Walk

Lakeview East Festival of the Arts

Norwood Park Fall Fest

Lincoln Square Ravenswood Apple Fest

Oktoberfest in Avondale

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

Watch the full interview in the video player above.

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A child who sustained injuries in the Russian attack on the central district of Kherson on 17 April has died.

Source: Kherson Oblast Military Administration

Details: A 16-year-old boy who was seriously injured died in hospital.

In total, nine people were injured over the course of 18 April as a result of Russian aggression.

The Russians bombarded residential areas of the settlements in Kherson Oblast, damaging three high-rise buildings and five houses. The attacks also damaged a granary, agricultural machinery and cars.

Background: On the morning of 17 April, the Russians struck the central district of Kherson, injuring five people and killing a man.

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A top U.S military commander warned lawmakers over Chinas significantly increased military activity near Taiwan, calling the actions a rehearsal for an impending invasion.

Admiral Samuel Paparo, commander of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, gave testimony to the Senate Armed Services Committee last week over his concerns about Chinas growing operations off of Taiwans waters.

In 2024, the Peoples Liberation Party demonstrated growing capabilities through persistent pressure operations with military pressure against Taiwan increasing by 300 percent, Paparo testified, adding, Chinas increasingly aggressive actions near Taiwan are not just exercises, they are rehearsals.

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Paparo said the U.S can no longer sit back amid unprecedented aggression and military modernization by the nation.

The Chinese military conducted large-scale drills in the waters and airspace around Taiwan earlier this month that included an aircraft carrier battle group.

The exercises involved navy, air ground and rocket forces and were meant to be a severe warning and forceful containment against Taiwan independence, according to Shi Yi, a spokesperson for the Peoples Liberation Armys Eastern Theater Command. No operational name for the drills was announced nor previous notice given.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo delivers his speech during an international military conference organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Admiral Samuel Paparo delivers his speech during an international military conference organized by the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024, in Manila, Philippines. (AP Photo/Aaron Favila)

What Chinas military posturing means for the US

In his testimony, Paparo warned that Chinas military production is now outproducing the U.S. in air missile, maritime and space capabilities.

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He said China is producing fighters at a rate of 1.2 to 1 over the U.S., which can lead to weakness in the high ground in the event of an attack. The nation is also building combatants at a rate of 6 to 1.8 to the United States.

I remain confident in our deterrence posture, but the trajectory must change, he said. We dont want to be in a situation where we want to win a war over Taiwan. We would stop it from happening.

The commander also noted Chinas deepening cooperation with Russia and North Korea has put several neighboring nations on alert.

How big is Chinas military compared to the US?

China has more manpower in terms of military strenght but still not at the level the U.S. is in terms of techonogly and machinery, reported The Economist.

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However, China is already on track to surpass the U.S., the outlet reported.

Chinas navy is the worlds largest, and when it comes to design and material quality, many Chinese ships are comparable to Americas, according to the outlet.

While American warships and air force tend to be larger and better armed, China is catching up in an effort to modernize and outproduce the U.S.

Why is China fighting against an independent Taiwan?

China considers Taiwan a part of its territory, to be brought under its control by force if necessary, while most Taiwanese favor their de facto independence and democratic status. Any conflict could bring in the U.S., which maintains alliances in the region and is legally bound to treat threats to Taiwan as a matter of grave concern.

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Paparo testified, saying that while China attempts to intimidate the people of Taiwan and demonstrate coercive increase, these actions are backfiring, drawing increased global attention and accelerating Taiwans own defense reparations.

Taiwan has reportedly bolstered its own supply chains for combat drones and increased foreign orders from the U.S. to counter action from China, saying they are in agreement with Paparo, the Taipei Times reported.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  Six Columbus City Councilors have been sent a cease-and-desist letter by the Columbus city managers attorney. It directs them to retract their public statements accusing him of any unethical or unlawful conduct.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley has accused the councilors of intimidation, accusations, discrimination, and defamation.

Your conduct and your outrageous claims  including falsely accusing my client and his wife, Ms. Carolyn Hugley, of impropriety in relation to a lawfully-obtained grant despite direct and overwhelming evidence to the contrary  has and continues to cause Mr. Hugley financial, reputational, and other compensable harm, thereby subjecting each of you to potential liability for your tortious conduct, the letter read.

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The city councilors named in the letter were Byron Hickey, Charmaine Crabb, Joanne Cogle, Glenn Davis, Toyia Tucker and John Anker. They were all sent the cease-and-desist letter by the Chilivis Grubman, an Atlanta law firm that represents Isaiah Hugley.

Chilivis Grubmans letter claims the councilors recent public statements against Hugley have caused financial, reputational, and other compensable harm, thereby subjecting each of you to potential liability for your tortious conduct.

The councilors were given seven days to take corrective action.

I hereby request that each of you immediately cease and desist your tortious conduct, retract your public statements accusing Mr. Hugley of any unethical and/or unlawful conduct, and issue a public apology, the letter stated. We further request that Mr. Hugley be allowed to serve out the remainder of his time as City Manager free of unlawful harassment, discrimination, or intimidation.

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Hugley has announced he is retiring at the end of this year.

A $29,000 payment Carolyn Hugley, a Columbus State Farm Insurance agent, received is at the center of the dispute. Councilors have questioned if Isaiah Hugley went through proper channels when his wife got the COVID relief funds from the city.

Isaiah Hugley has insisted he followed protocols, notifying the mayor and city attorney before stepping aside and having Deputy City Manager Pam Hodge handle the transaction.

WRBL reached out to the six councilors named in the cease and desist letter.

Hickey, Cogle, Davis and Tucker could not be reached by phone. Crabb told WRBL she could not comment because attorneys were involved. Anker said he had not yet seen the letter.

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When contacted by WRBL, Isaiah Hugley referred all comments to his Atlanta attorney. A message was left with Scott Grubman.

WRBL reached out to Mayor Skep Henderson. He tells us he is aware of the letter, but does not know the details. He declined comment saying it was now a legal matter.

The letter sent to the councilors by Isaiah Hugleys AttorneyDownload

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The City of Greenville plans to soon remove the old, deteriorating string (Christmas-style) lights that can be seen falling from the tops of multiple downtown buildings.

The lights were put up by the city more than a decade ago but a clear maintenance plan wasnt put into place, current Greenville Main Street Manager Madison Cornwell (who wasnt hired until late 2023) explained.

From being up so long, they have a lot of wear and tear, some of the brackets holding them up have broken and the lights are starting to fall down, because theyre made to be up for a few weeks out of a year, not out getting longterm exposure to the elements, Cornwell added.

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In an email to owners of downtown businesses this week, Cornwell said that an exact date has not year been decided for the light removal.

Until then, she asks that businesses who currently have string lights of their own on display contact her to let her know so she can inform crews which ones not to touch.

Her email address is mccornwell@ci.greenville.tx.us/350/Main-Street and her offices phone number is (903) 457-3138.
Description

On Saturday, April 19th, Hallockville Museum Farm in Riverhead will host A Walking History Tour titled The Polish Immigrant Experience. During the late 19th and early 20th centuries Eastern Europeans migrated to eastern Long Island, buying numerous farms and making a significant impact. Richard Wines and Paul Hoffman will lead the Walking History Tour talking about the arrival of the Polish immigrants on Sound Avenue and their contributions to the East End. They welcome stories and photos related to this experience that can be shared at the event. Learn more about the Polish immigrant experience Saturday April 19th at 10am at Hallockville Museum Farm, 6038 Sound Ave., Riverhead. Admission is free for members and $10 for non-members. Registration is required. To register visit: www.Hallockville.org
LOS ANGELES  While Los Angeles is home to the biggest stars in the world, a monthly get-together is proving that the citys rich and famous have nothing on the universe.

The Silverlake Star Party, hosted by the Los Angeles Astronomical Society, started with just a few telescopes in the middle of the city. But it has grown into a hip, evening hangout, where members gather montly and invite hundreds of strangers to look through their personal telescopes.

Its unbelievable, its very beautiful, said member Bobby Cabbagestalk. The wonderment, the excitement, the surprise of seeing Saturn for the first time, Jupiter for the first time, Orions nebula for the first time. It touches you in a way that you dont really expect, and it kind of just puts things in perspective.

A child looks through a telescope during an outdoor astronomy club event in Los Angeles, on April 18, 2025.

The society hopes to get people interested in the universe. And while stargazing in the middle of the city may no seem like the ideal place to see the stars, the society members make it work.

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In a busy, dense, light, polluted area, theres always something in the sky to look at. Theres always an opportunity to make a connection with the universe, Cabbagestalk said.

Some organizers are astronomers and experts, but others, including Cabbagestalk, are simply passionate. During the parties, they explain what people are seeing through the telescope, pointing out constellations and planets.

These stars and planets are suspended above us every night, every day, the moon as well. And I think we just take it for granted, Cabbagestalk said. So, when people come here, it allows them to kind of slow down and change the perspective of the world around them and the universe around them as well.

The event is free and open to people of all ages. All it takes is someone willing to look up.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
SWAN, Iowa  The City of Swan passed a discontinuance on Wednesday that will disband the town and pass maintenance over to Marion County.

Swan was founded in the 1840s and expanded with the arrival of the railroad and the Black Swan Coal Mine. By the early 1900s, the town housed several hundred residents and multiple businesses.

Madison County Attorney files petition to formally remove Treasurer Amanda DeVos from office

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On Wednesday, Swans city council passed a resolution of discontinuance. Mayor Stacy Harding says over the past few years the city has struggled to maintain involvement.

I, like so many others, have long-standing personal and family ties to this historic small Iowa town. No one wants to see it go. But in the end, there just isnt enough interest from residents to stay involved going forward, Mayor Stacy Harding.

The upkeep of the town will be transferred into the hands of Marion County at the end of the year. Harding says this will bring many changes to the area, but some things are certain.

We will still have hard surface roads, and well still be neighbors being neighborly, said Mayor Harding. We just might do it with a couple less streetlights.

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With the vote passing the city council, residents now have 30 days to petition for a public vote on the discontinuance. If no petitions are heard, the city will proceed with liquifying the city.

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MIDLAND, Texas (KMID/KPEJ)- Dozens of children across the Permian Basin received a joyful surprise this Easter: hand-assembled baskets packed with toys, candy, and comfort, thanks to a growing network of local volunteers and a nonprofit group.

The effort was led by Coffee and Connections, a new initiative focused on community outreach and service. Partnering with Family Promise, Ranger Outreach, and Midland Memorial Hospital, the group assembled and delivered more than 100 Easter baskets throughout the region.

Its important to realize that Easter is more than just the candy and the toys, said Derrick Black, founder of Coffee and Connections. Were really relating that message out and really making an impact to explain why we celebrate Easter and why we do what we do.

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Each basket was filled with small toys, candy, coloring books, foam slime, and a childrens Easter Bible.

We have some awesome little coloring books. We also have a childrens first Easter Bible in there, said one volunteer at the build site. The impact were making here today is going to put smiles on at least 100 kids faces on Easter morning.

After the baskets were built, volunteers delivered them to various locations, including Midland ISDs special needs programs.

So our next stop was MISD, and we got to work with the special needs kids there, Black said. The minute we walked in the door and we had those baskets in our hands, the room went chaotic. They got so excited. I mean, we got hugs. The kids were dancing. Right away, they tore into the baskets. They were playing with the toys.

He added, Again, its all about what were trying to do to deliver happiness and just to keep that mission rolling forward. So all in all, its been a terrific drive.

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Midland Memorial Hospital was another key partner. Staff at the pediatric unit said the outreach felt especially personal.

Derrick came knocking on my office door, said Ashley Barnes, nurse manager for the pediatric unit. Hes like, Im really excited and really passionate about this projectI want to be involved. How do I help you guys? What can I do for the kids? What are the patient census look like? Hes really trying to tailor these baskets to fit the needs of these kids, which is incredible.

Barnes added, It means a lot to us here at Midland Memorial that we do have kids that have to be admitted during the holiday seasons. The fact that someone is willing to be so gracious and help these kids and donate and take time out of their day to make those kids feel special just means the world to us. So were very grateful.

Barnes said her nursing team was excited to give out the baskets, and that every kid that gets admitted this weekend will be getting one as well.

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Black shared that the initiative has only been operating for a few months and that their mission is just beginning.

Weve only been running for a couple months. Our paperwork just got filed in March. Im hoping to hear something really soon, Black said. And when we do, I mean, the doors are going to blow wide open.

He added that theyre already building partnerships with local nonprofits like 311 Ministries, One Bite at a Time, and Rangers Outreach of Greenwood.

You go to the park and you see children playing, what are you seeing? Youre seeing the next generation of kids that are going to take over and have the leadership values that are needed, Black said. And if we could just light one glimmer of hope, happiness, and faith with one child, our mission is accomplished.

For more information about Coffee and Connections, visit this website.

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Clayton County police are looking for a missing, endangered teen.

Dreshaun Oglesby has been missing since Saturday, April 5.

Police responded to Rex Road in Rex, Georgia, on that day to a report of a missing person.

His family said he requires medication that he does not have access to since hes been missing.

He is approximately five feet and nine inches tall, weighs 115 lbs, and has black and blondish hair with brown eyes.

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He was last seen wearing a blue hoodie, tie-dyed purple pants with yellow faces on them, and blue Jordan shoes with white laces.

If you have information on his location, please call 911 or the Clayton County Police Department at 770-477-3550.

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Former President Bill Clinton offers a message of unity and praises the "Oklahoma Standard" at a remembrance ceremony Saturday on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  On the 30th anniversary of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton said Americans must unite despite their differences, and that Oklahomans can help lead the way by serving as that role model for the rest of the nation.

Clinton, who was president at the time of the attack, returned to the site of the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing Saturday to deliver the keynote address to a crowd of over 1,600 that attended to remember and honor those who died and were injured in the attack.

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While the event is typically held outdoors at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site of the bombing, it was moved indoors due to inclement weather. The crowd that arrived to commemorate the anniversary was so large that once the pews were packed, people stood along the walls and filled an overflow room.

People attend a remembrance ceremony Saturday on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

The domestic terrorists who did this awful thing believed that it would spark a nationwide upheaval against the American government, and would eventually destroy our government, our democracy and our life, Clinton said. Instead, you gave them, as the mayor said so eloquently, the Oklahoma Standard. You gave them service, honor and kindness.

Clinton, a Democrat, came to Oklahoma City days after the 1995 attack to address a devastated crowd assembled at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena. He said hes returned to Oklahoma City in subsequent years to commemorate the event.

Three decades later, Clinton said that the country has again grown more polarized. When Oklahoma City was the center of polarization 30 years ago, it chose to move forward together, he said.

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America needs you, and America needs the Oklahoma Standard, Clinton said. And if we all live by it, we would get a fairer economy, a more stable society. We would understand one another, and we wouldnt feel weak if we admitted we were wrong about something.

Thirty years ago, a fertilizer and fuel oil bomb placed inside a Ryder truck outside the Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City exploded at 9:02 a.m., killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring around 850.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested for their roles. Both were found guilty. McVeigh was executed June 11, 2001, by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison.

Gov. Kevin Stitt attends a remembrance ceremony Saturday commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison for failing to report his knowledge of the bombing plot.

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Investigators said McVeigh held extremist views and planned the bombing on the anniversary of the end of the Waco siege between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians.

Other speakers at Saturdays remembrance event included prominent Republican officials such as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, former Gov. Frank Keating, and U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt also spoke. Most of Oklahomas Congressional delegation was present, as were a few other former governors, current state lawmakers and other officials.

There have been nearly 11,000 tomorrows since the bombing and in Oklahoma City, Holt said, and the city has grown in that time. He said 30 years since the bombing signifies a generation.

While younger Oklahomans may not remember the bombing, Stitt said, they live in a state shaped by it and the commitment to service, honor and kindness that followed.

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Lankford said Oklahomans need to ensure the lessons learned from the bombing and its aftermath are passed to future generations to ensure there is no generation that rises up that does not remember.

The Federal Building housed federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the agency that initially launched the Waco raid. But the building also held a day care, military recruitment offices and other various federal agencies.

A child reads about the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Family members of victims read the 168 names to the crowd Saturday in an effort to humanize the people, said Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the memorial museum.

The building was imploded after the rescue operations and evidence collections were completed. A new federal building was built nearby.

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The memorial was built where the old federal building once stood. The 168 chairs erected at the site each represent an empty seat at the dinner table. The smaller chairs represent the children who died. A reflecting pool represents the time between 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. April 19, 1995. Officials were able to preserve an American elm tree that survived the blast. It is known as the Survivor Tree.

In the aftermath of the attack, the state became known for the Oklahoma Standard, a term used to describe the selfless actions of thousands who offered help.

Reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story.

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Former President Bill Clinton offers a message of unity and praises the "Oklahoma Standard" at a remembrance ceremony Saturday, April 19, 2025, on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY  On the 30th anniversary of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton said Americans must unite despite their differences, and that Oklahomans can help lead the way by serving as that role model for the rest of the nation.

Clinton, who was president at the time of the attack, returned to the site of the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building bombing Saturday to deliver the keynote address to a crowd of over 1,600 that attended to remember and honor those who died and were injured in the attack.

Advertisement Advertisement

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While anniversary events are typically held outdoors at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, the site of the bombing, Saturdays remembrance was moved indoors due to inclement weather. The crowd that arrived to commemorate the anniversary was so large that once the pews were packed, people stood along the walls and filled an overflow room.

People attend a remembrance ceremony Saturday, April 19, 2025, on the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

The domestic terrorists who did this awful thing believed that it would spark a nationwide upheaval against the American government, and would eventually destroy our government, our democracy and our life, Clinton said. Instead, you gave them, as the mayor said so eloquently, the Oklahoma Standard. You gave them service, honor and kindness.

Clinton, a Democrat, came to Oklahoma City days after the 1995 attack to address a devastated crowd assembled at the Oklahoma State Fair Arena. He said hes returned to Oklahoma City in subsequent years to commemorate the event.

Three decades later, Clinton said that the country has again grown more polarized. When Oklahoma City was the center of polarization 30 years ago, it chose to move forward together, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

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America needs you, and America needs the Oklahoma Standard, Clinton said. And if we all live by it, we would get a fairer economy, a more stable society. We would understand one another, and we wouldnt feel weak if we admitted we were wrong about something.

Thirty years ago, a fertilizer and fuel oil bomb placed inside a Ryder truck outside the Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City exploded at 9:02 a.m., killing 168 people, including 19 children, and injuring around 850.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols were arrested for their roles. Both were found guilty. McVeigh was executed June 11, 2001, by lethal injection at the Federal Correctional Complex in Terre Haute, Indiana. Nichols was sentenced to life in prison.

Michael Fortier was sentenced to 12 years in prison for failing to report his knowledge of the bombing plot.

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Investigators said McVeigh held extremist views and planned the bombing on the anniversary of the end of the Waco siege between law enforcement and the Branch Davidians.

Gov. Kevin Stitt attends a remembrance ceremony Saturday, April 19, 2025, commemorating the 30th anniversary of the Murrah Building bombing. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Other speakers at Saturdays remembrance event included prominent Republican officials such as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, former Gov. Frank Keating, and U.S. Sen. James Lankford. Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt also spoke. Most of Oklahomas congressional delegation was present, as were a few other former governors, current state lawmakers and other officials.

There have been nearly 11,000 tomorrows since the bombing and in Oklahoma City, Holt said, and the city has grown in that time. He said 30 years since the bombing signifies a generation.

While younger Oklahomans may not remember the bombing, Stitt said, they live in a state shaped by it and the commitment to service, honor and kindness that followed.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Lankford said Oklahomans need to ensure the lessons learned from the bombing and its aftermath are passed to future generations to ensure there is no generation that rises up that does not remember.

The Federal Building housed federal agencies like the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Secret Service, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the agency that initially launched the Waco raid. But the building also held a day care, military recruitment offices and other various federal agencies.

A child reads about the Murrah Building bombing on the 30th anniversary Saturday, April 19. 2025. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

Family members of victims read the 168 names to the crowd Saturday in an effort to humanize the people, said Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the memorial museum.

The building was imploded after the rescue operations and evidence collections were completed. A new federal building was built nearby.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The memorial was built where the old federal building once stood. The 168 chairs erected at the site each represent an empty seat at the dinner table. The smaller chairs represent the children who died. A reflecting pool represents the time between 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m. April 19, 1995.

Officials were able to preserve an American elm tree that survived the blast. It is known as the Survivor Tree.

In the aftermath of the attack, the state became known for the Oklahoma Standard, a term used to describe the selfless actions of thousands who offered help.

Reporter Barbara Hoberock contributed to this story.

Like the SC Daily Gazette, Oklahoma Voice is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Oklahoma Voice maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Janelle Stecklein for questions: info@oklahomavoice.com.
Rep. James Clyburn (D-S.C.) on Friday took a page from President Trumps playbook, casting blame on the media for the Democratic Partys downward shift in approval ratings.

MSNBCs Ali Velshi pointed out a perceived lack of messaging from Democrats as a reason for voters dwindling faith in the party  especially following significant losses in the 2024 election. Clyburn pushed back on the notion, instead pointing his finger at news organizations.

I think the message coming from the Democratic Party is a good message, the South Carolina Democrat told The Last Word host on Friday night. The problem weve got, Ill say, is that we have to depend upon the media to deliver it.

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He pointed to The Washington Post and criticism of owner Jeff Bezoss relationship with Trump as an example.

If we have The Washington Post, for instance, caving to this wannabe dictator and weve got other media entities that seem to rather push a narrative that will bring eyes to their newspapers or to their television sets and not really give a fair hearing or reporting to what were doing, he added. 

His comments come as polling shows a downward spike in approval for the party.

A CNN survey released in mid-March found the Democratic Partys favorability rating hitting a record low. In the poll, 54 percent of respondents said they had an overall unfavorable view of the party, while 29 percent said the opposite. Sixteen percent had no opinion.

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A subsequent poll, unveiled late last month by Harvard CAPS/Harris, yielded similar results.

Despite his criticism of the media landscape, Clyburn praised Velshis coverage.

I have to rely upon people like yourself, he said in a clip highlighted by Mediaite. You do a great job with this. Thats why I like coming on your shows on the weekends because you do a real good substantive reporting of what the issues are around us.

He added, But when youve got people who say were not going to fact-check, were going to worry about whether or not youre telling the truth. And just let the reports go out there. Thats whats killing us as Democrats, because we dont have a stomach for just lying.

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The lawmakers scrutiny of news organizations is similar to Trump, who has also revved up his attacks on public broadcasters and outlets the president says have been particularly critical of him.

The latest examples include the White Houses feud with The Associated Press, his lawsuit against CBS News over former Vice President Harriss 60 Minutes interview and pressure on Congress to strip federal funding from NPR and PBS.

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A Charlotte woman is out of jail after the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said she threatened a Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services worker.

Police said Shaniya Moore held a pocketknife with a long black blade against the face and neck of a DSS worker and demanded her child be returned.

ALSO READ: Suspect kills wife, her daughter outside DSS building then turns gun on himself, police say

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The warrant said it happened last Wednesday, while the DSS worker was performing an official duty.

Channel 9 reached out to the county about the incident but has yet to hear back.

VIDEO: 2 shot, killed outside Cabarrus County DSS building
CNNs chief data analyst Harry Enten on Friday spotted how Americans arent in line with President Donald Trumps plan to end birthright citizenship, noting that both Americans and legal scholars see such a move as a fringy idea.

This is just from top to bottom a political loser for Donald Trump and Republicans, said Enten who, just one day earlier, pointed to data showing that registered voters are getting much closer to Trumps immigration policy in his second term.

On Thursday, the Supreme Court said it plans to hear oral arguments in May on Trumps executive order to end birthright citizenship, a move that has been blocked by multiple district courts. Birthright citizenship is enshrined in the Constitutions 14th Amendment, which was ratified in 1868 after the Civil War.

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When Americans were asked about ending birthright citizenship for children born to immigrants illegally in the U.S., Enten noted that 56% said they opposed such efforts while 41% backed the idea, per an average of Ipsos polls.

Enten then turned to a trend showing fewer and fewer Americans since 1992 support ending birthright citizenship for children born to immigrants illegally in America.

The number has been going down, down, down ... which I think is quite surprising to a lot of folks because theres, obviously, the anti-immigration fervor in this country seems higher, he said, noting that the decreasing support surprised CNNs John Berman and the figure is nearing record lows.

Enten added that birthright citizenship is not a winning political battle for Trump.

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If I were advising the Donald Trump White House, Id say, stick to other issues on immigration, not this one, because this one, as I said, is a political loser, he said before turning to a February poll in which 51% of Democrats found themselves very motivated to vote in the next election when considering the policy of ending birthright citizenship compared with 31% of Republicans who felt the same urge to vote in regard to the issue.

Correction: A previous version of this story misstated the results of a February poll about whether the topic of birthright citizenship was a motivation for people to vote.

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Ferrari team principal Frederic Vasseur has likened the teams current challenge to fine-tuning a recipe, insisting that while the ingredients for success are in place, the Italian outfit must learn how to combine them more effectively if they are to return to the top step of the podium in 2025.

A new floor upgrade introduced in Bahrain last weekend showed promise, particularly for the high-speed demands of Jeddah.

However, while the Scuderias SF-25 is brimming with quality ingredients, the team has yet to score a top three result this season  a contrast to the consistency they achieved in the latter stages of 2024.

The Ingredients Are All There

Vasseur believes that performance is undeniably in Ferraris car, but converting that into results remains a challenge in todays ultra-competitive field.

The ingredients are all there, but now its like cooking and you have to put the ingredients together at the right stage, the Frenchman explained in Jeddah.

Honestly, I dont have the feeling that weve extracted the best from the car so far. Perhaps on some occasions, in some sessions.

But Id say its true for us and for the others. Even McLaren, with the step they have compared to the rest of the grid, sometimes you have one of their cars that is struggling a bit more.

The modern Formula 1 landscape is unforgiving. Gone are the days when teams could coast through qualifying with a single lap on medium tyres, as Vasseur recounted.

It is what it is. A couple of years ago, you could go [through] Q1 with a set of medium [tyres], do one lap, and you were in Q2. Today, even the top teams have to put on two sets of softs sometimes, he added.

Again, the field is very, very tight, and each time you make a mistake, you can lose five or six positions. Then the conclusion from [those] outside is that its a drama. Were more focused on pure performance, and five hundredths is not a drama.

That means we need to stay calm in the analysis if we want to improve. I think it was one of the skills of the team last year to be able to capitalise by hundredths of a second at a time. I hope well follow the same path this year.

This disciplined mindset is vital as Ferrari seeks to close the gap to rivals like McLaren, who have set the pace early in 2025.

Consistency: The Key to Unlocking Wins

While Ferraris car has shown flashes of speed  Hamilton and Leclerc were encouraged by its performance in Bahrains middle stint  Vasseur emphasizes that sporadic brilliance is not enough.

Its true that this stint went well for us. Unfortunately, the Safety Car came also a bit too early, he noted.

Last months Chinese Grand Prix encapsulated Ferraris struggle: Hamiltons sprint race victory was a high point, but the team faltered in the main event and was later disqualified for technical infringements.

Now the issue  or the project  is to be much more consistent [than] to have a good stint in the race or a good stint in Q3 or Q2, Vasseur stressed.

If we want to come back and fight for the win, we need to have much more consistent weekends.

This one has started in a good way. But I think it was a good example [in] China: The sprint race and the sprint quali went well and as you can imagine, we didnt turn the car upside down after winning the first one for the day after.

We are really on the edge.

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The fine margins of 2025 demand a delicate balance, as pushing too hard can lead to costly errors.

I dont want to speak about the others, but as soon as you push a bit too much, you pay the price with the tyres the corner after. Its really on the edge, very difficult to find the right balance. But we are improving in this direction, he concluded.

With the SF-25 continuing to show promise in parts, Vasseurs message is clear: Ferrari's route back to the top lies not in revolution, but in precision, patience, and putting the puzzle together  one consistent weekend at a time.

Keep up to date with all the F1 news via X and Facebook
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  A new coffee shop is being proposed for the empty lot on the corner of War Memorial Drive and University Street in Peoria.

After trial and error with other business development on this lot, a Dutch Bros franchise has been proposed and is awaiting approval.

Its a very, very busy spot and that makes it very strategic and very profitable, potentially, with the number of cars that go by to make a coffee shop like that really go, said second-district council member Chuck Grayeb.

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Dutch Bros is an Oregon-based coffee establishment that has never had a location in the central Illinois area, and would be competing with McDonalds and Dunkin Donuts for best coffee on the block.

The developer is really wanting to get started, said Katie Kim, CEO of The Kim Group, one of the listing agents for the site. As soon as we can get through that process and get started. So I think theyre looking to get a shovel in the ground as soon as they are approved to do so.

The 1.5-acre land is currently up for $1,590,000 and is in a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district.

Manning McComb Chevrolet once operated on the plot, but its sat empty for more than a decade.

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To see more about the plot of land, click here.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A group of fallen officers from Colorado is part of 345 officers that have died in the line of duty from around the country, to be added to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund announced in a press release on Friday.

Rockies game at Coors Field postponed due to snowy weather

The names of the officers will be engraved on the walls of the memorial in Washington, D.C., until the end of April. Then, on May 13, the 37th Annual Candlelight Vigil will be held at the National Mall between 4th and 7th Street at 8 p.m.

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As we gather once more to honor our fallen officers, were reminded not only of the lives they gave, but of the unwavering devotion that led them to serve, said William Alexander, CEO of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, in a press release. Their courage and selflessness continue to guide usthey embody the very spirit of law enforcement. This solemn moment is a time to grieve, to remember, and to ensure that we carry their legacy forward with gratitude and purpose.

The 2025 Roll Call of the Heroes will feature the names of official Line-of-Duty Fallen Heroes, which includes 148 federal, state, tribal and local law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2024. Other officers from previous years, whose cases were approved by the Memorial Funds research department, will also be inscribed.

The Memorial Fund said that there was a 25% increase in officer deaths in 2024 than the previous year.

However, of the total 345 names being added, 197 are from previous years after the research staff confirmed the circumstances of their deaths and that they had a record in law enforcement services.

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Each year, an estimated 30,000 people will attend the vigil, with family, friends and community members gathering to honor the lives of the fallen officers.

After the addition of the fallen officers in 2024s memorial, a total of 24,412 officers names will be engraved at the memorial site.

Lawsuits filed over student visa revocations in Colorado

The officers from Colorado include:

Stuart E. Holt, Boulder County Sheriffs Office  End of watch: 6/2/2014

Lucien Morgan, Chaffee County Sheriffs Office  End of watch: 5/12/1881

Christine Guerin-Sandoval, Colorado Department of Corrections  End of watch: 9/28/2023

Dale Coski, Denver Police Department  End of watch: 9/26/2024

Evan A. Dunn, Golden Police Department  End of watch: 11/6/2024

George L. Smith, Rico  End of watch: 6/3/1882

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A complete list of names of the group to be enshrined in 2024 and more information can be found on the Memorial Fund website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A late-season rollercoaster ride this year turned into a steep decline for snowpack levels that feed the Colorado River.

Since April 9, when snowstorms pushed snowpack from 91% to just over 100% in a single day, conditions have changed dramatically and levels have fallen to 70% of normal as of Friday, April 18. Thats concerning for 40 million people who rely on the river for water.

The black line in the graph below shows this years snowpack levels, or more technically, snow water equivalent (SWE) levels, in the Upper Colorado River Basin.

Projections from the federal government have been adjusted, showing less water flowing into Lake Powell, the nations second-largest reservoir. Streamflow at Lake Powell is now expected to be about two-thirds of normal this year (67%). Just two weeks ago, projections showed it would be about three-fourths of normal (74%).

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The one-day flirtation with normal snowpack levels is a distant memory now.

And all of that is happening before water gets as far as Lake Mead  the nations largest reservoir, where Southern Nevada gets 90% of its water.

APRIL 4 REPORT: Snowpack at 90% of normal as lean year projected for Southern Nevada

This has been another  unfortunately  classic year of the impact of climate change where high up in the Rocky Mountains in the headwaters of the Colorado River, you have slightly below average or average snowpack, which seems good on paper, John Berggren, regional policy manager for Western Resource Advocates, said on Wednesday.

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But for a variety of reasons, thats not translating to average runoff for the Colorado River, he said.

A map from the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation shows precipitation and SWE levels (blue-green boxes), reservoir levels (gray boxes) and overall Upper Colorado River Basin totals (bright blue box).

Berggren, based in Boulder, Colorado, has been studying water conditions in the West for 15 years. He has a Ph.D. in water policy and leads Colorado River work for the nonprofit.

While the steep plunge in snowpack is troubling, theres something else on Berggrens mind: Theres no agreement in place yet for how the river will be managed when guidelines expire next year.

The last major development in that process came on March 7, when officials from lower basin states (Nevada, Arizona and California) urged the Trump administration to set aside a decision by the outgoing Biden administration. Water officials said the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation made a mistake by not including an option that would consider infrastructure changes at Glen Canyon Dam.

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I dont think decision makers are seriously considering enough, the fact that Glen Canyon Dam needs to be completely re-engineered, Eric Balken, executive director of the nonprofit Glen Canyon Institute, said in an April interview.

If the surface of Lake Powell drops below 3,490 feet above sea level, the dam would be incapable of releasing enough water to meet requirements under the Colorado River Compact, commonly referred to as the Law of the River, according to an analysis released in 2022.

Lake Powell is currently 33% full, at 3,558 feet. Projections indicate the reservoirs low point over the next two years will be about 3,549 feet. Thats about 33 feet below its projected high point of 3,581 feet.

The federal government has not replied publicly to the states request for a do-over.

John Berggren, regional policy manager for Western Resource Advocates. (KLAS)

Unfortunately, politics gets involved and each upper and lower basin states have their negotiating positions. But we all here in the West rely on this river, Berggren said.

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Youre downstream, were upstream, we all rely on this river, and so not having an agreement is a big challenge and potentially harms the river and the people who rely on it, he said.

We need the states to come together, we need them to agree, need them to find compromise, find ways to reach an agreement where we can all move forward with a healthy flowing Colorado River, Berggren said.

A report released April 15 by the Bureau of Reclamation shows only slight adjustments to expected reservoir levels over the next two years despite the expected reduction in streamflow.

But rewinding to 2024, the projections are quite different from reality. (Below, pages from the Bureaus 24-month study showing projections for Lake Mead and Lake Powell)

The typical low-water mark for Lake Mead comes in July each year. For this year, thats expected to be 1,053.58 feet. A year ago, the projected level for July 2025 was 1,048.24 feet, so the lake is now expected to be more than 5 feet higher than projections from last year.

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Projections for Lake Powell are not as optimistic. Lake Powells low-water mark typically comes in April, just before spring runoff begins and reservoirs build up. For this year, thats expected to be 1,062.68 feet  about 9 feet lower than projections from last year (3571.24 feet).

Current levels at Lake Mead and Lake Powell (click arrow to advance)

Getting nervous about lake levels isnt going to solve anything, but inaction could be a far more damaging course. Berggren echoed comments that have been provided some motivation for leaders to get ahead of the decision before its too late.

There is almost universal agreement that litigation should be the last resort by all means. If the states cant reach an agreement, and this thing ends up in the Supreme Court, youre looking at maybe a decade or longer for the Supreme Court to make a decision, Berggren said.

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And who knows  the only thing we know from that decision is there will be winners and losers, and we dont know who the winners and losers would be. So its a huge risk to the states, its a risk to water users, its incredibly expensive, incredibly time-intensive process to potentially not know where youre going to end up, he said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer rejected a request from Democrats to visit El Salvadors notorious maximum security prison, where hundreds deported from the U.S. by the Trump administration are being held.

In a letter released Friday, Comer ridiculed a request from Reps. Robert Garcia of California and Maxwell Frost of Florida for a congressional delegation to conduct an oversight visit to the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT.

The Kentucky Republican cited his Democratic colleagues active hostility to the committees investigations into former President Joe Bidens border policies over the past two years and said it was absurd that they are now seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members.

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The Trump administration has deported scores of people to El Salvador its accused of being gang members, flying them out of the country before giving them the opportunity to challenge their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. But attorneys and family members for many of those removed from the U.S. have rejected allegations of any connection to gang activity and some have said that the men were targeted based on unreliable suspicions about tattoos and social media posts.

Garcia and Frost told Comer in their request earlier this week that they intended to visit CECOT to check in on several high-profile detainees  including legal U.S. resident Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Andry Hernandez Romero, a gay makeup artist  whom the Trump administration deported without due process.

In his response, Comer referenced Sen. Chris Van Hollens visit to El Salvador this week and echoed Salvadoran President Nayib Bukeles narrative that Abrego Garcia, whom the Trump administration admitted to have mistakenly deported to CECOT last month, was being treated well. Comer also referred to Abrego Garcia, who has not been charged or convicted of any crime in the U.S., of being a foreign MS-13 gang member.

The Justice Department has pointed to records of Abrego Garcias 2019 arrest and Maryland police officers subsequent assessment of his alleged ties to the gang. His lawyers claimed that the police assessment is based on hearsay relayed by a confidential source. Abrego Garcias wife and attorneys have denied that he has any connection to the gang.

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He has since been transferred from CECOT to a different detention facility, according to Van Hollen, D-Md., who met with him in person on Thursday.

House Democrats can still travel to El Salvador of their own volition, but a congressional delegation would allow them access to more resources on such a trip. Comers rejection, first reported by Axios, comes on the heels of House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green, R-Tenn., denying a request earlier this week from Illinois Democratic Rep. Delia Ramirez for a congressional delegation to El Salvador.

Republicans, meanwhile, recently traveled to the Latin American country to visit CECOT on a delegation trip led by House Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Saturday is the last day of Rogers County's first observance of National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week.

The Rogers County Commissioners approved a proclamation at their Monday meeting recognizing the previous Sunday through Saturday as a week to honor the Northeast Oklahoma Enhanced 911 Trust Authority. The hub directs emergency and non-emergency police, medical, fire and animal control calls for all of Rogers County, except Catoosa.

Ron Burrows, District 3 commissioner, is a member of the 911 center's board. Burrows said that at the board's most recent meeting, Executive Director Darryl Maggard asked Burrows if the county could draft a proclamation.

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"There's a group that really goes unnoticed unless you're in a crisis situation," said Burrows just before he read the county's proclamation. "... For them, that's an everyday occurrence. Every day, they're answering the phone with somebody in crisis."

The Association of Public Safety Communication Officials has observed National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week annually since 1981.

Maggard said he was honored Rogers County now observes it, too. Maggard said 911 dispatchers are unseen first responders; he said they arrange for first responders to physically assist callers but are also trained to provide help over the phone, such as guiding callers to administer CPR.

Maggard said that last year, the 911 center responded to 33,000 emergency calls and dispatched 150,500 calls to the 20 departments it serves. He said it's an honor for the county to give recognition to the hard work the center's staff puts in every day.

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"The number comes down to 24 people [who] hold the lives of everybody in their hands, one agency that processes every emergency call," Maggard said. "Not only is that a lot of responsibility, but it speaks well for the people that we have here and their dedication that they have."

Also at Monday's meeting, the commissioners agreed to engage an accounting company to prepare the county's Fiscal Year 2025 financial statement District 2 Commissioner and Chairman Steve Hendrix said up until now, the county has assembled these statements in-house.

"However, that is not going to be an option for us this year, so I reached out to a number of CPA firms," Hendrix said. "Got very little interest, other than Hood and Associates."

Hood and Associates, in a letter to the commissioners, said it would charge the county a $4,000 engagement setup fee and about $29,000 to prepare the statement. Hendrix said Hood already performs audits for a number of the county's authorities.

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Commissioners approved an expenditure of $177,800.04 to digitize 35 record books. Rogers County Clerk Jeanne Heidlage and her office have worked with a company called Kofile for the last two years to preserve old county records.

Heidlage said her office and Kofile have processed 100 photostat books' worth of digital records so far. After the 35 the commissioners approved to digitize Monday, Heidlage said 35 more books remain, as well as 20 commissioners' journals.

"We've got to make sure that we preserve history, and this is what this is about," said District 1 Commissioner Dan DeLozier as he made a motion to approve the measure.
DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  Community groups held a press conference Friday  calling for more investment in youth safety after the death of a Dayton Dunbar student in downtown weeks ago.

Racial Justice Now, Black Lives Matter Dayton and Neighborhoods Over Politics came together for a joint press conference, not only to demand action to address the violence thats happening to Dayton youth, but also to start investing in the future of this area.

Dayton residents, students call for action after shooting death of DPS student

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One of the reasons why I decided to physically leave Dayton for myself and my children is because of the decades of divestment, said Zakiya Sankara-Jabar, Racial Justice Now co-founder.

The three organizations held the joint press conference in response to the death of Dunbar High School Student Alfred Hale, who was shot and killed while waiting for a bus transfer in downtown on his way to school.

The groups are calling for action so that a situation like Hales does not happen to another  they say it starts by investing in the community.

Were tired of seeing Black youth being consistently and constantly dehumanized all over this country, said Sankara-Jabar. Because I believe that budgets are moral documents, when you look at the City of Daytons budget, when you look at even the countys budget, do you see where they love young people?

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The press conference highlighted this lack of investment in Dayton youth.

We cant say that we love and care for our youth if we dont have something that shows we actually love and care for them, said Jamica Garrison, Neighborhoods Over Politics co-founder. We need people in place and leaders in place to have the right heart.

A push for the assembly of a multi-stakeholder team was also at the forefront of the discussion. The proposed team would address concerns of safety, transportation, mental health and more, all in an effort to help area youth.

We urge leaders from Dayton Public Schools, the RTA, Dayton City Government and community stakeholders to convene for an open discussion about the future direction of our tax dollars and transportation funding, said Carlos Buford, Black Lives Matter Dayton.

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The groups hope that this call to action brings officials to the table, to make a better and safer Dayton for future generations.

Come to the table and not just come to the table Bring some dollars, bring some resources. Bring your time, you know, have a plan, have a solution, said Garrison.

Groups that were present Friday hope that a dialogue is started and also a coalition that will help address the concerns in Dayton.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WDTN.com.
Dividend stocks are the best antidote for market volatility. There's nothing like seeing quarterly cash deposits in your account from industry-leading businesses. With the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) average dividend yield sitting at 1.40%, investors can find leading companies offering much higher yields.

Here are two high-yield stocks to buy now.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

1. AT&T

Shares of AT&T (NYSE: T) are up 68% over the past year. This top telecom company is reducing debt, selling its remaining interest in DirecTV, and focusing on growing its 5G wireless service and fiber internet. These moves are designed to maintain sustainable free cash flow to support its high dividend yield.

The regular bills that millions of customers pay for their phone or internet service make a large telecom provider like AT&T a solid dividend investment. The company expects to report $16 billion in free cash flow for 2025. It's been paying out less than half of its free cash flow in dividends, bringing the quarterly payment to $0.2775.

AT&T cut its dividend in 2022, which has allowed he company to reduce debt -- something that was pressuring the stock. Its debt has come down to a more maintainable level that is allowing management to focus on growth initiatives, such as expanding access to fiber internet. AT&T ended 2024 with 29 million fiber locations and expects to reach 50 million by 2029.

AT&T's wireless postpaid business is showing strength. It is seeing relatively fewer cancellations to competitors, as the company improves customer service. Last year, it added 1.7 million postpaid subscribers, which are the monthly bills that people pay to use their phone. This points to more free cash flow and the potential for dividend increases in the coming years.

The recent momentum makes AT&T an attractive income investment for 2025 and beyond. Even after the recent climb, the stock still offers a forward dividend yield above 4%, with the potential for more share price gains.

2. Hershey

Hershey (NYSE: HSY) shares have fallen over record-high cocoa prices, weak consumer spending, and heightened competition in chocolate. But this 130-year-old brand has stood the test of time. It has paid 380 consecutive dividend payments, with the yield now sitting at 15-year highs.

It's mostly the high cocoa costs that have hit Hershey stock. But spikes in commodity prices have a way of self-correcting over time. Record-high prices will incentivize more producers to step up production and increase supply.
On April 19, 1995, America was rocked by a homegrown terrorist attack  the Oklahoma City bombing. This Saturday, NewsNation looks back at the heroes and the journalists who were there as the chaos unfolded. Tune into ON AIR LIVE: The Oklahoma City Bombing at 9p/8C. Find out how to watch.

OKLAHOMA CITY (NewsNation)  A public ceremony at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum on Saturday will honor the 168 people killed in the bombing at the Alfred P. Murrah federal complex in 1995.

Kari Watkins, president and CEO of the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, said the city has been resilient in the face of that day of darkness.

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Weve spent the last 30 years understanding that day of darkness but enjoying years of light, she told NewsNation. And thats because weve worked together, been united, rebuilt.

Social Security payment missing? Heres what you can do

Watkins said Oklahoma City has served as an example for other cities of how to rebound from trauma.

We rebuilt our city in a way that is a city on the hill, she said. It stands for other cities who go through trauma, to come and learn from us. The families and survivors and first responders are in great shape; they figured out how to put their lives back together and move forward. And everyone grieves and moves forward in different ways, and Oklahoma City is no different.

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Saturdays memorial will feature remarks from victims family members and survivors as well as a keynote address by former President Bill Clinton, who was in his first term when the bombing took place.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NewsNation.
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  A 12-year-old girl from Larned is fighting a life-threatening, rare genetic disorder. She has already undergone 23 surgeries and needs another three. KSN spoke to her father about her road to recovery.

Cheynne Hawes (Courtesy: Donald Hawes)

Cheyenne Hawes was born with Treacher-Collins syndrome, which affects the growth of a childs skull and facial bones.

The Larned community is stepping up for Cheyenne, who is described as spunky and full of life. Her neighbors are lifting up Cheyenne and her family in their emotional journey.

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From the moment she was born, Cheyenne Hawes has always been a fighter.

She is such a fighter and such a strong kid, and when she walks into a room, she just lights it up, and anybody here in Larned will tell you that, Donald Hawes, Cheyennes father, said.

Cheyenne and her family are preparing for three major surgeries: A spinal fusion surgery, dental reconstruction, and a tracheostomy.

Theres something about this little girl, and I dont know what it is, Donald said. She just lights up a room, and then she draws everybody to her.

A friend of Cheyennes, Marilyn Stude, has known her since birth and knows how expensive surgeries can be.

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Wichita nonprofit helps people get affordable medical equipment

I know Ive been through not nearly that extensive medical procedures with family members, and it is extremely expensive, not to mention the time and everything that it takes out of their lives. And so helping raise some funds is the least I can do, Stude said.

Several organizations are helping in Larned hosting fundraisers to support Cheyenne, including the World Wrestling Xpress.

Cheyenne has been involved with this wrestling group for about eight years now, theyve become a big part of our family, and all the wrestlers all over the country that are coming and become friends and fans of Cheyenne as well, Donald said.

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Cheyennes mother has Treacher-Collins syndrome and has had over 50 surgeries.

A community coming together for a fighter. You can support Cheynne on Saturday. Humble Pie in Larned is giving 10% of its proceeds to her medical bills.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
A number of companies across the world are looking for new ways to tackle "forever chemicals."

What's happening?

As the demand for artificial intelligence surges, a "chips race" is underway, bringing with it increased concerns of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, Bloomberg reported. The news agency explained that microchips are central to AI technology, but the semiconductor sector that produces them is a major source of PFAS, spewing these chemicals into the environment via wastewater.

"There is an urgent need to prevent any further industrial PFAS pollution and clean up existing contamination," Lee Bell, technical and policy adviser for the International Pollutants Elimination Network, told Bloomberg. He added that incineration won't destroy these chemicals, "so we need to identify new technologies to meet this challenge."

Why are PFAS concerning?

PFAS refers to a group of man-made chemicals that are used in a variety of consumer goods, including nonstick cookware and water-repellent clothing. These chemicals have been associated with a variety of health impacts, including increased risk of certain cancers and developmental delays in children, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

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One study even found that exposure to PFAS through drinking water before birth could lead to an increased risk of childhood cancers.

These chemicals have also made their way into our water supply. In fact, one study found that more than 20% of Americans may be exposed to PFAS-contaminated tap water. The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry contends that most Americans have been exposed to PFAS in one way or another and have it in their blood.

What's being done about PFAS?

Bloomberg reported on a few companies that are developing ways to try to destroy these forever chemicals. While the methods don't remove PFAS from the chip-production process  the publication said these chemicals are still crucial in this industry  they can zap them out afterward.

For instance, Switzerland-based Oxyle AG generates bubbles less than 1 millimeter in diameter in water contaminated with PFAS. The bubbles help grab PFAS molecules and are processed in a way that leaves no toxic by-products, according to the company.

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Meanwhile, Boston area-based company Gradiant launched a treatment technology that it says permanently removes and destroys PFAS.

While it's probably impossible to avoid all PFAS from your environment, you can help reduce your exposure by opting for PFAS-free brands and limiting your purchases of nonstick cookware and stain- or water-resistant clothing.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Places of worship are expecting large gatherings as many prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday. But since the Trump administration rescinded a policy that protected immigrants from deportation while attending church or school, some churchgoers are left feeling uneasy about attending services.

Dozens watched the re-enactment of their saviors sacrifice on Friday morning.

There are people who are in pain right now and people identify themselves with the sufferings of Christ, Auxiliary Bishop Ramon Bejarano said.

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The attendees remember Christs pain on Good Friday as they walk through their own.

A lot of our people in our congregations are disturbed and afraid by these policies and these callings for deportations, Bejarano said.

Churches were once protected from Immigrations and Customs Enforcement raids under a policy implemented by the Obama administration that designated several safe spaces.

Schools (including pre-schools, primary schools, secondary schools, post-secondary schools up to and including colleges and universities, and other institutions of learning such as vocational or trade schools)

Hospitals

Churches, synagogues, mosques or other institutions of worship, such as buildings rented for the purpose of religious services

The site of a funeral, wedding, or other public religious ceremony

The site during the occurrence of a public demonstration, such as a march, rally or parade

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The Biden administration later expanded that policy in 2021 to include these places.

Any School

Medical or healthcare facility or office

Any place of worship

Place where children gather or recreate

Social Service Office or establishment

Emergency or disaster response shelter or aid location

Place of any religious or civil ceremony, including wedding or funeral

Gathering of people; demonstration, rally, or parade

The policy was put into place so even if you were undocumented, you wouldnt be denied the rights of a civil society, said Morgan Principi, an immigration attorney with Pathways to Citizenship.

The Trump administration rescinded the Biden-era policy in a memo released in January.

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Going forward, law enforcement officers should continue to use that discretion along with a healthy dose of common sense, Acting Secretary Benjamine C. Huffman wrote in the memo.

Principi explains the memo leaves room for ICE officers to enter certain places without explicit written or verbal permission.

Theres not the hard stop that we need the authorization, so it really makes it precarious because since its not explicitly required, it kind of lets ICE officers do what they want to do in these spaces, she said.

Principi says even if ICE shows up at a worship service, you still have rights and reminds people they cannot be arrested without a warrant.

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While some churches across the country report seeing a decline in attendance in-person since the policy change, the Catholic Diocese of San Diego still expects a large gathering on Easter Sunday.

When people are in distress, when people are suffering, they look to God in a greater way, Bejarano said.

The Catholic Diocese of San Diego says they live stream their services online for anyone who may be concerned about attending mass in-person on Easter Sunday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
This article was first published in the On the Trail newsletter. Sign up to receive the newsletter in your inbox on Friday mornings here.

Hello, friends. Welcome back to another quiet week on the Hill as lawmakers are home for the Easter holiday.

Its been 100 days since Republicans took control of both chambers of Congress. With the House and Senate out (and spring weather in!), I decided to take a look at what the new GOP trifecta has accomplished so far during this time period  and how the Utah delegation is leading the way on several high-profile issues. All that and more below.

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And, exciting news: This newsletter is getting a name change. To reflect the fact I am not technically on the campaign trail, well be renaming the newsletter to be a little more accurate: On the Hill. The content will remain the same and Ill keep giving you a peek at the behind-the-scenes of Congress. So keep your eyes on your inbox, that change is starting May 2!

The Big Idea

100 days into a GOP trifecta  What have Utah lawmakers accomplished?

This week marked the first 100 days of the 119th Congress and its been nothing short of busy and filled with action (and a bit of drama here and there).

To mark the occasion, I reached out to members of Utahs congressional delegation to get a sense of what the last four months have been like and what they have accomplished. To be sure, the Republican majority has so far fared better than it did last Congress when the GOP only held control of the House.

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Multiple times throughout that session, Republicans were forced to rely on their Democratic counterparts to pass key pieces of legislation. That gave Democrats an upper hand, even in the House where they sat in the minority.

But this year, theres been a shift in momentum  under the leadership of President Donald Trump, party leaders such as House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., have seemingly been able to do the impossible. Theyve gotten even the most stubborn hard-line conservatives on board with legislation they never would have supported before (and didnt when they came up for votes last year).

In this Congress, House Republicans are sticking together, Rep. Blake Moore, R-Utah, told me. I do love that we have good, positive movement now, and were focusing on some core aspects of governing and I hope to be able to continue to do that.

Rep. Burgess Owens, R-Utah, had similar thoughts, pointing to votes on a stopgap government funding bill and a massive budget resolution that in the past, wouldve been impossible for us.

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Its so different for our party to be together like this because normally, were very individual, he said. So Im excited  (about) the relationship our president has with Speaker Johnson, that were actually getting legislation done.

And for the Utah delegation, theyve had a productive 100 days themselves. Moore has played a major role in crafting the tax reconciliation bill thanks to his roles on the powerful Budget and Ways and Means committees.

Meanwhile, Owens has focused much of his attention on education. The House passed a bill in March seeking to crack down on foreign gifts given to U.S. universities and colleges, and much of that bill contained provisions from Owens proposals.

Rep. Mike Kennedy, R-Utah, has also had an eventful first three months on the job  including the passage of his first bill, the U.S. Research Protection Act. With Kennedy being the newbie in the Utah delegation, I asked him if there was anything that surprised him about serving in Congress.

His response: To be candid, I have been genuinely surprised by the number of dedicated individuals here who are working diligently to bring about positive change for our country. Certain media outlets often relish in pushing negative narratives when speaking about those serving in government positions, but I have witnessed a level of sincerity and effort from many members of Congress that is rarely highlighted or acknowledged.

On the Senate side, Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, has played a major role in some of Trumps top priorities. For example, the Utah senator is leading the SAVE Act, which would ban noncitizens from voting in federal elections. The bill has already passed the House, but its future in the Senate is unclear.

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Sen. John Curtis, R-Utah, has also had a productive first few months in the Senate, introducing a flurry of bills cracking down on China and other legislation directly related to Utah.

Stories driving the week

From Senate to El Salvador: Maryland Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen flew to El Salvador on Wednesday in an attempt to return Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia after he was deported last month. Democrats have demanded his return after the Trump administration admitted the deportation was an administrative error but has refused to bring him back, claiming it is not under U.S. jurisdiction. Trump snub: President Trump wont attend the annual White House Correspondents Association dinner later this month, snubbing the high-profile event amid tensions with the press. A feud between Trump officials and the WHCA has been nearing a boiling point for months, especially after the White House announced in February it would be taking over the press corps rotating assignments for journalists covering the president. Could New York go red? Rep. Elise Stefanik, who is long been considered a rising star in the Republican Party, is mulling a governors run in the blue state of New York, a source familiar with her thinking tells me. That could make the election interesting as Stefanik is a fundraising powerhouse  and Democrats arent totally set on incumbent New York Gov. Kathy Hochul as a candidate.

Utah punching above its weight in Congress

While speaking to the Utah delegation about their first 100 days in Congress, one of the things that stuck out to me was how tightknit this group is.

In conversations with the members, they often speak highly of their Utah peers  and even humble brag about each others areas of expertise. I also spot Utah lawmakers sitting with each other in the House chamber during long vote sessions and they even have the occasional hype-up on social media.

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I hope Utahns can sit back and look at their delegation and recognize youve got incredibly good coverage on all the issues that matter to Utah, Moore told me.

And its true  Utah lawmakers cover a lot of ground in Congress. In the Senate, Lee chairs the Energy and Natural Resources Committee while Curtis sits on four committees related to energy and commerce as well as the environment.

On the other side of Capitol Hill, Moore sits on a number of key committees and even holds a spot in GOP leadership as the conferences vice chair. From there, the other three Utah House members sit on an array of committees such as Rep. Celeste Maloy on Appropriations, Owens on Education and Workforce, and Kennedy on Transportation and Infrastructure, to name a few.

I would hope Utahns are looking at their delegation and saying, Oh goodness, theyre covering a lot of ground for only being four people in the House, Moore said.

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And with only six members in the entire delegation across the House and Senate, it opens the door for a lot of collaboration.

The reason we punch above our weight is because we collaborate, Owens told me over the phone this week. We might not approach (problems) in the exact same way, but whats unique about Utah is we have this culture of service, culture of entrepreneurship and innovation  so in that process you have to talk. You have to have your chance to collaborate, see what works best for us to get to our endgame.

Over the last four months, Utah lawmakers have teamed up several times to introduce legislation. In fact, there have been times where all six of them sign on to one bill.

Just this week, Utah lawmakers introduced a bill to preserve access to the University of Utahs Research Park amid legal uncertainties posed by the Bureau of Land Management about whether the federal land is being used for its original intent.

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Im excited about being a state that has this focus of communication, Owens said.

Quick hits

From the Hill: Sen. Mike Lee wants to crack down on secret meetings of the D.C. Council.  Republicans are split on proposals to raise taxes for the rich.  Utah Rep. Blake Moore leads efforts to make adoption more affordable.  Congress will investigate 23andMe bankruptcy amid privacy concerns.

From the White House: RFK Jr. decries epidemic denial amid rising autism rates.  President Trump shares messages for Easter and Passover.  Trump discusses crime, deportations with El Salvadors Bukele.  AG Bondi takes Maine to court over transgender athletes.

From the courts: Supreme Court gives surprise update on birthright citizenship battle.  SCOTUS mandates return of wrongly deported man. . U.K. Supreme Court issues unanimous ruling on the definition of woman.

Whats next

The House and Senate are out next week. When they return, theyll get to work drafting Trumps massive tax reconciliation package, which would hit some obstacles as Republicans are already butting heads on some provisions.

As always, feel free to reach out to me by email with story ideas or questions you have for lawmakers. And follow me on X for breaking news and timely developments from the Hill.
Crawford County Treasurer Christine Krzysiak has been honored as the latest 16th Congressional District Community Champion by Congressman Mike Kelly for her decades of public service to the county.

Christine embodies what it means to be a dedicated public servant, said Kelly, whose congressional district includes Crawford County. Whether its her role as Crawford County treasurer, serving in her church, or becoming a mentor to young professionals across the region, she continues to put others first and strengthen our communities.

The award was presented Saturday during the Crawford County Republican Committees spring dinner at The Oaks Event Hall and Lounge at Conneaut Lake.

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I was very surprised, very honored and felt very special, Krzysiak told The Meadville Tribune on Thursday about receiving award. I had no inkling. Mike Kelly was the speaker; I was surprised when he called me up.

Krzysiak, who is serving in her 14th year as county treasurer, will retire at the year when her current term expires.

Krzysiak serves on the executive board of the County Treasurers Association of Pennsylvania and has done so for the last four years. She was elected as the groups president in 2023. She also has been a member of the Meadville Business and Professional Women since 2011, served as its treasurer for seven years, and currently serves on its audit committee. She also is an altar server at her church.

Previously, Krzysiak served as Venango Townships tax collector from 2005-11. She began working for Crawford County in the Clerk of Courts Office in 1984.

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She and her husband, Tim, have three adult children and one grandchild.

The Community Champion award is a citation instituted by Kellys office in January 2015 to recognize and honor service-minded individuals in Pennsylvanias 16th Congressional District for selfless and significant contributions to their surrounding communities.

Each winner is presented with a plaque from Kellys office, a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol building, and a statement of congratulations that has been entered into the official Congressional Record.
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Rep. Randy Fine, who was recently elected to Congress, is revisiting a discussion about guns on college campuses, following Thursdays deadly mass shooting at Florida State University.

Fine served as a state senator in Tallahassee before voters sent him to Washington, D.C. He filed Senate Bill 814 to allow students to carry concealed firearms on campus.

2 food service employees killed in FSU shooting

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During a Senate hearing regarding that bill, the then-senator made a plea for lawmakers to approve the measure so it could move to the Senate floor. He told them he filed the bill after he felt Jewish college students were being mistreated during pro-Israel protests.

I made a decision at that point that if schools would not protect these children, then I would make sure that they could protect themselves, Fine said.

The lawmaker had more to add in his attempt to gain support for his bill.

There is no magic force field that keeps guns from coming onto our college campuses. There is not one, Fine said. There are guns on college campuses right now; lots of them. They are just being carried by the people who dont follow the rules.

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All 6 injured victims expected to make full recoveries following deadly FSU mass shooting

Senate democrats on the Criminal Justice Committee pushed back. Senate Minority Leader Jason Pizzo spoke out against the measure.

If there was a bill that spoke to much more funding for security, armed security for the protection of students, I would be all for it, Pizzo said.

Pizzo represents voters near the Miami-Dade and Broward County line, and theres discussion that he may run for governor.

My other son is entering college this fall, and I dont trust his peers, his classmates, to have a gun in their dorm room. I just dont, Pizzo said.

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One of Fines final bills in the Florida legislature failed to move forward after a 4-3 vote.

Who is FSU shooter Phoenix Ikner, stepson of Florida deputy?

Republican state Sen. Ileana Garcia, out of Miami, joined democrats to vote no.

Garcia recently posted on X, part:

I have zero regret. Proud to have voted against your moronic campus carry bill, that didnt have a house companion. This decision wasnt about partisan politics; it was rooted in common sense.

I find it unacceptable @realDonaldTrump for @VoteRandyFine to promote hateful rhetoric against me simply because I made a decision based on reason rather than partisan politics. Your suggestion that students should defend themselves by carrying firearms on campus, along with the  Ileana Garcia (@IleanaGarciaUSA) April 18, 2025

Fine posted on X by calling Garcia a so-called republican.

There is no magic force field that keeps guns from coming onto our college campuses.



Less than one month ago, in my last bill presentation as a Florida Senator, I attempted to give adults the same right to protect themselves on campus as they have off. My four-minute closing pic.twitter.com/UStUYFDqEQ  Congressman Randy Fine (@VoteRandyFine) April 18, 2025

Last month, a bill to lower the age to buy a firearm from 21 to 18 passed the state house. So far, its unclear if its companion, Senate Bill 920, will make it onto the floor for a vote.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
Not since the American Revolution, when Paul Revere rode through the streets of Boston and Thomas Paine published his famous Common Sense, have Americans received a more urgent wake-up call to the looming danger to their liberty than they did this week. This time, the alert came from no revolutionary, but a Ronald Reagan-appointed federal judge.

J. Harvie Wilkinson, a well-respected and deeply conservative judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, wrote about the plight of Kilmar Garcia, who was mistakenly deported by the Trump administration last month. Despite court orders, the administration refuses to lift a finger to right that grievous wrong.

Pointing out its defiance of an order from the Supreme Court, Wilkinson reminded his readers that the rule of law(is) vital to the American ethos. And he noted that Garcias case presents a unique chance to vindicate that value and to summon the best that is within us while there is still time.

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Time, Wilkinson warned, is running out on American democracy. His words call on his colleagues on the Supreme Court, Republican members of Congress, business leaders, law firms, universities, and citizens to demand Garcias return and stand up to the almost daily abuses of power by the Trump administration.

For decades, the eighty-year-old Wilkinson has been a darling of the conservative legal movement. Appointed to the bench by President Ronald Reagan in 1983, he has a long track record as an opponent of abortion and judicial legalization of gay marriage. He was rumored to be on the shortlist to replace the late Chief Justice of the United States, William Rehnquist. Most importantly, he regularly has defended presidential power.

In a 2003 case that has some eerie parallels to Garcias, Wilkinson wrote an opinion that the New York Times called a major legal victory for the administration of President George W. Bush. He ruled that a wartime president can indefinitely detain a United States citizen captured as an enemy combatant on the battlefield and deny that person access to a lawyer. The judge said, It was improper for the federal courts to probe too deeply into the detention of Yasser Esam Hamdi, a 22-year-old American-born Saudi who was captured on the battlefield in Afghanistan and is now imprisoned in a military brig in Norfolk, Va.

That brings us back to the Garcia case.

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Garcia entered this country illegally in 2011 and was granted temporary protective status in 2019, during Trumps first term. On March 12 of this year, he was pulled over while driving, his 5-year-old in the back seat. He was told his immigration status had changed. Thirteen days later, without a trial of any kind, Garcia was flown to El Salvador and imprisoned as a terrorist member of the MS-13 street gang.

As New York Times columnist Ezra Klein explains, There has been no evidence, anywhere, offered by anyone, that suggests Abrego Garcia poses a threat to anyone in this country.

Lawyers for Garcia sued, seeking an order to return him to the United States. They alleged that the government had violated his right to due process of law and provisions of the Immigration and Nationality Act, the Administrative Procedure Act, and federal habeas corpus law. Federal District Judge Paula Xinis granted their request. She directed the federal government to facilitate and effectuate the return of Plaintiff Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia to the United States by no later than 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7, 2025. Since then, the Fourth Circuit and the Supreme Court have upheld Xinis order.

A unanimous Supreme Court said that Xiniss order properly requires the Government to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador. Leaving no doubt about its intention, the Court sent the case back to Xinis with the directive that the District Court should continue to ensure that the Government lives up to its obligations to follow the law.

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When Xinis acted to implement that directive, the administration again appealed to the Fourth Circuit seeking an emergency stay to prevent her from doing so.

Enter Judge Wilkinson.

His opinion, turning down their request, is a masterpiece of legal writing, clear, free of unnecessary jargon, and to the point. It is written both for the present moment and the future judgments of history.

Wilkinson began by praising the efforts of a fine district judge attempting to implement the Supreme Courts recent decision. In so doing, he pushed back against any Trump Administration effort to malign her.

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Moreover, resisting the administrations efforts to throw sand in the machinery of justice, Wilkinson characterized Garcias case as easy and the courts duty as clear. He explained, It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.

That is because The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done.

This, he continued, should be shocking not only to judges, but to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear.

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

Wilkinson insisted that the government defied the nations highest court by do(ing) essentially nothing.

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Quoting from the Supreme Courts decision that the government has a duty to facilitate Garcias return, Wilkinson offered a simple grammar lesson. Facilitate is an active verb. It requires that steps be taken as the Supreme Court has made perfectly clear."

He linked our fate to Garcias by reminding his readers that if the government gets away with denying him due process and making him disappear from this country, it may soon do the same thing to any one of us. In the end, as if leading us back to Paul Revere and Thomas Paine, Wilkinson said Garcias deportation threatens to reduce the rule of law to lawlessness and tarnish the very values for which Americans of diverse views and persuasions have always stood.

What Paine said in his time is also true today. The present state of America, he wrote, is truly alarming to every man who is capable of reflection.

But in a time of peril, Paine continued, instead of gazing at each other with suspicious or doubtful curiosity, let each of us hold out to his neighbor the hearty hand of friendship, and unite in drawing a line, which shall bury in forgetfulness every former dissention.

Using words that have special meaning today, Paine asked his contemporaries to remember that in America, only the law is king and to be virtuous supporter(s) of the RIGHTS of MANKIND.
A convicted Los Angeles County murderer who escaped from custody in California and then fled to Mexico  where he allegedly shot and killed a police officer who was trying to apprehend him  was arrested in Tijuana this week, Mexican authorities said.

The attorney general's office of the state of Baja California announced that Cesar Hernandez, 35, had been captured Thursday in a special operation dubbed "Gacela," meaning gazelle. He was wanted in Mexico in connection with the April 9 shooting death of Mexican police commander Abigail Esparza Reyes, which took place during an attempt to arrest him in Tijuana.

Cesar Hernandez escaped from custody in December as he was being transported to Delano for a court appearance. (California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation)

Reyes was a member of a specialized investigative unit known as "Gringo Hunters," which works to apprehend fugitives who have fled to Mexico from the U.S., according to reporting from Reuters. Authorities told the wire service that Reyes had led the unit's regional team for eight years and carried out more than 400 operations.

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"Abigail's life will be honored, and her death will not go unpunished," Baja California Gov. Marina del Pilar Avila Olmeda said in Spanish in a statement on social media earlier this month.

In 2019, Hernandez was sentenced to 80 years to life for killing a man outside of a bar in Southeast Los Angeles, a second-strike offense, according to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

Hernandez escaped custody in December while he was being transported to an appearance at Kern County Superior Court in Delano, according to CDCR. After arriving at the courthouse, he jumped out of the van, evaded staff and fled the area on foot.

Read more: Murderer escapes custody in Central California; search underway

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Despite the significant law enforcement effort to capture him, he made it to Mexico.

Hernandez "had been on the run from justice in both Mexico and the U.S., making him a top priority for law enforcement" the Baja California Attorney General's Office said in a statement in Spanish.

In Baja California, if you break the law, there are consequences," the statement concluded.

Authorities have not yet announced whether Hernandez will be prosecuted in Mexico or California.

According to the CDCR, 99% of offenders who have left an institution, camp or community-based program without permission since 1977 have been apprehended.

Sign up for Essential California for news, features and recommendations from the L.A. Times and beyond in your inbox six days a week.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has reported to have found $155 billion in savings since it was created in January. President Donald Trump announced in February that there was a possibility that 20% of DOGEs savings would go back to Americans in the form of $5,000 checks.

Right now, its up to Congress whether or not these checks will become a reality.

Check Out: Trump Wants To Eliminate Income Taxes  Heres How Much Extra Youd Take Home If You Make $150K a Year

Learn More: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle

If the DOGE dividend checks are treated as federal tax refunds, they most likely would not be subject to taxes, according to E-File. However, if those checks are classified as true ordinary dividend checks, then there would be federal taxes on them based on income, and some states might tax the checks as income. Based on that classification, heres a look at which states would tax the DOGE dividend checks.

All tax rates were obtained by TaxFoundation.org on April 7, except where otherwise noted.

See more on DOGEs latest cost cutting.

DenisTangneyJr / iStock.com

Alabama

Dividend checks would be considered income in Alabama and would be subject to an income tax between 2% and 5% of the gross amount.

Also See: Mark Cuban Says Trumps Tariffs Will Affect This Class of People the Most

Explore More: 4 Mistakes the Upper Middle Class Are Making With Their Money in the Trump Economy

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Arizona

Arizona has a flat income tax rate of 2.5%, so dividend checks would be subject to this as well.

Find Out: How Paychecks Would Look in Each State If Trump Dropped Federal Income Tax

Davel5957 / Getty Images

Arkansas

Dividend checks would be considered income and subject to an income tax. Arkansas income tax is based on the total income, starting at 2% and going up to 3.9%.

zorazhuang / iStock/Getty Images

California

Those getting dividend checks in California would be subject to income tax. That tax depends on the total made and ranges from 1% to 12.3%.

Muhammad Zulkifal / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Colorado

Colorado has a flat income tax rate of 4.4%, which would apply to dividend checks.

Sean Pavone / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Connecticut

The dividend checks would be considered income in Connecticut, and subject to a tax between 2% and 6.99% based on the total earned.

DenisTangneyJr / Getty Images

Delaware

Delaware would tax dividends as income, making them subject to a tax between 3.9% and 6.6% based on the total earned.

Read More: Trumps Economy: Why Millennials Love It and Boomers Dont

Jacob Boomsma / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Georgia

Ordinary dividends are taxed as ordinary income. The state has a flat income tax rate of 5.39%.

Art Wager / Getty Images

Hawaii

Dividend checks would be considered income in Hawaii and would be subject to state taxes. Depending on how much you make, the tax rate ranges from 1.4% to 11%, plus additional fees.
Police have arrested a homeless ex-con they say brutally stabbed a 21-year-old man with a knuckle knife in an unprovoked attack on a Bronx subway train, officials said Saturday.

Lateef Green is facing attempted murder and assault charges for Fridays attack on a No. 5 train nearing the 219th St. subway station in Williamsbridge.

According to police, Green, 50, was pacing back and forth between cars on the moving subway train at about 7 a.m. when he randomly stormed up to his victim and stabbed him multiple times in the chest and body with the knuckle knife, which has holes in the handle for the wielders fingers, providing a firmer grip.

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The victim exited the train at the 219th St. station and flagged down police. EMS transported him to Jacobi Hospital, where hes expected to survive.

Police released images of Green and caught up with him about 12 hours later, taking him into custody. It was not immediately disclosed where he as located.

His arraignment in Bronx Criminal Court was pending Saturday.

A 21-year-old man riding onboard a southbound No. 5 train was taken to Jacobi Hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in the right forearm just before the E. 219th St./White Plains Rd. subway stop in the Bronx on Fri., April 18, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News) Show Caption1 of 2A 21-year-old man riding onboard a southbound No. 5 train was taken to Jacobi Hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in the chest and body just before the E. 219th St./White Plains Rd. subway stop in the Bronx on Fri., April 18, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)Expand

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Police sources said Green has been arrested about 30 times and violated parole after he was released from prison in 2021. He served three and a half years at Mid-State Correctional Facility after he was convicted in Manhattan on a hate crime assault and sexual abuse incident in 2017, state records show.

Many of Greens arrests were for criminal trespass after the homeless man was found sleeping in building doorways and stairwells, police sources said.

He was still homeless when he was arrested Friday, but was staying at a Bronx shelter, police said.

As police flooded the 219th St. subway station following the bloody attack, cops quickly apprehend a man who allegedly brazenly groped a womans breast as they passed each other on the stairs.

Officers arrested Dennis Willis, 58, charging him with forcible touching of intimate parts, police said.
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A Mars vista captured by NASA's Perseverance rover. | Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS

While most people searching for signs of alien life these days might have their eyes on the exoplanet K2-18b, one team of researchers is keeping their sights a little closer to home.

Texas A&M researcher Michael Tice and a team of international scientists have revealed new clues about Mars' potential to have supported life , thanks to data collected by NASA's Perseverance rover .

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Since 2021, Perseverance has been exploring Mars' Jezero Crater, using its mobile laboratory to support the work of scientists around the world. Tice and his team, in particular, have been using Perseverance to analyze Martian rocks. Their goal is to study the planet's volcanic and hydrological history, looking for indicators that Mars might have once been habitable.

Through their research, the team has discovered two types of mineral-rich volcanic rocks: a dark rock with iron, magnesium, pyroxene and plagioclase feldspar, as well as a light-toned trachyandesite with plagioclase crystals and potassium.

Simulating the formation of the rocks' minerals through thermodynamic modeling, the researchers determined that Mars has a very complex volcanic history  one that might have been able to provide the key compounds needed for life.

"The processes we see here  fractional crystallization and crustal assimilation  happen in active volcanic systems on Earth," Tice said in a statement . "It suggests that this part of Mars may have had prolonged volcanic activity, which in turn could have provided a sustained source for different compounds used by life."

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Related stories:

 Life on Mars could have thrived near active volcanoes and an ancient mile-deep lake

 Strange sphere-studded rock on Mars found by NASA's Perseverance rover

 'Poppy seeds' and 'leopard spots' on Mars could hint at ancient microbial life

As advanced as Perseverance is, its toolkit is still limited compared to what we have here on Earth, so there's only so much we can learn about samples from afar. As such, Tice looks forward to NASA's planned Mars Sample Return mission to conduct further research on the volcanic rock.

"Weve carefully selected these rocks because they contain clues to Mars past environments," Tice said. "When we get them back to Earth and can analyze them with laboratory instruments, well be able to ask much more detailed questions about their history and potential biological signatures."
A new study models the impact of the implosion of U.S.-funded disease treatment and prevention in the developing world  and suggests that Elon Musk and Marco Rubio will go down as among historys greatest monsters if funding and effective administration are not restored.

In short: Tens of millions will die, millions of them children.

The second Trump administration began by driving a stake through the heart of Americas foreign aid programs. Led by Musk, and enabled by Secretary of State Rubio, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has been shuttered, and its life-saving programs in global health either defunded or thrown into disarray.

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The new paper is not yet finalized or peer-reviewed; it was published as part of a project called Preprints with The Lancet. But it offers a first glimpse of the potential impact of the Trump administrations cut-and-run approach to foreign aid  fueled by lies and red-pill conspiracy theories promoted by Musk about USAID being a radical left and criminal organization that deserved to be sent through the wood chipper.

The study models the collapse of nearly $13 billion in U.S. funding for health programs in developing countries, including for the treatment and prevention of HIV and tuberculosis; family planning; and maternal and child health. It forecasts the increase in global death and suffering through 2040 if this funding  which accounts for nearly a quarter of global donor investment  is zeroed out.

The findings shock the conscience. Cessation of U.S. aid will lead to people in poor countries dying, in genocidal proportions, of preventable and treatable diseases. That includes more than 15 million additional deaths from HIV/AIDS, more than 2 million additional casualties from tuberculosis, and nearly 8 million additional children dead of other maladies.

The impact on family planning is similarly stark  with tens of millions of new unplanned pregnancies (ranging between 40-55 million). Counter to the administrations stated pro-life agenda, the collapse of American aid is projected to lead to as many as 16 million unsafe abortions.

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According to the study, this mass suffering would be avoided by continuing U.S. funding on a status quo level from 2024 commitments. (Current funding for these programs represents about 0.2 percent of Americas $6.75 trillion in annual federal spending.)

The deadliest projected impact comes from the hobbling of PEPFAR, or the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief  an enormous humanitarian accomplishment of the George W. Bush presidency that has made anti-retroviral medication widely available in the developing world, particularly in African countries hardest hit by HIV. The program has been credited with saving tens of millions of lives and preventing HIV transmission to nearly 8 million children since 2023.

The GOP-led Congress shares blame here, too. PEPFARs authorization expired in March, and the current Congress has provided funding only through September  throwing the entire programs future into doubt. Regardless of appropriated funds, however, the chaotic governance of Trump, Musk, and Rubio has monkey-wrenched the program on the ground.

PEPFAR was supposed to be exempt from a 90-day funding pause the administration imposed on most foreign aid, but USAID administered a majority of PEPFAR aid and the agency now no longer exists, with its chipped remains being swept into the State Department. International partners on the ground in places like South Africa have likened the Trump-Musk era to being pushed off a cliff. The George W. Bush Presidential Center has blasted the new administration for having gravely undermined PEPFAR.

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The future of U.S. funding to prevent and treat tuberculosis, as well child and maternal health programs, is similarly uncertain. (By one estimate, a Trump freeze on TB funding has already killed 11,000 people.) This gutting of medical aid comes atop the deadly havoc caused by the suspension of food aid to relieve famine in the worlds poorest countries.

The authors of the preprint paper are stark in their warning about the impact of continued cuts, insisting that a U.S. withdrawal from its 2024 commitments would reverse decades of progress in global health and send levels of deaths and disease soaring to levels not seen since the 1990s.

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This week, Harvard University refused to agree to the Trump administrations demands, leading to a freeze in federal funding. The overreach. Was much too far, says Wesleyan University President Michael Roth, but he warns that the chaotic operation in the White House really does provoke fears in civil society. This is a tactic weve seen from every authoritarian regime, says GW Laws Mary Anne Franks, author of Fearless Speech, but courage can be contagious,
LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)  Some may call Good Friday the Super bowl Sunday of crawfish season. With last years drought causing a lot of issues, many have wondered of how sales will look for this Easter weekend.

News 10 spoke with Laney King, co-founder The Crawfish App, reassured that everything should be back to normal.

Yeah, this year, like I said, much more normal when we look back at prior years, we look back at 2021, 2022, prices were much more in line. King said. Maybe, you know, give or take a quarter a pound, but were much more in line with historical Easter prices.

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Crawfish prices are a dollar fifty cents cheaper for live crawfish as compared to last years Easter weekend. They are the lowest it has been all season long. With Easter falling later in the year, crawfish season is at its peak with crawfish being the perfect size for a perfect weekend gathering.

Live, boiled crawfish prices drop for Easter weekend

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If youre looking for, you know, a medium to large size crawfish, youre going to pay about three, ten a pound on average. King said. Thats what the average of about 800 Louisiana crawfish prices tells us. If youre okay with, you know, maybe the small to medium mix, were seeing sacks for $50, $60 a sack, which I mean, thats thats awesome



As prices look promising and sacks are flying out of stores. crawfish lovers can say Allons Manger with pride knowing they got a good bang for their buck.

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Last year youre paying an extra 50 bucks a sack versus what youre paying this year. Thats thats big. I mean, especially on Easter weekend, you know, youre boiling for your family. Sometimes people buy 1 to 3 sacks of crawfish. This year is a huge savings. King said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLFY.com.
HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WBTW)  Crews battled an outdoor fire that broke out along Russell Road near Conway, officials said Saturday morning.

Firefighters were sent to the area just before 9:30 a.m. The blaze covered roughly five acres, and responders worked to protect structures. Smoke from the area may be visible for an extended duration.

The fire was brought under control by 4 p.m.

The South Carolina Forestry Commission assisted with two plows.

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Adam Benson joined the News13 digital team in January 2024. He is a veteran South Carolina reporter with previous stops at the Greenwood Index-Journal, Post & Courier and The Sun News in Myrtle Beach. Adam is a Boston native and University of Utah graduate. Follow Adam on X, formerly Twitter, at @AdamNewshound12. See more of his work here.

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Felonies

The following people were booked into the Lee County-Tupelo Adult Jail in connection with felony charges ending Thursday at 11 a.m.

Torreon M. Albert, 22, of Belden, was arrested by the Mississippi Department of Corrections, violation of post-release supervision.

Tracy Davidson Jr., 29, of Okolona, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, capias for third-degree arson.

Frederick O. Ellis, 44, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, simple assault on a law enforcement officer, disorderly conduct, resisting arrest.

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Anix E. Faine, 44, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, aggravated animal cruelty.

Desmon Tashawn Hayes, 33, no address listed, was arrested by the Guntown Police Department, possession of a firearm by a felon, simple domestic violence.

Caleb Demone Price, 29, of Tupelo, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, capias for two counts of the sales of fentanyl.

Camron Desean Ramsey, 23, of Nettleton, was arrested by the Tupelo Police Department, capias for felony warrant out of Monroe County.

Brittany L. Scales, 35, of Guntown, was arrested by the Lee County Sherifs Office, child endangerment, simple domestic violence.

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Jacob Terry, 33, of Mooreville, was arrested by the Lee County Sheriffs Office, possession of child pornography.

Lee County Sheriffs Office

The following reports were filed Thursday by the Lee County Sheriffs Office.

A County Road 1253, Saltillo woman, said her phone was hacked last night around 10. She got a message on Facebook Messenger she thought was from a friend. The person asked her for a referral code so she could get a discount on a phone. As soon as she sent the code, the woman said she was locked out of her phone and could not access any of the apps except her Gmail account. She went to the phone company, and they said there was nothing they could do. She said she managed to lock her bank account before anyone got access to it.

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An Old Payne Place, Saltillo, man said someone ran over his puppy last night, killing it. He did not know who was responsible, but said his neighbor has a video of the incident. The deputy explained that to charge someone criminally, there has to be intent. If a puppy runs into the road and is hit, there is no criminal intent. The man said he was concerned about vehicles driving through the neighborhood faster than then should.

A Ridgeview Cove, Tupelo, man said he noticed $8,400 was missing from his bank account. He contacted his bank, and they gave him a printout of the check, which he said looked fake. The bank said the check was deposited using a mobile app, but did not say into which bank it was deposited. He was told to file a criminal report so the bank could start their investigation.

A Tommy Hawk Trail, Lake Piomingo, woman has been seeing a red light at the end of Wishbone Trail. She can see the light from her house. It comes on around 10:30 p.m. and moves around. She thinks the light might be on a camera, and she does not want to be recorded.

Anyone with information on any of these reports is urged to call the Lee County Sheriff's Office at 841-9041, the Tupelo Police Department at 841-6491 or Crime Stoppers of Northeast Mississippi at (800) 773-TIPS or download the P3 Tip App and leave an anonymous tip that way.
GREENSBORO  The family, supporters and legal team of Fred Cox Jr. observed a bittersweet celebration Thursday with the formal announcement of a $4 million settlement in the familys civil lawsuit over the Black teenagers death.

We got historic justice  the highest amount ever paid out in High Point, North Carolina, prominent civil rights lawyer Ben Crump, the Cox familys lead attorney, told supporters during a press conference Thursday afternoon at the International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro.

Its because of you saying they will not define the legacy of Fred Cox  we will define the legacy of Fred Cox.

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As The High Point Enterprise previously reported, a federal judge awarded the settlement in January, but Crump had not commented about the settlement publicly in the Triad before Thursdays press conference.

Joined at the podium by Coxs mother, Tenicka Smith of High Point, Crump praised her courage and perseverance throughout the nearly 4-year journey to justice that began when her 18-year-old son was slain by a Davidson County Sheriffs Office deputy on Nov. 8, 2020, after a funeral at a High Point church.

She refused to let Freds death be in vain, Crump said. Your son is looking down from heaven, very proud of his mama.

Smith tearfully thanked Crump and the rest of her legal team, as well as her family, friends and supporters.

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Fred was not just my baby  he was my only baby, she said. I did not give up. I fought, I didnt sleep, and sometimes I slept too much, but I did not give up.

The wrongful death lawsuit was filed in the summer of 2021, after a grand jury opted not to indict the deputy, citing insufficient evidence to support criminal charges. The suit named the deputy, Michael Shane Hill, and the Davidson County Sheriffs Office as defendants, contending Hill gunned down the teenager without cause.

Hill fatally shot Cox at Living Water Baptist Church in High Point, where both were attending a memorial service for a young man who had been slain two weeks earlier in Davidson County. Cox was there as an acquaintance of the deceased, and Hill was investigating the homicide and attended the funeral at the request of the victims family.

According to witnesses, as mourners were leaving the church, gunfire from two passing vehicles rained down near the church, causing mourners to scatter and seek shelter. Witnesses say Cox was helping a youth and his mother get into the church safely when he was shot four times  at least twice from behind  by Hill.

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Cox, the father of two young children, died at the scene.

Also during Thursdays press conference, Crump announced the filing of a $100 million lawsuit in the case of Shanquella Robinson, a Charlotte woman who was killed while vacationing with friends in Mexico in October 2022. Following Robinsons death, a widely circulated video appeared to show the 25-year-old Black woman being beaten by one of her friends  reportedly a Jamestown woman  while the others watched.

The lawsuit was filed against the friends and the U.S. Department of Justice, which Crump said was malfeasant in its response to Robinsons death. Citing insufficient evidence, federal prosecutors announced in April 2023 that no federal charges would be pursued in the case.

Crump compared the case to that of Natalee Holloway, a white teenage girl from Alabama who disappeared from the Caribbean island of Aruba in 2005.

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America went in and did whatever they had to do to bring justice against her killer, Crump said. Why wouldnt they do the same for this young Black woman?

Crump said he believes Robinsons family will win a historic verdict in the case.
Apr. 18WASHINGTON, Dc. Congressman  August Pfluger (TX-11), Chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security's Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, on Friday released the following statement regarding the detention of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national with ties to the transnational gang and foreign terrorist organization MS-13, who was unlawfully present in Maryland, as multiple House and Senate Democrats are reportedly planning "performative" trips to visit Garcia being held in El Salvador's Terrorism Confinement Center, a news release said.

"Americans should not have their hard-earned tax dollars paying for an all-expenses-paid trip to import criminal illegal aliens back into our communities," said Chairman August Pfluger. "Members who are rushing to El Salvador to retrieve an international gang-affiliated member, yet show zero urgency in meeting with Rachel Morin's family or addressing the devastation from the Biden border crisis, have their priorities completely misaligned. This isn't just failed leadershipit's a complete abandonment of their duty to protect American citizens. While Democrats are fighting on behalf of illegal criminals on your dime, Republicans will continue to fight for the safety of American citizens."

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is a Salvadoran national who, according to the Department of Justice, has been repeatedly identified as having ties to MS-13, a transnational gang and foreign terrorist organization. Garcia, who was unlawfully present in Maryland, was arrested and deported by the Trump administration in early March, the release said.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) is searching for a suspect after a robbery early Saturday morning.

More stories: Charles County detectives find body believed to be missing Maryland mother; 2 charged

Just before 3 a.m., Fifth District officers responded to the 100 block of Todd Place, Northeast, for a report of a robbery.

Upon arrival, officers found a man whose property had been stolen. The victim was not injured during the incident.

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The suspect was described as a 57 man wearing a black mask, black shirt, and blue jeans.

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John Keeble / Getty Images





Key Takeaways

Tesla will report first-quarter earnings after the market closes on Tuesday as analysts remain divided on the electric vehicle maker.

Revenue and adjusted profits are expected to fall year-over-year as deliveries and production have disappointed.

The EV maker's stock has suffered as the company has been the center of protests and controversy over CEO Elon Musk's political efforts.







Tesla (TSLA) is scheduled to post its first-quarter earnings report after Tuesday's bell. Analysts are divided on the electric vehicle maker leading up to the results.

Analysts tracked by Visible Alpha are split between 10 "buy" ratings, four "hold," and four "sell" ratings. Ahead of last quarter's report, the distribution was nine "buy," six "hold," and three "sell" ratings.

The mean price target, $314.41 per Visible Alpha data, represents about a 30% premium to its close on Thursday, the last trading day of a holiday-shortened weekbut that average target is down nearly $50 from the average prior to last quarter's earnings.

Tesla is expected to report a less than 1% decline in revenue to $21.18 billion, with adjusted earnings per share (EPS) forecast to fall by nearly 8% year-over-year to $0.42. The revenue estimate has been cut by over 16%, while the adjusted EPS consensus has fallen by over 40% since last quarter's report was released.



Deliveries, Production Fell Short Amid Political Concerns

Earlier this week, Reuters reported that the company has paused shipments of parts from China for its semi trucks and Cybercab autonomous taxi because of the Trump administration's tariffs, potentially delaying production and release of the vehicles.

The company's deliveries and production numbers fell short of estimates for the second straight quarter when they were released earlier this month. The EV maker has also been the center of protests and controversy regarding CEO Elon Musk's involvement in the Trump administration. Sales have declined in several key markets so far this year.

Tesla stock was one of the worst performers in the S&P 500 in the first quarter. Analysts, including even those most bullish on the EV maker, have cut estimates for deliveries and profits this year, along with price targets. Some have called for Musk to step back from his political efforts to focus on Tesla as the stock has slid.

Tesla shares have roughly returned to their pre-election levels around $240, falling from a Dec. 17 record close of $479.86.



Read the original article on Investopedia
(NBC)  Fridays Dateline is an all-new two-hour episode, involving a familys relentless pursuit of justice, after the death of Nevada attorney Susan Winters is ruled a suicide.

On Jan. 3, 2015, Winters, 48, was found unconscious in her Henderson, Nevada, home outside Las Vegas. The manner of death was listed as suicide, but her parents didnt believe their daughter had taken her own life. And they would do anything to prove it.

Correspondent Josh Mankiewicz speaks to Winterss parents about the seven-year case and their efforts to challenge the criminal justice system.

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Here is a preview of Mankiewiczs report:

It sounded like a suicide attempt. Susan Winters had been in the hospital for most of the morning, husband Brent by her side.

DANNY: He said, My God, Dan, she drank antifreeze.

The prognosis was bleak after just a few hours. Susan was taken off life support, the Henderson Police Department was notified. This didnt look like a complicated case, but that depends on who is doing the looking.

JOSH: Did you believe that Susan could take her own life?

DANNY: No.

AVIS: Never.

An open-and-shut case became a puzzle with a lot of missing pieces.

KATE: Theres a lot of clues in this story, but no easy answers.

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A family pushed back against the criminal justice system, and they refused to give up.

CHRIS: All we want to know is the truth.

Watch Dateline: A Cool Desert Morning Friday at 9 p.m. on NBC4.

About Dateline

Dateline NBC is the longest-running series in NBC primetime history and is in its 33rd season. Dateline is anchored by Lester Holt and features correspondents Blayne Alexander, Andrea Canning, Josh Mankiewicz, Keith Morrison and Dennis Murphy.

The stories range from compelling mysteries to powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. When major news breaks, they go to the scene, putting the pieces together to bring the viewer the full picture. And in every story they tell, they help the real people who lived the events share their journeys with the viewer.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Apr. 18MITCHELL  On Tuesday, rural voters will decide how far the Mitchell ambulance should travel to respond to emergencies.

The formation of the Davison Hanson Ambulance District is on the ballot, with a Yes vote supporting the formation of a taxing district to support ambulance service in the rural areas of Davison and Hanson counties through hiring more Mitchell Fire/EMS staff, while a No vote would leave the current setup in place.

Supporters of the district and Mitchell city leaders say turning back the district plan would leave the rural parts of both counties without dedicated ambulance services, since EMS is not an essential service in South Dakota that is required to respond to emergencies.

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If the vote passes, rural residents would be putting their tax money to support ambulance services in their areas for the first time. Mitchell Fire/EMS Chief Dan Pollreisz believes the additional personnel to be hired would continue to allow the ambulance service to provide the best advanced life support and care they can.

"Responsibility-wise, we won't view it as any difference," Pollreisz said. "We will give them the best ALS and ambulance care. We believe strongly in what we can do and we pride ourselves on that."

The plan calls to raise $700,000 in funding for Mitchell to hire six new full-time firefighters and paramedics to bring the city back to eight personnel per shift. Currently, Mitchell regularly works with the minimum of six per shift, which means the Public Safety building is frequently left without personnel to immediately answer calls. When that happens, more individuals have to be called in. Pollreisz and other leaders have said additional personnel will allow the department to serve the outlying areas around Mitchell.

Voting will take place from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. on April 22, and is open to nearly all residents in the two counties except those within Mitchell city limits. The Yes vote needs a simple majority of 50% plus one vote to pass. Voters in Davison County will vote in their traditional locations at the Ethan City Offices, the Mount Vernon Community Center and at the Davison County Fairgrounds outside of Mitchell. In Hanson County, all voting is taking place at the county courthouse in Alexandria.

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If the ballot question passes, a second election would be needed to vote on the board of directors for the ambulance district, which is set to include seven members and have a minimum of three members from each county.

That board, which is tentatively scheduled to be voted upon June 17, would decide the funding mechanism for the district. The options include a property tax levy, which is capped at 60 cents per $1,000 in valuation on a property, although supporters have said they believe a rate of 40 cents will be necessary. The second option is a special assessment, which is being estimated at a rate of $188 per year per property.

If the April 22 vote passes, Pollreisz said the Mitchell EMS will re-license to reflect the new, larger coverage area. The same may also take place if it doesn't pass, he said, to commit to responding within Mitchell city limits.

He said Mitchell EMS previously answered calls in eastern Hanson County until about eight years ago, when it was decided to have McCook Ambulance serve that area. But Hanson County Commissioners wanted to have the whole county served by the same ambulance service. Mitchell's EMS is also an advanced life support service, which allows it to perform more invasive procedures and administer a larger number of medications above a basic life support ambulance.

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Mitchell leaders met and discussed their operations and Pollreisz believes they can serve the coverage area of Davison and Hanson counties adequately if the vote passes and additional personnel can be hired.

According to state law, a ground ambulance service "shall respond to 90% of all emergency class within 15 minutes after receiving the call" and respond to any call "within a maximum of 20 minutes." Pollreisz said that's why making sure they have the proper staffing is important, to make sure they are able to respond to calls in a timely fashion.

Hanson County is one of three counties in the state that doesn't have an ambulance service of any kind within its county lines, joined by Stanley and Ziebach counties, according to the South Dakota Department of Health.

If the vote doesn't pass, Mitchell EMS has said it won't answer calls outside the city limits starting Jan. 1, 2026. In that light, Pollreisz has been asked plenty about serious crashes in rural areas, such as on Interstate 90. He noted those calls don't represent a large section of its responses but rather, about 80% of the current calls that Mitchell EMS responds for are medical emergencies at homes or businesses. Regardless, tough decisions would have to be made if the vote doesn't pass, he said.

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"That is a reality and a conversation we will have to be having," he said. "As it stands under state law, nobody has to go to those things. That's the reality. There will have to be hard decisions made and those are going to come down to who doesn't get the ambulance. If that decision has to be made, it's going to have to go to the people who are paying in the city limits."

The number of calls Mitchell EMS has responded to has gone up 44% in the last 10 years, which seems to indicate the demand for ambulance service is not likely to decrease. It raises the question: will Mitchell EMS have to ask for more money in future years to keep up with demand?

"We don't anticipate the call volume going down. If we have a year where it does go down, it's probably a fluke year," Pollreisz said. "In 10 years, is the city going to have to look at hiring additional personnel? That might be the case. I don't believe they will ask the district for it, because the district will be locked into a contract and there are laws on how much they can raise their budget. ... And the city of Mitchell has committed to funding these services in the future as well."

Pollreisz said he believes that no matter the outcome of the election, the chance to educate the public about how the ambulance process works has been a successful venture.

"People that didn't have any idea of how we operate, or that we're empty at the station at times or short-staffed, I think they have a better understanding of everything that goes into the EMS services," he said. "That's been an important aspect to share with the public. ... I'd love to believe that we are part of an area that is full of good people and has everyone looking to help the people around them. I just hope we get one more yes vote than we get no votes."
Apr. 18A Dayton woman who had been banned from being a Medicaid provider will be serving six to nine years in prison for stealing $1.5 million from Medicaid.

"Some thieves don't know when to quit," Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost said. "The investigators and prosecutors in our Health Care Fraud Section did a great job of putting a stop to this costly scheme."

Janay Corbitt, 36, pleaded guilty last month to second-degree felony theft and three third-degree felony counts of identity fraud. In addition to the prison sentence, she must pay $1.5 million in restitution.

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Corbitt was previously licensed as chemical dependency counselor assistant by the Ohio Chemical Dependency Professionals Board, first from March 2015 to April 2016 and then again from April 2017 to April 2019.

A previous theft conviction in 2019 had barred her from the Medicaid program. Corbitt had been convicted of fifth-degree felony theft in Franklin County, and she was ordered to five years of probation. She also had to pay restitution to CareSource, a Dayton-based health insurer that primarily serves Medicaid members.

For this most recent case, Corbitt was indicted in May 2024 after an investigation by Yost's office revealed that she stole multiple identities to open and operate two sham behavioral-health-counseling agencies in the Dayton area.

Corbitt also stole the identities of several licensed counselors, using their credentials to bill Medicaid for services that were never provided, the attorney general's office said.

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Law enforcement caught up to Corbitt in Dallas, Texas, where authorities arrested Corbitt in August 2024 at a bus stop. She previously fled Ohio and spent months as a fugitive.

Attorneys with Yost's Health Care Fraud Section prosecuted the case in Franklin County Common Pleas Court.

The Ohio Medicaid Fraud Control Unit receives 75% of its funding from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services under a grant award of about $15.3 million for federal fiscal year 2025. The remaining 25%, or $5.1 million, is funded by the Ohio Attorney General's Office.
The Supreme Court early Saturday morning paused the deportation of immigrants potentially subject to the Alien Enemies Act, freezing action in a fast-developing case involving a group of immigrants in Texas who say the Trump administration was working to remove them.

The courts brief order drew dissents from conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas.

Attorneys for the Venezuelans at issue in the case filed an emergency appeal at the high court on Friday, claiming they were at immediate risk of being removed from the country and had not been provided sufficient notice to challenge their deportation.

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The courts brief order on Saturday did not explain the courts reasoning. The court ordered the Trump administration to respond to the emergency appeal once a federal appeals court in Louisiana takes action in the case.

In the meantime, the court said, The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court.

The Trump administration responded later Saturday, telling the Supreme Court it wants the authority to remove the Venezuelans detained in Texas under laws other than the controversial Alien Enemies Act while the litigation over their potential deportations continues.

The government has agreed not to remove pursuant the AEA those AEA detainees who do file habeas claims, wrote US Solicitor General D. John Sauer, the Trump administrations top appellate attorney. This court should dissolve its current administrative stay and allow the lower courts to address the relevant legal and factual questions in the first instance  including the development of a proper factual record.

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Alito, in a scathing dissent Saturday night expanding on the one-line dissent he issued with the initial order, criticized the Court, saying his colleagues acted hastily and prematurely to grant unprecedented emergency relief to a putative class of Venezuelans.

Literally in the middle of the night, the court issued unprecedented and legally questionable relief without giving the lower courts a chance to rule, without hearing from the opposing party, within eight hours of receiving the application, with dubious factual support for its order, and without providing any explanation for its order, Alito wrote in a dissent that was joined by Justice Clarence Thomas.

Sauer, in other words, argued the case had moved too quickly for lower courts to establish the facts. But as a backup argument, the Trump administration then told the high court it wants clarity that it may remove at least some of the same migrants under less controversial immigration laws.

The White House said in a statement Saturday morning that President Trump promised the American people to use all lawful measures to remove the threat of terrorist illegal aliens, like members of (Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua), from the United States.

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We are confident in the lawfulness of the Administrations actions and in ultimately prevailing against an onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of terrorist aliens than those of the American people, said press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

Previously, a federal judge in Washington, DC, told lawyers for the migrants in Texas who believed the Trump administration is about to swiftly deport them under the Alien Enemies Act that he did not have the power to pause the deportations, even though he was concerned about the administrations actions.

I am sympathetic to everything youre saying, I just dont I think I have the power to do anything, US District Judge James Boasberg told a lawyer for the migrants at an emergency hearing Friday night.

Before announcing his decision not to get involved, Boasberg pressed an attorney for the administration on whether it will move forward with the deportations Friday night or Saturday.

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Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign told Boasberg that while no flights are planned, the Department of Homeland Security said it reserves the right to remove the migrants on Saturday.

The migrants lawyers also requested intervention by the 5th US Circuit Court of Appeals, which oversees appeals coming out of Texas.

Its hard for me to say I should inject myself into this controversy given where the issue stands in the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court, Boasberg said Friday.

The migrants lawyers  counsel at the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward  turned to Boasberg for emergency relief in the initial case they brought in his court challenging President Donald Trumps use of the Alien Enemies Act, a sweeping 18th century wartime authority.

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Saturdays decision marks the second time Trumps use of the authority has landed at the Supreme Court.

Last week, the court permitted Trump to use the authority, but said migrants being removed under it needed to receive notice that they are subject to the act and have an opportunity to have their removal reviewed by the federal court where they are being detained. The justices also ruled that migrants could only challenge their deportations in court districts containing the facilities where theyre being detained.

The current dispute reflects how aggressively the administration is willing to act to continue deportations under the Aliens Enemies Act, which allows the government to bypass some of the protocols in the immigration statutes that typically guide the process for removing migrants in the US illegally.

We hear men are being requested to change clothes, the migrants attorney said Friday, as he unsuccessfully pleaded with Boasberg to issue even a very brief pause in the administrations plans.

Contempt proceedings

Boasberg has ordered contempt proceedings against the administration for allegedly defying an earlier order he issued in the case  later wiped away by the Supreme Court  that sought to halt the first round of deportation flights under the presidents mid-March invocation of the law.

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However, on Friday night, an appeals court issued an administrative pause on Boasbergs plans so that it could review whether such proceedings should go forward.

The unsigned order the Supreme Court issued the first time the issue reached its doorstep said that the administration must provide adequate notice to migrants so they can challenge their removals under the 18th century law. At Fridays hearing, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt provided new evidence about the notice the migrants are receiving from the administration that theyve been designated for deportations under the Alien Enemies Act.

Gelernt said detainees received notice of their removal less than 24 hours ago, with no clear option to challenge them, and a photo of one such notice was submitted to the court.

Ensign, the DOJ attorney, insisted that while the Supreme Courts order said that the government must give notice, it did not say that government needed to offer a space to challenge the deportations. He told the court that anyone who says they want to challenge their removal is given a process to do so.

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I certainly think the notice is very troubling, Boasberg said, expressing doubt that it complied with the Supreme Courts ruling.

But I dont think I have the ability to grant relief, he said

CNNs Jessie Yeung and Samantha Waldenberg contributed to this report.

This story has been updated with additional developments.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A 44-year-old D.C. man was indicted for federal firearms violations, officials announced Friday.

The U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for D.C. said that Lawrence A. Jordan was indicted on one count of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition by a felon.

One killed, two hurt after second triple shooting in Southeast DC on same day

Court documents said that Jordan was in the 700 block of 2nd St. NE on Nov. 16, 2023, when Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were called to the area for reports of disorderly conduct.

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Officers removed him from an apartment complex where, they noted, he was not a resident. They said he was found in a fitness center attached to the apartment.

Later, officers removed him from a fitness center that was attached to the apartment buildings.

The USAO said that around 40 minutes later, MPD officers went back to that same fitness center after a man was reported committing a lewd act. That man, later identified as Jordan, had left by the time officers responded.

One week later, MPD officers were called to the 1300 block of H St. NE for aggressive panhandling. They arrested Jordan for lewd, indecent, or obscene acts. During a search of Jordan, MPD officers found a loaded semi-automatic pistol. Jordan was prohibited from possessing a firearm or ammunition due to a prior felony conviction.

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Jordan was indicted as part of the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative.

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WASHINGTON (AP)  Campus mentors. Move-in events. Scholarships. Diversity offices that made them feel welcome on predominantly white campuses.

As U.S. colleges pull back on diversity, equity and inclusion practices, students of color say they are starting to lose all of these things and more.

The full scope of campus DEI rollbacks is still emerging as colleges respond to the Trump administrations orders against diversity practices. But students at some schools said early cuts are chipping away at the sense of community that helped open the door to higher education.

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It feels like were going back. I dont know how else to describe it, said Breeana-Iris Rosario, a junior at the University of Michigan, which is closing its DEI office and scrapping a campus-wide inclusion plan. Its like our voices arent being heard.

The retreat from DEI has been building for years, driven by Republican-led states that have ordered public colleges to close DEI offices and eliminate programs. But it has accelerated under President Donald Trump and his threats to cut federal funding.

Trump's administration escalated the battle when it suggested in a letter to Harvard University that the school should lose its nonprofit status for defying federal orders, including a demand to eliminate DEI to the satisfaction of the federal government.

At Michigan, students have been told the casualties include the LEAD Scholars program, a financial aid award for Black, Latino and Native American students, along with orientation events for new Latino, Arab and Asian American students. The university said Tuesday it has not decided whether to eliminate or restructure the orientation programs.

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Coming from a low-income part of Detroit, Rosario said winning the LEAD scholarship cemented her decision to attend Michigan. She later met some of her best friends at a move-in event for Latino students called Alma. Losing those programs, she fears, could reinforce a sense of isolation among Hispanic students, who make up 6% of the school's undergraduates.

It would be hard to find my community if I didnt have access to these resources," she said.

Colleges respond to federal orders

A February memo from the Education Department directed schools and colleges to eliminate race from any decision-making around hiring, admissions, housing, financial aid and student life. It warned violators could lose access to federal money.

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Dozens of universities have since come under investigation, all while the Trump administration freezes billions of dollars at Harvard and other colleges accused of defying orders on campus antisemitism and transgender athletes.

Michigan was among the first to make major DEI rollbacks, and others have followed to avoid federal scrutiny. Others have rebranded DEI offices and scrubbed the term from websites, and others still are standing firm in support of DEI.

At Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, officials cited the federal orders when they moved to close the campus DEI office last month.

It is clear we must be in compliance with them to receive the federal funding that is critical to our present and future, said Eric Kaler, Cases president, in a campus message.

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Kaler said the office will be replaced by an Office for Campus Enrichment and Engagement, though its unclear what that will entail. The private university receives about $250 million a year in federal research funding, 16% of its total revenue, according to university data.

Justen Pippens said the DEI office was like a second home on campus. The junior called it a stress-free zone where he could get personal and academic guidance. He grew so close with one staff member that he came to know her as Auntie. He said its unclear whether those employees will have jobs at the new office.

Case also is halting its Envision Weekend, an orientation event for underrepresented students. Pippens said its a setback for him and other Black students, who make up just 6% of undergraduates at Case.

Now," he said, we no longer have our central support systems on campus.

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A victory for DEI opponents

In Virginia, Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin celebrated when the University of Virginias governing board voted to end DEI programs in March.

DEI is done at the University of Virginia, Youngkin said in a statement, calling it a shift toward merit-based opportunity.

Tyler English, a senior at UVA, said students have been told scholarships and graduate programs focused on minority students are being scaled back or eliminated. Among other changes, a student group called Men of Color, Honor and Ambition is replacing the word color with character, he said.

For a portion of us, we now question whether our identities and voices are truly valued in this space, said English, a member of the campus Black Student Alliance.

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University spokesperson Brian Coy wouldn't provide details on DEI rollbacks and said he couldn't confirm changes to scholarships.

The governments anti-DEI campaign is being challenged in court by opponents who say it offers little clarity on exactly which practices are outlawed, leaving schools to weed out anything that could be construed as DEI.

As a result of the vague directives, "those who are advocating against this work are getting a higher return on their investment than they should, said Paulette Granberry Russell, president of the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.

Yet opponents are pressing the White House to go further. Christopher Rufo, a conservative strategist who has fought DEI, said the government should root out DEI using tools that forced desegregation during the Civil Rights Movement.

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DEI is a violation of the Civil Rights Act, Rufo said on X. Any publicly funded institution that continues to practice DEI should face a federal investigation, consent decree, termination of funds, and loss of nonprofit status. If that doesnt work, send in the 101st Airborne.

Some fear diversity setbacks

In Michigan, the rollbacks are targeting programs that aimed to preserve racial diversity after the state banned affirmative action in 2006, including the LEAD program.

University of Michigan officials declined to discuss changes, but a campus message from President Santa Ono said the school will find other ways to support students, including an expansion of scholarships for low-income students.

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Rosario and other LEAD scholarship winners received an email saying there would be no adverse financial impact to their financial aid, with no further explanation.

Rosario doesnt entirely blame the university for the cuts, but she wonders why Michigan moved quickly to make changes while some colleges held firm. The first in her family to attend college, she fears what it means for the next generation of students.

They've taken away our sense of community, she said. It just makes it that much harder for people of color to feel comfortable pursuing higher education.

___

AP Education Writer Cheyanne Mumphrey in Phoenix contributed to this report.

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___

The Associated Press education coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find APs standards for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at AP.org.
Some Democrats worry that Elon Musk may be pushed out of government before they can target him in the midterm attack ads, according to a report.

Musks time as the Trump administrations special government employee is coming to an end in May or early June, but many expect the White House to extend the role or find another way to keep him in a front-line position.

The unelected billionaire has proved an effective target for the Democrats after he has gutted federal agencies through the Department of Government Efficiency, but the party is concerned about their strategy if Musk takes a step back, Politico reports.

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As long as hes there using a chainsaw to all the programs that people back home rely on and need to make ends meet, of course were going to make him a central character, Rep. Lori Trahan of Massachusetts, the co-chair of the House Democrats' messaging committee, told the outlet.

At some point, he will become a liability for the president, and they will sever ties. And we will adjust as we head into the midterms, Trahan conceded.

Musks time as the Trump administrations special government employee is coming to an end in May or early June, but many expect the White House to extend the role or find another way to keep him in a front-line position. (Getty Images)

The sentiment was backed by Rep. Glenn Ivey of Maryland. There is some concern in some quarters that Trumps going to kick him to the curb, and then we spent all this time sort of building this guy up as a focal point, but hes gone, Ivey previously told HuffPost.

Democratic pollster Paul Maslin said that Musk is literally and symbolically the best foil for the party. Trump has taught us that politics works best when youre simple and clear, and going after Musks power grab and Musks money grab  is simple, he told Politico.

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But not everyone is despairing about the Democrats strategy if Musk is no longer front and center in the run up to the midterms. Others point out that he is just one part of the message the party needs to land about the economy.

Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee spokesperson Viet Shelton said that Democrats are going to win by reminding voters that Republicans are failing at lowering costs because they are too busy pushing tax breaks for the ultra-wealthy.

The unelected billionaire has proved an effective target for the Democrats after he has gutted the federal government through the Department of Government Efficiency. (Getty Images)

Elon is, and forever will be, an instantly recognizable manifestation of the fact that House Republicans dont work for the American people, they work for the billionaires, Shelton told Politico in a statement.

Musks potential departure doesnt mean the Democrats cant remind voters about his unpopularity next year, similarly to how they retook the House in 2018 during Trumps first term, others noted.

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When Democrats saved the Affordable Care Act during the first Trump administration, we still were able to campaign on the fact that we saved the Affordable Care Act when Republicans were trying to take peoples health care away, Democratic Rep. Greg Casar of Texas told HuffPost. If we fire Elon Musk, were still gonna be able to say that, yeah, were against billionaires stealing your money for themselves.

Musk has proved unpopular with the public, according to recent polling, and the DOGE boss faced ridicule over the outcome of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race earlier this month.

The SpaceX CEO inserted himself in the race, handing out $1 million checks to two voters, campaigning in the state while wearing a cheesehead head and, perhaps most significantly, backing GOP pick Brad Schimel to the tune of $20 million. Susan Crawford decisively defeated the Musk-backed opponent.
Democrats trying to find their way back from their 2024 election losses are taking aim at former President Biden for reemerging on the national stage.

Biden came back into view this week to deliver his first public postpresidency speech after largely being absent from the political discussion.

But some Democrats said theyd prefer the former president take a back seat as the party puts its shoulder into its rebuilding efforts.

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Even longtime Biden loyalists who support him and former first lady Jill Biden are calling the timing into question.

I love both Bidens dearly, but staff loyalty means there is a responsibility to provide them with an honest situational awareness, especially when it comes to their public image, no matter how hurtful it is to hear, said Michael LaRosa, who served as Jill Bidens communications director.

If they had advisers who had their hand on the pulse of the Democratic Party or national politics, they would have understood the intense level of anger or indifference to them that remains inside our party and isnt going away anytime soon, LaRosa said.

Its a heartbreaking and tragic ending to their time in public life, but its also the truth, and they should index the political realities into their decisionmaking, the former aide continued.

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LaRosa argued former President Bidens return was a lovely gift for the White House, President Trump and conservative media at a time when they were playing defense and under the kind of heavy scrutiny over the botched tariff policy in ways we havent seen since Trump was elected.

Bidens reemergence, while it changed very little in the news cycle, provided a detour for the president to distract his cadre of supporters with Biden taunts and blame, giving Fox News nearly 48 hours of fresh new programming, taking editorial aim at the former president instead of the current one, he said.

Other Democratic strategists also say its an inopportune time for Biden to pop up, particularly as polling has shown that Americans are starting to blame Trump for his handling of the economy.

Polls show Trumps approval numbers have fallen in recent weeks after the tumultuous moves around the tariffs and the volatile stock market.

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A CBS News poll out last week showed that 44 percent approved of Trumps handling of the economy, down 4 percent from March 30. Trumps overall approval rating also fell in the survey, from 53 percent in February to 47 percent this month.

The CBS News poll shows that Americans have directed their anger about the economy away from Biden and redirected it towards Trump, Democratic strategist Brad Bannon said. So its a bad time for Biden to reemerge and remind them of the bad old days.

Bidens appearance takes the spotlight away from the incumbents economic malfeasance and the suffering he has caused millions of people in the last three months, Bannon added.

Biden had become a punching bag of sorts for Democrats even before leaving the White House. But that narrative has gained steam in recent weeks as Democrats try to pin the blame for Novembers loss on Biden.

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The word Im hearing a lot is betrayal, said one Democratic strategist who still supports the former president. People feel betrayed. And because his people held back then, its a lot worse now.

Since departing the White House, Biden has kept a relatively low profile, attending a Broadway show and a St. Patricks Day event but avoiding the spotlight. This week, though, he ramped up his appearances.

In the major speech in Chicago on Tuesday, Biden took aim at the Trump administrations position on Social Security and spoke more broadly about his former rivals tenure.

In that address, Biden said that in fewer than 100 days, this new administration has made so much damage  and so much destruction. Its kind of breathtaking.

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On Wednesday, Biden also made private remarks to a small group of students at Harvard Universitys Kennedy School.

While speaking at Harvard, the former president made a gaffe and had to be corrected by his longtime adviser Mike Donilon, who is a resident fellow at the school, according to The Harvard Crimson.

During his chat with students, he mixed up Ukraine with Iraq when talking about the war with Russia, the Crimson reported.

Last month, after NBC News reported Biden had met with the newly elected Democratic National Committee Chair Ken Martin and said he was willing to help with fundraising and other rebuilding efforts, some Democrats cringed.

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Read the room, one Democratic donor and longtime supporter of Biden said. No one is asking for Bidens help right now, and if theyre not aware of that, thats part of the problem, isnt it?

A second Democratic strategist said if Biden wanted to do anything to be helpful to the party, he should start by offering up an explanation of why he chose to run for reelection when there were lingering and growing concerns about his age and mental acuity.

I do think before Biden can speak with full credibility about the political moment and be listened to, there has to be some kind of accountability about his political decisionmaking and the last two years of his presidency, said the strategist, who also was a longtime advocate of the former president. I think it is required for his legacy and also for people in the party to start to get beyond everything.

The strategist added: It cant be a surrogate in the media claiming that he would beat Trump.

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Tipping at a restaurant is quite customary. When we leave some extra cash on the table, or add a few dollars to our credit card total, its easy to assume that tip will go to our servers.

But thats not always the case. As CBS News Colorado reports, servers in Denver are taking legal action against a group of local restaurants, claiming that 30% of the automatic 20% service charge went to management instead of the employees.

Don't miss

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Culinary Creative Group manages some of the most popular restaurants in Denver, including Bar Dough, Tap and Burger, Kumoya, Forget Me Not and Mister Oso. In the lawsuit, the Culinary Creative Group is alleged to have violated Colorado hour and wage laws.

Faith Lindstrom, a former employee at Kumoya, shared the frustration she holds toward her former employer with CBS.

Nobody could tell us where the money was going, said Lindstrom. "I was furious because my manager could, you know, support himself, and I could not."

What employees seek in the lawsuit

The lawsuit, filed by several former CCG employees, claims the company not only took a portion of their tips, but wasnt upfront with customers about how the service charges were distributed to staff.

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According to the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, employers are not permitted to keep any portion of employee tips, including supervisors and managers. This rule is applicable even if a company collects tips for a tip pool.

The lawsuit is seeking compensation for break periods that allegedly werent provided, as well as unpaid wages.

In January 2024, CCG allegedly reduced the pay for front-of-house employees to a tipped minimum wage, which ended up being $3 less per hour. Employers in Colorado are permitted to pay employees who earn tips less than minimum wage, so long as the employer meets certain state regulations.

Direct wages can be less than full minimum wage by up to $3.02, an amount thats called the employers 'tip credit,'" states a document on tipping regulations from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment.

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Read more: The US stock markets fear gauge has exploded  but this 1 shockproof asset is up 14% and helping American retirees stay calm. Heres how to own it ASAP

Culinary Creative Groups response to the lawsuit

Juan Padro, the CEO of Culinary Creative Group, told CBS News in a statement that the company charges service fees, which are different from tips. This distinction, according to Padro, means the laws that the company is alleged to have broken do not apply.

Padros statement says, in part, "Under Colorado law, service fees may be distributed to any employees, including management, at the restaurant's discretion. All guest checks at CCG establishments clearly disclose that the checks include a 20% charge which is labeled as a 'service fee.' Our guest checks also include an entirely separate line for guests to leave 'tips.'"

Colorado law explicitly states that mandatory service charges don't count as tips, since the charge is part of the goods or service costs. If an employer explicitly states that the service charges go to certain employees, that pay would count as "wages" or "compensation."

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Padro says the allegations against CCG are false and that the company has never taken tips from employees, nor has it ever blocked its staff from taking breaks. Meanwhile, the lawsuit has reportedly been put on pause while both sides attempt to work out an agreement outside of the courts.

What employees can do if theyve been mistreated

Federal and state laws in the United States have several regulations that serve to protect employees. If you feel your employer has violated federal or state regulations, here are a few steps you can take to address the matter:

Review company policies: Your frist step should be to review the company's policies to verify that your employer did in fact violate the law. You should also check to see if there's a process for whistleblowing or reporting your concerns.

Document everything: Collect all the evidence of wrongdoing that you can, including memos, emails or anything else that may support your claim.

Keep a detailed record: Do your best to keep a record of the wrongdoing. Be sure to include a description of the incident, as well as times, dates and the names of potential witnesses. Any relevant documents could help you present a strong case to your employer.

Onve you've collected evidence and have the documentation to support your claim, your next step should be to meet with your employer to discuss the matter. Ideally, you can speak to the human resources department and see what can be done, but depending on the regulation that your employer has potentially violated, you may need to contact federal or state agencies for assistance.

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The Department of Labor, for example, enforces the Fair Labor Standards Act, which states employees have the right to be paid at least the minimum wage. Minimum wages vary from state to state, and many states have their own regulations to protect workers. Check with your state department of labor to determine whether your employer is breaking the law.

If you require assistance, reaching out to your local bar association could help you find an attorney who can offer legal advice. Your state may also have legal aid programs for those who cant afford the fees for an attorney.

What to read next

This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.
GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  An arrest has been made in connection to the 2020 disappearance and murder of 19-year-old Jorden Nebling.

The Greenville County Sheriffs Office announced that 23-year-old Tyler Wilkins confessed to stabbing Nebling to death with a pocketknife.

Nebling was reported missing on October 10, 2020.

Wilkins is currently serving a 45-year sentence for an unrelated 2022 double murder of Clarissa Winchester and her child. It was reported that Wilkins pleaded guilty to beating Winchester to death inside a residence on Saw Mill Road.

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Winchester was pregnant at the time of the incident. A forensic examination revealed that the baby did not have any apparent trauma and had never taken a breath.

Since the day of Neblings disappearance, deputies have conducted an investigative search in an effort to locate her. In 2023, the sheriffs office announced deputies had reason to believe the person of interest was already behind bars for an unrelated investigation.

According to prison officials, Wilkins admitted to his involvement in Jordans death on the day she went missing. Homicide investigators subsequently met with the suspect, during which he confessed to the fatal stabbing.

At this time, deputies said Neblings body has not been recovered, but search efforts remain ongoing.

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A date for Wilkinss arraignment on charges of murder and possession of a weapon during a violent crime has yet to be determined.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Queen City News.
TALLAHASSEE, Florida  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis most formidable political foe these days isnt a national Democrat such as Kamala Harris or Gavin Newsom.

Instead, DeSantis has gotten into a brutal feud with the 37-year-old GOP state House Speaker, who is not only derailing the governors agenda in a chamber that usually has bent to his demands but has raised legal questions about a nonprofit associated with a key initiative of first lady Casey DeSantis.

Daniel Perez, an attorney from Miami who rapidly rose to power and personal success, has frustrated DeSantis so much that the governor regularly lambastes House Republicans, and by extension Perez, as a tool of the left who just want to undo the governors conservative agenda. Perezs response? Calling the governor emotional. DeSantis has also railed against Perez for his friendship with John Morgan, the famed trial lawyer who was once a major Democratic donor.

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DeSantis continued status as a national conservative star  and a potential 2028 candidate to succeed President Donald Trump  along with his heavy sway over Florida Republican politics, has now found a local hurdle in the form of Perez, himself a quickly rising GOP leader in Tallahassee.

The tension has steadily intensified during this years Florida legislative session. But it may have reached a peak this past week, when DeSantis lashed out at the House GOP over a budget plan he asserted was treacherous because it includes cuts to state law enforcement agencies. It came a day after the governor pledged to veto several House bills, claiming House members were a cabal and stabbing voters in the back.

Perez responded by accusing the governor of lying about House legislation and having temper tantrums.

Just because our opinion is different than his doesnt mean we have to be enemies. He is choosing to be enemies, Perez said. I dont want to be his enemy. I want to be his partner.

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The governors broadsides come amid a growing House probe into a nonprofit foundation that is aligned with Hope Florida, a program launched by the first lady to help transition people away from government assistance.

Perez and other Republicans have questioned the legality of and circumstances through which $10 million from a settlement between the state and a Medicaid vendor wound up going to the foundation  which then gave the money to two nonprofits last October. Those nonprofits, within days of receiving the money from the Hope Florida Foundation, transferred millions to a group led by DeSantis chief of staff battling a ballot proposal to legalize marijuana.

DeSantis has called the criticisms a hoax and suggested that the House may be doing it to harm the political prospects of Casey DeSantis, who is weighing a bid for governor.

I think its politically motivated, DeSantis said.

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But while DeSantis trashes Perez and other House Republicans, those in top positions in the state House effusively praise their leader.

I think he is the single most talented political person I have dealt with in political office, said state Rep. Sam Garrison, a northeast Florida Republican who holds a top post in the House and is slated to succeed Perez as speaker.

Sen. Rick Scott, the former governor who has had his own frosty relationship with DeSantis, said Perez is doing the right thing.

Hes trying to take care of taxpayers, Scott said. My job in D.C. as a legislator and his job here as a legislator is to hold the executive branch accountable. So thats what hes trying to do. Hes trying to watch out for taxpayer money.

His gift is relationships

Perezs pathway to chief DeSantis antagonist began in the aftermath of a Miami political scandal, when a sitting Republican state senator resigned after making a racial slur in front of colleagues. An established Miami House member resigned to run for the Senate, leading to the special election in 2017 that Perez won.

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In a state with term limits, this made Perez a redshirt freshman who was positioned to start campaigning for House speaker earlier than those who were elected in the fall of 2018. Perez would secure enough pledges in the summer of 2019, a feat that Garrison said reflected his superhuman ability to connect to fellow legislators.

He knows their stories, he knows their spouses, he knows their kids, Garrison said. Ive never known anything like it.  His gift is relationships. And with the challenges of the last few months, he has had to draw on it.

But his route to speaker was almost derailed in 2020, when Perez found himself under fire from an unexpected foe: outgoing House Speaker Jose Oliva, also a Miami Republican. Olivas political committee steered money into other political organizations that hit Perez ahead of that years elections. The Miami Herald reported that mailers and social media ads targeted Perez, who is Cuban American, over a trip he had previously taken to the island nation. The ads called Perez a disgrace to the exile community in Miami.

Oliva was  and remains  a close ally to DeSantis. The governor appointed him in 2023 to the state board that oversees the Florida state university system. POLITICO previously reported that Oliva was on the governors short list for the U.S. Senate post that became vacant when Marco Rubio became secretary of State. That job eventually went to then-state Attorney General Ashley Moody.

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When reached by POLITICO, Oliva declined to comment on Perez. But in late March, he responded to a social media post by Perez with his own post that stated: Beware of a wolf in sheeps clothing. If you claim to be a conservative all you have done is support overriding spending cuts and obstruct the efforts of the countrys most conservative governor, you have nothing to be proud of. Do not cloak yourself in the work of others to shield your malice.

Another former state House speaker who had helped push through a raft of bills pushed by DeSantis took aim at the Florida House this spring. Paul Renner, who was also appointed recently by the governor to the state panel that oversees universities, faulted Perez on social media over bills he contended would reverse steps the House took to limit lawsuits.

State Rep. Lawrence McClure, a Plant City Republican who has been Perezs Tallahassee roommate, said Perez is confused by DeSantis and Olivas complaints that he has been insufficiently conservative.

McClure pointed out that the House has crafted a budget that is billions below what DeSantis has recommended, has recommended a $5 billion cut in taxes, and passed a bill to lower the legal age to buy a rifle from 21 to 18.

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Those are not liberal policies, said McClure, who is also the House budget chair.

A swift rise

Perez's ascension to the one of the most powerful spots in Florida government happened relatively quickly. He earned his law degree from University in New Orleans just 13 years ago, and he was working as an attorney for health care companies at the time he mounted his first run for office.

In 2023  the same year he was formally designated as the Republican nominee for speaker  his financial disclosures show that he took on two new jobs: one as an attorney with a firm set up by Robert Fernandez, who was once former deputy general counsel under Gov. Jeb Bush, and another with a Florida-based private equity firm called Assurance Capital.

Perezs disclosures, which included his joint tax returns with his wife, showed that his family income increased from $261,000 in one year to more than $1 million. This included more than $166,000 from Assurance and more than $534,000 with RHF Law Firm.

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When asked how he came to work for both that year, Perez stated in an email, I am a guy in my thirties with three kids so working hard to support my family is a requirement at this stage of my life.

Perez said he no longer works for Assurance, although he said the firm is still a legal client. Perezs picture and background was listed on the Assurance website until a few days after a reporter asked about his employment with them.

He also said he had not been involved in any investor relations with the firm.

Assurances own website also showed that the equity fund invested in a Largo, Florida-based company that has contracts with the state-funded Department of Transportation. Perez said he had never heard of the company  Turtle Infrastructure Partners  and that he did not know anything about their work.

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He also said that his compensation with Assurance was not contingent on any external metrics. I am paid for the legal work I perform for the company. Perez added in his email that it was insulting to raise questions about the highway maintenance company because the House is looking this year to redirect money away from the transportation trust fund.

Perez said asking questions about Assurance suggests these questions are being pushed by political operatives trying to distract from actual questions of malfeasance by their client.

We are far from the end

Perez relationship with DeSantis first became tense after the speaker and Senate President Ben Albritton pushed back against the governors call for a special session earlier this year to craft a law designed to aid Trumps mass deportation plans. It took legislators three tries before they came up with a bill that DeSantis was willing to sign.

Coming into this years session, Perez asserted he would not play the game of pushing his own priorities and he encouraged House members to assert their own agenda. During the course of the session, the House has held hearings grilling agency heads, questioned why information on insurance industry practices was kept from the Legislature when it cracked down on lawsuits against insurers, and launched the probe into Hope Florida and its nonprofit arm.

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This week, Perez said the inquiries and probes would go on even after the regular session ends early next month, saying that we are far from the end.

We are getting towards the end of our first session, but we still have a good amount of time left on the clock before I have to pack my box and head back to Miami, said Perez. And anything and everything is on the table on what can come before the House over the next year and a half.
A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives.

On April 19, 1993, the 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ended as the Davidians set fire to their compound following an FBI tear gas attack. Seventy-five people, including 25 children and sect leader David Koresh, were killed.

Exactly two years later, in 1995, Timothy McVeigh, seeking to strike at the government he blamed for the Branch Davidian deaths two years earlier, destroyed the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, killing 168 people.

The front page of the Deseret News on April 19, 1993, as the standoff between authorities and members of the Branch Davidian group came to a deadly conclusion near Waco, Texas.

McVeigh was convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.

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In both cases, those involved in the incidents felt government agencies were intruding in their personal lives.

And just like that, in the space of 730 days, Americans were reminded that terror can come in unlikely places and lead to harsh conclusions.

Some historians also note that the American Revolutionary War began with the Battles of Lexington and Concord  the start of an eight-year armed conflict between American colonists and the British Army  on April 19, 1975.

The front page of the Deseret News on April 19, 1995, as a federal government building in Oklahoma City was partially destroyed by a bomb.

The Branch Davidian standoff

On Feb. 28, 1993, a gun battle erupted at a religious compound near Waco, Texas, when Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents tried to arrest Branch Davidian leader David Koresh on weapons charges; four agents and six Davidians were killed as a 51-day standoff began.

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The siege boiled over on April 19, as the compound burned to the ground after FBI agents in an armored vehicle smashed the buildings and pumped in tear gas. The Justice Department said cult members set the fire.

Here are stories from Deseret News archives about the Waco incident:

Lesson from Waco: Religion matters when dealing with the nonconventional

Waco documentary indicates agents fired at trapped cult members

Cult leader? Sinful Messiah? 25 years later, interest in David Koresh still strong

FBIs lies, siege at Waco unjustified

Murrah building bombing

On April 19, 1995, a date purposely chosen, American Timothy McVeigh detonated explosives planted in a truck outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. He plotted the attack with two fellow Army veterans who shared his anti-government views, Terry Nichols and Michael Fortier.

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The Oklahoma City Bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children, and wounded hundreds more, in the worst terrorist attack in U.S. history to that date.

Before he was executed in 2001, McVeigh made it clear that he intended the bombing as retribution for the deaths at Waco and the Ruby Ridge standoff in northern Idaho in 1992, and had deliberately planned the bombing to take place on the second anniversary of the Waco disaster.

Here are stories from Deseret News archives related to the Oklahoma City bombing:

Weve taken notice, but will we learn?

FBI explanation of missing Oklahoma City bombing tapes not credible, judge says

Impact of 95 Oklahoma City bombing still felt

Judge talks of surviving 1995 blast and 9/11

Nichols says bombing was FBI op
SPARTANBURG COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  Members of a Spartanburg County church plan to celebrate Easter service together on Sunday, just days after a fire destroyed half of the church building.

The fire damaged the back of Enoree Methodist Church on Wednesday morning.

Despite the sudden misfortune, church officials said they will use the church social hall at the front of the building as a worship space.

Ash and dust cover a Bible at Enoree Methodist Church after a fire damaged the building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo: WSPA) Ash-covered room in Enoree Methodist Church after a fire damaged the building on Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Photo: WSPA) Close-up photo of damaged area of Enoree Methodist Church. (Photo: WSPA)

Billy Martin, President of Enoree Methodist Church expressed gratitude for the communitys support.

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Were very fortunate that churches in the area are offering their support [by] using to use their facilities, Martin said. You know its just been a wonderful outpouring from the community.

The Spartanburg County Fire Departments have not said what caused the fire.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSPA 7NEWS.
ANDERSON  Although the Indiana Utility Consumer Counselor has issued multiple opinions concerning Andersons water rate case, city officials intend to move forward with their plans.

In three different opinions, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor questioned the validity of the citys plans for the water department.

One opinion recommended the requested rate increase be reduced from 121% over five years to 75%.

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The last water rate increase was approved by the state in 2015.

If approved, the rate for an average residential customer is expected to increase from $23.51 to $55.25 starting in 2029.

Large customers of the water utility will see an increase from $117,772 monthly to $434,171 starting in 2029.

A second opinion stated that Anderson didnt need to build a new treatment plant and well field in south Anderson, noting that the current system loses 20% of the water.

The third opinion stated that instead of a $130 million project, the citys funding request for the projects should be $102 million.

Last year, the Anderson City Council approved $130 million in bonds over the next three years.

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The council has already approved $9 million in American Rescue Plan funds, and the Anderson Redevelopment Commission is providing $19 million toward the project.

All the work is scheduled to be completed by September 2029, with work on the initial phase starting in later this year.

Anderson officials have responded to the opinions and the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission has a hearing set for May 8.

There is a legal process for acquiring approval from the IURC, Anderson Mayor Thomas Broderick Jr. said. This includes a built-in mechanism for another bureaucratic agency, the Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor, that acts, for the lack of a better description, as the loyal opposition to petitions.

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Broderick said the IURC is not bound to accept the opinions or positions of the consumer counselor.

This is a process, he said. These are opinions from people who dont know much about Anderson.

They are dead wrong about the plant on the south side, Broderick said. Were committed to move forward.

Broderick said the existing Wheeler Avenue plant is 75 years old and that the wells supplying water to the plant are in a federal super fund site and production has dropped by 50%.

We have already made a lot of internal hard choices, he said. We want to be fair to the rate payers.

Broderick said shutting down the Wheeler Avenue plant will take care of many problems.

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You cant replace 400 miles of pipes overnight, he said. Many of them have been in place for over 100 years.

Broderick said the city is in the process of expanding the Lafayette water treatment plant to handle 14 million gallons of water per day, and additional property has been purchased for new wells to supply the plant.

We all know the growth is coming up Interstate 69 and more people and businesses will be coming to Anderson, he said. We want to meet those requirements. Its important to me that we dont do anything that keeps people from coming to Anderson.

Broderick said the city has contracted to purchase property for new well fields and a treatment plant in south Anderson.
Diddy and his legal team might need to make do with the remaining time available to prepare for his upcoming trial.

The rapper's attempt to get his trial delayed for two more months was thwarted by a New York City court judge today, Friday, 18, 2025.

Diddy, whose full name is Sean "Diddy" Combs, is set to stand trial for his alleged sex crimes in about 3 weeks following his arrest last September.

Diddy's Legal Team Instructed To Get Set For Trial Unfailingly By May 5

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

The rapper's trial is set to proceed as scheduled following a judge's decision to deny his team's request for a two-month delay.

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The ruling came after a hearing in New York City, during which Diddy's legal representatives claimed prosecutors were slow in providing evidence. They sought additional time to review the discovery materials.

However, TMZ confirmed that the judge disagreed, noting that Diddy is represented by four law firms, which should be sufficient for his team to prepare adequately for the trial, slated to begin on May 5.

Netizens React To News Of The Rapper's Looming Trial

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

Diddy's new situation has definitely caught the attention of internet users who are currently dissecting the court's decision.

According to this user, "Sean will be found innocent, the 'evidence' is flimsy and wild parties and a bunch of baby oil bottles are not a crime."

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Another commenter sarcastically registered their excitement for the court to discover "nothing, just like Epstein." One more X user simply hopes Diddy rots in jail and never makes it out.

Their sentiment was echoed by another commenter who wrote, "Get it over with so he can spend the rest of his life in prison."

The Rapper's Legal Team Is Seeking To Include A Black Female Lawyer

W8Media / MEGA

The business mogul is facing an increasingly challenging legal battle as he was recently hit with two additional charges, potentially linked to his controversial party videos.

The Blast shared that Diddy is currently enhancing his defense team by seeking a Black female lawyer to join established legal figures Marc Agnifilo and Teny Geragos.

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This move comes as he prepares for a trial regarding alleged sex crimes set to begin in about three weeks, following the departure of one of his previous attorneys, Anthony Ricco, earlier this year.

Diddy's legal team has raised concerns about racial profiling, arguing that the federal government is targeting him due to his status as a wealthy, successful Black man.

The search for a Black female attorney aims not only for diversity but also for expertise, as he needs a capable lawyer ready to assist as the trial approaches. Nonetheless, Agnifilo and Geragos will remain the lead counsels on his case.

Diddy Added Young Thug's Defense Lawyer To His Legal Team

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In addition to his hunt, Diddy recently expanded his legal team by hiring Bryan Steel, an attorney known for representing Young Thug during his RICO trial.

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Legal journalist Meghann Cuniff announced the development on X, noting that Steel's involvement in Diddy's defense was unexpected. Steel gained attention last year when he faced jail time for contempt of court after refusing to disclose an information source.

In a court filing seeking approval to join Diddy's team, Steel argued that the judge's order to reveal privileged information was wrongful. Steel highlighted that his misdemeanor contempt conviction had been reversed by the Supreme Court of Georgia.

Inside The Music Mogul's Two Fresh Charges

ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Diddy's criminal case continued to escalate significantly when he faced additional charges, increasing his total to five.

The updated indictment includes one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

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The new allegations detail that Diddy allegedly forced an individual identified as "Victim 2" into engaging in commercial sex acts, fully aware that it was due to "force, fraud, and coercion."

Additionally, he is accused of willfully facilitating the transportation of multiple people for the purpose of prostitution. At a recent hearing before the U.S. District Judge Arun Subramanian in Manhattan, Diddy pleaded not guilty to the expanded charges.

He is currently being held at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center following his arrest in September. If convicted on these federal charges, the rapper could face a mandatory minimum sentence of 15 years in prison, potentially leading to life behind bars.

Diddy's Interesting Living Conditions In Prison Revealed

APEX / MEGA

Diddy's new normal in prison, as shared by The Blast, comes with him currently housed in 4 North. The facility is a fourth-floor dormitory-style unit within the MDC that accommodates around 20 male inmates, including several high-profile cases.

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This includes convicted crypto fraudster Sam Bankman-Fried, who was held there before his transfer. Inmates, including Diddy, are subjected to compulsory daily check-ins at various times throughout the day, which is standard prison protocol.

Regarding living conditions, inmates take baths in stalls and eat their meals in a communal area. They have opportunities to access recreational activities, such as using the gym or watching movies via a general television or personal tablets purchased from the commissary.

The billionaire is reportedly permitted to make regular phone calls, which are limited to 15 minutes each. Visitors can also see Diddy on Tuesdays, but he reportedly meets with his lawyers much more frequently.

Will Diddy regain his freedom when the trial is done?
andreswd / iStock.com

Most people change jobs or even careers several times throughout their lives, often to make more money. For example, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average baby boomer has had around 12 jobs, while older millennials have had closer to nine.

Find Out: How Far $500,000 in Retirement Savings Plus Social Security Goes in Every State

Read Next: These 10 Used Cars Will Last Longer Than an Average New Vehicle

While moving into a new position or switching companies altogether can be advantageous  more prospects, increased pay  it can also hurt your retirement savings. Do it too often, and you could lose as much as $300,000 in some instances.

Learn more about how job hopping can affect your retirement savings.

Job Hopping Could Cost You $300K

A 2024 Vanguard report found that people who frequently job hop usually contribute less money to their 401(k)  and they dont even realize it. While this might not seem like a big deal, it can end up costing someone hundreds of thousands of dollars  or roughly the equivalent of a new house in some parts of the country.

The impact that a retirement savings slowdown can have on workers who switch jobs across employers is significant, according to the Vanguard report. For a worker earning $60,000 at the start of their career who switches jobs eight times across employers (for a total of nine jobs), the estimated loss in potential retirement savings could be about $300,000  enough to fund an estimated six additional years of spending in retirement.

Learn More: How To Protect Your Roth IRA From a Stock Market Crash

Why This Loss Happens

As per Vanguards report, there are several reasons why people save less by job hopping.

Sometimes, they forget to sign up for a 401(k) plan with their new employer. Others, they end up auto-enrolled in a plan but with a lower savings rate. In some cases, they save less due to major life changes, pay cuts or emergencies that come up. Some people roll their old 401(k) plan into an IRA  individual retirement account  but never actually invest it.

Although U.S. workers get to keep their 401(k) plans when switching jobs, some simply lose momentum when saving for retirement. Even with potentially better pay or benefits, these dont always make up for the long-term monetary loss. In fact, those who stick with one job or employer for a long time are more likely to save more over time than those who dont.

They Invest Less

Vanguard also found that the median job hopper sees a savings rate drop of almost 1%  even with a 10% raise. For someone who switches jobs every five years, their 401(k) savings rate can drop significantly, rather than steadily increase or at least remain the same.
Bell County, TX (FOX 44)  Every emergency call starts with the voices behind the call dispatchers.

A 9-1-1 dispatchers day is fast-paced, emotionally intense, and critically important. Dispatchers lean on one another for mental support.

Honestly, I just think about it, debrief it, and then I do different things for my mental health, Emergency Communications Specialist Benjamin Gullett said. Like going to the gym and talking with co-workers and stuff.

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A common disbelief is that calling 9-1-1 connects you straight to the police station. Dispatchers said most people who call in dont know its a consolidated center.

Theyre calling us, Emergency Communications Specialist Jesse Esparza said. We get the first calls  whether it be a major rollover accident, whatever it is, we are the first line of what you get.

Even with all the training, its hard for calls not to resonate with dispatchers.

I took like three cardiac calls in one shift, Gullett said. I had to work the tornado, the mall shooting. So, all of which Ive been to trainings for, but its the kind of training that youre like, Oh, I hope I dont have to deal with that, or Hope that doesnt happen, kind of thing.

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Dispatcher Jesse Esparza told me the hardest part of the unknown calls is not knowing what happens after hanging up.

If its a major, major event, well go to a debriefing, but we dont get all the details, Esparza said. We are only the callers voice on the other side. Thats it.

They must stay calm under pressure, gather vital information quickly, dispatch the right first responders, and often guide callers through life-saving instructions before help arrives.

Despite rarely being seen, they are the vital link between people in crisis.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KWKT - FOX 44.
Dyeing eggs as part of the Easter celebration goes back at least as far as the Middle Ages, and perhaps earlier. Some 47 percent of Americans are, however, planning to forego this happy ritual this season, according to a survey by WalletHub. Why? Because eggs cost too damned much.

The rising per capita demand for eggs has contributed to higher prices for chicken ova, but the recent steep increase largely stems from outbreaks of H5N1 bird flu virus among commercial egg-laying flocks since 2022. The virus kills nearly 100 percent of infected domestic fowl. Once an infection is detected, the entire flock is culled to limit the spread of the virus. Since 2022, over 168 million chickens, ducks, and turkeys have been killed. Outbreaks have been detected among wild birds and commercial and backyard flocks in 681 counties in all 50 states.

Three years ago, before wild migratory birds began spreading the virus to domestic poultry, the wholesale price of eggs was just over $1 per dozen. That soared to over $8 per dozen in February 2025 but has since dropped to a little over $3 per dozen now. The shortage has abated somewhat as, despite the Trump administration's mad tariff shenanigans, the U.S. has imported eggs from Turkey, Brazil, and South Korea. Also, bird flu infections have recently receded a bit, allowing commercial producers to replenish their egg-laying flocks.

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In an effort to boost egg supplies, some states are suspending their cage-free egg production mandates. While cage-free eggs cost more to produce, there is little evidence, however, that that production method has a significantly increased risk of bird flu infection compared to conventional production.

The most worrisome concern is that bird flu could mutate into a form that can readily infect mammals, including humans. So far bird flu outbreaks among dairy cattle have been detected in over 1,000 herds in 17 states. The virus has also infected a wide range of other mammals, including pet cats. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that 70 people, mostly workers on dairy and poultry farms, have contracted the illness and only one has died. There have been no confirmed cases of human-to-human transmission. The current risk posed by H5N1 bird flu to public health is low, according to the CDC.

In March, Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) Robert F. Kennedy Jr. suggested that farmers let the virus "run through the flock[s]so that we can identify the birds, and preserve the birds, that are immune to it." One big problem: Every infected bird offers the flu virus another chance to mutate into a version that can be directly transmitted from person to person. In February, the U.S. Department of Agriculture conditionally approved a bird flu vaccine for use in poultry developed by animal care company Zoetis.

But never mind vaccines for chickens: The HHS should instead prioritize and support the development of human vaccines targeted at H5N1 flu viruses.

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At any rate, there are no cases of anyone contracting bird flu from cooked eggs. So dyeing hard-boiled eggs for Easter is perfectly safe. That's good news for those who can afford them.

The post Don't Fear the Bird Flu When Dyeing Easter Eggs appeared first on Reason.com.
British social commentator Douglas Murray didnt back down from his criticism of many of Joe Rogans guests. While speaking to Bill Maher Friday night, Murray said the issue is one of basic social hygiene.

These people that I was trying to call out on Joes show, they are doing things like, Hitler wasnt that much of an anti-Semite, [the] main problem in the 20th century was Winston Churchill. Winston Churchill was the warmonger. Adolf Hitler wanted peace, Murray explained. And I just look, its a matter of social hygiene. Dont feed me this st.

Douglas Murray calls out his critics from his appearance on Joe Rogan debating Comedian Dave Smith:

Bill Maher: "You were on Joe Rogan, got a lot of press, glad you said what you said.

I like Joe but he has on people who entertain these crazy conspiracy theories and doesn't push pic.twitter.com/ThnwMYQYIn  Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) April 19, 2025

While Murray acknowledged there is crossover between the people who are just trolls that this because they think its really fun to do the Jewish question, to do like a bit of Holocaust denial, a bit of Hitler praise, a bit of Churchill degradation.

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They think its kind of funny what theyre watering and whats going to come up underneath them are going to be people who believe this rot.

If Churchill can be labeled a warmonger and Hitler a good guy, you can do things like Christian nationalism, Murray added as Maher cut in, You can buy a Kanye album! (The rapper has launched frequent antisemitic attacks in recent years.)

The comment drew laughter that Murray played off of. Thats the last stage. And thats the ultimate  they want  after theyve absolved Adolf Hitler, they want to absolve Kanye, and then theyre going to get to the point of hell, he fired back.

Murray appeared on Rogans show on Thursday, April 10, and used his time to confront the host for frequently entertaining guests who hold counter-historical views.

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I just feel we should get it out straight away, Murray told Rogan. I feel youve opened the door to quite a lot of people who have now got a big platform who have been throwing out counter-historical stuff of a very dangerous kind.

If you throw a lot of st out there, theres some point at which Im just raising questions is not a valid thing anymore, Murray also said. Youre not asking questions. Youre telling people something.

Rogan insisted he chooses guests based on who hed like to speak to, not because of what they believe.

The post Douglas Murray Doubles Down on Joe Rogan Slam for Twisting History: Dont Feed Me This S | Video appeared first on TheWrap.
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KREX)  Housing Resources of Western Colorado (HRWCO) held an open house for townhomes in Orchard Mesa, offering qualified buyers down payment assistance.

Weve been able to get the price down to $320,000-$325,000, using the assistance weve put together, said Executive Director of Housing Resource of Western Colorado Emilee Powell. The market rate would be more like $395,000.

The townhomes, built by BOA Builders, are located at 2781 Caspian Way. Five of them were open Friday for tours.

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Each has three bedrooms and a garage. All of them are electric only and equipped with stove-top ovens, microwaves and washer-dryers. They range between 1,500 and 1,600 square feet.

Powell explains how HRWCO is able to provide downpayment assistance to buyers.

Weve put together grants from the City of Grand Junction and from the State of Colorado. Weve packaged those together; well pass those grants on to our clients in the form of these very specialized loans.

These are 0% interest loans with no payments that will be paid when clients sell the home in the future, helping keep the price affordable for buyers.

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The city provided $1.1 million in grants and the state provided $1.8 million in grants for the downpayment assistance.

These funds are not specific to these spaces and have been used to help more than 30 home buyers in the Grand Valley already.

Community Development Director for the City of Grand Junction Tamra Allen talks about the money granted and where it came from.

That money is not general fund or general taxpayer dollars, those were monies from the American Rescue Plan Act.

That money was transferred to the city during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Click here to be directed to the HRWCO website to see if you qualify.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WesternSlopeNow.com.
GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR)  Despite wintry weather across the Denver metro area, dozens of Christians and Catholics still made the annual pilgrimage to the Mother Cabrini Shrine on foot.

The shrine is dedicated to St. Francis Xavier Cabrini, the first American citizen to be canonized. She started an orphanage in Denver in 1902, and part of her mission included a summer property in the foothills between Golden and Genesee.

Rockies game at Coors Field postponed due to snowy weather

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We see so many people coming to the shrine during these holy days leading up to Easter. Certainly, Good Friday is a very popular day here at the shrine. People love to walk up the hill and carry crosses, Mother Cabrini Shrine executive director JoAnna Seaman said.

Friday morning and afternoon, dozens of people made the pilgrimage along a 2.7 mile stretch of of U.S. Highway 40 that runs parallel to Interstate 70 between the Hogback Park-n-Ride and the shrine. Many of them walked much further.

I walked from Bowles and Wadsworth up here to the shrine. This is probably the tenth time that Ive done that. This year was a little bit more challenging. It seemed like the wind was blowing in my face the whole time, and I had to fight the sleet and graupel coming at me, Chris Lang said.

Lang described his 2025 pilgrimage as his most difficult to date.

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A lot of times Ill run into pilgrims on the Morrison Road and of course on the frontage road, but this year there was very few pilgriming. Very few people out walking, he said.

According to Seaman, Good Friday typically draws in hundreds, if not thousands, of worshippers.

It was a beautiful day last time. I feel like the later in the year Easter is, the colder it is on Easter, Chris Lanciotti said.

Lanciotti walked 10 miles from Lakewood with a group of friends to honor the holy day.

Im impressed with their grit and their determination, and we welcome them with open arms. Were glad that theyre here, Seaman said.

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Driver suspected of being under the influence crashes into Greeley lake

The shrine remains open for anyone willing to brave the elements. For anyone wishing to participate but cannot visit the shrine in person, services throughout the weekend will be live-streamed.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS)  Dripp Donuts & Chicken is setting up their permanent shop in the South Highlands neighborhood, and longtime fans want to know: When are they reopening?

They are expected to open in the first week of May after their donut shop in Downtown Shreveport was forced to close due to being structurally unsound last year. And the people of Shreveport-Bossier have been eagerly awaiting Dripp Donuts & Chickens return.

Dripp Donuts & Chicken co-owner, Caleb King, says that the support from the community has been unimaginable, I cant imagine it. Ive always thought that its just fried dough, right? But its more than that. Its about community. Its about the support. Its the feedback, the smiles, and the encouragement from our fans. It means a lot.

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Farm Shares: deliver fresh veggies, milk, eggs and more

He explains that he and his wife, Michelle, took their time to plan out their next steps. But, ultimately, it was the messages from the Shreveport-Bossier community that gave them the confidence to return.

I mean, its a big lift doing this from scratch, again, with two little kids. And, you know, with so much up in the air with that issue, but without that support and without all that feedback and that positive energy, we never would have done it. And thats what gave us the confidence to take this project on and give it another go.

Dripp Donuts and Chicken hopes to open by May 1st, provided all the paperwork and renovations proceed smoothly. They are still transforming the interior of the former homemade ice cream store, Sweetport at 3301 Line Avenue.

(KTAL/KMSS Reporter Anthony Mocklin) (Courtesy of Dripp Donuts & Chicken) (Courtesy of Dripp Donuts & Chicken) (Courtesy of Dripp Donuts & Chicken) (Courtesy of Dripp Donuts & Chicken) (Courtesy of Dripp Donuts & Chicken)

King said they were able to salvage some equipment from the downtown location, including the wooden cabinet surrounding the donut display made by his father.

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Theres a lot of addition to the donuts and kolaches. Were going to bring in the chicken component from our food truck, which was also strangely successful. Like, we started that just for fun, like Harry, the chef, and I did that while we were waiting for the donut shop downtown to get finished, and that took off all on its own.

Whats new on the Dripp Donut and Chicken menu?

Beyond their usual, seasonal flavors, craft sourdough donuts, Nashville hot chicken, and a full coffee bar.

King says expect cool mashups like the donut sandwich with the chicken, which will start at 11 a.m.

Soft serve ice cream features fun flavors like bourbon, blueberry, Madagascar, and vanilla.

A soda fountain,

Morelle Dairy Farm milk and more.

An outdoor play area for children with a fence for their safety.

King says the South Highlands location is a full circle moment as he grew up only a block away.

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I think its a full circle for me. I grew up a block away on Stephenson Street and was gone for 15 years, and now here I am in my forties right back where I started. So its kind of coming back home for me, you know, I remember all the I remember Ethereal Bakery right on the corner, right behind us.

He attended Centenary for a year, then LSU-Baton Rouge, and eventually moved to Canada as a real estate agent, and Michelle, a retail store manager. During the pandemic, they began making sourdough bread, which then evolved into making donuts.

Shreveports Geekd Con returns, what you need to know

Their hobby quickly evolved into a food truck, going to farmers markets, pop-ups around the Shreveport-Bossier community, and quickly transforming into two businesses while raising two young children.

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Kings message to the Shreveport-Bossier community: Thank you. I really, Michelle and I are so grateful for all the support and the messages. Sometimes its too emotional to interact with everyone and reply to everything, and I dont. But it really means a lot. I mean, its, you know, it was a tough year, and knowing that so many people were behind us and supportive of us, I think thats what made us want to do this again.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
Japan has pledged approximately $3 billion in financial support to Ukraine through the G7's innovative ERA (Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration) mechanism, which utilises profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

The announcement was made by Ukraines Ministry of Finance following an agreement signed between Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko and Japans Ambassador to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome.

The loan will be repaid using future revenue generated from immobilized Russian assets seized by G7 nations following Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The financial support is structured over a 30-year term and will contribute to Ukraines urgent budgetary needs as well as long-term reconstruction and development efforts.

This agreement not only meets critical fiscal demands but also underscores Japans steadfast commitment to democratic values and support for Ukraine, Marchenko said.

Japan has so far extended over $8.5 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war.

This latest move follows a July 2024 agreement by G7 and EU leaders to allocate $50 billion to Ukraine, to be financed by interest accrued on roughly 280 billion ($318 billion) in frozen Russian assets globallymost of which are held in the European Union.

The bulk of these funds, approximately 191 billion ($217 billion), are managed by Belgium-based Euroclear, which generated nearly 4.4 billion ($4.8 billion) in profits from these assets in 2023, according to the Financial Times.

The US., EU, and UK are also contributing to the broader G7 plan, with the United States previously announcing a $20 billion loan, the EU up to $35 billion, and the UK nearly $3 billion.

The agreement highlights continued G7 coordination in sustaining Ukraines economy while increasing pressure on Russia through strategic asset immobilization.
Delta Air Lines (NYSE: DAL) was the first major company to report results since the tariff war kicked off in early April. What its management said had significant implications for the aerospace sector, particularly for Boeing (NYSE: BA).

Here's what happened and why it matters so much for Boeing investors.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

Delta Air Lines' indirect warning to Boeing

First, here's a brief recap of the key takeaways from Delta's first-quarter earnings call:

Revenue increased by 3.3% year over year, behind management's previous estimate for "closer to 4%" -- a figure already lowered from guidance for 7%-9% given on the fourth-quarter earnings call in January.

The uncertainty around global growth created by tariff skirmishes hit Delta's bookings in the first quarter, and management declined to update full-year guidance in response to current market conditions.

Management also announced it would reduce "expected capacity growth" in the second half in response to the slowdown and try to protect margins

Frankly, much of this was expected, as Delta's management had already told investors of a tariff-induced slowdown in March, and the escalation in the trade conflict since then is unlikely to have caused optimism among investors.

The numbers and lack of full-year guidance are one thing, but management said something else that should concern Boeing investors. Quoting Delta CEO Ed Bastian on the earnings call, "We will not be paying tariffs on any aircraft deliveries we take," and "If you start to put a 20% incremental cost on top of an aircraft, it gets very difficult to make that math work."

Bastian is talking about Airbus here (it's the only airplane manufacturer Delta is expecting deliveries from this year).

The implication is clear: Either Airbus will have to at least share part of the tariff cost (in this case, tariffs applied by the U.S. tariffs on European products), or there's a risk the order will be delayed or cancelled.

Why it matters to Boeing investors

While Delta is responding to U.S.-imposed tariffs, the message to Boeing is that non-U.S. airlines could take the same approach to any tariffs imposed by other countries and the E.U. on U.S. products sold in those countries.

Image source: Getty Images.

It gets worse. Airbus and Boeing are subject to increased costs due to tariffs, either directly from an increase in costs from products sourced from the U.S. and the E.U., or from an increase in suppliers' costs due to tariffs.
TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV)  Duke Energy is proposing a new energy facility in Vermillion County, and Thursday evening, the public was invited to share their thoughts on the idea.

Duke Energys Cayuga Station Power Plant is the oldest coal plant in Indiana, approaching 60 years old.

Angeline Protogere, a representative for Duke Energy, said they are looking to replace it.

We are proposing to replace it with highly efficient natural gas turbines, but we are going to add about 450 megawatts to the site, Protogere said. That will be much needed additional energy on the Indiana grid.

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Duke Energy said the need for energy across the state is at an all-time high.

Since 2013, when our last power plant that was added, we have about 116,000 new customers, Protogere said. With that growth, comes a higher demand for power.

Thursday evening, a hearing was held by the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission and the Office of Utility Consumer Counselor. Residents were given the chance to share their thoughts on the proposal.

Many area leaders gave their support for Duke Energy, including Vermillion County Commissioner RJ Dunavan. He shared how the plant would not only produce cleaner energy, but benefit the local community.

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The construction phase alone is expected to generate hundreds of jobs in our county, providing work for approximately 250 individuals per year and peaking at 550 jobs during the busiest periods of construction, Dunavan said. This not only supports our local workforce but injects meaningful growth into our county.

Although based in Cayuga, the plant will contribute energy across the state.

Indianas electrical demand has been growing because Indiana has been growing, Protogere said. This plant is adding a significant amount of new energy to the Indiana grid.

Duke Energy said they will not retire existing units until they can be fully replaced.

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If the proposal is accepted, construction will begin in late 2025, with completion for the first unit planned for 2029 and the second in 2030.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to MyWabashValley.com.
TYLER, Texas (KETK)On Thursday, State Rep. Brent Money pushed back against memorial resolution set to honor Cecile Richards.

The entire calendar was withdrawn and not brought to a vote.

Richards was the president of the Planned Parenthood Federation of America from 2002-2018.

She is a native Texan and died from an aggressive form of brain cancer in January.

Normally, memorial resolution go without controversy and unites both sides of the aisle, but some conservatives would not let the motion pass with Richards name on the list.

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For someone who is really only known for being the purveyor and advocate for women to be able to just indiscriminately murder their own children was a bridge too far for us, State Rep. Brent Money said.

Rep. Donna Howard was honored to serve Richards district, touting that her life was changed through Richards counsel and friendship.

Cecile fought to ensure every Texan had equal access to a quality education, affordable health care, and opportunities to realize their version of the American dream. She is known by many for her tenacity, grit, wisdom and heart, State Rep. Donna Howard said.

Lawmakers debated the resolution for nearly two hours. Many said it goes against the policy the state put in place against abortions.

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Any Republican that votes for this calendar is going to end up voting for Cecile Richards, said Money.

Other honorees alongside Richards included William Everett Brannon Jr. of Sulphur Springs, former Houston Rep. Sheila Jackson lee and Corey D. Comperatore of Sarver who died while shielding his family during the attempted assassination of President Trump.

Unlike other families who have had the opportunity to come to the capital to memorialize their loved ones, the Richards family was denied that opportunity, said Howard.

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JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  Area clergy will deliver messages of the power of the Resurrection, hope, love, truth and investing in one another in their Easter Sunday sermons.

For Christians, Easter is the most important festival and the one celebrated with the greatest joy because it marks the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

The Easter message by Bishop Mark L. Bartchak, of the Altoona-Johnstown Roman Catholic Diocese, focuses on a story about a missionary priest who, while serving in the Amazon rainforest, met a teenage boy whose father had died. He was left without someone to offer him guidance and support.

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After the missionaries distributed food and told the people about the Lord Jesus, the boy did not leave when all the others returned to their homes, Bartchak said. He would stay and help with basic chores, and sometimes he would guide the priests to another village. He was especially glad to do that because the priests had been teaching about Jesus, who said, Come follow me. 

The teenager felt that those words of Christ were meant for him. The priests gave him a Bible and told him to start reading the Gospel of Matthew. He asked the priests if he could take the Bible home with him and continue reading, and of course they said yes. He read about the passion and death of Jesus.

When he returned to the mission the next day, the priests could tell that he was upset, Bartchak said They asked him, Are you OK? He looked at them and said, Hes alive. Please tell me Jesus is really alive? They said, Yes, of course hes alive, and he is with us in the church, in the Sacred Scripture, and in the sacraments. 

The teenager had only recently heard that good news. He wanted to know more. He wanted to know who, what, where, when and why that is essential to the greatest story ever told. The missionaries immediately knew that this young man had opened his mind, heart and soul to the story of hope, Bartchak said.

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Ever since the COVID pandemic and even now, so many people are trying to recapture the direction, the purpose, or the meaning of their life, Bartchak said. It has become a real challenge because fear of human suffering dominates the news almost every day.

The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is the premier story of the hope that is sometimes missing. But the good news of Easter tells us that hope can be restored through Christ. The disciples had lost hope when Jesus died on the cross, but hope was restored when they saw Jesus in a different way after his resurrection. They spoke with him, ate with him, and touched him. Jesus reassured them and restored their hope.

He added that Easter is the feast of hope, direction, purpose, meaning and community.

Were all in this together with our Lord Jesus Christ, Bartchak said. He is our hope. He suffered, died and rose from the dead especially to restore hope for every one of us.

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Rejoice and be glad at Easter. May you know the Lords peace now and always.

The Rev. David Streets, pastor of West Hills Community Church, 175 Woodmont Road, Upper Yoder Township, said the Resurrection gives hope.

Christ has risen and because Jesus is alive we can have eternal life, he said. For Christians, the Resurrection is foundational to our whole faith, and without it we dont have hope.

Streets said his message will focus on the gospel of Mark 16:1-7.

Im talking about Peter because he had denied knowing the Lord, and he felt like a failure and felt hopeless, he said.

Peter needed to know the Lord wasnt through with him and the Lord loved him unconditionally. Most of us have messed up at some time in our life, and the Lord isnt through with us; he is eager and willing to forgive us and use us in spite of our flaws and imperfections.

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Throughout the Easter season, Streets is hopeful the faithful will know that Jesus is alive and will have eternal life if they have faith in him.

I hope they go out and live out their faith the other 364 days of the year and not just at Easter, he said. I hope that Jesus being alive makes a discernible difference in how they do their everyday lives.

The Rev. Paul Hamilton, pastor of Westmont Church of the Brethren, 2301 Sunshine Ave., Westmont, said his focus at Easter is the message of Christs love.

You can find your purpose in life and you can find a level of joy that cant be experienced in any other way by following the teachings and the example of Jesus, he said. If somebody can predict their own death and resurrection and pull it off, you really ought to pay attention to what that person has to say. The teachings of Jesus should be respected because it isnt just a belief of something that might have happened, its a thing that did happen.

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Hamilton said his message will focus on loving one another.

We need to listen and respect one another and offer support, he said. As Jesus followers, we need to try and be there for other people.

The Rev. Josh Knipple, pastor of Crucified Ministries, 200 Maple Ave., Johnstown, said the Resurrection is a celebration that Jesus has power over the grave.

There were a lot of unknowns when Mary and Peter arrived at the tomb, and their automatic question was, Where is he?  he said. Jesus speaks to them and says he has risen just as he said. Jesus is with us even in moments that dont make sense.

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Knipple said his message will focus on Jesus staying true to his word.

Even if Jesus said something that didnt make sense in the moment, he followed through on it, he said. Jesus said, I told you this was going to happen. 

He told them going into Jerusalem he would be crucified, told them he would have to die and told them this had to take place, but he also told them he was going to rise. He is risen, just as he said.

The Very Rev. Protopresbyter Robert Buczak, dean of Christ the Saviour Cathedral, 300 Garfield St., Johnstown, said the Resurrection is the feast of feasts.

Its the greatest gift in the world. Its the kingdom of heaven given to us, he said. As St. Paul says, without the Feast of the Resurrection, our faith is in vain.

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Metropolitan Gregory of Nyssa, of the American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese, which is headquartered in Johnstown, requested that his message to all the parishes of the diocese be delivered at the conclusion of Divine Liturgy.

Today I greet you with great love and joy in the name of our Lord and savior Jesus Christ following his glorious Resurrection, Gregory writes. On Great and Holy Pascha, we behold the triumph of Christ, as he rose from death to life, from darkness of the tomb into the Light.

With the Resurrection of Christ, all creation is filled with a new light of life and joy. On this Feast of Feasts, this Holy Day of Holy Days, we all proclaim the only truth that matters, the truth that Christ is risen.

He writes that through this truth, we are liberated from the power of sin and death, to receive Gods promise to live in eternity.

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We feel the inexpressible joy of being united with real life in Christ, Gregory writes. We are overwhelmed by the awesome love and tender mercy of our God, who gave himself up to suffering and death for our sake  yet that was not enough, for he also rose from the dead to give us new life and eternal hope.

He writes that if we truly open our hearts, if we allow ourselves to be illuminated by the glorious light of Pascha, we too will receive the Resurrection in our own hearts and lives.

The message of the Resurrection is that we can be transformed, and that Pascha is a call to all mankind to live joyously, to be filled with jubilation and love for one another, our hearts overflowing with his grace, Gregory writes. Therefore, let us rejoice and be glad in the Lords Pascha, the feast day of freedom, life and light.

Bright Week will be held Sunday through April 26, a week set aside by Orthodox Christians for the celebration of the resurrection.
For Christians, Easter is ultimately about the empty tomb and its promise of resurrection. But before the resurrection, there was the cross, which was widely views as a symbol of a terrifying system of imperial tyranny, a frequent instrument for executions during the Roman empire. Setting aside the miracles and the metaphysics, Easter offers an anti-tyrannical political message.

The Easter narrative warns against the dangers of greed, complicity and despotic power. It condemns the collusion of sycophants and the callous brutality of the mob. The story of Jesus execution exposes an entire system of unjust imperial rule over a subjugated people.

Opinion

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One of the villains of Easter is Judas, a money-grubbing thief who betrayed Jesus to the authorities. Another villain is Herod Antipas, who was also responsible for beheading John the Baptist. But it was Pontius Pilate, the authoritarian Roman ruler of Judaea, who conducted the trial of Jesus and was legally responsible for his crucifixion. That trial involved a bizarre ritual in which the mob was asked who it wanted to save. The mob cried out for Jesus to be crucified, while calling for the release of Barabbas, an insurrectionist.

All of this teaches a lesson about the need for a rules-based system of justice. Such a system would outlaw cruel punishments, such as scourging and crucifixion. It would prevent authoritarian rulers from consolidating the power to convict and punish. It would not defer to the stupid passions of the mob, nor would it depend upon the greed of paid informants. In general, it would avoid the excesses of swift imperial justice in favor of due process and the rule of law.

Such a system would be similar to that which is found in our own beleaguered constitutional system. The American Constitution guarantees freedom of religion, speech and the press, along with the right to assemble and petition. It prohibits unreasonable searches and seizures, requires due process of law and stipulates that those accused of crimes should be able to confront the witnesses against them. It also prohibits excessive fines, and cruel and unusual punishments.

This means that if a Jesus-like figure were to appear on the American scene, he would be free to preach and lead a movement, even if it infuriated religious and legal authorities. His followers would be free to protest, write and criticize the policies of the church and the state. And if this figure or his followers were accused of crimes, they would have basic rights that protect them against arbitrary detention. In our system, prisoners cannot be mocked or manhandled, or cruelly killed.

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None of this was true in ancient Roman Judaea. The Roman authorities ruled with an iron fist. Crucifixion was intended to send a message to rebels and rabble-rousers. And while some of the locals may have thought that they could play along with imperial power, the Romans eventually destroyed the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. They also rounded up and killed Peter and Paul, and other Christians.

The American founders understood the dangers of imperial power run amok. In 1775, John Adams claimed that a republic was a government of laws, and not of men. He further said, An empire is a despotism, and an emperor a despot, bound by no law or limitation, but his own will.

Soon enough, in 1776, the Americans broke with England, claiming that the king had become tyrannical and despotic. The arbitrary and authoritarian application of the power to punish was viewed as a sure sign of tyranny. Among the complaints against King George listed in the Declaration of Independence are depriving people of the benefits of trial by jury, and transporting us beyond seas to be tried for pretended offenses.

Unfortunately, our own government is now transporting people to foreign countries without due process. We are also threatening to occupy Greenland and annex Canada. Easter provides a cautionary tale for the present moment. It reminds us of the need for due process and the rule of law, and about the dangers of imperial excess.

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The Easter narrative also calls for sympathy for the victims of unjust power. If it seems that we are more Roman than Christian these days, it can help to recall that the hero of Easter is Jesus and not Pontius Pilate.

Andrew Fiala is the interim department chair of Fresno State Universitys Department of Philosophy.
EAST PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  The official kick-off to Easterseals week-long community rally is the annual Walk Run Rally at the Levee District in East Peoria.

This year, more than 400 people came out to support individuals with intellectual disabilities. Natalie Putney participates in the run every year for her daughter, Kenzi.

Easterseals has been a part of our life since she was about three. We do speech. We did OT and PT, and she has graduated. We still do intermittent speech through Easterseals. Easterseals is also responsible for providing her a communication device, which has been great for us and the school, said Putney.

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She said Easterseals has changed her daughters life for the better.

Giving my child things that I never thought we would have. I never thought we would be where were at with her speech, and they have just given us the ability to be able to function, she said.

Hundreds of spectators lined Washington Street, cheering on the runners and walkers. Many of the participants have received services from Easterseals.



We want to see another couple hundred people come and join us down here at the levee district, not only to participate in a fun spring morning, a family-friendly event, but for our families to see how much the community supports them. I cant put it into words. It really makes a huge difference, said Molly Hogeboom with Easterseals, Illinois.

WMBDs own Rebecca Brumfield emceed the event, and Thomas Garverick emceed the Walk Run Rally happening at the same time in Bloomington.

Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run Photos from the Bloomington Easterseals Walk Run

Starting Monday, you can join WMBD in our Easterseals community rally! All week long, we will have volunteers taking your phone calls and donations to help this local organization.

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Hear stories of those who benefit from Easterseals and how it changes so many lives.

Tune in starting Monday at 4 p.m.

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Apr. 18The following is a list of recent first and second-degree felony dispositions from the Ector County District Clerk's Office.

Gilbert Alvarez. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Possession of a controlled substance. Evading arrest. Guilty plea. 10 years Texas Department of Corrections.

Kristopher Anderson. Burglary of a habitation. Dismissed. Pleaded guilty to criminal trespass. 51 days jail.

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Eliza Cates. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Dismissed. Pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia. Fine only.

Kristofer Choate. Theft of property, $150,000-$300,000. Dismissed. Victim does not want to proceed.

Jarrett Gray. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Guilty plea. Five years deferred adjudication. 300 hours community service.

Willie McCray. Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Guilty plea. Eight years deferred adjudication. 480 hours community service.

Joshua Medrano. Burglary of habitation. Guilty plea. Four years deferred adjudication. 240 hours community service.

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San Ynes Patino. Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Evading arrest. Five years and three years TDOC.

Lonnie Savage. Assault on a peace officer. Two counts. Attempt to commit injury to a child/elderly/disabled person. Guilty plea. Four years TDOC and 12 months state jail.

Rafael Silva. Manufacture/delivery of a controlled substance. Guilty plea. Seven years. Texas Department of Corrections.

The following is a list of recent first and second-degree felony indictments from the Ector County District Clerk's Office.

Arturo Navarrete Villa. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Two counts.
QUITO, Ecuador (AP)  Ecuadorian authorities warned Saturday that the Andean country is on high alert after it received intelligence about an suspected attempt on President Daniel Noboa' s life.

Ecuador' s Government Ministry, providing no evidence for its claims, wrote on a post on the social network X that it was warned about the planning of an assassination, terrorist attacks and ... violent protests.

The ministry said it had taken security measures to neutralized the alleged threats.

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The warning comes days after Noboa won re-election, defeating leftist opposition candidate Luisa Gonzalez by a margin of more than one million votes, according to electoral authorities.

Noboa has gained popularity for his crackdown on organized crime at a time that violence has soared, prompting the president to declare that Ecuador is in an internal armed conflict.

The Noboa government claimed that those behind the recent threat were criminal structures and political sectors defeated at the polls." Noboa alluded to an alleged military intelligence report circulating on social media which said that after Sunday's elections, the transfer of hired killers from Mexico and other countries to Ecuador has begun."

The Associated Press consulted the military institution on the veracity of the report, to which its press office responded that an official statement would be issued in the coming hours.

But the lack of evidence from Ecuador's government fueled criticism from former candidate Gonzalez, who has repeatedly claimed that the election result was falsified. On Saturday, she wrote on X that the assassination claims were simply the government's desperation to silence us and added that more persecution is coming.
PARIS, Ill. (WCIA)  The Edgar County Sheriffs Office has their eyes on an unnamed suspect after a Paris man was killed in a hit-and-run this past weekend.

On Saturday, April 12 at approximately 8:27 p.m., the Edgar County Sheriffs Office responded to a 911 call regarding a deceased person in the roadway of 1200th Road in Paris. The Edgar County Coroners confirmed that 34-year-old Dakota J. Gibson was pronounced dead at the scene after a vehicle hit him from behind and fled the scene.

Man found dead in vacant Edgar County home; police investigating

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After initiating an investigation that day, the Sheriffs Office has reviewed evidence, followed leads, interviewed witnesses and coordinated with other departments and offices to develop a suspect.

At this time, a request for a warrant has been submitted to the Edgar County States Attorneys Office for the arrest of a suspect in connection to this investigation. Additional information will be released as the case progresses.

The Sheriffs Office has been assisted by the following agencies in this investigation:

Illinois State Police

Edgar County Coroners Office

Edgar County States Attorneys Office

Clark County Sheriffs Office

Paris Fire Department

Paris Police Department

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Of course Google has an unlawful monopoly on online ads, as a federal judge found Thursday, just like a different federal judge found last year that Google has an unlawful monopoly on online searching; everyone knows that googling means online search.

A market economy only works if there is competition and choice and Googles monopolist practices prevent them. And thats illegal.

Googles control of the ads has turned the former garage start-up in to colossal worth close to $2 trillion. But that came at the expense of blocking out would-be competitors.

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Advertising is the backbone of internet commerce and a lifeline for publishers of all types. Advertising is what has enabled the massive revenues of all social media giants, and it is what essentially every non-e-commerce business trying to make a living on the internet depends on.

The decision comes as the Federal Trade Commission seeks to have Meta, owner of Facebook, WhatsApp and Instagram, spin off the latter two, years after the company bought the competing products and, prosecutors argue, made them worse. These are all good signs for a healthy tech sector and online community.

Theres partly a problem of mismatched perceptions when it comes to the internet giants. Despite their meteoric rise to global power and prominence, companies like Alphabet (Googles parent) and Meta have still seen themselves as fast-acting innovators that had to act aggressively to corner markets, not stopping to consider (or not bothering to contend with the implications of the fact) that they became at some point the dominant market players by far, not scrappy start-ups.

The moniker of moving fast and growing no matter the cost has proven good for the bottom line but decidedly mixed for the public. Its only been through concerted public and political pressure that theyve moved towards, for example, more moderation. That companies like Meta have now suddenly moved away from moderation shows how fickle they can be.

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These companies will trot out some dire warnings if they are forced to relinquish aspects of their monopolistic control: consumers will be left adrift and paying for worse products; moderation will tank as smaller companies fight for the scraps; users will get more siloed into their own corners of the internet to the detriment of free and open communication. These are simply modern reformulations of the same arguments that monopolistic business interests have always used to try to dodge scrutiny and regulation.

Its never been true before that the breaking up of a trust or a business cartel has cratered an industry or stifled innovation. Quite the opposite, actually. Theres some irony here in the fact that these tech companies were only made possible by the aggressive antitrust actions of the past as its likely that, in the absence of the breakup of AT&T and the Bell System in the 1980s, the whole Silicon Valley sector that sprung up not long after would have faced a much more uphill battle in trying to establish itself.

We hope that even as Big Tech cozies up to the Trump administration, the president will remember his promises to take on the entrenched power of the tech giants, which has been a quite rare point of bipartisan consensus for years. These actions will leave everyone better off.

___
BP p.l.c. (NYSE:BP) announced Thursday that it successfully loaded the first LNG export cargo from its Greater Tortue Ahmeyim (GTA) Phase 1 project, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal.

GTA is among the deepest offshore gas developments in Africa, with resources in water depths reaching up to 2,850 metres.

The GTA Phase 1 project is a joint effort involving Kosmos Energy Ltd. (NYSE:KOS) and PETROSEN, alongside bp.

GTA Phase 1 is expected to produce approximately 2.4 million tonnes of LNG annually once fully operational.

The first LNG cargo lifting marks a critical milestone as Kosmos and its partners begin recognizing revenue, signaling the transition into the production and commercial phase of the development.

Notably, the first LNG shipment from the GTA Phase 1 project was successfully transferred to a carrier from the project's floating liquefied natural gas (FLNG) vessel, located about 10 kilometers offshore.

A portion of the gas will also be allocated to support domestic energy markets in both countries as infrastructure becomes available.

The GTA cargo marks BP's third major upstream project start-up in 2025 and is among the first of 10 planned by the end of 2027. This aligns with the company's strategy to expand its upstream oil and gas operations.

Gordon Birrell, EVP of production & operations, said, "This first cargo from Mauritania and Senegal marks a significant new supply for global energy markets. Starting exports from GTA Phase 1 is an important step for BP and our oil and gas business as we celebrate the creation of a new production hub within our global portfolio."

Last week, the company disclosed a new oil discovery at the Far South prospect in the deepwater U.S. off the Louisiana coast.

Investors can gain exposure to the stock via Precidian ETFs Trust BP plc ADRhedged (BATS:BPH) and Texas Capital Texas Oil Index ETF (NYSE:OILT).

Price Action: BP shares are up 3.33% at $28.58 at the last check on Thursday.

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This article BP, Kosmos Loads First LNG Export From GTA Phase 1, One of Africa's Deepest Gas Projects originally appeared on Benzinga.com

 2025 Benzinga.com. Benzinga does not provide investment advice. All rights reserved.
The moral of this editorial is simple: Never stop fighting for what you believe in, especially in Tallahassee. Despite the odds, keep speaking up.

A rare and surprising thing happened at the state Capitol on Thursday, as a Senate committee suddenly shelved a bill that could do serious harm to the people near the bottom of the economic ladder in Florida.

They are day laborers who struggle to find work through labor pools and temporary employment agencies, showing up as early as 3 a.m. to seek low-wage work such as removing construction debris in hopes of earning $70 or $80 a day.

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Florida workers have been abused by the Legislature for too long. It has continued this session, in which lawmakers want to allow employers to avoid paying the $13-an-hour minimum wage, make it easier to exploit young teens in the workplace and make it harder for jobless people to seek relief when Florida already has the nations stingiest unemployment benefits.

Gone too far

It appears as if the prolonged political assault on the working poor in this state has finally gone too far  even for otherwise anti-worker Republicans.

At issue in that Thursday committee hearing was Senate Bill 1672, which would repeal Floridas Labor Pool Act, a law with bare-bones legal safeguards for those who rely on day labor to make ends meet.

A Senate staff report said the 1995 law provides for the health, safety and well-being of day laborers throughout the state and outlines uniform standards of conduct and practice for labor pools.

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For example, the law requires employers to meet minimum work standards such as safety helmets, to provide drinking water and restrooms at job sites, and seating for workers who may wait for hours to be hired.

The law also requires employers to give day laborers itemized pay stubs and bars employers from charging exorbitant fees to transport workers.

Sen. Keith Truenow, a first-term Republican from suburban Orlando, filed the repeal bill. For the second time this session, he gave a disingenuously vague explanation of it to the Senate Fiscal Policy Committee on Thursday.

The bill seeks to remove provisions of Florida law that are duplicative, Truenow told senators in a flat monotone.

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Somebody was paying attention, and attentive senators are all too familiar with such political shenanigans.

But only when opponents spoke up did the true effects of the bill begin to emerge.

Republican Sen. Blaise Ingoglia of Spring Hill, who has a decidedly pro-business voting record and a history of opposing labor unions, asked that SB 1672 be postponed  a sign of big trouble with only two weeks left in the regular session.

I think all of us have some questions, Ingoglia said.

The bill was set aside with no vote, or temporarily postponed in the jargon of the Legislature. The Fiscal Policy Committee may not meet again this session, which would make that temporary postponement permanent  unless the bill is filed again next year. The House version, HB 6033, has passed two House committees.

Bad information

A leading opponent of the bill, lawyer Maya Ragsdale of Hallandale Beach, is a co-director of Beyond the Bars, a worker center in Miami that helps released inmates find work.

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If repealed, most protections in the Labor Pool Act would be lost entirely, Ragsdale testified. She told senators they are getting incomplete and inaccurate information about the impact of its repeal, and that it is wrong that similar federal protections also exist.

Ragsdale and other critics say the force behind the laws repeal is a Houston-based company, Pacesetter Personnel Services, which has a big presence in South Florida.

The firm retained lawyer-lobbyist Ron Book and two associates of his Hollywood firm. Campaign finance records show that Books firm gave $5,000 to Truenows political committee, Growing Floridas Leadership, and the lobbyist contributed $3,000 more to Truenows campaign last year.

Besides Beyond the Bars, the Florida AFL-CIO is fighting the bill.

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The unions chief lobbyist, Rich Templin, railed against the Legislatures anti-worker agenda in a news conference Wednesday with Sen. Tina Polsky, a Democrat from Boca Raton, and Beyond the Bars members.

The 2025 session is far from over and the repeal could be fished out of the discard pile and passed through a waiver of the rules. But for once, the collective voices of Floridas working poor were heeded.

They spoke up  and it mattered.

The Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board includes Executive Editor Roger Simmons, Opinion Editor Krys Fluker and Viewpoints Editor Jay Reddick. The Sun Sentinel Editorial Board consists of Executive Editor Gretchen Day-Bryant, Editorial Page Editor Steve Bousquet, Deputy Editorial Page Editor Dan Sweeney and editorial writers Pat Beall and Martin Dyckman. Send letters to insight@orlandosentinel.com.
Apr. 19Some pictures really are worth 1,000 words.

For example, we'd point to a photograph taken April 7 by former Post Bulletin reporter Noah Fish, who now works for Agweek. The photo (you can it find online easily enough) shows Tony Lent and Allie Kuppenbender on their farm in Mazeppa. Also in the photo are the couple's children, Otto, 4, and Aurora, 6 months.

If you want to believe that family farming has a future in Minnesota, then this photo gives you reason for hope  but this family, like a lot of other young farmers, needs some help.

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Lent and Kuppenbender don't plant hundreds of acres of corn and soybeans. They don't milk 500 cows. They don't have containment buildings filled with hogs or feedlots packed with steers. Their farm, Bleed Heart Floral Farm & Design, operates on just 14 acres. They derive the bulk of their family's income from just 2 acres, on which they grow a variety of flowers. They sell cut flowers wholesale, provide arrangements for weddings and other social events, and also offer a subscription-based service of fresh, seasonal bouquets.

These young farmers battle many of the same elements that crop farmers face, including unpredictable weather, weeds, insects and other pests, but they lack some of the built-in advantages that bigger, more conventional agricultural operations enjoy.

Sen. Steve Drazkowski, a Republican from Mazeppa, and Sen. Aric Putnam, a DFLer from St. Cloud, are teaming up to help level the playing field for farmers like Lent and Kuppenbender. They have co-authored a bill that would qualify flower farms for agricultural classification.

Why is such a change needed? Currently, Minnesota's tax code doesn't consider cut flowers as an agricultural product along the lines of soybeans, poultry or even tree seedlings. This means Lent and Kuppenbender pay property taxes on their farmland at the much-higher residential rate, and the process of erecting even basic farm buildings is more permit-burdened and costly than it would be for a turkey farmer who needs a new pole shed.

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The mere fact that a Republican and a DFLer have united in an effort to update the tax code is strong proof that this change is needed. Bipartisanship in St. Paul is only slightly more common than an orchid blooming outdoors at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum in January, so Drazkowski and Putnam deserve full credit for reaching across the partisan divide in an effort to help flower farmers. We urge other legislators in our region to join this effort.

Would this classification change have a profound, immediate impact on Minnesota's economy? Probably not. Fewer than 300 floriculture farms operate in Minnesota right now, including 10 in Olmsted County, seven in Goodhue County and 19 in Wabasha County. About 80 percent of the cut flowers sold in the U.S. are imported from other nations, and those imports include the relatively few flower varieties that are easily grown, ship well and have a comparatively long shelf life.

But just as the "know your food" movement has gained steam, so too has the market for locally produced flowers. More acres in the U.S. are converted to flower production every year, and local growers can offer more delicate, seasonal, region-specific flowers. They can create bouquets and centerpieces that simply can't be found at a supermarket or a major floral chain.

Such flowers might be more expensive than blooms harvested in Mexico (tariffs could change that), but the ever-increasing popularity of farmers markets is ample proof that plenty of people are willing to pay a premium for locally-produced agricultural products.

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We see this trend as an opportunity for young Minnesotans who want to get their hands dirty.

Between 2017 and 2022, Minnesota lost 3,300 farm operations. The land involved didn't vanish, of course  it came under new ownership and/or operators. In that same time, the number of farm operations that worked at least 2,000 acres grew by 21 percent.

When agricultural acres change hands, newcomers to farming are largely shut out of the market by the high price of land and equipment. Even renting farmland is difficult, because large operations can pay rates that aspiring newcomers can't match. So, if a young couple doesn't inherit 500 acres and a tractor, they face a difficult path to become conventional crop-and-livestock farmers.

But there is another path, and that's the one being followed at Bleeding Heart Farm. Lent and Kuppender are living proof that small operations, even less than 10 acres, can survive and potentially thrive by growing labor-intensive, high-value products that they market and sell locally. Young people who want to create careers in farming will have a tough time buying 500 acres  but five acres is doable. Minnesota should do everything possible to encourage such farms.

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That's not to say we oppose what's happening on Minnesota's vast agricultural landscape. Large farm operations are very adept and efficient producers of meat, livestock feed and the ethanol that fuels our vehicles. Although we look back with some nostalgia at the days when a 160-acre crop-and-livestock farm could support a family of four, those days are gone  and our state's farmland has never been as productive as it is today.

But we like the idea that many of the parcels now considered "hobby farms" or "rural acreages" could soon become viable micro-farms that produce organic vegetables, specialty meats and Minnesota-grown flowers that will make beautiful centerpieces for Easter feasts.

And if kids like Otto and Aurora grow up on the farm and decide to follow in Mom's and Dad's footsteps, so much the better.
BEDFORD, Pa. (WTAJ)  The Bedford County Humane Society is hosting its annual Easter egg hunt Saturday.

This year, around 65 baskets were donated to be raffled off, including one grand prize trip to the Elmwood Zoo near Philadelphia. Those at the shelter said this event will help them raise some much needed money to keep caring for the animals at the shelter.

We never thought this would take off the way it did when we first started two years ago, but, I mean, every year it grows so every year, you know, we get more money which is great because, you know, we need to keep the shelter running, said Kathy Ramsey, Shelter Manager at the Bedford County Humane Society.

Get the latest weather updates for this event by downloading the Your Weather Authority app.

The egg hunt will take place from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the shelter. It costs $5 for each participating child ages one to 12. You are asked to bring your own basket.

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A D.J. and food trucks will be on-site and the Easter Bunny will stop by to take pictures with the kids and any pups that may be there, but dogs must be on a leash in order to attend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ - www.wtaj.com.
Six Mississippi Coast cities will hold primary runoffs Tuesday, with polls open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Democrats will hold runoffs in Gulfport and Moss Point, while Republican primary runoffs will be held in Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Diamondhead and Pascagoula. Under Mississippis election system, voters must stick with the same party for runoffs, with no crossing over to the other party after initial primary votes.

Primary winners will advance to the June 3 general election in races that also feature third-party and independent candidates. Four-year terms for city offices begin July 1.

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Turnout could be unusually low. No mayoral primaries necessitated runoffs. Also, each city has only one primary race left to decide for council or alderman.

Only one mayor, Republican Rusty Quave of DIberville, ran unopposed. First elected in 1993, Quave is Mississippis longest serving mayor.

Candidates who won mayors races in the Republican primary and face no opposition in the general election are incumbent Mike Favre of Bay St. Louis, Anna DeMarco Liese of Diamondhead, Tim Pierce of Long Beach, Robert Bobby Cox of Ocean Springs, incumbent Jay Willis of Pascagoula and Kenny Torgeson of Pass Christian.

Candidates headed to runoffs Tuesday are listed below:

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Bay St. Louis: In the Council At-Large race, Republicans Lonnie J. Falgout and Larry Smith will meet in Tuesdays runoff. Falgout and Smith were the front-runners in a field of four. The winner faces no general election opponent.

Biloxi: Ward 3 Republican incumbent Dixie Newman and Robert Mike Nail are headed to a runoff after coming out on top in a primary field of four. The winner has no general election opponent.

DIberville: The city will not need a primary runoff.

Diamondhead: Ward 1 Incumbent Shane Finley will face Michael J. Fandal in a Republican runoff after a primary that featured three candidates.The winner has no general election opponent.

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Gautier: The city will not need any primary runoffs.

Gulfport: Ward 1 Democratic incumbent Kenneth Truck Casey Sr. will face Kendal Lamar Buckner in a runoff after they bested two other candidates. The winner will have no general election opponent.

Long Beach: The city will not need any primary runoffs.

Moss Point: Ward 3 Democratic incumbent Timothy M. DuBose faces Jaylon M. Johnson in the runoff after a three-person primary. The winner will have no general election opponent.

Ocean Springs: The city will not need a runoff.

Pascagoula: In Ward 3, Republicans Darcie Crew and Jamey Foster will compete in a runoff after besting a third candidate. The winner will have no general election opponent.

Pass Christian: The city will not need a runoff.

Waveland: Created under a special charter, the city is on a different municipal election cycle.
ELKHART  An Elkhart man is accused of sexual misconduct after police say they found him in a car with an underage girl while they were investigating suspicious activity.

Christian Centeno Rodriguez, 21, is charged with sexual misconduct with a minor as a Level 4 felony after his arrest last week. He was booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility on $75,000 bond and given an initial hearing date of April 23.

According to court documents:

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An Elkhart officer was on patrol on April 6 when he noticed headlights in American Park at around 3:19 a.m., long after the park had closed. After driving into the park to investigate, he found a vehicle that was running with the windshield fogged over.

The officer found Centeno Rodriguez in the drivers seat and a girl who was under age 18 in the passenger seat. There were discarded articles of clothing including a bra on the back seat, according to police.

The girl stated that they were having sex but she didnt know how old Centeno Rodriguez was, according to police. Another officer arrived to take the girl back home, where her legal guardian said they knew she was with a young man but didnt know how old he was.

She was later taken to St. Joseph Hospital for a sexual assault examination.

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Centeno Rodriguez denied that he had sex with the girl but acknowledged that the bra was hers. He claimed that they got sleepy while driving near the park so they stopped to take a nap.

Police collected DNA evidence from the vehicle and obtained a warrant to compare it to Centeno Rodriguezs DNA.
When Donald Trump took office in January, volunteer archivists got to work, ensuring that government websites were backed up before the incoming administration had a chance to purge more than 110,000 government pages.

As part of the administration's extremist anti-diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda, agencies were forced to take down any material related to anything from supporting transgender youth to mentions of women in leadership at NASA  a "digital book burning," according to Harvard University social epidemiologist Nancy Krieger.

And now, the Trump administration is exacting revenge. The San Francisco Standard reports that Elon Musk's so-called Department of Government Efficiency, which has spearheaded a highly destructive and ill-conceived gutting of government agency budgets, is now targeting federal grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH). Among them? One funding the Internet Archive, a nonprofit founded in 1996 with the aim of providing free access to digitized media, including websites, software, music, and print materials.

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The Internet Archive's Wayback Machine has proven invaluable to researchers, journalists, and archivists, allowing users to go back in time and see how websites looked in the past.

According to the Standard, the nonprofit was halfway through an NEH grant of $345,000 when its funding was abruptly cut.

It's an especially important initiative, considering the organization was busy archiving websites targeted by the Trump administration.

"This is really going to impact institutions that we take for granted," Internet Archive director of archiving and data services Jefferson Bailey told the Standard, "like our museums, our historical societies, our public libraries, our academic libraries  just a lot of people that keep information free and accessible and online."

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Fortunately, according to Bailey, the Internet Archive has other independent streams of funding that will keep it afloat for now.

However, smaller nonprofits could suffer greatly as a result of DOGE's NEH cuts. Bay Area-based producer Marc Shaffer called it a "catastrophic development, if not a death blow" for filmmakers.

"NEH documentaries contribute significantly to American culture," he told the Standard. "They are national treasures deserving of far more support than they receive."

While other sources of funding are keeping the Internet Archive afloat, the nonprofit has plenty of other fires to put out as well.

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Earlier this week, the Internet Archive launched a petition in light of a $700 million lawsuit from major record labels.

However, since then, hundreds of musicians have come to speak out in support of the nonprofit.

And it's not just musicians  the Internet Archive has grown to be an extremely important tool to ensure that the Trump administration is unable to simply erase the historical record.

"There's a groundswell of support for the Internet Archive because of the dramatic shift that's going on in parts of the government web infrastructure that you wouldn't imagine would change," Internet Archive founder and director Brewster Kahle told NPR last month. "People are coming and rallying behind us  by using it, by pointing at things, helping organize things, by submitting content to be archived  data sets that are under threat or have been taken down."

More on DOGE: Whistleblower Says He Received Threats After Investigating Whether Elon Musk's Minions Were Stealing Government Data
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  Volunteer fire departments and first responders received grants Saturday to be used towards life-saving equipment.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation said in a news release that they gave a combined total of $59,584 to the Split Rock Fire Department and Lennox Area Ambulance to be used towards life-saving equipment in their communities.

Deadly plane crash in Nebraska

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The Split Rock Fire Department received $35,247 to purchase Hurst electric extrication tools, known as jaws of life, which are used to rescue victims of accidents from compressed areas, especially during a fatal car crash.

The Lennox Area Ambulance received $24,337 to purchase radios, pagers, and a repeater to ensure better communication between their EMTs.

The neighboring Minnesota community of Beaver Creek will also receive a grant for $37,753, according to Firehouse.

The Firehouse Subs Public Safety foundation is a non-profit that provides lifesaving equipment, prevention education, scholarships, disaster relief, as well as supporting military veterans.

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Previous grants have given first responders access to things like rescue boats, decontamination kits, defibrillators, K9s, extrication equipment, and more.

The new equipment will fulfill a critical need within our department and allow our first responders to perform their duties faster and safer within our community, said Matthew Penning, Chief of Split Rock Fire Department in the news release.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  Healing is underway for six people taken to the hospital after the deadly mass shooting at Florida State University.

Tallahassee Memorial Hospital was continuing to treat the six patients of the campus shooting that left two others dead.

All 6 injured victims expected to make full recoveries following deadly FSU mass shooting

The response was very fast, and the patients were relatively stable, so we were able to successfully treat all of the injuries, which involved abdominal surgical procedures and also facial surgery, said Matthew M. Ramseyer, MD, Trauma Surgery.

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Tallahassee Memorial Hospital staff say of the six patients they saw, three needed surgeries.

The two deceased victims were identified as food service workers. One of them being campus dining employee, Robert Morales. Morales family shared a post on social media saying that he loved his job at FSU and his beautiful wife and daughter.

The second victim, Tiru Chabba, was a 45-year-old father of two who lived in Greenville, South Carolina, and was on campus working for a vendor.

Enough is enough

Up the road from campus, community members and FAMU students joined Seminole students to honor the shooting victims, and the lives lost.



This tragedy demonstrates that gun violence is not limited to any specific community. It can happen to any person at anytime, anywhere or in any situation, especially when you live in a state that prioritizes a bullet over a body, said a member of Students Demand Action.

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FSU holds vigils after campus shooting

FSU students and advocates in the community want change, specifically, from state lawmakers voting on gun legislation at the capitol.



Lawmakers, legislators, elected officials from federal down to local who arent listening, arent hearing our cries and our pains and our frustrations, said Andres Perez, FSUs Student Demand Action. There is legislation, HB 759, that aims to lower the age limit to purchase a firearm down to 18. Now this is a complete disregard to, of course, some Marjory Stoneman Douglas Safety Act that was passed years ago with bipartisan support and with the Republican Governor Rick Scott, and so to just turn back the clock on that progress and to completely disregard the families are being affected, its a pure shame.



As students continue to demand change in honor of the lives lost and victims from Thursdays devastating events, hospital staff say they are expecting a full recovery from all patients.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  Cesar Hernandez was armed with the same firearm that he allegedly used to shoot a Mexican officer, and thats how officials say they found him in Tijuana on Thursday.

He was tracked by a car he allegedly stole from a citizen, and was found in a house just 10 miles away from the first house he fled from a week before. Attorney General for the State of Baja California, Dr. Maria Elena Andrade Ramirez led a press conference Friday afternoon.

She recognized the Department for successfully serving an arrest warrant on Hernandez for killing Officer Abigail Esparza Reyes. Attorney General Dr. Ramirez said Hernandez did not get help to escape.

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He now faces up to 60 years in Mexican prison for homicide and extradition will not be considered until he faces justice for his crimes in Mexico.

Attorney General Dr. Andrade, emphasized her agency is not the same one that led the failed apprehension a week earlier. They cant answer questions for the first operation, or what went wrong.

Escaped killer Cesar Hernandez captured in Mexico: Baja California officials

American authorities did not play any part in this operation, according to Dr. Andrade.

35-year-old Cesar Hernandez had been on the run after escaping prison custody on Dec. 2, 2024. He was being transported into the Delano courthouse in a case where he was accused of having a weapon and drugs in his cell.

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Experts say he probably made a key to get free from his shackles, and allegedly punched a guard before jumping a fence and fleeing on foot.

Though this has never been confirmed by CDC officials, video obtained by KGET shows Hernandez running through the field in front of Delano City Hall. He is clearly seen without handcuffs or chains around his ankles. A correctional officer is seen chasing Hernandez, but the officer does not shoot.

The search went international in early April, when Hernandez was seen in a house in southern Tijuana, in the Barcelona neighborhood.

Details on this failed operation have not been publicly shared.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KGET 17 News.
By Lewis Krauskopf

NEW YORK (Reuters) -A heavy slate of U.S. company results in the coming week will test a stock market shaken by a U.S. trade policy overhaul that upended the outlook for the global economy and corporate America.

Investors remain on edge after President Donald Trump's sweeping April 2 tariff announcement stunned markets and sparked some of the most volatile trading since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic five years ago.

After rebounding somewhat last week, the benchmark S&P 500 stock index fell this week and was down 14% from its February record high. Volatility levels moderated from five-year peaks but remain elevated by historic measures.

Tesla and Google parent Alphabet - two of the so-called Magnificent Seven megacap companies whose shares have faltered after two years of stock leadership - are among those closely watched for financial results as investors seek guidance about the fallout from tariffs that are very much in flux.

"The view of the CEOs going forward has never been more important," said JJ Kinahan, CEO of IG North America and president of online broker Tastytrade.

Companies and investors are grappling with a tariff landscape poised to keep shifting as the Trump administration negotiates with other countries. While he has paused some of the heftiest levies on imports, the U.S. is also locked in a trade battle with China, the world's second-largest economy.

Economists polled by Reuters this week put odds of a recession in the next year at 45%, up from 25% last month.

In one corporate report this week that caught the attention of investors, United Airlines laid out two scenarios for the year, including one warning of a significant hit to revenue and profit if there is a recession.

United's dual forecast provided a type of "roadmap" by acknowledging and quantifying risks, said Julian Emanuel, head of equity and derivatives strategy at Evercore ISI.

"Putting parameters on what may unfold is how stakeholders ... make decisions in an environment where traditional guidance is bound to be considered relatively unreliable," Emanuel said in a note on Thursday.

Elon Musk's electric vehicle maker Tesla, which reports results on April 22, is in the spotlight in part because of the billionaire's close ties to Trump.

Alphabet will be watched for any detail on advertising spending and capital expenses tied to artificial intelligence capacity, as investors scrutinize AI project costs. The company was dealt a setback on Thursday, when a judge ruled Google illegally dominates two markets for online advertising technology.
Reality Check is a Star series holding those with power to account and shining a light on their decisions. Have a suggestion for a future story? Email our journalists at RealityCheck@kcstar.com. Have the latest Reality Checks delivered to your inbox with our free newsletter.

More than a week after a gas explosion killed a 5-year-old boy in Lexington, Missouri, no one is saying who was responsible for the decision not to evacuate homes near the source of the leak.

Not police, fire or city leaders, who all say theyve been silenced, requested by the National Transportation Safety Board to pass on communication responsibilities to the federal agency as it investigates. And not Liberty Utilities, whose gas line a worker subcontracted by Sellenriek Construction damaged while excavating to lay fiber optic cable. They, too, refer questions to NTSB.

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In the 3  hours before the explosion, as utility crews worked to repair the line, residents smelled gas and worried whether they were safe. But for hours, they said, first responders assured them they were.

Until they werent.

Alistair Lambs body was found in the rubble hours after his father, Jacob Cunningham, and his 10-year-old sister, Camillia Cami Lamb, were airlifted on the night of April 9 to Kansas City hospitals with severe injuries after their home was leveled and several others were damaged in the explosion.

Five-year-pld Alistair Lamb (center), center, died on April 9 when his Lexington, Missouri home exploded due to a nearby gas leak. Ten-year-old Camillia Cami Lamb, left, and the childrens father Jacob Cunningham, right, survived the explosion with severe burns.

With no answers in Lexington as to why residents werent told to leave, The Star spoke with fire departments in pockets of the state, and examined two other gas explosions across Missouri in recent years and how they were handled once leaks were reported.

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At one, three years ago in OFallon, Missouri, firefighters and utility crews evacuated homes around a gas leak about an hour before one home exploded.

Andy Parrish, an assistant chief with the OFallon Fire Protection District, said each department has its own protocol and standards on how it handles gas leak situations. And each scene can be different, he said, depending on where the leak is and how much gas is emitted into the air and inside buildings and homes.

But there is one rule that often comes into play during an incident of a leak, he said.

If we smell the gas, were going to monitor and were going to ask you to leave, Parrish said. In that 2022 call, six or seven homes were evacuated early on after crews went door to door and found gas levels inside two residences that were sufficient enough to evacuate these folks.

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Its a good thing they did, Parrish said.

Several Lexington residents whose homes were damaged in the blast said first responders did not go door to door, and they werent aware of any testing done. In fact, they said, they werent alerted to any possible danger  until after the home where Cunningham and his children lived exploded.

Debris and building materials remain scattered along the sidewalk on Franklin Avenue on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, in Lexington, Missouri, after a gas explosion shattered windows and damaged nearby structures.

Keith Hollway, NTSB spokesman, said any questions about which agency was in charge, why homes werent evacuated and what took place from around 4:15 when the line was damaged to 7:45 p.m. when the explosion occurred are part of the ongoing investigation.

NTSB is continuing to collect records, policies, and procedures of those entities involved, Holloway said in an email. NTSB will review any audio, video, photos, etc., that may be available.

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Part of the NTSB investigation will be to review the chronology of events leading up to the explosion. This is an ongoing process of the investigation.

When to evacuate homes, buildings

In Kansas City, when a gas leak is reported, the Kansas City Fire Department works in collaboration with the local gas company, Evergy.

Fire department spokesman, Battalion Chief Michael Hopkins said that, over the last 10 years, the department has been dispatched to approximately 3,700 calls each year for reported gas leaks, both inside and out.

The department, he said, uses a four-gas meter to test for the level of natural gas in the air. A meter is a hand-held device that tests the concentrations of oxygen, carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulfide (sewer gas) and combustible gases, such as natural gas.

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Anytime theres a leak, were going to check, Hopkins said, even if its an outside leak. Say a contractor hits a main or feeder line. Were going to check all the surrounding structures using our four-gas meter to see if were getting any build-up in the basement or within the structure itself.

If, for example, a contractor damages an outside gas line while installing a sprinkler system, the fact that the gas line is outside makes no difference, Hopkins said.

We would check your house as well as the surrounding houses within a few houses in either direction or across the street, just to make sure that were not getting any build-up in the basements or throughout the structures, Hopkins said. Because once the natural gas is being released into the ground, into the soil, it can actually travel through the cracks and crevices, and depending on the type of foundation you have, it can find its way into the structure.

Hopkins said fire department personnel also monitor the outside air and wind direction, knowing that homes downwind are likely to smell the gas and call the fire department with concerns.

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We dont discount that, he said. Well send someone down to check with a monitor just to make sure.

Firefighters, he said, also roll out fire hoses as a precaution at the site of a gas line break.

Regarding evacuation, the department, per se, does not have the authority to force someone to evacuate, We cant just say, Get out of your house, because we said so, Hopkins said

Anything we do on an evacuation standpoint, initially, is us going up and saying, Theres a gas leak and were getting high levels. We recommend that you evacuate this structure. That decision would come from either us, or in collaboration with the gas company, once they arrive on the scene.

Get out of the house

Phil Oakes, the chief of operations and training for the National Association of State Fire Marshals, emphasized that guidelines or standard operating procedures for handling gas leaks tend to be developed by each department. As such, they can differ from municipality to municipality

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But there are commonalities.

One of the first things that everybody always tells you, if you smell gas in your house is, obviously, to get out of the house, Oakes said. What most people dont realize about natural gas, and its something we teach in our curriculum, is that natural gas underground flows a lot like water.

It follows the path of least resistance. It will follow sewer lines. It will follow conduit. It will follow cable and loose soil to get where it needs to go. If it comes up and hits asphalt, it will go laterally instead of vertically. If its blocked, it will move side-to-side, which is why you could have a leak in the street and get gas in the homes on either side.

If an individual smells gas in their home, even if the leak is from outside, the response ought to be the same, he said.

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Get out. Get to an area where you no longer smell gas, Oakes said. Dont even touch a light switch. Dont open the garage door. Dont start your car or anything that might be an ignition source.

Oakes again stressed that local responses can vary, but typically, and this is typical, if a line is damaged outside of a house, a fire department is not just going to check the outside, because the gas moves laterally to either side of the street, or could flow in any direction.

They should be knocking on doors and checking and saying, Look, we just want to make sure its not in your house  using their air monitoring devices, Oakes said. Thats what the average response from a fire department would be. Thats why it takes a whole lot of air monitoring to do it, because youve got a whole lot of houses to check in a city block. ... Theyve got to. Thats the only way you can determine where the gas is.

Explosion in OFallon

Three years ago, fire and utility crews in OFallon learned how critical evacuating homes after a gas leak can be.

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On March 1, 2022, a contractor struck a gas line in a residential area and called the utility company and the fire department, according to media reports. When fire and ultility crews arrived on scene, they walked door to door talking with residents who were home and testing gas levels.

And so at that point, they kind of investigated and found whatever levels they found that were sufficient enough to evacuate these folks, Parrish said. Seven homes were evacuated.

Firefighters on the scene stayed to monitor the situation.

We were parked on that corner, Parrish said. Out of the way from anything that could happen.

Thats when it happened. Thats when it blew.

About an hour after crews had arrived, one of the homes  where someone was before the evacuation  exploded. Parrish said the explosion caught our people by surprise.

Residents, too. Media reports from three years ago said no one was hurt in the explosion, but one home was leveled and four others severely damaged. Other homes were also damaged.

That call demonstrates, Parrish said, why fire departments and utility companies are cautious when working a gas leak.

Just because you have a gas in the house doesnt mean that its going to ignite, he said. It has to be the right fuel and air mixture.

  But if its a strong smell, thats enough for us. If theres any smell at all, why not be safe and just get out?

When an outside leak seeps inside

Fire officials say they listen to residents at the scene of a gas leak in order to ensure safety. That becomes hard to do when no one is home.

Last August, a construction crew running a fiber optic line in Independence struck a gas line. They immediately called for a fire crew, said Battalion Chief Eric Michel, a spokesman for the Independence Fire Department.

From there, the department used standard procedures it had in place and sent one truck to assess the situation. Once there, Michel said they discovered an active leak and called dispatch to request the gas company respond.

They brought the equipment that they needed to dig down and make the repair, he said. And because no one was home at a nearby residence to smell and report the odor of gas, crews didnt know that it had made its way inside the home, Michel said.

Until it was too late.

As the crew was repairing the line, the explosion happened, Michel said. We thought (the gas leak) was isolated outside, so we didnt realize it had gotten into the residence until the explosion occurred.

A house near Fair and Pearl Streets was partially collapsed after an explosion Monday evening in Independence. The Independence Fire Department is investigating the explosion. Damage to the home was seen on Tuesday, Aug. 27, 2024. Investigators determined the home was wrecked when a gas line was struck and gas became ignited within the home, according to IFD.

No one was hurt.

Once crews discovered the leaking gas had found its way into the sewer line, Michel said, employees with the utility went door to door testing for levels in each home. Ultimately, they found two homes that had dangerous levels of natural gas in them.

That prompted an evacuation of one block in each direction.

This was kind of a strange situation, Michel said. If it had happened like, say, at a mall, and people inside the mall started smelling gas, thats a different story. We would have been able to address it.

And if someone had been inside the home where the gas initially seeped inside, they would have reported it and crews could have worked to repair the problem sooner.

If somebody had been home to tell us about it, Michel said, the explosion would never have occurred.
ALBANY, NY (WUTR/WFXV/WPNY)  An aide to former Governor Andrew Cuomo has settled a lawsuit against the state on Friday, ending a two-year-long battle in the courts.

Charlotte Bennett, a former aide to the governor on health policy, dropped the suit on Friday, April 18, according to New York State of Politics. Her suit claimed that the state was liable for alleged sexual harassment by Governor Cuomo and failed to take corrective action once it was reported. Bennett was the second woman to publicly accuse the former Governor of misconduct, after she accused him of invasive questioning about her personal life.

Bennett also had a federal lawsuit against Cuomo and several aides, but dropped that suit as well in December.

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New York State of Politics reported that as a result of the settlement, Bennett and her attorneys will receive approximately $450,000 in various damages. However, the settlement does not constitute an admission of liability by the state.

Cuomo resigned as Governor in 2021 after Attorney General Letitia James released the results of an investigation into his alleged misconduct. James report concluded that Cuomo had sexually harassed Bennett, along with at least 10 other women.

Cuomo is countersuing Bennett for compensatory and punitive damages, accusing her of defamation.

Ms. Bennetts allegations were later supported by findings from the New York Attorney Generals Office and the U.S. Department of Justice. Ms. Bennett is looking forward to moving on with her life. Debra Katz, Charlotte Bennetts attorney, in a statement on the settlement on Friday.

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The night before police say Phoenix Ikner killed two people and wounded five others on Florida State Universitys Tallahassee campus with his stepmothers handgun, he was cracking jokes and sharing emojis in a chat for Christian college athletes.

He quipped about taking something to help him sleep like a champ and, responding to another student, laughed about taking hits to the head.

Twice the head trauma, twice the power, he wrote in messages obtained by the Miami Herald. Im evolving.

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Less than 24 hours later, police say Ikner, a 20-year-old FSU student, drove to campus and parked in a parking garage. They say he got in and out of his car for about an hour before finally leaving the garage, heading toward the student union and then opening fire just before noon.

I think the craziest thing is, like, seeing that he texted me in the group chat literally last night at like 6 p.m. talking about, Oh yeah, Im gonna have a good nights rest, said a student included on the chat, who asked to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation.

Phoenix Ikner posted in a thread for Christian athletes the night before police say he shot seven people at Florida State Universitys Tallahassee campus.

Some former classmates told the Herald they had little indication Ikner was capable of carrying out a mass shooting. Others werent entirely shocked.

Former classmates and friends told The Herald that, while Ikner was intelligent, he was off and disruptive, scribbled weird drawings in his notebooks in middle school and reacted poorly to women leaders in his Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps. Several said he was bullied. Three former high school classmates claimed students made jokes about the possibility that Ikner had it in him to be a school shooter.

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He definitely wasnt that quiet kid that was sitting in the back of the class, said Andrew Jernigan, a 20 year-old former Lincoln High School student who was part of JROTC with Ikner. He was friendly to an extent of course. He would just make some comments  being either sexist because he did not like taking orders from a female  being told what to do.

Jernigan added that you just had a feeling that something was off with him.

Jernigan recalled Ikner leaving high school early because he had completed all his credits. He said Ikner was very, very intelligent, which is even more surprising that he was stupid enough to go do this.

Evacuees on FSU campus after a mass shooting occurred Thursday.

A LITTLE OFF

Police say Ikner, who court documents show was born Christian Gunnar Eriksen and changed his name in 2020, was a member of a youth council with the Leon County Sheriffs Office. His stepmother is a sheriffs deputy and school resource officer. They said he used her former service weapon in Thursdays shooting, and also brought a shotgun with him, though they had no evidence hed shot anyone with it.

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Police say officers shot and subdued Ikner and took him into custody about five minutes after he first began shooting. His condition was not known on Friday; Tallahassee Memorial Healthcare declined to discuss his health, but said patients treated at the hospital for their wounds were expected to survive.

Documents filed in a years-long custody case between his birth mother and father suggest he had a tumultuous childhood. One document states that Ikner was receiving treatment for ADHD.

Taylor Allen, 20, a former Tallahassee State College student, was a classmate in Ikners seventh-grade language arts class at Swift Creek Middle School. She sat a row ahead of him. She said Ikner was somewhat eccentric at the time, and could be socially unaware.

I would speak to him every now and again and he was just very, like, quiet, and I know a few kids picked on him in school just cause he was a little off  He would always sit in the back of the class kind of laugh to himself every now and again; just be kind of annoying to others and not really care if he was too loud or obnoxious, Allen said.

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And most of the classmates would be like, can you stop? And he wouldnt, she said.

A screen grab from Phoenix Ikners Instagram page

She said he tended to socially isolate himself and enjoyed drawing weird and pretty dark things in his notebook in class, not like normal drawings. She added that he was very intelligent and took advanced classes.

David Pichard, a 19 year-old former friend of Ikners, remembers Ikner as racist, homophobic, and awful in high school. But he said when he last saw him in the fall at Tallahassee State College before Ikner transferred to FSU, he had turned a corner.

He seemed to chill out a lot more when I saw him, he said.

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Ikner didnt have very many friends when Pichard knew him in middle school and high school. He said Ikner inserted himself into his friend group and hung around them at lunch most days.

Not a lot of people talked to him or really liked him, he said.

Pichard was busy with homework on Thursday afternoon when his mother came in with the news, said he was very surprised by the shooting. I was really shocked.

Arinze Abanah, a 20-year-old computer science major at Tallahassee State College, said in a text message that he didnt know Ikner well but they shared a Spanish class. He said Ikner was active in class, asking questions and participating. He thought he was normal.

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I was surprised, he said, not only because he did something that I thought was out of character for him but because I was in a class with someone who was capable of doing something like that.

On Thursday, when news of the shooting spread, someone in the chat for students in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at FSU and Tallahassee State College wrote that there had been a shooting. At the time, 12:11 p.m., no one knew the man accused of pulling the trigger was in the thread.

In a statement to the Herald, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes said it deeply grieves the shootings that have taken place at Florida State University. All affected by this situation remain in our heartfelt prayers. Through Jeff Tolson, a public relations professional, the organization declined to discuss Ikner, citing the ongoing investigation.
By Erin Banco

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Israel has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months despite President Donald Trump telling Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. was for now unwilling to support such a move, according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter.

Israeli officials have vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear weapon and Netanyahu has insisted that any negotiation with Iran must lead to the complete dismantling of its nuclear program.

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U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set for a second round of preliminary nuclear talks in Rome on Saturday.

Over the past months, Israel has proposed to the Trump administration a series of options to attack Irans facilities, including some with late spring and summer timelines, the sources said. The plans include a mix of airstrikes and commando operations that vary in severity and could set back Tehran's ability to weaponize its nuclear program by just months or a year or more, the sources said.

The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Trump told Netanyahu in a White House meeting earlier this month that Washington wanted to prioritize diplomatic talks with Tehran and that he was unwilling to support a strike on the countrys nuclear facilities in the short term.

But Israeli officials now believe that their military could instead launch a limited strike on Iran that would require less U.S. support. Such an attack would be significantly smaller than those Israel initially proposed.

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It is unclear if or when Israel would move forward with such a strike, especially with talks on a nuclear deal getting started. Such a move would likely alienate Trump and could risk broader U.S. support for Israel.

Parts of the plans were previously presented last year to the Biden administration, two former senior Biden administration officials told Reuters. Almost all required significant U.S. support via direct military intervention or intelligence sharing. Israel has also requested that Washington help Israel defend itself should Iran retaliate.

In response to a request for comment, the U.S. National Security Council referred Reuters to comments Trump made on Thursday, when he told reporters he has not waved Israel off an attack but that he was not "in a rush" to support military action against Tehran.

I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, Trump said. That's my first option. If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, and I think Iran is wanting to talk.

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The Israeli prime minister's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment. A senior Israeli official told Reuters that no decision has been made yet on an Iranian strike.

A senior Iranian security official said Tehran was aware of Israeli planning and that an attack would provoke "a harsh and unwavering response from Iran."

"We have intelligence from reliable sources that Israel is planning a major attack on Iran's nuclear sites. This stems from dissatisfaction with ongoing diplomatic efforts regarding Irans nuclear program, and also from Netanyahus need for conflict as a means of political survival," the official told Reuters.

BIDEN ADMINISTRATION PUSHBACK

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Netanyahu received pushback from the Biden administration when he presented an earlier version of the plan. The former senior Biden officials said Netanyahu wanted the U.S. to take the lead on airstrikes but the Biden White House told Israel it did not believe a strike was prudent unless Tehran moved to accelerate its enrichment of nuclear material or expel inspectors from the country.

The Biden officials also questioned the extent to which Israels military could effectively carry out such an attack.

Former officials and experts have long said that Israel would need significant U.S. military support  and weapons  to destroy Irans nuclear facilities and stockpiles, some of which are in underground facilities.

While the more limited military strike Israel is considering would require less direct assistance - particularly in the form of U.S. bombers dropping bunker-busting munitions that can reach deeply buried facilities - Israel would still need a promise from Washington that it would help Israel defend itself if attacked by Tehran in the aftermath, the sources said.

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Any attack would carry risks. Military and nuclear experts say that even with massive firepower, a strike would probably only temporarily set back a program the West says aims to eventually produce a nuclear bomb, although Iran denies it.

Israeli officials have told Washington in recent weeks that they do not believe U.S. talks with Iran should move forward to the deal-making stage without a guarantee that Tehran will not have the ability to create a nuclear weapon.

"This can be done by agreement, but only if this agreement is Libyan style: They go in, blow up the installations, dismantle all of the equipment, under American supervision," Netanyahu said following his talks with Trump. "The second possibility is ... that they (Iran) drag out the talks and then there is the military option."

From Israel's perspective, this may be a good moment for a strike against Iran's nuclear facilities.

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Iran allies Hamas in Gaza and Hezbollah in Lebanon have been hammered by Israel since the Gaza war began, while the Houthi movement in Yemen has been targeted by U.S. airstrikes. Israel also severely damaged Iran's air defense systems in an exchange of fire in October 2024.

A top Israeli official, speaking with reporters earlier this month, recognized there was some urgency if the goal was to launch a strike before Iran rebuilds its air defenses. But the senior official refused to state any timeline for possible Israeli action and said discussing this would be "pointless".

(Reporting by Erin Banco; Additional reporting by Parisa Hafesi in Dubai and the Jerusalem newsroom; Editing by Don Durfee and Daniel Wallis)
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The Salt Lake City Police Department is reporting they are making progress in providing better public safety along the Jordan River Trail after it was closed late last month.

According to SLCPD, an operation was launched on April 3 that was aimed at disrupting criminal activity and supporting the citys broader restoration and revitalization work. Since this operation was launched, SLCPD is reporting that they have made 33 felony arrests, 49 misdemeanor arrests, and have made 45 citations for drug paraphernalia and other trespassing offenses.

The operation has centered around SLCPDs use of foot and bike patrols, which are apart of the Community Impact Division of SLCPD, and are meant to help with community outreach.

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PREVIOUS: Part of the Jordan River Trail will be closed for several months  Heres why

The force has also been leading efforts to clean up the trail, using partnerships with Salt Lake Citys Public Lands Park Rangers, and private partnerships with Advantage Services to restore cleanliness to the public areas.

The Salt Lake City Police Department is coordinating long-term planning for public safety with the Mayors Office, a statement given exclusively to ABC4.com reads. Other city departments, and state agencies to include the Department of Public Safety and the Department of Natural Resources. We thank them for their contributions and partnership.

The closure comes after Salt Lake City closed a portion of the Jordan River Trail from Cottonwood Park and 700 North to revitalize existing facilities and improve safety for residents along the trail. The trail has been a long thorn in the citys side due to crime that occurs in the area.

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SEE ALSO: Neighbors weigh in on Jordan River Trail Closure and safety concerns

With the recent operation, SLCPD has reported that they have seen a significant drop in drug paraphernalia and garbage found along the trail. They also reported an uptick of people visiting the parks along the trail.

Fentanyl and cash that were seized by SLCPD (CREDIT: SLCPD)

We are committed to restoring the Jordan River Trail as a safe and welcoming public space, Brian Redd, chief of SLCPD, said within the statement. Through our strategic enforcement and close collaboration with city partners and mental health professionals, we are disrupting crime and addressing safety and livability concerns. These early results reflect the hard work and dedication of our officers, detectives, and the citys Park Rangers. The positive feedback from trail users confirms were making an impact.

Along with sharing crime statistics, SLCPD also shared highlights with ABC4.com of recent cases that are being prosecuted as a result of their operation. These include:

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A man illegally camping on the trail at 1060 South 900 West who provided false information to officers, and was later arrested on active felony drug warrants.

SLCPD found an abandoned camp with two tents and a large amount of property near 1700 North. Advantage Services responded to clean the site.

SLCPD stopped a group blocking the sidewalk at North Temple and 800 West. One person was found hiding nearly 200 suspected blue M30 fentanyl pills and was booked on felony drug distribution charges.

SLCPD found an occupied stolen car on North Temple Street. In total, officers detained nine juveniles. Three of them were listed as missing. SLCPD booked one of the juveniles into the juvenile detention center on felony-related charges. The remaining were returned to their parents or guardians, and

A woman with felony warrants attempted to get away using her bicycle. After a brief bike pursuit, officers arrested her.

SLCPD provided this body cam of the pursuit.

Beginning next week, SLCPD is reporting that they will expand their enhanced patrols along the trail and to Liberty Park. These will include maintaining frequent foot and bike patrols.

SLCPD also asked that the public to get involved in the ongoing efforts around the trail by reporting non-emergency concerns to 801-799-3000, and 9-1-1 for emergencies.

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As we restore these areas, we will look to the city and our neighbors to help activate these public spaces. These improvements will take time, but with a steady focus and strong collaboration we will get there, Redd stated.

Charges are allegations only. All arrested persons are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

Jordan Tracey contributed to this reporting

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  People across the world are marking Good Friday with a pilgrimage. In Baton Rouge, hundreds made the journey.

The faithful who wished to commemorate Jesus dying on the cross enjoyed a beautiful day filled with song, camaraderie and prayers.

Errin Gaines with the Interfaith Federation of Greater Baton Rouge said the stations of the cross were showcased.

Each station told the biblical story of Jesus as he was condemned to death, carried the cross through Jerusalem, and ultimately died on the cross. She said the story was told through spoken word and song.



It was just great walking throughout downtown, said Gaines. We started here at St. Joseph Cathedral. I enjoyed singing Amazing Grace and How Great Thou Art.

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Bishop Michael Duca of the Diocese of Baton Rouge said that although this is a somber day for his community, the gorgeous weather served as a reminder that Easter Sunday is coming, a time for celebration.

We make the connection between Christ and death, with those suffering, and in need of help now. He died, so we might love one another as he has loved us first, said Duca. We must reach out to those in need. Today, we suffer with the Lord and his dying. We have advantages that the disciples did not. We know the story doesnt end on the cross, but through the cross, redemption is won.

Bishop Duca said that at each station, the sick, dying, abused, imprisoned, and all in need of help are remembered.

St. Joseph Cathedral will host an Easter vigil at 8:00 p.m., Saturday, April 19.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Amid rising global temperatures, extreme weather is threatening the agriculture industry. Farmers in Kenya are struggling to yield successful harvests due to unpredictable rainfall and intense heat.

What's happening?

Kenya News Agency has recently detailed the intensifying struggles of farmers trying to stay afloat despite the climate crisis. Staple crops, such as maize, have been heavily affected by unstable weather as well as sheep, chicken, and dairy and beef cows.

Farmers in Narok County, a region in southwestern Kenya, have emphasized the unpredictable weather patterns. Prior to the change in weather, the area had extended periods of rain, lasting two weeks. This heavy rainfall was crucial for the region's crops, which required the intense rains for successful sprouting.

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However, now, rising temperatures and extreme weather are impacting the area's rainfall.

"Now, the rains have been scarce, and our fields are exposed to unrelenting sunlight from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.," local farmer Raphael Sankei told Kenya News Agency. "If the rains fail to pour by the end of this week, it will be a total disaster for farmers in our region."

Why are unpredictable weather patterns in Kenya important?

Droughts in Kenya threaten crops and livestock, endangering the nation's food supply. According to the Kenya News Agency, "Narok County is one of the leading producers of maize in the country."

Extreme weather, such as the droughts in Kenya, are a result of rising global temperatures. As countries continue to rely on dirty energy, they emit harmful gases into the atmosphere that overheat our planet. With warmer temperatures come more powerful and frequent weather events that threaten communities across the globe.

What's being done about extreme weather?

One way farmers across the globe are adapting to unpredictable weather patterns is by changing the types of crops they plant. In Italy, for example, farmers have started growing mangoes as a result of a warmer climate.

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Scientists are also working on developing innovative solutions to help the agricultural sector become more resilient in the face of extreme weather.

Do you worry about how much food you throw away? Definitely Sometimes Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

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Farmers in Australia are feeling more unsupported now than ever by the Australian government with decisions on hikes in water prices fast approaching, Region Riverina reported.

These changes may make Australian-grown food unaffordable for residents, causing them to turn to cheaper imported foods, which may put farmers out of business.

What's happening?

The Murray-Darling Basin has long supported the sustenance and life of surrounding communities.

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The basin's water allows farmers to grow food and take care of livestock, supporting 8,400 irrigated agriculture businesses, or 40% of all Australian farms, according to the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. Each year, the basin produces about $30 billion worth of food and other agricultural products, which includes 40% of the country's produce and 30% of the country's dairy. The basin's water is crucial to the Australian agricultural industry.

WaterNSW and the Water Administration Ministerial Corporation, two government agencies, lease Australian farmers the right to extract water from the basin. Both agencies plan to hike their water prices because of "climate change risk, rising management and compliance costs and upgrades to technology," per Region Riverina.

The Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of New South Wales is deliberating on these price increase proposals and is expected to reach a decision by July.

The steepest  along the Peel River in northwest NSW  would mean a 341% increase in the cost of water by 2030, according to Region Riverina.

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"These exorbitant price hikes currently before IPART will drive family farms out of business and Aussie food off the shelves," the NSW Irrigators' Council said, per Region Riverina.

Why are changes in water prices concerning?

Since 1910, Australia has warmed 2.6 degrees Fahrenheit, according to AdaptNSW. Rising temperatures are accompanied by drastic changes in rainfall patterns  with Southern Australia, where the Murray-Darling Basin is located, experiencing more heat and drought-like conditions, and Northern Australia experiencing more frequent and intense rainfalls, especially in recent decades.

With unpredictable and scarce rainfall, the price of water has become more expensive.

Australian farmers have been asked to choose between paying excessively high prices to continue farming or going out of business. And even if they can pay for the price hikes, Australian-grown food on supermarket shelves would reflect that cost burden, causing consumers, who are already feeling the cost-of-living squeeze, to reach for cheaper imported foods.

What can I do to help with changes in water prices?

The best way to support local farmers is to shop for locally grown foods. Of course, it is not always possible to purchase more expensive options. However, with strategic planning and a little flexibility at the store, such as buying dry goods in bulk, you may be able to stretch your grocery budget.

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Additionally, let your local representatives know that supporting farmers is important to you. Farmers have been fighting the fight, but power often lies in numbers.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Theres an old adage regarding dangerous behavior: Its all fun and games until someone gets hurt. One could say the same thing about fascism denial, particularly when it comes to privileged individuals in the United States who have  until very nearly this point  wished away warnings about rising fascism in their country as fanciful thinking.

But it seems increasingly difficult to characterize whats happening in American politics in 2025 through fascism-denial goggles when the nations president laments, using eugenics-style rhetoric, that immigrants are poisoning the blood of the country  particularly as the federal government brutally cracks down on immigrants through legally dubious and politically motivated revocations of visas and deportations. Nowhere is this clearer than in the targeting of international students who have been involved in protests of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in Gaza.

This issue has hit home for me personally, after numerous media reports that a student activist at Columbia University, Mohsen Mahdawi, was arrested by immigration officials as he attended an interview as part of his application for US citizenship. Mahdawi holds a green card as a legal U.S. resident, and was in the final stages of the legal process for obtaining citizenship. He is also legally protected under the First Amendment, like every other citizen or legal resident, when it comes to expressing his views in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict (or pretty much anything else), whether or not this administration likes what he says.

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Mahdawis lawyer declared that his client had been detained in direct retaliation for his advocacy on behalf of Palestinians and because of his identity as a Palestinian. This arrest is one of many (at least 300) ordered by an administration that is using the rhetoric of fighting antisemitism to target particular groups  Muslim students and Palestinians in particular  for detainment and deportation.

I know Mohsen Mahdawi because he was my student at Lehigh University before he transferred to Columbia. He took several of my classes, including a course on American political institution, and my course on social movements, prior to and during the COVID pandemic. In all my time at Lehigh, Mohsen was one of my most gifted, committed, thoughtful and engaging students. I knew he would do great things after transferring to Columbia and beyond. While I was sad to see him leave Lehigh, I was also happy to lobby for him, writing a letter of recommendation and meeting with him to strategize about his transfer application.

Students like Mohsen, in fact, are why I do what I do as an educator. In our many conversations inside the class and out, we spoke about countless political and social issues. I remember his deep passion for politics and his commitment to nonviolence, particularly in relation to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. He was a dedicated campus activist who worked to educate fellow students, both about politics more broadly and about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in particular.

Mohsen is a Palestinian refugee who grew up in the occupied West Bank, and moved to the U.S. during the 2010s. I remember when he told me about his aspirations to play a pivotal role in the future, working toward impacting American political discourse in a way that would help broker a long-term peace agreement between Israel and Palestine. Like other peace activists, he wanted a solution that was conducive to the creation of a viable, sovereign Palestinian state. I also remember thinking that his activism, although based on nonviolent, pacifist principles, was likely to make him a political target in a country that has become notorious for conflating criticism of Israel with antisemitic bigotry. Sadly, these concerns have become reality following his arrest.

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Mohsens future remains very much uncertain. His attorney has applied for a federal court order to temporarily restrain the government from deporting him. But his fate, like those of many other Palestinian activists, hangs in the balance depending on how the courts respond when it comes to protecting essential free speech rights.

As a U.S. citizen, Im fortunate not to have been targeted (at least not yet) in the Trump administrations war on dissent and in its dark turn toward authoritarian and fascistic politics, which is especially directed against immigrants working on behalf of Palestine. I dont know how much longer that good fortunewill continue. We see this president declaring an all-out war on higher education, and universities like my own targeted by the federal government for alleged antisemitism, even though our students, faculty and administration have made efforts to create an environment on campus where antisemitism is not tolerated. Ultimately, such efforts dont seem to matter to the Trump administration, which has promised to root out the radical left thugs that live like vermin within our country  fascist rhetoric targeting colleges and universities for alleged leftist-radical bias.

American intellectual culture has never had a good track record when it comes to protecting critics of Israels actions in the Gaza Strip and West Bank. I remember a mentor of mine  a Palestinian professor who taught me for years during my undergraduate and graduate years  warning that I should avoid any academic and scholarly work on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict because the U.S. has never respected that sort of work as legitimate scholarly analysis and discourse. My mentor was obviously speaking from experience: He had been attacked for decades as enabling terrorism for his criticisms of Israel, despite his longstanding commitment to nonviolence and a peaceful two-state solution between Israel and Palestine, and despite his unequivocal rejection of antisemitic ideology.

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Americans are at a crossroads when it comes to the rise of fascism. We can choose to look the other way as political activists are targeted, detained, repressed and deported for their ethnic backgrounds and political views. We can do nothing as the Trump administration sends up trial balloons meant to destroy what is left of academic and intellectual freedom and the First Amendment right to express ones opinions  independent of how controversial those opinions may be. But a choice to do nothing is in fact an abdication of our basic freedoms, and only enables an administration that is set on destroying individual rights and political dissent. By remaining silent, we implicitly embrace rising fascist politics. But a nation cannot survive, democratically speaking, when an administration spits in the face of due process, legal rights and the rule of law.

Alternatively, Americans can choose to fight back against the assault on our democracy. That will likely require mass protest against the Trump administration. It may indeed require a national, nonviolent strike action in which citizens utilize protest to make the country ungovernable, as well as the impeachment and removal of a president who has made clear that hes dedicated to dismantling the remnants of American democracy and the rule of law. Time is quickly running out for the people of this country to take a stand. If we dont act soon, there will be little left to defend.
If you're on the hunt for bargains after the recent stock market dip, look no further than Citigroup (NYSE: C). The bank is trading at a 27% discount to its tangible book value, making it a golden opportunity for value-focused investors.

CEO Jane Fraser is looking to make her mark and bring the bank's efficiency to the next level. Citigroup recently reported solid first-quarter earnings and has made strides toward its long-term goals. With the stock priced below $70 per share, it looks like a solid buy for value investors today. Here's why.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

Citigroup is undergoing a transformation

Citigroup is one of the largest banks in the United States, but it has lagged behind its large peers for quite some time. The bank has faced challenges due to its expansive, sprawling business and regulatory actions, including fines for persistent deficiencies identified several years back. As a result, the bank has consistently underperformed on key return on equity metrics.

CEO Jane Fraser took the helm of a struggling bank in 2021, determined to revitalize the business. Faced with poor performance and compliance issues, she made the tough call to cut bonuses for top employees, reduce management layers, and focus on core businesses. Recently, the bank hired thousands of dedicated staff and reduced reliance on IT contractors as it addressed regulatory scrutiny over its data governance and controls.

Citigroup reported solid earnings results in the first quarter, beating analysts' revenue and earnings estimates. According to Fraser, "services recorded its best first-quarter revenue in a decade," and the bank posted a net income of $4 billion, representing solid 21% growth year over year.

The return on tangible common equity (ROTCE) is one key measure of the bank's profitability that Fraser wants to improve. This metric shows how efficiently the bank uses capital to generate profits, specifically focusing on tangible common equity, excluding things like goodwill and intangible assets. Fraser aims to get this to 10% to 11% by next year. The bank has made good progress here, with its ROTCE in the first quarter improving to 9.1% from 7.6% one year ago.

Image source: Getty Images.

This revenue stream could be affected by recent market volatility

One thing that could hurt Citigroup is a slower capital markets rebound in 2025. Investment banks hoped the Trump administration would loosen strict regulations on major deals, which would boost advisory revenues and help spur a boom in deals. Instead, the administration will uphold strict guidelines for deals put in place under former chair of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Lina Khan.
The fatal police shooting of a Pocatello teenager deserves a thorough investigation into not only the shooting itself but the training of police officers when responding to such calls.

Absolutely no one  not the family, not the community, not the police  wants the death of an autistic, nonverbal teenage boy who also had cerebral palsy.

So the question must be asked: Could police officers have done anything differently to prevent this horrible outcome?

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It all started April 5, when police responded to a 911 call from a neighbor reporting that an apparently intoxicated man with a knife was chasing someone in a yard, according to previous Statesman reporting.

It turned out to be Victor Perez, 17, who was not intoxicated but walked with a staggered gait due to his disabilities, Perezs aunt, Ana Vazquez, told The Associated Press. His family members had been trying to get the large kitchen knife away from him.

Responding officers shot Perez nine times. He was taken to the hospital where he was taken off life support one week later, on April 12.

Videos of police shooting raise questions

We recognize that police officers have a dangerous job and are all too often on the receiving end of a fatal incident. When faced with an imminent threat, officers are trained to shoot to kill, and it can be difficult to second-guess officers actions when faced with a split-second decision.

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But videos of the Perez shooting raise serious questions.

The videos show four police officers rush to a chain-link fence surrounding the yard, where Perez was rolling around on the ground.

Officers quickly pulled their guns, pointed them at Perez and began yelling at Perez to drop the knife.

Perez got up and stumbled toward the officers, holding up the knife. It was then that the police officers shot Perez nine times  within seconds after arriving.

Victor Perez who was shot nine times by four Pocatello police officers died Saturday. He was 17.

Where were de-escalation attempts?

We see no evidence of attempts to de-escalate the situation.

To the contrary, aggressively approaching Perez, pulling out their guns and shouting at Perez escalated the situation.

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Everybody was trying to tell the police, no, no, Vazquez told the Associated Press. Those four officers didnt care. They didnt ask what was happening, what was the situation.

Yes, a knife is a deadly weapon, but we, like Perezs family members, question whether Perez posed an imminent threat to officers, who were separated from Perez by a chest-high chain-link fence and easily could have moved away from Perez.

Hows he going to jump the fence when he can barely walk? Vazquez told the AP.

Based on the videos, it appears police officers were very quick to the trigger.

Police appeared to have more time  and other options  before pulling the trigger. One officer, according to Pocatello police, fired a bean bag round from a shotgun. Could other, non-lethal tools have been used here?

Police shooting investigations

Like other police shootings, this incident will undergo an investigation, and if history is any predictor of future results, the officers will be cleared of any wrongdoing, and the shooting will be classified as justified.

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But we hope more scrutiny is paid to the circumstances in this case, and any investigation considers whether pulling the trigger was indeed the best option available.

Wed also like to see a more thorough examination of the training that Idahos police officers are receiving. Does the training that Idaho police officers receive at the POST Academy lean too heavily toward a warrior mentality?

Is lethal force too often stressed as a first option? Does training focus too much on the hypothetical consequences of failing to use lethal force, and not enough on the grimly certain implications of using it? Are officers well-trained enough in de-escalation techniques and empowered to use them?

One thing is certain: This wont be the last time that police officers encounter such a situation.

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If there are lessons to be learned from the fatal shooting of Victor Perez, we hope they are used to prevent another similar horrible outcome.

Statesman editorials are the opinion of the Idaho Statesmans editorial board. Board members are opinion editor Scott McIntosh, opinion writer Bryan Clark, editor Chadd Cripe, newsroom editors Dana Oland and Jim Keyser and community members Greg Lanting, Terri Schorzman and Garry Wenske.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  The Federal Bureau of Investigation has released some of the Covenant School shooters writings.

The writings were released Thursday in connection with an open records case from Judicial Watch, which describes itself as a conservative, non-partisan educational foundation.

Covenant School shooting: Final report released following 2 year investigation

While the FBI redacted detailed descriptions of the shooters plans, the writings appear to line up with the Metro Nashville Police Departments final report on the shooting. The shooting claimed the lives of six victims: Evelyn Dieckhaus, Hallie Scruggs, and William Kinney, all 9 years old; as well as Cynthia Peak, 61; Dr. Katherine Koonce, 60; and Mike Hill, 61.

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RELATED | Covenant School Mass Shooting Continuing Coverage

Covenant families had fought to keep the writings secret. Last year, Davidson County Chancellor Iashea Myles ruled that none of the writings were to be released at this time, adding that the writing materials had been protected by federal law. Conservative website The Tennessee Star claimed to publish the shooters so-called manifesto last year.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
A lawsuit claiming fraud by a Boston city employee against her 89-year-old great-uncle, who suffers from dementia, is one of a growing trend of cases that could rip homes away from their owners, authorities say.

Marie Theodat, an employee of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, and two family members are accused in a Suffolk Superior Court civil lawsuit filed in August of tricking Rodolphe St. Cloud into signing away his longtime home at 144 Fuller St. in Dorchester.

Since that case and others in Massachusetts made headlines, the Federal Bureau of Investigation issued a warning about what it calls home title theft or quitclaim deed fraud, referring to the legal document used to transfer property from one owner to another.

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And a Western Massachusetts registrar of deeds has proposed new security protocols to protect property owners.

In a recent Western Massachusetts case, a man is accused, while serving time in a Florida prison, of filing fraudulent deeds for a number of Enfield, Connecticut, and Springfield-area properties, transferring them to himself without the knowledge of the property owners.

While Springfield police did not bring charges against him, saying it was a civil matter, the man was charged criminally, extradited and convicted of forgery in Connecticut in 2021.

These types of quitclaim fraud cases have become more common in the years since the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the FBI.

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More and more people have grown accustomed to conducting real estate transactions through email and over the phone, the agency wrote in a recent news release. The remote nature of these sales is a benefit to bad actors.

Boston man claims relative took his home

In the civil lawsuit, an attorney for Rodolphe St. Cloud claimed that in November 2022, Theodat asked him to sign documents that she said were related to his MassHealth insurance coverage. St. Cloud, who speaks only Haitian Creole, signed the papers, unknowingly signing over his home to a company Theodat had started about a month previously, 144 Fuller LLC, in return for less than $100.

In addition, the attorney claims, Theodat forged the signature of Marthe Jeudi, Clouds life partner, who owned the home with him but now lives at a care facility because she has Alzheimers disease.

St. Cloud and Jeudi had lived in the home since the 1980s and had paid off the mortgage on the property, according to court documents.

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The same day St Cloud signed the papers, according to court documents, Theodat took out a $2 million mortgage from Boston Trust, using the Fuller Street home as collateral. She used this money to purchase a Newton home previously owned by her accused co-conspirators, her sister, Danny Theodat Levy, and Levys husband, Wayne, at a foreclosure auction.

The Defendants conspired and designed an elaborate scheme to defraud and take advantage of an elderly couple and rob them of their property, attorney Ricardo Arroyo, a former Boston City Councilor, wrote in the complaint.

Since then, Boston Trust has foreclosed on the Fuller Street property and attempted to evict St. Cloud, though the courts stopped the eviction to allow the case to play out.

The sisters and Wayne Levy denied all of the claims against them in court documents.

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Theodat is chief human resource officer of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission, though she is currently on paid administrative leave, according to the Boston Herald. Danny Theodat Levy works as chief customer experience officer at the MBTA. According to public records, Theodat was paid $202,873.84 in 2024 and Theodat Levy was paid $162,992.

The lawsuit initially also named another relative, Harcher Batrival, as a defendant, but the claims against Batrival were dismissed earlier this month.

A trial in the case has not been scheduled.

How common is quitclaim deed fraud?

According to the Boston division of the FBI, between 2019 and 2023, 1,576 people in Massachusetts reported cases of real estate fraud, totaling more than $46.2 million in losses (these numbers also include other types of fraud beyond title theft). Nationwide, there were 58,141 victims in that time period, totaling $1.3 billion in losses.

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Though the FBI did not reference specific cases like St. Clouds or the Springfield case, the agency did list examples of common forms of quitclaim deed fraud, including older people being targeted by relatives and so-called title pirates who file forged deeds to take over property ownership.

People who commit this type of fraud typically then sell or rent out the property or take out a mortgage on it.

Folks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home. Theyre suffering deeply personal losses that have inflicted a significant financial and emotional toll, including shock, anger and even embarrassment, said Jodi Cohen, special agent in charge of the FBI Boston Division, in a statement.

Property owners should take proactive steps to avoid losing their property and report fraud cases to the authorities, Cohen added.

What is being done to protect consumers?

Right now, homeowners anywhere in Massachusetts can set up a title alert through their local Registry of Deeds, which will notify them if any document is filed related to their property.

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The FBI recommends that anyone who doesnt live at their property to drive by it regularly or have a management company do so. They should also ask neighbors to let them know if they see anything suspicious.

Homeowners should also take action if they stop receiving utility or property tax bills or if utility bills suddenly increase at vacant properties, the agency said.

However, most of these precautions will only help after the fact, instead of stopping quitclaim deed fraud from occurring.

Hampden County Register of Deeds Cheryl Coakley-Rivera told the Springfield Republican in December that she wants registries in Massachusetts to set up new security protocols to verify that only the true property owners can make changes to records, such as a passcode or other type of secondary authentication.

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This year, Coakley-Rivera is leading a statewide task force with other registers of deeds to develop those safety nets.

Laura Marino, land court technical assistant register in Coakley-Riveras office, told MassLive that the task force was still in the early stages, in large part because the registry in each county uses different record-keeping software, and they will have to find a system that works for everyone.

The task force is also evaluating how such a system could be implemented and if it would need legislative approval at the state level, as they believe is likely.

The ideal system, she said, would work similarly to those in place at many medical or financial institutions, where after signing in, consumers receive a message with a numerical code that they must provide to verify their identity.

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In this case, when the registry receives new documents  especially deeds or mortgages, which most fraud cases involve  the property owner will receive an authentication request to be sure the transaction is legal.

Were not in the 1950s anymore, where people are walking in and signing in front of multiple witnesses and everything is slowed down, Marino said. Everything is so high-tech, electronic, fast turnaround. We need to update how we do business to protect the consumer.

The latest from MassLive
A teacher instructs a group of high school students in Baton Rouge, La. States across the country are worried about losing pandemic aid that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending. (Photo by Stephen Smith/The Associated Press)

Early this month, the U.S. Department of Education issued an ultimatum to K-12 public schools and state education agencies: Certify that you are not engaging in discrimination under the banner of diversity, equity and inclusion, or risk losing federal funding  including billions in support for low-income students.

The backlash was immediate. Some states with Democratic governors refused to comply, arguing that the directive lacks legal basis, fails to clearly define what constitutes illegal DEI practices, and threatens vital equity-based initiatives in their schools.

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After lawsuits from the National Education Association teachers union and the American Civil Liberties Union, the Department of Education agreed to delay enforcement until after April 24.

But states across the country, both liberal- and conservative-led, are worried about losing other aid: the pandemic-era money that in some cases theyve already spent or committed to spending.

The Department of Education has long played a critical role in distributing federal funds to states for K-12 education, including Title I grants to boost staffing in schools with high percentages of low-income students, and emergency relief like that provided during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conservative-led states  particularly Mississippi, South Dakota and Arkansas  rely the most heavily on these funds to sustain services in high-need districts.

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The 15 states with the highest percentage of their K-12 budget coming from federal funding in fiscal year 2022  the latest year with data available from the National Center for Education Statistics  voted for Trump in the 2024 presidential election. Similarly, 10 of the 15 states receiving the highest amounts of Title I funding in fiscal year 2024 also voted for Trump.

Mississippi and Kentucky have sent letters to the Department of Education expressing concern over halted pandemic aid.

The clash over federal funding comes even as the future of the Department of Education is murky, given President Donald Trumps pledge to dismantle the department.

In Iowa, 14% of the states K-12 budget was funded by the federal government in 2022, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, with a total of $1.13 billion.

DEI-related cuts

In letters to the Department of Education, state officials and superintendents in Illinois, New York and Wisconsin pushed back against the DEI directive.

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New York officials said they would not provide additional certification beyond what the state already has done, asserting that there are no federal or State laws prohibiting the principles of DEI. Illinois Superintendent Tony Sanders wrote that he was concerned that the Department of Education was changing the conditions of federal funding without a formal administrative process. Wisconsin Superintendent Jill Underly questioned the legality of the order.

New York State Department of Education Counsel and Deputy Commissioner Daniel Morton-Bentley noted that the federal departments current stance on DEI starkly contrasts with its position during Trumps first term, when then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos supported such efforts.

Colorado and California also confirmed they would not comply with the Department of Educations order.

While some states with liberal leaders are gearing up for legal battles and possible revocation of funding, conservative-led states such as Florida have embraced the federal directive as part of a broader push to reshape public education.

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In Florida, anti-DEI laws have been in place dating back to 2023. In fact, many school districts and the state education department say they plan to follow the federal departments directives, noting the similar state laws.

Pandemic aid cancellations

In March, the Department of Education abruptly rescinded previously approved extensions of pandemic-era aid, ending access to funds months ahead of the original March 2026 deadline.

When the Massachusetts governors office voiced concern over that decision, the federal departments reply on social media was blunt: COVID is over.

Sixteen mostly Democratic-led states and the District of Columbia filed a federal lawsuit against the Department of Education and Secretary Linda McMahon, challenging the abrupt rescission of previously approved extensions for spending COVID-19 education relief funds.

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But backlash against abrupt federal cuts to education has not been limited to blue states.

Mississippis Department of Education warned the cuts would jeopardize more than $137 million in already obligated funds, slated for literacy initiatives, mental health services and infrastructure repairs. The impact of this sudden reversal is detrimental to Mississippi students, state Superintendent Lance Evans wrote in a letter to McMahon.

The letter also outlines the states repeated  but unsuccessful  efforts to draw down millions in approved funds since February.

Shanderia Minor, a spokesperson for the Mississippi education department, told Stateline the agency is awaiting next steps and direction about the funds and federal directives.

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In Kentucky, state Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher told districts  which stand to lose tens of millions in pandemic aid  that abrupt federal changes leave them in a difficult position, with schools already having committed funds to teacher training and facility upgrades.

According to Kentucky Department of Education spokesperson Jennifer Ginn, the state has about $18 million in unspent pandemic aid funds left to distribute to districts. And districts have about $38 million in unspent funds, for a total $56 million that could be lost.

Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher, told Stateline that schools that receive Title I money are already underfunded  and the federal threat only widens the gap.

Florida is pouring billions into education  but where is it going? Because were not seeing it in schools, especially not in Title I schools, said Farrow. I taught five minutes away from a wealthier school, and we didnt even have pencils. Teachers were buying shoes for students. Why is that still happening?

Effects in the classroom

Tafshier Cosby, senior director of the Center for Organizing and Partnerships at the National Parents Union, a parents advocacy group, told Stateline that while most families dont fully understand the various school funding systems, they feel the impact of cuts in the classroom.

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Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now.

 Lauren Farrow, a former Florida public school teacher

Cosby said parents are worried about the loss of support services for students with disabilities, Title I impacts, and how debates about DEI may deflect from more urgent needs like literacy and teacher support.

Weve been clear: DEI isnt the federal governments role  its up to states, she said. But the confusion is real. And the impact could be devastating.

Today, as a consultant working with teachers across Floridas Orange County Public Schools  one of the largest districts in the country  Farrow says many educators are fearful and confused about how to support their students under changing DEI laws.

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Teachers are asking, Does this mean I cant seat a student with glasses at the front of the room anymore? Theres so much fear around what were allowed to do now.

Theres no one giving teachers guidance or even basic acknowledgment. Were just left wondering what were allowed to say or do  and thats dangerous.

Amanda Hernandez contributed to this report. Stateline reporter Robbie Sequeira can be reached at rsequeira@stateline.org.

This story was originally published by Stateline, which is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
Editors note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  More than 30 years ago, a National Endowment for the Humanities grant sent Laura Gordon to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C.

She was chosen from among more than 2,000 applicants for the scholarship that she said inspired her and her husband to create the Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company in the Laurel Highlands region, which has since spent 34 seasons spreading William Shakespeare's works and legacy.

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"It totally changed the course of my life and this community," Gordon said.

She described the NEH scholarship as a blessing that has impacted more than 900 actors who have performed with the company, which is part of the Shakespeare Theatre Association, throughout the years  and a countless number of audience members who have taken in the plays.

Federal Fallout logo

Gordon has also taken the experience into the classroom  during her time as a Somerset Area School District teacher, she developed a theater arts curriculum, and still works with regional schools to introduce new generations to Shakespeare and his plays.

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Those are endeavors she considers to be important and for which she fundraises annually.

"It makes you have value as a human being," she said. "Speaking Shakespeare gives you value as a human being."

Funding that spawned the three-decade community arts offering is now on hold or potentially eliminated, with the future of the agency unclear.

At the beginning of April, National Endowment for the Humanities employees were put on leave due to efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to downsize the federal government.

According to NPR reporting, a senior NEH official who spoke on condition of anonymity said 80% of the 145-member staff was furloughed. Additionally, DOGE may eliminate a significant portion of staff soon, while also gutting grant programs.

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Gordon said she understands there may be areas of the federal government that can be made more efficient  but trimming from the arts is not it.

She'd heard rumors of cuts throughout the theater world for about a year, but was shocked to learn of the retrenchment, she said.

NEH legacy

The NEH website says the agency is the only federal organization in the country dedicated to funding the humanities, such as history, literature, philosophy and ethics, and has done so since 1965.

Since its inception, the agency says, it has awarded more than $6 billion to museums, libraries, universities, television and radio stations, historic sites and more, and supported more than 70,000 projects in all 50 states and six U.S. jurisdictions.

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This year, NEH had a budget of roughly $200 million to support those operations.

On April 3, more than five dozen humanities councils throughout the country, including in Pennsylvania, were alerted their general operating grant had "been terminated, effective immediately."

"The impacts of the NEH cuts are devastating," said Dawn Frisby Byers, PA Humanities senior director of content and engagement. "PA Humanities receives 60% of our annual operating budget from the NEH. To replace that amount without warning is a challenge.

"We also use NEH funds to supplement our many programs which may not be fully funded from local grants and partnerships."

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A statement from PA Humanities Executive Director Laurie Zierer described these cuts by DOGE as "harmful" and a "drastic action."

"We are actively working with our local, state and national partners to challenge this unlawful decision and advocate for the NEH," Zierer said. "We are committed to defending the essential role the humanities play in building informed, connected, healthy and resilient communities."

Zierer called the federal cuts "the most serious threat to the humanities in a generation." She said federal funding helps generate $30.4 billion in annual impact through Pennsylvania and provides 189,700 jobs.

Despite the dismantling of NEH, the PA Humanities group said, "We are not backing down." The message asked supporters to contact their congressional representatives, mobilize networks and donate to PA Humanities.

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Teen reading lounge

Aria Nola, Cambria County Library reference and teen librarian, said she's unsure what the long-term impact of these cuts will be for programming at the downtown Johnstown library.

The Teen Reading Lounge at the Main Street library is supported by NEH through the state's Youth-Led Humanities grant and has been for roughly six funding cycles.

"This has sort of become a hallmark for this library," reference Supervisor Joyce Homan said. She started the program when she was the teen librarian as a way to give local youth a safe place to read and interact.

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

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Joyce Homan, Cambria County Library reference supervisor, talks about potential federal aid cuts at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

"There were a lot of teens who needed to find their way, and what better way than through books?" Homan said.

Each cycle, the funding is used to purchase books for each participant  usually about 15  while also paying for field trips and supplies for activities.

"We have seen the life-changing affect on teens in this program," Homan said.

One person who has been positively impacted by the library program is 18-year-old Raphael Gates, who is studying psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He attended the twice-per-month TRL meetings for about three years and aged out upon turning 18 in August 2024.

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"Just going there and being able to have conversations with people that also read the book ... is very nice," Gates said.

He still stops by the library, staying in contact with Homan, and described the program as an influential experience that he credits for helping to keep him connected with books.

"Throughout the years of going to Teen Reading Lounge, I was going through some harder times, so (without it) I probably would have lost my love of reading," Gates said.

Reflecting on the government cuts, Gates said he can't understand why that's happening, especially to institutions so many people rely on, such as libraries.

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"I'm so frustrated about our government at this point," he said. "I'm angry and I'm frustrated that they're trying to take away these resources."

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

Aria Nola, Cambria County Library reference and teen librarian, stands at the entrance of the teen library section at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

Nola said since the funding cuts were announced, there's been little guidance from state or federal groups about the path forward. She's fairly confident this year's funding is secure, she said, but what the future holds is uncertain.

Despite that, Nola said the library will find a way to continue TRL, with or without humanities grants.

Haley Bennett is also concerned about the Teen Reading Lounge program. She attended the offering from 2016 to 2018 at Highlands Community Library in Richland Township, part of the Cambria County Library system.

Highlands took financial responsibility of TRL after initial funding ran out and has continued it since, but Bennett is still worried about how downsizing will affect those resources.

"I would really, really hate to see it go," Bennett said. "I definitely don't think TRL would have been what it was for me and the people in the group if it wasn't offered and funded the way it was."

The program was so influential to her, she credits it for her current career as the circulation director at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson and her part-time job at the Highlands library.

Bennett said attending the club is where she found her people, as well as a reprieve from the stresses of school and other responsibilities.

Another PA Humanities program affected by the funding cuts is Rain Poetry, an initiative to introduce the art of haiku to children and teens throughout the state with chapters in Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. That's done through workshops, art installations and publication of the poets' works.

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

Leah Johncola, Cambria County Library childrens supervisor, talks about potential federal aid cuts at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

Leah Johncola, youth services coordinator at the Cambria library, said dozens of area children and teens were impacted by the project last year. What's so important and effective about Rain Poetry is that the project is centered on their experience, she added.

The popular program was scheduled to expand to more Pennsylvanian cities, but now its future is in jeopardy, officials said.

Additional impact

Other regional allocations for humanities funding throughout the years range from Somerset County Library and Juniata College, to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the work of Dean of Library Services and Special Projects Barbara A. Zaborowski.

According to The Tribune-Democrat records, in 2022 the Somerset library was awarded $10,000 by NEH through the American Library Association's "American Rescue Plan" to introduce teenagers to the area's cultural heritage and launch new book clubs.

Penn Highlands was most recently awarded a humanities grant of $149,989 in 2023 for its "Rural Experience: Fostering Narrative Imagination and Civic Curiosity" program.

As for Zaborowski, she secured an NEH grant in 2015 through the Common Heritage program to start digitization of local history documents in the Cambria Memory Project.

"The award was for $4,000 and enabled me to purchase the initial digitizing equipment and paid for the URL and web hosting for Cambria Memory for its first three years," Zaborowski said. "Without the grant, there would not have been an opportunity to create this project out of my own operating budget."

Hensel14

Penn Highlands Dean of Library & Special Projects, Dr. Barbara Zaborowski holds up a 1909 Lorain Steel Company accident report on Thursday, March 25, 2022.

Zaborowski has curated 19 collections that document everything from Johnstown's steel-making heyday and the hundred-year-old local chapter of the American Association of University Women to the region's African American heritage and Johnstown-area fire departments.

More than 28,000 items, ranging from photos and documents to recorded oral histories and videos, are contained in the archive.

Since launching the Cambria Memory Project, Zaborowski said she "thankfully" can cover the costs of upkeep through her college operation budget. However, she still applies for other grants to continue her work and this week was notified by NEH that funding for archival equipment is no longer available.

Zaborowski had applied for a $3,500 grant to purchase a HEPA vacuum to clean log books from 1900 to 1977 from the Cambria Hook and Ladder Station on Broad Street.

She was told NEH will no longer offer that program this year and "currently has no information on plans beyond that time."

Zaborowski said: "While this was another small grant, it would have made a big impact on getting more items digitized and added to the Cambria Memory collection."

Other concerns of hers include staff of the Institute for Museum and Library Services being placed on leave.

Dollars used to administer the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, which provides support for the PowerLibrary databases used by school and public libraries, were impacted.

The databases also serve as the home for the PA Photos and Documents service  where all Cambria Memory content is housed.

"Cuts to programs like NEH and IMLS jeopardize the ability of smaller institutions to preserve items of local historical important and limit their ability to develop special programs for specific projects," Zaborowski said. "It's very disheartening to see so many programs that people have come to enjoy and depend upon jeopardized in such a random fashion."
Editors note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts.

JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  More than 30 years ago, a National Endowment for the Humanities grant sent Laura Gordon to study with the Royal Shakespeare Company in England and the Folger Theatre in Washington, D.C.

She was chosen from among more than 2,000 applicants for the scholarship that she said inspired her and her husband to create the Band of Brothers Shakespeare Company in the Laurel Highlands region, which has since spent 34 seasons spreading William Shakespeares works and legacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

It totally changed the course of my life and this community, Gordon said.

She described the NEH scholarship as a blessing that has impacted more than 900 actors who have performed with the company, which is part of the Shakespeare Theatre Association, throughout the years  and a countless number of audience members who have taken in the plays.

Federal Fallout logo

Gordon has also taken the experience into the classroom  during her time as a Somerset Area School District teacher, she developed a theater arts curriculum, and still works with regional schools to introduce new generations to Shakespeare and his plays.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Those are endeavors she considers to be important and for which she fundraises annually.

It makes you have value as a human being, she said. Speaking Shakespeare gives you value as a human being.

Funding that spawned the three-decade community arts offering is now on hold or potentially eliminated, with the future of the agency unclear.

At the beginning of April, National Endowment for the Humanities employees were put on leave due to efforts by the Department of Government Efficiency to downsize the federal government.

According to NPR reporting, a senior NEH official who spoke on condition of anonymity said 80% of the 145-member staff was furloughed. Additionally, DOGE may eliminate a significant portion of staff soon, while also gutting grant programs.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Gordon said she understands there may be areas of the federal government that can be made more efficient  but trimming from the arts is not it.

FEDERAL FALLOUT | 'Transformative' early childhood services at risk with continued government cuts and downsizing, local leaders say

With proposed government cuts to funding sources such as Medicaid, Beginnings Inc. services that flow through county departments of behavioral health and development may be in jeopardy, officials at the agency said.

Shed heard rumors of cuts throughout the theater world for about a year, but was shocked to learn of the retrenchment, she said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

NEH legacy

The NEH website says the agency is the only federal organization in the country dedicated to funding the humanities, such as history, literature, philosophy and ethics, and has done so since 1965.

Since its inception, the agency says, it has awarded more than $6 billion to museums, libraries, universities, television and radio stations, historic sites and more, and supported more than 70,000 projects in all 50 states and six U.S. jurisdictions.

This year, NEH had a budget of roughly $200 million to support those operations.

On April 3, more than five dozen humanities councils throughout the country, including in Pennsylvania, were alerted that their general operating grant had been terminated, effective immediately.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

The impacts of the NEH cuts are devastating, said Dawn Frisby Byers, PA Humanities senior director of content and engagement. PA Humanities receives 60% of our annual operating budget from the NEH. To replace that amount without warning is a challenge.

We also use NEH funds to supplement our many programs, which may not be fully funded from local grants and partnerships.

FEDERAL FALLOUT | 'Worried about cuts': Health care providers respond to proposed HHS downsizing

Hyndman Area Health Centers have five federally funded locations in Cambria and Bedford counties that provide "vitally important" care to the underinsured and uninsured populations of those areas.

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A statement from PA Humanities Executive Director Laurie Zierer described these cuts by DOGE as harmful and a drastic action.

We are actively working with our local, state and national partners to challenge this unlawful decision and advocate for the NEH, Zierer said. We are committed to defending the essential role the humanities play in building informed, connected, healthy and resilient communities.

Zierer called the federal cuts the most serious threat to the humanities in a generation. She said federal funding helps generate $30.4 billion in annual impact through Pennsylvania and provides 189,700 jobs.

Despite the dismantling of NEH, the PA Humanities group said, We are not backing down. The message asked supporters to contact their congressional representatives, mobilize networks and donate to PA Humanities.

Advertisement Advertisement

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Teen Reading Lounge

Aria Nola, Cambria County Library reference and teen librarian, said shes unsure what the long-term impact of these cuts will be for programming at the downtown Johnstown library.

The Teen Reading Lounge at the Main Street library is supported by NEH through the states Youth-Led Humanities grant and has been for roughly six funding cycles.

This has sort of become a hallmark for this library, reference supervisor Joyce Homan said. She started the program when she was the teen librarian as a way to give local youth a safe place to read and interact.

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

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Joyce Homan, Cambria County Library reference supervisor, talks about potential federal aid cuts at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

There were a lot of teens who needed to find their way, and what better way than through books? Homan said.

Each cycle, the funding is used to purchase books for each participant, usually about 15, while also paying for field trips and supplies for activities.

We have seen the life-changing effect on teens in this program, Homan said.

One person who has been positively impacted by the library program is 18-year-old Raphael Gates, who is studying psychology at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown. He attended the twice-per-month TRL meetings for about three years and aged out upon turning 18 in August 2024.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Just going there and being able to have conversations with people that also read the book ... is very nice, Gates said.

He still stops by the library, staying in contact with Homan, and described the program as an influential experience that he credits for helping to keep him connected with books.

Throughout the years of going to Teen Reading Lounge, I was going through some harder times, so (without it) I probably would have lost my love of reading, Gates said.

Reflecting on the government cuts, Gates said he cant understand why thats happening, especially to institutions so many people rely on, such as libraries.

Im so frustrated about our government at this point, he said. Im angry and Im frustrated that theyre trying to take away these resources.

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

Aria Nola, Cambria County Library reference and teen librarian, stands at the entrance of the teen library section at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

Nola said since the funding cuts were announced, theres been little guidance from state or federal groups about the path forward. Shes fairly confident this years funding is secure, she said, but what the future holds is uncertain.

Despite that, Nola said the library will find a way to continue TRL, with or without humanities grants.

Haley Bennett is also concerned about the Teen Reading Lounge program. She attended the offering from 2016 to 2018 at Highland Community Library in Richland Township, part of the Cambria County Library system.

Highland took financial responsibility of TRL after initial funding ran out and has continued it since, but Bennett is still worried about how downsizing will affect those resources.

I would really, really hate to see it go, Bennett said. I definitely dont think TRL would have been what it was for me and the people in the group if it wasnt offered and funded the way it was.

The program was so influential to her, she credits it for her current career as the circulation director at Mount Aloysius College in Cresson and her part-time job at the Highland library.

Bennett said attending the club is where she found her people, as well as a reprieve from the stresses of school and other responsibilities.

FEDERAL FALLOUT | Getting 'collaborative' to address needs: Lessons learned during pandemic could frame local response to expected funding cuts

If the region sees federal funding streams dry up, organizations  including the 1889 Foundation, which alone supports more than 50 nonprofit health and human service initiatives with millions of local dollars each year  would have to pivot from funding initiatives geared toward long-term public health to help meet more immediate needs.

Another PA Humanities program affected by the funding cuts is Rain Poetry, an initiative to introduce the art of haiku to children and teens throughout the state with chapters in Johnstown, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Thats done through workshops, art installations and publication of the poets works.

Federal Fallout | Cambria County Library

Leah Johncola, Cambria County Library childrens supervisor, talks about potential federal aid cuts at the facility on Main Street in downtown Johnstown on Wednesday, April 17, 2025.

Leah Johncola, youth services coordinator at the Cambria library, said dozens of area children and teens were impacted by the project last year. Whats so important and effective about Rain Poetry is that the project is centered on their experience, she added.

The popular program was scheduled to expand to more Pennsylvanian cities, but now its future is in jeopardy, officials said.

Other regional allocations for humanities funding throughout the years range from Somerset County Library and Juniata College, to Pennsylvania Highlands Community College and the work of Dean of Library Services and Special Projects Barbara A. Zaborowski.

According to The Tribune-Democrat records, in 2022 the Somerset library was awarded $10,000 by NEH through the American Library Associations American Rescue Plan to introduce teenagers to the areas cultural heritage and launch new book clubs.

Penn Highlands was most recently awarded a humanities grant of $149,989 in 2023 for its Rural Experience: Fostering Narrative Imagination and Civic Curiosity program.

Additional impact

As for Zaborowski, she secured an NEH grant in 2015 through the Common Heritage program to start digitization of local history documents in the Cambria Memory Project.

The award was for $4,000 and enabled me to purchase the initial digitizing equipment and paid for the URL and web hosting for Cambria Memory for its first three years, Zaborowski said. Without the grant, there would not have been an opportunity to create this project out of my own operating budget.

Hensel14

Penn Highlands Dean of Library & Special Projects, Dr. Barbara Zaborowski holds up a 1909 Lorain Steel Company accident report on Thursday, March 25, 2022.

Zaborowski has curated 19 collections that document everything from Johnstowns steel-making heyday and the 100-year-old local chapter of the American Association of University Women to the regions African American heritage and Johnstown-area fire departments.

More than 28,000 items, ranging from photos and documents to recorded oral histories and videos, are contained in the archive.

Since launching the Cambria Memory Project, Zaborowski said she thankfully can cover the costs of upkeep through her college operation budget. However, she still applies for other grants to continue her work and this week was notified by NEH that funding for archival equipment is no longer available.

Zaborowski had applied for a $3,500 grant to purchase a HEPA vacuum to clean log books from 1900 to 1977 from the Cambria Hook and Ladder Station on Broad Street. She was told that NEH will no longer offer that program this year and currently has no information on plans beyond that time.

Zaborowski said: While this was another small grant, it would have made a big impact on getting more items digitized and added to the Cambria Memory collection.

Other concerns of hers include staff of the Institute for Museum and Library Services being placed on leave.

Dollars used to administer the Office of the Commonwealth Libraries, which provides support for the PowerLibrary databases used by school and public libraries, were impacted.

The databases also serve as the home for the PA Photos and Documents service  where all Cambria Memory content is housed.

Cuts to programs like NEH and IMLS jeopardize the ability of smaller institutions to preserve items of local historical importance and limit their ability to develop special programs for specific projects, Zaborowski said. Its very disheartening to see so many programs that people have come to enjoy and depend upon jeopardized in such a random fashion.
MUSKEGON, Mich. (WOOD)  With some cuts already made to the National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration and more possible, conservation groups in West Michigan are concerned about efforts to protect the Great Lakes and the watersheds that flow into it.

Trump orders agencies to sunset environmental protections

The Trump administration has a proposal in the works to cut NOAAs budget by billions of dollars to get rid of its climate research branch, Reuters reports. Congress would need to approve such a move, but if it happens, scientists are anxious about what it will mean for their research and cleanup efforts. The Department of Government Efficiency has already made massive job cuts at NOAA, which forecasters have said could result in dangerously less accurate weather forecasts.

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Kathy Evans is a board member for the Muskegon Lake Watershed with decades of experience in conservation, natural resources, and restoration. She said her team has been working to have NOAA declare the places where rivers empty into Lake Michigan as estuaries. The proposed funding cuts could put that at risk.

A Greener Mitten: Watch the special

Its important for us because Muskegon Lake, for example, and White Lake are areas of concern. Theyve been cleaned up, but there are other estuaries coming into eastern Lake Michigan that need cleanup, need science to better figure out how to manage these resources. If we dont get that information through the Estuary Program, we wont know how to manage our natural resources well, Evans explained.

Evans is also concerned about the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. This is a comprehensive federal program launched in 2010 to accelerate efforts to protect and restore the Great Lakes  the largest system of fresh surface water in the world. Led by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in collaboration with 15 other federal agencies, the GLRI addresses the most significant environmental challenges facing the Great Lakes ecosystem, including invasive species and toxic substances.

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Inside woodtv.com: A Greener Mitten

The GLRI has invested roughly $4.9 billion from 2010 to 2024, with an another $800 million from 2022 to 2025 under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. The investments have led to significant environmental improvements, including restoration and protection of over 80,000 acres of coastal wetlands and other habitats, reopening more than 1,000 miles of rivers and streams for fish passage and implementation of projects on more than 11,500 acres to control invasive species. 

It has also played a crucial role in reducing phosphorus runoff  a key contributor to harmful algal blooms  by more than 2 million pounds through 2020, according to the GLRI.

DNR to cover federal funding cuts for states Great Lakes piping plover program

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GLRI is up for renewal in congress this year. Evans worries not renewing it in full could affect important projects along our lakeshore.

Things that would stop would be invasive species control resiliency, stopping erosion on the shorelines. Fish and wildlife habitat would be impacted. Contaminated sediments would not be cleaned up, and that affects our drinking water, our public health, our recreation, our commercial fishery, everything, she said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
On Wednesday, 20-year-old U.S.-born citizen Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez was arrested in Florida and charged with illegally entering the state as an unauthorized alien. He was detained even after his mother presented his birth certificate and Social Security card in court, a harrowing indication that even citizens are not safe from the Trump administrations anti-immigration agenda.

Although headlines focused on the absurdity of charging a U.S. citizen with illegal entry, there was another potentially unlawful element of his arrest: On April 4, weeks before his arrest, a federal judge paused enforcement of Senate Bill 4-C, the state law used to detain him.

But Lopez-Gomez is not the only person who has been arrested since U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams issued the temporary restraining order. On Friday, lawyers representing the immigrants suing Florida state officials over the constitutionality of the immigration law disclosed that at least 15 people have been arrested since the pause went into effect.

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Thirteen of the arrests took place in Leon County, where Lopez-Gomez was detained, Daniel Tilley, the legal director for the American Civil Liberties Union Florida chapter, told HuffPost after the hearing. There was also at least one arrest in Orange County and another in Hillsborough County, the Miami Herald reported, citing the lawyers in the hearing.

Robert Schenck, a lawyer representing the Florida Attorney Generals Office, argued in court that the temporary restraining order only applied to the parties listed in the suit, not to individual law enforcement agencies.

I am astounded and dont understand this argument, Judge Williams said.

When I issued the temporary restraining order, it never occurred to me that police officers would not be bound by it, the judge continued. It never occurred to me that the state attorneys would not give direction to law enforcement so that we would not have these unfortunate arrests.

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Williams extended the initial 14-day temporary restraining order until April 29 and clarified that the order applied to anyone tasked with enforcing the law. She warned that arresting people pursuant to a law that had been blocked from being enforced could constitute false imprisonment, Tilley said. It is unclear how many additional arrests have been made throughout the state.

Lopez-Gomez was born in Georgia but spent most of his life in Mexico until returning four years ago, his mother told the Florida Phoenix, which first reported on his case. On Wednesday, while Lopez-Gomez was commuting to work in Tallahassee, Florida Highway Patrol pulled over the driver of the car he was a passenger in for allegedly speeding. Lopez-Gomez, as well as the driver and another passenger, were arrested and charged under S.B. 4-C, which was the subject of Williams temporary restraining order at the time.

Asked why Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen, was charged with entering Florida as an unauthorized alien, the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles communication office said in an email that Lopez-Gomez told a Florida state trooper he was not legally authorized to be in the U.S.

Lopez-Gomez, who speaks a Mayan language called Tzotzil and is not fluent in English or Spanish, never said he was here illegally, his lawyer Mutaqee Akbar told CNN.

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The arrest report quotes other people in the vehicle stating they were not in the U.S. legally, but does not quote Lopez-Gomez, Akbar told CNN.

Asked why Florida Highway Patrol made arrests pursuant to a law that had been blocked by a federal judge, the highway safety office said, Florida Highway Patrol will continue to work willingly with our federal partners to engage in interior enforcement of immigration law.

Lopez-Gomez spent Wednesday night in the Leon County jail. The Homeland Security Investigations Office in Tampa issued a 48-hour ICE detainer for him on Thursday. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement did not respond to an email asking why a U.S. citizen was subject to a detainer.

At a court hearing on Thursday morning, Lopez-Gomezs mother produced his birth certificate and his Social Security card as evidence that he is a U.S. citizen. Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans confirmed the birth certificate was authentic and said she found no probable cause for the charge. Even so, a state prosecutor argued that because ICE had asked the local jail to continue detaining him, the court did not have the authority to grant his release.

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Riggans appeared to agree, and Lopez-Gomez remained in jail. He was released later that night after protesters gathered outside the jail where he was being detained.

An ICE detainer is not a judicial warrant, and it is unclear why Riggans, who did not respond to a request for comment, believed she did not have the authority to order his release.

The Department of Homeland Security is reportedly looking into Lopez-Gomezs case, but did not respond to a request for comment about the circumstances of his release.

S.B. 4-C, which was signed into law by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) in February, carries stiff penalties. A first violation of illegal entry is a misdemeanor with a mandatory minimum punishment of nine months in prison. A subsequent violation is considered a felony and carries a two-year mandatory minimum sentence.

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In early April, the Florida Immigrant Coalition and other immigrant advocacy groups, including the Farmworker Association of Florida Inc., sued state officials, arguing that the law violated the Constitutions supremacy and commerce clauses.

Moreover, the law will subject thousands of immigrants who enter Florida, including asylum seekers and immigrants applying for other federal immigration benefits and status, to criminal punishment, the lawyers representing the plaintiffs wrote in the complaint. The law effectively banishes large categories of immigrants whose immigration cases are pending, and to whom the federal government may eventually grant lawful status, permanent residence, and citizenship.

Although Lopez-Gomez was released after one night in jail, his case represents a rare circumstance in that he was a U.S. citizen and his mother was able to produce proof. For undocumented people arrested under S.B. 4-C, even if the charges are eventually dropped as a result of the federal litigation, they could remain imprisoned as a result of an immigration detainer.

If they are arrested contrary to the [temporary restraining order], their charges could be dropped, but they will still be held, Tilley said.

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CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCBD)  A celebrated Filipino restaurant in downtown Charleston is starting a new guest chef series this April.

Sama-Sama, which means together, will kick off on Apr. 23 and feature James Beard finalist and Chopped winner Nikko Cagalanan collaborating with Michelin-starred Chef Johnny Curiel.

Each communal dining experience will feature two seatings, 5:30 p.m., and 7:45 p.m., with tickets at $110 each. Drinks will be a la carte.

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For the May experience, Chef Nikko and Kultura will host Chef Yia Vang, who tells the Hmong-American story through every dish he creates.

Next up in June will be Comfort Kitchen, and to close out in July, Chef Sophina Uong from Mister Mao will visit, bringing her tropical roadhouse flavors along.

Kultura sits on Spring Street in the Cannonborough Elliotborough neighborhood. All events will take place on the patio, weather permitting.

Tickets for each event are currently available through Resy.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WCBD News 2.
Capital One Financial (COF) and Discover Financial Services (DFS) announced that the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have approved Capital Ones proposed acquisition of Discover. This approval follows approval of the transaction by the Delaware State Bank Commissioner in December 2024, and by shareholders of more than 99% of each companys shares voting in February of this year. All required regulatory approvals to complete the transaction have now been received, and the transaction is expected to close on May 18, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. There will be no immediate changes to Capital One and Discover customer accounts and relationships now or in the period immediately following the closing of the transaction. Capital One will provide customers with comprehensive information regarding relevant conversion activities well in advance of any future change. Until then, customers will continue to be served through their respective Capital One and Discover customer communications channels, the companies stated. This is an exciting moment for Capital One and Discover. We understand the critical importance of a strong and competitive banking system to our customers and our economy, and we appreciate the thoughtful and diligent engagement of our regulators as they thoroughly reviewed this deal over the past 14 months. I am grateful to the thousands of associates across Capital One and Discover who have worked tirelessly to help us achieve this significant milestone. We look forward to bringing these two great companies together with a profound sense of possibility and responsibility to deliver for our customers, associates, shareholders, and communities, said Richard Fairbank, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of Capital One.

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At the historic St. Paul church where fire struck Thursday, the owner said Friday hes trying to get the steeple secured so the sidewalk and roads around it can be reopened.

William Hanson said hes been keeping the church in Frogtown open around the clock for the last 10 years, allowing people to come in to pray or be prayed for. The city wont permit him to reopen the church at Farrington Street and Sherburne Avenue until the steeple is steadied and an inspector ensures the property is safe.

The church was built in 1902 by Trinity Norwegian Evangelical Lutheran Church, according to the website of Historic St. Paul, a nonprofit preservation organization. Before Hanson, the building was home to Rock Temple Church of God in Christ, property information from the city shows.

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Hanson said the church is owned first by God, then me.

People come in all hours of the day and night, Hanson said. Weve tried scheduled events, but it seems like they excluded more than they included.

The church is also zoned for residential use and Hanson was in the basement, where he lives, on Thursday when he heard a loud pop.

It sounded like the light bulb above me blew up, he recounted. He went to the circuit box and saw one circuit was out, so he turned it back on. He looked around outside and didnt see anything.

Im bald, but we continued to smell what smelled like hair burning, he said. He went back outside 20-30 minutes later and saw the steeple was on fire.

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Firefighters responded about 5:30 p.m. and extinguished the blaze. It was storming and preliminary information points to a lightning strike causing the fire, the fire department said Thursday.

St. Pauls Department of Safety and Inspections came to assess the steeple and, due to its unstable condition, sidewalks and the street are blocked  Sherburne Avenue between Virginia and Farrington streets, and Farrington Street between Sherburne and Charles avenues. The closures will remain in place until the steeple is secured.

The churchs steeple was previously damaged by wind and hail, and Hanson said he made an insurance claim three years ago. He said the insurance company dropped its coverage of the property. After making calls to the insurance company throughout the last three years, he received word on Thursday that the company would provide enough payment to fix the steeple to be safe.

Two hours later, lightning hit, Hanson said.  Im in belief that God did this, so that the story goes out and other people come to help besides insurance companies.

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Hanson previously received some insurance money for the steeple, but he said he was awaiting the rest he was owed because it wasnt enough to fix it.

He saved the money and said hell use it to pay a contractor to secure the steeple, hopefully on Monday. When he gets the OK from the city, Hanson said hell also be able to move back into his living space and reopen the church to start ministering again.

Some people call Hanson Rev., but he said, Im just a servant.  I just try to be available. He said he gets no income from his ministering.

If the rest of the insurance money arrives, Hanson said hell use it to keep fixing the steeple.
Firefighters are battling a fire in a Dayton neighborhood Saturday afternoon, a Montgomery County dispatch supervisor confirmed.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

The fire was reported in the 700 block of Huffman Avenue around 1:30 p.m.

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Upon arrival, firefighters saw heavy smoke coming from the house, according to the Dayton Police & Fire Facebook page.

Fire crews quickly started searches and worked to extinguish the flames.

The supervisor said no injuries were initially reported in this fire.

Additional information was not immediately available.

News Center 7 is working to learn more and will continue to follow this story.

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WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  Emergency crews were dispatched Friday night to a reported truck fire in northeast Wichita.

The call came in around 9:20 p.m. to respond to a vehicle fire at a waste facility in the 2700 block of North Ohio Street, which is near Broadway and 29th Street.

The extent of the fire, potential damages, and any injuries have not been confirmed at this time.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KSN-TV.
WAYNE COUNTY, Ohio (WJW)  A first responder who was helping a man get his truck out of a ditch died after he was struck by a vehicle late Friday night.

Family speaks out after father of 5 killed in vehicular homicide

In a Saturday press release, the Ohio State Highway Patrol said the Wooster Post received a report around 10:30 p.m. about a F-150 that got stuck in a ditch on Stratton Road, just south of Jeffrey Road in Congress Township.

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Lieutenant Paul Charles Mickolick with the Town and Country Fire District arrived on scene in his personal vehicle to help the stuck driver, Tylor Green, 33, of West Salem.

A short time later, OSHP said it received a report of a crash at the same location.

According to the press release, a Cadillac CTS, driven by Creighton L. Trimble, 64 years old of West Salem, was going south on Stratton Road when he drove off the right side of the road and into the ditch, hitting the F-150 as well as Mickolick and Green whod been standing near the truck.

Both men were taken to a hospital. Green was then flown to a different hospital with serious injuries.

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Lieutenant Mickolick died as a result of his injuries Saturday morning. He was 43 years old.

His unwavering commitment to the safety and well-being of others was evident in every aspect of his service, Town and Country Fire District wrote in a Saturday press release posted to its Facebook page.

It went on to note Lieutenant Mickolicks years of service including 16 years as a Cleveland Clinic Flight Paramedic and more than four years with the fire department.

Our department has suffered a tremendous loss. Lieutenant Mickolick was a mentor, a brother, and a true hero. His passion for the fire service and his deep-rooted dedication to this community will never be forgotten. We will honor his legacy by continuing to serve with the same bravery and compassion he showed every day, the press release stated.

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1 dead after motorcycle crash on Pearl Road

Details regarding memorial services, department honors, and ways the public can support Mickolicks family will be released at a later time.

The crash remains under investigation.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine ordered flags to be flown at half-staff to honor Lt. Mickolick. They are to remain at half staff through sunset on the day of his funeral.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
How will you ensure students can trust their school police? How are non-citizens supposed to feel safe on campus? Can a parking ticket cause a visa to be revoked? Is student data being shared with Immigration?

These were some of the questions being asked of Florida International University police chief Alexander Casas at an emotional emergency meeting of the universitys faculty senate.

For over two hours on Friday, FIU faculty and students pressed the police chief to explain his decision to enter FIUs police force into a collaborative agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

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The Miami Herald reported last Friday that FIU has signed on to help Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program, which will train some of FIUs police officers to assist in the Trump administrations crackdown on undocumented immigrants. At the meeting, it was clear that students and faculty strongly opposed the move.

FIU serves a largely Hispanic student body  about 68 percent, according to the U.S. News and World Report. Many students are permanent residents and some are part of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, which provides temporary protection from deportation for some immigrants who came to the U.S. as children.

Prior to the emergency meeting, there were two different protests this week on FIU campuses to speak out against the agreement, as well as the recent revocation of 18 international students visas.

In the meeting, interim president Jeanette Nunez addressed the recent visa revocations, saying that FIU has around 3,400 students on F1 visas, and that the 18 visas represent less than half of 1 percent of FIUs international students.

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If there are students who have engaged in criminal activity, it is our responsibility to remove them, she said. We have a responsibility to follow the law. It is unclear what laws the students whose visas were revoked had broken.

Casas stated several times that he suggested the school enter this agreement with Immigration and Customs Enforcement because he wants his officers to be the ones interacting with students in the case of immigration enforcement. Legally, FIU does not have an obligation to sign on to the program. Only sheriffs offices are required to do so, and the chief confirmed this, saying that this was something he wanted to do in order to protect students.

Florida International University Police Chief Alexander Casas

I want to be the head of the agency that addresses this issue, he said.

I cant control what ICE does. But if I dont enter the agreement, I dont have the opportunity to say, call us first, let us deal with our community, he said.

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Casas said the FIU Police Department will be funding most of the initiative itself and has control over how many officers it will train.

I am going to choose my best, said Casas, who has been with the department for over a decade and is an FIU graduate.

Nunez stated that when the chief came to her with the proposal to sign on to the agreement, she agreed with his rationale and supported his move.

Casas and Nunez both confirmed that faculty or students were not consulted before signing the agreement on March 4.

Noel Barengo, the chair of the faculty senate and member of the universitys board of trustees, said he wishes that faculty and the larger university community was counseled before the agreement was signed by FIU Police.

Students and faculty concerned

Many of the students and faculty who spoke during the meeting were unable to control their emotions as they described the climate of fear the program will create on campus, and they expressed concern over students losing their visas, or being detained or deported by ICE.

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Faculty members brought up recent examples of ICE officials detaining people unlawfully, such as Juan Carlos Lopez Gomez, a citizen who was detained this week in Florida by immigration officials.

One professor mentioned the Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was grabbed off the street by ICE and is now detained in Louisiana without bond.

Read more: He was arrested under a suspended Florida immigration law. Turns out hes a U.S. citizen

Alana Greer, an immigration attorney and co-founder of the Community Justice Project, who spoke on behalf of the faculty senate, became teary-eyed as she spoke about pleading with officials to release Gomez.

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During the meeting, she raised concerns that this agreement will allow officers at FIU who are trained by the program to act on administrative warrants that are often not reviewed by a judge.

She said the agenda behind relaunching 287(g) is designed to break trust and to see neighbors and peers as other. She also cited a study where researchers found the program failed to reduce crime.

Erik Camayd-Freixas, a modern language professor at the university, called the agreement an attempt to systematize immigration enforcement on a level never seen in democracy.

During the meeting, one student said that the Dream.US scholarship program, which supports young undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children, was being terminated at eight Florida universities. Through tears she said several FIU students would lose their scholarships and no longer be able to attend because they can no longer get in-state tuition waivers.

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A professor from Spain spoke during the meeting about how he was scared to leave the country for a business trip to the Netherlands, and was in conversation with experts to understand his risks before finally deciding to take the trip. He says he jokes with his students, I dont know if I will see you next semester.

Juan Carlos Gomez, a law professor and director of the Carlos A. Costa Immigration and Human Rights Clinic at the law school, said he now has students afraid to publish work that may be viewed as against the foreign policy interest of the United States.

Following the two-hour discussion, the faculty senate voted in favor of a motion calling on university leadership to withdraw from the agreement immediately.
Jeanette Nunez, until recently lieutenant governor, is becoming interim, and likely permanent, president of Florida International University. (Photo via FIU)

Florida International Universitys police chief believes the university community would be best served by the department signing an agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, although the faculty is uneasy.

During a Faculty Senate special meeting Friday, interim President Jeanette Nunez, the former lieutenant governor, and FIU Police Department Chief Alexander Casas fielded questions from faculty members about what a 287(g) agreement with ICE will mean for students and faculty, particularly ones fearing detainment.

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Under the agreement, FIUPD officers could act as immigration enforcement officials to question and detain people they suspect are in the country without authorization.

If we have to deliver someone, were the ones you want to do it, because it will be done in the most FIU way, the most Panther way, we can think of, Casas said.

Casas signed the agreement with ICE, as have several other university police departments in the state, and is awaiting a response from the federal agency before officers can begin training. When its signed, Casas said, he will choose his best officers to be trained.

If I dont sign that agreement, we open the door for other agencies who are on this agreement, whether theyre federal agencies in power to do so or state agencies directed by our governor or local agencies that have agreed, Casas said.

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Casas told faculty he wants his department to have a say in how immigration enforcement goes at the South Florida institution.

Once I deliver someone to Krome or turn them over to ICE, youre right, I lose control. But, absent this agreement, I dont even have input. At the very least, once they execute it, at least now I have input and my officers do have a little say in what could be the outcome, Casas said.

If it has to happen because theres a warrant in the system, who do you want interacting with you? God, I hope you say its me, Casas said.

Nunez said she spoke at length with Faculty Senate Chair Noel Barengo earlier in the week after he reached out. She added that she wants to make sure she is constantly addressing concerns.

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Faculty Senate members were not so convinced. Florida universities have made national news for signing the agreement with ICE.

Students live in fear for their ability to remain in the United States, faculty members said. One professor shared about a student who is not a citizen who came to him worried after receiving a parking ticket.

Juan Gomez, director of the Carlos Costa Immigration Human Rights Clinic at FIU, said students have approached him to say they are afraid to look up items on their computer. Some, in abusive relationships, are afraid to call police.

I dont know the status of any of our students. PD does not have access to any of that information, Casas said, adding that his department has to follow FERPA, the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act.

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Casas said he did not get a call from the governor encouraging him to seek a 287(g) agreement; instead, he approached Nunez after conversations with other law enforcement convinced him it really is with our best interest at heart.

Faculty senators approved a resolution opposing the agreement, saying it goes against the universitys values of truth in the pursuit, generation, dissemination, and application of knowledge, freedom of thought and expression, and respect for diversity and dignity of the individual. The resolution called for the university to withdraw.

Well into the two-hour meeting, Philip Carter, an FIU professor, remained unconvinced.

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Its been good to hear you, Carter said. I havent heard anything that convinces me that this is a good agreement. It still sounds like a really bad agreement. I still worry about the safety of our students on campus who fear for their status and their safety. I worry, frankly, about all of us, I worry about faculty, I worry that theres a slippery slope beneath us.

Nunez stressed that visa revocations and ICE agreements are different but sometimes get conflated. FIU has no control over visa revocations, she said.

Earlier this week, FIU confirmed to the Phoenix that 18 students have had their visas revoked since Jan. 1. The University of Florida told the Phoenix that eight visas have been revoked; Florida State University, three.

Alana Greer, director of Community Justice Project, said the FIU 287(g) is deeply unprecedented and the agenda behind relaunching these 287(g)s is specifically engineered to break trust, to tear apart our communities and to get us to see our neighbors, our peers, our students as other.

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Greer referenced her involvement with a story the Phoenix reported on Thursday, when 20-year-old Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, a U.S. citizen, was arrested by a Florida Highway Patrol trooper as an unauthorized alien and held for ICE.

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President Trump is relying on a cast of economic advisers with differing viewpoints and backgrounds as he implements a sweeping tariff agenda that has rattled financial markets and occasionally mixed messages.

Theres Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who has taken the lead in negotiating trade deals and is viewed by Republican lawmakers and Wall Street executives as a steady hand.

Theres Peter Navarro, the prickly senior trade adviser who shares Trumps unwavering views on tariffs and is staunchly loyal. Theres Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a longtime friend of Trumps who has caused some hiccups with his media appearances.

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Theres also Kevin Hassett, director of the National Economic Council, and Jamieson Greer, the U.S. trade representative, two behind-the-scenes senior officials helping to shape, implement and message around Trumps economic plans.

Sources close to the White House said having officials with different views is not new for the president, and that it is ultimately Trump who makes the final calls when it comes to tariffs, trade and the economy. But those top economic aides have found themselves in the spotlight as economists warn of the potential fallout of Trumps policies.

They have different views on how to get from A to B, said one former Trump White House official. Frankly, thats what Trump wants. He wants that fight in front of me, and Ill decide who wins.

Here are the five senior officials behind Trumps economic agenda.

Scott Bessent

Bessent has seen his stock rise in the Trump White House in recent days, and there are indications his arguments are winning out with the president.

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Bessent was the Trump administration official the White House sent out to address reporters last week about a 90-day pause on steeper reciprocal tariffs after other economic advisers suggested there was no room to negotiate.

The Treasury Department secretary has led negotiations with Japan and other nations to try to broker trade agreements. Bessent was seated on the couch in the Oval Office during a meeting Thursday with the Italian prime minister, and Trump deferred to Bessent to speak about ongoing efforts to finalize agreements.

Bessent has reportedly cautioned Trump against trying to oust Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell, citing the potential market fallout. And Bessent is seen by many inside and outside the administration as being able to articulate the presidents agenda in a way that appeals to both Main Street and Wall Street.

The key is, whos the best messenger for the group? Bessent is the best messenger, said one Trump ally.

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Its been a notable rise for an official who was not a central figure in Trump World during the first administration. Bessent founded a hedge fund in 2015. Prior to that he worked for an investment firm managing the assets of the Soros family, the liberal mega-donors and target of frequent GOP attacks and conspiracy theories.

Howard Lutnick

When Trump named Lutnick as his nominee for Commerce secretary, he said the Cantor Fitzgerald executive would lead our tariff and trade agenda, an early indication of how central Lutnick would be to the aggressive policies Trump wanted to pursue.

Indeed, Lutnick has been a key player in the administrations various tariff rollouts and is frequently in Trumps presence. But his media appearances in particular have frustrated some in the White House, sparking questions about the level of his influence.

The Commerce secretary urged Americans to invest in Tesla stock during a Fox News interview in March. He was adamant Trump would not back off on his tariffs days before the president did just that. And he raised eyebrows when he suggested Trumps trade policies would result in millions of American jobs screwing in little, little screws to make iPhones.

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Some Trump allies and Wall Street officials have pushed for Lutnick to take the blame if the White Houses tariff policies go awry and send the economy into a tailspin.

Lutnick is clearly pissing some people off, said one Republican strategist.

But Lutnick is unlikely to be pushed out any time soon, and he still has the presidents ear, sources told The Hill.

He is a longtime friend of Trumps and has donated millions to the presidents campaign. He is regularly spotted flying on Air Force One with Trump, and Lutnick was in the Oval Office for an executive order signing Thursday to tout efforts to expand U.S. seafood exports.

Peter Navarro

Navarros official title is senior counselor for trade and manufacturing. He and Trump are aligned on the use of tariffs as a tool to return manufacturing to the United States.

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Navarro has led the charge on Trumps tariff policies, advocating for each new round of duties on imports. He has argued for the importance of already imposed tariffs on steel and aluminum, as well as on automobiles.

He was a staunch defender of the reciprocal tariffs that included a baseline 10 percent duty on imports, plus steeper penalties on dozens of other countries, framing it as a national emergency to bring back domestic manufacturing. Navarro at one point suggested it was not enough for Vietnam to remove all of its tariffs.

But his unwavering stance became out of step with others in the White House as Trump opened the door to talks, including with China. Navarros place in the pecking order came under further scrutiny when Elon Musk, the billionaire adviser to the president, publicly attacked him on social media. And he has not made many friends on Capitol Hill.

The White House has shrugged off the internal disagreements  Boys will be boys, press secretary Karoline Leavitt told reporters of the Musk-Navarro tiff.

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Beyond that, Trump values Navarros loyalty. The trade adviser was also at the center of internal strife during the first administration, but was kept in the fold. Since then, Navarro spent time in prison for refusing to comply with a congressional subpoena related to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.

Kevin Hassett

As chair of the National Economic Council, Hassett is essentially Trumps top economic adviser.

He was deployed on the campaign trail to defend the presidents economic proposals, and he has taken on a similar role so far in the administration, appearing on television and in front of reporters to push back on criticism of tariffs.

Sources close to the White House told The Hill that Hassett does not always agree with the president behind the scenes. But in public, Hassett is seen as a consistent voice who remains on message and wont get ahead of the president and what he might do.

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For example, Hassett recounted in his 2021 memoir that he and other Trump advisers warned the president that firing the chair of the Fed may not actually be possible, and would likely crash financial markets regardless of whether it was legal.

On Friday, he toed a careful line, telling reporters Trump and his team will continue to study whether the president can fire Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell and criticizing the Feds policies.

Hassett served during Trumps first term as chair of the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA). He also advised the White House on economic policy during the coronavirus pandemic, coming under scrutiny at one point when the CEA released a chart that projected U.S. COVID-19 deaths would drop off by May 2020.

Jamieson Greer

A lesser-known but equally important figure in trade talks is Greer, who serves as the U.S. trade representative.

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Greer served as chief of staff to then-Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer during the first Trump administration, giving him a front-row seat and a prominent role in negotiations with China on tariffs and an eventual trade agreement. He was also part of talks to renegotiate NAFTA into the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), which was signed in 2020.

Greer has a tendency to get overlooked when it comes to who is in the presidents inner circle on trade. Trump said Lutnick would oversee trade as part of his portfolio running the Commerce Department, and the president himself has strong views on the issue.

And while Greer is statutorily the top White House trade negotiator, Trump has historically leaned on his Treasury Department secretary to lead major economic talks.

But Greer is respected within Trump World as someone with experience implementing the presidents agenda, and he indicated during his confirmation hearing that reducing trade deficits and boosting domestic manufacturing would be priorities.

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I am convinced that we have a relatively short window of time to restructure the international trading system to better serve U.S. interests, Greer told senators in February.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
This story was originally published on CFO.com. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily CFO.com newsletter.

Evan Scott | Lockheed Martin

Effective immediately, Evan Scott will replace Jesus Jay Malave as CFO of Lockheed Martin. Malave served as CFO of the multinational aerospace and defense company for a little over three years. Scott has worked at Lockheed Martin for more than 25 years and has held two divisional CFO roles, most recently as vice president and CFO of the companys missiles and fire control division.

Darline Llamas Llopis | Baltimore Orioles

Darline Llamas Llopis was appointed finance chief of the Baltimore Orioles. Llamas Llopis previously spent four seasons with the Miami Dolphins, Hard Rock Stadium and the F1 Miami Grand Prix as vice president of finance and retail. She earlier spent four years as the director of finance and controller at the Los Angeles Rams. She started her career in public accounting with Ernst & Young and PricewaterhouseCoopers as a member of the Commercial Real Estate practice. Llamas Llopis succeeds longtime CFO Michael Hoppes, who retired at the end of 2024.

Armin Zerza | Warner Music Group

Warner Music Group named Armin Zerza as chief finance officer, effective May 5. Zerza was most recently CFO at video game maker Activision Blizzard, where he earlier held chief operating officer and chief commercial officer roles, playing a lead role in Microsoft's $69 billion acquisition of the company. He joined Activision Blizzard in 2015 after over 20 years at Procter & Gamble, where he held several senior leadership roles, including CFO roles of its European baby care and Latin America divisions as well as its global M&A team. Zerza replaces Bryan Castellani, who will step down on May 5 and then act as adviser.

Dr. Wolf Schmuhl | Trivago

Trivago appointed Dr. Wolf Schmuhl as the hotel booking platforms new chief financial officer, effective June 1. Most recently, he was the head of corporate finance and development at the company, where he managed and optimized various finance departments, including M&A, treasury, investor relations, ERP and procurement. His experience also includes roles such as manager in audit and transaction services, as well as roles in controlling and as a finance lead within the Korber AG Group. Schmuhl replaces Robin Harries, who is leaving the company.

Latha Vairavan | Arcutis Biotherapeutics

Latha Vairavan was promoted to chief financial officer of Arcutis Biotherapeutics. Vairavan joined the biopharmaceutical company in 2020 to lead financial planning and analysis and is currently vice president and controller. Vairavan previously spent 12 years at Amgen, where she held several roles of increasing responsibility within the finance organization, culminating as finance director for U.S. value and access. She started her career as a financial consultant working for KPMG and Arthur Andersen. Vairavan replaces David Topper, who is retiring.
Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier has directed state law enforcement officers to stand down on enforcing a new state immigration law, guidance that came shortly after a federal judge in Miami said she was astounded that state authorities had continued to make arrests despite her ordering them not to.

In a hearing in Miami federal court on Friday, lawyers suing the state said that as many as 15 arrests have been made by Florida law enforcement officers over the past two weeks in violation of an April 4 order issued by U.S. District Judge Kathleen Williams. One of the people arrested was a U.S. citizen born in Georgia.

Williams stopped short of considering holding state authorities in contempt of court. Instead, she extended her initial 14-day restraining order for another 11 days. She also made clear to lawyers with Uthmeiers office that both state officials and law enforcement officers were bound by her order halting arrests of a new state law that targets undocumented immigrants entering Florida.

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The state law makes it a misdemeanor crime for undocumented immigrants who came into the United States without inspection to enter Florida.

Following the court hearing, Uthmeier told the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the Florida Highway Patrol, the Florida Sheriffs and Florida Police Chiefs to please instruct your officers and agents to comply with Judge Williams directives. The arrest of the U.S. citizen was made by FHP.

While he told law enforcement agencies to follow the courts order, Uthmeier also made clear that he disagreed with the scope of the order.

I must note my disagreement with this order, Uthmeier wrote in an email obtained by the Herald/Times. For reasons my office has argued and will further outline in court, this clarification of Judge Williams prior order is both wrong on the merits and overbroad in its scope.

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Uthmeier doubled down on the arguments his office made in court on Friday. He said he believes the federal judges order halting enforcement of a new immigration law should only apply to the state Attorney Generals office and other executive branch officials, but not law enforcement officers.

At most, a district court may enjoin the law enforcement community when it is acting in concert or participating with the named defendants to enforce these statutes, as my office will soon explain, the courts current injunction exceeds that equitable limitation, Uthmeier wrote.

He said his office will continue to make these arguments in court and if appropriate, it will take the fight to an appellate court.

At the court hearing Friday, Williams said she was astounded by the states arguments and said it was concerning to learn that state law enforcement agencies, like FHP, do not work in concert with state officials.

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When I issued the temporary restraining order, it never occurred to me that police officers would not be bound by it, Williams said. It never occurred to me that the state attorneys would not give direction to law enforcement so that we would not have these unfortunate arrests.

Williams expressed her dismay at the states actions after a group of lawyers suing the state disclosed that at least 15 people were arrested across Florida after the judge had imposed a halt on enforcing the immigration law.

During the court hearing, the Florida Highway Patrol was the only agency mentioned as an arresting agency in those cases, including the one of the U.S. citizen.

In a statement Friday, FHP defended the U.S. citizens arrest, saying that he had made a statement to a state trooper that he was not legally authorized to be in the country and that there was a federal detainer issued for him.

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Florida Highway Patrol will continue to work willingly with our federal partners to engage in interior enforcement of immigration law, the agency said.

The agency did not address questions on why the trooper made the arrest despite Williams court order.

The next hearing in the federal court case has been scheduled for April 29.

Miami Herald staff writer Jay Weaver contributed to this report.
MIAMI  After Florida International Universitys police department entered into an agreement with the federal government to carry out immigration enforcement on campus, some students say they are terrified.

Its scary and nerve-racking, said an undergraduate at the university.

The student, who's not being identified because he lacks legal immigration status, told NBC News he came to the U.S. when he was 5 with his family after they were threatened by gangs in their native El Salvador. He said he was very focused in middle school and high school and took many Advanced Placement classes, knowing he had to work harder to have a shot at college.

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Now, the student is not sure if he'll continue at FIU next year. For now, he said hes avoiding certain parts of the university he considers risky. I've been trying to not go to the main areas of campus where police are, the student said.

FIU is one of a number of universities in Florida that have signed agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement officers to interrogate immigrants and detain them for potential deportation.

In addition to FIU, other state universities that have signed agreements with ICE include the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida State University in Tallahassee, the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and the University of South Florida.

Florida is the state with the most local agencies signing 287(g) agreements, including all of Floridas 67 county sheriffs. Dozens of cities have signed on, including some with large immigrant populations like Hialeah, Miami Springs and West Miami.

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It's part of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' sweeping immigration measures, which are aligned with President Donald Trumps pledge to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.

Florida is setting the example for states in combating illegal immigration and working with the Trump administration to restore the rule of law, DeSantis said in February about the agreements with ICE. By allowing our state agents and law enforcement officers to be trained and approved by ICE, Florida will now have more enforcement personnel deputized to assist federal partners. That means deportations can be carried out more efficiently, making our communities safer as illegal aliens are removed.

At FIU, where over 63% of the student population is Hispanic or Latino, the cooperation has alarmed many. Early in the week, many FIU students on campus seemed unaware of the new collaboration with ICE, but among those at risk of deportation, the fear is palpable.

Faculty and students have mobilized and held protests against FIUs decision to collaborate with ICE. At a protest Tuesday, students held a banner that read No ICE @FIU.

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In an emailed statement, FIU said their police department has signed a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in compliance with Governor Ron DeSantis directive to law enforcement agencies.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

On Friday at a faculty senate session, professors issued a resolution asking FIU President Jeanette Nunez and the campus police chief to withdraw from the agreement with ICE. Nunez was DeSantis' former lieutenant governor who became FIUs acting president in February, following a board vote requested by the governor.

I try to act normal

After nearly four years as an undergraduate at FIU, a student said he was looking over his shoulder.

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The student requested anonymity because he lacks legal immigration status. He came with his parents from Central America when he was 9.

It feels like Im being persecuted even though I havent done anything, he said. I feel more anxious. I dont know why but I see more police on campus recently. I try to act normal and dress nice.

The student said that when he and other undocumented students found out about the collaboration, everyone was scared. People cried. Everyone feels its unfair.

One FIU professor described the atmosphere as "reminiscent" of Latin American universities and what it was like in the Soviet Union. The professor's name is being withheld because they're not authorized to speak in areas outside their expertise.

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This is how it used to be in Latin America. The government would look into the university to make sure that you were towing the line, the professor said. Were going in that direction now.

The campus police is here to protect students from crime. They are not supposed to enforce the policy of the federal government. Immigration policy is federal policy, the professor said.

"This creates fear," said Melissa Tavara, at right with fellow student Katerin Crespo. "It's an international school, we're supposed to be a melting pot," Tavara said.

The cooperation with ICE comes as the Trump administration has cracked down on some foreign students, revoking their visas and ordering them to leave the country immediately. At least 36 students in Florida have been stripped of their visas, 18 at FIU.

The administration's actions are a stark departure from the policy set in place over a decade ago that restricted federal immigration agencies from carrying out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools and churches. The Trump administration ended that guidance in January, making students on college campuses potential immigration enforcement targets.

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Universities in Florida have seen a number of changes under DeSantis. Teaching critical race theory has been banned; centers to promote center-right ideas have been created; a recent law limits the content taught at public universities; and multiple faculty members have been terminated after the state adopted post-tenure reviews of professors.

The Dream.US, an organization that awards college scholarships to "Dreamers"  young adults who've been in the U.S. since they were very young but lack legal immigration status  announced it's withdrawing scholarships for hundreds of students in eight Florida universities. Gaby Pacheco, president of Dream.US, cited Florida's decision to end in-state tuition for students without legal immigration status  which takes effect in July  as well as the universities' 286(g) agreements with ICE. We do not feel our students will be safe on campus," Pacheco told the Miami Herald.

Melissa Tavara and Katerin Crespo, both theater majors at FIU, said they worried about how the campus police will carry out their new duties as they walked across campus on a recent afternoon. Both are U.S. citizens but worry about racial profiling.

How else would you look for these students, said Tavara.

Crespo said, This creates fear. Its an international school. We are supposed to be a melting pot.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Dear FSU Family,Our hearts are heavy after the tragedy that took place April 17. We are grieving with the families and friends who lost someone they love. And we are with all those who were injured and are now recovering. This has shaken all of us, and I want you to know: We are here for you.

Classes and business operations will resume Monday, April 21. I know it wont feel like a normal week. Its the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened. Please take care of yourself.

If you need time or support, reach out. Students should contact their instructors for help with classwork or accommodation. Faculty and staff should connect with their dean or supervisor.

No one should go through this alone. Support is here:

Students who need mental health support should reach out to our Counseling & Psychological Services team at (850) 644-TALK (8255).

In addition, the Victim Advocate Program provides free, confidential, and compassionate assistance to FSU students. Call 24/7 (850) 644-7161, text (850) 756-4320 or email Victims-Advocate@fsu.edu.

Employees who need assistance should contact EAP at (850) 644-2288 for free, professional counseling services.

We will get through this by leaning on each other. FSU is strong because of its people  and I believe in this community with all my heart.

Sincerely,

Richard McCullough

President

Richard McCullough - President
OTTUMWA  Ben Foote stood under the marquee outside the Ottumwa Theater, using the hallowed landmark as a symbol of his candidacy for mayor.

It was also a symbol for what he believes Ottumwa once was, and could be again.

In front of about 20 people, Foote became the first known candidate to launch a run for Ottumwa mayor Thursday, looking to succeed Rick Johnson, who is not seeking re-election. Foote, 53, said the city, like the theater, lost its core identity and needs restoration.

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"This was built in 1942 to replace the one that was burned down, and when it was rebuilt, it was built with the greatest creativity and innovation," he said. "It's just one of the examples that we have here in our city that gives us the identity of who we should be.

"From generation to generation, we've been given an identity. The problem is we've allowed that identity to shift and move into an identity of confusion or mediocrity. Frankly, we've lost our identity."

Foote, who owns Faith-Built Architecture, first moved to Ottumwa in 1980 and graduated from Ottumwa High School, left for a spell, and returned in 2011. Even when he was gone, however, the city was close to his heart.

"I've always stayed in touch," he said.

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Foote did not specify what he thought Ottumwa's identity is, but said the community "is in this place of transition."

"We definitely want to honor who we were, because that's something we can build on. If we let go of that, then we just stay where we've been," he said. "It's just pieces all over the place and you need coherency.

"I mean downtown ... 15 years ago it wasn't like this at all and we've seen huge improvements," he said. "We need to keep building on it."

Foote, who vowed transparency and integrity if elected, credited the Bridge View Center area with the hotel, as well as the Ottumwa Community School District, as showing a way forward.

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"The school district is just going crazy," he said. "I know there are a lot of questions about how we've spent money. My question is, 'How are we going to use it to the best of our ability?'"

In Ottumwa, the mayor's role is largely ministerial because the position doesn't have a vote. Many, however, have used the office to sway opinions, not only of the city council, but also the public.

So why not run for a seat where he could have a direct influence on charting the city's path forward? Foote, a born-again Christian, said it was his Christian principles that brought him to this point.

"I've been praying for the city for many years. I love the city," he said. "[To me] the mayor is the one who drives vision. Even though the mayor doesn't have a vote, that doesn't mean the mayor doesn't have influence, right? I'm a vision guy.

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"That's the architect. I work on planning, city development. I work on teams, and all that sort of aspect. But we do this together. We put one foot in front of the other, and we have to put our best foot forward."

The mayor's seat and three city council seats will be up for election in November; it'll be the first election held under the city's new ordinance that removed the primary and runoff processes.
Apr. 18A former Kettering City Schools music teacher pleaded guilty Friday to child pornography-related charges, just days ahead of his scheduled trial.

Matthew Ryan Koehler, 38, of Centerville, pleaded guilty to five counts of pandering obscenity involving a minor and one count of illegal use of a minor in nudity-oriented material or performance before Montgomery County Common Pleas Judge Kimberly Melnick on Friday.

He had been scheduled for trial Monday. He now faces six to 18 months in prison on each count when he is sentenced May 16.

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Koehler worked primarily at Fairmont High School after he was hired by Kettering City Schools in 2012. He led or helped lead several extracurricular music and choir groups, according to district records.

On Nov. 19, 2023, a 19-year-old male reported to Kettering police that when he was in middle school, the defendant had acted inappropriately and had exchanged texts of a sexual nature, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office. Koehler was placed on administrative leave by the school district the next day, Superintendent Mindy McCarty-Stewart said previously.

Koehler was indicted June 12, 2024, and pleaded not guilty June 27, the same day he resigned from Kettering schools. He pleaded guilty in August 2024 to four of the six felony charges as part of a plea agreement. However, he withdrew those pleas in October shortly before he was scheduled to be sentenced.

Defense attorney Dennis Lieberman previously told the Dayton Daily News that the charges against Koehler had nothing to do with his position at the school.

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"The photographs in question or the videos in question were on his own personal phone and on his computer at his house. It did not involve anybody at the school," he said.

As part of his plea, Koehler will be designated a Tier II sex offender, unable to live within 1,000 feet of a school, preschool or day care center. He also must register his address every six months for 25 years.

Lieberman said Friday the number of counts is not significant.

"We could not reach an agreement with the prosecutor on this case so we pled as charged and will present our information to the court," Lieberman said.
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)  Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in U.S. history, former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing.

Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-story federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He delivered the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children. He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget.

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I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago, coming here with Hillary to that memorial service and saying: You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything. You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes, Clinton said, recalling his first visit to Oklahoma City just days after the bombing, when he spoke at a memorial service for the for the victims. I do think we've kept that commitment.

Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum numerous times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries.

On Saturday, Clinton also cautioned about the polarizing nature of modern-day politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence, as it did 30 years ago. He said there is much the nation can learn from the Oklahoma Standard, a term coined to reference the city's response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness.

Today, Oklahoma City, America needs you, he said. I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here, hearing these stories.

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Other speakers included former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick, who were in office when the bombing occurred. Family members of some of those killed in the bombing read the 168 names of those killed in the attack.

Saturday's ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but was moved inside an adjacent church because of heavy rains.

After the ceremony, a procession of bagpipe players from the Oklahoma City Fire Department led many of those in attendance across the street to the outdoor memorial built on the grounds where the federal building once stood. The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed.

Among the memorial's top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorial's president and CEO.

We knew when we built this place we would some day reach a generation of people who weren't born or who didn't remember the story, Watkins said. I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., a truck loaded with explosive material detonated in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, killing 168 people, including 19 children.

This became the worst act of homegrown terrorism in United States history.

In what is one of the darkest days in the states history, Oklahomans show not only the rest of the country, but the rest of the world, just what the Oklahoma Standard truly is: Resilience, service, honor, and kindness.

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The Oklahoma City bombing happened 30 years ago, service honors those lost and changed forever

Today, on the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, we remember those lives lost, honor those who survived, and thank those changed forever.

Much of the community gathered together Saturday for the remembrance ceremony held inside the First Church in downtown Oklahoma City.

Former President Bill Clinton was the keynote speaker, with other speakers including Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, former Governor Frank Keating, U.S. Senator James Lankford, and Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt.

Former President Bill Clinton

Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt

Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt

U.S. Senator James Lankford

Former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating

Retired OKCFD Chaplain Teddy Wilson

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The preliminary injunction Berman Jackson issued March 28 halted any mass reductions in force. An appeals court April 11 ruled the CFPB could send a RIF notice but only when employees have been determined, after an individualized assessment, to be unnecessary to the performance of [the] defendants statutory duties.

Those priorities were laid out Wednesday in a memo from the CFPBs chief legal officer, Mark Paoletta, who said the bureau would pivot its focus away from nondepository institutions and toward tangible harms to consumers. In doing so, the bureau would shift resources away from enforcement and supervision that can be done by the States, Paoletta wrote Wednesday.

This RIF action is necessary to restructure the Bureaus operations to better reflect the agencys priorities and mission, Vought wrote in a memo to affected employees. The memo was included in Pfaffs declaration to the court.

Matthew Pfaff , chief of staff at the CFPBs Office of Consumer Response, told the court he received a notice Thursday indicating that his employment would end June 16 but that he would lose access to the CFPBs systems  and thus, [the] ability to work, Pfaff said  at 6 p.m. Friday.

Three witnesses  two CFPB employees and an attorney representing the NTEU  submitted declarations to the court Friday, ahead of the hearing.

Attorneys representing the National Treasury Employees Union asked Berman Jackson late Thursday for an emergency hearing to force the CFPB to explain how the layoffs dont violate the preliminary injunction Berman Jackson granted last month  or, for that matter, a pared-down order an appeals court issued last week.

Were not going to disburse 1,483 people into the universe and have them be unable to communicate with the agency anymore until we have determined whether that is lawful or not, Berman Jackson said at a hearing Friday.

Judge Amy Berman Jackson of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia halted the CFPB from cutting off employees access to the bureaus systems  a move that had been set for 6 p.m. Eastern time Friday as part of a reduction in force the agencys acting director, Russ Vought, announced Thursday in memos to nearly 1,500 workers.

A federal judge Friday again temporarily paused an effort by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to decimate itself.

This story was originally published on Banking Dive . To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily Banking Dive newsletter .

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These RIFs appear to go well beyond what the unstayed portions of this Courts injunction permit, lawyers for the NTEU wrote Thursday to Berman Jackson. It is unfathomable that cutting the Bureaus staff by 90 percent in just 24 hours, with no notice to people to prepare for that elimination, would not interfere with the performance of its statutory duties, to say nothing of the implausibility of the defendants having made a particularized assessment of each employees role in the three-and-a-half business days since the court of appeals imposed that requirement.

Breadth of the cuts

The cuts would leave the CFPB with a headcount of around 200, according to figures reported in September.

Entire offices, including statutorily mandated ones, have or soon will be either eliminated or reduced to a single person, the NTEUs attorneys wrote in their motion Thursday, calling employees impending loss of access to CFPB systems a functional work stoppage.

The list of affected employees cuts a wide swath across the bureau, including all of the consumer response team, except eight managers; virtually everyone in the research, monitoring and regulations division; everyone in supervision policy except the head of the office; everyone in supervision examinations except the office chief; everyone in the office of fair lending; virtually everyone in cybersecurity; and the legal team in the bureaus front office, according to a declaration by Jennifer Bennett, an attorney for Gupta Wessler, which is representing the NTEU.

Pfaff gave more details as to the impact in the Office of Consumer Response, noting that even employees who already provided notice to the CFPB of their resignation from the federal service, as well as those who accepted the deferred resignation program, received this RIF notice.

Throughout the NTEUs case against the CFPB, the offices response to consumer complaints was held up as a prime example of a statutorily mandated function of the bureau.

No leader in Consumer Response was consulted about what is needed to operate the offices statutory duties or how the RIF would affect the complaint handling program, which is currently projected to handle more than five million complaints and more than half a million calls in 2025, Pfaff said in his declaration Thursday. Nearly all staff have been informed that their positions are being eliminated  including those that unambiguously align to statutory objectives and are necessary for collecting, investigating, and responding to consumer complaints.

Pfaff said the office will shrink to a staff of eight managers from what he estimates is a headcount of 135.

Each of those eight employees is a manager of managers who does not carry out the day-to-day tasks that permit the Office to fulfill its mandatory statutory duties, Pfaff said.

Employee, advocate and lawmaker reactions

Other employees went public on social media.

Elizabeth Bond, a senior adviser to the CFPBs chief technologist, received her notice while on maternity leave.

This termination came during a time where Im supposed to be physically recovering, bonding with my child, and supporting my own family through this transition. Im absolutely heartbroken to see the agency I dedicated my career to be destroyed, Bond posted Thursday on LinkedIn. It means terrible things for all Americans.

No one will be protecting consumers and looking out for their best interests, Bond told The New York Times.

Still others spoke on condition of anonymity.

"Anybody should expect a letter at any time for the rest of this administration," one CFPB staffer told American Banker. "It's the sword of Damocles."

At least one consumer advocate  Erin Witte, the Consumer Federation of Americas director of consumer protection  cited the CFPBs appeals court order in her statement Thursday, condemning the workforce cuts.

Sabotaging the CFPB by firing almost 90% of its remaining civil servants who protect Americans from corporate crime is hardly the individualized or particularized assessment that the court required the CFPB to undergo, Witte said. These mass layoffs, combined with Paolettas reprioritization memo from Wednesday, provide a blueprint for would-be cheats and lawbreakers about which laws they can violate without being held accountable by our nations supposed consumer finance watchdog.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, the architect of the CFPB who is now the ranking member on the Senate Banking Committee, lamented in a statement Thursday that the agency was gutted.

Dismantling the CFPB in the face of a court order blocking an illegal shutdown is yet another assault on consumers and our democracy by this lawless Administration, and we will fight back with everything we've got, she said.

Recommended Reading
Former Republican National Committee (RNC) chair Michael Steele raised an eyebrow Friday about the Trump administrations dedication to preventing Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a mistakenly deported man held in El Salvador, from returning to the U.S.

Steele, in an essay published by MSNBC, called President Trumps playbook on the matter an attempt to normalize the extrajudicial deportation of undocumented immigrants like Abrego Garcia and perhaps even U.S. citizens.

The majority of his criticism was lavished at Vice President Vance, who earlier this month pushed back on arguments that Abrego Garcia wasnt given due process, which is required under the Fifth Amendment. Vance doubled down on the Trump administrations argument that the man, who they claim is linked to MS-13 gang activity, came to the U.S. illegally and must be deported.

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Steele did not hold back, accusing the vice president of being willing to throw the nations core principle of due process to authoritarian wolves.

Dont let his unearned smugness fool you. There is no question to be begged. Garcias due process isnt up for debate, Steele wrote, adding later, Vance is using a lot of Ivy League jargon as a smokescreen to attack a fundamental tenet of the American judicial system.

His criticism comes as Abrego Garcia remains in El Salvadors most notorious prison, after being deported late last month. The White House, who previously admitted the deportation was a mistake, has seemingly refused to facilitate his return, which the Supreme Court ruled they must do, saying the decision is up to El Salvador.

Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele earlier this week during a meeting with Trump at the White House suggested he is powerless to fulfill the request. He also mocked Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) for traveling to El Salvador to visit with Abrego Garcia. The senator, like many other Democrats, has raised concerns over the deported mans fate and traveled to the nation to conduct a welfare check.

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The Trump administrations allegations that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with a gang is largely based on a confidential tip that has been disputed by the family. Steele, in his defense of the man, noted that he had not been accused of a crime in the U.S. and was living in Maryland under a protection order.

Lets cut through the lies and distortions of constitutional rights by this administration and confront the moment our country is facing: The executive branch is defending the deportation of a legal resident of the United States and defying court orders to bring him back, the MSNBC host wrote.

He added that the incident should be a call to action for Americans.

Normality is dictated by what a society is willing to accept, Steele wrote. Are the American people prepared to demand accountability from this administration and pressure their elected officials to echo those calls?

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The idea that this might be an isolated mistake is delusional, the former RNC chief continued. And it should offer Americans no comfort.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
Editor's Note: This interview is part of an ongoing Star series highlighting Kansas Citians from historically underrepresented communities and their impact on our region. The series builds on The Star's efforts to improve coverage of local communities. Do you know someone we should interview? Share ideas with our reporter J.M. Banks.

When Randy Dunn was in elementary school in the Kansas City School District, he was placed in a class for academically gifted students. At the time, he believed he was learning material far beyond what most children his age were being taught in a typical classroom.

However, after his family moved to the Raytown School District, he quickly realized that the curriculum in his former gifted classes was standard in his new suburban school, a surprising and eye-opening experience.

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After spending several years working as a city planner in Kansas City, Dunn was encouraged by friends and colleges to run for the Missouri House of Representatives, representing the 23rd District in 2012. He won that election and became the only openly gay person of color in the House. This distinction pushed him to work even harder to ensure underrepresented voices were heard.

Today, as the Director of Community Engagement for the City of Grandview, Dunn continues his commitment to change, focusing on addressing systemic issues in education, healthcare, and housing.

Dunn recently sat down with Kansas City Star culture and identity reporter J.M. Banks to talk about his unexpected journey into politics, being a voice for minority groups and against the current climate of hostility towards equity in the legislator.

Banks: How did your experiences growing up in Kansas City impact the work you do now in the community?

Dunn: I grew up here in Kansas City, born and raised for the most part on the Eastside. I was the youngest of three children and had two older brothers. I think when I look back on what really kind of started me on my path that Im on now it is when I was in elementary school. I was in the gifted classes when we were living in the Kansas City school district and then we moved to the Raytown (C-2) School District. I remember the first class we had a math quiz and the things that were on that math quiz were the same things that were being taught in the gifted class in the Kansas City school district.

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I remember just thinking, if I wasnt fortunate enough to be in the gifted classes I probably would have been behind. I realized then there were disparities in terms of resources, and things of that nature, depending upon where folks lived, what means their family may have. For me that made me want to really figure out how we can address issues of inequality and create more equity.

I went to and graduated from Raytown South High School, then after that went to UMKC (University of Missouri Kansas City) for undergrad and grad school. I always thought that I was going to be an architect. But for me architecture was missing that community aspect which led me to change my major to urban planning.

So after grad school I started off in my career as an urban planner for the city of Kansas City and that gave me the opportunity to work in a lot of these under-served, underdeveloped communities to help them figure out what it was they needed, what they wanted to see in their communities, to look and to feel like.

I continue to focus on urban planning and economic development policy. Those have really been kind of the focus of my career working on those types of issues.

What led you to a career in politics?

I was working with a lot of the folks in the community with the work that I was doing and they encouraged me to run for the state legislature in 2012. It was definitely not an aspiration that I had. I was always civically minded and always paid attention to what was going on politically even before I could vote, but running for office was never something I could see.

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When I was much younger, I was very shy and not someone who enjoyed talking in front of large groups of people. Certainly, thinking about me going out knocking on doors to secure votes from folks or speaking on the House floor was never something that was part of my plan. I always thought that I would be doing work behind the scenes and helping other people get elected, but I never thought I would have been the one to step forward and run for office.

What was that first experience in politics like for you after you were elected?

So as a Democrat, we are in the super minority in the legislature here in Missouri and so that was definitely a challenge. Learning how to navigate being in the super minority and just realizing how challenging it could be to get anything done legislatively. But it was successful. I was able to build relationships with folks across the aisle and work with them.

The end goal was wanting to get things done and I was able to get things done in many instances. I was also successful in being able to get some of my own legislation passed, serving on the budget committee. But again, one of the most frustrating things and things I didnt anticipate was just how difficult it was going to be being in the minority and their resistance to saying what they really believed.

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That was a little surprising for me as well as that people wouldnt stand up for what they truly believed in, all in the name of being able to hold on to power.

What made you step away from serving as a state representative?

I left the legislature in 2017. I was in the middle of my third term and I accepted a position as the executive director of a nonprofit community development intermediary. It was located in Omaha and since I was going to be relocating out of state I had to resign from my position.

Was there any particular achievement or milestone that you were proudest of in your time in the legislature?

In the legislature I was able to create a grant, which is still in place for urban agriculture and urban farming, through our Department of Agriculture. So again, working very hard to get funding into the budget to address issues around housing affordability. We also had an issue of a gas station that had some underground tanks that were leaking gasoline into the surrounding community and we were able to work to get funding to be able to address that and get that issue remedied.

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I was one of the only Democrats to chair a committee the then Speaker of the House created, a special standing committee on urban economic development. In that position I was again able to really champion legislation to address issues around economic development in the urban cores in Kansas City, St. Louis and other metropolitan areas around the state as well.

How was it being one of the only LGBTQIA people of color serving in the Missouri House of Representatives at that time?

I didnt realize just how big a deal it was at the time because I was just being me, being myself. But I definitely now recognize the importance of representation and for folks to be able to see themselves holding those types of positions and also for me in that role to be able to stand up.

How do you think your experiences as a person of color as well as member of the LGBTQ community shaped your perspective as a politician?

I think I understand the intersectionality of wearing those different identities and who I am. I understand the challenges that those communities face and I have empathy. Being able to stand up for those communities as well and to be able to be a voice for them, recognizing that they are not a monolith and folks have different viewpoints from those communities.

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Having that understanding of what it is like to be discriminated against, to be looked at as other than. Im here to represent those communities and then again to elevate the voices of folks from that community when they may not be able to do that themselves.

In this current political climate what do you think are going to be the biggest challenges for those crusading for equity and diversity?

I think one of the big challenges is for folks to understand that diversity, equity and inclusion are not bad things. It is something that we really need and I think one of the challenges for legislators of color and politicians of color is to be able to articulate exactly what DEI really means, what woke really means.

These terms have been bastardized by folks on, you know, the other side who dont want to see folks that look like me elevated into these types of positions and to see folks from our community to be able to have the rights that are duly afforded to them by our constitution. I think for them to be able to kind of break through that and help folks to understand that those words are the fabric of what makes this country what it is today.

Can you tell me about the work you do in your role now?

So as the director of community development for the city of Grandview, I oversee three different divisions within that department and help to shape the vision for the department. I manage all the staff within that department, administer our budget and propose our budget to our city administrator and Board of Aldermen.

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I am really trying to work to continue to push Grandview forward. Grandview has seen a lot of growth over the past years and its really continued that forward momentum.

What are the main challenges you face in your role there?

We have seen tremendous growth and we are at the forefront of a lot of things in the metro, and working to make sure that people are able to see past their own biases and preconceived notions of what Grandview may have been in the past.

What are your goals for the future?

I really enjoy the work that Im doing here In Grandview. There is so much potential here and a lot of projects that we have going on. I am looking forward to seeing those things through.

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I will also be starting a doctoral program so I am looking forward to just getting started with that and eventually with that leading to hopefully teaching at the collegiate level and helping to train up the next generation of future leaders.

For more stories about culture and identity, sign up for our free On The Vine newsletter at http://KansasCity.com/newsletters.
Its hard to exaggerate just how much Vic Allreds restaurant meant to him.

It was his life, said Buddy Lahl, a 20-year friend of Allreds and the CEO of the Missouri Restaurant Association.

In addition to founding Jazz  A Louisiana Kitchen, Allred served on the board of the Greater Kansas City and Missouri Restaurant Associations, as well as the National Restaurant Association. Then, he decided to advocate for restaurant owners on a political level and became a Missouri representative, representing District 13 from 2019 to 2021.

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Allred, who was in his early 60s, died recently, leaving Lahl and others in the restaurant community heartbroken. His cause of death has not been shared publicly.

I talked to him a few weeks ago, Lahl said. The two were planning a trip to Washington, D.C., to attend a public affairs conference together.

Allred began Jazz in Lubbock, Texas, in 1986. He moved to Kansas City and opened a restaurant here in 1994 on 39th Street. Several more locations followed, including ones in Independence; Omaha, Nebraska; Austin, Texas; and Sparks, Nevada.

Today, Jazz remains open at the original Lubbock location, its first Kansas City metro spot at 1823 W. 39th St., and 859 Village West Parkway, No. 102 in Kansas City, Kansas. Another is open in Columbia.

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Menu items include the Cajun stir fry, Cajun fried shrimp, crawfish fettuccine and Papa Vics Pasta (bell peppers, celery, onions, mushrooms in chicken fettuccine Alfredo).

In opening Jazz, Allred envisioned a swinging Cajun bar and restaurant with live music acts multiple days a week.

Not surprising for Allred, who Lahl said loved to entertain. The customers all knew him, too, whether it was from seeing him working behind the bar or appearing in commercials with former broadcaster Bill Grigsby.

Hey, folks, Papa Vic here to talk about whats new here at your favorite restaurant, Jazz  A Louisiana Kitchen, Allred can be heard chirping in an old commercial, drawing out the vowel on the word Jazz.

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Vic was a happy-go-lucky man, Lahl said  much like the motto of his restaurant laissez les bons temps rouler (let the good times roll).

In addition to serving up Cajun cuisine, Jazz  A Louisiana Kitchen features live music.

Allred was friendly with everyone who would walk through his doors.

If you were ever in the restaurant and he was there, he would go over and say hi  before it was over, you would be his best friend, said Jazzs chief technical officer, Scott Medlock.

Joe Roberts worked at Jazz for several years in various capacities: assistant manager, bartender, waiter and everything in between. He helped Allred open the original Kansas City restaurant.

He remembers Allred for his jovial personality and big smile.

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He was a fun guy, Roberts said. Very smart restauranteur  little bit of a genius.

In addition to keeping the overhead costs low and energy high, Roberts said Allred was kind to his employees.

Roberts got emotional, or misty eyed as he called it, talking about the moment he found out Allred had passed.

Its the same kind of deflation you feel when you find somebody in your family passed in the night you didnt know about, he said. And you were like Wow. Gosh, Im never gonna see that smile again.

Three or four years ago, Allred stopped being involved in the day-to-day operations of Jazz but kept a small share. Lahl isnt sure how much, but he called him a silent partner. Allreds brother, Lee, continued to be involved in the business.

What are some of Roberts favorite memories of Vic? Too many to tell, he said with a laugh, then added, But thats New Orleans.
ATHENS, Greece (AP)  For more than 400 years, Catholic and Orthodox churches have used different ways to determine the date of Easter. But this Sunday will mark a special moment for Christians, as the churches celebrate of Jesus resurrection on the same day.

Whats more, top religious leaders  including Pope Francis  are expressing a desire to keep it that way. But the unusual alignment has stirred underlying mistrust between the two major Christian communions.

Calendars and calculations differ

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The movable date for Easter follows a seemingly straightforward rule: the Sunday following the first full moon on or after the spring equinox. But the two churches started using different calendars after Pope Gregory XIIIs adaptation in 1582, when the Western church adopted the Gregorian calendar while the Eastern Orthodox Church kept the older Julian one.

Moreover, each church uses its own ecclesiastical calculations for lunar cycles and the equinox, which dont neatly match scientific projections.

The result is that Easter dates can be as much as five weeks apart. They can coincide in back-to-back years, or a decade can pass without it happening.

Pope Francis wish

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Days before his five-week hospitalization, Pope Francis referred to this years Easter celebration while invoking the 1,700th anniversary of the historic Council of Nicaea, when Christian leaders gathered to settle foundational disputes about the faith.

"Once again, I renew my appeal: Let this coincidence serve as a sign  a call to all Christians to take a decisive step toward unity around a common date for Easter, Francis said while leading prayers at the Basilica of St. Paul in Rome.

Francis invitation, delivered at the end of a prayer for Christian Unity with Orthodox priests present, wasnt new. Returning from a trip to Turkey in 2014, he told reporters on the plane that a unified date would be logical.

It is a bit ridiculous, he said, then staged a pretend conversation: Tell me, your Christ, when is he resurrected? Next week? Mine was resurrected last week.

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He has found an ally in Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a fellow octogenarian and spiritual leader of the worlds Orthodox Christians. The two speak to one another like brothers, Francis has said. For his part, Bartholomew has called Francis our elder brother and described the Easter initiative as a real step toward repairing old conflicts.

Only winners, no losers?

The idea of a common Easter has been discussed since the 1960s, with interest often peaking when celebrations coincide. The key obstacle has always been the implication that one side would need to concede.

Protestants, who follow the same calendar as Catholics, have also been in on the discussions.

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The Geneva-based World Council of Churches  a fellowship of Orthodox and Protestant bodies  has proposed a compromise. It suggests using modern astronomy, basing the calculation on Jerusalem time and following the same basic rule set centuries ago.

It has never been more important than now, because we live in a polarized world and people all over the world yearn for more unity, Lutheran Bishop Heinrich Bedford-Strohm, a senior WCC official, told The Associated Press from his home outside Berlin. All other questions  on calendar, on time, on the moon and the stars and everything  its not primary; its secondary."

Strings attached

While the popes wishes may carry powerful influence through the Vaticans highly centralized authority, Bartholomews role is largely symbolic over the self-governed national and local churches. And discussions between Russia, the Orthodox worlds most populous country, and churches of other Orthodox-majority countries remain stalled due to the war and church divisions in Ukraine.

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Further complicating prospects for consensus is a history characterized by centuries of mistrust, largely driven by wariness in the East about the Vaticans supremacy.

At a Holy Week service Monday in Athens, Father Anastasios welcomed parishioners into the Church of Saint Dimitrios Loumbardiaris, a restored stone chapel near the Acropolis. He said he supports forging bonds with Christianity's other branches  but with caution.

We can try to build bridges, but we cannot distort our faith or the traditions of our ancestors, or the dogmas Christ himself handed down," he said. "There are deeply rooted differences. From my view and that of many people here, the unity sought in the past by the Roman Catholic Church often wasnt sincere; it came with strings attached, was more about dominance than genuine reconciliation.

Great harmony

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As dialogue between the churches slowly unfolds, common Easter celebrations are already a practical reality in a few places. The Orthodox Church in Finland switched dates in the 1920s to align celebrations with the Lutheran majority. And Catholics in Greece  while making no official change to their calendar  have celebrated with the rest of the country since 1970.

Joseph Roussos, a member of a Catholic community on the Greek island of Syros, took his first trip to the Vatican last month.

At age 67, he remembers when Easters in Greece were separate: when schools and shopkeepers on the island closed for different holidays, and the church bells tolled mournfully during two distinct Holy Weeks.

It wasnt a good situation. But when we did celebrate Easter together, there was great harmony, he said. We live very well (today), and its truly beautiful. I hope it stays that way.

___

Barry reported from Rome. AP journalist Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report.
Fox News Jessica Tarlov slammed co-host Greg Gutfeld on Friday for claiming that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man that the Trump administration wrongfully sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador, is a political prop for Democrats.

Its not about being a prop. There will be other senators that are looking into these [deportations] because it is reported that over 75% of the people that were on that plane have not been convicted of anything, she said on The Five about the Trump administration sending hundreds of people to the prison last month.

And the American public understands the difference between being deported and being sent to a foreign prison. They dont get a phone call, they dont get to talk to their lawyer, their wife.

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She went on, If we have a mass murderer in maximum security American prison, they have more rights than the people being sent there for a lifetime sentence.

Tarlovs remarks arrive just one day after Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) visited Abrego Garcia  a father of three from El Salvador who was living in the U.S. for 14 years and is under an immigration courts protective order in the country where hes being held at a maximum security prison known for its brutal conditions.

Earlier in the program, Tarlov put co-host Dana Perino on blast for claiming that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the gang MS-13, a claim that Trump officials have used to justify his imprisonment.

His legal status ... was approved by the Trump administration in 2019 and every year since then, he has checked in with the Department of Homeland Security and no one has said anything about him being a gang banger, Tarlov stressed.

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She further pointed to a 2019 accusation about Abrego Garcia by a now-fired Maryland police officer, adding that the claim is based on double hearsay testimony and the detective was later indicted for sharing sensitive information about an ongoing police investigation with a sex worker.

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An editor of Tufts Universitys student newspaper is warning that the Trump administration poses a threat to free speech in the wake of the arrest and detention of her fellow student, Rumeysa Ozturk, by immigration officers.

In a Friday op-ed published in U.S. News & World Report, Gretta Goorno  the opinion section editor of The Tufts Daily  defended a pro-Palestinian op-ed that Ozturk cowrote with three other students in March 2024. Published in the student paper, the article has been referenced in the governments court filings in regards to why Ozturks student visa was revoked without warning a year later.

Ozturk has yet to be charged with a crime, but the government claims she supports the Palestinian terrorist group Hamas. Plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested her on the streets of Somerville on March 25, and she has been in their custody in several different states since that time.

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In their op-ed, Ozturk and the other students didnt celebrate Hamas, Goorno wrote. They simply urged Tufts administrators to reconsider resolutions passed by the student government demanding that the university divest from Israel.

Ozturk wasnt inciting violence. She was sharing an opinion. In the opinion section. In her college newspaper. A newspaper that is financially independent and student-run specifically so it can ensure free speech, Goorno wrote. Now, that free speech is in danger.

Both international and American students are now scared to speak out in the wake of Ozturks arrest, Goorno wrote. They fear retaliation from the Trump administration and future employers.

Since taking office, the Trump administration has taken a variety of actions that can have a chilling effect on free speech, from opening investigations into left-leaning news outlets to revoking funding from universities for their diversity initiatives and alleged antisemitism, Goorno wrote. Most recently, officials requested that the IRS rescind Harvard Universitys tax-exempt status after Harvard publicly refused to comply with the Trump administrations demands.

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Ironically, President Donald Trump and his colleagues have long been outspoken about the attacks on speech, Goorno wrote.

The newspaper editor accused the Trump administration of targeting young visa holders for detainment and deportation due to legal constraints that make it difficult to imprison American citizens.

For Trump, this isnt about freedom of speech, nor is it about easing antisemitism. It never was. Its about spreading his views and his power, Goorno wrote.

A less divisive society is created through dialogue and the free exchange of ideas  not the silencing of dissenting viewpoints, the newspaper editor argued. This should be encouraged on college campuses  not something students have to fear.

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Liberals have been quick to judge Republicans for their views and voting patterns, but Trump is perpetuating the same judgments  and going even further by using the power of government to suppress opposing positions," Goorno wrote.

Instead of quelling tempers, the Trump administrations actions have led to a new wave of unrest with the Hands Off! protests that took place earlier this month, the newspaper editor argued. Now, unity and bravery is necessary to combat Trumps assault on democracy.

If you suppress free speech for one, you risk losing it for everyone, Goorno warned.

Ozturk is currently imprisoned in a 14-person cell with two dozen other women in a Louisiana detention center. On Friday, a federal court judge ordered that she and her case be transferred to Vermont while the court considers her claim that her imprisonment is unlawful.

More coverage of the case
Thousands of people across the United States took part in a fresh day of protests on Saturday against President Donald Trump's policies.

Hundreds of people demonstrated in front of the White House in Washington. They accused Trump of ruling autocratically and deporting foreigners without proper legal proceedings.

Posters read "No King." Demonstrators repeatedly chanted "Bring them home," referring to migrants who, in their view, had been deported unlawfully.

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A woman from Washington said she had come because she felt that protests against Trump were growing and she wanted to be part of it.

A young man explained that if a man like Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who had been deported to El Salvador, was deprived of his rights, then we had to be careful that other citizens were not deprived of their rights soon.

Abrego was deported by the government without trial, despite existing protection.

There were also demonstrations in New York. Hundreds gathered in front of the New York Public Library. According to the Washington Post, there were also protests in numerous other cities.

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This time, the demonstration was organised by a group called 50501.

"We are trying to protect our democracy from the incipient autocracy under the Trump administration," one of the organizers explained.

The first major nationwide protests took place two weeks ago. Tens of thousands of people protested in dozens of states.

People hold placards during a protest in front of the fence at the White House against US President Donald Trump's administration. Thomas Muller/dpa
Stockbridge police are investigating the shooting death of a bounty hunter.

Officers found 46-year-old bail recovery agent, Curtis Johnson, shot to death at an apartment in Stockbridge.

My heart was shattered. It was like losing a brother, Daniel Dubee told Channel 2s Audrey Washington on Friday.

Dubee said he learned of the passing of Johnson, his former partner and friend, this week.

That day he was doing what we do just about every time we go out, you know. We went to go execute a warrant, Dubee said.

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Stockbridge police said they got the call around noon on Wednesday.

When they arrived at the Southwinds Point Apartments they said they found one person shot dead outside an apartment and another deceased in the bedroom.

The medical examiner identified Curtis Johnson as one victim and 30-year-old Edward Atkins as the other victim.

Its just devastating, Dubee said.

Right now, police are looking into what led up to the shooting.

Neighbors shared pictures of the scene with Washington. The pictures showed a door off its hinges and bullet holes in the wall.

Dubee said he believes Johnson was cautious and professional while executing the warrant.

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He was courageous, he was fearless, and safety was always number one to him, Dubee said.

Dubee set up a GoFundMe account to help pay for the funeral expenses.

We are humbled by the support weve gotten from the community, Dubee added.
Florida State University will resume all classes and business operations on Monday, four days after a gunman opened fire at its Tallahassee campus, killing two people and wounding several more.

FSU President Richard McCullough made the announcement in a social media post Saturday, reminding students, professors and staff members that the days ahead wont feel like a normal week.

Its the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened, McCullough said, noting that free professional counseling services are available to anyone affected by the tragedy.

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Chaos ensued shortly before noon on Thursday when gunfire broke out near the universitys student union, officials said.

Two people were killed in the massacre: 57-year-old Robert Morales, a longtime school dining employee, and 45-year-old Tiru Chabba, a married father of two from South Carolina who worked for a university vendor.

Five other victims were wounded by gunfire, while another person was injured while attempting to run away from the shooting, Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell said. The suspect was also shot and wounded by police after he refused to comply with their commands.

The alleged shooter was identified as 20-year-old FSU student Phoenix Ikner, the stepson of a veteran deputy with the Leon County Sheriffs Office. Police said an old service weapon belonging to his stepmother was used in the shooting.

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Our hearts are heavy after the tragedy that took place April 17, McCullough said Saturday. We are grieving with the families and friends who lost someone they love. And we are with all those who were injured and are now recovering. This has shaken all of us, and I want you to know: We are here for you.

So far, no motive for the massacre has been determined and there does not appear to be any connection between Ikner and the victims.
BEIJING (Reuters) - China on Friday issued a plan to further open the country's service sector, proposing to lift foreign equity ratio restrictions for app store services.

China's move to lure more foreign investment into its burgeoning services sector comes as government officials pledge to take steps to boost services consumption to support the economy amid rising trade tensions with the United States.

The plan expands the list of cities included in a pilot programme to open up the services sector and lays out tasks including promoting faster industrial application of artificial intelligence technology, according to the document released by the commerce ministry.

China will further open its value-added telecommunications services and related digital services to foreign investors, and make efforts to open up the medical and health care sectors, the document added.

The country will also allow financial institutions to expand the scope of their business, supporting multinational companies that invest or register locally to conduct cross-border centralised fund operations in yuan and stepping up the pilot scheme for the Qualified Foreign Limited Partner (QFLP) programme, it said. The QFLP was launched in 2010 and allows foreign investors to invest in the country's private equity market through a limited partnership structure.

China will also promote participation of Chinese and foreign commercial banks and insurers in the trading of yuan treasury bond futures for risk management purposes.

(Reporting by Beijing Newsroom and Kevin Yao; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Court records filed in Leon County shed new light on who the suspect in the Florida State University shooting is.

Leon County Sheriff Walt McNeil said the alleged shooter, Phoenix Ikner, was related to one of his deputies, who is Ikners stepmother. Ikner was said to have gotten access to his stepmothers personal handgun, which was found at FSU.

We shot him a lot: 2 LEOs injured in Bartow gunfight with man who said he was Jesus

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Two people were killed and six others were injured in the mass shooting. Ikner was also hospitalized after being shot by police.

According to NBC News, the suspected shooter, Phoenix Ikner, originally went by the name Christian Gunnar Eriksen. An FBI official told NBC that the 20-year-old changed his name in 2020, taking his fathers last name.

Court records showed that as a child, Ikner was in the middle of a custody battle that escalated in 2015 when his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, took her son out of the country against his fathers wishes.

On March 27, 2015, his father, who was already married to Ikners stepmother by this time, filed a report of a child custody order violation against Eriksen.

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According to a probable cause affidavit, the boys mother originally told his father that she would be taking their son to South Florida for Spring Break.

Instead, Eriksen fled the country for Norway. Court documents said Ikner and his mother were dual citizens of the United States and Norway.

Court records stated that while Eriksen had custody rights, she was not allowed to take her son out of the country without 14-days notice.

2 food service employees killed in FSU shooting

Mr. Ikner advised that Christian has developmental delays and has special needs which he feared would not be taken care of without access to his doctors here in the United States, the 2015 affidavit said.

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According to another affidavit, Ikner had several physical and mental health issues that required medication, including a growth hormone disorder and ADHD.

Eventually, Ikner was returned to his father, and his mother was sentenced to a 200-day jail sentence, two years of community control, and two years of probation.

As of this report, Ikner remained in a Tallahassee hospital for his injuries. He has yet to be formally charged in the FSU shooting.

The motive for the shooting is not yet known.

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Years before he was named a suspect in this weeks fatal shooting at Florida State University, Phoenix Ikner had sought a new beginning. Traumatized by a complex custody battle between his parents that had ended in charges against his mother when he was younger, the then-teenager asked a Leon County, Florida, circuit court for a legal name change.

Ikner appeared at his court hearing in 2020 via videoconference, dressed in his naval junior ROTC uniform. An honors student in high school at the time, he made a good impression.

This court found him to be a mentally, emotionally, and physically mature young adult, who is very articulate, quite intelligent, very well spoken, and very polite, wrote administrative magistrate James Banks in his approval of the legal switch from Ikners birth name, which had been Christian Gunnar Eriksen.

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Ikner chose to adopt his fathers surname and selected a first name brimming with symbolism.

He chose the name Phoenix because of its representation of rising from the ashes anew, Banks wrote.

How Ikner went from a teenager with hopes for a fresh start to a 20-year-old accused of killing two people and injuring at least five others in Thursdays shooting in Tallahassee is a mystery. In interviews with classmates and reviews of legal documents, a portrait of a young man who struggled with a fractured family life and clashed with classmates over his extreme political views has emerged.

But a possible motive for the deadly violence is not yet known.

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Ikner had just transferred to Florida State University from Tallahassee State College and enrolled this semester as a political science major. He remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot by law enforcement, police said.

As the investigation widened Friday into what led to the gunfire, students who knew the accused gunman described him as a troubled young man who openly talked about having a weapon.

He would joke about mass violence, said Lucas Luzietti, who shared a national government class with Ikner when he was at Tallahassee State College. And he did talk about how he used guns and had access to them.

Luzietti said he once argued with Ikner over the 2020 election and said that their classmates would exchange looks over Ikners comments. That included Ikner denying the results of the presidential election and sharing hateful comments about minorities, he added.

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He espoused the election denialism belief that Joe Biden was not the legitimate president, he said that Rosa Parks was in the wrong, he also talked about how Black people are ruining his neighborhood and Stonewell was bad for society, Luzietti said. He would also talk about how multiculturalism is dangerous.

Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU who said he first met Ikner at Tallahassee State, recalled Ikner being asked not to return to a political discussion club at his former college because of white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric.

The clubs current president, Riley Pusins, said Ikner often promoted white supremacist values, even though the group was nonpartisan and was about debate and political discourse. After the meetings, Ikner would make even worse remarks, Pusins said.

NBC News has confirmed the identity of the victims who died in Thursdays shooting: Robert Morales, 57, and Tiru Chabba, 45. FSU grad student Madison Askins was among the injured; the identities of the other wounded victims have not yet been released.

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Authorities said Thursday they believe Ikner used a handgun that belonged to his stepmother, Jessica Ikner, a Leon County sheriffs deputy and a school resource officer at a Tallahassee middle school.

Jessica Ikner and other family members could not be reached for comment. Court documents, however, detail difficulties in Ikners upbringing, including health issues and a battle for his custody that stretched overseas.

In 2015, Ikners biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, took him out of the country, violating her agreement with Ikners father, Christopher, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Leon County Sheriffs Office viewed by NBC News. Eriksen had shared custody of her son, who was 10 or 11 years old and went by his birth name at the time, but she was required to give advanced notice if she took Ikner out of the U.S. For spring break that year, the affidavit said, Eriksen had told Christopher Ikner they were traveling to South Florida. Instead, she allegedly took their son to Norway, where both she and him had dual citizenship.

Several weeks after spring break ended, Eriksen still had not brought the boy home to the United States and had no intention of returning him to Tallahassee, despite pleas from his father, the affidavit added.

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When Eriksen did not bring Ikner back, Christopher Ikner contacted authorities to report his son kidnapped and to report that he was being denied medical care for developmental delays and special needs he had been diagnosed with, which included attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and a growth hormone disorder, the affidavit said.

By keeping Christian in Norway, the defendant failed to have Christian in school for scheduled testing, canceled appointments with Christians doctors in the U.S., and failed to maintain his medication protocols by her own admission, it said.

Later that year, Eriksen filed a lawsuit against Christopher and Jessica Ikner plus two other relatives in the Ikner family for allegedly slandering her and causing psychological harm to their son by continuous and vicious litigation in family court. The Ikners could not be reached for comment.

Christian Gunnar Eriksen is the victim of psychological and emotional abuse, as well as parental alienation. Christopher Ikner enjoys taking credit for things that Anne-Mari Eriksen has done privately, professionally and parent wise, the legal complaint read.

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Eriksen, who could not be reached for comment, was ultimately charged with removing a minor from the state and failing to return a minor, records show. She pleaded no contest and served a brief jail sentence.

When Phoenix Ikner petitioned to legally change his name from Christian Gunnar Eriksen in 2019, which the court approved the following year, his mother objected to the name change, while his father supported it, papers show.

Banks, the administrative magistrate who approved the change, wrote: He sees no reason to keep his former name as it is a constant reminder of the 2015 tragedy he suffered through and of his mother who he has not seen or spoken to since 2015.

Authorities say that at about 11 a.m. Thursday, Ikner arrived at the FSU parking garage, where he stayed for close to an hour before walking toward the student union. He then allegedly stalked buildings and lawns, firing his handgun indiscriminately at people, police added.

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Panicked students fled for their lives and called 911. Responding officers shot Ikner when he refused their commands, police said, with the rampage lasting less than five minutes.

Following Thursdays shooting, Ikner has invoked his right to remain silent, police said.

Seybold, who was locked down in a classroom and could hear gunfire nearby, is anxious for answers.

I dont know why he would have done something like this, Seybold said. I dont know where it would have come from, but Id sure like to find out.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
CREST HILL, Ill. (WGN)  Community members, friends, and strangers lined the streets Friday to salute a fallen hero as a procession made its way to the Word of Life Church in Crest Hill.

Four service members were killed during a training exercise in Lithuania, including Army Staff Sergeant (SSG) Jose Duenez Jr., 25, of Joliet, in late March. The youngest of six siblings, Duenez Jr. also leaves behind his wife and 1-year-old son.

Earlier this week, the soldiers body arrived home on American soil, where his family, friends, and community prepared to say their final goodbyes. On Friday, they shared their memories and messages of gratitude during a funeral service.

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Were devastated. A piece of our family is gone. Probably one of the best pieces of our family is gone, Eva Jasso said.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Procession carries body of soldier killed in Lithuania home to Joliet

Duenez Jr. served his country proudly for more than seven years. His family said he deployed overseas three times, including to Poland in 2019, Germany in 2022, and most recently, Lithuania in 2025.

Duenez arrived in Lithuania in January with the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division, according to the U.S. Army. His family received word that he and three other soldiers had disappeared during a tactical training exercise in late March.

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A nearly weeklong recovery mission was conducted by hundreds of soldiers, Navy divers, and U.S. allies to look for the four servicemen. Their armored vehicle was found submerged in about 15 feet of water in a muddy peat bog near the border of Belarus.

It would seem that the bank of a lake collapsed. You know, the weight is so big. It was at night. It was very cold weather, ice, a lot of ice, President Donald Trump previously said.

The other three soldiers killed in the training exercise were identified as Sgt. Edvin Franco, 25, of Glendale, California, Pfc. Dante Taitano, 21, of Dededo, Guam, and Staff Sgt. Troy S. Knutson-Collins, 28, of Battle Creek, Michigan.

There is some measure of peace that can be taken in the knowledge that Jose was not alone in his final moments, Karen Kaii Duenez said.

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Duenez Jr.s wife said her husband was all about teamwork, comradery, and loyalty to his loved ones, including his brothers in arms. After graduating high school, he joined the Army in 2017 and rose through the ranks, promoted five times during his years of service.

Jose accomplished so many things in such a short period of time, but his greatest source of pride was undoubtedly his beautiful baby boy, who would carry his name, Duenez said.

Last US soldier found dead after Lithuania training accident. 3 others identified

Loved ones of the fallen soldier said he loved to do many things, including watching anime, collecting Japanese literature, and going fishing. Those around him said the love he had for his family was immeasurable.

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Jose was and still is the greatest fisherman Ive ever known, but his greatest catch in life, was his wife, Joe Grieshaber, one of Duenez Jr.s best friends, said.

As family and loved ones of Duenez Jr. navigate what comes next, a GoFundMe has been created to help support his wife and son. Those behind the fundraiser said the 25-year-old always went out of his way to help others in need, so they want to pay it forward.

Joliet Township High School District 204 shared a statement on the passing of Duenez Jr. on Facebook:

With heavy hearts, JTHS extends our deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Staff Sergeant Jose Duenez Jr., who is being laid to rest today. A proud 2017 graduate of Joliet Central High School, SSG Duenez tragically lost his life on March 25, 2025, during a U.S. Army training accident while deployed in Lithuania. He was one of four brave soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our nation. SSG Duenez is survived by his wife, Kai, and their 1-year-old son. His courage, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten. We are forever grateful for his service and the legacy he leaves behind. Once a Steelmen, always a Steelmen  you will remain in our hearts always.

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Britains steam trains are facing an uncertain future as Network Rail pushes ahead with plans to abolish traditional railway signals.

One-hundred-year-old steam trains will need to be piloted by laptop if they are to continue operating on the mainline under cost-cutting plans to abolish traditional traffic light signals.

Trials are underway to determine whether digital screens and software can be fitted into the cabs of steam engines and historical diesels as part of the push to eliminate lineside lights.

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Should the so-called European Train Control System (ETCS) prove to be incompatible with steam, iconic locomotives including the Flying Scotsman and Royal Scot face being confined to minor lines and preserved railways.

In order to assess the challenge, ETCS equipment has been installed in Tornado, a steam train that was completed by enthusiasts in 2008 based on a design from the late 1940s.

If what is essentially a new-build locomotive is unable to accommodate the technology, time may be up for more venerable engines such as the Flying Scotsman, which was built in 1923 and is the oldest steam engine still active on Britains main lines.

The Flying Scotsman is the oldest steam engine still active on Britains main lines - Charlotte Graham/Andy Jones/CAG Photography Ltd

While ETCS already features on a handful of routes, Network Rail aims to extend it across the entire railway, arguing that it will cut the maintenance bill and maximise hourly capacity compared with relying on red, green and amber signals.

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Network Rail said it aimed to ensure that steam and heritage diesel trains, which contribute 600m annually to the economy, can still ran. However, a source at the firm said the trials were exploratory and provided no guarantee of them being able to do so.

The source said: If we prove the concept with Tornado and it works properly, then we are in a better place to understand costs and feasibility for future deployment.

But who will pay for that when there is a totally non-standard fleet of steam engines owned by a variety of different people is absolutely not certain.

The national rollout of the new signalling technology will start on the southern end of the East Coast Main Line from Kings Cross station to Edinburgh and is likely to next be extended to the West Coast route between Euston and Glasgow and the Great Western line from Paddington.

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Under ETCS, rather than look out of the cab for signals, drivers will monitor a screen displaying a target speed and a distance until they have to slow down or speed up.

The system will utilise an in-house mobile phone system that allows drivers to talk to signallers, with the trains themselves automatically braking if driven too fast or going through a virtual red light, delivering an improvement in safety.

Boxes between the tracks will inform a train of its location by sending a signal when it passes over them.

Development of the technology will also help to add more trains per hour, Network Rail said. Trains will be evenly spaced out in the most efficient pattern, much like aircraft coming into land.

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Tornado took part in night-time trials this week on the ETCS-fitted line between Shrewsbury and Newtown in mid Wales, seeking to overcome challenges around electrical supply, braking, the configuration of the engine and the difficulty of operating a screen in a noisy, dusty and often wet open cab.

Hogwarts Express operator West Coast Railways has faced its own challenges in recent years - Delpixart/iStockphoto

Test trains were run by West Coast Railways  the biggest steam operator on the main line and the firm behind Scotlands popular Hogwarts Express  which has itself faced a battle for survival after the rail regulator outlawed the 1950s-era carriages its customers prefer.

Rob Morland, electrical engineer at the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust, which owns Tornado, said the engine had to be fitted with a second steam turbo-generator, a new alternator and a third battery bank in order to power the ETCS system.

Network Rail said it was too early to comment on the outcome of the trials.

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A Deltic loco  regarded as Britains most iconic diesel  will undergo the same tests on the line later this year.

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GAINSVILLE, Ga. (WTWO/WAWV)  A teen boy in Georgia will be running a mile in honor of Clay County, Indiana, volunteer firefighter Roy Smith, who lost his life in the line of duty last week.

Andrew Collinson is a ninth grader in Gainsville, Georgia, and on Friday night, he will be running a mile while carrying an American Flag with a red line on it to honor Smith.

Andrew is part of the Running4Heros organization that consists of seven kids in the United States that run a mile in honor of fallen first responders and post the video on social media.

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 When I heard it, I was like, of course I would love to do this. I would love to run for fallen first responders who gave so much to the community and did so much for this world, in serving our world, as they went through the danger, said Collinson. On the videos, they leave comments and people are like thank you or running for my nephew, thank you for running for my brother, my sister. Stuff like that just makes my heart feel like really good, its just like wow.

If you want to watch Collinsons run from Friday night, or any other run the organization has done, you can find them on Facebook at Running4Heroes or by clicking here.

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Emigrant Peak in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest (Photo by Jacob Frank | National Park Service | Flickr).

In Montana, where land managed by the U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management comprises 30 million acres  roughly a third of the state  the notion of turning swaths of terra firma to state control could be costly, according to a newly published report.

The report, written by longtime natural resources manager John Tubbs, calls the financial implications of federal lands transfer staggering and disproportionately impactful for a rural state with large swaths of national public lands.

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The costs associated with maintaining national public lands at the state level  ranging from wildfire operations to the loss of essential federal funding for rural counties  would be far too great for Montana to bear per capita, the report states. It amounts to an $8 billion gamble on Montanas future.

Tubbs, who authored the report with support from the Montana Wildlife Federation, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, Mountain Mamas and the Montana Conservation Voters Education Fund, is the former director of the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation under Democratic Gov. Steve Bullock.

The long simmering dispute over whether the federal government should relinquish lands managed by the Departments of Interior and Agriculture to individual states has been turned up at all levels, from the halls of Congress to Montanas capitol.

The estimated roughly $8 billion increase to Montanans balance sheet would be primarily driven by the costs of managing the land, according to the report, including for wildfire, deferred maintenance backlogs, and abandoned mine reclamation.

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Citing reports by the Legislative Fiscal Division, the report states that during the last 20 years, Montana has paid more than $2.3 billion in wildfire mitigation costs on federal land  comprising just 25% of total cost, as the federal government covers 75% of costs.

A transfer of federal lands to state management would shift the cost of future wildland fire suppression to state taxpayers to the tune of $5.5 billion  the bulk of the total.

On a press call about the report, Tubbs pointed to the essential partnerships with federal agencies  including the large fleets of firefighting aircraft operated by the Forest Service  and the difficulty in replicating that from the state or private industry.

That is untenable, he said.

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Tubbs also focused on Payment in Lieu of Taxes funds the federal government disseminates. The PILT program channels money to rural counties with swaths of untaxable federal land to support vital services such as public safety, housing, social services and transportation.

In fiscal year 2023, Montana counties received more than $40 million in PILT funds  and another $16 million from the similar Secure Rural Schools program  a loss the state likely couldnt make up.

Tubbs said such a loss would result in the largest unfunded mandate in state history, and several of Montanas counties would be bankrupt- in particular, the 11 counties in which more than half of the acreage is owned by the federal government.

The report also states that Montana would be on the hook for $623 million in deferred maintenance and repairs on current federal lands; between $474 million and $1 billion for reclamation work on the states 5,000 abandoned mines; and a 1,600% increase in grazing fees.

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The state simply cannot afford the responsibility of managing such vast swaths of land without significant financial strain, the report concludes.

Tubbs said the value of public lands goes far beyond the numbers, and supporters need to strengthen efforts.

The core value I think most of us find in public lands is theres some landscape that means something to each of us, he said on the press call.

Discussions about the federal lands transfer came to the forefront in Washington D.C. and nationwide following statements by the Trump administration that federal lands are part of the nations balance sheet and could be utilized to help pay off the national debt.

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Earlier this month, the U.S. Senate passed a federal budget in a series of late night votes, and one particular budget amendment saw Montanas two Republican Senators buck their party.

The amendment, brought by Sen. John Hickenlooper, D-Colorado, would have prevented the sale of public lands to lower the federal deficit.

Montana Sens. Steve Daines and Tim Sheehy joined all Democrats in supporting the amendment, but it was defeated 49-51.

In a similar vein, Republican U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, Montanans western representative, reintroduced his Public Lands in Public Hands Act, earlier this year with a Democratic senator from New Mexico.

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The provision would ban the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Forest Service from selling or transferring most public lands except in specific circumstances. It also would require Congressional approval for disposals of publicly accessible federal land tracts over 300 acres and for public land tracts over 5 acres if accessible via a public waterway.

In Montana, public lands are our way of life. Its not just Yellowstone and Glacier, its also the BLM and Forest Service areas where a kid fills their first tag, a lake in the Beartooths that is the perfect picnic spot, and the trail just down the road that helps you clear your head after a long workday, Zinke, a former Secretary of the Interior during Trumps first term, said in a press release. Public lands must remain public, and the federal government has a responsibility to manage and ensure access to those lands.

Earlier this month, Montanas eastern representative, Republican Troy Downing, signed on as a cosponsor to the legislation, as did Idaho Republican Rep. Mike Simpson.

In Helena this legislative session, Montanas state lawmakers also got to offer their own takes on the issue thanks to a lawsuit filed by the State of Utah against the federal government in favor of land transfer.

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The suit, which claimed federally-managed land infringed on the states sovereignty and sought a return of millions of acres, was rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court.

Despite that, freshman Rep. Tom Millett, R-Marion, introduced a resolution supporting Utahs position.

While Millett stated House Resolution 24 did not concern Montanas federal public lands, his comments were broadly applicable to all states.

Nothing in the U.S. Constitution authorizes the federal government to hold vast unreserved swaths of unreserved territory in perpetuity over the states express objection, he told the House Energy, Technology and Federal Relations Committee during a hearing. The U.S. generates significant revenue from these unappropriated lands  millions of dollars annually that would go toward our counties and schools. But instead, we get but a pittance, leftover crumbs from what should be our lands.

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The bill passed out of committee on partisan lines, but saw broad bipartisan opposition on the floor.

Montanans have overwhelmingly rejected transfer time and time again, Rep. Debo Powers, D-Whitefish, told her colleagues during the debate. In fact, 87 percent of Montana voters considered the conservation  not the transfer, but the conservation  of public land to be influential in their voting decisions. Thats why so many political candidates in Montana from every political party pledged to keep public lands in public hands.

The bill failed to pass the House floor in a bipartisan 33-66 vote.
(FOX40.COM)  Two documented gang members were arrested during a probation search for the possession of several ghost guns, according to the Yuba County Sheriffs Office.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

On April 17, the YCSO and Yuba County Probation Department searched near the 5900 block of Park Avenue. There, two documented Norteno criminal street gang members, an 18-year-old man and a juvenile, were found in possession of illegal guns. One firearm was an assault rifle, and the other was a Polymer80 handgun, commonly known as a ghost gun because of its lack of a serial number, making it untraceable.

Two known gang members were arrested in connection to possession of illegal guns on April 17, 2025./ Yuba County Sheriffs Office

Both individuals were arrested and face multiple firearms-related charges, including gang

enhancement allegations.

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A man standing outside of a vehicle was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in the San Fernando Valley, police say.

According to a Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson, the shooting took place at 12:30 a.m. Saturday near Vanowen Street and Woodley Avenue in Van Nuys.

The victim was standing outside of a vehicle when multiple suspects approached him on foot and fired multiple rounds, the spokesperson said. The suspects entered a vehicle and fled in an unknown direction.

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Riverside County man arrested for murder after welfare check leads to discovery of human remains

The victim, identified only as a man, was pronounced dead at the scene by first responders. His name was not immediately released.

A man standing outside of a vehicle was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in the San Fernando Valley on April 19, 2025. (RMGNews) A man standing outside of a vehicle was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in the San Fernando Valley on April 19, 2025. (RMGNews) A man standing outside of a vehicle was shot and killed in a gang-related shooting in the San Fernando Valley on April 19, 2025. (RMGNews)

Video from the scene shows a white sheet covering a dead body outside of a donut shop in a strip mall.

Suspects sought in 2 home invasion robberies in Los Angeles

Officials could not confirm if the decedent was homeless but did confirm the shooting was gang-related.

No descriptions of any suspects were available.

Alexis Lewis contributed to this report.

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BEIJING (Reuters) - China's fiscal revenue decline slowed in the first three months this year as Beijing works to shore up its economy while weathering the storm from mounting U.S. tariffs.

Fiscal revenue in the January-March period totalled 6.0 trillion yuan ($821.54 billion), down 1.1% year-on-year, data from the finance ministry showed on Friday, a deceleration from a 1.6% decline in the first two months of 2025.

China's tax revenue fell 3.5% in the first quarter from the previous year, while non-tax revenue surged 8.8%, the ministry said. Fiscal expenditure rose 4.2% on year in the January to March period.

China has set a budget deficit target to around 4% of GDP this year, its highest on record, to help hit its growth target of around 5%, though analysts believe it may be increasingly difficult to achieve in the face of hefty U.S. tariffs.

Earlier this month, global ratings agency Fitch downgraded China's sovereign credit rating, citing rapidly rising government debt and risks to public finances, suggesting a tricky balancing act for policymakers seeking to expand consumption to guard against a trade downturn.

Recent data showed an even recovery in the world's second-largest economy, which is facing increasing headwinds from an escalating trade war with the United States.

China's new bank lending and exports beat expectations in March but deflationary pressures persisted as consumer prices fell for the second straight month and factory-gate deflation worsened.

China's economic recovery since the COVID-19 has been shaky despite state stimulus, as domestic demand remains sluggish due to weak confidence in the face of a years-long property market crisis and renewed deflationary pressure.

Policymakers have repeatedly said the country has ample room and tools to bolster the economy and premier Li Qiang this month pledged to roll out more proactive policy measures.

($1 = 7.3034 Chinese yuan renminbi)

(Reporting by Reporting by Shi Bu and Kevin Yao; Editing by Ros Russell)
The American Immigration Lawyers Association has begun tracking what theyre calling the aggressive targeting of international students and unprecedented termination of their status.

Gannon University recently revealed that at least six of their international students and several others in postgraduate programs have had their SEVIS records terminated, and in turn, so were their visas.

Six current Gannon students visas revoked, little justification given

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Two of those students, both from India, have filed a lawsuit in the Western District Court of Pennsylvania, asking for their status to be fully restored.

Since the filing, a Pittsburgh judge paused efforts to revoke their statuses on Thursday. This hold allows the students to continue classes.

Theyre some of the most recent cases of the legal status of students being questioned.

Some of the numbers we heard last week were over 1,000 students whose SEVIS records have been terminated. The most recent number across the number is 4,700, said Alexandria Iwanenko, an immigration attorney for Amicangelo & Theisen.

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The reason stated for their termination in that lawsuit was that they were identified in a criminal records check and or had their visa revoked.

Autism is not an epidemic Barber Center EVP responds to Robert F. Kennedys comments

According to court paperwork, both students in question were charged with a summary count of disorderly conduct in 2024 and paid a roughly $200 fine.

An immigration attorney said in no way do these summary offenses mirror the type of conviction that permits the removal of their records.

That traditionally has been either engaging in unauthorized employment, providing false information to the Department of Homeland Security, or being convicted of a violent crime with a potential sentence of more than a year.

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And what were seeing now is the charge itself seems to be enough to terminate the record rather than waiting to find out if the student is going to be found innocent or if the charges are going to be dropped, Iwanenko explained.

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Nationwide, reports from immigration attorneys paint a picture of how the government has been carrying out, leading them to believe theres no case-by-case analysis of each situation.

Some of the students who were victims of domestic violence had their records terminated. Because I think whats happening is the government is running their names, fingerprints, and if theres a hit on those fingerprints at all, theyre terminating the record without actually investigating if someone was the victim of a crime, or the perpetrator of the crime, Iwanenko further explained.

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Iwanenko said students have become proactive in reaching out to them just in case any threats come their way.

Its not just student statuses, but marriage-based cases, employment-based cases, asylum, refugee, green card, citizenship, across the board, I dont think people feel safe in any status right now, she went on to say.

Longtime Erie jeweler Les Crago Jewelers retiring their business after 75 years

The lawsuits filed argue that the government is trying to coerce students into self-deporting, and Iwanenko said that pressure is getting to many people she has spoken to.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WJET/WFXP/YourErie.com.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Just over 34 years ago, a woman was found dead with multiple stab wounds in an East Nashville garage. To this day, Gwendevere Arlene Greers family still doesnt know who killed her.

News 2s Kendall Ashman spoke with the victims sister and the lead detective on the case, who believes this was a crime of passion.

On Feb. 6, 1991, Glendel Greer got the news that her sister, Arlene, was dead.

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What gave you the right to take her life? Glendel asked.

At the time of her death, police said Arlene was engaging in sex work.

Wanted man dead following investigation into Hermitage homicide

On the night of Feb. 5, 1991, Arlene was reportedly walking with another woman when a man pulled up in an older red GMC pickup. According to authorities, Arlene reluctantly got into the small truck at the corner of Dickerson Pike and Richardson Avenue. She was never seen again.

At that time, I think she was so afraid of whoever that was that picked my sister up that night, she would not talk, Glendel said.

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The next day, the Metro Nashville Police Department said Arlene was found lying inside the cement walls of a partially built garage behind her home in the 1100 block of Pennock Avenue.

She had multiple stab wounds to her body. She had multiple stab wounds, cuts, lacerations to her hands, explained Detective Mike Roland with the MNPD Cold Case Unit.

Arlene was 31 years old when she died, leaving behind four children.

DOJ: MS-13 member sentenced after witness kidnapped outside Nashville laundromat, tortured with multiple weapons

I think the hardest thing was trying to make her children feel not so alone, Glendel recalled.

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Turning her grief into action, Glendel went on to work for the MNPD Cold Case Unit as an administrative assistant and help families who also lost loved ones.

I think one of the things, the reason I was asked, was because I had been through it. That gives me an insight to the next victim, Glendel said.

When it comes to Arlenes case, Glendel believes her sister knew the man.

It looks to me, or other detectives that originally worked on the case, that it was probably maybe a crime of passion, Roland told News 2.

UNSOLVED TENNESSEE: Find more of the states cold cases, missing persons, and other mysteries 

Even though shes retired from the MNPD Cold Case Unit, Glendel said she will fight every day for her sister for as long as she can.

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If you have any information about this case, youre asked to send an email to MNPDcoldcase@nashville.gov. You can also call the Crime Stoppers Division anonymously at 615-742-7463.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
Fatima Hassouna, a war documentarian who had covered the conflict in Gaza on the ground for 18 months and the subject of a new documentary to be screened at the Cannes Film Festival next month, was killed along with seven members of her family in an Israeli strike this week.

If I die, I want a resounding death, I do not want me in urgent news, nor in a number with a group, Hassouna wrote in a post on Instagram in August 2024. I want a death that the world hears, an effect that remains for the extent of the ages, and immortal images that neither time nor space buries, added the photojournalist.

The health ministry in Gaza told CNN on Friday that Hassounas parents survived the strike on Wednesday, but both suffered critical injuries and are in an intensive care unit.

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The Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC) said it mourns the loss of Hassouna. It said that the strike that killed her targeted her familys home on Al-Nafaq Street in Gaza City and also killed several of her family members. It described the attack as a crime against journalists and a violation of international law.

Fatimas powerful photos documenting life under siege were published globally, shedding light on the human toll of the war, the center said.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said on Wednesday that the target was a terrorist in Hamas Gaza City Brigade and that steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians. The terrorist planned and executed terror attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians, the IDF said in a statement without providing further details.

Fatimas cousin Hamza Hassouna recounted the strike to CNN Friday. I was sitting when suddenly two rockets fell, one next to me and one in the living room. The house fell on us and everything was a disaster, he said.

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Hassouna posted her photos on Facebook and Instagram, where she had more than 35,000 followers. Her images documented the challenges of everyday life in Gaza and the threat of living under Israeli bombardment.

She was featured in Sepideh Farsis documentary film, Put Your Soul On Your Hand And Walk, which has been selected to be screened in the ACID section at the 78th Cannes Film Festival in May 2025. A directors statement describes the film as a window, opened through a miraculous encounter with Fatima into the ongoing massacre of the Palestinians.

Following the news of Hassounas death, the Iranian film director on Friday shared a photo on social media featuring herself on camera with Hassouna, who was smiling. My last image of her is a smile. I cling to it today, Farsi wrote alongside the picture.

Speaking to CNN Friday, Farsi said Hassouna was a very bright and sunny person, had an amazing smile and was an optimistic person by nature. The film director said she had worked with Hassouna for more than a year on the documentary and that they got to know each other very well.

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Farsi said the last time she contacted Hassouna was one day before her death to give her the happy news about the documentary. We both discussed her traveling to France in May to present the documentary in Cannes with me, since she is the main protagonist, Farsi said.

I thought it was a mistake when I heard about her death, Farsi added. I hope this documentary will shed light on her life in Gaza and serve as a tribute to her memory.

According to the PJPC, the number of journalists who have died in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, has risen to 212, an unprecedented toll according to numerous journalist groups. The organization called on the international community to open an immediate investigation into the incident and hold those responsible to account.

Hassounas neighbor, Um Aed Ajur, described Hassouna as proud of the work she was doing. She questioned the strike on her house, saying she and her family have no connection to any group. We have been neighbors for 35 years and have never heard that they are connected to any (group), she added.

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Hassounas final post on her Facebook page was a series of photos of Gaza fishermen by the sea last Saturday, less than a week before she was killed. She posted the pictures with a short poem.

From here you get to know the city. You enter it, but you dont leave, because you wont leave, and you cant, she wrote.

CNNs Lauren Izso contributed reporting

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Friedrich Merz, Germany's chancellor-in-waiting, is calling for renewed national confidence and unity as he promotes his centre-right party's programme ahead of the launch of his government in early May.

"Our goal is clear: Germany should become economically stronger, safer, fairer and more modern," said Merz in an Easter weekend video message released by his Christian Democratic Union (CDU).

Merz said the coalition agreement between the CDU/CSU alliance and the centre-left Social Democrats was the product of intense negotiations and a new sense of trust between the country's two major centrist parties.

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"We are committed to investing in industry, providing tax relief for small and medium-sized enterprises, and ensuring a reliable energy supply," he said. "And we are making our country safer  both internally and externally."

'After dark days comes the light'

Merz also invoked the symbolic power of Easter, describing the Christian holiday's message of hope and renewal as particularly resonant this year.

"After dark days comes the light," he said, acknowledging the scale of the challenges Germany faces  economic, social, and geopolitical. "Nevertheless, there is reason for hope. It is up to us to shape the future."

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He underlined Germany's intention to take on greater responsibility in Europe and the world "not loudly, but reliably  not arrogantly, but in partnership."

In the three-minute speech, Merz appealed directly to the public, saying that a more confident Germany cannot be created by politics alone: It depends on each and every one of us.

Germany, he argued, needs more cooperation and less mistrust. We can all contribute to creating a better atmosphere in our country  with trust, respect, and the will to move forward together," he said.
Get ready, voters: Elections in Glendale and Goodyear are about a month away, and if you're not registered yet, you're running out of time.

Votes are scheduled for the two cities on May 20. Glendale voters will decide if developers of the long-awaited VAI Resort should be allowed to use a sliver of its property to construct parking and office space. Goodyear residents will weigh in on a number of questions around how the city governs itself.

Ballots will begin arriving in voters' mailboxes starting April 23. Since the races are local, all voters will receive ballots by mail  even if they typically don't. They'll have the option of mailing their ballot back, dropping it off or voting a replacement ballot in person.

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Here's what you need to know about the upcoming election.

How do I register to vote?

You must be registered by April 21 to vote in the upcoming election.

Voters must be U.S. citizens, at least 18-years-old before election day and reside in Arizona for at least 29 days before the election. You cannot register to vote if you are a convicted felon and your rights have not been restored, or if you have been adjudicated as an incapacitated person.

You must provide proof of citizenship to participate in state and local elections. If you register with a paper form, remember to include a photocopy of one of these documents:

You can register to vote online if you have an Arizona driver's license or state ID. Otherwise, you'll need to register using a paper voter registration form. You can return the form to the Maricopa County Recorder's Office by mail or drop it off.

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You must provide proof of citizenship to participate in state and local elections. If you register with a paper form, remember to include a photocopy of one of these documents:

Your Arizona driver's license

Your Arizona non-operating identification card

Your birth certificate

The photo identification page of your U.S. passport or passport card

Your naturalization documents

Your alien registration number

Your U.S. Bureau of Indian Affairs or tribal identification card

How can I check my voter registration status?

Voters who have already registered to cast ballots in Maricopa County can check their registration status online at BeBallotReady.Vote. Voters can update their registration information and address through the site.

Arizona voters can also check their registration status through My.Arizona.Vote.

That site also provides information about the date of the next election, what is on the ballot and where to find voting locations.

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Arizona voters can also check their registration status through My.Arizona.Vote.

To use either site, you'll need to provide one of the following:

Your driver's license number

Your tribal identification card number

The last four digits of your Social Security number

Where can I vote?

Glendale and Goodyear are holding an all-mail election, so all qualified voters will be automatically sent a ballot.

From there, voters can return the ballot by mail, drop it off at a secure ballot drop box or voting location, or vote a replacement ballot in person.

The sun casts shadows on Goodyear City Hall in Goodyear on Feb. 26, 2025.

If you're mailing back your ballot, you should put it in the mail no later than May 13. If you're dropping off your ballot, you must do so by 7 p.m. on election day.

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Drop boxes will be located at Goodyear City Hall, the Glendale City Clerk's Office, Foothills Library, and the Maricopa County Tabulation and Elections Center in downtown Phoenix. Officials have not yet announced where in-person voting sites will be located. Once announced, those locations will be listed on the Elections Department website.

City of Goodyear: police use AI to create hyperrealistic image of kidnapping suspect

I'm out of town. Will my ballot be forwarded?

No, your ballot will not be automatically sent to your temporary address. Arizona law does not allow official election materials, such as ballots, to be forwarded by the U.S. Postal Service.

Voters who want a ballot mailed to a temporary address should call local election officials at 602-506-1511 or email VoterInfo@Maricopa.Vote. If emailing, you should provide your full name, residence address, temporary mailing address and date of birth.

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Make sure to reach out before 5 p.m. on May 9. That's the deadline to request a ballot.

Still have questions?

Reach the Maricopa County Elections Department and Recorder's Office at 602-506-1511.

Voters can also contact the Arizona Secretary of State's Office at 1-877-THE-VOTE or 602-542-8683.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at sasha.hupka@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Follow her on Bluesky: @sashahupka.bsky.social.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Deadline nears for voting registry in Glendale and Goodyear
NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. (FOX 56)  GOP leaders and other party members gathered in Nicholasville on Friday night for the annual Jessamine County Republican Partys Lincoln Day Dinner, one of the biggest nights for the group.

After the event, attendees were left wondering whether Rep. Andy Barr planned to leave his seat in Kentuckys 6th District and run for U.S. Senator Mitch McConnells seat in 2026.

Barr was not at the event to give a direct answer, but big hints were dropped.

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Henry Clay High School student is selling golf balls for his prom date

You all have heard that hes been considering a run for Senate because he believes that Kentucky deserves a senator who stands with President Trump in the MAGA movement 100%, said Connie Witt, Kentucky FBLA State Adviser, to the crowd of Republicans.

Well, after a lot of prayer and conversation, he has made a decision, and he wants to invite each one of you to join him this coming Tuesday at 6 p.m. in Madison County for a big announcement, she said.

If Barr were to run, he would have competition for McConnells Senate seat in the GOP Primary.

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Former Kentucky Attorney General Daniel Cameron is also in the race, and others are expected to join as well.

So far, only State Rep. Pamela Stevenson is in the race on the Democratic side.

It is a race Attorney General Russell Coleman said he is keeping a close eye on.

There are enormous shoes to fill. Senator McConnell has been incredibly powerful for this Commonwealth and has been the most impactful Kentuckian to serve in the United States Senate in 100 years We have an abundance of riches here. And I look forward to supporting the ultimate nominee, said AG Coleman.

The dinner also featured younger Kentuckians with political ambitions.

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Braden Lacefield, a Woodford County High School student, took the stage to speak about abortion. By the end of the speech, the crowd was on their feet, applauding the young Republican.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Lacefield is also the Co-Chair of the High School National Republican Federation. After his speech, he received an incredible honor from Attorney General Coleman: a challenge coin.

Lacefield told FOX 56, Its definitely nothing that I was expecting, but Im going to take the challenge and keep advocating for what is right.

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Barrs special campaign announcement is set to take place in Richmond on Tuesday, April 22.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 56 News.
Welcome to 2025, folks: a year in which elected officials in the US fear speaking against the president.

Win McNamee / Getty Images

In a now-viral video, Republican Rep. Lisa Murkowski recently spoke at a conference in her home state of Alaska, where she openly admitted that she's afraid of speaking out against Donald Trump.

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R): "We are all afraidI am oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real." pic.twitter.com/HM0cyoWZL2  The Bulwark (@BulwarkOnline) April 17, 2025

Twitter: @BulwarkOnline

"What do you have to say to people who are afraid or who represent people who are afraid?" a person from the crowd asked Murkowski.

"We are all afraid," Murkowski replied. After taking a long pause, she continued: "It's quite a statement. But we are in a time and place where, I don't know, I certainly have not, I have not been here before."

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"And I'll tell you, I'm oftentimes very anxious myself about using my voice because retaliation is real. And that's not right."

"But that's what you have asked me to do. And so, I'm going to use my voice to the best of my ability, and sometimes it will be viewed in a way that, well, that's pretty confrontational. And other times, it's going to be using my mother's charm that I learned as a little young girl in direct communication that those that I've made relationships with and am able to affect some change that way."

"But I've gotta figure out how I can do my best to help the many who are so anxious and are so afraid."

Murkowski's admission has been controversial, to say the least. Here's how people are reacting on X:

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"This should concern every single person watching it. That a United States senator would say this is terrifying," one person wrote.

"And she's in the majority party," this person pointed out.

Oppositely, some people did not express any sympathy for the GOP rep. "respectfully, grow a spine," one person wrote.

This person called Murkowski's statements "cowardice."

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Another person pointed out Murkowski's statement refusing to vote for Trump or Kamala in the 2024 election.

"Zero sympathy. I have ZERO sympathy for Republicans who are afraid to speak out against Trump for fear of retaliation," this person wrote.

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
Dado Ruvic/REUTERS

Chip stocks got a glimmer of good news on Thursday after TSMC reported earnings.

TSMC beat profit expectations and, perhaps more importantly, didn't cut its annual sales forecast.

Concern has been mounting over the tariffs, with Nvidia issuing a warning on Wednesday.

Chips stocks got a much-needed boost on Thursday after Taiwan Semiconductor beat earnings for the quarter, lifting the outlook for the sector amid the looming threat of Trump's tariffs.

Perhaps even more crucial than the first-quarter beat, however, was the fact that TSMC didn't cut its sales forecast. The decision signaled that the company sees chip demand staying strong, even as worries mount that tariffs could throw a wrench in.

Those concerns hit a fever pitch on Wednesday after Nvidia said it expects to take a $5.5 billion earnings hit because of Chinese tariffs levied by Trump. Stocks traded lower, finishing the day deeply in the red.

Recent fortunes were reversed by TSMC on Thursday, and it lifted the entire chip sector. Here are the most notable moves:

Thursday's trading offers a change of pace for chip stocks, which have struggled so far this year amid concern over waning demand for AI chips in the US and the impact of Trump's tariffs on China, which could potentially raise costs and inhibit sales.

Since the start of the year, Nvidia, TSMC, and Broadcom are down more than 24%, while Advanced Micro Devices has lost even more

The iShares semiconductor ETF, which tracks US semiconductor stocks, is down 23% year-to-date.

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A heavy silence fell over the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Friday as Archbishop Edward Weisenburger and his ministers lay facedown before the bare altar  a gesture of humility and mourning during the solemn Good Friday liturgy.

More than 100 parishioners bowed in stillness, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus Christ.

Installed just a month earlier, Weisenburger led his first Good Friday service as Detroits new Catholic archbishop on April 18 at the historic Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament on Woodward Avenue, a liturgy filled with reverence and reflection.

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Father JJ Mech, rector of the cathedral, praised Weisenburger's leadership, calling him "an amazing speaker" who brings a new sense of hope.

"He doesnt take anything lightly he really puts himself into these ceremonies," Mech said. "With this being the holiest week of the year, and his first (in Detroit), all eyes are on him as our new shepherd."

In his homily, Weisenburger reflected on the significance of Calvary, the hill outside Jerusalem where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, and a personal pilgrimage he made to the site.

"To visit Calvary today is to encounter the place where history's greatest sacrifice was offered, where the Lamb of God was slaughtered, where the Prince of Peace stretched out his arms for the salvation of the world," Weisenburger told the crowd. "Today, in this beautiful cathedral church, we strive to do what pilgrims have done in Jerusalem for generations  we seek to connect with the mystery of the passion."

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The archbishop also described how standing before the site of the crucifixion evokes a profound realization.

"As you approach that sacred spot, you're struck by something unexpected. You realize there's really only one way to touch Calvary  you have to go down on your knees," he said. "But then you discover, too, that there is only one way to move on, and that is by rising."

The Good Friday liturgy, one of the most solemn observances in the Catholic calendar, includes scripture readings, the chanting of the passion narrative, the veneration of the cross and communion.

More: New Detroit archbishop becomes head of archdiocese: I see 'Christ in you'

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For some attendees, the service stirred deep spiritual emotions.

On her way out of the cathedral, Rosemary Shamoon, 65, of Birmingham, said she felt as if she had been transported to the Holy Land.

Ive never experienced this before, she told the Free Press. Youre just immersed in it. It gives you goosebumps.

Rosemary Shamoon, 65, of Birmingham, holds her hands together in prayer after receiving the Holy Communion, during the Liturgy of the Lords Passion service at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit, on Good Friday, April 18, 2025.

Rosemary attended the service with her husband, Sam Shamoon, 64. The couple have visited the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament several times over the years, but never for Good Friday.

I want to do it every year, Rosemary said.

"I've never heard the gospel prayed like that before in my life," Sam added. "It was gorgeous."

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Ronita Phillips, 50, of Southfield, said being around others who share her faith brings her joy and peace  feelings she carried with her as she left the Good Friday service.

I always feel welcome here, Phillips said. Because I serve God, I love to be in the atmosphere of other people that serve Him as well.

Anyone looking for Catholic Mass times or livestreamed services in the Archdiocese of Detroit can go to MassFinder.org. The website, run by the archdiocese, lists schedules and locations across the region.

Nour Rahal is a trending and breaking news reporter. Email her: nrahal@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @nrahal1.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Archbishop Weisenburger leads his first Good Friday liturgy in Detroit
President Donald Trump posted a statement from the Oval Office Friday with what appeared to be a digitally altered image that Trump said was the hand of a Maryland father who was deported to a brutal El Salvador prison following officials unproven claims he is a member of the MS-13 gang.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia is the subject of a string of court orders up to the nations top court demanding that the Trump administration facilitate his return to the United States, where he has been living for the last 14 years. The administration, however, has insisted without evidence that he is a gang member, even though officials initially admitted his deportation was an administrative error.

Now, the president has displayed what he claims to be such evidence  a black-and-white close up photograph of a hand that Trump identified as Abrego Garcias with tattooed knuckles, including MS-13 written out above four symbols  that many internet sleuths are already saying was Photoshopped.

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The Independent has reached out to the White House and a lawyer for Abrego Garcia for comment.

This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such a fine and innocent person. They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though hes got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc., the president posted on Truth Social on Friday evening.

Courts have not found that Abrego Garcia was a member of the gang.

As for beating up his wife, Trump was apparently referring to a short-term pointed to a protective order filed by his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, in 2021; she dissolved the order a month later.

Donald Trump posed with what appears to be a digitally altered image and claimed Kilmar Abrego Garcia has 'got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles' in what appears to be a digitally altered image (Donald Trump / Truth Social)

I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job Trump continued.

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Government attorneys have never referenced the tattoos in court filings to support their claims that Abrego Garcia is a gang member. Their allegation rests on the word of a confidential police informant who in 2019 claimed the Maryland father was a member of MS-13s Westerns clique, which operates out of New York, where Abrego Garcia has never lived.

Several social media users expressed doubt over the authenticity of the image of a hand Trump held in the post.

Linda Higgins, a former Minnesota state senator, wrote on X: Hey Old Man, @realDonaldTrump, have someone teach you about Photoshop. This is an excellent example of altering a photo, in this case to make your illegal actions look good. But instead you look foolish.

MS-13 looks like it was typed on the photo, one user remarked.

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Another commented: Ummmm. Pardon my cynicism but you can see that looks clearly Photoshopped right? Right?

Images of Abrego Garcia posted on his wifes TikTok account also capture the knuckle ink but dont have MS-13 spelled out.

Some social media sleuths, however, claim Abrego Garcias wife has been trying to censor his tattoos, pointing to her April 6 post. Red heart emojis cover his hand, which is draped around her in the photo.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, wife of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran man deported from the U.S. to El Salvador, wipes away tears during a Friday press conference held by Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen (REUTERS)

The president issued his statement with the photo just hours after Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador in the hopes of aiding in Abrego Garcias release, gave a press conference explaining his meeting with the detained man and the strange events that followed.

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Nayib Bukele, the countrys president, posted photos of the pairs meeting at the senators hotel that featured salt-rimmed glasses that he claimed were margaritas.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps [and] torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! Bukele mocked in a social media post on Thursday. Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody.

The dressed-up glasses were placed on the table by Bukeles aides, Van Hollen said at a Friday news conference.

When I first sat down we just had glasses of water on the table, maybe some coffee, Van Hollen said. As we were talking, [an] official came over and put two other glasses on the table  This is a lesson, the lengths President Bukele would do to deceive people about whats going on.

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He added that Bukeles aides initially tried to stage the meeting near the hotels pool.

They want to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie, the senator said.

After Bukele posted the photos, a handful of rightwing internet personalities and Republican lawmakers became laser-focused on Abrego Garcias hand tattoos.

Thats an interesting tattoo for just a regular Maryland man to have on his hand, conservative commentator Benny Johnson remarked in a post that included a zoomed-in photo of Abrego Garcias hand. This image also doesnt feature MS-13 written out.

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On Thursday, an appeals court unanimously rejected the administrations request to block a court order to enforce a Supreme Court ruling requiring the government to facilitate the release of Abrego Garcia.

The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, one of the appellate judges wrote.
Britain's political landscape saw a significant shift when opposition leader Kemi Badenoch announced that she's dropping support for the nation's 2050 target to eliminate harmful environmental pollution, Reuters reported.

"Net Zero by 2050 is impossible. I don't say that with pleasure," Badenoch stated in a policy speech. "Anyone who has done any serious analysis knows it can't be achieved without a serious drop in our living standards or by bankrupting us."

What happened?

The Conservative Party, which created this policy in 2019 while in power, has now reversed course under Badenoch's leadership. This shift puts the party more in line with the right-wing Reform Party ahead of the May elections.

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Mike Childs from Friends of the Earth responded sharply: "It is dangerous and downright wrong for the leader of a major political party to play politics with our collective future."

The policy abandonment comes as the Conservatives struggle in third place in polls, trailing the Labour Party and Reform after last year's election defeat.

Why is abandoning pollution targets concerning?

Britain's climate experts think the 2050 goal can be met. Their plan includes switching to electric cars by 2030, installing heat pumps in half of U.K. homes by 2040, and reducing meat eating by about 35% over the next 25 years.

Backing out now may hurt families and communities who would benefit from cleaner air, lower energy bills, and protection from extreme weather. The original plan would have created jobs in new industries while making Britain less dependent on expensive, unstable energy sources.

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When political leaders dismiss achievable goals as "impossible," they take away hope for a better future where everyone can breathe clean air and drink clean water.

What's being done to keep progress moving?

Many U.K. cities and businesses are pushing ahead with plans regardless of national politics. London, Manchester, and Birmingham have local initiatives to clean up transportation and buildings.

Major British companies such as Unilever and Marks & Spencer remain committed to their environmental targets, creating market pressure for cleaner products.

Do you feel like the air quality is safe where you live? Always Usually Not in the summer  Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

You can help by supporting businesses and politicians who stand by science-based solutions. Consider minor home improvements that cut pollution and bills  better insulation, more intelligent thermostats, and energy-efficient appliances save money while helping the planet.

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When shopping, look for products from companies with strong environmental values. Your choices as a consumer send powerful signals about what matters to you.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
SUN PRAIRIE, Wis. (WFRV)  The Green Bay Police Department will have a vacancy in the operations commander position as the current holder, Kevin Warych, leaves for southern Wisconsin.

The Sun Prairie Police Department announced on Thursday that Warych was selected to be the citys next Chief of Police. Warych brings over two decades of law enforcement experience to Dane County.

Green Bay Gamblers celebrate 31st season, express gratitude to fans and team alumni

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Warych has been the Green Bay Police Departments operations commander since 2018, supervising and coordinating operations. The role consisted of leading 100 officers on every patrol shift and overseeing the department budget.

Below is a statement from Commander Warych, released via a Green Bay Police Department Facebook post.

Im excited for this opportunity, but I wont forget all the relationships and people who shaped me into being who I am. I am forever grateful for the City of Green Bay, GBPD, and this incredible community. I want to sincerely thank the Police and Fire Commission for their trust in me, and Im incredibly appreciative of the warm welcome my wife Melissa, our three children, and I have received from city staff. Commander Kevin Warych, Green Bay Police Department

Before serving as the operations commander, Warych was the community policing captain, implementing community policing strategies for 42 Green Bay neighborhoods.

He will be ceremonially sworn in on May 12.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
Mykos Chandler, courtesy of Gregg County Sheriff Office

GREGG COUNTY, Texas (KETK)The Gregg County Sheriffs Office officials are searching for a missing Kilgore man last seen on April 11.

Mykos Chandler was last seen at his residence in Kilgore on April 11. Chandler was traveling from the Longview Amtrak Station to Poplar Bluff, Mo. The sheriff office said Chandler was meant to arrive in Poplar Bluff early morning on April 12.

He never arrived and hasnt been heard from since, officials said.

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If you have any information on his whereabouts, please contact the Gregg County Sheriffs Office at 903-236-8400, officials said

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KETK.com | FOX51.com.
As the tenor of U.S political discourse has continued to devolve and fracture, more and more leaders in academic, civic and religious circles have spoken out. Together, they have raised their voices to underscore the urgency of this moment socially and culturally and to caution what continuing these patterns of acrimony could mean.

Yet theyve each also highlighted reasons for hope and confidence in what could still be possible if Americans reach deep to their national and spiritual foundations.

None of this matters, of course, if these voices are disregarded. Like the sound of a tree that falls in the forest without anyone hearing it, the impact of these voices will be unclear if they are drowned out by an engrossing media environment capturing American attention with distraction and discord.

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Yet many agree with David Brooks that its time for a comprehensive national civic uprising, as the columnist wrote this week in the New York Times.

This Easter weekends celebration of the Prince of Peace is a good moment to draw renewed attention to some of the many leaders standing on the wall calling for peace. Even amid the seriousness of concern, New Testament scholar N.T. Wright highlights: New creation has already begun. The sun has begun to rise. Christians are called to leave behind, in the tomb of Jesus Christ, all that belongs to the brokenness and incompleteness of the present world.

2016 - 2025: David Blankenhorn on not giving up on each other

Rancor has become the dominant feature of our public life, David Blankenhorn said during his speech opening the 2023 Braver Angels convention. Theres a heart-sickness in the country, and we dont really have to tell people theres a problem, they all know it.

Nearly a decade ago, Blankenhorn helped found Americas largest political peacemaking group, Better Angels (now Braver Angels), which lives by the radical creed There is no one not worth talking to.

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Since then, Blankenhorn published In Search of Braver Angels: Getting Along Together in Troubled Times, where he called Lincoln a constant companion in the writing process  with Lincolns life offering inexhaustible opportunities for learning, navigating as he did through the most horrible moments of mistrust and rancor in American history.

November 2021: President Dallin Oaks on the moral imperative of reconciliation

In November 2021, an elderly man, thin and with a dignified demeanor leavened by an impish smile, traveled from Salt Lake City to the University of Virginia with an urgent message, wrote renowned scholar Jonathan Rauch  reporting on this seminal speech by President Dallin Oaks of the First Presidency of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

Wasting little time on pleasantries, he launched straight into his theme. I love this country, which I believe was established with the blessings of God. I love its Constitution, whose principles I believe were divinely inspired. I am, therefore, distressed at the way we are handling the national issues that divide us.

I advocate the moral and political imperative of reconciling existing conflicts and avoiding new ones, continued President Oaks. Reconciling adverse positions through respectful negotiations is a virtue.

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Seeking harmony by finding practical solutions to our differences with love and respect to all people, does not require any compromise of core principles, he emphasized.

March 2022: Monica Guzman on the magic of curiosity

Nothing busts through the walls weve built between us like a question so genuine and perceptive it cannot be denied, Guzman wrote, admitting that this is a bit of a rebellious act these days.

The barriers between us are lower than we think, she said  describing her aim as helping people become one level more curious about those who disagree with them.

Her 2022 book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, went deep on these themes.

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Guzman shared in a 2024 interview that to have an effective democratic republic, enough people need to be able to hear and be heard  adding this is not actually rocket science. There are people selling books about it, but its not rocket science.

Deseret News partnered with Guzmans Braver Way podcast prior to the 2024 election on a 10-part series exploring common challenges in this work.

March 2023: Eboo Patel on not giving up hope in Americas potential

Few have written and shared more about the peacemaking potential of faith and higher education than Eboo Patel.

About the American struggle more broadly, Patel has said, Political philosophers for centuries believed that diverse democracies were simply not possible. If you wanted ethnic, racial and especially religious diversity, you better have [had] a dictator to keep things in line.

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You know who didnt believe those political philosophers? The Founding Founders of the 1776 generation. These were men who, as David French points out in his wonderful book Divided We Fall, were descendants of combatants in the European wars of religion. And yet they came to these shores and believed they could build something truly new in human history: a nation where people arriving from the four corners of the Earth, praying to God in different ways (some, not at all), could come to a single patch of land and build out of it a nation."

April 2023: President Russell Nelson on rejecting confrontation and choosing to be a peacemaker

How we treat each other really matters! How we speak to and about others at home, at church, at work, and online really matters, taught President Nelson, leader of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the faiths semiannual conference.

If a friend on social media has strong political or social views that violate everything you believe in, an angry, cutting retort by you will not help, he said. Contention reinforces the false notion that confrontation is the way to resolve differences; but it never is.

We can literally change the world  one person and one interaction at a time.... Now is the time to lay aside bitterness. Now is the time to cease insisting that it is your way or no way. Now is the time to stop doing things that make others walk on eggshells for fear of upsetting you. Now is the time to bury your weapons of war. If your verbal arsenal is filled with insults and accusations, now is the time to put them away."

June 2024: Gov. Spencer Cox on the importance of disagreeing better

When discussing his Disagree Better initiative for the National Governors Association, Governor Spencer Cox said on Good Morning America the effort was really is about disagreeing and staying true to what we believe in, but doing it in a way that doesnt tear other people apart.

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There really are things that we can do to alter the trajectory of the United States, Cox said in a TedX speech that same year. The best news of all is that there are very practical things that every one of us can do every day to help heal the divides in our nations and our neighborhoods.

Cox referenced the viral video he had done with Chris Peterson, Democratic nominee for governor.

Im not sure this has ever been done before...but as our national political dialogue continues to decline, my opponent @PetersonUtah and I decided to try something different. We can disagree without hating each other. Lets make Utah an example to the nation. #StandUnited #utpol pic.twitter.com/Tkr2sDCYTB  Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) October 20, 2020

He also encouraged attendees to spend less time with polarizing headlines that pit one side of the country against the other and to spend more time with people who think differently than you because it is harder to hate up close.

November 2024: Liz Joyner

Liz Joyner is the national leader of the Village Square, which describes itself as a nervy bunch of liberals and conservatives who believe that disagreement and dialogue make for a good conversation, a good country, and a good time.

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Joyner wrote in Deseret Magazine last year, Nearly 250 years ago, America kicked its king to the curb, as this new nation began a great experiment with the most ambitious idea that has ever existed on planet Earth: that a diverse people can self-govern.

Fast-forward a couple of centuries and the mutual tolerance required to self-govern is rare, she added. From the groups we join to the things we like on Facebook, we design our lives to surround ourselves with like-minded people.

Her diagnosis: With too much time spent in homogenous digital silos and not enough encountering people we disagree with in the real world, were losing the ability to see each other clearly or to learn something new, much less solve the complex challenges we face. This problem is big and it is dangerous.

But the solution may not be what we think, she said: Americans can be forgiven for looking to our national elected leaders to address this fracture in the body politic. But in America, it was never about the king; it has always been about the people.

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Then Joyner continued a similar theme as other leaders above: As much as we might wish otherwise, healing our civic rupture has to start in the hometowns we share and in the space between us as we lead our everyday lives. I know this because weve seen it in our community.

November 2024: Rev. Theresa Dear

Do we want to be a country, a people, a society that is comfortable with confrontation and conflict  you know just offending people, asked Rev. Theresa Dear, a minister in the African Methodist Episcopal Church  throw stones and rocks and tomatoes at other people behind the screen?

At what point do we put the screen, down turn off the device and say, lets have a conversation or help me understand what you mean by this or what is the experience in your life that has influenced this perspective?

I believe thats when walls begin to break down, thats when barriers are broken down and thats when there is a sense of reconciliation.

January 2025: Jonathan Rausch on the importance of civic theology

I believe that the discipleship that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has embarked on has national civic implications, shared Jonathan Rauch, from Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C. I believe that it deserves an audience outside of the church, not just inside the church.

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We have this concept of spiritual formation, but it hasnt been extended by Christians in todays America to the public realm. Its spiritual formation in your own life, but it hasnt developed a civic theology, Rauch said. A civic theology is a doctrine, a fully articulated doctrine, of how Jesus would want us to behave  not just in our community, not just rebuilding the homes when the hurricane strikes  but how we behave, for example, on social media, how we comport ourselves in politics.

In politics, there has been an immense gaping hole in Christianity for lack of a fully articulated civic theology, and in the absence of a civic theology of how Christians should address our common culture and politics, there has been the inrush of all these other forces weve seen, such as toxic polarization and partisanship, he said.

Rauch previously told the Deseret News then that the Latter-day Saints were the first major, right-of-center religious organization in the United States to break with the culture-war strategy and to do so publicly.

February 2025: Yuval Levin on regaining our capacity for coalition-building as encouraged by the Constitution

The Constitution has proven itself to be much more alert to the dangers that a Democratic Republic faces than its critics ever have, shared Yuval Levin, director of Social, Cultural, and Constitutional Studies at the American Enterprise Institute and editor of the magazine National Affairs. Its especially alert to the most significant danger we face: how can a diverse society govern itself.

The Constitution is an extraordinarily sophisticated answer to that question, he said. There have always been critics who want to say well we should move fast; this slows us down too much. The Constitution says if you want to move you need to build a broader coalition.

Levin cautioned those who refuse to reach out beyond the narrow circle of people they agree with and build a broader Coalition  saying: I think the Constitution is smarter than they are about what it takes to hold our society together.

Whereas some still wish for a unity of everybody agreeing with them, Levin said, The Constitution starts from the premise that thats not going to happen and works toward an understanding of unity that means not thinking alike but acting together ....thats where the Constitution wants to drive us: toward a politics of coalition building where we dont all have to agree about everything in order to address the big problems that we have in common

Weve lost some of the knack for building coalitions and for finding agreement across lines of difference, he said. I think the way to recover from that place is to restore our understanding of what the Constitution can offer for us and of how it might be possible for us to work through its institutions to help us address our problems.
***Video above: Cleveland crime by the numbers***

CLEVELAND (WJW)  A Guatemala national, previously convicted of sexual battery, is accused of smuggling a 14-year-old girl into the United States and lying on documents to gain custody of her, the U.S. Department of Justice said.

A federal grand jury indicted 26-year-old Juan Tiul Xi on Thursday.

According to the indictment, Tiul Xi has been residing in Cleveland unlawfully after coming to the U.S. in 2023.

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Tiul Xi allegedly encouraged and induced a 14-year-old Guatemalan girl to illegally enter the United States and to use the identity of Tiul Xis sister as her alias, the Department of Justice said in a press release.

2 wanted for vehicular homicide in Cleveland: Police

The teen was then brought to the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Refugee Resettlement, the Department of Justice said.

Tiul Xi allegedly lied on documents submitted to the ORR, stating that the teen was his sister to gain custody of her. The girl was released into the suspects care in September 2023, the indictment said.

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He is charged with one count of encouraging or inducing illegal entry for financial gain, one count of making a false, fictitious or fraudulent statement and one count of aggravated identity theft.

This case is a testament to ICEs commitment to hold predators accountable for the harm they inflict on children, ICE Acting Director Todd Lyons said in the release.

Man indicted in Lakewood crash that killed Cleveland journalist Bill Safos

If convicted, Tiul Xi faces up to 10 years in prison for the illegal entry charge, five years for the false statement charge and two years for the identity theft charge, prosecutors said.

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We are committed to protecting children from the scourge of human trafficking and will not rest until we deliver justice for those who suffered during the border crisis, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in the release.

Homeland Security Investigations and FBI Cleveland are handling the investigation with help from HSIs Attache team in Guatemala.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
Criminals dressed in fake military uniforms opened fire on spectators at a cockfight in rural Ecuador, killing 12 unarmed people and wounding several others, police in the violence-plagued South American nation said Friday.

Security footage of Thursday night's attack showed a group of at least five men entering the arena and opening fire with automatic rifles on a crowd of dozens in the rural community of La Valencia in northwest Ecuador.

The attackers were dressed in replica military uniforms -- a common tactic of criminal gangs in the country, which averaged a killing every hour at the start of the year as cartels vie for control over cocaine routes that pass through Ecuador's ports.

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The footage, circulated on social media, showed spectators flinging themselves to the ground and taking cover under their seats.

"We have 12 people deceased as a result of an armed attack by a criminal group," police colonel Renan Miller Rivera said in a statement Friday. He said several people were injured, without giving a number.

Police have detained four people, including a "target of intermediate value," national police chief Victor Hugo Zarate wrote on social media. Police said the four suspects were believed to be part of an organized criminal group called "Los R7."

After the attack, police found discarded "military-style uniforms" and two abandoned cars on a nearby highway, Miller Rivera added. One of the cars had been set on fire, the other had overturned.

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Police released video on social media showing officers recovering evidence hidden under bags and tree branches. The video also showed weapons and cash retrieved as well as an image of four people in custody with their faces blurred.

Criminals dressed in fake military uniforms opened fire on spectators at a cockfight in rural Ecuador, killing 12 unarmed people and wounding several others, police said Friday, while releasing video of officer recovering evidence. / Credit: Ecuador National Police

In addition to the uniforms, police said they recovered eight rifles, four pistols, three shotguns, eight magazines, 11 cell phones, ballistic helmets and tactical gloves.

Ecuador is home to around 20 criminal gangs  with striking names like "Los Freddy Kruegers" and "The Peaky Blinders"  involved in trafficking, kidnapping and extortion. They have wreaked havoc in the country of 18 million squeezed between the world's biggest cocaine producers, Peru and Colombia.

In recent years, the nation has been plunged into violence by the rapid spread of transnational cartels that use its ports to ship drugs to the United States and Europe.

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About 73 percent of the world's cocaine passes through Ecuador, according to an interior ministry report.

Large parts of the country are under a state of emergency recently renewed by President Daniel Noboa, who was re-elected to a second term in elections last Sunday.

Ecuador gangs targeted by the U.S.

On the campaign trail, Noboa suggested U.S. special forces should be deployed to Ecuador to tackle drug violence and floated legal reforms to allow U.S. bases to operate in the country.

At least two high-profile Ecuadorian gang leaders targeted by the U.S. have made headlines this year. Earlier this month, the fugitive leader of "Los Cheronos" that relied on hitmen, bribes and military weapons to do business was indicted in New York City on charges he imported thousands of pounds of cocaine into the United States. Jose Adolfo Macias Villamar  whose nickname is "Fito"  escaped from a prison in Ecuador last year and is not in U.S. custody.

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In 2024, the U.S. Treasury imposed sanctions on "Los Choneros."

Earlier this year, a leader of one of Ecuador's biggest crime syndicates, "Los Lobos," was arrested at his home in the coastal city of Portoviejo. Carlos D, widely known by his alias "El Chino," was the second-in-command of "Los Lobos" and "considered a high-value target," the armed forces said in a statement.

The U.S. last year declared Los Lobos to be the largest drug trafficking organization in Ecuador.

How could Trump's trade war with China end?

Saturday Sessions: Sir Woman performs "Making Love"

Saturday Sessions: Sir Woman performs "Circles"
Weather on Jupiter may have some surprising similarities to Earth phenomena, but some things it does defy easy explanation.

Now, scientists have come up with one to explain the strange compositional properties of its wild clouds: during giant storms of thunder and lightning, Jupiter rains a hail of "mushballs", huge clumps of mushy ice consisting of ammonia and water, with a consistency like wet snow or a convenience store slushee.

It's the best scenario astronomers have come up with to explain why Jupiter's atmosphere  and those of Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune  have such a patchy distribution of ammonia.

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"Imke [de Pater] and I both were like, 'There's no way in the world this is true,'" says planetary scientist Chris Moeckel of the University of California (UC) Berkeley, who led the research. "So many things have to come together to actually explain this, it seems so exotic. I basically spent three years trying to prove this wrong. And I couldn't prove it wrong."

The hypothesis first emerged in 2020, when scientists studying data from Jupiter probe Juno suggested a peculiar mechanism for the extraction of ammonia and water from the planet's upper atmosphere.

Jupiter's massive storms, they proposed, eject water high above the planet's water clouds, where they encounter ammonia vapor that melts the ice. Then, the water and ammonia freeze together in the extreme cold.

"At these altitudes, the ammonia acts like an antifreeze, lowering the melting point of water ice and allowing the formation of a cloud with ammonia-water liquid," planetary scientist Heidi Becker of NASA' s Jet Propulsion Laboratory explained at the time.

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"In this new state, falling droplets of ammonia-water liquid can collide with the upgoing water-ice crystals and electrify the clouds. This was a big surprise, as ammonia-water clouds do not exist on Earth."

To investigate whether this is even possible, Moeckel and his colleagues, Imke de Pater of UC Berkeley and Huazhi Ge of Caltech, pored over data collected by Juno and the Hubble Space Telescope in July 2017, as the probe flew over a giant lightning storm that is still raging to this day.

Juno took recordings in six different radio frequencies with its microwave radiometer instrument, while Hubble made observations across ultraviolet, optical, and near-infrared wavelengths.

Jupiter's atmosphere is pretty wild, with multiple storms unlike anything on Earth raging at any given time. Most of the weather, however, is relatively shallow. In a preprint currently undergoing peer review, Moeckel, de Pater, and a separate team describe the 3D structure of the upper atmosphere, revealing that most of the weather systems only extend 10 to 20 kilometers (6.2 to 12.4 miles) below the visible cloud tops.

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Some weather systems, however, plunge much deeper into the troposphere, such as cyclonic vortices, ammonia-rich cloud bands, and the violent lightning storms in which the mushballs emerge.

"Every time you look at Jupiter, it's mostly just surface level. It's shallow, but a few things  vortices and these big storms  can punch through," Moeckel says. "We're basically showing that the top of the atmosphere is actually a pretty bad representative of what is inside the planet."

These mushball storms effectively unmix the upper atmosphere. The mushballs form and they fall, depleting the atmosphere of ammonia down to about 150 kilometers, but transporting it deeper into the planetary interior.

A diagram describing the formation and precipitation of Jovian mushballs. ( NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/CNRS

Previously, scientists had no idea what had removed the ammonia. Mushballs explain it perfectly. Water starts its journey deep in the clouds before being flung upwards, meeting with ammonia, and mixing in a ratio of around three parts water to one ammonia. The mixed blobs freeze and fall deep into Jupiter, where they evaporate and deposit their contents.

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This requires really specific conditions, such as extremely strong updrafts to carry the water, and extremely rapid mixing so that the mushballs can form and grow large enough to survive raining back down into Jupiter's atmosphere. The smoking gun was one signal in the Juno radio data.

"There was a small spot under the cloud that either looked like cooling, that is, melting ice, or an ammonia enhancement, that is, melting and release of ammonia," Moeckel says. "It was the fact that either explanation was only possible with mushballs that eventually convinced me."

This transport mechanism is unlikely to be unique to Jupiter. Scientists have hypothesized that similar mechanisms might be at play on all the giant planets in the Solar System, and beyond. Let's hope future observations can find them.

The research has been published in Science Advances.

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Norfolk Southern reached an agreement with one of two companies about how much each side will help pay for a $600 million class-action settlement, which the railroad agreed to after the disastrous 2023 Ohio train derailment and toxic chemicals that were released and burned.

This lawsuit doesnt change anything about how much money people will receive from the settlement or any payments to the village of East Palestine or anyone else  those are all established in various settlement agreements. This case only affects which companies have to write the checks to pay for the class-action settlement, which is separate from the cost of the massive environmental cleanup.

The railroad and OxyVinyls, the chemical company that made the vinyl chloride that was released and burned after the derailment, announced the settlement Thursday in the midst of the ongoing trial over who should pay people affected by the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio.

The two companies didn't disclose any details of the agreement in their brief statement.

The third company involved in the lawsuit, GATX, which owned the railcar that caused the derailment, declined to comment on the settlement. The case is expected to go to the jury next week in a trial that began late last month.

Residents are still waiting to receive most of the money from the settlement because of pending appeals, although some payments have started to go out.

After the train derailed in East Palestine, an assortment of chemicals spilled and caught fire. Then three days later, officials blew open five tank cars filled with vinyl chloride because they feared those cars might explode, generating a massive black plume of smoke that spread over the area and forced evacuations.

The potential health consequences from the derailment remain a concern for many residents.

The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed in its investigation that the vent-and-burn operation was unnecessary because the tank cars were starting to cool off and the railroad failed to listen to the advice from OxyVinyls experts or share their opinions with the officials who made the decision.

But during the trial, Norfolk Southern raised questions about conflicting information that OxyVinyls' representatives on scene and at headquarters provided as officials were deciding whether to release and burn the vinyl chloride.

Norfolk Southern has said all along that it believes OxyVinyls should help pay because the railroad says the chemical manufacturer provided inconsistent and inaccurate information about its vinyl chloride before officials decided to burn it.

Last year, Norfolk Southern lost a similar lawsuit when it tried to force GATX and OxyVinyls to help pay for the environmental cleanup after the derailment, which has cost the Atlanta-based railroad more than $1 billion. It made similar arguments in this trial to get help paying for the class-action settlement.
The river that brings your drinking water might also be delivering pollution  and it's not alone. Contamination, drought, extreme weather and crumbling infrastructure are pushing many of our nation's most vital waterwaysand the communities that rely on themto a dangerous tipping point.

According to a new report from AmericanRivers.org, half of all U.S. rivers now contain unsafe levels of pollution, and freshwater species are vanishing faster than those on land or in the ocean. That stat should startle you, as rivers are far more than scenic backdrops; They're lifelines. They provide drinking water for millions of Americans, nourish the crops that feed us, power local businesses and support generations-old traditions like fishing and hunting.

This years Most Endangered Rivers list reveals many of our most iconic rivers are under siege from a variety of threats, each one demanding urgent attention. Here's the good news: Not only does the list highlight the places where the danger is greatest, it also focuses on locations where action is still possible.

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Mississippi River Tijuana River Rivers of Southern Appalachia Passaic River Lower Rio Grande Rappahannock River Clearwater River Basin Susitna River Calcasieu River Gauley River

Topping this years list is the Mississippi River, where uncertain floodplain protections could jeopardize both river health and the safety of communities along its banks. That threat echoes in Southern Appalachia, where recent hurricanes revealed dangerously outdated dams and overwhelming federal disaster response systems. Both regions are grappling with the growing costs of climate-driven floods and the urgent need for infrastructure that can withstand them.

Pollution is another widespread villain. The Tijuana River and Passaic Riverone on the southern border, the other in the industrial northeastare drowning in decades of unchecked sewage, chemicals, and industrial waste, making them hazardous for both wildlife and nearby residents. The same issue persists in West Virginias Gauley River and Louisianas Calcasieu River the former from strip mining in the headwaters, the latter from heavy metals leaching into the water.

Water scarcity and mismanagement threaten rivers across the West and South. The Lower Rio Grande, already parched by a mega-drought, is suffering from outdated water policies that havent kept up with a changing climate. In Virginia, the Rappahannock River faces similar strain, with falling groundwater levels and exploding demand from new developments and industries. The Clearwater River Basin in Idaho, meanwhile, may lose protection for 700 miles of river, just as growth and pressure on water resources intensify. Even in remote Alaska, the Susitna River is under siege, with proposed road construction and mining putting an untouched ecosystem at risk.

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Experts from AmericanRivers.org say each of these listings is more than just a warningits a rallying cry. With smart planning, updated infrastructure, and stronger environmental protections, these rivers can still recover, but the time to act is now.

Weather.com lead editor Jenn Jordan explores how weather and climate weave through our daily lives, shape our routines and leave lasting impacts on our communities in countless, often unexpected ways.
By Nidal al-Mughrabi, Jaidaa Taha and Alexander Cornwell

CAIRO/JERUSALEM (Reuters) -Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Saturday he had instructed the military to intensify pressure on Hamas after the Palestinian militant group this week rejected an Israeli proposal for another temporary truce, instead demanding a deal to end the war in exchange for the release of hostages.

In a late-night televised address, Netanyahu said that while war came with a heavy price, Israel had "no choice but to continue fighting for our very existence, until victory."

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Egyptian mediators have been working to restore the ceasefire, which Israel abandoned last month after seeking to extend a temporary truce that had seen 38 hostages released.

Hamas, whose militants carried out the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, has said it would only free the remaining hostages under a deal that ends the war.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas said that it had recovered the body of a guard killed in an Israeli air strike this week and who was holding Edan Alexander, an Israeli dual national soldier believed to be the last American citizen held alive in Gaza.

The fate of Alexander was unknown, Hamas said. Netanyahu did not mention Alexander in his remarks.

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Israel has pounded Gaza with air strikes since the ceasefire collapsed. Palestinian health authorities said at least 50 Palestinians had been killed in strikes on Saturday.

President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said in March that freeing Alexander, a 21-year-old New Jersey native who was serving in the Israeli army when he was captured during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, was a "top priority". His release was at the centre of talks held between Hamas leaders and U.S. negotiator Adam Boehler last month.

Hamas had said on Tuesday that it had lost contact with the militants holding Alexander after their location was hit in an Israeli attack.

Fifty-nine hostages are still held in Gaza, fewer than half of them are believed to be still alive.

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A U.S. State Department spokesperson had no comment on the status of Alexander, but reiterated that Hamas must immediately release him and all remaining hostages, and that the militant group "bears sole responsibility for the war, and for the resumption of hostilities."

Israel put Gaza under a total blockade in March and restarted its assault on March 18 after talks failed to extend the ceasefire. Hamas says it will free remaining hostages only under an agreement that permanently ends the war; Israel says it will agree only to a temporary pause.

Since renewing its attacks, Israel has seized swathes of Gaza and ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate in what Palestinians fear is a step towards permanently depopulating swathes of land. The Gaza health ministry says 1,600 people have been killed in the past month.

Palestinian health officials said the military had escalated its strikes across the Gaza Strip, killing at least 92 people in the past 48 hours, at least 50 of them on Saturday.

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On Friday, the Israeli military said it hit about 40 targets across the enclave over the past day. The military on Saturday announced that a 35-year-old soldier had died in combat in Gaza.

US-IRAN TALKS

Late on Thursday Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas' Gaza chief, said the movement was willing to swap all remaining 59 hostages for Palestinians jailed in Israel in return for an end to the war and reconstruction of Gaza.

He dismissed an Israeli offer, which includes a demand that Hamas lay down its arms, as imposing "impossible conditions".

Netanyahu spoke after a second indirect meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials where the sides agreed to start drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal.

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Oman, which is mediating between the countries, stated that discussions aim to reach a binding agreement ensuring Iran is completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, while maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

In his televised address, Netanyahu said he was committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Hamas on Saturday also released an undated and edited video of Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot. Hamas has released several videos over the course of the war of hostages begging to be released. Israeli officials have dismissed past videos as propaganda.

After the video was released, Bohbot's family said in a statement that they were "deeply shocked and devastated," and expressed concern for his mental and physical condition.

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"How much longer will he be expected to wait and 'stay strong'?" the family asked, urging for all of the 59 hostages who are still held in Gaza to be brought home.

The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities.

(Reporting by Jaidaa Taha, Muhammad Al Gebaly, Nidal al-Mughrabi, Alexander Cornwell, Nuha Sharaf and Michael Martina; Editing by Andrew Heavens, Alison Williams, Peter Graff and Alistair Bell)
Apr. 18Citizens of Mower and Freeborn County will be holding a Hands Off Social Security Rally to show support for the program at 5 p.m. on Monday in from the Austin Social Security Office at 404 2nd St NW.

It's the second such rally to be held in Austin, with first being held on April 5, which coincided with protests around the country.

The group is protesting in concern for threats to the Social Security Program.

Local citizens have said they are rallying to show their support for the Social Security that they have paid into and count on.

In Minnesota, 1.2 million people rely on Social Security benefits.
HARLEM, Manhattan (PIX 11)  After years of delays and mounting debt, cannabis dispensary Dynasty Commodities is finally open.

Its a long-awaited win for a group of Harlem entrepreneurs who turned their struggle into a new beginning.

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The store opening was a full-circle moment for the owners, who had faced relentless setbacks that delayed the stores opening and pushed them nearly a million dollars into debt.

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Back in January, PIX11 News reported on the owners growing frustration after they said they were stuck paying rent while waiting on the New York State Office of Cannabis Management to approve their license.

Anthony Gonzalez is one of four owners. He said the grand opening was three years in the making.

A lot of prayers, said Gonzalez. A lot of faith. We stood strong. We kept each other up. We decided that were not going to fail.

He added, This is for the culture. This is for the community.

What began as a dream, nearly crushed by red tape as the OCM struggled with a growing backlog of license applications, turned into a celebration of resilience with a grand opening marking the official launch of the long-awaited business. The owners said they received final approval for their cannabis license in February.

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Harlem residents are looking forward to the shop bringing not only new jobs, but also educational programs and seminars about cannabis.

We just trying to build these communities, these poverty-stricken communities, and make it better for the generations behind us, said Cheyenne Carter, a Harlem resident.

Former New York Giants player Jon Beason has been part of the business venture since it was just a concept. He said he hopes the perseverance he and his partners have had can inspire others.

We got held up, he said. Some things that we agree with. Some things that we dont but its a process and in life you just want to be a testament to say hey, you got to keep fighting and keep striving for what you want cause no ones going to give it to you for free.

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With their Harlem flagship finally open, the owners said this is just the beginning. Theyre hoping to one day expand their business and open more dispensaries, bringing their vision to communities across the state.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
Harvard University received a surge in donations after the schools president refused to comply with recent demands from the Trump administration.

On Tuesday, Harvard President Alan Garber sent an email to the school community addressing the governments list of demands. The administration said it would cut nearly $9 billion in Harvard funding and grants if the school did not comply with changes to its leadership structure, admissions, and hiring.

Garber responded, saying that the demands violate Harvards First Amendment rights and are over the statutory limits of the governments authority under Title VI.

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... It threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production and dissemination of knowledge, Garbders letter read. No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue."

After Garbers letter was sent out, the U.S. Department of Education announced that it would freeze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value.

Between the time when Garber Tuesday email and 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Harvard received nearly 4,000 online gifts, totalling $1.14 million, The Harvard Crimson reported on Friday. The Harvard College Fund received 47% of the money, while 14% went to Garbers unrestricted fund. Nearly 80% of the gifts were less than $250.

The day before Garbers letter, Harvard received 37 donations, the Crimson reported. However, since Wednesday, the university has received an average of 88 online donations an hour.

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Last year, the school lost a significant amount of donations, including from the Wexner Foundation, which pulled $2 million from Harvards Kennedy School after what it called a dismal response to the war in Israel.

The Crimson added that while no high-profile donors have indicated that they plan to resume their donations, the surge indicates that small-dollar donors are flocking back to Harvard.

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Harvard University rejected demands by the Trump administration this week, sounding a rare note of defiance among higher education institutions  which have often stayed silent or capitulated when pressed by federal action.

Some are looking at this moment as a potential turning point for higher education in an environment where most are still fearful of speaking up or fighting back against threats from the federal government.

We felt that there was less fear ... as soon as Harvard made that decision, said Jennifer Lundquist, a UMass Amherst professor and organizer.

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Following Harvards decision, Columbia University  which largely accepted previous federal demands  walked back some of its compliance, stating that the institution would not allow the federal government to require us to relinquish our independence and autonomy.

Since Harvards announcement, there has been widespread support for Harvards resistance from the universitys community members and even former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

At the same time, it invigorated faculty and higher education leaders to speak up or continue their organizing.

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Nearly 80 former and current college presidents signed a Tuesday letter condemning the federal administrations demands to Harvard.

I think anyone who cares about the historic partnership between the federal government and higher ed and what thats meant for our country should be speaking out right now. I really applaud and admire [Harvard] President Garber, Phil Hanlon, former Dartmouth President and signee, told MassLive.

While a few presidents are leading the way in speaking out against the Trump administration, including those who share a place in the Ivy League with Harvard, there hasnt been a public movement to work together.

But some in academia  led largely by faculty  are trying to change that.

Little NATO treaties

The faculty senates of several of the Big Ten schools decided to band together in mutual defense. The University of Massachusetts Amherst is doing something similar.

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The aim is to create an alliance with immediate shared legal and public relations resources.

The faculty senates at Rutgers University, the University of Nebraska at Lincoln, Indiana University at Bloomington and Michigan State University are among the institutions that have passed resolutions to create a Mutual Defense Compact to defend academic freedom, institutional integrity, and the research enterprise.

The faculty senate at the University of Massachusetts Amherst passed a similar resolution on April 10, calling for nearly 250 land-grant and public universities to come together against Trump.

They intend to create another alliance among Massachusetts institutions to share not only public relations and legal resources but also strategies and templates for what is the line we wont cross as a coalition when faced by potential federal demands, said Lundquist, who was among those who drafted the initial resolution.

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They are also aiming to create protest movements across institutions and other sectors that are being impacted by the federal government to start converging together on Washington, Lunquist said.

The resolution comes after Lundquist and other faculty organized a letter signed by around 5,000 people at universities and colleges across the country calling for higher education to stand together.

When we started working on the letter, there had been very few leaders of higher ed institutions who were faculty who had spoken out against these attacks against higher education, said Kathy Roberts Forde, another leader and UMass Amherst professor.

As we noticed that kind of silence, we thought were just getting more and more alarms, she said.

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Faculty building coalitions across institutions is almost a necessary step so that presidents and leaders can feel like they have institutional backing to speak out publicly, Roberts Forde said.

Rachel Maddow on MSNBC described the alliances as little NATO treaties and called for the institutions to go faster to solidify the alliance before the administration attacks all of the institutions.

Any school that wants to survive what Trump and Vance are doing here, what their agenda is here, for American universities and colleges  any school that wants to survive whats coming their way, better find a way to not have to fight alone," Maddow said on MSNBC.

What has happened at Harvard so far

Harvard was the second institution, after Columbia, to be sent a letter detailing a list of demands the institution would have to comply with. In Harvards case, $9 billion in federal funding to the school and its affiliates was in danger of being canceled.

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The institution refused to comply this week, resulting in the U.S. Department of Education stating that it would immediately freeze $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and $60 million in multi-year contract value to the school.

The government has also threatened to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status and the Department of Homeland Security is requiring the institution to submit detailed records of foreign students visa holders illegal and violent activities before the end of the month. The administrations threat is that Harvard will otherwise not be able to enroll international students, who make up 40% of its student body.

At least a dozen Harvard students or recent graduates have also had their student visas revoked  something that institutions across the country are experiencing at high numbers.

The Trump administrations latest demands at Harvard occurred on Thursday when the U.S. Department of Education sent the institution a records request, demanding that it disclose foreign investments.

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U.S. Secretary of Education Linda McMahon called the records request the first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities.

Harvard spokesperson Jason Newton said Harvard has filed Section 117 reports for decades as part of its ongoing compliance with the law.

In reaction to some of the freezes on federal funding and other federal actions, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health is facing a significant budget crisis resulting in layoffs and the non-renewal of two building leases.

Why havent more fought back in higher education?

The fear of speaking out against the Trump administration is palpable across higher education.

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Out of over a dozen institutions MassLive reached out to for a conversation with a college or university president about Harvards resistance to the Trump administration and whether higher education should band together, all declined. Many of those presidents have largely stayed out of the media.

Some leaders have told MassLive they dont want a target on their back. Thats a sentiment some leaders feel when their own universities dont have Harvards vast resources, according to Rob McCarron, president and CEO of the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts.

Instead of being a unified cohort, many institutions are just trying to understand how the flurry of federal actions taken regarding higher education will impact their community, McCarron said.

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One of the stated goals of the Trump administration was to flood the zone  was to send so many things at different sectors that it would be hard to react to, he said. I think thats part of whats happened.

There is a reasonable fear that the presidential administration will retaliate against higher education leaders who speak out against Trump, said Jon Fansmith of the American Council on Education.

Maine, which refused a federal demand to ban trans athletes from participating in womens sports, is now getting sued by the Trump administration  a move Fansmith characterized as retaliation.

Look at whats happening in the state of Maine, right? Look at what happened in Princeton, where their president wrote an op-ed attacking what the Trump administration has done in Columbia, equating it to McCarthyism and the Red Scare, and suddenly they get their funding frozen, Fansmith said.

It is not unreasonable to think this administration will be petty and vindictive because they have been petty and vindictive so far, he said.

How Harvards actions might change higher ed resistance

While some institutions might still be scared to speak out, Harvards decision to resist the Trump administration has changed the narrative and provided a new template for what other institutions could do when they are being targeted by the federal government, Fansmith said.

You might not like Harvard, but you really want the best researchers in the world doing the kind of work that theyre doing at Harvard because it makes our economy stronger, it makes peoples lives healthier, Fansmith said.

Harvards response might empower other institutions to feel comfortable speaking out, he said.

This administration, theyve targeted six or so institutions with these funding freezes so far; theyve talked about up to 60 more. If they keep pushing at this, I cannot imagine that there wont be an effort in the courts and in public opinion to push back in a unified way, Fansmith said.

Weve seen statements from across the higher ed community in support of Harvard and opposition to the administrations actions, of those, I think, are getting more and more prevalent since Monday, he said.

Pushing back on divide and rule

Jan-Werner Muller, a Princeton politics professor, said institutions must work together despite the chaotic and confusing environments occurring on each college campus.

Universities must realize that the government is adopting a divide-and-rule tactic: they should collaborate on a shared litigation strategy, take a common approach in getting the public on their side, and do everything possible to have Congress push back against Trump treating money allocated by the legislature as if it were a private slush fund to be used for political blackmail, Muller wrote in a Guardian opinion piece.

One of the ways institutions have been banding together is through lawsuits.

While MITs President Sally Kornbluth declined an interview, a college spokesperson said she continues to press the case for MIT in Washington, D.C., including by working closely with peer schools and, when appropriate, going to court.

The institution pointed to MIT joining other institutions on Monday in filing a lawsuit over the Energy Departments new 15% cap on indirect research costs.

Antisemitism as a smoke screen

The governments initial demands of Harvard, released early in April, centered on fighting antisemitism.

Expanded demands submitted to the university last week went well beyond that purview  including allowing the government to audit the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff and forcing the university to hire people with alternate viewpoints.

The Harvard community isnt naive about the potential for further impacts by the Trump administration, according to Mathias Risse, Harvard professor and the director of the Carr Center for Human Rights Policy.

We do understand that the federal government is a formidable enemy to have, and that their goal clearly isnt to fight antisemitism on campus but to inflict harm on Harvard. We also understand that this might go on for several years, Risse said.

Risse described the explanation the Trump administration is using of antisemitism as total nonsense and gaslighting.

McCarron agreed, stating that the Harvard letter shows that the intent of the government was to take over command and control of the university and give away its constitutional rights.

McCarron said its clear higher education is being targeted.

Antisemitism is not solely a higher education issue. Its a societal issue, McCarron said. Where do you see the administration going to the lengths theyre going against higher education to fight antisemitism?

Statements of support for Harvard

Many presidents have been silent since the Trump administration began attacking higher education.

Others have been more vocal, writing in statements to MassLive that Harvard made the correct decision to push back against the Trump administration.

Brown University President Christina H. Paxson is one of them.

I want to take this opportunity to commend Harvard and thank President Garber and the Harvard Corporation for taking this courageous and principled stand. In doing so, Harvard has shown what it means to defend whats at stake for institutions of higher education across the country, she said in a statement to MassLive.

Smith Colleges president, Sarah Willie-LeBreton, said in a statement that Harvards stance has been inspirational.

The work we do as educators is deeply useful to Americans, and the world. I applaud Dr. Garbers leadership, she said.

Princetons president, Christopher Eisgruber, wrote on LinkedIn that Princeton stands with Harvard and encouraged people to read Garbers powerful letter in full.

He told NPR that the list demands from the administration to institutions like Columbia are a threat to academic freedom.

If the government starts using the clout it gets from the funding it provides to sciences and engineering to invade that academic freedom, it will compromise things that are fundamental to the excellence of American universities and that are really integral to the pursuit of knowledge and the strength of our society, he said.

Stanfords President, Jonathan Levin, wrote in a statement that Harvards objections to the federal governments letter are rooted in the American tradition of liberty, a tradition essential to our countrys universities, and worth defending.

Wesleyan President Michael Roth also applauded Harvard for standing up for the shared values of higher education.

Federal funding for universities must not depend on a loyalty oath. Leaders in civil society  in higher education, business, and in religious institutions  must resist compromising on their core missions. The health of our democracy depends on the freedom to work with the federal government without having to follow the ideological dictates of those in power, Roth said.

For UMass Amherst faculty members Lundquist and Roberts Forde, statements from higher education leaders are powerful as they show more are willing to speak out since Harvards pushback.

There is a major threat here, not just against higher education, but in every sector of our society. We cant afford not to act, Lundquist said.
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Harvard said on Saturday the Trump administration was "doubling down" on far-reaching demands on the university despite a published report that government officials had sent a letter spelling out those demands without authorization.

The letter from government lawyers, received by Harvard on April 11, was sent before senior officials of U.S. President Donald Trump's administration could approve it or give the go-ahead for its release, the New York Times reported late on Friday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter.

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Three days after that letter arrived, Harvard rejected numerous demands that it said would amount to the school giving up control over hiring, admissions and instruction to the government.

The Trump administration subsequently froze $2.3 billion in funding to Harvard and threatened to strip Harvard of its tax-exempt status and take away its ability to enroll foreign students. It also demanded information on the university's foreign ties, students and faculty.

"Even assuming the administration now wishes to take back its litany of breathtakingly intrusive demands, it appears to have doubled down on those demands through its deeds in recent days," a Harvard spokesperson said. "Actions speak louder than words."

Since his January inauguration, Trump has cracked down on top U.S. universities, saying they mishandled last year's pro-Palestinian protests and allowed antisemitism to fester on campus. Protesters, including some Jewish groups, say their criticism of Israel's actions in Gaza is wrongly conflated with antisemitism.

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Columbia University was an early target but in recent weeks, the administration has focused on Harvard, where it is seeking oversight of its student body, faculty and curriculum in an apparent effort to curb what it perceives as the university's liberal bias.

The content of the April 11 letter was authentic but the New York Times reported differing accounts inside the Trump administration of how it was mishandled.

The newspaper said some at the White House believed the letter was sent prematurely while others thought it was meant to be first circulated among government officials.

The White House had no immediate comment.

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The administration had already sent a list of demands on April 3 to Harvard for the elite school to continue receiving federal funding. These included a mask ban, removal of diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and more cooperation with law enforcement.

The April 11 letter signed by officials at the Education Department, Health Department and General Services Administration expanded that list. It told Harvard to stop recognizing some pro-Palestinian groups and asked it to report to federal authorities foreign students violating university policies, among other demands.

Harvard had believed it could still avoid confrontation with the Trump administration because they were engaged in dialogue, the newspaper said, but the letter made Harvard feel a deal was not possible.

Harvard said it did not doubt the letter's authenticity and called its demands "astonishing in their overreach."

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty and Richard Chang)
An American flag flies over the John Harvard Statue at Harvard University on April 17, 2025 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Credit - Sophie ParkGetty Images

President Trumps unprovoked attack on higher education was a call to action which has been answered by Harvard and leaders from over 100 other schools across nearly 40 states. It has also taught an important lesson: giving in to Trumps attacks is not a sustainable strategy for any organization.

Several leaders of the nations top law firms appeared to capitulate to Trumps demands only to find that he is reportedly reneging from formal commitments and demanding more. Even schools such as Columbia, who attempted to concede to Trumps demands found those agreements failed. History has long taught us that such appeasement doesnt work when concession is seen as weaknessor even as surrender.

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The recent assaults by the Trump administration on American colleges and universities were exemplified by the demands issued to Harvard University in an April 11 letter. Harvard rejecting Trumps demands was followed by the freezing of $2.2 billion of federal research funds along with Trumps taunting threats to Harvard's tax-exempt status.

The grab to seize control of a private enterprise has catalyzed support for the independence of higher education, perhaps our nations most globally competitive sector. The outcry extends far beyond the ivy walls of academia. Even critics of higher education and Trump allies believe Trump is dramatically overplaying his hand. The Wall Street Journal Editorial Board, hardly a friend of Harvards, blasted Trumps overreach in an editorial titled Trump Tries to Run Harvard. There are good reasons to oppose this unprecedented attempt by government to micromanage a private university, the Journal opinion editors wrote. Many of his demands on the school exceed his power under the Constitution. Meanwhile, another regular critic of Harvard, FIRE, which assesses freedom of expression on campus, condemned Trumps unconstitutional demands and told Harvard to stand strong.

Trumps attacks against Harvard, and Harvard's defiance, may even be shifting public opinion. According to a survey of 114,000 adults by Morning Consult, favorability of the school has risen since Trump took office in January. And in the immediate aftermath of Trumps attacks, alumni prideand donationshave swelled.

Arbitrary assaults on higher educationand bypassing legally required due processundermine not only intellectual creativity on campus, but also the special contributions of universities to American society. Higher education is one of the greatest sources of U.S. global competitiveness, cultural enrichment, and learning, and economic prosperity.

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For instance, the trade surplus from higher education accounts for nearly 14% of total U.S. services trade surpluscomparable to the combined exports of soybeans, coal, and natural gas. A global magnet, international student tuitions contribute roughly $44 billion to the U.S. economy. When the Trump administration attacks higher education, it is also threatening a prime source of the opportunity and economic prosperity of all Americansone which has improved socio-economic mobility and access to opportunity, and trained millions of highly skilled workers

But even beyond the economic contributions, by partnering with the federal government for decades, American universities have also made lifesaving discoveries and have helped increase the average lifespan of Americans to record levels over the last few decades.

As one of the leading education institutions in the world, it is no secret that Harvard has received a range of criticism in recent years. However Harvard has redeemed itself this week.

The decision of Harvard President Alan Garber to take a stand by rejecting the Trump administration's demands, and the strong leadership of Harvards board, led by Chair Penny Pritzker and buttressed by board members, including former Merck CEO Ken Frazier, Ken Chenault, Karen Gordon Mills, Biddy Martin, and others, is a watershed moment.

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It is propitious that Harvards defiance against authoritarian creep should come on the 250th anniversary of Paul Reveres ride which alerted the American minutemen to rise up against tyranny. Indeed, his fellow sentry William Dawes actually rode across Harvards campus in 1775.

This current battle will not be an easy one for Harvard, but Harvard is not aloneas pillars of civil society muster the courage to stand in unison so that Harvard does not have to fight for freedom of expression, intellectual inquiry, educational advancement, and research contributions alone. Indeed, this is a moment when all those who care about the contributions that U.S. universities in partnership with the federal government have made to a competitive and flourishing American society to speak out.

This battle is one as vital as higher education has ever faced. The legal community was late to realize this lesson but schools can be good teachers as well as fast learners.

Contact us at letters@time.com.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  The dog who was seen captured on video being swung around by a woman is now being cared for by the Hawaiian Humane Society.

Hawaiian Humane Society President and CEO Anna Neubauer confirmed in a statement that Zuko is safe and is in good spirits.

Hawaiian Humane Society opening opportunities for teens

HHS Field Service officers cited the woman with second-degree animal cruelty and brought Zuko back to the Hawaiian Humane Societys Moiliili Campus for further medical evaluation.

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Officials urge the public to report animal cruelty and abuse to authorities as soon as possible, as posting video on social media before a report is made could jeopardize the case.

And what I want to stress, you know, is if you see something, say something immediately and try not to think Oh, let me post this on social media first,' said Brandy Shimabukuro, HHS Communications Manager.

Get Hawaiis latest morning news delivered to your inbox, sign up for News 2 You

So if you see an animal emergency, please call it into the authorities so that investigations can happen very quickly and we can seek justice for these animals who certainly dont deserve the treatment that theyve had to endure, Shimabukuro added.

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The Humane Society is pushing for the passage of HB698, which would increase penalties for animal abuse.

The Hawaiian Humane Society remains committed to ensuring the welfare of all animals on Oahu. We will continue to work diligently with HPD and the community to investigate reports of animal cruelty and to hold offenders accountable. Anna Neubauer, Hawaiian Humane Society President and CEO

Check out more news from around Hawaii

Witnesses of animal abuse are urged to call 911 or Hawaiian Humanes dispatch line at (808) 356-2250.

Reports can also be made on Hawaiian Humanes website.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
First of all, it is well-known that the current market correction has been fueled by the Trump Tariff Turmoil, which cast a lot of uncertainty on consumption, Capex projects, and overall spending outlook in the US. We believe, however, that the root cause of President Trumps action represents the attempt to normalize the countrys budget deficits, which have become critical in the last months. The US budget for 1H 2025 has been released, and it shows $2.3 trillion in tax revenues, $3.6 trillion in expenditures, for a total $1.3 trillion deficit. More importantly, the interest payments on the massive public debt represent a whopping ~26% of total tax revenue. To balance the budget, taxes would have to rise by an astounding 57%, or spending would have to be cut by 36%, both of which seem completely unrealistic in the current reality.

Despite its drawbacks, the utility sector becomes particularly appealing during periods of economic uncertainty or downturns, as the defensive nature of their business allows them to deliver more consistent returns and often hold their value while the overall market declines. With the broader market currently entering its first death-cross since 2022, the question of hedging ones portfolio with defensive stocks becomes increasingly more relevant. There are solid reasons to believe that, similar to 2022, when a 12-month-long bear market kicked in with the emergence of a death-cross on the technical chart, the US stock market will now enter a prolonged bear market as well.

Utility stocks represent companies primarily engaged in providing electricity, natural gas, and water distribution services, which are considered essential for households and most businesses. These companies are characterized by stable revenue streams, regulated operations, and often predictable earnings, making them attractive investment opportunities for risk-averse investors or those seeking steady income through dividends. The utility stocks are typically low-growth, as they operate in mature and well-established markets that only grow according to demographic trends, which are typically in low single digits. For these reasons, many investors have overlooked this sector, especially considering that it comprises less than 3% of the entire US stock market capitalization, making it relatively insignificant.

We recently published a list of 13 Best Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) stands against other best utility stocks to buy according to analysts.

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This leads to the possibility that $390 billion worth of tax cuts that expire this year will not be extended. Also, the previously promised tax cuts seem very unlikely  this was an important card in the Presidents sleeve, which now seems unlikely to be played any time soon. In this context, the current administration has no means to provide any short-term boost to corporate earnings if the market dips too low. Under such a scenario, utility stocks appear like a safe haven to safeguard ones funds while earning a solid dividend yield, which most of the companies provide.

Besides its defensive nature, the utility sector entered a period of acceleration in the business  the sectors outperformance actually started at the beginning of 2024 due to the AI megatrend. Fidelity claims that there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity with utility stocks as their previous anemic 1-2% growth has the potential to increase to 6-8% over the next 10 years, which will also provide a substantial expansion in their valuation multiples. The main driver of this expected acceleration is coming from AI:

The rapidly developing technology of artificial intelligence is proving to be a significant boost to predicted energy demand over the next decade. AI requires immense computational power, storage space, and low-latency networking for training and running models. These applications are usually hosted in data centers. As AI continues to become more ubiquitous, the energy demands from data centers will grow exponentially, which I believe will translate to higher earnings growth for certain utilities. Driven by these trends, energy demand is forecasted to grow over 38% over the next 2 decades. Regulated utilities will need to build new power plants to satisfy this surge in demand. Deregulated utilities should also benefit. As reserve margins are tightening, power prices for existing energy should also increase.

All in all, the key takeaway for readers is that the utility sector is favored by both its defensive nature as well as the large-scale acceleration in electricity demand due to the AI trend. Consequently, we are currently at an opportune moment to invest in the best utility stocks.

Essential Utilities, Inc. (WTRG): Among the Best Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

An aerial view of a city, highlighting the vital role of the company in providing necessary raw water and wastewater services.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of best utility stocks, we use a stock screener to filter for utility stocks with positive average upside from sell-side analysts as of April 16. Then we included in the article the top 13 stocks with the largest average analysts upside. For each stock, we also included the largest number of hedge funds that own the stock as of Q4 2024, as per Insider Monkeys database.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG)

Average estimated analysts upside: 12.75%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 13

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) is a US-based operator of regulated utilities providing water, wastewater, and natural gas services. WTRG serves approximately 5.5 million customers across Pennsylvania, Texas, Illinois, North Carolina, New Jersey, Ohio, Indiana, Virginia, and Kentucky. In addition to its core utility services, the company also offers service line protection solutions and repair services to households. WTRG ranked seventh on our list of 10 High Growth Utility Stocks To Invest In.

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) delivered strong financial performance in 2024, achieving GAAP EPS of $2.17, in line with the initial guidance of 5-7% YoY growth. The company successfully executed two large rate cases in Pennsylvania Gas and Pennsylvania Water, with total annualized rate and surcharge increases of approximately $148 million in 2024. Operating expenses were well-controlled with only a 2% increase YoY, while the company completed its $1.3 billion capital plan on target.

Essential Utilities, Inc. (NYSE:WTRG) has provided clear growth guidance, projecting 5-7% compound annual EPS growth through 2027. The company plans to invest approximately $7.8 billion in infrastructure over the next five years, expecting to achieve a combined water and gas rate base growth of over 8% through 2029. The company maintains a strong acquisition pipeline with six signed asset purchase agreements across three states, totaling approximately $344 million in purchase price and adding over 210,000 customer equivalents. Additionally, the company is exploring potential opportunities in data center development, with discussions underway for up to 5 gigawatts of needed power generation in the Pittsburgh region. With a 12.75% estimated average analysts upside and strong long-term guidance in place, WTRG is one of the best utility stocks to consider.

Overall, WTRG ranks 13th on our list of best utility stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of WTRG to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WTRG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Fifteen of the Department of Educations top school principals have been recognized and honored for their leadership and dedication to their craft.

Fighting childhood hunger: Hawaiis SUN Bucks application opens

KHON2 met with this years winner of the 19th Masayuki Tokioka Excellence in School Leadership Award.

Hawaii isnt doing well with employment: 3 findings from a new study

Meet Principal Baba Yim of Ke Kula Kaiapuna O Anuenue, a Hawaiian immersion school located in Palolo Valley.

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The Island Insurance Foundation said they selected Principal Yim because he prioritizes the well-being of Anuenue students in every decision and leads through service to keiki, their families and the school community.

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As the leader of Oahus only K-12 Hawaiian language immersion school, he leads a school with really unique challenges.

Its the oldest of its kind in the U.S., and its located in Hawaii: 6 things to know

He plays a crucial role in the revitalization of the indigenous language and culture of these islands, while still being laser-focused on offering a quality educational experience to every one of its keiki.

Check out more news from around Hawaii

The idea was doing a number of events to bring community back to the school, said awardee Principal Yim. Our kids and our families, they sacrifice sending their kids from all of the island. And so were going to use that money to do some, were doing some campus beautification. We have a couple of storage containers on campus, were going to do some mural projects that were working with a local artist to design. And then the painting of the project will be done hopefully by students and their families, you know, doing events where families can come together to kind of do that. And other things. Getting them working on the land. We have a small loi at the school.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD)  Officials say theyre looking into a potential case of measles in an Eaton County resident.

Though test results were still pending as of Friday evening, the Barry-Eaton District Health Department said it wanted to warn the public quickly about any possible exposures.

We are acting out of an abundance of caution to notify the public as quickly as possible, said Dr. Julie Kehdi, the health departments medical director, in a statement. Measles spreads easily and can have serious health consequences, especially for children and people with weakened immune systems. We encourage anyone who may have been exposed to take action right away and check their vaccination status.

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MDHHS: Measles outbreak identified in Montcalm County

The health department warned that people who visited two Michigan restaurants over the weekend could have been exposed to measles:

King Ocean Crab restaurant on E. Miller Road in Lansing between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. on Saturday, April 12

Bad Brads BBQ on S. Baldwin Road in Orion Township between 4:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 13

If you think you may have been exposed to measles, youre asked to monitor for symptoms like a fever, cough, runny nose or rash for 21 days. The Barry-Eaton District Health Department says you should call your local health department if you develop symptoms. If youre seeking treatment in person, you should call your provider ahead of time to avoid infecting other people, according to the health department.

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Across the state, seven measles cases have been confirmed so far this year. That includes three related cases in Montcalm County, which constitutes an outbreak. Other cases have been confirmed in Oakland County, Kent County, Macomb County and Ingham County.

To check your immunization status, you can visit the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services website.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.
Officers arrested a man who allegedly threatened employees, started a fire and pretended to work at a nearby bank in Tacoma he was trying to rob, the Tacoma Police Department posted on Facebook Friday.

Before coming to the bank, the suspect allegedly set a fire, sprayed a fire extinguisher at surveillance cameras, stabbed a charging station, and threatened employees at a department store, according to the post. He then allegedly tried to steal a nearby car but was unsuccessful.

He then went to the bank and claimed to have a bomb, the post alleges. Employees fled and locked him inside. Tacoma Police officers found him there and prepared to enter, when the suspect looked up and asked, How can I help you today?

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You dont work here, man, video footage shows an officer saying to the suspect before police entered the bank to arrest him. The video also shows flames igniting on the bank counter near the suspect.

Officers safely booked the suspect into the Pierce County Jail on suspicion of multiple felonies, according to the post.
HAZEL GREEN, Ala. (WHNT)  One person is dead and two others are in critical condition following a wreck Friday night, according to authorities.

HEMSI Spokesperson Don Webster told News 19 that authorities responded to a single-vehicle pickup truck wreck around 11:30 p.m. Webster said the wreck happened on Bobo Section Road and Mitchell Moore Road in Hazel Green.

Webster said one man was pronounced dead on the scene and two others, a man and a woman, were transported to Huntsville Hospital Trauma Services and are in critical condition.

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The identities of the three victims have not been released yet.

News 19 has reached out to the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency to learn more about this wreck.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHNT.com.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  They may fly under the radar or behind the scenes, but 911 dispatchers are often the first to address a potentially serious situation. We have to be ready for an emergency at any given moment, says Jordan Webb, Henderson 911 Director.

Webb has worked as the Henderson 911 Director for 5 years. In that time, she has heard thousands of calls ranging from the serious to the not-so-serious, yet her dispatch team remains ready for any situation. Our best opportunity is to help save a life, and thats what I kind of tell my dispatchers, is, you know, be ready to give CPR at any given moment, says Webb. But, we also talk to a lot of elderly people who may have misdialed and we just need to help them get the right number.

Webb is using National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week to celebrate her dispatchers, while also shedding light on the day-to-day. Prospective dispatchers train for 20 weeks before heading to Richmond, Kentucky for an additional 4 weeks of training. Henderson 911 consists of 3 to 4 dispatchers per shift, each working 12 hours. Webb says a common misconception is that dispatchers ask too many questions, however she says those questions can be crucial.

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New options coming to Evansville 911 service

From taking the call to giving the call out, all of the information fits together like a puzzle, explains Webb. All of the questions that we ask, sometimes, will later help with an arrest in court. So its very important information that we take and that we ask that can later help get the conviction thats needed to put away a bad person.

That teamwork is necessary, but this week, the spotlight is on those on the other end of the call. Your worst day is our every day. And after the emergency is over with, a lot of people dont think back on who answered the 911 call, says Webb. That was our people. So this is just the opportunity for us to kind of thank our people.

More from Cody Bailey

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Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Eyewitness News (WEHT/WTVW).
Attorneys for Heritage homeowners who are suing the Keller school board are subpoenaing board attorney Tim Davis to testify at a deposition and provide documents related to the boards efforts to split the school district.

The split plan, which was roundly criticized by residents, was ultimately called off on March 14. However, lawsuits against the board stemming from the proposal are still pending, including the one to which the Heritage residents are a party.

The Heritage neighborhood is along Heritage Trace Parkway in far north Fort Worth, close to the Alliance shopping center. Heritage and other neighborhoods west of U.S. 377, mostly in far north Fort Worth and part of Watauga, would have been split off from Keller ISD.

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The controversy shook the community, creating bitter divides between neighbors.

According to court records, Davis, an attorney at Fort Worth-based Jackson Walker LLP, will receive a subpoena duces tecum, which requires the recipient to attend a scheduled hearing and produce requested documents.

Brian Black president of Heritage HOA listens as Cary Moon, chairman Heritage Legal Task Force talks during a press conference on the status of the Keller ISD at the Heritage HOA Club House in Fort Worth, Texas, Tuesday, Mar. 03, 2025.

Those documents include:

All communications Davis has had regarding the Keller school district since May 2022;

Records of all services Davis has performed on behalf of the district since May 2022;

Any documents Davis or other Jackson Walker attorneys have prepared regarding the district or sections of the Texas Education Code since May 2022;

All communications between Davis and Patriot Mobile Action, the conservative Christian political action committee that has supported multiple Keller school board members, including those accused of trying to split the district;

Presentations that Davis or other Jackson Walker attorneys have prepared regarding school board governance, the Texas Open Meetings Act or the Texas Education Code;

Engagement correspondence between Davis and other Texas school districts.

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The deposition that Davis is required to attend is scheduled for May 5 at the offices of Kelly Hart and Hallman LLP, the firm representing the Heritage homeowners. Davis must produce the documents no later than May 28.

Should Davis refuse to testify at the hearing or provide the documents, he could be found in contempt of court and punished by fine or confinement, or both, according to the subpoena notice.

Keller ISD lawsuits

Keller parent Matthew Mucker originally filed the lawsuit against the Keller board in Tarrant County District Court in January, alleging that board trustees violated the Texas Open Meetings Act by discussing the spit behind closed doors. The Heritage homeowners group joined that suit as intervenors in March, bringing in Kelly Hart and Hallman as counsel.

The lawsuit requests that the judge in the case remove the five board members largely believed to be behind the split plan  President Charles Randklev and members Heather Washington, John Birt, Chris Coker and Micah Young  for incompetency and official misconduct.

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The board members have denied wrongdoing and have requested the lawsuit be dismissed while questioning the motivations behind it.

The two Keller school board members who represent constituents in Fort Worth  Chelsea Kelly and Joni Shaw Smith  have been vocal opponents of the split and are not defendants in the Heritage suit.
HIGH POINT

Long before America had the National Enquirer, High Point had The Beacon.

Most old-timers of a certain age in these parts remember  or have at least heard about  The Beacon, a titillating weekly tabloid of the 1940s and 50s that relished looking on the seedy side of life in High Point: Extramarital affairs. Sensational slayings. Crooked businessmen. Contentious divorces.

You get the idea.

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It was the local scandal sheet, but people sure read it, the late Joe Brown, a former High Point Enterprise reporter and editor, once told The Enterprise for a story about The Beacon and its pseudo-journalistic exploits. People bought it on the street, but then they hid it under their coats when they went to work because nobody wanted to be seen with it.

Of course, being seen with The Beacon wasnt nearly as bad as being seen in The Beacon. Imagine being the subject of one of these juicy stories:

Wife Catches Hubby In Hotel Room With Girl.

Drunk Smacks Aged Mother In Face.

Husband Catches Man In Wifes Bedroom.

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Well Known Local Man May Be Arrested For Carnal Knowledge.

One particularly embarrassing front-page story in 1948 told of a local couples separation  The Beacon actually published their names, though we wont do that here  in which the wife filed for divorce because her husband could not perform in the bedroom.

Immediately after their marriage, The Beacon wrote, quoting court records, the plaintiff discovered that her husband was entirely impotent and incapable of sexual relations or cohabitation.

This is the same publication that published front-page photos of grisly crime scenes, including the brutal 1951 murder of Mary Hopkins and the 1942 murder of Thomasville police officer George Arnold Kemp, whose body was found at the bottom of an elevator shaft.

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In other Hall of Shame moments, The Beacon once wrote about a local middle-school music teacher having an affair with a prominent businessman; contacted a psychic about the 1954 mysterious disappearance of High Point waitress Veronica Cox; called Elvis Presley a champion hog caller; told the story of a well-known High Pointer who impregnated a 15-year-old girl and then tried to get her to have an abortion; chronicled the journey of a man who had a sex-change operation in the early 1950s; featured the story of a young man who married a pretty High Point nurse, only to discover his bride was actually a man; and told the tale of Floggin Flossie, a paramour who, when confronted by her lovers angry wife, beat the woman senseless with an umbrella.

The Beacon was the brainchild of Wade Renfrow, a former Enterprise reporter who decided to launch his own newspaper ... if you can call it that.

A fearless scandalmonger  think Jerry Springer with an old, rickety typewriter  Renfrow tattled and titillated. Salacious stories not only peeked into couples bedrooms but also routinely exposed philandering husbands whod gotten caught with their pants down, sensationalized gory murders, overplayed incidents of domestic violence, scandalized interracial relationships, ridiculed drunkenness, and skewered mighty businessmen and holier-than-thou politicians.

Renfrow ran The Beacon from 1939 until 1952, attracting countless readers  and no doubt making countless enemies  with his reckless, no-holds-barred, tabloid-style journalism. He was sued  or threatened with legal action  on several occasions.

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Copies of The Beacon sold for a nickel apiece, and the sales boys frequently sold out when the paper hit the streets on Thursday mornings. Just ask acclaimed journalist and author Jerry Bledsoe, who grew up in Thomasville and worked as a Beacon paperboy during the mid-1950s.

It never took long to sell all the papers I was allowed to have, Bledsoe told The Enterprise for an article in 2007. Easiest money I ever made as a kid.

When Renfrow sold The Beacon in 1952, about a year before his death, the new owners vowed to change the papers sullied reputation. For a time, they did just that, replacing the lurid copy with stories that were far less juicy and, frankly, far less interesting. It wasnt long, though, before more lascivious stories began to creep back onto the front page.

The owners tried one last time in January 1956, proclaiming in a front-page story, Beacon To Avoid Filth In Militant New Policy. Adultery, divorce proceedings, illegitimacy and other scandalous topics would become taboo, the article stated.

Alas, that announcement may have sounded The Beacons death knell. Within a year, the paper folded. Today, its but a memory for those old enough to remember one of the most colorful chapters of High Point history.
Sixteen-year-old Momin Ahmed, a member of Hinsdale Central High Schools Model UN Club, is finding great satisfaction in using his own experiences and advantages to help others find similar success.

Near the end of his sophomore year, Ahmed, now a junior, started Model UN Academy, a free online resource that has helped more than 10,000 students from about 150 high schools  reaching almost all 50 states and more than 30 countries  enhance their own Model UN experiences.

Model UN is a simulation of the real United Nations that takes place in schools around the globe and teaches students how the international organization works while challenging the youths to tackle real-world issues with diplomacy.

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Ahmeds Model UN Academy website instructs students on how to navigate the general assembly and different committees, offers tips and tricks for conferences and serves as a guide to help win awards.

Ahmed, who lives in Hinsdale, created the academy with the goal of sharing his expertise. He started by building the website then sent it to a few local Model UN programs last summer to get feedback, which he said was really good and supportive.

People were telling me its a great resource for our newer delegates and the awards section is great for even experienced delegates to become the best delegates they can be, Ahmed said.

Over the next few months, he got the website in front of more and more people, and a few even began to offer their own contributions for how-tos and the dos and donts, he said.

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Ahmed, who recently joined the executive board of Hinsdale Centrals Model UN Club, used Google translate to send the website to schools around the world, and Model UN Academy is now available in over 100 languages.

Its been such a cool way to impact the global Model UN community, Ahmed said. Its a really beneficial experience for students professionally but also personally.

Ahmed, who also plays violin and runs cross country and track, said Model UN is what he is most passionate about.

Ive met a lot of people through it, and I have some of my closest friends from Model UN, he said.

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Ahmeds involvement with Model UN started the summer of sixth grade, he said, when his mom signed him up for a weeklong Model UN camp that had high schoolers working with younger students to teach the basics and practice discussions. Ahmed said the experience helped him grow as a public speaker and communicator. He knew by the end of the camp that this would be something he wanted to continue.

He participated in the Model UN summer camp for the rest of middle school and joined the club right when I got to high school, he said. His public speaking and communication skills soared, he said, along with his ability to think on his feet and collaborate with large groups of people.

The coolest thing to me about Model UN is how different people from different backgrounds and different perspectives can come together, disagreeing on things and agreeing on other things, and they come together to make solutions that are really creative and innovative and real world, Ahmed said.

Sanskruti Patel is a social studies teacher at Hinsdale Central and a faculty sponsor of the schools Model UN club. She said Ahmed stood out from the get-go.

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As for Ahmeds Model UN Academy, she said its really impressive how hes led this as a grassroots initiative.

She said the academy makes Model UN more approachable when the club may feel daunting at times to newcomers.

Model UN Academy is so incredible because of the way that its accessible, Patel said. And if youve never done Model UN before its a great way to not just be introduced to it but really get skills that are going to help you be successful in and outside of the club.

Ahmed said hes been to 10 conferences and qualified four times for international conferences.

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Conferences typically consist of one or two topics to be discussed, such as world hunger, nuclear weapons or refugee crises. Each student or delegate is assigned a country to represent at the conference and must relay that countrys opinions and interests. Throughout the conference, delegates deliberate with each other and their committees, give speeches and ultimately come up with solutions for the assembly as a whole to vote on.

Thats my favorite part: coming up with the solutions and everyone working together, Ahmed said. Even if you have different perspectives, you know that, just like in the real United Nations, you need to work together to make progress on the problem.

Conferences take place throughout the school year and range from smaller, local events to state, national and international events with anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand students. Ahmed said he has met students from across Illinois, the country and the world  and still keeps in touch with some of them.

His first conference in high school was an international one in Chicago, and he recalled meeting people from around the world, from Florida and New York to Jamaica and Japan.

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One of Ahmeds most memorable experiences was at an international conference at the University of Chicago during Ahmeds sophomore year, when he was representing Timor-Leste, a country in southeast Asia. It was his first time having been assigned a country he didnt know about, and he said he kind of panicked while doing his research leading up to the conference because he thought no one would take him seriously for representing a smaller country.

I realized that even in the real United Nations, similar things happen, like the smaller countries get overshadowed by larger powers; but in the end it all worked out, Ahmed said. I was able to align myself with stronger countries and use that to propel myself to the front of the room and get speaking positions.

Ahmed ultimately received an honorable delegate award at the conference, placing second overall.

Even though I was worried at first, I enjoyed the process of learning how to be a small fish in a big pond and learning how to move up and be heard, Ahmed said, even if I wasnt set up to be heard; and earning that award was really a great moment for me.

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Brad Donaldson, a social studies teacher at Addison Trail High School, is faculty sponsor of his schools Model UN club. He said he first heard about the academy during the fall and found it to be an amazing resource for us.

For those who arent familiar with politics and government and how that all works, I think having a resource that lays out how things operate and how each part works makes kids more comfortable, Donaldson said.

Other resources similar to the academy are out there, he said, but some require payment to use and are too complex. Donaldson said he will continue using Model UN Academy as a resource for his club.

Its dialed in to what the point of Model UN and the (real) UN are about in terms of trying to problem solve and share the wealth and lift everyone up instead of using your own advantages to your own advantage, Donaldson said. Its very laudable.

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Ahmed said that, in the beginning when he was creating Model UN Academy, it was very laborious and he wasnt hearing back from people right away. He considered abandoning the project at times and focusing on himself, but chose to push through.

Now, when I get emails thanking me and telling me how much its helped the students and telling me about the awards students have gotten or how well they did at a conference, that feedback is one of the most motivating things, Ahmed said.

A lot of Ahmeds work still consists of outreach and trying to widen the net as much as possible, he said. As he continues his academic journey, he hopes to grow the academy, he said. He also wants to expand to the college level.

If anything, the community just grows as I get older, he said.

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Its a pretty cool journey that Ive had going from the kid who just got signed up by their mom for a middle school summer camp to someone teaching other students how to do Model UN and be successful, Ahmed said.

I think its super important, especially in todays era with everything going on, that young people  are educated about worldly topics and just have a general understanding of whats going on, he said.
German civil defence planners have discovered that none of the countrys 579 public bomb shelters are usable  with many turned into hipster cafes and art galleries.

Friedrich Merz, the incoming chancellor, has been confronted with the alarming statistic just weeks before he is due to take office and begin rebuilding Germanys army and infrastructure.

Official figures, obtained by German broadcaster ARD, reveal that all of Germanys bunkers and bomb shelters are dilapidated, unusable or no longer owned by the state. Many of them were bought by private owners and turned into restaurants or galleries during Germanys postwar boom.

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If war were to break out between Nato and Russia, a prospect that Western officials deem increasingly likely, it means that Germanys 83 million-strong population would be almost completely unprotected from air raids, apart from by air defence systems.

Many bunkers were bought by private owners and turned into restaurants or galleries during Germanys postwar boom - Morris Mac Matzen/AFP

The lack of shelters has been linked to decades of under-investment in German public infrastructure and the armed forces, the Bundeswehr, a trend that Mr Merz is seeking to urgently reverse.

But according to ARDs report, even if Mr Merz managed to repair and activate public shelters before the outbreak of war  a highly unlikely prospect  they would only have the capacity to protect 0.5 per cent of the population.

It is an ironic situation for Germany, considering it was the home of the most famous bomb shelter in human history: Hitlers Fuhrerbunker in Berlin, where he took his own life as the Soviet Red Army closed in.

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But much like the Fuhrerbunker itself, which was destroyed during the reconstruction of Berlin, virtually all of the countrys public bomb shelters are not fit for purpose.

One exception, German media reports, is private bomb shelters owned by those who have taken their own steps to protect themselves from a future war.

A former bunker in Berlins trendy Mitte district now houses a contemporary art collection - Stefano Guidi

And in a further headache for Mr Merz, many of the public shelters have passed into the hands of private owners or local councils, putting them well outside the scope of federal government planning.

Its a very, very difficult situation we have here, Jorg Diester, a German bunker expert, told Die Stern newspaper.

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The perception of the military and civil sectors [during the late 20th century] was that we no longer faced a threat, he added. Then the Bundeswehr was largely disarmed, and the same thing happened in the area of civil defence.

In a sign of Germanys complacency about defence in recent decades, some of its Second World War-era bunkers have even been converted into trendy restaurants.

The famous Hamburg bunker, for instance, which Hitler had built after air raids in Berlin in 1940, has now been turned into a hotel and cafe spot with green walkways and a rooftop car park. A Financial Times review of the venue hailed its transformation from Nazi bunker to hipster hub.

Meanwhile the Reichsbahn bunker in Berlin, a Nazi-era air raid shelter built by forced labour, now serves the capital as an art gallery.

A review of Hitlers Hamburg shelter hailed its transformation from Nazi bunker to hipster hub - Morris Mac Matzen/AFP

Germanys incoming government, a coalition of the centre-Right Christian Democrats [CDU] and centre-Left Social Democrats [SPD] should be able to rebuild some bomb shelters by relying on a new 500 billion (420 billion) pot set aside for infrastructure.

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The so-called Sondervermogen, or special fund, was created by Mr Merz after winning elections in February, and is supposed to breathe new life into Germanys crumbling railways, roads and public services.

Unfortunately, according to some estimates, the cost of rebuilding the shelters alone would potentially wipe out the entire Sondervermogen.

And there is no time left to get the bunkers ready for a potential war with Russia  unless it doesnt happen for another 30 years, bunker expert Mr Diester said.

According to the [official] estimates, the amount were talking about is between 400 and 800 billion euros, and a construction period of approximately 30 years, he said.

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First of all, it is well-known that the current market correction has been fueled by the Trump Tariff Turmoil, which cast a lot of uncertainty on consumption, Capex projects, and overall spending outlook in the US. We believe, however, that the root cause of President Trumps action represents the attempt to normalize the countrys budget deficits, which have become critical in the last months. The US budget for 1H 2025 has been released, and it shows $2.3 trillion in tax revenues, $3.6 trillion in expenditures, for a total $1.3 trillion deficit. More importantly, the interest payments on the massive public debt represent a whopping ~26% of total tax revenue. To balance the budget, taxes would have to rise by an astounding 57%, or spending would have to be cut by 36%, both of which seem completely unrealistic in the current reality.

Despite its drawbacks, the utility sector becomes particularly appealing during periods of economic uncertainty or downturns, as the defensive nature of their business allows them to deliver more consistent returns and often hold their value while the overall market declines. With the broader market currently entering its first death-cross since 2022, the question of hedging ones portfolio with defensive stocks becomes increasingly more relevant. There are solid reasons to believe that, similar to 2022, when a 12-month-long bear market kicked in with the emergence of a death-cross on the technical chart, the US stock market will now enter a prolonged bear market as well.

Utility stocks represent companies primarily engaged in providing electricity, natural gas, and water distribution services, which are considered essential for households and most businesses. These companies are characterized by stable revenue streams, regulated operations, and often predictable earnings, making them attractive investment opportunities for risk-averse investors or those seeking steady income through dividends. The utility stocks are typically low-growth, as they operate in mature and well-established markets that only grow according to demographic trends, which are typically in low single digits. For these reasons, many investors have overlooked this sector, especially considering that it comprises less than 3% of the entire US stock market capitalization, making it relatively insignificant.

We recently published a list of 13 Best Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts . In this article, we are going to take a look at where Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) stands against other best utility stocks to buy according to analysts.

Story Continues

This leads to the possibility that $390 billion worth of tax cuts that expire this year will not be extended. Also, the previously promised tax cuts seem very unlikely  this was an important card in the Presidents sleeve, which now seems unlikely to be played any time soon. In this context, the current administration has no means to provide any short-term boost to corporate earnings if the market dips too low. Under such a scenario, utility stocks appear like a safe haven to safeguard ones funds while earning a solid dividend yield, which most of the companies provide.

Besides its defensive nature, the utility sector entered a period of acceleration in the business  the sectors outperformance actually started at the beginning of 2024 due to the AI megatrend. Fidelity claims that there is a once-in-a-generation opportunity with utility stocks as their previous anemic 1-2% growth has the potential to increase to 6-8% over the next 10 years, which will also provide a substantial expansion in their valuation multiples. The main driver of this expected acceleration is coming from AI:

The rapidly developing technology of artificial intelligence is proving to be a significant boost to predicted energy demand over the next decade. AI requires immense computational power, storage space, and low-latency networking for training and running models. These applications are usually hosted in data centers. As AI continues to become more ubiquitous, the energy demands from data centers will grow exponentially, which I believe will translate to higher earnings growth for certain utilities. Driven by these trends, energy demand is forecasted to grow over 38% over the next 2 decades. Regulated utilities will need to build new power plants to satisfy this surge in demand. Deregulated utilities should also benefit. As reserve margins are tightening, power prices for existing energy should also increase.

All in all, the key takeaway for readers is that the utility sector is favored by both its defensive nature as well as the large-scale acceleration in electricity demand due to the AI trend. Consequently, we are currently at an opportune moment to invest in the best utility stocks.

Eversource Energy (ES): Among the Best Utility Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

An electric power substation, with a skyline in the distance.

Our Methodology

To compile our list of best utility stocks, we use a stock screener to filter for utility stocks with positive average upside from sell-side analysts as of April 16. Then we included in the article the top 13 stocks with the largest average analysts upside. For each stock, we also included the largest number of hedge funds that own the stock as of Q4 2024, as per Insider Monkeys database.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES)

Average estimated analysts upside: 18.85%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 39

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) is the largest energy delivery company in New England, serving approximately 4.4 million customers across four main segments: Electric Distribution, Electric Transmission, Natural Gas Distribution, and Water Distribution. The companys advantage is in the highly synergistic nature of its operations, as it delivers all the essential utilities to households and businesses. Furthermore, ES is also investing in grid modernization and electric vehicle infrastructure, which can open new market opportunities for the company.

Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) delivered strong financial results in 2024 with EPS growing 5.3% YoY, exceeding the midpoint of their revised guidance. The company announced the sale of Aquarion Water at an attractive multiple of 1.7x rate base, with proceeds to be used for debt reduction and reinvestment in regulated utilities. The company has unveiled an updated 5-year capital investment plan that increases investments by nearly 10%, with a majority focused on transmission investments to address aging infrastructure needs.

Looking ahead, Eversource Energy (NYSE:ES) has projected a long-term EPS growth rate of 5-7% based on 2024 non-GAAP recurring EPS of $4.57. The companys strategic focus includes strengthening its balance sheet, enhancing operational efficiency, and maintaining its commitment to customer service, as evidenced by achieving top decile performance in electric reliability metrics among industry peers. Significant progress has been made in regulatory matters, including constructive rate outcomes and approval of key initiatives such as the Electric Sector Modernization Plan in Massachusetts. The bold transformation plan is backed by 18.85% average analysts upside, which makes it one of the best utility stocks on our list.

Overall, ES ranks 10th on our list of best utility stocks to buy according to analysts. While we acknowledge the potential of ES to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ES but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
Early on the morning of 3 August 1944, a unit of heavily armed German soldiers arrived at the Villa Il Focardo outside Florence.

They didnt knock. They didnt ring the bell. They simply smashed through the front door, marched in and started shouting for the villas owner, Robert Einstein, cousin of the world-famous scientist Albert Einstein.

Robert and Albert had grown up together in Munich, Germany, in the 1880s and 1890s. For 11 years they had lived in the same house. You could say they were brother-cousins. Their fathers, Jakob and Hermann Einstein, were in business together, running an electrification company. Over the years, they had brought electric light to beer halls, town squares and cafes.

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In 1894, the Einstein company failed to win a large contract and went bankrupt. The two families moved to Milan and started again. When this business also went bust, the brothers parted ways but the cousins remained close. Robert stayed in Italy, qualified as an engineer and married Nina Mazzetti, a priests daughter from the north. In the 1920s, they moved to a small apartment in Rome and began building a life.

This was around the time that Benito Mussolini and his National Fascist Party (PNF) took power. The fascists were, at this point, not particularly antisemitic and Jews were as likely to be party members as the rest of the population. For his part, the Jewish Robert Einstein did not join the fascists, but as a businessman he was sympathetic towards their investment in public infrastructure and modernisation of the government.

Meanwhile, Albert Einstein had returned to Germany and published his paper on relativity. In 1922, he was awarded the Nobel prize and was the most famous scientist in the world.

As it happens, I have a personal connection to the Einsteins. Our two families knew each other in Berlin in the 1920s. My grandmother used to tell a story from when she was a child. One day, Albert Einstein and his wife came for dinner at the familys apartment on Kaiserallee near the Kurfurstendamm. She recalled peering through the keyhole of the dining room door and seeing that the great scientist was wearing house slippers, confirming rumours of his forgetful nature.

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After the meal, her father, Alfred Alexander, escorted Albert to the salon to take coffee, intending to quiz him about the theory of relativity. But when he climbed into bed later that night, Alfred confessed to his wife that he and his guest had become so engrossed in discussing the latest detective novels that he had forgotten to ask.

The two men also had a professional relationship. My great-grandfather was the Einstein family doctor. On 27 April 1926, Albert Einstein wrote a letter thanking my great-grandfather for the treatment he had provided to his terminally ill uncle and aunt: Dear and esteemed Dr Alexander! Albert said. Words cannot express the good you have done for my family. Having detailed the specifics of the treatment, he ended with a sentence that imagined a tactile link between the two families: Clasping your hand in sincere gratitude, A Einstein.

Neither Albert nor Alfred had a sense of the horror their families would soon face.

* * *

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In 1934, Robert and Nina Einstein were still living in Rome when Ninas brother asked them for help. His wife had died and he was struggling to look after their seven-year-old twins. Robert and Nina had two girls of their own (Luce, who was 17, and Cici, who was eight), but they agreed to take in their two nieces.

The Rome apartment was now too crowded. Robert and Nina shared a love of nature and decided the time was right to move to the countryside. They found a villa outside Florence called Il Focardo. It had a peach orchard, vines and olive trees. Perhaps most importantly, it came with 10 contadini, or farmers, who would help manage the estate. It was paradise.

In May 1938, Adolf Hitler was invited to Florence by Mussolini. Desperate to impress his visitor, the Italian leader spent vast sums cleaning up the buildings, parks and streets, then gave the Fuhrer a pomp-filled guided tour of the city. Travelling in a 20-car motorcade, they were cheered on by tens of thousands of flag-waving Italians, right arms raised to the sky in the fascist salute. The two men appeared to bond during this trip.

Six months later, on 11 November 1938, to the shock of Italian Jews, Mussolini announced the introduction of racial laws (similar to the Nazis Nuremberg laws). The legislation was approved by parliament and signed into law by King Vittorio Emanuele III. Jewish children were forbidden to attend public schools and universities. Jews could no longer work in banks, insurance companies or local government. They could not marry non-Jews, serve in the army or be PNF members.

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In practice, these laws were intermittently enforced, dependent on the whims of the local police and party officials. As a result, the Einsteins lives at Il Focardo were little affected. Luce continued to attend medical school in Florence. Cici and her cousins went to the local high school, while Robert and Nina managed the estate.

This sense of relative calm changed in the autumn of 1943, when the German army swept through northern Italy and occupied Florence and its surrounding area. On 1 December, Mussolinis minister of the interior, Guido Buffarini Guidi, announced on national radio Police Order Number 5, including this command: all Jews were to be rounded up and put in concentration camps.

Over the next seven months, more than 8,000 Jews were arrested, amounting to 20% of the Italian Jewish population. The roundups, or razzia as they were called in Italy, were carried out by German SS and police forces, supported by Italian fascists.

Robert and Nina were still living at Il Focardo with their two daughters and two nieces. They had been joined by Ninas sister Seba and a third niece, Anna Maria, the daughter of another of Ninas sisters whose family thought she would be safer in the country.

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Over the next days and weeks, Robert and his family watched in horror as Jews across Tuscany were arrested and put on trains to Auschwitz. It was too late for the Einsteins to flee. With the railway stations, airports and border crossings carefully monitored, the Nazis and their Italian partners made it impossible to leave.

But the Einsteins still thought they were safe. They were tucked away in the villa, far off the beaten track. Nina and the other female family members were Christian and therefore would not be a target of the roundups. And while Robert was Jewish, he was an Italian citizen and much respected locally. It was unlikely that anyone would give him away.

This dark period underlines another connection between my family and the Einsteins. We also experienced the horrors of fascist persecution. My family was German Jewish. My grandmother was thrown out of Heidelberg University because of her religion. Her father had to close his business, as Jews were not allowed to practise medicine. The Nazis stole our familys precious house by the lake outside Berlin.

Most of my family were able to get out of Nazi Germany, including my grandmother and her parents. They were very grateful when they found refuge in England. But five of my relatives were not so lucky. They were still in Berlin when, in 1943, the Nazis organised their latest roundup. All were murdered in the Holocaust.

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* * *

By the third week of July 1944, the allies were quickly moving up through Italy from the south. At night, planes could be heard buzzing overhead. There was talk that Florence might fall in a few weeks.

It was the height of the Tuscan summer. The sun beat down unrelentingly. The contadini were working in Il Focardos orchards, harvesting the peaches. And it was then that Robert heard there was a German unit looking for him. According to the local priest and an owner of a nearby estate, the soldiers had specifically mentioned he was the cousin of Albert Einstein.

Why would the Germans want to track down Albert Einsteins relative in Italy? A decade earlier, in 1933, the great scientist had fled Germany when he learned the Nazis wanted to kill him. This was hardly a secret. Newspapers across Europe carried front page stories stating that Hitler wanted Einstein assassinated. Londons Daily Herald announced Price placed on Einsteins head, adding this was valued at 1,000  equivalent to about 61,000 today.

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Fearing for his life, Albert had fled to England, where he holed up for a few days in Norfolk. He then took a boat with his wife to the US and moved into a house in Princeton, New Jersey.

If anything, Hitlers hatred of Albert Einstein had intensified over the intervening years. The scientist had very publicly criticised the Nazi regime in the newspapers and raised money for the war effort. He had also provided support to the US military (given its secrecy, it is unlikely that Hitler knew of Einsteins involvement with the Manhattan Project).

By the summer of 1944, he was, if anything, considered by the Nazi regime to be even more of an enemy than in 1933. The threat of assassination was still very real.

The problem, for the Nazis, was that living in the US, the famous physicist was well beyond their reach. The same was true of his nearest relatives. Alberts wife, stepdaughter, sister and eldest son were all living in the US, while his first wife and youngest son were in neutral Switzerland.

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This left his cousin, Robert, as his closest relative living in Nazi-occupied Europe.

After hearing the Germans were looking for him, Robert and Nina decided he must go into hiding. It was agreed Nina and the girls would stay at the villa; after all, they were Christian, what harm could come to them?

So it was that, in late July 1944, Robert kissed his family goodbye and headed up the rocky track towards the woods behind the villa. There he would remain for the next two weeks, sleeping in a different spot each night.

As the days passed, Robert could hear gunfire and artillery shells, and it sounded as if it was getting closer. Coming to see him one day with supplies, Nina confirmed this. She had heard on the BBC radio that the allies were 20 miles south of Florence. They might be in the city later that week. The prospect of liberation after years of war was thrilling.

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This is how things stood when, at 7am on 3 August 1944, the group of heavily armed Germans smashed through the front door of the villa. Alerted by the noise, Nina ran to see what was happening. She found seven soldiers standing in the front hallway. She was soon joined by her two daughters, sister and three nieces. Having lived for a while with her husband in Munich, Nina could speak a few words in German. She demanded to know what was going on. How dare they barge into her house like this?

The intruders were led by a captain who looked to be in his early 30s. He was of average height, had a gaunt face, short-cropped blond hair and wore round metal glasses. Unlike the other soldiers who carried machine guns, the captain had only a pistol which was tucked into a holster on his belt. Ignoring Ninas umbrage, he demanded to know the whereabouts of the patrone. Where was the cousin of Albert Einstein?

Nina didnt answer. The German asked again, his voice rising. She maintained her silence. When the captain looked to the others, they also kept quiet.

Frustrated, the captain ordered the seven women to be taken into the cellar. They were pushed along a narrow corridor, then through an open metal door and down some steep wooden steps. Once they were downstairs, the door was closed and locked with a clank.

In the cellar, the quiet was pierced by the creak of the door, followed by the heavy sound of boots coming down the stairs

Over the next few hours, the hostages followed what was going on upstairs. They heard the shuffle of boots overhead: it seemed the soldiers were exploring the villas every nook and cranny. Later came the sound of corks popping, followed by the clinking of glasses, cheering and laughter. After that, there was the rumble of large pieces of furniture being dragged across the floor and the unmistakable sound of a ping-pong game being played. By mid-afternoon, things had calmed down. Perhaps the soldiers were resting?

Robert, meanwhile, was still in the woods. He had seen the German soldiers arrive in their military vehicles. He was terrified but paralysed by indecision. Should he stay out of sight or run to the villa and protect his family? If he did the latter, what then? He was unarmed and alone. In the end he decided to stick with the plan. Given the allies were quickly approaching, surely the soldiers would not stick around for long. After stealing supplies and anything else of value, they would move on.

Back in the cellar, the quiet was pierced by the creak of the metal door, followed by the sound of boots coming down the stairs. Raus! a soldier screamed. Raus! Raus!

Related: No one wants a Nazi in their family: a German prisoner of war, a secret affair and the mystery of my dads parentage

Nina was taken to the living room for questioning, while the other six women were locked in an upstairs bedroom. The captain demanded that she disclose her husbands whereabouts and sensing she had to give him something, Nina said she sometimes met her husband in the woods, but she never knew where he would be. To find him, she called his name. Satisfied he was at last getting somewhere, the captain told two of his men to escort Nina outside to search for Robert.

By now it was dark, but their way was illuminated by a full moon. As they walked up the rocky track towards the woods, Nina called her husbands name.

Roberto, she cried, Roberto. When there was no response, they continued on. She called again. Roberto! Roberto. Again there was nothing.

When Robert had first gone into hiding, they had discussed exactly this scenario. If Nina came looking for him at a time they had not previously agreed, he was to stay hidden, so this is exactly what he did. He heard his wife call for him, but did not come out.

After 30 minutes, the soldiers realised their efforts were futile. They returned to the villa and informed the captain. Furious, he told his men to bring down Ninas daughters, Luce and Cici. He would press them for details. And if they still refused to help, he would be forced to take drastic measures.

Robert was standing in the woods when he heard a noise that filled him with terror. It was the sound of machine guns firing. He started to run.

A few minutes later, he bumped into his nieces and sister-in-law, who were fleeing the villa. Robert was desperate to know what had happened. Where were his wife and daughters? Were they OK?

They told him the terrible news: Nina, Luce and Cici had been murdered. Their bodies were back at the villa. The Germans had set the building on fire. Robert screamed in anguish and collapsed to the ground.

At almost exactly the same time that Robert heard the machine-gun fire, Germans blew up five of the bridges across the Arno River in Florence. They then retreated to the north. Early next morning, 4 August 1944, New Zealand soldiers arrived in Florence. The city was liberated.

Six weeks later, an American war crimes investigator sent a letter to Albert Einstein informing him that his cousins family had been murdered in Italy. The news was devastating.

A year later, Albert would hear more terrible news from Italy. Overwhelmed by guilt and grief, Robert had taken an overdose of sleeping pills. He died in a hospital in Florence on 13 July 1945.

After the war, my family lost contact with the Einsteins. They were living in the US and Switzerland; we were in London. The only remaining evidence of a connection was the letter from Albert Einstein to my great-grandfather.

But contact was made again when I met Robert Einsteins niece, Anna Maria. Though in her 90s, she still had a clear memory of the dreadful events of August 1944.

She told me it was the worst day of her life; she was still terrorised by what happened.

She was also confident about why the murder had taken place. It had been ordered at the very highest level in the Nazi regime. Robert had been targeted because he was the cousin of Albert Einstein. And as Robert was not available, they had brutally murdered his wife and daughters. It was a vendetta.

 The Einstein Vendetta by Thomas Harding is published by Michael Joseph at 22. To support the Guardian and Observer, order your copy at guardianbookshop.com. Delivery charges may apply. Follow the author on X @thomasharding

 This article was amended on 22 April 2025. A 1933 sum of 1,000 is equivalent to about 61,000 today, not to about half a million pounds as an earlier version said.
Axon brought a mobile tactical simulator to the Arizona Capitol on March 4, 2025, as part of its effort to back legislation that would stop a ballot referendum in Scottsdale brought by residents opposed to the company's plans to build a 74-acre campus near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Gov. Katie Hobbs has signed legislation to give law enforcement technology company Axon a carve-out in state law that will let it avoid voter review of its planned massive headquarters and housing project in north Scottsdale.

Axon came to the Capitol in 2025 aiming to bar voters in every city and town in Arizona from being able to challenge zoning and development decisions. But that bill failed to garner enough support, so the company and its allies pivoted instead to merely stripping away the right of Scottsdale voters to challenge the police weapons manufacturers HQ project near Hayden Road and the Loop 101.

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In addition to the firms international headquarters, the project will include a luxury hotel and roughly 1,900 apartments.

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With Axon pledging to leave Arizona if the election was allowed to stand  Scottsdale voters are notoriously anti-development  their bill earned support from a bipartisan coalition of lawmakers who feared the homegrown firm would leave for another state.

The Scottsdale City Council and every legislator from the city vociferously opposed the bill  and there are concerns the measure is unconstitutional  but Hobbs signed Senate Bill 1543 late Friday, along with a slew of other bills.

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The Scottsdale City Council had been urging residents to reach out to Hobbs asking her to veto the bill and had previously stated on social media that Hobbs had refused to meet with them after the bill passed out of the Senate.

The Arizona Constitution gives residents the right to refer matters to the ballot.

Axon CEO Patrick Smith speaks the Arizona Capitol on March 4, 2025, as part of the companys effort to back legislation that would stop a ballot referendum in Scottsdale brought by residents opposed to its plans to build a 74-acre campus near the Loop 101 and Hayden Road. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy | Arizona Mirror

Today marks a defining moment for Axon, for Scottsdale, and for the state of Arizona. I am incredibly grateful to Gov. Katie Hobbs for signing SB1543 into law, and to the many Arizona legislators, business leaders, and community members who stood behind this important measure, Axon CEO Rick Smith said in a written statement. The hundreds of Axon team members and Scottsdale residents who made their voices heard played a critical role in shaping this outcome  and I offer my thanks to each of them.

Axon has been lobbying aggressively for lawmakers to scrap the local election. Last month, the company held a large press conference outside the House of Representatives that included a large number of employees, technology, food and more, as lawmakers rubbed elbows with Axons C-suite and team of lobbyists.

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Local activists, backed by a signature-gathering effort linked to a California labor union, gathered more than 25,000 signatures to send the rezoning decision made by a lame-duck city council  the votes for the project came from councilors who had been voted out of office  to the ballot in a voter referendum, which must happen by November 2026.

With the legislation that was signed by Hobbs, even if voters overwhelmingly disapprove of the project, it would be protected by the legislation.

The measure says that any municipality with between 200,000 and 500,000 residents  Scottsdale had 241,000 residents in the 2020 census  must allow hotel use and multifamily residential housing for land zoned like the Axon parcel without requiring any type of application that will require a public hearing if certain criteria is met.

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An opponent of the Arizona ICE Act displays a poster referencing the message welcoming refugees inscribed on the Statue of Liberty at the Arizona Capitol on Feb. 10, 2025. Republican lawmakers have moved to require cooperation between ICE officials and every law enforcement agency in the state, which critics say could help facilitate President Donald Trumps mass deportation plans. Photo by Gloria Gomez | Arizona Mirror

A Republican effort to boost President Donald Trumps mass deportation campaign in Arizona and force schools to open their doors to ICE agents was shut down by Gov. Katie Hobbs, who wielded her veto pen to reject the plan on Friday.

Arizonans, not Washington, DC politicians, must decide whats best for Arizona, the Democrat wrote in her veto letter of the Arizona ICE Act.

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Senate Bill 1164, named the Arizona Immigration Cooperation and Enforcement Act, would have mandated that every police department and sheriffs office in the state comply when ICE asks them to hold onto a prisoner.

Such detainers, also called ICE holds, are written requests to law enforcement officials to keep an arrested person in custody for 48 hours after that person is scheduled to be released  even if they havent been convicted of a crime  to give immigration agents time to determine deportation eligibility.

The requests dont require probable cause and it is currently optional for law enforcement agencies to comply with them.

Some cities, in light of lawsuits following erroneously issued ICE detainers, have approved ordinances forbidding compliance with them. Just this week, a U.S. citizen was forced to spend the night in a Florida jail on an ICE hold, even after his mother showed a judge his birth certificate. Law enforcement agencies in Florida are required by state law to comply with ICE detainers.

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The measure would also have prohibited the state, cities and even school boards from passing policies that limit cooperation with federal immigration authorities. In light of Trumps executive order that restored the ability of ICE agents to carry out immigration enforcement actions in previously protected spaces, like churches and schools, multiple school boards across the country have moved to bar ICE agents from school grounds without judicial warrants.

In January, Phoenix Union High School Districts governing board adopted a policy that declared its schools are safe zones from immigration enforcement and prohibited letting people who would disrupt an educational setting onto any of its campuses.

In her veto explanation, Hobbs said she disagrees with the Trump administrations approach to immigration enforcement and touted her own initiatives addressing fentanyl at the ports of entry and targeting cartel operations. The Democrat has long favored solutions that center on partnering with local law enforcement agencies and increasing funding instead of criminalizing people and issuing mandates.

I will continue to work with the federal government on true border security, but we should not force state and local officials to take marching orders from Washington, DC, Hobbs wrote.

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The legislation sparked weekly protests from Latino and immigrant rights organizations, who denounced it as a new iteration of SB1070, the states notorious show me your papers law from 2010 that gave police officers the power to question a persons immigration status during routine traffic stops and critics say resulted in rampant racial profiling.

Alejandra Gomez, the executive director for Living United for Change in Arizona, a progressive organization that led the protests against the Arizona ICE Act, celebrated the veto in a written statement.

Governor Hobbs veto of the Arizona ICE Act is a critical victory for our communities and a powerful rejection of Trumps mass deportation agenda, she said. Today, the Governor sent a clear message: Arizona will not be bullied into becoming a tool of federal overreach and extremist politics. We thank her for standing with immigrant families, defending local control, and showing the courage this moment demands.

The Arizona ICE Act was a top priority for the Republican legislative majority, which has focused its efforts this session on supporting the White Houses anti-immigrant agenda.

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Whether this is the end of the road for the Arizona ICE Act remains to be seen. The last time Hobbs killed a GOP priority bill focused on immigration enforcement, Republicans responded by packaging it into a ballot referral. That referral, titled the Secure Border Act, made it a state crime for migrants to cross the southern border anywhere but at an official port of entry  and nearly 63% of Arizonans cast their ballots in favor of it last year.

The veto drew criticism from the Republican Governors Association, which works to ensure GOP candidates are elected to lead states across the country.

Katie Hobbs veto is no surprise  her record on the border is pitiful. Hobbs tried to fool Arizonans into thinking she was a border hawk, but this veto shows she is unserious about addressing the border and protecting Arizonans from the violence and drugs coming into the state, RGA Director Kollin Crompton said in a written statement.

Hobbs faces reelection in 2026, and Republicans have sought to frame her as weak on border security to mobilize voters against her.

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Concern over the southern border ranked at the top of voter priorities in the last election. The Democrat has tried to straddle the line by supporting harsh immigration policies at the federal level and opposing anti-immigrant proposals at the state level. Congress approval of the Laken Riley Act, which broadened the scope of ICE detainers for even nonviolent crimes, including shoplifting, prompted Hobbs strong praise via social media.

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SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  Friday was celebrated by Christians around the globe as Good Friday, and Holy Cross Parish in Springfield was among several local churches that held a live Stations of the Cross.

LIST: Best local spots to visit for Easter brunch

Good Friday is known as the day when Jesus was crucified. During the service at Holy Cross Catholic Church, a cross bearer moved from station to station. The community was invited to pray alongside him.

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This Stations of the Cross is a little bit different, said Brian Rucci, music director at Holy Cross. Its done from the perspectives of a different character at each station. The whole commemoration of this week from the last supper, Good Friday, and to His resurrection on Sunday.

Holy Cross will host an Easter vigil Saturday at 7:30 p.m. Services on easter Sunday will take place at 7:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m., and 11:00 a.m.

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Massachusetts homeowners are increasingly facing insurance nonrenewals, despite seeming to be one of the safest states in the country when it comes to natural disasters.

What's happening?

Surveys from 2023 found that insurance companies opted not to renew 1.51% of Massachusetts homeowner policies, which is up from 1.18% five years earlier, reports the Boston Business Journal.

"The state isn't necessarily one of the riskiest areas of the country, so in that sense it's surprising. It's also a relatively wealthy area, so the fact that insurers are dropping customers is also a little surprising," assistant professor of finance at Harvard Business School Ishita Sen told Boston Business Journal.

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Massachusetts homeowners are facing these nonrenewals, however, because of the increasing effects of rising global temperatures on the area.

The Massachusetts state senate's office explained in a report, according to the Boston Business Journal, "The data released with this report demonstrate climate change is beginning to upend insurance markets around the country  as the counties that are most exposed to climate-related risks such as wildfires or hurricanes are the counties seeing the highest nonrenewal rates."

In 2023 alone, there were eight weather-related "catastrophe events," resulting in $892.3 million in property losses.

Cape Cod, which is the part of Massachusetts' geography that extends into the Atlantic Ocean, has seen a large portion of the nonrenewals. Due to its geography and weather patterns, the region is especially vulnerable to more violent storms, flooding, and the growing risk of a hurricane landfall.

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Megan Wright, owner of Wright Insurance Agency in the Cape Cod town of Yarmouth, said in a statement, "No doubt, a nonrenewal is a tough pill to swallow."

Why is the rise in homeowner insurance nonrenewals important?

The rise in weather-related events in the New England region is a direct cause of an increasing number of homeowners' insurance policies being denied to residents.

Human activities, like the burning of dirty energy, are causing massive global overheating, which results in unpredictable weather events.

If these bad practices persist, other regions around the globe will continue to see weather events that are unusual and unpredictable.

What's being done about insurance nonrenewals?

Several large industries and businesses are taking steps toward safer and cleaner business practices that involve less dirty energy and more clean, renewable energy.

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This past October, 32 of the world's leading utility companies announced that they would invest more than $116 billion annually into clean energy technologies.

As more clean energy solutions continue to be discovered and implemented, experts are optimistic that the world can combat rising global temperatures and extreme weather. With the increasing amount of heat-trapping gases in our atmosphere, it's important to adopt clean energy initiatives that will spark real change.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.












Whether its renewing your passport, applying for a driving licence or registering the birth of a child, citizens want services to be easily accessible and simple to use, the Cabinet Office trumpeted as it confirmed plans to create a single digital login for all government services.

Michael Gove, the minister overseeing the project when it launched in 2021, said at the time: All public-facing central government services should migrate on to it and legacy systems will be phased out.

One Login, as the system is known, is now live and used by 3m people. Ministers also want banks to adopt it to secure loans and mortgages, and have demonstrated a smartphone app built on top of One Login  called Gov.UK Wallet  that pubs and nightclubs will be able to use to check IDs.

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Yet this week The Telegraph revealed that citizens personal data has been potentially put at risk by cyber security failings. Developers were given top level system access without the required level of security vetting and high numbers of defects were reported, according to an audit from 2023.

In addition, the projects top management at the Government Digital Service (GDS) were unaware that parts of the system were being developed in Romania, a country known as a cyber crime hotspot.

The Government insists the allegations are historical and security systems have been brought up to standard since then. Officials dismiss any suggestion that the publics data is unsafe.

However, the allegations of poor cyber security practices during the crucial building phase have raised concerns.

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The Governments response does not deny that there have been concerns in the past and relies on everything being in order now. But what may be embedded in the system? asks Baroness Neville-Jones, a former Home Office minister.

The security of the system is of vital importance.

One Login is designed to be a critical cog in a much larger machine, unlocking access to other government services  from tax to benefits. It also processes personal information ranging from passports to biometric information.

Potential flaws in the system could leave it vulnerable to fraud, or worse.

This project belongs in the critical national infrastructure category, Baroness Neville-Jones says. One Login is effectively an identity card as far as government services are concerned.

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One Logins crucial role makes it a magnet for foreign intelligence services, blackmailers and identity thieves.

To obtain a One Login identity, you submit your name, date of birth, mobile phone number, addresses for the past three years and a driving licence or passport. GDS may also request a selfie video for liveness and likeness checks. Biometric matching is then carried out for the service by One Login by iProov, a British company.

All this may be shared with other government services where the user is accessing that service.

This personal data is as valuable to an identity thief as the security needs to be rigorous, in order to minimise the risk of allowing criminals to create false identities.

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There is no suggestion that the system has been compromised. However, the allegations raised by The Telegraph have led to calls for an investigation to assure the public that One Login conforms to the highest security standards expected.

Lord Lucas, who along with Baroness Neville-Jones serves on the House of Lords Science and Technology Committee, notes that overseas intelligence agencies are putting a lot of effort and money into compromising UK public sector systems.

Such a crucial systems developers should have had that constantly in mind, he says. Who can be trusted to audit it in sufficient depth to reassure us that there is no possibility of compromise  and would it be cheaper to rebuild from the ground up?

Horizon all over again

What alarms Mark King, who developed technical security standards at CESQ, the predecessor of the National Cyber Security Centre, is the fact that work was outsourced to other countries, meaning the system could be accessed remotely.

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Basically, its Horizon all over again, says King, referring to the Fujitsu computer system that was at the heart of the Post Office Scandal.

Hundreds of sub-postmasters were wrongly convicted for theft, fraud and false accounting over wrongful claims they stole from the Post Office.

The claims stemmed from the Horizon computer system built by Fujitsu. Programmers working on the live Horizon Post Office system could change how it worked while the sub-postmasters were using it.

Executives denied this could happen. However, when this was disproved, it fatally undermined the prosecutions  which have now been quashed.

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Today, remote access is the norm, making the business of who and how of a critical system is accessed very important.

A government spokesman rejected the Horizon comparison. They said: GDS follows security best practice with a number of layered security controls.

GDS is aligning to the NCSC Cyber Assessment Framework, has a robust device management policy [and] GDS managed devices are monitored by a central Cabinet Office security team to detect any malicious activity.

Security concerns brushed aside

However, a whistleblower who spoke to The Telegraph claimed standards were not always up to scratch.

A senior civil servant who was assigned to the project to assess risk said security concerns were flagged as early as 2022. After discovering issues, he reported his concerns to senior management but he was brushed aside and staff on his team were assigned to other roles.

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But he did not leave it there.

He took a big step and formally invoked his rights under the Public Interest Disclosure Act, which gives a government employee rights to share their concerns with a narrow selection of recipients, including the minister responsible, without fear of reprisal. He only came to the media, he told The Telegraph, as a last throw of the dice.

The cyber security concerns are the latest hurdle in the Governments long-troubled attempts to introduce an ID system.

Labour has sought to introduce some sort of universal identification since the turn of the century, and the Tony Blair Institute for Global Change, founded by the former prime minister, this week again demanded the introduction of a digital identity to fight fraud and improve tax collection.

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A plastic ID card scheme drawn up by Labour in the early 2000s was expensive, ill thought out and unlikely to find favour with the public, Baroness Neville-Jones told Parliament in 2010 as she cancelled the project.

Sir Tony Blairs attempts to introduce a National ID as prime minister were met with protests - Scott Barbour/Getty Images Europe

Mindful of the lack of trust, a new idea was formed. Rather than the state building one monolithic database, citizens would be encouraged to act like consumers by choosing identity services from a marketplace of private identity providers  all of whom were acting as middlemen.

This was the basis of Gov.Verify, the successor to ID cards, announced in 2014. It was overseen by the then relatively new GDS.

However, five years later the National Audit Office recommended that it should be cancelled because of low adoption from the the public, government departments and private sector partners. The Law Commission concluded that Verify didnt even verify a users identity. Over 230m had been spent.

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As Verify was scrapped in 2021, it was announced One Login would succeed it  and the job was given to the same department, GDS, depite them having failed with Verify.

To date, One Login has cost the taxpayer over 307m since 2022, with hundreds of contractors involved. It is intended to replace the login services we use today, including the HMRCs Government Gateway.

Users wont have a choice but to use it, said one insider.

A government spokesman previously told The Telegraph: These concerns are dated and relate to the technology in its infancy, which has moved on considerably in the intervening years.

As the public rightly expect, protecting the security of government services and the data and privacy of users to keep pace with the changing cyber threat landscape is paramount.

We are fully compliant with UK data protection and privacy laws  including UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act 2018  adhere to National Cyber Security Centre advice, and operate a three lines of defence process.

This ensures data is protected, fraud is deterred and detected, and threats are monitored and responded to.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
MYAKKA CITY, Fla. (WFLA)  Sarasota County deputies responded to a call at 3:19 a.m. regarding the four horses wandering along Cutting Horse Trail.

At the scene, the deputies found one of the horses had gotten trapped in a cattle grate and appeared to be in distress.

The deputies freed the horse, who suffered minor injuries, and all four animals were returned to their owners.

The Sarasota County Sheriffs Office commended the deputies involved and thanked them for their swift and tireless efforts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
April 19 (UPI) -- The Republican House Oversight Committee chairman has denied requests by two Democrats to check on a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador, though the GOP has sent their own delegations to tour the notorious prison he is at.

Rep. James Comer of Kentucky sent letters to two House members telling them they can "spend your own money" to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported March 15.

Reps. Robert Garcia of California and Maxwell Frost of Florida wrote to Comer on Tuesday "requesting authorization" for an official trip. They said also want to check on others held there and invited Republicans to make the trip to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca.

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The congressmen sought Congressional Member Delegations for U.S. Customs and Border Protection detention site. The Democrats noted official trips afford them more oversight and security resources.

"If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money," Comer wrote Friday in a letter obtained by Axios. "But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested."

James Comer, the Republican House Oversight Committee chairman, has denied requests by two Democrats to check on a Maryland man wrongly deported to El Salvador though the GOP has sent their own delegations to tour a notorious prison. File photo by Bonnie Cash/UPI

Comer accused Abrego Garcia of being an MS-13 gang member, though the government has not given proof of his membership. The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that the Trump administration must "facilitate" his return to Maryland because he wasn't given due process before being deported.

U.S. Rep. Maxine Dexter, D-Ore., also plans to travel to El Salvador to demand the release of him. Dexter, a member of committees on land resources and Veterans Affairs, didn't disclose whether she was paying for the trip.

Senator Chris Van Hollen, D-MD, speaks Thursday with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant living in Maryland and deported to El Salvador by the Trump administration. Photo courtesy President Nayib Bukele/UPI

"A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison," Dexter said in a news release Friday.

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"This is not just one family's nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line."

Earlier, House Homeland Security Committee chairman Mark Green of Tennessee refused a similar request from Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois.

Republicans sent their own delegation to El Salvador earlier this week, led by Rep. Jason Smith, of Missouri, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

At least seven House Republicans were present on the trip, according to a photo posted to X by the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador.

El #EmbajadorDuncan dio ayer la bienvenida a El Salvador a la delegacion encabezada por el Congresista Jason Smith, quien visita el pais para fortalecer los lazos bilaterales y dialogar sobre iniciativas que promueven el desarrollo economico y la cooperacion mutua. pic.twitter.com/Zj0o8OSiOJ Embajada EEUU en ES (@USEmbassySV) April 16, 2025

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem on March 26 also toured the Terrorism Confinement Center, where the Trump administration is paying El Salvador to house deportees.

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In the letter, Comer wrote that Garcia and Frost "displayed active hostility for over two years toward the committee's oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country, yet now, you are seeking travel at committee expense to meet with foreign gang members."

U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., made his own trip to El Salvador this week.

After initially being denied by the President Nayib Bukele on Thursday, he met with his constituent at a hotel. Van Hollen said he was informed by Abrego Garcia he had been moved nine days earlier to another prison about 39 miles away in Santa Ana.

Sen. Cory Booker, D-N.Y., also has said that he wants to go to El Salvador.
In a special meeting Thursday that lasted less than four minutes, Meadville Housing Authority board members voted 4-1 to place the authoritys executive director on temporary paid leave.

Vanessa Rockovich, who has been the authoritys executive director since 2021, did not attend the meeting.

Board members offered no explanation for the move during the meeting in the Holland Towers community room.

After the meeting, board member Cena Kneubehl said the decision to place Rockovich on leave was not related to an unresolved conflict of interest involving board Chair Joe Tompkins. Disagreement over how to deal with the conflict has contributed to months of tension that has pitted the boards newest members  Kneubehl, Tompkins and Jane Osborne  against Rockovich and more-senior board members Marcia Yohe and Richard Zinn.

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The subject of this meeting has nothing to do with the conflict of interest. There are two separate issues, Kneubehl said. This was something completely out of the blue that we were like, Oh, God.

Asked to clarify what instigated the meeting, Kneubehl and other board members said the authoritys attorney, Christopher Ferry, had advised them not to comment. They similarly declined to cite any timeline for when the leave, which began immediately, might end.

Citing the personnel-related nature of the subject, Ferry also declined to comment on the reason Rockovich was placed on leave.

Attempts to reach Rockovich after the meeting were unsuccessful.

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In discussion prior to the vote, Yohe explained her opposition to the move.

I think its important to know, I think, given our staffing issues, there are other ways to go about this, Yohe said, so I think that needs to be stated  that I dont think this is the only way to address this issue.

And I think, Kneubehl responded immediately, that given the information we have, this was the most appropriate action we could take.

In numerous votes that have split board members in recent meetings, Zinn has typically been on the same side as Yohe. After the meeting, he said that voting against the leave of absence would have been the appropriate vote, but he voted in favor to move the process along.

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The easiest thing to do is move the process along, he said, so that whatever the resolution is, it benefits the residents as quickly as possible.

After placing Rockovich on leave, board members voted 5-0 to appoint Deputy Executive Director Jon Ketcham as temporary interim acting executive director. Members then voted unanimously to update the list of names authorized to sign for the authority in banking transactions in order to add Tompkins, who was elected chair at the authoritys regular monthly meeting last week, according to Ferry.

The brief meeting was announced in a legal advertisement in Wednesdays edition of The Meadville Tribune and came after board members met in executive session Sunday at 4:30 p.m. to discuss a personnel matter, according to the meeting agenda. Despite the short notice, an audience of about 20 people attended the meeting, including Meadville City Council member Gretchen Myers, staff members from social service agencies in the city, Holland Towers residents and authority employees.

Osborne, who was appointed to the board by Meadville City Council in January, said other board members had advised her that the contentious nature of the first few meetings she has taken part in is atypical of most Housing Authority meetings.

Osborne was optimistic about seeing less discord in meetings moving forward.

That would be nice. Im not used to all this, she said. Well see how it goes.
SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) -A U.S. judge's ruling that Google has illegal monopolies in ad technology sets up the possibility of U.S. prosecutors seeking a breakup. Here's what the case involves and what Google owner Alphabet faces from here.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

The most important thing is what this is not about: this is not about search, Google's bread and butter, although there is a separate antitrust case about search. The Justice Department's ad technology case revolves around Google Network, a division of the business that manages its auction-style system that advertisers use to purchase digital ad space. The ad tech chooses what ad to put where at what cost.

Federal prosecutors said that Google's power over the ad tech allows it to illegally fend off competition, which hurts web publishers, such as news outlets. The judge agreed. Google's argument was that it out-competed rivals with superior technology.

Advertising accounted for about 75% of Alphabet's $350.02 billion in revenue for 2024. The Google Network business accounted for only 8.7% of the revenue.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

The judge who ruled there are illegal monopolies now will hear arguments about what to do. The Justice Department had been seeking, at a minimum, the divestiture of Google Ad Manager, a platform within the Network division. Ad Manager represented 4.1% of overall revenue and 1.5% of operating profit in 2020, according to Wedbush research and analysis of court documents.

More recent figures were redacted from court documents.

HOW BIG A DEAL IS THIS FOR GOOGLE?

Erik Hovenkamp, a professor at Cornell Law School, earlier in the case had predicted that if it lost, Google would probably have to divest some, not all, of its display advertising business, and the net effect would be a drop in revenues of less than 10%.

Google has even been open to some ad tech divestiture. Reuters first reported on Sept. 18 that Google itself offered to sell its advertising exchange, which is part of Google Ad Manager, to appease European antitrust regulators. Publishers rejected the proposal, sources said.

COULD THIS HAVE RIPPLE EFFECTS?

The most serious implication of the ruling might be how the company manages the ripple effects of court-ordered remedies across other parts of its ad tech suite, Nikolas Guggenberger, a law professor at the University of Houston, has said. In theory, a DOJ win would make it easier for advertisers and publishers to switch ad tech platforms.

There is also the political precedent set in terms of political will: the Biden and Trump administrations both have supported this case so far, showing an almost unique level of cooperation on the two sides of the political aisle in the prosecution of Big Tech.
HOWELL  Tanger Outlets in Howell has been acquired by Bloomfield Hills real estate firm Lormax Stern and is getting a new name, the company confirmed to The Daily on Friday.

The acquisition was first reported by the Livingston Post, which cited well placed sources as confirming the purchase.

The Daily reached out to Managing Director Andrew Bell, who confirmed that Lormax Stern acquired the outlet mall this week, but not the Tanger company. Bell also said the firm acquired the property with its partner Time Equity Inc., a real estate investment and development company out of New York.

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Going forward, the shopping center will be called Kensington Valley Outlets, company officials said.

Tanger Outlets in Howell was acquired by Lormax Stern, a real estate firm in Bloomfield Hills.

All signs with the name "Tanger" have been removed or covered. The website for Tanger Outlets in Howell now directs users to kensingtonvalleyoutlets.com. Lormax Stern Marketing Director Drew Ford said he isn't sure when the signs with the new name will go up.

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The outlet was called Kensington Valley Factory Shops before it was acquired by Tanger in 2002 and the name was changed to Tanger Outlet Centers Kensington Valley. When Lormax Stern acquired the property, they couldn't continue to use the Tanger name. Ford said they chose the new name of Kensington Valley Outlets to pay homage to the shopping center's history.

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Ford said the ownership change isn't expected to affect store owners.

"It should be pretty seamless of a transition," Ford said. "We don't expect any major changes. We do have some long term plans in store that will bring more traffic to the center, but in the immediate transition, there shouldn't be any immediate impact."

Ford said he can't confirm rumors of business that have been speculated to be opening in the mall.

More: Storm damage closes Cat House Lounge in Howell; owner says 'no timeline for reopening'

The outlet mall has multiple locally-owned businesses like LACASA Collection and Beeyond Treasures. Ford said Lormax Stern is happy to continue working with the businesses.

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"We're already in contact with all the store owners and happy to keep all the locals," Ford said.

 Contact reporter Tess Ware at tware@livingstondaily.com.

This article originally appeared on Livingston Daily: Tanger Outlets acquired by Bloomfield Hills real estate firm
Call them dire wolves. Dont call them dire wolves. Colossal Biosciences, the biotechnology company from Dallas, Texas, that wants to de-extinct the woolly mammoth and dodo, doesnt care what you call Romulus, Remus, and Khaleesi  just that theyre here.

Were going to call them de-extinct dire wolves. You can call them proxy dire wolves or Colossal dire wolves. Or, you can call them gray wolves with 20 edits that recreate functional dire wolves in the ecosystems of today, Colossals chief scientist and evolutionary biologist Dr. Beth Shapiro told The Independent.

Colossal, which calls itself the worlds first and only de-extinction company, says that de-extincting the dire wolves is a stride forward on the treadmill of scientific progress  but frustrated conservation groups say the gene-edited wolves are a part of the problem.

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The Colossal dire wolves were made using gray wolves genetic information and by extracting ancient DNA from fossils found in Ohio and Idaho. But, in the wild, gray wolves are struggling. Theyre being hunted, and have lost their natural habitat.

Its frustrating that theres time and energy devoted to bringing back an animal when we have gray wolves already, Regan Downey, the Wolf Conservation Centers director of education, told The Independent.

A keystone species that helps to keep the balance in their ecosystem, gray wolves stand to lose federal protections. The House Natural Resources Committee passed a bill that would remove the animals from the endangered species list. Lets make sure that theyre not going extinct, Downey urged.

Distinctive traits of the dire wolf include light thick fur and muscular jaws, while they are also much larger than grey wolves (Colossal Biosciences via AP) (AP)

Many conservationists raise valid ethical concerns when it comes to the whole concept of de-extinction. The dire wolves are coming to a greatly changed planet, stricken by the human condition: climate change, pollution, and much of the issues that have led to our biodiversity crisis and the sixth mass extinction. Multiple studies have painted a bleak outlook for Earths wildlife in the coming decades, with some more adapted to a warming or changing world than others.

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Dire wolves have obviously not adapted to this changing world, and Downey noted that it was upsetting the de-extinct wolves were created without a place in the American landscape for them.

Through widespread criticism about its projects, Colossal asserts that conservation is at the heart of its decision-making and that its work represents an opportunity to improve stability in ecosystems.

In its announcement of the dire wolves birth, other fascinating news did not get the same headline attention: Colossal had cloned two litters of red wolves.

Red wolves are the most critically endangered wolf in the world; only 16 of them still exist in the wild. Currently 270 red wolves are living in captivity, with plans for them to be released.

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Wolf Conservation Center senior research scientist Dr. Joseph Hinton said in a statement that the immediate concern for the survival of red wolves is threats like cars or hunters, which cloning doesnt protect them from. Cloning is a solution in search of a problem that doesnt exist for red wolves, he said.

Red wolves are critically endangered. Only between 15 and 17 roam their native habitats in eastern North Carolina. Conservationists say there are more immediate methods to promote long-term survival for the species (Business Wire/AP)

The new litters of red wolves may look more like dire wolves were believed to have appeared tens of thousands of years ago. In previous renderings, dire wolves are shown with reddish brown coats and gnashing teeth. They were not just ancient versions of gray wolves  although a pre-print Colossals scientists published this week suggests they were much more wolf-like than previously thought. As big as the largest of the modern gray wolves, the carnivorous ancient canids that roamed the Americas were closely related to todays jackals. They feasted on horses, ground sloths, bison, and camels. Their life span, however, is similar to modern wolves: typically under a decade.

Dire wolves are very much the dominant species of canine during the Ice Age. And, at the end of the Ice Age around 13,000 years ago, dire wolves became extinct, explained Los Angeles County Natural History Museum Vertebrate Paleontology Curator Dr. Xiaoming Wang, possibly because their prey are disappearing which was maybe related to humans.

He said the cause of their extinction is controversial, and tied to climate change and species competition. When they disappeared, the gray wolf took over.

An artist's rendering shared by the National Park Service shows feeding dire wolves thousands of years ago. They ate horses and ground sloths (NPS Photo)

But the Colossals dire wolves will be different than their forefathers in all sorts of ways, says Wang.

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The three individuals that they managed to clone probably wont have the kind of behavior or repertoire that a normal dire wolf would have because a lot of the behavioral things are taught through parental care, he noted.

There are other aspects of the de-extinct dire wolves that may seem more likely in a Game of Thrones episode than a museum. The de-extinct dire wolves have a larger and stronger body and fuller coat. Theyre also white.

Shapiro said that when they extracted DNA from the fossil they found and studied their genetic information, they saw that they had light-colored coats. Using edited cells that were implanted into surrogate dog mothers, Colossal was able to imbue those features onto six-month-olds Romulus and Remus, and their three-month-old sister Khaleesi.

Did biotechnology company Colossal Biosciences just de-extinct dire wolves? Co-founded by billionaire Ben Lamm and American geneticist George Church, it just announced the birth of three fluffy, white pups (Business Wire/AP)

The wolves are kept on a secure ecological preserve that spans 2,000 acres in a secret location. Romulus and Remus are bigger than when they made those little howls in a video shared by Colossal. Now nearly fully sized, they playfully tramp around a grassy enclosure, unaware of the ethical controversies their births have created.

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So, is what Colossal doing good or bad? The reality is pretty murky. To conservationists, ultimately, the de-extinct dire wolves are a distraction from the gray and red wolves that need immediate help, funding, and support.

Shapiro, who was part of the team that first retrieved dire-wolf DNA from fossils in 2021, said recent actions to revoke protections of gray wolves are terrible and not what we need. Even so, she said that the pace of change in the world is faster than evolution by natural selection can keep up with, and that the future of biodiversity conservation has to include some aspect of these biotechnologies.

Colossals chief animal officer Matthew James says their efforts are complementary to species conservation work.

I think one thing thats been lost so far  is this idea that were pitching these technological platforms as a silver bullet solution for conservation, and thats not the case, he said.
Rockbridge County Va. (WFXR)  The remains of a missing Virginia man may have been found on Friday, April 18th.

Coordinated efforts from the Office of the Sheriff for Rockbridge County and Lexington City, and other supporting agencies, searched the Sallings Mountain Rd and Forge Rd areas.

Officers found what appeared to be human remains. The Sheriffs Office has been investigating the disappearance of Dustin Cody Butler, and the remains have since been transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for indentification.

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Butler went missing in December 2022.

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family who are waiting for answers, said

Sheriff Tony McFaddin. We are committed to conducting a thorough and respectful

investigation and will continue to provide updates as soon as we are able to

share verified information.

Anyone with relevant information is encouraged to contact the Office of the Sheriff for Rockbridge County and Lexington City at 540-463-7328.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFXRtv.
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP)  A Good Friday tradition attracted large numbers of the faithful in Springfields Hispanic community. Families gathered outside Blessed Sacrament church for the reenactment of the Stations of the Cross procession.

This was a moving and emotional experience for many. The faithful gathered to commemorate the final hours of Jesus life and reflect on his sacrifice.

Several palms were waving in the air outside Blessed Sacrament church in Springfield, symbolizing Jesus triumphant entry into Jerusalem, a few days before his crucifixion. You see, the whole community comes together. Is something very unique, something that we do every single year, said Carmen Santana of Springfield.

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The community then watched silently as church members in costume recreated the events culminating with the crucifixion of Christ. They then took to the streets of the North End neighborhood to reenact the stations of the cross.

Hundreds of people were seen walking with Jesus to honor his last journey, a tradition many cherish. Its just so heartwarming. And its wonderful. Yeah, I would love every family to come down here and be down here today, expressed Damaris Baz of Springfield.

This reenactment illustrates the timeline from when Jesus was condemned to death up until when he was laid to rest in the tomb. Jesus gave his life for us to show us how much he loved us and for us to understand that our life here doesnt end today. It continues on. And thats what it is. It was through his death that led to his resurrection, said Blessed Sacrament-All Souls Parish Deacon Angel Delgado.

Many say this was a way to connect with their culture and faith. Remember who we are, where we come from, and who suffers for us, for us to be here today, expressed Maria Perez of Springfield.

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This procession will also continue to hold a special place in many hearts. And many say its a tradition they look to keep passing down from generation to generation.

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Bryan Kohbergers legal team wont be able to tell a jury in his upcoming death penalty trial about his autism diagnosis unless he takes the stand in his own defense, a judge ruled Friday.

Kohberger faces four counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle and Ethan Chapin, who were killed at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. Not guilty pleas have been entered on his behalf.

Kohbergers lawyers had asked the judge to allow them to tell the jury during opening statements in the trials first phase that he has autism spectrum disorder  a condition they say will explain what might be perceived as odd behavior as he sits at the defense table.

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Autism spectrum disorder is a neurological and developmental disorder that can affect how people interact with others, communicate, learn and behave, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Judge Steven Hippler denied the motion Friday, saying unless Kohberger testifies, his demeanor is not relevant.

Kohbergers attorneys have repeatedly said its unlikely hell take the stand in his own defense because of his diagnosis.

The judge said hes never seen any odd behavior from Kohberger during the hearings hes presided over in the last several months, noting Kohberger is diagnosed with the least severe form of ASD and by all accounts is highly-functioning.

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Not once has the Court perceived Defendant to be acting in an odd or incongruent manner or otherwise demonstrating signs at counsel table that would warrant any explanation to the jury, Hippler wrote.

Hippler said in the new order bringing more attention to it in opening statements and through expert testimony would add more time to the already lengthy trial and probably confuse the jury.

A jury is typically instructed only to consider evidence presented at trial and the credibility of witnesses who take the stand  which does not include the demeanor of non-testifying parties.

In a footnote, Hippler said the attorneys can ask prospective panelists during jury selection if Kohbergers demeanor at the defense table might sway them.

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Defendants ASD can certainly be raised in voir dire, including questioning the jury panel about whether they can avoid judging the defendant improperly based on how he presents at counsel table, which may allay Defendants concerns about how the jury will perceive him, the judge wrote.

The judge also ruled Kohbergers attorneys cannot call an expert to testify that he was not physically capable of committing the crime because he has developmental coordination disorder.

Hippler said none of the defense experts have actually said Kohberger has the disorder or gave an opinion about his ability to commit the crimes.

There is a chance the jury will hear about Kohbergers obsessive compulsive disorder diagnosis in his defense case. Hippler said hed wait to decide at trial if the defense can call an expert to talk about Kohbergers OCD because prosecutors may make arguments that Kohberger was destroying evidence right before law enforcement arrested him at his parents home in Pennsylvania.

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By way of example, he notes that just prior to his arrest, law enforcement saw him wearing gloves and handling baggies. Believing he was destroying evidence, law enforcement abbreviated its knock and announce procedure, Hippler wrote. If the State introduces this or similar evidence at trial, Defendant asserts that evidence of his OCD would be relevant rebuttal to offer another explanation for his behavior.

Defense attorneys for Kohberger are advocating to get the death penalty off the table as a possible sentence should he be convicted. As it stands, the trial will be carried out in phases. The jury will first consider whether the 30-year-old former criminology graduate student is guilty.

If Kohberger is convicted, the same panel will consider whether he should be put to death. The jury is expected to hear evidence about Kohbergers ASD diagnosis as a mitigating factor by the defense during that phase of the trial if it comes to it.

The defense has also said Kohbergers autism diagnosis should disqualify him from the death penalty altogether, but the judge has yet to rule on that motion.

Four University of Idaho students were found dead at an off-campus home on King Road in Moscow, Idaho, in November 2022. - Angela Palermo/Idaho Statesman/TNS/Getty Images/File

Jury can hear testimony describing intruders bushy eyebrows, judge says

In another order Friday, Judge Hippler said the jury can hear testimony describing the intruders bushy eyebrows from the only living witness who saw the person in the house around the time of the killings.

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One of the surviving roommates, Dylan Mortensen, who has said she saw a masked man wearing all black in the home around the time of the murders, has repeatedly described the intruder as having bushy eyebrows in law enforcement interviews and grand jury testimony.

Kohbergers defense team has called Mortensen an unreliable eyewitness, arguing prosecutors shouldnt be able to mention that description because her recollection has been inconsistent, muddied by intoxication and post-event media exposure.

The judge said Friday he disagrees.

While she did not mention his eyebrows in her initial interview, she thereafter identified the bushy eyebrows on multiple occasions as something that firmly stuck out in her mind.

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Although she might have been intoxicated or tired or questioned her memory, the consistency of her descriptions suggest high degree of reliability, Hippler wrote.

Hippler said the description might or might not implicate Kohberger, and that is for the jury to decide.

Prosecutors have also said they plan to show the jury a selfie recovered from Kohbergers cell phone taken hours after the murders to show what he looked like at the time.

Kohbergers lawyers will be allowed to cross-examine Mortensen about her ability to remember what she claims she saw, but regardless, her testimony is highly relevant, the judge said.

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D.M.s testimony about bushy eyebrows is highly relevant in this case. D.M. is the only eyewitness to the intruder responsible for the homicides. It is the jurys task to determine whether Defendant is that person, Hippler wrote.

The judge heard arguments from the lawyers about these and several other issues at a daylong hearing last week. There are still several pending issues the judge is expected to decide about what can and cannot come in at trial.

The parties are due back in court May 15.

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This story originally published April 18, 2025, at ProPublica.org.

A Republican lawmaker said ending an Idaho program that helped public school students buy laptops and other materials wasnt linked to the creation of a private school tax credit. The states most prominent conservative group says it should be.

Just weeks after creating a $50 million tax credit to help families pay for private school tuition and homeschooling, Idaho has shut down a program that helped tens of thousands of public school students pay for laptops, school supplies, tutoring and other educational expenses.

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The Republican leading the push to defund Idahos Empowering Parents grants said it had nothing to do with the partys decision to fund private schools. But the states most prominent conservative group, a strong supporter of the private school tax credit, drew the connection directly.

The Idaho Freedom Foundation, on its website, proposed adding the $30 million that fueled Empowering Parents to the newly created tax credit, paying for an additional 6,000 private and homeschool students to join the 10,000 already expected to benefit from the program.

The new voucher-style tax credits have major differences from the grants lawmakers killed.

The tax credits are off-limits to public school students, while the grants went predominantly to this group. And theres limited state oversight on how the private education tax credits will be used, while the grants to public school families were only allowed to be spent with state-approved educational vendors.

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Rep. Sonia Galaviz, a Democrat who works in a low-income public elementary school in Boise, condemned the plan to kill the grants in a speech to legislative colleagues.

I have to go back to the families that I serve, the parents that I love, the kids that I teach, and say, You no longer can get that additional math tutoring that you need,  she said, that the state is willing to support other programs for other groups of kids, but not you. 

Theyre just letting it go away

When states steer public funds to private schools, well-off families benefit more than those in lower income brackets, as ProPublica has reported in Arizona. The programs are pitched as enabling school choice, but in reality, research has found the money tends to benefit families that have already chosen private schools.

Idaho lawmakers passed such a program this year with the new tax credit, which some describe as a version of school vouchers that parents in other states spend on schools of their choosing.

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The credit allows private and homeschool families to reduce their tax bills by $5,000 per child  $7,500 per student with disabilities  or get that much money from the state if they owe no taxes. Lower-income families have priority, and theres no cap on how many credits each family can claim. The law says funds must go to traditional academic expenses like private school tuition or homeschool curricula and textbooks, plus a few other costs like transportation. But families dont have to provide proof of how they spent the money unless theyre audited.

The Empowering Parents grant program that lawmakers repealed was open to students no matter where they learn, although state data shows at least 81% of the money went to public school students this academic year  more than 24,000 of them. It offered up to $1,000 per student, with lower-income families getting first dibs and a family limit of $3,000.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little created a similar program in 2020 called Strong Families, Strong Students with federal pandemic funds, to help families make the abrupt shift to remote learning. State lawmakers created the current program in 2022, also using one-time federal pandemic recovery money, and liked it so much they renewed it with ongoing state funding in 2023.

Charlene Bradley used the grant this school year to buy a laptop for her daughter, a fifth grader in Nampa School District. Before the purchase, Bradleys daughter could use computers at school, but there was no way to do schoolwork at home, besides my cell phone which we did have to use sometimes, Bradley said in a Facebook message.

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Debra Whiteley used it for home internet and a printer for her 12-year-old daughter, who attends public school in north-central Idaho. Whiteleys daughter resisted doing projects that needed pictures or graphs. Now when she has a project she can make a tri fold display thats not all hand written and self drawn, which looking back on, I didnt have a clue she may have been embarrassed about, Whiteley said in a Facebook message.

Annie Coltrin used it to get much needed tutoring for her daughter, a sophomore in an agricultural community in Southern Idaho. The grant paid for Coltrins daughter to receive math tutoring in person twice a week, which took her grade from a low D to a B+.

Such families were on the minds of education leaders like Jason Sevy when they advocated for preserving the Empowering Parents program this year.

Sevy, who chairs a rural public school district board in southwestern Idaho and is the Idaho School Boards Associations president-elect, said families in his district used the Empowering Parents grants for backpacks and school supplies, or laptops they couldnt afford otherwise.

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Youre looking at families with five kids that were only making $55,000 a year. Having that little extra money made a big difference, Sevy said. But it also closed that gap for these kids to feel like they were going to be able to keep up with everybody else.

Few families in Sevys district will be able to use the states new tuition tax credits for private education, he said. A tiny residential school is the only private school operating in Sevys remote county. The next-closest options require a drive to the neighboring county, and Sevy worries those schools wouldnt take English-language learners or children who need special education. (Unlike public schools, private schools can accept or reject students based on their own criteria.)

This is the program that was able to help those groups of people, and theyre just letting it go away to free up money for private schools, Sevy said.

Far from its original intent

The freshman legislator who sponsored the bill to end Empowering Parents is Sen. Camille Blaylock, a Republican from a small city west of Boise.

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Blaylocks stance is that the grants arent the proper role of government.

Speaking on the Senate floor in March, Blaylock highlighted the fact that the vast majority of the Empowering Parents money went to electronics  mostly computers, laptops and tablets.

This program has drifted far from its original intent, Blaylock said. Its turning into a technology slush fund, and if we choose to continue funding it, we are no longer empowering parents. We are creating entitlements.

In an interview, Blaylock denied any desire to divert public school money to private education and said she was unaware the Idaho Freedom Foundation took that unfortunate position.

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The last thing I want is for this to be a taking away from public schools to give to school choice, because that is not my intent at all, Blaylock said.

She told the Senates education committee this year that her hope in ending the grants was to cut government spending by $30 million. But if the savings had to go somewhere, shed want it to benefit other public school programs, especially in a year when lawmakers created the $50 million tax credit for private and homeschooling.

Regardless of how the $30 million in savings will be spent in the future, Blaylocks assertion that the grants werent supposed to help families buy computers goes against whats in the legislative record.

Lawmakers pitched Empowering Parents three years ago as a way to help lower-income students be on equal footing with their peers, with one legislator arguing that tablets and computers are such a part of education now that without the ability of families to afford those devices, a students learning is substantially jeopardized.

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Republican Sen. Lori Den Hartog, opening debate on her bill to create Empowering Parents in 2022, said it was partly to address pandemic learning loss. But, she said, its also a recognition of the ongoing needs that students in our state have, and that there is a potential different avenue to provide resources to those students.

First in the list of eligible expenses Den Hartog spelled out: computer hardware, internet access, other technology. Then came textbooks, school materials, tutoring and everything else. (Den Hartog, who voted to repeal the program this year, did not respond to a request for comment.)

Killing the grants also went against the praise that Little, the states Republican governor, has showered on it. He has described the program as itself a form of school choice, touting how it helped low-income parents afford better education.

The grants help families take charge of tools for their childrens education  things like computers and software, instructional materials and tutoring, Little said in January 2023 when announcing his intent to make Empowering Parents permanent.

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He called the grants effective, popular and worthy of continued investment because they keep parents in the drivers seat of their childrens education, as it should be.

In the months before Idaho lawmakers voted to kill the program, Little again cited Empowering Parents as a success story, a way to ensure Idaho families have the freedom and access to choose the best fit for their childs unique education and learning needs. He pointed out that the grants mainly went to public school students. He again touted it in his State of the State address in January, not as a temporary pandemic-era program but as our popular grant program to support students education outside of the classroom.

Nonetheless, the Idaho House and Senate both voted to kill the grant program by wide margins, and Little signed the bill on April 14.

Blaylock disagreed that the grants creators foresaw it would be used mostly for laptops and electronics. And, despite acknowledging state lawmakers decided to make it permanent, she disagrees that it was intended to be an ongoing program. She said public schools already get $36 million a year from the state to spend on technology, which they use to furnish computers students can take home, so families dont need state money to buy more.

Little, in a letter explaining his decision to join lawmakers in killing the grants, said he was proud of the positive outcomes from the program. But, he wrote: Now that the pandemic is squarely in the rearview mirror and students have long been back in school, I agree with the Legislature that this program served its purpose.

When looking back at how Empowering Parents was created, Sevy, the local school board chair, suspects it was a soft attempt to get the foot in the door toward vouchers, not purely an effort to meet the needs of all students.

He remembers telling Den Hartog that the program was helping low-income families in his district. She was super-excited to hear that, Sevy said. Its like, OK! And here we are two years later, just getting rid of it.

ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. Sign up for Dispatches , a newsletter that spotlights wrongdoing around the country, to receive our stories in your inbox every week.
In more than two decades as a juvenile probation officer in downstate Clinton County, Carla Stalnaker said barely a handful of children younger than 12 have found themselves in her office. And only a small number of those were put in a detention center.

But the juvenile justice veteran thinks its time to phase out that option.

The old scared-straight thing  that doesnt work, Stalnaker said. They want help. Theyre not hard and bitter about the system yet.

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Illinois doesnt allow children under 10 to be held in detention facilities. But last year, there were about a dozen admissions of children under 12 and more than 60 of children who were 12 years old, according to data from the Illinois Juvenile Justice Commission.

Cases like those are the subject of a bill that was passed in the state Senate last week that, if approved by the House and signed by Gov. JB Pritzker, would essentially ban the detention of kids 12 and under, with some exceptions for 12-year-olds accused of certain violent crimes.

The bill would do away with an option for youthful offenders that a report from the states Juvenile Justice Commission described as potentially life-altering and disproportionately detrimental to Black children.

Advocates argue detention can add to trauma for children who in many cases have already experienced problems before they ever get into trouble with law enforcement, adding to risk factors that may lead them to act out again.

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Beyond that, younger children can be exposed to danger or negative influences from older teenagers in detention, or face potential issues from isolation if theyre sequestered away for their own protection, said Patrick Keenan-Devlin, executive director at the Moran Center for Youth Advocacy.

But opponents say the change would place the onus for overseeing troubled young kids on an already overburdened social services infrastructure.

The Illinois Sheriffs Association opposes the change and its executive director, Jim Kaitschuk, questioned whether there are sufficient alternatives available to what is essentially jail for 10- or 11-year-olds accused of violent crimes.

Whos gonna take them? Kaitschuk asked, pointing as an example to the difficulty the states Department of Children and Family Services has in finding placements for hundreds of children in its care. Thats the rub, right out of the gate.

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The bill came together as an agreement between the Juvenile Justice Initiative, an Evanston-based advocacy group, and the Illinois Probation and Court Services Association, a professional organization that Stalnaker leads. The legislation also is backed by the state Department of Juvenile Justice, spokesperson Dominique Newman said.

In addition to raising the age that kids can be detained from 10 to 12, starting in mid-2027 the bill would also raise the standard for 12-year-olds to be detained to those accused of specific violent crimes including first-degree murder, aggravated criminal sexual assault, some instances of battery involving guns and aggravated carjacking.

The bill also would allow the Juvenile Justice Commission to study the possibility of further raising the minimum age to 14 and make recommendations on services that can be used as alternatives to detention.

Detention for any amount of time can be detrimental to juveniles, and the youngest ones are in an especially critical period, said Sara Thomas, a research assistant professor at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine who studies adolescent development.

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Juveniles incarcerated for any amount of time on average only achieved 5 out of 8 measures of basic success in a recently published yearslong study co-led by Thomas, including in areas such as earning a high school degree, holding a job and maintaining a social support system. Those outcomes generally got worse the longer a person was incarcerated, even among those who started with similar risk factors, she said.

The study focused on more than 1,800 youths sampled at intake at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center in the 1990s, and it didnt differentiate between different ages of detained youth.

Adolescents and especially younger adolescents brains are so uniquely sensitive to their social environments, and incarceration during that period of time is profoundly disruptive to their development, Thomas said in an interview. It sets kids up to have long-term consequences that follow them into adulthood.

And at the youngest ages that are the subject of the pending legislation, a disproportionate number of Black children are detained, the Juvenile Justice Commission found in its 2021 report on the issue. While about 15% of children statewide are Black, they made up more than two-thirds of detention admissions for 10- to 12-year-olds in 2019, the report said.

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Still, the bill that would end detention for that age group has faced opposition from people who say social services that could be used as alternatives are strained or unsuitable for some children.

Law enforcement doesnt overutilize its ability to detain children, and taking the option off the table could put other children in the community in danger, Kaitschuk of the sheriffs association said in an interview.

Im not pleading with you to say I want to lock up all these kids. I dont, Kaitschuk said. I want services available to them.

The Senate passed the bill 33-17 with two Republicans voting in favor and a handful of lawmakers sitting it out. If its brought to a roll call in the House, it likely will follow a vote that saw moderate Democrats defeating a measure related to resentencing reform last week.

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During the Senate floor debate, Republican state Sen. Steve McClure of Litchfield said he feared the detention bill would result in more kids diverted into DCFS, which could be more detrimental than a few hours of detention.

While DCFS can be a possible placement for juveniles diverted from detention in cases of abuse or neglect, there are other alternatives depending on the childs situation and the severity of the alleged crime.

Those could include sending the child back home or to a relatives house to cool off, Elizabeth Clarke of the Juvenile Justice Initiative said. Others are referred to counseling or crisis and mental health services.

The bill, sponsored by state Sen. Robert Peters of Chicago, directs probation and court services to share any instances where alternatives failed or were lacking.

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In rural Clinton County, even crisis services can take a long time to arrive, Stalnaker said. Her assessment is in line with the Juvenile Justice Commissions 2021 report, which found gaps in emergency placements for kids outside of Cook County.

Still, Stalnaker said she is backing the bill as it provides a path to support those services as an alternative to detention.

Along with another Senate bill passed this year to create a reform task force within the Juvenile Justice Commission, Clarke said the legislation creates an opportunity to frontload the system with alternatives to detention that could keep kids from repeatedly committing crimes into adulthood.

Chicago has seen a smattering of very young kids accused of violent crimes, with several cases seared into the citys memory.

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In 1994, Robert Yummy Sandifer was a 4-foot-6-inches tall 11-year-old on the run after allegedly killing his 14-year-old neighbor when he was killed by two fellow gang members, who themselves were only 14 and 16.

Just a few years later, police wrongly accused two boys, ages 7 and 8, of killing 11-year-old Ryan Harris before the charges were dropped. Since they were too young to be placed in detention at the time they were accused, the boys spent three days in a hospital before being sent home with custom-fitted monitoring bracelets. One of the boys exonerated in that case, Romarr Gipson, was later sentenced to 52 years in prison for a 2006 double shooting when he was 21.

Those cases, while memorable, are rare. According to the 2021 report from the Juvenile Justice Commission, the most common charge against pre-teens locked up from 2017 to 2020 was aggravated battery  also a violent crime, but a broad charge that covers a range of alleged actions.

In total, there were 77 admissions of children ages 10-12 placed in detention last year, including only one instance of a 10-year-old and 12 instances involving 11-year-olds, according to the Juvenile Justice Commission. Cook County saw 20 instances total, all but one involving a 12-year-old.

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Ive been to the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center so many times I couldnt even count, Keenan-Devlin added. The image of my 10-year-old in that facility should shock the conscience.

As someone with experience in the the Juvenile Temporary Detention Center, Eric Anderson is in favor of raising the limit on who can be put there.

At 15, he opened fire trying to hit a gang rival and instead shot two 13-year-old girls in a double murder that made headlines in the mid-1990s. He was charged as an adult and sentenced to life in prison.

He spent months at the Cook County Juvenile Temporary Detention Center before he was sentenced as an adult. His earliest experiences with detention set the stage for what is a lifelong battle in building relationships and finding acceptance with others, he said.

Now in his 40s, Anderson, released in 2023 after being resentenced, works at Precious Blood Ministry of Reconciliation on the South Side.

Children need the safety of caregivers who are trusted, Anderson said. To cry to, or to express their hurts or their fears to. And in a detention center, there is none of that. Not for children or for anybody else.

The bill would not change any policies for people detained at 15, as Anderson was. But he said he supports limiting the possibilities for younger kids.

To do that to an 11-year-old or a 12-year-old is fundamentally harmful, he said.

Peters, the bills sponsor, said part of his backing of the bill comes from his own personal experience as a kid who acted out.

I was very lucky, he said, and I dont think we should have luck play such an active role.
AIRMONT CITY, ILL.  An Illinois family is demanding police do more after they said their loved one fell into the Mississippi River.

They said it happened as he was being chased by police Wednesday night over the Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge.

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Theyve identified their loved one as 52-year-old Shane Barendregt. They fear authorities gave up too soon on their search efforts and are holding out hope that Barendregt might still be alive.

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Illinois State Police said they have conducted aerial searches for the adult man that went into the river Wednesday.

They also said the St. Louis and Columbia, Illinois, fire departments conducted searches via boat and that the coast guard was also contacted.

They added that the incident is still under investigation and that no more information is available at this time.

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Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree, or click on this link to fill out the form. We welcome diverse viewpoints.

Re: Immigration bills, deportations put young and old Americans in peril, by David Plazas, April 10 (online) and April 13 (print).

David Plazas wrote a fact filled column in April 13 Insight section of The Tennessean. I would like to add my opinion and perspective on the subject.

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The Biden administrations open border policy has wreaked havoc on our nation in many ways. The one that stands out the most to me is how it has divided our country politically. Federal, state and local governments are fighting each other and the media stokes the flames. Conservative and liberal media outlets are playing with peoples lives.

I fully support President Trump purging our nation of undocumented immigrants who have criminal records. The process has not been failsafe as of yet. Corrections are needed to the rounding up process and confirmation of criminal records before arrest are made. One mistake is too many, I agree!

Rev. Joanna Cummings, of Nashville marches with other protesters from Public Square Park to the Tennessee State Capitol in support of public education access for all students regardless of immigration status on Monday, April 14, 2025 in Nashville, Tenn.

Let us not forget how we got in this predicament in the first place. Also, we should not attack an administration that is attempting to fix the problem

Whatever side you are on politically should not involve children. All children in the United States deserve an education. They should not be used as pawns in a debate over immigration. It would be criminal to keep innocent children from being fed and provided with an education. No child whether they are here legally or not should be singled out and humiliated.

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Opinion: Tennessee lawmakers back immigration bill that creates a permanent underclass

I pray that we can purge our country of criminals that are here form past failed policies. But I also pray that we look in the mirror when we intact laws that punish innocent children.

Steve Jones, Nashville 37221

Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@tennessean.com. Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: TN lawmakers should not target children's right to education | Letters
We recently published a list of 15 Best Large-Cap Value Stocks to Buy as the Recession Hits. In this article, we are going to take a look at where General Mills, Inc. (NYSE:GIS) stands against other best large-cap value stocks to buy as the recession hits.

Goldman Sachs highlighted that equities around the world traded in and out of a bear market  which is often defined as a 20% decline from the recent peak. According to Peter Oppenheimer, chief global equity strategist at Goldman Sachs Research, the history of bear markets can provide some clues regarding the duration and severity of such downturns. U.S. stocks ended significantly higher after Trump announced his decision to put a 90-day pause on the additional country-specific portion of the reciprocal tariffs. That being said, Oppenheimer believes that a sustained rebound isnt yet in place. As per the strategist, the valuations are required to adjust further before equities can shift into the hope phase of the next cycle.

What to Expect from Current Earnings Season?

With the Q1 2025 earnings season underway, Morningstar informs that investors can expect more focus than usual on what companies want to say regarding their outlooks, while the uncertainty surrounding tariffs means offering weaker, less confident, or even no guidance. Tariffs can impact the corporate bottom lines in several ways, both directly and indirectly. Notably, the increased import costs put more pressure on the margins. While some firms can decide to alleviate the pressure by increasing the prices for customers, others can choose to absorb them, says the firm. Morningstar, while quoting FactSets consensus estimates, mentioned that analysts expect 6.8% earnings growth in Q1 for companies in the S&P 500 benchmark index. For the full year, analysts anticipate an 11.2% growth.

READ ALSO: 7 Best Stocks to Buy For Long-Term and 8 Cheap Jim Cramer Stocks to Invest In.

Amidst Tensions, Whats the Silver Lining?

Forward guidance is what generally moves the financial markets. If the firm warns that there can be a possibility to see smaller profits, the stock tends to fall. This might happen across the market, but there is a silver lining. As per Morningstar chief research and investment officer Dan Kemp, it is important to note that most of the value lies in the future. Therefore, the impact on the companys real value is expected to be muted. According to him, widening of the gap between stock prices and future real values can be a very fertile soil for the market investors.
This article was originally published in THE CITY.

Inside a classroom at the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park on a recent Monday morning, teacher Julian Colon was busy setting out notebooks, folders, pens and crayons on a table. Outside in the hallway, a sign taped to a wall reads CLASES DE INGLES POR ESTE CAMINO  English classes this way.

It was the first day of the spring semester in this predominantly Latino corner of the Brooklyn neighborhood, where Colon was expecting about 30 students in class.

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Julian Colon teaches an English as a Second Language class at the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, April 7, 2025. (Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY)

But not everyone who wanted a seat at the table was there. More than 400 students are now on the centers waitlist, according to Maria Ferreira, its adult employment program director.

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I sit right by the reception, and every single day we get inquiries about ESOL, Ferreira told THE CITY, using the acronym for English for Speakers of Other Languages. Every day were adding people to the waiting list.

Demand for English classes has increased with the influx of migrants that began in 2022, according to a new report by United Neighborhood Houses, which represents 46 settlement houses that help serve immigrant populations, even as City Hall has slashed funding.

At Flatbush-based social services giant CAMBA, program manager Jude Pierre said more than 700 prospective students are now waiting to get into one of its 10 city-funded ESL classes, which collectively accommodate about 200 students.

Related

New Research: Immigrant Students Boost English Learners Academic Performance

With the migrant crisiswe ended up getting a lot of individuals coming here to register for classes to the point where we basically had to stop taking registrations, Pierre told THE CITY. We got to the point where it didnt make any more sense to have thousands of people on a waiting list, knowing we would never get to most of them. We started saying, Sorry, we cant do this, because its not fair to you, and trying to refer them to other places.

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Last year, the Department of Youth and Community Development reduced funding for literacy classes by nearly 30% to $11.9 million from $16.8 million, the report noted. Many long-time providers in areas where migrant shelters were clustered also lost out on DYCD dollars after the agency adjusted its funding eligibility formula, as THE CITY previously reported.

An immigrant student takes an English as a Second Language class at the Center for Family Life in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, April 7, 2025. (Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY)

According to the report, many classes now depend entirely on discretionary dollars from the City Council, which increased its funding to $16.5 million in fiscal year 2025 from roughly $6.5 million in recent years to back organizations DYCD left behind.

Several providers, however, told THE CITY that compared to DYCDs multi-year contracts, Council funding, which requires annual reconsideration, makes it difficult to plan ahead and maximize offerings.

And for some, like CAMBA, Council funding was not enough to cover the losses from DYCD with the group reducing the number of students it serves by 174 and closing its waitlist, Pierre said.

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So far, providers say, demand among new arrivals has remained steady even as the Trump administrations mass deportation efforts have led many new arrivals fearful of working or sending kids to school or even walking the streets.

Ideally, these programs would be supported by a robust, baselined program managed by DYCD that offered students and providers stability with year-over-year funding, the report says. However, until DYCD revisits its unnecessarily restrictive stanceit is crucial that the City Council continue this support to make sure that adult learners continue to have access to quality classes.

I Understand People Now

While fewer than 3% of the 1.7 million immigrants in need of English classes are able to access it through city-funded programs, according to the report, students who were able to find their way into a class told THE CITY improved English has helped with their daily lives  and their job prospects.

Currently, two-thirds of New Yorkers with limited English proficiency earn less than $25,000 a year, according to American Community Survey data cited in the report.

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Rosanie Andre, 42, came to New York City from Haiti in 2023, and said she started taking English classes at CAMBA last year after three months on a waitlist. Since then, shes been able to get a job serving food at Speedway while also delivering packages for Amazon per diem.

When I did my interviews, you have to speak in English with the manager. And it helped me a lot because I understand people now, Andre, a native Haitian Creole and French speaker, said in English.

Learning English has also helped Andre communicate with her 6-year-old  who only started speaking after their move to New York City.

And she started to speak English  English only. She knows nothing in Creole, Andre said. I try to listen to my daughter and speak to her English-only.

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With her English improving, Andre said she is better able to help her daughter with her homework.

I try to explain her how to do it in English, Andre said. If no CAMBA, I have difficulty to understand. Cuz when I come here, I dont understand nothing. When people speak, I smile because I understand nothing.

Roodleir Victor, 29, saw English classes as an essential stepping stone in furthering his education. He had completed his college coursework for an economics degree in his native Haiti, he said, though he ultimately fell just short of obtaining a degree because it would have required him to stay in the countrys capital, which has been embroiled in political turmoil and gang violence.

He started taking English classes when he moved to the city in 2023, he said, in hopes of continuing his studies here. For four days a week, he attended English classes in Flatbush from 1 to 4 p.m. before heading to Long Island to work at a pasta factory on a 5 p.m. to 5 a.m. overnight shift.

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Victor is now enrolled in a GED class, he said, and hopes to study computer programming after that.

I would like to study at a university which I can learn technology. But its difficult for me, because I dont have the support I need to go there, Victor said in English. But for me personally, I believe in my capacity to adapt.

Its Not Impossible

Back in Sunset Park, a 55 year-old asylum seeker was patiently waiting to enter the room half an hour before class started at 9 a.m.

Im just eager to learn, the native of Ecuador said in Spanish. Its important because I want to communicate with others for a job.

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The mother of five arrived in New York City three months ago, she said, after seeking asylum at the Mexico-California border then being detained there for three months. Shes cleaning homes to help make ends meet, but hopes to land a job with steadier income soon.

Whatever I can get I pick up, but those jobs come and go, she said. I was in a workforce development program but the curriculum was in English so I started looking for classes.

Oscar Lima rolled into English class with his e-scooter just after class started at 9:30 a.m. The 34-year-old is now in his second semester of classes, he said, which he makes time for in between catering gigs, food deliveries and a third job as a barback.

Columbian immigrant Oscar Lima says learning English will help him work in the food service industry, April 7, 2025. (Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY)

My bosses told me, Youre a good worker, but you need to learn English, Lima said. And I decided that I didnt want to learn English myself.

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Lima and other students now settled into their seats, turning their attention to Colon.

Everybody, are we ready? Listos? Colon asked.

Yes, the class responded timidly.

Students practice learning the names of colors at an English as a Second Language class in Sunset Park, Brooklyn, April 7, 2025. (Ben Fractenberg/THE CITY)

Colon then began presenting ground rules on a digital whiteboard: Try to arrive within the five-minute grace period after the class start time, and come prepared with books, papers and pencils.

The most important rule, Colon continued, before repeating himself in Spanish. Please dont be afraid to participate and make mistakes.

At break time, Lima shared how he, his wife and his two sons had arrived in the city from Colombia about three years ago. While the family had started off at a shelter, Lima said, theyre now able to afford an apartment of their own. His two kids  seven and ten years old  quiz him about names of objects around the house, he said, and often encourages him to learn English alongside with them.

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New York, it poses many challenges. Its difficult at the beginning, but its not impossible, Lima said in Spanish. My American Dream is my sonsI want my children to perhaps have what I didnt have, but at the same time I want to show them how to earn it, and how to work like good people.

The story was originally published on THE CITY.
After an initial surge of immigration-related arrests as federal agents rushed to round up suspected criminals, data from the biggest Central Florida jail shows bookings are trending down.

Local, state and federal law enforcement officers arrested 264 undocumented immigrants in February, as many Florida sheriffs praised their expanded powers to enforce the law.

It was also the month Gov. DeSantis administration required local sheriffs offices and jails to enter into agreements to work with ICE and turn immigrants over for deportation.

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Among the 264 arrests, 115 did not have any local charges attached, the jail reported.

However, Februarys numbers represented a peak. While total undocumented immigrant bookings declined slightly in March, the number of bookings without a local charge dropped by more than half, to 51.

Data from the biggest Central Florida jail shows bookings are trending down.

As of April 15, the Orange County Jail was on track to hold just 40 immigrants without a local charge by the end of the month.

The data did not contain an explanation for the change. However, one immigration attorney said the ebb was expected as federal agents worked their way through their list of people suspected of having gang ties and as the administration shifted its focus to hunting down pro-Palestine protesters.

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Youre seeing the Trump administration escalate, deescalate, escalate, deescalate based on foreign policy and things of that nature, Trip Laws Hardam Tripathi explained. Youre also seeing the immigrants themselves not wanting to be separated from their families. So theyre actually following our advice.

Data from the biggest Central Florida jail shows bookings are trending down.

Tripathi said immigrants were avoiding law enforcement interactions, including ICE check-ins for people trying to claim asylum.

He said the skipped meetings resulted in deportation proceedings beginning against themthe very action they were trying to avoid.

Its not clear, but its unlikely the trend is specific to Orange County. WFTV reached out to jails across Central Florida asking for their numbers. However, many staff members were off for Good Friday and promised responses after the holiday weekend.

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When their expanded powers were announced, sheriffs said they would not be going after law-abiding immigrants  even undocumented ones. However, they warned that something as little as a traffic stop would kick the deportation process into motion.

That means, despite the decline, immigration arrests are likely to continue until political or policy winds shift. Leaders estimate up to 20,000 people could have deportation orders attached to their names in Orange County alone as soon as ICE updates its systems. Currently, 10,000 are being ordered to leave the United States, they reported.

Tripathi said bottlenecks plague the system. Some are self-inflicted: he said Trump is attempting to root out more lenient immigration judges or ones deemed insufficiently loyal to his administration, causing an ongoing shortage of judges to worsen.

There is also a lack of space in detention centers, which officials are trying to solve by opening new ones.

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However, its still not enough to whittle down the millions of ongoing cases. Tripathi said some of his clients have been released back to their families in Florida, despite the governments promise to hold them until deportation.

Theyre doing their best from a government standpoint, and we as attorneys are doing our best trying to represent our clients, he said. Theres just such a backlog of cases and people being apprehended that its just become a very chaotic system.

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The conservative alliance that came out on top in Germany's recent elections is calling for rapid change at management level in Deutsche Bahn (DB), the country's state-run rail company.

"This is not a project that we want to tackle at the end of the legislative period. Decisions on the executive and the supervisory board should come at the start," Ulrich Lange, parliamentary leader of the CDU/CSU alliance told dpa.

The alliance of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister-party, the Christian Social Union (CSU), is dissatisfied with DB management's performance over recent years, Lange said.

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In separate remarks to the Suddeutsche Zeitung national daily, he added that the DB executive of currently eight board members should be slimmed down by a third.

The CDU/CSU's coalition deal with the centre-left Social Democrats (SPD) calls for restructuring management at DB and at its infrastructure subsidiary InfraGO.

DB's chief executive is Richard Lutz, who has held the post since March 2017, while Werner Gatzer, a former state secretary in the Finance Ministry, heads the supervisory board.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz is banking on being sworn in at the head of the new government on May 6 after all three parties have signed off on the coalition deal.

Loss-making Deutsche Bahn is suffering huge punctuality problems resulting from poor maintenance of its infrastructure and cost-cutting over recent years. A major refurbishment project is under way, but is currently contributing to the delays.
SPRINGFIELD, Mo.  The Springfield Police Department (SPD) has been able to make an arrest in a cold case thats three and a half decades old.

However, they didnt do it alone.

SPD says in 2019, they tried DNA testing in the rape and murder of Jennifer Williams from 1989, but there was little success.

The DNA profile that we received could not be utilized for database searches, Lt. John Loe said.

SPD says their DNA testing typically goes through the Missouri State Highway Patrol Crime Lab, but sometimes DNA tests can be done at private labs, but those advancements in science typically cost more money.

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They range anywhere from $2000 to $5000. Sometimes they go all the way up to $28,000, Lt. Loe said. Once we received the information, how much it was going to cost, we proactively sought out alternative funding sources for the testing of the DNA.

So SPD reached out to Season of Justice, a non-profit whose records show theyre based out of Indiana, created by popular podcaster Ashley Flowers, who started the true-crime podcast, Crime Junkie before this venture.

Season of Justice was founded in 2020. [Ashley] really wanted to figure out a way to channel, you know, all of these people who typically are true crime consumers, people who watch Dateline, really anyone who is interested in in seeing these cold cases get solved, she really wanted to channel their passion and that energy into a really effective way to support these cases, and financially was the easiest way from point A to point B, Program Manager Kendall Mills said. She founded Season of Justice with the sole purpose of raising money from individual, concerned citizens and citizens like myself, you know, and using that to fund advanced DNA testing in unsolved violent crimes conducted by private labs.

Mills says their board approved the funds to pay for SPDs testing in August of 2024, and SPD has told OzarksFirst those funds totaled $3,633.

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What Season of Justice funded was advanced DNA testing, advanced STR testing, profiles used in court. Theyre also the profiles that are uploaded to the CODIS databases, Mills said.

The advancement in DNA technology allowed us to reexamine that same DNA, and that in turn, gave us a match through the database searches to Paul Bowles, Lt. Loe said. I would say to some degree, the nonprofit definitely helped through the funding. However, our department has made this a priority to solve cold cases, specifically to sexual assaults.

So, how accurate is the match that led to the arrest of Paul Bowles?

There was one DNA profile that was came from the case, and its 141 trillion times likely [its] our suspect, Lt. Loe said.

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Greene County Prosecutor Dan Patterson has confirmed to Ozarks First that Bowles, currently being held in the Callaway County Jail, is facing charges of second-degree murder, forcible rape, and forcible sodomy.

We booked him into the Callaway County Jail there near Fulton, and he will be extradited to Greene County to face these charges, Lt. Loe said.

We are humbled every single time we get news like this. This is why a Season of Justice exists, Mills said.

Mills says she got the news of the arrest and charges this morning.

To be able to see a case that is as old as I am, get solved, despite all previous efforts, [previously] falling short of identifying a suspect just to see where we are now, 35 years later is phenomenal, Mills said.

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Mills adds that the non-profit has assisted investigations leading to nine arrests, but has aided 20 cases that reached some sort of resolution.

We also fund public awareness campaigns for families where DNA is not a viable option to get new leads or to get new information in the case, Mills said.

The non-profit takes applications from all departments, but relies on donations to help fund the testing.

I extend my gratitude to Springfield PD, to everybody who worked on Jennifers case and got it this far. Its an honor to play a very small role in that. We could also not do that without the people who support us financially.

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We are a non-profit. We rely on donations, and every single case has been funded by an individual just like me who cares. It never ceases to amaze me how selfless people can be in situations like this. You know, Im on the program management side. My partner is an amazing fundraiser and she works with our donors and has a really good relationship with them, and it never ceases to amaze me that people want to support these efforts and want to support what we do, Mills said. Its an unreal feeling not only for us to get the news that something weve done has directly impacted the case and led to a suspect being identified and arrested, but to know that we did with an army of supporters, to know that somebody who didnt get a Starbucks drink that day, who just decided, Im going to spend $5 and Im going to just donate it to Season of Justice, to know that they made that difference, its unreal.

Im grateful that we were able to provide closure for the families and the community that was involved at that time. It is exciting on our part that were able to solve a 35 year old cold case, but at the same token, I know theres a lot of work to do on the back end once we receive those results and trying to piece together everything throughout the investigation to show how those how that technology, how that DNA matches what we have now, Lt. Loe said.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
By Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana

DEMAK, Indonesia (Reuters) - Pasijah, a 55-year-old housewife in Indonesia's Central Java province, wakes up every morning to the sound of the sea. If that sounds idyllic, it is anything but.

Her home is the only one remaining in this part of Rejosari Senik, a small village on Java's northern coast that was once on dry land but is now submerged by water.

Over the past few years, Pasijah's neighbours have abandoned their homes, vegetable plots and rice fields to the advancing sea, but she and her family have no plans to leave.

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"I do have every intention to stay here and my feelings for this house remain," she told Reuters in February.

Water laps around the walls of Pasijah's house, where she has lived for 35 years, soaking her feet when she steps outside.

Fenced by haphazard rows of bamboo and a broken power pole, inside the floor has been raised to keep it above the sea.

The nearest land is two kilometres (1.24 miles) away and the closest city, Demak, further still at 19 kilometres. The only way to get there is by boat.

Indonesia, an archipelago of thousands of islands, has about 81,000 km of coastline, making it particularly vulnerable to rising seas and erosion.

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Sea levels on the country's coasts rose an average of 4.25 millimetres annually from 1992 to 2024, but the rate has accelerated in recent years, Kadarsah, a climate change official at Indonesia's Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysical Agency, told Reuters.

"One of the signs of climate change is the rising sea levels," he said, adding that some small islands had disappeared.

Kadarsah also pointed to increased pumping of groundwater that has exacerbated land subsidence along Java's northern coast. The problem is particularly bad in Jakarta, Indonesia's capital, which is home to some 10 million people.

Indonesian authorities have turned to mega projects for a solution, including a 700 kilometre sea wall that would run along the northern coast between Banten and East Java provinces.

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Pasijah and her family, meanwhile, have turned to nature.

She has planted some 15,000 mangrove trees a year over the past two decades. Every day, she paddles out in a boat made from a blue plastic barrel to tend to the bushes and plant new saplings, lowering herself into the blue-grey water, which can be as high as her chest.

"The flood waters come in waves, gradually, not all at once," Pasijah said. "I realised that after the waters began rising, I needed to plant mangrove trees so that they could spread and protect the house, from the wind and the waves."

She and her family survive by selling the fish caught by her sons in the nearest market. They say they will stay as long as they can hold back the tides.

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"I'm no longer concerned about how I feel about the isolation here since I decided to stay, so we'll take it one hurdle at a time," Pasijah said.

(Reporting by Ajeng Dinar Ulfiana, Heru Asprihanto, Budi Purwanto, Johan Purnomo; Writing and additional reporting by Stanley Widianto; Editing by Gibran Peshimam and Kate Mayberry)
Apr. 18A man diagnosed with autism died while behind bars at the Metropolitan Detention Center  months after being found incompetent to stand trial.

MDC spokesperson Daniel Trujillo said 33-year-old Steven Gurule was pronounced dead Friday morning. Trujillo did not give a cause of death.

Trujillo said that around 8:15 a.m. Gurule "was discovered unresponsive" and staff with the University of New Mexico Health Systems provided first aid until 8:41 a.m., when he was declared dead.

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An attorney for Gurule said a Bernalillo County deputy told the family "there were no signs of violence" and he would undergo an autopsy.

Gurule is the third person to die at the jail or after falling ill at the facility this year. Since 2020, 35 inmates have died as MDC went through two for-profit medical providers before UNMH took over health care in July 2023.

Gurule, a father, had been at MDC since January 2024, when 2nd Judicial District Judge Joseph Montano granted a motion to keep him behind bars until trial. He had been accused of battering a man with a tire iron during a burglary and crashing into a bank while trying to flee.

Amy Williams, Gurule's attorney, did not downplay the allegations against him but described him as "the sweetest client I've ever worked with."

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"He had a very pure heart, and he had a real recognition of what he had done to put himself in this position, but a genuine desire ... to move forward positively, despite his limitations. And I will tell you, his limitations were significant," she told the Journal.

Gurule was diagnosed with autism while awaiting trial and found incompetent in October, according to court records. An MDC psychiatrist found Gurule had "the functional capacity of a child."

Court records show prosecutors sought a dangerousness hearing, to determine if he is dangerous and should be sent to a mental health facility in Las Vegas, or is not dangerous and should be released to the community for treatment.

That hearing took place Thursday, and Williams said a forensic psychologist testified that Gurule was "low risk" and his mother went over the plan to treat her son should he be released to her custody.

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Williams said the judge asked for a written briefing, similar to closing arguments in a trial, before making a decision. And Gurule was sent back to his cell.

She said a few inmates who knew Gurule called his mother around 9 a.m. and told her something happened but had few details. It took several hours  calls to caseworkers and prosecutors and a visit to MDC  before they learned more.

"It just speaks to the fact that, sometimes, the inmates at the facility maybe have more compassion than the facility itself, which I think is particularly, in this case, with Stephen's particular needs, it's heartbreaking," Williams said.

Growing emotional, Williams said she cared greatly for Gurule. She said MDC was not the place for him.

"Jail was certainly not an appropriate location for a man with his level of competency. His needs were not and were never going to be met," Williams said. "The fact that it took so long for this matter to be addressed was deeply unfair to him and his needs, because this is time we could have been treating him, and instead he was in jail, and now he's gone."
Iowa American Water is partnering with MercyOne Genesis and the Scott County Emergency Management Agency to drill a new water well source that will be mutually beneficial to MercyOne Genesis, Iowa American Water and customers in the Iowa Quad Cities, a news release says.

(Mike Colon, OurQuadCities.com)

Ground was broken for the new well on a site near the hospitals East Campus in December 2024. When it is complete, the $5.6 million well project will provide a water source near MercyOne Genesis to help ensure an uninterrupted water supply to its East Campus. In addition, the project will provide water to the area more efficiently by using less energy than pumping water from the treatment facility on the Mississippi River in Davenport. The initial phase of work is scheduled to be completed in June 2025.

Mercy One Genesis has wanted a secondary water source at our East Campus for years because

the loss of water is the worst utility a health system can lose, said Kevin Rossmiller, executive

director of construction & design at MercyOne Genesis. When Iowa American Water heard about this desire, they reached out to me about partnering with us on this project. The new water well will not only support Genesis but also the surrounding neighborhood. I couldnt be happier with the level of expertise, support, knowledge, and service the Iowa American Water team provides.

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The project involves drilling a 1 million-gallon-per-day ground well near the MercyOne Genesis

East Campus. This project will ensure uninterrupted supply of water to the hospital and through a future phase of this project to provide treatment of this water to help serve all customers in the Quad Cities district.

This partnership with MercyOne Genesis on a new well to serve as a backup for the health system in the event of an outage provides another level of protection for the health, safety, and peace of mind of the health system. It also builds additional resiliency into our distribution system that benefits our other customers as well said Brad Nielsen, president of Iowa American Water.

The investment is another example of continuous improvements and proactive investments being made to help meet the demands of customers while planning for the future. These types of investments are needed across the nation to maintain critical infrastructure.

According to the American Water Works Association, the leading trade association serving the

countrys water industry, at least $1 trillion is needed over the next 25 years to maintain and replace the nations outdated water and wastewater systems. Iowa American Water has been addressing this challenge by investing about $40 million annually in water treatment and distribution system improvements in the nine communities it serves.

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About American Water

American Water (NYSE: AWK) is the largest regulated water and wastewater utility company in the United States. For more information, visit here.

About Iowa American Water

Iowa American Water, a subsidiary of American Water, is the largest regulated water utility in the

state. For more information, visit here.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
Iran filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) against Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and the United Kingdom on April 17, seeking to overturn a ruling by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) that held Tehran responsible for the 2020 downing of a Ukrainian passenger jet.

In its complaint, Iran argues that the ICAO Council exceeded its authority when it accepted a joint complaint from the four countries, whose citizens were among the 176 people killed when Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down near Tehran in 2020.

The case stems from Jan. 8, 2024, when Ukraine and its partners initiated proceedings at ICAO, demanding that Iran be held fully accountable under international aviation law. On March 17, 2025, the ICAO Council rejected Irans objections and ruled it had jurisdiction to hear the case.

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Now appealing that decision, Tehran maintains the shootdown was an unintentional act caused by human error during a period of heightened military alert.

In its filing, Tehran argues that the ICAO Council overstepped its jurisdiction and improperly accepted the case. Iran claims that under Article 84 of the Chicago Convention  the international agreement that governs civil aviation and established ICAO  the Council had no authority to act because the involved states failed to engage in adequate direct negotiations with Tehran before submitting their complaint. According to Iran, this procedural step is required before such disputes can be brought to the Council.

In any event, any negotiations concerning the interpretation and application of Article 3 bis had not been pursued in good faith, let alone reached a point of futility or deadlock, the submission states.

Iran also challenges the U.K.s role in the case, claiming London failed to provide sufficient evidence that British citizens were aboard the flight.

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In its ICJ filing, Iran asks the court to overturn the ICAO ruling and declare that the Council lacks jurisdiction over the matter.

On Jan. 8, 2020, Ukraine International Airlines Flight PS752 was shot down minutes after takeoff from Tehran by two surface-to-air missiles launched by Irans air defense forces. The tragedy claimed the lives of all 176 people on board, including citizens of Iran, Canada, Ukraine, Sweden, Afghanistan, Germany, and the U.K.

Iran initially denied responsibility, blaming mechanical failure. Days later, it acknowledged the aircraft was mistakenly targeted amid tensions with the U.S., hours after Iran had launched missile strikes on U.S. forces in Iraq.

At the same time, Iranian authorities did not allow an independent investigation to take place at the crash site.

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In April 2023, an Iranian court sentenced 10 military personnel over the incident. However, the International Coordination and Response Group, representing the victims countries, dismissed the trial as a sham.

On July 4, 2023, Ukraine, Canada, Sweden, and the UK filed a case at the ICJ, accusing Iran of violating Article 3 bis of the Chicago Convention, which prohibits the use of weapons against civilian aircraft. Iran has rejected the case as politically motivated and continues to dispute the jurisdiction of both ICAO and the ICJ.

Read also: Gyunduz Mamedov: Ukraine must hold Iran to justice over flight PS752

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
We recently published a list of 10 Value Stocks in Ken Fishers Portfolio. In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. (NYSE:GS) stands against other value stocks in Ken Fishers portfolio.

Trumps stupid tariffs will fail; thats the sentiment echoed by billionaire investor Ken Fisher as their impact continues to be felt far and wide. Fisher, the brains behind Fisher Asset Management joins a growing list of institutional investors concerned that tariffs will lower growth and raise inflation at a time of weakening consumer sentiment. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has already warned that the U.S. could be headed to an economic nuclear winter as a result of the tariff policy rollout, costing Trump the confidence of business leaders.

While major indices have pulled back significantly amid deep selloff in various sectors, Trump insists on staying in the race to remake the global trade order. Stocks are already on the brink of plunging into bearish territories amid recession concerns. The global stock market has lost trillions of dollars since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on every nation that exports products to the US. Stock indices abroad have also felt the brunt, dropping by more than 10%, as it becomes clear an extended trade war is the biggest threat to the global economy.

READ ALSO: Billionaire Stanley Druckenmillers Top 10 Stocks Picks with Huge Upside Potential and Top 10 Stocks in Ken Griffins Portfolio to Buy According to Analysts.

Amid the growing concerns, Fisher insists the pitfalls of the ravaging trade war are passing wind that will fade and fail.

What Trump unveiled Wednesday is stupid, wrong, arrogantly extreme, ignorant trade-wise and addressing a non-problem with misguided tools, Fisher wrote on social media platform X. Yet, as near as I can tell it will fade and fail and the fear is bigger than the problem, which from here is bullish.

How true that is, is still an open discussion as Trump stays put even as reciprocal tariffs come into play. China has already responded with an 84% tariff on US goods in response to the US imposing more than 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. The back-and-forth spat threatens to affect the global trade order, causing heightened jitters in the equity markets.

According to Fisher, the deep selloff on fears of a full-blown trade could be outsized compared to the issues around the policy itself. Consequently, the billionaire investor expects the market to bounce back and rally once the selloff dust settles.
Talks between Iran and the U.S. will move to the expert level next week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said, following the second round of indirect negotiations with President Donald Trumps chief negotiator Steve Witkoff in Rome on Saturday.

Saturdays negotiations marked the progression of high-stakes talks between Iranian and U.S. officials, as Trump seeks to secure a new deal to halt Irans nuclear development program  the alternative to which, he has warned, could result in military action.

Irans foreign minister indicated on Saturday that talks were continuing, saying that negotiations would move to the next phase with technical talks held at the expert level on Wednesday. Araghchi added that he and Witkoff would conduct a third round of indirect negotiations next Saturday after the start of this weeks technical discussions.

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A State Department spokesperson on Saturday confirmed that both sides had agreed to continue negotiations next week.

"Today, in Rome over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions. We agreed to meet again next week and are grateful to our Omani partners for facilitating these talks and to our Italian partners for hosting us today," the spokesperson said.

Representatives from Oman have served as a go-between for the indirect talks, shuttling messages back and forth between Witkoff and Araghchi. At the end of last week's session in Muscat, which lasted more than two hours, Witkoff and Araghchi briefly spoke directly, both sides said.

Speaking to Iranian state television, Araghchi said that negotiations are moving forward, and added that the two officials were able to reach a better understanding about a series of principles and goals.

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A statement from the mediating Omani Foreign Ministry outlined further details about the talks.

The two officials have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy, the Omani statement read.

In a separate post, Omani Foreign Minister Badr Albusaidi thanked Witkoff and Araghchi for their highly constructive approach to the negotiations, saying: These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible.

Trump last month sent a letter to Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei issuing a 60-day ultimatum to make progress on nuclear negotiations, or Iran would face military consequences. The president  who abandoned the 2015 nuclear pact with Iran during his first term in favor of a maximum pressure sanctions campaign  has repeatedly warned that Iran cant have a nuclear weapon.

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Iran has since significantly ramped up its nuclear development, with experts warning that the country is dangerously close to nuclear breakout.

Witkoff appeared to briefly stray from the administrations hard line this week, indicating to Fox News on Monday that the U.S. only sought to cap Irans uranium enrichment program, not eliminate it. The special envoy later backtracked, reiterating Trumps position that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program.

Last weeks talks, where Witkoff and Araghchi spoke directly, marked the first known direct engagement between Iranian and U.S. officials under the Trump administration.
In this pool photograph distributed by the Russian state agency Sputnik, Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with U.S. President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff during a meeting in Saint Petersburg on April 11. GAVRIIL GRIGOROV/Pool/AFP via Getty Images

WASHINGTON  While Donald Trump brags about his maximum pressure campaign to impoverish Iran and force its leaders to give up its nuclear program, there remains one source of revenue that the president appears to be OK with: Irans sale to Russia of deadly drones, missiles and technical expertise to help slaughter Ukrainian civilians.

Iran has earned at least tens of millions of dollars, perhaps many hundreds of millions, from its agreement to supply weapons to Russia over the past two years. And while that deal drew new sanctions against both countries under former President Joe Biden, it appears to have received no pushback from Trump.

Not sure why specifically the Trump administration is not making this an issue with Russia, said Steven Pifer, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine in its early years after the breakup of the Soviet Union.

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The Trump administration has not addressed the Axis of Upheaval as it was called under Biden  the increasing cooperation between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea  in a forceful way, said Liana Fix, a Ukraine analyst with the Council on Foreign Relations.

When asked by HuffPost why he has not done anything to stop Iranian drone and missile sales to Russia, even as the U.S. cracks down on Iranian oil sales, Trump  who has long defended Russian dictator Vladimir Putin and who initially called Putins 2022 invasion a genius move  did not answer the question and instead offered a rambling explanation acknowledging the lethality of Iranian drones.

Im getting reports on that and were looking at a report. Youre right, they make a lot of drones. Iran makes a lot of drones. They make very effective drones too. They do very effectively at some things. But Iran is very high on my list of things to watch, he said during a recent Oval Office question-and-answer session.

HuffPosts follow-up queries to the White House, the Treasury Department and the State Department on this topic all went unanswered over a period of weeks.

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As Russia depleted its own stocks of weaponry in the first year of its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, it turned to North Korea for artillery rounds and to Iran for sophisticated short-range ballistic missiles and drones, including the notorious Shahed-136.

That relationship continues, even after Trumps Feb. 4 maximum pressure memorandum designed to deny the regime and its terror proxies access to revenue.

Yet even the language of the order avoids any mention of Irans new alliance with Russia. It states that Iran bears responsibility for Hamas Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel and the Houthi rebels ongoing attacks on Red Sea shipping  but does not say a word about Russias use of Iranian arms to kill Ukrainians.

An April 1 announcement of new sanctions by the Treasury Department regarding Irans weapons sales names entities in Iran, the United Arab Emirates and China  but fails to address Russia at all.

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It is apparently unwilling to pressure Putin in any meaningful way, said Pifer, who is now with the Brookings Institution. If it wanted to, it has significant potential leverage over Moscow. The U.S. government could tighten economic sanctions and work with G7 to seize frozen Russian Central Bank assets. It should have started to apply some of this leverage after it became clear that Putin did not accept the U.S. proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire.

That Iran is getting a pass on its sale of deadly weapons to Russia is just one of numerous signs that, under Trump, the United States has effectively switched sides on the Ukraine war.

Instead of supporting the victim of the largest invasion in Europe since World War II as the U.S. did under Biden, the country is now backing the aggressor and its dictator as Russia continues to kill civilians in Ukrainian cities.

Trump has basically made enough concessions to Russia already that he is objectively on Russias side, said John Bolton, one of Trumps national security advisers during his first term. After all, he thinks he and Putin are friends. Thats the strategy.

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The day after a missile attack murdered 38 in the town of Sumy as residents were celebrating Palm Sunday, Trump during an Oval Office photo opportunity suggested that somehow Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was responsible.

You dont start a war against someone 20 times your size and then hope that people give you some missiles, he told reporters. When you start a war, you got to know you can win.

Days earlier, Trump adviser Steven Witkoff suggested the best way to end the war would be to allow Russia to keep four eastern provinces, or oblasts  a concession that would reward Putin for having invaded his neighbor and killed tens of thousands of its citizens.

Then, on Wednesday, the United States was among just nine countries, Russia and Belarus among them, to vote against a United Nations resolution naming Russia as the aggressor in the conflict. The U.S. had in February voted against a resolution calling on Russia to withdraw from Ukraine.

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In another photo opportunity on Friday, Trump denied that Putin was manipulating him and then blamed Putins invasion on his predecessor, Biden. This is Bidens war, he said.

We have switched sides both literally, including in terms of multiple U.N. votes on which we sided with Moscow over our allies, and in spirit, in the sense that we no longer stand on the side of democracy, freedom and independence, said Ned Price, a former spokesman for the National Security Council in the Barack Obama White House and for the State Department under Biden.

Added Olivia Troye, a White House national security adviser during Trumps first term: I said this would happen if Trump got elected and here we are. Its happening. We are abandoning Ukraine officially and siding with dictators.

Everything this administration is doing seems to be in alliance with Russia, she added. My worry is that by the time Americans wake up and realize this  MAGA included  and regret it, it will be too late. The significant damage is happening right now before our very eyes, and most dont see it or understand it.
After the second round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States in Rome on Saturday, both sides have agreed to further discussions.

It was reportedly a four-hour session, and "the negotiations are progressing well," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said after the meeting with the US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in Rome.

Negotiations are set to continue on a technical level on Wednesday, and the diplomats plan to meet again in Oman on Saturday, Araghchi was quoted by the Iranian news agency ISNA as saying.
Iran and the United States have agreed to further nuclear discussions after the second round of negotiations between them in Rome on Saturday.

Negotiations are set to continue on a technical level on Wednesday, and the diplomats plan to meet again in Oman next Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was quoted by the Iranian news agency ISNA as saying.

The second round of talks in Rome was reportedly a four-hour session, and "the negotiations are progressing well," Araghchi said after the meeting with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

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The US government has not commented on Saturday's second-round talks so far.

Representatives from Iran and the United States met at Oman's emassy in Rome on Saturday for the second round.

The Iranian negotiating delegation was led by Araghchi.

Ali Shamkhani, a political adviser to Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, signalled Iran's willingness to reach an agreement in the nuclear dispute.

According to Shamkhani, Iran is willing to compromise under certain conditions. "We want a balanced agreement, not surrender," he wrote on X. Shamkhani called for a complete lifting of sanctions, including easing restrictions on foreign investment and an end to threats from Israel and the United States.

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The US delegation to Saturday's talks was led by Witkoff, while the foreign minister of Oman, Badr al-Busaidi, reprised his role as mediator.

US President Donald Trump has threatened Tehran with military consequences should the talks fail, stating his central aim is to prevent an Iranian nuclear weapons programme.

Witkoff recently emphasized that an agreement would only be reached if Tehran completely halts its uranium enrichment and weapons development programme, a significant tightening compared to his previous statement which suggested that limited civilian enrichment under strict control could be possible.

Araghchi expressed openness to concessions regarding the nuclear programme and the level of uranium enrichment, stressing that Iran does not want to develop a nuclear bomb. In return, Iran demands the lifting of US sanctions.

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But a complete renunciation of nuclear technology is not up for discussion, according to Araghchi.

Further points of conflict include the Iranian missile programme and Middle East policy, particularly Tehran's support for militant Islamist groups who target their common arch-enemy Israel.

In 2015, Iran concluded an agreement with a group of six countries - the US, Russia, China, the UK, France and Germany - that provided for the easing of international sanctions in return for concessions on its nuclear programme.

However, during Trump's first term in office, the US unilaterally withdrew from the agreement. Iran then also stopped adhering to it.

Trump is now pushing for a new agreement and has threatened military action in the event of failure.
By Parisa Hafezi

DUBAI (Reuters) -Iran and the United States agreed on Saturday to begin drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal, Iran's foreign minister said, after talks that a U.S. official described as yielding "very good progress."

U.S. President Donald Trump, who abandoned a 2015 nuclear pact between Tehran and world powers during his first term in 2018, has threatened to attack Iran unless it reaches a new deal swiftly that would prevent it from developing a nuclear weapon.

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At their second indirect meeting in a week, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi negotiated for four hours in Rome with Trump's Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff through an Omani official who shuttled messages between them.

Speaking on state TV after the talks, Araqchi described the engagement as useful and conducted in a constructive atmosphere.

"We were able to make some progress on a number of principles and goals, and ultimately reached a better understanding," Araqchi said.

"It was agreed that negotiations will continue and move into the next phase, in which expert-level meetings will begin on Wednesday in Oman. The experts will have the opportunity to start designing a framework for an agreement," he said.

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The top negotiators would meet again in Oman next Saturday to "review the experts' work and assess how closely it aligns with the principles of a potential agreement," he added.

Echoing cautious comments last week from Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, he said: "We cannot say for certain that we are optimistic. We are acting very cautiously. There is no reason either to be overly pessimistic."

Iran, which calls its nuclear programme peaceful, says it is willing to discuss limited curbs to its atomic work in return for lifting international sanctions.

A Trump administration official confirmed that the two sides agreed to meet again next week.

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"Today, in Rome over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions," the official said.

Trump told reporters on Friday: "I'm for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon. They can't have a nuclear weapon. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific."

Washington's ally Israel, which opposed the 2015 agreement with Iran that Trump abandoned in 2018, has not ruled out an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities in the coming months, according to an Israeli official and two other people familiar with the matter.

Since 2019, Iran has breached and far surpassed the 2015 deal's limits on its uranium enrichment, producing stocks far above what the West says is necessary for a civilian energy programme.

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A senior Iranian official, who described Iran's negotiating position on condition of anonymity on Friday, listed its red lines as never agreeing to dismantle its uranium enriching centrifuges, halt enrichment altogether or reduce its enriched uranium stockpile below levels agreed in the 2015 deal.

(Writing by Parisa Hafezi; Additional reporting by Joshua McElwee in Rome; Editing by Peter Graff, Raju Gopalakrishnan, Kirsten Donovan and Daniel Wallis)
A second round of high-level talks between US and Iranian delegations on Tehrans nuclear program has concluded in Rome on Saturday, amid tempered optimism about a diplomatic way forward.

Saturdays negotiations came a week after an initial round was held in the Omani capital Muscat. Although the talks are in Italy, Oman was again acting as mediator between the US team, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the Iranian one, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Trump administration expressed optimism following the talks, pointing to very good progress and that they had agreed to meet again next week. Today, in Rome, over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions, a senior administration official told CNN.

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Araghchi also signaled that the talks had been positive, telling reporters they lasted about four hours. I can say that there is movement forward. Weve reached better understanding and agreement on some principles and goals in these Rome negotiations, he said.

However, Araghchi said the nuclear deal that was reached in 2015, known as JCPOA, between Iran and world powers, including the US, is no longer good enough for us, in a post on X on Saturday. To them, what is left from that deal are lessons learned, Araghchi said, adding that for now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.

Iranian officials had said talks between technical experts would begin in Oman on Wednesday ahead of a third round of high-level talks on Saturday.

But US sources familiar with the talks said both political level and at the technical level talks will both take place on Saturday for now. The planning has been fluid, however, so its possible that the plan changes again, multiple sources said.

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The third round of high-level talks will be held next Saturday, according to Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Omans Foreign Ministry confirmed that the meeting would take place in Muscat.

The two countries have had decades of animosity and long been in dispute about Irans nuclear capabilities.

Washington wants Iran to stop production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Iran this week doubled down on its right to enrich uranium, but has suggested it is willing to negotiate some compromises in return for sanctions relief to ease the pressure on its hard-hit economy.

The second round of talks was set up in the same fashion as the first, according to the Iranian spokesperson, with the two sides not communicating directly with one another.

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Instead, the delegates sat in separate rooms, with Omans Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi mediating between the two.

Witkoff and Araghchi only met briefly during the first round  not since the Obama presidency have the United States and Iran held full, direct talks.

Trump not in a rush to strike Iran

The latest round was again a high-stakes engagement, and one that was preceded by a flurry of diplomatic activity as allies and adversaries alike seek to both understand and potentially influence the aims of the talks.

They come against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Irans network of proxies across the region has been weakened by Israeli attacks and US President Donald Trump has resumed the maximum pressure campaign of his first term against Iran.

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Trump on Thursday suggested he was not eyeing imminent military strikes against Irans nuclear facilities, but the threat still looms.

Im not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, he said when asked about a New York Times report that he had waved Israel off such military action.

Id like to see that, thats my first option. If theres a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, the US president added.

Ahead of the talks in Rome, Witkoff quietly met on Friday in Paris with Israels minister for strategic affairs and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus closest confidant Ron Dermer, and Mossad director David Barnea.

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The Israeli government favors aggressive action against, not diplomacy with, Iran. Netanyahus office on Thursday argued Israeli overt and covert operations were the reason that Iran does not currently possess a nuclear arsenal.

US intelligence agencies warned that Israel will likely attempt to attack Irans nuclear facilities, CNN reported in February.

Witkoff was in the French capital with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for discussions on Ukraine, and the two discussed the upcoming Iran meeting with the so-called E3 allies  France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

For the Europeans, they have an important decision to make very soon on snapback  on the snapback of sanctions  because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal, Rubio said on Friday. Thats going to be a factor in all this and thats why it was important we talk to them about it before our talks on Saturday.

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Araghchi visited Moscow before heading to Rome, meeting with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying he expected Russia to continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

The head of the UNs nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said during a visit to Iran that the talks are in a very crucial stage, adding, we know we dont have much time.

Since the withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal during Trumps first term, Tehran has far exceeded the limits it set on uranium enrichment, but has maintained it is not seeking a nuclear weapon.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud also traveled to Tehran this week in one of the highest-level trips by a Saudi official in decades.

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It was a visit to improve diplomatic ties between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran and meant to signal that the Kingdom can play a role in de-escalation and brokering peace efforts, a source told CNN.

This source noted that the Saudis do not know what Trump plans in the talks with Iran, and that the assessment in Saudi Arabia is that they may be unpredictable and could be short-lived.

CNNs Nic Robertson, Kareem El Damanhoury, Betsy Klein and Leila Gharagozlou contributed to this report.

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ROME (AP)  Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program again next week, after both sides said they made progress in their talks Saturday in Rome.

A U.S. official confirmed that at a point during the negotiations in Rome, President Donald Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face.

Before they meet again in Oman on April 26, Araghchi said technical-level talks would be held in the coming days. That experts would be discussing details of a possible deal suggests movement in the talks and comes as Trump has pushed for a rapid agreement while threatening military action against Iran.

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The sides made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions, according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic meeting.

In a post on X, Araghchi similarly said they made progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal. He added, however, that optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.

He told Iranian state television earlier that I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.

While the U.S. said both direct and indirect discussions were held, Iranian officials described them as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between them in different rooms.

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These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible, al-Busaidi said on X.

In a separate post, Oman's Foreign Ministry said the sides agreed to keep talking to seek a deal that ensures Iran is "completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given the decades of enmity between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting off years of attacks and negotiations that failed to restore the accord that drastically limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

Talks come as tensions rise in the Mideast

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At risk is a possible American or Israeli military strike on Irans nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on their threats to pursue an atomic weapon. Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have spiked over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza and after U.S. airstrikes targeting Yemen's Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded dozens more.

Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon, Trump said Friday. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.

Before the Iran talks started, Witkoff met in Rome with Rafael Mariano Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency, according to a person familiar with the meeting who spoke on condition of anonymity to share details that were not made public.

The U.N. nuclear watchdog agency would likely be key in verifying compliance by Iran should a deal be reached, as it did with the 2015 accord Iran reached with world powers.

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In a flurry of gatherings, Grossi also met with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who sat down with Araghchi before the U.S.-Iran talks.

A diplomatic deal is built patiently, day after day, with dialogue and mutual respect, Tajani said in a statement.

Araghchi, Witkoff traveled ahead of the talks

Witkoff had been in Paris for talks about Ukraine as Russia's full-scale war there grinds on. He also met in the French capital with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus strategic affairs minister, Ron Dermer, and Mossad chief David Barnea.

Dermer was in Rome on Saturday and spotted at the same hotel where Witkoff was staying. It was unclear if that was a coincidence, and there was no indication Dermer was part of the Iran talks.

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Araghchi in recent days paid a visit to Moscow, where he met with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Russia, one of the world powers involved in Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal, could be a key participant in any future deal reached between Tehran and Washington. Analysts suggest Moscow could potentially take custody of Iran's uranium enriched to 60% purity  a short, technical step away from weapons-grade levels of 90%.

Oman's capital hosted the first round of negotiations last weekend, which saw Araghchi and Witkoff meet face to face after indirect talks. Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, has long served as an interlocutor between Iran and the West.

Ahead of the talks, however, Iran seized on comments by Witkoff first suggesting Iran could enrich uranium at 3.67%, then later saying that all enrichment must stop.

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Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, wrote on X before the talks that Iran would not accept giving up its enrichment program like Libya or agreeing to using uranium enriched abroad for its nuclear program.

"Iran has come for a balanced agreement, not a surrender, he wrote.

Iran seeks a deal to steady a troubled economy

Iran's internal politics are still inflamed over the mandatory hijab, or headscarf, with women still ignoring the law on the streets of Tehran. Rumors also persist over the government potentially increasing the cost of subsidized gasoline in the country, which has sparked nationwide protests in the past

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Iran's rial currency plunged to over 1 million to a U.S. dollar earlier this month. The currency has improved with the talks, however, something Tehran hopes will continue.

Meanwhile, two used Airbus A330-200 long sought by Iran's flag carrier, Iran Air, arrived at Tehran's Mehrabad International Airport on Thursday, flight-tracking data analyzed by The Associated Press showed. The planes, formerly of China's Hainan Airlines, had been in Muscat and re-registered to Iran.

The aircraft have Rolls-Royce engines, which include significant American parts and servicing. Such a transaction would need approval from the U.S. Treasury given sanctions on Iran. The State Department and Treasury did not respond to requests for comment.

Under the 2015 deal, Iran could purchase new aircraft and had lined up tens of billions of dollars in deals with Airbus and Boeing Co. However, the manufacturers backed away from the deals over Trump's threats to the nuclear accord.

___

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Associated Press writer Nasser Karimi in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.
The Turkish Republic is on the brink. As Recep Tayyip Erdogan, its would-be sultan, dismantles the countrys secular democracy, President Donald Trump has seemingly taken little notice. Soon, though, Trump will have no choice but to pay attention. While Erdogan consolidates power at home and prepares to project it abroad, he has set the stage for a clash with Israel. Indeed, Turkey has quickly emerged as perhaps the greatest danger to the Jewish state in the Middle East, escalating the threat of a conflict he wont be able to avoid.

Erdogan and his Justice and Development Party have cowed their liberal opponents, co-opted most of the Turkish press, purged and restaffed the Turkish militarywith special zeal after crushing a 2016 coup attemptand revamped Turkeys intelligence service. Last month, he arrested and falsely charged as a terrorist the most potent political rival he has faced since becoming prime minister in 2003: the mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem Imamoglu. Erdogan even revoked Imamoglus university degree, making him, in theory, ineligible to run for president. The country has erupted in protest; in response, the regime has tightened its grip and arrested hundreds of demonstrators.

Erdogan seems poised to use his growing power in service of imperialist aims. He has fused Turkish nationalism and Islamism with a renewed reverence for the Ottoman Empire, reversing the course that Kemal Ataturk, the republics founder, once set. Ataturk forged the modern Turkish state from the rump of the Ottoman Empire in part by focusing Turkish identity on nation rather than on faith. What drives Erdogan is a kind of neo-Ottoman dream, starring himself in the role of sultan cum caliph, or, as he once put it, a servant of the Sharia. Despite domestic opposition to his rule, Erdogan has a plausible path to that ambition. The truth is that many Turks, even secular ones, have a certain affection for their countrys imperial past, when Turks were feared invaders rather than migrants searching for industrial jobs.

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Erdogans grand designs appear to include establishing himself as the Muslim worlds principal champion of anti-Zionism. The president has routinely hosted Hamas leaders for official visits and has referred to the architects of the October 7 attack as a liberation group. Late last month, in Turkeys largest mosque, he reportedly told a crowd of worshippers: May Allah, for the sake of his name, Al-Qahharthe Vanquisherdestroy and devastate Israel.

[Read: Is this the end for Erdogan?]

In turning against Israel and in favor of Hamas, Erdogan is riding a wave of anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism that has been rising in Turkey since at least the 1980s, especially on the secular left. But Erdogans realignment amounts to an extraordinary reversal of the countrys earlier history. After World War II, Turkey was the most pro-Western Muslim-majority country in the world. It recognized Israel in 1949the first Muslim nation to do soand has been a NATO member since 1952. Turkeys alliance with the West, however, has long been turbulent. Over the past 20 years, the European Union has made clear that Turkey is not welcome to join. Nor have the U.S. and Europe really sided with Ankara against the Kurdish groups it believes threaten its territorial integrity in the southeast. Erdogan has, for his part, characterized the West as a purveyor of values that traditional Muslims find decadent and sinful.

The Turkish president has intensified a long-held desire in his country to gain greater distance from the United States and NATO, so that Turkey will be free to profit from its strategic position and squeeze the worlds power playersincluding those outside the Westfor all Ankara can get. The big exception, however, has been Israel, where Erdogans Islamist sympathies and ambitions have curtailed commerce and tourism, and inflamed opposition.

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Now that Erdogan has spurned the West and set his sights on Israel, Turkey could prove more worrisome for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu than virtually any other country. Its armed forces are large, well equipped, relatively well trained, and backed by a GDP of more than $1 trillion. A recent Israeli security assessment, the Nagel Commission report, identified Turkey as a growing threat, given its military presence in neighboring Syria and its imperialist ambitions in the region. Those factors, the report warned, could exacerbate the danger of a direct Turkish-Israeli conflict.

Trump is apparently eager to smother tensions between the two countries before they ignite. In a press conference with Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu last week, Trump presented himself as a potential mediator: Bibi, if you have a problem with Turkey, he said, I really think Im going to be able to work it out.

He could be right. The Pentagon and Langley still have extensive dealings with Ankara, providing leverage that Washington could use to restrain Erdogan. When the Turkish leader asked Trump during his first term to withdraw American forces from Syria, he agreed. (After all, Trump considered Erdogan a friend.) ThenSecretary of Defense James Mattis and others walked Trump back, but now the president has no such counselors around him to deter a deal with Erdogan, whom he lauded at the press conference.

One carrot Trump could use is readmitting Turkey to Americas F-35 program. Trump stopped selling the prized fighter jets to Ankara in his first term, after Erdogan purchased Russian anti-aircraft batteries. But a call last month between the two leaders has reportedly made Trump consider the possibility of restarting sales as well as lifting sanctions.

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[Read: We study repression in Turkey. Now we see it here.]

To discern Erdogans next steps, look to Syria, where he could begin to mobilize against Israel. Erdogan has ample leverage there because of his supportvia cash, arms, and intelligencefor the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) militia, which toppled the Assad regime in December. Syria figures to remain fractured, poor, and violent, especially in the Kurdish areas near the Turkish border. Erdogan likely wants order to be restored, partly so that Syrian refugees in Turkey go home, and partly because a power vacuum in Syria benefits the Kurds, who control most of Syrias oilwith U.S. military protection (unless Trump removes it).

The Israelis are concerned that, with Turkish proctoring and aid, HTS could eventually become a formidable military force capable of replicating the cross-border threat Hezbollah posed from Lebanon. (Although an HTS leader has pledged not to strike Israel, other members have historically endorsed attacks on the country.) Even worse for Israel is the scenario that Ankara establishes an air and naval presence in bases across Syria.

For now, though, the likeliest course of action for the Turkish president is to find small-scale ways to support attacks on Israel, especially those by Palestinians. Israelis have reason to be concerned about this possibility: In July 2023, they intercepted a shipment from Turkey to Gaza of ammonium chloride, a chemical that Hamas has used for rocket propellant.

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If Trump wants to reduce the risk of yet another regional war, he will need to find ways to cultivate greater influence in Ankara. Simply calling Erdogan a friend wont cut it.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
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For the second time in a year, a federal court has found that Google (GOOG, GOOGL) broke the law by abusing its market power.

The loss could have major ramifications for a company already facing the threat of a breakup and arrives at a moment when the search giants vulnerabilities to a shifting online environment and political crosscurrents are especially visible.

But a forced restructuring and legal troubles are only part of Googles challenges.

While all members of the Magnificent Seven are suffering through a lousy 2025, Alphabet, Googles parent company, has been a laggard in the group over the past several years, failing to claim a breakout moment or turnaround in the way Nvidia (NVDA) and Meta (META) have. Microsoft's (MSFT) early association with ChatGPT also placed Google in AI catchup mode, a posture that may still exist in public perception.

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The company is also coming off a rough quarter when it fell short on cloud computing revenue, fanning lingering worries about its AI business. Its stock is down 20% in 2025 and has lost about 2% over the last year.

CEO Sundar Pichai is aiming for his companys Gemini chatbot to be used by 500 million people by the end of the year. As of Thursday, ChatGPT was the most downloaded free app on iPhones and on Google Play, while Gemini was No. 26 and 14 on those platforms, respectively.

Like many of its Big Tech peers, Alphabet has for months been contending with the fallout from China-based DeepSeek's AI models, whose early success caught the world by surprise and prompted concerns about Silicon Valleys spending spree. Alphabet has dramatically expanded its capital expenditures for the year ahead, upping a previous estimate of roughly $58 billion to a planned $75 billion.

Google is also caught in the middle of the brewing trade battle between the US and China. Earlier this year, China launched an antitrust investigation into the company. And that's before Trump's latest escalation of his trade spat with Beijing.

More broadly, if the Trump administrations trade policies slow US growth, as Fed officials, business leaders, and economists predict, Googles advertising revenue stands to take a hit. Businesses often pare back ad spending during lean times to protect core operations.

While Google at its heart is an online advertising company, it isn't just that. In YouTube, it claims an entire media ecosystem that occupies a singular space in tech and popular culture.
Is Britain still a good friend of Israel? That was my question to Gideon Saar, the countrys foreign minister. His visit to the UK, where he met David Lammy, the Foreign Secretary, triggered the usual Left-wing activists, some of whom demanded an arrest warrant be issued. The application was unsuccessful, and Mr Saar, who served in the Israel Defense Forces vaunted Golani Brigade, appears unfazed by the brouhaha.

He replies without hesitation: The UK is a good friend of Israel. For us, it is important to keep this friendship. Im not hiding the fact that we have differences of opinion, disagreements sometimes in our conversations.

Mr Saar elaborates: In my conversations with the Foreign Secretary, I bring a very accurate and frank approach when I think that the British position should be, lets say, more friendly to Israel, or take into greater consideration our reality, the neighbourhood we are living in.

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He provides an example of his frustrations: When terrorists from Hamas or Islamic Jihad are acting from a hospital, and we take all the measures, including warning and evacuating people from there to avoid any unnecessary collateral damage, eventually, the question that should be asked is not why we attack, but why Hamas are using hospitals or schools or UNRWA installations to attack Israel and its citizens. We dont always feel that we are getting the right context.

Mr Saar adds: I can assure you that the discussions between us are frank, and the friendship with the UK is important to us. We respect the decision, the vote of the citizens of the UK. We are working with the current Government.

A close UK-Israeli relationship is mutually beneficial, he insists. We not only have a traditional friendship, but also very important connections that help UK national security through intelligence and security co-operation. Both countries benefit from a good relationship.

Mr Saar met Mr Lammy on Wednesday. The British readout from the meeting between the two men didnt sound especially sympathetic to the Israeli point of view. The Foreign Office says Mr Lammy raised the ongoing hostage negotiations, protection of aid workers, the need to end the humanitarian blockade of Gaza and stop settlement expansion in the West Bank, and the Iranian nuclear issue. He also raised the importance of visits to Israel in the wake of two anti-Israel Labour MPs being barred from entry.

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I ask Mr Saar how he thinks the meeting went. It was a good conversation. Good conversation does not necessarily mean we didnt have differences on any issue, but I believe in a dialogue, and I have a dialogue with David Lammy, we speak on the phone, and we meet from time to time. We met in Jerusalem and we met here in London. I believe in a dialogue: you always gain something by making your arguments and intentions clearer.

Gideon Saar is a ubiquitous figure in Israeli politics - John Nguyen/JNVisuals

On the question of the barred MPs, Mr Saar is emphatic. I explained that we have laws to decide who is entering our territory. He says that the Knesset has legislated specifically against allowing in people who are calling to boycott or sanction Israel, but that ordinary critics are let in. He reminds me that Britain previously blocked an Israeli politician from entering the UK, and also Geert Wilders, the Dutch politician. This week, the Home Secretary banned Renaud Camus, the French anti-immigration writer, on the grounds that his presence would go against the public good.

Mr Saar says: It is not something that is targeted against British MPs. We had a case involving American congresswomen, and we publicly disallowed them to enter our state, and America is our greatest friend. If you want to harm our countries and the relations between Israel and the UK, I dont think we are obliged to open the door for that.

Is the UK doing enough to combat Islamist extremism, I ask? I dont want to criticise any country for what they are doing in their domestic arena. But I can tell you that I have been told by some Arab friends that certain activities of the Muslim Brotherhood in the UK are disallowed in certain Arab states, which is strange. Its an issue for the UK, the public in the United Kingdom, to decide how much radical Islam is free to act in the UK, and what can be the possible consequences. He adds: Its something Ive heard lately very often.

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A father of four, the 58-year-old Mr Saar is a ubiquitous figure in Israeli politics, and his career reflects its chaotic, almost incomprehensible, nature, as well as the multi-decade domination of Benjamin Netanyahu, its mercurial prime minister.

Mr Saar has served in various ministerial roles under Mr Netanyahu, stood against him for the Likud leadership, fallen out with him, set up his own rival Right-wing party, served in the centrist government of Bibis great rival, reconciled himself with Mr Netanyahu, fallen out with him again, and is now back on side, so much so that his New Hope party is set to reintegrate with Likud. His current role is his most powerful yet, and he has been propelled to the forefront of Israels global PR offensive.

On recognising a Palestinian state

For now, the UK, unlike France, does not appear to be proposing to unilaterally recognise a Palestinian state. I ask Mr Saar what he thinks of Emmanuel Macrons announcement that the French are minded to take that incendiary step soon. I hope they are not. We hear from them that a decision hasnt been taken yet. I think it would be a grave mistake for France to do that. They will lose regional influence, they will harm their position. They will not create a Palestinian state by this wishful or imaginary decision.

He points out that many countries have recognised a Palestinian state, but that it hasnt changed the reality on the ground. He worries that it would remove the Palestinians incentives to compromise or negotiate. It will decrease the chances of achieving peace and stability in the future. Palestinians are working in multilateral forums and the international arena to isolate and harm Israel, not to have peace.

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He warns that Israel may respond unilaterally if France chooses to act. Such a decision will be a huge mistake, and it will also push Israel into a corner, and force it to take decisions on unilateral steps by itself. If someone is trying to prejudge the outcome of future possible negotiations, we can do it as well.

I ask if that means annexation of some territories. Mr Saar pushes back on the terminology, preferring to speak of implementing law over our communities in Judea and Samaria. He adds: No doubt it will push Israel in that direction if someone is trying to prejudge what will happen there in the future, and these territories are disputed. You cannot sit in silence when others are trying to undermine your position.

Teddy bears with their eyes covered and showing signs of injury on display in Tel Aviv to highlight the Israeli children and babies taken hostage by Hamas - Alexi J. Rosenfeld/Getty Images

Donald Trumps election victory was greeted enthusiastically in Israel, but many now wonder whether the US presidents resolve on Iran may be weakening. I ask Mr Saar whether he fears that Steve Witkoff, Mr Trumps negotiator, may be angling for a soft, Obama-style deal with the Islamic Republic.

The Foreign Minister points instead to a more hawkish recent post by Mr Witkoff on X. Steve Witkoff tweeted emphasising that he is looking for the dismantling of the Iranian nuclear project, both enrichment and weaponisation, he says. I believe that the current administration is committed to dealing with this issue. It has put it very high on its agenda. The most important thing is the objective. Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon.

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Its not just Israel that is at risk. We saw [how Iran] helped Russia during the war on Ukraine, with weapons, drones and intelligence, he explains, warning of the great danger of allowing the most extremist regime in the world to have the most dangerous weapon in the world. Irans missiles have the ability to reach Europe today.

He worries about contagion. If Iran will have nuclear weapons, then we will have a nuclear race in the Middle East, and then the Saudis, Egypt, Turkey and other countries would like to have nuclear weapons as well, and this will have hard consequences on security, not only in the Middle East.

But it is for Israel that tackling the threat from a regime that has repeatedly vowed its destruction is truly an existential question. They attacked Israel two times with hundreds of missiles, they use proxies that destabilised all the Middle East, like Hezbollah, Hamas and the Houthis. If they have done all that without nuclear weapons, what will they be able to do if they will have a nuclear umbrella?

I ask him about a New York Times story that Israel had planned to attack Iran as early as next month, but that Mr Trump had blocked the strike. I am a member of the security cabinet, and all the intimate forums, and I dont remember such a decision, Mr Saar replies. He adds: I dont think that such a decision was taken. But Israel is committed to the objective of preventing Iran from having nuclear weapons. If that objective can be achieved by a diplomatic path, it is accepted.

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But he warns that Irans undertakings cannot be trusted. Iran always mocked its international obligations. Im not excluding the option that they will try to get some partial agreements, to avoid getting to the necessary solution. We are speaking directly with the Americans. Were also speaking with European friends. I think we all have the same objective. Iran is in a position of relative weakness, and this should be used to achieve the objective, and not to let Iran escape for the sake of convenience, to waste time until the circumstances change.

Mr Saar also warns that Yemens Houthis are causing huge problems for world trade, the world order and freedom of navigation and that the prices of commodities are going up as a result of their piracy and terrorism. He welcomes the latest Western offensive against the Houthi problem, but hints that an even more robust approach will be needed. The US and the UK have started to deal with it, and I praise that. I think its important for international order, but eventually there will need to be more steps to deal with the Houthi problem, including its financial roots.

He is clearly frustrated at previous, well-meaning Western attempts at peacemaking. There were Arab moderate regimes that fought against the Houthis, for example, the Saudis and the UAE, but they were stopped by Western countries. I ask him whether that was a mistake. He replies dryly: I tend to think so.

Terrorist groups have become more ambitious, he says. What we see in the case of the Houthis and we saw with Hamas and Hezbollah is terror organisations that take over territory and became a terrorist state. They have the resources, and they have people under their control, and they build their kingdoms. They are all supported by Iran, financially, in terms of training and in other dimensions.

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He recalls how a US-led coalition fought against the Isis caliphate, the original sovereign terrorist state. It should be the same with all these terror organisations that took over a territory and built it as terror states, and the Houthis are no doubt one of the most dangerous and radical of all these terror movements.

What does Mr Saar think of those demonstrators in Britain who chant Yemen, Yemen make us proud, turn another ship around, and other extremist slogans? I think they are useful idiots. They are supporting ideological forces that oppose the Western way of life, Western values, Western culture. We are just closer.

He believes that Israel is on the front lines of struggle that concerns all democracies. Jihadism is a common threat to all of Western civilisation, including the UK. [Israel] are fighting to defend ourselves. But while doing so, we are also fighting the fight of all the Western world, and this is something important for me to say to UK citizens, because I know that most of them perfectly understand the danger, the deep danger of such an extremist ideology.

An Israeli victory would thus give the Wests own anti-extremism efforts a major boost. The results of the war in the Middle East against radical Islamists will also influence Muslim communities in Europe. To the extent that the radical Islamists are defeated in the Middle East, that will have a certain effect. And if, God forbid, they were to prevail, it will have another kind of effect. It is clearly in the interest of Europe, of the UK, that the radical Islamists in the Middle East be defeated.

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Israel has long rejected the accusations of genocide or war crimes that keep being levelled against it by activist groups. Mr Saar believes that Israel has done much better than its Western allies in fighting previous urban wars, despite the fact that Hamas uses civilians as human shields, and says that the IDF often backs away to reduce collateral damage.

The ratio between terrorists [killed] and civilians that tragically are also victims in wars was much worse in Raqqa or Mosul than in the Gaza Strip. We operate our operations with legal scrutiny, according to international law, the rules of war. They are targeting civilians on both sides. Thats the immoral thing. We are targeting the terrorists. Sometimes, indeed, they are hiding among civilians. And we need to consider that and sometimes we dont attack. We are doing our utmost to minimise the number of civilian casualties. He says that any claims that all civilian casualties can be completely eliminated under such urban warfare are a total lie.

Families of Hamas hostages and their supporters rally outside Unicefs offices in Tel Aviv - Amir Levy/Getty Images

Like many in Israel, Mr Saar decries what he calls a new anti-Semitism in sections of the West. The historical anti-Semitism targeted the Jews. It hated the Jews, among other things, for being successful. The new anti-Semitism targets the only Jewish state and delegitimises, dehumanises the Jewish state, using double standards. They have this unique approach, denying [Israels] right to exist and right to self-defence. When they shout from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free, its to eliminate the state of Israel.

As the Passover holidays come to an end, the fact that so many hostages remain in Gaza after so long continues to gnaw away at the Israeli soul. It is the dominant issue in Israel, as well as in the Jewish diaspora, in every conversation and in every thought.

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Mr Saar hopes that a new deal can be done, but also warns that he is running out of patience. We will not sit without doing anything while they still hold 59 hostages. We will not wait forever. We will try to do our utmost in order to have a new reasonable hostage deal. But if we are not eventually able to achieve the cause via a diplomatic or political path, we will have to renew the military operation, and not a limited one, but a powerful one.

He highlights opposition to Hamas in Gaza, a relatively new development. The war can end tomorrow. Its very simple. You know, four words, hostages back, Hamas out, the war will be over. The international community agrees to the objective, that hostages should be released, that Hamas cannot stay in power. But somehow they are more critical about the means.

Mr Saar is interested in Mr Trumps vision for a post-war reconstruction of Gaza, under two conditions. The US president spoke of Gazans leaving, perhaps temporarily, but Mr Saar is clear that he doesnt support any form of compulsion or coercion. The decision to emigrate must be a free-choice decision. Sometimes I receive in my private social media accounts appeals from Palestinians who want me to help them to leave. There are a lot of people there that dont want to live in this mess.

The second condition is that some countries need to volunteer to accept the departing Gazans. He says that some will be willing to do so. I dont want to reveal [which ones] ahead of time, but there are countries I believe will be ready to do so. There are countries that are doing it already, now in very low numbers, and there are countries willing to do that in bigger numbers.

He points out that nobody objects to Syrians or Afghans voluntarily emigrating, and claims that many critics who oppose Mr Trumps plan want to keep Palestinians in the most awful position as a tool in the war against Israel, just as they kept the refugee camps in Arab countries for 77 years. He says: How can you be against the immigration of someone who wants [to leave], and there is a country ready to accept them? Thats not human.

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The Israeli military continued to conduct dozens of airstrikes in the Gaza Strip over the Jewish weekend from Friday evening to Saturday evening.

The air force carried out around 150 attacks on "terrorists and terror infrastructure" over the period, the military said on Saturday.

Over the past seven days, 300 targets have been attacked in the fight against the Palestinian Islamist Hamas movement, and since the resumption of hostilities on March 18, more than 1,400 targets have been hit from the air, the military said further.

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The sealed-off coastal area is home to over 2 million Palestinians.

According to reports, ground troops destroyed a tunnel several hundred metres long in the south near Rafah, which was equipped with booby traps.

It was claimed that 40 Hamas fighters were killed, and numerous weapons and vehicles of the militia were confiscated.

The claims could not be independently verified.

The Israeli military typically does not provide information on the number of civilian casualties resulting from its operations.

The Palestinian news agency WAFA reported on Saturday afternoon, citing the Hamas-controlled health authority, that 92 Palestinians had been killed and 219 others injured in the past 24 hours due to the fighting.

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The number of Palestinians killed since the outbreak of the Gaza War on October 7, 2023, rose to 51,157. The figures do not differentiate between fighters and civilians.

The trigger for the war was the worst massacre in Israel's history, carried out by Hamas and other extremist Palestinian organizations in southern Israel. On the Israeli side, 1,200 people were killed.
DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip (AP)  Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said again Saturday that Israel has no choice but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war before destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring that the territory wont present a threat to Israel.

The prime minister also repeated his vow to make sure Iran never gets a nuclear weapon.

Netanyahu is under growing pressure at home not only from families of hostages and their supporters but also from reservist and retired Israeli soldiers who question the continuation of the war after Israel shattered a ceasefire last month.

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In his statement, he said Hamas has rejected Israels latest proposal to free half the hostages in return for another temporary truce. Hamas has said it will only free the remaining hostages in return for an Israeli withdrawal and a lasting ceasefire, as called for in the agreement that Israel ended.

Israeli strikes meanwhile killed more than 90 people in 48 hours, Gazas Health Ministry said Saturday. Israeli troops have been increasing their attacks to pressure Hamas to release the hostages and disarm.

Children and women were among the 15 people killed overnight, according to hospital staff. At least 11 dead were in the southern city of Khan Younis, several of them in a tent in the Muwasi area where hundreds of thousands of displaced people stay, hospital workers said. Israel has designated it as a humanitarian zone.

Mourners cradled and kissed the faces of the dead. A man stroked a child's forehead with his finger before body bags were closed.

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Omar is gone ... I wish it was me," one brother cried out.

Four other people were killed in strikes in Rafah city, including a mother and her daughter, according to the European Hospital, where the bodies were taken.

Later on Saturday, an Israeli airstrike on a group of civilians west of Nuseirat in central Gaza killed one person, according to Al-Awda Hospital.

Israel's military in a statement said it killed more than 40 militants over the weekend.

Separately, the military said a soldier was killed Saturday in northern Gaza and confirmed it was the first soldier death since Israel resumed the war on March 18. Hamas armed wing, the Qassam Brigades, said it ambushed Israeli forces operating east of Gaza Citys al-Tuffah neighborhood.

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Israel has vowed to intensify attacks across Gaza and occupy indefinitely large security zones inside the small coastal strip of over 2 million people.

Israel also has blockaded Gaza for the past six weeks, again barring the entry of food and other goods.

This week, aid groups raised the alarm, saying thousands of children have become malnourished and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, according to the United Nations.

The head of the World Health Organizations eastern Mediterranean office, Dr. Hanan Balkhy, on Friday urged the new U.S. ambassador in Israel, Mike Huckabee, to push the country to lift Gaza's blockade so medicines and other aid can enter.

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I would wish for him to go in and see the situation firsthand, she said.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals. Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of them believed to be alive.

Israels offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants.

The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. Around 90% of the population is displaced, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.

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Frustration has been growing on both sides, with rare public protests against Hamas in Gaza and continued weekly rallies in Israel pressing the government to reach a deal to bring all hostages home.

Thousands of Israelis joined protests Saturday night pressing for a deal.

Do what you should have done a long time ago. Bring them all back now! And in one deal. And if this means to stop the war, then stop the war, former hostage Omer Shem Tov told a rally in Tel Aviv.



Magdy reported from Cairo and Federman from Jerusalem. Associated Press writer Jamey Keaten in Geneva contributed to this report.

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Follow APs war coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/israel-hamas-war

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This story corrects the day the WHO official made comments.
Israeli airstrikes across Gaza killed at least 25 people on Friday including children, hospital workers said, as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel made his first public appearance in Jerusalem.

The dead included 15 people killed in three strikes on the southern city of Khan Younis, according to Nasser Hospital, which received the bodies. Ten people were killed in Jabaliya, including eight from the same home, according to the Indonesian Hospital, where the bodies were brought.

The strikes came a day after more than two dozen people died in Gaza as Israel continued attacks, pressuring Hamas to disarm and return hostages it took in October 2023.

Ambassador arrives in Jerusalem

U.S. Ambassador Mike Huckabee visited the Western Wall on Friday, the holiest Jewish prayer site in Jerusalems Old City. He inserted a prayer into the wall, which he said was handwritten by U.S. President Donald Trump. Those are his initials, D.T., said Huckabee while showing the note to the media.

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In his first act as ambassador, Huckabee said Trump told him to pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Huckabee also said every effort was being made to bring home the remaining hostages held by Hamas. A one-time presidential hopeful, Huckabee has acknowledged his past support for Israels right to annex the West Bank and incorporate its Palestinian population into Israel but said it would not be his prerogative to carry out that policy.

During his first term, Trump recognized Jerusalem as Israels capital over Palestinian objections and moved the U.S. embassy from Tel Aviv. Palestinians seek the eastern part of the city, captured by Israel in the 1967 Mideast war, as their future capital.

Huckabees arrival comes at a pivotal time in the 18-month war, as international mediators including the U.S. are trying to get a broken ceasefire back on track.

Israel is demanding that Hamas release more hostages at the start of any new ceasefire and ultimately agree to disarm and leave the territory. Israel has said it plans to occupy large security zones inside Gaza.

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Khalil al-Hayya, head of Hamas negotiating delegation, said Thursday the group had rejected Israels latest proposal along those lines. He reiterated Hamas stance that it will return hostages only in exchange for the release of more Palestinian prisoners, a full Israeli withdrawal and a lasting truce, as called for in the now-defunct ceasefire agreement reached in January.

Hamas currently holds 59 hostages, 24 of whom are believed to be alive.

Fridays airstrikes came a day after aid groups raised alarm over Israels blockade of of Gaza, where it has barred entry of all food and other goods for more than six weeks. Thousands of children have become malnourished, and most people are barely eating one meal a day as stocks dwindle, the United Nations said.

Israels Defense Minister says the blockade is one of the central pressure tactics against Hamas, which Israel accuses of siphoning off aid to maintain its rule. Aid workers deny there is significant diversion of aid, saying the U.N. closely monitors distribution. Rights groups have called it a starvation tactic.

Gazas Christians mark Good Friday

As Israel continued its offensive, Palestinian Christians gathered inside Gazas Greek Orthodox Church of St. Porphyrios to mark the Good Friday holiday. Worshippers clad in black bowed their heads in prayer and lit votive candles to commemorate the crucifixion of Jesus.

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A building in the St. Porphyrios compound was hit soon after the war began in October 2023, killing more than a dozen people taking refuge there. Fridays holiday was the second Good Friday celebrated in Gaza since then. St. Porphyrios is believed to be the third oldest church in the world, according to the World Council of Churches.

Gaza was home to about 1,300 Christians before the start of the war, according to the U.S. State Department.

The war began when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting 251. Most of the hostages have since been released in ceasefire agreements or other deals.

Israels offensive has since killed over 51,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gazas Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants. The war has destroyed vast parts of Gaza and most of its food production capabilities. The war has displaced around 90% of the population, with hundreds of thousands of people living in tent camps and bombed-out buildings.

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JACKSON, Mich. (AP)  Ryan Kelley thought he had a good shot at becoming Michigans governor in 2022. That is, until he was charged with misdemeanors for participating in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. His campaign sputtered and he finished fourth out of five candidates in the Republican primary.

Three years later, Kelley says, people ask him all the time to run for governor again. In todays America, where President Donald Trump returned to the White House and within hours pardoned some 1,500 Jan. 6 rioters, Kelley's two-month prison sentence for his actions that winter day in 2021 isn't the obstacle to public life that it might once have been.

It may even be a ticket to political prominence.

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Far from being sidelined, those who rioted, assaulted police officers or broke into congressional offices during the violent attack are now being spotlighted as honored guest speakers at local Republican events around the country. They are getting a platform to tell their version of events and being hailed as heroes and martyrs. Some are considering runs for office, recognizing that at least among a certain segment of the pro-Trump base, they are seen not as criminals but as patriots.

Kelley, a 43-year-old commercial real estate developer, is among those fielding new opportunities in the political arena.

At a recent county Republican committee event in Jackson, Michigan, Kelley was met with hugs and handshakes. Dozens of attendees hollered and clapped when he introduced himself as your favorite J6er. They gasped and shook their heads as Kelley recalled how his young son thought he was dead while he was in federal prison. They urged him to run for governor again in 2026. It is something he said he is debating.

After Kelley finished speaking, attendees said they were touched by his story.

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Ive done much worse and did no jail time, said 58-year-old Todd Gillman, a woodworker and Republican chairman for the local congressional district. Thank God people like Ryan Kelley are not intimidated by the lawfare that was used against them.

Rioters become symbols of government overreach

It makes sense that Republicans are seizing the chance to showcase Jan. 6 rioters, said Matt Dallek, a historian at George Washington University who studies the conservative movement. Trump has likened those rioters to  political prisoners  and  warriors  for defending him and his false claims that the 2020 election won by Democrat Joe Biden was stolen. There is no credible evidence the 2020 election was tainted or that Trump was the winner  facts backed up by federal and state election officials and Trumps own attorney general. Trump's allegations of fraud were also roundly rejected by courts, including by judges appointed by Trump.

Those who are pardoned can testify, like no one else can, to the horrific power of the federal government to destroy their lives, Dallek said. Its a potent rallying cry, and also probably a potent fundraising tool.

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But there also is a danger to elevating them, he said. Many of those pardoned by the Republican president used violence to stop the peaceful transfer of power, and juries determined their actions to be criminal.

It is, I think, a mainstreaming, a growing acceptance on the right of political violence, as long as its done in the service of Trump and his ongoing election lie, Dallek said.

Kelley, who did not commit violence or enter the Capitol, pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor trespassing charge. He said he saw some things at the Capitol  people breaking windows, for example  that he did not like. But he also flatly denied an audience members use of the term insurrection.

It was a protest that turned into a little bit of a scuffle later in the day for a couple of minutes, right? he told the nodding crowd in Jackson, a midsize city west of Detroit that residents say hosted the first official meeting of the Republican Party in 1854.

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Extensive video footage and testimony from the events inside the Capitol on Jan. 6 show more than a scuffle as a mob of Trump supporters  some armed with poles, bats and bear spray  overwhelmed law enforcement, shattered windows and sent lawmakers and aides running into hiding. More than 100 police officers were injured, with some dragged into the crowd and beaten or attacked with makeshift weapons.

Kelley said the reason he pleaded guilty was to avoid more serious charges. That differed from his tone in his sentencing hearing in 2023, when he told the judge that his actions outside the Capitol, from crossing the police line to riling up other rioters and ripping a tarp, were wrong. The judge told Kelley: I think you misused the platform that you had as a candidate for elected office to minimize and, frankly, to lie about what happened.

As he gazed out at an American flag banner while addressing the crowd in Jackson, Kelley said he "was a political prisoner for standing up for what I believe was right.

That resonated with attendee Marilyn Acton, a 68-year-old mental health counselor. She hopes pardoned Jan. 6 rioters such as Kelley become more involved in Republican politics.

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I would like them to totally get involved, because I think people need to know the truth, she said.

Pardoned, platformed and protested

By The Associated Press' count, at least two dozen local Republican groups nationwide in recent months have invited Jan. 6 rioters to speak at regular meetings or special fundraisers, some with titles such as Insurrection Hoax and Patriots Vindicated.

They include people who only trespassed at the Capitol but also rioters who were convicted and pardoned for more serious crimes such as carrying a firearm on Capitol grounds or violently attacking law enforcement.

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The Western Wake Republican Club in North Carolina in March featured remarks from James Grant, a pardoned rioter who was among the first to assault police officers and breach a security perimeter during the attack on the Capitol.

Grant, who later climbed into the Capitol through a broken window and entered a senators office, used the stage to reiterate his belief that the 2020 election was stolen and suggest that the actions on the front line of the riots were led by undercovers and federal agents. In a video recording of the event, he also decried the conditions in prison and said the experience was traumatic for him.

A Republican womens club in Lawrence County, Tennessee, earlier this month hosted an event for Ronald Colton McAbee. He was employed as a sheriffs deputy in Tennessee when he went to Capitol, dragging an officer away from a police line and punching another officer who tried to stop him.

McAbee told the crowd the jury that convicted him of five felonies was biased and said he had been trying to help the officer in the melee. He encouraged those listening to get involved in politics and said he had considered running for office himself.

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It has been a thought, and well see what happens, he said in a video recording of the event.

Some of the local GOP groups welcoming Jan. 6 rioters have faced pushback from their communities, prompting them to relocate or even cancel scheduled events.

In California, the Association of Monterey Bay Conservatives event featuring six pardoned rioters faced so much public backlash that three potential venues canceled, according to TV station KSBW. When the event was ultimately held at the fourth venue in Salinas, protesters gathered outside the building.

The Monterey Peace and Justice Center, a local nonprofit that condemned the event, said in an emailed statement that rebranding these rioters as heroes is a dangerous distortion of history.

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Event organizer Karen Weissman told the AP in an email the group believed that it was important for our community to hear their stories and hear a different perspective.

David Becker, a former Justice Department lawyer and co-author of The Big Truth, a book about Trumps 2020 election falsehoods, said he is troubled by anyone who would reward or celebrate what happened on Jan. 6.

We have to agree as a constitutional republic, as a democracy, that elections and the rule of law have meaning, he said. And if we lose that meaning, if we attack our own institutions, we are going down a path where something even worse could happen in the future.

From conviction to candidacy

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Some pardoned rioters are taking things a step beyond speaking at political events and setting their sights on local, state or even federal office.

Jake Lang, who was charged with assaulting an officer, civil disorder and other crimes before he was pardoned by Trump, recently announced he is running for Secretary of State Marco Rubios vacant U.S. Senate seat in Florida.

Enrique Tarrio, the former Proud Boys leader who was sentenced to 22 years in prison after being convicted of seditious conspiracy and other crimes before his full pardon, said in an interview with Newsmax that he will take a serious look at running for office in 2026 or 2028 and believes his future is in politics.

In Texas, pardoned rioter Ryan Nichols announced a run for Congress but withdrew days later.

Kelley, who has been asked to attend various political events around Michigan in recent months, said he is debating another run for governor in 2026, but is not sure he can commit his young family to the grind of the campaign. He said he wants Michigan to win, whether or not he is the one in office.

Still, he recognizes that Trumps pardons have opened a window of opportunity that may not last forever.

Now is kind of the time that I could catapult with that, right? he said in an interview. We get a lot of hate, but Im also going to get a lot of support.

___

Associated Press writer Christina A. Cassidy in Atlanta contributed to this report.

___

The Associated Press receives support from several private foundations to enhance its explanatory coverage of elections and democracy. See more about the APs democracy initiative here. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
HONOLULU (KHON2)  Japan has become a hot travel destination in recent years but there may be some changes on the horizon. To help control the influx of visitors, the Japanese government is looking to implement a tourist tax.

Japan has been attracting more visitors in recent years thanks to is majestic mountains, captivating temples and a favorable exchange rate for travelers.

Easter in Hawaii: Are tariffs impacting prices?

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Scott Suzui has guided tours to Japan for decades. He said its definitely gotten more crowded.

We went just few months ago. We went to just one area and there were thousands of people just standing, and we decided to not even get off the bus, because of how populated that area was with tourists, Suzui said.

According to the Japan National Tourism Organization, a record breaking 36.8 million people traveled to Japan in 2024, surpassing the previous record of 32 million in 2019.

Eric Takahata, managing director of Hawaii Tourism Japan, said the Japanese government is looking for a way to manage the overwhelming numbers.

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The government of Japan right now is facing over tourism situation, much like we in Hawaii were facing pre-pandemic in 2019, Takahata explained. So implementing fees on visitors is one way to manage over tourism and really then reinvest back into your infrastructure right with those fees that you tack onto the visitor.

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Takahata isnt sure how much the visitors will be charged but compares it to a system widely used in Hawaii.

We suspect its going to be rolled out something much like how Hawaii has a kamaaina versus a visitor rate, he said. I mean, look at kamaaina rates in Hawaii, those have been in place forever, right? I think that residents should have an advantage over a visitor in general, and so I think Japan is starting to look at their tourism in that way as well.

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Some places already have plans to charge visitors higher rates. Starting in May, travelers planning to hike Mount Fuji will be charged 4,000 yen, which converts to about $27, which is double the original cost. The price will not increase for Japanese citizens.

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The goal of the tourist tax is to protect cultural landmarks, generate funds to provide adequate infrastructure and to create balance.

I dont think its going to have a big impact on travel to Japan, Takahata added. I think that it will have some impact. But that still remains to be seen depending on how much the fee is going to be.

Suzuis wife, who is born and raised in Japan, is all for it.

She said, Good, they should charge people, then less people will be coming, you know, Suzui said. It could be beneficial, because it wont be as crazy, crazy, you know.

Takahata said its still being discussed but it could happen as early as 2026.

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Screenshot: News 12

Troy McLeod walks his dogs every single day in his New York City neighborhood. Despite being wheelchair-bound, McLeod and his pups have maintained a comfortable routine. But everything changed one day when their regularly scheduled walk turned life-threatening. - Phenix S Halley Read More

What started as a community event celebrating Easter turned fatal at a Mississippi church. According to authorities, a deacon at the Empowerment Ministries Christian Center (EMCC) stepped in to defend a fellow church goer from an armed man, then tragedy struck. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Photo: Theo Wargo, Al Bello (Getty Images)

Another day, another amended lawsuit... The weeks are counting down until Sean Diddy Combs is set to stand trial for alleged sexual misconduct and racketeering, and in the mean time, his civil lawsuits just keep piling up. But while several A-list celebrities have been mentioned for allegedly participating in or witnessing the infamous Freak Offs, one billionaire couple just came out to clear their names with damning receipts. - Phenix S Halley Read More

Photo: Theo Wargo (Getty Images)

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Sean Diddy Combs has something up his sleeve with only three weeks until his trial begins. At seemingly the 11th hour, Combs is trying to change his legal team in a major way. And with May 12 right around the corner, this move could prove vital to his defense strategy. - Phenix S Halley Read More

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JD Vance has been tweeting relentlessly in defense of his masters decision to leave Kilmar Abrego Garcia rotting in a Salvadoran prisondespite judicial rulings declaring the move illegal.

In these tweets, Vance works himself up into a frenzy of self-regard and high dudgeon, sneering at the left for not engaging his arguments. Yet he blithely ignores actual efforts at engagement with him, and the arguments he does make are embarrassingly weak. The disconnect is cringeworthy.

Case in point: Vances latest tweet on this saga.

Call me crazy but if you got two hearings and a valid deportation order then you shouldnt be in the United States.  JD Vance (@JDVance) April 18, 2025

I wouldnt call this crazy, but I would call it smug, dumb, repugnant, and even revealing. Vances suggestion that Abrego Garcia is subject to a valid deportation order actually undermines President Donald Trumps fraudulent case that he has no duty to return Abrego Garcia to the United States. It forcefully demonstrates why the administration is obliged to bring him back and give him due processwhich officials refuse to do.

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Heres why. The status that Vance refers to here is withholding of removal, which a judge granted to the Salvadoran Abrego Garcia in 2019. This prohibited his deportation to El Salvador, but it didnt preclude removal to a third country. This status is a bit murky: In essence, the government is recognizing that he is living and working here lawfully as long as it isnt moving to deport him elsewhere.

Heres what this means: If the Trump administration wanted to remove Abrego Garcia, it could always have tried to recontest his withholding of removal status and send him to El Salvador that way. Alternatively, it could have moved to deport him to a different country. Even now, the government has the option of returning him and pursuing one of those lawful channels.

When Vance claims that Abrego Garcia is validly subject to deportation, hes effectively admitting that the administration does have those alternative options. Remember, the Supreme Court declared Abrego Garcias current removal illegal. Trump has the option of moving to deport him in a way that is not illegal. Why not bring him back and do this the lawful way? The question remains unanswered.

As an aside, Vance keeps saying that Abrego Garcia already received due process when he was granted that withholding of removal status. But note Vances slippery trick: He is claiming this without acknowledging that the government has now deported him illegally, in violation of that very status. It is this affirmative act by Vances own government that triggers the need for due process once again.

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All this has just assumed new importance for another reason, due to a new ruling by a conservative judge, J. Harvie Wilkinson. The Fourth Circuit appeals court shot down Trumps efforts to dodge responsibility to return him, and the ruling is getting attention for its scorching rebuke of Trumps lawlessness.

But Id like to highlight this portion (emphasis mine):

The government asserts that Abrego Garcia is a terrorist and a member of MS-13. Perhaps, but perhaps not. Regardless, he is still entitled to due process. If the government is confident of its position, it should be assured that position will prevail in proceedings to terminate the withholding of removal order.

The case that Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 member is exceptionally weak. But note the courts declaration: Even if he were a gang member, it would mean that the government would be on firmer ground in bringing him back and recontesting his withholding of removal order. This conservative judge is reiterating my question above: Thats always an option for the administration to take; why wont it do so?

All this has big political implications too. After Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen met with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, generating powerful imagery nationally, Trump adviser Stephen Miller made a big show of claiming this debate favors Trump because Democrats are becoming the party that fights for illegal aliens.

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Politicos Zack Stanton points out that this is how Miller hopes the story is publicly understood. Thats true, but lets say more about what this means. Lots of polling shows that while Trump enjoys generalized approval on immigration, theres broad public disapproval on specifics like deporting people who have been here for more than 10 years or havent been convicted of non-immigration-related crimes.

Abrego Garcia fits both those bills. Indeed, this is almost certainly why the administration wont bring him back: If he were returned and the administration moved to retry him for deportation, his alleged MS-13 status would be formally litigated again. Trump might actually fail in this effort, shattering impressions of his power to act lawlessly with impunity, which hes cultivating to spread terror and breed submission. Beyond that, the focus would grow more intense on the life Abrego Garcia has created here as a metalworker who is married to a U.S. citizen with three children and regularly checked in with law enforcement, as his status required. These are the people majorities dont want deported.

As it happens, as G. Elliott Morris details, polling also shows broad disapproval of other particular moveslike deporting people to foreign prisons and removing people in defiance of courts. In short, neither optionbringing him back or ignoring courts to leave him in El Salvadoris good politics for Trump.

The only way Trump wins the argument is if he can subsume all these specificsdeporting longtime nonviolent residents, flouting courts, conspiring with fellow dictators to stash people in foreign gulagsunder the rubric of fighting illegal aliens. But why assume hes succeeding at that? The more media attention Vance and Trump bring to this case, the less likely that becomes. This is also a reason for Democrats to do more to spotlight particularized horrors. If Democrats dont engage, theyll only make it easier for Trump and Miller to recast those specifics as Hey, were just keeping out illegals.

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In the end, what makes Vances stance so reprehensible is that he knows the administration has the option of returning Abrego Garcia and moving to deport him through lawful channels, as Vances own tweet demonstrates. But hes defending the decision to leave him in a foreign prison instead, perhaps for life.

Does Vance really think that outcome would be a more proportional punishment for his transgression of entering the country illegally at the age of 16, as Abrego Garcia did, than removing him more conventionally would be? If so, Vance is morally deranged. If not, hes knowingly defending the indefensible. If voters can be made to see that this is the true nature of the choice Vance and Trump are making, theyd surely recoil.
Fred Alger Management, an investment management company, released its Alger Small Cap Focus Fund first quarter 2025 investor letter. A copy of the letter can be downloaded here. Changing trade, monetary, and fiscal policies increased volatility in US stocks. The emergence of artificial intelligence (AI) models from China added to the uncertainty. Against this backdrop, the class A shares of the fund underperformed the Russell 2000 Growth Index. The Communication Services and Energy sectors contributed to the relative performance of the fund in the quarter, while the Health Care and Information Technology sectors detracted. In addition, you can check the funds top 5 holdings to determine its best picks for 2025.

In its first-quarter 2025 investor letter, Alger Small Cap Focus Fund highlighted stocks such as Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE). Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) offers a platform for property and casualty (P&C) insurance companies. The one-month return of Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) was -1.10%, and its shares gained 77.32% of their value over the last 52 weeks. On April 17, 2025, Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) stock closed at $191.33 per share with a market capitalization of $16.049 billion.

Alger Small Cap Focus Fund stated the following regarding Guidewire Software, Inc. (NYSE:GWRE) in its Q1 2025 investor letter:
JD Vance met with the Vatican Secretary of State Saturday during his visit the Vatican City on Easter weekend, according to The White House.

Vance is not scheduled to have an official meeting with Pope Francis, however, one outlet reported the two met privately.

A press release from the vice president's office said Vance and Cardinal Parolin, who is the Catholic Church's most senior official after the pope, discussed "Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Donald Trump's commitment to restoring world peace."

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The two also discussed their shared religious faith. Vance, who has a home in East Walnut Hills, converted to Catholicism six years ago at a church in Greater Cincinnati.

The official meeting comes one day after Vance and his family arrived in Vatican City and attended a Good Friday service at St. Peter's Basilica. Vance also met with the Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on Friday.

News outlet: 'Quick and private meeting' between Vance and Pope Francis

Pope Francis and the Republican U.S. vice president have disagreed over the Trump administration's immigration policy. According to USA Today, the pontiff has been critical of the administration's mass deportation of migrants and has disputed Vance's interpretation of theology.

There is no formal meeting scheduled between Vance and Pope Francis, according to the Catholic news site EWTN News.

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More: Pope weighs in on 'ordo amoris' after JD Vance sparks debate

The 88-year-old pontiff, who is recovering from a recent battle with life-threatening pneumonia, also did not attend the Good Friday service.

British outlet Sky News reported sources told them Vance and the pope had a "quick and private meeting" at the pope's residence in Vatican City. The outlet said no further details have been released on the meeting.

Vance converted to Catholicism at Madeira church

Vance's faith is strongly tied to Cincinnati. The Middletown native was raised nominally evangelical and explored atheism before converting to Catholicism in 2019 at St. Gertrude Priory, which is attached to a Dominican parish in Madeira.

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Vance told The American Conservative that as he became more interested in faith, Catholicism was the practice that appealed most to him "intellectually."

The vice president will be in Vatican City and Rome through Sunday, visiting cultural and religious sites. Vance may also attend the Vatican's celebration of Easter in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, according to Reuters.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: JD Vance visits the Vatican, has 'quick' meeting with Pope Francis
GOLDEN, Colo. (KDVR)  A witness in the Jefferson County rock-throwing trial broke down into tears on the witness stand Friday.

That witness was sitting in the front seat of the truck from which rocks were thrown that hit and killed Alexa Bartell in Jefferson County.

Broomfield man sentenced to life for stalking, killing wife

Nicholas Karol-Chik said he was a close friend of the defendant he is testifying against.

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The court heard an emotional description of the moments before that rock was thrown and killed Bartell.

Karol-Chik was one of three high schoolers who were in a truck from which the rocks were thrown, and said he helped get the rock to Joseph Koenig, who is charged with the first-degree murder of Bartell.

He (Koenig) had his right hand on the steering wheel, and he reached across his body with his left hand to grab the rock off the center console, Karol-Chik said.

During this portion of his testimony, Karol-Chik fought back tears.

At that point, his window had already been rolled down. So, when the vehicle got close to us, he threw it out his side of the vehicle, Karol-Chik said.

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The rock hit Bartells car that night on a sparsely populated road in Jefferson County in April 2023.

Karol-Chic has pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and agreed to testify against Koenig, whom he said was like a brother.

Koenigs defense attorney asked why Karol-Chik had previously lied to investigators, saying another teen who was in the truck, Zachary Kwak, had thrown the stone. The defense attorney also asked Karol-Chik if he was desperate to get a deal.

Truck used in deadly Jeffco rock throwing case was going over 100 mph: Witness

Karol-Chik grew emotional again when he described going back to the scene to see where Bartells car had come to a stop.

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The jury was dismissed late Friday afternoon for the weekend.

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Jennifer Lopez could be dragged into her ex-boyfriend Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal troubles as the embattled rapper's trial draws near.

According to reports, Diddy's team is fighting to keep evidence from his infamous 1999 shooting at a club in New York out of the trial.

Sean "Diddy" Combs' legal team is also making other last-minute efforts to shape up their defense, including asking for his assault video against former girlfriend Cassie not to be admitted in court.

Why Jennifer Lopez Could Be Dragged Into Diddy's Trial

MEGA

Lopez is likely to face questioning in Diddy's forthcoming trial, as his legal team seeks to dismiss evidence related to a notorious 1999 shooting incident at a New York nightclub.

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Lopez and Diddy dated from 1999 to 2001 and enjoyed a series of lavish outings and glamorous appearances together.

During one of such events at Club New York in Manhattan on December 27, 1999, the pair were seemingly having a nice time when gunfire broke out inside the venue.

The Bad Boy Records founder was accused of firing a gun in the shootout that left three people injured.

After they left the club, they were chased down by cops, who found a stolen gun in the vehicle. Although Lopez wasn't charged, Diddy stood trial for gun and bribery charges but was acquitted.

Now, according to the Daily Mail, Diddy's lawyers want the incident to be excused from evidence in his upcoming trial, which is slated to begin in May.

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The fact that Diddy's team wants to block the 1999 club incident from being used in court means Lopez could be mentioned and potentially grilled in the trial.

Diddy's Lawyer Challenges Witness's Testimony In Club Shooting Incident

MEGA

Diddy's lawyers are challenging the testimony of a key witness in the infamous nightclub shootout, saying the testimony was "patently incredible" because he claimed the rapper tried to bribe him.

Although the witness wasn't mentioned, it could be referring to Diddy's former chauffeur, Wardel Fenderson, who claims he was asked to take the blame for the gun being found in the car.

The rapper's lawyers say that his story was "highly questionable" because no $50,000 diamond ring Diddy supposedly used to try and bribe Fenderson was ever found.

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"Assuming the story is true would be a 'fantastical assumption,'" Diddy's lawyers claimed.

His legal team has opposed prosecutors bringing up claims that he physically assaulted a record executive in New York, 1999.

The Rapper's Team Wants The Cassie Assault Video Removed As Evidence

MEGA

Among Diddy's lawyers' requests is for the court to exclude the video where he was seen hitting, stomping, and slapping his ex-girlfriend, Cassandra "Cassie" Ventura, from the case, arguing that nobody could authenticate it.

The defense team had previously shared in a letter that the video, which was obtained by CNN, had been altered by the news outlet to make the rapper look worse.

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They accused CNN of "covering the time stamp and then changing the video sequence. It also includes speeding up the video to make it falsely appear that the actions in the video are taking place faster than they are. As a result, the CNN videos do not fairly and accurately depict the events in question."

Diddy's lawyers also want the judge to prevent prosecutors from bringing up accusations that he beat up a record executive in New York in 1999.

According to the Daily Mail, Diddy was sentenced to anger management class for the incident after admitting to harassment at the time.

Diddy's Legal Team Calls Out The Prosecutors' 'Strategy'

Xavier Collin/Image Press Agency/MEGA

In the recent legal document, Diddy's team highlighted what they believe to be the "government's" strategy to take down the rapper.

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"The common thread running through the government's trial strategy is to argue that Mr. Combs has been a criminal his whole life and is a bad person," Diddy's lawyers said. "The government has defined the racketeering offenses very broadly to include his entire personal and professional life, spanning two decades."

"On top of the charges, the government now seeks to admit numerous uncharged alleged acts of sexual misconduct and supposed violence  every bad thing Combs has ever supposedly done in his entire adult life," the attorneys noted.

They continued, "The strategy is transparent. All the government really seeks to do is show that Mr. Combs is a violent, dangerous, and deviant person who deserves to be locked up, regardless of whether it can actually prove the somewhat technical elements of the charged offenses beyond a reasonable doubt. This strategy should not be allowed."

The Rapper Was Hit With Two New Charges

MEGA

Diddy remains locked up at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center ahead of his trial.

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The 55-year-old rapper faces charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and transportation to engage in prostitution, and faces a mandatory minimum of 15 years in prison and up to life behind bars if convicted on the top charge.

He was hit with two new charges earlier this month: sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and transportation to engage in prostitution, bringing the total number of charges leveled against him to 5.

The updated indictment now accuses him of one count of racketeering conspiracy, two counts of sex trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion, and two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution.

The new sex trafficking count claims Diddy caused a person identified as "Victim 2" to engage in commercial sex acts, knowing they only did so due to "force, fraud, and coercion."

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The transportation to engage in prostitution count claims he "willfully caused the transportation of multiple individuals with the intent [that] they engage in prostitution."

The rapper pleaded not guilty to the new charges. His trial will begin on May 5 with jury selection, while testimony starts on May 12, as a judge denied Diddy's request for a delay.
(FOX40.COM)  A 48-year-old woman from New Jersey was sentenced to five years in prison on Thursday for operating multiple residential marijuana grows in Sacramento County and Placer County, according to the United States Attorneys Office, Eastern District of California.

Video Above: How often are marijuana cases federally prosecuted?

Court documents state that during the execution of search warrants in 2016 and 2017, Xi Ping Li was found to be operating marijuana grows that contained more than 8,000 marijuana plants and 21 pounds of processed marijuana.

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Official said Li admitted to using the money from the marijuana grow to purchase an additional property to proceed with the growth of the plant.

No hate crime charges for Jamestown assault, sheriff says

She was sentenced to five years in prison and four years of supervised release for three counts of manufacturing cannabis, according to the office.

The case was investigated by multiple agencies, including the Drug Enforcement Administration, the FBI, and police departments throughout Northern California.

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Even the most loyal Democrats cringed this week when President Joe Biden shuffled back onto the national stageamong them former First Lady Jill Bidens long-term aide.

Michael LaRosa, who served as Jill Bidens communications director, questioned Joe and Jills decision to re-emerge on Tuesday just as President Donald Trumps approval is sinking in countrywide polls.

I love both Bidens dearly, but staff loyalty means there is a responsibility to provide them with an honest situational awareness, especially when it comes to their public image, no matter how hurtful it is to hear, LaRosa told The Hill Saturday.

Former President Joe Biden speaks at a conference hosted by the Advocates, Counselors, and Representatives for the Disabled (ACRD) on April 15 in Chicago. / Scott Olson / Scott Olson/Getty Images

In Bidens first public post-presidency speech, he slammed Trump for taking a hatchet to Social Security. However much they may agree with the sentiment, though, leading Democrats just want the 82-year-old to stay retired.

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LaRosa said that if the Bidens had advisers who had their hand on the pulse of the Democratic Party or national politics, they would have understood the intense level of anger or indifference to them that remains inside our party and isnt going away anytime soon.

The Biden-bashing comes as younger contendersmost notably Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)rise through the ranks. Confidence in the partys congressional leadership has sunk to an all-time low, with its approval rating hovering around 25 percent.

Democrats say theyre on a sinking ship and are desperate for a party-wide reboot. Theyve grown even more frustrated as Biden hobbles his way back onto the scene.

The aide continued: Its a heartbreaking and tragic ending to their time in public life, but its also the truth, and they should index the political realities into their decision making.

Former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris attend the inauguration ceremony before Donald Trump is sworn in as the 47th President. / SAUL LOEB / Saul Loeb/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The built-up resentment stems from Bidens July drop-out of the 2024 presidential race. Many Democrats argue it was too little, too late. A staggering 19 million people who voted for Joe Biden in 2020 stayed home.

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LaRosa fears that the spotlight on Biden will distract the public from the current chaos in the White House. Just as Americans begin condemning Trump for the failing economyoverwhelmed by aggressive tariffsBidens comeback has presented the Republican party with someone else to blame.

Former First Lady Jill Biden, former President Joe Biden, President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump stand together ahead of Trump's inauguration. / Anna Moneymaker / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Trumps approval numbers are paralleling the plummeting markets, so its a bad time for Biden to re-emerge and remind them of the bad old days, Democratic strategist Brad Bannon told The Hill.

The message to Biden is clear: read the room. But the former president has done just the opposite.
Its beyond disingenuous, even by the standards of the Tim Walz administration, to deprive private schools of $109 million in the upcoming budget preparation in the name of reflecting positive balances on the bottom line.

You want to take way the pocket change that has been helping private schools for 50 years? You could find $109 million in the couch cushions at the Department of Education or Health and Human Services or at Walzs office or any authorities or agencies that have watched, incompetently, money fraudulently leak out of the Capitol to the tune now of more than $600 million.

That $109 million is all the private schools get, by the way. It is used for busing and some textbooks and counseling and nursing. Nursing. You know, for when the governor mandates masks and vaccines and things like that. The taxpayers are already paying for these services on top of the sacrifices they make to pay for the private school tuition. And were supposed to believe that after Walz signed off on blowing a more than $17 billion budget surplus and presiding over more than $600 million in taxpayer money lost to fraud that he suddenly developed a keen interest in fiduciary responsibility. And he wants to take it out on private school kids, or more to the point, their parents, who know when they sign up they are paying twice, for their kid and a public school kid.

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It is far more likely that Walz finds private education disagreeable to his ideological flirtations and that he can look smart to Education Minnesota, the union that supports him and whose members cannot possibly educate a child as inexpensively as a private school.

Back in 1969 state statute required public school districts to provide private school children with transportation within the public schools districts in an effort to provide equality of treatment in transportation. In 1975 Minnesota began providing nonpublic student aid in the form of textbooks, instructional materials, standardized tests and some guidance counseling and health services. Its been on the books for 50 years. It absolutely could not happen today. The people weve managed to elect are most often appalled at the idea of education other than what the state commands.

Private schools are not burdened by the layers and layers and layers of bureaucratic balderdash from the state. They dont have five assistant principals. Usually one principal and shell wonder why your uniform shirt isnt tucked in. They can operate streamlined, thus more efficiently and at less cost. A bulletproof argument can be made that private schools save the state money. Using figures Ive been intimately familiar with during the 50 years in question, the private schools can educate a kid for about $10,000 a year, while it approaches $30,000 a year in the public academies.

It should not go unmentioned that the state is facing a $6 billion budget shortfall. I suppose it stands to reason that if you irresponsibly blow an unimaginably huge surplus on God knows how many new state programs the till is bound to be short a few bucks come the next budget cycle.

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Thats the cycle were in, the next one. The bills are due from that wild DFL frat party you all had to celebrate your trifecta. Youre short by an astounding $6 billion. Boy, thats some governing. And this guy is out on tour hoping to get noticed as a presidential hopeful.

Cutting the pittance set aside for private schools could land only a very soft blow to $6 billion. Why, $6 billion wont even feel the punch. Its typical of how the Walz administration treats the taxpayers.

Its an insult.

Joe Soucheray can be reached at jsoucheray@pioneerpress.com. Soucherays Garage Logic podcast can be heard at garagelogic.com.

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Less than a week after Josh Shapiros home was burned in an arson attack over the Pennsylvania governors support of Israel, he still has not heard from President Donald Trump.

Speaking with George Stephanopoulas on Good Morning America Friday, Shapiro admitted that he was still waiting on a call from the president. Other Trump appointees reached out to the governor, but the president was not one of them.

I havent, Shapiro said. I heard immediately that day from Director [Kash] Patel of the FBI. And Ive heard from Attorney General [Pam] Bondi.

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Shapiro also acknowledged there were some security failings that resulted in the arson attack, but he is viewing it as a hopeful learning experience for the Pennsylvania police moving forward.

Look, there  there were clearly security failures, he said. And  I want, you know, I have confidence in the Pennsylvania State Police to learn from it, to address it.

Cody A. Balmer, the suspect in the arson attack, confessed to scaling a wall, breaking a window and tossing a homemade incendiary device into the governors home because Balmer believed Shapiro was complicit in the deaths of Palestinians in Gaza, according to police earlier this week.

Details of a police search warrant were made public on Wednesday, Balmers 911 call that said Shapiro, a vocal supporter of Israel, needs to know that he will not take part in his plans for what he wants to do to the Palestinian people.

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The warrant added: Balmer continues saying he needs to stop having my friends killed, and our people have been put through too much by that monster.'

Shapiro was, at one point, being considered as a vice presidential candidate after Kamala Harris became the Democratic nominee in the 2024 presidential race.

The post Josh Shapiro Says He Never Heard From Trump After Antisemitic Arson Attack on His Home appeared first on TheWrap.
A man is dead and his shooter on the loose.

>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<

[DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks]

That is what the Jacksonville Sheriffs office says after they found a man shot in the upper body just after 5 p.m. Friday off New Kings Road and Soutel Drive in Northwest Jacksonville.

I think its very very, extremely sad that we constantly just killing each other like that, nearby neighbor Penny Lockwood told Action News Jax Saturday. And I just feel like we need more protection by JSO if possible.

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According to investigators, the suspect and victim got in an argument Friday night right before the shooting, though its not clear what the argument was about.

Lockwood told Action News Jax Saturday she feels the shooting is yet another example of people being too quick to handle their issues with a gun, senselessly taking life.

I feel as though, me being a Christian person, if youre having a problem, just try not to pull out a gun, Lockwood pleaded. Its not gonna solve it. At all.

Barbara Nicholas, another Northwest Jacksonville neighbor, added that she feels the area needs more resources from local law enforcement.

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We need some police officers out here. Put ya boots on the ground  where the feds at, lets get it on, Nicholas exclaimed.

With the shooter yet to be identified and still at large, Nicholas said she hopes JSO is able to find the mans killer and bring them to justice.

They better get him before JSO  JSO better get him before I get him, Nicholas said.

Investigators did say, according to multiple witnesses, the suspect drove off in a dark colored vehicle.

Anybody with any information is asked to call JSO or Crime Stoppers immediately.

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Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
Jacksonville University President Tim Cost is receiving backlash from faculty and students following this weeks financial initiative announcement that led to some faculty members out of a job and several students changing their major.

On Tuesday, the university announced its cutting controlled expenses by about 10%, removing programs that affected about 100 students, and terminated 40 faculty students as part of its Future Focused initiative. In a video posted on social media, Cost says Its a plan weve been working on for more than six months, through a rigorous, collaborative process involving all the right, highly engaged groups on our campus and in our community.

That morning, students received an email from the university, asking them to attend a meeting with leadership. Students initially thought the email was fake after some students were given a different meeting location than others and a warning that says the email came from an external source.

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Staff and students say they were not warned of the changes. Nobody in our faculty knew this was coming. Our head of the department didnt know this was coming, says JU student Nelson Davila, to our news partner Action News Jax. One terminated faculty member who wished to remain anonymous, told Action News Jax, I really believed that this was a place that believed in its mission. And now it is so completely changing that mission. And whats worse is they are gaslighting us into pretending like this has always been the plan.

The Facebook page for the JUs music department, one of the programs greatly affected by the cuts, called out Costs comments about the cuts affecting about 100 students, saying, Music had 123 majors and 21 minors. That equals 144 students.

On Wednesday, students gathered to protest the changes, while the faculty came together to censure President Cost and hold a vote of no confidence. The faculty cited multiple issues for the vote including termination of tenured faculty without cause, breach of debt covenant, and failure to involve faculty in many decisions. One professor, who wanted to remain anonymous, told Action News Jaxs Ben Becker, JU has been operating like a monarchy, and the faculty are tired of being the peasants, especially while the king i s making terrible decisions, and were the ones paying the price. The resolution was sent to the Jacksonville Board of Trustees.

In a statement, Board Chair Matt Kane says that on the censure and no confidence vote, The Jacksonville University Board of Trustees respects the facultys choice to express their opinions under the shared governance structure of our University. The Board of Trustees remains fully confident in President Costs strategic leadership and decision-making. The Board continues to work closely with the President and other senior leaders to ensure Jacksonville Universitys long-term financial sustainability and future success.

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Meanwhile President Cost says, in a statement, I respect the facultys role in our shared governance structure as defined by our University and faculty bylaws, and I appreciate that we have a structure that invites them to share their perspective. Ive valued the honest and spirited dialogue with our faculty throughout my 12 years at Jacksonville University. While we may not always agree on every decision, I believe we share a deep commitment to Jacksonville Universitys mission and to the success of our students. Together with the senior leadership team, we remain focused on the work ahead  strengthening our institution and advancing the strategic goals weve set together.

We reached out to President Cost for comment. We were told he was unavailable at the time of this post.
A judge ruled Friday that a surviving roommate of four slain University of Idaho students will be allowed to testify about seeing an intruder with bushy eyebrows the night of the 2022 killings, despite objections from the defense.

Bryan Kohberger, 30, is charged with four counts of murder in the stabbing deaths of Ethan Chapin, Xana Kernodle, Madison Mogen, and Kaylee Goncalves at a rental home near the University of Idaho campus in Moscow. His trial is expected to begin later this year.

According to court documents, the surviving roommate told police she saw a masked person dressed in black inside the house shortly before 4:19 a.m. on the day of the attack. She reported being intoxicated at the time and could not recall many details about the intruders facebut noted the persons bushy eyebrows stood out in her memory.

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Kohbergers attorneys sought to exclude any testimony referencing the eyebrows, calling the identification vague, unreliable, and prejudicial. They argued that the roommate was under the influence of alcohol, sleepy, and unsure of what she saw. They also noted that she could not describe enough facial detail for law enforcement to create a composite sketch.

Defense attorneys claimed allowing her to testify about the bushy eyebrows could unfairly sway the jury, especially because Kohberger also has thick eyebrows.

But 4th District Judge Steven Hippler denied the motion, writing that questions about the witnesss memory and reliability are appropriate topics for cross-examinationnot reasons to bar her testimony.

There is a large gulf between a finding that a witness is not competent to testify about what they personally witnessed, and simply allowing impeachment by vigorous cross-examination, Hippler wrote. This is a matter for cross-examination.

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Kohberger, a former criminal justice graduate student at Washington State University, was arrested in Pennsylvania weeks after the killings. Investigators say DNA on a knife sheath left at the scene matches Kohberger.

When asked to enter a plea, Kohberger stood silent. A judge entered a not guilty plea on his behalf.

The judge also addressed arguments over whether Kohbergers mental health diagnoses could be brought up during the trialspecifically during the sentencing phase if he is convicted.

Prosecutors asked the court to block any references to Kohbergers autism spectrum disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), or developmental coordination disorder. They said these diagnoses should not be used to minimize his responsibility.

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The defense responded that they were not attempting to use these conditions to reduce culpability. Instead, they said Kohbergers diagnoses help explain behaviors such as maintaining prolonged eye contact, remaining very still, or appearing emotionally flat in the courtroom.

Judge Hippler said he had not noticed any unusual conduct from Kohberger during proceedings.

Not once has the Court perceived Defendant to be acting in an odd or incongruent manner or otherwise demonstrating signs at counsel table that would warrant any explanation to the jury, Hippler wrote.

He said testimony about Kohbergers mental health conditions would likely confuse jurors and take up unnecessary time during an already lengthy trial. However, if Kohberger chooses to testify, his demeanor could become relevant.

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Hippler also left the door open for future consideration of Kohbergers OCD diagnosis if it becomes relevant, such as in discussions of his reported sleep difficulties and nighttime driving habits. Any such matters must be raised outside the presence of the jury.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.
This story was originally published on MedTech Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily MedTech Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Illinois and Minnesota have joined the Federal Trade Commissions legal challenge to the $627 million private equity takeover of Surmodics.

The FTC, which shared the update Thursday, has filed an amended complaint to add Illinois and Minnesota as co-plaintiffs in its case against private equity firm GTCR.

Details of the case against Surmodics and GTCR are unchanged. The FTC continues to claim the deal will eliminate competition that has lowered prices, raised quality and driven innovation.

Dive Insight:

Surmodics provides outsourced hydrophilic coatings for devices. GTCR owns a majority stake in another coatings company, Biocoat. Surmodics accepted a $627 million takeover offer from GTCR in May 2024. The FTCs requests for information delayed the closing of the deal, which was originally scheduled for last year, and in March the federal agency filed a complaint against Surmodics and GTCR.

According to the FTCs complaint, GTCR hatched a plan to consolidate the outsourced hydrophilic coating market. The private equity firm bought a majority stake in Biocoat in 2022. A heavily redacted section of the complaint that lays out GTCRs alleged plan starts with a presentation by the firm in August 2022.

The FTC has identified Surmodics and Biocoat as the number one and two players, respectively, in the market for outsourced hydrophilic coatings and calculated that they collectively account for more than 50% of the sector. Harland and DSM are, respectively, the third and fourth largest players, according to the FTC. The FTC named other fringe competitors but said they lack Surmodics and Biocoats abilities.

Illinois, where GTCR is based, and Minnesota, where Surmodics is headquartered, have joined the FTCs complaint for a preliminary injunction to stop the takeover.

The proposed acquisition of Surmodics by a private equity firm represents a troubling trend of wealthy investors attempting to limit competition and innovation in a market while extracting advantages that come from eliminating competitors, Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul said in a statement. If approved, this acquisition would increase prices for Illinois residents by putting profits before people.

Surmodics has not commented on the FTCs actions publicly since the federal agency filed the original complaint in March. At that time, the company said it respectfully disagrees with the FTCs decision and remains committed to completing the merger. Surmodics called the merger pro-competitive.
Judge denies request for order to safeguard international students rights

INDIANAPOLIS - A U.S. District Court judge denied the ACLU of Indianas request for a temporary restraining order to protect seven Indiana international students whose lawful status was terminated without explanation.

Earlier this week, the ACLU of Indiana filed a lawsuit against the United States Department of Homeland Security alleging that DHS violated the federal Administrative Procedure Act and the students Fifth Amendment right to due process.

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Were obviously disappointed in this decision, said Ken Falk, legal director at the ACLU of Indiana. These students have invested years of their lives and thousands of dollars in their education. For DHS to terminate their status with no warning or reason is deeply unfair, and we believe it is illegal.

Of the students named in the lawsuit, six are citizens of China attending Purdue University or Indiana University Indianapolis. One is a citizen of Nigeria attending the University of Notre Dame. Two of the students named in the lawsuit are slated to graduate this May.

The ACLU of Indiana said it was considering its options.
A federal judge allowed a lawsuit alleging abuse of a disabled student by a Scranton School District special education teacher to proceed on some counts, but dismissed others.

U.S. District Judge Karoline Mehalchick did not rule on the credibility of the suits allegations concerning teacher Erica Stolan or others named in the civil complaint attorneys Joseph Grady and Todd OMalley filed in U.S. District Court in February 2024 on behalf of the student and his parents. In addition to Stolan, it named the school district, South Scranton Intermediate School Principal Joseph Lalli, former Principal Daniel Gilroy and district Director of Special Education Ann Genett as defendants.

Among other claims, the plaintiffs allege that the student with multiple disabilities, including autism and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, was assaulted by Stolan in her classroom at South Scranton Intermediate School. The complaint specifically alleges that Stolan sprayed liquid in the childs face on Jan. 2, 2023, then, a day later, shoved him out of his chair and directed and encouraged other special education students to forcibly remove him from the classroom.

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A behavior support professional witnessed the alleged conduct and reported it to Gilroy in writing, according to the complaint, which notes a ChildLine report originated from the district and district officials removed Stolan from the school on Jan. 4, 2023. But Stolan, now a special education teacher at Charles Sumner Elementary School, was allowed to return to the intermediate school in the spring of 2023, according to the complaint.

The plaintiffs contend Stolans conduct was open, widespread and known by district staff and administrators and that the district, its officers and employees allowed her abusive behavior to continue unabated and unsupervised.

Attorneys representing the district and other defendants filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit in April 2024, arguing the 13 separate counts in the plaintiffs complaint should be dismissed for a variety of reasons. Among other arguments, they contended that Stolan and the other defendants are immune from liability, the court lacks jurisdiction in the case and the plaintiffs arent entitled to punitive damages.

In their motion, attorneys John Freund, the districts solicitor, and Alyssa Hicks argued the court lacks jurisdiction because the plaintiffs failed to exhaust administrative remedies available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. They also argued the plaintiffs didnt specify how the actions of the individual defendants demonstrate that they knew their actions violated (the students) rights and failed to establish that the students disability was the cause of the denial of benefits.

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In an order late last month, Mehalchick dismissed several of the complaints 13 counts, some with prejudice and some without, but allowed others to proceed.

For example, the judge denied the defendants motion to dismiss certain federal claims alleging violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, allowing those counts to continue. She also denied a motion to dismiss a separate count alleging violations of rights guaranteed by the 14th Amendment, allowing that claim to proceed while declining during the pleading stage of the civil action to address the defendants claims of qualified immunity.

It is premature at this point to determine whether Stolan and the other defendants are entitled to qualified immunity, the judges order notes.

But Mehalchick did dismiss a pair of counts against individual defendants other than Stolan, noting in her order that the plaintiffs failed to allege in the relevant counts willful misconduct by those individuals beyond mere deliberate indifference. She also dismissed the same counts against the school district, finding that the Pennsylvania Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act, which shields government agencies from liability for actions committed by their employees under certain circumstances, bars those counts.

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The judge denied a motion to dismiss several counts against Stolan, including counts alleging assault and battery and the intentional infliction of emotional distress.

Please understand that the judge did not find anyone liable, Freund said in a recent statement to the newspaper. The decision merely means that the plaintiffs complaint stated sufficient allegations for the case to move forward.

Robert Moran, an attorney for the plaintiffs, also issued a statement addressing the judges order.

We are pleased with Judge Mehalchicks thorough and well-reasoned opinion, he said. The facts underlying the allegations should shock every parent, particularly those with children suffering a disability. We look forward to this case proceeding.

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Mehalchick also did not dismiss the plaintiffs claim for punitive damages in the case, noting such a dismissal would not be appropriate at this preliminary stage of litigation. She also granted the plaintiffs an opportunity to file an amended complaint to potentially cure deficiencies related to claims dismissed without prejudice.

The plaintiffs are still evaluating whether to file an amended complaint, Moran said.
SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  Utahs Third District Court has found the Utah Fits All scholarship program to be unconstitutional, in a ruling from the court earlier today.

The suit, brought by the Utah Education Association, originally claimed that the scholarship program was unconstitutional because the program used funds from Utahs income tax, which is earmarked exclusively for public education funding.

It further claimed that the Utah Constitution guarantees that all children will be included in public education and that the school voucher program did not do this.

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PREVIOUS: UEA files lawsuit against controversial school voucher program, claims its unconstitutional

The court agreed with both points, saying, The legislature does not have plenary authority to circumvent these constitutional requirements by simply declining to designate the program as part of the public education system. And because there is no genuine dispute that the program fails to meet these open to all children and free requirements, it is unconstitutional under article X of the Utah Constitution.

In reaching this conclusion, the court makes no judgement as to the value of school choice or private school vouchers, The ruling continues. But school choice or vouchers for children without disabilities was never discussed, much less debated, in connection with the legislatures passage of Amendment G. And, more importantly, the voters were never informed that Amendment G was about school choice or vouchers for children without disabilities.

In a statement to ABC4.com, UEA Communications Director Hailey Higgins said, The Utah Education Association celebrates todays court ruling deeming the Utah Fits All voucher program unconstitutional. This is a significant victory for public education and a reaffirmation that public money belongs in public schools.

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Rep. Candice Pierucci (R-South Jordan), the original sponsor of the Utah Fits All program, called the decision made by Judge Laura S. Scott judicial activism, and says she is not done fighting.

This past year, thousands of families have had access to the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program to customize their childs learning experience, Pieruccis statement reads. The decision made by Judge Scott is judicial activism; it is not the job of judiciary to set policy on the bench and infuse personal opinion and ideology into their decisions. We are not done fighting this fight and will appeal this decision to the Utah Supreme Court.

Utah legislative leadership and Governor Cox began to weigh in after the ruling was rendered. Senate President J. Stuart Adams said in a statement, It is disappointing that the court would remove parents ability to choose the best educational path for their children. However, we remain unwavering in our commitment to providing the best education for all Utah families and kids. We will carefully review the courts decision and then determine the next steps.

Speaker Mike Schultz shared similar sentiments calling the decision a devastating setback for Utahns.

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This decision is a devastating setback for Utah families, Schultz began. The Utah Fits All Scholarship isnt just about choice; its about empowering parents to secure the best possible learning environments for their childrens future success. Were unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every Utah student, irrespective of zip code or income, has equal access to the educational opportunities they rightfully deserve. We will vigorously pursue every avenue, including the Utah Supreme Court, to overturn this decision and restore hope for Utahs students and families.

In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, Governor Cox expressed disappointment in the decision, saying that Utah Families had a right to make choices about their childrens education, and said they will be reviewing the ruling with legal staff.

While we are disappointed in the courts decision, our commitment to Utah families and their right to make choices about their childrens education remains unchanged, Cox said. We will be reviewing the ruling without attorneys and preparing to appeal.

At this time, details are limited on what an appeal would look like. A status conference is scheduled for the decision on April 23. It is also currently unknown how the decision will affect ongoing voucher payments to current recipients.

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UTAH-FITS-ALL-LAWSUIT-DECISIONDownload

This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

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A federal judge ordered that Tufts University student Rumeysa Ozturk, who was detained late last month, be transferred from a detention center in Louisiana to Vermont no later than at the start of next month.

District Judge William Sessions ruled Friday that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has until May 1 to move Ozturk, a Turkish doctoral student at Tufts, to Vermont, where she will be in custody. Sessions also ordered that Ozturks bail hearing take place on May 9, during which will have to appear in person.

Upon review of the First Amendment and Due Process claims and the evidence presented by both parties, the Court concludes that Ms. Ozturk has presented viable and serious habeas claims which warrant urgent review on the merits, the federal judge said in a 74-page ruling. The Court plans to move expeditiously to a bail hearing and final disposition of the habeas petition, as Ms. Ozturks claims require no less.

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The hearing for the merits of the petition was set for May 22, Sessions ruled.

The petition, filed in federal district court in Massachusetts, was properly transferred to this Court. There are no technical deficiencies that prevent this Courts consideration of this petition as if it were originally filed here, the judge said.

Immigration officers in plain clothes detained the Tufts student on March 25 and placed her in an unmarked van. She was transferred from Massachusetts to New Hampshire, and then to Vermont. Later, she was moved to a detention facility in Louisiana.

Ozturks student visa was terminated. Her attorneys have argued that her due process rights were violated.

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She was one of the co-authors of an op-ed in the schools newspaper that slammed Tufts for its response to Israels war in Gaza and called on the school to end ties with corporations involved in Israel.

The Court further finds that Ms. Ozturk has raised significant constitutional concerns with her arrest and detention which merit full and fair consideration in this forum, the federal judge said Friday.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
A federal judge has ordered that Rumeysa Ozturk  a Tufts University doctoral student who was arrested by immigration officers in Somerville last month  be returned to Vermont to have her claim that she has been unlawfully detained decided.

Ozturk, a 30-year-old Turkish national, has been in federal custody since March 25, when plain-clothed Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents arrested her on the street and whisked her away to New Hampshire, then Vermont, and finally Louisiana. She has yet to be charged with a crime.

Ozturks lawyers claim the Trump administration revoked her student visa without warning because she co-authored a pro-Palestinian op-ed in Tufts student newspaper last year. Federal officials claim she supports Hamas.

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Ozturks lawyers previously filed a habeas corpus petition arguing that she was arrested and detained in violation of the U.S. Constitution and federal law. It asked that she be released immediately while her petition is considered, or at least that her case be transferred back to Vermont.

The Trump administration argued in turn that the federal court in Vermont considering Ozturks petition does not have jurisdiction to grant it, and thus that it be dismissed.

On Friday, U.S. District Court Judge William K. Sessions III determined that the Vermont court does have jurisdiction to decide Ozturks petition and denied the Trump administrations request to dismiss it. He further ordered that she be returned to Vermont no later than May 1 and remain in ICE custody while her petition is considered.

The Court further finds that Ms. Ozturk has raised significant constitutional concerns with her arrest and detention, which merit full and fair consideration in this forum, Sessions wrote in the order.

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Ozturks lawyers have argued that allowing her case to play out in Louisiana would reward the Trump administrations unlawful attempt to suppress dissent and manipulate federal court jurisdiction. They say that her lawyer was unable to locate her for nearly a day after her arrest.

Sessions wrote in his order that the Trump administration does not dispute that her lawyer could not have known her location at that time. Furthermore, the government has said that it does not permit immigration detainees to communicate about their location while en route between detention facilities because doing so would raise serious security concerns, the judge wrote.

The government thus admits that from the time ICE agents arrested Ms. Ozturk to the time she arrived at the Louisiana detention facility, it was keeping her location a secret, the order reads.

Sessions has also allowed Ozturk another chance at release after a Louisiana immigration judge denied her bond request on Wednesday. He scheduled her bail hearing for May 9.

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The court today saw through this governments dilatory tactics and its attempts at jurisdictional manipulation in a reprehensible effort to punish Rumeysa for speaking out for Palestinian human rights, Ramzi Kassem, one of Ozturks lawyers, said in a Friday press release.

Ozturk has been held in a 14-person cell with two dozen other women since being moved to Louisiana. She has had multiple asthma attacks during her detainment, according to her court filings.

Both parties have four days to appeal Sessions order. A hearing on Ozturks habeas corpus petition is scheduled for May 22.

More coverage of the case
A Utah judge ruled the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program was unconstitutional in a decision delivered Friday, leaving thousands of children who were beneficiaries of the program in limbo.

Gov. Spencer Cox said Friday the state would appeal the ruling, as legislative proponents of the program reacted angrily to the judges decision.

The state was sued by the Utah Education Association, along with plaintiffs Kevin Labresh, Terra Cooper, Amy Barton and Carol Lear, in 2023, after the voucher program was enacted. The Utah Fits All Scholarship Program gives eligible K-12 students up to $8,000 a year for private school tuition and other costs. It went into effect in the fall of 2024.

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The teachers union argued the program violated the Utah Constitution because it diverts income tax revenue to fund private schools. Third District Judge Laura Scott agreed with the union and other plaintiffs, saying the program violated sections of the state constitution that require the state to fund a public education system open to every student that is free of charge, and to use state income tax to fund public schools and to support children and people with disabilities.

In her decision, Scott said that because the Program is a legislatively created, publicly funded education program aimed at elementary and secondary education, it must satisfy the constitutional requirements applicable to the public education system set forth in the Utah Constitution. The legislature does not have plenary authority to circumvent these constitutional requirements by simply declining to designate the Program as part of the public education system.

Proponents of the program argued the program did not affect the states system of public schools, but was in addition to that constitutional requirement, and that it cleared the bar of using income tax to support children.

Utah Attorney General Derek Brown said his office is actively reviewing the ruling and assessing the states next steps.

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Cox said the state was reviewing the ruling and preparing to appeal.

While we are disappointed in the courts decision on the Utah Fits All program, our commitment to Utah families and their right to make choices about their childrens education remains unchanged, he said.

While we are disappointed in the courts decision on the Utah Fits All program, our commitment to Utah families and their right to make choices about their childrens education remains unchanged. We will be reviewing the ruling with our attorneys and preparing to appeal.  Governor Cox (@GovCox) April 19, 2025

In a statement released after the decision, UEA President Renee Pinkney said Scotts ruling protects the promise of a public education.

The UEA stood up to unconstitutional private religious school vouchers, defended our public schools and won, she said.

 VICTORY for Utah's students and public schools! 



Today, a judge struck down the unconstitutional Utah Fits All voucher program - a HUGE victory for Utahs kids, public educators, and communities! pic.twitter.com/ggWY7Aublj  Utah Education Association (@myuea) April 19, 2025

State Rep. Candice Pierucci, one of the primary legislative architects of the scholarship program, called the judges decision judicial activism.

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The Utah State Constitution states that parents have the primary responsibility for the Teducation of their children. This past year, thousands of families have had access to the Utah Fits All Scholarship Program to customize their childs learning experience.

The decision made by Judge Scott is judicial activism; it is not the job of judiciary to set policy on the bench and infuse personal opinion and ideology into their decisions. We are not done fighting this fight and will appeal this decision to the Utah Supreme Court, she said.
A Massachusetts federal judge on Friday temporarily paused the Trump administrations passport policy removing the ability of transgender people to change their sex markers and non-binary people to get X markers for their travel documents.

Biden appointee U.S. District Judge Julia E. Kobick held that a group of transgender and nonbinary people who sued the administration in February were likely to succeed with arguments that they were denied their constitutional right to equal protection for a policy with little apparent motivation beyond anti-LGBT+ animus.

She called the administrations passport policies, stemming from a January executive order mandating the government only officially recognize two immutable sexes, male and female, part of a coordinated and rapid rollback of rights and protections previously afforded to transgender Americans, suggesting that these challenged actions are built on a foundation of irrational prejudice toward fellow citizens.

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Kobick also shot down arguments from the government in its January order that the new sex policy would protect womens safety in single-sex spaces like locker rooms.

The sex listed on one persons passport has nothing to do with the dignity, safety, or wellbeing of another person, she wrote.

In the executive order, signed the first day Trump took office, the president accused transgender and nonbinary people of attempting to attack women by depriving them of their dignity, safety, and well-being, creating a corrosive impact not just on women but on the validity of the entire American system.

January Trump order rescinded ability for non-binary people to get X passports (Lambda Legal)

Mainstream medical and psychological organizations like the American Medical Association maintain a conception of sex and gender that goes beyond immutable categories of male and female to include transgender, intersex, and non-binary people.

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The Friday decision applies specifically to six defendants in the case, rather than nationwide.

The plaintiffs, who brought the suit alongside the American Civil Liberties Union, argued the passport policy was keeping them from traveling internationally and getting consistent documents. They cited past instances of harassment by U.S. airport officials, including an invasive strip search, while traveling with documents showing mismatched sex markers.

The Independent has contacted the White House and State Department for comment.

Prior to the Trump administration, the State Department has allowed individuals to change their sex marker in certain cases since the 1990s, and by 2021, following years of litigation, the first person in the U.S. received a non-binary X passport.

The Trump administrations policies on passports are part of a larger push to end recognition and accommodation of transgender and other gender non-confirming people across the government, in areas including the U.S. military and special protective housing arrangements for trans people in federal prisons.
BROOK PARK, Ohio (WJW)  After nearly a year, overseas soldiers with the Ohio National Guards 135th military police company in Chagrin Falls returned home Friday reuniting with their emotional families.

Sixty-five soldiers spent the last year policing bases in Kuwait.

WJW photo

They are the police for the installation, so they handle everything from the physical security of the installation, the physical security of things on the post, access control and then they handle anything that law enforcement would ordinarily handle, said SSG. Matthew Sharfenberg.

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Man indicted in Lakewood crash that killed Cleveland journalist Bill Safos

For many of the soldiers this was their first deployment.

It was definitely challenging getting used to the daily norms, taking care of a child, going about what we would think as daily going to work and everything, said Tatiana Mayo as she waited for the return of her husband.

It definitely was difficult at the beginning, but Im just glad that hes coming home and it was only a year and not two years or three years, said Jessica Dia, whose husband, Sgt. Matthew Marrow was among those on their first overseas deployment.

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It hasnt really hit me yet but Im sure in a couple of days its going to hit me being back in my own bed again, said Marrow after reuniting with his family.

Sgt. Jessica McHenry returned on Friday from her second deployment, having previously been to Serbia and now Kuwait. Each homecoming has been emotional.

This one maybe more than the first because I have a niece and a nephew now, said McHenry.

My heart rate has been up since we landed and coming around the corner I was just super excited, ran off the bus grabbed my niece, she said.

Big moment for everyone, said Mayo. We have dads, brothers, spouses, sisters, families coming home and this entire unit itself is like a big family.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
The Department of Justice is asking a federal judge to impose a seven-year jail sentence on disgraced former Republican congressman George Santos, noting he has labeled himself unrepentant for his crimes on social media because of his insatiable appetite for likes.

In the weeks leading up to Santos sentencing after pleading guilty to fraud and identity theft, the 36-year-old has taken to social media to attack Justice Department prosecutors for trying to break him, refer to the government as a cabal of pedophiles, and deny wrongdoing despite his guilty plea.

Prosecutors pointed to his grating online positions in their most recent sentencing memorandum, saying he has approached sentencing with belligerence and an insatiable appetite for likes, blaming his situation on everyone except himself.

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Hi my name is George Santos and the DOJ has a hard-on for me since December of 2023, Santos wrote in one post. I refuse to let them break me or my spirit and that makes them big Mad  they have used elaborate language to drag me and hinder my ability to earn income.

Former congressman George Santos pleaded guilty to fraud and identity theft (AP)

Federal prosecutors called the social media post by Santos a bizarre missive portraying himself as a victim of prosecutorial overreach and selective prosecution.

The five-page document by prosecutors, packed with screenshots of Santoss posts, says the former congressman refuses to own up to his actions and is not genuinely remorseful, despite admitting to the two counts and admitting to committing wire fraud, stealing credit card information and lying to the Federal Election Commission.

They argued that for those reasons, it would be reasonable to incarcerate Santos for 87 months, or seven years.

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Santos initially pleaded not guilty to all charges and accused the DOJ of engaging in a witch hunt after him.

Federal prosecutors said Santos engaged in three schemes to pocket money from political donors and government assistance programs to fund his lavish lifestyle.

That included defrauding political donors, fraudulently applying for pandemic unemployment assistance, stealing political donors credit cards to inflate his wealth and knowingly making false statements about his income on a federal financial disclosure form during his campaign.

Santos was expelled from the House by his colleagues in December 2023. He later reignited his bid for Congress but dropped out soon after.

A judge will sentence Santos April 25.
A temporary sign could be seen on Aug. 16, 2024, outside of the new Pittsburg Planned Parenthood clinic. (Grace Hills/Kansas Reflector)

TOPEKA  More than 70% of abortions performed in 2024 in Kansas were for out-of-state residents, according to monthly estimates of clinician-provided abortions in states without total bans.

Overall, Kansas was among the top five states in the country with the most substantial increases in abortions performed between 2023 and 2024, with about an 18% increase.

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That increase was driven by non-Kansans seeking care, according to the Guttmacher Institute, a health policy research and advocacy organization, that released a report of monthly abortion estimates on April 15.

The report found that clinicians provided more than 1 million abortions in the United States in 2024, an increase of less than 1% from 2023.

Across the country, fewer people generally traveled across state lines seeking abortions in 2024 than in 2023. However, Kansas was an outlier.

Kansas clinicians provided more than 16,000 abortions to out-of state residents in 2024, a 3,300-case increase from 2023. Those abortions accounted for 71% of all abortion performed in the state.

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The latest abortion travel data are a clear reminder that the impact of a states abortion policies extends far beyond its borders, said Kimya Forouzan, the institutes principal state policy advisor.

The report specifically called out Kansas and Virginia as states with substantial abortion growth driven by out-of-state residents.

This increase in travel from other states was the main driver of increased abortion counts overall in both states, although other factors like expanded clinic capacity also may have increased access for state residents, the report said.

Emily Wales, the CEO and president of Planned Parenthood of the Great Plains, said the increase was expected.

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Planned Parenthoods clinics saw people seeking miscarriage management, victims of sexual assault and pregnancies with fetal anomalies. All were in need of care in Kansas because restrictions in their own states were too narrow.

Too often those patients are being turned away, Wales said.

Kansas has been a critical point of access, she said. Planned Parenthood opened a fourth clinic in August in Pittsburg, creating further regional support.

People living in states with total bans have few states to choose from, Wales said, so proximity to a major highway or airport and travel affordability become major factors in the decision to seek out-of-state care.

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An inflow of more than 5,800 Texans, almost 3,000 Oklahomans, 2,860 Missourians, about 520 Arkansans and 150 Louisianans visited Kansas for an abortion in 2024. States with fewer than 100 people seeking care in Kansas were not identified in the report. Most of those who traveled  more than 14,500 people  received care at a Planned Parenthood clinic, Wales said.

While federal and state restrictions continue to settle, Wales believes people are still frustrated and paying attention to governments involvement in private health care decisions.

But also, Wales said, I do think people have been somewhat removed from how emotional it can be to get in your car and drive 12 hours to access care.

The uptick in abortion access comes on the heels of the Kansas Legislatures 2025 session, during which Republicans made several, mostly unsuccessful, attempts at clamping down on reproductive health care access.

The data reflects that Kansans were more empathetic and insightful when they voted on this issue than the Legislature seems to be, Wales said, referring to the 2022 ballot question attempting to limit abortion access, which Kansas voters rejected.
We recently published a list of Jeff Smiths Top 10 Activist Targets and Their Returns Compared to the S&P 500. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Kenvue Inc. (NYSE:KVUE) stands against other Jeff Smiths top activist targets.

Jeff Smith is arguably the most feared man in corporate America, having waged some of Wall Streets most aggressive and successful activist campaigns. Having served on more than 17 companies boards and chairing four underscores his reputation as one of the most successful activist investors in unlocking shareholder value. Smith has become one of the most feared activist investors at the back of Starboard Value LP, a hedge fund he founded alongside two partners in 2011. Given that the hedge fund has targeted hundreds of companies, it underscores its strategy of conducting in-depth analysis to discover stocks trading below their fair value.

In return, Starboard Value LP has always waged activist campaigns and pushed for strategic changes that could bolster the companys value. Part of the strategy entails pushing for board seats or management changes. The hedge fund is known to agitate for the potential sale of units or the entire business in the race for shareholder value. By targeting IT giants and consumer cyclical stocks over the past ten years, Smith has more than doubled the hedge funds assets under management to over $5.5 billion. In addition, the average market valuation of the companies that Starboard Value LP invested in was over $45 billion, up from about $7 billion in 2020.

READ ALSO: Top 10 Growth Stocks in David Teppers Portfolio and Billionaire Ken Fishers Top 13 Growth Stock Picks.

Over that period, Starboard Value LP established a reputation for making things difficult for executives and directors who disagreed with its change requests and occasionally fired them. Nevertheless, Jeff Smiths strategy differs greatly from the more confrontational and widely publicized campaigns of fellow activist investors Carl Icahn and Bill Ackman. Following his appointment as Dardens chair, he and other board members worked shifts to gain a close-up look at the company. Smith learned how to make pizza at Papa Johns restaurants, which he chaired before waging an activist campaign to unlock value.

Starboard Value LP returned less than 5% for investors in 2024, underperforming its peers. The poor performance occurred during a year when corporate America saw a massive upheaval in boardrooms as activist investors fought for change and showed off their muscles like never before. In 2024, activist funds produced an average return of 11.5%. ValueAct Capital Management, a competitor of Starboard Value LP, reported a 21% increase over that time as Sachem Head Capital Management delivered roughly 22% on capitalizing on the artificial intelligence-driven run in the markets.
Kansas City councilwoman wants to give $1.2M to Sun Fresh to prevent food desert

KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Kansas City leaders want to avoid a food desert from evolving on the citys east side.

One city councilmember hopes to help a struggling grocery store. The Sun Fresh Market at W. 31st and Prospect Avenue rests on city-controlled property thats been plagued with problems.

Missouri Attorney General sues city of Kansas City over Sunshine request

FOX4 spoke with Community Builders, the nonprofit that manages the Sun Fresh Market. Emmit Pierson, Jr., the groups CEO, said there isnt enough being done to fight drug deals and prostitution there.

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He said its scaring off customers, and in turn, causing store shelves to go bare. On Friday morning, inventory at the store appeared to be low, with many displays and shelves having limited stock.

Melissa Robinson, third district city councilmember, is proposing the city give $1.2 million to help the struggling store. Councilwoman Robinson introduced her ordinance during Thursdays city council meeting.

If you dont have folks who are coming in and patronizing, how are you going to replenish the shelves? Robinson asked.

She said she hopes the money will enable store owners to upgrade their store, replenish their stock and improve security measures. Pierson said the store has been operating at a financial loss for the past two years.

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If youre not a full-line grocery store, you cant offer WIC, she said. Thats an important factor here. If we want that store to be viableits going to require a certain level of city subsidy.

The closest full-line grocery store, or supermarket, is at least a mile away from that location. Neighboring businesses think of that Sun Fresh store as being a retail hub and an anchor that draws customers.

It brings good community; it brings a sense of togetherness, said Marcus Craig, manager at the City Gear located across the street. You have all these different people and different ethnicities coming to make up this neighborhood. Each store has its essential elements to it.

Councilwoman Robinson also said that location sat empty for years before Sun Fresh took over. When the previous grocer moved out, the stores around it dried up, too.

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Some are concerned this could happen again if Sun Fresh isnt able to keep its doors open.

The second reading of that proposed ordinance is expected to happen next Tuesday.

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A Kansas City man found guilty of defrauding a financial institution of over half a million dollars was sentenced Wednesday to less than two years in prison.

Maximillian D. Howell, 44, was sentenced to 21 months in prison for bank fraud and money laundering after stealing over $600,000, Dave Ketchmark, executive assistant U.S. Attorney, said in a news release.

Several of Howells development projects were funded from reimbursement-based lines of credit, called draws, from the financial institution and Kansas Citys general fund. To get the draws, Howell had to describe the work needed to be completed and the amount owed  something he did numerous times, according to Ketchmark.

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He was found guilty of executing and presenting false and fraudulent draw requests and lying about incurred costs to fund his development projects

The case was investigated by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Office of the Inspector General because Howell funded several development projects with grants obtained from HUD, according to Ketchmark.

Howell was ordered to pay around $230,000 in restitution to the financial institution and forfeit around $88,000. He is set to self-surrender on May 27.
TOPEKA (KSNT)  Work crews are being called into action to fix a Kansas Turnpike bridge that was damaged after a semi-trucks cargo collided with it Friday.

The Kansas Highway Patrol and local law enforcement responded to a crash around 8:30 a.m. on April 18 where the Kansas Turnpike crosses over Highway 50. Troopers arriving at the scene found a large articulating boom lift being hauled by a Kenworth semi-truck had struct the bridge as the semi-truck was heading west on the highway.

Jeri Biehler with the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) told 27 News the northbound KTA bridge was damaged in the collision and requires repairs. She said the right lane of the turnpike heading north is closed with a 12-foot width restriction in place. Drivers will also have their speed reduced to 45 mph when approaching the damaged area.

(Photo By: Gabriel Johnson) (Photo By: Gabriel Johnson) (Photo By: Gabriel Johnson)

Kill this fish immediately if you find it in Kansas

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Biehler said the Kansas Department of Transportation is also diverting westbound Highway 50 traffic, which would have traveled beneath the damaged bridge, to the inside lanes of the highways eastbound lanes. These changes will remain in place for an extended amount of time as workers make repairs to the bridge.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): https://twitter.com/MatthewLeoSelf

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BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Kern County Sheriffs Office was among agencies that executed search warrants Friday at two locations in the Central Valley, dismantling a methamphetamine lab and seizing 368 pounds of the drug, authorities said.

Warrants were executed at a residential farmhouse in the 3600 block of Road 36 in Tulare and a meth lab located in the 8700 block of Jersey Avenue in Hanford, according to a sheriffs release. Two men from Sinaloa, Mexico were arrested at the lab and booked into jail in Kings County.

Escaped inmate Cesar Hernandez wont be extradited, set to face justice for homicide: Attorney General

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The Tulare County Sheriffs Office, Kings County Sheriffs Office and California Highway Patrol also participated in the operation.

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A Bridgerton actress has attacked JK Rowling over her views on the Supreme Courts transgender ruling.

Nicola Coughlan criticised Rowling, the Harry Potter author and vocal gender-critical campaigner, after she posted a celebratory photo on X on Wednesday following the ruling, showing her smoking a cigar and holding up a drink.

In response, Coughlan shared a post on Instagram linking to an article headlined: This is a new low for JK Rowling.

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Underneath, she referred to HBOs new Harry Potter series, writing: Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldnt touch it with a ten foot pole.

Coughlan, 38, who also starred in Derry Girls, had previously uploaded a video in which she said she was completely horrified by the court ruling and encouraged her followers to donate to her fundraiser for Not A Phase, a trans charity.

Nicola Coughlan shared a post on Instagram linking to an article headlined: This is a new low for JK Rowling.

The Irish actress added that she would match donations up to 10,000 (8,565.00), and has since raised more than 100,000.

The Supreme Courts ruling was hailed as a victory by gender-critical campaigners and politicians. It followed a years-long legal battle between the campaign group For Women Scotland and the Scottish Government over the definition of a woman, and has provided greater clarity than many expected.

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Rowling, a financial supporter of For Women Scotland, wrote on X: It took three extraordinary, tenacious Scottish women with an army behind them to get this case heard by the Supreme Court and, in winning, theyve protected the rights of women and girls across the UK. @ForWomenScot, Im so proud to know you.

On Saturday, thousands of pro-trans demonstrators gathered in Londons Parliament Square.

Draped in blue, pink and white, they chanted calls for trans liberation, blocked traffic and held up placards including one that read: Harry Potter and the blood of trans youth.

Thousands of pro-trans demonstrators gathered in Parliament Square on Saturday - Chris J Ratcliffe/Reuters

The HBO Harry Potter adaption has been plagued with controversy as a result of Rowlings gender-critical stance. In October, industry sources told The Times that some people were reluctant to work with the author because they did not support her views or feared abuse from those who disagreed with her.

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A month later, HBO was forced to defend its decision to work with the writer, saying: JK Rowling has a right to express her personal views. We will remain focused on the development of the new series, which will only benefit from her involvement.

Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, who played the lead roles in the original franchise, all distanced themselves from the authors beliefs following her 2020 essay in which she criticised an article with the headline Creating a more equal post-Covid-19 world for people who menstruate.

Transgender women are women, Radcliffe wrote in response. Any statement to the contrary erases the identity and dignity of transgender people. He added that he hoped the authors comments would not taint the movie series for fans.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A Northwest D.C. street crew member was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison Friday, according to the United States Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.

Jovan Terrell Williams, 20, pleaded guilty in September to charges of carjacking while armed and conspiracy to distribute more than 100 kilos of marijuana. He is also ordered to serve five years of supervised release.

The USAO states that Williams was a member of the Kennedy Street Crew, also known as KDY. The crew operated open-air drug markets through 11 blocks of Kennedy and surrounding streets in Northwest D.C. He is the last of 17 members to be sentenced after being a fugitive for months.

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Leader of Kennedy Street Crew sentenced to over 13 years in federal prison

Court documents say that on the night of November 17, 2023, Williams carjacked a person of their 2021 Chevrolet Corvette at gunpoint in the 1800 block of Half Street, SW. Williams was wearing a ski mask when he and two associates ran from their stolen Audi and Lexus cars towards the owner of the Corvette, who complied with the assailants.

Court documents add that Williams was a fugitive at the time of the incident.

During the robbery, court documents say Williams took the keys to the Corvette, a Tesla key attached to an Apple AirTag and Apple AirPods. Forty minutes later, the stolen cars were used to commit another armed robbery of three people on 8th and P streets SW.

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According to police records, officers tracked the stolen Apple AirTag from the carjacking victim later that night. Williams was then traced to an apartment in the 4700 block of Benning Road NE, where he and two associates were found in the buildings laundry room. The three men were then arrested.

Officers searched the home where they found a ghost gun inside a washing machine, three concealed firearms in a hole in the ceiling, a black pistol, a black Glock 19 with an obliterated serial number, and another black pistol outfitted with a switch converting it to a machine gun.

Court documents say that earlier that year, in January 2023, officers executed a search warrant for Williams and several other KDY members in the 1700 block of D Street NE.

There, officers found 10 firearms, assorted ammunition, 21 kilos of marijuana packed in suitcases, and 40 grams of fentanyl-laced pills, which they were able to trace to Williams through DNA evidence.

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SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  The trial for Kent Cody Barlow  the Utah man accused of hitting and killing two three-year-old boys while driving high on meth in 2022  began this week.

After jury selection was completed, Barlows trial began on Thursday, April 17, nearly three years after the crash that left two Eagle Mountain toddlers dead. On the first day of the trial, Barlows defense attorney  Justin Morrison  told the jury that Barlow is, in fact, responsible for the death of these two boys.

His actions on May 2, 2022, caused the death of Hunter and Odin. We are not denying that, stated Morrison. It will either be manslaughter or automobile homicide, but not depraved indifference murder, Morrison asserted in court.

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Its a parents worst nightmare, Morrison said. But it was not depraved indifference murder. My client did not know those children were there.

The state argued the opposite, stating that depraved indifference murder  what the defendant is charged with  does not require proof of intent to kill. The prosecutor argued that Barlow knowingly created a grave risk of death to another and caused the death of another.

It was an emotional scene in court as the second day of Barlows trial unfolded on Friday with testimony from several witnesses, including one victims mother  Brooke Jackson, the mother of Hunter Jackson  as well as the man who sat passenger seat in the car during the fatal crash.

READ: Kent Cody Barlow ordered to stand trial for two counts of murder for 2022 case

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It was loud, like thunder, but it wasnt thunder. And it just didnt make sense what we were hearing, Jackson said. When asked when she found out the boys were dead, she stated, When the sheriffs asked for different blankets to put over the boys bodies.

The man sitting passenger seat in Barlows car  Michael Higbee  also spoke in court. He recalled trying to get Barlow to slow down before the crash.

I was screaming, Higbee said. He wouldnt slow down. It was like I was talking to a brick wall.

Members of the jury also looked at never-before-seen bodycam footage showing the moments first responders arrived on scene.

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Day three of the Kent Cody Barlow trial continues on Monday, April 21. Barlows trial is set to end on May 2, marking the three-year anniversary of the crash.

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LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WSAV)  A hat or a fascinator  whatever name you choose to call it  is a crucial part of any outfit for the Kentucky Derby. Diana Heron, born and raised in Kentucky, got into the hat-making business after she was invited to her first derby.

Heron says, In 2011, my sons grandmother invited me to the Kentucky Derby and I was freaking out, like, what am I going to wear? She went to a local fabric store and gathered everything that looked good together to her and she crafted her own fascinator.

The definition of a fascinator is a womans light, decorative headpiece consisting of feathers, flowers, beads, etc. attached to a comb or hair clip. And Herons first creation turned out so well people at Churchill Downs stopped her to ask where she got it. When they found out she made hers, they wanted one for themselves too. They asked me Do I have a business card? How long have you been doing this?

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And so, Derby Dianas was born. Since then, shes made hundreds of hats, including one The Real Housewives of Atlanta star Sanya Richards-Ross wore at the Derby. I really feel like thats where my business picked up. A lot of blogs, the Bravo blog is huge, they mentioned me. I was in Essence magazine. Ebony magazine.

Heron says she gets inspiration from her fathers native Jamaica. Just that rich color really inspired me just as art, colors, and all the things. She says shes always considered herself a Derby Baby. Her birthday is May 2. And her side hustle keeps her very busy, but her hats are not for someone who doesnt want to stand out.

You can see hats like Dianas at the 2025 Kentucky Derby  which is the 151st Run for the Roses  Saturday, May 3 on WSAV. It will also stream on Peacock.

Kentucky Derby contenders and early odds

Journalism | early odds: 3-1

Sandman | early odds: 8-1

Sovereignty | early odds: 8-1

Rodriguez | early odds: 10-1

Tappan Street | early odds: 10-1

Burnham Square | early odds: 15-1

Luxor Cafe | early odds: 15-1

Citizen Bull | early odds: 20-1

East Avenue | early odds: 20-1

Grande | early odds: 20-1

River Thames | early odds: 20-1

Tiztastic | early odds: 20-1

American Promise | early odds: 30-1

Chunk of Gold | early odds: 30-1

Coal Battle | early odds: 30-1

Final Gambit | early odds: 30-1

Publisher | early odds: 30-1

Admire Daytona | early odds: 50-1

Flood Zone | early odds: 50-1

Flying Mohawk | early odds: 50-1





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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WSAV-TV.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  A Shafter man convicted of murder in the 2008 death of his girlfriends 2-year-old son was granted parole this week.

Josue Daniel Palma Herrera, 49, was serving a life term when granted parole on Tuesday, according to California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.

The decision isnt final until reviewed by Gov. Gavin Newsom and Board of Parole Hearings attorneys. In the meantime, Herrera remains locked up.

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District Attorney Cynthia Zimmer said in a release Friday, We firmly reject the boards decision to grant parole to an individual who took the life of an innocent child. We believe that Herrera has not served the necessary time to account for the gravity of his crime and remains a clear risk to public safety.

On Aug. 10, 2008, the child, Guillermo, was taken to Kern Medical, where it was discovered hed suffered skull fractures and bruising on his head, arms and legs. Due to the severity of his injuries, he was transported to Childrens Medical Center in Madera, where doctors found hed also suffered detached retinas and bleeding in both eyes.

Guillermo died.

A doctor said there was a tremendous amount of damage and injury to (Guillermos) brain, according to court filings. Prosecutors said it was determined hed been hit at least twice in the head with powerful blows.

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Herrera, whod been alone with the child while the boys mother was at work, first said Guillermo hurt himself while jumping on a bed, according to court filings. He later claimed the child fell in the shower or on the bathroom floor.

A forensic pathologist determined the injuries were too severe to have been caused by a fall. And Guillermos mother said she began noticing injuries soon after Herrera moved in.

Herrera lived with them for about a month before the child suffered the fatal injuries.

Bakersfield police search for 15-year-old last seen on Efada Drive

In 2010, Herrera was found guilty of second-degree murder and child abuse. He was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.

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At Tuesdays hearing, the Board of Parole Hearings found Herrera had no prison rule violations and had participated in classes aimed at addressing anger and drug and alcohol issues, and to understand his criminal thinking, according to prosecutors. The board found he no longer posed a danger.

Prosecutors urged against granting parole, noting that Herrera admitted to often abusing women and children  including his own. The DAs Office said he committed minor prison violations daily  nothing to justify a formal reprimand  and participated in a scam where he received a commission for putting money on his prison account from other inmates who owed restitution.

Herrera admitted that he understood that (the scam) could affect the restitution that was due to the victims of crimes, prosecutors said.

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A Salvadoran immigrant who had been granted protection from deportation suddenly found himself at the center of a contentious national debate when U.S. immigration authorities deported him to El Salvador last month. The case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia has since evolved into a high-stakes confrontation between the judicial and executive branches over whether courts can compel the government to return individuals who have been wrongfully deported.

In the most recent development, on April 17, a three-judge panel of the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals rejected the U.S. governments appeal of a Supreme Court order mandating that the government facilitate Abrego Garcias return, stating that the government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order.

This latest ruling marks a critical turning point in Abrego Garcias case, which has evolved from a bureaucratic error resulting in his deportation to a saga capturing international attention, illustrating the twists and turns that usually play out behind the scenes in the normal course of due process.

Who is Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and why was he deported?

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia is a 29-year-old Salvadoran migrant who lived in Maryland with his family after entering the U.S. seeking refuge after he and his family were repeatedly extorted and threatened by gangs in El Salvador.* After crossing into the U.S. illegally in 2012, Abrego Garcia was granted withholding of removal in 2019, meaning an immigration court barred his deportation to El Salvador due to what the court determined was a credible fear of persecution. This protection, a form of relief similar to asylum, meant that under U.S. law, he was not to be removed back to his home country.

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Despite the existence of the court order protecting him, ICE detained Abrego Garcia on March 12 during a traffic stop and put him on a flight with other deportees to El Salvador on March 15. U.S. officials transferred him directly into a new Salvadoran mega-prison for alleged gang members. Although ICE acknowledged it made an administrative error in deporting Abrego Garcia, the Trump administration has justified this measure on the grounds that Abrego Garcia is affiliated with the MS-13 gang, though his supporters deny this claim. The 4th Circuit ruling directly addressed this contested accusation, stating that even if the gang allegations turn out to be true, the government cannot circumvent legal protections by deporting first and presenting evidence later.

What is withholding of removal and how does it differ from asylum?

Withholding of removal is a form of relief under U.S. immigration law that prevents the government from returning a person to a country where they face a clear probability of persecution. While similar to asylum, it provides fewer benefits and does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship.

This protection is binding on the government and can only be revoked through specific legal procedures. A deportation in violation of a withholding order represents a serious breach of both immigration law and the international principle of non-refoulement, which aims to protect people from being returned to places where they face persecution.

Why has this deportation become legally significant?

Abrego Garcias deportation has sparked a pivotal legal battle in U.S. courts over the rule of law and executive compliance. Within days of his removal, his legal team sought relief, arguing the government had violated a binding 2019 court order. U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis took up the case and ordered the government to take all measures available to facilitate [Abrego Garcias] return to the United States as soon as possible, emphasizing that he never should have been deported.

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The fight quickly reached the U.S. Supreme Court, which stepped in and directed the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador, effectively backing the lower courts demand. This was a highly unusual intervention, as it essentially amounts to the nations highest court instructing the executive branch to reverse a deportation.

What is the current legal dispute about?

The core issue has become whether and how the government must comply with judicial orders to return Abrego Garcia. Justice Department lawyers have conceded that his removal was improper, but contend that ordering his return exceeds judicial authority, citing language in the Supreme Courts ruling that deference is owed to the administration in conducting foreign affairs.

Facing mounting pressure, the administration later responded they would facilitate Abrego Garcias return only if he could make his way to a U.S. port of entryessentially saying they would let him back in if he showed up at the border. Xinis rejected this response as contrary to the law and logic, since Abrego Garcia remains imprisoned in El Salvador and is unable to present himself at a U.S. border crossing.

How have new allegations affected the case?

As the legal battle intensified, newly surfaced allegations of domestic violence complicated the narrative. On April 16, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released court documents revealing that Abrego Garcias wife had sought a temporary protective order against him in 2021 over claims of abuse.

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According to Maryland court records, Jennifer Vasquez Sura filed for a protective order in May 2021, alleging serious incidents of domestic violence. In her sworn petition, she described being punched and scratched, causing bleeding, and another incident where Abrego Garcia became enraged, ripped her clothes, and chased her. These allegations were never adjudicated in criminal court; they appeared in a civil protective order application that was dismissed in June 2021 when Vasquez Sura failed to appear for the follow-up hearing.

Vasquez Sura has released a statement through her attorney, which explains that as a survivor of domestic violence in a prior relationship, she acted out of caution after a heated argument with her husband, seeking the protective order in case things escalated. She went on to say the couple subsequently worked through the situation privately.

In addition to the domestic violence incident, on April 18 Fox News published details of a 2022 traffic stop of Abrego Garcia after he was found speeding and driving with an expired license. Although the report of the traffic stop states that the officer suspected Abrego Garcia may have been participating in human trafficking since there were eight other individuals in the car but no luggage, Abrego Garcia was nevertheless released with a warning.

The timing of these disclosures are notablethey come after courts have ordered Abrego Garcias return. The administration seized on these allegations to argue that Abrego Garcia is not as sympathetic a figure as portrayed. In a social media post, DHS pointedly remarked that Abrego Garcia was not the upstanding Maryland Man the media has portrayed him as.

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The late emergence of potentially damaging allegations after deportation exemplifies the 4th Circuit Courts concern that the government cannot circumvent established legal procedures by removing someone first and presenting justifications later. As the court noted, regardless of the accusations against him, Abrego Garcia is still entitled to due processwhich includes the proper consideration of all relevant evidence through established legal channels before deportation occurs.

What does this case reveal about the U.S. immigration system?

The Abrego Garcia case demonstrates several important dynamics within the U.S. immigration system.

First, it highlights a new challenge to judicial authority in immigration cases. The 4th Circuit forcefully rejected the administrations unprecedented claim that it can ignore court orders preventing deportation, an argument that, if accepted, would undermine fundamental due process protections that have historically prevented catastrophic errorssuch as the mistaken detention or deportation of U.S. citizens, military service members, and others with clear legal rights to remain in the country.

Second, it highlights how quickly and deeply politicized immigration cases can become. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the deportation, referring to Abrego Garcia as an illegal immigrant, a criminal and a terrorist, and stating that nothing is going to change the fact that [Kilmar] Abrego Garcia will never return to the United States. On the other side, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen recently made a highly publicized trip to El Salvador to attempt to secure Abrego Garcias release.

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Third, it underscores the international complexities of immigration enforcement. Despite the administrations claim that ultimate custody of Abrego Garcia now rests with El Salvador, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele claimed he could not release Abrego Garcia unilaterally.

What happens next?

As of April 17, Abrego Garcia remains behind bars in El Salvador, even as recent legal developments have strengthened his case for return.

The 4th Circuits ruling represents a significant legal setback for the administration, narrowing its options. The government must now either comply with the court orders or appeal to the Supreme Court, which has already indicated its position by directing the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from Salvadoran custody.

The resolution of this case could establish important precedents about judicial authority in immigration matters and the remedies available when the government violates court-ordered protections. While the fate of Abrego Garcia remains undetermined, the Supreme Court has stated in a separate court case that people facing deportations should be granted an opportunity to challenge their removal.

Correction, April 20, 2025: Kilmar Abrego Garcia is 29 years old, not 37.

Read more at The Dispatch

The Dispatch is a new digital media company providing engaged citizens with fact-based reporting and commentary, informed by conservative principles. Sign up for free.
By Pritam Biswas and Ateev Bhandari

(Reuters) - Kraken, one of the world's largest cryptocurrency exchanges, is reorganizing its workforce by reducing some positions and consolidating teams where redundancies exist, while continuing to hire in key areas, a company spokesperson said on Thursday.

"We continuously evaluate our workforce to ensure it aligns with our strategic priorities," the spokesperson said.

Last year, Kraken appointed Arjun Sethi as co-CEO and announced a 15% reduction in its workforce, impacting about 400 employees.

This follows the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission's dismissal of a civil lawsuit in March, which had accused Kraken of operating illegally as an unregistered securities exchange.

In a statement on its blog, Kraken had called the dismissal a turning point for cryptocurrency that ended a "wasteful, politically motivated campaign" begun during the Biden administration, and which hindered both innovation and investment.

"Kraken's business is thriving. We're launching more new products than ever before, driving strong revenue growth, and rapidly expanding across our entire product portfolioincluding through the agreement to acquire NinjaTrader, announced earlier this year," the spokesperson added.

In March, the cryptocurrency exchange said that it would buy retail futures trading platform NinjaTrader for $1.5 billion, in a deal that would allow it to expand into multiple asset classes and grow its user base.

The San Francisco, California-based company began a phased national roll out of commission-free trading for over 11,000 U.S.-listed stocks and exchange-traded funds on Monday, marking its latest move to diversify its offerings.

Crypto firms such as Kraken are exploring expansion into traditional financial spaces, encouraged by U.S. President Donald Trump's promise of more industry-friendly regulation.

While Kraken did not provide specific figures for the layoffs, according to a Coindesk report earlier in the day, the number could be in "hundreds."

(Reporting by Pritam Biswas in Bengaluru; Editing by Tasim Zahid)
April 18 (UPI) -- Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was improperly deported to El Salvador, was moved from the notorious maximum-security Terrorism Confinement Center to another detention center nine days ago, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday.

The Democratic senator said he met his constituent for 30 minutes off prison grounds Thursday.

"He's no longer at CECOT," said Van Hollen, who was back in the United States. "He's at a different prison, which is pretty far outside of San Salvador."

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He briefed reporters at Dulles International Airport in Virginia, appearing with the man's wife, mother and brother who he said were "desperate to learn" if Abrego Garcia was still alive.

I went to El Salvador hoping to meet with Kilmar & check on his well-being, and I had the chance to do that last night. Our courts have been clear: this was an ILLEGAL abduction. I'm speaking now about my meeting with Kilmar & our work to bring him home: https://t.co/0tZjVonkUF Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025

He said the "conditions are better" in this new detention center, which is in Santa Ana about 39 miles away.

"His conversation with me was the first communication he'd had with anybody outside of prison since he was abducted," Van Hollen said. "He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes."

Van Hollen traveled to El Salvador on Wednesday in hopes of visiting the jailed Abrego Garcia and securing his release, but was prevented by Salvadoran soldiers from nearing the prison. That was despite several Republicans earlier touring the facility, including Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem.

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He met with Vice President Vice President Felix Ulloa, who told him it wasn't possible to see him.

The situation changed on Thursday.

The United States last month deported Abrego Garcia -- along with hundreds of others accused of being affiliated with the Venezuelan gang MS-13 without a hearing.

The Trump administration admitted they erroneously sent the Maryland resident to El Salvador, calling it an administrative mistake in not giving him due process.

Despite the Supreme Court and a Maryland court judge demanding that Abrego Garcia be returned, the Trump administration continues to publicly argue that he is a MS-13 gang member and appeals the court decisions that would secure his return.

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On Thursday, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit denied the Trump administration's request for a stay pending appeal on the order demanding they "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's state-side return.

The White House posted on X on Friday that Abrego Garcia is "never coming back" scribbled over a copy of the New York Times, which inserts its own version of the headline, calling him an "MS-13 illegal Alien."

Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen - he's NOT coming back. pic.twitter.com/VoAphh2ZPY The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2025

The U.S. government has been paying the Central American nation to house the prisoners.

Van Hollen said the Trump administration has promised to pay $15 million to the country, and $4 million has already been spent.

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Abrego Garcia described the conditions, including being placed in a single cell with 25 people. "He said he was not afraid of the other prisoners in his immediate cell but that he was traumatized by being at CECOT and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell box who called out to him and taunted him in various ways," Van Hollen said.

He also mentioned his deportation from Maryland.

"He told me that he was taken to Baltimore first," Van Hollen said. "I assume that was the Baltimore Detention Center. He asked to make a phone call from there to let people know what had happened to him but he was denied that opportunity.

"He said he was later taken with some others from Baltimore to a detention center in Texas and some point thereafter -- I don't know if it was hours or days -- he was handcuffed, shackled and put on a plane along with others where they couldn't see out of the windows."

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Abrego Garcia is married to an American citizen and was granted residence in 2019. The 29-year-old migrated to the United States when he was 16.

Abrego Garcia spoke to the senator about his 5-year-old son, who has autism and was in the car when the man was pulled over by immigration agents.

Van Hollen said his efforts are not just about one prisoner.

"It's about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States of America," Van Hollen said. "If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else in America."

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Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele posted on social media he was "sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

Van Hollen on Friday denied that any alcoholic beverages were consumed during the meeting.
New security measures are being put in place at one King Charles' Sandringham Estate after a recent scare.

According to the BBC, a no-fly zone has been instilled surrounding the royal residence located in Norfolk, England. The restrictions were requested by the King's security services after he hosted Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy on March 2, as unauthorized drones were spotted in the area during their visit together.

Put in place on March 10, according to the publication, any aircraft is now banned from flying lower than 2,000ft for "reasons of public safety and security," as signed off by Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander.

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Flights operated by or for the royals or their visitors, as well as emergency services, are exempt.

"In view of the need for security members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House and at the request of the security services, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of public safety and security," the order stated.

It's unclear how many drones were seen during Zelenskyy's visit, but The Sun reports that one was traced to an individual sitting in a car nearby who was not a member of the media, while another was said to be linked to a photographer. There were reportedly others, though, of unknown origin.
Kilmar Abrego Garcia was living in Maryland with his wife and three children when he was deported to El Salvador, thrusting his case into the center of a pivotal legal battle. The Trump administration has accused him of being a member of the Salvadoran MS-13 gang and used that in its justification for deporting him to his home country  despite a judges order from 2019 barring him from being sent there.

The father who had lived in Maryland for 13 years is now being held in a notorious megaprison. The administration has called his incarceration there an administrative error. His wife and attorney deny the accusations against him and have been fighting for his return. They say he is a loving father and husband. He has never been charged with or convicted of a crime in the United States, records show.

The legal fight over his return is ongoing. A federal judge has ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release, an order affirmed by the Supreme Court, and to provide evidence of the actions it has taken to get him back. The administration has since doubled down on its accusations that Abrego Garcia was a gang member and has said that because he is now in El Salvador, it does not have the authority to bring him back.

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After weeks of outcry and no trace of Abrego Garcia, he was temporarily released from prison on April 17 to meet with Sen. Chris Van Hollen, a Democrat from Maryland.

Abrego Garcia was shown in a photo wearing a button-down short-sleeved shirt and cap, sitting at a table with the senator. It is unclear what the two discussed, but Van Hollen said he called Abrego Garcias wife to pass along his message of love.

His conversation with me was the first communication hed had with anybody outside of prison since he was abducted, Van Hollen said. He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes.

Van Hollen told reporters that Abrego Garcia has experienced trauma, and framed his deportation as an illegal abduction.

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After the meeting, Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said the man will remain in prison, now that hes been confirmed healthy.

Bukele, who has championed his countrys use of mass incarceration, said in a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House that he would not release Abrego Garcia.

As the high-stakes case continues to play out in court, heres what we know about Abrego Garcia and the case.

From El Salvador to Maryland

According to court filings, Kilmar Abrego Garcia was born in July 1995 in the neighborhood of Los Nogales in El Salvador, where he helped his family run a business making pupusas, a local cuisine. He has said he and his family received death threats and were extorted by the local gang Barrio 18.

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He crossed the border illegally near McAllen, Texas, in March 2012 when he was 16 years old, according to documents posted on X by Attorney General Pam Bondi. From the border, Abrego Garcia made his way to Maryland to live with his brother, who is a U.S. citizen.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia with his wife, Jenni Vasquez.

In 2016, he met his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who is a U.S. citizen. They had a young son together, and Vasquez Sura has two children from a previous marriage. Abrego Garcia was a sheet metal apprentice and a member of the local union.

A 2019 arrest and gang allegations

Abrego Garcia was arrested in March 2019 in a Home Depot parking lot in Hyattsville with three other men for loitering. His attorneys said he was there looking for day labor work. Police assessed that he was a gang member at the time, according to arrest documents. He had no criminal record at the time, which the documents also state.

When Abrego Garcia was arrested, he had just under an ounce of marijuana on him, according to the Hyattsville Police Department. The drugs were seized but authorities did not file charges.

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One of the men arrested that day was known to the Prince Georges County Police Department as an MS-13 gang member, according to a document titled gang field interview sheet.

Police interviewed the men, including Abrego Garcia. The document said he was wearing a Chicago Bulls hat and a hoodie with rolls of money covering the eyes, ears and mouth of the presidents on the bills. The officers said such clothing was indicative of the Hispanic gang culture.

The officers also said they consulted with a past proven and reliable confidential source, who advised that Abrego Garcia was an active gang member who had the moniker Chele.

His attorneys noted Abrego Garcia was not charged and said in court documents that there is no reliable evidence in the record to support that he is a member of MS-13, adding that the allegation is based on hearsay relayed by a confidential source and the clothing he was wearing.

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The Prince Georges County Police Department said multiple members of its gang unit interviewed the four men after their arrest.

Its detectives had reasonable suspicion, based upon their training and experience to say that three of the men, including Abrego Garcia, displayed traits associated with MS-13 gang culture, the department said.

This was based on tattoos, clothing, as well as information from a source, police said.

Police did not arrest any of the men, said they have not interacted with Abrego Garcia again and have not received any new intelligence related to him.

One of the detectives who interviewed the men was former officer Ivan Mendez, who was suspended in April 2019 as part of an unrelated matter, police said. Mendez pleaded guilty to misconduct in office in that unrelated incident.

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As a result, the department proposed that Mendezs employment be terminated, which he accepted, a statement from police said. Mendez was terminated from the department in December 2022.

Hyattsville officers knew there was an ongoing murder investigation in Prince George's County when they arrested the four individuals in the Home Depot parking lot.

Police identified two men, one of whom was Abrego Garcia, as having been previously detained in a murder investigation, according to a Department of Homeland Security document from 2019. Abrego Garcia denied being connected to a murder investigation, the documents say, and he was never charged.

After Abrego Garcia was arrested, he was taken to the Prince Georges County Police Departments office for questioning in that homicide investigation along with the three other individuals. After questioning he was turned over to ICE.

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The release of documents on April 16 was the fullest detailing of the circumstance around his arrest and came after weeks of pressure on administration officials to prove its contention that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 gang.

The Department of Homeland Security also posted on social media that Abrego Garcias wife had received a temporary protective order against him in 2021. Vasquez Sura did not appear for the hearing and the case was ultimately dismissed. She released a statement explaining what happened.

After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order in case things escalated, Vasquez Sura said in a statement Wednesday. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process.

No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect. That is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from deportation, she added.

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The administration has also accused Abrego Garcia of being involved in human trafficking, but did not release evidence of the claim until April 18, when the Department of Homeland Security released a report detailing a traffic stop in Tennessee in 2022 where an officer suspected Abrego Garcia of human trafficking while driving a vehicle with eight other people.

Abrego Garcia said the men were traveling for construction work, according to the report. Because there was no luggage in the vehicle, the officer on the scene suspected it could be human trafficking, it said.

The Tennessee Highway Patrol said in a statement that in 2022 Abrego Garcia was stopped for speeding on I-40. The agency contacted federal law enforcement, which decided not to detain him, the statement said.

When the Highway Patrol ran his license, it discovered it was expired and there was a note to call federal authorities because of his alleged affiliation with MS-13 following the incident in 2019, a senior Tennessee law enforcement official said.

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When the agency called ICE, it declined to pick him up and take him into custody, the official said. He was released without charges.

The interaction between Abrego Garcia and the agency was cordial, the official said, adding that Abrego Garcia said the other men in the car were traveling between construction jobs.

Kilmar worked in construction and sometimes transported groups of workers between job sites, so its entirely plausible he would have been pulled over while driving with others in the vehicle, his wife said in a statement. He was not charged with any crime or cited for any wrongdoing. Unfortunately, Kilmar is currently imprisoned without contact with the outside world, which means he cannot respond to the claims or defend himself.

What was his immigration status?

After his 2019 arrest, Abrego Garcia was handed over to immigration authorities and placed in deportation proceedings.

Vasquez Sura said she and her husband testified in his defense against the allegations that he was a gang member and sought his release, according to court documents. She described the process as emotional and unfair.

Despite their testimony, a judge denied Abrego Garcia bond after his arrest outside the Home Depot, documents released by the Justice Department show.

Although the Court is reluctant to give evidentiary weight to the Respondents clothing as an indication of gang affiliation, the fact that a past, proven, and reliable source of information verified the Respondents gang membership, rank, and gang name is sufficient to support that the Respondent is a gang member, and the Respondent has failed to present evidence to rebut that assertion, Immigration Judge Elizabeth Kessler wrote in 2019. Her decision was upheld by another judge in an appeals hearing.

Kessler also noted there was a seeming discrepancy regarding why the government arrested him. One form stated it was in relation to a murder investigation, she wrote, while another states police approached him because he and others were loitering outside of Home Depot. Abrego Garcia responded that there is no reliable evidence in the record to support that he is a member of MS-13 and that the allegation is based on hearsay relayed by a confidential source.

Abrego Garcia then filed for asylum and withholding of removal, a temporary form of legal protection, so that he would not be deported to El Salvador. Before his 2019 hearing, authorities told the court that their evidence of Abrego Garcias gang membership was limited to the gang field interview sheet from the Home Depot arrest, and they had nothing further to add.

Immigrants deported from the U.S. at CECOT megaprison in El Salvador on March 16.

An immigration judge barred Abrego Garcia from being sent to El Salvador, saying he proved he had a well-founded fear of future persecution from local gangs. The court granted withholding of removal as long as he checked in with authorities annually, something he attested to doing in court filings. This gave him legal status in the United States temporarily and allowed him to receive a work permit.

ICE did not appeal, and Abrego Garcia was released. He returned to his family, where he resumed working and began a five-year apprenticeship program to become a licensed journeyman, his wife wrote in an affidavit.

We really believed that the false accusations had been cleared up and that they were behind us, she wrote.

Deportation to El Salvador

On March 12, Abrego Garcia was pulled over by Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers while he was with his child on his way home from a worksite in Baltimore. He was on the phone with his wife and told her he had pulled into the parking lot of an Ikea when an officer put his lights on.

I told him to put me on speaker when he was talking with the police because he does not feel confident speaking English, Vasquez Sura wrote in a declaration provided to the court.

When an officer got to Abrego Garcias car, according to Vasquez Sura, they told him to roll down the windows and step out of the vehicle. Abrego Garcia told the officer his son was in the back seat and had special needs. In a sworn declaration, she says officers then hung up the call, and minutes later someone called back, identified themself as a person with the Department of Homeland Security, and told her she needed to get there in 10 minutes to pick up her son or they would call child protective services.

When she arrived, she said, Abrego Garcia was on the curb in handcuffs, and officers on the scene claimed his immigration status had changed, Vasquez Sura wrote.

They asked me if I wanted to say goodbye to Kilmar, Vasquez Sura wrote. Kilmar was crying and I told him he would come back home because he hadnt done anything wrong.

He was arrested by immigration authorities and transferred to facilities in Maryland, Louisiana and Texas, the declaration said. During that time, Abrego Garcia spoke on the phone with his wife five times. On March 15, he was sent to El Salvador.

I never heard from Kilmar again, Vasquez Sura wrote.

On March 16, the Salvadoran president posted a video showing people being loaded off planes and sent to the CECOT megaprison. Vasquez Sura said she recognized her husband in photos and video from the prison where he was being dragged by guards, because of the scars on his head and tattoos.

On March 24, Vasquez Sura filed a federal lawsuit on behalf of her husband against the Trump administration in the District of Maryland. The suit argued that because of the 2019 order barring him from being sent to El Salvador, the Trump administration violated the law.

Abrego Garcias team asked a judge to order the government to immediately request his release, launching the ongoing legal battle over whether he will remain in a Salvadoran prison or return to Maryland.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
MUSCAT, Oman (AP)  Iran and the United States will hold talks Saturday in Oman, their third round of negotiations over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear program.

The talks follow a first round held in Muscat, Oman, where the two sides spoke face to face. They then met again in Rome last weekend before this scheduled meeting again in Muscat.

Trump has imposed new sanctions on Iran as part of his maximum pressure campaign targeting the country. He has repeatedly suggested military action against Iran remained a possibility, while emphasizing he still believed a new deal could be reached by writing a letter to Irans 85-year-old Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei to jump start these talks.

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Khamenei has warned Iran would respond to any attack with an attack of its own.

Heres what to know about the letter, Irans nuclear program and the tensions that have stalked relations between Tehran and Washington since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

Why did Trump write the letter?

Trump dispatched the letter to Khamenei on March 5, then gave a television interview the next day in which he acknowledged sending it. He said: Ive written them a letter saying, I hope youre going to negotiate because if we have to go in militarily, its going to be a terrible thing.

Since returning to the White House, the president has been pushing for talks while ratcheting up sanctions and suggesting a military strike by Israel or the U.S. could target Iranian nuclear sites.

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A previous letter from Trump during his first term drew an angry retort from the supreme leader.

But Trumps letters to North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in his first term led to face-to-face meetings, though no deals to limit Pyongyangs atomic bombs and a missile program capable of reaching the continental U.S.

How did the first round go?

Oman, a sultanate on the eastern edge of the Arabian Peninsula, hosted the first round of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff. The two men met face to face after indirect talks and immediately agreed to this second round in Rome.

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Witkoff later made a television appearance in which he suggested 3.67% enrichment for Iran could be something the countries could agree on. But thats exactly the terms set by the 2015 nuclear deal struck under U.S. President Barack Obama, from which Trump unilaterally withdrew America.

Witkoff hours later issued a statement underlining something: A deal with Iran will only be completed if it is a Trump deal. Araghchi and Iranian officials have latched onto Witkoffs comments in recent days as a sign that America was sending it mixed signals about the negotiations.

Yet the Rome talks ended up with the two sides agreeing to starting expert-level talks this Saturday. Analysts described that as a positive sign, though much likely remains to be agreed before reaching a tentative deal.

Why does Irans nuclear program worry the West?

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Iran has insisted for decades that its nuclear program is peaceful. However, its officials increasingly threaten to pursue a nuclear weapon. Iran now enriches uranium to near weapons-grade levels of 60%, the only country in the world without a nuclear weapons program to do so.

Under the original 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium up to 3.67% purity and to maintain a uranium stockpile of 300 kilograms (661 pounds). The last report by the International Atomic Energy Agency on Irans program put its stockpile at 8,294.4 kilograms (18,286 pounds) as it enriches a fraction of it to 60% purity.

U.S. intelligence agencies assess that Iran has yet to begin a weapons program, but has undertaken activities that better position it to produce a nuclear device, if it chooses to do so.

Ali Larijani, an adviser to Irans supreme leader, has warned in a televised interview that his country has the capability to build nuclear weapons, but it is not pursuing it and has no problem with the International Atomic Energy Agencys inspections. However, he said if the U.S. or Israel were to attack Iran over the issue, the country would have no choice but to move toward nuclear weapon development.

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If you make a mistake regarding Irans nuclear issue, you will force Iran to take that path, because it must defend itself, he said.

Why are relations so bad between Iran and the U.S.?

Iran was once one of the U.S.s top allies in the Mideast under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi, who purchased American military weapons and allowed CIA technicians to run secret listening posts monitoring the neighboring Soviet Union. The CIA had fomented a 1953 coup that cemented the shahs rule.

But in January 1979, the shah, fatally ill with cancer, fled Iran as mass demonstrations swelled against his rule. The Islamic Revolution followed, led by Grand Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, and created Irans theocratic government.

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Later that year, university students overran the U.S. Embassy in Tehran, seeking the shahs extradition and sparking the 444-day hostage crisis that saw diplomatic relations between Iran and the U.S. severed. The Iran-Iraq war of the 1980s saw the U.S. back Saddam Hussein. The Tanker War during that conflict saw the U.S. launch a one-day assault that crippled Iran at sea, while the U.S. later shot down an Iranian commercial airliner that the American military said it mistook for a warplane.

Iran and the U.S. have see-sawed between enmity and grudging diplomacy in the years since, with relations peaking when Tehran made the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. But Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the accord in 2018, sparking tensions in the Mideast that persist today.

___

Associated Press writer Amir Vahdat in Tehran, Iran, contributed to this report.

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The Associated Press receives support for nuclear security coverage from the Carnegie Corporation of New York and Outrider Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

___

Additional AP coverage of the nuclear landscape: https://apnews.com/projects/the-new-nuclear-landscape/
The Knox County TRIAD is working to install lock boxes with key copies for those most at risk of a medical emergency. First responders can then access those keys when they reach the residence.

The lock boxes are free to anyone older than 60. Its intended to give more time for responders in life-or-death situations.

(Gavin Waidelich, OurQuadCities.com)

When they get there, you know, if the doors locked, theyre just going to go ahead and get in that lock box and get in the house with a key, said Knox County Sheriffs Deputy Kimberley Jenkins. Its fabulous because theyre not waiting around for someone to show up with a key, theyre not having to bust a door down or break a window and so its very time efficient.

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The keys are hidden behind a keypad, which only the resident and police dispatch have the code for. When needed, officers get the code directly from dispatch, so the code can remain a secret.

What troubles me about this, Ive had several people tell me, you know, Im not locking my door at night sometimes, because I need people to get in because I live alone, said Jenkins.

Our Quad Cities News spoke to older adults who asked that their last names not be used for security reasons. They say it gives them peace of mind.

Its amazing, because weve been worried about it, especially the last four years. Because Ive had a lot of health problems and (my husband) had to get the ambulance here, and if he hadnt been able to, I wasnt able to, said Carole. I dont know what we wouldve done. Hopefully that never happens, but if it does, this will help.

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Jenkins says she shares in that comfort.

Theyre able to lock their doors now, because they have a key in this box, said Jenkins. Theyre going to sleep better and Im going to sleep better.

The purpose of the Knox County, Illinois TRIAD is to assist the various law enforcement agencies in Knox County to reduce crime against and promote the welfare of the elderly. The TRIAD program serves seniors 60 and older. TRIAD stands for The Right Information And Direction.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WHBF - OurQuadCities.com.
PRISTINA, Kosovo (AP)  Kosovos legislature on Saturday swore in the 120 lawmakers who will sit in the newly elected Assembly, or Parliament, after procedural disputes between the political parties but failed twice to elect a new speaker, a process which may take the country into a prolonged legislative crisis

All parties who won seats in the Feb. 9 election voted unanimously in favor of taking up their mandates, opening the way to the election of the new speaker and deputy speakers.

The left-wing Self-Determination Movement, or Vetevendosje!, of acting Prime Minister Albin Kurti won 48 out of 120 seats in the election, falling short of the majority needed to elect a new speaker or to form a cabinet on its own. In 2021, the party won 58 seats.

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The Vetevendosje! nominee for speaker, Albulena Haxhiu, was defeated in two successive ballots, with 57 votes, falling short of the 61 needed in a 120-seat parliament.

Parliament is due to convene on Monday, but without a speaker in place, the procedure for the session is unclear. The Constitution has not set the length of time needed for electing the new speaker.

Once the speaker and deputy speakers are elected, Kurti will be formally nominated as prime minister and must receive a simple majority, or 61 votes, to form a cabinet.

Kurti and the three main opposition parties have all ruled out working together in a coalition. The center-right Democratic Party of Kosovo, or PDK, holds 24 seats, the conservative governing Democratic League of Kosovo, or LDK, won 20 seats, and the right-wing Alliance for Kosovos Future, AAK, has eight seats.

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Ten seats are reserved for Kosovo's ethnic Serb minority, nine of them won by the Srpska Lista party which is directly supported by the Serbian government in Belgrade.

Kurti has turned to 10 non-Serb minority MPs and one ethnic Serb lawmaker, but he would still need at least two other votes.

If Kurti fails to form a cabinet, the president is entitled to turn to any of the other parties. If no party can form a cabinet, the country will face another parliamentary election.

A new cabinet is needed not only to run the economy and other services, but also proceed with the 14-year-long normalization talks with Serbia which have stalled.

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Around 11,400 people died, mostly from Kosovos ethnic Albanian majority, in the 1998-1999 war in Kosovo, which was formerly a province of Serbia. A 78-day NATO air campaign ended the fighting and pushed Serbian forces out.

Kosovo declared independence from Serbia in 2008, with most Western nations recognizing its sovereignty, but Serbia and its allies Russia and China dont.

The EU and the United States have urged Kosovo and Serbia to implement agreements reached two years ago that include a commitment by Kosovo to establish an Association of Serb-Majority Municipalities and Serbias obligation to provide de facto recognition of Kosovo.



Semini reported from Kavaja, Albania.
Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, could legally suspend martial law if the war with Russia ends by August 2025, Defense Committee Secretary Roman Kostenko said in an interview with New Voice (NV).

President Volodymyr Zelensky first declared martial law and general mobilization on Feb. 24, 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The measure has been repeatedly extended since then.

"Regarding martial law, from a legal point of view. The Verkhovna Rada, as it adopted it, can cancel it, even if there are some decisions that require it," Kostenko said.

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"I'm not saying that it will. But if we look at it from a legal point of view, if (martial law) is in place by August, it does not mean that it will be in place by August, if the war ends. It can always be canceled  also by a decision of the president and approval of the Verkhovna Rada."

Kostenko's comments come as the United States escalates pressure on Russia and Ukraine to agree on a ceasefire, with U.S. President Donald Trump threatening to "take a pass" on further peace negotiations if either side continues to resist a deal.

Kostenko said that despite Washington's efforts to broker a ceasefire, he does not expect the Trump administration to successfully negotiate a resolution.

"It certainly does not look like the end of the war," he said.

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The Verkhovna Rada on April 16 approved the extension of martial law and mobilization for another 90 days, until August 6.

Under martial law, Ukrainian men aged between 18 and 60, with some exceptions, are not allowed to leave the country as they may be called up for military service. Martial law also prevents Ukraine from holding regular parliamentary and presidential elections.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has sought to leverage Kyiv's delayed elections to portray Zelensky as "illegitimate"  a claim that has found traction with members of the Trump administration.

Trump in February denounced Zelensky as a "dictator without elections," echoing the Kremlin's propaganda narrative. Several weeks later he walked back on the statement, criticizing Putin for continuing to attack Zelensky's credibility.

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Read also: A ceasefire in Ukraine could end martial law  what would lifting restrictions mean?

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EL PASO, Texas (KTSM)  Las Cruces City Clerk Christine Rivera has been named the states Clerk of the Year during the New Mexico Municipal Leagues annual conference.

Rivera received the honor during the Municipal Leagues conference April 9-11 in Taos.

She has been Las Cruces city clerk since 2019.

The award, presented each year since 1991, recognizes a city, town or village clerk in New Mexico who exhibits excellence in their interactions with their governing body and the public, according to a news release sent out by the City of Las Cruces.

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Members of City Council, the governing body for the City of Las Cruces, nominated Rivera and listed her goals of transparency and responsiveness as highlights in the application process.

Im extremely honored and humbled to be nominated by the governing body for this prestigious award, Rivera said. I work hard to be a team member that everyone can rely on.

As Las Cruces city clerk, Rivera has implemented automated agenda software and IPRA management software that helps streamline the functionality of the office and its ability to respond to requests for public records, the City said.

She has also advocated in Santa Fe for legislative issues that would standardize how city clerks account for the increasing number of public records requests, the City added.

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Rivera also helped create a Standard Rules and Procedures booklet and provides one-on-one support to campaign staff and volunteers during municipal elections, the City said.

She provides guidance on Roberts Rules, Open Meetings Act and other critical processes for committee leaders, while also ensuring that public input is not only present but represented and championed in City conversations and decisions, wrote City Councilor Becky Corran in nominating Rivera.

The City Clerks Office maintains and protects all official municipal records and provides public access to records. Riveras office also processes public records requests and applications to serve on boards, committees and commissions.

Rivera is one of approximately 150 municipal clerks in New Mexico.

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The New Mexico Municipal League protects and promotes municipal interests with a unified voice through advocacy, education and comprehensive risk management. The Municipal League is a nonprofit, nonpartisan association that represents and serves cities, towns and villages in New Mexico, the City of Las Cruces said in its news release.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  A federal district court judge denied a former Las Vegas councilwomans motion for a new trial Friday, the 8 News Now Investigators have learned, endorsing the governments case that she schemed to capitalize on a community tragedy.

Michele Fiore, suspended in July 2024 from her position as justice court judge in Nye County, asked the federal court to grant her either an acquittal or a new trial after a jury deliberated for two hours and convicted her on one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and six counts of wire fraud in October 2024.

Each count carries a maximum sentence of 20 years. Fiores sentencing is scheduled for May 14.

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On June 8, 2014, Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department officers Alyn Beck and Igor Soldo were gunned down while they were on their lunch break in northeast Las Vegas. Fiore claimed to raise money for statues for the fallen officers, and some of the high-profile citizens from whom she collected donations were Republican Gov. Joe Lombardo and the Local 872 union boss Tommy White, both of whom testified at trial.

The jury returned those guilty verdicts less than two hours after the case went to deliberation following an eight-day trial at the federal courthouse in downtown Las Vegas. Court documents said she fleeced donors out of tens of thousands of dollars.

In court documents seeking a new trial or acquittal, Fiore claimed there was insufficient evidence to convict her. Evidence presented at trial showed that a development company paid for the statue for which Fiore claimed to be raising money, and not a dime of the money that Fiore raised was used for that purpose, Judge Jennifer Dorsey wrote in her opinion. Instead, each check was quickly converted to cash and spent on Fiores personal expenses like rent, cosmetic procedures, and her daughters wedding.

Fiore also argued in her motion that her trial attorney was ineffective, and that the trial judge should have stricken controversial testimony from Fiores daughter, Sheena Siegel. Siegel ultimately testified in court, invoking her constitutional right not to incriminate herself for any role she might have played in Fiores criminal wrongdoing.

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In sum, Fiores attempts to set aside the jurys verdicts are unavailing, Dorsey concluded.

Las Vegas attorney Michael Sanft withdrew from the case less than a week after Fiores conviction. Another attorney, Paola Armeni, took over as Fiores attorney on Oct. 15 and litigated the motion for the new trial and acquittal.

Previous attempts to reach Fiore for comment since her conviction were unsuccessful.

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Dividend growth typically is strongest in Q1, as most companies finish their fiscal year and prepare for their shareholder meeting. For Q1 2025, growth, while noticeably slower, did continue and was in line with expectations given the current economic uncertainties. This uncertainty however did not appear to stop increases, though it did limit them, as forward commitment levels appeared shy.

Howard Silverblatt, a Senior Index Analyst at S&P Dow Jones Indices, expressed continued optimism about the overall outlook for dividends. However, he also acknowledged some uncertainty ahead, given the current market conditions. He made the following comment about the situation.

Additional data from S&P Dow Jones Indices showed that 758 companies raised or initiated dividend payments in Q1 2025, which is a slight decline from 796 in the same period last year, reflecting a 4.8% year-over-year drop. Despite this, the total value of these increases amounted to $19.5 billion for the quarter. Over the 12-month period ending in March 2025, a total of 2,412 companies raised their dividend payments, marking a slight uptick from the 2,411 companies that did so in the same period the previous year. The total value of these dividend increases reached $68.2 billion, just edging past the $68.1 billion recorded during the prior 12-month stretch.

The same report noted that overall dividend payments climbed by roughly 6% to 7%, though this was slightly below the pre-2025 expectation of 8%. In comparison, dividend payouts rose by 6.4% in 2024 and 5.1% in 2023.

According to data from S&P Dow Jones Indices, US domestic common stocks saw a net dividend increase of $15.3 billion in the first quarter of 2025, which is an improvement over the $11.7 billion increase seen in the previous quarter. Over the 12 months ending in March 2025, dividend hikes amounted to $68.2 billion, just above the $68.1 billion reported the year before. Meanwhile, dividend cuts dropped significantly, totaling $15.6 billion, compared to $25.2 billion in the prior 12-month period.

Dividend-paying stocks have remained popular among investors due to their strong historical performance. This sustained interest has led many companies to maintain their dividend payouts, raise them, or introduce new dividend policies altogether.

We recently published a list of the 10 Dividend Stocks with Sustainable Payout Ratios . In this article, we are going to take a look at where The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) stands against other best dividend stocks with sustainable payout ratios.

Story Continues

Despite some caution, analysts remain positive on dividend stocks, pointing out that US companies are well-positioned to sustain their payouts thanks to strong cash reserves. Nuveen, a financial planning firm based in Illinois, noted that an increasing number of companies are likely to roll out dividend policies, supported by the current cash-rich environment, which could drive stronger-than-expected dividend growth in 2025.

The report mentioned that as of September 30, 2024, corporate cash holdings stood at $1.8 trillion, which was close to their highest levels in the past 20 years. With equity valuations running above historical norms, Nuveen believes that companies may lean more toward boosting dividend payments as a way to return value to shareholders, rather than relying on stock buybacks, which may be less attractive in a higher-valuation landscape.

Analysts generally consider a payout ratio in the range of 30% to 50% to be optimal because it indicates that a company is returning a healthy portion of its earnings to shareholders while still retaining enough profits to reinvest in its business and support future growth.

The Kroger Co. (KR): One of the Dividend Stocks with Sustainable Payout Ratios

A section of a grocery store dedicated to organic produce, herbs, and fruits.

Our Methodology

For this article, we screened for companies that consistently distribute dividends to their shareholders. From this initial selection, we narrowed down the list to include only those companies with a 5-year average payout ratio below 50%, indicating a robust cash position. Subsequently, we identified the top 10 companies meeting these criteria and arranged them in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that held stakes in each of them, as per Insider Monkeys database of Q4 2024.

At Insider Monkey, we are obsessed with hedge funds. Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)

5-Year Average Payout Ratio: 32.8%

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) ranks fifth on our list of the best dividend stocks with sustainable payout ratios. The American retail company operates a network of supermarkets and multi-department stores across the US. In fiscal Q4 2025, it reported $34.3 billion in revenue, reflecting a 7% year-over-year decline and falling short of analysts expectations of $34.7 billion. Operating profit also took a hit, dropping more than 27% compared to the same period the previous year.

On a brighter note, The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) Alternative Profit Businesseswhich include advertising and data servicesdelivered $1.35 billion in operating profit, supported by a 17% rise in media-related revenue. Digital sales rose by 11%, underscoring the companys continued efforts to improve the customer experience. Kroger also rolled out over 900 new products under its Our Brands lineup, highlighting its push to grow private-label offerings and strengthen profitability.

The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) maintained a solid cash position, reinforcing its reputation as a dependable dividend payer. In fiscal year 2024, the company generated $5.8 billion in operating cash flow and returned $883 million to shareholders through dividend payments. Its strong cash position resulted in the companys low payout ratio of nearly 33% in the past five years. It currently pays a quarterly dividend of $0.32 per share and has a dividend yield of 1.8%, as of April 17. The company also holds an 18-year streak of consistent dividend growth.

Overall, KR ranks 5th on our list of the best dividend stocks with sustainable payout ratios. While we acknowledge the potential of KR as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued dividend stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued dividend stock that is more promising than KR but that trades at 10 times its earnings and grows its earnings at double digit rates annually, check out our report about the dirt cheap dividend stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  Las Vegas residents are calling on the Supreme Court of Nevada to hear arguments regarding a city council vote on a planned temple.

On April 10, a lawyer for the Nevada Rural Preservation Alliance filed a notice of appeal to the Supreme Court of Nevada following a District Courts dismissal on Feb. 18. The legal action against the City of Las Vegas is regarding a unanimous vote approving the construction of a temple by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

The appeal follows similar efforts in Cody, Wyoming, where arguments were heard in the Supreme Court of Wyoming, according to the Cowboy State Daily.

Las Vegas residents are calling on the Supreme Court of Nevada to hear arguments regarding a city council vote on a planned temple. (KLAS)

Henry Lessner, the mayor of Fairview, Texas, mediated with the LDS Church to reduce the height and size of the proposed McKinney Texas LDS Temple, which was initially denied a building permit.

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The planned Lone Mountain LDS temple will not be as high or as bright as originally planned. On Feb. 5, a light ordinance for several Las Vegas communities was amended to limit the temperature, timing, and height for lighting.

8 News Now previously spoke with a representative for the LDS Church who acknowledged the ordinance and said the church always abides by the law and will be following all the requirements.

The Las Vegas, Nevada Temple, at the foothills of Frenchman Mountain, opened in 1989, will remain under its current ordinance.

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Note: this interview was recorded before Sen. Van Hollens return back to the U.S. on Friday afternoon

Washington (DC News Now)  Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia this week in El Salvador. Sen. Van Hollen posted a picture of them sitting at a table Thursday that was posted on X. The senator traveled to the country this week to help bring Abrego Garcia home. The two met after Van Hollen said that he was denied into the prison just hours before.

The Hills Zach Schonfeld joined Capitol Review this week. Schonfeld is the courts and legal reporter. He went over the latest ruling in the appeals court that says they wont lift the order to facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

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Alaska is looking to make a big move toward greater statewide sustainability by banning Styrofoam. Legislators are discussing a new bill that will prohibit the use of the non-biodegradable plastic foam material in restaurants and require biodegradable or compostable alternatives.

While this is great news for the planet, it's also a tricky change for some in the Alaskan food industry.

Restaurants frequently use plastic foam containers for takeout orders, as they're lightweight, relatively durable and well-insulated, and, perhaps most importantly, cheap. With the cost of just about everything continuing to rise, transitioning to more costly takeout containers can put even further strain on business owners.

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"If it's better for the environment, you know, I don't know much on biodegradable material, but from what I do know, I've read that it's better and I'm all for that. Just being a manager of a restaurant, it's more about the cost effectiveness," manager of L&L Hawaiian Barbeque in Anchorage, Jonathan Sala, said. "It's just a big switch over in the cost."

However, as difficult as this transition may be for some restaurants, the continued use of plastic foam, commonly referred to as Styrofoam, is far more difficult on the planet.

What is typically called Styrofoam, or expanded polystyrene foam, has a laundry list of negative effects on the environment. Perhaps the most significant is its lack of biodegradability; the material may take hundreds of years to decompose. The result is a functionally ever-lasting material that breaks up into microplastics and finds its way into the water, air, and earth. From there, those microplastics have the potential to harm both human beings and wildlife.

Alaskan legislators believe the benefits a Styrofoam ban would have to the environment ultimately outweigh the negative impact it would have on the food industry. They're not alone, either. Multiple other states, including Oregon, Washington, and California, have already imposed similar bans and found success in them.

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For now, the ban remains a legislative proposition that needs to move through the House and Senate before being written into law. Should it do that  and it has gained cosponsors over the last month  the ban would take effect beginning in 2026.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CONNECTICUT (WTNH)  It has been four years since Connecticut legalized marijuana, and lawmakers are looking to improve some laws around it.

Right now, police cannot pull someone over for smoking in the car. Officers across the state have been encouraging state lawmakers to change the way that those laws are written.

Effects of cannabinoids and cannabis on health

When the bill legalizing marijuana was passed in 2021, they made it illegal to smoke while driving or while someone else is driving. Currently, police cant stop a vehicle for that unless they are weaving or driving erratically.

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Everybody wants our roads to be safe, nobody wants racial profiling going on in the state, so when you take those two starting places, and you come together, lets write policy, where we can do both of these things. And thats what we did, State Rep. Greg Howard (R) Stonington said.

We dont want a police officer pulling someone over for smoking a cigarette, State Rep. Steven Stafstrom (D) Bridgeport said. Or you dont want a police officer pulling somebody over because they are holding their hand to their mouth, and theyre not sure what it is.

Last month, the AAA Foundation for Traffic and Safety released a marijuana study saying that 80% of cannabis users admit to driving within hours of cannabis use, and half of those drivers believed that marijuana had little to no effect on their driving.

Police said that if this new law passes and they see a joint and smell it, they can pull them over and do a roadside test, which is the same one that they do for alcohol.

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Watch the full video in the player above.

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LAWRENCE, Kan.- A man says hes terribly frightened for his 74-year-old wife four weeks after she went missing.

Wanda Dyer was last seen Friday, March 21. Dave Dyer said Wanda left him a note that she was going to go pay her AT&T bill, so she walked to Bank of America at 9th and Ohio in Lawrence, more than a half hour away from their apartment in walking time.

New eye-tracking technology gives paralyzed Raytown man hope for voice

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She suffers from dementia, so she didnt have her ID or her debit card, Dave said in an interview with FOX4 Friday. They wouldnt give her any money at the bank.

Wanda was found on camera that Friday morning at the Bank of America with a jacket on with pink on the inside of the hood.

A spokeswoman for the Lawrence Police Department told FOX4 Friday the last photo evidence that they suspect is of her is the same evening she went missing. The picture was taken in Eudora, though, which would be a nearly four-hour walk away from Lawrence.

Even though its from the back, Ive known her long enough to know thats definitely her, Dave said, looking at that picture.

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Dave said that sometimes shed say she was going to go to Kansas City to see her mom or her aunt, but theyre both dead. The Lawrence PD spokeswoman said theyve contacted surrounding jurisdictions including those in the metro. Dave and Wandas daughter Phoenix called the situation tragic.

The plan was to get my mom into a nursing home and my father in his own place, she said Friday. But the dementia progressed so fast that we didnt have time, and its been like weve been since shes been missing, its like, trying to catch up to her, and we keep failing at, shes one step ahead.

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Phoenix said she thinks Lawrence police have been very helpful.

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I love you Wanda, she said when asked if there was anything else she wanted to say near the end of our interview.

If someone feels like they see Wanda in the future, the Lawrence PD spokeswoman says feel free to ask her for her name. She is not a danger to the community. Dave and Wanda have been married for 46 years, but their wedding anniversary was three days after she went missing.

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AURORA, Colo. (KDVR)  In reaction to the Trump administrations decision to terminate the visiting status for dozens of exchange students in Colorado, some of those students are suing the government.

Dozens still make pilgrimage on foot to local shrine during Good Friday snowstorm

The attorney representing the local students said he is concerned that a recent wave of student visa terminations could violate the Constitution.

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There are a number of individuals who are here on student status, studying at various universities in Colorado: whether it be Colorado Springs, the University of Colorado, really any of the major universities. Theres been a recent wave of terminations of their student records: their student and exchange visitor information systems records, said Zachary New, a partner at Joseph and Hall immigration law firm.

New said he has filed six lawsuits this week, with the latest one coming Friday morning, bringing the litigation on behalf of about two dozen students whose records related to the exchange program have been terminated for many students which dictates their status and ability to be in the country.

Theres been kind of two waves of these terminations. The first were what we were seeing around Cornell that were kind of speech-based. Then, at the beginning of April, we started to see a shift. There has been a new wave of terminations that are based off of arrest records for people who have had really any interaction with law enforcement, New said.

He said anyone working and studying under the program could have their status revoked if they are arrested for any violent crimes. FOX31 confirmed that 22 students in the University of Colorado system and 16 students at Colorado State University have been impacted. New said these individuals do not have violent crimes or convictions and instead have low-level interactions with law enforcement. Some, he said, have arrests with no actual charges or convictions.

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New said he knows of others at the University of Northern Colorado and the School of Mines. He said all the impacted students he knows of have a specific background.

These individuals are from African countries, Middle Eastern countries, Muslim-majority countries, and Asian countries. I have not seen a single student who is from a European country, Im not sure Ive heard of a single person from a European country thats been impacted by this, New said.

He said the court battle over the lawsuits could take longer than a year, but their priority is protecting the students right now, and eventually restoring their status.

Over 1k flights delayed, 50 canceled at DIA due to mid-April winter weather

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There are some students who are a month away from graduation who have suddenly found that they are no longer in valid student status or are unsure if they are even able to complete their degrees and get their diplomas in a month. So, there is an immense amount of anxiety, and I am sure it is impacting their ability to study, and Im sure its impacting the schools as well, said New.

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Tri-City residents packed the Chiawana High School gymnasium Thursday night to welcome Japanese exchange students and celebrate their culture through activities and dance.

The district has a long-standing partnership that spans four decades with the Yamate Exchange Program. The students were from Yamate Gakuin Junior Senior High School in Yokohama, one of the Asian nations largest cities.

About 50 students were visiting from Japan, said Asaka Erdmann, Chiawana High Schools Japanese teacher.

Students from the Yamate Gakuin Jr. Senior High School conduct a dance Thursday for Chiawana High Schools International Night, a vibrant celebration of culture, global connection and community.

While traveling to Japan with the Yamate exchange trip is not financially possible for many of our students, this inbound exchange is a valuable opportunity for them to showcase the rich and diverse cultures that make up our school community, she said.

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The International Night event was open to the public, and its activities included Japanese calligraphy, origami paper folding, fukuwari matching game, chambara dueling and a badminton-type game called hanetsuki.

Members of the Yamate Gakuin Dance Club, 4-11 YGDC, put on a performance for a packed Chiawana High School gymnasium at the communitys International Night.

Attendees then watched as students from Yamate and the Tri-Cities engaged in live performances, dances and demonstrations.

Tess Pulido, president of the Filipino-American Association of Tri-Cities, said their organization came out to support more events like these.

Their culture is separate from Japenese, but they share a common interest to highlight the regions multiculturalism and strengthen their communities.

Japanese students from Yamate Gakuin Junior Senior High School lead children and community members in a shodo calligraphy activity at Chiawana High.

Its like the Asian community coming together, she said.

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Superintendent Michelle Whitney said the Yamate exchange and the districts Japanese language classes are just two programs that set Pasco apart from other districts.

These opportunities give students the tools to engage across cultures, she said, and serve as powerful reminders of the value of diversity and that learning goes beyond the classroom

Programs like this one help students grow into passionate, curious and confident global citizens, Whitney said.
WASHINGTON (AP)  President Donald Trump is drastically shrinking the workforce and mission of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, eviscerating an agency created after the Great Recession with the goal of protecting Americans from fraud, abuse and deceptive practices.

The plan, which is being challenged by an employee union, is the latest step in an extraordinary reshaping of the federal government. Conservatives and businesses have often chafed at the agency's oversight and investigations, and Elon Musk made it a top target of his Department of Government Efficiency.

Roughly 1,500 employees are slated to be cut, leaving around 200 people, according to an administration official who wasn't authorized to disclose the figure publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. Fox Business first reported the number of layoffs.

Employees started receiving layoff notices on Thursday. Their access to agency systems, including email, ends on Friday evening.

"The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau identified your position being eliminated and your employment is subject to termination in accordance with reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures," the emails said.

The Trump administration's plans have been the subject of a legal battle. A federal judge initially blocked what she described as a hurried effort to dismantle and disable the agency."

However, an appeals court said Friday that layoff notices could be sent to employees whom defendants have determined, after a particularized assessment, to be unnecessary to the performance of defendants statutory duties.

On Thursday, the National Treasury Employees Union asked a federal judge to step in by arguing that officials were violating the order.

It is unfathomable that cutting the Bureaus staff by 90 percent in just 24 hours, with no notice to people to prepare for that elimination, would not interfere with the performance of its statutory duties, to say nothing of the implausibility of the defendants having made a 'particularized assessment' of each employees role in the three-and-a-half business days since the court of appeals imposed that requirement, the union wrote.

Mark Paoletta, the chief legal officer for the agency, sent a message to employees on Wednesday describing the CFPBs reduced mission.

To focus on tangible harms to consumers, the Bureau will shift resources away from enforcement and supervision that can be done by the States, he wrote.

Problems with mortgages will be the top priority, while issues involving medical debt, student loans and digital payments will receive less attention, according to Paoletta.
Whether youre interested in working in law enforcement, with animals or as a musician, the Pennsylvania State Police may offer the right role  and they need more officers, says the state.

State Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, Dunmore believes his newly introduced legislation to remove a cap on the number of state police is an answer to Gov. Josh Shapiros budget address.

S.B. 641 will repeal the statutory limit on the number of police, allowing the Pennsylvania State Police to hire the number of troopers that they see fit, Flynn said.

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Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police.

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Pennsylvania State Police

Pennsylvania State Police barracks at Dunmore.

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Sen. Marty Flynn, D-22, of Dunmore, introduced legislation removing a hiring cap for Pennsylvania State Police.

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The complement in 2002 was like 4,700, and then in 2023 it went to 4,800, but theyre still running close to the complement where we need more troopers, Flynn said in a phone interview with The Times-Tribune.

According to a memo presented by Flynn, the last major increase in trooper complement occurred in 2002, and was capped at 4,741.

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The population growth of Pennsylvania has increased by about 5% between 2002 and 2025, Flynn explained in the public document. Simply based on population, the complement of PSP troopers should have increased by approximately 237. Instead, the General Assembly has only allowed for one increase since then, in 2023, by 100 additional troopers.

In that time, Flynn said, state police responsibilities have only increased, with the addition of 65 municipalities being included to their coverage area, along with 55 new legislatively mandated duties.

According to a legislative informational document issued in 2019 by the House Appropriations Committee, two-thirds of local full- or part-time police coverage in the state is primarily managed by the state, not by municipalities. Per the map provided in the report, about one-third to half of Lackawanna County at the time was depicted as being covered by state police, with about a third or so of Luzerne County under state police jurisdiction.

Flynn said a similar bill, H.B. 1280, passed unanimously in the 2023-2024 House Judiciary Committee, full House of Representatives, and Senate Law and Justice Committee, would allow for hiring probably over 100 or 200 more, possibly.

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Even with passage of the updated, bipartisan legislation  co-sponsored by state Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, of Lehman Twp., among others  the difficulty will lie in the hiring, Flynn said.

The challenge is filing the spots, though, its hard to get people, he said. Our law enforcement has taken hits over the past couple years. When you do that to law enforcement, it makes it where people dont want to go into that field.

He called a career in law enforcement a noble profession.

We really want to see people go into that profession. Its a great job, its a great career, he said. Though dangerous, some people find it very rewarding.

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Flynn recalled his own history working in law enforcement, having served as a prison guard in Lackawanna County from 2002 to 2012.

Myles Snyder, the communications director for the Pennsylvania State Police, agreed the profession is noble.

Police officers and troopers face more public scrutiny than they have probably ever, Snyder said. For the men and women who sign up to do it now, its even more noble to have to stand in the face of public scrutiny at all times  and still remain professional, courteous to the people they serve, to the people theyre sworn to protect, is incredibly noble.

While Snyder noted its department policy to not comment on pending legislation, he spoke at length about the benefits of becoming a state police officer, including excellent pay and benefits, and learning opportunities.

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He described the wealth of avenues available to those who choose to pursue a career working with the sate police.

It can be crime, tactical, helicopter pilot, canine handling, forensics, office of community engagement, he said, explaining the department works to build bridges, relationships between our communities and state police.

Media relations and community service officers who handle school programs are among state police options, he said, plus run-hide-fight, prom safety, stranger danger, and the RVAT team, who assess churches, schools and other organizations to determine how to mitigate security risks.

He further added there are careers working with bomb squads, special emergency response teams and administration, and even music  for example, in a ceremonial unit playing bagpipes, drums or bugle.

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Regarding more state police covering municipalities, Snyder said it fluctuates.

A small municipality township may have a one- or two-person police force  someone retires or maybe injured  cant cover all shifts, so we would come in and assist part time, no charge, Snyder said. If their department closed, and they didnt have anyone to cover them immediately, say, through a merger of police departments  they may hire six months, a year or so after, and then that would return to municipal police coverage.

Snyder encouraged those interested in the cadet selection process  including information on pay, duties, benefits and requirements  to visit PATrooper.com.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WSPA)  A school bus crash on I-77 in Chester County killed a 13-year-old boy and left several others injured on Thursday. Community members are still trying to grasp what happened.

According to officials, the bus crash occurred after tire blowout took place while the Pine Ridge Middle School bus was taking students on a field trip to the NASCAR Hall of Fame. The blown tire caused the school bus to veer off the highway near Exit 55, hit a guardrail, and overturn.

The bus was carrying 35 students at three adults at the time of the crash.

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The death of Jose Maria Gonzales Linares has impacted many people in the area.

Its hard to hear. Its hard to think about. Its unexplainable, said DeeAnn Watts, who lives just a mile from Pine Ridge.

Watts said her best friend is a teacher who once taught Linares. After she heard about the fatal crash, she said she called her friend.

For Watts, she is just trying to be present for her friend and the community.

[Just] trying to see what we can do to help them, and, theyre never going to be the same again, said Watts. Those teachers are never going to be the same. The kids that were behind the bus, that theyre never going to be the same.

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Watts said she wants families and kids to know that they are on everyones hearts and minds.

I cant tell those people how much were praying for them, she continued. Theyre constantly on our hearts and our minds, and that even on this Good Friday, we dont know gods plan, but there is one.

Governor Henry McMaster shared a statement urging the state to pray for the family and those injured. He said all of South Carolina is with you.

The school was open Friday for families and staff to speak with counselors. Support will be available when students return to school after spring break.

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AT 10 P.M. ON APRIL 18, 1775, seven hundred soldiers gathered at the waters edge west of the Boston Common. They climbed into boats waiting at the dock, then pushed off into the harbor. They held torches to show the way, as the oars dipped in and out of the water. Behind them, Boston was mostly dark. The torches and lamps in the windows of homes and shops had been extinguished for the night, except for two lanterns hanging in the steeple of the Old North Church.

Around midnight, the soldiers disembarked in Cambridge. After resting and reorganizing their supplies, they began the seventeen-mile trek to Lexington. As they marched, their path dimly lit by torches, they heard the clanging of bells, the firing of alarm guns, and drums. Through the trees, the British soldiers spotted large bonfires in the distance. Their arrival was not quite the surprise they had hoped.

On the 250th anniversary of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, we have an opportunity to revisit the lessons of the American Revolution and why it still matters today. The formation of the American republic was messy, and the founding generation understood its success was never guaranteed. This anniversarythe start of several years of anniversaries commemorating the battles and bloodshed, the sights and scenes of the warare a good reminder that we still face a messy, uncertain future, one still worth fighting for.

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A few hours before British troops gathered on the waters edge in Boston, Paul Revere and William Dawes had galloped out of the city and rode toward Lexington and Concord, alerting local families and militiamen of the impending threat. They urged Sam Adams and John Hancock to flee to avoid arrest and warned locals to move military supplies to safety.

The sun had not yet peeked over the trees early on the morning of April 19 when the British soldiers marched into Lexington, weary from lack of sleep. Eighty militiamen, known as minutemen for their ability to gather quickly, trickled out of the local tavern, where they had spent the night waiting for the arrival of British troops.

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Captain John Parker, the militia commander, issued orders to disband, but his voice was weak from a recent illness. Before the message could filter down the line, a shot rang out. Perhaps it was a British soldier eager to enforce discipline. Maybe a nervous young mans finger slipped on the trigger. Or maybe someone was hiding in the woods, determined to pick a fight. The British forces fired a series of volleys before charging with bayonets.

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Within minutes, the British commander, Major John Pitcairn had reasserted control over his forces and ordered them to resume their march to Concord, where they destroyed three large cannon and threw 500 pounds of musket balls into a local pond. A handful of militia companies, totaling a few hundred men, advanced on the British troops and, after being fired upon, fired back at the redcoatswho then beat a retreat. But word of the troops movements had spread through the countryside and armed locals took up positions behind fences, walls, and trees flanking the return route to Boston along Old Concord Road. As the British soldiers began the lengthy march back to their base, they were met with gunfire from invisible enemies hiding in the forest. The march turned into a mad dash to safety. The war for American independence had begun, even if independence would not be declared for another fifteen months.

TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEARS LATER, the dramatic start of the Revolutionary War offers two important lessons for today. The minutemen, the British regulars, and the colonist observers watching from their homes along Old Concord Road understood that they were experiencing a historic moment. But they did not know what would come next. Over the eight years that followed, Americans knew they were making history, but the outcome and the end date were never guaranteed.

So it is with us today: We can no more predict the future than could those minutemen in 1775. In our political life, as in theirs, there are so many complications and contingencies, so many unintended effects ramifying outward, that the best we can hope for is the clarity to see the choices before us and the courage to act when we should.

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Second, the American people were divided from the beginning. Some colonists ardently supported independence. Others remained dedicated to the crown. A third group tried to avoid notice and survive the ordeal with their heads down. For example, the British commanders knew where to search for rebel munitions because of loyalist spies, while Paul Revere and William Dawes received advance warning about British movements because the patriots had spies behind British lines.

Even within patriot communities, the colonists pursued independence for diverse reasons. Enslaved soldiers fought to secure their own freedom. Most infantry soldiers didnt have any other economic prospects. Many officers, who came from more economically secure backgrounds, were motivated by ideological conviction. Patriot leaders disagreed about their goals, and the strategy required to pursue the desired result.

So it is still with us today. Moments of unity in American politics are fleeting. We disagree with one another like we breathe air: Its just part of how we live. To some extent this dilemma is because of the Revolution itself: The United States is the only nation founded on an idea rather than on, say, a shared religious or ethnic identity. We dont have a single shared set of cultural traditions to unify us. Anyone who thinks Americans will lastingly be united behind one movement, one party, or one leader doesnt understand the American story. It is a messy story, a story of disagreements over everything big and small. And it has been that way from the very beginning.

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(WGHP)  National Lineman Appreciation Day is celebrated on April 18. This year, the gratitude for the men and women who restore electricity runs extra deep in North Carolina.

When the remnants of Hurricane Helene destroyed western North Carolina, thousands of linemen rushed into often dangerous situations to start repairing the grid.

Greensboro-based Duke Energy Lineman Supervisor Seth Caison spent weeks in the field, working double shifts and digging through the mud to help those in need with his crew.

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I dont think you could ask any lineman and they not tell you their favorite part is doing storm work, helping people and getting power back on, Caison aid.

When Duke Energy crews were dispatched to western North Carolina in September 2024, Caison was among them, driving toward unthinkable destruction.

Basically, houses washing down the mountain. We were dumbfounded  We didnt think something like that could actually happen there, Caison said.

As the linemen arrived in western North Carolina, it was hard to even figure out where to start working.

So the accessibility to all those poles is just in a lot of areas nonexistent, and then you have a flood coming down the mountain, he said.

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The crews had to divide and conquer, trying to put the pieces back together in a puzzle buried under thick mud.

We are trying to find those jobs. Split everybody else  Trying to figure out where we can start and what we can get back on, he said.

First, the helpers needed help.

Lets get our hospitals back on and our fire and police departments back on so they are able to help other people as well, Caison said.

And then came the neighborhoods. So many of them were in the dark. People were unable to refrigerate their insulin, heat up baby formula or use a CPAP machine. When people finally saw the linemen arrive, it was special.

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Just the appreciation the customers showed the guys  Theyre coming out and clapping and bringing them stuff, and thats something that keeps you going throughout the storm, he said.

Caison says he will never forget how the people of western North Carolina took care of the linemen during their 18-hour days amid their tragedy.

We had people bringing us food and snack bags, goodie bags and people offering to cook us lunch, Caison said.

Power crews travel to where the need is, and the Duke Energy crew was sent from all over: North Carolina to South Carolina and then to Florida.

Caison said he doesnt do it for gratitude but appreciates National Lineman Appreciation Day.

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We understand sometimes we are a big help to a lot of people, he said.

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Lithuania will upgrade and fortify a second route through the Suwaki Gap, a strategically critical stretch of land along the Polish border viewed as one of the most likely targets for a future Russian attack on NATO or the European Union, Politico reported on April 18.

These roads [are] critical to us from a security and defense perspective, Lithuanian Deputy Defense Minister Tomas Godliauskas told Politico.

"Theyve always been part of our civil-military planning as key ground routes for allied support during a crisis." The Suwaki Gap is a 100-kilometer-wide corridor connecting Poland and Lithuania, bordered by Belarus and Russias Kaliningrad exclave, and serves as NATOs main land link to the Baltic states.

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In coordination with Poland, Lithuania will upgrade the VilniusAugustow route to dual-use standards, complementing the existing Via Baltica corridor from Kaunas to Warsaw. Via Baltica, alongside the Rail Baltica high-speed rail project, currently serves as a main channel for military mobility. "It's just one more option to ensure better logistics in times of need," Godliauskas said.

Deputy Transport Minister Roderikas Ziobakas says the planned upgrades include reconstructing 113 kilometers of road and renovating eight bridges. The project is expected to be completed by 2028.

Godliauskas, however, cautioned that multinational projects can face delays: "But we hope that the geopolitical situation, our interest, and Poland's capabilities will allow us to reach that timeline."

Godliauskas added that discussions are also underway regarding new border protections, including counter-mobility systems and cement barriers near Belarus and Kaliningrad, as well as measures to combat Russian GPS spoofing and jamming.

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Lithuania seeks EU funding for the project and plans to lobby Brussels alongside Poland, Estonia, and Latvia. Although aligned with NATO and EU mobility goals, the initiative is currently being funded bilaterally by the Polish and Lithuanian transport and defense ministries.

Read also: Ukraines long-suffering aerospace giants look to Europe to break free from Russian orbit

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LITTLE ROCK, Ark.  Little Rock police are investigating a deadly shooting that happened early Saturday morning.

According to investigators, officers responding to reports of a shooting in the 5100 block of Asher Avenue just before 3:30 a.m. found a man dead from an apparent gunshot wound.

Investigators said a second man was also found and taken to a nearby hospital, where they are listed as stable.

A third male victim later arrived at an area hospital by personal vehicle, according to police. The condition of that person is not known, according to investigators.

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Anyone who has information concerning the incident is asked to contact homicide detectives at 501-371-4660.

This is a developing story, please check back for updates.

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LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) Local businesses in Luzerne County are busy serving Easter dinner staples.

From kielbasa to pierogis theres plenty of popular spots in NEPA.

While theyre closed now, Leonards owners say its been a busy week for the small business.

This is just one of the places across NEPA thats been preparing for months for Easter.

Its a popular Easter dinner meal on the menu for many:

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This kielbasa. The good old smoked stuff, said Vermont resident Phillip Marks

And at Leonards Kielbasa Market in Wilkes-Barre, theyve been serving up fresh and smoked varieties of the popular polish sausage for more than 100 years.

Participants in period dress recreate Stations of the Cross

Owners say Easter week is one of the busiest times of the year, with preparations beginning in January.

This is our prime time this is our money-making season. Easter is probably our second busiest right after Christmas. So its great seeing all the new customers and old that have been coming for years through our doors every single day, expressed Steven Makuch, co-owner, Leonards Kielbasa Market

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Customers like Phillip Marks, who makes a point of stopping for kielbasa every time he returns home to NEPA from Vermont.

They dont make it like this in Vermont so I come back home every now and then, I get the things I cant get in Vermont, said Marks.

Meanwhile at NEPArogi in Nanticoke, staff are busy preparing pierogis

For us when it comes to Easter we run double shifts, usually we only work 3-4 days pinching a week, and we do all seven when were preparing for Easter time, stated Lauren Gorney, owner, NEPArogi

The shop serves up big and small batches of hand-pinched pierogis.

NEPArogi owner Lauren Gorney says while the boost in business for Easter is special, whats more fulfilling is getting to pass on her familys tradition to the tables of others.

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Its an art form thats been passed down to me. It came from way beyond me. It came from over in Poland and its been handed to me, so it feels like an honor and a responsibility to make these handmade holiday foods, added Gorney.

Both businesses are open Saturday.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  It has been two and a half weeks since the April 1st deadline for the families of people with disabilities and their caregivers across New York State under the Consumer Directed Personal Assistance Program (CDPAP) to register and transition to the new statewide fiscal intermediary, Public Partnership LLC (PPL).

Before this change, caregivers were able to receive payment for their in-home services through one of an estimated 600 available fiscal intermediaries across the state. Now, all caregivers will receive payment from PPL as the sole state entity.

The transition process has not been easy for many folks statewide. Many folks have reported only receiving a partial payment, being overpaid or have not been paid at all for the services they provide.

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President and CEO of the Regional Center for Independent Living Bruce Darling explained what this has meant for caregivers who say theyve been impacted.

People are looking at alternative [jobs], potentially cutting back hours because they need to find money to live, pay rent and their bills, Darling said. That means disabled people dont have someone to help get them out of bed, help them in the bathroom, and it really puts people at significant risk of harm

Here in Rochester, Heather Burroughs and her family are facing this challenge. She is an advocate and the mother of a daughter who is disabled, whose name is Devyn. She says out of the 10 total caregivers who provide in-home care for Devyn, 9 of them are paid through CDPAP.

She said due to the payout concerns caregivers have expressed over the last couple weeks, it has caused difficulty for them to be able to continue the work they do.

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The 10 women who come to my home are like family and a lot of caregivers live paycheck-to-paycheck, Burroughs said. Lots of them work two or three jobs to make ends meet, so when you have two weeks in a row where you dont get paid or get paid the wrong amount its devastating.

There are multiple lawsuits currently challenging this transition and one action in court was taken by the Regional Center for Independent Living.

Were concerned that people may lose their freedom, but were more concerned that whats going to happen is people will simply go without care. That will result in increased Medicaid spending and will potentially put peoples lives at risk. Disabled peoples lives matter too, Darling said.

State leaders say by cutting down their fiscal intermediaries to just one, it saves an estimated $1 billion. New York State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald also notes on the CDPAP website that this change does not affect program eligibility requirements or the services it allows for.

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News 8 reached out to PPL for comment on the alleged payout delays and errors and provided the following statement in response:

We have been processing payroll daily since the first payroll date on April 10 to ensure all PAs who have recently completed their registration or submitted timecards are paid promptly. If a PA submitted their time to PPL by the payroll deadline but did not receive payment, or if the payment amount was different than submitted, the following are common reasons this may have occurred: The timesheet did not comply with the service authorization or a program rule, or it was missing pertinent information. Examples of these include time entries that are over the allowed amount on the service authorization, a duplicate entry, or for paper timesheets, the PA or consumer information was not included. Once these time entries are resolved, payments are processed.

Time was submitted for service dates before April 1 and PPL was not the consumers fiscal intermediary (FI) until April 1. In this case, the former FI should pay for the time worked prior to April 1.

The PA submitted time but has not completed registration with PPL, including providing required I-9 documentation. Once PPL receives the compliant documents, the company will release payment. We also have seen some claims saying PAs received a $0 paycheck. A PA would receive a $0 paycheck if they requested extra withholding on their W4 and their gross pay was equal to or less than the extra holding requested plus their other deductions for federal and state taxes. For example, many PAs were automatically issued paychecks for training time. These may have been small amounts because the EVV training takes about 10 minutes to complete. If the PA had a training time payment and had requested extra withholding on their W4, it could result in a zero net paycheck. Any individuals who received zero net paychecks were verified as accurate and reflected their request for additional withholding. We are committed to continuity of care and the sustainability of this program. For 25 years, our mission has been to expand access to self-directed care and make these programs work better for everyone. By ensuring that all timesheets and payments are completed in accordance with CDPAP consumer service authorizations and program rules, as per State and Federal Medicaid guidelines, resources can be directed to providing these critical services while reducing fraud and waste. Public Partnership LLC

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GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN)  A Girard man shared the story of his special heroism, which earned him the highest of honors.

Friday, Kenneth David, 75, held up the Medal of Honor he was awarded in January. He earned it for his actions in Vietnam.

I was eyeball to eyeball with the enemy, he said.

Its scary to most, but not to Private First Class David. He recounts what happened on May 7, 1970, as if it took place just minutes ago.

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The enemy was coming up the mountain. The only way up the mountain was in a position where I was, David said.

He would not be overrun. Davids platoon came under attack. He took a position alone to draw fire away from them.

And I just rocked and rolled and finally somebody from the back came up and helped me. And he got shot.

David was injured too, but continued to fight and refused to withdraw. He provided cover fire for the wounded to get treatment until the enemy gave up and ran away.

If I didnt do what I did, nobody would be here talking about it today.

David risked his life to help save others and went above and beyond the call of duty  worthy of the Medal of Honor.

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I did not win the medal. I was awarded the medal for actions back 55 years ago.

David shares the story now with students and others, telling everyone to never give up. Hes earned many honors. Its the Medal of Honor and the story behind it that everyone can remember.

I wear it a lot. I told the Pentagon it feels like Im bragging when I wear the uniform and the medal. They jumped deep into me and said no, youre like American royalty, just wear it with pride, David said.

David was speaking at a school recently and told the group he was one of 61 Medal of Honor recipients still alive. A student told him that means people have a 1 in 4 million chance to meet him.

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Wall Street hates surprises, especially unexpected changes in the C-suite just days before earnings are released.

On Thursday, Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) delivered just that surprise and the stock reacted accordingly. Shares of Lockheed plunged 6% at the open before recovering as the day went on, down 2% as of 1:30 p.m. ET.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

A change in the cockpit

Before markets opened, Lockheed said that CFO Jay Malave had advised the company he is "pursing other opportunities," and announced Evan Scott as Malave's replacement. Scott has been with Lockheed for 26 years, including serving as the company's treasurer and CFO of two of its business units.

This has been a turbulent position for Lockheed Martin. Malave was recruited to the company in February 2022 from rival L3 Harris to replace Ken Possenriede, who had retired the summer before due to personal reasons.

Lockheed said Malave's departure was not related to any accounting or financial issues or disagreements. The company also reaffirmed its previously issued guidance for 2025 results. Lockheed Martin is scheduled to announce first-quarter results next week.

Is Lockheed Martin stock a buy?

It has been a rough year for Lockheed Martin.

The F-35, Lockheed's signature program, continues to fight through teething issues. The company was bested by Boeing in its effort to secure the Air Force's sixth-generation fighter program, a program that would have provided billions in funding and years of future business. Lockheed is also reportedly falling behind a group of private companies led by Elon Musk's SpaceX in the battle to upgrade the nation's missile defense.

Defense companies tend to ebb and flow, and Lockheed Martin is definitely flying through a lull right now. But the company has a massive portfolio of future business addressing a range of different Pentagon concerns. Investors also can count on a dividend currently yielding nearly 3% as they wait for the next catalyst.

For those with patience, it looks like a good time to add Lockheed Martin to the watch list.

Should you invest $1,000 in Lockheed Martin right now?

Before you buy stock in Lockheed Martin, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now and Lockheed Martin wasnt one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  When you walk into Bernats on Meadow Street in Chicopee, youll find a record number of kielbasa, babka, and zurek in stock.



Its a popular spot for locals when it comes to Polish cuisine, as its become a tradition for many to make their Easter brunch with their meats.

Heavy traffic expected in Massachusetts for Easter, April break

In business for over 20 years in Chicopee, the Bernat family has been known butchers in Poland since the early 1900s. Year after year, they draw in people from all over western Massachusetts to the popular Polish deli.



We make everything here, mostly everything, especially kielbasa, said Edward Bernat, Owner of Bernats.



For the past two weeks, Bernats has cut more than 1,000 pounds of kielbasa every day. Edward Bernat told 22News it will all be gone by Sunday. The kitchen staff worked hard all week long, staying until 2:00 a.m. Friday morning, with meat in high demand.



In Polish tradition, the Saturday before Easter, theres a blessing of the food that breaks the Lenten tradition, said Teresa Czepiel of South Hadley. Theres a number of items that go in it. Every year, I put together a basket and take it to the church to be blessed, and then I go and share it with my family.



In March, average grocery prices were more than 2% higher than they were last year. Staff at Bernats say they are ready for a busy holiday, and in-house production has helped keep down those prices.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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GIRARD, Ohio (WKBN)  Many people were getting inked for a cause on Saturday in Trumbull County to raise money for Animal Charity of Ohio.

Cult Tattoos in Girard held an event to support the animals by doing a flash sale. The tattoos were all pre-drawn with animal-related designs.

Not only is it a fun event for us to kind of get out in the community to let them know what we do, but its a really fun way to get Cult exposure as well as raise funds for the animals at our shelter, said Evelyn Shealy with Animal Charity of Ohio.

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Anyone 18 years or older with a valid ID was able to walk in and get one. The tattoos were discounted at prices ranging from $50 to $75.

30% of the funds raised will go toward Animal Charity of Ohio.

Its been a positive response. A lot of people are getting things tailored, kind of toward their pets or a pet that theyve lost. So, its a chance to give some people a little bit of closure, and then the opportunity to get a tattoo on a little bit of a cheaper price scale, said Keith Gray, owner of Cult Tattoos.

The shelter will have a country music concert on April 26 with Mike Cunningham  another way to support funding for Animal Charity of Ohio.

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Tino DiCenso contributed to this report.

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Apr. 19Since President Donald Trump took office for his second term in January, he has expressed a desire to annex Canada while imposing tariffs and creating a trade war.

The situation has echoes of 1930 when the Smoot-Hawley Trade Act, designed to protect U.S. businesses and farmers, triggered a global trade war, hurting the U.S. and its trading partners, including Canada. The act may have exacerbated the Great Depression and relations between the U.S. and Canada were tinged with a growing sense of resentment.

On July 1, 1935, C.F. Poste, manager of the St. Lawrence River Power Company in Cornwall, Ontario, was the guest speaker at the Massena Monday Luncheon Club.

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"The Canadians as a people like their American neighbors but have a feeling of resentment towards your government due to treaties, the American feeling of, 'We won the war' and the Chicago drainage canal," Poste told the gathering. Poste was referring to World War I. In 1914, Canada, then a self-governing dominion of the British Empire, joined the war with Great Britain. The U.S. entered the conflict in 1917.

Figures from Veterans Affairs Canada reflect more than 66,000 Canadians and Newfoundlanders gave their lives in the war and more than 172,000 were wounded. The U.S. National Park Service reports that America suffered 53,402 battle deaths in World War I in less than six months of fighting.

Another 63,114 died from accidents and disease.

The Chicago drainage canal, aka, the Chicago Sanitary and Ship Canal, was completed in 1900. It was built to reverse the flow of the Chicago River, diverting water from Lake Michigan to the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers, leading to controversies regarding water usage and water levels on the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence River. Following an April, 1930 Supreme Court ruling, management of the canal was turned over to the United States Army Corps of Engineers, which reduced the flow of water from Lake Michigan into the canal. Diversions from the Great Lakes system are now regulated by the binational International Joint Commission.

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"Canadians do not like the Chicago drainage canal situation, that is, as they claim, lowering the water in the St. Lawrence and the canals in this section. They feel that the government has ruled as to how much water may be diverted but that the rulings are note being held to," Poste said.

'Pioneering' gatherings

Poste spoke in Massena about a month after a multi-day forum on Canadian-American relations was held at St. Lawrence University, Canton. The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace cooperated with Queens University, Kingston, Ontario, and SLU in sponsoring the gathering.

James T. Shotwell, director of the division of economics and history of the Carnegie Endowment, opened the gathering by calling it "pioneering."

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"It is the first time in the history of Canada and the United States that representative citizens of both countries meet together to take stock of the fundamentals in their interrelationship in all the varied fields of intellectual, economic, social and political activity."

He predicted the conference would be sort of a "town meeting"  but "a town meeting without authority, really a meeting of citizens of the North American community discussing in utter frankness ... varied points of view."

The Carnegie conferences on relations between the two countries were repeated in 1939 and 1941. In 1936, a book was published on the 1935 conference. "So vast and so complex are these relationships that it seems almost incredible that no serious effort has ever been made to bring to their analysis an adequate measure of cooperative study and discussion," the book's preface states. Economic subjects were a main focus of the 1935 event, with tariffs, trade barriers and "migration" topping the list. John W. Dafoe, prominent Canadian editor, shared his belief that the U.S. must take the lead in world affairs "and thereby regain the moral leadership which he considered this country abandoned at the Paris Peace Conference after the world war was expressed," according to Times files.

A conference planned at SLU for 1943 was scaled back because of World War II. In the decades since, SLU has continued to stress the importance of ties between the U.S. and Canada. As an example, the university offers a Canadian Studies Program. "In our program, we want you to experience Canada first hand. You'll learn from expert professors and think critically about international relations while gaining experience through research and independent study," the program's website advises. "Our faculty's connections with Canadian scholars ensure you'll hear from exceptional guest speakers as you develop a deep understanding of the country's geography, history, economy, politics and cultures."
ENTERPRISE, Ala (WDHN)  After a fire at the state-of-the-art veterans home in Enterprise displaced close to 100 veterans, a nursing home has welcomed them in with open arms. But loved ones of vets say the new change may take some time to get used to.

The residents of the Benny G. Adkins Veterans Home were sent to the Enterprise Rehabilitation Center to live temporarily after an attic fire this week at the facility, leaving them with nothing but the clothes on their backs.

This sudden move impacted not only the veterans but also their families. Debbie Johnson and Carol Nix, whose husbands were residents at the veterans home, were no different.

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Crews still battling flames at Enterprise vets home

It was very traumatic because they did a great job of getting our veterans out with nobody hurt, said Johnson

The workers got them out so quickly, they are truly rockstars. I appreciate them for taking care of everybody, Nix said.

Now, the residents receive the same care at the nursing home instead of the new state-of-the-art facility. However, they work with the same staff as they would in the home.

Nixs husband, Danny, an army veteran, moved into the vets home on April 10th and was still getting settled in just days before the fire erupted.

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He is doing well. The care is good; they are on top of it. If they need anything, they are always asking what they need. Its a misplacement, but we cant get over that. We just need to get to the next thing, but hopefully, it doesnt take long, said Nix.

But for some vets, their wife says the change has been difficult.

The man who fed first responders during the Enterprise veterans home blaze

He is not doing very well, said Johnson, talking about her husband. He is a little better, and the nurses I know say he is going to smile because you are here, so I try to spend more time. Im going to get things they need, like a travel jar for body wash, so they can make it easier.

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The vets have their area at the nursing home and are separated from the rest of the residents.

Nix and Johnson say the communitys support has been strong. Congressman Barry Moore visited to check on the vets.

The City of Enterprise has stepped up. I cant thank them enough for the donations from churches and other sources; its just unbelievable, said Johnson.

The loved ones of vets say they do not know how long they will be here, but they are grateful for the help and support they have received over the last few days from the community and the city of Enterprise.

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Lebanon Police recovered a stolen vehicle Tuesday after a tip from Cookeville Police.

On Tuesday evening, CPD informed LPD and Fire Dispatch of a Honda Element stolen from Cookeville that may have been in Lebanon. Officers found the Honda at the Raceway on Sparta Pike, just off of Interstate-40.

The driver, Caesar Rafael Navarrete-Verra, 45, of Mt. Juliet was arrested without incident and charged with possession of a stolen vehicle, DUI and driving without a license.
FLORIDA (WMBB)  On June 7, 2024, there were three separate shark attacks on South Walton County beaches over the course of 90 minutes.

Alabama teenager Lulu Gribbin is one of the survivors.

Gribbin was swimming in Rosemary Beach when she lost her leg and her left hand in the attack.

On Thursday, lawmakers in her home state took action to help keep others safe.

Representative David Faulkner presented his bill that would implement a shark attack alert system. Its nicknamed Lulus Law.

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The morning after, I was extubated, and the first words I said were, I made it. The outcome did not matter. What mattered was that I made it, and that life would be different. I chose to fight. I chose to do it for the people who didnt make it and for the people who never got the chance. This bill allows us to fight for the safety of our environment, Gribbin said.

Two Alabama teens, one woman recovering after Walton County shark attack

The system would be implemented along Alabamas Gulf Coast.

When there is an unprovoked shark attack in close proximity to a shoreline or coastline that the professionals, the emergency management professionals, will have the ability to use an amber alert system. They can geofence it within a certain area, and they can limit it to where it goes to and they will be in charge with both local officials, emergency management professionals, Faulkner said.

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The bill passed the House unanimously on Thursday.

After the vote, the Alabama speaker of the House got an unexpected message.

Lulu, I just want you to know, I just got a call from what is going to be the speaker of the house for Florida. And Sam is a graduate of Sanford here in Alabama. And theyre going to try to pass this bill in Florida. And we will be sending him a copy of this, House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said.

Lulus Law now heads to Alabamas Senate for approval.

If it becomes law, the shark alert system would be operational by Oct. 1.

News 13 will continue to follow the progress of both the Alabama and the potential Florida legislation.

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BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB)  Lynn Haven city officials are considering rebuilding their public library, which was destroyed by Hurricane Michael.

Lynn Haven city commissioners are asking voters for their opinions next Tuesday, through 3 non-binding referendums. The first question asks if the city should re-establish, operate, and maintain a library funded in whole or in part by an increase in local tax dollars.

Weve had different feedback from citizens that we use the money to rebuild a library, or do we use that money to pay down on debt? So we think this non-binding referendum will at least give us some sense of direction in regards to what the citizens are desiring for our city moving forward, Lynn Haven Mayor Jesse Nelson said.

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FEMA is not covering the costs to rebuild, but the city does have funds from insurance.

NOAA Fisheries leads recovery efforts for threatened Oceanic Whitetip Shark

Weve been holding those in savings to ensure that we dont spend those funds on any other of our facilities or on any other project, Nelson said.

The cost to build a 4,000 square foot library is estimated at more than $1.9 million. The operational budget is expected to exceed $320,000 annually. Question 2 asks voters about a regional library partnership with the Northwest Florida Regional Library System.

It would allow us to have full access to their resources. So instead of us trying to house lets say, 50,000 books here, we will be in connection with them. So if you found a book at the Panama City Library or a book at a library in a different location, then youll be able to ask for that to be checked out, Nelson said.

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The city is considering the use of e-books and tablets as opposed to buying as many hardback books. Theyre considering a satellite branch in an existing city building, such as the senior center.

Question 3 involves creating a city zoning map to establish permissible uses on each city parcel. The city does not currently have a zoning map.

Theres a cost that incurs with it. And so we want to make sure that we get the feedback from the citizens in regards to using their tax funds to adequately determine how we want to move forward, Nelson said.

The estimated cost to create one is unknown, but it is expected to be significant.

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Lynn Haven city commissioners say they will discuss the election results, then decide how to move forward.

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After months of studying school consolidation processes and gathering community feedback, Bibb County School District officials are now shifting away from potential school closures and considering alternative options presented at Thursdays board meeting.

BCSD Deputy Superintendent Katika Lovett recommended a district-wide rezoning process and an organizational efficiency study to assess a holistic view of district operations.

By opting for rezoning, we can avoid the negative impacts of closing schools, which may disrupt community identity and neighborhood ties, Lovett said, noting that community engagement showed a strong opposition to closures yet a preference for school preservation.

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The recommendation comes after an extensive exploration of both school consolidation and non-consolidation scenarios aimed at addressing declining elementary school enrollment, underutilized buildings and current budget constraints.

The district has 21 total elementary school buildings, but some sit below the Georgia Department of Educations target enrollment of 450 students. This risks a loss of state funding.

Lovett emphasized that rezoning may be a better fit for the district, citing it as more strategic. She added that the districts declining enrollment is not yet severe and the buildings are in good condition.

Possible school consolidation scenarios

While the board did not vote on the recommendation, members expressed appreciation to district administrators for considering feedback from the public and school officials.

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The district developed three potential consolidation scenarios involving Matilda Hartley, LH Williams and Porter elementary schools. Each scenario projected cost savings nearing $1 million, primarily through personnel savings.

Board member Henry Ficklin raised concerns about personnel impacts in terms of staff reduction or changes if consolidation efforts move forward. Board member Kristin Hanlon inquired whether the possibility of school consolidation has already led to staff attrition or resignations.

We did not see a mass exodus in response to school consolidation. If there were other reasons people left, of course, I cant completely speak to that, Lovett said.

Despite the potential cost savings that were presented, district officials ultimately recommended pursuing a district-wide rezoning process to balance enrollment and improve staffing efficiency while preserving neighborhood school identities.

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Board member James Freeman said he appreciated the districts efforts in looking at all community impacts, including the non-consolidation scenarios.

Im most appreciative that were, as I interpret this, basically taking a pause on consolidation while we consider the rezoning aspect because all along I have thought we needed to look at rezoning, Freeman said at the meeting. As district board members, we have to look at the district as a whole, and I think some of these issues, its not as easy as taking this group and putting it here. Maybe were going to have to move this neighborhood over here and this neighborhood over here.

District delays its official vote

In March, the district delayed its official vote on a proposed school consolidation scenario, initially set for April, after board members raised concerns about long-term impacts and needing more information to make a decision.

The board will consider the recommendations as it moves forward with addressing the districts facility and enrollment challenges.

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Board member Barney Hester asked Lovett whether the district has examined student enrollment figures in relation to the Georgia Promise Scholarship and Senate Bill 82  two pieces of legislation that have previously raised concerns for the public school district.

Lovett said the district is aware of both scenarios, but they did not factor into student enrollment projections.

The districts recommendations shared from its school consolidation can be viewed on the Bibb County School District website.

Macon education leaders delay school consolidation vote. Which school most likely to close?

A Macon school is at risk of potential closure again. Residents fight to keep doors open

Will Bibb County consolidate schools? District has 3 elementary schools in mind.
The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul, the states namesake ship serving the U.S. Navy, was instrumental in recently stopping two drug smuggling operations in the Caribbean within 72 hours of one another during its maiden deployment, officials said.

The drug busts resulted in the confiscation of 1,200 pounds of cocaine (worth an estimated $9.5 million) and 2,400 pounds of marijuana (worth an estimated $2.8 million), according to a Navy press release.

The so-called littoral combat ship worked with the U.S. Coast Guard to take out the drug smuggling vessels through a combination of air and surface operations.

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The USS Minneapolis-St. Paul executed their duties seamlessly in the combined effort to protect the homeland from illicit maritime trafficking, said Rear Adm. Carlos Sardiello, commander of U.S. Naval Forces Southern Command/U.S. 4th Fleet.

We train diligently and stand ready to execute interdiction missions at moments notice, said Minneapolis-St. Paul commanding officer Cmdr. Steven Fresse. To be able to make an immediate impact so early on during our maiden deployment is a testament to the hard work and skills of the ships crew.

The new ships homeport is in Mayport, Fla., near Jacksonville.

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Iconic global grocery retailer SPAR is reportedly testing Bitcoin and Lightning Network as payment options in Switzerland.

SPAR is a leading multinational retailer headquartered in Amsterdam, Netherlands. It has 13,900 stores in 48 countries across Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia.

A user on LinkedIn also posted about a SPAR store in the Swiss town of Zug accepting Bitcoin payments on Apr. 16. Its trial of crypto payments is one of the largest tests by a leading retail chain.

Home to Crypto Valley, the town of Zug is where Vitalik Buterin and his team worked and Ethereum was born.

Switzerland, well known for its banking and finance industry, has witnessed a growth in crypto adoption. The ownership of cryptocurrencies and stablecoins is growing strongly among the population, as per a survey report released by the Swiss National Bank (SNB). SNB is the country's central bank.

The report said that crypto ownership grew from 6% in 2022 to 10% in 2024, with the 15-34 age group leading the country. The bank interviewed 2,176 individuals for the survey.

However, the SNB President Martin Schlegel rejected the idea of holding Bitcoin as part of the central bank reserves on March 1, as per a news report. The SNB cited the cryptocurrency's volatility and illiquidity as reasons for rejecting the idea.

Note that President Donald Trump ordered the creation of a strategic Bitcoin reserve only a few days later on March 6.

As far as retail adoption of crypto adoption is concerned, it is still not widespread.

As per Kraken's price feed, Bitcoin was trading at $84,895.07 at press time.
Mami, Im scared.

It was my 7-year-old, leaning forward from the back seat of the car, scanning the broad sidewalk in front of his elementary school. It should have been an ordinary morning: a hint of rain, high-pitched laughter and the jerky stop and go of cars dropping kids off for another day of learning.

What are you scared of? I asked, twisting in the drivers seat so I could make eye contact.

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What if I get deported? my American-born child asked.

I wasnt entirely surprised by the question. Earlier in the week, after hearing how ICE arrests and deportation are impacting people where we live in the Bay Area, his 13-year-old brother asked if I was at risk of being arrested by ICE. They both know I was born in Cuba, and though neither could tell you about the Cuban Adjustment Act or any of the myriad laws that have smoothed my privileged immigration story, theyd both heard enough about the current deportations to think my American life  our American lives  could be imperiled.

I explained to them that Im a U.S. citizen, not likely to be kicked out of the country. But President Donald Trumps escalation from targeting deportable immigrants to immigrants with visas and green cards doesnt exactly encourage trust.

I cant tell my children what I no longer believe: that citizenship is an unbreakable shield. Not when the president openly acknowledges that his administration is looking for legal ways to deport its own citizens. Not when a 10-year-old U.S. citizen had her cancer treatment interrupted last month when her undocumented parents were ordered back to Mexico, forcing them to choose between relocating their entire family or separating from their daughter so she could continue her treatment in the U.S. Not when law enforcement officers mislead people like Federico Arellano, a U.S. citizen whose wife was in the process of legalizing her status. She was still recovering from birthing twins when she was called to the U.S. Immigration and Enforcement offices in Houston to discuss her case, only to be immediately deported to Mexico  with all four of their children, including the three who are U.S. citizens. Not when recent history tells us over and over that the state doesnt always play by the rules, even when it admits an error, as in the case of Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man trapped in a Salvadoran mega-prison whom the Trump administration is refusing to return, notwithstanding the Supreme Court.

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I reached between the seats to give my son what I hoped was a comforting touch. But I knew even as I tried to articulate a response that this would again test my commitment to speaking truthfully with my children.

I dont think thats going to happen, I said.

But I look just like the people who are getting deported, he said, his voice as thin as smoke.

And this is true: My youngests mixed ethnicity seems to reflect back a variety of possibilities, all of them brown. At a Day of the Dead celebration, everyone thinks hes Mexican. On vacation in Hawaii, hes mistaken for Polynesian. Ive been asked more than once if hes Palestinian.

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I took a deep breath. I wanted to respond to him by saying, You're safe, I swear. But my kids no fool. He doesnt know the legalese. He couldnt tell you what family separation is or explain the finer points of citizenship versus immigration status. But he has felt the power of the state since his first moment on earth, when a judge removed him from his birth mother. The effects of that  of being handed over, reclassified, claimed and reclaimed in adoption  live in his bones, whether or not he has the words for it.

So when he asks me, What if I get deported? what hes really asking is, Will I be taken away again? And when I say what I hope will provide comfort, he hears the tremble Im trying to hide.

He pressed further that day, his brow furrowed like when hes trying to solve a riddle. But what if it does happen? he asked. What if they take me anyway?

I said the only true thing I could say: Then well fight. Your other mom [my ex-wife] and I, we will fight like hell to get you back. Thats a promise.

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I saw the words land in his chest. Not full relief, not a fix, but a tether. A rope to hold onto in case the ground gives way.

What I didnt say  but what I felt deep inside like a stone  was how much I want to protect my children, not just from deportation, not just from the unthinkable machinery they fear could pull us apart, but from the burden of even having to think about it. From this fear becoming part of their neural architecture. I want to shield them from that constant, buzzing awareness of vulnerability, from that impulse to scan the sky for threats when they should be looking forward, running free.

A friend reminded me that we lie to our children all the time to protect them. That I can just say, Its never going to happen. Dont worry.

But my boy lives in this world: He sees the ICE vans, and he goes to school in California, where the state Department of Education tells us 3 percent of schoolchildren are immigrants and 44 percent are part of immigrant families, meaning that the specter of deportation is never far. And these days, with places of worship, hospitals and schools no longer sacrosanct thanks to Trumps first-day-in-office executive action, kids are being threatened with arrests. In places like Sackets Harbor, New York, three children living on a dairy farm were taken away by immigration officers (though they were later forced to return them).

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Even if nothing ever happens  if no one comes knocking, if no one shows up with paperwork or handcuffs or questions  this fear has already marked him. A few days ago, I had a headache and laid down for a few minutes when we heard the doorbell. My kid froze. I wasnt expecting anyone, so I didnt answer. He stayed in the bedroom with me the whole time, his shoulders knotted, waiting for the bell to stop ringing, asking his big brother if he could check to see if the shadow had finally vanished from the other side of the frosted glass. Then he crawled into bed with me.

One of my sons best buds  part of a large family that immigrated from the Middle East  is undocumented. And surely they talk, the 7-year-olds, about what might happen to them, to their families, even as they laugh and run around like maniacs at a park or argue about the merits of adding chamoy to their mangonadas at the local ice cream shop.

At therapy, my son talked about deportation, about how he feels like theres nothing he can do. His therapist gave him a little laminated card to carry with him that gives instructions if confronted by ICE: Do not answer any questions . Do not sign anything. It tells my 7-year-old to say: I choose to exercise my constitutional rights.

You can keep that, the therapist said.

Can I have some more, for my friends? he asked.

How many would you like?

He thought for a moment.

Ten, he said.
A 40-year-old man was fatally knifed in the neck inside an Upper West Side apartment building, the NYPD said Saturday.

The victim  identified April 20 as Shariff Clindinin  was attacked inside the W. 104th St. building near Columbus Ave.  inside NYCHAs Douglass II Housing complex  at about 11:55 p.m. Friday.

The victim suffered multiple stab wounds to the neck and was rushed to Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital, but he couldnt be saved.

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A 40 year old man was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in the neck on the 17th floor of 140 West 104th Street in Manhattan on Friday April 18, 2025. Photos taken on Saturday April 19, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News) Show Caption1 of 2A 40 year old man was pronounced dead at Mount Sinai Morningside Hospital after he was stabbed multiple times in the neck on the 17th floor of 140 West 104th Street in Manhattan on Friday April 18, 2025. Photos taken on Saturday April 19, 2025. (Theodore Parisienne / New York Daily News)Expand

His attacker ran off. No arrests have been made.

A motive behind the attack was not immediately disclosed. A blood trail was found inside a building stairwell, and police were seen guarding an elevator.

Police on Saturday were scouring the area for surveillance footage that could help them identify the stabber.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A man has been charged in connection with the theft of a donation box from the McDonalds on McGavock Pike in Donelson.

PREVIOUS: Man wanted for stealing donation box from Donelson McDonalds

Earlier this week, the Metro Nashville Police Department said they were working to identify the suspect involved in the theft, which happened in February. On Friday, police said they identified the alleged thief as 34-year-old Jason Crutchfield.

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CRIME TRACKER | Read the latest crime-related reports from across Middle Tennessee

Crutchfield has been in custody since February 26 on unrelated charges, but was booked on the theft charge in this case Thursday.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  After a jury failed to reach a unanimous verdict 30 years ago, a man was found guilty on all counts Friday afternoon when a Portland rape case was retried by the Multnomah County District Attorneys Office.

A jury convicted 60-year-old James Donald Jackson on charges of first-degree rape and first-degree sex abuse which stemmed from an incident which took place in June 1994.

Anti-Trump protesters to take to the streets of Portland metro, Vancouver

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According to a release from Multnomah County District Attorneys Office, the victim, an 18-year-old woman, who had just moved to Portland from Indiana, met Jackson at Pioneer Courthouse Square.

Since he seemed nice, both walked to a playground, where Jackson threatened her with a gun and raped her.

The case was originally brought to trial in 1995 and Jackson was sentenced to prison. However, the jury did not return unanimous convictions on all counts.

3 indicted on murder charges in Hood River deadly bike theft

After a 2020 ruling by the US Supreme Court required a unanimous verdict on every count in state criminal trials, this gave the need for new trials when public safety and victim protection is impacted by the reversals, the DAs Office said.

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The DAs Office added that after he was originally convicted, Jackson could have faced up to more than 50 years in prison. If not found guilty, he would have been released by the end of 2025.

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WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  A D.C. man was indicted Friday as part of the Make D.C. Safe Again initiative, officials announced.

Don Diego Chase, 25, is accused of firearm and drug offenses, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorneys Office (USAO) for the District of Columbia.

DC man indicted on firearms charges after committing lewd acts

Court documents state that on July 24, 2024, Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) officers were in the U Street Corridor when they saw someone later identified as Chase. Police tried to stop him, but he ran away. Officers chased after him.

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The USAO said that during the chase, a black, L-shaped object allegedly fell from Chase during the pursuit.

Officers recovered the object, which was a stolen and loaded firearm. During a search after Chases arrest, officers also found more than 500 Oxycodone pills and over $11,000 in cash.

MPD discovered that Chase was not licensed to carry a gun in the District. He also had prior convictions that kept him from owning a gun or ammunition.

Chase is facing charges of unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon, possession with intent to distribute Oxycodone, and using, carrying, and possessing a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking offense.

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ALGIERS, La. (WGNO)  A man is wounded following a shooting that occurred in Algiers on Friday evening, April 18.

According to the New Orleans Police Department, the shooting, which occurred in the 1600 block of Erie Street, happened around 6:23 p.m.

10-year-old boy killed in Terrytown crash

Police say the victim was walking down the street when the suspect, who remains unknown, fired shots at him from a vehicle before fleeing.

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The victim was reportedly taken for treatment by EMS.

No further information was provided.

Stay up to date with the latest news, weather and sports by downloading the WGNO app on the Apple or Google Play stores and by subscribing to the WGNO newsletter.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man was injured in a shooting in Southeast Shelby County Friday night, according to the Shelby County Sheriffs Office.

Deputies were called to a shooting with injuries in the 8300 block of E. Shelby Dr., a little after 9 p.m.

A man was found lying on the ground at the scene and was taken to Regional One in non-critical condition.

At this time, no arrests have been made.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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This story will be updated as more information becomes available.

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Apr. 19It will be decades before three people convicted of poaching 19 white-tailed deer in Somerset County over a two-month span in 2020 are allowed to hunt again, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission.

Although authorities were able to tie 19 poached deer to the three suspects, they said they believe there was as many as 31 deer killed around the county.

Sentences for the three suspects  Caleb L. Roland, 26, of Ohio, previously of Somerset, and two juveniles  include fines, restitution and loss of hunting privileges, according to commission officials.

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Roland pleaded guilty to three summary counts of unlawful killing or taking of big game and was ordered to pay $3,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. He is prohibited from hunting or trapping for 30 years.

One of the juveniles was found guilty of 23 felony and two summary counts for his role and was ordered to pay $25,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. He lost his hunting and trapping privileges for 50 years, according to commission officials.

The second juvenile pleaded guilty to 14 felony and six summary counts and was ordered to pay $15,000 in fines and $5,000 in replacement costs. His hunting and trapping privileges are suspended for 28 years.

All three were ordered to forfeit any guns used. The two juveniles have repeatedly violated game laws, officials said.

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The poaching was reported by a witness who helped authorities uncover the crimes.

"Most of the poaching came at night when they would shoot from the vehicle with a spotlight," officials said in a news release. "Although some of the white-tailed deer were taken for consumption, many were left in the fields to rot."

Renatta Signorini is a TribLive reporter covering breaking news, crime, courts and Jeannette. She has been working at the Trib since 2005. She can be reached at rsignorini@triblive.com.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WBTW)  One of two people killed in a shooting on Thursday at Florida State University has ties to Horry County, News13 has learned.

Tiru Chabba, 45, of Greenville, South Carolina, was a married father of two and worked for a food service vendor. According to his LinkedIn page, Chabba earned a Bachelor of Science in business administration and management from Coastal Carolina University in December 2002.

News13 also learned Saturday that Chabba was employed at Coker Universitys dining services department in the late 1990s.

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CCU released a statement about his death Monday morning, saying he was a proud CCU alumnus and our trusted colleague at Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, the Universitys dining services provider.

Tirus unwavering partnership and commitment to providing outstanding service had a profound impact on the CCU community, the statement said. His loss is deeply felt by those who had the privilege of knowing him. We extend our sincerest condolences to Tirus family, friends, and loved ones, the entire Florida State University community, and all those impacted by last weeks devastating mass shooting.

Authorities say the son of a Florida sheriffs deputy, a 20-year-old identified by police as Phoenix Ikner, opened fire near a crowded student union building and was injured by police in a shootout.

FSU alum Robert Morales also died in the shooting. Six other people were injured.

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* * *

Caleb is a digital producer at News13. Caleb joined the team in January 2023 after graduating from Liberty University. He is from Northern Virginia. Follow Caleb on X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

* * *

Dennis Bright is the Digital Executive Producer at News13. He joined the team in May 2021. Dennis is a West Virginia native and a graduate of Marshall University in Huntington, West Virginia. Follow Dennis on Facebook, X, formerly Twitter, and read more of his work here.

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We recently published a list of 10 Value Stocks in Ken Fishers Portfolio. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Merck & Co., Inc. (NYSE:MRK) stands against other value stocks in Ken Fishers portfolio.

Trumps stupid tariffs will fail; thats the sentiment echoed by billionaire investor Ken Fisher as their impact continues to be felt far and wide. Fisher, the brains behind Fisher Asset Management joins a growing list of institutional investors concerned that tariffs will lower growth and raise inflation at a time of weakening consumer sentiment. Billionaire investor Bill Ackman has already warned that the U.S. could be headed to an economic nuclear winter as a result of the tariff policy rollout, costing Trump the confidence of business leaders.

While major indices have pulled back significantly amid deep selloff in various sectors, Trump insists on staying in the race to remake the global trade order. Stocks are already on the brink of plunging into bearish territories amid recession concerns. The global stock market has lost trillions of dollars since Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on every nation that exports products to the US. Stock indices abroad have also felt the brunt, dropping by more than 10%, as it becomes clear an extended trade war is the biggest threat to the global economy.

READ ALSO: Billionaire Stanley Druckenmillers Top 10 Stocks Picks with Huge Upside Potential and Top 10 Stocks in Ken Griffins Portfolio to Buy According to Analysts.

Amid the growing concerns, Fisher insists the pitfalls of the ravaging trade war are passing wind that will fade and fail.

What Trump unveiled Wednesday is stupid, wrong, arrogantly extreme, ignorant trade-wise and addressing a non-problem with misguided tools, Fisher wrote on social media platform X. Yet, as near as I can tell it will fade and fail and the fear is bigger than the problem, which from here is bullish.

How true that is, is still an open discussion as Trump stays put even as reciprocal tariffs come into play. China has already responded with an 84% tariff on US goods in response to the US imposing more than 100% tariffs on Chinese imports. The back-and-forth spat threatens to affect the global trade order, causing heightened jitters in the equity markets.

According to Fisher, the deep selloff on fears of a full-blown trade could be outsized compared to the issues around the policy itself. Consequently, the billionaire investor expects the market to bounce back and rally once the selloff dust settles.
UPDATE (April 21, 11 a.m.): The Escambia County Sheriffs Office has made an arrest in a weekend homicide, News 5 has learned.

On April 19, the ECSO responded to the 2100 block of Delano Street regarding a shooting victim.

LOCATION:

They found a 34-year-old man with a gunshot wound to the head; he succumbed to his injuries, officials said.

Jehlynn Sachejcan Woods (Photo courtesy of the Escambia County Sheriffs Office)

On April 20, ECSO investigators arrested Jehlynn Sachejcan Woods, 24, for homicide.

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This is an ongoing investigation.

PREVIOUS REPORTING:

ESCAMBIA COUNTY, Fla. (WKRG)  Deputies with the Escambia County Sheriffs Office are investigating after a man was shot and killed Saturday morning before dawn.

Deputies responded to a shooting call on Delano Street near Pace Boulevard just after 2:30 am. They found a man with a gunshot wound to the head.

Emergency Medical Services also responded, but the man was pronounced dead.

It is an active homicide investigation.

The name of the victim has not been released, and we dont know the circumstances.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the Escambia County Sheriffs Office. Their main office number is 850-436-9630.

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NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. (WFLA)  After a mans boat washed ashore south of New Smyrna Beach four months ago, he found himself hunkering down on the vessel in the sand.

Some nearby residents believed it to be a crane from afar. But upon closer inspection, they said they were surprised to discover the sailboat.

Passengers on Frontier flight from Florida feared the end after planes wheel breaks off in hard landing

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According to a report from NBC affiliate WESH, the boats owner, who wished to remain anonymous, said when he first ran around from a noreaster pushing it ashore, he spent a week in a nearby hotel.

But when he heard strangers were climbing into his boat and taking his belongings, he decided to take shelter. Its now been four months since he moved in.

Hes an adventurer, thats what he is. Hes very brave and courageous, and hes just protecting yourself, which I dont blame him, Jeanne Gilbert, a fellow sailboat owner, told WESH. I would be doing the same thing.

Employee plants GPS tracker to catch pair of thieves on spree of copper spool thefts: deputies

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The captain told the news outlet he bought the boat just days before voyaging out on a trip to sea. But when his anchor broke loose, the winds and tide beached the boat.

NBC affiliate WESH

Earlier this week, a salvage company said it would be removing the boat for a staggering $30,000, WESH reported.

You have to get like a crew to come in and pull it off the beach, but youre pulling it off the beach. The tiller or the rudder or any of those things that could get damaged, Gilbert added. And maybe theres a hole in it. So you get it out there that sinks, and now youre out of it.

The boat owner said he hopes the damage to his newfound home isnt too severe, so he can get back out to sea within a week.

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A man who shot at officers in the parking lot of a Buc-ees before carjacking someone and starting a chase was wanted for murder, police say.

When Calhoun police officers tried putting Robert Smith in handcuffs early Thursday morning, he ran off and started shooting at police. They say he then carjacked a customer and sped off.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WSB-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Whitfield County deputies say they chased Smith while he fired shot at them. They say Smith crashed the car and when deputies walked up to the car, Smith was dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

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Metro Nashville police have now confirmed to WKRN-TV that Smith was wanted for the murder of a missing 23-year-old woman.

They say Cassidy Chalee Madison Jackson was reported missing on April 11. Police say she was found later that night with a gunshot wound to the head. She died at the hospital.

TRENDING STORIES:

Nashville police said Smiths car was located in Atlanta after being detected by a license plate reader.

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Police told WKRN that Smith was wanted on eight counts of aggravated assault, especially aggravated kidnapping, aggravated stalking, domestic assault, harassment and vandalism, but none of those charges involved Jackson.

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(FOX40.COM)  A 47-year-old man from Sacramento was sentenced to 15 years and 8 months in prison on Thursday for the murder of a 16-month-old girl and the abuse of a 3-year-old boy, according to the Yolo District Attorneys Office.

Video Above: Stanislaus County mother appears in court for fatal crash

Officials said Derrick Dimone Woods was left alone with the children in a West Sacramento motel on February 15, 2021. When the mother returned, Woods ran into a getaway car.

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The mother found the girl inside the motel, covered with a sheet and unresponsive. Her son was found covered in welts and bruises from being whipped with an electrical cord.

The girl was pronounced dead and Woods was found the next day walking out of an apartment.

The Yolo County District Attorneys Office charged Wood with murder, child abuse causing death and physical abuse of a child on February 18, 2021.

Man faces 25 years to life in prison for domestic violence charges

Woods was then sent to a state hospital in May of 2022 for treatment after his attorney claimed he was not competent at the time for trial based on an intellectual disability, according to officials. Criminal proceedings were reinstated in September 2024 after a judge declared Woods competent.

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Woodss initial confession was excluded in a pre-trial ruling due to his intellectual disability and a prolonged delay between the arrest of Woods and the reading of Miranda warnings, the office said.

Woods pleaded to voluntary manslaughter for the death of the baby, physical child abuse for the assault on the boy and false imprisonment by force or violence to both children. The office said he also admitted to causing bodily harm to the boy with a weapon.

He was sentenced to 5 years and 8 months in the California Department of Corrections.

These were brutal and heinous crimes against vulnerable children, by a very disturbed man, District Attorney Jeff Reisig said. No amount of prison time will ever be enough in this case. We are heartbroken for the family.

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A Beaver County man will spend time in prison on drug trafficking charges.

The Department of Justice said on Friday that James Louis Peronis, 61, of Aliquippa, will spend five years in prison.

Peronis was arrested after officers found two kilograms of cocaine in his vehicle during a traffic stop on July 1, 2021. He was traveling back to Pennsylvania from Ohio, where police believe he got the cocaine.

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Beaver County is considered a High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, authorities say.

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MEMPHIS, Tenn.  A man is dead after police say he was shot to death overnight in Orange Mound.

Officers say around 11:45 p.m., they were called to a shooting in the 1000 block of Ethel Street, where a man was found suffering from a gunshot wound.

The man was pronounced dead on the scene.

After further investigation, police say preliminary information indicates that the victim knew the suspect.

2 dead, 2 injured after car crash on I-40

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No additional information on the suspect has been released at this time. But this is still an ongoing investigation.

If you have any information that could help police, call CrimeStoppers at 901-528-CASH.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  One person was shot in Springfield on Friday night.

According to the Springfield Dispatch, police were called to the 600 block of W. Main Street (by the Nite Owl Bar). They went at approximately 10:35 p.m. for a reported shots fired call.

He said officers looked for the person shot but found no one. Approximately an hour later, a man showed up at Springfield Regional Hospital with a gunshot wound.

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Officials said this man is believed to have been the man shot earlier.

The mans condition is unknown. 2 NEWS will update this story once more information is available.

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CHICAGO  A man has died after being shot in the head Friday evening on the citys West Side.

Chicago police said the shooting happened at around 5:40 p.m. in the 5600 block of West North Avenue in North Austin.

Read more: Latest Chicago news and headlines

A 54-year-old man got into an argument with an unknown suspect in a blue vehicle. Thats when the suspect pulled out a gun and fired one shot at the victim before fleeing eastbound, according to investigators.

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Police said the 54-year-old man was shot in the head and pronounced dead at the scene.

No arrests have been made and Area Five Detectives are investigating.

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DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN)  An investigation is underway in Huber Heights after police received reports of a possible arson and a shooting.

Police say officers and Huber Heights firefighters went to the 6400 block of Chambersburg Road, near Brandt Pike, around 4:15 p.m. Friday on reports of possible arson. They evacuated a nearby building.

According to police, someone called a short time later, reporting a man with a gunshot wound to the head. Authorities have not confirmed if that man was found at the scene of the reported arson, or his condition. Theres also no word on damage caused by the fire, or any other possible injuries.

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Our 2 NEWS photographer spoke with employees at the store next door, who said they were evacuated from their building last night. They said they were unaware of what happened.

$5K reward offered for info on Clinton County arson

Investigators say these incidents may be connected. Both incidents remain under investigation.

2 NEWS is working to learn more information and will provide updates as they become available.

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Americans are warming up to China as a trade war between the worlds two largest economies continues to bubble, according to a new poll from the Pew Research Center.

Survey findings show a four percent decrease in Americans unfavorable opinion of China. Last year, 84 percent of Americans had an unfavorable view of China compared to 77 percent of survey participants in 2025.

It marks the first drop in five years. The shift comes as the Trump administration remains at a standoff with counterparts overseas regarding reciprocal tariffs, which stand at a 145 percent rate for imports from China.

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Beijings leaders have pushed back against the uptick in levies with a 125 percent tariff on imports from the U.S. and refusing to admit the countrys gas exports amid an objection to other products manufactured nationally.

Data from the poll shows that one in four Americans believe China benefits more than the U.S. in their trade relationship. Ten percent believe the U.S. benefits more, while 25 percent say both countries benefit equally, 2 percent say neither benefit, and 16 percent are unsure.

However, a majority of respondents, 52 percent, said they believe tariffs will be bad for the U.S.

Comparatively, 24 percent of people said they would be good for the country, 6 percent said there would be no effect and 19 percent were unsure.

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President Trumps decision to grant a 90 day pause on reciprocal tariffs for all countries except China left the two countries intertwined in a heated face off. The White House said countries are racing to negotiate trade agreements despite Beijings rebuttal.

The world is ready to work with President Trump to fix global trade, and China has chosen the opposite direction, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said on social platform X last Thursday.

China described the Trump administrations move as self-serving and said it will go the distance in a trade war.

If the U.S. decides not to care about the interests of the U.S. itself, China and the rest of the world, and is determined to fight a tariff and trade war, Chinas response will continue to the end, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said this past Wednesday.

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A post on the r/Millennials subreddit has struck a nerve with thousands of users after one woman asked, "Anyone else give your parent(s) money every month?"

In the post, the original poster, who said she's a public sector lawyer in her 30s, explained that she's been sending her mother around $4,000 a year for nearly a decade. She also gave her mom a car, chipped in on another one, and gives extra cash on birthdays and holidays.

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"I'm not a rich woman either," she wrote, adding that she paid her way through law school with student loans and paid off the debt herself. "But what really irks me," she continued, "is when I mention investments, she tells me, Older people never really invested  we didn't have the same opportunities.'"

That's where the conversation blew up.

Boomers Had Opportunities, But Not Everyone Took Them

Many Reddit users pushed back on the mom's claim that older generations didn't have access to investing. One 67-year-old commenter wrote: "We had hella great investing opportunities in our generation. Microsoft? Amazon? Apple? Starbucks? Real Estate? Yeah."

Another added, "People get mad when I point out millennials have more savings than boomers at their age, but it is actually the truth backed up by many studies. Fact is, millennials know they cannot rely on boomers for support so they save. Boomers expect everyone else to support them so they dont."

Several noted that while OP's father, who's older than her mom, invested regularly and planned ahead, her mother took out a second mortgage and racked up credit card debt instead.

Trending: BlackRock is calling 2025 the year of alternative assets. One firm from NYC has quietly built a group of 60,000+ investors who have all joined in on an alt asset class previously exclusive to billionaires like Bezos and Gates.

A Familiar Struggle for Many

Turns out, plenty of Redditors could relate.

Some said they send their parents money monthly, even when it's a financial strain. Others described living with parents or covering expenses like rent, car payments, groceries and phone bills. A few mentioned they expect to support their parents for the rest of their lives, not out of wealth, but out of love and guilt.
BOARDMAN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Marilyn Eloise Goterba, 78, of Boardman, passed away early Tuesday morning, April 15, 2025, with her loving family by her side.

She was born on June 15, 1946, in Youngstown, the daughter of Joseph and Muriel (Pierce) Marino and was a lifelong area resident.

Find obituaries from your high school

Marilyn graduated from Springfield Local Schools and was a member of New Life Assembly of God Church. She served in the nursery ministry for many years.

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She worked as a dispatcher at State Alarm and as a customer service representative at Target Department Store but her most rewarding job was being a homemaker. Marilyn and her husband focused their lives on helping others. They took great pride in being foster parents to many children, raising their children and then helping raise their grandchildren. She was a true matriarch for her family and always looked forward to spending time with them.

Marilyn had many enjoyments throughout her life. She enjoyed playing cards, camping, being a snowbird by traveling to Florida to enjoy the sunshine and was a very talented seamstress.

Marilyn leaves behind to hold onto her memories, her children, Sheila (Scott) Tucker, John R. Goterba, Jr., Michael (Kelli) Goterba and Robert Darrow; five grandchildren, Joel (Madison Rodriguez) Wharry, Alex (Brenda Kaller) Wharry, Stephanie (Gavin) Gates, Rebecca Goterba and Nathan Purnell; her great-grandchildren, Mallori Shaughnessy and Ayla Wharry and her lifelong friends, Lynn Cain and Connie Wells; along with nieces; nephews; cousins and friends.

Marilyn was preceded in death by her parents; her beloved husband, John R. Goterba, Sr. and her brother, John Marino.

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Private services will be held at Lake Park Cemetery, Youngstown.

Arrangements have been entrusted to the professional care of the Rossi and Santucci Funeral Home, 4221 Market Street, Boardman.

The family would like to express their sincere gratitude to the staff at Hampton Woods Nursing Center for all the compassionate care shown to Marilyn.

Family and friends may visit www.rossisantuccifh.com to send condolences to Marilyns family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Marilyn Eloise (Marino) Goterba, please visit our floral store.

A television tribute will air Monday, April 21 at the following approximate times: 6:47 a.m. on WYTV, 9:43 a.m. on WKBN, 10:58 a.m. on FOX and 8:12 p.m. on MyYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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OTTAWA  Liberal Leader Mark Carney released his election platform on Saturday, touting an emphasis on new military spending and bolstering Canada against Donald Trumps expansionist vision.

"In this crisis we have to prepare for Americas threats to our very sovereignty. They want our land, our resources, they want our water, they want our country, Carney said Saturday morning in a suburb east of Toronto.

President Trump is trying to break us so that America can own us, and that will never happen. Canada is not America, and it never will be, but we need to do more to just recognize that. We need a plan to deal with this new reality."

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If the Liberals win a fourth mandate, Carney says his government would spend C$30.9 billion on defense over the next four years and meet Canada's NATO defense spending target of 2 percent of GDP by 2030  two years ahead of its current pledge .

In 2024, Canada spent 1.37 per cent of GDP on defense, well below the target.

Much of the new spending will be used to bolster Canadas North, to deter the influence of China, which has been attempting to make inroads with Indigenous communities in the Arctic.

The North faces existential threats as countries try to take advantage of new shipping routes opened by climate change, exploit our critical minerals, and encroach on our borders, the plan says. We will keep Canada strong, free, and sovereign.

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Half of the spending will go to new military equipment and weapons for the Canadian Armed Forces, such as submarines and icebreakers to monitor and protect coastlines, including in the Arctic, against Russian and Chinese aggression. This includes new drones for its seas and skies.

The plan calls for three tranches of spending:



The first will go toward recruiting new members to the Canadian Armed Forces, pay raises for military personnel and new housing on bases.



The second will fund new kits for servicemen and women, such as self-propelled artillery systems and ground-based air defense capabilities for use in Canada or for deployment to Europe. The Liberal government previously announced it is working with Australia to develop early-warning radar defense systems.



The third bucket of spending will go to quantum computing and AI, a field Canada leads in research. The military could use AI in autonomous vehicles, war games and to process intelligence information, an official with the Liberal Party explained during a briefing ahead of the platform release.

The party said it will work with Indigenous partners on infrastructure, and to build communities and energy projects in the North that make the Arctic a place people want to live and work. Carney also promised to work with Europe on Arctic security.

His main political rival, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre has also promised to make defense a priority should he win the election, on April 28.

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On Friday, his party released more details of a plan that promises NORAD upgrades and a new permanent Arctic military base in Iqaluit, the capital and largest community in Nunavut. The party also promises to build back another base in Inuvik, about 125 miles north of the Arctic Circle in Canadas Northwest Territories, to enable quick interceptions of Russian and Chinese incursions.

Earlier this month at NATO headquarters, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he expects members of the military alliance to commit to reach up to 5 percent in spending.

If the threats truly are as dire as I believe they are  and the members of this alliance believe they are, then that threat has to be confronted by a full and real commitment to have the capability to confront these things, Rubio told reporters in Brussels ahead of an April 3 meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

When asked the next day about Rubios target, Poilievre said it will be for Canada to decide exactly how much we spend on its military.

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I will say to the Americans that if we can get a rapid conclusion to this ridiculous trade dispute in a way that protects our sovereignty, ends the tariffs, then I will put all the proceeds of that additional trade to work rebuilding our armed forces for a change, he said.

The Liberals said their platform was designed to protect Canadas sovereignty and culture from the United States, and Trumps unjustified trade war in what Carney has described as an attempt to weaken Canada.

Americas unjustified and reckless trade war threatens Canadian jobs, businesses, and our way of life. ... In the face of this threat, we have a plan to build the strongest economy in the G7, Carney said.

The plan also focuses on breaking down trade barriers between Canadas provinces to help offset Trumps tariffs, providing support to its agriculture sector which is caught in the middle of the trade war with the U.S. and China, and growing the auto sectors supply chain in Ontario, a province where 500,000 jobs are at risk.

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The party also wants to build new trading relationships with Europe and Asia, while eyeing new trade deals with MERCOSUR, the South American regional economic integration bloc, and ASEAN, a regional group of 10 Southeast Asian countries.

While Carney plans to increase spending in defense, he said a Liberal government would decrease spending, mainly within the federal public service and its use of consultants, in order to balance the operating budget by 2028, while promising to protect services such as health care, pensions and employment insurance.

Carney also pledged to use Canadas G7 presidency to promote Canadian values on the world stage including working to protect the rules-based international order from those who want to destroy it.
MAURY, N.C. (WNCN)  An eastern North Carolina married father of two who worked as a prison officer died last week from a lightning strike while he was out fishing, officials said.

Santonio Catoe served as the K-9 officer at Eastern Correctional Institution in Maury in Greene County, according to a North Carolina Department of Adult Correction news release.

Catoe tragically died after he was hit by lightning while on his fishing boat, the news release said.

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Officers and workers from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction gathered Thursday at the prison in Maury to remember Catoe, officials said.

Photo courtesy: North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

His dedication to his work was unmatched, and he was known for his engaging spirit and the deep respect and affection he earned from all who knew him, the news release said.

A GoFundMe was also set up to help Catoes family, who live in Greenville.

Tony lost his life doing what he loved with his son TJ by his side, Andrew Salis wrote in fundraising efforts.

Officers and workers from the North Carolina Department of Adult Correction gathered Thursday at the prison in Maury to remember Catoe, officials said. Photo courtesy: North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

Catoe, 39, leaves behind a wife and two children, TJ, 9, and his daughter Maya, 5, along with two stepchildren, according to Salis.

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Tonys love for his family was something many strive to have, Salis wrote.

A visitation for the family will be held on Monday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home in Lancaster, South Carolina.

Photo courtesy: North Carolina Department of Adult Correction.

A funeral service for Catoe is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. at the Crawford Funeral Home Chapel.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  A report from the Department of Homeland Security about a man whose case has received national attention after he was deported from Maryland to El Salvador alleged that he was pulled over by the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

Kilmar Armando Abrego-Garcia, who was flown from Maryland to a prison in El Salvador by President Donald Trumps administration, has been accused of being a terrorist and a member of the MS-13 gang.

Abrego Garcia told visiting senator he was no longer being held at notorious Salvadoran prison

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Though the Trump administration initially claimed that the deportation was due to an administrative error and an immigration court ruled that the administration must facilitate his return, DHS has used the alleged traffic stop to justify his deportation without due process.

Abrego-Garcia was pulled over for speeding and improper lane maintenance by a THP trooper on December 1, 2022 near Cookeville along Interstate 40. According to the report, he told the trooper that he and eight other people in the vehicle with them were traveling from Texas to Maryland to perform construction work.

There was no luggage in the vehicle, leading the encountering officer to suspect this was a human trafficking incident, the DHS report reads, in part.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The report said Abrego-Garcia has been suspected of labor/human trafficking, though the report added that he had not been charged in this case. The trooper reportedly gave Abrego-Garcia a warning for driving with an expired drivers license. Abrego-Garcia has no criminal convictions.

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Tennessees Department of Safety and Homeland Security told News 2 that the stop was lawful, adding that troopers reached out to federal authorities after seeing some information in a database. However, the DHS opted not to respond to the scene.

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ARLINGTON, Va. (DC News Now)  Ongoing trauma, a looming constitutional crisis and staged photos: What Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said happened during his visit to El Salvador  and what might come next.

Van Hollen met with reporters at Dulles International Airport (IAD) Friday afternoon after spending the past few days working to get an update on Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was being held at a maximum-security prison in El Salvador.

Its good to be home, Van Hollen said to reporters. Now we need to end the illegal abduction of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and bring him home, too.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen met with Kilmar Garcia (Sen. Chris Van Hollen)

US senator denied access to El Salvador prison to visit deported Maryland man

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During his meeting with the senator, Abrego Garcia reportedly said he has been traumatized by the entire deportation and detention process. He has reportedly been kept from communicating with his family and lawyersand that his meeting with Van Hollen was the first conversation he had with anyone outside of the prison.

The meeting came just hours before Van Hollen was scheduled to fly back to the DMV, and after repeated attempts to get in contact with Abrego Garcia. He said he was denied multiple times, even being pulled over by soldiers three kilometers outside of CECOT. The soldiers were reportedly under orders not to let Van Hollen access the prison.

The President of El Salvador, Nayib Bukele, posted a photo of their meeting on social media, claiming they were sipping margaritas.

Van Hollen said these photos were staged and that as they were talking, a government official came over and placed glasses in front of them with salt or sugar-coated rims, making it look like they had margaritas.

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While praising Sen. Van Hollens trip to El Salvador, Marylanders call for Abrego Garcias release

Let me just be very clear: Neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, Van Hollen said, noting that there are photos and videos of their interaction, and that at no point did either of them take a sip from the drinks.

This is a lesson [on] the lengths that President Bukele will [go to] deceive people about whats going on, he said.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen meets with reporters after trip to El Salvador. (Sen. Chris Van Hollen via YouTube)

During their conversation, Abrego Garcia described the sadness he felt about the past month  from his initial detention and throughout the deportation process.

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Abrego Garcia said his five-year-old son was in the car with him when he was pulled over and handcuffed by immigration agents. When he was taken to a detention center in Baltimore, he asked to make a phone call to let his loved ones know what happened.

His requests, however, were denied by officials.

Within days, he was in a CECOT cell in El Salvador with about 25 others.

Abrego Garcia said he was not afraid of the other prisoners with him, but was traumatized by being at CECOTand terrified of prisoners in the other cellblocks who called out to him and taunted him.

In the middle of last week, he said he was moved to a different detention center in Santa Ana. Despite better conditions, he said he still has no access to any news and no ability to communicate with anybody.

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Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador due to administrative error, court filings say

Abrego Garcia maintained that he has not committed any crimesdespite the Trump administrations claims that hes affiliated with MS-13, an international gang with Salvadorian roots.

Despite their claims, the administration has not presented any evidence of Abrego Garcias ties to the gang. On April 17, the Prince Georges County Police Department (PGPD) confirmed that their investigators have never arrested or charged Abrego Garcia with any crimes or linked him to any gang activity.

I say to the Trump administration: If you want to make claims about Mr. Abrego Garcia and MS-13, you should present them in the court, not over social media. Not at press conferences where you just rattle stuff off, Van Hollen said during Fridays press conference.

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In other words, put up in court or shut up, he said.

Van Hollen said this case is not just about Abrego Garcia, but about protecting the rights of everyone in the U.S.

If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else in America, he said.

The ongoing court battle is scheduled to continue Friday, where lawyers have warned of the constitutional crisis posed by the Trump administrations lack of compliance.

On Thursday, a federal appeals court warned that the legal conflict promises to diminish both branches of government. The administration has not yet provided any evidence that it is complying with the Supreme Courts unanimous ruling that it facilitate Abrego Garcias return.

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To learn more about the administrative error in deporting Garcia, click here.

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., revealed new details about his meeting this week with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, including that he had been traumatized by his imprisonment in El Salvador.

Van Hollen met with Abrego Garcia  a Maryland man who the Trump administration says was mistakenly deported last month  on Thursday after his previous efforts to meet with him were denied by Salvadoran officials.

The Maryland senator held a news conference at Washington Dulles International Airport on Friday upon his return from El Salvador, where he told reporters that he met with Abrego Garcia for more than 30 minutes and informed him of the national attention on his case, which the senator said Abrego Garcia was unaware of.

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His conversation with me was the first communication hed had with anybody outside of prison since he was abducted, Van Hollen said. He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes.

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Van Hollen told reporters that Abrego Garcia has experienced trauma, and framed his deportation as an illegal abduction.

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia told him he was OK and had been able to see a doctor for a blood pressure condition.

The senator said Abrego Garcia told him he was no longer being housed at CECOT, a terrorism confinement center, and had been transferred more than week ago to another detention center in Santa Ana, El Salvador, where the conditions are better.

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But he said despite the better conditions, he still has no access to any news from the outside world and no ability to communicate with anybody in the outside world, Van Hollen said.

Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen that thinking of members of his family gave him the strength to persevere, the senator said, adding that the Maryland man spoke several times about his 5-year-old son, who has autism and was in the car with him when he was detained, the senator said.

Van Hollen was joined at his news conference by Abrego Garcias wife, mother and brother, who he said had been desperate to learn if Abrego Garcia was still alive.

Images of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday were first shared by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who appeared to downplay concerns about Abrego Garcias confinement in a social media post asserting he was sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!

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Van Hollen on Friday denied that any alcoholic beverages were consumed during the meeting, and suggested Bukeles post was an attempt to set up Abrego Garcia and him.

The senator said Bukeles aides brought two glasses that looked like margaritas to the table where he and Abrego Garcia were meeting, and insisted on having the encounter filmed on video cameras.

They actually wanted to have the meeting by the side of the pool, Van Hollen said. I mean, this is a guy whos been in secret. This is a guy whos been detained. They want to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big lie.

Representatives for the El Salvador Embassy in Washington, D.C., did not immediately return a request for comment on Friday evening.

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Van Hollen told reporters he believes Bukeles decision to allow him to meet with Abrego Garcia after previously denying his requests was due to public pressure.

They were feeling the pressure because while I was in El Salvador, we had two major press conferences that included the local press who reported on this, Van Hollen said.

Bukele said Thursday after Van Hollens meeting that Abrego Garcia will remain in El Salvadors custody now that hes been confirmed healthy.

Van Hollens support for Abrego Garcia has drawn the ire of the White House, which has framed the senators advocacy as being at direct odds with President Donald Trumps plans to swiftly remove those whom he characterizes as violent undocumented immigrants from the country.

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In a Truth Social post Friday morning, Trump said Van Hollen looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador, calling him a grandstander.

The White House maintained in a social media post Friday that Abrego Garcia would not be allowed to re-enter the country. White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said Wednesday that should Abrego Garcia manage to return to the United States, he will immediately be deported.

The Trump administration has asserted that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, despite the Salvadoran native having no criminal record in the United States or El Salvador.

Attorney General Pam Bondi on Wednesday shared records that she said back the governments position, including a document from 2019 in which Maryland law enforcement officers characterize Abrego Garcia as a member of the gang due to his wardrobe and proximity to other accused gang members.

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According to the documents shared by Bondi on Thursday, Abrego Garcia illegally entered the United States near McAllen, Texas on or about March 25, 2012.

Abrego Garcia was provided protection from deportation to El Salvador following his 2019 detention, after an immigration judge determined he had demonstrated a well-founded fear of future persecution from local gangs.

The court granted Abrego Garcia a withholding of removal, which barred him from being sent back to the country where he would face persecution, as long as he checked in with authorities annually, which Abrego Garcia attested to doing in court filings.

Van Hollen has maintained that the central issue in the case is not the administrations assertion that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13, but rather its decision to deport the immigrant, who was lawfully in the country at the time of his removal, without a hearing.

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As the federal courts have said, we need to bring Mr. Abrego Garcia home to protect his constitutional rights to due process, Van Hollen said on Friday. Its also important that people understand this case is not just about one man. Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States.

If you deny the constitutional rights of one man, you threaten the constitutional rights and due process for everyone else in America, he added.

The Maryland senator has called Trumps resistance to facilitating Abrego Garcias return, despite a Supreme Court order directing the government to do so, an attempt to cover up the mistaken deportation.

Van Hollen has been among the most outspoken congressional advocates for Abrego Garcia and was the first, and only, member of Congress to meet with him following his deportation.

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While Van Hollen has hinted at more trips to El Salvador by congressional Democrats, the party has been divided about how best to respond to Abrego Garcias case. Some high-profile Democrats have opted to keep the focus on the economic backlash to Trumps sweeping tariffs, which polling suggests is much more of a political liability to the president than his ongoing efforts to deport immigrants.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was taken to the hospital after a motorcycle crash in Lexington on Saturday morning, authorities said.

The trooper was riding their motorcycle in the area of 1 Cranberry Hill when the crash occurred, a state police spokesperson told Boston 25 News.

Investigators believe the trooper crashed when their motorcycle "came into contact with some debris in the road."

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The trooper suffered non-life-threatening injuries and was expected to be released from the hospital on Saturday.

The crash came on a morning when thousands flocked to Lexington to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the start of the Revolutionary War.

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Holt called the city to "do all we can" to build a better city together, and recommit to stand with each other "for as many tomorrows as it takes."
(NewsNation)  For years, beach towns courted spring breakers, but rowdy behavior and rising violence now have some declaring the party over.

Stuart Tettemer, the mayor of Panama City Beach, Florida, says the town has changed, but young people are still being sold a decadeold version of spring break by short-term slumlords and outdated club promoters.

Popular Florida city no longer a spring break town

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Were a family-friendly destination and small town, Tettemer told NewsNations Leland Vittert in an On Balance interview.

But many spring breakers still see the area as party central  a misconception that, according to Tettemer, has led to a change in the security environment as more young people flock to town.

Miami Beach, other popular spring break destinations issue new rules

Instead of turning to the Lord, theyre turning to violence, the mayor said.

That party environment draws predators, Tettemer continued. They quite frankly dont know how to act in public.

Tettemer issued a warning to anyone set on coming to town and breaking the law: We will find you, we will arrest you, and we will put you in jail.

Watch the interview in the player above.

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Muscatine Community College (MCC) will bring history to life with The Journey Back: A Virtual Reality Experience, an interactive exhibition developed by the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center, according to a news release.

Using 360-degree immersive technology, the exhibit shares firsthand Holocaust Survivor testimonies in a deeply personal way. The exhibit will be open to the public April 21-May 2 at MCCs Loper Hall.

Participants will use virtual reality headsets to follow survivors as they revisit key locations from their past, including childhood homes, ghettos, and concentration camps. The exhibit is free and open to ages 12 and older.

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MCC Student Engagement Coordinator Trevor Meyers led efforts to bring The Journey Back to campus after experiencing it at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center.

Listening to a Holocaust Survivors story is powerful, but stepping into their world through virtual reality is something entirely different, Meyers said. This experience allows you to connect with history in a deeply personal wayone that stays with you. The moment I experienced it myself, I knew our students and the Muscatine community needed that opportunity also.

The Illinois Holocaust Museum provides Mobile VR Trunks to institutions across the country, equipping them with 10 Meta Quest 2 VR headsets, synchronized viewing tablets, and other essential technology.

Survivor stories

Participants can choose from five immersive Survivor stories, each lasting 13-23 minutes:

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A Promise Kept  Fritzie Fritzshall returns to her hometown and Auschwitz, sharing the promise she made to the 599 women who helped save her life.

Dont Forget Me  George Brent retraces his journey through Auschwitz, Mauthausen, and Ebensee, revealing his will to survive.

Letters from Drancy  Marion Deichmann recounts her childhood escape across Northern Europe and survival of D-Day in Normandy.

Walk to Westerbork  Rodi Glass revisits her imprisonment at Westerbork transit camp and Vittel internment camp.

Escape to Shanghai  Doris Fogels journey from Germany to Shanghai, Chinaone of the few places that welcomed Jewish refugees during the Holocaust.

Registration and accessibility

Advance registration is required, though walk-ins will be accommodated as space allows. Participants should arrive 5-10 minutes early to check in and set up their VR headset.

Because of the historical content, the exhibit is recommended for ages 12 and up, with parents and educators encouraged to determine suitability for younger attendees. The VR experience is stable and seated, with no movement required. Free parking is available on campus, and all MCC buildings are handicap accessible.

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For more information or to register, visit this event link.

About the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center

Guided by its mission to Remember the Past, Transform the Future, the Illinois Holocaust Museum preserves Holocaust history and educates the public on human rights and social justice. Through exhibitions like The Journey Back, the museum ensures these lessons continue to resonate with future generations.

This initiative is supported by The Kimberly Duchossois Family Global Immersive Technology Initiative, The Diana C. Hunter Trust, and The Spagat Family Virtual Reality Trunk Program.

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Rachel Reeves is expected to announce the revamped Mansion House Compact this summer - David Rose for The Telegraph

Rachel Reeves is closing in on a 50bn deal with pension funds to buy British assets after pressuring them to invest more in home-grown projects.

The Chancellor will announce a new version of a voluntary code signed by the biggest retirement providers that will see them commit to ploughing 10pc of savers cash into unlisted assets by 2030, with half of that devoted to the UK.

It is understood that a first draft of the new Mansion House Compact was circulated last week following several rounds of sometimes tense negotiations between Treasury ministers, the industry and the City of London Corporation, which is coordinating the talks.

Ms Reeves is expected to announce the revamped compact this summer, with the explicit commitment to invest more in UK assets coming against a backdrop of growing economic nationalism.

Donald Trump has vowed to make America wealthy again through his tariff onslaught, while some in the UK are calling for a buy British campaign to offset the impact of higher tariffs.

The Chancellor is looking for ways to spur UK investment. She admitted last month that cash Isas will be reformed to encourage savers to invest their money instead. The changes could be announced at her annual Mansion House speech in July.

The new commitment from pension funds will see 10pc, or around 100bn of UK pension savings, ploughed into unlisted assets by the end of the decade. Within that, 50bn  or around 5pc of savings  would be invested in the UK.

It was made very clear at the start of this process that the Treasury wanted to see movement on this, said an industry source.

The voluntary agreement means the Treasury will stop short of mandating that companies invest in UK assets.

The original Mansion House agreement spearheaded in 2023 by Ms Reevess predecessor Jeremy Hunt aimed to boost growth by pledging a minimum 5pc of workplace pension savings into unlisted equities by 2030. It was signed by 11 providers including Aegon, Aviva, L&G, Nest, Standard Life owner Phoenix and Scottish Widows.

Torsten Bell, the pensions minister, has called on companies to build on this with more investment in private markets, including an explicit reference to UK assets.

A push from the Lord Mayor of London to include a reference to national resilience  or defence investment  in the updated compact has been dropped, despite the Governments push to increase military spending. Alastair King had floated the plan privately, though City sources said the idea was not discussed formally in meetings.

It is understood that some pension providers were reluctant to specify a UK target within the broader 10pc commitment. Others were prepared to go further and commit as much as 15pc of savers cash to private markets.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The stage for a special runoff election to fill San Diego Countys first supervisorial district has been set  it will be a battle between South Bay mayors.

The San Diego County Registrar of Voters released the last batch of unofficial ballot returns from this months race for the seat on Friday, confirming Chula Vista Mayor John McCann and Imperial Beach Paloma Aguirre will be advancing to a head-to-head contest in July.

With the final drop, McCann remained in first place with 42.38% of the vote, a 10-point advantage above Aguirre but well below the threshold needed to win the race outright. The Chula Vista mayor has held about the same margin since the first batch of Election Night results.

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Interactive maps show turnout, early results in race for District 1 Supervisor

Aguirre, who similarly took an early lead over other candidates in the first returns, remained in a comfortable second with 32.33%  more than 15 points ahead of the next closest candidate, San Diego City Councilmember Vivian Moreno.

Either one of them would have needed to secure more than 50% of the vote in the first round of the special election to avert a runoff and become the next District 1 supervisor straight away.

With the way votes divided among the crowded field in the early returns, Aguirre, a Democrat, may be at a slight advantage heading into a runoff against McCann, a Republican.

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Should the Imperial Beach mayor consolidate support among those who cast their votes for the three other Democratic candidates, she would secure about 55% in the runoff, granted other factors like turnout remain the same.

For McCann to win, he would need to generate cross-party support during a time of hyper-partisanship to get across the finish line, siphoning off voters who may have originally voted for a Democratic candidate.

McCanns community stature and bipartisan track record could position him well to achieve just that, but if the recent example of former San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconers bid to oust incumbent Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer last year is any indication, it still may be an uphill battle.

D1 Special Election: What to know | The Candidates | How to vote | More Stories

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In the District 3 race, campaign messaging aiming to tie the race to President Trump  a strategy Aguirre has previewed for the runoff  proved potent enough to sink the campaign of Faulconer, who is also a Republican, and give Lawson-Remer a comfortable win.

Now all ballots have been counted, the Registrar of Voters will turn to certifying the race results, thus making them official. The office has until early May to do so.

The runoff for the special election will be held on July 1 with ballots set to go out several weeks prior. Whoever wins in the runoff will serve out the remainder of the term former Board of Supervisors Chair Nora Vargas vacated, which runs through January 2029.

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PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Gov. Dan McKee is hoping to establish a new early-warning mechanism in an effort to prevent the sudden closure of medical providers.

This comes as approximately 25,000 patients with Anchor Medical Associates struggle to secure a new doctor before its practices close for good this summer.

McKees proposal would require hospitals, nursing facilities, health centers, behavioral clinics, physician practices and other providers to submit quarterly financial reports to the state.

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He described it as a a critical step in protecting access to care for all Rhode Islanders.

This new reporting requirement is designed to be an early-warning mechanism  not a punitive measure, he said. By collecting financials on a quarterly basis, the state can engage providers earlier to preserve stability, promote solvency and avoid disruptions in care.

The goal is to improve transparency and support early identification of financial risks that may threaten continuity of care, according to McKee.

We owe it to the people of Rhode Island to protect their health care access  and that starts with understanding where risks lie and addressing them before its too late, said Secretary of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services Richard Charest.

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RELATED: Resources available for patients losing Anchor Medical providers

Thousands of Anchor Medical patients are facing months-long wait lists for new practices, which is why a number of providers are opening their doors to those who are in dire need of a new primary care physician.

Arches Medical told 12 News more than 1,500 former Anchor Medical patients are making the switch to their practices.

Rhode Island has been behind the eight ball for a while with respect to primary care reimbursement, said Dr. Gregory Allen, a primary care physician with Arches Medical. Its difficult to recruit and retain physicians in this state.

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MORE: Patients push back as Anchor Medical prepares to shut down

Though its a step in the right direction, Allen believes McKees proposal isnt enough to safeguard the states health care system.

I think what would be most helpful is if there could be some direct support for primary care in the state, Allen said.

In the meantime, Allen said hes focused on assisting the Anchor Medical patients who are desperately searching for new doctors.

Were trying to do the best we can to help, Allen said.

McKee is also requesting a review of the states primary care reimbursement rates through his proposed FY 25-26 budget. If passed, that review would be due in late 2027 and not take effect until 2028.

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NEXT: RI doctors seek solutions as Anchor Medical closure looms

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The first confirmed case of measles in the state of Missouri has been found in a visitor of the southwestern part of the state, according to the state Department of Health.

The case is from a child who is visiting Taney County, associated with recent international travel. The childs vaccination status has not yet been verified, the department said in a news release Friday.

There is no indication of widespread exposure since the child was diagnosed soon after arriving in Taney County, the release said. Exposure is believed to be limited, and known contacts have been identified and contacted.

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Taney County, where most of the city of Branson resides, is about 4 hours south of Kansas City.

Measles outbreaks locally and nationwide

This case comes a day after Kansas City health officials warned city councilors that the disease may hit the area soon.

Kansas City has not had a case of measles since 2019, according to local health officials. Officials also said the metro falls short of having herd immunity from the disease. Health officials have stated that the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine is safe and effective.

On Wednesday, the Kansas Department of Health and Environment reported 37 positive cases of measles, an increase from 32 cases a week ago, according to the 2025 Kansas Measles Outbreak Dashboard. Most of those cases are mainly driven by unvaccinated children and teens.

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Measles cases have been reported in eight Kansas counties, mostly in the southwestern part of the state: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens counties.

As of April 18, the number of confirmed measles cases jumped to 800, up from 607 reported two weeks ago and 712 reported last week, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control.

About 31% of the cases involve children under 5 years, 38% involve children and teens between 5 and 19, and 29% involve adults.

There have been 80 hospitalizations, or 11% of all cases, and three deaths, two confirmed and one that remains under investigation.

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Only 2% of the cases involved people who were fully vaccinated.

In 96% of the cases, patients were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown.

Measles is being reported in 25 states and New York City: Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

In 2024, there were 285 total cases nationwide with no deaths reported by the CDC.

The Stars Robert A. Cronkleton contributed to this reporting.
A person has been seriously hurt in a shooting in west Charlotte Saturday afternoon.

It happened just before 3 p.m. on Catherine Simmons Avenue near Beatties Ford Road.

ALSO READ: 3 hurt in north Charlotte shooting, MEDIC says

MEDIC said the victim was taken to Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

No additional details have been made available.

This is a developing story. Check back with wsoctv.com for updates.
Meridian residents have made known their displeasure with high-volume drive-thrus on busy, congested roads. The city has even planned to hold a focus group about them.

Residents recently turned up the sound level on their concerns, submitting over 300 pieces of testimony regarding a proposed In-N-Out Burger on Ten Mile Road for a hearing Thursday.

The California burger chain submitted a request for a conditional-use permit to operate a drive-thru restaurant at 5985 and 6037 N. Ten Mile Road, south of Chinden Boulevard. The proposed restaurant would be the chains fourth In-N-Out in the Treasure Valley, which opened its first Idaho restaurant at The Village at Meridian in 2023 and has since started flipping burgers in Boise and Nampa.

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Nearby residents have taken issue with what they fear would be additional congestion and noisy late-nights. At a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission, city planners did, too. The Planning and Zoning Commission eventually voted 4-1 to deny the proposal.

The line to get into the new In-N-Out, or navigate the drive-thru turned into a long wait for fans of the fast-food hamburger chains grand opening at The Village at Meridian in 2023.

Planning staff recommended denial of the permit for the drive-thru, which would sit within 300 feet of another drive-thru to its north and the Bainbridge subdivision to its west on Lost Rapids Drive.

Though In-N-Out provided a traffic mitigation study showing that traffic on Ten Mile and Lost Rapids would remain at acceptable levels of service, a city staff report cited concerns that queued cars could obstruct drive aisles and public right-of-ways and adversely affect other properties in the vicinity.

Staff finds the site is not large enough to accommodate the proposed use and comply with ... standards regarding car stacking, the report said.

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Bill Parsons, planning supervisor, noted at the hearing that the proposed drive-thrus proximity to two major corridors, Ten Mile and Chinden, a Costco Wholesale, and about six or seven other drive-thrus on the same site amplified concerns over congestion in an already heavily trafficked area.

Late-night deliveries plus long hours of operation would also mean that when you add all that up, its basically a 24-hour site, Parsons said.

In-N-Outs permit application included a request for extended business hours beyond the 11 p.m. limit, with hours from 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Sunday through Thursday and 6 a.m. to 1:30 a.m. Friday and Saturday. Todd Smith, In-N-Outs development manager said that these hours would be consistent across all locations, including the three restaurants already operating in the Valley.

In-N-Out unpopular with neighbors

Gripes with traffic, late hours and impacts to neighbors were ubiquitous in the 327 public comments submitted to the city, as well as statements made by residents at the hearing. Most residents opposed the proposed drive-thru. The Planning and Zoning Commissions rejection was reported earlier by Idaho News 6.

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Among those opposed were 80% of the Bainbridge homeowners associations 573-member group, the Idaho Statesman previously reported.

Brick Oliver, representing the homeowners association for the Cadence at Bainbridge, the developments 55 and over community, said Thursday that 98% of respondents to the associations survey opposed the In-N-Out.

Oliver said that the responses reinforced what she had already gathered informally from conversations with residents in Cadences 165 homes: That this was a very bad and unpopular proposal.

Oliver said survey respondents described the plan as a traffic nightmare and voiced fears around the safety of pedestrians, especially children.

California-based fast food giant In-N-Out opens in Meridian with people waiting in line for hours at The Village in 2023. In-N-Outs Todd Smith told the Meridian Planning and Zoning Commission in April that traffic has calmed since additional In-N-Outs in Boise and Nampa have given fanatics more outlets to go animal style.

Traffic acceptable but worsening on Ten Mile

Smith said at the hearing that the proposed In-N-Out would have room to stack 29 vehicles plus an escape lane and that the Ten Mile site is larger than the others in the Treasure Valley, allowing for more traffic to be contained to the site.

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Smith said that as additional restaurants have opened, traffic has begun to level off among the sites.

Both the In-N-Out traffic study and comments from the Ada County Highway District suggest no traffic mitigation measures are needed. In-N-Outs study said the drive-thru would generate roughly 2,500 trips on weekdays. It said the intersection of Ten Mile and Lost Rapids is now at level of service E or better and that it would remain as such. The same goes for the level of service on Ten Mile, and Lost Rapids would remain at D or better, the study said.

ACHD said no road improvements were necessary either, which Parsons said had to do with the fact that a number of improvements were required at the time the Costco was built, including widening Ten Mile from Chinden Boulevard to McMillan Road.

Cars at a standstill during lunch hour outside an In-N-Out in California.

But as Meridian continues to grow and development has boomed in the area surrounding the Ten Mile Interchange since it opened in 2011, frustrations with traffic on Ten Mile and Chinden are hard to deny.

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Meridian officials hope that a long-awaited Interstate 84 overpass on Linder Road may alleviate traffic on Ten Mile, and the Idaho 16 extension is expected to help with north-south traffic in the area as well, once it opens sometime in 2027. But for now, theres nothing slated for Ten Mile on ACHDs integrated five-year work plan.

$120 million youth sports complex could be a game-changer for Boise area

5 miles of a busy Meridian road may be widened  again  as traffic keeps rising

A Meridian company on a Forbes best-employers list is laying off workers
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CDU chair Friedrich Merz (left) and Lars Klingbeil, head of the SPD, pictured at a press conference following successful coalition talks between the two parties. | Credit: Florian Gaertner / Photothek / Getty Images

So much for Germany's "radical" new direction, said Ralf Neukirch in Der Spiegel (Hamburg). When the incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, won the election in February, he promised to be bold and brave: to tighten our borders, unshackle our low-growth economy, bolster our defences, and wean us off our dependence on the United States. Last week, on the same day that the far-right AfD topped a national poll for the first time, the CDU leader unveiled his coalition deal with the SPD  and it was full of the same tired old policies: no military conscription; no social and tax reform; no major migration measures.

The centre-left SPD got something for pensioners, while Merz's centre-right CDU/CSU alliance walked away with gifts to farmers and entrepreneurs. "A perfectly normal coalition agreement, in other words. Only these aren't normal times." With war raging in Europe, the far-right on the rise and the US intent on destroying the global economic order, we need our leaders to be courageous. Instead, we have a "coalition of the timid".

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OK, so Merz's new agreement is "hardly revolutionary", said Jan Frederic Willems in Tagesschau (Hamburg). But his most radical measure came before the coalition agreement, when he upended decades of fiscal convention and released Germany's debt brake  unleashing a more than 500 billion bazooka of defence and infrastructure spending. Combine this multibillion-euro injection with a calm policy plan, and "a lot can be achieved".

Perhaps that kind of quiet, pragmatic approach is what voters want: in a world where Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are sowing chaos, a little bit of sobriety and stability starts to look appealing. That's why last week's announcement was so low-key compared with that of Olaf Scholz's previous "traffic light" coalition, said Thomas Sigmund in Handelsblatt (Dusseldorf). They unveiled their own deal in 2021 with "beaming selfies" and an over-the-top slogan of "Dare More Progress". "In the end, little more remained of the 'progressive coalition' than a pile of rubble." Merz's coalition has sensibly chosen the more subdued "Responsibility for Germany".

Besides, Merz has managed to secure some important wins, said Volksstimme (Magdeburg), including a reduction in corporate tax, and returning the minimum residency requirement for obtaining German citizenship from three years to five. But it's nowhere near enough, said Henry Donovan in The Spectator (London). During the campaign, Merz promised centre-right voters that he would reverse Angela Merkel's "leftward drift"; yet this agreement "might as well be written in red ink". It's full of SPD policies, although the centre-left party has just suffered one of its worst election defeats, winning only 16% of the vote.

Immigration is fuelling AfD's ascendance, and yet the coalition's central promise in this area  to turn asylum seekers back at the border  is empty, as it depends on the unlikely cooperation of other countries. Coming on top of Merz's debt-fuelled spending splurge, the deal has "formalised the most spectacular betrayal of centre-right voters in modern German history". It's a gift the AfD "could scarcely have hoped for".

It had barely begun, but the honeymoon is definitely over for Merz, said James Angelos on Politico (Brussels). His approval ratings have plunged ten points since the election. The world needs Germany's new leader to succeed, said Tagesspiegel (Berlin). The stakes are incredibly high  both domestically, where Merz's coalition is the only thing standing between the AfD and power, and globally, given our country's economic and military weight in Europe. With liberalism, freedom and democracy under threat, it's a time for "giants"  yet sadly we have no Helmut Kohl, no Gerhard Schroder, no Merkel. All of them have experience of governing during international crises. Our incoming chancellor and his coalition partners do not. "Their learning curve must be steeper than anyone's before."
SYRACUSE, N.Y. (WSYR)  The Westcott Theater was the place to be for Metallica fans who were looking to make new friends and purchase exclusive merchandise on Friday.

Two lifelong friends traveled across the northern border from Hawkesbury, Ontario, to jam out to their favorite heavy metal band together.

We got connected with Metallica music since the beginning, Maxime Carriere said. For sure, Metallica brought us closer together because we have attended many, many shows, many concerts, the theater, many experiences with the Metallica family.

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For Vanessa Cavanagh, Saturdays concert will be her 33rd for the books. She traveled from Brooklyn, New York, at 5:00 a.m. to be a part of the Syracuse music scene.

I just want to meet the locals, but also, Im sorry that were taking over your cityin a lot of black shirts, Cavanagh said. Dont be intimidated. Just talk to any of us and we can be friends because I have met so many friends this wayeven just traveling for the band that just live in these places.

10-year-old Travis Hammond ran into the pop-up shop after arriving from Boston, Massachusetts. He said he wanted to get his hands on some new merchandise to look like all the grown-ups that he admires.

I, kind of, just saw people having them and I liked itand then, we got a lot of patches and broke my dads bank accountwere not going to talk about that, Hammond said.

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Whether the fans or young or old, many agreed that the only requirement to be a part of the Metallica community is to love the music.

This band is more than just one of those bands that you just go see in concert forit becomes, like, a community with fans and you just make friends, Cavanagh said.

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Artificial intelligence is scaling at an unprecedented speed.

As major tech companies roll out AI-integrated products at an ever-accelerating speed, the technology is seeping deeper into every day life. And as the tech world makes strides in generative and agentic AI and more, we are getting closer and closer to the AI-powered technologies of the future.

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In 2022, as Facebooks (META) popularity dwindled, Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg proposed a potentially crazy idea to increase the social media platforms cultural relevance: purging users friend networks and making people start all over again on the platform.

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In a blockbuster antitrust trial thats just getting underway, the Federal Trade Commission is making its case that Meta (META) abused its social-networking dominance as part of a buy or bury strategy to squash emerging threats.

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Add Japan to the list of places that Google (GOOGL) is finding itself playing defense.

Japans Fair Trade Commission issued a cease and desist order to Google on Tuesday, finding its practices to be monopolistic.

The cease and desist is the conclusion of an 18-month investigation into the Alphabet-owned search engine. The report cites Google for its product placement on Android Smartphones, pointing out that the company requires some manufacturers to preinstall Googles browser and search engine on the home screen.

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Metas (META) monopoly trial kicked off on Monday, throughout which the Federal Trade Commission will argue that the Facebook owner bought Instagram (in 2012) and WhatsApp (2014) to squash emerging competitive threats to Mark Zuckerbergs social media empire.

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Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. - Photo: Justin Sullivan (Getty Images)

Nvidia (NVDA) will begin manufacturing AI supercomputers in the U.S. for the first time, the company announced Monday.

The chip manufacturer wrote in a blog post that it has commissioned more than a million square feet of manufacturing space in Arizona and Texas. At the Texas factories, located in Houston and Dallas, Nvidia will build and test AI supercomputers. The chipmaker expects mass production to ramp up there over the next 12 to 15 months.

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Nvidia (NVDA) CEO Jensen Huang made a high-profile trip to Beijing this week following a sudden U.S. government move to block exports of the companys H20 AI chips to China, The New York Times (NYT) reported.

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Nvidia (NVDA) stock continues to fall after the company reported that it would take a $5.5 billion hit due to export controls implemented by the Trump administration. After Thursdays stock drop, Nvidia has lost more than $250 billion in market cap value since Tuesday.

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Elon Musks Neuralink has been a trailblazer in brain chip implant technology. But today, rival company Precision Neuroscience announced that a core component of its brain implant system has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  A home doorbell camera captured video of a scary encounter involving a pair of dogs seen roaming around a neighborhood near NW 17th Street and Pennsylvania Avenue.

Pair of dogs near the Plaza District. Photo courtesy Erin Baird.

Erin Bairds cat was nearly snatched off of her front porch by the dogs Thursday afternoon.

I heard some barking on my porch yesterday and I came out and these two big, muscular, un-neutered dogs were attacking my elderly cat, Baird said.

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Baird went outside to release the dogs from her cat, eventually scaring them off of her property.

Suspect on the run in Lincoln County after highspeed chase

Their NW Oklahoma City neighborhood is near the Plaza District, which is no stranger to activity and foot traffic, drawing concerns for many residents.

Theres a school a few blocks from here, so Im just worried about the safety of our neighborhood, said Baird.

Baird also said she believes theres a stray dog problem across the metro.

Baird said the dogs have been running freely over the past two weeks. Shes taken cell phone video and pictures each time she sees them.

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There was a post shared a neighborhood group saying a woman and her dog were attacked by the dogs, with the woman being bitten on her forearm.

We need the city to fix this, Baird added.

She said shes called Oklahoma City Animal Welfare multiple times, but the dogs are still being seen outside.

News 4 called Oklahoma City Animal Welfare, they shared a statement.

An Animal Welfare Field Officer responded to a call of three loose dogs attacking a cat. When the officer arrived, the dogs were no longer in the area, and witnesses could not provide any additional information. We encourage any citizen observing loose dogs exhibiting threatening or menacing behavior to contact Animal Welfare immediately. Ronnie Schlabs, Oklahoma City Animal Welfare Superintendent

News 4 did follow up, asking if the officer had plans to return to the neighborhood and search for the dogs and are waiting to hear back.

Baird said she understands the shelter may be overcrowded, but wants something to be done before more people or animals get hurt.

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I mean, what are my property taxes going towards if you cant keep our neighborhood safe, she said.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
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Seven & i Holdings, parent company of 7-Eleven, plans to shuffle its board of directors next month as the company approaches its North American IPO and continues to mull a megamerger with Alimentation Couche-Tard.

The changes will start at the top, with Junro Ito, Seven & is vice president and representative director, expected to become executive chairperson, according to a letter sent to shareholders on Thursday.

A member of Seven & is founding family, Ito will focus on fostering relationships with broader stakeholders, including employees and franchisees, according to the letter. He also will work closely with incoming CEO Stephen Dacus, Seven & i said.

Late last year, Ito and shareholder group Ito-Kogyo spearheaded a proposed $58 billion buyout of Seven & i. That bid failed in February after the group was unable to secure financing.

Meanwhile, current director Fuminao Hachiuma will be named chairperson of the board and lead independent outside director. In this position, Hachiuma will be tasked with strengthening coordination and communication between the independent outside directors and senior management and promoting regular constructive dialogue with shareholders and investors, Seven & i said in the letter.

Hachiuma is taking the role that has been held by Dacus for the past year. The incoming CEO is leaving that position as part of Seven & is policy to separate its chairperson of the board and CEO roles, Seven & i said in Thursdays letter.

Seven & i is also nominating four new people to its board of directors, all of whom are from outside the company. They include Takashi Sawada, former president of Japanese c-store chain FamilyMart; Masaki Akita, director, chair and chairperson of the board for Japanese food company Matsuya; Tatsuya Terazawa, chairman and CEO of the Institute of Energy Economics, Japan; and Christine Edman, former president of fashion brand H&M Hennes & Mauritz Japan.

The six board proposals will be voted on during Seven & is annual shareholder meeting on May 27.

Seven & i is nominating these new candidates after three members  Jenifer Simms Rogers, Elizabeth Miin Meyerdirk and 7-Eleven Inc. CEO Joseph DePinto  left the board earlier this year. Two more directors, Fumihiko Nagamatsu and Toshiro Yonemura, are expected to retire from the board as of the May 27 meeting, according to a separate company announcement.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Nashville leaders are gearing up to kick off a new era downtown.

Mayor Freddie OConnell will be one of many Metro officials attending a ribbon cutting ceremony for Bluff Landing along the Cumberland River Greenway on Monday, April 21.

Nashville Earth Day festival blooms Saturday

Bluff Landing and the Cumberland River greenway are just one part of what developers hope will grow into an all-new neighborhood called The South Bank.

(Courtesy: Hall Strategies) (Courtesy: Hall Strategies) (Courtesy: Hall Strategies) (Courtesy: Hall Strategies)

Crews are already hard at work building the Peabody Union Development. When finished it will be a massive 250,000-square-foot mixed-use area connecting Hermitage Avenue and Peabody Street to Bluff Landing and the greenway.

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Developers gave News 2s Mark Kelly a tour last year, and theyve made steady progress since then. Parts of the neighborhood are already open for business.

Neighborhood News: Stories impacting your community | Read More

The Bluff Landing and greenway portion of South Bank will official open with Mondays ribbon cutting.

The ceremony is free to attend.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
LAS CRUCES, N.M. (KRQE)  New Mexico State University is inviting the community to an important walk next weekend. Out of Darkness is a national campus walk aiming to bring awareness to suicide prevention.

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This is the second year NMSU is participating in the walk. Its part of a national campaign by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. It is free and open to participants of all ages, including community members. Check-in begins at 9 a.m.

At 10 a.m., the route starts at the Corbett Student Union outdoor stage, then goes towards the Educational Services Center and cuts through Alumni Pond, as well as the parking lot near Chamisa Village.

From there, the walk will head west on Stewart Street, moving north on South Espina Street. The last leg of the walk will go along the Horseshoe, ending on the International Mall outside Juniper and Garcia halls. The event should end around noon.

Registration is required and continues through the day of the walk. Participants can register with a team or individually. Anyone looking for more information is asked to email merinos1@nmsu.edu.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
A podcaster and former Wayne County officials entrance into the U.S. Senate race with the backing of Bernie Sanders  the progressive champions first candidate endorsement of the year  has all but cemented Michigan as a frontline battleground state for the midterms.

Michigan is shaping up to be the state where the left makes its big stand, offering the clearest test yet of the direction of the Democratic Party.

Before Abdul El-Sayed announced his campaign, state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, a liberal Democrat, splashed into the race pillorying the same old crap out of Washington and declaring she would not back Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer.

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Meantime, moderate Democratic Rep. Haley Stevens is widely expected to declare her Senate candidacy as early as next week. She is contacting Democrats urging them to run to succeed her in her House seat, according to two Michigan Democrats familiar with the calls and granted anonymity to describe them.

Its touching off a battle between progressives and moderates on everything from economic and foreign messaging to who should lead the party. And the winner of the primary in the key battleground will help shape national Democrats messaging in 2026 and the presidential election two years later.

Already, El-Sayed has swiped at McMorrow, saying anyone who "unilaterally oppose[s]" a leadership candidate without knowing the alternatives is "is either unnuanced or unsophisticated."

"If the left does not make its stand, we will not have strength in this seat," said Michigan State Rep. Emily Dievendorf, a progressive. "It is a litmus test for whether we are going to be willing to have courage in this moment. And I do think the two Democratic candidates that have emerged so far certainly aim to speak to the needs of our more progressive voters and the average American."

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There are fault lines even along the partys left flank, and the Michigan primary could help to define how aggressively Democrats across the ideological spectrum go after aging members of their own party. El-Sayed and Stevens are defending Schumer, while McMorrow has said she would cast him aside over his handling of a GOP-backed government funding bill.

The state is at the center of this conversation, said state Rep. Laurie Pohutsky, a progressive. We're going to continue being a focal point when it comes to that debate, and I think that we are also in a position to kind of reach a sort of consensus about what we need right now in terms of moving the Democratic Party forward.

The race is still in its infancy. But the contested primary  and the evident ideological schisms  are raising alarms among some strategists who fear the intra-party fight could damage whichever candidate advances to the general election. The race to succeed retiring Democratic Sen. Gary Peters is a top target of Republicans in a state that Donald Trump carried narrowly last year. Immediately after former Rep. Mike Rogers launched his campaign this week, Senate Majority Leader John Thune and National Republican Senatorial Committee Chair Tim Scott both endorsed him.

The Michigan Senate seat is imminently winnable, but if the primary challengers decide to turn this into a proxy fight among the partys most online factions, we are cooked, said Caitlin Legacki, a Democratic campaign veteran.

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In an interview, El-Sayed, who has been sharply critical of Israel actions in Gaza, infuriating some centrist Democrats, played down the national resonance of the race.

I think Bernie's endorsing in this race because he sees the opportunity to empower somebody who wants to join him in the Senate to make sure that we've got a politics that works for working people, he told POLITICO.

Sanders hasnt had much success with his statewide endorsements in Michigan in the past. After he endorsed El-Sayed for governor in 2018, Gretchen Whitmer, the more moderate Democrat who ran on a slogan of 'fix the damn roads, trounced him in all 83 counties.

Stevens camp views El-Sayed and McMorrow as occupying the same progressive lane. In response, she is likely to not nationalize the race, but Michiganize it, according to an aligned strategist granted anonymity to discuss her strategy.

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But even in laying out that approach to the campaign, the strategist suggested a rebuke of the progressive left.

Its a focus on Michigan, Michigans auto industry, and manufacturing jobs versus a national conversation about progressive leadership and Democratic punditry, this person said.

Zack Stanton contributed to this report.
The Michigan Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big. Heres a look at April 18, 2025, results for each game:

Winning Daily 3 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 3-3-3

Evening: 4-8-5

Check Daily 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily 4 numbers from April 18 drawing

Midday: 0-1-1-0

Evening: 5-9-9-1

Check Daily 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from April 18 drawing

29-34-39-42-46, Lucky Ball: 16

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Poker Lotto numbers from April 18 drawing

AH-6C-10C-7D-7S

Check Poker Lotto payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Fantasy 5 numbers from April 18 drawing

04-11-19-31-32

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02-08-30-34-36

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Daily Keno numbers from April 18 drawing

03-05-07-10-16-18-24-25-38-41-45-47-51-54-55-56-61-63-70-75-77-79

Check Daily Keno payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

Are you a winner? Heres how to claim your lottery prize

All Michigan Lottery retailers can redeem prizes up to $600. For prizes up to $99,999.99, winners have the option to submit their claim by mail or in person at one of Michigan Lotterys Regional Offices.

To claim by mail, complete a ticket receipt form, sign your winning ticket, and send it along with original copies of your government-issued photo ID and Social Security card to the address below. Ensure the names on your ID and Social Security card match exactly. Claims should be mailed to:

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Michigan Lottery

Attn: Claim Center

101 E. Hillsdale

P.O. Box 30023

Lansing, MI 48909

For prizes over $100,000, winners must claim their prize in person at the Michigan Lottery Headquarters in Lansing located at 101 E. Hillsdale in downtown Lansing. Each winner must present original versions of a valid government-issued photo ID (typically a drivers license or state ID) and a Social Security card, ensuring that the names on both documents match exactly. To schedule an appointment, please call the Lottery Player Relations office at 844-887-6836, option 2.

If you prefer to claim in person at one of the Michigan Lottery Regional Offices for prizes under $100,000, appointments are required. Until further notice, please call 1-844-917-6325 to schedule an appointment. Regional office locations are as follows:

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Lansing: 101 E. Hillsdale St. Lansing; Phone: 844-917-6325

Livonia: 33231 Plymouth Road, Livonia; Phone: 844-917-6325

Sterling Heights: 34700 Dequindre Road, Sterling Heights; Phone: 844-917-6325

Detroit: Cadillac Place, 3060 W. Grand Blvd., Suite L-600, Detroit; Phone: 844-917-6325

Grand Rapids: 3391-B Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids; Phone: 844-917-6325

Saginaw: Jerome T. Hart State Office Building, 411 E. Genesee Ave., Saginaw; Phone: 844-917-6325

For additional information, downloadable forms, and instructions, visit the Michigan Lottery's prize claim page.

When are Michigan Lottery drawings held?

Daily 3 & Daily 4: Midday at 12:59 p.m., Evening at 7:29 p.m.

Fantasy 5: 7:29 p.m. daily

Poker Lotto: 7:29 p.m. daily

Lotto 47: 7:29 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday

Lucky for Life: 10:38 p.m. daily

Daily Keno: 7:29 p.m. daily

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a Michigan editor. You can send feedback using this form. Our News Automation and AI team would love to hear from you. Take this survey and share your thoughts with us.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Michigan Lottery Daily 3, Daily 4 results for April 18, 2025
Two families living in Millcreek, Utah, are pursuing legal action after receiving a notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) informing them that they had one week to leave the country or face potential law enforcement measures.

On April 11, an immigrant family from Venezuela received an email that began with Its time for you to leave the United States, letting the family know that their parole was being terminated seven days from the email, and that if they didnt immediately leave on their own accord, they would be subject to potential law enforcement actions that will result in your removal.

Do not attempt to remain in the United States  the federal government will find you. Please depart the United States immediately, the email concluded.

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Megan Staples, a family friend, told the Deseret News that the email initially appeared fraudulent. At first, I was like, is this a scam? Because, would the government really say we will find you, like that sounds like a scammer, she said.

During a media conference on Friday afternoon, two of the familys attorneys, Jim McConkie with the Refugee Justice League and Richard N. W. Lambert, former head of the criminal division in the United States Attorneys Office in the state of Utah, said it has not been verified that the email came from DHS.

Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini became emotional when he said that for the sake of the Constitution, he hopes that these letters were sent by mistake. If not, This is an affront to constitutionally guaranteed rights to all persons in the United States.

He said his team has reached out to Utahs federal congressional delegation to find answers and to help remedy concerns.

Brad and Deanna Neff speak about their neighbors, who are refugees, and their concern for them following the deportation letters that they received at Millcreek City Hall on Friday, April 18, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

Were not pretending that Millcreek is a sanctuary city, and we respect the right and the duty of our federal partners to enforce our immigration laws and even to deport violent criminals, Silvestrini said. But that does not mean that we will stand by silently when the rights of people in our Millcreek community are violated.

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So far, the Department of Homeland Security has not responded to the familys legal team. Still, McConkie said they have a potential meeting next week and are also meeting with the U.S. Attorneys Office and preparing for a class action lawsuit with a nationwide nature.

According to friends of the families, they are so fearful of being deported that they do not wish to speak to the press or provide personal information for fear of being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Are the families here legally?

McConkie told the Deseret News that the families are all here legally and, from what hes learned, have no criminal records.

A Haitian family, not using the same legal representation as the Venezuelans, also received a similar message from DHS. They have been living in the U.S. since 2023 under a family sponsorship program, which is a different kind of legal matter, McConkie said during the media conference.

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The two Venezuelan families that are pursuing legal action are related. The first family consists of a mother, father and a son. The second family consists of another son of the first family and his spouse, who arrived at the Mexico-U.S. border last year.

The families had traveled from Venezuela to Mexico, where they worked for a year to earn enough money to enter the United States. Staples said they went through customs at the Mexican border with all the necessary paperwork and all but one, the youngest son, was allowed entry.

They accused their 19-year-old son of being a criminal because he had a few tattoos on his arm, and he was whisked away, and they havent heard from their son in six months, which means we now have to go back to the government and petition the government to give us his whereabouts and to tell us why he was picked up, and then well ask him to be returned, McConkie said.

Jim McConkie, an attorney with the Refugee Justice League, Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini and concerned Millcreek residents address concerns regarding deportation letters received by Millcreek families instructing them to leave the country with days' notice at Millcreek City Hall on Friday, April 18, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

The family members have obtained federal permits, allowing them to work, as they follow the procedure to become asylum-seekers. They have an asylum hearing date before an immigration judge scheduled for 2028.

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These are people that have jobs, theyre working, theyre paying their taxes, they are legally entitled to be here and without an opportunity for a hearing, our government department of DHS is commanding them to leave the country, McConkie said.

The problem with this, from my perspective, is that the United States is deceiving them intentionally into believing that they need to leave when, in fact, they dont, because theyre legally here, he told the Deseret News. I have never in my life, ever seen such a situation like this, where due process is completely ignored and intentionally ignored, and where the government is propagating misinformation to achieve their ends.

Community rallies around immigrant families

Friends and neighbors of the immigrant families surrounded the mayor to demonstrate their collective support for the safety of their friends during Fridays press conference.

When the families received the notice, Staples said the whole neighborhood was utilizing every available resource to find legal help.

Millcreek Mayor Jeff Silvestrini addresses concerns regarding deportation letters received by Millcreek families instructing them to leave the country with days' notice at Millcreek City Hall on Friday, April 18, 2025. | Laura Seitz, Deseret News

We had a couple of really amazing attorneys text us back and say, This notice does not/should not apply to them because they have filed for asylum. So this notice, I think they sent out to everyone, but it should not apply to families, because they have applied for asylum.

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Brad Neff, a Millcreek resident, told Deseret News that he appreciated the goodness and work ethic and hopefulness of my Venezuelan and Haitian neighbors. They have entered the country legally. They have met every requirement the government has asked of them. It is manifestly unfair to try to kick them out of the country by intimidating them and not giving them due process.

Regarding immigration in a broad sense, it is my opinion that our country will find, as it always has, that immigrants give us far more than we give them, Neff said. That has been my experience with my immigrant friends and neighbors. They have enriched our neighborhood, religious community and my familys life.

One of the Venezuelan familys neighbors, Steve Ayers, told the Deseret News that the whole neighborhood community has rallied behind them. They are so much a part of our community now that I consider them as family. Its heart- wrenching to hear of their revocation of refugee status and the short period to leave. It angers me as this feels so unjust.

He added that he understands the federal governments priority to remove the bad characters out of our country, but this is going too far. Our system provides for due process on an individual basis.
A Minneapolis man has been indicted for threatening to murder a member of Congress, the U.S. Attorneys Office for Minnesota said Friday.

On March 26, Michael Paul Lewis, 52, left a voicemail for the Congress member, threatening murder, a press release said. The press release didnt identify the member but referenced the pronoun her.

It was also unclear whether the member was from Minnesota. In Minnesota, there are seven women in the states congressional delegation: Sens. Amy Klobuchar and Tina Smith as well as Reps. Betty McCollum, Angie Craig, Ilhan Omar, Kelly Morrison and Michelle Fischbach.

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Federal law protects our elected officials from this sort of violent, unhinged, and murderous rhetoric, Acting U.S. Attorney Lisa D. Kirkpatrick said in the press release. It is entirely unacceptable. Defendants who attempt to terrorize public officials in this way will face the full weight of federal justice. I am grateful for the diligent and swift work of the FBI to hold this defendant to account.

Special Agent in Charge Alvin M. Winston Senior of the Minneapolis FBI office said the threat does not fall under protected speech, but rather is a federal crime that requires immediate and decisive action.

No one should be subject to violence for fulfilling their elected duty to represent the American people, he said in the press release. The FBI and our partners will investigate such threats thoroughly and hold accountable anyone who threatens the safety of our elected leaders.

Lewis is charged with one count of threatening to murder a U.S. official and one count of interstate transmission of a threat to injure the other person. He made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court on Friday. He will remain in custody until his arraignment and detention hearing on April 23 before Magistrate Judge Dulce J. Foster.

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We recently published a list of 10 AI Stocks Surging on News Today. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company Limited (NYSE:TSM) stands against other AI stocks surging on news today.

In the latest efforts to stop China from getting ahead in the AI race, the Trump administration is considering penalties that would block Chinas DeepSeek from buying U.S. technology, reports The New York Times. It has also been reported that the administration is currently debating Americans access to its services. DeepSeek, a Chinese start-up that shook up Wall Street a few months ago with its cheaper and more efficient AI models, has had the US taking firm steps to tighten controls and scrutinize tech investments.

A key focus of US export controls has been Nvidia, whose chips were used to build DeepSeeks AI models. Even though the US had stringent export controls, the AI start-up managed to get hold of thousands of its GPUs, raising concerns about the effectiveness of the said controls. As a result, US officials now aim to prevent the most advanced chips from being sold to China to deter it from having a lead in the AI race.

READ NOW: 12 AI Stocks on Wall Streets Radar and 10 AI Stocks You Shouldnt Overlook Right Now

The U.S. House Select Committee on China said that it has sent a formal letter to Nvidia demanding answers about sales to China and Southeast Asia to examine whether and how its chips ended up powering DeepSeeks AI modelsdespite U.S. export restrictions.

With the government tightening its export rules to China, the AI chipmaker has revealed how it would face a $5.5bn (4.2bn) hit in costs. The company will now require licences to export its H20 AI chip to China, one of its most popular chips.

The [government] indicated that the license requirement addresses the risk that the covered products may be used in, or diverted to, a supercomputer in China.

The company also said that federal officials have advised them that the licence requirement will be in effect for the indefinite future.

According to Marc Einstein from the Counterpoint Research consultancy, the $5.5bn hit is in line with estimates.

As we have seen in the last few days and weeks, this may largely be a negotiating tactic. I wouldnt be surprised to see some exemptions or changes made to tariff policy in the near future.

For this article, we selected AI stocks by going through news articles, stock analysis, and press releases. These stocks are also popular among hedge funds. The hedge fund data is as of Q4 2024.
TAYLORSVILLE, Utah (ABC4)  The Dept. of Public Safety issued a Utah Endangered Missing Advisory Friday night for a Taylorsville man.

The man is identified as Jeffrey Allen Picklesimer, 59. He is described as White, 58, 170 lbs, with brown eyes and a shaved, bald head. His clothing is unknown.

Picklesimer was reportedly last seen with Angela Galloway  possibly driving a 2005 silver Dodge Ram 1500 and staying in the Kearns area. Picklesimer left medical care against medical advice without his required medications, according to DPS.

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He reportedly also had short-term memory issues.

If located, please contact Taylorsville Police at 801-840-4000 and reference case TY25-10661.

Latest headlines:

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to ABC4 Utah.
The body of a Kansas City, Kansas, man who had been missing for almost a month was found in the Missouri River on Thursday.

Kansas City, Missouri Police and Fire Departments were called to 7808 East Levee Road for a reported body in the Missouri River. On Friday, the body was positively identified as Brandon Anfinson, according to Nancy Chartrand, spokesperson for the Kansas City, Kansas Police Department.

Anfinson, 39, went missing from his home in the 1300 block of S. 35th Street in Kansas City, Kansas, on March 21, police said.

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Anfinsons death is now being investigated by Kansas City, Kansas polices major case unit.

Anfinson owned his own business, A1 Construction, was a father of three children, and had been married for 20 years, according to a family member who previously spoke with The Star.

A GoFundMe for the family had raised almost $3,000 as of Friday evening.

This is not the update we ever wanted or expected to write. Our hearts are broken, and the pain of this loss is unimaginable, a statement from the GoFundMe reads.

Brandon was [a] deeply loved son, a husband, a friend and his presence brought light into the lives of so many. We are beyond grateful to everyone who has supported this fundraiser. Your kindness, prayers, and donations have helped us more than you know during this incredibly difficult time.

The Stars Noelle Alviz-Gransee contributed to this reporting.
GULFPORT, Miss. (WJTV)  A Long Beach man pled guilty on April 18 to producing and distributing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

According to court documents, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Gulfport learned that Jason Leonard Rhodes, 47, had sexual contact with three minor boys in February 2023. With that information, the FBI and the Mississippi Attorney Generals Office, Cybercrime Division, conducted a search warrant at Rhodes home on February 8, 2023.

Three Georgia men arrested for Mississippi pharmacy burglary

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During the search warrant, the FBI said they found various electronic devices belonging to Rhodes. A forensic examiner found videos of Rhodes engaged in sexually explicit conduct with minors. Investigators said the forensic examiner also found chats between Rhodes and others in which Rhodes sent some of those videos to other people as well as videos of other children being sexually abused.

During the search warrant, Rhodes gave a confession to law enforcement, admitting to videoing himself engaged in sexually explicit conduct with the minors and to sending out pictures and videos of children being sexually abused.

Rhodes is scheduled to be sentenced August 26, 2025, and faces up to 30 years in prison for each count of producing images of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct and up to twenty years on the count of distributing images and videos of minors engaging in sexually explicit conduct.

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MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  For the fifth year, the Monongalia County Quick Response Team (QRT) gave away free naloxone throughout the city.

On Friday, April 18, the Mon County QRT distributed free naloxone, better known as its brand name of Narcan, at WVUs Mountainlair, the McDonalds in Sabraton and the Monongalia County Courthouse to help reach as many people as possible.

The Mon County QRT is funded by grants secured through the Monongalia County Health Department.

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Morgantown announces new city manager

12 News spoke with the QRTs coordinator, Brittany Irick, on the importance of distributing the medication for free.

West Virginia has led the nation in overdose deaths for quite some time now. We are seeing a decline, which is absolutely amazing, but we want to continue to see that, and we want to continue to give out Narcan and educate people that Narcan can save lives, Irick said. It can affect anyone. People often think that they might know someone who is using, or they might not encounter someone, but you never know, whenever you could just show up somewhere and somebody is unconscious, and no one knows whats going on, and it could be an overdose.

If youre interested in free naloxone or would like training on how to distribute the medication, you can visit the Monongalia County Health Departments website for more information.

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The North Carolina School Superintendents Association and the North Carolina Alliance for School Leadership Development announced that Jamie Synan is the recipient of the Dr. Samuel Houston Leadership Award.

Jack Hoke, executive director of the North Carolina School Superintendents Association, said that Synan exemplifies the traits that have guided Houstons career in educational leadership.

She has a commitment to continuous improvement, high standards of ethical conduct, strategic planning, improving student performance and meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, he said. I look forward to Ms. Synan serving as Deputy Superintendent of the Moore County Schools effective July 1.

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He noted that Synan has 25 years of experience in public education and has served as a teacher, assistant principal, principal, director of student support services and a chief academic officer.

She is currently the assistant superintendent for academics and student support services for Moore County Schools.

Synan earned a bachelors degree in elementary education from Elmira College, a masters degree in educational leadership from High Point University, and an educational specialist degree in education administration and supervision from East Carolina University.

Houston is president and CEO of the North Carolina Science, Mathematics, and Technology Education Center. He served as superintendent of the Mooresville Graded School District for 10 years where he opened the first year-round school in North Carolina.

Houston has been a champion for strategic planning, student performance and accountability, meeting the needs of the 21st century workforce, skills for the STEM world and building education partnerships, a release states. He also served as the first executive director of the University of North Carolina Center for Leadership Development.
Apr. 18A Moraine man who reportedly tested positive for drugs after a 2023 crash that killed a man has pleaded guilty.

James Josef Elliott, 25, pleaded guilty to involuntary manslaughter and failure to comply with the order or signal of a police officer, according to plea documents filed Friday in Montgomery County Common Pleas Court.

As part of the plea agreement, Elliott agreed to a maximum definite prison term of 10 years and to the suspension of his driver's license.

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His license will be suspended for at least three years but could be suspended for life. He will also face up to five years of parole and fines of up to $30,000.

Elliott is scheduled to be sentenced May 29.

Two charges of aggravated vehicular homicide and one count of operating a vehicle while under the influence were dismissed, according to court documents.

At around 11:15 p.m. Aug. 25, 2023, Elliott was driving a 1999 Lexus LS southbound on Ohio 741 when he ran a red light at the Lyons Road intersection, according to an Ohio State Highway Patrol crash report.

When he did so, he crashed into a 2010 Nissan Versa that was turning from Ohio 741 onto Lyons Road, forcing the Nissan to crash into a traffic pole before coming to rest in the southbound lanes of Ohio 741, the report said. The Lexus continued south on Ohio 741, hitting a curb, an AT&T box and finally a ditch.

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The driver of the Nissan, Denis Benjamin Jacob, 40, of Miami Twp., was pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency crews took Elliott to Kettering Health Dayton for possible injuries, and his blood tested positive for cannabinoids and opioids, the crash report said.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  More than 90,000 Xanax pills were intercepted at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on Interstate 5 on the border of San Diego and Orange counties Wednesday as part of what federal officials described as a major narcotics smuggling attempt.

Agents at the San Clemente checkpoint, located just north of Camp Pendleton, found the drugs in an inspection of a pickup truck that was traveling northbound on the freeway, according to a U.S. Customs and Border Protection release.

The truck was first stopped around 4:50 p.m. During the stop, a K-9 unit was called for an inspection of the vehicle as agents interviewed the driver, which led to a positive alert for the possible presence of concealed narcotics inside.

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DOJ: 16 indicted in San Diego for allegedly distributing meth, fentanyl, heroin across US

Nearly a dozen boxes containing individual packages labeled as Farmapram  the equivalent of Xanax sold in Mexico  were later discovered by Border Patrol agents. According to CBP, the packages contained a total of 90,090 pills with an estimated street value of over $600,000.

The driver, narcotics and vehicle were turned over to the custody of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Per CBP, they are facing state charges for possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance.

Packages of Farmapram, the Mexican equivalent of Xanax, seized by Border Patrol in San Clemente are pictured. (Courtesy of U.S. Customs and Border Protection)

No further details were provided by federal officials about the incident or the suspect.

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Work begins on Otay Mesa pedestrian border crossing improvements

Xanax is classified as a Schedule IV drug in the U.S., meaning it is a regulated substance believed to carry a lower potential for abuse and dependence than other narcotics.

One of the more common Benzodiazepines, the narcotic is legally available in the country in small amounts as a prescription to treat those with anxiety and panic disorders, working to slow down the central nervous system to create a more relaxed state.

However, Xanax, like other Benzodiazepines, is still considered highly addictive when used long-term, as tolerance to the drug develops relatively quickly, according to the Addiction Center.

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Studies have shown that those suffering from Xanax addictions either take high doses or combine the substance with alcohol or other depressive narcotics, namely opiates like heroin and methadone. This means overdoses can be fatal, the Addiction Center says.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News.
Public lavatories would become a legal requirement in town centres under plans being considered by ministers.

Currently, there is no requirement for local authorities to provide them in town centres. But under new proposals drawn up by the British Toilet Association (BTA) and discussed with Alex Norris, the minister for building safety, fire and local growth, such public lavatories would be made a mandatory requirement.

In a meeting in January, Liam Conlon, a Labour MP, said he and the BTA had encouraged Mr Norris to integrate public lavatories into local planning documents.

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In addition, the BTA also recommended that local governments should ring-fence local taxes to enable more public lavatory provision and that restaurants that did not open lavatories to the public pay more to their local government in the form of higher business rates.

The number of public lavatories has dropped by 40 per cent since 2000, according to the BTA, which launched a Legalise Loos campaign earlier this year.

Liam Conlon, with his mother Baroness Gray, the former Downing Street chief of staff

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mr Conlon, the MP for Beckenham and Penge, said campaigners would like to see an increase in the number of public toilets and for public toilets to be considered when planning.

He added: Along with a commitment to building one and a half million new homes, public toilets should be part of those building plans. Theyre not a luxury, theyre a necessity. The department is looking at that and at having good provision of public toilets which are accessible and good to use.

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Mr Norris was reportedly receptive to plans to make public lavatories a requirement in new town centres, according to MPs and campaigners present in the meeting.

Mr Conlon said: He did not make any commitments, but he listened and was very supportive about the impact it was having on people.

Speaking about the meeting, Mr Conlon said: We spoke about the impact of public toilets, that its often older people and disabled people who are affected, along with the need for more public toilets and accessibility.

He added that the minister acknowledges the issue, definitely and that he and the BTA were due to have another meeting with him in the next few months to discuss how they could best take it forward, and whether it was possible to reach an agreement over public lavatories.



Mr Norris said in a written question in December that the Government was taking action to address the significant challenges councils face, including through the first multi-year funding settlement for local government in 10 years.



A spokesman for the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government said: Local authorities are best placed to understand local priorities, including on the important issue of provision of public toilets, whether they are operated by local councils directly or through community schemes.



Raymond Martin, the managing director of the BTA, urged the Government to invest in the provision of public toilets, saying: Now is the time for action. This Government has an opportunity to reverse recent decline and make public toilets legal by making their provision a duty and not a choice.



By spending a penny now, we can safeguard facilities for the future, benefiting local communities and local economies in the long term.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
American David Barnes' appeal to be released from a Russian detention center has been denied, causing prosecutors in Moscow to celebrate while Barnes' friends and family in Alabama fear for his future.

In a hearing that lasted roughly three hours on Thursday, a judge at Moscow City Court rejected an effort by Barnes' attorney Gleb Glinka to free him from custody. Instead, the judge increased Barnes' sentence by six months, ordering that he be sent to a high-security penal colony and receive psychiatric treatment.

Cameras were not allowed in the courtroom, but Glinka told ABC News after the hearing that he was astounded by the decision, arguing that the Russian judicial system should not have jurisdiction over this case.

PHOTO: David Barnes appears in court in Russia on Feb. 13, 2024 (ABC News)

Barnes, 67, was convicted and sentenced to 21 years in a Russian penitentiary in February 2024.

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The conviction came after Moscow prosecutors accused Barnes of abusing his two sons in Texas years earlier, despite Texas law enforcement having no involvement in the Russian trial.

Texas prosecutors previously found no basis to charge Barnes with a crime after his Russian ex-wife, Svetlana Koptyaeva, alleged during child custody proceedings that he abused their children in suburban Montgomery County.

"I do know that everyone that heard and investigated the child sexual abuse allegations raised by Mrs. Barnes during the child custody proceedings did not find them to be credible," Montgomery County District Attorney's Office Trial Bureau Chief Kelly Blackburn previously told ABC News.

"I didn't do anything," Barnes told his sister Carol on a phone call earlier this year. "This is a political situation and I need political help."

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MORE: Family pleads for release of Texas father held in Russia following custody battle

Barnes, who was raised in Alabama and lived in Texas prior to his arrest in Moscow, is currently serving the longest prison sentence of any American currently being detained in Russia.

His case is unlike any other foreign detention case involving an American in recent memory, since Russian prosecutors have not accused him of committing crimes on Russian soil.

ABC News has been following the saga of Barnes' detention since not long after he was taken into custody in Moscow in January 2022.

Barnes' family members say he went to Russia a few weeks before his arrest in an effort to fight for visitation rights involving his children in Moscow's family court system.

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Although a Texas family court had designated Barnes as the primary guardian of his sons in August 2020, he could not see them since Koptyaeva, his ex-wife, allegedly committed felony interference with child custody in March 2019 by taking the children from the Houston suburbs to Russia and not returning.

MORE: American teacher's sister pleads for his release from Russian captivity

A Texas warrant for Koptyaeva's arrest remains active. Koptyaeva maintains that Barnes abused their two children, telling ABC News that she brought the children from the U.S. to Russia in order to protect them.

When Koptyaeva found out that Barnes had arrived in Moscow years later, she went to Russian law enforcement officials to report the allegations from Texas, according to Barnes' relatives in Alabama.

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Barnes was subsequently incarcerated.

His family and friends are hoping that he will be brought back from Russia to the U.S. through a prisoner exchange like the ones that saw the releases of Ksenia Karelina, Marc Fogel, Evan Gershkovich and Brittney Griner.

"If they have another exchange and he is not included on it, it's going to devastate him," Paul Carter, a friend of Barnes, told ABC News in January.

MORE: Why were Evan Gershkovich, Paul Whelan and others being held prisoner in Russia?

Carter and Barnes' sisters, along with groups like the James W. Foley Legacy Foundation, are calling on the Trump administration and the State Department to declare Barnes as being wrongfully detained.

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"Embassy officials continue to closely monitor developments in the case and are in contact with Mr. Barnes, his family, and legal team," an unnamed State Department spokesperson said in a statement to ABC News. "Due to privacy considerations, we have no further details to share."

Glinka told ABC News that he is planning to appeal Thursday's ruling.

Moscow court rejects American David Barnes appeal to get out of Russian prison originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Ryan Petersen, CEO of digital freight forwarder Flexport, took to X on Thursday to issue a stark warning, predicting that thousands, and potentially millions, of American small businesses could face bankruptcy in 2025 unless the U.S. reverses its aggressive tariff policies on Chinese imports. In his thread, Petersen outlined how these tariffs, which have already slashed ocean freight bookings from China by up to 50%  SONARs Container Atlas data suggests the true number is more like -20% y/y  are poised to devastate small businesses that rely heavily on Chinese manufacturing.

For many small businesses, relocating production outside of China is not a viable option. Petersen noted that alternative manufacturing hubs like Vietnam prioritize large corporations, leaving smaller players struggling to secure production capacity.

The manufacturers in Vietnam and elsewhere cant be bothered with small batch production jobs typical of a small businesss supply chain, Petersen wrote. This bottleneck leaves small businesses vulnerable as tariffs inflate costs and disrupt supply chains.

SONARs Container Atlas captures ocean container volume data at the point of booking, eight to nine days before the vessels sail. (Chart: SONAR. To learn more about SONAR, click here).





The economic ripple effects are already evident. Petersen said that Flexports own ocean freight bookings from China in the week since the tariffs took effect are down 35%, and guessed that the industrywide number might be 50%. That would translate to roughly $1 trillion in lost economic activity, as U.S. businesses import approximately $600 billion in goods from China annually, generating nearly $2 trillion in retail sales after typical markups.

These companies tend to run very lean, financing inventory and reinvesting excess cash in more marketing and growth initiatives, Petersen explained. If the goods stop, many will die.

The fallout could extend beyond financial losses. Petersen warned that bankrupt American brands may be acquired by their Chinese manufacturers, who could then capture the lucrative customer-facing segment of the supply chain.

When the brands fail, they will be purchased out of bankruptcy by their Chinese factories, who thus far have built everything except a customer-facing brand, Petersen said. This vertical integration would allow Chinese firms to dominate the value chain, undermining decades of American entrepreneurial effort.





Petersen, whose company facilitates global trade, argued that the tariffs long-term consequences could force a policy reversal. America will have to back off these tariffs, its just a question of when, Petersen wrote, suggesting that a future administration might prioritize free trade to avert a deeper recession. His comments echo concerns raised by industry groups like the American Apparel & Footwear Association, which has warned of higher prices and job losses stemming from the tariffs.
The MQ-1C Gray Eagle uncrewed aerial system (UAS) has used the AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire missile, in conjunction with its onboard radar, to shoot down a drone in live-fire tests, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems (GA-ASI) has confirmed to TWZ. While there is currently a major drive in the development of different counter-UAS (C-UAS) systems involving kinetic and non-kinetic solutions, using the Gray Eagle to bring down drones using Hellfire missiles is a new and intriguing development.

GA-ASI has demonstrated live-fire takedown using Longbow Hellfire from Gray Eagle to eliminate a small UAS, C. Mark Brinkley, a company spokesman, told TWZ. Arming the adaptable Gray Eagle with Hellfire missiles is not the only counter-UAS option that GA-ASI is currently pursuing with this platform.

A Hellfire-armed MQ-1C Gray Eagle operating out of Dugway Proving Ground, Utah. U.S. Army

Additionally, our company-funded, live-fire demo of podded miniguns from Gray Eagle STOL (Short Takeoff and Landing) conducted last year offers another interesting and affordable kinetic option for counter-UAS operations, Brinkley added. These flying trash cans simply arent built to withstand incoming 7.62mm rounds, and the miniguns could offer other armed overwatch options not previously explored.

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This is a reference to the Dillon Aero DAP-6 Minigun pods, a weapon system that has been live-fire tested from the GA-ASI Mojave demonstrator drone at the U.S. Armys Yuma Proving Ground.

The Mojave demonstrator has now led to the Gray Eagle STOL version of MQ-1C, which has a configuration tailored for operations from remote or austere locations with rough strips and limited logistical support, with an emphasis on supporting various kinds of expeditionary and distributed operations. More recently, General Atomics has touted the Gray Eagle STOLs capabilities in experiments on aircraft carriers and big-deck amphibious assault ships.

General Atomics Brinkley said the company plans to unveil a new kinetic option for Gray Eagle STOL in the next few months that would further lower the price tag for C-UAS response, while also increasing accuracy and flexibility. Its unclear if this is a reference to the aforementioned Longbow Hellfire, although the reference to reduced costs would seem to point to another, cheaper option, perhaps a laser-guided rocket.

As well as kinetic and non-kinetic means of bringing down hostile drones, GA-ASI has also adapted onboard sensors to allow its drones to detect, track, and then engage the UAS in the first place.

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We have conducted numerous flight tests using our Lynx and EagleEye radar systems for target acquisition and tracking of small UAS, Brinkley confirmed.

The EagleEye synthetic aperture radar can detect and track ground targets out to 50 miles and maritime targets out to 124 miles, although its capability against aerial threats is not presently known. However, with a new active electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna and associated software for EagleEye being developed, this will further increase its range and add to its multi-mode performance.

A GA-ASI graphic showing an EagleEye radar installed in an MQ-9B series drone. GA-ASI

These flight tests are especially significant in that they have utilized the proprietary GA-ASI radars in an air-to-air mode to provide detection, including in the critical look-down mode, and onboard weapons cueing.

Meanwhile, GA-ASI is also continuing to work on a drone-mounted podded laser for C-UAS missions. The podded laser, which the company says is now in development as a concept, was shown mounted on an MQ-9B SkyGuardian drone in a graphic at the Air Force Associations 2025 Warfare Symposium in Aurora, Colorado, last month, and again this month at the Sea-Air-Space Conference in National Harbor, Maryland as reported on by Naval News. GA-ASI appears to be primarily pitching this pod for fleet defense against one-way attack drones.

A new airborne laser has entered the market. It isn't the Boeing-Lockheed-Northrop SHiELD laser that was cancelled last year. This appears to be an internally funded effort building off GA's experience with airborne lasers and their confidence in SWaP restrictions on aircraft. https://t.co/N4kJ94s0Ht pic.twitter.com/gTM739tJrw  Carter Johnston (@__CJohnston__) April 10, 2025

Brinkley says the company already has a very mature laser technology for this application. However, it should be noted that, in general, airborne lasers have been much harder to realize than originally envisioned, with many programs related to them cancelled on technical grounds, as you can read about here.

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At this point, however, the standout item is the live-fire trials of Longbow Hellfire aboard a Gray Eagle drone for the C-UAS mission.

Bearing in mind the fast-growing trend for harnessing new ways of neutralizing the drone threat, combining the Gray Eagle and Lockheed Martins AGM-114L Longbow Hellfire for this application makes a lot of sense.

At the same time, there is already a precedent for using Longbow Hellfire, which is millimeter-wave radar-guided instead of laser-guided like other Hellfire variants, to shoot down drones.

While the AGM-114 Hellfire was developed as an air-to-ground weapon and has been mainly used as such, the Longbow variant does have an air defense role against drones. Notably, Israel has been using the AH-64 Apache in attack helicopters in an air defense capacity for years, including one well-known shootdown of a Hezbollah drone close to the Syrian border.

An AH-64 Apache Attack Helicopter with the Israeli Air Force conducting a Successful Interception of an inbound Hezbollah Attack Drone, this morning over Northern Israel. pic.twitter.com/1l2fcBYNYS  OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) August 25, 2024

In October last year, the U.S. Army published a video showing its AH-64D Longbow Apache helicopters practicing detecting and destroying enemy aerial drones while forward deployed to the Middle East, a region where the drone threat  especially from one-way attack munitions or kamikaze drones  has exploded in recent months.

. @USArmy Soldiers engage an unmanned aerial system (UAS) from an AH-64 with upgraded Hellfire missile during Red Sands training exercise in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. @usarmycentral pic.twitter.com/HG9ChuWxt6  U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) September 30, 2024

The Army video appears to show a variant or modification of the Longbow Hellfire, with initial cuing for its millimeter-wave radar seeker provided by the Apaches AN/APG-78 Longbow mast-mounted radar system. The same radar can detect and track aerial targets, such as lower-flying helicopters, and also aerial drones.

AH-64 fires a Hellfire bound for a target drone during the Red Sands exercise. CENTCOM screencap

The Longbow Hellfire also has a demonstrated capability to engage aerial threats when launched from other platforms, including ones on the ground. More recently, the U.S. Navy carried out a crash program to enable its Freedom class Littoral Combat Ships (LCS) armed with AGM-114Ls to employ them against drones. The LCSs originally received the radar-guided Hellfires to help defend against swarms of small boats.

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While the U.S. military still has significant stocks of AGM-114Ls in inventory, the missile is out of production. Lockheed Martins new AGM-179A Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), which has a dual-mode laser and millimeter-wave radar guidance package, is now entering U.S. service as a successor to other Hellfire variants. It could also supplant the Longbow version, including in the air-to-air role.

At this point, it should be recalled that the U.S. Air Force has successfully integrated the AIM-9X Sidewinder heat-seeking air-to-air missile onto its MQ-9 Reaper drone, this combination scoring its first ever air-to-air kill in an exercise in 2017. Not long after that, the service announced that it was looking to give at least some of these unmanned aircraft the ability to take on aerial threats, providing them with a significant self-protection capability that could also be complementary to the drone-hunting developments for the MQ-1C.

An MQ-9 carrying an AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air missile. U.S. Navy

While its not clear how the UAS target was detected and tracked in the Gray Eagle C-UAS live-fire experiment, specifically, it may be that one of the aforementioned Lynx or EagleEye radar systems, produced by GA-ASI, was used. In another scenario, the radar could be used for the detection of a drone threat, with the Multi-Spectral Targeting System (MTS) then used for identification and laser designation, should laser weapons be used on the Gray Eagle in the future.

However, the engagement played out, the potential of a drone-killing combination of Gray Eagle and Longbow Hellfire is compelling.

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For the most part, C-UAS systems are ground-based, meaning their flexibility and responsiveness are necessarily limited.

In contrast, a drone like the Gray Eagle can be redirected to provide a counter-drone capability wherever it might be most needed. The drones can also be forward-based, operating very close to ground forces. They can then be launched fairly rapidly in response to incoming threats. This is especially the case for the Gray Eagle STOL version.

The short-field capabilities found in the Gray Eagle STOL were ported over from the Mojave demonstrator, the stated performance of which includes a takeoff run of 400 feet for intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions, or 1,000 feet when armed with 12 Hellfire missiles.

GA-ASIs Mojave demonstrator during takeoff and landing trials on a dirt strip near El Mirage, California, on August 1, 2023. GA-ASI

Furthermore, a Gray Eagle drone carrying Hellfire missiles  or a combination of these and other weapons  would not be a single-role platform, as many more traditional C-UAS systems are. As well as intercepting drones, the Gray Eagle could offer armed escort for ground forces and provide overwatch with its sensors. Highly significant is also the endurance of these drones, which are able to stay on station for 24 hours or more. This persistence is ideal for providing surveillance in a C-UAS scenario, as well as screening for drones transiting a given area, creating something like a combat air patrol (CAP).

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While fighter aircraft have increasingly taken on a drone intercept role with great success, they are very costly and can only stay on station for short periods of time without refueling support. On the other hand, they can run-down drones in scenarios where a Gray Eagle could not. Still, for lower volume threats and for point defense applications over or near a specific target area, the MQ-1C could be extremely valuable.

The Longbow Hellfire does remain a higher-end solution for dealing with lower-end drones. As we have discussed in the past, it costs around $215,000 to buy a single, basic AGM-114, with the radar-guided Longbow models costing even more. Still, this is far cheaper than common air-to-air missiles, which have at lease double the cost. In the case of the workhorse AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM), the unit price is around $1 million a round.

This is all very likely driving interest in an even cheaper kinetic C-UAS option for Gray Eagle.

The Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) laser-guided rocket, for example, is far less costly than a Hellfire, coming in at around $25,000-30,0000 per round. A rocket-based weapon like APKWS II would also provide the Gray Eagle with a much larger magazine of effectors, although only one drone could be engaged at a time due to the types laser guidance. Still, getting into a position to employ APKWS II would be more of a challenge for MQ-1C than a fighter aircraft, especially rapidly against multiple targets. F-16s have been effective at employing APKWS II against drones over the Red Sea. A new APKWS II model that offers pseudo-fire-and-forget capability with the help of an additional infrared seeker is in the works, which will simplify engagements and reduce the time it takes to prosecute them.

Potentially even more important for overcoming these cost and magazine depth issues are laser weapons, like the aforementioned podded design that General Atomics is working on now, provided this challenging technology can be mastered.

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While there are still many questions around GA-ASIs Gray Eagle/Longbow Hellfire C-UAS trials, they underscore how drones themselves are increasingly being seen as an effective counter to the UAS threat, especially at the lower end of the scale.

Contact the author: thomas@thewarzone.com
CHICAGO  The Chicago Police Department has deployed multiple officers to the citys Streeterville neighborhood to prevent a possible teen takeover.

On Friday evening, WGN-TV saw multiple Chicago police officers standing outside the AMC Movie Theater trying to prevent that possible teen takeover.

SEE ALSO: Streeterville tests new safety measures in Ogden Plaza to prevent teen takeovers as summer nears

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Police came to the area after receiving word that a teen takeover would be happening at the theater Friday night.

The Streeterville Organization of Active Residents sent out a special community alert Friday afternoon, saying in an effort to prevent large groups of teens from coming to the area, Chicagos Office of Emergency Management has implemented geofencing in the area, meaning anyone who wants to use rideshare services  such as Uber or Lyft  will not be able to do so.

The area includes Columbus Drive, McClurg Court, Grand Avenue and North Water Street.

City Council appears close to deal on amending teen curfew policy

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WGN-TV spoke with people who were concerned to hear about another potential teen takeover.

I mean hopefully there isnt [another teen takeover], a resident named Brenda said. I had a friend tell me she saw one and she left the city early, so were hoping that doesnt happen today.

The increased police presence comes after city leaders had been urged to do something after recent teen takeovers resulted in people getting shot, including a tourist.

CPD sends message to CPS parents on preventing teen takeovers

Earlier in the week, Mayor Brandon Johnson said the city must help prevent these gatherings from turning violent.

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We need accountability of course. We also need investments and resources, Johnson said.

One of those investments has been partnering with the Crisis Prevention Response Unit, an organization that has been attending teen takeovers over the last few years and has built relationships with the teens and the police.

We are here to be a buffer between the two, but we also know there are consequences to actions. We tell the kids that, to think about the consequences to their actions, too, Rodney Phillips, associate director of the Crisis Prevention Response Unit, said.

WGN-TV saw at least one teenager being put in handcuffs Friday night.

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Arrests at previous teen takeovers have often happened past 10 p.m., when teenagers violate a city-wide curfew.

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NACOGDOCHES, Texas (KETK)  Two Nacogdoches residents were arrested for possession of cocaine, ecstasy, marijuana and firearms by the Nacogdoches County Sheriffs Office early Thursday morning.

According to the sheriffs office, deputies pulled over Luther Levann Jackson, 38, around 11 a.m. for a traffic violation. They discovered an active warrant for his arrest and took Jackson into custody. Later they also obtained a search warrant for Jacksons residence in the 1700 block of Castleberry Street after an ongoing investigation revealed narcotics were present in the home, the sheriffs office said.

When deputies searched the residence they reportedly found the following items:

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5.9 ounces of cocaine

14.9 ounces of methamphetamine

3.8 lbs. of marijuana

8.7 ounces of ecstasy

Four firearms, including one reported stolen from Angelina County and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

Mugshot of Tynequa Shanice Blakey, courtesy of Nacogdoches Sheriffs Office

Mugshot of Luther Levann Jackson, courtesy of Nacogdoches Sheriffs Office

Tynequa Shanice Blakey was present at the residence and deputies took her into custody as well.

Jackson was arrested on charges possession of a controlled substance and possession of marijuana.

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By Dean Geddes, dgeddes@inkym.com

After the Trump administration suspended the Empire Wind offshore energy project over claims of rushed approvals and inadequate analysis, Nantucket nonprofit ACK For Whales is urging federal regulators to take similar action against Vineyard Wind.

The group is calling for Vineyard Winds revised construction plan to be revoked due to unresolved safety and environmental concerns.

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The island nonprofit, which opposes offshore wind development, has formally petitioned the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management to rescind the construction and operations plan for Vineyard Wind 1.

The revised plan was approved Jan. 17, 2025, following a major turbine blade failure and the discovery of potential manufacturing defects affecting as many as 66 blades.

On April 16, 2025, Doug Burgum, Secretary of Interior, directed BOEM to issue a suspension order of the Empire Offshore Wind project off New York, citing serious deficiencies in analyses and rushed approvals. Vineyard Wind 1, subject to the same highly expedited process, is replete with analytic deficiencies, the petition states.

The group claims the revised operations plan fails to adequately assess the environmental risks posed by frequent blade failures, such as marine debris.

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It also argues that the plan was approved without public comment, lacks a root cause analysis of the July 2024 blade failure and does not include sufficient response plans for future incidents.

The public at large on Nantucket has had significant concerns go unanswered since the July 13, 2024, blade failure, they noted.

The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement agreed to take written public questions and answer them by Jan 4. BSEE received hundreds of questions from the public and the meeting was postponed to Feb. 3, then indefinitely postponed, according to announcements relayed by the Nantucket Select Board.

Neither the broad set of questions submitted by the public or the answers to them were ever shared with the public, the petition said.

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The petition was signed by ACK For Whales members Vallorie Oliver, Amy DiSibio and Veronica Bonnet. The full petition can be found here.

On Wednesday, Burgum directed BOEM to halt construction of Empire Wind, a fully-permitted project planned off the coast of Long Island. He said it needed further review because its permitting was potentially rushed by the Biden administration.

Vineyard Wind 1, the nations first utility-scale offshore wind facility, when completed, will include 62 turbines that will generate enough electricity to power 400,000 homes and businesses, according to the Vineyard Wind website.

The Inquirer and Mirror on Nantucket is a news partner of MassLive.com. To subscribe to The Inquirer and Mirror, click here.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A team of engineering students from Hawaii Pacific University is preparing to launch big dreams into the sky and into space history.

The students are part of a national NASA competition that puts their rocket-building skills to the test against 70 other teams of student engineers.

The 2025 NASA Student Launch Competition challenges college teams to design, build and launch high-powered rockets. HPU is the only university in Hawaii competing in the event.

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The competition culminates with a final launch on May 3 in Huntsville, Alabama, home to NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center.

Their team is called Lewa, the Olelo Hawaii word for air. It includes eight electrical engineering students mentored by Assistant Professor Arif Rahman, Ph.D.

We are incredibly proud to represent Hawaii in this national competition, Rahman said. We named our team Lewa to honor Hawaiis heritage. Air symbolizes both the medium were launching through and the boundless possibilities ahead of us.

So, whats the competition going to look like and what will it mean for the winning team? Heres what KHON2.com found.

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1. Its not only about rockets

The NASA Student Launch is a nine-month, hands-on experience where students develop the skills to launch a rocket and follow the same design process NASA uses for real missions. From early sketches to flight tests, teams must go through design reviews with NASA experts at every step.

This NASA student challenge is an amazing real-world platform for our electrical engineering students, Rahman said. It allows them to collaborate with aerospace professionals and refine the skills that will shape their future careers.

2. The goal: 4,600 feet

HPUs rocket is designed to fly exactly 4,600 feet high. A recovery system with parachutes will bring the rocket and its payload safely back to the ground. Teams are judged on altitude, flight safety, documentation and how well their payload performs.

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Our rocket took seconds to launch, but it was built on months of grit, teamwork, and relentless problem-solving, said Gabriel Garcia-Monroy, a junior and team lead.

3. HPU is flying solo for Hawaii

Out of 70 teams nationwide, HPU is the only one from Hawaii. That means Lewa isnt just representing their school. Theyre representing an entire state.

4. Its more than a competition

NASA created the Student Launch program to support real missions like Artemis, which aims to return astronauts to the Moon and eventually reach Mars. Students work with NASA subject matter experts and use their designs to help with space exploration research.

5. Its a pathway to the stars

Supported by NASAs Office of STEM Engagement and Next Gen STEM, the competition prepares students for careers in science, engineering and aerospace. After launch day, teams must study flight data and submit a Post Launch Assessment Review, just like real NASA teams.

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You can click here to learn more about the competition, here to see the teams competing, here to access NASAs YouTube channel and here to learn more about HPUs electrical engineering degree program.

Whether youre watching from Honolulu or Huntsville, one thing is clear: the students at HPU are aiming high and bringing Hawaii with them.

Get news on the go with KHON 2GO, KHONs morning podcast, every morning at 8

Were excited to showcase our work in Huntsville and stand alongside teams across the country, Rahman said.

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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Tennessee hemp dispensaries are in jeopardy now that the state legislature passed a bill effectively banning THCA products that can get you high.

A bill that bans hemp products with more than .3% THCA passed Thursday in the Senate. Its heading to the governors desk.

We need this industry regulated; its been the wild west up until now, said Rep. Kevin Vaughan (R-Collierville).

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Lawmakers said the concern is that when its heated, it turns into THC, which is the same substance in marijuana that gets you high.

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If we vote this bill down, then Tennessee has totally regulated recreational marijuana, Sen. Richard Briggs (R-Knox County), sponsor of the bill, said.

Everything we sell is federally legal in our stores, said Ankeet Patel.

Patel is the owner of Elevated Smoke and Vape Shop in Nashville. Really the industry brought us to Tennessee, really the hemp laws brought us to Tennessee, Patel said.

The shop carries a good number of hemp-derived products. Everything in these cases would be impacted, which is roughly 30 to 40 percent of our business, Patel said.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

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Patel showed News 2 naturally derived hemp flower, which could be banned altogether. However, there is still a big question mark on whether or not synthetics would be legal to sell.

The product being sold today is nothing, nothing like the product that was being sold 20-25 years ago or 30 years ago, Briggs said.

Patel said another big concern over the potential law is where his clients will go.

Pushing the client to the black market raises a lot of question marks as well, or youre pushing them to behind state lines, which just means another state is collecting the tax that Tennessee should be collecting, Patel said.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

The bill also shifts regulation of the hemp industry to the states Alcoholic Beverage Commission.

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Monmouth College has been awarded nearly $1 million by the National Science Foundation (NSF) to launch an ambitious new program aimed at increasing the success of Pell Grant eligible students pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM.) according to a news release.

(Photo courtesy of Monmouth College)

The $999,764 grant, part of the NSFs competitive Scholarships in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (S-STEM) program, will fund the Colleges new FLASH initiative-Focus on Learning for All with STEM as a Home. Over six years, the program will provide scholarships and robust academic and career support to approximately 15 academically talented students with exceptional financial need, as determined by the U.S. Department of Education. This opportunity will include transfer students from community colleges beginning in the fall of 2026 scholarship cycle.

The application for the Fall 2025 scholarship will be open on April 15th and student eligibility requirements include:

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Minimum 3.0 GPA

PELL Grant eligibility

Must be an incoming freshman

Must be interested in a STEM major at Monmouth College

This award is a transformative investment in our students and in the region, said Laura Moore, principal investigator and professor of chemistry at Monmouth College. The FLASH program will open doors for students who have the talent but may not have the means to pursue a STEM education and it will also provide the support systems necessary to help them thrive.

The program targets students majoring in eight disciplines across four departments: Mathematics and computer science; biology and neuroscience; biochemistry and chemistry; and physics and engineering. Selected scholars could receive up to $15,000 per year in scholarships and participate in intensive mentorship, undergraduate research, and professional development opportunities.

Community STEM pipeline

FLASH is especially focused on increasing STEM participation among rural students with exceptional financial need, a population historically underrepresented in these fields. Monmouth Colleges strong ties with regional high schools, community colleges, and growing partnerships with STEM employers in many disciplines and national laboratories, make us uniquely positioned to build a local pipeline of talented STEM professionals and support economically disadvantaged students, said co-principal investigator and Monmouth College physics professor Chris Fasano.

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Aside from scholarship, the program will include outreach to local high schools, the opportunity to participate in a paid eight-week summer research program one summer during college, the opportunity to participate in the SOFIA summer research program, opportunities to attend professional STEM conferences, mentorship from faculty, upperclassmen and other STEM professionals, and support from Monmouth Colleges Wackerle Center for Career Leadership. Scholars will also serve as STEM Ambassadors, engaging in science communication and outreach in local communities.

FLASH is about more than financial support-its about creating a strong, supportive community where students from all backgrounds can see themselves thriving in STEM, said Robert Utterback, co-principal investigator and associate professor of computer science.

Measuring impact and contributing to national research

Beyond individual student support, FLASH includes a rigorous evaluation component that will contribute to national research on student success in STEM. By analyzing how mentorship, research, and a strong sense of belonging affect outcomes, the program aims to inform best practices for similar institutions.

This project is designed not just to support our students, it will also help build knowledge about what works in STEM education for under-served populations, said Janet Ugolino, co-principal investigator and assistant professor of biology.

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A lasting legacy

FLASH builds on Monmouth Colleges continued emphasis on STEM and is the latest in a series of strategic investments by Monmouth College to expand access to high-impact STEM education and to prepare students for in-demand careers in the region and beyond.

This is about creating lasting change, not just for individual students, but for the communities we serve and the industries that need their talents, said Monmouth College President Dr. Patricia Draves. This award reflects the work of our outstanding STEM professors and furthers Monmouth College as a leader in STEM education.

Eligible students will receive information from the FLASH S-STEM coordinators about the application process for fall 2025. Information about applying for the Fall 2026 cohort will be shared in the coming months.

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By Jonathan Stempel

(Reuters) - Tesla has settled a racial discrimination lawsuit by a Black female employee who claimed a manager at its Fremont, California, plant sometimes greeted workers by saying "welcome to the plantation" or "welcome to the slave house."

Raina Pierce, who installed latches on car doors, and the automaker led by billionaire Elon Musk agreed to a settlement proposed by a mediator, according to a joint filing on Thursday in San Francisco federal court.

Terms were not disclosed, and both sides are finalizing a settlement agreement, the filing said.

Lawyers for Pierce and Tesla did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Musk is not a defendant.

Pierce said she was subjected to pervasive harassment, including a common racial slur she said was scrawled throughout the plant including in bathrooms, and a gender-based insult.

She also said she was yelled at or disciplined for conduct for which non-Black workers were excused.

Pierce's complaint quotes a Tesla employee who temporarily joined her production line and said, "Ma'am, you need to go to HR because these leads are saying things about you that are not right."

Tesla has faced other accusations of racial discrimination and harassment at the Fremont plant.

One plaintiff, elevator operator Owen Diaz, settled in March 2024 for undisclosed terms after a $3.2 million jury verdict. Another jury had awarded Diaz $137 million in 2021, but the case was retried after he rejected a lower sum the judge proposed.

The case is Pierce v Tesla Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California, No. 22-03177.

(Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Richard Chang)
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has stated that neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian side has any strategic capability to end this war quickly and that the United States will not remain engaged in negotiations indefinitely if there is no progress from them.

Source: Rubio while speaking to journalists at the Le Bourget Airport in Paris

Details: Rubio expressed that the war had reached a dead end and that neither the Ukrainian nor the Russian side currently had enough strategic resources for a fast victory.

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He emphasised that delaying peace initiatives would only deepen the humanitarian crisis and increase the number of those killed on both sides. As an example, Rubio brought up the recent attack on Sumy on Palm Sunday that had killed civilians.

Quote: "I think we have bigger challenges that we need to figure out whether it's even possible within the short term. I can tell you this: this war has no military solution to it. It really doesn't. It's not going to be decided with  neither side has some strategic capability to end this war quickly. And so what we're talking about here is avoiding thousands and thousands of people from dying over the next year. We're trying to avoid that."

Details: Rubio remarked that US President Donald Trump's administration had already spent three years and billions of dollars on assistance for Ukraine and diplomatic efforts. However, the US is not ready to participate in negotiations indefinitely if the two sides do not demonstrate a true desire for peace.

"We're prepared to be engaged in this as long as it takes, but not indefinitely, not without progress," Rubio stressed.

Background:

Rubio arrived in Paris on Thursday 17 April to take part in the first discussions on Ukraine between Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians at a time when the Washington-initiated ceasefire talks have stalled and Europeans are trying to make their voices heard.

On Friday 18 April, he said that it was necessary to determine in "a matter of days" whether peace in Ukraine was possible, stressing that the United States had other priorities, following meetings in Paris between Americans, Europeans and Ukrainians.

Earlier, Rubio said that the US is ready to abandon efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine if no progress is seen "in a matter of days".

Trump confirmed that he may give up attempts to broker a peace agreement between Ukraine and Russia in the absence of progress, although he did not specify the conditions under which this would happen.

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Israels Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed to continue the war in Gaza in the face of growing opposition to Israels ongoing military campaign.

In a pre-recorded video Saturday night, Netanyahu said Israel has no choice but to keep fighting for our very own existence until victory. The long-time Israeli leader called for perseverance and resilience in order to destroy Hamas and bring back the remaining 59 hostages.

Netanyahu pointed to Hamas recent rejection of an Israeli ceasefire proposal as a reason Israel will continue its bombardment of Gaza. Israels proposal called for a disarmament of Gaza and did not include a permanent end to the war, both of which have been red lines for Hamas.

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If we surrender to Hamass demands now, all the tremendous achievements gained by our soldiers, our fallen, and our wounded heroesthose achievements will simply be lost, Netanyahu said.

He argued that allowing Hamas to remain in Gaza means President [Donald] Trumps important vision could never be realized. Trump has called for moving Palestinians out of Gaza to other countries and redeveloping the coastal enclave into a Riviera of the Middle East. He has also floated the idea of US ownership of the narrow strip of land, which is home to more than 2 million Palestinians.

The Hostage Families Forum Headquarters criticized the Israeli premiers taped statement.

Many words and slogans will not succeed in hiding the simple truth  Netanyahu has no plan, the forum said. Its no surprise there was no time for questions  otherwise, he would have had to answer the most basic one: What exactly is the State of Israel doing to immediately bring back all 59 hostages?

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Netanyahu also mentioned Iran during his statement, just hours after the US and Iran concluded their second round of talks on Tehrans nuclear program. Im committed to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon, he said. I will not give up on this, I will not let go.

People take part in a protest in Tel Aviv against the Israeli government and Netanyahu, as they call for the release of the hostages on March 29, 2025 - Itai Ron/Reuters

Calls grow to end the war

Netanyahus speech comes amid growing protest and opposition to the ongoing military campaign.

Thousands of Israeli military reservists and retirees have signed public letters calling for a ceasefire deal to return all of the hostages, even at the cost of ending the war. The letters have now come from an increasing number of military units, including elite intelligence and commando units, as well as civilian professions.

Many Israelis prioritize a deal to return the hostages, even if it means ending the war, according to recent polling. A poll from Israels Channel 12 News, released late-last month, indicated that nearly 70% supported such a deal, while only 21% opposed an end to the war.

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A two-month ceasefire that saw 33 Israeli and five Thai hostages released from captivity collapsed on March 18 when Israel renewed its bombardment of Gaza. Israel and the US blamed Hamas for the ceasefires end.

Shortly before Netanyahus statement, his spokesman, Omer Dostri, said its not possible to bring everyone back, calling it a spin. Speaking to Channel 12 News, Dostri added, Right now, its not possible to make a single all for all deal, because Hamas is demanding an end to the war and a withdrawal from Gaza.

The leader of Israels opposition, Yair Lapid, said Dostris comments were an admission that the Israeli government has given up on the effort to bring the hostages home. Lapid called for Netanyahu to clarify the governments position. In a statement on social media, he said, If this is the Prime Ministers official stance, he should stand up and say it himself. If not, he should apologize on behalf of his spokesperson.

Netanyahu pre-recorded statement released a short time later did not address his spokesmans comments.

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CNNs Katelyn Polantz on Friday highlighted a federal judges sharp warning to the Trump administration this week as officials defy a Supreme Court order regarding the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.

Ive never read anything like this from an appeals court before, said Polantz, CNNs crime and justice correspondent.

Her remarks come after Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson  a conservative appointed by Ronald Reagan to the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals  ripped the Trump administrations hopes of appealing a court order to facilitate Abrego Garcias return after the Maryland father of three was deported to a Salvadoran prison.

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Polantz said the court sees the Trump administration doing nothing to facilitate the mans return and finds officials behavior to be a sign of the crumbling of American democracy.

Polantz then read from Wilkinsons blistering order on the case where he urged the Trump administration to follow the Constitution in a way that  as she put it  preserves American democracy before it is too late.

If today the Executive claims the right to deport without due process and in disregard of court orders, what assurance will there be tomorrow that it will not deport American citizens and then disclaim responsibility to bring them home? the judge wrote. And what assurance shall there be that the Executive will not train its broad discretionary powers upon its political enemies?

Polantz summed up the judges fierce rebuke of the Trump administration.

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This is the starkest warning that we have ever seen really from a federal appellate court, a conservative judge, toward the executive branch today in this case, but much bigger issues at play, she said.

H/T Mediaite

Related...
(WHNT)  With only one month left in the 2025 Legislative Session in Montgomery, News 19s Tamika Alexander spoke with Rex Reynolds, who has big plans for Alabama.

Reynolds plays a key role in overseeing the states budget, serving as the House Chair of the Ways and Means General Fund Committee.

Man from Arab dies following hatchet attack in Arizona

Over the last few months, Reynolds, along with other state lawmakers, have been debating bills including gambling, grocery tax and Medicaid expansion.

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My year stats long before the session, but you know, youre meeting with associations that theyre typically in the General Fund Budget, but then youre meeting with the department heads, understanding their budget needs, Reynolds said. I work very closely with the Executive Budget Office, or the Governors Office.

One bill he sponsored has generated plenty of debate.

Reynolds Back the Blue bill provides more protection for police officers by granting them a hearing if they are indicted for any wrongdoing. And in deadly police shooting cases, it gives the officer time to argue that they acted in self-defence much earlier in the process than under the current law.

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Theres been liability protections for law enforcement for over 50 years, Reynolds said. But that bill needed to be upgraded based on a couple of Supreme Court Rulings. So we did all that in that piece of legislation. And I think that just, and I told the members this, it better clarifies when an officer does have coverage and when he does not, Reynolds said.

Because if they act within the scope of their duty, then they should have protection. If they act recklessly and outside the scope of their duties, then they shouldnt have protection, Reynolds said.

Reynolds has found that balancing the budget comes with both challenges and cuts. Some lawmakers voiced concerns when they noticed the elimination of funding for line items that included the Magic City Classic, the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute and the Jazz Hall of Fame.

When asked what he had to say to people who feel like it was a race issue with those items being taken out of the budget, Reynolds said, It was unfortunate it was taken that way.

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Were having to be a little tighter in the general fund. And so those items, were just left out, you know, and it was considered to be a racial thing because there were many more, I think I think one line item right below that is, is a black womens mental health line item that was funded.

Reynolds said the Senate budget chairman, Greg Albritton, has assured him that those items will be restored to the budget. Meanwhile, something that wont be restored is the overtime pay tax break that expires in June. This exemption applies to full-time, hourly-wage employees who work more than 40 hours in a week. But Reynolds said the state cant afford to continue it.

That was a great bill when it went passed its first time, and in fact, I co-sponsored that bill with minority leader, Anthony Daniels. But this time with the package that weve just done, but over $1.2 billion in tax cuts, just this session, we cant do that, Reynolds said.

Alabama became the first state to exempt overtime pay from state income tax. So far, more than 800 bills have been introduced in this session, which is set to wrap up on May 13. The House has already approved the $3.7 billion general fund budget. It now heads to the Senate.

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Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday offered clemency to 25 felons, including a Cambodian immigrant facing deportation, in a series of pardons and commutations issued before the Easter holiday.

The governor has been a critic of the Trump administration's immigration policy, including condemning the deportation of Venezuelan immigrants to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador last month without due process. Newsom's pardon of Sithy Bin of Long Beach follows efforts by the governor and his predecessor, Jerry Brown, to use their clemency powers to help immigrants targeted for deportation.

Bin, a former member of the Crips with Attitude gang, was sentenced to 40 years to life in 2008 after he was convicted in Stanislaus County of shooting at the home of a rival gang member during a barbecue, injuring a bystander.

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Read more: Newsom asks Trump administration to bring deported Venezuelan immigrant to the U.S.

Bin became a minister during the 15 years he spent in prison. His good behavior and work to rehabilitate himself and support other felons led to a reduced sentence.

"While in prison, Mr. Bin was never disciplined for misconduct," Newsom wrote in his pardon order. "He engaged in extensive self-help programming, maintained an excellent work history, and received numerous commendations from correctional staff for his positive transformation."

Bin was released into the custody of Immigration and Customs Enforcement during the COVID-19 pandemic and detained at a Mesa Verde processing center, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. Due to overcrowding and unsafe conditions, he was released from detention in 2020.

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At a recent immigration appointment, he was given 60 days to self-deport back to Cambodia, a country he left as a toddler, according to the Signal Tribune.

Bin and his supporters sent letters to Newsom requesting a pardon under the hope that it would allow him to remain in California.

A pardon restores some rights to former felons, such as the ability to serve on a jury or to seek a professional license. In limited cases, pardons can restore gun rights to those convicted of crimes that did not involve a dangerous weapon or relieve a sex offender from being required to register.

The governor considers a clemency applicant's efforts to improve themselves, their conduct since the offense, appropriate justice and the impact on crime victims and the community before awarding pardons or commutations, according to the governor's office. Newsom has granted 224 pardons, 150 commutations and 42 reprieves since taking office in 2019.

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Read more: Newsom pardons five California veterans

The governor on Friday also offered a posthumous pardon to Sgt. Richard Allen Penry, a U.S. Army veteran and recipient of the Medal of Honor. Newsom announced he was working on the Vietnam War veteran's pardon on Veterans Day in November.

Penry, a Petaluma native, received the nation's highest honor for extraordinary heroism at the risk of his own life from President Nixon in 1971. He returned home with post-traumatic stress disorder, which was not well understood at the time, and started using drugs to self-medicate.

Penry was arrested two years after his Medal of Honor for selling $950 of cocaine to an undercover officer, according to a 1973 article in the New York Times.

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He died in 1994 at 45 years old from cancer likely related to Agent Orange exposure, and local advocates have worked for years to contextualize his crimes with his service-related mental illness.

Newsom received approval from the California Supreme Court to pardon Penry, a requirement when someone has more than one felony conviction.

Bin and Penry are among 16 felons who received pardons and nine people who received commutations.

Among those who received commutations was Refugio Castillo. In 1986, he and accomplices kidnapped two North Hollywood men who owed them money and held them for ransom. The hostages were beaten while being held captive and later released.

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Castillo, a Peruvian national, and his accomplices were considered international bandits and wanted on several continents, according to the Los Angeles Times coverage of their trial, which lasted more than five months. At the trial, Deputy Dist. Atty. Kenneth A. Loveman said the kidnappers falsely believed that the victims were wealthy drug dealers.

The four were convicted on two counts each of kidnapping and robbery and one count each of conspiracy to kidnap for ransom. A fifth defendant was acquitted, and another suspect was fatally shot by police. Castillo and the three others were sentenced to life without possibility of parole.

Castillo is now 78 years old and has been incarcerated for 38 years. Newsom stated that Castillo has committed himself to self-improvement while in prison and appears to be a good prospect for reentry into the community. The commutation will allow the state Board of Parole Hearings to determine if Castillo is suitable for release.

Times staff writer Phil Willon contributed to this report.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Apr. 19Ballots for the 2025 municipal elections may be getting longer by the day.

City records show that nine people have filed to run for Albuquerque mayor, with crime, homelessness and an uncertain economic future being top issues among city residents.

Nine is a high number of candidates, which means that a runoff election could be held in the future if no candidate receives more than 50% of the vote. But not all nine are guaranteed a spot on the ballot. That's because each candidate must collect 3,000 signatures by June 21 to lock in their position.

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Saturday is the first day for mayoral candidates to collect those signatures.

Here's a little about each candidate:

Alpana Adair

Alpana Adair is a human resources professional.

She previously worked for a hospitality consulting firm and moved to the Albuquerque area three years ago. On her campaign website, she states that she wants to reduce juvenile crime, create more jobs, and improve residents' quality of life.

Mayling Armijo

Mayling Armijo is the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.

On her campaign website, she lists her priorities as crime, housing and homelessness, substance abuse, job growth, and setting term limits for the mayor's office.

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Brian Fejer

Brian Fejer, an Albuquerque resident, does not have a campaign website. Instead, he has a Substack blog entitled "La Politica" with a post called "Brian Fejer for ABQ Mayor 2025," which has the subheading "This is satire."

On his blog, Fejer says he would declare a "public mental health emergency," focusing on the fentanyl crisis. He also calls for the creation of an Albuquerque subway system.

Tim Keller

Tim Keller is the incumbent mayor, seeking a third term in office.

Keller has said that his next term will focus on combating crime and homelessness while prioritizing redevelopment and housing. Other mayors have served three terms, but Keller would be the first to serve three consecutive terms.

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Patrick Sais

Patrick Sais ran unsuccessfully for the New Mexico House of Representatives in 2024 and for mayor in 2021.

His campaign website states that he's focused on "enhancing public safety, improving educational opportunities and promoting sustainable economic growth."

Louie Sanchez

Louie Sanchez currently represents City Council District 1 on Albuquerque's West Side.

A staunch critic of Keller and Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina, Sanchez's campaign website calls for "safer communities," "a stronger community" and "solutions for homelessness." Sanchez is a former APD police officer.

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Alexander Uballez

Alexander Uballez was most recently the U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico but resigned at the request of President Donald Trump. Uballez has also served as a prosecutor for the 2nd Judicial District Attorney's Office.

Uballez is the latest candidate to enter the race. On his campaign website, he said that public safety and "cutting through red tape" to increase the housing stock would be top priorities.

Eddie Varela

Eddie Varela is a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.

Varela's website lists six issues, including safety, homelessness, transparency, seniors, youth and small businesses.

Darren White

Darren White is the former sheriff of Bernalillo County.

His campaign website said he'll prioritize crime, homelessness and what he called government efficiency.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Utah (ACLU) has teamed with several local immigration attorneys in filing a lawsuit on behalf of nine international students in Utah whose SEVIS registration records were abruptly terminated without explanation.

In a suit filed Friday, nine plaintiffs identified as John Doe or Jane Doe petitioned the U.S. District Court to allow them to continue their studies in Utah by reinstating them in the SEVIS registry.

The plaintiffs, according to the complaint, are using pseudonyms due to fear of retaliation by Defendants.

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In the United States, everyone  no matter your immigration status  has a constitutional right to due process, said Jason M. Groth, Legal Director at the ACLU of Utah, in a statement.

To terminate an international students SEVIS registration, the U.S. government must adhere to regulatory standards and provide basic due process, which it has failed to do  its not just wrong, its unlawful.

The students, Groth added, have constitutional and procedural protections that we seek to enforce with this lawsuit to ensure the government respects the rights of everyone.

The defendants listed in the complaint include U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, Secretary of Homeland Security Kristi Noem and Todd Lyons, the acting director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

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SEVIS is the web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to maintain information on international students enrolled in schools in the United States.

The termination of a SEVIS record effectively ends student status, according to the court complaint.

Upon SEVIS termination, the student instantly becomes out of status, losing all employment authorizations and student privileges, the complaint added.

The plaintiffs in the suit are bringing action under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Fifth Amendment of the Constitution (ensuring due process) and the Declaratory Judgment Act to challenge ICEs illegal termination of their SEVIS record.

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The plaintiffs are also seeking a temporary restraining order reinstating, among other things, their SEVIS registration and restoring their student status.

Immigration lawyer: Impacted students face irreparable harm

Fridays suit follows the high-profile news over the past couple of weeks of international college students across the country  including dozens in Utah  having their student visas revoked.

The students represented in Fridays complaint are from four countries: China, Nigeria, Mexico and Japan. They attend several local universities and colleges  including the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, BYU-Idaho and Ensign College.

ACLU of Utah staff attorney Tom Ford called the abrupt and unexplained termination of the students SEVIS registration profoundly concerning.

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These students now face deportation or worse, placing their education and futures in jeopardy, said Ford in the ACLU of Utah release.

Coordinated attacks on due process are paving the way for the kind of tyrannical government our Constitution was meant to prevent  and the ACLU of Utah is taking action to stop that abuse of power and keep rights intact for all of us.

Adam Crayk, an attorney representing one of the plaintiffs in Fridays suit, said the random and arbitrary termination of SEVIS registration of international students in Utah and across the country violates Constitutional rights and the rule of law.

The government has arbitrarily, without any good or valid reason, terminated their SEVIS registrations without providing them any avenue to seek review or procedural due process other than this lawsuit.

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Added immigration attorney Phillip Kuck: These students face irreparable harm if the courts do not correct the governments unlawful actions  including lost immigration status, lost education, lost diplomas, lost tuition, and lost jobs and careers.

Fridays complaint added that the plaintiffs have been experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety following the SEVIS terminations.

They are unsure of what will happen to them, the complaint said. They also fear being labeled a national security or foreign policy threat if they seek to return to the United States in the future, or if they seek to travel to another country, because of the labels attached to their SEVIS terminations.

Governors office seeks info

Earlier this week, Utah Gov. Spencer Cox said his office has reached out to the Trump administration to collect updates on the dozens of students at Utah campuses who have recently had their visa revoked.

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Weve asked them to give us a little bit of a heads-up when these things are happening. Wed like to understand better what the criteria are for those changes, Cox said Thursday.

The governor noted that some of the international students had criminal backgrounds that we were not aware of; that the universities were not aware of.

For other impacted students, he added, that does not appear to be the case  and so we would very much like to figure that out.

While almost all of Utahs degree-granting colleges have reported visa revocations among their international student population, similar situations are being reported at higher education institutions across the country.

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Authorities had revoked the visas of international students in at least 32 states, according to NBC News analysis.

Officials, according to NBC News, are largely citing a seldom-used 1952 foreign policy statute to take aim at their activism. Others visas have been terminated seemingly for past charges like DUIs.

The State Department directed NBC News to comments spokesperson Tammy Bruce made earlier this week at a media briefing.

We dont discuss individual visas because of the privacy issues involved, Bruce said. What we can tell you is that the department revokes visas every day in order to secure our borders and to keep our community safe.

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The Department of Homeland Security recently created a task force that uses data analytic tools to scour international students social media histories for potential grounds to revoke their visas, three sources familiar with the operation previously told NBC News.

The sources also said that the task force is searching for charges and criminal convictions on students records as well.
NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  Parking has become such an issue in Bayonne, New Jersey, that the city just announced it is expanding parking enforcement to 24 hours a day on May 12th.

Enforcement will initially begin with warnings until parking enforcement officers start issuing tickets on June 16th.

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In a Facebook post, the City of Bayonne said the problem stems from newer residential buildings, whose tenants are not allowed to park on the street because the properties were built with on-site garages. But, city officials said people are skirting the rules and parking on the street overnight, once enforcement stops for the day. This is taking away valuable spaces from residents with parking permits who otherwise wouldnt have a place to park.

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I dont live in a condo building, said lifelong resident Jessica Sanabria. I just live in a two-family home. Its tough. Its really tough on the block. If you dont come home earlier than 3 p.m., youre not finding a spot on my block at all.

Donna Stokes, who lives in a Bayonne condo building with on-site parking, said she doesnt have a car, but understands why her neighbors sometimes park on the street.

Theres not always parking available in the building, especially if you have more than one car, said Stokes. The other issue becomes the price. Some people are already paying so much for their apartment.

It can be dangerous for pedestrians as well. Lifelong resident Bernadette Molloy, who is blind, said it can be a challenge for her guide dog to navigate around illegally parked cars.

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If theres cars parked at the end of the street, he [her guard dog] is trained, but he still doesnt know until he gets past that parked car, if theres an oncoming car, said Molloy.

Blanche Lebright, another lifelong Bayonne resident, doesnt believe parking tickets will solve the problem.

They just take the tickets off the car, said Lebright. I just gave a ticket to a cop the other day.

She believes the answer is simple  more space.

We need parking lots, said Lebright.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
NEW JERSEY (PIX11)  A Passaic Family is getting ready for the final goodbye of one of their own.

Jennifer Contreras is among the 231 fatal victims of the Jet Set nightclub roof collapse in Santo Domingo. She was found dead by her sister under the rubble of the nightclub on the same day she wouldve turned 24 years old.

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I still dont want to believe it, I still want to believe she is on vacation. But I already accepted the fact because I was the one there looking for her, said Luz Contreras.

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The remains of her sister, Jennifer Contreras, were repatriated from the Dominican Republic on Thursday. Outside of their Passaic home, there is a memorial in her memory, as funeral services began Friday evening. Jennifer was at the Jet Set nightclub with four other friends who were also killed.

How did you find out she was among those who died? PIX11 News asked.

One of her friends called, that was friends with one of the friends in the group, and confirmed that she was there, stated Luz.

According to Luz, the autopsy revealed her sister died instantly on that tragic Tuesday morning.

I found her on her birthday, she was found under the rubble, and I had to identify her at the Jet Set. I just broke down because shes my little sister. Why would I want to see my little sister like that? Thankfully, my sister was identifiable, but some people didnt get so lucky as her; they were unrecognizable.

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Jennifer had traveled to the Dominican Republic for a cosmetology class. She was also a huge fan of Rubby Perez, who was performing on that night.

She loved Rubby Perez, weve gone to see him a few times here, we would always sing his songs at home, said Contreras.

Luz told PIX11 News that they will file a lawsuit against the owner of the Jet Set nightclub, Antonio Espaillat.

Other family members of the victims have already taken legal action. Espaillat had previously stated he is being fully transparent and is cooperating with authorities.

The money is not bringing my sister back, sadly, he needs to go to jail, because you killed hundreds, of like you didnt kill just my sister, added Contreras.

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A sister, Luz, was described as a bundle of joy with incomparable charisma and charm.

She is that it girl, she loved being dress up, she loved her heels, said Contreras.

The two sisters had big dreams, including opening a beauty salon together. Dreams, Luz said, were not buried, and she will keep them alive.

I am going to still continue, and her name is still gonna be part of it, no matter what. I love my sister, and she knows she was my best friend, concluded Contreras.

In addition to her older sister, Luz, Jennifer Contreras is survived by her parents and a younger brother.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to PIX11.
(FOX40.COM)  The Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office said there would be no hate crime charges for three suspects who were arrested in connection with an assault in Jamestown earlier this year.

Previously, the sheriffs office said a man went to the Jamestown Terrace Apartments around 7:18 p.m. on Jan. 28 to meet a man he had met on a dating app when he was attacked and hospitalized for multiple days.

 Video above: How to report a public safety threat

Tuolumne County Sheriff David Sanchez said during a press conference on Friday that there was not enough evidence to recommend a hate crime enhancement to the felony assault charges against Christophe Mark Jacobs, 44, of Jamestown, and two juveniles.

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The sheriff said the deletion of electronic evidence prevented the sheriffs office from determining the assault to be a hate crime.

The key component and driving force behind this case comes down to the fact that there are significant amounts of evidence that were unable to be recovered due to the fact that they were deleted by multiple and almost all individuals associated with this investigation, Sanchez said.

Sanchez stated that there were 21 search warrants and 80 reports filed during the nearly three-month investigation. Detectives seized cell phones and computers from the suspects in the case, pored over social media accounts, and interviewed many people who were of interest.

The results of this led to a fourth arrest and a second ongoing investigation, Sanchez said. Charles Raymond Hoover, a 61-year-old man of Chinese Camp, has been arrested and charged with attempting to contact a minor for sexual purposes.

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This case remains under very active investigation by the Tuolumne County Sheriffs Office Investigations Division Detectives, who are following up on all available leads to determine the totality of the circumstances surrounding the incident and the motivating factors leading up to the assault, the sheriffs office said.

Sanchez said at the press conference that he is aware this decision is not what many residents in Sonora had hoped for, and he has his thoughts on the issue.

There are things that I think and feel, but that doesnt hold a to of weight versus what we can prove, said Sanchez.

The sheriff also repeated his vow to protect all of the residents who are within his jurisdiction.

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My message to the whole community, and that includes our LGBTQ+ community, is that you are protected to the highest level that I can, said Sanchez. You have my best efforts.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX40 News.
Fund manager VanEck has the greenlight from the Securities and Exchange Commission to launch a new crypto ETF tracking crypto-related stocks.

The Onchain Economy ETF (NODE) seeks long-term capital appreciation by investing in at least 80% of its net assets in "Digital Transformation Companies and/or Digital Asset Instruments," like those that run exchanges and engage in crypto mining, according to the SEC filing. The management fee will be 0.69%.

Matthew Sigel, head of digital assets research at VanEck, said on X that the actively managed NODE will aim to hold 30 to 60 names from a universe of more than 130 stocks tied to the digital asset economy. The stocks will include exchanges, miners, data centers, energy infrastructure, semiconductors, hardware, TradFi rails, consumer/gaming, asset managers and balance sheet HOLDers, Sigel said. He added that up to 25% of the fund will be in crypto exchange-traded products.

The target launch date is May 14.

VanEck Continues Foray Into Crypto ETF Space

VanEck is no stranger to the world of digital assets. NODEs approval comes less than a month after the firms VanEck Ventures announced its investment in Manifest, a platform bringing American real estate into decentralized finance (DeFi). VanEck Ventures was introduced last year to support innovation in crypto, fintech and artificial intelligence (AI).

The fund managers digital assets offerings include its spot bitcoin fund, the VanEck Bitcoin ETF (HODL), spot ether fund, the VanEck Ethereum ETF (ETHV), and the VanEck Digital Transformation ETF (DAPP), which tracks a market-cap-weighted index of companies involved in the digitalization of the world's economy through a diverse range of digital assets.

The global economy is shifting to a digital foundation, Sigel said via X. NODE offers active equity exposure to the real businesses building that future.





Permalink |  Copyright 2025 etf.com. All rights reserved
**Related Video Above: How to report a missing person

GULFPORT, Miss. (WJW)  After a 6-year-old Mississippi girl disappeared and was found dead inside a barrel, authorities offered new details in what theyre calling a tragic event that was accidental.

Gracelynn Vick was last seen playing in her yard at about noon on April 13. Harrison County Sheriff Matt Haley on Thursday afternoon told reporters that she was found on her familys property inside a storage barrel, where she is believed to have become trapped.

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Akron police say mother charged after missing child found

Photo courtesy Harrison County Sheriffs Office Photo courtesy Harrison County Sheriffs Office

There were absolutely no signs of foul play, Haley said in a press conference. The residence had security cameras that covered the area where the barrel was located.

Footage shows the little girl getting inside of the barrel and closing the lid. From the inside, she was unable to remove the lid.

There was no way to get to that area without coming into the view of the camera, Haley said. All family and volunteers in the area of that barrel at any time were not seen tampering it.

Beloved pet tortoise reunited with family weeks after disappearing in tornado

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The autopsy report did not show any signs of trauma or abuse, according to Haley.

Due to the heat that day, police believe the child would have experienced a combination of heat stress and limited oxygen supply inside the barrel, which would have led to her death. This effect would be similar to that of a child being stuck in a hot car during the summer, according to Haley.

However, the exact cause of the childs death is still being investigated.

Friends, family and local law enforcement from multiple jurisdictions helped in the search for Vick, which even involved helicopters. She was pronounced dead on the scene after being found at about 6 p.m.

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As reported by the local paper the Biloxi Sun Herald, Vicks sister Victoria died in a crash at age 13 in 2024. Her brother Larry Hart died in 2021 after battling a longtime medical condition. He was 17 years old.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Fox 8 Cleveland WJW.
When a hurricane or tornado starts to form, your local weather forecasters can quickly pull up maps tracking its movement and showing where its headed. But have you ever wondered where they get all that information?

The forecasts can seem effortless, but behind the scenes, a vast network of satellites, airplanes, radar, computer models and weather analysts are providing access to the latest data  and warnings when necessary. This data comes from analysts at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, known as NOAA, and its National Weather Service.

Atmospheric scientists Christine Wiedinmyer and Kari Bowen, who is a former National Weather Service forecaster, explained NOAAs central role in most U.S. weather forecasts.

When people see a weather report on TV, what went on at NOAA to make that forecast possible?

A lot of the weather information Americans rely on starts with real-time data collected by NOAA satellites, airplanes, weather balloons, radar and maritime buoys, as well as weather stations around the world.

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All of that information goes into the agencys computers, which process the data to begin defining whats going on in different parts of the atmosphere.

NOAA forecasters use computer models that simulate physics and the behavior of the atmosphere, along with their own experience and local knowledge, to start to paint a picture of the weather  whats coming in a few minutes or hours or days. They also use that data to project seasonal conditions out over weeks or months.

NOAAs data comes from many sources to provide a more complete picture of developing climate and weather conditions. Communities and economies rely on that constantly updated information. NOAA

When severe weather is on the way, the agency issues the official alerts youll see in the news and on your phone.

All of this analysis happens before the information reaches private weather apps and TV stations.

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No matter who you are, you can freely access that data and the analyses. In fact, a large number of private companies use NOAA data to create fancy maps and other weather products that they sell.

It would be extremely difficult to do all of that without NOAA.

The agency operates a fleet of 18 satellites that are packed with instruments dedicated to observing weather phenomena essential to predicting the weather, from how hot the land surface is to the water content of the atmosphere. Some are geostationary satellites which sit high above different parts of the U.S. measuring weather conditions 24/7. Others orbit the planet. Many of these are operated as part of partnerships with NASA or the Air Force.

Some private companies are starting to invest in satellites, but it would take an enormous amount of money to replicate the range of instrumentation and coverage that NOAA has in place. Satellites only last so long and take time to build, so NOAA is continually planning for the future, and using its technical expertise to develop new instruments and computer algorithms to interpret the data.

NOAAs low earth orbiting satellites circle the planet from pole to pole and across the equator 14 times a day to provide a full picture of the year twice a day. The agency also has geostationary satellites that provide continuous coverage over the U.S. NOAA

Maritime buoys are another measuring system that would be difficult to replicate. Over 1,300 buoys across oceans around the world measure water temperature, wind and wave height  all of which are essential for coastal warnings, as well as long-term forecasts.

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Weather observation has been around a long time. President Ulysses S. Grant created the first national weather service in the War Department in 1870. It became a civilian service in 1880 under the Department of Agriculture and is now in the Commerce Department. The information its scientists and technologists produce is essential for safety and also benefits people and industries in a lot of ways.

Could a private company create forecasts on its own without NOAA data?

It would be difficult for one company to provide comprehensive weather data in a reliable way that is also accessible to the entire public.

Some companies might be able to launch their own satellite, but one satellite only gives you part of the picture. NOAAs weather observation network has been around for a long time and collects data from points all over the U.S. and the oceans. Without that robust data, computer models and the broad network of forecasters and developers, forecasting also becomes less reliable.

Analyzing that data is also complex. Youre not going to be able to take satellite data, run a model on a standard laptop and suddenly have a forecast.

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And theres a question of whether a private company would want to take on the legal risk of being responsible for the nations forecasts and severe weather warnings.

NOAA is taxpayer-funded, so it is a public good  its services provide safety and security for everyone, not just those who can pay for it.

If weather data was only available at a price, one town might be able to afford the weather information necessary to protect its residents, while a smaller town or a rural area across the state might not. If youre in a tornado-prone area or coastal zone, that information can be the difference between life or death.

Is climate data and research into the changing climate important for forecasts?

The Earths systems  its land, water and the atmosphere  are changing, and we have to be able to assess how those changes will impact weather tomorrow, in two weeks and far into the future.

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Rising global temperatures affect weather patterns. Dryness can fuel wildfires. Forecasts have to take the changing climate into account to be accurate, no matter who is creating the forecast.

Drought is an example. The dryness of the Earth controls how much water gets exchanged with the atmosphere to form clouds and rainfall. To have an accurate weather prediction, we need to know how dry things are at the surface and how that has changed over time. That requires long-term climate information.

NOAA doesnt do all of this by itself  who else is involved?

NOAA partners with private sector, academia, nonprofits and many others around the world to ensure that everyone has the best information to produce the most robust weather forecasts. Private weather companies and media also play important roles in getting those forecasts and alerts out more widely to the public.

A lot of businesses rely on accuracy from NOAAs weather data and forecasts: aviation, energy companies, insurance, even modern tractors precision farming equipment. The agencys long-range forecasts are essential for managing state reservoirs to ensure enough water is saved and to avoid flooding.

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The government agency can be held accountable in a way private businesses are not because it answers to Congress. So, the data is trustworthy, accessible and developed with the goal to protect public safety and property for everyone. Could the same be said if only for-profit companies were producing that data?

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Christine Wiedinmyer, University of Colorado Boulder and Kari Bowen, University of Colorado Boulder

Read more:



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Christine Wiedinmyer is the CIRES Associate Director for Science. CIRES is a CU Boulder research institute that has a cooperative agreement (grant) with NOAA called the Cooperative Institute for Earth Systems Research and Data Science, CIESRDS. Wiedinmyer's funding is primarily from NOAA, which supports more than 400 CIRES CU Boulder employees.

Kari Bowen is the Science and Administration Manager. CIRES is a CU Boulder research institute with a cooperative agreement (grant) with NOAA called the Cooperative Institute for Earth Systems Research and Data Science, CIESRDS. Bowen's funding is from NOAA, which supports more than 400 CIRES CU Boulder employees.
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korea denounced on Sunday U.S. President Donald Trump's recent order to ease weapons exports and called the decision "war escalation measures."

"On one hand, the U.S. is pretending to be a 'mediator' by recommending dialogue and negotiation, while on the other hand, it is continuously handing over all kinds of weapons of mass destruction to encourage warmongers to further expand and prolong the war," the Korean Central News Agency said in an unnamed commentary.

Trump has been pushing for the peace negotiations between Kyiv and Moscow, and signed an executive order to ease exports of U.S. weapons on April 9.

(Reporting by Cynthia Kim; Editing by Sandra Maler)
When Willonte Yates, Malik Perry, Dayonta McClinton, and three other young men arrived at a CVS on College Avenue in Indianapolis on a Tuesday night in October 2015, they were there to rob the pharmacy at gunpoint. It did not go as planned.

McClinton helped guard customers. Yates, who dubbed himself the "mastermind" of a string of similar robberies, led the charge with Perry. But their target, the safe, was equipped with a timed lock, meaning they would not be able to access the drugs inside for several minutes. Each passing moment meant the police could be drawing closer. So the group made off with a small bottle of hydrocodonea sacrificial offering set aside by the pharmacy for situations like this onealong with kidney medication and cough syrup containing codeine.

A getaway driver brought the group to a residential area. Perry, dismayed at how little they had to show for their efforts, allegedly declined to share the paltry proceeds. He exited the car.

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Perry would not get very far. Someone followed him and shot him in the back of the head at close range. It is still unclear who that was.

The government zeroed in on McClinton, who was 17 at the time but was tried as an adult. At his trial in September 2019, prosecution witnesses testified that he and Perry were "like brothersreal close." The witnesses said McClinton was Perry's "best friend." The same could not be said for Yates, the robbery ringleader: His girlfriend was "two-timing" him with Perry, according to testimony from Clevon Williams, who had participated in other robberies with Yates. But Yates, who was cooperating with prosecutors, had implicated McClinton. So had Williams, after spending a year housed in the same detention facility as Yates.

A jury didn't believe them. It convicted McClinton for his role in the armed robbery but found him not guilty of killing Perry.

Then a judge sentenced McClinton for the murder anyway.

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"The driving force in this sentence is not what he's been convicted of, actually," U.S. District Judge Tanya Walton Pratt said during McClinton's sentencing at the federal courthouse in Indianapolis. The main factor in McClinton's punishment, she said, was Perry's murder, even though a jury had explicitly considered and rejected the charge that McClinton had caused Perry's death. Based on his convictions alone, federal sentencing guidelines would recommend that Pratt give McClinton a prison sentence of somewhere from 57 to 71 months, or about five to six years. Instead she sentenced him to 19 years.

That result likely offends most people's understanding of how the U.S. criminal justice system is supposed to operate. When a defendant hears "not guilty," he can expect to avoid punishment for that offense, or so we're told. But the reality is that criminal defendants can be sentenced based on "acquitted conduct," meaning charges that a jury rejected.

Although the U.S. Supreme Court approved acquitted-conduct sentencing in 1997, it has flown almost entirely under the public's radar. But in April 2024, amid pressure from various lawyers, judges, and advocates, the U.S. Sentencing Commission, the judicial-branch agency that writes the federal sentencing guidelines, unanimously voted to limit the practice. It remains to be seen how much effect that decision will have.

A cohort of left-leaning legal scholars, constitutional conservatives, and libertarian think-tankers is watching. In a time when political tribalism defines many aspects of American life, that transpartisan alliance has at least one thing in common: a desire to eliminate outcomes like the one Pratt imposed on McClinton, who was partially vindicated at trial but punished as if he had been convicted on all counts.

'Facts That the Jury Necessarily Rejected'

State and federal judges have sentenced defendants based on acquitted conduct for many decades. But the Supreme Court's blessing of that practice can be traced to half a kilogram of crack cocaine that Sacramento police found in a kitchen cabinet and two guns they discovered in a bedroom closet.

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Vernon L. Watts admitted the drugs and guns were his. In December 1993, he was convicted of possessing crack with the intent to distribute it. The jury did not agree beyond a reasonable doubt, however, that he had used a firearm in furtherance of that offense. The federal judge who sentenced Watts nevertheless took the gun charge into account when he imposed a prison term of 262 months, or nearly 22 years, which was significantly longer than the sentence he probably would have received for the crack offense alone.

Watts appealed that sentenceand won. "A district court sentencing a criminal defendant for the offense of conviction cannot reconsider facts that the jury necessarily rejected by its acquittal of the defendant on another count," said the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. The court ordered that Watts be resentenced.

About five months later, the same court heard a similar appeal. A federal jury in Honolulu had convicted Cheryl Ann Putra of selling an ounce of cocaine but acquitted her of another drug sale, which the government alleged had taken place the next day. Again, the judge sentenced her as if she had been found guilty of everything. Again, the 9th Circuit reversed.

Both cases attracted the Supreme Court's attention. On January 6, 1997, without hearing oral arguments, the Court published its 72 decision in United States v. Watts, reversing the 9th Circuit's rulings and officially greenlighting what some judges had long been doing. When sentencing defendants, the majority said, the government need not be deterred by an acquittal if the defendant received a split verdicti.e., if he was convicted of at least one charge.

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"The Court of Appeals failed to appreciate the significance of the different standards of proof that govern at trial and sentencing," the majority said in an unsigned opinion. At trial, the jury is instructed to consider whether a given charge has been proven "beyond a reasonable doubt." But at sentencing, the justices said, a judge can apply the much less demanding "preponderance of the evidence" standard. In other words, judges can override acquittals if they think it more likely than not that the defendants are guilty.

The Court's decision was based on "what an acquittal [actually] means," says Bill Otis, a former federal prosecutor who supports mandatory minimum sentencing laws and other tough-on-crime policies. "An acquittal doesn't mean the jury has concluded the defendant didn't do it.What it means is only that the jury has failed to find unanimously and beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed every level of the offense." In Otis' view, which seven justices endorsed in Watts, acquittals are not binding, meaning judges have discretion to disregard them based on a lower standard of proof.

Justices John Paul Stevens and Anthony Kennedy wrote separate dissents in Watts. Kennedy's opinion was concise and technical, emphasizing that the case should have received a full briefing. But Stevens took special umbrage at Putra's plight, calling the decision "repugnant" to longstanding constitutional jurisprudence.

The right to a trial by jury is enshrined in both the Sixth Amendment and Article III of the U.S. Constitution. Critics of acquitted-conduct sentencing say the practice is irreconcilable with that constitutional guarantee and with the Fifth Amendment's assurance of due process, because it permits the government to renege on those promises if it doesn't like the result of a trial. "Our Founders fought a revolution, and we enshrined in our Constitution this commitment to jury trial rights that was very much based in the idea that the people, in the form of the jury, serve as a check on the government," says sentencing expert Douglas Berman, a professor at the Ohio State University's Moritz College of Law.

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It is hard to say exactly how many people are sentenced each year based on acquitted conduct. In FY 2021, according to data from the U.S. Sentencing Commission, 157 federal defendants received a split verdict, meaning they were acquitted of at least one charge and thus were vulnerable to acquitted-conduct sentencing.

The main reason the number is so small is that nearly all federal convictionsabout 97 percent in FY 2023are based on guilty pleas rather than trials. That situation is largely due to the fact that prosecutors can coerce guilty pleas by threatening to file additional charges against defendants who insist on a trial, which can dramatically increase the penalties they face. Acquitted-conduct sentencing raises the pressure to plead guilty. A defendant weighing a plea offer knows he will go free if a jury acquits him of all charges. But if he is acquitted of most charges and found guilty of just one, he could be sentenced as if the jury convicted him of everything.

"What makes acquitted-conduct [sentencing] so pernicious," Berman says, "is that a competent defense attorney has to sit down with his client and say, 'OK. Are you guilty of any of these 10 things you were charged with? We could go to trial, and we could prevail and get you acquitted on all the other nine. But if you get convicted on this oneyou're not only going to be sentenced on that. You're going to get triple-hammered.'"

Why triple? On average, according to the National Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers, trial sentences in federal court are "roughly three times higher than plea sentences for the same crime."

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Despite its implications, the Supreme Court's decision in Watts attracted little attention at the time. But acquitted-conduct cases began piling up in federal courts.

In April 2002, Roger Clayton White waited in a car outside Security Bank and Trust Company in Maysville, Kentucky, while his brother and his brother's girlfriend robbed the bank. During his 2003 trial, White, who did not have a criminal record, testified that he had been forced to drive the getaway car. The jurors didn't buy it. They convicted him of armed robbery and possessing a rifle with an obliterated serial number. But the jury found him not guilty of four other charges, including for conduct related to a gun that was fired inside the bank while he was in the car.

Based solely on the conduct for which White was convicted, the federal guidelines recommended a sentence of 51 to 63 monthsabout four to five years. But U.S. District Judge David Bunning took into account the acquitted conduct and sentenced White to 264 months, or 22 years. In 2008, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit ruled that the sentence did not violate White's Sixth Amendment right to trial by jury because it was less than the 25-year statutory maximum for armed robbery.

Five years after the Kentucky bank robbery, a federal jury in Washington, D.C., convicted three men of selling small amounts of crack cocaine. Under the guidelines, the defendantsJoseph Jones, Desmond Thurston, and Antwuan Ballfaced about two to six years in prison. Instead, Jones got 15 years, Thurston got just over 16, and Ball got almost 19. U.S. District Judge Richard W. Roberts settled on those sentences after concluding that the defendants had participated in a much broader conspiracy as alleged members of the Congress Park Crew, a street gang accused of selling drugs in Southeast D.C. But the jury had rejected that very allegation.

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The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit nevertheless upheld the sentences. "Although we understand why appellants find sentencing based on acquitted conduct unfair," it said in June 2014, "binding precedent of this court establishes that the practice does not violate the Sixth Amendment when the conduct is established by a preponderance of the evidence and the sentence does not exceed the statutory maximum for the crime."

That October, the Supreme Court declined to consider the case. But by that point, at least three justices were troubled by Watts and thought the Court should have taken the opportunity to revisit its approval of acquitted-conduct sentencing. "This has gone on long enough," Justice Antonin Scalia wrote. "We should grant certiorari to put an end to the unbroken string of cases disregarding the Sixth Amendmentor to eliminate the Sixth Amendment difficulty by acknowledging that all sentences below the statutory maximum are substantively reasonable." Scalia's dissent was joined by Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Clarence Thomas, forming an unlikely trio. They were one vote short of the number required to take up the case.

The defendants were not the only ones dismayed by the sentences that Jones, Thurston, and Ball had received. The year after the trial, one of the jurors in the case had written a letter to Judge Roberts, who had sentenced the men, expressing his disbelief. "Can this be true?" he asked. "Through every hour-long tape of a single drug sale, hundreds of pages of transcripts, ballistics evidence, and photos, we delivered to you our verdicts. What does it say to our contribution as jurors when we see our verdicts, in my personal view, not given their proper weight?" He added: "It appears to me that these defendants are being sentenced not on the charges for which they have been found guilty, but on the charges for which the District Attorney's office would have liked them to have been found guilty."

'Not Guilty Means Not Guilty'

In June 2023, the Supreme Court declined to hear Dayonta McClinton's argument that he had been unconstitutionally punished for murder after a jury acquitted him of that crime. But that did not mean the Court was ignoring the issue.

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"The Court's denial of certiorari today should not be misinterpreted," wrote Justice Sonia Sotomayor. "The Sentencing Commission, which is responsible for the Sentencing Guidelines, has announced that it will resolve questions around acquitted-conduct sentencing in the coming year. If the Commission does not act expeditiously or chooses not to act, however, this Court may need to take up the constitutional issues presented." In a separate statement, Justices Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch, and Amy Coney Barrett agreed that "it is appropriate for this Court to wait for the Sentencing Commission's determination before the Court decides whether to grant certiorari in a case involving the use of acquitted conduct."

Six months later, the commission unveiled several proposed amendments aimed at curtailing the use of acquitted conduct at sentencing. In April 2024, the commission's seven membersfour Democrats and three Republicansunanimously approved an amendment that says "relevant conduct" at sentencing "does not include conduct for which the defendant was criminally charged and acquitted in federal court, unless such conduct also establishes, in whole or in part, the instant offense of conviction."

A note to that amendment explains: "There may be cases in which certain conduct underlies both an acquitted charge and the instant offense of conviction. In those cases, the court is in the best position to determine whether such overlapping conduct establishes, in whole or in part, the instant offense of conviction and therefore qualifies as relevant conduct."

U.S. District Judge Carlton Reeves, the commission's chair, explained the rationale for the amendment: "Not guilty means not guilty. By enshrining this basic fact within the federal sentencing guidelines, the Commission is taking an important step to protect the credibility of our courts and criminal justice system."

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The amendment took effect on November 1. But it is hard to predict its impact on future cases for two reasons. First, the caveat about "overlapping conduct" seems to leave some wiggle room. Second, the sentencing guidelines are advisory, not binding. So while the amendment may send a stern message, judges are not obligated to heed it.

Whether the commission has the legal authority to impose any such restriction at all is a matter of debate. Skeptics cite a federal law that says "no limitation shall be placed on the information concerning the background, character, and conduct of a person convicted of an offense which a court of the United States may receive and consider for the purpose of imposing an appropriate sentence." It's not clear whether the defendant's "conduct" includes behavior underlying charges that a jury rejected.

"I think this has to be the Supreme Court," says Easha Anand, a professor at Stanford Law School and a former attorney at the MacArthur Justice Center, where she represented several people who were sentenced based on acquitted conduct. "The sentencing commission is making a policy determination about how it's appropriate for courts to impose a sentence to ensure uniformity. Now, that's an incredibly important policy determination, but that's [still] a policy determination. It's not a determination about what is constitutional and what isn't.It's the Supreme Court that should be the arbiter of the Fifth and Sixth amendments."

Even that policy determination, to the extent that it influences judges, is limited to federal courts. By contrast, a Supreme Court decision that deemed acquitted-conduct sentencing unconstitutional would constrain state as well as federal courts. Although the supreme courts of Hawaii, Michigan, New Hampshire, and New Jersey have deemed the practice inconsistent with state constitutional guarantees, it is still allowed in most states.

In September 2023, Sens. Richard J. Durbin (DIll.) and Chuck Grassley (RIowa) introduced a bill that would have prohibited acquitted-conduct sentencing in federal courts. It attracted support from several high-profile Democrats, including Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey, Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, and Jon Ossoff of Georgia. The co-sponsors also included two Republicans: Sens. Mike Lee of Utah and Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. Although that bipartisanship might seem encouraging, the legislation failed to gain traction, as did similar proposals in prior Congresses.

If neither Congress nor the Supreme Court intervenes, the sentencing commission's amendment will remain the best hope for critics of acquitted-conduct sentencing. But in addition to the question of whether judges will listen, it remains unclear whether the commission will decide that the amendment should apply retroactively, which would allow resentencing of previously convicted prisoners. Retroactivity could be a lifeline for many defendantsincluding McClinton, who has now been behind bars longer than the maximum the guidelines recommended based on his convictions.

Jessie Ailsworth was released from federal custody in 2019, but he is still paying close attention to this debate. "I stood with my lawyer and heard 'not guilty' over and over," he told the commission at a March 2024 hearing. His 1996 trial on drug conspiracy charges ended with 28 acquittals and seven convictions: three counts of possessing crack with the intent to sell it, three counts of food stamp fraud, and one count of using a communication facility to distribute drugs. But even though the jury found him not guilty of the most serious charges, the judge relied on those charges in sentencing him to 30 years in prison.

"I learned responsibility, which took some time," Ailsworth explained. "But the hardest lesson I've learned is the lesson I learned at sentencing.Not guilty verdicts are meaningless at sentencing if you have even one guilty verdict. In a system based on justice and fairness, where is the fairness in that?"

It's a question many similarly situated defendants, whose stories often go unnoticed, likely have found themselves asking. It is also a question that jurors, whose mandatory service purportedly serves as a check on the government, may continue to ask themselves.

"Not guilty means not guilty," Judge Reeves said as he unveiled the amendment aimed at curtailing acquitted-conduct sentencing. Time will tell if the government makes good on that promise.

The post Not Guilty but Punished Anyway appeared first on Reason.com.
In May of 2016, the Obama administration threatened to take away federal aid from colleges that restricted people from using bathrooms corresponding to their preferred gender identity.

When a school provides sex-segregated activities and facilities, the administrations letter at the time stated, transgender students must be allowed to participate in such activities and access such facilities consistent with their gender identity.

The Lt. Gov. of Texas, Dan Patrick, said then, President Obama, in the dark of the night  without consulting Congress, without consulting educators, without consulting parents  decides to issue an executive order  forcing transgender policies on schools.

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Many conservative campuses over the last decade petitioned for exceptions to federal mandates like this on religious liberty grounds, most tried to decrease their reliance on federal grants, and some ultimately decided to opt out of federal funding entirely.

Now with political pressure coming from the Trump administration to take away federal funding from major universities, an entirely new set of campuses is having to ask hard questions and make difficult decisions. Among other things, this highlights a unique moment when campuses across the political spectrum share common concerns about preserving intellectual independence and freedom to direct their own educational missions.

Federal pressure switches sides

Much of this higher-ed funding behavior is not new. Its just coming from a different political direction, University of Texas at Austin law professor Steven T. Collis told the Deseret News. Theres no question, under the Obama and Biden administrations, the federal government had been engaging in similar behavior for some time and threatening to pull funding from schools with policies that reflected ideologies that they didnt like.

Now that the Trump administration is pursuing similar aims, the media and academics are giving it more attention, he said. They tended to ignore it before because it didnt threaten them.

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Whether or not these strings on aid are legally and constitutionally allowed is not clear at all, added Collis, the founding faculty director of the Bech-Loughlin First Amendment Center and its Law & Religion Clinic at the University of Texas at Austin. The case law is not clear, and the analysis for religious schools would be different than the analysis for a secular school.

While religious schools can invoke the free speech clause and religious freedom law, private secular schools will rely primarily on the free speech clause.

Preserving independence as private universities

In order to maintain Harvards financial relationship with the federal government, the Trump administration outlined nearly four pages of 10 demands  stating we expect your immediate cooperation in implementing these critical reforms.

In its April 14 letter, Harvard responded to White House demands saying, the university will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights. Neither Harvard nor any other private university can allow itself to be taken over by the federal government.

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In a separate letter to faculty, Harvard President Alan M. Garber wrote, The administrations prescription goes beyond the power of the federal government. And it threatens our values as a private institution devoted to the pursuit, production, and dissemination of knowledge. No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.

As the news unfolded, Hillsdale College, a Michigan school founded by Baptists, couldnt help but weigh in, given its decades-long policy of refusing federal aid.

President Obama, we have thoughts on the next step Harvard could take in order to strengthen this position.



(It has to do with federal funding.) https://t.co/VZOwylbA0H  Hillsdale College (@Hillsdale) April 15, 2025

The same school kept coming up in social media discussions about Harvard.

If you take government money then yes, the government will dictate what you teach, whom you admit, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue. @Hillsdale figured out the solution to this problem a long tim ago: dont take government money. https://t.co/DSnoWvTjOG  John Daniel Davidson (@johnddavidson) April 15, 2025

Conservative eyes on Harvard

Action Trump takes against schools like Harvard and Columbia is being eyed warily by conservative campuses  aware that similar steps could be taken by future Democratic administrations against their own schools.

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The pressure campaigns towards religious conservative campuses reached a fever pitch during Democratic administrations over the last decade  including student lawsuits challenging faith-based schools ability to access government funds when they dont obey federal rules on sexuality and gender.

Although Presidents Obama and Biden didnt explicitly threaten tax exempt status of schools, progressive activists agitated for this possibility. David M. Andersen pointed out in a BYU Law review article that some groups went to the extreme of planting spies within churches to immediately report to the IRS whenever clergymen address policy issues and admonish churchgoers to take action on those issues.

The two restrictions the Internal Revenue Code places on the political speech and activities of tax-exempt organizations are narrowly focused on participating in any political campaign on behalf of (or in opposition to) any candidate for public office and carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting, to influence legislation.

Yet Andersen noted, nonetheless, groups opposed to the political activity by churches continue to threaten religious entities with revocation of tax-exempt status for speaking out on social policy issues and urging members to take action in support of church positions.

Disentangling from government strings attached

Its a matter of principle, said David Whalen, Hillsdales provost, in explaining the schools 1984 decision to forgo financial aid. The regulatory and bureaucratic intrusion that Title IV brings with it gets deeper and deeper with every passing year.

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As everyone knows, where there is money there is control.

During the debate around civil rights on campuses in 2016, Donald Heller, provost at the University of San Francisco, affirmed, Once you agree to accept federal funds for anything, you have to comply with all federal laws.

Most schools that have turned down federal funding in the form of Title IV financial aid programs are conservative religious campuses, including Grove City College in Pennsylvania, Christendom College in Virginia, Pensacola Christian College in Florida, Patrick Henry College in Virginia, Wyoming Catholic College, and Gutenberg College in Oregon. One Orthodox Jewish institution, Yeshiva Toras Chaim Talmudic Seminary of Denver, also opts out of the same federal funding.

After Biola University in California was turned down in its request for a religious exemption from Title IX, Brett McCracken, associate director of presidential communications said, We want to offer the choice to Christian students who want to go to school in a place that believes the traditional things that the Bible and Christian churches have believed for thousands of years about marriage and sexuality, among many other things.

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He added, We want to be able to do our form of religious education in a unique way and we want to hold true to our convictions, and when you get entangled with the government in this kind of relationship it can become messy.

For similar reasons, Brigham Young University has also reduced reliance on federal funding in recent decades. During the pandemic, Brigham Young University and other schools owned by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints also turned down a total of $333 million in pandemic relief funds  out of a desire to be self-reliant and a belief it could assist its students without help from the CARES Act funds.

Weaponizing government funding

Whether they are coming from the political left or right, Collis called the implications of these recent intrusive government policies disastrous.

In both instances, he said, each side has taken questionable action to combat what they see as a greater wrong. The left believes they are trying to combat systemic inequality. The current political right believes they are combatting other forms of racism and the extreme left-wing homogeneity and activism of academia.

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Yet, Collis said, theyre together creating an environment of willingness to use government force against ideas we dont like  and were just begging for it to never end. Every time power shifts, youre just gonna see people using the federal government to do this against ideologies and universities they dont like.

The prior Administration and various lefty groups literally tried to do this. They failed. We should not give them the tools to succeed. https://t.co/dgLX1c9g7L  Casey Mattox (@CaseyMattox_) April 15, 2025

There are effective ways to tackle the wrongs both the left and right want to correct, Collis said. But government trying to control the inner workings of universities should not be one of them. Universities cannot function well for long in that environment.

Stephanie Barclay, a Professor of Law at Georgetown Law School and Co-Director of the Georgetown Center for the Constitution, agreed. The government shouldnt use funding to try and change a universitys mission or pedagogy, or what they teach or what they believe in  the values theyre trying to promote.

Regardless of the motivating political ideology, Barclay expresses concern about when the ability to receive federal funding or participate in federal programs is conditioned on that schools willingness to toe the line on whatever the dominant view is of that administration at a given point in time something then used as a way to punish dissenting voices and viewpoints.

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Government shouldnt weaponize federal funding to get speakers to only share messages it agrees with, she said, especially at universities where we need more of a marketplace of ideas  not more control of that expression.

Barclay expresses hope that the fact this has happened on both sides of the political aisle can make people more sensitive about this problem in the future. This shouldnt be a partisan issue she said  highlighting opportunities for conservative and liberal schools alike to stand up for the importance of these first amendment values in a way that transcends politics.
As the Trump administration escalates its campaign against international students and Palestinian activists, Jewish New Yorkers are increasingly refuting the idea that the presidents efforts are actually about fighting antisemitism.

After Columbia student Mohsen Mahdawi was arrested at his U.S. citizenship test in Vermont, a group of his Israeli classmates penned a letter against his detainment, which they called immoral. A day later, a wide-ranging coalition of Jewish organizations issued a statement rejecting what they call a false choice between Jewish safety and protecting democratic principles.

Trump doesnt give a damn about Jews, said Sarah Chinn, an English professor at Hunter College who has family in Israel. This is part of a concerted attack on higher education  thats it.

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During a nationwide day of campus protests, one Jewish speaker in Lower Manhattan said he felt compelled to speak out against Trumps deportation efforts as Jews of conscience. Further uptown, a leftist Jewish group held a Seder in the Streets, where activists condemned the federal governments actions.

For Aharon Dardik, 24, an Israeli-American student at Columbia, the Trump administrations crackdown is not only the stuff of headlines, but an active threat to his friends.

Dardik, who helped found a Jewish group at Columbia calling for a ceasefire, and Mahdawi took a class together on peacemaking and negotiations. They were working on a 65-page framework for a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, when the activist started pulling back from daily life.

After Mahmoud Khalil, another Palestinian activist at Columbia, was detained on March 8, Mahdawi stopped texting friends, relying on the encrypted messaging platform Signal for communication, before a self-imposed house arrest because he feared the government, Dardik said. He was detained Monday by federal immigration authorities.

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As Israelis who knew him very well, we wanted to write a bit about more broadly, what it means for the administration to be doing this in in our name, Dardik said, and how simple it was for us, as people who know Mohsen well, to see how preposterous of an understanding of Jewish interests the United States government has  if its something they care about at all.

Dardik and his classmates open letter topped 400 signatures by the end of the week.

Many of us experienced the past year and a half on Columbias campus in a deeply personal and emotional way, read the memo, which was first published in the Jewish news outlet The Forward. We are deeply impacted by the experiences of antisemitism and hate on our campus, and disheartened by the lack of nuanced dialogue on campus and within society at large about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

However, we adamantly oppose the use of the immigration system as a punitive political tool and an alternative to the criminal justice system when no crime has been committed.

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On Tuesday, American Jewish organizations from three denominations  Reform, Conservative and Reconstructionist Judaism  released a joint statement against holding activists for constitutionally-protected speech and threats to federal research funding.

We at JCPA have been speaking out on this since the first arrest, making clear that two things are true at the same time, said Amy Spitalnick, CEO of the Manhattan-based Jewish Council for Public Affairs, which convened the groups.

Spitalnick went on to say that she met last week with about 50 Jewish students at Columbia, part of a leadership program at Hillel, who shared the feelings of American Jews more broadly: The deep, rightful concerns they have about how their university has handled antisemitism over the last year and a half  and concerns that the administration is now exploiting that fear.

The Trump administration has defended its actions, saying it is a privilege and not a right to study on American college campuses. In recent weeks, the federal government has taken immigration action against visa and some green card holders for pro-Palestinian activism and minor legal infractions, such as a speeding ticket. In the cases of Khalil and Mahdawi, the government alleged their advocacy could have an adverse effect on foreign policy interests to combat antisemitism. (Their lawyers deny the claim.)

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The Columbia Jewish Alumni Association, an organization formed during last school years campus protests, has reviled both activists on social media and questioned public sympathy for them in the aftermath of their arrests.

But Chinn, the professor at Hunter, part of the City University of New York system, said antisemitism is clearly pretext for the Trump administrations actions.

I understand why some diaspora Jews feel very connected to Israel. Its like in your bones, Chinn said. The same way if youre a child or grandchild of a Palestinian refugee, this is generational trauma.

I dont think being angry is by definition violent.

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On Thursday, hundreds of faculty and students from Columbia, CUNY and other New York colleges participated in a national day of action for higher education, where students and faculty held rallies on campus, before marching from Washington Square Park to Foley Square.

Jonah Inserra, a New York University student and member of its graduate student union, started his speech in the Federal Plaza, just steps away from where Khalil was first held in immigration court, by arguing for the importance of standing up as a Jew of conscience.

We at NYU have so far been spared the kidnappings and arbitrary arrests of organizers and protesters, said Inserra. But he accused college administrators of missing the moment to get organized.

The total abdication of responsibility for the lives and well-beings of their students by the highest levels of university administration has left the task of securing our safety and our futures wholly to us, he continued. And the number of people here today tells me that we are rising to meet the occasion.
A former state employee who accused Andrew Cuomo of sexual harassment clinched a $450,000 settlement  with taxpayers set to foot the massive bill as the former governor makes a comeback bid for New York City mayor.

Charlotte Bennett, who served as an assistant to Cuomo when he was governor, officially ended a long-running lawsuit Friday against the Empire State.

She is slated to receive $100,000 personally with another $350,000 earmarked for her lawyers and legal costs  all of which will be shelled out by the state.

Charlotte Bennett, a former health policy aide to former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, participates in an interview in New York on Oct. 12, 2021. AP

The settlement caps a bruising battle with Cuomo, including a separate federal lawsuit that Bennett later dropped in which her lawyer contended the ex-govs attorneys had aggressively sought her gynecological records.

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Ms. Bennett is looking forward to moving on with her life, Bennetts attorney Debra Katz said in a statement Friday about the settlement.

The scandal-plagued Cuomos various bids to clear his name have been costly for New Yorkers.

As of March, taxpayers had shelled out nearly $60 million in legal costs to defend against various scandals that embroiled the Cuomo administration, according to a report by the state Comptrollers Office.

Andrew Cuomo, former New York governor and New York City mayoral candidate, arrives for a church service at First Corinthian Baptist Church on Sunday, April 13, 2025 in New York, N.Y. James Keivom

The tab to defend Cuomo and the state each against Bennetts claims ran upward of $9 million  and a total of $14.3 million was approved had she not settled, according to public records.

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Bennett, now 29, was the second woman after former gubenatorial aide Lindsey Boylan, to publicly accuse the thrice-elected Democrat of sexual harassment in 2021.

She filed suit against the state in March 2023, alleging it failed to act to address her complaint that Cuomo subjected her to degrading sexual harassment on the job and accused her of lying when she came forward with the accusations.

Bennet agreed not to seek further employment in the state Executive Chamber as part of the settlement.

As part of the settlement, Bennett  who worked as a top assistant and health policy adviser to Cuomo between May 2019 and June 2020  agreed not to seek further employment in the state Executive Chamber.

The settlement gives Bennett lump sum payouts of $40,000 for post traumatic stress disorder and narcolepsy and $35,000 for emotional distress.

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The state did not own up to any wrongdoing, or liability, in the agreement, according to a copy of the settlement obtained by The Post.

This settlement was mutually agreed upon by the parties and allows the State to minimize further cost to the taxpayers, Avi Small, a spokesman for Gov. Kathy Hochul, said in a statement.

Bennet originally filed the lawsuit against the state in March 2023. AP

Katz maintained her clients allegations were supported by findings from New York Attorney General Letitia James Office and from the US Department of Justice.

But Cuomo spokesman Rich Azzopardi touted the settlement as vindicating the former governor.

If anyone ever questioned whether this situation was political from the start, todays taxpayer funded nuisance settlement is proof positive, he claimed.

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Cuomo in December filed a notice that he would sue Bennett for defamation. That case is still pending but a civil complaint detailing his allegations has yet to be filed.

Bennett initially filed her federal lawsuit in September 2022 against Cuomo, his top lieutenant Melissa DeRosa and two other aides  but dropped that case in December just days before she was set to give a sworn deposition about her claims.

Cuomo in December filed a notice that he would sue Bennett for defamation. James Keivom

Bennett said at the time that Cuomo, 67, used the unlimited taxpayer funds at his disposal for his legal defense to attack her, causing her to feel she would be better off dead than endure more of this litigation abuse.

Cuomos legal team made evidence requests for Bennetts medical records, including gynecologists, optometrists and from when she was a minor, Katz asserted at the time.

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The former governors attorneys contended that Bennett withdrew the lawsuit to avoid having to admit under oath that her accusations were false.

Erica Vladimer, co-founder of the Sexual Harassment Working Group established by former legislative staffers, slammed Cuomos successor Hochul for how she handled the case.

Hochul spent $2.5 million dragging Charlotte Bennett through court proceedings, Vladimer said, referring to the law firms original contract. Is this any different the way Cuomo would have handled it?

No amount of money may ever make up for the trauma Charlotte endured, and this unnecessary prolonging of legal proceedings could have easily been avoided.

Defending Cuomo and the state against Bennetts claims alone cost citizens $9 million. AP

Bennetts accusations against Cuomo remained the same in both the case against the state and her federal suit naming him.

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She alleged that Cuomo made inappropriate comments to her and that DeRosa and other staffers tried to sweep the accusations under the rug by transferring her to a lower position.

During one June 5, 2020, meeting in the governors office Cuomo allegedly made fun of her wearing a mask during COVID-19, saying that when she breathed it reminded him of the monsters in the movie Predator, her suit claimed

She laughed uncomfortably  before he prophetically responded: If I were investigated for sexual harassment, I would have to say I told her she looked like a monster, the suit alleged.

Bennett also claimed Cuomo asked her invasive questions about her sex life and told her he was lonely and willing to date someone over 21, the suit alleged. She was 25 at the time.

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Cuomo stepped down in August 2021 amid the sexual harassment scandal and claims that his office hid the true number of nursing home deaths from COVID during the pandemic.

His resignation came two weeks after a report by the attorney generals office found he had sexually harassed 11 women and created a hostile work environment in his office  a finding which was later backed by the federal prosecutors.

The state did not own up to any wrongdoing, or liability, in the agreement, according to a copy of the settlement obtained by The Post. AP

Cuomo has vehemently maintained his innocence and has attempted to return to power with a run for New York Citys mayor. Hes currently the frontrunner in the crowded June 24 Democratic primary.

Other suits filed over the sexual harassment claims include one from a state trooper who accused Cuomo of touching her inappropriately. That legal battle has cost the state $8.6 million so far, according to Comptroller Tom DiNapolis office.

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Another $11.7 million has been spent on state investigations, including into Cuomos handling of the COVID pandemic and his notorious $5 million pandemic book deal, as well as to cover the cost of defending him in impeachment proceedings.

Former executive assistant Brittany Commisso, who accused Cuomo of groping her, also has a case against the ex-gov still pending in state court.

Boylan, who accused Cuomo of sexual harassment in December 2020, lauded the fact that Bennett would receive some recompense.

I am glad the state finally did what Andrew Cuomo will not  accept responsibility for the harm his harassment caused Charlotte. Proud of her courage always, she said Friday.

 Additional reporting by Craig McCarthy and Hannah Fierick
New York City Council boss and mayoral hopeful Adrienne Adams helped funnel millions of dollars to her Queens church and its affiliated non-profits  part of the powerful political machine of her close ally, ex-Rep. Floyd Flake.

During her time as speaker for the past three years the Council has funneled more than $3 million in taxpayer dough to organizations affiliated with the Greater Allen A.M.E. Cathedral in Jamaica, led by Flake and his wife M. Elaine Flake. Adams has been a member of the church for decades and owes her political career to the pastor and his huge, 23,000-member flock.

By contrast, in the 2018 budget, the last year before Adams became councilwoman in Flakes Southeast Queens turf, the church and its affiliates took in just $86,423, records show.

Adrienne Adams has been a longtime member of Floyd Flakes Greater Allen A.M.E. Church. Michael Nigro

The money spigot first opened in the budgets for 2020 and 2021, when Adams sprayed $105,000 from her offices pot of allotted funds into the Allen Community Senior Citizens Center network, where M. Elaine Flake is board chair, records show.

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After seizing the speakers gavel in 2022  at a ceremony where M. Elaine Flake gave the invocation  groups linked to the church began receiving unprecedented sums of taxpayer cash, records show.

The dough  $959,275 in 2023; $937,275 in 2024; and $1,180,775 this fiscal year  went to programs and building and equipment upgrades at senior centers, housing developments, womens and youth groups linked to Greater Allen, records show.

Big winners were the Allen Senior Citizen Network, which Adams and her underlings in the Queens delegation awarded $907,800 in Council cash for assorted services and another $435,000 for new vehicles; and the Allen A.M.E. Housing Corp, which got $422,000 for an education initiative and $850,000 for building renovations.

Watchdogs noted cash out of the Council pots gets ladled out based on connections, not merit  and that Adams wields enormous influence over both the cash flows and her colleagues. Attempts at reforming the system have been mostly half-measures, they said.

The organization overseen by M. Elaine and Floyd Flake report large salaries for the pair, records show. Instagram/Elaine M Flake

Funding can get awarded to people based on relationships, not because they provide the best services, warned Rachael Fauss, senior policy advisor at the good government group Reinvent Albany. The speaker has huge power over the discretionary funding process.

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The Flakes certainly havent taken a vow of poverty. Tax returns for the Allen A.M.E. Housing Corp report Flakes wifes compensation as $252,327 in connection with her role as president in 2022, the same year the Allen Community Senior Citizens Center put her payday as board chair at $336,297.

Federal filings show Elaine Flake is also board chair at the Council-funded Allen Womens Resource Center, which lists the same $336, 297 compensation, while documents submitted by the Allen A.M.E. Neighborhood Preservation and Development Corp.  also a beneficiary of taxpayer funds  report a $279,983 base salary plus a $76,799 bonus.

Its unclear whether these compensation amounts overlap, or exactly how Elaine Flake gets paid, or through what entity, since each group reports she receives her compensation from a related organization.

Flakes son Harold also drew a $100,000 annual paycheck from Allen A.M.E. Housing Corp in 2022.

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Greater Allen A.M.E. and its nonprofits did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Adams showed her devotion to the Flakes in other ways too, sponsoring a bill in 2020 to rename the strip of Merrick Boulevard the cathedral sits on Rev. Floyd H. Flake Way, and in 2024 to declare the first Sunday in June Flake Legacy Day to honor the spiritual, educational, civic, and economic contributions of the duo, who beat a federal embezzlement and tax evasion rap in 1991.

Greater Allen A.M.E. congregation is 23,000-members. Riyad Hasan

Adams first emerged politically with a failed state Senate bid that got the power couples backing, andtheyhelped propel her to City Hall in 2017. In an interview with NY1, Adams noted she even sent her children to the churchs Christian school.

She is the latest in a long line of pols the Flakes and Greater Allen have helped usher into power. Others include disgraced former State Senate Majority Leader Malcolm Smith, and Rep. Greg Meeks (D-Queens), who was named in 2011 by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington as one of the most corrupt members of Congress.

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Meeks has broken with the churchs political organization to back ex-Gov. Andrew Cuomo over Adams for mayor.

Following the failed federal case against the Flakes, the former congressman and his church coughed up almost $1 million in 1994 to settle a civil suit the Justice Department brought over the alleged misuse of D.C. funds allocated for senior housing, although neither Flake nor Greater Allen admitted wrongdoing.

The powerful pastor drew scrutiny again in 2010 when it surfaced he had a stake in the company the state contracted to operate slots at Aqueduct Race Track, prompting an investigation into a possible political quid pro quo.

Flake ultimately pulled out of the arrangement, while all parties denied anything inappropriate had occurred.

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Adams  who is polling around 5% in the Democratic primary  insisted there were no politics behind the funding decisions.

Speaker Adams and other Queens Council members have allocated funding for Allen-affiliated programs that serve domestic violence victims, seniors, and youth in the neighborhoods of Southeast Queens, a spokesman said. Anything else or innuendo that suggests otherwise is irresponsible and without merit.
(KRON)  An Oakland woman who ran an on-demand drug delivery service that catered to young professionals and students has been sentenced to four years in federal prison. The United States Department of Justice announced Friday that Natalie Marie Gonzalez was the leader of a drug trafficking service that supplied drugs to customers across the Bay Area.

Gonzalez, 31, was indicted along with three co-defendants in October, 2023. Last September, she pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to distribute and substance containing methamphetamine.

According to the plea agreement cited by the DOJ, Gonzalez used elaborate means to serve customers around the Bay Area through an illicit drug business known as The Shop. The business supplied a broad range of controlled substances and required a $300 minimum for postal shipments and local delivery.

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$200K in rewards for unsolved crimes announced by Gov. Newsom

Gonzalez used the encrypted messaging app Signal and paid her delivery drivers  some of whom were her co-defendants  to deliver drugs to customers. During the investigation, Gonzalez told an undercover agent that her customer base was a lot of students and young professionals.

Gonzalez made multiple sales of methamphetamine pills to an undercover agent that were delivered by driver. In one instance in July 2023, Gonzalez messaged the agent to, Please meet him at the car (white Subaru Forester) with exact change and either:  Hop in for a short Uber ride around the block  Get your order through the window like Door Dash  Or play with the pup outside the car to cover up a casual swap :).

The Shop advertised on its drug menu that it accepted both cash and cryptocurrency and gave the undercover agent multiple Bitcoin addresses to pay for drugs.

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While executing a search warrant on Sept. 13, 2023 at the groups stash house, agents seized almost a kilogram of fentanyl, roughly seven kilograms of cocaine, orange fake Adderall pills containing meth, and ketamine.

In addition to four years in prison, the judge ordered Gonzalez to serve three years of supervised release.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  At 2:30 p.m. on April 18, Ocean Safety responded to a 911 call for three teenaged kayakers in distress off Kipapa Island in Kaneohe Bay.

Ocean Safety says crews traversed difficult search conditions, such as heavy rain, thunder and lightning to find the three 17-year-old boys.

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One of the boys was rescued off Kipapa Island at 3:15 p.m., uninjured and brought to shore at Heeia Kea Pier. The two other boys were brought to safety soon after by a good Samaritan.

Ocean Safety officials remind the public to always check and consider weather conditions prior to getting into the water. Life jackets and cellphones are also highly recommended while using kayaks and boats.

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If youve hit middle age and managed to earn a substantial sum investing in the stock market, congratulations, you could be well on your way to building a sizable nest egg for your retirement.

One common piece of advice people receive in their early years of investing is to put their money in a fund that tracks a market index like the S&P 500. Even legendary investor Warren Buffett recommends this approach for everyday Americans. Investing in an S&P 500 index fund gives you exposure to the top-performing companies in the U.S. across a broad range of sectors. As these companies grow  or, at times, falter  so does your investment.

But lets say, despite having great success, you feel ready to move on from investing in the S&P 500. At the age of 35, your investment has grown to $300,000, and you want to use some of it to make a few riskier bets on individual stocks. This could potentially generate wealth at a much faster pace, but you could also lose it just as quickly.

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Heres what you should know about investing in individual stocks. And it goes without saying: Nothing in the stock market is guaranteed.

The pros and cons of stock picking

In contrast to passively investing in index funds, stock picking is much more active, and involves knowing the market well. You need both the time to dedicate to reading market reports daily and a healthy appetite for risk, knowing that not all your picks can be successful.

Investing in individual stocks is a choice that is only for those who want to take on investing as a serious hobby or maybe even as a second career. Stock picking entails a lot of study. To become a great investor, you have to be willing to first invest considerable time to understand the market, the history of growth and decline across a number of industries, and to stay on top of reports from reputable trading firms.

However, if youre eager to become a unicorn stock hunter, theres the potential for greater returns than an S&P 500 index fund can offer. Experts advise against trying to time the market, since day-to-day outcomes tend to be unpredictable, but theres room to spot an opportunity for buying low to potentially sell high. Moreover, individual stock buyers can get access to dividend-paying stocks, which you can either use to supplement income or reinvest for your retirement fund.
Several officers and firefighters responded to reports of a man shot and a suspected arson in Huber Heights on Friday.

[DOWNLOAD: Free WHIO-TV News app for alerts as news breaks]

Huber Heights police and firefighters were dispatched to Ascension Ink at the 6400 block of Chambersburg Road around 4:13 p.m. on reports of a possible arson, according to a police spokesperson.

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Initial scanner traffic indicated that someone threw a piece of glass through a building and tried to set it on fire.

During this investigation, a separate call was received for a male with a gunshot wound to the head, the spokesperson said.

Police believe the two incidents are connected.

Huber Heights police titled the media release as a suicide, however, they didnt provide additional information on the shooting.

News Center 7 has reached to Huber Heights police for more context on what happened here.

The Montgomery Coroners Officer confirmed to News Center 7 that they responded to the 6100 block of Chambersburg Road around 6 p.m.

It is currently unknown if this is connected to the investigation.

We will continue to follow this story.

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In the 1840s, fishermen along the East Coast caught 80 million pounds of shad each year. By 1980, that number dropped to 3.8 million. Today, a single commercial fishery operates in New Jersey.

The stark decline in shad populations was due to several factors, all of them human-driven. First, the construction of mill dams interrupted their migration, which affected their spawning and reproduction. Then, chemical plants in the 20th century began dumping hazardous waste directly into the water, contaminating the environment and killing many of the fish that remained.

Now, the Raritan River Fish Passage Initiative is gradually restoring shad populations by removing the dams that have been hindering their movements for centuries.

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The project is headed by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Marine Habitat Restoration Specialist Carl Alderson. He began brainstorming about removing dams in 2004 after he kayaked down the Raritan River and saw the debris, algae, and invasive species that were interfering with shad populations.

Since then, NOAA Fisheries and its partners have removed six dams and plan to remove dams and improve fish passage at nine other sites, NOAA reported. They are already seeing signs of success, with shad spawning and migrating in parts of the Raritan watershed where they hadn't been found for over 170 years.

In addition to shad, the project will benefit other migratory fish species, which in turn will support the health and functionality of the broader ecosystem. Every native species is crucial to the balance of its environment, which supports a thriving food web.

Alderson emphasized this fact, explaining how this work will benefit every being that lives near the watershed. "When all of the Raritan River Fish Passage Initiative's objectives are achieved, we will have opened more than 100 miles, enhancing water quality, and benefiting not only fish but freshwater mussels, benthic organisms, birds, insects, and outdoor recreationists," he said. "Each year's passing, we come closer to that dream."

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The Palawan province of the Philippines has just taken a historic step to protect its communities from mining pollution and environmental destruction by putting a 50-year moratorium on new mining projects, Rappler reported.

The area is home to some of the country's nickel mines already, with 16 mining firms and 67 applications that will be unaffected by the new ordinance. However, local officials have decided enough is enough and will not consider any more applications for the next half of a century  possibly longer, as the ordinance can be extended.

"The ordinance is a clear legal expression of Palawan's opposition to mining, which the [Marcos] administration and the DENR (Department of Environment and Natural Resources) must fully respect," said Jaybee Garganera, national coordinator of the Alyansa Tigil Mina coalition, according to Rappler. "It reflects the lack of consent by stakeholders for mining contracts and operations in the region."

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There are many good reasons to limit mining activity in the region.

Mines release toxins into the surrounding air, water, and soil, potentially harming people and certainly harming the environment. They often involve clearing away large areas of natural growth, destroying plants and animal habitats. Not only does this cause long-lasting harm to the environment, but it can harm the livelihoods of everyone who depends on that natural area.

Grizelda Mayo-Anda of the Environmental Legal Assistance Center told Rappler the moratorium is a "historic step" that will protect Palawan's forests, natural resources, indigenous communities, farmers, and fisherfolk.

However, there is still more work to be done. The existing mines and applicants could still cause damage to the community.

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Vic Colili, councilor of Brooke's Point, said they should be more "vigilant" about monitoring mining, Rappler reported. "That's why it's important that local officials of Palawan are vigilant and firm and not be swayed by the dictates of politicians with mining interests," he said.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A vigil will be held in Tallahassee on Saturday night to remember the victims of the deadly mass shooting at FSU.

Two people were killed and six people were wounded.

According to police, it was a matter of 5 minutes that made the difference between peace and chaos when a gunman came onto campus and opened fire Thursday.

Six victims were taken to Tallahassee Memorial, and the two people killed have been identified; both of them were fathers and food service workers.

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Many students will forever remember April 17, 2025, with the memory of seeing classmates running for their lives during the mass shooting.

I looked out the window, and I saw people running and falling, said a student.

One of the people who was shot while trying to run away was Madison Askins. NBC News spoke to her about the traumatic experience.

I heard more gunshots from him. I took off running, asked my friend. Unfortunately, I tripped and fell, as one does, apparently not always the most graceful person. So, I tripped and fell. My friend tried to help me up, but I ended up getting shot, and I felt it pretty quickly, she said. He took off into the Union, and all I could think of in that moment was I need to play dead.

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The two people who were killed have been identified as Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales.

Chabba was a father of two who lived in Greenville, South Carolina. He was on campus working for a food vendor.

The other victim, Morales, was a campus dining employee. His family took to social media to say he left a wife and daughter behind.

The suspect has been identified as 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, who is the stepson of a Leon County Sheriffs deputy.

The sheriff said Ikner was part of their Youth Advisory Council and had participated in law enforcement training exercises.

On Friday, Tallahassee Police released a timeline of the events.

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According to police, the suspect arrived at an FSU parking garage at 11:00 a.m., he left the garage at 11:51 a.m., and the first shot was fired at 11:56 a.m.

After that first shot, 911 calls started coming in.

Police engaged the suspect and said they shot him when he refused to put down his weapon. He was taken to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Doctors at Tallahassee Memorial said they treated victims in the shooting, and 3 of them needed surgery.

The response was very fast, we were able to treat all of the injuries which involved abdominal surgical procedures also facial surgery, said Dr. Matthew M. Ramseyer.

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All 6 of the victims being treated are expected to make a full recovery.

I hope he gets prosecuted with full extent of the law, whatever that, whatever the lawmakers choose to make it. Do I want to see him out in 10 years? Absolutely not. So, I hope its something that he will live with forever, Askins told NBC News.

Police said Ikner will face many charges, including two counts of murder and multiple counts of attempted murder.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
As children, many of us harbored that irrational fear of a monster hiding under the bed. For one couple in India, that fear just about became a shocking reality.

What's happening?

In the city of Bengaluru, the capital of Karnataka state in India, a couple recently came face to face with a leopard when it strolled into their home. Containing the leopard there, the couple then contacted authorities.

As reported by the Times of India, forest officials and officers from the Leopard Task Force were then called in to capture the leopard. After a brief search of the home, they spotted the animal hiding beneath a cot. The officers were then tasked with attempting to sedate the big cat.

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In describing the situation, assistant conservator of forests V Ganesh stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of the leopard as well as nearby residents. "Any wrong move could have hurt the cat, which was frightened and under stress," Ganesh told the Times. "We could not chase it out and rescue with nets as thousands of people had gathered outside, and the leopard could have jumped on anybody in panic."

Following the sedation and successful capture of the leopard, officers were able to determine that it was a six- or seven-year-old female. It was not revealed when or where the leopard would be released.

Why is this leopard sighting concerning?

In India, human interactions with wildlife are not uncommon, and unfortunately in many cases they can become fatal.

According to a report from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change, there were nearly 14,000 confirmed leopards in India in 2022. Over 1,800 of those leopards resided in Karnataka. Meanwhile, conservationists in the region have been concerned about the growing problem of urban development encroaching upon leopard habitats and forcing the animal population into human settlements.

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In an April report from the Deccan Herald, Basavaraja K N, deputy conservator of forests in Mysuru, suggested that leopards may be approaching dense human populations in search of food sources. "The pattern of the big cats' movement will surely make it clear that they are coming primarily in search of the dogs, which are easy prey," Basavaraja told the local paper. "Once they come for dogs, they start looking at other easy prey like livestock."

Yadvendradev Jhala, former dean of the Wildlife Institute of India, further explained to Frontline that "human-carnivore conflict  affects the poorest sections of the society due to their lifestyles involving poor housing and dependence on forest resources for livelihoods."

Human-wildlife conflict can also disproportionately impact women and girls, in part due to gendered labor  such as gathering firewood, collecting water, managing smaller livestock, and farming near forests and animal crossings  that can bring them into closer proximity with large animals.

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What can be done about human-leopard interactions?

With towns and cities growing in India, leopards may feel the pressure of increased human activity. Leopards play a pivotal role in regional ecosystems by providing population control of various other animals. But as human behavior disrupts the balance of these ecosystems, leopards can continue to view local livestock as a food source.

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Conservation initiatives that ensure animals have access to suitable habitats and appropriate food can help to prevent human-wildlife conflicts. The Snow Leopard Conservancy India Trust is an example of such an effort. The organization sees conflict mitigation as a part of supporting the snow leopard population.

Deputy conservator of forests N Ravindrakumar discussed the importance of conservation initiatives with the Deccan Herald. "Agricultural lands, hillocks and grazing areas had helped the big cats thrive," he said. "Urban development needs to take into account the ecology of the region for reducing negative interactions with wildlife."

With a few more such projects keeping conflict mitigation in mind, perhaps we'll see the flourishing coexistence of humans and wildlife  and fewer leopards hiding under beds.v

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With President Donald J. Trump back in the White House, he got straight to business cranking out 26 executive orders, 12 memoranda, and 4 proclamations on his first day. Were now over 70 days in his second term, and Trump has quadrupled that amount to 103 orders... sheesh.

Many of them, like Trumps pardoning of all Capitol rioters crimes, sent major alerts around the country, but there are others that Americans havent been paying attention to... and they should be. Heres everything you need to know about the most outrageous orders and proclamations signed by the 47th president of the United States so far.

Targeting the Smithsonian

Photo: Anna Moneymaker (Getty Images)

In an executive order, Trump said the (MAAHC) located in Washington D.C. is under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology. Because of this, Trump wants to end funding to the African American Museum as well as other Smithsonian museums honoring the expansive history of the nation. This means the fate of Black history and culture is up in the air. When you target the Smithsonian, a global organization operating in a public-private partnership, you can expect immediate backlash. So far, several politicians, historians, and activists have denounced the administrations attempt to regulate the Smithsonian.

Rolling Back Segregation Protections

Photo: Andrew Harnik (Getty Images)

Talks of Jim Crow and segregations return has the country buzzing with disbelief after President Donald Trumps administration repealed a crucial segregation clause in a February memo. And while many are scared for the future of the nation, others are urging Black folks not to take Trumps bait. As The Root previously reported, the memo doesnt explicitly make segregation legal at the federal, but it sure as hell doesnt make it illegal.

Rescinding Bidens Executive Orders

Photo: Chip Somodevilla (Getty Images)

Not only did Trump sign his own orders, but he most shockingly canceled out a whopping 78 executive orders signed by former President Joe Bidens administration. The majority of these orders, according to the White House, attack DEI, climate change and green energy, and COVID-19 assistance.



Renaming the Gulf of Mexico

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Right before Trump returned to office, he promised to rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. In an executive order, he did just that! According to the White House, It is in the national interest to promote the extraordinary heritage of our Nation and ensure future generations of American citizens celebrate the legacy of our American heroes.

Not only that, but Trump also is renaming the tallest mountain in the country, Denali, back to its original name honoring former President McKinley.

Terminating DEI

Photo: Win McNamee (Getty Images)

We all knew this one was coming... Trump signed an order to end diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI) programs in federal departments and agencies. His order also details plans to compile a list targeting all federal contractors and grantees with DEI programs, according to the White House.



Freeze on Hiring Civilians

Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo (Getty Images)

In an executive order, the president put a pause on hiring federal civilian employees. This means, if youre waiting to hear back about a government job... youll be waiting for awhile. According to the White House, the freeze began on Jan. 20, 2025 and is expected to continue for at least 90 days.



Recognizing Only Two Genders

Photo: Jim Lo Scalzo (Getty Images)

Trump has officially directed all federal agencies to only recognize two genders, male and female, which are not changeable. According to the White House, this executive order will be reflected on government documents like passports, visas, Global Entry cards, and federal personnel records. This also rescinded Bidens transgender rights efforts.



Withdrawing From WHO

Photo: Michael M. Santiago (Getty Images)

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During the pandemic, Trump expressed his repeated frustration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and disappointment with their handling of COVID-19. Now, according to the White House, Trump is back with a vengeance and wants to completely withdraw the country from WHO.

The order wont take affect for a full year, according to NPR, but in response to Trump, Lawrence Gostin, a professor of global health law at Georgetown University and director of WHOs Center on Global Health Law, said This is the most cataclysmic decision. He continued saying [This is] a grave wound to American national interests and our national security.

Calling for the End of Birthright Citizenship

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In a proclamation announced yesterday, Trump is calling for the federal government to not grant U.S. citizenship for people born in the U.S. but have parents who arent citizens or permanent residents also known as birthright citizenship. According to the White House, the proclamation will take effect 30 days from Jan. 20, 2025, for individuals born on or after that date. Critics of Trumps order say it directly contradicts the Constitution, which protects birthright citizenship.



Pardoning Capitol Insurrectionists

Trump celebrated his second term doing exactly what he promised he would do. Among a series of executive orders signed by the president, Trump most notably either pardoned, commuted the prison sentences, or vowed to dismiss the cases of all roughly 1,500 people charged with crimes connected to the infamous Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection, according to the White House.



Enacting Mass Deportations

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It seems the president is making good of yet another one of his controversial campaign promises to perform mass deportations of undocumented immigrants across the nation. According to his executive order, Trump has enlisted all available resources and authorities to help detain unlawful immigrants and further secure the Mexico-U.S. border.

Stricter Laws for Asylum Seekers

Photo: Julia Demaree Nikhinson (Getty Images)

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...And on the topic of immigration, Trump also ordered the halt of entry by migrant asylum seekers who dont provide sufficient medical information. Additionally, Trumps order requires asylum seekers to provide reliable criminal histories and background information to enter the country.



Restoring the Death Penalty

Photo: Ron Sachs (Getty Images)

Trump signed an execution order directing the attorney general to take all necessary and lawful action to make sure states have enough lethal injection drugs to carry out executions, according to the White House. This comes just weeks after Biden commuted 37 of the 40 total federal death row inmates sentences to life in prison. Trump cited Bidens executive order, calling the former presidents actions a mockery of justice and [an] insult the victims of these horrible crimes.

Denying Funding to Sanctuary Cities

Photo: CHANDAN KHANNA (Getty Images)

In addition to enacting mass deportations, another executive order completely revokes Biden immigration orders on asylum processing and family reunification. According to the White House, Trump also plans to construct new detention facilities and even suggests denying federal funding to sanctuary cities.

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An Ohio man pleaded guilty to charges of sex trafficking multiple people, including a teenager, out of Monroeville.

Donte Lashawn Cole, 40, of Euclid, Ohio was arrested in October 2023.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE >>> Man arrested in multi-state sex trafficking ring; 3 victims found at Monroeville motel

Police said they found his victims in a hotel in Monroeville with access to only a few pieces of clothing. One of those victims was a teenager.

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The Department of Justice said Cole advertised his victims online for sexual services in Western Pennsylvania between April 2023 and October 2023.

He is accused of immediately controlling money made through the illegal transactions and using it to control access to food.

The Department of Justice said he would refuse to give the teen anything if she did not make enough money.

He faces no less than 10 years and up to life in prison, a fine of $250,000 or both.

Human trafficking victims or anyone who has information about a potential trafficking situation is asked to call the FBI, local law enforcement, or the National Human Trafficking Resource Center at 1-888-373-7888. The number is answered 24/7.

Click here to submit an online tip to the NHTRC.

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OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  Oklahoma lawmakers made it clear on Thursday that the current Social Studies Standards submitted will take effect. One board member said Friday that lawmakers should send them back.

There is still a deadline for action to be taken, but many republican lawmakers said Thursday that it seems like it will be put in place.

For the past few weeks, lawmakers and others have sounded the alarm that they said there have been issues with the newly revised standards, including having students look into discrepancies with the 2020 presidential election.

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The current submission is going to take effect, said Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton on Thursday during his weekly media availability. He said that the board can come back next year to revise them if they like.

If lawmakers dont act on the standards, then they automatically take effect for the next six years. They have 30 days after the Oklahoma State Board of Education submits them to act, giving them, at most, seven legislative days left.

We havent gotten an exact date as to when OSBE submitted them to lawmakers.

News 4 spoke with newly appointed State Board of Education board member Ryan Deatherage Friday, telling him that lawmakers expect to have the standards take effect, and he said they still urge lawmakers to send it back to them.

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The Oklahoman was the first to report that board members voiced their desire to have another look at them.

As first reported by Non Doc, standards were quietly added after the board voted on which included things like having students find discrepancies in the 2020 election or the origin of COVID-19.

Democrats file resolutions to halt state social studies standards

Their reporting specifically stated, Identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results by looking at graphs and other information, including the sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of bellwether county trends.

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House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristow) seemed to confuse reporters at his weekly availability when he was asked about the standards and how the legislature is handling them.

He was asked about the newly added standard having students learn stolen 2020 election theories, and he said he had read an article from The Oklahoman and, Ive looked through the standards and I dont see that anywhere in the standards that says that, that it requires teachers to teach that.

According to state law, teachers are expected to guide students in achieving these standards, which are often set by the state and adopted by school districts. These standards provide a framework for instruction, focusing on areas like reading, writing, math, science, and social studies.

Superintendent Ryan Walters was asked March 31 about the standards and said about the stolen election theories that, We have absolutely laid out standards on how to cover the 2020 election  youre going to look at data  youre going to look at charts, graphs, and information to study what happened in 2020. Listen, there of course, were irregularities  30 million more people voted in that election.

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House Speaker Hilbert said that he sees no issues with the standards that they have. He was asked about the reporting, The Oklahoman did, that board members were requesting lawmakers send back the standards so they could review them.

The board had voted on the standards at the meeting in February, but Deatherage said he didnt have a clear understanding of what they were about. He was the sole no vote.

Most comments submitted opposed to OSBE Social Studies standards

When asked about board members asking lawmakers to send it back, Hilbert said that they havent called him.

Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton on Thursday said he doesnt see an issue with the standards either.

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Senator Paxton was asked about the fact that board members have been wanting lawmakers to send it back to them, and he said they could revise it next year.

I dont see anything in state statute that states they cant bring it up next year, said Senator Paxton.

The issue is that as of right now, the state superintendent is the one who has to power to decide what goes on the agenda and up for a vote. So, unless that changes, no, they cant legally bring it up for a vote.

So are we going to get a Prager-U textbook for this fall and then revise them again? said Senator Julia Kirt (D-OKC) when asked about the standards. How about we stop them ahead of that and actually fix them?

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There are resolutions that lawmakers have put forward to try and put a stop to the standards.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
The day marking 30 years since the Oklahoma City bombing, a day that shaped the city and its state, is here.

On April 19, 1995, a truck bomb detonated outside the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building, resulting in the deaths of 168 people in what is still the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in the United States.

Each year since, a solemn ceremony has marked the anniversary to honor those who were killed and the more than 600 people who survived.

City gathers at 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony

Held each year on the anniversary of the bombing, former President Bill Clinton is to be the keynote speaker at the 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony.

OKC memorial processional to Field of Chairs

After the 30th Anniversary Remembrance Ceremony inside First Church on Saturday, attendees walked in a processional to the Field of Chairs at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum to recognize the victims of the bombing.

Bill Clinton at OKC bombing memorial ceremony

Former President Bill Clinton was the sitting president on April 19, 1995, when the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building was bombed, which left 168 people dead as a result of the bombing.

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The former president gave the keynote address on Saturday, commemorating victims and survivors at the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing. He spoke to Oklahomans four days after the bombing, and at previous remembrance ceremonies since 1995, most recently at the 20th anniversary in 2015.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma City bombing: See photos from 30th anniversary ceremony
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Okemos Public Schools is currently looking for a way to address a projected $1.6 million funding deficit.

In a message sent out Thursday, the districts superintendent, John. J. Hood, says the district was facing a deficit in 202425, and the board decided to spend from the districts savings to address it. He says the district hoped to close that gap in the upcoming budget, but unexpected factors led to the district facing a projected $1.6 million deficit as it approaches the beginning of the 202526 school year.

The superintendent says the districts loss of $1.2 million in state funding for employee retirement and $1.17 million in cuts to special education funding from the Ingham Intermediate School District (ISD) have complicated their efforts to reconcile the budget.

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6 News spoke with the superintendent of the Ingham Intermediate School District, Jason Mellema, who said its not just the Okemos School District that may have to make some tough choices as they plan for the next school year.

Where are our expenses at? Where are revenues? How do we make sure that were in a balanced format, and if there are adjustments that need to be made, how do we prioritize as best as possible to make sure that were serving our students and families? And so, thats going to be an ongoing conversation as I mentioned, just like our local districts will be having, we will have to have our budget adopted by June 30th. At this point in time, were not expecting any reductions, but I think this point in time might be the biggest statement there, because if there are obviously changes, as I referenced with respect to the federal level, those will have a cascading effect into our schools. Ingham Intermediate School District Superintendent, Jason Mellema

Hood also says the price of health insurance for district employees has increased by $825,000beyond an already budgeted 10% increaseand that the district also had to spend $940,000 out of its savings to address health and safety issues.

According to the superintendent, the district has been looking for ways to cut spending and boost revenue for 202526, including changing its early childhood programming and fees, implementing a voluntary severance program for retiring or resigning teachers, not backfilling some positions left vacant by retirees and looking into different insurance options.

Hood says the district is required to adopt a balanced budget by June 30, and many factors could impact their projections, such as state per-pupil funding and student enrollment.

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The school board will provide budget updates and planning at each board meeting this spring. These meetings are scheduled for April 20, May 12, May 19, May 27, and June 9.

Hood anticipates the budget will be adopted on June 23.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Transitioning into retirement is one of the biggest life shifts, especially when it comes to your money. Moving away from working full-time and instead focusing on family, travel or interests  all while making sure you have the finances to do so  is a delicate balancing act.

Be Aware: 8 Common Mistakes Retirees Make With Their Social Security Checks

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Of course, Social Security can help offset some of the income lost from no longer working full-time. However, it usually only is part of most retirees budgets along with a mixture of 401(k)s, savings, pensions and more.

GOBankingRates spoke with a retiree in the Washington D.C. area about how their finances have changed in the last two years since they have been receiving Social Security benefits.

Day-to-Day Living Expenses

Like your paycheck when youre working, the money goes to all your regular expenses: food, mortgage, electricity, etc., said the D.C. retiree. You try to stay within your means, and dip into savings when you cant. For example, I took money out of savings to pay for a recent bathroom remodel.

This retiree and his wife decided to continue living in the D.C. area for retirement to be near their daughter, her husband, and their grandson. The couples eldest son lives in Brooklyn, New York, which is more expensive than D.C.

Were it not for their kids and grandkids being on the East Coast, the D.C. retiree and his wife would look for some place cheaper to live.

We have yet to dip into our 401(k)s. We still have other savings were using, and were not yet old enough to take mandatory payouts, explained the D.C. retiree, who is not yet 70 years of age, nor is his wife.

Read Next: Social Security Full Retirement Age Went Up This Month  Why It May Continue To Rise

Where 401(k) Plans Come Into Play

The couple said they were fortunate to have hooked up with a financial professional in the late 90s when I was working in San Diego, and we started to have more disposable income. I decided I didnt have the time, the knowledge or the inclination to manage my own money.

Im glad we got into our 401(k) [plans] early and were religious about contributing, continued the D.C. retiree. In the 80s, when I worked at Hearst in Pittsburgh, they introduced the 401(k)s and stopped funding our pensions. I went to some of the introductory seminars, and realized it was a no-brainer. What other investment guarantees a 50% return?

The D.C. retiree made sure to work as long as possible and max out all of his 401(k) contributions because an individual is allowed to contribute more once they are past the age of 50-so called catch-up contribution.
A bomb with a force powerful enough to instantly destroy much of a nine-story building shattered a quiet Oklahoma City morning and sent a shock wave through America.

Saturday is the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the deadliest homegrown attack in United States history that exposed a dark undercurrent of anti-government extremist anger.

FSU lecturer finds broken doors in building after 2-hour shooting lockdown

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A public ceremony to mark the anniversary at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum will include the reading of the names of the 168 people killed, remarks by victim family members and survivors, and a keynote address by former President Bill Clinton.

The victims

The dead ranged in age from three months to 73 years old. Nineteen of them were children. Hundreds more were injured.

The building that was bombed  the Alfred P. Murrah federal complex  included regional offices for several agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and a credit union. Americas Kids Daycare was on the second floor.

The bomb, a mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel packed into a rental truck, sheared off about a third of the building and caused floors to collapse on each other. Some victims not killed by the blast were crushed to death, buried by the falling structure.

The bombers

Authorities initially suspected the attack had been orchestrated by extremists outside the U.S., but the perpetrators turned out to be two former U.S. soldiers.

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Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols met while serving in the Army. The pair held a deep anger toward the American government that had been sharpened by the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, that killed 76 people, and a standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that left a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent dead.

The Oklahoma City bombing happened on the second anniversary of the fiery end to the 51-day Waco siege.

McVeigh drove the truck to the site and set the fuse to blow it up. He was convicted of 11 murder counts and executed by lethal injection in 2001. Nichols helped McVeigh plan and build the bomb. He was convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter, and is serving life in prison.

Domestic extremism

The bombing exposed Americans to violent extremism and anti-government sentiment on home soil. McVeigh and Nichols sympathized with right-wing militia movements that sprang up in the early 1990s and continue to this day, often with ties to conspiracy theories, nationalism and white supremacist ideology.

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How to tackle domestic political extremism has proven difficult and politically divisive in the 30 years since the bombing in Oklahoma.

In 1996, Clinton signed an antiterrorism law that toughened penalties for a wide range of crimes and made it a crime to target federal workers performing their duties. It also spent about $1 billion, most of it for the FBI, to expand counterterrorism efforts.

Federal criminal law defines domestic terrorism as violence intended to coerce or intimidate a civilian population and to influence government policy, but there is no stand-alone domestic terrorism charge.

In 2022, the Justice Department created a specialized unit focused on what officials described as an elevated threat from violent extremists in the U.S. And some survivors of the Oklahoma City bombing have said they worry that anti-government rhetoric in modern-day politics could also lead to violence.

The memorial and ceremony

What was left of the federal building was torn down about a month after the bombing and a memorial complex was built in its place. The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone etched with the names of those killed. Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed.

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See the latest headlines in Kansas City and across Kansas, Missouri

Gates to the memorial mark the times, 9:01 a.m. and 9:03 a.m., while the reflecting pond between them represents 9:02 a.m., the minute the bomb exploded. A Survivor Tree, a gnarled American elm that withstood the blast, now stands on a small hill and shades the memorial below.

The memorial site is among Oklahomas most popular destinations, typically drawing more than 500,000 visitors each year. School children arrive by the busload to learn about the dangers of political violence.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
COLUMBUS, Ga. (WRBL)  In a heartfelt ceremony, three former principals of Hardaway High School were given high honors  their names forever engraved on the schools newest offices.

In the ceremony that dedicated the schools renovated counselors office, discipline office and new front offices, guests shared emotional and funny stories about former principals Roger Hatcher (1986-1999), Keith Seifert (1999-2005) and Matt Bell (2005-2020).

From left to right: Maurdrice McNeil, Kimberly Hull, Matt Bell, Keith Siefert and Roger Hatcher. Picture by: Jazmine Mills 4/17/2025

Hardaway Highs improvements focused on enhancing learning facilities and making the school safer. The Muscogee County School District used E-SPLOST sales tax to complete the changes.

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Hardaway High, standing for 60 years, was noted by the district as a school that needed a facelift. The current principal, Maurdrice McNeil, said the renovations began after spring break last school year and were finished about a month ago.

I think the sense of pride that there havent been any new renovations here in quite a while. So just the pride that we have, separates us from other schools. said Principal McNeil.

Even though the renovated offices and polished new additions shine bright throughout the school, what stands out the most is the pride still held by Hardaways previous leadership.

Nearly all their speeches included gratitude for the school, appreciation for the experiences and a booming Go Hawks!

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Bell, who was principal for 15 years and now serves as an MCSD regional chief officer, supervising 18 schools, noted why the stories and the ceremony meant so much to him personally.

The guidance office is very significant, Bell said. Building relationships is a very important part of my career and everything that we do. This is a people business, and a lot of great things happen in the guidance counselors office, so Im deeply honored to have the guidance counselors suite named after me.

The new additions to the school also have some current students excited.

To me this ceremony just shows me how I am a part of a legacy, said senior and Miss Hardaway ZaNyla Douglas. Through all the principals that care for the students and how much dedication and time they put into us. For the school, it shows a reflection of the history that this school has endured and how much progress theyve made.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WRBL.
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR)  One person is in custody after a robbery and stabbing at the Taco Bueno near Northwest Expressway and Council, police say.

Police responded to a robbery with a stabbing involved in it, said MSgt. Gary Knight with the Oklahoma City Police Department. When officers arrived, they found one person there whod been stabbed multiple times.

Blake Nichols. Image courtesy OCDC.

According to a police report, around 1 a.m. on Friday, Blake Nichols came into the restaurant and zip tied the employees.

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As it turns out hes an ex employee of the store, said Knight.

LOCAL NEWS: Three additional arrests made in Enid teen homicide

The police report said one employee was able to break free and tried to fight off Nichols, while the other employee ran away.

Nichols eventually made off with cash from the register.

Everybody there knew him, they were able to provide not only a name, but an address, and when officers went to his house, sure enough, he was there, said Knight. He was taken into custody, tried to flee on foot, was taken into custody very quickly.

Hes now booked in the Oklahoma County Jail. Hes facing a handful of charges, including robbery and assault with a deadly weapon.

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Meanwhile, the employee who was stabbed with a knife was taken to a nearby hospital in critical condition. OKCPD said that the employee is expected to survive.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
A man was killed and another hospitalized in a shooting in Florida City on Friday night, according to the Miami-Dade Sheriffs Office.

Florida City police officers arrived at the 600 block of SW 7th Terrace around 6:45 p.m. and found the two men with gunshot wounds, said Detective Angel Rodriguez, a spokesman for the sheriffs office.

Miami-Dade Fire Rescue determined one of the men was dead when they arrived. Paramedics took the other man to a hospital in critical condition, Rodriguez said.

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Police and deputies do not have a suspected shooter in custody.

Sheriffs office homicide detectives have taken over the investigation from Florida City police, Rodriguez said. The sheriffs office handles homicide investigations for several smaller municipalities within the county.

This story will be updated as more information becomes available.
GREENFIELD, Iowa  The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation is investigating a homicide that killed one and injured another in Greenfield.

According to the Iowa Department of Public Safety, at approximately 12:45 a.m., the Adair County Communications Center received a 911 call on a stabbing in Greenfield.

Officers with the Greenfield Police Department arrived in the 200 block of northeast 4th Street and located a deceased Hispanic male inside the home. A second victim was located inside the home suffering non-life-threatening injuries.

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Major Interstate 80 closure starts Monday morning

Yudiel Vega-Blanco, 39, was taken into custody without incident and taken to the Adair County Jail. Vega-Blanco has been charged with murder in the 1st degree and willful injury causing bodily injury.

Authorities have opened an investigation and say no further details are being released at this time. The Greenfield Police Department is being assisted by the Adair County Sheriffs Office, the Adair County Attorneys Office, and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

Law enforcement considers this an isolated incident and says there is no active threat to the community.

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The names of the victims are not being released pending notification of family.

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Everyone should know, On the 18th of April in 75, hardly a man is now alive who remembers that day and year, as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote.

It was that day, 250 years ago that Paul Revere and his cohort of riders waited for the signal, lamps set in the belfry of the Old North Church in Bostons North End. One if by land, and two if by sea, Longfellow wrote. It was two  the British, called the Regulars by the colonists, were coming across the Charles River by boat. Revere rode through the countryside warning colonials that British troops were moving their way.

It looked a little different in the lobby of the Wood Museum of Springfield History Friday afternoon as Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and state Rep. Carlos Gonzalez, D-Springfield, hung replica lamps to commemorate that day, 250 years ago, when the first battles of the American Revolution were fought in Lexington and Concord.

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Gonzalez, the chairman of the Western Massachusetts delegation in the state House of Representatives, arranged for the ceremony with Springfield, joining communities across the state, As a uniting call to action no matter who you are, to commemorate and remind ourselves that our history is about working together for a better tomorrow, he said.

The two lanterns were part of a set of 108 built as replicas of the lanterns supposedly used by the colonists that day in 1775, except the very subtle Red Sox logo on the diffuser of one lamp threw its historic authenticity out the window.

These lamps are symbolic of a key moment in our history and the start in Massachusetts of the 250th anniversary of the Ride of Paul Revere across the commonwealth, Gonzalez said. It is important to know that in these challenging times of divisiveness, we need to come together in more ways than one, and recognize what unites us, not what divides us. The American Revolution was not won by individuals acting alone, but by communities who organized, registered and worked together.

Gonzales said lamps were hung in the old North Church in Boston, Fall River, Danvers, Worcester and Springfield.

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Sarno said Springfield was a key community at the time of the revolution.

Massachusetts is the birthplace of American democracy and Springfield played a key role in that, he said, noting that Gen. George Washington choose Springfield as the countrys first and most important armory.
MCCOOK LAKE, S.D. (KELO)  Its been ten months since a devastating flood swept through McCook Lake, wiping out houses and upending lives. Drive through the southeast South Dakota neighborhood today, and youll see the impact is far from over.

The dirt, debris and damage make it feel like the flooding happened yesterday. The emotional toll hasnt faded either.

Its just a lot, resident Deanna Jacobs said. Just a lot.

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EMS services on the line in Davison, Hanson county election

Deanna and her husband Tom moved to the neighborhood when they retired. Now, the only things left are their garage and Deannas flower beds.

We left here thinking we were on easy street, and then we came back to nothing. Water rushing and this house thats tilted, Deanna said. We kind of worked all our lives to get to where were at, and in a couple of hours, it disappeared.

The Jacobs have lived in the area for about 15 years, and to see so much of it get washed away in one night was devastating. They hope they can rebuild their home.

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Numerous families in a similar situation feel the same. Its caught the attention of those who want to lend a hand in any possible way.

Nick Haugen and his crew at Haugen Incorporated are donating dirt to help fill the foundations of several homes, including the Jacobs.

Were filling in this backyard or trying to give them a little bit more of a backyard than what was here at least, Haugen said. The dirts close by, so were loading it up over here and spreading it out.

Haugen, nearly a total stranger to the Jacobs, said he hopes more people will volunteer their time in the area.

The generosity is restoring more than just land. Little by little, its rebuilding hope.

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Its strangers. Its people from other towns, others that are coming to try to get some recognition for us, Deanna said. Its just, its been a long process. Every day, one more emotional day.

The McCook Lake Izaak Walton League is a nonprofit within the community that also helps residents with the flood recovery.

Later this month, the South Dakota Supreme Court will hear an appeal on the McCook Lake recreational area petition.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KELOLAND.com.
Firefighters assist residents in evacuating their homes from East River floodwaters on March 15, 2019, in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Adam Wesley/USA Today)

ASHLAND, Wis.  In less than 10 years, three catastrophic floods ravaged northwestern Wisconsin and changed the way people think about water.

The most severe, in July 2016, slammed Ashland with up to 10 inches of rain in less than a day  a months worth of rain fell in just two hours. As rivers swelled to record highs, major highways broke into pieces and culverts washed away. It took months for roads to reopen, with more than $41 million in damage across seven counties.

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The Marengo River, which winds through forests and farmland before meeting the Bad River that flows into Lake Superior, was hit hard during these historic deluges. Centuries earlier, the upper watershed would have held onto that water, but logging and agriculture left the river disconnected from its floodplain, giving the water nowhere safe to go.

Today, the Marengo River stands as an example of a new kind of solution. Following the record floods, state leaders invested in opening up floodplains and restoring wetlands to relieve flooding. As the need to adapt to disasters grows more urgent, the Marengo River serves as an example that theres a cheaper way to do so: using wetlands.

We cant change the weather or the patterns but we can better prepare ourselves, said MaryJo Gingras, Ashland Countys conservationist.

Wetlands once provided more natural flood storage across Wisconsin and the Mississippi River Basin, soaking up water like sponges so it couldnt rush further downstream. But about half of the countrys wetlands have been drained and filled for agriculture and development, and they continue to be destroyed, even as climate change intensifies floods.

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As the federal government disposes of rules to protect wetlands, environmental advocates want to rewrite the ecosystems narrative to convince more people that restoration is worth it.

Wetlands arent just pretty places, advocates argue, but also powerhouses that can save communities money by blunting the impact of flood disasters. A 2024 Wisconsin law geared at preventing such disasters before they happen, inspired by the wetland work in the Marengo River watershed, is going to test that theory.

Traditionally, the outreach has been, We want to have wetlands out here because theyre good for ducks, frogs and pretty flowers, said Tracy Hames, executive director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association. What do people care about here? They care about their roads, their bridges, their culverts  how can wetlands help that?

Bipartisan bill posed wetlands as flood solution

Northern Wisconsin isnt the only place paying the price for floods. Between 1980 and 2025, the U.S. was struck by 45 billion-dollar flood disasters, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with a cumulative price tag of nearly $206 billion. Many parts of the vast Mississippi River Basin receive up to eight inches more rain annually than they did 50 years ago, according to a 2022 analysis from Climate Central, a nonprofit organization that analyzes climate science.

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Damaging floods are now so common in the states that border the Mississippi River, including Wisconsin, that the issue cant be ignored, said Haley Gentry, assistant director of the Tulane Institute on Water Resources Law and Policy in New Orleans.

Even if you dont agree with certain (regulations)  we absolutely have to find ways to reduce damage, Gentry said.

Former Wisconsin state Rep. Loren Oldenburg, a Republican who served a flood-prone district in southwest Wisconsin until he lost the seat last year, was interested in how wetlands could help.

Oldenburg joined forces with Republican state Sen. Romaine Quinn, who represents northern Wisconsin and knew of the work in the Marengo River watershed. The lawmakers proposed a grant program for flood-stricken communities to better understand why and where they flood and restore wetlands in areas that need the help most.

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Jennifer Western Hauser, policy liaison at the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, met with Democratic and Republican lawmakers to advocate for the bill. She emphasized problems that might get their attention  related to transportation, emergency services, insurance, or conservation  that wetland restoration could solve. She said she got a lot of head-nods as she explained that the cost of continually fixing a washed-out culvert could vanish from storing and slowing floodwaters upstream.

These are issues that hit all over, she said. Its a relatable problem.

State Highway 13, a major north-south route in Wisconsin, collapsed in rural Ashland County in 2016 after a massive rainstorm caused area rivers to swell to record highs. The county used state funds to restore wetlands, hoping to prove that theyre a natural flooding solution.

(MaryJo Gingras/Ashland County Land & Water Conservation Dept.)

The bill passed unanimously and was signed into law by Democratic Gov. Tony Evers in April 2024. Evers and the Republican-controlled Legislature approved $2 million for the program in the states most recent budget.

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Twenty-three communities applied for the first round of grant funding, which offered two types of grants  one to help assess flood risk, and another grant to help build new wetlands to reduce that risk. Eleven communities were funded, touching most corners of the state, according to Wisconsin Emergency Management, which administered the grants.

Brian Vigue, freshwater policy director for Audubon Great Lakes, said the program shows Wisconsinites have come a long way in how they think about wetlands since 2018, when the state government made it easier for developers to build in them.

Theres an assumption that wetland restoration comes only at the expense of historically lucrative land uses like agriculture or industry, making it hard to gain ground, Vigue said. But when skeptics understand the possible economic benefits, it can change things.

When you actually find something with the return on investment and can prove that its providing these benefits  we were surprised at how readily people that youd assume wouldnt embrace a really good, proactive wetland conservation policy, did, he said.

Private landowners need to see results

About three-quarters of the remaining wetlands in the lower 48 states are on privately owned land, including areas that were targeted for restoration in the Marengo River watershed. That means before any restoration work begins, the landowner must be convinced that the work will help, not hurt them.

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For projects like this to work, landowner goals are a priority, said Kyle Magyera, local government outreach specialist at the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, because they know their property better than anyone else.

Farmers, for example, can be leery that beefing up wetlands will take land out of production and hurt their bottom line, Magyera said.

In the Marengo watershed, Gingras worked with one landowner who had farmland that wasnt being used. They created five new wetlands across 10 acres that have already decreased sediment and phosphorus runoff from entering the river. And while there hasnt been a flood event yet, Gingras expects the water flows to be slowed substantially.

This work goes beyond restoring wetland habitat, Magyera said, its about reconnecting waterways. In another project, Magyera worked on a private property where floods carved a new channel in a ravine that funneled the water faster downstream. The property now has log structures that mimic beaver dams to help slow water down and reconnect these systems.

Tracy Hames, executive director of the Wisconsin Wetlands Association, walks along a stretch of Black Earth Creek in rural Dane County. The creek jumped its banks during a historic flood in 2018, causing millions of dollars in damage, and the county is now restoring wetlands and reconnecting the creek to its floodplain to alleviate future disasters.

(Mark Hoffman/Milwaukee Journal Sentinel)

Now that the first round of funding has been disbursed in Wisconsins grant program, grantees across the state are starting work on their own versions of natural flood control, like that used in Marengo.

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In Emilie Park, along the flood-prone East River in Green Bay, a project funded by the program will create 11 acres of new wetlands. That habitat will help store water and serve as an eco-park where community members can stroll through the wetland on boardwalks.

In rural Dane County, about 20 miles from the state capital, a stretch of Black Earth Creek will be reconnected to its floodplain, restoring five and a half acres of wetlands and giving the creek more room to spread out and reduce flood risk. The creek jumped its banks during a near record-breaking 2018 rainstorm, washing out two bridges and causing millions of dollars in damage.

Voluntary program could be of interest elsewhere

Nature-based solutions to flooding have been gaining popularity along the Mississippi River. Wisconsins program could serve as a national model for how to use wetlands to promote natural flood resilience, Quinn wrote in a 2023 newspaper editorial supporting the bill.

Kyle Rorah, regional director of public policy for the Great Lakes/Atlantic region of Ducks Unlimited, said hes talking about the Wisconsin grant program to lawmakers in other states in the upper Midwest, and that he sees more appetite for this model than relying on the federal government to protect wetlands.

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And Vigue has found that stakeholders in industries like fishing, shipping and recreation are receptive to using wetlands as infrastructure.

But Gentry cautioned that voluntary restoration can only go so far, because it still allows status-quo development and other related patterns to continue.

Still, as the federal government backs off of regulation, Gentry said she expects more emphasis on the economic value of wetlands to drive protection.

Some of that is already happening. A 2024 analysis from the Union of Concerned Scientists found that wetlands save Wisconsin and the upper Midwest nearly $23 billion a year that otherwise would be spent combating flooding.

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Every level of government is looking at ways to reduce costs so it doesnt increase taxes for their constituents, Gingras said.

John Sabo, director of the ByWater Institute at Tulane University, said as wetlands prove their economic value in reducing flood damage costs, taxpayers will see their value.

You have to think about (wetlands) as providing services for people, Sabo said, if you want to get people on the other side of the aisle behind the idea (of restoring them).

And although the Wisconsin grant program is small-scale for now, he said if other states bordering the Mississippi River follow its lead, it could reduce flooding across the region.

If all upstream states start to build upstream wetlands, he said, that has downstream impacts.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
By Phuong Nguyen and Francesco Guarascio

HANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's Ministry of Public Security plans to take a majority stake in FPT Telecom, one of the country's largest internet providers, as part of its efforts to boost national cybersecurity, according to a document seen by Reuters.

The ministry, which oversees the police, has become increasingly involved in Vietnam's internet and telecoms sector. It took control of the country's third-largest telecoms operator, MobiFone, last year and also spearheaded a tightening of data protection rules that has caused concerns among foreign tech firms.

Under the plan, Vietnam's State Capital Investment Corporation (SCIC), a holding company for assets controlled by the state, will transfer its stake in FPT Telecom to the ministry, the document showed.

SCIC owns 50.17% of FPT Telecom, while FPT Corp, Vietnam's largest private tech company, has a 45.66% stake but retains control of the unit, according to FPT Telecom's financial statements for last year.

Reuters was not able to ascertain whether the transfer would lead to the ministry taking effective control of FPT Telecom.

The public security ministry did not reply to a request for comment. FPT Corp said it currently had no information to share on the matter. The finance ministry, to which the plans have been submitted, also did not reply to a request for comment.

Shares in FPT Corp tumbled nearly 7% on Wednesday, the day after the document was submitted. An investor in FPT Corp and a broker said the slide was caused by uncertainty over the future of FPT Telecom which is an important source of revenue for the group.

The shares have pared some of those losses since then and are now down 2.8% compared to Tuesday's close.

In addition to providing internet services, FPT Telecom is involved in the development of undersea fibre-optic cables, which Communist-run Vietnam considers a national priority as most of its existing cables are ageing and prone to accidents.

The transfer "will contribute to the good performance of the functions and tasks of the Ministry of Public Security", the document dated April 14 said. It listed the protection of data and the monitoring and prevention of cyber risks as core functions of the ministry.

The document urges the finance ministry to seek the prime minister's approval for the plan.

Vietnam's largest telecoms operator, Viettel, is owned by the defence ministry, while the second-largest, Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT), is controlled by the SCIC, which is overseen by the finance ministry.

(Reporting by Phuong Nguyen and Francesco Guarascio; Editing by Edwina Gibbs)
A week after Thanksgiving in 2022, South Dakota was hit by one of those howling snowstorms that are particular to this part of the country. The roads were treacherous, and it wouldnt have been surprising if our visitor from Washington, D.C., decided to reschedule.

He didnt.

Alvaro Bedoya, then the newest commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, not only kept his appointment to tour an independent grocery store on South Dakotas Pine Ridge Reservation, but he also stayed far longer than originally agreed. He listened respectfully and patiently as members of the community shared concerns that extended far beyond his governments mandate, taking notes and promising to follow up.

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I was beyond impressed back then and pleasantly surprised when he kept his word after he returned to our nations capital.

A few weeks ago, Bedoya sued the Trump administration. President Trump fired Bedoya and the FTCs other Democratic commissioner, Rebecca Slaughter, breaking with the long-held tradition that political appointees to independent government agencies can only be dismissed for cause.

Based on my knowledge and experience, Bedoya didnt fall into any of those categories.

President Trump promised to lower grocery prices while on the campaign trail, but he sabotaged that promise by firing one of the biggest champions for rural grocers and supporters of antitrust enforcement that wouldve helped the president keep his word.

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The purpose of Bedoyas tour was to see the real-world results of national grocery chains using their buying power to put pressure on independent stores. The dominant players pressure suppliers to lower prices to unrealistic levels, and the rest of us end up paying the price to make up for the losses.

My family has been in the grocery business for 120 years, and it gets harder every year to compete on a playing field thats controlled by the biggest players.

My customers on the Pine Ridge Reservation are among the poorest residents in the country. Hunger and food access are such prevalent problems in my community that I founded Team Buche Cares, a nonprofit organization focused on feeding my neighbors, as demand is so high that food banks and other charitable institutions cant do it alone.

Some of my customers dont even have cars, and they must pay someone to give them a lift to our store. As a result, they cant afford to pay 20, 30 or 50 percent more than customers of the big box store, which is far beyond their reach.

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The Robinson-Patman Act was passed to prohibit this kind of price discrimination and ensure that stores of all sizes have access to the same prices when purchasing the same products in the same quantities.

Commissioners Bedoya and Slaughter joined then-Chair Lina Khan just a few months ago in approving the first Robinson-Patman antitrust cases in more than four decades, in each case accusing suppliers and middlemen of succumbing to the demands of their biggest customers and charging more to smaller customers who lack the same market power.

Bedoya understood the problem because he saw it firsthand, and he spelled it out in an opinion piece he wrote for The New York Times in January I Work at the FTC I Know What Is Killing Local Groceries. He mentioned me by name and cited that Pine Ridge store tour from December 2022 as he made the case for enforcing Robinson-Patman.

Now that he no longer works at the FTC, I have to ask who will be fighting for my customers in Washington? Who will be looking out for rural independent grocers? Who will keep their word and help Americans who struggle to afford and access food for their families?

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Sadly, it doesnt seem like anyone in the White House took a minute to ask these questions, but I wish they had.

I personally dont care which president or party is in charge. I understand the need to cut fat out of the government, but I would respectfully submit that the people in charge should be careful that theyre not cutting out the heart.

RF Buche is a fourth-generation grocer out of South Dakota and president of G.F. Buche Co.

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As a current Harvard student, I could have written this with an understandable bias to defend my soon-to-be alma mater, even if I havent agreed with their initial handling of student protests. But, as I read the letter that the Trump administration wrote to Harvard University, another identity decided it needed to speak instead. That of a Marine veteran who served this country.

Like many Harvard students, I started off my Monday seeing President Alan Garbers email to the entire Harvard community pledging to fight the demands by the Trump administration to concede changes to the university structure or lose funding. Of course, in this world of partisanship most people have already decided where they want to be in this fight.

MAGA Republicans are beside themselves with glee that one man can cripple the countrys oldest institution of higher learning as well as any other institution that makes him mad. And of course, on the other side, are Never-Trumpers who will fight against anything President Trump says. However, in this incredibly nuanced world that we like to paint over with broad strokes, there is truth to criticism of the university.

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Many people feel that Harvard didnt do enough to protect Jewish students and faculty when protests broke out on the conflict in Gaza. And they are correct. Like many other campuses, Harvard Yard became a battleground and attracted characters that seemed more intent on degrading Jews than stopping carnage in Gaza. Or even worse, using the plight of the Palestinians in Gaza to push a culture of intolerance here in the United States.

Harvard had a lot of pushback from angry alumni, the most prominent being Bill Ackman, who threatened everything from doxxing current students, withholding donations and refusing to hire pro-Palestinian protestors. Here is the thing; that worked. Harvard started to make moves over the last 15 months from barring students from waking at graduation to dismissing leaders of the Middle Eastern Studies Center.

It seemed like Harvard does listen to its very powerful alumni base while also trying to maintain the right to speech on campus. Its a tricky line that will never make everyone happy, but its the right way to do things.

Then came the letter. I encourage you to read it. Because Trumps demands are not consistent with the values of the U.S. Instead, he seems to be channeling a Soviet-style approach to regulating our education. This is inherently dangerous and must be challenged by every university. Trumps demands that the viewpoints of students, faculty and staff be subjected to an audit goes against everything sacred in the First Amendment.

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Remember in Harry Potter when the Ministry of Magic decided to put a stooge in the school and crack down on any thinking that the government didnt approve of? Made you mad, didnt it? Well, Trump wants an external party (aka the government) to determine whether students are not just being antisemitic but also if they are being ideologically compliant with whatever Trump demands of them. Read that again. The federal government is demanding to have oversight and punish students, teachers and staff who have a different ideology than the president of the United States. As a veteran, this is an appalling demand that belongs in the era of history we called the Soviet Union.

People like to think the strongest aspect of America is our military or our economy. You can make arguments for both, but I would say our university system is also one of our greatest strengths. Whether it be private institutions like Harvard, public schools like Michigan or the community colleges where many of us start our academic pursuits, higher education has provided Americans with some of the best advancements.

From cancer research to computer science to space exploration to vaccine development, our universities are the backbone of this countrys economic and scientific progress. They are also step ladders into a world of economic and financial opportunity. Why should we Americans tolerate seeing one man try to destroy this crown jewel of America because he wants universities to submit to a federal thought police?

How does defunding cancer research prevent antisemitism? It doesnt, nor do any of the demands made in Trumps extortion letter. Universities, whether they get federal funding or not, should not have to abandon the First Amendment right to pursue truth in order to do cancer research.

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It is easy to beat up on universities nowadays. Anti-intellectualism has taken root and we seem to be convinced that the schools that provide us with our best and brightest are now somehow working to destroy this country. As a Marine veteran, I can tell you Harvard is no more a radical communist haven than my undergraduate alma mater, Ohio State or any other school in the United States.

You will find as many similar thinkers at the University of Iowa or Texas A&M. Universities will always foster controversial dialogue and, yes, they need to do a better job of not suppressing opinions. President Barack Obama himself said students should not be coddled and protected from different viewpoints.

That is the struggle of having a First Amendment on diverse college campuses where everyone is encouraged to speak their mind. Yes, it can devolve into the problems that Harvard and other schools faced in the post Oct. 7 world. But the responsibility to guide, monitor, and address oversteps of free speech should be handled by the school with guidance from the alumni. It should not or ever be from a Big Brother oversight board hellbent on thought control.

Jos Joseph is a masters candidate at the Harvard Extension School at Harvard University. He is a Marine veteran who served in Iraq and lives in Anaheim, Calif.

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As delegates across the world come to Washington next week for the International Monetary Funds Spring Meetings, an issue at the top of their minds will be whether the Trump administration supports the organization. The administration has fairly asked what America gets out of many international organizations, and Project 2025 called for U.S. withdrawal from the IMF.

But the IMF is a fantastic deal for the U.S. It supports vital American interests, strengthens our economy and costs taxpayers nothing. If the U.S. steps back from the IMF, there will only be one winner: China. But the Fund needs to better focus its agenda and get back to basics.

The IMF has long supported American national security. When financial crises have flared, Republican and Democratic administrations turned to the IMF as the worlds first responder. The Reagan and H.W. Bush administrations called on the IMF to tackle Latin debt crises in the 1980s and support reforms in Eastern Europe, especially Poland and the Baltic states, to help free them from Soviet oppression. The Fund was instrumental in responding to the late-1990s Asian crisis. The George W. Bush administration asked the IMF to help tackle the fallout from the global financial crisis, and it was a key player throughout the Eurozone crisis. The Trump administration backed the IMF supporting developing countries during the pandemic.

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Today, the Fund is helping countries of significant geopolitical and economic interest to America  including Egypt, Jordan and Ukraine  and it plays a key role in tackling poverty and corruption in many poor countries, including in Africa and our hemisphere. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessents recent trip to Buenos Aires to support Argentinas economic reform program, backed by the IMF, also underscores the Funds importance to U.S. interests.

The IMF boosts U.S. economic well-being. When systemic crises happen abroad, they inevitably spill over, harming Americans. A few years ago, Europe  one-fifth of global GDP  was mired in crisis, which would have been worse absent the IMF. During the Asia crisis, turmoil in Thailand, Indonesia and Korea hit demand for U.S. agricultural products such as corn, wheat and soybeans. Even in non-systemic countries, crises hurt citizens, especially the poorest. IMF support makes developing nations more resilient, allowing them to stand on their own feet, reducing the need for U.S. foreign aid.

The IMF is a great financial deal for America. The U.S. is the Funds largest shareholder, giving us enormous influence (if not veto power) over key policy and financial decisions. When the IMF engages in its normal lending, it draws from members quota lines. For the U.S., that means when we put in one dollar, other countries put in three to four. In return for our dollar, the fund gives us an equivalent interest-bearing claim. Over time, these drawdowns and claims equal out. We derive systemic benefits from our IMF participation at virtually zero cost.

If the U.S. steps back from the IMF, China wins. Our influence allows us to shape the IMF to achieve American priorities. China, though almost 20 percent of the global economy, is the Funds third-largest member, with voting power just behind Japan. If the U.S. steps back or even withdraws from the Fund, Chinas influence will increase significantly. That would limit the extent to which the IMF could call out bad Chinese practices. We would also have limited or no influence over IMF policies and the countries to which the Fund lends. The IMF would show great deference to Beijing.

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But reforms are needed. The global economy constantly evolves and so must the IMF.

The Funds job is to support macroeconomic stabilization through sound fiscal, monetary, financial stability and external policies. Other areas  structural reforms, climate, inequality  are also key, but the Fund cannot do all. It must defer to others expertise, focus on its core mandate and get back to basics.

Global external imbalances are a constant problem and America, given its fiscal deficits, contributes to them. But others, such as China and Germany, habitually run massive current-account surpluses. Chinas heavy state-led industrial-policy model fuels an outsized manufacturing surplus, suppressing consumption at home and sending shockwaves abroad. The IMF must do more to call out global imbalances.

Heroic challenges remain on low-income country debt. These nations often remain deeply indebted due to excessive borrowing, including from China and private-sector creditors. The Funds debt analyses should not leave countries mired in high debts and costly interest and principal payments.

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While IMF lending garners attention, Fund surveillance of members policies, including the U.S., offers a public good. The IMFs job is to be an umpire. American economic policy is hardly faultless. We should expect and accept critiques of our trade and fiscal policies  and ask for equally sharp critiques of other members policies.

The IMF is a great deal for America. It has contributed to decades of unprecedented global prosperity.

It is not perfect and we should focus on needed fixes. But America gains by backing the IMF in fulfilling its vital contributions to our countrys well-being and the global economy.

Meg Lundsager, Elizabeth Shortino and Mark Sobel are former U.S. Treasury International Affairs civil servants who represented the U.S. on the IMF Executive Board.

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Amid the sea of conservative talk radio, Ive been working as a progressive in independent media for nearly two decades hosting a popular political talk program, The David Pakman Show. During this time, Ive observed a shifting media landscape that has left many politically progressive content creators  and our audiences  frustrated, confused and sometimes defeated and despondent. But Ive also witnessed firsthand that there is a path forward, even in this age of mass misinformation, echo chambers and reactionary politics.

As misinformation and media illiteracy have plagued the already fractured American political system, much of the left would like to think this phenomenon is confined to right-wing bubbles. But progressives must grapple with the new reality: The rights echo machine has been thriving among all online audiences and is spreading. In a study of popular online shows active in 2024, the results showed that nine of the 10 most popular shows were right-leaning, accounting for at least 197 million total followers and subscribers. Of these right-leaning shows, only four are categorized as News and Politics on Apple Podcasts. Additionally, 72% of 111 supposedly nonpolitical shows were found to have an ideological bent to the right.

According to Pew Research survey from August 2024, ahead of the election, about 1 in 5 Americans said they regularly get their news from social media. President Donald Trump and his allies effectively leveraged nontraditional platforms  podcasts, TikTok and influencer-driven content  to reach an audience feeling economically insecure and culturally alienated. This was especially prevalent among young male voters ages 18-29 who gravitated toward figures that emerged through gaming, fitness, financial advice and lifestyle platforms that seamlessly wove together political messages into content young men already enjoy, often offering an entry point to conservative ideology. Progressive voices, by contrast, too often relied on late-stage symbolic gestures or vague messaging that failed to resonate. In the recent election, even the too little came too late, with efforts to create a left-of-center media ecosystem equivalent to that of the right starting far too late to make an impact.

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While progressive media doesnt need to mimic right-wing tactics directly, as the most recent podcast conversation between California Gov. Gavin Newsom and right-wing activist Charlie Kirk would suggest  indeed, that would be a mistake  we cant ignore the ecosystem entirely. What we must do is understand, engage and address why these online and independent platforms are so effective.

One of the key lessons Ive learned is simple, yet critical: Progressive media succeeds most powerfully and meaningfully when it clearly connects politics to peoples real lives.

This is not about celebrity endorsements chasing viral moments  tactics that corporate media increasingly leans into but often end up ringing hollow. Instead, it means clearly articulating how issues like health care, climate change and economic policy tangibly affect the day-to-day lives of our respective audiences.

A driving reason audiences are drawn to independent media is authenticity  or at least the perception of it.

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Right-wing media figures often project a relatable image, speaking directly to their audiences. Theyre unafraid to go off script and debate anyone who shows up to the fight. Regardless of if you agree with their messaging, their methods are instructive.

The Trump campaign effectively created an environment of casual hanging out and parasocial relationships, where Trump and JD Vance themselves would appear in long-form unstructured conversations on a variety of programs, including Joe Rogans podcast, the Nelk Boys channel and Lex Fridmans podcast.

The contrasting approach from Democratic candidates  with the exception of a select few like Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt.  left much to be desired. Whereas Trump appeared on less overtly political shows with more of a lifestyle and pop culture bent, Democrats were less frequent guests in these arenas and almost always had a feeling of stiffness and micromanagement.

For progressive media, authenticity means acknowledging peoples genuine concerns about the economy, health care, misinformation and education, and providing real answers while grappling with disagreements, mistakes or unintentional policy outcomes, as opposed to spewing patronizing talking points.

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My audience has gravitated toward nuanced analyses of how policy decisions  from health care to tax cuts  directly impact their finances, health or personal freedoms. When the corporate media landscape increasingly feels overwhelming, overly sensational, or gives a feeling of talking at rather than to audiences, authenticity breaks down and audiences disengage or find new sources of news.

There was a short video that went viral just prior to the election where I explained to a young Trump-supporting podcast host that, despite his confidence that China was cutting checks to the United States for tariffs placed on its products, it was actually American companies that paid the tariffs. This video ultimately accrued more than 20 million views, in part due to its simplicity, salience and authentic dialogue. Those 60 seconds from a 90-minute conversation corrected just one piece of misinformation, and did so in a way that connected directly to anyone who buys or produces goods  essentially everyone in our economy  and made them realize that Americans pay the tariffs, not China.

If we truly want progressive ideas to break through, I believe we must focus less on competing through spectacle and more on respecting and addressing the very real concerns that brought our audiences to seek us out in the first place.

In fact, despite the overwhelming noise of the mainstream media, independent progressive media has shown robust growth precisely because it offers what many mainstream outlets often dont: substance, respect for intelligence, and a genuine dialogue. Platforms like mine that attract moderate, left and right-leaning voters demonstrate daily that audiences arent merely looking for confirmation of their existing beliefs; theyre hungry for clarity and honesty.

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Politics isnt consumed in isolation  its absorbed within the broader fabric of culture. Rather than ignoring this, progressive voices can thoughtfully engage these areas without co-opting them cynically. Viewers and listeners arent looking for a left-wing version of right-wing media tactics; theyre looking for content that treats them as thoughtful individuals. By offering relatable, well-reasoned perspectives that resonate on a human level, progressives can effectively reach audiences that are currently underserved or misled.

Despite widespread cynicism about the media and politics, Im optimistic. We dont have to accept misinformation as inevitable. Part of the solution lies in fostering critical thinking and media literacy  but another essential part is delivering media thats meaningful, practical and directly connected to peoples daily lives. The path to a more informed, less polarized America lies in precisely this kind of engagement.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Less than three months after President Donald Trump began his attempts to end birthright citizenship, the Supreme Court on Thursday agreed to take up the first challenge to that effort  in part at least. Technically, the unusual hearing, scheduled for May 15, concerns judges injunctions against those attempts. But if Chief Justice John Roberts and the other justices want, next months hearing can also be the last hearing on the matter where the outcome is at all in doubt. They must understand that no matter how narrow a ruling they may be asked to provide, it is in their best interest  and the countrys  to reject the White Houses attack on a core principle of our republic swiftly and decisively.

On his first day in office, Trump signed an executive order instructing all federal departments and agencies to no longer recognize all children born in the country as citizens. Documents establishing citizenship would be withheld from any child whose mother was not a citizen, unless their father could be proved to be a citizen or lawful permanent resident. The White Houses justification lies in a misreading of the 14th Amendments birthright citizenship clause, falsely claiming that the children being excluded are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States and thus ineligible.

Trumps order, challenging over a century of jurisprudence, is blatantly illegal to a degree that only someone picking a fight in court can manage. Several federal courts around the country swiftly recognized that this order threatened its targets with potentially irreparable damage. Within days, district judges in Maryland, Washington state and Massachusetts all issued preliminary injunctions against the administrations plans. One judge referred to the order as unavailing and untenable; another correctly noted that no court in the country has ever endorsed the presidents interpretation.

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Each of those injunctions is nationwide in scope, blocking the White House from moving forward with its plans. Three appeals courts subsequently denied the administrations attempts to stay the injunctions. When petitioning the Supreme Court last month, Trumps acting solicitor general insisted that rather than weighing the constitutional questions at hand, the justices need only answer a modest request: whether the administration could continue with its plans against everyone but the individuals named in the cases  or, at most, the states involved in the suits  while awaiting a final decision on the merits.

It should be obvious that allowing an unconstitutional act to continue in some states but not others is both deeply impractical and morally repugnant. Allowing a patchwork of legal conditions to stand is usually anathema to the Supreme Court. My concern is that Roberts may be tempted to join with enough of his colleagues to agree with the administrations claim that its request is a narrow one.

The courts record on the early challenges to Trumps policies has been a mixed bag. It has ruled for Trump in half of them, although each decision has been nuanced, NBC News Supreme Court reporter Lawrence Hurley reported last week. The court has not included any language rebuking the administration for its conduct, although liberal justices have done so in separate opinions. In threading the needle this way, even in the cases that Trump has lost, the court has sought to put some constraints onto the president while leaving his policies largely in place.

For example, in adjudicating his use of the Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport migrants to El Salvador, the court ruled he had the right to use the 19th-century law while litigation proceeds. But the unsigned majority opinion  the three liberal justices dissented, as did Justice Amy Coney Barrett in part  added a caveat requiring that detainees receive at least some basic due process. AEA detainees must receive notice after the date of this order that they are subject to removal under the Act, the majority argued. The notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.

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In the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the court unanimously ruled against Trumps objection to returning the man his administration admitted it had wrongly removed to El Salvador. But the decision was technically a partial win for the administration, which had asked the court to stay a looming lower court deadline to facilitate and effectuate the return of [Abrego Garcia] to the United States by no later than 11:59 PM on Monday, April 7. Roberts issued a brief pause, during which the deadline lapsed, rendering that part of original order moot. The court denied the request to overturn the rest of the order, agreeing that the U.S. should facilitate Abrego Garcias return but remanding the case for clarification on what was meant by effectuate.

Both decisions are exactly the kind of pseudo-Solomonic ruling that Roberts loves to issue. Though he would insist otherwise, the chief justice is a skilled politician who always has the courts public image firmly in mind. The justices have no greater weapon than their institutional authority. Accordingly, issuing an unambiguous order that an unwilling White House fully ignores is likely one of Roberts worst nightmares. When viewed through that lens, his attempts to balance a commitment to the rule of law with a lack of enforcement power almost make sense.

There can be no such dithering or ambiguity, though, once the oral arguments in the birthright citizenship cases are heard next month. Even the modest proposal from the White House could render thousands of children stateless while the legal process proceeds. The best option available for protecting those newborn Americans rights would be to leave the injunctions in place while the lower courts continue to demolish the administrations nativist crusade. The best option to preserve the legitimacy of the court would be for Roberts to make clear that when the matter returns to the justices, the presidents lawyers will not find sympathetic ears.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
Three months into the Trump administration, the rule of law in our nation is being tested in unprecedented ways as an avalanche of executive orders and declarations ignores both statutory and constitutional requirements. The White House is waging a campaign of intimidation and retribution intended to silence critics and remove opposition both within and outside the government.

The scale of the administrations actions is staggering and transforming our national government by fiat.

Controlled by narrow republican majorities, both houses of Congress have remained on the sidelines. The absence of congressional response places a heavy burden on the courts. Although there is a daily flow of developments, here is a preliminary assessment of the performance of the courts in checking executive abuse and upholding the rule of law.

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More than 100 lawsuits have been filed challenging President Trumps executive orders. Federal district judges have risen to the occasion, issuing dozens of preliminary rulings pausing the administrations actions while they consider the lawsuits on their merits. These rulings have largely been upheld by the federal courts of appeals that have ruled on them.

The administration has responded with ad hominem attacks on individual judges, threats against lawyers, suggestions that it need not follow judicial orders and talk of impeachment and cutting of judicial powers. But district judges across the country have remained firm.

The administration has complained that the scope of the injunctions issued by the lower courts is an intrusion into the domain of the executive branch. The reality is that their broad sweep reflects the far-reaching illegality of the administrations conduct.

Despite the courage of district judges across the country, there is much to be concerned about.

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First, the lawsuits have been unable to stem many of the administrations egregious actions. Individuals and institutions continue to believe they will pay a heavy cost in resisting illegal government conduct. As a result, we have seen media companies settle meritless cases, law firms buckle to unconstitutional executive orders and universities cave to unlawful demands.

Despite the injunctions, the administrative agencies created by Congress are in a state of chaos, and government grantees and funding recipients are being cut off and threatened with cutoffs without a legal basis. Many government workers who have been illegally fired would not return even if offered the opportunity. Non-citizens whose visas or residency status were summarily revoked remain in detention.

Judicial protection from illegality is proving porous and inadequate at this crucial moment.

Second, although the Supreme Court has only just begun to weigh in on these cases, its initial rulings are disturbing.

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In key cases, the court has taken the drastic action of stepping in to summarily overturn temporary injunctions while lower court proceedings are continuing. Strikingly, the court has refrained from ruling on the substance of the claims and focused instead on procedural grounds.

This emphasis on procedure can be viewed as a prudent means of ensuring that the courts dot every I and cross every t before taking on the administration. This level of caution could bolster the credibility of the court if it later strikes down major initiatives on the merits.

Rather than letting the lower courts fully consider the issues and then relying on full briefing and oral argument, the Supreme Court has granted many of the administrations emergency requests, almost by return mail. Even where it has rejected the administrations pleas, its active consideration of them shifts the focus from the lower courts to the Supreme Court.

Many scholars have called out the Supreme Courts increasing reliance on the so-called shadow docket to make important rulings after only cursory consideration. In recent weeks, the shadow docket has shifted into overdrive in ways that undercut the authority of the district courts right at a moment the Supreme Court should be bolstering them.

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Chief Justice Roberts has publicly condemned personal attacks on judges like James Boasberg, who has presided over the challenge to the deportation of Venezuelans to brutal confinement in El Salvador.

But by reversing Judge Boasbergs preliminary order the day before he had scheduled further proceedings in the case, the Supreme Court is sending the message that district court orders can be overturned at any point. While the Supreme Courts order holds out the availability of review in individual cases, it squelches Boasbergs broader review of the whole program.

More generally, the Supreme Courts actions have encouraged the administrations tactics of resisting, evading and stalling compliance with district court orders. President Trump said he respects the rulings of the Supreme Court, but he notably omitted any mention of the lower federal courts.

For the courts to stop the avalanche of unlawful actions, firm and engaged district courts are critical. District courts are essential to upholding the rule of law in a timely and effective manner. They build the record on which rulings are based and craft remedies designed to deal with complex and changing situations.

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Only district courts can maintain the sustained involvement needed to address entrenched illegality. Despite the courage of so many federal judges, initial results suggest that the Supreme Court is, at best, reluctant to give them the authority and latitude they need.

Perhaps this situation will change. The Supreme Court may well grow exasperated with the administrations recalcitrance and realize that stronger medicine is needed.

As evidenced by Harvards recent response to the administration, law firms, universities and other administration targets may come to realize that President Trump cannot be placated through settlements.

Finally, it is important to be realistic about the ability of the courts to check wholesale presidential illegality without the intervention of Congress. Courts have no roaming power to enforce the law; they only act when lawsuits have been properly brought and even under broad views of judicial power, their remedies are limited by the scope of the cases before them.

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Congress has a much broader set of powers. In the end, its action  or inaction  will be critical.

Matthew Diller is dean emeritus and professor of law at Fordham University School of Law.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
During my long career (approaching 39 years at the Deseret News and 43 years overall in the news business), some of the most inspiring interviews I have conducted have been with refugees.

The ones I have met have an unusual grit and determination, and a love of freedom unique to those who have struggled against oppression.

Harrowing escape

It started in the late 1980s when I met Luc Pham, who had worked as a South Vietnamese intelligence officer during the long American conflict there. When the U.S. pulled out of his country, he was arrested by the Communists. After three years in prison, he made a harrowing escape through the jungle and across the water in a leaky boat.

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When I met him, he taught English to foreign students in Salt Lake City. Like many foreigners, he felt the occasional sting of discrimination or resentment from native-born Americans. People derisively called him and others like him boat people.

They dont realize that if there was a war tomorrow I would fight with them on their side, he told me. ... I am an American.

Hard work

Yanh Phommahaxay endured a leaky boat to freedom, as well. When he was in Laos, he thought America was a dream nation; everything would come easily, his interpreter told me. When he got here, he realized he could get all those dreams, but he must work hard. Everyone here is working so hard.

When we spoke in 1989, he had lived in Utah for one year, was working on an assembly line for a medical company and was studying hard to learn English.

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A few years later, my wife and I would frequent a Chinese restaurant and insist on a certain server, a refugee from Cambodia. We would stay late while he told us stories about escaping through the jungle and sailing on a boat so overcrowded he would sit on the edge, watching the water come within inches of spilling over the side.

Child soldier

Eumbo Kasongo taught me lessons about gratitude and the ability to overcome incredible obstacles. A native of the Congo, he was kidnapped by rebel soldiers at the age of 9, drugged to deaden his emotions, given a gun and sent into battle. He had watched soldiers kill his father and one of his brothers.

After five years, he escaped and wandered aimlessly until Zambian authorities found him and sent him to a refugee camp. Years later, he was resettled to Utah. He was 19 and had never been to school a day of his life.

They showed him films of life here  houses, cars, computers, smartphones  but he had no idea what he was seeing. He had known nothing but cruelty for most of his life.

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When I met him in 2017, he was a surgical technician at St. Marks Hospital, having overcome incredible obstacles. His biggest pet peeve was to hear Americans who obviously didnt appreciate what they had.

You should be thankful that this country is blessed, and you are blessed because you were brought up in a good country, he told me.

I could go on. There were the Sudanese refugees a neighbor of mine was helping through a relief agency. They huddled together on a 70-degree day, complaining of the cold weather and trying so hard to learn a new culture and language.

A Utah hero

Then there was Azim Kakaie, who came here from Afghanistan after his life was saved by Marine Staff Sgt. Taylor Hoover, a Utah hero and one of 13 American service members killed by a suicide bomber at the entrance to the airport in Kabul during the chaotic evacuation of U.S. soldiers in 2021.

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Kakaies wife and her family had been beaten back while trying to enter the airport to escape. Staff Sgt. Hoover saw her. But unlike everyone else, he listened and spoke to her in a friendly voice. He checked her passport and visa, parted the crowd and helped them to safety in the airport.

Minutes later, he was dead.

Deportation notices

I dont know what has happened to all of these people in the years since we spoke, but I fear what may happen soon. News reports say many refugees, including those who escaped the Taliban in Afghanistan and came to this country legally, are receiving notices telling them to self-deport within a week or face forced deportation and legal action.

The notices are apparently sloppy and poorly researched. According to NBC News, Lisa Anderson, a doctor in Connecticut who was born in the United States, received the same notice. So did Boston immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni, also a U.S. citizen.

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I understand the worries about criminals infiltrating the country as refugees. But I dont understand hurried deportations that dont allow people due process and the ability to argue their innocence.

The refugees I have known tend to cling to American values like a shelter in the storm. Theirs is the story of America, renewed again and again by the worlds huddled masses.

We need more of them. And if we kick them out, we diminish ourselves and the promises that brought them here.
Were just three months into President Trumps second term, and already the Peace Corps is on the chopping block. While he touts solutions of tariffs and government efficiency, he shatters our alliances and our hard-won moral authority abroad.

By contrast, less than a month before winning his election in 1960, John F. Kennedy announced his vision for a Peace Corps at the University of Michigan. In the six and a half decades since, nearly 240,000 American volunteers have responded to Kennedys inspiring call, Ask not what your country can do for you  ask what you can do for your country.

The Peace Corps experience is now more relevant to the United States than ever.

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In 1984, the Peace Corps sent me to a place I could hardly find on a map. I was assigned to Sierra Leone to teach farmers how to improve their rice yields in swamps. I lived in a peaceful rainforest village with 40 rice-farming families in mud-brick homes on the edge of the countrys diamond fields. During my early days there, the farmers taught me how to gather the necessities for living: food, water, medicine and mail. I developed habits and routines that firmly anchored me in the community and found meaningful and enduring connections in a society that generously welcomed me.

Until this immersive experience, I was naively oblivious to the bitter history that Sierra Leoneans themselves had shared their agricultural expertise with their enslavers, thus enabling them to cultivate rice in the swampy lowlands of the Carolinas and Georgia.

The U.S., with its growing disparities in health, education and wealth, and a government that is discounting many of its citizens needs, increasingly resembles some of the countries where Peace Corps volunteers serve. Americans, like so many abroad, are struggling with broken systems and are unable to respond to dislocated workers, childrens educational needs and inadequate healthcare. Peace Corps volunteers have lived in places where injustices such as these, sustained by corruption and disenfranchisement, have exploded into brutal and prolonged civil conflict. Four years after my departure, this happened in Sierra Leone. We cannot let it happen in the United States.

The Peace Corps is often portrayed as a rugged experience for privileged college graduates or as a community of change agents willing to endure hardships for a benevolent outcome. Yet, the enduring success of the Peace Corps consistently counters these stereotypes and offers a vision for America now. Volunteers have demonstrated that building and supporting collective agencies for good is the essential work of social cohesion in any nation. The Peace Corps expands this definition of volunteerism to create partnership-oriented cultural systems that foster mutual respect, one person and one community at a time, which bridges people and nations in a fraught and trembling world.

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Energized Americans are once again answering President John F. Kennedys call: What can I do for my country? With Democratic traditions and government supports formerly taken for granted and under siege today, we are all the Peace Corps now.

According to the National Peace Corps Association, funding the Peace Corps costs each American a mere $1.26 annually  a bargain that extends hope and acknowledges our interdependence. By fostering a global culture of mutuality, we enhance the well-being of everyone. We create a safer and more harmonious world that addresses humanitys shared concerns.

We can ill afford to imperil this under-appreciated agency within the U.S. Department of State.

Betsy Small is the former executive director of Creating Friendships for Peace and is the author of the new book, Before Before: A Story of Discovery and Loss in Sierra Leone.

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We are a resilient nation. We have weathered terrible things  wars, slavery, economic crises, pandemics, natural disasters, terrorist attacks. We even survived a brutal and divisive civil war.

Our nations history began with a people who so believed in the ideals of liberty and justice for all that we were willing to sacrifice our lives in our fight against tyranny. We fought hard for our independence, for a constitution that would protect our civil liberties, and for a form of government that derived its authority from the consent of the governed and prevented any one of the three co-equal branches of that government from gaining ascendance through the separation of powers and a brilliant system of checks and balances.

It is our collective allegiance to our foundational ideals, documents and institutions that has saved us over and over again as weve encountered challenges. As Americans, we havent always agreed on philosophies, policies or approaches. In fact, our disagreements have been profound at times. But one of our great strengths has always been that, as a pluralistic society, we value and protect a wide range of backgrounds, perspectives, religions and beliefs. Pluralism is a key component of any healthy democracy. In Federalist 10, James Madison argues that pluralism is essential to avoiding tyranny since the various groups in a pluralistic society must, by necessity, negotiate and compromise to arrive at solutions that protect the rights of all, including minorities.

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And, no matter our political disagreements, no matter who was president, no matter which political party held a majority in the House or the Senate, we could rely on the fact that, though the pendulum might swing to the right or to the left in any given election cycle, we would be okay because of the safeguards provided by our inspired Constitution  term limits, the separation of powers, checks and balances, the principle of the rule of law, and so forth.

These safeguards are vital. As George Washington warned in his farewell address to the nation:

The necessity of reciprocal checks in the exercise of political power, by dividing and distributing it into different depositaries, and constituting each the guardian of the public weal against invasions by the others, has been evinced by experiments ancient and modern ... To preserve them must be as necessary as to institute them. (emphasis added)

And Madison wrote in Federalist 47: The accumulation of all powers, legislative, executive, and judiciary, in the same hands, whether of one, a few, or many, and whether hereditary, self-appointed, or elective, may justly be pronounced the very definition of tyranny.

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So, what happens when we have an executive who refuses to honor the critical safeguards enshrined in the Constitution? And a Congress that fails to provide the checks required by the Constitution? What happens when a president defies court orders and judicial rulings?

Pundits are reluctant to label the moment we find ourselves in a constitutional crisis, and I understand why. But when a president shows open disdain for the rule of law, due process, and the separation of powers, that surely constitutes a five-alarm emergency, if not a full-blown crisis. We must all wake up to the gravity of the moment.

A good friend of mine, a tried-and-true conservative, said to me the other day, My whole life Ive heard that the time will come when the Constitution will hang by a thread. I always thought it would be the liberals that brought us to that point. Never in a million years did I think it would be a Republican president.

But here we are. The question now is: what are we going to do? The one thing we absolutely cannot do is nothing. We have to act. If we value our Constitution and our form of government at all, we must act.

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We must call or write to our elected representatives in the House and the Senate every single day. We must remind them that they work for us and demand that they fulfil their constitutional duty to provide checks on executive overreach. Contacting our representatives is foundational. It is necessary, but it is not sufficient. We must do more.

We must make our voices heard in other ways, too. We can participate in peaceful protests, write op-eds and letters to the editor, join organizations dedicated to bridging divides and upholding the Constitution. We can educate ourselves, develop good media literacy and make sure we support credible news sources and share only information that weve carefully vetted. We can get involved in local politics, support humanitarian organizations, and reach out and serve our neighbors. We must be creative and courageous. And we must do whatever we can to help our friends, family members, coworkers and acquaintances see what is at stake so that they, too, can act.

Because what is at stake is our very republic.
This story was originally published on C-Store Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily C-Store Dive newsletter.

Dive Brief:

Vroom Delivery has integrated its e-commerce platform with c-store back-office tech vendor Petrosoft, according to a recent announcement.

The partnership aims to let c-store retailers of any size access enterprise-level integrations and automation, according to the announcement. Petrosofts website says retailers who use the integration  which combines Vroom with Petrosofts CStoreOffice solution  can seamlessly automate inventory management and menus.

Long-term, Vroom plans to extend this integration to order processing, which would remove the need for store employees to enter orders at the register and allow retailers digital commerce solutions to act as a virtual point of sale, according to the announcement.

Dive Insight:

Less than a decade into its existence, Vroom  which has launched with 14 convenience retailers this year  continues to build out its e-commerce platform with new features and integrations with partners such as Uber, payment processor Finix and retail media agency Digits.

Petrosoft and its CStoreOffice solution is the latest to join that group. Vroom CEO John Nelson said this partnership will help democratize sophisticated online ordering solutions in the c-store industry.

According to the announcement, the integration can also help c-store retailers automate their digital channels, including first-party ordering through their website and mobile app, third-party channels such as Uber Eats and DoorDash, and in-store ordering kiosks and kitchen management systems.

We have spent 9 years building out industry leading enterprise digital commerce solutions to allow large retailers to fully automate their digital commerce solutions, Nelson said. Through our partnership with Petrosoft, we can now continue to open the door to more retailers of any size.

MegaSaver, a chain of 42 convenience stores across Nebraska, Iowa, and Florida, was among the first retailers to tap into this integration that now manages both its first- and third-party channels.

Our implementation with Vroom Delivery and Petrosoft was seamless, enabling us to streamline operations by automatically pushing menus across all delivery platforms, bringing our best products to customers more efficiently, Andrew Matthiessen, delivery manager for MegaSaver, said in the announcement.
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  The owner of a local money transmitter business in the Pacific Northwest is accused of laundering money for international drug traffickers, federal authorities said.

Brenda Lili Barrera Orantes operates La Popular, a money service business with locations in Oregon and Washington. The 39-year-old Guatemalan national living in Beaverton is accused of laundering drug proceeds for criminal organizations in Mexico and Honduras, the U.S. Department of Justice said in a press release.

PPB arrests reckless blue pickup driver with IG following

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Barrera Orantes was arraigned in federal court this week and the Oregon Division of Financial Regulation announced theyve issued an order against her to cease and desist all criminal activities and regulatory violations related to money transmissions.

The alleged activities happened between 2021 and 2024, in which Barrera Orantes is accused of having accepted cash from drug proceeds and wired funds through the La Popular stores. Barrera Orantes allegedly charged a 10% commission for the service. The activity allegedly involved creating false financial records, including fictitious sender information to conceal her money laundering activities, U.S. DOJ officials said.

Of the more than $89 million transferred through her business in that timeframe, $18.5 million was sent to regions in Mexico and Honduras associated with drug trafficking organizations, court documents said.

This investigation has revealed the pivotal role that money service businesses play in laundering the enormous proceeds of trafficking illegal drugs in our community, said Katie de Villiers, Chief of the Asset Recovery and Money Laundering Division for the District of Oregon. The amount of dirty money allegedly flowing through these small businesses and back to Mexico and Honduras is truly staggering. We intend to hold accountable the operators of these businesses who profit by assisting drug trafficking organizations in laundering their proceeds.

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Police prep for weekend protests, street takeovers

Barrera Orantes was arrested in Beaverton on April 16 without incident after investigators executed federal search warrants at her home, and three La Popular stores in Beaverton, Hillsboro and Vancouver, officials said.

If found guilty, Barrera Orantes faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in federal prison and a $500,000 fine or twice the value of the money laundered.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) announced that she will travel to El Salvador to demand that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadorian national who was mistakenly deported from the U.S., be released from prison in the country.

A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison. This is not just one familys nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us, Dexter said in a statement Friday night.

I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line, the Portland-area lawmaker added.

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Dexter, who represents Oregons 3rd Congressional District, is following in the footsteps of Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.), who returned Friday from El Salvador, where he was able to talk to Abrego Garcia

When I told him that his wife and family sent their love and were fighting for Kilmar to return home every day, he said that he was worried about all of you, that was his response, Van Hollen told reporters on Friday upon his return.

Abrego Garcia was deported from the U.S. last month based on a 2019 informant tip that accused him of being a MS-13 gang member, a transnational criminal group that it designated as a terrorist organization by the U.S. government. The man, who crossed the border illegally when he was 16 according to court documents posted online by Attorney General Pam Bondi, has not been charged with a crime.

Abrego Garcia, his family and lawyers have denied the claims. At the time, a judge shielded him from deportation, fearing gang violence in El Salvador.

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Last month, he was then sent to El Salvadors high-security CECOT prison, although the Trump administration said it was due to an administrative error.

Dexters trip to El Salvador comes as several House Democrats were denied similar trips to the country earlier this week.

Democratic Reps. Robert Garcia (Calif.) and Maxwell Frosts (Fla.) request to travel, utilizing official committee funds for Congressional delegation, was shot down by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) earlier this week.

House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) announced on Thursday that he would deny Democrats request, arguing there is no excuse for Democrats to waste taxpayer dollars visiting and defending a transnational gang member and reported domestic abuser, referring to a civil protective order Abrego Garcias wife filed against him four years ago.

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The administration has not proceeded with facilitating the return of Abrego Garcia to the U.S. after an order from the Supreme Court, a posture lambasted by a federal judge in court this week.

Trump has doubled down on the administrations approach to the Abrego Garcias case, writing Friday that they said he is not a member of MS-13, even though hes got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc.

A senior White House adviser reiterated the administrations claims that Abrego Garcia was an illegal immigrant.

Pointing to court documents, the adviser claimed the deported man had already admitted to being in the U.S. illegally.

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White House principal deputy communications director Alex Pfeiffer called Dexters assertion that Abrego Garcia is a legal US resident an absolute lie in a post on the social media platform X Friday.

Its not even in dispute that he is an illegal immigrant, he added.

Updated at 1:48 p.m. EDT

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A Central Florida lawyer and Gov. Ron DeSantis ally has found himself at the center of the fracas surrounding Hope Florida, the DeSantis administrations controversial effort to get state residents off welfare and Medicaid.

Jeff Aaron, attorney for Hope Floridas charitable arm, also holds another high-profile post closer to home, as general counsel for the agency that runs the Orlando International Airport. The DeSantis-controlled board that oversees that agency unexpectedly broke ties with its legal counsel and handed the job to Aaron in January.

The twin roles have boosted Aarons profile since he launched a new law firm last September along with another politically plugged-in lawyer, Mayanne Downs, Orlandos longtime city attorney. But the attention hasnt always been to Aarons liking.

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In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel, he called a state House effort to probe Hope Florida  an initiative led by first lady Casey DeSantis  and the foundation he represents a politically motivated witch hunt.

The sharpest controversy has arisen over a $10 million donation the Hope Florida Foundation received as part of a state lawsuit settlement with a Medicaid managed care company. The foundation then provided $5 million grants to two nonprofit organizations, which in turn contributed $8.5 million to a political committee opposing last years failed marijuana legalization ballot initiative.

Hope Florida chairman: Mistakes were made. Lawmakers still want answers

Defeating the marijuana amendment was a key political objective for DeSantis. But critics have suggested the lawsuit settlement should have been spent on Medicaid, and that any scheme to pass money through the Hope Florida Foundation for political purposes would have been illegal.

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More broadly, they have raised questions about Hope Floridas track record at steering Floridians off public assistance, for which it has made lofty but undocumented claims, and the foundations seemingly shoddy internal procedures, some of which it has acknowledged, including a failure to file required tax forms.

State Rep. Alex Andrade, R-Pensacola, who is leading the Houses investigation, has said he wants answers from Aaron. He said he intends to invite Aaron to appear before his House subcommittee.

This is looking more and more like a conspiracy to use Medicaid money to pay for campaign activity, he told reporters in Tallahassee.

Aaron said his legal advice has been above board, and he had nothing to do with the lawsuit settlement or what happened to the money after it left the Hope Florida Foundation.

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The two groups receiving foundation grants sent money to a political committee chaired by DeSantis aide James Uthmeier, who is now Attorney General. Aaron said he first interacted with the foundation on Oct. 12 and merely reviewed the grants, which he said were legal.

I am extremely confident no one broke any laws, he said. I have never talked to Uthmeier, the governor or the first lady about Hope Florida. This is a politically motivated witch hunt.

He added he hasnt been formally asked to testify and is willing to produce any public records he has.

As the aviation authoritys general counsel, Aaron earns $595 an hour, according to an engagement letter.

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Aaron and Downs launched the DownsAaron firm in September upon leaving the powerhouse legal and lobbying firm GrayRobinson. The next month, the Greater Orlando Aviation Authority issued a request for legal services, even though its then-general counsel, Daniel J. Gerber of the firm RumbergerKirk, was in the middle of a five-year legal contract.

Five governor-appointed members sit on the airport authoritys board, along with Orlando Mayor Buddy Dyer and Orange County Jerry Demings.

Aaron said he didnt have any conversations with board members about putting out the request. He said his firm monitors requests for proposals from government agencies and decided to apply.

The decision to reconsider law firms appeared to befuddle a few board members in public meetings leading up to the decision. Dyer questioned in November why a change was needed when no one seemed to be dissatisfied with RumbergerKirks services, noting that he was feeling discomfort with the process.

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John Evans, who left the board in December, voiced his support for RumbergerKirk and also wondered why the board was considering switching firms.

This is not a lemonade stand, right, he said. This is an enormous enterprise.  As far as I can tell, weve been running really well.

Board Chairman Tim Weisheyer said the request was put out as part of a holistic review of the airports legal services. He didnt respond to messages seeking a further explanation for the change.

DownsAaron and RumbergerKirk were the only firms to submit proposals. RumbergerKirk withdrew its proposal on Jan. 15. That same day, a five-year contract was awarded to DownsAaron with a unanimous vote.

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Aarons bio submitted to the aviation authority touted his DeSantis ties, noting that he provides regular support to and counsel for the Executive Office of the Governor, assisting in legal analysis, political support, and strategic planning.

His accomplishments included successfully representing DeSantis in federal court against Andrew Warren, the former Tampa state prosecutor who argued he was unfairly suspended from office by the governor. Aaron also provided legal support for DeSantis presidential bid, managing complex operational and organizational matters including travel and ground logistics, aviation and charter compliance, scheduling, and disclosures.

Aaron is married to Chelsea Aaron, who serves as DeSantis director of appointments.

In its proposal to GOAA, DownsAaron said it would bolster its expertise for the new contract by engaging Anderson & Kreiger LLP, a firm that works with airports across the country. It also reported it would be supported by Endow Law, an Orlando boutique firm with experience representing airports.

An initial version of this story was updated to clarify state Rep. Alex Andrades comments regarding attorney Jeff Aaron appearing before his committee.
California Sens. Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff gave Trump administration officials until May 2 to answer questions about why federal agents attempted to speak with students at two Los Angeles elementary schools last week.

The Department of Homeland Security said agents were conducting "welfare checks" on the students. But Padilla and Schiff, in a letter Friday, said the actions "terrorized hundreds of thousands of students across Los Angeles and undermine public trust."

The letter is addressed to to Acting Executive Associate Director Robert Hammer of Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The senators requested a briefing on the nature, scale and objectives of the welfare checks, as well as policies and protocols surrounding the checks on children.

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The letter detailed that the senators want to know how the department goes about handling issues including officer training, coordination with victim services and whether agents contacted the children's attorneys prior to in-person visits.

"We do not understand why, if you obtained evidence that led you to believe that these children were in danger, your agency has not made a referral to the California Department of Social Services and did not coordinate with the school in advance of the 'welfare check' regarding potential child welfare or trafficking concerns," the senators wrote.

House Democrats, led by Rep. Robert Garcia (D-Long Beach) also sent Homeland Security officials a letter Monday demanding a briefing about the operation.

Read more: House Democrats demand briefing after immigration agents try to enter L.A. elementary schools

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Federal agents showed up April 7 unannounced and without a judicial warrant at Russell Elementary and Lillian Street Elementary in the Florence-Graham neighborhood of South Los Angeles. They asked to speak with five students collectively, ranging from first-graders to sixth-graders. But school principals denied access.

According to L.A. Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho, the agents falsely claimed the students families had given permission for the contact. The agents identified themselves as being with Homeland Security Investigations.

An LAUSD spokesperson did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the senators' letter.

Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary of the Department of Homeland Security, told The Times that the agents were ensuring that children who arrived unaccompanied at the border are safe and not being exploited, abused and sex trafficked.

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Any assertions that officers lied are false, she said previously. Our law enforcement clearly identified themselves and made it clear this was a welfare check and not an immigration enforcement action.

Asked to comment about the senators' letter, McLaughlin said, "The vilifying of our law enforcement must stop."

Read more: UCLA international student detained at U.S.-Mexico border amid Trump visa cancellations

The senators had met this week with officials at Immigration and Customs Enforcement and Homeland Security Investigations. It appears they left with more questions than answers.

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According to their letter, Padilla and Schiff are requesting information on whether agents have arrested, detained or deported any formerly unaccompanied children or their sponsors in connection with the welfare checks in California and nationwide. They also want to know what steps Immigration and Customs Enforcement is taking to address their agents' conduct, including finding out why they lied about receiving permission to speak with the children.

"These types of 'welfare checks' scare children and their family members, rather than promote their safety," the senators wrote. "We urge you to end any efforts to conduct 'welfare checks' on school premises and to ensure that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant."

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
It was 24 minutes until William Bouyea knew his daughter, a freshman at Florida State University, was safe.

For Charlotte Bouyea, 19, a Westfield native, it took a few minutes longer to know if she would live or die on the campus she quickly came to love.

I cant make noise right now, Charlotte texted at 12:09 p.m., on Thursday, shortly after an active shooter alert rang out.

Are you hiding? her father pressed.

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Yes, she responded.

Ok. Lock everything ... I wish I was there. U ok? Ur phones on silent? William Bouyea asked, according to texts obtained by The Republican.

Yeah. Hes right outside, she answered, regarding the student shooter who ambushed the campus.

Your building? her dad asked.

My classroom, Charlotte, his eldest daughter, answered. She and a teacher and another student barricaded themselves inside a small room where they were taking an elective English class, and tucked themselves into a corner.

We just grabbed anything we could and shoved it against the door; then we hid, Charlotte Bouyea said during an interview Friday. I was scared. Initially, I thought it was just a fight between two people and someone pulled a gun.

A former student and stepson of a Florida deputy has been identified as the suspect. He allegedly killed two and injured six, using his stepmothers weapon.

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Phoenix Ikner, 20, was ultimately wounded by police and taken into custody. Authorities have not disclosed a potential motive. Ikner arrived on the campus an hour before the shooting when he wandered through the campus green and buildings, firing a handgun shortly before lunchtime, authorities said.

He was shot at noon, according to accounts.

The shootings took place before a United Against Hate march to honor a Florida State student, Maura Binkley, killed in a mass shooting at a nearby studio in 2018.

Family members have identified two food service workers, Robert Morales, and Tiru Chabba, as the dead. Six others were shot and wounded, but are expected to survive.

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Charlotte Bouyea, among a student body of tens of thousands, said she did not know Ikner nor any of the dead or injured.

However, she said the campus community is understandably rocked. As students approach their last week of classes and finals, academics were briefly paused and the university community has gathered for vigils.

Among them: A statue in the campus that signals unconquerable.

She also believes attending colleges, unfortunately, may lead to peril.

Its hard to feel truly safe, going back, she said. I cried. But we lean on each other.

At 12:33 p.m., William, and his wife Gabby who had been praying, got the assurance they needed.

We just got evacuated by police. Lots of people are crying. I think Im safe now.

Wire service reports were included.
The Hawaii Longline Association called commercial fishing in the vast and deep waters around the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument sustainable and highly monitored  a day after President Donald Trump lifted a ban imposed by former President Barack Obama.

Trumps executive order on Thursday was quickly condemned by environmental groups, Earthjustices Mid-Pacific Office and U.S. Sen. Brian Schatz.

But Eric Kingma, executive director of the Hawaii Longline Association, told the Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Friday, You can have both ocean protection as well as allowing sustainable fisheries to occur. They can be compatible.

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Its uncertain when Hawaiis fleet of 150 longline ships will be allowed into the monument, Kingma said.

Nobody really knows,  he said. The executive order has to go through some rule-making.

But Kingma urged people not to let politics influence their opinions of what lifting the ban meansand what it does not.

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For people that are anti-Trump,  Kingma said, dont let that cloud the issues.  Were not overfishing. Were highly monitored. Were Hawaii fishermen fishing in U.S. waters amongst ourselves. That should be a good thing. Its called an Exclusive Economic Zone for a reason. Its about allowing our fleet to fish away from foreign fleets.

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While down from pre-COVID-19 levels, Hawaiis longline fishing industry ripples throughout Hawaiis economy, Kingma said.

It supports 10, 000 jobs and results in an overall economic impact of $800 million to $900 million that begins with a dockside value  that Kingma said reached a low of $110 million in 2024.

The industry has yet to reach its 2021 revenue of $120 million, Kingma said.

The last three years were the least profitable in the history of the operation,  he said. The last two years were awful, and last year was terrible.

Kingma said, People have a misconception that most of our catch goes to the mainland. But 70 % to 80 % of our catch stays in Hawaii, where we eat two to three times the national average of seafood, per capita.

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There are no economic projections on the financial benefits of what lifting the ban will mean for Hawaiis longline fleet, Kingma said, but Hawaii boats wont have to sail into waters where they face foreign competition.

Enforcement of the ban on foreign-flagged ships in the monument would be up to the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations law enforcement unit.

Kingma worries about what Trump administration cuts to NOAA will mean for enforcement.

But he emphasized that Hawaii fishermen will be prepared to report any intrusions by foreign vessels.

Studies differ on the effects of the ban so far, and Kingma said media reports on the issue frequently offer misleading images of coral reefs and colorful, abundant reef fish when longline fishermen actually fish for migratory species far from shore.

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Were not dragging nets on corals,  he said. That areas protected. The realistic picture is were fishing in all blue water, and its thousands of feet deep, with no corals there. This doesnt open up seabed mining or anything destructive.

President George W. Bush established the Papahanau mokuakea Marine National Monument and the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument in 2008, making them the third-and fifth-largest protected areas in the world, respectively, according to research on the effects of the commercial fishing ban published in the online journal Nature Communications by five researchersincluding two from the University of Hawaii.

Whats now known as the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument covers approximately 490, 000 square miles of open ocean, coral reef and island habitats, making it nearly five times the size of all the U.S. national parks combined and nearly twice the size of Texas, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

It includes seven national wildlife refuges : Howland, Baker and Jarvis islands ; Johnston, Wake and Palmyra atolls ; and Kingman Reef.

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In 2014, Obama banned commercial fishing in the monument.

Then, in 2016, he used the Antiquities Act to expand the monument from zero to 50 miles out to 200 miles to create the worlds largest marine protected area.

In 2020 then-President Biden began the process to prohibit commercial fishing in the remaining open areas around Palmyra and Howland /Baker Islands,  according to the Longline Association. The action was not completed by the end of President Bidens term.

Trump on Thursday then issued his executive order in an Oval Office ceremony that was cheered by Kitty Simonds, executive director of the Honolulu -based Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council, and American Samoa U.S. House Delegate Aumua Amata Coleman Radewagen.

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American Samoa produces canned tuna, and Hawaiis longline fleet brings in swordfish and sashimi-grade tuna, Simonds told Trump.

Simonds did not respond to a request for comment from the Star-Advertiser on Friday.

The Western Pacific Regional Fishery Management Council late Friday did announce statewide meetings beginning this month about the unspecified future of Hawai is fisheries.
Grocery store price hikes have left residents hungry for information, asking, Are there any food pantries in the area?

We had someone bring it up at one of our meetings not too long ago, saying, It would be really nice if all the food pantries had a list, said Krista Geer, executive director of Active Aging Inc.

The good news? There is a list.

Geer is also a core member of the Crawford County Food Alliance, which has compiled a map for those seeking food but unsure where to go.

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The Crawford County Food Alliance came out of an effort to focus on food insecurity in the region. According to Feeding America, food insecurity is disproportionately rural, as 9 out of 10 counties suffering from high food insecurity are rural.

Also according to Feeding America, Crawford County is one of those experiencing more food insecurity than the state average.

Federal food programs like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), which is the nations largest food assistance program, still fall short. Nearly 50 percent of people facing food insecurity are unlikely to qualify for SNAP as income eligibility ranges from 130 percent to 200 percent of the federal poverty line, which is currently $40,560 to $62,400 for a family of four.

Estimates through Map the Meal Gap suggest that 47 percent of individuals experiencing food insecurity may not be eligible for SNAP because they make above the threshold but not enough to buy the food they need.

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The food map has 43 resources mapped throughout Crawford County for residents to see whats near them, whether its a church, food pantry, child care, Active Aging center or something else. It tracks the hours of each place, the criteria needed to get food, and the location.

We do get more calls about it now than we used to, Geer said of the resource. There was a big uptick at the beginning of COVID and then when all the extra funding was available, a drop off, and now its starting to tick back up again. And I think the price of groceries plays into that.

She said President Donald Trumps tariffs may also be making people nervous.

The uncertainty out there right now with whats happening at the federal level  one day we have tariffs, and one day we dont have tariffs. Who has the tariffs? And does that impact our food supply? Im sure all that uncertainty is probably making people a little bit more nervous, she said.

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At Active Aging, she said food insecurity is a growing problem as older residents have a set income and cant control if they get more. The center has also had to change its menu to contain costs.

It helps inform work at the food alliance, knowing what I see here is just a microcosm of what the whole community is undergoing, Geer said.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania, which provides food to various pantries and other organizations  including some in Crawford County  has seen an increase demand since the pandemic stimulus funds began to diminish.

Over the past two years, Second Harvest Food Bank of Northwest Pennsylvania has experienced a 43 percent increase in the number of individuals served and a 40 percent rise in households receiving assistance, its CEO Gregory Hall told The Meadville Tribune. In response to this growing demand, Second Harvest is actively pursuing innovative and creative strategies to ensure a steady supply of food for our neighbors in need. The organization remains confident that the communitys ongoing support will continue to play a vital role in sustaining its mission.

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For those who do need food, the map is also meant to be a planning tool for those who may have other accessibility concerns.

If you dont have money for food, youre probably struggling with transportation too, Geer said. Ideally, we wanted people to be able to pull up a map and say, OK, the bus goes through here too and I can ride CATA (Crawford Area Transportation Agency) if I need to.

The alliance  made up of core members Ann Areson, Hannah Fuller, Kinorea Tigri and Kim Munden  meets with the partners on its list at least twice a year. Holding roundtable events has enabled the alliance to hear what the biggest obstacles are  and one of those is transportation.

I know from talking with some of the food pantries that one of their biggest challenges is they dont have a bus stop right there, so people have to figure out how to get the box of food to the bus, and especially if you have any kind of disabilities or handicaps, to be able to manage that on top of everything else creates additional challenges, so we wanted people to be able to see where it was, what days it was available, Geer said.

The food map was created and is maintained by Allegheny College students through the Community Engagement office. To access the map or get added to the list, visit sites.google.com/allegheny.edu/crawfordcountyfoodalliance.
By Mubasher Bukhari

LAHORE (Reuters) - A Christian man accused of blasphemy in the eastern Pakistani town of Jaranwala will appeal against a death sentence handed down by an anti-terrorism court, his lawyer said on Saturday.

The 36-year old man was convicted of blasphemy over allegations he had desecrated the Muslim holy book, the Koran, claims that fuelled attacks on a Christian neighbourhood in 2023 in which hundreds of houses and churches were torched and thousands of people forced to flee their homes.

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"We will file an appeal in the High Court against it," his lawyer Akmal Bhatti told Reuters, referring to the verdict delivered on Friday night.

Blasphemy is punishable by death in Pakistan. No one has been executed by the state for it, but numerous accused have been lynched by outraged mobs.

In the southern city of Karachi on Friday, a mob of 100-200 people beat a 47-year-old Ahmadi owner of a car workshop to death with bricks and sticks. Ahmadis are a minority group that have faced attacks in Pakistan, considered heretical and accused of blasphemy by some orthodox Muslims.

(Reporting by Mubasher Bukhari in Lahore; Writing by Charlotte Greenfield; Editing by Peter Graff)
This story was originally published on HR Dive. To receive daily news and insights, subscribe to our free daily HR Dive newsletter.

A majority of college graduates say they are confident about their job prospects, and existing workers without training are more likely to feel insecure about their jobs than those with training.

Heres a look at some of the numbers making headlines in the HR world.

By the numbers

3

The number of law students who alleged that the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Acting Chair Andrea Lucas are acting outside of their authority in threatening to investigate the diversity, equity and inclusion practices of 20 major law firms, according to a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

25

The number of top U.S. metros where a $100,000 household salary wont stretch far enough to cover the basic expenses for a family of three, according to a report by Lending Tree.

60%

The percentage of Michiganders that Gov. Gretchen Whitmer hopes to see with a post-secondary degree or certificate by 2030.

83%

The percentage of 2025 college graduates who said they were confident about landing a job soon after graduation, according to Monsters annual State of the Graduate Report.

140%

How much more likely workers who said they hadnt received any training in the past year were to feel insecure about their jobs, according to researchers at TalentLMS.

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WEST COLUMBIA, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  A mom whose son was on one of the school buses that was traveling behind the one that crashed Thursday in Chester County, described the terrifying moments when her son told her about the fatal accident.

You dont send your child on a field trip and give him a hug and not expect him to come home, said Tiffany Porterfield, a parent of an eighth-grader who was on the field trip to Charlotte Thursday.

South Carolina food service worker among those killed in Florida State shooting

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Porterfield cant imagine the pain one family is suffering right now, losing their 13-year-old son in a school bus crash.

The Chester County Coroner identified the victim Friday as 13-year-old Jose Maria Gonzales Linares.

Its hard for an adult to wrap their mind around what happened, much less a child, they saw things yesterday that no child should ever have to see, said Porterfield.

Students from Pine Ridge Middle School in West Columbia were on a bus coming back from the NASCAR Hall of Fame when officials say the bus blew a tire in Chester County, veered off I-77, crashing into a guardrail and tipping on its side.

Tiffany Porterfields son was on the field trip Thursday, but was riding a different bus.

I had gotten a text message from my son saying the bus is flipped over, but were OK, said Porterfield. I immediately start trying to call him, several rings, he picks up and you can hear chaos in the background, lots of yelling lots of commotion going on.

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Porterfield rushed to meet her son in the Winnsboro area where the students who werent injured were taken.

It was so good to see him, and I think its one of those things where youre so grateful your child is OK, but your heart is hurting so much for the ones who are not, said Porterfield.

All 28 patients sent to Rock Hill hospital from bus crash ware discharged; staff says they were prepared through training

Chester County Emergency Management says 38 patients were transported for treatment, three of whom taken by helicopter, and the rest by ground. Patients were taken to five different hospitals: Atrium Health CMC (Charlotte), Prisma Main (Greenville, S.C.), MUSC Northeast (Columbia, S.C.), Piedmont (Rock Hill, S.C.) and MUSC Chester.

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There are signs around the school showing support and a grieving community trying to pull together.

Hes going to go back to school in a week and one of his classmates is not going to be there anymore, said Porterfield. You just wrap your arms around your kids and tell them that you love them and youre going to help them try and get through it as best you can.

Porterfield hopes in the coming days the community and the Carolinas wont forget about the families who are continuing to struggle through this tragedy.

Lexington School District Two has set up a way to donate to help the community of Pine Ridge Middle School here.

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KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  As Knox County Schools prepares to vote on their budget for next school year, a price increase has been proposed for school lunches. Included in the proposed budget is a plan to add .25 to .50 cents on various student lunches.

Some parents are concerned, saying after a year that will add up quickly. Children who eat at school twice a day could be spending up to $135 more a year.

The school lunches is sometimes the only lunch that children might get. I dont know their parents financial situation. I only know my own, and I think maybe a lot of kids could really benefit from a free lunch, said KCS parent Laura Buffalo.

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Eggs are triple what they were: Shoppers see increase in cost of celebrating Easter

Buffalos daughter is currently in the 3rd grade, and she said she often eats school lunches. With grocery prices increasing, it was always something she knew they could fall back on.

We still live paycheck to paycheck. she said. I feel like thats what maybe a lot of other families also live paycheck to paycheck, because the economy, everything has increased immensely.

But it is this economic shift that Heidi Foster, another Knox County Schools parent, says could be contributing to the increase.

Obviously with our economy that it is and grocery store prices and things like that, I feel like its probably the best thing that they can do, Foster said.

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In Tuesdays budget meeting, that was one of the reasons KCS Assistant Superintendent of Operations Garfield Adams attributed this increase to along with the proposed price being comparable to surrounding school systems.

Knoxvilles Gateway Coffee shop helping people in recovery gain job skills

I know that might hurt some families, but I think right now everyones hurting a little bit, said Foster. but I mean, I understand their viewpoint.

While Buffalo agrees the school may need to spend more to provide meals for students, she said the budget could be redistributed.

But here, when theyre talking about building an extra Farragut school in a place thats already chaotic traffic-wise, instead of taking the $4 million for that and putting it towards school lunches or breakfasts, said Buffalo.

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According to KCS the projected revenue from this change would bring in roughly $900,000 to the school system. The Knox County School Board will not vote on their budget until April 29th. Once approved, it will then be sent to Knox County Commission, who will vote around the end of June.

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A Parkville man who attends college in Boston faces federal charges related to an arson at a KC Tesla Center in March, according to authorities.

Owen McIntire, 19, appeared in federal court in Massachusetts on Friday. McIntire is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce, according to a news release from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The FBI Kansas City and Boston field offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and Kansas City police are investigating the case.

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Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: You will not evade us, said U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.

According to an affidavit, on March 17 at approximately 11:16 p.m., a Kansas City police officer in the area of the Tesla Center, at 10111 State Line Road, saw smoke coming from a gray Cybertruck parked in the centers parking lot. The officer also saw and collected an unbroken suspected incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail, near the burning Cybertruck.

The Molotov cocktail was a clear apple cider vinegar bottle, and a burnt rag was found next to it on the pavement, the affidavit said.

The officer attempted to put out the flames with his fire extinguisher but was unsuccessful. The fire spread to a second Cybertruck in the lot, and firefighters responded to the scene to extinguish the fire, according to the affidavit.

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The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485, the affidavit said. Two charging stations were also damaged by the fire, both valued at approximately $550.

Surveillance footage and DNA supply key evidence

According to the affidavit, a witness surveillance footage, from one block west of the Tesla Center in Leawood, showed McIntire parking his car outside their home.

License plate reader footage showed a vehicle registered to McIntire passing through the intersection at 103rd Street and State Line Road at 11:00 p.m. on March 17. Footage also showed the vehicle traveling southbound on Southwest Trafficway from 39th Street, a route investigators know is on the way from McIntires Parkville residence, the affidavit said.

Surveillance footage from a nearby business and the Tesla Center showed McIntire in dark, flowy clothing and a large, white hat, carrying a light colored bag, according to records. Tesla Center footage allegedly showed McIntire lighting a device, which ignites, and throwing it on a Cybertruck.

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McIntire then returned to the area of the witness home on foot and was seen leaving the area in his vehicle around 11:13 p.m., investigators said.

A second witness who posted video of the fire on X was passing the Tesla Center and took video of the fire when they saw McIntire fleeing the scene. The witness gave authorities a description of McIntire.

A day after the fire, a third witness, a Tesla Center employee, saw a person in the area where McIntire was and gave authorities a description that matched the other witnesses description.

McIntires hat was found by investigators in the backyard of the first witness Leawood home the day after the fire. DNA analysis resulted in one male profile, which was located on the hat and the rag recovered at the scene, according to the affidavit.

Law enforcement also used McIntires flight information, social media profiles and phone records to come to their conclusion of McIntires involvement.
PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  Part of the McClugage Bridge will close starting Monday for a routine inspection.

The westbound span of the bridge will be reduced to one lane for the inspection, an Illinois Department of Transportation news release stated.

The inspection is expected to last four to five days.

Drivers should expect delays when traveling in the area, and are encouraged to find alternate routes if possible.

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A Tesla smashed in London. Shelves cleared of American booze in Canada. Holidays to the US cancelled en masse.

Donald Trump appears to have succeeded in reordering world trade  just not in the way he hoped.

The US president wanted his trade war to trigger lower imports, boost exports and bolster American manufacturing. Instead, an international buyers strike is emerging as grass roots groups and politicians pledge to buy local and boycott American goods.

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The president seems to have forgotten that it is generally businesses and their customers whose decisions dictate large shares of world trade flows, not government diktats. And those customers are distinctly unhappy with claims they and their compatriots are pathetic and have looted, pillaged, raped, and plundered the US.

Trumps threats to annex Greenland and make Canada the 51st state, as well as the insults and bitter complaints about allies, have sparked consumer backlash across the world.

In Canada, stores have cleared shelves of bourbon and wine from south of the border. American brewers and distilleries are poised to lose the best part of C$1bn (544m) of annual sales in Ontario alone, where the Liquor Control Board has blocked new orders of American booze.

The Salling Group, a Danish supermarket chain, has not removed American goods from its shelves, but has put star-shaped stickers on European-made products to encourage people to buy local. Anders Hagh, its chief executive, said the decision followed a number of inquiries from customers who want to buy groceries from European brands.

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More than 70pc of British shoppers plan to spend more on products from UK businesses amid the trade war, according to a survey by Barclays.

Just over a third of Germans say they will reject American products, with almost two thirds pledging to avoid specific brands such as Tesla, according to research group ECC Koln.

China has taken a more direct route and simply blocked the import of Boeing aeroplanes.

Economists at Goldman Sachs are taking the threat seriously. They have downgraded their forecasts for US growth in part because foreign customers are turning their backs on America.

Joseph Briggs at the investment bank said the tariff announcements and a more aggressive stance toward historical allies have hurt global opinions about the US, with boycotts set to hold back the economys growth.

Where boycotts will hit home

The most critical impact might come via travel  or the lack thereof.

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Flights to the US from almost every region have plunged, with particularly big drops in visits from Canada, Mexico and Denmark, but also the UK.

James Knightley, the chief international economist at ING, says: We are seeing airline fare prices fall quite substantially in America, and hotel prices are coming down as well.

Youve got a 30pc drop in tourism coming through potentially, that means less hotels, less flights, less eating out, less shopping, all of which can have an impact on the US.

The most high-profile victim of this buyers boycott has been Tesla, whose image has become toxic as a result of chief Elon Musks proximity to Trump.

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Sales in the EU so far this year have been cut in half compared with the opening months of 2024, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Shares in Tesla are down almost 50pc from Decembers peak in response.

Despite the car-smashing stunt in the UK, sales in Britain appear relatively unaffected: so far this year they are up 6pc, almost matching the 6.4pc growth in the overall car market.

Reality of Buy British

A rise in patriotic spending is political  consumers want to boost their home economies and punish the US. But there is a risk that it could backfire. Tesla has a giant factory in Germany, so European manufacturing that will bear some of the hit from lower sales on the Continent.

A sustained rejection of American goods could also hurt Britain.

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It is about consumer choice, says Neil Shearing, at Capital Economics. Think about the UK in the 1970s. The car industry was notorious for poor quality cars produced by UK firms. Then you got an influx of Japanese cars in the 1980s. Suddenly, not only does the relative price come down because of competition, but the quality goes up.

Rachel Reeves made exactly this point when rejecting calls for a buy British campaign.

If every country in the world decided that they wanted only to buy things produced in their country, that would not be a good way forward, the Chancellor said. Our country has benefited hugely from access to global markets, and we will continue to want to be able to do that, because that is in our national interest.

Some US products are also difficult to avoid. Britain imported 15bn of fuels from the US last year, for instance. Nobody at the petrol pump questions the source of the fuel being poured into their tank.

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Similarly liquefied natural gas (LNG) from America was a lifeline in the energy crisis, and the UK bought 2.5bn of gas from the States last year. Not many people are turning down their radiators or buying a heat pump to prevent some slice of their bills going to the US energy industry.

Avoiding foreign goods is tough, says Shearing, noting that almost all advanced semiconductors are made in Taiwan, for example. There is little prospect of Britain ever developing a cutting-edge chip industry. iPhones are not going to be made in Britain, nor are mass-market trainers.

Brace for backlash

Mark Carney, the Canadian prime minister, has launched a buy Canadian campaign intended to boost patriotic spending. But elsewhere, there is little political enthusiasm for such campaigns.

Britains equivalent is limited to the Liberal Democrats. Daisy Cooper, the partys Treasury spokesman, said Britain must support hard-pressed businesses in the face of the trade war.

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We have to speak the only language that Trump understands  the language of strength  and help them save thousands of jobs, she says, calling on the Government to launch a full campaign to buy local, back Britain.

Buying British is just one of the ways we can all show our support whilst also sending a message that we wont take Trumps tariffs lying down.

Ironically for a president who wants to reduce trade deficits, Trump could instead pump them up by driving away tourists in the US and prompting consumer boycotts across the globe.

The trade balance could actually deteriorate significantly this year, says Knightley. In the first half of the year it is because imports are surging because US companies are trying to get ahead of the tariffs. And from now on we could see a decline in US export demand.

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It is not just tariffs, but his antagonism to other countries, be it Canada as the 51st state, taking over Greenland, berating Europe in terms of being weak, perceived support for Russia  all of these factors are culminating in potentially an avoid America narrative.

In turn, that risks enraging Trump and pushing him to launch more tariffs. Brace for backlash after backlash, which risk leaving us all poorer.

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PENDLETON  Connor Gaskill, the Pendleton man sentenced to prison for causing a car crash that injured three men and killed another, has been assigned to the minimum security facility at Westville in northwestern Indiana.

Gaskill, 27, pleaded guilty in February to one count of causing death when operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and three counts of causing serious bodily injury when operating a vehicle while intoxicated. Gaskills earliest release from prison is scheduled for February 2028, which will then start a two-year suspension of his drivers license.

On Sept. 29, 2022, Gaskill had been drinking at the Bottleworks in Indianapolis when he ran a stop sign at Delaware and 24th streets in Indianapolis. His car T-boned a Lyft drivers vehicle. The crash killed a passenger, Rashid Conteh, 22, of Carmel.

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Among the DOC guidelines, prisoners who are expected to be released within 60 months are often assigned to Level 1 facilities, which are the second lowest level of classification and which typically feature dorm-like housing.

Gaskill still faces civil lawsuits from victims in the crash. A jury trial is set for August.
DANVILLE, Pa. (WHTM)  A Pennsylvania man will spend the next three decades in a federal prison, accused of manufacturing fentanyl in the central Susquehanna Valley.

Anthony D. Bressi, 53, of Danville, was sentenced Tuesday to 30 years in federal prison for conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.

According to the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, Bressi was accused of manufacturing 150 kilograms of fentanyl at a lab in Union County, near Lewisburg, between 2016 and 2019.

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He then distributed fentanyl to two distributors, one in Philadelphia and another in Ohio.

Bressi and his distributors conspired while in prison as Bressi was serving a 20-year sentence for manufacturing methamphetamine and explosives.

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He was convicted in November after a week-long trial. His co-conspirators both pleaded guilty and were sentenced to ten years in prison.

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(WHTM)  Pennsylvania and the Federal Government are engaged in a sort of food fight over food bank funding.

The U.S. Agriculture Secretary accused the Shapiro Administration of playing politics with the funding, while Pennsylvanias Agriculture Secretary responds that her farm facts are flawed.

Shapiro administration appealing USDAs termination of farm-food bank program

U.S. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins began her week with a tour of Pennsylvania farms and a tweak at Pennsylvanias governor.

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Listen, Governor [Josh] Shapiro, who I actually respect, is playing some games here, Rollins said. Shes referring to a food bank press conference where Shapiro blasted her office for terminating a $13 million contract. Money used by food banks to pay local farmers.

Shapiro or the state leaders here in Pennsylvania know they dont have their facts right or theyre playing games, Rollins said. Theyre trying to make this a political issue.

Here in Pennsylvania alone, we have tens of millions of dollars sitting in the Pennsylvania state accounts from the USDA to support food banks, she said.

I was surprised to hear that, hey, were holding all millions of dollars, Pennsylvania Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding said. Thats not the case.

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Redding, after hearing Rollins comments, sent a letter to clear up misconceptions. The state doesnt have pots of money, he insists, it does have a signed contract, albeit with the Biden Administration in its final days.

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You may not like the guy who signed it and initiated, but the deals the deal, Redding said. And if you dont like it, go forward, change it.

What is strikingly odd is that in their termination letter, they said this program no longer effectuates the agencys priorities, Redding added. Whats more of a priority than helping farmers and feeding people?

Though his letter didnt mention it, Redding, who is widely respected on both sides of the aisle, didnt appreciate the partisan shot.

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I think the Democrats are playing games, Rollins said.

Hunger knows no boundaries, Redding said. It does not know politics. This is about farms who are doing the right things. Feeding people is as noble a cause as you can find.

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We did reach out to the U.S. Department of Agriculture for further clarification and to ask if theyll reconsider the rescinding of that contract and have not heard back.

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The times they are a-changin at the Pentagon. Adding insult to an already injured week in which three top aides at the Pentagon were placed on leave is the news that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths own chief of staff, Joe Kasper, will be leaving his role for a new position in the department.

Earlier this week, three Pentagon officialsdeputy chief of staff Darin Selnick, senior adviser Dan Caldwell, and the chief of staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, Colin Carrollwere placed on leave as part of an ongoing probe into agency leaks before being terminated on Friday. Carroll and Selnick reportedly intend to sue for wrongful termination.

Now Kasper, who had requested an investigation into the leaks last month, is leaving his post as Hegseths chief of staff. He will remain at the Pentagon, albeit in a different capacity.

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According to insiders who spoke on the condition of anonymity, Kasper didnt like the aides who have since been fired, telling POLITICO, They all have different styles. They just didnt get along. It was a personality clash.

The personnel changes are causing chaos at the Pentagon, with one senior defense official telling POLITICO, There is a complete meltdown in the building, and this is really reflecting on the secretarys leadership, adding that Hegseth has surrounded himself with some people who dont have his interests at heart.

Another official predicted that There probably will be more chaos, while one former Trump administration official said that while the department has some really first-rate uniformed military staff theres only so much they can pick up in an organization that big. They added, That kind of dysfunction compounds.

Recent leaks from the Pentagon include the disclosure of military plans for the Panama Canal, the movement of a U.S. carrier in the Red Sea, the decision to pause intelligence gathering regarding Ukraine, and information regarding Elon Musks visit to discuss China.

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Hegseth himself was at the center of a leak scandal last month after sharing plans for air strikes on Houthis in Yemen with an insecure Signal chat that included top Trump officials and The Atlantic editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg.

Democrats have been quick to jump on this chaos as proof that Hegseth isnt fit to lead the agency, with former assistant defense secretary for public affairs under Biden, Chris Meagher, telling POLITICO, Everyone knew that Pete Hegseth did not possess the leadership qualities, background, or experience to be secretary of defense.

He continued, Everything weve seen since thenthe firing of several American heroes because of perceived lack of loyalty, the sloppiness of Signalgate, the complete lack of transparency, and now several political staff being shown the doorhas only confirmed he doesnt have what it takes to lead.

On April 18th, 1775, Paul Revere rode through the night to warn local militias that the British were coming.



Two hundred and fifty years later, we honor his bravery. pic.twitter.com/bguiEqM0ON  Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) April 19, 2025

Hegseth, for his part, is attempting to project an air of nonchalance, taking to social media late Friday night to light fake candles in honor of Paul Reveres bravery during his midnight ride 250 years ago.
Nio (NYSE: NIO), a leading maker of electric vehicles (EVs) in China, currently trades more than 40% below its initial public offering (IPO) price of $6.26 per American depository receipt (ADR) from Sept. 12, 2018. It's also dropped 90% from its record closing high of $62.84 per ADR on Feb. 9, 2021.

Nio initially impressed investors with its rapid expansion and usage of swappable batteries as a faster alternative to traditional charging stalls. But its growth slowed down as it faced tougher competition, China's economy cooled off, and higher tariffs crimped its ambitious expansion into Europe. It also burned cash and racked up persistent losses.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. Continue 

Image source: Nio.

Nio might not seem like a compelling investment as the Trump administration's unpredictable tariffs and the escalating trade war drive investors toward safe haven investments. But could this beaten-down EV stock bounce back over the next 12 months?

What happened to Nio over the past year?

Nio sells a wide range of electric sedans and SUVs. Its deliveries more than doubled in 2020 and 2021, but only grew 34% in 2022 and 31% in 2023. That slowdown, which was caused by the macro and competitive headwinds, spooked the bulls.

But in 2024, Nio's deliveries increased 39% to 221,970 vehicles as it sold more high-end ET-series sedans and Onvo midsize SUVs in China. It continued to ramp up its shipments in Europe, even as it faced the pressure of rising tariffs. That robust year-over-year growth continued over the past four quarters. Its vehicle margins -- which had plummeted from a record high of 20.2% in 2021 to 9.5% in 2023 -- also expanded sequentially over the past year as its pricing power improved.

Metric Q1 2024 Q2 2024 Q3 2024 Q4 2024 Q1 2025 Deliveries 30,053 57,373 61,855 72,689 42,094 Growth (YOY) (3.2%) 143.9% 11.6% 45.2% 40.1% Vehicle margin 9.2% 12.2% 13.1% 13.1% TBA*

Data source: Nio. YOY = Year over year. *Full Q1 report not posted yet.

Nio hasn't reported its full first-quarter earnings results or provided any guidance for the full year yet. However, three catalysts could boost its deliveries this year: stronger sales of its Onvo to family oriented drivers, the rollout of its Firefly compact EV in China and Europe, and the recent launch of its premium ET9 flagship sedan.

The European Union and China have also been holding talks to replace the existing tariffs against Chinese EVs with minimum market prices. A deal could help Nio stay competitive in the European market and gradually diversify its business away from China.
April 19 (UPI) -- Three Department of Defense officials were fired on Friday and another was reassigned following an internal investigation to identify alleged leakers of sensitive information.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's former senior adviser Dan Caldwell and deputy chief of staff Dan Selnick were fired on Friday following an internal investigation to identify alleged leakers, Politico, CBS News and Fox News reported.

Colin Carroll, who was chief of staff for Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg, also was put on administrative leave.

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Hegseth's chief of staff Joe Kaspar also is leaving his position but will be reassigned.

DOD officials are discussing more potential firings, although all staffing changes will not be official until Hegseth okays them.

Kaspar in March ordered an internal investigation to identify the sources of sensitive information leaked to media. The investigation included polygraph tests.

He announced the investigation on the same date that Pentagon officials denied media reports claiming entrepreneur and Department of Government Efficiency Director Elon Musk would visit the Pentagon to attend a classified meeting to discuss plans in the event of a war with China.

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Other alleged media leaks include military plans regarding the Panama Canal, another aircraft carrier to be deployed to the Red Sea and halting intelligence collection on behalf of Ukraine.

The internal investigation continues and is looking at other potential leaks to news media, CBS News reported.

At least two of those whose firings were announced have hired legal representation to file claims of wrongful termination, Politico reported.

A source told Politico Hegseth named advisers who don't support him as the Defense Department's secretary and more firings are possible.

Friday's firings came after the Department of Defense fired former Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. C.Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti.

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Former Biden administration Assistant Defense Secretary Chris Meagher said the firings are indicative of Hegseth's lack of experience despite his confirmation as Defense Secretary.

"Everything we've seen since then ... has only confirmed he doesn't have what it takes to lead," Meagher told Politico.
A personal trainer who caused a police car pile-up was on a first date.

Mazyar Azarbonyad appeared at Newcastle magistrates court where he pleaded guilty to dangerous driving, failing to stop twice and having no licence and no insurance during the crash on April 9.

Five police vehicles were badly damaged in the pile-up which left seven officers requiring hospital treatment.

Following his guilty pleas on Saturday, Azarbonyad was granted conditional bail by magistrates ahead of his sentencing next month.

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The 20-year-old was driving a BMW which police initially tried to stop in Swalwell, Gateshead, as a rear light was defective, but he sped away.

He was seen later approaching the A1 and was pursued before the serious collision occurred near the Denton roundabout.

The Iran-born defendant, from County Durham, was granted police bail after he was questioned about the early morning incident on the A1  during which he told officers his driving had been s---.

Seven police officers were injured in the crash on April 9 - NNP/Raoul Dixon

Two days later Azarbonyad was back behind the wheel, driving a red Hyundai to get to work at a gym in Newcastle, despite being warned not to drive and having no licence or insurance.

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Police saw him on a garage forecourt filling his vehicle up with fuel and arrested Azarbonyad before he told them about other times he had driven since the crash.

Simon Worthy, prosecuting, said: One would have thought as a matter of common sense that having been involved in something of this seriousness, plastered all over the press, the TV, the newspapers, online, that you would have been a bit more sensible about your activities, having been so lucky to get out of an accident only two days before.

But no, no, you continue to stick two fingers up.

Mr Worthy said on the night of the major collision, Azarbonyad had eventually slowed down after being surrounded by police vehicles, then another unmarked car coming from behind collided with them.

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He said: In the defendants vehicle was a lady who was on her first date with him.

The pile-up occurred near the Denton roundabout in Newcastle - PA/Owen Humphreys

Jack Lovell, defending, said Azarbonyad worked as a self-employed personal trainer at a gym in Newcastle, did not claim benefits and had no previous convictions.

He was supported after coming to the UK from Iran aged 15 or 16 but that stopped when he became an adult and he has lived alone, independently.

Mr Lovell said the defendant had shown genuine remorse for his actions.

He had been very foolish to get back behind the wheel, the solicitor said, and made full and further admissions about driving the Hyundai to work.

Case of immediate panic

On the night of the crash, Azarbonyad was on his way to drop his date off home when he came to the attention of the police.

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He tells me at that point it is immediate panic, the solicitor said.

He was aware he had no insurance and the woman had made reference to being in possession of cannabis, Mr Lovell said.

The defendant knew he should have pulled over immediately, Mr Lovell said, but after getting on the A1 and driving some distance, he did slow down, put his indicators on and gestured out of the window with his hand to show he was braking, the court heard.

Azarbonyad was accused of sticking two fingers up at police - PA/Owen Humphreys

Mr Lovell said a number of the police vehicles manoeuvred around the BMW and helicopter footage showed he was essentially at a stop when a following unmarked police car, which had earlier reached speeds of 135mph, collided with them at around 80mph.

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From there, there is something of a domino effect, it flips over and then the other police vehicles are also involved, Mr Lovell said.

I am not in any way trying to excuse [what happened]  he should not have been driving the vehicle, it is his driving that has led to the incident on the A1.

He accepts that by way of his guilty plea.

Philip Hutchinson, the magistrate, granted Azarbonyad bail on condition that he does not get behind the wheel of any vehicle and that he abides by a 10pm-8am curfew to stay at his address.

He will be sentenced on May 20 at Newcastle Crown Court.

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A British couple killed in a cable car accident in Italy had been spending their retirement on motorcycle tours abroad, friends said as the pair were pictured for the first time.

Graeme and Elaine Winn died along with two others when their cable car fell 100ft into a mountainside overlooking the bay of Naples after steel cables snapped.

The accident happened at the top of an almost two-mile route connecting the seaside town of Castellammare di Stabia, near the Amalfi Coast, with the nearby Monte Faito mountain.

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Carmine Parlato, 58, an Italian who worked on the cable car route, and Janan Suliman, 25, a tourist from Israel, were also killed. Thabet Suliman, 30, Ms Sulimans brother, survived but broke both his legs and suffered other serious injuries.

The holidaymakers and the cabins driver are said to have been only 20 seconds away from reaching the top terminal.

Rescuers comb the rubble of the Mt. Faito cable car - Soccorso Alpino

Prosecutors in the Torre Annunziata region have opened an investigation into possible manslaughter charges after the crash, which happened around 28 miles (45km) south-east of Naples.

Firemen at the site of the cable car collapse in Naples - AFP

Neighbours of the couple, who were from Market Harborough in Leicestershire, said they had been planning to spend a week away in Italy.

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Ms Win, 58, was a school business manager at Welland Park Academy, a secondary school in Harborough. Mr Winn, 64, is believed to have been an IT consultant for secondary schools before retiring in September 2017.

The couple were keen motorcyclists and had toured all over Europe. They moved to Market Harborough in 2017, relocating from Rayleigh, Essex, and both had two children from previous marriages.

One neighbour said: They were lovely, lovely people and it is very sad. Graeme has retired and he and Elaine enjoyed going on holidays. They told me they were off to Italy for a week and were so excited. They had spent Christmas away, I think in Turkey.

Tributes are left on the steps to the Castellammare di Stabia railway station in Italy - Megan Pacey

Another said: He was really into his motorbikes, and he was always tinkering around with them and fixing his or someone elses. There is an elderly neighbour across the road, and Graeme would keep an eye out for him.

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They had grandchildren, who had only been up to visit the other weekend. When I saw on the BBC website that they had died in the accident I was in disbelief and very saddened. They would be missed around here. It is a pleasant close knit neighbourhood.

Chris Mann, a friend, wrote in a tribute on Facebook, that they were good friends who were enjoying retirement with lots of motorbike tours and holidays.

Another neighbour said: They were a very nice couple, and it is so sad that this accident happened. They were both into their motorbikes and liked travelling. It is a terrible irony that they died while out on their latest adventure.

The couples family declined to comment when contacted by The Telegraph.

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A Foreign Office spokesperson said: We are supporting the families of a British couple who have died in Italy and are in touch with the local authorities.

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The following is a story by Nathan Prewett for the Trussville Tribune:

PINSON, Ala. (Trussville Tribune)  The Pinson City Council presented their usual round of $60,000 to the local schools during a meeting that was held on Thursday, April 17.

Speaking first was Stephanie Floyd, who is vice president of the Jefferson County Board of Education, and represents District 3, which Pinson Valley High School falls under as a feeder pattern.

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I wanted to come and make sure that, you know, that we are here to help support you all in anything that you do to help support the schools is critically important for us, she told the council. You know it takes a village. No one person can raise children. It does take a community.

She highlighted chronic absenteeism as an issue for schools in the past, but said it has improved in recent times. She also mentioned Pinson Valley High School Principal Michael Turner being selected for the role of interim superintendent for Bessemer City Schools and congratulated him.

Its going to be really difficult to fill the shoes of Mr. Turner, she said. He was extremely vocal and vital to the community, so he will be missed.

Afterwards Johnson Elementary School Principal Brandi Wilson spoke.

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Ive enjoyed my years at Johnson and Im so proud of the progress that weve made, Wilson said and added that chronic absenteeism has improved, decreasing from 16% to 9% in 2024.

Weve just done a lot of mentoring with our students on why they should be at school everyday and the importance, she added. So, all of those efforts did show.

She expressed her gratitude to the council after the school was able to purchase playground equipment using the last round of grants last year.

Following her was Gerolyn Woodruff, principal of Rudd Middle School. She also expressed gratitude to the council and said that recently the school awarded several students for perfect attendance, as well as for good grades.

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High school football recruit in Alabama declines $750,000 NIL deal to stay in state, trainer says

She added that the school celebrated with a Gaming Day Experience in which 52 arcade games and other video game machines were set up in the gym for the students to enjoy. Additionally, the school also wrapped up its ACAMP initiative to improve math and reading scores.

Were going for level four gold, which is the highest, she said. And were just trying to increase our math scores and our reading scores at Rudd Middle School, and our state report card; we had a 75 so were aiming for a B status for the upcoming year.

During the pre-council meeting, Scott Ragsdale gave an update on his proposed Veterans Honor Park first mentioned in a January meeting.

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At that meeting the council gave a preliminary approval for the park, which would display six, 20-foot tall concrete columns, each representing a branch of the armed forces along with an American flag, a plaque displaying the Oath of Enlistment, and an Arlington burial cross representing soldiers who died overseas or died after returning home.

The original plan had the entry of it going into Bicentennial Park. However, after consulting with engineers it was found that the location would cause flooding concerns and an exorbitant cost to address it.

And so he began looking for an alternative location and proposed that it be constructed at a section of Triangle Park at the intersection of Pinson Boulevard, Roddam Road, and Pinson Main Street.

That is the staple point for the city of Pinson, he said. Ive been here all my life, except for the time I was in the service, and that is just like the main intersection that belongs to the city of Pinson.

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He said that he has letters of commitment from multiple contractors to provide labor but now needs an area to construct the project.

The matter will be revisited in the future.

In other business the council:

Approved an annexation request from a property owner on Ridgewood Drive,

Designated Councilor Clinteshia Irvin as the primary delegate to the Alabama League of Municipalities, with Roberts being the first alternate and Councilor Glenda Kirkland being the third alternate, and

Approved $25,000 for Turkey Creek.

Pinson City Council meets on the first and third Thursdays of every month at City Hall on 4410 Main Street. Live-streamed meetings can be seen on the citys Facebook page.

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Nathan Prewett can be reached at nthomasp6@gmail.com.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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WINTERVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Pitt Community College (PCC) is set to host an International Day for the community.

The PCC English Language Acquisition program is welcoming the public to attend the celebration of cultures on April 24. The event will happen in the Craig F. Goess Student Center within the Davenport Multipurpose Room. More than 20 countries will be on display along with delicious multi-cultural foods and performances.

The fun starts at 9:30am and will wrap up at 11:30am.

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Shares of oil and gas major stocks ExxonMobil (NYSE: XOM), Chevron (NYSE: CVX), and ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) rallied on Thursday, up 3.8%, 3.4%, and 4.2%, respectively, as of 2 p.m. ET.

The cross-industry gains reflected higher oil prices, which were up 3.4% on the day to $64.60 per barrel at that time.

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Oil prices have been on a downward trajectory amid the threat of tariffs and their effect on the global economy; however, last night, the Trump administration put fresh sanctions on Iran, as part of its negotiations with the country over its nuclear program. As Iran is a major oil and gas producer, new sanctions could cut off that supply and raise prices globally.

Going after Chinese importers and refiners of Iranian barrels

In a press release last night, the U.S. Department of the Treasury issued fresh sanctions geared toward arresting Iran's ability to export oil to fund its government and military proxies in the region.

The Treasury Department sanctioned Shandong Shengxing Chemical Co., a Chinese teapot refinery, as well as several "shadow vessels" that transport Iranian oil to that refinery. Moreover, the language in the sanctions order reflected a determination to cut off perhaps even more Iran export opportunities.

Iran is the fourth-largest producer in OPEC+ and the third-largest natural gas producer in the world. Therefore, any restrictions on Iranian oil and gas exports could limit global supply, raising oil and gas prices and allowing U.S.-based integrated giants to fill in the gaps left by Iran's missing barrels.

In addition to the new Iran sanctions, it was also reported that OPEC+ is working with Iraq and Kazakhstan to limit their oil output, as those countries had been pumping oil above their quotas set by the OPEC+ cartel. Finally, a weaker U.S. dollar since April 2 may also be playing a role in the rise in oil prices, as oil is priced in dollars, the world's reserve currency.

It was likely a combination of all these factors moving oil prices and therefore these stocks higher today, as none of these three oil and gas majors had much in the way of company-specific news.

Demand woes remain

Despite today's bounce, the near and medium-term outlook for oil prices doesn't seem very bullish. Amid the global uncertainty fueled by President Donald Trump's tariff war, the odds of a U.S. recession later this year have increased. That would be very bearish for oil demand. Chinese demand could also remain muted as that country is still mired in recessionary conditions, while the renewed back-and-forth trade war between the two countries could further limit China's economic growth this year.
On Friday, numerous first responders were seen on the runway at Melbourne-Orlando International Airport as an aircraft departed for Birmingham, UK and aborted its takeoff.

The aircraft departing for Birmingham. UK, aborted their takeoff on runway 9R due to an alarm in the cockpit.

Mayor Paul Alfrey posted an official update on his Facebook page, informing the public about the plane malfunction and the first responders who attended to the incident on the runway.

A B787 9 TUI aircraft departing for Birmingham. UK, aborted their takeoff on runway 9R due to an alarm in the cockpit. While exiting the runway at Taxiway C, the aircrafts right main landing gear went into the grass. Unable to continue the taxi, airport personnel immediately responded and have been deplaning the 350 passengers and transporting them via busses to hotels. Mechanics from STS are working with ground crews and towing resources to move the aircraft. Once this occurs, mechanics will recertify the aircraft for a potential rescheduled flight tomorrow." Airport Director, Greg Donovan

The flight has been canceled and there have been no reported injuries.

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Donovan and team members are dedicated to ensuring that all passengers have comfortable accommodations during this time. Airport staff, including OPS, MX, APD, Menzies, Cliff, Mark and Donovan, will remain on the scene throughout the recovery process.

The statement further ensures that teams on site are working hard and effectively to resolve the situation.

I want to commend our Airport team and first responders for working late into the night during this incident. Any incident on a plane is stressful and our airport team showed why they are among the best in the aviation field," said Alfrey.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Editor's note: The story was updated with a comment by Bohdan Zhuk, director of the Sunny Bunny festival.

A clash broke out between police and far-right protesters outside the Zhovten cinema in Kyiv on April 19, where the Sunny Bunny LGBTQ+ film festival is taking place, Suspilne media reported.

According to a Suspilne correspondent at the scene, members of the group called "Prava Molod" ("The Right Youth" in Ukrainian) gathered outside of the venue in support of what they described as "traditional values." The protest escalated into a confrontation with police.

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Police detained all demonstrators, citing the need to verify their identities, according to Suspilne. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether charges will be pressed.

While public support for LGBTQ+ rights in Ukraine has grown in recent years, the community continues to face frequent threats and violence, particularly from far-right groups. Events such as Pride marches and queer cultural festivals are often targeted by the far right.

The Sunny Bunny festival, which began on April 18, is Ukraine's first queer film festival. It was originally a program within the Molodist Kyiv International Film Festival.

Overlapping with the Easter weekend, the festival sparked debates online on whether its timing was appropriate in the lead-up to its opening. Organizers said the dates had been scheduled well in advance and happened to coincide with Easter.

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"Ukraine is a secular state where people of different faiths and beliefs live side by side," the festival team said in a statement published on April 18. "In a secular country, a variety of events, from theater to cinema, take place on any given holiday, and Sunny Bunny is just one of them," they said.

"We are convinced that a part of Ukrainian society simply found an excuse in Easter or Good Friday to express their disagreement with the existence of the festival (or the LGBTQIA+ community) in general, professing in fact homophobic and discriminatory beliefs and openly expressing hatred and calls for violence, which does not correspond to the Christian values that they supposedly adhere to."

Bohdan Zhuk, director of Sunny Bunny, told the Kyiv Independent that the festival organizers had received threats prior to the event.

"I am grateful to the police for their quick response and glad that there were no victims in this clash," Zhuk said.

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"At the same time, I was informed about an incident in which a visitor of our film festival was assaulted by far-right radicals near the cinema. This is unacceptable in a democratic country that should protect the rights of all its citizens and prevent discrimination," he added.

The police have yet to comment on these claims.

A 2023 poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology found that over 70% of Ukrainians believe LGBTQ+ people should have the same rights as others.

In March 2023, lawmaker Inna Sovsun of the Holos party introduced a draft bill to legalize civil partnerships in Ukraine. The proposal has received backing from several parliamentary committees but remains stalled due to a lack of approval from the Legal Policy Committee, a necessary step before it can be considered by the full parliament.

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Read also: Civil partnerships in limbo as LGBTQ+ people seek equal rights amid war

Weve been working hard to bring you independent, locally-sourced news from Ukraine. Consider supporting the Kyiv Independent.
KANSAS CITY, Mo.  Time and time again, instances are brought to light in Kansas City where residents have felt they were victims of illegal towing practices.

Now, the Kansas City Police Department wants to hear from you if you feel the same.

We believe there are additional victims out there that we just dont know of yet. Its quite possible that people dont know that they were the victim of a predatory tow, Sgt. Phil DiMartino shared.

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Investigators share they are looking at towing companies, to make sure regulations are being followed. They add, its the police departments role to hold all offenders accountable.

Complaints against KC tow companies continue after charges filed

People may not even know that this was a crime or that they were victimized, Sgt. Phil DiMartino, of the Kansas City Police Departments Media Unit, shared on whats being called predatory towing.

They may not have known it at the time and thought that there was nothing they could do, and thats not the case.

There are also different rules in regard to how much the tow company can charge, and sometimes they (clients) are charged more than they should, Capt. Rob Schreiber, of KCPDs Property Crimes Department, shared.

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There are a set of rules that towing companies have to follow.

A tow bill also isnt always built into someones budget, nor is losing the way someone commutes.

Thats maybe how you get to work, how you pick your kids up from daycare. Vehicles are a big part of our life. You take that away from someone, one thats big already, now you stack on fees that shouldnt have been fees, youre talking about someones livelihood is greatly affected, Sgt. DiMartino shared.

KCPD says its actively investigating this issue by compiling evidence and data, along with educating and enforcing.

Theres probably several hundred tows throughout Kansas City per month, so we have to dig through that in order to figure out what may have been an illegal tow or what could have been a regular, normal authorized tow, Capt. Rob Schreiber said.

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We are trying to stop it. 100% trying to prevent it. Preventing members of our community from being victimized when they shouldnt be, Sgt. DiMartino said.

Police have provided some tips and context, if you believe you may be in a situation of illegal towing practices.

A strangely-high bill, that doesnt quite meet what happened or youve parked legally. Youve been where you thought everything was fine. Your car is legal, and the vehicle was still towed. Those would be some red flags that people could think about. There are also times where theyve tried to go to back and get their car from the tow lot, theyve followed the instructions that they were supposed to, and they cant get their car back, thats another red flag, Sgt. DiMartino said.



Regulated Industries with the City has the authority over towing. If you are trying to get your car back and theres a disturbance at the tow lot, you can always call 911.

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For additional information provided on the Citys website, in relation to towing and related costs, click here.

As outlined in Chapter 76, Article III of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Kansas City, Missouri, the following rates apply to the towing of motor vehicles weighing 7,500 pounds or less by a tow service business from privately-owned property within the city without the consent of the vehicle owner or duly authorized driver or a law enforcement officer being present. In these instances, the maximum fees that may be charged for the towing of motor vehicles and for the storage and retrieval of such towed vehicle is as follows:

For the towing of a motor vehicle, the maximum fee shall be $265.00. This only applies to motor vehicles. For the storage of a towed motor vehicle, the maximum fee for each 24-hour period of storage, or portion thereof, shall be $30.00 If a vehicle was reported stolen, the maximum fees shall be $120.00. For the retrieval of a towed motor vehicle, the maximum fee shall be $25.00. Per Chapter 76-422, If the owner of a motor vehicle is present and capable of removing the vehicle before it is removed by a tow vehicle operator, the vehicle shall not be towed. If the motor vehicle it attached to the tow truck and two of the tires are off the ground and still on the premises, the maximum fee shall be $132.50.

If you believe you have been a victim of illegal towing practices, you are encouraged to contact predatorytowing@kcpd.org and detectives will send you a form to fill out.

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Police say if you or someone you know would like to remain anonymous, you can, by calling the Crime TIPS hotline at (474) TIPS.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX 4 Kansas City WDAF-TV | News, Weather, Sports.
LA MESA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A 27-year-old man on a skateboard was arrested Thursday on suspicion of assaulting a police officer in La Mesa.

Sean Lambert, of Fresno, California, was booked into San Diego County Jail, Lt. Scott Hildebrand with the La Mesa Police Department said in a news release. He faces charges that include obstructing/resisting executive officer with minor injury, assaulting with force likely to cause great bodily injury on a peace officer, battery on the assisting citizen and providing false identification to a peace officer.

The incident occurred around 10:20 a.m. at Lake Murray Boulevard and Lake Park Way.

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A uniformed patrol officer stopped Lambert who suddenly physically attacked the lone

officer, causing them to call for emergency backup, Hildebrand said.

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As backup responded to the scene, a good Samaritan passing by jumped in to help the officer. The suspect also physically assaulted the good Samaritan, according to police.

When additional officers arrived to the location, they were able to take Lambert into custody without further incident.

The four-year veteran La Mesa police officer and the good Samaritan suffered minor injuries, while Lambert appeared to be uninjured.

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The La Mesa Police Department appreciates the efforts of a member of the public to help our officer in a time of need, Hildebrand said.

Anyone who witnessed the incident are encouraged to call 619-667-1400 to provide a statement and any video footage they may have of the incident.

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DENVER (KDVR)  A man was arrested after police said a bar fight led to an extensive search in Castle Pines on Friday night.

A large police presence was reported near a grocery store in Castle Pines Friday night, where police spent several hours looking for a suspect.

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One person on the scene told FOX31 that there was an altercation at the Pines Bar and Grill when the suspect pulled a gun. Shots were not fired and no one was injured.

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The Douglas County Sheriffs Office provided an update Saturday morning, saying that deputies took a man into custody after an extensive investigation and coordinated search related to the disturbance.

The man was arrested on charges of felony menacing and prohibited use of a weapon, the sheriffs office said.

Spencer Kristensen contributed to this report.

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Police and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) believe a Sioux Falls woman is endangered and being held against her will in the Twin Cities.

Investigators believe Shalen Ball, 35, "is being held against her will" and was recently in West St. Paul or South St. Paul.

Ball is 5-1 and 180 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Anyone with information on Ball's whereabouts is urged to call 911.

Her case is being investigated by Sioux Falls Police Department, West St. Paul Police Department, and the Minnesota BCA.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The New Mexico National Guard will hit Albuquerque streets to help police fight crime next month. Ahead of that deployment, the Albuquerque Police Department says those guardsmen and women are getting special training.

APD is training around 60 guard members with both classroom and on-the-street training, some of which you may have already seen out in public. To accomplish the one goal is making Albuquerque safe, said Michael Hernandez with APD chief of staff.

The training work has already begun this week for these National Guard service members who are preparing to help Albuquerque police fight crime on Central.

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On Monday, APD says guardsmen and women began learning about how to serve in the role of helping out officers in the field.

APD provides update on officer-involved shooting involving 19-year-old

Again, the civilian components that we currently are utilizing, thats going to be the same roles that the National Guardsmen are going to be plugged into. And that just frees up officers so we can be more efficient, we have more time to really focus on police work, said Luke Languit, major with the Field Services Bureau.

APD says guard members are starting with 160 hours of training before they hit the streets of Albuquerque in mid-May. Most of those hours will be in a classroom, but some in-field training will also take place, including learning how to direct traffic.

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We want them to be aware and then also theres going to be procedural stuff, that is, theyre going to be, in particular, having to know of our standard operating procedures that theyre aware of, so that theyre also in compliance with, you know, our policies and of course theyll establish their own policies as well, said Hernandez.

Suspected serial child rapist arrested by Albuquerque police

APD says the guards main role will be to observe and report, with 36 guard members assisting on crime scene security during critical incidents and investigations. Another 12 guardsmen and women will help with the real-time crime center the final 12 service members will help with prisoner transport.

As long as theyre assigned to Albuquerque, again, well utilize them in this capacity so we have as many officers, police officers, as we can have answering those calls for service and doing proactive work in our community, said Languit.

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APD says they should have the guards trained by mid-May. And when the public sees them, they will be wearing polos and khakis. Twelve guards are also working on their drone licenses so they can help police officers more quickly use drones and beam back live video to the police departments real time crime center.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
CHICAGO (WGN)  The president of Chicagos Fraternal Order of Police said Friday that more than 1,000 officers are using a service weapon that could accidentally discharge, putting themselves and others at risk and opening the city up to legal action.

The Sig Sauer P320 is popular with local and federal law enforcement and personal gun owners but in the past few years has become the focus of dozens of complaints nationwide over claims it can accidentally misfire.

I believe all of our members carrying this gun should ask for administrative duty, effective immediately, FOP Lodge 7 president John Catanzara told WGN. If Im on the street, is it going to go off and hurt me, hurt my partner, hurt a citizen? What about my kid at home while Im getting ready to go to work? Its just so many concerns.

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In 2023 WGNs Nexstar partners at NewsNation obtained videos of the weapon allegedly misfiring. Juries last year sided with gun owners in Pennsylvania and Georgia in their lawsuits against the manufacturer.

NewsNation: Gun owners sue Sig Sauer over misfiring pistol

Catanzara said the Chicago Police Departments arsenal committee voted weeks ago to ban the Sig Sauer P320 but it remains in use. In a Friday letter to police Supt. Larry Snelling, Catanzara asked him to cover the costs of the switch for each of the roughly 1,200 officers using the weapon. Thats about 10 percent of the force.

You are personally and morally going to be subjecting yourself to some major traumas should you have one of these incidental misfires because the department was too lazy or too cheap to solve it faster, the union leader said.

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Milwaukees police department has already ceased use of the weapon. Catanzara said Chicagos force is the largest using the P320 and that once theyre pulled, its going to be a snowball down the hill. Everybodys going to have to ban it nationwide.

Sig Sauer denies the gun has a safety problem.

The P320 cannot, under any circumstances, discharge without a trigger pull  that is a fact. The allegations against the P320 are nothing more than individuals seeking to profit or avoid personal responsibility, the company said in a statement last month.

Catanzara acknowledged that there are differences of opinions about the dangers of the gun within the department but said that if the department has already made moves to ban the weapon, it should proceed with urgency due to liability concerns.

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WGN-TV reached out to the Chicago Police Department for comment. The police department replied with the following statement:

The Chicago Police Department is transitioning away from the Sig Sauer P320 as an approved firearm. It would be irresponsible and shortsighted to rush this process without a comprehensive plan in place. We are focused on a seamless transition for the affected officers as we develop this plan.

A request for comment sent to Mayor Brandon Johnsons office about the weapon went unanswered.

Catanzaras full letter to Supt. Snelling:

Catanzara-Letter-to-Snelling-Re-SIGSauer-P320-04182025Download

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BOLIVAR, Mo.  The Central Polk County Fire Protection District (CPCFPD) rescued a person stranded in the Pomme de Terre Lake late Friday night.

According to a Facebook post from CPCFPD, their water rescue team received a distress call at the Bolivar Landing on State Highway RB at around 10:20 p.m. They say an individual in the lake had their inflatable floaty lose air and wasnt wearing a life jacket, trapping them in the water.

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Water rescue crews sent out a rescue boat and located the stranded person a mile north of the boat dock. The victim was returned to the dock and transported to Citizens Memorial Hospital for treatment, where they were later released.

CPCFPD thanked CMH Emergency Medical Services, Polk County Sheriffs Office, Polk County Central Dispatch and the Missouri Department of Conservation for their help with the water rescue.

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BARTOW, Fla. (WFLA)  Two law enforcement officers were shot in Polk County Friday during a gunfight with a suspect who thought he was Jesus and God, according to the Polk County Sheriffs Office.

Sheriff Grady Judd said it all started Friday morning when 34-year-old Wayne Volz got into an argument with his parents at their home in Fort Meade and pistol whipped his mother.

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Authorities said Volz knocked his father to the ground as he ran to help and asked him, Do you want to die today?

He was out of control, Judd said. He held them hostage; he pistol-whipped mom; he put a gun between his fathers eyes and told him he needed to beg for his life.

According to investigators, Volz told his parents that he was Jesus and God, and that his mother was the devil. He also took their cell phones to prevent them from contacting anyone.

But when Volzs father said he needed to go to work at Lowes in Bartow, Volz elected to come with him, the sheriffs office said. His father went inside the hardware store and was hidden by his coworkers after telling them what had happened.

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Bartow police received a 911 call from Volzs father and responded to the scene. The Polk County Sheriffs Office was also called to assist with a drone, but Judd said they had little information going into the crime scene.

Wayne Volz (Credit: Polk County Sheriffs Office)

Were all running blind, Judd said.

The drone operator eventually spotted Volz walking past, but didnt see that he had a gun, the sheriff explained. She yelled for him to stop, and Volz ran around the building, where he had a confrontation with Polk Deputy Edwin Alexander.

A Bankers Brew Coffee Shop is inside the crime scene. The owner of the shop shared some of what his employees experienced.

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On the north side of the building, a little bit later, the guy came running through and they were yelling at him I guess to stop and as he was running, he had a weapon in his hand, looked like he was trying to load it, said Mike McMillan. From there our staff was smart enough to hide in the restroom. By the time they started to get into the bathroom they heard about 10-15 to 20 shots.

Judd said Volz shot Deputy Alexanders car seven to eight times. A bullet also struck Deputy Alexander in the forearm.

Volz was engaged by two Bartow officers, Vincent Agostino and Mark Sills Jr., and another Polk County deputy as he started back around the building. Thats when Judd said there was a barrage of gunfire.

Polk deputies at hospital after deputy, Bartow officer shot (WFLA) Polk deputies at hospital after deputy, Bartow officer shot (WFLA) Polk deputies at hospital after deputy, Bartow officer shot (WFLA) Polk deputies at hospital after deputy, Bartow officer shot (WFLA)

There were a lot of shots fired. It was gunfight, Judd said. And we shot him  a lot.  He asked to be shot and killed, and we obliged him.

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Officer Sills was shot in the chest but was wearing a vest that Judd said likely saved his life.

Volz was rushed to the hospital but ultimately died from his injuries. The sheriff said Volz had a criminal history and was known to be a drug addict.

Judd and Bartow Police Chief Stephen Walker said both of their team members were taken to hospitals to be checked out but appeared to be in good spirits after the incident. Deputy Alexander joked that he would be taking a vacation, Judd said.

Both are expected to make a full recovery.

The sheriffs office plans to investigate further, and the investigation will soon be turned over to the State Attorneys Office.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
We recently compiled a list of the Energy Stocks that are Gaining This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where UrEnergy Inc. (NYSE:URG) stands against the other energy stocks.

After finding itself right in the crosshairs of President Trumps global trade war, the energy industry itself has finally found some respite over the last week. At the time of writing this piece, the overall energy sector surged by more than 6% over the last five days, compared to gains of just around 0.9% by the wider market. After falling to a multi-year low, the Brent crude oil price has also increased by over 7.4% over the last five days and is now hovering just below the $68 mark.

One sector that has benefited greatly from the escalating trade tensions between US and China is that of uranium. After President Trump ordered a probe into potentially imposing tariffs on critical mineral imports, including uranium, investors are piling in to acquire stakes in domestic uranium companies. The sector has also been a hot topic recently due to a renewed global interest in nuclear energy, which has emerged as a leading candidate to power the ongoing AI boom and its accompanying data centers. A great example is how Americas all three leading cloud services companies signed deals last year to procure nuclear-powered energy.

Why UrEnergy Inc. (URG) Stock is Gaining This Week

Aerial view of the vast landscape of Great Divide Basin, Wyoming.

Our Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have surged the most between April 9 and April 16, 2025. Following are the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. The stocks are ranked according to their share price surge during this period.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Share Price Gains Between Apr. 9  Apr. 16: 9.41%

UrEnergy Inc. (NYSE:URG) is engaged in uranium mining, recovery and processing activities, including the acquisition, exploration, development, and operation of uranium mineral properties in the United States.

UrEnergy Inc. (NYSE:URG) reported its Q4 2024 results last week, posting a revenue of $22.65 million, up by a significant 316.34% from Q4 2023 and beating estimates by $878,000. Moreover, the company reported an increase in uranium production in 2024, capturing a total of 265,746 pounds of U3O8 against 103,487 pounds in 2023. URG also ended the year with cash resources of $76.1 million, compared to $59.7 million on December 31, 2023.
A poll commissioned by Latvia's State Chancellery has found that 65.1% of Latvian residents experience daily stress as a result of the war in Ukraine. The survey has assessed the resilience of Latvian society in the context of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Source: Delfi, a Baltic states news website; European Pravda

Details: The study found that stress levels related to the war in Ukraine have remained steady since 2023, when 64.8% of respondents reported feeling stressed.

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The poll notes that the perceived stress level remains relatively high in the broader context.

According to the survey, 39.3% of respondents are generally satisfied with their lives, 8.3% rate their lives as poor or very poor and 25.9% rate them as satisfactory.

The survey notes that respondents tend to be neutral about both their work and participation in events in Latvia, without expressing strong positive or negative views. In 2024, 36.3% rated their work as satisfactory, compared to 34.5% in 2023.

In 2024, 47.4% of respondents rated their participation in events in Latvia as satisfactory, up from 43.6% in 2023.

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The survey was carried out by Berg Research between October and November 2024, covering 2,005 Latvian residents aged 18 to 74.

Background:

An earlier poll found that 61.7% of Latvians believe Ukraine should be supported until it wins the war against Russia.

In addition, 71% of Latvians consider Russia to be the main threat to European security.

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Utah Gov. Spencer Cox and the Utah Legislature have seen a decrease in voter approval driven by Democratic dissatisfaction, the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll found.

The Democratic decline has meant a diminished overall approval rating for Cox. However, the recently reelected governor still remains well above water, enjoying a 16-point net approval rating.

Over the last year, Cox has changed his tone in support of President Donald Trump, taken a firm stance on conservative priorities like immigration law enforcement and signed Republican proposals that sparked protests on Capitol Hill.

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The result has been consistently high approval among GOP voters but also increased alienation among members of the states minority party, according to Jason Perry, director of the University of Utahs Hinckley Institute of Politics.

The polling numbers with Democrats show that his perception has moved to the right of where it has been in the past, Perry told the Deseret News. And it is a perception question, I dont know that hes changed, but that perception seems to have been adjusted.

From April 2023 to April 2025, Coxs job approval rating fell 26 percentage points among registered Democratic voters in the state, from 54% to 28%. Over that same period, Coxs approval among registered Republicans stayed nearly the same, shifting slightly from 68% to 66%.

Of the 800 voters surveyed, 52% said they approve of the job Cox is doing as governor of Utah, 36% said they disapprove and 12% said they dont know. Two years earlier, a Deseret News/Hinckley Institute of Politics poll conducted by HarrisX found that 64% of Utah voters approved of Coxs performance, 30% disapproved and 6% didnt know.

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Its encouraging to see that a majority of Utahns share the governors vision to keep Utah the best place to live, work, and raise a family, Cox spokesperson Robert Carroll said in a statement. But his focus remains where its always been: on solving the real challenges that matter most to the people of Utah.

DN-Govpoll

In both polls, respondents could choose between strongly approve, somewhat approve, somewhat disapprove or strongly disapprove.

Comparing the datapoints from 2023 and 2025, the share of somewhat approve fell by 10 percentage points, while the share of strongly disapprove increased by six points and the other options remained roughly the same.

The newest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll was conducted online by HarrisX from April 9-12 with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

What explains Coxs approval rating?

Perry, who previously served as chief of staff under former Gov. Gary Herbert, attributed the shift in perception toward Cox among liberal Utahns to two things: Coxs surprise endorsement of Trump and his association with culture-war bills passed by the Legislature.

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Cox entered office in 2021 as a Trump critic, saying he had not voted for his partys standard bearer in 2016 and 2020, and would not do so again in 2024.

But following the Butler County, Pennsylvania, assassination attempt against Trump in July, Cox reversed his longtime position of distancing himself from the president and wrote a private letter to Trump pledging his support.

While he has emphasized his Disagree Better civility initiative, the Utah governor has also had to weigh in on polarizing issues, Perry said  like transgender participation in sports, sex-transition surgery for minors and, most recently, political symbols in public classrooms.

In many cases, Cox has attempted to work with lawmakers to find a balanced approach that brings all sides to the table in pursuit of a compromise. But regardless of how these bills were handled, they were bound to anger some Democratic voters who view these social issues as unnecessary culture warring, according to Perry.

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He has to take an action on the bills that are given to him, Perry said. And as he did, several of them are in the category where hes going to lose some support from Democrats.

As he launches his second  and what he promises will be his final  term as governor, Cox has focused on the message of Built Here, doubling down on his goals of spurring the construction of 35,000 starter homes in the state and doubling energy production as Utah prepares to welcome new technologies and infrastructure ahead of the 2034 Winter Olympics.

Legislative approval rating

A similar story may be true of the Legislature, which has waded into several issues in recent years where the national narrative has greatly influenced the local narrative surrounding certain bills, Perry said.

Utah voters give the Legislature an overall job approval of 49%, the latest Deseret News/Hinckley Institute poll found. There were 12% of respondents who strongly approved, 36% who somewhat approved, 21% who somewhat disapproved, 16% who strongly disapproved and 14% who said they didnt know.

DN-XGRpoll

In March of 2023, the Legislatures approval rating stood at 53%, which falls just outside of the latest polls margin of error.

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The biggest shift between the two polls is an increase in Democratic disapproval, which grew from 66% of Democrats in 2023 to 73% of Democrats in 2025. Republican support held steady, hovering between 66% and 68%.

In a time of national polarization, Utah stands out for our level-headed, thoughtful governance thats responsive to the needs of our people, Utah House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, said in a statement.

Common-sense actions taken by the Legislature have allowed the state to build on its foundation as one of the best-managed, most charitable and happiest states in the country, Schultz said.

In a statement, Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, credited Utahs volunteer spirit with creating the conditions for Utah to rank No. 1 in economic outlook, continued GDP growth and rising teacher salaries year after year.

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On top of these achievements, Adams said lawmakers have made record investments in education, cut taxes by over $1.4 billion and made historic reforms to water law and energy regulations.

These policy decisions reflect a commitment to long-term solutions, a thriving economy and a better future for every Utahn, Adams said.

During the 2025 legislative session, the Utah House and Senate overhauled higher education funding in the state to prioritize workforce needs, took steps toward bringing nuclear energy to the state and passed a flurry of laws to enhance public safety.

The Legislature also reformed the states vote-by-mail system to be opt-in, banned fluoride in public drinking water and prohibited public unions from using collective bargaining in negotiations with the government over taxpayer dollars.

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However, the vast majority of the important work done by the Legislature  like balancing the budget and funding transportation projects  hardly made headlines, said Marty Carpenter, a GOP consultant who managed the gubernatorial campaigns of former governors Gary Herbert and Jon Huntsman.

Most people have a favorable view of their own representatives but end up judging the Legislature as a whole based on a few controversial bills that gained the highest profile, according to Carpenter.

Polling like this tends to be there was one or two or a handful of bills that caught the publics attention, Carpenter said. But I think if you really got people to answer an informed question ... that number would be far higher.
Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo aired skepticism about the ongoing Iran-U.S. nuclear deal talks and outlined what, in his view, a potential agreement with the Islamic republic should look like.

The thousands of victims of Irans terror machine know all too well that living happily without death is impossible under the current regime. And a fake deal focused solely on nuclear enrichment will result in far less happiness and more death, not the reversenot only for the Iranian people but for human beings all across the world, Pompeo wrote in an op-ed for The Free Press published on Friday.

Pompeo, a longtime Iran hawk, said the Trump administration is negotiating a deal while Iran is in its weakest strategic point in decades and the presidents hand could not be stronger.

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Therefore, an agreement that permits Iran to continue with its current nuclear rate of development is not a deal worth making, according to the former CIA director.

Instead, similarly to what he shared in 2018, Pompeo argued a new accord with Tehran should be based on three main conditions  Iran destroying all uranium enrichment sites, stop providing political, military and financial support to its proxies and striking a peace deal with its Gulf Arab neighbors, along with doing away with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

On Saturday, the Trump administration met for talks in Rome about Irans nuclear program. The meetings were mediated by Omani officials.

Since returning to the White, Trump has said he wants to prioritize diplomatic engagement with Iran over military action against Tehran. But the president warned that if the talks are not fruitful, a military attack on Iran is on the table. Pompeo said he agrees with Trumps alternative option.

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Irans closest alliesthe Chinese Communist Party and Vladimir Putinare not likely to come to Irans aid following such an attack, reducing risk still further. That Iran might use all of its proxies to respond to such an attack is indeed a risk, Pompeo wrote. But whats more likely is that so long as the strikes only target military and nuclear sites, Ayatollah Khamenei will not risk escalation.

The former Trump officials slammed the more isolationist wing of the GOP and those still supportive of the Obama-negotiated Iran deal, from which Trump pulled out of in 2018, claiming they are only for two options: war or a deal.

This is propaganda. It is a false choice propagated by those who would prefer to coddle the regime in Tehran and cut a deal that will ensure that Iran obtains a full-on nuclear weapons program over time. Ironically, this outcome makes war more, not less, likely, Pompeo said.

The former CIA director wrote that there are more options at the U.S.s disposal.

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He wrote that the current administration could turn up the pressure and deter Iran by denying it the resources it needs to foment terror, rebuild the Shia Crescent, and obtain weapons of mass destruction.

Our chokehold on the Iranian regimes wealth in the first Trump term was effective. Iran was all but broke after less than two years of maximum pressure, he said. The Ayatollah would have faced a massive resource shortfall had President Biden and his team not provided succor to the Iranian regime before Trumps second term.

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Pope Francis made a short and unannounced visit Saturday to St. Peter's Basilica to pray before this evening's Easter vigil and greet some of the faithful present.

The 88-year-old pontiff, in a wheelchair, arrived at around 6 p.m. local time accompanied by his nurse and stayed for about a quarter hour, stopping to pray at St. Peter's tomb, the Italian press service Ansa reported.

The pope greeted those in attendance before heading back to his residence.

PHOTO: In this screen grab from a video, Pope Francis greeting people at St. Peter's Basilica, on April 19, 2025. (Deborah Tomlinson/Inside the Vatican )

The Vatican confirmed Pope Francis "went to St. Peter's Basilica for a time of prayer, to be close to the faithful who will be celebrating the Vigil of the Holy Night of Easter in the next few hours," a statement read.

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This is the pope's latest public appearance during Holy Week. On Thursday, he met with about 70 inmates at a prison in Rome.

"Every year l like to do what Jesus did on Holy Thursday, the washing of the feet, in a prison," the pope told the attendees, according to a statement from the Vatican. "This year I cannot do it but I wanted to be close to you. I pray for you and all your families."

The pontiff also appeared at a mass in St. Peter's Square on Palm Sunday, greeting a crowd of thousands gathered for the service.

MORE: Pope Francis makes first public appearance since leaving hospital

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Francis has remained mostly out of public view since his release in March from Rome's Gemelli hospital, where he'd spent more than five weeks after being diagnosed with bilateral pneumonia.

Francis delegated to two cardinals his role in presiding over this weekend's Easter masses, the Vatican Press Office said on Wednesday.

Pope Francis makes surprise appearance at St. Peter's Basilica originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY)  Think of the Black Friday vibe, but the folks in line are polite and patient while the merchandise is free.

Good morning, we have two minutes to go, two minutes before we show you love, said Carl Williams in the parking lot of the historic Third Baptist Church just outside downtown Portsmouth.

Bike giveaway for Portsmouth children ahead of Easter holiday

On Good Friday, the men of Andrews Brothers unveiled an Easter story that is one for the ages.

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In a parking lot that is normally reserved for members and visitors, 50 brand new childrens bikes were lined up for the debut of the Good Friday bike giveaway.

What we are doing, we are showing acts of kindness and love to the community and to our children, said Carl Williams of Andrews Brothers. We are giving away free bikes on occasions such as Good Friday, where we know the history of Good Friday, how someone gave their life and gave up their self for others. So we are doing the same thing.

The church-based group typically gives away bikes to celebrate the birth of Christ. But, early this year, the men realized the mission demanded more. Thats when they contacted 10 On Your Side.

In a March interview, Williams told viewers many families are in financial pain due to fraud on their EBT cards. State officials warned thieves are digitally stealing funds from replenished cards before clients can make it grocery stores near the first of each month. Its an issue 10 On Your Side has covered in recent weeks.

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EBT scams on the rise across across Virginia

The community responded, and 50 donated brand new bikes were lined up for the debut of the Good Friday bike giveaway. Cars along Godwin Street were lined up at 7:30 a.m. for a 9:00 a.m. giveaway.

One minute away, Williams said as eager sets of little eyes were trained on mountain bikes for teens and cute pink bikes with fringed handle bars.

Adults must be accompanied by a child, and theres only bike for each family.

Thats no problem, said the three Lopez boys from Portsmouth. They have devised a routine where the first cyclist rides around their neighborhood block while the others practice another sport. When the cyclist returns, the next boy moves to the bike while the first cyclist takes on another sport. Repeat until everyone is exhausted and ready for food.

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Families came in different forms. Kai Shepard, 10, and academically advanced beyond his years, is Empress Johnsons foster child. Over the years, she has cared for 66 foster children.

So all of the foster kids that I have enjoyed getting bikes, Johnson said. Most of them have never had any kind of bikes, roller blades, anything like that. So its always great.

Kai selected and then performed a test drive on a slick new bike. He rose early, at 7 a.m., to select his Good Friday present.

Its a bike where you cant use the brakes behind; you have these in front, said Kai, who was excited about taking it for a spin in a local park.

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A Suffolk boy, adopted several years ago, had the muscles to hoist his new mountain bike into the rear of his mothers SUV. She told 10 On Your Side the bike is a blessing as her family celebrates Easter.

The resurrection of Jesus Christ, and its been a blessing for him because hes autistic, his mother said. We thank God that we were able to come and get where he wanted.

The men of Andrews Brothers say the bike gift represents mobility and the ability to dream.

Moments like this let me know that Im not the only one reaching out and loving on our children, Williams said. So please [give]. All we have is our children. That is the future.

Andrews Brothers helps children year round with school supplies, field trips and information on how to enroll in college. If you would like to know more about the mission or if there is a young man in your life who could benefit from the program, contact Third Baptist Church at 461 Godwin St. The phone number is (757) 393-9312.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Health officials are investigating a potential case of measles in an Eaton County resident and have released information on two possible public exposure sites.

If you visited the locations below during the listed times, you may have been exposed to measles:

Saturday, April 12  King Ocean Crab restaurant on Miller St. in Lansing, MI from 6:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m

Sunday, April 13  Bad Brads BBQ on S. Baldwin Rd. in Orion Township, MI from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

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Test results are still pending, but the Barry-Eaton District Health Department is urging the public to be cautious.

We are acting out of an abundance of caution to notify the public as quickly as possible, said Dr. Julie Kehdi, Medical Director at BEDHD. Measles spreads easily and can have serious health consequences, especially for children and people with weakened immune systems. We encourage anyone who may have been exposed to take action right away and check their vaccination status.

Measles is a highly infectious disease spread through the air and via direct person-to-person contact. Infected individuals can spread the disease before noticing symptoms, and the disease can linger in the air long after an infected person leaves the area.

If you have potentially been exposed to measles, officials say you should monitor yourself for symptoms such as fever, cough, runny nose, or rash for 21 days from the date of exposure. If you exhibit symptoms, call your local health department. Go to the emergency room if your symptoms are severe, and if you must seek care in person, call ahead to avoid potentially exposing others.

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If it has been less than six days since your potential exposure, you may be able to receive post-exposure treatment that could prevent illness, and you should contact your health care provider, pharmacy, or local health department for guidance.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
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In the recent decision by Michigans Supreme Court to eliminate the sentence of life without parole for adjudicated offenders aged 19 and 20-years-old, the court indicated that long-standing science behind brain development was one of the key factors.

Therefore, the relevant question we must ask ourselves writ large is this: is our goal as a society true justice or simply punishment?

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Research by pioneering psychologists like Erikson and Piaget is so respected that it is routinely taught in psychology textbooks. Although not indicated by name, that foundational research and the courts indication that the neuroplasticity of a developing brain before the age of 25, as well as relevant case law, was instrumental in the decision to disallow the affected age group to be automatically sentenced to life without parole for first degree murder (building on the 2022 decision regarding 18-year-olds).

Utilizing prevailing research as a component of legal decision-making is a win for logic, reasoning, and science but the dissenting opinion of the decision cannot be ignored. The dissent, penned by Chief Justice Clement, indicated that first degree murder is a grave offense, and, a punishment of great severity is therefore proportionate, while also indicating that the majority decision focuses on examining the offender and not the offense.

Therein lies the issue with what we tell ourselves, as a society, about how and why we incarcerate and hints at the reasoning behind the United States leading all developed nations in per capita prison populations. Especially in Michigan.

This is all rooted in the notion that we, as a society, view ourselves as a rehabilitative one that values change and personal responsibility in theory. Faith-based and popular media stories routinely feature redemption arcs of men and women that have committed heinous crimes and acts but can find a place in society through change and sacrifice.

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The belief in these redemption arcs seem to end with Michigans prison population wherein, much like the dissenting opinion, a blanket punitive sentence is applied regardless of the rehabilitative potential of the offender. In large part based off the tough on crime rhetoric of the 1990s, the state is left with a prison population serving long sentences far greater than the majority of other states. The Council on Criminal Justice (2023) indicated that 66% of Michigans prison population is serving 10+ years based on 2016 releases and the average sentence is 20 years, which is much higher than most other states.

It appears that we have not only given up the idea of rehabilitative incarceration but moved in the exact opposite direction. To date, the youngest juvenile lifer in the state was Dontez Tillman. He was sentenced in 2011 at the age of 17 to life without parole for participating in the murder of a homeless man with friends where he was first arrested and in the system at 14. In 2025, he is now 30 years old. While Tillman was subsequently resentenced in 2015 to a term of 32-and-a-half to 60 years in prison, the earliest he could be set free is 2041.

If we continue to apply that blanket approach to sentencing and noting that only these long sentences can keep our communities safe, then are we to throw out the entirety of research on the matter, our purported belief in the ability for one to redeem themselves, and basic common sense?

Although I have never met Mr. Tillman, I have encountered and worked in an academic and forensic setting with many men and women who are currently serving very long sentences for crimes committed in their youth. I would hazard that Mr. Tillman is a functionally different person than he was when he was in his adolescence. Recrimination and remorse are routinely part of an incarcerated persons daily existence, but the system that we have in place does not have a mechanism to recognize that. If one can grow, learn, and become fundamentally changed in one environment, then that should apply to all environments including our prison system.

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In addition, think of the standard brain development the court used to base the recent decision on. Brain development and socialization are not standardized, of course, but Piaget, Erikson, and others have mapped out general stages. However, some differences are common. This is under the assumption that development and socialization take place in an average society. What if, like Mr. Tillman and many others, that development takes place in a prison environment?

There are no predictors on what incarceration does on brain development for adolescents, but the effects of incarceration on adults are startling. A rehabilitant society would never entertain the thought of allowing young people who have made terrible mistakes and choices to simply rot and, essentially, grow up in one of the most violent and hopeless landscapes imaginable.

Yet, fear still pervades our societal view, and that fear means we must do whatever possible to ensure our safety. Just as long as that safety does not involve investing in the future of groups of people that we have already labeled as monsters or evil. The use of those terms is low-hanging fruit for fearmongers, allowing an arbitrary, and largely fantastical, definition of a word to become the reasoning for disallowing a person to grow beyond what is ofttimes a single, horrible decision on a single, horrible day.

As it stands, long prison sentences do nothing to actually make Michigan safer. They are not a deterrent to crime, quite obviously, and only function to punish without recourse. We only talk the rehabilitative game.

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Kudos to the Michigan Supreme Court for the current decision, but it does little to address the larger, systemic issues in sentencing in Michigan. As a society, allowing this decision to alleviate whatever pangs of guilt are felt whenever we see that our courts, much like an overzealous bartender, over serve justice to the cheers of voters is dangerous. I fear most people would agree with Chief Justice Clements dissent.

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We recently compiled a list of the Energy Stocks that are Gaining This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) stands against the other energy stocks.

After finding itself right in the crosshairs of President Trumps global trade war, the energy industry itself has finally found some respite over the last week. At the time of writing this piece, the overall energy sector surged by more than 6% over the last five days, compared to gains of just around 0.9% by the wider market. After falling to a multi-year low, the Brent crude oil price has also increased by over 7.4% over the last five days and is now hovering just below the $68 mark.

One sector that has benefited greatly from the escalating trade tensions between US and China is that of uranium. After President Trump ordered a probe into potentially imposing tariffs on critical mineral imports, including uranium, investors are piling in to acquire stakes in domestic uranium companies. The sector has also been a hot topic recently due to a renewed global interest in nuclear energy, which has emerged as a leading candidate to power the ongoing AI boom and its accompanying data centers. A great example is how Americas all three leading cloud services companies signed deals last year to procure nuclear-powered energy.

Why Uranium Energy Corp. (UEC) Stock is Gaining This Week

A mining worker in a hard hat and coveralls hammering away at the uranium rich walls of the mine.

Our Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have surged the most between April 9 and April 16, 2025. Following are the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. The stocks are ranked according to their share price surge during this period.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with the stocks that hedge funds pile into. The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletters strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 373.4% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 218 percentage points (see more details here).

Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC)

Share Price Gains Between Apr. 9  Apr. 16: 9.05%

Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) is engaged in uranium mining and related activities. The company is the fastest-growing uranium supplier in North America, fueling the growing demand for carbon-free nuclear energy.

As Americas largest and fastest-growing uranium company, Uranium Energy Corp. (NYSE:UEC) has benefited greatly as investors pile in to acquire domestic uranium stocks. The company made significant progress in ramping up its production in Q2 2025, reporting a revenue of $49.8 million on sales of 600,000 pounds of U3O8. UEC also maintains strong liquidity, with $214 million in liquid assets and zero debt at the end of the quarter.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP)  As summer gets closer, many are looking forward to spending time by the pool. However, proposed tariffs from the Trump administration could impact the availability and cost of pool supplies.

These tariffs are raising concerns for the pool and hot tub industry. We could see an impact on equipment, chemicals, and supplies.

Pool professionals at Teddy Bear Pools & Spa in Chicopee are bracing for a disruption in the supplies that power their daily operations. But the owner, Ted Hebert, says they are well prepared with a large stocked inventory of pools, spas, equipment, and chemicals. Right now, no price increases have gone into effect on any of their items.

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The impact is that things that are made overseas will be impacted, says Hebert. Were a very large dealer in stock in store, a lot of pools and space, so we can hold the price there. But anything thats been re-ordered right now is about 5% more right now. So it will affect it possibly anything we have to reorder.

He says Most pool chemicals are produced in the U.S., so supply issues are not an issue as of right now. On a global scale, we could see prices for supplies pool pumps, patio furniture, and chlorine, go up. But how much they go up is not exactly clear yet.

So if you do plan on opening up your pool this year, now might be the right time to stock up on critical supplies, ahead of the summer rush and any impending tariffs.

Local News Headlines

WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.

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Apr. 18A top federal prosecutor in the case against a notorious New Mexico prison gang has been named the United States Attorney for the state.

Ryan G. Ellison was appointed U.S. Attorney for New Mexico on Friday by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take the spot left vacant by former top federal prosecutor Alexander Uballez.

"I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New Mexico in this role," Ellison, a registered Republican, said in a release sent Friday by the U.S. Attorney's Office. "For however long I serve as United States Attorney, my primary objective will be to keep New Mexicans safe through the vigorous enforcement of Federal law."

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Tessa DuBerry, a spokesperson for the U.S. Attorney's Office, said Ellison "will spend a significant amount of time working in the Las Cruces Branch Office to coordinate the USAO's prioritization of immigration and border-related offenses."

She said the USAO headquarters will remain in Albuquerque.

The appointment of Ellison and prioritization of immigration come as border crossings in New Mexico have plummeted since Trump took office, from around 34,000 people in December to 1,627 in March, a 95% decrease.

Ellison, who was born and raised in Alamogordo, made his bones as the state's assistant U.S. attorney in Las Cruces, one of three prosecutors who put away members of the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico, or SNM, prison gang. Ellison also investigated and prosecuted a variety of cases, including racketeering, murder-for-hire and "various firearms, immigration, and national security offenses."

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In mid-February, Uballez resigned, telling the Journal he received notice of his firing by the Trump administration in his personal email account days after he was stripped of his government cellphone and computer access without prior notice or explanation.

Uballez, appointed by President Joe Biden in 2022, was among more than 20 other holdovers who were asked to step down as U.S. Attorneys after Trump took office.

In a statement, Ellison said, "Under my leadership, the United States Attorney's Office will do its part to stem the unlawful flow of people and drugs into our country."

"We will also not lose sight of our responsibility to combat violent crime, gang activity, child predators, and to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States' civil interests," he said. "... The United States Attorney's Office will work tirelessly to make New Mexico a safer place to live, work, raise a family, and run a business. And we will make New Mexico a far less attractive place to commit a crime."

The release states that Ellison attended the University of Arizona and Texas Tech University and worked in private practice and as an assistant district attorney in Texas before joining the Department of Justice.
Pubs will be able to stay open until 1am on the 80th anniversary of VE Day so drinkers can raise a toast to veterans.

Venues that usually close at 11pm will get special permission to stay open for an extra two hours under government plans to commemorate the end of the Second World War.

Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister, said the change on May 8 would allow people across the country to join in the celebrations and raise a glass to all those who fought for their freedom.

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It is the latest example of pub licensing hours being relaxed to mark occasions of exceptional national significance, with royal celebrations and the Euro 2024 final also warranting a late finish.

Sir Keir said: As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the whole country should come together to remember the incredible sacrifices made by the wartime generation and to celebrate the peace and freedom they secured for us all.

Ecstatic crowds in Londons Piccadilly celebrate the end of war - Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Keeping our pubs open for longer will give people the opportunity to join in celebrations and raise a glass to all of the men and women who served their country, both overseas and at home.

No 10 said it would also provide a welcome boost to the hospitality industry, hit hard by the Covid pandemic and now facing a rise in costs as a result of the increase in National Insurance contributions (NICs) ordered by Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor.

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May 8 is the day on which Allied Forces formally announced the surrender of Germany, bringing the Second World War to a close in Europe.

VJ Day, marking victory over Japan and the end of the war as a whole, falls on Aug 15.

There had been speculation that No 10 could mark the 80th anniversary of both days with an extra bank holiday in 2025, but that was ruled out last year.

At the time, the Prime Ministers official spokesman said: Obviously, the 80th anniversaries of VE and VJ will be moments of huge significance for our country, where we will come together to honour the memory of those who served, the legacy left behind and what we owe them.

Millions of people poured on to the streets up and day the country, as here in London, to celebrate VE Day in 1945 - PA

We are committed to commemorating these nationally important occasions appropriately, which is why we have announced more than 10 million for events to mark them. Well set out more detail on that shortly.

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These plans do not include an additional bank holiday, but we will look to use the existing early May bank holiday for commemorative events.

VE Day commemorations will start on the May bank holiday on Monday, May 5. The Cenotaph will be dressed in Union flags and there will be a military procession from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace and an RAF flypast over London.

On May 8, there will be a party at Horse Guards Parade shown live on BBC One.

Michael Kill, the chief executive of the Night Time Industries Association, said extending pub hours would give the industry a boost.

He said: As someone with a strong family background in the Armed Forces, I know how vital it is to honour the legacy of those who served.

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VE Day is not only a moment of remembrance but also an opportunity for communities to come together.

At such a challenging time for the hospitality sector, allowing businesses to extend their trading hours during these celebrations offers a much-needed boost while paying tribute to our shared history.

Emma McClarkin, the chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, said: This is a momentous occasion and, as the nations second home, the pub is the perfect place for communities to gather and raise a glass to all of those who made huge sacrifices for our freedom.

Extending licensing hours will mean people can come together for longer, nurture community spirit and allow pubs to host even more commemorative events that honour our veterans and heroes and celebrate peace.

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EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WEHT)  Demolition gets underway after a massive fire on Christmas Day left a restaurant in ruins. The Italian restaurant Sauced and the Thayer Mansion is coming down where birthdays, weddings and receptions were celebrated.

After standing tall in Evansville for decades those two buildings at 1113 Parrett Street are coming down after a fire heavily damaged Sauced on Christmas last year. Some say its heartbreaking.

Some on-lookers tell me a piece of Evansville history and what some credit as the spark in the neighborhood revitalization effort will be gone sooner rather than later. Sauced Owner Scott Schymik certainly has made an impression on the city and the customers who came through the door.

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Brian Buxton who runs the ever-popular Fingers, Fork, Knife & Spoon Facebook page is just one of them.

Sauced: it was one peoples favorite Italian restaurants in town. I had been for many times for dinner. They had a great outdoor patio. Scott obviously is a great chef, had a great menu and its sad when you lose anything like this, Buxton says.

Construction crews began taking down what house the beloved restaurant, ballroom and the former Kirbys Private Dining where several people hold special memories.

That includes Moriah Hobgood who ran the blue bar for two years and now owns Mos House which sits across the street from hallowed grounds.

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I literally would not be where I am without Sauced, and Scott and the blue bar and what it is. So, it definitely pulls at your heartstrings to see it being torn down and not being part of the neighborhood anymore for sure, Hobgood says.

Schymik tells me the Christmas Day fire waterlogged the entire building and someone was also renting the upstairs apartment. Some say its a loss, but they have memories to hold close for life.

It was Sauced  I felt like  was the first thing that was here  Kirbys  and people got married there. They had huge moments, first dates, the married later on. I dont exactly know how to process seeing it gone or what it will look like, Hobgood says.

Schymik believes crews will stay on scene for a couple weeks to finish the demolition.

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April 19 (UPI) -- Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday declared a 30-hour Easter truce with Ukraine through Sunday night, but Ukraine's President said late Saturday on X that "Russian strikes persist."

In a video, Putin said Russian troops will be ready to react if there are provocations or violations of the truce. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

Putin made the announcement after meeting with Russia's Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, with the truce starting at 6 p.m. Ukrainian time and running through midnight Sunday.

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"I order for this period to stop all military action," Putin said. "We are going on the basis that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, while our troops must be ready to resist possible breaches of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions."

Russia's Defense Ministry said the truce was "guided by humanitarian considerations."

In early 2023, he announced an Orthodox Easter truce, though the BBC reported artillery fire didn't end.

Ukraine has yet to accept or reject the halt but Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha said Putin's words "cannot be trusted."

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"Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a cease-fire. 30 hours instead of 30 days," Sybiha said. "Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.

"We want to see Russian forces actually cease-fire in all directions. We also urge all of our partners and the international community to be vigilant," he said.

In a post on X, Zelensky said forces continued their activity in the Kursk region and "are holding their positions. In the Belgorod region, our warriors have advanced and expanded our zone of control."

"As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives -- at this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine," he said. "At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us. Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and toward human life."

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In an update after the truce was to begin, Zelensky said that "hostilities continue, and Russian strikes persist. Russian artillery can still be heard in certain directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leader's promise of silence."

"Russian drones are in use," he said, but noted that "In some areas, the situation has become quieter."

Putin is accusing Ukraine of violating a 30-day agreement on pausing airstrikes on energy infrastructure in March that has already expired.

"We know that the Kyiv regime has violated the agreement on non-strikes on energy infrastructure more than 100 times," he said.

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"If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're going to just take a pass," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on Friday. "But hopefully we won't have to do that."

Earlier Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters "we're done" if the sides can't agree.

"I think it's important to remind everybody that the Ukraine war is a terrible thing, but it's not our war, Rubio said. "We didn't start it. The United States has been helping Ukraine for over the last three years, and we want it to end. But it's not our war."

"We've spent three years, billions of dollars supporting the Ukrainian side, and -- but now we've reached the point where we have other things we have to focus on," he added.

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On Thursday, Rubio and other U.S. officials met with Ukrainian and European leaders in Paris for talks on the war. Rubio said he also spoke with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Thursday.

"The Secretary conveyed to his Russian counterpart the same message the U.S. team communicated to the Ukrainian delegation and our European allies in Paris: President Trump and the United States want this war to end, and have now presented to all parties the outlines of a durable and lasting peace," Tammy Bruce, spokesperson for the State Department, said in a statement.

On March 1, Ukraine said it would accept a deal brokered by the United States that includes the U.S. investing in Ukraine's recovery in return for a share of the country's future profits from its natural resources, energy infrastructure, and oil and gas.

Ukraine has also said any peace agreement should include security guarantees by the United States, which Trump has declined to provide.

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"What matters most now is that it is finally clear who has truly been the cause of this war all along," Zelensky said after the cease-fire. "The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of attacks, fighting and killings decreased. The sole cause of this war and of its prolongation lies in Russia."

Separately, Russia and Ukraine on Saturday announced a prisoner exchange.

The Russian Defense Ministry said it swapped 246 captured Ukrainian soldiers for the same number of Russian troops as a "gesture of goodwill," as well as 31 wounded Ukrainian troops for 15 wounded Russian servicemen, which Zelensky confirmed.

More than 46,000 Ukrainian soldiers have been killed in the war since the 2022 invasion, according to Zelensky, while the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces reports that Russia has lost more than 915,000 troops.

According to United Nations, through the end of 2024, more than 12,340 civilians had been killed and 27,386 had been wounded since the invasion.
Editor's note: This is a developing story.

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire on the Easter weekend, ordering a halt to all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Putin announced the order during a meeting with the Russian Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, on April 19.

Putin framed the decision as being guided by humanitarian concerns. "I order the suspension of all combat operations during this period," he declared.

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"We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example," he added.

The suggested Easter ceasefire follows previous Russian attacks on Ukraine during major Orthodox holidays, including a deadly strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday that killed 35 people, and an attack on Kharkiv during Good Friday that killed one person and injured 120.

The effectiveness of the ceasefire will "test Ukraine's sincerity in pursuing peace talks," according to Putin, who said that the real measure of Kyiv's intentions will be revealed by its actions over the Easter period.

President Volodymyr Zelensky countered Putin's proposal by inviting Russia to extend the ceasefire beyond Easter Sunday.

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"This will show Russia's true intentions, because 30 hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance," Zelensky said via Telegram on the evening of April 19.

Zelensky said that reports from the Ukrainian military indicated Russia had not stopped all its assaults on the front lines and that Kyiv would respond "in a mirror manner" to Russia's actions, abiding by a true ceasefire or meeting fire with fire.

"There will be an adequate response to every Russian strike," he said.

Kyiv initially reacted to Putin's ceasefire announcement with skepticism.



"As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with people's lives  an air raid alert is sounding across Ukraine right now," Zelensky wrote on Telegram shortly after Russia's declaration.

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"At 5:15 p.m., Russian attack drones were spotted in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation are already responding. The presence of Shahed (drones) over our territory shows Putin's true attitude toward Easter and human life."

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha was similarly skeptical of Putin's claims, drawing attention to Moscow's continued rejection of a U.S.-proposed complete 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine has supported since March 11.

"Now Putin has made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days," Sybiha said.

"Unfortunately, we have considerable experience when his statements did not coincide with his actions. We know that his words cannot be believed, and we will look at actions, not words."

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Putin's announcement comes after Washington signaled that it was ready to cease its mediation efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine if one of the sides "makes it difficult."

Russia refuses to accept a full ceasefire unless it includes concessions that would undermine Kyiv's ability to defend itself, including a full halt to foreign military aid.

On March 25, Moscow agreed to a partial truce, which included a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea and a 30-day pause in strikes on energy infrastructure. Since then, Ukraine has reported more than 30 violations of the partial ceasefire by Russian forces. Meanwhile, Russian attacks on civilians in Ukrainian cities have intensified.

Putin accused Ukraine of violating the ceasefire on energy infrastructure over 100 times, without providing any evidence. Putin said he expects Kyiv to follow the Easter ceasefire but added that Russia should be ready to respond in case of violations.

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Russia has repeatedly falsely accused Ukraine of various attacks and provocations since the beginning of its full-scale invasion in 2022, often presenting them as a pretext for escalation.

Read also: Youre fools  US may take a pass on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says

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Russian President Vladimir Putin has called for an Eastern truce with Ukraine, directing the Kremlins military to temporarily pause fighting until Sunday night.

Putin announced the brief ceasefire on Saturday during a meeting with the chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov.

The Russian president said, guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to 00:00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce. I order that all military actions be stopped for this period.

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We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin said on Saturday.

Shortly after Putins remarks, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused the Russian president of playing with human lives and added that the Kremlins drones were still flying in Kyivs airspace.

At this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine. At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us, Zelensky wrote in a Saturday post on social media platform X. Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

The air alert in Ukraines capital Kyiv stopped at 6 p.m. local time, Agence France-Presse reported.

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On Saturday, the two sides also swapped at least 240 prisoners of war, according to Russias Defense Ministry and Zelensky.

Our people are homeone of the best pieces of news that can be. Another 277 warriors have returned home from Russian captivity, Zelensky said in another X post on Saturday. The warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the border guards. They defended Mariupol and other directions in the Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions.

Since Russias invasion started in February 2022, Ukraine has been able to retrieve 4,552 individuals  civilians and fighters  from Russias imprisonment, according to Zelensky.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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We recently compiled a list of the Energy Stocks that are Gaining This Week. In this article, we are going to take a look at where YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF) stands against the other energy stocks.

After finding itself right in the crosshairs of President Trumps global trade war, the energy industry itself has finally found some respite over the last week. At the time of writing this piece, the overall energy sector surged by more than 6% over the last five days, compared to gains of just around 0.9% by the wider market. After falling to a multi-year low, the Brent crude oil price has also increased by over 7.4% over the last five days and is now hovering just below the $68 mark.

One sector that has benefited greatly from the escalating trade tensions between US and China is that of uranium. After President Trump ordered a probe into potentially imposing tariffs on critical mineral imports, including uranium, investors are piling in to acquire stakes in domestic uranium companies. The sector has also been a hot topic recently due to a renewed global interest in nuclear energy, which has emerged as a leading candidate to power the ongoing AI boom and its accompanying data centers. A great example is how Americas all three leading cloud services companies signed deals last year to procure nuclear-powered energy.

Why YPF Sociedad Anonima (YPF) Stock is Gaining This Week

An oil platform in the North Sea, standing tall and proud against a backdrop of choppy waters.

Our Methodology:

To collect data for this article, we have referred to several stock screeners to find energy stocks that have surged the most between April 9 and April 16, 2025. Following are the Energy Stocks that Gained the Most This Week. The stocks are ranked according to their share price surge during this period.

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YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF)

Share Price Gains Between Apr. 9  Apr. 16: 9.8%

YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF) is an energy company that engages in the oil and gas upstream and downstream activities in Argentina.

The stock of YPF Sociedad Anonima (NYSE:YPF) received a boost after it was upgraded by HSBC from Reduce to Hold, raising its price target by 57% to $33 from $21 previously. According to HSBC, the upgrade is attributed to an improved outlook for Argentinas economy, energy sector, and YPFs internal restructuring plan. Moreover, it was announced last week that YPF has signed an MOU with the Italian energy group Eni for its possible participation in an LNG project in the Vaca Muerta gas field in Argentina.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in its war with Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons. NBC News' Raf Sanchez reports on where the White House stands on peace negotiations between the two countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a brief Easter ceasefire in his war with Ukraine, a declaration met with skepticism in Kyiv as the war enters a crucial phase and US-led negotiations stall.

Putin said all hostilities would halt between 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday (11 a.m. ET) and midnight on Monday (5 p.m. Sunday ET).

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, he said, adding that the truce would help Russia determine how sincere Kyiv is about wanting to reach a ceasefire.

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However, just hours after the announcement, Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of continuing to fight. According to the report of the commander-in-chief, Russian assault operations continue in some parts of the front line and Russian artillery continues to fire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address on Saturday night.

Kyiv has responded to the truce declaration with skepticism, with Zelensky pointing out that Putin still has not agreed to a US-led proposal for 30 days of ceasefire.

If Russia is now suddenly ready to actually join the format of complete and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act in a mirror image, as it will on the Russian side. Silence in response to silence, strikes in defense of strikes, Zelensky said, calling for the Easter truce to be extended to 30 days.

This will show Russias true intentions, because 30 hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance, he said.

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The timing of the announcement also sparked some questions  coming one day after the Trump administration indicated it was running out of patience with Russia and Ukraine, and just hours after Russias Defense Ministry announced its forces had pushed Ukrainian troops from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of (Putins) statements not matching his actions Russia can agree at any time to the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.

Hours after declaring the ceasefire, Putin attended an Orthodox Easter service at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior, alongside the citys mayor Sergei Sobyanin and other worshippers, according to Reuters.

Putin could be seen holding a lit red candle and crossing himself as Patriarch Kirill led the service. Kirill is the head of Russias Orthodox Church, a faithful backer of the Russian leader and an advocate for the war in Ukraine.

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Meanwhile, Zelensky used his Easter address to call on Ukrainians to not lose faith, saying, evil may have its hour, but God will have his day.

May that day come. May evils hour end. May the day of life arrive. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. The day that lasts for centuries. And we will be able to come together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin crosses himself during the celebration of the Orthodox Easter at the Christ The Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on April 20, 2025. - Getty Images

Attacks continue, say Ukrainian officials

In an update Sunday morning, Zelensky said Ukraine had recorded hundreds of instances of Russian shelling since the ceasefire was announced. Between 6 p.m. local time on Saturday and midnight, there were 387 instances of shelling and 19 assaults by Russian forces, he said.

Overall, as of Easter morning we can state that the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine, Zelensky said. Across various front lines, Ukraine said it recorded 59 cases of Russian shelling and five assaults by Russian units.

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Fighting also continued in Russias Kursk and Belgorod regions, where Ukrainian troops have been active, Zelenksy had said earlier.

The head of Khersons regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Saturday evening local time that a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson had caught fire after being struck by drones. Russian drones also attacked the villages of Urozhayne and Stanislav, he said.

The shelling continues and civilians are under attack again, Prokudin said. This is another confirmation that Russia has nothing sacred.

CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

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Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and several other regions soon after Putins announcement. But the Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday it has not reported any aerial threats or missiles since about 10 p.m. Saturday.

Andrii Kovalenko, who heads the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, a government body, said on Telegram at 7 p.m. local time that the Russians continue to fire in all directions. Moscow and Kyiv are currently on the same time.

Ukrainian troops at three separate locations along the front lines told CNN that as of 8 p.m. Saturday, there was no sign of fighting easing.

There have been no pauses in the conflict since Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022.

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The sudden nature of Putins announcement and the short duration of the proposed truce gave Kyiv little room to prepare or maneuver. Many Ukrainian troops participating in ongoing assaults or reconnaissance missions would have been in position already, as any moves are typically made during the night due to the threat from Russian troops.

Ukraine has previously been skeptical about such temporary pauses in conflict, having rejected a temporary ceasefire to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas holiday in January 2023, believing that Russia had ulterior motives in calling for a stop to the fighting, such as using the pause to bring in more troops.

A key moment

Putins announcement comes at a pivotal time for the war.

As well as in Kursk, fighting continues along the eastern front line, which has barely moved in the past three years as neither side has been able to make significant gains.

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While Ukraine has recently managed to push Russian troops back from areas around Toretsk, Russia has been inching forward near Kupyansk, Lyman and Kurakhove, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor.

Separately, the two sides conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges of the conflict on Saturday.

According to Zelensky, 277 captured Ukrainian soldiers were returned home. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had swapped 246 captured Ukrainian soldiers for the same number of Russian troops, and that as a gesture of good will Russia also exchanged 31 wounded Ukrainian troops for 15 wounded Russian servicemen.

As with previous exchanges, the swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

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At the same time, US-led peace efforts are stuttering as Moscow continues to stall, having previously rejected the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US was ready to move on within days from efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, if there were no tangible signs of progress.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin called for an Easter cease-fire in Ukraine this weekend.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian shelling had increased Sunday morning.

Moscow said its forces had observed the terms of the truce and accused Ukraine of violating it.

Russia and Ukraine are pointing fingers over alleged breaches of an Easter weekend cease-fire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

In a post on X, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said early Sunday that Russian forces were "continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine" and that the Russian army was "attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire."

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In a later update, he added that Russian shelling had increased and that Putin's forces had carried out 26 assaults between midnight and noon.

The Russian Ministry of Defense said in a post on Telegram Sunday that all of its forces deployed to the "special military operation zone" had been "strictly observing the state of ceasefire."

The ministry also accused Ukrainian forces of attempting to launch attacks against Russian positions near Sukha Balka and Bahatyr in the eastern Donetsk region of Ukraine overnight.

The ministry said Ukraine had also carried out hundreds of drone strikes and "dropped ammunition" on the Russian regions of Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod.

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Putin on Saturday had called for his forces to cease all military operations from 6 p.m. Moscow time Saturday to midnight Monday, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.

"Guided by humanitarian motives, the Russian side announces an Easter cease-fire," the statement read. "I hereby order all military operations ceased for this period."

It added that Moscow expected Ukraine to follow its example but that Russian forces should be "prepared to repel possible cease-fire violations and provocations by the enemy, as well as any aggressive acts on their part."

In a series of social media updates overnight, Zelenskyy said Russian attacks had not subsided and cast doubt on Moscow's motives for announcing the cease-fire.

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"According to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided. Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow," he wrote on Saturday evening.

On Sunday, Zelenskyy also reiterated his call for the so-called Easter truce to be extended to 30 days, saying the offer "remains on the table" and that Ukraine would "act in accordance with the actual situation on the ground."

It comes after President Donald Trump said Friday that he would "take a pass" on attempting to broker a peace deal between the two sides if "one of the two parties makes it very difficult."

Read the original article on Business Insider
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons, during a Kremlin meeting.

The ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time Saturday until midnight Sunday, coinciding with Easter celebrations, according to the Kremlin.

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin at the Kremlin in Moscow on April 1.

Russias Defense Ministry said afterward that 246 Russian soldiers were also returned from Ukraine to Russia in exchange for 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war, describing the swap as a result of negotiations.

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"As a gesture of goodwill, 31 wounded prisoners of war were handed over in exchange for 15 wounded Russian servicemen requiring urgent medical care," the statement read.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on X that "277 warriors" had returned home from captivity, accompanied by a video of the group, each draped in Ukrainian flags, upon their return.

But signs of continued hostilities quickly cast doubt on the ceasefire's durability.

In a separate post on X, Zelenskyy said air raid alerts were "spreading across Ukraine after Russian attack drones were spotted in Ukrainian air space, and he accused Putin of trying to "play with human lives."

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Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life, he said, referring to the Iranian-made drones. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already started working to defend ourselves."

Putin made the s announcement a day after President Donald Trump said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia were coming to a head.

"If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say youre foolish. You are fools, you horrible people, he said. And were going to just take a pass. But hopefully, we wont have to do that.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio also said Friday that the United States may be ready to move on from its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if there was no clear progress in the coming days.

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We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if its not, then I think were just going to move on, he said.

U.S., Ukrainian and European officials endured a grueling day of talks in Paris as Rubio told reporters that the United States was not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end.

It remains unclear whether the ceasefire is a genuine step toward de-escalation or a strategic pause influenced by mounting international pressure and Trumps rhetoric.

In January 2023, a ceasefire Putin ordered unilaterally to coincide with the start of Orthodox Christmas was rejected by Ukraine and its allies as a cynical move aimed at gaining time on the battlefield and favor with the public.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an "Easter truce" in the war in Ukraine on Saturday, saying that the Russian side will cease military action from 6 p.m. local Saturday night until midnight April 21.

Putin said he assumes that "the Ukrainian side will follow our example," according to a statement on the Kremlin's Telegram channel. But he also says Russia will respond to "violations of the truce and provocations" by Ukraine, the statement said.

In a statement Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not immediately say whether or not Ukraine would agree to the truce, but called the proposal "yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives."

PHOTO: President Vladimir Putin speaks in this video released by the Kremlin on April 19, 2025. (Kremlin Media)

MORE: Trump, Rubio threaten to walk away from Ukraine-Russia peace talks

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In a statement later Saturday, several hours after the truce was to have gone into effect, Zelenskyy said attacks continued in areas inside Russia where Ukrainian troops are fighting, and that artillery could still be heard in some areas of the frontline. However, he also noted "in some areas, the situation has become quieter."

In the statement, just before midnight local time, Zelenskyy continued to push for a 30-day ceasefire proposal previously turned down by Russia.

"The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of attacks, fighting and killings decreased," Zelenskyy said. "The sole cause of this war and of its prolongation lies in Russia."

In a previous statement, Zelenskyy said: "If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20," Zelenskyy said. "That is what will reveal Russias true intentions  because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance."

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The proposed truce comes as U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued holding talks in Paris this week to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Rubio said the talks were "productive" but asserted that the U.S. was willing to move on from the negotiations if they didn't yield results.

"We need to figure out here, now within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," Rubio said on the tarmac as he left France early Friday morning.

Later, at the White House, President Donald Trump echoed Rubio's assertion -- saying that the U.S. would make a determination "very shortly."

In the wake of Rubio's public comments, Moscow signaled it was in no hurry to strike a deal.

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These developments also come as one potential indicator of progress -- a 30-day ceasefire intended to pause strikes on energy infrastructure targetshas expired, with no word from Putin on whether Moscow will restart attacks on those targets.

Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement, which was brokered by the Trump administration last month.

ABC News' Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Shannon Kingston and Fidel Pavlenko contributed to this report.

Putin declares temporary 'Easter truce' in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Russian President Vladimir Putin has unilaterally declared a ceasefire in Ukraine over Easter, the Kremlin's press service said on Saturday.

Earlier, Putin met Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov to be briefed on the situation at the front. The Ministry of Defence in Moscow stated that the ceasefire would be observed by Russian troops on the condition that Ukrainian forces also adhered to it.

"During the meeting at the Kremlin, the commander-in-chief heard a report from Valery Gerasimov, the chief of the general staff of the Russian Armed Forces, about the situation at the contact line and announced that the Russian side would cease all hostilities from 1800 [1500 GMT] on April 19 until 0000 [2100 GMT] on April 21," the Kremlin said.

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At the same time, Putin wished all Russian fighters on the fronts in Ukraine a happy Easter.

The ceasefire covers Easter Sunday, the height of the Christian calendar, which falls on Sunday this year for all Orthodox and Western Christians.

Zelensky reacts sceptically

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed scepticism about the unexpected Easter ceasefire announcement.

"As for Putin's new attempt to play with human lives, air-raid sirens are currently sounding in many parts of Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

Russian combat drones were reportedly sighted in the sky over Ukraine 45 minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Ukraine's air defence had already opened fire.

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"Shahed drones in our sky expose Putin's true attitude towards Easter and human lives," Zelensky criticized.

The president initially did not provide any information on whether Ukraine would also cease fire over Easter.

Background to decision unclear

The Ministry of Defence in Moscow stated that the ceasefire was introduced for humanitarian reasons, but the background to the decision was initially unclear.

Recently, Washington had increased pressure on the warring parties to agree to the early commencement of peace talks.

US President Donald Trump has made it clear that he wants to see rapid progress so that the war in Ukraine finally ends - otherwise, his administration might cease its mediation efforts.

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He said at the White House he wanted to see an agreement "very soon." He did not specify how many days this meant.

Trump stressed that he had no interest in continuing his mediation efforts if both sides were unwilling to compromise. "Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish. You're fools, you're horrible people,' and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that," Trump said.

In recent months, Russian forces have slowly expanded their territorial gains in eastern Ukraine, albeit with heavy losses.

According to the official state news agency TASS, Putin portrayed the development as follows: "The situation at the contact line is clear and is developing in a way that is favourable for us ... The Russian troops are advancing step by step and confidently."

Missile alert in Kiev, drone strikes in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhya

Simultaneously with Putin's announcement of the ceasefire, an alert for a possible missile attack was triggered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.

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There was initially no official response from Ukraine to the announced Easter ceasefire.

According to TASS, Putin said he hoped Ukraine would follow suit and also cease fire. "The reaction of Ukraine will show how seriously it is ready and able to participate in peace talks," Putin reportedly said.

Ahead of the ceasefire declaration, Russian forces launched fresh drone attacks on the eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv overnight, targeting residential areas, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov on Saturday.

No further details were immediately available.

The strike came just a day after a Russian missile attack on the city killed one man and injured at least 50 others.

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Elsewhere, the city of Zaporizhzhya was also hit by a Russian drone during the night. Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov reported the attack on Telegram, saying a fire had broken out and that emergency services were responding.

Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's full-scale invasion with Western support for more than three years.

Moscow and Kiev exchange prisoners of war ahead of Easter

Russia and Ukraine exchanged prisoners of war again on Holy Saturday.

A total of 246 Russian and Ukrainian soldiers returned to their own troops at an unspecified location on the border with Belarus, according to the Ministry of Defence in Moscow.

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"Additionally, as a gesture of goodwill, 31 wounded prisoners of war were exchanged for 15 wounded Russian soldiers who urgently need medical care," the statement said.

The exchange was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

The warring parties have exchanged prisoners of war several times in the more than three years since the start of the full-scale Russian invasion.

According to President Volodymyr Zelensky, 4,552 Ukrainian soldiers have been able to return home in this way.

Just on Good Friday, Ukraine and Russia exchanged hundreds of soldiers' bodies.

The Ukrainian side received 909 bodies, according to the staff responsible for prisoner of war affairs in Kiev. The soldiers were reportedly killed in battles in the regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, Sumy and Kharkiv.

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Some were brought from morgues in Russia.

Ukrainian troops controlled parts of the western Russian border region of Kursk for months.

In return, the Russian side received the remains of 41 of its own soldiers.

The exchange took place under the mediation of the International Red Cross, according to Ukrainian sources.
COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million.

1 /2 COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million.

COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million. The money will go toward the centers expanded emergency department, which will be renamed the Uytengsu Family Emergency Department.

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2 /2 COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million. The money will go toward the centers expanded emergency department, which will be renamed the Uytengsu Family Emergency Department.

COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million.

COURTESY QUEENS MEDICAL CENTER Candice Uytengsu gave The Queens Medical Center what is believed to be the largest donation by a single person at $7.5 million. The money will go toward the centers expanded emergency department, which will be renamed the Uytengsu Family Emergency Department.

The Queens Medical Center announced Friday it received a $7.5 million gift to support the expansion of its emergency department in Honolulu.

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The donation was made by Candice Uytengsu and is believed to be the largest contribution to The Queens Medical Center by one person. In recognition of this contribution, the department will be renamed the Uytengsu Family Emergency Department.

We are extremely grateful for this very generous gift,  said Jason Chang, Queens president and CEO, in a news release. In the spirit of generosity that has sustained Queens since its founding, Candice has made a transformative commitment to support our mission of providing exceptional health care services to Native Hawaiians and all of the people of Hawaii.

In a statement, Uytengsu said, Just as Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV made known in 1859, philanthropy is essential to the hospitals ability to care for our community. It goes without saying that I have the utmost respect for all of the caregivers who strive to provide great care every single day. I hope this gift inspires others to give, knowing that together, we can ensure Queens remains a place of healing for generations to come.

The Queens Punchbowl emergency departmentthe states only Level 1 trauma center and comprehensive stroke centercares for more than 60, 000 patients a year.

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Planned renovations include increasing the number of treatment rooms to 76 from 35, bringing in the latest medical technology and expanding behavioral health services, among other improvements.

Don 't miss out on what 's happening !

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The first phase of the newly expanded emergency department is scheduled to open this summer.

Uytengsu challenges others in the community to make their own donation to support the project.

Queens said donations can be made by phone at 808-691-4994, online at or by mail to The Queens Health Systems Queens Philanthropy, P.O. Box 3445, Honolulu, HI 96801.
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP)  Amid the abandoned chemistry notes and other debris left behind after a deadly shooting at Florida State University are lingering questions about how the stepson of a beloved sheriffs deputy tasked with school safety at a middle school became the accused gunman.

Political science student Phoenix Ikner was a long-standing member of a sheriffs office youth advisory council and was steeped in the family-like culture of the agency. When officers rushed to the universitys student union on reports of gunfire, authorities say it was the 20-year-old who used his stepmothers former service weapon to open fire, killing two men and wounding six others.

As people fled in terror, Ikner was shot and taken into custody. He invoked his right not to speak to investigators, and his motive remains unknown as he lies in a hospital bed.

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The prosecutor's office is weighing possible charges as stories emerge about a darker side. One classmate recalled him being kicked out of a student club over comments that other members found troubling.

This is horrific, Jimmy Williams, the chief of safety for Leon County Schools, said of the shooting. This is a horrible, horrible event.

Williams, who has known Ikners stepmother, Jessica Ikner, for a decade, said the allegations underscore that none of us are immune to tragedy.

Classes and business operations will resume Monday, Florida State announced over the weekend.

I know it wont feel like a normal week," FSU President Richard McCullough said in message to students and employees Saturday. "Its the last one before finals, and many of you are still processing what happened. Please take care of yourself.

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Suspect is the stepson of a beloved deputy

His stepmother, whose own alma mater is Florida State, was reassigned from her position as a school resource officer Friday and granted the personal leave she requested, a sheriffs office spokesperson told The Associated Press.

When the alert went out of an active shooter at Florida State University, Jessica Ikner was on duty around 2 miles (3.2 kilometers) away at Raa Middle School. A sheriffs office spokesperson said Jessica Ikner worked to secure the campus to prevent anyone from entering as Raa went into lockout mode," along with all of the countys public schools. She was practiced at this work.

Last year, she was named an employee of the month by the sheriffs office, where she has worked for 18 years.

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Police said they believed Phoenix Ikner shot the victims using his stepmothers former service handgun, which she had kept for personal use after the force upgraded its weapons.

Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil described Phoenix Ikner on Thursday as having been steeped in the Leon County Sheriffs Office family and engaged in a number of sheriffs office training programs, adding that it wasnt a surprise that he would have access to guns.

There was no record of him having a criminal record. And in Florida, training and a background check are not required to carry concealed guns in public.

Custody disputes and name change in his childhood

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When Ikner was a child, his parents were involved in several custody disputes with his biological mother, court records show.

In 2015, when he was 10, his biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, said she was taking him to South Florida for spring break in 2015 but instead traveled to Norway. After returning to the U.S., she pleaded no contest to removing a minor from the state against a court order and was sentenced to 200 days in jail. She later moved to vacate her plea, but that was denied.

In the fall of that same year, Eriksen filed a civil libel-slander complaint against Jessica Ikner, along with several other family members. The complaint, which was later dismissed, accused them of harassing Eriksen and abusing Ikners position at the sheriffs office.

In 2020, at age 15, the suspect received court approval to change his name from Christian Eriksen to Phoenix Ikner, court documents show. His old name was a constant reminder of a tragedy he suffered, in the words of administrative magistrate James Banks, who approved the request, NBC News reported.

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Banks observed that Ikner was a mentally, emotionally and physically mature young adult who is very articulate and very polite said he chose the new name as a representation of rising from the ashes anew.

Classmate says there were concerns about the accused shooter

Reid Seybold and his classmates were working on a group project in a building located a short, three-minute walk from the student union when someone ran in and warned them about the gunfire. They huddled together, the 22-year-old said, frantically firing off what they thought might be their final text messages to loved ones.

When Seybold found out who the suspect in the shooting was  that it was someone he knows  he was overcome with anger. Seybold was the president of a club that Phoenix Ikner joined when they were both studying at the local community college, now called Tallahassee State College.

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He would complain about Black people pretty regularly, especially when conversations of police brutality would come up, Seybold said.

Seybold said Ikner was known for espousing racist and white supremacist views that so alienated other members that the club asked him to leave the group.

He made people that uncomfortable, said Seybold, who now also is studying political science at Florida State. I personally know him to have complained about how multiculturalism and communism are ruining America.

Pathway to violence

A key part of the investigation will likely focus on what might have led to what experts call the pathway to violence, said Kenneth Trump, president of National School Safety and Security Services, a Cleveland-based consulting firm.

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The question is, what was the motivation, what was the grievance?, said Trump, who wrote the book Practical School Security: Basic Guidelines for Safe and Secure Schools. (He's not related to the U.S. president).

Usually, they build up over time through some type of grievance against people," Trump said. The questions in the upcoming days are, were there warning signs, what were those warnings signs, and if they were there, who knew?

Accused shooter transferred to Florida State from community college

Ikner transferred to Florida State after earning an associate degree at the community college, school officials said.

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He didn't attract the attention of the school paper, other than commenting in a FSU story about a rally on campus against President Donald Trump.

Ikner, a registered Republican, described the protesters as entertaining because Trump was already set to be inaugurated. The comments have since been removed from the story, an editor's note saying the move was to avoid amplifying the voice of an individual responsible for violence.

Before Ikners Instagram was taken down, his bio quoted a verse from the Old Testament book of Jeremiah. Thou art my battle ax and weapons of war: for with thee will I break in pieces the nations, and with thee will I destroy kingdoms, reads Jeremiah 51:20, which scholars have interpreted to depict Gods judgment on Babylon. The empire is a symbol in the Bible of sinfulness and immorality.

Deputy's family has stayed quiet for now

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A Tallahassee Police Department patrol car was stationed Thursday evening near the street where the family lives, blocking reporters from approaching the familys home in a well-kept suburban neighborhood on the citys east side.

Phone messages left for Jessica Ikner at a number listed for her on a school resource website and another phone connected to her through public records were not immediately returned Friday. And a sheriffs office spokeswoman said she is not aware of the family putting out a statement or having a family spokesperson.

The only insight comes from the past statements. Nearly a decade ago, Jessica Ikner wrote a story posted on the Tallahassee Family Magazine website about childrens safety while surfing the internet, including tips to strengthen family bonds.

Build a trusting relationship with your child," she wrote. "Let them know that if they do make a mistake they can still come to you about anything.

___

Hollingsworth reported from Mission, Kansas. Associated Press writers Curt Anderson in Tallahassee, David Fischer and Freida Frisaro in Fort Lauderdale, Stephany Matat in West Palm Beach, Michael Schneider in Orlando, Mike Balsamo in New York, Eric Tucker and Christopher Megerian in Washington, John Seewer in Toledo, Ohio, and Jeff Martin in Atlanta contributed.
Dear Rep. Mike Osburn,

As an Oklahoman with a full-time job and a family, I do not track every resolution, proclamation and bill presented before our House. I have mistakenly trusted my elected officials to act in the best interests of Oklahoma and its citizens.

It is important for me to communicate to you:

1. I live in your district.

2. I am Jewish, married to a Jewish man, with three Jewish children. Four out of five of us are registered Oklahoma voters. The fifth will be in two years when she turns 18.

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3. I am a rabbi serving the second-largest Jewish congregation in the state, the largest in Oklahoma City.

I am religiously trained to give people the benefit of the doubt and to seek to understand. I am struggling with those principles at this moment, but will attempt to follow them in the hopes you will consider my perspective.

More: Jesus has been betrayed again. This time by Oklahoma legislators | Opinion

I am deeply offended by House Concurrent Resolution 1013, a resolution that it appears you voted for. I have read the resolution. I see that it specifically proclaims that "Christ is King" on behalf of the Oklahoma Legislature, a body that represents ALL Oklahomans.

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There is a basic and exclusionary disconnect between the universal "WHEREAS, the State of Oklahoma has a rich history rooted in faith, resilience, and a commitment to values that uplift its people;" and the particularism of "WHEREAS, this proclamation serves as an expression of gratitude for the blessings bestowed upon the State of Oklahoma and as a recognition of the enduring influence of Christian faith in the lives of its people."

More: An ancient tradition in the Jewish faith community looks different in 2025. Here's why

As non-Christian clergy, I regularly meet former Christians with painful stories about Christian church upbringings that nearly destroyed them. I know very few Jewish people who have not been told that we will burn in hell because we are not Christian.

I have been dismissed by at least two Oklahoma Christian preachers because my six years of graduate school studying Bible and religion are not "faithful"  in other words: Understanding God is as simple as reading their version of the Bible. They are, as the proclamation says, free to hold and express their deeply held beliefs. However, these same pastors think Christianity and Judaism share "Judeo-Christian" values. From a Jewish perspective, approaching religious leadership without comprehensive learning is a disgrace to the brains God has given us. Unfortunately, it is also an example of the outright dangerous ways Christianity is being taught and practiced in Oklahoma; the same Christianity your proclamation extols as a blessing.

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Perhaps this proclamation was not vetted by non-Christian Oklahomans, and that is one improvement that could be made in the future. I have Jewish people in my community whose ancestors arrived before statehood. Temple B'nai Israel is not the first Jewish house of worship founded in Oklahoma, but we were founded in 1903 and are the oldest continually operating Jewish house of worship in the state. Examine business, science, medicine, education, the arts and philanthropy in Oklahoma and you will find Jewish people have been significant in the building of this state  all without Jesus as our King or moral guide. Having non-Christian eyes read something like this proclamation could assist with making a positive statement about Christianity or faith in our state without offending and dismissing those who do not follow it.

Yes, I see the words written to protect the resolution in the eyes of the law, that it "is not intended to establish any religion or infringe upon the rights of any individual..." Just because something is legal, does not make it morally right.

Voting for this resolution was within your legal rights, but good grief: At its most basic level, it is rude and disrespectful to the people in this state whose non-Christian beliefs have shaped our community, society and the state.

I know it is unreasonable to expect an apology for asserting your faith is somehow superior or more noteworthy than minority religions in this state. At the least, I hope for an acknowledgment that the wording of this proclamation fails to be supportive of all Oklahomans, and it disregards the damage done to Oklahomans in the name of Christianity.

Rabbi Vered L. Harris

Rabbi Vered L. Harris was ordained in 2000 and holds a masters degree in Jewish education and a masters degree in Hebrew letters. She served for 12 years as a congregational educator in Overland Park, Kansas, before moving to Oklahoma City in 2012 to serve as the spiritual leader of Temple Bnai Israel.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKC rabbi: 'Christ is King' resolution is deeply offensive
The Spotsylvania County School Board meeting on Monday involved no high-profile decisions. But chaos still broke out, again highlighting problems among members.

The meeting started on a rocky note and nearly spiraled out of control before the board chair made the move to stop public comment time so the board could address its agenda.

Nearly half of the four-plus-hour meeting was consumed by arguments over a personnel hiring package and actions of audience members. Another argument broke out during public comment time after a board member and resident started arguing.

The board held a closed session to start the meeting as board members discussed the school systems personnel packet, which included potential staff hires.

In open session, the board initially argued over discussing closed session matters, with board member Nicole Cole (Battlefield District) moving to stop the discussion. That measure eventually failed on a board vote.

School board member April Gillespie (Berkeley) said she was glad the hiring process now includes criminal backgrounds and sex offender status, which hadnt been the case before.

Gillespie then criticized the employee packet, which she said included candidates with heinous criminal records. She also said one candidate seemed like they might have covered up criminal activity using school system property.

She said childrens safety and taxpayer dollars are at risk if the personnel packet was approved.

Board member Carol Medawar (Courtland) said the school system has an intense hiring process that prevents unfit people from being employed.

Members Cole and Lorita Daniels (Salem) were agitated by Gillespies comments, and they defended Superintendent Clint Mitchells work since he started the job in August.

Cole said she tried to prevent the discussion because what was said is not true. She said it was unfair for the school systems process to be undermined.

Daniels said she was appalled by the accusations and that she would not be on the board if the comments were true.

Board member Belen Rodas (Chancellor) also praised Mitchell as well as the school systems human resources staff.

Board Chair Megan Jackson (Livingston) added that since Mitchells hiring they have made strides in hiring staff. She emphasized that school officials are doing our due diligence when it comes to hiring staff.

The motion to approve the personnel packet passed 5-2, with Lisa Phelps (Lee Hill) and Gillespie dissenting.

In a moment that almost lightened the mood, Mitchell garnered backing from District 65 Del. Joshua Cole, who invited the superintendent to the dais so he could present an award to Mitchell and pose for photos.

Cole said a measure he introduced and was passed by the House of Delegates celebrated Mitchells work as the countys first African-American superintendent with the award presented by the first African American representative from Spotsylvania County.

Coles presentation was interrupted by an audience member, Roy Searles, who was told by the board chair Jackson he would be asked to leave if he had another outburst.

The opening portion of the meeting seemed like childs play compared to what followed.

When Superintendent Mitchell gave his regular meeting comments, he stood at the dais and addressed last weeks issues involving a third-grade Lee Hill Elementary student who brought a gun in his backpack that discharged in a classroom and a separate case in which three teenagers were killed during a gun-deal gone bad in Spotsylvania. Some of those involved in the shooting had been enrolled in county schools.

Mitchell said this has been a very difficult week for Spotsylvania residents.

The superintendent said much has already been done regarding school safety, adding that school leaders will continue to look for ways to improve.

He also criticized the parents of the child for not securing the firearm.

As the superintendent spoke a man and woman in the audience behind him made distracting gestures, which later drew a harsh, emotional rebuke from School Board Chair Megan Jackson (Livingston).

At one point the superintendent turned around to tell audience members to be quiet while he spoke.

Otherwise, Mitchell brushed off the interruptions as he spoke about the incidents, which he said created fear in the community.

He praised school staff at Lee Hill Elementary for handling the gunfire incident and for keeping our children safe.

He also thanked parents who praised the staff for their work, along with those who criticized the school system, because he said that can also lead to improvements.

He emphasized that our schools remain safe, highlighting the secure facility entries and other measures, including new high-tech scanners at the countys high schools.

During public comment time, three speakers took aim at Mitchell and specific school board members.

One speaker was Shamgar Connors, a Stafford County resident who was making gestures behind Mitchell as the superintendent spoke earlier in the meeting.

Connors is well-known to the board as a regular speaker who dresses in costumes and makes vague, odd and satirical comments aimed at the woke school board.

On Monday, Connors was dressed as Sherlock Holmes and criticized what he called the school systems DEI hiring practices and said Mitchell sees racism everywhere.

Another speaker, a young woman who also made gestures behind Mitchell as he spoke earlier, criticized the board, with the exception of Gillespie and Phelps, for failing to keep the schools safe.

They were followed by Searles, a vocal critic also well-known to the board.

He mocked Mitchell receiving the award earlier while numerous violent incidents involving or against students or former students happened under his regime.

Moe Petway, a local advocate and president of the Spotsylvania NAACP chapter, followed those speakers, who are white, saying that is what racism looks like.

As public comment time continued, a woman who said her friends child died in last weeks shooting, criticized the residents in the crowd for making gestures while that incident was discussed.

She also singled out Phelps and Gillespie, saying both smirked while Mitchell spoke about the deadly shootout.

Phelps interjected, saying the woman was attacking her and her children, which was not the case.

Board Chair Jackson interrupted Phelps, angrily chastising the Lee Hill representative for replying during public comment period, something board members arent supposed to do.

Jacson then paused the meeting.

Upon the boards return, Jackson ended public comment time.

The school board then carried on with the meeting, which lasted close to another two hours.
NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Rain and snow move through New Mexico Saturday. Warmer and drier weather returns Sunday.

High winds Friday afternoon are again bringing in dust storm conditions across southern New Mexico, with wind gusts up to 55 mph. Meanwhile, rain and snow have been moving into west-central, northwest, and northern New Mexico this afternoon. Thats where temperatures are much cooler today, sitting in the 30s in Gallup, while southeast New Mexico is up into the 80s.

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The winds will settle down tonight, but rain and snow will continue to move into the state from the west. A strong cold front will also be moving in from the northeast, bringing in a gusty east canyon wind into the Albuquerque Metro tonight. It will die down Saturday morning, though. More rain and snow will be moving across New Mexico by Saturday morning. This storm will bring a good chance for rain to western, central, and northern New Mexico through Saturday, including a good chance for rain in the Albuquerque Metro on Saturday. The rain will mix with snow in elevations down to 6,500 as temperatures will be much colder Saturday as well. Any kind of travel impacts should be limited to areas above 7,000.

Drier weather will return to all of New Mexico by Sunday morning, but it will be a cold start to the day! A Freeze Watch is in effect for the Albuquerque Metro on Sunday morning, where low temperatures will get down to around freezing. More seasonable weather moves in by the afternoon, though with highs back to around average and sunny and calm conditions.

Warm temperatures will stick around every day next week, with dry conditions in the western half of the state. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will work its way into eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, bringing daily, isolated thunderstorm chances through the end of next week.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Hundreds of people protested at Michigans Capitol in Lansing today as part of the Rally for Freedom.

(WLNS)

Stand Against Extremism LivCo (SAGE) says the event is being held in solidarity with the 50501 protests.

50501 is a nationwide movement protesting many of the Trump administrations policies.

The event will be held from 12:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

April 19, 2025, is the 250th anniversary of the American Revolutionary War, specifically highlighted in virtual protest flyers. SAGE uses slogans such as Protect Democracy and Liberty Now in a Facebook post to promote the event.

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SAGE clarifies that they are not leading this action, simply coordinating attendance.

Were trying to get 3.5% of the United States population into the streets regularly so that we can bring about change, said a protester who wished to remain anonymous. And so, we want Liberty now.

Danielle Hoard says she attended the protest to fight for the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

She says her family has a genetic disorder called CDH-1, which is a type of hereditary stomach cancer. The NIH researches this rare form of cancer.

Theres no more funding left for this kind of research. They already werent getting a lot of research for this specific disorder. It hurts everyday people. Like for example, my family with this genetic condition, said Hoard.

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Marlana Bernheisel says that as a veteran and a federal employee, shes worried that the DOGE federal cuts will harm Veterans Affairs.

People dont realize how much Veterans services are affected by what hes doing. You might say that yes, were cutting the fat, but effectively what theyre doing is just cutting people who determine veterans benefits and compensations, said Bernheisel.

Pharrah Anderson says shes protesting against the current administration, specifically the U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

She says she doesnt like his rhetoric towards people on the autism spectrum.

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I myself am on the spectrum. I am not a detriment to society, but I am a bone to society, said Anderson.

President Trump has been criticized for imposing a baseline 10% tariff on imported goods and increasing deportation efforts.

DOJ says it will appeal decision to bring wrongly deported man back to U.S.

International students from across the country have had their travel visas revoked by the U.S. Department of State, including several at Michigan State University.

MSU international students worry about revoked visas

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
Ramsey County has agreed to pay $3.6 million to settle a familys lawsuit after a 37-year-old man with hemophilia died following his 2022 arrest in St. Paul.

The lawsuit alleged that the county and four correctional officers violated Dillon Dean Bakkes right to adequate medical treatment under the Fourteenth Amendment. The lawsuit was brought by the law firm Meshbesher and Student P.A. on behalf of Bakkes mother, Teresa Marie Schnell of St. Paul.

According to court documents, Bakke, a graphic designer, caregiver at a long-term care facility and severe hemophiliac, was arrested by St. Paul police officers on suspicion of drug possession and taken to Ramsey County jail on Aug. 7, 2022.

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When he was booked, he had a laceration on his forehead and extensive bruising on his body. Court documents allege that jail staff was aware Bakke suffered from hemophilia and needed prescription clotting medication at any signs of bodily injuries.

Despite this, attorneys alleged, he did not receive the medication or any medical treatment.

The lawsuit alleges that during Dillons three-day detainment at the jail, he suffered a medical emergency, specifically a brain bleed with corresponding serious and obvious neurological symptoms, the law firm said in announcing the settlement.

Bakkes condition was ignored and he was denied medical treatment for 30 hours, the firm said.

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On the morning he was to be released from custody, jail staff found him unresponsive on the floor of his cell. Dillon was transported to Regions Hospital where, despite the heroic efforts of his doctors and nurses, he never regained consciousness and tragically passed away on August 27, the attorneys said.

Bakke began displaying neurological signs and symptoms on Aug. 7 and began vocally and continually complaining about severe pain, the lawsuit says. His condition deteriorated overnight and into the early morning hours of Aug. 8, at which point he was unable to stand or walk, and was yelling out in pain and yelling for his mother.

According to the lawsuit, correctional officers Xue Yang, Alex Grundhofer, Scott Brommerich and Antonio Rulli went to Bakkes jail cell, handcuffed him and carried him to a cell in the segregation unit, where they laid him down and left without reporting his condition to medical personnel or requesting medical treatment.

County response

In response to the settlement, a spokesman for Ramsey County said that the correctional staff notified medical personnel about Bakkes condition on multiple occasions during this time in custody.

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The countys public health staff oversees all medical care in the jail, Ramsey County Sheriffs spokesman Steve Linders said.

Public Health staff working in the Adult Detention Center are not supervised by the Ramsey County Sheriffs Office. Their training, supervision and medical decisions are the responsibility of Public Health leadership, he said. During Dillion Bakkes time in custody, correctional staff promptly notified medical personnel on multiple occasions.

Linders said that each time medical personnel were notified, Bakkes condition was assessed by public health staff.

Our sympathies are with Mr. Bakkes family, he said. Everyone deserves competent medical care in jail.

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The settlement is one of the largest of its kind in Minnesota, according to Meshbesher and Student.

The lawsuit in Bakkes death followed a $3 million settlement in June 2023 involving another alleged case of inmate mistreatment and medical neglect at the Ramsey County jail. In that case, a woman said correctional officers tackled her to the ground when she was handcuffed with her arms behind her back. Her tibia was fractured and an artery was severed, but she wasnt taken for medical treatment for 17 hours, according to her lawsuit.

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CHEYENNE  Cheyennes Ranch Eats food truck business will be opening its first brick-and-mortar location downtown this summer in the City Center Building in the space formerly occupied by Ziggis Coffee.

The eatery will continue to operate its food trucks throughout the area and offer some different breakfast and lunch options at the new location, 1920 Thomes Ave.

We started with one employee, and were up to 15 full-time employees, said co-owner and founder Troy Strand. We were just looking for essentially another opportunity. And instead of another food truck, we decided to jump on the brick-and-mortar piece and do a cafe.

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Strand began operating the food trucks in 2022 and runs the business with his wife, Mikaela.

This is not their first stint in operating physical restaurants, however. The pair ran two restaurants in Wisconsin before selling those and getting into corporate food service. The Strands moved to Cheyenne around 10 years ago to work for Cheyenne Regional Medical Center, where Troy Strand worked as the executive chef and operations manager. After about six years, he was called back to the business of running his own restaurant again.

I just kind of got the itch to do my own thing again and go back to, not necessarily a restaurant, but a food truck, he said. The food truck scene was just starting to get going in Cheyenne six or seven years ago. So, we decided to just take a jump and purchased our first food truck from Orlando, Florida, and drove down to get it and drove it back, and (weve) just slowly been building from there.

Now, the company operates two food trucks that run throughout southeast Wyoming and northern Colorado. Troy Strand said they are currently working on getting certified to expand to Nebraska as well.

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Mikaela Strand said she is excited to get to work designing and theming the new physical location, offering a new twist. It will have a slightly different menu from what can be found at the food truck and feature a cowboy-alien theme.

I think its fun and its different, she said. I wanted something unique. Where we are, its all Western stuff. But Im like, How can we make it different and stand out from the normal Western thing?

Troy Strand said the restaurant, like the food truck, will focus on serving meals using locally sourced food. This includes ice cream from Josies Creamery out of Burns, a microgreens company from Glendo and using local beef.

Consistent, quality food is hard to find in Cheyenne, and weve been successful in the trucks doing it, so why not give it a whirl in a physical location? he said.

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The former Ziggis location operated a walk-up window facing Thomes Avenue, and Troy Strand said Ranch Eats will continue to use that for take-out orders. Inside, he said there will be around 15 seats for dine-in patrons.

He said he hopes this will offer another option for Cheyenne residents and visitors to consider dining locally.

Take that extra minute to support local, and next time you want to go through a drive-thru, swing by the walk-up window, or jump on Facebook for two seconds and see where a local food truck is and go out and support them. It goes a long way, he said. And when you do it once, youre hooked.

Troy Strand said the restaurant environment in Cheyenne is similar to where he and Mikaela worked in Wisconsin in that people are always looking for value in their meals. While local restaurants may be slightly more expensive than corporate fast-food chains, he said most people can get two meals out of what they serve at a higher quality.

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In addition to the new physical location and continuing to operate the food trucks, Ranch Eats will also continue its delivery and catering services. Currently, the business delivers around 200 meals per week across the area from Pine Bluffs to Wellington, Colorado.

Ranch Eats also offers franchising options, according to its website, and is a member of the Greater Cheyenne Chamber of Commerce, the Laramie Chamber Business Alliance and the Wellington Area Chamber of Commerce.

To support them, the Strands work with staff that includes a head chef, a catering chef, and theyre now looking to hire a pastry chef to make pastries from scratch at the new location.

All of this would not be possible without the staff that we have, Mikaela Strand said. Were a family, you know.

The physical restaurant is set to have a soft opening in late May and kick into full gear in June. It will operate Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  A busy travel week is coming to an end as spring breakers make their return to Rochester.

Also coming to an end  is plane travel without the need for a REAL ID.

As the deadline quickly approaches, News 8s Andrew Banas explains there are some things you will need to be cautious of.

By now, many are aware of the need to have your REAL ID secured by the May 7 deadline. What you might now be aware of is the Better Business Bureaus warning that you could be targeted by scammers if you dont have it yet.

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With less than 20 days to go, are you ready? Beth Dove is.

I got it when it first came out, she told News 8. It was no trouble to get it.

But thousands  are not.

News 8s Andrew Banas: Have you gotten your REAL ID yet?

Maria Keller: Whats that?

Keller and her family just got back from Florida. Its an annual trip, and next time they go, theyll need it.

Starting May 7, REAL IDs will be required to fly domestically. A US Passport will also grant you access aboard a plane. There is no cost to upgrade your license to a REAL ID, but there is a time crunch.

Bernard Streb flies to visit family frequently. He knows he needs to get his quickly or he wont be able to anymore. The Better Business Bureau said hes exactly the kind of person scammers target.

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According to the BBB, imposters will pose as government employees to gain access to peoples bank accounts, warning them about the upcoming deadline, or claiming there is an issue with their status.

Thats scary, Keller said. I guess before you go and do and do anything, you make sure its a legit text or website.

Keller said that makers her nervous. But the BBB explains that no government agency will reach out to you directly about your REAL ID. Any caller making that claim isnt who they say they are. And Keller insists, shell be ready for their next trip.

News 8s Andrew Banas: When you do plan that next one, what are you going to make sure you have?

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Keller: My REAL ID!

For more information on securing a REAL ID, click here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
The timing, the brevity, the sudden, unilateral nature of it all. If Ukraines allies needed proof of Moscows wild cynicism when it comes to peace, the announcement of an immediate truce for Easter provided just that.

It came mere hours after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his boss President Donald Trump said they would need in the coming days an urgent sign that the Kremlin was serious about peace.

For Russias proponents, Russian President Vladimir Putins announcement on Saturday looked like a nod to Trump  but the sudden declaration is so riddled with practical flaws, before it even gets out of the box, that it is likely to be simply used by Putin to support his false notion Kyiv does not want his war to stop.

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It will be a logistical nightmare for Ukraines forces to suddenly, immediately stop fighting at Putins behest. Some frontline positions may be in the middle of fierce clashes when this order comes through, and a cessation of this nature likely requires days of preparation and readiness.

Misinformation is bound to confuse troops about the truces implementation, how to report or respond to violations, and even what to do when it comes to an end.

It is possible this moment will prove a rare sign that both sides can stop violence for a short period. But it is significantly more likely they will both use violations and confusion to show their opponent cannot be trusted. As of Saturday evening local time, Ukrainian officials said Russian strikes had continued in frontline areas.

The ongoing 30-day truce limited to energy infrastructure was born in conditions of complete chaos. The White House announced that energy and infrastructure were covered, the Kremlin said theyd immediately stopped attacks on energy infrastructure, and Ukraine said the truce started a week later than the Kremlin did. Its execution has been equally mired in mistrust and accusations of breaches.

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Moscow made a similar unilateral declaration in January 2023, calling for a day of peace to allow Orthodox Christians to observe Christmas  a move that Kyiv and Western leaders dismissed at the time as a strategic pause for military purposes.

A genuine truce requires negotiation with your opponent, and preparations for it to take hold. The sudden rush of this seems designed entirely to placate White House demands for some sign that Russia is willing to stop fighting. It will likely feed Trumps at-times pro-Moscow framing of the conflict. It may also cause complexities for Ukraine when they are inevitably accused of violating what Washington may consider to be a goodwill gesture by Moscow.

Ultimately, this brief, likely theoretical, probably rhetorical and entirely unilateral stop to a three-year war is likely to do more damage to the role of diplomacy in the coming months than it does to support it.

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History is written on the flood wall that protects St. Pauls low-lying West Side from the Mississippi River.

Just east of the Robert Street Bridge, a thin black line marks the crest of the highest flood on record in the Saintly City, which topped out at 26.4 feet in April 1965.

Floodwaters raged along roughly 100 miles of the Mississippi that spring, causing $225 million in damage and more than a dozen deaths, according to the National Weather Service.

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President Lyndon Johnson even flew out from Washington, D.C., to survey the destruction and pledge all necessary assistance to flood-ravaged communities.

But despite this unprecedented deluge, St. Paul fared better than it had during earlier floods. The worst of the damage was contained primarily to Lowertown and the areas along Shepard Road, which was under several feet of water.

Fewer than 100 Ramsey County families registered for Red Cross assistance, the Pioneer Press reported.

The citys new flood defenses  completed only the year before  narrowly saved it from a greater disaster.

Memories of 1952

Memories of the most destructive flood in St. Pauls history were still fresh when the river started to rise in spring 1965.

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The flood of 1952 had caused $7 million in damage to St. Paul and South St. Paul  more than $84 million in todays dollars. It was also blamed for two deaths in the metro.

Floodwaters pushed at least 14 blocks into the West Side Flats neighborhood across from downtown and breached the sandbag dike that protected Little Italy just downriver of the High Bridge.

About 1,135 homes were damaged in St. Paul, and more than 5,000 people were displaced, according to Pioneer Press reports.

Flood-idled factories and packing plants tallied millions of dollars in lost production and were forced to lay off workers. The state reported that 2,500 St. Paulites filed for flood-related unemployment assistance by the time the water crested at a record-breaking 22.2 feet on April 16.

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In the years that followed, the St. Paul Port Authority forced residents out of flood-ravaged neighborhoods and demolished their houses. The West Side Flats were turned into an industrial park, while Little Italy became a scrap yard.

Only then did city officials begin building a three-mile flood wall to protect the West Side from future floods, which felt like a slap in the face to the people who once lived there, according to longtime resident Gilbert de la O, who died in 2022.

They built the flood wall after we moved out, he told the Pioneer Press in 2016. Why didnt they build it while we lived there?

The project was completed in 1964  just in time, as it turned out.

I dont know if were going to make it

The Mississippi River watershed was hit with several winter storms in March 1965, and cold temperatures held the resulting snowpack in place through the month, according to the National Weather Service. As the weather began to warm in early April, the area saw a series of heavy rain showers.

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An unusually deep frost that winter had hardened the surrounding earth, leaving the the torrent of melting snow and rainwater with nowhere to go but into the river.

The Mississippi reached flood stage  14 feet  at St. Paul on April 10, prompting Mayor George Vavoulis to declare a state of emergency, warning curious residents to avoid the river.

We do not want tourists who have come to see how high the river is, he said. Our men will be busy protecting the city, and sightseers will just add congestion to streets that will be in use by trucks and vehicles fighting the flood.

In South St. Paul, the citys stockyards were scrambling to build up the earthen dikes that protected their property, hauling in dump trucks full of dirt.

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I dont know if were going to make it, one dump truck driver told the St. Paul Dispatch. Its gonna be nip and tuck.

By April 12, the floodwaters had already reached nearly 23 feet in the city, sweeping away the record set in 1952. Forecasters warned that the river could crest at 27 feet  just one foot lower than the top of the flood wall.

High-water mark

President Lyndon Johnson arrived in the Twin Cities on April 14, as floodwaters approached 25 feet and began washing away entire houses in the small riverside community of Lilydale.

Johnsons visit was just one stop on a tour of cities along the course of the Mississippi  many of which were seeing far more destruction than St. Paul.

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I pledge to you that we will do all we can as promptly, as efficiently and as usefully as possible to render the maximum assistance allowed under our federal laws, Johnson said.

Donations also poured in to a flood relief fund established by the Pioneer Press and Dispatch newspapers, exceeding $30,000 by the time the waters began to recede.

The river crested on April 16 at 26.4 feet in St. Paul, setting a record that remains intact 60 years later. Dozens of other records set by the 1965 flood still stand in downstream cities, which bore the brunt of the Mississippis destructive force that year.

St. Pauls ordeal was far from over, though, as NWS flood specialist Joseph Strub warned the next day.

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This isnt the end, but really just the beginning, he told the Pioneer Press. The dikes still have to be maintained and people have to be vigilant. The river is going to go down very slowly.

It would be another five days before the Mississippi in St. Paul dipped below the previous record crest of 22.2 feet set in 1952. It finally fell below flood stage on May 2.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Starting next fall, even more students will be able to attend Portlands Reed College tuition-free, making education more accessible with the expansion of their Reed Promise initiative.

The Southeast Portland liberal arts college originally announced the launch of the Reed Promise program in Dec. 2024, offering tuition-free education for newly admitted students from Oregon and Washington from families who earn under $100,000 per year.

Transfer students from the United States are also eligible for the program.

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TriMet warns of drastic service cuts without funding boost in Oregon transportation package

But beginning in Fall 2026, the college says students from anywhere in the United States who fall under those parameters will qualify for the program.

Further, 90% of students from families earning less than $125,000 will also qualify for free tuition.

According to the school, the program and its current expansion aim to eliminate financial barriers that may have prevented potential students from applying or attending Reed to begin with.

At Reed, we believe in the power of higher education to change lives, said Reed College President Audrey Bilger. We like to say, the world needs more Reedies. By expanding the Reed Promise nationwide, we will be able to transform even more lives and provide greater access to our vibrant academic program and to our intellectually curious and creative community.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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The White House slammed the flood of lawsuits against its deportation agenda following a Supreme Court ruling that will temporarily block its efforts to deport Venezuelan nationals in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act.

The rebuke of the litigation  and the Trump administrations claims that it is following the rule of law  comes amid an onslaught of criticism from Democrats and legal experts who have blasted President Donald Trump for igniting what they have described as a growing constitutional crisis that threatens the due process of immigrants across the country.

We are confident in the lawfulness of the Administration's actions and in ultimately prevailing against an onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of terrorist aliens than those of the American people," White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt told POLITICO in a statement.

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The statement was issued more than 12 hours after a remarkable loss for the administration in front of the nations highest court. In an apparent 7-2 decision, the Supreme Court ordered the administration to pause any plans to deport a group of Venezuelan men in north Texas, following a mad dash by the ACLU to prevent what it was calling a violation of due process for immigrants receiving notice of their imminent removal. Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented.

The ruling from the Supreme Court was astonishing, coming in the early morning Saturday, mere hours after a challenge was filed by attorneys representing the migrants. It came so quickly that some lower courts had not yet ruled and the government had not even submitted a response to the Supreme Court  and so fast that Alitos statement dissenting from the decision was only noted as to follow, having still not yet been released as of Saturday afternoon.

Shortly after the White House's statement, the Justice Department submitted a response to what it called an "unprecedented injunction" from the high court. The DOJ emphasized that an appeals court early Saturday morning rejected a motion from the ACLU as premature, and that the group of immigrants in north Texas had not yet been certified as a class.

The response, penned by Solicitor General D. John Sauer, asks the court to, at a minimum, clarify that its order does not preclude the administration from deporting the Venezuelan detainees in Texas under other authorities beyond the AEA.

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Several Democrats called the decision a win, saying the high court stopped illegal deportations and what Illinois Rep. Delia Ramirez called an out of control Trump administration from removing immigrants with potentially less than 24 hours notice.

These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt told POLITICO Saturday. We are relieved that the Supreme Court has not permitted the administration to whisk them away the way others were just last month.

The ruling is the latest influencing a growing battle between Democrats and Republicans on how the Trump administration will enforce court orders and the rule of law.

Trump has increasingly taken shots at lower court judges for issuing nationwide stops on his immigration agenda. He launched personal attacks on U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg  who ordered the administration to turn around planes during the first AEA deportations in March, which the administration ignored  and at appeals court judges who have further blocked the administrations policy.

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Leavitts Saturday afternoon statement did not target any Supreme Court justice, although Trump has criticized them in the past when they ruled against him. While only Alito and Thomas publicly noted how they ruled in the decision, it is possible, if not likely, that all three of the presidents picks on the court from his first term ruled against him here: Brett Kavanaugh, Neil Gorsuch and Amy Coney Barrett.

Notably, many of Trumps normally verbose cadre of communication staffers have not weighed in on the ruling on social media. But a post on Saturday from the White House liaison for the Department of Homeland Security, Paul Ingrassia, dressed down the U.S. judicial system, claiming the high court is actively working against the president and is infected with a parasitical ideology that denies reason and common sense.

The judges in law courts today, including the majority in the nations Highest Court, have absolutely no understanding of law and its proper function and role, Ingrassia wrote, taking a shot at the Supreme Courts conservative, Trump-appointed justices.

Democrats and legal experts have accused the administration of violating the rule of law by defying an earlier Supreme Court order to facilitate the return of illegally deported Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia, and the district court order to turn around deportation flights in March.

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The administration said in court filings that Abrego Garcias deportation was an administrative error, as he had an active court order barring his removal to El Salvador for fear of persecution. Trump and his top advisers have been clear that they believe Abrego Garcia will remain in El Salvador.

Top Trump officials slammed Democrats this week for coming to Abrego Garcias defense, branding Democrats as backing an alleged MS-13 gang member while Trump platforms families whove suffered violence by undocumented immigrants. A federal judge has previously said the governments evidence that he is a gang member is flimsy.

If he tattoos like MS-13, beats women like MS-13, and tramples the law like MS-13THEN HES PROBABLY MS-13, the White House posted on X on Saturday. Other accounts connected to Trump, including Trumps War Room, are coalescing around one message: DeMS-13.

After Saturdays early morning ruling, some avid Trump supporters are questioning whether the administration should follow Supreme Court orders and allow immigrants to face individual trials. An April 7 Supreme Court ruling that vacated the lower courts block on deportations under the AEA said that all immigrants accused of being an alien enemy must be given notice and reasonable time to challenge their deportation in court.

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But Trump backer and billionaire Bill Ackman posted that having courts individually try the cases of millions of immigrants will cause the country to lose the values our democratic system was intended to preserve.

This is the hard truth, Elon Musk  the billionaire Tesla CEO and special adviser to Trump  posted on X, agreeing with Ackman. Some members of Congress have also reposted Ackmans assertion.

Top Trump adviser Stephen Miller cast doubt on Saturday on what that due process looks like for these migrants under the second Trump administration, while reposting others questioning how judges can shut down what they have called Trumps election mandate to enact deportations.

We live in a society where foreign alien terrorists have unlimited free legal representation, Miller wrote on X. But Americans whose communities have been stolen from them are left without recourse. We are rebalancing the scales.

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Trump stated previously that he does intend to follow court orders, but he has also pushed back at how much authority the courts have over his executive power on immigration. His administration has argued the courts cannot compel him in the foreign policy sphere.

"We're getting them out. And that's why I was elected. A judge wasn't elected to do that  I was elected to do that. And we're doing it in record fashion, Trump told reporters on Friday.
A former Baltimore police officer is set to trade in his badge and gun for an orange jumpsuit. A jury determined he used his job as a daycare van driver to do some really disturbing, nasty stuff toward the children. Brace yourself for the details.

James Weems Jr. used to work as a van driver for his ex-wifes daycare, Lil Kidz Kastle, located in Owing Mills back in 2022, per court records. However, prosecutors say Weems had a pornography problem, so much so that they claimed he would wait to pick up the children by watching videos of older men having sex with younger looking girls, per CBS report.

Authorities claim Weems continued watching even while taking the kids to school. In one instance, a 10-year-old went home with pornography on her tablet, telling her family Mr. James showed it to her, according to court testimony. In addition to this, he was accused of making slow advances toward the girl such as giving her special treatment and snacks.

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Following this incident, he was also suspected of sexually abusing two other children. Weems was arrested in July of 2022.

Meanwhile, his ex-wife, Shanteari Young, was also arrested at that time for shooting him in a Washington, D.C. hotel after confronting him about the allegations.

Screenshot: WBAL-TV

In November of 2024, Weems went to trial, admitting to watching porn around the children but denying the allegation of showing it to them or abusing them. Nevertheless, he was convicted of rape, sexual abuse of a minor and showing obscene matter to a minor, per WBAL-TV. Monday, April 14, the court sentenced the ex-cop to life in prison.

His wife is serving a four-year prison sentence after being convicted for shooting him. Shes expected to be released by December 2026, per the CBS report.

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Thirty years ago on April 19, 168 people were killed and hundreds more suffered injuries in the Oklahoma City bombing  still the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in the history of the United States.

Their stories are preserved and honored by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which pays homage to the victims by commemorating their lives and legacies while centering its mission around educational initiatives against violence.

"The memorial museum was created to remember and teach the brutality of the attack and the tenderness of the response. It's about teaching the story of the senselessness of violence," said Kari Watkins, the CEO of the museum. "We average about half a million visitors a year, and we work to teach those people to meet the people who were impacted, those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. It helps us keep this story relevant and alive."

Visitors look at the faces of the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum on June 11, 2001. / Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The 1995 attack targeted a federal building, and most of the people killed worked for the U.S. government. Lucio Aleman, Jr., a safety engineer with the Federal Highway Administration and father of two, was 33 when he died in the bombing. His biography appears on the memorial museum's website alongside the other victims.

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Beside Aleman's photograph is one of Teresa Alexander, also 33, who had three children and worked multiple full-time jobs, including as a nurse's assistant, a role in which those who knew her said she "enjoyed doing the little extras for patients." Alexander was visiting the building to pick up her son's Social Security card when it was bombed, according to the museum.

Scrolling farther down the webpage reveals a sea of names and faces, some belonging to toddlers and infants. At just 3 months old, Gabreon DeShawn Lee Bruce was the youngest victim. His sister, 3-year-old Peachlyn Bradley, and his grandmother, Cheryl E. Hammon, were both killed in the bombing, too.

Chairs for each victim in the Oklahoma City bombing were decorated before the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum marked 21 years after the terrorist attack on April 19, 2016. / Credit: J Pat Carter / Getty Images

As survivors and families who lost loved ones look back on what the memorial museum refers to as "a day of darkness" three decades on, here's what to know about the attack.

When was the Oklahoma City bombing and what happened?

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The bombing happened on April 19, 1995, at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Nineteen children, most of whom were at a day care center in the building, were among the 168 people killed in the attack. More than 600 people suffered injuries that included severe burns and other physical traumas caused by the explosion itself or the structure's subsequent collapse. Search and rescue operations continued for more than a week after the blast, as crews located and retrieved survivors trapped beneath the debris.

A former Army soldier, Timothy McVeigh, detonated the bomb. Federal agents who investigated the tragedy determined that McVeigh acted alone on the day of the explosion, but a friend of his, Terry Nichols, helped build the bomb and another man, Michael Fortier, knew of the plot before it was carried out. Nichols and Fortier were ultimately convicted as co-conspirators in the crime.

At 9:02 a.m. local time on the morning of the bombing, McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. At the time, the building housed regional government offices for 17 federal agencies, like the Social Security Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in addition to the America's Kids Child Development Center, a snack bar and a Federal Employees Credit Union, according to the memorial museum.

On the day of the attack, 361 workers and visitors were inside, including 21 children in the America's Kids day care center. Ninety-eight of the victims were federal government workers, and another three were employed by the state of Oklahoma.

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Inside McVeigh's rental truck was a powerful homemade bomb, made using a mix of fertilizer, diesel fuel and other chemicals, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. He exited the vehicle that morning, locked the doors and, while heading toward a getaway car, ignited two timed fuses that set off the explosion.

About one-third of the Alfred Murrah building was reduced to rubble within moments, and authorities say 300 nearby buildings were either damaged or destroyed in the blast.

The north side of the Albert P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, shows the devastation caused by a terrorist bombing. / Credit: Bob Daemmrich/AFP via Getty Images

McVeigh was arrested roughly 90 minutes after fleeing the scene, during a traffic stop about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City. A state trooper initially flagged his car's missing license plate and, later, the concealed weapon inside his vehicle. Agents went on to discover traces of the chemicals used to create the bomb on McVeigh's clothing and some other items in his possession.

Who was Timothy McVeigh?

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A U.S. Army veteran and security guard prior to the Oklahoma City attack, McVeigh was 27 at the time of the bombing. He was convicted in 1997 on numerous federal charges for his role, including conspiracy, using a weapon of mass destruction and multiple counts of first-degree murder. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection in 2001, becoming the first federal inmate to receive the death penalty in almost 40 years.

Authorities found McVeigh was motivated by strong anti-government sentiment, mainly rooted in the U.S. involvement in the Gulf War, where he previously had been stationed as a soldier, along with then-recent standoffs between federal agents and civilians during clashes in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas.

McVeigh's radicalization ultimately pushed him to the extreme: discovered inside his getaway car on April 19, 1995, was a copy of "The Turner Diaries," a white supremacist novel authored by neo-Nazi leader William Luther Pierce, which has been called "the bible of the racist right" and considered an inspiration for the Oklahoma City bombing and other acts of domestic terror.

What is the connection to the Waco siege?

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McVeigh's hostility toward the government intensified after the 1992 Ruby Ridge killings and the Waco siege eight months later, where civilians died in standoffs with officers. In Waco, the 51-day siege ended April 19, 1993, exactly two years before the Oklahoma City bombing, with dozens of members of the Branch Davidian religious sect perishing in a fire. Some blamed federal authorities for their deaths, and the outcome of that standoff became a call to arms for far-right extremist and anti-government groups.

According to the FBI, McVeigh had visited Waco during the clash at the Texas compound, and, citing the incident as motivation for the bombing, later said he believed the government had declared war on the American people. He saw himself as a revolutionary and considered the Oklahoma City bombing part of that misguided revolution.

"If government is the teacher, violence would be an acceptable option," he told CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley in a "60 Minutes" interview in 2000, when asked whether using violence against the government was acceptable or not.

Is there a connection to the Columbine shooting?

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On April 20, 1999, teenagers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 12 of their fellow students and one teacher in a shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

The massacre, which marked the beginning of a rise in mass shootings at U.S. schools, also involved an attempted bombing. According to investigators, the two teenage gunmen, both of whom died by suicide, had constructed and planted homemade explosives that failed to detonate.

Harris referenced the Oklahoma City bombing in his personal writings while planning the attack. In one passage, which the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Colorado released years after the shooting, the teenager wrote that the event would "be like the LA riots, the oklahoma bombing (sic), WWII, vietnam (sic), duke and doom all mixed together," with "duke and doom" apparently referring to graphic video games in the mid-90s.

Harris' writings suggested he intended the Columbine attack to be much larger than it was, according to Dave Cullen, journalist and author of "Columbine" who spent years researching the shooters. He "would brag about topping McVeigh," Cullen wrote.

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  Congresswoman Maxine Dexter (D-Ore.) has announced plans to travel to El Salvador to demand the release of a man held in prison after the Trump administration mistakenly deported him.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, lived in the U.S. for roughly 14 years before being deported last month based on a 2019 accusation from Maryland police he was an MS-13 gang member. The Trump administration later described the mistake as an administrative error.

Feds add Portland site to list of properties up for accelerated disposition

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The U.S. Supreme Court then ordered the Trump administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the U.S., but Trump administration officials have pushed back against the order, arguing it is up to El Salvador. However, the president of El Salvador has said he lacked the power to return Abrego Garcia, noting it would be preposterous to smuggle a terrorist into the United States.

Dexters planned trip comes after Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) returned to the U.S. on Friday after visiting Abrego Garcia. The Maryland senator said that Abrego Garcia reported hed been moved from a notorious Salvadoran mega-prison, CECOT, to a detention center with better conditions.

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Abrego Garcias status after Sen. Van Hollen left is not known, but there was no indication that Van Hollens trip pushed him any closer to release.

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The case has since become a focal point in the national immigration debate. Republicans are criticizing Democrats for defending a man Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the fact that he has not been charged with any gang-related crimes.

Democrats, like Dexter, insist that President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive authority and disrespecting the courts.

A legal U.S. resident has had his due process rights ripped away and is now being held indefinitely in a foreign prison. This is not just one familys nightmare; it is a constitutional crisis that should outrage every single one of us, Dexter said. I will travel to El Salvador to confront this crisis head on. Our constitutional rights are on the line.

Although there was no mention of when Dexter will depart to El Salvador, her office noted more details will be announced imminently.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOIN.com.
Following Donald Trump's reelection, the LGBTQ+ community has been under attack, as he's signed anti-LGBTQ+ executive orders that have put the health, safety, and dignity of the community at risk.

Bloomberg / Bloomberg via Getty Images

Well, now GOP lawmakers are following in Trump's footsteps. A Republican lawmaker, Andy Hopper, recently proposed an amendment to cut state funding for LGBTQ+ programs at the University of Texas at Austin, and was called out for being completely uneducated on basic LGBTQ+ terms.

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

The extremely awkward moment has gone super viral, receiving over 6 million views on TikTok. Here's the full clip.

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"The purpose of this amendment is to reduce government funding to the University of Texas in Austin. Despite repeated calls by our President, our governor, and our legislature, the University of Texas continues to put out an outsized focus offering degree programs and courses in lesbian, gay, and bisexual, transgender queer studies, and has continued a pattern of teaching discrimination hidden behind the words diversity, equity, and inclusion," Hopper said in the video.

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"There are also programs that deny the unchangeable biological reality that there are only two sexes, male and female. These programs and by extension this university shall not be funded by tax dollars."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

Texas State Representative Lauren Ashley Simmons asked Hopper for clarification about his amendment. "Are you speaking about biological sex or gender? Because one is scientific and one is a social construct?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"They're one and the same, ma'am," Hopper replied.

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

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"...That's not true. But, moving on. OK, so, in the same vein, what about intersex individuals?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"I don't even know what that means, ma'am. I mean, I would like an explanation; please explain it."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"So....I'll take it really slow. Since the beginning of time, people have been born with either ambiguous genitalia, or with or without ovaries, both, and so those people from a biological standpoint exist, they're not mythical. It's not something we're making up, which is why I asked you are you speaking about gender or sexuality?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"So, gender is not a social construct. It's firmly rooted in biological reality."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

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"Again, so intersex people...what about them?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"Yeah, could you explain it one more time, I think we all would like to have an explanation where we can understand we're not quite following."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"So, you are not sure what intersex people are, if they exist or not, but you want to defund a program about something that you don't quite understand?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"Yeah, so the truth that is written in our Biblical understanding that God set forth from the beginning of creation is that your gender is fixed at birth, and you cannot change it."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

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"Again...where do intersex people fall into that equation?"

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"Yeah, those intersex individuals are still XX or XY, so you can't change that." Rep. Valoree Swanson was then seen tugging on Hopper's sleeve and whispering to him, "Andy, that's not true."

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

For context, Hopper's claims are absolutely not true. Intersex is a term used for a person who is born with reproductive or sexual anatomy that doesnt fit the typical "female" or "male" categories. Intersex people can be born with chromosomes outside of the typical XX or XY. According to Planned Parenthood, it is estimated that 12 people born in the US out of every 100 are intersex.

Following this embarrassing interaction, the House ultimately voted against Hopper's amendment, but people online could not get over the cluelessness of an acting lawmaker.

Lone Star Left via YouTube / Via youtube.com

"WHY IS HE TRYNA CUT LGBTQ+ PROGRAMS IF HE DOESNT KNOW WHAT INTERSEX IS," this person questioned.

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

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As this person said, "HE DOESNT EVEN KNOW WHAT HES TALKING ABOUT."

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

"I understood what intersex was at the age of 11. then again I had empathy at that age sooo," this person wrote.

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

"He was already wrong, but even bringing up the Bible automatically disqualified his opinion," one person wrote. "Religion should not be used as a reason to take things away from people by our government."

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

"why do our lives depend on what their religious beliefs are!?" this person agreed.

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

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"The people with the panicked whispers behind him who just googled 'intersex' for the first time in their lives," another person joked.

@pinknews via TikTok / Via tiktok.com

What are your thoughts? Let us know in the comments below.
U.S. Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick, a pro-Ukraine Republican representing Pennsylvania, visited Ukrainian troops near the front line on April 18, following his meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.

"These are amazing soldiers, the men and women of the Ukrainian military, much like the men and women of the U.S. military, have this amazing fighting spirit. They're fighting for their democracy, they're fighting for the freedom  all of us in America need to stand behind them," Fitzpatrick said in a video address filmed on the front line, published on his Facebook account.

"I always have and always will have their back. I encourage all my colleagues in Congress to come here."

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Fitzpatrick's visit comes as Washington signaled that it was ready to cease its mediation efforts to end Russia's war against Ukraine if one of the sides "makes it difficult."

In a post shared on Facebook, Fitzpatrick published another video, showing him signing an artillery shell with a message to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

It was my profound honor to deliver a very personal message to Vladimir Putin today, from the front lines of the war near the Russian border, on behalf of our PA-1 community, Fitzpatrick wrote.

He said he had spent several days on the ground, visiting artillery units of the National Guard and the drone operators from the Third Assault Brigade, who he praised for "completely changing warfare - not just here but across the globe."

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Fitzpatrick said that during the visit, the group was shelled near the Russian border, tracked by Russian drones, and forced to carry out an emergency evacuation from the area.

According to Fitzpatrick, the territories previously occupied by Russian forces were "completely burned down."

That's what they do. They overwhelm you with bodies, overwhelm you with artillery with not a lot of thought behind it, he said.

Earlier on April 17, Fitzpatrick met with President Volodymyr Zelensky, during which the two discussed U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine, the proposed full and unconditional ceasefire, and broader efforts to achieve what Zelensky described as a dignified and lasting peace.

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Zelensky praised Fitzpatrick's commitment, particularly his decision to meet with Ukrainian soldiers near the front. This is very valuable. Thank you for your support! Zelensky said.

Fitzpatrick serves as the ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Energy, the Environment, and Cyber.

Read also: Youre fools  US may take a pass on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says

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House Republican committee chairs are denying Democrats requests to travel to El Salvador and visit its CECOT prison facility as scrutiny builds on the Trump administrations handling of Kilmar Abrego Garcias mistaken deportation.

House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair James Comer (R-Ky.) and House Homeland Security Committee Chair Mark Green (R-Tenn.) this week denied requests from Democrats to use official committee funds for Congressional delegation  otherwise known as CODEL trips  to El Salvador, with Comer calling the request absurd and Green saying it would waste taxpayer dollars.

The denials come as Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) made a trip to the country this week and met with Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran national who was living in Maryland and whose return the Supreme Court has said the Trump administration should facilitate.

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But it also comes as House Republicans are visiting El Salvador and the CECOT prison themselves. Several House GOP lawmakers, led by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.), visited El Salvador and the CECOT prison this week.

Comer specifically denied a request that Reps. Robert Garcia (D-Calif.) and Maxwell Frost (D-Fla.) made earlier in the week to visit the prison and to conduct a welfare check on Abrego Garcia and others held there, in addition to other oversight.

It is absurd that you both displayed active hostility for over two years toward the Committees oversight of the Biden Border Crisis and the consequences of millions of illegal aliens entering the country, yet now, you are seeking travel at Committee expense to meet with foreign gang members, Comer said in a letter denying the request Friday.

Comer claimed photos showed Van Hollen enjoying margaritas garnished with cherry slices with the foreign gang member. Van Hollen said in a press conference on Friday that an aide for El Salvador President Nayib Bukele had placed the salt- or sugar-rimmed glasses on the table and neither he nor Abrego Garcia touched the drinks. Claims of Abrego Garcias membership in MS-13 are based largely on a confidential tip and disputed by him and his family.

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If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money. But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested, Comer told Garcia and Frost. Your request is denied.

Garcia responded to Comers denial in a post on the social platform X by saying it wont stop us from doing our jobs.

Lets be clear, the Trump administration admitted the deportation was a mistake, they have presented no evidence he was in MS-13, and they are defying the Supreme Court, Garcia said.

Green also said he would deny requests from Democrats to visit El Salvador.

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There is no excuse for Democrats to waste taxpayer dollars visiting and defending a transnational gang member and reported domestic abuser, Green said in a statement on Thursday, in reference to Abrego Garcias wife filing for a protective order against him in 2021. If Democrats care so much about defending this individual, they can use their own personal credit cardsnot taxpayers moneyto virtue-signal to their radical base.

Greens statement came after Rep. Delia Ramirez (D-Ill.) had made a request for an official CODEL to El Salvador to conduct oversight over the Abrego Garcia case, as Axios reported.

Other Congressional Republicans, though, have clearly seen value in conducting trips to El Salvador and the CECOT prison.

Smith posted about a trip he made to El Salvador CECOT prison earlier in the week, including photos of detainees behind bars.

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Thanks to President Trump, the CECOT prison in El Salvador, which is home to some of the countrys most vicious criminals, now includes illegal immigrants who broke into our country and committed violent acts against Americans, Smith said in the post. It is unconscionable that Democrats in Congress are urging the release of more foreign criminals back into our country.

Accompanying Smith in El Salvador was Rep. Riley Moore (R-W.Va.), who also posted photos from the CECOT prison and said the trip left him even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland.

The U.S. Embassy in El Salvador shared a photo on Wednesday with Smith, Moore, and Republican Reps. Kevin Hern (Okla.), Carol Miller (W.Va.), Claudia Tenney (N.Y.), Ron Estes (Kan.), and Rep. Mike Kennedy (Utah), saying the members visited to strengthen bilateral ties and discuss initiatives that promote economic development and mutual cooperation. It is not clear whether all of the members visited the CECOT prison.

Updated at 7:25 p.m. EDT

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MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WIAT)  Both chambers invoked clotures yesterday. Its a way for lawmakers to limit how long a debate can go, and it requires a vote of 3/5. Some Democrats say regardless of how those rules are used, theyre going to make their voices heard.

Senate Democrats didnt have an opportunity to speak after Republicans invoked a cloture, and used up all the debate time on their own bills. One of those would require schools to play the Star Spangled Banner once a week.

But, Sen. Bobby Singleton (D-Greensboro) said there are more important issues to address. Put jobs in our communities, like the black belt, said Sen. Singleton. Building better schools in our community but were talking about putting the National Anthem something that nobody paid attention to. We all know we are Americans.

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Sen. Robert Stewart (D-Selma) said he will always advocate for his community, inside and outside the chamber. That cloture process, while it limited debate, it will not silence our voices, said Stewart. It will not silence the constituents in which we represent.

As Alireza Doroudi faces deportation, his soon-to-be-wife clings to their life together, with or without the American Dream

In the lower House, lawmakers invoked cloture on a bill renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America.' Parties went back and forth for hours about tourism on the coast. Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover) said debate was great on the floor. There were a lot of controversial bills. But, the good news was, there was a lot of respectful debate, she said. And I love that. You know everybody needs an opportunity for their voice to be heard.

Voices were also heard on a bill that would require the Ten Commandments to be posted in schools. DuBose said the rest of the session would be business as usual.

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I dont see any problem going forward. You know, I think its going to be well planned and strategic the way the bills are placed on the calendar. And, I anticipate our legislation moving through as it should.

There are seven days left in the legislative session for lawmakers to pass bills. Before gaveling out, they must pass the education and general fund budgets.

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(NewsNation)  Research monkeys used in a tuberculosis study faced the prospect of being euthanized after the Trump administration pulled funding from Harvard University, but now, a philanthropic organization has offered to help.

Harvards Dr. Sarah Fortune had warned that rhesus macaque test subjects could be euthanized because of the federal grant freeze. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine are studying the primates as part of a broader project being coordinated by Harvard.

Harvard pushes back against Trumps demands

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On Friday, the Boston Globe reported that California-based Open Philanthropy has authorized a $500,000 grant to support the research work in Pennsylvania.

Fortune said she was elated to learn about the gift, but People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals criticized her for raising the specter of euthanizing the animals. PETA, which opposes the use of animals for research, said the monkeys could have been given to caretakers or sanctuaries.

Experiments on animals fail to produce cures and treatments for humans, they are cruel, and there are superior human-relevant methods available, the group said in a news release.

Harvard has refused to follow various directives from the Trump administration as a condition for receiving grants. Federal officials froze billions in research funding.

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Researchers have found that the illegal trade of live western chimpanzees in Guinea-Bissau is more widespread than initially thought and factoring into the population decline of the animal.

What's happening?

An estimated 5-6% of the critically endangered western chimpanzee global population resides in Guinea-Bissau, according to the experts from Cardiff University, the University of Porto, and IBAP (a national agency in Guinea-Bissau that manages protected areas and biodiversity), who now believe that illegal trading of the animal occurs at higher rates than previously thought.

The total estimated population in the country is between 923 and 6,121 chimpanzees. This population is already declining due to disease, loss of habitat, and hunting, so illegal trading quickens their decline.

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Data from previous years indicates that between 2016 and 2020, it is likely that around 153 of these chimpanzees were trafficked globally, with most sold as pets.

Why is illegal chimpanzee trading concerning?

When it comes to illegal trading, infants are more valuable than older animals. This can mean that those acquiring the chimpanzees may kill anywhere from 5 to 10 adult chimpanzees to get a single infant, explained a Cardiff University report published by Phys.org.

Dr. Maria Joana Ferreira da Silva, of the University of Porto and Cardiff University School of Biosciences, said in the university report, "We recorded 18 cases of pet chimpanzees, which may have implied the death of a minimum of 90-180 adults. This is extremely worrying, as the killing of 90-180 chimpanzees could represent up to 20% of the population size of chimpanzees in Guinea-Bissau."

In the case of the western chimpanzee, illegal trading means these animals often live much shorter lives as pets or because traffickers kill them to obtain infants, accelerating their population decline. When one species suffers, it can have a ripple effect on the rest of a local ecosystem, contributing to the loss of nature's protective and economically beneficial biodiversity.

What's being done about illegal chimpanzee trading?

The university report noted that, in Guinea-Bissau, authorities are not doing much to stop illegal trading because of challenges standing in the way.

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According to the research, there is inadequate legislation to enforce penalties on illegal animal trading, so the government would need to create new laws.

The study also noted that law enforcement isn't properly trained or equipped to handle illegal trading, and there is a lack of sanctuaries to send rescued chimpanzees.

Dr. Ferreira da Silva added, per the university report, "We need to increase engagement with the public in Guinea-Bissau and all over the world, increasing awareness of the impact of keeping chimpanzees as pets, for their well-being and the associated risks, but also the wider impacts on their conservation."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
CHATHAM COUNTY, Ga. (WSAV)  The Bull River Bridge could be replaced in the coming years, but a group of residents want a say in where the new bridge would go.

Bull River Bridge is the only way on and off Tybee Island. While theyre all for a wider bridge, citizens say they arent too happy with the possibility of the new one being built on the south side.

Tony Tomaeno is a spokesperson for those concerned. He says the bridge was set to be built to the north for several years.

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Fast forward to the end of 2016, the DOT had a concept meeting. For whatever reason, the bridge is going to be built to the south, Tomaeno said. The reasoning was that Georgia Power had the old wooden power lines, and the lines were lower. They said for that reason, we have to move the bridge to the south.

According to Tomaeno, those power lines arent there anymore. He says building to the south would impact several residential communities, the Bull River Marina and Yacht Club, the marsh and wetlands.

He also says theres a concern for safety.

If they build it to the south, the curve that you see where most of these accidents happen its going to exacerbate that curve and make it a lot worse, he said.

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WSAV did reach out to G-DOT to confirm their current plans for the bridge. We have not yet heard back.

Regardless of when the new bridge is built, there will be some temporary traffic delays during construction, which could take years.

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KINGSPORT, Tenn. (WJHL) -The latest tariff increase from the Trump administration has small businesses worried about increased prices. However, local retail shops like Backdraft Custom Apparel in Kingsport say they havent seen major increases, at least not yet.

Backdraft sales manager Shawn Burdge described it as still up in the air. He told News Channel 11 that the store gets most of its products from wholesalers who are also having to make adjustments.

One of the wholesalers we found out actually only sources about 9% from China, Burdge said. Just actually today they said that they are ceasing production in China and going to source elsewhere or within the U.S.

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Local hemp business owners discuss plans after Tennessee Senate passes bill banning most THCA products

SanMar is one of the wholesalers Backdraft uses. SanMar sent an email explaining that all foreign countries are subject to a 10% base tariff and that it would absorb as much of the increase as it can by negotiating with its factory partners.

We do know a lot of the wholesalers and manufacturers seem to have told us that theyre eating some of the tariffs, Burdge said. Theyre trying to make it easier on small businesses.

Backdrafts biggest challenge as of Friday is that larger companies are buying up all the supply before the rates increase even more.

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A number of companies like us that rely on wholesale products are buying and rushing the market and buying up all the supply that we currently have, which is increasing lead times, Burdge said. And it just makes it difficult to get some products at all.

Burdge said it will be hard at first because U.S. products are still at a price disadvantage, but he believes the tariffs will be effective in the long term, as most of his customers want to buy U.S. products and support local small businesses.

We have seen a steady increase of where local people want to do business with local companies, Burdge said. Weve had support by the city of Kingsport. They have told all their departments, Hey, buy local if you can. And thats nice to see. Its really important for any area that you live in that you try to support local, small businesses.

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For about a year, Andriy Zholob, a 44-year-old former senior lieutenant, has been running the veterans' office in Lviv.

As a former commander of the Ukrainian forces medical company, he decided to quit his career of a doctor-orthopedist and traumatologist, he told ABC News.

After being retired from army due to his mother's illness, he had no idea what to do in the civilian life.

"For three weeks I was doing nothing but staring at the ceiling and then, my friend from Lviv City Council called me with a proposal to meet the mayor," said Zholob, who accepted the offer without a shadow of any doubt.

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"I felt that it will be a commander's work again," he explained.

Although the office was established in 2017, Zholob said he knew almost nothing about its operations as he was never before a part of military or veterans' community, but 21 months of service at the front lines have changed the situation.

PHOTO: Andriy Zholob, 44, left, works with veterans in Lviv, Ukraine, in this undated handout photo. (Andriy Zholob)

Currently there are 45 members of the office's team, who are responsible for providing multiple services to dozens of their clients every day.

MORE: After 2 years near the front, a Ukrainian medic reflects on war, family and his country's future

"We are trying to satisfy basic needs of the servicemen, servicewomen, veterans and their families," said Zholob.

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Among others, the office provides legal and psychotherapeutic and employment consultations for veterans, runs support groups for families of servicemen who are the prisoners of war in Russian captivity or are considered missing in action.

PHOTO: Andriy Zholob, 44, is seen with other members of the veterans office in Lviv, Ukraine, in this undated handout photo. (Andriy Zholob)

The highest-priority goal of the Office is to build a healthy and responsible veterans' community.

Besides providing information on veterans' rights, vacancies, and other consultations, the Office team may also face some extraordinary challenges: "Sometimes we have aggressive clients, some may be drunk, some are full of rage, shouting at us and calling us responsible for all their problems," said Zholob.

He said he considers those actions to be normal for many veterans, and that he's proud to be a veteran among them, although there is also a profound gap between veterans and civilians -- due to absolutely different experiences in Russia's ongoing war.

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"And this abyss is absolutely normal situation, but both need to work hard to decrease it during years and decades," admits Zholob said.

PHOTO: Andriy Zholob, 44, plays music in Lviv, Ukraine, in this undated handout photo. (Andriy Zholob)

At the same time, he said that Ukrainian society should not treat the veterans as some kind of animals in a zoo or stereotype them. Instead, he would like to see more special micro-offices opened in Ukraine for veterans in different sectors -- not only in governmental institutions but in private companies as well.

"There is no such art therapy, sport activities or some other kind of treatment to comfort and heal veterans' souls if they are not able to re-discover themselves as useful members of civil society," argues Zholob.

He considers his new appointment to become that kind of reincarnation for himself, as he got tired of working to work in Ukraine's medical system. He said he considers it to be disrespectful to him as a professional in terms of the salary: "Only the army paid me enough for saving lives," he admits. Before he was called up, was underpaid, he said, and working in a system he described as corrupt.

PHOTO: Andriy Zholob, 44, hosts a radio show, 'Without Armor,' in Lviv, Ukraine, in this undated handout photo. (Andriy Zholob)

Now he has more time and money, he said. Every week he hosts a radio show called "Without Armor" at local radio station, discussing with current and former soldiers their problems, inviting psychologists, psychiatrists and other professionals to support the veterans and strengthen their families in faith for the better future.

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Even though almost every program is another painful hard talk, Zholob said he feels like he's landed himself in the right place: "These radio projects are my big love and that's why every interview I do with a great pleasure," he said.

PHOTO: Andriy Zholob, 44, is seen with his family in Lviv, Ukraine, in this undated handout photo. (Andriy Zholob)

For Zholob, his war scars will be part of him until the end of his days. But he says, he knows how to deal with it: "My music is my therapy, my family is my therapy, my Harley-Davidson is my therapy."

But, at the same time, he understands that the war is not over yet -- especially for those who are still on the front lines fighting with Russia for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian land, including those who are in need of professional medical help.

"To be true, every day I think: maybe I should not have retired and have left my boys," Zholob said.

After returning from the front lines, a Ukrainian veteran works to help others originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Last year, we joined forces with Katie Couric to make An American Bombing: The Road to April 19th, a documentary film that premiered on HBO in April 2024 (and is now streaming on Max). It was created to shed light on one of the most devastating tragedies in recent history: when, on April 19, 1995, ex-Army soldier Timothy McVeigh took the lives of 168 people (19 of them children) by bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Today is the 30th anniversary of this deeply disturbing tragedy.

The film was Katies idea originally: She had approached HBO about revisiting the event. As the TODAY show co-anchor in 1995, she was on the ground in Oklahoma City soon after the explosion, and she wondered how the surviving victims and family members were doing, so many decades later.

As documentary filmmakers, we have a longtime relationship with HBO, having made several films for them over the years. Wed actually made one about the bombing for Bill Moyers in 1996  a special for the TODAY show  that focused on some of the people most deeply affected by the tragedy. HBO introduced us to Katie and we set off together to tell the story.

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We started by contacting the people whod been in our earlier film; we had stayed in touch with some of them over the years and were moved to see how they had turned their grief into life-affirming missions.

Bud Welch lost his daughter, Julie, in the bombing; he admitted to having wished someone would kill McVeigh. But over time, he remembered his daughter was opposed to the death penalty, and that the best way to honor her memory was to fight against capital punishment. He eventually befriended McVeighs father, Bill, and went on to become a global human rights activist.

Marsha Kimble lost her daughter, Frankie, in the bombing. In the wake of that loss, she organized a group called Families and Survivors United that got federal legislation passed allowing survivors and family members of victims to watch the trial on closed-circuit TV. (Additionally, if they chose to attend the trial, they could testify during the sentencing phase.) This led to Marsha becoming a national victims-rights advocate  one who came to NYC after 9/11 to work with grieving survivors and family members of victims.

Kathy Sanders lost her two grandsons, Chase and Colton, in the bombing. A few weeks later, she and her husband Glenn hosted a dinner for the families whod lost their children in the Murrah Buildings daycare center. One of the mothers asked if anyone else had seen the bomb squad at the building earlier on the morning of April 19. That question started Kathy on her own journey as a citizen investigator: She realized she didnt know the whole story and was determined to find out the truth. (The result of her research into possible cover-ups and theories was a book called Shadows of Conspiracy: The Untold Story of the Oklahoma City Bombing.)

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Nancy Shaw survived the blast that killed so many of her co-workers in the Murrah buildings Social Security office, and we were relieved to find her well. She had continued working for Social Security after the office moved to another location and had retired a few years earlier. Remembering that explosion in April, she says in the film, It felt to me like my skin was burning off, and it was a wind so powerful that it felt like it pinned back my hair. (Shaw said she thought she saw McVeigh in the elevator in the months prior to the bombing, but wonders if that was a false memory  though the head of the daycare center also reported seeing him.)

LaDonna Battle-Leverett lost her parents, Calvin and Peola Battle, in the Murrah building  the couple was at the Social Security office for a 9 a.m. appointment when the bomb exploded. The Battles four daughters had to wait 14 days for their parents to be found in the rubble. She was shocked when she eventually saw McVeigh in person, in court: Youre looking for the monster and you finally get that day to see him, and youre thinking like, Wait a minute, is this him? He looked like anyones kid. Just your normal average Joe. She remains actively involved in Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum events, speaking about her experience to keep alive the memory of what happened there.

We found that the memory did indeed need to be kept alive: We were surprised during our research for An American Bombing to learn that few people under the age of 35, outside of Oklahoma, had even heard of the tragedy. Somehow the story had been erased. So we had to figure out how to recount the most important elements of the case to make it understandable to viewers, without overwhelming the film. We also realized we had to go back in time to show what informed and motivated the perpetrators, an effort that took us back to the early 1980s. There were many narrative threads to interweave, and a massive amount of information to collect and pore over.

In making the documentary, we searched for characters who had experienced the events surrounding the bombing from various firsthand perspectives to keep the storytelling dynamic and engaging, including FBI agents, investigative journalists, attorneys on both the defense and prosecution sides, and Kerry Noble, a former member of an extremist religious group, to give us an insiders view.

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Noble enabled us to include the most provocative information  that the Murrah building had been targeted by the members of his group in 1983. One of those members, Richard Snell, was executed on April 19, 1995. for murder  the same day as the OKC bombing  prompting many to question whether the bombing had been carried out to honor him in some way. This also raised the possibility that McVeigh was part of a larger movement that hid its connections in terrorist cells.

Katie introduced us to Bill Clinton, who was president at the time of the bombing, but also knew the landscape of anti-government groups from his days as governor of Arkansas. He had rarely spoken on camera about his experience with Nobles group  The Covenant, the Sword, and the Arm of the Lord (CSA)  which was active in Arkansas during Clintons term as governor; he had amazing recall and intimate knowledge about their activities. We were able to pair his retelling with the actual footage of the terrorist compound, matching his words exactly to the images of their camp and bunkers. When he heard about the bombing of the Murrah building on April 19, 1995, his mind went back immediately to the CSA. While others were suspecting Middle Eastern terrorists, Clinton said, My life and experience told me that there was a very good chance that this was a homegrown plot.

As President Clinton did, its important to understand the Oklahoma City bombing in the greater historical context. In the early 1980s, an anti-government Patriot Movement brought together various right-wing extremists who declared war on the U.S. government. Some in that movement inspired, sustained, and even celebrated McVeighs act of terror. There were also larger social, economic, and political forces at work that shaped the landscape, making it fertile ground for extremist violence.

As the threat of political violence rises yet again, its essential to understand the factors and ideas that led us where we are today. As LaDonna Battle told us, They covered up the 1921 Tulsa race massacre  we still dont get it. If you cover [something] up, it doesnt get better, it gets worse. We need to continue telling the children this story.

Marc Levin and Daphne Pinkerson are award-winning filmmakers based in New York City  you can find the latest on their studio Blowback Productions on X and Instagram.

The post Revisiting the Ruins: What the Oklahoma City Bombing Teaches Us, 30 Years On appeared first on Katie Couric Media.
REYNOLDSBURG, Ohio (WCMH)  A family is mourning the death of a four-year-old boy in Reynoldsburg.

Police have arrested and charged the boys mother and her boyfriend in connection with Jakai Smiths death. Family and people in the neighborhood where this happened say they are in shock.

Franklin County Childrens Services said they had an active case involving the boy and his family at the time of his death. We want answers. We deserve answers. Jakai deserves answers, said Nikia Carter.

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Carter said she is devastated to hear what happened to her great-nephew. Jakai was a bright, funny, always smiling little fella, Carter said. Police say on April 10 they were called to Nationwide Childrens Hospital thats where they found Smith dead.

His mother, 19-year-old Kailee Parks-Smith, is charged with child endangering and her apparent boyfriend, 19-year-old Linwood Allison Jr., is charged with aggravated murder. They turned themselves into police on Thursday and they both faced a judge on Friday.

Allison Jr. is accused of causing the fatal injuries, and his mother did nothing to stop it. Police said they have video evidence.

Son of Faith Life church leaders arrested, charged with two counts of rape

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In court Friday, they said the boy was malnourished, had bruises on his body, and lacerations around his chin and neck. Just in disbelief that it you know, that it happened, Carter said.

Franklin County Childrens Services said they briefly had a case open in 2023 involving the boy that closed. Last month they opened a new case for neglect, which they said caseworkers were still investigating at the time of his death.

Carter said someone in their family made the call. We didnt know to the extent that it was, but we knew to call Childrens Services and they didnt take it serious enough to go out there and check on him. March the 17, was the call was made to Childrens Services. We want to know what was done from the 17th to the week of April 8th, because a follow up call was also made and nothing was done because two days later, Jakai was no longer with us, Carter said.

Funeral planning for Smith has started and Carter said she wont stop until she gets answers. He couldnt speak. He couldnt defend himself. He couldnt even call anybody. Its a broken system and it needs to be changed, Carter said. Its not easy. A lot of emotions, but we are sticking together and we are remembering the good times that we did have with Jakai in such a short time.

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The judge gave Allison Jr. a $1.5 million bond and Parks-Smith a $500,000 bond.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., President Donald Trump's pick for HHS secretary, appears at his nomination hearing before the Senate Finance Committee on Jan. 29, 2025. (Eric Harkleroad/KFF Health News)

After the Senate voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, supporters of his Make America Healthy Again movement cheered at having a champion in the federal government.

Now the grumbling has begun. Some of Kennedys allies say hes become almost inaccessible since his confirmation and complain that hes made glacial progress advancing MAHA goals, such as halting mRNA-based COVID shots and removing fluoride from drinking water.

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The fractures underscore the clash between Kennedys movement and President Donald Trumps Make America Great Again agenda. Kennedy is pulled between his supporters who want swift action to disrupt traditional health care and Trump, who is focused more on tariffs and increasing deportations than on disease, according to four people close to Kennedy who asked not to be identified because they werent authorized to speak to the press. Many of the priorities driving Kennedys MAHA program are not top priorities of his boss.

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Kennedys capacity to navigate those tensions has been further strained by a measles outbreak and the threat of a bird flu pandemic, the people said.

Some of his deputies are still being vetted and other key positions remain unfilled. That, along with resignations of top HHS leaders and sweeping staffing reductions, has created a gap in expertise. Kennedy sometimes calls close informal advisers on the run before meetings, and the crises have put him in a reactionary stance, working on weekends and marshaling staff for Sunday meetings, according to the people.

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More churn is coming because of an HHS reorganization set to eliminate about 20,000 jobs, including a 19% cut to the workforce at the FDA, which oversees food, nutrition, and vaccines.

HHS spokespeople didnt respond to emails seeking comment.

To be sure, Kennedys ascendance represents a breakthrough for the MAHA movement, a broad collection of gadflies, groups, and wellness influencers who extol raw milk, metabolic health, and sustainable farming while lambasting Big Pharma, vaccines, and processed foods.

The coming months will test Kennedys ability to juggle the challenges and achieve Trumps goals without losing the support of MAHA adherents, especially special interest and advocacy groups that helped him reach his influential perch overseeing one of the nations largest federal agencies. HHS, with a budget of almost $2 trillion, includes the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health, and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

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But the MAHA goals arent top agenda items for GOP voters, who tend to be focused more on the price of eggs than whether theyre organic.

The MAHA faithful expect action but their to-do list is not necessarily a high priority for voters or lawmakers, said Robert Blendon, a professor emeritus of health policy and political analysis at Harvard. And should there be a big measles outbreak or avian flu, it would hurt the White House if there was a big conflict over vaccines going on, he said.

An additional challenge for Kennedy is that not all MAHA and MAGA goals overlap. Trump wants to slash the workforce, which Kennedy has embraced. But fulfilling MAHA wishes will require more regulation, which runs counter to MAGA dogma favoring a smaller federal government.

MAHA wants fluoride out of water because followers say it leads to lower IQ levels in children, as well as arthritis and bone cancer. Kennedy said on X that fluoride is dangerous and that the Trump administration would recommend it be removed from Americas drinking water. Fluoridated water is credited for vastly reducing rates of tooth decay in the U.S. In 2015, the CDC called water fluoridation one of the 10 greatest public health achievements of the 20th century, and only 15% of Americans think fluoride is harmful or detrimental to the public, based on a poll in January by market research company Ipsos.

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. departs after testifying in a confirmation hearing before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions at the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 30, 2025, in Washington, D.C. (Photo by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)

MAHA adherents believe in the debunked claim that vaccines cause autism, and Kennedy just tapped a vaccine opponent to work on a study on possible connections. In fact, HHS has launched an effort that Kennedy said will determine by September what has caused the autism epidemic. Many autism researchers say this timeline sows doubts about the studys seriousness. Most voters support vaccines and believe in their benefits. Eight in 10 parents with children under age 18 say they normally keep them up to date with recommended childhood vaccines, according to a KFF poll in January.

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And MAHA wants to replace seed oils, which the movements followers claim without evidence are unhealthy, with animal fats such as beef tallow, which is high in saturated fat, which can contribute to high cholesterol and heart disease. Only 13% of Americans believe seed oils are unhealthy to consume, based on a poll by the industry-backed International Food Information Council.

Perhaps no goal is more important to many MAHA followers, however, than banning the mRNA technology behind covid vaccines by Moderna and Pfizer.

The big threat is that we still have covid-19 vaccines on the market, said Peter McCullough, a former cardiologist who has been criticized for spreading covid misinformation and has informally advised Kennedy. Its horrendous. I would not hesitate; I would just pull it. Whats he waiting for?

The FDA says COVID shots are safe. They are credited for saving millions of lives worldwide during the pandemic, and two NIH-funded scientists who advanced mRNA technology were awarded the Nobel Prize in physiology or medicine in 2023.

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Yanking authority for mRNA-based covid vaccines could backfire because Trump sees Operation Warp Speed, the federal effort to develop the shots, as one of his signature achievements, according to one of the people close to Kennedy. And it would have been impolitic to take action before the confirmation of an FDA commissioner, the person said. Marty Makary, a Johns Hopkins University researcher, was confirmed on March 25 to the post.

Kennedy also isnt calling all the shots. He was initially unaware of the appointment of Gerald Parker, a veterinarian who recently chaired an NIH advisory board, to head the White Houses pandemic office, according to one of the people.

Kennedy did choose Susan Monarez, a former deputy director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, as acting CDC director. Trump nominated her for Senate confirmation to lead the agency on March 24. Kennedy felt she had worked well with Trumps job-cutting Department of Government Efficiency and did a great job in her acting director position, one of the people close to him said.

Kennedy is also in a difficult position regarding Trumps Make America Healthy Again commission, which Kennedy chairs. The panels charge to investigate and deliver an action plan on the nations decades-long increase in chronic illness, with a special emphasis on children, is a clear pitch to the MAHA movement. But Trump has told Kennedy, according to one of the people, that he wants to see measurable progress in a year to 18 months  which is hard both to define and to achieve.

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While Kennedy is a scion of the countrys most famous Democratic family, he is widely distrusted in the medical community because of his fringe views on vaccines and his rejection of established science. Since taking office, he has tried to cultivate relationships with MAGA-leaning state officials, including West Virginias governor, Republican Patrick Morrisey. And his alliance with Trump is new. When Kennedy was running for president in 2024, Trump took to his Truth Social platform to say, Kennedy is a Radical Left Democrat, and always will be!!!  though Trumps administration includes other onetime adversaries such as Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Many of Kennedys nutrition and health goals would require regulation, which clash with Trumps anti-regulatory agenda and his focus on a lean federal government.

Meanwhile, hes relied on his principal deputy chief of staff, Stefanie Spear, a longtime Kennedy aide who has taken on the role of traffic cop in the department. Hes also leaned on HHS chief of staff Heather Flick Melanson for expertise. She was a senior adviser to former HHS Secretary Alex Azar in Trumps first term.

Kennedys close circle of informal advisers includes nontraditional doctors, fellow vaccine opponents, media personalities, and self-appointed health gurus. Some have gained unprecedented influence and access to the innermost workings of federal health agencies.

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Calley Means, for example, is a Kennedy ally whose business sells wellness products such as saunas and supplements. His statements have dismayed some scientists, such as when he called covid vaccine mandates for children a war crime and said without evidence that metabolically healthy people dont die from covid. In March, Means joined the White House as a special government employee and MAHA adviser.

Others in Kennedys orbit include Del Bigtree, a television producer who founded the anti-vaccination group Informed Consent Action Network, and some officials from the previous Trump administration. Aaron Siri, a lawyer for Kennedy, is no longer involved in vetting candidates for HHS positions, one of the people said.

Nontraditional as a description for these people is not enough. Were talking about beyond the outer fringes of medicine, said Irwin Redlener, senior adviser for the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at Columbia University, of Kennedys inner circle. This faux expertise is really dangerous.

Even as some MAHA adherents press for swifter action, Kennedys recent comments and actions suggest public health ideas once dismissed as fringe or unscientific now have an advocate at HHS.

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Kennedy claimed without evidence that cod liver oil is an effective treatment for measles. Hes suggested letting the bird flu virus rip unchecked through infected chicken flocks even though scientists say that could unleash dangerous mutations.

And hes backed cellphone bans in schools, saying phones cause cancer in kids. Most studies have found no such link.

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This article first appeared on KFF Health News and is republished here under a Creative Commons license. KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFFan independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. Learn more about KFF.
"Real Housewives of Orange County" alum Lydia McLaughlin is mourning the loss of her brother, who was shot and killed during a traffic stop in California on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

The reality star, who appeared on the show in 2013 and 2018, revealed she was "devastated" by the loss of her sibling before asking for "privacy" during this challenging time.

According to a statement from the Newport Beach Police Department, Lydia McLaughlin's brother, Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, was shot after being "uncooperative" during a routine traffic stop.

Lydia McLaughlin's Brother Was Shot Dead By Newport Beach Police During A Traffic Stop

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According to TMZ, Stirling was reportedly riding his motorcycle along the Pacific Coast Highway in Newport Beach when police officers pulled him over.

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A source claimed Stirling became "uncooperative" with the law enforcement officers, causing one of them to shoot him.

No police officers were injured during the encounter.

Newport Beach Police Department Stopped Lydia McLaughlin's Brother For A 'Traffic Violation'

On April 18, the Newport Beach Police Department shared more details about the shooting on their Instagram.

They explained that after stopping Stirling on "West Coast Highway," the 45-year-old became defiant and "assaulted" one of the officers.

"Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer," the post read. "During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officers duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

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Other officers arrived on the scene and attempted to render aid to McLaughlin's brother before he was transported to the local hospital, where he later passed away.

The post also stated that the California Department of Justice (DOJ) would be conducting an internal investigation into the incident.

Lydia McLaughlin Says Her Family Is 'Devastated' By The Passing Of Her Brother

In a statement to TMZ, McLaughlin, 44, said she and her family were grieving the loss of her brother.

"My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother, she said. We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn.

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Although she hasn't explicitly addressed the news on her social media yet, she did share a cryptic post on Instagram with the message: "He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds."

Her "Real Housewives" co-star, Vicki Gunvalson, commented and offered her support to McLaughlin and her family.

"Lydia - I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother! My heart hurts for you and your family. Peace be with you," Gunvalson wrote.

Others also chimed in, sending love and encouragement her way.

McLaughlin Lost Her Mother Six Months Ago

In another Instagram post, McLaughlin opened up to her followers about how she's learned to process grief after her mother passed away.

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She explained that attending a group, Grief Share, has "helped me in my healing and processing my grief."

The "Orange County" alum continued, "Grief can make you better or bitter. I am putting in my whole heart to turn my sorrow into thanksgiving, for having the privilege to have such a beautiful mom. She will always be my hero, and my favorite."

Gunvalson Slammed Bravo As The 'Devil' During Docuseries

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Gunvalson, who's no longer appearing on the popular reality series after being the center of the cast for over a decade, blasted the Bravo network during her appearance in the tell-all docuseries "The Dark Side of Reality TV."

In the scene, she explained how she was paid very little during the show's earlier days and likened it to making a deal "with the devil."

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"Season 2, I believe I got paid $5,000 for the whole season. Not much money, I didn't even have an attorney look over my contract. I had no idea what I was doing," the celebrity explained.

She also slammed the network for how it handled filming her discovering her mother's death.

"They were out of line, and I think they should have taken me aside and said, 'Your mom has passed. Talk to your daughter off-camera.' If I was a producer, that's what I would've done," the Bravo veteran stated.
Originally appeared on E! Online

The Real Housewives of Orange County alum Lydia McLaughlin and her family are mourning a tragic loss.

The former Bravo star's brother Geoffrey "Geoff" Shyam Stirling Jr. was shot and killed during a confrontation with police in Southern California April 17. He was 45.

My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother," McLaughlin, 44, said in a statement to TMZ April 18. "We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn."

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In a statement released the same day, the Newport Beach Police Department said one of its officers had stopped Geoff, a resident of Laguna Niguel, Calif., for an alleged traffic violation while he was driving his motorcycle on a highway .

"Shortly after being stopped, Stirling became uncooperative and assaulted the officer," the statement said. "During the ensuing violent altercation, Stirling managed to remove the department-issued taser from the officer's duty belt and attempted to deploy it multiple times against the officer. At that point, an officer-involved shooting occurred."

"Once their investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section for independent review," the statement continued, "This remains an active investigation."

In addition to Lydia, 44, Geoff, who worked for years as a model and actor, is also survived by their brother Jesse Stirling, 53, and father Scott Stirling, 73, President and CEO of Canadian's Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Ltd., which was cofounded by his late father, Geoffrey Stirling, who died in 2013.

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Geoff is preceded in death by mother Judy Stirling, who died in October after battling breast cancer for years and had appeared a few times on RHOC.

Fellow show alum Vicki Gunvalson reached out to Lydia following news of Geoff's passing. "Lydia - I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother!" her former costar wrote on her Instagram. "My heart hurts for you and your family. Peace be with you."

More from E! Online

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The statement continued. "Additional officers responded to the scene and rendered medical aid to Stirling until personnel from the Newport Beach Fire Department arrived. Stirling was transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased."

Facebook / Geoffrey Stirling Jr.

The police department said that in accordance with California law, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) was notified and responded to the scene to conduct an independent investigation.

Facebook / Geoffrey Stirling Jr.

"Once their investigation is complete, the findings will be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section for independent review," the statement continued, "This remains an active investigation."

iMDB / Geoffrey Stirling Jr.

In addition to Lydia, 44, Geoffwho worked for years as a model and actor and headed his own production companyis also survived by their brother Jesse Stirling, 53, and father Scott Stirling, 73, President and CEO of Canadian's Newfoundland Broadcasting Company Ltd., which was cofounded by his late father, Geoffrey Stirling, who died in 2013.

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Geoff is preceded in death by mother Judy Stirling, who died in October after battling breast cancer for years and had appeared a few times on RHOC.

Fellow show alum Vicki Gunvalson reached out to Lydia following news of Geoff's passing. "Lydia - I am so sorry to hear of the loss of your brother!" her former costar wrote on her Instagram. "My heart hurts for you and your family. Peace be with you."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI)  Much like an injury, doctors from the Rhode Island Medical Society say the states doctor shortage needs to be addressed now, or it will only get worse.

Unfortunately, I think were in a state of emergency with this, Dr. Mariah Stump, the societys vice president, said Friday on WPRI 12s Newsmakers.

Brown University researchers estimate the state needs at least 300 doctors to keep up with demand, but doctors and patients are concerned about looming closure of Anchor Medical Associates.

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The health care group serves roughly 25,000 patients. In a letter earlier this month, Anchor Medical said it was closing because it was struggling to replace retiring doctors and that insurance reimbursement rates were not keeping up with growing costs.

[Doctors] say, I can go across the border and make 30% more, Dr. Stump said. In that ballpark.

Resources available for patients losing Anchor Medical providers

During an interview with 12 News earlier this week, Gov. Dan McKee said he would be open to raising reimbursement rates in Rhode Island, but not before the state conducts a review.

Thats the first step to doing something, he said. You have to get the information before you can actually determine what the remedy is.

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If the budget item passes, recommendations for the review would be due in 2027. But Dr. Thomas Bledsoe said studies have already been done to examine the effects of raising the reimbursement rate, and he believes the state needs to act.

The emergency is that the 25,000 [patients] is really the tip of the iceberg, Dr. Bledsoe said.

House Speaker Joe Shekarchi is among those looking for a primary care physician. While he said the state needs to take steps to keep doctors, he acknowledged that this years budget is tight.

The majority of my caucus want to see any money put into primary physician reimbursement rates, he said.

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On Friday, McKee announced hes adding an item to the budget in response to the recent closures, which would require health care groups to report their financial status on a quarterly basis.

This new reporting requirement is designed to be an early warning mechanism, he said.

McKee: State working to help Anchor Medical doctors, patients

McKee said hes also included other measures in the budget aimed at supporting doctors.

We put some funding in for docs that want to stay here, making sure that they help them with some of the costs of education, he said.

The state is also looking into creating a medical school at URI, but Dr. Bledsoe said that could take decades.

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To think that theres a whole second crop of potential faculty in Rhode Island to staff the medical school, I think is a reach, he said.

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RIPLEY  A Ripley woman pleaded guilty Thursday to accessory after the fact to the capital murder of her significant other as part of a plea agreement. In exchange for testifying against her father, Caitlin Spence will likely receive a 20-year suspended sentence.

Spence, 38, had been detained since November 2024, charged with capital murder in the December 2022 death of Kirby Carpenter, 36. Spence was in a romantic relationship with Carpenter, and they shared a child. She was released April 17 after posting a $10,000 professional bond.

She is required to wear a GPS monitor and remain in Mississippi, except when she travels to Pennsylvania where she is involved in a custody case for her daughter, said defense attorney Anthony Farese. Spence also signed a waiver of extradition, saying if she is out of state, she will return for all court proceedings.

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Spence and her parents  Jeffrey Spence, 67, and Karen Spence, 65  were indicted in April 2024 and each charged with capital murder, two counts of grand larceny and conspiracy.

On Thursday, Caitlin Spence pleaded guilty to the reduced charge of accessory after the fact of capital murder and agreed to testify against the co-defendants. Circuit Judge Kelly Luther accepted her guilty plea and deferred her sentencing until after the co-defendants trials.

We have been working on this for quite some time, said Farese. We made a proffer, where she admitted her knowledge of what occurred and that she was not involved in the death of Kirby. Her father made some incriminating statements to her that indicated he was responsible for the death.

In exchange for her testimony, the state will recommend Spence receive a 20-year sentence, get credit for the more than 16 months she has already served, and have the rest of her time suspended. She will also have to serve five years of post-release supervision. The plea agreement also calls for the conspiracy and grand larceny charges to be dismissed.

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Tippah County deputy sheriffs responded to the Dry Creek area of Tippah County on the afternoon of Dec. 2, 2022, and found Carpenter dead from a gunshot wound outside the County Road 600 house he shared with Spence. Authorities believe Carpenter was killed on Nov. 30, 2022, and that a substantial amount of items were stolen from the Carpenter estate around the time of the murder. Carpenter owned multiple rental properties and was the owner of Mississippi Gold, Silver and Coin Exchange.

According to previously published reports, Jeffrey and Karen Spence said they travelled to Mississippi shortly after their daughter gave birth to Carpenters child in the summer of 2022. After an extended stay, the parents reportedly left Nov. 29, 2022, the day before Carpenter died, and traveled to Virginia. They returned on Dec. 3, 2022, the day after Caitlin Spence told authorities she found his body behind the garage.

The lengthy investigation by the sheriffs office and the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation led to the arrest of Spence and her parents a year to the day after Carpenters death.

U.S. Marshals in Sugar Grove, Virginia, arrested the parents on the morning of Nov. 30, 2023. Later the same day, Caitlin Spence was detained in Brookville, Pennsylvania. They were extradited to Mississippi and held in separate county jails. Karen Spence was released on a $150,000 bond in August 2024 and returned to her home in Virginia. Jeffrey Spence remains held without bond in the Union County Jail.
Colorados unemployment rate rose slightly in March to 4.8%, which is also above the national average of 4.2%.

It ticked up from 4.7% in February, as did the national average from 4.1%, according to a report from the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment released Friday.

The number of those jobless increased by 1,200 month-over-month, to a total of 156,500.

The industries showing the most job growth, according to the report, included trade, transportation and utilities  all adding 7,700 jobs.

The retail sector growth was due to partially reflecting the return of workers from a strike. The reference was for the King Sooper strike, which ended on Feb. 17 with a 100-day period of labor peace so the sides could continue to negotiate a contract.

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Sectors seeing the most job losses included education and health services, which shed 2,400 jobs, followed by leisure and hospitality with 1,800 positions lost.

Employers in Colorado gained 6,800 nonfarm payroll jobs from February to March for a total of 2,972,800 jobs, according to the survey of business establishments, the report stated. Private sector payroll jobs increased by 5,800, while government added 1,000 jobs.

In the last year, nonfarm payroll jobs grew by 2,300. That was due to the private sector losing 11,500 and the government adding 13,800, according to the report.

Colorados rate of job growth over the past year is 0.1% below the U.S. rate of 1.2%.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC) Organizers with 50501 Rochester held a Rise Up & Reach Out rally Saturday in Rochester at Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

The rally is part of a National Day of Action and a three-pronged event beginning with a lineup of community voices addressing the national and local impact of actions President Trump has taken so far during his presidency.

We strongly condemn the administrations use of executive overreach to gut federal agencies, terrorize vulnerable communities and subvert the rule of law set forth in our Constitution, organizers with 50501 Rochester said. This event is focused on multi-faceted forms of resistance to the Trump regimes attacks. By using our collective power to rise up in solidarity to protest what`s happening and to reach out in support of local organizations, we can add strength to so many places and people here in our community who are already doing amazing work.

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Local and regional organizations will offer participants information and actionable opportunities that support their efforts of outreach and mutual aid initiatives. Non-perishable food donations are being collected to benefit St. Peters Kitchen to support its efforts to combat hunger in the Rochester area.

Organizers also say an often overlooked part of effective resistance is joy.

Celebratory joy creates unity on an emotional and physical level, and a unified populace is harder to dominate. Communal joy and the act of coming together represents an outright danger to a repressive regime. Jennifer Mussaw, Co-Chair of 50501 Rochester, said.

The 50501 Movement stands in direct opposition to the authoritarian assault on American

democracy by the Trump administration and its allies. In just a short time, grassroots organizers without any budget, centralized structure or 0official backing pulled off hundreds of peaceful protests in all 50 states. April 19th will be the Movement`s fourth National Day of Action. 50501 is powered by the American people and a volunteer team of organizers across the country.

(WROC photo/ Ryan Hermenet)

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  April is Autism Awareness Month, and Friday, a Rochester business celebrated its one-year anniversary by donating to the cause.

Rochesters first licensed legal dispensary, Good Life Collective, opened on Monroe Avenue in 2024. The company marked the occasion with a $1,000 donation to AutismUp. AutismUp serves 4,000 thousand families in the Rochester area. The organization and the business both say its a cause that hits close to home.

Awareness is really important because I think everybody in our community probably knows somebody if not a family member that has autism, so I think it touches a lot of families in the community, AutismUp Fundraising and Event Manager Amber Rodemerk said.

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We have some family members that have autism, so were very passionate about thatespecially to give back to that means a lot to us, Good Life Collective Co-owner Jamel Young said.

Good Life is holding a public anniversary celebration Saturday from 3 p.m. to 10 p.m. There will be live music, giveaways, samples, and much more.

Good Life is also preparing to open a new location on Main Street in Canandaigua in May.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Police are searching for information after a person walked themself into Rochester General Hospital after being shot at an unknown location.

Rochester Police said the victim, a 20-year-old Rochester woman walked into the hospital just after 8 p.m. Friday. Officers said she had been shot at least once in the lower body, and the injuries are non-life threatening.

Investigators are still working to find the time and location the woman was shot and are asking anyone with information to call 911.

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Australia, it seems, cant catch a break.

Or rather, to use a terrible pun, its catching loads of breaks  sorry  specifically on the east coast, as the region has been battered by storm after storm, with massive waves on one hand wreaking havoc on coastlines and communities, and on the other, bringing historic swell for surfers.

The latest of which has seen some of Australias heaviest slabs light up outside of Sydney, caused four drownings (one in Victoria; three others in New South Wales), and spectators along the coast flocking to see the action, in some cases, getting a little too close, prompting concerns.

One man, seen in the video above, was captured riding the Dee Why Express per the caption, getting swept away by a rogue wave while watching the giant surf from the northern beaches of Sydney.

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However, as mentioned, there have been casualties amongst the spectating, too.

A group was washed off the rocks at a beach off Punch Bowl Road, southeast of Melbourne. One woman died, and another man has gone missing. "One of the women managed to make her way back to shore but the other woman and the man were unable to," a Victoria Police spokesperson said.

Then, there were three drownings in NSW, all on Good Friday. One, a fisherman was swept off the breakwall at Wollongong Harbor; another, who was believed to have fallen into the water in Sydney Harbor; and a third in the states southerly coast, in the afternoon, at Green Cape.

Related: Scary Stuff: Watch Live from Massive Cape Solander

On the flipside, surfers have been scoring during the relentless run of swell, with Sydneys Cape Solander going off, and all the action broadcast live via media dream team Hannah Anderson and Nick Carroll, under their latest endeavor, We Shouldnt Be Friends. Check out the action here.

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Due to all the heavy swell activity, Surf Lifesaving NSW issued a warning statement:

"As NSW beaches continue to be hammered by strong surf and wild weather, volunteer surf lifesavers and lifeguards are issuing a timely reminder that when you visit the beach and find it closed, do not enter the water and take unnecessary risks.

Related: Aussie Surf Spot Deadmans Lives Up to its Name (Video)
DENVER (KDVR)  A driver is in a hospital with life-threatening injuries after a rollover crash on Interstate 70 in Aurora on Saturday morning.

A spokesperson for the Aurora Police Department told FOX31 that two vehicles were involved in the crash, and one rolled over. Police got the call just before 7:15 a.m.

The driver of the vehicle that rolled was ejected and taken to a hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other driver sustained minor injuries.

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APD said excessive speed is considered to be a factor in the crash, and the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

According to the Colorado Department of Transportation, all westbound lanes of the interstate were closed at Airport Boulevard, and traffic was diverted to Pena Boulevard. Cameras showed stopped traffic in the area.

Traffic was at a standstill on westbound I-70 near Airport Boulevard after a crash on April 19, 2025. A driver is in a hospital with life-threatening injuries after a rollover crash on Interstate 70 in Aurora on Saturday morning.

As of 10:07 a.m., CDOT said the crash was cleared and the road was reopened.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to FOX31 Denver.
BUCHAREST, Romania (AP)  Romania's presidential election redo next month will be a high-stakes test for the European Union members democracy after last years annulled vote triggered the countrys deepest political crisis since 1989.

Romanias Constitutional Court annulled the election on Dec. 6 after the far-right outsider Calin Georgescu topped first-round polls. The decision followed allegations of electoral violations and a Russian campaign promoting Georgescu, who is now under investigation and barred from the rerun. Moscow has denied it meddled.

What happened last year was very serious and ... at that time, completely anti-democratic, Elena Lasconi, who came second to enter the runoff last year and is participating in the new election, told The Associated Press. It was not justified, in my opinion.

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Once a communist state until the end of the Cold War, Romania has spent decades trying to build strong democratic institutions. But last years annulled election shattered public trust  and it could take years to repair the damage.

I think the public trust in political parties, in public institutions, in the state generally was quite low, says Septimius Parvu, coordinator of the electoral program at Expert Forum, a pro-democracy think-tank. This dislocated even more the trust. It created an earthquake which would  leave marks in the longer term on the trust in democracy.

Many feel Romanian authorities have not sufficiently explained what happened last year, which has left voters to wonder "whether this will be the final election, Parvu added.

A fragmented political landscape

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Complicating Lasconi's chances in the rerun, her Save Romania Union party, or USR, withdrew its support for her last week in favor of incumbent Bucharest mayor Nicusor Dan, claiming he has a stronger chance of winning the presidency. Lasconi labeled colleagues who moved against her as coup plotters."

She said it adds to the chaos in the wake of last years election debacle, which has already left many Romanians disillusioned. None of the state institutions have assured us that well have fair elections, she said. People said in the streets, our votes dont count.

Cristian Andrei, a political consultant based in Bucharest, says there is an underlying social discontent that could explode again unless political parties and candidates start to "speak to all segments of society.

The underlying issue in Romania is the widespread public dissatisfaction with the political class," he said. "Its important to keep reminding the public of what happened: that we were facing a campaign that attempted to hijack Romanias democracy using unorthodox and illegal means.

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Far-right rise sparks concern

Georgescus stunning rise  from polling in single digits to leading the first round  shocked many observers. The Russia-friendly candidate, who has praised fascist figures from Romanias past, not only unnerved Brussels but raised urgent questions about foreign interference in European elections.

Like other EU countries, the far-right vote in recent years has grown in Romania, fueled by widespread anti-establishment sentiment. After Georgescu was barred from the redo, Romanias far-right, which holds about a third of legislative seats, scrambled to find a successor.

Up stepped George Simion, the leader of the Alliance for the Unity of Romanians, or AUR, who came fourth in last years race and later backed Georgescu. The second biggest party in the legislature, AUR, proclaims to stand for family, nation, faith, and freedom.

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Simion has drawn criticism in the past due to anti-EU rhetoric and remarks against continued aid to Ukraine, a neighboring country, which like Moldova, he is banned from entering over security concerns.

Romanias decision to annul the election, and the ban on Georgescus candidacy, has been strongly criticized by U.S. Vice President JD Vance, Elon Musk and Moscow  which publicly supported his candidacy in the rerun.

Geopolitically, we are in a very complicated situation, Lasconi warned.

The candidates and what's at stake

Eleven candidates are participating in the first round, which is scheduled for May 4. If no candidate wins more than 50% of the ballots, a runoff will be held on May 18.

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Other key candidates include Dan, the Bucharest mayor running independently under the campaign slogan Honest Romania, and Crin Antonescu, who is backed by Romanias governing coalition and is running on a Romania forward platform.

Victor Ponta, a former prime minister between 2012 and 2015 who resigned after a fatal nightclub fire, is running on a MAGA-style Romania First ticket and boasts of having close ties to the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.

After last year's events, data from local surveys should be taken with caution, given concerns about politicization. Still, a median of polls suggests a runoff could pit the far-right Simion against either Dan, Ponta, or Antonescu.

A Simion presidency could threaten EU unity as the war rages on in neighboring Ukraine. This is compounded by Trump's attempts to forge closer ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin as he seeks an end to the war in Ukraine.

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Social media controversy

In the wake of the annulled election, the role social media allegedly played in Georgescus success came under intense scrutiny when declassified Romanian intelligence pointed to coordinated foreign interference via the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform TikTok.

The case highlighted the threat large social media platforms can pose to liberal democracies, and the EU Commission responded by launching an ongoing probe into TikTok to determine whether it violated the EUs Digital Services Act in failing to deal with risks to Romania's election.

TikTok said it dismantled covert influence networks targeting Romanians in December, including over 27,000 accounts, which posted comments en masse via a fake engagement vendor promoting the AUR party and Georgescu, "in an attempt to manipulate Romanian elections discourse." It also removed more than 1,100 accounts impersonating presidential candidates.

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TikTok stated it has taken steps to protect Romanias election integrity, including expanding its team of Romanian-speaking content moderators, working with a local fact-checking group to combat disinformation, and in-app tools linking to official election information.

The concerns over social media, however, have led to what some critics view as undemocratic overreach by Romanias Central Election Bureau ahead of the new vote. The bureau has drawn recent criticism for requesting takedowns of online political comments by private citizens.

Public doubt and disillusionment

The political turbulence sparked large street protests and has left many voters uncertain and divided.

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Society is a bit divided, its fragmented in a way as a reaction, said Octavian Frecea, a voter in Bucharest. Only an isolated society isnt influenced from the outside  We are economically and politically dependent on everyone.

As Romania heads into one of its most critical elections since 1989, the stakes go beyond who wins the next five-year presidency and may be viewed as a referendum on democracy.

Weve been divided for over 35 years, Lasconi said. Now Romania isnt just split in two  Romania is shattered into many pieces.
PICKENS COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA)  A woman is facing new charges in connection with the death of Jessica Barnes, a Pendleton woman who was found dead after being reported missing in 2024.

21-year-old Kendall Mims was charged Wednesday with destruction, desecration, or removal of human remains, according to the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division.

A warrant stated that Mims, along with Victoria Tippett and Brandon Barnes, burned Jessica Barnes body multiple times.

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The three moved Jessica Barness body from Pendleton to a location on Twin Lakes Road in Pickens County before moving her body again to a remote area where they burned the remains, according to the warrant.

Brandon Barnes, the victims husband, was charged with her murder on October 2.

According to the Pendleton Police Department, Brandon Barnes admitted he had killed Jessica.

The couples roommates, Mims and Tippett, were also arrested in October and charged with accessory after the fact to a felony, misprison of a felony, and obstructing justice.

All three were indicted on their October charges on April 15 and April 17, according to court records.

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A judge ruled Friday that one of the surviving roommates of the slain University of Idaho students can testify that the masked intruder she saw the night of her friends' deaths had "bushy eyebrows."

Ada County Judge Steven Hippler's decision Friday comes after a hearing intended to resolve several arguments about which evidence can be used at trial between the state and the defense.

Bryan Kohberger, 30, is accused of fatally stabbing Madison Mogen, 21; Kaylee Goncalves, 21; and Xana Kernodle, 20; as well as Kernodle's boyfriend, Ethan Chapin, 20, with a large fixed-blade knife at an off-campus home in Moscow, Idaho, on Nov. 13, 2022.

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He has pleaded not guilty to four counts of murder.

Attorneys for Kohberger have clashed with prosecutors over which pieces of evidence should be admissible at trial, which is set to begin this summer.

Latah County prosecutors have said they intend to seek the death penalty if Kohberger is convicted.

'Bushy eyebrows'

In the Friday ruling about whether describing the intruder as having "bushy eyebrows" would be permitted, the judge noted that the roommate's story stayed consistent across five interviews and in grand jury testimony.

In the interviews following the killings, the roommate, who is the only known eyewitness of the intruder that night, repeatedly mentioned the suspect's eyebrows.

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Kohberger's defense team argued that the roommate's testimony is unreliable because she admitted she was very tired and may have been drunk when she saw the intruder.

The judge also called the "bushy eyebrow" testimony "highly relevant," because this roommate is the only person who saw the intruder, and denied the defense's claims that said testimony could result in unfair prejudice toward the suspect.

"There is nothing confusing about her testimony; her descriptions of the 'bushy eyebrows' have been consistent and clear," Hippler wrote. "D.M.'s description of the intruder having bushy eyebrows will not reasonably compel jury to find Defendant guilty simply because he may have similar eyebrows."

Last week, the judge sided with the defense, ruling that "sociopath" and "psychopath" should not be used as descriptors for Kohberger in court, but allowed him to be called a "murderer."

From top left, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Ethan Chapin and Xana Kernodle.

More rulings

The defense had also sought to keep Kohberger's recently diagnosed Autism Spectrum Disorder out of the trial.

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The judge granted the request in part, noting that testimony about his diagnosis would not be relevant unless Kohberger testifies.

Hippler also ruled on two pieces of physical evidence Friday.

One allows the state to use a 3-D printed model of the victims' off-campus house, with Hippler noting that the killings took place in two bedrooms of a three-story home with a "complicated layout."

"The suspects ability to enter the home, carrying out the stabbings and exit the home consistent with D.M.'s observations will be central point of the trial, particularly given that Defendant is challenging whether it could be accomplished by one person within the time frame alleged," Hippler wrote in his ruling.

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The defense asked the judge to exclude Kohberger's Amazon order history from trial, as prosecutors have alleged in court documents that the suspect purchased a knife online that matched the knife sheath found at the scene.

Hippler denied the request, calling the order history "highly relevant."

He also noted that Kohberger searched for how to delete his account activity following the slayings and then, weeks later, searched for the knife again, establishing a "significant connection between Defendant and Ka-bar knife and sheath."

Earlier this week, the judge ruled that the immediate family members of the victims will be allowed in court, and that the state must provide a list of Kohberger's family members that it is calling to testify so the other family members can be allowed to attend court, as well.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
As Easter approaches, Christians around the world begin to focus on two of the central tenets of their faith: the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

Other charismatic Jewish teachers or miracle workers were active in Judea around the same time, approximately 2,000 years ago. What set Jesus apart was his followers belief in his resurrection. For believers, this was not only a miracle, but a sign that Jesus was the long-awaited Jewish messiah, sent to save the people of Israel from their oppressors.

But was the idea of a resurrection itself a unique belief in first-century Israel?

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I am a scholar of ancient Judaism and its connection to the early Christian movement. The Christian concept of Jesus rising from the dead helped shape many of the faiths key teachings and, ultimately, the new religions split from Judaism. Yet religious teachings about resurrection go back many centuries before Jesus walked the earth.

There are stories that likely predate early Jewish beliefs by many centuries, such as the Egyptian story of the god Osiris being resurrected by his wife, Isis. Most relevant for Christianity, though, are Judaisms own ideas about resurrection.

Your dead shall live

One of the earliest written Jewish references to resurrection in the Bible is found in the Book of Isaiah, which discusses a future era, perhaps a time of final judgment, in which the dead would rise and be subject to Gods ultimate justice. Your dead shall live; their corpses shall rise, Isaiah prophesies. Those who dwell in the dust will awake and shout for joy.

The Great Isaiah Scroll: the best preserved of the biblical scrolls found at Qumran, by the Dead Sea, which was probably written around the second century B.C.E. Ardon Bar Hama/The Israel Museum, Jerusalem/Wikimedia Commons

Later Jewish biblical texts such as the Book of Daniel also referenced resurrection.

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There were several competing Jewish sects at the time of Jesus life. The most prominent and influential, the Pharisees, further integrated the concept of resurrection into Jewish thought. According to the first-century historian Josephus, the Pharisees believed that the soul was immortal and could be reunited with a resurrected body  ideas that would likely have made the idea of Jesus rising from the dead more acceptable to the Jews of his time.

Within a few centuries, the rabbis began to fuse together the earlier biblical references to bodily resurrection with the later ideas of the Pharisees. In particular, the rabbis began to discuss the concept of bodily resurrection and its connection to the messianic era.

CC BY The Jewish Cemetery on Mount of Olives in Jerusalem. Graves face the Temple Mount, where some believe that the resurrection of the dead will culminate. xiquinhosilva/Wikimedia Commons

Jews believed that the legitimate Messiah would be a descendant of the biblical King David who would vanquish their enemies and restore Israel to its previous glory. In the centuries following Jesus death, the rabbis taught that the souls of the dead would be resurrected after the Messiah appeared on earth.

By the 500s C.E. or so, the rabbis further elaborated upon the concept. The Talmud, the most important collection of authoritative writings on Jewish law apart from the Bible itself, notes that one who does not believe in resurrection has no share in the Olam Haba, the World to Come. The Olam Haba is the realm where these sages believed ones soul eventually dwells after death. Interestingly, the concept of hell itself never became ingrained within mainstream Jewish thought.

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Even now, the concept of God giving life to the dead is affirmed every day in the Amidah, a Jewish prayer recited as part of the daily morning, afternoon and evening services.

Old ideas, new beliefs

The fact that the first followers of Jesus were Jews likely contributed to the concept of resurrection becoming ingrained into Christian thought. Yet the Christian understanding of resurrection was taken to an unprecedented degree in the decades following Jesus death.

According to Matthews Gospel, Jesus, a Jew from Galilee, entered Jerusalem in the days before Passover. He was accused of sedition against the Roman authorities  and likely other charges, such as blasphemy  largely because he was causing a disturbance among the Jews getting ready to celebrate the holiday. At the time, Passover was a pilgrimage festival in which tens of thousands of Jews would travel to Jerusalem.

After being betrayed by one of his followers, Judas, Jesus was arrested, hastily put on trial and sentenced to be crucified. The Roman authorities wished to uphold the pax Romana, or Roman peace. They feared that unrest amid a major festival could lead to a rebellion, especially given the accusation that at least some of Jesus followers believed him to be the King of the Jews, as was recorded later in Matthews and Marks Gospels.

CC BY-SA Crucifixes often display the Latin abbreviation INRI, short for Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews. This statue in Germanys Ellwangen Abbey shows the abbreviation in three languages. Andreas Praefcke/Wikimedia Commons

According to the Gospels, Jesus was put to death on what is now Good Friday, and rose again on the third day  which today is celebrated as Easter Sunday.

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Jesus early followers believed not only that he had been resurrected, but that he was the long-awaited Jewish messiah, who had fulfilled earlier Jewish prophecies. Eventually, they also embraced the idea that he was the divine Son of God, although scholars still debate exactly how and when this occurred.

In addition, the nature of Jesus resurrection remains a source of debate among theologians and scholars  such as whether followers believed his resurrected body was made of flesh and blood, or pure spirit.

Yet the grander meaning of the resurrection, which is recorded in all four canonical Gospels, remains clear for many of the approximately 2 billion Christians around the world: They believe that Jesus triumphed over death, which serves as a cornerstone foundation of the Christian faith.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Aaron Gale, West Virginia University

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Aaron Gale does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organization that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the State Department will restrict visas for at least 250 Nicaraguan officials, pointing to human rights violations made by the Nicaraguan government, led by co-presidents Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, who are husband and wife.

The United States is taking decisive steps to impose visa restrictions on more than 250 regime officials of the Nicaraguan dictatorship. With this new set of restrictions, the U.S. government has now taken steps to impose visa restrictions on over 2,000 officials in Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillos regime, which has deprived the Nicaraguan people of their fundamental freedoms and forced so many into exile, Rubio said in a statement on Friday.

As we mark seven years since the Ortega and Murillo regimes brutal wave of repression against protestors, we reflect on the protestors courage and desire to live in a Nicaragua free from tyranny, the U.S.s top diplomat added on Friday. The United States will not stand for Ortega and Murillos continued assault on Nicaragua.

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Nicaraguas Legislature approved a constitutional reform in late January, allowing Ortega and Murillo to serve as co-presidents of the Central American country. Ortega has argued that the adopted proposal strengthens the model of peoples President, the model of direct democracy.

The reform came as part of the governments crackdown, which has accelerated since 2018 anti-government protests. The government has been accused of imprisoning political dissidents, reporters and religious leaders, with thousands leaving the country in the process.

The ruling partys officials and military leaders are responsible for abuses, crimes and human rights violations that are part of the systematic repression campaign, according to U.N. experts. In a lengthy report from earlier this month, U.N. human rights experts said Ortega and Murillo have built a centralized and repressive regime that has co-opted all branches of Government and blurred the lines between party and State.

As I stated during my first visit to our region, the Nicaraguan regime is an enemy of humanity. The Trump Administration will not tolerate threats to U.S. security from a regime that weaponizes immigration and positions Nicaragua as a hub for illegal immigrants trying to cross our border, Rubio said in a Friday post on the social platform X.

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Last year, the Biden administration slapped visa restrictions and imposed sanctions on more than 250 members of the Nicaraguan government, nongovernmental actors and their close family members.

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A federal judge on Friday ruled that the majority of the claims in a lawsuit against The Vanguard School and Harrison School District 2, alleging the school and district violated the First Amendment rights of a student, could proceed.

Jaiden "J.R." Rodriguez, a former junior high student at The Vanguard School, and his mom, Eden Hope Rodriguez, in 2023 sued the school and school district over its policy over whether he can wear a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack.

The lawsuit alleges that the school and school district's dress code policy prohibiting Rodriguez from wearing the Gadsden flag patch and several other patches depicting firearms is a violation of his First Amendment rights.

Earlier this year the defendants (Vanguard and D-2) filed a motion for dismissal, stating that several of the claims in the lawsuit should not move forward. Some of the arguments for dismissal in their motion included claims regarding jurisdiction, and that some claims were now moot due to a revision in the district's dress code policy.

On Friday, Judge S. Kato Crews issued a ruling denying a majority of the dismissal motion's parts.

"This decision is a stinging rebuke to school officials who think they can silence points of view that are out of step with 'progressive' orthodoxy," James Kerwin, an attorney representing the Rodriguez family said in a statement to The Gazette. "The Gadsden Flag is a proud symbol of freedom, despite fashionable ideologies that try to link it (and every other symbol of the American founding) with the evils of history. Patriotic students everywhere can take heart in todays decision. Their right to honor their country and its past remains intact and protected by the First Amendment."

According to the ruling from Crews, the motion for dismissal did not adequately prove that either the school or the school district was not responsible for the dress code policy alleged to be a First Amendment violation. Crews found that the school and the school district appear to be "finger-pointing" over which entity was responsible for the dress code, but that the finger-pointing is irrelevant due to both parties being responsible for enforcing the dress code policy in question.

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Additionally, Crews found issue with a portion of the motion stating claims in the lawsuit were now moot due to Harrison School District's updated dress code policy.

The analysis from Crews states that "at first blush" the revised dress code policy from the school district provided by Superintendent Wendy Birhanzel makes the Rodriguez family's claims for injunctive and declaratory relief moot. However, Crews said on further inspection from the court the district's current dress code online retains the disputed policy.

"The Court is not convinced here because the District appears to have returned to the allegedly wrongful behavior by either never publishing the updated policy or revising it again after December 2023 to reinstate the objectionable language," the court order states.

Crews added he was "troubled" either way if Birhanzel submitted a statement misrepresenting the status of the district's policy or if the new policy was not yet posted online more than a year later.

Gwyneth Whalen, an attorney representing Birhanzel, told The Gazette she had yet to read the court's order and could not provide a statement.

Although the majority of claims will move forward, some were dismissed by the judge; including claims from the Rodriguez family alleging retaliation for engaging in protected free speech. Crews in the court order states that no evidence was provided to support the claim of retaliation against Rodriguez, so that claim was dismissed without prejudice.

Additional claims were dismissed for being redundant, according to the court order.

Crews wrote that Rodriguez's claims of a First Amendment violation were viable under the U.S. Supreme Court's landmark decision in Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. The Vietnam War-era case, involving student protest, recognized that expression is protected if it does not "materially and substantially disrupt" school operations.

With the dismissal motion now ruled on, Crews ordered all parties to contact the court in the next seven days to continue the lawsuit proceedings.
In a press release Friday morning, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the United States will move on in a matter of days from acting as a peace-negotiations mediator between Ukraine and Russia if the warring countries are unwilling to come to any short-term solutions.

This war has no military solution to it. It really doesnt, Rubio told reporters in France on Friday. Its not going to be decided with  neither side has some strategic capability to end this war quickly. And so what were talking about here is avoiding thousands and thousands of people from dying over the next year.

Rubio then mentioned a Russian missile strike on the northern Ukrainian city, Sumy, on Palm Sunday, killing 34 people and injuring 117. Were just going to see more like that. On both sides were going to see more of that, and were trying to prevent it, he said.

This is how Russia began this Good Friday  with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shaheds  maiming our people and cities.



A missile strike on Kharkiv, right on the city. Dozens of residential buildings were damaged, as well as an enterprise and vehicles. Around 70 people pic.twitter.com/z84NrkmqrH  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 18, 2025

Determining the exact number of deaths in the war has proven to be difficult, due to a lack of reporting. However, at the end of March this year, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported that Russia had lost 915,000 soldiers since the start of the war.

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Ukraine seems to have suffered far fewer losses, as Ukrainian war correspondent, Yuri Butusov, estimated that by the end of 2024, the country had lost 70,000 soldiers.

Rubio discusses U.S. involvement since Trumps inauguration

Steve Witkoff, U.S. special envoy, has met directly with Russian President Vladimir Putin three times to determine the Russian perspective on short-term solutions.

However, Putin has rejected all U.S. ceasefire proposals so far and has made several demands before proceeding any further. These include Ukraine abandoning its aspiration to join NATO; ceding from four southeastern Ukrainian regions, including Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk and Luhansk; and downsizing its military.

A woman looks though the window of her damaged apartment following a Russian strike in Kharkiv, Ukraine, Friday, April 18, 2025. | Andrii Marienko

In March, Russia and Ukraine agreed to a 30-day halt on strikes against energy infrastructure, as the Deseret News previously reported. However, both sides accused the other of violating the deal.

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Rubio also explained that he, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg and others have had repeated engagements with the Ukrainians to find what they would need to come to a short-term ceasefire with Russia as well.

.@POTUS has been clear: The time to end the war between Russia and Ukraine is now.



Today in Paris, @SE_MiddleEast, @SPE_Kellogg and I met with leaders from France, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Ukraine to talk about how we can stop the killing and reach a just and sustainable pic.twitter.com/AUUWSXfhMf  Secretary Marco Rubio (@SecRubio) April 17, 2025

Can a ceasefire be achieved?

With leaders from the U.K., Germany and Ukraine in France on Friday, Rubio discussed what it could take to end the war, and said that the Trump administration wants it done quickly.

Im talking about a matter of days, not a matter of weeks  whether or not this is a war that can be ended. If it can, were prepared to do whatever we can to facilitate that and make sure that it happens, that it ends in a durable and just way, he said.

Rubio then considered the possibility that a ceasefire cannot be reached. If its not possible  if were so far apart that this is not going to happen  then I think the presidents probably at a point where hes going to say, Well, were done. Well do what we can on the margins. Well be ready to help whenever youre ready to have peace."

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But were not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end, Rubio said.

He continued, Were prepared to be engaged in this as long as it takes, but not indefinitely, not without progress. If this is not possible, were going to need to move on.

Trump expressed the same sentiment in the Oval Office

President Donald Trump confirmed that Rubios comments were his own position in the Oval Office on Friday, per Reuters. Commenting on conversations between Russia and Ukraine, Trump said, Now if, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say, Youre foolish, youre fools, youre horrible people, and were going to just take a pass.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlins spokesman, told the BBC, The negotiations taking place are quite difficult. The Russian side is striving to reach a peace settlement in this conflict, to ensure its own interests, and is open to dialogue.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has not responded publicly to Rubios statements.

Meanwhile, in Rome for Good Friday, Vice President JD Vance told Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni he was optimistic about the war coming to an end. I wont prejudge them, but we do feel optimistic that we can hopefully bring this war, this very brutal war, to a close, he said, per The New York Times.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. (WBOY)  Giving back to its community, thats how Ruff Ryders roll, as the Morgantown-based organization donated Easter Baskets to WVU Medicine Childrens.

On Friday, patients of WVU Medicine Childrens Hospital received Easter baskets courtesy of Ruff Ryders and the University Town Center Walmart.

Ruff Ryders and Walmart staff delivering baskets at WVUMCs. (WBOY image)

This is the second year of Easter basket donations, with the organization donating 70 baskets last year. Baskets were filled with different interactive items for children including stuffed animals and coloring books.

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12 News spoke with Ruff Ryders prospect manager, Knight Vision, on why the organization chooses to contribute to the community in this way.

Mon Medical Center hosts flag raising ceremony for Donate Life Month

We love our motorcycles, we love our cars, we love our trucks and recreation, but the biggest thing is the family aspect, and its not just having a family bond with one another, but our community is part of our family, Vision said. We like to make sure that we step up and we plug in any holes and fill in any gaps that we canwhether it is helping those with special needs, with medical or finances, or hospitals or schools.

Knight Vision (front) and members of Ruff Ryders. (WBOY image)

Ruff Ryders also volunteers with Stepping Stones, first responders, women and childrens shelters, homeless shelters and other in need. The organization also held a fish fry on Friday with proceeds going towards Camp NaCoMe.

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You can reach out and keep up with the Ruff Ryders through its website.

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TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  Terrifying moments unfolded on the Florida State University campus Thursday when two were killed and six were injured in a mass shooting.

It was a grim reminder of the horror that unfolded at the Citrus Park Town Center mall when a 16-year-old boy was shot and killed in the parking lot last fall.

Repeating history: FSU sees tragedy in mass shooting once more

The chilling sound of gunfire left an indelible mark on many in the area.

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I think there were three shots, said Torri Chandler.

Its a noise that Chandler will never forget, and she now stays hypervigilant in public spaces, especially if theres a dangerous threat.

Get down, find a place of safety, gather who I can and get to a safe place and barricade, Chandler said.

Questions about public safety are at the forefront of conversation once again, but there are three action words that have the potential to save lives: run, hide, fight.

2 food service employees killed in FSU shooting

If youre in the worst-case scenario when youre facing a shooter, dont give up, said Edward McGovern, founder and chief executive officer of CERA Software, Inc Fight back.

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McGovern is a former police major and SWAT sniper with the Hallandale Beach Police Department.

He was a responding officer to the deadly mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in 2018.

After more than 20 years of service, McGovern is now focused on the technological side of public safety.

He created CERA-Critical Event Response Applications to improve police response to active shooter situations and other critical incidents.

McGovern is encouraging the community to respond to an active shooter with the Run-Hide-Fight training tactic.

Understand what you have access to, said McGovern. It could be a fire extinguisher, it could be an object you throw at the shooter, it could be something that will temporarily prevent that shooter from attacking.

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A court in St. Petersburg sentenced 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva to two years and eight months in a penal colony on April 18 for allegedly "discrediting" the Russian army, including by sticking a quote from a Ukrainian poem onto a monument.

Kozyreva was arrested on Feb. 24, 2024, after she affixed a verse from Taras Shevchenkos "My Testament" to his statue in St. Petersburg, according to the Russian human rights group OVD-Info. The excerpt read: "Oh bury me, then rise ye up / And break your heavy chains / And water with the tyrants blood / The freedom you have gained."

A second case was filed against her in August after she gave an interview to Radio Free Europe in which she called Russias war in Ukraine "monstrous" and "criminal."

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At one of her hearings, Kozyreva defended her actions by saying she had "merely recited a poem, and pasted a quote in Ukrainian, nothing more," the St. Petersburg courts' press service said. Prosecutors reportedly sought a six-year sentence.

"The national flag still flies over Kyiv, and it always will," Kozureva said in her final statement in court, according to Russian independent outlet Mediazona. "I still dream that Ukraine will reclaim every inch of its territory: Donbas, Crimea, all of it. And I believe that one day, it will. History will judge, and judge fairly. But Ukraine has already won. It has won. Thats all."

Kozyreva has been targeted by authorities before.

OVD-Info said she was detained in December 2022 while still in high school for writing, "Murderers, you bombed it. Judases," on a city installation honoring the twinning of St. Petersburg and occupied Mariupol.

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She was later fined for "discrediting" the army and expelled from university for a post about the "imperialist nature of the war," according to the human rights group Memorial, which has recognized her as a political prisoner.

"Daria Kozyreva is being punished for quoting a classic of 19th-century Ukrainian poetry, for speaking out against an unjust war and for refusing to stay silent," Amnesty Internationals Russia Director Natalia Zviagina said in a statement. "We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Daria Kozyreva and everyone imprisoned under 'war censorship laws.'"

OVD-Info reports that more than 1,500 people are currently jailed in Russia on political grounds, and over 20,000 have been detained for anti-war views since February 2022.

Read also: US proposes leaving occupied areas under Russian control, easing sanctions, Bloomberg reports

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Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18.

Russian forces are deploying infantry and establishing logistical routes and communication lines in Kalynove, according to DeepState.

There has been a notable slowdown in Russias offensive operations after months of steady territorial gains across eastern Ukraine. According to a DeepState report from April 1, Russian troops captured just 133 square kilometers in March  the lowest monthly total since June 2024.

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Ukrainian soldiers operating in the area reported an overwhelming presence of Russian drones in the area of Kalynove, according to DeepState. New Russian drone crews, previously active in battles in Russias Kursk Oblast, have arrived to the area, the group said.

Russian forces are attempting to disrupt Ukrainian logistics and are now able to operate drones deep enough to reach Kostiantynivka, the report added.

Kostiantynivka is a city in Donetsk Oblast with a pre-war population of 67,000 people. The city has been one of the key logistical hubs for the Ukrainian military in Donetsk Oblast since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. It is currently located about 10 kilometers (6 miles) southwest of the front line in Chasiv Yar.

On April 19, the General Staff of Ukraines Armed Forces reported that Russian forces launched 54 assault operations in the Pokrovsk sector  about 35 kilometers east of Kalynove  over the last day.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 17 that Russia would likely make several attempts to launch offensives in Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. And possibly in the east, because they have not attacked there for a long time, he said.

Read also: Ukrainian forces liberate 16 square kilometers near Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, Syrskyi says

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Russia has been promoting the idea of opening US airspace to Russian airlines as part of a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine, while these efforts have faced resistance from the EU.

Source: Politico; European Pravda

Details: Politico noted that the EU is not interested in lifting aviation sanctions on Russia and it will be difficult for Russian carriers to fly to the US without Europe's participation.

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"First, EU sanctions stand firm against Russia, which includes a ban on Russian airlines flying over EU airspace," a European Commission official said on condition of anonymity.

In addition to political decisions regarding sanctions, the EU official also pointed to "major safety and security issues" related to the possible opening of EU airspace to Russian aircraft.

The official stated that "it is not known if Russian air operators and air traffic services have been properly maintained over the past three years, putting the airworthiness of the Russian fleet seriously in question".

Following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian airlines have been banned from landing in and flying over the territories of the EU and the US.

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Russia has also been cut off from access to spare parts for Western-manufactured aircraft such as Boeing and Airbus.

Meanwhile, Russia is demanding the resumption of direct air travel with the US as part of any ceasefire agreement.

In particular, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated on 11 April that such a step "should be a consequence of the lifting of sanctions on Aeroflot".

"The Americans considered it, [but] so far we have not seen any reciprocal step," he said.

It was also reported that Russia had approached Washington with a request to allow it to purchase aircraft from the US Boeing manufacturer and pay for them using Russian state assets frozen since the beginning of the full-scale war, provided a ceasefire is achieved.

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Any steps to ease restrictions for US and Russian air carriers would create pressure on European airlines, which have long complained about additional costs due to the need to avoid Russian airspace on flights to Asia. This gives an advantage to Chinese carriers.

However, despite these considerations, Brussels is in no hurry to enter into talks with Moscow on access to European airspace, particularly due to the dangers of flying over Russian territory.

Background:

A European Commission representative described the safety of Russian airspace as "problematic", referring to the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines flight, likely caused by a strike from a Russian Pantsir-S air defence system

Earlier, Bloomberg reported that US proposals for a "peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine also included the easing of sanctions against Russia in the event of a long-term ceasefire and excluded discussions on Ukraines aspirations to join NATO.

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Credit: Telegram/St Petersburg police

During an evening workout at Spirit Fitness in south-east Moscow, gym-goers were suddenly told to drop to the floor.

This was not part of their training, however, but an instruction from Russian police hunting for illegal immigrants and military draft dodgers.

Such raids have been reported across multiple Russian cities for weeks, human rights campaigners say, even before Vladimir Putin signed an order to conscript 160,000 men in the countrys biannual call-up, the largest since 2011.

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According to witnesses, police divide those at the gym into citizens and non-citizens. Russians are taken to enlistment offices, where their military records are checked.

Non-citizens are accused of immigration violations and given a choice: deportation, or enlistment in the army, according to Current Time, an independent Russian news platform.

Suddenly everyone is face-down on the floor

Footage of the March 30 raid at Spirit Fitness shows dozens of men and women lying face-down with their hands raised. Days later, another branch of the same chain was raided.

Witnesses told the outlet that women were allowed to leave, while men were separated by ethnicity or nationality before being asked to produce documents.

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I was on the treadmill, watching [a show], minding my own business, a gym-goer told the Telegram channel msk1_news. Suddenly someone taps my shoulder. I get off the treadmill and see everyone lying face-down on the floor.

Another at the gym told Current Time that police demanded all men show their passports, which were immediately checked for military records.

Theyd check the passport, flip to the military service page. If it said you were obligated to serve, off you went to the enlistment office  no matter what, just for verification.

Spirit Fitness has not commented on the incident, but staff told the outlet that raids were becoming routine. Lawyers said similar sweeps were taking place roughly twice a month in Moscow, St Petersburg, Irkutsk and Yekaterinburg.

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Once records are reviewed, some men are released. Others are handed military summons on the spot and detained.

My husband is in court now, Anastasia, who lives in a city just outside Moscow, said.

They tried to issue him a summons illegally more than two years ago  even though he has an exemption. Now theyve dragged him into the enlistment office again. I rushed over with documents, but they wouldnt let him go until the lawyer arrived, she explained.

Migrants accused of minor infractions are offered an escape route, rights activists say: a military contract to fight in Ukraine.

Valentina Chupik, a human-rights lawyer, said: They only detain people who arent ethnically Russian. Then they separate citizens from non-citizens. For the non-citizens, they falsify petty hooliganism charges and deport them. Since Feb 5, thats all it takes  even if theyve done nothing wrong. The citizens are taken straight to the enlistment office.

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Another campaigner, who asked to remain anonymous, said the raids had deliberately targeted ethnic gyms  fitness centres popular among migrant communities.

Emily Ferris, a Russia expert at the Royal United Services Institute, told The Telegraph that the methods were more overtly aggressive than most Russians were used to.

Theyve tended to more coercive methods, like suggesting to factory workers, for example, that if they dont present themselves for enlistment, theyll be fired, Ms Ferris said.

The Kremlin has also embraced a carrot-and-stick approach, offering large financial bonuses to entice new recruits.

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A recent investigation by Janis Kluge, a fellow at the German Institute for International Security Studies, found that enlistment rates surged in March.

The rise, in part, was driven by a spike in cash incentives from regional authorities desperate to meet their quotas. Every Russian region increased its signing-on bonus at least once last year and many did so again in January.

Between 1,000 and 1,500 volunteers are now signing up each day, according to Mr Kluge, compared with around 600 per day a year ago.

Moscows recruitment surge comes as Donald Trump, the US president, continues to press for a swift resolution to the war, frequently blaming Volodymyr Zelensky, his Ukrainian counterpart, and Ukraine for the conflict.

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But Ms Ferris said the recruitment drive shows Russia is not yet ready for peace, even if new recruits are not immediately sent to the front line. The Kremlin, she said, wants to seize as much ground as possible before agreeing to a ceasefire.

Crucially, she noted, Ukrainian forces still control areas of Russias Belgorod and Kursk regions along the southern border, a non-starter if Moscow is going to agree to a ceasefire.

I think theyre going to drag this out, perhaps over the next year, Ms Ferris said. They cant commit to a ceasefire where the front line currently is.

The front line is in their favour, thats possibly what these new recruits are for. They could be for auxiliary forces that could help Russia move the dial a little bit more.

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Blackouts have been reported in Sumy oblast after Russian strikes near Konotop and surrounding settlements on April 18.

The attacks come shortly after Moscow announced an end to the partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes in effect between Russia and Ukraine. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said earlier on April 18 that the one-month period for the energy truce had expired.

According to Suspilne, explosions were heard near the city of Konotop around 8:00 p.m. local time.

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While Konotop Mayor Artem Semenikhin reported that were no casualties or injuries, settlements in Sumy Oblast, including Krolevets and Shostka, lost power after the strikes. Local residents also reported that the water supply had been shut off.

Local energy officials confirmed on Telegram that the blackouts were a result of Russian strikes on energy infrastructure.

In March, the United States brokered a partial ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine on attacks against energy facilities, after the Kremlin refused to accept a full 30-day ceasefire on all hostilities.

Since then, Moscow has violated the ceasefire more than 30 times, Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on April 16.

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In his comments on April 18, Peskov did not go into detail as to whether Russia plans to resume attacks on energy facilities or extend the ban. The attacks against Sumy Oblast indicate that Russia will not extend the partial ceasefire and has resumed attacks on critical infrastructure.

Kyiv has already agreed to enter an immediate ceasefire on all attacks once Moscow accepts the same terms. Russia continues to refuse, delaying and obstructing attempts to negotiate a comprehensive peace agreement.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 18 that Washington may "take a pass" on peace negotiations if either side makes it too difficult to secure a deal.

Read also: Youre fools  US may take a pass on Ukraine-Russia talks if either side stalls, Trump says

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Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons, as Russia and Ukraine swapped hundreds of captured soldiers in the largest exchange since Moscows full-scale invasion started over three years ago.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin said at a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, in a video shared by the Kremlins Press Service.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the ceasefire another attempt by Putin to play with human lives. He wrote on X that air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine, and Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

Largest POW exchange so far

The two sides meanwhile exchanged hundreds of POWs on Saturday. Russias Ministry of Defense said that 246 Russian service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv, and that as a gesture of goodwill 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.

Zelenskyy said that 277 Ukrainian warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.

Putins ceasefire announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

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Trump spoke shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting.

In January 2023, Putin had ordered his forces in Ukraine to observe a unilateral, 36-hour cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had stopped short of stating his forces would reject Putins request, but dismissed the Russian move as playing for time to regroup its invasion forces and prepare additional attacks.

Russia says its forces are close to recapturing Kursk

Russias Defense Ministry said Saturday its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from the village of Oleshnya, one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

Zelenskyy wrote on X that Ukrainian forces continued their activity on the territory of the Kursk region and are holding their positions.

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The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim by Russia.

According to Russian state news agency Tass, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian armed forces out of Gornal ... in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

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In other developments, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraines State Emergency Service said Saturday. Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

Russias Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said its air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.

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Russian airstrikes on the town of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast on Saturday 19 April, injured one person, with two others possibly trapped under the rubble. Earlier in the day, two more people were injured in separate Russian attacks.

Source: Serhii Horbunov, Head of Kostiantynivka City Military Administration, on Facebook

Quote: "Today at 16:45, four enemy airstrikes with FAB-250 with the UMPK module took place in the town of Kostiantynivka and outside the town in the field. [A UMPK module effectively converts an unguided bomb into a guided one  ed.]

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As a result of the attack, three civilians were injured: one person was injured, and two others are possibly under the rubble.

11 private houses and 4 DTEK power lines were damaged [DTEK is the largest private energy company in Ukraine  ed.]. Emergency workers are inspecting the scene and taking rescue measures to unblock the victims, which are complicated by another strike with an FPV drone on fibre optics at the scene."

Details: Earlier, Horbunov reported on the morning attack on the territory of Kostiantynivska hromada, which resulted in two civilians being injured. [A hromada is an administrative unit designating a village, several villages, or a town, and their adjacent territories  ed.]

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The new leadership for the Colorado Springs City Council has changed the rules and timing for the general public comment before the new councils first regular meeting.

Councilmembers Brian Risley and Lynette Crow-Iverson were elected as the councils president and president pro tem on Tuesday. The agenda posted the next day for the upcoming April 22 council meeting showed an immediate change to the section where citizens can bring up items that are not on the agenda.

The regular citizens discussion time was moved to the end of the meeting and capped at one hour. Each member of the public is given three minutes to speak, meaning a maximum of around 20 people would be able to speak about items that are not up for a vote that day.

These updates are intended to streamline our proceedings and ensure we dedicate appropriate time to both citizen input and the important policy work before us, Crow-Iverson said via email Friday.

Council meetings begin at 9 a.m. and the public comment portion was normally held during the first two hours of the meeting. The comments will now come after the councils public hearings and votes on new business, which tend to be the longest and most varied sections on the agenda and will likely push the section until the afternoon or evening.

Citizens discussions had been held around the same time on the council agenda since at least 2014, according to agendas available on the city website.

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The council leaders also enacted two rule changes for public comments during that section. Citizens can no longer cede their three-minute appearance to another person to let them give a longer comment, and the council will no longer accept comments by phone.

Councilman Dave Donelson said on Friday that the rule changes would be revisited by the entire council on Monday to finalize the new approach. Donelson preferred to have a fixed start time for public comments that residents could plan around, even if it was later in the day.

The wrong impression for citizens is to think these are all set in stone now. They are not, Donelson said.

Murray Relf had been a frequent speaker at council meetings over the last year talking about the noise from Ford Amphitheater. At a meeting in March, Relf was ceded time from three people to give a 12-minute presentation on noise studies and mitigation during the public comments.

Eliminating the ceding of time to others, which has been apparently an accepted policy, clearly is meant to discourage anyone from actually developing and presenting any meaningful information to council, Relf told the city Friday.

The changes only apply to the public comment period for items not on the agenda. For comments heard during public hearings and votes on the agenda, the public will still be allowed to cede time to others and comment by phone.
Russia bombarded Ukraine with 95 missiles and drones on the night of 18-19 April, launching eight missiles of various types and 87 attack UAVs and decoy drones. Ukrainian forces have downed 33 drones and 36 others disappeared from radar.

Source: Ukraines Air Force

Details: In particular, the Russians fired three Iskander-M ballistic missiles, two Oniks anti-ship missiles and three Kh-31P anti-radiation missiles.

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In addition, Russian forces launched 87 UAVs from the Russian cities of Millerovo, Kursk and Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Hvardiiske in temporarily occupied Crimea.

UAVs were confirmed to have been shot down in the east, north and south of the country without specifying the regions.

It was also reported that 36 Russian decoy drones disappeared from radar (without causing any adverse effects).

According to the authorities, Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk and Zaporizhzhia oblasts were affected in the attack.

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The Russians have been actively strengthening their positions in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast, advancing infantry, setting up logistics and communications and preparing for offensive actions towards Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka.

Source: DeepState, a Ukrainian group of military analysts

Details: DeepState reported that the Russians continued to strengthen their positions in Kalynove. Infantry is being moved into the village, logistical routes are being established and a communications system is being set up.

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In addition, active preparations for a possible offensive towards Stara Mykolaivka and the road leading to Kostiantynivka have been recorded.

A significant threat to Ukrainian units in this section of the front remains the large-scale use of Russian drones. Ukrainian servicemen said drone crews who previously had taken part in combat in Russias Kursk Oblast had arrived in the area.

"The Russians are trying to knock out the logistics and can now easily reach Kostiantynivka," Ukrainian soldiers located in this section of the front noted.

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By Lucy Papachristou

(Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a surprise one-day ceasefire in Ukraine on Saturday for Easter, but Kyiv said Russian forces continued artillery fire and called instead for an extended true halt to hostilities.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Russia had rejected just such a proposal brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump last month and could not be trusted.

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Putin's unilateral move, to last for 30 hours, followed Washington's announcement that it could abandon peace talks within days unless Moscow and Kyiv showed they were serious about negotiating.

Putin ordered fighting to stop as of 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday until midnight on Sunday night.

"Based on humanitarian considerations ... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period," Putin told Valery Gerasimov, Chief of Russia's General Staff, at a televised meeting.

"We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions."

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Shortly after the announcement, around an hour before it was due to take effect, air raid sirens rang out in Kyiv. Another warning was put in place briefly in Kyiv and the region around the capital about four hours after the ceasefire deadline.

Zelenskiy dismissed the proposal as "yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives". As of 45 minutes before the truce was meant to start, Ukrainian planes were repelling Russian air strikes, Zelenskiy said in a post on X.

In a post on social media platform X, Zelenskiy quoted Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, as saying that Russian assault operations "continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided."

"Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow."

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Zelenskiy later expanded on Syrskyi's report, saying that Putin's ceasefire did not apply to Russia's Kursk and Belgorod regions, border areas where Ukrainian forces have made incursions and where hostilities were still going on.

"Fighting continues, Russian strikes continue," he wrote, without providing evidence.

Zelenskiy said that in some areas along the front, "Russian artillery still sounds, rather than any promise of silence from the Russian leader. Russian drones are being used. In some sectors it is quieter."

He recalled that Russia last month rejected the U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire and said that if Moscow agreed to "truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly  mirroring Russia's actions".

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"If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20," Zelenskiy wrote.

In Brussels, a European Union spokesperson expressed caution over the proclaimed ceasefire, saying: "Russia has a track record as an aggressor, so first we need to see any actual halt of the aggression and clear deeds for a lasting ceasefire."

A British foreign ministry spokesperson said: "Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same."

LITTLE FAITH

Kyiv residents expressed little faith in the ceasefire, saying similar past moves by Putin had had little effect.

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"This man is not capable of reaching any sort of a deal. He does not know how to do that," said Tetiana Solovei, 65. "Tonight, in Ukraine and especially in Kyiv, we expect missiles. There will be no ceasefire."

Andriy Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Centre for Countering Disinformation, said Russian forces continued to fire on Ukrainian positions after the truce was meant to have taken effect.

The governor of southern Ukraine's Kherson province said Russian air strikes began shortly before the truce was to start and continued after. He posted a picture of a damaged building.

"Unfortunately, we are not seeing any sort of calm here. The shelling continues and our civilians are under fire," he wrote on Telegram.

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Reuters could not independently verify the situation at the front.

Ukrainian bloggers who cover the war said firing continued along the entire line of contact. But public broadcaster Suspilne quoted servicemen on the eastern front as saying the number of Russian attacks had declined.

Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio had said on Friday the United States would walk away from efforts to broker a Russia-Ukraine peace deal unless there were clear signs of progress soon.

Kirill Dmitriev, an envoy for Putin who travelled to Washington this month, posted news of the ceasefire on X, adding: "One step closer to peace" and an emoji of a dove.

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Trump has vowed to bring a swift end to the war, while shifting U.S. policy from firmly supporting Kyiv towards accepting Moscow's account of the conflict.

Last month, after Ukraine accepted Trump's proposal for a 30-day truce but Moscow rejected it, the sides agreed only to limited pauses of attacks on energy targets and at sea, which each accuses the other of breaking.

Putin announced his Easter truce a week after a Russian missile attack killed 35 people and wounded nearly 120 in the Ukrainian city of Sumy, including Christians heading to celebrate Palm Sunday.

That attack, the deadliest against civilians of the year so far, spurred Kyiv and its European allies to press Washington to take a tougher line towards Moscow.

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Putin has proclaimed unilateral pauses in fighting in the past with little impact, including a 36-hour proposed truce for Orthodox Christmas in January 2023, which Kyiv rejected.

(Reporting by Lucy Papachristou in London; Additional reporting by Olena Harmash and Margaryta Chornokondrtenko in Kyiv and Ron Popeski; Editing by Alison Williams, Peter Graff, Sandra Maler and Alistair Bell)
Antoni Gaudi, who designed the extraordinary basilica of the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, has been declared Venerable. That is a step towards sainthood which recognises the heroic virtues of the candidate. Signing the decree was the first official act by Pope Francis on being discharged from hospital in late March.

The huge Sagrada Familia, big enough to accommodate 6,500 people, cannot be ignored. It is built in a strange organic style. Begun in 1882, it is still not finished, though in 2010 enough was completed for Pope Benedict XVI to consecrate it on a visit to the city. About 4.7 million people visit it annually.

Barcelona has a rather impressive medieval cathedral, with the shrine of St Eulalia in the crypt and 13 white geese in a Gothic goose-house in the cloisters. But there is always room for another great building of devotion. George Orwell, who did not like Catholics one bit, wrote in Homage to Catalonia that the Anarchists showed bad taste in not blowing it up when they had the chance. Nikolaus Pevsner, writing in 1963, spoke of Gaudis buildings growing like sugar loaves and anthills, which is true.

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Gaudis weird forms are not quite as unrooted as it is sometimes imagined. The broken medieval walls of Madrigal de las Altas Torres in the province of Avila, for example, do look like sugar loaves left out in the rain. And the pillars inside the church at Olivenza on the Portuguese border look like creepers twisted together, an impression also given by the Lonja, the silk exchange, at Valencia. The chimneys of Gaudis Casa Mila in Barcelona look like the helmets of Gothic knights.

You can see Gaudis style developing in his Gothic confection at Astorga, in the province of Leon, designed as a palace for the bishop, and now a museum.

The design of Barcelonas basilica has religious significance, of course. Its intended 18 spires will stand for the Twelve Apostles, Four Evangelists, the Virgin Mary and Jesus Christ, the highest spire at a planned 565ft. The interior has a nave surrounded on each side by two aisles; in that respect it resembles Toledo Cathedral. The nave vaults are 148ft high (two feet more than Toledos); those of the aisles are 98 ft.

Anyway, whether Gaudis architecture is liked or not, no one is made a saint for their architecture. Gaudi took further than anyone else the Catalan style of modernisme, which we tend to think of as art nouveau. But he also settled into a pattern of life working on the Sagrada Familia, praying, fasting, going to Mass daily. From 1925 he lived all the time at the workshop of the unfinished basilica.

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On June 7 1926, Gaudi was walking from the Sagrada Familia to the church of St Philip Neri, run by the Oratorians. (In 1902, the bearded Gaudi had been used as model for St Philip Neri in a painting by Joan Llimona.) His spiritual director, Fr Agusti Mas, lived there.

That June day, Gaudi had got about half way when he was hit by a number 30 tram in the wide Gran Via de les Corts Catalanes. He was wearing rough workmans clothes and was unrecognised. He died on June 10, aged 73. Thousands attended his funeral and he was buried at the Sagrada Familia.

Fr Mas was caught by the Anarchists in 1937, when the disastrous Civil War engulfed Barcelona. Priests were killed for being priests. Fr Mas was imprisoned for a month and then killed. In 2012 the process of his beatification began as one of a group of 12 connected with the Sagrada Familia, six priests and six lay people, martyred in the Civil War.

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Secretary of State Marco Rubio is saying that the U.S. is ready to move on from peace talks between Ukraine and Russia, if there is no clear progress in the coming days, telling reporters, "Were not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end." President Donald Trump echoed that sentiment when asked about it today in the Oval Office.
SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  Fire rings, or fire pits as commonly referred to by many, throughout San Diego are on the chopping block as city leaders work to close a $258 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year. Its one of many cuts under consideration as part of a draft budget proposal.

Cozy nights and smores by the fire are staples along Mission Bay. A tradition that brings visitors, including James Velasquez, back year after year.

Ive been coming here since I was knee-high to a duck, said Velasquez.

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Now, hes making memories with his young son. But the opportunity to keep this tradition going may soon burn out as San Diego looks to fill a budget gap.

Mayor Todd Gloria said getting rid of all 180 fire rings on beaches and within Mission Bay would save about $135,000 a year.

This would mean that the time, expense that we pay to maintain, clean and relocate those fire pits will be savings that we can put back into the general fund, said Gloria.

Still, some locals say the fire rings are priceless.

I think the fire pits bring so much to the community, to San Diego. It brings a lot of attention; it brings a lot of tourists as well, said San Diego resident Ngefor Ndifor.

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While the mayor knows the potential cut may not be popular, he noted its an option that must be considered.

North Park Salsa Fest returns in May  a spicy showdown of local flavors

In this situation, where were closing a quarter of a billion-dollar budget gap, every dollar counts, said Gloria.

As part of its proposal, the city noted several benefits of removing the fire rings. For instance, their removal could improve the quality of life for nearby residents, commercial business and visitors to beach areas. The fire rings tend to draw noisy crowds. Removing the them may reduce the number of late-night gatherings and illicit activities in beach areas.

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The city also noted that many fire rings are in areas with restricted line of sight from roadways and parking lots, which creates significant enforcement challenges for the San Diego Police Department. Removal of the fire rings could improve enforcement of illegal fires and associated late-night gatherings since any wood fires burning on beach would be illegal.

In addition, the city has pointed out that removal of the fire ring program and associated personnel will eliminate the need for routine maintenance of over 180 city-provided fire rings. Routine maintenance currently occurs on a weekly or bi-weekly basis and includes cleaning out the fire rings, removing graffiti from the rings, and replacing broken or damaged rings when needed.

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Also, removal of the fire rings may result in an improvement in air quality and odor for residents and businesses located downwind of fire rings.

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My worry is if these go away then that takes away our rights to fire on the beach, said visitor Velasquez.

City staff said visitors would still be able to bring portable propane devices to the beach. They also noted possible drawbacks from removing the fire rings, such as an increase in illegal fires along with trash and debris related to such fires.

This is one of the cuts that we are not happy about, but its preferable to impacting public safety, having less road repair or having more homeless people on our streets, said Gloria.

The thought of parting ways with a beloved gathering spot has some wondering what else can be done to save them.

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If youre really looking to do budget cuts, Im sure there are other areas where you can make a greater you know impact in that way, said San Diego resident Ngefor Ndifor.

The San Diego City Council will hear the budget proposal in May, and the public comment is encouraged before a final budget is adopted in June.

If included in the final budget, removal of the fire rings will occur in phases based on staff availability over the course of several weeks throughout the summer.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Amerigreen Organics Co.s website features high-resolution images, a clean layout and a fresh-green color scheme.

The page invites visitors to meet its smiling team of professionals, explore high-quality cannabinoid-based products including edibles, beverages and concentrates.

Job-seekers wanting to elevate their careers can peruse a list of nine open positions, and an animated ticker tallies the companys 115-plus partners, 10-plus affiliates and 200,000 happy clients.

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The New Mexico Secretary of States Office website lists the companys status as active, but its hard to determine if the company is still in business. Phone calls to a number listed on the site go answered, and the Santa Fe address is a South Capitol apartment the companys CEO, Loveless Johnson III, was evicted from years ago, according to a previous report.

Johnson, a Santa Fe actor and musician with frequent gigs around town, pleaded guilty last week to one count of securities fraud after being accused last year of illegally withholding information from investors about his criminal past and using their money to cover his own personal expenses.

State District Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer ordered him to pay $57,000 in restitution to six New Mexico investors and serve three years of probation in connection with a plea agreement during an April 16 hearing, his attorney, Greg Shearer, confirmed recently.

Shearer declined to comment further on behalf of his client.

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Benjamin Schrope, a special prosecutor from the state Regulation and Licensing Department, agreed to dismiss 10 other felony charges against Johnson  including additional securities fraud charges  as part of the plea agreement.

However, court records suggest the amount Johnson has been ordered to pay may have been just a fraction what he was accused of bilking from investors between June and December 2019, the year Amerigreen Organics was founded.

The defendants conduct went beyond that specifically charged in the indictment, Schrope wrote in an October motion.

The defendant sold [Amerigreen Organics] securities to more than 20 investors  and received more than $150,000, the motion said.

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Johnson told The New Mexican in January when the charges were first filed he was innocent.

Amerigreen Organics has investors who will stand with me in court as its CEO to testify as to how hard I work and have always worked to make Amerigreen the success that I had promised, he said at the time. Six of the 26 [investors] are disgruntled and I understand why. But Im not guilty until proven so.

They will still receive the same benefit as every other investor in the company when our day of victory comes, he added.

Friends of friends

Im feeling a little bit surprised but also somewhat positive about the fact that this is the outcome, said Nancy Garcia-Tafoya, a 75-year-old Las Cruces resident whom Johnson has been ordered to pay $5,000, upon learning of Johnsons plea Thursday.

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But restorative justice isnt just about renumeration, she added. I just feel there has to be something more.  He should not be allowed to conduct that kind of business again, be a fraud and cheat people out of their money.

Garcia-Tafoya said shed like to see Johnson suffer consequences that would impress upon him the effect his fraud had on his victims. Losing the $5,000 she invested didnt leave her destitute, she said, but it did affect her financially, and in other ways.

It was very much a trust issue, she said.

And then of course the embarrassment, the humiliation of being one of those people who was duped, that will affect your self-esteem as well, she added.

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Garcia-Tafoya said she invested in Johnsons company after hearing about it from a trusted friend who also invested. But, she said, she had also done research on cannabis-based companies as the state inched toward legalizing recreational use of marijuana and felt it would be a good investment not only of her own money, but in her community as well, in the form of tax revenues the business could have generated.

She said Amerigreen never promised a specific return on investment, but she started to feel something was wrong when she didnt receive paperwork documenting her investment as promised, and became a part of the criminal case after being contacted by a state investigator.

Several named victims in the case declined to comment.

Marla Thompson, a Clayton County, Ga., educator with a doctorate in business administration, said she invested $10,000 in Amerigreen Organics in 2019 after hearing about it from a friend of a friend, and has been trying ever since to get officials in Georgia and New Mexico to help her get her money back.

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The 68-year-old didnt know Johnson, she said. But her friend knew the companys co-founder, Lance Robertson.

Thompson realized she likely wouldnt see a return on her investment when Johnson stopped responding to her emails, she wrote in a June 2022 letter to then-New Mexico Attorney General Hector Balderas.

What was then the Attorney Generals Office responded to Thompsons inquiry in October 2022, according to a copy of the letter she provided, telling her the agency could not help her and suggesting she call one of the attorneys registered with the State Bar of New Mexico for assistance.

Thompson said she filed a claim against Robertson in Georgias Fulton County Magistrate Court and even won a judgment when he failed to appear, but difficulties serving him with court documents have interfered with enforcement of that judgement.

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Thompson said she recently hired a process server to serve Robertson with a summons.

Attempts to reach other top administrators on Amerigreens website were also futile. Online searches for people with the names of those administrators turned up almost no information, and icons that appear to be links to their social media accounts all link back to the companys own website.

But Thompson said Thursday, she hasnt given up and never will.

Ill keep pursuing it, pursuing it and pursuing it. If Im six feet under, I want my family to continue on with the case, she said.

Its all about principle now, she added.
Highly acclaimed and James Beard Award nominated executive chef Sarah Welch of Marrow in Detroits West Village is leaving the much-lauded neighborhood restaurant and butcher shop.

Welch, who opened and is a partner in Marrow along with owner Ping Ho, announced in an Instagram post that she is relocating to Traverse City. There, Welch and her partner and chef husband Cameron Rolka are opening a restaurant.

Sarah Welch is leaving Marrow Detroit restaurant to open a restaurant in northern Michigan.

Welch's last day is April 30, according to Eater Detroit, which first reported Welch's Marrow departure.

While Welch is resigning, she will remain an owning partner in Marrow, which as a brand has grown since the restaurants 2018 opening to include producing quality meats, opening a new location in Birmingham and a forthcoming Eastern Market facility. Welch is also a partner in Mink, a small Corktown eatery.

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In December, Marrow expanded outside of Detroit, opening a location in downtown Birmingham offering its fresh meats, aged steaks and notable, trademark sausages. Marrow produces meats using humanely raised animals sourced from Michigan family farms under its Marrow Detroit Provisions brand.

A Marrow Detroit Provisions processing facility is under construction in the Eastern Market district, which will sell fresh meats and feature a restaurant and event space. Marrow in the Market is the working title of the restaurant and Welch was to oversee its operation.

But over those seven years, Marrow as a brand, has become so much more, Welch wrote in her Instagram post. And as with most relationships, you either grow closer or you grow apart. As the Marrow brand continues to grow beyond the four walls of Kercheval, it has become something I no longer want to be at the helm of. And so I will be resigning as the chef (and full time Lorax) of Marrow.

Welch wrote in her post that she and Rolka recently signed a purchase agreement for building on Front Street and have pre-approval for a loan for their first solo restaurant venture in Traverse City.

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While the Traverse City spot has not be named, Welch wrote it will be a medley of Marrow and Mink. Welch is also a partner in Mink, a 17-seat Corktown eatery, where Rolka is chef and is known for its rotating selection of oyster and seafood based tasting menu.

If youve enjoyed your experiences at Marrow and Mink then envision this as a lovely hybrid of the two, right on Front street up the block from our friends @thecookshouse Welch wrote.

In Traverse City, The Cooks House is a popular, farm-to-fork small long-time eatery. Its co-owned by chefs Jennifer Blakeslee and Eric Patterson, who recently were named nominees for a James Beard Award in the Best Chef Great Lakes category.

In her Instagram post, Welch also added that she will be doing pop-up and events statewide and elsewhere in the country.

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Welch and Rolka are presenting a seafood-centric pop up at Host Utica on April 27. For the pop-up, the chefs menu reflects their individual styles and deep respect for local ingredients, according to a news release. Expect a menu of hot and cold pork and oysters, wonton, tofu crudo, wonton soup, heritage chicken and carrot cake. Seatings are at 5:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Tickets are $90 each, excluding beverages, tax and gratuity, and are available at hostutica.com.

Marrow got its start in 2018 on Kercheval near Van Dyke in West Village. It's known as two culinary halves that meld together nicely as a restaurant and a neighborhood butcher shop. This small neighborhood restaurant focuses on nose-to-tail butchery and farm-to-table, emphasizing minimizing waste and supporting a sustainable food system in the Great Lakes region.

Soon after its opening, with Welch as its executive chef, the restaurant garnered many accolades. In 2019, Marrow landed as the No. 2 Detroit Free Press/Metro Detroit Chevy Dealers Best New Restaurant. Marrow also earned national recognition as a four-time James Beard Foundation nominee, including chef Welch's Best Chef Great Lakes nomination and nods from national publications. Welch was also a finalist on Bravos Top Chef Season 19 and chef at the former Republic and Parks and Rec, a 2015 Detroit Free Press Best New Restaurant.

Contact Detroit Free Press food and restaurant writer Susan Selasky and send food and restaurant news and tips to: sselasky@freepress.com. Follow @SusanMariecooks on Twitter. Subscribe to the Free Press.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Sarah Welch to leave Marrow in Detroit, open Traverse City restaurant
King Soopers and City Market will have a new president as it continues to reel from a union strike and is still under contract negotiations.

The Kroger-owned grocery brand based in Colorado announced Chris Albi, vice president of operations, will succeed Joe Kelley as president beginning May 1.

Kelley has been president of King Soopers since 2021, and under his leadership, the grocery chain has been hit by two workers strikes in 2022 and 2025. The most recent strike ended in February after 12 days with no new contract and a deal to have 100 days of peace to resume negotiations.

Union leaders have threatened to strike again after the period if a contract agreement isnt reached.

Kelley was promoted within Kroger to become senior vice president of retail divisions.

Joe is a customer-centric leader who brings broad industry experience, with a strong track record of making stores great places to shop, said Ron Sargent, Kroger CEO, in a press release.

Albi is from Colorado and began working at King Soopers in 1981 as a courtesy clerk, the grocery chain said in a press release.

She has had several leadership positions for Kroger including grocery director, director of natural foods, vice president of merchandising and vice president of operations in both Michigan and Oregon and was president of grocery-chain QFC, which is based in the Seattle area.

Working alongside Chris over the past 3 years, Ive seen firsthand her passion and dedication  she is deeply connected to the divisions identity, strategy and associates, Kelley said in a statement. Theres no one better suited to lead the company in this new and exciting chapter, and Im excited to see how she will continue to elevate the business and inspire our teams.

A King Soopers spokesperson said in an email that the promotions wont affect negotiations as Albi has already played a large role.

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Chris has been heavily involved with bargaining since we began negotiating with Local 7 in October and will continue to participate in the process, the spokesperson said.

Albi has been recently appearing in company videos sent to employees updating staff on contract negotiations, standing next to Kelley.

In the most recent update on April 10, the two leaders claimed the local union United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 was stalling negotiations again.

Since we started bargaining with Local 7 in October of last year, the Kroger family of companies has already settled multiple contracts across the country, Albi said.

But Local 7 seems to believe that dragging negotiations out even longer will somehow lead to a better deal, Kelley later added. Thats just not true.

Last week, King Soopers and the union leaders made minor progress and reached tentative agreements on scheduling and full-time status, though much work remains to reach a full agreement, according to the companys latest update.

The union and the grocer are scheduled to return to bargaining Thursday.

UFCW Local 7 did not immediately respond to comment on the leadership change and how it could affect negotiations.

In their most recent video update, also posted on April 10, union president Kim Cordova said theyre not interested in any of their offers right now.
SAVANNAH, Ga (WSAV)  The latest school shooting is prompting renewed focus on campus safety across the country, and WSAV spoke with Savannah State Universitys (SSU) police chief.

Savannah State Universitys Police Chief Clarella Thomas has been in her role for just over a year and she informed WSAV that she is dedicated to strengthening safety protocols and finding new ways to protect the campus.

Im a mother of college students, she said. I know how important it is. You send your children here to get an education and you want them to be safe.

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Thomas said one of their strongest tools is the voice of the campus community. Were told students and campus partners lean heavily on the phrase, see something, say something.

Theyre what help you connect the dots when its time to investigate and when its time to respond, she said.

She said that her team is consistently pre-planning, upgrading emergency plans and implementing what she calls, good physical security.

We utilize not only our camera systems, but we also have the emergency notification, Everbridge, that we encourage our students, staff and faculty to opt in so that they may have more information on anything that may occur on the campus, Thomas said.

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She continued, This is a beautiful campus wide open, but we have gates that are sort of our barriers and so we want to look at ways that we can continue to improve even those areas so that we can make sure we know whos coming in, whos going on our campus.

Now that she has taken over, starting this summer, her team will begin working with outside agencies.

We had a number of organizations, law enforcement organizations, who have actively contacted me and said, hey, this summer we would love to get with your team to utilize the campus while the students are away, she said. And Ive already talked to a number of students who would be interested in being a part of the drill as well.

Thomas is eager to work alongside SSUs new president, Jermaine Whirl, to take the university to next level.

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These are such tragic tragedies that continue to plague our communities, she said. But here at Savannah State [University], we, like all other institutions, are encouraging our community to be vigilant in an effort to maintain the safety and security of the campus and also to prevent things like this from happening.

The Orange Crush festival is April 19, which is expected to bring more college students into the city. Chief Thomas said extra precautions are in place. Only individuals with a student ID will be allowed on campus.

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HONOLULU (KHON2)  A Moiliili institution is preparing to say goodbye after nearly three decades of serving the community.

The small shops closure is just part of the big changes sweeping through the neighborhood in the coming months.

Ocean Safety rescues three teen kayakers amid heavy storms

For 28 years, Siam Imports was more than just a store. It was a journey across continents, tucked inside a small shop in the heart of Moiliili.

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Its been a privilege to connect the small businesses in Thailand with the Hawaii customers, said Kevin Costello, owner of Siam Imports.

Costello first went to Thailand in 1988 and originally started as a wholesale business. He found the perfect spot for a store at Kuni Square on South King Street in 1997 and found a niche with his handmade products from India, Nepal and Thailand that couldnt be found anywhere else on the island.

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The jewelry, the incense, the little gift items like these little purses, and little boxes, its just a super cool place, said Donna Bender, who has been shopping at Siam Imports since it opened. So many of us are going to miss this place. We love it.

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I was so sad. because he has such great products from around the world, said Kathleen Talamantes, who lives on the mainland, but said she shops at the store every time shes in Hawaii. And just being here. [Costello] is part of Hawaii and thats a good thing.

Siam Imports will close its doors for good at the end of June. Not by choice, but circumstance.

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Its not so easy to find a good location thats comparable the rents are double, triple, Costello said.

Central Pacific Bank bought the property and gave businesses two years notice. In a statement, CPB said it is working on a redevelopment project for the new Moiliili Branch that will enhance the area for the community. They said the bank plans include public conference rooms and a meeting space where customers can host events.

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Right next door to Siam Imports is another local business saying farewell. After more than 28 years, Le Flowers is closing their doors at the end of May.

Im trying to make it a happy event, telling everybody this is just a new opportunity for us, said Candice Le, owner of Le Flowers. We couldnt have asked for a better neighborhood, better place, better location. To the vendors, thank you to them.

Kona cyclist dies after rear-ending tour bus

More change is found just across the street. Kamehameha Schools redevelopment is already reshaping the landscape, with some wondering whats being left behind.

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Its like the end of an era, Bender said.

We kinda knew this place was a one story area, so we kinda had a feeling they were gonna do something, Le said.

Construction on the bank is expected to begin this summer. CPB said theyre open to working with tenants on transitional plans. But Le Flowers said they plan to retire.

As for Siam Imports, Costello says hes not sure whats next for him, and gets a little emotional thinking about it.

The last month or so has been kind difficult, Costello said, stopping to hold back tears.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KHON2.
DECATUR COUNTY, Kan. (KSNW)  A shaken woman walked into the Decatur County Sheriffs Office Friday afternoon, clutching her phone and seeking help. On the other end of the line was a man claiming she had a federal warrant for failing to appear for jury duty  and that she could avoid arrest by paying him in cash immediately.

Sheriffs staff quickly determined the call was a scam.

In a social media post, the office explained it like this: The man, who spoke with a heavy Southern accent, falsely identified himself as a member of the Decatur County Sheriffs Department, a name that doesnt exist  the agency is officially known as the Decatur County Sheriffs Office.

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Authorities say the caller had asked for the woman by name and claimed he had been transferred to the area to process warrants. But deputies noted that he lacked basic knowledge about the region and was clearly attempting to manipulate the victim into sending money under threat of arrest.

Scam alert: Fake calls claiming to be Lt. Harris of Hutchinson PD

Thanks to the womans quick thinking and decision to go directly to law enforcement, no money was lost, the sheriffs office said in the post. She was reassured that she was not in any legal trouble.

This was, in fact, a scam, the sheriffs office said in a statement. We commend her for thinking fast and coming to us before taking any action.

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Sheriff Jared Wachendorfer is reminding residents to stay vigilant and outlined several key red flags to help identify similar scams:

Law enforcement will never demand money by phone. If payment is required for any reason, instructions will be given to appear in person at a known location such as a court or law enforcement office.



Scammers often insist on secrecy, warning victims not to tell anyone and pressuring them to act quickly.



No legitimate agency will ask for payment in cash, gift cards, cryptocurrency, or other untraceable methods.

If it sounds shady or threatening, its almost certainly a scam, Wachendorfer said in the post. If youre ever unsure, hang up and call us directly. Well always be here to help.

For more Kansas news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news by downloading our mobile app and signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track 3 Weather app by clicking here.

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TheDream.Us, a scholarship program that has paid the tuition for non-citizen students who have lived in the United States since they were very young, called Dreamers, has announced they will terminate scholarships for the 600-plus students they serve at eight Florida universities.

The decision to terminate the scholarships was primarily based on the fact that Florida revoked in-state tuition waivers for non-citizens, meaning they would be required to pay the out-of-state price of tuition at Florida universities, though many of the students have lived in the state since they were very young.

Read more: FIU police chief defends decision to enroll in immigration enforcement program

They are being barred from being able to afford their education, said Gaby Pacheco, President and CEO of TheDream.US.

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These students are going on campus to get an education, to get a degree, said Pacheco.

In-state tuition waivers for undocumented students are set to end July 1, part of a sweeping immigration bill passed in the Florida legislature.

Many of the students are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals or DACA, which provides legal status to undocumented immigrants who came to the U.S. as children. Others are applying for asylum, or have Temporary Protected Status, known as TPS, that allows people from certain countries such as Venezuela and Haiti to live legally in the U.S.

Some students who received the scholarship only had a few credits left to graduate and were granted the waiver by their school administration through the summer semester, said Pacheco. TheDream.Us was planning to continue to pay until the end of summer.

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But with the recent news of universities signing on to 287(g) collaborative agreements with ICE, which will deputize university police to act as immigration agents, TheDream.US has said it will terminate the scholarships now.

We do not feel our students will be safe on campus, and it also goes against the values of our mission, she said.

Pacheco says they are looking for other institutions to transfer students, such as private or online schools.

Florida International University has about 500 students who receive in-state tuition waivers, making it possibly the school in Florida with the highest number of Dreamers in the state. Statewide there are about 6,500 students who receive in-state tuition waivers.

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FIUs interim president Jeanette Nunez once advocated for a bill granting in-state tuition to undocumented college students. Earlier this year she reversed her stance saying our country looks very different today than it did then.

This month, TheDream.US and allies went to Tallahassee to ask lawmakers to grandfather in the over 6,000 Dreamers to in-state tuition.
GREENVILLE, S.C. (WSPA)  An early morning fire which damaged four school buses is under investigation in Greenville.

According to Greenville Police Department, at around 6:12 a.m., officers and the Greenville Fire Department were called to Legacy Early College on E Bramlett Road after receiving reports two school busses were on fire.

At the scene responders found two busses on fire, and two additional busses were heavily damaged, according to police.

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There were no injuries and fire investigators are responding to the school.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

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SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO)  A student working on her doctorate at the School of Mines is fighting to stay in the United States. Priya Saxena is from India. She had her Visa revoked earlier this month for a traffic violation back in 2021  a violation the government knew about when her Visa was issued in 2022.

Priya Saxena has filed a lawsuit against homeland security secretary Kristi Noem following the revocation of her Visa and the termination of her student status, making her subject to deportation.

Police investigate another stabbing at SF apartment

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Saxena, who is originally from India, was set to graduate from South Dakota School of Mines & Technology with a PhD next month- before the government deemed her a threat to public safety.

It is ridiculous. Its also sad. Does she look like a threat to public safety to you? This small woman whos almost completed a PhD degree in chemical and biological engineering, said Jim Leach, Saxenas attorney.

Without her student status, she would be unable to continue school or graduate.

According to court documents, Saxena filed for a temporary restraining order and permanent injunction in her case.

Well, were in a scary time in this country. I mean, its no secret that the president and the people who work for him have been making the argument that theyre not necessarily bound by what judges think or say. And thats a profoundly dangerous issue, said Leach.

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At Fridays hearing, the judge said the government violated due process of law by revoking her visa. Now, Saxenas student status is reinstated and she will be able to continue school and graduate on time.

And our position here is real simple. The government has to follow the law. And when it refuses to do so, a courts role is to tell the government it has to follow the law, said Leach.

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Austin Roorda say Olo is not a colour we see

Scientists claim they have discovered a new colour.

A team at the University of California, in Berkeley, had laser pulses fired into their eyes, enabling them to experience a colour no one had seen before.

The five people who have seen the colour described it as blue-green, but said that did not capture the full richness of the experience.

Researchers shared an image of a turquoise square they said best matched the new colour, which they named Olo, but added that the colour could only be experienced through laser manipulation.

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Ren Ng, an electrical engineer at the university, described the colour as jaw-dropping and incredibly saturated.

He told The Guardian: We predicted from the beginning that it would look like an unprecedented colour signal, but we didnt know what the brain would do with it.

But some scientists have disputed the find. It is not a new colour, John Barbur, a vision scientist at City University told the newspaper, adding that the scientists work had limited value.

Its a more saturated green that can only be produced in a subject with normal red-green chromatic mechanism when the only input comes from M cones, he said.

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Other researchers argued that the colour was all about the experience and that there was no way to explain it in terms of something we already see.

There is no way to convey that colour in an article or on a monitor, said Austin Roorda, a vision scientist on the team at the University of California. The whole point is that this is not the colour we see  its just not. The colour we see is a version of it, but it absolutely pales by comparison with the experience of Olo.

Looking at the new colour, Olo, pales by comparison with the experience of it

Mr Ng described the colour as basic science, adding: Were not going to see Olo on any smartphone displays or any TVs any time soon. And this is very, very far beyond VR headset technology.

Natural light is a blend of multiple wavelengths, which stimulate different areas of the retina to varying extents, but there is one part of the retina known as the M Cone which is never excited by natural light.

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The new colour stimulates the M cone by firing a tiny pulse of light to stimulate the cell, a state which natural light cannot achieve. The result is a patch of colour in the field of vision that is about twice the size of the Moon.

The name Olo comes from the binary 010, in which the M cone represents the 1, and is the only cone switched on.

The laser, named Oz vision after the Emerald City in the Wizard of Oz, could help researchers understand science questions about how the brain creates visual perceptions of the world. Researchers also believe they might learn more about colour blindness or diseases that affect vision through the new device.

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A team of astronomers announced on April 16, 2025, that in the process of studying a planet around another star, they had found evidence for an unexpected atmospheric gas. On Earth, that gas  called dimethyl sulfide  is mostly produced by living organisms.

In April 2024, the James Webb Space Telescope stared at the host star of the planet K2-18b for nearly six hours. During that time, the orbiting planet passed in front of the star. Starlight filtered through its atmosphere, carrying the fingerprints of atmospheric molecules to the telescope.

JWSTs cameras can detect molecules in the atmosphere of a planet by looking at light that passed through that atmosphere. European Space Agency

By comparing those fingerprints to 20 different molecules that they would potentially expect to observe in the atmosphere, the astronomers concluded that the most probable match was a gas that, on Earth, is a good indicator of life.

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I am an astronomer and astrobiologist who studies planets around other stars and their atmospheres. In my work, I try to understand which nearby planets may be suitable for life.

K2-18b, a mysterious world

To understand what this discovery means, lets start with the bizarre world it was found in. The planets name is K2-18b, meaning it is the first planet in the 18th planetary system found by the extended NASA Kepler mission, K2. Astronomers assign the b label to the first planet in the system, not a, to avoid possible confusion with the star.

K2-18b is a little over 120 light-years from Earth  on a galactic scale, this world is practically in our backyard.

Although astronomers know very little about K2-18b, we do know that it is very unlike Earth. To start, it is about eight times more massive than Earth, and it has a volume thats about 18 times larger. This means that its only about half as dense as Earth. In other words, it must have a lot of water, which isnt very dense, or a very big atmosphere, which is even less dense.

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Astronomers think that this world could either be a smaller version of our solar systems ice giant Neptune, called a mini-Neptune, or perhaps a rocky planet with no water but a massive hydrogen atmosphere, called a gas dwarf.

Another option, as University of Cambridge astronomer Nikku Madhusudhan recently proposed, is that the planet is a hycean world.

That term means hydrogen-over-ocean, since astronomers predict that hycean worlds are planets with global oceans many times deeper than Earths oceans, and without any continents. These oceans are covered by massive hydrogen atmospheres that are thousands of miles high.

Astronomers do not know yet for certain that hycean worlds exist, but models for what those would look like match the limited data JWST and other telescopes have collected on K2-18b.

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This is where the story becomes exciting. Mini-Neptunes and gas dwarfs are unlikely to be hospitable for life, because they probably dont have liquid water, and their interior surfaces have enormous pressures. But a hycean planet would have a large and likely temperate ocean. So could the oceans of hycean worlds be habitable  or even inhabited?

Detecting DMS

In 2023, Madhusudhan and his colleagues used the James Webb Space Telescopes short-wavelength infrared camera to inspect starlight that filtered through K2-18bs atmosphere for the first time.

They found evidence for the presence of two simple carbon-bearing molecules  carbon monoxide and methane  and showed that the planets upper atmosphere lacked water vapor. This atmospheric composition supported, but did not prove, the idea that K2-18b could be a hycean world. In a hycean world, water would be trapped in the deeper and warmer atmosphere, closer to the oceans than the upper atmosphere probed by JWST observations.

Intriguingly, the data also showed an additional, very weak signal. The team found that this weak signal matched a gas called dimethyl sulfide, or DMS. On Earth, DMS is produced in large quantities by marine algae. It has very few, if any, nonbiological sources.

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This signal made the initial detection exciting: on a planet that may have a massive ocean, there is likely a gas that is, on Earth, emitted by biological organisms.

Scientists had a mixed response to this initial announcement. While the findings were exciting, some astronomers pointed out that the DMS signal seen was weak and that the hycean nature of K2-18b is very uncertain.

To address these concerns, Mashusudhans team turned JWST back to K2-18b a year later. This time, they used another camera on JWST that looks for another range of wavelengths of light. The new results  announced on April 16, 2025  supported their initial findings.

These new data show a stronger  but still relatively weak  signal that the team attributes to DMS or a very similar molecule. The fact that the DMS signal showed up on another camera during another set of observations made the interpretation of DMS in the atmosphere stronger.

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Madhusudhans team also presented a very detailed analysis of the uncertainties in the data and interpretation. In real-life measurements, there are always some uncertainties. They found that these uncertainties are unlikely to account for the signal in the data, further supporting the DMS interpretation. As an astronomer, I find that analysis exciting.

Is life out there?

Does this mean that scientists have found life on another world? Perhaps  but we still cannot be sure.

First, does K2-18b really have an ocean deep beneath its thick atmosphere? Astronomers should test this.

Second, is the signal seen in two cameras two years apart really from dimethyl sulfide? Scientists will need more sensitive measurements and more observations of the planets atmosphere to be sure.

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Third, if it is indeed DMS, does this mean that there is life? This may be the most difficult question to answer. Life itself is not detectable with existing technology. Astronomers will need to evaluate and exclude all other potential options to build their confidence in this possibility.

The new measurements may lead researchers toward a historic discovery. However, important uncertainties remain. Astrobiologists will need a much deeper understanding of K2-18b and similar worlds before they can be confident in the presence of DMS and its interpretation as a signature of life.

Scientists around the world are already scrutinizing the published study and will work on new tests of the findings, since independent verification is at the heart of science.

Moving forward, K2-18b is going to be an important target for JWST, the worlds most sensitive telescope. JWST may soon observe other potential hycean worlds to see if the signal appears in the atmospheres of those planets, too.

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With more data, these tentative conclusions may not stand the test of time. But for now, just the prospect that astronomers may have detected gasses emitted by an alien ecosystem that bubbled up in a dark, blue-hued alien ocean is an incredibly fascinating possibility.

Regardless of the true nature of K2-18b, the new results show how using the JWST to survey other worlds for clues of alien life will guarantee that the next years will be thrilling for astrobiologists.

This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit, independent news organization bringing you facts and trustworthy analysis to help you make sense of our complex world. It was written by: Daniel Apai, University of Arizona

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Daniel Apai receives funding for astrobiology research from NASA, the Heising-Simons Foundation, and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
If you tracked a whale across the open ocean, this is what you'd see: They travel thousands of miles, burn through blubber, and  in the form of pee  leave behind a trail of nutrients that helps entire ocean ecosystems survive. Turns out, these bathroom breaks are doing a lot more than relieving pressure.

A new study published in Nature Communications found that great whales  including humpbacks, grays, and right whales  are hauling thousands of tons of nitrogen from polar feeding zones to tropical waters every year, reported Popular Science. Along the way, they're quietly fertilizing coral reefs and coastal ecosystems that would otherwise run low on essential nutrients.

Scientists have dubbed this process the "great whale pee funnel," and it's exactly what it sounds like: an ocean-wide transfer system that begins when whales bulk up in the Arctic and ends when they let loose in the tropics. The research team estimates they release over 4,000 tons of nitrogen annually, mostly in the form of urea-rich urine.

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This new insight builds on a 2010 discovery known as the "whale pump," a system in which whales feed in deep waters and then poop near the surface, pushing nutrients up toward plankton.

"But we soon realized that was only part of the story," Joe Roman, a study co-author and conservation biologist at the University of Vermont, told Popular Science. "Baleen whales are 'capital breeders,' feeding for part of the year in high-latitude productive areas, such as Alaska, and having calves and nursing during the winter in areas like Hawaii, where [they] typically fast."

While fasting, migrating whales burn through hundreds of pounds of fat each day. That metabolic breakdown results in large volumes of nitrogen-rich urine. Fin whales near Iceland, for example, can produce more than 250 gallons of pee daily, according to the Orkney Marine Mammal Research Initiative, compared to less than half a gallon for humans.

All of that liquid gold ends up in the ocean, where it fuels the growth of algae, plankton, and coral, especially in places that struggle with nutrient shortages.

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Humpbacks migrating from Antarctica to Costa Rica leak urea the entire way, connecting ecosystems thousands of miles apart. In all, whales move more than 45,000 tons of biomass per year, a staggering figure that rivals some of the ocean's largest natural upwelling systems. In regions where they pass through, available nitrogen levels can more than double.

Before commercial whaling slashed global populations, these cross-hemisphere nutrient flows may have been up to three times greater. Rebuilding whale numbers, Roman believes, is about more than conservation, it's about restoring a planetary system. "We often think of plants as the lungs of the planet," he said. "Animals are the circulatory system."

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PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN)  A recent study has shown the behaviors of ancient species that once roamed the area that is now known as Oregon.

In February, scientific journal Palaeontologia Electronica published Following their footsteps: Report of vertebrate fossil tracks from John Day Fossil Beds National Monument, Oregon, USA. The National Park Service is now highlighting the reports findings, which include fossil tracks from some of the animals detected in the central and eastern portions of the state.

Stephanie Hsu Garden Party, The Flip Side Vegan Market among Portland weekend events

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The federal agency reported that fossil track specialist Conner Bennett led other scientists in utilizing 3D imaging techniques to examine fossils of birds, mammals, lizards and invertebrates.

This prehistoric behavior from 50 million years ago is still prevalent today in modern shorebirds, Bennett said in the release. Its fascinating. That is an incredibly long time for a species to exhibit the same foraging patterns as its ancestors.

According to NPS, fossil tracks of two small shorebirds showed that the pre-historic animals searched for food in shallow water  similar to the modern-day species. Scientists found that pawprints from a cat-like predator resembled those of modern felines as well.

Oregon Attorney General Rayfield sues Coinbase over devastating high-risk investments

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Additionally, researchers uncovered a fossil of clawed, splayed toes that could point to one of the few known reptile trackways from this time period in North America. They also found hoofprints that could have likely come from a large herbivore like a tapir or rhinoceros.

NPS noted that a portion of the fossil tracks examined in the report had been in the national monuments storage since the 80s. Although some of the identified animals have gone extinct, Bennett said the newly uncovered records help confirm that they once existed  and how they lived.

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Negotiations between King Soopers and the grocery workers union are getting heated again after the strike ended in February.

United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7 filed a counter claim against the grocer alleging King Soopers violated the agreement made to end the February strike in turn for 100 days of peace and a return to the bargaining table.

The lawsuit comes more than halfway through the peace period.

If the strikes ended, King Soopers promised to not implement any offers for the 100 days and it would not lock out workers.

UFCW Local 7 said the Colorado-based grocery chain owned by Kroger was allegedly not considering the unions proposals and put forth ultimatums that expired this month, well before the 100 days expired.

King Soopers did not immediately respond for comment.

The employers side of that agreement was that they would not implement any new terms without our agreement, lock-out workers, and would negotiate in good faith. They have failed in that commitment, stated Kim Cordova, President of UFCW Local 7, in a news release.

Workers went on strike in February for nearly 12 days after the first round of contract negotiations failed to result in an agreement.

It brought out lawsuits, a barely-limiting restraining order against strikers, thousands of temporary workers transported and housed at a cost to the company and allegations of illegal unfair labor practices.

There were also frustrations over staffing shortages and warnings that employees were at risk of losing healthcare benefits.

Negotiations began to sour again in March when King Soopers made several offers to the union that would expire on April 12, according to the counter claim. After the deadline passed, the grocer allegedly withdrew its offer and made clear that it would only offer a new, more concessionary proposal.

Hours before UFCW Local 7 announced it was taking legal action, the union criticized King Soopers for undergoing a leadership change at the top.

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Company president Joe Kelley is moving up the ranks of Kroger and was named senior vice president of retailer beginning May 1.

Chris Albi, vice president of operations, will take over as president of King Soopers.

Albi began working at King Soopers as a courtesy clerk in 1981, according to the company, and is from Colorado.

The Union criticized Kelleys tenure due to the two strikes that happened since he took over in 2021. Cordova added in a statement that Albi had an opportunity to reset the companys relationship with workers.

The union expressed doubts about the leadership changes and said there needs to be larger changes at Kroger to address worker problems such as staffing shortages and benefits.

Albi has been recently appearing in company videos sent to employees updating staff on contract negotiations, standing next to Kelley.

Since we started bargaining with Local 7 in October of last year, the Kroger family of companies has already settled multiple contracts across the country, Albi said in a video last week updating workers on contract negotiations.

But Local 7 seems to believe that dragging negotiations out even longer will somehow lead to a better deal, Kelley later added. Thats just not true.

The new leadership isnt expected to impact negotiations, the company said Wednesday.

The peace period is set to end May 28.

We need King Soopers & City Market to switch gears and begin to bargain in good faith and this lawsuit is about ensuring King Soopers is held accountable for failing to honor the agreement they made, Cordova stated Thursday.
The Supreme Court has blocked President Donald Trump's plan to deport Venezuelan migrants to El Salvadorfor now.

In an overnight emergency order issued just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, the high court thwarted the Trump administrations attempts to use the 1798 Alien Enemies Act to conduct mass deportation flights from a Texas migrant detention center.

The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the justices wrote, with conservative justices Amy Coney Barrett, Neil M. Gorsuch, and Brett M. Kavanaugh breaking ranks to side with their liberal peers. Conservative stalwarts Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

Clarence Thomas was appointed by George Bush and is one of the Supreme Court's conservative justices. / Chip Somodevilla / Chip Somodevilla/USA TODAY Sports via Reuters

The ruling comes after two Trump-appointed judges, Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, refused to pause any deportations under the obscure 1798 Act, which was last used widely during World War II to expel nationals of enemy states.

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However, the High Courts order supersedes that ruling and applies to any migrant detained in the Northern District of Texas who would be removed under the 18th-century Alien Enemies Actwhich Trump first invoked in a March 15 executive order. The Courts ruling does not apply in other jurisdictions.

The matter is currently pending before the Fifth Circuit, the justices wrote, referencing an appeal by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) to stop deportations. Late Friday, the organization requested an emergency injunction and stay of removal from SCOTUS, fearing that deportations were imminent, NPR reported. The ACLU also requested that migrants deported under the Alien Enemies Act be given at least 30 days advance notice.

The justices added, Upon action by the Fifth Circuit, the Solicitor General is invited to file a response to the application before this Court as soon as possible.

Trump / Win McNamee / Win McNamee/Getty Images

Court Blocked

The Courts order marked the second blow dealt to the Trump administrations mass deportation agenda in just over a week.

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The justices ruled 9-0 that the Trump administration must facilitate the return of a Maryland father wrongly deported to El Salvador on Thursday. Yet Trumps continued defiance of the order has deepened a growing power struggle between Trump and the justices after the high court granted him broad immunity for official presidential acts last year.

The Trump administrations disregard for lower courts has also heightened fears of a constitutional crisis, Fortune reported.

If a judge tried to tell a general how to conduct a military operation, that would be illegal. If a judge tried to command the attorney general on how to use her discretion as a prosecutor, thats also illegal, Vance claimed in a February X post. Judges arent allowed to control the executives legitimate power.

Leading up to the Courts order, the ACLU requested that U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an Obama appointee, block the deportations. However, Boasberg ruled Friday that he had no jurisdiction over the matter.

I am sympathetic to everything youre saying, I just dont think I have the power to do anything, Boasberg said during the hearing.
A majority of Supreme Court justices temporarily blocked the Trump administration from removing a group of Venezuelans under the Alien Enemies Act in an order issued in the early hours of Saturday. The order came at lighting speed for the high court, and signals a staggering level of urgency as the Trump administration continues to seek to use a dubiously invoked wartime power to remove Venezuelans to an El Salvador detention camp without any semblance of due process.

The court directed the government not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court.

The order, which was unsigned, said that Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

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The Supreme Court issued the order only hours after attorneys for the ACLU filed an emergency application to halt the removals of a group of Venezuelans that, it said, had received notices from ICE informing them that they were to be imminently removed from the United States under the Alien Enemies Act.

The speed with which the court acted is itself a signal of the gravity of the situation. The Trump administration has spent the month since it removed more than 200 people to an El Salvador detention camp claiming both that once people have been removed from U.S. territory, there is nothing the courts can do to retrieve them, and that the Presidents foreign policy powers are so broad as to block the judiciary from being able to conduct any kind of inquiry.

The Supreme Courts Saturday morning order is extraordinary in part for its speed. But as several legal observers noted, its also unusual because it came before Justice Alito could finish writing his dissent. The order stated that Alitos dissent would follow.

Separately, as legal commentator Steve Vladeck noted, the order also suggested that the Trump administrations pattern of blatant misrepresentations in the Alien Enemies cases may be causing the court to act more aggressively. Earlier on Friday evening, Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign told D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg in an emergency hearing over the removals that no planes were expected to leave on Friday or Saturday. While those statements were not before the Supreme Court, the justices acted with such speed as to suggest that, if they were aware of them, they were not taking them at face value  the justices immediately froze removals until further action by the high court.

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The latest showdown over the Trump administrations Alien Enemies removals had been escalating throughout Friday.

The last round of removals under the wartime power caused a series of massive scandals that strike at the heart of constitutional governance. In one case, the administration admitted that it accidentally removed an El Salvador citizen  Kilmar Abrego Garcia  contra an immigration court order saying he could not be removed to El Salvador due to the danger he might face there. In spite of admitting its error, the Trump administration then argued that the courts could not direct it to remedy the error. After the Supreme Court directed the administration to facilitate Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and be ready to update the courts on its efforts, the Trump administration declined to provide meaningful information to a lower court and refused to ask the Salvadoran government for Abrego Garcias release.

It all fed into the burgeoning impression that the administration is committed to flouting the judiciary so that it can remove people from the country and then refuse to retrieve them, while claiming that the courts are powerless to do anything about it.

On Thursday, rumors began to spread that the Trump administration was set to conduct another round of Alien Enemies Act removals. One immigration attorney told TPM that day that a group of Venezuelans had been moved to Bluebonnet Detention Center in northern Texas.

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In court filings throughout Friday, the ACLU alleged that the Venezuelans at Bluebonnet had been given notices of removal under the Alien Enemies Act, and had been told by ICE officials that the papers were coming from the President. Per one copy of the notice obtained by the ACLU, the Venezuelans were told in English that they had the opportunity to make a phone call.

The ACLU first filed an emergency motion on Friday in the Northern District of Texas before Judge James Wesley Hendrix, seeking to halt what they described as imminent removals. At least some of the Venezuelans were purportedly moved from the Southern District of Texas, where theres a standing court order that freezes Alien Enemies Act removals, to the Northern District of Texas, where no such order exists.

After Hendrix did not rule, the ACLU made an emergency appeal to the 5th Circuit on Friday afternoon. The group then appealed to the Supreme Court via its emergency docket, and also asked D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg in a separate case to issue a 30-day nationwide injunction barring further Alien Enemies Act removals.

Boasberg declined to issue that hold after a quickly arranged phone hearing on Friday evening. At the hearing, ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt said that he was prepared to sue in each of the countrys more than 90 judicial districts to prevent further removals.

Hours later, around 2 a.m., the Supreme Court ordered a halt to the removals, for now.
GREENVILLE, N.C. (WNCT)  Protestors gathered for the second time this month at ECU on Saturday afternoon. This is part of the nation-wide 50501 Hands Off rallies happening all across the US.

This is to bring people together to let their voices be heard about concerns they have with the government. Leaders of this rally tell us this is their second time protesting at ECU, and they do not plan on it being their last.

We want to keep the ball rolling, this is just the second one. We have more on the drawing board coming down the pipe, though. The louder we are, the more we speak out, the more likely the politicians and the people in power will hear us, and we want to be heard, said Michael Tann, the co-leader of this rally.

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He also said over 500 people showed up to the first protest, and over 100 showed up to the second.

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CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. (WHTM)  A second man has been arrested and charged with attempted homicide for his alleged involvement in a Chambersburg shooting last month, police said

Jan Pierre Manuel Rosario-Garcia, 19, was arrested in a Wawa parking lot and taken to Franklin County Prison where he is waiting to be arraigned, police said Friday.

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He faces attempted homicide and aggravated assault from the March 24 shooting on W Catherine Street near W Washington Street.

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Police have already arrested and charged Julian Rodriguez-Ramos, 32, for his alleged role in the shooting.

Police are asking anyone with information on the shooting to contact them at 717-264-4131, or you can submit a tip through their CrimeWatch website.

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A second man has been charged in a 2024 shooting that injured three teens on the last night of the Minnesota State Fair.

Abhor Abdiasis Mohamed, 19, of Minneapolis, was charged with three counts of aiding and abetting attempted murder and two counts of aiding and abetting drive-by shooting.

He was booked into Ramsey County jail on Friday and remains there in lieu of $2 million bail. His first court hearing has not been scheduled.

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Another man, Musharaf Zainab Arab, 19, was charged in October with three counts of aiding and abetting attempted murder and two counts of aiding and abetting drive-by shooting.

During an interview on Dec. 31, 2024, Arab told authorities that Mohamed organized and gathered the group that night to hunt Muddy Boy gang members. Their primary target was a well-known Muddy Boy who was involved in a fight with Arab in 2022 and part of a group that attacked Mohamed at the Mall of America in 2022. Muddy Boys had also caused problems at Arabs mothers store, the complaint said.

According to the criminal complaint, officers responded to a shots-fired call at the Dugsi Academy charter school parking lot in the 1000 block of North Snelling Avenue of St. Paul about 10:20 p.m. Sept. 2. They found a 17-year-old whod been shot in the leg.

The teen told police he was walking to his friends car with others after attending the Fair, heard gunshots and realized hed been shot. He hid by railroad tracks until officers arrived. He said he did not know anyone who would want to hurt him.

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The two other shooting victims arrived at area hospitals in private vehicles. A 17-year-old with a gunshot wound to his calf showed up at Regions Hospital in St. Paul, and an 18-year-old whod been shot in the neck arrived at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis.

They also told police they were shot in the parking lot and did not know why. One said he thought it was fireworks at first until he saw blood running down his neck. The other said he heard 10 gunshots in quick succession before they all scattered.

Officers recovered 53 spent casings in three different locations beneath the Snelling Avenue bridge, just east of the parking lot. Analysis of the casings showed they were fired by three guns.

Surveillance video showed a blue sedan park under the bridge. Several people got out, while the driver stayed put. Shooters fired at the three teens from the street, while another fired from a gravel area by the train tracks. The shooters got back inside the sedan, and it left.

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Other surveillance video that caught the sedan showed it resembled a blue Volkswagen.

About three hours later, at 1:16 a.m. Sept. 3, deputies were sent to a drive-by shooting at a BP gas station in Little Canada, just east of Interstate 35E along Little Canada Road.

Surveillance video showed a blue sedan stopped at the intersection of Centerville Road and Little Canada Road. The sedan circled back and went out of sight. About two minutes later, gunshots were fired at four men who stood outside cars at the gas station pumps. The men fled, apparently uninjured.

Deputies recovered seven casings near the gas station.

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Investigators discovered the sedan was a Volkswagen Jetta owned by Arab, the complaint says, and that it had been involved in a gun-pointing incident involving three suspects Aug. 27 in Minneapolis.

Location data of Arabs cellphone place it in the area of both shootings, the complaint says.

Analysis of the casings show the same 9mm handgun and .40-caliber handgun were used in both shootings.

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A 17-year-old Spanaway boy has been arrested for firing at a Pierce Transit bus last year and is suspected to be involved in another shooting that took place around the same time in Puyallup.

Police say three separate shootings happened in Puyallup between Dec. 12 and Dec. 28 of last year, according to the Puyallup Police Department in a news release. Five teenage boys were arrested for these interconnected incidents.

Officers arrested the boy on Thursday in the 400 block of 15th Avenue Southeast. He was booked into Remann Hall and has been charged with first-degree assault and second-degree unlawful possession of a firearm for the Dec. 22 Pierce Transit bus shooting.

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The shooting happened in downtown Puyallup where two teenagers got off the bus near the intersection of West Pioneer Avenue and South Meridian. They fired at another juvenile who was inside the bus. This appeared to be retaliation for en earlier incident when one of the teenagers was previously shot in the leg by the juvenile, according to charging documents.

The release said detectives found evidence linked to the Pierce Transit bus shooting at the teens home. They also found alleged evidence to link him to a Dec. 12 shooting. He has only been charged for the Dec. 22 shooting.

The boy was present at his Friday arraignment at Pierce County Juvenile Court where a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf, court records show. Judge Joseph Evans set the teens bail at $250,000.

A 16-year-old Pierce County boy was also charged for the incident and the Dec. 12 shooting. He pleaded guilty to the Pierce Transit incident, and his case for the Dec. 12 shooting has closed, according to the Pierce County Prosecuting Attorneys Office.

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The Dec. 12 shooting was the result of a property transaction turned robbery that was arranged through social media.

As the victim fled the robbery in a vehicle, he was shot at by the suspects. One bullet struck the victims vehicle, one bullet struck an unoccupied vehicle parked in the area, and another bullet struck an uninvolved, occupied vehicle at a stoplight nearby, the release said.

No one was injured in the shooting.

One person was injured in the final shooting that happened Dec. 28 at an apartment building at 701 43rd Avenue Southeast, the release said. The shooting was the result of an illegal firearms transaction that turned into a robbery. The victim was shot in the leg and suffered a serious injury. Officers provided life-saving measures.
Protesters gathered at the Texas Capitol for a protest picnic, decrying the actions of the Trump Administration, in tandem with other actions nation-wide.
As federal crackdowns and threats to funding toward higher education permeate throughout the country, students and educators are speaking up amid uncertainty in their instruction, campus life and possibly careers.

Staff, faculty and students at the University of Colorado Colorado Springs took part in a nationwide demonstration Thursday to resist efforts by the Trump administration targeting colleges and universities.

The theme of UCCSs town hall was Academic Freedom and Shared Governance, where attendees discussed different issues that are rapidly changing colleges operations.

Its had a chilling effect on what is our job, said geography and environmental studies assistant professor Dylan Harris.

The town hall, attended by roughly 30 people, was sponsored by the UCCS chapter of the American Association of University Professors (AAUP) and part of the Day of Action for Higher Ed meant to resist federal threats and empower students and workers in higher education.

Along with UCCS, UC Boulder, Fort Lewis College, Colorado State University Pueblo and the University of Denver were among the 180 universities across the country to organize Day of Action events. Other event sponsors included Higher Ed Labor United, Scholars for Social Justice, Faculty for Justice in Palestine Network, Jewish Voice for Peace and Middle East Studies Association.

Efforts across the country largely challenged the Trump administrations executive orders and actions targeting universities.

These actions have included denouncing initiatives and efforts to promote diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI), revoking international visas from students and freezing federal funding for universities that dont comply with the administration's agenda.

Since President Donald Trump retook office in January, UCCS has been investigated for suspected DEI hiring practices and has seen some of its international students get their visas revoked.

The CU Board of Regents' policy on Academic Freedom states that All faculty members  must have freedom to study, learn, and conduct scholarship and creative work within their discipline and that they shall not be subjected to direct or indirect pressures in an attempt to influence their work in a manner that would conflict with professional standards of the field.

Philosophy professor Robert Welshon said this academic freedom allows them to explore, discuss and engage topics that not everyone agrees on through academic norms and professional standards, rather than boisterous racket, while teaching students how to take the same approach.

Given that this is what we do, its contrary to a universitys mission not to consider, analyze and re-analyze beliefs and claims that are unpopular, that are dangerous, that are false, that are noxious, unjustified and already discredited, he said. Thats some of what we do.

Welshon called Trumps threats to federal funding extortion and said universities adhering to recent federal requests would only sow doubt and division and further conflicts across their campuses.

When that happens, well have reached the end of open academic debate and the death of academic freedom will be upon us, he said. And we are very close to that, it seems to me.

'A lot of confusion'

UCCS students say this semester has left them feeling very distraught. Senior Jae Brown said she has heard from a number of students who are upset over the federal impacts, but feel like they dont have a voice.

I think that they want to have their voices heard, but I dont think they know that platform to really speak to those issues, she said.

Harris echoed this point, saying he has noticed anxiety in some of his students over their chances of finding jobs in the future.

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So, [there's] a lot of confusion with my students and students who have experienced having opportunities rescinded after graduation, he said.

On the same day campuses held their demonstration, CU released a statement confirming that 22 international students across its four campuses have had their student visas revoked. A spokesperson for CSU told The Gazette that 16 of its students have had their visas revoked as of Friday.

On April 3, UCCS student government signed a resolution denouncing the recent federal actions and calling on school leadership and the CU regents to reject federal demands by standing by their existing policies.

We, the Student Government Association, recognize and acknowledge the impact that changes in federal policies related to DEI have been insensitive, dehumanizing, unreasonable, and do not center our students' lived experiences, the resolution reads. The Student Government Association will continue to establish and advocate for the well-being and safety of our students.

'A point of tension'

Compounding the situation at UCCS in particular is the possibility of experiencing further financial losses.

The CU System reported last fall that it had been received a record $1.7 billion in research funding and gifts for the 2023-24 year. Of this total, $942.8 million came through federal agencies including Health and Human Services, NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Defense.

For this year, UCCS received $19.3 million in funding. Total federal figures for the current fiscal year were not available at the time of publication, but the National Institutes of Health reported it had granted one award worth over $322,000 and the National Science Foundation reported 10 awards worth $4.47 million.

Despite the comparatively low amount of federal funding compared to other universities, UCCS librarian and assistant teaching professor Liz Brown said budget challenges in recent years and the threat of losing further funding have led school officials to begin reconsidering course materials they purchase going forward.

Were going to see self-censorship as a reason for peoples justification in their actions, she said. Its not going to be that were against DEI. Its going to be that the budget wont allow us to do anything risky like DEI initiatives.

Harris said hes already lost research funding and has had to rewrite previous grants in partnership with federal agencies like the Department of Energy, national laboratories and consulting firms to remove words like justice and diversity in its language.

He added that an existing scholarship created through funding bequeathed from one of the departments founders Jacquelyn Beyer has already been changed. The fellowship awards a minimum of $500 to female students to increase their representation in the field of geography, which reports have found historically to be low.

The campus legal team told them the word women is now discriminatory and indefensible and the language needed to be changed.

Harris said they changed it but plan to revisit it at a later date to ensure that it meets all legal requirements while still honoring Beyers dying wish.

So, that is a point of tension, he said. If academic freedom, as given to us by the Board of Regents of this institutional system, is for us to have our own expertise on these issues and at the same time we cant manage our own resources, its very confusing.

Following the loss of research funding on campus, UCCS recently announced the Research and Creative Works Revitalization Fellowship to provide relief funding for faculty whose work has been impacted this semester.

The Research Revitalization Fellowship Program is a direct response to the continued uncertainty surrounding research funding and is a way for UCCS to both acknowledge the impact and support our hardworking faculty and the students who engage in this important research, while also ensuring that our research initiatives continue to grow, said UCCS Chancellor Jennifer Sobanet in a statement to The Gazette.

We are continuing to work closely with the CU System federal team to monitor the situation and ensure we are complying with all federal and state laws. As Southern Colorados premier research university, we are also exploring all avenues to continue our vital research.
(KRON)  U.S. Senators Alex Padilla and Adam Schiff are demanding answers Friday from the Trump administration about last weeks attempt by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents to enter two Los Angeles Unified School District elementary schools to question migrant children.

HSI officers were denied access to students by both schools principals.

During a recent meeting with the senators, HSI claimed that they went to LAUSD schools to conduct welfare checks on formerly unaccompanied immigrant children. Padilla and Schiff questioned why HSI did not coordinate with the California Department of Social Services, or the schools, if they believed migrant children were at risk.

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Padilla and Schiff expressed serious concerns about Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents potentially entering schools without warrants. The senators said HSI should not conduct any future welfare checks on elementary school children.

A DHS spokesperson said HSI officers were at these schools conducting wellness checks on children who arrived unaccompanied at the border. This had nothing to do with immigration enforcement. DHS is leading efforts to conduct welfare checks on these children to ensure that they are safe and not being exploited, abused, and sex trafficked.

(Photo by Aaron M. Sprecher/ Getty Images)

Schiff and Padilla wrote a joint letter to the Trump administration Friday stating, We are deeply concerned that HSI officers attempted to question several children, between first and sixth grade, during the school day apparently without contacting or coordinating in advance with the schools, parents or guardians, or state or local child welfare agencies. We urge you to ensure that HSI does not conduct any additional welfare checks on school premises and that ICE agents do not attempt to visit or enter schools without a warrant.

The senators said if ICE and HSI want to ensure the wellbeing of unaccompanied migrant children, the agencies should urge the federal Office of Refugee Resettlement and the White House to restore legal and social services for these children, rather than terrorizing them and their classmates at school.

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President Donald Trumps immigration policies have vastly expanded who is eligible for deportation and lifted a ban on immigration enforcement in schools.

Employees of Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest district, were trained months ago in anticipation of arrivals by federal agents to campuses.

I am proud of these principals. I am proud of the clerical staff in the front office for they did exactly what we trained them to do, LA school district superintendent Alberto Carvalho said.

Im still mystified as to how a first, second, third, fourth or sixth grader would pose any type of risk to the national security of our nation that would require Homeland Security to deploy its agents to two elementary schools, Carvalho said.

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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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One of two Hawaii men accused of stealing and killing a pet pig to cheat in a hunting contest has been sentenced, prompting criticism from animal advocacy groups that say his punishment doesnt reflect the seriousness of the crime.

Jayden Jarnesky-Magana, 19, was sentenced Wednesday to one night in jail and four years of probation after pleading no contest to charges of animal cruelty, theft and property damage, Hawaii News Now reported.

Prosecutors said that Jarnesky-Magana and 20-year-old Krys-Ryan Saito Carino, who has not yet faced trial, stole a 250-pound male pig named Eddie from his pen at animal sanctuary Kitty Charm Farm in Haiku last year and killed him. They presented Eddie at a local feral pig hunting competition and won, walking away with a $1,000 prize.

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Kitty Charm Farm founder Sarah Haynes adopted Eddie after he was found running loose covered in scars, leading rescuers to believe he had been used to train hunting dogs, she told local news station KHON2.

I adopted him and built a big enclosure and a house and a pool and all sorts of stuff, she said. And I promised him a good life and that I would keep him away from that kind of treatment.

Eddie in a photo shared on social media by Kitty Charm Farm. Facebook/Kitty Charm Farm

Around three dozen people demonstrated outside of the courthouse before the sentencing hearing, chanting things like no excuse for animal abuse, according to a report from Gray News and local news outlet KHNL.

Prior to the sentencing, Jarnesky-Maganas lawyer, Wendy Hudson, read a statement on his behalf.

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I would like to start by saying that Ive made a mistake and it was not intentional. Ive learned a lesson and Im not a bad kid, she read. Ive always been a good kid and never gotten in any trouble.

In his statement, he requested a sentence of community service before adding, I am very sorry, please forgive me, per Island News Now.

Circuit Court Judge Kirstin Hamman said the sentence sent the proper message regarding the nature of the crime that was committed.

Kitty Charm Farm criticized the sentence on social media.

We fear the message this sends to our community, which is riddled with animal abuse and very little prosecution, the sanctuary wrote in a Facebook post on Wednesday.

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On Thursday, the Maui Humane Society shared its own statement, saying it was deeply disappointed in the outcome.

We believe the sentence handed down fails to reflect the severity of the crime and the suffering Eddie endured, the humane societys statement read. When acts of animal cruelty are not met with appropriate consequences, it sends a dangerous message  that the abuse and killing of animals is not taken seriously.

Related...
Bricks Steakhouse, located in downtown Erie, has closed its doors; however, a new tenant will be moving in.

Serafinis Trattoria Italian Restaurant has announced they will be opening up in this location.

New downtown Country Fair offering extended options nearing opening

Owners Amanda Serafini and her husband have been bringing the taste of her great-grandmothers Italian recipes back to life at St. Marks Episcopal Church and is now planning their own space.

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According to the Erie Downtown Development Corporation, the owners are scheduled to start renovations this month and their target opening date is late spring.

Millcreek Twp. looking for developer for Gateway District Project

They will be bringing in new floors, kitchen equipment and furniture, but plan to still keep the historic look to the building.

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(KSNF/KODE)  For the 13th straight year, the animal advocacy group, Humane World for Animals, formerly the Humane Society of the United States, has Missouri at the top of its Horrible Hundred list.

It highlights animal breeding facilities that have violated state and/or federal inspections.

Its sad, its disheartening, its infuriating, all of the above, said Humane World for Animals Missouri Director, Cody Atkinson.

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Atkinson says the Show-Me State continues to have the highest number of breeding facilities with violations. A total of 26, with nearly a fourth located in southwest Missouri.

Whether it just spun out of control because they werent ready, experienced, and knowledgeable of what it would take or if they decided that the money that they were raking in was more important than the welfare of the animals. Its hard to say, but yeah, southwest Missouri does have a problem, said Atkinson.

One of the facilities is C&Js Happy Tails in Joplin. In December 2024, a prospective buyer reported it to authorities after witnessing overcrowding and poor conditions.

State inspectors investigated and discounted some of the claims, but did say some of the dogs did not have adequate space. We reached out to the owner of the business, but they declined to comment.

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Were not specifically targeting anybody. We let the evidence out there and let people decide for themselves what they think of the pictures and documentation that we have, said Atkinson.

Despite concerns documented by inspectors, many of the breeders in the report are currently licensed by the USDA.

It really says that we need to step up both our inspections and our resources to go toward prosecution, said Atkinson.

You can find the full report by Humane World for Animals, HERE.

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CHULA VISTA, Calif. (FOX 5/KUSI)  A citywide audit of registered sexual offenders was conducted Thursday in Chula Vista.

The audit took place from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., Sgt. Anthony Molina with the Chula Vista Police Department said in a news release.

Law enforcement officers found that out of 125 residences visited, 140 compliance checks were completed, with 20 pending an additional visit.

Detectives are assigned to verify their compliance with state law (Penal Code 290) regularly, ensuring theyre providing true and up-to-date information about their residences, phone numbers, vehicles, and employment, Molina said.

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Police officer allegedly assaulted by skateboarder in East County

One hundred and twelve registrants out of the 140 compliance checks were verified as being in compliance, while eight are still being evaluated by detectives, Molina said. Arrest warrants will be sought for those determined to be out of compliance.

Sex offenders are categorized into three tiers in California: tier one representing the lowest risk to the public and tiers two and three progressively representing more of a risk.

In Chula Vista, there are 229 people registered as sex offenders, according to CVPD. Of the 229 sex offenders, 169 of them are categorized under tiers two and three.

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PEORIA, Ill. (WMBD)  One fraternity on the campus of Bradley University shaved heads for a good cause.

The Pi Kappa Alpha fraternitys Delta Sigma chapter was on the Olin Quad, buzzing peoples hair off for five dollars each to commemorate the St. Baldricks Foundation, which raises money for children battling cancer by shaving peoples heads.

Im a senior, Ive been Ive been doing it all four years, Ill be doing it again this year, said Collin Brandon, the philanthropy chairman of the fraternity. Its really been powerful to me to have the non-monetary support for the children suffering from the sickness of cancer.

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The goal is to raise more than $18,000 through this campaign, where more than 25 people had their heads shaved.

I really like what the guys here at PIKE do in regards to our philanthropy and St. Baldricks and I wanted to be a part of it, so I decided to shave my head, said one participant while he was about halfway done with his haircut.

Newly elected president James Shadid even made an appearance, encouraging students.

To read more about the St. Baldricks foundation, click here.

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SALTVILLE, Va. (WJHL)  Smyth County Sheriff Chip Shuler reported that a fugitive wanted out of Kentucky since 2013 was located and apprehended in Saltville on Thursday, thanks to a tip from a citizen.

A news release from Shuler said Antoine L. Bell, 45, was wanted in Frankfort, Ky. for failure to appear on charges that included first-degree sexual abuse involving a minor under 12 years old. The release said Bell had evaded capture since 2013 and was listed as an active fugitive with the U.S. Marshals Service.

The Smyth County Sheriffs Office received a tip from a citizen using an FBI tipline regarding Bell possibly residing in Saltville on April 8, according to the release.

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A joint investigation was conducted by the Smyth County Sheriffs Office, the United States Marshals Service, and the FBI, leading to coordinated efforts to apprehend Bell, the release states.

On Thursday, Smyth County deputies, U.S. Marshals and the Saltville Police Department located and arrested Bell without incident, the release said. A search warrant was executed at the residence where he was found, 1658 Saltville Highway, which resulted in the seizure of numerous firearms and ammunition, according to police.

The following new charges were placed against Bell, according to Sheriff Shuler:

Felony Fugitive from Justice

Five Counts of Felony Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon

Felony Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon

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More charges are pending as the investigation continues, according to the release. Bell was being held without bond at the Southwest Virginia Regional Jail in Abingdon.

The Smyth County Sheriffs Office extends its gratitude to the citizen who provided the tip, as well as to the United States Marshals Service, the FBI, and the Saltville Police Department for their crucial assistance in this case, the release states.

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ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  The Monroe County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics help in locating a missing women.

The Sheriffs Office shared a post from the Western New York Missing and Unidentified Persons Facebook page announcing Deziree Teerlinck has been missing from Rochester since February 14, 2025.

Teerlinck is described as standing at 5 feet 2 inches, 125 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. It is believed her last contact was with her mother via text message. Officials said a friend dropped her off at a store on Cameron Street that was a bus stop at the time.

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It is believed Teerlinck remains in the Rochester area. She is said to frequent the following area:

Cameron Street

Lyell Avenue

Sherman Street

Otis Street

Anyone with information is asked to contact Rochester Police or the Monroe County Sheriffs Office by calling 911.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
HENDERSON, Ky. (WEHT)  Sinners reunites Michael B. Jordan and Ryan Coogler, and it is a twisty, southern gothic thriller/horror with deep characters and a surprising supernatural turn that works best if you dont know whats coming.

Ryan Coogler, who first worked with Michael B. Jordan on Fruitvale Station (2013) before helming the Black Panther series, writes and directs Sinners. In a dual role, Jordan plays twins who return from Chicago to their Mississippi Delta hometown to set up a juke joint, a nightclub for the Black community of that area where they play blues music, dance, and serve food and drinks. In preparing for the evening, they fear that white supremacists are going to crash the party, but after the midpoint, a different kind of monster shows up. Jordan leads an all-star cast that includes Hailee Steinfeld, Jack OConnell, Delroy Lindo, and a sensational debut by Miles Caton.

Sinners works best if you know the least about the twist, but you ought to expect some strong bloody and gory violence in the latter sections of the film. Whats more interesting is the films set-up. The beginning sections of the film last a long while, longer than most set-ups ought to last, and Sinners would feel its length if not for some deep and rich characters. The film is reminiscent of William Faulkners best work, as it builds characters, understands their psychology, and establishes the relationships that pay off in the latter half of the story. It is true that Sinners is meandering and takes its time, but anyone familiar with southern gothic literature will be familiar with that pace.

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Once all heck breaks loose  and it is all of the heck  at the films midpoint, it becomes a lot of fun and quite frightening. The action scenes are well-shot, and the violence is bone-crunching and gross. Sinners offers compelling drama as well as some of the best horror/action sequences so far this year.

Sinners is an ensemble piece, and all the performances are good. Particularly, Jordan as both of the lead protagonists differentiates the twin brothers while portraying that they share more than just a physical likeness. Jordan is always good, and Sinners is just another example of his work as an excellent leading man. Caton is the revelation. His character is the most complex, and at times, he has to shoulder the films musical performances, which he does with great success.

Sinners is not a musical in the classical definition of the term, but there are several musical sequences. One traces the history of music across generations, exposing how music informs and defines Black culture throughout the ages and portraying music as part of a larger social tapestry of this area. Even though its anachronistic, it is deeply compelling and a joy to watch, proving that Coogler does not want to create just another thriller; instead, there is substance behind his work.

The marketing campaign for Sinners hides what kind of movie it becomes, but once its over, it is hard to see how it could be anything other than what it is: a rich, socially aware, and vibrant depiction of 1930s Mississippi with a dark, horrific twist. Coogler and Jordan, like other great director/actor combinations, including Ford/Wayne, Capra/Stewart, Scorsese/De Niro, Spike Lee/Washington, and Spielberg/Hanks, obviously have a great working relationship, and Sinners is yet another example of how good they are together.

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Eyewitness News. Everywhere you are.

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SIOUX CITY, Iowa (KCAU)  Friday was the last fish fry for the 2025 Lenten season because it was Good Friday.

The Mater Dei Mens Club have been hosting the 39th Annual Lenten Fish Fry every Friday from March 8 to April 18.

The event took place at Mater Deis Nativity Center in Sioux City from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. People had the choice to either dine in or grab the food through a drive-up.

Officials said the dine-in menu included fried or baked Alaskan pollock, potatoes, salad bar, a roll, and dessert. For the drive-up menu, it featured fried or baked pollock, au gratin potatoes, coleslaw, a roll, and dessert.

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The children had a menu of their own, which included fried or baked fish with macaroni and cheese, a roll, salad bar, and dessert. If the kids got their meals from the drive-up option, they had coleslaw instead of the salad bar.

Volunteers who worked at the fish fry on Friday said it meant a lot to see the younger generation come out and give back to the community.

Its not all about receiving, its about giving. Its about helping and when we come together and do that as a community, everybody benefits from it, said Jeff Zyzda, a volunteer for the fish fry.

Volunteers said this years fish fry events averaged about 800 meals a week during the seven weeks of Lent. Officials said theyre already looking forward to next years events.

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LAS VEGAS (KLAS) Family-owned restaurant Skye Thai was victim to a store break-in on Wednesday. The front door glass was shattered, and the perpetrator took the cash register.

Cashier Pailin Lee said the incident happened after hours, and the restaurant first learned of the break-in through other stores in the shopping center.

When something like this happens, it scares everyone in the restaurant and all neighbors, Lee said.

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Theyre currently in the process of gathering security footage from nearby stores, and are asking others in the community to reach out if they have additional footage.

Skye Thai is one of several businesses in Skye Canyon that have been burglarized. (KLAS)

The Skye Canyon restaurant opened near the end of last year and has gone cashless since then, which Lee said is hard on their business.

Sometimes when people dont have and they want to pay cash, we cannot accept it. So we might lose the opportunity to sell, she said.

A string of similar crimes took place in the shopping center this week. Japanese restaurant Sakura Ya told 8 News Now they also found their glass door shattered and cash register gone on Wednesday. China A Go Go, another store in the same Skye Canyon shopping center, said they were hit while the store was still open. A cashier told 8 News Now someone approached her with a mask demanding the cashbox.

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Now, other stores and workers in the area are on high alert.

I heard from Smiths that a lot of people who work the night shift dont want to deal with it, Lee said. They dont want to work at night because theyre scared something is going to happen.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KLAS.
FREMONT, Neb. (AP)  The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating a small plane crash in Nebraska that killed all three people on board.

The single-engine Cessna 180 was traveling along the Platte River when it crashed into the water south of Fremont at 8:15 p.m., Sgt. Brie Frank of the Dodge County Sheriffs Office said during a news conference.

The bodies of three people were recovered, Frank confirmed. Authorities did not immediately release the victims' names.

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An NTSB investigator was arriving Saturday to examine the crash site.

Once on site, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation, the agency said.

The Federal Aviation Administration will also be investigating, local officials said. Fremont is about 37 miles (60 kilometers) west of Omaha.
CHARLESTON, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS)  The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration concluded that lap belts appear to only prevent ejections and serious neck and abdominal injuries  and they have little benefit in reducing serious-to-fatal injuries in severe frontal crashes.

One South Carolina lawmaker is fighting to add them to buses anyway.

Just like you and I would wear seat belts in cars to protect adults and children. We should do the same when they have to go to and fro, to get an education at these schools. And thats just the way I see it, said South Carolina state representative Wendell Gilliard for Charleston.

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Hes been advocating for seatbelts on school buses for nearly a decade. He introduced a bill for it in 2017 requiring public and private school buses to have lap-shoulder seat belts.

I felt it would really benefit our students, our bus drivers and, of course, the concerns of our parents, he said.

13-year-old boy killed in school bus crash on I-77; several hurt in Chester County tragedy

But that measure died in committee, and his similar bills introduced since 2017 have always stalled.

North Carolina lawmakers also pushed similar bills with similar results. A 2023 Senate push for a national measure to require safety belts never made it out of committee.

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Only eight states have school bus seat belt laws; Gilliard wants South Carolina to be next.

Because we are normally reactive, because it takes something like tragedy for our laws to actually be implemented, this is exactly what sometimes lawmakers need to be able to address situations that theyve kind of neglected for years, said Queen City News Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes.

Parent whose son was on field trip with fatal I-77 bus crash describes learning of the terrifying moments

Highway safety officials say seatbelts barely reduce deadly injuries  including from ejections. But the use of the combination lap/shoulder belts could provide some benefit, unless misused.

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Despite that, Gilliard says hell keep re-filing his proposal until its passed.

I always tell people, by virtue of that alone, you have to always be optimistic. You have to stay in the good fight, is what we call it. Because you cant ever give up when it comes to the safety of our children here in the state of South Carolina, Gilliard said.

All 28 patients sent to Rock Hill hospital from bus crash were discharged; staff says they were prepared through training

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Apr. 19SOUTH WEBSTER  Several pieces of evidence, including a bullet and possible human remains, have been recovered from a well in South Webster as multiple law enforcement agencies try to locate the bodies of missing people.

Agents with the Southern Ohio Organized and Major Crimes Task Force responded in early April on information that they received on the possible location of three persons that had been reported missing from multiple counties and responded to a location in the Pine Creek Road area of South Webster.

The team worked throughout the day on April 2, excavating a well located in that area. Operations were put on hold later in the day, due to severe weather. The excavation restarted on April 14.

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Items of interest have been recovered, including a bullet, and the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation will be testing these items for human remains.

The investigation in the area of Pine Creek will continue as the Task Force continues to follow up on the investigation with the other law enforcement agencies.

Scioto County Sheriff David Thoroughman would like to thank the Wayne National Forrest Officer, SOCF's Special Response Team, BCI&I, Columbus Police Department, Scioto County Engineer's Office and the Bloom Township Fire and EMS Department for their assistance with this investigation.

Thoroughman request that anyone wishing to leave information for the Organized and Major Crimes Task Force phone the Task Force at 740-716-8466.

All information will be kept confidential and anonymous.
A Southern California mayor facing a recall effort is coming under fire after his suggestion to ending his citys homelessness issue was giving them all the fentanyl they want.

The comments were made by longtime Lancaster Mayor Rex Parris during a city council meeting on Feb. 25. The comments have surfaced in recent days since he gave an interview to Fox 11 this week, where he doubled down on the sentiment.

During the February meeting, a speaker during the public comment portion wanted to speak to Parris about the homelessness crisis within the city of Lancaster. Her claim was that Parris wants to lump the citys homeless population in one singular encampment in the city, which she took issue with.

Lancaster Mayor R. Rex Parris is seen in an undated file photo. (Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times)

Parris response was to do something even more severe than that.

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What I want to do is give them free fentanyl, he said. Thats what I want to do.

When asked to repeat what he said, Parris, a Republican, reiterated I want to give them all the fentanyl they want.

That was not kind, the speaker said.

The implication that Parris wants to give homeless people an illegal drug that kills thousands of Californians per year comes as some within his city are growing tired of his antics. According to the Antelope Valley Press, Lancasters city clerk is currently suing former political opponents of Parris due to false and/or misleading information in the notice of intent to circulate a recall petition and failure to comply with state Election Code.

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That allegation comes as those political opponents, who lost to Parris in the citys mayoral election last year, are attempting to recall him.

For too long, Mayor R. Rex Parris has prioritized personal gain over the well-being of residents. His administration has been marked by mismanagement, controversial policies, and a disregard for transparency, a portion of recall-rex.com reads.

The organizers pinpoint the decision by Parris to extend mayoral terms from 2 years to 4 as an example of manipulating the democratic process.

Parris 2024 election victory was his sixth.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  Dennis Shields, President of the Southern University System, is addressing the need for more funding for the campuses to keep progressing.

Last week, Shields spoke with state leaders about the need for additional funding for their existing budget.

The uncertainty of what youre going to get from the state means that you cant plan and put the things in place that you need to get things done. He said. We want recurring dollars to start that build our base, that gives us a better opportunity to assist those students in being successful.

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Shields mentioned how its important to address the historic underfunding that affects the systems, compared to other colleges in and out of state.

He said the state is already helping with a few things, with the most recent from Governor Jeff Landry on the groundbreaking of their new STEM building. According to Shields, LSU receives more money from the state, and that goes a long way towards helping their students.

The difference between us and LSU ranges from as much as $8,000 a student to $2,000 a student. That impacts everything you do, said Shields.

Shields said their focus is to make sure the students are getting the proper resources to prosper, mentioning the nursing program and the partnerships they have with chemical plants for their engineering students.

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He said they have plans to soon break ground on new student housing as well. Their priorities are to get more summer programs, extra academic advisors, and extra grant money for students. Shields said that although Pell Grants and Financial Aid play a huge part in some students lives, more grants can continue giving other students an equal opportunity to attend college.

Many of them are very talented, but they come less prepared. We want to meet our students where they are and help them achieve their aspirations and their potential, he said.

Shields compared the economic growth of LSU with Southern. He said the way LSUs campus is set up, it not only benefits the students but the community as a whole, like easy access to grocery stores and food. He wants to address that need as well, especially with the lack of grocery stores and access to healthy food in North Baton Rouge.

Shields said he Southern has been taking the back seat for quite some time in these conversations, and hopes the state continues to listen and provide more opportunities for them to grow.

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Support from the state for those programming, that kind of programming helps not just our students gain valuable experience, but helps the community at large, he said.

Latest News

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The SPCA of Texas Animal Cruelty Investigations Unit assisted the Hunt County Sheriffs Office over the weekend in a case involving the alleged torture and killing of a cat, which led to an arrest on Saturday.

The suspect, Amy Dawn Hagman, was charged with cruelty to non-livestock animals by torture  a third-degree felony  and assault/family violence causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor. She was taken into custody and booked into the Hunt County Jail. Bond was set at $10,000 for the animal cruelty charge and $1,000 for the assault charge. Hagman remained in the jail Friday morning, according to county online records.

Law enforcement officials report that the suspect allegedly smothered and strangled a cat after it entered her flower bed. The SPCA of Texas took possession of the animals remains on Monday and transported them to the Russell E. Dealey Animal Rescue Center in Dallas. A forensic necropsy was performed by an SPCA of Texas Forensic Veterinarian the same day.

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Findings from the necropsy revealed that twine had been wrapped twice around the cats neck, knotted and secured to a rear leg. Additional evidence  including grass in the mouth and abrasions around the lips and muzzle  was consistent with smothering and mechanical asphyxiation.

The results of the necropsy confirmed what deputies on scene feared; that this animal experienced significant suffering, said Courtney Burns, chief investigator of the SPCA of Texas ACI Unit. These cases are heartbreaking but the forensic evidence is critical to ensuring that justice is pursued to the fullest extent of the law.
JOHNSTOWN, Pa.  A military veteran, a retiree, a steelworker, a recovering drug user and Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2018 were among the people who spoke in support of preserving Medicaid funding during a town hall Thursday in Johnstown.

They shared personal stories and opinions about the joint federal-state program that provides health insurance for more than 72 million people with limited income and resources.

Approximately 50 people attended the event at The Kastle in the citys West End neighborhood.

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A Republican budget resolution calls for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to cut at least $880 billion in costs through 2034, which critics have said would require major reductions in Medicaid, a program it oversees.

FEDERAL FALLOUT | 'Worried about cuts': Health care providers respond to proposed HHS downsizing

Hyndman Area Health Centers have five federally funded locations in Cambria and Bedford counties that provide "vitally important" care to the underinsured and uninsured populations of those areas.

After a few people spoke, Frank Scarsella, a steelworker, commented: What I really hear from all of you, what I keep hearing time and again, is that Medicaid is why Im here. Not just Medicaid is helpful, not just that Medicaid is like a nice benefit that keeps us comfortable. This is the bare minimum. Medicaid is the bare minimum that we get. And we only got it historically because we fought for it.

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He told a personal story about how Medicaid is what makes it possible for my son to get his care without co-pays that bankrupt me.

Amy Niehouse, who lives on a pension and Social Security, is not on Medicaid, but mentioned that people in the program use her hometown hospital, Chan Soon-Shiong Medical Center at Windber.

I dont need it, Niehouse said. Im so thankful and glad that I dont. But I know its important because my communitys important, because my local hospital is important, because children are important, because old people are important.

Matthew Espenshade | Medicaid cuts hurt rural communities

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We live in a country where the majority rules  from local governments to the very peak of federal power, those who get the most votes win.

Barb Zablotney, Ms. Wheelchair Pennsylvania 2018, told the audience that she was paralyzed in an automobile accident. She uses Medicaids waiver program to get at-home services instead of needing to live in a care facility.

Anyone can come into a situation like mine in the blink of an eye, Zablotney said. No one is immune from this life. Any time you get into a vehicle, you are gambling with this situation. I know that I am a reminder of that every time someone sees me. But I just want you all to know that this is the reality. This is why Medicaid is important. This is why Social Security is important. Both of these programs transformed my life.

The event was organized by Jason Rilogio.

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I was sitting on the couch waiting for somebody to do something, somebody to speak up, and the quote ran through my head, Rilogio said. I cant even remember who its by. If not me, who? If not now, when?

This isnt something I do. Im well-grounded in my profession and Im a leader in my profession. But as far as leading the community as a whole, I dont have experience with that.

He was injured in a ladder accident and received a precipitation for OxyContin, to which he became dependent and then started using heroin. Rilogio is in recovery. Rilogio now pays for Medicaid based off his income so he can get medical treatment and continue to work.

The reality is it keeps me paying taxes, he said.

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California OKs $2.8B to close Medicaid funding gap after expanding immigrant coverage

California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Monday to close a $2.8 billion budget gap in the state's Medicaid services and ensure coverage through June for 15 million people, including immigrants, who receive health care via the program.

Attendees were encouraged to give their comments during the meeting, record personal videos, or write questions and comments on index cards that will be sent to U.S. Rep. Dr. John Joyce, R-Blair, a member of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The main takeaway, I think, from the event is a lot of people in our community probably dont know what Medicaid does outside of direct insurance and how intertwined it is with a lot of things, said Cara Ringler, a volunteer at the town hall and SEIU Local 668 business agent.

The hospitals may not function without Medicaid. Nursing homes get payments from Medicaid. Medicaid is one of the biggest payers for nursing home care. What we wanted to do was let them tell their stories and share what Medicaid means to them, and show the politicians that there are people who want to have this conversation.
St. Ambrose University will recognize the servant leadership and profound institutional impact of this years McMullen Award recipients: Paul 76 and Alva Sachs, and Don Duke Schneider 76, a news release says.

Don Duke Schneider 76, left; and Paul 76 and Alva Sachs (St. Ambrose University)

The McMullen Award presentation will be held 4:30-5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 24, during a Mass in Christ the King Chapel on campus, 518 W. Locust St., Davenport. The public is welcome.

Paul 76 and Alva Sachs

Together, Paul and Alva Sachs have built a life centered on education, family, and service. Through their shared commitment to giving back, they have inspired countless others to do the

same.

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Paul is a distinguished alumnus who exemplifies excellence in leadership, service, and professional achievement. Coming from a family of seven children, scholarships were essential

in enabling him to attend St. Ambrose. After graduating in 1976 with a degree in accounting, he

worked on multiple high-profile accounts as a partner at Arthur Andersen before becoming a

founding managing director of Protiviti, a global business consulting firm, where he recently

retired. His commitment to service extends beyond the corporate world. He joined the board of

trustees at St. Ambrose University in 2002 and has played a key role in supporting capital

campaigns.

Alongside him is his wife, Alva, a dedicated educator, community volunteer, and leader. She earned her bachelors degree in education from the University of Illinois, followed by a masters

in education from Northern Illinois University. As an award-winning childrens author and founder of Three Wishes Publishing Company, Alva has dedicated her career to inspiring young readers.

Through her literacy foundation, she provides empowering resources for children and educators, fostering fluency, concentration, creativity, and brain development at an early age.

Paul and Alva are relentless champions for the Ambrose Annual Fund, ensuring that all students have access to a St. Ambrose education. As compassionate philanthropists with nearly 40 years of consecutive giving, few individuals embody the universitys core values of courage, wisdom, justice, and service as they do. Through their unwavering commitment to charitable giving and service, the Sachs continue to inspire future generations of St. Ambrose students. They demonstrate that true success is measured not only by professional achievements but also by the impact one has on others and the world.

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Don Duke Schneider 76

For more than four decades (and counting), Don Duke Schneider 76 has been synonymous with St. Ambrose. His lifes work has left a lasting impact on generations of students, faculty, alumni, and the university as a whole.

Dukes journey with St. Ambrose began in 1972 when he arrived as a student in the Communication Department. He was deeply involved in the colleges media outlets, contributing

to the radio and TV stations, the school newspaper, and theater productions.

A few years after he graduated, Schneider returned to campus as the operations manager of the

college TV station.

During his 43-year career, he played a pivotal role in expanding St. Ambroses digital media platforms and shaping the careers of hundreds of students. His leadership equipped them with the skills needed to succeed in an industry where technology is constantly evolving.

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But Ambrosians know Schneider for more than just his professional rolehe was always there. He attended campus events to ensure every story was covered. He worked alongside students,

teaching them the nuances of covering live sports. He was always available to help those struggling to edit a news story, work the camera, or perfect their on-screen delivery. His dedication to student success and the SAU community was unwavering.

As a mentor, Schneider guided aspiring communicators with wisdom and encouragement, fostering relationships that continued long after graduation. His passion for storytelling and his

commitment to his students left an indelible mark. His phone is still filled with messages from alumni sharing updates on their careers, awards, and life milestonesa testament to the

profound impact he has had on so many.

Through his dedication to communication, mentorship, and service, Schneiders legacy will continue to inspire the St. Ambrose community for years to come. His contributions extend far beyond the classroom, shaping the minds and futures of countless students and colleagues.

About the McMullen Award

Named in honor of the founder of St. Ambrose College, the Rev. John J. McMullen, the McMullen

Award is presented annually to individuals who embody St. Ambrose Universitys mission: An inclusive, Catholic, and diocesan community of learners, St. Ambrose University empowers all

Ambrosians to act courageously, to seek wisdom through faith and reason, to work for justice,

and to lead lives of service.

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The distinguished award was established on Sept. 4, 2006, as St. Ambrose University began its celebration of 125 years of educational excellence in Davenport and the surrounding communities in Iowa and Illinois and continues today as the universitys second highest honor.

Fashioned from crosses that once hung in the sanctuary of Christ the King Chapel, the cross

with the seal of the university recognizes the heritage of St. Ambrose and the relationship of

each recipient with all who have come before, those who are with us now and those who will

come in the future. For more information, visit here.

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Friday, community members, advocates, and St. Cloud city leaders gathered at Lakefront Park to unveil a memorial bench honoring 13-year-old Madeline Soto, whose tragic death in February 2024.

The teen was reported missing and later found dead. Her mothers boyfriend, Stephan Sterns, is now charged in connection to her death and faces dozens of counts of sexual abuse.

But amid the grief, neighbors, businesses, and strangers have come together to create something lasting: a place to remember, reflect, and rise for change.

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The bench already exists along the shoreline of Lakefront Park. It now holds a plaque dedicated to Madeline Maddie Soto and reads Forever Loved, Forever 13.

The plaque was issued by St. Cloud Parks and Recreation Bench Tribute Program after help with donations through community T-shirt drives allowing advocates to purchase it.

Advocates for Maddie said the bench is now more than just a seat. Its a symbol that allows moments of quiet reflection and a permanent tribute to a life gone too soon.

This is an amazing tribute to her that all in the community will be able to visit and reflect upon her life, said Chris Robertson, Mayor of St. Cloud.

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Jenny Esquivel, an advocate for Madeline, said the memorial is just the beginning, plans are already in motion for workshops, youth programs, and legislation driven by Madelines story.

Next on the agenda is certifying an educational curriculum so that different agencies can implement it to teach children how to protect themselves. We are heading in the legislative direction. That is still in the works, said Esquivel.

For many, the bench has already become a sacred space. A place to talk. A place to cry. A place to hope.

It represents hope and change. The many things that we have worked on, said Esquivel.

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BATON ROUGE, La. (Louisiana First)  The St. Helena Parish Sheriffs Office has launched an investigation into the death of a 40-year-old inmate who was found unresponsive in his jail cell shortly after midnight on Saturday.

According to officials, preliminary information suggests the death may have resulted from a medical episode, though the exact cause is still under investigation.

The sheriffs office said other agencies have been asked to assist in the investigation. The identity of the inmate is being withheld until next of kin can be notified.

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This is a developing story. Further details about the deceased or the investigation were not immediately available.

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As the leader of the Oklahoma Senate, Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton often can find himself in the thick of rough-and-tumble politics. But when rhetoric and tone begin to rise uncomfortably, Paxton remembers an important principle  to disagree without being disagreeable.

Among the lessons Oklahomans learned from the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building on April 19, 1995, that resulted in the deaths of 168 people and injured hundreds more are that there are things much more important than political arguments, that love always trumps hate and that harsh political discourse sometimes can lead to violent consequences.

Those lessons remain relevant in politics today, legislative leaders affirmed this week.

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I always worry about that, Paxton said Thursday. I have a lot of friends in this building, and we disagree and we agree all the time on things. We do it in a way that is respectful. But sometimes there's people out there that do it in a way that is where it demeans people and kind of almost dehumanizes people.

Paxton, R-Tuttle, said hes seen people serving on school boards or city councils berated on social media as a thief or a crook or corrupt by someone who disagrees with them. He worries about where such political discourse can lead, citing the April 13 attack on Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiros home, in which a man has been accused of breaking in and setting a fire. Search warrants in that case have cited political differences between the suspect and Shapiro as a possible motive.

You look at threats to different members of Congress that's happened, and you know it just seems to be  I don't have this have the stats to say whether it's more now than it has been, but it sure feels like it is, Paxton said. It's a great observation, because I do think it's a real question to ask.

Senate President Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton believes political discourse at the Oklahoma Capitol should be respectful.

Paxtons counterparts in Capitol leadership shared similar feelings on Thursday about the dangers of allowing political disagreements to go unresolved.

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On Thursday, the House passed  after lengthy debate  a resolution authored by Rep. Jim Olsen, R-Roland, declaring Christ is King. House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, and other members of her party objected to what they saw as the politicization of Christian faith. Debate on the House floor, at times, seemed passionate and heated.

But Munson  who was 9 and living in Lawton, attending Hugh Bish Elementary School, when the bombing occurred  noted lessons learned, much like Paxton, of not letting such disagreements get out of hand.

Especially my generation of leaders, we talk a lot about service, the Oklahoma Standard, helping others  a lot of the emphasis was on that and making sure that we look out for each other now, especially being in politics and where we are today, she said. It is why I'm so passionate about, you know, let's figure out a way to sit face to face, look each other in the eye and have conversations.

Senate Democratic leader: 'The government is us'

Senate Minority Leader Julia Kirt, D-Oklahoma City, was away at college in April 1995, and upon her return to Oklahoma City, the local response to the bombing made a lasting impression.

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It was amazing to watch because it really created a solidarity of community that comes out of that kind of strife, Kirt said. But I think there was a real clarity around how impossible (it was) and how much we had to not let that happen again with Americans.

People who work in government should be treated with respect, Senate Democratic Leader Julia Kirt says.

Anti-government views held by bomber Timothy McVeigh were at the root of his actions. Its important, Kirt said, to treat those working in government with respect.

To me, anti-government sentiment can go awry when it's combined with dehumanizing and extremism, she said. And I see a lot of anti-government sentiment that does not recognize the government is us and government are people we've hired to do work and we've asked to do a service.

We might choose we don't think the state should do that service anymore. OK, that's one thing, but we don't say that that persons not a person. We don't say that they're not worthy. What I do is I meet a whole lot of public servants who are doing the hard work and are kind of under-appreciated. I'm deeply concerned about it, and I think some of the language we use up here really encourages that kind of dehumanizing mindset.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said he believes it is important for younger generations to understand and pass on the Oklahoma Standard.

House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, was just 1 year old when the bombing happened. While he has no memories of it, he learned about what happened while growing up in Depew. Now that hes a state lawmaker, he said he understands his generations responsibility to follow, and pass along, the principle of whats now known as the Oklahoma Standard.

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The fact that the speaker of the House for Oklahoma was 1 year old at the time (of the bombing) is a reminder of the reason we need to remember and never forget what happened, Hilbert said.

He spoke of his experience attending a program put on a few months ago by the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in his House district in Mannford. Mannford High School Principal Kyle Genzer  whose mother, Jamie Genzer, died in the bombing  spoke about how that experience changed his life.

You talk about lessons learned, Hilbert said. I can tell you from what I experienced in Mannford a few months ago  all those high school freshmen came in. Fourteen-year-olds, its sometimes hard to get their attention, but they all were locked in when Mr. Genzer got up and told his personal story and his personal connection and how the events of the bombing led him to where he is today as a principal at Mannford and the impact hes been able to have and take that terrible incident and make something good out of it.

House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson said the aim of government should be to encourage people to work together.

Munson said its important to remember McVeigh was very radical and clearly was disconnecting himself from reality ... and feeling like the government was after him.

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Instead, she said, the aim of government should be to encourage people to work together, despite their differences. As an example, she cited the spirited debate over the Christ is King resolution.

I was upset about something, and I went over to a member and I just said, I hope that's not what you meant. (That) allowed us to work something out, she said. And I think that that's where we have to get to. And I hope that over the course of this week and this weekend that that's what people will remember and recommit to doing.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: State lawmakers reflect 30 years after Oklahoma City bombing
LAS VEGAS (KLAS)  The state agency that oversees charter schools is narrowing in on the finances of several valley schools, claiming they have too much debt to stay open.

Sage Collegiate Public Charter School and Nevada Prep Academy Charter School were brought before the State Public Charter School Authority (SPCSA) on Friday to discuss their budgets.

Weve taken steps to address obstacles like chronic absenteeism and student achievement, and weve taken steps to tackle the financial challenges as well, Sage Collegiate Principal Sandra Kinne told members of the SPCSA.

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Charter school enrollment in Nevada has increased so much that the schools collectively are the second-largest district in the state.

Last year, the agency closed Eagle Charter School after it failed to pay back more than $800,000 in taxpayer money. That was the first time in the agencys history it has closed a school.

State moves to seize assets of Las Vegas charter school, claims it failed to pay back over $800K in taxpayer money

Sage Collegiate opened three years ago on Charleston Boulevard near Valley View Boulevard.

Families deserve options for their children in a public setting, Kinne told 8 News Now on Jan. 19, 2023.

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But the State Public Charter School Authority said Sage Collegiate has taken on too much debt.

We use the audit financials because this is a very high-stakes decision and so we use an objective third-party that has reviewed what has happened in the past, rather than sort of hopes for the future, Katie Broughton, SPCSAs director of authorizing, said.

The agency sought on Friday to give Sage Collegiate a Notice of Breach, which is the step before issuing a Notice of Intent to Revoke.

Kinne said 25% of its pupil-centered funding goes to rent.

A Notice of Breach prohibits us tackling the biggest challenge, which is our rent, Kinne said. She argued that a Notice of Breach would prevent Sage Collegiate from taking out loans.

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But according to the State Public Charter School Authority, Sages current financial position is strained, heavily leveraged and reliant on multiple loans. The agency also accused Sage of not paying its teacher retirement contributions to the state.

I cant sit here and personally say youre in a better financial position if youre not able to pay your teachers their full compensation package that they are owed, Melissa Mackedon, the executive director of SPCSA, said.

The agency voted to give Sage Collegiate until May to respond on how its tackling its financial issues.

The state agency also scrutinized Nevada Prep Charter School. According to the agency, Nevada Prep has missed three lease payments and its debt is consuming approximately 30% of the state revenue it receives.

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SPCSA gave the school until the agencys next meeting on May 30 to present more information.

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LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)- With a slight measles outbreak in the United States, experts are warning others of the dangers of traveling to areas where the disease could be spreading.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there has been a 12% rise in measles cases in the country.

News 10 spoke with Shandy Dearth, the director of the Public Health Practice at the Fairbanks School of Public Health, who said cases are rising due to international travel.

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We actually considered measles to be eliminated here in the United States back in 2000, but we are seeing cases partly now because of international travel where measles does pop up more often, said Dearth.

US has 800 measles cases and outbreaks in several states. Heres what you should know

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Dearth said measles can spread through the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes or by contact with a contaminated surface. According to the Louisiana Department of Health, those at the highest risk of contracting the disease include unvaccinated people or travelers in areas where the disease circulates.

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If you have any international travel planned, you can get babies immunized at six months, talk with your pediatrician about the best approach for that, said Dearth.

RFK Jr.s mixed message about the measles outbreaks draws criticism from health officials

Symptoms include a high fever, tiny white spots inside of the mouth, and a rash. it can also cause pneumonia, inflammation of the brain, and middle ear infections. Dearth said two doses of the vaccine is preventive against the disease.

Two doses are 97% effective against measles, you can go to your healthcare provider, they can do a blood test where they check for titers to see if your protected from the measles or you can go get another vaccine, said Dearth.

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Dearth warns people to quarantine themselves if they feel themselves becoming sick.

Isolate yourself until you know one way or the other if you are potentially contagious yourself because you want to make sure youre not going to spread it to other people, said Dearth.

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Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) is threatening to upend the New York governors race as she considers a challenge to Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) next year.

Stefanik has not confirmed that shes running yet, but the possibility of her jumping in is already unsettling the GOP primary in the Empire State, where Rep. Mike Lawler (R-N.Y.) had been seen as the most likely choice for the GOP nomination.

Republicans recognize the uphill battle Stefanik could have in the blue stronghold and say theyre hoping to avoid a divisive primary between Lawler and Stefanik, a top ally of President Trump, that could distract from focusing on Hochul and years of Democratic dominance of the state. Still, many in the party remain optimistic that they can pull off an upset after making inroads in 2022.

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In terms of fundraising organization and the ability to communicate a clear and concise message, theres no Republican in New York that can do it like Elise Stefanik, said New York Republican strategist Bill Cortese, a former adviser to Stefanik. From her entire career, she has beat the odds and delivered, and I think that is why you saw her meteoric rise in Washington.

Stefanik was first elected to represent New Yorks 21st Congressional District in 2014, flipping her district red after a Democrat had held the seat for five years. She eventually rose to become one of Trumps top allies on Capitol Hill and chair of the House Republican Conference, the fourth-highest ranking Republican in the body.

Her profile rose further in late 2023 for her questioning of three university presidents handling of the pro-Palestinian protests that took place on their campuses, establishing herself as a top supporter of Israel. She was set to become Trumps United Nations ambassador, but her political future seemed uncertain after her nomination was pulled late last month given concerns about the narrow House Republican majority.

But reports of her possible gubernatorial candidacy have quickly energized Republicans in the past few days hoping she turns her attention to her home state at large.

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Stefanik has said she wouldnt rule anything out in her future, including a run for governor, and sounded like a possible candidate during a speech she gave Tuesday evening during a New York GOP dinner as she railed against Hochul, who has struggled with her favorability ratings.

She has said shes honored to be in the mix with other possible candidates and further stoked speculation with a post on social media on Wednesday pointing to polling that she said suggests we can WIN & SAVE NEW YORK.

Some Republicans said Stefanik would clear the Republican field if she runs, as she enjoys strong popularity, is an effective fundraiser and is a close ally of Trump.

One GOP official said Stefanik is the most popular and most well-funded Republican official in New York and has an obligation to her district and Republicans at large to consider running.

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Daivd Laska, the communications director for the New York GOP, called Stefanik a Republican superstar who would be a phenomenal candidate.

Former Rep. John Faso (R-N.Y.), who was the Republican nominee for governor in 2006 and sat next to Stefanik at the GOP dinner, said Stefanik is likely the best known person in the state of the possible candidates based on the events of the past year.

But Stefanik as the nominee would be a noticeable shift, as Lawler seemed to be on a clear track for the nomination just a week ago.

Lawler is another popular Republican who has crafted a reputation for himself as a moderate who won a tough battleground district in November despite being a top target for Democrats. He has increasingly played up his attacks on Hochul and seemed poised to enter the race.

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Lawler praised Stefanik in a statement, calling her a powerful leader who still plays a key role in leading the conference.

We both agree that Kathy Hochul is the worst Governor in America, bar none, he said. In 2026, New Yorkers have a chance to elect a strong, competent leader to move the state in a better direction. In the coming months the process will play out to ensure that Republicans have the strongest candidate possible.

Nassau County Executive Bruce Blakeman, who also has cast himself as a strong supporter of Trump, has been another rumored candidate, possibly trying to run to Lawlers right.

The Republican Party in New York State is fortunate to have many exciting and capable candidates for statewide office, Blakeman told local New York outlet Newsday.

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Republicans said they viewed having multiple options as a positive sign that strong candidates are ready and the party can choose the best one to face off against Hochul. But they also said they hope to avoid a messy primary that could cause Republicans to focus money and time on attacking each other rather than Democrats.

The great thing for the Republican Party is that were not casting around trying to find someone to run, Faso said. I think there are some really viable candidates that are potentially interested in running.

Cortese said Republicans need to quickly unify around a single candidate and cannot afford a costly primary.

Weve seen from other races too, that theres no need to spend money, time and resources on fighting each other, when really we need to come together, unify and find ways to hold all the Democrats accountable and Kathy Hochul accountable, he said.

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Meanwhile, Democrats say theyre not too worried about Stefanik running and expect a competitive primary in which the candidates are focused on gaining a coveted and influential endorsement from Trump.

Elise Stefanik, Mike Lawler, and Bruce Blakeman are all jockeying for Donald Trumps endorsement and putting their loyalty to his out-of-touch agenda above New Yorkers, said New York State Democratic Party spokesperson Addison Dick, adding that all of these MAGA minions face an uphill battle and would be rejected by New Yorkers next November.

Hochul told reporters that the GOP nominee, no matter who it is, will be an extreme MAGA Republican and that she looks forward to the fight.

The governor has more recently taken on a larger national profile in opposing Trump, which polling has suggested at least the Democratic base wants to see more from their leaders.

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But Republicans are bullish on building on the inroads that former Rep. Lee Zeldin (R-N.Y.) made in 2022, when he lost only by 6 points, the best result for a Republican candidate since former Gov. George Pataki (R) won in 2002.

Despite Trumps approval rating being poor in New York, Cortese argued that peoples beliefs about Trump are baked into the cake already and Republicans have been able to win even with Democratic attempts to tie them to Trump.

Donald Trump being president does not give Albany Democrats an excuse for their failure to deliver, and we have seen in races all the way down the ballot that people do care about who theyre electing, that the Donald Trump factor will always remain some sort of an issue, but its not some big drag that everyone likes to think it is, he said.

He pointed to improvements that Trump had in 2024 in the state and even New York City, significantly in the Bronx.

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But Republican strategist Jay Townsend expressed caution about a candidate like Stefanik.

Elises trouble will be after she wins the party nod, which I think she can if she wants to, but shes so far right that Im not sure shell sell in New York, he said.

But he speculated that even if Stefanik runs and loses, her political stock is likely on the upswing regardless as she could then join the Trump administration then, with Republicans not worried about losing her House seat.

Thats a bit of a safety net for her, he said.

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Ever held on to a shopping receipt while waiting for a server or juggling bags at checkout? As it turns out, that brief moment could have lasting consequences for your health  especially if you're doing it on a regular basis.

A new study from the Center for Environmental Health has revealed that thermal paper receipts used by dozens of U.S. retailers contain dangerously high levels of bisphenol S (BPS), a chemical linked to hormone disruption and reproductive issues.

While not yet as famous as the similar bisphenol A, aka BPA, the researchers said even touching a receipt with BPS for just 10 seconds can cause enough exposure to exceed California's cancer safety limits under Proposition 65.

What's happening?

The Center for Environmental Health tested receipts from nearly 50 national chains  including Dollar General, Subway, Burger King, AMC Theatres, and Chanel  and found that they contained alarming concentrations of BPS. This chemical is used in thermal receipt paper to help ink appear when printed, but it doesn't just stay on the page.

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CEH also took legal action against 32 major retailers, with others including Crumbl and Gap stores, with a full list here, though the findings apply to any store that uses the same type of receipts.

According to CEH science director Mihir Vohra, the research findings were "really eye-opening."

"They really speak to just how high the concentrations of BPS are in these receipts," Vohra said.

This discovery is especially troubling for cashiers and retail workers who handle hundreds of receipts every day. But even customers are at risk  think about how long you hold a receipt when reviewing your bill at a restaurant or signing a return.

Why is BPS exposure concerning?

While many brands have phased out BPA  a chemical banned in food packaging in the EU  its close cousin BPS is still widely used, despite drawing allegations of being just as toxic. Research has connected BPS exposure to breast cancer, cognitive development issues, decreased sperm count, and other serious health problems.

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The problem isn't just the chemical itself  it's how easily it is absorbed. Unlike other forms of contact, BPS in thermal paper can transfer through your skin in mere seconds, building up quickly with repeated exposure.

Do you worry about using cleaning products with harsh chemicals in them? All the time Sometimes Not really No  never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

What's being done about it?

CEH has issued violation notices to these companies, who now have 60 days to either add a warning or switch to safer alternatives. Failure to do either might result in facing legal action. This is pushing companies to switch to paper or clearly warn customers about potential harm.

Washington is leading the way as the first state to take action to remove hormone-disrupting chemicals from receipt paper. The state banned bisphenols as a class in receipt paper under the Safer Products for Washington law, effective from January 2026.

In the meantime, there are simple ways to reduce exposure like opting for digital or email receipts instead. For retail workers, wearing gloves or washing hands frequently after handling receipts can help in a big way as well.

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Every small action helps. Choosing safer options not only protects your health but also encourages retailers to make cleaner, healthier changes for everyone.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
SAVANNAH, Ga. (WSAV)  Representative Carl Gilliard held a kickoff meeting today, where he introduced new initiatives aimed at reducing youth violence here in savann



Four years later, weve made a very big dent in what we deem as 71,000 identified gangs in Georgia, but more specifically in Chatham County. Those elements through prevention and intervention in commission, said State Representative Carl Gillard.



House bill 750, also known as the Gang Prevention and Intervention Commission Act, was passed and signed into law in 2021. Representative Carl Gillard is chairman of the commission, and today he announced 4 new initiatives created to help reduce violence and gang activities in the Chatham County area. The focus is to provide more support to at-risk youth by providing more activities for them to join and giving them support from mentors. His plans also include ways for first-time offenders to erase their gun charges through an education program and gain employment.

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Young people are sitting there saying, Wheres my help? Whos paying attention to me? Who cares? We dont have enough wraparound services at Chatham County. We dont. We have community centers left and right, but we dont have wraparound services to help them with their homework. To give them mentorship. Or if they have a food desert, Gillard stated.



The programs will be available to the youth starting this summer. Gillard says theres still a lot of work to be done, and its going to be a community effort.



We got to cut the silos. Theres too many people doing this and doing that. But weve got to do it together. Were stronger together. Thats what the Chatham County Prevention and Intervention Commission is about, Gillard explained.



Social media information and websites will be available for parents and teens to gather more information in the coming weeks. You can find the flyers for each program below.

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President Trump addressed the topic of deportation continuously throughout the week as Democratic lawmakers railed against the removal of Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

In March, Abrego Garcia, who lived with his wife in Maryland, was sent to El Salvadors notorious terrorist confinement center (CECOT).

Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D) visited Abrego Garcia, who is a Salvadoran national, for a wellness check on Thursday and is expected to provide an update on his condition on several Sunday shows this week. The Democrat is slated to appear on all five of the major cable networks to discuss his trip to the Central American country.

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Abrego Garcia immigrated illegally to U.S. before being granted withholding of removal status in 2019, which barred his deportation to El Salvador, over safety concerns if he were to return to his home country.

Republicans have since questioned the legitimacy of his residency in the U.S., claiming he has ties to the MS-13 street gang, which both Abrego Garcia, his wife and his lawyers deny.

During a Monday presser in the Oval, Trump doubled down on his administrations decision to deport him and said there was no chance hed be freed. His comments were made alongside Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele, who also said he would not help facilitate Abrego Garcias release.

The two leaders statements were made in the wake of a Supreme Court ruling upholding a lower court order directing the Trump administration to facilitate the return of the Maryland father.

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This all comes as Trump promised to carry out the largest deportation in U.S. story on the campaign trail and signed several executive orders seeking to crack down on immigration since January. Border Czar Tom Homan will likely address these efforts during his appearance on ABCs This Week.

Other administration officials sitting down on talk shows this weekend include Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, who are likely to tout the administrations efforts to reduce the size and scope of the federal government by rolling back some regulations and slash spending.

Democrats have pushed back on much of these actions and slammed the Trump administration for revoking research grants related to climate change and the effects of environmental pollution.

Several Democrats, including House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (MN) are expected to reiterate these critiques of Trump administration and its policies Sunday.

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Massachusetts Gov. Maura Healy (D) is also joining CBSs Face The Nation, where she is likely to weigh in on Harvard Universitys battle with the Trump administration over federal funding.

All these topics and more will be explored on this weeks Sunday shows.

Please see the full list of guests below:

NewsNations The Hill Sunday: Sen. James Lankford (R-Okla.); Former Ohio Gov. John Kasich (R)

ABCs This Week: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Rep, Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.); border czar Tom Homan

CNNs State of the Union: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.); Rep. Tom Emmer (R-Minn.)

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CBS Face the Nation: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lee Zeldin; Gov. Maura Healey (D-Mass.); Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.); Austan Goolsbee, president and CEO of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago

NBCs Meet the Press: Sen. Chis Van Hollen (D-Md.); Sen. John Kennedy, (R-La.)

Fox Newss Fox News Sunday: Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.); Interior Secretary Doug Burgum

Fox Newss Sunday Morning Futures: Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah); Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.); Rep. Brandon Gill (R-Texas); Department of Homeland Security assistant secretary for public affairs Tricia Mclaughlin; Former NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine

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The Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in Kennedy v. Braidwood, the first significant challenge to the Affordable Care Act under the current Trump administration and a case that could strip away insurance coverage for preventive services like cancer screenings, HIV prevention and diabetes medication for millions of Americans.

The case has its origins in a 2020 legal challenge by Braidwood Management, Inc., a Texas-based Christian company that sued the federal government and claimed providing coverage for PrEP  an HIV preventive medication also known as pre-exposure prophylaxis  violated its rights under the Religious Freedom Restoration Act.

At the time, Dr. Steven Hotze, the sole trustee and beneficiary of the Braidwood Management company, said he was unwilling to pay for PrEP or STI screenings for his employees. They are consequences of a patients choice to engage in drug use, prostitution, homosexual conduct, or sexual promiscuity  all of which are contrary to Dr. Hotzes sincere religious beliefs, the complaint read.

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The central question before the Supreme Court now is not about religious beliefs. Instead, the justices have been asked to weigh in on whether an independent task force has the authority to recommend preventive services like PrEP be covered by health insurers under the U.S. Constitution.

The United States Preventive Services Task Force is an independent group of volunteer medical experts who work outside of the federal government, although they are appointed by the secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services and their work is supported by an agency within HHS.

Under the 2010 landmark Affordable Care Act, signed by President Barack Obama, private insurers are required to cover preventive services that are recommended by the task force.

If the Supreme Court rules in favor of Braidwood, however, private health insurers would no longer be required to fully cover preventive services and in turn, would make health caremore expensive by adding on copays, deductibles or coinsurance to consumers.

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The outcome of the case could have widespread ramifications for 150 million Americans on private insurance. Thirty-six states dont currently already have protections for coverage of preventive care built into their state insurance plans.

Public health advocates warn that people who need the care the most would be deterred from accessing it altogether.

In the lawsuit, Braidwood argues that the task force wields too much power to determine what types of preventive care are covered under the ACA and does not get enough oversight from the health secretary. In 2022, a district court sided with Braidwood and also ruled that forcing coverage of PrEP violated the companys religious freedoms.

The Biden administration appealed the decision in 2024. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the lower courts ruling, stating that the task force wielded unreviewable power.

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After President Joe Biden left office, the Trump administration agreed to pick up the case and defend the task force. The Justice Department has argued that because the HHS secretary can remove task force members at any moment, the secretary has the appropriate oversight over the group.

The lawyer representing Braidwood is Jonathan Mitchell, an anti-abortion activist who represented President Donald Trump when Colorado tried to exclude him from its 2024 presidential ballot.

Leslie McGorman, the director of policy and strategy at AIDS United, said the fact that the Trump administration is defending this case in court and making the same argument as the Biden administration could potentially be a bright spot.

But she said her optimism only goes so far, as oral arguments for the case come less than a month after HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. shrunk the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and eliminated entire offices dedicated to HIV prevention and treatment. Last month, the administration also quietly proposed a rule that would dismantle many parts of the ACA.

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Theres an inevitable chasm that continues to grow between those who have private insurance and those who rely on the government for their health care needs, McGorman said about the recent restructuring of HHS. We just have less and less interest from this administration to really care at all about the safety net.

McGorman and other HIV and LGBTQ+ advocates worry that a Supreme Court decision axing no-cost preventive services could further exacerbate existing health disparities between marginalized communities and other Americans.

Almost two-thirds of the 1.2 million people who could benefit from PrEP are not taking it, even though the medication is widely available, CDC data shows. Black and Latino communities, gay and bisexual men, trans women, and people living in the South and rural areas experience some of the highest rates of new HIV infections, while facing significant barriers in accessing heath care, including PrEP, due to financial barriers, lack of insurance or discrimination in medical settings.

PrEP was explicitly named from the Braidwood group because [they believe] it promotes homosexuality and unmarried sex  but the goal was always to undermine the Affordable Care Act, Mandisa Moore-ONeal, the executive director of the Center for HIV Law and Policy, told HuffPost. Braidwood really drives home how certain groups  trans folks, queer folks, people vulnerable to HIV  are the lowest hanging fruit and are often used as a placeholder for something thats going to impact a much larger group.

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Without access to no-cost PrEP, experts warn there could be an increase in HIV infections, especially as Kennedy continues to decimate numerous offices in HHS tasked with overseeing HIV prevention, surveillance and research and implementing strategies to address disparities across race, gender and sexual orientation. Experts caution that Kennedys overhaul of HHS has already threatened the decades of progress made toward ending the HIV epidemic domestically and abroad.

An end to the PrEP Mandate would result in an additional 2,083 new HIV infections a year in the United States, up from a base of 28,200 infections, according to a 2023 report from Yale University. A single new HIV infection would cost, at minimum, $420,000 for a lifetime of treatment, the study found.

The elimination of coverage for preventive care would spell trouble for dozens of preventive health care services beyond just PrEP, including statins to prevent heart disease, lung cancer screenings, depression and suicide risk screenings, and various pregnancy screenings.

The fear is that this will be a big step backwards in reducing the burden of cancer, Scott Ramsey, a cancer researcher and physician at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, told STAT News. Even a $20 copay can deter people from getting cancer screenings, he said, which could lead to people being diagnosed with cancer at more advanced stages of the disease.

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Many people will be in limbo while they wait for a ruling on the case, which is expected in June.

What does that mean for someone at the end of year? What about for a queer couple who has been planning pregnancy and hopes to start insemination in July and was counting on being able to use their insurance to have certain early pregnancy screenings? What is the impact on Black womens ability to get cancer screenings? Moore-ONeal asked, referring to the possibility that the court could rule in favor of Braidwood. The impacts are dire.

Former task force members are also concerned that Kennedy could make changes to the group that jeopardize its neutrality or ability to make science-based recommendations. In a letter to the health secretary, 34 former members warned that a loss in this case may mean millions of Americans will be deprived of access to free, effective preventive care.

We want to be sure that there isnt an unintended outcome of the newly announced reorganization of the Department of Health and Human Services, including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), which damages the Task Forces ability to help prevent chronic disease through primary care services, the letter read.
The Supreme Court early Saturday halted the administrations ability to use the Alien Enemies Act to swiftly deport migrants to El Salvador who are being detained in portions of Texas, for now.

The emergency order temporarily blocks the deportations until the high court resolves the American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) emergency appeal, which was filed hours earlier over concerns that more deportation flights were imminent.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, two of the courts leading conservatives, dissented.

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The ACLU simultaneously asked several courts to immediately intervene Friday, warning that the Venezuelan migrants could otherwise be given life sentences in a notorious Salvadoran megaprison without the opportunity for judicial review.

The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the Supreme Courts order reads.

The class extends to any migrant detained in the Northern District of Texas who is being removed under the 18th century Alien Enemies Act. It does not apply elsewhere, though judges overseeing separate cases have temporarily blocked deportations for those detained in the Southern District of New York, the District of Colorado and the Southern District of Texas.

The 1798 law enables migrants to be summarily deported amid a declared war or an invasion by a foreign nation. The law has been leveraged just three previous times, all during wars, but Trump contends he can use it because the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua is effectively invading the U.S.

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The administration first invoked the law last month to deport more than 100 migrants to a Salvadoran megaprison. On Friday, the ACLU pulled out all the stops as it raised alarm that another wave of deportations was actively underway, saying the administration was already busing migrants to the airport.

Deputy Assistant Attorney General Drew Ensign pushed back at a lower court hearing, however, saying no deportation flights were scheduled for Friday or Saturday.

But I have also been told to say that they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow, Ensign cautioned.

The ACLU took an aggressive approach once it became aware of the deportations, giving U.S. District Judge James Hendrix, a Trump appointee in Texas who is overseeing the case, just minutes to act before the civil rights group began appealing Friday afternoon.

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Criticizing that short window, a three-judge 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals panel unanimously denied the groups appeal as premature early Saturday.

We do not doubt the diligence and ability of the respected district judge in this case to act expeditiously when circumstances warrant, the 5th Circuits unsigned ruling reads. Petitioners insist that they tried to proceed before the district court in the first instance, and that the district court simply refus[ed] to act. But the district courts order today indicates that Petitioners gave the court only 42 minutes to act.

The 5th Circuit panel comprised of Trump appointees Judge James Ho and Judge Cory Wilson, and Judge Irma Carillo Ramirez, an appointee of former President Biden.

Separately, the ACLU had unsuccessfully asked U.S. District Judge James Boasberg, an appointee of former President Obama who serves in the nations capital, to block the deportations. Boasberg oversees the ACLUs challenge to the original wave of March 15 deportations when Trump first invoked the Alien Enemies Act.

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At the end of an emergency hearing Friday evening, Boasberg ruled he had no jurisdiction following the Supreme Courts ruling last week that the migrants must challenge their removals where they are physically detained.

ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, the lead counsel in the case, responded to the Supreme Court ruling in a statement shared with The Hill on Saturday.

These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court, the attorney wrote. We are relieved that the Supreme Court has not permitted the administration to whisk them away the way others were just last month.

Boasberg earlier this week also found probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for willfully disobeying his order to immediately halt deportations and turn around any airborne planes. An appeals court on Friday temporarily blocked any contempt proceedings.

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The Supreme Court has ordered a pause on the deportation of Venezuelan migrants being held in Texas, whom the Trump administration is seeking to remove under an 18th century wartime law.

In a brief order issued early Saturday, the court directed the federal government to halt deportation proceedings for a group of men that the government alleges are members of the Tren de Aragua gang until further order of this court.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

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It is the second time that Trumps use of the 1798 Alien Enemies Act has landed before the Supreme Court. The administration has deported scores of migrants it accuses of being gang members under the law, many of whom were sent to El Salvador with little to no due process.

On Friday, the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency appeal at several courts, including the Supreme Court, saying that dozens or hundreds of men at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Texas were at imminent risk of being removed from the U.S. without notice or an opportunity to be heard. Many of the men had been loaded on to buses, presumably headed to the airport, the ACLU said in its appeal, having been told that they could be removed from the U.S. as soon as that afternoon or Saturday.

That effort, the organizations attorneys said, was in direct contravention of the courts April 7 ruling that allowed the administration to remove alleged gang members under the Alien Enemies Act  but only if they are given due process.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
WASHINGTON  The Supreme Court early Saturday told the Trump administration not to take any action to deport Venezuelan men based in Texas it alleges are gang members.

The court did not grant or deny an application filed by lawyers for the detainees, but effectively hit pause on the case, which affects people currently held within the jurisdiction of the Northern District of Texas.

The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court, the brief order said.

The Supreme Court.

Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, disagreed with the Supreme Court decision, the order noted.

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At around the same time, the New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals rejected a request by the men, who the administration alleges are gang members, to halt any deportations under a wartime law called the Alien Enemies Act.

On Friday afternoon, at least one charter bus rolled up to the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, Texas, a town about 200 miles west of Dallas, where the men are being held.

Administration officials are seeking to deport the men, who they say are members of the Tren de Aragua gang. There are major questions about whether the government has the authority to apply the Alien Enemies Act to gang members outside of a war situation and whether adjudications about gang membership are accurate.

The plaintiffs ask only that this court preserve the status quo so that proposed class members will not be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador before the American judicial system can afford them due process, their lawyers at the American Civil Liberties Union wrote in the Supreme Court filing.

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In a statement, Lee Gelernt, the lead ACLU attorney in the case, praised the Supreme Court's decision, saying, These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court. We are relieved that the Supreme Court has not permitted the administration to whisk them away the way others were just last month.

The Supreme Court action follows an April 7 decision in which the court made it clear that any people the government wants to deport under the Alien Enemies Act need to be given the chance to challenge the decision via habeas corpus petitions.

Later on Saturday, Solicitor General D. John Sauer filed the administration's response at the court as directed, urging the justices to reject the plaintiffs' application once they have had a closer look at the case.

Among other things, he said the request was filed prematurely before lower courts could properly weigh in.

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Under these highly irregular circumstances, applicants can hardly establish a clear and indisputable entitlement to the extraordinary relief they seek, he wrote.

Sauer also said that any detainees subject to imminent deportation have adequate time to file habeas claims and that the government has agreed that it will not deport anyone with a pending claim.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt commented on the case Saturday, saying she expects that the administration will be allowed to carry out its deportation plans.

"We are confident we will ultimately prevail against the onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists," Leavitt said in part of a post on X.

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The case raises questions not just about Trumps aggressive and unprecedented use of presidential power in invoking the 18th-century law, which has been used only when the country was at war, but also about whether his administration is complying with court orders.

In its earlier decision, the Supreme Court faulted a judge in Washington for the way he handled the case but said plaintiffs could sue in the districts in which they are confined. The vote to overturn the lower court was 5-4, with liberal justices joined in part by conservative Justice Amy Coney Barrett.

Litigation continues in a separate case over the Trump administrations mistaken deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to El Salvador.

This article was originally published on NBCNews.com
The Supreme Court blocked Donald Trumps administration from another round of deportations under the Alien Enemies Act in the early hours of Saturday. Their ruling was made after lawyers said in an emergency appeal that a group of immigrants from Venezuela detained in Texas were slated for deportation, potentially to El Salvador, in violation of a previous Supreme Court decision affirming the immigrants right to challenge their removal.

The short ruling was filed at 1 a.m. It ordered the Trump administration to freeze the deportations until further order of this court. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented.

Attorneys at the American Civil Liberties Union and Democracy Forward had filed an emergency appeal Friday after a district court judge in Washington, D.C. denied a temporary restraining order for the group of immigrants, saying doing so was beyond his power. According to the lawyers, numerous Venezuelans had been told by the government that they would be removed under the Alien Enemies Act on Friday or Saturday. Many of the Venezuelans, allegedly gang members, had already been loaded onto buses, the lawyers wrote.

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The governments actions to-date, including its lightning-fast timeline, do not give members of the proposed class a realistic opportunity to contest their removal under the Alien Enemies Act, the lawyers wrote. They argued that carrying out these deportations would violate the Supreme Courts decision earlier this month in JGG v. Trump, which found that detainees are entitled to challenge their removal and should do so in the place where they are detained.

A group of Venezuelan immigrants had previously been deported to a mega-prison in El Salvador under the Alien Enemies Act despite an order by the same district court judge that banned the move, Judge James Boasberg. Boasberg found earlier this week that there is probable cause to hold the Trump administration in criminal contempt for violating this order.

The Alien Enemies Act, an 18th century law, gives the president sweeping authority during a time of war to deport people from an enemy nation. It was used to legitimize Japanese internment during World War II. Trump has invoked the law claiming that Venezuelan gangs have invaded the United States.

The Supreme Courts decision to act with such urgency may signal its concern with the executive branchs apparent disregard for the due process requirements laid out in its recent JGG decision, Patrick Jaicomo, a senior lawyer with the center-right Institute for Justice, tells Rolling Stone.

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Whether the Trump administration will follow the orders remains to be seen. The Trump administration has so far ignored the high courts ruling to return Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man whom the administration illegally shipped to prison in El Salvador.

Notwithstanding the specifics of the orders in JGG and Garcia, the executive branchs broader response has been that it can do whatever it wants, unfettered, says Jaicomo. Thats clearly inconsistent with both recent Supreme Court rulings  If theres a constitutional crisis coming, its origin is the executive branch, not the judiciary.

The case will now be heard by the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals. The Supreme Court invited Trumps Solicitor General to respond to the ACLUs application before the justices once the Fifth Circuit has weighed in.

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The Trump administration can't move forward with plans to deport more Venezuelan migrants it has accused of being gang members, the Supreme Court said early Saturday.

The administration had scheduled to fly more than 50 migrants from an immigration detention center in Texas to El Salvador, using the rarely invoked Alien Enemies Act, The New York Times reported. Justices temporarily blocked the plans as the case plays out in a federal appeals court in Louisiana, CNN reported.

The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court," CNN quoted the court as saying. No reason was given, and Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito Jr. dissented.

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The order came after attorneys with the American Civil Liberties Union filed an emergency appeal on Friday, saying the migrants were not provided enough notice to challenge their deportation.

"These men were close to spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had any due process," The Times quoted A.C.L.U. attorney Lee Gelernt as saying. "The case has a long way to go. But for now, we are relieved that the court has not allowed the Trump administration to hurry them away in secret."

This is the second time the Supreme Court has considered Trump's use of the Alien Enemies Act, CNN reported.

Last week the justices allowed Trump to use it but said migrants need to be notified of the act and given a chance for a federal court to review their cases. Only courts in the places where the migrants were being detained could review the cases, justices said.
The U.S. Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelans in Texas under the Alien Enemies Act.

In an early Saturday morning brief order, the justices told the White House it could not remove the Venezuelans from the Bluebonnet Detention Center until further order of this court. Hours later, the solicitor general requested that the Supreme Court dissolve its administrative stay to allow the lower courts can review the legal arguments and to leave undisturbed the governments independent authority to remove putative class members.

Lawyers for the migrants filed emergency petitions in multiple courts on Friday before filing with the Supreme Court. The lawyers request to the nations highest court was fatally premature, because they improperly skipped over the lower courts before asking this one for relief, Solicitor General D. John Sauer wrote in his filing.

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At a minimum, the Court should clarify that its administrative stay order does not preclude the government from removing detainees pursuant to authorities other than the Alien Enemies Act, he wrote.

Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas dissented from the majority opinion.

The Trump administration has accused the group of being gang members and wants to deport them under the 18th-century wartime law.

The high courts ruling came after lawyers for the migrants asked the Supreme Court on Friday to block what they believe to be an imminent new wave of deportations.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the Trump administration has the authority to deport migrants under the Aliens Enemies Act.

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However, it also ordered that the government provide detainees an opportunity to contest their removals in court districts nearest to the detention centers where they are being held.

Dozens of the men have been told that they are going to be removed under the Alien Enemies Act imminently, lawyers with the ACLU wrote in a Friday court filing.

Prisoners in El Salvador, where the Trump administration has been deporting migrants (AP)

The team of lawyers launched challenges in multiple courts on Friday, underscoring the urgency of the situation.

In a related case in Washington, D.C. concerning the Venezuelan migrants, a Justice Department lawyer said Friday that he had spoken with the Department of Homeland Security. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow, but I have also been told to say they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow," he said.

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The migrants are at imminent risk of summary removal to places, such as El Salvador, where they face life-threatening conditions, persecution, and torture, and may remain for the rest of their lives, incommunicado, the lawyers wrote in their filing to the Supreme Court.

Not only do the immigrants face grave harm, but the government appears to be carrying out removals without any due process, they argued.

The ACLU lawyers stated in a filing that the government had given some of the migrants a notice that stated they had been determined to be members of the Tren de Aragua gang.

These notices were only written in English; some migrants only understand Spanish and refused to sign, the lawyers said. The document shows a red stamp that says refused to sign on the signature line.

Theres no box to check to say I want to contest, ACLU lawyer Lee Gelernt said at a Friday evening hearing in federal court in Washington., The Washington Post reported. Theres nothing that says there is a right to contest, much less the time frame.
Fran Ferrari, 70, recently decided to retire. In addition to a long-earned respite from the work day, she got an additional bonus.

She didnt have to worry about getting killed at work anymore.

That fear has been very real for the majority of her working life, since she survived the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995. She said knowing how unlikely such a scenario might seem didnt help.

It didnt matter, Ferrari said. I could be brushing my teeth, hitting the alarm, on my way to work, it would just pop into my mind: You might die today at work.

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Ferrari is a data analyst with a masters degree in educational psychology from the University of Oklahoma. Most of her career has been working on computer data for the Oklahoma Department of Corrections. She also knows all the theories and techniques for managing trauma. But managing the trauma doesnt make it go away.

Ive been through a lot of the processes, all the cognitive training and retraining. Yeah, but, you survived it once. But as I got older, I started to think, But could I survive it again?

Thats when the bonus came, she said.

My last day of work when I came home, that was something I left behind then, Ferrari said. That morning fear and wave of panic, where work is somewhere you could get killed, work is somewhere you could die. If youve gone through that kind of thing, you cant just erase it. Having gone through trauma, it makes an imprint.

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A bomb caused that imprint in Ferraris mind. Ferrari said she does not remember that moment. Ferraris office was in the Journal Record Building downtown, across the street from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building. Her office faced the Murrah building, the third arched window on the left, right across from where a truck bomb was parked that morning.

What she remembers is being on the phone with the Payne County district attorneys office, discussing an upcoming trial.

They were wanting to do a presentation for some information at a trial, and I was explaining to them about the x and y axis. I was drawing it in the air. And thats the last thing I remember, Ferrari said.

On April 19, 1995, at 9:02 a.m., a bomb built in the back of a Ryder truck by a disaffected U.S. Army dropout, Timothy McVeigh, detonated. The shock wave is said to have registered as much as 3.0 on the Richter Scale. The blast collapsed about a third of the building, turning the glass curtainwall of its face into shrapnel that cut through the people working there. Blasted, crushed, burned and cut, 168 people, including 19 children in a daycare, died in the bombing.

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Across the street, as Ferrari traced the invisible graph in the air in front of her, the window blew in, the shards of it cutting through her.

I sat perpendicular to the window, so it was the right side of my body that got nailed with all the glass. The Journal Record was an older building, so the glass wasnt exactly tempered safety glass, Ferrari said.

She said that her hand being up in the air was probably the reason it was damaged badly in the blast, the one with which she had been drawing in the air.

It was some time later  she doesnt know exactly when  Ferrari came to and started screaming for someone to help her. There was a break in the wall of her office and several of her fellow office employees found their way to her and helped pull her through the broken wall to get her outside to safety.

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I dont know how I had the strength to do it, Ferrari said. I was in and out of consciousness and hurting like hell. My eyes were nailed shut from the glass. My coworker was talking through the opening, and I climbed on a short file cabinet and he was able to pull me through.

Ferrari said extracting herself from the damaged building went through phases  out of her office, down the stairs to a landing, and then out of the building. One rescuer  she doesnt know who it was  tried to carry her over his shoulder, but she was covered in glass and they couldnt carry her like that without further injury. They drug her by her armpits through the rubble. Ferrari said she was like a rag doll. At one point, they sat her down on the steps, and she realized her dress was pulled up so she tried to smooth it out.

Thats when I started to get it together. I thought I needed to be presentable or something, and I pulled my dress down, she said, laughing.

Eventually, they found a chair to seat her in and carried her from the building.

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The next thing I knew, I was outside, Ferrari said. Because of the cuts on my face, the wind was just blowing  it hurt, it burned so badly. I remember my two coworkers, Anetta and Melissa, moving to block the wind for me. They are my heroes. They really are. And Mike Connoly, who helped get me out, and the two guys who carried me out in the chair. They are my heroes.

Then she was in the ambulance. She heard the attendants talking to her as if it was an out-of-body experience.

Ferrari was in and out of treatment for years. It never really stopped. For years, they still pulled bits of glass from her eyes. She was able to regain her eyesight, but her night vision suffered and she is unable to drive at night. Thats a sore point for her, especially when people ask her if she is finally starting to feel closure.

I dont like the word, closure. People say, Do you have closure now? Its my thought, thats just some lazy clinician trying to shut up their clients. Toxic positivity, she said. Sometimes I will say things, for instance, that its very difficult to drive at night, and people still dont know how to react. Theyll ask, Why dont you like to drive at night? and I say, my eyes are damaged. and theyll say, Why are your eyes damaged? and then to I have to say, Well, the window smashed on me and the glass broke into my face.

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It was filing for her Social Security that brought the point home for her, she said. She turned 70, then retired and filed for the Social Security checks to start. And then she thought of him again.

I thought, Take that, Timothy McVeigh. I made it.
LINCOLN COUNTY, Okla. (KFOR)  Authorities are searching for a suspect following a highspeed chase that ended in Lincoln County on Friday afternoon.

Deputies search for suspect after highspeed chase that ended south of Wellston. Photo courtesy KFOR.

Video from McIntyre Law Chopper 4 shows deputies searching for the suspect in a rural area south of Wellston.

The suspect reportedly jumped out of the car and ran into the woods after leading authorities on a chase that began in Oklahoma County.

This is a developing story.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KFOR.com Oklahoma City.
By Ben Ezeamalu

LAGOS (Reuters) - The death toll in attacks by suspected cattle herders on communities in central Nigeria's Benue State has risen to 56, Governor Hyacinth Alia said on Saturday, underscoring a resurgence of such deadly clashes in Africa's most populous nation.

Local media quoted the governor as citing the figure while visiting the villages in Logo and Ukum Local Government Areas (LGAs) that were attacked. Police had earlier put the figure at 17.

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Years of clashes have disrupted food supplies from north-central Nigeria, a major agricultural area.

"Early hours of today, we understood that more bodies were being picked up in Logo LGA resulting in 27 corpses," Governor Alia told journalists during the visit, according to the News Agency of Nigeria.

More bodies were picked up in some areas in Ukum, bringing the total to 29, he added, noting that more are expected. "So far we are talking about 56 lives lost in just one night. This is quite devastating."

On Tuesday, suspected herders killed 11 people in the Otukpo area of Benue. In the neighbouring Plateau State, gunmen killed more than 50 people on Monday night.

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Since 2019, the clashes have claimed more than 500 lives in the region and forced 2.2 million to leave their homes, according to research firm SBM Intelligence.

A separate group of suspected herdsmen shot and killed five farmers around Gbagir in Benue's Ukum Local Government Area early on Friday, police said. The attackers opened fire as police were moving in to confront them, police spokesperson Sewuese Anene said in a statement.

While officers were engaging the attackers at Ukum, another 12 people were killed in an attack in the Logo local council area, about 70 km (43.5 miles) away, police said.

(Reporting by Ben Ezeamalu; Editing by Richard Chang)
Chicago Cubs pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo points skyward as he returns to the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans stack cups during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo high-fives teammates in the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo throws against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker celebrates after scoring on a single from Michael Busch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Justin Turner, right, celebrates with designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) after Suzuki hit a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson (7), left, and Ian Happ (8) celebrate their team's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson (7), left, and Ian Happ (8) celebrate their team's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs pitcher Caleb Thielbar throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the fifth inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo points skyward as he returns to the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Fans stack cups during the fifth inning of a baseball game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo high-fives teammates in the dugout during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Juan Morillo throws against the Chicago Cubs during the seventh inning of a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs the bases after hitting a home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Kyle Tucker celebrates after scoring on a single from Michael Busch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Justin Turner, right, celebrates with designated hitter Seiya Suzuki (27) after Suzuki hit a two-run home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Dansby Swanson (7), left, and Ian Happ (8) celebrate their team's win over the Arizona Diamondbacks in a baseball game Saturday, April 19, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

CHICAGO (AP)  Seiya Suzuki and Michael Busch hit consecutive home runs in a four-run second-inning, and the Chicago Cubs beat the Arizona Diamondbacks 6-2 on Saturday.

A day after a wild 13-11 win, Kyle Tucker tripled and drove in two runs along with Suzuki and Busch, Dansby Swanson added two hits for the NL Central leader, including a double.

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Corbin Carroll had three hits, including his seventh homer, and has reached base in 27 straight games dating to Sept. 23. Tim Tawa added a solo drive as Arizona lost its second straight following a five-game winning streak.

Carroll homered in the first but Chicago took a 2-1 lead in the bottom half and added four runs in the second as Suzuki and Busch both homered on fastballs from Zac Gallen (1-3). Suzuki's two-run drive put the Cubs ahead 5-1.

Caleb Thielbar (1-0), the first of three Cubs relievers, threw two perfect innings. Chicago's bullpen retired 14 straight hitters before Tawa connected and Carroll drew a walk off Daniel Palencia with two outs in the ninth. Arizona had just four hits.

Chicago starter Ben Brown allowed one run, three his and four walks in four innings.

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Gallen allowed six runs and seven hits in six innings, retiring 12 of his final 13 hitters. His ERA rose to 5.60.

Key moment

Suzuki and Busch went deep back-to-back off Gallen with two outs in the second for a 6-1 lead. Tucker and Suzuki hit back-to-back homers in the eighth inning Friday.

Key stat

Chicago leads the major leagues with 143 runs through 23 games.

Up next

Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (3-1, 5.57 ERA) faces Cubs RHP Jameson Taillon (1-1, 5.40) on Sunday.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
DAMASCUS, Syria (AP)  Syrias president on Saturday received a Republican member of Congress in the first visit to the country by American legislators since the ouster of former leader Bashar Assad in December.

State news agency SANA did not give details about the meeting between President Ahmad al-Sharaa and Rep. Cory Mills of Florida in the capital Damascus. It said the meeting was attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani, and comes in the wake of calls by Syria's new rulers for the lifting of sanctions imposed by the U.S. and other Western nations early in the conflict.

Since arriving in Syria on an unofficial visit Friday, Mills and Rep. Marlin Stutzman of Indiana toured parts of Damascus, including the old quarter as well as one of the oldest synagogues in the world that was badly damaged and looted during the countrys 14-year conflict that killed half a million people.

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On Saturday, Stutzman visited the countrys notorious Saydnaya Prison near Damascus, where tens of thousands of people were subjected to killings and torture during the 54-year rule of the Assad family.

Al-Sharaas Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group led the offensive that captured Damascus in early December, forcing Assad and his family to flee to his ally Russia, where he was given asylum.

Days after Assad was removed from power, the then-Biden administration decided not to pursue a $10 million reward it had offered for the capture of al-Sharaa, a former leader of al-Qaidas branch in Syria. The announcement in December followed a meeting between al-Sharaa and then top U.S. diplomat for the Middle East, Barbara Leaf, who led the first U.S. diplomatic delegation into post-Assad Syria.

The Trump administration has yet to officially recognize the current Syrian government and Washington has not yet lifted harsh sanctions that were imposed during Assads rule.

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After visiting the prison, Stutzman told reporters that he saw that the people of Syria now have energy and optimism, adding that as the country's new government makes decisions, it will be very helpful having the United States understand what the changes are here and that the sanctions lifted would be a huge economic boom. Any move to lift sanctions would be President Trumps decision, he said.

As a member of Congress, I can go back home and share with my colleagues, share with the president and others, and tell the story of the changes that are happening in Syria and we want to be here to support that, Stutzman said. We would not want to see Syria fall back in the hands of another dictator.

After the fall of Assad, the U.S. eased some restrictions on Syria to allow the entry of humanitarian aid. The U.S. Treasury issued a general license, lasting six months, that authorizes certain transactions with the Syrian government, including some energy sales and incidental transactions.

Syrian officials have been calling for the lifting of Western sanctions but the U.S. administration has been demanding steps by the countrys new authorities including protecting the rights of religious and ethnic minorities.

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I think lifting the sanctions will be very beneficial and I understand why the people that Im encountering and traveling with want the sanctions lifted, Stutzman said.

____

Mroue reported from Beirut.
By Mohammad Yunus Yawar and Charlotte Greenfield

KABUL/ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The Taliban's acting foreign minister on Saturday expressed "concern and sadness" during a rare meeting with Pakistan's foreign minister over the deportation of tens of thousands of Afghans, according to a statement.

Pakistan has expelled more than 80,000 Afghan nationals since the end of March, a senior official said on Friday, as part of a renewed surge in a repatriation drive that began in 2023.

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But Saturday's meeting marked a possible thaw in relations for the neighbouring countries, whose forces have also clashed violently in recent months. Islamabad says Islamist militants who have carried out attacks in Pakistan have safe havens in Afghanistan, a charge Kabul denies.

Pakistani foreign minister Ishaq Dar travelled to Kabul for the one-day visit to discuss security and commerce, the first such visit by Pakistan since 2022.

The Taliban administration's acting foreign minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said in a statement he "expressed deep concern and sadness over the situation of Afghan migrants in Pakistan and their forced deportation."

"He strongly urged Pakistani officials to prevent the violation of the rights of Afghans residing in or arriving in Pakistan," the statement said, adding that they also discussed a boost to bilateral trade and ensuring returning Afghans could take the proceeds of their property in Pakistan with them.

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Pakistan's foreign office said in a statement that Dar: "emphasised the paramount importance of addressing all pertinent issues, particularly those related to security and border management, in order to fully realise the potential for regional trade and connectivity."

Tensions between the nations have run high, with Pakistan carrying out airstrikes on Afghan territory last year and a key border crossing between the two countries being closed for almost a month in February amid clashes between forces from both sides.

(Reporting by Mohammad Yunus Yawar in Kabul and Charlotte Greenfield in Islamabad; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA)  A Tampa man said he has lost hope, and the only thing he and his family are still holding on to is the chance that justice may still be served.

Sean Burke, 60, said he lost his financial security and his hopes not just for himself, but that he wouldnt be a burden on his loved ones. That money is gone, and he wants those responsible to be held accountable.

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8 on Your Side

Burke was once filled with life living in Clearwater Beach and spending time on the water on his boat with his dog.



I was in the hospital for two years, Burke said.



An incident at a hospital seven years ago left Sean a quadriplegic. Burke reached a settlement with the hospital in November 2023.

He isnt allowed to talk about what happened or the money he and his family received. On the advice of his lawyer, Sean put the money in a trust for safekeeping at the Directed Benefits Foundation, a Pinellas County non-profit that told clients they specialized in disability trusts.

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Polk deputy, Bartow officer shot in gunfight with suspect, officials say

The foundation claimed to help people like Sean avoid the tax burden of a big settlement and still receive much-needed government benefits.

Sean thought the foundation would keep his money safe, but when he received no statements or records from the non-profit, he started to worry.

Finally, in February 2024, Foundation Director Karen Fisher visited Burke at the Tampa care facility he calls home.



The lady that worked there would come here, and I told her she was stealing, Burke said.



A few months later, the Florida Attorney Generals Office confirmed what Burke said he knew all along.

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Florida fisherman threatened in viral boat rage video says he feared he was going to die

There are initial civil actions that have to be filed we have to make sure that we are preserving resources for the most vulnerable, said Sen. Ashley Moody, former Florida Attorney General.

In May 2024, the AGs office sued the Directed Benefits Foundation, its founder Leo Govoni, Karen Fisher, and Govonis business, Boston Finance Group. The suit alleges they stole more than $2 million from the Foundation clients trust accounts.

Burke is named as a victim in this lawsuit. The suit claims Fisher provided a false general ledger showing inflated, incorrect amounts for his trust.

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Burke wants answers from Govoni, the man in charge.



Wheres Leo? Sean questioned.



In January, Leo Govoni was found liable for $120 million in missing money taken from disabled people through his now bankrupt non-profit, the Center for Special Needs Trust Administration.

The center is another Govoni-run charity that specialized in safeguarding trust money for disabled people.



Attorneys representing the alleged victims in that case told the judge that mail, checks and trust documents from the Foundation were discovered inside Govonis other businesses based in Clearwater, too.

The attorneys claim that Govoni directed staff to move money from the foundation to his own business, Boston Finance Group.



Burked guessed that $700,000 is missing from the account.



Earlier this month, 8 On Your Side Investigative Reporter Brittany Muller asked Govoni questions outside the courthouse, but he remained quiet.

Wheres the money? Will any of the victims ever recover any of the money? Brittany asked Govoni.

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But for Burke and his family, this is about more than just the money.



Its been a family hardship because hes already been damaged, and this has just been overwhelming for our family, said Erin Sumrall, Burkes sister.



Now he waits and watches as this case unfolds.



I would tell him [Govoni] to come and talk to me, Burke said.

There are several civil court proceedings playing out in Pinellas County Court regarding his Big Storm Brewing business.

In federal court on Friday, Judge Roberta Colton gave Govoni a week to produce financial records and personal financial statements. If he doesnt, the judge said he could face daily fines or even be jailed on contempt charges, something that could be decided at a hearing on Friday, April 25 at 10 a.m.

Govoni was asking to be allowed back into his businesses at 12707 49th St. N., Clearwater. In March, Colton ordered Govoni to steer clear of his many businesses as investigators search for records and the missing money.

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Attorneys told the judge on Friday that he was granted permission to enter the premises on Thursday, but instead of locating the requested documents, he allegedly only gathered items of sentimental value.

Leo Govoni is representing himself in the proceedings playing out federal bankruptcy court. Despite not facing any criminal charges, Govoni has hired a criminal defense attorney, Paul Sisco.

Sisco has declined to comment to 8 On Your Side.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFLA.
(Reuters) -Tanzania's main opposition party said on Saturday its leader Tundu Lissu, who has been held and charged with treason, had been moved to a different prison, a day after the party said his whereabouts were unknown.

The charges against Lissu have brought new scrutiny to President Samia Suluhu Hassan's human rights record as she bids for re-election in late October. Hassan has frequently said her government is committed to upholding human rights and good governance.

A spokesperson for Lissu's CHADEMA said the party's leaders had met Tanzania Prisons Service officials and been informed that he had been moved.

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"CHADEMA would like to inform the public ... Lissu has been transferred to Ukonga Prison," party spokesperson Brenda Rupia said in a statement.

Tanzania Prisons Service spokesperson Elizabeth Mbezi did not respond to calls and text messages requesting comment.

Gerson Msigwa, the government spokesperson, said once a person is charged any comments related to their cases was the responsibility of the authorities in charge of the case.

On Friday, CHADEMA had said party officials, Lissu's lawyers and family members had tried unsuccessfully to get access to him at a jail in the capital Dar es Salaam where he had been held since April 10.

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Rupia later told Reuters the party had not been told why their leader was transferred to the new prison.

Lissu, the runner-up in the country's 2020 presidential election, was charged with treason last week over what prosecutors said was a speech calling on the public to rebel and disrupt the election due later this year. He was not allowed to enter a plea on the treason charge.

Last weekend the election commission said CHADEMA would be disqualified from the election over its refusal to sign a code of conduct as it demands electoral reforms.

Hassan earned accolades after coming to power in 2021 for relaxing repression of political opponents and censorship of the media that took root under her predecessor John Magufuli, who died in office.

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But she has received mounting criticism from human rights activists over a series of arrests and unexplained abductions and killings of political opponents.

(Writing by George Obulutsa; Editing by Hugh Lawson)
Update, 6:18 p.m.  More information has been provided by state police into a crash that killed a 19-year-old in Painted Post on Saturday.

An initial investigation revealed that the 19-year-old male entered the roadway from an address on Victory Highway without yielding to the pickup truck which was traveling eastbound, running into it and the trailer, resulting in his injuries, state police said.

The driver of the truck was not injured.

Update: A teen is dead after being hit by a truck on Victory Highway Saturday afternoon, according to new information from the New York State Police.

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A 19-year-old male died at the hospital after he was hit while riding an e-bike by a pickup truck on Victory Highway in Painted Post on Saturday, April 19, state police said.

The victim was airlifted by Guthrie Air to Guthrie Corning Hospital where he later died.

Victory Highway has since been reopened after being shut down for several hours on Saturday.

More information is expected.

PAINTED POST, N.Y. (WETM)  One person was hospitalized and a roadway was completely blocked after a crash in Painted Post on Saturday afternoon, according to information from fire officials.

One person was taken to Guthrie Corning Hospital in unknown condition by helicopter Saturday, April 19, after a vehicle crash on Victory Highway (NY 415), according to Todd Hall, fire chief of the Coopers Plains Fire Department.

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Man dies after late-night house fire in Addison

The crash was reported on Victory Highway shortly past noon near the Robert Dann Drive intersection, shutting down both lanes of traffic, with traffic still blocked as of 2 p.m, according to 511NY. All Sunset Avenue traffic was advised to use Meads Street, and all Robert Dann Drive traffic use South Hamilton.

New York State Police were assisting fire crews as yellow tape could be seen across a portion of the road.

This is a developing situation and more information will be released as it is made available.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WETM - MyTwinTiers.com.
Davion Browns murder by 16-year-old Knyaw Taw was a chilling execution in the middle of the day, Assistant Ramsey County Attorney Nori Wieder said in court Friday.

Knyaw Taw, of St. Paul, got off his bike and walked coolly, calmly up to Brown and other men who were standing outside a tobacco store on St. Pauls Greater East Side around 12:30 p.m. Sept. 10, Wieder said at the teens sentencing.

Knyaw Taw pulled a 9mm Smith & Wesson handgun from his waistband and repeatedly fired at Brown, whose back was turned, hitting the 22-year-old six times at close range.

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A targeted attack, Your Honor, Wieder told Ramsey County District Judge Jacob Kraus. It doesnt appear that Davion even knew he was there.

Knyaw Taw, who turned 17 in December, was charged in juvenile court with second-degree murder three days after the killing. He waived certification into adult court on March 12 and pleaded guilty to the charge. He faced between 21 and 23 years in prison under state sentencing guidelines.

Kraus gave him a 23-year prison term.

This case is so sad, Kraus said before handing down the sentence. A young man who I never got the pleasure to meet lost his life, and a young man sitting in front of the court going to prison for decades, no matter what number I choose today.

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Court documents do not give a motive for the shooting and we never have been explained why Davion was killed that day and why he chose Davion as his victim, Wieder told the court.

He left on his bike

Officers sent to Maryland Tobacco at 1375 Maryland Ave. found Brown lying in the store with multiple gunshot wounds. Medics started transport to Regions Hospital, but Brown, of St. Paul, was pronounced dead in the ambulance.

Officers reviewed area surveillance video, which captured the shooting. Knyaw Taw, wearing a black face mask, a maroon Nike T-shirt and blue jeans, pulled up to the area on a bike. He got off the bike and walked toward a red Ford Expedition SUV parked in the lot. It appears as if the occupant(s) of the Ford Expedition and the suspect exchanged words, the charges say.

Knyaw Taw went back to his bike, walked up to Brown and two others in front of the store and shot Brown repeatedly. He got back on his bike and left.

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Officers canvassed the area and were notified by a resident that a male matching the suspects description was walking south on Germain Street from Idaho Avenue East. A Ramsey County sheriffs deputy saw Knyaw Taw walking south on Germain Street at Sherwood Avenue, and he ran, cutting across the front yard of a home in the 1500 block of Cottage Avenue East. He appeared to be holding something in the waistband of his jeans.

Officers chased him into a backyard, then lost sight of him. He was seen in the backyard of a home in the 1500 block of Clear Avenue East and taken into custody. A black face mask and handgun were found in the area.

In an interview with police, Knyaw Taw gave false identification information. Investigators used a database that searches for known fingerprints to identify him.

You took my baby

Knyaw Taw, of St. Paul, had been arrested several times in Ramsey County for nonviolent crimes and was wanted on an active Ramsey County warrant at the time of shooting, prosecutor Wieder noted Friday in court.

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Knyaw Taws attorney, public defender Erik Sandvick, said trauma and addiction were everywhere in his life since he was born. He was born in a refugee camp in Laos and came to the United States at age 6 with his parents. His parents separated after his dad was incarcerated and his mom moved to Georgia, Sandvick said, adding he was left in the care of his paternal grandparents.

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Knyaw Taw was basically living on the streets and using a wide variety of drugs in the year prior to the shooting, Sandvick said. This isnt an excuse for what happened, but it does give us some context on what was going on.

When it came time to address the court, Knyaw Taw gave a one sentence apology, saying: Im sorry for what I did.

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Earlier, Browns mother, Kilolo Claiborne, told the teen she does not forgive him.

You took my baby, she said. You took a father. You took a brother, an uncle, someone that was so precious to our family.

She called Knyaw Taw a young boy  who didnt even know my child. He wasnt out there bothering nobody. He didnt bother you. And you still took his life. And for what?
A 14-year-old boy killed on a farm was working to save money to buy his own tractor, his father has revealed.

Harry Moss, who dreamed of becoming a farmer, was fatally injured while working in Malvern, Worcs, on Thursday morning.

His father, Lewis Moss, 39, who lives in Malvern, rushed to the farm off Blackmore Park Road to find paramedics working to revive his son.

He told The Telegraph: The lad who owned the farm phoned me and he just said, You need to get down the farm. Its Harry. Its really bad.

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When I got down there, they were still trying to work on him but he was gone. The only solace Ive got is when I went to see him yesterday in the morgue, I asked the lady and she said by the extent of his injuries, it was instant.

Police investigating boys death

Mr Moss said police had instructed him not to specify how Harry died or what task he was undertaking at the time.

West Mercia Police are believed to be investigating the incident alongside the Health and Safety Executive, the national regulator for workplace health and safety.

Harry, a keen fisherman and rugby player who was the oldest of five children, had started working at the farm shortly before Christmas, Mr Moss said.

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He added: He wanted to be a farmer. He loved the countryside. I did a spot of gamekeeping a few years back and it never left him, the countryside stuff.

He got an opportunity to work on this farm and was so happy to get that job. It would have been his 15th birthday next month and he was saving up for a tractor.

Mr Moss said his sons tasks on the farm included lambing, mucking out, getting firewood logs.

He was the best, loving and caring

Ive been around countryside stuff a lot and every farm has a young lad working there, he said.

Its all duties like fetching and carrying  they arent around machinery or anything like that.

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Mr Moss added that he spoke his last words to Harry on Wednesday evening.

He said, Im going to work early tomorrow, Ill be gone before youre up. I said All right, mate and he went off to bed and all I heard was the door in the morning at 5am.

He was just the best. He was so loving, caring. He loved his family. He had a real zest for life.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said officers were called to the farm around 9am with concern for the welfare of a teenage boy.

Despite the best efforts of emergency services, a teenage boy sadly died at the scene, the spokesman added.

Another man, aged 18, was taken to hospital with injuries not believed to be life-threatening or life-changing.

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Police divers found the body of a teenage boy who disappeared late Friday afternoon while swimming in the ocean off Fort Lauderdale.

The divers found the boy shortly after 8 p.m., said Casey Liening, a Fort Lauderdale police spokeswoman. She said the cause of death appears to be accidental drowning, but police will conduct a death investigation.

The boy, who has not been identified, disappeared in the water around 4:30 p.m. near Lifeguard Tower 3 at 800 Seabreeze Boulevard, said Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue spokesman Frank Guzman.

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Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue, Broward Sheriffs Office firefighters, Fort Lauderdale police and the U.S. Coast Guard searched for the boy, Guzman said.

The fire department ended its search and turned the operation over to police and the Coast Guard, Guzman said.

Rescuers used two fire boats, a helicopter and personal watercraft to look for the boy, as well as personnel on the beach, Guzman said.

Lifeguards, who end their shifts at 6 p.m., were on duty when the boy disappeared, said Guzman. The surf conditions were rough on Friday, with the National Weather Service issuing rip-current warnings. Guzman said lifeguards performed several water rescues throughout the day.

This is a developing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.
Just days before 4/20, sweeping hemp regulations have been approved in Tennessee.

State lawmakers passed a bill on April 17 that, if signed by Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, would adopt new restrictions for cannabis in the state, including new tax rates, age restrictions and penalties and licensure requirements.

The bill was sponsored by state Sen. Richard Briggs, R-Knoxville. We have a situation here in Tennessee where we are essentially dealing with unregulated recreational marijuana, Briggs said during debate on the bill. Its the wild west out there.

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Here's what consumers should know about the new THC regulations in Tennessee, approved just before the unofficial marijuana holiday.

What is the new hemp law in Tennessee?

Tennessee State Senator Richard Briggs sponsored SB1413.

The Tennessee law is an extensive overview of hemp products available in the state and how they're sold.

The bill would establish tax rates for different types of cannabis products, outlining licensure requirements for suppliers, wholesalers and retailers, setting fines for violations, and designating state enforcement authority.

The most impactful portion of the legislature is that it would limit the production and sale of non-Delta-9 THC hemp-derived cannabinoid products in a concentration of 0.3%. This limits what hemp products can be sold within the state.

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The bill also classifies THCA as "the precursor of Delta-9 THC" rather than a hemp-derived product.

What is THC?

THC, or tetrahydrocannabinol, is prominent chemical compound found in cannabis. You can smoke THC or put it in an edible to get high.

There are a few different versions of THC including Delta-9, Delta-8, and Delta-10. Delta 9 is the most common.

THC is also used in THCA and THCV, which offer health benefits without the high or psychedelic effects. However, if THCA is heated up and decarbonized, it can cause a high usually associated with marijuana.

A Tennessee bill regulating hemp in the Volunteer State passed the state senate on April 17.

Is THCA legal in Tennessee?

Yes, TCHA will continue to be legal in Tennessee, as long as its within the state's concentration levels.

Are hemp and marijuana the same?

Hemp and marijuana are the same species, according to Healthline. Theyre just two different names for cannabis. The main difference between the terms is how much THC each contains.

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The term hemp is used to mean cannabis that contains 0.3% or less THC content by dry weight, according to Healthline.

Marijuana is generally associated with getting high. The term legally refers to cannabis that has more than 0.3% THC by dry weight.

Marijuana is not legal in Tennessee, but hemp products can be sold.

"We are not going to be a recreational marijuana state," Briggs said.

In which states is recreational weed legal?

You can buy legal recreational marijuana in nearly half of U.S. states. But neither medical marijuana or recreational weed are legally available in Tennessee.

According to DISA Global Solutions, marijuana is legal for medical and recreational purchase and consumption in the following states:

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Alaska

Arizona

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Illinois

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Missouri

Montana

Nevada

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

Ohio

Oregon

Rhode Island

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

Washington, D.C.

USA TODAY and Vivian Jones contributed to this report.

This article originally appeared on Knoxville News Sentinel: Tennessee passes new restrictions on hemp, THC just before 4/20
KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WATE)  A bill banning the sale of hemp products with levels of THCA greater than 0.3% is headed to Tennessee Governor Bill Lees desk.

I was actually amazed when I started seeing what was being sold in some of the cannabis stores, said State Senator Richard Briggs (R-Knoxville), a sponsor of the bill.

East TN business owners discuss plans after Tennessee Senate passes bill banning most THCA products

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THCA is a naturally-occurring cannabinoid that does not have any psychoactive qualities in its raw state. When it is heated smoked or vaped, it turns into THC. A bill was passed in 2023 placed a limit on how much Delta-9 can be in legal products, not THCA. One business owner contended that THCA is perfectly legal in Tennessee since the federal Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, otherwise known as the 2018 Farm Bill.

It is 100% legal to have THCA in Tennessee even when this bill passes on January 1, said Blom Shop owner Travis McKinney. Theres a lot of confusion on that, 100% you can have THCA and theres no criminal consequences.

I want to make it absolutely clear that we have some very good, very compliant family-run cannabis stores, Briggs added. They are selling hemp and hemp products.

Businesses and customers alike will see changes in the available options. A majority of products at some stores in Knoxville contain THCA or THCP, both would be banned under this new bill. McKinney said more than just the businesses will suffer.

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Three bears killed after report of aggressive behavior near Gatlinburg

This is going to impact the people of Tennessee, thats the most important thing, McKinney explained. Youre going from these people, these veterans, these mothers, these fathers, these doctors and these teachers that are able to get legal cannabis, federally-legal hemp products in a store thats tested in DA-certified labs. Now its just going to go back to either online sales or the black market unfortunately, and thats not what we want.

With these new parameters surrounding THCA, Briggs said regulation of the products will be similar to alcohol.

Its going to be done by the Alcoholic Beverage Commission (ABC), Briggs said. Weve designed this very closely to how we regulate alcohol.

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Briggs told 6 News that the bill was a tough one because of how complex it was trying to get everyone to understand the reasoning for wanting this to pass. McKinney said there needs to be more education surrounding THCA.

The bill is heading to Governor Lees desk. It is set to go into effect in January.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WATE 6 On Your Side.
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN)  Addressing illegal immigration has been a top priority for lawmakers this legislative session, but as the session winds down, some measures stand on shaky ground, and others failed altogether.

Gov. Bill Lee announced Ryan Hubbard, a former federal agent with decades of experience in immigration, as the states first Chief Immigration Enforcement Officer to lead the new Centralized Immigration Enforcement Division within the Department of Safety. Lawmakers created the division and new chief position during the Jan. 2025 special legislative session.

Hubbard will work as a liaison between the state and federal government to ensure Tennessee carries out immigration policies under the Trump Administration. Their specific duties will be kept secret because the agency is exempt from the states public records act.

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This office is about protecting Tennesseans from those who are already known threatspeople with final deportation orders or serious criminal convictions who remain in our communities, said TN Dept. of Safety Commissioner Jeff Long in a press release. Ryans extensive experience makes him the right leader to build strong partnerships with local agencies and deliver results.

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A bill that would hold organizations that house illegal immigrants liable if those immigrants commit a crime passed both the House and Senate and will head to the governors desk.

If thats their misguided mission that they want to try to bring in people who are in our country illegally and help them establish themselves in our community, then they need to better vet and supervise the illegal aliens that are in the community, Sen. Brent Taylor (R-Memphis), the bills sponsor said.

The bill faced criticism from Democrats.

Read the latest from the TN State Capitol Newsroom

There are ways to address problems. There are ways to address immigration, but going after the churches and charities that help people shouldnt be the way we do it, Sen. Jeff Yarbro (D-Nashville) said.

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Perhaps the most controversial bill of this legislative session, which would allow school districts to choose whether to enroll undocumented immigrants, is on shaky ground in the House.

Despite the bill passing the Senate, House Majority Leader William Lamberth (R-Portland), the bills sponsor, told reporters the bill was put behind the budget due to concerns that passing it could put federal funds at risk.

Im going to spend a few days trying to figure that out and make sure there isnt any danger of that with this administration, Leader Lamberth said. We have a smaller portion of our education budget, I think its about $1.2 billion, that comes from the federal government, but Im just going through the process before I even put it up in finance, that there are no issues there with the other fiscal impact.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

If the bill doesnt make it to the House floor this session, lawmakers could reintroduce the measure next session.

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Multiple Republican-sponsored bills dealing with illegal immigration failed this session. That includes a bill that would have required police to transport illegal immigrants to the nearest sanctuary city if they could not obtain an ICE detainer, and another that would require banking institutions to confirm a persons immigration status before they can send money out of the country.

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Darin McLeskey says he bought his first Tesla before I knew Elon was awesome.

It was a Tesla Model S with 50,000 miles on the clock that he collected from San Diego in 2019, flying down with his brother to California before driving it to the other end of the country to his home in Michigan.

Mr McLeskey, a real estate broker, has since bought five Teslas in total, currently he owns three, and, with a daughter expected to join his growing family any day now, is on the lookout for more.

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US media has been saturated with Tesla owners renouncing their electric cars after Mr Musk poured almost $300 million into Donald Trumps re-election campaign, then entered his administration as head of the Department of Government Efficiency (Doge).

Once an elite liberal status symbol used to show off green credentials, and show up their neighbours gas-guzzling SUVs, the vehicles are now synonymous with Maga.

Fury with Mr Musk has reached such a fever pitch that some are firebombing Teslas parked in dealerships and on the streets.

Darin McLeskey owns three Teslas and with a daughter on the way is looking for more

Others who want to protest against the billionaire, but are reluctant to give up cars that start around $35,000 for a new model, have attached magnetic plates to their bumpers which read: I bought this before we knew Elon went crazy or covered or removed the Tesla badges.

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In spite of the negative rap, Tesla superfans remain who have never fallen out of love with their cars.

Mr McLeskey is one of them, and even ordered bumper stickers as a message to those drivers he sees as leaping on the anti-Musk bandwagon.

They read: I bought this before I knew Elon was awesome.

He still believes that, although he later decided not to use them to steer clear of controversy.

Youd be surprised at how many conservative people bought Teslas when they were still being labelled as for liberal people, said Mr McLeskey, who voted for Mr Trump in the 2024 presidential election.

Darin McLeskey and his friends stand by their Teslas

Polling conducted between 2019 and 2024 has consistently shown Democrats make up around four in 10 Tesla buyers, compared to three in 10 Republicans.

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Mr McLeskey and his wife own two saloon models, a Tesla Model 3 and Model S, along with his favourite  a four-by-four Model Y, which he spoke to The Telegraph from via phone.

He is also on the shortlist for a Cybertruck: the angular, stainless steel beasts which can go from 0-60mph in under three seconds.

The striking vehicles are considered the ultimate statement of a Tesla superfan.

Elon Musk with his son, X, and Donald Trump stand next to a Cybertruck at the White House in March

The cars are easy to drive, smooth and safe  and he expects to be Tesla for life  unless the company is surpassed by other electric vehicle makers.

When asked about the recent spate of vandalism, Mr McLeskey said that if the worst was to happen, he occasionally carries a firearm.

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Being a target for potential arsonists is not a concern because only a very small percentage of cars are attacked, he added.

Mr McLeskey believes Mr Musks work with Doge is a revolutionary new way to figure out what actually is going on in our government.

He is incredulous that some people seem to see the billionaire, who previously voted for Hillary Clinton and Joe Biden, as a full-on Hitler supporter.

His one concern is that the Tesla bosss work with Mr Trump is self-sacrificial and might distract him from electric cars.

The electric vehicle giant was valued at some $1.5 trillion in December, but by March this had plunged by almost half, before making a modest recovery.

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But with Mr Trump signalling that Mr Musk will eventually return to manage his businesses, which also include SpaceX, his rocket company, and X, the social media platform, this is less of a concern for fans.

Mr McLeskey believes the Tesla chief executive has unfairly been caught in the cross-fire of a culture war, saying: Its interesting because his goal is completely self-sacrificial from the beginning.

Its to advance technology, or to advance the world through sustainable transportation he does things that are more on the social justice side, on the liberal side.

But now hes getting flak for being too conservative, because hes trying to treat our country a little more like he treated his businesses that have thrived.

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Jeannine Bidwell, who lives in Georgia and works in private equity, has owned three Teslas: two of them a Model S, and more recently a Model Y, which she drives at the moment.

Jeannine Bidwell has owned three Teslas

She bought another Model Y for her daughter as a present after she graduated college, and is eyeing a Cybertruck for her next car.

Ms Bidwell bought her first Tesla about 11 years ago, when the cars were still an unusual sight and passers-by would rush over to ask what it was.

She said she cannot imagine driving anything else.

Theyre just such great cars, especially for girls. My daughter will never have to get brakes or oil changes or gas or tune-ups or mansplaining, she said of the electric cars, laughing. Like my niece once said, that part of my life is over.

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She is also an admirer of Mr Musk, has read one of his biographies, and regularly refers to him on first-name terms as Elon.

None of the political controversy or stories of Tesla cars and charging stations being set alight with molotov cocktails have prompted any concern.

Ms Bidwell does not even switch on the cars sentry system, which sounds the alarm and starts recording CCTV footage if it detects a threat.

Tesla owners are not afraid, she said firmly.

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DISCLAIMER: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

TEXARKANA, TX. (KTAL/KMSS) At approximately 3:30 p.m., Texarkana Police reported a standoff with an armed man in the 5600 block of Forest Grove.

Texarakana, Texas Police Department said the suspect, 50-year-old John Kinder, had a weapon, and shots were fired as the family tried to wrestle it away. They say Kinder attempted to flee by truck. However, authorities blocked him.

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The suspect ran back to the house, was out on the back porch with a shotgun for 1.5 hours while SWAT team negotiators talked with him, and he surrendered, according to police.

(KTAL/KMSS/KSHV Reporter: Hunter Trombetta) (KTAL/KMSS/KSHV Reporter: Hunter Trombetta)

WATCH: Beyond the Headlines  Firearms: Impact and Responsibility part II

Officers say that SWAT negotiator Officer Zackary Gilley was one of the first responders and was able to develop a report that played a significant role in helping it end without incident..

TTPD said the suspect was charged with family violence, evading arrest, and unlawful discharge of a firearm.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KTALnews.com.
GULFPORT, Miss. (WJTV)  A Houston, Texas, man pled guilty on Friday to traveling from Texas to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to distribute fentanyl.

According to court documents, Jeffrey Daster Torres, 38, traveled to Gulfport with Roberto Renteria-Guerrero, 53, to distribute almost 200 grams of a substance containing fentanyl. Law enforcement officers were made aware of their plans and stopped the vehicle in which they were traveling. After the traffic stop, officers found the fentanyl.

Mississippi man pleads guilty to creating, sharing child explicit images

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Officers also discovered that Torres was traveling with a fake drivers license. Investigators said analysis of Torres and Guerreros phones confirmed that they were involved in drug trafficking and had made at least one prior trip to the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Torres pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl, one count of possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, and one count of interstate travel in aid of racketeering. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 24, 2025, and faces a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment.

Guerrero previously pled guilty to conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute fentanyl and similarly faces a mandatory minimum of five years imprisonment and a maximum of 40 years imprisonment. Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on August 14, 2025.

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A trade union has ordered frontline staff not to load railcard discounts onto London Overground passengers Oyster cards.

The RMT union said the move was because errors by members had led to disciplinary action.

The move by the RMT  seen as one of the more militant unions  will see passengers forced to pay higher off-peak fares unless they travel to stations not on the London Overground.

It comes after warnings that the UK faces a summer of discontent from unions following the long-running bin strike in Birmingham that has left rubbish piled high on the citys streets.

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Labour offered billions of pounds worth of pay rises to unionised public sector workers last year, forcing Rachel Reeves, the Chancellor, to raise taxes in the Autumn Budget.

A copy of the RMT London Overground branch members magazine, called Orange Is The New Black, revealed how the ban on loading discounts came about.

We are aware that some members, including agency colleagues, have been performing this task in isolation. Unfortunately, some have faced disciplinary action for errors made while carrying out a duty strongly advised against by the union, it said. Our stance remains clear: this is not part of the roles we do.

It went on to claim that Arriva Rail London, the Overground operator, had told staff to apologise and inform [passengers] that you are unable to do that activity if asked to add discounts to Oyster cards.

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This, the newsletter said, only came about following pressure from RMT shop stewards who said it was not part of unionised staffs jobs to help passengers obtain discounts, although a company spokesman denied that such an instruction had been given.

Rail union militancy has soared

Adding Railcard discounts to an Oyster card is only possible if a staff member does it for you, according to the Transport for London (TfL) website. Railcards, such as Two Together or the Network Railcard, typically offer a one-third discount that applies to off-peak train travel.

They can be loaded onto an Oyster card so the discount is applied to pay-as-you-go daily fare caps as well as Oyster Travelcard fares.

A spokesman for Arriva Rail London said: London Overground employees have not been instructed to avoid applying discounts to Oyster cards. It has been acknowledged that this is not part of their job description, therefore we do not expect or request that colleagues undertake this task.

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We know that several colleagues are willing to perform this task for the benefit of our customers. We are therefore making training available for colleagues who wish to undertake this task at certain locations.

Rail union militancy has soared in the past few years, with the Government handing train workers 15 per cent pay rises last summer in an effort to quell ongoing strikes.

That move backfired after train drivers, typically the highest paid staff in the industry, banked the backdated pay increases and stopped accepting overtime shifts, triggering cancellations over the winter.

Hull Trains has been beset by strikes organised by Aslef, the drivers union, after one of its members was sacked for falling asleep while driving 125mph long distance services. Internal letters seen by The Telegraph revealed that the individual had a history of doing so, and had been supported by bosses previously.

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Although a 56-day strike was called by Aslef over the sacking, the effect has been confined to minor disruption to the companys timetables.

The RMT did not respond to a request for comment.

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Unperturbed by the dystopian optics, the Royal Thai Police have deployed a humanoid police robot during a festival.

As the Straits Times reports, the unsettling robot, dubbed "AI police cyborg 1.0"  even though it's technically more of an android and not a cyborg  surveyed the streets during the country's Songkran festival using 360-degree cameras.

According to the report, the cyborg is equipped with facial recognition technology and can notify officers of high-risk individuals and weapons.

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But is this really an invention worthy of the nickname "Robocop?"

Image credit: Royal Thai Police

It's difficult to judge how effective the Thai police force's latest recruit actually is. Sure, machine learning-assisted video surveillance has been around for years. But what about doing more human stuff, like walking?

We have to see the Thai police's police cyborg actually move. Images shared by the Royal Thai Police on Facebook show it standing stiff on a raised, metal platform with wheels, suggesting it may not be able to walk on its own accord.

Put simply, what can it do that a tripod with a 360-degree camera and a mobile computer can't? Why bother with an entire bipedal dummy? Wouldn't a swarm of drones prove far more effective when it comes to reconnaissance and identifying bad guys?

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Besides, if it weren't being guarded by a surprising number of human recruits, what would stop a masked vigilante from simply tipping it over?

Image credit: Royal Thai Police

We've already seen plenty of disastrous rollouts of robots in law enforcement. For instance, police forces across the United States have already deployed security robots developed by California-based security company Knightscope.

In New York, the company's portly robot was taken out of commission almost immediately, proving unable to stop crime in any meaningful way before it ended up collecting dust in an empty storefront.

There have also been reports of robots running over a toddler, as well as being thwarted by mall fountains and narrow sidewalks.

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Last year, we also came across a rolling robot, reminiscent of the android BB-8 in the "Star Wars" universe, being deployed by a police force in Eastern China.

Even if the Royal Thai Police were to be accessing the very cutting edge in humanoid robotics, plenty of technical obstacles could still make deploying a "police cyborg" an expensive and ultimately fruitless endeavor.

As of right now, humanoid robots are only starting to learn how to be comfortable on their own two feet, so their deployment would likely demand ample human supervision.

Whether the Royal Thai Police has considered the substantial privacy implications of rolling out facial recognition-powered surveillance tech remains unclear. Law enforcement in the country has been accused of corruption and bribery, so civil liberties probably aren't exactly priority number one.

More on robot cops: Chinese Police Deploy Rolling BB-8-Style Robot to Patrol Streets, Chase Down Suspects
By Kanishka Singh

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Thousands of protesters rallied in Washington and other cities across the U.S. on Saturday to voice their opposition to President Donald Trump's policies on deportations, government firings, and the wars in Gaza and Ukraine.

Outside the White House, protesters carried banners that read "Workers should have the power," "No kingship," "Stop arming Israel" and "Due process," media footage showed.

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Some demonstrators chanted in support of migrants whom the Trump administration has deported or has been attempting to deport while expressing solidarity with people fired by the federal government and with universities whose funding is threatened by Trump.

"As Trump and his administration mobilize the use of the U.S. deportation machine, we are going to organize networks and systems of resistance to defend our neighbors," a protester said in a rally at Lafayette Square near the White House.

Other protesters waved Palestinian flags while wearing keffiyeh scarves, chanting "free Palestine" and expressing solidarity with Palestinians killed in Israel's war in Gaza.

Some demonstrators carried symbols expressing support for Ukraine and urging Washington to be more decisive in opposing Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

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Since his January inauguration, Trump and his billionaire ally, Elon Musk, have gutted the federal government, firing over 200,000 workers and attempting to dismantle various agencies.

The administration has also detained scores of foreign students and threatened to stop federal funding to universities over diversity, equity and inclusion programs, climate initiatives and pro-Palestinian protests. Rights groups have condemned the policies.

Near the Washington Monument, banners from protesters read: "hate never made any nation great" and "equal rights for all does not mean less rights for you."

Demonstrations were also held in New York City and Chicago, among dozens of other locations. It marked the second day of nationwide demonstrations since Trump took office.

(Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Washington; Editing by Frank McGurty and Sandra Maler)
(KRON)  The Pleasant Hill Police Department investigated a possible threat made on social media against College Park High School.

Theresa Harrington Brandt, a spokesperson for Mt. Diablo Unified School District, wrote, This morning, MDUSD was contacted by the Pleasant Hill Police Department informing them that they are actively investigating possible threats to College Park High School that were made on social media last night.

Police officers remained on school campuses throughout Friday to maintain safety. Students safety is our top priority and we take all potential threats seriously, Brandt wrote.

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The Mt. Diablo Unified School District reassured students families that all schools were declared safe.

District officials released an update with few details Friday afternoon. Working with the Pleasant Hill Police Department, the situation was addressed and we are able to resolve this situation, the spokesperson wrote. We want to thank the PHPD for bringing this to our attention and their work to support the investigation.

Further south in the Bay Area, two Union City schools were placed on lockdown Friday morning while police searched for a wrench-wielding assailant. The Union City incident started with a dispute at a business on the 1200 block of Whipple Road.

High school football player dies following diving accident at Stinson Beach

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The assailant struck a victim with a large wrench and fled in a box truck from responding officers, police said.

A shelter in place lockdown was requested at nearby schools, Searles Elementary School and James Logan High School. The schools have been notified to resume normal activity and there is no risk to the public, the Union City Police Department wrote.

Officers followed the box truck until the suspect stopped by Railroad Avenue and surrendered to police.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRON4.
LOVELAND  When Jonathan Rogers was tasked with identifying a topic to base his English 1021 persuasive research essay on in the fall of 2024, the Aims Community College student scouted work on some notable social issues: Capital punishment, the potential negative effects social media has on todays youth, whether vaccinations should be federally mandated and a host of other topics.

Those topics, though, seemed distant to Rogers. Nothing really piqued his interest until he came across a database report on youth homelessness and the need for more resources.

The issue hit home with Rogers. He and his father became homeless in both California and Colorado for the better part of two years beginning in 2020, before Rogers was even 17.

It was really tough, Rogers said of being homeless. I think, in the beginning, I kind of had some hope. I figured things would work out, but the reality set in of where we were. It started doing a lot of damage  the type of mental damage that takes a long time to heal from.

Through resource help and the assistance of others, Rogers is in a good place today. Hes employed and carries a GPA of over 3.0 at Aims, with plans of pursuing a degree and a career in video production.

Most importantly, Rogers, now 20, is in permanent housing with his father and two other roommates  one of whom hes helping out.

Rogers realizes hes lucky. Not everyone in his position finds a way out, which is ultimately what led him to write his English essay on youth homelessness.

I feel like there should be more programs and resources available for youths experiencing homelessness, Rogers said. There are more youths out there who are homeless than I think people realize."

People are listening to Rogers and others pleas for resources along the Front Range.

The Landing, operated by The Matthews House, opened earlier this year in Loveland as a youth homeless shelter, specifically catering to minors and young adults between the ages of 15-20.

The facility can accommodate up to 20 overnight but has the potential to provide shelter for up to 28 if more bed space is needed. The Landing features two wings, one for those aged 15-17 and the other for those 18-20. Drop-in day services can include access to a case-management room, kitchen, laundry facilities, lounge, study areas and a wellness room. The residential rooms come equipped with lockers, plug-in outlets and beds for up to four residents.

The Landing is the latest installation of facilities in northern Colorado aimed at helping those in at-risk situations. Larimer Countys Acute Care Facility on the Longview Campus in Southwest Fort Collins opened in December 2023. Earlier this year, the Fort Collins Rescue Mission announced it was slated to relocate its homeless shelter to a $27 million, 38,000-square-foot location in the winter of 2026.

The Landing differs, though, by comparison, says Nicole Armstrong, executive director with The Matthews House. The facility specifically caters to youth in displaced housing situations.

Those facilities are greatly needed, Armstrong says. A traditional homeless shelter may serve a variety of ages, but, at the same time, it may not be appropriate for an 18-year-old to access that type of service or be involved with some of those individuals. Then for those under 18, there just were no resources in our community for those under 18. A resource for those individuals is key to helping combat unaccompanied youth and homeless youth moving forward.

Difficult to track

Reports indicate that homelessness is growing at a rapid rate throughout Colorado and much of the United States.

The 2024 annual report by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) highlighted that the number of homeless families in metro Denver spiked by more than 134% and that over 770,000 individuals across the nation were homeless in 2024, representing and 18% increase from 2023.

In Larimer County alone, the homeless population grew 20% faster than the countys total population between 2019 and 2023, according to the Common Sense Institute of Colorado.

HUD defines homelessness as a person who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence. Its important to note that the definition does not include individuals who couch surf, those who might be staying with friends or family, a common scenario for youth and young adults.

Multiple reports convey that homelessness among those younger than 18 has skyrocketed.

Armstrong believes there are many contributing factors that have led to the increase.

I think there is an increase in more self-awareness and kiddos are becoming more in touch with their own needs, which may not align with their families or guardians, Armstrong said. There might be a disapproval of lifestyles within their home and family situation. There is also a big correlation between childhood homelessness and adult homelessness.

COVID and its aftermath likely contributed to the surge, according to a HUD report. Armstrong said that more young adults are homeless because, quite simply, the cost of living is outrageous.

According to Colorado Department of Education data, Poudre School District had 1,022 youths defined as homeless under the McKinney-Vento Homelessness Assistance Act, and Thompson School District had 521 during the 2023-2024 school year.

Armstrong said data points to there being more than 400 unaccompanied youth combined in Larimer and Weld counties, but that these numbers are almost certainly higher due to youth homelessness being famously hard to track. The keyword for Armstrong is unaccompanied, meaning that they do not have a parent or guardian they are connected to.

Youth homelessness is difficult to track because they dont want to be identified  theyre not going to self-disclose often in a school setting until it gets really extreme, Armstrong said. We know that there are over 400 unaccompanied youth in this regional area based on data from school districts. Over 400 is the data point that we have been able to identify, but the numbers continue to go up.

Were really seeking to create a safety net for those individuals in our community to even self-identify. The (school) districts are vital in providing that sense of safety, and then, historically, we have not had resources in place to assist youths. Now, we have The Landing.

A unique facility

The Landing might provide a bit of a blueprint for other communities considering implementing or revamping services to those in displaced housing situations, specifically youth and young adults.

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Although The Landing is operated by The Matthews House  an organization committed to serve the youth and families of our community facing challenges such as homelessness, substance abuse, and education support  the building is owned by the Thompson School District. It formerly was the Monroe Early Childhood Center.

The conversion of the building into a youth homeless shelter is just one example of how Colorado school districts are getting creative with repurposing shuttered schools.

The Landing is also partnered with Poudre School District, which provides staffing to support youth and young adults needing help with educational navigation.

Although there are other youth-dedicated homeless shelters in the state located in Boulder, Colorado Springs and Denver, Armstong said The Landing is the only such facility in the state that is partnered with a school district.

That configuration potentially puts The Landing in a greater position to succeed with its reach and support through its partnership with two major Colorado school districts, which encompass over 85 schools and serve approximately 45,000 students PK-12 in multiple counties.

Really, what we did with this project and partnership is break down walls, Thompson School District assistant superintendent Todd Piccone said. We really got creative. We knew we had a building, but we just had to figure out who we could work with.

Piccone and other Thompson School District officials said the relationships with Armstrong and others from The Matthews House enabled the project to get completed at warp speed, comparatively speaking.

When you talk about this type of project and governmental work, it was fast, Piccone said. From the conceptual idea to the doors opening was just over two years. That included obtaining $7 million in grants, writing the grants, designing the building, construction of the building, going through the permit process, and the licensing process to opening it. That all took just over two years, which is remarkable when you consider projects like this can sometimes take two years to just get through the planning process.

Though the physical building was already in place, officials from The Landing worked to redesign and further construct it all with its clients in mind. The grand total for the project was $9 million.

Really, the design of this building was trauma-informed, so everything in here, in terms of feel, touch, lighting controls, allows for people to make choices and not feel like they are in a facility or institution as much as possible, said Aaron Brown, who serves as the youth and young adult director with The Landing. All the choices that were made in creating the building were with trauma in mind. The choices around the furniture, lighting, and color all had a tremendous amount of care with that.

People who care

Brown worked for close to 20 years with juveniles as a supervisor of a juvenile hall in the San Francisco area before arriving in Colorado.

My passion is really, how do we get kids to break barriers, to find the success that they would like to have, Brown said. I ran a number of long-term programs that were getting kids off probation. I think theres a unique set of skills that it takes to work with this age group. An adolescent is still an autonomous person. They are still working towards becoming an adult. So, it really comes down to learning how to walk beside them to help them through that process.

Im teaching kids how to, not necessarily be human, but just how to connect with others.

Brown and his family were displaced by the Paradise fire in 2018 in north-central California. He said the experience gave him a unique perspective and gave him even greater empathy for those individuals who are homeless.

I would say one of the most difficult things about that time was, honestly, how others viewed me and my family at that point, Brown said. I had been in the probation department for close to 20 years, and I had been a supervisor and in management for 17 of those years. I went from a well-known, I felt, upstanding member of the department and the community to where people didnt know how to approach me anymore. It was a feeling like I was no longer part of the community.

Brown brought a ton of experience in working with youth to his role at The Landing.

I always tell people that adolescents are developing and they are going to make terrible decisions. That is the one thing you can guarantee is that an adolescent is going to make a decision that is going to make your jaw drop, and you have to continue working with them. A lot of these kids have probably never been trusted in their entire lives, and it is our job to trust them immediately and work with them, Brown said.

Armstrong is also poised to lead The Landing as its executive director.

I had a wonderful upbringing, and my parents are wonderful individuals, but I didnt understand that there were others in the world around me who did not have the resources and the spaces and the upbringing that I had access to, Armstrong said.

She said her former teacher and current Weld RE-4 School District Superintendent Michelle Scallion inspired her to want to work with youth, which is what ultimately led her into social work.

Michelle was a teacher, but really what she was giving was time, Armstrong said. Time in relationship to individuals and identifying their strengths and just building them up. I realized social work was a space where I could kind of work in that environment.

Drawing inspiration and moving forward

Before The Landing came to fruition, Armstrong was developing relationships, one of which was with a troubled youth named Jazmyne.

Jazmyne grew up under difficult circumstances, which led her to experience homelessness with her family and also the foster care system.

Somehow, though, Jazmyne and Nicole Armstrong found one another. A bond was forged, and Armstrong recently adopted Jazmyne, who now goes by Jazmyne Armstrong.

Now, 21, Jazmyne recently got her associate's degree from Aims Community College. She is presently an intern at Lutheran Family Services in Greely in its immigration and asylum division.

She would like to follow her adopted mothers footsteps and work with displaced and troubled youth.

Something that I love to do is help people, Jazmyne said. I want to end up helping foster kids and people who have been where Ive been.
BILOXI, Miss. (WJTV)  Three Georgia men were arrested after they allegedly burglarized a pharmacy on the Mississippi Coast.

According to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (DPS), Brian Garland, 32; Octavious Franklin, 31; and Glen McDowell, 32; were arraigned in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Mississippi on April 17, 2025, on multiple felony charges and the unlawful possession of controlled substances and stolen firearms.



Officials said the arrests are the result of a joint investigation led by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and the Biloxi Police Department (BPD).



The investigation began following a September 14, 2024, burglary at Ladner Drugs in Woolmarket, Mississippi. During the break-in, investigators said numerous controlled substances were stolen. A federal firearms store co-located with the pharmacy was also targeted, resulting in the theft of seven firearms.

Teen suspect arrested in connection with fatal Mississippi shooting

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Authorities identified Garland, Franklin, and McDowell as the suspects in the Ladner Drugs burglary. The investigation remains ongoing, and investigators said the group may be connected to additional pharmacy burglaries across Mississippi.



As a result, a federal grand jury returned a nine-count indictment against the three men. Their charges include conspiracy to commit a pharmacy burglary, pharmacy burglary, conspiracy to posses with intent to distribute a controlled substance, five counts of possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance and possession of a stolen firearm.

Brian Garland (Courtesy: Mississippi DPS) Octavious Franklin (Courtesy: Mississippi DPS) Glen McDowell (Courtesy: Mississippi DPS)

This case is a testament to the outstanding work being done by our state, local, and federal partners, said Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell. We are incredibly grateful for the dedication and collaboration of these agencies in bringing dangerous criminals to justice and keeping our communities safe.

If convicted on all counts, the suspect could face a combined maximum sentence of up to 80 years in federal prison.

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The Ashtabula County Health Department has confirmed three more measles cases, bringing the total for the county this year to 14.

The ACHD had been monitoring a household for more cases after confirming an eleventh measles case toward the end of last week.

Ashtabula County Health Commissioner Jay Becker said the eleventh case was an unvaccinated adult who traveled internationally.

The ADHD was monitoring people in the the eleventh cases household to determine whether others had the disease, Becker said.

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These suspect cases are now confirmed, he said.

Becker said the three new cases were unvaccinated children.

The health department is monitoring another adult in the house to see if they develop symptoms, he said.

All five members of the household are isolating so they do not infect anyone else.

Becker said the ACHD is not aware of any other suspect cases in the county at this time.

No school districts are being affected by the measles outbreak.

The health department will update its numbers with any new cases if it gets them, Becker said.

The ACHD and the Ohio Department of Health confirmed the first case of the year in the state March 20, and later announced an outbreak for the country after confirming nine more cases March 25.

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The original ten cases have completed their isolation period and are no longer infectious, Becker said.

The four newer cases are not connected to the previous ten, Becker said.

We know how to stop this, he said. Its getting a vaccine.

Becker said all 14 cases in the county this year were in unvaccinated individuals.

That should really be the story here, he said.

The best way to fight measles is to get the MMR vaccine, Becker said.

With something as serious as this, the vaccine is the best and only defense, he said.

Becker encouraged people who are not sure of their vaccination status to get vaccinated, he said.

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I dont know how to stress this enough, he said.

The ACHD offers walk-in vaccine clinics 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Monday, Tuesday and Friday at its office, at 12 West Jefferson St. in Jefferson.

Alongside the in-office clinics, the health department has a regular set of community neighborhood mobile clinics scheduled.

People can go to the ACHDs website, ashtabulacountyhealth.com, to see a list of clinics.

The department also schedules clinics for the Amish community.
A hundred Russian soldiers are reported to have attempted to defect from a military unit in the city of Krasnodar, with three managing to escape.

Source: Russian Telegram-based outlet Baza; Telegram channel Ostorozhno, Novosti

Details: Russian media reports indicate that the group was being held in a secured area within the unit's premises and attempted to flee.

Security forces cordoned off the area and no official comment has been made for 12 hours.

Reports say that seven soldiers succeeded in breaking through the fence. Four were later apprehended, while three remain at large.

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SAN DIEGO (FOX 5/KUSI)  The Tijuana River has been severely polluted for decades, impacting air and water quality for residents who live near the Tijuana River Valley, not to mention creating a foul odor that gets worse with heat.

These issues plaguing the Tijuana River have prompted nonprofit environmental advocacy group American Rivers to list the river as the second most endangered river in the United States in 2025.

The Tijuana River made the list in 2024, also due to the cross-border pollution, but the river came in on American Rivers annual list of Americas Most Endangered Rivers in the number 9 place last year.

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Imperial Beach leaders call for action on Tijuana River sewage crisis

This year, American Rivers moved the Tijuana River up among endangered rivers in the country, behind only the Mississippi River.

Every day, up to 35 to 50 million gallons of contaminated stormwater, sewage, harmful chemicals, and trash flow down the Tijuana River across the U.S.-Mexico border and on to the Pacific Ocean in San Diegos South Bay.

South Bay residents urged to take precautions as sewage odors increase

The Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores hosted a press conference Wednesday to announce this years designation. The press conference took place in the Tijuana River Valley near the hotspot where dangerous levels of hydrogen sulfide gas have been detected.

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The ongoing pollution has forced the closure of Imperial Beach  the southernmost beach in San Diego County  for over 1,200 days in a row.

Just since January 1, 2025, nearly 10 billion gallons of contaminated water have flowed through the Tijuana River into the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, according to Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores.

Free air purifiers available for South Bay residents: Heres how to apply

Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores) Most Endangered Rivers press conference on Wednesday, April 16, 2025 (Photo: Surfrider Foundation and Un Mar de Colores)

The pollution that flows into southern San Diego County is causing health and environmental impacts for residents who live in the area. In late 2024, the CDC went door-to-door to conduct a public health survey. The results of that study found that a majority of residents said they have health concerns, symptoms and quality-of-life issues.

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After a recent large sewage spill, the San Diego County Air Pollution Control District is giving out free air purifiers to those who qualify.

Algae blooms off California coast could be worsened by Tijuana River pollution

In the latest turn of events, EPA Chief Lee Zeldin will be visiting the U.S.-Mexico border in late April to see firsthand the impacts of the sewage crisis after years of repeated calls for action from the federal government.

10 Most Endangered Rivers in the United States, by American Rivers:

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American Rivers said their message is to stop the cycle of destruction, we must invest in solutions that protect river health and our nations clean water security.

2025 also marks 40 years of Americas Most Endangered Rivers, as American Rivers highlighted some of the most impactful stories of challenges rivers face and some solutions they have been able to achieve.

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TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WFLA)  A timeline released by Tallahassee police Friday revealed more about the moments leading up to when a shooter opened fire at Florida State University and the subsequent police response.

The Tallahassee Police Department said the events unfolded as follows.

11 a.m.

The suspect, Pheonix Ikner, a student at the university, pulled into a parking garage on campus around 11 a.m., according to investigators. He then could be seen pacing in the area, moving in and out of his vehicle, for about an hour.

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Police search for motive in deadly shooting at FSU

He finally left the parking garage at 11:51 a.m.

11:56 a.m.

Police said the first shot was fired five minutes later. They believe Ikner was walking in and out of buildings and green spaces while firing a handgun.

11:58 a.m.

Witnesses started flooding 911 with calls reporting a man actively shooting on campus around 11:58 p.m. Nearby police officers were also rushing to the area around that time.

12 p.m.

The entire shooting lasted for less than five minutes. Authorities said officers found Ikner around noon and shot him after he refused their commands. He was then taken to a hospital.

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What we saw on April 17 was an extraordinary example of teamwork and professionalism in the face of a horrific event, said Tallahassee Police Chief Lawrence Revell. This kind of response doesnt happen by accident; its the result of training, partnerships and a shared commitment to protecting our community.

Two food service workers, identified as Tiru Chabba and Robert Morales, were killed in the shooting. Six others were injured, but are expected to make full recoveries, according to hospital staff.

Police said Friday they were still working to interview witnesses and victims, and the investigation remained active. The FBI has established a digital tips media line where you can upload photos and videos, which is accessible at www.fbi.gov/fsushooting.

Anyone with additional information can also contact TPD at 850-891-4200. Callers can remain anonymous by contacting Crime Solvers at 850-574-TIPS.

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COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  Police have arrested a man from the Far East Side on suspicion of possessing child sexual abuse material.

According to court documents, the Franklin County Sheriffs Office took Timothy Newton, 58, into custody after investigators received a tip from Microsofts Bing Image Creator.

Bing Image Creator, an AI service that makes images similar to what a user provides, recognized child sexual abuse material provided from upload or URL. Detectives confirmed that six such images were uploaded between January 2023 and July 2024.

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The cybertip depicted three children. Investigators from Cuyahoga County submitted a subpoena to Charter Communications in 2023, which identified an IP subscriber as Newton, who was listed as living in the Laurel Canyon neighborhood.

Another subpoena was submitted on March 20, and five days later, it was confirmed Newton was the listed subscriber to that IP address for 2 1/2 years. Newton was arrested Wednesday as a residential search warrant was carried out.

Police said Newton admitted to looking at child sexual abuse material on his laptop, which included images of toddlers. He is charged with two counts of pandering sexually oriented material involving a minor, second-degree felonies, and was issued a $75,000 bond Thursday in Franklin County Municipal Court.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
MCNAIRY COUNTY, Tenn.  Recovery efforts continue in McNairy County, where five people were killed in an EF-3 tornado two weeks ago.

Our phones woke us up and we had the TV on watching the weather and the weatherman said Selmer, Tennessee, take cover now and I think we left maybe two minutes before it hit maybe, said Nicholas McCord, a Selmer resident.

The recovery process is well underway, with mountains of debris lining just about every street in this city.

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Selmer, TN community coming together after devastating tornado

Easters always a big time for us. I mean, we believe in Jesus Christ, and we think Jesus Christ was with us, said McCord. I mean, thats the only reason we made it through. He died for our sins, and he steadily protecting us.

Pastor Barry Bishop says he and other local ministers have been working to counsel and comfort those impacted, stressing this damage is an act of nature, not an act of God.

Weve been taught religiously that God has something to do with that, and Im like God doesnt have anything to do with that, but what he does promise is whatever you go through, Im with you. I dont leave you. I dont forsake you, said Pastor Bishop.

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Selmer, TN church aids recovering tornado victims

Many victims see this disaster as a rebirth of their community.

If youre familiar with the book of Job. He took everything away, but if you believe hard enough, He gives it back again. So one day it will come back, said Rodney Fagan, a resident of McNairy County.

The Memphis National Weather Service says they found damage tracks from 32 tornadoes between April 2 and April 5. They say the Selmer tornado was one of the strongest.

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Longtime Tesla engineer David Lau, who served as the vice president of software engineering, is reportedly leaving the company after more than 12 years.

According to an April 4 Bloomberg article, Lau told others of his impending departure, but no reason for his resignation was provided to the publication at the time.

What's happening?

Lau's work at the company has been vast, including "creating firmware for the powertrain, traction and stability systems, as well as being in charge of software needs such as battery management, vehicle body control, and the user interface included for navigation, and mobile apps," per Teslarati.

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Additionally, he was a staple at media events, explaining the complex features of the vehicles, the outlet reported.

Teslarati cited Lau's LinkedIn page, which did not reflect the end of his term at the carmaker as of mid-April.

Other high-level executives have also departed. For example, Petter Winberg, who left in March, was the company's principal engineer for computer-aided engineering crash safety. Winberg had been with Tesla for over 14 years, Teslarati reported separately.

The former global vehicle automation and safety policy lead and chief information officer also departed recently, per reports.

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There has been a lot of turmoil surrounding the Tesla brand in recent months. Many Tesla vehicles have been vandalized. One new Tesla owner caught someone on camera picking up a concrete slab and throwing it into the rear passenger window of his car. They expected the damage to cost them $600.

Chargers have been targeted too. One owner recently drove up to a Tesla charging station and found multiple chargers damaged.

According to Reuters, Tesla dealerships and offices have also experienced protests and vandalism  reportedly in connection with CEO Elon Musk's political activities.

Why are Tesla's leadership resignations concerning?

Multiple leadership departures from a company can be concerning. It's easy to wonder what's happening behind closed doors to make long-time employees leave. When that happens, it can contribute to consumers losing trust in a company.

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In this case, the issues and vandalism surrounding Tesla could deter people from buying electric vehicles. EV adoption is crucial for reducing planet-warming gas pollution from fuel-burning cars.

Studies have shown the impact of EVs. For example, a University of California, Berkeley professor installed sensors in the San Francisco Bay Area, 57 of which recorded a 1.8% reduction in carbon dioxide pollution per year from 2018 to 2022. The researchers linked this decrease to more EVs and fewer gas-guzzlers in the area.

What's being done about EVs if Tesla is in turmoil?

Tesla isn't the only car company that sells EVs. Many established car brands offer a selection of electric vehicles, including Nissan, Volkswagen, Honda, and Ford.

So while Tesla may be under fire at the moment, you can switch to an EV from this or another brand and save around $1,500 a year on average over the gas and maintenance costs of an internal combustion vehicle.

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.




TOPEKA (KSNT)  A local park will be set on fire in the coming days, but people shouldnt find this as a reason to panic.

Sean Zears with Shawnee County Parks and Recreation (SCP+R) said in a press release that a controlled burn is set occur sometime between April 21 and May 9. The fire will be used to get rid of woody undergrowth and preserve Skyline Parks prairie area.

Zears said the burn is something that comes back annually but can only take place when weather conditions are perfect. SCP+R staff take into account factors like wind speed and direction, relative humidity and smoke dispersal before setting this controlled burn.

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First Topeka Whataburger opening date released

Firefighters with the Topeka Fire Department will help set the burn and manage it. People living near the park are encouraged to keep the controlled burn in mind in the coming days.

As Skyline Park and Burnetts Mound are the highest elevation in Shawnee County, the burn will be visible for a good distance, Zears said. There is no need for residents to call 9-1-1 should they see smoke or flames. Flames are to be extinguished by sunset although some embers from woody growth may remain visible. The plan is to be finished in one day, but could take longer depending on factors.

For more local news, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here.

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Update: As of 10:46 p.m., these counties are no longer under tornado warning, per the National Weather Service in Springfield.

The National Weather Service in Springfield has issued a Tornado Warning for the following until 10:45 p.m:

Southwestern Webster County in southwestern Missouri.

Northeastern Christian County in southwestern Missouri.

Southeastern Greene County in southwestern Missouri.

At 10:15 p.m. a severe thunderstorm capable of producing a tornado was located near Ozark, moving east at 45 miles per hour.

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Radar indicated rotation. Flying debris will be dangerous to those caught without shelter. Mobile homes will be damaged or destroyed. Damage to roofs, windows, and vehicles will occur. Tree damage is likely.

Locations impacted include Fordland, Diggins, Rogersville, Galloway, Seymour, Ozark and Springfield.

Move to a basement or an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If you are outdoors, in a mobile home, or in a vehicle, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. This cluster of thunderstorms is capable of producing tornadoes and widespread significant wind damage. Do not wait to see or hear the tornado. For your protection move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a building.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KOLR - OzarksFirst.com.
A plan that could have allowed transgender doctors to obscure their biological sex from public record has been paused following the Supreme Court ruling that trans women are not legally women.

The proposed move by the General Medical Council (GMC) could have allowed trans doctors to hide their biological sex from the public medical registers.

The Telegraph understands that the body wanted to make it voluntary for doctors to record any data on their gender or sex before the ruling was made.

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The GMC keeps a record of the gender of all registered doctors in Britain. This was previously interpreted to mean sex recorded at birth, but in recent years has increasingly included gender identity.

It could have risked making it harder for female patients to ensure that they receive care from a doctor of the same sex, which is not a legal right but can be requested.

In a letter sent to Baroness Hayter, a Labour peer, earlier this month, the GMC said it was updating its regulations to remove the requirement for a doctors gender, or sex, to be recorded on the Register.

Charlie Massey, the chief executive, wrote: We have now started this work to bring doctors into line with the approach we take for PAs [physician associates] and AAs [anaesthesia associates]. We would continue to collect such data on a voluntary basis as part of our routine diversity monitoring data collection. We will consider precisely what data to collect when we undertake the aforementioned work to update our approach to collecting and using equality, diversity, and inclusion data.

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Mr Massey said it was up to patients to request treatment from a same-sex doctor, saying local healthcare providers are best placed to respond to such requests at the point at which care is accessed.

He wrote: It is our understanding that there is no legal right for patients to be treated by a doctor of a certain sex.

The law does not give an explicit right for patients to be treated by a doctor of the same sex. However, patients can request this from their NHS trust, though it may delay treatment.

The previous government proposed that the right to request a doctor of the same sex be added to the NHS constitution, but the update was not implemented before the general election.

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But in the wake of the Supreme Courts landmark ruling, the regulators plans have now been put on hold.

A GMC spokesman said: Our policies will always comply with the law.

We note the ruling of the Supreme Court. We will review the judgment in full and carefully consider its relevance to our own policies and processes.

The Telegraph understands that Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, is supportive of same-sex care in the NHS wherever possible.

It is understood that Mr Streeting has reminded the GMC of keeping accurate data on doctors.

Public sector bodies must comply

A Government spokesman said: This is the law, and we expect all public sector bodies to comply.

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The ruling has provided much-needed confidence and clarity for the NHS to adapt its policies, as it reviews its Delivering same-sex accommodation guidance, to ensure that same-sex spaces are always protected.

Lady Hayter, a leading gender-critical Labour peer, told The Telegraph: The Supreme Court ruling makes it clear for the NHS that single-sex wards will mean biologically single-sex wards. Similarly, for female patients, if they ask to see a woman doctor they surely have the right to know that it is a biologically female doctor because that will be the intention behind their request.

The GMC needs to consider this and keep their register of doctors appropriately so that all patients can know the sex of the physician.

The move comes after an NHS nurse was suspended for challenging a trans doctor who used the womens changing room after claiming to be biologically female.

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Dr Beth Upton claimed to be biologically female despite being born male. After changing gender, Dr Upton was given a new registration number and record by the GMC and listed as a female doctor.

Sandie Peggie, the nurse who used the same changing room, took NHS Fife to tribunal over her suspension, claiming discrimination and harassment. Her case has been adjourned until July.

The GMC has previously come under fire from Mr Streeting for its approach to trans doctors.

The medical register is intended to give transparency about doctors qualifications, behaviour and conduct.

But in February The Telegraph revealed that the regulator was awarding new registration numbers to doctors who changed gender, wiping records of any past wrongdoing from the record.

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Mr Streeting said the practice should not have been allowed and called for the body to overhaul its handling of sex and gender data.

Confusing data leads to negative outcomes

The GMCs letter to Lady Hayter was sent on April 3 following the publication of the Sullivan Review, which said that the NHS and police forces should collect data on biological sex rather than gender.

It said that widespread confusion around sex and gender had negative outcomes, including artificial increases in female offending rates on police records and inappropriate medical care for trans people on the NHS.

The review name-checked the GMC for predominantly recording gender over sex data on the medical record.

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However, it acknowledged that the act of Parliament setting out the role of the GMC referred to gender rather than sex, which had created confusion in recent years with the supplanting of sex by gender.

Lady Hayter added: Either the GMC should take the decision that gender does mean sex, or if they feel that they havent got legal backing for that, they should ask the government to make the necessary amendment to the legislation.

Other gender-critical activists criticised the GMCs previously planned policy.

Fiona McAnena, director of campaigns at Sex Matters, said it would not be in the best interests of patients. It is obvious that for informed consent and patient wellbeing, patients may need to know the sex of a doctor, particularly when it comes to intimate procedures.

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She encouraged it to drop the plans altogether.

Ms McAnena added: In light of the Supreme Court judgment this week, the GMC needs to accept that the days of putting the wishes of trans-identifying male doctors ahead of the safety and dignity of female patients are over.

A spokesman for For Women Scotland, the activist group whose lengthy legal campaign resulted in the Supreme Courts ruling, said: The GMC cannot put the demands of male doctors above the health and safety of women.

A GMC spokesman said: Our policies will always comply with the law.

We note the ruling of the Supreme Court. We will review the judgment in full and carefully consider its relevance to our own policies and processes.

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It's all about "parents rights"  until it comes to a parent's right to support their transgender child.

The Mississippi Supreme Court has ruled that a teenage trans boy cannot legally change his name to something more masculine, citing "lack of maturity."

The court voted 8-1 Thursday to uphold the ruling issued by Hinds County Chancery Judge Tametrice Hodges in November, 2023 when the boy was 16 years old. The boy, referenced in the case only by the initials S.M.-B. is now either 18 or about to turn 18 based on the filing date of July, 2023. However, the age of majority in Mississippi is 21, meaning he will not be able to obtain a legal name change until 2028.

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Minors in Mississippi are legally permitted to change their name with the permission of both their parents, as outlined by the ACLU, which the boy had. The state Supreme Court still ruled that changing his name "as part of a gender transition was not in the [plaintiff's] best interest due to a lack of maturity," while consistently misgendering the teen in the filing.

The petitioners primary appellate argument is that the chancellor had no discretion to deny the name-change petition because it was uncontested and both parents agreed, the majority opinion reads. But Mississippi law says otherwise.

The court determined that the petition could be denied not because minors aren't allowed to legally change their names in Mississippi, but because the denial was "consistent with Mississippis express public policy against children receiving life-altering gender-transition assistance."

The majority cited the so-called Regulate Experimental Adolescent Procedures (REAP) Act, which in 2023 banned medical gender-affirming care  puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and surgeries  for the purpose of gender transition for anyone under 18. However, the plaintiff's case did not involve his medical transition, but rather his social transition  which includes changes to hair, clothing, name, and pronouns.

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This was noted by Justice Leslie King, the sole vote against in the ruling, who wrote in the dissenting opinion that "no medical procedures are at issue in this case." King also pointed out that nothing in the original case cited the REAP Act, and that the court did not hear testimony from any of the family members. Instead, the trial "court conducted a bench conference off the record, apparently took no evidence, and concluded the hearing thereafter."

The American Medical Association, the American Psychiatric Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, the World Medical Association, and the World Health Organization all agree that gender-affirming care is evidence-based and medically necessary not just for adults, but minors as well. Several studies show that depression and anxiety is alleviated in youth when they socially transition and receive treatment for gender dysphoria.

Denial of an adult or minor name change based on transgender identity has been universally rejected in any U.S. jurisdiction in which it has been considered  except Mississippi," McKenna Raney, LGBTQ Justice Project staff attorney at the ACLU of Mississippi, told The Advocate. "Inserting anti-trans bias into name change law is not only a profound injustice to the individual, but a disheartening setback for all people who value dignity, equality, and the freedom to be who you are."

"Allowing a chancellor to supersede two parents with no evidence that the name change is against the childs best interest is enormously disruptive to family integrity, indicating a judge is more qualified to decide a childs name than their parent," Raney continued. "This is not the kind of governmental interference we have in Mississippi over family choices.
COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death.

1 /2 COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death.

COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death. Photo of lei po o (head lei ) not allowed to be transported from Hawaii island.

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2 /2 COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death. Photo of lei po o (head lei ) not allowed to be transported from Hawaii island.

COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death.

COURTESY HDOA The Hawaii Department of Agriculture is reminding travelers going to the Merrie Monarch Festival in Hilo that the transport of ohia or any parts of the ohia is not allowed off of Hawaii island. The quarantine restriction is in place to help prevent the spread of rapid ohia death. Photo of lei po o (head lei ) not allowed to be transported from Hawaii island.

State officials are advising Merrie Monarch and Easter weekend travelers to arrive early at Hawaii airports statewide.

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The Hawaii Department of Transportation says thousands of travelers are expected to head to Hilo for the 62nd annual Merrie Monarch Festival and its week of festivities, which begin this Easter Sunday.

DOT says additional staffing will be on hand in Hilo for passenger screening, and technicians will be on standby for potential technical problems in preparation for the increased volume of travelers.

The Hawaii Department of Agriculture, meanwhile, reminds travelers of quarantine restrictions on the transport of ohia from Hawaii island to prevent the spread of rapid ohia death, a fungal plant disease devastating native forests.

The quarantinein place since 2015restricts the movement of ohia plants and plant parts, including flowers, leaves, seeds, stems, twigs, cuttings, untreated wood, logs, mulch, green waste and frass (sawdust ) and any soil from Hawaii island.

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All ohiaeven if originally from another island  may not be transported off of Hawaii island. The transport of such items is only allowed with a permit issued by the HDOA Plant Quarantine Branch.

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Inspectors will be stationed at the Hilo and Kona airports on April 27 and 28 to collect any ohia material, which will be respectfully returned to the native forests on Hawaii island. Last year, they intercepted 27 lei po o (head lei ).

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Merrie Monarch Festival events kick off Sunday with a hoolaulea (celebration ) and continue with the Miss Aloha Hula competition Thursday, followed by group kahiko and auana competitions Friday and Saturday nights.

DOT offers the following tips for air travelers :Plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours prior to your scheduled flight departure to allow sufficient time to park, check in and get through security.Check with your airline on the status of your flight, including any delays, gate assignments and baggage claim area if you are picking up arriving passengers.Consider catching a ride to the airport, as parking stalls fill up quickly during holidays and special events.If using airport public parking garages, travelers are advised to arrive early and allow for additional walking time to the ticket lobbies, as some lots are farther from the main terminal than others.The maximum parking rate for a 24-hour period is $24 for all five of Hawaiis busiest airports.

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MONTAGUE COUNTY (KFDX/KJTL)  The trial of a man accused of the first murder in a small Texoma town in more than 35 years is set to begin on Tuesday, April 22, 2025, in the Montague County Courthouse.

Texoma is a largely rural area in Texas outside of Wichita Falls, with dozens of small towns that are relatively unburdened with the problems found in larger cities, such as violent crimes.

PREVIOUS STORY: Arrest made in Saint Jos first murder case since 1986

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Before August 2022, the Montague County town of Saint Jo had gone nearly four decades without seeing a murder. Now, the man accused of that murder is set for trial beginning on Tuesday, April 22, 2025.

Gregory Aaron Bell, 58, of Saint Jo, was indicted by a Montague County grand jury on November 13, 2023, for the murder of Tia Hutson, 50, inside her home in Saint Jo in August 2022.

According to police, Hutson was discovered severely beaten by a neighbor on August 5, 2022. She was transported to Nocona General Hospital, then airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth with serious injuries to her head and face.

Six days later, on August 11, Hutson died from her injuries, and what police initially called an aggravated assault case turned into a murder investigation that lasted over a year before Bell was indicted.

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Hutsons murder marked the first in the small town of Saint Jo since 1986, when 86-year-old Frank Collier was brutally killed inside his produce store in Saint Jo by Clifford Boggess.

PREVIOUS STORY: Police investigating first murder in Saint Jo since 1986

A Clay County jury convicted Boggess of murder and sentenced him to death. He was executed in 1998 in Huntsville, Texas.

During an interview with KFDX News Director Darrell Franklin in 1998, Boggess described in detail how he killed Collier, a man hed known since childhood.

I tried to essentially beat him to death first, and when none of those things worked and he was still alive, that was when I took out my pocket knife, a standard Uncle Henry three-blade pocket knife, and cut his throat with that, and he bled to death from the cut in his throat, Boggess said.

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According to 97th District Attorney Katie Boggeman, the trial of Bell for Saint Jos first murder since 1986 is set to get underway on April 22, 2025, with jury selection in the 97th Judicial District Courtroom in Montague.

If found guilty, Bell faces up to 99 years or life in prison. Prosecutors have indicated they intend to seek a deadly weapon finding from the jury.

This is a developing story. Stick with Texomas Homepage for updates as more information becomes available. All individuals charged with a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to Texomashomepage.com.
April 19 (UPI) -- Trials started in Istanbul for 189 people, including students, journalists and lawyers, for their involvement in protests in March against the Turkish government spurred on by the arrest of the city's mayor.

The Istanbul prosecutor's office said it plans to put 819 people on trial in 20 criminal investigations after police detained nearly 2,000 people in the protests between March 19 to 26, with the first mass trials starting Friday.

The opposition Republican People's Party, which organized the events, said than 2.2 million people demonstrated in support of the mayor of Turkey's largest city, the BBC reported.

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Ekrem Imamoglu, Istanbul's mayor and opposition candidate to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, was arrested on March 19 of corruption charges. Imamoglu wants to run for president in 2028 against Erdogan.

Imamoglu and his party said the charges against him are politically motivated, as the ruling Justice and Development Party has governed Turkey since 2002, with Erdogan as prime minister and then president since 2003.

Of the arrests, 650 were accused of attending peaceful protests on March 27 after the ban ended. Protests have continued this month.

Arrested protesters have been accused of taking part in illegal protests and failing to obey orders to disperse. Video footage verified by Human Rights Watch shows the use of tear gas, rubber bullets and water cannons to control the demonstrators.

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Among the arrests, 107 are charged only with participating in unauthorized demonstrations and failure to disperse. Other offenses include carrying a weapon, covering their faces to hide their identity and incitement to commit a crime. There are also eight journalists on trial.

All but about 50 students remain in detention, according to information provided by Parents Solidarity Network to BBC Turkish.

The government has banned public gatherings and penalties for doing so range from six months to five years in prison, according to Human Rights Watch.

"Given the glaring absence of evidence, it is hard not to conclude that the intended purpose of these rushed trials is to send a warning against exercising the rights to peaceful protest or free expression," said Hugh Williamson, Europe and Central Asia director at Human Rights Watch. "The prosecutor should be calling for these cases to be dropped unless there is direct and substantive evidence that particular individuals committed specific crimes."

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Supporters, including family members, journalists, university lecturers and lawmakers from the opposition party, appeared in two courtrooms in the mass hearings.

"We have no fear, we are not the ones who should be afraid," a second-year student from Mimar Sinan University in Instanbul told the BBC.
Tom Cronin is a news columnist who regularly writes on politics and public affairs. His recently published book is "Fireside Chats of a Retired College President" (Booklocker, 2025).
TRINITY, Texas (KETK)  The Mid Coast Health System has announced that Mid Coast Medical Center in Trinity will cease operations starting on April 25 following months of financial instability.

19 measles cases reported in Upshur County, heres what we know

Despite our teams tireless work to restore services in Trinity, we are simply unable to continue operations under the current financial circumstances, CEO of Mid Coast Health System, Brett Kirkham said. This is a deeply painful decision for all of us especially in consideration of the local commitment from the staff to serve patients in the Trinity community.

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According to Trinity Memorial Hospital District board president Marjory Pulvino, Mid Coast Medical Center is Trinity Countys only hospital. Pulvino said that once the hospital closes, the next nearest hospital will be in Huntsville, which is over 20 miles away in Walker County.

According to a Friday press release from Mid Coast Health System, their Trinity center is facing the same problems that many rural hospitals are. Mid Coast cited delays in Medicare and Medicare billing, commercial insurance contract delays, lower than expected revenue from patient co-pays, increasing costs of supplies and insufficient local tax revenue as setbacks their hospital faced.

Mid Coast Health System said the hospital had closed before in 2017 and they had hoped to receive the Rural Emergency Hospital (REH) designation, which would secure additional funding for the hospital from the federal government. However, the hospital was reportedly not operational by the time the REH eligibility cutoff happened in Dec. 2020.

Photo courtesy of Mid Coast Health System.

We strongly believe that if Mid Coast Medical Center Trinity were eligible for REH status, it would thrive and continue to meet the communitys emergency and outpatient healthcare needs, Kirkham said. We are urging our elected officials to support a waiver that would allow the Trinity hospital to access this critical support for a potential reopening in the future.

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Mid Coast encouraged the community to contact U.S. Senators for Texas John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, along with U.S. Representative Pete Sessions, in order to advocate for the hospital to get a waiver allowing them to qualify for the REH designation.

This is a call to action for the Trinity community, our leader and our nation to recognize the unique challenges rural hospitals face and to fight for solutions that keep care close to home, Kirkham concluded.

Pulvino said the Trinity Memorial Hospital District Board of Directors was very disappointed to learn about the closure but reassured the community that theyre working to find a new hospital system to take over the hospital and emergency room.

The board wants the community to know that the Board is working diligently to find a quality hospital system to take over the hospital and ER operations, and at this time is in discussion with a reputable hospital system, Pulvino said. In addition we are in discussion with other groups to continue high quality services at the clinic. We agree that the Rural Emergency Hospital designation would be the ideal solution.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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A trio of troublemakers sped through Williamsburg, Brooklyn, in a white car shooting pellet guns and gel guns at people dressed in traditional Hasidic Jewish garb, hitting at least seven persons over a two-day possible hate crime spree, a police source said.

Making matters worse, the hateful incidents occurred during Passover week.

Loyall White, 53, and Jermaine Lincoln and Iesha Cintron, both 30, were arrested yesterday after they shot two Hasidic Jewish men the day before with a gel gun from a white Mitsubishi in separate incidents as the men walked down the street in Williamsburg, the police source said. Cops then linked the vehicle to a spate of similar attacks the day before that in which five Hasidic Jewish victims were shot with a pellet gun in the same area, and determined the perpetrators were the same in both incidents, according to the source.

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On Thursday a 24-year-old man dressed in traditional clothing called 911 and reported that someone in a white car had shot him in the head with a gel gun while he was walking near Hewes St. and Broadway, the source said. Later a 30-year-old man reported he too had been shot at from a white car but not hit about a mile down the road from the first incident, at Thornton St. and Broadway.

The day before, a 20-year-old man and two 21-year-old men told police someone shot them with a pellet gun out of a moving car near Throop Ave. and Gerry St. A 20-year-old woman and her 19-year-old brother also reported being shot with a pellet gun from a car outside a synagogue near Lee Ave. and Wallabout St., the source said.

Cops identified the car, from which they recovered two gel guns, police confirmed.

It was not immediately clear who owned the vehicle, which has racked up 48 traffic violations since 2023, many for speeding in a school zone.

White, Lincoln and Cintron were arrested Friday and their arraignment at Brooklyn criminal court was pending Saturday afternoon. The Brooklyn district attorney will determine if they will be charged with hate crimes.
A Massachusetts State Police trooper was hospitalized Saturday morning after crashing a state police motorcycle in Lexington.

The crash occurred around 6:30 a.m. in the area of 1 Cranberry Hill, state police told MassLive.

It appears the single-vehicle crash was caused by road debris, police said.

The motorcycle could be seen in Hobbs Creek, WCVB reported.

The trooper was brought to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and is expected to be released.

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The crash happened near the location of the 250th anniversary event for the Battles of Lexington and Concord.

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A letter from Trump administration officials sent to Harvard University on April 11 outlined demands so draconian that university officials decided they had no choice but to resist, according to a New York Times report.

Harvard President Alan Garbers announcement on Monday that he would not yield to the demands ignited a historic battle between the prestigious college and President Donald Trump.

It turns out the letter from the White Houses task force on antisemitism was sent by mistake, according to the Times.

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A Trump administration official contacted Harvard after its Monday announcement to say the letter had been sent in error, two Trump officials told the Times.

Three other administration officials told the Times that it is unclear what prompted the letter or how it was mishandled. Some people at the White House believed it had been sent prematurely, according to three people who requested anonymity, the Times reported.

Acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, Sean Keveney, sent the letter, according to the three people, who were briefed on the matter, according to the Times. Keveney is a member of the antisemitism task force.

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The letter arrived as Harvard and members of the task force were engaged in talks over the previous two weeks. However, demands in the letter, including government audits of professor and student viewpoints and giving leadership power to those most devoted to enacting the changes in the letter, were so extreme that Garber concluded a deal was not possible, according to the Times.

After Garber announced he would not comply with the demands, the Trump administration responded by freezing billions in federal funding and is threatening to take away Harvards tax-exempt status.

A White House official stood by the letter, the Times reported, calling the universitys decision to publicly rebuff the administration overblown and blaming Harvard for not continuing discussions.

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May Mailman, the White House senior policy strategist, told the Times, there is a pathway to resume discussions if the university, among other measures, follows through on what Mr. Trump wants and apologizes to its students for fostering a campus where there was antisemitism.

Read more: Why Harvard was willing to risk $9B to fight Trump

Harvard officials pushed back on the claim that they should have checked with Trump administration lawyers after receiving the letter.

The letter was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the email inbox of a senior federal official and was sent on April 11 as promised, Harvard said in a statement to the Times on Friday. Recipients of such correspondence from the U.S. government  even when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreach  do not question its authenticity or seriousness."

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The statement added: It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the governments recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government actually meant to do and say. But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences on students and employees and the standing of American higher education in the world.
The Trump administrations reasons for attempting to sell the federal building that houses the Department of Housing and Urban Development range from silly to sinister.

In a statement Thursday, HUD and the General Services Administration said that maintenance costs and the search for a more efficient use of space are behind their recent decision to try to sell off the Robert C. Weaver Federal Building in Washington.

In their statement, the agencies said the building requires over $500 million in deferred maintenance and modernization needs and costs the American taxpayer more than $56 million in yearly rent and operations expenditures. They also said the building is only half-full when every member of HUD is there.

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The important context to that statement, of course, is that the Trump administration is currently attempting to cut HUDs workforce drastically, potentially putting vital services in jeopardy. As Time magazine reported in March:

The exact number of cuts have yet to be fully finalized by the department, but according to a report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), these cuts could include 50% of staff in the HUD office that administers vouchers, public housing, and Native American housing programs, which together help 7 million people afford housing. It could also impact 44% in the office that oversees the project-based rental assistance program, 84% in the office that administers homelessness assistance and grants that help communities build affordable housing and recover from disasters, and 77% in the office that enforces fair housing laws.

The Trump administration previously listed hundreds of federal properties it wanted to sell off, but they took the list offline after it faced criticism from Democratic lawmakers.

In the joint statement, HUD Secretary Scott Turner said his agencys focus is on creating a workplace that reflects the values of efficiency, accountability, and purpose. But it really seems more about finding a smaller building to correspond with the draconian and devastating cuts Trump is making at the agency, some of which have been held up in court.

But there seems to be another, more puerile reason the administration is looking to ditch HUDs current building: to meet Trumps beauty standards.

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The Weaver Building is an example of Brutalist architecture, a style Trump evidently dislikes. Earlier this year, he signed an executive order aimed at promoting beautiful federal civic architecture, which encourages the federal government to steer clear of Brutalist architecture and embrace classical architecture, given Washingtons current discordant mixture of classical and modernist designs. The executive order specifically cites the Weaver Buildings style as one the government should seek to avoid.

And Turner followed Trumps lead in March, when he said HUDs headquarters is known as the ugliest building in D.C., adding: We want to create an environment here  including our building  where people want to be proud of where they come to work and carry out the mission and the assignment that we have.

When you elect a dodgy real estate executive, questionable design enthusiast and wannabe king as president, this seems like a natural outcome.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
The Trump administrations letter to Harvard University threatening financial ruin if it does not agree to a list of demands was sent by an official without authorization, according to a report.

Last Friday, the letter from the White Houses task force on antisemitism triggered a standoff between the Trump administration and the historic institution that continues to rumble on.

That letter, according to the New York Times, was reportedly sent by mistake after Harvard refused to cave to the administrations demands in a powerful public statement issued Monday.

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Some people at the White House believed it had been sent prematurely, the newspaper reports. Others in the administration thought it had been meant to be circulated among the task force members rather than sent to Harvard.

After the university refused to back down publicly, it received a frantic phone call from a Trump official, according to the Times.

The letter was sent by a member of the antisemitism task force, Sean Keveney, who is acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services, according to the Times, citing three people briefed on the matter.

The Independent has contacted the Department of Health and Human Services and the White House for comment.

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The White House is standing by the letter and its sweeping demands. The administration alleges the university has failed to tackle antisemitism on campus.

The White House is standing by the letter and its threats of financial devastation if the Ivy League school doesnt agree to its sweeping demands. Trump administration officials told the Times it was sent by mistake. (AP)

Other demands in the letter included cooperating with federal immigration officials, ending diversity programs, screening international students for their views, de-recognizing pro-Palestine student groups, and Harvard subjecting itself to a wide-ranging viewpoint diversity audit.

In a statement to the Times, May Mailman, White House senior policy strategist, blamed Harvard for going on a victimhood campaign.

It was malpractice on the side of Harvards lawyers not to pick up the phone and call the members of the antisemitism task force who they had been talking to for weeks, Mailman said. Instead, Harvard went on a victimhood campaign.

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Mailman added that the conflict could be resolved if Harvard follows through on President Donald Trumps demands.

The letter to Harvard was reportedly sent by mistake after the university refused to cave to the administrations demands in a public statement issued Monday. (Reuters)

The antisemitism task force told the newspaper that they are in lock step with the Trump administration on ensuring that entities who receive taxpayer dollars are following all civil rights laws.

Harvard pushed back on the White Houses statement that they were at fault for not picking up the phone.

It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the governments recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government actually meant to do and say, the university said in a statement to the Times. But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences.

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The White House has accused Harvard of failing to counter campus antisemitism amid widespread pro-Palestine protests over the last two years.

No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue, Harvard president Alan Garber pushed back this week.

Harvard has maintained that it has worked diligently to stop antisemitism on campus. It is the first of the many Ivy League universities targeted by the administration to affirmatively commit to resisting the administrations demands.

Trump has also threatened to revoke Harvards tax-exempt status.
A polar bear is spotted on a multiyear ice floe in the Beaufort Sea on Aug. 13, 2023. The Trump administration is planning to designate a new "High Arctic" region off Alaska for offshore oil and gas leasing. (Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Scott Bice/U.S. Coast Guard)

The Trump administration plans to create a new designated region for offshore oil leasing in Arctic waters off Alaska, an area where past exploration attempts have failed amid extremely high costs, logistical challenges and safety problems.

The Department of the Interior said it will soon release a new five-year national plan for offshore oil and gas leasing in federal water, and it will include a new High Arctic planning area. Details will be provided in an upcoming notice in the Federal Register and in information posted on the Bureau of Ocean Energy Managements website, the department said in its statement.

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Launching the process to develop the 11th National Outer Continental Shelf Program marks a decisive step toward securing American Energy Dominance, Interior Secretary Doug Burgum said in the statement. Through a transparent and inclusive public engagement process, we are reinforcing our commitment to responsible offshore energy developmentdriving job creation, bolstering economic growth and strengthening American energy independence. Under President Donald J. Trumps leadership, we are unlocking the full potential of our offshore resources to benefit the American people for generations to come.

Further information was not provided by the department.

The Beaufort Sea coast is seen on Aug. 23, 2018, from East Dock at Prudhoe Bay on the North Slope. The Liberty oil discovery, which has languished without development, is located about 20 miles east of here. (Photo by Yereth Rosen/Alaska Beacon)

Most federal Arctic waters were previously put off-limits to oil leasing by former Presidents Barack Obama and Joe Biden.

President Trump attempted in his first term to open Arctic areas that Obama had withdrawn from the leasing program, but that attempt was struck down by a federal court.

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A more recent Trump attempt to open withdrawn waters to oil leasing is now being challenged, as the first attempt was. A coalition of environmental groups sued the Trump administration in February over his efforts to overturn protections in the Northern Bering Sea and areas of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Environmentalists on Friday criticized the newly announced plans for more offshore oil leasing, including in the Arctic.

Drilling in the Arctic is a disaster waiting to happen. Theres no way to clean up an oil spill there and it will harm polar bears and bowhead whales. Oil companies should think twice about drilling in the Arctic, as it has been plagued with challenges, Natalie Jones of the Center for Biological Diversity said by email.

The Center for Biological Diversity is one of the environmental groups that sued the Trump administration in February.

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Despite some sporadic attempts to explore for oil in federal Arctic waters off Alaska, there has never been any commercial oil production there or in any federal waters off Alaska, except for a small portion of the Hilcorp-operated Northstar field, which lies mostly on state territory.

Royal Dutch Shells conical drilling unit Kulluk sits aground on the southeast shore of Sitkalidak Island, 40 miles southwest of the city of Kodiak, on Jan. 1, 2013. The Kulluk was being towed from Dutch Harbor to Everett, Wash., after a season of drilling in the Beaufort Sea. The Kulluk broke away from the two during a storm and grounded. Shell determined later that it could not salvage the Kulluk, and the company scrapped its Beaufort drilling plan that year. In 2015, it abandoned its entire Arctic offshore drilling plan. (Photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Sara Francis/U.S. Coast Guard)

The field that was expected to become the first producing site located entirely in federal waters off Alaska, the Liberty project, has languished for decades without development. BP Exploration (Alaska) Inc. discovered it in the 1990s and drew up two separate development plans but wound up dropping those. Hilcorp acquired full ownership of Liberty in 2020, but its lack of progress on the project led to expiration of the leases earlier this year.

The last oil exploration attempt in federal Arctic waters was a Royal Dutch Shell campaign abandoned in 2015 after the company spent over $7 billion on it.

That campaign was beset with trouble  most notably, the wreck of a mobile drill rig that escaped its tow and grounded during a storm on Dec. 31, 2012. The rig, the Kulluk, had been used for Shells exploration in the Beaufort Sea, the portion of the Arctic Ocean east of Point Barrow. Shell used a separate drill ship in the Chukchi Sea, west of Point Barrow and north of the Bering Strait. That ship, the Noble Discoverer, also had numerous operational and environmental problems.

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Shell wound up completing just one well, which was in the Chukchi, and the company concluded that it found too little oil there to justify further development.

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Deportation flights have been cleared for takeoff as two Trump-appointed judges blocked attempts to pause proceedings over the use of an obscure wartime law.

James Boasberg, chief judge of the Washington D.C. district court, has been attempting to pursue contempt proceedings against the Trump administration over its defiance of court orders to halt mass deportation flights, including Boasbergs order to turn back planeloads of migrants being deported to El Salvadors notorious CECOT prison last month.

In a 2-1 decision, the D.C. Circuit Court of Appeals issued an administrative stay on Friday, pausing those contempt proceedings. Judges Gregory Katsas and Neomi Rao, both Trump appointees, sided with the administration while Judge Nina Pillard, who was appointed by Obama, voted against.

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The pause on the lower courts effort to hold the government accountable for potentially violating prior rulings prevents Boasberg from intervening in the attempted deportation of two Venezuelan men detained in Texas. The men are slated for rapid removal under the Alien Enemies Acta 1798 law last used widely during World War II to expel nationals of enemy states.

Chief Judge James E. Boasberg, who has been attempting to pursue contempt proceedings against the Trump administration over its defiance of court orders to halt mass deportation flights. / US District Court/District of Columbia

On Friday, Boasberg said that a recent Supreme Court decision had stripped him of jurisdiction to intervene. I am sympathetic to everything youre saying, I just dont think I have the power to do anything, he said at an emergency hearing on Friday regarding the matter. The migrants are being held in Texas, which has been ruled to be outside of his courts authority.

The Department of Homeland Security has said that no deportation flights are currently scheduled, but that it maintains the right to carry them out at any time.

Migrants lawyers, watching how the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia was carried out, are warning their clients that removals could happen imminently without recourse or review.
The Trump administration has ramped up its war with Harvard University in an order demanding that the Ivy League school hand over its foreign financial disclosures as well as information on all foreign-born faculty.

In a Friday press release, the Department of Education (ED) accused the university of not fully disclosing its foreign funding sourceson the heels of freezing $2.26 billion in federal funding for the university and threatening to remove its tax-exempt status for refusing to overhaul its curriculum.

As a recipient of federal funding, Harvard University must be transparent about its relations with foreign sources and governments, said Education Secretary Linda McMahon. Unfortunately, our review indicated that Harvard has not been fully transparent or complete in its disclosures, which is both unacceptable and unlawful.

Secretary of Education Linda McMahon said that Harvard has not been fully transparent or complete in its foreign financial disclosures. / Anna Moneymaker / Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images

Universities are required to disclose financial gifts that are valued at more than $250,000 annually, which Harvard said it has done.

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In a statement, a Harvard spokesperson told The Hill that its reports are sound, adding that they contain information on gifts and contracts from foreign sources, including contracts to provide executive education, other training, and academic publications.

They added that Harvard has filed reports for decades as part of its ongoing compliance with the law.

However, the Trump administration has continued to press the university, claiming it skimped on divulging its assets. In its order, the ED also cites concerns around foreign actors attempting to spy on researchers or spread propaganda within the institution.

Todays records request is the Trump administrations first step to ensure Harvard is not being manipulated by, or doing the bidding of, foreign entities, added McMahon. The order, which was sent in a letter to Harvard President Alan Garber, gave no evidence that this was occurring.

Harvard President Alan Garber led the charge against the Trump administration by refusing to bow down to the president's demands. / Boston Globe / Boston Globe via Getty Images

The allegation is the latest in the Trump administrations blitzes against prestigious universitieswhich also include Columbia and the University of Pennsylvaniato force compliance on implementing viewpoint diversity, which President Trump has minimally defined.

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In an executive order, Trump alleged that the aforementioned Ivy Leagues allowed antisemitism to grow across their campuses as the order moved to slash diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and punish students who participated in pro-Palestine protests.

Under threats of financial crisis, several universities yielded to Trumps demandsbut not Harvard. It was the first university that stood firm in its resistance and refused to bend the knee to Trumps orders.

In retaliation, Trump made more attempts to micromanage the school, including by freezing critical research funds that largely go toward lifesaving research and threatening to limit its ability to enroll foreign students. His intimidation efforts culminated Friday when the barebones Department of Education (ED)which Trump has largely dismantledalleged that Harvards foreign reports show incomplete and inaccurate disclosures.

The ED wants Harvard to provide a list of all gifts and grants from foreign sources. It also demanded information about all expelled foreign students since 2016, communications between Harvard and foreign governments, and details about all those involved in the expulsion of foreign students.

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The ED is also asking for the names, contact information, and backgrounds of all Harvard affiliates who are fromor connected toforeign governments and foreign individuals.

Education Secretary Linda McMahon, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Interior Secretary Doug Burgum appear during a Cabinet meeting at the White House in February with President Donald Trump. / Andrew Harnik / Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Harvard received $151 million from foreign government sources between January 2020 and October 2024, reported its student newspaper The Harvard Crimson.

Throughout Harvards history, support from alumni and donors at all levels has been essential to our continued excellence in our research and teaching mission, which in turn enables Harvards critical impact in the world by helping to address societys most pressing issues, the Harvard spokesperson told The Hill.

Its not the first time that Trump has tried to intimidate Harvard. During his first term in 2020, the Trump administration also opened an investigation into Harvards foreign funding. The Biden administration told Harvard in 2024 that the investigation was closed.

Harvard has less than a month to provide the requested documents, which are due on May 17.

The Daily Beast contacted the Trump administration for comment but did not receive any reply.
During his campaign, Donald Trump said repeatedly that he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine in 24 hours upon taking office. He has changed his tone since becoming president again.

As various U.S. emissaries have held talks looking for an end to the war, both Trump and his top officials have become more reserved about the prospects of a peace deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 18 suggested the U.S. might soon back away from negotiations altogether without more progress, adding a comment that sounded like a repudiation of the president's old comments.

No ones saying this can be done in 12 hours, he told reporters.

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The promises made by presidential candidates are often felled by the realities of governing. But Trump's shift is noteworthy given his prior term as president and his long histories with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

The White House last week did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment on Trump's evolving deadline comments.

Here's a look at Trump's evolution on the way he talks about the Russia-Ukraine war:

A very easy negotiation

MARCH 2023: Theres a very easy negotiation to take place. But I dont want to tell you what it is because then I cant use that negotiation; itll never work, Trump told Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity, claiming that he could solve the war in 24 hours if he were back in the White House.

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But its a very easy negotiation to take place. I will have it solved within one day, a peace between them," Trump said of the war, which at that point had been ongoing for more than a year since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

MAY 2023: Theyre dying, Russians and Ukrainians. I want them to stop dying. And Ill have that done  Ill have that done in 24 hours," Trump said during a town hall on CNN.

JULY 2024: When asked to respond to Trump's one-day claim, Russias United Nations Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told reporters that the Ukrainian crisis cannot be solved in one day. Afterward, Trump campaign spokesperson Steven Cheung said that a top priority in his second term will be to quickly negotiate an end to the Russia-Ukraine war."

AUGUST 2024: Before I even arrive at the Oval Office, shortly after I win the presidency, I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled, Trump told a National Guard Conference. Ill get it settled very fast. I dont want you guys going over there. I dont want you going over there.

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After Trump wins in November

DEC. 16, 2024: Im going to try, Trump said during a news conference at his Mar-a-Lago club, asked if he thought he could still make a deal with Putin and Zelenskyy to end the war.

JAN. 8, 2025: In a Fox News Channel interview, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, now Trumps special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, proposed a 100-day deadline to end the war. April 18 marked 100 days since that interview. The 100th day of Trump's presidency is April 29.

Trump becomes president and starts negotiations

JAN. 31: Trump says his new administration has already had very serious discussions with Russia and says he and Putin could soon take significant action toward ending the grinding conflict.

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We will be speaking, and I think will perhaps do something thatll be significant, Trump said in an exchange with reporters in the Oval Office. We want to end that war. That war would have not started if I was president.

FEB. 12: Trump and Putin speak for more than an hour and Trump speaks afterward with Zelenskyy. Trump says afterward, I think were on the way to getting peace.

FEB. 19: Trump posts on his Truth Social site that Zelenskyy is serving as a dictator without elections. He adds that we are successfully negotiating an end to the War with Russia, something all admit only TRUMP, and the Trump Administration, can do.

FEB. 28: Trump and Zelenskyy have a contentious Oval Office meeting. Trump berates Zelenskyy for being disrespectful, then abruptly calls off the signing of a minerals deal that Trump said would have moved Ukraine closer to ending the war.

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Declaring himself in the middle and not on the side of either Ukraine or Russia in the conflict, Trump went on to deride Zelenskyys hatred for Putin as a roadblock to peace.

You see the hatred hes got for Putin, Trump said. Thats very tough for me to make a deal with that kind of hate.

The Ukrainian leader was asked to leave the White House by top Trump advisers shortly after Trump shouted at him. Trump later told reporters that he wanted an immediate ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine but expressed doubt that Zelenskyy was ready to make peace.

MARCH 3: Trump temporarily pauses military aid to Ukraine to pressure Zelenskyy to seek peace.

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Trump says Zelenskyy is prolonging killing field and tells Putin to 'STOP!"

APRIL 23: Trump lashes out at Zelenskyy, saying on social media that the Ukrainian leader was prolonging the killing field after pushing back on ceding Crimea to Russia as part of a potential peace plan.

Calling Zelenskyy's stance very harmful to talks, Trump also asserts a deal was close and that Zelenskyy can have peace or he can fight for another three years before losing the whole Country.

APRIL 24: Trump offers rare criticism of Putin, urging the Russian leader to STOP! after a deadly barrage of attacks on Kyiv, Ukraines capital, the deadliest assault on the city since last July.

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I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!

Trump claims his 24-hour promise was sarcastic

MARCH 14: Trump says he was being a little bit sarcastic when he repeatedly claimed as a candidate that he would have the Russia-Ukraine war solved within 24 hours.

Well, I was being a little bit sarcastic when I said that, Trump says in a clip released from an interview for the Full Measure television program. What I really mean is Id like to get it settled and, Ill, I think, I think Ill be successful.

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MARCH 18-19: Trump speaks with both Zelenskyy and Putin on successive days.

In a March 18 call, Putin told Trump that he would agree not to target Ukraines energy infrastructure but refused to back a full 30-day ceasefire that Trump had proposed. Afterward, Trump on social media heralded that move, which he said came with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.

In their own call a day later, Trump suggested that Zelenskyy should consider giving the U.S. ownership of Ukraines power plants to ensure their long-term security. Trump told Zelenskyy that the U.S could be very helpful in running those plants with its electricity and utility expertise, according to a White House statement from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and national security adviser Mike Waltz.

APRIL 14: Trump says everybody is to blame: Zelenskyy, Putin and Biden.

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Thats a war that should have never been allowed to start and Biden could have stopped it and Zelenskyy could have stopped it and Putin should have never started it, Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Talk of moving on

APRIL 18: Rubio says that the U.S. may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days.

He spoke in Paris after landmark talks among U.S., Ukrainian and European officials produced outlines for steps toward peace and appeared to make some long-awaited progress. A new meeting is expected next week in London, and Rubio suggested it could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration continues its involvement.

We are now reaching a point where we need to decide whether this is even possible or not, Rubio told reporters. Because if its not, then I think were just going to move on. Its not our war. We have other priorities to focus on.

He said the U.S. administration wants to decide in a matter of days.

Later that day, Trump told reporters at the White House that he agreed with Rubio that a Ukraine peace deal must be done quickly.

I have no specific number of days but quickly. We want to get it done, he said.

Saying Marco is right that the dynamic of the negotiations must change, Trump stopped short of saying hes ready to walk away from peace negotiations.

Well, I dont want to say that, Trump said. But we want to see it end.

___

Kinnard reported from Chapin, South Carolina, and can be reached at http://x.com/MegKinnardAP
Christine Godleski plays with her dog, Omen, 3, in Middle Shooks Run Park as the snow begins to intensify Friday, April 18, 2025 in Colorado Springs. Snow is in the forecast through Saturday before sunny skies and temperatures near 60 degrees return on Sunday. (The Gazette, Christian Murdock)
Some Republicans are putting an expiration date on how long theyll tolerate the economic fallout from Donald Trumps trade war.

For now, theyre eager to extend the president time to reshape the U.S. economy  and theyre prepared to stomach higher costs as a consequence of steep tariffs on trading partners.

But interviews with nearly three dozen Republican leaders and operatives in seven battlegrounds  from party chairs to strategists to state lawmakers  reveal a growing acknowledgement that economic shocks could hamper the partys prospects in the midterms. While many say they are strapping in for as long as it takes, several state party strategists and leaders predicted voters patience with higher prices would last no longer than into summer, while others suggested he has a runway of about a year.

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No one is surprised, as Donald Trump has talked about unfair trade practices across the world for 30 years, said Wisconsin House Speaker Robin Vos, who said he has started to pay tariffs on his own food packaging business. He talked about reciprocal tariffs literally since the day he was elected. But the hope is that the idea of enacting the tariffs will result in zero at the end, and that's where I think most people are optimistic to hopefully get it done sooner rather than later.

Or as Jonathan Felts, a North Carolina GOP consultant, put it, If the economy just completely tanks, then it's Political Science 101 that the incumbent is in trouble."

While Felts said that a lot of people are willing to shoulder some short term pain, he cautioned that when early voting starts, if you're going to McDonald's and there's no dollar menu left, that's a problem.

Trumps trade agenda has already rattled Washington and Wall Street, and it is also beginning to take a political toll. Trumps job approval ratings, exceeding 50 percent when he first took office, are now underwater . The publics mood about the economy has soured, with a majority of Americans in an Economist/YouGov Poll this week saying the economy is getting worse . Trump is warring with Jerome Powell after the Federal Reserve chair warned tariffs will likely drive up prices .

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And even among Republican voters  who have stuck with Trump through criminal indictments, impeachment proceedings and his defeat in 2020  Trump is showing some signs of weakness. In the YouGov survey, 85 percent of Republicans approved of the job Trump is doing, down 5 percentage points from the previous week.

None of that is going unnoticed among Republicans in the battlegrounds. But the Republican leaders who spoke with POLITICO say the base for now remains fully behind the presidents agenda.

Ive just seen price increases under Biden for four years with no end goal, at least this time there's a method to the madness, said Todd Gillman, a Michigan Republican Party precinct chair. There's a pot of gold at the end of it.

The White Houses aggressive posture on a range of issues, including trade, is what Republicans voted for.

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Still, Gillman, who described himself as a strong supporter of Trumps trade agenda, said that if the economy doesnt improve within a year, were going to get slack in the midterms. Vos, who describes himself as a free trader, said he hopes deals will be struck with countries before the end of Trumps 90-day pause on reciprocal tariffs he imposed on most U.S. trade partners.

That view is broadly shared by local and state Republican leaders. Many cited the White Houses claim that more than 100 countries have expressed interest in renegotiating trade deals with the U.S. as proof that Trumps strategy is working  and dismissed any criticism that the White Houses trade agenda has been executed carelessly.

Rather, they argue Trump has set the country on an upward trajectory by shattering longstanding trade relationships and escalating tensions with China. Their confidence in the White House comes even amid a brewing political backlash against the tariffs on Capitol Hill and warnings from economists that tariffs on China will hike prices of items like clothing, toys and electronics. Republicans are convinced that wild volatility in the market will subside and that prices, if they escalate again, will soon return to normal.

If we can withstand shock and awe, it is my belief that the outcome will be very positive, said Alex McColman, chair of the Lee County Republican Party in Georgia. Trump has a tough job and if all parties involved can join in, then we will win this chess match with countries that have been taking great advantage of the U.S.

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Several GOP leaders who spoke with POLITICO were reluctant to put Trump on any sort of timeline for when voters should expect to see the economy surge. They blamed former President Joe Biden or others for economic problems so complex they said its unreasonable to expect a turnaround anytime soon.

On top of that, many are taking a recent drop in gas and egg prices as a sign that Trump is steering the economy in the right direction, even as those prices were impacted by a range of variables outside the presidents control, such as oil production levels and bird flu outbreaks.

It's not like turning a canoe, it's like turning a battleship, said Michigan Republican Party Chair Jim Runestad. So it's not as simple as one lever is going to make all these changes. They're going to give him a big breadth of time to make sure that we fix this thing that is otherwise going to collapse.

In Pennsylvania, Trumps tariffs hold promise for workers in the cratered out steel industry, said Pennsylvania state Sen. Greg Rothman. He described Trump taking on countries dumping steel into the U.S. as worse than ripping a bandaid off.

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Our industry has been dying for the last fifty years, so it was going to take sort of a more radical approach, Rothman said.

For Jesse Willard, chair of the Decatur County Republican Party in Georgia, Trumps campaign pledge to again enact steep tariffs on foreign countries was one of the reasons he voted for him. An employee for a defense manufacturing firm, Willard said hes hopeful Trump will restore the sector to what it once was when he first started working in it in the 1980s.

In the short term it's going to be a little bit painful, but Id much rather buy American than anything else, Willard said.

But the pain cant last forever, he said.

If it takes six months, a year you may see a little bit of people grumbling a little, Willard said. But if it takes more than a couple years, youre going to see people not being OK with that.
President Donald Trump trashed Sen. Chris Van Hollen as a fool and a grandstander on Friday for meeting with wrongly deported immigrant Kilmar Abrego Garcia in his homeland of El Salvador.

The president called out the Maryland Democrat for negotiating an attention-grabbing sit-down with Abrego Garcia after delicate talks with the government of pro-Trump Salvadoran strongman Nayib Bukele.

Senator Chris Van Hollen of Maryland looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention, Trump wrote on his social media site. Grandstander.

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Van Hollen, who flew home on Friday, accused Trump of lying about Abrego Garcia and defying a Supreme Court ruling to facilitate his return.

We need to end the illegal abduction of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and bring him home too, Van Hollen said. This case is about protecting the constitutional rights of everyone residing in the United States.

Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen hed been moved from a notorious megaprison to another prison in the Salvadoran town of Santa Ana and had no other contact with the outside world.

Van Hollen tweeted a photo of the meeting with Abrego Garcia, which came after the lawmaker journeyed to San Salvador and met with El Salvadors vice president.

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Abrego Garcias wife said in a statement that she was relieved to find out her husband was alive and well but we still have so many questions, hopes and fears.

The most important thing for me, my children, his mom, brothers was to see him alive, and we saw him alive Jennifer Vasquez Sura told ABC News.

At a chummy White House meeting, Trump and Bukele both said they wouldnt facilitate Abrego Garcias return to the U.S., despite the Supreme Courts order to do so.

The Maryland sheet metal apprentice was wrongly sent to El Salvador in March despite an immigration court order barring his deportation to his home country where he faces potential threats from gangs in his hometown.

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Its not clear what will happen now to Abrego Garcia, who had been held at CECOT, a notorious Salvadoran megaprison known for harsh conditions.

Bukele, who brands himself as the worlds coolest dictator, mocked Abrego Garcia for sharing margaritas with Van Hollen.

Now that hes been confirmed healthy, he gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody, Bukele tweeted.

Van Hollen called the margaritas claim a lie and accused Salvadoran officials of placing the drinks on the table as a stunt to embarrass himself and Abrego Garcia.

The case has become an unlikely political lightning rod as Democrats seize on Abrego Garcias Kafkaesque situation as a cruel consequence of Trumps mass deportations and disregard for the courts.

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Republicans hit back at Democrats for defending an undocumented immigrant who they claim is a gang member, allegations he denies.

A three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously backed a district court judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials detailing what if anything they have done to implement the Supreme Courts order.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, a conservative who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.

The U.S. has agreed to pay El Salvador millions of dollars to imprison hundreds of deportees, including more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials accuse of gang activity and violent crimes.

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A second federal appeals court judge has moved to hold officials in contempt for defying his original order to refrain from deporting the immigrants without any due process under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

________
American universities fear the Trump administrations purge of foreign students could trigger a cash crisis.

More than 1,000 students, from an estimated 160 colleges, have had their visas or legal status revoked, in some cases because of their views on Gaza, according to the latest figures.

But in others they are facing deportation for minor criminal offences and even traffic violations.

While many of the cases are being fought in the courts, colleges fear that applications could plummet from overseas.

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According to NAFSA: Association of International Educators 1.1 million international students at US colleges and universities contributed $43.8billion (33billion) to the American economy during the 2023-2024 academic year.

They also supported more than 378,000 jobs.

Harvard University - Anadolu

But the landscape is vastly different now. Given the hatchet the administration is taking to university spending, a dramatic fall in applications from well-heeled foreign students is the last thing American colleges need.

The thing with foreign students is they pay full freight, Christopher Galdieri, professor of politics at Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, told The Telegraph.

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When you get into graduate programmes you have folks from all over the world who come here and by and large they are paying the full tuition for graduate school.

If you are an American, most doctoral programs pay you a stipend to attend them. Your tuition is covered by a scholarship or a fellowship or something.

I went to the University of Minnesota and just in my programme you know there were folks from Turkey, there were folks from China, there were folks from South Korea, and they were paying their way in a way that we Americans were not.

These folk are an enormous factor in the budgets of every research university in the country. This is going way, way beyond Columbia and Harvard.

Campus of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology - Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images

With the administration demanding Harvard hands over a list of foreign students, there is a sense that they are no longer welcome in the US, especially if other colleges are made to fall into line.

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Youre making it incredibly hostile for them to come here, Prof Galdieri added.

Youre making their existence precarious because, as weve seen from this administration you know having a visa is no guarantee like if you have a visa when you get up in the morning theres no guarantee youre still going to have that visa come lunchtime.

Harvard is in an especially invidious position.

While Columbia University bowed to pressure from the Trump administration, Harvard did not. Already its $2billion federal funding has been frozen, and its charitable status is under threat.

The administration has told Americas oldest university to disclose its sources of foreign funding.

Kristi Noem, Secretary of Homeland Security - Ken Cedeno/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

Last week Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem demanded it provided information about the illegal and violent activities of its foreign students by the end of the month.

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If it fails to comply, Ms Noem threatened to halt visas for its foreign students, who account for about 27 per cent of the total graduate and undergraduate population.

Other universities have also warned of the consequences of driving away foreign students.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology saw nine visas revoked and its president, Sally Kornbluth, said it would cost the college global talent.

MIT is an American university, proudly so  but we would be gravely diminished without the students and scholars who join us from other nations, she wrote in a letter to members of the college.

Moodys, a credit rating agency, said it was pessimistic about what lies ahead and rewrote its 2025 outlook for colleges, changing its prediction from stable to negative.

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It said that the potential for reductions or eliminations of visas for international students, or a decline in the appeal of the US to international students would present difficulties for the portion of the sector reliant on these students, who generally provide higher net tuition and boost enrolment at both the undergraduate and graduate level.

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The return of Donald Trump to the White House has triggered a surge in the number of Americans seeking alternative citizenship.

Lawyers, especially in Canada but also the UK, have also noticed a spike in inquiries from Americans wanting to renounce their US nationality.

The phenomenon has been described as the Donald Dash by experts.

According to the Immigration News Canada website, the most prominent group seeking citizenship are from the LGBTQ community, fearing challenges to same-sex marriage and transgender health care.

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The highest profile refugees to the UK were Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, her wife, who decamped to the Cotswolds.

High-profile Donald Dashers were Ellen DeGeneres, right, and Portia de Rossi, who decamped to the Cotswolds - Todd Williamson/NBCUniversal Media

Berardi Immigration Law, which has offices in the US and Canada, used to get one or two inquiries a month from Americans wanting to become Canadians, but now they get a couple every week.

Older Americans with roots over the border are also pursuing Canadian citizenship.

In the 1960s and 1970s an estimated 125,000 Americans moved to Canada, rather than be drafted to fight in Vietnam. Despite the amnesty granted to draft dodgers by Gerald Ford, many have remained in Canada.

Another lawyer, Douglas Cowgill, told the Canadian broadcaster CBC that renunciation inquiries had doubled in the immediate aftermath of the US election.

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Alexander Marino, director of US tax law at Moodys Tax Law in Calgary, said the prime motive for renunciation was to avoid the potential liability for US tax, even while living abroad. Nevertheless, he told CBC there had been a bump since Mr Trump won the election.

Donald Dashers are also coming to the UK. According to figures released by the Home Office, there was a 40 per cent jump in applications in the final quarter of last year, with around 1,700 requests in the final three months of the year.

Over the year 6,100 applications were submitted  a 26 per cent increase and the highest number since the figures were first compiled two decades ago. Immigration experts also noticed a sharp rise in the number of online inquiries about how to secure British nationality.

The rules for acquiring British nationality are strict. For those who do not satisfy existing residency requirements, applicants must prove family connections with at least one British parent or grandparent.

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One survey of 1,000 Americans found 25 per cent were considering moving abroad. As soon as Mr Trump won the election, there was a sharp increase in interest in Americans wanting to live elsewhere.

This reflected what happened after Mr Trumps first election victory in 2016.

Its certainly a trend we have been seeing, as we did eight years ago, Sophie Barrett-Brown, of immigration lawyers Laura Devine, told The Telegraph.

We have seen a significant increase in enquiries from US nationals as well as long term residents of the US seeking to relocate to the UK, her colleague Zeena Luchowa added.

Naturally individuals want to explore if there is an immediate route to moving over to the UK, ie tracing UK ancestry to establish whether they are eligible for British citizenship, she added.

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There are certain avenues for those who have a parent or grandparent who was born in the UK, or in a UK colony, however this requires a careful assessment of their ancestry line as well as reviewing historical and current British legislation against their circumstances.

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(The Hill)  President Trumps approval rating in the first quarter of his second term is sitting at 45 percent  an increase from the same timeframe in his first term, according to a recent Gallup survey.

Trump touted a 41 percent approval rating during his first administration, which measures 19 percentage points below post-World War II presidents, the pollster noted. The average first quarter approval rating for U.S. presidents from 1952 to 2020 is 60 percent.

The latest approval score comes as Americans have felt the pressure of Trumps recent tariff announcement amid economic uncertainty sparked by market changes and the potential impact of the presidents trade war on consumer prices.

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Earlier this month, the leader announced a 10 percent baseline tax on nearly all imports and higher reciprocal tariffs on a range of nations with hopes of creating an American financial and manufacturing boom in the U.S. Most of the reciprocal taxes are under a 90-day pause, with the exception of China  a major trading partner for the U.S.

Still, Republicans seem optimistic about Trumps economic agenda, the survey shows.

Less than half of U.S. adults say they have confidence in the president to recommend or do the right thing for the economy, according to the Gallup poll. Roughly 44 percent of Americans shared a lack of confidence in the presidents ability to make strides for the economy.

Another 11 percent said they have little confidence, 14 percent said they had a fair amount of trust and 30 percent said they had a great deal of faith in his leadership, per the poll.

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The numbers largely rest along party lines. Just under 90 percent of Republicans said they have a great deal of confidence in Trumps economic leadership, even with the tariffs, compared to 37 percent of independents and 8 percent of Democrats.

Separate polls have also highlighted discontent for the presidents economic policy.

Just more than half  51 percent  of Americans surveyed in an April Economist/YouGov poll said they disapprove of Trumps job performance while over half of Americans, 52 percent, disapprove of his handling of the economy  marking a 12 percent uptick from his disapproval in October 2024 as measured in a Wall Street Journal poll.

Confidence in Trumps economic measures resemble the statistics from his first term. During his first year in office, he received a 48 percent approval rating on the economy, according to Gallup.

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Though his approval numbers have dipped to 44 percent overall since returning to the Oval Office in January, the rating remains similar to his 46 percent average throughout his first term, the pollster noted.

The survey was conducted April 1-14 among 1,006 adults in the U.S. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percentage points.

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President Donald Trump has tightened his grip on federal staffing even further with a Friday move that makes it easier for him to fire 50,000 civil servants.

Trumps Office of Personnel Management is trying to reclassify tens of thousands of federal workers as at will employees, stripping their roles of key protections against removal, according to a White House statement.

The new category, called Schedule Policy/Career, includes workers in important policy-determining, policy-making, policy-advocating, or confidential duties, the statement says, adding that the OPM estimates that the new rule affects 2 percent of the federal workforce.

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The White House said that the exact positions altered by the change will be announced once the rule is finalized.

In a post on Truth Social about the new regulation, Trump wrote, If these government workers refuse to advance the policy interests of the President, or are engaging in corrupt behavior, they should no longer have a job. This is common sense, and will allow the federal government to finally be run like a business.

Trump argued that the change was to help root out corruption. / Screenshot/Truth Social/Donald Trump

The announcement is the latest development in the presidents push to seize greater power and cut the federal workforce. With the help of Elon Musks Department of Government Efficiency, Trump has already ousted tens of thousands of federal workersthough not without legal pushback.

The new category follows from a day-one executive order titled Restoring Accountability to Policy-Influencing Positions Within the Federal Workforce. Trump had issued a similar order during his first term, which called the new classification Schedule F. It was rescinded by former President Joe Biden.

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The White House argued that the change will further Trumps ambition to promise to dismantle the deep state and reclaim our government from Washington corruption.

The proposed rule tackles systemic issues in federal workforce accountability, addressing unaccountable, policy-determining federal employees who put their own interests ahead of the American peoples, the statement said.
The presidents media company is urging the Securities and Exchange Commission to investigate a firm that bet against it, Reuters is reporting.

Its the kind of story you might expect to read about in a tin-pot dictatorship. But this is the new American golden age, as Donald Trumps media company, Trump Media and Technology Group, has called on the SEC to probe U.K.based company Qube Research and Technologies for betting against it to the tune of $105 million.

As Reuters reports:

Trump Media, which is 53% owned by Trump and is the parent company of the Truth Social platform, said in a memo sent to the SEC on Thursday it was concerned Qubes short positions could involve suspicious activity. Short selling is a controversial practice that often comes under scrutiny during times of market turmoil. Executives typically criticize such trading, which is legal, while some activists point out they have uncovered corporate misconduct. We urge you to immediately investigate this suspicious trading and report your findings back to TMTG and any relevant civil and criminal authorities, the memo said.

Qube told Reuters and Business Insider that its financial decisions regarding Trumps media company were based on a quantitative model, not the companys fundamentals. Business Insider noted that shares of Trump Media have plunged 39% year to date and are down 62% from their late-October peak. (Neither MSNBC nor NBC News have independently verified Trump Medias memo to the SEC.)

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Trump Medias revenues declined 12% year over year [in 2024], according to its annual report. The company saw its net loss widen to $400.9 million from $58.2 million in 2023, CNBC reported in February.

Trump has said his stake in Trump Media is held in a trust controlled by his son Donald Trump Jr., although experts told The New York Times that arrangement doesnt preclude any conflicts of interest. The White House, however, claimed that Trump Medias request to the SEC posed no conflict in an email to Reuters, and neither Trump Media nor Qube responded to Reuters request for comment.

The red flags seem obvious. The fact the president continues to own a stake in any media company while in office is unprecedented. That Trump is the majority owner of a media company that accepts investments, foreign and domestic, is its own parade of red flags, particularly as he wages war on the free press. Now his media company is asking the government that Trump oversees to probe a firm that bet against that company, and it seems like a scenario ripe for self-dealing.

The memo also comes as Trump has installed cryptocurrency-friendly officials at the agency that enforces rules on investments like the currencies he and his family have launched. It seems like Trump is organizing the SEC as an agency to benefit his own personal businesses, perhaps more than anything else.

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CORRECTION (April 22, 2025, 2:40 p.m. ET): A previous version of this article misstated the amount of Qubes position. It is $105 million, not $150 million.

This article was originally published on MSNBC.com
President Donald Trump has signed an executive order that reopens portions of the Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument (previously known as the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument) to commercial fishing. This order reverses previous restrictions that were put in place to protect one of the most biodiverse marine regions under U.S. jurisdiction.

The order lifts the ban on commercial fishing from 50 to 200 nautical miles around several remote Pacific islands and atolls. These include Howland Island, Baker Island, Kingman Reef, Palmyra Atoll, Jarvis Island, Johnston Atoll, and Wake Island.

The ban had been in place since 2009, when President George W. Bush expanded the monument and prohibited commercial fishing to protect rare coral ecosystems and vulnerable marine species.

What the Executive Order Does

Green turtles at Palmyra Atoll National Wildlife Refuge; (photo/USFWS)

The executive order allows U.S.-flagged commercial fishing vessels to return to these remote waters, which had been off-limits to all but scientific research and limited recreational activities. The Trump administration framed the decision as an effort to strengthen domestic seafood production, reduce dependency on imports, and boost the economic well-being of the American fishing industry.

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Reopens certain Pacific waters to commercial fishing . Specifically, it allows U.S.-flagged fishing boats to operate in areas between 50 and 200 nautical miles around several remote U.S. territories and atolls in the Pacific Ocean (including Howland, Baker, Jarvis, Johnston, Wake, Palmyra, and Kingman Reef).

Overturns previous restrictions . These waters were protected under the Pacific Remote Islands Marine National Monument, where commercial fishing had been banned since 2009 to protect sensitive ecosystems.

Aims to boost domestic seafood production. The administration says the goal is to support the U.S. fishing industry and reduce the countrys reliance on imported seafood.

During the announcement, Trump argued that previous restrictions had harmed American fishermen and allowed foreign fleets to dominate the market. His remarks echoed longstanding industry concerns about access to traditional fishing grounds and regulatory overreach.

Conservation Groups & Politicians Sound the Alarm

Environmental groups, marine scientists, and politicians are condemning the decision. They argue that the monument was created specifically to protect fragile deep-sea ecosystems and critical habitat for endangered species, including sea turtles, seabirds, and rare corals. Many of these ecosystems are slow to recover once damaged.

At a time when the climate crisis is threatening our fragile ocean ecosystem and costing us lives and livelihoods every year, President Trumps response is to gut protections for some of our nations most important natural resources, Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said in a statement on his official website.

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Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick was unequivocal when he assured me during his confirmation hearing that consultation would take place prior to any actions on fisheries in the Pacific. No such consultation occurred in advance of todays executive order. The public deserves answers, and I expect him to come before Congress to explain this misguided decision, he continued.

A Trend in Environmental Rollbacks

The Pacific Remote Islands region is considered one of the last relatively untouched ocean environments in the world. Conservationists fear that allowing commercial fishing could cause irreversible harm. They also warn that this move sets a troubling precedent for rolling back environmental protections in other national monuments.

The rollback is already facing scrutiny from legal and environmental organizations, who are exploring potential lawsuits or legislative pushback.
The Trump administration has now put the Oak Flat copper mine on the fast track for permit approval, a day after moving to push ahead with a land swap.

A federal agency that oversees and supports permits for public lands projects added Resolution Copper's proposed mine east of Phoenix to a new priority list on April 18, along with nine other mining projects. It is part of the administration's push to increase domestic production of critical minerals through an executive order issued March 20.

The list was posted in the wake of an announcement by the U.S. government on April 17 that it would reissue the final environmental impact statement, clearing the way to transfer ownership of Oak Flat, a site considered sacred to Apache and other Native peoples, to Resolution Copper no earlier than June 17.

Resolution Copper wants to extract copper from Oak Flat, a campground that is part of the Tonto National Forest in Miami, Arizona. The method of extraction the mining company wants to use will eventually create a giant sinkhole on land sacred to the Apache.

A petition attempting to stop the land swap is awaiting action at the U.S. Supreme Court. It was filed by grassroots group Apache Stronghold as part of ongoing litigation to stop the mine from turning Oak Flat into a huge crater through its mining process.

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The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, which is representing Apache Stronghold, filed a letter April 18 with the Supreme Court calling for the high court to move quickly to accept Apache Stronghold's case.

"Until now, there may have been some doubt about the governments intent to move forward with the transfer and destruction of Oak Flat," the firm said. "But this notice removes all doubt: the government intends to move forward, and to do so quickly."

After receiving word of the government's latest move, Apache Stronghold leader Wendsler Nosie posted on his Facebook page: "We are ready to defend what is holy, so keep us in prayer."

Sacred places: Indigenous people find legal, cultural barriers to protect sacred spaces off tribal lands

Disputed land at heart of conflict

The latest order put Oak Flat and nine other mining projects  including the McDermitt and Silver Peak lithium mines in Nevada; the Stibnite open-pit gold mine in Idaho; and the Lisbon Valley copper mine in Utah  on a faster schedule. Federal officials said it would allow for "more transparent" environmental review and authorizations, which the administration said would contribute to a more efficient process.

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The statement said speeding up environmental reviews and permitting for these 10 projects would support Trump's earlier executive order, which directs agencies to "take immediate action to facilitate domestic production of Americas vast mineral resources to create jobs, fuel prosperity, and significantly reduce our reliance on foreign nations."

Many of these projects face opposition from tribes and environmentalists, including Oak Flat.

Also known as Chichil Bidagoteel, "the place where the Emory oak grows," Oak Flat is at the heart of a dispute over what should happen to the land. The struggle over a small plot of land in the mountains about 60 miles east of Phoenix is also emblematic of an ongoing debate about the conflict between First Amendment religious rights, public lands oversight and a 150-year-old mining law's relevance in the 21st century.

The Mining Law of 1872 opened federal lands to mineral extraction. It gives U.S. citizens the opportunity to explore and purchase mineral deposits on public lands designated as open for mining claims. It's the foundation of mineral extraction laws and hasn't been significantly changed in its 153-year history.

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In December 2014, Congress authorized the U.S. Forest Service to trade the 2,200-acre site, currently a campground about 60 miles east of Phoenix, for parcels of environmentally sensitive private land owned by Resolution Copper, a company owned by British-Australian mining corporations Rio Tinto and BHP.

Demand for ore: Why can't the US mine and refine all its copper? What to know about new Trump order

Mine proposal, opponents' arguments wind through the courts

Resolution plans to extract the copper ore using a method known as block cave mining, in which tunnels are drilled beneath the ore body, and then collapsed, leaving the ore to be moved to a crushing facility. Eventually, the ground would subside, leaving behind a crater about 1,000 feet deep and nearly 2 miles across where Oak Flat and its religious and environmental significance stand.

The U.S. Forest Service published the final environmental impact statement and draft decision for the copper mine and land swap five days before the end of the Trump administration in January 2021. The land deal could have been finalized within 60 days of that action.

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Apache Stronghold filed its lawsuit in January 2021 in federal court to stop the land swap, citing religious rights guarantees under the First Amendment and the Religious Freedom Restoration Act. Many Native religions are land-based, which means that certain places hold great spiritual significance or are holy sites. If they are damaged or obliterated, Native people say, their religions and ability to practice their religions are similarly damaged.

The Becket Fund, a nonprofit legal organization that works to protect religious rights and practices, accepted the case and, along with a group of private attorneys and law professors, has represented Apache Stronghold, which includes Apache and other Native peoples and their allies.

The San Carlos Apache Tribe and a coalition of environmentalists filed two other lawsuits. Those two are on hold awaiting the refiling of the environmental impact statement.

The Biden administration rescinded the environmental impact statement in March 2021 for further consultation with tribes. That reconsultation began in September 2021. The Forest Service said the consultation is ongoing.

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Resolution was granted permission to join the lawsuit in 2023.

After being turned down by the federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, Apache Stronghold appealed to the Supreme Court.

Building mines: In the 'Copper State,' growing demand for ore raises fears in the fragile Sky Islands

Environmentalists, religious leaders weigh in

While the high court debates taking the case, environmentalists alarmed by the government's precipitous move weighed in.

I can hardly think of a less-deserving mine project," said Curt Shannon, interim director for the Arizona Mining Reform Coalition. "All of the copper will be shipped offshore for smelting (likely to China) due to smelting capacity issues in the USA"

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He added that despite Resolution's pledge to conserve its water usage, the mine would consume nearly half a trillion gallons of water he said was desperately needed for other uses in Arizona. "All that we will get is a huge hole in the ground and 1.5 billion tons of toxic mine tailings that need to be impounded in perpetuity.

Advancing this land swap sets the stage for the destruction of Oak Flat, a place that is sacred to Indigenous people, including the Apache, and is on the National Register of Historic Places as a traditional cultural property, the Chichil Bidagoteel historic district," said Sandy Bahr, director of the Sierra Club's Grand Canyon Chapter.

She said in addition to its sacred standing, Oak Flat is a world-class recreational area and a place of significant biological diversity.

"Sierra Club stands in solidarity with the Apache people, faith leaders, and other conservation groups in opposition to the land exchange and the proposed mine," Bahr said.

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"We will not stop fighting to protect this critical area.

The Coalition to Dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, a group that seeks to mobilize Christian churches to dismantle the Doctrine of Discovery, which purported to give Christian heads of state dominion over the Americas, also called for justice.

"We know that you listen to our prayers and we pray that you would protect Oak Flat from the mining transfer," the group said on its Facebook page, "and that you would protect the earth from more extractive destruction."

Debra Krol reports on Indigenous communities at the confluence of climate, culture and commerce in Arizona and the Intermountain West. Reach Krol at debra.krol@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly known as Twitter, @debkrol.

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Coverage of Indigenous issues at the intersection of climate, culture and commerce is supported by the Catena Foundation.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Trump puts Resolution Copper mine at Oak Flat on permit fast track
President Donald Trump on Friday replaced the governments utilitarian COVID-19 website with a gaudy page that pushes a disputed theory about the viruss origins.

The web address covid.gov no longer features information on vaccines and testing. Now, it takes you to a site that says COVID-19 leaked out of a lab in China, disparages Dr. Anthony Fauci, and accuses the Biden administration of spreading misinformation.

The original covid.gov page offered information on treatment and testing for the virus. / Screenshot/archive.ph

At the top of the page is a huge illustration of Trump striding between the words Lab Leak in all-caps block letters. A smaller subtitle near the presidents feet reads, the true origins of Covid-19.

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While the page presents it as a settled fact that the virus emerged out of an infectious disease lab in Wuhan, China, the case is hardly closed. The so-called lab leak theory has circulated since the early days of the pandemic, because the first cases of the virus were detected in Wuhan.

The site pushes the theory that the virus emerged out of a lab in Wuhan, China. / White House

While American intelligence agencies have remained open to the possibility that COVID-19 could have originated from lab research, the claim pushed by some lab leak proponents that it was created as a biological weapon has been dismissed.

In January, the CIA announced that its analysts believed it was more likely that the virus emerged out of a lab than a Wuhan wet market with live animals, which is a competing theory. However, the World Health Organization has said that all hypotheses remain open.

Trumps page spurns skepticism. By nearly all measures of science, if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have already surfaced. But it hasnt, it says, wrongly.

Trump accuses the Biden administration of spreading misinformation about COVID-19. / MANDEL NGAN / AFP via Getty Images

The site also takes aim at several government officials for their responses to the pandemic, chiefly Fauci and former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a Democrat.

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It alleges that a famous scientific study concluding that the virus likely wasnt created in a lab was prompted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated naturally.

In 2023, The Intercept reported that Fauci, a former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, was one of a number of scientists in the pandemics early days who were weighing whether the virus was engineered. The study, titled The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2, was part of an effort to rule that possibility out.

Trumps page slams Dr. Anthony Faucis public health guidance during the pandemic. / White House

Trumps page also highlights the fact that Biden gave Fauci a pardon before he left office, seeming to insinuate that this is a sign of guilt.

In early 2020, Cuomo earned national recognition for his insistence on measures to stop the virus spreading in New York. He also made waves for hosting televised conferences about COVID-19, in which he would fire shots at Trump.

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Cuomos administration was later rebuked by a House panel for changing its methodology for tracking virus deaths in nursing homes to make the number seem lower than it actually was. Trumps new site claims that Cuomos team worked to cover up the tragic aftermath of their policy decisions in an apparent effort to shield themselves from accountability.

The new page criticizes former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomos management of the pandemic. / White House.

The site links to a congressional report issued by the Republican-led House Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, which, like Trumps page, concludes that the virus came from a lab, and criticizes the governments response to the global pandemic.
A customer looks at a laptop computer for sale last year. States worry that an executive order and federal funding cuts could weaken their cybersecurity efforts. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

For the first half of his career in law enforcement, working as a police officer in South Florida, Chase Fopiano did not think cyberattacks on police agencies were a serious threat.

Many of his law enforcement colleagues were under the same impression  that since they were the most likely to investigate the attacks, there was no way cybercriminals would go after them.

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By about 2015, as technology advanced and hackers became more creative, that changed, Fopiano said. Now, from the U.S. Secret Service to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there are thousands of attempts to compromise networks or organizations every day, he said.

A lot of those [attempts] are toward government or even police, especially because they know that were not as prepared as we should be, said Fopiano, who now oversees cybersecurity as part of a regional task force.

Spanning health care facilities to court systems, states and local communities are facing a rise in cyberthreats. They include threats to critical infrastructure, increased activity from foreign actors, continued ransomware attacks and more, according to a recent report from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

But President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order shifting some of the responsibility from the federal government to states and localities to improve their infrastructure to address risks, including cybercrimes. And federal cuts have reduced resources for state and local officials, including a cybersecurity grant program and a key cybersecurity agency.

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States and localities are taking steps to address the problems, such as establishing new penalties for tampering with critical infrastructure, centralizing state IT personnel and setting standards in areas from elections to health care.

But the Trump order and federal funding cuts, a shortage of IT experts at the local level and an overall lack of preparedness could weaken their efforts.

In December, a major cyberattack forced Rhode Island to take down its online portal used by residents to obtain Medicaid benefits and SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The personal data stolen from Rhode Islands public benefits network  including Social Security numbers and banking information  was later found on the dark web.

In February, a sophisticated cyberattack hit the office of Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, which led agency officials to shut down computer systems and resort to paper court filings.

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Last week, hackers also breached the computer network of the Fall River School District in Massachusetts. The school district is working with third-party experts and law enforcement to determine if anyones personal information was targeted, according to MassLive.

In 2023, of the 48 states that participated in the Nationwide Cybersecurity Review, a voluntary self-assessment conducted by federal agencies that examines how well governments are prepared to respond to cyberattacks, only 22 states reached or surpassed the recommended levels of security in their systems.

The notion that the federal government could just withdraw and expect states and localities to step in is just not realistic.

 Samir Jain, Vice President of Policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology

Cybersecurity has become increasingly important over time because more government services and data are digitized, said Samir Jain, the vice president of policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit that advocates for digital rights and freedom of expression.

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But a national shortage of people with that expertise  especially at the local level  creates a challenge.

The federal government has traditionally played at least some role in trying to fill some of those gaps, Jain said. And so the notion that the federal government could just withdraw and expect states and localities to step in is just not realistic.

Local governments and law enforcement agencies also have other priorities, Fopiano said. The police need cars, guns, shields and other resources that generally take precedence over cybersecurity.

Today, Fopiano is the cybersecurity chair of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force in Florida, overseeing cyber activity from South Florida to the Florida Keys. The attacks continue to rise, he said.

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Terrorist groups are getting into cybercrime, cartels are getting into cybercrime, you have kids just learning about hacking and just fooling around, he said. The audience of whos doing it has definitely expanded and led to that rise in overall cybercrime.

Cuts to federal resources

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity grant program, providing more than $1 billion in funding for states, localities, tribes and territories to address cybersecurity risks and threats.

The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, awarded $279 million to states and localities in fiscal year 2024. The Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program awarded another $18 million for tribes in its first year.

But the grant program is set to expire in September, with no current plans to renew it. At a hearing this month, several state and local officials urged Congress to reauthorize the program. But U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who refused the federal aid during her tenure as governor of South Dakota, questioned the programs efficacy.

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The Trump administration is also cutting as many as 1,300 employees from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, which administers the grants alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The program has allowed states to assess the security of their networks, develop cybersecurity training, implement multi-factor authentication features  which requires users to provide more than one form of verification to access a site or service  and much more, said Alex Whitaker, the director of government affairs at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

This has been a really great program because were seeing a lot of great evidence for how states and their counterparts in local government are improving their cyber defenses, Whitaker said.

Counties also rely on a number of federal resources to strengthen their defenses, including services provided by CISA, said Rita Reynolds, the chief information officer at the National Association of Counties and managing director for County Tech Xchange. NACo is an organization that represents county governments across the United States.

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The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, for instance  a key collaboration between CISA and the Center for Internet Security to help state and local governments with cybersecurity operations  lost some of its federal funding for certain programs last month, Reynolds said.

In trying to keep up with emerging threats, counties are still trying to find resources to help them implement multi-factor authentication, convert government pages to .gov domains and other methods of protecting their infrastructure, she said.

Are counties prepared? Reynolds asked. I would say theyre not as prepared as theyd like to be. And in some cases, they are looking at how to strategically approach this now that resources are disappearing.

In a statement, CISA spokesperson Jared Auchey said Trumps executive order empowers state and local governments to make risk-informed decisions and investments to improve their preparedness. The agency will work with state and local officials to ensure they have the information and support they need, Auchey added.

Lawmakers step up

In 2024, 33 states adopted resolutions or enacted legislation regarding cybersecurity, according to a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan public officials association.

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Many of those measures sought to protect states critical infrastructure, including water systems, government services, health care and more. Florida, Louisiana, West Virginia and other states created new criminal and civil penalties for people who attempt to tamper with critical infrastructure.

In Minnesota and Washington state, lawmakers passed measures allowing or requiring state and local governments to invest in cybersecurity protections related to election administration. Connecticut and Florida also passed legislation to secure health care facilities from cyberattacks by having hospitals create plans or by supporting investments in new technologies.

Other states are looking for solutions from outside vendors. South Dakota has set aside $7 million for a company to examine local governments for vulnerabilities to hackers.

With attacks occurring at every level of government, New Mexico Democratic state Sen. Michael Padilla, the Senate majority whip, sponsored legislation in 2023 to create the states office of cybersecurity. As chair of the Senate Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee for 10 years, he plays a significant role in most of the states cybersecurity legislation.

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Through the committees work, Padilla says New Mexico is in good shape to fend off cyberattacks  and the states cities and counties are joining in.

I think New Mexico is in a very good position because what we decided to do by creating that office is to ensure that any transactions that occur with state government here [in New Mexico] have to meet a minimum set of security standards, he said.

In Indiana, Republican state Sen. Liz Brown filed legislation that would encourage state agencies and groups to develop cybersecurity policies. The bill was approved by both chambers, with the Senate agreeing to changes sent from the House.

You have to protect your infrastructure, Brown said. We dont want utility systems to be shut down. We dont want wastewater or freshwater treatment plants or even the water supply being contaminated or harmed in some way. Our systems all have backups, but even so, we know there are bad actors.

Some states are also preparing to reshuffle their offices or create new ones to centralize their cybersecurity efforts. Arkansas, for example, enacted legislation this month to create a new state cybersecurity office, which will monitor the states computer networks and respond to cyberthreats.

In Alabama, rather than having information technology people scattered throughout the government, Republican state Rep. Mike Shaw wants cybersecurity personnel centrally managed.

Shaws legislation, which passed the House and is currently in the Senate, would give the Alabama Office of Information Technology central authority to maintain the needs of all of the states departments.

The centralization would make it easier to pursue cybersecurity initiatives in the future, Shaw said.

The federal government is really big, and its really hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution for things like cybersecurity, data privacy and technology in general, Shaw said. So, in some sense, its good that the states are coming up with their own.

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org.

Stateline originally published this article. Like the Alaska Beacon, Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
A customer looks at a laptop computer for sale last year. States worry that an executive order and federal funding cuts could weaken their cybersecurity efforts. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

For the first half of his career in law enforcement, working as a police officer in South Florida, Chase Fopiano did not think cyberattacks on police agencies were a serious threat.

Many of his law enforcement colleagues were under the same impression  that since they were the most likely to investigate the attacks, there was no way cybercriminals would go after them.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

By about 2015, as technology advanced and hackers became more creative, that changed, Fopiano said. Now, from the U.S. Secret Service to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, there are thousands of attempts to compromise networks or organizations every day, he said.

A lot of those [attempts] are toward government or even police, especially because they know that were not as prepared as we should be, said Fopiano, who now oversees cybersecurity as part of a regional task force.

Spanning health care facilities to court systems, states and local communities are facing a rise in cyberthreats. They include threats to critical infrastructure, increased activity from foreign actors, continued ransomware attacks and more, according to a recent report from the Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center.

But President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order shifting some of the responsibility from the federal government to states and localities to improve their infrastructure to address risks, including cybercrimes. And federal cuts have reduced resources for state and local officials, including a cybersecurity grant program and a key cybersecurity agency.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

States and localities are taking steps to address the problems, such as establishing new penalties for tampering with critical infrastructure, centralizing state IT personnel and setting standards in areas from elections to health care.

But the Trump order and federal funding cuts, a shortage of IT experts at the local level and an overall lack of preparedness could weaken their efforts.

In December, a major cyberattack forced Rhode Island to take down its online portal used by residents to obtain Medicaid benefits and SNAP, commonly known as food stamps. The personal data stolen from Rhode Islands public benefits network  including Social Security numbers and banking information  was later found on the dark web.

In February, a sophisticated cyberattack hit the office of Virginia Republican Attorney General Jason Miyares, which led agency officials to shut down computer systems and resort to paper court filings.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Last week, hackers also breached the computer network of the Fall River School District in Massachusetts. The school district is working with third-party experts and law enforcement to determine if anyones personal information was targeted, according to MassLive.

In 2023, of the 48 states that participated in the Nationwide Cybersecurity Review, a voluntary self-assessment conducted by federal agencies that examines how well governments are prepared to respond to cyberattacks, only 22 states reached or surpassed the recommended levels of security in their systems.

The notion that the federal government could just withdraw and expect states and localities to step in is just not realistic.

 Samir Jain, Vice President of Policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology

Cybersecurity has become increasingly important over time because more government services and data are digitized, said Samir Jain, the vice president of policy at the Center for Democracy & Technology, a nonprofit that advocates for digital rights and freedom of expression.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

But a national shortage of people with that expertise  especially at the local level  creates a challenge.

The federal government has traditionally played at least some role in trying to fill some of those gaps, Jain said. And so the notion that the federal government could just withdraw and expect states and localities to step in is just not realistic.

Local governments and law enforcement agencies also have other priorities, Fopiano said. The police need cars, guns, shields and other resources that generally take precedence over cybersecurity.

Today, Fopiano is the cybersecurity chair of the Southeast Regional Domestic Security Task Force in Florida, overseeing cyber activity from South Florida to the Florida Keys. The attacks continue to rise, he said.

Advertisement Advertisement

Advertisement Advertisement

Terrorist groups are getting into cybercrime, cartels are getting into cybercrime, you have kids just learning about hacking and just fooling around, he said. The audience of whos doing it has definitely expanded and led to that rise in overall cybercrime.

Cuts to federal resources

In 2022, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced a first-of-its-kind cybersecurity grant program, providing more than $1 billion in funding for states, localities, tribes and territories to address cybersecurity risks and threats.

The State and Local Cybersecurity Grant Program, created under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, awarded $279 million to states and localities in fiscal year 2024. The Tribal Cybersecurity Grant Program awarded another $18 million for tribes in its first year.

But the grant program is set to expire in September, with no current plans to renew it. At a hearing this month, several state and local officials urged Congress to reauthorize the program. But U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, who refused the federal aid during her tenure as governor of South Dakota, questioned the programs efficacy.

Advertisement Advertisement

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The Trump administration is also cutting as many as 1,300 employees from the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, or CISA, which administers the grants alongside the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The program has allowed states to assess the security of their networks, develop cybersecurity training, implement multi-factor authentication features  which requires users to provide more than one form of verification to access a site or service  and much more, said Alex Whitaker, the director of government affairs at the National Association of State Chief Information Officers.

This has been a really great program because were seeing a lot of great evidence for how states and their counterparts in local government are improving their cyber defenses, Whitaker said.

Counties also rely on a number of federal resources to strengthen their defenses, including services provided by CISA, said Rita Reynolds, the chief information officer at the National Association of Counties and managing director for County Tech Xchange. NACo is an organization that represents county governments across the United States.

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The Multi-State Information Sharing and Analysis Center, for instance  a key collaboration between CISA and the Center for Internet Security to help state and local governments with cybersecurity operations  lost some of its federal funding for certain programs last month, Reynolds said.

In trying to keep up with emerging threats, counties are still trying to find resources to help them implement multi-factor authentication, convert government pages to .gov domains and other methods of protecting their infrastructure, she said.

Are counties prepared? Reynolds asked. I would say theyre not as prepared as theyd like to be. And in some cases, they are looking at how to strategically approach this now that resources are disappearing.

In a statement, CISA spokesperson Jared Auchey said Trumps executive order empowers state and local governments to make risk-informed decisions and investments to improve their preparedness. The agency will work with state and local officials to ensure they have the information and support they need, Auchey added.

Lawmakers step up

In 2024, 33 states adopted resolutions or enacted legislation regarding cybersecurity, according to a database from the National Conference of State Legislatures, a nonpartisan public officials association.

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Many of those measures sought to protect states critical infrastructure, including water systems, government services, health care and more. Florida, Louisiana, West Virginia and other states created new criminal and civil penalties for people who attempt to tamper with critical infrastructure.

In Minnesota and Washington state, lawmakers passed measures allowing or requiring state and local governments to invest in cybersecurity protections related to election administration. Connecticut and Florida also passed legislation to secure health care facilities from cyberattacks by having hospitals create plans or by supporting investments in new technologies.

Other states are looking for solutions from outside vendors. South Dakota has set aside $7 million for a company to examine local governments for vulnerabilities to hackers.

With attacks occurring at every level of government, New Mexico Democratic state Sen. Michael Padilla, the Senate majority whip, sponsored legislation in 2023 to create the states office of cybersecurity. As chair of the Senate Science, Technology and Telecommunications Committee for 10 years, he plays a significant role in most of the states cybersecurity legislation.

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Through the committees work, Padilla says New Mexico is in good shape to fend off cyberattacks  and the states cities and counties are joining in.

I think New Mexico is in a very good position because what we decided to do by creating that office is to ensure that any transactions that occur with state government here [in New Mexico] have to meet a minimum set of security standards, he said.

In Indiana, Republican state Sen. Liz Brown filed legislation that would encourage state agencies and groups to develop cybersecurity policies. The bill was approved by both chambers, with the Senate agreeing to changes sent from the House.

You have to protect your infrastructure, Brown said. We dont want utility systems to be shut down. We dont want wastewater or freshwater treatment plants or even the water supply being contaminated or harmed in some way. Our systems all have backups, but even so, we know there are bad actors.

Some states are also preparing to reshuffle their offices or create new ones to centralize their cybersecurity efforts. Arkansas, for example, enacted legislation this month to create a new state cybersecurity office, which will monitor the states computer networks and respond to cyberthreats.

In Alabama, rather than having information technology people scattered throughout the government, Republican state Rep. Mike Shaw wants cybersecurity personnel centrally managed.

Shaws legislation, which passed the House and is currently in the Senate, would give the Alabama Office of Information Technology central authority to maintain the needs of all of the states departments.

The centralization would make it easier to pursue cybersecurity initiatives in the future, Shaw said.

The federal government is really big, and its really hard to come up with a one-size-fits-all solution for things like cybersecurity, data privacy and technology in general, Shaw said. So, in some sense, its good that the states are coming up with their own.

Stateline reporter Madyson Fitzgerald can be reached at mfitzgerald@stateline.org.

Stateline is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Stateline maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Scott S. Greenberger for questions: info@stateline.org.
US President Donald Trump and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer have had a telephone conversation during which they discussed, among other things, a settlement of the war waged by Russia against Ukraine.

Source: European Pravda; a statement by the White House

Details: The White House reports that Trump and Starmer discussed bilateral trade, negotiations on a settlement of the war in Ukraine, and regional security in the Middle East.

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President Trump said he "looks forward to his upcoming State Visit" with the UK's King Charles III later this year.

Background: Keir Starmer said that Russian leader Vladimir Putin must agree to a full and immediate ceasefire without any conditions after the Russian missile attack on civilians in Sumy.

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Editors Note: Washington Week With The Atlantic is a partnership between NewsHour Productions, WETA, and The Atlantic airing every Friday on PBS stations nationwide. Check your local listings, watch full episodes here, or listen to the weekly podcast here.



As Donald Trump nears the end of his first 100 days in office, his administration continues to take aim at many American institutions. Panelists joined Washington Week With The Atlantic last night to discuss the administrations stance on the courts, universities, government agencies, and more.

Meanwhile, this week Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska told voters that we are all afraid, adding that shes anxious about using her voice, because retaliation is real.

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It is so pervasive, what she is talking about, Mark Leibovich said last night. Shes not talking about political intimidation like Elon Musk throwing a bunch of money at an opponent or someone being primaried. He continued, Shes talking about physical fear.

Murkowskis sentiments are also not isolated, Leibovich added. Its been a real hallmark of this era, he said. Governing is supposed to take place by politics, by persuasion, by debate. Authoritarianism is by intimidation, by threat, by violence in some cases.

Joining the editor in chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, to discuss this and more: Peter Baker, the chief White House correspondent for The New York Times; Laura Barron-Lopez, a White House Correspondent for PBS News Hour; Eugene Daniels, a senior Washington correspondent and incoming co-host of The Weekend at MSNBC; and Mark Leibovich, a staff writer at The Atlantic.

Watch the full episode here.

Article originally published at The Atlantic
Donald Trump launched an angry attack on Democrats and the media for focusing their energy on a deported dad he branded a dangerous gang member.

Trump doubled down on White House allegations that Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported to El Salvador, was a really scary criminal. And he slammed the media for treating Abrego Garcia like an angel.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was erroneously deported to El Salvador. / Abrego Garcia Family/via REUTERS

Despite being castigated by a judge for ignoring orders to facilitate Abrego Garcias return, the president read out new details about claims the stranded father had been accused of domestic abuse and had gang affiliations.

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The president stopped a press briefing following Dr. Mehmet Ozs swearing in as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator on Friday to ask Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt to get a letter from his desk he claimed to be certified from the State Department.

Garcia is an illegal alien, an MS-13 gang member and foreign terrorist, said Trump, reading from the note, insisting it was based on very legitimate sources. I assume, he added.

In 2019 Garcia was issued a deportation order, Trump said, without explaining that it had been shelved.

WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 18: White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt (R) hands U.S. President Donald Trump a document as he speaks during a swearing in ceremony for Dr. Mehmet Oz as Medicare and Medicaid Services Administrator in the Oval Office at the White House on April 18, 2025 in Washington, DC. Oz spoke of a desire to provide America access to great care while reducing chronic disease and modernizing Medicare and Medicaid. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images) / Andrew Harnik / Getty Images

Two separate judges affirmed Garcia was a member of MS-13, Trump claimed. They kill people with knives because its more painful. Very famous for the knifing and killing of two young 16 year old girls walking to school one day, and they slice them up into little pieces and kill them.

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Two separate judges affirmedaffirmedGarcia was a member of MS-13, he continued. When Garcia was originally arrested, he was wearing a sweatshirt with rolls of money pouring out and a MS-13 gang symbol, and he was driving with two other known violent MS-13 gang members, two of the most violent members that we know of in the MS-13 gang of thugs.

Following these remarks by Trump, CNN immigration correspondent Priscilla Alvarez provided a real-time fact-check, explaining that while ICE argued that Abrego Garcia had ties to MS-13 in two separate immigration hearings, the two judges Trump cited did not conclusively find that he was part of MS-13.

Trump went on to claim that Abrego Garcias wife filed for a protective order from him and said he was violent and abusive and really scary, including allegations that he punched and scratched her on the eye, left her bleeding after throwing her laptop on the floor at her, ripped her shirt and ripped off her shorts. He then grabbed her arm, leaving very severe marks.

The president read out testimony the wife allegedly gave in court, saying, At this point, Im afraid to be close to him. I just dont want to be close. I have multiple photos and videos of how violent he can be and all of the bruises that hes left on me.

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This is the man that the Democrats are wanting us to fly back from El Salvador to be a happily ensconced member of the USA family. Isnt it a shame? the president said, referring to Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen, who flew out to visit Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.

Abrego Garcias wife Jennifer Vasquez Sura issued a statement after the restraining order was first reported this week, saying, After surviving domestic violence in a previous relationship, I acted out of caution following a disagreement with Kilmar by seeking a civil protective order, in case things escalated. Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through the situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling.

Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect, she added. But that is not a justification for ICEs action of abducting him and deporting him to a country where he was supposed to be protected from removal. Kilmar has always been a loving partner and father, and I will continue to stand by him and demand justice for him.

Justice department officials have admitted Abrego Garcia was deported by mistake and a judge ruled the authorities should facilitate his return. But the White House has dismissed the court demands and insisted he is a dangerous gangster who would be deported again if he tried to enter the United States.

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Trump complained, Ive been hit pretty hard by fake shows, fake news, MSNBC in particular, where they talk about how evil I am that this man would be thrown out of our country.

Who they dont talk about is that wonderful Angel mom who lost her daughter, who had five beautiful children, and she was killed, violently, killed violently, he continued, referring to Patty Morin, who spoke at the White House on Wednesday about the brutal murder of her daughter, Rachel, in 2023.

The 24-year-old killer, an undocumented immigrant, was found guilty on Monday of the vicious rape and murder. Although the killing happened in Maryland, it has nothing to do with Abrego s situation.

She spoke unbelievably, Trump said. And the fake news didnt pick it up. She spoke. She was in tears. Shes devastated. Her life is, you know, essentially, shes told me her life is like over.

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But it was like, I think, no stories, he said. Zero stories. Was the most emotional thing. Everybody that watched it, they couldnt believe it. The fake news refused to put it up. So its very sad. And yet they talk about this guy, like hes an angel.

See the angel up there? he added, pointing across the room. They think hes like that.
President Donald Trump says he expects a deal over skyrocketing tariffs with Beijing over the next three or four weeks.

But thats looking increasingly unlikely.

Hes insisting on one-on-one talks with Chinas leader, Xi Jinping  and this has stifled other diplomatic efforts to halt the worsening trade war between the two global powers.

The president wont authorize White House delegates to engage with Chinese officials in Beijing about a detente, according to two former senior State Department officials and an industry official, who were granted anonymity to discuss sensitive ongoing discussions. The Senate has yet to confirm an ambassador to China; Trump has not appointed anyone else to lead talks with Beijing; and the White House isnt reaching out to the Chinese embassy to begin discussions.

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The absence of any substantial outreach has frozen meaningful communications between the two countries and threatened the likelihood of a near-term solution.

The backchannels dont work because President Trump doesnt want them to, said Ryan Hass, former director for China, Taiwan and Mongolia at the National Security Council during the Obama administration. Trump wants to deal directly with President Xi in the same way he has with President Putin. I dont think hes particularly interested in outsourcing the transmission of his views to others.

Trump has repeatedly stated his interest in talking to or meeting with Xi to ease trade tensions. But the Chinese leader has appeared to resist those overtures. Instead, Xi focused this week on rallying Southeast Asian countries to strengthen their relationship with China in opposition to U.S. tariffs. This apparent deadlock irks the White House.

President Trump has made it clear the ball is in Chinas court, said White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.

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But a conversation between leaders isnt the only way to reach a deal. Informal White House envoys trusted by both Washington and Beijing could set the groundwork. Their unofficial status would grant the officials a degree of flexibility and candor in negotiations with Chinese authorities that might help speed up trade talks when higher-level officials do meet.

And theres no shortage of candidates who could play that role with Beijing.

There are many backchannels, including from our business community and former U.S. and Chinese officials, said Wendy Cutler, a former senior U.S. trade negotiator.

The White House said its officials are in close contact with authorities in Beijing but didnt say whether backchannel diplomacy is part of its strategy.

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If the theory is that the White House is stifling discussions, it's just inaccurate, said national security council spokesperson Brian Hughes. There are various contacts at staff and senior staff level that continue, and we, as the president has said, welcome discussions with Chinese authorities, he added.



Beijing is likely leery of giving in to Trumps demands for a conversation with Xi because the Chinese leader could lose the upper hand  particularly if Trump turns the meeting into a public spectacle.

The Chinese bureaucracy will never allow their president to be put in the position where he is surprised or humiliated, said Hass. After the incident with [Ukrainian President Volodymyr] Zelenskyy , theyre highly alert to the risk that Xi could be humiliated, undercut or be part of a deal that falls apart on the world stage.

The Chinese government instead wants an administration point person who can begin talks on ending the tariff war, Bloomberg reported Wednesday . That same day, Beijing appointed Li Chenggang, a former assistant commerce minister, as Chinas new international trade representative.

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The appointment may signal Beijing is waiting for Trump to deploy his own envoy. The lack of a credible official channel is the major reason why the phone call Trump is seeking [with Xi] has not happened, said Daniel Russel, former assistant secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs.

John Thornton, a former Goldman Sachs president and the current executive chair of mining company Barrick Gold Corp, has volunteered to engage with Beijing, said a person familiar with the offer.

Thornton has a track record of access to senior Chinese officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi. But the White House has shown no signs of interest, the person said. Thornton declined to comment.

Stephen Orlins, president of the Beijing-friendly nonprofit National Committee on U.S.-China Relations and member of a U.S. business delegation that met with Xi last month, is on standby if the White House reaches out. I would be happy to help, he said.

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Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.) met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing last month, but its unclear if he did so at Trumps request. That meeting  which occurred prior to Trumps rollout of his expansive Liberation Day tariffs  focused on Chinas role in the U.S. opioid overdose epidemic rather than trade frictions. Daines did not respond to a request for comment.

The White House ignored outreach in February by Chinas former ambassador to the U.S., Cui Tiankai, who was part of an unofficial Chinese delegation seeking inroads with the Trump administration.

Cui tried to find an interlocutor but there were none willing to engage in either New York or D.C., said the person familiar with Thorntons outreach.

Trump is also restricting access to lawmakers who want to talk about the trade war with Beijing. Numerous China hawks on Capitol Hill have unsuccessfully requested meetings with Trump, said two congressional staffers familiar with those conversations.

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Any successful talks would require Chinese leaders confidence that their U.S. counterparts are speaking on behalf of the administration. Efforts by several American business executives to engage with Chinese officials in recent months have met with skepticism in Beijing, said the industry official.

I was in Beijing recently and the Chinese clearly want a front channel, not a back channel, said Russel. They are understandably skeptical of the various people purporting to speak for or interpret Trump.

But the economic toll of reciprocal tariffs might be the spark needed to reignite the discussion.

It reminds me of dating  things break down and its like Whos going to call who? said Cutler. But this is a process  we need to give it time, she said.

Megan Messerly contributed to this report.
There are virtually no serious discussions in the White House or Congress regarding continued support for Ukraine, despite the expiry of the previous aid package approved during President Joe Biden's administration.

Source: The New York Times

Details: According to Ukraine's supporters in the US Congress, although the current military and financial support for Ukraine  approved during the final months of Joe Biden's presidency  is nearing its end, there are practically no serious discussions in the White House or on Capitol Hill about a new aid package.

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Quote: "European officials say they have not even received assurances that the United States will continue its extensive intelligence sharing for Ukraine, which has been key to its ability to target Russian troops and infrastructure."

Details: The New York Times also noted that these days, when the White House discusses its relationship with Ukraine, it tends to focus more on what the US is receiving rather than what it intends to offer.

Following events in the Oval Office, the US and Ukraine are reviewing the agreement on American investments and access to Ukrainian mineral resources.

One such example is the agreement on access to Ukraine's strategic natural resources which is currently being actively considered. It has taken almost six weeks to rewrite the document, which was never signed at the time.

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Quote: "The deal Mr. Trump really covets is one with Russia. But getting there requires getting past Ukraine  either by declaring a cease-fire, or just setting the problem aside."

Background:

The United States presented its own proposals to its European allies for a "peace deal" between Russia and Ukraine, which, in particular, envisage easing sanctions against Russia should a lasting ceasefire take place.

On 18 April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that Trump would abandon efforts to reach a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine if there were no clear signs that it could be achieved.

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LANSING, Mich. (WLNS)  Eight households remain at Kristana Mobile Village in Dewitt Township, a mobile home park residents told 6 News was shutting down on short notice at the beginning of the month. Four of them say they arent leavingand that they believe the owner of the park has turned off the lift pump connected to the sewer.

The water was shut off at the park on April 2. Residents told 6 News they were given two notices. The first came on March 28, telling residents the park would close April 1 due to declining occupancy rates and the inability to maintain community infrastructure.

Were not backing down Kristana Mobile Village residents say they arent leaving

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The second gave them two optionsto take $1,500 and move out within 25 days, or take $2,000 and leave in 10 days.

A resident who spoke to 6 News on the condition of anonymity says he plans to move out.

(WLNS)

Weve lived here for twelve years. Completely renovated it, everythings brand new in it. Now, we gotta leave it because hes closing the park down, the resident says.

Jason Eldridge, a resident of the park, says the owner refuses to turn the water back on.

Water shut off at Kristana Mobile Home Park

Hes trying to push us out, says Eldridge. Now, the lift pump for our septic system has been disabled.

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The resident who wishes to remain anonymous says he began planning to move out once the water was shut off.

We cant live like that, you know? he says. Weve gotta pour water down the toilets just to be able to use them. We have to buy water just to drink, you know? Have to go to peoples houses, friends and familys houses to take a shower.

(WLNS)

The resident says he was given a letter to leave his home by May 15.

However, Khadja Erickson with the Mid-Michigan Tenant Resource Center, who has been assisting the residents, says what the owner is doing is questionable.

The sewer lift has been shut off to the park. So, not only do the residents here not have access to running water, they no longer have access to running sewer, says Erickson. You cannot create unhabitable conditions in order to force someone out.

(WLNS)

Eldridge tells 6 News the park previously gave residents the option to stay in a hotel that is fully covered and available through May 4, but says when a neighbor took that option, he could only stay for 15 days.

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And he said the hotel room was disgusting, says Eldridge. The floors were filthy. The bed had holes in it, and the room was just trashed.

Over the past few weeks, 6 News has called and emailed the owner of Kristana Estates and reached out to a contact listed in one of the letters sent to residents.

We have yet to hear back from them. 6 News will keep you updated with the latest on this story.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WLNS 6 News.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH)  An Ohio woman could serve nearly a decade in prison after pleading guilty to theft and identify fraud felonies in a Medicaid scam.

According to the Ohio Attorneys Generals Office, a Montgomery County woman previously banned from working as a Medicaid provider was sentenced for defrauding the program once again.

On March 17, Janay Corbitt, 36, of Dayton, pleaded guilty to second-degree theft and third-degree felony counts of identity theft. Corbitt was indicted in May after an investigation revealed that she stole multiple identities to open and operate two sham behavioral health-counseling agencies in the Dayton area.

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The Attorney Generals Office said that Corbitt stole the IDs of several licensed counselors, using their credentials to bill Medicaid for service that were never reported.

Corbitt, who was previously convicted of theft in 2019 and barred from the Medicaid program, was arrested in August at a bus stop in Dallas after she fled Ohio and had not been seen in months.

A Franklin County Common Pleas Court judge sentenced her to serve 6-9 years in prison and ordered her to pay $1.5 million in restitution.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to NBC4 WCMH-TV.
HARTFORD, Conn. (WTNH)  Two men were arrested Friday night after a vehicle stolen from New York was located in Hartford with four firearms inside, said police.

Hartford police officers with the street crimes unit observed the stolen New York vehicle in the area of Airport Road and Locust Street at 10:48 p.m.

Warren Morgan, 41 of Brooklyn, NY.

Andre Samuels, 31, of Ocala, FL.

Officers stopped the vehicle and took the driver, Warren Morgan, 41, of Brooklyn, NY, and passenger, Andre Samuels, 31, of Ocala, FL, into custody.

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Investigation into the stolen vehicle found a .223 caliber assault rifle, a Glock pistol converted into a fully automatic firing weapon with an obliterated serial number, a Glock pistol stolen out of Southington, and a revolver. Two high-capacity magazines were also found.

Morgans charges include:

Theft of a motor vehicle.

Larceny in the 2nd degree.

Possession of a pistol without a permit.

Weapons in a motor vehicle.

Possession of an assault weapon.

Theft of a firearm.

Obliterated serial number.

Possession of a high-capacity magazine.

Samuels charges include:

Possession of a pistol without a permit

Weapons in a motor vehicle.

Possession of an assault weapon.

Theft of a firearm.

Obliterated serial number.

Possession of a high-capacity magazine.

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Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTNH.com.
Two men have been killed by gunshots in the German town of Bad Nauheim north of Frankfurt in Hesse state, police said Saturday.

The perpetrator is on the run, according to a police spokesperson.

"As things stand, there is no danger to residents or the public," the police spokesperson added.

An intensive search for the perpetrator is currently under way. "At the moment, we are assuming there is one perpetrator," he said. No further details were initially available.

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There were no concrete leads on the possible perpetrator late Saturday.

The police were out in force and cordoned off a large area around the suspected crime scene in front of a three-storey building.

The area is a residential estate with several apartment buildings near a swimming pool.

The background to the incident was initially unclear.

When the first patrols arrived at the scene, officers found two bodies, the police spokesperson said. "Both dead have gunshot wounds," he added.

The police did not initially provide any information on the age of the two victims "for tactical reasons."

It also remained unclear whether the perpetrator and victims knew each other.
Two people collectively face more than 70 counts of animal cruelty after authorities found about three dozen animals living in deplorable conditions in a home in Sterling where multiple dead animals were also found.

Nicole Desnoyers, 22, was arrested Wednesday when troopers responded to a residence in Sterling around 5:18 p.m. and found that she had a warrant out for her arrest, according to Connecticut State Police. About two hours later, 56-year-old Kelly Desnoyers turned herself in, state police said.

Kelly Desnoyers faces 35 counts of cruelty to animals. Nicole Desnoyers has been charged with 40 counts of cruelty to animals.

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According to the arrest warrant affidavit, the investigation was conducted by the Northeastern Connecticut Council of Governments Animal Control (NECCOG) and began on Feb. 13 when an animal control officer received a complaint about a possible animal hoarding situation at a 1,556 square-foot home where there were reportedly more than 20 animals. Authorities went to the home later in the day and claimed that they could smell urine and ammonia at the front walkway, the warrant affidavit said.

Garbage and what appeared to be dog feces could be seen on the front steps, the warrant affidavit said. Several dogs could be allegedly heard whimpering in the home. Authorities did not make contact with anyone inside.

The next day, animal control officers returned to the home and knocked on the door, but no one answered, authorities said. Five days later, officers returned once again and could not make contact with anyone inside.

Later in the day, animal control received a call from Kelly Desnoyers who allegedly began belligerently screaming that animal control officers were harassing her and that she had video footage of them trespassing on her property, the warrant affidavit said. She reportedly did not let the other person on the line speak and said officers could not come on her property for a check of the animals, according to the warrant affidavit.

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Authorities said they later learned that there were no licensed dogs at the home and they obtained a search warrant for the home on March 4. The warrant was carried out the next day when several animal control officers and troopers seized six kittens, two guinea pigs, five rats, a goat, a pony, 14 dogs, a bearded dragon, a chicken, one rooster, two potbellied pigs, three cats and a squirrel, the warrant affidavit said. According to authorities, two dead guinea pigs were also found.

Inside the home, which was described as not livable, authorities allegedly found feces and debris all over, the warrant affidavit said. There was also allegedly no visible food or water available to the animals, authorities wrote.

According to the warrant affidavit, the dogs were allegedly kept in crates stacked with three to four on top of one another. They reportedly suffered from urine scalding and skin irritation from being in their own waste, the warrant affidavit said. One of the dogs, a German shepherd mixed breed, reportedly had a large open lesion on his back right leg which made it difficult to walk.

Authorities reported finding dead guinea pigs and cats in an uncovered litter box in the freezer, the warrant affidavit said. Flies were all over the home, and the debris on the ground made it hard to walk.

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According to the warrant affidavit, the urine smell was allegedly so bad that it burned the noses and throats of the officers.

During the investigation, officials learned that Nicole Desnoyers also lived at the home, the warrant affidavit said. Some of the animals belonged to Nicole Desnoyers, while others belonged to Kelly Desnoyers, officials said. Authorities said it was difficult to determine the ownership of the animals because they did not have proper veterinarian records. Nicole Desnoyers made a claim to several of the dogs.

All of the animals were removed from the home by authorities.

According to the warrant affidavit, the goat appeared to have arthritis in both of her front knees and had flaky and scaly skin. Her hooves were reportedly overgrown.

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The mini pony reportedly had teeth protruding at its cheeks and appeared to have a hard time eating hay, the warrant affidavit said.

The dogs that were seized were all found to have fleas and skin irritation, according to the warrant affidavit. The kittens were found to be infested with fleas.

State police said Nicole Desnoyers and Kelly Desnoyers were each released on a $20,000 bond and are expected to appear in Danielson Superior Court on April 30.
Two out-of-state men have been arrested in Hartford after police allegedly found stolen firearms and high-capacity magazines inside a stolen vehicle, police said.

Warren Morgan, 42, of Brooklyn, New York has been charged with theft of a motor vehicle, second-degree larceny, possession of a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of an assault weapon, theft of a firearm, obliterated serial number and possession of a high-capacity magazine, according to the Hartford Police Department.

Andre Samuels, 32, of Ocala, Florida has been charged with possession of a pistol without a permit, weapons in a motor vehicle, possession of an assault weapon, theft of a firearm, obliterated serial number and possession of a high-capacity magazine.

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Officers assigned to a nighttime street crimes unit observed a stolen vehicle out of New York City in the area of Airport Road and Locust Street around 10:48 p.m. on Friday. Officers were able to stop the vehicle and take the two men into custody, police said.

According to police, Morgan was behind the wheel and Samuels was in the passenger seat.

As police searched the stolen vehicle, they allegedly found four firearms, including a .223 caliber assault rifle and a Glock pistol that had its serial number obliterated and been converted into a fully automatic firing weapon. Police also allegedly found an additional Glock pistol stolen out of Southington, a revolver and two high-capacity magazines, according to police.

The investigation remains ongoing, police said.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com.
DUNCAN, S.C. (WSPA)  The Duncan Police Department is searching for two women in connection with a homicide investigation.

UPDATE: Persons of interest in Duncan homicide arrested

The Duncan Police Department said on Saturday it is searching for Payton Deal and Latesha Fields. Both are persons of interest in a homicide investigation from earlier this month.

The victim was identified by the Spartanburg Coroner as 38-year-old Alexander Casull of Duncan. On April 17, Duncan police officers were called out to a motel on Frontage Road regarding a dead person in one of the rooms.

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An autopsy was performed on Friday, April 18, and Casulls death was listed by the coroner as a homicide. The cause of death still remains unknown.

If you have any information on their whereabouts, call Duncan police at 864-949-6600.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  The U.S. Department of Justice appointed a new U.S. Attorney for New Mexico. Ryan Ellison was sworn in on Friday as the top federal prosecutor in the New Mexico district.

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Ellison is an Alamogordo native who graduated from the University of Arizona, then went on to receive his Juris Doctor and MBA at Texas Tech. He has prior experience as an Assistant U.S. Attorney, including cases against the Syndicato de Nuevo Mexico prison gang.

Ellison is replacing Alexander Uballez, who was asked to resign in the early days of the Trump administration.

I am grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of New Mexico in this role, said Ellison in a news release. For however long I serve as United States Attorney, my primary objective will be to keep New Mexicans safe through the vigorous enforcement of Federal law. Under my leadership, the United States Attorneys Office will do its part to stem the unlawful flow of people and drugs into our country. We will also not lose sight of our responsibility to combat violent crime, gang activity, child predators, and to zealously advocate on behalf of the United States civil interests. 

Ellison says he will work with law enforcement to make New Mexico a safer place.

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April 19 (UPI) -- Delegations from the United States and Iran on Saturday resumed "indirect" negotiations on a nuclear deal in Rome, with another round of talks set for next Saturday, after experts hash out technical matters this Wednesday.

Oman once again served as a mediator between the U.S. team led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iran headed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Seven days ago in Oman, the U.S. and Iranian teams met in separate rooms in Muscat, the capital of Oman, swapping views through a mediator, Oman's Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr Albusaidi, in four exchanges. It wasn't said whether the two sides Saturday spoke directly on Saturday, as they briefly did last week.

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"Today, in Rome, over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions," a senior administration official told CNN.

The sides "have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy," a spokesman for Albusaidi said.

The statement added "it is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally."

Araghchi told reporters after the round of discussions that he "can tell that the negotiations are moving forward," Iran's state run media agency reported.

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"We were able to reach better understanding about a series of fundamentals and objectives. Obviously, as far as we are concerned, nothing other than building trust toward Iran's peaceful nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions will be the subject of the negotiations," Araghchi said. "The Americans have been adhering [to that framework] so far."

He added that it's important for the "experts" to work through details for a framework to an agreement leading up to the next round of negotiations next Saturday in Oman.

It was the first high-level talks between the two nations since, during his first term, Trump pulled out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action negotiated during former President Barack Obama's presidency.

The agreement was reached in 2015 between Iran, the United States and other world powers for Iran to limit its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions. Iran resumed its nuclear activities after the deal was scrapped.

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President Donald Trump has given Tehran two months to reach a new agreement and threatened to drop bombs if it does not happen.

Trump "waved off" an Israeli plan to strike Iranian nuclear sites as early as next month, The New York Times reported Wednesday. "I wouldn't say waved off. I'm not in a rush to do it," Trump told reporters Thursday.

"I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death ... That's my first option. If there's a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran," Trump said.

Witkoff had suggested in an interview with Fox News that Iran should be allowed to enrich uranium for non-military purposes.

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"Any final arrangement must set a framework for peace, stability, and prosperity in the Middle East -- meaning that Iran must stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment and weaponization program," he also posted Tuesday on X.

Araghch noted "contradictory statements" and stressed "real positions will be made clear at the negotiating table."

"We are ready to build trust regarding possible concerns over Iran's enrichment, but the principle of enrichment is not negotiable," he said.
April 19 (UPI) -- The U.S. Supreme Court early Saturday paused the deportations of any Venezuelans held in northern Texas under the 1798 Alien Enemies Act.

The court, on a 7-2 split, with Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissenting, issued a two-paragraph order early Saturday halting the deportations.

"Upon action by the Fifth Circuit, the Solicitor General is invited to file a response to the application before this Court as soon as possible. The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court," the justices wrote in the order.

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The Alien Enemies Act is a wartime authority that allows the president to detain or deport natives and citizens of an enemy nation. It was last invoked in World War II when people of Japanese descent were imprisoned without trial in internment camps.

This is the second time the Supreme Court has acted on President Donald Trump's use of the act. Last week, the court allowed Trump to use the authority but migrants being removed needed to receive notice and can have their deportation reviewed by a federal court.

The justices also ruled that migrants could only challenge their deportations in court districts where the facilities they are being detained are located.

On Friday, attorneys for the Venezuelans filed an emergency appeal that the migrants, being held at the Bluebonnet Detention Center in Anson, about 204 miles west of Dallas, were at immediate risk of being deported but were given less than 24 hours to challenge their deportation.

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"I am sympathetic to everything you're saying, I just don't I think I have the power to do anything," District Court Judge James Boasberg told a lawyer for the migrants at an emergency hearing Friday night.

Boasberg, who asked an attorney for the Trump administration when it will resume deportations, said he decided not to rule because of "where the issue stands in the 5th Circuit and the Supreme Court." The Fifth Circuit considers appeals coming out of Texas.

Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign told the court that the Department of Homeland Security "reserves the right to remove migrants Saturday."

Boasberg told ACLU attorney Lee Gelernt, who is representing the migrants, that the notice they received is "very troubling" and likely does not comply with the Supreme Court's ruling.

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Boasberg has ordered contempt proceedings against the Trump administration for allegedly defying his earlier order, although on Friday nigh, an appeals court in the District of Columbia issued an administrative pause on Boasberg's plans.

The Trump administration has said it has the authority to swiftly remove immigrants they accuse of being members of the Tren de Aragua gang the Alien Enemies Act and has defied numerous court orders, including from the Supreme Court, as it moves to deport alleged gang members.

Trump signed an executive order on March 15 designating the Venezuelan gang as a Foreign Terrorist Organization with thousands of members, "many of whom have unlawfully infiltrated the United States and are conducting irregular warfare and undertaking hostile actions against the United States."

Asked about the deportation case, Trump said Friday he was unfamiliar with the particular case but said that "if they're bad people, I would certainly authorize it."

"That's why I was elected. A judge wasn't elected," he later added in comments at the White House.
State Sen. Doug Campbell, R-District 30, and state Rep. Jane Bloomingdale, R-District 58, held a relaxed legislative round table discussion at the Lakeview Room in Clear Lake on Friday afternoon.

The Republican lawmakers took questions from the crowd, hearing concerns about property taxes, chemtrails, public school funding and Education Savings Accounts for private school students. They also were asked about a controversial bill mandating that Iowa students in grades five through eight be shown ultrasound video and computer-generated animations depicting the humanity of the unborn child by showing prenatal human development, starting at fertilization in human growth and development classes.

Kathy Norse, a Mason City resident, opened the meeting with questions about bills that hadn't made it through the legislative funnel, including one addressing chemtrails. Norse wanted to know what the next steps were for people who had seen bills they cared about die in committee.

Campbell said bills often take years to wind their way through the Legislature, and counseled patience.

"You got to take the time to hammer that anvil for a while until it becomes important. ... Something that maybe doesn't catch as much attention gets set back," Campbell said.

Randy Bohman, a former educator and current city council member from Thornton, wanted to talk about property tax relief.

"I am looking for real, real, real, property tax relief," Bohman said. "They'll raise your assessed value but lower the tax rate, and that doesn't work. We're going to be paying more. ... It's ridiculous. It's getting to where people can't afford anything."

Bloomingdale, who sits on the Ways and Means Committee in the House, has been working on tax reform.

"What would you suggest? What would we eliminate? How are we going to do this?" Bloomingdale asked. "I want property taxes down too."

Bloomingdale said the committee was looking at various ways to reduce property taxes, saying if rollbacks areeliminated then the state would mandate levies decrease as well. She mentioned user fees, saying a $10 increase to fees around driver's licenses and vehicle title and registration passed in 2024.

"These aren't huge things, but there was $26 million in property tax relief for the whole state with simply a $10 increase. We can do things like that -- small things -- but for every one of them, if you do 10 of them, soon you've saved a couple hundred million," Bloomingdale said.

Campbell said he felt taxation should be customized community to community, and blanket tax policy isn't sensitive to the needs of rural communities.

Former legislator Sharon Steckman said decreasing state funding for public schools transfers the burden onto residents in the form of increased property taxes. "If the state would support public schools more, that would help property taxes," Steckman said.

Ben Lorence, a Mason City resident and history education major at Luther College, brought up teacher shortages and school funding after Steckman's comment.

"Getting a job here and then being able to afford to live in the state with the property taxes seems pretty unlikely if we keep giving only 2% to schools," Lorence said, referring to the state's decision to increase per-pupil funding for districts by only 2%.

Bloomingdale responded that state funding to help schools increase teacher pay was separate from the 2% increase to per-pupil funding, and the House did originally ask for a bigger increase in per-pupil funding.

"Our numbers were quite a bit higher than (the governor's), and we compromised," Bloomingdale said.

There were then a slew of questions about Educational Savings Accounts, or ESAs, especially since private schools are not required to take all students and can decline any student for any reason. Both Campbell and Bloomingdale told the audience they did not support ESAs for private school students -- Bloomingdale voted against ESAs during the last legislative session.

Campbell, who was not yet elected at the time of the bill's passage, said he had no problem with families utilizing private schools, but felt they shouldn't receive taxpayer dollars.

"I wouldn't give a penny to a private school or anything like that. ... If that kid goes to a private school, homeschool, whatever, you cut them loose," Campbell said.

Steckman also spoke at length against Senate File 175, which would mandate grade schoolers watch a realistic rendering of human fetal development. It includes an amendment forbidding public school instructors from using "any book, article, outline, handout, video, or other educational material produced or provided by an entity that does any of the following: performs abortions, promotes abortions, contracts or subcontracts with an entity that performs or promotes abortions, or becomes or continues to be an affiliate of any entity that performs or promotes abortions."

That would include materials from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, which considers abortion an essential component of comprehensive health care.

Bloomingdale said she believes the video on fetal development is medically accurate, and she relies on the medical community to make that determination. She was curious why there might be opposition to education about fetal development.

"Why don't people want fetal development taught?" Bloomingdale said.

An audience member responded that the video should be part of comprehensive, age-appropriate sex education.

"What is the point of teaching children about fetal development if those children don't first understand how that fetal development begins?" she asked.

The meeting ended with a discussion about Iowa's cancer rates. Campbell advocated for reducing regulations around research to make it less cost prohibitive, citing his experience in the pharmaceutical industry.

Bloomingdale was cheerful after the meeting, thanking everyone for attending. "Hopefully we got some questions answered for some people," she said.
WASHINGTON (DC News Now)  The United States Supreme Court has temporarily blocked the use of the Alien Enemies Act for a group of migrants detained in the Northern District of Texas.

Abrego Garcia told visiting US senator he was no longer being held at notorious Salvadoran prison

This halt comes pending a decision in an appeal case. The American Civil Liberties Unions (ACLU) emergency appeal was filed in anticipation of more deportation flights. The application was submitted to 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, a U.S. District Judge James Boasberg and the Supreme Court.

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The emergency order blocking deportation only extends to the detainees in the Northern District of Texas, according to The Hill. Venezuela men in immigration custody claim they are at risk of imminent removal. The filing requests an immediate stay to allow individuals to challenge their removal under the Alien Enemies Act.

The 18th century law allows the swift removal or deportation of migrants from foreign countries during a war or invasion from other nations.

The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the order from the Supreme Court states.

Justice Thomas and Justice Alito dissent from the Courts order.

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This comes after an El Salvador citizen living in Maryland, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, was among those deported during a mass deportation back in March by the government despite being under a protective status, due to gang persecution in his country. The administration has previously admitted it was an administrative error, but has been adamant that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang. No evidence has been tried in court to prove the allegations.

Based on the administrations argument that the U.S. has no authority to return deportees once they are sent to El Salvador, anyone deported is unlikely to be able to challenge the legality of their removal after they are sent to away.

Significantly, the relief sought here does not seek to prohibit the government from prosecuting any individual who has committed a crime, the petition reads. Nor does it seek release from immigration detention or prohibit the government from removing any individual who may lawfully be removed under the immigration laws. It asks only that this Court preserve the status quo so that proposed class members will not be sent to a notorious prison in El Salvador before the American judicial system can afford them due process.

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Claiming success in the fight against ISIS, the Pentagon on Friday officially announced it is consolidating bases in Syria and drawing down troops from that nation. That confirms our previous reporting that about half of the 2,000 troops in Syria would be moved elsewhere. You can read more about that here.

This consolidation reflects the significant steps we have made toward degrading ISIS appeal and operational capability regionally and globally, said the statement issued by Chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell. This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the U.S. footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand U.S. forces in the coming months.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 121st Infantry Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, conduct a tactical movement in Northeast Syria. Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve continues to advise, assist, and enable partner forces in designated areas of Syria to set conditions for long-term security and the lasting defeat of ISIS. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Jamie Robinson) Sgt. Jamie Robinson

Parnells statement does not specify which of the eight bases the U.S. operates in Syria. However, a U.S. defense official told The War Zone that U.S. forces will be leaving the Mission Support Site Green Village and Mission Support Site Euphrates.

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This will be a gradual process as we slowly pare down the number of bases in Syria said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity to discuss operational details. The New York Times was the first to report that detail. The Times added that a third, much smaller facility, would also be shuttered. The publication reported that the drawdown is already underway.

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment, 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Ohio Army National Guard, supporting Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve, fire an M777 Howitzer during an operational rehearsal exercise at Mission Support Site Conoco, Syria, Dec. 4, 2022. Coalition forces conducted an operational exercise using M777 Howitzer in Syria to validate weapons systems and maintain crew proficiency & readiness. These exercises ensure the Coalitions continued capability to support our partner forces and protect our Coalition forces.(U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Julio Hernandez) Sgt. Julio Hernandez

The U.S. forces in Syria are mostly based in the northeastern part of that country with the stated mission of continuing the fight against ISIS. The Sunni jihadi group had set up a so-called caliphate in much of Syria and Iraq, but was defeated to the point of holding little to no land in 2019 during President Donald Trumps first term. There is also a base in southern Syria, called Al-Tanf, located along the borders of Jordan and Iraq. U.S. forces across Syria have been subjected to attacks by Iranian-backed militias as well as ISIS, prompting frequent kinetic responses.

During the last 10 years, the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIS has made major gains, including those which led to the territorial defeat of ISIS in 2019, Parnell stated. Additionally, U.S. Central Command has launched dozens of air strikes over the last year to further degrade ISIS capabilities and deny them the ability to regain strength.

As this consolidation takes place, consistent with President Trumps commitment to peace through strength, U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria, Parnell continued. We will also work closely with capable and willing Coalition partners to maintain pressure on ISIS and respond to any other terrorist threats that arise.

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Though ISIS has been greatly degraded, the group still represents a threat, one that has been exacerbated by the overthrow last December of dictator Bashar Al-Assad by the former al-Qaeda rebel group known as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

A portrait of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad is pictured with its frame broken, in a Syrian regimes Political Security Branch facility on the outskirts of the central city of Hama, following the capture of the area by anti-government forces, on December 7, 2024. (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR / AFP) (Photo by OMAR HAJ KADOUR/AFP via Getty Images)

Officials from the Kurdish-led, U.S.-backed Syrian Democratic Force (SDF), which were key to defeating ISIS, have sounded the alarm, warning that the [ISIS] threat is greater than ever as the extremist group exploits the security vacuum left from the Syrian regimes collapse, The Guardian reported earlier this year. ISIS activity has surged in northern Syria and sleeper cells, which for years lay low in the Syrian desert, have once again mobilized.

Despite the drastic reduction in Americas footprint in Syria wont affect the Pentagons ability to strike at the group when needed, Parnell insisted.

The threat of terrorism is not confined to the Middle East, and we will be vigilant across every continent to ensure that ISIS has nowhere to hide, he explained. We are committed to ensuring our partners ability to further degrade ISIS and other terrorists within the region.

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The Defense Department (DoD) continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and the ability to make dynamic force posture adjustments based on evolving security situations on the ground, he stated.

U.S. Soldiers assigned to Task Force Wolverine, Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF-OIR), depart base in a Bradley Fighting Vehicle Convoy in Northeast Syria, Dec. 10, 2024. CJTF-OIR continues to advise, assist, and enable partner forces in designated areas of Syria to set conditions for long-term security. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Alexander Johnson) Sgt. Alexander Johnson

Adding to regional security concerns, there are tens of thousands of foreign ISIS fighters being held in mostly Kurdish-run prisons in Syrias northeast

An essential line of effort in degrading ISIS strength is reducing the populations of displaced and detained ISIS-linked individuals in camps and detention facilities in northeast Syria, Parnell exclaimed. We call on the international community to repatriate their nationals.

In the next 60 days, U.S. commanders will assess whether to make additional cuts, the Times reported. Commanders have recommended keeping at least 500 U.S. troops in Syria, one of the officials said.

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U.S. President Donald Trump, however, has expressed deep skepticism about keeping any U.S. troops in the country. As we noted previously, he called for a sudden, complete withdrawal during his first term in 2019, however, that was never fully implemented before he left office.

It remains to be seen whether Trump will follow the advice of his commanders or decide to completely pull up stakes from Syria.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com
CONWAY, Ark.  University of Central Arkansas officials released a statement after a shooting on campus left a student injured early Saturday morning.

According to a statement released by UCA President Houston Davis, an argument in the Student Success Center parking lot, near the intersection of Donaghey Avenue and Bruce Street, at 1:08 a.m. led to a student being shot in the leg.

Conway police investigating Saturday morning shooting that injured 1 student

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Davis said the student was transported to a nearby hospital, where they were treated and released with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound to the leg.

Davis said that a suspect has been taken into custody.

There is no indication that this individual is a current or former UCA student, Davis said. At this time, we believe this was an isolated incident.

Davis pointed out that many campuses are on high alert after recent issues nationally.

We know that this incident and other campus shootings nationally in recent days and weeks have given us all a sense of anxiety and concern regarding college campus safety, Davis said in the statement. This is a troubling pattern, and we understand and share in that sentiment.

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We work daily to provide a safe and accessible campus for our students, faculty, staff, and constituents. It takes all of us working together to make this happen, Davis continued. This is an ongoing investigation.

The statement added that anyone with information regarding the case should contact the UCA Police Department at (501) 450-3111.

Shooting rampage at Florida State that left 2 dead lasted less than 5 minutes, police say

Davis ended the statement by reaching out to students who may need mental and emotional support due to the incident.

The UCA Counseling Center is available at (501) 450-3138 if students or anyone in our campus community is in need of their services, Davis concluded.

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The foreign ministries of the United Kingdom and Italy urged Russia to accept an unconditional ceasefire in separate statements on April 19, hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a temporary truce over Easter weekend.

Putin said he ordered a halt on combat operations in Russia's war against Ukraine from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

In response, the U.K. called on Russia to go beyond a "one-day pause" and commit to a full ceasefire in Ukraine.

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"Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same," a U.K. foreign ministry spokesperson said, according to Reuters.

The Ukrainian government on March 11 said it was ready to accept a U.S. proposal for a complete 30-day ceasefire, provided Russia agrees to the same terms. Russia continues to reject the proposal unless Ukraine makes extraordinary concessions  including a halt to all foreign military aid.

"Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion," the U.K. foreign mnistry said in its statement.

The Italian foreign ministry also urged Russia to take more significant steps toward peace.

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"It is not clear how Russia will respect a short truce, while Putin must make up his mind to finally stop this war he started," Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said.

"He must respond positively to President Trump's demands and make a real ceasefire possible. Peace must be just and lasting over time."

Putin's call for an Easter truce arrived shortly after U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration and impatience with the status of the Russia-Ukraine peace talks. Washington will "take a pass" on further mediation efforts if either side "makes it difficult" to proceed with negotiations, Trump said on April 18.

Trump has spent the past several months boasting of his ability to make a deal to swiftly end the war in Ukraine.

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The statements from the U.K. and Italy echoed Ukraine's own response to Putin's announcement. President Volodymyr Zelensky on April 19 invited Russia to extend the full ceasefire beyond Easter Sunday.

"This will show Russia's true intentions, because 30 hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance," he said.

Zelensky also said that reports from Ukraine's front lines indicate that Russia has already violated the Easter ceasefire.

Read also: Ukraine orders troops to cease fire, document Russian violations after Putin declares Easter truce, BBC Russia reports

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Ukrainian forces have advanced in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on April 19, citing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

Ukraine launched a small-scale offensive in Belgorod Oblast in late March, marking Kyiv's second cross-border operation in Russian territory after the August 2024 Kursk incursion.

Zelensky said on April 19 that Syrskyi briefed him on the activity of Ukrainian troops in Russia.

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"Our forces continued their activity in Kursk Oblast today and are maintaining their positions. In Belgorod Oblast, our military advanced and increased our zone of control," Zelensky said.

The report comes nearly two weeks after the president confirmed the presence of Ukrainian forces in Belgorod Oblast. Zelensky on April 7 said that cross-border operations were "absolutely just" and a means of returning Russia's war "to where it came from."

Kyiv has carried out occasional cross-border raids since 2023, with a variety of Russian volunteer soldiers fighting alongside Ukrainian units. These raids were hours-long and served primarily as political operations rather than military ones.

Ukraine launched a major cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024, occupying Russian border territories in an attempt to divert Russian attention from front-line areas of eastern Ukraine.

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While Kyiv managed to occupy parts of Kursk Oblast for seven months, Russia recaptured the logistics hub of Sudzha in March 2025 amid a counteroffensive that forced Ukrainian troops to withdraw from a substantial part of the region.

Russian military bloggers and independent analysts reported on March 29 that Ukrainian forces advanced three to four kilometers into Belgorod Oblast, engaging in battles with Russian troops.

According to geolocated footage analyzed by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), a D.C.-based think tank, Ukrainian troops entered the village of Popovka, which lies near the Ukrainian border and Kursk Oblast.

Read also: Putin announces Easter ceasefire, Zelensky reacts with skepticism

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A total of 277 soldiers were brought back to Ukraine during the prisoner exchange on 19 April.

Source: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War

:   

Ukrainian soldiers brought back on 19 April.

Photo: Zelenskyy on social media

Quote: "Another 277 soldiers were brought back home from Russian captivity.

Soldiers of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service and border guards. They defended Mariupol and other fronts in Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk Oblasts."

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Details: Zelenskyy expressed his gratitude to everyone involved in arranging the exchange, with particular thanks to the United Arab Emirates for mediating.

  , :  

Ukrainian soldiers brought back on 19 April.

Photo: Zelenskyy on social media

The Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War reported that 246 soldiers were returned as part of a prisoner exchange, and another 31 were released outside the exchange.

Coordination Headquarters report that most of the returned soldiers are young men born after 2000. Among them is a female servicewoman who had been held captive since May 2022.

  , :  

Ukrainian soldiers brought back on 19 April.

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Photo: Zelenskyy on social media

The group includes 268 privates and non-commissioned officers, as well as 9 officers.

This marks the fourth exchange of 2025 and the 63rd overall since the beginning of Russias full-scale invasion.

  , :  

Ukrainian soldiers brought back on 19 April.

Photo: Zelenskyy on social media

So far this year, 596 Ukrainians have returned home through exchanges, while an additional 53 defenders were released outside of formal exchanges.

Since March 2022, a total of 4,552 Ukrainians have been freed via negotiation and 529 more have been released outside of exchange processes.

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Editor's Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

Ukraine brought home another 277 soldiers in a major prisoner exchange with Russia ahead of the Easter holiday, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on April 19.

The latest swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

"I thank everyone who made this return of our people possible," Zelensky said. "I am especially grateful to the United Arab Emirates for their mediation."

According to the Coordination Headquarters for the Treatment of Prisoners of War (POWs), 246 Ukrainian service members were released as part of the exchange with Russia. Another 31 were released outside of the exchange.

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Previously, Sky News reported that the Easter swap would involve 246 POWs from each side, as well as 46 injured soldiers.

The soldiers released on April 19 took part in the defense of Mariupol and other parts of Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk oblasts, Zelensky said.

The service members belonged to Ukraine's Armed Forces, National Guard, State Transport Service, and Border Guard Service, but most were from the Marine Corps, especially those taken prisoner in the surrounded city of Mariupol in April 2022.

The returned prisoners include nine officers and 268 privates and sergeants, the Coordination Headquarters reported.

This is the 63rd prisoner swap between Russia and Ukraine since the start of the full-scale war. The most recent POW exchange between Ukraine and Russia took place on March 19, with 175 Ukrainians brought back home.

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Since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, Kyiv has returned 4,552 people from Russia's captivity, including both soldiers and civilians, according to Zelensky.

Ukraine does not reveal the exact figures on how many Ukrainian POWs are held in Russia. According to Ombudsman Dmytro Lubinets, Russia holds over 16,000 Ukrainian civilians in detention.

Ukraine floated the idea of an all-for-all prisoner exchange back in 2024, but Russia has not agreed to the proposal.

Read also: Putin announces Easter ceasefire, Zelensky reacts with scepticism

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Ukrainian troops were ordered to cease firing on Russian positions shortly after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced an "Easter truce" on April 19, a senior Ukrainian military officer told the BBC's Russia service.

Putin earlier said he ordered a temporary ceasefire on Easter weekend, halting all military action from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Minutes after the start of the truce, Ukrainian units received orders to cease fire on Russian positions, a senior military officer reportedly told the BBC.

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The officer said that troops were also ordered to document photo and video evidence of any Russian ceasefire violations and to return fire if necessary.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims at the time of publication.

Following Putin's call for an Easter truce, the Ukrainian government responded with skepticism, citing continued attacks and Moscow's track record on ceasefire agreements.

"As for yet another attempt by Putin to play with people's lives  an air raid alert is sounding across Ukraine right now," President Volodymyr Zelensky said following the announcement.

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Zelensky noted that air defense units were responding to ongoing Russian attacks and that Shahed-type drones had been spotted over Ukrainian territory.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Putin's word was not a guarantee of a truce and called attention to Moscow's persistent refusal to accept a full ceasefire.

"Now Putin has made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days," Sybiha said. "Unfortunately, we have considerable experience when his statements did not coincide with his actions. We know that his words cannot be believed, and we will look at actions, not words."

Ukraine has been willing to commit to the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire on all hostilities since March 11, Sybiha said.

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The suggested Easter ceasefire follows previous Russian attacks on Ukraine during major Orthodox holidays, including a deadly strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday that killed 35 people and an attack on Kharkiv during Good Friday that killed one person and injured 120.

Read also: Republican US Congressman Fitzpatrick visits Ukraines front line, signs a shell for Putin

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If Russia is able to maintain a full ceasefire throughout Easter weekend, Ukraine would like to extend the truce for 30 days, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 19.

Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that he ordered a halt on all combat operations during the Easter holiday. The temporary ceasefire is set to last from 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 until midnight on April 21.

Zelensky said that Kyiv was prepared to abide by a ceasefire if Russia is serious about halting attacks, but will respond in kind if Russia violates the truce.

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"If complete silence really prevails, Ukraine proposes to extend it after the end of Easter on April 20," President Volodymyr Zelensky said the evening of April 19.

"This will show Russia's true intentions, because 30 hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance."

Russia has not suspended all assault operations on the front line, Zelensky said, citing reports from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi. The continued shelling and attacks undermine trust in Moscow's claims of a truce.

"The Ukrainian Defense Forces will act rationally, responding in a mirror manner. There will be an adequate response to every Russian strike," Zelensky said.

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Ukraine remains ready to begin an unconditional ceasefire in line with Washington's previous proposal for a 30-day truce as soon as Russia agrees to the same terms, the president said.

Zelensky initially reacted skeptically to Putin's declaration of an Easter truce, noting that air raids were sounding in Kyiv even as Russia publicly claimed its peaceful intentions. Putin's announcement came shortly after the U.S. signaled that it was ready to cease its mediation efforts in Russia's war against Ukraine if either side "makes it difficult."

A senior Ukrainian military officer reportedly told the BBC's Russia service that Ukrainian units received orders to cease fire against Russian positions minutes after the Easter truce was set to go into effect.

Soldiers were also ordered to document any Russian ceasefire violations and return fire if necessary, the officer said.

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The Kyiv Independent could not confirm these claims.

Moscow's proposed Easter ceasefire comes on the heels of two major Russian attacks on Ukraine during Orthodox holidays. A deadly missile strike on Sumy on Palm Sunday killed 35 people while an attack against Kharkiv on Good Friday killed one person and injured 120.

Read also: Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in swap with Russia

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Ukraines Defence Minister Rustem Umierov has told US officials that Kyiv is 90% behind President Trump's peace initiative presented in Paris by the United States.

Source: a senior US presidential administration official in a comment to The New York Post

Details: The source notes that a full and comprehensive ceasefire decision is expected to be made in London next week.

Quote from the administration representative: "I think part of the concern theyve got (Ukrainian - ed.) is on the land  just what they call de jure and de facto. De facto means we recognise the Russians occupy this land, but we dont say [Ukraine is] going to give it up forever. De jure means we acknowledge that [the Russians] take in this land and well never see it back again."

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More details: The New York Post reports that a senior official said that in order to bring Russia to the negotiating table, Steve Witkoff, Trumps Special Envoy to the Middle East, may offer Moscow a "carrot" in the form of reduced sanctions and possibly the unfreezing of seized assets.

Background: US President Donald Trump has claimed that Russia would submit a response to the US proposal for a "ceasefire" in Ukraine by 20 April.

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The city of Danville wants to open a satellite visitor center at the Caesars Virginia casino resort.

Economic development and tourism officials hope that the casinos visitors will venture beyond the resort and explore other parts of the Southside Virginia region.

We see a unique opportunity to engage with the estimated 2 million visitors expected at Caesars Virginia this year, Corrie Bobe, Danvilles director of economic development and tourism, told the Register & Bee on Thursday.

Danvilles visitor center is located along the Danville Expressway, which means the facility is overlooked or missed by travelers coming to Danville to frequent the casino.

Right now, were not reaching most of this audience, ... meaning were missing a key chance to connect with them and share everything Danville and Pittsylvania County have to offer, Bobe said.

Caesars Virginia would lease the space to Danville as part of the amended development agreement between the company and the city.

We see this as another avenue for further establishing Caesars Virginias commitment to the local community, as well as an opportunity to provide more value for our guests to learn about the other incredible tourism amenities in our region, Caesars Virginia General Manager Chris Albrecht told the Register & Bee. Our hope is that the visitors center will enhance our guests experiences during their stay and increase the likelihood of future visitation.

The lease would be month-to-month at $2,000 per month, Bobe said. It would be covered by the visitor centers operational budget. Cost includes utilities, maintenance, cleaning, parking and trash pick-up.

With the visitor center, the city can encourage casino patrons to explore local businesses, dine in the areas restaurants and experience the regions cultural and recreational amenities, Bobe said.

With this new influx of visitors, its essential that we meet them where they are and inspire them to discover more during their stay, Bobe said.

The Danville Visitor Center is at 645 River Park Drive, just off the exit for Dan Daniel Memorial Park at U.S. 29 North. Based on mobile phone data, the facility had about 57,600 visits  representing about 40,900 individual visitors  in 2024, Bobe said.

This includes some who came inside for information, as well as those who used the centers facilities and grounds, she said. Our travel counselors personally engaged with 18,904 of those visitors, helping them discover where to eat, stay and explore throughout Danville and Pittsylvania County.

The top states represented among visitors were Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida and Georgia, with 64% coming from Virginia and North Carolina.

Weve also seen guests from across North America, including Alaska, California, Texas, New England and parts of Canada, Bobe said. The top five areas of interest among visitors were history, arts and culture, dining, festivals and events and outdoor recreation.

Built in 2002, the visitor center was owned by the state until ownership was transferred to the city of Danville in August 2022.

Visitor centers provide information to travelers about their communities, offering maps, brochures and other items.

In July 2023, the citys first-ever regional tourism master plan was unveiled to the Danville City Council.

The city is focusing more on marketing its existing tourism assets and developing new ones in the hope of convincing visitors to stay in Danville longer.

At the casino, the satellite visitor center would be located in a 600-square-foot retail space. It only needs minimal work before the office could open up, Bobe said.

This includes installing additional electrical and internet lines to support our operations, she said. Beyond that, the city will simply need to bring in furniture, fixtures and equipment to set up the satellite center.

The center would be open seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Years Day. Extended hours would also be possible on weekends and during special events.

One part-time travel counselor would staff the satellite center per shift, with additional workers possibly brought in during special events or peak times, Bobe said. They would offer guidance and recommendations for casino visitors.

The center would also include tourism materials, city and Visit SoSi merchandise and interactive digital kiosks connecting to the Visit SoSi website.

Through these kiosks, visitors can explore local attractions, build custom travel itineraries, send information to their mobile devices or email, view digital brochures, take surveys and more, Bobe said.

In addition, the city is also planning to offer information in up to five languages through the kiosks to ensure a welcoming and accessible experience for all guests, she said.

Caesars has also agreed to provide in-room promotional materials, digital marketing of the region on hotel room televisions and placement in the resorts digital sign rotation, at no additional cost to the city, Bobe said.

The lease agreement between the city and Caesars Virginia will go before the Danville City Council in May.

Once approved, well begin preparations for the satellite center, Bobe said.

Digital kiosks are expected to take about four months to arrive at the center, she said.

Our timeline for opening will largely depend on that delivery, but were aiming to have the center up and running shortly after all equipment is in place, Bobe said.
Ukraine's Defence Ministry has denied a New York Post report that Kyiv is "90% ready" for Donald Trump's peace plan presented this week in Paris.

Source: Ministry of Defence in a comment to Sky News

Details: The New York Post report, citing a senior Trump administration official, said that Ukraine's Defence Minister Rustem Umierov told US officials that Kyiv was 90% behind the plan presented by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in France.

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However, in a statement to Sky News, Ukraine's Defence Ministry said it "does not make political decisions" and therefore could not have made any "assessments of percentage".

Quote from the Defence Ministry: "We have several principled positions: we supported the US proposal for a full ceasefire back on 11 March, while Russia did not support the US ceasefire proposal and continues daily strikes on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure.

Under these conditions, it is unclear how anyone could discuss or measure in percentages the progress of any dialogue.

Our key question is how to ensure the ceasefire proposal can work and be reliably monitored. We remain in constructive dialogue with our American partners and are fully committed to ending this war."

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Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said that Ukraine agreed to the US proposal for a full temporary ceasefire for 30 days on 11 March and wants to see Russian forces really cease fire on all fronts.

Source: Sybiha, quoted by the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry

Quote: "Ukraine's position remains clear and consistent: back in Jeddah on 11 March, we unconditionally agreed to the US proposal for a full temporary ceasefire for 30 days.

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Russia refused, and this Russian refusal to the United States has been going on for 39 days. Instead, during this time, the Moscow regime has imposed various conditions and intensified its terror against Ukraine, civilians and civilian infrastructure across our country.

Now, Putin has made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days. Unfortunately, we have a lot of experience when his statements did not match his actions. We know that his words cannot be trusted, and we will look at actions, not words."

Details: Sybiha stressed that Russia could at any time agree to a proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March.

"We want to see Russian forces truly cease fire on all fronts. We also call on all our partners and the international community to remain vigilant. Only actions demonstrate the truth, not words: it is only because of Russia that this war started and continues," he said.

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Background:

On Saturday, Putin declared an Easter truce, which supposedly means a halt to all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of 19 April until midnight on 21 April.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that Russian forces would adhere to the ceasefire, provided that Kyiv does the same.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called the attack by Russian attack drones after 17:00 on Saturday evidence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's true attitude to Easter and people's lives.

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The former Ukrainian ambassador to Germany, Andrii Melnyk, is urging Germany's incoming chancellor Friedrich Merz to immediately authorize the delivery of Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine.

In an open letter published by the Welt newspaper on Saturday, Melnyk called on Merz to announce a shipment of 150 Taurus missiles in the Bundestag on May 6, the day he is set to be elected chancellor by lawmakers, and to ensure their swift delivery.

Melnyk, who is to become Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in New York, described the delivery as essential to halting Russia's advance and shifting the dynamics of the war.

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The weapons should be delivered, "without ifs and buts," he wrote, adding that consultations with partners or ultimatums to Russian President Vladimir Putin were unnecessary.

The German Air Force has operated the Taurus system since 2005. Each missile costs approximately 1 million ($1.1 million).

Merz, who leads the centre-right Christian Democrats, has said he supports supplying the long-range missiles to Ukraine but maintains that any such move would require coordination with European allies.

But Melnyk went beyond just the missiles, urging Merz's future government to provide 30% of the German Air Forces inventory to Ukraine  including around 45 Eurofighter jets and 30 Tornado aircraft  to maximize the effectiveness of the Taurus system.

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In his letter, Melnyk appealed to Merzs sense of historical responsibility: "Not only does the future of Germany depend on your success as chancellor, but also the fate of Ukraine  and of all of Europe," he wrote.

Merz, he added, has a "historic opportunity to make Germany the most important beacon of the free democratic world."

Centre-left Chancellor Olaf Scholz, now serving in a caretaker role, consistently ruled out sending Taurus missiles, citing fears that it could drag Germany further into the conflict.

The Taurus missile, with a reported range of up to 500 kilometres, could allow Ukraine to strike military targets far behind the front line, including within Russian territory. The US has supplied Ukraine with ATACMS missiles, which have a range up to 300 kilometres, while France and the UK have delivered cruise missiles with ranges of around 250 kilometres.
Himera is a Ukrainian tech startup that makes electronic warfare-resistant walkie-talkies.

It was founded after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Its products are being tested by the US Air Force.

The Ukrainian defense tech industry has boomed in recent years.

From drone and robotics makers to electronic warfare system providers, Ukrainian innovation has been on full display since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of the country in February 2022.

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One company to have sprung up since the conflict began is Himera, which makes electronic warfare-resistant walkie-talkies.

Its products include the G1 Pro  a tactical handheld radio  and the B1 repeater, which extends communication ranges.

Despite only having launched in 2022, the company has quickly caught the attention of the defense tech industry, as well as the US military.

The product's major selling point is that it offers a potential solution to one of the defining challenges of the war in Ukraine  electronic warfare.

The G1 is EW-resistant, using frequency-hopping technology to help evade electronic warfare interference, which seeks to disrupt and jam certain signals like GPS, radio, and video.

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Reticulate Micro, which supplies Himera's radios in the US, announced the first US delivery of G1 Pro radios to the US Air Force in October 2024.

The company said the Air Force would test the G1 Pro alongside Reticulate's Video Assured Secure Transmission (VAST) technology, which delivers real-time video streaming.

In a press release at the time, Joshua Cryer, then the president and CEO of Reticulate Micro, said: "By combining the Himera G1 Pro with VAST, we're aiming to democratize secure video transmission on the battlefieldempowering every warfighter with video-capable radio technology for enhanced situational awareness."

Misha Rudominski, one of Himera's cofounders, told Business Insider that Himera's tech "bridges the gap" between tactical and commercial communications solutions.

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"We take the best from both worlds," he said. "We provide all the tactical relevant functionality like low probability of detection, low probability of interception, and low probability of jamming, which you don't find in commercial spec solutions."

"But we do it in a very user-friendly way," he continued. "We want the lightest radio, we have one of the longest battery lives on the market."

The G1 Pro has a battery life of around 48 hours and weighs just 300 grams. It can support the transmission of multiple information types, such as GPS, voice data, and texts, and is programmable by an encrypted app on a mobile or tablet device.

"We make a very scalable and affordable solution," Rudominski added. "The scalability is a big point because we only use commercial off-the-shelf components."

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Representatives for Himera told Ukrainian news outlet Militarnyi in March that the company was "producing up to 1,000 radios per month" and that it had the capacity to "scale quickly to 2,500 units."

"For large-scale orders, we are prepared to supply 10,000 to 15,000 radios per month," they said.

The Himera G1 Pro. HIMERA

Innovation has been crucial to Kyiv's fight against Russian President Vladimir Putin's forces, and Ukrainian firms have continually adapted to meet the battlefield's ever-evolving demands.

Rudominski told BI that this had also been key to Himera's success.

"Over the last three years, we've done more than 80 versions of firmware updates," he said. "We've done more than probably 20 versions of separate kinds of hardware products. Most of them didn't go into production, but most of them have at some capacity been tested on the battlefield."

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Along with Reticulate, Himera has also partnered with Quantropi, a Canadian quantum security company, to integrate its security solutions into Himera's products.

"We have our own software, but they can enhance our capacity," Rudominski said.

Read the original article on Business Insider
A Missouri resident attending college in Boston has been arrested for allegedly firebombing a Tesla dealership using Molotov cocktails in Kansas City, Missouri while home for spring break, federal authorities said Friday.

Owen McIntire, 19, of Kansas City, Missouri, made an initial court appearance in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts on Friday to face federal charges, the Department of Justice said in a statement.

UMass Boston on Friday confirmed that McIntire is a student there.

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According to the criminal complaint, filed in the Western District of Missouri and unsealed Friday, McIntire is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce.

Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us, Attorney General Pamela Bondi said in a statement. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.

Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison  we will not make deals and we will not negotiate, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said in a statement.

FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement that this is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, adding that the arrest is more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts.

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These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible, Patel said. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.

Federal agents and forensic experts recovered and analyzed key evidenceincluding Molotov cocktailsused in this deliberate and dangerous arson attack, Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Acting Director Dan Driscoll said in a statement.

This wasnt vandalism  it was a violent criminal act, Driscoll said. Thanks to the relentless work of ATF special agents, and our close coordination with the FBI and local law enforcement, we now have a suspect in custody. I am committed to ensuring ATF continues to stand on the front lines of public safety. ATF will not tolerate those who incite political violence in our communities.

According to an affidavit filed in support of the federal criminal complaint, on March 17, at approximately 11:16 p.m., an officer with the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department in the vicinity of the Kansas City Tesla Center saw smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot.

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The officer also saw an unbroken suspected incendiary device near the burning Cybertruck.

Police officers recovered the unbroken incendiary device, also known as a Molotov cocktail, federal officials said. The fire spread from the Cybertruck to a second Cybertruck in the lot. The Kansas City Fire Department responded to the scene to extinguish the fire.

The Cybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485, officials said. Additionally, two charging stations were damaged by the fire, each of which is valued at approximately $550.

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Sean Foley and Trey Alford for the Western District of Missouri and Trial Attorney Patrick Cashman of the National Security Divisions Counterterrorism Section are prosecuting the case.

The FBI Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and the Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department are investigating.
Let me make songs for the people, Songs for the old and the young;

Songs to stir like a battle cry wherever they are sung.

Not for the clashing of sabers, for carnage nor for strife;

But songs to thrill the hearts of men (and women) with more abundant life.

Our world, so worn and weary, needs music, pure and strong,

To hush the jangle and discords of sorrow, pain, and wrong.  Frances Harper.

Let me begin with a disclaimer. The ideas expressed in this column do not represent the political or social views of the Centre Daily Times, Penn State University, the Borough of State College, or Black people in general. These opinions are mine alone.

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First, congratulations to Gary Abdullah Jr. for being selected as this years Lions Paw Medal Recipient. Also, the Penn State AI Hub culminated AI Week with a presentation of 68 poster projects at the Nittany Lion Inn and research awards.

The resistance continues.

Harvard, the oldest university in America, stepped to the front lines of the resistance. The school rejected demands from the Trump administration that they change their policies. Harvard argued that the changes demanded by the government exceed its lawful authority and infringed on both the universitys independence and its constitutional rights. The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights, Harvard President Alan Garber wrote, No government  regardless of which party is in power  should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.

The Trump government responded by freezing more than $2.2 billion in multi-year grants and contracts to the university. They also threaten to revoke the universitys tax-exempt status. Harvard was the first major academic institution to be so attacked. They responded with courage and integrity. Other universities, including Penn State, have taken a wait and see posture. Several of the Big Ten schools are forming a collective alliance to mutually assist each other should any of them be attacked.

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Vice President J.D. Vance and I both attended an Ivy League Law School, not Harvard, after graduating from a state university. Some of our fellow alums went on to become Supreme Court Justices and presidents of the United States. Ultimately, they will be called upon to determine the Constitutional validity of the Trump administration actions and Harvards response.

It is time we all do our part. Following Harvards lead, some of us will dust off our credentials. As an election official I will help to ensure that one person/one vote will be the rule in at least one Centre County precinct in the local primaries. As a former legal services organization president and law professor, I will be volunteering my skills to assist those in danger of being wrongfully deported. As a citizen I will participate in future events that follow the hundreds of Hands Off protests.

Another hero, Maryland Sen. Van Hollen, traveled to El Salvador to check on the status of his constituent Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was unjustly deported and imprisoned after a round up by U.S. immigration authorities. Sen. Van Hollen was able to have a brief visit to reassure Mr. Garcia that he is not alone. None of us are. We walk on paths our ancestors constructed, moving toward the dreams and hopes of our children born and not yet born, nourishing ourselves with love, refreshing ourselves with community, knowing that We Are The People.

Sing a song for freedom, sing it loud, sing it strong.

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Sing it true, dont sing it wrong.

When you sing a song for freedom, dont forget to walk it too

Because when you walk for freedom, I will walk with you.  Charles Dumas

Charles Dumas is a lifetime political activist, a professor emeritus from Penn State, and was the Democratic Partys nominee for U.S. Congress in 2012. He lives with his partner and wife of 50 years in State College.
On my way into the hospital recently, a headline caught my eye. It stated that the Tennessee Senate passed a bill that would end the right to education as we know it.

Threatening to challenge a SCOTUS decision from 1982 that guaranteed education to all children, Senate Bill 836 and its accompanying House Bill 793 would ultimately allow schools to limit educational access to students with an undocumented status.

Locking my phone away and walking in to see my patients, it struck me that under this bill I would not be here today.

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My family and I immigrated to Middle Tennessee when I was only 3 years old.

Drawn to the state for its natural beauty and warm welcoming community, we decided to make Tennessee our home. Though we were new to the state, Murfreesboro embraced us and made this new land feel like home.

It is here where I learned to read and count and work hard.

It is here where I learned to believe that my life meant something.

It is here where I learned about the American Dream.

My teachers never gave up on me or my dreams

Though I was undocumented throughout the entirety of my youth, my teachers never saw a legal status  they saw a boy who was excited to learn.

A group of protesters marched from Public Square Park to the Tennessee State Capitol in support of public education access for all students regardless of immigration status on Monday, April 14, 2025, in Nashville, Tenn.

Although my path after grade school may have been uncertain, they instilled a belief within me that I could forge a way forward.

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Together, from kindergarten to high school, we did just that. With their dedication and my perseverance, a path forward began forming before us. Eventually, I gained my citizenship and am now just weeks away from becoming Dr. Gudino-Rosales, the first physician in my family.

Opinion: Tennessee lawmakers back immigration bill that creates a permanent underclass

However, had HB793/SB836 existed when I was a child, we would not have forged that path. I would not have made it through grade school, and I would not be wearing a white coat today.

Bill would set back student achievement and cost the state

Sponsors of these bills cite various reasons as justification for this legislation including limited financial resources. Despite their claims, there is no evidence that denying undocumented students access to education would save the state any money.

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Instead, as over 20 Tennessee businesses have expressed, barring these students from public schools could cost Tennessee millions in federal funding.

Furthermore, restricting access to education threatens to jeopardize recent gains in student outcomes. These improvements are proof that investing in every child in Tennessee is strategic for the continued excellence of the state. With meaningful support, our students will continue excelling as they become tomorrows workforce of nurses, educators, and, yes, even doctors.

Opinion: Trump's deportations emboldened GOP. But they're going after kids, not criminals

That is why as lawmakers continue debating HB793, I urge them to consider the nascent potential of all students but especially the roughly 10,000 undocumented students in Tennessee.

Leave children out of immigration politics

While there is agreement in that a consensus must be reached regarding immigration, this bill unfairly targets the most vulnerable individuals affected by this issue. Undocumented students did not choose their immigration status and should not be forced to bear the brunt of the consequences.

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It has been famously coined that education is the great equalizer in our country, and it is a phrase that has undoubtedly held true for me. However, that truth exists only because the Tennessee education system believed in me. Because of their faith, I now get to take care of people when they are most vulnerable and give back to communities in ways they did for me.

Therefore, I ask Tennessee lawmakers to reflect on what we stand for as the Volunteer State and urge them to vote no on HB793. I implore them to leave children out of this immigration issue.

Santiago Gudino-Rosales

Do not close the doors of educational opportunity for students; keep them open and preserve Tennessees legacy of strength and hope.

Santiago Gudino-Rosales, a proud graduate of Central Magnet School in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, is a senior medical student at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA.

This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Tennessee undocumented students can achieve great success | Opinion
The homeless man accused of slashing costume designer Megan Berg during an unprovoked Soho street attack tried to kill his younger brother more than two decades ago by setting their Maryland home on fire, documents acquired by the Daily News show.

An unhinged and rambling Muslim Brunson was found agitated and cursing his mother when he was arrested for setting the sofa where his brother slept on fire inside their Baltimore apartment on June 11, 2002. He was also accused of lighting two upstairs bedrooms ablaze, officials said at the time.

He tried to kill me officer! Brunsons younger brother Dawud Brunson told responding police after he escaped the flames during the 1:30 p.m. blaze, according to police reports filed at the time.

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As the fire raged and smoke poured out of the windows, Brunson, then 23, was seen walking down the street shirtless.

When a neighbor approached, encouraging him to call his mother, he screamed F her! documents show.

Brunson was charged with attempted murder and arson and committed to a psychiatric institution.

Twenty-two years later, hes once again in jail  this time after slicing Bergs neck with a jagged broken bottle so deeply during an unprovoked attack in Soho that his victims muscles and veins were left exposed, police said.

Im going to kill a b-! Brunson, now 46, is accused of screaming during the April 7 attack before he slashed Berg, a 25-year-old theater costume designer whod been scouting boutiques to buy clothing and fabrics for an upcoming project.

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Medics rushed Berg to Bellevue Hospital, where she needed life-saving surgery, was treated for extensive blood loss and needed between 30 and 40 stitches to close the gaping wound, Manhattan prosecutors said as they charged Brunson with attempted murder, assault and attempted assault.

A spokeswoman for Berg and her family didnt return a call for comment. When reached, Maes husband Tyler said she was doing OK.

At Brunsons arraignment on April 9, defense attorney Mildred Morillo of NYC Defenders said he was in throes of a mental health crisis during the attack.

Mental illness was also the reason why he set the fire that nearly killed his brother, his mother told Baltimore police in 2002.

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Once the blaze was put out, investigators determined that Brunson used a book of matches to set fire to the bedding inside the two upstairs bedrooms. He then went downstairs and used the matches to set fire to the couch.

When (he) woke up, his brother was lighting the couch on fire near his head, Baltimore police said at the time after interviewing Dawud Brunson. He jumped up and realized there were also fires in the upstairs bedrooms. He retrieved his shoes and a T-shirt and exited the house.

At the time, Dawud thought his older brother got angry since there was no food in the house for him to eat, cops said. He told us that his brother is being treated by a doctor for a mental illness.

Muslim Brunson gave rambling statements and denied setting the fire, claiming that his younger brother must have fallen asleep with a cigarette and lit the bed on fire, documents show.

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He must have dropped a cigarette or something, he said.

When interviewers noted a burn on the middle finger of Brunsons hand, he claimed he burned his hand lighting a cigarette on the stove then gave differing stories of how he got burned, claiming that the burn was from three weeks prior, officers said.

While Brunson was being questioned, his mother showed up telling police she had just received a petition for an emergency psychiatric evaluation for her son. His mother claimed Brunson was seeing things through the TV, had violent behavior towards me and his brother (and was) saying hes going to kill his girlfriend.

He was supposed to be taking medication for his (illness) but he stopped a week ago, the petition read.

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Brunson was also accused of kicking and destroying the front door of his apartment on Dec. 14, 2000, Baltimore police noted. After he was released from the mental institution, Brunson wended his way to New Jersey and North Carolina and finally to New York.

On April 7, Brunson allegedly threw a glass bottle at a 29-year-old woman near the corner of Broome and Wooster Streets. The bottle smashed against the back of the womans head.

He picked up the broken bottle and chased the woman down the block, prosecutors charge. During the chase, he stopped mid-course and zeroed in on Berg instead, who was scouting out boutiques for her boss when she was attacked, authorities say.

Brunson, who was wearing a hoodie emblazoned with the NYPD logo, was captured about six blocks away. He admitted to the attack and identified Berg as the second woman he attacked, prosecutors say.

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He had been arrested in the city five prior times, dating back to 2019 when he robbed a 13-year-old boy of his cellphone at the Liberty Ave. station in Brooklyn. Hes also been repeatedly accused of assault and was accused of slamming an off-duty NYPD civilian employees head into a subway pole aboard a Brooklyn-bound No. 4 train near the Fulton St. station about 11 p.m. July 4, 2022, fracturing the victims cheekbone and an orbital bone. When cops arrested him two days later, he kicked one of the responding officers in the knee, officials said.

The robbery case was initially moved to mental health court. Brunson went on to make 36 appearances in the mental health court to update the judge on his progress in the program, which included attending therapy, according to a source, but he never finished the program.

He was ultimately convicted of the robbery and assault on the NYPD civilian employee. As required by state law, the sentences for both the Brooklyn and Manhattan cases were to be served concurrently and Brunson was sentenced to eight months in prison for both crimes, according to court records.

Over the last few years, the NYPD has responded to four calls for an emotionally disturbed person involving Brunson showing signs of extreme mental illness, sources said.

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Brunson is now facing 25 years in prison if convicted of attacking Berg. While he awaits his next court date, a judge has ordered him to undergo a psychiatric exam, officials said.

Mayor Adams last week said he was deeply disturbed by the attack, claiming senseless violent acts like this are why the state should expand the ability to involuntarily commit people who appear to not be able to take care of themselves.

Nothing shakes New Yorkers more than senseless and random acts of violence like this, and I have been clear that we must address the systemic failures in how we help people suffering from severe mental illness, he said.

With Josephine Stratman
Pauly Denetclaw

ICT



Delegates to the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues  one of the largest annual gatherings at UN headquarters in New York City  may decide to move future meetings outside the United States because of the current political climate.



Fears about treatment of international visitors and difficulty or delays in gaining visas to travel into the U.S. are already reducing attendance at this years meeting, which is set to start Monday and run through May 2.



Now members are considering moving the event altogether.



We're concerned about the ability of Indigenous people from around the world to actually make it in the country and not be harassed, Geoffrey Roth, Standing Rock Sioux, one of 16 members of the Permanent Forum, told ICT Friday.



Considering the safety of Indigenous peoples and their ability to actually make it to meetings and participate in a meaningful way, he said, I think it's time to move, and that's my personal opinion.



Roth has heard from delegates and representatives that its not a safe time to travel to the United States, and theyre scared to do it. On top of that, visas are being denied or delayed, impacting those who can participate  especially those from countries in Africa or from Russia.

Morgan Brings Plenty, right, gives an intervention about the Dakota Access pipeline and lawsuits targeting protesters at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues at the UN headquarters in New York City on April 16, 2024. The 2025 meeting runs April 21-May 2. (Pauly Denetclaw, ICT)

The chair of the forum, Hindou Oumarou Ibrahim, an Indigenous Mbororo woman from Chad, issued a letter on April 15 calling on all member states to issue visas in a timely manner and give unimpeded access for Indigenous participants.



Ibrahim cited Article 25 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights that guarantees the right for every citizen to take part in public affairs, as well as Articles 2 and 26, which affirms nondiscrimination of using such rights.



A different level of concern



Each spring for more than 20 years, the floor of the United Nations General Assembly Hall has become a homecoming for Indigenous leaders, activists, delegates and representatives for the opening ceremony to the Permanent Forum.



Indigenous people who are separated by oceans, continents, rivers and colonial borders become friends and colleagues  working together to strengthen Indigenous rights locally and globally.



It's extremely important we have all of these voices come together, and we speak with as unified a voice as possible in the global perspective, Roth told ICT.



Since 2002, the Permanent Forum, a high-level advisory body to the UN that is known as PFII, has held an annual meeting at the United Nations headquarters in New York City. It has grown to become the second-largest event held at 760 United Nations Plaza.



The annual meeting has become known as a global platform for Indigenous people to push for dialogue, cooperation and concrete action on issues that impact their communities.



This year, however, forum members have already discussed the possibility of moving the annual meeting out of the United States  permanently.



I think we're seeing a whole different level of concern about traveling here and being safe while in New York and while at this meeting, Roth said.



One member of the forum has had their travel visa delayed for a second year in a row. This is unusual, considering that members are nominated by either a government or chair of the Economic and Social Council, one of the main organs that make up the UN. Its possible the member may not be able to attend this years forum at all, Roth said.



Unable to attend



There is a history of Indigenous people from countries that are adversaries of the United States having their visas denied or delayed. However, the issue has become more widespread and prevalent.



Four months into President Donald Trumps new administration, international arrivals have plummeted. Some are angered by Trumps tariffs and rhetoric. Others are alarmed by reports of tourists being arrested at the border, denied entry into the country, or detained for questioning for several hours to days.



Roth said folks havent explicitly mentioned Trumps policy but the proposal to relocate the forum is likely to be presented.



I anticipate a recommendation to move it, Roth said. But I'm not sure if that's going to happen or not. We'll see through the deliberations. It will also be important for us to hear from Indigenous people that did make it. But I am receiving a lot of messages that individuals just aren't going to be making it this year.



Roth is worried that participation is going to plummet this year, which will impact the success and work of the forum. The purpose of the annual meeting is to gather interventions, which are essentially calls to action, that will be used in a report to the United Nations.



If the 16 members agree to recommend moving the meeting, it would be included in the annual report to the UN and implemented. Ultimately, it would take several years because of how far ahead the UN events are planned.



The Permanent Forum does have the authority to change venues, per the Economic and Social Council Resolution 2000. It states that the 16-member board decides that the Permanent Forum shall hold an annual session of ten working days at the United Nations Office at Geneva or at United Nations Headquarters or at such other place as the Permanent Forum may decide in accordance with existing financial rules and regulations of the United Nations.



The annual reports provide expert advice and recommendations to the UN system. The forum members, based on interventions, advocate globally for Indigenous rights and the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, known as UNDRIP.



We're not going to have as many Indigenous people here that we typically would, and we're not going to have that perspective from those people as well, he said.



Voices unheard



Indigenous communities in the Democratic Republic of Congo, for example, are experiencing severe human rights violations because of mining development. Congolese Indigenous people gave testimony to the Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues that resulted in a call to action.



Ibrahim, the forum chair, called on the Congo government to intervene and for the UN to investigate human rights violations.



The forum wouldnt have known this was happening if Congolese Indigenous people werent able to advocate for their communities.



Indigenous people from Russia have already told Roth that there will be a much smaller group attending this year. This means hunting, fishing and mining issues from those communities wont reach the international stage that the forum offers.



This story contains material from The Associated Press.

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Apr. 18FINDLAY  The U.S. State Department reportedly revoked visas from three international students studying at the University of Findlay, according to a report from Inside Higher Education.

The University of Findlay students are among 1,500 foreign students and graduate workers identified in the report whose legal status is now in jeopardy.

Inside Higher Education reports at least 41 international students studying at Ohio colleges and universities have seen their visas terminated since President Donald Trump's inauguration in January, though the exact number of students and graduate workers affected by the changes is unknown.

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Three hundred University of Findlay students are non-U.S. residents, accounting for roughly 8% of the private school's student population, according to the school's student diversity report.

University of Findlay President Katherine Fell confirmed a "minimal number of possible visa terminations" in an email Monday to students and faculty, published by the student news outlet Pulse Media.

In the email, Fell urged faculty and cabinet members to stay calm, contact the university's designated official and avoid physical confrontation with authorities should U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents come to the Findlay campus.

A spokesperson for the university did not respond to an email from The Lima News to clarify how many students were affected and why the visas were terminated. The State Department declined to verify how many visas it had revoked in Ohio as well.

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"As the Secretary indicated, the Department revokes visas every day in order to secure America's borders and keep our communities safe  and will continue to do so," an unidentified State Department spokesperson said in an email. "Because the process is ongoing, the number of revocations is dynamic. The Department generally does not provide statistics on visa revocations."

Inside Higher Education identified at least 41 foreign students in Ohio whose visas have been revoked at the following schools:

Bowling Green State University: 1

Case Western Reserve University: 4

Cleveland State University: 1

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Kent State University: 10

The Ohio State University: 12

University of Akron: 2

University of Cincinnati: 1

University of Findlay: 3

University of Toledo: "A small number"

Walsh University: 4

Xavier University: 1

Youngstown State University: Unknown

Reporters from the Cleveland Plain Dealer identified at least 56 students across 12 Ohio colleges and universities whose visas have been revoked, including an Indian student at The Ohio State University in Columbus who is suing the Trump administration.

Spokespersons for Ohio Northern University and Bluffton University said in emails Thursday they are unaware of any students or alumni affected by visa revocations.

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Fifty-four international students are enrolled at Ohio Northern, accounting for 2% of the student population, while 12 non-U.S. residents attend Bluffton University, according to school diversity reports published online.

There are no international students enrolled at The Ohio State University-Lima campus. A spokesperson for Rhodes State College did not return an email from The Lima News asking whether international students there have had their visas suspended.

A spokesperson for the University of Northwestern Ohio declined to answer questions about whether any students there had seen their visas revoked. Three percent of UNOH students in 2020 were non-U.S. residents, according to the most recent data available on the school's website.

"Due to privacy laws and federal regulations, the University of Northwestern Ohio cannot comment on the specific circumstances of any individual student case or the status of their I-20s or F-1 visas," Stephanie Malloy said.

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (FOX 56)  The University of Kentucky will no longer host identity-based or special interest graduation celebrations.

A university spokesperson said the change comes on the heels of recent state and federal DEI policy directives.

UK ending contract with doctoral program amid DEI investigation involving 50+ colleges

The events were previously optional and held outside of the main commencement ceremony, often honoring LGBTQ+, Black, and first-generation students.

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UK said it will continue to follow the law while recognizing all students and their achievements through its official graduation ceremonies.

LATEST KENTUCKY NEWS:

Following a number of federal and state policy changes and directives, the university will no longer host identity-based or special-interest graduation celebrations. In the past, these were held outside of our official commencement ceremonies as an optional celebration and social event. We will continue to comply with the law, while celebrating all students and their distinctive achievements at our official commencement ceremonies, the university stated.

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Earlier this month, the Department of Justice disbanded its National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team and said it would no longer pursue what Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche described as "regulation by prosecution."

Youre reading State of Crypto, a CoinDesk newsletter looking at the intersection of cryptocurrency and government. Click here to sign up for future editions.

'Regulation by prosecution'

The narrative

The U.S. Department of Justice "will no longer pursue litigation or enforcement actions that have the effect of superimposing regulatory frameworks on digital assets" in lieu of regulatory agencies putting together their own frameworks for overseeing the sector, a 4-page memo signed by Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche on April 7 said. In other words, the DOJ will no longer pursue "regulation by prosecution," the memo said.

Why it matters

The DOJ's memo raised concerns that it may mean criminal activities in the crypto sector would not be prosecuted, or at least prosecuted as heavily as it was under the past several years  both by disbanding the National Cryptocurrency Enforcement Team (NCET) and by shifting the entity's priorities.

Breaking it down

At a practical level, the memo itself is internal guidance but may not be a binding document. Multiple attorneys told CoinDesk they interpreted the guidance to indicate that the DOJ would still bring fraud or other criminal cases involving crypto, but would try to avoid any cases where the DOJ itself had to determine if a digital asset was a security or a commodity.

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"Fraud is still fraud," said Josh Naftalis, a partner at Pallas Partners LLP and a former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York. "This memo does not seem to say the DOJ is not going to prosecute fraud in the crypto space."

Still, the memo raised alarms for prominent Democrats who questioned whether the DOJ was suggesting it would let criminal conduct occur. Senators Elizabeth Warren, Mazie Hirono, Richard Durbin, Sheldon Whitehouse, Christopher Coons and Richard Blumenthal wrote a letter to Blanche, saying his "decision to give a free pass to cryptocurrency money launderers" and shut down the NCET were "grave mistakes that will support sanctions evasion, drug trafficking, scams and child sexual exploitation."

"Specifically, the Department will no longer target virtual currency exchanges, mixing and tumbling services and offline wallets for the acts of their end users or unwitting violations of regulations  except to the extent the investigation is consistent with the priorities articulated in the following paragraphs," the DOJ memo said, a passage the Senators' letter referenced.

New York Attorney General Letitia James wrote an open letter to Senate leaders in the same week asking them to advance legislation to address cryptocurrency risks. She did not specifically reference Blanche's memo but detailed possible ways to better police the sector through legislation.

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Katherine Reilly, a partner at Pryor Cashman and a former prosecutor with the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, told CoinDesk that most of the major crypto cases brought by the DOJ in recent years would not have been affected had this guidance been in effect.

The BitMEX case in 2020, when the DOJ and Commodity Futures Trading Commission brought unregistered trading and other charges against the platform, is "probably closest to the line" of being a case that may not have been brought under this guidance, she said.

Trump pardoned BitMEX, its founders and a senior employee in late March, barely two weeks before the DOJ memo was shared.

"I think that it's clear that the Justice Department wants to limit the DOJ's role in regulating the crypto industry  looking beyond its role in other crimes, fraud, laundering proceeds from narcotics trafficking, things like that, and sort of take a step back from the role of trying to bring order and fairness to the crypto industry as a whole," Reilly said.

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That's "probably the intent behind the BitMEX pardons too," she said.

Naftalis said the DOJ will continue to pursue drug, terrorism or other illicit financing charges even under the memo.

"I think that the headline for the industry is to the extent that there are legal uses of crypto, they're not going to set the guard rail by criminal enforcement," he said. "That's for Congress."

One section of the memo tells prosecutors not to charge Bank Secrecy Act violations, unregistered securities offering violations, unregistered broker-dealer violations or other Commodity Exchange Act registration violations "unless there is evidence that the defendant knew of the licensing or registration requirement at issue and violated such a requirement willfully."

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Carla Reyes, an Associate Professor of Law at SMU Dedman School of Law, told CoinDesk that this may be referencing recent cases where developers build tools under the impression that they were not committing unlicensed money transmitting activities under existing guidance but may get charged anyway.

"Most criminal statutes require some level of knowledge to define your intention, and knowledge that you're committing a crime when you do it," she said. "The further away you get from that, the lesser the charge, but the more willful [and] intentional it is, the higher the charge."

What the memo seems to want to explicitly move away from is any suggestion that federal prosecutors would interpret how securities or commodities laws might apply to digital assets.

"Prosecutors should not charge violations of the Securities Act of 1933, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the Commodity Exchange Act, or the regulations promulgated pursuant to these Acts, in cases where (a) the charge would require the Justice Department to litigate whether a digital asset is a 'security' or 'commodity,' and (b) there is an adequate alternative criminal charge available, such as mail or wire fraud," the memo said.

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A popular critique leveled against former SEC Chair Gary Gensler by the crypto industry was that he was "regulating by enforcement," rather than focusing on developing guidance for the industry to know what was or wasn't acceptable. Blanche seems to be referring to a similar critique in the memo, Naftalis said, in that one-off enforcement decisions by the SEC or DOJ should not define the guardrails for the industry.

Steve Segal, a shareholder at Buchalter, said that some of the DOJ's past cases would charge trading venues for failing to police their own customers. The memo now seems to suggest that if a crypto exchange's executives were running a clean platform, and customers were laundering funds derived from criminal activities, the executives would not be charged. This is in contrast with, for example, FTX, where the executives were charged and convicted of (or pled guilty to) fraud charges.

"Of course, a lot of the big crypto cases we've seen over the last few years are sort of pure investor fraud, things like FTX. And one of the more interesting things about this memo is it talks about crypto investors and really prioritizing cases where crypto investors are being victimized," Reilly said. "And so I don't think we should conclude that this memo means we're going to see a lot fewer cases in the crypto space, or that crypto companies can sort of breathe a sigh of relief that the DOJ is out of the picture for a few years."

The DOJ's future cases may appear a bit different in terms of the specific allegations made, but "it's much too soon to say that everybody can assume the DOJ is out of the crypto business," she said.

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Many of the attorneys speaking to CoinDesk agreed that the memo itself did not clarify all of the different issues that may come up with a criminal case, nor was it an end-all/be-all document.

The memo announced prosecutorial discretion but it isn't itself a law, Reyes said, adding that it may guide internal decision-making about which cases to pursue the most heavily, as well as the strategies that guide those prosecutions.

A lot of details about how this memo ties together with Trump's executive order on the strategic bitcoin reserve still need to be spelled out, Segal said. Sections on victim compensation and how seized funds should be handled in the memo do not explain how the DOJ might handle situations where seized funds are turned over to bankruptcy estates, such as what happened with FTX or other similar scenarios.

"I think we'll really have to see how it plays out, because this guidance, I do think, leaves prosecutors a lot of room to bring cases even of these kinds of violations that are being cast as more regulatory," Reilly said. "So even if that's the intent, I think the devil is in the details on what cases we see going forward."

Stories you may have missed

This week

soc 041525

Monday

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The Securities and Exchange Commission and Binance were set to file a joint status report on their discussions after a judge paused the regulator's case against the exchange and its affiliated entities and executives in February. Last Friday, the parties asked for an extension of this deadline, and the judge overseeing the case signed off on Monday, giving the parties until mid-June to file a follow-up.

Elsewhere:

(The Wall Street Journal) Binance executives met with U.S. Treasury Department officials in March about potentially "loosening U.S. government oversight" of the exchange following Binance's November 2023 guilty plea, the Journal reported. Binance agreed to a court-appointed monitor as part of the plea. At the same time as last month's discussions, Binance was in talks with the Trump-backed World Liberty Financial to develop a dollar-pegged stablecoin.

(Fortune) Fortune spoke to and profiled Bo Hines, the executive director of U.S. President Donald Trump's digital assets advisory council.

(CNBC) U.S. importers are seeing more "canceled sailings" due to a drop in demand as a result of tariffs, CNBC reports.

(The Verge) ICERAID claims to be a protocol on Solana where people can crowdsource images of "criminal illegal alien activity" in exchange for tokens, but it does not appear to have any connection to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), The Verge reports.

(NPR) The Department of Homeland Security is revoking parole for a number of migrants, telling them to self-deport from the U.S. U.S. citizens, born within the U.S., are also receiving these emails.

(The New York Times) Acting IRS Commissioner Gary Shapley has been replaced after just three days on the job, after Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reportedly complained to President Donald Trump that he was not consulted on Shapley's promotion, which was pushed by Elon Musk.

If youve got thoughts or questions on what I should discuss next week or any other feedback youd like to share, feel free to email me at nik@coindesk.com or find me on Bluesky @nikhileshde.bsky.social.

You can also join the group conversation on Telegram.

See yall next week!
GALLATIN, Tenn. (WKRN)  Gallatins latest attempt to charge developers to build in their city was shot down by the state once again.

The city has been looking to amend their city charter to allow them to use impact fees on new construction.

This change of charter bill passed through the states Private Acts Committee in March. Then, last week, the bill went in front of the State and Local Government committee, and was almost unanimously voted down.

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PREVIOUS | Gallatins plan for impact fees clears first hurdle

Lawmakers expressed concern with the impact fee not having a limit on what Gallatin could charge new developers.

So they could put $50,000 per house, and that would be okay? asked Rep. Jeff Burkhart during the meeting.

Yes, according to the resolution passed by the city council, that is correct, answered Rep. William Slater, who brought the bill forth on behalf of Gallatin.

What is interesting about the vote: it happened a day before Gallatin officials expected.

Gallatin councilman Pascal Jouvence, a staunch advocate for impact fees, believed the committee would discuss it last Wednesday, April 9. Instead, the committee discussed the bill on Tuesday, without Jouvence or Gallatins Mayor Paige Brown in attendance to fight for its approval.

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That was pretty disappointing. We were ready, Mayor Brown, Councilman Alexander and myself, we had signed up to speak on Wednesday. And on Tuesday, we get the text, all three [of us], saying the bill was already voted on, said Jouvence. They basically went without us being able to be there to explain what was really happening.

RELATED: Gallatin city leaders push for impact fee on new developers

Councilman Jouvence took exception to the hypothetical figure that was used by Rep. Burkhart, saying the city would be stupid to charge that much ($50,000 a unit) for future development.

Youd have to be not all there to do that, Jouvence said, pointing at his head. There was a plan in place, thats how its done. We need an [outside[ study done, and when the study is done, the study is telling us what we can charge and we cannot go more than that.

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After putting in plenty of work with state legislators, Jouvence believed the city had a chance to get the bill passed. Nonetheless, he said hes not quitting on the fight, so long as hes in office.

They tell us that we cannot do what everybody does around us. And thats where its infuriating, said Jouvence. The state level, were dealing with people who are realtors and developers. Some told me, black and white, Hey, Im a developer, I will never vote for it.

 Read todays top stories on wkrn.com

Facing an uphill battle, Jouvence said Gallatin officials will, eventually, have to make tough decisions to combat their rapid growth.

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I think you need to man up and do what people dont want to do. Brentwood has not approved a rezoning in two years. Why cant we do that? asked Jouvence. We wont have a choice, we will have to raise taxes to fund all [our] growth. I think you need to start acting for the benefit of all the people around you, and not developers.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WKRN News 2.
The U.S. military is withdrawing hundreds of troops from Syria, a shift the Pentagon is framing as a consolidation that reflects the changing security environment in the country.

Recognizing the success the United States has had against ISIS, including its 2019 territorial defeat under President Trump, today the Secretary of Defense directed the consolidation of U.S. forces in Syria under Combined Joint Task Force  Operation Inherent Resolve to select locations in Syria, Pentagon press secretary Sean Parnell said in a statement Friday.

Parnell said the drawdown is a deliberate and conditions-based process that will bring the U.S. forces in Syria down to fewer than 1,000 in the coming months.

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The dip comes after the U.S. military under the Biden administration announced in December it had raised the number of troops in Syria from 900 to 2,000 to help with growing threats from ISIS and Iranian-backed militias in the region.

The Pentagon statement Friday did not say where troops will be pulled from, but The New York Times reported Thursday that the U.S. military would shutter three of its eight small outposts in northeast Syria, withdrawing some 600 service members. Two senior U.S. officials told the outlet the bases are Mission Support Site Green Village, M.S.S. Euphrates and a third smaller facility.

The move comes after President Trump during his first term attempted to withdraw all forces from Syria in 2018 but was met with opposition from Pentagon leaders. Defense officials contended that leaving entirely would abandon the Syrian Democratic Forces, a Kurdish-led militia that aided the U.S. in defeating ISIS in the country. The split of opinion between Trump and his generals led to the resignation of his first Defense secretary, Jim Mattis.

Pulling 600 American forces from Syria would place its ground numbers at the same level as it had been for years after the fall of ISIS in 2019. Washington kept about 900 troops in the country to keep the militant group from resurging, hold Iranian-backed militias at bay and keep Turkey from attacking the Kurdish forces, which Ankara views as associated with terrorists.

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Despite the Pentagons assurance that the new force numbers will allow the U.S. to maintain pressure on ISIS and respond to any other terrorist threats that arise, the Trump administrations decision is not without its risks given an uptick in attacks on American bases in the past year.

ISIS claimed 294 attacks in Syria last year, up from the 121 in 2023, a Defense official told the Times.

Since the start of this year, ISIS has conducted at least 44 attacks in Syria, according to the Middle East Institute in Washington.

And three U.S. service members were killed in Jordan by a drone fired by an Iranian-backed group in January 2024.

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The drawdown also comes after the fall of Syrian dictator Bashar Assads regime in December.

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(The Hill)  An American citizen was held in a Florida jail at the request of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) despite the county judge being able to see a U.S. birth certificate in court.

Juan Carlos Lopez-Gomez, who was born in the United States, was detained Wednesday in Florida by the states highway patrol and was charged with illegally entering the Sunshine State as an unauthorized alien under a state law that has been temporarily blocked by a judge, the Florida Phoenix news outlet reported Thursday.

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Leon County Judge LaShawn Riggans said Thursday that despite the charge against Lopez-Gomez being dropped, she did not have the authority to release the 20-year-old because ICE asked Leon County Jail to hold Lopez-Gomez.

The judge inspected Lopez-Gomezs birth certificate, which had been waived earlier in court by a supporter, saying In looking at it, and feeling it, and holding it up to the light, the court can clearly see the watermark to show that this is indeed an authentic document, according to Florida Phoenix.

Lopez-Gomez was heading from Georgia and was pulled over in Florida by a Highway Patrol trooper.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) signed a sweeping immigration law that made it a state crime for undocumented immigrants over the age of 18 to knowingly enter or attempt to enter Florida by eluding or avoiding examination or inspection by immigration officers.

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The Hill has reached out to ICE for comment.

Gomez-Lopez was born in Georgia. His first language is Tzotzil, Florida Phoenix reported.

His mother cried after seeing her son appear for a virtual hearing in court.

I wanted to tell them, Where are you going to take him? He is from here, she told the outlet. I felt immense helplessness because I couldnt do anything, and I am desperate to get my son out of there.

Protests took place in front of the Leon County jail where the 20-year-old was held. He was released and reunited with his mother Thursday evening, Florida Phoenix reported.

Its like this bureaucratic, dystopian nightmare of poorly written laws, Thomas Kennedy, a spokesperson at the Florida Immigrant Coalition, who attended the Thursday hearing, told NBC News. We are living in a time when this man could get sent to El Salvador because, what, is he going to be treated like a stateless person?

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American Civil Liberties Union Foundation of Florida legal fellow Amy Godshall told The Independent that Lopez-Gomezs detention was based on a patently false allegation that he entered the state while undocumented, adding that all this despite his mother appearing in court with his Social Security card and his birth certificate showing his place of birth as the United States.

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An American citizen says he and his wife were detained for hours by US border agents when they returned to the United States after a short trip to Canada.

Bachir Atallah told CNN he and his wife, Jessica, were driving back into the US Sunday evening after visiting family in Canada for the weekend when U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents stopped them for a secondary inspection at the Highgate Springs checkpoint in Vermont.

Atallah, who is originally from Lebanon, said he was told to park his Range Rover and hand over his keys. When he asked the officer why, the officer placed his hand on his gun and told him to exit his vehicle, Atallah said. He said he was then handcuffed and led into a cell, where his belongings were confiscated. He said his wife was put into a cell across from his.

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Seeing my wifes mascara running because she was crying, it was heartbreaking, Atallah said. It wasnt humane.

While detained, Atallah said he gave CBP agents the passcode to his phone after they asked for it. Despite his pleadings, agents never told him why he and his wife were being detained, he said. He said he was never read his rights.

The travelers accusations are blatantly false and sensationalized, CBP officials said in a statement to CNN affiliate WMUR. CBP officers acted in accordance with established protocols. Upon arrival at the port of entry, the traveler was appropriately referred to secondary inspection  a routine, lawful process that occurs daily and can apply for any traveler.

A mass deportation campaign by the White House has sparked fear as it aims to slow arrivals at the border and remove undocumented immigrants. President Donald Trump has also threatened to send certain US citizens to offshore prisons, a notion experts say has no legal basis.

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I feared for my life, Atallah said.

Without answers as to what was going on, Atallah said he started to have chest pains and felt dizzy, and told CBP to call an ambulance. A record reviewed by CNN shows Emergency Medical Services evaluated Atallah around 8 p.m. Sunday night.

Atallah said he was told by CBP if he went to the emergency room, an officer would accompany him and then return him to the cell to start the entire process from the beginning. He said he chose to stay, to not to leave his wife.

Atallah said after he was first handcuffed, he told officers to call his lawyer, his sister Celine Atallah, who works as an immigration attorney.

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A person identifying himself as an officer at US Customs and Border Patrol left a voicemail message on Celines phone close to 9 p.m., informing her Atallah and his wife were at Highgate Springs CBP, they were safe and they would be here for a little while, the message said.

He wanted my help, not to know that hes fine, Celine Atallah said in an interview.

Bachir and Jessica left around 11 p.m. Sunday, he said.

Thank God were safe, they said in Arabic once they got into their car to drive home.

When reached by phone on Friday, Atallah said he was in Lebanon visiting family. He told CNN after his and wifes treatment last week, hes worried about returning to the US.

I hope they dont retaliate because Im speaking out, Atallah said.

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U.S. officials made very good progress during the second round of nuclear talks with Iran in Rome and plan to meet with their Tehrans counterparts next week.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and President Trumps special envoy Steve Witkoff held both direct and indirect discussions during the meeting that lasted more than four hours, according to a U.S. official.

We agreed to meet again next week and are grateful to our Omani partners for facilitating these talks and to our Italian partners for hosting us today, a senior U.S. administration official said.

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Araghchi said after the meeting that progress on principles and objectives of a potential deal was made and that technical-level discussions will start in the coming day.

We made clear how many in Iran believe that the [Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action] is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are lessons learned. Personally, I tend to agree. The initiation of expert level track will begin in coming days with a view to hammer out details, Araghchi said in a Saturday statement on the social media platform X.

After that, we will be in a better position to judge, Irans foreign minister added. For now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.

Witkoff and Araghchi are slated to meet again next Saturday.

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Saturdays huddle signaled that progress had been made as Trump pushes for a new deal with Iran, as Tehran has accelerated its nuclear development program. Trump has said previously that Iran cannot have a nuclear weapon and has indicated that if the diplomatic route is unfruitful, military action against the country could follow.

Oman said the two sides are set to enter the next phase of the nuclear talks to forge an agreement that would guarantee that Iran does not have nuclear weapons or remain under the constraint of sanctions.

Araghchi and Witkoff, through the mediation of Omans Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

It is only in dialogue and clear communication that we will be able to achieve a mutually credible agreement and understanding for the benefit of all concerned regionally and internationally, a spokesperson for Omans foreign ministry said in a Saturday statement. It is also agreed that the next round will take place in Muscat in the next few days.

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The second round of talks between the two sides took place at the Omani ambassadors residence and started around 11:30 a.m. local time, a U.S. official told The Hill on Saturday.

I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death  and Id like to see that, thats my first option, Trump told reporters at the White House on Thursday.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei wrote Saturday in a post on X that the Islamic Republic has always demonstrated, with good faith and a sense of responsibility, its commitment to diplomacy as a civilized way to resolve issues, in full respect of the high interests of the Iranian nation.

We are aware that it is not a smooth path but we take every step with open eyes, relying also on the past experiences, Baghaei added.

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Prior to talks with Iran on Saturday, Witkoff met with the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency Rafael Grossi in Rome, a diplomatic source told The Hill.

The talks in Italy come a week after the first round of discussions took place in Oman. Both sides described the talks as constructive. Witkoff also spoke with Araghchi face-to-face toward the end of the meeting.

Trump pulled out of the Obama-negotiated nuclear agreement in 2018.

Current U.S. officials have repeatedly emphasized that if a new deal with Tehran is reached, Iran must get rid of their nuclear arsenal.

The Presidents made clear Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, Secretary of State Marco Rubio told reporters Friday while in Paris. That is not going to happen.

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Were hoping that talks continue and that theyre fruitful and that theyre  that they can lead to something, he added. We would all prefer a peaceful resolution and a lasting one.

Updated at 5:14 p.m. EDT

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to The Hill.
The United States and Iran have moved to the next level of negotiations over the Islamic Republics nuclear programme following a second round of talks in Rome.

The talks are aimed at curbing Irans nuclear capabilities in exchange for the potential lifting of sanctions.

Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian foreign minister, arrived in Rome early on Saturday to meet with Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy.

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Iranian state TV described the indirect talks between the Mr Araghchi and Mr Witkoff as constructive and reported that another round would be held in the coming days.

Mr Araghchi said after the talks: We spoke for four hours today. It was good and I can say the talks are moving forward.

He added: We could reach a better understanding about the basis and goals, it was agreed that the negotiations will continue. The talks have entered the next level and meetings of experts will start.

So, I think starting from this Wednesday, technical talks at the level of experts will start in Oman.

The experts will have more time to enter the details and framing a framework for a deal and then, next Saturday will meet again in Oman to review the work of the experts to see how close we are to the basis of a deal.

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He said the talks, mediated by Oman, took place in a constructive atmosphere and added: I can say we are moving forward.

He declined to confirm any reports about the details of the meeting, and said that nothing would be disclosed until agreement was officially finalised.

He said: We cannot be very optimistic because we are going forward very cautiously and there is no reason for pessimism either.

I hope we will be in a better situation after experts talk next week to judge the possibility of reaching a deal  we are still cautious.

The Saturday talks follow initial discussions in Muscat last week, described by both sides as constructive and positive.

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The foreign ministry of Oman, which is mediating the nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, said the two sides were seeking an agreement that guarantees the Islamic republic does not possess nuclear weapons.

The two sides have agreed to enter into the next phase of their discussions that aim to seal a fair, enduring and binding deal which will ensure Iran completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy, Omans foreign ministry said on X.

The indirect talks were the first high-level discussions between the two arch-enemies since Donald Trump abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord during his first term as US president.

Before heading to the Italian capital, Esmail Baghaei, the Iranian foreign ministry spokesman, said that the Islamic Republic is committed to its obligations and determined to safeguard and exercise its legitimate and legal rights to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

The talks between Mr Araghchi, right, and the US will be mediated by Oman - Angelo Carconi/EPA-EFE/SHUTTERSTOCK

On Saturday, he told state media: The framework of the Islamic Republic of Irans positions and demands regarding the lifting of unlawful sanctions and the nuclear issue is completely clear and was conveyed to the other side in the first round of talks.

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He added: However, given the contradictory statements weve heard over the past few days from different US officials, we expect the American side to first provide clarification on this matter and address the serious ambiguities that have arisen regarding its intentions and sincerity.

Mr Trump is seeking an agreement to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb and has warned of a military strike if an agreement is not forthcoming. Iran wants a release of the sanctions that have crippled its economy.

Mr Baghaei said that any step forward would only be possible if the other side acts realistically and refrains from being influenced by warmongering extremist circles, including the Zionist regime.

He said the duration of the negotiations depends on the process itself.

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He added: We are not here to waste time. We are fully prepared to seriously and sincerely continue the negotiations on lifting the cruel sanctions that have been unfairly imposed on the Iranian people.

Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Irans supreme leader, said that his countrys negotiation team is heading to Rome with full authority to pursue a comprehensive agreement based on nine principles: seriousness, guarantees, balance, lifting sanctions, not the Libya/UAE model, avoiding threats, speed, containing aggressors (such as Israel), and facilitating investment.

Mr Trump has resumed his maximum pressure sanctions campaign against Iran while pursuing diplomatic channels.

In March, he sent a letter to Khamenei, who turned 86 on Saturday, urging renewed nuclear negotiations.

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Im not in a rush to use the military option, Mr Trump said on Thursday. I think Iran wants to talk.

Israel has reportedly proposed several military options to the Trump administration in recent months.

The plans include air strikes and commando operations that could delay Irans nuclear programme by months or years.

Balance power dynamics

Israeli officials now believe that they could launch a more limited strike requiring less US support than previously planned operations.

Analysts believe that Israel would be unable to carry out large-scale strikes against Iran without US support, given the Islamic Republics undisclosed military capabilities  including an unknown number of underground missile cities.

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One of the challenges for Israel in hitting Iran is that its warplanes must travel more than 1,500 kilometres to be within striking distance. This requires mid-air refuelling over potentially hostile territory while facing Irans Russian-made air defences.

Some politicians in Tehran have said that Iran needs a nuclear bomb to balance power dynamics in the region.

On Wednesday, Rafael Grossi, the UN nuclear watchdog chief, told the French newspaper Le Monde that Iran was not far from possessing a nuclear bomb.

Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 per cent purity, above the 3.67 per cent limit set by the 2015 agreement but below the 90 per cent needed for weapons-grade material.

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On Friday, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, urged European countries to consider triggering the snapback mechanism under the 2015 agreement, which would reinstate UN sanctions on Iran. This option expires in October.

Also on Friday, Mr Araghchi said that Iran had serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side but would participate in the negotiations.

He said that a deal was likely if Washington avoided unreasonable and unrealistic demands.

Iranian officials insist that the talks focus only on their nuclear programme and sanctions relief.

Era of threats is over

Mr Araghchi called Irans right to enrich uranium non-negotiable after Mr Witkoff reportedly demanded a complete halt to enrichment.

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Ahmad Khatami, a member of Irans Assembly of Experts and Tehrans interim Friday prayer leader, said that Irans missile capabilities, regional influence and nuclear issues are non-negotiable in talks between Iran and the US.

Speaking after Friday prayers, Mr Khatami said that the Islamic Republic would not accept discussions on uranium enrichment, missile and defence matters, or its regional presence.

If the American side wants to cross these red lines, they will certainly receive no response, Mr Khatami said.

He added: The era of threats is over. Our nation does not submit, and political intimidation no longer has any effect.

Mr Grossi, who met with Iranian officials in Tehran this week, said that the US and Iran were at a very crucial stage and dont have much time to reach an agreement.

Western countries have long accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, while Tehran maintains its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

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The United States has been considering recognising Russian control over Crimea as part of a future peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv.

Source: Bloomberg, citing unnamed informed sources familiar with the course of the talks

Details: The sources report that the potential concession by the US has become another signal of US President Donald Trump's desire to secure a peace deal as soon as possible, especially after both he and Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed readiness to end mediation efforts if talks do not make rapid progress.

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"Doing so risks undermining international laws and treaties prohibiting the taking of land through use of force," Bloomberg noted.

For the Kremlin, such an agreement would represent a strategic victory. Russia's leader Vladimir Putin has for many years sought international recognition of the annexation of Crimea, which most countries around the world consider illegal.

Bloomberg stated that this proposal is not final and requires further consultations with Kyiv. The European allies of the United States are categorically against any recognition of the occupied territories as Russian.

"Talks would be moot if the Kremlin didn't agree to stop the fighting, and that providing Ukraine with security guarantees to ensure that any deal holds up was essential," the sources said.

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Quote: "The Paris talks also built on France-UK efforts to form a postwar 'reassurance force' in Ukraine, as well as plans to ensure that Kyiv has an adequately resourced and manned military as part of a package of security guarantees."

Details: Officials in Paris and London hope that such an initiative will demonstrate Europe's seriousness in supporting Ukraine and persuade Trump to back these guarantees.

Background:

On 17 April, a meeting between the Ukrainian delegation and representatives from France, Germany and the United Kingdom took place in Paris. They discussed, among other things, a complete ceasefire, a multinational contingent and security guarantees for Ukraine during the meeting.

An American delegation, led by Rubio and Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East, also arrived in Paris to take part in the talks.

On 18 April, Rubio stated that it is necessary to determine in "a matter of days" whether peace in Ukraine is possible, emphasising that the United States has other priorities and that it is ready to abandon efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine if in the coming days it becomes clear that no progress is being made.

Trump said he might abandon attempts to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia if "one of the two parties makes it [the peace process  ed.] very difficult".

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The United States will cut its presence in Syria by half in the coming months, the Department of Defense announced on Friday.

The U.S. military will bring the number of troops inside Syria to under 1,000 in the coming months in a consolidation effort, Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said in a statement on April 18. The move comes after significant steps made in the fight against ISIS.

For several months the Pentagon had said that there were only approximately 900 U.S. troops inside Syria. In December, the Defense Department revealed that the actual military presence was closer to 2,000 troops in the country, with another 2,500 in neighboring Iraq. The Pentagon did not specify which units will be the first to leave Syria.

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[]U.S. Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria, Parnell said. We will also work closely with capable and willing Coalition partners to maintain pressure on ISIS and respond to any other terrorist threats that arise.

American forces have been in Syria since late 2015, as part of the fight against ISIS. At its peak, the terrorist group controlled large portions of Iraq and Syria. In Syria, it seized much of its territory in part due to the chaos of the then-ongoing civil war. Much of the American involvement in the initial anti-ISIS fight involved aerial bombardments on ISIS positions, in support of Syrian Democratic Forces ground troops, although special operations forces were also active on the ground. The last ISIS stronghold in the country, in Baghouz, fell in 2019.

Since the fall of Raqqa, U.S. troops have maintained a presence in both Iraq and Syria, working with local partners hunting after remaining ISIS fighters and patrolling the areas. In 2018, U.S. troops at an outpost in Khasham near Deir-ez-Zor engaged Russian mercenaries and Syrian troops under the Assad regime, leading to a massive firefight. American forces called in extensive air support, allowing the outnumbered U.S. troops to win. One Air Force Combat Controller was later awarded the Air Force Cross for his actions.

American forces operate a base in southeastern Syria at al-Tanf, near the Iraqi border.

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When Assads regime fell in December 2024, American forces carried out a series of large airstrikes in eastern and central Syria, targeting ISIS camps.

In an interview with Reuters in March, rebel leader-turned-President of Syria Ahmed al-Sharaa said that his government had been in indirect talks with the Trump administration, via intermediaries. It is not clear if those talks influenced the announced drawdown.

The reduction of troops inside Syria comes as the United States continues to build up wider military presence in the region. Since the renewal of fighting with the Houthi movement in Yemen, the United States has moved an additional carrier strike group, Patriot missile batteries and more aircraft into the CENTCOM area of responsibility.

The latest on Task & Purpose
The US is open to recognising the annexed Crimea peninsula as Russian territory as part of a wider Ukraine peace deal.

In Paris on Thursday, Steve Witkoff, the US special envoy, presented allies with proposals that would freeze current battle lines and leave most Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory under Moscows control.

The potential concession comes as Donald Trump, the US president, signalled on Friday that his administration would abandon peace-brokering efforts without quick progress.

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If for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say, youre foolish, Mr Trump said. Youre fools, youre horrible people, and were going to just take a pass  but hopefully we wont have to do that.

After meeting European and Ukrainian leaders in Paris on Friday, Marco Rubio, the US secretary of state, said Mr Trump was still open to a deal, but warned that the president had other global priorities and was ready to move on if no progress was made.

This isnt our war. We didnt start it, said Mr Rubio, adding that if both sides stayed far apart Mr Trump might decide to walk away. He said the president felt very strongly about this.

This isnt our war the US administration told allies this week - AndreyKrav

According to a Bloomberg report, the peace deal framework would block Ukraines Nato membership and potentially recognise Russian control of Crimea, seized by Moscow in 2014. International recognition has been withheld to avoid legitimising territorial acquisition through force.

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On Thursday, Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, who did not attend the Paris meeting, criticised Mr Witkoff for spreading Russian narratives, telling reporters in Kyiv: We do not discuss territories until the ceasefire. We will never consider Ukrainian lands as Russian.

The Paris talks involved Mr Witkoff, Mr Rubio, Emmanuel Macron, the French president, and officials from Germany, the UK and Ukraine.

For Ukraines European allies, the summit was a chance to understand the Trump administrations position on the war. The group will meet again in London next week. The US proposal is not a final settlement, and European allies would not recognise occupied territories as Russian.

Every sovereign nation on Earth has a right to defend itself, Mr Rubio said on Friday, while noting that negotiators had not addressed specific guarantees.

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Russia continued to bomb Ukrainian cities after rejecting a Black Sea truce proposal. A 30-day partial truce covering energy infrastructure ended on Friday. Russian forces killed 35 people last week in a missile strike on Sumy.

The Paris talks included plans for a postwar reassurance force in Ukraine and ensuring that Kyiv maintains adequate military capabilities.

Lifting sanctions while Russia occupies Ukraine territory faces hurdles such as removing EU restrictions requiring approval from all member states.

Mr Witkoff said an agreement depends on five territories, without details. While Russia insists that any accord must recognise its control of Crimea and large parts of Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Luhansk and Donetsk regions.

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Changes have started in the United States Postal Service that will affect millions of customers across the country. The moves are designed to improve efficiency and cut costs, but some people might not get certain types of mail as quickly as they're used to.

In March, then-U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said he signed a deal with the Department of Government Efficiency, headed by Elon Musk, to assist the agency in addressing "big problems."

The first phase of the plan started on April 1. The USPS announced "refinements to service standards," which the agency said in a release are estimated to save the Postal Service at least $36 billion over the next ten years.

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"USPS has already achieved $2.2 billion in annual transportation cost reductions by streamlining networks and optimizing air and surface options," the release said. "Additionally, it has decreased work hours by 50 million  translating to $2.5 billion in annual savings, by enhancing plant productivity and closing unnecessary facilities.

"At the same time, the Postal Service has increased revenue by $3.5 billion annually by adapting product offerings amidst significant declines in First-Class Mail volume," the USPS said.

The second phase of the plan is set to roll out later this year.

Who pays for the U.S. Post Office?

The organization relies on the sales of stamps and postage along with other products and services to fund operations. The USPS is independent, does not use tax dollars for operating expenses, and is meant to be self-financing.

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However, the USPS has been struggling since the organization was hit by a couple of laws. First, in 1970, the Postal Reorganization Act required the postal service to serve all Americans while also breaking even, suggesting it should operate as a business rather than the government service it had been for nearly 200 years.

Then it was hamstrung by a bipartisan 2006 law that was meant to tweak some regulations and policies to help with falling revenue but a demand from the Bush administration, included a requirement to set aside billions each year to cover future retiree health and pension benefits for employees past, present and future. The law also restricted the USPS from offering any new services other than the ones it already offered.

The Postal Service Reform Act, passed with bipartisan support in Congress in 2022 and signed by former President Joe Biden, dropped the mandate to refund future retiree benefits and allowed the USPS to create "non-postal services" in partnership with state and local government, like fishing licenses and subway passes.

The change may have been too little, too late. Since electronic communication became more popular, the USPS has seen a sharp decline in first-class mail.

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USPS revenue has dropped 80% since 1997, and volumes are the lowest since 1968, Reuters reported. It cost $9.5 billion in 2024 and is expected to cost another $6.9 billion in 2025, according to reporting from Government Executive.

According to Pew Research Centers, the USPS is the second-most popular federal agency: 72% of Americans like it, coming in second behind the National Park Service (76% in favor) and ahead of NASA (67%).

President Donald Trump is critical of the service, which delivers to 163 million addresses nationwide and employs 530,000 workers. He has floated the idea of merging it with the Commerce Department. That would halt the USPS's independent status and put it under his administration's control.

"It'll be a form of a merger, but it'll remain the Postal Service," Trump said. "And I think it'll operate a lot better than it has been over the years. It's been just a tremendous loser for this country."

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The Washington Post, citing postal sources, said the plan would "probably violate federal law."

The Postal Service operates 303 facilities in Florida as of October 2024.

Here's what you need to know about confirmed changes to USPS services and mail delivery.

Postmaster strikes deal with DOGE, 10K jobs to be cut

The department had been exempt from the DOGE cuts that have slashed thousands of jobs in several federal agencies, but DeJoy reportedly told Congress in a letter that USPS would cut 10,000 jobs over the next month through a voluntary early retirement program.

The reduction plan was announced in January and is different than the federal employee buyout offer announced for most civilian federal employees. According to a news release from the American Postal Workers Union, workers who opt to retire early can get a one-time $15,000 incentive paid in two parts.

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DeJoy said the deal with DOGE and the General Services Administration will help with "identifying and achieving further efficiencies."

Will Trump merge USPS? What if he does?

The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, said Trump wanted to merge the USPS under his administration and planned to fire the governing board of the postal service via executive order. The White House said no such order existed, but Trump did confirm that the merger was being considered.

Musk has said he wants to see it privatized.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has suggested that postal workers could carry out the U.S. census and handle tasks performed by Social Security employees as cost-cutting measures.

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Newsweek reported the merger, if it goes through, could close offices, slow delivery, limit days of delivery, increase costs and lead to layoffs. Reduced delivery would likely hit rural areas hardest.

How will the new changes affect mail in Florida?

Some areas could get "2-3-day turnaround service within regions and specific local areas," according to the postal service.

Some post offices could have delivery extended by a day. The information provided didn't say which ones could expect delayed mail delivery caused by changes to regional transportation schedules.

"Under the new approach, while most mail will retain the same service standard, some mail will have a faster standard, and some will have a slightly slower standard. For First-Class Mail, the current service standard day range of 1-5 days is staying the same, while the day ranges for end-to-end Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Package Services are being shortened. All Mail will benefit from more reliable service," a USPS news release reads.

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The postal service said, "all packages will benefit from more reliable service." The 2-5 day range for USPS Ground Advantage will stay the same. However, some shipping products will have a slower delivery range going forward.

Five-digit zip code add-ons are meant to streamline sorting and delivery as compared to the current three-digit pairs.

USPS already has a map online that will let customers see how long it will take to deliver mail from one zip code to another. Customers can also look up service standards at usps.com.

Service standards will be "refined" for:

First-Class Mail.

Periodicals.

Marketing Mail.

Package Services (Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, and Library Mail).

USPS Ground Advantage.

Priority Mail.

Priority Mail Express.

When will the next changes to the postal service happen?

The next changes are set to take effect on July 1. More information will be released closer to that date.

Could Trump privatize the postal service?

That would require congressional approval.

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The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 made the Postal Service an independent agency under the executive branch. USPS is directed by a Board of Governors appointed by the president and approved by Congress.

The president can make nominations, but doesn't have direct oversight.

Contributing: George Petras, John Bacon, Phaedra Trethan, David Shepardson

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: USPS changes will affect mail delivery in Florida. Here's how
The U.S. shared a draft concept for monitoring a potential ceasefire in Ukraine with European and Ukrainian officials in Paris, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 18, citing an unnamed Western official.

The draft concept was reportedly shared during meetings in Paris on April 17, where European, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials gathered to discuss a ceasefire and security guarantees for Ukraine.

According to an official that spoke to the WSJ, the U.S. indicated that it has developed a draft concept for how a comprehensive ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia might be monitored if one can be achieved.

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The official did not share details on the content of the draft.

Members of the France and U.K.-led "coalition of the willing" have urged the U.S. to back European assurance forces with additional security guarantees in order to effectively deter further Russian aggression after a ceasefire. Thus far, the U.S. has not offered any such guarantees, and until the Paris talks had largely shut Europe out of ceasefire negotiations with Russia and Ukraine.

Participants in the talks included U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, U.S. Middle East Envoy Steve Witkoff, and French President Emmanuel Macron. Ukraine was represented by Presidential Office Head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov.

While the details of the monitoring plan were not disclosed, Yermak described the meetings as "very substantive." Meanwhile, Rubio acknowledged the issue of security guarantees had been discussed, but did not want to speak publicly about any proposals.

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European, Ukrainian, and U.S. officials will meet in London next week to continue the discussions.

Read also: Kremlin spokesman claims progress in peace talks but says energy ceasefire period has expired

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US President Donald Trump's administration has been putting pressure on Ukraine regarding ending the war but has not spoken about increasing pressure on Russia.

Source: Axios, citing American and European officials familiar with the course of talks

Details: Trump, who had previously promised to reach a peace deal within 24 hours of taking office, is now frustrated by the delay in talks and is ready to withdraw the US from its mediating role. In a private conversation, he expressed his disappointment that the talks are not leading anywhere.

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A well-informed American official stated that Trump will focus on other areas of foreign policy if a deal is not reached soon.

Trump himself has not yet set a deadline or said whether he will take any further steps beyond exiting the talks.

"We need to figure out... within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term," US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, speaking about ending the war.

"Rubio was not specific about what such a step would look like but only stressed that the US wants fast progress," one European diplomat told Axios.

Two other European diplomats confirmed that "Rubio said Trump was losing his patience and might withdraw from the process if a deal wasn't reached soon."

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Three European diplomats believe Rubio's comments were primarily directed at Ukraine. A source close to the Ukrainian government also stated that these remarks were intended to pressure Kyiv. The source also expressed concern that Trump's withdrawal from the talks could lead to a suspension of US military aid to Ukraine.

European diplomats also noted that Rubio had not spoken about increasing pressure on Russia during the Paris meetings. "The impression was that Rubio and Witkoff are under a lot of pressure from Trump and they are channelling it to the other players," one of the European diplomats commented.

Quote: "Ukraine swiftly agreed to Trump's plans for a 30-day ceasefire, but Russia has slow-walked that proposal and argued they are winning on the battlefield and thus have a number of conditions for any peace agreement.

As a result, it's unlikely the Kremlin would have particular concerns about Trump giving up on diplomacy."

Background:

On 17 April, a meeting between a Ukrainian delegation and representatives from France, Germany and the United Kingdom took place in Paris, during which they discussed, among other things, a complete ceasefire, a multinational contingent and security guarantees for Ukraine.

An American delegation, led by Rubio and Steve Witkoff, US President Donald Trump's Special Envoy for the Middle East, also arrived in Paris to take part in the talks.

On 18 April, Rubio stated that it is necessary to determine in "a matter of days" whether peace in Ukraine is possible, emphasising that the United States has other priorities and that it is ready to abandon efforts to achieve peace in Ukraine if in the coming days it becomes clear that no progress is being made.

Trump said he might abandon attempts to stop the war between Ukraine and Russia if "one of the two parties makes it [the peace process  ed.] very difficult".

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The dispute over the wrongful deportation and imprisonment of Kilmar Abrego Garcia is not only about one man but about Donald Trumps disregard of the American judicial system as well, Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday as he returned from a three-day trip to El Salvador to press for the detained mans release.

Speaking to reporters just after landing back in the United States, Van Hollen offered few answers about what will come next in Abrego Garcias case. But the Maryland Democrat said that he and others will keep speaking out after the Trump administration defied court orders to facilitate his return to the United States and insisted that he would stay in El Salvador  even as officials acknowledged an error in deporting him.

Its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States, Van Hollen said at Washington Dulles International Airport at a news conference with Abrego Garcias supporters behind him. Its very clear that the president, Trump administration, are blatantly, flagrantly disagreeing with, defying the order from the Supreme Court.

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Standing next to him, Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer, wiped away tears as the senator shared her husbands comments about missing his family.

Much uncertainty remains about the future of Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran citizen who was living in Maryland, after Van Hollen was presented with a carefully staged opportunity to meet with him in El Salvador on Thursday. The Maryland senator said that Abrego Garcia reported hed been moved from a notorious Salvadoran mega-prison, CECOT, to a detention center with better conditions

Abrego Garcias status after Van Hollen left was not known, and there was no indication that Van Hollens trip pushed him any closer to release.

The case has become a focal point in the national immigration debate. Democrats insist that President Donald Trump is overstepping his executive authority and disrespecting the courts; Republicans are criticizing Democrats for defending a man Trump and White House officials claim is an MS-13 gang member, despite the fact that he has not been charged with any gang-related crimes.

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Van Hollen said that Abrego Garcia told him that hed shared a cell with 25 prisoners and was afraid of many fellow inmates at CECOT before he was moved to another center in Santa Ana, El Salvador. He said that Abrego Garcia reported being treated well  but noted that they were surrounded by government minders at the time.

Democrats are pushing, Republicans arent budging

The fight over Abrego Garcia is the latest partisan flashpoint as Democrats struggle to break through and push back during the opening few months of Trumps second administration.

More Democratic lawmakers have said they will fly to El Salvador to push for Abrego Garcias release, but the partisan pressure has yielded no results. President Donald Trump and El Salvadors president, Nayib Bukele, have only dug in on keeping him out of the United States. That stance remained even after the U.S. Supreme Court called on the administration to facilitate his return.

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt has said that Abrego Garcia will never live in the United States of America again.

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Bukele posted images of Van Hollens meeting with Abrego Garcia on Thursday and said that the prisoner gets the honor of staying in El Salvadors custody. Van Hollen said a Salvadoran government official placed other beverages on the table with salt or sugar on the rim to make it appear they were drinking margaritas. Van Hollen said neither he nor Abrego Garcia drank from the glasses, which in the photo Bukele posted were garnished with cherries.

After days of denying that he knew much about Abrego Garcia, Trump on Friday said he knew Abrego Garcias prison record was unbelievably bad and called him an illegal alien and a foreign terrorist.

The president also responded Friday with a social media post saying Van Hollen looked like a fool yesterday standing in El Salvador begging for attention.

More members of Congress are visiting the prison, or trying

Several House Republicans have visited the notorious gang prison in support of the Trump administrations efforts. Rep. Riley Moore, a West Virginia Republican, posted Tuesday evening that hed visited the prison where Abrego Garcia is being held. I leave now even more determined to support President Trumps efforts to secure our homeland, Moore wrote on social media.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials acknowledged in a court filing earlier this month that Abrego Garcias deportation was an administrative error. The governments acknowledgment generated immediate uproar from immigration advocates, but White House officials have stuck with the allegation that hes a gang member.

The fight has also played out in contentious court filings, with repeated refusals from the government to tell a judge what it plans to do, if anything, to repatriate him.

The three-judge panel from the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused Thursday to suspend the judges decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials and said the judiciary will be hurt by the constant intimations of its illegitimacy while the executive branch will lose much from a public perception of its lawlessness.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, nominated by President Ronald Reagan, a Republican, wrote that he and his two colleagues cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.

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Since March, El Salvador has accepted from the United States more than 200 Venezuelan immigrants whom Trump administration officials have accused of gang activity and violent crimes. Bukeles government has placed them inside the countrys maximum-security gang prison, just outside San Salvador.

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The United States will reduce its military presence in Syria by about half in the coming months, the Pentagon announced on Friday.

The troops withdrawal comes as concerns grow about a resurgent Islamic State threat in the war-torn country.

Sean Parnell, a spokesman for the Pentagon said: This deliberate and conditions-based process will bring the US footprint in Syria down to less than a thousand US forces in the coming months.

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The US currently has around 2,000 troops deployed across several bases in northeastern Syria, primarily working with local forces to prevent Isis from regaining strength.

The reduction would consolidate American forces at fewer locations while maintaining counterterrorism operations.

Under the plan approved by Pete Hegseth, the defence secretary, the US army will reportedly close three of its eight operating bases in northeastern Syria.

The withdrawal will reduce US troop levels to about 1,400, with military commanders set to assess whether further cuts are warranted after 60 days.

American officials said commanders have recommended maintaining at least 500 troops in Syria to help counter the threat posed by the terror group, which still maintains a potent presence in the region despite losing its territorial caliphate in 2019.

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President Donald Trump has long expressed scepticism about the US military presence in Syria.

After the fall of Bashar al-Assads regime last December by Islamist-led rebels, Mr Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform: Syria is a mess, but is not our friend, and the United State should have nothing to do with it. This is not our fight.

Syrians are slowly returning to the country through a government-backed campaign called Return Caravan after years of war - Abdulvacit Hacisteyfi/Anadolu/Getty Images

The troop reduction comes at a significant moment in Syrias complex political landscape.

Last month, the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), Washingtons main partner in the fight against ISIS, agreed to merge with Syrias new government.

The agreement calls for the SDF to integrate all civil and military institutions into the new Syrian state by the end of the year, including valuable oil and gas fields.

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Despite the diplomatic progress, security concerns remain significant.

The US embassy issued a warning on Friday about imminent attacks in Syria, particularly in locations frequented by tourists.

Intelligence officials have warned that Isis is attempting to exploit the end of the Assad regime to free thousands of fighters held in detention camps in northeastern Syria.

The Syrian Kurdish Asayish security forces stand guard at the al-Hol camp, which holds relatives of suspected IS group fighters - DELIL SOULEIMAN/AFP

Between 9,000 and 10,000 fighters and around 39,000 family members remain detained in these facilities, which US troops help secure.

The scale of the ISIS threat has grown considerably in recent months.

According to US defence department officials, Isis claimed 294 attacks in Syria in 2024, up from 121 in 2023.

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Independent analysts have documented an acceleration in the pace of attacks, with the group carrying out two attacks in January, nine in February and 19 in March.

The US has responded with increased military action, including air strikes against Isis strongholds in the Syrian desert following Assads ouster.

In March, American forces killed Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi, also known as Abu Khadija, a senior Isis leader believed to head the groups operations in Iraq and Syria.

Abdallah Makki Muslih al-Rufayi was believed to head the ISs group operations - X

As this consolidation takes place ... US Central Command will remain poised to continue strikes against the remnants of ISIS in Syria, Mr Parnell said, adding that the US will maintain pressure on the terrorist group despite the troop reduction.

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The announcement comes as Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syrias new leader, met with US Congressman Cory Mills on Saturday in the first such visit by an American lawmaker since Assads fall.

Mr Mills and fellow Republican Marlin Stutzman arrived in Syria on Friday, which analysts say is signalling potential shifts in US-Syria relations.

Easing of Assad-era sanctions

In late December, Washington removed a long-standing reward for Sharaas arrest following what a senior US diplomat described as positive messages from initial meetings with the new authorities.

The government, dominated by Sharaa loyalists, has been pushing for the lifting of Assad-era sanctions to support economic recovery and reconstruction.

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The US has already temporarily eased some sanctions affecting essential services, though broader exemptions await evidence of how the new authorities will govern.

Washington has demanded progress on counterterrorism efforts as a condition for further engagement.

The US military presence in Iraq is also scheduled to end, with the United States and Iraq announcing that the coalitions decade-long mission will conclude in federal Iraq by the end of 2025 and in the autonomous Kurdistan region by September 2026.

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The US Supreme Court has suspended the deportation of alleged Venezuelan gang members in the latest showdown between the Trump administration and the judiciary.

Donald Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act (AEA) last month to begin rounding up Venezuelan migrants accused of belonging to the Tren de Aragua gang before expelling them to a maximum security prison in El Salvador.

The obscure law has only previously been used during the War of 1812 against Britain, and the two World Wars.

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In an overnight ruling, the Supreme Court ordered the US government to halt alleged plans to deport a group of Venezuelans detained in Texas after the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed urgent requests to the high court, a federal appeals court and two trial courts.

The government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this court, the Supreme Courts brief order issued early on Saturday said. Conservative justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas publicly dissented from the decision.

Venezuelans deported last month to El Salvador are restrained by police officers on their arrival - Secretaria de Prensa de la Presidencia/via Reuters

The ACLU said in its emergency filing on Friday night that the group of Venezuelans held in Texas had been told they will be imminently removed under the AEA, as soon as tonight.

The flurry of activity in the case included an emergency hearing on Friday evening before US District Judge James Boasberg in Washington.

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At that hearing, a Justice Department lawyer claimed that no deportation flights were planned for that night or Saturday.

Judge Boasberg said that because the men are detained in Texas, he does not have authority to rule on the dispute, and the case therefore hinged on an order by the Supreme Court.

Attorneys for several of the Venezuelans previously deported have insisted their clients were not members of Tren de Aragua, had committed no crimes and were targeted largely on the basis of their tattoos.

Donald Trump campaigned on a promise to expel millions of undocumented migrants and claims Venezuela is invading the US with gang members - Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Mr Trump, who campaigned on a pledge to expel millions of undocumented migrants, has accused Venezuela of perpetrating an invasion of the United States through the entry of alleged Tren de Aragua members.

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The Supreme Court ruled on April 7 that anyone facing deportation under the AEA must first be given an opportunity to legally challenge their removal.

The ACLU said in its filing on Friday that the migrants in Texas were in danger of being removed from the United States without notice or an opportunity to be heard.

The rights group said: Many individuals have already been loaded on to buses, presumably headed to the airport.

The Trump administration went ahead with the initial deportations of alleged Tren de Aragua members under the AEA in March despite an order by Judge Boasberg blocking the move.

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Judges and lawmakers are now wrangling with the government and Salvadoran officials over the fate of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Maryland resident who was deported last month after what the White House later said was an administrative error.

Chris Van Hollen, the US Senator for Maryland, visited Mr Garcia in prison this week to check on his condition and offer his support.

Chris Van Hollen, the Senator for Maryland, talks to reporters after his meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who the White House have conceded was deported wrongly, in El Salvador - Carol Guzy/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock

The Supreme had Court lifted Judge Boasbergs order blocking deportations on April 7, in the same decision in which it said people facing deportation were entitled to due process.

The deported migrants are held in El Salvadors maximum security Terrorism Confinement Centre (CECOT), a mega-prison with capacity for 40,000 inmates.

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Prisoners there are packed in windowless cells, sleep on metal beds with no mattresses and are forbidden visitors.

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By Andrew Chung, Luc Cohen, Kristina Cooke and Jack Queen

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Supreme Court on Saturday temporarily barred the Trump administration from deporting a group of Venezuelan migrants it accused of being gang members under a rarely used wartime law, but the government urged the justices to lift their order.

The court issued the decision after lawyers for the American Civil Liberties Union asked it to intervene on an emergency basis, saying dozens of Venezuelan migrants faced imminent deportation without the judicial review the justices previously ordered.

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"The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court," the justices said earlier in a brief, unsigned decision.

Conservative Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito publicly dissented from the decision, issued around 12:55 a.m. (0455 GMT).

The Trump administration filed a response on Saturday afternoon urging the justices, once they review the matter further, to formally reject the ACLU's request on the migrants' behalf.

The White House responded that President Donald Trump would stay the course in his immigration crackdown but gave no immediate indication that the administration would defy the Supreme Court, appearing for now to avert a potential constitutional crisis between coequal branches of government.

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Although it was unclear where the Venezuelan migrants were headed, the Trump administration already has deported to a maximum-security prison in El Salvador more than 200 Venezuelan and Salvadoran men it claims are gang members.

The deportees included Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran immigrant whom the administration admitted was removed by mistake, igniting an outcry over its immigration policy.

Many of the migrants' lawyers and family members say they were not gang members and had no chance to dispute the government's assertion that they were.

"We are confident in the lawfulness of the Administration's actions and in ultimately prevailing against an onslaught of meritless litigation brought by radical activists who care more about the rights of terrorist aliens than those of the American people," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said in a statement.

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The case has raised questions about whether Trump, who has shown a willingness at times to defy court decisions since returning to office on January 20, will comply with limits set by the nation's highest court.

MEN LOADED ABOARD BUSES

The high court majority issued Saturday's stay after ACLU lawyers filed urgent requests for immediate action in multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, after reporting that some of the men already had been loaded aboard buses and were told they were to be deported.

The ACLU said the administration was poised to deport the men using a 1798 law that historically has been employed only in wartime without affording them a realistic opportunity to contest their removal - as the Supreme Court had ordered.

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U.S. Solicitor General D. John Sauer, in a written filing, asked the court to lift its temporary order halting the deportations to first allow lower courts to resolve the "adequacy of notice that designated enemy aliens receive."

Barring that action, Sauer wrote, the court should clarify its order to say that it "does not preclude the government from removing detainees pursuant to authorities other than the Alien Enemies Act."

Sauer said the government provided advance notice with "adequate time" to the detainees prior to starting deportations - though he did not say how much time was given.

Lee Gelernt, the ACLU's lead attorney in the case, said in a statement earlier on Saturday: "These men were in imminent danger of spending their lives in a horrific foreign prison without ever having had a chance to go to court. We are relieved that the Supreme Court has not permitted the administration to whisk them away the way others were just last month."

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In an audio recording posted on TikTok, several men said they were Venezuelans falsely accused of being gang members and held at Bluebonnet immigration detention center in Texas. They said they were taken by bus to a regional airport late on Friday but then returned.

The recording has not been verified by Reuters. An earlier post on TikTok from the same account was cited in court filings on Friday.

More than 50 Venezuelans had been scheduled to be flown out of the country  presumably to El Salvador  from the immigration center, the New York Times cited two people with knowledge of the situation as saying.

Among the detainees was Diover Millan, 24, a Venezuelan who came to the U.S. in 2023, had no criminal record and was granted temporary protected status, according to his wife, who declined to give her full name for fear of retaliation.

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"I'm scared," she said her husband, who was arrested in Atlanta last month, told her. The men were told they would be being taken to the CECOT prison in El Salvador but the bus turned back after one of the officials got a phone call, she said.

Elected last year on a promise to crack down on migrants, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in a bid to swiftly deport accused members of Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang originating from Venezuelan prisons that his administration labels a terrorist group.

Trump and his senior aides have asserted their executive power grants them wide authority on immigration matters, testing the balance of power between branches of government.

The administration scored one victory on Friday when an appeals court put on hold a threat by District Judge James Boasberg of contempt charges.

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Trump previously called for Boasberg's impeachment following an adverse ruling, prompting a rare rebuke from U.S. Chief Justice John Roberts.

HABEAS CORPUS RELIEF

The Venezuelans' deportation would be the first since the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that allowed removals under the 1798 law while specifying that "the notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs."

Habeas corpus relief refers to the right of detainees to challenge the legality of their detention. It is considered a bedrock right under U.S. law.

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The Supreme Court did not indicate how much notice should be provided. Lawyers around the country have asked that the migrants be given 30 days' notice to allow them to contest their deportations.

Asked about the planned deportations on Friday, Trump said he was unfamiliar with the particular case but added: "If they're bad people, I would certainly authorize it."

"That's why I was elected. A judge wasn't elected," he told reporters at the White House.

(Reporting by Andrew Chung and Luc Cohen in New York, Kristina Cooke in Los Angeles; Additional reporting by Jack Queen in New York, Nandita Bose in Washington and Natalia Siniawski in Mexico City; Writing by Daniel Trotta, Matt Spetalnick and Phil Stewart; Editing by Noeleen Walder, Howard Goller, Daniel Wallis, William Mallard, Diane Craft and Sandra Maler)
US Vice President JD Vance has held an audience with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican reported on Saturday.

Vance, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, was accompanied by his family.

The Vatican said there had been an exchange of opinion on religious freedom and dealing with refugees.

There had been speculation ahead of the meeting that Pope Francis could also attend, but the Vatican statement made no reference to this. Francis is recovering from double pneumonia and has cut back his schedule.

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Since his discharge from hospital four weeks ago, the 88-year-old pope has met only the British royals, King Charles III and Queen Camilla.

After the meeting, Vance visited the Sistine Chapel. On Sunday, he is scheduled to attend Easter Mass in St Peter's Basilica along with his wife and their three children.

Francis is due to be represented by a high-ranking cardinal during the Mass, but he is expected to deliver the traditional Urbi et Orbi (To the City and to the World) blessing in front of tens of thousands on St Peter's Square afterwards.

It is not known whether Vance will be involved in the second round of indirect talks between the United States and Iran on Iran's nuclear programme taking place in Rome on Saturday.

Vance is scheduled to travel on to India following his trip to Italy. His wife Usha is of Indian origin.
The historic South Caroliniana Library on the Horseshoe of the Univerisity of South Carolina, Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 in Columbia, S.C.(File/Mary Ann Chastain/Special to the SC Daily Gazette)

COLUMBIA  A University of South Carolina international student from Nigeria filed suit Friday against the federal government, arguing he was denied due process after his student visa status was revoked last week without explanation.

Matthew Ariwoola, 32, was a fourth-year doctoral chemistry student at USC, scheduled to graduate in December. But on April 8, USC staff informed Ariwoola he could not continue studying and teaching as questions swirl around the change in his immigration status.

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U.S. District Judge Jacquelyn Austin granted a temporary order late Friday to prevent Ariwoolas detention or deportation while the case makes its way through the court system.

In the order, which applies for two weeks, the judge wrote the government should not stop Ariwoola from continuing to pursue his academic and employment pursuits that he is authorized to pursue.

Ariwoola is one in a wave of more than 1,000 international students at colleges nationwide suddenly facing the possibility of arrest and deportation by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement after the Trump administration terminated their student visas.

The department did not immediately respond to a request for comment from the SC Daily Gazette.

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In South Carolina, at least a dozen USC students, a pair of Furman University students, and some students at Clemson University have had their student visas revoked or records terminated without warning, according to Allen Chaney, the legal director of the ACLU of South Carolina who is representing Ariwoola. (Chaney said those are the students his organization knows about; there could be more.)

Matthew is yet another victim of the Trump administrations haphazard and flagrantly unconstitutional dragnet of our international students, Chaney said. Its hard to see how ejecting a hardworking and law-abiding doctoral student is anything but the product of an unmasked hatred of non-Americans. No one is better off if Matthew is deported, no one.

International students enter the United States most commonly through the F-1 student visa program. Records of their visa status are maintained through a federal Homeland Security database, known as the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS).

Questions remain on exactly what the record termination means for students legal status and what Homeland Security intended to happen as a result. The matter is now being battled out in the courts.

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Once a student is granted a visa and residency status, they can typically stay in the U.S. even if that visa expires as long as they remain enrolled full time in school and arent convicted of a violent crime. There are also restrictions on off-campus jobs theyre authorized to take.

Ariwoola, whose visa expired in February, was researching ways to make medications more effective and teaching four chemistry courses at USC. He had been supporting his family through the stipend he receives from the university. Now he wont be able to pay rent and could end up homeless, the ACLU of SC wrote.

Chaney said the federal immigration agency gave his client no warning that it intended to terminate his record.

The only reason listed in the federal database: OTHER  Individual identified in criminal records check and/or has had their VISA revoked.

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Theres no process, no notice, theyre just shipping them straight to termination, Chaney told the SC Daily Gazette.

Ariwoola has never been convicted of a crime.

Police arrested him in 2023 on a warrant out of Georgia for alleged theft by deception, a crime which can involve the use of in-person or cyber scams to steal from a victim. But according to the ACLU, Ariwoola had never contacted the accuser and the prosecutor had dismissed all charges.

Historically, students whose visas were revoked or expired have not lost their legal residency status and could stay in the U.S. to finish school. It only prevented their leaving the U.S. and returning without reapplying.

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In a similar case in Michigan involving four students from the University of Michigan and Wayne State University, lawyers from the government leaned into this, arguing in court documents filed this week that terminating a record within SEVIS does not effectuate a visa revocation because students can apply to have their status reinstated.

But immigration lawyers have questioned why Homeland Security terminated the records at all if it did not intend to revoke the students legal status.

And some students, including Ariwoola, have been told the opposite regarding their legal status.

We recommend that you depart the United States as soon as possible because you no longer have legal status in the United States, USCs international student office wrote in an email to Ariwoola.

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The email, attached to court filings, went on to say Ariwoola must resign from his internship and recommended he speak with an immigration attorney.

Please know that we are here to help you as much as we can in these difficult times, the email said.

Chaney also said applying for reinstatement involves a new set of arguments and assumes the students records were rightfully terminated in the first place.

If ICE believes a student is deportable, it has the authority to initiate removal proceedings and make its case, the ACLU of South Carolina wrote in court documents. It cannot, however, misuse SEVIS to circumvent the law, strip students of status, and bully them into self-deporting without any process of law.

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The ACLU also argued in court documents that universities themselves could lose the ability to host any current or future international students if they fail to comply with federal regulations by allowing a student with a revoked status continue to attend.

This creates a self fulfilling prophesy, leading to visa revocation if a student cant remain enrolled.

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WASHINGTON  Utah Rep. Mike Kennedy was among a group of congressional Republicans who visited a prison in El Salvador at the center of controversy as it currently holds a Maryland man who was mistakenly deported there last month.

Kennedy, along with four other House Republicans, met with officials at the U.S. Embassy in El Salvador on Tuesday, according to a photo posted on social media by the embassy. Kennedy confirmed to the Deseret News he also visited CECOT, a high-security prison known for holding terrorists, which the Utah lawmaker called sobering.

El #EmbajadorDuncan dio ayer la bienvenida a El Salvador a la delegacion encabezada por el Congresista Jason Smith, quien visita el pais para fortalecer los lazos bilaterales y dialogar sobre iniciativas que promueven el desarrollo economico y la cooperacion mutua. pic.twitter.com/Zj0o8OSiOJ  Embajada EEUU en ES (@USEmbassySV) April 16, 2025

We were face-to-face with prisoners that have committed horrific and unimaginable crimes, Kennedy told the Deseret News. These men were once powerful figures outside of this prison, feared by many. These are brutal murderers and rapists, and El Salvador has taken action to put the safety of their citizens first. The United States is doing the same.

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CECOT has been at the forefront of the immigration debate after Kilmar Abrego Garcia was removed from the United States last month and sent to the prison. However, Kennedy said he did not meet with Abrego Garcia nor did he discuss him with Salvadoran officials.

Still, Kennedy expressed support for the Trump administrations decision to deport immigrants who have entered the country illegally and have a criminal background.

Many of these dangerous criminals have crossed into our country and committed heinous crimes taking the lives of innocent Americans and the Trump administration is doing what the Biden administration would not  enforcing the law, restoring order, and protecting our citizens, Kennedy said.

Kennedys trip comes as several Democratic lawmakers are seeking to visit the prison themselves to meet with Abrego Garcia amid an ongoing legal battle about whether he should be returned to the United States.

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Abrego Garcia, who is from El Salvador, was first notified that his immigration status had been changed on March 12, after ICE agents apprehended him to ask about possible gang affiliations. At the time, Abrego Garcia held withholding from removal status, meaning he was approved to stay in the U.S. due to dangers he said he would face if returned to his home country.

Days later, Abrego Garcia was deported to El Salvador  a move that the Justice Department said occurred because of an administrative error.

Since then, the Supreme Court issued a ruling this month that the Trump administration must facilitate his release, although top U.S. officials have said they lack the jurisdiction to do so. Meanwhile, El Salvador President Nayib Bukele said he cannot return Abrego Garcia to the United States, and he has denied releasing him from prison.

Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollen of Maryland was the first lawmaker to meet with Abrego Garcia at the prison earlier this week, claiming there is not sufficient evidence that he has committed gang-related crimes.

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The Justice Department has defended its actions, releasing records from the Prince Georges County Police Department in Maryland documenting Abrego Garcias arrest in 2019 over suspicion of entering the country illegally.

The document also cites testimony from a redacted source who has provided truthful accurate information in the past, claiming Abrego Garcia was validated as a member of the MS-13 gang. Additional court records from 2021 show Abrego Garcias wife accused him of beating her.

Several other Democrats have pressed for official CODELs to visit the prison, but top Republican leaders have said they would deny those requests.

CODEL is political jargon for congressional delegation.

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There is no excuse for Democrats to waste taxpayer dollars visiting and defending a transnational gang member and reported domestic abuser, Rep. Mark Green, Republican chairman of the House Committee on Homeland Security, said in a statement. If Democrats care so much about defending this individual, they can use their own personal credit cards  not taxpayers money  to virtue-signal to their radical base.

House Oversight Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., also denied a request from Democratic Reps. Maxwell Frost, D-Fla., and Robert Garcia, D-Calif., to approve a CODEL to the prison.

If you also wish to meet with him, you can spend your own money, Comer wrote in a letter on Friday. But I will not approve a single dime of taxpayer funds for use on the excursion you have requested.
Third District Judge Laura Scott during a hearing on Utah Education Association's lawsuit against the Utah Fits All Scholarship program, in Salt Lake City on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024. (Pool photo by Trent Nelson/The Salt Lake Tribune)

Is Utahs school choice program unconstitutional? A year after Utahs largest teacher union sued the state over that question, a 3rd District Court judge ruled that the program known as Utah Fits All violates the state constitution.

The Utah Education Association had argued that the Utah Fits All program violated articles III and X of the Utah Constitution because it was a program within the public education system that is not free and is not open to all the children of Utah, and diverts constitutionally appropriated funds from already underfunded public schools.

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The Utah Fits All program was established in 2023, providing up to $8,000 in scholarships per eligible student to cover private schools, or homeschool curriculums. In 2024, the Utah Legislature doubled the initial appropriation of $42.5 million in ongoing income tax revenue by adding an additional $40 million. And this year, that number grew $40 million more.

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The money was enough to pay for the vouchers of 10,000 students  about 80% of them are homeschooled. But, with a waitlist of 17,000 and other irregularities in the expenses reported by parents, the Legislature this year approved a series of reforms, reducing scholarship amounts of homeschooled students to $4,000 a year for students ages 5 to 11 and $6,000 for ages 12 to 18. Those attending private schools can still receive $8,000 a year.

Lawmakers also prohibited some expenses like ski passes, furniture and musical instruments, and established a cap of 20% per scholarship for extracurriculars and physical education, an unpopular move among Utah Fits All parents.

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In the decision, the court explained why its interpretation of the constitution sided with the UEA, especially highlighting a past Utah Supreme Court ruling that decided that the Legislatures authority in establishing and maintaining the public education system is limited. The legislature, for instance, cannot establish schools and programs that are not open to all the children of Utah or free from sectarian control, the court wrote then.

The UEA celebrated the decision, describing it as a significant victory for public education.

This decision protects the integrity of public education, ensuring critical funding remains in schools that serve 90% of Utahs children and prioritize equitable, inclusive opportunities for every student to succeed, the union wrote in a statement. It reinforces the belief that public education is a cornerstone of opportunity for all, regardless of background or circumstance.

However, Republican leaders in the state lamented the decision and said they intended to continue the legal fight. House Speaker Mike Schultz, R-Hooper, called the ruling a devastating setback for Utah families.

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Were unwavering in our commitment to ensuring that every Utah student, irrespective of zip code or income, has equal access to the educational opportunities they rightfully deserve, Schultz said in a statement. We will vigorously pursue every avenue, including the Utah Supreme Court, to overturn this decision and restore hope for Utahs students and families.

Senate President Stuart Adams, R-Layton, and Gov. Spencer Cox expressed the same disappointment, with Cox adding in a social media post that the state will be reviewing the ruling with our attorneys and preparing to appeal.

However, the strongest reaction came from Rep. Candice Pierucci, R-Herriman, who sponsored the legislation that created Utah Fits All. She called the decision judicial activism.

It is not the job of judiciary to set policy on the bench and infuse personal opinion and ideology into their decisions. We are not done fighting this fight and will appeal this decision to the Utah Supreme Court, she wrote in a statement.

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Heres why the court said the school choice program is unconstitutional:

Utahs Education Article

Utahs Education Article does more than simply articulate a policy or aspiration, leaving the legislature with plenary authority to determine how best to accomplish it. It is a direct command to the legislature to perform a single duty: establish and maintain the states education systems, Judge Laura Scott wrote in the decision. That includes a public education system open to all children of the state and a higher education system free from sectarian control.

The state had rejected that argument stating that the program is expressly not part of the public education system.

However, the court said that the elementary and secondary schools funded through the program are not open to all, since all of them have some sort of application process with assessments, interviews or tests to determine if the student is fit.

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While private schools are prohibited from discriminating against students based on their race, color and national origin, they are not prohibited from discriminating against students based on gender, religion, socio-economic status, disability, sexual orientation or political affiliation.

Not only can schools deny admission because of these factors, the opinion reads, it also divides children into groups or classes  children attending public schools and children attending private schools  and provides additional benefits to private or homeschooled children that may not be available to children attending public school, such as funds for computers, test prep courses, private tutoring, among others.

Amendment G

In 2020 Utahns voted to pass Amendment G, which changed the Utah Constitution to allow intangible property or income tax revenue to support systems of higher education and to support children and to support individuals with disabilities.

While Utah GOP leaders said that the amendment allows them to run programs that are designed to support children, the UEA rejected that argument, stating that Amendment G was meant to allow using income tax to fund certain mental health and disability programs, which according to the court, is what the voters who approved the amendment understood with the language.

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That interpretation of Amendment G could also be attributed to the legislative debates on it.

No legislator ever mentioned school choice or vouchers for children who do not have disabilities. No legislator ever suggested that Amendment G could be used to divert income tax revenue from public schools to private schools, according to the opinion. The debates, instead, highlighted that the ballot question would address budgetary constraints by allowing income tax revenue to fund certain social services programs and would strengthen public education funding.

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The Orrin G. Hatch United States Courthouse is pictured in Salt Lake City on Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (McKenzie Romero/Utah News Dispatch)

Eight international students in Utah whose permits to study in the country were revoked have sued the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for the unilateral and abrupt termination of their legal status in the country, forcing them to lose school time and jobs while subjecting them to detention and deportation.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) filed the lawsuit in federal court in Utah on behalf of the students on Friday, asking for a temporary restraining order halting the removal of the individuals records from Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVIS), a database that tracks their visa compliance and allows them to stay in the country while they complete their studies, or in the case of recent graduates, maintain an early career job.

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That, after more than 50 students were reported to be impacted by status revocations in Utah, many without any type of notice. Some of them didnt have links with protests or a criminal background, generating confusion on campuses.

According to the suit, the Department of Homeland Security action violated the students rights for due process since they didnt get a chance to contest the decision. It also alleges that erasing the SEVIS records was against federal law and violated the Constitution.

(The students) were following all their visa requirements and had committed nothing that should have changed their status, Aaron Welcher, communication director for the ACLU of Utah, said on Friday.

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The ACLU declined to release some details about the students to protect their privacy. However, the organization said they are from China, Nigeria, Mexico and Japan and are attending different universities across the state, including the University of Utah, Brigham Young University and Ensign College. A ninth student from BYU-Idaho was also included in the complaint.

The students have been experiencing high levels of stress and anxiety after learning about their status terminations, and are uncertain about their futures, including fears of being labeled a national security or foreign policy threat, forbidding them from reentering the United States or other countries.

The abrupt and unexplained termination of these students lawful SEVIS registration is profoundly concerning. These students now face deportation or worse, placing their education and futures in jeopardy, Tom Ford, staff attorney at the ACLU of Utah, said in the release. Coordinated attacks on due process are paving the way for the kind of tyrannical government our Constitution was meant to prevent  and the ACLU of Utah is taking action to stop that abuse of power and keep rights intact for all of us.

The termination of SEVIS records effectively ends the students permits to be in the country. While the students have the option to apply for reinstatement of status with USCIS, according to the lawsuit, the federal government has informed multiple schools that they will deny all reinstatement applications for students in this specific situation.

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The new process of removing SEVIS records was also criticized in the suit.

If ICE believes a student is deportable for having a revoked visa, it has the authority to initiate removal proceedings and make its case in court, the lawsuit reads. However, it cannot misuse SEVIS to circumvent the law, strip students of status, and drive them out of the country without process.

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This is a developing story. ABC4 will update this post as new information becomes available.

SALT LAKE CITY (ABC4)  A lawsuit has been filed against the U.S. Department of Homeland Security on behalf of eight international students in Utah who had their Student and Exchange Visitor (SEVIS) Program records terminated.

In a release sent to ABC4.com, the ACLU of Utah states that they have filed this lawsuit alongside the law firm Stowell Crayk, P.C., and immigration attorneys Phillip Kuck and Timothy Wheelwright.

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The eight students are from four countries  China, Nigeria, Mexico, and Japan  and attend schools located in Utah, including Brigham Young University, the University of Utah, and Ensign College  at least one is enrolled at BYU-Idaho.

In the United States, everyone  no matter your immigration status  has a constitutional right to due process. To terminate an international students SEVIS registration, the U.S. government must adhere to regulatory standards and provide basic due process, which it has failed to do  its not just wrong, its unlawful, Jason M. Groth, Legal Director at the ACLU of Utah, said in the release.

Its unfair: International PhD student at BYU speaks after his student visa was revoked

According to the lawsuit, DHS violated students Fifth Amendment rights on the basis that they had no notification or opportunity to contest the decision. ACLU says that they are working on filing a temporary restraining order to protect these students.

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These students face irreparable harm if the courts do not correct the governments unlawful actions, including lost immigration status, lost education, lost diplomas, lost tuition, and lost jobs and careers, said attorney Phillip Kuck. If the courts choose not to act, they face removal from the country without any tangible recourse.

The lawsuit states that the students are not currently seeking to challenge the revocation of their F-1 visas even though said revocations appear to have been taken in bad faith. They are seeking the reinstatement of their SEVIS registration.

According to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), SEVIS is the Web-based system that the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) uses to maintain information on Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)-certified schools.

When those students SEVIS records were terminated, they were subject to arrest, detention, and deportation, forcing them to lose their schooling and their employment, according to the lawsuit. It asserts that ICE is not authorized to terminate their SEVIS records even when the students visa has been revoked.

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Students react to nearly 50 international students visas being revoked, records being removed across Utah

Practically speaking, termination of a SEVIS record prevents the student from doing things they must do in order to maintain their status, like OPT reporting, requesting transfers, requesting reduced course load for medical emergencies, etc., the lawsuit states.

The students involved in the lawsuit are not identified and are listed as Jane or John Doe. Much of the background information involving the plaintiffs has been redacted.

The causes of action listed are under the Fifth Amendment and the Administrative Procedure Act. The lawsuit asks that the court declare the termination of the students SEVIS registration and termination of their nonimmigrant status was unlawful.

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The lawsuit also asks that the court restore their SEVIS registration, nonimmigrant student status, and curricular practical training (CPT) or optional practical training (OPT).

The abrupt and unexplained termination of these students lawful SEVIS registration is profoundly concerning. These students now face deportation or worse, placing their education and futures in jeopardy, said Tom Ford, Staff Attorney at the ACLU of Utah. Coordinated attacks on due process are paving the way for the kind of tyrannical government our Constitution was meant to preventand the ACLU of Utah is taking action to stop that abuse of power and keep rights intact for all of us.

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen (R-Md.) on Friday tried to debunk conspiracy theories that he was having a margarita with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador, saying government officials there placed glasses down on their table to make it look like they had been drinking.

Van Hollen also criticized the Salvadoran government for trying to glorify the treatment given to Abrego Garcia, pointing to the margarita-like drinks placed in front of them and the initial plan to hold the meeting poolside during their Thursday face-to-face.

The Maryland Democrat, shortly after he landed from El Salvador, detailed his discussion with Abrego Garcia, who was being held at the notorious CECOT prison before recently being moved.

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According to the Maryland senator, the two had only water in front of them at the meeting in a hotel before, as documented in the photo Van Hollen shared on his social media accounts. Shortly after, a Salvadoran government official deposited two other glasses on the table.

Van Hollen noted Abrego Garcias glass appeared to have less in it to give the impression that hed been drinking out of it.

Let me just be very clear: Neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, he said. Nobody drank any margaritas or sugar water or whatever it is. But this is the lesson in the lengths that President [Nayib] Bukele will do to deceive people about whats going on.

Van Hollen said its clear the drinks went untouched, as none of the salted rims indicated either man drank out of the glasses.

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And if you want to play a little Sherlock Holmes, Ill tell you how you can, he said.

If you sip out of one of those glasses, some of whatever it was, salt or sugar would disappear. You would see a gap. Theres no gap.

He also pointed to the initial plan to hold the meeting by the hotel pool.

They actually wanted to have the meeting by the side of the pool in this hotel, Van Hollen continued. This is a guy whos been in CECOT, this is a guy whos been detained. They wanted to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie.

Van Hollens remarks came to reporters at Dulles International Airport, where he landed after his multiday trip to the Central American nation, which he documented throughout.

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He said the two met Thursday night, with Abrego Garcia saying he since has been transferred out of CECOT.

The meeting also marked Abrego Garcias first interaction with anyone outside the prison since he was taken and deported by Trump officials, which administration lawyers have since admitted was done in error.

Van Hollen said the main point of the meeting was to determine whether he was healthy. Abrego Garcia said he is.

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Sen. Chris Van Hollen said Friday that Kilmar Abrego Garcia was completely in the dark about his familys battle to secure his release and the intense political debate over his future when the Maryland Democrat met with the mistakenly deported man in El Salvador this week.

When I told him that his wife and family sent their love and were fighting for Kilmar to return home every day, he said that he was worried about all of you, that was his response, Van Hollen told reporters at Dulles International Airport outside Washington, D.C., at an event that included members of Abrego Garcias family.

How are you dealing with this horrible ordeal and nightmare for the family, Van Hollen said, adding that a tear rolled down the detainees cheek as he relayed how much he missed his family.

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He said that thinking of you, members of his family, is what gave him the strength to persevere, to keep going day to day, even under these awful circumstances, said Van Hollen, who spoke just after his return from the dramatic visit to see Abrego Garcia.

Van Hollen said Abrego Garcia knew nothing about the Supreme Court directive to facilitate his return and had been blocked from information about the outside world even after his transfer out of the notorious CECOT prison, as it is known by its Spanish-language acronym.

Abrego Garcia is now at a facility in Santa Ana, El Salvador.

He still has no access to any news from the outside world and no ability to communicate with anybody in the outside world, Van Hollen said.

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His conversation with me was the first communication he had with anybody outside a prison since he was abducted. He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes.

Abrego Garcia was protected from removal to El Salvador by an immigration judge in 2019, and the Justice Department has said in court his removal was due to an administrative error.

Van Hollen went on to attack the Trump administration for seeking to peg Abrego Garcia as a MS-13 gang member, a claim that primarily rests on one tip from a confidential informant, rather than fix its mistake.

The Trump administration wants to flat out lie about what this case is about. They want to change the subject. They want to make it about something else and they are flouting the orders from the federal district court to 4th Circuit Court and the Supreme Court to facilitate his return, he said.

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But he noted that while the Trump administration has released court documents mentioning the initial gang tip and another showing his wife initially sought  then declined to pursue  a protective order, it has not presented any of that evidence in court, even as a judge has said it has failed to demonstrate he was an MS-13 member.

In other words, put up in court or shut up, Van Hollen said, adding that even noncitizens have a right to due process under the U.S. Constitution.

This case is about upholding constitutional rights for Abrego Garcia and for every American. President Trump and the Trump administration wants to say that those who are fighting to stand up for our Constitution dont want to fight gang violence. That is an outright lie. That is a big, big lie. I, for one, have been fighting against transnational gang violence, especially MS-13, for over 20 years. Probably for longer than Donald Trump ever uttered those words, MS-13, Van Hollen said.

Van Hollen also told of being rebuffed by Salvadoran leaders as he sought to secure a meeting  and that he was later blocked by the military when he tried to drive to CECOT.

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Van Hollen credited his presence on the ground and a press conference attended by Salvadoran media with pressuring El Salvador President Nayib Bukele to change his mind.

I think the reason they relented is pretty clear. They were feeling the pressure. I mean, they were feeling the pressure because while I was in El Salvador, we had two major press conferences that included the local press who reported on this. And I think that they decided that it was not a good look to continue to detain Abrego Garcia without anybody having access to him. Theres no other explanation for the fact that they said no, no, no, no, no, and then prevented us from going to [the] prison, he said.

The meeting was arranged at the last minute  as Van Hollen was preparing to board a flight back to the U.S. But rather than visiting Abrego Garcia in prison, they transported him in plain clothes to the hotel where Van Hollen was staying.

The Salvadoran government initially tried to stage the meeting by the hotels pool, which Van Hollen declined.

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This is a guy whos been in CECOT, this is a guy whos been detained. They wanted to create this appearance that life was just lovely for Kilmar, which of course is a big, fat lie, he said.

During the meeting, staff brought over margaritas for the pair, including giving Abrego Garcia a glass with less liquid, something Van Hollen said was designed to make it look like the detainee was enjoying a beverage.

Nobody drank any margaritas, Van Hollen said, arguing that can be verified in photos as the salt rim went untouched.

But this is a lesson into the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about whats going on.

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Van Hollen said he learned that the Trump administration is paying the Salvadoran government $15 million to house Abrego Garcia and other deported men for the next year  up from the $6 million figure initially reported.

I just urge the president of El Salvador, the vice president El Salvador, to rethink whether they want to become the place it just gets paid off for being complicit in this illegal scheme.

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DULLES, VA  A Maryland father wrongly deported to El Salvador and held in a notorious prison told a U.S. senator that he was traumatized by the experience.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia reported to Sen. Chris Van Hollen during a meeting in El Salvador that he was moved nine days ago from that country's Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, to another facility with better conditions.

Abrego Garcia said he had been traumatized by his time in CECOT and that he had been taunted by other prisoners.

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He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes, said Van Hollen, who provided details of the meeting at a news conference after arriving back at Dulles International Airport near Washington.

Abrego Garcia's meeting with Van Hollen on April 17 was the first time he had been seen publicly since he was detained in March by U.S. immigration officials near his home in Beltsville, Maryland, about a half hour outside of Washington.

Family, friends and attorneys for the union sheet metal worker had raised questions about his safety and well-being. A federal judge handling his case had asked the Justice Department to produce daily reports on his location and status. Government attorneys had said as recently as April 12 that he was still at CECOT. But, according to Abrego Garcia's account, he had already been moved to a facility in Santa Ana, El Salvador.

Timeline: How an error led to the deportation of a legal resident of US to El Salvador

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Van Hollen, who traveled to El Salvador this week to demand Abrego Garcia's release, was allowed to see him after twice being advised that the meeting would not happen. Van Hollen said the meeting took place in the hotel where he had been staying in San Salvador.

Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen that, after his arrest in March, he was first taken to Baltimore, where he asked to make a phone call to his loved ones but was refused the opportunity, Van Hollen said.

He was then taken to a detention facility in Texas, where he was handcuffed, shackled and put on a plane with others who did not know where they were going.

Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) hugs Cecilia Garcia de Abrego, mother of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was wrongly deported by the Trump administration, before speaking to reporters at Dulles International Airport on April 18, 2025, after his return to the U.S. from El Salvador.

Once at CECOT, he was placed into a cell with around 25 other people, the senator said.

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He was traumatized by being at CECOT and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell blocks who called out to him and taunted him in various ways, Van Hollen said.

Abrego Garcia told Van Hollen he missed his wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and his family, a message the senator said he relayed to the wife in a phone call after the meeting.

"He said that thinking of you, members of his family, is what gave him the strength to persevere, to keep going day to day, even under these awful circumstances," Van Hollen said.

Democratic Senator Van Hollen met with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, the Maryland man mistakenly deported to El Salvador.

The Trump administration expelled Abrego Garcia, a 29-year-old Salvadoran native who had been in the United States for more than a decade and sent him back to the Central American country. An immigration judge had previously ordered that he could not be returned to El Salvador.

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Abrego Garcia's family has sued the U.S. government demanding his return.

Government attorneys acknowledged in court documents that he was deported by mistake but say they have no authority to free him because he is imprisoned in a foreign country. Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele said during a meeting with President Donald Trump at the White House on April 14 that he would not free Abrego Garcia and return him to the United States.

An 'administrative error': A Maryland dad was sent to El Salvador prison by mistake. Can his community get him back?

U.S. officials contend Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 criminal gang, recently deemed a foreign terrorist organization. But their evidence relies on a confidential informant and clothing Garcia was wearing in 2019 police encounter.

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U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis of Maryland, who is handling the case, has questioned the strength of the government's evidence, writing that the United States has claimed without any evidence that he is a member of MS-13.

Supporters of Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Maryland) listen as he speaks to reporters on April 18, 2025, at Dulles International Airport in Virginia after his return to the U.S. from El Salvador where he met with Maryland man Kilmar Abrego Garcia who was wrongly deported by the Trump administration.

In a social media post on April 17, Bukele appeared to mock Van Hollen's meeting Abrego Garcia.

The Salvadoran president posted photos of the meeting and wrote that Abrego Garcia had miraculously risen from the death camps & torture and was now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!"

Van Hollen, however, said a Bukele aide placed the margarita glasses in front of him and Abrego Garcia. Abrego Garcias glass had slightly less liquid, as if to show he had drunk more, Van Hollen said.

Neither of us touched the drinks in front of us, the senator said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Wrongly deported man recounts harrowing stay in El Salvador prison
Apr. 18Appearing emotional and tired, Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen arrived back in the U.S. Friday, revealing details from his meeting with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador.

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Originally Published:April 18, 2025 at 5:15 PM EDT
Sen. Chris Van Hollens (D-Md.) trip to El Salvador to visit a mistakenly deported constituent has thrust the mild-mannered lawmaker into a major battle with the Trump administration as it doubles down on its pledge to keep Kilmar Abrego Garcia imprisoned abroad.

Van Hollen embarked for the Central American nation on Wednesday after saying he would travel there if Abrego Garcia had not been returned by mid-week.

In doing so, Van Hollen traveled straight to the capital of a country whose government rebuffed his request to meet with President Nayib Bukele, and who has vowed not to release Abrego Garcia.

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This case is not just about one man, its about protecting the constitutional rights of everybody who resides in the United States of America, Van Hollen said at a press conference after landing at Dulles International Airport, appearing alongside members of Abrego Garcias family.

Thats why I traveled to El Salvador leaving here on Wednesday, and I want to express my gratitude to members of my family and members of my staff who agree that we all must be prepared to take risks because of the current risk to our constitution itself.

Van Hollen achieved the main objective of his trip in meeting with Abrego Garcia. The senator did so despite being told such a visit was not possible and having his car physically blocked by authorities as he attempted to visit the notorious prison his constituent was being held.

To Van Hollen, the trip was one small step to address an injustice after Abrego Garcia was sent to a Salvadoran prison despite a 2019 immigration court ruling protecting him from being deported to his home country.

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And while the White House has claimed Abrego Garcia was a member of MS-13, the assertion is largely based on one confidential tip that he was part of the gangs New York branch  a state where he has never lived. Democrats argue the disputed details are a key example of why judicial review is needed before migrants are whisked away to a foreign prison.

In taking the 2,000-mile trip to San Salvador, Van Hollen earned pushback from the GOP, with White House border czar Tom Homan calling the trip disgusting.

Rather than taking care of the constituents in his state, the victims of illegal crime in his state, hes going to run to El Salvador to protect an MS-13 terrorist, Homan said. Its just disgusting.

Van Hollen fired back Friday, saying he had been fighting MS-13 probably for longer than Donald Trump ever uttered those words.

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Salvadoran officials repeatedly denied Van Hollens entreaties earlier in the week, with Vice President Felix Ulloa saying Wednesday he could not arrange a visit to CECOT prison on such short notice and said even a phone call wouldnt be possible unless the U.S. embassy worked to arrange it.

Undeterred, Van Hollen attempted to visit the prison Thursday.

We were stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about 3 kilometers from CECOT prison, Van Hollen said at a press conference afterward. We were told by the soldiers that theyd been ordered not to allow us to proceed any further than that point.

Van Hollen was preparing to leave the country that night when the Salvadoran government relented, delivering Abrego Garcia to the senators hotel in plain clothes while suggesting the pair hold their meeting poolside.

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Hes shown his colleagues in both the House and the Senate that they have to start thinking outside the box and be more aggressive. It was a great move.  He showed his colleagues  that there are options out there besides just going along with what Trump and Elon want to do, said Jim Manley, a former top aide to former Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

My hats off to him. Im not sure its going to change the situation on the ground for this gentleman, but he showed  they can do much more than maybe theyve been doing so far.

Van Hollens trip came a little more than two weeks after Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) held the floor for more than 25 hours to speak out against numerous actions by the Trump administration, giving him the longest speech in chamber history in the process.

Those are two prime examples of what Democrats are clamoring for as they look for ways to push back against Trumps efforts across the federal government.

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What Im interested in is whether its  an indication of more to come, Manley said. To me, both of those activities indicate that Democrats are beginning to take a much more aggressive posture towards the Trump administration.

Van Hollens trip also revealed information about Abrego Garcias case and detainment, which could play a role in the legal battle over his expulsion.

He said the Salvadoran government said Abrego Garcia has no criminal record in the country and that Ulloa cited U.S. funding as their rationale for keeping him.

His answer was that the Trump administration is paying the government of El Salvador to keep him at CECOT, Van Hollen said in a Wednesday press conference, the mountains surrounding San Salvador visible behind him.

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Van Hollen said embassy staff on the ground had also received no directive to take any action to facilitate Abrego Garcias return  something he said was a violation of a Supreme Court order directing the Trump administration to do so.

The senators press conferences were well attended by Salvadoran media, putting pressure on Bukele on his home turf.

Van Hollen argued that the rising media attention persuaded the government to change its mind and allow his meeting with Abrego Garcia.

I think the reason they relented is pretty clear, Van Hollen said Friday.

They were feeling the pressure because while I was in El Salvador, we had two major press conferences that included the local press who reported on this. And I think that they decided that it was not a good look to continue to detain Abrego Garcia without anybody having access to him. Theres no other explanation for the fact that they said no, no, no, no, no, and then prevented us from going to prison.

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A surprise delivery of margaritas, which Van Hollen said neither man touched, showed the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about whats going on.

Van Hollen has largely stayed out of the spotlight throughout his Senate tenure, with Manley noting that he has been kind of quiet throughout much of those eight years.

But he sure made a move by going down to El Salvador like this, he said.

Rep. Glenn Ivey (D-Md.), who represents the district where Abrego Garcia lived with his U.S. citizen wife and child, praised Van Hollen for his consistent pressure on the ground while being diplomatic.

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Hes a smart and committed and capable senator, he said. He grew up with a parent in the foreign service. He knows the ins and outs of that world better than most.

Its not the first time Van Hollen has apparently gone rogue on a humanitarian mission.

In January 2024, Van Hollen traveled with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) to the Gaza Strip, only to be barred from entering when they tried to enter through its border with Egypt.

In the wake of that visit, Van Hollen pressed for improved access for humanitarian organizations trying to aid Palestinians. Van Hollen later drafted what became the Biden administrations National Security Memorandum 20  an effort to restrict weapons to allies that could be used for violating human rights.

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Talking to Chris for any amount of time makes one thing perfectly clear: he really cares about people. Over the years, weve partnered together to take on powerful interests that harm our families and shine a light on injustices around the globe. I will never forget our visit to Rafah Crossing, which had some of the harshest humanitarian conditions either of us had ever seen, Merkley said in a statement to The Hill.

Chris cares deeply about the folks he represents in the Senate, and takes his commitment to being their voice seriously, especially during times of injustice. Chris trip to El Salvador, in service of his constituent, Kilmar Abrego Garcia, perfectly represents that commitment to serve and stand up to injustice, no matter where it appears.

Jennifer Vasquez Sura, Abrego Garcias wife, said Van Hollen answered the prayers of her and her children.

My children and my prayers have been answered. The efforts of my family and community in fighting for justice are being heard, because I now know that my husband is alive, Sura said in a statement.

We still have so many questions, hopes, and fears. I will continue praying and fighting for Kilmars return home, she said, thanking Van Hollen and numerous others for continuing this fight for my family to be reunited.

Ivey also said he was relieved by Van Hollens report on Abrego Garcias wellbeing after the Trump administration largely failed to provide the updates on his status requested in court.

I think the answer in court how he was doing  that made me scared. So Im glad to see that hes actually alive and healthy, he said.

Abrego Garcia has since been transferred out of CECOT, and is now held at another Salvadoran prison. But Van Hollen said his ultimate goal remains to bring him home.

Hes obviously in a terrible situation, as I said, hes experienced trauma. He said hes sad every day. But I think this persistence resulted in having this chance to meet with him, to begin to get a little bit of his story, Van Hollen said at Dulles.

And I think it is the first step to ultimately bringing him home, as the constitution requires.

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Vice President JD Vance met with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Pietro Parolin on Saturday morning, amid friction between the administration and Pope Francis over President Donald Trumps aggressive mass deportation policy.

Readouts from the Vatican and the vice presidents office differed starkly in their presentations of the meeting, with a statement from the Holy See referencing an exchange of opinions on issues relating to migrants and refugees.

Francis has sharply rebuked the Trump administration for its mass deportation policy, placing Vance, who was baptized into the Catholic Church in 2019 and is the highest-ranking Catholic in the U.S. government, in the center of a row between his church and his boss.

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There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, the Vaticans statement on Saturdays meeting read, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners.

By contrast, the statement from the White House said Vance and Parolin discussed their shared religious faith, Catholicism in the United States, the plight of persecuted Christian communities around the world, and President Trump's commitment to restoring world peace.

Francis has made clear his disapproval of the Trump administrations immigration crackdown. The pontiff in February penned a strongly worded letter to bishops in the United States expressing concern over the countrys mass deportation efforts, calling on them to consider the infinite and transcendent dignity of every human person and issuing a reminder that Jesus Christ himself lived a life of exile.

Mass deportation, he wrote, damages the dignity of many men and women, and of entire families, and places them in a state of particular vulnerability and defenselessness.

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The letter also appeared to refute Vances prior use of the theological concept ordo amoris, or order of love, to justify his immigration stance. Vance said in a Fox News interview in January that you love your family, and then you love your neighbor, and then you love your community, and then you love your fellow citizens in your own country, and then, after that, you can focus and prioritize the rest of the world.

But Francis contradicted the vice presidents interpretation, writing that the true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan,' that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

The 88-year-old pope, who often meets with American leaders when they visit the Vatican, is still recovering after a prolonged hospital stay for an aggressive lung infection.

Vance and his family attended a Good Friday service at St. Peters Basilica on Friday and toured the Sistine Chapel with Vatican officials Saturday.
By Joshua McElwee

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) -U.S. Vice President JD Vance went to the Vatican on Saturday to meet senior Catholic Church officials who have been sharply critical of his administration's policies, in the first such in-person talks of the second Trump presidency.

Vance, a Catholic who has clashed with Pope Francis over U.S. President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown, met with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vatican's Secretary of State, and his chief deputy.

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The two sides had "cordial talks" that included "an exchange of opinions on the international situation," according to a Vatican statement after the meeting.

Vance and Parolin spoke "especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners," the statement read.

Vance said in a statement that he and the cardinal had discussed Catholicism in the U.S., the issue of persecuted Christians in the world, and "President Trump's commitment to restoring world peace".

Francis, who is limiting his public appearances on doctors' orders as he recovers from double pneumonia, did not take part in the meeting. Vance is visiting Italy over the Easter weekend.

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The pope, Parolin and other Vatican officials have criticised several Trump administration policies, including Trump's plans to deport millions of migrants from the U.S. and his widespread cuts to foreign aid and domestic welfare programmes.

"This visit takes place in a delicate moment," said Massimo Faggioli, an Italian academic at Villanova University who has followed the papacy closely. "This relationship with the U.S. is a very high priority right now for the Vatican."

Francis has called the Trump administration's immigration crackdown a "disgrace". Vance, who became Catholic in 2019, has cited medieval-era Catholic teaching to justify the immigration crackdown.

The pope rebutted the theological concept Vance used to defend the crackdown in an unusual open letter to the U.S. Catholic bishops about the Trump administration in February, and called Trump's plan a "major crisis" for the U.S.

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"What is built on the basis of force, and not on the truth about the equal dignity of every human being, begins badly and will end badly," the pope said then.

CHURCH-STATE RELATIONS

Vance first visited the Vatican on Thursday to attend a religious ceremony in St. Peter's Basilica with his family.

The Catholic Church's worldwide charity arm has called the Trump administration's funding cuts to U.S. foreign aid programmes "catastrophic" in terms of its impact on the developing world.

The U.S. Catholic bishops' conference announced this month that, due to Trump administration cuts, it would end a half-century of partnerships with the federal government to provide services to migrant and refugee populations.

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Chieko Noguchi, a spokesperson for the U.S. bishops, told Reuters that Parolin, the Vatican cardinal, is "well-informed of the challenges faced by the Church and her institutions here" in the U.S.

"We pray that the meeting yields positive and engaging dialogue," she said.

The Vatican statement said that, during the Vance and Parolin meeting, "hope was expressed for serene collaboration" between the U.S. church and government.

(Reporting by Joshua McElwee; Additional reporting by Nandita Bose in Washington; Editing by Andrew Heavens and Hugh Lawson)
SPRINGDALE, Ark. (KNWA/KFTA)  Local businesses are starting to feel the impacts of the 184% tariff placed on Chinese imports by the United States.

Dela Devilles, a vintage clothing store on Emma Avenue in Springdale, has been open for almost seven years.

Its just kind of like playing dress up every day, Dela Billingsley, owner of Dela Devilles said. The shops are full of things that I love. You know, its kind of hard to find true vintage pieces that are specializing in the forties and the fifties and the older styles. We just have a lot of fun with it.

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On the right side of the store, Billingsley keeps the racks stocked with true-vintage pieces like dresses, bright-colored pieces, and even denim. However, on the left side of the store, she keeps an inventory of reproduction items intended to reflect vintage style.

Half of my store is vintage-inspired. So, these are all reproduction vintage styles that are made by a lot of really small businesses. Its a very niche market, Billingsley said.

She says its the reproduction items that allow inclusivity, giving some the chance to embrace a more vintage look.

Fed chair sounds alarm about tariffs

Were able to go up to a 4X or a 5X, which isnt always readily available in the true vintage pieces, Billingsley said.

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However, Billingsley says her store could change drastically after her wholesalers decided to cut ties over the weekend, citing the 184% tariff as the reason.

One by one, all of my brands started emailing me, letting me know to get your orders in if you have any orders that you want to place. This is the last weekend for it,' Billingsley said. Theyre being hit with tariffs on their end, and that kind of ripples down and affects us because they do wholesale those items to us. So, most of them are actually just shutting down their wholesale operations, which means we just wont be able to get any of those items until things are able to be sorted out. Which is super unfortunate.

Billingsley says this move could affect a large portion of her customer base, but shes confident theyll be able to stay afloat.

Weve been through hardships before with COVID. We had just been open for a year prior to that, so you just pivot. You make the changes that are necessary, and hopefully it all changes for the better, Billingsley said. Everybody is really disappointed and sad, but very understanding. Everybodys so supportive of our business, and I just encourage people as much as you can to shop small and to support other small businesses that may be experiencing this same struggle for sure.

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(KRON)  A verbal altercation in a Target parking lot escalated to a man being punched in the face, according to the Colma Police Department.

At around 7:23 p.m. on April 3, Colma police officers responded to a Target parking lot for the report of an assault. Arriving officers were informed that two men engaged in a verbal argument that resulted in an assault.

The victim told police a man parked behind his vehicle, started yelling at him and then approached him and punched him twice in the face. According to Colma PD, the victim has a visible injury on his face but declined medical assistance. The victim told police his assailant walked away through the parking lot.

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Assault suspect shot by police at Morgan Hill Safeway

The suspect, identified as San Francisco resident Henry Zhang, walked back to the scene and was detained by police. The victim, according to police, said he is seeking prosecution against Zhang.

Zhang, 32, was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for battery.

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ASHTABULA TOWNSHIP  A celebration of the new Ashtabula County Veterans Service Commission headquarters is scheduled for 11 a.m. April 25, ACVSC Executive Director Ben Schwartfigure said.

The office has been operational since late November, but Schwartfigure hopes to welcome veterans to the new facility and explain the programs available.

A shuttle service will be available to transport people from the Key Bank building on Main Avenue to the new location on Route 20, Schwartfigure said.

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We are going to have the shuttle service from 9:30 a.m. to 10:50 a.m., he said.

The celebration will include a ribbon cutting, a time to explain new programs and to allow veterans to walk through a new memorial on site.

Schwartfigure said three speakers are scheduled to address those in attendance, including Sean McCarthy, assistant director of the Ohio Department of Veterans Services. He said former ACVSC Executive Director Anna Allshouse will speak on the history of the organization.

Schwartfigure said he will discuss the programs available to veterans during his portion of the program. He hopes a lot of veterans show up for the event to learn more about the new office. The VSCs former headquarters was in a strip mall on Lake Avenue.

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There will be food and drinks available, as well as a walking tour of the facility, he said.

Schwartfigure has been in charge of the agency for more than five years, and has been trying to get a new office for the VSC during that time period. He said the VSC asked the Ashtabula County Board of Commissioners to set money aside annually until they were able to purchase a former commercial building at the intersection of Blair Avenue and Route 20.

A two-year renovation of the building was completed in the fall, and it is now time to celebrate.

The new facility will allow the VSC to have more room to grow and provide more services for veterans in the area, Schwartfigure said.
(KRON)  The Concord Police Department has identified the man who was shot and killed near the intersection of Monument Boulevard and Reganti Drive in Concord on April 14 at approximately 3 a.m. A suspect was also arrested in the case.

The victim of the shooting was identified as 40-year-old Omar Garcia. Garcia was pronounced dead at the scene.

Prediction of major earthquake on anniversary of Great San Francisco Earthquake not credible, experts say

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Concord Police Department detectives identified 27-year-old Chance Martin of Pittsburg, Calif. as the murder suspect. CPD, the U.S. Marshals Service Fugitive Apprehension Task Force, and the Pleasant Hill and Antioch police departments, served search warrants in Pleasant Hill and Antioch. During the searches, authorities found and arrested Martin, who was later booked into the Martinez Detention Facility.

High school football player dies following weekend diving accident at Stinson Beach

It is believed that Martin had been involved in a dispute in the parking lot of 1500 Monument Blvd. with a group of males, had left in a vehicle, and then returned a short time later and shot multiple times from the window of his vehicle at the group of people with whom he had previously been arguing, CPD said. One of the bullets he fired struck and killed Garcia.

Martin faces murder charges and will remain in custody. Anyone with additional information about the shooting is asked to contact Concord police.

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BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WIAT)  The families of two men seriously injured in a crash involving two boats on Smith Lake during a Major League Fishing tournament have retained legal counsel.

Friday afternoon we sat down with Ken Riley, of Farris, Riley and Pitt. He said that they plan to file a lawsuit next week on behalf of Gary Holcombe and Luke Morgan. He said both men were seriously injured in Wednesdays crash on Smith Lake.

According to ALEA, Flint Davis of Leesburg, Georgia was driving a Nitro Bass boat that struck a center console boat with five people on board at 7:03 Wednesday morning. Three people on that boat were killed, and two were injured, including the operator of the boat, 51-year-old Gary Holcombe of Cullman and passenger 30-year old Luke Morgan of Albertville. According to ALEA, 22-year old Flint Davis was also injured.

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A statement released on Friday afternoon by Farris, Riley & Pitt reads in part:

We are investigating the events that led to this collision with local and state authorities to learn what happened and to preserve critical evidence.

Partner Ken Riley said they do plan to file a lawsuit next week:

Based on our own investigation, and weve conducted an investigation of our own, an independent investigation, we believe that theres definitely negligence and we intend to hold those who are responsible accountable.

Riley said this is about more than money:

What we want to see come out of this is obviously we want our clients compensated, but we also want to create a scenario where this doesnt happen again, and the way you do that is to effectuate change.

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ALEA releases new details in Lewis Smith Lake boat crash

He added that they have to make sure that Alabama provides a safe place for tournaments to operate:

Not just for the people who are in the tournaments, but also the people who are using the waterways who have every right to use the waterways.

We have reached out to the attorney for the driver of the boat, Flint Davis. His attorney Joe Durham provided us with a statement which reads:

This is a tragic situation for everyone involved, until more details are known, we are not making any further comment.

We also reached out to Major League Fishing Friday afternoon. They sent us a statement which reads:

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This is a heartbreaking moment for our entire organization. Our deepest condolences go out to the families and friends of those affected by this tragedy.

We are working closely with law enforcement and emergency officials.

As this is a pending legal matter, we will have no comment beyond that at this time.

ALEAs Marine Patrol division continues to investigate the crash. The three men who were killed as a result of the crash on Wednesday were 58-year old Joey Broom, 44-year old Kelly Clark, and 62-year old Jeffrey Little.

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Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk pilot Jo Ellis listened attentively to the breaking news the evening of Jan. 29 that a helicopter had struck an American Airlines jet over the Potomac River near Washington, D.C., killing all aboard both aircraft.

The next day, Ellis, who is transgender, was alarmed to hear Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth say that diversity initiatives had undermined air safety at the Pentagon, hinting that they had played a role in the midair collision.

But it wasn't until the following day, when Ellis began receiving text messages from friends asking whether she was all right, that she learned she had been named by Matthew Wallace, a cryptocurrency influencer with 2.3 million followers on the social media platform X, as the pilot. Wallace posted photos of her and said Ellis was driven by a diagnosis of gender dysphoria to conduct what he called a possible "trans terror attack."

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Read Next: Army to Soldiers: Reenlist by Monday if You Want to Claim Incentives

"My life turned upside down that morning," Ellis, an Iraq War veteran and chief warrant officer 2 who has served in the Virginia National Guard for nearly 16 years, said during an interview Thursday.

Ellis debated how to respond. She posted a "proof of life" video on her Facebook page expressing condolences to the victims' families, adding that the collision should not be used to further political agendas.

But when her family needed a security detail for protection and she began feeling uncomfortable leaving the house without a personal firearm, she decided to take Wallace to court.

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On April 9, Ellis filed a defamation suit alleging Wallace exploited the "devastation for clicks and money," and to do so, "concocted a destructive and irresponsible defamation campaign" against Ellis on social media.

Wallace deleted his posts after Ellis's Facebook testimony began circulating, according to court documents. But Ellis told Military.com that she believes that unfounded online attacks need to be challenged.

"Loose fingers on keyboards is having a real impact to many people's lives, and I don't know what the answer is, so the only answer I have is filing a lawsuit for defamation," Ellis said.

Freedom of speech is a protected constitutional right. But libel -- written statements that damage a person's reputation -- can be challenged under the law.

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In recent years, victims of cyberlibel have won several high-profile lawsuits, including author E. Jean Carroll, who sued President Donald Trump over statements he made that she lied about a sexual assault by Trump to boost book sales, and two Georgia election workers who were accused by attorney and presidential adviser Rudy Guiliani of engaging in election fraud.

Carroll was awarded $83.3 million in her defamation lawsuit; Ruby Freeman and her daughter, Shaye Moss, won $148 million in their case against Giuliani.

Those wins aside, Meg Phelan, the attorney representing Ellis, said defamation cases are difficult, but she believes Ellis makes a strong argument.

"We're going to fight as hard as we can against this in court," said Phelan, an attorney for the Equality Legal Action Fund, a largely volunteer group of attorneys and advocates who represent the LGBTQ+ community. "Our plan is just to fight and to use the law, which we believe is on our side."

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Attempts to reach Wallace were unsuccessful. As of Friday, he had not yet named an attorney, according to court records.

The Black Hawk crew members killed in the January collision were Capt. Rebecca Lobach, 28, of Durham, North Carolina; Chief Warrant Officer Andrew Eaves, 39, of Great Mills, Maryland; and Staff Sgt. Ryan O'Hara, 28, of Lilburn, Georgia. All three were with Bravo Company, 12th Aviation Battalion, out of Fort Belvoir, Virginia.

The Army initially withheld Lobach's name at the request of the family amid online speculation over her identity.

Sixty-four people on the regional aircraft operating for American Airlines were killed.

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Ellis said she has relied strongly on Army resiliency training, which she described as "effective," to endure the onslaught of messages she has received and the discomfiting looks she gets from strangers -- attention she has been accustomed to, given that she is a tall transgender woman, but now is more worrisome after the negativity created by Wallace.

"As someone who's been to Iraq, who's been shot at, it's a little bit different when the whole world has a magnifying glass on you," Ellis said. "It's just overwhelming. [But] I'm going to keep showing up and keep serving my country, because I love my country and I love my state, and that's ultimately what I want to do."

Ellis said she plans to donate any proceeds she is awarded in the case to the families of those who were killed.

"Matt took away from the tragedy by making it about me that weekend, and so he needs to be held accountable," she said. "The families of the crash victims don't deserve this."

Related: Final Soldier Killed in Black Hawk Collision Identified as Family, Friends Grieve
History, when well researched and written is not just a desiccated collection of musty dates and facts.

It is the living context of how we got here.

Almost every week an email or phone call arrives offering critical and constructive responses to a previous Photos From the Vault column.

Frequently it is a request to help find information.

And judging from the thoughtful and kind conversations I have in the community, readers find the stories entertaining, edifying and important.

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One of the bedrock sources I consult is the California Digital Newspaper Collection.

The California Digital Newspaper Collection is the largest online free collection of California newspapers.

It is an indexed digital archive of newspapers across the state from the earliest United States days of California to about 1925. If the time scope of research is more recent, then a subscription to Newspapers.com is another alternative.

CNDC is a free encyclopedia of California history. Every year the archive grows through grants and partnerships.

And today that vital resource is endangered.

Brian Geiger, director of the Center for Bibliographical Studies and Research at University of California Riverside writes that this year there is no funding in the budget from the State Legislature.

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This will force CDNC to go offline.

The line item is a microscopic $439,000 within a budget of $320 billion. (Only 0.00013% if I used the percentage calculator correctly.)

Some of the mastheads of early San Luis Obispo newspapers including the Telegram and Tribune.

No one else does this specialized work  and without state support, no one will.

It is the largest archive of its kind in the United States with 40 million pages of digitized papers from throughout California.

The site has also had to fend off bot-driven cyber attacks that crash it.

The large volume of information might be valuable to someone who is building an AI machine learning model. Defending the site takes extra effort.

Geiger asks that if you value this vital resource, please take the time to contact State Senator John Laird and let him know that CDNC is essential and needs to be funded. Senator Laird is our local representative.

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If you are involved in research or a historical society now is the time to make your voice heard.

Now on to some history.

With all the bicycle lane construction in San Luis Obispo, I decided to take a survey of the early newspapers to see how far back coverage went and what types of stories were published.

Story categories included comic yarns, bicycle race results, sales and cyclists as a hazard. Conflict between cyclists and street traffic goes back to horse and buggy days.

There was a comic story in on the front page of the newspapers second edition.

Unlike today when breaking news is reserved for the front page, in 1869, The San Luis Obispo Tribune assembled the hand-set front page type well in advance of the weekly print date.

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It was almost always a reprint from another source with a long shelf life, sometimes credited, sometimes not. Breaking and local news ran on page two and three.

The story titled On A Bicycle is in the style of a Mark Twain comic and it spilled over a full column. It follows a novice rider to an inevitable crash.

The Aug. 16, 1869, story concludes with the humiliated and bruised rider and writer reexamining his life choices.

I ran over in my own mind the list of my enemies, being at last fully determined to send my compliments to the gentleman who cut up my last book, and with my compliments, the gift of the bicycle, the cyclist wrote. Humbly and sincerely I trust he will not break his neck.

The late George Staniford, former Tribune editor was remembered in the Morning Tribune April 4 1903. Another article admonished dangerous bicycle riders.

By April 4, 1903, the Morning Tribune was putting local news on the front page and it ran a story advising cyclists to stay in the street.

Take middle of street: Sidewalk habit of bicyclists is to be checked

Marshal Johnson Will Soon Give Notice and Devotees of Wheeling Must Look Out.

It is up to all of us now to break the pernicious habit of riding bicycles on the sidewalk.

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The edict has gone forth, the result of a general awakening of the public convenience, and Marshal Johnson will soon publish notices to all bicyclists to keep off the walks, after which, look out.

Johnson says he will not be any respector of persons or of walks.

The sidewalk habit is getting altogether too strong among wheelmen and needs checking. Better begin learning taking the middle of the road before it is too late.
BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET)  The Elk Grove man accused of abducting a 10-year-old girl he met on the video game Roblox appeared in a Kern County courtroom Friday afternoon.

27-year-old Matthew Naval of Elk Grove in Sacramento County has been charged with seven felonies  kidnapping, kidnapping a child under 14 years of age to commit sex acts, as well as four counts under Penal Code Section 288  two counts of sex acts with a child under 14, exhibiting harmful matter to a minor, contacting a minor with the *intent to commit sexual offense and contacting a minor *to commit sexual offense.

288 is very serious, right? Its for a crime thats committed against a child thats under 14, said Detective Aaron Watkin, with the Bakersfield Police Department.

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During his Friday arraignment, Navals bail set at $1.35 million. Naval is barred from contacting the alleged victim. Postponement of the arraignment requested by criminal defense attorney Mark Anthony Raimondo, who says hes likely to represent Naval.

The Kern County Sheriffs Office says the 27-year-old met a 10-year-old on Roblox, the online video game. On Saturday, Naval picked up the girl from Taft. She was located Sunday in Elk Grove, alongside Naval, in his car at a strip mall near his residence.

Wrong man, wrong bed, wrong treatment: Patients death prompts medical board to discipline California doctor

Naval was arrested and booked for kidnapping and unlawful sexual conduct with a minor child.

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The focus of this is protecting the kid. Thats the number one thing. We are their voice. Sometimes, kids cant speak for themselves, said Detective Watkin. Detective Watkin is not involved in this case, but weighed in as an expert on sex crimes.

In Kern County, this isnt the first case involving Roblox. In 2023, a man was charged for engaging in sex acts with a teenage girl he met online. He was sentenced to three years in prison and must register as a sex offender for life.

These kids nowadays are using their electronics all the time. So number one, its important for parents to know what their kids are doing online, said Detective Watkin. So, I know this case was specific to Roblox, but its anything, any type of online platform where theres some sort of communication.

In a statement, Roblox says in part quote, We have a zero-tolerance policy against child endangerment, and a range of safety features to guard against predatory behavior.

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Naval has no prior record in Kern County and his arraignment is set for Monday.

Parents, if they see something, they need to say something, said Detective Watkin. Call us, let us know, and we can hopefully help them and get them out of their situation.

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FAIRFAX COUNTY, Va. (DC News Now)  A 22-year-old man was charged after a police pursuit involved multiple vehicles being struck on I-95 southbound and ended with the suspect in the hospital after being ran over on Thursday, police said.

Maryland Senator recounts meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia in El Salvador

Around 11:25 a.m., a Virginia State Police trooper saw a Hyundai Genesis pass him on the right shoulder at a high rate of speed. While the trooper attempted to stop the suspect vehicle, the driver struck three other vehicles.

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The suspect then attempted to flee on foot and tried  and failed  to enter two other vehicles. A third vehicle had the passenger window rolled down, and the suspect attempted to enter through the window, police said. However, the driver turned the vehicle, causing the suspect to fall and be ran over.

The suspect was identified as 22-year-old Jamarior Jackson.

He was taken to a hospital for a collapsed lung and a broken back and neck. Police searched the vehicle and found narcotics, marijuana, a Glock pistol and equipment to turn the gun into an automatic firearm.

Jackson was charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm, a felon in possession of ammunition, possession of a magazine over 20 rounds in Fairfax County, possession of an unregistered machine gun, felony hit and run, attempted carjacking and reckless driving.

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Additional federal charges could be pending.

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Apr. 18WAGNER, S.D.  A 28-year-old man from Wagner, Nicholas Frederick, is facing four counts of fourth-degree rape.

The charges, classified as Class 3 felonies, stem from incidents that allegedly occurred between January 2023 and May 2024. Frederick is scheduled to be arraigned this month.

According to court documents, the investigation began after the Wagner Police Department received a report from the mother of the alleged victim. The mother reported concerns about her girl's interactions with Frederick, who initially identified himself as Nicholas Provost on social media. According to statements provided to authorities, the girl met Frederick online when she was 14 years old, and their communication continued until she was 15.

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The girl told investigators that she and Frederick first met in person during the summer of 2023. She reported that Frederick picked her up near her home in a black Dodge Charger and drove her to his residence. During their first meeting, the girl described Frederick as being physically affectionate before inviting her to a bedroom, where she alleges the first instance of sexual intercourse occurred. The girl stated she was 14 at the time.

According to the girl, the pair had two additional sexual encounters before she turned 15. She described subsequent meetings as taking place in Frederick's vehicle, including locations near the Wagner Speedway and on a gravel road. The girl stated that Frederick instructed her to keep their relationship secret, and that he would delete their messages after meeting in person.

Investigators noted that although messages between the two were deleted, there was evidence that communication had occurred via Facebook. The girl said she never disclosed Frederick's identity or their relationship to anyone because he told her not to.

When questioned by police, Frederick cooperated and acknowledged knowing the girl. He claimed she initiated their interactions and told him she was 18 years old. Frederick described their relationship as a "situationship," asserting that all encounters were consensual and that he was unaware of her true age. He stated their last contact was in September 2024 and that he ceased communication after the girl's mother contacted him.

Fourth-degree rape is a Class 3 felony, carrying a maximum penalty of 15 years in prison and a $30,000 fine.
JASPER, Ala. (WIAT)  April is Autism Awareness Month, and a teenager in Walker County is sharing a message of kindness through his new book. It illustrates how he experiences the world.

Charlie Owens is a 14-year-old boy from Jasper. Hes accomplished a lot in his young life. Hes fluent in Spanish plus a skilled artist, and now hes a published author. Hes also become the youngest person with special needs to publish a book.

Its awesome about having autism, Owens said.

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He was diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder when he was 2 years old.

From the get-go, and I mean from the point he was diagnosed, its not looking back since then, said Anna Owens, Charlie Owens mother. Its been amazing, honestly.

Anna Owens said life with Charlie Owens is always an adventure, and thats what inspired them to write a book. Its tilted The Adventures of Charlie: Delighting in Differences.

He sees everyone, Anna Owens said. Its like he sees them from the inside, and he delights in everybodys differences. So thats where that came from.

The book takes readers on a journey through Diddlywhirlville, giving readers a peek into how Charlie Owens views the world.

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The imagination: wow, Anna Owens said. So the characters, what they look like, their names, especially, that was all him.

Republicans invoke cloture, passing bills in both Alabama chambers

Anna Owens said when she first learned about Charlie Owens diagnosis, she was worried about his future.

I was scared but scared of the unknown, Anna Owens said.

But that was short lived. Now, she delights in the differences that make Charlie Owens the wonderful, smart young man he is today.

Hes just been amazing and just like a blessing to every person he comes across, Anna Owens said. People, the entire world, we could use a little more of that.

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Together, they hope people remember to be kind and celebrate the things that make us unique.

I want everyone, regardless no matter where they are, where they are from, to know it doesnt matter, Anna Owens said. You are perfect the way you are.

Anna Owens said this book is the first of a series. You can keep an eye out for two more books from Charlie Owens.

Charlie Owens book can be purchased by clicking here.

Anna Owens said half of the proceeds from the book will go to a college fund for Charlie Owens, and the other half will be donated to St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.

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Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz has appointed Kelly Staples as a Dakota County District Court judge to fill a vacancy in the First Judicial District.

Staples will replace Judge David L. Knutson and will be chambered in Hastings.

It is my privilege to appoint Kelly Staples to the Dakota County bench, Walz said in a press release Friday. Her wealth of family law experience, coupled with her ability to help clients navigate their most challenging moments, gives me the confidence that she will be a great judge.

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Minnesotas First Judicial District consists of Carver, Dakota, Goodhue, Le Sueur, McLeod, Scott and Sibley counties.

Staples is a court-appointed counsel in paternity, child support and civil commitment matters and a volunteer conciliation court referee in Dakota County.

In addition, she has a private family law practice in West St. Paul focusing on child custody and domestic abuse cases. She also serves on the board of directors for legal Assistance of Dakota County, judges high school mock trials, volunteers at legal self-help clinics through 360 Communities, and supports her childrens many activities, the press release said.

Staples is a graduate of the University of Minnesota and William Mitchell College of Law.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

1 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

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2 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

3 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

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4 /4 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

RELATED PHOTO GALLERY The legendary life and career of newsman Ernie Pyle was celebrated Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl Crater, the famed war correspondents final resting place.

The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the ceremony, which marked the 80th anniversary of his death during the Battle of Okinawa. Another ceremony was held on the island of Iejima, where a single bullet fired by a Japanese soldier struck Pyle in the head and killed him.

The ceremony brought together members of Pyles extended family, veterans, educators, former war correspondents and community members who wanted to pay tribute to Pyle, who was best known for his human-interest reporting during the Great Depression and the intimate accounts of common service members during World War II.

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Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vares-Lum, an alum of University of Hawaiis journalism and ROTC programs, said she first encountered Pyles writing as a student at UH, where some of her instructors were former war correspondents as well. She said Pyles work left a profound impact on her.

He was never the loudest man in the room, but he spoke with a voice that carried across oceans, across battlefields and across generations,  Vares-Lum said. He chose to stand alongside the average soldier, the quiet heroes, rather than chasing the spotlight of generals and war rooms. He wrote from foxholes, not balconies. From bombed-out towns, not press briefings. His style was simple and spare, but it cut deep. It wasnt about grandeur ; it was about truth.

The tradition of commemorating Pyles death at Punchbowl began in 1949, the year his remains were repatriated from Okinawa and interred at the cemetery. Buck Buchwach, then-editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, wrote and delivered the eulogy.

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Every five years, people would gather again at the ceremony, and Buchwach would read from that first eulogy until his own death in 1989. Buchwachs wife, Margaret, tried to keep the tradition alive, but by the end of the 1990s, it had faded.

But in 2013, members of Pyles extended family established the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, and in 2015 the foundation helped revive the tradition. Steve Maschino, a cousin of Pyle who sits on the foundations board, told attendees that the foundation hopes to promote Ernies style of writing with that human exercise story, versus the raw news today that sometimes can seem void of the human side.

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Marine veteran Jason Seal, senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Hawaii, read Buchwachs eulogy, which proclaimed that Pyle was a little guy who loved the little guy, and he brought the front to the front door of every American home. His fame lies above all in the integrity of what he wrote. His byline meant truth.

Beverly Keever, who worked as a correspondent in Vietnam covering the war for seven years and later became a UH journalism instructor, said remembering Pyles work is important today.

The press today is under such unprecedented attacks of a new kind, new kind of bullets,  Keever said. This is a really special occasion, 80 years after his death.

Pyle was an only child raised on a farm in Indiana, and soon decided farming wasnt for him. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I, but the fighting ended before he finished training. He pursued journalism and enjoyed a long career with stints as a beat reporter, columnist and editor. In the 1930s, feeling trapped behind a desk, he hit the road with his wife and wrote stories about the places they went and people they met.

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His travels took him from the heart of the Great Plains Dust Bowl to Alaska, South America and even to Hawaii, where he wrote about the Hansens disease colony at Kalaupapa. When war broke out in Europe, he traveled to London to write about Germanys relentless bombing of the British Isles.

After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he began reporting on the front lines with U.S. troops, taking him to North Africa, Europe and eventually bringing him back to Hawaii and the Pacific. His last assignment was with the 77th Infantry Division on Iejima.

His words brought the islands to the Main Street America,  Vares-Lum said. Americans in Kansas, New York and Georgia could feel the breeze of a Waikiki, could understand the struggles on Guam, Tarawa, Okinawa, and we here in Hawaii remember him as one who walked among us, who listened, who cared and who understood.  He walked into danger with a notepad. He reminds us to speak the truth, even when its hard.
Its a warmer start to the day across the area, and more warmth is ahead for the afternoon, along with an elevated wildfire threat.

Today, mostly sunny skies are expected, and dry conditions continue. The fire danger threat remains elevated, with the greatest concerns in inland areas. It will be warm once again, with highs in the mid-80s.

Expect a quiet overnight with just a few clouds around the area. Morning lows will be in the mid-60s. Today, mostly sunny skies are expected, and dry conditions continue. The fire danger threat remains elevated, with the greatest concerns in inland areas. It will be warm once again, with highs in the mid-80s.

The dry and warm conditions continue with just a few clouds around the area. Morning lows will be in the mid-60s into Easter Sunday. Well see more clouds for the holiday, with warmer highs in the upper 80s. The wildfire threat will remain a concern during the daytime hours.

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Even warmer weather moves in to start next week. A blend of sun and clouds is expected for Monday, with highs pushing into the low 90s.

A stray shower will be possible in the PM hours both Tuesday and Wednesday, but the vast majority of the region will stay dry. Temps for the middle of next week will be in the low 90s.

The dry and warm weather is expected to continue for much of next week, with no significant rain chance through next weekend.

Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
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Fifteen years after Washington established its current K-12 funding formulas, its clear that our education funding system needs a serious reassessment. State legislators are beginning to recognize this with the introduction of bills like HB 2049, which proposes new revenue streams for education and creates a K-12 Funding Equity Work Group seated at the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

State leaders are using this moment to ask themselves how education funding should be more fairly and effectively allocated. But this will not be the first time the Legislature has asked that question or even created a work group to explore it. In fact, over the past 16 years, seven legislatively directed reports have explored and provided recommendations on various aspects of our K-12 funding system. (2009, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2012, 2019, and 2022). Unfortunately, these past reports have all fallen short in identifying an approach to resourcing schools that is consistent with the range of supports and services schools currently provide to students.

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Much has changed since our current approach to funding was established in 2010, and especially since the pandemic. There has been a significant shift in the depth and diversity of student needs. Whether its supporting mental health, addressing food and housing insecurity, or helping families navigate public systems, schools today are doing far more than delivering instruction.

Schools have learned that when students basic needs are met, they can more effectively engage students in learning, so many districts have responded by working beyond their means to meet a growing diversity of student needs. This evolving role for schools has created a misalignment between what schools need to engage students in learning and how the state provides funding to schools. One of the key reasons this misalignment persists is that previous work groups and funding studies have failed to put the voices of historically marginalized communities at the center of their decision-making, especially students of color, students from low-income backgrounds, and those from families navigating systemic barriers.

If Washington is serious about creating an education system rooted in equity, that commitment must be reflected not only in our funding formulas but also in how we define the problem and who gets to shape the solutions. Otherwise, we risk continuing the cycle: one where well-intentioned reforms claim equity as a goal but fail to deliver because they were built without the input of those most affected.

The lived experience of students and families is not anecdotal; it is expertise. When we not only invite but center that expertise in the decision-making process, we gain a more honest and accurate picture of what schools need. As we look to improve how we resource public K-12 education, we must use every tool available to design an education system that delivers the learning environments, supports, and opportunities all students deserve.

If there was ever a moment to assemble a diverse working group focused on reassessing K-12 funding, it is now. We must ask ourselves: how will this be different? How will we ensure that students furthest from educational justice are at the forefront of this process? As funding decisions move forward, these must be the guiding commitments to ensure that real change is achieved.
Concord, like Lexington, was marking the 250th anniversary of the start of the American Revolution with a jam-packed slate of events on Saturday.

Watch: The Battle of Lexington reenactment, 250 years later

A 6 a.m. dawn salute was held at the Old North Bridge, often referred to as the location of the shot heard round the world, and the beginning of the war.

On the morning of April 19, 1775 , Colonial Militia from Concord and surrounding towns exchanged gunfire with British regulars guarding the critical river crossing. Although the fighting at the North Bridge lasted only a few seconds, it marked the beginning of a massive battle that raged over 16 miles along the Bay Road from Boston to Concord, and included some 1,700 British regulars and over 4,000 Colonial militia.

Concords Patriots Day Parade then stepped off at 8:30 a.m., with thousands lining a route that went through picturesque Concord center, past the Civil War monument, through a neighborhood of historic homes decked out for the celebration, and up to the North Bridge.

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At the North Bridge, a wreath-laying ceremony was held to commemorate the engagement between the Minuteman companies and British troops.

The British Consulate General laid a wreath at the British soldiers grave, and the U.S. General laid a wreath at a memorial statue. There was an F-15 military flyover, as well as cannon and musket salutes.

Governor Maura Healey and other dignitaries spoke to mark the momentous anniversary.

The parade continued across the North Bridge and returned to Concord Center, with dignitaries participating from neighboring towns, the state, the nation, and foreign countries with ties to Concord.

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After the parade, revelers were invited to stick around for something to eat, drink, shop, and take in a 250th block party.

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Paul Revere climbed atop his horse once again on Friday night to embark on a journey from Boston to Lexington in a reenactment of an infamous moment in American history that was 250 years in the making.

Thousands of people lined the streets of Boston to welcome Revere and celebrate his midnight ride.

On April 18, 1775, Revere began his famous ride from Charlestown to Lexington, where he warned colonists that British Regular troops were approaching ahead of the battles of Lexington and Concord.

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The Paul Revere House hosted an open house and served as the start of the reenactment, which took place on foot, by rowboat, and on horseback.

Costumed reenactors traced Reveres route from Bostons North End, across the harbor, and through the streets of Charlestown.

On Saturday, Lexington and Concord held special events marking the start of the American Revolution.

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WARREN, Ohio (MyValleyTributes)  Wayne W. Gamble, 69, of Covington, Georgia, formerly of Warren, Ohio, departed this life Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at Piedmont Newton, following a brief illness.

He was born June 15, 1955, in Youngstown, Ohio, the son of Willis and Annie Coleman Gamble.

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He was a 1973 graduate of South High School and attended Youngstown State University, before becoming an electrician.

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Wayne was employed for 38 years at Republic Steel, renamed RG Steel, before retiring. He also was a part-time driver for Covington Ford and worked the election polls.

He served honorably for 20 years in the U.S. Army as a Military Police Officer, obtaining the rank of Staff Sergeant. He served during Desert Shield/Desert Storm, receiving, the Army Service Ribbon, Humanitarian Service Medal, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medals, Professional Development Ribbon, Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with one bronze star, Army Commendation medal, expert marksmanship badge rifle and sharpshooter marksmanship badge pistol.

He was a member of Monument of Faith C.O.G.I.C., where he worked security. After moving to Georgia, he attended the Word of Faith Family Worship Cathedral.

He enjoyed attending father and daughter dances with Danika and Aniyah, the Gateway Clipper boat in Pittsburgh, taking his wife to the Poconos and taking her on limousine dates. Wayne also enjoyed going to the gun range, grilling for family and friends, traveling and going on vacation.

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He was past Master of Rising Sun Lodge #90/Covenant Lodge #59, 32nd Degree of Bezalel Consistory #15, past Potentate and Deputy of Al Asir Temple #210, Excelsior #39 Royal Arch Masons and Eminent Commander of Golgotha Commandery #36.

He leaves to mourn, his wife, Karen Logan Gamble of Covington, Georgia; his children, Michael (Julie) Gamble of Delaware, Ohio, Angel Cash of Austintown, Ohio, Danika Windom of Atlanta, Georgia and Aniyah of Covington, Georgia; Goddaughters, Dr. Erica Booker and Empress Blackwell; aunts, Virginia Coleman, Jennie Coleman, Shirley Green and Daisy Mae Oden; uncle, Simmie Coleman; grandchildren, Preston Bair, Mason Gamble, Owen Gamble, Omari Windom and Ms. Sherrell Cash; special friends, Marshall Coney and Eric Hall and a host of relatives and friends. Wayne will be remembered as a gentle giant loved by many.

He was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; siblings, Diane Alexander and Dwight Gamble and grandson, Hylan Cash.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 26, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., at the Monument of Faith C.O.G.I.C., calling hours will be held Friday, April 25, 2025, from 6:00  8:00 p.m., (Masonic Service at 7:00 p.m.) at the Sterling-McCullough Williams Funeral Chapel.

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Burial will take place Monday, April 27, at Ohio Western Reserve National Cemetery.

Arrangements of comfort were handled by the Sterling-McCullough Williams Funeral Home.

To send a flower arrangement or to plant trees in memory of Wayne W. Gamble, please click here to visit our Sympathy Store.

A television tribute will air Monday, April 21 at the following approximate times: 7:10 a.m. on FOX, 12:22 p.m. on WKBN, 5:08 p.m. on MyYTV and 7:27 p.m. on WYTV. Video will be posted here the day of airing.

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WEBSTER COUNTY, Mo.  A man from Webster County faces a felony domestic assault charge after law enforcement discovered inconsistencies in his statements about a shooting incident in Fordland earlier this week.

According to online court records, Todd Holdinghausen, born 1966, is charged with felony first-degree domestic assault causing serious physical injury and felony armed criminal action in Webster County Circuit Court.

The probable cause statement says at around 6:20 p.m. on Sunday, April 13, Webster County law enforcement was dispatched to a water crossing in Fordland regarding a suicide or attempted suicide after Holdinghausen called 911 to report that his wife had shot herself in the head.

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Officers arrived to find the victim sitting in a blue lawn chair near the water with a gun in her hand. Later on during the scene, a witness from the case  who was not present at the scene  told an officer over the phone that the victim had expressed that she was afraid that (Holdinghausen) was going to kill her a week prior to the shooting.

Later, after a Webster County Sheriffs Office deputy arrived at Cox South Hospital in Springfield, nurses expressed concern to him that the victim had been shot in the back of the head, the statement says.

Further investigation revealed the victim had sent a text message to a family member on April 5 that said, If something happens to me, its (Holdinghausen) and his dad. I think hes going to kill me. Cause of the past, the statement alleges.

Later that week, law enforcement spoke with two of the victims family members, who said the victim was right-handed and had previously shot firearms with her right hand. During the shooting incident, however, the firearm was discovered in her left hand.

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The following inconsistencies were found in Holdinghausens statements given to law enforcement:

Holdinghausen said he was next to the victim, and they were arguing. Then, the victim pulled out a gun and shot herself.

Holdinghausen told law enforcement he was in his truck when he heard a pop.

Holdinghausen told law enforcement he ran from his truck after hearing the gunshot to see the victims left arm moving, right arm draped, and the gun laying on the ground. He stated he never touched the gun.

Witnesses said the victims hands were on her lap, with the gun gripped by her left hand.

The gunshot wound is on the top of the parietal bone of the skull, which is not consistent with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The family states the victim is right hand dominant and shoots with her right hand.

A warrant has been issued for Holdinghausens arrest. The court has asked for him to be detained without bond pending trial. If convicted, he faces 10 years to life in prison.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Members of immigrant advocacy group CASA in Maryland have been holding their breath for more than a month as they wait for updates from the government on the fate of a Salvadoran man the Trump administration wrongly deported.

Kilmar Armando Abrego Garcia, a father of three and member of the grassroots organization, was removed to El Salvador last month despite a 2019 court order protecting him from deportation to the Central American country because of the threat of gang violence. The Supreme Court last week largely upheld a lower-court ruling that mandated the Trump administration "facilitate" his return to the United States, but federal officials have since taken a hands-off approach to complying with it  if they've even complied at all. That resistance prompted U.S. Sen. Chris Van Hollen, D-Md., to travel to El Salvador earlier this week to advocate for Abrego Garcia's return, an effort that culminated in their successful meeting Thursday.

CASA's policy director, Cathryn Jackson, told Salon that the Trump administration's refusal to return Abrego Garcia  and efforts to malign his character in the interim  has rattled group members and the surrounding community.

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"Of course, we're concerned. What we're seeing is that Trump's resistance  they're exposing the lengths they're willing to go to defy the law flat-out," she said. But the inaction from the administration hasn't shaken their faith, she added. "What I will say is that, in terms of outcome, we are staying vigilant. We're not moving on, we're doubling down. We have not lost faith in any way that he will be returned."

In the month since Abrego Garcia's arrest, CASA, which provides financial, legal, health and social services to more than 173,000 working-class members across the country, has made it a goal to elevate his family members' voices and push the government for accountability. They aimed to ensure his story doesn't slip through the cracks amid the barrage of enforcement actions flooding the system and the airwaves since President Donald Trump took office. In that sense, they've been successful.

The case has garnered international attention and marks one of the first times the Trump administration has admitted error since it initiated its crackdown earlier this year, an effort that has sparked a flurry of litigation as immigrants and their families challenge removals, legal status recissions, detentions and the administration's apparent disregard for preserving their due process rights. Still, CASA and the growing legion of supporters they've helped mobilize remain determined in advocating for Abrego Garcia's return and supporting his family through the battle.

"The community is rallying. Our community is angry. Our community is outraged. Our community is shocked, but our community is resilient," CASA Legal Director Ama Frimpong told Salon in a phone interview, highlighting the strength and courage of Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, in leading the charge.

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U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement arrested Abrego Garcia on March 12 as the sheet metal union apprentice returned home from a shift at a construction site. On March 15, the 29-year-old was erroneously included on a deportation flight to his native El Salvador for detention in its Terrorism Confinement Center, also known as CECOT, due to an admitted "administrative error." The mega prison, intended to hold Salvadoran gang members, is notoriously opaque, and human rights advocates previously told Salon they fear its prisoners face torture and other abuses, as has been documented in other Salvadoran facilities. Abrego Garcia said that he had recently been moved to a different detention center with better conditions, Van Hollen told media Friday.

The Trump administration accuses Abrego Garcia of being a ranking member of the MS-13 gang, but  as judges have noted in court filings  has not provided substantive evidence of such affiliation in court. Attorneys for Abrego Garcia and his family also deny that he has ties to any gang, and he has never been charged with a crime in the U.S., El Salvador or elsewhere.

Frimpong said the organization has been working closely with Abrego Garcia's family, particularly Vasquez Sura, his mother and his brother, in boosting their efforts to get the word out about his case, supporting them in "whatever ways and manners" they seek. A CASA advocate is serving as co-counsel for Vasquez Sura in the litigation and Frimpong said the organization has worked to ensure the family feels empowered to continue speaking out.

The group has also organized a number of actions to press for his release and return to the U.S., and support his family, including launching a petition, holding rallies and informational meetings, gathering donations and providing community members with resources to contact their lawmakers and the Trump administration on Abrego Garcia's behalf.

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Jackson said that each public action in Maryland has seen hundreds of attendees, while the petition has garnered hundreds of thousands of signatures, with thousands also calling and writing elected officials at all levels of government. As Abrego Garcia's story gains more attention, she said, she's only seen that momentum grow.

"Every day, the movement is growing. Although folks are facing a lot right now, there is a drive to fight back," Jackson said, noting the "chilling effect" that the Trump administration's immigration policy has had on the community. "People are fired up. They're outraged. They understand the seriousness of what's happening. They are witnessing, firsthand, the harm."

She added that, in the face of the administration's attacks, the organization and members of the community are also fighting back "by telling the truth" and "reclaiming the story."

"They're sharing the stories that ICE tries to erase every single day," she said. "They're showing that immigrants are not numbers or cases. They're parents, they're students, they're essential workers, they're caregivers. They're people and dreams."

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Earlier this week, the organization hosted a faith vigil where local clergy and leaders sang, prayed and called for Abrego Garcia's return. The group also facilitated an opportunity for Vasquez Sura to speak to the media ahead of a hearing in the case on Tuesday at the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland.

"As we continue through Holy Week, my heart aches for my husband, who should have been here leading our Easter prayers," she told the crowd outside the Maryland courthouse. "Instead, I find myself pleading with the Trump administration and the [Salvadoran President Nayib] Bukele administration to stop playing political games with the life of Kilmar."

CASA previously aided in coordinating a day on Capitol Hill for the family to meet with lawmakers and demand answers from the Trump administration, also hosting a press conference with the Congressional Hispanic Caucus on April 9.

On April 4, the day of a key hearing in the case, the organization held dual actions in support of Abrego Garcia at the CASA headquarters and outside the courthouse, an effort joined by local clergy and his "brothers and sisters" of the SMART Union and the National Day Laborer Organizing Network.

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U.S. District Judge Paula Xinis would later order the Trump administration to "facilitate and effectuate" Abrego Garcia's return to the country by midnight on April 7, calling his removal from the U.S. "wholly lawless." The administration appealed the case up to the Supreme Court, which ruled last Thursday the administration must "'facilitate' Abrego Garcias release from custody in El Salvador and to ensure that his case is handled as it would have been had he not been improperly sent to El Salvador."

The court, however, did not affirm Xinis' ruling in full, writing that her call for the administration to "effectuate" Abrego Garcia's return may have overstepped her authority. The Trump administration has since used its interpretation of the Supreme Court's ruling to avoid bringing Abrego Garcia back, and on Thursday the Department of Justice filed a motion asking the district court to stay its order to "facilitate" Abrego Garcia's return.

Adam B. Cox, a professor of immigration law at New York University, told Salon that the Trump administration's read of the order  characterizing in court Tuesday their reluctance to address the judge's questions as a debate over what facilitate means in this context  is "false and misleading."

"The thing that the court unambiguously required the government to do  to facilitate  is Abrego Garcia's release from the prison, and the administration, as the judge noted [Tuesday], hasn't done anything to facilitate the release," Cox said in a phone interview. "It has pretended as though the Supreme Court's order said not that they had to facilitate his release from the prison, but instead that they only had to facilitate his re-entry into the United States."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

When reached for comment, the Department of Homeland Security directed Salon to an interview about the case between spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin and ABC News, in which the former repeatedly said she would defer to the Department of Justice on the issue and pushed unsupported claims that Abrego Garcia is a member of MS-13. She also acknowledged the clerical error that led to his mistaken deportation to El Salvador but maintained he should be in a Salvadoran jail or a U.S. detention center.

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The Trump administration has also repeatedly argued it does not have the authority to bring Abrego Garcia back because he's now in Salvadoran custody, which judges have denied. In a meeting with Trump on Monday, President Bukele also said that he would not "smuggle" Abrego Garcia into the U.S. and asserted that he does not have the power to return him.

CASA, however, rejects those arguments. For the organization's leaders, the president's reluctance to bring Abrego Garcia back to the U.S. is a power move to show the Trump administration believes itself to be above the law.

But, Frimpong added, the community-led efforts to bring Abrego Garcia back reflect its resilience against the attacks it's facing, his case presenting a "clear example of the harmful and dangerous ways" ICE operates under the Trump administration.

They're "really engaging in lawless, aggressive action to target Black and brown community members and treat us in a way that makes clear that they believe that we are disposable and not worthy of basic human and constitutional rights," Frimpong said.

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She noted that Maryland has seen an "aggressive and indiscriminate" uptick in immigration enforcement since Trump took office as well as detainees subjected to "horrible conditions" in a Baltimore holding room. (In a statement to CBS News, ICE denied the claims, saying that it ensures the facility is compliant with federal law.)

"One thing that [Abrego Garcia's] wife has made clear is that this is not just about Kilmar. We want Kilmar home, but this is about all the Kilmars, right?" Frimpong said. "This is about everyone within our community who is being affected by the Trump administration's attack on the Constitution."
BARNSTABLE, Mass. (WPRI)  Researchers with the Center for Coastal Studies (CCS) documented something they dont normally see in Cape Cod Bay on Thursday: a North Atlantic right whale calf that hasnt been spotted before.

The CCS announced that the baby and its mother, named Monarch, were spotted about two miles north of Sandy Neck Beach in Barnstable with a large group of whales feeding.

MORE: Endangered right whale seen tangled in Cape Cod Bay

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Its very rare to be the first to document a new calf in the population when outside of the typical calving habitat, so this was a truly rewarding moment for our team. said CCS aerial observer Ryan Schosberg.

This observation marks the sixth sighting of a right whale calf in Massachusetts waters this winter and spring. Researchers have documented 11 right whale calves born this season.

The additional baby is a hopeful sign for the critically endangered species. There is an estimated 372 North Atlantic right whales left.

Schosberg told 12 News that in the last week, more than a quarter of the entire right whale population was believed to be in Cape Cod Bay.

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The CCS said ship strikes in entanglements continue to pose serious threats to right whales.

This discovery is a bright spot in what remains a challenging conservation situation for North Atlantic right whales, said Dr. Daniel Palacios, director of the CCS Right Whale Ecology Program. Thanks to the sharp eyes and deep knowledge of our aerial observers, weve confirmed a new mom-calf pair  an encouraging sign for a species fighting to survive. Every calf matters.

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Rebecca Roberson was sitting on a brick wall outside of the Bellamy Building when she heard a pop.

She turned to her friend, 21-year-old Matthew Miller, and shuddered.

"It's that damn roofing hammer," Roberson said. "That's what we thought it was yesterday, because that's what it sounds like."

It would make sense. There's a lot of construction happening on Florida State University's campus. But the pops heard the previous afternoon were instead the sounds from a handgun, allegedly shot by a 20-year-old student who in a span of less than 5 minutes injured six and killed two in a mass shooting.

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Roberson, who was in a classroom on the second floor of Bellamy, said it took her a couple of seconds to realize that what she was hearing were gunshots, something she's familiar with as a member of the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC).

And then she heard a scream.

Her teacher rushed her students to her office down the hall, and Roberson and her friends quickly took off their belts, wrapped them around the door knob and propped a chair underneath it.

From left: Matthew Miller, Rebecca Roberson and Jorge Rivera sit on a brick wall outside of the Bellamy Building on Florida State University campus on Friday, April 18, 2025.

Roberson, 22, paced the room. So did Miller. At one point, a woman passed out cookies and brownies she was saving for an event later in the day. Another woman in the office was a trained therapist and was consoling students who were panicking and crying.

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But everyone was on their phones.

"Everyone started reaching out, talking to people in their other classes, talking to people in clubs and student organizations, just everyone reaching out and trying to first figure out what was going on, and then trying to figure out and make sure everyone was OK," she said.

Students, staff and others are escorted out of buildings after shots were fired on the campus of Florida State University on Thursday, April 17, 2025.

Tragedy again on FSU campus

On Thursday, April 17, police say Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student, waited in a campus parking garage for nearly an hour before going on a random shooting rampage that left two people dead and six injured.

It wasn't the first time there had been a shooting on FSU's campus. In 2014, Myron May, a 31-year-old FSU graduate, went into Strozier Library just after midnight and injured three before he was shot and killed by Tallahassee and FSU police.

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"I know people who are grad students that were at the Strozier shooting," said Jorge Rivera, a 24-year-old political science major. "I know professors who were connected to that, and yeah, if anyone forgot, they definitely don't anymore."

Robert Morales was shot and killed in the mass shooting on the Florida State University campus on April 17, 2025.

A few years later in 2018, the FSU community again faced another tragedy when a professor and a student were killed in a shooting at a hot yoga studio in the Betton neighborhood of Tallahassee. Maura Binkley, a 21-year-old senior, and FSU College of Medicine professor Dr. Nancy Van Vessem, 61, were shot and killed by a gunman with a history of misogynist and criminal behavior.

The two victims from Thursday's mass shooting were Robert Morales and Tiru Chabba. Morales was the university's dining coordinator, and Chabba, visiting from South Carolina, was the regional vice president for Aramark Collegiate Hospitality, the food service provider for the university.

While the Strozier shooting happened shortly after midnight, a time when few students except for those who live in dorms are on campus, Thursday's shooting was around noon and at the student union, which is one of the most popular places to be at lunch time.

Tiru Chabba was killed in the April 17, 2025, mass shooting at Florida State University.

It's where the most food options are in one spot, one student said. Even if you don't live on campus, the student union is where you go in between your classes, said another. There's a Panda Express and Starbucks. There are plenty of tables to sit and eat, but at noon, sometimes it's hard to get one.

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It's not uncommon for students to recognize the familiar faces of the staff who work there and all across campus.

"When I was a freshman and lived on campus and went to the cafeteria every day, I became friends with all the food workers, because they're all wonderful people," said Kat Strump, a senior.

Several memorials are set up near the Florida State University student union building the day after a shooter injured six and killed two Friday, April 18, 2025.

Strump and her friends came to campus to pay their respects at a makeshift memorial at the start of FSU's Legacy Walk. The garnet-colored brickway is the beginning of a tour of campus landmarks. It's also the closest students could get to the union after the shooting on Thursday because it was lined with yellow caution tape.

On Friday, the tape was gone. Instead, hundreds of bouquets of flowers, candles, stuffed animals and messages of love were stacked on each side of the walkway.

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Students hugged each other, cried and said they were thankful they were safe. But they were also in mourning over Morales and Chabba, who were members of the FSU family, they said.

Roberson didn't know them, but she wishes she did: "It's somebody that takes care of us on a daily basis, and I wish that I could have said thank you."

Hundreds of students placed flowers, balloons, stuffed animals and other mementos at the start of Florida State University's Legacy Walk, a tour of landmarks across campus that starts near the student union.

Unconquered

Campus should have been empty on Friday, but students came to get the backpacks, water bottles and cell phones they had dropped or abandoned when they either ran to take shelter or were evacuated by law enforcement.

Roberson, Miller and Rivera, who were all sitting outside of the Bellamy Building, were let into their classroom to get their belongings.

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They could have left campus right after, but they didn't.

There were hundreds of students who stayed after they got their things, and there were other students who decided to go for their daily run on campus, or who bought a bouquet of flowers at the Publix in CollegeTown and walked to the memorial from their nearby apartments.

A sign that says "Forever Stands Unconquered" was placed at a memorial at the start of Florida State University's Legacy Walk on campus.

Because what happened Thursday wasn't going to tear them apart.

Students said they chose to stay in Tallahassee instead of going home for the Easter holiday weekend. They said they wanted to be with their friends and FSU family, those who experienced the same trauma and tragedy who would understand what they went through.

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At the memorial on Legacy Walk, there was a poster board with the words "Forever Stands Unconquered." Later in the day, a crowd of over 2,000 paid tribute to the victims in front of Doak Campbell Stadium's Unconquered statue, which was inspired by Seminole warrior Osceola and his horse Renegade.

Osceola, a warrior captured by the U.S., is a symbol of resilience to the Seminole Tribe of Florida. As the United States encroached on Native American land, the Seminole resisted through almost 50 years of brutal guerilla warfare. For hundreds of years, the Seminole have preserved their homelands in South Florida and consider themselves to be "Unconquered."

Flowers, balloons, candles and more are left surrounding the Unconquered statue on the Florida State University campus following a vigil held on Friday, April 18, 2025.

For students like Rachel Cannella, even though Thursday's mass shooting left her scared, FSU is her home.

Under the hot Florida sun, a little over 24 hours after the first shots rang out on campus, Cannella was at the Legacy Walk memorial with her friends.

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"We sat in those classrooms, this is where we walk every day to class, you can't let someone take that away from us," Cannella said.

"I think we all share in knowing that this is where we belong, and this is our home, and we're not going to back down."

Ana Goni-Lessan, state watchdog reporter for the USA TODAY Network  Florida, can be reached at agonilessan@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Florida State shooting: Students stay amid a bond of shared trauma
The White House has redirected COVID.gov to a new landing page called "Lab Leak: True Origins of COVID-19," which makes a five-point argument for the theory that COVID-19 originated from a mistaken lab leak in Wuhan, China.

PHOTO: Web page for https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/ on April 18, 2025. (The White House)

The new site appears to use theories from the final report of the Republican-led Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic, released in December 2024. There has never been a consensus or a "smoking gun" to explain what started the pandemic.

The COVID.gov page, as recently as last week, listed resources for testing, treatment, and vaccination against COVID-19, as well as information for Long COVID.

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The five pieces of evidence put forth by the White House for the theory include the following assertions: that the "virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature," that data shows all cases "stem from a single introduction into humans," that "Wuhan is home to China's foremost SARS research lab," that researchers at that research lab "were sick with COVID-like symptoms in the fall of 2019," and that "if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have already surfaced."

What the 'lab leak' theory report about COVID's origins does and doesn't mean

The page includes claims that government officials, including former NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, helped edit and then amplify a research paper on the origins of COVID-19 published in 2020 that supported natural origin theory.

PHOTO: Dr. Anthony Fauci, former director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases testifies before a House Oversight and Reform Select Subcommittee hearing on the Coronavirus Pandemic, on Capitol Hill, June 3, 2024. (Leah Millis/Reuters, FILE)

The current page suggests this paper's explicit intention was to discredit the lab leak theory and remove any doubt that the origins were of natural origin. This is not a new accusation and in the past Fauci and the paper authors disagreed with the accusations that the paper was manipulated or had any specific goal.

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The origins of the pandemic have been hotly debated since its start.

The prevailing theories always seemed to focus on two scenarios: either natural exposure to an infected animal or an accidental lab leak.

With no "smoking gun" and limited access to raw data, discussion of the science has played out in a haze of circumstantial evidence.

In October 2021, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence released a declassified report on the intelligence community's views on the origin conundrum, which also leaned toward a natural spillover, but represented divided views. A subsequent declassified report released in 2023 also noted that most of the intelligence community was split on the origins of the pandemic. In reports, US agencies generally agreed that the virus was most likely not developed as a biological weapon and that China's leaders did not know about the virus before the start of the global pandemic.

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The new splash page features a photo of Fauci and the pardon that former President Joe Biden granted him, highlighting that it was for "any offenses." The page also accuses federal agencies, including NIH and HHS, of breaking laws and violating rules about transparency and cooperation with Congressional investigation. The agencies complied with FOIA requests and other regulatory requests from the committee and also appeared before lawmakers when asked to testify.

New report from Senate Republicans doubles down on COVID lab leak theory

The web page also calls into question the efficacy of social distancing, masking and lockdown. The White House also criticized the response from New York officials.

Fauci testified about the accusations before lawmakers in 2024, saying that accusations about him covering up or influencing research about the lab leak theory are untrue.

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"The accusation being circulated that I influenced the scientists to change their minds by bribing them with millions of dollars in grant money is absolutely false, and simply preposterous. I had no input into the content of the published paper," Fauci said in June of 2024.

Key takeaways: Fauci defends against GOP claims on COVID origins, response

"The second issue is a false accusation that I tried to cover up the possibility that the virus originated from a lab. In fact, the truth is exactly the opposite," Fauci said during that 2024 hearing.

PHOTO: Nurse practitioner Deborah Beauplan administers a COVID-19 swab test at a drive-thru testing site set up for Suffolk County, New York, employees and their families at Smith Point Park in Shirley, New York, Dec. 18, 2020. (John Paraskevas/Newsday via Getty Images)

This is not the first time that the White House has made clear its position on the origins of COVID-19. In January, President Trump said that COVID-19 had "strained" his relationship with President Xi Jinping of China.

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"But, I like President Xi very much. I've always liked him. We always had a very good relationship. It was very strained with COVID coming out of Wuhan. Obviously, that strained it. I'm sure it strained it with a lot of people, but that strained our relationship," Trump said in remarks to the World Economic Forum.

ABC News' Eric Strauss, Sony Salzman and Cheyenne Haslett contributed to this report.

White House changes COVID.gov web page to page supporting lab leak theory originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
A former federal prosecutor believes the White Houses social media activity could become an issue in court as it tries to avoid returning to the U.S. a man it mistakenly deported.

Joyce Vance, a former U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Alabama and current MSNBC contributor, pointed to the White Houses cute edit of a New York Times headline about the ongoing scandal.

The original headline, which referenced Democratic Sen. Chris Van Hollens Thursday meeting with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, read, Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador. The White House, however, made edits in red so that it read, Senator Meets with Deported MS-13 Illegal Alien in El Salvador Whos Never Coming Back.

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The only evidence the administration has pointed to claiming that the Maryland dad was affiliated with the gang is tenuous.

Additionally, the administration admitted in court that Garcias deportation was an administrative error.

As for the post as a whole, Vance said it could be cited as representative of the White Houses motivations.

I suspect this is going to show up in a variety of court pleadings, Vance wrote on X. Whoever thought this was cute at the time may be less giddy when this becomes evidence of intent to disobey a court order.

I suspect this is going to show up in a variety of court pleadings. Whoever thought this was cute at the time may be less giddy when this becomes evidence of intent to disobey a court order. pic.twitter.com/87EI2OTjM9  Joyce Alene (@JoyceWhiteVance) April 18, 2025

Several judges are considering contempt charges against the Trump administration, which has tried to squirm its way around the Supreme Courts order to facilitate Garcias return.
The White House completely repurposed the federal covid.gov site that originally provided information about the pandemic and how to order tests. Now its a website fully dedicated to President Donald Trumps theory the COVID-19 pandemic originated from a research lab in Wuhan, China.

Its been more than five years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, from which more than 7 million people died worldwide. There have still been thousands of COVID-related deaths in the past month, according to the World Health Organization.

President Donald Trump claims on a reworked federal website the pandemic began from a lab leak in Wuhan, China. The covid.gov and covidtests.gov websites once linked to a portal containing useful information about how to order tests and more about the virus.

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Now its headlined with the words Lab Leak and features a satellite image of Wuhan, the city where COVID began spreading. The website claims to describe the true origins of COVID-19.

The White House claims The Proximal Origin of SARS-CoV-2 was used repeatedly by public health officials and the media to discredit the lab leak theory and was prompted by Dr. Fauci to push the preferred narrative that COVID-19 originated naturally.

There are five assertions the White House uses to back up its theory the COVID-19 pandemic started with a lab leak. They claim the following:

The virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature.

Data shows that all COVID-19 cases stem from a single introduction into humans. This runs contrary to previous pandemics where there were multiple spillover events.

Wuhan is home to Chinas foremost SARS research lab, which has a history of conducting gain-of-function research (gene altering and organism supercharging) at inadequate biosafety levels.

Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) researchers were sick with COVID-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before COVID-19 was discovered at the wet market.

By nearly all measures of science, if there was evidence of a natural origin it would have already surfaced. But it hasnt.

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While theres yet to be one direct consensus on how the pandemic definitively began, many scientists believe it emerged at a wild-animal market in Wuhan. Countless scientists have studied and attempted to nail down the direct source of the pandemic, and one study published in September 2024 by prominent biologists Michael Worobey and Angela Rasmussen said the pandemic was traced to the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market.

This market wasn't just somewhere the virus eventually got to after spreading widely in Wuhan, Worobey told NPR. There's very clear indications that that's where the jump successfully took place and human-to-human spread began.

Meanwhile, another study published by more than 20 scientists in Cell, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, said no epidemic has been caused by the escape of a novel virus, and there is no data to suggest the Wuhan Institute of Virology or any other lab was working on COVID-19.

No case of laboratory escape has been documented following the sequencing of viral samples, according to the study. Despite extensive contact tracing of early cases during the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been no reported cases related to any laboratory staff at the WIV.

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The new covid.gov website claims former National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases Director Dr. Anthony Fauci helped edit and amplify the research paper that supported natural origin theory, which Trump discredits.

Trumps CIA head John Ratcliffe also recently ordered the release of an assessment supporting the presidents lab leak theory.

CIA assesses with low confidence that a research-related origin of the COVID-19 pandemic is more likely than a natural origin based on the available body of reporting, a CIA spokesperson told CBS. CIA continues to assess that both research-related and natural origin scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic remain plausible.

However, the key phrase is that the CIA still has low confidence in the lab leak theory.

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The change up of the covid.org website is just the latest in the Trump administrations moves to alter public information sites about federal agencies and topics.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
The White House has reportedly proposed recognizing Russian control of Crimea as part of a framework peace plan to bring Russias war against Ukraine to an end.

According to CNN, that offer was shared with Ukrainian and other European leaders during a Thursday meeting in Paris that included Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, and Joseph Kellogg, the U.S. special envoy for Ukraine.

They presented this framework to try and drive forth an end to the Russia-Ukraine war, CNN national security correspondent Kylie Atwood said Friday on OutFront, after having delved into Witkoffs role in the matter earlier in the day.

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And we should note that were now learning some more details of what was actually in that framework. Im told, according to an official familiar with the framework that was put on the table, that the Trump administrationthe U.S.is ready to recognize Russian control of Crimea, Atwood said.

Russia occupied Crimea by force in 2014. Since then, Ukrainians there have had to vote at gunpointa violation of international law. The international community still recognizes the region as belonging to Ukraine.

The U.S. would be prepared to actually recognize Russias control of that area as part of this initial framework, Atwood emphasized.

The overall proposal, which Atwood said would also freeze the front lines of the war, isnt fully baked yet.

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Theres a meeting thats going to happen next week in London, and thats where U.S. officials will be talking with the Ukrainians again about the contours of this framework, she said.

Im also told that there are plans for Steve Witkoff, Trumps Middle East envoywho has met with President Putin now three timesto have another meeting with the Russians in the coming days or the coming week.

Rubio, the day after the Paris gathering, threatened that the U.S. could walk away from negotiations soon.

If it is not possible to end the war in Ukraine, we need to move on, he told reporters Friday. We need to determine very quickly now, and Im talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable.

At the time, Rubio declined to mention details about any proposed plan.

When you start negotiating these things through the media, he said, they fall apart.
MIDDLEBURY  A sovereign citizen from Michigan allegedly lead Middlebury police on a three-mile high-speed chase on a motorcycle.

Anthony Zambrano, 38, of White Pigeon, is charged with resisting law enforcement with a vehicle, a Level 6 felony, and misdemeanor reckless driving after his arrest Monday. He was booked in the Elkhart County Correctional Facility on $25,000 bond.

His initial hearing is set for April 30.

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According to court documents:

A Middlebury officer was sitting in a parking lot along South Main Street just before 4 a.m. when a loud exhaust caught his attention. A black motorcycle then went past which he believed was exceeding the 45 mph speed limit.

The motorcycle turned east onto U.S. 20 and accelerated while the officer followed with his lights and sirens activated. The officers speed reached 80 mph as he attempted to catch up to the motorcycle, which was weaving in and out of traffic 100 yards ahead, according to police.

The officers speed had exceeded 100 mph in a 55 mph zone by the time he caught up to the motorcycle. The rider eventually slowed down and stopped after turning onto C.R. 1150W.

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The rider allegedly got off and approached the officer, who told him to stop, show his hands and take his helmet off. When the officer asked for his license, the rider allegedly said he doesnt go by that name and that he doesnt wish to do business with police.

He also said he was a state nationalist and was traveling for work, according to police. He eventually handed over a Michigan drivers license identifying himself as Zambrano.
For hundreds of thousands of people every year who dream of studying or researching in the United States, a student visa is the golden ticket.

Now, for hundreds of people already at US colleges and universities, it is turning into a one-way ticket back to their home countries as President Donald Trumps administration continues an aggressive effort to revoke visas and push academics out of the country  whether voluntarily or in handcuffs.

Visa programs in the US are complicated, with many requirements and conditions, and the State Department says it has broad powers to terminate them.

How do student visas work?

Coming to the United States for anything but tourism usually means wading through an alphabet soup of visa types  more than two dozen for people who do not intend to become permanent residents of the US.

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But only three apply to people from other countries who plan to study in the United States. An F-1 visa is used by students attending an academic institution like a high school or college. The much less common M-1 visa applies to students in a vocational program.

To accept students with those visas, an educational institution first must be certified by the Department of Homeland Securitys Immigration and Customs Enforcement unit, or ICE, through the Student and Exchange Visitor Program, known as SEVP.

In its disputes with Harvard University, the Trump administration has threatened to decertify the university from SEVP unless it agrees to give the Department of Homeland Security detailed disciplinary records on its international students  part of a broader White House effort to bring elite US colleges into lockstep with its political ideology. If Harvard is dropped from the program, it would not be able to accept students on an F-1 visa, with existing F-1 students traditionally allowed to seek a transfer to another US school.

Additionally, many people with educational plans come to the US on a J-1 exchange visitor visa. This path includes not just academic study but also a cultural component supervised by a US organization approved by the State Department, a list that includes thousands of educational institutions. Professors, researchers and physicians typically come to the US on a J-1 visa.

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Although it comes with more strings attached than the F-1 visa, some students prefer the J-1 because it allows their spouses to work in the US, said Lisa Murray, exchange program director with the non-profit American Immigration Council.

Many prestigious scholarships, fellowships or grants are specifically tied to J-1 sponsorship, Murray told CNN.

All three types of educational visas use a government online database called SEVIS  the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System  to allow colleges and universities to provide legally required information to the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security about international students at their institutions. That information includes the students address and confirmation of their academic work.

US higher education institutions take the responsibility of enrolling international students and complying with SEVP requirements very seriously and understand the consequences of not doing so, Fanta Aw, CEO of the non-profit Association of International Educators, said in a statement.

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Institutions have codes of conduct and disciplinary measures in place to address student conduct which may result in terminating a students SEVIS record as outlined by SEVP, just as there are established grounds for the government or the institution to withdraw its certification.

When can a student visa be revoked?

While a persons legal status  their ability to remain in the United States  is determined by US Citizenship and Immigration Services, part of the Department of Homeland Security, visas are issued by the State Department and can be revoked for a number of reasons, including violating laws and providing false information on an application. The State Departments Foreign Affairs Manual makes clear a visa holder does not have to be formally charged with any crime before a visa can be terminated.

The Department may revoke a visa when it receives derogatory information directly from another US Government agency, including a member of the intelligence or law enforcement community, the manual says.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio has terminated hundreds of visas under a rarely used provision that allows for revocation if a persons presence in the US would have potentially serious adverse foreign policy consequences for the United States.

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In the moves wake seems to be a two-tiered system to get affected students to quickly leave the country. First, the State Department revokes a visa, then ICE tells the student to leave immediately or, in at least one case, finds and detains them.

Tufts University doctoral candidate Rumeysa Ozturk was confronted last month by federal agents on a street in Somerville, Massachusetts, and handcuffed as she shrieked in fear and confusion, as seen in surveillance video viewed around the world. Though Ozturks F-1 visa had been revoked four days earlier, she hadnt gotten notice of it before her arrest, says a petition filed by her lawyers in federal court in Boston challenging the legality of her detention.

Ozturk was engaged in activities in support of Hamas, a Department of Homeland Security spokesperson has said, without specifying the alleged activities. Her lawyers say she is unfairly being punished for speaking out in favor of Palestinian rights.

Many foreign students now targeted for deportation say they have done nothing criminal or controversial in the US other than publicly support the Palestinian cause in the war in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

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And removal orders for students have not just affected visa holders. Mahmoud Khalil and Mohsen Madawi  pro-Palestinian activists at Columbia University  are now fighting deportation after the State Department ordered revocation of their permanent legal resident status, commonly known as a green card, and arrested them in March and April.

Reasons given for ejecting students go beyond protests

More than 100 international students who have had their visas revoked claim the government is stripping them of their ability to pursue their studies and maintain employment in the United States and risking their arrest, detention, and deportation, a lawsuit filed on their behalf in federal court in Georgia states.

Some of the students targeted never were protesters and or charged with a crime, plaintiffs attorney Dustin Baxter said.

Not only would they revoke the persons student visa  even if there was no conviction, if there was just an arrest, and sometimes there wasnt even an arrest, there was just an encounter and maybe a ticket  they would revoke the student visa, Baxter said.

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Some foreign students say the first notice they received about their visa revocation was not from ICE but their school. Meanwhile, many universities got no formal notice of their students visa revocations and found out only by seeing a students name in government records, school officials say.

After four students and two recent graduates of Stanford University in California had their student visas rescinded, the University learned of the revocations during a routine check of the SEVIS database, it said in a statement on April 4.

That marks a major change from the way that system historically has been used, an immigration attorney told CNN.

Up until Trump took office, it was really up to the designated school officers to initiate that revocation in SEVIS, said Jeff Joseph, president-elect of the American Immigration Lawyers Association. What were seeing now is that ICE is doing it themselves.

Government warns students theyre being watched

Since Trumps second term began, the administration has put out warnings that the government has its eyes on people living in the US on visas.

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US visa screening does not stop after a visa is issued, the State Department said in March in a Facebook post. We continuously check visa holders to ensure they follow all US laws and immigration rules  and we will revoke their visas and deport them if they dont.

Traditionally, the expiration of an exchange visitor visa does not mean a person is immediately considered to be in the country illegally. In fact, the State Departments website advises J-1 visa holders, If your visa has expired and you do not plan to travel outside of the US, you do not need to renew the visa. ICE tells F-1 visa holders, You can stay in the United States on an expired F-1 visa as long as you maintain your student status.

But a number of students who have been told via email by the Department of Homeland Security their visas were revoked are getting the message they must self-deport within seven days if they want to avoid being arrested.

Do not attempt to remain in the United States. The federal government will find you, one such email says, according to Boston immigration attorney Nicole Micheroni, who said she received the message apparently intended for a client.

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While Rubio has publicly touted efforts to revoke student visas, the State Department has been tight-lipped about individual decisions.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends a news conference in March in Kingston, Jamaica. - Nathan Howard/Reuters

Due to privacy considerations, and visa confidentiality, we generally will not comment on Department actions with respect to specific cases, an agency spokesperson told CNN in response to questions about several cases.

Before a person in ICE custody can be deported, several steps can be taken, including exercising the right in many cases to petition the Board of Immigration Appeals. But the Supreme Court ruled unanimously in 2024 that visa revocations are almost never appealable.

Congress granted the Secretary (of State) broad authority to revoke an approved visa petition at any time, for what he deems to be good and sufficient cause, Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson wrote.

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A student visa holder who violates a term or condition of their legal status cannot apply for another visa until being out of the country for at least five years, according to State Department guidelines.

How many student visas does the US approve?

Hundreds of thousands of new student visas are approved every year, according to the State Department, many of them for people extending existing visas or changing to a different type of visa as their educational status changes.

Dr. Rasha Alawieh, a nephrology specialist and an associate professor at Brown University, was deported in March after ICE said she returned to the US from a trip to her native Iran, where she attended the funeral of Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah.

Alawieh originally came to the US on a J-1 visa to study at three American universities over six years but changed to an H-1B visa for skilled workers when she took the position at Brown, according to a court filing by her lawyers.

The total number of student visas issued peaked in 2015, when nearly 1 million visas were approved. The approvals for F-1 visas dropped 27% the following year, according to State Department figures, then barely cleared six figures in 2020, when Covid travel restrictions and a temporary suspension of processing at embassies and consulates sent the numbers plummeting.

Student visa approvals have returned to pre-Covid levels, but 2024 figures were still less than three-quarters of the 2015 record. Hundreds of institutions of higher education cited social and political environment in the US, as well as feeling unwelcome, as factors in declining international student enrollment during the first Trump administration, the non-profit Institute of International Education found.

Trumps tone on international students has changed dramatically since the earliest days of his presidential ambitions.

When foreigners attend our great colleges & want to stay in the US, they should not be thrown out of our country, Trump tweeted in August 2015, two months after launching his first campaign with a famous escalator ride at Trump Tower.

A decade later, his administration has canceled more than 1,000 scholars visas  and counting.

CNNs Gloria Pazmino and Rafael Romo contributed to this report.

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Prince William and Princess Kate are breaking with a major tradition this year for a very understandable reason.

While several key members of the royal family will be attending Easter services this Sunday in Windsor, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, the future King of England and his immediate family will not join them.

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According to People, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6, will instead celebrate the holiday weekend at their country home in Norfolk.

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This is the second year in a row that they wont be in attendance, as last year they also skipped celebrating the holiday publicly amid Princess Kate's cancer news. In previous years, the royal couple would regularly spend the Easter holiday in Windsor.

The three children will return to school in Berkshire next week, reports Hello!, and whether it was for privacy concerns or the continuation of a new tradition, fans stood behind the royals.

Social media users understood the move, tweeting, As much as I would love to see the Wales family on Easter, we have to remember that King Charles will more than likely have a shorter reign than Prince William. I think its good for them to have some privacy as a family before The Prince & Princess of Wales become King & Queen.

Others agreed, calling it A quiet family Easter whilst Prince William is still a Prince. When he becomes King life will change.

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Per the outlet, while William and Kate have celebrated most Easters since 2017 at Windsor, celebrating elsewhere wasnt unheard of for another Prince of Wales. Before ascending to the throne, Charles would often spend the holiday at Birkhall in Scotland. In fact, Charles and Camilla only recently began attending Easter services in Windsor after he was crowned King.

In 2020 and 2021, the Easter service at Windsor was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Next: Kate Middleton Makes Fashion Faux Pas, But Fans Say 'It Looks So Good on Her'
The recent Wisconsin Supreme Court election campaign, a nonpartisan election, could have an estimated $100 million spent by various entities. Much of the money came from out-of-state sources. The outcome will have dramatic effects on the state and on the nation as a whole.

This is an absurd political process. Politicians from both parties as well as the general public decry this outlandish amount of money being spent on political races as it smacks of races being bought.

The solution is simple but politically difficult to achieve. If the government would only allow contributions from citizens who could vote in the election, then out-of-state contributions would be stopped.

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Additionally, corporations, PAC's, unions, etc., which are not voting entities, would not be able to inject the huge sums that have so greatly influenced so many election outcomes. People and non-voting entities could still contribute to a PAC but the PAC contribution would be limited to the statutory limits imposed by the federal and the respective state regulations on citizens.

Opinion: Musk, billionaires took over Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The joke is on us.

In Wisconsin, depending on the contested race, the top contribution is $20,000 while in other races the contribution is limited to $1,000. There were numerous contributions of $1 million in the last contest.

It makes no sense for a person or group in New York, as an example, to help determine the outcome of an election in Wisconsin.

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Jim Fleming, Mequon

Opinion: Musk, billionaires took over Wisconsin Supreme Court race. The joke is on us.

Looking for MPS money? Why not use campaign cash?

A recent letter to the editor asked where is the money to come from regarding the Milwaukee Public School district (Biggest question for MPS is where money is coming from, March 30).

Here's a thought: how about decreasing campaign/election spending and using that money toward schools, mental health programs, funding for community needs, etc. The vast amount of spending that goes toward nothing but television ads that only throw stones is staggering and could be used for the greater good.

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It's extremely disheartening to see multiple programs cut when it's obvious there is money available for use. It's a choice how one spends their money.

I hope the two people who got $1 million dollar checks March 30 think about how they can help others as well as themselves. I hope the billionaires that chose to throw away their money on trying to win elections reflect on what really matters to a human being in need.

Michel Hall, South Milwaukee

Letters: Wisconsin Republicans keep trotting out Milwaukee vote trope as built-in excuse

Citizens United court case put us on ridiculous path

Thanks to the Citizens United U.S. Supreme Court ruling of 2010, each election cycle gets more and more ridiculous. A candidate doesnt have a prayer if they arent sitting on a mountain of money.

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So lets just eliminate voting altogether and award positions of power to the candidates who raise the most money. Your donors gave you $127.5 million and your opponent raised only $127.4? Then youre the new mayor/governor/senator/president/whatever.

Just two rules: 1. The accumulated money cant be spent on political signs or annoying TV commercials. 2. The money raised on both sides will be merged into a single pile and spent on the needy, our schools, the environment, the national debt and infrastructure.

That way, at least some good will come of all the money grubbing.

Michael Leannah, Sheboygan

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Letters: Ron Johnson needs to read Constitution, do his job and support the rule of law

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This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Money being used to buy elections. That's bad for democracy. | Letters
WICHITA, Kan. (KSNW)  After 25 years of service, Wichita Fire Departments longtime mascot Sparky has officially retired  and on Saturday, the department introduced his furry successor.

In a special event hosted by the Kansas Humane Society, WFD revealed the name and face of its new mascot: Rigs. The name was selected with help from the public following Sparkys retirement announcement.

Sedgwick County to unveil new flood maps at local events

Courtesy: WFD

The celebration brought together members of the community, the Kansas Humane Society, and the Wichita Police and Fire Foundation, which played a key role in making the mascot transition possible.

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Rigs looks forward to the many days ahead getting to know our community, the department said in a social post.

Officials say Rigs will serve as a friendly face at public safety events, community outreach efforts, and educational programs for kids, continuing Sparkys legacy of fire safety awareness and engagement.

In a social post, WFD expressed gratitude to everyone who helped welcome Rigs and honored the service of Sparky.

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Communities across the Omaha metro were ravaged by severe weather Thursday night, with multiple tornadoes reported in eastern Nebraska and western Iowa. Bennington and Manley in Nebraska and Randolph and Essex in Iowa were some of the most heavily impacted areas, according to WOWT. And the photos and videos that emerged in the aftermath showed the true ferocity of the outbreak, with one user capturing the massive hail that ravaged their home.

Related: Meteorologist Issues Dire Warning About 'Disastrous Impact' Coming to Weather Service

The National Weather Service indicated that several tornadoes were reported during the storm, along with softball-sized hail and damaging wind gusts of more than 80 mph.

Photo sent to me by @AGrieve715 of baseball sized hail in Bennington tonight. #NEwx pic.twitter.com/KhWGOhjRnf  Jessica Blum (@JessicaBlumWx) April 18, 2025

Ashley Lathrop shared photos on X, showing how softballsized hail tore through her home in Fremont, Nebraskasplintering panels and exposing insulation and walls. Thankfully, she confirmed that she and her family were safe despite the destruction.

Also via X, the Douglas County sheriff's confirmed a tornado in northern Douglas County and warned residents to avoid the area of 72nd Street to 78th Street from Omaha Trace to Dutch Hall Road due to "multiple downed power lines and damage to homes"and shared photos of the storm.

Here's a look from the Northern portion of Douglas County. Please continue to avoid the area as first responders continue to assist those impacted.



The impacted area is 72nd Street to roughly 108th Street from Omaha Trace to Dutch Hall Rd.



Thank you to the first responders, pic.twitter.com/S1ASzetcv0  DCSO - Omaha, NE (@DCSheriffNE) April 18, 2025

Among the different affected areas, the most severe tornado warning was issued for Essex, Iowa, at 8:51 p.m. CDT. Alex Terry shared the video via X of the storm's path near the town of Essex.

Giant #tornado in the state of Iwoa near the town of Essex.



There were 16 reports of tornadoes in the US in the states of #Nebraska and #Iowa last night.

More about what's happening to our planet is outlined in a report by scientists https://t.co/m7QLd5U5gd pic.twitter.com/PerCh27Oqm  Alex Terry (@AlexTerry17482) April 18, 2025

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Pictures of the affected areas have continued to spread across social media. The National Weather Service is expected to confirm the category of the tornados in the coming days.

According to AccuWeather, additional rounds of severe thunderstorms are predicted through the weekend, threatening areas from Texas to Ohio.
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A Scottish woman has been hospitalized after wild swimming with friends to celebrate a birthday. After the swim she returned home, only to fall ill the next day with stomach pains and fatigue.

Shelly Sim of East Lothian contacted her doctor, who recommended she go straight to hospital, where she remained for five days with severe gastroenteritis and dehydration. After running tests, the hospital diagnosed her with cryptosporidium, a parasite that causes a diarrheal illness that you can pick up by swallowing contaminated water.

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The parasite can be found in farm animals and can easily pass into their manure. Run-off from farmland after heavy rain can carry the parasite into surrounding rivers, lakes and seas.

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"I spent five nights in hospital before I was allowed home, and I'm still recovering as this horrible thing takes two weeks to get out of your system," she revealed on social media, The Scottish Sun reported.

"So, the point of this post is to raise awareness about sticking to the rules of not swimming in certain areas after heavy rain."

Sim, who used to swim regularly to relieve the stress of being a carer, is now more cautious about when she enters open water.

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"The first thing I do now is check outfalls. That's good, but it comes from a place of fear. I shouldn't be doing this. I should be checking the tide, not when was it heavy rain and if there were any spills.

"It impacted my son's mental health. He has OCD, ADHD and autism and I'm his carer. My illness caused a lot of anxieties and stress," she said.

Sim spoke out on social media after a new report from Surfers Against Sewage revealed that pollution could have been dumped in Scottish waters an average of every 90 seconds in 2024.

The report shines light on financial, environmental and public health failures of the water industry in Scotland and across the wider UK.

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Pollution and unforeseen hazards can often make open water swimming risky if you're not prepared. If you're planning a wild swimming trip, read our article on how to stay safe in open water.
Things are stirring up for the Wales family. Prince William and Kate Middleton are breaking from tradition yet again, but for good reason.

The Prince and Princess of Wales are skipping the 2025 Easter Service in order to reconnect with their family, which consists of Prince George 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6. The Mirror and HELLO! reported that they wouldnt attend the service at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor. Instead, a source told the outlet that the couple are choosing to spend time together as a family before the children go back to school.

More from StyleCaster

Related: The Future of William & Kates Marriage Revealed After He Hired Divorce Lawyers in a Shocking Royal Twist

This is a big deal, a source told Us Weekly. Its royal tradition for the family to attend this together. Everyone understood the family not attending last year when Kate was sick but theres been a lot of raised eyebrows at the palace about Williams decision to skip again this year. It feels like a deliberate move and even a snub.

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Last year, both Kate Middleton and King Charles altered their Easter service attendance as they were battling their own cancer battles. Kate announced shes in remission from her cancer in January 2025.

The news also comes after Prince William made a questionable decision to hire his mother, Princess Dianas divorce lawyers. William wanted to strike out on his own, a source tells the Daily Mail, who broke this news. He did not want to continue using his fathers lawyers. Its as simple as that. He wants to be his own man.

While there isnt trouble in paradise for the next King and Queen of the UK, it marked a difference of ruling between father and son. talk of legal circles and Buckingham Palace thinks its the latest example of his desire to follow a different path from that of his father. Williams friend told the Daily Mail, saying William wants to do things differently from his father, and wants to be seen to do them differently.

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(KRON)  A San Francisco man was arrested after attempting to steal multiple wine bottles at a Colma Target, the Colma Police Department said on its social media Friday.

Colma police officers responded to a Target on Junipero Serra Boulevard for the report of a theft around 8:41 p.m. on April 12. Responding officers were informed that a man had shoplifted wine bottles and subsequently returned to take mens clothing items.

Officers located the suspect, later identified as San Francisco resident Dhani Ratliff, inside the store. Police said Ratliff fled through the store but was caught after a brief pursuit.

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Verbal altercation led to assault at Colma Target parking lot

According to Colma PD, Ratliff took approximately $481.63 worth of unpaid merchandise on April 12. Target employees told police that Ratliff had stolen $2,580.26 worth of merchandise in total.

Ratliff, 51, had two or more prior theft convictions, which under Proposition 36 made him eligible for arrest.

Ratliff was arrested and booked into the San Mateo County Jail for burglary, grand theft, felony theft with priors and resisting/obstructing peace officers.

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WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (WGHP)  30 years have passed, but the memory of the Oklahoma City bombing remains fresh.

This was the deadliest domestic act of terrorism in American history.

Bob Campbell was a radio broadcaster in Oklahoma City when the chaos unfolded.

Three decades later, he says the memory still haunts him.

The shock from April 19, 1995, is something he will carry on for the rest of his life.

Its an event so horrific that even after 30 years have passed, Campbell finds himself at a loss for words with goosebumps reliving the memory.

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From the time we first felt the tremor in the building through the next day is obviously something I will never forget, Campbell said.

Campbell was working as a radio DJ at a station when the bomb went off. He got a phone call from his producer that he would never forget.

He goes, The Murrah building just blew up, and I said, Walk towards it. Were going on air, and he starts walking towards the building and describes the scene, and hes live on air with us  As you can imagine, it was terrible. The building was in ruins. Wounded people are staggering around. There are bodies and parts laying around, Campbell said.

The live reports continued in that studio until they couldnt anymore.

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Two FBI agents  walking into the room, the studio, with weapons drawn, FBI hats on, body armor, saying, We believe the building might be a target. We have to evacuate, he said.

168 souls were lost, with 19 of them being children.

One of the kindergarten teachers at my daughters school was killed  It affected everybody, Campbell said.

Today, in another radio studio, hes sharing his reflections 30 years later.

He talks about it because we have to remember.

The further we get away from any event, the less weight it has on the people who werent there  You can be 30 years old, and you could have just been born, and we ignore our history, he said.

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On April 18 every year, Campbell is reminded of one thing.

No matter our race, creed, color, religion, belief, non-belief  were all in the same boat when it comes down to it, Campbell said.

He hopes that we can move forward together.

Time has not erased the fear or the loss from the Oklahoma City bombing, but it has brought him a perspective: to learn from the history, spread those lessons and use the anniversaries as a milestone for progress.

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NEW MEXICO (KRQE)  Rain and snow move through New Mexico Saturday. Warmer and drier weather returns Sunday.

High winds Friday afternoon once again kicked up dust across southern New Mexico, with wind gusts up to 55 mph. Meanwhile, rain and snow have been moving into west-central, northwest, and northern New Mexico this afternoon. Thats where temperatures were much cooler today, sitting in the 30s in Gallup, while southeast New Mexico was up into the 80s. Snow has been falling in Gallup since this afternoon and continues to fall tonight, with snow sticking to the ground and roadways.

Forecast Continues Below

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The winds will settle down tonight, but rain and snow will continue to move into the state from the west. A strong cold front will also be moving in from the northeast, bringing in a gusty east canyon wind into the Albuquerque Metro tonight. It will die down Saturday morning, though. More rain and snow will be moving across New Mexico by Saturday morning. This storm will bring a good chance for rain to western, central, and northern New Mexico through Saturday, including a good chance for rain in the Albuquerque Metro on Saturday. The rain will mix with snow in elevations down to 6,500 as temperatures will be much colder Saturday as well. Any kind of travel impacts should be limited to areas above 7,000. Winter Storm Warnings are in effect for the northern mountains where 5 to 12 of snow is possible. There are also Winter Weather Advisories in effect for west-central New Mexico and the East Mountains where 1 to 5 of snow is possible.

Drier weather will return to all of New Mexico by Sunday morning, but it will be a cold start to the day! A Freeze Watch is in effect for the Albuquerque Metro on Sunday morning, where low temperatures will get down to around freezing. More seasonable weather moves in by the afternoon, though with highs back to around average and sunny and calm conditions.

Warm temperatures will stick around every day next week, with dry conditions in the western half of the state. Moisture from the Gulf of Mexico will work its way into eastern New Mexico on Tuesday, bringing daily, isolated thunderstorm chances through the end of next week.

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GRAFTON, Wis. (WFRV)  Every day can be drastically different from the other for an officer out on patrol, and after officers in southeast Wisconsin rescued 12 ducklings from a sewer grate on Friday, that statement holds true.

Officers with the Grafton Police Department got their ducks in a row on April 18.

Sergeant Fuerstenberg and Officer Brandt were called to an area behind the local Pick n Save for a report of ducklings that had fallen into a sewer grate drain.

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NEW Zoo welcomes African lioness Anga to Green Bay

Grafton Police Department Grafton Police Department Grafton Police Department Grafton Police Department

Twelve ducklings in total were rescued by Sergeant Fuerstenberg and Officer Brandt. A 13th duckling that had fallen in reportedly found its own way to safety.

A brief video of the rescue can be watched here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
A 21-year-old Johnston County woman was arrested Monday, April 14, and faces 18 charges, including eluding, possession of a stolen vehicle and desecrating a gravesite, which are felonies, and reckless driving, hit and run, driving with a revoked license and other misdemeanors and traffic infractions.

Hellen Larissa Andino, of 230 Mark Lane in northwest Johnston County near the Wake County line, allegedly drove 80 mph in a 35-mph zone and damaged the tombstone of James Robert Carroll and a fence at Carroll Family Cemetery on Dunn Road at Straw Pond School roads, according to an arrest warrant.

She also allegedly caused a crash resulting in damage to a Dunn Police vehicle near the cemetery. The site is about 13 miles southeast of Dunn in Sampson County.

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Andino allegedly caused more than $1,000 in property damage and passed a stopped school bus during the chase.

Among the charges was possession of a license plate stolen from Princess Young and possession of drug paraphernalia. According to the arrest warrant, Andino had a glass pipe with white residue.

Dunn Police Officer Neil McKinnon's vehicle got stuck in a ditch during the chase, according to the Daily Record newspaper, and the weeds under his cruiser were ignited by the heat from the vehicles exhaust and a fire started. Spiveys Corner firefighters were dispatched to deal with the burning patrol car.

Despite crashing at the cemetery, Andino, driving a stolen black Honda sedan, fled the scene and was later arrested 2.6 miles away, according to the weekly newspaper.

Andino was held in the Harnett County Jail on a $150,000 secured bond.

She has a disposition hearing set for May 6.
BEDFORD, Mass. (WWLP)  A woman was arrested in Bedford by State Police this week and charged with OUI following reckless driving and crashing on the highway with a child in the car.

Massachusetts State Police said that troopers from the Newbury Barracks received multiple reports of a car crash on I-95 south in Boxford. The reports stated that the vehicle was observed driving recklessly and crossing into the center median, reentering the highway after about half a mile and swerving across all lanes.

Over 175 cyclist related crashes in Massachusetts so far this year

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The Boxford Fire Department assisted state troopers in locating the vehicle at the North Rowley weigh station. The vehicle was found with significant damage and two flat tires. Officers spoke with the driver and observed impairment.

The operator was found to be intoxicated by state troopers, and she was arrested. Troopers also found a two-year-old in the backseat of the vehicle. Emergency Medical Services evaluated the driver and the child, and they were reunited at the Newbury Barracks.

No further information about the charges or the suspects identity has been shared by the Massachusetts State Police for the integrity of ongoing criminal cases and the subjects privacy.

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Originally appeared on E! Online

An Indiana woman's 50-year-old murder case is finally getting answers.

Five decades after she was found dead in a ditch on the side of a road with her 3-year-old daughter unharmed by her side, Phyllis Bailer's killer has been identified by authorities.

Forensic genetic genealogy has led officials to determine Fred Allen Lienemann was the 26-year-old mom's assailant, the Indiana State Police shared in an April 16 press release.

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Lienemann's DNA was found on Bailer's clothing, per police. He would have been 25 at the time of her 1972 murder, which occurred while she was traveling in her parents' car from Indianapolis to Bluffton, I.N., with her 3-year-old daughter, per the release.

"Lienemann had no known connections to Phyllis Bailer," officials continued of the Michigan-born man in the release, "but had a significant criminal history."

And while authorities are confident that the DNA testing has led them to the correct killer, the Indiana State Police noted that they are unable to convict Lienemann, who sexually assaulted Bailer before fatally shooting her and leaving her on the side of the road, according to an autopsy obtained by the department.

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"During their investigation, detectives learned that Fred Lienemann was murdered in Detroit in 1985," the release stated. "If Fred Lienemann were alive today, the Allen County Prosecutors Office would have charged him with the murder of Phyllis Bailer."

As for why it took 50 years to solve Bailer's case? Police noted that DNA testing was not available in 1972 and was not widely used by law enforcement officials until two decades later.

Indiana State Police

Additionally, new forensic technology that was developed by the company Identifinders in 2024 allowed police to pull a stronger DNA profile from Bailer's clothes, as opposed to the partial profile they had previously collected in the investigation.

Identifinders is proud to have supported the Indiana State Police with bringing long overdue answers to Phyllis and her family," Identifinders founder Colleen Fitzpatrick shared in the press release. "This case is an example of still another homicide that would never have been solved without Forensic Genetic Genealogy."

For the latest breaking news updates, click here to download the E! News App
Apr. 18Two women were sentenced to probation for their roles in a dog training business where pets were reportedly returned untrained and sometimes covered in feces and underweight.

Jennifer Long, 40, and Tabatha Taverna, 48, were both sentenced to up to five years of community control sanctions, according to the Montgomery County Prosecutor's Office.

Long also must pay $7,200 in restitution to three of the victims and Taverna owes $2691.24 to one victim.

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Long and Taverna cannot have contact with each other and Taverna was also ordered to have to contact with their co-defendant, Jason Jones.

Taverna and Long both pleaded guilty to of four counts of theft and one count of cruelty to companion animals after pleading no contest in February, according to Montgomery County Common Pleas Court records.

Taverna also pleaded guilty to a second count of cruelty to companion animals.

The cruelty to companion animals convictions are first-degree misdemeanors.

Two counts of engaging in a pattern of corrupt activity were dismissed.

Dozens of pet owners reportedly paid more than $200,000 to Dayton Dog Trainer, which was run by Jones.

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The three people were charged after a lengthy investigation by the Miamisburg Police Department found that after accepting thousands in payment, dogs were returned untrained, often covered in feces and with obvious signs of neglect and mistreatment, Montgomery County Prosecutor Mat Heck Jr. said previously.

The investigation started after Randy Reed of Miamisburg hired Jones to train his two 6-month-old bernedoodles, Emmy and Bailey, for $4,000. Two weeks later, Reed said he found the dogs staked out in a field, filthy with a rash and clear weight loss.

He took home his dogs, and found a dozen people via social media with similar experiences before taking that information to the police.

In all, police found more than 65 dog owners who were victims of the business.

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The victims include one woman, whose French bulldog was returned dirty with missing hair, and appeared to have had his teeth filed down; and a couple who sent their German Shepherd to the business multiple times, resulting in the dog's behavior becoming worse and worse, acting frightened and increasingly aggressive.

In a sentencing memorandum, prosecutors said that one of the dogs died due to the fraudulent training business' actions, and a second was "so changed after being in Jones' care that he had to be euthanized."

Jones was sentenced to up to five years of probation and ordered to pay $341,363.24.
Since at least November, more than 150 animals have been sent out of Worcester as the citys only animal shelter refuses new intakes due to reaching capacity, creating a growing crisis for the citys Animal Control.

Typically, the Worcester Police Departments Animal Control unit works closely with the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL). But the rescue, which currently has 34 dogs, stopped taking in new animals months ago.

Instead, the police department has had to work to find new places to put 156 animals, including 105 dogs and 51 cats, between November 2024 and April, Worcester police spokesperson Joseph Cersosimo told MassLive.

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The Worcester Police Departments Animal Control unit has seen a higher intake of dogs, specifically unclaimed strays, animals taken into custody through violations and animal cruelty investigations since November, said Mike Keiley, vice president of the animal protection division of the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell), who works closely with WARL.

After the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) conducted an inspection of WARL between December 2024 and January, the shelter almost received a cease-and-desist order from accepting new animals, Keiley said. MSPCA-Angell stepped in to assist and agreed to help WARL address its capacity problem.

WARL did not respond to MassLives request for comment.

And the problem possibly started even before November, Keiley said.

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I would say theyve probably been at capacity for longer than [November], just because theyre really representing one of the only shelter systems in the Worcester area altogether, Keiley said. And Worcester is the second largest city in Massachusetts. Theres no doubt theres incredible need.

Without being able to leave dogs with WARL, Animal Control has been working with other animal control units across the state to rehome dogs in need of adoption or to scan chips to reunite lost dogs with their families.

Additionally, Worcesters animal control officers have been buying some of the food for the animals, a Feb. 26 Facebook post from Worcester police read.

Since there is such a great need, donations are being requested from the public, the post read.

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In March, Worcester police posted about more than a dozen dogs rescued that were in need of new homes after they were surrendered to police or picked up off the citys streets.

We have a surplus of them now and were looking for people to adopt, Cersosimo told MassLive.

The departments Facebook post featured a video of the dogs that officers have rescued in recent months. Since the post went up on March 31, it has received nearly 200,000 views and 430 people have commented.

But MSPCA-Angell said WARL isnt the only shelter in need  most of the states shelters, including MSPCA-Angells shelters, have seen higher numbers of intake needs. MSPCA-Angell operates with four adoption centers that have accepted locally and nationally surrendered animals.

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" We choose to be at capacity because were trying to help so many other organizations and individuals," he added.

After hearing of Worcesters problem and to combat the capacity problem shelters are facing across the state, the MSPCA announced the formation of the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support, or MASS, Coalition. The group is comprised of several groups, including the Worcester Animal Rescue League, Boston Animal Control, Thomas J OConnor Animal Control and Adoption Center, Dakin Humane Society and Berkshire Humane Society.

The coalition really does aim to increase adoptions and ultimately reduce euthanasia for animals that are stuck in shelters and helping to get them out so that they can have a successful outcome, Keiley said.

In dealing with its own capacity issue, MSPCA-Angell has developed various strategies to move animals through our system and [get] animals adopted efficiently, Keiley continued. Thats what were trying to share: what strategies are working for us with the other shelters that were working with.

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Among these strategies is relying on people to foster dogs, according to Sara-Rose Brenner, senior public relations manager with MSPCA-Angell. By giving a dog a home setting to be in, it frees up a kennel for any dog that is surrendered or is taken into the organizations custody following an animal cruelty case. However, its not as permanent as a dog being adopted.

Its not a forever situation, she said. The goal is to find forever homes.

Social media has been another tool to get the word out about animals looking for new families, she continued. It has also helped to spread awareness of the capacity issue and send out to prospective pet owners a plea for help.

The other strategy that has been and will soon be implemented again next week is fee-waived adoption events. From April 21 to April 27, all of the MASS Coalition shelters will take part in the Big Dog Energy fee-waived adoption events for dogs over 1 year old.

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Such events are held during vacation weeks with the hope of more turnout at shelters where people can bring out the whole family to adopt, Brenner said.

Past fee-waived adoption events have contributed to lowering the number of dogs at different shelters, including WARL, Keiley said. However, without a new plan in place, the Worcester shelter could not reopen to accepting new animals due to limited staffing and not to sacrifice [their] bandwidth by increasing their intake again.

In addition, MSCPA-Angell officials will be on the ground at these shelters, including WARL, to provide more assistance and, in WARLs case, lower its capacity from 34 dogs down to around the single digits, Keiley said. Through its partnership with MSCPA-Angell, WARL will have a better operational plan to move forward so animals can move efficiently and effectively through their system and not get backed up in care, Keiley added.

We would identify to MDAR that we believe that WARL is ready to confirm what the capacity for care should be, Keiley said. Then MDAR would do an inspection and sign off on it to resume intake. Its going to take longer than we anticipated. We want them to open when they are ready to open without targeting a date. It could be May, it could be later than that.

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However, people can still make appointments with the Worcester Animal Rescue League if they choose to adopt. Adoption fees on the Worcester Animal Rescue Leagues website vary from cats to dogs to smaller animals like rabbits.

This problem reflects a nationwide trend of animal shelters reaching full capacity, Keiley said. In 2020, MSPCA-Angell had an intake of 451 dogs. That number grew incrementally until 2024, when the intake number more than tripled to 1,437 dogs in MSPCA-Angells care.

The important backdrop to this is animal welfare has gone through some turbulent times in the last several years, starting with COVID-19, Keiley said. ... We saw the entire nation be more excited to adopt animals during COVID-19 and less relinquishment of animals to animal shelters.

During the return to work phase later in the pandemic, operations at Massachusetts animal shelters saw drastic changes with staff and leadership turnover, Keiley said.

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The shelter has seen a change in leadership as well. Kristin Mullins LinkedIn page states shes still the executive director and a recorded voicemail message to the executive directors phone number still says her name. But the shelter confirmed with MassLive that she is no longer in that role. Kathy Jamieson is currently the interim executive director of the Worcester Animal Rescue League.

Shelters during the pandemic also saw a low intake of dogs despite a high interest in adoption, Keiley said. As more people returned to work in person, this flipped as interest dropped and shelters saw intakes increase.

It was the perfect storm of all challenges [that] really locked up animal welfare and created all these big challenges, and thats reflected here at Worcester Animal Rescue League, but not unique to Worcester Animal Rescue League, Keiley said.

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Fast fashion just won't slow down.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres recently called for major upheaval in the textile industry, calling attention to its unthinkable amounts of toxic waste.

What's happening?

Guterres addressed the U.N. General Assembly for the International Day of Zero Waste, observed on March 30.

During his speech, he pointed out the numerous problems textile waste poses, saying, "Textile production often uses thousands of chemicals  many of them harmful.  Every second, the equivalent of one garbage truck full of clothing is incinerated or sent to landfill."

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He blamed irresponsible clothing companies for the waste, saying they "prioritize newness, speed, and disposability" over crafting long-lasting, more sustainable garments.

Guterres concluded his speech by posing transparency, circularity, and waste reduction as viable business solutions.

Why is it important to call out fast fashion?

The fast fashion industry is a sneaky contributor to pollution.

When you think of "plastic waste," single-use water bottles or sandwich bags probably come to mind. While you wouldn't be wrong, clothing is actually way higher up on the list than you might think.

According to the U.N., the textile industry is the third-biggest contributor to global plastic waste, adding about 11% each year. And it stands to reason that fast fashion's poor-quality clothing, sold to briefly meet ever-changing trends, is by far the most egregious of this waste.

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The simple fact is that sustainability is not built into many clothing companies' business models. About half of textile waste is simply shipped to landfills in the Global South, where it pollutes the water and soil with chemicals as it decomposes.

What's more, some companies maintain these irresponsible policies while claiming to do otherwise. This practice is called "greenwashing," and it's used to trick consumers into supporting brands that don't have their best interests at heart.

As Guterres said in his address, "There is no space for greenwashing.  We need accountability for corporate sustainability commitments."

What's being done about textile waste?

Though the problem is immense  the fast fashion industry is worth over $150 billion and counting  the fight is far from over. For example, Shein is currently at the center of an investigation over its business practices.

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There's also a U.N. Plastics Treaty in the works, which Guterres mentioned at the end of his speech. If enacted, it would hold nations legally accountable for ending plastic pollution.

If you want to do your part, break up with fast fashion. When it's time to revamp your closet, shop secondhand. Opt for thrifting, which can offer fast fashion's low prices and trendy items with the added potential of finding high-end items.

Guterres underscored the importance of individuals helping to create a cultural change around clothing purchases, saying in the speech, "We need transparency for customers. And we need consumers to use their purchasing power to encourage change."

Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.






COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES Ernie Pyle and sailors listen to war reports aboard USS Charles Carroll while en route to Okinawa.

1 /5 COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES Ernie Pyle and sailors listen to war reports aboard USS Charles Carroll while en route to Okinawa.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

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2 /5 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

3 /5 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

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4 /5 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

5 /5 JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

COURTESY U.S. NATIONAL ARCHIVES Ernie Pyle and sailors listen to war reports aboard USS Charles Carroll while en route to Okinawa.

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JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Chaplin Hurst of the Pacific Air Forces paused in front of Ernie Pyles grave site. The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the service at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific at Punchbowl.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM The Color Guard posted the colors during the Ernie Pyle 80th Anniversary Memorial.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Jerry Maschino, right, executive director of the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, spoke Friday with Suzanne Vares-Lum, director of the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies, and City Council member Tyler Dos-Santos Tam during the cemetery. The memorial takes place every five years.

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO @STARADVERTISER.COM Anne Harpham, former senior editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, paused Friday in front of the Ernie Pyle Memorial Rock.

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RELATED PHOTO GALLERY The legendary life and career of newsman Ernie Pyle was celebrated Friday at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Punchbowl Crater, the famed war correspondents final resting place.

The Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation put on the ceremony, which marked the 80th anniversary of his death during the Battle of Okinawa. Another ceremony was held on the island of Iejima, where a single bullet fired by a Japanese soldier struck Pyle in the head and killed him.

The ceremony brought together members of Pyles extended family, veterans, educators, former war correspondents and community members who wanted to pay tribute to Pyle, who was best known for his human-interest reporting during the Great Depression and the intimate accounts of common service members during World War II.

Retired Army Maj. Gen. Suzanne Vares-Lum, an alum of University of Hawaiis journalism and ROTC programs, said she first encountered Pyles writing as a student at UH, where some of her instructors were former war correspondents as well. She said Pyles work left a profound impact on her.

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He was never the loudest man in the room, but he spoke with a voice that carried across oceans, across battlefields and across generations,  Vares-Lum said. He chose to stand alongside the average soldier, the quiet heroes, rather than chasing the spotlight of generals and war rooms. He wrote from foxholes, not balconies. From bombed-out towns, not press briefings. His style was simple and spare, but it cut deep. It wasnt about grandeur ; it was about truth.

The tradition of commemorating Pyles death at Punchbowl began in 1949, the year his remains were repatriated from Okinawa and interred at the cemetery. Buck Buchwach, then-editor of The Honolulu Advertiser, wrote and delivered the eulogy.

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Every five years, people would gather again at the ceremony, and Buchwach would read from that first eulogy until his own death in 1989. Buchwachs wife, Margaret, tried to keep the tradition alive, but by the end of the 1990s, it had faded.

But in 2013, members of Pyles extended family established the Ernie Pyle Legacy Foundation, and in 2015 the foundation helped revive the tradition. Steve Maschino, a cousin of Pyle who sits on the foundations board, told attendees that the foundation hopes to promote Ernies style of writing with that human exercise story, versus the raw news today that sometimes can seem void of the human side.

Marine veteran Jason Seal, senior vice commander of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Hawaii, read Buchwachs eulogy, which proclaimed that Pyle was a little guy who loved the little guy, and he brought the front to the front door of every American home. His fame lies above all in the integrity of what he wrote. His byline meant truth.

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Beverly Keever, who worked as a correspondent in Vietnam covering the war for seven years and later became a UH journalism instructor, said remembering Pyles work is important today.

The press today is under such unprecedented attacks of a new kind, new kind of bullets,  Keever said. This is a really special occasion, 80 years after his death.

Pyle was an only child raised on a farm in Indiana, and soon decided farming wasnt for him. He enlisted in the Navy during World War I, but the fighting ended before he finished training. He pursued journalism and enjoyed a long career with stints as a beat reporter, columnist and editor. In the 1930s, feeling trapped behind a desk, he hit the road with his wife and wrote stories about the places they went and people they met.

His travels took him from the heart of the Great Plains Dust Bowl to Alaska, South America and even to Hawaii, where he wrote about the Hansens disease colony at Kalaupapa. When war broke out in Europe, he traveled to London to write about Germanys relentless bombing of the British Isles.

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After the attack on Pearl Harbor, he began reporting on the front lines with U.S. troops, taking him to North Africa, Europe and eventually bringing him back to Hawaii and the Pacific. His last assignment was with the 77th Infantry Division on Iejima.

His words brought the islands to the Main Street America,  Vares-Lum said. Americans in Kansas, New York and Georgia could feel the breeze of a Waikiki, could understand the struggles on Guam, Tarawa, Okinawa, and we here in Hawaii remember him as one who walked among us, who listened, who cared and who understood.  He walked into danger with a notepad. He reminds us to speak the truth, even when its hard.
ELBA, Wis. (WFRV)  A 22-year-old woman who was driving the wrong way on US Highway 151 in central Wisconsin was pronounced dead at the scene of a head-on crash with another vehicle.

Just after 11 p.m. on Friday, April 18, the Dodge County Sheriffs Office got a report of a wrong-way vehicle on US Highway 151 that was southbound in the northbound lanes near State Highway 73 in Elba.

Roughly a minute after the initial call, a second came in reporting a head-on collision in the same area.

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Wisconsin motorcyclist pronounced dead at scene of 2-vehicle crash, under investigation

According to a preliminary investigation, a 22-year-old woman from Beaver Dam was driving a 2005 Toyota Rav4 on the wrong side of the highway when she crashed head-on with a northbound 2019 Toyota Corolla. Deputies say the Rav4 rolled several times after the crash.

The 22-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene. Two of her passengers, a pair of 17-year-old girls, were seriously injured and taken to area hospitals.

A 37-year-old woman from Fond du Lac, who was the only one in the Corolla, suffered non-life-threatening injuries but was also hospitalized.

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Semis tire blows out, overturns on Wisconsins I-41 causing secondary crash, minor injuries

The crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Office and the following agencies assisted during the incident:

Columbia County Highway Department

Columbia County Sheriffs Office

Columbus Fire Department

Columbus Police Department

Dodge County Crash Investigation Team.

Dodge County Emergency Response Team

Fall River Police Department

Lifestar EMS

This crash remains under investigation by the Dodge County Sheriffs Office. No other details have been released.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
CHEYENNE  A small group of abortion rights protesters gathered outside the Wyoming State Supreme Court on Wednesday as the court prepared to hear oral arguments in the appeal of a high-profile abortion case.

Justices heard arguments in Wyoming v. Johnson, a case in which the appellees claim the states abortion bans violate state constitutional rights, including rights to equality, due process, freedom of religion and access to health care.

The lawsuit was first filed in 2022 after state lawmakers passed a series of laws targeting abortion, including a trigger ban on abortions across the state, with exceptions to protect the life of the mother and in cases of sexual assault or incest. It was brought by Wyoming reproductive-age women, OB-GYNs, Wellspring Health Access (the states sole abortion clinic in Casper) and Chelseas Fund, a nonprofit that financially helps pregnant people access an abortion.

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Teton County District Judge Melissa Owens temporarily blocked the anti-abortion laws in 2022 from going into effect while the case was being litigated. The Legislature passed two more anti-abortion laws in 2023, the Life is a Human Right Act in House Bill 152 and a ban on abortion pills in Senate File 109. These laws also were temporarily blocked by Owens under pending judicial review.

In November, Owens ruled that the anti-abortion laws passed by the Legislature in both 2022 and 2023 violated Wyomings Constitution, specifically Article 1, Section 38, which allows a competent adult to make their own health care decisions. The state appealed Owens ruling, moving the case to the Wyoming Supreme Court, where oral arguments were heard Wednesday in Cheyenne.

While justices wont issue their ruling in the case for weeks to come, the arguments garnered substantial community attention, with representatives from both sides of the issue packing the courtroom Wednesday.

I showed up to support abortion rights, and mostly I showed up to protest so that people know that theyre not alone in it, Wyoming Equality deputy director Ammon Medina said. And I think it may be necessary to say, I did not show up to try to put pressure on the court.

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Wyoming Equality, Wyoming United for Freedom and Pro-Choice Wyoming organized Wednesdays demonstration in front of the Supreme Court Building on Capitol Avenue to represent the Wyomingites who believe abortion is health care, according to a news release.

I think we need to be vocal, Pro-Choice Wyoming Executive Director Birdie Forsyth said. I think letters to the editor are fantastic, (and) kitchen table conversations with families and friends help them understand that abortion care is pivotal, not only for like individual women. Its pivotal for our state.

Forsyth noted that the courts decision could have major implications for the state. Wyoming has limited resources for pregnancy, nearly half of the states counties lack a practicing OB-GYN, and states with strict anti-abortion laws typically struggle to recruit OB-GYNs.

If OB-GYNs cant perform the standard of care in our state, theyre going to leave, Forsyth said. Abortion is health care, and if they are worried about a lawsuit, whether or not a woman is near death enough, theyre not going to come here and practice.

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Many of the protesters noted that their concern was with government overreach into personal decisions, a sentiment Wyoming Equality Executive Director Sara Burlingame included in a statement.

Regardless of how the court decides this case, everyday Wyomingites are waking up to the fact that our rights are being stripped from us by an increasingly power-hungry state, Burlingame said in the release. Now is the time to stand with your Wyoming neighbors and claim the independence promised us by the Wyoming Constitution. We are confident that the freedom-loving people of Wyoming will recognize that respect for the rule of law and the individual are worth fighting for.

Determining life

Representing the state, Special Assistant Attorney General Jay A. Jerde argued abortion isnt health care, because the decision doesnt always maintain or restore the pregnant persons health.

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Jerde said language in Section 38(a) gives a person the ability to make their own health care decision, with emphasis on the word own. When a pregnant woman decides to get an abortion, he said, its not her own decision  shes deciding for two people.

Justice John G. Fenn said this interpretation potentially opens a viability analysis that could get complicated fast. Jerde said the concept that an unborn baby is a human being was widely accepted before the federal Roe v. Wade case was decided.

Justice Kari Jo Gray asked who decides that an unborn baby is a human being.

Who gets to make that call? Gray asked, adding there is no secular or religious consensus on when life begins.

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Jerde said the Legislature should be the one to decide, since lawmakers are elected by and answer directly to the people of the state. Part of the reality of regulating abortions is deciding when life begins, he said.

Since legislators create the regulation, then the legislators should decide when life begins, he said. Justice Lynne Boomgaarden asked if there is a secular (non-religious) basis for determining when life begins.

Jerde said it is found in Article 1, Section 2 of the Wyoming Constitution. This section states In their inherent right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, all members of the human race are equal.

Jerde argued that the broad definition of human race implied that the right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness extended to the fetus, as well.

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Gray also posed the question about who determines when life begins to attorney Peter Modlin, who spoke on behalf of the appellees. Modlin replied that the question was a religious one that had been debated for centuries, and that the state should not take a side.

Gray disputed that, saying its a philosophical question, since there isnt even agreement on the issue among religious groups. Again, she asked, If there is no agreement, who gets to decide?

Modlin said the state shouldnt decide which religious viewpoint is its viewpoint. He argued there is no non-religious basis for personhood. He said that in Judaism, for example, a baby becomes a person once it breathes its first breath outside the mothers womb.

The state has no role in this debate, Modlin said.

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Fundamental rights

Modlin furthered the appellants argument by adding that the bans violated existing rights. He told the court that the question at hand is whether the Legislature may deprive women of fundamental constitutional rights for the duration of pregnancy.

He argued the states laws do exactly the opposite of what they claim to do, which is to protect women and unborn babies.

One justice quickly pointed out this is not the premise of the case, saying its a matter of balancing the rights of the unborn with the rights of women.

Modlin responded that the state has maintained abortions harm women, and that its laws are meant to protect women and prenatal life.

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Marci Bramlet, a lawyer for the abortion clinic, doctors and women who sued to challenge the law, argued that the bans violate multiple fundamental rights.

These bans force women to surrender their rights any time they are pregnant, Bramlet said. And, in reality, every time they are pregnant, because these exceptions are unworkable, intentionally so.

Bramlet further argued the states anti-abortion bans force women to surrender their rights the moment they become pregnant. She went on to say there is no equivalent of this type of regulation on mens health care. The state of Wyoming has yet to regulate a mans right to a vasectomy, she noted.

Jerde responded to the appellants argument, saying that while the Wyoming Constitution clearly protects natural rights, that protection only applies to existing rights.

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There is no natural right to make health care decisions; I found no cases that talk about that, Jerde said. There is no natural right to abortion. I found no cases that talk about that.

Jerde added that because men and women are not similarly situated, equal protection does not apply, a point initially made by Gray.

Bramlet did point out that previous courts have determined that differences in gender do not inherently qualify two groups as differently situated.

Following the arguments, the court entered recess until further notice. The court has 90 days to deliver a written opinion based on the arguments presented Wednesday.

Should they uphold the district courts ruling, the bans will not go into effect. However, should the court side with the state, the bans will go into effect immediately.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Its just about that time of year where boats return to the water. But, for the first time, in order to operate one, youll need your boating license.

News 8 spoke with officials on how and when you can get yours.

Briannas Law, which requires all vessel operations to obtain a boating license, was signed in 2019 with a January 2025 deadline. Monroe County Sheriffs Office Deputy Brendan Hurley says this new law creates a requirement out of a practice theyve been encouraging for years.

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So, weve always encouraged people to get a boaters safety certificate, get your license, go take the class so you can learn all the rules of the water, what to do in all the situations, Deputy Hurley said. Well now New York has made it that this is the first year where everyone who operates a motorized boat on the water has to have that.

Hurley said that classes can be taken online or in person and that once a boater is licenses, the DMV can add that certification to their regular drivers license, but while the certifications do not expire, its important to refresh on good boating practices ahead of each season.

I think the most important part again is just safety, right? Making sure you have enough personal flotation devices for everyone on your boat. Make sure that your boat is up on all its registration, making sure that all the safety equipment is on there, and make sure you know what youre doing, Deputy Hurley explained.

Those whod like to sign up for a certification class can find a list of New York safe boating courses here.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WROC)  Friday, the Boys and Girls Club of Rochester teamed up with the Hive Youth Workforce to host an exciting afternoon filled with games and prizes.

The goal of the Hive initiative is to prepare Monroe County youth to become part of the skilled workforce through programming focused on career development, mentorship, and access to opportunity.

Simon Says which featured five rounds of the popular game, gave Monroe County teens a chance to see first-hand what the Hive has to offer.

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The purpose of this event is to share the resources and to get in front of the community to let them know all the different organizations that are part of the Hive that are available to the community, and the students who are part of the Hive already, to let them know there are other organizations that you can access as well, Coordinator of Career Readiness Allen Pinkins said.

The winners of Fridays games won cash prizes, gift cards to Foot Locker and Amazon, and other mystery prizes. All attendees were also treated to a free lunch, provided by Big Boys Eatery.

Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to RochesterFirst.
Following the unexpectedly short ceasefire announced by Moscow for Easter, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has proposed an extension by 30 days in return.

"If the complete ceasefire truly holds, Ukraine proposes an extension beyond April 20 [Easter Sunday]," Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

"This would show Russia's true intentions - because 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures," he added added. "30 days would give peace a chance."

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Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine was ready to align its actions with the behaviour of the Russian forces: "Silence [of the weapons] in return for silence, defensive strikes in response to attacks."

He stressed that words from Moscow were not to be trusted. "We know too well how Moscow manipulates. We are prepared for anything."

The military reported on Friday evening that there were ongoing Russian attacks and artillery shelling on several fronts. Zelensky said that he expected a detailed report on the situation at the front later in the evening.

Russian President Vladimir Putin had unexpectedly announced a unilateral 30-hour ceasefire on the front in Ukraine in the afternoon.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed scepticism about the unilateral Easter ceasefire unexpectedly announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.

"As for Putin's new attempt to play with human lives, air-raid sirens are currently sounding in many parts of Ukraine," Zelensky wrote on the platform X.

Russian combat drones were reportedly sighted in the sky over Ukraine 45 minutes before the ceasefire was due to take effect. Ukraine's air defence had already opened fire.

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"Shahed drones in our sky expose Putin's true attitude towards Easter and human lives," Zelensky criticized.

The president initially did not provide any information on whether Ukraine would also cease fire over Easter.

At the moment of the Kremlin's announcement of the unilateral Easter ceasefire, a missile alert was also triggered in the Ukrainian capital Kiev.
Credit: Kremlin

Follow the latest updates on Ukraine in our live blog.

Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of failing to uphold an Easter truce announced by Vladimir Putin.

Ukraines president said his forces would abide by the ceasefire if the Kremlin did the same, but said Russian artillery fire had not stopped and its attempt to seize territory continued.

Russian assault operations continue on several front-line sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided, Mr Zelensky wrote on social media an hour and a half after the truce was meant to begin.

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Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow.

The temporary ceasefire, Putin said in a televised meeting with his commander-in-chief, would last from 6pm Moscow time (4pm BST) on Saturday until midnight (10pm BST) on Sunday. But Ukrainian politicians and soldiers said Russias president was not to be trusted, with Mr Zelensky saying that shelling had continued past the 6pm start time.

If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20, Mr Zelensky said. If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly  mirroring Russias actions, he added.

Putins proposal was seen by critics as a naked attempt to curry favour with Donald Trump, the US president, who threatened on Friday to walk out of peace talks unless a ceasefire agreement was reached soon. Mr Zelensky had earlier labelled the proposed truce as nothing more than Putin trying to play with human lives.

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Andrii Sybiha, Ukraines foreign minister, said Ukraine had endured a long history of Putins deceptions and that the dictators words cannot be trusted.

He added that Kyiv stood by its original agreement with the US in March to abide by a 30-day cease fire.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions, Mr Sybiha said.

We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words. Russia can agree at any time to the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March.

I dont trust Russians

A senior Ukrainian military officer reportedly received orders to stop firing on Russian positions minutes after the truce was due to start, suggesting that Kyiv had given the order to observe it.

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Captain Oleksandr Shyrshyn, battalion commander in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told The Telegraph that Ukraine had encountered similar situations in the past when Russia made statements about a truce or a ceasefire.

Russians consistently disregarded the statements [and tried] to blame us. I dont trust Russians, and I believe they will fabricate scenarios, he added.

Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at the Kyiv-based National Institute for Strategic Studies, said he saw the Russian presidents proposal as classic Putin who wants to manipulate Donald Trumps perception and drive a wedge between Ukraine and the US.

Ukraine should remind everyone about the comprehensive, unconditional ceasefire that Russia rejected, he added.

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Saturday also saw 277 Ukrainian soldiers being returned from captivity in the largest exchange of PoWs in the conflicts history. Footage showed hundreds of the former prisoners hugging one another with the blue and yellow flag draped over their shoulders.

Russias Ministry of Defence said 246 of its service members were returned from territory controlled by Kyiv, and that as a gesture of goodwill 31 wounded Ukrainian PoWs were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers.

Vladimir Putin attends an Orthodox Easter service at the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow - Sputnik/Ramil Sitdikov/Pool/via Reuters

The Ministry said its troops had been instructed about the ceasefire and would adhere to it, provided it was mutually respected by Ukraine. Putin told Valery Gerasimov, the Chief of Russias General Staff, during the televised address to have his forces ready to repel possible violations of the truce.

Russia on Friday had abandoned a moratorium on striking Ukrainian energy targets after each side accused the other of breaking a supposed deal without any formal agreement in place.

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The latest truce proposal will show how sincere is the Kyivs regimes readiness, its desire and ability to observe agreements and participate in a process of peace talks, Putin said.

Trump has failed to win concessions from Putin

Previous attempts at holding ceasefires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in Jan 2023 collapsed after both sides failed to agree on them. The proposal comes after months of Mr Trump pushing both Moscow and Kyiv to agree to a truce. He has so far failed to extract any major concessions from the Kremlin.

Richard Kemp, a former British Army officer, said the truce would allow Putin to falsely paint Mr Zelensky to Mr Trump as the aggressor if the fighting continued. He said: He is likely attempting to seize the narrative to appease Trump and allow him to declare some kind of negotiating victory.

The Kremlins emphasis on bracing for Ukrainian provocations indicates his intent to seize on or manufacture any such incidents to proclaim that Zelensky is not serious about peace and parry the ball back into Kyivs court, so inciting further demands on Ukraine from the White House, he added.

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Only a few kilometres from the front lines in the east, Ukrainian soldiers shared their leaders distrust of the proposed ceasefire.

Dmitry, a 40-year-old soldier, said: I think this man [Putin] is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we dont trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing. The killings of our people, and theirs, will 100 per cent continue.

A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same  not just a one-day pause. That will create space for talks on a just and lasting peace. We deplore the Kremlins bombing of Ukrainian cities. Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion.

Cap Shyrshyn, of the 47th Mechanized Brigade, told The Telegraph: We have encountered similar situations in the past when Russia made statements about a truce or a ceasefire, yet they consistently disregarded the statements [and tried] to blame us.

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I dont trust Russians, and I believe they will fabricate scenarios, similar to the numerous instances where they have publicly expressed their desire to end the war, only to claim that Ukrainian officials fail to adhere to their agreements and threaten to respond by attacking civilians.

11:41 PM BST

Thats all for today

Thanks for following our live coverage of the war in Ukraine. Well be back soon with more updates and analysis from the conflict.

11:14 PM BST

Russia one of the biggest threats to Christians, Zelensky says

On the eve of Easter, President Volodymyr Zelensky has called Russia one of the biggest threats to Christian churches and believers.

Ukrainians will go to church on Sunday under the shadow of a ceasefire announced by Vladimir Putin which both sides have accused each other of violating. Easter falls on the same day this year for Orthodox and Western sects of Christianity, which is a rare occurrence.

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For millions of Ukrainians, Easter is one of the most important holidays. And millions of Ukrainians will go to church. Sadly, many will go to churches that are damaged or destroyed, Mr Zelensky wrote in a post on X.

Russia has destroyed over 600 religious sites in Ukraine throughout the three-year conflict and killed or tortured 67 priests, pastors and monks, Mr Zelensky said.

Mr Zelensky said: Just like were bringing back priests and pastors from Russian captivity, just like were doing everything to protect Ukrainian towns and villages and the lives of people there  we are also bringing back the chance to believe, to believe that evil and destruction will not win.

For millions of Ukrainians, Easter is one of the most important holidays. And millions of Ukrainians will go to church. Sadly, many will go to churches that are damaged or destroyed.



The Russian army is one of the biggest threats to Christian churches and believers. Over the pic.twitter.com/gIn8Appkeo  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2025

10:44 PM BST

Zelensky: Fighting continues in Kursk and Belgorod

The Ukrainian president in a further update said that fighting continues in the Kursk and Belgorod regions.

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Mr Zelensky, citing a report from his commander-in-chief, suggests that Easter statements by Putin did not extend to this territory.

Russian artillery can still be heard in certain directions of the front, regardless of the Russian leaders promise of silence, he said but added that it has become quieter in some areas.

He said a proposal for a 30-day full and unconditional ceasefire remains on the table and that Ukraines actions are symmetrical to Russias.

A report by the Commander-in-Chief.



We are documenting the actual situation on all directions. The Kursk and Belgorod regions  Easter statements by Putin did not extend to this territory. Hostilities continue, and Russian strikes persist. Russian artillery can still be heard  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2025

10:15 PM BST

Moscow residents not optimistic ceasefire will bring peace

Residents of Moscow had a bleak outlook on the chances of peace after Putins announcement of an Easter ceasefire.

In the south of the Russian capital, people said it was unlikely the pause in fighting would provide a breakthrough that could end the three-year conflict because Ukraine could not be trusted.

The Easter truce will lead to nothing, because Ukraine will not honour these agreements, said Svetlana, 61, who did not give her surname.

Another resident, Maria Goranina, 85, told AFP that Ukraine will regroup after this truce and come at us again.

This is despite testimony by a Ukrainian soldier that Russia has already violated its own ceasefire with constant drone attacks and shelling.

Critics of the invasion face harsh punishment in Russia under its censorship rules instituted shortly after the outbreak of war, with many people sentenced to lengthy prison terms.

Svetlana also questioned Putins decision to halt fighting.

Three years have gone by, so many maimed, disabled, dead. And weve gone through some part of Ukraine, and thats it? she said.

I dont understand at all then, what its all for.

Other residents were more hawkish and backed a more aggressive campaign over the ceasefire.

I do not believe in Ukraine. There will be no such truce, there will be shelling and so on, Yevgeny Pavlov, 58, told AFP.

There is no need to give a respite. If we press, it means we should press to the end.

09:56 PM BST

Ukraine says it will reciprocate a genuine ceasefire

Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire efforts from Russia, but was wary of Putins announcement of an Easter pause.

Putin has not offered details as to how the humanitarian ceasefire will be enforced and if it would only cover airstrikes or also ground battles.

Russia said the ceasefire was supposed to begin at 6pm Moscow time on Saturday and would end at midnight after Easter Sunday, despite accusations from Ukraine that Russia has already violated its own agreement.

Whether the ceasefire is upheld will reveal Russias true intentions, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, proposing an extension of the truce beyond Easter.

If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20, Mr Zelensky said in a post on Telegram.

That will reveal Russias true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.

09:13 PM BST

Fighting ongoing despite ceasefire announcement, Ukrainian soldier says

Russia is constantly launching drones and shelling despite Putins announcement of an Easter ceasefire, a Ukrainian soldier told The Telegraph.

Maksym, a drone pilot fighting between Kharkiv and Russias Belgorod region, said: At the moment, they are constantly launching drones, not to mention shelling.

The truce is not sustainable or realistic  at least not for now, Maksym said, because Russia has violated other similar agreements.

These things arent arranged so quickly or easily. Besides, theyve already shown they dont stick to such agreements, he said.

It is not realistic to stop hostilities at one moment.

09:06 PM BST

Released Ukrainian soldiers reunite with families

Ukrainian soldiers released from captivity were shown reuniting with their families in new footage posted by President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The soldiers, many of them draped in Ukrainian flags, hugged or called their family members as they wiped tears from their eyes.

Today. Our people are home, Mr Zelensky wrote on X.

Today. Our people are home. 







.  .  pic.twitter.com/rw3JWzI2so  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2025

08:46 PM BST

277 Ukrainian prisoners of war released from Russian captivity

President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that 277 Ukrainian prisoners of war have been released.

Our people are home  one of the best pieces of news that can be. Another 277 warriors have returned home from Russian captivity, Mr Zelensky wrote in a post on X.

I thank everyone who made this return of our people possible.

The release was part of the largest prisoner exchange in the three-year conflict, with over 500 troops on both sides involved.

Soldiers who fought in Mariupol are among those who have been freed, along with troops who were captured in Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia and Luhansk.

The United Arab Emirates mediated to secure the release of the soldiers, Mr Zelensky said.

A total of 4,552 Ukrainian soldiers and civilians have been brought back from Russian captivity since Putins invasion began in Feb 2022.

Our people are homeone of the best pieces of news that can be. Another 277 warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.



The warriors of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the National Guard of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the border guards. They defended pic.twitter.com/bm4OF80o7o  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2025

08:31 PM BST

Zelensky proposes extending the ceasefire

President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged that Ukraine would abide by the ceasefire and suggested the truce be extended.

If Russia is now suddenly ready to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly - mirroring Russias actions, he wrote on X.

But at the same time, he said that Russia was continuing military action on several frontline sectors.

Oleksandr Prokudin, governor of Ukraines southern Kherson region, said there had been eight Russian drone attacks, setting fire to a high-rise block as well as hitting two villages.

08:24 PM BST

Air-raid sirens sound in Kyiv

Air-raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital Kyiv on Saturday evening, despite the start of Putins Easter truce.

An alert message told Kyiv residents to proceed to shelters.

AFP journalists heard sirens sound shortly before 10:00pm (local time) as the air force warned of a missile threat in the surrounding Kyiv region.

08:18 PM BST

Battalion commander: I dont trust Russians

Captain Oleksandr Shyrshyn, battalion commander in the 47th Mechanized Brigade, says he does not trust Russias Easter truce.

We have encountered similar situations in the past ... they consistently disregarded the statements made by them, trying to blame us.

I dont trust Russians, and I believe they will fabricate scenarios ... where they have publicly expressed their desire to end the war, only to have Ukrainian officials fail to adhere to their agreements and threaten to respond by attacking civilians.

07:26 PM BST

Putin wants to manipulate Donald Trump perception

Mykola Bielieskov, a senior analyst at the Kyiv-based National Institute for Strategic Studies said: I think its a classic Putin who wants to manipulate Donald Trump perception and drive a wedge between UA and US making Trump think thats RU open to dialogue while Ukraine shall be squeezed by US to make concessions.

Ukraine shall remind about comprehensive unconditional ceasefire in all domains of war Russia rejected.

06:37 PM BST

Russians continue heavy shelling, Ukraine claims

Andriy Kovalenko, an official on Ukraines national security and defence council, has claimed Russia is continuing its attacks.

The Russians keep firing on all fronts  just like before, he wrote on X.

The heaviest shelling is in the East. So much for Putins so-called ceasefire. He never meant to keep it.

06:36 PM BST

Ukrainian soldiers sceptical of truce declaration

Vladimir Putins announcement of an Easter ceasefire was greeted sceptically by Ukrainian soldiers.

They did not trust the Russian president to keep his word and were doubtful that a pause in the fighting would lead to a prolonged end to the hostilities.

Of course theres distrust, said 40-year-old soldier, Dmitry, told AFP in the city of Kramatorsk, around 20 kilometres from the front in the eastern Donetsk region.

I think this man (Putin) is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we dont trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing.

05:59 PM BST

Air raid sirens blared moments after Russian truce declared

A Kyiv-based MP says air raid sirens sounded in the Ukrainian capital in the moments after Vladimir Putin announced an Easter truce.

Drones were entering Kyiv, Lisa Yasko said before suggesting that the city witnessed a one hour attack.

A ceasefire for one day, even if it happens, is like a joke, she told the BBC.

Ms Yasko suggested that the surprise announcement could be a manoeuvre by the Russian president to appease the United States.

05:19 PM BST

Putins words cannot be trusted, says Ukraines foreign minister

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had in March agreed unconditionally to the U.S. proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days, which Russia rejected.

Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days, Mr Sybiha continued, writing on X.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.

04:54 PM BST

Proposed truce came after threats from Trump to walk away from peace talks

Putins ceasefire announcement came after US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

Trump spoke shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting.

04:37 PM BST

Previous Easter ceasefire attempts had collapsed

Previous attempts at holding ceasefires for Easter in April 2022 and Orthodox Christmas in January 2023 were not implemented after both sides failed to agree on them.

Ukraine last month agreed to Trumps proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, only for Putin to reject it.

04:27 PM BST

Russia snatches men from gyms in Putins new conscription drive

Putins administration has carried out lightning raids across Russia for several weeks in an overtly aggressive attempt to enlist more fledgling recruits for the war in Ukraine.

During an evening workout at Spirit Fitness in south-east Moscow, gym-goers were suddenly told to drop to the floor.

According to witnesses, police divide those at the gym into citizens and non-citizens. Russians are taken to enlistment offices, where their military records are checked.

Read more here from Kieran Kelly

04:11 PM BST

Comment: Putin should not get any applause for this stunt

The Telegraphs Associate Defence Editor Dom Nicholls gives his analysis below.

Hes made an announcement about military activity that may or may not happen, hoping to curry favour with Trump and try and make make Ukraine look bad to Trump if they continue fighting. Ukraine agreed to Trumps 30-day unconditional ceasefire over a month ago, Russia did not, strangely without consequences. Putin shouldnt get any applause now for this stunt.

03:57 PM BST

POW exchange between Russia and Ukraine

Russia and Ukraine on Saturday held a large prisoner of war exchange, with each side handing back more than 240 prisoners, the Russian defence ministry said.

On April 19... 246 Russian soldiers were returned from territory controlled by the Kyiv regime. In return 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war were handed over.

Also as a good will gesture, 31 wounded prisoners of war were handed over in exchange for 15 wounded Russian prisoners of war needing urgent medical help, the ministry said in a statement on social media.

03:51 PM BST

Putin is playing with human lives, says Zelenskyy

I have just received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.



Today, our forces continued their activity on the territory of the Kursk region and are holding their positions. In the Belgorod region, our warriors have advanced and expanded our zone of control.



As for  Volodymyr Zelenskyy /   (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2025

03:40 PM BST

Russias Ministry of Defence confirms ceasefire

The Russian Ministry of Defence has released a statement confirming that Russia will stop all military operations from 18:00 Moscow time (16:00 BST) today until midnight on 21 April (22:00 BST).

The ministry says all military actions have been ordered to stop, adding that the decision was guided by humanitarian considerations.

They say they expect the Ukrainian side to do the same.

President Vladimir Putin meets with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov in Moscow - AFP/Vyacheslav Prokofev

At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, the ministry says in a statement that has been translated.

03:32 PM BST

Russia fired nearly 90 exploding drones overnight

Ukraines air force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday.

Anti-air measures managed to intercept 33 of them. Another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraines State Emergency Service said Saturday. Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

03:28 PM BST

Russia drives back Ukrainian forces from foothold in Kursk

Russia has pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, officials said Saturday.

According to Russias Defence Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement.

There was was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

Ukrainian serviceman fires a Caesar self-propelled howitzer towards Russian troops - REUTERS

According to Russian state news agency TASS, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal ... in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

03:22 PM BST

Putin orders forces to stand ready for violations of the truce

Vladimir Putin has ordered his troops to stand ready for any violations of the truce by Ukrainian forces.

He said: With humanitarian considerations, today from 6pm, from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares the Easter truce.

I order to stop all hostilities during this period. We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example.

At the same time our troops must be ready to reflect possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy in any of its aggressive actions.

We know that the Kyiv regime has violated the agreement not to strike at the energy infrastructure more than a hundred times, as you reported to me.

Therefore, I ask you to be extremely attentive and focused to be ready for an immediate response in full.

Vladimir Putin made the announcement in a televised address - Vyacheslav Prokofyev

Our decision on the Easter truce will show how sincere is the readiness of the Kyiv regime and its desire and ability to comply with the agreements, to participate int eh peace talks aimed at eliminating the primary cause of the Ukrainian crisis.

03:11 PM BST

Truce from Good Friday to Sunday

Vladimir Putin, speaking to Russian chief of staff Valery Gerasimov, said: Today from 1800 (1500 GMT) to midnight Sunday (2100 GMT Sunday), the Russian side announces an Easter truce.

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President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called a Russian drone attack launched after 17:00 on Saturday 19 April, evidence of Russian leader Vladimir Putin's true attitude toward both Easter and human life.

Source: Zelenskyy on Telegram

Quote: "As for Putin's latest attempt to play with people's lives  air-raid warnings are sounding across Ukraine. At 17:15, Russian attack drones were spotted in our skies.

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Ukrainian air defence systems and aircraft are working to protect the country. Shahed drones flying over Ukraine this evening are the real reflection of Putin's attitude toward Easter and human lives."

Background:

On Saturday, Putin declared an Easter truce, which supposedly means a halt to all hostilities in Ukraine from the evening of 19 April until midnight on 21 April.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defence Ministry claimed that Russian forces would adhere to the ceasefire, provided that Kyiv does the same.

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ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE)  One Albuquerque elementary school is preparing to celebrate 75 years of teaching. Opened in 1955 during the Cold War era in the Duke City, Zia Elementary School near San Mateo Blvd. and Lomas Blvd. has seen many students educated through the decades.

ABQ BioParks discovery day on April 19 postponed due to weather

Now, theyre celebrating three-quarters of a century next month, with community members sharing the impact the school has had, with some calling it a hidden gem. The school is inviting the community to celebrate their past, present, and future at an anniversary party on May 3 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to KRQE NEWS 13 - Breaking News, Albuquerque News, New Mexico News, Weather, and Videos.
Prosecutors see Mark Zuckerberg's old emails as a key piece in their blockbuster antitrust trial.

If the FTC wins, it may ask that Meta be forced to sell off Instagram and WhatsApp.

In his once-private emails, Zuckerberg can be seen as ever watchful of his expanding empire.

Mark Zuckerberg's own emails, some of them more than 10 years old, revealed he had antitrust concerns long before the FTC brought its case against Meta.

During 10 hours of testimony, a lawyer for the Federal Trade Commission grilled the Meta CEO over his old emails.

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Zuckerberg's messages reveal near-nonstop concern about nascent rivals, blunt descriptions of some of Facebook's most pivotal deals.

"While we believe our current trajectory will yield strong business growth over the next 5 years, I worry it will also undermine our global network, erode our corporate brand, impose an increasingly large strategy tax on all of our work, and then over time we may face antitrust regulation requiring us to spin out other apps anyway," Zuckerberg wrote in a 2018 email to top Facebook executives.

Daniel Matheson, the FTC's lead lawyer, highlighted another portion of Zuckerberg's prescient warning about his company's future.

"While most companies resist breakups, the corporate history is that most companies actually perform better after they've been split up," Zuckerberg wrote. "The synergies are usually less than people think and the strategy tax is usually greater than people think."

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When Matheson asked the billionaire to explain his thinking, Zuckerberg appeared flummoxed.

"I'm not sure exactly what I had in mind then," Zuckerberg said in response to Matheson's question about what corporate history he had in mind in 2018.

The trial, which began Monday and is expected to last up to eight weeks, had a high-profile start, with Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg as the prosecution's first witnesses.

Matheson and his lawyers repeatedly turned to a 2012 message Zuckerberg sent Sandberg in which he bluntly summed up the need to acquire Instagram. In the same thread, he offered to teach Sandberg how to play Settlers of Catan.

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"Messenger isn't beating WhatsApp," Zuckberg wrote. "Instagram was growing so much faster than us that we had to buy them for $1 billion and Groups and Places, although smaller efforts, have made only a little progress. That's not exactly killing it."

Facebook acquired WhatsApp roughly two years later for $19 billion.

If the FTC wins the case, the government could ask Meta to sell Instagram and WhatsApp. Legal experts say the government faces a high bar in proving that Meta "cemented" its monopoly with its acquisitions of the two companies since the FTC already OKed those mergers years ago.

(In October 2021, Facebook officially rebranded as Meta.)

A courtroom sketch shows Mark Zuckerberg (right) while under questioning by an FTC lawyer during Meta's antitrust trial. REUTERS / DANA VERKOUTEREN

The many worries of Mark Zuckerberg

Meta has sought to downplay Zuckerberg's messages. Mark Hansen, the company's lead lawyer, said that Facebook's cofounder had to be worried  it came with the job.

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"Was it a constant joke at Meta that you were worrying and the sky was falling?" Hansen asked Zuckerberg.

Zuckerberg replied that if it is a joke, "It's probably behind my back," but stressed that worry is a cornerstone of Silicon Valley.

Hansen also said that while the government had numerous examples of Zuckerberg expressing fear about Instagram and WhatsApp's rise, there were also worries about defunct social networks like Path. In one email, Zuckerberg expressed worry that Dropbox could eventually become a competitor  that, too, never came to fruition.

"I'm getting a bit more worried about Path," Zuckerberg wrote in 2012 to top executives in a thread named "Aquarium," the tongue-in-cheek name for one of the social network's real-life conference rooms at its Menlo Park HQ.

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"Out of all the new social startups, they're the only one that goes right to the core of what we're trying to do around identity and friend sharing."

Prosecutors showed a 2012 email sent by Mark Zuckerberg about his worries surrounding Path, a then-growing social networking app. FTC/Business Insider

Zuckerberg's old worries are more relevant when they concern Instagram and WhatsApp. The FTC contends that Facebook gobbled up the companies because it worried that, with a large user base, either one could eventually pivot to become more like Facebook.

"If Instagram continues to kick ass on mobile or if Google buys them, then over the next few years they could easily add pieces of their service that copy what we're doing now, and if they have a growing number of people's photos then that's a real issue for us," Zuckerberg wrote in a 2011 email.

Sometimes it's not about being Liked.

As for WhatsApp, the government showed multiple messages where Zuckerberg expressed concern about the messaging app that rose to popularity outside the US  and one where he seemed unmoved by its leadership.

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"I found him fairly impressive although disappointingly (or maybe positive for us) unambitious," Zuckerberg wrote in 2012 to colleagues after he met Jan Koum, the cofounder of WhatsApp.

The Meta CEO seemed taken aback when Hansen asked Zuckerberg about the email. Zuckerberg said the point of his message was that he had learned Koum did not want to pivot or monetize WhatsApp in a way that would truly unnerve Facebook.

In contrast, the FTC showed multiple messages in which Zuckerberg expressed frustration with Facebook's efforts to develop a competing camera app as Instagram skyrocketed in popularity.

"What is going in with our photos team?" Zuckerberg wrote in a 2011 message that was partially redacted when it was presented in court. "Between [redacted] leaving and [redacted] being checked out/a bad manager as well as [redacted] also being checked out and [redacted] not wanting to work with this team because he thinks this team sucks. It seems like we have a really critical situation to fix here."

Correction: April 21, 2025  An earlier version of this story misstated the year Facebook rebranded as Meta. It was October 2021, not October 2012.

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Yakima County Coroner Jim Curtice waits to sign paperwork with the court clerk in Yakima County District Court in Judge Brian K. Sandersons courtroom Friday, Jan. 31, 2025, at Yakima County Courthouse in Yakima, Wash.
CHARLESTON  International students at Eastern Illinois University are among those nationwide having their visa or legal status revoked by the federal government.

"EIU can confirm students have been impacted, the university said in statement issued in response to an inquiry by the JG-TC. Citing the myriad sensitivities involved, the University is unable to provide a precise number. EIU offers a variety of academic, mental health, and legal services to every student  including those potentially impacted,"

The university declined to provide any additional information.

In September, the university noted, in its 10th-day enrollment report, it has international students representing 56 countries from around the world and unforeseeable visa dynamics that translated into 217 fewer international students.

At least 1,024 students at 160 colleges, universities and university systems have had their visas revoked or their legal status terminated since late March, according to an Associated Press review of university statements, correspondence with school officials and court records. Advocacy groups collecting reports from colleges say hundreds more students could be caught up in the crackdown.

The speed and scope of the federal government's efforts to terminate the legal status of international students have stunned colleges across the country.

In addition to EIU, other Illinois schools reporting such action are the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, Southern Illinois University at both its Carbondale and Edwardsville campuses and Northern Illinois University. The University of Chicago student newspaper, the Chicago Maroon, reported action against students there.

Why is the government canceling student visas?

Lawsuits have been filed against the Department of Homeland Security, arguing the government lacked justification to cancel their visa or terminate their legal status.

"The timing and uniformity of these terminations leave little question that DHS has adopted a nationwide policy, whether written or not, of mass termination of student (legal) status," ACLU of Michigan attorneys wrote in a lawsuit on behalf of students at Wayne State University and the University of Michigan.

Homeland Security officials did not respond to a message seeking comment.

Visas can be canceled for a number of reasons, but colleges say some students are being singled out over infractions as minor as traffic violations, including some long in the past. In some cases, students say it's unclear why they were targeted.

In some high-profile cases, including the detention of Columbia University activist Mahmoud Khalil, President Donald Trump's administration has argued it should be allowed to deport noncitizens over involvement in pro-Palestinian activism. But in the vast majority of visa revocations, colleges say there is no indication affected students had a role in protests.

"What you're seeing happening with international students is really a piece of the much greater scrutiny that the Trump administration is bringing to bear on immigrants of all different categories," said Michelle Mittelstadt, director of public affairs at the Migration Policy Institute.

How do student visas work?

Around 1.1 million international students were in the United States last year  a source of essential revenue for tuition-driven colleges. International students are not eligible for federal financial aid, and their ability to pay tuition often factors into whether they will be admitted to American schools. Often, they pay full price.

Students in other countries must meet a series of requirements to obtain a student visa, usually an F-1. After gaining admission to a school in the U.S., students go through an application and interview process at a U.S. embassy or consulate abroad.

Students on an F-1 visa must show they have enough financial support for their course of study in the U.S. They have to remain in good standing with their academic program and are generally limited in their ability to work off-campus during their academic program.

Entry visas are managed by the State Department. Once they're in the U.S., international students' legal status is overseen by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program under the Department of Homeland Security.

In recent weeks, leaders at many colleges learned the legal residency status of some of their international students had been terminated when college staff checked a database managed by Homeland Security. In the past, college officials say, legal statuses typically were updated after colleges told the government the students were no longer studying at the school.

After losing legal residency, students are told to leave the country

Historically, students who had their visas revoked were allowed to keep their legal residency status and complete their studies.

The lack of a valid entry visa only limited their ability to leave the U.S. and return, something they could reapply for with the State Department. But if a student has lost legal residency status, they risk detention by immigration authorities. Some students already have left the country, abandoning their studies to avoid being arrested.

Higher education leaders worry the arrests and visa revocations could discourage students overseas from pursuing higher education in the United States.

The lack of clarity of what is leading to revocations can create a sense of fear among students, said Sarah Spreitzer, vice president of government relations at the American Council on Education.

"The very public actions that are being taken by ICE and the Department of Homeland Security around some of these students, where they are removing these students from their homes or from their streets, that's not usually done unless there is a security issue when a student visa is revoked," she said. "The threat of this very quick removal is something that's new."

Colleges are trying to reassure students

In messages to their campuses, colleges have said they are asking the federal government for answers on what led to the terminations. Others have re-emphasized travel precautions to students, recommending they carry their passports and other immigration documents with them.

College leaders spoke of a growing sense of uncertainty and anxiety.

"These are unprecedented times, and our normal guiding principles for living in a democratic society are being challenged," University of Massachusetts Boston Chancellor Marcelo Suarez-Orozco wrote in an email. "With the rate and depth of changes occurring, we must be thoughtful in how we best prepare, protect, and respond."
New Delhi: Elon Musk, the worlds richest man has confirmed that hell be visiting India later this year. In a post on social media, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO also shared that it was an honour to speak with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, hinting at exciting developments ahead.

Elon Musk made the announcement after a teleconference with Prime Minister Modi on Friday. Modi said they talked about shared interests in areas like technology, innovation, space, and mobility.

Musk, who heads Tesla and SpaceX, called the conversation an honor. He hinted at growing ties between India and his companies.

It was an honor to speak with PM Modi.



I am looking forward to visiting India later this year! https://t.co/TYUp6w5Gys  Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 19, 2025

Talking about his call with Elon Musk, PM Modi shared on X that they discussed several topics, including those from their earlier meeting in Washington DC. He wrote, Spoke to @elonmusk and talked about various issues, including the topics we covered during our meeting in Washington DC earlier this year.

We discussed the immense potential for collaboration in the areas of technology and innovation. India remains committed to advancing our partnerships with the US in these domains.
New Delhi: South Korea's exports of steel products to the United States declined nearly 19 percent from a year earlier in March, data showed on Friday, a possible outcome of heavy tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration on all steel imports starting last month.

Outbound shipments of steel products to the U.S. came to US$340 million in March, down 18.9 percent from the same month last year, according to the data compiled by the Korea International Trade Association (KITA), reports Yonhap news agency.

The decrease came as the Trump administration began imposing 25 percent tariffs on all steel imports on March 12 (U.S. time) as part of its broader tariff scheme aimed at reducing America's trade deficits and bolstering local manufacturing.

Washington's duty-free quotas for steel imports from South Korea and other countries have also been abolished. Industry watchers said it is difficult to assess the impact of U.S. tariffs on Seoul's steel exports as transactions are usually made months ahead, but that there may still have been some influence.

Korean steelmakers have been devising response measures to the U.S. tariffs, with some companies planning to increase their production in the U.S. Hyundai Steel Co. plans to invest $5.8 billion to construct an electric arc furnace-based steel mill in Louisiana by 2029, its first overseas production facility.

South Korean exports will likely come under the substantive influence of U.S. tariffs starting in the second quarter, the trade minister said, pledging "swift" support measures for affected industries.

"Local industries are feeling a growing sense of unease as unprecedented uncertainties persist," Trade Minister Cheong In-kyo said in a meeting with export-related officials, noting the impact of tariffs imposed by the Donald Trump administration is anticipated to materialize in the second quarter.

Cheong said the government will work together with related authorities to closely monitor export conditions in each region and "swiftly" devise measures to ease challenges faced by local exporters.

The government has announced plans to inject trillions of won in financial support to help exporters weather the effects of Washington's hefty tariffs on key items, including steel, aluminum and automobiles.

In the first quarter, South Korea's outbound shipments decreased 2.1 percent from a year earlier to US$159.8 billion on the weak performance of the auto and machinery sectors, according to government data.
The Indian Army on Friday ordered an inquiry after a university professor accused the troops of assaulting him during the checking of vehicles at a village in Jammu and Kashmir's Rajouri district, officials said.

Police have also registered an FIR against unidentified army personnel, they said.

Former chief minister and PDP president Mehbooba Mufti condemned the incident and said, such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour.

The professor, Liaqat Ali, suffered head injuries in the alleged assault near the border village of Laam late on Thursday night. A video purportedly showing the bleeding professor has surfaced online.

An incident has come to light wherein certain individuals were allegedly manhandled by army personnel in Rajouri district. The army had inputs on the likely movement of terrorists in a vehicle in this sensitive area. Accordingly, search operations were being conducted.

Preliminary information suggests that on being stopped, the individual tried to snatch weapons from the soldiers on duty, with whom he got into a scuffle. However, an inquiry has been initiated. Should any personnel be found guilty of misconduct, strict action will be taken in accordance with the existing law, the army said in a statement in Jammu.

It said the army remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of professionalism and discipline in the conduct of counter-terror operations.

All sections of society are requested to continue to cooperate and collaborate with the Indian Army for collective and comprehensive security in this sensitive area, the statement said.

The alleged incident took place when Ali and some of his relatives, including his cousin brothers serving in the army and ITBP, were returning to Kalakote after attending the pre-wedding ceremony of one of their relatives.

Officials said an FIR under Sections 126(2) dealing with crime of wrongful restraint and 115(2) -- voluntarily causing hurt -- of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) was registered at the Nowshera police station against unidentified army personnel for a thorough investigation.

Ali, a professor at the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) posted in Delhi, wrote a post on X claiming he was "assaulted" without any reason.

My entire family is in the army. I've always been proud of that. Proud of the uniform, the service, the sacrifice. But today, what I experienced shook that pride to the core. Without any reason, without any question, I was assaulted -- hit on the head with a weapon by the very people I once trusted blindly," Ali said in the post that also had a picture showing him bleeding.

It made me realise one terrifying truth: if the system chooses to, it can 'encounter' any human being -- without evidence, without trial, without justice. There's no apology that can undo this wound. Only one haunting question remains -- has justice now become the privilege of the uniform alone? the professor wrote.

Ali got nearly half-a-dozen stitches to close his wound besides undergoing necessary tests at the Government Medical College (GMC) in Jammu.

I was sitting inside the vehicle when army personnel came and asked for my identity. I came out of the vehicle as a matter of respect to show my identity card but they started beating me with their weapons, the professor told reporters.

He said he saw his younger brother, who is in ITBP, also knocked to the ground along with him.

The army is our countrys pride I want nobody to be treated like this and justice be given to me, Ali said.

Mehbooba Mufti, in a post on X, urged the army to take immediate and strict action against those responsible for this shocking incident.

Such individuals tarnish the reputation of a respected institution through their unacceptable and high-handed behaviour, she said.

Former J-K BJP president Ravinder Raina assured the professor of justice and said law of the land is supreme and nobody in India is above the law. Whosoever made it happen, have to face the consequences...
Murshidabad Violence: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Saturday condemned the violence in Murshidabad, dubbing it "barbaric", and said that such incidents should never happen again. Bose underlined that restoring peace in violence-hit Murshidabad is the top priority while asserting that people in the area are not happy with the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government in the state.

The West Bengal governor further stated that normalcy needs to be re-established in the violence-hit areas, and steps should be taken to avoid such incidents in the future.

Speaking to ANI, Bose said, "What happened is barbaric. This should never happen again. People are in panic. We should re-establish normalcy there and bring people to confidence that there is someone to protect them and also take all steps to see that such things are warded off in future. Out of many demands, one prominent one was for a permanent BSF camp there."

He also met the family members of late Hargobindo Das and Chandan Das, the father and the son killed in violence at Samserganj in Murshidabad last week. I have talked to people here, and they have complaints about the state government. I have provided them with a number so that they can directly contact my office. Restoring peace in the area is my only goal. I will also ask the state government to take appropriate action, the Governor told media persons following the interaction, as quoted by IANS.

The Governor also assured the family members that those who were responsible for the killing of the father and the son would not be spared. So far, three people have been arrested in connection with the murder. If others are involved, they will also not be spared, the Governor said.

Earlier today, the West Bengal Governor arrived in Dhuliyan to meet the victims of Murshidabad violence. Also today, a delegation of the National Commission of Women led by its Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar visited the violence-affected Murshidabad area and said it will submit its report to the Centre. Speaking to mediapersons, Rahatkar said the commission will put forth the demands of the people before the government.

"The suffering these people are going through is inhuman. We will put their demands in front of the government," Rahatkar said. Rahatkar is part of the probe committee constituted by the NCW, which is on a three-day visit to affected areas in West Bengal, including Malda and Murshidabad. The NCW chairperson said that her visit aims to boost the morale of women who have been left traumatised by the communal unrest.

The violence broke out on April 11 in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulting in the deaths of two people, injuries to several others, and widespread property damage.

The protests swept Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly districts, leading to arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades. Several families have been displaced, with many migrating to Jharkhand's Pakur district, while others have taken refuge in relief camps set up in Malda.

(With agencies Inputs)
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have launched a Waqf Reform Public Awareness Campaign to spread awareness among the Muslims and explain the benefits of the Waqf Amendment within the community.

According to Uttar Pradesh Minister Danish Azad, the Waqf Amendment Act is a positive step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. He stated that the Waqf Act is very wonderful for which an awareness campaign has been launched adding that the main agenda of the Modi government is the development of the common Muslims and everyone is working towards it.

"An awareness campaign is being run for the Waqf Amendment Act. Today, the Modi government has taken a positive initiative to take the Muslim community forward, which is very wonderful. The development of common Muslims has always been the agenda of the Modi government and we are working on the same agenda. After the Waqf Act came into force, we will remove all the mismanagement of illegal occupation of Waqf property and illegal earnings", Danish Azad told ANI.

BJP spokesperson Rakesh Tripathi on Saturday said that the opposition has constantly spread rumours about the Waqf Amendment Act for which the Bharatiya Janata Party has launched an awareness campaign. The major objective of the campaign is to clarify the rumours and explain how the Waqf Act is for the benefit of the Muslim community.

"The opposition has been constantly spreading rumours about the Waqf Amendment Act and at such a time, the Bharatiya Janata Party has accepted its responsibility and will work to clarify the rumours being spread about the Waqf. The BJP is running a mass awareness campaign on a large scale to show how this law is against the heat of society, Muslims and Muslim women", he told ANI.

Ever since the Waqf Amendment Bill was passed in the parliament and became a law, there have been widespread protests all across the country, which even resulted in violence in West Bengal.
Rajkot: A female teacher in Gujarat's Rajkot city was booked for allegedly assaulting a 4-year-old schoolgirl and inflicting injuries on her private parts, a senior police official said on Saturday. The victim told her mother about pain in her private parts and a medical examination revealed an infection due to an internal injury, the official said.

A case under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act was registered against the 42-year-old teacher at a private school on the complaint of the child's mother on April 11-12, he added.

"The girl's mother has said her daughter told her she was beaten up by her teacher. The girl is unable to communicate properly and requires psychiatric evaluation. She has not been able to specify whether her teacher used a pen to inflict injury on her private parts or beat her up using her hand," said Deputy Commissioner of Police Jagdish Bangarwa.

"The girl's mother later told us that she checked with the school and found the principal took her to his room and beat her up," Bangarwa added.

While the teacher refuted the allegations, the school released CCTV footage of April 11 of the classroom to claim no such incident took place. Meanwhile, members of the National Students Union of India, the students' wing of the opposition Congress, staged a protest demanding action against the culprit. Some of them were detained for a while after the protest, as per police.
Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla is set to travel to the International Space Station next month as part of an Axiom-4 mission, four decades after Rakesh Sharma's iconic spaceflight onboard Russia's Soyuz spacecraft, Union Minister Jitendra Singh said on Friday.

Singh made the remarks after reviewing the work of the Department of Space and the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) in New Delhi.

"Group Captain Shukla's journey is more than just a flight  it's a signal that India is stepping boldly into a new era of space exploration," Singh said.

ISRO Chairman V Narayanan made a presentation on various upcoming space missions.

ISRO is set to launch the NISAR satellite  developed jointly with NASA  in June on board the GSLV-Mark 2 rocket, Singh said, adding that in July the space agency will put in orbit BlueBird Block-2 satellites of US-based AST SpaceMobile Inc. using the heavy-lift LVM-3 rocket.

Singh said Group Captain Shukla's mission, scheduled for May, marks a milestone in India's expanding international space collaborations.

A decorated test pilot with the Indian Air Force, Group Captain Shukla was shortlisted under ISRO's Human Spaceflight Program and is among the top contenders for the Gaganyaan mission.

His journey aboard the Axiom-4 mission is expected to provide critical hands-on experience in spaceflight operations, launch protocols, microgravity adaptation, and emergency preparedness  all essential for India's crewed space ambitions, an official statement said.

"What sets Shukla's mission apart is its strategic importance. Unlike the symbolic undertones of India's first human spaceflight, this time the focus is on operational readiness and global integration," it said.

The statement said Shukla's participation underscores India's growing engagement with public-private international partnerships in space and its resolve to emerge as a serious contender in human space exploration.

Singh said the collaboration with international partners and the strategic momentum of projects like Gaganyaan reflect India's commitment to becoming a global leader in space technology.

The minister said these efforts were not only scientific but also aligned with the vision of a developed and self-reliant India

ISRO also plans to launch the PSLV-C61 mission carrying the EOS-09 satellite, which is equipped with a C-band synthetic aperture radar, capable of capturing high-resolution images of Earth's surface under all weather conditions, day or night.

Another significant milestone will be the Test Vehicle-D2 (TV-D2) mission, designed to simulate an abort scenario and demonstrate the Gaganyaan Crew Escape System.

The mission includes sea recovery operations for the Crew Module, mimicking procedures planned for India's first human spaceflight, he said.
Late underworld don N Muthappa Rai's son was allegedly shot at by unidentified assailants in Karnataka. Ricky was travelling from Bidadi to Bengaluru in his car when he was shot at.

According to news agency PTI, the police on Saturday informed that Ricky Rai was allegedly shot at near his residence in Bidadi, Ramanagara district. Ricky was first taken to a private hospital in Bidadi and later was referred to Manipal Hospital for advanced treatment.

The shooting incident was reported to have occurred between 1 am to 1:30 am on Friday.

#WATCH | Ramanagara, Karnataka: Ricky Rai, son of late gangster and founder of pro-Kannada organisation Jaya Karnataka, Muthappa Rai, was shot at by unidentified assailants near his residence in Bidadi, Ramanagara district, at around 1:30 am today. He has been referred to pic.twitter.com/925gBzAka2  ANI (@ANI) April 19, 2025

Further, PTI reported that according to the police, some unidentified people allegedly opened fire, and a bullet struck the vehicle. Ricky was sitting in the rear, with his gunman, when the bullet pierced through the driver's seat. In the incident, Ricky and the driver of his car were both injured.

Citing a preliminary inquiry, a senior police officer told PTI that Ricky, who usually drives himself, has sustained injuries to his nose and arms. Both the driver and Ricky are told to be out of danger.

Based on the complaint of his driver, a case has been registered against Muthappa Rai's second wife, Anuradha, entrepreneur Rakesh Malli, who was a close associate of Muthappa, and Niketan Trust, a senior police officer told the news agency. CCTV cameras in and around the area are being scanned to identify the suspects and ascertain the sequence of events.

Teams have been formed, and efforts are being made to nab the suspects involved in the shootout.

As per ANI, Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara also informed that Ricky has not suffered any serious injuries and the reason behind the attack is yet to be determined.

He said, "The concerned police officer has been directed to provide further details. At present, Ricky Rai has not suffered any serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru. The reason behind the gun attack is yet to be ascertained. The police are investigating."

(with agencies' inputs)
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New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday slammed Pakistan for misusing the platform of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), during a special briefing held ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Saudi Arabia. Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri was asked about Pakistan's repeated misuse of the OIC, where Saudi Arabia is regarded as a leading voice.

Responding to the question, Misri said, "On Pakistan's misuse of the OIC - it's a habit of long standing, one that we have regularly spoken out against and also raised with our friends and partners in the OIC."

Calling Pakistan's actions "shenanigans," Misri added, "There is a certain view about these shenanigans that Pakistan practices in the OIC on the part of our colleagues and friends amongst the members of other members of the OIC, but we will continue to share our views and bring to their attention what exactly we think of these attempts that Pakistan habitually makes."

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), according to its official website, is the second-largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations. It has 57 member countries across four continents and claims to represent the collective voice of the Muslim world. The organisation works to protect the interests of Muslims and promote peace and harmony around the globe.

Misri's remarks come ahead of Prime Minister Modi's official visit to Saudi Arabia on April 22 and 23, at the invitation of Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman. The Prime Minister's engagements will take place in Jeddah, and the visit marks his first to the country during his third term in office. Modi had previously visited Saudi Arabia in 2016 and 2019.

The visit also follows the State Visit of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023. During that visit, he co-chaired the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council alongside Prime Minister Modi. Foreign Secretary Misri, in the briefing, said the upcoming visit reflects the strong and growing partnership between India and Saudi Arabia.
India slammed Bangladesh on Saturday after the alleged kidnapping and murder of a prominent Hindu community leader, Bhabesh Chandra Roy.

In a post on the social media platform X, Ministry of External Affairs Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the killing of Roy follows a pattern of 'systematic persecution' of Hindu minorities under Bangladesh's interim government.

He said, "We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh. This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government, even as the perpetrators of previous such events roam with impunity."

Also Read: 'Should Protect Rights Of Its Own Minorities': India Slams Bangladesh Over Bengal Violence Remark

He added that India condemns the incident and reminded the Bangladesh government to 'protect all minorities' without any excuses.

"We condemn this incident and once again remind the interim government to live up to its responsibility of protecting all minorities, including Hindus, without inventing excuses or making distinctions," he added.

We have noted with distress the abduction and brutal killing of Shri Bhabesh Chandra Roy, a Hindu minority leader in Bangladesh.

This killing follows a pattern of systematic persecution of Hindu minorities under the interim government even as the perpetrators of previous such  Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2025

Also Read: Hindu Community Leader Abducted, Killed In Bangladesh

According to news agency PTI, a media report said that Roy was kidnapped from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district of northern Bangladesh.

The body of Roy was recovered on Thursday night. He was 58 years old and a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, PTI reported that The Daily Star quoted the police and family members.
New Delhi: A woman known locally as lady don has been arrested and three others detained in connection with the fatal stabbing of a 17-year-old boy in Delhis Seelampur area, police said on Friday. The main accused, identified as Zikra, reportedly worked as a bouncer for the wife of jailed gangster Hashim Baba.

The victim, Kunal Singh, was attacked around 7:30 pm on Thursday, just metres away from his home. According to his family, he had stepped out to buy milk for his ailing father when he was targeted. He was taken to JPC Hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.

As news of the murder spread, protests broke out in Seelampur. Hundreds of locals and members of Hindu organisations, including the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), gathered demanding swift action against the accused. Police and RAF personnel have been deployed to control the situation.

Joint Commissioner of Police (Eastern Range), Pushpendra Kumar, said, Ten teams have been formed to crack the case, and they are looking at all possible angles. We have detained a few people for questioning. The case will be solved soon.

Police sources confirmed Zikras arrest and said her cousins, Sahil Khan and Rihan Mirza, are among those detained. The identity of the third person in custody has not been disclosed.

Zikra, already out on bail in a previous Arms Act case, was living in a rented home near Kunals. She had earlier posted a video online holding a pistol. According to police, she used to live with Zoya, Hashim Babas wife, before Zoyas arrest in a drug trafficking case. Zikra was allegedly trying to form her own gang after that.

Family members of the victim allege Zikra was present during the attack. Sources say the murder may have been linked to an old feud. A few members from Kunals community were earlier accused of attacking Zikras cousin Sahil, and a case of attempt to murder was filed. Police suspect Thursday's killing may have been a revenge attack.

According to investigators, Kunal was warned by the accused on Thursday morning. Later in the evening, he was cornered near a Shiv-Parvati temple. The accused got hold of Kunal opposite a Shiv-Parvati temple in the area. While two persons stabbed him, two others watched, a police source said.

Despite managing to run into a nearby clinic, Kunal could not be saved. The doctor rushed him to a nearby hospital in an e-rickshaw but he died on the way, the source added.

Kunals father, Rajdeep Singh, said, I was not keeping well for the past three months and recently underwent a surgery. I returned from the hospital only yesterday and asked my son to buy milk from the market to prepare tea. But the criminals killed him on the street.

I want justice for my son. Police are just giving us assurances but have done nothing till now, he added.

His mother, Parveen, said, Zikra used to roam around in the area with a pistol. An incident happened with her cousin Sahil but my son was not involved in it. Yet they killed him. They brutally stabbed him multiple times.

Police sources say Zikra was looking to expand her influence and get involved in the drug business through Zoya. Zikra had ambitions to launch her own gang. She wanted to get close to Hashim Baba through Zoya and also wanted to get involved in her drugs business. However, her plans suffered a setback after the arrest of Zoya, said a source.

Zikras social media profile reportedly featured multiple videos of her flaunting firearms. She had over 15,000 followers and allegedly led a gang of 1012 young men, some of whom are now being linked to Kunals murder.

Amid the unrest, posters saying Hindus are migrating and Please help, Yogi ji were put up in the area. Police later removed the posters.

(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap has issued an apology following a wave of backlash over his remarks concerning the Brahmin community in the context of his upcoming film Phule. A complaint has been filed against the director in both Delhi and Mumbai for the "derogatory" statements.

The controversy intensified after Kashyap said, I would urinate on Brahmins, while defending the film from censorship-related objections. The statement sparked outrage, prompting Kashyap to issue a late-night apology on Friday, expressing concern for the safety of his loved ones.

This is my apologynot for my post, but for that one line taken out of context and the hatred it triggered. No action or speech is worth your daughter, family, friends, and colleagues receiving rape and death threats from the so-called guardians of culture, Kashyap said in his statement.

He further pleaded with trolls to leave his family out of the controversy: Abuse me all you want. My family didnt say anything. If you want an apology, here it is. Brahmins, spare the women. These values are in our scriptures tooexcept for Manuvaad. Decide which Brahmin you are. Rest, here's an apology from me.

The director defended his comment by sharing a screenshot of an aggressive remark directed at him: Brahmins tumhare baap hain. Jitna tumhari unse sulgegi, utna tumhari sulgaayenge.( Brahmins are your fathers. The more you clash with them, the more they'll burn you.)

In response, Kashyap wrote: Everyone read my reply. You're outraged. The fire's already been lit. At least see the context before reacting. Cowards who hide behind scriptures all their livesdoing nothing meaningful, only pulling others down to feel superior. To me, youll always remain fools.

Legal Complaints Filed

Complaints against Kashyap were filed at the Tilak Marg Police Station in Delhi and also with Mumbai Police, accusing him of making derogatory remarks about the Brahmin community.

The controversy began when a section of the Brahmin community in Maharashtra objected to the release of Phule, a film that addresses caste and gender inequality. Kashyap also criticised the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) for granting the film a U certificate on April 7.

Directed by Anant Mahadevan and starring Pratik Gandhi and Patralekha as Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule respectively, Phule was initially scheduled for release on April 11 but has been postponed to April 25.
Chennai: Veteran filmmaker Mani Ratnam and cinema icon Kamal Haasan have reunited after 37 years for a film 'Thug Life'.

On Friday, the makers organised a press meet, where Haasan expressed happiness on collaborating with Mani Ratnam after almost four decades.

Opening up about why the two never got to work together again after Nayakan and even apologised, Kamaal Haasan at the event said, "But let me tell you, nothing has changed between Mani sir and me. When we met, whatever we spoke of--parked motorcycles on Eldams Road--we used to sit on them and talk about those things. We were in search of better scripts and it took this long for us to collaborate. We are now working together again because of you, the audience - who want us to work together again. We should have collaborated earlier. I'm sorry."

He added, "And let me tell you, the reason we didn't get together all this time--the mistake is with us. The reason why we are together now is because of you. Because in the world of cinema business, most of them are only concerned if the movie title would gain profit on the books. And the calculation is a probability. It might gain profit. It might lead to a loss. But the ultimate judgement is given by the audience, for which the producers, exhibitors, distributors, and everyone else would stand."

Kamal Haasan has co-written Thug Life with Mani Ratnam. The film also stars Trisha Krishnan, Silambarasan TR (STR), and Sanya Malhotra.
New Delhi: Amid growing global trade uncertainty and tariff challenges, London-based consumer electronics company Nothing is considering ramping up exports from India, its CEO Carl Pei has said. Nothing CEO said during a recent AMA (Ask Me Anything) session on X social media platform that the company is exploring the option of exporting more from India to reduce the risks caused by changing international trade policies.

When asked about the possible impact of tariffs on the tech industry and on Nothings pricing or product demand, Pei responded, Who knows? Things are changing every day. When asked about his strategy to counter such effects, Pei stated, We are considering increasing exports from India.

India has already become a major market for Nothing and a key part of its growth strategy. According to Counterpoint Research, the brand saw an impressive 577 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in the country in 2024.

This strong performance was largely driven by the success of its Phone 2a series and products under its sub-brand CMF by Nothing. Recently, the brand also crossed $1 billion in cumulative revenue. The companys commitment to the Indian market goes beyond just sales.

Nothing has been focusing on local manufacturing under the Make in India initiative. Its recent devices, Phone 3a and Phone 3a Pro, are assembled in India. This focus on domestic production is expected to help the company manage costs and respond quickly to changes in the global supply chain.

Further strengthening its India strategy, co-founder Akis Evangelidis was recently appointed president of the companys India operations. After taking on this role, Evangelidis said that India is one of the most important markets for Nothing. He also announced plans to invest more in the country, including expanding the companys offline presence to over 12,000 stores and increasing local manufacturing in 2025.
Dhaka: A prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, a media report said on Friday.

Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka, was recovered on Thursday night, The Daily Star said quoting police and family members.

Roys wife Shantana told The Daily Star that he received a phone call around 4:30 pm and claimed the call was made by the perpetrators to confirm his presence at home.

Approximately 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and allegedly abducted Bhabesh from the premises, the report said, adding Roy was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted.

Roy was unconscious when he was sent back home and family members rushed him to a hospital in Dinajpur. However, he was declared dead upon arrival.

Roy was the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and a prominent leader of the Hindu community in the area.

The Daily Star quoted Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, as saying that preparations were underway to file a case.

He said police are working to identify and arrest the suspects involved.

Meanwhile, India on Friday rejected remarks by Bangladeshi officials on violence in West Bengal and asked Dhaka to focus on protecting the rights of its minorities instead of indulging in virtue signalling.

We reject the remarks made by the Bangladesh side with regard to the incidents in West Bengal, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said.

This is a barely disguised and disingenuous attempt to draw a parallel with Indias concerns over the ongoing persecution of minorities in Bangladesh where the criminal perpetrators of such acts continue to roam free, he said.
China on Friday expressed strong opposition to the U.S. measures following its investigation into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.

China has repeatedly reaffirmed its views on the Section 301 investigation and presented the non-paper on its position, urging the United States to stop blaming China for its domestic industrial problems, said a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce.

As a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, the measures severely harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, gravely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, blatantly violate WTO rules, and fundamentally undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, the spokesperson stressed.

China urged the United States to respect the facts and multilateral rules and stop its wrongdoing, the spokesperson said, noting that China will closely monitor U.S. actions and resolutely take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.
New York: A 21-year old Indian student was killed in Canada after she was struck by a stray bullet as she was waiting at a bus stop on her way to work and shots were fired by a car occupant.

Harsimrat Randhawa was a student at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario.

Hamilton Police is investigating the homicide that happened Wednesday, saying Randhawa was an innocent bystander.

The Consulate General of India in Toronto said in a post on X Friday, "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario."

The official added, "As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time."

Hamilton Police in a statement said that at around 7.30 pm local time, it received reports of a shooting near Upper James and South Bend Road streets in Hamilton. When police arrived, they found Randhawa with a gunshot wound to the chest. She was rushed to a hospital, but succumbed.

Through collected video, investigators have determined that a passenger of a black car fired at the occupants of a white sedan. Shortly after the shooting, the vehicles left the scene.

Shots from the shooting incident also entered the rear window of a residence nearby where the occupants were watching television a few feet away. No one was injured in the home, police said.

Investigators are asking anyone with dashcam or security camera footage between 7.15 pm and 7.45 pm near the shooting area to contact authorities and provide any information that can help further the investigation.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer reaffirmed his commitment to free and open trade while emphasising the protection of national interests during a call with US President Donald Trump, according to a statement from Downing Street.

The two leaders began by discussing the ongoing trade negotiations between Britain and the US on Friday at noon, Xinhua news agency reported.

According to a readout from 10 Downing Street, the leaders addressed the ongoing "productive trade discussions" between the UK and the US.

Both sides signalled optimism about reaching an agreement.

They also exchanged views on the key international issues, including the situations in Ukraine and Iran, as well as recent military action taken against the Houthis in Yemen.

Their phone talk follows the US administration's decision earlier this month to impose sweeping tariffs on countries across the world.

Though Trump later introduced a 90-day pause on some of the tariffs while keeping a baseline of 10 per cent tariffs on imports to America, including on British goods, the British car industry, as well as steel and aluminum exports, still faces a 25 per cent tariff if relevant products are sold to the US.

In an interview on Monday, US Vice President J.D. Vance said there was a "good chance" a trade deal with Britain could be reached, adding that Washington is working closely with the British government.

On Thursday, Trump also hinted during remarks at the White House that a state visit to Britain is being planned for September.

It is the first time Starmer and Trump have spoken since the latter unveiled an array of tariffs on countries on April 2 in what he dubbed "liberation day".

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is due to hold talks with the White House next week amid efforts to strike a trade deal, which Britain hopes can help soften the brunt of the tariffs.

However, Trump said on Thursday he was in "no rush" to reach any deals because of the revenues his new tariffs are generating.

Trump said many countries wanted to reach deals "frankly  more than I do", and that any agreements would come "at a certain point".
The White House on Friday openly aimed United States Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen for meeting Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported from the US to a prison in El Salvador. It also 'fixed' a New York Times headline about the meeting between the Senator and the deported Salvadoran.

In a post on the social media platform X, the White House account shared a screenshot of the headline and picture in the NYT about the Senator's meeting. "Fixed it for you, @NYTimes. On, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen  he's not coming back," the post read.

The headline given by the NYT was, "Senator Meets With Wrongly Deported Maryland Man in El Salvador." The White House changed it to "Senator Meets With Deported MS-13 Illegal Alien in El Salvador," and added, "Who's Never Coming Back."

Fixed it for you, @NYTimes.



Oh, and by the way, @ChrisVanHollen  hes NOT coming back. pic.twitter.com/VoAphh2ZPY  The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 18, 2025

Deportation Of Kilmar Abrego Garcia

According to media reports, Garcia, an undocumented migrant to the US, was living with his family in Maryland. He was accused by the government of being a member of the MS-13 gang, a designated foreign terrorist organisation.

Later, the US Supreme Court ruled that the deportation of Garcia was an "administrative error". However, the Trump administration has refused his return.

Also Read: Keir Starmer, Donald Trump Discuss Trade, Security Over Call

Senator Van Hollen's Meeting With Kilmar Abrego Garcia

The Maryland Senator is facing backlash in the US after he met with Garcia in El Salvador earlier.

In a post on X, Senator Van Hollen shared a picture of him meeting Garcia and said that the main goal for his El Salvador trip was to meet the deported man.

"I said my main goal of this trip was to meet with Kilmar. Tonight I had that chance. I have called his wife, Jennifer, to pass along his message of love. I look forward to providing a full update upon my return," he wrote.

In another post, Senator said that the US courts have been clear that Garcia's deportation was an "illegal abduction".

"I went to El Salvador hoping to meet with Kilmar and check on his well-being, and I had the chance to do that last night. Our courts have been clear: this was an ILLEGAL abduction. Im speaking now about my meeting with Kilmar and our work to bring him home."

I went to El Salvador hoping to meet with Kilmar & check on his well-being, and I had the chance to do that last night.



Our courts have been clear: this was an ILLEGAL abduction. Im speaking now about my meeting with Kilmar & our work to bring him home: https://t.co/0tZjVonkUF  Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) April 18, 2025

The Trump government is standing firm on its stance on allegations against Garcia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, citing humanitarian reasons during a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov on Saturday. The Kremlin stated that the truce would begin at 6 PM Moscow time on Saturday and continue until midnight following Easter Sunday.

The announcement coincided with a statement from Russia's Defense Ministry, which said its forces had driven Ukrainian troops out of one of their last remaining footholds in the Kursk region, an area where Ukraine had launched a surprise incursion last year.

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin added.

On Friday, after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a telephonic conversation with the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio, US President Donald Trump said that he expects to get Russia's response on a possible ceasefire in Ukraine over the weekend.

"We're going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually. I think we're getting close, but we'll let you know very soon," Trump told reporters at the White House.

The Russian Foreign Ministry stated that Lavrov reaffirmed Moscow's readiness to continue collaborative efforts with American counterparts to comprehensively address the root causes of the Ukrainian crisis.

Secretary Rubio, who was in Paris, informed the Russian side about the recent engagements that he and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff had in the French capital.

(With IANS, PTI inputs)
Even in the face of cancer, Lanny Boswell remained a dedicated public servant, loyal friend, fierce educational advocate and a steadfast leader, friends and colleagues say.

From the moment the longtime Lincoln Board of Education member received his diagnosis of oral cancer in August 2023, he never missed a beat. There was no question of whether he would continue to serve throughout treatment  if he could, he would, he said.

Through countless doctors appointments, surgery to remove his tongue and voice box, rigorous radiation treatment and time spent attempting to adjust to his new life without the ability to speak, Boswell continued to sit in his seat on the dais in the Lincoln Public Schools board room during bi-monthly meetings, ready to put the in work required of him.

Boswell wanted to continue to serve until the moment he no longer could  which is exactly what he did.

I enjoy board service very much, but it is also a commitment I made to the community, he told the Journal Star around a month after his diagnosis in 2023. I feel a responsibility to serve to the best of my ability.

Boswell, 54, died on April 9 after an 18-month-long battle with cancer, leaving behind a legacy of constant, unwavering dedication to serving students, staff and families across the district and beyond.

His work ethic, courage, kind heart and strong resolve are what Don Mayhew, who served alongside Boswell on the board, hopes the Lincoln community remembers about the man who dedicated years of his life to advocating for public education throughout not only Lincoln, but the nation.

Lannys legacy isnt just in the votes he cast or the policies he helped shape  its in the way he carried himself as a leader and a colleague. He believed in showing up, listening carefully and treating people with respect, even when they disagreed, Mayhew said.

He modeled what it looks like to lead with both conviction and humility, and I think that left a lasting impression on everyone who worked with him. The trust he built, the time he gave, the care he showed  thats what will stay with us.

Boswell was in the midst of completing his third and final term on the board, which was set to conclude on May 13 when he planned to step down from the position to focus on his health.

The board on Tuesday will consider appointing Mara Krivohlavek, a Democrat who is running uncontested for Boswell's seat on the officially nonpartisan board representing southeast Lincoln's District 5 in the May 6 general election, to finish the remainder of Boswell's term

Boswell, who worked as a software developer, joined the board in May 2013 representing southeast Lincoln with a goal to help the district continue to improve  something he felt he was able to accomplish.

During his tenure, he played a critical role in the creation of the Safe and Successful Kids Interlocal Board in partnership with the Lincoln City Council to fund school resource officers, mental health professionals and other student supports.

Boswell also helped the district pass multiple bond issues, create The Career Academy, develop strategic plans and lead LPS through a pandemic.

His passion and dedication to helping the district grow was apparent on Day 1, said Steve Joel, the former longtime superintendent of LPS who led the district when Boswell was first elected.

From the day that Lanny Boswell was elected, he went to work, he said. He had this passion for education and for kids, all kids, that was just exemplary. And the thing about Lanny, he was reliable. He was consistent, very intelligent and just somebody that wasn't afraid to roll his sleeves up and work.

That work didn't stop after his diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma in situ of the tongue and oral cavity.

Just one week following surgery to remove the tumor, which caused him to lose the ability to speak, Boswell opted to put his own recovery on hold and presided over a board meeting as the acting president a day after being discharged from the hospital. Boswell used a text-to-speech application on his cellphone to help him communicate.

"I think that tells you about his character," Joel said.

Boswells passion for LPS could be seen long before he ever even joined the school board. He first got involved as a volunteer on the parent-teacher organization and booster club boards for Maxey and Zeman elementary schools, as well as Lincoln East and Southeast high schools.

Additionally, he served as a community volunteer on multiple LPS committees, including the Student Housing Task Force, the Community Curriculum Council, the Safety and Security Committee, the Special Education Parent Advisory Committee, the Technology Advisory Committee, the Superintendent Interview Team and the Foundation for Lincoln Public Schools Board of Directors.

He certainly was a gentleman that was driven by a commitment, Joel said.

But his service extended beyond the bounds of LPS, as well. He also spent time as a member of the board of directors for the Nebraska Association of School Boards, where he even served as president in 2018.

As president, Boswell acted as the tip of the spear for issues that stretched across the state and nation, leading the charge on a variety of topics and offering guidance, mentorship and a listening ear to school board members throughout Nebraska.

During his tenure with the association, Boswell was instrumental in advancing strategic plans and structural changes and improving government relations and technology, said John Spatz, the executive director of the association.

I think, overall, school board governance is better in the state of Nebraska because of him. I can confidently say that, Spatz said. While a lot of people are very sad, including me, that we won't get to see him in this life anymore, we will see the fingerprints and the legacy of his work and mentorship and leadership that he's had over the last several years.

Boswell was also a proud father to his five children and had two grandchildren. In a September 2023 interview with the Journal Star, Boswell said his family was by far the most important thing in his life.

One of his favorite memories from his time serving on the LPS board, Boswell said, was having the ability to hand three of his five children  all of whom graduated from LPS  their high school diplomas during their graduation ceremonies, something his own father did for him as an Allen High School grad.

Everywhere Boswell went, he made a friend, Mayhew said. He led with kindness and offered a soft, welcoming smile to everyone he met. For most of those who worked alongside him, he was more than just a colleague, but a cherished friend.

Mayhew will always remember the twice-daily trips to Brueggers Bagels he and Boswell used to make for coffee when they both worked at NRC Health together. What started as taking advantage of the unlimited coffee refills turned into a space for personal conversations, work discussion and debates about LPS policy.

And, Mayhew said he will never forget seeing Boswells smiling face in the audience cheering him on at all of his first performances with his 80s cover band.

I miss him, not just as a colleague, but as a friend. Those coffee chats, those late-night emails, the quiet check-ins, theyre all part of what made working with Lanny special, Mayhew said. He made all of us better by the way he approached the work and the way he treated people. Thats the kind of impact that lasts, and Ill carry it with me.
More than 4,000 international students at U.S. colleges and universities have had their visas or legal status revoked by the federal government in recent weeks, including a handful at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.

Three international students enrolled at UNL have received notices from the State Department informing them their legal right to be in the U.S. has been terminated, university officials said Friday.

The university said it wasn't immediately clear why those students came to the attention of the State Department. None of the students, who are all from different countries, have left the U.S. at this time.

A total of 1,654 international students enrolled in UNL last fall, with roughly two-thirds of those registering as graduate students, who often teach or conduct research in university labs.

Across the country, students at more than 160 institutions have had their visas and legal statuses revoked, which along with high-profile arrests by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, has spread fear and uncertainty among students in Lincoln from abroad.

The Nebraska College of Laws Immigration Clinic has received several calls from international students in recent weeks, a spokeswoman said, while the ACLU of Nebraska has also fielded calls from worried individuals.

Neither have taken on any clients as of this time, both entities said, but the Immigration Clinic has referred some individuals to local immigration attorneys.

Kevin Ruser, a law professor who also teaches in the Immigration Clinic, said international students should immediately seek legal representation from attorneys with experience in immigration law if they believe their legal status is in jeopardy.

The first thing they should be doing is talking to an immigration lawyer, Ruser said in a phone interview Friday. Thats always the best advice.

An immigration lawyer will be able to outline the options an international student can take depending on how risk averse they may be, he added.

The law professor said the confusion created by the wave of visa revocations and status terminations from the State Department may be part of the Trump administrations strategy of pushing some international students to leave on their own.

But the revocation of a student visa does not necessarily mean those individuals need to leave the country immediately. The visa simply allows those students to enter the U.S. legally.

Once a nonimmigrant  a student or a tourist  enters the country, unless they are planning on doing multiple exits and entries, they dont need a visa, he said. If they enter on a student visa, they could be here for a long time, even well after the visa expires.

The wrench, as Ruser calls it, has come with the direct cancellation of students legal status, which many attorneys have argued in court filings has taken place outside of federal statutes and regulations.

The government has ended the F-1 status of some international students recorded in the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS, a database used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to track their presence in the country.

Ruser said there are limited circumstances that allow the government to revoke an international students legal status, but according to several lawsuits filed across the country, the reasons provided do not seem to meet muster.

If they are in compliance with the terms (of their status) then they are entitled to be here and they dont have to leave, Ruser said.

One lawsuit, filed by the ACLU of Michigan earlier this month on behalf of four university students whose F-1 student immigration status was revoked, sought to block the action and have their status reinstated so they could complete their studies.

The lawsuit details how the termination of F-1 student status violates the students due process rights because the government is required to provide advance notice and meaningful opportunity to respond when taking such action, the ACLU of Michigan said.

The lawsuit also says the government must follow specific legal grounds to terminate a students status, such as be convicted of a violent crime, engage in unauthorized employment, or fail to take the recommended number of courses.

UNL, in an FAQ posted April 3, said the most common reasons for a SEVIS termination are dropping below full-time enrollment  12 credit hours for undergraduates, nine for graduate students  or failing to properly file for an extension.

The first step is to remember that a revoked visa and even a terminated SEVIS record does not mean that you must depart the U.S. immediately, though that could eventually be the end result, the FAQ states.

Other lawsuits have made similar challenges to the Trump administrations actions.

A complaint filed in a Georgia federal court on behalf of unnamed international students this week said the visa revocations and SEVIS terminations "have shaken campuses across the country."

"If ICE believes a student is deportable, it has the authority to initiate removal proceedings and make its case in court," the lawsuit states. "However, it cannot misuse SEVIS to circumvent the law, strip students of status, and drive them out of the country without process."

Ruser said international students who have had their visas revoked and legal status terminated but elect to stay may face detention or deportation before they have a chance to argue their case in court.

Those prospects may lead some international students to leave before getting a chance to avail themselves, despite the burden being on the government to show by clear and convincing evidence those individuals had violated the law.

The intent of it, the best I can ascertain, is to get people to leave, Ruser said. Im not sure what the endgame of that is other than that.
An excerpt from Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General.

Ive had two major messages that Ive tried to get out to the public all my professional life, Koop proclaimed. One is to take charge of your own health. The other is that there is no prescription I can give you that is more valuable than knowledge  Ive tried the non-profit world, and the non-profit world is not interested in supporting those messages on the Internet or in any other way.

Koop had first encountered actor and entrepreneur John F. Zaccaro in 1991, when Zaccaro persuaded him to join other well-known figures, including violinist Itzhak Perlman and Good Morning Americas Nancy Snyderman, on the advisory board of the International Health and Medical Film Festival, home of the Freddie awards. In 1994, Koop was invited to be the celebrity speaker. It was Zaccaro who introduced him to Donald Hackett, described by Fortune as a 20-year veteran of the health information industry. Together, at Hacketts urging, the three of them brainstormed Dr. Koops Personal Medical Record System, a modest effort to enable patients to manage their own medical histories and costs on their home computers. So, on July 17, 1997, the company was founded as plain Personal Medical Records Inc. (PMRi). On October 1 of that year, Koop was in post as chairman of PMRi, with a three-year contract, at a fee rising to $150,000 in the third year. Meanwhile, trademark filings were being made for Dr. Koops Community  and drkoop.com.

This original, modest business model rapidly evolved into a web-based strategy, in which medical record-keeping would be online and just one of a wide range of offerings. Personal Medical Records Inc. became Empower Health Corporation. The site launched in July 1998. Six months later, we find Nancy Snyderman hosting a Q and A on spastic colon, there are twenty-two facts to discourage holiday drunk driving, and one of the interactive communities is discussing healthy aging.

Once the site was up and running, the company moved to raise capital by selling stock in an IPO  with what some observers regarded as unseemly haste. Bear Stearns, the merchant bank, was happy to take the company into the public market, and the IPO was, initially, a success. On Tuesday, June 8, 1999, they sold 9.4 million shares at $9 each, raising $84.4 million for the company. The stock briefly hit an all-time high of $47.75, rendering Koops slice of the pie a theoretical $119 million. Meanwhile, one friend told Koop that he had wrung his hands when he heard there was an IPO on the horizon because People dont want Dr. Koop to be a multimillionaire. They want him to save babies, blow the whistle on AIDS, and take on the tobacco industry. Another friend, former chief of staff Edward Martin, had pointedly declined Koops invitation to join the board of directors.

In The Wall Street Journals memorable turn of phrase, the companys core strategy was to tap the credibility of the feisty Dr. Koop. The plan was to deploy this singular name to establish an identifiable brand in an increasingly crowded field of health and wellness concerns. The Washington Post made a similar point. New Internet stocks have a reputation for pulling off stunts like that, though in fact recent ones ran into a bit of trouble as investors have grown wary. But Drkoop.com restored the magic. It has something that none of the others do: Koop. As CEO Donald Hackett put it to me, Dr. Koops insights, ethics, and principles set a standard everyone at the company aspired to live by. Empower Healths modest ambition to host personal health records on home computers had morphed into a towering offering that briefly made DrKoop.com the worlds top health site.

So, as web magazine ZDNet asked, How could a venture headed by the most recognized physician since Marcus Welby MD fall so far so fast?

Meanwhile, their core value proposition  you trust Dr. Koop, so you can trust DrKoop.com  had been coming under threat. The magic of the Koop name that lay at the core of the companys offering was being turned upside down by a series of blunders.

Controversy grew over the blurred line between ads and information on the site. One writer had been exploring a DrKoop.com Community Partners Program that contained a list of hospitals and health centers described as the most innovative and advanced health care institutions across the country. In fact, the list was an advertisement for 14 hospitals, each of which had paid a fee of about $40,000 to be included.

Koop was stung by these criticisms and responded swiftly, though reputational damage had already been done.

He convened the top twenty health sites in a project called HI-Ethics  for Health Internet Ethics  that on May 8, 2000, released a set of principles addressing the thorny issues concerned. But by then the stock of DrKoop.com was way down.

An effort to put in new management and new money failed to shore up the site. When runway runs out, the end is swift. Shortly before the bankruptcy filing, DrKoop stock was worth less than a penny a share. You get bargains at a fire sale, and Florida e-commerce company Vitacost, hawking discount vitamins, snapped up the website URL and its brand for $186,000  together with nearly one million registered email addresses that came with it. That was the ultimate indignity for Koop. A zombie DrKoop.com website would long outlive him, and he could do nothing about it. As required by law, at the foot of every page it states: This website is not associated with C. Everett Koop, M.D., former Surgeon General of the United States. The problem, of course, is that, after all these years, it is associated with him, a living monument to the failure of his venture.

DrKoop.com went down with accumulated losses of $207 million.

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Some contemporary assessments were unforgiving. Fortune fumed about Dr. Koop and the Greed Disease, accusing the company of mediocre leadership, a huge burn rate, and a flimsy business plan. The online magazine Tedium offered a gentler assessment. DrKoop.com  could have really worked out well, and everyone working with that company knew it.

Koop later reflected ruefully to his friends Alan and Rhea Johnson, at evangelical Wheaton College, I guess the Lord never wanted me to have a lot of money.

Nigel Cameron is a historian and ethicist whose work has spanned the disciplines of bioethics, history, and religion over a distinguished transatlantic academic career. He currently serves as a senior fellow at the University of Ottawa and was previously a research professor of bioethics at the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago, where he led pioneering projects on the social and ethical impact of emerging technologies and on diabetes policy. A former Fulbright visiting research chair at the University of Ottawas Institute for Science, Society and Policy, he continues to explore the intersection of medicine, ethics, and public policy.

Dr. Cameron was the founding editor of the journal Ethics and Medicine and has served as a hospital consulting ethicist. He has held board roles with UK think tanks 2020health.org and BioCentre, and has testified before committees of the U.S. Congress and the European Union. He has also represented the United States in diplomatic delegations to United Nations health-related agencies and was nominated by the U.S. government to serve as UN Special Rapporteur for the Right to Health.

His books include Dr. Koop: The Many Lives of the Surgeon General, Will Robots Take Your Job? A Plea for Consensus, and The New Medicine: Life and Death After Hippocrates. His current project, Ruth: The Psychiatrist Who Saved Sylvia Plath, Until She Couldnt, continues his exploration of complex figures in medicine.

For more about his work, visit drkoop.bio, or connect with him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
As Wisconsin counties prepare for generational aging and a population shift over the next 25 years, the health care industry is working to meet the increasing demand for services.

With health care workers aging and counties statewide largely growing older according to the state Department of Administrations 2020-50 population projection, experts see the need for the workforce to grow.

Health care is one of the fields that will always need more people, because, frankly, our population is becoming more dated, said Paula Gibson, director of the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute. There are more providers out there. Theyre providing care, which is all wonderful, but you have to have the people to meet that need. So we are always going to need health care workers.

In 2020, Wisconsins average population percentage 65-and-over was 18%, but by 2030, that will be 23% as baby boomers reach retirement age. And within the next 25 years, many within Generation X also will retire, leaving a workforce gap and a higher demand for services such as health care.

Health care jobs remain in demand, said Craig Masters, Emplify Health HR program consultant. As we age, more of us will be needing to participate in various forms of health care to get and remain healthy.

Within the next decade, there is expected to be a continued increase in jobs.

There is a 15% increase in health care careers in the health care sector in the next decade, said Roxann Vanderwyst, manager of leadership and career development for Emplify Health. We do know that there is a need, and there will continue to be a need in the future. We have a lot of employees that are leaving the workforce because theyre retiring, and so we need to fill those vacancies.

Health care experts argue that there will always be a significant need for these roles, especially those that directly meet patient needs.

There is always going to be a priority on those frontline, patient care facing roles, said Aiyana Dettmann, career development advisor at Gundersen Heatlh System in La Crosse. Well continue to need and hire nurses, need and hire physicians, need and hire CNAs.

Perfect storm

The need across the board is high and is expected to remain there.

The demand is immense in all different levels and areas of health care, from entry-level positions to MDs, theres a shortage of those  its just all positions, all over the board, said Chelsey Steinbrecher, talent solutions specialist at Mayo Clinic. A lot of times, we focus just on entry level positions, but we also have to look at upper-level patient care positions like surgeons and MDs.

And as the population makeup shifts, Steinbrecher believes that this is creating a perfect storm.

We have an aging population, fewer people are being born, our manpower is lower, theyre getting sick  all of these people are retiring, said Steinbrecher. Its just this perfect storm to try and keep up, and thats really difficult to do.

Organizations such as the Healthcare Workforce Training Institute aim to fill this demand, helping train workers and provide the necessary resources to communities in need.

Our goal is to make sure that we have a really well-trained workforce to meet the demand of care, no matter where it is, whether its at home or in a hospital, or an assisted-living facility, said Gibson. The purpose  is to find those who are interested in the field of health care and meet them where theyre at so that we can get the training that they want, when they want it, where they want it and how they want it.

Whether day or night, virtual or in-person, the organization offers several different programs to make it possible to start a career in the field.

One critical program filling a need in communities is helping people get free certified direct-care professionals credentials and certified nursing assistant credentials. The CDCP to CNA Career Ladder course offers free online learning modules to earn CDCP credentials and automatically replaces 20 hours from the CNA in-person program. Participants are eligible for up to $1,000 in bonuses and receive two free certifications.

As these early career and entry-level health care positions are always high in demand, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that there will be over 200,000 CNA positions opening per year from 2023 to 2033, citing the aging population and increased need for long-term care services.

Hopefully, what were doing at the institute is helping to mitigate that issue, said Gibson.

Rural care

In many rural Wisconsin communities, they anticipate having a higher percentage of 65-and-over populations over the next 25 years. However, in many of these rural areas, access to health care and hospitals can be limited.

Rural health care is definitely something that we think about a lot, and especially in the mental health field, about how to get access, said Marie Tackmann, clinical social worker at Mayo Clinic in Onalaska. Rural people generally dont have access, especially to mental health practitioners  thats a great need, and only becoming more and more of a need as the population ages, life becomes more stressful.

Tackmann described it as hugely important to be connecting the next generation of health care workers to jobs and resources.

The population is going to age, and thats going to be the largest group  and thats a high resource utilizing group, said Tackmann. Then theres this uncertainty with Social Security benefits and changes  so were looking at how that affects mental health and well-being.

Potential budget cuts

As health care is expected to reach peak demand, cuts to the National Institutes of Health are being discussed at the federal level, which could impact the availability and quality of care and research.

Some of those additional programs that might be funded by those federal grants are what would end up being lost, like our research programs, for example, or some of our population health initiatives in the community, said Dettmann.

President Donald Trumps administration is set to nearly half the $47 billion budget, re-organizing the agencys 27 institutes into eight, according to a leaked budget proposal.

The resources were already scarce, said Tackmann.

Gibson is worried about the potential cuts.

Its only going to cause more people in our community to have these diseases for longer with no cure and less treatments, said Gibson. What Im hearing from people in the health care field  theyre very worried, not just about NIH funding, but Medicaid cuts, Medicare cuts, Social Security benefits.  All of that is very scary because it is affecting our most vulnerable.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Friday presided over a State Council executive meeting, which discussed measures aimed at stabilizing employment, boosting economic growth, and advancing high-quality development.

Businesses are encouraged to maintain stable employment and expand vocational skills training programs, while efforts should be made to stabilize foreign trade and investment and support foreign-funded enterprises in reinvesting domestically, according to the meeting.

The meeting called for boosting service consumption in sectors such as elderly care, childbearing support, culture, and tourism, and invigorating private investment, as well as continuing to stabilize the stock market and promote the steady and healthy development of the real estate market.

While highlighting the need to address public concerns, the meeting also called for efforts to crack down on illegal activities and create a safe and reassuring consumption environment.

Efforts are required to enhance the regulatory capacity at the primary level and the application of new-generation information technologies, the meeting noted.

During the meeting, a draft social assistance law was discussed and approved in principle. It will be submitted to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress for deliberation.

A revised draft of the regulations on the protection of new plant varieties was also deliberated and approved at the meeting, which noted that it is necessary to fully implement the seed industry revitalization action and promote the innovative development of the seed industry.




After the boy's arrest, his mother was stunned to discover her 12-year-old learned how to kill and gorged on videos of decapitation and torture so gruesome they made even case-hardened French court officials look away. The mother told criminal investigators that she thought her son was playing video games and doing homework during the hours he spent in his room.

The child's descent into the internet's darkest recesses started innocently enough, with online searches about Islam after an aunt gave him a Quran as a gift, says the boy's lawyer. From there, more searching, automated algorithms that steer users' online experiences and the boy's curiosity ultimately led him to encrypted chats and ultraviolent propaganda pumped out by Islamic State militants and other extremist groups that are worming their way via apps, video gaming and social media into the minds of the very young.

Paul-Edouard Lallois, the French prosecutor who secured the boy's conviction on two terror-related charges last August, said the thousands of images and other extreme content the child viewed so warped his understanding of the world and of right and wrong, "it will take years and years of work to enable this kid to recover normal bearings."

The prosecutor believes the boy was on a trajectory to possibly become a "completely dehumanized soldier" who risked joining the ranks of digitally radicalized teenagers who hatch terror plots and express support for extremism. The huge library of violent content, the boy amassed included video tutorials on bomb-making, the prosecutor said.

Police analysis of the boys computer and phone found 1,739 jihadi videos, the prosecutor said, including one that appeared to show a tied-down man being methodically chopped into pieces.

"It is possible to completely upend the mental bearings of such a young child," he said. "Do that for a few years and, even before he has turned 18, he's already capable of, yes, committing an attack and the worst things with just a knife."

Emerging threat

Across the globe, counterterrorism agencies grapple with a new generation of attackers, plotters and acolytes of extremism who are younger than ever and feed on ultraviolent and potentially radicalizing content largely behind their screens. Some appear on police radars only when it's too late  with knife in hand, carrying out an attack.

Olivier Christen, France's national anti-terrorism prosecutor who handles the country's most serious terror investigations, has a firsthand view of the surging threat. His unit handed terror-related preliminary charges to just two minors in 2022. That number leapt to 15 in 2023, and again last year to 19.

Some are "really very, very young, around 15 years old, which was something that was almost unheard of no more than two years ago," Christen said. It "demonstrates the strong effectiveness of the propaganda disseminated by terrorist organizations, which are quite good at targeting this age group."

The so-called "Five Eyes" intelligence-sharing network, comprising U.S., U.K., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand security agencies, usually shuns the limelight. It is so alarmed, it took the unusual step in December of calling publicly for collective action, saying: "Radicalized minors can pose the same credible terrorist threat as adults."

In France, the domestic DGSI security agency says 70% of suspects detained for involvement in alleged terror plots are under the age of 21. In Germany, an Interior Ministry task force launched after deadly mass stabbings last year focuses on teenagers' social networks, aiming to counter their growing role in radicalization.

In Austria, security services say a 19-year-old suspect arrested in August, with an 18-year-old and a 17-year-old, for an alleged ISIS-inspired plot to slaughter Taylor Swift concertgoers, was radicalized online. So, too, was a suspected ISIS supporter, aged 14, detained in February for an alleged plan to attack a Vienna train station, authorities say.

The VSSE intelligence agency in Belgium says almost a third of suspects detained there for plotting attacks from 2022 to 2024 were minors  the youngest only 13. Extremist propaganda "is just a click away for young people in search of an identity or a purpose," it said in a report in January, with radicalization occurring at speeds "nothing short of meteoric."

Path to propaganda

Counterterror investigators say the online radicalization of a child can sometimes take just months. Digitally nimble, kids are adept at covering their tracks and skirting parental controls. The 12-year-old's mother had no inkling her boy was consulting extremist content, said the family's lawyer, Kamel Aissaoui.

Unlike previous generations of militants who were easier for police to track and monitor because they interacted in the real world, their successors are often interacting only in digital spaces, including on encrypted chats to mask their identities and activities, investigators say.

"They live on their phones, their tablets, their computers, in contact with people they don't know," said a senior official from a European intelligence agency who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss its work combatting illegal extremist activity.

Some start "to imagine who they would attack, how they would go about it, doing actual reconnaissance, hunting for a weapon, consulting tutorials on how to make explosives," the official said.

For some kids, the process starts with violent pornography or a fascination for gory images, counterterrorism investigators say. From there, more clicks can lead to grisly murder videos from Mexican drug cartels and ultimately to jihadi decapitations, throat-slitting and torture, in videos that are sometimes slickly produced with music and shared on chat groups.

"Often they're heavy consumers of everything that is broadcast on the Web and especially things that are forbidden," said Christen, the French national anti-terror prosecutor. "It's something of a chain reaction that gets them to the ultra-violence disseminated by jihadi movements."

Kids from all backgrounds

Aissaoui, the child's lawyer, said the trial was so tough on the 12-year-old that the hearing had to be paused twice because he was so distraught. He says the boy isn't violent and was simply a victim of apps and other digital tools that expose kids to extremist content.

"He was directed from site to site, and so on and so forth, until he came across things he should never have seen," the lawyer said.

The boy is now in residential care without access to social networks, with specialized educators and regular visitation rights for his parents, the prosecutor told AP.

Counterterrorism investigators say they're dealing with kids from an array of backgrounds. Some have behavioral difficulties and some tend to be loners whose social interactions are largely virtual, but others raise no concerns with their behavior before it draws police attention.

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Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi's trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores," the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

During Xi's visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

Speaking of Xi's visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

Wang said that during Xi's Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

China's mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.
21:22 UP man tricked into marrying bride's widowed mother A man was allegedly tricked into marrying the mother of his 21-year-old bride in Meerut, police said Saturday. The complainant, Mohammad Azeem (22), a resident of Brahmapuri in Meerut, said that his wedding was arranged with Mantasha from Shamli district by his brother Nadeem and his wife,... Read more >

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20:43 Bengal SSC begins process for fresh teachers exam The West Bengal School Service Commission has started the process of conducting fresh examination for teachers in state-run and state-aided schools, an official said on Saturday.The process began on Friday in the wake of the Supreme Court order on April 17 to initiate a fresh recruitment process... Read more >

20:10 Jain temple demolition: BMC transfers ward officer The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Saturday transferred an assistant municipal commissioner after the demolition of a Jain temple in Vile Parle area of Mumbai sparked a controversy.Members of the Jain community took out a protest march over the issue earlier in the day.Navnath... Read more >

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17:55 Modi to visit Saudi Arabia next week Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay a two-day visit to Saudi Arabia beginning Tuesday with focus on further expanding bilateral cooperation in several key areas including energy, trade and defence.A number of agreements will be inked between the two sides following talks between Modi and Saudi... Read more >

17:46 Vaiko's son quits party over internal dispute Durai Vaiko Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader and its founder Vaiko's son, Durai Vaiko on Saturday quit as the party's principal secretary, in an apparent fallout of internal squabbles.Vaiko, Lok Sabha MP from Tiruchirappalli in the state, took to 'X' to announce his decision and blamed an... Read more >

16:27 Musk replies to Modi, says he looks forward to... Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Saturday said he is looking forward to visiting India later this year.The tech billionaire's remarks came a day after he and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke and discussed the immense potential for collaboration in technology and innovation.'It was an honor to... Read more >

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13:58 This is my apology: Anurag Kashyap alleges threats Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap, who has courted a major controversy over a comment on the Brahmin community, has claimed that his family and friends are receiving 'death and rape threats'.Kashyap had made the intemperate comment on the community in a reply to a social media user.On Friday evening, the... Read more >

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12:02 Groom jumps in front of train before wedding A 30-year-old groom allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a train near a railway station in Amethi while his wedding procession was on the way to Azamgarh, police said Saturday.The incident happened on the Lucknow-Varanasi railway section late Friday evening in Amethi... Read more >

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10:56 Cognizant CEO's Compensation Up 11% Cognizant CEO Ravi Kumar received annual compensation of $16.1 million for 2024, up 11 per cent from a year ago period. In 2023, Kumar's total compensation was $22.6 million due to an elevated one-time award granted upon his appointment as CEO, said the company in a regulatory filing.'Kumars... Read more >

10:55 Industry confident of finding rare-earth supply alternatives: Vaishnaw India's electronics industry is confident of being able to figure out alternative supply chains for rare heavy earth metals as their traditional supply chains are being placed under export licensing regimes, Union Electronics and IT Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said. Whatever we have had... Read more >

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10:17 Bengal Guv to visit violence-hit Murshidabad today West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose will visit riot-hit areas of Shamsherganj in Murshidabad district on Saturday to review the situation and interact with the affected people, a senior official said.Bose will then head to the other strife-torn places in Dhulian, Suti and Jangipur in the... Read more >

10:01 Hindu leader abducted, killed in Bangladesh A prominent Hindu community leader was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death in Dinajpur district in north Bangladesh, a media report said on Friday. Body of Bhabesh Chandra Roy, 58, a resident of Basudebpur village of Dinajpur, about 330 kilometres northwest of Dhaka,... Read more >

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Several dozen travelers are left in limbo as they remain stranded at the airport, with many having their flights canceled since last night.

Frustration is mounting among travelers, as they await updates on their itineraries.

Passengers affected are scheduled to fly via Thai Lion Air.

According to ground airport personnel, no staff from the airline are available, and they are only waiting for information from Bangkok.

We dont really know why. Other airlines are landing, so we really dont know. We are also waiting, said a ground personnel who asked not to be identified.

Several people have complained about the delay.

Well just fly from Hong Kong tomorrow morning instead. This is insane. No one can even face us to explain, said an affected passenger to the Times. Its been hours and hours and we still do not have an update yet. Its frustrating! said another traveler.

Initially, SL371 was scheduled to fly to Bangkoks Don Muang last night at 10:05 p.m.; however, it was delayed.

After distributing meal vouchers at 12 a.m., several ground personnel finally informed passengers around 1 a.m. that the flight was diverted to Guangzhou due to weather conditions. They have since asked travelers to return at 12 p.m. today.

At the check-in counter earlier, travelers who were supposed to fly to DMK via SL371 at 10:05 p.m. were given a MOP300 compensation.

However, for many, particularly tourists, such a refund will not suffice.

What are we going to do with MOP300? Its not even enough for a hotel, said a tourist from Thailand. How about those with connecting flights from Bangkok? Who will shoulder the expenses for this delay? questioned another traveler.

The flight to DMK scheduled at 2:20 p.m. today via SL373 is also delayed, with no information provided.

Meanwhile, other airlines flying to Bangkok have taken off, while several Thai Lion Air passengers have asked to cancel their flights.

According to airport data, at least 11 flights are currently delayed.
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Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, meets with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)



Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang met with Russian Minister of Energy Sergei Tsivilev in Beijing on Friday.

Ding, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that cooperation in the energy sector is an important cornerstone of practical cooperation between China and Russia, providing strong support for the high-level development of bilateral relations.

He said that China stands ready to work with Russia, following the important consensus reached by the two heads of state as the fundamental guideline, to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation on energy, steadily advance major projects, actively expand new areas for cooperation, and bring tangible benefits to the two countries and two peoples.

He called on the two countries to strengthen coordination and interaction under multilateral mechanisms and promote the establishment of a fair, just, balanced and inclusive global energy governance system.

Tsivilev said the Russian side fully supports the multilateral initiatives proposed by China, always regards China as a reliable partner, and is willing to promote in-depth and substantive energy cooperation to further contribute to the high-level development of Russia-China relations.
A Wisconsin Elections Commission discussion of uncounted ballots in Madison devolved into a shouting match Thursday, with the Democratic chair threatening to kick a Republican commissioner out of the meeting.

The commission is investigating former Madison City Clerk Maribeth Witzel-Behl after she failed to count 200 absentee ballots in the November election and didnt tell the commission about the oversight until after election results were certified. Witzel-Behl resigned this week.

Commission Chair Ann Jacobs said at a Thursday meeting that she and Commissioner Don Millis had deposed Witzel-Behl as well as other city workers and planned to continue questioning additional workers.

Republican Commissioner Bob Spindell said that he was fine with the Madison investigation, but the commission needs to pay more attention to what he said were even more serious problems with election administration in Milwaukee.

As he attempted to detail his concerns, Jacobs began shouting at him that Milwaukee elections werent on the agenda. She ordered him to stop talking or she would kick him out.

I am not going to let you keep going, Bob, she said, jabbing her finger at him. Im going to talk over you until you stop. You must stop. You are out of order, and I will eject you from this meeting if you disobey again.

Youre going to eject me from the meeting? Youre going to try and muzzle me? Spindell responded.

Do you understand the words I am saying? Jacobs said.

What are you saying? Spindell said.

They are simple. You are out of order. The city of Milwaukee is not on this agenda. You dont get to hijack the agenda, Jacobs said.

They continued to shout over each other until Spindell gave up. I said what I needed to say. Thank you, he said. Jacobs ultimately allowed Spindell to remain in the meeting.

The commission is evenly divided with three Republican commissioners and three Democrats. Spindell was one of 10 Republicans who signed certificates in 2020 falsely stating that Donald Trump had won Wisconsin. Democrat Joe Biden actually won the state that year.

He and Jacobs have been at odds for years, with Spindell often lodging complaints and making motions that Jacobs rules out of order. Much like Thursdays exchange, their interactions have often been marked by Jacobs demanding that he stop talking.

The commission opened an investigation into Witzel-Behl in early January after learning that she had failed to count 193 absentee ballots and didnt inform the commission until Dec. 18, more than two weeks after election results were certified.

The uncounted ballots didnt affect the outcome of any races, but commissioners appeared stunned at the oversight. Four Madison voters whose ballots went uncounted have filed claims for $175,000 each from the city and Dane County, the first step toward a lawsuit. It was another blunder for Witzel-Behl after she announced in September that her office erroneously sent out up to 2,000 duplicate absentee ballots.

Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway suspended Witzel-Behl in March and launched an internal investigation. Witzel-Behl resigned on Monday. The city has yet to release the findings from its internal probe.

It wasnt clear what Milwaukee voting problems Spindell was referring to on Thursday since Jacobs drowned him out. But he could be heard referencing a report about how some polling stations in Milwaukee ran out of ballots because of higher than anticipated turnout in the states hotly contested Supreme Court election.

No voters were turned away, and electronic voting machines and additional ballots were sent to the polling stations, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported.

Spindell told reporters after the meeting that he was pushing for an investigation into the ballot shortage, calling it very, very bad judgment. He said the issue is more important than the uncounted Madison ballots but Jacobs doesnt want an investigation because she wants to protect the citys Democratic election officials.

After Spindell left, Jacobs told reporters he must stop hijacking meetings for items that arent on the agenda. She added that she doesnt understand what Spindell wants out of an investigation.

An investigation, Jacobs said, needs to have a purpose other than whining, complaining and conspiracy theories.
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Chinese President Xi Jinping concluded his state visit to Cambodia on Friday, with both nations agreeing on jointly building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

On Thursday, Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni, Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen, Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk, respectively.

The two sides exchanged more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents covering such fields as production and supply chain cooperation, artificial intelligence, development assistance, customs inspection and quarantine, as well as health and media.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Li Xueren)

All-weather community with shared future

"We must work together to promote the steady and sustained progress in building the China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era," Xi wrote in his signed article published on Thursday in Cambodian media outlets.

During their talks, Xi and the Cambodian prime minister agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

Chinese President Xi Jinping holds talks with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Liu Weibing)

Xi called on both sides to build on the momentum, strengthen unity and cooperation, and speed up the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.

During his meeting with the Cambodian King, Xi expressed confidence in writing a splendid chapter of building an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era.

China and Cambodia have always been at the forefront of building a community with a shared future for mankind, said Xi.

For his part, King Sihamoni said that with the joint efforts of both sides, cooperation in various fields has become increasingly close and the building of a community with a shared future has been continuously deepened.

While meeting with the Cambodian People's Party president and Senate president, Xi said that building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future is a choice of history and the people.

He said that the two sides should keep in mind the well-being of their people and the progress of humanity, strive to set an example for building a community with a shared future for mankind in the course of advancing their respective modernization endeavors, and join hands to become forces for peace, stability and progress in a world undergoing profound transformations unseen in a century.

Unbreakable ironclad friendship

Friendship is a term frequently emphasized by Xi during his trip to the country.

In the signed article, Xi said this visit "feels like going to the home of a good friend."

He fondly recalled the historic legacy of the good-neighborly relations between the two nations and the friendly exchange that spans two millennia of their shared history.

"The great Chinese and Khmer civilizations have flourished together, inspiring each other through centuries," he wrote.

Xi also highlighted the two countries' mutual commitment to friendship and righteousness, emphasizing that the friendship was forged by Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk and Chairman Mao Zedong, Premier Zhou Enlai, among the elder generations of Chinese leaders.

In 2020, Xi presented Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk with the Friendship Medal of the People's Republic of China. This medal, Xi said, embodies "the profound friendship of the Chinese people toward the people of Cambodia."

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors.

In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.

When meeting with the Queen Mother on Thursday at the Royal Palace, Xi said she is a witness and promoter of the China-Cambodia friendship and has special friendly feelings towards the Chinese people, while Cambodia's King Father Norodom Sihanouk was a banner of this friendship.

Under the new circumstances, China and Cambodia should cherish and carry forward this ironclad friendship, endow the China-Cambodia community with a shared future with new connotations of the time, serve the development of their respective countries and the well-being of their people, and make greater contributions to building a community with a shared future with neighboring countries and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Xi said when meeting with King Norodom Sihamoni on Thursday.

King Norodom Sihamoni presented Xi with the National Order of Independence - Grand Collar.

Xi said that this medal fully demonstrates Cambodia's high regard for developing China-Cambodia relations and carries the deep friendship of the Cambodian people towards the Chinese people.

This honor, he said, belongs not only to him personally, but also to all the friendly people who have cultivated and contributed to the friendship between China and Cambodia.

Chinese Ambassador to Cambodia Wang Wenbin has said in a written interview with Xinhua that as history and reality have both proven, China and Cambodia are good neighbors, good brothers, good friends and good partners who share weal and woe and stand together through thick and thin.

The friendship between the two countries is not a transactional relationship, nor a stopgap measure, still less a bloc confrontation. It is rooted in the practical needs of the respective national development and rejuvenation, serves the common interests of both nations and peoples, and aligns with the historical trend of solidarity, self-strengthening and shared development among Global South countries, Wang said.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni walk at the Royal Palace after their meeting in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. Xi met with Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the Royal Palace in Phnom Penh on Thursday. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)

Strive together, thrive together

In his signed article, Xi said that as important members of the big Asian family, China and Cambodia must ride the tide of history and heed the two peoples' aspirations, and must strive together and thrive together.

Noting that this is his second visit to Cambodia in nine years, Xi expressed hope that the visit will spearhead progress in building a China-Cambodia community with a shared future.

For many years, China has been Cambodia's largest trading partner and top source of investment, and industrial and supply chain cooperation between the two countries has continued to deepen. The entry into force of both the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership and the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement has further strengthened the foundation for bilateral trade and investment.

Thanks to such free trade agreements, premium agricultural products from Cambodia, including banana, mango and longan, are finding their way into Chinese households.

"China is a trustworthy partner for Cambodia," said the Cambodian Ministry of Commerce's Secretary of State and Spokesperson Penn Sovicheat. "Looking forward, our two-way trade volume will continue to rise, undoubtedly."

During talks with Hun Manet, Xi urged the two sides to expand mutually beneficial cooperation of higher quality and voiced China's readiness to share opportunities and seek common development with Cambodia.

He called on both sides to vigorously promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and continuously enrich the "Diamond Hexagon" cooperation framework, so as to inject new impetus into their respective modernization efforts.

China encourages more Chinese enterprises to invest in Cambodia, Xi said, adding that it will open its mega-market to Cambodia and import more high-quality agricultural products from the country.

Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Cambodian People's Party President and Senate President Samdech Techo Hun Sen at the Peace Palace in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

In his meeting with Hun Sen, the Chinese president said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors.

In view of the headwinds on the international landscape, Xi said unilateralism and hegemonism receive no support of the people, adding that history has shown the unstoppable trend toward a multipolar world, economic globalization, and cultural diversity.
The Martinsville region has seen a shift in population with growth in the city, but the region still faces an aging population and a declining workforce.

More people are moving to the area in the past decade, but the latest data shows that number overall is still failing to keep up with the increasing number of deaths.

Martinsville and parts of Southside and parts of Southwest Virginia have, over the last couple of decades, tended to have some of the weakest population numbers, often because they had a good deal of people leaving; typically younger people, said Hamilton Lombard, estimates program manager for the Demographics Research Group of the University of Virginias Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service. What is notable, particularly in the last four or five years, is how much that has changed, and its definitely got more people coming into the area than going out.

Hamilton reviewed the latest numbers from his office in Charlottesville on Wednesday and noticed some attractive changes.

There has been sort of a larger shift in Virginia of a lot of smaller towns pulling in more people, Lombard said. If you just look at the number, you dont necessarily see that. Despite the area having hundreds more deaths than births, it still doesnt hide the fact that there has been a significant shift.

Lombard said in the previous decade, the area lost so many young people to areas with a more attractive job market, that the regions prime-age workforce has been shrinking.

If you look at Martinsville and Henry County that workforce has shrunk by 10% in the last 10 years, and what that means is you have fewer people around who might work. I think its been pretty close to stable over the last decade, so you have this position where you have as many jobs as before and fewer people, said Lombard. This does two things for the community simultaneously: One is that it means that if youre in the region, it may be easier to find a job than it was 10 years ago; secondly, if you dont live in the region but looking for work, the area may pull you in.

Remote work is more readily available than before and even with the recent housing reassessments in Martinsville, home prices are still a bargain compared to Raleigh, North Carolina or Washington, D.C.

It seems like from the 1990s up into the mid 2010s there just werent enough jobs for the population and I think its getting to the point where theres more of an equilibrium, Lombard said. If you look at the overall trajectory, its a positive one.

Martinsvilles population in 2020 was 13,485 and the estimate for July is 13,268, a decline of 217. There have been 572 more deaths than births since 2020, which shows a net migration of 355.

In Henry County the population was 50,948 in 2020 and is expected to be 48,726 in July reflecting a decline in population of 2,222. With 1,921 more deaths than births the net migration is -301 since 2020.

Patrick County had a population of 17,608, according to the 2020 Census and the Weldon Cooper estimate for July is 16,985, a decline of 623 people. With 751 more deaths than births, the net migration in Patrick is 128.

If you take Patrick County there are close to twice as many people in the 60s and about 75% more in their 50s than in their 20s. Henry County is about 50% more in the 60s and about 40% more in the 50s than in the 20s, said Lombard. Martinsville is pulling in some younger people now. You had decades of young adults leaving and that put a hole in the regions demography.

Overall, Lombard said the Martinsville region was in a much better situation than it was five years ago.

The prognosis of the region was sort of dim to dark from a demographic perspective and its really brightened up quite a bit, Lombard said. Overall, were really seeing a reversal. When you look throughout Southside, almost every place is pulling in more than theyre losing. Looking at smaller cities like Martinsville and rural counties like Henry or Patrick, it does seem to be a systemic shift in where people are moving coming out of the pandemic.

Lombard said the swing in demographics has changed the thinking of economic development for communities like Martinsville from attracting as many new jobs as possible, to attracting the right people to fill the jobs that have already been created.

I think its kind of turning into a bit of a competition or even sort of a war between communities, said Lombard.

Lombard noted the quality of life has improved in the past couple of decades and the region has maintained a low cost of living.

Said Lombard: When you look at the trends for Martinsville, I think it is a positive one for the region.
An unprecedented joint air exercise between China and Egypt has been launched under the title Civilization Eagle 2025, signalling a notable shift in regional military dynamics.

Initiated in mid-April and continuing into early May, the operation has involved the deployment of Chinas PLA Air Force to Egypt, including the strategic Y-20 Kunpeng transport aircraft. Although details about the specific aircraft and flight operations remain limited, the manoeuvres have been framed by Beijing as a move to enhance mutual trust and interoperability. The Y-20s presence has underscored Chinas growing capacity to project power far from its borders, while Egypts participation has reflected its intention to diversify its military partnerships amid strained relations with the U.S.

Emphasis has been placed on the capabilities brought to the exercise by both nations. Egypts varied fleet, incorporating American F-16s, French Rafales, and Russian MiG-29s, has demonstrated Cairos long-standing strategy of balancing defence ties. Meanwhile, Chinas use of the Y-20, a cornerstone of its modern logistics force, has reflected ambitions to support sustained overseas operations. Though unconfirmed, the possible inclusion of advanced Chinese aircraft such as the J-10C has raised questions about the potential for future arms deals. The joint training has thus been perceived as both a tactical collaboration and a strategic overture, hinting at broader defence and technological engagement between the two powers.

Broader geopolitical consequences have been anticipated as a result of this cooperation. Concerns have been stirred in Washington and Tel Aviv over shifting alignments, particularly as the Middle East continues to serve as a key battleground in the evolving U.S.-China rivalry. Egypts pivotal location and control of the Suez Canal have added to the significance of the drills, especially in the context of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. While official responses from regional actors have remained muted, the exercise has been widely interpreted as a signal of Egypts increasing foreign policy autonomy and Chinas resolve to establish a stronger foothold in a region traditionally influenced by Western powers.
A forthcoming UN report has detailed complex logistics routes allegedly used to arm Sudans Rapid Support Forces (RSF), highlighting cross-border movements through Chad and Libya, and potential airlifts into Darfur  but stops short of identifying the source of the weapons.

The 2024 UN Panel of Experts report, leaked and obtained by the Sudan Tribune, focuses on RSF supply lines, including routes from Chads Am Djarass airport and Libya into Sudans Darfur region. It notes the establishment of a logistics hub at Bir Mirgui in North Darfur by the paramilitary group and night flights at Nyala airport in South Darfur, bombed by Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in late 2024. Meanwhile, a separate, leaked 2023 UN report  published by The Guardian  documented consistent patternof cargo flights from UAE airports to Chad using Ilyushin Il-76TD aircraft, which indicates that a new regional air bridge was established.

While the report observed flight anomalies and ties to past arms transfers, it found no conclusive evidence of weapons aboard, warning it was premature to infer that these flights were part of an arms transfer network.

These revelations come as Sudan pursues a genocide case against the UAE at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), accusing it of arming the RSF. The UAE has rejected the allegations as baseless, adding that it is committed to bringing lasting peace to Sudan.
Families returning to their communities in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after months or years of displacement are confronting destroyed homes, lost livelihoods, and dire humanitarian needs as violence continues to escalate in the region.

These are families that were already displaced before the crisis that has rocked the city of Goma and North Kivu more broadly, explains Hercules Kipa, Head of Emergency Programs for Concern, speaking from Kibumba. Following this latest crisis, these communities returned to their areas of origin. These families that are returning home dont have land to cultivate and have lost their sources of income. They are home, but their humanitarian needs continue.

The most recent wave of violence and subsequent dismantling of internally displaced persons (IDP) camps have forced over one million people into increasingly precarious living conditions. While humanitarian organizations are operating in the region, their efforts are severely hampered by significant funding shortfalls and security concerns.

Mediatrice Busogi, who recently returned to Kibumba, describes the devastating scene upon arrival: When we returned, we found many dilapidated houses. The luckiest found their houses without doors and without roofs. We used tarpaulins to cover the houses and crammed into them with other families and thats how we live so far.

For many returnees, the journey home marks only the beginning of another struggle. In Sake, another conflict-affected area in North Kivu, displaced community representative Byamungu Rukera outlines the pressing needs: If we are lucky enough to return to our village, we will need to rehabilitate or rebuild our houses, have food, [and] household items until we can harvest the produce from our fields.

The United Nations has warned that the situation in the DRC remains one of the most complex and underfunded humanitarian crises globally, with more than 25 million people in need of assistance. Despite the scale of suffering, the crisis continues to receive limited international attention and resources.

Aid organizations stress that without sustained support for both immediate relief and longer-term recovery, these returning families face a perilous future even in their home communities, perpetuating cycles of vulnerability and displacement.
Five former ministers from the regime of ex-President Macky Sall may face prosecution before Senegals High Court for the alleged embezzlement of public funds, according to the Attorney General at the Dakar Court of Appeal.

During a press conference on Thursday, 17 April, he stated that serious suspicions were held regarding their management of the Covid-19 Response Fund. In December 2022, the Court of Auditors had raised concerns over a series of alleged management errors regarding this fund, which was set up to respond to the pandemic.

The ministers are accused of diverting money from the Covid-19 Fund, intended to fight the pandemic, for personal gain. The prosecutor explained that their case had been referred to the National Assembly to determine whether or not legal action should be taken against them. This was described as an exceptional procedure, as ministers who commit infractions during their tenure can be held accountable before the High Court of Justice. Outside of these five ministers, 27 individuals have been charged this week in relation to suspected mismanagement of special funds allocated for the Covid-19 response between 2020 and 2021. The prosecutor, Ibrahima Ndoye, assured that investigations would continue to identify all involved parties and recover the misappropriated funds.

The legal proceedings were eagerly anticipated by the public after a report from the Court of Auditors in December 2022 highlighted several instances of overpricing within the Covid-19 Fund. The report, which spanned 180 pages, listed numerous management faults in the 700 billion CFA Francs (equivalent to over one billion Euros) raised by international donors and the Senegalese government. For instance, rice distributed to the most vulnerable during lockdown was purchased for 2.7 billion CFA Francs, which was significantly more expensive than its actual value. Additionally, since the establishment of the financial judicial division, 15 billion CFA Francs have been seized, and 262 people involved in 282 financial cases have been arrested.
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

Credit: Pixabay/CC0 Public Domain

CT scans are a vital part of modern medicine. Found in every hospital and many clinics, they give doctors a fast and detailed look inside the bodyhelping to diagnose everything from cancer and strokes to internal injuries. But a new study suggests there may be a hidden cost to our growing reliance on this technology.

The study, published in JAMA Internal Medicine, warns that CT scans performed in the US in 2023 alone could eventually lead to over 100,000 extra cancer cases. If the current rate of scanning continues, the researchers say CT scans could be responsible for around 5% of all new cancers diagnosed each year.

That figure has raised concerns. Especially when you consider that the number of CT scans done in the US has jumped by 30% in just over a decade. In 2023, there were an estimated 93 million CT exams carried out on 62 million people.

The risk from a single scan is lowbut not zero. And the younger the patient, the greater the risk. Children and teenagers are especially vulnerable because their bodies are still developing, and any damage caused by ionizing radiation may not show up until many years later.

That said, over 90% of CT scans are performed on adults, so it's this group that faces the largest overall impact. The most common cancers linked to CT exposure are lung, colon, bladder and leukemia. For women, breast cancer is also a significant concern.

What makes this latest estimate so striking is how much it has grown. In 2009, a similar analysis projected around 29,000 future cancers linked to CT scans. The new number is over three times highernot just because of more scans, but because newer research allows for a more detailed analysis of radiation exposure to specific organs.

The study also makes an eye-catching comparison: if things stay as they are, CT-related cancers could match the number of cancers caused by alcohol or excess weighttwo well-known risk factors.

Not all scans carry the same level of risk. In adults, scans of the abdomen and pelvis are thought to contribute the most to future cancer cases. In children, it's head CTs that pose the biggest concernespecially for babies under the age of one.

Often life-saving

Despite all this, doctors stress that CT scans are often life-saving and remain essential in many cases. They help catch conditions early, guide treatment and are crucial in emergencies. The challenge is making sure they're only used when really needed.

Newer technologies could help reduce the risk. Photon-counting CT scanners, for example, deliver lower doses of radiation, and MRI scans don't use radiation at all. The researchers suggest that better use of diagnostic checklists could also help doctors decide when a scan is necessary, and when a safer alternative like MRI or ultrasound might do the job.

It's worth noting that this study doesn't prove CT scans cause cancer in individual people. The estimates are based on "risk models"not direct evidence. In fact, the American College of Radiology points out that no study has yet linked CT scans directly to cancer in humans, even after multiple scans.

Still, the idea that radiation can cause cancer isn't new. It's scientifically sound. And with the huge number of scans being done, even small risks can add up.

CT scans save lives, but they're not risk-free. As medical technology evolves, so too should the way we use it. By cutting down on unnecessary scans, using safer alternatives where possible, and keeping radiation doses as low as practical, we can ensure CT scans continue to help more than they harm.

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Anna Fang, a graduate student in the School of Computer Science's Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon, uses a VR headset to practice stress relief strategies. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Everyday situations can sometimes feel like big stressors, whether it's delivering an important work presentation, attending a party full of strangers or confronting a partner. Talking to a friend or a therapist can help. But so can practice.

A new project from Carnegie Mellon University researchers aims to make that practice easier by studying whether virtual and augmented reality (VR/AR) can simulate stressful situations and help people practice stress-relief strategies. It's a modern spin on exposure therapy: users can put on a pair of VR/AR glasses and practice what they want to say with a digital audience.

The research team, led by Anna Fang, a graduate student in the School of Computer Science's Human-Computer Interaction Institute, will present their work at the upcoming Association for Computing Machinery Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI 2025).

The researchers tested their stress simulation technology on a group of 19 participants, the majority of whom overwhelmingly supported it.

"For the past 10 to 20 years, virtual reality and augmented reality have taken a really big hold on the health and mental health space," said Fang, noting the many meditation apps available for download.

However, Fang noticed that these apps usually place users in a sanitized, isolated environmentlike a virtual forest or beachwhile they offer tips and breathing exercises for calming down, which makes it hard to transfer those skills into the real world.

Anna Fang, a graduate student in the School of Computer Science's Human-Computer Interaction Institute at Carnegie Mellon, uses a VR headset to practice stress relief strategies. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

"The project comes from me wanting a practical way for people to learn these skills and apply them to their real lives," Fang said. "Can we use virtual and augmented reality to simulate an office environment, or a conflict with someone? Then you can actually practice some of those self-care skills in an environment similar to real life."

To start, Fang and her team focused on three scenarios that seem to cause people the most stress and anxiety in their daily lives, according to research: public speaking, crowded social events and interpersonal conflict.

The team built eight prototypes with different design elements for each of the three scenarios, for a total of 24 prototypes. Those prototypes took various formsvirtual reality, mixed or augmented reality, or a text-based environment without visual cuesand offered different degrees of interaction. The virtual audience could either respond or ask questions in one prototype, for example, or sit silently in another. In the interactive prototypes, the avatars in VR or AR could chat with users using dialog powered by a large language model. Users could also hit a button on the controller to access breathing and meditation exercises if they needed them, and instructions appeared as a popup superimposed on the scene.

"For each person, we wanted to try different designs and different combinations, so users could tell us what they liked and didn't like," Fang said. "The participants generally said that it was pretty realistic."

A screenshot from the VR experience showing stress-relief strategies for public speaking. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

Overall, Fang and her team found that people liked using the technology to gain more awareness about themselves. "They wanted technology that would help them learn self-sufficiency skills that they didn't feel they had," she said.

Participants also noted that they preferred being able to decide when the large language model suggested guidance instead of receiving that guidance automatically. They also wanted to take the headsets to other locations to help them become immersed in and more comfortable with the stressful setting. For example, a participant wanted to use the augmented headset in their home because that was where they planned to discuss an issue with their partner. Or, for public speaking, they wanted to go to the classroom the day before to practice in front of an avatar audience.

"We're further developing it right now. We're creating a full-fidelity deployable model that we can put on the App Store and that people can use at home," Fang said.

In this next version, the team plans to upgrade the avatars to look more realistic and to include more text-to-speech features so the avatars can speak to users more naturally.

A screenshot from the VR experience showing stress relief strategies for interacting at a party. Credit: Carnegie Mellon University

"If you think about being stressed in a situation, someone's tone matters a lot," Fang said. "We're also giving the avatars more realistic facial expressions and movements. So if they're angry at you, we can have them furrow their brow."

The upcoming version will also offer an expanded menu of self-care strategies. While the current version contains mostly deep-breathing tips, the next iteration will implement relaxation and body-scanning techniques as well as grounding practiceslike having people name objects around themto help manage anxiety or panic attacks.

"We want to use the system not only to help people learn these skills, but also to experiment with different self-care strategies," Fang said. "They can experiment in a virtual environment that works best and feels best for them, depending on the context, and then make an informed choice on what to implement in the real world."
 Flash

Chinese President Xi Jinping greets the welcoming crowd during a grand welcome ceremony held by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni at the airport in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao)

Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia visit, his first overseas trip this year, highlighted China's dedication to deepening traditional ties, expanding practical cooperation and advancing its vision of building a community with a shared future with its neighbors.

The tour, which took him to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday, also signaled China's renewed push to reinforce regional stability and prosperity, and its determined support for regional economic integration as global protectionism and unilateralism continue to mount.

Closer community

Throughout his tour, Xi reaffirmed China's commitment to fostering friendship and partnership with neighboring nations. He also underscored the importance of building a community with a shared future grounded in mutual respect, win-win cooperation and shared development.

In a signed article published ahead of his state visit to Vietnam, he stressed that China will ensure continuity and stability of its neighborhood diplomacy, which is guided by the principle of amity, sincerity, mutual benefit and inclusiveness.

Pham Phu Phuc, former deputy head of the World News Desk at the Vietnam News Agency, welcomed China's commitment to pursuing the policy of forging friendship and partnership with its neighbors.

In light of unexpected and uncertain changes in the region and across the world in recent years, this vision emphasizes peace, sincerity, mutual benefit and shared development through cooperation, he said.

In Vietnam, Xi said that building the China-Vietnam community with a shared future carries great global significance, noting that as the two countries jointly pursue peaceful development, their combined population of over 1.5 billion is jointly advancing toward modernization, which will contribute to regional and global peace and stability while promoting common development.

In Malaysia, Xi said that China is ready to work with the Malaysian side to build a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future, so as to usher in a new "Golden 50 Years" for bilateral ties.

Chinese President Xi Jinping arrives in Phnom Penh for a state visit to Cambodia at the invitation of Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on April 17, 2025. (Xinhua/Yao Qilin)

In Cambodia, Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet agreed to build an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, and designated 2025 the China-Cambodia Year of Tourism.

China's development has benefited not only itself but also many other countries, including Malaysia, said Dato' Abdul Majid Ahmad Khan, president of the Malaysia-China Friendship Association (PPMC), noting that the vision of a community with a shared future -- "sharing weal and woe" -- has won widespread support.

"As long as we uphold equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust, we will surely walk hand in hand even further on the journey ahead," he said.

Thong Mengdavid, a lecturer at the Institute for International Studies and Public Policy of the Royal University of Phnom Penh, said that the deeply-rooted Cambodia-China ties are rock-solid and unbreakable, setting an example for South-South cooperation.

Greater connectivity

A focal point of the tour was high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with the aim of enhancing regional connectivity and creating development opportunities through projects spanning a wide range of fields, from infrastructure to digital and green economy.

In Vietnam, Xi and General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam witnessed the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism, which is expected to assist Vietnam in aligning its railway gauge with China's standardized gauge, thereby boosting economic connectivity and development.

Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh jointly witness the launching ceremony of the China-Vietnam railway cooperation mechanism at the International Convention Center in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, April 15, 2025. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)

"Railway connectivity and cold-chain transport between China and Vietnam have cut logistics costs, accelerated customs clearance, and ensured fresher, more affordable Vietnamese produce for Chinese consumers," said Nguyen Ba Hai, an official at the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

In a joint statement on deepening bilateral ties and practical cooperation issued during Xi's visit, China said it is ready to advance cooperation with Vietnam on three standard-gauge railways in northern Vietnam.

Upgrading cross-border railways and ports can boost bilateral trade while enhancing regional connectivity and resilience, said Do Thi Thu, a senior lecturer at the Banking Academy of Vietnam.

In Xi's state visit to Malaysia, the two sides agreed to promote the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Cooperation Plan signed in 2024 and further synergize development strategies. They also agreed to enhance cooperation on infrastructure connectivity, jointly implement key projects such as the East Coast Rail Link, promote rail-sea transportation and improve regional connectivity.

Samirul Ariff Othman, an economist at Malaysia's Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, said that the flourishing economic ties between Malaysia and China demonstrate "the resilience and mutual benefits of our bilateral relationship."

Making real difference

During his visit to Cambodia, Xi said the two sides should deepen practical cooperation across various fields, advance the construction of Cambodia's Industrial and Technological Corridor and Fish and Rice Corridor, and strengthen collaboration in energy, transportation and other key sectors, enabling Cambodia to share more in China's development opportunities.

Over the years, key BRI projects in Cambodia have yielded tangible benefits for local people. The Sihanoukville Special Economic Zone has become a thriving industrial hub, attracting more than 200 international enterprises and institutions while creating 32,000 jobs.

The Phnom Penh-Sihanoukville Expressway, Cambodia's first expressway, has cut travel time between the two cities from over five hours to under two, significantly enhancing connectivity. Meanwhile, the Siem Reap Angkor International Airport has given a strong boost to the tourism sector, operating 17 routes by the end of last year.

"The future of Cambodia-China relations is bright and full of potential," said Mengdavid from the Royal University of Phnom Penh. "With the continued efforts of both countries' leaders, we can expect an even more dynamic, mutually beneficial and resilient partnership that will contribute to peace, stability and prosperity in the region and beyond."

In Malaysia, Xi and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim witnessed the exchange of more than 30 bilateral cooperation documents, covering a wide range of projects, which are taking root in Malaysia and making a difference for local people.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim jointly witness the exchange of bilateral cooperation documents after their talks in Putrajaya, Malaysia, April 16, 2025. (Xinhua/Ding Lin)

Such projects have not only promoted technology transfer and created numerous jobs, but also helped uplift regions that were previously less developed, which truly reflects the BRI's vision -- always putting people's well-being first, said Majid, the PPMC president and a former Malaysian ambassador to China.
Just as the House Taxation Committee passed a major property tax package and celebrated the win Friday, a group of former government officials were carrying out a lobbying push for a different property tax bill in the other chamber.

The effort to pass property tax relief has been drawn out over the last three and a half months of the legislative session and stood still for multiple weeks, with much of the legislating going on behind the scenes. But as the Legislature enters its final weeks, the urgency for substantial property tax relief is ramping up.

Homeowners' property tax bills skyrocketed over the past few years, putting financial strain on many residents. Nearly all lawmakers and the governor agree that providing property tax relief this session is essential, in part because property tax bills are set to rise again.

Friday was a clear turning point in the House for the topic, but the temperature in the Senate was drastically different, as senators sat on a competing property tax bill that has the backing of 2024 Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ryan Busse and former officials who worked in Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer's administration.

The dam broke on the House side, said Rose Bender, the director of research for the Montana Budget and Policy Center who primarily weighs in on tax policy. Well see about the Senate side.

Senate Bill 542, sponsored by Sen. Wylie Galt, R-Martinsdale, was originally three pages and only sought to temporarily freeze property values. After Friday morning's taxation committee hearing, all that language is now gone. It was replaced by nearly 50 pages of amendments that were drawn from other flagship property tax bills from both the Democrats and the bill backed by the governor and carried by Rep. Llew Jones, the Conrad Republican who is one of the main drivers behind the state budget and major tax policy.

The largest amendment contains numerous provisions. It provides a $400 rebate for primary residents in conjunction with the upcoming reappraisal cycle. It also seeks to implement a tiered rate system starting this year that taxes higher-value homes at higher rates, something that is heavily backed by many Democrats.

In future years, it implements a different version of a tiered rate system  a key component of Jones bill  under which the top tax rate for the highest-value homes is lower than it will be this year. Short-term rentals and second homes that are not long-term rentals will also be taxed at a higher rate than primary residences.

What it does not include is any explicit assistance for renters, who have seen their landlords raise rents following their own property tax bill increases. Jones has continually said that providing a friendly tax rate to landlords who have long-term rentals should trickle down to the tenants.

It still rides on the charity of the landlord, said Rep. Jonathan Karlen, a Missoula Democrat.

The bill additionally lowers the tax rate for agricultural land in part to ensure that when residential rates are decreased, they are not pushed too much onto large agricultural landowners.

Because the new form of HB 542 was pieced together Friday morning through amendments, concrete numbers on how much relief it will provide are not yet available.

Rep. Katie Zolnikov, R-Billings, who voted against the hefty amendment, had some reservations about the higher tax rates on second homes and would have preferred to see a longer-term rebate. She also expressed frustration about the fact the legislation started out as a Plan D effort to freeze property values and is now an entirely different bill, saying there was not an adequate window for public input.

Even so, there was an air of levity in the room as lawmakers came to agreement and passed the bill as a whole on a unanimous voice vote. As Great Falls Republican Rep. George Nikolakakos emerged from the taxation committee room, there was music playing loudly from a TV and he waved his fingers, pretending to conduct the choir in celebration of their endorsement of SB 542.

We came here with the goal to provide property tax relief to the citizens, said House Taxation Committee chairman Rep. Paul Fielder, R-Thompson Falls. This bill will provide good property tax relief  it will benefit a lot of people.

But as House Taxation Committee members celebrated their endorsement of a bipartisan property tax relief bill, a group had been executing a push for a competing property tax bill, House Bill 528, in the other chamber since the night before.

The lobbying effort appears to largely be coming from a group nicknamed the "Giddy Ups," which includes Busse, Schweitzer advisers and cabinet members, and others who served in state government. The group has been texting and calling senators to garner votes for HB 528 since Thursday, six senators told the Montana State News Bureau.

Around the Capitol, HB 528, which is sponsored by Bigfork Republican Rep. Ed Byrne, has been nicknamed The Busse Bill" because it is nearly the same form of property tax reform that Busse was pushing on the campaign trail.

The main text message that is being sent to lawmakers is identical and lauds the bill for the huge cuts it implements to residential rates.

"Every Montana homeowner gets a property tax cut," the message starts.

"MT Homeowners will thank you," it continues. "Lobbyists for big out-of-state corporations dont win  homeowners do!"

Because of the complicated and rigid way Montana levies property taxes, it is difficult to provide relief for homeowners without costing the state hundreds of millions of dollars or forcing other people  such as business owners, corporations or farmers  to pay more in taxes.

The bill takes a simple approach and slashes tax rates for residential properties, agricultural properties and some commercial properties, and therefore places the tax burden on many other businesses. Not all Democrats are on board with the approach, however.

"I think the Democrats who are opposed to this bill are wrong," Busse said Friday, adding that it is the "best fix."

When asked about the shifts, Busse said he has not done the calculations, but likes it because its being opposed by many large corporations who were not pinched by property tax spikes in recent years, unlike residents.

Not only are HB 528 and SB 542 different in philosophy, they are now directly in conflict: Also amended into SB 542 Friday by the House Taxation Committee was coordination language that says if that bill passes, HB 528 is void.

I think that's got a tougher road, said Senate Minority Leader Pat Flowers, D-Belgrade, said of HB 528 earlier this week.

HB 528 is awaiting a vote on the Senate floor and there are currently three amendments in the hopper. It will also likely go to another Senate committee and have to clear a vote there. SB 542 still has a number of hurdles to clear as well. The bill is set to go to the House floor next, where it will face a vote of the 100 representatives.
Although elk infected with brucellosis freely roam southwestern Montana and have been responsible for infecting cattle with the disease, bison in Yellowstone present a much higher, much more significant risk to the state, an attorney representing Gov. Greg Gianforte argued in a Butte U.S. District Court on Thursday.

Attorney Rachel Meredith made the statement in a hearing before Judge Brian Morris as he considers several motions in a lawsuit filed by the state against the federal government and Yellowstone over its 2024 bison management plan.

The state filed its lawsuit at the end of last year, arguing Montanas concerns were not properly addressed and that Yellowstones analysis was flawed.

Bison outside of Yellowstone

Yellowstone bison that wander outside of two tolerance zones, designated by the state on the north and west sides of the park, are currently killed or hazed back into the park. These zones also provide the two main regions where bison are killed by tribal and public hunters.

Environmental groups and tribes with treaty rights have argued for allowing the bison greater room to roam on adjoining national forest lands, like other wildlife in the state. In so arguing, they point to the states management of brucellosis-infected elk as an example of what is possible.

On the other hand, Montana officials want bison contained as close to the park as possible to restrict the spread of brucellosis, a disease that can cause ungulates to abort and affects the shipment of live cattle to other states.

So why should bison be contained and not elk?

There are a couple of critical distinctions, however, between the disease as it exists in elk and the disease as it exists in Yellowstone Park bison, Meredith explained. Bison in Yellowstone Park and elk in the Greater Yellowstone areas surrounding Yellowstone manifests significantly different seroprevalence levels.

Seroprevalence, Meredith explained, is the number of animals that test positive for having been exposed to brucellosis. Not all animals exposed are capable of transmitting the disease, which is mainly contracted through contact with an infected animals birthing tissues.

Bison seroprevalence in the park is as high as 60%, Meredith said. However, seroprevalence in elk in the Greater Yellowstone Area, (Fish, Wildlife & Park) studies are showing it's more on the order of 5%. Now there are a couple of herds that show a rate of between 20% and 30%, but they're isolated.

To keep elk from infecting cattle, the state tries to keep the animals separated through hazing, issuing kill permits and fencing off haystacks that attract elk to ag fields.

State vs. feds

The state has argued Yellowstone did not properly conduct environmental analysis required under federal law concerning reasonably foreseeable future actions when it developed its new bison plan, Meredith argued.

By setting bison population goals averaging 5,000 animals  whereas the state would prefer no more than 3,000 to avoid bison migrations out of the park  the Park Service should have foreseen the action might threaten the tolerance zones, she said, which should have been assessed (by the Park Service) for its consequences.

Attorney Romney Philpott, representing the federal defendants in the lawsuit, said the Park Service was not obligated under the National Environmental Policy Act to complete a more extensive analysis of its bison management plan. The Park Services environmental impact statement was sufficient, he argued.

Cottonwood seeks stay

Since the state filed its lawsuit, numerous groups and tribes have sought to intervene.

The state and federal attorneys agreed Cottonwood Environmental Law Center, represented by Bozeman attorney John Meyer, should be excluded. Cottonwood is seeking to halt the states lawsuit until the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Animal Plant Health Inspection Service complete environmental reviews related to a 2018 lawsuit Meyer filed.

In that case, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ordered the agencies to analyze enforcement of Montanas admittedly arbitrary political boundary constraining bison movement outside of Yellowstone in light of the new science and information regarding transmission of brucellosis, Cottonwood stated in its brief.

Meredith and Romney accused Cottonwood of trying to hijack the lawsuit for reasons unrelated to Montanas complaints.

Meyer said requiring the stay would allow Yellowstone to shorten its confinement of bison for live transfers to a holding facility on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation from 900 days to 300.

If Montana removes tolerance zones for bison, then the Forest Service will be more involved in issuing bison hunting closure orders, Meyer told the judge.

Judge Morris questioned how he could avoid addressing Cottonwoods filings. Meredith said the states case is premised entirely on the bison management plan.

She also noted a delay in the states case, as requested by Cottonwood, could cause significant harm if bison migrate out of the park in large numbers next winter.

Bison migrations into Montana are more likely to occur when the bison population is large and there is a harsh winter. These two conditions drive the animals to lower elevations outside the park in search of food.

In the cold, snowy winter of 2022-23, when large bison migrations did occur, more than 1,500 bison were killed within the tolerance zones, mostly by tribal hunters.

Yellowstone reported 866 animals were removed from the population this winter, 97 of which were placed in the quarantine program for possible live transfer and 768 that were shipped to slaughter with the meat provided to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes. One calf died after being captured.

Four bison were killed by state hunters. By the end of March, tribal hunters had killed at least 13.

At the beginning of the winter the Park Service set a goal to remove more than 1,300 bison through hunting, capture and slaughter.

Tribes, groups seek to intervene

Also arguing before Judge Morris on Thursday was attorney Emily Qiu who represents the Fort Peck Tribes and conservation groups, such as the Greater Yellowstone Coalition, involved in the bison transfer program.

The transfer program has been responsible for moving more than 400 live Yellowstone bison to 26 tribes in 12 states.

Montana and federal attorneys have sought to limit the groups involvement, which Qiu called fundamentally inappropriate.

She argued the tribes and conservation groups have significant financial interests in Montanas lawsuit as they have invested in corrals to quarantine bison until they are deemed disease-free and provide employees and vehicles to ship the animals.

Judge Morris questioned what assurances were provided to the tribes and groups regarding their investments.

They were made on the fact that they've been integral partners to this effort since the conservation transfer program was first agreed to in 2017, Qiu said.

The groups, along with others that take part in the Interagency Bison Management Plan  including the state and treaty tribes  make sure what is embodied in the plan happens, Qiu added.

Does the plan have the force of law? Judge Morris questioned.

Yes, Qiu said, because it is enforcing the bison operations.

Does it have an expiration date, or is it just because something the parties agree they would do, it would evolve over time? Morris prodded.

Qiu answered the plan has always been adaptive, meaning it changes as new science adds to the groups knowledge about bison.

What happens if one of these parties says, Well, no, thanks. We're good. We're going to deal with this differently, not with you, and we're not going to continue participation in the plan. Is that feasible? Morris asked. I'm trying to understand if the state of Montana or the Park Service, or the Forest Service, or one agency says, No, we're not going to be involved anymore, bison arent a priority. Are they free to walk away?

The agreement between the groups is cooperative, Qiu said, not regulating any particular agencys activities.

I think there is this expectation that all of these parties would continue to participate in good faith in the plan and under the regulatory framework, Qiu added.

More twists and turns

Expanding the case file even more, on April 8 the Yakama, Umatilla, Salish and Kootenai tribes filed to intervene in Montanas lawsuit against Yellowstone National Park.

The groups contend in their motion: If Montana prevails in this case, bison population numbers will be so low that out-migration from the Park will decrease or cease altogether, depriving members of (the tribes) their ability to exercise their off-reservation treaty hunting rights. Additionally, Montana indicated that it could decrease the tolerance zones outside the Park, further reducing the Tribes ability to engage in a bison hunt.

Also noted during the hearing was the federal request for another bison lawsuit to be combined so only one judge is considering the issues.

The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and Council on Fish & Wildlifes lawsuit, filed in January, contends the Park Service failed to incorporate the findings of a 2020 National Academies of Sciences, Medicine, and Engineering report regarding the disease brucellosis, as well as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services current consideration of bison as a threatened or endangered species due to its range being restricted.

Philpott, the attorney representing federal agencies, said both cases will be considering the same administrative record  all the documents the Park Service considered when it came to its decision on the 2024 bison management plan.

Once we have the administrative record, it's a matter of filing briefs, Judge Morris said.

That's correct, Philpott responded.

Okay, so to limit the ability or the scope of a party's intervention seems unnecessary in that circumstance, Morris said. We're all litigating issues in the claims brought by the state of Montana, based on an administrative record prepared by the National Park Service.

Philpott said enlarging the case to include Cottonwoods complaints inserts different issues into the proceedings.

So we think that, for instance, Cottonwood should be limited to addressing the claims brought by Montana, as opposed to going off, you know, whether against the Park Service or the other two agencies in this case, he said.

Judge Morris said that due to trials scheduled in the next three weeks it would be awhile before he issues a ruling.
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Experts emphasized the importance of cultural exchange and education in strengthening China-Malaysia ties during the 2025 Kuala Lumpur Dialogue held Thursday in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.

A panel discussion is held during the 2025 Kuala Lumpur Dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 17, 2025. [Photo courtesy of ACCWS]

The forum highlighted historical and cultural connections between the two countries and outlined plans to enhance collaboration in education, technology and media.

Wang Xiaohui, editor-in-chief of China.org.cn and a special research fellow at the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies (ACCWS), observed that current conditions present a prime opportunity to enhance bilateral cultural exchange and economic cooperation. Noting the two nations' thousand-year historical connections and the longstanding Mandarin language presence in Malaysia, he acknowledged persistent gaps in mutual understanding that require dedicated efforts to address.

"Last year marked 50 years of Malaysia-China cooperation," Wang said. "As Confucius said, 'At 50, one knows the mandate of heaven.' Our task now is to strengthen high-level strategic development  enhancing cultural diplomacy, expanding trade and economic participation and addressing challenges like U.S. tariffs. Through deeper cultural exchange and mutual understanding, we can build prosperity for both nations."

He also referenced Chinese Admiral Zheng He's historic voyage to "Nanyang," a historical Chinese term for Southeast Asia used during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644). The admiral's fleet visited Malacca (Malaysia), Java (Indonesia) and Siam (Thailand), facilitating cultural exchange by introducing foreign cultures to China while sharing Chinese culture abroad. He noted that language barriers remain the "last mile" of cultural exchange, and that translation is the cornerstone of understanding and connection.

Wang mentioned that China International Communications Group publishes Chinese cultural content in multiple languages, while China.org.cn delivers stories in 10 languages to promote global understanding.

"With modern tools like DeepSeek and other digital platforms, there are now unprecedented opportunities to enhance media, broadcasting and cultural exchange efforts for Malaysia and China," he said.

Xiong Chengyu, professor at the Communication University of China and dean of the School of Cultural Development and Communications, also noted that Malaysia and China have a long and rich history of cultural exchanges. Now, the two countries are jointly applying to UNESCO to recognize and protect their shared cultural assets. Additionally, China and Malaysia have made commitments to cooperation in education. These steps represent a move toward a more integrated future.

"People-to-people connections form the bedrock of meaningful cultural exchange," Xiong said. "At its core, this work is about touching hearts. We must prioritize grassroots, lived experiences  even the most fundamental human interactions, like smiling at each other, create the foundation for true understanding."

Onn Huann Jan, professor at the Department of Chinese Language and Literature of New Era University College, noted that Eastern civilization is characterized by Islam and Confucianism, concepts that intertwine in various philosophical and cultural ways. He cited Zheng He's voyages, where the admiral built memorials utilizing Islamic elements, highlighting the cultural intersection and commonalities between Confucianism and Islam.

In terms of cultural exchange, Onn emphasized the role of translation, adding that academic translations between Chinese, Malaysian and English are crucial. Meanwhile, translating Malay documents into Chinese allows more people to understand the Malay world, helping address today's problems and find solutions, he said.

"Cultural exchanges come in many forms, including art and food," Onn explained. "In Malaysia, the mainstream culture serves as a bridge between us and China, fostering trust and understanding between the two countries. Misunderstandings and miscommunications, often rooted in colonization, can lead to negative perceptions. By promoting accurate translations and cultural understanding, we can build a stronger foundation for cooperation and mutual respect."

Chin Chong Foh, deputy dean and associate professor at the Institute of Chinese Studies of Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, raised the importance of people-to-people bonds in cultural exchange.

"Malaysia and China's relationship dates back over 1,000 years, highlighting the harmonious bond between the two countries. The vision is for harmony, security and prosperity," Chin said. "As a fourth-generation Malaysian Chinese, I advocate for more free interaction between the two countries to avoid extremism and promote bicultural understanding."

Wang Dong, professor and executive director of the Institute for Global Cooperation and Development at Peking University, echoed that people-to-people exchanges promote regional peace and harmony, which is crucial. Realizing heart-to-heart connectivity enhances cultural understanding and respectful communication, as reflected in China-Malaysia development and prosperity in education and cooperation, he said.

"There have been many translations of classic literature in recent years. Our media products, including movies, have received top ratings in Malaysia and Singapore, helping to boost exchanges and enhance mutual understanding," Wang noted.
PRNewswire Chandigarh [India], April 19: Chandigarh University's first-of-its-kind 'North India Incubators & Capital Summit (NIICS) 2025', a two-day flagship event aimed at fostering innovation, collaboration, and advancement within the startup and investment ecosystem, got underway on Friday bringing together over 100+ Incubators from eight states in the region, 250+ top Startups, 20+ Venture Capitalists, Angel Investors and Entrepreneur for creating innovation and investment opportunities in the region. *100+ Incubators, 250+ Top Startups, 20+ Venture Capitalists, 40 Leading Corporations, Policy Makers Participate in Chandigarh University's 'Incubator & Capital Summit 2025' Organised by Chandigarh University's Technology Business Incubator (TBI) in collaboration with T-Hub, one of the world's leading startup incubators, the 'North India Incubators & Capital Summit (NIICS) 2025' brought together stakeholder from eight states - Delhi, Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab to outline the roadmap to transform North India's entrepreneurial landscape. The Summit has been endorsed by by STEPs and Business Incubators Association (ISBA), TiE (IndUS Entrepreneurs) Chandigarh, MeitY Startup Hub and Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Besides Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chandigarh University Chancellor, Satnam Singh Sandhu, the dignitaries who attended the inauguration ceremony of the Summit included KK Yadav, Administrative Secretary, Industries & Commerce, Investment Promotion and Promotion of Information Technology Industry Punjab, Kamal Kishor Yadav, PS Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, Lalit Jain, Director of Census Operations and Citizen Registration in Haryana, Dr. Meer Murtaza, OSD Mission Youth J&K, Kadam Sandeep Vasant, Secretary, Technical Education, Himachal Pradesh and Sujit Jagirdar, Chief Innovation Officer at T-Hub. On the occasion, Sandhu launched Chandigarh University's 'Centre for Universal Business and Entrepreneurship' to plug and play opportunities for the Startups across North India and ignite Next-Gen Innovation in the region. Under the theme "Eight States, One Vision," the Summit celebrated unprecedented collaboration among eight North Indian states, demonstrating the power of regional unity in building a robust innovation ecosystem. The event also spotlighted sustainable incubation models, introducing financial sustainability frameworks as a blueprint for incubators across the country. Driving collaborative efforts to address long-standing innovation divide across regions, the Summit's focus extended "Beyond Convenience to Deep Tech," urging startups in the region to shift from convenience-based solutions to deep technology innovation, in alignment with national priorities for technological self-reliance. The Summit 2025 featured five thematic pavilions covering in emerging sectors like AI, Health & Wellness, Genentech & Sustainability, Business & Finance, Consumer Technology. These apart, two pavilions featured startups related to products and services. Four startups nurtured at the Chandigarh University were also launched by Members of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu during the inaugural ceremony of the Summit. To transform the nation into Viksit Bharat, we must strengthen our start-up ecosystem, says Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) & Chancellor Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu In his inaugural address, Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha) and Chancellor of Chandigarh University, Satnam Singh Sandhu, praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visionary leadership for setting India on the path to becoming a Viksit Bharat (Developed Nation). "The most critical driver of this transformation is our startup ecosystem," he said, emphasizing the need to strengthen it further. Sandhu highlighted that under PM Modi's leadership, the past decade has marked a golden era for Indian startups. "With supportive policies, India has become a nation of ideas and innovation -- now home to the world's 3rd largest startup ecosystem, growing from around 500 startups in 2016 to over 1.59 lakh today, including 110 unicorns. These startups have created over 16.6 lakh direct jobs. At Chandigarh University alone, students have launched over 150 startups. Our Technology Business Incubator (CU-TBI) is now mobilizing Rs 5 crore to further boost innovation and entrepreneurship," he added. Immense support system in place, there is no better time for Startups in India, says CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, PS Madanagopal Participating in the Session on 'Northern Constellation: Uniting Innovation', PS Madanagopal, CEO, MeitY Startup Hub, said, "Most of our Startups are today solving problems for urban India. There is a strong need to push beyond this urban India's convenience related problems so solve problems that matter to Bharat which is could be related to water, hygiene, sanitation, air, education and health. My urge to innovators and problem solvers is that every day when you travel, if you could identify one problem, you can start letting it grow in your mind. Eventually the solutions will stare at your face. And that is something if you pursue, you will end up being a very powerful problem solver but also an entrepreneur. An entrepreneur is a real problem solver who works on a product which will change the status quo of society. That mind-set creates 10000 or 20000 jobs. The role of incubator is becoming extremely critical for felicitating an entrepreneur's entire journey. The first 1000 days of an entrepreneur are very important because it's the critical phase. In way, there is immense support system at the incubator or the college level or the government level. There is no better time to Startup,". Need to inculcate entrepreneurial attitude, provide students with ideal environment for new ideas and skills, says KK Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary Industries, Industries and Commerce & Investment Promotion, Punjab KK Yadav, Additional Chief Secretary Industries, Industries and Commerce & Investment Promotion, Punjab said, "When we talk about new start-ups; whenever someone comes up with a new idea whether you believe in that idea or not, whether that idea can be implemented or not but when we talk about solving a problem, an environment is automatically created to find its solution. An entrepreneurial attitude should be inculcated in the students and they should be provided with ideal environment in which they can create new ideas and learn new skills. This should not only be done by educational institutions alone, but we need to create a social environment for that. The governments have limited funding, but they can still help in many ways." He emphasised the importance of nurturing a mindset among students to become job providers rather than job seekers. India will need a million startup to support the US$ 10 Trillion Economy by 2035, says CIO T-Hub Sujit Jagirdar Sujit Jagirdar, Chief Innovation Officer at T-Hub, said, "India is a land of opportunities. There was a time when people used to say that US is the land of opportunities but now it's no more the case. It's India that is the land of opportunities as an option. The government has played a biggest role in making the startup eco system by providing policies infrastructure and funding for this. Nine out of 10 founders make a startups to solve the problems they faced personally. So how do you solve problem in your area will matter the most. We are the fifth biggest economy and we will soon become third largest economy very soon. By 2035, the opportunity for us to move from US$4 Trillin to US$ 10 Trillion, we will need a million startups, which is about 10 times than what we have today, to support that economy. So there are phenomenal opportunities. We just need the mind-set to focus on those opportunities,". Kadam Sandeep Vasant, Secretary of Technical Education, Himachal Pradesh, said, "Innovation begins with education. To foster it, we must build systems that encourage creativity and experimentation, By signing an MoU with T-Hub and the launch of an innovation fund to support students in prototyping, idea development, and patenting,". Lalit Jain, Director of Census Operations and Citizenship Registration for Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, said, "There's no shortage of local startups offering unique solutions, especially in the tourism sector in Himachal Pradesh. But we are lagging in marketing. In today's age, visibility is everything. Our startups need stronger promotion through government support, NGOs, and social media to attract investment and scale up." Meer Murtaza, OSD, Mission Youth J&K, said "We're handholding youth to turn their ideas into ventures. With a recent paperless census covering 1.10 crore individuals across 25 lakh households, we have identified 8.45 lakh potential entrepreneurs. Now, it's time for the youth to step out of their comfort zones--innovation requires taking risks,". About Chandigarh University Chandigarh University is a NAAC A+ Grade University and QS World Ranked University. This autonomous educational institution is approved by UGC and is located near Chandigarh in the state of Punjab. It is the youngest university in India and the only private university in Punjab to be honoured with A+ Grade by NAAC (National Assessment and Accreditation Council). CU offers more than 109 UG and PG programs in the field of engineering, management, pharmacy, law, architecture, journalism, animation, hotel management, commerce, and others. It has been awarded as The University with Best Placements by WCRC. Website address: https://www.cuchd.in/ Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2668262/Chandigarh_University.jpg (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by PRNewswire. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
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British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves said on Friday that it would be "very foolish" for the United Kingdom (UK) to disengage from China, emphasizing the importance of continued economic cooperation.

In an interview with The Telegraph, Reeves expressed support for strengthening ties with China rather than building new barriers.

"China is the second biggest economy in the world, and it would be, I think, very foolish to not engage. That's the approach of this government," Reeves said ahead of a scheduled trip to Washington next week.

Reeves pointed to her visit to China earlier this year, where she participated in the 11th China-UK Economic and Financial Dialogue alongside leading British financial services firms, including HSBC, the London Stock Exchange Group, Standard Chartered, and Prudential.

Chinese Vice President Han Zheng meets with British Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Yan Yan)

She said the visit aimed to boost the ability of British financial services firms to operate in China by securing more licenses and quotas for British businesses. That visit resulted in a deal she estimated to be worth around 600 million pounds (795.93 million U.S. dollars) to the British economy.

Reeves also voiced support for Chinese fast fashion company Shein listing on the London Stock Exchange, and said she would be happy to ride in Chinese-made electric vehicles despite so-called "spying fears."

According to The Telegraph, her comments signal the British government's ongoing commitment to deepening trade and financial ties with China - an agenda championed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer. (1 pound = 1.33 U.S. dollar)
In a major boost to India's fresh fruit exports, the first commercial sea shipment of Indian pomegranates from Maharashtra has successfully reached the United States. According to the Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the shipment arrived in New York and was well received for its excellent quality and rich appearance. The ministry stated on Saturday that "In a historic initiative towards introducing Indian Pomegranates to distant markets, a landmark commercial sea shipment of the prized Indian Bhagwa variety of Pomegranate has successfully arrived in New York." This marks a significant step in introducing Indian pomegranates, especially the popular Bhagwa variety, to distant markets like the U.S. Traditionally, Indian pomegranates were sent by air. However, this shipment was sent by sea -- a more cost-effective and sustainable option. The success of this sea shipment shows that Indian fruits can maintain their quality even during long journeys. The ministry also informed that the export was made possible with support from the Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA), in collaboration with USDA-APHIS, NPPO (India), and ICAR-National Research Centre for Pomegranate, Solapur. After trial shipments and successful static trials that extended shelf life to 60 days, APEDA flagged off the sea consignment of 4,620 boxes (14 tons) in February 2024. The consignment was sent by Kay Bee Exports from Mumbai and sourced directly from farms, helping farmers benefit from global trade. APEDA's pre-clearance program with the USDA played a key role in easing export procedures. Abhishek Dev, Chairman APEDA, remarked, "The Government of India has been at the forefront in promoting Indian fresh fruits for the global market. APEDA has been supporting the export of Indian fruits like Mangoes and Pomegranates to the USA by funding the pre-clearance program. Indian farmers will achieve better realisation when their fruit gets exported to premium international markets like the USA. Indian mangoes have already reached annual exports of around 3500 tons and we hope that Pomegranates will also reach such strong numbers in the years to come". The commerce ministry also highlighted that in the financial year 2023-24, India exported 72,011 metric tons of Pomegranates worth USD 69.08 million. This year, there has been a significant growth in Pomegranate exports from India registering a growth of 21 per cent with a value of USD 59.76 million in the period April - January, 2024-2025. Key export destinations include the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bangladesh, Nepal, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bahrain, Oman and the USA. (ANI)
VMPL New Delhi [India], April 19: In a significant development for the Indian cybersecurity sector, SiyanoAV, the flagship cybersecurity brand of Siyano Labs Private Limited, has achieved the prestigious Gold Certification for Anti-Malware under the OPSWAT Access Control Certification Program. This recognition marks a major milestone for the company and positions it among the world's most trusted technology partners dedicated to securing critical infrastructure and digital environments. OPSWAT, a global leader in cybersecurity solutions for critical infrastructure protection, awards certifications to cybersecurity vendors whose products meet rigorous industry benchmarks. SiyanoAV has earned the Gold Certification after successfully meeting all requirements related to malware detection, access control, disk encryption compliance, and endpoint security. SiyanoAV, established in 2024, has been at the forefront of innovation, offering advanced cybersecurity solutions tailored for modern enterprises. With this certification, SiyanoAV has further reinforced its commitment to providing cutting-edge, privacy-focused, and performance-driven security solutions for businesses operating in highly sensitive environments. The OPSWAT Gold Anti-Malware Certification validates that SiyanoAV's products have undergone thorough technical evaluation and have met strict standards in protecting data workflows, ensuring fast and reliable deployment in mission-critical networks. The certification also affirms compatibility with OPSWAT's MetaDefender platform, enabling seamless integration and heightened defense against evolving cyber threats. A spokesperson from SiyanoAV stated, "Being recognized as a Gold Certified Anti-Malware partner by OPSWAT under their Access Control Certification Program is a proud and defining moment for our company. It confirms our dedication to delivering trusted security solutions that safeguard critical systems and promote global cybersecurity resilience." As cybersecurity challenges continue to escalate globally, particularly in sectors such as finance, healthcare, energy, and government, the need for secure and certified cybersecurity technologies has never been greater. With this recognition, SiyanoAV is now well-positioned to support organizations seeking robust anti-malware protection and endpoint security within regulated industries. To learn more about the OPSWAT Access Control Certification Program and view the full list of certified partners, please visitLeader in Critical Infrastructure Cybersecurity - OPSWAT To explore SiyanoAV's advanced cybersecurity solutions, visit the official website athttps://siyanoav.in/ This Gold Certification not only affirms SiyanoAV's technical expertise but also supports the company's vision of becoming a globally trusted cybersecurity partner. The company's product suite is now even more reliable and competitive on the international stage, aligned with the latest industry standards in data protection and access control. (ADVERTORIAL DISCLAIMER: The above press release has been provided by VMPL. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of the same)
The National Statistics Office (NSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) is organising a Data Users Conference in collaboration with the Indira Gandhi Institute of Development Research (IGIDR) to promote dialogue between data producers and data users, fostering knowledge exchange and discussions on the latest developments in the field.According to a statement by the MoSPI, the conference will address several important topics, including the sampling methodologies used in surveys, the latest findings from the Household Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) for 2023-24, and recent updates in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Additionally, it will focus on the revision of GDP compilation and base figures, as well as key initiatives related to the updating of the Consumer Price Index (CPI) base. The Data Users Conference will be chaired by Dr Saurabh Garg, IAS, Secretary, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. The event will host approximately 250 participants, comprising researchers, academicians, Economists, industrial associations, policymakers, representatives from international organizations, private survey agencies, as well as esteemed institutions from academia and the media. Experts and members of the National Statistical Commission (NSC) and technical committees will also be present. The technical sessions on National Sample Surveys will provide an overview of the sampling design, computation of multipliers, and estimation of parameters in NSS household surveys. The sessions will also highlight key lessons from the conduct of the Household Consumption Expenditure Surveys (HCES) for 2022-23 and 2023-24, with insights drawn from the latest data releases. A panel discussion will follow to further explore the same. In addition, recent changes in the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS) methodology will be presented to enhance users' understanding and ensure clarity in interpretation, said the Ministry. In the second half, technical sessions on key macroeconomic indicators will be presented on the following topics, and each presentation will be followed by a Panel Discussion. The Panel Discussions organised will be chaired by distinguished experts, providing a platform for critical review and discussion of the presented topics. The panels will include a diverse group of experts from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), National Stock Exchange, private survey agencies and academic institutions including IGIDR, IIPS, among others. Post-panel discussions, the floor will be opened for open discussions, offering participants the opportunity to directly engage with the speakers and panelists, thus facilitating dynamic exchange between data users and data producers. To streamline the interactive sessions, participants will be encouraged to submit questions via the Mentimeter platform, ensuring that discussions remain focused and engaging, the Ministry added. The Ministry's statement added that the conference aims to foster dialogue on emerging methodologies, survey practices, and the relevance of official statistics in policymaking and research, reaffirming MoSPI's commitment to improving the statistical ecosystem of the country. (ANI)
Actor John Lithgow is set to play the role of Albus Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter series, based on the JK Rowling novels of the same name. Despite earning critical acclaim for his roles in hit movies and shows like Interstellar and The Crown, many Harry Potter fans expressed displeasure over his casting as Dumbledore in the new Harry Potter series. Following in the footsteps of late actor Michael Gambon (Dumbledore in Harry Potter films) can be difficult for the Lithgow, but 'The Crown' actor reminded the fans that he may not be an 'Englishman', but has played the role of the former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Winston Churchill, in one of his shows. While talking on BBC's One Show, as quoted by Deadline, Lithgow said, "I will be following the great Michael Gambon. I'm not an Englishman, although I've played one on TV," he said on BBC's The One Show. "I remind everyone that I did play Winston Churchill on The Crown and did just fine." He assured the fans that he would give his best for the role. "But yes, I mean, it's an enormous thrill. But I know there were plenty of people appalled that an American should be hired to play the ultimate English wizard. But, I will do my best," added Lithgow as quoted by Deadline. In March, the actor opened up about his character of Dumbledore and said that he doesn't believe that it's going to be a hard job for him, reported People. "You know, Dumbledore is -- he's kind of the nuclear weapon. He only goes on very, very occasionally. And I think that -- I don't think it's gonna be that hard a job, and, we'll just go back and forth," said Lithgow while talking to hosts Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, reported People. In addition to Lithgow's casting as Dumbledore in the upcoming Max series from writer-showrunner Francesca Gardiner, the actor was also joined by Janet McTeer as Minerva McGonagall, Paapa Essiedu as Severus Snape, Nick Frost as Rubeus Hagrid, Luke Thallon as Quirinus Quirrell, and Paul Whitehouse as Argus Filch. After Harris originated the role of Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone and The Chamber of Secrets, he died at age 72 in 2002. It was later taken over by the actor Michael Gambon who later gained fame among the masses for his role. He played Dumbledore in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Order of Phoenix, The Half-Blood Prince, The Deathly Hallows -- Part 1 and The Deathly Hallows -- Part 2. Law played a younger version of the Hogwarts dean in Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald and The Secrets of Dumbledore. (ANI)
Bollywood actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood continues to promote the cause of education with another impactful initiative through the Sonu Sood Foundation for the unprivileged children in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. Under the new initiative, the Sonu Sood's foundation has taken the responsibility for the education of 100 underprivileged children in Dewas district, Madhya Pradesh. The initiative is titled 'Shikshadaan'. According to the press note, actor Sonu Sood believes that this initiative by his foundation is not only about sending children to school but also about empowering their futures. "This isn't just about helping children go to school, it's about empowering their futures. Education is the most powerful tool for change, and we are committed to ensuring these children receive the opportunities they deserve," said Sood while addressing the launch, as quoted in the press note shared by the actor. The children who come from economically challenged families will now have access to quality education, complete with school uniforms, bags, and all necessary learning resources under this initiative. The beneficiaries of this initiative were selected with the help of local institutions to ensure that the support reaches the children in need. Dewas marks the first district in India where the Sonu Sood Foundation has launched this initiative, and plans are in place to expand it to more regions across the country in the coming months. As per the press note, with this noble effort, the Sonu Sood Foundation aims not only to fund the education of children but also to build their futures and shape their dreams. (ANI)
Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel said that under the leadership of the Prime Minister, India is advancing toward becoming the world's third-largest economic superpower, with the CA community playing a key role as the intellectual property of the country's economic and social framework, said a statement from Gujarat CMO on Friday. He further emphasised that the role of Chartered Accountants now extends far beyond traditional financial management, positioning them as key contributors to the realisation of Viksit Bharat. Speaking at the Members Meet of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) in Ahmedabad, the Chief Minister highlighted that the visionary leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has ushered in a new era of financial discipline across the country. He noted that Gujarat stands at the forefront of this transformation, setting a benchmark in sound and prudent financial management. He further remarked that when PM Modi took charge of the nation's governance, he boldly undertook the monumental task of overhauling the country's complex tax system and outdated legal frameworks. There was a time when the cumbersome processes and lax enforcement led many to shy away from paying taxes, often seeking loopholes to evade them. However, under the Prime Minister's decisive leadership, India has witnessed one of the most significant tax reforms in its history, fostering greater transparency, compliance, and trust in the system. CM Patel highlighted that the Prime Minister successfully implemented the world's largest tax reform by introducing the Goods and Services Tax (GST) under the slogan 'One Nation, One Tax'. With the implementation of GST, shortcomings in the country's tax structure were addressed, resulting in increased revenue and a significant boost to development. He also mentioned that the total GST collection for March 2025 stood at Rs1.49 lakh crore, representing an 8.79 per cent increase compared to the previous year. Speaking about Gujarat's development, the Chief Minister stated that through simplification in trade and industry, policy-driven governance, and the success of the Vibrant Gujarat Summit, the state has become a model for development. Moreover, Gujarat is the first choice for investors from across the world. He further added that GIFT City, a global financial hub for fintech, has also become a centre of attraction for investors. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that C.A. professionals would contribute to promoting Gujarat as a financial outsourcing destination. Speaking on sustainable development, the Chief Minister mentioned that Gujarat has always prioritised environmental preservation alongside development. Gujarat has become a model for sustainable development through green growth. Therefore, Chartered Accountants from various states should discuss current and future topics, such as green finance and carbon accounting, at this Members' Meet. He added that with your collective contributions, Gujarat will also become a pioneer state for sustainable finance in the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that while the Prime Minister has taken a pledge for Viksit Bharat @ 2047 with the mantra of good governance, it is equally essential to build a financially stable, empowered, healthy society and preserve the environment by 2047. The Chief Minister said that while aiming to build a Viksit Bharat by 2047, it is equally important to create a healthy environment and a financially stable, strong, and healthy society. The Prime Minister has introduced nine resolutions as voluntary social responsibilities for every citizen, including 'Catch the Rain', 'Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam', 'Swachhata Mission', 'Vocal for Local', 'Desh Darshan', 'Natural Farming', 'Healthy Lifestyle', 'Yoga and Sports', and 'Assistance to the Poor'. The Chief Minister expressed confidence that the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India will contribute to achieving these nine resolutions. (ANI)
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday said that India's core ideals have never been anti-Islam or anti-Muslim, citing examples from history to emphasise the nation's long-standing tradition of religious harmony and inclusivity. Addressing a public gathering in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Singh referred to key figures in Indian history to underline the unity between communities during the country's civilizational and freedom struggles. "Our ideals were not at all anti-Islam and anti-Muslim. Hakim Khan Suri fought alongside Maharana Pratap in the battle of Haldighati against the Mughals. Even in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's army, there were members of the Muslim community. Shivaji's most trusted bodyguard was a Muslim youth named Madari. Maharana Pratap and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj are our heroes," Singh said. The Defence Minister also took aim at what he described as the "glorification" of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb in Indian history textbooks. He said such portrayals distort historical facts and wrongly encourage admiration for a ruler whose legacy is deeply controversial. "In our history books, even a cruel and ruthless ruler like Aurangzeb has been presented in a glorified manner. Due to this distorted history, some people attempt to portray Aurangzeb as a hero. An attempt is being made to create sympathy for Aurangzeb without knowing the truth..." he said. Quoting former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, Singh said, "Pandit Nehru himself called Aurangzeb a fanatic and bigoted ruler. He wrote that Aurangzeb imposed the Jizya tax on Hindus and tried to suppress Rajputs, Sikhs, Marathas, and others. He also destroyed many Hindu temples." Singh further recalled the execution of Dara Shikoh, Aurangzeb's elder brother and a well-known scholar who translated the Upanishads. "How can such a ruler be anyone's hero? Such people never talk about Dara Shikoh, who translated the Upanishads. Who got Dara Shikoh killed? Aurangzeb got him killed. His hatred for Sanatan culture was behind Dara Shikoh's murder," he said. Aurangzeb has been a deeply polarising figure in Maharashtra, and controversies surrounding the Mughal ruler frequently resurface in the state's political discourse. Nagpur was the centre of violent clashes between two communities after right-wing outfits held a protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi recently sparked controversy in the Maharashtra Assembly, where he was suspended for defending Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, describing him as a "good administrator." Aurangzeb's reign is often associated with religious intolerance and military expansion. His conflicts with the Maratha Empire, including the capture and execution of Sambhaji, are significant historical events. (ANI)
The Indian Minorities Federation (IMF) joined the Good Friday Mass at the Holy Name Church in Mumbai, extending solidarity with the Christian community and emphasising the message of interfaith unity and harmony. The solemn prayers were organised by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) to mark the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Cardinal Oswald Gracias led the Mass, which was attended by Archbishops, Bishops, prominent business leaders, artists, and professionals from the Christian community who gathered in large numbers to observe the occasion. Among those present was Prof. Himani Sood, co-founder of the Indian Minorities Federation, representing the organisation's support for interfaith unity and harmony. "Good Friday is a powerful reminder of compassion, sacrifice, and hope. We stand with our Christian brothers and sisters in reverence and reflection," said Satnam Singh Sandhu, Member of Parliament and Convener of the Indian Minorities Federation. Members of the Christian community shared heartfelt messages on the significance of the day. Sebastian, a community member, said, "...People think of giving possession, property, money. However, the most precious thing a person has is their own life, which Jesus Christ gave for all in the world. So Jesus Christ died for everybody so that we have salvation, and the difficult part is to try to do that in our own lives..." Another participant said, "Today is Good Friday, and it gives a message of love, and I think love is the only solution that can keep us together. Whoever we may be, from different religions or different states or nations, I think we must have love. Love can bring harmony and help us understand each other, allowing us to give ourselves to others and understand their needs. That is the message that Good Friday is conveying to all of us. That is why we call it Good Friday..." Another woman added, "Good Friday reflects on Jesus' teachings...and I hope we all will follow his teachings and will maintain love and peace..." The day of Good Friday is followed by the celebration known as Easter, which commemorates the event of Jesus' resurrection on the third day after his crucifixion. (ANI)
Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta, Chief of the STF, told ANI that source information was received that a commercial quantity of narcotics originating from a neighbouring state would be transported in a vehicle bearing registration number AS-01DA-9276 to the mainland.

"Based on the input, the vehicle was intercepted at the Amingaon area in Kamrup district on Friday evening, and 40 soap boxes/packets of heroin hidden in secret chambers located under the footboard of the driver and co-driver were recovered. The contraband weighed 520 grams without cover," he said.

The driver, identified as Nazrul Hussain alias Ali Hussain (22), a resident of Loknathpur under Dholai Police Station in Cachar district, was arrested. "The street value of the seized heroin is approximately Rs 4 crore," he added.

In a separate operation, the STF acted on another tip-off and intercepted a truck in the Amingaon area suspected of carrying a large consignment of Yaba tablets containing methamphetamine.

"Accordingly, the truck was intercepted at the Amingaon area, and 2,70,000 Yaba tablets containing methamphetamine were recovered. The driver, namely Nur Islam (34) of Golibandha village under Sarthebari Police Station of Bajali district, has been apprehended," he said.

The estimated market value of the Yaba tablets is Rs 67 crore, bringing the total value of the seized narcotics to around Rs 71 crore. Both operations were led by Dr Partha Sarathi Mahanta and assisted by Additional SP (STF) Kalyan Pathak. (ANI)
West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose and a team from the National Commission for Women (NCW) will visit violence-affected Murshidabad in West Bengal on Saturday. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul said that what happened in Murshidabad was an 'eye opener', referring to the violence following the protests over the Waqf Amendment Act earlier this month. Paul told reporters on Friday, "They (NCW team) should visit, what happened in Murshidabad is an eye opener...the whole country is witnessing what is happening...Jihadis are burning the houses of Sanatani people, shops and temple...Is this Syria, Afghanistan or Pakistan?...We need National Investigation Agency to investigate...People should know what exactly happened and what was the role of (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee..." On April 17, NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar met the families affected by Murshidabad violence at a shelter home in Malda district. Speaking to reporters, Vijaya Rahatkar said, "Everyone should be sensitive towards women, and this sensitivity can only ensure justice for women. This kind of situation occurs when there is a lack of sensitivity." Vijaya Rahatkar arrived in Kolkata on Thursday evening to lead an inquiry into the recent violence. Rahatkar, who is part of the probe committee constituted by the NCW, is visiting affected areas, including Malda and Murshidabad, and is on a three-day visit. She said her visit aims to boost the morale of women who have been left traumatised by the communal unrest. On the other hand, Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Friday visited a relief camp in Par Lalpur, located in the state's Malda district and assured proactive action. Speaking to ANI after his visit, Governor Bose said, "I met the family members who are in this camp. I had a detailed discussion with them. I listened to their grievances and understood their feelings. They also informed me of their requirements. Certainly, proactive action will be taken. The visit comes in the wake of violence that erupted on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in the deaths of three people, injuries to several others, and widespread property damage. Several families have been displaced, with many migrating to Jharkhand's Pakur district, while others have taken refuge in relief camps set up in Malda. (ANI)
 Flash

Canada's federal election advance polls opened on Friday, giving voters several days to cast their ballots ahead of the official election day on April 28.

Canadians stood in long lineups in cities across the country. According to social media accounts, there was an hour-long wait to vote at many advance polling stations.

"There's high interest across the country and it's busy at a number of the polls," said Elections Canada spokesperson Dugald Maudsley, as reported by CBC News.

A high turnout on the first day of advance polling doesn't necessarily mean there will be a high overall turnout, but many signs are pointing in that direction, said Maudsley.

According to local media, Elections Canada said more than 130,000 Canadians have already voted by special ballot, more than double the number cast at the same point in the 2021 election. The agency issues special ballots to Canadians who don't want to wait until election day or for advance polls.

Nearly 5 million people voted at advance polls in the 2019 election, and 5.8 million did so in the 2021 campaign. Voter turnout was 67 percent in 2019 and 62.2 percent in 2021.
Rai was shot near his residence in Bidadi, a town in Karnataka. The incident took place around 1:30 am on Saturday. He has been referred to Bengaluru for treatment, said Ramanagara Superintendent of Police (SP) Srinivas Gowda.

Following the incident, a team of police reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

More details are awaited (ANI)
Firefighters are engaged in intense efforts to control a massive fire that broke out at a tent house godown in the Parade area of Prayagraj on Saturday. Fire Officer RK Chaurasia said, "We received information about the fire in the godown. I immediately mobilised all fire tankers from the fire station. The Chief Fire Officer is also here with me." "I called for fire tankers from all the nearby districts, given the incident. All the defence tankers have also been called. The fire is huge and its temperature is so high that we have to use shields to put it out... I have also got blisters all over my body... Extremely heavy storage in the godown caused this fire. The people there were told many times they should move all this stuff away. Cylinders were also kept there, which also exploded in the fire... Appropriate action will be taken once the fire is extinguished." Earlier today in the morning, a fire broke out at a tent house godown in Prayagraj. Fire tenders reached the spot immediately. According to officials, no casualties have been reported so far. The cause of the fire remains unclear at this time, and an investigation is underway to determine its cause. (ANI)
After the Maharashtra government made Hindi compulsory as a third language under NEP 2020, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar strongly opposed the decision, asking the government not to "impose" the language. Speaking to ANI, Wadettiwar, emphasising that Marathi is the mother tongue, warned against any coercion that undermines the rights of Marathi-speaking people. "You can keep it optional, but you cannot impose it. At whose behest are you trying to impose this language on the state?" the Congress leader asked. "We consider Marathi our mother tongue, and this third language that is being introduced should not be brought in. There should be no coercion against the rights of the Marathi people -- this is our demand," Wadettiwar said. Meanwhile, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Maharashtra government has made the teaching of Hindi compulsory as a third language from Class 1 in all state board schools, alongside Marathi and English. Rahul Ashok Rekhawar, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra, said on Thursday that the decision was taken by the School Education Department on April 16. "On behalf of the Maharashtra Government, the School Education Department has taken a decision in which teaching Hindi language along with Marathi and English has been made compulsory from class 1 in all the schools of the state board. This decision has been made with all the appointments and their development in view, and the students will definitely benefit from it," Rekhawar told ANI. He clarified that the move is solely for educational purposes and not driven by any political or community agenda. Earlier, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also emphasised the state's commitment to promoting Marathi under the NEP framework. Speaking at the Mumbai Metro Line 7A tunnel breakthrough event, he reiterated that speaking Marathi is mandatory in the state. "We have already implemented the new education policy... As per the policy, we are attempting that everyone should know Marathi as well as the language of the country," he said. Fadnavis added that the NEP encourages the use of one common communicable language across India, and Maharashtra has taken proactive steps to promote Marathi. (ANI)
Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht on Saturday announced that appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased after four people were killed in the Mustafabad area, where a multi-storey building collapsed earlier in the day. Bisht, an MLA from Mustafabad, told ANI that such incidents have "exposed" the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and claimed that he had forwarned about the possibility of an accident during his recent visit to the area. After visiting the spot, he said, "Three months ago, when I won the elections, I was in this area. I had said at that time that this building could cause an accident. I have told the Delhi LG (VK Saxena) and MCD commissioner that action should be taken against the officials for their negligence". He alleged that many accident-prone buildings are in Mustafabad and said power companies are not supplying electricity to the poor. "Appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased... The entire Mustafabad is full of buildings that can cause harm. Buildings have been constructed illegally. The power companies are not providing power connections to the poor, but there are electric poles inside the houses... MCD and such departments are drenched in corruption, and this incident has exposed them...," Bisht said. Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East District, told ANI that the incident took place at 3 am. "Fourteen people were rescued, but four among them succumbed...It was a four-storey building...The rescue operation is underway. 8-10 people are still feared trapped," he said. According to officials, teams from the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and Delhi Police have reached the spot, and a rescue operation is currently underway. Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, told ANI that they received a call regarding a house collapse around 2:50 am. "We reached the spot and found out that the entire building has collapsed and people are trapped under the debris...NDRF, Delhi Fire Service are working to rescue the people...," he said. (ANI)
Following the tragic collapse of a building in Mustafabad that claimed four lives, Aam Aadmi Party leader Sushil Gupta expressed condolences over the loss of lives while blaming civic agencies and the Delhi Development Authority (DDA) for long-standing negligence. Speaking to ANI, Gupta criticised the failure to enforce structural safety norms and highlighted the absence of a comprehensive master plan or housing policy in Delhi over the past 25 years, leading to unchecked illegal constructions. "My deep condolences for the four people who have lost their lives. It is the duty of civic bodies, but for a long time now, whenever there are illegal constructions in Delhi, the Corporation has not been able to pay attention to the structural safety or structural stability of those buildings," Gupta said. "The country is progressing, and yet in the capital city Delhi, for the past 25 years, the DDA has not been able to bring any proper master plan. As a result, illegal constructions are happening all around. The DDA has also failed to bring any housing policy," Sushil Gupta said. He further pointed out that the neighbouring states around Delhi all have proper policies, but Delhi does not. "Due to this, poor people continue to build floor upon floor without any regulation. I would like to request that the Corporation take responsibility, and that the DDA bring a comprehensive policy on land development," the AAP leader said. Earlier today, the four-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area. According to the latest update, four people have succumbed to their injuries, and 14 people were rescued from the incident site. However, NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi said that around 12 people are still trapped under the debris. "According to information received from locals, around 12 people are still trapped. Our NDRF team and other agencies are engaged in rescue work. This is a congested area, and we are facing difficulties in the movement of heavy machinery; we hope we will be able to save lives," Shahedi said. Meanwhile, Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mustafabad MLA Mohan Singh Bisht alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and such departments are drenched in corruption. "Three months ago, when I won the elections, I was in this area. I had said at that time that this building could cause an accident. I have told the Delhi LG and MCD commissioner that action should be taken against the officials for their negligence. Appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased... The entire Mustafabad is full of buildings that can cause harm. Buildings have been constructed illegally. The power companies are not providing power connections to the poor, but there are electric poles inside the houses... MCD and such departments are drenched in corruption, and this incident has exposed them," Bisht said. (ANI)
Aam Admi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday condoled the loss of lives after four people were killed when a multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area on Saturday morning. He further appealed his party workers to cooperate with administration in rescue operations. Sharing his grief in a post on social media platform X, Kejriwal said, "This incident of building collapse in Mustafabad is very sad. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in this accident. I appeal to all the party workers to fully cooperate with the administration in relief and rescue operations". https://x.com/arvindkejriwal/status/1913458402568659062?s=48 An official of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) highlighted the challenges of the rescue operation and said that the area is congested.Deputy Inspector General (DIG) NDRF Mohsen Shahedi told ANI, "According to information received from locals, around 12 people are still trapped. Our NDRF team and other agencies are engaged in rescue work. This is a congested area and we are facing difficulties in the movement of heavy machinery; we hope we will be able to save lives..." Meanwhile, Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht on Saturday announced that appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased. Bisht, an MLA from Mustafabad, told ANI that such incidents have "exposed" the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and claimed that he had forwarned about the possibility of an accident during his recent visit to the area. After visiting the spot, he said, "Three months ago, when I won the elections, I was in this area. I had said at that time that this building could cause an accident. I have told the Delhi LG (VK Saxena) and MCD commissioner that action should be taken against the officials for their negligence". He alleged that many accident-prone buildings are in Mustafabad and said power companies are not supplying electricity to the poor. "Appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased... The entire Mustafabad is full of buildings that can cause harm. Buildings have been constructed illegally. The power companies are not providing power connections to the poor, but there are electric poles inside the houses... MCD and such departments are drenched in corruption, and this incident has exposed them...," Bisht said. Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East District, told ANI that the incident took place at 3 am."Fourteen people were rescued, but four among them succumbed...It was a four-storey building...The rescue operation is underway. 8-10 people are still feared trapped," he said. Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, told ANI that they received a call regarding a house collapse around 2:50 am. "We reached the spot and found out that the entire building has collapsed and people are trapped under the debris...NDRF, Delhi Fire Service are working to rescue the people...," he said. (ANI)
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal assured that the BJP-led Delhi government will take action against culprits hours after a multi-storey building collapsed in Delhi's Mustafabad area on Saturday morning. At least four people were killed in the incident. A rescue operation by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is underway. Speaking to ANI, Khandelwal said on Saturday, "This is a very sad incident. I pray to God to give support to all those who have been affected by it. The incident will be investigated, and the government will take action against the culprits." Meanwhile, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) NDRF Mohsen Shahedi told ANI, "According to information received from locals, around 12 people are still trapped. Our NDRF team and other agencies are engaged in rescue work. This is a congested area and we are facing difficulties in the movement of heavy machinery; we hope we will be able to save lives..." Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker Mohan Singh Bisht earlier on Saturday announced that appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased after four people were killed in the Mustafabad area, where a multi-storey building collapsed earlier in the day. Bisht, an MLA from Mustafabad, told ANI that such incidents have "exposed" the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and claimed that he had forwarned about the possibility of an accident during his recent visit to the area. After visiting the spot, he said, "Three months ago, when I won the elections, I was in this area. I had said at that time that this building could cause an accident. I have told the Delhi LG (VK Saxena) and MCD commissioner that action should be taken against the officials for their negligence". He alleged that many accident-prone buildings are in Mustafabad and said power companies are not supplying electricity to the poor. "Appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased... The entire Mustafabad is full of buildings that can cause harm. Buildings have been constructed illegally. The power companies are not providing power connections to the poor, but there are electric poles inside the houses... MCD and such departments are drenched in corruption, and this incident has exposed them...," Bisht said. Sandeep Lamba, Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) North East District, told ANI that the incident took place at 3 am."Fourteen people were rescued, but four among them succumbed...It was a four-storey building...The rescue operation is underway. 8-10 people are still feared trapped," he said. Rajendra Atwal, Divisional Fire Officer, told ANI that they received a call regarding a house collapse around 2:50 am. "We reached the spot and found out that the entire building has collapsed and people are trapped under the debris...NDRF, Delhi Fire Service are working to rescue the people...," he said. (ANI)
As the Kerala government is set to celebrate its fourth anniversary, Leader of Opposition and Congress leader VD Satheesan announced a boycott of the celebrations, accusing the government of misgovernance amid the state's worst-ever financial crisis. Speaking to ANI, Satheesan alleged that the treasury is nearly shut, social welfare schemes are stalled, and yet Rs 15 crore is being spent solely on hoardings featuring the Chief Minister's photo. "The Kerala government is celebrating its four years. The opposition in Kerala is going to boycott these celebrations because this government doesn't deserve to celebrate its four years," Satheesan said. "The state is going through the largest fiscal crisis in its history. The treasury is almost closed. All social welfare measures are stalled. The government is spending Rs 15 crore on the hoardings of the CM's photo alone," the Congress leader said. The Communist Party of India (M)-led LDF retained power in Kerala by winning 99 seats against 41 seats of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the assembly polls results announced on May 2, 2021. BJP could not open its account in the polls. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was re-elected after completing a full, five-year term in office. The 79-year-old, who joined the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPM) in 1964 was elected as the 12th chief minister of Kerala after LDF came to power in 2016. The Left-Democratic Front won the polls with 41.5 per cent of vote share with UDF behind at 38.4 per cent. Vijayan, a Polit Bureau member of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) served as the secretary of the Kerala State Committee of CPI(M) from 1998 to 2015. He also served as Minister of Electricity and Co-operatives from 1996 to 1998 during E K Nayanar's tenure as chief minister of Kerala. Three times Vijayan was elected to the state Legislative Assembly in 1977, 1991 and 1996. Vijayan won from Dharmadom constituency in 2016 assembly elections and was sworn-in as the 12th Chief Minister of Kerala on May 25, 2016. (ANI)
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Saturday expressed condolences after four people lost their lives in a building collapse incident at Mustafabad. In a post on X, CM Gupta asserted that strict action will be taken against the culprits. "The heart is deeply saddened by the tragic incident of the building collapse in Mustafabad. Orders have been given to investigate the incident and strict action will be ensured against the culprits. DDMA, NDRF, DFS and other agencies are continuously engaged in relief and rescue operations," she said. "Arrangements have been made for the proper treatment of all the injured. My deepest condolences to those who died in this unfortunate accident. May God grant peace to the departed souls and give strength to the bereaved families to bear this irreparable loss," CM Rekha Gupta posted on X. According to the latest update, four people have succumbed to their injuries, and 14 people were rescued from the incident site. However, NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi said that around 12 people are still trapped under the debris. "According to information received from locals, around 12 people are still trapped. Our NDRF team and other agencies are engaged in rescue work. This is a congested area, and we are facing difficulties in the movement of heavy machinery; we hope we will be able to save lives," Shahedi said. Meanwhile, Delhi Legislative Assembly Deputy Speaker and Mustafabad MLA Mohan Singh Bisht alleged that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi and such departments are drenched in corruption. "Three months ago, when I won the elections, I was in this area. I had said at that time that this building could cause an accident. I have told the Delhi LG and MCD commissioner that action should be taken against the officials for their negligence. Appropriate compensation will be provided to the family of the deceased... The entire Mustafabad is full of buildings that can cause harm. Buildings have been constructed illegally. The power companies are not providing power connections to the poor, but there are electric poles inside the houses... MCD and such departments are drenched in corruption, and this incident has exposed them," Bisht said. (ANI)
After the Maharashtra government made Hindi compulsory as a third language under NEP 2020, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday asserted that while Marathi is non-negotiable and must be learned by all, learning additional languages remains a personal choice. Speaking to the media, Fadnavis, expressing surprise at the opposition to Hindi and the growing preference for English, warned that any challenge to Marathi will not be tolerated. "Marathi language is compulsory in Maharashtra; everyone should learn it. Additionally, if you wish to learn other languages, you can do so. Opposition to Hindi and promotion of English is surprising. If someone opposes Marathi, then it will not be tolerated," CM Fadnavis said. Earlier today, Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar strongly opposed the decision, asking the government not to "impose" the language. Speaking to ANI, Wadettiwar, emphasising that Marathi is the mother tongue, warned against any coercion that undermines the rights of Marathi-speaking people. "You can keep it optional, but you cannot impose it. At whose behest are you trying to impose this language on the state?" the Congress leader asked."We consider Marathi our mother tongue, and this third language that is being introduced should not be brought in. There should be no coercion against the rights of the Marathi people -- this is our demand," Wadettiwar said. In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Maharashtra government has made the teaching of Hindi compulsory as a third language from Class 1 in all state board schools, alongside Marathi and English. Rahul Ashok Rekhawar, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), Maharashtra, said on Thursday that the decision was taken by the School Education Department on April 16. "On behalf of the Maharashtra Government, the School Education Department has taken a decision in which teaching Hindi language along with Marathi and English has been made compulsory from class 1 in all the schools of the state board. This decision has been made with all the appointments and their development in view, and the students will definitely benefit from it," Rekhawar told ANI. He clarified that the move is solely for educational purposes and not driven by any political or community agenda. (ANI)
Rai is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru and has not sustained any life-threatening injuries, said the Parameshwara.

Speaking to media reporters, Parameshwara said, "Information has come in that the incident took place late last night. The concerned police officer has been directed to provide further details."

He further added, "At present, Ricky Rai has not suffered any serious injuries and is undergoing treatment at a private hospital in Bengaluru."

The reason behind the gun attack is yet to be ascertained. The police are investigating, he said.

Earlier in the day, Ricky Rai, son of late gangster and founder of pro-Kannada organisation Jaya Karnataka, Muthappa Rai, was allegedly shot at by unidentified assailants in Karnataka's Ramanagara district on Saturday, police said.

Rai was shot near his residence in Bidadi, a town in Karnataka. The incident took place around 1:30 am on Saturday. He has been referred to Bengaluru for treatment, said Ramanagara Superintendent of Police (SP) Srinivas Gowda.

Following the incident, a team of police reached the spot and cordoned off the area.

More details are awaited. (ANI)
Delhi Mayor Mahesh Kumar Khinchi expressed deep sorrow on Saturday over the tragic building collapse in Mustafabad, describing the incident as "extremely heartbreaking". In a post on X, Khinchi stated that officials have been instructed to launch an investigation and suspend those found to be negligent. "The incident of the building collapse in Mustafabad is extremely heartbreaking. I express my deepest condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in this tragic accident," Khinchi said. "MCD Municipal Commissioner Ashwani Kumar has been ordered to investigate the incident and has also been directed to suspend the concerned officers for their negligence," he said. The Delhi mayor also requested that all AAP workers assist the administration in the rescue operations. "I request all AAP workers of Mustafabad to help the administration in every possible way by giving full cooperation in relief and rescue operations," Mahesh Khinchi said. Earlier today, Aam Admi Party convenor Arvind Kejriwal condoled the loss of lives and further appealed to his party workers to cooperate with the administration in rescue operations. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta also expressed condolences after four people lost their lives in a building collapse incident at Mustafabad. In a post on X, CM Gupta asserted that strict action will be taken against the culprits. "The heart is deeply saddened by the tragic incident of the building collapse in Mustafabad. Orders have been given to investigate the incident and strict action will be ensured against the culprits. DDMA, NDRF, DFS and other agencies are continuously engaged in relief and rescue operations," she said. According to the latest update, four people have succumbed to their injuries, and 14 people were rescued from the incident site. However, NDRF Deputy Inspector General Mohsen Shahedi said that around 12 people are still trapped under the debris. "According to information received from locals, around 12 people are still trapped. Our NDRF team and other agencies are engaged in rescue work. This is a congested area, and we are facing difficulties in the movement of heavy machinery; we hope we will be able to save lives," Shahedi said. (ANI)
Amid Congress protests against the Enforcement Directorate's chargesheet in the National Herald case, BJP leader V. Muraleedharan launched a sharp attack on the party, accusing it of functioning like a "family-owned property." Speaking to ANI, Muraleedharan criticised the Gandhis for allegedly placing themselves above the law and asserted that such a system of entitlement has no place under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. "It shows that Congress is still a family-owned property. When the owner is questioned, the others have no other option but to agitate because they feel their owner is above the law. Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi cannot create an advisory council above the Cabinet and rule the country as they wish. That cannot happen in Narendra Modi's government," he said. "The Congress is still under the impression that the country is their family property, since it ruled the country like that after Independence. The rules are the same for any scamster, whether their surname is Vadra, or Nehru, or Gandhi," Murleedharan said. Congress had launched protests in several states, including Madhya Pradesh, Telangana, and Delhi, outside the offices of the Enforcement Directorate. On April 15, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a prosecution complaint (chargesheet) against top Congress members Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi in connection with the money laundering case involving the National Herald. The chargesheet also names Congress leader Sam Pitroda, Suman Dubey and others, including several firms. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has called a meeting on Saturday to finalise the strategy ahead of the hearing in the Delhi Rouse Avenue Court on April 25. The prosecution complaint has been filed under Sections 44 and 45 of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, for the offence of money laundering, as defined under Section 3, read with Section 70, and punishable under Section 4 of the PMLA, 2002. The complaint was filed by BJP leader Subramanian Swamy against Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, their associated companies, and other individuals. (ANI)
Shivamogga BJP MP BY Raghavendra on Saturday condemned the incident where students appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET) were allegedly asked to remove their sacred thread (janeu). Speaking to ANI, the BJP MP stated that the government must ensure that such an incident should not take place again, further demanding action against the same. "This is wrong and a serious injustice. I strongly condemn this. Whether such an incident has happened intentionally or unintentionally. The government must take action to ensure that it does not happen again. Such incidents against Hinduism are happening again and again. Measures must be taken to prevent such incidents in the future. Whoever is responsible, the government must take action against them," the BJP MP said. Meanwhile, an FIR was filed against the CET exam conducting officer at Adichunchanagiri School in Sharavathinagara in Karnataka's Shivamogga district, following a controversy over reports that students appearing for the Karnataka Common Entrance Test (CET) were allegedly asked to remove their sacred thread (Janeu), police said on Friday. According to officials, the FIR has been filed under sections 115(2), 299, 351(1), and 352, read with section 3(5) of the BNS, 2023, based on a complaint lodged by a person identified as Nataraj Bhagavath. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the matter to determine the circumstances under which students were allegedly instructed to remove religious symbols. Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Higher Education Minister Dr MC Sudhakar termed it "very unfortunate" and confirmed that such complaints were also received from an exam centre in Bidar. However, he clarified that the examination process went smoothly at most other centres across the state. "This incident is very unfortunate. It happened not only in Shivamogga but also in Bidar. Everywhere else, the process went smoothly except for two centres. The people responsible for checking or frisking for any gadgets, or even for whatever protocols were followed, were never instructed to check or remove such items," he said while speaking to ANI. "This was not mentioned to be checked or removed to write the exam. We respect all religions, their faith, and their deeds... We are not going to accept this, and we are going to take action...," he added. The Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA), which oversees the Common Entrance Test (CET), has yet to issue an official statement. More details are awaited. (ANI)
A delegation of the National Commission of Women led by its Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar on Saturday visited the violence-affected Murshidabad area and said it will submit its report to the Centre. Rahatkar said the commission will put forth the demands of the people before the government. Speaking to mediapersons here, Rahatkar said "The suffering these people are going through is inhuman. We will put their demands in front of the government..." On her meeting with the family of a father and son duo in Jafrabad, who were allegedly killed in the violent protests, Rahatkar said that she did not have words to describe the pain of the family. "These people are in so much pain, that I am speechless right now. I don't have the words to describe their pain," the NCW Chairperson said. Rahatkar arrived in Kolkata on Thursday evening to lead an inquiry into the recent violence. She is part of the probe committee constituted by the NCW, which is on a three-day visit to affected areas in West Bengal, including Malda and Murshidabad. The NCW chairperson said that her visit aims to boost the morale of women who have been left traumatised by the communal unrest. She met with families affected by the Murshidabad violence at a shelter home in the State's Malda district on Friday. Meanwhile, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul stated that what happened in Murshidabad was an "eye-opener" Paul told reporters on Friday, "They (NCW team) should visit, what happened in Murshidabad is an eye opener...the whole country is witnessing what is happening...Jihadis are burning the houses of Sanatani people, shops and temple...Is this Syria, Afghanistan or Pakistan?...We need the National Investigation Agency to investigate...People should know what exactly happened and what was the role of (Chief Minister) Mamata Banerjee..." Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose visited a relief camp in Par Lalpur on Friday, located in the state's Malda district and assured proactive action. Speaking to ANI after his visit, Governor Bose said, "I met the family members who are in this camp. I had a detailed discussion with them. I listened to their grievances and understood their feelings. They also informed me of their requirements. Certainly, proactive action will be taken. The visit comes in the wake of violence that erupted on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in the deaths of three people, injuries to several others, and widespread property damage. Several families have been displaced, with many migrating to Jharkhand's Pakur district, while others have taken refuge in relief camps set up in Malda. (ANI)
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has "completely rejected" and distanced itself from controversial remarks made by the party MP Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice of India. The two MPs have also been asked to refrain from making such remarks. In a post on X, BJP National President JP Nadda said, "The Bharatiya Janata Party has nothing to do with the statements made by BJP MPs Nishikant Dubey and Dinesh Sharma on the judiciary and the Chief Justice of the country. These are their personal statements, but the BJP neither agrees with nor supports such statements. The BJP completely rejects these statements." Nadda added, "Bharatiya Janata Party has always respected the judiciary and gladly accepted its orders and suggestions because, as a party, we believe that all the courts of the country, including the Supreme Court, are an integral part of our democracy and are a strong pillar of the protection of the Constitution." He further said that both MPs and others in the party have been instructed against making similar remarks in the future. "I have instructed both of them and everyone else not to make such statements," he wrote. Earlier in the day, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey alleged that the Supreme Court was "inciting religious wars" and questioned its authority, suggesting that the Parliament building should be closed if the apex court was to make laws. "The top court has only one aim: 'Show me the face, and I will show you the law'. The Supreme Court is going beyond its limits. If one has to go to the Supreme Court for everything, then Parliament and State Assembly should be shut," Dubey told ANI. Referring to past court decisions, Dubey criticised the judiciary for its handling of issues like the decriminalisation of homosexuality and religious disputes. "There was an Article 377 in which homosexuality was a big crime. The Trump administration has said that there are only two sexes in this world, either male or female...Whether it is Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, Jain or Sikh, all believe that homosexuality is a crime. One fine morning, the Supreme Court said that we abolish this case...Article 141 says that the laws we make, the judgments we give, are applicable from the lower court to the Supreme Court. Article 368 states that Parliament has the authority to enact all laws, and the Supreme Court has the power to interpret the law. The top court is asking the President and Governor to tell what they have to do regarding the Bills. When the Ram Mandir, Krishna Janmabhoomi, or Gyanvapi issue arises, you (SC) say, 'Show us the paper'. Mughals ke aane ke baad jo Masjid banne hai unke liye keh raho ho paper kaha se dikhao," he added. Dubey further alleged that the Supreme Court want to take this country towards "anarchy." "How can you give direction to the appointing authority? The President appoints the Chief Justice of India. The Parliament makes the law of this country. You will dictate that Parliament?... How did you make a new law? In which law is it written that the President has to make a decision within three months? This means that you want to take this country towards anarchy. When the Parliament sits, there will be a detailed discussion on this," he said. Meanwhile, BJP leader Dinesh Sharma stated that no one can "challenge" the President, as the President is "supreme." "There is an apprehension among the public that when Dr BR Ambedkar wrote the Constitution, the rights of the Legislative and Judiciary were clearly written...According to the Constitution of India, no one can direct the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. The President has already given her assent to it. No one can challenge the President, as the President is supreme," Sharma told ANI. These remarks came days after the apex court ruled on April 8 that Tamil Nadu Governor RN Ravi's decision to withhold 10 bills and reserve them for the President's assent was "illegal and erroneous in law" and liable to be set aside. A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and R Mahadevan observed that the Governor must act based on the aid and advice of the State Legislature. The top court issued its order in response to the Tamil Nadu government's petition, which challenged the Governor's refusal to assent to bills passed by the State Assembly. The court stated that when a bill is returned and re-enacted by the Assembly, the Governor must give assent and cannot refuse it unless the bill has been changed. "Action of the Governor to reserve the 10 bills for the President is illegal and arbitrary, and thus the action is set aside. All actions taken by the Governor thereto for the 10 bills are set aside. The 10 bills shall be deemed to be clear from the date it was re-presented to the Governor," the judgment stated. The court had reserved its judgment on February 10 on the petitions filed by the Tamil Nadu government, some of which dated back to January 2020. (ANI)
Reiterating India's stance on national security, Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha on Saturday affirmed that "separatism and terrorism have no future in Jammu and Kashmir." He also said that Pakistan should stop exporting terror. "Separatism and terrorism have no future in Jammu and Kashmir. I have said it many times that our neighbour (Pakistan) is struggling with its internal issues. It is not even able to take care of the basic rights of its citizens... it should stop exporting terrorism," LG Sinha said while speaking to ANI. Earlier this month, LG Sinha ordered the dismissal of two Jammu and Kashmir (J-K) government employees over alleged links to terrorism, according to sources. The employees were identified as Ishtiyaq Ahmad Malik, a senior assistant in the Public Works Department (PWD), and Basharat Ahmad Mir, an assistant wireless operator in Jammu and Kashmir Police, they said. According to the sources, their dismissal was executed in accordance with Article 311 (2) (c) of the Constitution. Sinha has consistently demonstrated a strong stance against terrorism and its supporting ecosystem. Since taking office, he has emphasised a zero-tolerance policy toward terrorism, focusing on dismantling the networks that sustain it, including those providing ideological, financial, and logistical support. Malik was appointed in 2000, and despite being a government employee, he started "working for Jamat-e-Islami and Hizbul Mujahideen," a proscribed organisation banned by India, the USA, and the European Union, sources said." It has been learnt that Malik's terror link came to the fore during the investigation of a case related to Hizbul terrorist Mohammad Ishaq. Ishaq was arrested on May 5, 2022, and during the interrogation, he revealed that Malik was providing shelter, food and logistics to terrorists. Subsequently, he was arrested on May 17, 2022 and charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) along with Ishaq." The second sacked government employee, Basharat Ahmad Mir, was appointed as a police constable operator in 2010 and remained posted in various units of the Jammu and Kashmir Police till 2017. Sometime in late 2017, Basharat and other Police Constable Operators were laid off after a court ruling. However, in 2018, he was reappointed as a Wireless Assistant following a subsequent court ruling. In December 2023, credible inputs were received that Basharat was in contact with a Pakistani Intelligence operative and was sharing critical and vital information with the adversary, they said. "He was posted at a hypersensitive establishment, which is highly vulnerable to espionage attacks from adversaries, and therefore, his dismissal was the only option to safeguard the integrity and sovereignty of the nation," sources said. So far, more than 70 government employees with terror links have been dismissed by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. His approach aligns with the broader security strategy of the Indian government under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which prioritises neutralising terrorists and their sympathisers to establish lasting peace in Jammu and Kashmir. Recently, the Lieutenant Governor had directed J&K police to hunt down terrorists and their aides, emphasising that terrorism was breathing its last in the UT. Lieutenant Governor Sinha has complemented these efforts with the industrialisation of Jammu and Kashmir and developmental schemes aimed at isolating the terror ecosystem. (ANI)
According to ISPR, the operation was conducted on Friday based on intelligence about the presence of terrorists in the area.

The security forces targeted the terrorists' hideout and killed four of them. Weapons and explosives were also recovered from the site, The Express Tribune reported.

The ISPR said the slain terrorists were involved in multiple acts of sabotage in the region.

Earlier, security forces killed four terrorists during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Maddi area of Dera Ismail Khan District on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, ARY News reported that during the first quarter of 2025, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) resulted in the deaths of 152 people, including police officers, security personnel, and civilians.

According to a report released by the KP Police, 302 individuals were also injured in these incidents.

The report noted that civilians were the most affected, with 45 deaths and 127 injuries reported between January and March.

The police force lost 37 members, with 46 others sustaining injuries. Additionally, the Frontier Corps (FC) suffered the loss of 34 personnel, with 43 more wounded in the attacks, Ary News reported.

According to data from the Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS), a think-tank, the nation saw a significant rise in terrorist activity in January 2025, with a 42 per cent increase compared to the previous month.

The report revealed that there were at least 74 militant attacks across the country, resulting in 91 deaths, which included 35 security personnel, 20 civilians, and 36 militants. Additionally, 117 people were injured, including 53 members of the security forces, 54 civilians, and 10 militants.

KP remained the worst-affected province, followed by Balochistan. In KP's settled districts, militants carried out 27 attacks, resulting in 19 fatalities, including 11 security personnel, six civilians, and two militants. (ANI)
The United States is ready to recognise Russian control over Crimea as part of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, CNN reported, citing an official familiar with the proposed framework. The peace proposal includes an immediate ceasefire between the two countries. The framework was shared with the Ukrainian and European officials in Paris on Thursday. A phone call regarding this proposal also took place between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, CNN reported, quoting sources. However, there are some pieces that still need to be filled out, and the US is planning to work with Europe and Ukraine on that next week in London, the source said. Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 following a military invasion -- a move widely condemned as illegal by the international community. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly refused to cede the territory to Russia. Meanwhile, Donald Trump also signalled the US may "take a pass" on its efforts to broker a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine if either side makes negotiations too difficult, CNN reported. "If, for some reason, one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'You're foolish, you're foolish. You're horrible people,' and we're just going to take a pass," Trump said. Despite the warning, Trump expressed cautious optimism about securing a deal, CNN reported. "I think we have a really good chance of getting it done. It's coming to a head right now," he added. Trump's remarks came after a statement by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who suggested abandoning the peace efforts in Ukraine within "days." Speaking in Paris after high-level talks with European, Ukrainian, and Russian officials, Rubio stressed the urgency of determining whether the war can be ended or not. "We need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days, whether or not this is doable," he told reporters before departing Paris. (ANI)
Taiwan detected 14 Chinese aircraft, five Chinese naval vessels, and four official ships operating around its territory up until 6 am (local time) on Saturday, a statement by Taiwan's Ministry of National Defence said. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, " 14 PLA aircraft, 5 PLAN vessels and 4 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 13 out of 14 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1913397133484626012 Earlier on Friday, 11 Chinese aircraft, six Chinese naval vessels, and three official ships were detected around Taiwan. In a post on X, Taiwan's MND said, "11 PLA aircraft, 6 PLAN vessels and 3 official ships operating around Taiwan were detected up until 6 a.m. (UTC+8) today. 7 out of 11 sorties crossed the median line and entered Taiwan's northern and southwestern ADIZ. We have monitored the situation and responded accordingly." https://x.com/MoNDefense/status/1913034752422252950 On April 17, Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs reacted sharply to a joint statement released by China and Vietnam, which mentioned Taiwan as part of China and described it as "a serious distortion of the facts," Taiwan News reported. During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit on Tuesday, Vietnam backed China's claim that "Taiwan is an inseparable part of Chinese territory" and opposed "any separatist activity" seeking Taiwan Independence, Taiwan News reported, citing Viet Nam News. In response to the joint statement issued by China and Vietnam, the ministry said it "strongly condemns and firmly refutes the Chinese Communist Party's authoritarian regime for continuing to spread rhetoric that internationally undermines Taiwan's sovereignty." It said that Taiwan's stance on defending national sovereignty remains firm and unchanged. Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated its position that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent nation and is not subordinate to China. The ministry further said that the CCP has never ruled Taiwan. (ANI)
Twenty-one-year-old Indian international student Harsimrat Randhawa, studying at Mohawk College in Hamilton, Ontario, has tragically died after being struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident, CBC News reported. The Consulate General of India in Toronto confirmed her death in a statement posted on X on Saturday, calling her an "innocent victim" and expressing condolences to her family. https://x.com/IndiainToronto/status/1913374078578377020 "We are deeply saddened by the tragic death of Indian student Harsimrat Randhawa in Hamilton, Ontario. As per local police, she was an innocent victim, fatally struck by a stray bullet during a shooting incident involving two vehicles. A homicide investigation is currently underway. We are in close contact with her family and are extending all necessary assistance. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bereaved family during this difficult time," the post read. According to Hamilton police, the shooting took place around 7:30 pm on Thursday near Upper James Street and South Bend Road. Randhawa was waiting at a bus stop on her way to work when she was shot in the chest. Officers who arrived at the scene found her wounded and called for emergency medical assistance. She was transported to the hospital, where she was later pronounced dead. In a news release issued on Friday, police said Randhawa was an "innocent bystander" in the crossfire. After reviewing surveillance footage, investigators determined that the shots were fired from a black Mercedes SUV at individuals in a white sedan. The white sedan fled north on Upper James Street while the SUV took off west on South Bend Road. The shooting also endangered residents in the area. Gunfire penetrated the rear window of a home on Allenby Avenue, where people were watching television. Fortunately, no injuries were reported inside the residence, CBC News reported. Mohawk College issued a statement mourning the loss. "Our thoughts are with her family and friends at this difficult time," the statement said. "As a member of the Mohawk College community, we know this loss is being felt by many and we will do everything we can to support Harsimrat's friends, family and the broader college community." Hamilton police are urging anyone with dashboard or security camera footage from 7:15 pm to 7:45 pm near the area to come forward and assist in the ongoing homicide investigation. (ANI)
Postmortem of Hindu community leader Bhavesh Chandra Roy, who was allegedly abducted from his home and beaten to death earlier this week in Dinajpur district's Biral upazila, has been completed, police confirmed on Saturday. Roy, a resident of Basudebpur village under Shatagram Union, served as the vice-president of the Biral unit of the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad and was a respected figure in the local Hindu community. "It is not yet known what the postmortem report contains," Abdus Sabur, officer-in-charge of Biral Police Station, told ANI over the phone. "We will take action after getting the postmortem report," he said, adding that no formal case has been filed by the family. "We are busy with our father's funeral. That's why no case has been filed," Bhavesh's son, Sapan Roy, told ANI. Sapan recounted the events to ANI, saying, "On Wednesday, four young men from the area came on motorcycles and took Bhavesh Roy away from home." He added, "My father [was] brought home unconscious and admitted to the hospital. The doctors declared him dead." According to earlier reports, Bhavesh had received a phone call around 4:30 pm on Wednesday. His wife, Shantana Roy, told local media outlet 'The Daily Star' that the call was allegedly made by perpetrators to confirm his presence at home. About 30 minutes later, four men arrived on two motorcycles and forcibly took him from the premises. Eyewitnesses said Bhavesh was taken to Narabari village, where he was brutally assaulted. Later that evening, the attackers reportedly returned his unconscious body to the family on a van. With help from locals, Bhavesh was rushed to the Biral Upazila Health Complex and later transferred to Dinajpur Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead upon arrival. His body was then sent to the hospital morgue for a postmortem. Shantana Roy claimed she could identify two of the assailants. Officer-in-charge Abdus Sabur stated that preparations were underway to file a case and that police were working to identify and apprehend those involved in the incident, the Daily Star reported. (ANI)
Margherita said on Friday that his talks focused on law and institutional reforms.

In a post on X, he said, "Had a fruitful meeting with H.E. YB Kulasegaran Murugeson, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform). Had engaging discussions on working together to further strengthen India-Malaysia ties especially in the field of law and institutional reforms."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1913254456755450139

Earlier in the day, he interacted with the business community in Malaysia led by Consortium of Indian Industries in Malaysia (CIIM) and Malaysia-India Business Council (MIBC).

Margherita said on Friday that these communities represent the growth of India-Malaysia ties.

In a post on X, Margherita said, "Delighted to interact with the leading Business Community in Malaysia led by Consortium of Indian Industries in Malaysia (CIIM) and Malaysia-India Business Council (MIBC). CIIM and MIBC together represent the strong and growing business and economic engagement between India and Malaysia."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1913193932592415128

Earlier in the day, Margherita visited JadiBatek, one of the largest batik handicraft center in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Margherita called batik, a prominent textile art, an area of immense potential for collaboration to further promote shared art works between India and Malaysia.

In a post on X, he said, "Just visited Jadibatek showroom, in Kuala Lumpur Malaysia. The colors, craft, and culture in each piece is true art in motion! Tradition meets contemporary style in Batik, which has a unique place in the textile art in Malaysia. Impressed by the exquisite Batik art works, an area of immense potential for collaboration to further promote shared art works between India and Malaysia."

https://x.com/PmargheritaBJP/status/1913151973123301493

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had said that Margherita will be leading a delegation to participate in the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (MATTA) Fair on April 18-19 at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, as part of the ASEAN-India Tourism Professionals Exchange Programme 2025. (ANI)
US President Donald Trump on Friday (local time) alleged that his predecessor, Joe Biden, allowed the illegal entry of criminals through the US border. Trump affirmed that he would shoo these criminals away, as it was his job to do so. In a post on X, he said, "Sleepy Joe Biden, THE WORST PRESIDENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES, has allowed millions and millions of Criminals, many of them murderers, drug dealers, and people released from prisons and mental institutions from all around the world, to enter our Country through it's very dangerous and ill conceived Open Border. Sorry, but it's my job to get these killers and thugs out of here. THAT'S WHAT I GOT ELECTED TO DO. MAGA!" https://x.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1913359413215142354 Meanwhile, a Federal Judge in Washington DC told lawyers for migrants in Texas who believed the Trump administration is about to swiftly deport them under the Alien Enemies Act that he did not have the power to pause the deportations, even though he was concerned about the administration's actions, CNN reported. During the hearing, a Justice Department attorney said that while no flights are planned, the Department of Homeland Security said it reserves the right to remove people tomorrow. "I am sympathetic to everything you're saying, I just don't I think I have the power to do anything," Judge James Boasberg said at an emergency hearing, as per CNN. He said that, under a recent Supreme Court ruling, only the courts with jurisdiction over the Texas detention centre where the migrants were being held had the power to intervene. A group of Venezuelan migrants in Texas asked the Supreme Court on Friday (local time) to halt their removal under the Alien Enemies Act. The emergency appeal is the second time Trump's use of the sweeping 18th century wartime authority has landed at the high court. Last week, the court permitted Trump to use the authority, but said migrants being removed under it needed to receive notice they are subject to the act and an opportunity to have their removal reviewed by the federal court where they are being detained, as per CNN. In the appeal brought today, lawyers for the migrants say they are "at risk of imminent removal" under the law and that officials haven't provided the migrants with the sufficient notice the Supreme Court said must be given, as per CNN. "The Government's actions to-date, including its lighting-fast timeline, do not give members of the proposed class a realistic opportunity to contest their removal under the AEA," the lawyers wrote, referring to the group of migrants who might soon be deported under the wartime authority, CNN reported. (ANI)
Chinese human rights lawyer Lu Siwei has been sentenced to 11 months in prison following a closed-door trial held in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on charges of "illegally crossing the border," according to his wife, Zhang Chunxiao, who currently resides in the United States, as reported by Radio Free Asia (RFA). Lu, 52, was detained in Laos in July 2023 while attempting to travel to the US to reunite with his family. Despite possessing a valid Chinese passport and a US visa, he was arrested in Vientiane, the Lao capital, and held for over a month before being forcibly repatriated to China. His return sparked concern among rights groups, who argued that the incident reflected Beijing's growing use of transnational repression--exerting pressure and enforcing its will on critics outside its borders, RFA reported. A former insurance lawyer, Lu became known for representing clients in politically sensitive cases, including one of the 12 Hong Kong activists detained in 2020 while trying to flee to Taiwan. In 2021, he was stripped of his legal license and banned from international travel. He faced constant state surveillance and harassment due to his activism, according to RFA. Following his forced return to China, Lu was held at the Xindu Detention Centre in Sichuan and later released on bail in October 2023. He was re-arrested in October 2024 as Chinese authorities pursued the border-crossing charges, RFA reported. During Friday's hearing, which was closed to the public, Lu's defence team requested that time already served--including his detention in Laos--be taken into account for a reduced sentence. The court rejected the appeal and additionally fined him 10,000 yuan. His legal team estimates that, factoring in previous detention periods, Lu will remain imprisoned until at least August 9. Lu intends to appeal the verdict. His wife criticised the lack of transparency, stating that all requests for a public trial were denied. "On April 16, during a pre-trial meeting, supporters attempting to attend were forcibly removed," RFA reported. "On the day of the trial, no public access was permitted." Friends and activists were reportedly followed, warned, or detained by police to prevent them from approaching the court, according to RFA. (ANI)
The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has claimed responsibility for a series of coordinated operations conducted across multiple districts in Balochistan, targeting Pakistani security forces in what the group describes as retaliation against military presence and intelligence operations in the region. In a statement issued by the group, four separate attacks were carried out in Dasht, Naseerabad, Turbat, and Noshki, resulting in casualties and disruption of security operations. The first incident occurred in the Darchako area of Dasht, Kech district, where an improvised explosive device (IED) was detonated against a bomb disposal squad from the Pakistani Army. The BLA reported that one soldier was killed instantly while two others sustained injuries during the clearance operation. Later that evening, in the Notaal area of Naseerabad, BLA freedom fighters reportedly established a temporary checkpoint on the main highway. According to their statement, the freedom fighters conducted vehicle checks for nearly two hours. When local police forces attempted to intervene, they were met with armed resistance and forced to withdraw. A third incident took place near the Star Plus Market in Turbat, where BLA operatives launched a hand grenade attack on Pakistani military personnel stationed at a security blockade. Details regarding casualties in this operation have not been independently confirmed. In the most targeted attack, BLA fighters killed Naqeebullah, son of Meera Jaan Mengal, in Noshki's Qadirabad area. The group alleged that although Naqeebullah was no longer serving officially in the military, he continued to act as an undercover agent for Military Intelligence (MI). He is accused of aiding the Pakistani military by providing intelligence, recruiting local youth, and facilitating enforced disappearances in the region. The BLA stated that he was on their watchlist for some time due to his alleged collaboration with the Pakistani military and actions against the Baloch community. The group has warned that any individuals aiding Pakistani forces, directly or indirectly, remain under surveillance by their intelligence wing, ZIRAB, and would face similar consequences. These attacks underscore ongoing tensions and conflict in Balochistan, where groups have long sought independence and accuse the Pakistani state of systematic oppression and exploitation of the region's resources. (ANI)
Pakistan Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar is set to raise Pakistan's concerns over terrorism threats emanating from groups operating in Afghanistan during his day-long visit to Kabul on Saturday, Foreign Office spokesperson Shafqat Ali Khan said. "You are aware of our concerns, which have been articulated very clearly. The key concern remains centred on security," Khan said in response to questions regarding the high-level visit confirmed at a weekly media briefing on Friday, Dawn reported. The trip, aimed at reviving diplomatic engagement following a period of strained ties, is seen as a significant move amid Pakistan's increasing security worries linked to cross-border militancy. Dar will hold delegation-level talks with Afghan Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and is scheduled to call on Afghan Acting Prime Minister Mullah Muhammad Hassan Akhund. He will also meet Afghan Acting Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar. The Foreign Office has not disclosed the composition of Dar's delegation, but it is expected to include senior diplomats, trade officials, and top military and intelligence personnel, reported Dawn. "The talks will cover the entire agenda of the Pakistan-Afghanistan relationship, focusing on ways and means to deepen cooperation in all areas of mutual interest, including security, trade, connectivity, and people-to-people ties," Khan said. He added that the visit aims to continue a recently reinitiated dialogue process that had stalled due to Islamabad's concerns about terrorism. The visit follows the latest meeting of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Coordination Committee (JCC), held earlier this week in Kabul. Pakistan's delegation at that meeting was led by Ambassador Sadiq Khan, Special Representative for Afghanistan, and included Director General Military Operations Major General Kashif Abdullah. Muttaqi led the Afghan side. Dar's trip had reportedly been under consideration for several months but was delayed amid heightened tensions between the two neighbours. Khan described the visit as "a reflection of Pakistan's commitment to enhance sustained engagement with the brotherly country of Afghanistan," and said the aim was to build "good, friendly, neighbourly relations," Dawn reported. Afghanistan's foreign ministry had earlier confirmed that Muttaqi, in his meeting with Ambassador Sadiq, had expressed "deep concerns" over Pakistan's expulsion of Afghan nationals and urged resolution through "dialogue based on trust." (ANI)
Rushan Abbas, Executive Committee Chair of the World Uyghur Congress (WUC) and Executive Director of Campaign for Uyghurs, in an address at the Human Rights Foundation (HRF) highlighted the Chinese Communist Party's (CCP) systematic use of financial repression to control and erase the Uyghur population, as reported by the World Uyghur Congress (WUC). According to WUC report, in her speech, Abbas detailed how economic tools are weaponized as part of the CCP's broader campaign of persecution, calling the tactics "a devastating financial dimension to the genocide Uyghurs are facing." She emphasized that Uyghurs are frequently stripped of property and homes without compensation, subjected to arbitrary freezes on bank accounts, and denied economic opportunities. "This is not just discrimination--it is financial warfare," she stated. Particularly targeted are Uyghur academics, business leaders, and farmers. Abbas cited a staggering 50-fold increase in land transfers between 2001 and 2021, which displaced countless Uyghur farmers and handed control to the state. Many homeowners were forced to re-register properties or risk confiscation--an impossible task for those detained in camps. Their homes have since been taken over by Han Chinese settlers, as cited by WUC. These policies funnel Uyghurs into the regime's so-called "Poverty Alleviation Program," which Abbas and human rights expert Adrian Zenz have described as a front for forced labor. Under surveillance, Uyghurs are relocated to exploitative factory jobs with no option to refuse, as cited by WUC. "Every bank transaction is monitored, every app tracked," Abbas warned. "There is no economic autonomy, only control." She described the region of East Turkistan as a police state, where financial repression serves as a critical tool in silencing dissent and erasing Uyghur identity. Abbas concluded, "This is modern-day slavery in the guise of development." China systematically represses Uyghurs through mass surveillance, forced labor, cultural erasure, and financial control. Millions are detained in camps, their properties seized, and economic freedoms stripped. Under constant monitoring, Uyghurs face religious persecution and displacement, while CCP policies aim to erase their identity and assimilate them into Han Chinese society. (ANI)
The alert comes as the Punjab government approved several schemes to strengthen climate resilience, particularly in Cholistan.

The fresh weather advisory, released by the National Emergencies Operation Centre (NEOC) of the NDMA, warned that a westerly disturbance could cause unstable weather across multiple regions.

"Heavy rain and strong winds may lead to the falling of weak trees and could cause temporary power outages," the advisory stated. "Windstorms and hail may damage poorly constructed buildings, rooftops, vehicles, and power infrastructure. Additionally, hailstorms could pose serious risks to standing crops."

The NDMA has advised the public, especially tourists, to avoid unnecessary movement during heavy rainfall, stay updated on local weather and road conditions, and follow all safety instructions in landslide-prone areas.

The authority said it is monitoring the situation in real-time and is coordinating with provincial and district disaster management bodies to ensure a swift response and public safety, reported Dawn.

Meanwhile, the Punjab cabinet committee on disaster management has approved a range of projects to bolster climate adaptation in Cholistan. The meeting, chaired by Provincial Health Minister Khwaja Salman Rafique at the PDMA head office, was attended by Additional Chief Secretary Ahmed Raza Sarwar and Punjab Relief Commissioner Nabeel Javed.

PDMA Director General Irfan Ali Kathia presented a four-point agenda, which included six flood protection and river erosion schemes and the installation of four Reverse Osmosis (RO) water filtration plants in Cholistan to address water scarcity.

The meeting approved an agreement with the Urban Unit for a survey and mapping of populations in riverine areas. Phase 1 will cover areas along the Indus River and hill torrents, Dawn reported.

Further, four schemes worth PKR 550 million were approved to prevent river erosion and strengthen the Walewala Dam on the Sutlej River in Kasur district. Approval was also granted for a protective dam in Layyah and measures to control erosion along the Chenab River from Bela Sarban to Head Trimo in Jhang district. (ANI)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will embark on a visit to Saudi Arabia next week at the invitation of Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. According to the Ministry of External Affairs, the upcoming April 22-23 visit will be the first visit of the Prime Minister to the country in his third term. Previously, he has travelled to the Saudi kingdom twice in 2016 and in 2019. The visit follows the State Visit of Mohammed bin Salman to New Delhi in September 2023 to attend the G20 Summit and co-chair the first meeting of the India-Saudi Arabia Strategic Partnership Council. India and Saudi Arabia share close and friendly ties with a long history of socio-cultural and trade contacts. As strategic partners, the two countries share strong bilateral relations across various areas, including political, defence, security, trade, investment, energy, technology, health, education, culture and people-to-people ties. India's relations with the Kingdom have evolved into a stronger and enduring partnership in the past decade, expanding into many strategic domains, with growing investment commitments, broadening of defence cooperation and intensive high-level exchanges across sectors, the MEA statement said. The visit of PM Modi reflects the importance India attaches to its bilateral relationship with the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It will provide an opportunity to further deepen and strengthen our multi-faceted partnership, as well as to exchange views on various regional and international issues of mutual interest, according to the MEA. The Prime Minister's upcoming visit comes at a time when the US and Iran are holding talks with Washington seeking a deal on the latter's nuclear programme and tensions in West Asia with the Hamas-Israeli conflict. PM Modi's visit also comes ahead of the expected visit of US President Donald Trump to Saudi Arabia next month. India and Saudi Arabia established diplomatic relations in 1947. In 2010, the bilateral relationship was elevated to a Strategic Partnership. There have been regular high level exchanges between India and Saudi Arabia. Beginning 2024-till date, there have been 11 Ministerial-level visits from India to Saudi Arabia from India to Saudi Arabia. Saudi Foreign Minister and Saudi Minister of Industry and Mineral Resources visited India in November 2024 and February 2025 respectively. Saudi side extended excellent cooperation during Operation Kaveri for the evacuation of Indian citizens from Sudan via Jeddah. Riyadh is also seat of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC). India and GCC secretariat have maintained good relations and regular dialogues at official level. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Riyadh in September 2024 to co-chair the first India-GCC Ministerial Meeting. Saudi Arabia is India's fifth largest trading partner and India is Saudi Arabia's second largest trade partner. During FY 2023-24, India's imports from Saudi Arabia reached USD 31.42 billion and exports to Saudi Arabia were worth USD 11.56 billion. In 2023-24, bilateral trade stood at USD 42.98 billion, with Indian exports at USD 11.56 billion and imports at USD 31.42 billion. Major commodities of export from India to Saudi Arabia include engineering goods, rice, petroleum products, chemicals, textiles, food products, ceramic tiles. whereas, major commodities of import for India from Saudi Arabia are crude oil, LPG, fertilizers, chemicals, plastic and products thereof etc. Indian investment in Saudi Arabia has increased in recent years reaching approximately USD 3 billion (August 2023). The total Saudi investment in India has been about USD 10 billion. ). These investments are across diverse sectors such as management and consultancy services, construction projects, telecommunications, information technology, financial services and software development, pharmaceuticals, etc. Saudi Arabia remained India's third largest Crude and Petroleum products sourcing destination for 2023-24. India imported 33.35 MMT of crude oil in 2023-24 from Saudi Arabia, accounting for 14.3 per cent of the India's total crude oil imports. In 2023-24, Saudi Arabia was the third largest LPG sourcing destination for India, accounting for 18.2 per cent of the total LPG imports of India for 2023-24. Another area of partnership is the India-Saudi Arabia defence ties that have strengthened in recent years. The first ministerial visit on the defence side in over 12 years took place when the then MoS (Defence) Ajay Bhatt visited Riyadh for the World Defence Show in February 2024. India and Saudi Arabia enjoy extensive naval cooperation and two editions of the bilateral naval exercise, 'Al Mohed Al Hindi', have been concluded so far. Additionally, both sides have close cooperation in defence industries and capacity building. Indian community in Saudi Arabia is 2.7 million strong and is a living bridge between the two countries. Indian diaspora contribution to the economic development of Saudi Arabia is widely recognized. Number of Indians in Saudi Arabia is increasing steadily. Over the last year, an estimated one lakh Indians came to Saudi Arabia for employment. (ANI)
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders and the sisters of former prime minister Imran Khan have filed contempt petitions against Adiala jail authorities, accusing them of defying court orders by repeatedly denying access for scheduled visits to the PTI founder, Dawn reported. Appearing before the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday, Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan, along with PTI leaders Omar Ayub, Shibli Faraz, Aliya Hamza and others, called for action against what they described as the jail administration's consistent refusal to allow court-ordered meetings. Aleema Khan, represented by Advocate Ali Bukhari, submitted a contempt petition naming the Punjab home secretary and the Adiala jail superintendent as respondents. The petition described the denial of access to Khan as a "blatant violation of court orders." It also pointed out that the IHC had previously allowed Imran Khan to meet his family, lawyers, and party representatives twice a week--on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The petition further noted that a complete list of approved visitors, including legal counsel and family members, had been submitted in compliance with the court's directive. However, it alleged that even scheduled visits were blocked by jail authorities. It argued that access to legal representation and family is a fundamental right, particularly for a former prime minister facing multiple legal proceedings. The petition added that the jail administration's conduct amounted to a breach of both the court order and the jail manual. Omar Ayub and Shibli Faraz had previously filed a similar contempt petition, which is still pending scheduling for a hearing by the court. Speaking to the media outside the IHC, Aleema Khan condemned the jail authorities for preventing legal counsel from meeting Khan. She stated, "The court has clearly issued an order for a list of lawyers [to meet Khan]. Why are they being stopped?" She expressed concern that the interference was aimed at "sabotage" of the PTI founder's legal defence and accused authorities of "deliberate interference" in the judicial process, reported Dawn. Aleema Khan noted that legal consultations must take priority over other visits. "We will stand outside Adiala jail and insist that no one else meets him until his lawyers are allowed to," she said. Referring to a recent visit by senior lawyer Salman Safdar, she said he had gone to Adiala jail under directions from the Supreme Court, but the jail staff "ignored the chief justice's orders." She added, "It's not just our insult, it's the court's insult." Aleema reminded reporters that a three-member bench had directed that legal meetings be permitted, but those orders were not being implemented. Omar Ayub also addressed the media, stating that despite the court's ruling, PTI leaders had not been able to meet Khan for the past three months. "Laws are not being implemented," he said, referring to Article 7 of the Constitution. He accused the state of acting outside the legal framework and failing to uphold constitutional rights. He further claimed that when he attempted to reach Adiala jail, he was stopped at several checkpoints. In an attempt to avoid detection, he said he disguised himself and travelled by motorcycle, Dawn reported. Despite this, he claimed he was arrested without a warrant, even though he was on bail. Ayub alleged that he and other PTI leaders were taken to Chakri, roughly 40 kilometres from Adiala jail, in a van where they were given refreshments before being dropped near their vehicles on the motorway. He termed the incident "bizarre and unlawful." (ANI)
The new US Ambassador to Japan, George Glass has expressed a strong desire to collaborate closely in curbing China's military and economic ambitions, as reported by Japan Times. Glass arrived in Tokyo on Friday. He also conveyed "extreme optimism" about the prospects of securing a trade agreement with Japan, despite recent US-imposed tariffs on its key Asian partner. According to Japan Times, the diplomat stated that one of Washington's main goals for deeper cooperation will be to counter Beijing's "predatory habits," including not just its lending practices but also its efforts to bypass trade rules. The comments were made as media reports suggest that US President Donald Trump's administration intends to leverage ongoing tariff talks to push US trading partners to reduce China's role in their economies in return for trade benefits, Japan Times cited. Glass also emphasized that security, along with economic collaboration and strengthening the US-Japan alliance, would be among the top three priorities during his tenure as ambassador. According to Japan Times, he highlighted," We'll be working very hard but you also have to look at the safety of Americans, American interests, American companies and take into account the safety of Japanese citizens. Our military has all the issues taken care of and all the materials that they need to be able to successfully push back against a country like China." Glass stated that Washington is prioritizing the safety of both American and Japanese citizens, while ensuring the military is fully equipped and supported to address potential threats from Beijing. Japan hosts the largest overseas presence of US troops, including fighter jet squadrons and the only forward-deployed American aircraft carrier strike group. In recent years, Tokyo has launched a significant military expansion and partnered with Washington on multiple initiatives aimed at improving coordination between their armed forces and defense industries, reflecting deepening strategic and security ties. (ANI)
BEDFORD  Bedford County is initiating more than a dozen amendments to the countys zoning ordinance that address food trucks, tiny homes and lot size requirements, among other topics.

The Bedford County Board of Supervisors voted Monday to send the proposed text amendments to the Bedford County Planning Commission to review and start the process for public hearings before the commission and the board.

Jordan Mitchell, director of community development, explained each of the proposed amendments to the board. One proposed change is to add a new definition for hot shot trucking and include it in the permitted use table for zoning districts.

Hot shot trucking is a use of land for facilities for transportation of smaller, time-sensitive freight using a flatbed hot shot trailer, typically 30 to 40 feet long, and a medium-density pickup truck, Mitchell said.

They are extremely popular, Mitchell said. Theres a real need for that, for time-sensitive transportation.

Another measure proposes to remove food truck from the permitted use table and move it to Article V of the zoning ordinance where it will be issued as a license, which Mitchell said is much like what is issued for short-term rentals on an annual basis.

Nothing will change for the food truck use except for the county requiring an annual license, Mitchell said.

Every food truck should reup that every year with us, he said.

Another planned measure seeks to update home occupation permit requirements by removing the decibel measure for noise and clarifying what display means regarding goods and products for Type I home occupations.

Currently, home occupations cannot exceed 60 decibels at the property line, which Mitchell said is too low, and the regulation change in the works would state the home occupation must comply with the county noise ordinance.

For multifamily dwellings, the county proposes to amend the permitted use table to list them as a by-right in the Commercial, C-2 zoning district with additional general standards. Mitchell said the change is for those multifamily dwellings directly above commercial space.

A separate text amendment proposal provides additional standards for accessory apartment uses and permitting those in a detached garage in the Residential, R-1 and R-2 zoning districts. In those cases, the unit would be allowed to be rented out for temporary short-term rentals, Mitchell said.

I believe the board had a desire to see more housing options offered into our residential districts, he said.

A definition is proposed to be added to zoning for tiny homes, which are considered a dwelling of 400 square feet or less that is factory or site-built on a permanent foundation in accordance with the Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code.

In the absence of a permanent foundation, a tiny home is considered a recreational vehicle, Mitchell said.

Other proposed measures include amending definitions for clinic, medical office, private kennel and shopping center; adding a required off-street parking standard and putting shopping center into the permitted use table; amending site development regulations for the Agricultural Village, R-1 and R-2 districts by increasing minimum sizes for lots served by public water or sewer, or both; simplifying the accessory structure side yard setback requirements across four zoning districts and providing additional standards for private kennel uses.

The board also discussed urban beekeeping standards and adding language to zoning that states it as a permitted accessory use for any residential home that is not multifamily and applying state code as amended to honeybees.

The board agreed it doesnt want the county to deter urban beekeeping and favors regulations that are less restrictive and more lenient to landowners. Mitchell said the reason urban beekeeping is in the ordinance is simply because the county doesnt allow agriculture uses in residential zoning districts and he recommends the board not stray from that because it would open Pandoras box of potential zoning issues.

What we are doing here is making a provision here much like domestic chickens, that you can have a specific type of agricultural use, in residential areas, Mitchell said.

Tommy Scott, the board chair, reiterated the boards view to keep the regulations as lenient as possible to residents who have bees for a variety of reasons.

I think were all trying to say we dont want to restrict the citizens to have honeybees if they want in R-1, R-2, whatever, if its a dwelling, Scott said.

In other news

The board also voted 7-0 to execute a new lease for the Montvale School Preservation Foundation, a local nonprofit, for the former Montvale Elementary School building on U.S. 460. The foundation has operated on a one-year lease for the last few years that allowed a farmers market and fundraising events.

The new version of the lease is for an initial three-year term with extensions for up to 30 years and would cover subleases and alterations to the building as well as authorization for fundraising events. The foundation seeks to restore the old school property into a community center for events and a range of uses.

In a separate matter, supervisors voted unanimously to authorize a supplemental appropriation of $728,542 to Bedford County Public Schools operational budget through additional revenues from previously unbudgeted grant awards.

The board also unanimously authorized a contract for just more than $159,000 with Owen Building and Remodeling for a new entrance into the community development suite of the county administration building on East Main Street in Bedford from the outside that will allow for wheelchair access.
HOKKAIDO, Apr 19 (News On Japan) - Rapidus has begun operating a trial production line for cutting-edge 2-nanometer semiconductors this month at its plant in Chitose, Hokkaido. The launch marks a major milestone for Japans domestic semiconductor ambitions and has triggered a surge in land prices, new developments, and an influx of related companies into the city.

Driving through Chitose, home to New Chitose Airport, one can see numerous construction sites for new condominiums and buildings. A redevelopment wave is sweeping the city, and in commercial land price growth announced this March, Chitose ranked first through third nationwide.

This momentum was sparked by the construction of Rapiduss semiconductor factory, which aims to revive Japans semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. The factory, located in the Chitose Bibi World industrial zone surrounded by nature, is tightly secured, with little visibility from outside. However, from the airports observation deck, the completed first plant can be seen.

"Launching the pilot line has started. We are moving forward with both hope and a sense of urgency," said a Rapidus representative. The trial line began operating on April 1st, aiming to achieve mass production of the world's most advanced 2nm semiconductorssomething no other global manufacturer has yet accomplished. The Japanese government has backed Rapidus with over 1.7 trillion yen in support.

A second factory is also planned next to the current one, and by 2036, the project is expected to generate up to 18.8 trillion yen in economic impact across Hokkaido.

With Rapiduss entry, semiconductor-related firms are rapidly setting up offices in Chitose. Screen SPE Service, part of the semiconductor equipment manufacturer Screen Holdings, opened a local office last November to support setup and maintenance.

"Were receiving government support and expect continued growth. We're also looking to hire more local employees as we expand," said a Screen representative.

Finding office space has become a challenge. Screen and other major companies like Tokyo Electron and the Dutch semiconductor equipment giant ASML have moved into spaces within a shopping complex directly connected to JR Chitose Station, even sharing buildings with 100-yen shops. Currently, 37 semiconductor-related companies are operating in Chitose, with 84 more considering entry. Some have even moved into former rental car offices due to the lack of available space.

In response, real estate developers are pushing forward with redevelopment projects. One company is leading more than ten such projects, including a seven-story office building directly connected to the station and hotel developments, with a combined investment of about 10 billion yen.

The housing market is also tight. One real estate agency reported having only two vacant units available, both of which were already reserved. New properties are often reserved before showings, and competition for housing is fierce.

Rent prices have surged to around 1.5 times what they were before Rapidus's entry. "It's unavoidable. Land prices and labor costs are up. Students and others cant afford the rising rents, which is becoming a problem," one resident said.

To address the housing shortage, Chitose has launched a housing support task force with 36 local real estate firms to share listings and assist incoming businesses, most of which are from outside Hokkaido.

The city is also taking steps to prevent problems seen in other semiconductor boomtowns, such as traffic congestion in Kikuyo, Kumamoto, where TSMC has built a factory. Chitose is building a bus transit system and other infrastructure in advance.

Near the Rapidus plant lies Chitose Institute of Science and Technology, which is deepening collaboration with Rapidus through joint research to train the next generation of engineers. Still, some students expressed uncertainty.

"Its hard to feel secure unless the government provides proper support. Right now, theres not much connection with Rapidus, but I hope that will change," said one student.

Among local voices, there is a mix of hope and anxiety.

Suzuki, owner of the long-running Toa Coffee Shop in Chitose, reflected on the citys transformation. "After the bubble burst, Chitose was in decline. But things changed drastically with Rapidus. It's fun to run my shop again," he said.

Some residents expressed concern about rising taxes and rapid urban change, but many also voiced cautious optimism about the citys future. "This area felt like it was dying. Now, I finally see hope," one said.

The citys main shopping district is beginning to recover after years of decline, with new restaurants like a European-style bistro opening in February in a renovated space that had been vacant for two years. The restaurant emphasizes local ingredients and is priced on the higher end at around 5,000 yen per person, reflecting expectations of a higher-spending clientele linked to the semiconductor boom.

While Rapidus has yet to achieve full-scale production of next-generation chips, semiconductor analyst Akira Minamikawa says the companys ambitions are significant.

"Mass production is a different challenge from small-batch samples. It requires highly advanced manufacturing technologies, which take time to develop. But if Japan can establish this capability, it will reduce global dependence on TSMC and bring new stability to the supply chain."

He added that the world is closely watching Rapidus as an alternative to Taiwans dominance, particularly given geopolitical risks.

Business commentator Irayama echoed the sentiment, describing the project as a high-risk, high-reward bet for Japan.

"Rapidus is likely using a one-wafer-at-a-time method combined with AI to boost yield. Its a novel and promising approach. Plus, Japans strength in integrating front-end and back-end processes could position it well for chiplet productiona key next-gen technology," Irayama said.

By mid-summer, observers hope to see whether the pilot line will be a success.

Source: TBS
TOKYO, Apr 19 (News On Japan) - As Golden Week approaches next weekend, one major headache for travelers is the soaring cost of hotel stays. In central Tokyo, a single night can now cost 23,000 yennot for a luxury or business hotel, but for a capsule hotel.

The capsule hotel Nine Hours Hamamatsucho Sleep Lab in Minato Ward, Tokyo, reports that some nights during Golden Week are priced above 20,000 yen.

Located near Tokyo Tower and popular among foreign tourists, this hotel usually charges around 5,000 yen per night on off-peak days, with low pricing as its main draw.

Nine Hours manager Mitsuki Ai explained: "Our pricing system increases rates as bookings fill up, and this year we already have guests who booked a night at 23,000 yen during Golden Week."

A night without meals at 23,000 yen reflects not only rising labor costs but also higher prices at surrounding hotels.

Depending on location and dates, business hotels may actually offer better deals.

Business Hotels May Be a Bargain if You Adjust Your Dates

While some people are planning trips during Golden Week starting next weekend, many are struggling with accommodation costs.

A man in his 20s said, "I'm going to Yugawara in Kanagawa with my girlfriend."

When asked how many nights and how much it would cost, he replied, "Two nights at a standard hotel. Its about 110,000 yen in total. We chose somewhere nearby to cut costs even a little."

Others are feeling the pinch too.

A man in his 60s from Ibaraki Prefecture said, "Hotel prices in Tokyo are crazy high right now. A few years ago, I could get a room for around 6,000 yen when visiting the city."

Hotel rates in Tokyo seem to know no ceiling. According to the Tokyo Hotel Association, which includes over 200 member hotels, the average room price for April and May, including Golden Week, exceeds 17,000 yen per nightfar above pre-pandemic levels.

Even capsule hotels, once offering rooms for about 5,000 yen on cheaper days, now have nights priced over 20,000 yen.

So, are all hotels fully booked and hiking rates? Not quite. At the business hotel Vessel Inn Ueno Iriya Ekimae in Ueno, Tokyo, the manager shared a different picture.

Miyuki Kikuchi, the hotels manager, said, "On May 1st and 2nd, as well as the final day of Golden Week, were still only about 50% booked."

While weekend nights during the holiday period are nearly full, there is still availability on other days.

The hotel normally charges around 12,000 yen per night without meals, but prices peak at 19,400 yen during this time. However, by May 6th, the final day of Golden Week, rates drop sharply.

"Occupancy is below 50%, so weve reduced the price significantly to 8,600 yen," said Kikuchi.

By adjusting travel dates or choosing a different location, travelers may still be able to save on accommodation.

Source: TBS
OSAKA, Apr 19 (News On Japan) - Scotland, a region of the United Kingdom known for Scotch whisky, held a business exchange event at the Osaka-Kansai Expo in an effort to deepen ties with Japan through its growing video game industry.

Scotland has been nurturing its gaming sector since the 1980s and is home to several internationally successful titles, including "Minecraft." On April 17th, the Scottish Government hosted an event inside the UK Pavilion at the Expo, bringing together representatives from seven Scottish game companies and Japanese gaming firms to explore potential business collaborations.

A Scottish Government minister responsible for business said, "We want to have many opportunities to engage with Japan, which has a significant presence in the global gaming market."

The UK Pavilion plans to host future events spotlighting the other three nations that make up the United Kingdom.

Source: YOMIURI
Never let the guy with the broom decide how many elephants can be in the parade. Even if I was the guy with the broom, Id have 10 elephants. Youve got to love a parade, and if you or your kids or your grandkids havent already done so, this is the year to be part of the walking party cal
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Chinese embassy rebuts UK criticism over British Steel

17:45, April 18, 2025 By Xu Liang ( People's Daily Online

Following the UK Parliament's emergency legislation to temporarily take control of British Steel to maintain operations, speculation has arisen about the company's viability and the implications of Chinese investment in the UK.

British Steel, which entered liquidation in 2019, was acquired by private Chinese firm Jingye Group in 2020. It currently employs around 3,500 workers. Amid reports of monthly losses exceeding 700,000 due to high energy costs, market saturation, and global tariffs, British media and political figures have raised concerns over the potential closure of blast furnaces  a move that could leave the UK as the only G7 nation unable to produce primary steel from raw materials.

In response, a spokesperson from the Chinese Embassy in the UK firmly rejected the anti-China rhetoric of certain UK politicians, calling it absurd and reflective of arrogance, ignorance, and a twisted mindset. The spokesperson stressed that Jingye Group operates on market principles and had made significant investments to rescue British Steel from collapse, safeguarding thousands of jobs.

The Embassy also noted that under the UK's net-zero strategy, steelmakers must decarbonize by 2035. As part of this transition, British Steel has engaged in talks with the government about shifting to electric arc furnaces. Similar steps were taken by other producers, including the Port Talbot Steelworks in Wales, which closed its blast furnace in July 2024.

British Steel's restructuring is a rational industrial decision, the spokesperson said, adding that Chinese enterprises have generally operated lawfully and made positive contributions to the UK economy, generating over 115 billion and nearly 60,000 jobs.

The Embassy criticized the UK's silence on U.S. protectionist trade policies while targeting Chinese companies with baseless allegations. Such politicization of business matters undermines investor confidence and damages ChinaUK economic cooperation, the spokesperson warned.

The Chinese side urged the UK government to uphold fairness and non-discrimination, protect the rights of Chinese investors, and continue negotiations with Jingye Group to seek a mutually acceptable solution. We will continue to closely monitor developments, the spokesperson concluded.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Clashes were reported between protesters and Police in the town of Mezzouna, in Tunisias Sidi Bouzid Governorate, after three students were killed following the collapse of a school wall. Widespread public anger was sparked by the incident, and demonstrations were held, according to sources cited by Al-Quds Al-Arabi.

Several individuals were hospitalized after sustaining serious injuries and inhaling tear gas launched by police. A heightened security presence was observed throughout the town, where force was used to disperse demonstrators. Homes were raided, activists were detained, and power to streetlights was cut off, while telecommunications were restricted in an apparent attempt to control the protests, which started last Monday.

Media coverage was reportedly obstructed, with journalists said to have been assaulted by police officers. In Tunis, protestors were prevented from reaching the Ministry of the Interior after slogans condemning state neglect of marginalized regions were chanted by student demonstrators. Police barriers had been erected to stop the crowd from advancing further.
A dire warning has been issued by the United Nations top official in South Sudan, urging the U.N. Security Council to act swiftly to prevent the country from descending into another civil war.

Nicholas Haysom, the U.N. special envoy, highlighted the growing tension between President Salva Kiir and Vice-President Riek Machar, which has escalated into open military conflict. It was stated that the ongoing fighting in the north, alongside the arrest of Machar and a rise in misinformation and hate speech, are heightening ethnic and political divisions, especially across social media platforms.

The 2013 and 2016 conflicts, which resulted in over 400,000 deaths, were invoked by Haysom as a cautionary example of the devastating consequences of political infighting. The fragile peace agreement signed in 2018 remains the only hope for resolving the ongoing conflict. However, its slow implementation, coupled with the delayed presidential elections set for 2026, has left the country on the brink of instability. Haysom emphasized the urgent need to focus efforts on accelerating the peace deals implementation to avert another full-scale conflict that could have dire consequences for South Sudan and its neighboring regions.

Diplomatic measures are being taken by the U.N. peacekeeping mission, which includes intensive discussions with the African Union, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the Vatican. The U.N. Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, is also involved in these efforts to broker a peaceful resolution. The international community, through these coordinated diplomatic actions, aims to prevent South Sudan from once again experiencing the destructive violence that has plagued it in the past.
The United States position on Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara is clear, unequivocaland leaves no room for ambiguity, said president Donald Trumps Senior Advisor for Africa, Massad Boulos.

The U.S. expressed this position repeatedly and clearly, just as Secretary of State Marco Rubio clearly did last week, Boulos emphasized in an exclusive interview with Medi1 TV Channel. It is the same stance conveyed by President Donald Trump to King Mohammed VI regarding the United States full recognition of Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, and American support for the autonomy plan put forward by Morocco as a solution to this dispute, he said.

This issue leaves no room for ambiguity, and any other information being circulated is merely erroneous and baseless speculation, he insisted.

The official position is that the United States of America reaffirms and recognizes Moroccos sovereignty over the Sahara, and President Trumps Proclamation and that of the U.S. in 2020 is unequivocal, he stated further, explaining that no statement should be taken out of context or misinterpreted outside of its clear meaning.

As Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated (during a meeting in Washington with Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita earlier this April), we fully support the Moroccan autonomy proposal, which is serious, credible, and realistic, as a fair and definitive solution to this conflict, the U.S. official stressed.

He reiterated in this vein Washingtons commitment to a lasting solution without delay, based on Moroccos autonomy proposal as the sole framework for negotiating a mutually acceptable resolution.

The U.S. administration is endeavoring to materialize the shared vision of President Donald Trump and King Mohammed VI regarding the settlement of the Sahara issue, the Senior Advisor said.

He added that President Trump and King Mohammed VI also share the same vision regarding the advancement of bilateral ties and that Washington is aware of the importance of Moroccan-American partnership in promoting peace and security and considers the Kingdom a major partner in the region.

The U.S. official also highlighted Moroccos pivotal, central and strategic role in matters concerning the Arab world, Africa, and the Middle East, stressing that the United States looks to benefit from this historical and highly significant role.

In this regard, he expressed his appreciation for the leading and active role played by the Monarch in addressing these issues.

He also hailed Morocco as a brotherly country, an ally, and a strategic partner of the United States. We aspire to see these ties grow even stronger.


By Taxpayers Association of Oregon

OregonWatchdog.com

Governor Kotek and certain Lawmakers, Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Portland) and Senator Kathleen Taylor (D-Portland) are trying to ban adult products without ever having to take a vote.

Koteks power-grab bill is HB 2528, and Senate President Rob Wagners power-grab bill is Senate Bill 1198.

Senate Bill 1198 would give Koteks Health Department the unlimited power ban any vaping/tobacco product if the agency deems that the packaging might interpreted to appeal to minors.

If Senate Bill 1198 is passed, it will be open hunting season on any packaging of a legal adult product that un-elected state bureaucrats do not like.

The very fact that vaping comes in flavors has been used as an attack to ban any such product that contains an actual flavor, as a way to ban adult products to protect minors.

Once vaping/tobacco is under attack under this bill  it will only be a matter of time when the debate moves to wine, beer and cider.

Already the Legislature has been trying to reduce drinking through a bill to tax drink containers and an 8% alcohol tax.

The three Oregon beers we showcase are an example of a product that government bureaucrats would likely ban for being too appealing to children  even though any ordinary person would realize they do not.

Senate Bill 1198 is having a rush hearing this Monday in Senate Committee On Rules, 04/21/2025 1:00 PM, HR C.

Whether a product is engaged in unlawful advertising is a role for the courts where both sides can properly present their case to a neutral judge.

Please take a moment to stop the bill that would empower un-elected agency bureaucrats with the power to ban legal adult products related to vaping and tobacco.

Once we go down this road of letting agencies ban products based on ill-defined appeal to minors, we open the floodgates to ban all sorts of products. This is why we fear that if this bill passes, the next bill to target alcohol.

 State agencies have already shown severe misconduct when they hid a taxpayer-funded study on alcohol taxes from both lawmakers and the public, but shared the data with anti-alcohol advocates (Oregonian 2/23/24). Another agency, OLCC, was investigated for showing preferential treatment on rare liquor distribution.

You can submit an online testimony here (hit testimony tab)

 Also, if the agency does start banning flavored adult products like vaping, it will contribute to the state losing nearly $200 million in tobacco/vaping tax revenue from the tobacco/vaping tax. Customers will switch to illegal online sales that are more dangerous and do not pay the Oregon tax.



 Read Senate Bill 1198 summary.The measure prohibits the distribution, sale, or allowance of sale, of an inhalant delivery system that is packaged inconsistent with rules adopted by the Oregon Health Authority that have the purpose of protecting minors from the negative health effects of inhalant delivery systems.

 If you appreciate this alert then support our efforts: Contribute online at OregonWatchdog.com (learn about a Charitable Tax Deduction or Political Tax Credit options to promote liberty).
HUDSON FALLS  Outraged locals from Hudson Falls and surrounding areas express fear and concern, claiming that high cancer rates are caused by air pollutants from the WIN-Waste trash incinerator, formerly Wheelabrator, with many calling for the plant located at 93 River St. to be permanently shut down.

The calls to close down the controversial trash incinerator came during a public participation meeting on Wednesday night at the Kingsbury Volunteer Hose Company. The meeting was part of the companys efforts to renew a state-issued Title V air permit through the Department of Environmental Conservation.

WIN Waste representatives were met with a barrage of wide-ranging complaints, from pervasive, insidious odors and loud noises to more serious concerns like an outdated facility that leads to cancer-causing air pollutants that are pumped into nearby neighborhoods after the trash incineration process.

Wheelabrator has long been the largest source of air pollution of any industrial facility in Washington, Warren counties. Do we the people, DEC, EPA and other officials just close a blind eye to this polluting facility? wrote resident Rosemary Madonna in a letter to the company.

Youre polluting us. Youre killing us with all your toxins, resident Andrea Kirby told the company representatives at the meeting.

WIN Waste explained that the Hudson Falls facility utilizes a waste-to-energy process that produces electricity as a byproduct of sustainable waste processing, by converting waste into a renewable attribute.

About 89% of waste processed at Hudson Falls is post-recycled municipal solid waste, WIN Waste stated.

During a presentation to locals, Mary Urban, senior director of communications for WIN Waste, touted that operations in Hudson Falls converts up to 148,000 or more tons of waste each year into renewable energy, while offering more beneficial environmental services compared to storing large volumes of waste in a landfill and reducing truck mileage that transports waste exports.

The company states that nine Wheelabrator/WIN Waste Innovations waste-to-energy facilities, including Hudson Falls, have achieved OSHA Star worksite status. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration designates Star sites through its Voluntary Protection Program (VPP).

It is the highest safety rating OSHA bestows, and fewer than .02% of worksites in the United States achieve the designation, Urban said.

The Hudson Falls facility has maintained VPP status for 28 years, the company added.

I dont care about your numbers. You guys need to not get your title V permit at all. You just should not have it and [the facility] needs to be shut down, Kirby said.

From an economic outlook, WIN Waste spends $600,000 in taxes and fees to the area, while providing 35 full-time jobs with day-one benefits.

Local environmental and safety groups like the Clean Air Action Network and Hands Off the Hudson have been at the forefront of the fight against Win Waste since the beginning.

These groups claim that high levels of cadmium, arsenic and other various emissions from the trash incinerator have led to adverse health impacts on the region, while maintaining the facility has long outlasted its standard lifespan.

Of the 54 trash incinerators in the U.S. that closed since 2000, their average age at closure was 26, the Clean Air Action Network claims.

The Wheelabrator Hudson Falls incinerator began operations 33 years ago in November 1991.

It is very apparent that Wheelabrator is outdated and has lived too far past the life expectancy and in ill repair with many, many malfunctions occurring, Madonna wrote.

Few incinerators last beyond a 40-year lifetime and usually break down and become prohibitively more expensive before then, according to the Clean Air Action Network.

Several residents throughout Wednesday nights meeting raised the issue of malfunctions at the Hudson Falls facility, including smoke events, like billowing black smoke, on June 10 and Nov. 5 of last year from fan and equipment failures.

Additionally, loud noise events from valve failures have also been recorded by residents and neighbors to the facility on River Street.

It is time to get serious, hold them responsible for all their violations, complaints and malfunctions, Madonna wrote.

We dont want peoples jobs to go away, but when the alternative is children dying, we have to understand that there is a balance, said Shannon Leah of Hands Off the Hudson. Thirty-five jobs, it sucks. I understand that. But when you look at this disadvantaged community, and you look at what this trash plant has done to us over the last 30 years, it far outweighs that impact.

In 2019, the New York State Department of Health released a Cancer Incidence Report for Warren County after investigating the area because it had the highest rate of all cancers combined in the state based on 2011 to 2015 data.

However, results from the environmental investigation did not show any unusual environmental exposures that could explain the elevated cancer incidence rates in Warren County.

The report stated, Evaluation of model-predicted cancer risks associated with inhalation exposure to hazardous air pollutants that are known or likely human carcinogens generally found low risk of cancer. Additionally, estimated inhalation cancer risks associated with outdoor air pollution in Warren County were similar or lower than in NYS, excluding NYC and in NYS.

The DOH report attributed most cancers in the county to obesity and tobacco use.

Still, many of the residents who live near the plant complained of sickness, trouble breathing, coughing, and wheezing that they accredit to the incinerators operations.

Our neighborhood used to be nice, close knit, clean. We enjoyed many outdoor activities with our family and friends, that certainly doesnt and cannot happen any longer for many, including myself, Madonna wrote. You can smell the rot and garbage coming into my yard.

During her speaking time, Leah also revealed that she has been publicly harassed by employees of the plant for speaking out against the trash incinerators pollutants.

The NYS DEC will continue to review WIN Wastes application for the Title V air permit, and are expected to hold a public hearing of their own at a date in the future for residents to continue to voice opposition to the permits renewal.
PLEASANTVILLE  As a Black barbershop owner, it was very important for Mike Applewhite to give his customers a place to express themselves and talk freely about their concerns about the goings-on in the world.

There isnt a more intimate setting than a barbershop, he said.

To me, this is the information center of a community where you get all your information from, Applewhite said, so this is the most intimate you can get. You feel free. You dont feel like youve got a mic or a spotlight on you.

On Saturday morning, Newark mayor and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ras Baraka joined the conversation at the Alpha & Omega Hair Studio on New Road.

Standing in the center of the barbershop of about 30 people, Baraka answered questions, heard concerns and talked with prospective voters less than two months before this years gubernatorial primary election.

Small businesses in New Jersey hire more people than all the big businesses together, Baraka said. Our economy functions in New Jersey because of small businesses. We have these discussions about all these big businesses, theyre fighting about whether big businesses should come to the state and whether we should get them to stay or leave. The reality is the economy in New Jersey is financed by small business, by businesses like this, from Cape May County all the way up to Warren County.

Baraka visited Alpha & Omega and Epitome Hair Parlor on South Main Street before heading to Atlantic City to visit Preferred Style Barbershop on Atlantic Avenue. He then made his way to ODonnell Park for the Rise Up Against Trump Rally before stopping by Just Cuttn Up in the north end of the resort on Atlantic Avenue.

Baraka is hoping to win the June 10 primary against former state Sen. Stephen Sweeney, who won Atlantic Countys backing in March, U.S. Rep. Mikie Sherrill, New Jersey Education Association President Sean Spiller, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop and U.S. Rep. Josh Gottheimer.

Baraka answered questions about rent control, NJ Transit access, revitalizing cities and concerns about an increase in crime by people deemed undesirable when they enter a new community.

Atlantic County Democrats back Sweeney for governor Stephen Sweeney won the backing of Atlantic County Democrats on Sunday at their annual convention at Renault Winery.

Elijah Langford, a 32-year-old Atlantic City resident, opened questioning by asking Baraka what he will do for this area, especially Atlantic City.

I think that every (major) city in New Jersey has the same problems, Baraka said. New Jersey has cut off its nose to spite its face. It doesnt invest in its cities.

That has created a perception problem around New Jersey as an attractive state for visitors, he said.

(Atlantic City) is a resort city and an opportunity to put New Jersey on the map to bring hundreds, even thousands of tourists to this community, Baraka said. We havent invested in it in a long time. And the amount of money that has been created out of casinos has always been taken out and given to the state of New Jersey. ... I dont think the casino industry is moving in the direction it needs to move in, especially with online gambling and with all the other casinos popping up around New Jersey. I think its time to rebrand what Atlantic City is for its commerce.

Baraka, Newarks mayor since 2014, has received praise for being a progressive Democrat as well as revitalizing and improving the economy in Newark.

Elijah Langford, whose father, Lorenzo Langford, was Atlantic Citys mayor from 2008 to 2014, said hearing what Baraka has to say about the area was important for the residents when it comes time to vote in the June primary.

I feel like Atlantic City and Newark are more similar than they are different, Langford said. When you talk about the perception of (Atlantic City) not being safe, they say the same thing about Newark. We talk about the demographic of people being predominantly Black and brown folk, its the same in Newark. When you think of it being a lot of different commuter traffic because Newark is right next to New York, and Atlantic City has the history of being a town that hosts a lot of people, its the same as Newark.

Applewhite was born in Atlantic City and moved to Pleasantville when he was 11. Hes spent the past 50 years here, and has been a business owner for 30, including seven operating Alpha & Omega.

Taking on Donald Trump has become a requirement in the Democratic primary for NJ governor Three months into Donald Trump's second term as president and two months ahead of the New Jersey primary election for governor, talking about Trump is a requirement for the six Democratic gubernatorial candidates.

One of his major concerns was rent control, not just for business owners who rent their property like he does but for people to be able to afford to live in areas where affordable living for the working class will make the towns around Atlantic City desirable.

It meant a lot to Applewhite to be able to provide a venue for Baraka and feel a sense of connection to a prospective candidate willing to hear local concerns.

This was 100% therapeutic, Applewhite said. It addressed some of the concerns they wanted to know or didnt even know. He gave me some information I didnt even know about. It was very informative.
International students in Iowa are among those nationwide waiting to learn the future of their status in the country as students across the country have their visas revoked or immigration statuses changed.

As of April 18, more than 1,150 students have had their immigration status changed by the U.S. State Department, including some Iowa students, according to Inside Higher Ed.

Earlier this week, St. Ambrose University in Davenport confirmed that two of its international students are impacted and would have to return to their home countries.

At the University of Iowa, five students have had their visas revoked, according to the Campaign to Organize Graduate Students at the University of Iowa. The group said it was given that number by Dean of International Programs Russell Ganim during a webinar hosted for international students on campus.

Earlier this month, UI confirmed that one students visa had been revoked, but did not share further details about other students when asked about the additional revocations this week.

"We are aware of students who have been impacted, but for privacy reasons we cannot provide any detail, UI spokesperson Chris Brewer said in an email to the Quad-City Times.

Greg Wickenkamp, the press and publicity committee chair for COGS, said many international students are afraid of what might come next.

People are really afraid, Wickenkamp said. What this is doing is it's really terrorizing international colleagues at the university here. We enjoy and are tasked with doing research and teaching and then doing our own programs, which are all strenuous and require a lot of energy, and so to have the constant looming threat of visa revocation or potential deportation is just untenable.

In the fall 2024 semester, 1,787 international students were enrolled at UI.

As of March 2025, there were 9,415 active international students in Iowa, according to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

At Iowa State University and the University of Northern Iowa, international students have been impacted by status changes, but both schools declined to share additional details, citing privacy concerns.

UNI has notified students impacted by SEVIS flags, UNI spokesperson Pete Moris said in an email to the Quad-City Times. For privacy reasons, we cannot provide additional details.

The university is aware of students who have been impacted, but for privacy reasons we cannot provide any additional detail, ISU spokesperson Angie Hunt said in an emailed statement.

In the fall of 2024, 2,878 international students were enrolled at ISU, 9.5% of the total enrollment. UNI had 175 international students as of the 2023-2024 school year.

Some students have sued over the change in their status. A class action lawsuit asking a federal court to reinstate the legal status of international students was filed Friday by the American Civil Liberties Union on behalf of than 100 students in New England and Puerto Rico, according to the Associated Press. Federal judges have granted temporary restraining orders for students in Montana, New Hampshire and Wisconsin.

Why are student visas being revoked?

Student visa terminations across the country have stemmed from multiple reasons, including participation in protests against the war in Gaza, though others seem to stem from minor infractions like traffic tickets.

Last month, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the State Department was revoking visas of international students who were acting counter to national interests.

In March, Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey, was detained by federal immigration agents while walking down the street in Massachusetts. In March 2024, she co-wrote an opinion essay in the student newspaper calling on the university to divest from companies with ties to Israel.

During the webinar for UI international students, Ganim said the reason for the visa revocations at UI are unclear and could have resulted from past infractions like traffic violations, according to COGS.

In other states, there have been instances of students having visas revoked over past infractions, including University of Minnesota student Dogukan Gunaydin from Turkey, who was detained by ICE in March. His visa appears to have been revoked due to a 2023 drunk-driving case where he pleaded guilty, according to the New York Times.

What do the status changes and revocations mean?

There are three types of visas for international students to study in the U.S.

An F-1 visa is the most common among international students. It allows a nonimmigrant student to attend a certified school or program on a full-time basis until they graduate. Under the visa, some students can extend their time in the country as they work after graduation.

M-1 and J-1 visas are less commonly used by international students. M-1 visas are for nonimmigrant students who plan on completing vocational studies at a certified school or program. J-1 visas are nonimmigrant visas for individuals to participate in work-and study-based exchange visitor programs.

While some students are having their student visas revoked, others are seeing their Student Exchange and Visitor Information System records terminated or flagged.

SEVIS is a database used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security to keep track of the status of international students in the country. While having a visa revoked can mean a student has to leave the country, the termination of SEVIS records is more complicated, according to Christopher Foster, an Iowa City immigration lawyer.

Foster, who has been contacted by UI students concerned about their visa status in the past week, said the federal government has not been clear about whether terminating SEVIS records would still allow international students to continue their studies in the country.

Before this year, Foster said, a majority of student visa terminations were due to students poor academic performances, adding that the current revocations are unprecedented and confusing, even for immigration lawyers.

These (visa revocations) are very different than what I've seen historically, Foster said.

Wickenkamp said COGS is advising international students to seek legal help through organizations, including the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the UI Immigration Law Clinic.

Quad-City Times reporters Olivia Allen and Nina Baker contributed to this report.
Not many college freshman can say they've formed a personal relationship with their campus president.

Iowa State University freshman Luke Allaman, a Pleasant Valley High School graduate, meets with his once a week.

Each year, Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen selects 30 first-year students for the President's Leadership Class, a program aimed at training freshman into leaders on campus and, ultimately, in their respective professions and communities. Each participant also earns a $1,000 scholarship.

Students must apply for the program. Recipients are selected based on their high school leadership experience, academic achievement and their school-based of community service involvement.

Allaman was a member of PV's Finance Club, participating in the annual Wharton Investment Challenge. With more than 1,300 high school teams competing in more than 50 countries, his team placed among the top 55 teams in 2023.

During his senior year, Allaman also wrote for PV's student newspaper and online news site, "The Spartan Shield", including as a producer for the site's "Nailed it, Failed it" comedy video segment.

"That really allowed me to have a lot of creative influence and taught me a lot about that (multimedia) world," he said.

Outside of school, Allaman volunteered his time as a confirmation leader for St. John Vianney Catholic Church in Bettendorf.

Students in the President's Leadership Class meet weekly in The Knoll, the president's residence, to engage in a variety of leadership-focused topics with Iowa State administrators, alumni, faculty, staff and students, along with state and local leaders. These meetings vary in formality, ranging from brainstorming sessions to formal etiquette lessons  each focused on fostering effective, well-rounded leaders.

Allaman said he's enjoyed learning from student panelists, such as his most recent PLC meeting with students in Iowa State's CYstarters Lab. CYstarters is an 11-week summer program for Iowa State students or recent graduates working to launch a startup or business idea.

"They (CYstarters) gave sales pitches to us and sort of walked us through how they (balance) being an entrepreneur; how Iowa State is growing them and how it's worth going to college, even if you're starting your own business, and it might not seem like you'd have to go," Allaman said.

Wintersteen designed a lot of the lessons and gives the students personal input, he said.

"President Wintersteen has done a phenomenal job, she's been quite hands-on," Allaman said.

Wintersteen is Iowa State's first female president. Calling her story "phenomenal," Allaman said Wintersteen is very receptive to her students and any proposed changes or improvements to campus.

To him, these qualities exemplify a good, effective leader.

"A good leader is someone who is receptive to feedback," Allaman said. "They know how to really reach the people below them and around them, so then they can create a environment conducive to learning (and) growth."

This prevents unilateral power and decision-making, he said, allowing leaders to have a "good feel for the pulse of the organization." Allaman said good leaders must also lead by example.

"They're going to take charge (and) understand when they really need to get their hands dirty," he said. "But they also know when to take a step back as well; know who to look for and how to delegate responsibilities."

He advises other budding leaders heading to college to take advantage of as many opportunities as possible  and to believe in themselves.

For example, he was hesitant to pursue the PLC because he "figured" other applicants would have more impressive business or volunteer-related backgrounds.

"You just have to be able to sell yourself, and there are so many great opportunities" out there, Allaman said, especially at Iowa State.

"I mean, we had about 400 companies come to (the school's) engineering career fair, and 300-some companies come to the business career fair," he said. "Just put put yourself out there  college really is everything that you make of it, no matter where you go."

As his freshman year and PLC experience come to an end, he looks forward to fine-tuning his career goals. Allaman hopes to start his own business after graduating.

"I'm still figuring out what the specifics of that would look like," he said. "Since coming to Iowa State, I've met a bunch of great people. Not just through this (PLC) program, but through the other programs I've been involved with."

One of his undergraduate friends is "really good" at coding, for example, and another excels in artistic design. Surrounding himself with people who have "really good ideas" can help different aspects of a business function well, Allaman said.
A judge granted a South Dakota Mines and Technology international student's request for a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland and Security in federal court on Friday.

The ruling allows 28-year-old Priya Saxena, a native of India, to stay in the country as the case proceeds. Saxena recently defended her doctoral thesis in chemical and biological engineering after beginning her studies at Mines in 2020.

Saxena is facing deportation and other consequences, according to a lawsuit she filed April 17 against Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons. The government sent Saxena an email on April 7 notifying her that her visa had been revoked and her student status terminated. The email said she could be deported to a country other than India and also face fines and ineligibility for a future visa.

After Friday's decision, Saxena shared a tearful embrace with Beth Riley, the director of the school's Ivanhoe International Center. Riley was among the roughly dozen people who attended in support of Saxena. Jim Leach, who's representing Saxena, said in court that the looming threat of deportation has made her afraid to leave her home.

U.S. District Judge Karen Schreier put the order in place for 14 days and implied an additional 14 days would be granted, giving each party time to review case filings. Schreier said Saxena could face irreparable damage without the order in place, a marker for whether a judge should issue one.

"Our position here is real simple: The government has to follow the law, and when it refuses to do so, a court's role is to tell the government it has to follow the law. And today, Judge (Karen) Schreier told the government they have to follow the law," Leach told reporters after the hearing.

Saxena's F-1 student visa was revoked, according to the lawsuit, because of a 2021 traffic violation  for a failure to stop for an emergency vehicle, a Class 2 misdemeanor, in Meade County 2021. South Dakota court records show Saxena pleaded guilty to the violation.

She was fined $500 and sentenced to 10 days in jail, which was suspended. Per the federal lawsuit, Saxena paid the fine on time and, "before she received her current visa in 2022, she reported the misdemeanor conviction to the government, so it was fully aware of it when it issued the visa."

But in court on Friday, defense attorney Michaele Hofmann  representing Noem, the former governor of South Dakota, and the Department of Homeland Security  contested this. Hofmann alleged Saxena was driving under the influence at the time of her traffic stop, which she failed to report when applying for a new visa. Hofmann argued Saxena's "dishonest response is a public safety issue in our country" and DUIs have taken the lives of the innocent.

But Leach argued that the DUI charge was based on a police officer's suspicion and her blood alcohol level was 0.068, which is under South Dakota's legal limit of .08. In Meade County Court in 2021, Saxena pleaded not guilty to the DUI charge and the prosecutor dropped the charge, according to state court records.

Leach described Hofmann's argument that Saxena was a threat to public safety as absurd, ridiculous and sad.

"Did she look like a threat to public safety to you?" Leach asked reporters. "This small woman who's almost completed a Ph.D. degree in chemical and biological engineering?"

Next up is a preliminary injunction hearing in the case. The defense and prosecution were given separate deadlines to present their briefs to the court before a court date could be set.

Preliminary injunctions are similar to a temporary restraining orders in that both are intended to stop something from happening or continuing. However, judges consider preliminary injunctions after they hear both sides through written briefs or in court. The judge's decision also involves the merits of the case.

A temporary restraining order, however, is issued in more urgent situations and can be put in place before both parties have been heard. When a judge issues a temporary restraining order, it is based on the imminent irreparable harm that's present, not the actual merits of the case. Schreier's decision did not determine the legality of Saxena's visa revocation.

Cases across the country

Saxena has now joined hundreds of other international students who have had their visas revoked by the Trump Administration. The deportations have largely targeted students tied to pro-Palestinian protests that roiled college campuses last year, along with those with criminal infractions, including traffic violations.

Saxena's lawsuit against the government mentions some of those cases, including that of Xiaotian Liu of China, a Dartmouth student whose visa was revoked on April 7. On April 9, a federal judge in New Hampshire granted Liu's request for a temporary injunction blocking the termination of Liu's student status, according to federal court records.

An addendum to Saxena's suit quotes a statement in the Liu case by Dahlia M. French, an immigration law and SEVIS system expert: "Both the Department of State and ICE have stated that visa revocation has no effect on visa status. Those statements are correct. ... There has been no time when ICE terminated a SEVIS record solely due to visa revocation; an FBI criminal check 'hit'; or even evidence of a misdemeanor conviction. This is because, by its own guidance, ICE knows that visa revocation does not equate to a loss of visa status or trigger SEVIS record termination."

In its April 7 email, the government threatened fines, detention and ineligibility for a future U.S. visa, along with a deportation process that "does not allow [you] to secure possessions or conclude affairs in the United States." The lawsuit alleges "the government terminated Saxena's SEVIS record and status based on improper grounds without prior notice and without providing her with an opportunity to be heard, all in violation of the due process clause of the Fifth Amendment."

In the Liu case, the defendants argued, in part, ICE had not charged Liu as being deportable and that Liu had "no likelihood of success" in arguing for due process protections.

On Friday morning, a U.S. Department of Homeland Security senior official told the Journal it generally does not comment on specific cases or actions "taken under the ICE Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP)" because of privacy concerns and visa confidentiality. The official said violations may be referred to the U.S. Department of State.

The official noted SEVIS terminations may occur for a variety of reasons, and said, "Individuals who remain in the U.S. without lawful immigration status may be subject to arrest and removal. For such individuals, the safest and most efficient option is self-deportation. Tools such as the CBP Home app are available to support the self-deportation process."

The official said for case-specific questions DHS defers to the State Department. A State Department spokesperson said it also does not generally comment on specific cases because of privacy and other considerations and visa confidentiality. "The United States has zero tolerance for non-citizens who violate U.S. laws. Those who break the law, including students, may face visa refusal, visa revocation, and/or deportation," the spokesperson said.

This story has been corrected after originally saying Schreier's order was for 28 days.
When things get so bad that Virginia social workers think about taking children from their homes, they often make the decisions in arbitrary ways with little planning or thought, a blistering report from a state watchdog says.

The annual report from the state Office of the Childrens Ombudsman echoes concerns that advocates and families have raised for years about the decisions that staffers make in chronically understaffed and overworked local departments of social services.

They and the watchdog say such decisions:

can be more about the convenience of social service department staff than a childs needs;

do not take account of earlier problems that put a child at risk;

result from personality conflicts with parents;

are based on hasty judgment calls about parents;

and can reflect unsubstantiated worries about childrens safety.







Poor planning

The report  which does not specify localities or name individuals involved  says departments of social services take action without much planning.

It cites instances in which foster parents reported sending children to school in the morning and then got a call from a social worker telling them not to pick the children back up at the end of the day.

In some cases, children are not given an opportunity to retrieve their personal belongings from the foster family, the report said.

The unresponsiveness of staffers at social services departments to parents and relatives phone calls and emails has delayed services and family visits, the report said.

It says that has slowed progress toward finding a permanent place for the child, either back with family or in a stable foster care situation. Bouncing from placement to placement is a common complaint of young people who have aged out of the system when they turn 18.

When children need to be away from home because of their behavioral health challenges, social services at times treats those parents in the same way it treats parents in abuse and neglect cases, the report says.

That can limit visits, which can be critical to help a child begin to feel more stable, while leaving parents out of decisions about medical and psychiatric treatment.

In some cases, the parents rights were terminated because treatment had not reached a point where the child could return home within deadlines set by foster care law and regulation.

Systemic challenges

The report does speak to challenges in the system, said Rebecca Morgan, president of the Virginia League of Social Services Executives and director of social services in Middlesex County.

But it is about a small number of cases, she said.

The ombudsmans office assessed 252 complaints because they involved child protective services or foster care and adoption, most were resolved by consulting with the local department or by offering help to a parent. A total of 28 cases were not and sparked investigations.

In 2024, there were 5,156 children in foster care. In 2023, the latest year for which statewide data are available, there were nearly 52,500 children involved in child abuse or neglect cases, many of which are resolved without removing a child from home.

The cases are complicated and involve some of the worst moments in any child or parents life. Theres a tight timeline  22 months, set by federal law  to try to find a permanent place, though often enough those placements dont last.

Its a tough job, Morgan said.

There are far fewer social workers than localities need to cope with the cases that land in local departments of social services. Proposed funding to expand staff has not made it into recent budgets, while budget talks in Washington threaten the federal support that foster care programs rely upon, she said.

Turnover is high, said Allison Gilbreath, senior director of policy and programs at Voices for Virginias Children. Among the reasons: the size of caseloads often exceeds best practices, and timelines dont necessarily reflect the time that research has shown children and parents with behavioral health or substance abuse need to get to a more stable place, she said.

I dont think its not caring, Gilbreath said.

Ive seen when maybe theres a substance abuse or mental health issue, where the science is that it takes time, but the court dates come up first, she said. Social workers know it should take time, when they dont see it, they get frustrated and quit.

Were talking about people who are paid less than if they worked at Hobby Lobby and work a lot longer at a harder job, she said.

Troubling cases

The cases are troubling  and the problems they highlight are nothing new, Gilbreath said.

In one case the ombudsmans report outlined, a child had four near fatal overdoses over a six-month period. The ombudsman found the local department had not responded to multiple complaints of abuse and neglect and ignored medical and mental health clinicians worries about the childs safety if discharged from treatment to the parents. The department was already involved with the family because of signs of another childs drug or alcohol exposure at birth.

In one case, the ombudsman found a local department had not followed up when hospital staff reported a newborn showing signs of opioid withdrawal. The social services department did not ensure that the relative who took the baby home from the hospital was following an agreed-upon plan to supervise the mother when she and her baby were together. The mother had admitted to using cocaine while pregnant.

This baby died when 3 months old, and tested positive for cocaine and fentanyl at the time of death. The mother had left her baby with a friend.

One department opened a child abuse investigation when a hospital reported a 2-year-old with broken bones, bruises and other marks that medical staff said did not look like the result of an accident. But there was no record that any social worker followed up with medical staff.

While the department directed relatives to maintain sight and sound supervision of the child, it did not say anything about the childs contact with the mother or her boyfriend.

The child died at home 12 days later. The relatives who were supposed to supervise were not there.

One department stepped in when a mother, serving a jail sentence at the time, told hospital staff while giving birth that she had used heroin, fentanyl and morphine five days earlier. Since the father was also jailed, the mother had asked that a relative, undergoing medically assisted treatment for addiction, take care of the child.

The department noted that it has no reason to not allow that.

The child died at 3 months of age, while sleeping on a U-shaped pillow. Child protective services said there was no case for neglect because the relative had not been provided with full information on safe sleep for infants.

Behavioral health

The parents of one child placed in foster care and sent to a psychiatric residential treatment facility because of the childs violence complained that the local department kept moving the goalposts.

When the facility discharged the child, the department could not find any placement except to send the child home.

But it did not line up the behavioral health services the child still needed, especially involving school, which had been the trigger for the childs violent behavior.

In this case, the child came home during the summer break, and things were going well until school resumed.

The childs breakdown at that point prompted the department to put the child back into a residential treatment facility. It also moved to terminate the parents rights.

At the time of our investigation, the child remained in residential treatment with no permanent placement identified, the ombudsmans report said.

We expressed grave concerns with the local departments decision to terminate parental rights and to cut the child off legally from the parents, who demonstrated a deep commitment and love for the child throughout the duration of the case, it said.

The report said many children with similar issues have languished in foster care bouncing from placement to placement, often becoming displaced in hospital emergency departments, hotel rooms, or sleeping in agency offices because no approved foster placement will take them.

Morgan said her association and state officials are working on a model they hope will fill this gap.

The idea is to tap the Medicaid waiver funds  money thats available for non-medical needs for people with disabilities, including mental health issues. This would boost the therapeutic foster care program, where people who are willing to care for a troubled youth get the extra training and support they need to help children who need extra support, ranging from counseling to medical care. In addition, this model would develop a cadre of people who might not be able to serve 24 hours a day as foster parents, but who could step in to offer foster parents respite or to provide additional connections to a troubled childs larger community.

Bad practice

In another case, when a relative accused a mothers spouse of physically abusing a child, social workers kept the child from going home for three months. The required safety plan did not call for that and did not bar the mother from contact with the child, though the department told her it did.

In this case, the local department relied on inaccurate information from the relative who alleged that the mother kept the child out of day care to keep anyone from seeing bruises on the child. The department did not view any records to see if the allegations were true.

The department provided no services to the family. Although department staff said they were concerned about domestic violence in the family, they did not provide any referrals for help.

When police and child protective services stepped in after a report of domestic violence that led to the fathers arrest, social workers interviewed the very emotional woman in the presence of the children. The children created distractions and heard things they should not have heard.

There were no follow-up visits, no interviews of the children, no referrals for domestic violence services or counselling and no contact with the fathers probation officer.

We were concerned that the agencys intervention was not supportive of family restoration but was more punitive, the ombudsmans report said.

Communication gaps

The report said the ombudsmans staff investigated several cases in which communication problems between the agencies and parents or relatives created unnecessary conflict or hindered efforts for a positive outcome.

In one case, out-of-state relatives were never told why a local department suspended their visits with a child.

In another, an agency did not give a parent the opportunity to explain evidence that the agency presented to support its move to terminate the parental rights.

In several cases, agency workers lack of response to parents and relatives phone calls and emails caused delays in services and visits with the children, which affected the progress toward achieving permanency.

Several locality and regional teams  groups that are supposed to bring together police, prosecutors, social workers, mental health clinicians and medical staff to investigate child abuse  are not working.

There are too many silos, said Gilbreath, at Voices for Virginias Children. Schools, DSS, behavioral health, juvenile justice, theyre all dealing with the same kids. They need to be talking to each other about those kids.
Woman reported missing in Cancun located walking down busy boulevard

Cancun, Q.R.  An Argentinean woman missing since April 6 has been found. The woman, who according to local authorities suffers from schizophrenia, was reported missing after running into a Cancun jungle area earlier this month.

On Friday, police said after more than a week of searching, she was located walking down a main city boulevard.

After more than a week of intensive search efforts carried out in collaboration with the Interinstitutional Group, Argentine Maria Belen Zerda, who disappeared on April 6 of this year in Cancun, has been located safely.

According to police, the woman was last seen socializing with other people and, for no reason, ran off into a jungle area. Those who were with her were unable to find her.

Several search and rescue operations were carried out in the green areas of the Alfredo V. Bonfil community, as well as the areas surrounding Huayacan and Chac Mool avenues and Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard.

Maria Belen was located safely by members of the Interinstitutional Search Group as she walked along Luis Donaldo Colosio Boulevard.
At first glance, Ransom Canyon, Netflixs splashy new series about three ranching dynasties fighting against outside forces to hold on to their land and their Texan way of life, may seem a tad familiar. After all, theres an entire extended universe of popular shows revolving around another ranching family, created by none other than Taylor Sheridan, arguably one of the most successful TV impresarios around these days. Multiple outlets have already held up Ransom Canyon against Yellowstonethe Daily Mail calls the former a knockoffand for good enough reason: Its an easy comparison.

Jack Schumacher, an actor who plays the mysterious drifter Yancy Grey on Ransom Canyonwhich debuted in the No. 1 spot on the streamers TV chartshas been doing interviews addressing the analogy. Those Yellowstone shows are incredibleI dont know anyone who does not like them, myself included, he said in one. But Ransom Canyon is its own world, its own universe.  I think if youre a fan of Yellowstone, youre absolutely going to be a fan of Ransom, tooand youll enjoy the differences! To another outlet, Schumacher said, The female gaze is more present here, which you dont get in the vast majority of westerns.

There are a few funny things about the persistent comparisons between these two shows, the first being that the similarities between Ransom and Yellowstone are pretty thin, although I dont blame anyone for trying to grab a bit of Sheridans shine by association. Each story features a main character whos a rancher trying to save his landwhich, naturally, has been in the family for generationsfrom big-city capitalists who want to extract its value. But this is a trope almost as old as the genre of the Western, and a fundamental American story. Chronology shows that the overlap in plot between the two shows is coincidental, at best: Yellowstone first aired in 2018, while Ransom Canyon is based on a 2015 book by Jodi Thomas. (The book is one in a series of eight, plus two prequels. Plenty of room for future seasons, if Netflix wants to follow the path its trod with the other show Ransom Canyon resembles, the streamers popular contemporary small-town romance adaptation Virgin River.)

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Theres also the fact that, in Yellowstone, which favors grim stories about men who fight the world with few allies save their family, sex is present, but is rarely indulged in strictly for pleasure. (If it is, it may eventually bring you to an elaborately plotted, gothically awful doom.) Emotional catharsis, in a Taylor Sheridan show, comes instead via the perfect politics rant, with characters played by Harrison Ford or Helen Mirren or Billy Bob Thornton using the full force of their movie-star charisma to deliver paragraphs on how bad and wrong the modern world/cities/liberals are.

No, people who like Yellowstone will absolutely not want to watch Ransom Canyon, a show in which West Texas rancher Staten Kirkland, played by Josh Duhamel, risks being removed as his ranchs trustee by investing in solar power, just because he thinks its right. The character has some of Yellowstone patriarch John Duttons traitshes a loyal curmudgeon who rarely texts and hates his nephews modern music, but will always show up to fix your tractorbut he can be budged, by the right person with the right argument. Maybe that, itself, is the female gaze.

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Im probably taking a quote from an actor on a press junket too seriously. Schumacher likely meant this show has many handsome men in it, and they are often shirtlesswhich is a valid face-value use of the term female gaze, and is certainly true. But the difference between these two modern Westerns runs way deeper than that. This show is only sort of interested in the struggle to keep Ransom Canyon free from Austin Water & Power, or the other nonromantic plots, like Staten trying to figure out who killed his son in a drunk driving accident. (No offense to Randall Kirkland, who certainly died too young, but this mystery did not grab me.) Viewers, especially people who liked Virgin River, will instead watch Ransom Canyon for its three romances unfolding simultaneously: the A plot, for the fortysomethings, in which Staten and Quinn (Minka Kelly, back in Texas!) work out their longtime mutual crush; the B plot, for the thirtysomethings, with an emergent connection between Yancy Grey and beautiful local Ellie (Marianly Tejada); and the C plot, for the high-school set, in which poor-kid-with-a-heart-of-gold Lucas (Garrett Wareing) and cheerleader Lauren (Lizzy Greene) pursue a romance forbidden by her sheriff father.

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Yes, the details in this one are for the girls. When we first meet Yancy Grey, hes living in a horse stall while working on one of Ransom Canyons ranches. Ellie, worried about his intentions, goes through his things. Her suspicion softens when she pulls out a well-worn book, and its a collection of poetry by  Mary Oliver? Or take the fact that Staten is played by Duhamel, an actor with many rom-com credits to his name, now trying on a grown-man look with a weathered face and ever-present cowboy hat. (It works.) Or the romantic mutual flashback Staten and Quinn have to the moment in high school when Staten asked Quinn to dance, but her best friend Amala (a cameo by Ava Phillippe!) thought he had asked her. This misunderstanding leads, for what certain romance podcasters and superfans of the genre would call typical romance reasons, to Staten and Amalas marriage and Quinns lifelong singledom, cut short only decades later when Amala dies of cancer and Staten and Quinn reconnect through grief.

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Only in romance do these kinds of small human miscommunications have such outsize plot impact. I predict Ransom Canyon, which is full of beautiful people and filmed in a beautiful place, will do very well with viewers who are used to these tricks of the romance trade, and poorly with any deep-down Yellowstone fans who just really like thinking about reporters and tech bros taking rides to the train station. But thats all rightthe Western genre is deep and wide, like Ransom Canyon itself. Plenty of room for all of the genders and all of their gazes.
This post contains spoilers for Sinners.

Sinners, the latest feature film from Black Panther director Ryan Coogler, is a different kind of vampire movie. Set in 1932, the story takes place over the longest 24 hours one might imagine in Clarksdale, Mississippi. It follows the Smokestack twinsaptly named Smoke and Stack (both played by Michael B. Jordan, in his fifth collaboration with Coogler)who, at the start of the movie, have just arrived back in the Delta after leaving to fight in World War I and then sojourning in Chicago, where they worked for Al Capone. Now theyre back homemore willing to face the devil [they] know in the Jim Crow South than the ones they dont in Chicagowith suspiciously acquired bags of money. They fork over a sum of cash to a white man for the old sawmill, intending to turn the property into a brand-new juke joint that very night. The first half of the movie sees the twins mine their dormant hometown connections to procure the musical talent for their business, while also running into some old flames.

The second half of the film is where Sinners undercurrent of supernatural horror comes out at full blastand where Cooglers proven interest in exploring racial politics is brought to the fore. A dark force is teased in the movies prologue, which opens with a legend of certain individuals who possess the gift of making music that blurs the line between life and deatha power that can heal, but also attract evil. That so-called evil, it turns out, refers to vampires. We see the vampire Remmick (Jack OConnell) turn a white coupleimplied to be members of the Ku Klux Klaninto members of his nightwalking ilk. In the evening, when the twins cousin Sammie (Miles Caton), a musical prodigy, starts to play at the juke joint among a throng of gyrating, immaculately moisturized, Black bodies, we see the history and future of Black musicAfrican drums and dancing, 80s hip-hop and breakdancing, Prince-like electric guitars, modern-day trap music and twerkingcomingling on the dance floor. Its when these lines between life and death, between future and past generations, become undefined that Remmick shows up to the party with his two new recruits. They turn any poor soul who wanders out of the juke jointwhich, due to a crisis inside that ends the party early, is almost all of theminto members of their red-eyed, bloodsucking clan. By the time the few remaining characters inside realize the unnatural transformation occurring outside, the vampires carnage has already taken most of the partygoers, including Stack and his former lover Mary (Hailee Steinfeld), leaving the vampires with one classic request: Invite us in.

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Related From Slate Sinners Is a Brilliant, Crowd-Pleasing Racial Commentary in the Tradition of Jordan Peele Read More

One reading of this film is that the villains are the vampires: Just picture, three bone-chilling white vampires standing at the entrance of this Black establishment, asking to be let in. But that reading ignores the specificities Coogler imbues his portrayal of the undead with, leaving the audience with a more nuanced message. A less ambitious movie would build its binary of good and evil off the chilling imagery of the vampires at the door, simplifying the matter to vampires = white predators and humans = Black victims and heroes. Thankfully, Coogler is not that kind of filmmaker, and Sinners is not that kind of movie. If the movies white, bloodthirsty monster is not the true villain of Sinners, then whoor whatis? The answer lies in the films interrogation of the lengths youd consider going to escape structural torment. The greatest evil here is white supremacy, the system of structural racism and bigotry underlining all aspects of life in 1930s Mississippi.

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In Cooglers supernatural vision, the vampires are ultimately presented in a sympathetic light, expressing solidarity in grief and loss with the preyed-upon Black charactersfurthermore, theres an even more sinister power to fear in this film. Remmick positions himself as an ally to the oppressed, rather than yet another oppressive force, by revealing a worse evil than himself. He reveals to Smoke and the others that the white man who sold the twins the sawmill is the leader of the local KKK chapter, whodespite the twins asserting that their money must also buy them protection from the Klanplan to show up the next morning, burn down the property, and murder anyone left inside. Of course, this could just be a fearmongering tacticif Remmick werent proven right in the end.

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But Sinners humanization of Remmick doesnt stop there. The fact that Remmick is Irishas signified by his slight accent and by a truly spine-tingling Irish folk number he leads the freshly turned vampires in performingis key. Irish people in America were not considered racially white in the way that they are today; they have a history that shares similarities with that of Black people, involving colonialization, religious persecution, and more. Thus, Remmicks plea to those still inside the juke joint is realistic: Black people are never safe from persecution. They can stay among the mortals, where their money is no good to the ruling white class, where they can be conned or lynched at a moments noticeor they can join him and his cultish community, where former KKK members now commune with their fanged Black and Asian brethren. Its an alternative in a world with no truly good options. Is it a life of darkness and destruction? Sure. But its a life, nonetheless. Remmicks opening pitch to get the Black folk left inside the juke joint to join him, then, is not a threat, but a call for solidarity.

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The vampires are shown goodwill in other ways as well, complicating some critics reading of the creatures asin Variety critic Owen Gleibermans wordsextensions of the racist white culture that wants to stop the party. For instance, Remmick and Marywho is multiracial, and passes for white, but grew up as a member of this Black communityseek comfort in Black gatherings, a pull thats rooted in their shared histories. The vampires are attracted to the legendary musical gift because, when the lines between life and death blur, the eternal undead can finally reunite with those they lost. Remmick wants Sammie because, as he puts it, I wanna see my people again. Its messed-up logic, certainly; at worst, as Empires Helen OHara claims, these attempts to humanise Remmick as another victim of colonialism and forced religion dont really work when hes now attempting the same appropriation. But Coogler at least presents a more complicated conundrum in a genre that can easily be black and white. To say that the Black people facing the vampires at the door of the juke joint are between a rock and a hard place is an understatement. Even though Remmicks plea means death of a certain variety, it also promises a futureone outside the boundaries of life and death, but also outside the boundaries of systemic hate.

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This conclusion doesnt just come from a sympathetic view of certain white characters; it also stems from Sinners final moments. The biggest clue about Sinners racial politics is in Smokes last stand, which occurs not against the vampires, but against the white Klan members who arrive the next morning. Tellingly, the movies final bullet goes into the Klan leader. And in case that wasnt enough evidence about the films message, theres also the midcredits scene (one of two) that jumps forward to the 90s and reveals, in part, that Stack survived that bloody night as a vampire, one of only two Black people to make it out alive (of sorts). In the modern day, Stack admits hes not entirely freebut who in Cooglers tale even is? Stack misses his brother, and the sunlight, but hell, at least hes still here. That in itself is a kind of salvation.
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Shortly before 1 a.m. on Saturday, the Supreme Court issued an emergency order halting the Trump administrations reported efforts to fly Venezuelan migrants to an El Salvador prison before they could challenge their deportation. The courts late-night intervention is an extraordinary and highly unusual rebuke to the government, one that may well mark a turning point in the majoritys approach to this administration. For months, SCOTUS has given the government every benefit of the doubt, accepting the Justice Departments dubious assertions and awarding Donald Trump immense deference. On Saturday, however, a majority of justices signaled that they no longer trust the administration to comply with the law, including the courts own rulings. If that is indeed the case, we are likely careening toward a head-on conflict between the president and the court, with foundational principles of constitutional democracy hanging in the balance.

SCOTUSs emergency order in A.A.R.P. v. Trump arose out of the governments unlawful efforts to ship Venezuelan migrants to a Salvadoran prison by invoking the Alien Enemies Act of 1798. On Thursday, lawyers for these individuals told a federal court that the government was preparing to summarily deport them to El Salvador, where they would be indefinitely confined at a notorious detention center. A federal judge in the Southern District of Texas had already blocked their removalbut the government sought to evade this order by busing the migrants into the Northern District of Texas, where the restraining order would not apply. It then gave these migrants notices, in English only, declaring that they would be deported immediately, without stating that they could contest their deportations in court. (Officials refused to give these notices, or any other information, to the migrants lawyers.) The government intended to fly them out of the country within 24 hours, according to court filings.

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This conduct flagrantly violated the Supreme Courts decision from just 12 days ago affording the migrants substantial due process protections. The court unanimously agreed that these individuals must receive notice that they are subject to removal, and that this notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek relief. Obviously, giving Spanish speakers a barebones notice in English that they will be deported does not comply with this mandate. But when the migrants attorneys sought court intervention, the Justice Department responded as it so often does these days: by lying. Despite extensive evidence to the contrary, DOJ lawyers told multiple courts that they did not intend to deport migrants on Friday or Saturday, and that they would not deport anyone without affording them the due process guaranteed by SCOTUS. Two different federal judges declined to step in on Friday night, finding they did not have authority to do so.

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The American Civil Liberties Union then begged the Supreme Court for help. And the court obliged. The majority directed the government not to remove any of the individuals seeking relief until further order of this court. As a result, the government was unable to deport the migrants to El Salvadoras it appeared about to doand they remain in U.S. custody. Only Justices Samuel Alito and Clarence Thomas noted their dissents.

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There are three remarkable aspects of the courts decision. First, it acted with startling speedso quickly, in fact, that it published the order before Alito could finish writing his dissent; he was forced to note only that a statement would follow. It is a major breach of protocol for the Supreme Court to publish an order or opinion before a dissenting justice finishes writing their opinion, one that reflects the profound urgency of the situation. Relatedly, awkward phrasing in courts order may imply that Alitowho first received the plaintiffs requestfailed to refer it to the full court, as is custom, compelling the other justices to rip the case away from him. No matter what, exactly, happened behind the scenes, its clear that a majority would not let Alito hold up speedy action. It also acted before the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit had a chance to step in, and before the Department of Justice had an opportunity to respond to the plaintiffs. These highly abnormal moves also reveal a desire to act fast.

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Second, it is plain as day that the Supreme Court simply did not trust the Trump administrations claims that it would not deport migrants over the weekend without due process. If the court did believe these representations, it would not have acted in such a rapid and dramatic fashion; it could have waited for the lower courts to sort through the matter, confident no one would face irreparable harm in the meantime. The majoritys decision to wade in straightaway points to a skepticism that the Justice Department was telling the truth. Its damning, too, that the majority did not even wait for the DOJ to file a brief with the court before acting. The only plausible explanation for the courts order is that a majority feared the government would whisk away the migrants to El Salvador if it did not intervene immediately. That fear is well-grounded, since we now have substantial evidence that the government lied to a federal judge last month to thwart a court order stopping deportation flights.

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Finally, and perhaps most obviously, its critical that only Thomas and Alito noted their dissents. When the court takes emergency action, justices dont have to note their votes, but they usually do; we can probably assume that this order was 72. That would mean that Chief Justice John Robertsalong Justices Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh, and Amy Coney Barrettjoined this rebuke to the Trump administration. Until now, all of these justices have, to varying degrees, treated the president with kid gloves, handing him a series of narrow wins on procedural grounds that avoided direct collision between the branches. That accommodation came to an abrupt stop on Saturday.

And thats the most encouraging sign weve seen from the Supreme Court since Jan. 20. For too long, the Republican-appointed justices have awarded Trump the presumption of regularity, assuming they can trust the representations made by his Justice Department. It has crafted compromises that save face for the president and stop short of unambiguously ordering him to follow the law. Meanwhile, a growing number of lower courts have pleaded with SCOTUS to see the painful realitythat this president will gleefully defy judicial orders; that his DOJ will shamelessly lie; that if the Supreme Court does not put an end to his rampage, it will sap the entire federal judiciary of its remaining independence and authority. Saturdays order gave us, not a moment too soon, the first sign that a majority of justices have gotten the message and are ready to respond accordingly.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovas-crackdown-on-archbishop-markell-is-attack-on-dissent-1121892551.html

Moldova's Crackdown on Archbishop Markell Is Attack on Dissent

Moldova's Crackdown on Archbishop Markell Is Attack on Dissent

Sputnik International

Moldova's decision to stop Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti from flying to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire on the Orthodox Easter Eve demonstrates Chisinau's intent to suppress any manifestation of dissent, Juan Antonio Aguilar, the director of the Spanish Institute of Geopolitics, has told Sputnik.

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Moldovan media reported that the country's top Orthodox Christian cleric had been detained at the Chisinau airport for a lengthy security check on Thursday and had been late for his flight to Israel. Markell told reporters that he would make a second attempt to fly to Jerusalem on Friday evening. However, a Sputnik correspondent reported later in the day that the archbishop had once again been stopped from boarding his flight to Jerusalem. The political pundit, who served as an international observer at the 2019 parliamentary elections in Moldova, suggested that the crackdown on the archbishop was part of political repression, alongside arbitrary detentions and attacks on sovereignty. He accused the European Union and NATO, who control Moldova through nonprofits, of playing a role in these attacks on freedoms. This year, delegations from the Moldovan and Bessarabian Orthodox Churches were to travel to Israel from Moldova to take part in the Holy Fire ceremony, which is held annually on Great Saturday at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church that unites 70% of the residents of Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria. Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir (Nicolae Cantarean) has repeatedly expressed regret that the current authorities of the country avoid dialogue with the church. Hours-long checks under the supervision of armed police officers have recently occurred at the Chisinau airport, especially targeting representatives of the opposition Pobeda (Victory) bloc and Moldovan public figures who arrived from Russia after participating in various international forums. Yevgenia Gutsul, head of the Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, was detained at the same airport on March 25. A Chisinau court arrested her for 20 days on charges of violating rules for campaign financing and document forgery. On April 9, the court placed Gutsul under home arrest for 30 days, which her supporters slammed as political pressure. Several protests have since taken place in Gagauzia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/archbishop-markell-once-again-barred-from-leaving-moldova-to-retrieve-the-holy-fire-1121891652.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovas-crackdown-on-archbishop-affects-millions-of-believers--russian-orthodox-church-spox-1121890128.html

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moldova's decision to stop archbishop markell of balti and falesti from flying to jerusalem to receive the holy fire on the orthodox easter eve demonstrates chisinau's intent to suppress any manifestation of dissent, juan antonio aguilar, the director of the spanish institute of geopolitics, has told sputnik.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/patriarch-theophilos-iii-of-jerusalem-concerned-about-situation-with-archbishop-markell-1121892438.html

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem Concerned About Situation With Archbishop Markell

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem Concerned About Situation With Archbishop Markell

Sputnik International

Patriarch Theophilos III of Jerusalem said on Friday that he was concerned about the situation with Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti who was denied the right to leave Moldova to fly to Israel, a Sputnik correspondent reported on Friday.

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On Thursday, Moldovan media reported that Bishop Markell was detained at the Chisinau airport for a lengthy security check, which ultimately prevented him from boarding his flight to Israel on time. He was supposed to travel to Jerusalem to receive the Holy Fire for Moldova during the annual Great Saturday ceremony. On Friday, Markell arrived at Chisinau airport again to fly out to Israel, but the police took away his passport and returned it only after the plane took off, without giving any explanation of the denial of the right to leave.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/the-holy-fire-will-come-to-moldova--archbishop-markell-1121891993.html

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patriarch theophilos iii of jerusalem said on friday that he was concerned about the situation with archbishop markell of balti and falesti who was denied the right to leave moldova to fly to israel, a sputnik correspondent reported on friday.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/eu-globalists-violate-religious-freedom-by-crackdown-on-archbishop-markell-1121893516.html

EU Globalists Violate Religious Freedom by Crackdown on Archbishop Markell

EU Globalists Violate Religious Freedom by Crackdown on Archbishop Markell

Sputnik International

Archbishop Markell was detained at the Chisinau airport under security check pretext, which ultimately prevented him from boarding his flight to Israel where he planned to receive the Holy Fire for Moldova during the annual Great Saturday ceremony.

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EU globalists VIOLATE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM by blocking Archbishop Markell's trip to Jerusalem, Dr Rainer Rothfuss, German geopolitical analyst and consultant and AfD MP, told Sputnik.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/moldova-persecuting-archbishop-markell-because-of-his-convictions-1121892709.html

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EU globalists VIOLATE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM by blocking Archbishop Markell's trip to Jerusalem Sputnik International EU globalists VIOLATE RELIGIOUS FREEDOM by blocking Archbishop Markell's trip to Jerusalem 2025-04-19T13:25+0000 true PT1M51S

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/hezbollah-warns-israel-time-is-not-infinite-1121892136.html

Hezbollah Warns Israel: 'Time Is Not Infinite'

Hezbollah Warns Israel: 'Time Is Not Infinite'

Sputnik International

Lebanese Shia movement Hezbollah reserves the right to respond to the potential Israeli attack, Hezbollah's secretary general said.

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Hezbollah has given the Lebanese government time to resolve the conflict with Israel through diplomacy, but it reserves the right to choose how to respond if the Israeli army continues to attack Lebanon, the movement's secretary general said.Speaking on the issue of disarmament, Qassem said that the weapons of the Lebanese resistance fighters would be used exclusively against Israel. The secretary general emphasized that Hezbollah and the Lebanese military share a common enemy - Israel.Qassem said that Lebanese President Joseph Aoun was primarily responsible for defining the framework for an intra-Lebanese dialogue on the countrys defense strategy. Hezbollah is ready to participate, but this will not happen under US pressure, the secretary general said, adding that Israel must leave Lebanese territory first and must stop carrying out strikes, then the movements leadership could discuss defense strategy, but Hezbollahs disarmament would not be discussed.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250113/waging-wars-and-reshaping-middle-east-what-israel-plans-to-do-in-2025-1121421045.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/moldova-persecuting-archbishop-markell-because-of-his-convictions-1121892709.html

Moldova Persecuting Archbishop Markell Because of His Convictions

Moldova Persecuting Archbishop Markell Because of His Convictions

Sputnik International

The Moldovan government is persecuting Archbishop Markell of Balti and Falesti because he advocates for the Orthodox Christian faith and Moldovan statehood, Moldovan political scientist and historian Boris Shapovalov has told Sputnik.

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europe

maia sandu

moldova

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Moldovan media reported that Markell was stopped at the Chisinau airport on Thursday for a lengthy security check and missed his flight to Israel where he planned to attend the traditional Holy Fire ceremony. Markell told reporters that he would make another attempt to fly to Jerusalem on Friday evening. However, a Sputnik correspondent reported that the archbishop was once again prevented from boarding. "This is the highest degree of cynicism, absolute disrespect of the Moldovan authorities for their people, for people of faith... I've long known esteemed Archbishop Markel as a very intelligent, very sensible person, a patriot, a Moldovan citizen who stands not only for the preservation of the Orthodox faith, but also for Moldovan statehood... It is clear that Archbishop Markell, being one of the brightest representatives of the Moldovan Orthodox Church of the Russian Patriarchate, was deliberately subjected to these repressions," Shapovalov said. The Moldovan authorities have been actively supporting and promoting the Romanian Orthodox Church's Metropolitanate of Bessarabia, Shapovalov said. The Orthodox Church of Moldova is a self-governing part of the Russian Orthodox Church that unites 70% of the residents of Moldova and its breakaway region of Transnistria. Metropolitan of Chisinau and All Moldova Vladimir (Nicolae Cantarean) has repeatedly expressed regret that the current authorities of the country avoid dialogue with the church. Yevgenia Gutsul, head of the Moldovan autonomous region of Gagauzia, was detained at the same airport on March 25. A Chisinau court arrested her for 20 days on charges of violating rules for campaign financing and document forgery. On April 9, the court placed Gutsul under home arrest for 30 days, which her supporters slammed as political pressure. Several protests have since taken place in Gagauzia.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovan-opposition-lawmaker-calls-bishop-markells-trip-disruption-for-holy-fire-sabotage-1121889474.html

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250418/moldovas-crackdown-on-archbishop-markell-is-attack-on-dissent-1121892551.html

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the moldovan government is persecuting archbishop markell of balti and falesti because he advocates for the orthodox christian faith and moldovan statehood, moldovan political scientist and historian boris shapovalov has told sputnik.
https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/putin-declares-easter-truce---kremlin-1121893905.html

Putin Declares Easter Truce

Putin Declares Easter Truce

Sputnik International

Putin ordered to stop all military operations for the period of the Easter truce. Russian troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and... 19.04.2025, Sputnik International

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russia's special operation in ukraine

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The Easter truce will start today from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1 p.m. GMT) - Putin Easter truce will last until 12 a.m. from Sunday to Monday. Russia assumes that the Ukrainian side will follow its example and stop the fighting, the Russian president added.General Valery Gerasimov, Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, stated that:

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/russia-china-to-discuss-guarantees-on-iran-deal-with-us---iranian-lawmaker--1121892267.html

Russia, China to Discuss Guarantees on Iran Deal with US - Iranian Lawmaker

Russia, China to Discuss Guarantees on Iran Deal with US - Iranian Lawmaker

Sputnik International

The United States will not be the only one providing guarantees for a potential Tehran-Washington agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, Iranian lawmaker Alaeddin Boroujerdi said ahead of the second round of US-Iran talks in Rome.

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Russia and China will discuss with the US the issue of "more reliable guarantees" for Tehran, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, a member of the Iranian parliamentary committee on national security and foreign policy, said.Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was on an official visit to Moscow on Thursday and Friday, and in the next few days, according to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, Araghchi will visit China.During his visit to Russia, the Iranian diplomat held a meeting and talks with Russian leader Vladimir Putin, conveying to him a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Araghchi also held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. The parties discussed regional and international cooperation, as well as the situation around the US-Iran talks, the first round of which took place on April 12 in Oman.Indirect talks between US Presidential Envoy for the Middle East Steve Witkoff and Araghchi took place in the Omani capital on April 12. According to the US special envoy, they were positive and constructive. Araghchi also described the atmosphere of these talks as constructive and calm, and announced that the second round of talks between the Islamic Republic and the United States would be held on April 19.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250417/trump-nixed-israels-iran-strike-pushed-for-deal-instead-1121880945.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/russia-returns-246-soldiers-from-ukrainian-captivity---defense-ministry-1121894235.html

Russia Returns 246 Soldiers From Ukrainian Captivity - Defense Ministry

Russia Returns 246 Soldiers From Ukrainian Captivity - Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

Russia has returned 246 servicemen from Ukrainian captivity in exchange for 246 Ukrainian prisoners of war, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

2025-04-19T15:26+0000

2025-04-19T15:26+0000

2025-04-19T15:26+0000

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"As a result of the negotiation process, 246 Russian soldiers were returned from the territory, controlled by the Kiev regime. In return, 246 POWs from the Ukrainian armed forces were handed over [to Kiev]," the ministry said in a statement. As a gesture of goodwill Russia also handed 31 wounded POWs over to Ukraine in exchange for 15 Russian soldiers, who needed urgent assistance, the ministry said. The ministry added that during the exchange, humanitarian mediation efforts had been provided by the United Arab Emirates.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/putin-declares-easter-truce---kremlin-1121893905.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/russian-forces-regain-control-of-oleshnya-in-kursk-region---defense-ministry-1121892910.html

Russian Forces Regain Control of Oleshnya in Kursk Region - Defense Ministry

Russian Forces Regain Control of Oleshnya in Kursk Region - Defense Ministry

Sputnik International

Troops of Russia's Sever (North) group of forces have regained control of the settlement of Oleshnya in Russia's Kursk Region, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

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"In the course of active offensive operations, units of the Sever Group of Forces liberated Oleshnya in Kursk region," the ministry said in a statement. Moreover, the Russian troops defeated the units of a tank, mechanized, assault and territorial defense brigades of the Ukrainian armed forces near the settlement of Gornal in the Kursk Region, the ministry said. Russian aviation, drones and artillery conducted strikes on the military personnel and vehicles of the Ukrainian armed forces in the area of the settlements of Vodolagi, Krovnoye, Sadki, Yunakovka and Yablonovka in the Sumy region, the statement read. The Russian forces continue defeating units of the Ukrainian military on the territory of the Kursk Region, the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250416/foreign-experts-urge-russia-and-us-to-collaborate-in-preventing-global-conflict--russias-intel-1121879452.html

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https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/ukraine-loses-up-to-350-soldiers-in-battles-with-russias-center-group---russian-military-1121893684.html

Ukraine Loses Up to 350 Soldiers in Battles With Russia's Tsentr Group - Russian Military

Ukraine Loses Up to 350 Soldiers in Battles With Russia's Tsentr Group - Russian Military

Sputnik International

Russia's Tsentr group of forces has eliminated up to 350 Ukrainian soldiers over the past day, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.

2025-04-19T13:40+0000

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2025-04-19T13:41+0000

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"The enemy has lost up to 350 servicepeople, six armored vehicles, including the HMMWV and the US-made M113 armored personnel carrier, one German-made Marder armored personnel carrier and a French-made VAB armored personnel carrier. Five motor vehicles, two field artillery guns and a US-made AN/TPQ-48 station of counter-battery warfare," the statement read. Russia's Yug group of forces has eliminated over 365 Ukrainian soldiers, two tanks, eight armored fighting vehicles, one M113 armored personnel carrier and a US-made HIMARS multiple rocket launcher and two ammunition depots over the past day. Russias Zapad group of forces has eliminated up to 265 Ukrainian servicepeople, while Vostok group of forces moved deeper behind enemy lines, with Ukraine losing over 130 soldiers over the past day, the statement read. Kiev lost up to 80 soldiers in clashes with Russia's Dnepr battle group in the past day, the ministry said in a statement. Russias Sever (North) group of forces has eliminated up to 45 Ukrainian soldiers over the past 24 hours, the ministry said.Ukraine continues conducting attacks on the Russian energy infrastructure and has conducted 10 attacks over the past 24 hours in Russia's Belgorod, Bryansk, Kherson Regions and the Donetsk Peoples Republic (DPR), the Russian Defense Ministry said on Saturday.In the Belgorod Region, the attack of the Ukrainian drone has damaged the high-voltage line Belgorod - Rudnik, which led to its outage. The shelling of the village of Novaya Tavolzhanka in the Shebekinsky district has damaged the aboveground steel distribution pipeline, the ministry said.A high-voltage line has gone down in Russia's Bryansk Region as a result of the shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces, the ministry added.The Ilyich - Nasosnaya high-voltage line in the DPR went down as a result of the attack of the Ukrainian military during daytime on April 18, the ministry also said.The Ukrainian armed forces conducted artillery shelling on the Kakhovskaya power substation of the Rosseti branch  the Tavrichesky enterprise of main electric networks in the Kherson Region, the ministry said.

https://sputnikglobe.com/20250419/russian-forces-regain-control-of-oleshnya-in-kursk-region---defense-ministry-1121892910.html

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WATCH FULL: Vladimir Putin's Meeting With Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov

WATCH FULL: Vladimir Putin's Meeting With Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov

Sputnik International

Putin orders all military actions TO BE HALTED during Easter ceasefire. The course of the truce will show if Ukraine is ready to peacefully resolve the issue.

2025-04-19T16:24+0000

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Putin orders all military actions TO BE HALTED during Easter ceasefire. The course of the truce will show if Ukraine is ready to peacefully resolve the issue.Russia assumes that the Ukrainian side will follow its example and stop the fighting, the Russian president added.

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Vladimir Putin's meeting with Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov Sputnik International Vladimir Putin's meeting with Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov 2025-04-19T16:24+0000 true PT5M40S

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The Canadian Sired Graduate Series for four-year-olds kicked off during an action-packed Good Friday card of harness racing at Woodbine Mohawk Park on April 18.

The first leg of the series was comprised of two $25,000 divisions for trotters and one for the pacing mares.

Captain Wania (pictured above) circled the first field of a half a dozen trotters to pull off a 29-1 upset as the longest shot on the board for the husband and wife, driving and training team of Trevor and Shannon Henry.

Sid The Kid (Doug McNair) sprinted a :26.3 opening panel to land on top over Willowtime (Louis-Philippe Roy) who, with a headpole replacement after prompting a recall, looped to the lead at the half in :55.3. Down the backstretch, the popular two-time O'Brien Award winner Willys Home Run (James MacDonald) advanced first-over from fifth in her season's debut to apply pressure to Willowtime as they raced to three-quarters in 1:24. As those two battled into the stretch, Sid The Kid shot through at the pylons for a late lead, but the backfield was closing in after the hot early speed, with Captain Wania getting up in time for the upset in a new lifetime mark of 1:53 flat. Sid The Kid held on for second over closers Myretirementdream (Scott Young) and Masstercraft (Brett MacDonald).

Captain Wania was victorious in the first start of his four-year-old campaign following a six-figure debut season last year in which he won six of his 27 races. The gelded son of Resolve and Miss Everything is owned by Trevor Henry Stables Inc. of Arthur, Ont., James Fleming of Bayfield, Ont., and David Hudson of Dallas, Texas.

A $2 win bet on Captain Wania returned a whopping $60.10.

O'Brien Award finalist Paquet made a triumphant return in the second division for trotters, delivering as the heavy 1-5 favourite with Jody Jamieson driving for his father, Hall of Fame trainer Carl Jamieson.

Taking a brief tuck into fourth as the quarter went in :28.1 with the rain starting to fall, Paquet was on top before the next marker in :57.3 after Mrstery Deal (Todd Ratchford) and What About Elmo (Tyler Jones) traded turns on the lead early. Last year's Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final champion then trotted on to three-quarters in 1:26.2, putting away first-over challenger Hungry Hill (J.R. Plante) and drawing off down the stretch for the 2-1/2-length victory in 1:54 flat. R Peaky Blinders (Louis-Philippe Roy) closed off cover for second and Mrstery Deal came through at the pylons for third.

Unraced as a two-year-old, Paquet picked up cheques in all eight of his starts last year -- including four wins -- earning $344,432. The son of Muscle Mass out of Darjeeling is owned by Carl Jamieson along with the Estate of Brian Paquet of Quebec City, Que., 1140545 Ontario Ltd. of Guelph, Ont., and Douglas Good of Chatham, Ont.

Paquet paid $2.40 to win and $2.10 to place, with no show wagering.

Earlier on the card, Coco Jo Jo dominated a short field of five in the lone $25,000 distaff pacing division for driver James MacDonald and trainer Anthony Beaton.

Coco Jo Jo outsprinted slight 4-5 favourite Sorcha Seelster (Bob McClure) to the top into a :28.2 first quarter and never looked back, setting middle splits of :56.3 and 1:24.3 en route to a 2-1/2-length victory in a career-best clocking of 1:51.4. Sorcha Seelster drifted across the track off the final turn, losing the race for place to Collusion Hanover (Tyler Jones).

Owned and bred by Robert Bridges of Campbellville, Ont., the daughter of Betterthancheddar out of Marquise De Sarah is now two-for-four this year and has four wins overall from 31 starts as she nears the $200,000 earnings mark.

Coco Jo Jo paid $5.20 to win and $3 to place as the 8-5 second choice. There was no show wagering.

Older pacing mares competed in regular racing action with Century Jamila ($5.60) running her win streak to six, fighting off her stablemate Blue Pacific again in the $36,000 Fillies & Mares Preferred Pace. The Dave Menary trainees have finished 1-2 in the top distaff class in their last three starts.

Catch-driver Tyler Borth hustled Glenboro to the lead from the outside post seven and put up a :27.4 opening panel before 9-5 favourite Century Jamila and Louis-Philippe Roy swept from third to first down the backstretch, reaching the half in :56.3. Her barn buddy Blue Pacific, driven by Doug McNair, came to play as they raced to three-quarters in 1:24 and the pair faced off in the stretch. In the end, Century Jamila persevered in a season's best 1:51.2 by a neck over Blue Pacific, with Lyons Bettorday (James MacDonald) joining the fray late off cover, another head back in a three-across finish.

Century Jamila, now seven-for-11 this year, is the top money-winning pacing mare is Canada so far this season, with $111,320 earned, accounting for a little over one-third of her career bankroll. The five-year-old daughter of Bettors Delight out of Exotic Pleasure is owned by Pollack Racing of Venetia, Pennsylvania.

Century Jamila returned $5.60 to win as the bettors' choice.

The second leg of the Ontario Sired Spring Series continued with the colts and geldings taking their turn in the spotlight on Friday following the filly divisions on Thursday. The series, with second leg divisions worth $18,000 each, is for Ontario-sired three-year-olds that were non-winners of $30,000 in 2024.

In the pacing division, Asiago Seelster ($6.20) and Bob McClure held off first round winner Bettorseetheshow (Doug McNair) when that one popped the pocket for the stretch drive, prevailing by half a length in a new mark of 1:52.3 with 9-5 favourite Mood Control (Louis-Philippe Roy) closing for third. Trainer John Pentland co-owns the Betterthancheddar-Aqua Rose gelding, who is now two-for-four after going unraced as a two-year-old, with Ontario-based partners R C Molyneux Racing of Sparta, Peter Charlton of St. Thomas and the Estate of Archie Leach of London.

In the first of two trotting splits, a first-over Modelo Gold ($10.30) and trainer/driver Dagfin Henriksen swept up from third and put away pacesetter Ramiro (Doug McNair) at the head of the stretch for his maiden-breaking victory in 1:55.1, finishing two lengths in front of the closing Fleetwood Mac (Bob McClure), with Green Monster (Phil Hudon) third. A nine-time starter who just missed by half a length in the opening round, the Muscle Mass-Right On Renee colt is owned by Henriksen and Gerald Haggerty of Camden East, Ont. The popular opening round winner, P L Spencer (Louis-Philippe Roy), broke stride into the first turn and again in the stretch, taking himself out of contention on this night.

In the final trotting division, Flanagan Sunshine ($8.30) and driver Phil Hudon turned back mid-race challenger Mr Ballykeel (Bob McClure) en route to victory in 1:55.3, with first leg upsetter Fast Snap (Paul Davies) edging out the hard-closing 3-5 favourite, Manforce (Jody Jamieson), for second 1-1/2 lengths behind. Rene Dion trains the Green Manalishi S-Flanagan Lady gelding, who was a close runner-up to Fast Snap last week and improved to two-for-nine lifetime, for owner/breeder Liette Flanagan of Repentigny, Que.

The Canadian Graduate Series for the trotters and pacing mares will continue next Friday, April 25 with $75,000 (added) finals on Saturday, May 3.

The $40,000 (added) finals of the Ontario Sired Spring Series will be held on Saturday, April 26.

To view Friday's harness racing results, click the following link: Friday Results - Woodbine Mohawk Park.

(Standardbred Canada)
Theres just 20 days until the 2025 harness racing season begins at Eldorado Scioto Downs on Thursday, May 8.

Opening week races will be held Thursday-Saturday with a 5:45 p.m. first post and then will continue on a Tuesday-Saturday schedule. Condition sheets are now available for that first week on the United States Trotting Association website with average daily overnight purses at $189,000 USD.

"There were over 1,400 races in 90 days last year for our meet, said Jason Roth, Sciotos Director of Racing. "We look forward to once again having a full box and, with our new paddock, welcome back our horsemen for 2025."

The new state-of-the-art paddock is on track to be finished the week before opening day and will have room for 16 races with 10 horses each.

After an eight-year hiatus, the Jug Preview will return to Scioto on Saturday, Sept. 6. Last won in 2017 by Ohios perennial sire Downbytheseaside, the 2025 edition will boast a $225,000 USD purse.

Other special race cards for the 2025 season are listed below.

July 5 - Next Generation

July 31-Aug. 2 - Ohio State Fair Races

Aug. 23 - #SendItIn and Cleopatra Invitationals, Moni Maker, Nadia Lobell

Aug. 30 - Aged Ohio Sire Stakes

Sept. 6 - Charlie Hill Memorial Trot, Jim Ewart Memorial Pace, Jug Preview

The 90-day Eldorado Scioto Downs race meet runs from Thursday, May 8 through Saturday, Sept. 13. Races will be held Tuesday-Saturday with special holiday cards on Memorial Day and Labour Day instead of the Tuesday card that week. First post will be 5:45 p.m. each day with exceptions for May 26 and June 19 (4 p.m.), July 4 (3:15 p.m.) and Sept. 12 (6:45 p.m.).

(Eldorado Scioto Downs)
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:

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In another major legal blow to Google, a federal judge has ruled that the search giant held an illegal monopoly over some advertising technology, a ruling that could reshape the online advertising business.

Judge Leonie Brinkema of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a decision that Google illegally maintained and acquired a monopoly in two markets for advertising technologypublisher ad servers and the market for ad exchanges.

But in a partial win for Google, antitrust enforcers failed to prove that the company held a monopoly in advertiser ad networks, the judge found.

The highly anticipated decision could reconfigure the online advertising business that website publishers rely on to fund the creation of content. It also underscores how the U.S. government has been trying to rein in the power of Big Tech, which collects a trove of data on its users to fuel its advertising businesses.

Google's anticompetitive conduct "substantially harmed Google's publisher customers, the competitive process, and, ultimately, consumers of information on the open web," the judge wrote in the 115-page decision. She described digital ads as the "lifeblood of the Internet" that made it possible for people to use some of the world's most popular websites without paying a subscription fee.

The ruling marks the latest legal setback for Google. In August, a judge ruled in a separate case that Google maintained a monopoly in online search.

The media industry praised the decision, contending that Google's monopoly forced publishers to use its services and that the lack of competition has led to fewer ad dollars.

"Publishers are excited because they're hoping to get more money for what they're selling, and the advertisers should be happy too, because they're going to have to pay less for it. That's going to be the goal of restoring competition," said Rebecca Haw Allensworth, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School who studies antitrust law.

Still, antitrust experts said the ruling's effect on journalism and advertisers will depend on how the judge decides to restore competition.

The judge hasn't decided on potential remedies which could force the sale of its Chrome web browser. Google plans to appeal both decisions.

The latest ruling comes the same week that a landmark antitrust trial between Facebook's parent company Meta and the Federal Trade Commission kicked off.

"The bigger picture is crystal clear: the antitrust tides have turned against Google and other digital advertising giants," Evelyn Mitchell-Wolf, a senior analyst at Emarketer, said in a statement.

In 2023, the U.S. Justice Department and several states, including California, sued Google, alleging that the tech company engaged in illegal behavior to squash its competition in advertising technology. Google's growing control over advertising technology resulted in website creators earning less money and advertisers paying more, according to the lawsuit.

Publishers use advertising technology products to sell ads to businesses that market their products online to potentially reach more customers. Advertisers also use tools to bid for online ad space, telling tech companies such as Google how much they're willing to pay to get their ads displayed on websites.

Website publishers such as news outlets heavily depend on ad dollars to fund their businesses and the creation of content. Digital display advertising generated more than $20 billion in revenue per year for U.S. publishers, the lawsuit said.

The lawsuit further alleged that competition in the advertising technology space is "broken" because Google purchased its rivals and used tactics that bullied publishers and advertisers to use its tools.

Google has control over popular advertising technology services that most major publishers use to sell ads and that businesses use to buy ads. The company also runs what's known as an ad exchange that helps match publishers with advertisers who are competing with one another to buy up available ad space.

Additionally, Google collects valuable data about its users, allowing advertisers to target people based on location, interests and what they're researching.

Because Google wields so much power over online advertising, the company was able to set rules and manipulate the system in ways that benefited itself and harmed rivals, the Justice Department alleged in its lawsuit. It keeps an estimated 35% of every dollar spent on digital advertising.

In the ruling, the judge said that Google forced its customers to use its product by tying together its publisher ad server and ad exchange. The judge could order Google to change policies that prevented publishers from using other ad tech products.

"Google's monopolistic tacticsthis time in the advertising markethave starved content creators of the revenues they deserve and need to sustain quality journalism. Today is a big day for our industry," Danielle Coffey, president and chief executive of the News/Media Alliance, a trade group representing media outlets, said in a statement.

Google, on the other hand, says it does have rivals. During the trial, Google's lawyers argued that the government focused its case too narrowly on certain ads displayed on websites, ignoring the tech giant's competition with social media platforms, streaming services and e-commerce giants such as Amazon.

"We won half of this case and we will appeal the other half," said Lee-Anne Mulholland, vice president of regulatory affairs at Google. "We disagree with the Court's decision regarding our publisher tools. Publishers have many options and they choose Google because our ad tech tools are simple, affordable and effective."

The court battle featured company executives including Neal Mohan, CEO of Google-owned YouTube, who testified that Google expanded the ad tech tools it offered in response to customers' demands.

Mohan used to work at online ad company DoubleClick and joined Google after it closed its acquisition of the company for more than $3 billion in 2008.

Google's purchase of DoubleClick, which offered services that helped advertisers and publishers manage and track online ads, helped Google grow. As publishers looked for ways around using Google's products, the search firm also purchased potential threats such as Admeld that helped publishers get better prices for their ad space.

Although the judge could still order Google to divest those acquisitions, antitrust experts say it's less likely than other possible fixes.

That's because the court found that antitrust enforcers failed to prove that Google's DoubleClick and Admeld acquisitions were anticompetitive, even though they helped the company gain a monopoly in two ad tech markets.

"Structural remedies like that are somewhat disfavored. They're seen as being sort of drastic, and so that's why I would put [the likelihood] at maybe under 50% but not at all impossible," Allensworth said.

2025 Los Angeles Times. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
The cities of Bryan and College Station along with county commissioners and Texas A&M University have all joined forces on one issue  stopping water from being taken from the Simsboro Aquifer for use in Georgetown and surrounding areas.

A lawsuit is pending in May with Bryan, College Station and the Texas A&M University System suing a local regulator regarding water being pumped from the aquifer to Georgetown, 80 miles away. Seven applicants with a total of 32 wells applied for a transport permit with co-applicant Upwell Brazos Valley Farms LLC. According to Bryan, the permit would allow Upwell LLC to extract up to 100,000 acre-feet of water annually, equivalent to two times the amount used annually by Bryan, Calvert, College Station, Franklin and Hearne combined.

The Simsboro Aquifer is a critical water source for Brazos Valley communities, agriculture and institutions. Conversely, Georgetowns water demand is expected to surpass current supply by 2030 and is a major city in one of the fastest-growing counties in Texas. Current efforts are being made in Georgetown to prepare for this possible shortage, including progress on a new water treatment plant to increase water supply by 22 gallons per day, according to My San Antonio. Currently, Georgetown sources 70% of its water from the Brazos River Authority.

While opponents of the transport permits bring up concerns on future local water supply, supporters say the project would allow local needs to be met. County commissioners and Bryan, College Station and Texas A&M staff agreed to file a formal protest with the State Office of Administrative Hearings and a lawsuit in state district court in November 2024.

In pursuing these water claims, the City of Bryan has concern for the long-term sustainability of water in the Brazos Valley. Ideally, all parties prioritize conservation, while developing gradual ramp-up water use plans, Bryan city staff said in a statement in November. Water users of all types should consider the possibility of water shortages in the Brazos Valley to ensure the sustainability of local agriculture, industry, and residential water services.

To raise awareness for the issue, the Bryan City Council approved a $375,000 contract in December with Crosswind Media & Public Relations to develop a social media campaign called Keep Water Local. The overall goal of the campaign is to educate local residents in both Brazos and Robertson counties on local water issues.

On the Keep Water Local website, they encourage Brazos Valley residents to contact a variety of leaders who have an impact on the final decision, including the Brazos Valley Groundwater Conservation District, Gov. Greg Abbott and all state representatives and senators.

It is not our intent to tell you what to do with your property/land. We are simply asking you to be wise about how you steward the resources beneath your property, the website said.

Four residents have testimonials filmed and on the Keep Water Local website, including commercial real estate professional Hunter Goodwin.

Water is life. You cannot sustain life without it. I think we have to be very judicious, bright, intelligent and smart. And if theres one message that I think I want to get across to the public, is this is becoming a real challenge, Goodwin said on the website. Its something that deeply concerns me and especially as were looking at making foolish decisions of giving our precious commodity away to create tax base and jobs outside of our own boundaries. Its really absurd, to be candid.

Alongside their campaign, Bryan Mayor Bobby Gutierrez released a statement on April 8 calling the issue water piracy and calling for action from citizens to join the fight.

I know there are those who believe property owners have the right to sell the water under their land. But water doesnt belong to just a handful of individuals  its a shared resource, he said in a statement. When seven landowners make a deal that threatens the water supply for an entire region, thats a problem. We must consider the ranchers, farmers, and small business owners who depend on this aquifer to survive. We have to think beyond individual profits and protect the long-term sustainability of our entire region.

If our water supply shrinks, we wont be able to support new businesses, sustain agriculture, or grow the Brazos Valley. Water scarcity also leads to higher costs, which will be passed directly to residents and businesses.
Microsoft Unveils 'Computer Use' Automation in Copilot Studio

Microsoft has announced a new AI-powered feature called "Computer Use" for its Copilot Studio platform that allows agents to directly interact with websites and desktop applications using simulated mouse clicks, menu selections, and text inputs.

According to Charles Lamanna, corporate vice president of business and industry for Microsoft Copilot, the feature marks a major leap forward in Microsoft's vision for intelligent automation by allowing Copilot Studio agents to treat graphical user interfaces similarly to how a human user would.

"Computer Use adapts to changes in apps and websites automatically," said Lamanna. "It adjusts in real time using built-in reasoning to fix issues on its own, so work continues without interruption. It is also built on Copilot Studio's robust security measures and governance frameworks, to help ensure compliance with organizational and industry standards."

Key use cases for the new feature include:

Automated data entry across systems that lack direct integrations;

Market research automation by collecting and organizing information from online sources; and

Invoice processing, streamlining finance operations by extracting and transferring data into accounting systems.

Computer Use is hosted on Microsoft infrastructure. The company said this eliminates the need for organizations to provision or manage dedicated RPA environments, reducing both overhead and maintenance requirements.

Microsoft says the new feature also modernizes traditional robotic process automation (RPA) by making it more resilient and accessible. Rather than requiring extensive coding or scripting, users can describe automation tasks using natural language and refine workflows with side-by-side video previews showing how the agent interprets and executes UI actions.

Additional enhancements include full transparency, with the ability to audit every action the agent performs, including screenshots and reasoning steps.

Microsoft plans to showcase Computer Use in greater detail next month at its Build conference.

Microsoft Begins Rolling Out Controversial Recall Feature

In other Microsoft Copilot news, the company recently announced it has begun rolling out a preview of its Recall feature in Windows in the latest Windows 11 preview build.

Microsoft's Recall feature for Copilot+ PCs offers an AI-driven way to search and retrieve past activity across apps, websites, documents, and images by describing what you remember. The feature works by taking opt-in snapshots of your screen throughout the day and requires Windows Hello authentication to ensure only the device owner can access them.

The feature was initially supposed to start rolling out in preview last June. However, after security concerns from the community arose, the feature was yanked. It was then scheduled for release in October, but was yet again pulled when the feature was found to be taking screengrabs of users' credit card information.

Microsoft has made it clear that Recall is an optional feature and can be turned off at any time. It also said the new version now rolling out adheres to the company's commitment to AI and privacy.

"Recall does not share snapshots or associated data with Microsoft or third parties, nor is it shared between different Windows users on the same device. Windows will ask for your permission before saving snapshots. You are always in control, and you can delete snapshots, pause or turn them off at any time. Any future options for the user to share data will require fully informed explicit action by the user," said Microsoft.
During the past couple of weeks, Ive had the unique opportunity to visit Istanbul for around a week before heading to Greece. Though I have been to Greece and Ephesus, Turkey, this was my first time to Istanbul. This trip was particularly poignant during Lent leading to Easter.

During our time in Istanbul, we were able to speak with the different Turks I now call friends and gather a general perception of the people. Note: We arrived shortly after the Mayor of Istanbul (political opponent to Turkish President Erdogan) had been arrested for alleged financial malfeasance, making this a unique time. Thankfully, the protests did not affect our trip. In having travelled throughout Western Europe and North America, this visit allowed for my view of the contrast between East and West.

One of my first noteworthy first impressions was of the unique pride and affinity those in Turkey have regarding their national history as compared with so many of those in the West. Turks are quite proud of the history of the Ottoman Empire and the succeeded Turkish Republic under Kamel Ataturk, the father of the Republic after the end of the Ottomans. Thats despite Ottoman history including dark times, like centuries of slavery, autocracy and subjugation of many different nationalities in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. Around three million Armenian Christians of the Ottoman Empire were massacred during World War I. A century ago over 20% of Turkey was Christian, yet through forced displacement after WWI that went number below 1%.

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In mentioning these warts of the past, it is not my intent to malign Turkey, as many nations throughout the world, including the West, have unflattering periods of history. The point is the contrast between many Western nations and Turkey in the way history is handled. Many Western nations have moved from a fair self-criticism of certain aspects of history into unhealthy self-loathing of almost all its history.

For example, the British Empire brought a many positive developments to the world in regards to medicine, engineering, science, justice and democratic governance. Over two hundred years ago, the British Empire became the first empire or nation in history to end the slave trade, enforcing that ban throughout much of the world with the British Navy. Like the Ottoman Empire, the British Empire had certain dark periods, like the Opium Wars in China or treatment of Indians. Regardless, the British should be proud of their history and not the all-to-common self-loathing. Most Americans have experienced this same self-loathing in attempts to turn all American history into racism and oppression.

Trumps reforming of the military is an absolute necessity right now Trump administration fires top military leaders, citing need for reform back to warfighting meritocracy; past presidents also replaced senior officers.

Visiting the famous Hagia Sophia in Istanbul put a spotlight on this dynamic. Hagia Sophia was built as a domed Christian cathedral in the 6th century AD by the Eastern Roman Empire, and for centuries was the most colossal domed cathedral throughout Christendom. In AD 1453, after the Ottoman Empire seized what was then Christian Constantinople, ending the Eastern (Byzantine) Empire, the Hagia Sophia was taken intact and converted into a Mosque.

After the Ottoman Empire fell in 1923 and the Turkish Republic was declared, Hagia Sophia was de-commissioned as a Mosque and a year later, 1935, made a museum so that all could appreciate the history. In 2020, the current Turkish President Erdogan turned Hagia Sophia back into a Mosque. When I went to visit Hagia Sophia, I could only see it from the upper chambers as a non-Muslim. Only Muslims could enter the ground floor to get a full view of this international historic site. The Christian artwork was covered. While I visited, we noticed the Muslims on the ground floor were tourists taking the best pictures and seeing all Hagia Sophia. We all paid the same entrance fee.

The destruction of Hamas is vital for Egypt and Jordan who must help In the face of Hamas threat, President Trump proposes Egypt and Jordan take in Gazan refugees while Gaza undergoes cleansing of Hamas and Muslim Brotherhood ideology.

In Western Countries, all historic cathedrals are open to visitors whether Christian or not. Thats despite the histories of the cathedrals being solely Christian. Any attempt to divide tourists by Christian and non-Christian in the manner currently happening with Hagia Sophia would be met with a deafening worldwide outcry. Most in the West have no idea of the Hagia Sophia discrimination, while being inundated by self-loathing allegations of an alleged uniquely discriminatory West.

The West isnt perfect. Like those in Turkey with pride in their history, however, Westerners should quit the self-loathing and take pride in Western history. The focus should be on Western emphasis on the rights of individuals over the collective. Also, rationalism, science, medicine, justice, and democracy associated with the West.

USAID was created to counter communism, but came to a nearly opposite agenda Summary: Recent revelations expose misuse of taxpayer funds by USAID for ideological agendas instead of its original anti-communism mission. ```

While in Ephesus during this trip, I was reminded of the Apostle Pauls time there. In the Book of Acts, we read about Paul's making such a difference with the character and hearts of the individuals of that city that the idol merchants turned against him. The massive city was affected by Christian teachings.

OPINION: Congress can check judges who overstep authority In second Trump admin, faced 68 injunctions from Dem-appointed judges. Proposed check on activist judges by Congress. Concerns arise over judiciary's encroachment on executive authority.

It was through that influence of individuals, through the importance of individual hearts and minds, that Judeo-Christian Western civilization was built. During this Easter season I plan to ponder not only the resurrection of Jesus, but the admiration for the civilization built upon what He left.
(TBTCO) - Mot trong linh vuc ang uoc nha au tu quan tam la cong cuoc sap xep lai on vi hanh chinh khong chi la cai cach hanh chinh on thuan, ma con huong en muc tieu tao ra nhung on vi hanh chinh co quy mo u lon, u tam phat trien va ket noi. oi voi TP. Ho Chi Minh, ay chinh la co so e thanh pho tro thanh manh at mau mo cho von au tu truc tiep nuoc ngoai (FDI).
Chinese culture in South Africa: A living tapestry of heritage and adaptation

17:56, April 18, 2025 By Karabo Mohamme ( People's Daily Online

South Africa's cultural landscape is famously diverse, and among the many communities that contribute to this vibrant national identity is the Chinese community. Though relatively small in size, the Chinese population in South Africa has had a significant cultural, social, and economic influence. From the early days of immigration in the 19th century to modern-day exchanges shaped by global ties, Chinese culture in South Africa is a story of resilience, adaptation, and mutual enrichment.

The earliest significant Chinese presence in South Africa dates back to the 1800s. During British colonial rule, Chinese laborers were brought in to work on sugar plantations in the colony of Natal. Later, around the turn of the 20th century, thousands of Chinese workers were recruited to work in the gold mines of the Witwatersrand region in Gauteng. However, many of these laborers returned to China after their contracts ended. The Chinese who remained in South Africa during this time were mainly small traders, shopkeepers, and artisans who laid the foundations for the community that exists today.

Life was not easy for early Chinese immigrants. They were classified under apartheid laws as "non-white" and subjected to discriminatory policies and legislation that restricted their rights to own property, move freely, or receive proper education. Despite these challenges, the Chinese community managed to survive and even thrive in certain areas, particularly by building strong family networks and community support systems. Chinese-owned shops, laundries, and restaurants became familiar features in many towns and cities across the country.

The end of apartheid in 1994 brought about significant changes not only for South Africans at large but also for the Chinese community. As South Africa opened its doors to the world, diplomatic relations between China and South Africa were formally established. This led to a new wave of Chinese immigration, mostly from Chinese mainland, bringing with it fresh cultural influences, business ventures, and social connections.

Chinese cultural practices are most visible during festive celebrations, particularly Chinese New Year. This annual celebration is marked by public events in cities such as Johannesburg, Durban, and Cape Town. Dragon and lion dances, lantern displays, traditional music, and fireworks draw large crowds, often including people from all cultural backgrounds. These events not only preserve cultural heritage but also serve to promote intercultural understanding in a diverse society. In areas like Cyrildene in Johannesburg, often referred to as the "new Chinatown," the streets come alive during these celebrations, showcasing a blend of Chinese and South African spirit.

Another powerful expression of Chinese culture is food. Chinese cuisine has become deeply embedded in South African culinary life. From small takeaway spots to upscale restaurants, Chinese dishes like chow mein, sweet-and-sour pork, dim sum, and hot pot are widely enjoyed by locals. In some places, Chinese recipes have been adapted to suit South African tastes, blending flavors and techniques in creative ways. Food has become a bridge for cultural connection, allowing people to appreciate Chinese traditions in an accessible and enjoyable form.

Language and education also play a growing role in cultural exchange. With China's rising global influence, interest in Mandarin Chinese has increased in South Africa. Mandarin classes are offered in some schools, and Confucius Institutes have been established at several South African universities. These institutes aim to promote Chinese language and culture through educational programs, cultural events, and exchange opportunities. At the same time, younger generations of Chinese South Africans often grow up speaking multiple languages, including English, Afrikaans, and indigenous South African languages, illustrating the fluidity of cultural identity.

Religion and spiritual practice among Chinese South Africans are diverse. While some follow traditional Chinese beliefs such as Buddhism, Taoism, and ancestral worship, many, especially those who have lived in South Africa for several generations, identify as Christian. This reflects both the historical missionary influence and the adaptability of Chinese communities within the broader South African religious landscape. Temples, churches, and community centers serve as important gathering spaces, fostering a sense of belonging and continuity.

Despite their contributions to South African society, Chinese communities have at times faced xenophobia and stereotyping. Misunderstandings about Chinese customs, fears related to economic competition, and the spread of misinformation have occasionally led to social tension. In response, various Chinese community organizations have been proactive in promoting intercultural dialogue, charity work, and public education initiatives. By engaging with local communities and participating in social development, they aim to foster mutual respect and understanding.

Economically, Chinese South Africans and Chinese businesses play an increasingly important role. From small family-run shops to large corporate investments in infrastructure, telecommunications, and mining, the Chinese presence is felt across multiple sectors. These business ventures have created jobs, spurred development, and strengthened bilateral ties between the two countries. However, they also raise important questions about integration, sustainability, and social responsibility, which continue to be discussed at both community and national levels.

Chinese culture in South Africa is both deep-rooted and dynamic. It reflects a long history of migration, struggle, adaptation, and celebration. Today, it is not only about preserving traditions from the past but also about creating new expressions of identity in a multicultural society. As South Africa continues to embrace its diversity, the Chinese community stands as a vibrant thread in the fabric of the nationcontributing, evolving, and enriching the cultural landscape in meaningful ways.

(Web editor: Hongyu, Wu Chengliang)
Former prime minister Stuart Young is leading the legal team representing former Central Bank Governor Dr Alvin Hilaire in his wrongful dismissal battle against the State.

On Wednesday, Hilaire told the Express that his attorneys issued a pre-action protocol letter to the Attorney General and the Cabinet Secretariat.

When asked by the Express to provide a copy of the pre-action letter and the names of his attorneys, Hilaire responded yesterday, declining to share the letter but confirming that Young is leading his legal team.
A PRIVATE contractor is dead after an accident in Tobago.

Police have identified the victim as Darryl Figaro of Black Rock, Tobago. He died on Wednesday after falling from a ladder while working at a private villa.

An autopsy of Figaros body yesterday at the Scarborough Mortuary determined injuries were consistent with a fall, and it ruled out foul play. The body was previously identified by the victims daughter.
My wife and I are in our sunset years and have been trying to deal with the many issues of our health, so our doctors have been giving us prescriptions for medication which is needed to try to control our health issues.

We would normally go to distributors of the various medications that are prescribed, and purchase two months supply at any one time. Alas, we no longer can do this because of the recent ruling by the respective Government agencies, and now have to purchase these medications from registered pharmacies.
A man has been arrested on suspicion of trying to abduct two teen girls earlier this week as they walked in a neighborhood on Tucson's south side, police said.

The girls told police they were walking in the Midvale Park neighborhood  west of Interstate 19 near West Valencia Road  about 3:15 Thursday afternoon when a man tried to drag them away. They fought him off and ran away, Tucson police said in a news release.

The girls told an adult nearby, who was able to photograph the man before he fled into the nearby desert, the release said. Neither girl was injured.

On Friday a passerby told police searching the area that a man who matched a photo of the alleged attacker the department had shared on social media was in a desert area.

Jesse H. Howlett, 30, was apprehended after a short chase, the release said.

Howlett was questioned, arrested and booked into the Pima County jail on suspicion of two counts of attempted kidnapping, two counts of aggravated assault on a minor and one count of sexual abuse, the release said.
A few months from now, the monsoon-soaked sky islands of Southern Arizona will erupt into a spongy, white-capped wonderland.

And the mushroom man will be there.

Tucson resident Hernan Castro said he typically spends four or five days a week tromping around the mountains during the peak of fungus season in late summer, when local forests spring to life with a surprising array of spore-filled fruit.

I should just stay out there, he said.

For most of the past decade, the self-trained mycology expert has been collecting edible and medicinal mushrooms across Arizona. For the past seven years or so, he has been leading foraging trips to Mount Lemmon and elsewhere to teach others how to identify and ethically harvest different species of fungi.

Once you start finding them, its sort of like an Easter egg hunt, the 37-year-old said. Its very exciting, because there are different shapes and colors and smells and tastes. You get a little high from the excitement of finding something different. Its really, really fun.

Castro knows just where to go to collect a local cousin of the portobello that pushes its way up through desert clay and tastes a million times better than store-bought varieties, he said. If you go out with him on a moonless night, he can guide you to a type of mushroom that glows in the dark. He has even cataloged something called the destroying angel, a particularly poisonous species that is thankfully rare in the West but apparently does show up on Mount Lemmon from time to time.

And just days ago, at an undisclosed sky-island location, Castro tracked down what he called the rarest mushroom he has ever found: a medicinal species known as agarikon (Laricifomes officinalis, if you want to get scientific about it) that has never been definitively identified in Arizona before.

At the moment, though, the mushroom man is busy gathering something else: petition signatures for a campaign he launched late last year to designate another, far more common local species as Arizonas official state mushroom.

He thinks that as-yet-unclaimed title should go to the white king bolete, an edible species similar to an Italian porcini that grows abundantly across the state.

Its found everywhere, Castro said. Its on Mount Lemmon, its over by Pinetop and Flagstaff, its on Mount Graham  basically all over Arizona.

The white king seems especially at home among the ponderosa pines high in the Catalinas, where it grows impressively large and in much greater numbers than other types of bolete.

Ive had some with a cap the size of a platter, and a stem that could be about a foot and a half tall, Castro said.

Fungus among us

The state mushroom idea has already won the support of Arizonas largest group of fungi enthusiasts, though they have yet to endorse a specific candidate for the honorary title.

As an organization, the Arizona Mushroom Society is committed to getting a consensus on what the state mushroom should be, said Mike Dechter, who serves as the nonprofit groups executive director and a member of its science committee.

In February, the society put the question to its roughly 2,000 members and the 6,000 people on its mailing list. The voting is still open, Dechter said, but the white king bolete seems to be the leading contender so far.

The choice makes sense for several reasons.

Scientists first described the species in 1976 using samples collected in northern Arizona by amateur mycologist Charles Barrows, whose reward was to have the new mushroom named after him: Boletus barrowsii.

Dechter said this particular choice edible is also closely associated with the ponderosa pine  often sprouting from the roots of the tree where the ground is the wettest, usually along the drip line at the edges of the canopy  and Arizona happens to be home to the worlds largest contiguous ponderosa forest.

Individual white king boletes can swell to as big as your head in as little as two to three days and end up weighing as much as 3 pounds, he said. Its quite a sight to come across in the forest.

Dechters interest in fungi foraging began in 2008, when he was working as a wildland firefighter in New Mexico and saw a guy driving along a backcountry road with the bed of his pickup filled with wild mushrooms.

Today Dechter works out of Flagstaff as a project planner for the U.S. Forest Service and leads mushroom hunting forays in his spare time. Theres a whole strange world of colors and flavors out there waiting to be discovered, he said, but it has to be done carefully.

A really good rule of thumb is dont eat anything unless you can get it positively identified, Dechter said.

That doesnt mean looking it up on some random search engine or app, either. You need to show your wild mushrooms to an expert, either in person or through a carefully curated, science-based social network like iNaturalist or the societys own Arizona Mushroom Forum on Facebook.

Dechter said the forum is actively moderated by him and others from the society, so people can expect quick responses and IDs that are never dangerous.

Thanks to Arizonas varied topography across a range of climate zones, the state is home to an impressive variety of mushrooms, including lethally toxic species that can resemble ones that arent. (Thats why all Arizona Mushroom Society forays, potlucks and other activities come with a liability waiver.)

But a wild mushroom doesnt have to be poisonous to hurt you. Just as with plants, you could be allergic to mushrooms that are perfectly edible, Dechter said. Everything has to be well cooked, and when you try a new type for the first time, its wise to start with a small piece of it to see if it agrees with you.

There are also government restrictions to follow.

For example, the National Park Service doesnt allow foraging at all, while the Forest Service generally considers mushrooms to be a special forest product that can be collected in limited amounts for personal use without a permit.

In the Coronado National Forest, which includes the Catalinas, the Rincons and the Santa Ritas near Tucson, foragers are allowed to fill a 1-gallon container during a single outing but cant take more than 5 gallons worth of mushrooms over the course of a year.

Shroom to grow

Castro said his fungi fascination began in 2011, when his brother taught him how to grow his own gourmet varieties.

He began exploring the potential medical benefits of mushrooms in 2015, after his father was left partially paralyzed by a series of strokes. Castro said his research on stroke recovery treatments led him to several promising studies from Japan involving lions mane mushrooms.

He decided to grow his own lions mane and make an extract for his father to take. Within a year and a half, he said, his dad had regained the ability to speak and nearly all of his lost mobility  something Castro credits to the extract, though he cant prove it scientifically.

At his familys urging, he soon went into the mushroom business.

A lot of people started asking me for extracts. One mushroom led me to another mushroom and then another, and it snowballed from there, basically, Castro said. Thats how I got into the foraging aspect.

He didnt realize that was even an option at first. He said he first learned about Arizonas incredible mushroom diversity when he attended a national mycology conference in the White Mountains, where he met a number of scientists in the field and attended presentations on basic species identification. Thats when he discovered that seemingly exotic varieties he thought he had to culitvate himself or order from East Asia could actually be found growing wild in the mountains near his home.

From then on, he said, I kind of fell in love with mushrooms, and before I knew it, I was all the way in.

Today, Castro makes his living leading seasonal foraging trips and selling fungi-infused products under the name Desert Alchemist.

He said he doesnt mess around with so-called magic mushrooms  the psychedelic ones that are illegal to grow, sell or possess in Arizona  though a lot of people he meets assume that he does.

Instead, his website offers several varieties of mushroom coffee and extracts with names like Brain Boost, Sleep Spell and Pain Maim, which he makes using the fungi he grows or collects.

Though various types of mushrooms do have clinical applications, health experts warn that many bold claims about the healing properties of fungal supplements have not been verified with large-scale, well-designed human trials.

As of April 18, nearly 600 people had signed Castros online petition to designate an official state mushroom. He doesnt really know how many signatures he needs to collect. Whatever it takes to get the governors attention, I guess, he said.

Just for fungi Do you think the white king bolete deserves to be Arizona's official state mushroom? You can read more about the campaign and sign the change.org online petition by going to: http://tucne.ws/1s6h.

Castro has also reached out to his state representatives in hopes of getting one of them to introduce a bill on behalf of the white king bolete. He said all he has gotten are automated responses so far.

He knows his campaign is not the most important thing that elected leaders have to deal with at the moment, but he thinks now is a good time to do it. After all, fungus is pretty popular these days. It might even out-poll some politicians.

Theres a lot of mushroom stuff out there that people are really into, Castro said. And theres no partisan affiliation. Its kind of like a neutral thing that everybody can get behind on both sides.
PHOENIX  The year is 1943. World War II continues to rage as the Allies and the Axis powers stray further apart.

George Abe, along with the rest of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team, is stationed in the Carolinas waiting for deployment. One evening, Abe and several members of his unit arrive at a restaurant for dinner, all wearing their uniforms and looking for a place to sit down and eat. They couldnt have been more surprised when they were denied service because they were Japanese Americans.

Wasnt he furious, Abes daughter, La Verne Abe Harris, said over 80 years later. He said that he looked at them and realized that he was putting his life on the line for these people who wouldnt serve him dinner. He wasnt mad at them; he was sad for them. He said they were raised by their parents to be ignorant, and that really stuck with me.

During WWII, Abes family made up a small group of approximately 120,000 Japanese Americans held in internment camps. This was in accordance with the 1798 Alien Enemies Act, a wartime authority that allowed the U.S. president to detain or deport the natives and citizens of an enemy nation. The act was invoked as a part of Executive Order 9066, which President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed on Feb. 19, 1942, in reaction to the Pearl Harbor attacks as well as the impending war.

Several weeks ago, President Donald Trump brought the Alien Enemies Act back to detain and deport all Venezuelan migrants suspected as members of the Tren de Aragua prison gang, targeting them as if they were wartime enemies of the U.S. government. The news hit home for many, especially those connected to Abe.

He believed that we all really have much more in common than we have thats different, and we always raised our kids believing that its really an interesting world if you get to know people who look differently than you and think differently than you, said La Verne, a clinical professor at Arizona State University. You dont necessarily have to believe what they believe, but it at least gives you a different perspective, and maybe a little bit of empathy.

After originally attempting to enlist in the Air Force and the Navy, Abe was rejected by both branches due to his heritage. He ended up serving in the Army and rose through the initial ranks at a rapid pace.

Abe had volunteered to defend his country, and in return his family was incarcerated, convicted of nothing but their racial background. Few things provoked Abe, who had always been a stoic man of great character, but he could never understand the treatment of Japanese Americans during the war.

The act has only been used three times previously, all during major wars. WWII was the last time that it had been invoked until March 15 of this year.

I agree with deporting criminals and gang members who immigrate to the United States because I dont believe they have any business here, La Verne said. What I have an issue with is not vetting and not having due process of law before the immigrants are shipped out, because even one innocent person could be caught up in that mess, and thats one person too many.

La Verne grew up listening to plenty of her fathers stories, but some of the most memorable ones involved him and his familys experiences during the Second World War. At first, La Verne didnt know what to think when she heard that the Alien Enemies Act had been invoked again after several decades.

One thing that my family always talked about was that all of us are immigrants in this country except for the Native Americans, La Verne said. So when this act was invoked, it brought back some very uncomfortable memories.

La Vernes son, Rocky Harris, was close with his grandfather as well and now many of those same stories have been passed down multiple generations. Despite his familys history with the act, Harris does his best to remain objective and is careful not to make assumptions based on the past.

I try not to judge, in the moment, when a policy is being implemented and instead wait to see the impact of it over time, said Rocky, who is the chief of sport and athlete services on the U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee. What we saw with my grandfathers situation is that it brought about a lot of big challenges that the Japanese American community dealt with for many years and really many generations.

La Verne also tries to separate her familys past from her opinion on current events as much as she can, however, she cant help but question the true intentions behind the act this time around.

When I heard that that act was being invoked for the first time since WWII, and all of those people were being deported, I asked myself, If this act is supposed to become live during a war, what war is the United States fighting? La Verne said. And then I came up with an answer  Its a war of truth vs. lies.

La Verne believes that telling the truth should always be the priority, even if its ugly, and she doesnt like the direction that the act is heading this time, either.

When I think about it, I think Congress needs to repeal this act, La Verne said. Theres just too many questions and too much uncertainty surrounding all of it, and I just cant see a world where innocent people arent harmed by it somehow. I think this should be stopped before innocent people are affected, but it might already be too late.

La Verne and Rocky can only hope that the Alien Enemies Act is used carefully this time  they dont want to see any other innocent people caught in the collateral like their family was years ago.

After the war, Abe was stationed in Germany, where he met his future wife and La Vernes mother, Hildegard Seijok. He went on to serve in the Korean War and then returned to the United States and started a family. In 1966, the military transferred Abe to Arizona. He taught in the ROTC program at Arizona State University and then became a policeman for the university. Eventually, Abe retired and lived out the rest of his life happily with his loved ones in Arizona before passing away in 1997 at the age of 77.

Looking back, Rocky acknowledges the injustices that occurred, but he likes to focus on the one positive that came from it all: His grandfather and the rest of his family were able to learn from the mistakes of others, and now their family is the better for it.
The following is the opinion and analysis of the writer:

Embedded in the Declaration of Independence, the 250th Anniversary of which we celebrate next year, are 2 revolutionary concepts: 1) that we the people have unalienable rights, and 2) that we are capable of governing ourselves  we do not need a king, or a dictator, or a man on horseback. These concepts were revolutionary at the time they were written, and they are unfortunately still revolutionary today. The number of true democracies in this world are few, and growing less.

We are now at a crossroads for our democracy. Led by the current incumbent, there are an increasing number of people who no longer believe in democracy, no longer trust in the institutions that have served us for 250 years, and are placing all their trust in one individual, whom they trust completely. Some even believe he is the second coming of Christ. They will brook no opposition and hear no concerns to the contrary. They trust no sources of information other than him.

Mr. Trump has himself assiduously encouraged this, as it serves his ultimate purpose, which is increasingly clear: to concentrate all power to himself. To accomplish this, he must abrogate the separation of powers on which our government rests. To those willing to see, I submit the following evidence:

He has and continues to appoint and surround himself in the Executive branch with individuals of questionable abilities, whose only sure qualification is absolute loyalty to him. Not to the country, the people, the Constitution and Bill of Rights  only to him. His wholesale attack on the institutions of the federal government  done in the name of efficiency  has the effect of returning to the spoils system we rightly got rid of 140 years ago, where every employee owes his job to one man. He is not draining the swamp. He is creating it.

He has bullied and cowed the members of his political party who run the legislative branch to the point that they either slavishly follow his every whim, or dare not oppose him for fear of incurring his wrath, and the voiced threat a primary opponent financed by Musk.

He has repeatedly shown contempt for the judicial branch, appointing individuals of questionable judicial merit, attacking judges with whose decisions he disagrees, and most recently by ignoring the order of the Supreme Court. He has, in nearly innumerable instances, acted outside the rule of law, contemptuous of the rights of individuals affected by his decisions.

He has repeatedly attacked the free press, calling them enemies of the state and encouraging the most avid of his followers to attack reporters.

Of what use then is the separation of powers if one individual can consolidate all power to himself and silence the free press?

In 1838, in his Lyceum address, Abraham Lincoln predicted the rise of a Donald Trump, an individual seeing himself as a towering genius, scorning the petty rules of lesser men. And when such a one does, it will require the people to be united with each other, attached to the government and laws, and generally intelligent, to successfully frustrate his designs.

At what point then is the approach of danger to be expected? I answer, if it ever reach us, it must spring up amongst us. If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.

The question is ultimately up to the American people. The Declaration also notes that it is the right of the people to abolish the government and create a new one. But to Trumps avid followers, those who are overtly saying they want a dictatorship, I would plead with them not to throw away what we have built for 250 years. And I would remind them that there are those of us who still believe in our Grand Experiment in Democracy, believe in the dazzling promise of the Declaration, the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, in integrity, honesty, decency, in compassion and the promise of the Statue of Liberty and the immortal words of Emma Lazarus; and we will defend them, with our lives if necessary.
In the last decade or so Seven has had a great run with US medical dramas.

Greys Anatomy ran until 2020 before moving to Disney+, The Resident until 2022 and The Good Doctor until 2024.

The succinctly-named Doc could very well continue that success, landing as a broadly-appealing, clever premise first originating as Italian drama Doc  Nelle tue mani. That series was inspired by doctor Pierdante Piccioni, a former emergency room chief, who forgot the previous 12 years of his life following a car accident.

The US version pivots the lead character to Dr. Amy Larsen (Molly Parker), the chief of internal medicine at Minneapolis fictional Westside Hospital.

Whilst she has an abrasive bedside manner and easily gets offside with colleagues, shes brilliant at her job, identifying obscure illnesses, saving lives, and proving a workaholic if sometimes at the expense of her family.

But she does find time for handsome young fourth-year resident Jake (Jon Ecker) even if it is in the back a car. Classy.

Life goes pear-shaped when a car accident on the way home lands her as an emergency patient in her own hospital. She survives only to learn she has partial retrograde amnesia -shes forgotten the past 8 years of her life. Sorry Jake.

Its a world of turmoil as she discovers she has also separated from her husband, her daughter is now a teenager, and her youngest son sadly lost a medical battle of his own.

The catastrophic change of events sees the Chief Medical Officer (Omar Metwally) parachute her rival Dr. Richard Miller (Scott Wolf) into her position, despite Amys desires to return to work as soon as she can.

But she has a lot of time to make up, so to speak, given 8 years of her memory is gone, and the advancements in medicine during that time.

Adapted by Barbie Kligman, the core of the Italian original looks to be intact. How do you process having the last 8 years wiped from your memory? While conversations seemed like yesterday to you, for everyone else they were eons ago. Is it conceivable to pick up the pieces, or do you start anew?

In the hands of Molly Parker, who was so impressive in Lost in Space and is well-known for House of Cards, Goliath, The Firm, Deadwood, Amy is easily sympathetic. The amnesia premise offers just enough twists and turns for Amy and for audience alike. Relationships must be re-evaluated, in a workplace where life and death are already fragile.

One frustrating element of the show are the flashbacks which begin from episode two, with the show not making it clear enough whether they are Amys own memories, or information for the viewers discretion. After seeing Amy walk into one flashback mid-scene, I deduced it was the latter, but it would help to be clearer on that point.

In contrast to the intensity of Pittsburghs The Pitt, Minneapolis Doc is entertaining, sometimes earnest, without ever demanding too much. It should find a broad audience quick smart.

Doc screens 6pm 7plus / 9:05 Seven Tuesday April 22.
As pressure from US trade policies grows, particularly after US President Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs, stricter control over the abuse of origin labelling has become essential.

It helps safeguard domestic production and prevents the abuse of Viet Nams origin to evade tariffs through transhipment.

This is a critical time to intensify efforts against origin fraud and illegal transhipment, as some foreign exporters have taken advantage of Viet Nam as a transhipment point to reroute goods and avoid trade remedies in third countries.

The Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) on April 10, 2025 dispatched an official dispatch to strengthen the management of imported materials used in the production of export goods.

Viet Nam has always taken a proactive, open-minded approach and has worked closely with the US to negotiate fair trade policies, combat transhipment and promote mutually beneficial bilateral trade, Deputy Prime Minister Ho uc Phoc said.

Pivotal role of ROO

Trinh Thi Thu Hien, deputy director of the Agency of Foreign Trade under MoIT, provided insights into the importance of Rules of Origin (ROO) and how they are applied in viet Nam.

According to Article 3(b) of the WTO Agreement on ROO, the country to be determined as the origin of a particular good is either the country where the good has been wholly obtained or, when more than one country is concerned in the production of the good, the country where the last substantial transformation has been carried out.

Determining the correct origin of goods plays a pivotal role in trade policies, as it forms the basis for applying preferential tariffs and trade measures to imported and exported goods. ROO is designed to ensure that only goods that truly originate from a particular country enjoy preferential tariffs under relevant trade agreements.

Hien pointed out a common misunderstanding: the term 'origin' is not interchangeable with the label 'Made in Viet Nam'. For example, clothing labelled 'Made in Viet Nam' might not have a Vietnamese Certificate of Origin (C/O), and vice versa - a shipment with a Vietnamese C/O might not carry the 'Made in Viet Nam' label.

In recent years, the Agency of Foreign Trade has consulted and developed regulatory frameworks to ensure clarity and transparency in origin-related matters. This includes clear provisions for organisations authorised to issue C/Os and penalties for origin fraud, which are highly focused.

The agency also regularly coordinates with C/O-issuing bodies to provide training, enhance professional capacity and offer timely guidance to businesses on the origin of goods.

MoIT works closely with the authorities of importing countries upon request for origin verification. This process helps detect cases where goods are simply minimally processed in Viet Nam to exploit preferential treatment.

Conversely, when goods meet the origin requirements, the agency supports businesses in verifying origin to ensure their C/Os are accepted and eligible for tariff preferences.

MoIT also prioritises consultations and negotiations on origin rules aligned with Viet Nams actual production processes and enterprise capabilities. Administrative procedures are being reformed while digital platforms are used to improve efficiency in handling C/O applications and business inquiries related to origin matters.

Greater transparency needed

Experts have noted that the USs new tariff policies pose significant challenges to Vietnamese enterprises, as origin rules are expected to become more stringent, requiring higher domestic content in exported goods.

This shift could increase production costs and place pressure on several export sectors in Viet Nam.

It is essential for businesses to ensure full compliance with origin regulations and maintain traceability of their goods, thereby also creating opportunities for greater use of domestic materials.

According to Nguyen Manh Hung, an expert in supply chain management and logistics, traceability within the supply chain is crucial for proving the authenticity of Vietnamese products and differentiating them from those of other countries.

This is especially important as the US and other global markets are increasingly scrutinising transhipment activities. Goods can be repackaged or relabelled in Viet Nam to avoid tariffs imposed on third-country products.

MoIT has previously released an early warning list of 17 export product categories from Viet Nam to the US that are at risk of trade remedy investigations due to concerns over origin fraud and illegal transhipment.

Nguyen Thuong Lang, a senior lecturer at the School of Trade and International Economics, National Economics University, has warned that the US has a trade monitoring system and possesses legal tools to penalise origin fraud or tariff circumvention.

If goods are found to have been transshipped or falsely labelled to evade trade defence measures, the US may impose punitive tariffs. It could eliminate any competitive advantage of the affected goods. This is a risk that Vietnamese businesses need to identify and have appropriate prevention plans for.

Viet Nam needs greater transparency in production processes and to achieve a higher degree of localisation in exporting products to the US, according to Lang.

This requires enterprises to tightly control their supply chains and ensure that their products have enough domestic added value to avoid being classified as goods originating from a third country.

Viet Nam can also encourage investment from third countries to focus on full-scale production within the country, rather than merely importing components and input materials. This would help raise the localisation rate, increase domestic production value and reduce the risk of anti-circumvention measures from the US.

inh Hong Ky, vice chairman of the HCM City Union of Business Association, highlighted the need to thoroughly review foreign direct investment (FDI). According to him, it is important to enhance accountability in project appraisal, tighten oversight mechanisms, and prevent the approval of outdated or polluting technologies.

"Viet Nam should proactively attract investment projects with higher added value while limiting those that merely engage in basic processing," Ky added.

One furniture exporter in Hai Duong Province said that although the company had been exporting to the US for over a decade, it now faced greater pressure to ensure transparent traceability documentation.

Despite designing and manufacturing the products domestically, with timber sourced from Yen Bai Province and paint from Bac Ninh Province, partners recently requested additional proof that all products are genuinely made in Viet Nam.

This heightened scrutiny stems from concerns that Viet Nam may be used as a transhipment point to circumvent tariffs imposed on third countries.

In response, alongside the critical strategy of diversifying export markets, several businesses in Hai Duong have begun implementing digital logs. These tools help track the entire production process, from sourcing raw materials to final processing, with strict input control from the outset. VNS BIZHUB




HCM CITY  SSI Securities Corporation has set targets of VN9.69 trillion (US$374.2 million) in revenue and VN4.25 trillion ($165.9 million) in pre-tax profits for this year, representing increases of 11 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, compared to 2024.

These and other important proposals were approved at the companys annual general meeting of shareholders held in HCM City on April 18, where SSI also reaffirmed its long-term strategy to innovate, enhance financial capabilities, and strengthen its leading market position.

CEO Nguyen Hong Nam highlighted favourable market conditions in 2025, including the implementation of Circular 68, which eases access for foreign investors, the expected FTSE Russell market upgrade in September, and the rollout of the KRX trading system. The amended Securities Law is also expected to facilitate capital mobilisation for businesses.

However, he also acknowledged ongoing challenges such as persistent net selling pressure from foreign investors.

Looking ahead to the 20252030 period, SSI aims to evolve from a leading securities firm into a comprehensive financial group offering a full suite of modern financial services. Its long-term strategy centres on five pillars: expanding its financial ecosystem, accelerating digital transformation, enhancing financial strength and risk management, promoting sustainable development, and boosting international cooperation to attract foreign capital.

To achieve these goals, SSI will roll out initiatives across all business divisions in 2025, focusing on market expansion, product diversification, operational efficiency, and customer experience. Strategic projects will streamline operations, and supporting units will drive digitalisation and risk control to ensure long-term growth.

Its subsidiary, SSI Asset Management (SSIAM) is targeting sustainable asset growth and aims to become Viet Nams top asset management company. It plans to expand both domestic and international distribution channels, with a goal of increasing its retail client base by at least 15 per cent. SSIAM will also introduce new investment products, particularly in private equity and other customised financial solutions.

Another subsidiary, SSI Digital aims to lead in digital assets, fintech, and blockchain in Viet Nam. In 2025, it plans to invest at least $10 million in around 10 blockchain and AI projects, while expanding operations and building strategic global partnerships. The company also intends to work with partners and regulators to research and pilot a digital asset market in Viet Nam.

In 2024, SSI delivered strong financial results with revenue surpassing VN8.7 trillion and pre-tax profit reaching VN3.54 trillion, up by 19.6 per cent and 20 per cent over 2023. Its total assets reached VN73.5 trillion and shareholders' equity stood at VN26.8 trillion, up 6 per cent and 15 per cent over 2023.

Key business segmentssecurities services, principal investment, treasury finance, investment banking, and asset managementall contributed to the companys solid performance, Nam said.

For Q1 2025, SSI estimates consolidated revenue of VN2.18 trillion and pre-tax profit of VN1.03 trillion, achieving 22.5 per cent and 24.3 per cent of its annual targets.

At the AGM, shareholders also approved a 10 per cent cash dividend for 2024, amounting to over VN1.97 trillion.

Additionally, the AGM approved a plan to increase charter capital through a private placement of 104 million shares during the 20252026 period, raising capital from VN19.7 trillion to VN20.8 trillion to support lending and investment activities.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday received Jeffrey Perlman, Chief Executive Officer of Warburg Pincus and Chairman of the ASEAN-US Business Council (USABC), during which he called on the fund to expand its investments in Viet Nam, and engage with the US government on adopting appropriate measures to promote fair and sustainable bilateral trade.

PM Chinh expressed his appreciation for the fund's partnership and sustainable investments in Vietnam over the past decade, acknowledging its efforts and commitment to expanding investment in the southern province of Ba Ria-Vung Tau in particular and in Viet Nam as a whole.

Agreeing with the proposal from Warburg Pincus and the People's Committee of Ba Ria-Vung Tau regarding the investment in constructing an expressway connecting Long Thanh International Airport in ong Nai Province with Ho Tram in Ba Ria-Vung Tau, the Government leader urged the fund to continue working closely with relevant ministries and agencies to soon carry out the project.

He emphasised that this expressway is of significant importance in enhancing regional connectivity, boosting the development of high-quality tourism, and supporting auxiliary service industries. The project will fully capitalise on the strategic location and vast potential of Ho Tram, which holds great potential to become a major tourism hub.

As Viet Nam is a developing country with a transitioning economy, and is still dealing with the severe consequences of war, it hopes to continue receiving support and cooperation from the US, and strengthening and deepening the Viet Nam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, including maintaining and promoting stable, sustainable economic and trade relations based on equality and mutual benefit, while enhancing cooperation with US investors in the country.

Expressing gratitude for the USs extension of the deadline for imposing its reciprocal tariff to facilitate negotiations, the PM stressed that the economic and trade relations between the two countries are not in direct competition, but rather complementary. To date, Viet Nam has essentially addressed the concerns of the US, actively reducing taxes, purchasing more goods from the country, and is ready to engage in exchanges and negotiations on the basis of mutual benefit, aiming for sustainable, fair trade, as discussed recently between Party General Secretary To Lam and President Donald Trump.

Noting that Viet Nam needs support and cooperation of other countries to overcome these current challenges, Chinh affirmed that Viet Nam does not rely solely on that support and cooperation, but always respects the legitimate rights and interests of its partners, and listens to reasonable opinions.

He requested that Warburg Pincus help to mobilise as much capital as possible for both the public and private sectors, and call for the US government to soon recognise Viet Nam's market economy status and remove Viet Nam from the list of countries with restrictions on high-tech exports.

Viet Nam will continue to create the best conditions for, and stand alongside businesses to ensure their legal, healthy and effective operations, while always listening to constructive feedback to enhance mutual understanding, and increase the effectiveness of cooperation.

For his part, Jeffrey Perlman emphasised that at this crucial moment in the strongly developing economic and trade relations between Viet Nam and the US, Viet Nam continues to receive robust support from US businesses that regard Viet Nam as a very reliable partner, and believe in the long-term potential and prospects of the country.

Regarding bilateral trade relations, he assessed that Viet Nam has been very proactive in addressing the concerns of the US; and continues to actively remove barriers and obstacles for businesses, including those from the US, and work continuously to improve its investment and business environment to foster stronger cooperation.

He affirmed that, in his capacity as Chairman of the US-ASEAN Business Council, he is always ready to advise and support the development of mutually beneficial solutions on tariffs between the two countries. He also pledged to continue advocating for the development potential of Vietnam to other partners and contribute positively to the Viet Nam-US relationship.

Warburg Pincus is a leading global growth investor, investing over US$83 billion in more than 40 countries around the world. Since 2013, the firm has poured more than $2 billion into Viet Nam, with notable projects such as Vincom Retail, BW Industrial, Techcombank, MoMo, and recently, the Grand Ho Tram and Xuyen A Hospital projects.  VNA/VNS
HA NOI  All eyes are on the Imperial Citadel of Thang Long where the nation's best pho restaurants gather together for the annual Pho Festival.

More than 50 booths of businesses, enterprises and giant pho brands will introduce and popularise the national dish during the three-day event which was officially launched on the night of April 18.

In a special area of the citadel, diners and visitors have opportunities to taste typical pho styles from different parts of the country such as the Northwest, Nam inh, Ha Noi, Central and Southern regions.

Among the big names are Pho Thin Bo Ho and Pho Tu Lun from Ha Noi, Pho Hoang Gia and Pho Van Cu of Nam inh.

In addition to enjoying pho, visitors will also witness chefs directly demonstrate the cooking of pho and frying of quay (dough sticks). They will introduce every step from choosing ingredients, making noodles, to cooking broth and serving a delicious bowl of pho.

Participating in this year's festival, Pho Thin Bo Ho stall attracted a large number of visitors on the opening day.

Bui Chi Thanh, the third generation owner of the restaurant shared that he prepared about 500 bowls on the first day and may increase in the following days.

Each bowl cost only VN40,000 VND, about two thirds of the price at the restaurant, but he was happy to serve a larger number of people.

"By participating in the festival, we hope to promote and introduce the quintessence of Ha Noi cuisine to a large number of people and tourists. The price is lower than usual but the quality and food hygiene and safety are guaranteed," said Thanh.

Artisan Le Thi Thiet, chairwoman of the Nam inh Culinary Culture Association, was also busy serving diners.

We introduce famous Nam inh-style pho. All ingredients are carefully preserved and cooked to ensure the best flavour to our customers. The festival is a precious opportunity to introduce and promote the quintessence of pho culinary heritage - a dish that has won hearts of both local and international tourists, she said.

In addition to Pho Thin Bo Ho and pho Nam inh which have been well-known for decades for their noodles with beef, Pho ong Kinh was totally a new brand that would be launched in the next few months.

"We are a group of five chefs and artisans. After a long time of discussion and preparation, we decided to present diners our pho with chicken which is cooked as traditionally as what our ancestors did in the past," artisan Nguyen Thi Anh, vice chairwoman of the Ha Noi Professional Chefs Association told Viet Nam News.

"Taking the name of ong Kinh we hope to revive the heritage of old Ha Noi with our traditional recipes in a space of history in our place."

At the festival, people will also find different varieties of pho such as pho made of corn from Ha Giang Province, pho with roasted duck from Lang Son, pho with burnt livers from Bac Ninh, and pho made of artichoke flowers from a Lat.

Tran Thanh Mai and her family really enjoyed their special meal at the citadel.

"We come here early and visit all booths before choosing the Van Cu restaurant. Here we can see a chef preparing our pho and have a great dinner with national dish at this Imperial Citadel, a rare chance that we may not have in the future," Mai said.

Many international friends were also excited to have their pho in an outdoor area with music and performances available.

"I got in the festival by chance and am really lucky to taste pho this way," said John Sullivan from the US.

"I checked in many stalls and decided to have pho with chicken, so good!. I will be back here again for other options before the festival ends."

A highlight of the festival is that all booths apply a common price of VN40,000 per bowl. Customers will buy tickets from the chatbot which will help them to find restaurants and choose the right pho flavour and style that they expect.

This is the first time AI technology has been applied in a culinary festival in Viet Nam.

Within the framework of the festival, locals and tourists can also visit the exhibition Pho Story, recreating the development journey of Vietnamese dish through each historical period.

Visitors will see its development from the old pho stalls on the streets and the subsidy-era pho restaurants to the world-class pho brands. In addition, there is also a space for Ha Noi lotus tea and an old-style beer stall, which recreate the culinary culture of the old capital.

In particular, the festival also includes a conference where experts discuss the plans to turn pho into a global culinary heritage, as well as the process and challenges in building a dossier to submit to UNESCO. VNS
US President Donald Trump on April 10 announced a 90-day suspension of reciprocal tariffs for more than 75 trade partners that have not retaliated against the United States. During this period, these countries will face the same 10 per cent tariff. In response, Viet Nam is being urged to strengthen its internal capacity to weather external shocksnot just as a short-term adjustment to tariffs, but as a long-term strategy for sustainable growth.

Nguyen Ba Hung, chief economist at the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Viet Nam, shares his perspective on the issue with the media.

What immediate steps can Viet Nam take to adapt to these challenges?

The first step is to stimulate domestic demand. This is not unique to Viet Namit reflects a broader global economic slowdown. To offset falling external demand, it is essential to bolster internal consumption.

The Government's recent reforms are moving in the right direction, aiming to enhance governance and expand development capacity. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, measures such as the 2 per cent VAT reduction have helped maintain consumer purchasing power. However, further progress will require more direct support for income growth.

Public investment can play a catalytic rolenot only by driving business and production activity, but also by raising income levels. Beyond that, policies such as workforce retraining, social safety nets for the unemployed, and support programmes to help workers transition between jobs will help people maintain their livelihoods.

Such income-boosting measures have broader spillover effects and can be flexibly combined. For example, increasing public spendingparticularly on infrastructureis a logical step. Viet Nams public debt is only around 36 per cent of GDP, well below the 60 per cent cap, giving the government fiscal space to expand spending.

The second priority is to continue reforms to improve the business and investment environmentsuch as upgrading infrastructure, developing human capital, and enhancing overall competitiveness.

Externally, Viet Nam should diversify its export markets. While the US remains a key partner, it is not the only one. Other markets have not imposed high tariffs, presenting an opportunity to reduce reliance on a single market and strengthen global trade ties.

What about foreign direct investment? How can Viet Nam continue to attract and retain it?

It is still too early to assess the full impact of tariffs on foreign direct investment (FDI). For now, most investors are taking a wait-and-see approach. Generally, however, FDI is a long-term commitment, and short-term disruptions are unlikely to trigger major shifts.

While tax incentives are a tool to attract FDI, they are not sufficient on their own. Investors place significant value on infrastructure, the quality of local services, and the availability of skilled labour. Offering low taxes alone does not guarantee that foreign investors will stayor come in the first place.

Instead, Viet Nam should focus on broader, long-term improvements such as infrastructure development and workforce upskilling. These investments not only enhance the country's competitiveness but also benefit both local firms and foreign investors.

What are ADBs recommendations for stabilising key export-driven sectors if tariffs are imposed?

That depends on global competitiveness and Viet Nam's relative advantages. While we cannot control international markets, we can analyse how tariffs may affect demand.

For example, in industries such as textiles or footwear, price increases driven by tariffs could lead to a drop in demand. Demand elasticity is keysmall price hikes may be absorbed, but significant increases could curb consumption.

That is why we continue to stress the importance of diversifying export markets. But to succeed in new markets, Vietnamese firms must improve product quality and meet international standards.

Do tariffs present an opportunity for local firms to move up the value chain?

Absolutely. At present, most FDI firms in Viet Nam operate by using domestic land, labour, and infrastructure, while importing materials and exporting the final product. This limits the value retained in the country.

For instance, in semiconductor production, only about 5 per cent of the value remains in Viet Nam. For electronics, the figure is about 10 per cent, and for garments, around 30 per cent, according to an ADB research. In other words, if a product generates VN10 in value, VN9 often goes abroad, with only VN1 retained domestically.

To shift this, domestic businesses must become more involved in the supply chain. If local firms can provide materials or components to FDI enterprises, instead of relying on imports, more value will be retained in Viet Nam.

However, the key challenge is competitiveness. Local firms must offer products at prices and quality levels that rival those of foreign suppliers. This is the core message ADB wants to convey: boosting local competitiveness is essential to increasing Viet Nams share of the value chain.

Do you see the tariff situation as an opportunity for economic restructuring?

I do. As a saying goes, In every crisis lies opportunity. The US tariff policy reflects a broader shift in the global economic orderfrom open trade to one increasingly shaped by geopolitical and economic tensions.

This presents both challenges and opportunities for Viet Nam. It is a chance to accelerate domestic reform, diversify export markets, and deepen partnerships beyond the US.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has proposed a VN500 trillion preferential credit package for innovation and infrastructure. How do you assess this initiative?

While full details are still emerging, the policy direction is sound. Whether tariffs remain in place or not, strengthening domestic demand is vital to supporting Viet Nams growth.

The focus on infrastructure is especially important, as it lowers operational and logistics costs over the long term. At the same time, increased investment in innovation is crucial. Viet Nams current R&D spending is only 0.4 per cent of GDPfar below the ASEAN average.

The proposed package amounts to about 44.5 per cent of GDP and remains well within the countrys fiscal capacity. Even if funded entirely by borrowing, public debt would rise to just over 40 per cent of GDPstill safely below the 60 per cent limit.

However, the key will be timely and effective implementation. If it can be rolled out this year, the impact could be significant. But if delayed over several years, the stimulus effect will be weakened. VNS
BEIJING  Leaders of Viet Nam and China agreed to elevate the comprehensive strategic cooperation between the two countries to a new, higher-quality, and deeper level, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi has stated.

Talking to the press following Party General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinpings visit to three Southeast Asian countries, including Viet Nam, Wang said that this year marks the 75th founding anniversary of the two countries' diplomatic relations. Xi chose Viet Nam as the first stop in his foreign visits in 2025, while To Lam also selected China as his first overseas destination to come after assuming the role of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam last year.

The fact that both the leaders paid mutual visits within a year fully reflects the strategic nature and the high level of China  Viet Nam relations, he noted.

Wang stressed that during Xi's trip, Vietnamese and Chinese leaders pledged to accelerate the building of a China  Viet Nam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, and jointly promote the cause of socialism amid a changing global landscape.

According to the Chinese official, the strategic guidance of the top Party and State leaders of the two countries is the greatest advantage and the most important political guarantee for the development of China  Viet Nam relations.

During the visit, Xi and Lam held an in-depth discussion on shared, strategic, and directional issues, and further deepened their exchanges through two tea talks.

The Chinese leader also met with President Luong Cuong, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, and National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man.

The Chinese FM cited Xi as emphasising that China will always support Viet Nam in pursuing its path toward socialism suited to the latter's conditions, in preparing for and holding the 14th National Party Congress, and in continuously creating new prospects for the cause of the Party and the nation.

During the trip, the two sides signed 45 cooperation documents and issued a joint statement, aiming to promote effective, high-quality, and substantive cooperation between the two countries, and speed up the alignment of their development strategies, Wang said.

The expansion and upgrade of railway cooperation between Viet Nam and China demonstrates their determination to pursue common development, he noted, adding that with the launch of the China  Viet Nam railway cooperation mechanism during the Chinese leaders visit, the two countries will achieve complete connectivity of standard-gauge railway lines, significantly helping enhance cross-border transport capacity, reduce logistics costs, and enable the seamless connection of their supply chains.

This will further expand the new western land - sea route, creating stronger momentum for the China  Indochina Peninsula Economic Corridor. It is also expected to become a landmark project in the building of a high-quality Belt and Road Initiative between China and Viet Nam, Wang went on.

According to him, as this year marks the Year of China  Viet Nam Humanistic Exchange, Xi and Vietnamese leaders jointly met with delegates attending the China  Viet Nam peoples friendship meeting, and reaffirmed that the foundation and strength of bilateral relations lie in the people.

The Chinese FM stated that in the context of a changing world, the peaceful development of the two socialist countries  China and Viet Nam  has brought about valuable stability, and the friendly cooperation between them has fully demonstrated a spirit of progress.

Standing at a new historical starting point, China and Viet Nam will work together along the path outlined by the top leaders of the two Parties and countries, making new contributions to the cause of socialism in the world and to the development and advancement of humanity.  VNS
HA NOI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has suggested Viet Nam and Japan intensify efforts to deepen their time-honoured friendship and multifaceted cooperation, based on mutual trust, understanding and goodwill; and effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thus contributing to peace, stability and cooperation in the region and the world.

Receiving Japanese Ambassador to Viet Nam Ito Naoki on April 18, PM Chinh stressed the need to deepen cooperative ties in different fields, including politics, diplomacy, economic development, science and technology, digital transformation, food security, and high-quality workforce training.

The PM also called for closer cooperation in defence and security, particularly in counter-terrorism, cyber security, and UN peacekeeping, along with expanding trade and increasing market access for both countries products.

He noted the smooth progress of several major joint projects, and shared plans to commence work on new landmark initiatives, such as the Viet NamJapan University and Cho Ray Hospital. The PM expressed his hope that Japan would continue to provide support in terms of capital, advanced technologies, and investment. He also asked for assistance in resolving issues at the Nghi Son Refinery and Petrochemical Complex, a trilateral collaboration between Viet Nam, Japan and Kuwait.

Appreciating the significant impact of Japans Official Development Assistance (ODA) on Viet Nams socio-economic development, PM Chinh appealed for more new-generation ODA from Japan with simplified procedures and focusing on major projects.

For his part, Naoki congratulated Viet Nam on successfully hosting the fourth Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030 (P4G) Summit, and affirmed that Viet Nam is entering a new era of dynamic, prosperous development. He also reiterated that Japan remains Viet Nams best partner in this process.

The ambassador affirmed Japans strong interest in enhancing collaboration with Viet Nam, particularly in the fields of human resource development, green transition, and within the framework of the Asia Zero Emissions Community (AZEC), as well as in the provision of new-generation ODA.

He noted Japans intention to support Viet Nam in developing strategic infrastructure, such as high-speed rail and urban railway projects, and called for further information exchange to ensure successful cooperation outcomes.

The diplomat thanked PM Chinh for his timely guidance in resolving issues related to key Japanese projects in Viet Nam and expressed his hope that the Vietnamese Government will continue to direct ministries and agencies to improve the business environment and streamline administrative procedures, especially those related to electricity supply.

He also suggested opening Viet Nams market further for Japanese fruits, and affirmed that Japan is actively improving conditions to welcome more Vietnamese guest workers to work in the East Asian country.  VNS
BUENOS AIRES  A commemorative event has been organised by the Communist Party of Argentina (PCA) in Buenos Aires to honour the significance of Viet Nams victory on April 30, 1975, a pivotal moment that marked the liberation of the South and national reunification.

The April 16 gathering, held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of this milestone, brought together Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Ngo Minh Nguyet and PCA General Secretary Jorge Kreyness, among others.

In his remarks, Marcelo Rodriguez, head of the PCA Central Committee's department for foreign affairs and Director of the PCA's Hector P. Agosti Marxist Studies and Training Centre (CEFMA), emphasised the events importance in further strengthening the long-standing bonds between the two nations, as well as the relationship between the PCA and the Communist Party of Viet Nam (CPV).

Ambassador Ngo Minh Nguyet reaffirmed the great significance of the 1975 Spring Victory in the Vietnamese people's resistance against the US.

She also spotlighted the countrys remarkable socio-economic achievements under the leadership of the CPV during nearly four decades of oi moi (Renewal). These strides have elevated Viet Nam into the ranks of the worlds 40 largest economies and brought considerable improvements in defence - security policies and living standards.

The diplomat stressed that these accomplishments, widely acknowledged by the international community, have positioned Viet Nam to confidently step into a new era. With aspirations for peace, prosperity, democracy, and development, the country continues its steady path toward socialism.

For his part, Ruben Dario Guzzetti, coordinator of the Viet Nam research group at the CEFMA, underscored the significance of the Vietnamese people's struggle under the CPV's leadership in defeating colonialism and imperialism in 1975 and reunifying the country. He also praised Viet Nams current level of development and growing international stature.

Meanwhile, head of the PCA Central Committee's information department Hernan Randi recalled how the Vietnamese people's struggle inspired the Argentine youth during the 1970s.

He honoured the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh and General Vo Nguyen Giap, as well as the solidarity extended by the Argentine people in support of Viet Nam, underscoring the CPV's guiding role throughout the nation's historic journey.  VNS
HA NOI  Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs o Hung Viet had a meeting with Sean Kotaro ONeill, Senior Bureau Official for the Department of State's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs of the US, in Ha Noi on April 18, which also saw the attendance of US Ambassador to Viet Nam Marc E. Knapper.

Viet welcomed the positive progress in the Viet NamUS Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, particularly in high-level meetings and exchanges, cooperation in overcoming war consequences, and collaboration in emerging sectors such as high technology and energy.

The Deputy FM affirmed Viet Nams desire to work closely with the US to realise the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a more practical and intensive way that benefits both nations' people and businesses.

Viet expressed concerns over the US's imposition of high reciprocal tariffs on Vietnamese goods. He stressed that the two economies are highly complementary, and affirmed that Viet Nam is ready to closely coordinate with the US to devise concrete measures that promote stable, long-term and mutually beneficial trade and economic ties, bringing practical benefits to people and businesses of both countries.

For his part, ONeill reiterated that the US highly evaluates Viet Nams role and position in the region, and pledged to continue close coordination with the Southeast Asian country to effectively implement the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Regarding cooperation at regional forums, he reiterated the US's support for ASEAN centrality and its active participation in ASEAN-led forums.

The two sides agreed to closely coordinate to organise activities marking the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations in 2025, especially mutual high-level visits.  VNS
HAU GIANG  National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man on April 18 met with voters in the Mekong Delta province of Hau Giang ahead of the 15th-tenure parliament's ninth session, which he described as significant as it will focus on amending the 2013 Constitution to enable apparatus restructuring.

Man noted that this session will have the heaviest workload in the NA's history. The most significant item on the agenda is to consider the amendment of the 2013 Constitution, with eight out of 120 articles to be revised, aimed at facilitating the restructuring of the administrative apparatus.

Public consultation on the constitutional amendments will run from May 6 to June 5, followed by a five-day review period. If passed, the NA's resolution on amending and supplementing some articles of the Constitution will end the operation of district-level administrative units after June 30, he said.

Regarding the reorganisation of provincial- and communal-level administrative units, the NA Chairman said the number of provincial-level units will be brought down to 34 (28 provinces and six centrally-run cities), while 6070 per cent of the current 10,035 communes will be reduced. Under the Party Central Committees resolution, Hau Giang is expected to be merged with Can Tho city and Soc Trang province to form a centrally-run city named Can Tho, with greater space for development, he said.

This is an unprecedented "revolution" to streamline the organisational apparatus, ensure effective and efficient operations, and reallocate resources for socio-economic development, national defence - security, and building a clean and strong political system, he underlined.

Another key objective, he added, is to create more development space and make public services more accessible. The shift to a two-tier administrative system is meant to bring the administration closer to the people to understand and respond to their needs more efficiently.

The top legislator also underscored the importance of timely implementation. All constitutional and legal amendments must be completed by June 30, 2025, and take effect from July 1. Communal-level units must be fully operational by August 15, and provincial-level units by September 15.

He also highlighted tasks such as optimising healthcare and education infrastructure, and repurposing surplus public buildings effectively.

Besides, the parliament will also look into the draft revised Law on Election of Deputies to the NA and the People's Councils, Man went on, adding that the election of deputies to the 16th-tenure NA and all-level People's Councils for the 20262031 tenure is expected to be held on March 15 next year.

In his remarks, the Chairman also asked Hau Giang to aim for at least 8 per cent growth in 2025 and double-digit growth during the 20262030 period, while preparing well for all-level Party congresses and major national anniversaries.

At the meeting, voters voiced strong support for the policy of merging provincial-level administrative units, dissolving district-level ones, and reorganising communes. They expressed absolute confidence that the Politburo, the Party Central Committee, the NA, and the Government will successfully lead the political system's "apparatus streamlining revolution", seen as essential for economic growth, national defence, security safeguarding, people's life quality improvement.

They urged the early implementation of policies for civil servants taking early retirement or voluntarily stepping down, along with support mechanisms for part-time officials impacted by the restructuring. They also called for stronger investment in administrative reform, smart operation centres, and digital infrastructure, to make procedures easier for citizens, businesses, and Government agencies after the mergers.

The NA's ninth session is scheduled to open on May 5 and last until June 30.

Earlier on April 18, in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification (April 30, 19752025), NA Chairman Man presented 50 gifts to policy beneficiary families and revolution contributors in Hau Giang. In Vi Thanh city, he visited and presented a gift to Heroic Vietnamese Mother Nguyen Thi Kim Hoa, whose husband and son were war martyrs.  VNS
HA NOI  Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court of Viet Nam Le Minh Tri hosted a reception for EU Ambassador to Viet Nam Julien Guerrier in Ha Noi on April 18, during which he praised the diplomat for helping enhance the capacity of Viet Nams judicial institutions.

At the event, Tri thanked the ambassador for his bridging role and acknowledged that the Supreme Peoples Court has benefited from the EU Justice and Legal Empowerment Programme in Viet Nam (EU JULE), including law research and making initiatives like the Law on Mediation and Dialogue at Court, family and juvenile courts, and the development of a code of conduct for judges.

Briefing the guest on recent achievements and key priorities of Viet Nam's court system, Tri said that the Supreme People's Court is implementing organisational restructuring to ensure a streamlined, efficient, and effective judicial apparatus while executing a digital transformation plan across the court system.

The Chief Justice expressed his confidence that building upon the results of the EU JULE projects Phase 1 (20182024), the EUs support in the next phase will help address challenges in strengthening the effectiveness and efficiency of Viet Nam's legal and judicial institutions, developing a rule-of-law socialist State of Viet Nam, and improving legal and judicial services for citizens.

He also laid stress on the robust Viet Nam  EU relations over the past years, flourishing in the areas of political  diplomatic affairs, defence  security, science  technology, cybersecurity, education  training, climate change response, and legal and judicial matters.

The EU diplomat, for his part, stated that over the past three decades, the EU has actively supported Viet Nam's sustainable development, affirming that with their flourishing relationship, Viet Nam has become the EU's leading trade partner in ASEAN.

He held that through the EU JULE project, the Supreme People's Court will be able to strengthen its judicial capacity, noting a robust judicial system serves as a powerful instrument for national development while creating positive impacts for European businesses and investors in Viet Nam.

The EU Ambassador voiced his expectation for continued effective cooperation in the coming years.  VNS
ONG NAI  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh paid a visit to the southern province of ong Nai on April 19 to inspect and encourage military, militia, and police forces preparing for the grand parade commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30).

The parade will feature 25 military and militia formations and 17 police formations, with more than 13,000 personnel from all services and branches of the Vietnam Peoples Army, Peoples Public Security, and militia forces.

PM Chinh visited the military and militia groups that are rehearsing in Bien Hoa City, and later the police force that is in training in Long Thanh District.

The PM was moved to learn that the forces have undergone nearly five months of arduous and persistent training, acknowledging numerous challenges that they have overcome, including harsh weather and separation from their families. Despite the obstacles, the forces have maintained a strong sense of responsibility, determination, and solidarity as well as strived to fulfil their assigned tasks.

He commended the Central Military Commission and the Ministry of National Defence for their close leadership and direction of the parade. The parade subcommittee has effectively organised the selection and training of the forces while ensuring necessary provisions and benefits for all participants.

The people are eagerly waiting to relive the joyful and proud atmosphere of those April days 50 years ago through this anniversary celebration and parade, he said, adding they also look forward to witnessing the maturity and strength of the Vietnamese armed forces, and take pride in the years of brave resistance and nation-building.

To ensure the success of the parade, PM Chinh urged the forces to embody "five premier principles"  most thorough preparation, best spirit, most beautiful movements, most effective coordination, and most attentive logistical support.

He expressed his confidence that the parade forces will excellently fulfil their mission on this momentous national occasion, demonstrating patriotism and profound gratitude to the previous generations.

The Government leader ordered close coordination among the Ministry of Public Security, the Ministry of Defence, other ministries, agencies, the HCM City People's Committee, and relevant localities, ensuring that everything proceeds in line with the plan.

Simultaneously, measures must be put in place to guarantee absolute security and safety for all anniversary activities.  VNS
Rapid urbanisation and increased population have made many areas in Ha Noi face a serious lack of public education institutions, especially kindergartens and grade schools.

As a result, it creates pressure on the citys education system. Approaching enrolment day, students are stressed with studying and parents lose sleep trying to find a suitable school for their children.

Dream of public school

In just a few months, the enrolment for all levels of education in Ha Noi will officially begin. The story of the shortage of public schools is once again 'heating up', with even more shortfall this year than in previous ones.

The aspiration for a reasonable fee-paying quality school seems simple, but it can sometimes be an unattainable dream of many families.

Nam Tu Liem District is an example.

The school could not meet the rapidly increasing population in a short period of time, leading to a situation that children still have to go to schools in other areas, although many new primary schools were built right in front of their apartments. The older school can only accommodate about 1,100 students, while the actual demand was nearly 1,700.

According to a representative of the district's authorities, the planned scale of the school construction in this area was surveyed and evaluated based on actual investigation figures at the time of construction preparation.

However, when the school was completed and put into use, the population in the area increased sharply, making its capacity no longer sufficient, he said.

At the high school level, competition for admission to public schools is hotter than ever.

Bui Thi Vien in Hoai uc District decided to change her child's enrolment application to other area so that he would have more opportunities to study.

"The benchmark scores have fluctuated a lot in recent years, and parents' psychology in choosing a school for their children is like playing lotteries, Vien told nguoiduatin.vn.

Last year, oan Ket High School, although a top school, saw a sharp decrease in benchmark scores, while many average schools saw their admission scores increase rapidly.

Many people have had to turn to schools in other areas for application or calculate somehow to get their children into public schools, so it is very difficult to get what you wish for."

She added: With the current large number of candidates and only a few schools, getting into a public school is already difficult, wanting to get into a school you like and one that is prestigious is even more difficult."

There are many reasons why the city has been pushed into a situation of 'thirsty' of public schools, but the leading cause is that population growth exceeds urban planning speeds.

According to reports of the municipal authorities, in the past two years, due to rapid urbanisation, many new residential areas were formed, leading to an increase in the school-age population. Although many schools have been renovated and newly built, the overload of public schools is still becoming increasingly serious in some districts, especially in inner-city districts.

Currently, Ha Noi is short of about 49 schools in the eight districts of Ba inh, Cau Giay, Bac Tu Liem, ong a, Ha ong, Hai Ba Trung, Hoan Kiem, and Hoang Mai.

There were only two newly built schools in the 2024-25 school year.

The reports show that in the 2023-24 school year, there were 129,210 students finishing secondary schools, but only 72,000 places available at public high schools.

In the 2024-25 school year, the number of students completing secondary school increased to 133,000, but the actual places in public high schools is only 81,000.

School overload is also alarming at the pre-school level.

Thanh Xuan District has about 19 public kindergartens, with a total new enrolment quota of 3,067, while the total number of school-age students in the area is 19,883.

Even with the addition of 25 non-public kindergartens, the total number of students attending school is only about 4,585.

Meanwhile, in Cau Giay District, in the 2025-26 school year, there are more than 13,000 children from nursery age to five years old, but the total enrolment quota for pre-school children is only 5,834.

School shortage, population growth

According to Tran The Cuong, director of Ha Nois Department of Education and Training, the city has the largest number of students in Viet Nam, with 2.3 million.

Every year, Ha Noi sees an increase of 40,000 to 50,000 students, requiring the city to build 30 to 40 new schools (both public and private) annually to meet the demand.

A major challenge Ha Noi faces is developing its school network according to urban planning rules in certain areas that have not kept pace with population growth.

Additionally, progress on several school construction projects outlined in planning documents has been slow. In some districts, class sizes remain above the regulated limit.

Of the most concern is the high school level, which currently has only 117 public schools  fewer than at the lower secondary, primary, or pre-school levels.

This creates significant pressure on students graduating from secondary school and applying for high school.

Each year, public high schools only admit 60 to 62 per cent of these students. The shortage of public schoolsespecially in densely populated inner-city districtsmakes it difficult to keep up with student demand.

Tran Huy Anh, a member of the Ha Noi Architects Association, said that the longstanding-shortage of schools in the capital stemmed from faulty initial data, which had a major impact on planning.

Over the years, the number of public high schools has just accounted for 42 per cent of the total schools at all levels, Anh said.

This means many residents cannot access public schools, despite high demand. The gap between supply and demand grows with each academic year. Students not only have to travel further and pay higher tuition fees, but in future, they may also lose access to school-fee subsidies, which are usually offered only in public schools, he added.

According to experts, the formula for calculating land needed for school construction is based on population size.

Specifically, for every 1,000 residents, there are approximately 310 students across general education, vocational schools, colleges and special education.

Each student, depending on the education level, requires a specific amount of land for school facilities, according to national standards.

The Ha Noi Peoples Council [Assembly] issued a resolution in 2012 on education development planning, stipulating that areas with a population of 30,000 to 50,000 must have one public high school and that school size is not to exceed 45 classes, with an average of 40 students per class.

Minimum land area per student is six square metres in inner-city areas, ten in suburban areas and 15 per student for newly built schools, in accordance with current construction standards.

But due to improper planning and management, the shortage of schools, especially at the upper secondary level, cannot be easily resolved, Anh said.

He also highlighted the irony that while land is said to be of limited supply to build schools, it is still available for property developers, who continue to build and trade real estate. Many areas remain vacant or underused and developers often fail to construct schools as required, yet this situation has persisted for many years.

In districts like Hoang Mai, developers focus solely on residential housing, while schools are severely inadequate. From pre-schools to upper secondary schools, parents have to scramble to find places for their children, Anh said.

He noted that repairing and addressing the school shortage at this point was extremely difficult, as it was the result of years of neglect, all while the population continued to rise rapidly.

In his article "Lifelong Learning", General Secretary To Lam of the Viet Nam Communist Party, wrote: We are living in an era where knowledge and intelligence help people maximise their potential, seize opportunities, and respond effectively to challenges for sustainable development.

Clearly, investing in education is the most solid foundation for the nation to advance in this new era.

Without enough schools  a basic prerequisite for learning  Ha Noi faces a tough challenge it must overcome in the years to come. VNS
THANH HOA  The fugitive wanted for drug trafficking and involvement in a violent shootout that left a police officer dead on Thursday has been arrested, police said on Saturday.

Bui inh Khanh, 31, was apprehended late Friday while hiding near Le Mon bypass in ong Hai Ward, the central city of Thanh Hoa. His arrest marks the apprehension of the last suspect involved in this large-scale drug operation.

He had been on the run following a confrontation with law enforcement on April 17 in the northern province of Quang Ninh, where he and other suspects allegedly opened fire with an AK-47 assault rifle in an attempt to rescue an accomplice arrested by the police.

During the ensuing shootout, Senior Lieutenant Nguyen ang Khai was fatally shot. He was rushed to Bai Chay Hospital but succumbed to his injuries.

By 4.30 am on April 18, police had captured two more suspects: Ha Quang Son and Hoang Van ong, both 31, from Tan Son District in the northern province of Phu Tho.

Authorities seized 16 bricks of heroin, two military-grade firearms, a grenade, three vehicles, and other related evidence.  VNS
HCM CITY  Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended a ceremony for the pilot rollout of the electronic identification, authentication, and biometric boarding solution at Terminal 3, a new facility of Tan Son Nhat International Airport in HCM City on April 19.

The event marked the completion of a major infrastructure project commemorating the 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification (April 30, 19752025).

In his address, PM Chinh stressed that the implementation of electronic identification, authentication, and biometric recognition for boarding procedures aligns with the Politburos Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on making breakthroughs in science  technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, as well as Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on advancing Viet Nams international integration in the new situation.

He added that this also marks tangible progress in the nations three strategic breakthroughs, namely institutional reform, infrastructure development, and human resources training, which are critical to ensuring national stability, fostering development, and improving people's quality of life.

The Government leader took the occasion to commend the ministries of construction, public security, and national defence, the HCM City Party organisation, administration and people, as well as competent authorities for their rapid development of T3  a modern and smart terminal, helping reduce costs and time while preventing wastefulness and negative phenomena.

Terminal 3, now the largest domestic passenger terminal in Viet Nam, boasts an annual capacity of 20 million passengers, increasing Tan Son Nhat International Airport's total capacity to 50 million.

The project required an investment of nearly VN11 trillion (over US$425 million), with construction beginning in late 2022.

The four-story terminal plus one basement level spans 112,500 square metres, featuring four main components  the passenger terminal, a multi-story parking structure with integrated services, an elevated road system, and aircraft parking aprons. The facility includes 27 boarding gates, six outbound baggage processing islands, and 10 baggage claim islands.

According to Chairwoman of Vietjet Air Nguyen Thi Phuong Thao, the end-to-end biometric process is part of a revolutionary passenger experience that will save millions of processing hours annually, delivering economic value estimated at tens of trillions of Vietnamese ong each year to the national economy.  VNS
HA NOI  As many as 198 outstanding digital products, services, and solutions were honoured at the Sao Khue Award 2025 ceremony organised by the Vietnam Software and IT Services Association (VINASA) in Ha Noi on April 19.

Among the winners were five digital transformation solutions for government and public sectors, 19 nominations in the community and citizen category, and 34 nominations in corporate governance. Other winners include 11 digital transformation solutions in the economic and industrial category, 29 digital solutions for market and consumption, 26 technology platforms and infrastructure solutions, 11 innovations, 42 new software products and services, and 21 digital service solutions.

From these winners, exceptional nominations in each category were selected for the prestigious 5-star Sao Khue ranking, recognising products and services that demonstrate outstanding technological superiority, economic efficiency, and social impact.

Notably, the Top 10 Sao Khue 2025 winners were singled out. These pioneering products and services excel in the domains of insurance/securities/investment, digital access, digital transformation services, data digitisation, digital banking, smart devices, system management, information technology, and education.

FPT has achieved remarkable recognition at the Sao Khue 2025 awards, securing 13 awards in total. This accolade highlights the company's commitment to innovation and excellence in the IT sector.

FPT's solutions address critical digital transformation challenges, providing smart solutions that benefit government operations and key economic sectors. These innovations enhance convenience for citizens and support international market development.

FPTs products underwent a rigorous evaluation process, comprising three rounds including preliminary, presentation, and final selection.

FPT's IT System Management Service, recognised in the Top 10 Sao Khue, is a robust solution catering to a diverse clientele. This service is essential for managing and optimizing IT infrastructure effectively.

At the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong highlighted that as Viet Nam is entering a new era built on science - technology, innovation, and digital transformation, the IT and digital technology community must continue to foster innovation and social responsibility to develop world-class digital products that will help Viet Nam advance further on the global technology map.

VINASA statistics showed that the 198 winning nominations from 125 companies achieved total revenue of some VN48 trillion (nearly US$2 billion) in 2024, or almost 20 per cent of Viet Nam's entire software and IT services industry earnings.

Beyond financial success, these solutions are directly contributing to digital transformation while addressing challenges faced by the Government and authorities across key economic sectors.

VINASA President Nguyen Van Khoa affirmed that Vietnamese tech companies are bringing Vietnamese intelligence to the world, with the AI, blockchain, and cloud computing solutions honoured at the Sao Khue Award 2025 having been incorporated into major contracts in demanding markets like Japan, Europe, and North America.

These achievements have contributed to the countrys economic growth and helped position Viet Nam as a digital service supply and innovation centre in the region and the world.  VNS
David Coy Whitby and David John Wilson are facing off in the May 3 election for Woodway's Ward 2 Place 2 city council seat.

Incumbent John Williams chose not to seek reelection.

Whitby, a Woodway resident since 2016 and U.S. Navy veteran of the Vietnam War, said he would have supported Williams if he were running again and only decided to file because Williams is stepping down. Whitby also said he supports Mayor Amine Qourzal, who is defending his own council seat in the May 3 election.

Wilson, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam War, moved to Woodway in 2000 after retiring from 30 years of engineering-related work in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. After working briefly as a stock broker locally, he retired fully.

Whitby

Whitby has been on the Woodway Parks and Recreation Commission about a year and previously served on the Heart O' Texas Fair and Rodeo's calf scramble committee that awards scholarships to teens.

He worked as chief operations officer at Versalift Southwest and the Time Manufacturing facility in Waco from about 2001, when operations were just starting, until 2017, when the company was sold. He said Versalift Southwest by then were bringing in $20 million to $30 million in annual revenue.

He said his work at Versalift Southwest demonstrates teambuilding skills he would bring to the council. Whitby said he built a fresh team of young employees there and almost all remained when the company was sold. The three rules he taught were: treat all employees with respect, leaders do not yell at work, and integrity violations are not tolerated.

In business, he also learned that passing the common sense test is the first hurdle in any decision making process, and preparation is key, Whitby said.

On the parks and recreation commission he is already exposed to a campaign issue for many, the future of the old Woodway Family Center building. A vocal group has consistently called for the city to repurpose the facility as a senior center, and the city council has referred the matter to the parks and recreation commission. Whitby said neither the commission nor the city council have made a decision about the facility.

"When we consider the needs of everyone who lives in Woodway, not just seniors, not just young kids, but them and everyone in between, if the old family center is needed for additional space to serve all of them, and if a new engineering study can show it can be renovated at a reasonable cost, then the council might consider renovating it and reopening it," Whitby said.

The reconfiguration of Estates Drive also has drawn attention during the campaign. Work wrapped up in December on the $468,000 project, which reconfigured the street from two driving lanes in each direction to one driving lane in each direction with a central turn lane, along with shared bicycle and pedestrian lanes divided from the driving lanes by bollards.

Whitby said the new traffic pattern, particularly the turn lane, makes the street much safer. He said he sees the shared walking and biking path as a side benefit to a slower, safer street.

If he is elected, Whitby said he plans to work toward a collaborative atmosphere on the council and to be a voice of reason.

"As we work to create success, we do that with a thoughtful budget and we do that with thoughtful processes that people can understand," Whitby said. "And you need to do it with integrity. That's a really big part of where I'm coming from."

Wilson

Wilson has not served on community boards or commissions or civic organizations such as the Lions Club but said he is active in the community from "an eternal perspective." He said he regularly goes on mission trips with his church, usually one or two per year to places such as Chile, South Korea or African nations. He is also a member of the McLennan County Community Emergency Response Team, which trains to assist during disaster situations when help from professional responders is hampered or unable to reach people in need.

Wilson also has been a leader in the Civil Air Patrol, the Air Force's civilian arm that handles most inland search and rescue efforts for downed aircraft.

He said his two years as a stock broker, from about 2000 to 2002, show fiscal responsibility he would bring to the council.

He said during his 30 years in Dallas I was an engineer, working with other engineers.

Wilson said that during a year working at Forrest and Cotton Consulting Engineers in the early 1970s, he helped to design the stormwater draining system for DFW Airport, while it was planning and also helped in the design of a wastewater treatment plant in Garland.

In another role, he said he helped to design the bomb loading system for the B-1B bomber.

Asked for clarification about his work as an engineer, he said he did not complete his engineering degree or become a licensed engineer because his career path did not require it. He studied engineering for four years at Oklahoma State University before a 16-month tour in Vietnam as an Army combat engineer. After Vietnam, he earned several civilian pilot ratings in Miami before moving to Dallas around 1970.

He said he played a support role, not a design role, on the DFW Airport and wastewater treatment plant projects, making drawings based on specifications and layouts determined by design engineers at the firm. For the B-1B bomber loading system, he clarified that he showed the engineering company designing the bomb loader a hydraulic pump that would meet their design requirements, and the company where he worked then sold the pump for the system.

Wilson said Woodway voters should pick him because of his honesty.

People that know me know Im honest. Im not doing this to line my pockets with money or my friends with money, Wilson said.

He said it is important to respond to the needs of the people, to be accountable for spending, to listen to the taxpayers and just being open and honest.

He said that as he was deciding to run for council, he heard a lot of people complaining about the bike lane on Estates Drive, and he agrees with them.

I woke up one morning and they had spent nearly $500,000 on a bike lane on Estates Drive, Wilson said.

The decision to reconfigure Estates Drive was voted on twice in the council about a year ago, with lengthy public hearings before each vote in which around two dozen Woodway residents spoke to the council, some for, some against. Both times it passed with five of seven council members voting in favor.

Wilson also has made a campaign issue out of what to do with the former family center building.

He said the building with just some cosmetic changes, it could be reopened, and he would support making the old family center into a senior center for 46% of the population of Woodway that are seniors.

During a recent presentation on the building to the Woodway Parks and Recreation Commission, City Manager Adam Niolet said reopening the building would require bringing it into compliance with Americans with Disabilities Act requirements.

The Tribune-Herald has previously reported on pre-pandemic estimates that it would cost more than $2 million to make the old family center building ADA-compliant.

Other city council candidates and proponents of using the building as a senior center also have said 46% of Woodway residents are seniors. However, U.S. Census Bureau figures show that people eligible for senior activities in Woodway, those 55 and older, actually make up 35.3% of the city.

Asked about the discrepancy, Wilson said, "I havent heard those other figures. The number people are saying around Woodway is that its 46% seniors and I havent had the opportunity to look into it. I just accepted it.

Campaign Finance

Wilson has spent $1,478 and received $711 in donations. The $711 came from Woodway City Council Member David Russell. Wilson said Russell bought the first set of campaign signs for him because he was on a mission trip out of the country with his church when it was time to do that.

The other $767, Wilson spent from his own funds on campaign signs and campaign materials.

Whitby has spent $1,720, received $774 of in-kind contributions and received an additional $2,391 in contributions.

Woodway resident and Waco-area developer David Mercer donated $1,000 to Whitby. All of Whitby's 14 other donations were $250 or less, including $250 from commercial real estate agent Gregg Glime and $150 from Woodway Mayor Amine Qourzal. Ten donations came from Woodway residents, four from out of town.

Of Whitby's in-kind contributions, $700 came from Qourzal, $500 of this for a website and the rest for sign holders. The other $74 was for campaign business cards.

All of Whitby's spending was on campaign signs.

All three of Woodways city council seats up for election this year have contested races. Qourzal is seeking reelection to his Ward 1 Place 1 council seat against challenger Charles Harold Anderson. After each regular municipal election, council members select a mayor from among their ranks. Ward 3 Place 2 incumbent Janell Gilman is defending her seat against challenger Michael Wayne Habern.

Early in-person voting for the May 3 election will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22-25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26, 1 to 6 p.m. April 27, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28-29.

April 22 is the deadline for the elections office to receive an application for a mail ballot.
Lorena voters will go to the polls May 3 to elect a mayor and two aldermen in an election overshadowed by questions of growth, city government transparency and bitter community division.

Three candidates, mayoral candidate Jonathan Guerra and aldermen candidates Malisa Spivey and Chantel Spivey, have said they are dropping their campaigns for election due to harassment and personal attacks they say they and family members have experienced.

Their intent to withdraw, however, came after a state deadline, so their names will be on the ballot for Lorena voters, with some mail-in ballots already sent out. Guerra told the Tribune-Herald on April 11 that he would resign if elected.

Under state law, the Lorena City Council could appoint a person to fill a vacated council post until the next election, but a special election would need to be called if two or more positions are involved.

Questions of city growth and transparency most recently came to a head in a controversy earlier this year over whether to allow The Texan Stores chain to build a center off Interstate 35 near the citys center and Olde Town area of historic buildings and shops.

Critics of the plan felt it would degrade the areas quality of life while proponents held that expanding the citys commercial base would ease revenue pressures on the citys residential taxpayers.

At a Feb. 18 city council meeting that saw residents on both sides speak out and a petition with several hundred names opposing the fueling center, the city council voted 4-1 to approve its construction under conditions such as expanded fencing and property management.

Mayoral candidate Russell Walizer, 55, said the citys water and sewer infrastructure needs make growth important, but it needs to happen at a manageable rate.

I see the city bringing more business to the community, but not at a fast pace, he said.

Walizer, a supervisor with Heritage Dedicated Services trucking company, said the city had approved construction of The Texan with accommodations for the people living around the location, but added he does have sympathy for their concerns.

He and his wife, Melissa, who have two children and a grandchild, have been active volunteers in the Lorena community, and he said his decision to run for mayor was an outgrowth of that community involvement.

In phone interviews conducted before they said they planned to withdraw from their city races, mayoral candidate Guerra, who also goes by the name Jon Goddi, and alderman candidate Malisa Spivey said transparency in city government is a major issue for them.

I feel theres a disconnection between the city government and its citizens, Guerra said at the time. I hope to bring more light into situations.  I want more citizens to be involved.

In their interviews, both Guerra and Malisa Spivey pointed to their decades as Lorena residents and owners of multiple businesses as advantages in city service. Spivey said her questions about city transparency extend beyond The Texan controversy to the citys involvement in the planned $79.5 million expansion of the Waco Metropolitan Area Regional Sewerage Systems Bull Hide Creek wastewater treatment plant that serves Lorena. The city of Waco is expected to pay some $67 million for the expansion with Lorenas share at $9.5 million.

I love my community and I want to see growth in a good way that keeps Lorena the way it is, Spivey said.

Two alderman candidates on the ballot, Jessica Montez and Chantel Spivey, did not return phone calls asking for information about their candidacies.

Current Lorena City Council Member Carla Pendergraft, 65, appointed to her position last fall, said the citys small size of about 1,900 residents puts it in a difficult position when it comes to paying for infrastructure expansion, such as the Bull Hide Creek plant project.

Such infrastructure is important for the residential growth Lorena anticipates, and commercial growth is one way of supporting it, Pendergraft said. She retired last year as Wacos assistant director for tourism and serves as executive director of the Waco Tourism Public Improvement District.

Lorena does not have an economic development fund to attract new commercial and industrial development as some larger cities do, but she feels Lorenas current city government is looking at development with an eye to the future, Pendergraft said.

Weve got progressive city management that I think is on top of things. Its been a pleasure to serve with them, she said. I think were looking at sensible growth that has a long-term impact on the city.

Pendergraft and her husband, Kevin, have an adult daughter.

Alderman candidate and Lorena native Adam Montemayor, 43, said managed city growth is key.

Were going to have to grow, but we have to moderate how fast to grow, he said.

Montemayor, owner of Crystal Clear Pools and Spas, said he has been in the construction business all my life and thinks the city got workable restrictions on The Texans operations.

He said he is worried, however, about divisions in the community.

We need to bring this divide together.  We need to grow together, Montemayor said. We need to work together.

He and his wife, Lindsay, have three children.

The two city council candidates who receive the most votes will win the two open seats.

Early in-person voting for the May 3 election will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 22-25, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 26, 1 to 6 p.m. April 27, and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. April 28-29.

April 22 is the deadline for the elections office to receive an application for a mail ballot.
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Charles H. Walkers legacy from a Union Civil War brigade in Wisconsin remains alive with his diary contents preserved by his descendants.

Troy Walker, a La Crosse man who grew up in Rio and presented his great-great-great grandfathers story of his battles in the 7th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment of the Iron Brigade at the American Legion in his childhood hometown on April 9, is keeping his ancestors story alive through Charles written accounts in a diary from September 1861 through June 1865.

With frequent entries  sometimes even on back-to-back days  the diary paints a four-year picture of life on the front lines of the Civil War.

Some are short and mundane:

Fri. 1/17/62Received our pay, mine was $26.

Others, less so: Walker mentions having a review before the general and Abraham Lincoln several times, and the word killed appears a few dozen times, like in this entry from July 1, 1863, the day the Battle of Gettysburg began:

A great many from our Reg. were killed and wounded. We then fell back into a piece of woods and we stayed there quite a while. Here one of our squad was struck by a shell which broke his right arm all to pieces. The same shell tore the back part of my knapsack all to pieces which I had on my back and killed a man at my side dead.

The 7th Regiment consisted of troops from Wisconsin, along with two other regiments of the Iron Brigade. Charles Walker was honorably discharged from the Army in July 1865 and lived in southern Wisconsin until his death in February 1902.

A lost arm and a preserved hat: Wisconsin stories from Gettysburg A trip to Gettysburg offers a glimpse into the sacrifices and valor of those who mustered in at Camp Randall and served in the Civil War.

Charles Walker immigrated to the U.S., settling in Reedsburg in 1858 after spending the first 24 years of his life in England, according to a biography by his granddaughter, Nora Walker Daugherty.

After his Civil War service, he settled in Rio, where he and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Scott Walker, who also was born in England, are buried. Mary, who died in 1916, is referenced often in Walkers diary, like 7/8/64, I got a letter from Mary E. Scott and then 7/9/64, I sent a paper to Mary E. Scott.

The couple eventually had four children: Marion, Frederick, Franklin and Elizabeth.

Walker was wounded twice during the Civil War and became a sergeant before his discharge. During a September 1862 battle in South Mountain, Maryland, he and numerous other 7th Regiment troops were wounded. He was later wounded again during the Wilderness Campaign, a series of battles in Virginia in May and June 1864. His regiment also participated in the Battle of Gettysburg in Pennsylvania from July 1-3, 1863.

He took part in several of the fiercest engagements of the war, read a 1902 obituary for him.

The obituary indicated that he nearly died from his wounds both times. Despite his injuries and war commitments, Walker regularly wrote in his diary. Passages rarely were longer than one week apart from each other.

There was a story my great-grandmother told of how the Iron 7th was a tough group of mostly Wisconsin farm boys, and how a rebel company sent out a recon group that found the Iron 7th camping and, even though the rebels had the Iron 7th outnumbered, they decided to go around than engage them in a fight, Troy Walker said, adding that only a handful of Iron 7th veterans survived the war, including Charles Walker.

During the Civil War, Iron 7th troops were some of the frontline soldiers in combat, according to Troy Walker, who amid sharing his ancestors story, is himself living with terminal heart failure.

Charles Walkers Company B lost 28 of its 105 members, Daugherty documented, and 24 more were discharged, largely for disabilities.

Show him that you clearly apprehend that all this warfare means peace, and that a dastardly peace would pave the way for speedy, incessant, and more appalling warfare, Walker wrote in his diary in a section called Letter to the Soldiers on June 3, 1863.

On Sept. 14, 1862, Walker was wounded by a musket ball that went through his leg, and he nearly fainted from a mile-plus long walk for medical attention. He and numerous other soldiers were later treated in Washington, D.C. after three painful nights in ambulances due to lack of hospital room availability in Maryland.

Walker was unable to put his pants on for over two months following the musket wound. He documented soldiers deaths in his hospital ward during his treatment.

Nearly two years later on May 5, 1864, Walker was wounded, again in his leg, in his regiments first battle with rebel forces in the Wilderness Campaign. A general in the Iron Brigade was killed the next day.

Walkers future wife, Mary Elizabeth Scott, wrote her first letter to him about three weeks after his Wilderness injury, on May 27, 1864.

I am well aware that we are strangers but O it seems that a soldier is no stranger to me for O you know now how I love to reverence a soldier, she wrote.

The Iron 7th trained, marched and camped throughout the northern U.S. in late 1861, according to Charles Walkers diary entries. He wrote accounts of firing drills, weapons inspections, food quality, cities visited, and weather conditions, among other topics.

Walker and the Iron 7th captured Fort Donelson  spelled Donaldson in the diary  in Tennessee and took in 15,000 Confederate prisoners and two generals, according to his entry in February 1862.

During marches through the South, Walker documented slaves living conditions, describing them as very miserable looking, with no floors in their cabins. He added that more of them were attempting to escape bondage upon seeing Union troops.

Two Confederate soldiers were killed and several more were wounded after an explosion in Fredericksburg in May 1962, after which he wrote that his regiment was told to be ready to escape.

In the beginning of 1863, Walker documented his Christian faith, referencing numerous Bible verses, to help him cope with trauma stemming from warfare and his wounds.

Company B had another battle in late April and early May 1863 near the Rappahannock River in Virginia. Roughly 800 Iron Brigade soldiers were taken as prisoners by the Confederate Army on May 4, Walker wrote.

The Brigade had another skirmish near Culpepper, Virginia on June 9, 1863, in which one Union and a few Confederate soldiers were killed.

I felt pretty near used up, Walker wrote.

Less than one month later, it was Gettysburg, where a great many from the regiment were killed. The Iron 7th retreated into a nearby town after Confederate forces advanced on them quickly. The regiment lost two more soldiers in the process and two of its commanders were wounded. Walker wrote that he was on safe guard all night.

Iron Brigade members and other Union forces fared better in the next couple of days, but Walker wrote that July 4, the day after the battle ended, was the poorest 4th of July that I ever saw, because of his troops lack of available food and the numerous casualties on both sides.

A monument dedicated to the Iron 7th is located in Gettysburg.

Later in July, the Iron 7th was ordered to shoot bystanders in their path during a march after seeing a Confederate cavalry in previous days. His troops had another battle near the Rappahannock in intense heat to begin August.

Daugherty reproduced Charles Walkers Civil War diary on a typewriter in 1929, according to Troy Walker, Daughertys grandson, who retyped the diary for his Rio presentation. He plans to visit Rio again to retell his ancestors story.
Oldest alcoholic beverage thrives in Wrexham thanks to local company

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 19th, 2025

The oldest alcoholic drink known to man has found a home in Wrexham.

Tony Cornish, an experienced mead-maker, has been crafting mead since the early 1990s.

He operates at his his meadery, Stone Circle Mead Company, on Rhosnesni Lane.

The business specialises in producing traditional, oak-aged meads blending Welsh honey, spices, foraged fruits, nuts, flowers and herbs.

From their Wrexham premises they supply some prestigious locations in the UK, including the House of Commons, the Senedd and various National Trust properties as well as offering tasting tours where you can try, buy, and learn about mead and its production process.

Cllr Nigel Williams, lead member for economy, business and tourism, said: This is a unique business in Wrexham and another example of investment in the county borough.

Tony has received support from the councils business and investment team to help him maximise on business opportunities and I wish him all the luck for the future.

Tony Cornish, owner of Stone Circle Meads Company, said: We were delighted to meet Cllr Nigel Williams at the meadery recently.

He spent a good deal of time with us to hear about what we do and the exciting plans we have for the future.
Welsh Government proposes new election spending limits ahead of 2026 Senedd vote

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 19th, 2025

The Welsh Government has announced proposals for new campaign spending limits for the 2026 Senedd election, reflecting significant changes to Waless electoral system.

Jayne Bryant MS, the Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government, updated the Senedd on the new arrangements.

The current limits, designed for a system combining single-member constituencies and multi-member regions, are now considered unsuitable following electoral reforms.

The new limit has been set following engagement by the Electoral Commission and consultations on both the draft Senedd Cymru (Representation of the People) Order and election campaign expenditure limits for political parties at Senedd elections.

Jayne Bryant MS, Cabinet Secretary for Housing and Local Government said, As part of the work to prepare for the Senedd election next year, new campaign expenditure limits must be set. The change to the electoral system means that the existing limits are unsuitable as they are set up for both multi-member regions and single-seat constituencies.

The limit for individual candidates will be set in the forthcoming Conduct Order, which establishes the rules for the conduct of Senedd elections. That limit must be on the recommendation of the Electoral Commission, which has now been received. In line with that recommendation, the proposal in the Conduct Order, which will be laid after Easter recess, is for a limit of 52,500. This is the same level as the proposed limit for a party list of one candidate, ensuring parity.

Limits for registered parties are set in the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000, and draft regulations to revise those limits will be laid before the Senedd in Summer term. These regulations can only be made with the consent of the Electoral Commission, and though formal consent cannot be requested until the draft regulations are complete, in-principle consent has been received on the basis of the following limits:

For a party list of one candidate, the limit proposed is 52,500. This is then proposed to increase by 3,500 for every additional candidate on the list, up to a maximum of 70,000 for a list of six or more. This provides a similar maximum limit to the current system for a party and its candidates standing in every constituency.

The changes are part of the preparations for the first Senedd election under a reformed electoral system, due to take place in 2026.

In 2022, the Senedd approved major reforms to its structure and voting method, moving towards a fully proportional electoral system with larger constituencies and multiple members elected in each one  a shift from the mixed system introduced when the Senedd (then called the National Assembly for Wales) was established in 1999.
Wrexham University announces partnership with new 5 million UK-wide Centre for Peoples Justice

This article is old - Published: Saturday, Apr 19th, 2025

Wrexham University has been announced as a partner in a new UK-wide Centre for Peoples Justice, which aims to bring law and social justice research together to support fairer, stronger and more inclusive societies.

The centre, funded by 4.1 million from Arts Humanities Research Council (AHRC), is led by Liverpool University, working in partnership with Glasgow, London (SAS) Sheffield, Swansea, Ulster and Wrexham universities and brings together academic, civil society, government and the creative, corporate and legal sectors.

The 5.8m centre is set to develop a cutting-edge education and training programme and an innovative range of creative, funded social justice projects which will result in a radical and novel social justice research methodology. Wrexham University will lead aspects related to trauma-informed work and arts and creativity.

Professor Joe Yates, Vice-Chancellor of Wrexham University, said: We are incredibly proud of this work and the team that has worked collaboratively to enable this innovative approach to social justice across the UK.

As an academic and practitioner in Youth Justice, this work is really close to my heart. Our involvement will support the growth of our civic mission work to tackle social inequality and build on our strengths and expertise in criminology, trauma-informed, arts and creativity.

The focus of enabling the voices of citizens and communities to shape future policies and strive for justice is core to our values, as well as the Well-being of Future Generations Act in Wales.

Dr Caroline Hughes, Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences at Wrexham University, said: I am delighted to be leading this vitally crucial project from a Wrexham perspective, and developing a values-based learning culture in partnership with the communities that we serve.

Elen Mai Nefydd, Head of Welsh Medium Development at Wrexham University, said: The Welsh language is at the heart of our work with the centre and gives a platform for us to share and showcase our approach and passion for driving equality of language and the importance of Welsh culture, heritage and identity.

With the National Eisteddfod as a partner in the centre, we have a unique platform to engage.

Dr Tegan Brierley-Sollis, Lecturer in Policing, Criminology and Trauma-Informed approaches, said: The trauma-informed framework embedded throughout the centre will allow us to create sound alignments between research, practice, law, and policy.

Trauma-informed approaches are rooted in the principles of empowerment, safety, dignity, and autonomy whilst giving choice and embracing a strengths-based approach. The Centre for Peoples Justice will consider individuals as holders of valuable knowledge, leaders, and as active change-makers in shaping a more inclusive, equitable world.

Dr Karen Heald, Reader in Interdisciplinary Arts Practice at Wrexham University, added: The inherent power of arts and creativity to foster cultural understanding, personal growth, and social change cannot be overstated. By engaging in artistic expression, individuals and communities can explore complex emotions, challenge dominant narratives, and build bridges across differences.

Arts-based approaches offer unique avenues for marginalised voices to be heard, for hidden stories to be told, and for transformative dialogue to emerge.

This centre, therefore, recognises that embedding Arts and creative methodology, within trauma-informed work and social justice initiatives is not merely an aesthetic choice, but a fundamental strategy for cultivating empathy, promoting healing, and driving meaningful social transformation.
Nevada and Idaho have entered an agreement allowing for the movement of unvaccinated cattle between the two states for grazing purposes.

The Nevada Department of Ag says the agreement is in response to the ongoing shortage of the brucellosis RB51 vaccine "which has significantly hindered livestock producers' ability to meet mandatory brucellosis vaccination requirements for interstate movement."

"The agreement is only for cattle affected by the vaccine shortage over the last 12 months and does not apply to cattle over the age of 18 months. Under the terms of the agreement, producers can call and request a permit to transport non-vaccinated cattle between Idaho and Nevada, ensuring that cattle can access their grazing allotments despite their non-vaccinated status. The agreement is designed to protect both the health of the cattle and the interests of producers in a controlled and regulated manner."
APRIL 18 UPDATE:

The Washoe County Medical Examiner's Office has identified the victim in an Incline Village homicide.

25-year-old Karen Herrera Ramon of Incline Village was identified as the victim in a release.

The cause of death was multiple sharp force injuries.

---

ORIGINAL ARTICLE

Detectives with the Washoe County Sheriff's Office have identified and arrested Manuel Lopez-Gomez in connection with a homicide that occurred in Incline Village on April 10.

The investigation began last Thursday, when deputies were dispatched to a home in Incline Village for a report of a deceased person.

"On April 10th deputies were dispatched to Incline Village for a deceased person," said Deputy Cade Goodman, Public Information Officer for the Washoe County Sheriffs Office. "Upon arrival and entering the residence they located a deceased female. Detectives were notified and they arrived on scene and took over the investigation. Through their investigation a suspect was identified."

Following the identification, a description of Lopez-Gomez, his car, and his last known direction of travel was distributed to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

According to the Washoe County Sheriff's Office in an online Facebook Post, The California Highway Patrol located and stopped Lopez-Gomez in Kern County, California, where he was taken into custody without incident and booked into the Kern County Jail.

On April 16, Lopez-Gomez was extradited to Nevada and booked into the Washoe County Detention Facility on a charge of Open Murder.

"He is now being extradited today to our custody in the Washoe County Detention Facility where he's being booked for open murder," Goodman added.

Our news crew was on the scene as detectives escorted Lopez-Gomez into the Washoe County Detention Facility, where he was officially booked.

The identity of the female victim has not yet been released, and authorities have not disclosed any further details about the circumstances surrounding her death.

The investigation is ongoing. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Washoe County Sheriffs Office Detective Division at (775) 328-3220 and reference Case #25-1751. Tips can also be submitted anonymously through Secret Witness by calling or texting 775-322-4900.
Ananth Mahadevan's 'Phule': A Brave, Brilliant Tribute to India's First Social Revolutionaries 2

In a time when cinema often seeks the safety of commercial formulas, director Anant Mahadevan yet again proves why he stands apart as one of Indias most fearless and refined storytellers. His latest offering, Phule, is not just a biopic  it is a bold and moving cinematic testament to the unvarnished truth of Indias most neglected revolution. The recently released trailer, wrapped in controversy and courage, is a glimpse into a film that dares to speak what society often prefers to bury.

Phule brings to life the monumental yet largely overshadowed journey of Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Savitribai Phule  visionaries whose reformist fire lit up 19th-century Maharashtra and gave India its first push toward grassroots social justice. Savitribai, Indias first female teacher, and Jyotiba, her unshakeable partner in reform, waged a war not against an external oppressor but an internal one  the tyranny of caste, patriarchy, and ignorance. They opened the first girls school in 1848 at Bhidewada in Pune  a quiet, historic act that would go on to challenge centuries of institutional darkness.

The trailer begins with a line that reverberates like a thunderclap through the conscience of this nation. A Brahmin man mocks Phule: You think educating girls will bring revolution? Fight for the countrys freedom instead! To this, Phules calm yet cutting reply echoes through time  The British enslaved us for a hundred years. The slavery I fight is three thousand years old. In that one sentence, the essence of the film and the enormity of the Phules mission is laid bare. Their resistance was not merely social  it was civilisational.

Ananth Mahadevan, with his seasoned eye for nuance and narrative, has chosen a subject that most filmmakers wouldnt dare touch  not just because of its controversial edge, but because it demands an unflinching gaze and a heart committed to truth. The dialogues are piercing, the screenplay gripping, and the storytelling unwavering. In a landscape where caste continues to bleed silently into the lives of millions, this film arrives as a necessary jolt  not to incite, but to awaken.

Patralekha delivers a soul-stirring performance as Savitribai. Her eyes alone carry the weight of generations of suppressed voices. Her measured grace, her simmering defiance, and her luminous presence make her portrayal unforgettable. She doesnt just play Savitribai  she becomes her. Pratik Gandhi brings sincerity to the role of Jyotiba, although his natural persona occasionally seeps through. Yet the chemistry between them and the ideals they embody are beautifully brought alive by Mahadevans deft direction.

The film, originally set to release on April 11  Jyotiba Phules birth anniversary  faced backlash from Brahmin organisations offended by a two-minute scene in the trailer where a Brahmin boy hurls cow dung at Savitribai. Their rage, ironically, validates the very message the film seeks to convey. The attempt to stall the films release underlines how uncomfortable India still is with its own history of caste oppression. Mahadevan has confirmed that the Censor Board demanded a few changes, and the film will now release on April 25.

Whats most heartbreaking  and revealing  is that even today, while politicians from across the spectrum line up to garland statues of Phule, Ambedkar, and Gandhi for votes, a film that earnestly brings their stories to life is met with resistance and outrage. This contradiction speaks volumes about the tokenism weve wrapped our revolutionaries in, choosing memory over movement and tribute over transformation.

Phule is not just a film  its a mirror. A reminder. A reckoning. Its a cinematic revolt wrapped in art, asking us to reflect, to remember, and most importantly, to restart the conversations that Savitribai and Jyotiba began more than 150 years ago. And only a director of Anant Mahadevans calibre could have treated such a theme with the honesty, elegance, and empathy it deserves.

As we await the films release on April 25, the two-minute trailer alone is enough to stir the soul. It speaks of a forgotten legacy, of voices that cracked the silence long before social media hashtags, and of battles that are still being fought  not just in villages and slums, but in hearts and minds. Stay tuned. This is more than a movie. It is history reborn.
"Hindi Zor Zabardasti Nahi Chalegi in Maharashtra": Uddhav Thackeray Slams Language Imposition 2

Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday made it clear that his party will strongly oppose any attempt to impose Hindi in Maharashtra. Reacting to the state governments recent move to make Hindi a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5, Thackeray declared that such compulsion would not be tolerated.

Speaking at an event of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, the workers wing of his party, Thackeray emphasized that while he holds no hostility towards the Hindi language, he firmly questioned the need to impose it forcefully in schools. His comments come in the backdrop of growing outrage from opposition parties and cultural groups over the states decision, which marks a shift from the longstanding two-language policy followed in Marathi and English-medium schools.

Thackerays sharp response adds fuel to the intensifying political debate over regional identity, education policy, and cultural autonomy in the state.
After Jesus was crucified on Good Friday, did he Descend into Hell, as millions of Christians recite during weekly church services in The Apostles Creed?

Nearly 2,000 years of Christian tradition and a scriptural reference in 1 Peter 3:19-20 make the case:

After being made alive, he went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits - to those who were disobedient long ago when God waited patiently in the days of Noah while the ark was being built. (New International Version)

The harrowing of hell refers to what Christ did when he descended to Hades or hell between his death and his resurrection. The early church believed that after his death Christ descended into hell in order to rescue the souls of the righteous, such as Adam and Eve. Jesus descends and breaks down the doors of hell, unbinds the prisoners and leads the just to heaven.

In ancient paintings from the Eastern Orthodox Church, and in similar icons still used in Greek and Russian Orthodox churches now, the art depicts Christ standing over the broken gates of hell, angels binding Satan and Satan crushed under the gates of hell, while Christ pulls out two figures representing Adam and Eve who have been imprisoned because of sin.

An early version of the Apostles Creed, the Interrogatory Creed of Hippolytus from about 215 A.D., refers to Christs descent to the dead.

I believe in Jesus Christ, Gods only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended to the dead (or he descended into hell or hades depending on the translation). On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come again to judge the living and the dead.

Here are some more Bible verses that relate:

1 Peter 4:6 For this is why the gospel was preached even to the dead, that though judged in the flesh like men, they might live in the spirit like God.

Acts 2:27-31 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead, you will not let your holy one see decay.... Seeing what was to come, he spoke of the resurrection of the Messiah, that he was not abandoned to the realm of the dead, nor did his body see decay.

Ephesians 4:8-10 Therefore it is said, When he ascended on high he led a host of captives, and he gave gifts to men. (In saying, He ascended, what does it mean but that he had also descended into the lower parts of the earth? He who descended is he who also ascended far above all the heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Revelation 1:17-18 When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand upon me, saying, Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one; I died, and behold I am alive for evermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.

Millions of Christians will celebrate the Resurrection of Jesus this weekend on Easter Sunday. What happened between the Crucifixion and the Resurrection remains a point of theological contention.

What is Hell?

Human ideas about hell were still in ferment as the Bible was being written. The theological concept of hell has a rich cultural heritage, according to historian Alan Bernstein, author of The Formation of Hell.

The ancient Hebrews focused on the afterlife following their Babylonian captivity, when they experienced the torment of ungodly enemies who seemed to have an unjustifiably good life on Earth. During the Babylonian exile, Jews were exposed to Zoroastrianism, which asserts there is an eternal struggle between good and evil, with good triumphing in the end.

The Hebrew concept of Sheol -- the realm of the dead -- may also have been influenced by the Greek mythology of Tartarus, a place of everlasting punishment for the Titans, a race of gods defeated by Zeus, Bernstein writes.

From about 300 B.C. to 300 A.D., those influences combined with Hebrew speculation about an eventual comeuppance to the worldly wicked.

In translating the Bible from Hebrew to Greek, the Greeks used the terms Tartarus, Hades and Gehenna. In Greek thought, Hades is not a place of punishment; its where the dead are separated from the living.

The term Gehenna referred to a ravine outside Jerusalem that was used as a garbage dump. It had once been a place of child sacrifice and became a symbol of pain and suffering. As a garbage dump, it was probably often a place of fire as trash was burned, emphasizing the symbolism of the flames of eternal damnation.

The Bible contains a litany of colorful images of hell as both fire and darkness, as in the Gospel of Matthew, which refers to the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels and the outer darkness where men will weep and gnash their teeth.

In Revelation 20:14, it is described as a lake of fire: Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire.
This is an opinion column.

Id long since left my hometown, but it still hit home.

I was in an office high above Midtown Manhattan on this morning 30 years ago when Timothy McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck across the street from the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City  a rented truck containing a 5,000-pound bomb. He lit several timed fuses and strode to his nearby getaway car.

I grew up in Tulsa, about 90 miles northeast of where  at 9:02 a.m. in Oklahoma, 10:02 a.m. in NYC  the truck exploded. Where 168 people were slaughtered, including 15 children who were inside a daycare center on the first floor.

Where countless more lives were changed forever, still changed after 30 years.

The federal workers who died that morning had simply gone to work that day, like every day, to do their jobs. To do their jobs for us. For this nation.

I had not lived in Tulsa since I caught a flight for college almost 20 years before that morning, but my stomach curdled as the news broke on the TV in my office. Curdled at the horror. Curdled at the images of smoke, of debris, of the nine-story building, half standing, half lying in a grave of rubble, steel and glass.

Curdled because Oklahoma was still home.

It was many more years before I went to OKC and visited the site, the memorial that now honors those federal workers and children who perished there at 9:02 a.m. and seeks to comfort those who lived. Those who were touched that day and are still tortured by it.

Its a solemn space, still fertilized with the blood, the ashes and the cries of those who were there, and the tears of those who loved them.

Many will return to the site today to remember that morning when OKC hit home for all of us. Among them is scheduled to be former President Bill Clinton, who was in his first term on that day three decades ago and hosting a White House news conference on  yes  terrorism. At 10:02 a.m.

In a three-part docuseries, Oklahoma City Bombing: One Day in America, Clinton said: I wanted to scream. Then I said, No, you cant do that. You dont get to scream.

Many did. Some still are.

A lot has happened in those 30 years, a whole lot. So much that when I mentioned the bombing to a young friend recently, she had not heard of it. Did not know of OKC. Had no knowledge of the deadliest act of domestic terrorism in our nations history.

It was as much a historical black hole to her as was the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. Generations never learned about it in school, were never taught about that egregious act of domestic terrorism. In Oklahoma.

I barely remember 9/11, she said.

I shook my head. As I began telling her about the bombing, I wondered: How should we teach that history?

Im sure the bombing is taught in schools in my home state. Im sure a child cannot grow up in Oklahoma without learning about what happened on that day. On that day when hell hit home.

We should all know that day, especially now, especially when 30 years after America mourned and raged at the attack on federal workers, our president and his billionaire buddy (or ex-buddy) are casting federal workers aside like worn-out chew toys. Like theyre disposable, unworthy of the right to do the job they committed to do.

For us.

To Donald Trump, Elon Musk and those among you slathering in anticipation of lower taxes, fired federal workers are oh, well  theyre collateral damage. Not men and women and families now scrambling to navigate lives without jobs. Not Americans stripped of their livelihoods because a greedy corporation did not meet its financial targets, but because a greedy and gutless faction of the nation just wants more.

How do we teach that?

How do we teach the depths of the depravity that was the man now executed for the bombings when the president whimsically pardons with the stroke of a pen those who threatened our democracy, who threatened its foundation and the lives of those elected to uphold it?

Those who are now so emboldened, I pray there is no McVeigh brewing among them.

How do we teach that when we snatch young learners from other nations off our streets in broad daylight, like Rumeysa Ozturk, a Tufts University doctoral student from Turkey; or in the dark of night from their apartments, like University of Alabama doctoral student Alireza Doroudi from Iran. When we ship them to dark unknown places without the due process we once held sacred.

How do we teach about the evil that conceived and executed OKC when were snagging mothers and fathers from each others arms, from their jobs, from their children, and deporting them to nations where theyve not lived for years without the due process we once held sacred?

How do we teach about OKC? How must we teach about OKC?

Without fear of its horrid truths. Or fear, especially, of those today who demean and diminish the legacy of all who entered the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City  in my home state  on this morning three decades ago to simply do what they committed to do.

For us.

Lets be better tomorrow than we are today. My column appears on AL.com, and digital editions of The Birmingham News, Huntsville Times, and Mobile Press-Register. Tell me what you think at rjohnson@al.com, and follow me at twitter.com/roysj, Instagram @roysj and BlueSky.
Walker Ladd had lived in Los Angeles during the first Trump administration, but on Saturday, she joined more than 670 others in downtown Mobile for her first protest against the president, this time in one of the most conservative states in the country.

Democrats or Republicans, it doesnt matter, Ladd said as she walked along Government Street toward Mardi Gras Park, where the rally was held. We are being visible and to be opposed and speak out on what we see that is happening.

A college professor, Ladd added, This is an opportunity for us to come together.

The group of mostly progressive organizations gathered for a second time in less than a month in downtown Mobile, as part of a nationwide protest movement against President Donald Trump and policies labeled by protestors as either anti-democratic or fascist. But the protest movement turned a bit more toward gathering groups together to begin formulating action plans.

The protests on Saturday in Mobile and beyond were called No Kings. They were part of hundreds of events opposing Trumps administration that occurred in cities nationwide to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Lexington and Concord. The military conflicts ignited the American Revolutionary War in 1775.

The day of protesting was organized by the non-profit group 50501, and took place in major cities like New York and Boston, but also in smaller cities like Mobile. In Alabama, the other No Kings protest occurred in Birmingham.

In Mobile, speakers and demonstrators cited a range of concerns, including the deportation of Kilmar Abrego Garcia and the lack of oversight by the GOP-controlled Congress.

The speeches and chants also came a day after the League of Women Voters declared the country in a constitutional crisis, which was also acknowledged by speakers.

Yolanda Carreras, speaking on behalf of Latino United Mobile, said that migrants are fearful of being arrested under the current political landscape.

The immigrant community is in fear of being deported, she said. We hear stories about legal U.S. citizens being arrested. Even those who are legal, are (fearful of) getting arrested. Please ask what you can do for them.

The crowd that gathered at Mardi Gras Park to listen to the speeches was mostly white in a city where the majority of residents are Black.

Betty Mack Shin, a fourth-generation Mobile resident supporting Black Voters Matter, was the only Black resident to speak at the rally.

Its yalls problem now, Shin said, referring to the concerns over Trumps presidency to the white audience. When they told you what kind of man (Trump) was, you paid no attention.

She said the yelling and hollering at protests wont make an impact on the current administration. She said that to make an impact, the protest movement will have to affect peoples pocketbooks.

But ultimately, Shin said its going to be all right to her progressive friends.

Ive spoken to too many people saying hes taken over, she said. But I can wake up in the morning. Hes just a man. Hes a stupid and hate-filled man at that.

A "No Kings!" protest takes place in downtown Mobile on Saturday, April 19, 2025. The event was hosted by the Mobile chapter of Indivisible, and was part of a nationwide day of protesting against the Trump administration and current events taking place in Washington, D.C. The protests also recognized the 250th anniversaries of the Battles of Lexington and Concord, which kicked off the American Revolutionary War. In this picture, Maura Mandyck, organizer with Indivisible Mobile, leads the speeches during the protest rally at Mardi Gras Park. John Sharp

Maura Mandyck, organizer with Indivisible Mobile, said she was pleased to see a number of progressive groups show up and was hopeful of bringing them together for future events. The next protest is tentatively scheduled for early May.

It feels good to get out here and protest but we want to turn it into action, she said. We have some work to do.

The group handed out brochures with information that included safety tips for attending protests, how to keep information safe and private online, and how to go about protesting from home.

The No Kings protest and rally slightly exceeded the numbers of those who gathered on April 5 in downtown Mobile, as part of the nationwide Hands Off protests. Those protests primarily focused on the liberation day tariffs Trump had just announced, billionaire Elon Musks power within the Trump administration, and concerns from organizers about attacks on democratic institutions.

Mandyck said she wants to maintain a welcoming message for Mobile gatherings. Thus far, the gatherings have not drawn counterprotests.

Its not us against anyone, she said. But we want people to understand there are more of us who think this way. I keep saying and (New Jersey) Senator Cory Booker says that its about the fate of our nation. I cannot think of any American who cant be invested in that cause.
Bills on police immunity, immigration, and tax cuts are among those pending for the home stretch of Alabamas annual legislative session.

Others still in the mix would regulate devices and app stores to try to protect children from porn, regulate and tax gummies and drinks containing the marijuana chemical THC, allow the Alabama Farmers Federation to establish an unregulated health care plan for its members, and require public schools to post the Ten Commandments.

Seven meeting days remain in the legislative session out of the 30 allowed by the state constitution. The session must end by May 19, but House Speaker Nathaniel Ledbetter said the tentative plan is to wrap up sooner, possibly May 8 or May 13.

Heres a breakdown of whats left:

Must pass

Lawmakers are still working on the education and General Fund budgets for next fiscal year, which starts Oct. 1.

Passing the budgets is the only task lawmakers are required to do under the constitution.

The Senate has passed the education budget and the House has passed the General Fund budget.

Police immunity

HB202 by Rep. Rex Reynolds, R-Huntsville, would rewrite state law on civil and criminal immunity for police officers.

Gov. Kay Ivey advocated for the Back the Blue bill during her State of the State address in February.

The bill passed the House on a party line vote, with Democrats opposed, but has not advanced in the Senate.

Proponents say it is hard to recruit and retain police officers and that protection from civil and criminal liability would help.

Opponents say the immunity offered by the bill would be too broad and make it hard to hold police accountable for bad actions.

Immigration

SB53 by Wes Kitchens, R-Arab, would create a state law against human smuggling, making it a felony to knowingly bring into Alabama a person who does not have legal status to be in the country.

Immigrants and advocates have said the bill would criminalize necessary travel for immigrant families, workers, and businesses and add to fear and uncertainty caused by President Trumps calls for mass deportations.

Besides the human smuggling provision, Kitchens said the bill would also clarify how state and local police can check the immigration status of people who are arrested and jailed for other reasons.

HB7 by Rep. Ernie Yarbrough, R-Trinity, would allow local police to enter memorandums of understanding with federal authorities to increase their involvement in immigration enforcement.

Most House Democrats opposed the bill because of concerns that it would unfairly target Black and Latino people.

Tax cuts

The House has passed several tax cut bills by Rep. Danny Garrett, R-Trussville. So far, they have not advanced in the Senate.

HB386 would reduce the state sales tax on food from 3% to 2% effective Sept. 1 and save consumers an estimated $122 million a year.

HB387 would authorize, but not require, cities and counties to lower their sales taxes on food. Current law allows cities and counties to reduce the sales tax on food only if their general fund grows by at least 2%.

HB388 would increase a state income tax exemption for people 65 and older on money withdrawn from IRAs and 401(k) accounts, and would save taxpayers an estimated $45 million a year.

HB389 would make changes to the income tax affecting dependent exemptions and deductions and would save taxpayers an estimated $25 million a year.

THC products

HB445 by Rep. Andy Whitt, R-Harvest, would put products containing THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana, under regulation by the Alcoholic Beverage Control Board. The products include gummies, other edibles, and drinks containing THC derived from hemp.

It would take those products out of convenience stores and limit sales to stores that dont admit people under 21. It would add a 7% tax.

Whitts bill is one of about a half-dozen bills on THC products this session and is the one that has advanced the most, passing the House and winning committee approval in the Senate.

Protecting children from porn

SB186 by Sen. Clyde Chambliss, R-Prattville, would require that smart phones and tablets have filters that prevent access to obscene material and require a process to activate the devices during account setup for users younger than 18.

SB187 by Chambliss would require app stores to verify the age of customers and link the accounts of customers younger than 18 to a parents account.

The Senate passed both bills on Thursday. They still must pass the House to become law. The House has passed a device porn filter bill the last two years.

Ten Commandments

HB178 by Rep. Mark Gidley, R-Gadsden, would require public schools to post the Ten Commandments in the lobby, library, or other common area, and in classrooms that teach U.S. history.

The displays would include excerpts from the Constitution and other historical documents.

Gidleys bill passed the House on Thursday and moves to the Senate.

Lulus law

HB437 by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would create a system to issue alerts when there is an unprovoked shark attack on Alabamas coast in Baldwin or Mobile counties.

Lulu Gribbin, a Mountain Brook teen who survived a shark attack last year, came to the State House to advocate for the bill, which is named after her.

It has passed the House and moves to the Senate.

Gulf of America

HB247 by Rep. David Standridge, R-Hayden, would require state and local entities and their employees to recognize the Gulf of America as the new name of the Gulf of Mexico, in line with President Trumps executive order.

The bill passed the House and goes to the Senate.

Alabama Farmers Federation health plan

HB477 by Rep. David Faulkner, R-Mountain Brook, would allow the Alabama Farmers Federation to offer a health coverage plan to its members that would not be regulated as insurance.

ALFA and its members say it is needed for farmers and self-employed members struggling to pay for health insurance because they dont have employer-provided plans but make too much money to qualify for subsidies under the Affordable Care Act.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama, the American Cancer Society, and the American Lung Association are among opponents to the bill, who say the plan will not carry the consumer protections required for plans regulated by the Alabama Department of Insurance and the Affordable Care Act.

The bill has passed the House and is awaiting a committee vote in the Senate.
A pedestrian walks past the entrance to the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum in Oklahoma City on March 12, 2025. AP Photo/LM Otero

Saturday is the 30th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, the deadliest homegrown attack in United States history that exposed a dark undercurrent of anti-government extremist anger.

A bomb with a force powerful enough to instantly destroy much of a nine-story building shattered a quiet Oklahoma City morning and sent a shock wave through America.

The building that was bombed  the Alfred P. Murrah federal complex  included regional offices for several agencies, including the Social Security Administration, the FBI, the Secret Service, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, and a credit union. Americas Kids Daycare was on the second floor.

The bomb, a mixture of ammonium nitrate and diesel fuel packed into a rental truck, sheared off about a third of the building and caused floors to collapse on each other. Some victims not killed by the blast were crushed to death, buried by the falling structure.

The dead ranged in age from three months to 73 years-old. Nineteen of them were children. Hundreds more were injured.

Authorities initially suspected the attack had been orchestrated by extremists outside the U.S., but the perpetrators turned out to be two former U.S. soldiers.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols met while serving in the Army. The pair held a deep anger toward the American government that had been sharpened by the 1993 federal raid on the Branch Davidian compound in Waco, Texas, that killed 76 people, and a standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that left a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent dead.

The Oklahoma City bombing happened on the second anniversary of the fiery end to the 51-day Waco siege.

McVeigh drove the truck to the site and set the fuse to blow it up. He was convicted of 11 murder counts and executed by lethal injection in 2001.

Nichols helped McVeigh plan and build the bomb. He was convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter, and is serving life in prison.

A public ceremony Saturday to mark the anniversary at the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum will include the reading of the names of the 168 people killed, remarks by victim family members and survivors, and a keynote address by former President Bill Clinton.
The Pettaway family at their attorney's office in Montgomery. Their relative Joseph Pettaway died in July of 2018 at a home in west Montgomery after being bitten by a police K9. In 2025, the family continues their fight to hold the city accountable with an appeal to the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals. (Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com). Joe Songer | jsonger@al.com

Seven years after a police dog killed a Montgomery man, his family continues their fight for justice.

The family of Joseph Lee Pettaway is fighting back against court rulings that dismissed their lawsuit against the City of Montgomery.

In 2018, Pettaway, a Black man who was 51, bled to death after a police dog named Niko bit his thigh.

This case could set a precedent that could help out the hundreds of U.S. citizens killed by police officers each year that dont see justice, said Griffin Sikes, attorney for the Pettaway family.

In 2019, the family sued the city, K9 officer Nicholas Barber, and Ernest Finley, who was the police chief at the time.

Last year, Barber reached a confidential settlement with the family. A federal judge in Montgomery also dismissed the case against the city and the former chief.

However, the familys fight continues in an effort to hold the city accountable. Last week, they filed an appeal to the Eleventh Circuit of the U.S. Court of Appeals, arguing that U.S. District Judge Emily C. Marks should have let the lawsuit go forward against the city.

Lawyers for the city and Finley did not respond to requests for comment.

In their brief to the appeals court, Pettaways lawyers argue that the city had an unconstitutional policy that prohibited officers from administering first aid to Pettaway as he lay bleeding to death on a sidewalk.

We really believe we have a strong case here, Sikes told AL.com. This for sure could be Supreme Court worthy.

In July of 2018, Pettaway had been performing maintenance work on an old dilapidated house on Cresta Circle in Montgomery.

In the early hours of July 8, Pettaway attempted to enter the house, disturbing one of his co-workers who was already staying there, say the court documents. Thinking there was an intruder, he called the police.

Barber unleashed Niko inside the house. Officers did not give a warning that Pettaway would have been able to hear before releasing the dog to attack, the lawsuit says.

The dog found Pettaway under a bed, grabbed him with his teeth and clamped down on his groin area for over two minutes, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit describes police body camera video from the night of the bite. The city and a federal judge have declined to release the video to the public.

In fighting to keep the video from going public in 2020, the city argued in court that it would cause annoyance, embarrassment for officers who were acting in good faith and could end up facilitating civil unrest.

In a 2022 decision blocking release of the video, U.S. Magistrate Judge Jerusha Adams wrote that, Due to its graphic nature and emotional impact, the footage from the police body cameras cannot be unseen, ignored, or easily set aside.

Barber had to choke Niko nearly to the point of unconsciousness to get him to release his grip on Pettaway, the familys lawyers wrote in court records, citing the bodycam footage.

[Read our series Mauled: When police dogs are weapons]

Pettaway soon lost consciousness, bleeding heavily, but the lawsuit says police officers were not allowed to provide any treatment because the city had not trained them to administer first aid and even had a policy that prohibited them from doing so.

Instead, Pettaway bled out with half a dozen MPD officers standing around him. They were prohibited from helping the unconscious, bleeding man who posed no threat to them, according to the lawsuit.

It was not until well over 10 minutes later that the EMTs arrived and began treating the wound, the lawsuit states. By that point, it was already too late.

Pettaway died at the hospital.

Court documents later detail that in a deposition, the police chief conceded that this practice could put lives at risk as certain wounds can cause death in under five minutes, while EMTs take around seven to 10 minutes to arrive at the scene.

The treatment that Pettaway needed was basic, said Sikes. You just had to apply pressure, and he likely would have been fine. They teach this to 12, 13-year-old boys in cub scouts.

The fact that a municipal policy might lead to police misconduct is hardly sufficient to satisfy [the legal] requirement that the particular policy be the moving force behind a constitutional violation, the city has argued in court files.

For this reason, the city argues that they cannot be sued, as considerably more proof than the single incident will be necessary in every case to establish both the requisite fault on the part of the municipality, and the causal connection between the policy and the constitutional deprivation.

The practice of not providing immediate first aid contrasts with the 14th Amendment, which holds authorities responsible for the care of individuals in their custody, the Pettaway familys lawyers argue.

Montgomery police did not respond to a request for comment on whether this policy is still practiced, taught and enforced in the city.

There are two ways the case appeal will likely go, either the the case is sent back to the federal court in Montgomery, or the Eleventh Circuit will hear oral arguments to further inform their decision, Sikes said.

The problem is that the case is now dead in the water, he said. They could address it in 90 days, but I have other similar cases that I have been waiting on for years.
In the annals of literary and philosophical provocation, few figures loom as large as Ayn Rand. Born in 1905 in Russia, Rand witnessed the Bolshevik Revolutions assault on individual liberty firsthand, an experience that forged her into a fierce advocate for capitalism and personal freedom. Her philosophy, Objectivism, champions reason, self-interest, and the unrestrained pursuit of ones own happiness as moral imperatives. Nowhere is this worldview more vividly dramatized than in her 1957 magnum opus, Atlas Shrugged. The novel imagines a world where societys most productive minds  entrepreneurs, inventors, and industrialists  go on strike, refusing to prop up a collectivist system that punishes their ingenuity with regulations, taxes, and guilt. Led by the enigmatic John Galt, these creators retreat to a hidden valley, leaving a crumbling civilization to face the consequences of its own parasitism. Rands strike is a bold ideological statement: The world runs on the shoulders of its innovators, and when they shrug, everything falls apart.

Fast-forward to the 21st century, and a quieter, less theatrical strike seems to be unfolding in the United States. Businesses, from manufacturing giants to tech startups, have been offshoring production at a staggering pace, fleeing to countries like China, Vietnam, and Mexico. On the surface, this exodus appears driven by cold economic logic: lower labor costs, lighter regulations, and tax incentives abroad make the bottom line sing. Yet beneath the spreadsheets lies a resonance with Rands vision  a metaphorical strike by creators fed up with a system that increasingly stifles them. Though not an ideological crusade in the Randian sense, this offshoring wave reflects a broader frustration with an American landscape that has drifted from its capitalist roots, piling burdens on those who dare to build. Tariffs, intended to lure these companies back, instead add insult to injury, failing to address the root causes of their departure.

Ayn Rand and the Strike of the Titans

Rands Atlas Shrugged is more than a novel  its a manifesto. Its sprawling narrative pits the heroic likes of Dagny Taggart, a railroad tycoon, and Hank Rearden, a steel magnate, against a dystopian government that smothers their achievements with bureaucracy and redistribution. The books climax sees these titans of industry vanish, one by one, as John Galt convinces them to stop feeding a world that despises their greatness. We are on strike against self-immolation, Galt declares in his famous radio address, encapsulating Objectivisms rejection of altruism as a moral shackle. For Rand, the strike is a triumph of principle over pragmatism, a refusal to compromise with a society that demands creators sacrifice their vision for the sake of the mediocre.

Rands philosophy struck a chord in mid-20th-century America, where capitalism still wore its swagger proudly. Today, her ideas feel both prescient and distant. The U.S. remains capitalist in name, yet its entrepreneurs face a gauntlet of obstacles eerily reminiscent of her fictional dystopia: steep corporate taxes, labyrinthine regulations, minimum wage mandates, environmental compliance costs, union pressures, and patent warfare. These arent abstract grievances; theyre the daily grind of doing business in a country that seems to have forgotten how to celebrate its builders.

The Offshoring Exodus: A Strike in Disguise

Enter the offshoring phenomenon. Since the 1980s, American companies have shifted production overseas at an accelerating clip. China, once a communist backwater, has emerged as the worlds factory floor, producing everything from iPhones to plastic brushes. The numbers tell the story: U.S. manufacturing employment peaked at 19.5 million in 1979 and has since dwindled to around 13 million, while Chinas industrial output soared. Economists point to the obvious drivers  labor in China costs a fraction of U.S. wages, regulations are more lax, and tax breaks abound. Its a pragmatic choice, not a philosophical one. A CEO doesnt cite Rand when moving a factory to Shenzhen; he cites shareholder value.

Yet economics doesnt exist in a vacuum  its shaped by ideology. The U.S. system, with its tangle of rules and redistributive policies, reflects a creeping collectivism that Rand would have decried. Minimum wage is a state-imposed constraint distorting the natural market dynamics of labor supply and demand. The Environmental Protection Agencys edicts often prioritize ecological purity over industrial vitality. Unions, while fighting for labor, can paralyze production with strikes and demands. Politicians beg for campaign cash while drafting laws that choke the very businesses they court. And competitors wield patents like weapons, turning innovation into litigation. Frivolous court hearings drain companies resources into lawyers pockets. DIE and similar requirements make it impossible to staff positions based on merit or to easily get rid of underperforming employees. For entrepreneurs, this is a relentless message that their drive is suspect, their success a resource to be tapped.

Offshoring, then, becomes a de facto strike. Its not the ideological purity of John Galts retreat  companies arent abandoning production altogether  but its a withdrawal nonetheless. Theyre saying, in effect, If you wont let us thrive here, well go where we can. Chinas allure is as a government that rolls out the red carpet for industry, offering stability and incentives the U.S. no longer matches. The irony is biting: A nominally communist state has outdone the self-proclaimed champion of capitalism at its own game.

Tariffs: An Insult, Not an Incentive

In response, the U.S. has turned to tariffs, most notably under President Trump. The logic is simple: Tax imports to make domestic production competitive again, forcing businesses to come home. But this misses the mark. Tariffs raise costs for companies already stretched thin, punishing them for adapting to a hostile environment rather than fixing it. If offshoring is a strike, tariffs are a scolding from the boss, demanding loyalty without offering better conditions. Data show the limits: Although some firms have shifted from China to places like Vietnam, very few have returned to the U.S. Manufacturings share of GDP continues its decades-long slide, suggesting that the strikers arent ready to clock back in.

Bringing the Creators Home

Rands strikers returned only when the world begged them, having learned its lesson. Reality demands a less dramatic fix. If the U.S. wants to onshore its businesses, it must create a climate where they want to stay  out of not coercion, but desire. Lower taxes, streamlined regulations, and labor flexibility could tilt the scales. Incentives like tax credits for domestic investment or R&D could sweeten the deal. The EPA could balance environmental goals with industrial needs, not just wield a veto. Politicians could stop treating businesses as ATMs and start seeing them as partners. This is not an exhaustive list of commonsense measures, nor are these radical ideas; theyre echoes of the America that once drew the worlds dreamers.

The parallel with Atlas Shrugged isnt perfect. Rands strike was both a moral and an ideological stand; offshoring is a survival tactic. Yet the result aligns: Creators, whether driven by principle or profit, are walking away. Tariffs wont guilt them back; theyll just dig in elsewhere. To end this strike, the U.S. must rediscover what made it a beacon for builders in the first place. Until then, the Atlas of industry will keep shrugging, and the world will keep turning  somewhere else.

Image via Unsplash.
According to the American Psychological Associations (APAs) website, psychologists will be celebrating something called Psychology Week from April 2026, during which so-called mental health professionals will honor the ways psychologists create meaningful change among individuals, communities, and society.

Self-congratulatory and evidence-free psychobabble aside, how have psychologists created meaningful change (positive or negative) in society?

Woke institutional capture has not spared the profession of psychiatry. While real doctors (surgeons, oncologists) tend to be conservative, fake doctors with paper PhDs who memorized the pseudo-science contained in the engorged Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR) tend to skew hard left in their sociopolitical beliefs.

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar  if its being smoked by a leftist icon like Fidel Castro. But if a conservative like the late Rush Limbaugh enjoys a cigar, ah, then it represents something dark and sinister  maybe a repressed oral fixation, an Oedipal complex, or white supremacy coupled with heteronormative patriarchal violence. Or whatever the cringingly woke psychiatrist or social worker proclaims.

Echoing Friedrich Nietzsche (God is dead), Sigmund Freud is said to be the father of modern psychoanalysis. It is apropos that Freud came from the same country (Austria) as Adolf Hitler, the progressive socialist/megalomaniac and mass murderer. Freud died in September 1939, the same month Hitlers Germany invaded Poland, launching World War II.

Since Freuds time, psychiatrists and social workers have largely replaced pastors and priests taking confession from troubled souls. Moreover, these anointed experts are enlightened not by religion (which they view as dangerous superstition, unless the religion is Islam) but by science  just look at the size of the DSM-5, its far thicker than the New Testament.

Without ever examining Donald Trump, tens of thousands of mental health practitioners publicly diagnosed Trump as suffering from, among other things: Gross paranoid psychosis; Behavioral Variant Fronto-Temporal Dementia; severe cognitive impairment; severe memory loss; severe Alzheimers; malignant narcissism; Phonemic Paraphasia; Hitlerian delusions of grandeur; etc.  while also proclaiming there was no need for the obviously senile Joe Biden to take the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) because Scranton Joe was exhibiting no cognitive decline whatsoever, no memory or speech issues, and suffered from, at most, a stutter.

To name but a few of these high profile mental health quacks who went public with their faux diagnoses: Dr. Justin Frank (Professor of Psychiatry, George Washington Medical School); Dr. Jonathan Reiner (CNN); Dr. Harry Segal (Cornell University); Dr. Geraldine Williams; Dr. Kevin OConnor; Dr. John Gartner (psychologist and former professor at Johns Hopkins); Dr. Leo Gugerty (Professor Emeritus in Psychology, Clemson University); Dr. Lance Dodes (Harvard Medical School); Dr. Elisabeth Zoffman; Dr. Suzanne Lachmann; and of course Mary Trump (Trumps niece).

The above list of credentialed crackpots is far from exhaustive. Indeed, a comically named Duty to Warn coalition of licensed mental health experts collected tens of thousands of signatures years before the 2024 election, jointly declaring: From our years of training and experience, we are convinced that Donald Trump is showing unmistakable signs strongly suggesting dementia.

Further, the online edition of Psychology Today magazine reported that by the year 2021, over 70,000 mental health exponents had signed the petition, declaring that Trump manifests a serious mental illness. While incapable of shame or honest introspection, every single signatory soiled him/her/zirself as an obsessed, attention-seeking BlueAnon-style conspiracy theorist.

Hardly a week goes by without a major news story about how all legacy Western countries, including America, are in the throes of a mental health crisis. Fatherlessness and broken families. Atomized lives leading to substance abuse, deaths from despair, and homelessness. A cratering birth rate, a loss of community, and a culture in thrall to self-indulgent narcissism (if it feels good, do it), nihilism, and immediate gratification.

In contemplating this wrecked landscape of broken human souls, what are these mental health professionals celebrating during Psychology (Awareness) Week?

As a collective, and by every metric conceivable, psychotherapists and their brethren have failed miserably at improving mental health or the human condition. The vast majority of them are frauds, contributing to and profiting from the carrion of mental despair, and lowering their profession into deserved disrepute. A great many of them could accurately be described as clinically psychotic.

Yet, when people feel depressed or overwhelmed by internal demons, many still choose to put their faith in these expensive charlatans with their cardboard diplomas prominently displayed, their obligatory couches, their eyes flitting to check the clock every few minutes, and their threadbare jargon used to bedazzle the trusting, vulnerable patient.

In the vast majority of cases, psychiatrists are like Dr. Jill Biden, and dont truly warrant the term Physician (Doctor of Medicine). But they do make lots of money by prescribing large quantities of addictive and psychoactive drugs (Ritalin, et al.) that  some individual cases aside  arguably do far more harm than good (a clearcut violation of the Hippocratic oath).

Always eager to embrace new social fads or jump on the bandwagon of any mass formation psychosis, most psychiatrists have of course eagerly embraced transgenderism, and use their professional, accredited standing to champion the mutilation of childrens reproductive organs in a futile attempt to switch genders, even over the objections of the confused minors parents.

Most psychologists not only want to mainstream gender dysphoria and indulge fantasies like men giving birth or women having prostates, they also believe children rightly belong to the state, and parents/guardians have no say in the matter.

Many psychologists also seek to normalize and destigmatize adults  especially K-12 teachers and fellow academics  who engage in grooming and pedophilia, bestiality, rape, incest, and other antisocial behaviors by, for example, referring to pedophiles as Minor Attracted Persons (MAPs) or using other euphemistic language designed to conceal progressive depravity. All with the phony imprimatur of science. You dont dare question the credentialed experts.

Consider all the gibberish vis-a-vis race relations force-fed to the public over the years (linear thinking, objectivity, goal-setting, punctuality, and a thousand other microaggressions are all said to be examples of white supremacy). All of it was dreamt up by psychologists and faculty in the humanities and sociology departments of Americas campuses.

Blithering racists whose polemics reveal a genocidal desire to see dead white bodies stacked up like cordwood (Elie Mystal, Ibram X. Kendi, Robin DeAngelo, Jasmine Crockett, et al.) are wildly celebrated and platformed by the mental health community.

And the vaunted DSM-5 famously links conservatives with mental illness, racism, and the embodiment of the totalitarian personality. (Progressive projection, anyone?)

Speaking of the totalitarian personality. Most psychologists broadly oppose free speech and favor government and social media censorship of conservatives; loudly advocate for forced vaccinations, euthanasia, and late-term  even postpartum  abortion/infanticide; and presume to understand and lecture others about the glories of Hamas or the murderous Palestinian cause.

Your typical shrink also makes evidence-free claims that conservatives are responsible for most violent crime because most conservatives are in favor of the 2nd amendment to the Constitution.

Others go even further, demanding that conservatives be interned in concentration camps for re-education or agree with the estimated 55% of (D) voters who say they would like to see Donald Trump and/or Elon Musk assassinated. Lacking any sense of irony or self-awareness, these same discredited shrinks insist they are models of moral rectitude while conservatives are the totalitarians.

Conservatives experiencing depression or having a mental health crisis are better off consulting a village shaman, or an affordable palmist or tarot card reader, where at least theres an element of fun. There is nothing whatsoever to celebrate about modern psychiatry.

The Gregory brothers are previous contributors to American Thinker.

Image: Free image, Pixabay license.
While MS-13 has dominated headlines with relentless coverage, a deeper examination of their actions reveals the true scope of their terror, demanding a closer look to understand who they really are. Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) or roughly translated as Salvadoran Gang is by all official accounts a transnational terrorist organization born from Salvadoran immigrants in Los Angeles in the 1980s; its now a 10,000 (CLCJ) strong menace in the United States (50,00070,000 globally), driven largely by foreign nationals, many here illegally. With machetes, guns, and raw brutality, MS-13 terrorizes communities, extorts businesses, and targets law enforcement to seize control and sow fear. The Department of Justice, FBI, and ICE have hit MS-13 with terrorism charges since 2020, and President Trumps January 20, 2025 executive order to designate it a Foreign Terrorist Organization (FTO) under 8 U.S.C.  1189, confirms its danger. Legacy media outlets like CBS, where Trump-hating left-leaning Gayle King spins woke garbage on a daily basis, bury this truth. Americans demanded justice by overwhelmingly electing Trump in 2024. Below are definitive examples why President Trump appropriately designated MS-13 as an FTO  murders, extortions, conspiracies, demonstrating MS-13s terrorist campaign.

MS-13  The U.S. Program

According to federal court documents, MS-13 operates through localized cliques across Queens, Long Island, and numerous other U.S. communities, as well as in El Salvador, Honduras, and parts of Europe. The gang funds its operations primarily through drug trafficking and extortion, gaining infamy for its savage killings of rivals, disloyal members and every day innocent Americans. In New Yorks Eastern District alone, MS-13 is linked to dozens of murders. Since around 2021, the gangs U.S. operations have coalesced under a unified structure called the U.S. Program governed by a council of senior leaders known as La Mesa or The Table. Mostly incarcerated, La Mesa allegedly orchestrates murders nationwide, including in New York, California and Colorado.

MS-13s Terrorist Campaign: Hard Evidence

Terrorism, per 18 U.S.C.  2331, is violence to intimidate civilians, influence policy, or disrupt government through murder or chaos. MS-13, rooted in El Salvadors civil war exodus, fits this perfectly. El Salvador labeled it a terrorist group in 2015 and U.S. prosecutors often charge its leaders with terrorism for their savage acts. Here are several cases among hundreds that demonstrate their terroristic tactics.

2016 Santa Cruz Murders (California): Salvadoran Erick Escalante-Torres and Jose Noe Ramirez-Avelar planned the murder of a rival to control turf, burning evidence from another killing. Convicted in 2020 with 27- and 22 -year sentences, respectively, for racketeering/murder. Their public violence screamed: submit or die.

2017 Houston, ICE arrests wanted criminal (Texas): Salvadoran MS-13 member Pedro Cruz-Rodriquez was a suspect in the aggravated murder of Jaime Roberto Loza Garay and the aggravated kidnapping of four other men in El Salvador. According to an arrest warrant dated Sept. 5, 2017, he was also charged in his home country with domestic terrorism that threatens national security and public safety.

2017 Long Island machete slaughter (New York): Salvadoran-led MS-13 cliques hacked Carlos Rivas-Majano in a park, mutilating his body to scare rivals. Tied to 70+ murders since 2016, a clear terrorist act.

2018 Maryland autistic woman murder: MS-13 member Walter Javier Martinize, plead guilty to raping and strangling 20-year-old autistic woman Kayla Hamilton. Martinez wrote a letter while he was incarcerated in which he admitted to committing four murders, two rapes, and other crimes.

2018 Murder conspiracy (New York - Virginia): Salvadoran kingpin Miguel Angel Corea Diaz was indicted for conspiring to murder and traffic drugs, hitting over 20 members. He was later convicted and sentenced to life in prison. MS-13s fear-driven grip in multiple states is real.

20182020 Queens and Long Island Killings (New York): In a 49-count indictment, Salvadoran leaders Edenilson Velasquez Larin and Hugo Diaz Amaya allegedly ordered the murders of Andy Peralta, Victor Alvarenga, Abel Mosso, and Eric Monge. These very public slayings terrorized neighborhoods.

2021 Ranfla Nacional indictment (New York): Fourteen MS-13 Board of Directors, led by Salvadoran Borromeo Enrique Henriquez (Diablito de Hollywood), were indicted for alleged terrorism, running military-style camps with rocket launchers.

2023 leader arrests (New York): Salvadoran bosses Vladimir Antonio Arevalo-Chavez, Walter Yovani Hernandez-Rivera, and Marlon Antonio Menjivar-Portillo were charged with racketeering conspiracy, conspiracy to provide or conceal material support to terrorists, and narco-terrorism conspiracy. They were also charged with illegal alien smuggling conspiracy which resulted in death.

2025 Kingpin arrest (Mexico): In December 2020, Roman-Bardales was indicted along with 26 other high-ranking MS-13 leaders by the Eastern District of New York. He faces serious charges, including conspiracy to provide and conceal material support to terrorists, narco-terrorism conspiracy, racketeering conspiracy, and alien smuggling conspiracy. On March 18, 2025, he was arrested in Mexico and transferred to the United States to stand trial.

2025 Maryland takedown: Salvadoran leader David Alejandro Orellana-Aleman was arrested February 27, 2025, in Hyattsville, charged with extortion and terrorist affiliation.

While we cant confirm whether these alleged MS-13 criminals were devoted fathers or not, the medias fixation on spinning such sob stories, as seen in the absurd Kilmar Garcia debacle, is beyond ridiculous.

MS-13s Terrorist DNA

MS-13 operates as a terrorist organization, not a mere street gang, through its calculated brutality and control tactics. The gangs public murders, often gruesome and staged for maximum fear, paralyze communities, like the machete slaying of a young man in New York to warn rivals and residents alike. MS-13 extorts businesses and families, demanding payments under threat of death, to dominate neighborhoods and fund its operations. It targets law enforcement with ambushes and assassination plots, aiming to weaken government authority, as seen in attacks on police in California and Virginia. Beyond violence, MS-13 pursues political influence, using its power to intimidate officials and sway policies, particularly in Central America. This combinationpublic terror, economic control, attacks on authorities, and political manipulationmarks MS-13 as a terrorist force, indistinguishable from groups that weaponize fear to achieve their ends.

Medias Failure to Expose MS-13s Terrorist Threat

Legacy media outlets like CBS, CNN, and NBC routinely downplay MS-13s terrorist activities, undermining public awareness of a grave danger. Instead of spotlighting the gangs brutal murders, extortions, and attacks on law enforcement, these networks often frame MS-13 as a byproduct of migration or poverty, sidestepping its organized campaign of violence. This failure to fully report the truth leaves Americans unprepared for a real threat, deepening distrust in mainstream news. The same pattern of selective reporting appears in other establishment failures, like popular search engines biased algorithms that suppress balanced views on the SAVE Act, showing how media anti-conservative narratives shield criminals and terrorists like MS-13 while obscuring reality.

MS-13, born from Salvadoran immigrants and fueled by foreign nationals, slaughters and terrorizes Americans from California to New York. Its dozens of murders in New York, public atrocities, and political plots prove its no mere gang. The DOJs prosecutions, Trumps FTO order, and social media outrage demand real and lasting action. Some MS-13 cases might not be so obvious, but the core truth holdsAmericans deserve and demand safety from this terrorist scourge and to his credit President Trump appropriately designated them as terrorists.

M. Ray Evans, a U.S. Navy veteran who served his time, lives in Northeast Florida, with his wife, Grace. Recently retired after decades as a senior executive in international real estate development, working across more than ten countries, mostly in East Asia, where he built a solid track record over the years. A conservative and patriot by conviction.

Image from Grok.
On April 12, I wrote Cleaning traitors out of the military. It was the story of Admiral Shoshanna Chatfield, removed from her NATO leadership post for violation of Article 88 of the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ):

888. ARTICLE 88. Contempt toward Officials Any commissioned officer who uses contemptuous words against the President, the Vice President, Congress, the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of a military department, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Governor or legislature of any State, Territory, Commonwealth, or possession in which he is on duty or present shall be punished as a court-martial may direct.

Chatfield refused to post official photographs of Donald Trump and Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth in NATO Headquarters. In an all hands meeting, she told her subordinates sheand all under her commandwould refuse to obey the lawful orders of the CiC: we will wait them out for four years.

On April 9 at my home blog, I wrote The Second Civil War #77: Military Traitors which spoke of rampant violations of Article 88. One anonymous active-duty Major put their numbers at 25% of all serving officers. Thats a recipe for a military coup.

These arguable traitors are the result of a process of seeding the military and our service academies with woke activists, active enemies of our military and America. It was Barack Obama who fired hundreds of actual warriors, replacing them with people like Chatfield. And now we learn the commander of Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, also female, has been relieved of duty, rather obviously for violating Article 88 and potentially other articles of the UCMJ.

Just days after Vice President JD Vances March visit to Pituffik Space Base in Greenland, the installation commander sent out an email to the base distancing it from Vances criticism of Denmark and its oversight of the territory, Military.com has learned. Col. Susan Meyers, the commander of the 821st Space Base Group who also oversees the Pentagons northernmost military base, sent a March 31 message to all personnel at Pituffik seemingly aimed at generating unity among the airmen and Guardians, as well as the Canadians, Danes and Greenlanders who work there, [emphasis mine] following Vances appearance. She wrote that she spent the weekend thinking about Fridays visit  the actions taken, the words spoken, and how it must have affected each of you. I do not presume to understand current politics, but what I do know is the concerns of the U.S. administration discussed by Vice President Vance on Friday are not reflective of Pituffik Space Base, Meyers wrote in the email, which was communicated to Military.com.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell released this:

Graphic: X Screenshot

That Greenland is essential to Americas security and the security of Western Civilization is no secret. Russia and China are devoting enormous military assets to the Arctic to project power and stake territorial claims. Denmark, which essentially rules Greenland, has done little to secure it, and doesnt remotely have the military power to deter Russia and China or to defend Greenland.

Our current military presence is minimal, so one would think our military commander there would understand she dare not demonstrate weakness, or even worse, defiance of our CiC:

Graphic: X Screenshot

The concerns [policies/orders] of the CiC, relayed through the Vice President, arent reflective of Pituffik Space Base?! Is Meyers equally unaware of and/or unconcerned about Chinas increasing dominance of space, including the maneuverable, weaponized satellites weve observed them testing?

To review: the commander of a small base in one of the worlds hot spots, on an island currently embroiled in international intrigue as President Trump maneuvers for greater control to secure Americas national security and that of our allies, following a visit where the Vice President, acting for the POTUS, affirmed Americas intentions told her entire command and our ostensible allies her command is in overt opposition to the CiCs intentions and policies.

Being removed from command is a career ender, and one must assume Col. Meyers has service sufficient to retire. However, if Mr. Trump and SecDef Hegseth are truly determined to return our military to its constitutional duties, every officer who violates Article 88 must be court martialed, and meaningful punishmentsafter full due processmust be imposed. It will not be enough to drive the remaining military saboteurs under cover. All must be rooted out and discipline and loyalty restored.

It's likely SecDef Hegseth knows a great deal more about the UCMJ violations of every officer thus far removed. There are surely other overt acts against proper discipline and the chain of command. That the Trump Administration is acting to retore military discipline and purpose, and is transparent, is as encouraging as the betrayal by so many high-ranking officers is not.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
The Trump administration inherited one of the most dire national security crises in American history, and recent reports from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) demonstrate just how costly illegal immigration has been for U.S. citizens.

A series of discoveries from DOGE  headed by Elon Musk  have exposed the degree to which illegal aliens are taking advantage of taxpayer-funded programs and even illegally impacting our elections. A DOGE official recently announced the agency has discovered that millions of foreign nationals are enrolled in Medicaid, and thousands more are registered to vote.

We mapped this through the benefit programs, we found every benefits program that is being accessed by these people, 1.3 million are on Medicaid right now, today. And by the way, its just ramping up, its just starting, DOGE staffer Antonio Gracias said. We looked at voter rolls and we found that thousands are registered to vote in friendly states. And we looked even further in those friendly states and found that many of those people had actually voted.

A related report from DOGE found that more than 6,000 foreign nationals who were either on the terrorist watch list or had criminal records were given work permits and Social Security numbers by the Biden administration. DOGE also revealed that the number of noncitizens issued Social Security numbers skyrocketed during each year of Joe Bidens administration, from 270,425 in 2021 to nearly 2.1 million in 2024.

Americans understand the damage open borders and illegal immigration has done to their country. It is why they re-elected President Donald Trump, who vowed to fix it. Still, even for those who follow the immigration issue closely, it must be staggering to see the extent of the lawlessness.

Since its inception following Trumps victory in the 2024 presidential election, DOGEs mission has been to root out corruption and graft to restore Americans faith in their federal government. In no area is this more necessary than immigration, where the federal governments conduct in recent years can only accurately be described as a betrayal of the citizenry they are supposed to represent.

During Bidens four years in office, his administration allowed more than 10 million illegal aliens to enter the U.S. These included a record number of suspected terrorists and countless violent criminals, including the illegal aliens responsible for the murders of Laken Riley, Rachel Morin, and too many others. Beyond the massive human and economic tolls wrought by the previous administrations lawlessness was the message it sent to the American people and the world at large.

The Biden administration openly and willingly sacrificed Americas sovereignty in service of a lawless anti-borders agenda. The very concept of nationhood is built on borders and sovereignty. As the tagline of my organizations  the Immigration Reform Law Institute  podcast says: No Border, No Country.

That the U.S. government voluntarily opened its borders and surrendered its sovereignty for four years is a historic scandal. The lawlessness of the prior administration not only ruined lives but destroyed the trust millions of Americans have in their government to carry out its basic functions such as border security. This is the disaster the Trump administration inherited, and why DOGEs role is so important.

The president and his deputies deserve immense credit for ending the border crisis and driving illegal crossings down to historic lows in the span of just a few months. They also deserve credit for their efforts to deliver accountability for their predecessors disastrous approach to immigration and border security.

It is important for DOGE to establish for the record all the ways past administrations have allowed illegal aliens to take advantage of our country so that the American people through their elected officials can ensure it does not happen again.

While anti-borders activists and politicians rally around suspected illegal alien gang members, more and more Americans are learning about the reality of their governments sabotage. As DOGE continues to expose the taxpayers largesse that has been lavished on criminal illegal aliens, more Americans will turn against the anti-borders movement.

The reason the anti-borders movement is throwing everything they have at the Trump administration is because they fear the accountability the administration is pursuing. While public opinion tends to fluctuate on most public policy issues, it is unlikely the American people will ever support allowing criminal illegal aliens to access critical public programs such as Medicaid.

Most Americans arent aware of just how much of their money has been funneled towards illegal aliens and once they are, they are unlikely to treat those responsible kindly. The people in power responsible for this have a lot to lose from DOGEs continued exposure of their malfeasance, and they know it.

The American people are strongly opposed to illegal immigration, but most dont understand how deep the rot goes. DOGE is helping them find out.

William J. Davis is a communications associate for the Immigration Reform Law Institute, a public interest law firm working to defend the rights and interests of the American people from the negative effects of mass migration.



Image: Grok, ai-generated picture, via X
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker (D-Hyatt Hotels) is economically strengthening communities all over the Midwest. The catch: None of them is in Illinois.

Take New Buffalo, Mich. for example, a quiet town on the shore of Lake Michigan in extreme southwest part of the state, population 1,708.

I have no idea how many marijuana dispensaries there are there. I lost count at ten, and I know I missed a bunch. Im guessing theres one for every 100 residents.

These are not tiny fly-by-night shops renting vacant properties on Main Street, either. Theyre custom-built suburban box stores. New Buffalo even has a marijuana office park. And on a Thursday morning, every single parking space was taken at almost every store.

There were at least four under construction. There are chains competing with one another at multiple locations, and they are going in on every border road.



Two different dispensaries in this view of a suburban marijuana office park east of New Buffalo, Mich. (Photo by author.)

The economic boom is quite dramatic and obvious: They cant build marijuana stores fast enough in New Buffalo. Every parking lot is filled with cars from Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky and Missouri...but almost none from Michigan. Its odd that Illinois should dominate the parking lots, because unlike Kentucky, Indiana and Iowa, pot is legal in Illinois.

But it isnt cheap.

In a dispensary, what costs $20 in Illinois costs $1.50 in Michigan. It really doesnt matter what products are involved. The ratios remain the same because of over-taxation in Illinois.

Its not just liberals from Chicago, either. There were plenty of pickups with RealTree deer stickers on the back window, a Trump sticker on the bumper, and disabled veteran plates, in addition to the rows of used Priuses plastered with Coexist and Kamala stickers with expired plates.

Same exact spot as the previous photo, but facing the opposite direction. (Photo by the author.)

The other thing that is dominant around town is the sheer number of construction workers and builders. They are everywhere: electrical, drywall, roofing, plumbing, concrete, steel. Every trade is well represented at noon around local eateries during the day and cheap motels at night.

There are parties investing tens, maybe hundreds of millions of dollars into building cannabis shops around New Buffalo. Id be willing to bet that they lobby hard to keep marijuana illegal in Indiana and heavily taxed in Illinois. There are multiple businesses that will depend on it going forward.

State borders are funny things sometimes, especially when sin industries are involved. Laughlin, Nev. has a row of 15-story hotels on its side of the Colorado River. Bullhead City, Ariz. has power centers and chain restaurants. In West Wendover, Nev., the casinos are so close to Utah that that the porte cochere of the Montego Bay Casino is in Utah.

The lottery store in California just West of Primm, Nev. will have a line that stretches into Nevada when the Powerball Jackpot is big (no lotto in Las Vegas).

The border between Michigan and Indiana is starting to shape up the same way on the western side of both states, but there are two separate and distinct reasons for it. When a license plate from Indiana is in the parking lot, its about legality of an activity (like Laughlin and Bullhead). But when an Illinois license plate is in the lot of a border dispensary in Michigan, its not about legality. Its about taxation.

J.B. Pritzker and his Democrat supermajority in Springfield are absolutely delusional about their ability to tax themselves into prosperity. Illinois is hemorrhaging in every way possible  missed tax revenue because of people shopping elsewhere included.

They deny the loss of population and businesses, because they look around Schaumburg and decide that Illinois is going like gangbusters. All they have to do is make a 50-minute drive to New Buffalo and look at any dispensary parking lot. The hemorrhage of tax revenue is obvious, because its caused a construction boom!

This is much bigger than the Illinois-Indiana fireworks law difference. Its much larger than Krazy Kaplans...and has more billboards, too.

Theres absolutely no denying that J.B. Pritzker has turned the fortunes of New Buffalo around. The economic prosperity is evident and everywhere. Its really too bad that the residents of New Buffalo cant vote for the man who supercharged their economy.

And its also too bad that the governorship of J.B. Pritzker hasnt benefited Illinois border towns, like Danville, East Saint Louis, and Cairo (the people who did vote for him).

Maybe Illinois Democrats can use the expensive new Flock Safety A.I. license plate readers they are installing everywhere to inflict a tax on people traveling to New Buffalo...because in Illinois, lower taxes are never the answer. But hiring a bunch of state employees who will need a luxury retirement entitlement is always on the menu.

Image via Pexels.
Democrats are vowing to pile into an El Salvadoran hotel to lobby for the return of MS-13s allegedly wife-beating human trafficker, Kilmar Abrego Garcia.

Democrat Sen. Christopher Van Hollen, Jr., a trailblazer, is already in El Salvador and has met with the recently deported illegal alien. The two traded loving glances while conversing over cocktails.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the death camps & torture, now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador! pic.twitter.com/r6VWc6Fjtn  Nayib Bukele (@nayibbukele) April 18, 2025

Van Hollen appeared especially smitten, at one point placing his hand on Garcias while staring longingly into his eyes.

It should be noted that Democrats could not be bothered to fly to Russia or Gaza and other such places on behalf of Americans held hostage.

Nor could they be troubled even to travel to western North Carolina to in anyway assist, aid, or assuage the feelings of their fellow American citizens who had recently been devastated by a massive hurricane.

Just as they couldnt find the time to visit East Palestine, Ohio after a train derailment spewed toxic chemicals across land and water, devastating the area for years to come. (This is particularly odd, since we all know Democrats love Palestine.)

As is the case with so many things with which Democrats get involved, this has become a repulsive, never-ending, clown show  a sort of kabuki theater for the mentally challenged and morally impaired.

On a related note, Democrats are wigging out over Health and Human Services Secretary RFK, Jr.s comments that we will soon know what causes autism, which he thinks is likely largely due to environmental factors like vaccines and contaminants in food and beverages rather than genetics.

Democrats would be devastated if studies did happen to conclusively show that autism is more common in the highly vaccinated, and so are blasting RFK, Jr.s comments and assertions.

They would clearly prefer that autism continues apace rather than potentially find out that there are simple steps that could be taken to prevent it.

So, Democrats are now effectively pro-autism as well as pro-crime, abortion, death, torture, rape, destruction, human trafficking, and wife-beating. And, in some cases, pro-assassination of their own nations president. This while simultaneously being anti-American and anti-Christian.

Nice platform, guys! You must be very proud, indeed.

Image: X screen shot
Americans paying attention know about New York Attorney General Letitia James. She was elected on a platform of getting Trump, without any legally definable understanding of what he might have done to justifying getting. Filing trumped up charges that amounted to making law up as she went along, and with the advantages of a corrupt, ethically conflicted judge and a Trump-hating New York jury, Trump was convicted of inflating property values to get favorable loan rates, resulting in a judgement of nearly a half-billion dollars.

That Trump paid the loans in full and on time, and the banks involved testified they were completely satisfied and wanted more of Trumps business meant nothing to a prejudiced NYC jury. The fact the banks did their own valuationsall banks do that--as Trumps loan applications encouraged them to do, also meant nothing to the judge and jury.

Now we discover James appears to have done what Trump didnt do:

For over two decades, Letitia James repeatedly claimed her Brooklyn apartment building was a four-unit property on mortgage applicationsdespite official records proving it had five. This may seem a minor discrepancy, but misrepresenting the unit count enabled her to secure more favorable loans, including a 2011 Home Affordable Modification Program(HAMP) loan that saved her tens of thousands of dollars annually.

She allegedly first did this in 2001, and over the years refinanced the property multiple times, every time misrepresenting the number of units. This makes it rather difficult to accept these misrepresentations as a one-time, inadvertent, math error.

But this isnt James only potential legal problem. In 2023, James signed a power of attorney so her relative could complete the purchase of a home in Norfolk, VA on her behalf. Heres the problem:

Graphic: VA government document, Public Domain

"I intend to occupy this property as my principal residence," swore James. But did she? Since she went on to conduct her infamous fraud suit against Donald Trump two months later, it seems highly unlikely. But if she didn't move to Virginia, that would mean she fraudulently signed the document.

Why would James have lied on the POA? As anyone who has purchased a second home can tell you, mortgage rates are lower on primary homes than on investment properties. Was James deliberately misrepresenting her status as a resident co-owner to obtain more favorable loan terms?

Was that really James principal residence? Norfolk is some 400 miles from New York City. Thats quite a commute.

Perhaps James really did start spending most of her time with [her relative] Thompson-Hairston in their jointly owned old Virginia home  but that would lead to a different legal pitfall for her. Multiple New York State laws require residency for state officers. "If James declared Virginia as her principal residencewhich the power of attorney clearly shows was her intentionshe may have triggered an automatic vacancy in the office of Attorney General under New York lawpotentially invalidating her authority during the very period she was prosecuting her highest-profile case," notes [Sam E. Antar].

A more in-depth treatment of the issues may be found here.

James self-righteous persecution of Donald Trump, which will surely be revealed to be part of a larger lawfare conspiracy, will almost certainly be overturned on appeal. It will be up to the Bondi DOJ to prosecute James. That this will be done under the rule of law rather than a two-tiered, corrupt system is deliciously ironic.

To review:

*James appears to have committed multiple counts of mortgage fraud in New York.

*She appears to have done the same in Virginia, while simultaneously pursuing Donald Trump for essentially the same thing.

*If James principal residence was actually Norfolk, VA she has apparently violated New York residency laws for state officers.

*If she did that, she arguably forfeited her office as NYs AG, which means she had no power to prosecute Donald Trump.

*According to law professor Jonathan Turley On the 04-15-25 Ingraham Angle, James also identified her father as her husband to get more favorable loan terms.

While these violations are potentially state crimes, they also arguably constitute fraud under federal statutes, arguably including wire fraud, a statue that has tripped up many corrupt public officials. Its highly unlikely charges would be brought against James in New York or Virginia, both leftist states, but under the Trump Administration, theyre certainly possible.

James has been referred by the Federal Housing Finance Agency to the DOJ for her alleged crimes relating to to federally administered mortages. James, referring to Donald Trump, frequently intoned: "no one is above the law." We'll see, and it couldnt happen to a worse woman.

On a different subject, if you are not already a subscriber, you may not know that weve implemented something new: A weekly newsletter with unique content from our editors for subscribers only. These essays alone are worth the cost of the subscription.

Mike McDaniel is a USAF veteran, classically trained musician, Japanese and European fencer, life-long athlete, firearm instructor, retired police officer and high school and college English teacher. He is a published author and blogger. His home blog is Stately McDaniel Manor.
It takes a special kind of evil openly advocates for organizations demanding Jewish blood to claim our government is acting like the Nazis and compare himself to a Jew in Auschwitz. Mahmoud Khalil is just that evil, as is the Washington Post, which hosted that vile comparison.

You need to know who Khalil is to appreciate how despicable he and the Washington Post are:

In the 1830s, Khalils grandparents moved to Tiberias, then an Ottoman colony, and they remained there when the British took over. They fled, however, in 1948, when the Jews recovered their nation from the British Empire, the last in a long line of colonial powers that had occupied their nation for so long.

Eventually, Khalil was born in Syria to parents who had never set foot in Israel, but who nevertheless claimed a Palestinian identity that didnt exist until Arafat and the Soviets came up with it in the 1960s. When Syria had a civil war, his family fled to Lebanon. Through it all, despite their Palestinian identity, they were actually Algerian citizens, as is Khalil. (Think of them as trans-Palestinians, an identity as fake as that of a so-called trans woman.)

YouTube screen grab (cropped).

In 2022, Khalil came to the U.S. on a student visa. On October 7, 2023, Hamas, aided by thousands of those trans-Palestinians resident in Gaza, brutally slaughtered over 1,200 people in Israel and kidnapped over 200 more. Hamass openly expressed goal is the annihilation of Israel and its residents. Israel responded as any nation must to such an attack (and in a way consistent with international law) by waging war against Hamas.

Soon after the war began, media sympathetic to Khalils position have consistently and admiringly asserted that he represented Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD) in dealings with Columbia University. In other words, he was CUADs spokesman.

CUAD is open about its goals, which align with Hamass. They want the violent overthrow of the United States and the destruction of Israel, the worlds only Jewish nation. Put another way, they advocate for terrorism on a domestic and internal scale, with Jews at the center.

Not coincidentally, thats also what the Nazis wanted. So, given Khalils connection with CUAD, you can easily liken Khalil to a Nazi, right down to the genocide bit.

Under 8 US.C. 1182, deportation is the appropriate remedy for a non-citizen who serves as a spokesman for an organization that advocates terrorism. Accordingly, the Trump administration took steps to remove Khalil, only to have Democratselected officials, media figures, and judgesagitate to keep him in America. They, like Khalil, support what the Nazis stood for: World domination and Jewish genocide.

The Democrats would never admit that, of course. Instead, they understand that the worst insult you can level at a person is to say that hes Hitler and at an institution is to say that its like the Nazis. Nazis are a metaphor for very bad.

So it is that the Washington Post opened its opinion page to Mahmoud Khalil, so that he could write an opinion piece in which he likened his stay in an ICE facility, with scores of attorneys working on his behalf and tens of thousands of supporters around the world, to being a victim of...the Nazis.

According to the essay, Khalil is awaiting his various due process proceedings in a Jena, Louisiana, ICE facility. He admits that he has had court appearances, complete with lawyers representing him, receives correspondence from supporters, and has access to a law library.

What he doesnt admit but we know is true is that he has adequate food and medical care. Also, if/when he loses the case, he wont be imprisoned, tortured, or executed. Instead, Khalil, a non-citizen, will be escorted from the U.S. to return to a Muslim country that aligns with his values.

Its in this setting that Khalil claims to be reading Viktor Frankls Mans Search For Meaning. And again, a little context is necessary.

Frankl had a slightly different experience than that which Khalil describes. Frankl and his family were Austrian citizens when the Nazis took over. In 1942, they were sent to Theresienstadt. There, Frankls father died from starvation. In 1944, the surviving family members were sent to Auschwitz, where his mother and brother were gassed.

Around 1.1 million people died in Auschwitz, of whom 1 million were Jews. Most were immediately gassed, but the remainder were worked, starved, and tortured to death. None had court hearings, lawyers, law libraries, sufficient food, correspondence from supporters, or any other amenities.

Eventually, Frankl and his young wife ended up in Bergen-Belsen. Although Bergen-Belsen didnt have a gas chamber, the living conditions (if one could call them that) were actually worse than Auschwitz, because it had no organizing principle: no rudimentary sanitation, no food distribution, nothing. It was as close as humans could get to Hell. Frankls wife died there, as did around 50,000 others, including Anne Frank.

It was after that experience that Frankl, desperately trying to make sense of what had happened to him, wrote his famous book, Mans Search For Meaning. In it, he describes his experiences in Nazi concentration camps, and tries to figure out what helped those who escaped the gas chambers to survive.

Despite some significant differences in status, having read Frankls book, Khalil sees himself:

I pick up my copy of Viktor Frankls Mans Search for Meaning. I feel ashamed to compare my conditions in ICE detention with Nazi concentration camps, yet, some aspects of Frankls experience resonate: not knowing what fate awaits me; seeing resignation and defeat in my fellow detainees.

This is beyond disgusting. A man who allies himself with and speaks for genocidal Jew haters, who has a clean, if not particularly comfortable venue, sufficient food, no forced labor, access to lawyers and libraries, a national publication anxious to publish his word, and multiple court hearings, and who, at worst, will be removed to a country sharing his values, claims that he is a victim of the new NazisAmerica.

Khalil, his ghost writers, and the Washington Post are so morally repugnant that anything I write is inadequate to make that point. The Democrat party is sick. I sincerely hope that Donald Trumps choking off its taxpayer money supply, deporting its foot soldiers (whether because they came illegally or violated the terms of being guests in America), and driving it to cling to criminals and sexual deviants, eviscerates the party as a social and political power.
Democrats are openly begging their leadership to tell them what the party is for, what it supports, and what it believes will make life in America better.

And their leadership cant.

They are at a point where there is no answer because there is no answer.

For years, Ive been reflecting on a phenomenon unfolding in America that feels unprecedented, not only in our history but perhaps in the annals of any civilization.

When news broke of Maryland Democrat Senator Chris Van Hollen flying to El Salvador to plead the case of an illegal alien, a twice confirmed member of MS-13, intersected with the White House statement of Patty Morin, the mother of Rachel Morin, who was murdered by an illegal alien, an idea started to form. Mrs. Morin said that Van Hollen never even called her, a constituent of his, to express sympathy for the high-profile murder of her daughter.

Then it hit me.

Its a profound unraveling, a cultural and moral dislocation that has left a significant portion of our society adrift. Specifically, Im referring to the trajectory of the Democrat Party and its supporters, who seem to have drifted so far from the foundational principles of this nation that theyve lost their moral and ideological moorings. This isnt just a political disagreement, its a deeper, existential crisis of belief, identity, and purpose.

At the heart of Americas founding are core principles: a sense of morality rooted in individual responsibility, a commitment to fair play, the rule of law as a safeguard against tyranny, and a religious foundation that, while not dogmatic, provided a shared ethical framework. These werent perfect ideals, nor were they always perfectly applied, but they formed the bedrock of a society striving toward justice and order. For decades, Democrats have positioned themselves as critics of these principles, often framing them as outdated, oppressive, or insufficiently inclusive. This critique began with some validity -- challenging systems that excluded or marginalized certain groups were necessary. But over time, this skepticism has morphed into something far more destructive: a reflexive rejection of the very concepts of morality, fairness, law, and faith.

What were witnessing now isnt just opposition to specific policies or traditions; its a wholesale abandonment of any coherent belief system. Democrats, or at least the most vocal and influential factions within the party, no longer champion ideas because they believe in their inherent truth or value. Instead, their positions appear to be chosen almost mechanically, as a reaction against the principles theyve spent decades opposing. If conservatives uphold the rule of law, they advocate for its erosion. If religious values are invoked, they embrace secularism to the point of nihilism. If fairness is championed, they gravitate toward systems that reward grievance over merit. This isnt driven by a competing vision of virtue -- its the absence of one.

This phenomenon is what happens when a group becomes, for lack of a better term, soulless, hollow people. Without a grounding in some conception of right and wrong, truth and falsehood, or justice and injustice, decisions become arbitrary, guided not by principle but by opposition. Its as if the Democrat Party has spent so long deconstructing the moral and cultural foundations of America that it has forgotten how to believe in anything at all. In this vacuum, Democrat identity is defined not by what they stand for but by what they stand against. The result is a kind of ideological nihilism, where the only consistent thread is the rejection of the values that once held society together. Because they have no understanding, basis or foundation to define anything for themselves, they can never be for something, they can only be against it.

The broader trend is unmistakable: a significant portion of Americas political and cultural Left has lost its way, untethered from the principles that make a civilization function.

The consequences are profound -- division, mistrust, and a society that struggles to find common ground. If this continues unchecked, it risks not just the soul of a party but the soul of a nation.

Image: Goya
It finally happened -- school choice is coming to Texas. The House and Senate voted yes, and Governor Greg Abbott will sign it soon. It's a big victory for parents and another example of the governor working to make something happen. In 2024, the governor supported pro-choice Republicans and got them elected.

The Wall Street Journal posted this:

When Gov. Abbott called special sessions in 2023 to pass education savings accounts, 21 GOP House lawmakers joined Democrats to vote them down. Many cited concern for rural districts that lack private options, and some were beholden to teachers unions. Gov. Abbott responded by making ESAs a political liability for these Republicans by endorsing pro-ESA opponents in primaries. Voters backed most of his endorsements, and in November he clinched the number of pro-school choice lawmakers he needed. Only two Republicans, including former Speaker Dade Phelan, voted against the bill this week. Its worth noting that Republicans had to spend more for public schools to grease ESA passage. Nearly all House lawmakers voted for a separate bill that increases public school funding by some $8 billion. That includes teacher pay raises and hold harmless provisions that ensure school districts will keep most of their funding from one year to another. This may be politically necessary, but one point of school choice is for money to follow students. Public schools that dont serve students well, and lose them, should face the market consequences. But Gov. Abbotts triumph is a breakthrough for Texas families who want options outside district schools. With two toddlers in the home, groceries and gasoline were priority, so my quality education didnt make the budget, said Texas resident Angelina Tamez in House testimony last month. The ESAs would allow us the opportunity of the American dream, a fighting chance and a future where our zip code no longer dictates our destiny.

Again, this is an example of Governor Abbott's muscle and his willingness to fight for what he believes.

The Democrats are singing their usual tune  that this is a gift for millionaires who can send their kids to private schools. You mean like the many Democrats in our legislature who send their kids to private schools? Or the Obamas, who speak on behalf of the teachers union although their daughters have never walked into a public school, in Chicago or Washington D.C.? Of course, no one asked the President about this contradiction when he spoke in front of the union.

My guess is that school choice will need some refining in the future. But at least we are now a school-choice state, the kind of place that keeps attracting families from areas with lousy public schools.

Last, but not least, school choice is another consequence of how the government has failed the citizens, with lousy public schools defying parents who want their children educated properly.

P.S. Check out my blog for posts, podcasts and videos.

Image: Gage Skidmore
For many people, few things feel as magical as walking down Main Street, USA, on the first day of a Disney trip. There's something for everyone at the Disney Parks, whether you're a child, a parent...or even a squirrel!

On April 13, a Floridian travel agent named Amy shared a hilarious video clip from her family's trip to EPCOT in Disney World. Just as they returned to their stroller, they discovered a furry stowaway hitching a ride in their shopping bag! The food-loving squirrel proved to be just as entertaining as the rides and shows around them, but no one was ready for when it finally hopped out of the bag.

What an adorable little hitchhiker! It was so considerate of Amy to find a squirrel-safe snack to lure the critter out of the bag, but this sassy squirrel wasn't having it. Was it just super comfy in the shopping bag, or was this squirrel snacking on something they didn't want to give up?

"Disney squirrels are the boldest rodents Ive encountered," commented a viewer named Jojo. "They will take stuff out of your hands." When they're surrounded by yummy food, it makes total sense!

Related: Disneyland's Acceptance and Treatment of Their Resident Cat Colony Is So Inspiring

Commenters shared tons of stories about their various snacks stolen by rogue squirrels, but my favorite was actually a bird story from Emmeliz: "I got in a fight with a bird in Animal Kingdom that kept attacking me over my mac and cheese. It flew into my face, but I stood my ground." I hope you enjoyed every bite of that mac and cheese!

Fortunately, I've never had a problem like squirrel thievery at Disneyland, but the seagulls can be quite aggressive. As long as you don't eat next to the Rivers of America, you'll be in the clear! As for finding a spot to sit while you eat... that's an entirely different problem. Oh well!

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Tasneem Abbas (left) and her sister and guardian, Ashjan, explore New York City during a layover on their way to Philadelphia from Egypt, on 15 December 2024. Photograph: Courtesy of Tasneem Abbas

Dozens of people across the world were in non-stop communication for several months to arrange the arrival of Tasneem Sharif Abbas to the US. Abbass entire life changed when a bomb dropped on her familys home in Gaza on 31 October 2023. A piece of metal severed her arm and she blacked out as rubble fell on her. Soon after, her arm was amputated at a local Gaza hospital. This is not a movie or a fictional story. This is the reality I have lived, Abbas said in a statement. This is just a glimpse of the dark days that have turned my life into a nightmare.

Last year, the 16-year-old and an accompanying guardian, her adult sister Ashjan who is not injured, evacuated to Egypt, where they spent several months aboard a medical ship. The journey to fit Abbas with a prosthetic arm began with a 24-hour-flight from Cairo to New York, where volunteers met them in the airport during a several-hour layover. The only time there was uncertainty was in the visa process, said Raghed Ahmed, vice-president of the Philadelphia chapter of the Palestine Childrens Relief Fund (PCRF), a non-profit that has provided medical care to Middle Eastern kids since the 1990s. The group also facilitated the sisters travel. We werent sure if it would take two weeks or six months, but her visa was approved in a couple of weeks, Ahmed said.

So when Abbas entered the arrivals section at the Philadelphia international airport last December, the mood was ebullient. Some 100 community members cheered and waved Palestinian flags, while others held handmade signs that read Welcome to Philadelphia in English and Arabic. Free Palestine! they shouted in unison. Farha Ghannam, an anthropology professor at Swarthmore College and Abbass host mother, embraced the 16-year-old and handed her a bouquet of flowers as they met for the first time.

When they saw that there was a really big presence from the community at the airport, they really appreciated that. And [Abbas] said it made them forget the tiredness of travel, said Johara Shamaa, a volunteer coordinator for PCRFs Philadelphia chapter. Abbas, who declined to be interviewed due to stress, is the only Palestinian child being hosted and medically treated in Philadelphia at the sponsorship of PCRF. Aside from Philadelphia, PCRF has brought more than 20 children to Chicago, Illinois; Washington DC; Portland, Oregon; Houston, Texas; Greenville, South Carolina; St Louis, Missouri; Lexington, Kentucky; Boston, Massachusetts; and Sacramento and Los Angeles, California, to seek medical treatment since October 2023.

Everywhere the children are sent, a community of people rally behind them to improve their lives. All the while, they perform a delicate dance of navigating an ever-changing evacuation system in the absence of a permanent ceasefire. In Philadelphia, 50 volunteers pitch in by driving Abbas to doctors appointments, tutoring her in English, and hosting dinners at their homes during the sisters six-month stay. The cost of Abbass prosthetic limb and the medical treatment to repair her residual appendage, which was improperly amputated due to the lack of medical resources in Gaza, are being covered by the hospital Shriners Childrens Philadelphia.

Though Abbass is a story of triumph, thousands of children from Gaza have inadequate or no access to medical treatment. And with Abbas and her sisters visa renewal coming up in May, their futures are uncertain.

You have to constantly be amendable, because every single day something is always changing, said Tareq Hailat, head of PCRFs treatment abroad program, which works with government entities and hospitals to facilitate free medical care. Theres always some kind of difficulty occurring: abandonment of ceasefires, the targeting of humanitarian workers, a new border or corridor coming up, which puts a hold on operations.

While the volunteers are helping shape Abbass life, her host family said that the girls presence has also helped them feel empowered as they watch from afar Israels war on Gaza, where more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed since 7 October 2023.

When PCRF approached them in the late fall of 2024, Ghannam, a Palestinian American, and her husband, Hans Lofgren, a Swedish American who is fluent in Arabic, were eager to host Abbas and her sister at their home in Swarthmore, a quiet suburb 20 miles (32km) south-west of Philadelphia. Being host parents gave them a concrete way to help Palestinians after seeing unimaginable suffering while watching the news, Lofgren said: When you get that kind of a request, you cannot in good conscience say no. Its absolutely a necessity to say yes. You do not know exactly what this would involve, and what would happen, its a bit of an unknown. But to jump into this was absolutely necessary.

These communities are not just Arabs

The complicated process of sending a child to the US from Gaza involves clearances from several governments and the financial backing of non-governmental organizations and hospital systems. It begins when a hospital in the Middle East contacts PCRF because they are unable to address a childs medical needs. PCRF then lines up a hospital abroad that will treat the child for free, and seeks approval to pull the child out of Gaza from the Israeli ministry of defenses coordinator of government activities in the territories, and the Egyptian government. They coordinate with the United Nations World Health Organization to transport the child through Gazas Rafah border crossing to a buffer zone in al-Arish, Egypt, and then their visas are secured at embassies in Egypt.

PCRF then creates a shortlist of families from a large database of volunteers whose culture and language typically align with those of the child, said Hailat from PCRF. Then a member of Hailats team and the local chapter interview the families and visit their homes before making the final selection. PCRF pays for the childrens travel and any clothes or supplies they will need during their six-month stay abroad.

Outside the US, theyve sent more than 250 children to Egypt, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Spain, Italy, Belgium, Germany, Norway, Lebanon and Jordan, and they hope to expand their efforts to the United Kingdom, Australia and Canada. But Hailat said that the amount of children theyve helped is only a drop in the bucket.

When Gazas Rafah border crossing to Egypt closed in May 2024 and children were instead transported through the Israeli-controlled Kerem Shalom crossing, the number of evacuated children dropped from more than 280 children a month to 20. Since the Rafah border crossing was reopened in February, Hailat said, at least 600 people a month have been evacuated from Gaza. But he fears that the amount of evacuees may severely dwindle again following Israels new security corridor that blocks Rafah from the rest of Gaza.

The biggest problem is that we as an organization are caught in the middle, Hailat said. We dont want to be a part of the proposed displacement of these children, but we dont want them to die. The only solution is a complete ceasefire that allows us to bring medical treatment inside Gaza.

Despite the frustration in the international process that hinders more children from evacuating, he said his faith resides in the compassionate communities throughout the US that have opened their arms to the children in need of medical treatment. One of the most beautiful things about these communities is that they are not just Arabs, they are not just Muslims, they are not just Palestinians. They are Americans. They are of all races, of all religions, of all sexes, Hailat said. No matter where you stand on the political aisle, once they see these children in real life, people realize that this is a humanitarian issue.

As a Palestinian American, Ghannam said, she was initially concerned that she might be overwhelmed by the sisters trauma. But over the past few months, she and Lofgren say, the sisters have brought a brightness to their home. I think Im able to support them, but I think they are also able to support me, Ghannam said. Just seeing sometimes their spirits and their resilience has actually been very, very important to me. They also have been helping me deal with whats happening.

The couple only had about a week to prepare for the sisters arrival after completing a vetting process with PCRF. As a semi-retired economist, Lofgren was in charge of moving the furniture into the 60-somethings spare storage room and securing two mattresses for the sisters to sleep on. Neighbors and friends gifted the sisters gloves and gift cards to a beauty supply chain. Philadelphias PCRF chapter created a group chat on WhatsApp to collect winter clothes, hygiene items, books and phone chargers, and community members stepped up to host dinners for the sisters at their homes.

Volunteers also drive Abbas to her appointments at Shriners hospital, where shes undergoing occupational therapy and being fitted for her prosthesis. Her medical team is determining whether they need to make adjustments to the arm replacement. Its a lot more complicated because of the dire need of medical supplies in Gaza, especially with the ongoing genocide and the lack of aid and completely destroyed healthcare systems. The amputation wasnt done as it should have been, said Shamaa, of PCRF. As part of her sessions, Abbas is training her left arm to write and do other tasks since she is right-handed. When the prosthetic arm is attached, further occupational therapy sessions will teach Abbas how to use it.

PCRF will likely try to renew Abbass visa in May for another six months since she is still undergoing medical care, said Hailat. She and her sister will return to Egypt and live independently through help from PCRF and donations from the community when her treatment ends.

Earlier this year, volunteer tutors who are bilingual in Arabic and English began teaching Abbas English as a second language. They are also tutoring her in math and science using a Palestinian curriculum for the 10th grade, the last grade she completed prior to evacuating Gaza.

Supporting Abbas requires a delicate balance of helping her feel welcome while giving her the space to process the trauma of evacuating from a war zone and leaving behind most of her family in Gaza, said Ghannam. The couples home has seen a complicated range of emotions with the backdrop of Israels war on Gaza. When the ceasefire was announced in mid-January, the sisters were thrilled and exclaimed how enthusiastic they were to eventually return home and for Gaza to be rebuilt. I am very cautious and pessimistic, and they managed to engulf me with their optimism, Ghannam said. A few hours later, Abbas became solemn when she learned that more than 80 people had been killed in airstrikes directly following the ceasefire announcement.

Still, Ghannam said, she is impressed by Abbass strength and wonder as she adjusts to life in the US. During the evenings, the family often watch Arabic shows on Netflix together, or take turns choosing their favorite Arabic songs on YouTube. When Abbas saw snow falling outside the window for the first time during the winter, a big smile stretched across her face as she remarked on its beauty. She went outside to touch it and posed for photos with her sister.

When I see them laugh, Ghannam said, and when I see them excited about life, that really gives me a good feeling.

 This article was amended on 7 May 2025. An earlier version reported that 62,000 Palestinians had been killed in Gaza since 7 October 2023; this figure was based on a previously maintained Al Jazeera tracker that included information from the Gaza health ministry and other sources. Consistent with wider Guardian reporting, our amendment gives the figure according the health ministry, which was more than 51,000 at the time of the articles publication.
Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, receives JD Vance, during the vice-presidents visit - Vatican Media

JD Vance met with senior officials from the Vatican following a fractious round of exchanges between Donald Trumps administration and Pope Francis.

The US vice-president arrived for the meetings with Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the Vaticans secretary of state, on Saturday morning as part of a three-day diplomatic trip to Italy over the Easter weekend.

The Pope has been a long-standing critic of Mr Trump and in February said the presidents mass deportation efforts are driving a major crisis that damages the dignity of men and women.

Doubts remain whether Mr Vance will be granted an audience with the Pope, 88, who is in recovery from a near-fatal bout of double pneumonia and is limiting his public appearances.

The pontiff demonstrated on Thursday he is still physically capable of making engagements when he paid a half-hour visit to inmates inside a prison in Rome.

Mr Vance walks with his wife and children through the Vatican on his three-day diplomatic trip to Italy - Francesco Sforza/Vatican Media

The meetings potentially mark a turning point in relations between the Catholic Church and Mr Trumps administration.

In a letter to US bishops on Feb 11, the Pope condemned Mr Trumps plans to embark on a mass rounding-up and deportation of illegal immigrants.

The pontiff urged people not to give in to narratives that discriminate against and cause unnecessary suffering to our migrant and refugee brothers and sisters.

Tom Homan, the US presidents border tsar, responded by telling reporters: I wish hed stick to the Catholic Church and fix that and leave border enforcement to us.

He wants to attack us for securing our border? Hes got a wall around the Vatican, does he not?... We cant have a wall around the United States.

Pope Francis had written: I have followed closely the major crisis that is taking place in the United States with the initiation of a programme of mass deportations.

The rightly formed conscience cannot fail to make a critical judgement and express its disagreement with any measure that tacitly or explicitly identifies the illegal status of some migrants with criminality.

Cardinal Parolin meets with Mr Vance, his daughter Mirabel, his wife Usha, and their sons Ewan and Vivek at the Vatican - Vatican Media

Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, was gently chided by the Pope for trying to argue on social media that Christian doctrine justifies the administrations America First approach to immigration.

The vice-president, who was raised in a culturally Protestant Scots-Irish household but converted to Catholicism in 2019, cited the medieval teachings on ordo amoris, or the order of love, saying people must prioritise their families and those closest to them.

In his letter, Pope Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept, saying Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups.

Massimo Faggioli, an Italian academic at Villanova University and an expert on the papacy, commented: This visit takes place at a delicate moment. This relationship with the US is a very high priority right now for the Vatican.

An exchange of opinions

In a statement after the meeting, the Holy See reaffirmed good relations but noted an exchange of opinions was had over current international conflicts and humanitarian situations involving migrants, refugees and prisoners.

There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees, and prisoners, the statement said.

Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the State and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.

Credit: The White House

Mr Vance is said to be keen to meet the Pope  such an encounter would play well to Catholic voters in the US.

It would carry potent weight, coming as the Church celebrates Easter, the most important period in the Catholic calendar.

The trip to Italy is Mr Vances first time back in Europe after he delivered a combative speech in Munich in February. In the speech the vice-president downplayed the threat posed by Russia and insisted instead that the real danger to the continent lay in unregulated migration, the exclusion of far-Right political groups, caving into political correctness and restrictions on free speech.
Chris Van Hollen at Washington Dulles international airport in Chantilly, Virginia, on Friday. Photograph: Jose Luis Magana/AP

Wrongly deported Salvadorian man Kilmar Abrego Garcia has been held incommunicado and faced threats in prison that have left him traumatized, a Democratic senator said Friday after returning from meeting him in El Salvador.

Chris Van Hollen of Maryland, the state Abrego Garcia had been living in with his US citizen wife and son until he was deported last month in what the Trump administration conceded was an administrative error, traveled to the central American country this week to see his constituent. After initially rejecting his request to meet Abrego Garcia and preventing him from traveling to the prison where he was being held, president Nayib Bukeles government on Thursday facilitated a meeting at Van Hollens hotel.

His conversation with me was the first communication hed had with anybody outside of prison since he was abducted. He said he felt very sad about being in a prison because he had not committed any crimes, Van Hollen said at a press conference at Dulles international airport outside Washington DC.

He recounted speaking to Abrego Garcia about his wellbeing, and informing him of the controversy caused by his arrest and Donald Trumps refusal to let him back into the United States, in spite of a supreme court ruling saying the president should facilitate his return.

The senator said Abrego Garcia told him about how he had been arrested by federal agents after a traffic stop while driving with his five-year-old son, who has autism. He was taken to Baltimore, then Texas, where he was shackled and placed with other deportees on an aircraft where they could not see out the windows. The plane flew to El Salvador, where, Abrego Garcia said, he was taken to the Terrorism Confinement Center (Cecot) and put in a cell with about 25 other people.

He said he was not afraid of the other prisoners in his immediate cell, but that he was traumatized by being at Cecot and fearful of many of the prisoners in other cell blocks who called out to him, and taunted him in various ways, Van Hollen said, adding that Abrego Garcia otherwise appeared to be in sound health.

Just more than a week ago, Abrego Garcia was moved to another prison in the city of Santa Ana, where conditions are better, but he still has no contact with the outside world, Van Hollen said. He has also not been told whether he is being charged with a crime, or how long he will be detained.

They havent told him anything about why he was sent or how long he would be there, the senator said.

Van Hollen described himself as motivated to make the trip both out of a desire to relay Abrego Garcias condition to his family, and outrage that the Trump administration had deported him despite a judge granting him protection from removal, over a well-founded fear of future persecution from gangs in El Salvador, and was now refusing to bring him back.

This case is not only about one man, as important as that is. It is about protecting fundamental freedoms and the fundamental principle in the constitution for due process, that protects everybody who resides in America, Van Hollen said. This should not be an issue for Republicans or Democrats. This is an issue for every American who cares about our constitution.

On Thursday, the federal appeals judge James Wilkinson, an appointee of Republican president Ronald Reagan, wrote an opinion blasting the administrations conduct in the case as litigation over Abrego Garcias deportation continued.

The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order, he wrote.

The Trump administration has countered the criticism by claiming that Abrego Garcia was a member of the MS-13 criminal gang, with the White House posting on social media that he was NOT coming back.

Trump administration officials also seized on a claim from Bukele that Van Hollen and Abrego Garcia drank margaritas during their meeting, which the senator took pains to refute, saying the drinks had been placed on their table by a Salvadorian government employee.

Related: Denied, detained, deported: the most high-profile cases in Trumps immigration crackdown

Let me just be very clear: neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, he said, adding that the glass placed in front of Abrego Garcia contained less liquid, as if trying to create the impression that he had drunk from it.

But this is a lesson into the lengths that president Bukele will do to deceive people about whats going on. And it also shows the lengths that the Trump administration, or the president, will go to, because when he was asked about a reporter about this, he just went along for the ride.

Van Hollen was joined at the airport by Abrego Garcias wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, who brushed away tears as the senator described meeting her husband. At the White House earlier in the day, Trump had read from a domestic violence protective order Vasquez filed in 2021, which she has said stemmed from a rough patch in their marriage that they later worked through.

When I asked him, what was the one thing he would ask for in addition to his freedom, he said he wanted to talk to his wife, Van Hollen said of his meeting with Abrego Garcia. I told him I would work very hard to make that happen.
Ed Miliband has accused Nigel Farage of peddling nonsense and lies by appearing to blame the Governments commitment to net zero for the crisis in the UK steel industry.

The Energy Secretary said both Reform UK and the Tories were prepared to concoct falsehoods to pursue their ideological agenda in a strident attack on political opponents as next months local elections loom.

The senior Cabinet minister and former Labour leader also warned that if an anti-net zero agenda was followed, it would not only risk climate breakdown but forfeit the clean energy jobs of the future in Britain.

Nigel Farage has suggested that the commitment to net zero has made it harder to source coal for British Steel (Ben Birchall/PA)

In an article for The Observer newspaper referring to price rises that began in 2022, he wrote: Our exposure to fossil fuels meant that, as those markets went into meltdown and prices rocketed, family, business and public finances were devastated.

The cost of living impacts caused back then still stalk families today.

Responding to the piece, Mr Farage said: We alone cannot cause climate breakdown.

Following Government action to take control of British Steel from its Chinese owners last week, the Reform leader accused Mr Miliband, whom he has repeatedly referred to as Red Ed, of pursuing net-zero lunacy.

He said that efforts to cut carbon emissions have made it harder to source coal required to keep blast furnaces at the companys Scunthorpe plant running after supplies were shipped from abroad last week.

The Government has said that a Cumbrian coal mine, which critics claim could have been used as a domestic source, would not have produced the kind of material that would have been suited to British Steel.

Were living through a period of net-zero lunacy, something that the Conservatives signed us up to, wrote into law and believed in, as if somehow it was their new religion, Mr Farage told a campaign event last week.

And this, of course, is now being followed by Red Ed, who is the high priest of this who was determined to cover our agricultural land in Chinese slave-labour made farms, solar farms, and to despoil as much of our coastline as he possibly can.

He has also said the UK should be self-sufficient in oil and gas.

Climate groups have argued that the North Sea is an aging basin, meaning its reserves will decline regardless of Government policy as well as being expensive to extract.

Mr Miliband said that both Reform and the Conservatives would make up any old nonsense and lies to pursue their ideological agenda and that breaking free of reliance on overseas supplies is also a matter of national security.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to double down on his Governments commitment to clean power at an International Energy Agency conference this week in London.

Meanwhile, Mr Farage, who wants to abandon the commitment to achieving net zero by 2050, told The Sun on Sunday newspaper that the policy could become the new Brexit.

This could be the next Brexit  where Parliament is so hopelessly out of touch with the country, he said.

Since becoming Tory leader, Kemi Badenoch has also cast doubt on the 2050 target previously passed by her own party, saying she believes it is impossible without a serious drop in living standards or by bankrupting us.

MPs passed an emergency law last week allowing ministers to take control of British Steel to prevent the closure of its blast furnaces and potential widespread job losses after talks with its owners, Jingye, broke down.

Labour has stepped up its attacks on Reform in the run-up to the local elections amid opinion poll momentum for the right-wing party, which returned just five MPs at the general election last year and now has four.

Votes for a total of 1,641 council seats across 23 authorities in England will take place on May 1.
Credit: BBC Bitesize

The BBC has been accused of giving children a dishonest view of communism.

The BBC Bitesize website provides an overview of communist ideology and history but critics have said that the teaching materials gloss over mass murder.

The material, aimed at educating pupils aged 11 to 14, outlines the central tenets of Marxism, and the emergence of the Soviet Union.

However, the video does not mention Soviet dictators such as Joseph Stalin, or the tens of millions who died under communist regimes.

The BBC Bitesize video does not mention Soviet dictators such as Joseph Stalin, or the tens of millions who died under communist regimes - Alexander Zemlianichenko/AP

The narration in the BBC video concedes that some people think the ideology and economic system may place too many limits on individual freedom and be too centralised.

However, no other downsides of communist regimes are presented in the teaching material, which does not mention the famine and mass killings in the Soviet Union, Mao Zedongs China, or Pol Pots Cambodia.

In a parallel video covering capitalism, BBC teaching material lists a greater number of common criticisms, including the concentration of power in a minority capitalist class.

It is stated that critics of capitalism believe this class profits from the exploitation of workers and seeks profit over whats best for society, sustainability, and the environment.

The teaching material does not mention the famine and mass killings in Mao Zedongs China - Apic/Hulton Archive

Fascism is also a topic, and pupils are told that the political system involves eroding democratic institutions and an authoritarian regime in which many aspects of life are tightly controlled.

It further states that such regimes are usually ruled by one party that creates a situation in which violence and oppression are used to crack down on opposition.

While these characteristics are equally applicable to states including Cuba, Soviet Russia, China and Vietnam, they are not presented as features of communist countries.

Prof Robert Tombs, a Cambridge historian, said of the teaching material: To teach the history of communism as if it was just another political theory with a few minor downsides, rather than the basis of many of the most inhuman forms of totalitarianism in history, is utterly dishonest and makes it impossible for children to understand the modern world.

Concerns about the BBC material come amid ongoing debates about the impression of communism given to young people.

In 2021, Wikipedia users attempted to delete an entry on the encyclopaedia website detailing mass killings under Communist regimes.

The page covering the deaths of millions in one-party states was flagged for deletion after some users responsible for maintaining the site took issue with blaming mass murder on communist ideology.

The dedicated entry listing the actions of figures such as Stalin, Mao, and North Koreas Kim Il Sung was accused by some users of putting forward a biased anti-communist point of view.

Some Wikipedia users accused the online encyclopedia of a biased anti-communist view of North Koreas dictator Kim Il Sung - Yannis Kontos/Sygma

Clifford D May, founder and president of the international relations think-tank Foundation for Defense of Democracies, accused the BBC of backtracking on its World Service history.

During the Soviet era, millions of subjugated people from East Berlin to Vladivostok would huddle over short-wave radios to listen to the news on the BBC World Service  despite knowing that doing so could land them in the gulag  or even end their lives, he said.

They understood that the greatest enemy of communist regimes is the truth. Communism necessarily means a one-party state, no separation of powers, no opposition parties or independent civic associations, and no freedom of speech or conscience. Communism goes against everything the BBC has historically represented.

The BBC should not be backtracking. The BBC should be forthrightly telling young people these truths.

The BBC has been accused of backtracking on its history of truth-telling over the World Service - Edward Webb/Alamy

He added that the broadcasters role was especially important now, highlighting that the most powerful communist party in history  the Chinese Communist Party  is leading a new Cold War against the West in close association with the neo-imperialist dictator of Russia, the jihadi dictator of Iran, and the dynastic dictator of North Korea.

The BBC said it had not received any complaints or feedback about the Bitesize for Teachers resource.

A BBC spokesman said: This is a Bitesize for Teachers resource and clearly labelled for use by teachers, not for direct use by students. It is designed to be used alongside other resources and therefore is not a comprehensive summary of the curriculum area. Bitesize for Teachers has other resources which cover the many aspects of communism.
The demonstrators passed through Westcliff-on-Sea, near Southend in Essex - AVPic/Alamy

Jewish groups have condemned a hateful pro-Palestine march that took place during Passover.

Critics called the march in Westcliff-on-Sea, near Southend in Essex, a hateful procession through the heart of a small Jewish community.

Crowds marched through the streets, allegedly chanting stop killing children as families walked home from synagogue after Sabbath prayers.

The Campaign Against Anti-Semitism said: Even by the standards of the past 18 months, the march in Southend was despicable.

Not only did police allow this march, despite it apparently being organised without the required legal notice, they took minimal action as marchers shouted stop killing children, a chilling echo of mediaeval blood-libels.

The group also alleged that the protesters displayed support for terrorist organisations banned in the UK and assaulted a volunteer from its demonstration and event-monitoring unit.

Videos circulated on social media showed crowds of protesters carrying crosses and dressed in celebration of Christianity. It was also alleged that campaigners marched past several synagogues during a time when Jewish members of the community were celebrating Shabbat at the end of Passover.

Deliberately antagonistic

The Community Security Trust, which helps to protect Jewish communities, condemned the march as a deliberately antagonistic act.

A spokesman said: People have the choice about when and where to protest, and organising a pro-Palestinian march of this nature near to synagogues on the Sabbath is a deliberately antagonistic act that we utterly condemn.

It causes fear and alarm in the local Jewish community and damages wider relations. The new police powers announced by the Home Secretary to prevent this kind of intimidation cannot come into force a moment too soon.

Amy Abdelnoor, 46, from Essex, an author and a speaker at the march, confirmed that protesters were chanting stop killing babies but defended the choice of words.

She said: Given that Unicef has called it a war on children, I think its entirely accurate to say stop killing children.

We were calling on the Government to stop arming Israel, we were calling on the Israeli government to end the occupation, we were calling on the Israeli government to stop bombing Gaza and we were calling on the Israeli government to stop killing children.

Addressing the concerns raised by Jewish groups, Ms Abdelnoor said: There was no provocation whatsoever, and it was made very clear that this was presented as religious, but its not, its political. There were two speakers at the rally today who were Jewish, and one of them made very clear that he felt safe.

The marches normally are at the end of the Sabbath, so its utterly disingenuous, cynical manipulation of the Jewish faith and utterly untrue. This has nothing to do with religion  its all to do with ideology. Its absolutely cynical manipulation of Judaism.

A spokesman for Essex Police confirmed that a group of Orthodox Jews in the vicinity of the demonstration were supported by officers who escorted them to the opposite side of the road to ensure their safety.
The Mini first appeared in 1959 - ISTOCKPHOTO

The Mini has been named the greatest British car ever made.

Judges looked at each car in terms of their engineering pedigree, design, commercial success, significance in automotive history along with their heartfelt emotion and reduced the list of 75 down to 50.

The Mini topped the Auto Express list as the undisputed champion, with judges saying: Put simply, we reckon no other British- built vehicle better represents the relevant, innovative and pioneering UK automotive industry quite like the worlds original small car.

Phil McNamara, editor at large, Auto Express, said: Whats the best British car of all time?

Jaguar has made some crackers, and we cant forget motors from pinnacle manufacturers such as Land Rover, Aston Martin, McLaren, Bentley and Rolls-Royce.

However, there was only ever going to be one winner of our Top 50 Brit cars rundown. After a short and somewhat snappy group discussion in the boardroom at AE Towers, the Mini was crowned undisputed champion.

During the late fifties, designer Alec Issigonis was tasked by the British Motor Corporation (BMC) with delivering a sub-three-metre compact car that could carry a family of four.

The Minis popularity soared when celebrities and racing drivers got behind the wheel and the modern car is nearly 90cm longer than the original.

John Cooper, the engineering legend, modified a Mini, helping it win the Monte Carlo Rally four times and his name is on the three-door hatchback, along with the firms superminis and family SUVs.

Mr McNamara added: While more than 5.3 million original Minis were built at the firms Oxford site between 1959 and 2000 (1.6 million sold in the UK), the modern MINI as we know it (launched in 2001) has cemented itself as a cult classic. Plans to build the new electric Mini in the UK may have been paused, but in excess of 1,000 cars are currently built in Cowley daily, equivalent to one every 67 seconds.

There really can be little doubt  the Mini (not forgetting the modern-day MINI) truly is the best car this green and pleasant land has ever built. Long may it continue.

The Jaguar E-Type came in second, with the Land Rover Series/Defender in third.
Caroline Chipperfield-Twiddy supports the attraction and has started a We want Puy du Fou group on Facebook - John Lawrence

Every year, in the Loire region of western France, more than two million history enthusiasts flock to a theme park known as Puy du Fou.

Visitors enjoy immersive theatre performances deep inside the forest, where medieval knights and princesses dance to live music as fireworks go off into the night.

Now, Puy du Fou is set to come to the UK, with an influx of visitors expected to invade Bucknell, a sandstone village of about 100 residents in Oxfordshire.

Villagers were left aghast after a letter arrived through their doors last July notifying them of plans for the new theme park.

It was completely unexpected, said Chris Wells, 57, the head of the parish council. A letter arrived last year with a bombshell being dropped that there was a theme park being proposed at the back of the village.

Puy du Fou has had a park in Les Epesses since 1978 and in Toledo, Spain since 2021.

One online clip shows visitors enjoying the sight of medieval soldiers dressed in chain-mail dancing to upbeat music and taking swipes at each other with shields. Another shows actors dressed as villagers dancing in a circle to country music as the audience claps along.

Guests dine at history-themed restaurants and hotels, and wander through clusters of villages built in different period styles.

Actors in medieval costumes perform during a ceremony at the Puy du Fou historical theme park in Les Epesses, western France - Jean-Sebastien Evrard/Getty Images

Run by Philippe de Villiers, a French former MEP, the attraction brands itself as an eco-friendly venture that has no rides or rollercoasters and no neon flashing lights.

But many of the 100-odd Bucknell residents think the idea is horrendous and that the performances would create noise pollution, along with nightmare traffic chaos if it received millions of visitors a year.

We were aghast, Mr Wells says. Theyll be right on the doorstep with fireworks going off, with amplified noise. You can but imagine what its going to be like in terms of the disturbance. Were just here with that cloud of unexpected doom over us.

Though Puy du Fou has said that it is committed to minimising noise disturbance, residents are sceptical.

Sound is a known torture instrument, said Flo Van Diemen Van Thor, 48, of the North Oxfordshire Residents Association, a group campaigning against the plans.

I think that it will be quite difficult for people if it turns out to be noisy, and I have a sense that it will be.

She said she was worried that massive bottlenecks would be an everyday occurrence.

Walking through the green fields where the theme park is expected to be built, she explained that Bucknell already has traffic problems.

The roar of the M40 can be heard from the village, and Bainton Road, the narrow way on which most Bucknell residents live, has little room for parking.

Cars slow down to squeeze past each other, and by lunchtime parking spaces outside The Trigger Pond pub are all occupied.

Steve Blofeld, 66, said that he was worried he would not be able to take his chocolate labrador, Teddy, on its daily walks because visitors would use the road for free parking.

You wont be able to walk, literally, you wont be able to walk your dogs, he said. You can see its a beautiful village, which is going to be devastated by the impact of it.

Steve Blofeld, 66, said he was worried that he would not be able to take his chocolate labrador, Teddy, on its daily walks - Belinda Jiao

Sheila Wallington, 73, who has lived in Bucknell all her life, added: Initially I was very angry about it invading the village, the countryside.

Mr De Villiers, the parks founder, is a controversial figure. He founded the far-Right political party Mouvement pour la France in 1994 with a manifesto that included a ban on building new mosques and outlawing gay marriage.

More recently, concerns have been raised over his apparent links to Russia. In 2014, Mr De Villiers and his son travelled to Moscow where they met Vladimir Putin to discuss building two theme parks in Russia  but the company has now said it abandoned the idea because of the war in Ukraine.

The Trigger Pond, the local pub in Bucknell village - Belinda Jiao

Patrick Woodrow, 54, a strategy consultant who has lived in Bucknell for 18 years, described the parks links to Russia as a national scandal. It was insulting to my values, and I believe British values generally, he added.

The residents are all appalled that the plans have been allowed to come this far, he said, adding that were hoping that local and central governments step in.

The proposals are not yet at planning application stage, but one is expected to be submitted in the coming months.

Some Bucknell residents are concerned about the impact of traffic chaos if the theme park received millions of visitors a year - Belinda Jiao

Residents have already fought against the idea in three consultations, which took place in July last year when they met the Puy du Fou press relations team, while the parish council has also raised money to campaign against the park.

Villagers have now also turned against the pig farmer who sold the land to Puy du Fou to have some cash for her children.

Kate Hedges, 73, who has lived in Bucknell since she was eight, said that residents were pretty aggressive initially and now completely ignored her.

They dont speak to me, she said, but defended her decision to sell the land to Puy du Fou, arguing that it is better than houses.

Ms Hedges roots in Bucknell go back generations, and she insisted she had made the right decision for the village.

An image of the planned site for a new historical theme park in Oxfordshire - Puy du Fou

She has support from others outside Bucknell who have backed plans for the park. Caroline Chipperfield-Twiddy, 53, a director who lives in the nearby village of Chesterton, is so evangelical about the attraction that she started a We want Puy du Fou group on Facebook, which now has nearly 200 members.

I went out to France in August 2024 with my children at the end of summer and I was blown away, she explained. All of the people in the park wear themed historic costumes, and you feel like youre being transported back in time.

We went to the French park and we stayed in a castle surrounded by trees. Its so green, they get all their food sourced locally, they are very aware of their carbon footprint, theres very little plastic and packaging. At one restaurant, we even got something served on a wooden tray.

It feels really authentic, you are immersed in a historic environment  whether thats the Vikings, the medieval period, the time of the musketeers or the 1930s. Its real immersion and its fabulous.

The land planned for the theme park was sold by Kate Hedges, a former pig farmer - Belinda Jiao

But now Ms Chipperfield-Twiddy said that she was also feeling the wrath of Bucknell villagers, and claimed she was being trolled by those campaigning against the park.

One person has got a fake profile and they are sending me nasty messages, she said. Everything they do seems to be spiteful and driven by anger.

They are really unpleasant. None of them have been there, but how can you be so anti it when you havent even been there?

Whether the plans will pass remains yet to be seen, but Ms Hedges was confident she would be vindicated, adding: When the planning permission is granted, as Puy du Fou insist it will be, they will just have to eat humble pie.
Bridgerton actress Nicola Coughlan has helped raise more than 100,000 for a trans rights charity following the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman.

The judgment by the UKs highest court said that the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

Following the news on Wednesday, the Irish star said she was completely horrified and disgusted by the ruling and said she would match donations up to 10,000 to transgender charity Not A Phase.

Nicola Coughlan arrives for the European premiere of Barbie (PA)

The fundraiser has since raised 103,018, with a revised target of 110,000.

On Friday, the Derry Girls and Barbie actress, 38, who has long supported the LGBT+ community, shared the donation page on her Instagram story, saying: Nearly 100k thanks to you kind and brilliant people so delighted for Not A Phase.

The fundraiser description reads: Allies of the Trans and Non Binary Community time to come together.

Campaigners take part in a rally organised by trans rights groups, trade unions, and community organisations at Parliament Square in central London, on Saturday (Andrew Matthews/PA)

The Supreme Court ruling means that transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate.

In response to the ruling, thousands of trans rights protesters gathered in central London on Saturday including groups such as Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.

A rally and march organised by Resisting Transphobia is also taking place in Edinburgh on Saturday afternoon.
After last weeks supreme court decision, activists had been worried that trans people might become fearful of going out in public in case they were abused.

They werent afraid in London on Saturday. Thousands of trans and non-binary people thronged Parliament Square, alongside families and supporters waving baby blue, white and pink flags to demonstrate their anger at the judges ruling.

The numbers seemed to take the organisers and police by surprise. Protesters from a hastily assembled coalition of 24 groups gathered in a ring against the barriers surrounding the grass and began speeches. But after the roads became clogged with people, a woman wearing a Nobody knows Im a lesbian top ran across with her dog and soon the square was full. Its one hell of a turnout and there is a really strong sense of unity and solidarity, said Jamie Strudwick, one of the organisers. I think its impossible to compare it  its like nothing Ive ever seen before.

Last Wednesday, the supreme court ruled that when the Equality Act 2010 referred to women, it referred only to biological sex and did not include transgender women who hold a gender recognition certificate (GRC).

The judgment was celebrated by groups including For Women Scotland, a gender-critical campaign group backed by JK Rowling, which says that womens safety is threatened by allowing transgender women into single-sex spaces.

In his judgment, Lord Hodge said that trans people were still protected from discrimination and harassment under the Equality Act. But some trans people say they have felt confusion, fear and anger, with many believing they will find it harder to challenge unfair treatment and receive support from authorities that should be helping them.

After the ruling, the Equality and Human Rights Commission chair, Kishwer Falkner, said that it would create a new statutory code of practice by the summer, giving guidance to public bodies on how they should change their treatment of women and trans people. She said the NHS would need to change its rules on single-sex wards and her organisation would pursue the matter if it did not.

Other organisations have already acted. British Transport Police said same-sex searches in custody would be conducted in accordance with the biological birth sex of the detainee.

In the last week, Ive had to respond to four suicide attempts or threats from young people, said Oscar Hoyle, who founded the Blossom LGBT community interest group in 2018. The most significant one, I was on the phone for three hours to a transgender girl, 18 years old. It took three hours for police to come. Blossom works with about 400 16 to 30-year-olds from across the LGBTQ community to support them into adulthood, and about two-thirds identify as trans or non-binary.

Regardless of where you sit in this conversation, nobody should be in a position where they feel like life isnt worth living just because they fall within a marginalised group, Hoyle said.

Among the crowds outside parliament were Awsten Atkinson, a 23-year-old trans man and their partner, Daisy Watt, a 19-year-old trans woman. My first reaction to the ruling was absolute horror, Watt said. I remember looking at the news and thinking, how on earth have we fallen this far? Not even 10 years ago we were making incredible progress but we just seemed to backslide so severely.

Atkinson was devastated and in disbelief: Why do people care so much about what we do with our lives when it doesnt actually affect them? This is being framed as a feminist movement but the criteria theyre using to decide who is a woman brings the focus back to women as objects, as the sum of their body parts.

The couple were appalled by the BTP decision. There are a lot of British transport police under investigation for sexual harassment as it is and this opens up the opportunity for them to say youre getting searched by a male because I believe youre trans and theyre protected by law to do that, Atkinson said.

With protesters on the green, mostly under 30, waving flags and banners, Watt was reassured that we have a community around us that is willing to stand up and speak truth to power. Atkinson added: As we were coming along, I started smiling and I said to them [Watt and her friends] wow look at everybody. What you can count on in this community is that people will rally round.

Near Mahatma Gandhis statue, two trans women in their 20s said they were worried that the UK was becoming more like the US.

When they instituted the bathroom bans there, you saw that it wasnt just trans people, it was also cis people getting accused and being forced out, one said.

The other said: What I see is trans misogyny that women legally cant be women, whereas men will always be men. I find it very scary.

In public spaces I have a different vibe. Its like were going back in time. It feels like were not protected by the law any more.

Ann-Marie Still was there with her sister and niece. When she heard the news she was angry and disappointed in the system, she said. I immediately reached out to trans friends, family, with a simple message: you are loved, you are valid.

Most people disregard the young, said Dani, who was there representing her trans sister. Parents, children, elderly people  they cant live their lives as they actually want to.

Police later launched an investigation after seven statues were daubed with graffiti, among them that of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett. Scotland Yard said its officers were in Parliament Square at the time, but did not witness the criminal damage take place. No arrests had been made, but officers were investigating, said Ch Supt Stuart Bell, leading the protest policing operation.

Related: Supreme court ruling on sex divides opinion | Letters

Polack said it would not change how she behaved. I can go for an exercise and I go into the changing rooms and theres nothing to hide because I look like every other woman thats there.

There are one or two people I come across there who know my past and theyre quite happy with it and the rest of them dont know and cant tell. Why should it change? Theres no reason for it to change.One of the things that bothers Polack is whether the ruling makes her gender recognition certificate valid or not. There will probably be an attempt to restrict access to changing rooms and what they call single-sex spaces and enforce some sort of ban, but how do you police that?
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russian artillery fire was continuing in Ukraine on Saturday despite the Kremlins proclamation of an Easter ceasefire.

As of now, according to the commander-in-chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided, the Ukrainian president posted on X. Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow.

He recalled that Russia had last month rejected a US-proposed full 30-day ceasefire and said that if Moscow agreed to truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly  mirroring Russias actions.

If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20, Zelenskyy wrote.

Earlier, Vladimir Putin announced an Easter Truce, saying that Russian forces would stop combat operations from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday until midnight on Sunday.

In the surprise move, Russias president said he was ordering a temporary halt to the fighting out of humanitarian considerations. He said he expected Ukraine to follow suit and said this would be a test of whether the regime in Kyiv was interested in peace.

Putin made his remarks in a meeting with Russias commander-in-chief Valery Gerasimov, which was broadcast on state television. Ukrainians reacted sceptically, pointing out the announcement was made at the same time as an air raid alert sounded across the Kyiv region.

Russia has broken numerous ceasefire since its 2014 covert invasion of eastern Ukraine. Unlike Ukraine, it has refused to implement a 30-day pause in fighting proposed more than a month ago by the Trump administration.

Speaking on Saturday, Putin said Kyiv was guilty of violating a deal 100 times to refrain from attacking Russian energy infrastructure. He commanded Gerasimov to prepare an immediate response if this were to happen again.

Russia has already declared and violated such ceasefires before, Anton Gerashchenko, a blogger and former Ukrainian interior ministry adviser, wrote on social media.

It came amid reports that the Trump administration is considering recognising Crimea as a Russian territory as part of its attempt to broker a peace deal between the two sides.

According to sources cited by Bloomberg, the US may be willing to give Putin a strategic victory and to accept Russian control over the peninsula. In 2014, Russian special forces seized Crimea, which Putin annexed after a sham referendum.

US diplomatic recognition would violate the UN charter and the post-1945 consensus that countries cannot seize territory by force. Most states, including the UK, have refused to recognise Russias illegal takeover.

The possible concession to Moscow from the White House is likely to provoke criticism from the USs one-time European allies and a furious backlash in Ukraine. It comes as Donald Trump said on Friday the US may move on if no peace deal can be agreed.

Now if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, were just going to say youre foolish. You are fools, you horrible people, Trump declared, adding: And were going to just take a pass. But, hopefully, we wont have to do that.

Talks over a settlement are due to continue this week in London. Leaks suggest the US is pushing for a Kremlin-friendly agreement that would see Russia keep occupied areas in the south and east of Ukraine, as well as Crimea.

It is also considering lifting sanctions on Moscow and other carrots, the New York Post reported. By contrast, Trump has heaped pressure on Ukraine, in effect cutting off military assistance and demanding a share of the countrys lucrative mineral wealth.

Russias apparent tactic is to restate its maximalist demands while stepping up its offensive on the battlefield. In talks with Trumps special envoy, Steve Witkoff, Putin has insisted on Zelenskyys removal, Ukraines demilitarisation and its neutral non-Nato status.

Ukraine appears willing to accept a freeze of the conflict along the existing 1,000km-long (620 miles) frontline. But Zelenskyy has categorically rejected Witkoffs recent comment that Crimea and four other Ukrainian provinces should be given permanently to Russia.

I do not see any mandate for him [Witkoff] to speak about Ukrainian territories. These lands belong to our people, to our nation and to the future generations of Ukrainians, Zelenskyy said last week.

A peace deal will only work if the Russians stop fighting, US officials told Bloomberg. Negotiations will be fruitless if the Kremlin does not agree to cease hostilities. Providing Ukraine with security guarantees is an integral part of any agreement, one reportedly acknowledged.

The source said no final decision over Crimea had been made. Since the US ceasefire proposal and ahead of Saturdays Easter truce, Putin has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians and infrastructure.

Two people died on Friday when Russia fired three ballistic missiles into a residential district of Kharkiv, Ukraines second city. The attack followed a devastating strike on the city of Sumy on Palm Sunday, in which 35 people were killed, including two children.

Russia has run Crimea for more than 11 years, transforming it from a holiday resort into a major military centre. It was used as a springboard for Putins full-scale 2022 invasion. Armoured columns seized large parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia provinces, as well as the city of Mariupol.

Ukraine regularly targets Russian army and naval bases in Crimea. It has bombed the headquarters of Russias Black Sea fleet in the port of Sevastopol, using British Storm Shadow missiles. It has also targeted the bridge linking the peninsula to Russia with drones and a car bomb.

Separately, Russia and Ukraine both confirmed a swap of prisoners of war on Saturday, mediated by the UAE. Each released 246 prisoners, while a further 31 wounded Ukrainians were transferred in exchange for 15 injured Russian soldiers, the Russian defence ministry said.
A man has died and another person is fighting for their life following a three-car crash during a police chase in Croydon, south London.

Five other people were injured in the collision on Wickham Road, near the junction with Shirley Road, shortly before 9pm on Friday night, with three people trapped in the wreckage.

Police initially spotted the 63-year-old victim driving a vehicle with suspected cloned number plates at around 8.28pm. Officers attempted to stop the car ten minutes later, but it sped off, triggering the chase.

Eight minutes into the pursuit, the vehicle collided with two other cars. Despite paramedics performing CPR at the scene, the suspect died from his injuries.

London Fire Brigade crews rescued three people trapped in their vehicles, who were then rushed to hospital by ambulance.

Two passengers from the suspects car, both aged 61, have been arrested on suspicion of travelling in a stolen vehicle. One was also arrested for possession of class A drugs. Both remain in custody.

The Metropolitan Police has referred itself to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which will now investigate.

A Met spokesperson said: "The Met's Directorate of Professional Standards was immediately informed and a referral made to the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), which is a required step whenever vehicles are involved in a collision involving death or serious injury following a police pursuit.

"The IOPC will now carry out an independent investigation."

The road was closed overnight but has since reopened.
Rachel Reeves announced in the Budget that the Government would go ahead with the carbon border adjustment mechanism, first proposed by the previous Tory government - Danny Lawson/WPA Pool/Getty Images

The Governments carbon border tax will favour Chinese green technology over home-grown energy projects, a leading energy company has warned.

EDF, one of the UKs biggest gas and electricity suppliers, said that the plan will allow China to export solar panels cheaply while making it more expensive to build new power plants.

In a submission to ministers, the company also cautioned that the extra costs from the policy could feed through into UK manufacturing, making it less competitive.

The Treasury has insisted that the carbon border tax, set to come into force from 2027, would protect British industries from unfair competition.

Under the policy, imports of goods such as steel, cement and glass made in countries with lower green standards will face a surcharge.

Imported solar panels exempt from levy

It is being introduced to level the playing field with countries such as China, where producers face much lower costs related to environmental red tape.

However, complex goods with multiple components, such as Chinese-made solar panels, will not be covered by the levy.

The levy, formally known as the carbon border adjustment mechanism (CBAM), will largely mirror a similar tax being introduced by the European Union.

EDF, the French state-owned energy giant, responded to the Governments consultation on the proposals when it was launched last spring.

In its submission, released under freedom of information laws, it warned: The CBAM will have a direct cost and administrative impact for EDF in the construction of new nuclear power stations and wind energy projects in the UK, particularly where steel products are imported.

Cost increases may also feed through to UK-manufactured products that rely on an imported CBAM-eligible product as an input. One example is a wind turbine blade, which could contain glass fibre that has been imported.

The manufacturing costs of wind farm turbines could be affected by CBAM, EDF has warned - Oli Scarff/AFP via Getty Images

The company is building major new energy infrastructure including the Hinkley Point C nuclear power plant and a new wind farm in the Firth of Forth.

It warned that projects such as those would be hit by the carbon levy whereas Chinese imports of green technology like solar panels would not be.

EDF said: We can see solar panels as an example, where it will not negatively impact on the competitiveness of solar panels manufactured in China and other countries where production is carbon-intensive.

The last Tory government launched the plans for CBAM, with Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor at the time, saying that it would give UK industry the confidence to invest in decarbonisation.

But it was opposed by some Conservative MPs, who described it as another net zero tax, and no final decision was made on the policy before last summers election.



A group of economists previously estimated that the plan will knock 1.5 per cent off GDP per capita over a five-year period, costing 600 per person.

Labour supported the policy when in opposition, and Rachel Reeves announced at Octobers Budget that it would come into force from January 2027.

EU policy will cost Britain electricity exports

Britains carbon border levy will largely align with the EUs, in an attempt to eliminate any extra friction on goods that are traded across the Channel. But the UK has diverged from EU plans in one key way, refusing to include electricity imports in the list of goods that will be taxed.

EDF warned that the EUs intention to do so would mean exports of electricity from Britain to the continent would be considerably reduced in the coming years.

It said: There would be significant knock-on impacts in harming investment in new low carbon electricity generation in Great Britain, while also increasing the emissions from new generation in the EU and costs for EU consumers.

We appreciate that the EU CBAM is a matter for the European Commission and not the UK Government. Nevertheless, there will be significant negative effects on the power sector in Great Britain.

A Treasury spokesman said: A UK CBAM will be implemented from Jan 1 2027. It will apply to specific imported goods from the aluminium, cement, ceramics, fertiliser, glass, hydrogen and iron & steel sectors.

The UK CBAM will ensure highly traded, carbon-intensive products from overseas face a comparable carbon price to that paid if the good were produced in the UK.

It will give industry confidence to invest in the UK knowing their decarbonisation efforts wont be undermined.
The transgender community will hold protests in both England and Scotland on Saturday, days after a Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman.

Trans rights groups, trade unions and community organisations will come together for an emergency demonstration in Parliament Square, central London, while a rally and march organised by Resisting Transphobia will take place in Edinburgh.

In a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, the UKs highest court confirmed the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

This means transgender women with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate.

The Government said the unanimous decision by five judges brought clarity and confidence for women and service providers, while a Labour Party source said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a common sense position on the subject from an activist stance.

It means that trans women cannot use single-sex female toilets, changing rooms or compete in womens sports, according to the head of Britains equalities watchdog.

Police Scotland said on Friday it would review its policies on transgender issues in light of the ruling.

Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.

Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride in Labour, told the PA news agency: Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we werent given an opportunity to have a seat at the table which is obviously a very concerning thing for our community when decisions are being made without us.

Campaigners celebrated outside the Supreme Court following the ruling on Wednesday (Lucy North/PA)

So the protest was organised to put pressure on the Government, on the public to act. To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power.

Asked whether further protests could take place in the future, she added: All across the country there are really scared trans people, and this ruling almost gives transphobic organisations permission to go even further, because theyve got a legal precedent to do so.

There isnt really much of a choice but to keep acting and to keep protesting, so it is very possible that this does not stop until the community has the protections it needs.

A spokesperson for Trans Kids Deserve Better said: The transmisogyny that led to this court ruling is unacceptable. Though this ruling has brought another wave of fear to the trans community, we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.

When you attack trans women you attack all trans people and all women. Our rights do not oppose each other, they go hand in hand, and we will keep fighting until were all free.

Speakers from across the labour movement and trans activist networks are expected to address the crowd at the London demonstration.

A spokesperson for the Rail, Maritime and Transport union (RMT), who were named among the protests supporters, said: We have not authorised the use of our logo on any materials relating to this demonstration and we have not taken any position on this event.

RMT supports the Equality Act which provides protections for women and trans people facing discrimination and we have a proud history of fighting all forms of oppression both in Britain and internationally.

The Edinburgh march will see demonstrators gather at the foot of the Mound before marching to the UK Government building.

In an Instagram post ahead of the protest, Resisting Transphobia said the ruling was a sham that legitimises the hate movement to force trans people out of public life, and is an attack on everyones freedom and autonomy.
One survey found one in four Americans were considering leaving the US since Donald Trump won his second term - kieferpix/iStockphoto

The return of Donald Trump to the White House has triggered a surge in the number of Americans seeking alternative citizenship.

Lawyers, especially in Canada but also the UK, have also noticed a spike in inquiries from Americans wanting to renounce their US nationality.

The phenomenon has been described as the Donald Dash by experts.

According to the Immigration News Canada website, the most prominent group seeking citizenship are from the LGBTQ community, fearing challenges to same-sex marriage and transgender health care.

The highest profile refugees to the UK were Ellen DeGeneres and Portia de Rossi, her wife, who decamped to the Cotswolds.

High-profile Donald Dashers were Ellen DeGeneres, right, and Portia de Rossi, who decamped to the Cotswolds - Todd Williamson/NBCUniversal Media

Berardi Immigration Law, which has offices in the US and Canada, used to get one or two inquiries a month from Americans wanting to become Canadians, but now they get a couple every week.

Older Americans with roots over the border are also pursuing Canadian citizenship.

In the 1960s and 1970s an estimated 125,000 Americans moved to Canada, rather than be drafted to fight in Vietnam. Despite the amnesty granted to draft dodgers by Gerald Ford, many have remained in Canada.

Another lawyer, Douglas Cowgill, told the Canadian broadcaster CBC that renunciation inquiries had doubled in the immediate aftermath of the US election.

Alexander Marino, director of US tax law at Moodys Tax Law in Calgary, said the prime motive for renunciation was to avoid the potential liability for US tax, even while living abroad. Nevertheless, he told CBC there had been a bump since Mr Trump won the election.

Donald Dashers are also coming to the UK. According to figures released by the Home Office, there was a 40 per cent jump in applications in the final quarter of last year, with around 1,700 requests in the final three months of the year.

Over the year 6,100 applications were submitted  a 26 per cent increase and the highest number since the figures were first compiled two decades ago. Immigration experts also noticed a sharp rise in the number of online inquiries about how to secure British nationality.

The rules for acquiring British nationality are strict. For those who do not satisfy existing residency requirements, applicants must prove family connections with at least one British parent or grandparent.

One survey of 1,000 Americans found 25 per cent were considering moving abroad. As soon as Mr Trump won the election, there was a sharp increase in interest in Americans wanting to live elsewhere.

This reflected what happened after Mr Trumps first election victory in 2016.

Its certainly a trend we have been seeing, as we did eight years ago, Sophie Barrett-Brown, of immigration lawyers Laura Devine, told The Telegraph.

We have seen a significant increase in enquiries from US nationals as well as long term residents of the US seeking to relocate to the UK, her colleague Zeena Luchowa added.

Naturally individuals want to explore if there is an immediate route to moving over to the UK, ie tracing UK ancestry to establish whether they are eligible for British citizenship, she added.

There are certain avenues for those who have a parent or grandparent who was born in the UK, or in a UK colony, however this requires a careful assessment of their ancestry line as well as reviewing historical and current British legislation against their circumstances.
John Palfrey, president of the MacArthur Foundation, is among a number of philanthropists pushing back against the Trump administration. Composite: Getty Images

John Palfrey will not be obeying in advance.

At a moment when leaders of tech companies, law firms, media corporations and academic institutions have bent the knee to Donald Trump, the president of the John D and Catherine T MacArthur Foundation insists that charitable organisations choose resistance over capitulation.

We have an opportunity to unite and advance, Palfrey said last week. Theres a chance here for us to stand together on a series of very important bedrock principles, and do so with linked arms, and do so in such a way that allows us to serve every community in America in a way that will ensure a strong republic for years to come.

Related: Fear spreads as Trump targets lawyers and non-profits in authoritarian takedown

Trumps return to power has been described as an authoritarian power grab, rewarding compliance and punishing dissent. The Facebook chief executive, Mark Zuckerberg, ABC News and Columbia University ceded ground or surrendered. Several major law firms offered almost $1bn in pro bono work to curry favour.

But this week Harvard, the oldest and wealthiest university in America, pushed back after the Trump administration cut $2bn of its federal grants, earning praise from the former president Barack Obama. Sixty current and former university presidents co-signed an editorial in Fortune offering support.

Philanthropic organisations could be next in the firing line. The MacArthur Foundation, founded in 1978, funds work in fields including social justice, climate change, criminal justice reform, journalism and media, community development and international peace and security. It has assets of about $7bn and is known for bestowing annual genius grants on artists, actors and other creative people.

Palfrey recently authored a joint article with Tonya Allen of the McKnight Foundation and Deepak Bhargava of the Freedom Together Foundation warning that charitable organisations could be the next institutions under attack, and announcing a public solidarity campaign to support philanthropys freedom to give. More than 300 organisations have already signed on.

The trio wrote: Weve seen this before in American history and across the globe. Weaponized oversight. Intimidation dressed up as transparency. It is not new. But our response must be: we in the philanthropic community must not wait like sitting ducks.

Speaking via Zoom from the MacArthur Foundations headquarters in Chicago, Palfrey, 52, explained that he felt it important to clearly state the need to preserve freedom of speech, freedom to give and freedom to invest  core to the work of a philanthropic foundation.

Its important to draw some bright lines at this point and say these are lines that need not to be crossed, he said. For me, the first amendment is a very good guide to that. I like to think about American history and 1776. Thats a point in our history when we decided as a country that we didnt want kings and we decided to fight a revolution on that.

We decided we wanted the rule of law, not the rule of one man, and we decided, as we set up our constitution, that the first thing we would enshrine is the right of free expression. All of those are bedrock principles of what it means to be in the American republic, and I think its important for us to state those things clearly and plainly at this moment.

After three months back in office, Trump has invited comparisons with the electoral autocracy that is Viktor Orbans Hungary. With bewildering speed, he has cowed Congress, attacked judges and defied their orders, deported immigrants without due process, sought to intimidate the free press and attempted to impose his will on universities and cultural institutions such as the Kennedy Center.

Palfrey, a student of history, warned: If where we are headed is on the model of Hungary, we are going to see a repression of civil society that will not be good for communities across America. I dont think we should go in that direction as a country.

I very much hope that those of us who have the right to speak freely, as we do in America, will do so. Its one of those things that you have to use it or lose it John Palfrey

We have the opportunity to adjust our course. I hope very much that our leaders will decide not to repress civil society in a way that constrains freedom of speech, and this is a good time to say thats not the direction that makes sense for America.

Does he worry that the US is sliding into authoritarianism? Id rather not find out.

The country still has a powerful story to tell, he insists. I very much hope that those of us who have the right to speak freely, as we do in America, will do so. Its one of those things: you have to use it or lose it. Communicating who we are as a people and continue to be as a people is very important as a message to ourselves and to the rest of the world.

The MacArthur Foundation has supported organisations that work in 117 countries and has offices in India and Nigeria. Meanwhile, Trumps ally Elon Musk, the worlds richest man, has denied food and medicine to the worlds poorest people by gutting the development agency USAID.

Palfrey said: Were a funder that is predominantly giving money in the United States, but we do have work outside the US. There are, of course, questions about [if] the rest of the world [can] count on the United States as a charitable partner  and that question is up in the air at the moment.

In the meantime, Musk and his so-called department of government efficiency have slashed and burned through federal departments, firing thousands of workers with little rhyme or reason. The pain is being felt in international development, scientific research and struggling communities. It has made charitable foundations work all the more urgent.

Palfrey describes such work as fundamentally non-partisan, helping people in every district in the country. He said: There is so much need in communities right now. Some of it does of course have to do with cuts to federal funding.

Lets imagine for a second that youre a cancer researcher and youre saving the lives of small children who are getting cancer and your funding has just been cut. If you are an organisation that funds cancer research, your money is needed more than ever, so we need to step up.

The MacArthur Foundation will increase its giving by more than 20% for 2025 and 2026. I dont believe that private philanthropy can make up for all of the cuts that are under way in the United States and around the world, for that matter, but I do feel like we can and should do more, and this is what were called upon to do in this moment.

Palfreys joint article warns that philanthropy is often slow by design, but time is a luxury it cannot afford. He urges organisations to speak in plain language, not the philanthropy speak for which they are notorious, and hold the line. He hopes that other sectors will join in demonstrating that courage is contagious.

Id love to see the business community say: this is whats super-important to us, and this is how were going to come together around it. Id love to see universities and colleges do the same and say: this is the essential bedrock that we need to be able to maintain. That is available to every group in America and very much in the spirit of our country. [It] is how we come together around shared ideals.
Costco

Costco is a popular warehouse club, and though millions of Americans shop there, not everyone chooses to join. Its not free to shop at Costco, and for some, the annual membership fee can be a barrier of entry. Costco has two membership levels for consumers: Gold Star for an annual fee of $65, and Executive for $130 annually. The main difference between the two is that Executive members also earn 2% back on eligible purchases, and receive additional discounts on select services.

So, why pay for a Costco membership when its free to shop elsewhere? Diehard Costco shoppers know that the membership typically pays for itself because of the impressive savings to be had. Many of these savings accrue over time, such as filling up on gas or stocking up on water bottles. However, some items alone save you enough to cover the annual fee in one fell swoop. To show that a Costco membership is definitely worth it, here are a dozen items that save you enough money to cover the annual fee (and then some), according to commenters on the Costco subreddit.



Related: 10 New Costco Items That Are Sure to Fly Off Shelves, According to a Frequent Costco Shopper

Diapers and Baby Formula

Its no secret that babies can be expensive, but if youre a new parent, there are ways to save. For starters, get your essentialsdiapers, wipes, baby formula, and so onfrom Costco. Got our membership when the kids were little and just diapers and formula saved us $100 a month, says one commenter. The price of Kirkland Signature diapers is the same online as in store, so you can get them delivered for no added cost, notes another.

Prescription Glasses and Contacts

One of the perks of shopping at Costco is the optical center. The savings on eyeglasses are significant, especially if your prescription calls for a transition coating or progressive lenses. One Redditor was quoted $450 for prescription glasses, but only paid $250 for a similar pair at Costco. That $200 savings more than pays for the Executive Membership. Another Redditor saved $80 per year by getting contacts from Costco instead of some big-name competitors.

Mattresses

A mattress is a big purchase, and though theyre typically on the pricier side, you can score a deal by shopping at Costco. Plus, if you dont like it, Costco has a generous return policyjust dont abuse it. Several Redditors have purchased Casper mattresses from Costco, saving them around $200 a pop. Others have saved even more on other brands. My wife and I selected a mattress that was listed at $3,000 on the manufacturers website, says another Redditor. Costco had the exact same mattress for $1,600. Saving $1,400 on a product you were already going to purchase? Not bad at all.

Car Batteries and Tires

If you have a car, there are multiple ways Costco can help you save, from auto insurance to windshield wipers and more. Many Redditors recommended getting your car batteries and tires from Costco. Saved over $100 on a car battery, one person said. Someone else saved $400 by getting their tires at Costco instead of the other place they were quoted. Any time you think you might need new tires, upgrade to the Executive membership, one Redditor suggests, adding that the tire rebate alone is more than enough to cover the annual fee. Plus, youll earn 2% back on that large purchase.

Patio Furniture

You may have seen the large sectionals, dining sets, and other miscellaneous furniture on display at your local Costco. While you can get all kinds of furniture from the retailer, including bathroom vanities, Redditors say the patio furniture is where its at. Easily saved thousands over the local patio furniture stores, says one Redditor who bought an entire truckload of patio furniture from Costco.



Related: 11 Costco Frozen Foods That Are Totally Worth the Freezer Space

Gift Cards

One Costco hack thats often overlooked is buying discounted gift cards for yourself. Redditors say they save nearly $100 on gift cards for various merchants, such as Uber, Southwest, and more. For example, a $500 Southwest gift card often goes on sale for $430 at Costco, saving you $70. Another Redditor says that $400 worth of Uber gift cards comes out to $320 at Costco, saving you $80. Sometimes these deals are available online, while other times youll need to go into the warehouse.

Home Appliances

When its time to replace your refrigerator, washer, or dryer, you may want to get a Costco membership if you dont have one already. My brand new fridge was not only $200 cheaper than even the big box stores, but also included free delivery, installation, and removal of the old one, one commenter said. Another chimed in to add that the delivery and removal can save you another $200, since other stores dont always include these services. Costco has deals on smaller appliances too, such as blenders, but the big-ticket items are where youll save the most money.

Travel

Costco has its very own travel portal, and you have to be a member to use it. The portal allows you to book hotels, rental cars, cruises, and even travel packages complete with flights. The deals on travel packages often beat out competitors, but the real perks of booking your vacation through Costco are the extras, such as free nights, resort credits, and waived fees. Some travel packages also include a Costco gift card worth a set amount, or a certain percentage of your trip. One Redditor received over $1,000 in Costco gift cards during a travel promotion that allowed customers to earn 20% back on their travel booking.

Ooni Pizza Oven

If you love to grill, youd probably love having your own pizza oven. The popular Ooni pizza ovens will run you several hundred dollars, but if you make your purchase at a certain warehouse club, you wont pay full price. Costco carries a few different models, but you can currently get the Ooni Koda 16 Gas Pizza Oven for $459.99. Buy it anywhere else and youll pay the full sticker price of $599. One Redditor did this and saved nearly $140. Pizza night here you come!

Hearing Aids

Millions of Americans could benefit from hearing aids, but not everyone who needs them has access to them. Cost is a huge factor because hearing aids can run you thousands of dollars, but according to some Redditors, Costco sells them for much cheaper. My hearing aids alone saved me enough to pay my Costco membership for about 10 years, one person commented. I've bought two pairs of hearing aids so far and probably saved enough to pay for my Executive membership for the next 20 years or so, another person said.

Computers and TVs

Electronics are a pricey category, but thanks to Costco, you dont have to pay full price. Costco carries many of the same brands and models as other stores, but at a discount. One Redditor saved $600 by purchasing two TVs at Costco, which they estimated would have only gotten them one TV at a big box store. Another person saved $200 on a laptop by getting a price adjustment at Costco after it went on sale.



Related: 10 Costco Shopping Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Pet Food and Medicine

Pet supplies add up, but if you want the best for your furry friends, the cost wont matter. Still, its nice to find savings where you can, and they can certainly be found at Costco. The savings on pet food and flea medicine alone make the membership worth it, one Redditor commented. Another person saves $30 per monthor $360 per yearby getting their dogs prescription medication at Costco instead of the vet. While you dont have to be a member to use the pharmacy, a Costco card can get you bigger discounts.



Read the original article on Real Simple
Prison guards transfer deportees from the U.S., alleged to be Venezuelan gang members, to the Terrorism Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador, on March 16. (El Salvador's presidential press office via Associated Press)

The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily blocked the removal of Venezuelan detainees accused under a wartime law of being foreign gang members early Saturday morning, after the ACLU argued the men were at risk of imminent removal to an El Salvadoran prison.

The Government is directed not to remove any member of the putative class of detainees from the United States until further order of this Court, the court stated in an unsigned order.

Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito dissented.

The court's after-midnight intervention heightens its clash with the Trump administration over deportations. It suggests most of the justices are not willing to trust Trump officials to follow its earlier order giving detainees a right to a hearing before they can be deported.

The ACLU had asked multiple courts on Friday to temporarily halt the detainees' removal  arguing in one filing that the Trump administration was busing many of them presumably to an airport to be deported.

In a Friday hearing, Drew C. Ensign, a lawyer for the U.S. Department of Justice, told U.S. District Judge James E. Boasberg in Washington, D.C., that there were no current plans to deport individuals Friday or Saturday by plane presumably to El Salvador, but the Trump administration reserved the right to remove people on Saturday.

The ACLU asked the courts for an emergency order after Venezuelan detainees from across the country, including California, were transferred to the Bluebonnet Detention Facility in Anson, Texas, and, according to their filings, told they will be removed as soon as Friday night.

The Trump administration flew hundreds of Venezuelan immigrants deemed members of Tren de Aragua last month to El Salvador, where they are being held in a notorious mega-prison called the Terrorism Confinement Center. Families of many of the men sent to El Salvador on the earlier planes say they are not gang members.

Read more:Appeals court won't halt order barring Trump administration from deportations under wartime law

The deportations kicked off a high-stakes legal battle testing the limits of President Trump's deportation plans and his power.

The Supreme Court ruled earlier this month that the wartime authority invoked by the administration could resume , but immigrants must be given proper notice and a chance to make their case in places where they were being detained.

Boasberg, who had heard the earlier case about the administration's invocation of the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, had ordered a temporary halt to removals. But despite the order, deportation planes were sent to El Salvador, where more than 200 people remain in prison.

The Trump administration has said that once individuals are outside of U.S. jurisdiction, there is little they can do to bring them back to the United States.

Recently, Trump and his top advisors met in the Oval Office with Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele and were almost gleeful in saying that nothing could be done to return any of those prisoners once they had left this country.

The court had said the administration had a duty to "facilitate" the return of Kilmar Abrego Garcia, who was deported in error to El Salvador.

If these people are removed to a foreign prison, perhaps for the rest of their lives, without any due process, it would be in clear violation of the Supreme Courts opinion, Lee Gelernt, ACLU attorney leading the case, told The Times on Friday.

The case began in a Texas federal court earlier in the week, when the ACLU asked Judge Wesley Hendrix to temporarily stop any removal on behalf of two individuals because they didnt have a chance to challenge their cases.

Read more:Trump asks Supreme Court for permission to resume deporting Venezuelan migrants under wartime law

Hendrix denied the request. By Friday, lawyers learned of more individuals being held and asked again, after reports circulated that removals were imminent. When lawyers didnt get a response that afternoon, they sought help from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th District and asked the Supreme Court to step in.

Alito is the circuit justice for the 5th Circuit, which means that emergency appeals go to him first if they come from Texas, Louisiana or Mississippi. But apparently, he was not willing to move quickly to block further deportations.

That means Chief Justice John G. Roberts and six other justices put together the order without Alito or Thomas.

ACLU lawyers argued that the move was necessary because officials at Bluebonnet told detainees they will be deported and asked them to sign notices of removal in English based on their alleged affiliation with Tren de Aragua.

One man at the facility sent his wife a TikTok video depicting various detainees, according to a declaration submitted by ACLU lawyers from Michelle Brane, executive director of a nonprofit that provides services for asylum seekers. In it, one young man says they are all being labeled as members of Tren de Aragua. They arent allowed to call their families, and the detainees dont know where they will be removed to, he says in the video.

Theyre saying we have to be removed, quickly, because we are a terrorist threat to the country, he says.

Another detainee says they were given a paper to sign but were told that, whether they signed or not, they would be removed from the country.

A third detainee says, We are not members of Tren de Aragua. We are normal, civil people. A fourth says, I don't have a deportation order. I have all my paperwork in order. I have my American children here," he says. I was arrested with no arrest warrant and they want me deported.

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Justice.gov Owen McIntire

A college student has been arrested and charged for allegedly using a Molotov cocktail to bomb a Kansas City Tesla dealership.

On Friday, April 18, the Department of Justices Office of Public Affairs named Owen McIntire, 19, as the person facing federal charges related to an arson at a Tesla business in Kansas City, Mo.

Related: Woman Accused of Trying to Plant Explosive Devices at Colo. Tesla Dealership

The Kansas City resident, who attends college in Boston, was charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce, per a DOJ press release.

The incident happened on March 17 at approximately 11:16 p.m., the DOJ said, citing an affidavit.

Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: You will not evade us, said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it.

Emily Curiel/Kansas City Star/Tribune News Service via Getty Fire-damaged Tesla Cybertrucks, March 18, 2025 in Kansas City, Missouri

The Kansas City incident came just months after a Tesla Cybertruck blew up outside of the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas on Jan. 1, leaving one person dead and several others injured.

It was later determined that fireworks and gas canisters ignited the blaze.

Other Tesla properties have had incidents in recent months, including a South Carolina charging station and a Buffalo Grove, Ill., service center.

Related: Multiple 'Incendiary' Devices Found at Tesla Showroom in Texas: Police Say

F--- Trump and Long Live Ukraine were allegedly spray-painted at the South Carolina location.

This level of violence is insane and deeply wrong," Trump advisor and Tesla CEO Elon Musk wrote on X on March 18. "Tesla just makes electric cars and has done nothing to deserve these evil attacks."

On Friday, Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche said, Crimes have consequences. The people behind these violent and dangerous attacks on private property will face decades in prison  we will not make deals and we will not negotiate.

Related: Elon Musk Alleges Trans People Are Attacking Teslas the Same Day Daughter Blasts Him in Interview

The Cybertrucks McIntire is suspected of having destroyed had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485. Two charging stations were also damaged by the fire, each valued at approximately $550.

McIntire was home for spring break at the time of the incident, and witnesses said the individual wore a black dress and appeared to be a woman because of the long hair, the affidavit said.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

McIntire was allegedly also captured on surveillance footage at the Kansas City International Airport after.

His case is also being investigated by the FBIs Kansas City and Boston Field Offices, among other agencies.

This is the second arrest this week of a suspect charged with targeting Tesla, more proof that the FBI will not stand for these destructive acts, said FBI Director Kash Patel. These actions are dangerous, they are illegal, and we are going to arrest those responsible. We will work with our partners at the Department of Justice to hold accountable anyone who commits such crimes. I commend our FBI teams in Kansas City and Boston for their work.



Read the original article on People
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseths chief of staff is reportedly set to leave the agency after a string of dismissals of other officials allegedly involved in intelligence leaks.

Joe Kasper, Hegseths chief of staff, is reportedly set to leave his post in the coming days, a senior administration official told Politico Friday. Earlier this week, senior adviser Dan Caldwell, Hegseth Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinbergs chief of staff Colin Carroll were placed on administrative leave, pending a probe into intel leaks.

At this time no final senior staffing changes have been decided, and the secretary will make any future announcements on his own timetable, a senior Defense official told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Kasper requested an investigation into leaks at the Pentagon in March, although it is not yet known if his particular investigation was connected to the dismissals. One defense official told Politico that Kasper had conflicts with the three dismissed advisors.

Joe didnt like those guys, the official told Politico. They all have different styles. They just didnt get along. It was a personality clash.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth speaks during a reenlistment ceremony for Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. Dakota Meyer at the Pentagon on April 17, 2025 in Arlington, Virginia. Sgt. Meyer is reenlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)

Leaks have been a recurring problem at the Pentagon, with Defense documents surfacing online in March 2023, when Massachusetts Air National Guard member Jack Teixeira leaked hundreds of classified documents on a private Discord server.

Teixeira was sentenced to 15 years in federal prison in April for his crimes.

The Department of Defense Inspector Generals office is also inquiring into Hegseths involvement in a leaked Signal group chat discussing plans to attack Houthi rebels in Yemen.

All content created by the Daily Caller News Foundation, an independent and nonpartisan newswire service, is available without charge to any legitimate news publisher that can provide a large audience. All republished articles must include our logo, our reporters byline and their DCNF affiliation. For any questions about our guidelines or partnering with us, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org.
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Ellen Pompeo has shared an annoyance she experiences with Grey's Anatomy fans.

The actor has appeared in every season of the beloved medical drama since its debut in 2005 as Meredith Grey, despite rumors over the years suggesting she will step down from the role.

In a new interview, Ellen has opened up on interactions with fans of the show and the one thing that she really isn't fond of.

Speaking to Magic Radio, Ellen was asked how many people called her by her real name, and how many refer to her as Meredith.

"I'm so grateful for the show. I'm so grateful for the fans and I love them, but to be honest, when people do call me Meredith, I do get a little annoyed," she admitted.

Ser Baffo - ABC

"I love that you love the show, but please call me by my right name."

She also went on to say she doesn't get too upset by the mistake, due to how much love fans show toward the actor and the long-running show.

Ellen also said she thought the show's divisive musical episode 'Song Beneath the Song,' which aired in 2011, was "surely the end" of Grey's.

"I thought, 'Oh, we're doctors, singing about car crashes, that's a wrap on us.' But I'm so glad it wasn't."

The actor's comments come after she addressed her future on the show, issuing a blunt response to claims she may step down in the future.

ABC

"That would make no sense, emotionally or financially," she told El Pais.

"The show was streamed more than a billion times in 2024. More than a billion times. The companies that own the show and stream the show make a lot of money from our images and our voices and our faces."

"If I were to walk away completely, everybody gets to make money from my hard work for 20 years and I wouldnt make any money."

She continued: "To me, it doesnt make any sense that everybody [else] gets to profit off of my hard work. And emotionally, the show means a lot to people. I want to have an attitude of gratitude toward the show."

Grey's Anatomy season 21 airs on Thursdays at 10 p.m. ET on ABC, and streams next-day on Hulu.





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A Boeing jet at the companys completion plant in China flew back to the U.S. on Friday, according to reports. The new plane was supposed to be delivered to a Chinese airline, however, it was never handed over. Earlier this week, the Chinese government reportedly told airlines not to buy new jets from Boeing and to get permission before accepting any planes it had already ordered but hadnt been delivered yet.

A brand-new Boeing jet is caught up in the trade war between China and the U.S.

The plane arrived at Boeings China facility in Zhoushan, but had to return to the U.S. shortly after, according to trade publication The Air Current. With the U.S. and China locked in a trade war that pits the worlds two largest economies against each other, companies like Boeing that do business in both countries find themselves caught in the crosshairs. Earlier this week, Bloomberg reported Chinese government officials had instructed domestic airlines not to order any new aircraft from Boeing and to seek approval before taking any already ordered planes.

The plane that reportedly returned to the U.S. from the completion plant in Zhoushan is one of three 737 Max jets that arrived since March, according to Reuters. At its Zhoushan facility in eastern China (about a three and a half hour drive from Shanghai), Boeing applies the finishing touches to already constructed aircraft, installing seats and painting the exterior. The fate of the other planes located at the Zhoushan facility was not immediately clear.

On Thursday, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Peoples Republic of China told reporters they were not familiar with the reports of a stop to Boeing orders.

Even before being reportedly targeted by the Chinese government, Boeing faced potentially crippling cost increases from the U.S.-China tit-for-tat tariffs. With one of the most complex supply chains in the world, input costs in the U.S. risked soaring because of tariffs on any of its imported parts, of which there are many.

At the same time, Chinas retaliatory tariffs of 125% on U.S. goods meant Boeings planes would be prohibitively expensive for Chinese airlines. In an address to employees in Marcha month before President Donald Trump announced his sweeping tariff policyBoeing CEO Kelly Ortberg had warned they could drive up costs and disrupt the companys complex, carefully managed supply chain.

At a Senate hearing earlier this month, Ortberg reiterated the damage that widespread tariffs could have on Boeings business. Ortberg emphasized that Boeing sourced parts from around the world and sold the vast majority of its planes abroad. Boeing risked being doubly harmed by tariffs as its own costs would rise while its sales would fall.

Free trade is very important to us, Ortberg told the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee this month. Its important that we continue to have access to that market and that we dont get in a situation where certain markets become closed to us.

Boeing did not respond to Fortunes request for comment.

As one of the fastest-growing air travel markets in the world, China represents a lucrative opportunity for Boeing. In September 2023, Boeing forecasted that over the next 20 years China would account for 20% of the worlds air travel and double its fleet of commercial planes to roughly 9,600 jets. In 2018, when Boeing opened its Zhoushan facility amid a previous trade skirmish between the U.S. and China, executives had touted aviation as a bright spot of trade between the two countries.

But virtually no companies have been spared during this round of the U.S.-China trade warleast of all industrial giants. Boeings stock fell 17% in the two days immediately after Trump introduced his tariff policy on April 2. Its stock has mostly recovered since that initial hit. However, it fell 2.5% the day it was reported China had ordered a halt on orders of new planes.

Working in Boeings favor is its role as a genuine American manufacturing powerhouse, the exact sort of business the Trump administration claims it is intent on protecting.

The Trump administration cant ignore Boeing, wrote Bank of America aerospace analyst Ronald Epstein this week.

So far that appears to be true. Boeings reported issues with Chinese deliveries caught the presidents attention.

China just reneged on the big Boeing deal, saying that they will not take possession of fully committed to aircraft, Trump wrote in a social media post on Tuesday.

This story was originally featured on Fortune.com
Xi's Southeast Asia tour promotes good-neighborliness, mutually beneficial cooperation: Chinese FM

Xinhua) 09:05, April 19, 2025

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's just-concluded Southeast Asia tour focused on good-neighborly relations and promoted mutually beneficial cooperation, and achieved a complete success, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Friday.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said during a press briefing that Xi's trip to Vietnam, Malaysia and Cambodia from Monday to Friday was the first overseas tour of the Chinese head of state this year.

The tour sent a strong signal that China firmly defends multilateralism and international trade rules, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Vietnam, Wang said that the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two parties and countries is the biggest advantage of and the most important political guarantee for the development of China-Vietnam relations.

The leaders of the two parties and countries unanimously confirmed that in accordance with the overarching goals characterized by "six mores," the two sides will advance the development of their comprehensive strategic cooperation with higher quality and on deeper levels, and accelerate the building of a China-Vietnam community with a shared future that carries strategic significance, he said.

During Xi's visit to Vietnam, bilateral railway cooperation has been expanded and upgraded, which particularly demonstrated the determination of the two countries to seek common development, Wang said.

On Xi's visit to Malaysia, Wang said its most significant outcome was that the leaders of the two countries elevated China-Malaysia relations to a new height and announced the building of a high-level strategic China-Malaysia community with a shared future.

This marks another leap in the positioning of the bilateral relationship after China and Malaysia announced the joint building of a China-Malaysia community with a shared future in 2023, Wang noted.

A highlight of this visit is that the two sides agreed to become a pacesetter for regional cooperation on new quality productive forces, focusing on cutting-edge fields such as digital economy, green economy and artificial intelligence, he added.

Speaking of Xi's visit to Cambodia, Wang noted that the highlight was the joint announcement by Xi and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet on elevating the China-Cambodia relationship to an all-weather China-Cambodia community with a shared future in the new era, which marks the first time that China has elevated its bilateral relationship with a Southeast Asian country to an all-weather level.

Wang said that during Xi's Southeast Asia tour, the Chinese president pointed out that economic globalization benefits all countries and no country can retreat into isolation.

Trade wars will undermine the international trading system, the stability of the global economic order and the legitimate interests of all countries in the world, especially developing countries, Xi noted.

As key members of the Global South, China and neighboring countries should strengthen coordination and cooperation, stand together to combat the undercurrent of camp-based confrontation, jointly oppose unilateralism and counter the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak with the Asian values of peace, cooperation, openness and inclusiveness, so as to safeguard the bright prospects of our Asian family, Xi said.

Xi underscored that despite the headwind of mounting protectionism, China will pursue high-quality development, expand high-standard opening up and share development opportunities with neighboring countries.

China's mega market is always open to neighboring countries, and China welcomes more high-quality products from ASEAN members, he added.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Florida International University said their campus police department signed an agreement with ICE "in compliance" with Gov. Ron DeSantis' directive to law enforcement agencies.

MIAMI  After Florida International Universitys police department entered into an agreement with the federal government to carry out immigration enforcement on campus, some students say they are terrified.

Its scary and nerve-racking, said an undergraduate at the university.

The student, who's not being identified because he lacks legal immigration status, told NBC News he came to the U.S. when he was 5 with his family after they were threatened by gangs in their native El Salvador. He said he was very focused in middle school and high school and took many Advanced Placement classes, knowing he had to work harder to have a shot at college.

Now, the student is not sure if he'll continue at FIU next year. For now, he said hes avoiding certain parts of the university he considers risky. I've been trying to not go to the main areas of campus where police are, the student said.

FIU is one of a number of universities in Florida that have signed agreements with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement under the 287(g) program, which trains local law enforcement officers to interrogate immigrants and detain them for potential deportation.

In addition to FIU, the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida State University in Tallahassee, the University of North Florida in Jacksonville, Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, and the University of South Florida in Tampa have in place agreements with ICE.

Florida is the state with the most local agencies signing 287(g) agreements, including all of Floridas 67 county sheriffs. Dozens of cities have signed on, including some with large immigrant populations like Hialeah, Miami Springs and West Miami.

It's part of Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis' sweeping immigration measures, which are aligned with President Donald Trumps pledge to carry out the largest deportation effort in U.S. history.

Florida is setting the example for states in combating illegal immigration and working with the Trump administration to restore the rule of law, DeSantis said in February about the agreements with ICE. By allowing our state agents and law enforcement officers to be trained and approved by ICE, Florida will now have more enforcement personnel deputized to assist federal partners. That means deportations can be carried out more efficiently, making our communities safer as illegal aliens are removed.

At FIU, where over 63% of the student population is Hispanic or Latino, the cooperation has alarmed many. Early in the week, many FIU students on campus seemed unaware of the new collaboration with ICE, but among those at risk of deportation, the fear is palpable.

Faculty and students have mobilized and held protests against FIUs decision to collaborate with ICE. At a protest Tuesday, students held a banner that read No ICE @FIU.

In an emailed statement, FIU said their police department has signed a cooperation agreement with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in compliance with Governor Ron DeSantis directive to law enforcement agencies.

ICE did not immediately respond to a request to comment.

On Friday at a faculty senate session, professors issued a resolution asking FIU President Jeanette Nunez and the campus police chief to withdraw from the agreement with ICE. Nunez was DeSantis' former lieutenant governor who became FIUs acting president in February, following a board vote requested by the governor.

I try to act normal

After nearly four years as an undergraduate at FIU, a student said he was looking over his shoulder.

The student requested anonymity because he lacks legal immigration status. He came with his parents from Central America when he was 9.

It feels like Im being persecuted even though I havent done anything, he said. I feel more anxious. I dont know why but I see more police on campus recently. I try to act normal and dress nice.

The student said that when he and other undocumented students found out about the collaboration, everyone was scared. People cried. Everyone feels its unfair.

One FIU professor described the atmosphere as "reminiscent" of Latin American universities and what it was like in the Soviet Union. The professor's name is being withheld because they're not authorized to speak in areas outside their expertise.

This is how it used to be in Latin America. The government would look into the university to make sure that you were towing the line, the professor said. Were going in that direction now.

The campus police is here to protect students from crime. They are not supposed to enforce the policy of the federal government. Immigration policy is federal policy, the professor said.

"This creates fear," said Melissa Tavara, at right with fellow student Katerin Crespo. "It's an international school, we're supposed to be a melting pot," Tavara said.

The cooperation with ICE comes as the Trump administration has cracked down on some foreign students, revoking their visas and ordering them to leave the country immediately. At least 36 students in Florida have been stripped of their visas, 18 at FIU.

The administration's actions are a stark departure from the policy set in place over a decade ago that restricted federal immigration agencies from carrying out immigration enforcement in sensitive locations like schools and churches. The Trump administration ended that guidance in January, making students on college campuses potential immigration enforcement targets.

Universities in Florida have seen a number of changes under DeSantis. Teaching critical race theory has been banned; centers to promote center-right ideas have been created; a recent law limits the content taught at public universities; and multiple faculty members have been terminated after the state adopted post-tenure reviews of professors.

The Dream.US, an organization that awards college scholarships to "Dreamers"  young adults who've been in the U.S. since they were very young but lack legal immigration status  announced it's withdrawing scholarships for hundreds of students in eight Florida universities. Gaby Pacheco, president of Dream.US, cited Florida's decision to end in-state tuition for students without legal immigration status  which takes effect in July  as well as the universities' 286(g) agreements with ICE. We do not feel our students will be safe on campus," Pacheco told the Miami Herald.

Melissa Tavara and Katerin Crespo, both theater majors at FIU, said they worried about how the campus police will carry out their new duties as they walked across campus on a recent afternoon. Both are U.S. citizens but worry about racial profiling.

How else would you look for these students, said Tavara.

Crespo said, This creates fear. Its an international school. We are supposed to be a melting pot.
This story has been updated to correct information about which U.S.-built components are still being exported to China.

Ford Motor Co. has stopped shipping several expensive trucks and sports cars made in Michigan and Kentucky to China as tariffs have shot up as a result of the trade war between China and President Donald Trump.

The move was confirmed April 18 to the Detroit Free Press by two people familiar with the situation. The people, who asked to not be named because they are not authorized to share the information publicly, said the vehicles Ford has stopped shipping to China this week are: F-150 Raptor pickups, Mustang sports cars and Bronco SUVs built in Michigan, as well as Lincoln Navigators made in Kentucky.

2024 Ford Ranger Raptor preproduction model shown

Trump has set tariffs on China that now exceed 145%. In reaction, China has pushed tariffs on imported vehicles as high as 150%, sources said. Ford sells the F-150 Raptor for close to $100,000 in China, so it would be paying a hefty tax to bring it across the border.

Global automotive industry: Ford vice chair warns that advanced Chinese automakers threaten US industry

This news was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, but Ford spokeswoman Jess Enoch declined to comment on specific export changes. In an email to the Free Press, Enoch did say, We have adjusted exports from the U.S. to China in light of the current tariffs.

Enoch told the Free Press that Ford continues to ship the Lincoln Nautilus, which is made in China, to the United States.

The sources also said that Ford is still shipping an engine it makes in Lima, Ohio, to China: A 3.0-liter engine used in vehicles made in China. The Dearborn-based automaker also continues to ship to China a 10-speed transmission made in Livonia.

Ford's exports to China, which started about a decade ago, compose a small but lucrative part of the business. Ford's China business made $900 million in earnings before interest and taxes last year, a figure that includes exported vehicles, John Lawler, Ford Motor Co.s vice chair, said earlier this week.

According to the Journal, Ford last year shipped about 5,500 Broncos, F-150s, Mustangs and Navigators to China. That is below the annual average of more than 20,000 vehicle exports to China over the past decade.

Jamie L. LaReau is the senior autos writer who covers Ford Motor Co. for the Detroit Free Press. Contact Jamie at jlareau@freepress.com. Follow her on Twitter @jlareauan. To sign up for our autos newsletter. Become a subscriber.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Ford not shipping some Michigan-made vehicles to China due to tariffs
Years before he was named a suspect in this weeks fatal shooting at Florida State University, Phoenix Ikner had sought a new beginning. Traumatized by a complex custody battle between his parents that had ended in charges against his mother when he was younger, the then-teenager asked a Leon County, Florida, circuit court for a legal name change.

Ikner appeared at his court hearing in 2020 via videoconference, dressed in his naval junior ROTC uniform. An honors student in high school at the time, he made a good impression.

This court found him to be a mentally, emotionally, and physically mature young adult, who is very articulate, quite intelligent, very well spoken, and very polite, wrote administrative magistrate James Banks in his approval of the legal switch from Ikners birth name, which had been Christian Gunnar Eriksen.

Ikner chose to adopt his fathers surname and selected a first name brimming with symbolism.

He chose the name Phoenix because of its representation of rising from the ashes anew, Banks wrote.

How Ikner went from a teenager with hopes for a fresh start to a 20-year-old accused of killing two people and injuring at least five others in Thursdays shooting in Tallahassee is a mystery. In interviews with classmates and reviews of legal documents, a portrait of a young man who struggled with a fractured family life and clashed with classmates over his extreme political views has emerged.

But a possible motive for the deadly violence is not yet known.

Ikner had just transferred to Florida State University from Tallahassee State College and enrolled this semester as a political science major. He remains hospitalized with serious but non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot by law enforcement, police said.

As the investigation widened Friday into what led to the gunfire, students who knew the accused gunman described him as a troubled young man who openly talked about having a weapon.

He would joke about mass violence, said Lucas Luzietti, who shared a national government class with Ikner when he was at Tallahassee State College. And he did talk about how he used guns and had access to them.

Luzietti said he once argued with Ikner over the 2020 election and said that their classmates would exchange looks over Ikners comments. That included Ikner denying the results of the presidential election and sharing hateful comments about minorities, he added.

He espoused the election denialism belief that Joe Biden was not the legitimate president, he said that Rosa Parks was in the wrong, he also talked about how Black people are ruining his neighborhood and Stonewell was bad for society, Luzietti said. He would also talk about how multiculturalism is dangerous.

Reid Seybold, a senior at FSU who said he first met Ikner at Tallahassee State, recalled Ikner being asked not to return to a political discussion club at his former college because of white supremacist rhetoric and far-right rhetoric.

The clubs current president, Riley Pusins, said Ikner often promoted white supremacist values, even though the group was nonpartisan and was about debate and political discourse. After the meetings, Ikner would make even worse remarks, Pusins said.

NBC News has confirmed the identity of the victims who died in Thursdays shooting: Robert Morales, 57, and Tiru Chabba, 45. FSU grad student Madison Askins was among the injured; the identities of the other wounded victims have not yet been released.

Authorities said Thursday they believe Ikner used a handgun that belonged to his stepmother, Jessica Ikner, a Leon County sheriffs deputy and a school resource officer at a Tallahassee middle school.

Jessica Ikner and other family members could not be reached for comment. Court documents, however, detail difficulties in Ikners upbringing, including health issues and a battle for his custody that stretched overseas.

In 2015, Ikners biological mother, Anne-Mari Eriksen, took him out of the country, violating her agreement with Ikners father, Christopher, according to a probable cause affidavit from the Leon County Sheriffs Office viewed by NBC News. Eriksen had shared custody of her son, who was 10 or 11 years old and went by his birth name at the time, but she was required to give advanced notice if she took Ikner out of the U.S. For spring break that year, the affidavit said, Eriksen had told Christopher Ikner they were traveling to South Florida. Instead, she allegedly took their son to Norway, where both she and him had dual citizenship.

Several weeks after spring break ended, Eriksen still had not brought the boy home to the United States and had no intention of returning him to Tallahassee, despite pleas from his father, the affidavit added.

When Eriksen did not bring Ikner back, Christopher Ikner contacted authorities to report his son kidnapped and to report that he was being denied medical care for developmental delays and special needs he had been diagnosed with, which included attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and a growth hormone disorder, the affidavit said.

By keeping Christian in Norway, the defendant failed to have Christian in school for scheduled testing, canceled appointments with Christians doctors in the U.S., and failed to maintain his medication protocols by her own admission, it said.

Later that year, Eriksen filed a lawsuit against Christopher and Jessica Ikner plus two other relatives in the Ikner family for allegedly slandering her and causing psychological harm to their son by continuous and vicious litigation in family court. The Ikners could not be reached for comment.

Christian Gunnar Eriksen is the victim of psychological and emotional abuse, as well as parental alienation. Christopher Ikner enjoys taking credit for things that Anne-Mari Eriksen has done privately, professionally and parent wise, the legal complaint read.

Eriksen, who could not be reached for comment, was ultimately charged with removing a minor from the state and failing to return a minor, records show. She pleaded no contest and served a brief jail sentence.

When Phoenix Ikner petitioned to legally change his name from Christian Gunnar Eriksen in 2019, which the court approved the following year, his mother objected to the name change, while his father supported it, papers show.

Banks, the administrative magistrate who approved the change, wrote: He sees no reason to keep his former name as it is a constant reminder of the 2015 tragedy he suffered through and of his mother who he has not seen or spoken to since 2015.

Authorities say that at about 11 a.m. Thursday, Ikner arrived at the FSU parking garage, where he stayed for close to an hour before walking toward the student union. He then allegedly stalked buildings and lawns, firing his handgun indiscriminately at people, police added.

Panicked students fled for their lives and called 911. Responding officers shot Ikner when he refused their commands, police said, with the rampage lasting less than five minutes.

Following Thursdays shooting, Ikner has invoked his right to remain silent, police said.

Seybold, who was locked down in a classroom and could hear gunfire nearby, is anxious for answers.

I dont know why he would have done something like this, Seybold said. I dont know where it would have come from, but Id sure like to find out.
Toledo Police Department Facebook; WTVG 13abc Action News | Toledo, OH/YouTube KeiMani Latigue, House fire in Toledo, Ohio

The house where 13-year-old KeiMani Latigue was found brutally murdered last month caught fire in a suspected arson attack.

A blaze broke out at the abandoned home in Toledo, Ohio, on the morning of Saturday, April 19, a month after Latigues body was discovered there after she went missing in March, the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department confirmed to 13 Action News.

The organization believes the fire started in an arson attack, though they told the outlet an official cause is pending investigation.

Footage released by 13 Action News shows one side of the house on fire, with the roof caved in and thick black smoke filling the air, as fire department personnel can be seen on the ground tending to the flames.

"We want to assure the community that the memorial items placed in KeiManis honor were not impacted by the fire and will not be impacted by the demolition. We know this is an emotional moment for many, and we are grateful for the care this community has shown in honoring KeiMani," a spokesperson for the city of Toledo said in a statement, per 13 Action News.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.



Related: Cause of Death Revealed for KeiMani Latigue After Fathers Arrest: Sexually Assaulted, Hands Cut Off and Nearly Decapitated

The house fire took place a day after Darnell Jones made a first court appearance on Friday, April 18, tied to charges he faces in connection with the death of his daughter Latigue.

The teenager was reported missing by family members on March 18. Jones, 33, was then arrested on March 23 on suspicion of abduction. A day later, Latigue's body was located, and a murder warrant was issued for Jones.

In new court filings filed by Toledo Police on April 18 and obtained by 13 Action News, Jones allegedly admitted to police to killing Latigue at the Toledo home where her body was found.

Per the outlet, the filings state that Jones admitted that he inflicted the wound that killed [Latigue] and that he dragged her involuntarily to the vacant house on Miami Street, where he ultimately killed her.

Authorities initially linked Jones to the killing of Latigure based on surveillance video, telecommunication records and witness statements, 13 Action News reported.

Lucas County Jail Darnell Jones

Related: Dad Went on TV Saying His Missing Daughter Didn't Feel Safe At Home Alone. He's Now Wanted for Her Murder

The Lucas County Coroners Office confirmed that the cause of Latigue's death was from multiple incised wounds of the neck."

The 13-year-old was allegedly found nearly decapitated, sexually assaulted and had her hands cut off, Brian Steel, a lieutenant with the Columbus Police Department, previously told PEOPLE.

Jones is charged with murder, abduction and felonious assault, WTVG reported. He is reportedly due back in court on Monday, April 21.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Toledo Fire and Rescue Department and the Lucas County Sheriff's Office for comment.

Read the original article on People
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. - AP/Getty Images

A second round of high-level talks between US and Iranian delegations on Tehrans nuclear program has concluded in Rome on Saturday, amid tempered optimism about a diplomatic way forward.

Saturdays negotiations came a week after an initial round was held in the Omani capital Muscat. Although the talks are in Italy, Oman was again acting as mediator between the US team, led by Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, and the Iranian one, led by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

The Trump administration expressed optimism following the talks, pointing to very good progress and that they had agreed to meet again next week. Today, in Rome, over four hours in our second round of talks, we made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions, a senior administration official told CNN.

Araghchi also signaled that the talks had been positive, telling reporters they lasted about four hours. I can say that there is movement forward. Weve reached better understanding and agreement on some principles and goals in these Rome negotiations, he said.

However, Araghchi said the nuclear deal that was reached in 2015, known as JCPOA, between Iran and world powers, including the US, is no longer good enough for us, in a post on X on Saturday. To them, what is left from that deal are lessons learned, Araghchi said, adding that for now, optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution.

Iranian officials had said talks between technical experts would begin in Oman on Wednesday ahead of a third round of high-level talks on Saturday.

But US sources familiar with the talks said both political level and at the technical level talks will both take place on Saturday for now. The planning has been fluid, however, so its possible that the plan changes again, multiple sources said.

The third round of high-level talks will be held next Saturday, according to Irans Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Omans Foreign Ministry confirmed that the meeting would take place in Muscat.

The two countries have had decades of animosity and long been in dispute about Irans nuclear capabilities.

Washington wants Iran to stop production of highly enriched uranium, which it believes is aimed at building an atomic bomb. Iran this week doubled down on its right to enrich uranium, but has suggested it is willing to negotiate some compromises in return for sanctions relief to ease the pressure on its hard-hit economy.

The second round of talks was set up in the same fashion as the first, according to the Iranian spokesperson, with the two sides not communicating directly with one another.

Instead, the delegates sat in separate rooms, with Omans Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad Al Busaidi mediating between the two.

Witkoff and Araghchi only met briefly during the first round  not since the Obama presidency have the United States and Iran held full, direct talks.

Trump not in a rush to strike Iran

The latest round was again a high-stakes engagement, and one that was preceded by a flurry of diplomatic activity as allies and adversaries alike seek to both understand and potentially influence the aims of the talks.

They come against a backdrop of heightened tensions in the Middle East. Irans network of proxies across the region has been weakened by Israeli attacks and US President Donald Trump has resumed the maximum pressure campaign of his first term against Iran.

Trump on Thursday suggested he was not eyeing imminent military strikes against Irans nuclear facilities, but the threat still looms.

Im not in a rush to do it because I think that Iran has a chance to have a great country and to live happily without death, he said when asked about a New York Times report that he had waved Israel off such military action.

Id like to see that, thats my first option. If theres a second option, I think it would be very bad for Iran, the US president added.

Ahead of the talks in Rome, Witkoff quietly met on Friday in Paris with Israels minister for strategic affairs and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus closest confidant Ron Dermer, and Mossad director David Barnea.

The Israeli government favors aggressive action against, not diplomacy with, Iran. Netanyahus office on Thursday argued Israeli overt and covert operations were the reason that Iran does not currently possess a nuclear arsenal.

US intelligence agencies warned that Israel will likely attempt to attack Irans nuclear facilities, CNN reported in February.

Witkoff was in the French capital with Secretary of State Marco Rubio for discussions on Ukraine, and the two discussed the upcoming Iran meeting with the so-called E3 allies  France, Germany and the United Kingdom.

For the Europeans, they have an important decision to make very soon on snapback  on the snapback of sanctions  because Iran is clearly out of compliance with the current deal, Rubio said on Friday. Thats going to be a factor in all this and thats why it was important we talk to them about it before our talks on Saturday.

Araghchi visited Moscow before heading to Rome, meeting with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, saying he expected Russia to continue its supportive role in any new agreement.

The head of the UNs nuclear watchdog, Rafael Grossi, said during a visit to Iran that the talks are in a very crucial stage, adding, we know we dont have much time.

Since the withdrawal of the US from the Iran nuclear deal during Trumps first term, Tehran has far exceeded the limits it set on uranium enrichment, but has maintained it is not seeking a nuclear weapon.

Saudi Defense Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud also traveled to Tehran this week in one of the highest-level trips by a Saudi official in decades.

It was a visit to improve diplomatic ties between regional foes Saudi Arabia and Iran and meant to signal that the Kingdom can play a role in de-escalation and brokering peace efforts, a source told CNN.

This source noted that the Saudis do not know what Trump plans in the talks with Iran, and that the assessment in Saudi Arabia is that they may be unpredictable and could be short-lived.

CNNs Nic Robertson, Kareem El Damanhoury, Betsy Klein and Leila Gharagozlou contributed to this report.

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A 19-year-old Kansas City, Missouri, resident was arrested for allegedly burning Tesla vehicles last month, the Justice Department announced on Friday.

Owen McIntire, who is attending college in Boston, was arrested and made his initial court appearance on Friday to face federal charges related to an arson attack at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City on March 17.

The teen, who was home in Kansas City for spring break at the time of the incident, is charged with one count of unlawful possession of an unregistered destructive device and one count of malicious damage by fire of any property used in interstate commerce, federal prosecutors said.

McIntire is the second person arrested this week on federal charges for alleged arson attacks against Tesla dealerships.

PHOTO: Two Tesla Cybertrucks caught fire at a Tesla dealership in Kansas City, March 17, 2025. (Levi Campbell via Storyful)

"Let me be extremely clear to anyone who still wants to firebomb a Tesla property: you will not evade us," said Attorney General Pam Bondi. "You will be arrested. You will be prosecuted. You will spend decades behind bars. It is not worth it."

According to the affidavit, an officer with the Kansas City Police Department "observed smoke coming from a grey Cybertruck parked in the KC Tesla Center parking lot" at approximately 11:16 p.m. on March 17.

MORE: 'Lone offenders' carrying out Tesla attacks, catching them 'difficult,' FBI, DHS say

Police recovered an unbroken suspected incendiary device  or a Molotov cocktail  on the scene near the burning Cybertruck, the affidavit said.

PHOTO: An image showing the suspect in an arson attack at a Tesla Center in Kansas City from court documents. (Department of Justice)

The fire spread from one Cybertruck to a second, with two charging stations also damaged by the flames, federal prosecutors said.

"This wasn't vandalism  it was a violent criminal act," said Dan Driscoll, the acting director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.

Federal prosecutors said the two Crybertrucks had sale prices of $105,485 and $107,485, and the two charging stations were individually valued at $550.

"This arrest continued to reinforce a clear message from the FBI: We are committed to ensuring the safety and security of our community from violent actors," FBI Kansas City Special Agent in Charge Stephen Cyrus said in a statement.

PHOTO: Owen McIntire at Kansas City International Airport in an image released by the Department of Justice. (Department of Justice)

It is not immediately clear whether McIntire entered a plea to the charges and his attorney's information was not available as of Friday afternoon.

Another suspect, Jamison Wagner of New Mexico, faces federal charges in connection with two separate arson attacks on a Tesla dealership and the Republican Party's state headquarters in Albuquerque, according to court documents unsealed this week. Wagner has not yet entered a plea.

Tesla vehicles, dealerships and charging stations have been vandalized, suffered arson and faced protests in several cities across the country in recent months since the company's CEO Elon Musk began his work at the White House spearheading the Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE.

Kansas City teen arrested for alleged arson at Tesla dealership: FBI originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Students walk near the Miller Learning Center at the University of Georgia on August 18, 2021. - Joshua L. Jones/Online Athens/Imagn Images/File

A judge on Friday issued a temporary restraining order in the case of more than 100 international students in the United States whose visas were revoked by the federal government court documents show.

The order by US District Court Judge Victoria Calvert temporarily prevents the deportation of 133 foreign students from at least five countries who filed a lawsuit seeking to stop the revocation of visas to international students, the order, which is valid until May 2, says. Attorneys for the students asked Calvert on Thursday to temporarily block the government from changing their immigration status.

The decision also means the students legal status must be reinstated under Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) used by the Department of Homeland Security to maintain information mainly regarding international students and their status in the country.

The lawsuit claims the administration removed the statuses from the program, asking the court to reinstate those that have already been revoked.

Calvert, who was nominated to the bench by President Joe Biden in 2021, did not immediately rule on the request during the Thursday hearing in Atlanta, but indicated she planned to grant some form of temporary relief.

We believe this ruling shows the students are likely to prevail on their claims and we are pleased the court ordered the government to halt its unlawful actions while the lawsuit continues, Akiva Freidlin, a senior staff attorney at the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia said Saturday in a release.

In the complaint, the students are not identified by name, but a pseudonym due to fear of retaliation by Defendants.

We dont know why their visas were revoked. Were basically guessing. But we dont know and that is a problem, Charles Kuck, an attorney representing the students said Thursday in court.

Dustin Baxter, one of the filing attorneys, told CNN the threshold to obtain a temporary restraining order is much higher than the permanent injunction because to get an emergency order granted, they have to show the plaintiffs are likely to succeed on the merits of the case.

The fact that we met the legal threshold for a grant of the emergency temporary restraining order bodes very well for the likely success of the permanent injunction in this case, Baxter said in a statement reacting to the order.

We are ecstatic for the kids, mainly because they no longer have this cloud hanging over their heads and can go back to school and work next week knowing that they have this protective order issued by the judge, Baxter continued.

During the Thursday hearing, the government argued granting temporary relief would be harmful to the executive branchs ability to control immigration. US Attorney David Powell also argued the government needs to identify the plaintiffs to prove actual harm.

We cant say who they are because we have no information. We need to know their status before we can prove actual harm, Powell said during the hearing.

Federal officials have not specified the reasons why the students visas have been revoked, but Secretary of State Marco Rubio has repeatedly said some behavior, including participating in protests, will not be tolerated.

Theyre here to go to class. Theyre not here to lead activist movements that are disruptive and undermine our universities. I think its lunacy to continue to allow that, Rubio said.

The White House and DHS have not responded to CNNs request for comment on the lawsuit.

Another hearing is scheduled for April 24, according to attorneys in the case.

More than 1,000 international students and recent graduates at more than 130 schools around the country have had their visas revoked with little or no explanation this year as the Trump administration continues its immigration crackdown.

Traffic stops used as criteria to revoke visas, lawsuit says

The lawsuit, filed by the Atlanta-based legal firm Kuck Baxter last Friday, initially included the cases of 17 international students. CNN has obtained copies of both the complaint, the adjoining motion for a temporary restraining order and a modified complaint that added dozens of students and was filed at the same court late Tuesday night.

Nine of the original 17 students in the lawsuit are citizens of India and five are from China. The other three come from Colombia, Mexico, and Japan, according to the complaint and Dustin Baxter, one of the filing attorneys.

The lawsuit names three Trump administration officials as defendants: US Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement Acting Director Todd Lyons.

The complaint alleges ICE has abruptly and unlawfully terminated the students legal status in the United States () stripping them of their ability to pursue their studies and maintain employment in the United States and risking their arrest, detention, and deportation.

Demonstrators hold signs during a protest following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil in New York. - Jeenah Moon/Reuters

The complaint offers a synopsis of each of the original 17 cases, listing the college each student is attending, the county where they live, and the reason they believe theyre being targeted.

For example, Jane Doe 1, an international student from Colombia enrolled at Kennesaw State University and a resident of Fulton County, Georgia, believes shes being targeted for a domestic violence case dismissed in February because there was no underlying proof of any crime, according to the complaint.

John Doe 2, an international student from China enrolled at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, believes hes being targeted for traffic citations, including driving with an expired license plate while his drivers license was withdrawn. The case was closed and he had no other arrest history, according to the complaint.

A doctoral student from China enrolled at the University of Georgia in Athens faced the most serious charge of the 17 students. Jane Doe 5 was arrested in November and charged with DUI, which was later reduced to reckless driving in March, according to the complaint. It also states she pled guilty and was sentenced to 12 months probation and paid all associated fines.

Baxter said the Trump administration is going well beyond targeting only student activists. Anywhere officials saw a student encounter with a police officer, they would revoke the student visa, he said.

So not only would they revoke the persons student visa, even if there was no conviction, if there was just an arrest, and sometimes there wasnt even an arrest, there was just an encounter and maybe a ticket, they would revoke the student visa, Baxter said.

With the temporary restraining order, Baxter previously said, theyre seeking to have visas that have already been revoked be reinstated so affected students can remain registered for classes at the colleges and universities theyre attending.

Were dealing with a lot of people who are finishing up their education, so we have people who are getting ready to defend their doctoral thesis, and all of a sudden, they were just told via email and by the school that theyre no longer registered in SEVIS, their registration has been terminated and theyre no longer students of the university. So, these people are in difficult situations, Baxter told CNN before Fridays temporary restraining order was issued.

CNNs Maxime Tamsett contributed to this report.

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Australias Bondi Beach in Sydney is a place where hippies, hipsters, holidaymakers, surfers and city slickers converge - Jeremy Shaw/Destination NSW

Bondi Beach. The name alone conjures images of golden sand, of bronzed, beautiful swimsuit-clad sunbathers, and of a holiday-like lifestyle envied by millions.

Whether its the siren call of the surf, or the allure of a seemingly perpetual summer, countless travellers have travelled to the famed Australian beach to experience its legendary shores first-hand. I should know  15 years ago, I was one of them.

Arriving in search of that elusive new life Down Under, like so many expat Brits before me, I swiftly fell in love with the rhythm of Bondi life: the breathtaking spectacles of sunrises and sunsets, ocean swims, the joy of year-round al fresco dining, and of striking up easy friendships with sandy-footed fellow beach dwellers over expertly made flat whites.

In the intervening years, Bondi has undeniably undergone a seismic transformation. But then, its no stranger to rapid evolution.

Long before it became the worlds most glamorous coastal playground, this stretch of sand and surf was the traditional land of the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation (Bondi is derived from an Aboriginal word meaning water breaking over rocks).

The Bondi to Bronte coastal walk is a popular, easily accessible cliffside path - James Horan

Its transformation into pleasure centre began in the mid-19th century with its official designation as a public beach. By the 1930s, a tramline had helped increase its accessibility for the wider Sydney population and the post-war migrant boom saw Bondi blossom into a vibrant working-class suburb.

However, in the last few decades, the irresistible pull of the iconic beach, coupled with Sydneys rising affluence, has ignited a dramatic process of gentrification. And, nearly a century later, the once affordable flats are now multi-million dollar luxury apartments, and the aroma of fish and chips has yielded to organic smoothies and artisanal sourdough.

As a long-time local, Ive witnessed this evolution. Rising property prices have pushed out many like me, and these days the backpackers share beach space with tech billionaires and international celebrities.

Sydney has seen rising property prices of late  but the surfers and backpackers are still around - Isaac Brown

But far from losing its allure, this influx of wealth has cultivated a dynamic dining and retail scene  a self-contained world of trendy boutiques, lively bars and acclaimed restaurants. Mercifully, this seaside spot has managed to remain a place that offers something for everyone  whether youre a beach bum or gluttonous gourmand. Heres how to make the most of it.

Get walking

Quiz any seasoned local on a must-do for a first-time visitor to Bondi, and theyll invariably point you towards the breathtaking Bondi to Bronte coastal walk. This relatively short, easily accessible cliffside path seamlessly links two of Sydneys most beloved beaches. Along the way, youll be treated to sweeping ocean vistas and serene swimming spots. Though undeniably wow-worthy at any time of year, for ultimate bragging rights, time your visit well during the annual whale migration to see majestic humpbacks breaching the oceans surface.

Another iconic landmark  and one that will greet you at the very beginning of your coastal walk  is the legendary Icebergs (icebergs.com.au), an ocean pool where crashing waves spill dramatically over the edges. Its another bona fide Bondi rite of passage, and even has a glass-fronted sauna.

Founded in 1929, the iconic Bondi Icebergs Pool is open to the public with a $10 entry fee - Klint Collier

Take in a sunrise

Bondi made headlines recently thanks to a viral video showing its beach packed with locals taking in the sunrise. In fact, 6am isnt considered particularly early here  its standard for fitness folk to hit the sand from 5am.

So, to see Bondi at its best, set your alarm and join the early risers. Youll encounter runners, swimmers, surfers, yogis, volleyball players and more. If youre into fitness, check out the sea-front outdoor gym (Bondis version of LAs Muscle Beach), and if youre visiting on a Thursday, head to the concrete strip at the south end of the beach (dubbed yoga alley) to join local institution Bondi Meditation Centre (bondimeditation.com.au) for a sunrise meditation session. Its free and theres a complimentary cup of chai included.

Given how incredibly early Bondi dwellers embrace the day, coffee is understandably a cornerstone of life here, and youd be hard-pressed to find a wider variety of artisan cafes anywhere else in Sydney. Lauded local roaster Will and Co (willandco.com.au) supplies some of the best cafes in the city and is a go-to for locals.

Once youre suffused with energy from surfing or downward dog-ing, youll need a good feed. Thankfully, Bondi excels at brekky (thats breakfast, for the uninitiated). For something special, veer away from the beachfront to Bloodwood (blackwoodhospitality.com.au), a haven of refined dining for breakfast and lunch which serves innovative dishes like miso scrambled eggs with pecorino and chives and grilled bacon, and toasted sourdough topped with creamy scrambled eggs, Persian feta and truffled chilli sauce.

Eat your fill

Dont let the beach bodies fool you: while Bondi embraces healthy options, its culinary scene is a vibrant  and delicious  reflection of its diverse migrant roots. From Vietnamese pho to hearty Italian fresh pasta, theres a literal melting pot of global flavours on offer.

Start at Promenade (promenadebondibeach.com) for a refined dining experience paired with sweeping panoramic views of Bondis famed shoreline. The menu  a modern Australian interpretation of classic global cuisine  emphasises locally sourced, seasonal produce (standout dishes include blue swimmer crab and scallop dumplings with yuzu ginger butter, and sesame brioche bug toast) and has an extensive wine list.

Promenade offers both refined dining and sweeping panoramic views - Leigh Griffiths

For something more casual, head to open-air North Bondi Fish (northbondifish.com.au), a true Bondi institution where diners can gorge on seafood while watching surfers carving up the waves. Expect lively crowds, a buzzing atmosphere, and a seasonal menu featuring daily sashimi, classic calamari and an ever-changing selection of market fish.

Post-dinner, join the inevitable queues at one of Bondis excellent gelato spots before taking a leisurely amble along the vibrant beachside promenade.

Dive into the nightlife

Theres no shortage of places to wet your whistle. Beer fans should head to Bondis first fully operating brewery and brew pub, Curly Lewis (curlylewis.com.au) to grab a tasting paddle. If wine is more your speed, opt for shoebox-sized wine bar, The Shop (theshopandwinebar.com).

On Bondi Road  further from the main beach drag  lies Mexican cocktail bar Carbon (carbonmexican.com.au), where you can work your way through a menu of margaritas and tequila cocktails, or sample one of the citys biggest collections of rare mezcal. The venue also serves excellent Mexican food, including ceviche, grilled octopus, slow-cooked short ribs and tacos (best sampled on Taco Tuesday, when theres also live Latin music).

Carbon, which translates to charcoal in Spanish, focuses on wood fired dishes made using traditional South American parrilla techniques

For a dose of culture, the heritage-listed Bondi Pavilion (bondipavilion.com.au) offers an in-house art gallery and calendar of theatre, live music and cinema screenings, while North Bondis grassy knoll is is an ideal choice for Sunday afternoons, when  from 3pm until sunset  an organic jam session unfolds as drummers and musicians create an open, communal celebration.

As the final colours paint the sky and the rhythmic beats echo across the sand, youll feel the enduring magic of Bondi  a place where hippies, hipsters, holidaymakers, surfers, and city slickers converge, united by the music and the setting sun, marking the end of another blissful Bondi day.

Essentials

Right in the thick of the action on Hall Street, youll find Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach. Mere steps from all the good eats, the hotel also boasts a pool for when youre not in the surf. Another bonus? The Adina sits above Bills eatery where its famous breakfast staples of ricotta hotcakes and sweetcorn fritters are practically a Bondi rite of passage.

Adina Apartment Hotel Bondi Beach (adinahotels.com) offers studio rooms from 193 per night or two bedroom apartments from 278 per night.

Qantas (qantas.com) operates multiple flights weekly from London to Sydney (via Singapore) from 1,070 return.

Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Editor's note: This story was originally published on April 16, 2015, roughly 20 years after the Oklahoma City bombing.

"May I call you Kevin? Or do you prefer Mr. Johnson?''

In any other setting, at any other time, the questions would have meant nothing. Certainly not worth a mention in notes of a first meeting with any new interview subject. But the appointment with the angular young man wearing a fresh crew cut was not just any meeting.

He was Timothy James McVeigh.

Ten months after his dramatic arrest for detonating a 4,800-pound fertilizer bomb on the doorstep of the Oklahoma City federal building, there he was, a confident smile creasing his face and stocking feet propped on a chair, as if relaxing in his own living room.

There was absolutely no sense that he was afraid of what stood before him  a pending trial in then the largest mass murder in U.S. history and a likely death sentence. No expression of concern for the grief that still consumed a community and country just outside the mud-colored Oklahoma prison walls that contained him.

Rather, on that day in February, he was upset with how he had been characterized in the media and sought to somehow reverse the torrent of public condemnation.

"We really can't address the facts of the case,'' McVeigh said matter-of-factly, as if managing the campaign of a damaged political candidate. "We can't construct any timeline (of activities leading up to the bombing). We're looking at a biographical story to straighten some things out. We're interested in getting the spin control on the labeling that has gone on with prosecutors.''

Timothy James McVeigh is lead from Noble County Court House in Perry, OK on April 21, 1995.

It was the start of an unusual meeting, by any standard. An encounter between journalist and accused terrorist that surely would not happen in the hyper security-conscious post-9/11 world.

But the attack in Oklahoma City seemed to mark a period of national transition when law enforcement authorities and defense lawyers  indeed much of the country  were still struggling to grasp a new magnitude of evil.

Stephen Jones, McVeigh's colorful lead attorney at the time, arranged the meeting in a most unusual, if not impossible, effort at an image makeover for the accused terrorist.

The 45-minute session would be one of several individual meetings with reporters. Each of them was based on an agreement that McVeigh's comments would not be published until the defense decided when, or if, their client was ready to tell his story publicly. The terms of the sessions, monitored by a member of the defense team, were extraordinary given the potential legal risks faced by McVeigh and the ultra-competitive news coverage of the case.

Ultimately, my editors decided that insight into the man accused of such a crime, however limited, outweighed any concession. (McVeigh's subsequent execution lifted any remaining embargo.)

Completely unshackled, he greeted me with a handshake, described in my notes as "moist.''

He wore a gray sweatshirt over a bright orange jumpsuit, sleeves rolled up to the elbow. We engaged in some small talk about the weather before he commented on the appearance of a female prison staffer.

"Seeing (her) gets me through the day. You know what I mean?''

The questions I came to ask, however, would get no direct answers.

Where were you coming from when you were stopped by police 75 minutes after the bombing on Interstate 35, just north of Oklahoma City?

Were you aware that there was a day care center in the building (19 children were among the 168 dead)?

What is your relationship with Terry Nichols?

Did you do it?

Given the opportunity to offer some general expression of remorse, he did not  never wavering from his initial refusal to discuss the specific allegations against him.

I did not expect to leave with anything approaching a confession, but I thought some direct questions would prompt at least a few substantial responses.

Instead, he seized on petty personal characterizations that had appeared in news reports following his arrest. And he was bothered by personal criticisms offered by victims' families of his animated demeanor in pretrial court appearances.

"They (reporters) use words like speed freak, drug addict, neo-Nazi,'' he said. "I can't really head those off. Do not judge thy neighbor unless you walk a mile in his moccasins.''

Of his oft-criticized, upbeat court appearances, he said: "Humor is my way of coping. I do it to relieve stress, more than anything else. Sometimes you got to laugh. I've been isolated for nine months. When I come to court, it is the first time I see people.  I can't fake the way I act. I was being myself. It's a court of law, not a memorial service.''

His self-absorption, against the backdrop of such enormous loss, was particularly striking. It remained a constant theme throughout the session.

He suggested that authorities placed him at undue risk on the evening he was formally charged with the attack. It was the moment the world got its first glimpse of the accused bomber, being led in shackles from a small courthouse in Perry, Oklahoma, as some in an angry crowd yelled, "Baby killer!''

"I was a perfect target,'' he said, adding that without a bulletproof vest he was vulnerable to an attack, similar to the fatal perp-walk shooting of Lee Harvey Oswald, the man accused of assassinating President John F. Kennedy.

"I asked if they could land a chopper on the roof, so we could get out that way. They said no. I was offered up.''

The meeting wound down, but not before McVeigh sought to satisfy another strange personal concern.

He asked about USA TODAY's circulation numbers and the newspaper's largest distribution day, worried that the audience might somehow not be large enough to accommodate his story.

The unvarnished selfishness would shadow my future encounters with him, from his subsequent 1997 appearances in a Denver federal courtroom where I saw him convicted, to his 2001 execution where I was one of 10 reporters to witness his lethal injection.

That morning, when the curtains to the federal execution chamber in Terre Haute, Indiana, rolled back, McVeigh looked nothing like the cocky kid I had met in prison or the brash defendant who seemed to enjoy the stage of a federal courtroom.

On the gurney, the 33-year-old bomber appeared as though life had begun to leave him before the lethal mix of chemicals entered his body. He had lost weight. His face was chalky white and his eyes hollow.

Offered the chance to speak final words, he said nothing. Again, no apology for the lives he took and those he left shattered. He did not, at least in public, express the remorse that even his father hoped he would.

Instead, he provided the warden a copy of the poem Invictus, copied in his own slanted handwriting.

"My head is bloody, but unbowed.  I am the master of my fate. I am the captain of my soul.''

Selfish to the end.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Timothy McVeigh interview before the Oklahoma City bomber was executed
The Navy said it canceled a speaking engagement at its academy in Annapolis, Maryland, with popular podcaster and author Ryan Holiday because it wanted to steer clear of what it saw as political content aimed at young naval officers.

Holiday, who speaks frequently about the value of stoicism and has written several books, including "The Obstacle is the Way," said he had planned to speak to the midshipmen about the "pursuit of wisdom."

Holiday said he shared his briefing slides in advance with the Navy, which included a reference to the New York Times' story about the U.S. Naval Academy's recent decision to pull some 381 books from its library. The Navy asked him to omit the reference, and Holiday said he refused.

"The idea that there are topics that are off limits or that they can't handle is absurd on its face," Holiday told ABC News.

PHOTO: In this March 9, 2018, file photo, Ryan Holiday speaks at SxSW in Austin, Texas. (Jim Bennett/WireImage via Getty Images, FILE)

MORE: Trump administration fires senior Navy female officer at NATO

When asked why Holiday's speech was canceled, the Navy said it opted to make a "schedule change that aligns with its mission of preparing midshipmen for careers of service to our country."

"The Naval Academy is an apolitical institution," it added. "It is focused on developing midshipmen morally, mentally and physically in order to cultivate honorable leaders, create a culture of excellence and prepare future officers for military service."

Holiday said the Navy hadn't given him guidance in advance of the speech and that he didn't see his presentation as overtly political because he wasn't telling the midshipmen how to vote. He said it shouldn't have been a surprise to the Navy that he'd want to discuss current events.

"I assumed we had the basic ... standards of academic independence," Holiday said.

PHOTO: In this Oct. 10, 2023, file photo, Ryan Holiday poses backstage at The 92nd Street Y in New York. (Evan Agostini/Invision via AP, FILE)

MORE: Trump administration fires senior Navy female officer at NATO

The Navy pulled the books after President Donald Trump ordered the military to stop "promoting, advancing, or otherwise inculcating the following un-American, divisive, discriminatory, radical, extremist, and irrational theories."

Included in the list of books removed from the academy library is "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" by Maya Angelou and "How to be an Antiracist" by Ibram X. Kendi.

A separate visit to the academy by filmmaker Ken Burns also was canceled recently, although the cancelation does not appear to be tied to a dispute over content. A spokesperson for Burns said the award-winning documentarian had planned to meet privately with faculty and staff later this month and now hopes to visit the school in October instead.

Naval Academy cancels speech by podcaster amid cultural turmoil originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
BRUSSELS (AP)  Russia on Monday claimed its deadly missile attack on Ukraine's Sumy that killed and wounded scores including children had targeted a gathering of Ukrainian troops, while European leaders condemned the attack as a war crime.

Ukrainian officials have said two ballistic missiles on Palm Sunday morning hit the heart of Sumy, a city about 30 kilometers (20 miles) from Ukraine's border with Russia, killing at least 34 people, including two children, and wounding 119. It was the second large-scale attack to claim civilian lives in Ukraine in just over a week.

Asked about the attack, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia's military only strikes military targets. Russia's Defense Ministry said the strike targeted a gathering of senior military officers and accused Kyiv of using civilians as shields by holding military meetings in the city's center.

The ministry claimed to kill over 60 troops. Russia gave no evidence to back its claims.

International condemnation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a global response to the attack, saying the first strike hit university buildings and the second exploded above street level.

Only real pressure on Russia can stop this. We need tangible sanctions against those sectors that finance the Russian killing machine, he wrote Monday on social media.

Polish Foreign Minister Radek Sikorski, whose country holds the European Unions rotating presidency, called the attacks Russias mocking answer to Kyivs agreement to a ceasefire proposed by the United States over a month ago.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen noted that the attack on Sumy came shortly after President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, was in Saint Petersburg for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It demonstrates that Russia shows full disregard for the peace process, but also that Russia has zero regard for human life," Valtonen said.

I hope that President Trump, the U.S. administration, see that the leader of Russia is mocking their goodwill, and I hope the right decisions are taken, Sikorski told reporters in Luxembourg, where EU foreign ministers met.

Lithuanias foreign minister, Kestutis Budrys, echoed Ukraine's assertion that the Russian strike used cluster munitions to target civilians, calling it a war crime by definition. The Associated Press has been unable to verify that claim.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said the attack shows that Putin has no intention of agreeing to a ceasefire, and called for the European Union to "take the toughest sanctions against Russia to suffocate its economy and prevent it from fueling its war effort."

The EU has imposed 16 rounds of sanctions on Russia and is working on a 17th, but the measures are getting harder to agree on because they also impact European economies.

Germanys chancellor-designate, Friedrich Merz, described the Sumy attack as a serious war crime" during an appearance on ARD television.

Merz made clear he stands by his past calls to send Taurus long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, something that outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz refused to do. He said the Ukrainian military needs to be able to get ahead of the situation" and that any delivery of long-range missiles must be done in consultation with European partners.

Asked about Merz's statement, the Kremlin spokesman said such a move would inevitably lead only to further escalation of the situation around Ukraine," telling reporters that regrettably, European capitals aren't inclined to search for ways to launch peace talks and are inclined instead to keep provoking the continuation of the war."

Relentless attacks

Russian forces this month have dropped 2,800 air bombs on Ukraine and fired more than 1,400 strike drones and nearly 60 missiles of various types.

The attack on Sumy followed a April 4 missile strike on Zelenskyys hometown of Kryvyi Rih that killed some 20 people, including nine children.

Trump has previously described the strike on Sumy as a mistake. On Monday, he said the mistake was allowing the war to start in the first place, criticizing former President Joe Biden, Zelenskyy and Putin.

Biden couldve stopped it and Zelenskyy couldve stopped it and Putin shouldve never started it, Trump said in the Oval Office. Everybodys to blame.

Late Sunday, Russian exploding drones attacked Odesa, injuring eight people. Regional head Oleh Kiper said a medical facility was among the buildings damaged.

Russia fired a total of 62 Shahed drones over Ukraine late Sunday and early Monday, Ukraine's air force said, adding that 40 were destroyed and 11 others jammed.

Chinese volunteers

Two Chinese nationals, who were captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting on the Russian side, said at a news conference in Kyiv on Monday that they had joined the war voluntarily after seeing recruitment announcements on TikTok. They said they weren't encouraged or supported by Chinese authorities, who had warned them about the danger of participating in the conflict.

One of the men, speaking through an interpreter, said he did not intend to take part directly in combat but was sent to the front lines anyway. Another said that Russian recruiters abused his trust and put him in what he described as a trap.

They said they were given orders through gestures and hand signals, and Russian personnel constantly accompanied them, leaving no chance for escape. Both said they hope to be included in a future prisoner exchange and return to their families.

It was impossible for the AP to corroborate their statements or independently verify under what circumstances the two men spoke.

When he first announced the capture of the Chinese nationals last week, Zelensky said there were more than 150 other Chinese fighting for Russia. Beijing responded that it always asks its citizens to avoid participating in any military operations.

While China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia since it launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, it is not believed to have knowingly provided Russia with troops, weapons or military expertise.

U.S. officials have accused Iran of providing Russia with drones, while American and South Korean officials say North Korea has sent thousands of troops to help Russia on the battlefield.

___

Associated Press writers Chris Megerian in Washington, Geir Moulson in Berlin, Sam McNeil in Barcelona, Spain, Hanna Arhirova and Illia Novikov in Kyiv, Ukraine, and Dasha Litvinova in Tallinn, Estonia, contributed to this report.

___

Follow APs coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
JD Vance joked Italys prime minister Giorgia Meloni could have called him a jerk as he complimented the Italian language on his Easter visit to Rome.

The US vice president visited Italy on Friday (18 April), following Ms Melonis visit to the White House to meet Donald Trump the previous day.

During his meeting with the Italian prime minister, Vance appeared somewhat taken with her native language.

He joked: She could've called me a jerk and I wouldn't know.

Vance then added: It is the most beautiful language imaginable.
WASHINGTON  In the midst of the Trump administrations efforts to roll back diversity initiatives, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators is pushing for a site on the National Mall for a museum focused on the American Latino experience.

Latinos have been at the heart of U.S. history for hundreds of years, shaping American culture, communities and business, Sen. Alex Padilla, D-California, said in a statement. The story of the American Latino, and the simultaneous fight for equality by American women, should be enshrined on the National Mall, the tapestry of the United States.

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Latino Act proposed by Padilla and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, would locate the museum in one of the four remaining slots on the mall. Congress must pass legislation to approve a waiver to use that location.

There is also bipartisan support for the Smithsonian American Womens History Museum Act to be located on the mall. That measure is led by Sens. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minnesota, and Cynthia Lummis, R-Wyoming.

Enthusiasm for the museums and their prominent location comes at the same time as the Trump administrations campaign to eliminate diversity initiatives at the Smithsonian, across the federal government and in the private sector.

President Donald Trump signs executive orders and proclamations in the Oval Office at the White House on April 9, 2025.

In a recent order, titled Restoring truth and sanity to American history," President Donald Trump complained the Smithsonian has come under the influence of a divisive, race-centered ideology." It calls for Vice President JD Vance to join in a role with the Smithsonian Board of Regents to help map out new policies.

Latino museum to spotlight history

The Latino museum and other Smithsonian institutions have long received bipartisan support.

Congress approved bipartisan legislation for the Latino museum in late 2020. Then-president Trump signed it into law during his first term. Two years later, the Smithsonian named the museum's first permanent director, Jorge Zamanillo, and unveiled a gallery dedicated to the U.S. Latino experience in the National Museum of American History.

More: Trump sets sights on national African American history museum

The Smithsonian Board of Regents recommended a site on the mall near the Tidal Basin.

Juan Proano, CEO of LULAC, said the Latino civil rights organization stands by efforts to put museums focused on the Latino experience and one on womens history on the National Mall.

But Proano is worried some lawmakers might try to stall the process.

He called Trump's order and other, similar efforts, attempts at the whitewashing of our history, of African American History and Latino history, of contributions of indigenous communities from around the country. That is a big, big concern.

Proano, activists and historians said the Smithsonian museums are integral parts of the nations history and should not be allowed to be politicized.

They would effectively try and implement some sort of DEI cleansing of our national institutions, which are the cornerstone of the history of this country, he said.

California Sen. Alex Padilla speaks during the final day of the Democratic National Convention at the United Center.

Others are worried about the fate of the Smithsonian more broadly. Four Democrats on the House Administration Committee, which has jurisdiction over the Smithsonian Institution, wrote to Vance expressing concerns about Trumps executive order and his singling out Smithsonian museums, including the National Museum of African American History and Culture.

This flagrant attempt to erase Black history is unacceptable and must be stopped, they wrote in the letter dated April 17, led by New York Rep. Joseph Morelle, the top Democrat on the committee. The attempt to paper over elements of American history is both cowardly and unpatriotic.

Former Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Florida, who was a lead sponsor of the Latino museum legislation along with former Rep. Xavier Becerra, D-California, said support has always been bipartisan.

It will take members from both sides of the aisle to come together and get this bill across the finish line, she said in a statement.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Despite anti-DEI push, there's bipartisan support for a Latino museum
Senate Floor Debate BlueRoomStream

(The Center Square)  The Illinois Senate has passed legislation to expand freedom-of-the-press protections for public media on college campuses, despite concerns about lawsuit immunity.

State Sen. David Koehler, D-Peoria, sponsored Senate Bill 1988, which would amend the College Campus Press Act.

State Sen. Jil Tracy, R-Quincy, asked Koehler if college media didnt think the First Amendment of the Constitution would protect them.

This grew out of their desire to make sure that the First Amendment was protecting them. I dont know what to say to that. Again, Im bringing this forward because they seemed to think they needed it, Koehler said.

Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, told Koehler that one provision of the bill could allow blanket immunity for state actors.

The citizens of the state of Illinois have a right not to be libeled by their own government, which in this case, any state-owned public institution of higher education would be state-owned, Rose said.

Under Senate Bill 1988, state-sponsored institutions of higher learning would be immune from lawsuits arising from expression made by public media at such institutions.

Rose asked Koehler what recourse or opportunity for retraction people would have if they were slandered by state-owned media on college campuses.

Koehler insisted his bill was a simple one.

It just said that, in terms of media that are located at college campuses, they have protections of freedom of the press, Koehler said.

Rose explained his concerns more than once.

I have absolutely nothing against the rest of your bill and would be more than happy to vote for the rest of your bill, but we cannot grant blanket immunity against a libel suit for knowingly false information, Rose said.

Rose said Illinois citizens have a right not to be libeled by their own government.

Koehler said college media have a right to freedom of expression.

If someone wants to sue, you sue the media. You dont sue the university, Koehler said.

They are the university, Rose said.

The measure is now in the Illinois House Judiciary Civil Committee.
Emergency crews respond after a plane crashed into the Platte River on Friday in Fremont, Neb.

A small plane crashed into a Nebraska river Friday night, killing all three passengers, according to authorities.

The plane crashed at about 8:15 p.m. into the Platte River south of Fremont  about 40 miles northwest of Omaha  according to a statement from the Dodge County Sheriffs Office.

The office said the plane was traveling along the river when it went down.

The bodies of three occupants from the plane were recovered, the sheriffs office said. It identified the victims as Daniel Williams, 43, of Moundridge, Kansas; Jeff Bittinger, 50, of Fremont Nebraska; and Randy Amrein, 48, also of Fremont.

Authorities added that the Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board were taking over the investigation. A spokesperson for the FAA confirmed the crash in an email and said the NTSB will be in charge of the investigation.

Jennifer Gabris, a spokesperson for the NTSB, said in a statement that an NTSB investigator was expected to arrive on the scene Saturday afternoon.

Once on site, the investigator will begin the process of documenting the scene and examining the aircraft, she said. The aircraft will then be recovered to a secure facility for further evaluation.

She added that during the on-scene phase of the investigative process, the NTSB does not determine or speculate about the cause of the accident, and that a preliminary report with more information will be available within 30 days.

The crash comes amid a slew of similar plane and helicopter crashes in recent weeks.

Last month, a single-engine airplane crashed into a home in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota, killing the sole person on board and sparking a fire.

On April 10, a sightseeing helicopter crashed into the Hudson River near New York City, killing the pilot and a young family of five. The next day, another small plane crashed in Boca Raton, Florida, killing all three passengers on board.

And on April 12, a private plane crashed while it was preparing for a second landing attempt in New Yorks Columbia County, again killing all passengers on board.
CNN

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a brief Easter ceasefire in his war with Ukraine, a declaration met with skepticism in Kyiv as the war enters a crucial phase and US-led negotiations stall.

Putin said all hostilities would halt between 6 p.m. Moscow time on Saturday (11 a.m. ET) and midnight on Monday (5 p.m. Sunday ET).

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example, he said, adding that the truce would help Russia determine how sincere Kyiv is about wanting to reach a ceasefire.

However, just hours after the announcement, Ukrainian officials accused Russian forces of continuing to fight. According to the report of the commander-in-chief, Russian assault operations continue in some parts of the front line and Russian artillery continues to fire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an address on Saturday night.

Kyiv has responded to the truce declaration with skepticism, with Zelensky pointing out that Putin still has not agreed to a US-led proposal for 30 days of ceasefire.

If Russia is now suddenly ready to actually join the format of complete and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act in a mirror image, as it will on the Russian side. Silence in response to silence, strikes in defense of strikes, Zelensky said, calling for the Easter truce to be extended to 30 days.

This will show Russias true intentions, because 30 hours is enough for headlines, but not for real confidence-building measures. Thirty days can give peace a chance, he said.

The timing of the announcement also sparked some questions  coming one day after the Trump administration indicated it was running out of patience with Russia and Ukraine, and just hours after Russias Defense Ministry announced its forces had pushed Ukrainian troops from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of (Putins) statements not matching his actions Russia can agree at any time to the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March, Ukraines Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.

Hours after declaring the ceasefire, Putin attended an Orthodox Easter service at Moscows Cathedral of Christ the Savior, alongside the citys mayor Sergei Sobyanin and other worshippers, according to Reuters.

Putin could be seen holding a lit red candle and crossing himself as Patriarch Kirill led the service. Kirill is the head of Russias Orthodox Church, a faithful backer of the Russian leader and an advocate for the war in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Zelensky used his Easter address to call on Ukrainians to not lose faith, saying, evil may have its hour, but God will have his day.

May that day come. May evils hour end. May the day of life arrive. The day of peace. The day of Ukraine. The day that lasts for centuries. And we will be able to come together again. At one table. On a peaceful Easter, he said.

Russian President Vladimir Putin crosses himself during the celebration of the Orthodox Easter at the Christ The Savior Cathedral in Moscow, Russia, on April 20, 2025. - Getty Images

Attacks continue, say Ukrainian officials

In an update Sunday morning, Zelensky said Ukraine had recorded hundreds of instances of Russian shelling since the ceasefire was announced. Between 6 p.m. local time on Saturday and midnight, there were 387 instances of shelling and 19 assaults by Russian forces, he said.

Overall, as of Easter morning we can state that the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine, Zelensky said. Across various front lines, Ukraine said it recorded 59 cases of Russian shelling and five assaults by Russian units.

Fighting also continued in Russias Kursk and Belgorod regions, where Ukrainian troops have been active, Zelenksy had said earlier.

The head of Khersons regional military administration, Oleksandr Prokudin, said on Saturday evening local time that a high-rise building in the Dniprovskyi district of Kherson had caught fire after being struck by drones. Russian drones also attacked the villages of Urozhayne and Stanislav, he said.

The shelling continues and civilians are under attack again, Prokudin said. This is another confirmation that Russia has nothing sacred.

CNN has reached out to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for comment.

Air raid sirens sounded in Kyiv and several other regions soon after Putins announcement. But the Ukrainian Air Force said Sunday it has not reported any aerial threats or missiles since about 10 p.m. Saturday.

Andrii Kovalenko, who heads the Ukrainian Center for Countering Disinformation, a government body, said on Telegram at 7 p.m. local time that the Russians continue to fire in all directions. Moscow and Kyiv are currently on the same time.

Ukrainian troops at three separate locations along the front lines told CNN that as of 8 p.m. Saturday, there was no sign of fighting easing.

There have been no pauses in the conflict since Russia launched its unprovoked full-scale invasion in February 2022.

The sudden nature of Putins announcement and the short duration of the proposed truce gave Kyiv little room to prepare or maneuver. Many Ukrainian troops participating in ongoing assaults or reconnaissance missions would have been in position already, as any moves are typically made during the night due to the threat from Russian troops.

Ukraine has previously been skeptical about such temporary pauses in conflict, having rejected a temporary ceasefire to coincide with the Orthodox Christmas holiday in January 2023, believing that Russia had ulterior motives in calling for a stop to the fighting, such as using the pause to bring in more troops.

A key moment

Putins announcement comes at a pivotal time for the war.

As well as in Kursk, fighting continues along the eastern front line, which has barely moved in the past three years as neither side has been able to make significant gains.

While Ukraine has recently managed to push Russian troops back from areas around Toretsk, Russia has been inching forward near Kupyansk, Lyman and Kurakhove, according to the Institute for the Study of War, a US-based conflict monitor.

Separately, the two sides conducted one of the largest prisoner exchanges of the conflict on Saturday.

According to Zelensky, 277 captured Ukrainian soldiers were returned home. The Russian Defense Ministry said it had swapped 246 captured Ukrainian soldiers for the same number of Russian troops, and that as a gesture of good will Russia also exchanged 31 wounded Ukrainian troops for 15 wounded Russian servicemen.

As with previous exchanges, the swap was mediated by the United Arab Emirates.

At the same time, US-led peace efforts are stuttering as Moscow continues to stall, having previously rejected the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.

On Friday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the US was ready to move on within days from efforts to bring peace to Ukraine, if there were no tangible signs of progress.

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Russian President Vladimir Putin declared an "Easter truce" in the war in Ukraine on Saturday, saying that the Russian side will cease military action from 6 p.m. local Saturday night until midnight April 21.

Putin said he assumes that "the Ukrainian side will follow our example," according to a statement on the Kremlin's Telegram channel. But he also says Russia will respond to "violations of the truce and provocations" by Ukraine, the statement said.

In a statement Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy did not immediately say whether or not Ukraine would agree to the truce, but called the proposal "yet another attempt by Putin to play with human lives."

PHOTO: President Vladimir Putin speaks in this video released by the Kremlin on April 19, 2025. (Kremlin Media)

MORE: Trump, Rubio threaten to walk away from Ukraine-Russia peace talks

In a statement later Saturday, several hours after the truce was to have gone into effect, Zelenskyy said attacks continued in areas inside Russia where Ukrainian troops are fighting, and that artillery could still be heard in some areas of the frontline. However, he also noted "in some areas, the situation has become quieter."

In the statement, just before midnight local time, Zelenskyy continued to push for a 30-day ceasefire proposal previously turned down by Russia.

"The moment Putin actually ordered a reduction in the intensity and brutality of attacks, fighting and killings decreased," Zelenskyy said. "The sole cause of this war and of its prolongation lies in Russia."

In a previous statement, Zelenskyy said: "If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20," Zelenskyy said. "That is what will reveal Russias true intentions  because 30 hours is enough to make headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures. Thirty days could give peace a chance."

The proposed truce comes as U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, continued holding talks in Paris this week to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. Rubio said the talks were "productive" but asserted that the U.S. was willing to move on from the negotiations if they didn't yield results.

"We need to figure out here, now within a matter of days, whether this is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," Rubio said on the tarmac as he left France early Friday morning.

Later, at the White House, President Donald Trump echoed Rubio's assertion -- saying that the U.S. would make a determination "very shortly."

In the wake of Rubio's public comments, Moscow signaled it was in no hurry to strike a deal.

These developments also come as one potential indicator of progress -- a 30-day ceasefire intended to pause strikes on energy infrastructure targetshas expired, with no word from Putin on whether Moscow will restart attacks on those targets.

Both Russia and Ukraine have accused each other of repeatedly violating the agreement, which was brokered by the Trump administration last month.

ABC News' Oleksiy Pshemyskiy, Shannon Kingston and Fidel Pavlenko contributed to this report.

Putin declares temporary 'Easter truce' in Ukraine originally appeared on abcnews.go.com
Thirty years ago on April 19, 168 people were killed and hundreds more suffered injuries in the Oklahoma City bombing  still the deadliest homegrown terrorist attack in the history of the United States.

Their stories are preserved and honored by the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, which pays homage to the victims by commemorating their lives and legacies while centering its mission around educational initiatives against violence.

"The memorial museum was created to remember and teach the brutality of the attack and the tenderness of the response. It's about teaching the story of the senselessness of violence," said Kari Watkins, the CEO of the museum. "We average about half a million visitors a year, and we work to teach those people to meet the people who were impacted, those who were killed, those who survived and those changed forever. It helps us keep this story relevant and alive."

Visitors look at the faces of the victims of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum on June 11, 2001. / Credit: Joe Raedle / Getty Images

The 1995 attack targeted a federal building, and most of the people killed worked for the U.S. government. Lucio Aleman, Jr., a safety engineer with the Federal Highway Administration and father of two, was 33 when he died in the bombing. His biography appears on the memorial museum's website alongside the other victims.

Beside Aleman's photograph is one of Teresa Alexander, also 33, who had three children and worked multiple full-time jobs, including as a nurse's assistant, a role in which those who knew her said she "enjoyed doing the little extras for patients." Alexander was visiting the building to pick up her son's Social Security card when it was bombed, according to the museum.

Scrolling farther down the webpage reveals a sea of names and faces, some belonging to toddlers and infants. At just 3 months old, Gabreon DeShawn Lee Bruce was the youngest victim. His sister, 3-year-old Peachlyn Bradley, and his grandmother, Cheryl E. Hammon, were both killed in the bombing, too.

Chairs for each victim in the Oklahoma City bombing were decorated before the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum marked 21 years after the terrorist attack on April 19, 2016. / Credit: J Pat Carter / Getty Images

As survivors and families who lost loved ones look back on what the memorial museum refers to as "a day of darkness" three decades on, here's what to know about the attack.

When was the Oklahoma City bombing and what happened?

The bombing happened on April 19, 1995, at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. Nineteen children, most of whom were at a day care center in the building, were among the 168 people killed in the attack. More than 600 people suffered injuries that included severe burns and other physical traumas caused by the explosion itself or the structure's subsequent collapse. Search and rescue operations continued for more than a week after the blast, as crews located and retrieved survivors trapped beneath the debris.

A former Army soldier, Timothy McVeigh, detonated the bomb. Federal agents who investigated the tragedy determined that McVeigh acted alone on the day of the explosion, but a friend of his, Terry Nichols, helped build the bomb and another man, Michael Fortier, knew of the plot before it was carried out. Nichols and Fortier were ultimately convicted as co-conspirators in the crime.

At 9:02 a.m. local time on the morning of the bombing, McVeigh parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. At the time, the building housed regional government offices for 17 federal agencies, like the Social Security Administration, the Department of Housing and Urban Development, and the Drug Enforcement Administration, in addition to the America's Kids Child Development Center, a snack bar and a Federal Employees Credit Union, according to the memorial museum.

On the day of the attack, 361 workers and visitors were inside, including 21 children in the America's Kids day care center. Ninety-eight of the victims were federal government workers, and another three were employed by the state of Oklahoma.

Inside McVeigh's rental truck was a powerful homemade bomb, made using a mix of fertilizer, diesel fuel and other chemicals, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said. He exited the vehicle that morning, locked the doors and, while heading toward a getaway car, ignited two timed fuses that set off the explosion.

About one-third of the Alfred Murrah building was reduced to rubble within moments, and authorities say 300 nearby buildings were either damaged or destroyed in the blast.

The north side of the Albert P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995, shows the devastation caused by a terrorist bombing. / Credit: Bob Daemmrich/AFP via Getty Images

McVeigh was arrested roughly 90 minutes after fleeing the scene, during a traffic stop about 80 miles north of Oklahoma City. A state trooper initially flagged his car's missing license plate and, later, the concealed weapon inside his vehicle. Agents went on to discover traces of the chemicals used to create the bomb on McVeigh's clothing and some other items in his possession.

Who was Timothy McVeigh?

A U.S. Army veteran and security guard prior to the Oklahoma City attack, McVeigh was 27 at the time of the bombing. He was convicted in 1997 on numerous federal charges for his role, including conspiracy, using a weapon of mass destruction and multiple counts of first-degree murder. McVeigh was executed by lethal injection in 2001, becoming the first federal inmate to receive the death penalty in almost 40 years.

Authorities found McVeigh was motivated by strong anti-government sentiment, mainly rooted in the U.S. involvement in the Gulf War, where he previously had been stationed as a soldier, along with then-recent standoffs between federal agents and civilians during clashes in Ruby Ridge, Idaho, and Waco, Texas.

McVeigh's radicalization ultimately pushed him to the extreme: discovered inside his getaway car on April 19, 1995, was a copy of "The Turner Diaries," a white supremacist novel authored by neo-Nazi leader William Luther Pierce, which has been called "the bible of the racist right" and considered an inspiration for the Oklahoma City bombing and other acts of domestic terror.

What is the connection to the Waco siege?

McVeigh's hostility toward the government intensified after the 1992 Ruby Ridge killings and the Waco siege eight months later, where civilians died in standoffs with officers. In Waco, the 51-day siege ended April 19, 1993, exactly two years before the Oklahoma City bombing, with dozens of members of the Branch Davidian religious sect perishing in a fire. Some blamed federal authorities for their deaths, and the outcome of that standoff became a call to arms for far-right extremist and anti-government groups.

According to the FBI, McVeigh had visited Waco during the clash at the Texas compound, and, citing the incident as motivation for the bombing, later said he believed the government had declared war on the American people. He saw himself as a revolutionary and considered the Oklahoma City bombing part of that misguided revolution.

"If government is the teacher, violence would be an acceptable option," he told CBS News correspondent Ed Bradley in a "60 Minutes" interview in 2000, when asked whether using violence against the government was acceptable or not.

Is there a connection to the Columbine shooting?

On April 20, 1999, teenagers Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris killed 12 of their fellow students and one teacher in a shooting at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado.

The massacre, which marked the beginning of a rise in mass shootings at U.S. schools, also involved an attempted bombing. According to investigators, the two teenage gunmen, both of whom died by suicide, had constructed and planted homemade explosives that failed to detonate.

Harris referenced the Oklahoma City bombing in his personal writings while planning the attack. In one passage, which the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office in Colorado released years after the shooting, the teenager wrote that the event would "be like the LA riots, the oklahoma bombing (sic), WWII, vietnam (sic), duke and doom all mixed together," with "duke and doom" apparently referring to graphic video games in the mid-90s.

Harris' writings suggested he intended the Columbine attack to be much larger than it was, according to Dave Cullen, journalist and author of "Columbine" who spent years researching the shooters. He "would brag about topping McVeigh," Cullen wrote.

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File Photo Bobbie Jo Stinnett

What began as an ordinary visit over a shared love of dogs turned into one of the most horrifying crimes in recent memory.

Bobbie Jo Stinnett, a dog breeder, first met Lisa Montgomery at a dog show in 2004, bonding over their shared passion for the animals. They continued talking on an online message board dedicated to dog breeding, where Montgomery  using a fake name  eventually arranged a visit to Stinnetts home to see a puppy she claimed she wanted to adopt, according to authorities, the Topeka Capital-Journal reported.

That year, Montgomery drove from Kansas to Missouri to purchase the dog from Stinnett, who was 23 years old and pregnant, the Associated Press reported, citing authorities. Instead, Montgomery attacked Stinnett until she lost consciousness.

Her goal? To cut Stinnetts fetus from her womb and return to Kansas to claim the child as her own.

Prosecutors said in a statement that Montgomery used a kitchen knife to cut into Stinnetts abdomen. According to prosecutors, Stinnett briefly regained consciousness and tried to fight back before Montgomery strangled her to death.

Stinnett was pronounced dead at the hospital after being found lying in a pool of blood inside her home, CBC News reported, citing authorities. An Amber Alert was issued for the kidnapped baby and tips led authorities to Montgomerys home.

Victoria Jo, the premature baby, survived the attack and was reunited with her father, Zeb Stinnett, at the hospital, according to the outlet. Montgomery was arrested at the scene  but she claimed the baby was her own.

However, she later confessed to murdering Stinnett and abducting the child.

WYANDOTTE COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPAR/EPA-EFE/Shutterstoc Lisa Montgomery

Montgomery was married at the time and had reportedly convinced her husband, Kevin Montgomery, that she was pregnant and had given birth, according to the Topeka Capital-Journal.

I held that baby proudly, he has said, per the outlet.

In 2007, Montgomery was convicted by a jury of federal kidnapping resulting in death. Prosecutors said Montgomerys motive was to use the baby as a way to gain custody of two of her four children before her husband learned she was lying, the AP reported.

Jurors unanimously recommended a death sentence, which the court imposed. She was initially scheduled to be executed in December 2020.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

According to CNN, a federal judge granted Montgomery a stay of execution, pointing to the need to decide whether or not she was too mentally ill to be executed, which would have made her ineligible for the death penalty.

But the Supreme Court denied the court order and requests to President Donald Trump from family, supporters and her attorney were unsuccessful. Prior to this, federal executions had been on pause for 17 years.

Related: The U.S. Federal Government Executes the First Woman Inmate Since 1953

Kelley Henry, Montgomery's attorney, blamed the Trump administration's "bloodlust" for her execution, the AP reported.

Montgomery was ultimately executed by lethal injection on Jan. 13, 2021, at the federal prison complex in Terre Haute, Ind., per the AP. She was 52.

Montgomery became the first woman since 1953 to be executed by the federal government. The woman executed in 1953 was Bonnie Brown Heady, who kidnapped and murdered a young boy in Missouri, the AP reported.



Read the original article on People
By Andrius Sytas

VILNIUS (Reuters) - Europe must remove borrowing limits for defence spending or face the prospect of war with Russia, Lithuanian Defence Minister Dovile Sakaliene told Reuters on Tuesday.

"Defence now is an existential matter, it's more important than structural reforms", said Sakaliene. "If you cannot provide enough ammo for your soldiers, it doesn't really matter what you say," she said in an interview.

"We have a chance to prevent our citizens from dying in terrifying numbers from Russian bullets and Russian bombs. But we need to disburse funds for strengthening our military, our defence capabilities, right now."

Lithuania, a NATO and EU member, which borders both its former overlord Russia and Moscow's close ally Belarus, has committed to spending 5.5% of its gross domestic product next year on defence, up from 3.9% of GDP earmarked this year.

European Union finance ministers expressed interest on Saturday in the idea of a joint defence fund that would buy and own defence equipment, partly as a way to address concerns of highly-indebted countries because the debt incurred would not be attached to national accounts.

The discussion is part of a European effort to prepare for a potential attack from Russia as EU governments realise they can no longer fully rely on the United States for their security.

Russia's defence minister said in December that Moscow had to prepare for direct conflict with NATO in the next decade.

Under the separate ReArm Europe plan, the EU is looking to boost military spending by 800 billion euros ($876 billion) over the next four years, via loosening fiscal rules on defence investment and joint borrowing for large defence projects against the EU budget.

Sakaliene said the European Union needed to remove all stops on borrowing for defence needs, and provide immediate grants, not only loans, to its members for the purpose.

She said that she could understand U.S. President Donald Trump saying he would not defend NATO allies if they were not paying enough for their own defence.

"This tension, this unpleasant conversation - it is justified... We are where we are because Europe lagged behind, terribly, for years," said Sakaliene.

Despite Trump's words, frontline NATO allies Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia and Poland "do have the United States by our side should any crisis happen", Sakaliene said, because they spend significantly on their defence and closely cooperate with the U.S. militarily.

The minister said she is hopeful NATO allies will commit to at least 4% of GDP spending goal at the Hague NATO summit in June, in the face of the Russian danger.

(Reporting by Andrius Sytas in Vilnius; Editing by Ros Russell)
In these days of egg-flation, its doubly important to protect the eggs weve probably spent a LOT of money on. And while eggs should last 3-5 weeks after purchase in the refrigerator, improper storage can cause them to go bad sooner.

Didnt know there was a right (and a wrong!) way to store eggs? Beyond basic refrigeration, I didnt either until I did this deep dive. Heres everything you need to know about how to properly store this most precious ingredientbecause we cant afford to waste a single yolk!

Store Eggs On An Inside Shelf, Not In The Door

In the United States, commercially sold eggs are washed, a process that removes the natural protective coating on the outside of the eggs, also known as the " bloom ." Since they no longer have that protective coating, the eggs need to be kept in the refrigerator. (Sure, there are some who argue that eggs can still be kept on the counter, but we wouldn't advise that.)

And thats not all: According to the USDA, they should be kept at 40 degrees Fahrenheit (or slightly colder) and preferably on an inside shelf. While the temperature in the refrigerator door might fluctuate, the shelves on the inside typically maintain a fairly stable temperature. A nit-picky thing? Sure. But even a tiny detail like that can impact the longevity of your eggs.

Keep Eggs Away From Smelly Foods

Egg shells are porous, which means the eggs can (and will!) absorb any strong flavors or smells that they come into contact with. One way to prevent this from happening is to make sure the eggs are stored far away from any particularly fragrant leftovers or pungent sauces, and that anything particularly smelly is tightly sealed. You dont want your scrambled eggs tasting like canned tuna.

Store Them In The Container They Came In

Those special egg holders might be chic, but theyre not helping your eggs stay fresh. Instead, keep the eggs in the carton they came in. This will keep the eggs from losing moisture , as well as help to prevent them from absorbing any stray flavors or odors that may still (despite your best efforts) be around them. That carton also contains the sell-by date, which, while NOT an expiration date, can help you remember how recently you bought the eggs.

Place Them Pointy-Side DOWN

If you asked someone to draw an egg, chances are theyd draw it with the point facing up. Thats the way most of us visualize eggs, but its actually NOT the best way to store them. For maximum freshness, eggs should actually be stored pointy-side down . The larger end of the egg contains something called the air sac, which is key for preserving the eggs freshness and quality. (If youre having trouble visualizing this, think about the last time you peeled a boiled egg. That empty spot near the large end of the egg? Thats the air sack.) Storing the egg pointy-end-down ensures that the air sac can float easily on top of the egg, rather than being squished by the weight of the yolk and the white. And that will help the egg stay fresher for longer.

Freeze Eggs For Extended Freshness

Eggs can also be frozen for up to 1 year . If you want to freeze them raw, you can separate the yolks and whites and freeze them separately, or whisk the yolks and whites together and freeze them like that. (If freezing yolks alone, add  teaspoon of salt for every four egg yolks to prevent the yolks from becoming overly thick and sticky when they freeze.) You can also freeze straight-up peeled hard-boiled eggs. Whatever you do, do NOT freeze raw eggs in the shells. They will expand when they freeze and burst the shells and then youll end up with a mess in the freezer!

How To Cook With Frozen Eggs

To cook with frozen eggs, the American Egg Board recommends thawing them in the refrigerator overnight or under cold running water and then using them immediately. For safety, its best to use them only in applications where the eggs are fully cooked.

The Bottom Line

Whether youve been gifted with an unexpected plethora of eggs (or are just paranoid about your single carton going bad before you can use it up!), keeping them in their container and storing them in the refrigerator in an interior shelf (pointy-side down!) should help them stay fresh for the maximum amount of time. You can even freeze them, as long as you don't keep them raw in their shells.

Whats your favorite way to cook your eggs? Let us know in the comments below.

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A partner for the fifth time to the Marche du Films Goes to Cannes showcase, the Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival  the Baltics biggest film event  will dedicate a curated program to films from the region for the first time.

The five projects, among the best from Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, will be pitched on May 16 in Cannes. All are in post-production and looking for co-financing, sales and festival exposure.

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Baltic have been on the rise for some time already, said Triin Tramberg, curator of the Tallinn Black Nights Goes to Cannes, referring to the astounding success of Latvias Oscar-winning sensation Flow and Lithuanias double Locarno wins for Toxic and Drowning Dry, among others.

Its the right time to make a small presentation of what to expect for Q2 2025- Q1 2026. I believe the five selected projects show the variety of quality we have, and I am sure there is something for every taste, she said.

Indeed, the Tallinn Fest Goes to Cannes slate covers all genres, from Estonias dark comedy OSlaughter Day, experimental Mo Amor, Lithuanias dramas Oblivion and They Call Me Danka, and Latvias crime Red Code Blue. Each of the titles stems from strong voices ready to light the international festival and arthouse circuits, in the footsteps of Flows Gints Zilbalodis, Toxics Saule Bliuvaite, Drowning Drys Laurynas Bareisa or Smoke Sauna Sisterhoods Anna Hints.

Promoting the Baltics as a region is key to us, added Tiina Lokk, head of the Tallinn Black Nights Fest. As the only A-class film festival in Northern Europe, together with our industry strand, we are proud to have attracted more than 1,700 guests and journalists from 70 countries in 2024. Building a festival with the Baltics at the heart, having the world coming to see Baltic films and more, and Baltic films reaching out to the world was my goal from the very beginning, Lokk told Variety.

The Marche du Films Goes to Cannes showcase runs May 16-19. The 29th Tallinn Black Nights Film Festival will unspool Nov. 7-23 in the Estonian capital.

Here is a rundown of the five Baltic Goes to Cannes entries:

OSlaughter Day (Seatapp), Estonia

Produced by Jaan Laugamots for Downtown Pictures.

After his acclaimed feature debut Kalev (Estonias Oscar entry in 2022) and hit series Traitor (Reetur), Ove Musting has set his tragicomedy in rural southern Estonia. The story turns on a Moldovan unlicensed veterinarian who comes to the villagers aid when an inexperienced veterinary official orders all livestock to be destroyed due to a suspected swine fever outbreak.

In the title roles are Aleksandr Braznik, Egon Nuter, Taavi Teplenkov, and Hendrik Toompere Jr.

My, roots, my family are from Southern Estonia; I grew up and worked on a farm, says the writer/director who was keen to bring to the screens his memories of the charm and pain of rural life, with a touch of dark humor to elevate the characters everyday life. Delivery is scheduled for late 2025, with a national release via Hea Film to follow up.

Oblivion

Oblivion, (Uzmarstis), Lithuania

Produced by Ieva Norviliene for Tremora (Vanishing Waves, The Flood Wont Come).

Rising writer/director Danielius Minkevicius earned international recognition with his shorts Crucifixion (Palm Springs ShortFest 2020) and Dance (Camerimage 2021). His debut pic is a psychological drama about a young sex worker who tracks her estranged father and enters his life under a false identity. As their bond deepens, she must navigate the fragile line between deception, healing and the connection shes always longed for. Minkevicius says his intention with Oblivion was to explore how we deal with pain we dont fully comprehend and our ability to dissociate ourselves from grief as a self-protection mechanism. Keen to ground this fictional story in something real, Minkevicius has used real settings and a mix of amateurs and established actors. The project was pitched earlier at Tallinn Baltic Events co-production market and Vilnius Meeting Point.

Mo Amor

Mo Amor, Estonia

Produced by Eeva Magi and Sten-Johan Lill for Kinosaurus Film.

Mo Amor is writer/director Magis third installment in her trilogy, which is about the human need for love and understanding from different perspectives. After the mother/daughter angle in Mo Mamma, winner of a Special Mention at Tallinns First Feature competition 2023, and father/son turn in Mo Papa, pitched at last years Black Nights Goes to Cannes, Mo Amor explores how to love oneself and others. Its mystical, poetic exploration of love and identity, presented through a beautifully crafted fairytale, says Magi. Delivery is set for the fall 2025.

They Call Me Danka

They Call Me Danka (Danka), Lithuania

Produced by Arturas Dvinelis for Filmai LT, with associate producer Juliana Miliut.

Dovile Gasiunaites sophomore pic after Narcissus, is a raw coming-of-age about teen girl Danute, who struggles as the only adult in her family. Filmed mostly using single shots, the drama stars Ula Liagaite, Silvestras Samuolis and Salvijus Trepulis.

Its an emotional story about the transition from childhood to adulthood, altogether shocking and thought-provoking, says Dvinelis, who is targeting Vilnius Scanorama festival this fall for the national launch.

Red Code Blue

Red Code Blue (Tumszilais Evangelijs), Latvia

Produced by Sintija Andersone, Oskars Rupenheits, Juris Pilens for Kef Studio.

Segueing from his successful debut The Foundation of Criminal Excellence, which was financed via crowd-funding and ended up as Latvias biggest hit in 2018, with three wins at the national film awards, Oskars Rupenheits goes back to crime for his sophomore pic. Here, we follow young private eye Roman Skulte (Raitis Sturmanis), as he joins Riga Precinct in post-Soviet Lavia in the mid-90s. Ready to take on crime, he soon learns the hard way that the road to hell is paved with good intentions. Andersone says, beyond the directors dark humor, suspense and distinctive style, the pics strength lies in its narrative anchored in Latvias turbulent history, the wild west of the Eastern flank that unfolded in the midst of a regime change in the 1990s. Baltic Content Media will handle the domestic release.

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The Taurus zodiac sign is known for its simultaneous love of luxury and its groundedness. Those are true of their travels as well, according to Psychic Saba, premier psychic advisor and astrology expert with California Psychics.

Taurus would love to go on a spa trip, but they don't mind paying for that spa trip with a Groupon, she told USA TODAY.

While those travelers  whose zodiac symbol is a bull  are likely to want beauty and relaxation from their vacations, they are also very down to earth, according to Saba. She helped us round up some destinations for Taurus season, which runs from April 19 through May 20.

Aries need adventure, too: 4 astrologer-approved destinations for the ram

Sedona

Mountain bikers ride on the Bell Rock Pathway to the Little Horse Trail in Sedona.

Saba recommended Taurus travelers head for the Arizona city, well-known for its arts community and red rock scenery. This will allow the Taurus to take in the beautiful sights, but also get some of that earth element, spirituality, beautiful restaurants that will allow them to be relaxed and happy, she said.

Visitors can browse art galleries, take Jeep and ATV tours and hike or bike more than 400 miles of trails.

There are round-trip domestic airfares during Taurus season to Flagstaff Pulliam Airport (FLG)  about 29 miles away  for $577 and Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX)  about 120 miles away  for $352, according to Hayley Berg, Lead Economist at Hopper. Hotels run for $379 per night on average during the same period.

The Poconos

Dingmans Falls in Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area on Sunday, Oct. 15, 2023.

Saba recommended the Pennsylvania region, where travelers can immerse themselves in nature, from hiking to visiting waterfalls and going whitewater rafting.

The areas four counties encompass a portion of the famed Appalachian Trail to the south, historic Route 6 connecting quaint towns to the north, the peaceful bends of the Delaware River as it winds between Pennsylvania and New Jersey through Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area to east, and the exhilarating white water rapids of the Lehigh River as it passes the Victorian splendor of the borough of Jim Thorpe to the west, according to the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau.

Visitors will also find plenty to do indoors, from farm-to-table restaurants, spas, museums and more. Accommodations range from bed and breakfasts to cabins and resorts. I would definitely send Taurus to a place where they could indulge their senses without breaking the bank and support local businesses, Saba said.

Berg found round-trip domestic airfares during Taurus season to Wilkes-Barre Scranton International Airport (AVP) for $433; Lehigh Valley International Airport (ABE) for $398; Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) for $335; and Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) for $298. Average nightly hotel rates were $144 in Stroudsburg; $140 in Jim Thorpe; $135 in Honesdale; and $96 in Tannersville.

Paris

Tourists in front of the Louvre museum in Paris on March 6, 2025.

For international trips, Saba suggested Paris with its striking landmarks, many museums and high-end hotels.

If the Taurus is willing to travel that far, they're definitely not going to travel to see the neighborhood, she said. They want to see the beauty. They want to do everything at the highest level.

Travelers can find round-trip flights from the U.S. to Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) for $842 and Paris Orly Airport (ORY) for $813 during Taurus season, according to Berg. Hotels average $328 per night.

Napa Valley

Zinfandel grapes grow in a Napa Valley, California vineyard on Oct. 8, 2011.

Back stateside, Taurus is also likely to enjoy the lush greenery and vineyards of Californias Napa Valley, according to Saba. If the Taurus is looking for beauty, look no further than the resorts with the wonderful spas and the great landscapes, she said. ...Its just a beautiful energy.

Popular restaurants and wineries may also be less crowded during the spring, according to Visit Napa Valley.

There are domestic round-trip flights to Oakland International Airport (OAK)  51 miles away  for $354 and to San Francisco International Airport (SFO)  58 miles away  for $306, Berg said. The nightly hotel rate averages $450 during Taurus season.

Nathan Diller is a consumer travel reporter for USA TODAY based in Nashville. You can reach him at ndiller@usatoday.com.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 4 best destinations for Taurus season, according to an astrologer
I spent an afternoon taking a tiki boat ride to Crab Island in Destin, Florida, with friends and my husband. Tammy Barr

We took a tiki boat to Crab Island, a sandbar just off the coast of Destin, Florida.

The experience cost $60 a person and lasted three hours. We were able to bring drinks on board.

Overall, we had a blast on this fun and affordable activity. I'd recommend it.

From hot-tub boats in Seattle to chartered yachts in Croatia, I am always seeking out unique and fun boating experiences.

While in Florida, I cast off on an adventure aboard a small boat with a bar on it to Crab Island in Destin.

Here's what it was like.

Crab Island is a unique destination.

Crab Island was filled with boats and people when we visited. Tammy Barr

Crab Island is quite a scene, although it's not actually an island at all  it's a submerged sandbar.

A watercraft of some kind is required to access this popular spot, where bachelorette parties, families, locals, and tourists bob around the clear waters together with bumping beats blasting from the anchored boats.

We got on our boat at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk.

We relaxed on the Destin Harbor Boardwalk for a bit. Tammy Barr

Although there are a few different boats available to rent in the area, my friends and I booked our excursion through Tailfins Tiki Tours for just $60 a person. (At the time of writing, the price appears to have increased to $70 a person.)

Visitors can rent private boats, but our group chose a shared excursion since there were just four of us.

On the day of our sailing, we arrived at the meeting point at the Destin Harbor Boardwalk, a sprawling commercialized scene where theme restaurants alternate with boat-rental companies.

We left on time and were able to enjoy great views of Destin as we cruised out of the small but busy harbor.

I appreciated our boat's design.

The boat had great views from every side. Tammy Barr

Our tiki boat was at full capacity, which included two crew members and 14 guests.

Each of us sat on our own ornately designed stool and, because of the rounded design of the boat, all passengers had great views of the surrounding waters.

The boat also seemed thoughtfully designed. It had a small bathroom on board, and the bar area included hooks for hanging bags and built-in cup holders to keep beverages steady.

It took about 20 minutes to reach Crab Island.

The boat played music as we headed to Crab Island. Tammy Barr

As we sailed under the Destin Bridge and crept into an open space on Crab Island, we listened to the captain's choice of music through the boat's speakers.

It took us only about 20 minutes of sailing time to reach the sandbar.

Passengers are allowed to bring their own beverages (including alcohol as long as it's not in glass), so we'd packed cold drinks in our backpack cooler.

It was nice to crack them open while enjoying the dazzling emerald waters around us.

Soon, we went for a dip.

The crew on the boat inflated floaties for us. Tammy Barr

After lathering on some sunscreen and moving on to our next round of drinks, we descended the boat's ladder into the chilly waters.

The cool salt water was refreshing in the warm sun, and we spent a bit of time walking around the sandbar.

In the meantime, the crew set up floating tables and a lily pad for guests to use. We brought our own inflatables, and they filled those with air for us, too.

Fortunately, there were also tons of options had we forgotten to bring floaties, food, drinks, or even sunscreen to Crab Island.

We swam past a full floating general store, a whole boat selling barbecue, and vendors on small vehicles selling alcoholic jelly shooters.

We headed back to shore after three hours.

We enjoyed our afternoon on the boat and at Crab Island. Tammy Barr

Even on a sunny Saturday in shoulder season, we saw hundreds of watercraft anchored to the sandbar or cruising around it. Pontoons with slides, kayaks, Jet Skis, and tiki boats mingled with giant unicorns and flamingo floaties.

After a fast three hours of sipping and people watching in the shallow water, we were shepherded back to our barge.

The captain guided everybody back onto their barstools, and the ship powered back to the pier.

Overall, the experience felt worth the price.

The boats resembled a tiny floating bar. Tammy Barr

I felt $60 per person was a reasonable price for the transportation and service provided.

We also chose to tip the captain and other staff member in cash, as they'd worked hard to ensure we had a fabulous time.

Overall, this was a great way to spend an afternoon. I'd recommend booking a boat tour to Crab Island if you're looking for a fun and affordable Florida activity.

Read the original article on Business Insider
Getty Images







Key takeaways

A fan-favorite chocolate bar is finally back at Trader Joe's.

The TJ's candy replicates a luxurious German chocolate bar.

Signs suggest this bar might be a springtime-only offering.







Trader Joes has so many candy offerings, it doesn't even fit in just one area of the store. For example, you'll probably find the Strawberry Sour Candy Belts in a different location than the Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups. And when it comes to seasonal treats, TJs scatters them all over the store, sometimes putting the same item in multiple locations as a kind service to shoppers to ensure they dont accidentally miss something irresistible.

Some candy may be near the crunchy, salty snack section, not too far from the current limited-time, Garlic Butter Irish Potato Chips and the brands always-in-stock Classic Potato Chips. Some candy may be on the freestanding shelves in front of each cashier lane, enticing you to throw one more thing in your basket as you wait to check out. And some candy may be on shelves above the freezer section.

Wherever your TJs keeps the candy bars, youre going to want to head there ASAP to grab a baror fiveof a returning chocolate bar that so many fans call their favorite.

Trader Joes Milk Chocolate Bar With Corn Flakes Is Back

Its terrible you wouldnt like it dont buy it! Theyre all mine!

Thats one of the comments, clearly a sarcastic one, on @traderjoesnew's Instagram post announcing the return of the Milk Chocolate Bar With Corn Flakes. Imported from Belgium, the candy costs $2.99 a bar.



I wish it was dark chocolate [but] I did enjoy the crunch and how its precut to smaller-larger sizes, writes @traderjoesnew, but many of the account's followers love that its milk chocolate.

Its my fave and perfect as it is with milk chocolate! exclaims one. And others follow suit with their praises. One of the best chocolate bars I ever had, says another.

Trader Joe's Milk Chocolate Bar With Corn Flakes Replicates a German Favorite Minus the Cost

Many fans on Reddit and Instagram compared these bars to the Ritter Sport Corn Flake, a popular flavor from the German chocolate maker. However, that comparison brings a high bar to clear.

"Ritter white chocolate cornflake bar is the goat," said one commenter. "Not sure if I've ever seen it in the USA though."

With this many enthusiasts chiming in, were thinking this is one delicious candy bar. On the Instagram post, the candy bars are shown in a special spring-like, Easter-ish display, making us think this treat's not going to be around long after the holiday. So if you want the chance to try it, you better hit up TJs before it disappears.

Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
Policia Civil do Maranhao/Instagram Woman being arrested in Brazil

Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, 35, was arrested for allegedly sending poisoned Easter eggs to the new family of her ex-boyfriend on Wednesday, April 16

A seven-year-old boy died in the hospital after consuming the chocolate a day later

A mother and her 13-year-old daughter are in critical condition in the hospital

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of poisoning Easter eggs and sending them to the new family of her ex-boyfriend in a "revenge" plot in Brazil, according to multiple reports.

Jordelia Pereira Barbosa, 35, allegedly bought the chocolates while in a disguise and spiked them before they were delivered via motorbike courier to her ex's new partner Mirian Lira, who then shared the eggs with her children on Wednesday, April 16, Daily Mail and the local outlets Imperatriz Online and FDamiao Noticias reported.

The eggs were reportedly sent targeting the mother, 32, and were accompanied by a note with the message, "With love, to Mirian Lira. Happy Easter, according to the Daily Mail.

Liras seven-year-old son Luis Silva fell ill immediately after consuming the chocolate and died in Imperatriz City Hospital on Thursday, April 17, per the outlets. A cause of death has not been confirmed at this time.

Lira and her 13-year-old daughter Evelyn Fernanda are in critical condition in the hospital, per The Standard.

Getty Easter eggs (stock image)

Related: 3 Family Members Die After Eating Homemade Christmas Cake  Sparking New Investigation into Death of the Bakers Husband

CCTV footage obtained by Imperatriz Online allegedly shows Barbosa in a black wig buying the Easter eggs from a supermarket counter.

According to the outlet, citing officials, Barbosa bought the chocolate and sent it to the family after an earlier failed premeditated plan in which she tried to offer Lira candies in a chocolate-tasting session for employees at the supermarket where she worked.

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Barbosa was arrested by the Maranhao Civil Police on a bus headed to her hometown of Santa Ines on Thursday, April 17. Her arrest came after receipts were found by police indicating her involvement and they spoke to Barbosas ex, who also suggested she might be involved, per Daily Mail.

Photos obtained by Imperatriz Online show Barbosa with blonde hair as she is being arrested and instruments, including a funnel and spoons, found at her location, allegedly used in the suspected poisoning of the chocolate.

Barbosa admitted to police to buying the chocolate but not poisoning the eggs, according to reports.

Policia Civil do Maranhao/Instagram Woman being arrested in Brazil

Related: 4-Year-Old Hospitalized, Completely Unconscious 10 Minutes After Drinking Toxic Slushy: Poison

Police have discovered receipts for the chocolate eggs, two wigs, scissors, cards, a saw knife, and suspected drugs in her possession, The Standard reported. An autopsy on Luis Fernando is expected to confirm his cause of death as poisoning, while tests are also being conducted on the leftover chocolate.

Security official Mauricio Martins said in a statement, per the outlet, The evidence suggests, based on several points investigated, that the crime was motivated by revenge and jealousy, given that the author's ex-husband is the current partner or boyfriend of the victim, who was poisoned along with her two children.

"There are several indications that clearly point to this woman being the perpetrator of the crime," the statement continues. "The police will continue working to strengthen this evidence and present her to the Judiciary to answer for this barbaric crime."



PEOPLE has reached out to the Maranhao Civil Police for further comment.

Read the original article on People
Today's news: Strong quake shakes border between Afghanistan and Tajikistan; Ahmadi community member lynched by Islamic extremists in Karachi; Pew Research Center survey reveals number of Americans with an unfavourable opinion of China is beginning to decline; In Phnom Penh, Xi Jinping signs another partnership agreement to resume work on the Funan Techo canal.

INDIA

The Bhagavad Gita, a milestone in the Hindu tradition, and Bharat Muni's Natyashastra have been inscribed by UNESCO in its Memory of the World Register, a global initiative that aims to preserve documentary heritage of inestimable value. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called it a global recognition of our timeless wisdom and rich culture. The Bhagavad Gita is a sacred dialogue between Krishna and Arjuna, while the Natyashastra is considered the fundamental text for the Indian tradition of theatre, dance and music.

AFGHANISTAN

A strong earthquake measuring 5.8 on the Richter scale struck the border region between Afghanistan and Tajikistan today, causing tremors that were also felt in parts of northern India and Pakistan, including Kashmir and Delhi. The quake struck at 12.17 local time and the extent of the damage is not yet clear. The epicentre was located in the border area between Afghanistan and Tajikistan, a region prone to seismic activity due to tectonic movements.

PAKISTAN

A 46-year-old man was lynched yesterday in Karachi when several hundred supporters of the religious party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP) stormed a place of worship belonging to the Ahmadi community in the Saddar area. The police, who are trying to identify the perpetrators, have recovered CCTV footage showing that the victim was filming TLP protesters from behind the community hall with his mobile phone when someone in the crowd spotted him and targeted him.

CHINA-UNITED STATES

Just as the trade war rages between Washington and Beijing, the Pew Research Center has released the results of a survey conducted in late March (i.e. before Trump's press conference on tariffs) showing that for the first time in five years, the percentage of Americans with an unfavourable opinion of China has fallen slightly compared to the previous year, from 81% in 2024 to 77% in 2025. The percentage of those with a very unfavourable opinion of China fell by as much as 10 percentage points, while those who consider China an enemy of the United States fell from 42% last year to 33% today.

CAMBODIA-CHINA

During Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Phnom Penh, the People's Republic of China and the Cambodian government signed a partnership agreement worth .15 billion to finance the Funan Techo canal project in Cambodia. The ambitious project for the 151-kilometre waterway, which is expected to connect a branch of the Mekong River to a port on the Gulf of Thailand, was launched last year, but work was halted shortly after the groundbreaking ceremony due to financing problems.

JAPAN

According to the Japanese Ministry of Health, a record number of suicides among young people was recorded in 2024, while the total number of suicides fell to the second lowest level ever. In 2024, a total of 20,320 people took their own lives, 1,517 fewer than the previous year. This is the second lowest figure since 1978. However, the number of elementary, middle and high school students who committed suicide increased by 16 to a record 529.

RUSSIA

Unknown individuals attempted to set fire to the home of the chief imam of the Rostov region in southern Russia, Mukhammed Bikmaev, who in June 2024 had led negotiations with rioters at the local detention centre, who had stormed the isolation zone. Local governor Yuri Slusyar said that all attempts to spread discord, terror and hatred in the region would be strongly opposed.

TURKMENISTAN

The president of Turkmenistan, Serdar Berdymukhamedov, visited Japan, where he signed several agreements with the Tokyo authorities for the construction of a new gas and oil refinery in the velayat of Akhal and other joint energy initiatives, involving Sumitomo Heavy Industries in the construction of the city of Arkadag.
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19 April 2025 13:15 (UTC+04:00)

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Azerbaijan exported 18.4 thousand tons of black metals and products made from them, worth $20.9 million, in the first quarter of 2025, Azernews reports, citing the State Customs Committee.

Here we are to serve you with news right now. It does not cost much, but worth your attention.

Choose to support open, independent, quality journalism and subscribe on a monthly basis.

By subscribing to our online newspaper, you can have full digital access to all news, analysis, and much more.

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You can also follow AzerNEWS on Twitter @AzerNewsAz or Facebook @AzerNewsNewspaper

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19 April 2025 13:45 (UTC+04:00)

The 30th Rabat International Book Fair officially opened on April 17 in Rabat, the capital of the Kingdom of Morocco.

According to Azernews, Azerbaijan is participating in the prestigious literary event with a national stand, organized by the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Azerbaijan and supported by the Azerbaijani Embassy in Morocco.

The national stand features a diverse collection of newly published and valuable books about Azerbaijan, offering visitors and participants insights into the country's rich history, culture, and book art.

Kamran Musayev, a representative from the Ministry of Cultures Book Industry Department, took part in several events on the opening day of the fair.

Organized by Moroccos Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, the event has drawn a total of 756 participants from 51 countries. A wide array of cultural events is scheduled to take place throughout the fair.

The United Arab Emirates has been honored as the "Guest of Honor" at this years edition. The 30th Rabat International Book Fair will continue until April 27.
19 April 2025 15:25 (UTC+04:00)

Direct dialogue between Azerbaijan and Armenia has proven more effective than talks conducted through intermediaries, Azernews reports, citing Azerbaijani Foreign Minister Jeyhun Bayramov, as he said in an interview with TRT World.

Bayramov stated that today, everyone, including Armenia, openly acknowledges that Garabagh is both de jure and de facto part of Azerbaijan.

This means that there is no longer an unresolved Garabagh issue. Given that, a question naturally arises: why does Armenia continue to insist on preserving the OSCE Minsk Group? I dont knowperhaps it relates to some future-oriented plan? Otherwise, we see no rational or logical explanation for it.

The foreign ministers remarks underscore Bakus stance that any remaining diplomatic frameworks linked to the Karabakh issue are now obsolete, and that bilateral discussions without outside interference are the most productive path forward.
19 April 2025 17:35 (UTC+04:00)

Azerbaijans Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ceyhun Bayramov, visited the family of Turkish MP and former Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu to offer condolences following the passing of his father, Osman Cavusoglu, Azernews reports, citing Turkish media.

Bayramov traveled to the city of Alanya today to personally express his sympathy to the grieving family.

Several Turkish officials, including Minister of Culture Mehmet Ersoy, along with numerous members of parliament and civil servants, also paid visits to the Cavusoglu family to show their support during this difficult time.

Speaking to the local press following his visit, Minister Bayramov stated that he had come to Alanya to share the sorrow of his longtime friend and brother, Mevlut Cavusoglu.

May Allah have mercy on Osman Cavusoglu. We extend our deepest condolences to the family. Mevlut Cavusoglu is deeply respected and loved in Azerbaijan. He has always placed special importance on the development of Azerbaijani-Turkish relations. Today, we are here to express condolences on behalf of the entire Azerbaijani nation, Bayramov said.
19 April 2025 08:00 (UTC+04:00)

By Alimat Aliyeva

A Korean consortium led by LG has decided to withdraw from a project worth approximately 11 trillion won ($7.7 billion) to establish an electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain in Indonesia, industry sources confirmed on Friday, Azernews reports.

The consortium, which includes LG Energy Solution, LG Chem, LX International, and other partners, had been collaborating with the Indonesian government and state-owned companies to build an "end-to-end value chain" for EV batteries.

The initiative aimed to cover the entire production process, from sourcing raw materials to producing battery precursors, cathode materials, and manufacturing battery cells.

Indonesia is the worlds largest producer of nickel, a critical raw material for EV batteries, making it a key player in the global EV supply chain.

Industry sources explained that the consortium's decision to withdraw follows consultations with the Indonesian government. The main reason for the exit appears to be shifts in the global EV market, particularly a slowdown in demand, often referred to as the EV chasm, a temporary plateau in the growth of electric vehicle adoption and demand for associated components.

"Given the current market conditions and investment environment, we have decided to withdraw from the project," an official from LG Energy Solution stated.

However, the official emphasized that the consortium will continue its existing business operations in Indonesia, including the Hyundai LG Indonesia Green Power battery plant, which is a joint venture with Hyundai Motor Group.

The decision to pull out of this major project highlights the challenges faced by the EV sector, which is grappling with fluctuating demand, shifting market dynamics, and the complexities of global supply chains. Despite this, South Korean companies, including LG, remain heavily invested in the future of EV batteries and sustainable energy solutions, with a strong focus on maintaining their presence in the Indonesian market.
19 April 2025 21:20 (UTC+04:00)

Japan has pledged approximately $3 billion in financial support to Ukraine through the G7's innovative ERA (Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration) mechanism, which utilises profits from frozen Russian sovereign assets, Azernews reports, citing Tribune.

The announcement was made by Ukraines Ministry of Finance following an agreement signed between Ukrainian Finance Minister Serhii Marchenko and Japans Ambassador to Ukraine, Masashi Nakagome.

The loan will be repaid using future revenue generated from immobilized Russian assets seized by G7 nations following Russias 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

The financial support is structured over a 30-year term and will contribute to Ukraines urgent budgetary needs as well as long-term reconstruction and development efforts.

This agreement not only meets critical fiscal demands but also underscores Japans steadfast commitment to democratic values and support for Ukraine, Marchenko said.

Japan has so far extended over $8.5 billion in aid to Ukraine since the start of the war.

This latest move follows a July 2024 agreement by G7 and EU leaders to allocate $50 billion to Ukraine, to be financed by interest accrued on roughly 280 billion ($318 billion) in frozen Russian assets globallymost of which are held in the European Union.

The bulk of these funds, approximately 191 billion ($217 billion), are managed by Belgium-based Euroclear, which generated nearly 4.4 billion ($4.8 billion) in profits from these assets in 2023, according to the Financial Times.

The US., EU, and UK are also contributing to the broader G7 plan, with the United States previously announcing a $20 billion loan, the EU up to $35 billion, and the UK nearly $3 billion.

The agreement highlights continued G7 coordination in sustaining Ukraines economy while increasing pressure on Russia through strategic asset immobilization.
The globalists around the world have targeted free speech for suppression in their efforts to build their desired authoritarian super state. Europe has been hit hard with people arrested for things like a mild criticism of a politician or even posting a Bible verse online. Terms like "misinformation", "disinformation", "malinformation", and "hate speech" have become code words for censorship.

Now Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard has declassified and released a similar plan for America concocted by the Biden regime. One of its terms for censorship is to impose "guardrails" on speech.

https://pjmedia.com/matt-margolis/2025/04/18/tulsi-exposes-a-terrifying-biden-era-program-that-was-meant-to-be-secret-n4939013

Now it is clear why the Democrats had their panties in a twist over Gabbard's appointment as DNI.

Meanwhile the free speech social media platform Parler, which shut down after it was attacked by government goons under Biden, has returned. This time Parler runs off of the crypto blockchain where it will be a lot more difficult for government censors to interfere with free speech.

https://bigleaguepolitics.com/pro-free-speech-social-media-platform-parler-returns-running-off-the-crypto-blockchain/

It has now come out the the Biden regime gave over 600 grants directed at promoting political censorship .

https://www.zerohedge.com/political/numbers-behind-governments-anti-misinformation-explosion

. . . and in the UK, it appears that criticizing illegal immigration can now get you banned from the country under Labour.

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/04/18/renaud-camus-banned-mass-immigration-free-speech/
Regarding the recent Israel /Iran Conflict (the "12 Day War"), culminating in the United States Air Force employing seven B2 Bombers to complete a 33 hour flight, dropping 14 fifteen ton bunker busting bombs on three Iranian nuclear facilities buried deep under mountain rock, which destroyed Iran's nuclear ambitions against Israel and the United States: Should President Trump have unilaterally made the decision to make such a bold decision to conduct this operation, without first running this prospective operation before the US Congress for their approval?

14.29% No, The War Powers Act prohibitions, which requires NO presidential military action without congressional approval.85.71% Yes, the President has Article 2 Constitutional authority to take unilateral military action to protect the American People, providing he does not break congressional codes, which he did not.0% Don't care, never have.
From the mountains to the ocean, Oregons natural wonders offer a bounty of ingredients for the regions eco-friendly chefs, winemakers and producers

Arriving at the forest entrance, I anticipate a warm welcome from my hosts, seeing as Oregonians are renowned for their gregarious personalities. And thats precisely what transpires because Max, a handsome Labrador, suddenly appears and forces me to the ground with an enthusiastic tongue-licking.

His devoted owners, retired couple John and Karen Leach, eventually restore calm before leading us through a labyrinth of Douglas fir trees  a common sight across the Willamette Valley  to begin an unusual but exciting activity: truffle hunting.

Stefan Czarnecki  the owner of Black-Tie Tours and organiser of todays event  explains that truffle cultivation in America primarily occurs in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest. The rough-skinned delicacies vary in size and typically grow in autumn, ripening between January and March.

Domhnall during the truffle hunt

He adds that dogs make more effective aids in truffle hunts than pigs, who often greedily devour their discoveries. Our canine friends, meanwhile, prefer receiving treats for their efforts or some simple atta boy praise. Their main obstacle is being distracted by other animals, including birds, squirrels, voles and insects  or humans, which explains our whispering.

After calling upon his near-supernatural skills in detection, Max deftly identifies the location of a white, acorn-size truffle near a trees roots, which we then prise from the soil using knives and spoons.

Atta boy, we collectively cheer, although Max isnt one to rest on his laurels. After devouring a biscuit, he races across the wooded landscape to uncover his next find. An hour later, while enjoying the fruits of our labour over brunch, I realise that while truffles are high-end products, the hunt is undoubtedly a dirty process.

Regardless of the ingredients on the plate, no meal here is complete without local wine. With the snow-capped Mount Hood providing company in the distance, that afternoon, I continue east along the Columbia River  a natural border between Oregon and Washington and eventually reach Idiots Grace Winery, a name that encapsulates the regions quirky humour. (Keep Portland Weird is the unofficial slogan of the states largest city, for instance.) On arrival, Im greeted by another beautiful dog, Maizie, who leads me across the 50-acre vineyard.

Jango McCormick, the third generation of this family-run business, established in 2002, explains that they have more than 100 varieties of fruit trees and vines, many of which are rare, old varieties with little commercial value. He describes Idiots Grace as an unsung experiment at the forefront of progressive, small-scale agriculture.

Idiot's Grace

Were guided by principle, not by trend or profit, he proudly asserts.

While Oregon accounts for about 2% of Americas wine, it incredibly claims over half of its biodynamic farms, most of which are family-run. Across the states 23 growing regions, Pinot Noir and Pinot Gris are the most widely grown grapes. Although it remains in the shadows of its neighbour, California, the industry here generates an impressive 40,000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

With wine, Oregon is coming into its own, Jango says. Because theres no pressure to mass-produce, we can have fun with what we do and be more in harmony with nature.

The goal I share with my dad, Brian, is to make good wine that expresses the specific character of the Columbia Gorge, particularly our hillside in Mosier.

While this gorge and its many waterfalls impress, little can prepare you for the sights along Oregons Pacific coast, with its dramatic cliffs and sea stacks  immortalised in Hollywood blockbusters such as The Goonies and Twilight.

Domhnall on board Jeff Wong's boat

Living amongst sea lions, puffins and bald eagles is a tribe of providers who sustainably harvest these waters for their rich, nutritious produce. In the coastal town of Garibaldi, I meet fisherman Jeff Wong, whose license plate is emblazoned with the word salmon, revealing his love for his profession and a keen sense of humour.

Jeff is a member of CS Fishery, whose business model is built around community, environmental stewardship and economic equity, meaning fishers are appropriately compensated for bringing a superior product to dinner tables.

Jeff inherited his love of the sea from his father, and along with salmon, his main catches include tuna, lingcod and sand dabs. Notably, 95% of his fish are used in local food banks, a facility serving low-income Oregonians.

It guarantees them one hot meal daily, and fish is a much better option than low-grade protein, he says. Theres food insecurity in this country today, and the banks are being challenged due to overwhelming demand.

More positively, he constantly interacts with the people who eat his fish  I love that I can connect with them through food.

Oregon Seaweed

Nearby is Oregon Seaweed, the largest land-based seaweed farm in mainland America. Its mission is to provide low-impact yet high-nutrient fresh foods. According to team member and marine biologist Alanna Kieffer, the company believes healthy ingredients shouldnt come at the expense of the environment. In fact, seaweed is one of the most earth-friendly vegetables available.

An avid diver and aquarist, Alanna is committed to sharing her knowledge about the oceans abundance.

My goal is to convince Americans to embrace seaweed. My job is to hype it up! Luckily, Oregon has a fantastic food scene, and I work with chefs interested in using unique ingredients. She adds that companies as diverse as gelaterias and pet food manufacturers are now incorporating nutrient-rich seaweed into their daily production.

As Oregonians, we depend on the health of these waters for every aspect of our lives. Growing and eating seaweed is another way for us to connect with our coastal waters while making a positive contribution to their health.

Across Oregonian menus, youll regularly see the term family style, a reference to shared dining and the belief that restaurants are an extension of home. While entering the food industry can be expensive, Portlanders have adopted a cost-effective approach, enabling chefs to share their cultures and heritage with the world: food carts.

Depending on who you ask, there are between 500 and 1,000 of these stationary vehicles across the city. Some are found on street corners; others are organised into pods that offer diners seating and other amenities. One such pod is Lil America, a collection of carts owned or rented by the LGBTQ+ community and People of Colour. Alongside serving food, they regularly host community events, drag shows, dance parties, yoga classes and markets.

Raul from Los Plebes

Raul from Los Plebes serves me delicious tacos. A former welder, he moved to Portland from Mexico and, three years ago, opened the cart. He credits his wife and mother-in-law for teaching him how to cook. The entrepreneur took several adult classes and conducted extensive research, as launching any business involves a significant commitment.

Surrounded by fellow migrants and gay people, Raul feels a wonderful sense of community. We want to see each other succeed, he enthuses. We have a good relationship and help each other in emergencies.

These sentiments of solidarity are unsurprising, given that Portland enjoys an almost unmatched reputation for empowering its residents. One of its many monikers is Bridge City, and while this refers to the gigantic structures crossing the Willamette River, it could easily be a metaphor for the local people, who brilliantly unite the regions diverse communities. This sense of camaraderie is again illustrated by Meals4Heels, Portlands only delivery service catering specifically to sex workers and sex-positive clientele, which launched in 2019.

Food has always been my love language, the exuberant Nikeisah Newton jokes. Her former partner, a dancer, inspired her to provide a nutritious, punctual and professional food delivery system in what she describes as the strip club capital of America. Were focused on making a difference for marginalised communities in the Pacific Northwest. We want to destigmatise and bring visibility to the sex worker industry. We hire former and current sex workers.

Domhnall with Nikeisah Newton from Meals4Heels

Given the sensitive nature of the various professions, Nikeisah reveals that many workers were previously unable to receive food deliveries, and she delights in offering affordable, protein-rich meals. Vegetables, including kale and collard greens, are regularly sourced from local farms owned by Black and LGBTQ+ individuals. She credits word of mouth for the companys success.

I was surprised by how overwhelmed the workers were that we were putting their needs and interests first.

She adds: I want to give them the respect they deserve. Like most people here, Im designed to do something different. We are a state of trailblazers, after all.

Is it any wonder that Oregons official motto is, She flies with her own wings?

Oregon fact file
Paedophile teacher facing civil claims over alleged offences in Canada living in NI

Retired man, 82, was convicted of abusing three boys at school in 1994

St George's School in Vancouver, where the paedophile teacher taught

Liam Tunney Sat 19 Apr 2025 at 08:22

A retired teacher facing several civil claims in Canada over alleged child sex offences is understood to be living in Northern Ireland, court documents have revealed.
First Minister John Swinney said the UK Supreme Court ruling must be followed (Andrew Milligan/PA)

Scotlands First Minister has said he understands the hurt and anguish trans people are feeling over the UK Supreme Court verdict on the definition of a woman.

The countrys top judges unanimously ruled that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law in a case brought against the Scottish Government by the group For Women Scotland.

John Swinney said that he fully accepted the courts judgement but also recognised the pain it has caused.

Speaking while campaigning for the SNPs candidate in the Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse by-election, the SNP leader said the verdict must be followed.

He told the PA news agency: Now, of course, there will be many, many people who feel very hurt by the decision thats been taken by the Supreme Court.

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I understand that hurt and that anguish, and in my reaction to the Supreme Court judgement Ive said two things: Firstly, that I accept the judgement of the Supreme Court because I believe in the rule of law, but secondly that I believe in the protection of the rights of everybody within our society.

The Supreme Court made it abundantly clear that it was vital that the existing legal instruments that are in place to protect the rights of trans people continue to operate.

Judge Lord Hodge said that the ruling should not be seen as a triumph for either side of the debate and stressed that existing law still gives trans people protection against discrimination.

John Swinney said trans people are still protected by the law (Andrew Matthews/PA)

Meanwhile, the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) announced it would be meeting with Health Secretary Neil Gray next week as the Government is urged to issue fresh guidance to public bodies on single sex spaces.

It comes amid a tribunal at NHS Fife involving nurse Sandie Peggie who objected to sharing a changing room with a trans doctor.

The EHRC has warned health boards they will be pursued if they do not adhere to the law on single sex spaces.

The Scottish Tories attacked Scotlands equalities minister last month after she told a Holyrood committee she could not say for a fact that every hospital was following those rules.

Asked on Saturday by PA whether he could make that promise, Mr Swinney said: Its important that at all times we act within the law, and the guidance the Scottish Government has made available and that boards have had to operate within has been guidance essentially generated by the Equalities and Human Rights Commission.

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So, obviously, in the light of the Supreme Court judgement, there will have to be a good deal of dialogue and consideration around these issues, and that will be the subject of a statement to Parliament on Tuesday.

Pressed again whether he could make that commitment, he added: Obviously, its important that the law is followed in all circumstances, and I want to make sure thats the case.
Thousands of demonstrators have taken part in a protest in Edinburgh following the ruling by the UK Supreme court on the legal definition of a woman (Lesley Marton/PA)

Thousands of trans rights protesters have taken to the streets of Edinburgh following the recent Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman.

Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans in the spring sunshine as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House.

Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included Trans rights are human rights and When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back.

Meanwhile members of the crowd waved placards emblazoned with slogans including Trans women are women, Autonomy for every body, and One is not born but rather becomes a woman.

The rally and march was organised by Resisting Transphobia, and took place alongside similar events elsewhere in the country on Saturday.

Lauren Yeoman, 38, said she was taking part in the demonstration because she was disgusted at what she said amounted to the removal of trans peoples human rights.

Describing how she felt when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling she said: I felt sick to be honest. I think were taking a lot of backward steps.

It feels like every day women are being attacked, minorities are being attacked, and the real problem is being ignored, and were pointing fingers at people who arent harming anybody, such as trans people, while ignoring the real problems.

She added: Look at the real problems. Its not trans people. Show me figures that show trans people are a danger to us, because I dont think there are any.

Katelyn Collins, 44, said she was taking part in the march to give moral support, emotional support to other transgender people.

44-year-old Katelyn Collins said she found the ruling shocking (Lesley Martin/PA)

She said of the ruling: I found it shocking, the fact that theyre picking on us, and it should not happen.

I was disgraced with it but it didnt bring me down, because Im proud to be who I am.

She called on those in power to: Let people be. Let people live who they want to be, let people be who they want to be. Lifes far too short.

68-year-old Tirion Dickson attended the march holding a sign reading Grans for trans, which she explained had been made for her by her daughter-in-law.

The retired NHS worker said she was taking part to give support to the trans community, and said people of her generation should know better.

I hope in my lifetime that this group of people will be as accepted as other minority groups have been over time since the 1960s, she said.

I just really would say to people why spread hatred?. They are lovely people. Theyre gentle, lovely people and I dont see any need to hate them.

I dont see any threat to women whatsoever, theyre a group of vulnerable people, they constitute 0.01(%) of the population, so what is the problem?

Meanwhile Brianna Burt, 34, said she was taking part because she was enraged at the Supreme Court ruling, which she said would harm the rights of all minority groups.

Trans women are women, and Im enraged at the ruling by the Supreme Court, and I want to make sure that the media is covering it accurately because the coverage so far has been atrocious, she said.

She added: (The) future rights of all women and all minority groups is in jeopardy and we need to speak up about it and get the media to cover it properly.

The demonstration came after Wednesdays ruling by the UKs highest court, which confirmed the terms woman and sex in the 2010 Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

This means transgender women with a gender recognition certificate can be excluded from single-sex spaces if proportionate.
Aren Almon greets president Bill Clinton after a prayer service for the victims of the deadly truck bomb attack in Oklahoma City (AP/Pat Sullivan)

Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in US history, former president Bill Clinton will return to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing.

Mr Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-storey federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He will deliver the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

Mr Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children.

He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget.

The nations eyes were there. The nations heart was broken there, Mr Clinton said in a video statement posted to the Clinton Foundation website.

I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible.

Mr Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum several times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries.

Among the memorials top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorials president and chief executive officer.

We knew when we built this place we would someday reach a generation of people who werent born or who didnt remember the story, Ms Watkins said.

I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids.

Saturdays ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8.30am local time, was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but has been moved inside an adjacent church because of inclement weather.
US vice president JD Vance has met the Vaticans number two official after a papal rebuke of the Trump administrations crackdown on migrants and Mr Vances theological justification of it.

Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, arrived on Saturday in Vatican City for an appointment with the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher.

There was speculation he might also briefly greet Pope Francis, who has begun resuming official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.

JD Vance at St Peters Basilica (Kenny Holston/New York Times/AP)

The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration, in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality. It has expressed alarm over the US crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the war in Ukraine and Gaza.

It is clear that the approach of the current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years, Mr Parolin told La Repubblica on the eve of the Vance visit.

As the US pushes to end the war in Ukraine, the cardinal reaffirmed Kyivs right to its territorial integrity and insisted that any peace deal must not be imposed on Ukraine but be built patiently, day by day, with dialogue and mutual respect.

Mr Vance is spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services at St Peters Basilica after meeting Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.

Francis and Mr Vance have tangled over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

JD Vance is welcomed by Italian premier Giorgia Meloni (Andrew Medichini/AP)

The vice president, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called post-liberal.

Post-liberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBT+ rights. They envision a counter-revolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting on a vision of the common good.

Days before he was admitted to hospital in February, Francis condemned the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.

In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris. He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care  to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

JD Vance with his wife Usha and their children (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept.

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote.

The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

Mr Vance has acknowledged Franciss criticism but said he would continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he did not address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there were things about the faith that I dont know.

While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for the pontiffs recovery.

On Friday, Mr Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service at St Peters, a two-hour commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
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The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a religion that makes many people feel curious while also leaving them with questions. It comes off as strange and unorthodox to many people, which piques their interest even more. People watch television shows like Sister Wives, based on a non-Mormon polygamist family in Utah, and imagine Latter-day Saints only care about polygamy or having tons of children. However, theres much more to Latter-day Saints than prominent families and polygamy. Indeed, polygamy isnt even practiced by contemporary Latter-day Saints. Like other religions, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints want to celebrate and worship Godeven if the various Christian Churches do this in slightly different ways. Those differences often cause misunderstandings, and few know that better than Latter-day Saints. So, here are a few myths about Mormonism that have been debunked..

"Mormons practice polygamy."

Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do not practice polygamy today, but it remains part of history. Joseph Smith, the founder of the religion, preached that polygamy was divinely sanctioned. In 1890, more than four decades after Smiths death, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, yielded to governmental threats and discontinued the practice. Today, members who marry more than one spouse are excommunicated, but some splinter groups continue the tradition.

"Most Mormons are white."

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has grown into a global religion from its American beginnings, with 17 million members worldwide. Fewer than half live in the United States. More LDS Church members live in South America than Utah. There are significant LDS populations in the Philippines, Tonga, Samoa, and other Pacific Islands, and is growing in Africa. In the United States, most converts in recent years have been Latinos. Worldwide, 5.5 million LDS Church members speak Spanish.

"Mormons arent Christian."

On Sundays, millions of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints around the world pray in the name of Jesus Christ, receive a bread-and-water sacrament (memorializing the body and blood of Christ), and discuss Christs teachings in Sunday school. Latter-day Saints view themselves as Christians. However, many Christian pastors and scholars point to theological technicalities that some argue disqualify them from the mainline tradition. Some evangelicals do not see Latter-day Saints as Christians for reasons rooted in antiquated anti-LDS prejudice. Yet, Latter-day Saints distinguish themselves from other Christians by claiming that their faith offers a restoration of doctrines lost to mainstream Christianity during the Great Apostasy. In the end, members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints argue that being a Christian means that one trusts their salvation to Jesusand Latter-day Saints emphatically believe the Book of Mormon declaration that it is only in and through the grace of God that ye are saved (2 Nephi 10:24). Thus, they emphatically see themselves as Christians, even if some reject them as such.

"Mormon women are second-class citizens."

Outsiders view LDS women as voiceless, mindless members of the faith, while LDS Church spokespeople portray them as uniformly happy with their situation. Neither perspective is necessarily accurate. It is true that LDS doesnt accord women equal leadership status with menat least not in the sense that men and women can serve in all of the same callings. In the Church, some callings are reserved for men (e.g., the bishopric or young mens presidency) and some are reserved for women along (e.g., the presidencies of the Relief Society, Young Womens, and Primary organizations). Women do hold positions of general leadership, presiding over various worldwide organizations of the Church. In addition, women are part of the general leadership boards of the Church, having a position on the Priesthood Executive Council, the Family Executive Council, the Missionary Executive Council, and the Temple and Family History Executive Council. Thus, while the worldwide LDS Church chain of command may appear entirely male organized through ordained priesthood hierarchy, women in the Church do hold positions of authority over parts of their local congregations and over the worldwide general Church. That being said, women cannot be ordained to the priesthood shared by men aged 12 and older. The Churchs The Family A Proclamation to the World declares that men preside over their families in love and righteousness, it also states that fathers and mothers are obligated to help one another as equal partners. Symbolic language formerly used in the temple, giving a rise to a perception of unequal gender roles, was changed in 2019, when President Russell M. Nelson announced "more inclusive language" as part of the temple ceremonies. Thus, the equal but different roles of men and women in the Church have sometimes been seen as unequal and different by some within the Church and some without the Church.

"Mormons arent supposed to drink caffeinated beverages."

The LDS churchs health code, known as the Word of Wisdom, was issued in 1833 by founder, Joseph Smith. It discourages the use of alcohol, tobacco, and hot drinks, which Church leaders have subsequently described only as coffee and tea. Many members have presumed its because they contain caffeine and thus eschewed any beverages, especially carbonated sodas, with caffeine. The LDS church recently reiterated that the only prohibited drinks were alcohol, coffee, and tea.

"All Mormons live in Utah."

The Beehive State is densely populated with Latter-day Saints, as are some neighboring states. Still, Latter-day Saints are spread across the U.S. in small pockets of believers and congregations. Members also live in more than 100 countries, and their numbers are increasing rapidly in Latin America and Africa. There are more Latter-day Saints outside the U.S. than in the U.S.

"Mormons baptize corpses."

The LDS church does not use dead bodies, but it has live volunteers do proxy baptisms for their deceased ancestors. This ritual, known as baptism for the dead, is performed in much the same way for the living, except proxy ordinances are done only in Mormon temples. Standing in a font of water about waist-high, a white-clothed candidate represents the dead person. They are then immersed after the adult male baptizer (also wearing white) says these words: Having been commissioned of Jesus Christ, I baptize you for and in behalf of (name of the deceased) in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen. These are the exact words said for a living baptism, without the words for and in behalf of. A proxy baptism doesnt mean that a person is automatically a Mormon in heaven. Latter-day Saints believe those who have passed on can choose to accept or reject the rite done in their names.

When it comes to what others believe, misunderstandings and myths abound. This is especially true of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, a faith tradition that may be one of the most misunderstood religions in American history. Lifes all about making relationships with each other and learning to be tolerant  we all can choose what we want to believe.
William Lambers is an author who partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book "Ending World Hunger." His writings have been published by the Washington Post, NY Times, History News Network and Newsweek. Opinions expressed by columnists do not necessarily reflect the views of Vermont News & Media.
Eagle Archives, July 2, 1957: The Marauders drum and bugle corps will be absent from the 1957 Fourth of July Parade after a split with the Pittsfield Firemens Association, which demanded the return of all instruments amid tensions over name changes and sponsorship.
DALTON  When resident David Wasielewski visits Town Hall for personal or professional business, he has to wait outside.

I cant go to Town Hall, said Wasielewski, who uses a wheelchair. Now, I park in front of the building, and whoever Im meeting comes out to see me.

It's a problem many disabled residents face when trying to enter Dalton's Town Hall, police station or library as all are in need of improvements to meet accessibility requirements, according to residents and town officials.

For a municipal building in Massachusetts to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it must be designed and constructed to be readily accessible to people with disabilities, including features like ramps, accessible restrooms and clear pathways. For those towns that don't meet these requirements, like Dalton, they are required to have an ADA self-evaluation and transition plan on file.

In January 2023, the town put together a transition plan and self-evaluation for Americans with Disabilities Act improvements.

"The town hall, which includes the Police Station, was found to be inaccessible with major improvements required, as set forth in the plan," according to the town's ADA transition plan and evaluation.

Two years later, not much has been done.

Wasielewski, a member of Daltons Americans with Disabilities Act Committee and also chair of the Green Dalton Committee, is one of many disabled residents who are seeking changes to the towns municipal buildings. Elevators, handicap-accessible counters and safe stairs are among many improvements desired by residents.

It just never gets there, Wasielewski said regarding renovations. Its not just an elevator [in Town Hall]. The other renovation plans just keep moving around and are never finalized.

Town Manager Tom Hutcheson declined to comment for this story.

Wasielewski, who has lived in Dalton since 2000, became partially paralyzed after he suffered a stroke in 2005. He is now unable to go inside some municipal buildings and often joins meetings via Zoom.

A lot of my assumptions about how accessible the world is were kind of trashed when I had to go through that experience, he said.

The ADA Committee does not have a coordinator as the town has not replaced the former coordinator, Alyssa Maschino.

Wasielewski said he joined the committee because it initially had no disabled members, finding it kind of ironic. Now, there are two disabled members on the committee.

The committee has made some improvements, Wasielewski said. In June 2024, they obtained seven ADA accessible picnic tables from MassCOR. The committee received the Municipal ADA Improvement Grant for $6,414, allowing them to put one table at the library and the rest at local parks.

The committee also advocated for voting to be moved from the CRA to the senior center. Wasielewski notes that committee members were the drivers behind the move and got the petition and warrant needed.

The senior center is the only municipal building that is accessible.

The attendance is definitely up with some of the town meetings, said Dalton Council on Aging Director Kelly Pizzi.

Dalton Police Chief Deanna Strout is no stranger to poor building conditions. The police station uses space heaters because it has no heat, and Strout wears a jacket in her office to stay warm.

The station also lacks accessibility for all residents, with a ramp to the building that is not always functional and stairs inside the building that are not safe for disabled residents. Strout notes that when a disabled or elderly resident comes in, an officer will have to meet them at the top of the stairs to help them get down.

We are a police department and we should be accessible to everyone, and right now, were just not, Strout said. Thats upsetting to us.  We want to be accessible to our entire community.

The transition plan from 2023 found that the police station was inaccessible, with major improvements required.

Theres nothing we have thats handicap accessible, Strout said. If we have a [disabled] prisoner, [they] have to come down a whole flight of stairs, which is dangerous for them.

Strout recounted an instance in which a man who was held in custody had only one leg. The man needed to be carried down the stairs by officers, which Strout notes can be humiliating.

A key note from the transition plan was that the town acknowledged it should prioritize improvements to the Town Hall and the police station to eliminate all architectural barriers within the next five years. Two years later, the police station is still in poor condition.

There is no bed structure in the police cells, and there is just a mattress on the floor. Strout notes that the narrow cells are horrific.

I cant even imagine if we had someone who was unable to walk on their own, Strout said. They would have to sit on the floor in the cell.  Its inhumane.

The cells also lack plumbing, so if a person in custody needs to use the restroom, they have to be brought up the stairs by an officer. The station is past repair, with Strout highlighting that the only solution is a new facility.

The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee recently received a recommendation from architect Brian Humes to put the new facility at 120 First St., the old Dalton High School site.

Wasielewski notes that the ADA Committee is currently in flux and has not met since December. However, the committee does have a meeting planned for Wednesday.

He is optimistic that when the committee meets again, it will be able to keep moving forward with plans.

There are definitely possibilities out there, Wasielewski said. We keep monitoring the grants and the availability of funds.
After years of neglect and limited communication, residents of Berkshire Village in Cheshire finally met with representatives from Crown Communities to discuss long-standing infrastructure issues. With support from the state Attorney Generals Office and MassDEP, residents are cautiously optimistic that long-overdue repairs  including a failing septic system  are finally moving forward.
The Southern Berkshire Interfaith Clergy Council includes the Rev. Carol Allman-Morton, Unitarian Universalist Meeting of South Berkshire, Housatonic; the Rev. Tadd Allman-Morton, First Congregational Church of Great Barrington, UCC; the Rev. Brent Damrow, The First Congregational Church, UCC, Stockbridge; the Rev. Liz Goodman, Monterey Church, UCC; Rabbi Jodie Gordon, Hevreh of Southern Berkshire; the Rev Jill Graham, First Congregational Church of Sheffield, UCC; the Rev. Erik Karas, Christ Trinity Church, Sheffield, Episcopal and Lutheran; the Rev. Marisa Brown Ludwig, First Congregational Church of Lee, UCC; and the Rev. Samuel T. Vaught, St. Pauls Episcopal Church, Stockbridge.
Advanced practice providers like nurse practitioners and physician's assistants can effectively diagnose and treat a wide array of health conditions and advise patients on routine and preventive care.
Ralph Gardner Jr. is a journalist whose work has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times and New York magazine. He can be reached at ralph@ralphgardner.com. More of his work can be found on Substack.
Figures from the HSE show there are over 90 people on waiting lists for eating disorder services across the country.

Figures seen by BreakingNews.ie, through the Freedom of Information Act 2014, show that as of March 13th, there were 92 people waiting for access to 11 specialist eating disorder teams.

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The waiting time for an initial assessment varies from one week to 26 weeks.

According to the HSE, over 90 eating disorder clinicians have been recruited since the establishment of the National Clinical Programme (NCP) for eating disorders.

Prior to 2018, there were fewer than five HSE clinicians in dedicated eating disorder posts.

There are currently five CAMHS teams and six adult teams at various stages of development across the HSE.

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In a statement from the Department of Health, a spokesperson said: "Eating disorders are complex and serious mental illnesses. The National Clinical Programme for Eating Disorders has made significant progress, with increases in funding secured by Minister for Mental Health, Mary Butler T.D., in successive budgets. Fourteen of the 16 specialist community teams recommended in the Model of Care have been funded and are at various stages of development across the country."

The Department said two teams funded in Budget 2025 will be located in the HSE Midwest (CAMHS Emergency Department [ED] team) and the HSE Dublin and Midlands Region. Both teams should be in place by the end of this year, it said.

"Access to services has increased significantly in recent years, with 25 per cent more assessments in 2024 compared to 2023. Around 100 dedicated clinicians are now working in specialist eating disorder treatment nationwide.

"There are 20 dedicated beds across CAMHS inpatient units to support younger people, with a minimal waiting list. Inpatient care for adults is provided through beds funded in private hospitals, as well as specialist beds at St Vincents University Hospital.

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"A review of adult bed capacityto expand the number of specialist adult public beds and ensure a better geographic spreadis underway by the HSE, and the Minister expects to receive it in June 2025. A review of the Model of Care is also planned, in response to increased demand for services and population growth."
A wide range of stories feature across Saturday's newspaper front pages.

The Irish Times reports that data access requests from broadcaster Ryan Tubridy and his agent about the RTE payments controversy have cost the broadcaster more than 100,000 so far.

The Irish Examiner speaks to the new chief executive of Cork City Council about her plans for the city's future.

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The Irish Independent claims GAA clubs get three times more Government funding than other sporting organisations.

The Irish Daily Mail reveals that thousands of new homes are at risk as Irish Water does not have the capacity to connect them.

The Irish Daily Mirror and Irish Daily Star cover Rory McIlroy's return to a wet and rainy Belfast to celebrate his Masters win.

The Herald reports that a convicted killer threw cartons of milk at officers in Dublin's Mountjoy Prison.

The Belfast Telegraph reports that the city's mayor supports the legalisation of marijuana.

The Echo reveals that student accommodation is planned on the site of a former Magdalene laundry in Cork.
A British couple have died in a cable crash near Naples.

Graeme Winn (65) and Elaine Winn (58) were among the four people who died in the crash on Thursday at Monte Faito in the town of Castellammare di Stabia, according to local reports.

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An Israeli national also died and a fifth person, believed to be a foreign tourist, was seriously injured in the incident, it was reported.

A traction cable snapped, bringing cable cars to a halt, according to initial information.

A number of people had to be taken down from another cable car.

An investigation over multiple manslaughter and culpable disaster charges has been opened by Italian prosecutors, according to reports.

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The Monte Faito cable car departure station in Castellammare di Stabia. Photo: Salvatore Laporta/AP

In a translated post on social media, Vincenzo De Luca, president of Campania, called the day truly tragic and painful and said his thoughts go to those who died or were injured and their families.

Luigi Vicinanza Sindaco, the mayor of Castellammare, said on Facebook that there will be a day of mourning and cancelled all events for the Easter holiday.

Firefighters, police and Italys alpine rescue were sent to the scene, which is between the popular tourist areas of Pompeii and Sorrento.

The EAV public transport firm, which runs the cable car, said the service had reopened a week ago with all required safety conditions.

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Checks were being carried out by investigators on the cable car and the possibility that strong wind was among the causes of the incident.

Italian prime minister Giorgia Meloni expressed her condolences from Washington DC, where was meeting US president Donald Trump.

A British tourist said she saw people being taken down from one cable car in a harness after the incident.

Megan Pacey (50) from London, was with her husband, James Ross, and their children Hannah (10) and Luke (8) when they saw a suspended cable car.

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Rescuers at the scene. Photo: Soccorso Alpino e Speleologico/AP

She said: We were within a minute or two of (the incident) happening.

They started winching people down from the cable car. We watched the first couple of people come down in a harness and as we left, there was a sense of urgency that had kicked in.

She said she saw flowers and candles on the steps outside the railway station on Friday and emergency services remained at the scene.
Iran and the United States will begin having experts meet to discuss details of a possible deal over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme, a top Iranian diplomat said on Saturday after a second round of negotiations in Rome.

President Donald Trumps envoy, Steve Witkoff, held both direct and indirect discussions on Saturday with Iranian foreign minister Abbas Araghchi in Rome, a US official said.

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The meeting at the Omani Embassy made very good progress in the negotiations over Tehrans nuclear programme and the two sides have agreed to another session next week, according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic meeting.

The nuclear experts will meet in Oman before Mr Araghchi and Mr Witkoff meet again in Oman on April 26, Mr Araghchi said.

There was no immediate readout from the US side after the meeting at the Omani Embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighbourhood.



US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (Ludovic Marin, Pool Photo via AP)

However, President Donald Trump has been pushing for a rapid deal with Iran while threatening military action against it.

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The talks were held in a constructive environment and I can say that is moving forward, Mr Araghchi told Iranian state television.

I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks.

He added: This time, we succeeded to reach a better understanding about a sort of principles and aims.



Police and reporters stand outside the Omani Embassy in Rome during a closed-door meeting between US and Iranian diplomats (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Iranian officials described the talks as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between them in different rooms.

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That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given the decades of enmity between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the US Embassy hostage crisis.

Mr Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from Irans nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting off years of attacks and negotiations that failed to restore the accord that drastically limited Tehrans enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.

At risk is a possible American or Israeli military strike on Irans nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on their threats to pursue an atomic weapon.

Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have spiked over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and after US airstrikes targeting Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded dozens more.

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Im for stopping Iran, very simply, from having a nuclear weapon, Mr Trump said Friday. I want Iran to be great and prosperous and terrific.
Thirty years after the deadliest homegrown attack in US history, former president Bill Clinton will return to Oklahoma City on Saturday to remember the people who were killed and comfort those affected by the bombing.

Mr Clinton was president on April 19, 1995, when a truck bomb exploded, destroying a nine-storey federal building in downtown Oklahoma City. He will deliver the keynote address at a remembrance ceremony near the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum.

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Mr Clinton, now 78, was widely praised for how he helped the city grapple with its grief in the wake of the bombing, which killed 168 people, including 19 children.

He says it was a day in his presidency that he will never forget.

The nations eyes were there. The nations heart was broken there, Mr Clinton said in a video statement posted to the Clinton Foundation website.

I was privately praying that I would find the right words, the right tone, the right rhythm to somehow get into the mind and heart of as many Americans as possible.

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Mr Clinton has visited the Oklahoma City National Memorial Museum several times in the years since the bombing and delivered speeches on major anniversaries.

Among the memorials top missions is to help people understand the senselessness of political violence and teach a new generation about the impact of the bombing, said Kari Watkins, the memorials president and chief executive officer.

We knew when we built this place we would someday reach a generation of people who werent born or who didnt remember the story, Ms Watkins said.

I think now, not just kids are coming through more and more, but teachers who are teaching those kids.

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Saturdays ceremony, scheduled to begin at 8.30am local time, was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but has been moved inside an adjacent church because of inclement weather.
A second round of negotiations between Iran and the US over Tehrans rapidly advancing nuclear programme has ended after several hours of talks, Iranian state television reported.

There was no immediate indication of how the talks went at the Oman embassy in Romes Camilluccia neighbourhood.

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A convoy carrying US envoy Steve Witkoff left as Iranian state TV made its report.

A US official confirmed the talks had ended.

Iranian officials described the talks as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani foreign minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between the two sides in different rooms.

At risk is a possible US or Israeli military strike on Irans nuclear sites, or the Iranians following through on threats to pursue an atomic weapon.

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Meanwhile, tensions in the Middle East have spiked over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip and after US air strikes targeting Yemens Iranian-backed Houthi rebels killed more than 70 people and wounded dozens more.
A US district judge in San Francisco ordered the Trump administration to provide probationary workers fired en masse a written statement saying they were not terminated for performance reasons, but as part of a government-wide termination.

Judge William Alsup is overseeing a lawsuit brought by labour unions and nonprofits contesting the mass firings of thousands of probationary workers in February under US President Donald Trump.

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In March, Mr Alsup ordered six federal agencies to reinstate probationary workers because their terminations were directed by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), which did not have the authority to fire workers at any other agency but its own.





The US Supreme Court last week blocked Mr Alsups order requiring the administration to return those terminated employees to work, but did not decide whether the firings were unlawful.

Mr Alsup was particularly upset that the firings of probationary workers, many young and early in their careers, followed an OPM template stating that the person had been fired for poor performance.

Termination under the false pretence of performance is an injury that will persist for the working life of each civil servant, wrote Mr Alsup in Fridays order.

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The stain created by OPMs pretence will follow each employee through their careers and will limit their professional opportunities.

The administration has defined performance to account for job indispensability as Mr Trump seeks to drastically reduce the federal workforce.

Lawyers for the administration also say that OPM did not order the firings, but Mr Alsup found it was impossible for federal agencies to assess each workers performance in only a matter of days.

In Fridays order, Mr Alsup said the fired workers must receive the written statements by May 8.

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If a worker was fired after an individualised evaluation of that employees performance or fitness, the agency must submit by May 8 a declaration, under oath and seal, stating so and providing the individual reasoning underpinning that termination.

A federal judge in Maryland overseeing a similar complaint brought by 19 states found the administration did not follow laws set out for large-scale layoffs, including 60 days advance notice.

A preliminary injunction issued by US District Judge James Bredar ordering reinstatement of the workers was overturned last week by the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin said on Saturday.

According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm on Saturday to midnight on Easter Sunday, both Moscow time.

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Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18.00 to 00.00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.

I order that all military actions be stopped for this period, Mr Putin said at a meeting with chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, the Kremlins press service quoted him as saying.



A Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine (Russian defence ministry press service via AP)

We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions, Putin said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called the ceasefire another attempt by Putin to play with human lives.

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He wrote on X that air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine, and Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putins true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.

Mr Putins announcement came after US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.





Mr Trump spoke shortly after secretary of state Marco Rubio warned that the US may move on from trying to secure a Russia-Ukraine peace deal if there is no progress in the coming days, after months of efforts have failed to bring an end to the fighting.

In January 2023, Mr Putin had ordered his forces in Ukraine to observe a unilateral, 36-hour cease-fire for Orthodox Christmas.

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Mr Zelensky had stopped short of stating his forces would reject Putins request, but dismissed the Russian move as playing for time to regroup its invasion forces and prepare additional attacks.

The ceasefire announcement came on the same day as Russias defence ministry said its forces pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region.

Russian forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine, the ministry said.

Units of the North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations, the ministry said in a statement.

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The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

According to Russian state news agency Tass, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some seven miles south of Oleshnya.

The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian Armed Forces out of Gornal  in order to completely liberate the Kursk region.

Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement, the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

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Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region, where Ukrainian troops staged a surprise incursion last year.

In other developments, the Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday.

It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraines state emergency service said on Saturday. Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

Russias ministry of defence, meanwhile, said its air defence systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.
Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow but voiced scepticism after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine starting on Saturday.

The announcement from Kyiv came as Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange since Moscows full-scale invasion started over three years ago.

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Mr Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting on Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons.





According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6pm Moscow time on Saturday to midnight following Easter Sunday.

Mr Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said if Russia is genuinely ready to observe a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will mirror that approach and strike only in defence.

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He said such a gesture, particularly over the Easter weekend, could reveal Moscows true intentions.



Russian soldiers launch a Supercam intelligence unmanned aerial vehicle towards Ukrainian positions (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20, Mr Zelensky said on Telegram.

That will reveal Russias true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures.

Mr Zelensky added that, according to military reports, Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along parts of the 600-mile long front line.

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In response to the ceasefire announcement, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had in March agreed unconditionally to the US proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days, which Russia rejected.



A Russian BM-21 Grad self-propelled 122mm multiple rocket launcher fires towards Ukrainian positions in Ukraine (Russian Defence Ministry Press Service via AP)

Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days, Mr Sybiha continued, writing on X.

Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions.

Mr Putins ceasefire announcement came after US President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are coming to a head and insisted that neither side is playing him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.

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The two sides, meanwhile, exchanged hundreds of POWs on Saturday. Russias ministry of defence said that 246 Russian service members were returned from Ukraine, and 31 wounded Ukrainian POWs were transferred in exchange for 15 wounded Russian soldiers in need of urgent medical care.



Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a ceasefire (Vyacheslav Prokofyev, Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP)

Mr Zelensky said that 277 Ukrainian warriors have returned home from Russian captivity.

Both sides thanked the United Arab Emirates for their mediation.

Most of the Ukrainians freed in the latest prisoner exchange are young people born after 2000, Ukraines co-ordination headquarters for the treatment of prisoners of war said on Friday.

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Outside a hospital in Ukraines Northern Chernihiv region, where recently freed POWs were brought after the exchange at the border, dozens of relatives stood waiting.

Thousands of POWs remain in captivity. The exchange is the fourth this year and the 63rd since the start of Russias full-scale invasion.

On the battlefield, Russias defence ministry said on Saturday that its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from the village of Oleshnya, one of their last remaining footholds in Russias Kursk region, where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

The Associated Press was unable to verify the claim immediately from Russia.
US vice president JD Vance is meeting with the Vaticans number two official, following a remarkable papal rebuke of the Trump administrations crackdown on migrants and Vances theological justification of it.

Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, was due to meet on Saturday with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.

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There was speculation he might also briefly greet Pope Francis, who has begun resuming some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.

Mr Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peters Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.



Pope Francis arrives at the end of the mass on Palm Sunday in St Peters Square at The Vatican (Gregorio Borgia/AP)

Francis and Mr Vance have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse.

Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

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Mr Vance, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called postliberal.

Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting upon their vision of the common good.

Just days before he was taken to hospital in February, Francis blasted the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.

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In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris.

He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care, to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept.

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JD Vance, and his wife Usha Vance, left, with their daughter Mirabel, attend a Good Friday service led by Cardinal Claudio Gugerotti (AP/Alessandra Tarantino)

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote.

The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

Mr Vance has acknowledged Francis criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views.

During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Mr Vance did not address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there are things about the faith that I dont know.

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While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for Francis recovery.

On Friday, Mr Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service in St Peters, a two-hour solemn commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
JD Vance has met the Vaticans number two official amid tensions over the US crackdown on migrants, with the Holy See reaffirming good relations but noting an exchange of opinions over international conflicts, migrants and prisoners.

The Vatican issued a statement after the US vice president, a Catholic convert, met the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Paul Gallagher.

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There was no immediate word if Mr Vance stopped to meet Pope Francis, who has been resuming official duties during his recovery from pneumonia.

The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration, in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality.



JD Vance at St Peters Basilica (Kenny Holston/New York Times/AP)

It has expressed alarm over the US crackdown on migrants and cuts in international aid while insisting on peaceful resolutions to the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Francis has also changed church teaching to say capital punishment is immoral and made prison ministry a hallmark of his papacy.

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Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican statement which said the talks were cordial and that the Vatican expressed satisfaction with the administrations commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience.

There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners, the statement said.

Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.

The reference to serene collaboration appeared to refer to Mr Vances accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling illegal immigrants in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim.

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It is clear that the approach of the current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years, Mr Parolin told La Repubblica daily on the eve of Mr Vances visit.

As the US pushes to end the war in Ukraine, he reaffirmed Kyivs right to its territorial integrity and insisted that any peace deal must not be imposed on Ukraine but is built patiently, day by day, with dialogue and mutual respect.



JD Vance is welcomed by Italian premier Giorgia Meloni (Andrew Medichini/AP)

Mr Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services at St Peters Basilica after meeting Italian premier Giorgia Meloni.

On Saturday, after introducing his family to Mr Parolin, the Vances had a private tour of the Sistine Chapel.

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Francis and Mr Vance have tangled over migration and the Trump administrations plans to deport migrants en masse. Francis has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

After a public appeal from Francis weeks before Mr Trump took office, Joe Biden commuted the sentences of 37 of the 40 people on federal death row. Mr Trump is an outspoken proponent of expanding capital punishment.

In one of his only outings since his near-death hospital admission for pneumonia, Francis this week visited Romes central prison to spend Holy Thursday with inmates.

The vice president, who converted to Catholicism in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement, viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings, that is often called post-liberal.

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Post-liberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBT+ rights. They envision a counter-revolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched elites with their own and acting on a vision of the common good.

Days before he was admitted to hospital in February, Francis condemned the Trump administrations deportation plans, warning they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.



JD Vance with his wife Usha and their children (Alessandra Tarantino/AP)

In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Mr Vance directly for having claimed Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Mr Vance had defended the administrations America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as ordo amoris. He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care  to family first, followed by neighbour, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Mr Vances understanding of the concept.

Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups, he wrote.

The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.

Mr Vance has acknowledged Franciss criticism but said he would continue to defend his views. During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, he did not address the issue specifically but called himself a baby Catholic and acknowledged there were things about the faith that I dont know.

While he had criticised Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for the pontiffs recovery.

On Friday, Mr Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vaticans Good Friday service at St Peters, a two-hour commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.
No need to try, I snapped. Because I am a woman of a s pecific a ge. We all are. I told him the numbers and watched as he typed them in.

A few years ago, I was standing at a counter in my local library while a 50-something bloke at a computer was filling in a form so that I could borrow books. Wed spelled out my name, dealt with my address, and the cursor on his computer screen moved to a box where he would fill in my date of birth. He gave me an amused look, and a corner of his mouth turned down.

Id been thinking about it for a while, this discomfort that arose whenever my age was mentioned. After the milestone of 40, Id realised Id begun to avoid confiding it to strangers, but also, it had to be admitted, to friends and acquaintances. It was a discomfort with roots buried deep in the shame women are made to feel for no longer being young, and I guessed it had been instilled early. All those overheard conversations in which grown-ups described someone they knew as mutton dressed as lamb  a judgment only ever directed at women.

In her essay, The Double Standard of Ageing, Susan Sontag details the ways women evade answering questions about their age, depending on who is doing the asking. Sontag says: For a woman to be obliged to state her age, after a certain age, is always a miniature ordeal. We hold the knowledge of our birth year as our secret, our private property, and it is something of a dirty secret.

Unfortunately, in our culture, there is a barely concealed revulsion for the female body in anything other than its youthful, firm, and blemish-free form. It is this horror of the ageing female that women are attempting to defend against when they indulge in age denial; it is what fuels the anti-ageing beauty business, this almost universal fear of being seen as the witch, the virago, the crone. Women who are judged no longer young, no longer beautiful, are covertly punished for it, and women do the punishing as often as men.

There was a moment, years ago now, when I wondered whether it would be possible to defeat time, to erase its traces on my face. Was I prepared to consider plastic surgery? I thought of all those stretched, tucked and injected faces of ageing Hollywood stars, and the answer had to be an emphatic, No!

Having long passed the milestones of 40, 50 and 60, I was staring at my 70th birthday when I began the arduous task of growing the chemical colour out of my hair. The in-between stage was a bit of a nightmare. But once through it, I felt an enormous sense of freedom: freedom from the tyranny of hairdressers who had terrorised me for decades with expensive cuts and colours that Id too often come home and cried over; freedom from chemicals being regularly absorbed through my scalp and doing goodness knows what to my bodys various life-sustaining systems.
Three more ageing Sydney aquatic centres are set to close for renovations worth a combined $160 million as councils attempt to avoid the cost blowouts and delays of the North Sydney pool fiasco.

The closures come as North Sydney Council warned the beleaguered $122 million revamp of its Olympic pool, which began in 2021, could be further delayed until November  raising the prospect it might not reopen before summer.

Botany Aquatic Centre in 2008. The mid-century pool will close on April 27 for renovations, reopening in 2027. Credit: Edwina Pickles

Leichhardt Park Aquatic Centre is one of a slew of public pools built in the 1950s and 60s which have reached the end of their lifespan. Work has already started on building a new childrens pool and, next year, the centre will close for construction of new 50m and 25m pools.

Inner West Council Mayor Darcy Byrne said, unlike North Sydney Council, the local government would not increase residents rates to help fund the $55 million project.
Paramedics tried to save the man, who collapsed on a pedestrian crossing on Paisley Street in front of a small crowd of Easter shoppers, but he could not be saved. The incident sparked outrage among some members of the local community, who questioned why the police didnt attempt to de-escalate the situation and deploy non-lethal force before drawing out their guns. Its important to note the presence of capsicum spray or Taser provides police with tactical options, but this does not mean that either will be appropriate or successful in all circumstances, Gatt said. The Police Association is providing full support to our members involved in this incident in a wellbeing and legal sense, and will be there to provide any further support they require both now and into the future. A tragedy in the making

For business owner and long-term Footscray resident Phil Gaby, Thursday nights shooting was a tragedy that had been long in the making. Gaby runs Nans Bakehouse, a bakery and cafe just metres away from the main entrance to the plaza that provides food and support to struggling families and rough sleepers. He said serious incidents, including offenders brandishing knives, syringes and scissors, have become a near-weekly occurrence at the small shopping centre. Business owner and long-term Footscray resident Phil Gaby. Credit: Photograph by Chris Hopkins Gaby himself has been forced to disarm offenders on multiple occasions inside his bakery and the plaza. Security guards have been threatened, spat on and assaulted. A few months ago, somebody was stabbed.

Everyones fed up, he said. Footscray has long been grappling with a surge in crime, overt drug use, and anti-social behaviour, but long-term residents and business owners say the situation has deteriorated significantly in the past 18 months. Just two months ago, Maribyrnong Council had to dismantle a playground on Nicholson Street Mall due to concerns it was being used to take drugs, sleep rough, or as a public toilet, with needles sometimes found on the play equipment. A mobile police CCTV unit now stands near the old playground site. A mobile police CCTV unit at Nicholson Street Mall in Footscray. Credit: Marta Pascual Juanola Traders have been crying out for more support from the police and increased outreach services in the area, but Gaby said officers were often too busy to attend, and if they did, it was usually long after the offenders had left the area.

How serious is a crime before it gets serious enough? Because theres been enough assaults on innocent people and stuff within the community, he said. Last week, Victoria Police launched a special operation to target drug offending, public order issues and anti-social behaviour in the Footscray CBD following concerns raised by local traders. As part of the operation, officers charged five people with drug-related offences. They also arrested three other people over several thefts at local shops and two for outstanding warrants. Loading At the time, Maribyrnong area commander Acting Inspector Chloe Hayward said the operation sent a clear message to offenders and the local community that police would not tolerate criminal activity and anti-social behaviour in the area.

Operations like these go a long way to improving safety overall by allowing us to build better relationships with locals and traders in the area, she said. But Gaby believes Thursdays fatal shooting could have been avoided if police spent more time building connections in the community and getting to know those sleeping rough and suffering from mental health and substance abuse issues outside of targeted operations. They have no interest in trying to understand the dynamics, he said. Berhan Ahmed addresses the crowd at a vigil for the 35-year-old killed in the shooting. Credit: Simon Schluter [The shooting] will affect the community with a lot less trust because now the police have basically confirmed all their fears that they have no interest in helping people, theyd rather shoot first.

African community leader Berhan Ahmed, who heads the nearby youth and community services organisation Africause, agrees. He said most people causing trouble in the Footscray area were a product of their circumstances and in urgent need of appropriate support. Theyre forced to live in this situation. So lets address homelessness. Lets address mental health. Lets address substance abuse, Ahmed said. Ahmed said it was crucial to intervene before young people ended up on the streets by ensuring they were supported to stay in school and find employment. We need to look at services that address the problem and solve the problem, not ones that service the problem, he said. With Cassandra Morgan
The Coalition has accused Labor of deceiving voters and seeking to revive its 2016 Mediscare campaign by falsely claiming that a Dutton government would cut funding for almost 90 existing urgent care clinics.

Labor advertisements that have circulated widely on social media during the election campaign explicitly state that Opposition Leader Peter Dutton will shut down the popular clinics despite the Coalition repeatedly committing to retain all 87 existing clinics.

Peter Dutton and Anthony Albanese toured the Royal Easter Show on Saturday, where the Prime Minister defended Labors rhetoric on care clinics. Credit: James Brickwood, Alex Ellinghausen

The Coalition has not committed to fund the further 50 urgent care clinics announced in the March budget, but has promised to open several new clinics of its own in addition to those already operating, which are intended to take pressure off the hospital system and provide bulk-billed services for urgent but not life-threatening injuries and illnesses.

A Labor-funded anti-Dutton website called He cuts, you pay states that Dutton will close down urgent care clinics and says: Peter Duttons cuts will mean your local Urgent Care Clinic will be forced to close.
Note: Mortgage rates are from MortgageNewsDaily.com and are for top tier scenarios.





For deaths, I'm currently using 4 weeks ago for "now", since the most recent three weeks will be revised significantly.





Note: "Effective May 1, 2024, hospitals are no longer required to report COVID-19 hospital admissions, hospital capacity, or hospital occupancy data." So, I'm no longer tracking hospitalizations.





COVID Metrics Now Week

Ago Goal Deaths per Week 419 474 3501 1my goals to stop weekly posts.

 Increasing number weekly for Deaths.

 Goal met.

Click on graph for larger image.





Although weekly deaths met the original goal to stop posting in June 2023 (low of 314 deaths), I've continued to post since deaths are above the goal again - and I'll continue to post until weekly deaths are once again below the goal.





Weekly deaths are now decreasing following the winter pickup and just under double the low of last June.









Nationally COVID in wastewater is "Low".

This graph shows the weekly (columns) number of deaths reported since Jan 2023.And here is a graph I'm following concerning COVID in wastewater as of April 17th: This appears to be a leading indicator for COVID hospitalizations and deaths. This has been moving down.
Dans un contexte politique ou le mot  democratie  sonne souvent creux, le Professeur Maurice Kamto, president national du Mouvement pour la Renaissance du Cameroun (MRC) et candidat a lelection presidentielle de 2025 sous la banniere conjointe du MRC et de lAlliance pour le Changement (APC), frappe fort avec une pensee qui ne laisse personne indifferent.

Dans un message dense et percutant, lhomme politique, juriste de renommee internationale, remet en question le role et lefficacite de la loi dans un regime dictatorial. Pour lui,  sous la dictature, linvocation de la loi par un citoyen conscient vise avant tout a montrer limpossibilite du regne de la loi . En dautres termes, toute tentative de faire valoir ses droits en sappuyant sur les textes juridiques dans un tel systeme na pour fonction que de reveler labsurdite et la supercherie de cette pretendue legalite.



 Il faut retirer a la dictature ce cache-sexe de la loi , affirme-t-il, soulignant la necessite de demasquer un regime qui s'abrite derriere des lois quil foule aux pieds quotidiennement.



Ce propos, qui fait deja le tour des cercles intellectuels et militants, sonne comme une claque a la face dun pouvoir accuse de gouverner par la peur, la repression et la manipulation institutionnelle. Maurice Kamto ne sarrete pas la. Il appelle les citoyens a ouvrir les yeux, a comprendre que lEtat de droit nest pas un cadeau que la dictature offrira par bonte dame, mais une conquete, une rupture, un acte volontaire de liberation collective.



 La demonstration de linutilite de la loi et de labsence de lEtat de droit devient le moteur dune demarche de rupture et de dechainement des citoyens ainsi que de renaissance de la Republique , declare-t-il avec la rigueur du juriste et la ferveur du militant.

Un message lourd de sens a la veille de la presidentielle

A l'approche de lelection presidentielle de 2025, ce message resonne comme un appel a la lucidite et a laction. Maurice Kamto, qui beneficie du soutien de lAPC  un regroupement de partis politiques de lopposition et dorganisations de la societe civile  semble vouloir replacer le debat politique sur le terrain des idees, des valeurs et du courage citoyen.



Dans un pays ou la loi est souvent utilisee comme un outil de repression plutot que de protection, cette pensee met en lumiere une verite que beaucoup vivent sans pouvoir la formuler : la loi ne protege pas quand elle est confisquee, pervertie, ou utilisee a sens unique.

Une rupture necessaire ?

Le message du leader du MRC depasse la simple critique. Il trace les contours dun projet de societe fonde sur la responsabilite citoyenne, la desobeissance ethique et le reve dun Cameroun nouveau. Un Cameroun ou la Republique renait des cendres de la peur, ou la loi retrouve son sens, et ou la dignite ne se quemande plus mais se conquiert.



En somme, Maurice Kamto ne demande pas quon lui fasse confiance aveuglement. Il exhorte plutot chaque Camerounais a devenir acteur de sa propre liberation, en cessant dattendre dun regime illegal le respect dune legalite quil ne reconnait que lorsquelle lui sert.





When the Law Becomes a Fig Leaf for Dictatorship: Maurice Kamtos Powerful Reflection Sparks Debate

In a political environment where the word democracy often rings hollow, Maurice Kamto, National President of the Cameroon Renaissance Movement (CRM) and joint presidential candidate of the CRM and the Alliance for Change (APC) for the upcoming 2025 elections, has delivered a striking and thought-provoking message.



In a powerful reflection that is already stirring conversations across civil society and intellectual circles, Kamto questions the real role and effectiveness of the law under a dictatorial regime. According to him, under dictatorship, when a conscious citizen invokes the law, it is primarily to expose the impossibility of the rule of law. In simpler terms, invoking legal rights in such a system serves only to reveal the mockery and illusion of legality.



We must strip the dictatorship of the laws fig leaf, he states boldly, urging Cameroonians to see through the false legitimacy that such regimes hide behind.



Kamto further argues that citizens must abandon the illusion that justice and dignity can be achieved by appealing to a legal system fundamentally designed to serve those in power. Instead, he insists, it is only when this illusion is shattered that people can begin the real work of reclaiming their freedom.



The demonstration of the laws uselessness and the absence of the rule of law becomes the driving force for a rupture, a citizen awakening, and the rebirth of the Republic, Kamto affirms with the clarity of a legal scholar and the passion of a freedom fighter.

A Critical Message Ahead of the 2025 Elections

With the 2025 presidential race fast approaching, Kamtos message is being seen as a rallying call for civic awareness and collective courage. Backed by the APC  a coalition of opposition parties and civil society organizations  Kamto aims to elevate the political conversation beyond tribalism and patronage, and into the realm of principles, justice, and national rebirth.



In a nation where laws are often weaponized to suppress dissent rather than protect rights, this message resonates deeply. It echoes a painful truth: in a dictatorship, the law does not protect  it is manipulated.

Is a Break with the Past the Only Way Forward?

More than just criticism, Kamtos statement outlines a vision  one where the citizen is no longer a passive subject but an active participant in the struggle for justice. He doesnt ask for blind trust; he calls for a personal and collective awakening.



He urges Cameroonians to stop waiting for a regime that thrives on illegality to one day respect legality. That day, he warns, will never come. Instead, freedom and dignity must be claimed  not begged for.



Ange NGO
THERE were poignant moments in Clonegal recently, when the local national school officially launched its new playground, naming it after a much-loved pupil.

The new playground is called James's Station after the late James Mulligan Redmond

Jamess Station was named after James Mulligan Redmond, a little boy who had attended the school and who passed way in August last year, aged just eight years old, after fighting terminable cancer. At the opening ceremony, Jamess parents Siobhain and David unveiled a beautiful sign to name the playground, while his school mates released balloons to celebrate the new facility and to remember James on the special occasion.

Pupils of the Clonegal NS choir performing at the official opening of the playground dedicated to the memory of former pupil James Mulligan Redmond Photos: michaelorourkephotography.ie

The sign was kindly made and donated by Kavanagh Signs, while two communication boards for children with speech difficulties were kindly donated by Finding Charlies Voice.

Second class pupils welcome Bishop Denis Nulty and guests to Clonegal NS for the official opening

James was the happiest boy, extremely clever, witty and a real character, said his mother Siobhain. He was the best big brother to Ryan (7). He loved playing with his trains, his favourite was Thomas the Tank Engine. He loved reading and watching movies. He was a great friend  kind, considerate and so caring. One of his favourite places was school, playing and learning with his friends.

James's parents David and Siobhain Redmond unveiled a plaque in his memory

The official launch of the playground began with Mass in St Brigids Church, after which Bishop Denis Nulty, Fr Pat Hughes, PP, Fr Andy Leahy, staff, members of the board of management, the parents council, pupils and invited guests proceeded to the playground for the blessing and ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Eva and Eimear perform a traditional reel during the official opening of the playground

Other guests included the architect Barry Fitzgibbon from McGinley and Fitzgibbon Architects, Naas, Co Kildare, who designed and brought the project to fruition last summer, along with Nolan Construction in Hacketstown.

Bishop Denis Nulty is welcomed to Clonegal NS by Catherine Callaghan TD, minister Jennifer Murnane O'Connor and principal Mary Gallagher (right)

The school choir performed Circle of friends, accompanied on guitar by fellow pupils, while talented Irish dancers demonstrated their amazing skills.

Principal Mary Gallagher speaking at the event

Our school community is very fortunate to have this amazing facility, said school principal Mary Gallagher. It was an enjoyable and memorable day for our school and our community.
THREE young men found with an array of combat weaponry and explosives at two locations in Co Kildare will have to wait until at least next month to learn their trial date.

I remember this, said Judge Desmond Zaidan, the lads running around in the forest! He was speaking about 22-year-old Evan Fitzgerald, Portrush, Kiltegan, Shane Kinsella (21), Tinnock, Kiltegan, and 20-year-old Daniel Quinn-Burke, Allendale Lawns, Baltinglass, who are collectively charged with four counts of possession of firearms and explosives in a forest near Ponsonby Bridge, Straffan on 2 March 2024, and the explosives at Mr Fitzgeralds address later that day.

Detective Garda Brian Foran told the court that although no further charges were expected against Mr Quinn-Burke and Mr Kinsella, further charges were expected against Mr Fitzgerald.

When the judge asked simply: DPP? DG Foran replied: Directions for all three are trial by indictment. Allegations? asked the judge.

Originally they were arrested with the firearms in the Naas area, said DG Foran.

Are those the lads in the forest? asked the judge, and the detective said they were.

They have adhered to all (bail) conditions and are signing on every Wednesday, he said, adding that the books of evidence were expected in six weeks.

He then itemised the weaponry seized. The weapons at Ponsonby Bridge were listed as: an M1911 45-calibre automatic pistol and ammunition; a G3 Heckler and Koch 7.62mm; Tokarev and Makarov pistols with magazines; 23 rounds of various calibre rifle rounds; four rounds of pistol ammo; ammo for a .308 Winchester; and 69 various shotgun cartridges.

The explosives were noted as potassium nitrate sulphur charcoal, and ammonium potassium percurate at the home address of Mr Fitzgerald, along with most of the ammunition and the Tokarev and Makarov pistols.

I thought a Makarov was an Italian pasta dish, joked the judge, before remanding all three on continuing bail until 7 May.

No explanation for the actions was given in court at this time.
Six goats are about to embark on a tour of Co Carlow in a bid to help the environment.

Carlow County Councils biodiversity officer Shane Casey has organised for the six Irish goats to spend time in Leighlinbridge, Carlow town and Hacketstown, where theyll turn lawns into lunch!

From Monday 28 April, theyll spend two days each in Leighlinbridge and Carlow town grazing on residential greens and a further two days in Hacketstown, where theyll be supporting a pollinator initiative being rolled out by the fire services. The initiative builds on work carried out under the Carlow Green Infrastructure Strategy to encourage a change in how residential greens are managed.

In 2023, Carlow County Council adopted a Green Infrastructure Strategy, which contains the policy that no pollinator in Co Carlows towns and villages will have to travel more than 200 metres in order to find a food source. To do this, the council developed a unique Urban Pollinator Foraging Network Map in Carlow town. This has since been advocated by the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan as an example of best practice for prioritising local resources.

In 2024, the council commissioned Flynn Furney to contact all community and residents groups in the eight largest towns and villages in the county (Carlow town, Tullow, Bagenalstown, Leighlinbridge, Hacketstown, Borris, Ballon and Rathvilly) and to map any community-managed open spaces where there was a desire to do more for pollinators  more than 60 acres were mapped and all individual sites were a minimum size of half-an-acre and were being mown regularly.

Now the focus turns to the next stage, which is to encourage a change in management, to move away from regular mowing, saving time and labour and reducing carbon footprint and towards long-flowering meadows in these areas, significantly improving conditions for biodiversity and enabling enhanced ecosystem services.

The goats themselves are a catalyst for this change in management, rather than the sole solution, and the County Carlow Environmental Network in 2025 will offer practical help to local residents who want to make such changes.

On that last Saturday, 3 May, at 11am, Kate Chandler from the All-Ireland Pollinator Plan will visit the goats in Hacketstown and talk about her work, and all community groups in Carlow are welcome to come, see and learn.

The goatherds William and Melissa will be on hand to chat with anyone who wants to come along and view the goats at work, and they will also be visiting local schools and groups.
China's agriculture, rural economy maintain stable growth: official

Xinhua) 09:14, April 19, 2025

The State Council Information Office holds a press conference on performance of agriculture and rural economy in the first quarter of 2025 in Beijing, capital of China, April 18, 2025. (Xinhua/Chen Yehua)

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China's agriculture and rural economy maintained stable growth in the first quarter, effectively supporting the overall stability of economic and social development, Pan Wenbo, an official with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, said at a press conference on Friday.

Noting that the ministry is focused on meeting this year's grain output target of around 700 million tonnes, Pan said grain and oil production got off to a solid start, with winter wheat planting areas remaining stable and winter rapeseed acreage continuing to grow steadily.

Pan added that the supply of "vegetable basket" products remained sufficient. In the first quarter, the production of pork, beef, mutton and poultry hit 25.4 million tonnes, an increase of 2 percent year on year.

Milk production was 8.92 million tonnes, up 1.7 percent year on year, and the output of domestic aquatic products was 14.83 million tonnes, an increase of 4.5 percent year on year, according to the official.

The achievements in poverty alleviation continued to be consolidated and expanded, with 30.898 million rural laborers from households newly lifted out of poverty employed nationwide by the end of March.

From January to March, the added value of agricultural products processing industry above the designated size increased by 7.2 percent year on year. In the first quarter, the per capita disposable income of rural residents was 7,003 yuan (about 971.7 U.S. dollars), an increase of 6.5 percent, Pan noted.

The potential of rural domestic demand continued to be unleashed, as the rollout of major projects like high-standard farmland building and modern agriculture facilities has boosted investment in agriculture and rural areas, according to Pan.

In the first quarter, fixed-asset investment in the primary industry increased by 16 percent year on year. The potential of rural consumption continued to be unleashed, with retail sales of rural consumer goods increasing by 4.9 percent year on year.

However, it should be noted that China's external development environment has become increasingly complex and challenging, Pan said, adding that "the greater the risks and challenges we face, the more we need to stabilize the basic foundations of agriculture, rural areas and farmers, ensuring domestic production and supply to counterbalance external uncertainties."

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
A 21-YEAR-OLD trainee jockey has been sentenced to eight months in prison for an assault that left his victim with a fractured eye socket during Carlows Rag Week celebrations in 2023.

Eoin Middleton of Birr, Co Offaly was convicted and sentenced at Carlow District Court on 3 April following a guilty verdict delivered in December 2024.

At the December hearing, the court heard that the assault occurred on Tullow Street, Carlow in the early hours of 20 February 2023, when the victim, Sebastian Swiderski, was sitting on a bench outside the Metro Grill between 2am and 3am.

Mr Swiderski told the court he had asked a nearby group for a chip, after which Mr Middleton, whom he didnt know, threw a chip at him. When Mr Swiderski threw it back, Mr Middleton approached and punched him in the face, fracturing his eye socket.

During sentencing on 3 April, Judge Geraldine Carthy noted that the victim impact report  heard on 2 April  was quite stark and took into account how the assault had also affected Mr Swiderskis mental health.

Despite Mr Middleton bringing 1,150 to court as compensation, including for medical expenses, Judge Carthy said she was not fully satisfied of the remorse shown to this court.

The judge described the incident as an unprovoked attack that was at the upper end of seriousness in this court, adding that it meets the threshold of custody.

Mr Middleton, who is currently working in the UK as a trainee jockey, was granted fixed recognisance with a 500 own bond, which allows him to formally lodge an appeal against the severity of the sentence.
Dancer and choreographer Julian Benson has died aged 54 after a "courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis".

Benson became a household name in 2017 when he joined the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars.

Known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly jackets, he quickly became a show favourite.

Benson kept his diagnosis of Cystic Fibrosis private for more than 40 years. In 2018, during an appearance on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy, he revealed his lifelong illness and shared his dream of creating a charity.

He then announced the creation of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and said: "I have Cystic Fibrosis, but Cystic Fibrosis doesnt have me."

Benson went on to lead the development of Tranquility House in Dublin  a space where families can find comfort and peace during difficult times.

The transformation of Tranquility House featured on RTE's Room to Improve in January this year.

Julian Benson outside Tranquility House in Dublin 6

In a statement released on Saturday, Benson's agent said: "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Julian Benson. Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends, after a courageous battle with Cystic Fibrosis. His strength, warmth, and sparkle remained with him until the very end.

"Julian was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of two. But rather than let this challenge define him, Julian decided to embrace life fully. He began dancing at the age of four and embarked on a professional career at just 14  an incredible achievement for anyone, let alone someone living with a chronic lung condition. His determination and passion became the driving force behind everything he did."

We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of our wonderful friend Julian Benson. Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance & talent to the world. One of a kind, he will be forever missed.



The world lost a bit of sparkle today



May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/QzJNnrI7vj  DWTS Ireland (@DWTSIRL) April 19, 2025

Larry Bass and ShinAwil, the producer and company behind Dancing with the Stars, said in a statement that they were "deeply saddened" by Benson's death.

"Our very own Captain Sparkle who brought so much joy, brilliance and talent to the world. His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation - his legacy will live on forever."

Benson is survived by his brother Adrian, sister-in-law Rachel, and his nieces and nephew.
Gordon Deegan

The number of staff earning more than 100,000 at the University College Cork (UCC) group last year increased by 26 per cent to 644 on the back of national pay awards and recruitment.

New annual 2024 accounts show that despite the university groups staff costs increasing by 8 per cent to 326 million, the colleges cost reduction plan, Project Alpha, helped turn around its finances.

The new accounts show that the UCC group recorded a surplus of 6.77 million in the 12 months to the end of September last, and this followed a loss of 8.57 million in the prior year  a positive swing of 15.3 million.

A 26 per cent increase to 12.8 million in income from student residences contributed to the turnaround in the finances.

Overall income last year increased by 50.77 million or 10 per cent from 475.43 million to 526.2 million, while costs increased by 39.27 million or eight per cent from 487.82 million to 527 million.

The increase in costs coincided with numbers employed by the university group increasing by 160 from 3,521 to 3,681.

Arising from the 8.57 million loss recorded in 2023, the college implemented a comprehensive deficit reduction plan, Project Alpha.

In his report, UCC President, Prof John OHalloran says: 2024 was a challenging but successful year financially for UCC.

Prof OHalloran said that there were four pillars to Project Alpha- a programme to reduce non-payroll discretionary operating costs; manage the growth in payroll-related costs; grow academic fee income and other operating income, and increase the contribution from its subsidiaries to the overall group results.

He said: Throughout the period of the deficit reduction plan, the University prioritised maintaining the quality of the student experience, and teaching and learning.

Prof OHalloran said that following a successful deficit reduction plan, the University is confident of its ability to deliver strong financial results, strengthen our infrastructure and resource base, and ultimately deliver on our strategic plan

Prof OHalloran said that the main reasons for the surplus were the impacts of strong State Grants income growth of 12.3 million driven by support for Government Pay Awards; strong academic fee income growth of 8 million driven by student volume and mix; strong Other Operating Income growth of 10.2 million; strong interest income growth of 1.6 million focusing on optimising treasury yield and Other Operating Expenses reduction of 2.2 million with the last three contributors all driven by Project Alpha.

Prof OHallorans salary for the year was 236,114, excluding employer PRSI and employer pension contributions, compared to 226,300 in the prior year.

The accounts show that 10 employees earned over 300,000, with a further 10 in the 250,000 to 300,000 remuneration range and the bulk, if not all, of those would be teaching medical consultants.

The number earning over 100,000 was 644 last year compared to 509 in the year prior.

Pay to key management personnel or the University Management Team (UMT), which includes the President, Deputy President & Registrar, Secretary, Bursar and heads of college last year totalled 2.3 million, which compares to 2 million in the year previous.

The accounts point out that overall staff costs as a percentage of total income declined from 63% to 61% in 2024.

Earlier this month, University College Cork (UCC) confirmed that it has agreed to sell the Irish Management Institute (IMI) to the Kilcullen Business Post Group (K-BPG).

The new accounts show that 2024 income from the Irish Management Institute DAC totalled 10.98 million compared to 11.13 million in the prior year.

A note attached to the accounts refers to the 2024 UCC decision to upgrade its existing dental teaching facilities at Cork University Hospital and not proceed with the construction of a new dental hospital facility at its Curraheen location in Cork.

The note states that consequently, the expenditure incurred to date, 2.1 million, on the proposed new dental hospital facility at Curraheen was impaired at year end 30th September 2024 and has been removed from the University fixed asset register at year ended 30 September 2024.

The surplus last year takes account of non-cash depreciation costs of 23.99 million. Cash funds at the end of September last totalled 122 milion.
By Rebecca Black, PA

Police have issued an appeal around a blue backpack in their search for missing Mayo man George Brennan.

The 38-year-old was last seen on Wednesday, April 2nd, in Ballycastle, Co Antrim, and his friends and family have not heard from him since.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is assisting An Garda Siochana in their search for Mr Brennan.

George Brennan (38) from Co Mayo was last seen on April 2nd in Ballycastle, Co Antrim. Photo: Family Handout

While he is missing from Co Mayo, it is believed he may have links to the Causeway Coast and Glens area, and the Mid and East Antrim area.

On Saturday the PSNI made a specific appeal in relation to the location of a blue-coloured backpack which Mr Brennan was seen carrying.

We would ask that anyone who believes they may have seen this backpack, or who has information as to its whereabouts, get in touch, they said.

The number to call is 101, quoting reference number 831 12/04/25.

Mr Brennan is described as being 62 in height and 100kg, with brown hair and blue eyes.

He had previously been seen on CCTV in the Spar shop in Moyle Road in Ballycastle on April 2nd.

At that time, he was wearing a black zip-up top, dark jeans, runners and was carrying a blue hiking backpack.

Another sighting of him, reported to the PSNI, said he was seen with a backpack hitch-hiking at the Lisnakilly roundabout outside Limavady, Co Derry, at around 4.45pm on Monday, April 14th.

They said they saw the man get into a white van with writing on the side that was travelling in the direction of Ballykelly.

The family is asking members of the public across Ireland to share Georges photo and appeal widely on social media to help raise awareness.
I formulated a list of questions for the National Park Service regarding their handling (mismanagement) of the Lookout Mountain fire that caused millions of dollars of damage after it reached the Incline trestle. Those questions remain unanswered.

The original fire, which the NPS claims was ignited by sparks from a small rock fall, started the morning of Dec. 7.

What was originally a small brush fire between the Mountain Beautiful and Hardy Trails on the East Brow of Lookout Mountain, if managed well, should have been contained within hours.

But this was not the Chattanooga Fire Department's responsibility, this was not the Lookout Mountain Fire Department's responsibility - this was the NPS responsibility.

For months, the Park Service has declined to answer questions about their management, thus in late March I inquired with the members of Congress in whose jurisdictions the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park is located - Chuck Fleischmann and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Here are my original questions to the Park Service:

This complaint involves the Lookout Mountain unit of the Chickamauga & Chattanooga National Military Park.

Specifically, it regards the failure of C&C NMP personnel to respond professionally to a small brushfire in its Lookout Mountain, Tennessee unit. That fire began at 0630 on Dec. 7, 2024.

Below you will find my initial letter of inquiry to the Park Superintendent, Brad Bennett. I received email confirmation that he received this letter but no response.

The letter outlines both my concern about the fire management and a detailed fire progression timeline. It raises specific questions about who was responsible for not containing the small fire line in the six hours before it engulfed the upper trestle system of the Lookout Mountain (CARTA) Incline Railway.

After interviewing other agencies involved, it is clear that the National Park Service coordination and response to this fire was inadequate at best, and indicative of the lack of leadership that has plagued the NPS, and specifically the C&C NMP, for many years.

After sending and resending my initial NPS questions for two months to the Park Superintendent and receiving no response, I finally received a response from the NPS Chief Ranger, Todd Milsaps, who advised me that the Superintendent was unavailable for personal reasons. After several more days I was able to obtain an email address for the Chief Ranger and sent him my original list of questions as noted below.

Almost three months after the fire, I received an email back from the Chief Ranger with a "copy/paste" message advising me that if I wanted answers to these questions, I would have to file a FOIA request.

Based on the lack of response from the Superintendent and the obfuscatory response from the Chief Ranger, I am forwarding this information for publication in hope that will finally prompt a response.

Below is my original letter and specific questions, which the NPS has refused to answer:

What follows are questions about the NPS management of the Lookout Mountain fire in December. I presume an after-action report if there is one, is complete.

I am asking these questions in order that mistakes not be repeated in the event of a future fire, particularly if it is below the West Brow of the Mountain.

For context, I am a generational resident of this area with a great respect for the preservation of our National Military Park. I was on the board of Friends of the Park for years, notably at the time we raised millions of dollars for the Chickamauga visitor center expansion.

Additionally, I have spent many years working in official capacities with local, state and federal agencies providing emergency services coordination.

Regarding the fire response timeline on Dec. 7 (please correct this if not accurate).

0630: CFD responded to a report of a brush fire on the east side of Lookout Mountain in the NPS boundary between Hardy/Guild Trail (Battlefield Walk and Bike Trail) and Mountain Beautiful Trail.

1130: The fire was still not contained and slowly moving north, and there was discussion that if it continues, it could engulf the Incline trestle timbers and result in a major fire.

1410: Fire reached the incline track trestle structure.

1440: UH60 Blackhawk performs fire suppression water dumps on the railway but departs before the fires were contained.

From the elevation above the fire, the Town Of Lookout Mountain TN - Police & Fire Department sprayed more than 100,000 gallons of water to protect the upper incline station and East Brow residential homes.

But the overspray options were limited.

However, water lines could have been readily deployed over the brow to firefighters below the brow in order to both facilitate containment of the fire line and saturate the dry tender between the fire line and incline trestle to mitigate the potential of the trestle catching fire. It was difficult terrain but a relatively small fire, and the containment solutions were evident long before the track trestle timbers were involved.

My questions:

What time was NPS notified about the fire?

What time did NPS personnel arrive and where?

Did the NPS Chief Ranger respond? If so, when and where?

Was there a designated NPS Incident Commander for management of this fire? If so, who was that?

If so, when did the NPS Incident Commander arrive to begin management, and where?

Did the NPS Incident Commander identify himself/herself to the other responding agencies? If so, with whom and where?

In the almost eight hours prior to the slow-moving brush fire reaching and igniting the Incline rail trestle, was consideration given to water lines being deployed over the brow to firefighters below the brow in order to both facilitate containment of the fire line and saturate the dry tender between the fire line and incline trestle to mitigate the potential of the trestle catching fire.

Why was a tank trunk not deployed on Hardy Trail to assist with providing hoses and water to the firefighters below the brow.

A tank truck did arrived on the north entrance to Hardy Trail, but did not enter the park because they had no jurisdictional authorization.

All the above questions notwithstanding, the most important question: What actions could/should NPS have taken to prevent the fire line from moving north and igniting the Incline trestlework timbers - very costly damage.

Why were two mitigating actions not taken hours before the fire reached the trestle timbers: First, the deployment of tank trucks (which were available) on Hardy Trail; Second, the application of fire suppression from hoses lowered from above the brow line to saturate tinder between the fire line and incline trestlework.

Failure to prevent the fire from reaching the incline trestlework was not a Town Of Lookout Mountain TN - Police & Fire Department or a Chattanooga Fire Department failure. The cost to CARTA and their insurer is significant.

Why do these questions matter?

Because recognizing past mistakes helps prevent future mistakes, and for those who recall the West Brow fires during the drought of 2016, those wildfires definitely had the potential of topping the brow and burning homes, based on wind conditions.

I would appreciate your response to these questions and a copy of any after action report prepared by the NPS.

Mark Caldwell

Lookout Mountain, Tn.

* * *

I dont think theres a NPS fire crew on Lookout Mountain. Im wondering if theres any NPS employees left on the mountain or in the Battlefield.

Trump will fix the employee numbers to take care of our National Treasures. Arent you happy?

Roger Mayo
Lee University is hosting its Second Senior Art Showcase, April 22-29, featuring works ranging from paintings to graphic design that highlight Lees senior art students skills and desired emphasis in their discipline.

We are proud of these students accomplishments and look forward to seeing how their artwork will impact not only their lives but the lives of those around them, said Victoria Phillips, visiting assistant professor of art at Lee.

This showcase, which follows the First Senior Art Showcase held earlier this month, will display original bodies of thematic work from graduating art students. The artists statements will be posted with each work to give viewers a sense of the artists vision and methods.

There will be many different forms of art displayed, such as paintings, digital paintings, and mixed media projects.

Senior art student Addie Smith will have her work on display in the Mayfield Gallery, located in the Mayfield Annex on Lees campus, and the opening reception will be held on Tuesday at 9:30 a.m.

My work explores the layered and evolving experiences of womanhood, identity, movement, and the complex societal perceptions of our bodies, said Ms. Smith. Through painting, I seek to reclaim the body as a site of wonder rather than scrutiny. I believe that if we are created in the image of God, then our physical forms must be among the most sacred and perfect expressions of nature, and my art is an expression of this truth.

Senior art students Maci Dixon, Astar Domer, Joy McCollum, Evelyn Mendez, and Ximena Guerrero Salas will have their work on display in the Squires Library Fine Art Gallery, and the opening reception will be held on Thursday at 5 p.m.

In my exhibition, I explore three expressions of loveEros, Storge, and Agapethrough surreal, intimate figure painting, said Ms. Mendez. This exhibition is an offeringan act of worship through art, a reflection of loves depth and fragility, its intensity and tenderness, all rooted in Gods divine purpose. I hope these works stir the soul, uplift the spirit, and remind us of the love that He has poured into the world.

The Second Senior Art Show is free and open to the public during regular operating hours of the library, which can be found by visiting leeuniversity.libguides.com/homepage. The Mayfield Gallery will be open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

For more information about the showcase or Lees art program, contact Ms. Phillips at vphillips@leeuniversity.edu.
Erlanger and UnitedHealthcare have reached a new agreement that allows patients with United commercial plans to maintain in-network access to Erlanger hospitals and providers.We aim to uphold Erlangers longstanding commitment to our community to provide high-quality, compassionate care, said Jensen Hyde, MD, Erlangers chief medical officer. To do that, we must regularly negotiate and establish mutually beneficial contracts with our insurance company partners. We are pleased to have reached a new agreement that ensures our patients can continue to access the care they need.Because the agreement was reached before the previous contract expired, patient care can continue without interruption.Patients are encouraged to continue scheduling and attending appointments as usual, officials said.We appreciate the trust our patients place in us and look forward to continuing our mission to compassionately caring for people, said Dr. Hyde.
The 2025 Armed Forces Parade and Luncheon will be held on Friday, May 2. The parade will step-off from M. L. King and Market Streets at 10:30 a.m. and the luncheon will follow at noon at the Chattanooga Convention Center.

The parade application and luncheon are available online at www.Chattareaveterans.com/ArmedForcesDay.

Chattanoogas Armed Forces Parade is the longest continuous running Armed Forces Parade in the United States at 76 years. Each year a branch of the United States Military is honored and here in 2025, for the first time, Space Force will be honored. The Chief of Space Operations for the United States Space Force General B. Chance Saltzman will be the keynote speaker.

The Chattanooga Area Veterans Council was established in 1983 to serve the veterans community by providing quarterly briefings between the Veterans Administration and member organizations. Additionally, the Council works to streamline and support efforts for veterans and their families, to provide resources for military families in the tri-state area - Tennessee, Georgia and Alabama - and to coordinate commemorative events such as The Armed Forces Parade and Luncheon.
The County School Board on Thursday night voted to direct Superintendent Dr. Justin Robertson to propose a balanced budget for board discussion for fiscal year 2026. Finance committee Chairman Ben Daugherty said the County Commission indicated that it would likely approve a balanced budget this year, after tough haggling over big requests last year.

I could bring us a proposal to get us to a balanced budget tomorrow, Dr. Robertson said, but that the board may not like more cuts.

Weve cut plenty Were cutting muscle and were cutting bones, he said.

As a community, what do we want from a public school system and what are we willing to pay for that public school system? Dr. Robertson asked.

Board members Jill Black, Ben Connor and Karitsa Jones voted against the directive.

Mr. Connor said he believed the County Commission would approve the proper budget, one that keeps student-facing teachers and staff and makes up for funds missing under maintenance of effort laws: $6 million from 2024 and $5 million from 2025, he said.

We are already working from an $11 million hole, Mr. Connor said.

I want to vote for the best budget, not just a balanced budget, said Ms. Black.

But board member Felice Hadden pointed out that the FY2026 budget is $635 million, compared with $456 million in 2021.

Were coming to them for more money and our budget has ballooned, she said, close to $200 million in recent years. Ms. Hadden argued that the county designates 43 percent of its budget to schools, a percentage thats significantly higher than other Tennessee counties of similar size.

The County Commission is saying that theyre doing their part, Ms. Hadden said. We have to be reasonable.

The skys not the limit, she said.

Dr. Robertson pointed to $142 million in pandemic-era Elementary and Secondary School Relief funding and said he could trace which ESSR-funded positions were cut as funds expired and which were rolled in to the general purpose fund. Dr. Robertson also pointed to $67 million that Hamilton County gets from the states new funding formula, enacted in 2022, which corrected discrimination and underfunding of large districts, he said. He said those other districts may get money from city municipalities as well.

Beyond asking the county for more money, the board has discussed finding money in a higher property tax millage rate, a tax referendum or asking municipalities within Hamilton County for funding.

A proposal to scrutinize the deputy superintendent positions power yet lack of board oversight took two paths as some connected it to lack of trust in Dr. Robertson, while others saw it as a budget cut, whether wise or ill-conceived.

Im not the first school board member in the state to have this conversation this year, said policy committee Chair Jodi Schaffer, who introduced the topic. It is the most powerful position with no oversight from the board, Ms. Schaffer said. I have to take a step back How do we remedy that?

At some point weve got to have the trust, said Dr. Robertson, and others said he is the school boards only employee.

I have more respect and trust for (Dr. Sonia Stewart) in this position than anyone Ive ever worked with, Dr. Robertson said.

Board discussion turned to adding the deputy superintendent position plus five community superintendent positions to the cut list, and what life would be like for Dr. Robertson without these to help him communicate with 80 schools.

Step on that anthill, Ms. Jones challenged. Shes seen more than one superintendent leave over less, she said.

Though Dr. Robertson said he has cut $3 million and 7.5 percent of positions from Central Office for this budget already, board member Hadden advocated even greater cuts there to save student-facing positions. She said she is disappointed in existing cuts to exceptional education assistants, magnet school transportation and now at Washington Alternative Learning Center, whose student population is shrinking, Dr. Robertson said.

This is not where we need to be making cuts, Ms. Hadden said.

The board also adopted a resolution opposing state legislation that would allow school systems to refuse to allow undocumented students to attend school or charge them tuition. The resolution asks legislators to vote no on the bill. It has been approved in the state Senate.

School board member and resolution author Black said a petition won about 500 signatures.

Thank you to the community members for showing up in support of this resolution, she said.

Children from all backgrounds can succeed when given the opportunities they deserve, the resolution reads.

Will we be a barrier to their future that they must overcome? asked Ms. Black. I honestly cannot believe we are having this conversation tonight, she said.

School board member Larry Grohn said sponsor Senator Bo Watsons motivation is to revisit the 1982 Plyler decision of the U.S. Supreme Court, but dont ask me to do it, he said.

Let this be fought out at the federal level, Mr. Grohn said, and that he wont encourage fear in schools.

Board member Gary Kuehn said the bill was uncharacteristic of Senator Watson.

Just remember, he does look out for Hamilton County, Tennessee, Mr. Kuehn said. He might have missed the mark on this one.
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One Westside, a collaborative project aimed at revitalizing the College Hill area, is making significant progress as it continues to honor the past while building a stronger future for residents. Westside residents, community partners and elected officials gathered at the site of the now-demolished YFD building to break ground on the first phase of housing.

Construction is slated to begin immediately and once complete in late 2026, will provide 230 new one, two and three-bedroom apartment homes. Of the new homes, 92 will be reserved for current residents of College Hill Courts. The remaining 138 homes will be offered for residents at various levels of affordability. The effort will set the pattern for the mixed-use strategy offered by the master plan which was developed by residents throughout Chattanoogas oldest public housing community.

Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly has been a supporter of the project long before his first election in 2021. He noted that the city has been involved in every aspect of the initiative providing direct and in-kind investment of over $100 million over the life of the initiative. In addition, the City provided $9 million in direct capital financing to CHA and HOME program and bond issuance through Chattanooga Housing and the Education Facilities Board. This is a great day in Chattanoogas history. There is no project that better encapsulates the goals and values of One Chattanooga than One Westside. It could not have happened without the input, support, and belief of the current residents of the Westside. It will provide a long-term lift to every westside residents quality of life by improving health and education outcomes. And it will create a mixed-income neighborhood with badly-needed new housing and employment opportunities.

Councilwoman Raquetta Dotley represents District 7 on the Chattanooga City Council which is home to the College Hill community. She said, Im proud of my constituents and the way theyve led the effort in sharing what they want to see for their community. Thanks to their efforts, our community is focused on creating sustainable and thriving spaces for everyone to enjoy.

The groundbreaking noted the financial closing and beginning of construction for new mixed-income housing and development. One Westsides master developer Columbia Residential shared that once Phase I is complete, in addition to the initial 92 apartments set aside for College Hill residents, 138 homes will be offered to residents at various levels of affordability, including 60% and 80% AMI (area median income) and market rate apartments. In addition, the master plan calls for 497 new homes through seven phases that will replace all of the existing units at College Hill Courts. The plan will also add 629 homes at affordable and market rate rents.

Over their 30-year history, Columbia Residential has developed affordable and mixed-income housing throughout the southeast. As One Westsides housing comes online, their team will manage the mixed-income community. We were drawn to this project because of the commitment not only from the Chattanooga Housing Authority and their team, but also because of the strong commitment from the residents and funding partners from throughout the area. Phase I has strong financial support not only from existing partners but also from our new financial partner, Truist Bank. They will be providing significant funding that will lead to the neighborhoods continued success, said Carmen Chubb, President of Columbia Residential.

Truist Market President Mark Stewart said the bank is excited to partner on the revitalization of the College Hill area. Our purpose at Truist is to inspire and build better lives and communities, and we know that affordable housing has a positive impact on families and communities, Stewart said. This groundbreaking is a reminder of the great opportunities that result when city leaders, as well as public and private companies, come together to meet the needs of our communities.

Truist is providing $39.8 million through an equity investment in low-income tax credits and in energy credits for the project. The bank is also providing $50 million in construction and bridge financing.

CHAs board chair Jim Levine said, When we gathered last summer, I know a few residents wondered if the plan they developed was really going to happen. Thanks to Betsy McCright and the team assembled to work on this project, youre seeing and hearing the hum of construction all around you. He added, We promised that no residents of public housing would be displaced and this housing is proof of the build-first strategy that weve all wanted. Weve waited a long time for today and were grateful to everyone who is playing a role in the important work being done.
Above the imposing doors of the United States Supreme Court in our nations capital appear the words Equal Justice Under Law. These four words encapsulate the aspiration of the federal judiciary to do justice to all who come before its courts regardless of their personal circumstances. These four words serve as a cornerstone of the American judicial system.

Equal justice under law is a noble aspiration that depends on the efforts of imperfect people. It aims to give all who come before the courts the same fair treatment, legal protections, and rights, regardless of their wealth or poverty, their fame or obscurity, their power or vulnerability, and regardless of their race, gender, religion, or background. It is ambitious in its call to treat equally the most powerful and the penniless. All are to be given the same due-process rights under the Fourth and Fifth Amendments. Some of the most praiseworthy legal decisions in our countrys history were decided under this principle.

The principle that the law must apply equally and fairly to all is impressed on federal judges at the very moment they take office. By law, federal judges must take the following oath: I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will administer justice without respect to persons, and do equal right to the poor and to the rich, and that I will faithfully and impartially discharge and perform all the duties incumbent upon me as [a Judge or Justice] under the Constitution and laws of the United States. So help me God. 28 U.S.C.  453. By taking this oath, federal judges acknowledge their obligation to render equal justice under the law to all. They undertake to administer justice without respect to personsin other words, with fairness and neutrality, and without being swayed by sympathy for or prejudice against the particulars of the parties before them.

This obligation of fairness by judges extends beyond deciding the merits of legal questions. It also entails treating lawyers and parties with respect, dignity, and civility, regardless of their personal circumstances. And it entails handling cases with diligence and thoroughness. A persons unfair experience with a judge, or even learning about an unnecessarily harsh occurrence in court, can poison that persons opinion of our court system for life. Without the publics confidence in the fairness of court procedures, the court system cannot fulfill its roleessential to our form of democracyof resolving disputes among individuals, entities, and governments themselves. While it is impossible for our court system to give all parties their desired outcomes, it can and must treat all parties respectfully. This means that equal justice under the law applies to how the judge conducts himself or herself in the courtroom and the language he or she uses in issuing decisions.

Equal justice under law appears on the Supreme Court building, but it is not just an admonition to our highest federal court. This principle sets a high standard for judges of all levels to follow, be they on trial courts, appellate courts, or the Supreme Court, and it applies to both state and federal courts, as well. By applying the law equally to all, and not making exceptions for some or bending the law to cater to others, judges live up to this high principle.

Curtis L. Collier

United States District Judge

Chair, Eastern District of Tennessee Civics and Outreach Committee



Carrie Brown Stefaniak

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier



Katherine E. Philyaw

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier



Katharine M. Gardner

Law Clerk to the Honorable Curtis L. Collier
Home Books VOUS Churchs DawnChere Wilkerson on faith, infertility and surrender: Waiting is life

In a culture obsessed with instant gratification, author and speaker DawnChere Wilkerson is challenging believers to redefine waiting not as punishment but as a holy invitation to grow in the presence of God.

We think waiting is a curse, Wilkerson, who leads VOUS Church in Miami alongside her husband, Rich, told The Christian Post. But once you get that thing  whether its the job, the spouse, the baby  you just move the goalposts and start waiting for something else. Waiting isnt a season. Waiting is life.

In her new book,Slow Burn: The Work and Wonder of the Wait,releasing April 29, Wilkerson draws from years of pastoral experience and her own long season of infertility to lay out a case for why embracing the slow burn of surrender is the only way to live a life rooted in faith.

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She described the book as a product of four decades of life and over a decade of spiritual wrestling. The message God put on my heart for this book came more than 10 years ago, she said. But it wasnt the right time. I can look back now and see that He was writing the story.

One of the most vulnerable threads in the book is Wilkersons eight-year journey through infertility, a struggle she initially kept private, even from her parents.

It was a very personal journey, she said. And I discovered in the wait that it's the temptation for all of us to isolate and think we can just handle it on our own.

But in that isolation, she learned something life-altering: community is essential. God didnt just save me to have a relationship with Him. He placed me in a family. A family that can pray with me when theres a need, and celebrate with me when God comes through.

In Slow Burn, Wilkerson contends that surrender is not a one-time event but a daily offering.

Surrender is the daily invitation from Heaven, she said. Its a stance of our heart, a deep belief that we still want Gods plan more than our plan.

To illustrate this, Wilkerson draws from Exodus, describing the morning and evening offerings of incense as a metaphor for what it means to live a surrendered life.

As they put it on that heat source, the incense changed; it became a sweet aroma, she explained. Surrender to me looks like bringing my little, just like those grains, and trusting God with it.

In a culture thats very fast-paced, where as soon as you think it, you say it, were missing out on the joy of the wrestle, she added. God tells stories over a lifetime.

After years of praying for children, the Wilkersons welcomed their first child, Wyatt, born in 2018, followed by Wilde, born in 2019, Waylon, born in 2021, and in December 2024, Wolfgang.

Its an amazing, wonderful season, she said. Im loving it.

Though her prayers were answered after years of waiting, Wilkerson acknowledged that the story doesn't always unfold that way. She doesnt shy away from that question; in fact, its one of the books core themes.

So many people are waiting and wondering: What if God doesnt answer my prayer? she said. But the bait we hold on to today is an eternal hope. Hebrews tells us that our forefathers died still living in faith, having not seen everything that was promised. But they greeted their inheritance from afar.

For Wilkerson, that image of greeting her inheritance from a distance has become a source of comfort. I can wave to the promise, she said. There wont be any more pain. And I hold on to that promise.

The author added that her understanding of hope produced sanctification, what she described as the slow, sacred process of having her fears peeled back, layer by layer.

In those eight years of waiting, I feared being labeled infertility girl, I feared being overlooked, she says. But I came to a beautiful place where I realized that perfect love casts out fear. And theres only One who holds perfect love and thats Jesus.

Wilkerson offered encouragement to those whove walked through miscarriage, stillbirth or the heartbreak of an unfulfilled longing.

I would encourage anyone going through loss to not isolate, she said. Its not about the words that are said but about having people who love you stand with you.

She recalled her time in Israel, where she learned that Jesus Words  Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted  were not just about divine consolation but about communal support.

Youre blessed when youre part of the community of God, she says. Because even in your deepest, darkest pain, you will receive comfort from those around you.

At VOUS Church, Wilkerson said the community has sought to foster a culture where conversations around grief and miscarriage are open and healing.

It brings freedom to women as they grieve, to know they dont have to fast-forward through their pain, she says. They can be honest with God and with others.

With Slow Burn, Wilkerson said she wants to offer a lifeline to others walking through long, difficult waits. I hope it speaks to their soul, she emphasized. I hope it establishes the faithfulness of God through His Word and my personal testimony.

Ultimately, she hopes the book becomes something readers will pass on. When I find something good, I want to share it, she said. I hope this lifts peoples hearts in a real way. I hope they encounter the love of God in a supernatural way as they read it. Thats my prayer.
Home News China imposes new bans on missionary work, claims its for national security

China has banned foreign missionaries from preaching and establishing religious organizations, justifying the move as necessary for national security. The latest restrictions, announced by the Chinese Communist Party, will take effect on May 1, intensifying the crackdown on Christianity in the country.

The newly revised rules explicitly prohibit non-Chinese citizens living in China from preaching without authorization, founding religious schools, producing or selling religious literature, accepting religious donations, or recruiting Chinese citizens as religious followers, according to Mission News Network.

Foreign clergy can only preach if officially invited by state-sanctioned religious institutions, and all preaching content must receive prior government approval.

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Chinese state media have stated the restrictions promote national security, describing the measures as protective of normal religious activities, noted the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern.

The CCP typically defines normal religious activities as those conducted strictly within the confines of state-controlled institutions. Independent religious groups operating outside these boundaries are often branded by the government as cultish or extremist.

The new legislation reflects Chinas ongoing campaign under President Xi Jinping to assert tighter control over religious practices within its borders. Xi first articulated a goal to Sinicize all religions in 2016, a policy designed to ensure religious loyalty aligns with the priorities of the Communist Party.

Consequently, state-run religious institutions such as the Protestant Three-Self Church and the Chinese Catholic Patriotic Association have emerged as approved channels for religious activities.

The independent house church movement has particularly felt the effects of this policy shift. Raids and arrests targeting house church members have become commonplace, as Chinese authorities seek to dismantle groups deemed to pose threats to political security and social stability.

A report by Chinas Global Times earlier this year explicitly boasted about increased efforts by public security authorities to dismantle such groups in 2024, noted The Washington Stand.

The Ministry of Public Security openly admitted to increased investments in surveillance technology and manpower dedicated to monitoring and curtailing the activities of independent religious organizations.

China uses extensive technological surveillance to monitor citizens movements and associations, assessing their loyalty to the Communist Party. This system particularly targets individuals associated with unregistered house churches or those inclined toward religious practices outside state-sanctioned frameworks.

However, Chinese officials maintain their stance that religious freedom exists within China, albeit within strictly controlled parameters. According to representatives from religious organizations already active in China, the new regulation will make foreign engagement significantly more difficult but does not entirely halt religious activities.

Organizations such as Bibles for China, already active within state-sanctioned structures, believe their operations might not immediately suffer under the new rules. However, foreign missionary efforts  especially involving visits, meetings with pastors and direct involvement on the ground  will likely become substantially more challenging.

Funding from foreign sources for religious initiatives within China also faces increased scrutiny.

Arielle Del Turco, director of the Center for Religious Liberty at the Family Research Council, expressed serious concern.

She told the Stand that Chinas justification of national security is inappropriate, and banning foreign missionaries will harm Chinas international relations.

Del Turco urged the U.S. government to closely monitor the developments due to potential implications for American citizens visiting China. She recommended that American leaders publicly condemn the Chinese governments actions and keep a watchful eye on religious freedom conditions within the country.
Home News Ark. latest state to require Ten Commandments, 'In God We Trust' displays in public school classrooms

Arkansas has become the latest state to require Ten Commandments displays in public school classrooms as debate about the historic document's presence in schools continues.

Arkansas Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders signed Senate Bill 433 into law Monday, one of several measures she approved. Sanders approval of the legislation follows its passage by the Republican-controlled Arkansas Senate in a 27-4 vote and the Republican-controlled Arkansas House of Representatives in a 71-20 vote.

The vote in the Senate fell along party lines, with all support for the measure coming from Republicans and all opposition coming from Democrats. In the House, two Republicans sided with Democrats in opposing the legislation.

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The bill requires all classrooms and libraries in all public elementary, secondary and postsecondary schools, as well as all buildings in the state maintained by taxpayer funds, to display a poster or framed copy of the U.S. national motto In God We Trust and a poster or framed copy of The Ten Commandments. Additional requirements for classrooms and libraries at public schools and colleges, in addition to public buildings, include displays of the U.S. and Arkansas flags.

Sanders approval of Senate Bill 433 comes less than a week after she signed House Bill 1705, which was passed by the House in a 76-19 vote and the Senate in a 28-5 vote. The votes on House Bill 1705 in both chambers fell along party lines, with all support coming from Republicans and all opposition coming from Democrats.

House Bill 1705 requires the Arkansas Board of Education to incorporate information that addresses the founding of the United States, including the founding fathers and their religious and moral beliefs and how their religious and moral beliefs influenced the founding documents of the United States, into social studies curriculum for public school students in grades six through 12.

The curriculum will focus on the quotation in the Declaration of Independence stating, We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

It will also examine the identity of the Creator as viewed by the Founding Fathers and the degree to which the Founding Fathers relied on The Ten Commandments, Mosaic Law and the New Testament when formulating American law and public policy.

In a statement provided to The Christian Post on Thursday, Liberty Counsel founder and Chairman Mat Staver reacted to Sanders approval of both bills. We commend Arkansas legislators for taking steps to display the Ten Commandments and give students a proper education on the Founders religious and moral convictions, he said. The Founders knew our inalienable rights come from God, not government, and that the role of government is to protect those rights.

In addition, the Ten Commandments have indelibly shaped American law and government. Understanding the historical context in which the nation was founded and the foundational principles of our laws is a key to preserving our nation, he added.

Former talk show host Phil McGraw discussed the debate about the placement of the Ten Commandments in schools on Fridays episode of his podcast The Real Story, which coincided with Good Friday. He shared his opinion that Ten Commandments displays were needed to counteract what he described as the false gods of social media, money, celebrities and politicians.

Arkansas isn't the first state to pass legislation requiring public school classrooms to display The Ten Commandments. Last year, Louisiana became the first state to institute such a requirement.

While a federal judge issued a ruling blocking the law from taking effect last November in response to a lawsuit filed by the ACLU, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Americans United for Separation of Church and State, a federal appellate court limited the ruling to only apply to school districts where parents were challenging the measure.
Home News Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo defends hosting campaign for Karmelo Anthony Co-founders suggest suspect in fatal stabbing of Austin Metcalf suffered 'traumatic experience'

Correction appended

The founders of the Christian crowdfunding site GiveSendGo are standing firm in their decision to host a fundraiser for the family of Karmelo Anthony, who is awaiting trial for the murder of Austin Metcalf.

Launched on April 15, the Help Karmelo Official Fund has raised over $484,000 for Anthony, who is charged with murder in the deadly stabbing of 17-year-old Metcalf at a Frisco Independent School District stadium on April 2 during a track and field event.

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Anthony, a student at Frisco Centennial High School, located about 20 miles north of Dallas, was released from jail after his $1 million bond was reduced to $250,000 by Collin County Judge Angela Tucker. Under the terms of his bail, Anthony is required to wear an ankle monitor and must obtain permission to leave home, according to WFAA.

Metcalf, 17, an 11th grader at Frisco Memorial High School, died after witnesses told police Anthony stabbed him during an altercation in the bleachers.

At least two other fundraisers linked to the Anthony family had raised over $800,000 before GoFundMe removed multiple fundraising campaigns for Anthony, citing their policy against raising funds for the legal defense of violent crimes.

The GiveSendGo page, however, remains active as of Friday, which has drawn criticism from some who think the Delaware-based site is violating its own policy, which prohibits "campaigns that are racist, hateful, potentially libelous, support or promote physical violence, or are intended to financially benefit individuals for the commission of violent crimes."

Heather Wilson, co-CEO of GiveSendGo, told CP on Friday she doesnt believe the page is in violation of company policy.

The key word in that clause is commission  campaigns intended to benefit individuals for committing violent crimes, she said. In this case, a legal process is still ongoing, and no conviction has been made. We do not have firsthand access to evidence or court proceedings, so we do not label someone guilty before the courts do. This standard has applied to other campaigns on our platform in the past, and we continue to apply it consistently.

Despite reports that the Anthony family purchased a new home and a Cadillac with the funds, Kala Hayes, Anthony's mother, said during a news conference on Thursday that such claims were completely false and that the family has yet to receive the funds raised through GiveSendGo.

A note added to the campaign's page on April 17 says, While legal defense is a critical part of this journey, we want to make it clear that this fund is not solely dedicated to legal expenses. The funds raised will also support a range of urgent and necessary needs that have emerged as a result of this situation, including  but not limited to  the safe relocation of the Anthony family due to escalating threats to their safety and well-being, as well as basic living costs, transportation, counseling, and other security measures.

Her words echoed that of her sibling and GiveSendGo co-founder, Jacob Wells, who suggested in an April 7 post on X that Anthony had "just gone through a serious traumatic experience."

Wilson said, ultimately, however the Anthony family chooses to use the money is up to them.

Once funds are released to a campaign owner, we dont micromanage or control how theyre used unless theres a direct violation of our terms of service, she said. From what the family has shared, theyve experienced significant trauma, displacement and concern for their safety. If they were to use funds to secure stable housing during this time, that may be controversial, but it is not against our policies.

In a follow-up statement to CP, Wilson explained that GiveSendGo was launched in 2014 because the founders saw the opportunity in crowdfunding and wanted to create a platform that not only made fundraising accessible  but also shared hope in Jesus with every campaign. GiveSendGo has faced controversy in the past for allowing crowdfunding pages for Kyle Rittenhouse, Daniel Penny and others who were accused of violent crimes before ultimately being cleared of all charges.

Anthonys ongoing legal status, however, has made GiveSendGo a target for Christians and conservatives alike, a challenge that has left Wilson seeking solace straight from the source.

This season has been heavy, said Wilson. Ive wrestled with the weight of public criticism, the pain of victims families, and the burden of making hard, unpopular decisions. But it has also driven me deeper into the heart of God, into prayer, into Scripture, and into remembering that truth and grace must coexist.

Correction: An earlier version of this article, published on April 18, 2025, stated that GiveSendGo was founded in 2014 "as a response to GoFundMe's perceived bias against Christian campaigns." This article has been corrected to state that the online fundraising platform was launched because its founders wanted to create a platform that not only made fundraising accessible  but also shared hope in Jesus with every campaign.
Home Opinion Are you excited about living forever?

I suspect you have looked forward to various trips over the years with some excitement. But how often do you celebrate the fact that as a follower of Christ, you will live forever in a place of complete perfection? Do you draw comfort every day from this astounding certainty, or are you so bogged down by worry and stress that you rarely make the choice to rejoice about living forever in Paradise?

Does the guarantee of everlasting life fill you with hope, or does the topic seem rather boring to you? If the historical facts and biblical promises surrounding Easter do not thrill your soul, then renew your mind with God's Word as you empty yourself of any ungodly thoughts and sinful intentions that are preventing you from being filled with the joy of the Lord. And then ask your Father in Heaven to empower you through the Holy Spirit to eagerly anticipate the "eternal pleasures" (Psalm 16:11) that await every child of God.

Just think: As a follower of Christ, you have "an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in Heaven for you" (1 Peter 1:4). Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes Him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life" (John 5:24). Did you catch that? As a believer in Jesus, you already have eternal life! It began the moment you were born again through faith in the Savior.

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Christ's disciples were stunned and elated when they discovered they could actually cast demons out of people in the name of Jesus. But the Messiah cautioned them, "Do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in Heaven" (Luke 10:20).

In other words, be jubilant about the spectacular existence that awaits you throughout eternity. (see Revelation 21:1-27) Jesus said, "In my Father's house are many rooms...I am going there to prepare a place for you" (John 14:2-3). It is a real place that will blow your mind the minute you arrive there!

How many years have you lived in your house or apartment? Multiply that number by 70 trillion, and you barely scratch the surface of eternity. The Gospel message (see John 3:16) has the power, when combined with faith, to transport you to Heaven where the overflowing joy will never end and the thrill will never wear off. The mind of man cannot fully comprehend or appreciate the magnitude of living forever in Paradise.

Many circumstances in this world are depressing to even think about, let alone experience. So, what have you been contemplating lately? Have you been filling your mind with junk, or instead, feasting upon eternal insights in God's Word, resting in the assurance of God's promises, and celebrating the victory Jesus won for you at the cross?

If you have not already done so, you can bow before King Jesus today and receive by faith the forgiveness of sins and the free gift of everlasting life. But if you insist on living without the Lord in your life, God will allow you to remain stuck in unbelief and separated from your Creator forever.

It is not natural to rejoice in the Gospel, but rather, supernatural! The only way to grasp and believe this good news is through the power of the Holy Spirit. Do you deeply appreciate the agonizing sacrifice Jesus completed for your sins on the cross? Are you trusting Jesus to wash away your sins, or are you oblivious to the whole thing? Jesus said, "Flesh gives birth to flesh, but the Spirit gives birth to spirit" (John 3:6). So, are you born again and forgiven of your sins?

Mindy Tagliente is extremely thankful today to have been born again through the supernatural power of the Gospel (see Romans 1:16). You see, Mindy had been experimenting with new age practices before her friend challenged her to pray. It led to an "encounter with Jesus that changed everything." Mindy said, "I went on a 30-day Jesus quest!"

What do you suppose will happen if you spend the next 30 days focused on developing a close relationship with Jesus? The Bible says, "Come near to God and He will come near to you" (James 4:8). Jesus said, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest" (Matthew 11:28). Those who refuse to come to Jesus end up regretting it, whereas those who seek Jesus discover things they didn't even know were possible.

Your soul needs to be saved by the supernatural power of God before you will ever be thrilled about the Gospel. After all, what makes you think you don't need to be forgiven of your sins like everyone else? Believe it or not, you absolutely need the risen Savior! Thankfully, Christ came to Earth to rescue you from sin and eternal separation from God.

Jesus said, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?" (John 11:25,26).

Jesus asks you the same question today my friend. Do you believe that Jesus truly is the resurrection and the life, and that through faith in Him, you can live with God forever in Heaven? If you do not yet believe this good news, will you do so right now in this holy moment? If you will place your faith in the risen Savior, the Gospel will begin to thrill your soul like never before. You have God's Word on it!
Home Opinion When presidents preach: 2 Easters, 2 very different messages

What a difference a year makes.

In 2024, President Biden made headlines  and history  for declaring Easter Sunday to be Transgender Day of Visibility. It wasnt just tone-deaf. It was a spiritually defiant celebration of sinful disorder. But this year, under President Trump, Easter looks and sounds very different.

Rather than competing narratives or conflicting declarations, the Trump Administration delivered a message of clarity, stating in part:

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This week is a time of reflection for Christians to memorialize Jesus crucifixion  and to prepare their hearts, minds, and souls for His miraculous Resurrection from the dead. Through His suffering, we have redemption. Through His death, we are forgiven of our sins. Through His Resurrection, we have hope of eternal life. On Easter morning, the stone is rolled away, the tomb is empty, and light prevails over darknesssignaling that death does not have the final word.

This proclamation goes deeper than the culture war rhetoric weve come to expect in politics. Instead, its a reverent reflection on the theological underpinnings of the historic Christian faith  the living Son of God who conquered sin and death and offers grace and salvation to all those who repent and believe.

Its hard to overstate how jarring this shift is. In 2024, Christians were told  without apology  that their most sacred day should also serve as a celebration of perverse gender ideology. In 2025, Americans are reminded that Easter is a celebration of the Five Solas, chiefly in Christ alone.

Let's be clear: no politician can save us. Jesus alone is Savior and Lord. But leadership still matters  because what a leader chooses to honor reveals what a nation values.

In recent months, President Trump has spoken clearly on Gods providence, Americas Christian heritage, and Christs ultimate authority over sin and death. It reflects a new posture for our nation.

This Eastertide is a prime time to pause and take inventory of our nations soul.

Are we a country that bows before God, or a nation that tries to replace Him? Do we acknowledge the author of life, or do we demand the pen for ourselves? The way we answer these questions will shape our future more than any election ever could.

America doesnt need another photo op, press release, or Truth Social post. It needs revival. May many reflect, perhaps for the first time, on the glorious Easter story rooted in the saving grace of the Gospel. And may many others revisit their faith, remembering that the only reason we have hope  now and forever  is because the tomb is empty, and Jesus is King.
A Boeing 737 Max 8 airplane of China Southern Airlines lands at Wuhan Tianhe International Airport as the Boeing 737 Max returns to passenger flying in China after a hiatus of nearly four years on January 13, 2023 in Wuhan, Hubei Province of China.

A Boeing jet earmarked for China was returning to the United States on Friday, flight tracking data showed, as the planemaker's flagship delivery plant outside Shanghai was drawn into a deepening tariff war between Beijing and Washington.

The return of one of several jets waiting for final work and handover to a Chinese carrier at the completion center in Zhoushan is the latest sign of disruption to deliveries from a breakdown in the industry's decades-old duty-free status.

In a sign that Boeing was preparing for normal business just weeks before U.S. President Donald Trump announced tariffs on April 2, three new 737 Max planes had flown from Boeing in Seattle to Zhoushan in March.

Another arrived last week at Zhoushan, where Boeing installs interiors and paints liveries before handing over to customers, according to Flightradar24 data.

But on Friday, one of the first batch of jets took off again without being delivered and flew from Zhoushan to the U.S. territory of Guam  one of the stops such flights make as they cross the Pacific  indicating it was heading back to Seattle.

Boeing declined to comment.

The 5,000-mile trip back to Boeing's main factory comes as the planemaker's business in China is under scrutiny over the tariff dispute.

Bloomberg News reported earlier this week that Boeing faced a Chinese ban on imports, part of the escalating confrontation over U.S. President Donald Trump's "reciprocal" global tariffs.

There has been no official comment from Beijing, or in Chinese state media.

Senior aviation and aerospace industry sources told Reuters they were not aware of formal instructions against taking Boeing planes.

Even so, industry sources and analysts widely agreed that the imposition of tariffs on U.S. goods by Beijing in response to Trump's actions would effectively block aircraft imports without any formal ban.

One senior industry source said Boeing and suppliers were planning on the basis that it would not be delivering planes to China for the time being.

Photos posted to plane-spotting websites in February showed that the repatriated plane was decorated with a livery for Xiamen Airlines, majority owned by China Southern 600029.SS.

One source said it was expected to be delivered to Xiamen, which did not reply to a request for comment.

Aviation publication The Air Current, which first reported the decision to withdraw some undelivered jets from Zhoushan, said one unnamed Chinese airline had separately walked away from a commitment to lease a Boeing aircraft.

Industry sources said the return flight came despite some discussions over leaving undelivered jets in bonded storage, meaning they would not be officially imported or tariffed.

Chinese customs did not reply to a request for comment.
A newspaper featuring the headline story on indirect negotiations between Iran and the United States in Muscat, Oman, is displayed at a newsstand in Tehran, Iran, on April 12, 2025.

Iran and the United States plan to meet over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program again next week, after both sides said they made progress in their talks Saturday in Rome.

A U.S. official confirmed that at a point during the negotiations in Rome, President Donald Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff and Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi spoke face to face.

Before they meet again in Oman on April 26, Araghchi said technical-level talks would be held in the coming days. That experts would be discussing details of a possible deal suggests movement in the talks and comes as Trump has pushed for a rapid agreement while threatening military action against Iran.

The sides "made very good progress in our direct and indirect discussions," according to a senior Trump administration official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss a private diplomatic meeting.

In a post on X, Araghchi similarly said they made "progress on principles and objectives of a possible deal." He added, however, that "optimism may be warranted but only with a great deal of caution."

He told Iranian state television earlier that "I hope that we will be in a better position after the technical talks."

While the U.S. said both direct and indirect discussions were held, Iranian officials described them as indirect, like those last weekend in Muscat, Oman, with Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi shuttling between them in different rooms.

"These talks are gaining momentum and now even the unlikely is possible," al-Busaidi said on X.

In a separate post, Oman's Foreign Ministry said the sides agreed to keep talking to seek a deal that ensures Iran is "completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, and maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy."

That talks are even happening represents a historic moment, given the decades of enmity between the two countries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution and the U.S. Embassy hostage crisis. Trump, in his first term, unilaterally withdrew from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in 2018, setting off years of attacks and negotiations that failed to restore the accord that drastically limited Tehran's enrichment of uranium in exchange for the lifting of economic sanctions.
Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council via a video link in Moscow, Russia, April 1, 2025.

Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow, but voiced skepticism after Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary Easter truce in Ukraine starting Saturday.

The announcement from Kyiv came as Russia and Ukraine conducted their largest prisoner exchange since Moscow's full-scale invasion started over three years ago. Putin announced a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine starting Saturday, citing humanitarian reasons. According to the Kremlin, the ceasefire will last from 6 p.m. Moscow time (1500 GMT) on Saturday to midnight (2100 GMT) following Easter Sunday.

Putin offered no details on how the ceasefire would be monitored or whether it would cover airstrikes or ongoing ground battles that rage around the clock.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said if Russia is genuinely ready to observe a full and unconditional ceasefire, Ukraine will mirror that approach and strike only in defense.

He said such a gesture, particularly over the Easter weekend, could reveal Moscow's true intentions.

"If a full ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond Easter Day on April 20," Zelenskyy said on Telegram. "That will reveal Russia's true intentions, as 30 hours are enough for headlines, but not for genuine confidence-building measures."

Zelenskyy added that, according to military reports, Russian assaults and artillery fire continued along parts of the 1,000-kilometer (600-mile) long front line.

In response to the ceasefire announcement, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said that Kyiv had in March "agreed unconditionally to the U.S. proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days," which Russia rejected.

"Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days," Sybiha continued, writing on X. "Unfortunately, we have had a long history of his statements not matching his actions."

Putin's ceasefire announcement came after U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday said negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are "coming to a head" and insisted that neither side is "playing" him in his push to end the grinding three-year war.
Stablecoin legislation could fuel an explosion in the supply of the cryptocurrencies whose value is pegged to an external asset, spurring demand for U.S. Treasurys and helping support the dominance of the U.S. dollar, according to analysts at Standard Chartered. Stablecoin assets  most of which are backed by Treasury bills  could grow to $2 trillion by the end of 2028 if President Donald Trump signs legislation this summer clarifying U.S. regulations, Geoff Kendrick, a London-based analyst at the bank, said in a note this week, up from $230 billion today. That could generate $1.6 trillion of new demand for Treasury bills  securities maturing in a year or less  which issuers of stablecoins would buy for their reserves and would absorb all new bill issuance planned for President Donald Trump's second term, according to Kendrick. "Rising demand for USD-denominated stablecoin reserves would create additional demand for USD," the said, referring to the U.S. dollar. "It should further entrench USD dominance of stablecoins, which is likely to be sticky given strong network effects in digital assets. As stablecoin usage increases, this additional source of USD demand should support USD hegemony, acting as a medium-term offset against the current threat to USD hegemony on the back of tariff concerns." Unlike bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies , stablecoins are designed to have a stable value against a non-crypto asset, usually the U.S. dollar. Their market cap has grown about 11% this year and about 47% in the past year, dominated primarily by Tether and USD Coin . Typically, they're used for trading and as collateral in decentralized finance (DeFi), and stablecoins are closely watched for evidence of demand, liquidity and activity in the market. Trading volume in stablecoins has increased this year as the industry grows increasingly confident that the crypto market will soon see its first piece of U.S. legislation passed, focusing on stablecoins. The GENIUS Act was cleared by the Senate Banking Committee in March, while the STABLE Act cleared the House Financial Services Committee earlier this month. Both clarify regulations governing stablecoins. "Our estimate that the stablecoin industry will need to buy USD 1.6 [trillion] of T-bills over the next four years (USD 400bn a year) suggests that the industry could well account for the largest buying flow of any sector across all U.S. Treasuries," Kendrick wrote in a 9-page report out last Tuesday. "Based on the post-Covid trends of the past four years, the only similar-sized demand was from foreign buyers, but this was spread across T-bills, notes and bonds." Unlike shorter term bills, Treasury notes and bonds have maturities ranging from two- to 30 years . A rise in stablecoin reserves would also boost demand for U.S. dollars, Kendrick said, supporting its position as the leading global currency for payments, despite rising trade tensions that have recently served to weaken the greenback's value and suggested risks to its global preeminence. "Given the USD's starting role as the main currency in international transactions, if stablecoins make the USD even easier to use, demand for USD assets to back stablecoins is likely to increase," Kendrick said. "The holy grail of international finance is finding an alternative to the USD that offers the same flexibility and liquidity as the USD," he added. "On the face of it, stablecoin development could initially increase the attractiveness of USD assets if innovation were concentrated in USD stablecoins. The strength of network effects in digital assets suggests that USD dominance, once cemented further, will be difficult to usurp." CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed reporting. Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE Join us at the New York Stock Exchange! Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE , an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today's dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12. Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You'll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited!
SENSITIVE MATERIAL. THIS IMAGE MAY OFFEND OR DISTURB People attend the "Protect Migrants, Protect the Planet" protest in New York City on April 19, 2025.

Opponents of President Donald Trump's administration took to the streets of communities large and small across the U.S. on Saturday, decrying what they see as threats to the nation's democratic ideals.

The disparate events ranged from rallies in midtown Manhattan and in front of the White House to a demonstration at a Massachusetts commemoration marking the start of the American Revolutionary War 250 years ago.

Thomas Bassford drove from his home some three hours away in Maine to witness the reenactment of the Battles of Lexington and Concord and "the shot heard 'round the world" on April 19, 1775, that heralded the start of the nation's war for independence from Britain.

The 80-year-old retired mason said he believed Americans today are under attack from their own government and need to stand up against it.

"This is a very perilous time in America for liberty," he said, as he first battles of the war for Independence with his partner, daughter and two grandsons.. "I wanted the boys to learn about the origins of this country and that sometimes we have to fight for freedom."

Elsewhere, protests were planned outside Tesla car dealerships against billionaire Trump adviser Elon Musk and his role in downsizing the federal government while still others organized more community-service events, such as food drives, teach-ins and volunteering at local shelters.

The protests come just two weeks after similar nationwide protests against the Trump administration drew thousands to the streets across the country.

Organizers say they're protesting against what they view as Trump's civil rights and constitutional violations, including efforts to deport scores of immigrants and scale back the federal government by firing thousands of government workers and effectively shutter entire agencies.

Some of the events drew on the spirit of the American Revolutionary War, calling for "no kings" and resistance to tyranny.

Boston resident George Bryant was among those who turned out in Concord. He said he was concerned Trump was creating a "police state" in America as he held up a sign saying, "Trump fascist regime must go now!"

"He's defying the courts. He's kidnapping students. He's eviscerating the checks and balances," Bryant said. "This is fascism."

In Washington, Bob Fasick said he came out to the rally by the White House out of concern about threats to constitutionally protected due process rights, as well as Social Security and other federal safety-net programs.

The Trump administration, among other things, has moved to shutter Social Security Administration field offices, cut funding for government health programs and scale back protections for transgender people.

"I cannot sit still knowing that if I don't do anything and everybody doesn't do something to change this, that the world that we collectively are leaving for the little children, for our neighbors is simply not one that I would want to live," said the 76-year-old retired federal employee from Springfield, Virginia.

And in Manhattan, protesters rallied against continued deportations of immigrants from the steps of the New York Public Library.

"No fear, no hate, no ICE in our state," they chanted to the rat-ta-tat of drums, referring to the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Melinda Charles, of Connecticut, said she was most worried about what she viewed as Trump's "executive overreach," citing his clashes with the federal courts to Harvard University and other elite colleges that he views as too liberal.

"We're supposed to have three equal branches of government and to have the executive branch become so strong, I mean, it's just unbelievable," she said.
People walk through Harvard Yard on the Harvard University campus in Cambridge, Massachussetts, on April 15, 2025.

The White House letter sent to Harvard University outlining a list of demands about the university's hiring and admissions was sent without authorization, according to the New York Times, citing two unnamed people familiar with the matter.

The April 11 letter, which demanded that Harvard eliminate its DEI programs and screen international students for ideological concerns, among other sweeping changes, was "unauthorized," people familiar with the matter told the Times.

The contents of the letter were authentic, but "there were differing accounts inside the administration of how it had been mishandled," per the Times.

The letter was signed by Josh Gruenbaum, the commissioner of the General Services Administration, Sean R. Kevney, the acting general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services and Thomas E. Wheeler, the acting general counsel of the Department of Education.

A Harvard spokesperson said in a statement to CNBC that "the letter that Harvard received on Friday, April 11, was signed by three federal officials, placed on official letterhead, was sent from the e-mail inbox of a senior federal official, and was sent on April 11 as promised."

"Recipients of such correspondence from the U.S. governmenteven when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreachdo not question its authenticity or seriousness," the spokesperson said.

"It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the government's recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government actually meant to do and say," the spokesperson added.

"But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences on students, patients, employees, and the standing of American higher education in the world."

The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on the New York Times report.

The April 11 letter set off a public feud between the White House and Harvard.

The university on Monday rejected the White House's demands that were put forth in the April 11 letter, putting almost $9 billion in federal funding for the university at risk.

The White House quickly fired back and, in response, said it would freeze approximately $2.2 billion in grants to the university.

According to the New York Times, the April 11 letter came as lawyers at Harvard University were in dialogue with the White House about how the school handled antisemitism and other issues.
Turkmenistan, widely known as one of the most isolated nations in the world, has enacted a new law on Friday aimed at simplifying the process for foreigners to enter the country by introducing electronic visas.Since gaining independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, the Central Asian state  rich in natural gas  has maintained tight control over entry into its territory. Foreign travellers have long been required to secure a visa in advance and submit a formal "letter of invitation." Even with all documentation in order, applicants were often denied entry without clear explanation.Under the newly adopted legislation, international visitors will now be able to complete a simplified visa application process online. The requirement for visa support letters will be dropped, facilitating smoother travel for business purposes and potentially opening the door to increased international tourism.According to the state-run newspaper Neutral Turkmenistan, President Serdar Berdymukhamedov will determine the types of electronic visas to be offered, their duration, and the procedures for issuing them.Turkmenistan has been under authoritarian rule since independence and continues to rely heavily on its abundant natural gas exports. However, recent developments suggest a cautious shift towards greater regional engagement.In a notable move this March, the country launched a long-anticipated gas swap agreement with Turkiye. This marks the first time Turkmen gas has been routed westward through a channel that bypasses Russia, representing a major development in bilateral energy ties.The new visa policy is seen as a step towards making Turkmenistan more accessible and aligning with broader regional economic and trade initiatives.
The Chevy Silverado was the No. 1 target for vehicle thieves in both 2022 and the first part of 2023. There were two Ford truck models on this year's top ten list, the F-150 and the F-250.
How dare he excuse Russian barbarism. Not the Kremlin's blood-soaked dictator, Putin, but his pal, the US President Donald Trump, who blithely declared on Monday: 'I was told they made a mistake.'

A mistake? Let's consider what happened in Sumy on Palm Sunday.

On that sun-drenched start to Easter Week, a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile slammed into the centre of the Ukrainian city, which has a population similar in size to that of Southampton or Cincinnati in the United States.

Result: carnage. Dozens of dead and wounded civilians, including children. Horrific images of pavements strewnwith casualties.

Minutes later, another Iskander-M missile landed on, or near, the same spot. Certainly in time to finish off survivors of the first impact and kill or maim the local emergency services' responders who had reached the scene.

For the record, Iskander-Ms are accurate to within seven metres of their aiming point. Each carries a massive warhead, around 700kg of high explosive.

A Russian 'mistake' Mr Trump? If so, I've seen a few like it since the start of Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

There was the ghastly kilometre of the E-40 highway west of Kyiv on April Fool's Day 2022. As the mist lifted, it revealed to us a trail of bloated and burned corpses  of civilians who a month earlier had been gunned down by Russian forces as they tried to flee the Ukrainian capital in their cars.

A Russian Iskander-M slammed into the Ukrainian city of Sumy last week causing dozens of deaths (Pictured: Sumy on April 13)

Iskander-Ms are accurate to within seven metres of their aiming point. Each carries a massive warhead, around 700kg of high explosive (Pictured: Sumy on April 13)

A Ukrainian is pictured on April 13 in tears over the body of one of his relatives following the atrocity in Sumy last week

In nearby Bucha, I watched as the rotting bodies of executed residents were exhumed from a mass grave. More than 400 were murdered in the Kyiv satellite town during the brief Russian occupation.

I'd just arrived in Kyiv earlier this month when news came through of a hotel in Dnipro where I've often stayed on the way to the Donbas front line.

The Bartolomeo, next to the Dnieper River, had been hit in a Shahed drone attack on the city. I remember watching a joyous wedding take place there last summer. Now it was on fire.

A mistake  like the destruction of the pizza restaurants I once patronised in Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk or the turreted hotel in Sloviansk that was called 'Camelot'. All reduced to rubble by Russian missiles, often with mass civilian casualties.

Mistake, after mistake, after mistake.

Of course what happened in Sumy was not a 'mistake' but yet another terror attack, designed to crush the morale of the Ukrainian population.

It is all of a piece with the nightly Shahed blitzes, the winter targeting of the energy infrastructure, the hunting of civilians by Russian FPV kamikaze drones in the streets of Kherson and the recent fatal strike on a children's playground in President Zelensky's home city of Kryvyi Rih.

In his desire to cut a self-aggrandising 'peace' deal with Russia  never mind what the Ukrainians think of the Putin-dictated terms  Trump has become an apologist for murder.

US President Donald Trump announced on Monday: 'I was told they made a mistake'

An atrocity is likened by him to an error of judgment, a slip of the pen. A wrong answer. He is making excuses for Putin, writes Richard Pendlebury

An atrocity is likened by him to an error of judgment, a slip of the pen. A wrong answer. He is making excuses for Putin.

How do we categorise murder on an even greater scale? Was the Holocaust simply a 'big mistake'?

This Holy Week, furious Ukrainians have taken to social media to make such comparisons and lambast Trump.

'Maybe the September 11, 2001 attack on the Twin Towers by Al Qaeda extremists was also a mistake?' asked one woman. 'Not a terrorist act, but a mistake?'

Another wrote: 'They were wrong. Twice. What unfortunate mistakes! God, how pathetic this is [that] people have entrusted the management of a great country to a pathetic slug. This is truly a mistake.'

Even before his Sumy utterances, Trump's standing among Ukrainians was plunging fast.

There was shock when he opened ceasefire negotiations with Russia without Ukraine being at the table.

This turned to anger and disbelief following the extraordinary televised dressing down Trump and his Vice-President JD Vance gave Zelensky at the White House in February. Soon afterwards, Trump paused US military aid and intelligence sharing.

During my recent visit, I noticed how disaffection was showing even on one of Kyiv's most striking landmarks  a little green car on display in St Michael's Square.

A bakery facility in Sumy was left ruined after the a Russian drone attack on Sumy on April 18

The surrounding area was left in tatters, with rubber and debris lying everywhere. A 51-year-old businessman was killed in the attack

It used to belong to the Samolylenko family from Bucha. The last journey they made in it was on March 14th, 2022, when they attempted to flee the killing zone, only to be stopped by a hail of Russian bullets.

One can still see the holes where at least seven rounds passed through the driver's door, severely wounding Mr Samolyenko. Others penetrated the rear passenger compartment, almost killing a female relative.

After the invaders withdrew from the Kyiv region, the city fathers began to collect the wrecks of Putin's failed armoured thrust. Two dozen burned-out tanks were arranged into a kind of atrocity exhibition on the cobbles of St Michael's Square.

Incongruous among the otherwise military exhibits, was  and is  the Samolyenko's lime green saloon.

At first, only bullet holes marred its paintwork. But over the years, passers-by began to decorate the bodywork in a different manner.

Doves of peace and blue and yellow flags appeared.

Mostly, though, the additions were graffiti which expressed civilian Ukraine's defiance. The most common comment can be translated as 'Putin is a ****head'.

The number of ruined tanks on display has steadily shrunk since 2022  perhaps to be melted down into new ones. But the little car remains. And in recent weeks a new kind of graffiti has appeared on its now iconic bodywork.

A soldier stands in front of The Wall of Remembrance of the Fallen for Ukraine at St Michael's Square, Kyiv

During a meeting at the Oval Office in February, President Trump and JD Vance asked President Zelensky of Ukraine to be more grateful

On the driver's door, an unknown hand has scrawled in black marker pen: 'Elon Musk Dumb Ass'.

Below that, and just above where the burst of bullets struck, someone else has written, in larger, capital letters, the unequivocal message: F*** TRUMP.

Such new emotions are expressed in a number of ways here. Recently, I took a Facetime call from a Ukrainian friend serving in a unit on the crucial Pokrovsk front. He was travelling in the back of a lurching military SUV.

After exchanging greetings, he asked me: 'Notice anything about my appearance?'

I squinted at the phone screen and shrugged. He seemed to be wearing the same body armour and camouflage he always wore.

'I've taken off the American flag,' he said. And so he had.

A half Stars and Stripes-half Ukraine flag had been Velcroed to his body armour since I first met him in Donbas in spring 2023. Now it was gone.

He had loved America. No more.

'Bring me a British flag when you come next time to replace it,' he said. 'I know we can still trust you guys.'

Others here don't want to hear about Trump, even though he has their futures in his hands. It's simply too frightening and depressing.

Donald Trump has repeatedly blamed Ukraine's Zelensky for starting the ongoing conflict with

Richard Pendlebury (pictured) writes: Perhaps he should reassure them it's all simply a 'mistake' rather than attempted murder. With friends like Trump, Putin can make as many mistakes as he likes

'Honey, look what Trump...' began my friend Oleks to his wife, as he scrolled through the latest presidential pronouncements on social media last week.

'Stop right there!' she shrieked. 'I don't want to know what that man's just said.'

And so the conversation ended.

They have two daughters, one an early teenager, the other nine, and live on the eighth floor of a block of flats  far above the building's basement air raid shelter.

Oleks says the nine-year-old spends, on average, four nights a week sleeping in their apartment's enamel bath tub.

The bathroom doesn't have windows so it's the 'safest' place.

The girl is very scared. But the Russian blitz  the nightly mistakes according to Trump  has become an integral part of her young life.

'One night she had a sleepover with some school friends and then there was an air raid alert,' Oleks recalled.

'We moved them out into the corridor. I could hear them talking amongst themselves.

'They were looking at their smart phones and discussing what they were seeing on the official Ukraine air raid app.

'They were assessing whether the raid was a ballistic missile or a Shahed drone attack. Imagine! These girls are nine years old.'

Perhaps he should reassure them it's all simply a 'mistake' rather than attempted murder.

With friends like Trump, Putin can make as many mistakes as he likes.
It is true that a woman cant have a penis, but it is just as true that Britain, where Parliament is supreme, cant have a Supreme Court. In fact, we jolly well shouldnt have one. Dont lets get carried away by a rare sane decision from this horrible Blairite tribunal.

Rejoice all you like over this outcome, but its just the victory of one Left-wing faction over another. The moderately mad Leftists, who want to abolish husbands and fathers, are still rushing about, mopping up what remains of the married family and private life. Their aim is the total triumph of the state over the individual, and they are quite near their goal. The transgender frenzy was just a tiny ultra-crazy fringe faction of this cause.

The serious revolutionaries are willing to put this aside for a bit while they get on with the main event. But I doubt that it has gone away. The people who squashed it are themselves mostly Left-wing radicals. Tory males wisely stayed out of it  they would have been chewed to bits.

Susan Smith and Marion Calder, co-directors of For Women Scotland, celebrate with campaigners outside the Supreme Court

But it pains me to watch patriots and Christians blowing up balloons because of a decision by the Supreme Court. The very title of this body is an outrage against the rule that our elected, adversarial Parliament is supreme.

It is a power grab, carefully prepared and put into action by the cunning Left-wing lawyers who were and are the inner core of the Blairite project. Remember the former head of the court, Brenda Hale, bossing about the elected government over the EU? These over-mighty judges are not elected, or even approved by any part of Parliament.

The late Tony Benn used to ask any powerful person: How can we get rid of you? It is a key question, and the Supreme Court cannot answer it.

We can only get rid of it by abolishing it before it gets too powerful. If not swiftly cancelled, it will come to be a sort of tyranny, making all our votes worthless. This danger is so vastly more important than the transgender controversy that our descendants will marvel that we did and said so little about it when we could. Why do we use all our energies instead on whether women can have dangly bits or not?

One of the main reasons for the absurd, crude view of the Ukraine war in this country is the BBC, which portrays the battle as a simple good versus bad conflict. It isnt.

This is the BBC which promises viewers: The more you try to drown out reality, the harder well work to verify the facts.

Recent BBC coverage of Russian bombing in the Ukrainian city of Sumy had a major impact, as well it might, as the deaths of civilians in war are horrible. But was there comparable coverage on the licence-fee-financed channel when, last June, Ukrainian bombs fell on a Sevastopol beach, killing Russian civilians?

They killed four, including two children, leaving 150 more injured. Kiev said at the time the Crimea was a legitimate target. I obtained all these facts from the BBCs own website, but not from any broadcast material. Perhaps it was mentioned on air, but certainly got nothing like the prominence given to the Sumy horror.

39 steps back to a great era

Taina Elg and Kenneth More in the 1959 film The 39 Steps, directed by Ralph Thomas

As so often these days, I could find nothing I wanted to see on TV, so decided to watch the 1959 Kenneth More version of that enduring thriller The 39 Steps, which I last saw 65 years ago. Its not very thrilling, but it is instead an amazing documentary about a vanished Britain.

Apart from the wonderful trains (an actual dining car appears!) people were more polite, humour was kinder, bureaucracy more flexible, children more articulate and (in one key scene) a policeman readily admits to exceeding his authority when firmly challenged.

No, it wasnt a Golden Age, but neither is this.

Email that could blow up the Letby case

Whatever are we to make of the current state of the Lucy Letby affair? The former nurse is still seeking the reopening of the case in which she was branded a mass murderess and sent to prison till she dies.

Did she get a fair trial? Not according to my esteemed colleague Glen Owen. He reported a week ago that an email sent by the consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram seems to contradict a vital chunk of the prosecution case.

Former nurse Lucy Letby is still seeking the reopening of the case in which she was branded a mass murderess

An email sent by consultant Dr Ravi Jayaram seems to contradict a vital chunk of the prosecution case against Letby

In short, this 2017 email said Ms Letby had asked Dr Jayaram for help in treating a seriously ill baby (Baby K). But in court Dr Jayaram had said she did nothing about this baby. Dr Jayarams evidence led to prosecution claims that Ms Letby had been caught virtually red-handed. This must have had a major impact on the jury. For they never heard any actual objective evidence that Ms Letby had done anything wrong. If Dr Jayarams testimony is now in doubt, it blows up the prosecution case against Ms Letby with the violence of an H-bomb.

Then, on Monday, my esteemed colleague Richard Marsden quoted a source close to the case as saying: The email was disclosed to the prosecution, Letbys defence team and the judges at the Court of Appeal before her application to appeal her conviction in relation to Baby K.

There is no material contradiction between the email and Dr Jayarams evidence, so it was deemed irrelevant.

We dont know who did this deeming. Judge for yourselves whether the email contradicts the evidence, though the answer is quite plain to me. But did the Appeal Court judges know about the email before they heard

Ms Letbys plea for leave to appeal against her conviction for the attempted murder of Baby K?

I spent some days last week asking official sources. I could find nobody who would confirm that the Appeal Court judges were informed of the email. The defence were definitely told, as the law required. The prosecution presumably knew from the police who, I think, discovered the problem. But the judges? Nobody could or would say that they had been informed.

In their judgment in October those judges said: We could not identify any matter relating to Letby which significantly departed from the evidence he [Dr Jayaram] gave in the two trials. Could they have said that if they had seen the email? I think we will be hearing more about this email before too long.
Google Dr Ravi Jayaram and he pops up as a TV personality. Its a moniker well earned having appeared as a guest doctor on This Morning, a contestant on The Weakest Link and a clown on the Big Night of Musicals  a BBC extravaganza for the National Lottery.

Yes, you read that right, an actual clown wearing a polka dot bow-tie and pink eye-shadow, performing a song routine at the Manchester Arena  this after playing a pivotal role in the conviction of Lucy Letby.

Indeed, the show aired between her trials so his decision to appear as an all-singing, all-dancing clown was tasteless, to say the least.

Perhaps it is no surprise that on the intensive care and high-dependency neonatal unit at the Countess of Chester Hospital where he worked, he was known as a media tart. If there is a camera about, hes the first there, one nurse told me.

He was desperate to appear on television. He would appear on anything, he even had his own agent, my source says.

Mind you, they add, he did have a good singing voice, but that was what he was really interested in... It was so obvious, that was where his heart was, he was desperate for fame. The nurse asked him once: Why dont you just leave medicine and go on TV full-time, Rav, if that is really what you want to do?

He replied: Its not what you do in my culture.

So he must be disappointed with Line Of Duty creator Jed Mercurio for shelving a proposed drama around the Lucy Letby case. No doubt Dr Jayaram would have been cast in a glowing light as one of the nurses main accusers, but any true-to-life depiction would need to show viewers the parlous state of the neonatal ward on which he worked.

Lucy Letby, 35, from Hereford, is serving 15 whole-life orders for killing seven babies and attempting to murder seven others at Countess of Chester Hospital between 2015 and 2016

Jed Mercurio , producer of the BBC s acclaimed series about bent coppers, was reported to be working on the project with Dr Ravi Jayaram (pictured)

The consultant paediatrician, who has appearedon The Weakest Link in 2012, was the lead clinician on the neonatal unit where Letby worked from 2009 until December 2018

He has also appeared as a clown on the Big Night of Musicals  a BBC extravaganza for the National Lottery

I was stunned to hear during Letbys trial that consultants there performed only two scheduled ward rounds a week. This was a high-risk dependency neonatal unit.

In other units across the country, its commonplace for consultants to undertake two ward rounds per day as expected when caring for premature babies hovering between life and death. Given the Countess was in receipt of considerable additional funding from the NHS to provide high-dependency care, I would like to know where the money was spent.

It certainly wasnt on staffing, which a report by the Royal College of Paediatrics said was inadequate. And there was a reluctance in junior doctors to escalate concerns over babies. How could that be when such tiny lives were at stake? Would any of these failings have made the directors cut? Or would we have been served a generic tale of a ward brimming with professionalism subverted by one malevolent nurse?

Dr Jayarams starring scene would have been when he caught Letby almost red-handed, apparently doing nothing as she hovered over Baby Ks lifeless body. The night he attended the collapse of that baby  who was born in 2016 at 25-weeks gestation  was, he has said, etched on my memory. Not etched deeply enough it seems, as this paper reported last week that the evidence he gave in court differed to an account he gave eight years ago.

When asked by the prosecution if he received a call from Letby, he replied: No, not at all. But in an email to his colleagues in 2017, he acknowledged Letby had raised the alarm. Why the discrepancy?

In an interview with ITV News, tears sprung from his eyes when journalist Tom Bradby asked if he was a hero. Dr Jayaram demurred that he wasnt. Yet the more I hear about him, the more Im reminded of the tears of a clown.
Body image is a complicated concept and something that is unique to every person.

While some people struggle with their reflection, others have learn to love what they see in the mirror - and in some cases, that love can become extremely intense.

Such people, who call themselves 'autosexuals,' are romantically and sexually attracted to themselves, may sound rare - but studies show they appear to be growing in numbers.

Chris, a 45-year-old yoga teacher from California, identifies as 'autosexual' and claims he knew his sexuality from a young age.

Speaking to FEMAIL, he revealed he began experiencing feelings of attraction towards himself from as young as 12, around the time he started puberty.

As a teenager, he began to explore his sexuality with himself and it soon developed into a full-blown love affair - with all the with intimacy, romance and sex that typically comes with a conventional relationship.

Chris said his primary partnership is the one he shares with himself, although he has dated others in the past and is currently in a long-distance partnership with a man hes been with for two years.

He is 'most turned on' by the thought of himself and regularly engages in 'mirroring', one of a number of 'affectionate' terms he used to describe making love to himself against his reflection in a mirror.

Chris, who is a yoga instructor from California in the US, knew from a young age that he wasn't like the other kids in his classes (pictured)

As a teenager, he began to explore his sexuality with himself and it soon developed into a full-blown love affair - with intimacy, romance and sex - often with mirrors - very much a part of the relationship

Chris describes his reflection as 'him' and refers to himself and his reflection as 'we'.

And he's not the only one. In 2020, Kourtney Kardashian alluded to being herself, writing on her website, Poosh: 'Are you autosexual? The short answer is yes, most likely. In fact, we all are - at least a little.

According to sex therapist, Katherine Hertlein, autosexual people are 'attracted primarily - sometimes exclusively - to their own bodies.

'Appreciated more generally, autoeroticism involves a whole range of sexual behaviours and attitudes,' she said, adding that, 'some people may be turned on by themselves exclusively, while some might be turned on by both themselves and others.'

Speaking to FEMAIL, Chris recalled sensing 'echoes and hints of something different' about himself during adolescence.

As the years passed, he increasingly felt distinct from his peers, who only ever showed interest in dating other people.

'It started when I was around 12, flirtingly,' he said.

The yoga instructor then spent a year 'building sexual tension' with himself before reaching an 'epiphany' moment in front of a mirror.

Chris said his primary partnership is the one he shares with himself, although he has dated others in the past and is currently in a long-distance partnership with a man hes been with for two years

He remembers the moment the erotic feelings he had been harbouring towards himself came to a crescendo one afternoon.

'It was in my bedroom during summer that I was 13 when I had gotten home from the beach one day,' he said. 'It had been had probably been about a year of sexual tension built up between me and myself.

'I was wearing a very small pair of yellow swim trunks, and I just looked across the room at the mirror, and what I saw staring back at me - who I saw staring back at me, just gave me goosebumps.

'It was just like when you see someone, and you start to have a crush, and I walked up to the mirror and locked eyes with him.

'I placed both my hands on the mirror and leaned in and kissed him and it just it was like electricity.

'I remember stepping back and looking at him from maybe two feet away and just breathing heavily, kind of bewildered astonishment of how good it was.'

He is 'most turned on' by the thought of himself and regularly engages in 'mirroring', one of a number of 'affectionate' terms he used to describe making love to himself against his reflection in a mirror

But as Chris pointed out, there were 'no words' for such a thing at the time and it wasn't until several years later that he even discovered the term autosexuality.

Although he couldn't pinpoint the feelings he felt towards himself, the relationship quickly developed and the love making became 'a ritual'.

He felt he couldn't tell anyone about the relationship since the rest of his peers were only talking about dating other people, typically in a heterosexual context.

But rather than 'repressing' his sexuality, he simply 'concealed it from the world', and continued to explore the relationship with himself, only growing more infatuated with time.

In the beginning, Chris kept the relationship strictly hidden from his friends and family and only briefly opened up to his father once he'd become an adult.

Now, decades into his impassioned love affair, Chris has been able to share his relationship with more people, and has spoken about it with a number of friends and a cousin with whom he is very close.

Chris, whose parents have both passed away, said his mother 'would never have understood' his sexuality.

'There wasn't even a word to define so it was further handicapped in that way,' he explained.

But as Chris pointed out, there were 'no words' for such a thing at the time and it wasn't until several years later that he even discovered the term autosexuality

Although keeping the relationship hidden had its challenges, the secretive element of the romance only enhanced his self-sensuality.

'On the other side of the coin, it made it even better when I did close the door and engage with that incredibly beautiful boy on the other side of the glass,' he said. 'It was amazing, it was like a drug.'

He said he pays close attention to 'taking care of myself', which he admitted only makes 'the drug stronger.'

'Sometimes in the middle of a fever pitch, mirroring session, I'll just look into my eyes, and I'll look at you know, his eyes looking back at me, and I'll just say, I understand you.'

Often during 'mirroring sessions', he will compliment and whisper words of affection to himself. 'There no barrier to me and him,' he said.

Overtime, the relationship has grown from being 'hormone fuelled', to developing into a more serious and emotional 'connection'.

Like most typical relationships, there are moments of 'darkness', with the yoga instructor admitting he can be his own 'worst critic' - though it 'doesn't wear away at the sex'.

Sometimes days will pass where there is no sex, but he revealed this only increases the 'fire' he feels when he returns to mirroring the next time - likening the feeling to 'a new drug'.

Although keeping the relationship hidden had it's challenges, the secretive element of the romance only enhanced his self-sensuality

'Then it's so new and it's new angles, new crevices or discovering a new way a sunbeam will cast over my ribs down the side of my butt, for instance.'

'It's love as well as lust, it can be just running my fingers across my cheek bone and watching the way my fingers travel across my skin. And hugging - there's all kinds of ways to hug myself.'

'When I'm hugging myself, I can enjoy the view from front to side to over the shoulder, around the waist, clasping my neck, and sometimes I can even clasp my throat,' he mused.

'The relationship is quite intense - it always is,' he said, adding that it was 'genuine and fulfilling and a safe harbour in this ever crazier world.'

In the same way many look towards a partner for comfort in difficult times, Chris looks towards himself for 'solace' as part of a 'coping mechanism'.

In the peak of one stressful moment, he recalled an encounter in a clothing store changing room last summer.

'I remember I was working on a project where I was having a creative block and I just couldn't get it done, so I just had to get up and leave it for a while.

'I went down to one particular department store that had changing rooms and I knew that I had to do something borderline deviant.

The yoga instructor then spent a year 'building sexual tension' with himself before reaching an 'epiphany' moment in front of a mirror

'No lines were crossed - but I basically went into a changing booth with the big mirrors, and I just took everything off, and I completely mirrored myself in a public changing booth with the door closed.

'And just the sense that there were people right out there right behind that thin, flimsy door just heightened everything.

'It was just one of those incredible mischievous experiences that is hard to forget.'

The experience was so rewarding that Chris was able to return to work having overcome his creative block. 'Suddenly all the puzzle pieces fell together because of my mirror twist.'

While he maintained that his relationship with himself is profoundly erotic and emotionally fulfilling, he isn't his only love interest.

Alongside his relationship with himself, Chris admitted that he isn't '100 per cent' for Chris - and also has a long-distance boyfriend.

The pair have been together for two years and his boyfriend is 'fully supportive' of his open relationship with himself. 'He's very mature and progressive,' Chris explained.

He said the sexual part of their relationship is 'enhanced' by Chris's self-love and what he described as his current boyfriend's 'voyeurism'.

'He's very open to sometimes just watching me and me together. He likes to get involved and sometimes he joins us and the sex can be great. It only makes the sex really great.'

The yoga instructor said he has previously dated people who look similar to him and that he is sometimes asked if him and his boyfriend are 'related'.

When asked if his boyfriend ever feels jealous of Chris's intimate relationship shared with himself, he said he 'didn't think so' and that their relationship was 'very inclusive'.

In the past, however, jealousy between Chris and himself has impacted his romances with others and even lead to break ups.

'A few years ago, this really beautiful girl came up to me in a yoga class to make a pass at me, and I had to say no, I wasn't in the mood.

'I was very nice about it, but I declined her offer because I was in a really intensely heated period of heightened sex with myself that I just didn't want any kind of interference, and so I just told her I was taken.'

Chris's relationship with himself has also previously caused issues with a girl he was dating - who dumped him via text because he was more interested in himself than in her.

At points in his life, the relationship has become so addicting that Chris hasn't sought out relationships with others at all.

But Chris claimed that that the relationship has with himself has nothing to do with 'narcissism'.

He said those who conflate autosexuality with narcissism simply 'haven't had any contact with autosexual people', adding that it was 'one of the great misunderstandings of the world.'

According to his own definition, he said narcissism describes someone 'who wants to inflate themselves, gloat, get a lot of attention.'

'They want to feel superior to everyone else at the expense of everyone else.

'Autosexuality in my case, especially when I was growing up, was something that I hid from the world. I revelled in it like a forbidden love affair,' he said.

He said that while narcissists had a tendency to inflict themselves on others, that 'no one is hurt' in an autosexual relationship.

Because of his unconventional style of dating, the yoga instructor has also had people assume he is asexual - the sexual orientation in which a person isn't attracted to anyone.

But he insisted that this does not describe him, since he experiences passionate and 'addicting' desire towards himself.

During his years in college, many people accused him of being asexual because he didn't see interested in dating people.

He said it was at this time he was 'almost pure autosexual'.
A businesswoman who went on Dragons' Den 17 years ago has spoken out about her 'very rude' off-camera experience with Duncan Bannatyne.

Rachel Watkyn OBE, from East Sussex, went on the BBC show in a bid to secure a 53,000 investment for a 20 per cent stake in Tiny Box Company, which she jointly owns with radio presenter, Robin Banks.

The 54-year-old said she had noticed a gap in the market in 2008 for recycled packaging and decided to become the first company to focus on eco-friendly gift and jewellery boxes.

However, despite Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis jointly investing 60,000 in exchange for 40 per cent, Duncan was not impressed with Rachel's product or pitch and instead told her she was on a 'crusade' and that his eight-year-old daughter could create better packaging.

When Robin attempted to defend his friend and business partner, he was told: 'At what point in your relationship did you decide that Rachel couldn't speak for herself?'

Now Rachel, who has battled cancer four times, has told FEMAIL that the Scottish entrepreneur was rude to her behind the scenes and claimed Duncan told her that he would be surprised if she ended up getting her hands on Theo and Peter's money.

'Duncan Bannatyne off camera was very rude and I probably would've told my younger self to say something back as opposed to do just swallowing it,' Rachel said.

'I was too terrified. There was this man that I saw this man that was mega successful and that I held in high esteem. He literally came up and said to me "If you get that money, I'm a Dutchman" and just walked off." I keep meaning to send him some Dutch cheese.

Rachel said that she was too stunned to speak after claiming Duncan was rude to her off-camera back in 2008

Rachel claims that Duncan (pictured) was rude off camera and told her that he would be shocked if the investment from Peter and Theo went through

'I think my younger self would have told Duncan to get over himself or to p*** off. My current self would probably ask him how I could help unburden his obvious pain hes carrying to react like that.'

Instead, Rachel was too stunned to reply to his comment and decided to stay quiet.

In the Den, Duncan told Rachel: 'I think it's absolutely ridiculous that you come along with what you call a business that you describe as ethical and recycled materials and you produce a box that my eight-year-old daughter Emily could make better at school.

'The ends don't match up, the lines aren't straight. It's pathetic, it really is. I'm not investing, I'm out.'

Rachel said she expected him to be blunt on camera because you're 'walking into a lair and they're sold to you as dragons'.

But she was under the impression that his persona was only for the show and said: 'Off camera really caught me off guard.

'It was worse than the comments he made on camera because on camera you are playing a role. It threw me because we got a verbal yes on camera so I couldn't understand [his comment].

'That was my naivety of not realising that you had to go through a lengthy due diligence process and that the dragons could pull out.'

Peter Jones and Theo Paphitis jointly invested 60,000 in Rachel and Robin's business, in exchange for 40 per cent (pictured at a charity event together)

Rachel Watkyn OBE, from East Sussex, went on the BBC show in a bid to secure a 53,000 investment for a 20 per cent stake in Tiny Box Company

Duncan Bannatyne is pictured with his wife Nigora Whitehorn - who is 31 years his junior - at the Pride of Britain Awards in October last year

Last year it was revealed Rachel's business that Duncan had ripped to shreds was turning over 10million annually

Rachel said that business mentors Theo and Peter have always been pleasant and respectful, adding that she has not had any issues with them.

Last year it was revealed that the business Duncan had ripped to shreds was turning over 10million annually.

Rachel said that the one thing she's learnt from the process is that business owners should have more self worth.

'The mistake I made, which we all make, is that we assume that the people we are pitching to are better than you,' she said.

'Not more knowledgeable, you think they are better than you. I've learnt that nobody is better than you, we just have different skill sets.

'If I could've told my younger self to have more self worth, it would've a different game, I wouldn't have given away 40 per cent of my business.'

Rachel believes that older seasons of Dragons' Den were tougher than new seasons as the dragons were harsher towards budding businessmen and women.

'If you look back over the old episodes like Trunki and Tangle Teezer the Dragons were pretty brutal, they broke everything and they were brutal with their comments,' she said.

'Whereas now I think they are more aware they are speaking to people about their dreams. So I think that if they do crush them, they crush them more mindfully than in the early years.'

Rachel said that Theo and Peter have always been pleasant and respectful towards her

Duncan called Rachel's business 'pathetic' on the show and said his eight-year-old daughter could make better boxes

She believes that during her pitch, Peter 'felt sorry for her' because of the health journey she had been on prior to setting up her business.

Rachel was left bed-bound for nine months following an appendix operation that went wrong, leading to her losing her house, job, car and her friends.

It took her years to be able to work part time again.

Rachel said: 'The first nine months was the scariest because nobody could tell me whether I was going to be able to walk again or have a life again or I was going to be bed-ridden for the rest of my life.

'When you hit rock bottom, you have nowhere else to go. I lost the fear of starting [the business] because I was at the bottom. When you're at the bottom, you care less.'

And since starting Tiny Box Company, she has also battled four bouts of lung, skin and breast cancers in the past nine years, which she described as 'really challenging.'

'At the time I was due to marry my husband and nobody could tell me whether it was terminal, whether it wasn't, whether I was going to live. That was tougher. The surgeon said "You better get married".

'But as it turned out, the cancer hadn't spread. I had surgery at Guy's Hospital where they removed the bottom third of my lung through keyhole surgery.'

In 2022, Rachel found out she had breast cancer and had to have a double mastectomy.

This year, Guy's Hospital saw an irregular mole on Rachel's skin which turned out to be skin cancer, leading to her having surgery on her arm.

Rachel urged people to get themselves checked over, whether that be attending a routine appointment or flagging when they've noticed a change in their bodies.

'If you get invited, use the opportunity to go and check even if the centre is a bit out of town because we are so privileged that we generally have free healthcare in this country,' she said.

'[If you notice] any moles, any lumps and bumps, go and get them checked because most types of early cancer are treatable.'

Duncan Bannatyne did not wish to comment when approached.
A serial sex offender who filmed himself raping unconscious women was turned into police after his girlfriend uncovered the disturbing footage and exposed him.

John Xydias pleaded guilty to 25 counts of rape and 61 counts of indecent assault in 2009. He committed on 12 victims between 1991 and 2006 at his parents home in Glen Iris, Melbourne and a holiday home in Dromana.

However it was the bravery of his then girlfriend of 10 years, Josie Francoli, who set off a chain of events which led the arrest of bothe Xydias and his best friend, known as the 'Hot Chocolate Rapist'.

Josie later found out her own best friend was one of Xydias' victims, while another victim was left unconscious in his house for three days.

Videos of Xydias's attacks were only uncovered after Josie found a suspicious DVD, which belonged to her partner, containing footage of what appeared to be a women's changing room and she handed it to police.

This led authorities to search Xydias' home where they discovered 13 videos of him sexually assaulting unconscious women, pictures of female genitals, women's underwear and recording equipment.

The sick rapist dehumanised his victims in a graphic way, moving them into poses and turning the light off or covering them with bedding if they stirred.

'I felt glad I did it, I saved all those girls, I've stopped it all,' Josie said.

Serial sex offender John Xydias (pictured 2007) who filmed himself raping unconscious woman was turned into police after his girlfriend uncovered the disturbing footage and exposed him

Speaking about her friend on the tapes, she told 7News: 'She was drink spiked and raped and videotaped, if she's watching me right now or the family, I'm so sorry.'

Josie revealed they had a wonderful relationship for 10 years, but noticed odd behaviour from time to time.

She said: 'My lingerie was going missing, bottom parts, panties, I thought he had some type of fetish.'

Xydias also had a fascination with Australian television presenter Naomi Robson, cutting out pictures of her face from magazines and stick it onto lingerie models' bodies.

'John really adored her, even her personality, everything, especially her eyes, and the way she spoke, he just adored her.

'I go "Why have you got her face over on top of another girl's face with the bra?"

'He said "Because there's never been in the magazines any photographs of Naomi Robson in lingerie".'

However his obsession with the TV host would eventually lead to his downfall after he asked his partner Josie to record Dancing With The Stars because she was going to be on it.

He handed Josie a DVD which he thought was blank but was actually a secret recording of woman undressing in a changing room.

It was the bravery of his then girlfriend of 10 years Josie Francoli (pictured) who set off a chain of events which led to his arrest

'Some were undressing practically, nearly naked, I felt sick and shocked. I was racking my brains for hours, so worried, cigarette after cigarette.

'I was so scared and I was very worried about these girls, so I rang up the police in the end.'

Acting on Josie's information local police went to the restaurant where Xydias was working as a chef and they found a spy hole looking into the women's changing room.

Police asked Josie to play the role of the loyal girlfriend to give them more time to raid his home and his parents' beach house without raising suspicions.

However just one week later they knocked on Josie's door to warn her about what they found during the raid, which revealed just how dangerous her boyfriend actually was.

She said: 'They said "listen we need to let you know that when we did a search warrant on John's house regarding that spy camera disc, we took everything with us whatever we grabbed we brought it back to the police station.

'There's DVDs and video cassettes. We put it into the player, we have a look and we see the same thing over and over again but with different women.

'They're completely unconscious, they're not moving these girls, their eyes are shut while he's having sex with them."'

'He was drink spiking them and videotaping them once they became unconscious, now that's rape. There was one girl who didn't wake up for three days, he kept her there.'

Police asked Josie to play the role of the loyal girlfriend to give them more time to raid his home and his parents' beach house without raising suspicions

Police seized more than 200 DVDs and a task force was immediately set up to try and find the women on the tapes.

When each girl was brought into the police station and shown the video of themselves being raped by Xydias, none of them were aware of the assaults.

One victim, who had worked at the restaurant with Xydias, said she felt 'disgusted', 'ashamed' and 'invaded' after watching the video.

She went back to his beach house with a few other work colleagues one evening and she passed out after just one drink, which was handed to her by Xydias.

Speaking about what she saw on the video, she said: 'He's got the camera and walked up to me while I'm asleep on the bed and he's gone and pulled my tracksuit pants down and held them down and zoomed in with the camera like a complete perverted freak.

'I was the only one out of all the girls that wasn't raped, maybe because I stirred in my sleep when he tried to videotape me.'

Police found 12 victims on the Xydias tapes but to this day only four of them remain unidentified.

Xydias is serving a maximum 28-year sentence.

Acting on Josie's information local police went to the restaurant where Xydias was working as a chef and they found a spy hole looking into the women's changing room (pictured)

Police found 12 victims on the Xydias tapes but to this day four of them remain unidentified, he is serving a maximum 28-year sentence

Crown prosecutor Michele Williams, SC, said Xydias continued to blame his victims, who had lost trust in people after learning of the attacks up to ten years after they occurred.

During a police interview Xydias said some of the women had given him permission to do 'whatever you want'.

'They trusted me and they knew I wouldn't hurt them in any way,' he told police.

He lied to police and said that he would show the women the video footage and if they liked it he would keep it.

Xydias was prescribed the date-rape drug Rohypnol, which he used to spike the drinks of his victims.

His crimes later led police to another serial sex offender, his best friend Harry Barkas, who worked as the kitchen hand at the same restaurant, and became known as the 'Hot Chocolate Rapist'.

They trolled for women together but carried out their crimes alone. Barkas also had a part-time job in a doctor's surgery, which gave him access to the drug Rehypnol which both men used to knock out their victims.

Josie also played a hand in Barkas's arrest after she saw a facial composite sketch of him on the news and rang the police to identify him as Xydias's friend.

Barkas befriended women at bars and offered them a lift home, along the way he would stop and buy them a hot chocolate which he would spike and they'd be raped.

When Barkas was finally jailed for a minimum of nine years in 2010, it was for raping three women he knew  who could clearly identify him.

He was suspected of raping many more.

He was 45 years old when he was charged with 24 of the hot chocolate rapes. Six other victims would come forward after reading of his arrest.

He died under mysterious circumstances in 2016.

A source close to the Barkas investigation told Daily Mail Australia at the time Barkas was found dead in a pile of his own vomit with his head down the toilet.

Barkas had worked for 10 years as a receptionist in a doctors' surgery in Melbourne where he had access to blank prescriptions and various narcotics and anti-depressants, including date-rape drug Rohypnol.

The effects of the drugs used on the Hot Chocolate victims meant they struggled to positively identify their attacker.

In a series of now notorious jailhouse letters to his former lover Josie, Xydias branded his close friend Barkas a 'predator'.

'He always hangs out with a few old men who are paedophiles - his case is heaps worse than mine.

'Everybody says that at least the women accusing me came to see me, I never went to see them,' he wrote.

Josie said: 'You live by the sword, you die by the sword, no one much would have shed a tear for him.'
What a difference a few sunny weeks can make. Winter comfort food and heavier wines already seem a distant memory, while stretching invitingly ahead are Easter treats, lighter spring dishes and fresher-flavoured wines.

You may even be tempted to dust off the barbecue if the weather holds, even if you do retreat inside again to eat.

Whatever your Easter plans, you'll probably also be heading out to the supermarket to pick up some wine. But faced with a bewildering choice, which are the best bottles around right now?

You may also have noticed that wine prices have risen, thanks to exchange rates and duty hikes, so it's important to make savvy choices.

As an expert wine writer and broadcaster, I've tried almost everything on offer  and I've discovered some delightful wines and dug up some great bargains to share with you in this exclusive series.

If you're planning to serve chicken, fish or veg-based dishes, you'll find crisp whites are a particularly good match, thanks to their refreshing acidity and little to no oak.

Look out for grassy Sauvignon Blanc blends, naturally lighter Vinho Verde and salty, citrusy Albarinos  you'll see my pick of the best, opposite.

Gutsy pinks also make a versatile choice. They're obviously lighter than wintery reds such as Malbec but still have more fruit and body than paler, drier Provencal pinks.

As an expert wine writer and broadcaster, I've tried almost everything on offer  and I've discovered some delightful wines and dug up some great bargains to share with you in this exclusive series, writes HELENA NICKLIN

Look for darker styles from Languedoc, Spain and Portugal  these will go with a range of dishes from ham to smoked salmon and roasted veg (see overleaf).

If you're planning to serve lamb or beef, or contemplating barbecuing some steak, then you'll be looking for a red. Aim for styles with plenty of fruit such as Montepulciano or lighter reds you can chill.

When it comes to bubbles, slightly sweeter, or off-dry, 'demi-sec' fizzes are making a comeback  these have a touch more fruit ripeness than drier styles and make a top pairing with salty food such as cheese and sweet treats such as berry tarts.

When choosing what to sip with sugary foods, opt for a drink as sweet, or sweeter, than the food, otherwise the wine will taste bitter. That's why sweeter demi-sec bubbles work with meringues, puddings and even simnel cake, whereas drier styles can taste metallic.

If you want wine to enjoy with your chocolate egg, be guided by the variety you opt for. For instance, while sweeter, creamier white chocolate goes well with a frothy Moscato, you may need a fortified red such as port to go with dark chocolate.

Planning a larger gathering? Check out boxed wines. Don't laugh, there's some serious 'Chateau Cardbordeaux' on the market and many of them look so stylish you'd be happy to have them on your dinner table. They're also slightly cheaper to buy per 75cl than several bottles, as well as being more environmentally friendly.

Whatever your budget or taste, you're bound to find a bottle or two to bring some extra cheer. Happy Easter!

REFRESHING WINE TO PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

Crisp white wines make a refreshing choice for spring sipping. Try Sauvignon Blanc and Verdejo, with their grassy, candied lime profiles or light and spritzy Portuguese Vinho Verde. Those after body will love the Spanish Albarino grape and tropical, peachy whites made with Viognier. New World Chenin Blanc is also popular thanks to its dry freshness, and there's a perkiness to Sicily's apricot-scented blends. Here are some of my top suggestions.

Freeman's Bay Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

7.39, Aldi

When it comes to Sauvignon Blanc, few places give you as much punchy flavour as Marlborough, New Zealand. Despite the low price, this feels like a real step up in quality with its concentrated notes of nettle, grass and wet stone. Great for goat's cheese and asparagus.

Azul Marinho Alvarinho

8.42, Asda

Wonderfully quirky- looking, this is made with the Portuguese version of the grape, which offers a slightly lighter, more spritzy style of wine than its Spanish neighbours in Galicia. Think zesty, lemon cream and a smidgen of crushed seashell. Cracking with fresh, creamy cheeses.

Les Jamelles Viognier

9, Co-op

Viognier is a grape that virtually smells of sunshine with its white blossom, fresh peach and apricot. They can be heavy, but this version is elegant and aromatic. A real crowd-pleaser, drink it alone as an aperitif. It will also lift a creamy Camembert or young Comte beautifully.

Yealands Sauvignon Blanc Blush Marlborough

8.75, Iceland

There's still a nip in the air and we might not be quite ready to reach for the pale, poolside rose, but this vibrant Marlborough Sauvignon with a splash of berry-scented Pinot Noir is fresh and flavoursome and really hits the spot. Wonderful with chicken or any fish dish.

Vinca Organic Sicilian White

9, Tesco

This peachy little Sicilian number comes in a chic, aluminium bottle, which also preserves its floral aromatics and fresh fruit flavours beautifully. It'll cool down super quickly, too  perfect for the ice bucket if the fine weather holds and you opt for a bank holiday barbecue.

Tesco Finest Vinas Del Rey Albarino

12, Tesco

Albarino is a great all-rounder white wine grape that works well in spring and early summer weather, and with seasonal food, thanks to its weighty, candied citrus peel body combined with a refreshing slick of salinity. This Tesco version is a classic and it can take slightly stronger, richer flavours such as roast chicken with gravy, as well as meat which is mildly spiced.

Mimo Moutinho Sparkling Vinho Verde

6.99, Aldi

This crisp and citrusy bubbly with its orange blossom notes (and a rather beautiful bottle) is crying out to be sipped with sardines, grilled fish and salty halloumi. And at such a good price, you can stock up for your summer parties, too. It's lighter in alcohol, too, at 11 per cent ABV.

Mount Rozier Chenin Blanc Reserve, South Africa

7.50, Sainsbury's

A nicely balanced wine with a zippy, refreshing acidity tempered by fleshy notes of conference pear and honeydew melon. It's a spring morning in a glass! A great aperitif wine that can easily stand alone.

ASDA Extra Special Rueda

6.42, Asda

The Spanish region of Rueda makes minerally, lemon and lime-scented whites from the Verdejo grape and this one offers cracking value for money. You can drink it chilled as an aperitif, but it will also pair beautifully with goat's cheese or smoked salmon. It's a good salad wine, too.

Tesco Finest Chenin Blanc Torrontes by Zuccardi

9, Tesco

If it's a punchy perfume and light body you're after, this Argentinian blend is it. Smelling sweet but tasting dry, it's a style that's hard to ignore. The Torrontes brings a full-on, sugared lemon bon bon aroma and the Chenin adds body that keeps it all grounded. A winner with lightly spiced Asian food.

MID-STRENGTH TREND PACKS A BIG TASTE PUNCH!

Antipodean wine producers have recently become excited about producing naturally mid-strength wines, which are typically between 6 and 9.5 per cent ABV.

Now the trend is gathering momentum among wine lovers who enjoy their drink but also want to moderate the alcohol content.

These are different from other lower-alcohol wines, which are usually made higher-strength then have the alcohol stripped out and replaced with sugar to rebalance the taste.

Mid-strength wines tend to be made by picking grapes earlier so there's less sugar to convert into alcohol. The result is a wine that is naturally lighter in body, alcohol and calories.

Aromatic white grapes such as Sauvignon Blanc and Riesling do particularly well at a lower ABV as they stay fresh and aromatic even when picked earlier, unlike other varieties that make wines feel flat. We're seeing good pinks popping up, too.

Look out for these mid-strength wines on supermarket websites...

Brancott Estate Flight Sauvignon Blanc, 9% ABV

8.75, Sainsbury's

One of the original mid-wines on the market, this is very light and zesty but manages to keep its grassy and tropical profile. A great choice for a lunchtime salad with feta.

McGuigan Mid Rose, 7% ABV

7.25, Morrisons

This pretty pink feels fuller-bodied than many other wines and has very pleasant, ripe strawberry and fruit salad notes.

A great foodie pink that goes well with Easter ham and smoked salmon. Drink well-chilled.

Casillero del Diablo Belight Sauvignon Blanc, 8.5% ABV

7.25, Tesco

This much-loved Chilean producer has done well to create such a crisp and delicate, balanced wine with moreish, smoky grapefruit flavours at such a low ABV. Great with ashy goat's cheese and biscuits.

Forrest Wines 'The Doctors' Riesling, Marlborough, 9% ABV

10.50 (10 mix six), Majestic

Zingingly high acidity with notes of lime blossom and green apple. Great alone or as a pairing with a leafy green salad or white fish.

Sainsbury's Mid Strength Coolwater Bay Sauvignon Blanc, 9.5% ABV

8.75, Sainsbury's

Sainsbury's has created its own range of mid-strength wines. This tangy, lean Sauvignon is made in a classic Marlborough style, packing a grassy, lemony punch. A winner with barbecued, grilled, slightly salty fish.

Grove Manor Crisp White, 5% ABV

2.99, Aldi

A corking little Aldi number  not only does it have a very low alcohol content and a pleasingly low price, but what's in the glass tastes pretty good, too. Crisp and dry with some pleasant floral and citrus notes. It's a good one for gatherings and wine cocktails.

5 WINES THAT ARE PERFECT WITH CHOCOLATE

Easter is synonymous with chocolate for many of us  but what should you sip while you are tucking into your egg? Here are some suggestions to try, whatever the variety of chocolate you opt for . . .

White Chocolate: Asti Spumante

This super-sweet, low-alcohol frothy Italian fizz comes into its own when well chilled and paired with white chocolate. The ripe, sugary fruitiness of the wine is a good match for the creamy sweetness of the confectionery. The combination is a creamy, apricot sensation.

Try: Martini Asti Italian Sparkling Wine, 6.77, Aldi

Milk: Madeira

The high levels of dairy and sugar in milk chocolate will strip out any fruitiness in normal dry wines such as Chardonnay or Cabernet, making them taste metallic. A fortified wine such as Madeira, however, has viscosity and weightiness, as much sweetness as the chocolate and higher acidity to cleanse the palate. Madeira's nutty orange peel notes make this a winning combination of flavours.

Try: Henriques & Henriques Full Rich Madeira, 12.25, Waitrose

Orange: Tokaji

Orange chocolate, whether milk, white or dark, will go perfectly with a sweet and tangy orange citrusy white such as Tokaji. Think concentrated spiced honey and marmalade notes  absolutely delicious!

Try: Royal Tokaji Late Harvest, 13 (12 mix six), Majestic

Dark: Amarone

You can just about get away with a dry red wine if the chocolate is dark enough (think 70 per cent plus). A brooding Amarone with rich, morello cherry and cocoa powder notes makes a fine pairing.

Try: Duca Dei Veli Amarone Della Valpolicella, 14.99, Aldi

All-rounder: Fortified red

If you're in doubt and chocolate's about, find a fortified red wine  it covers all bases. Ruby Port or Maury works a dream but this fabulous, fortified Malbec is a magnificent, splash-out option.

Try: Zuccardi Malamado Fortified Malbec, 22, Ocado

PICK THE PERFECT WINE FOR ANY FEAST

LAMB

Mucho Mas Rose

8.75, Morrisons

This gutsy, Spanish pink comes from the same stable as much loved red wine, The Guv'nor. With its fresh, juicy notes of ripe strawberry, spice and liquorice, it certainly gives you great bang for your buck.

Zalze Fairtrade Shiraz Grenache Cabernet Franc

8.35, Co-op

South African Zalze makes polished blends, and this silky red balances rich, peppery Syrah with berry-scented Grenache and crunchy, earthy Cab Franc. Gorgeous.

Cune Rioja Reserva 2019

14.50 (14 mix six), Majestic

A name to look for if you like fruit-forward styles of Rioja. This is all about intense bramble fruit with vanilla spice  perfect for roast lamb with garlic.

Gordon Ramsay Intenso Rosso

8.75, Tesco

For a red that's on the lighter side, this tangy and refreshing Italian rosso with its subtle herbaceous notes will sing with Easter lamb  especially if it has a herb crust.

M&S Chez Michel Fitou

8.50, M&S

Fitou in southern France is a great area to find well-priced, flavoursome reds that pair beautifully with protein. Full-bodied and aromatic with notes of violet and grilled meat. Delicious.

EASTER HAM

Cote Mas Rosorange Rose

10, Waitrose

This new release has a great label and is a funky blend of rose and skin contact 'orange' wine. It's full-bodied, creamy and fruity with notes of white pear. Ideal for salty ham.

Taste the Difference Barbera d'Asti

8 (was 9.50), Sainsbury's

A dainty red grape that hails from Italy's Piedmont. Perfumed red wines such as this won't overwhelm ham with tannin or alcohol.

Ca Del Lago Rosato

6.99, Lidl (in store)

This textured, saline pink looks like a much more expensive brand. With its crisp acidity and subtle strawberry notes, it's the refreshing choice for a slice or two of ham.

Taste The Difference Beaujolais Superieur

10.50 (was 12), Sainsbury's

If your ham is glazed, it can take body  so with its raspberry flavours and soft tannins, this is just the thing.

M&S Copper Mountain Pinot Noir

9, M&S/Ocado

Another lighter red to try if your ham is glazed is Pinot Noir. Expect rich, morello cherry spice with a sprinkle of cocoa powder from this Californian version.

FISH

La P'tite Pierre White

7.25, Tesco

Welcome to your new house white! This juicy, French blend covers so many bases with different types of fish thanks to its subtle hint of tropical fruit and a splash of zesty citrus.

Nectar & Nature IGP Mediterranee Rose

7.25, Morrisons

Crisper than a Californian and zestier than a Provencal, this aromatic pink has a hint of freshly cut melon and strawberry. Perfect for grilled white fish or tuna.

Marques de los Zancos Rioja Blanco

6.25, Tesco

Seriously good for the price. A fuller-bodied, viscous white with notes of candied lime, citrus peel and subtle oak. It can take stronger flavours and loves smoke.

M&S Cerro Fuerte Malbec Rose

9.50, M&S

Love Malbec but cooking fish? This fruity rose brings all the raspberry and blueberry juiciness without the heaviness. The perfect foil to salty sardines or mackerel.

Moillard-Thomas Chablis 2022/23

17 (15 mix six), Majestic

As temperatures climb, many Chablis have lost crispness. Not so with this chalky number with its subtle leaf notes and squeeze of citrus. Great for creamy fish pie.

CHICKEN

Luis Felipe Edwards Roussanne Marsanne

11, Tesco

Roast chicken loves a full-bodied white, so this Chilean one with its peachy, white chocolate waxiness and twist of lime pairs well.

Deluxe New Zealand Pinot Gris, Gisborne

7.99, Lidl (in store)

Pinot Gris is the weightier, more aromatic version of Pinot Grigio. From New Zealand, it brings a fleshiness and peach-like quality. Perfect for roast or creamy chicken.

Cimarosa Australian Chardonnay

4.79, Lidl (in store)

Oaked, New World Chardonnay such as this is my default style for roast chicken. This packs a lot of punch for the low price. Great when you need a few bottles!

M&S Cotes du Rhone Blanc

8, M&S

For something different, this elegant Rhone blend will be a real crowd-pleaser with your chicken thanks to its touch of fresh white peach, acacia and almond cream.

M&S Altamar Leyda Sauvignon Blanc

8.50, M&S

Sauvignon fans should look to the cool, concentrated wines of Chile's Leyda Valley such as this saline, zesty, grapefruit style to go with barbecued chicken dishes.

BEEF

Toro Loco Superior

5.29, Aldi

Aldi's stalwart, foodie Spanish red is much loved for its versatility, thanks to its winning combination of fresh black fruit with just enough structure. Great for family feasts or relaxed barbies.

Vergelegen Cabernet Merlot Fairtrade

10, Co-op

The iconic South African producer has done a top job with this accessible version of its fine wine. A classic Bordeaux blend with a dollop of ripe fruit and whiff of smoke.

Pasqua 'Desire, Lush & Zin' Primitivo 2023

12.50 (10 mix six), Majestic

Pasqua is the Italian word for Easter, so it's perfect timing for this rich and figgy, chocolate-dipped and raisin-scented red. Lush.

Vina Crianza Pomal Rioja

14, Ocado

A slightly heavier style of Rioja, this is packed full of wild strawberry, vanilla and leather notes. A plate of beef will soften it up and release those tangy flavours.

Definition by Majestic Saint-Emilion Grand Cru

21 (20 mix six), Majestic

Fans of classic, cedary Claret will love this classy drop. Think cassis with a splash of tobacco leaf and a cool, mineral core. Worth trading up for.

VEGGIE

La Fioritura Chiaretto Bardolino

8, M&S

Vegetables go well with a savoury and mineral style and this northern Italian pink is an exceptional example. It looks as good as it tastes, too, so is ideal for gifting.

Terra Organica Sauvignon Blanc

9.40, Ocado

With its grassy profile and citrus peel zestiness, Sauvignon is a perfect go-to grape for anything with green vegetables  and this organic Chilean seriously over-delivers for the price.

Abbotts & Delaunay 'Les Fleurs Sauvages' Viognier

10 (9 mix six), Majestic

If your dish contains bitter leaves, this fruity, aromatic white will help balance it all with its ripe peach and apricot notes.

Les Nivieres, Saumur

11, Waitrose

When red wine is preferred, a lighter style can work wonders with veg. This classic Loire Cabernet Franc is leafy and refreshing with tangy cranberry. Can be slightly chilled.

Domane Wachau Gruner Veltliner

13, Tesco

Some vegetables  such as asparagus and artichoke  can strip wines of fruit. Enter 'Gru V', the most versatile food wine! Dry, stony and lean, it's packed with green apple and a kick of ginger.

WHERE TO BAG THE BEST BARGAINS THIS EASTER

There are decent discounts and great value bottles if you know where to look. I've put them to the taste test and here are my picks of the best deals, whatever your budget, as well as some wines that simply offer unbeatable value for money.

FIZZ

Prosecco Spumante

4.69 (was 6.69), Aldi

Spumante means 'fully sparkling' as opposed to the 'frizzante', which loses its fizz faster. This is great for the price. Sweet, pear-scented and frothy.

Cremant de Bourgogne Sparkling White

9.98 (was 11.98), Asda

Cremant wines from Burgundy (Bourgogne) such as this make excellent Champagne alternatives. This is complex and creamy with hint of baked pear.

Graham Beck Chardonnay Pinot Noir Vintner's Selection Brut NV

10.98 (was 13.48), Asda

Made with the two main Champagne grapes and in the same traditional method, this is an excellent South African sparkler. Like Champers, but with more fruit.

Splash out

Waitrose Blanc de Noirs

20.99 (25 per cent off six bottles offer, was 27.99), Waitrose

Waitrose Champagnes have always been excellent and this blanc de noirs, with its biscuity, red apple skin notes always over-delivers. It's well worth making use of the promotion!

REDS

Baron de Ley Rioja Reserva

10 (was 13.75), Co-op

Rioja 'Reserva' must be aged for at least three years before its release, which adds layers of tobacco leaf and vanilla spice flavours. With the added discount, this is a bargain.

Specially Selected Cairanne

4.99 (was 8.99), Aldi

This rich, bold and weighty French red has seen this brilliant discount before. Exceptional value even at the full price, this is packed with spiced berry and fruit cake notes.

Specially Selected Chateauneuf-du-Pape

9.99 (was 19.99), Aldi

Here's a pretty hefty discount on a genuinely good wine. It's a classic Chateauneuf with its full body and notes of dried figs and baking spice. A good time to stock up on a couple of bottles.

Splash out

Wynns The Siding Cabernet Sauvignon

12.50 (was 16), Tesco

If you're fan of brooding, leafy blackcurrant flavours and want a red that packs a powerful punch, this is classic Coonawarra Cabernet that will over-deliver for the price! It makes for a great gift, too.

WHITES

Makaraka New Zealand Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc

4.99 (was 8.99), Aldi

Fans of Kiwi Sauvignon will be very happy with this excellent offer. A classic, grassy style with lots of lemon zestiness. A great one for larger gatherings.

Yealands Sauvignon Blanc

8.50 (was 10.50), Co-op

Producer Yealands sets a benchmark with this. It is everything you'd want from a grassy, sea breeze-scented Sauvignon.

Bird in Hand Two in the Bush Chardonnay

11.50 (Clubcard price, was 15), Tesco

The kind of trade-up Chardonnay that shows how well it can do in Australia. A real fine wine, it's all about sliced melon, white peach and a sprinkle of spice.

Splash out

Pouilly Fuisse

14.99 (was 19.99), Aldi

This little white Burgundy is quite a serious wine. It's made with 100 per cent Chardonnay in a savoury style with some nutty oak and is worth trading up for. The discount helps.

PINKS

Portuguese Rose

5.15, Morrisons

Fans of Mateus who are feeling the pinch would do well to stock up on this perky, spritzy, Portuguese pink. Seriously fruity, if a little simple, for a fiver, it's excellent value. The bottle is rather different, too.

Torre de Ferro Rose Wine Dao DOC

4.99, Lidl

Another great Portuguese bargain, this is complex and savoury with pretty rose petal and wild strawberry notes. Incredible value.

Pasqua '11 Minutes' Rose, Veneto

14 (mix six price, was 16), Majestic

This silky, strawberry-scented pink with its saline tang is great value in comparison to wine from other regions.

Splash out

G de Galoupet

16.88 (buy six offer, was 22.50), Ocado

If it's fine, organic, sustainably made pink you're after, grab this. It's understatedly complex and elegant and looks stunning. A perfect gift for your Easter host.

BOXES STYLISH ENOUGH FOR YOUR DINNER TABLE

Gone are the days when boxed wine was banished to the kitchen. Thanks to improved technology whereby the wine stays fresher for longer, upmarket producers are increasingly turning to boxes  and very stylish they are too. Boxes take less energy to produce, are easy to recycle and cheaper to make  a discount that can then be passed on to the customer. Ones to try:

Laylo Sauvignon Blanc, 2.25L

38, Ocado

Wine boxes don't get much prettier. Offers a refreshing lemon cream zing. A winner with a goat's cheese or salad.

La Vieille Ferme Rose 1.5L

14.97, Asda

What's not to like with this well-loved pink that always brings a sense of fun and fruit-salad freshness to the table? Goes well with ham, salmon or chicken.

When in Rome Montepulciano d'Abruzzo DOC 2.25L

24 (was 29), Ocado

While this may not look as posh as some, it's eco-friendly and there's an authentic Italian inside. This red's herby and damson flavours make it perfect for pizza or roast lamb.

Les Dauphins Cotes du Rhone Villages 1.5L

20, Waitrose

Spiced plum and bramble fruit all baked in a pie. Perfect if it's barbecue weather.

Torres Vina Sol 1.5L

13.25, Tesco

Its creamy, peachy body combined with a delicate, seashell freshness makes it an ideal aperitif.

ADD A SEMI-SWEET SPARKLE TO YOUR PUD

These once-overlooked slightly sweet fizzy wines  such as Moscato and demi-sec  make the perfect match for puddings. Here are our picks:

Sainsbury's Demi-Sec Champagne, NV

23, Sainsbury's

A perennial favourite, this is what to serve if you want a posh glass of something to go with summer pudding or delicate Easter meringue nests. It's also a winner with wedding cake.

Jaume Serra Cava Bouquet Semi Seco

6.50, Morrisons

Semi seco is Spain's demi-sec and here's another fantastic, slightly sweeter style of Cava that really looks the part as well. It will take you through puddings, cheeses and salty nibbles. It would make a great gift, too.

Nyetimber 'Cuvee Cherie' Demi-Sec, Sussex

40 (39 mix six), Majestic

Made by arguably the UK's most prestigious wine producer, this tastes more 'off dry', where the sweetness translates just as fruity ripeness with notes of white peach and lightly spiced brioche. A splash-out option perfect for celebrations.

Lucotto Moscato Spumante Rose

5.98, Asda

Moscato tends to have a lower alcohol level than other styles of sweet fizz (around 5 per cent ABV) and is much sweeter, and cheaper, as a result. This means its grapey, apricot-like flavours can go well with more intense puds such as lemon posset or rich cakes with creamy toppings such as chocolate ganache.

Sainsbury's Cava Medium Dry

6.75, Sainsbury's

With wonderful flavours of tinned peaches and pineapple, this fizz comes across as very fruity. It will pair beautifully with anything salty or grilled on the barbecue, and balance up any sweet meat glazes, too. Cheap and very cheerful.
A horrific case dubbed 'Ireland's most violent murder' continues to baffle police more than 20 years on.

Irene White, 43, was murdered on April 6, 2005, at her home 'Ice House' in Dundalk, County Louth after she had received several death threats on the phone.

The mother-of-three was brutally stabbed 34 times in her kitchen in broad daylight and her elderly mother Maureen McBride made the grim discovery. The devastated mother died from a broken heart just months after her daughter's murder.

During the investigation, gardai found diaries Irene kept, including one which outlined her concerns about threats made to her life.

For eight years there was no significant breakthrough in the case, until an anonymous phone call from Australia in 2013 resulted in two people being convicted.

The tip led to the conviction of two men, Anthony Lambe and Niall Power, both of whom claimed they were acting under orders of a third man referred to as 'mastermind'.

Former student and security worker Anthony, 43, is serving a life sentence for Irene's murder after confessing to her killing and pleading guilty in 2018. His boss Niall, 53, who was a business partner of Irene's estranged husband, Alan White, is also serving a life term after admitting he was the 'middle man' in the conspiracy, claiming he was acting on the orders of someone else who has never been convicted.

But the Gardai have always suspected that both men were acting on the direction of a third man, who has never been brought to justice - meaning the final mystery of the case has never been solved.

Irene White (pictured), 43, was murdered 20 years ago on April 6, 2005, she was found stabbed to death in her own home after receiving death threats - but no one knows why she was killed to this day

Niall's car was spotted on CCTV near the Ice House on the morning of the murder.

Despite giving a number of detailed statements to gardai, he never disclosed that he had passed the murder scene almost an hour before Irene's body was discovered.

When questioned by police about his Ford Fiesta work van with a distinctive orange stripe, spotted on the CCTV footage on the day of the murder, Niall told police that it 'proves nothing'.

Bizarrely, Niall had planned to travel to a security conference that morning with Irene's estranged husband Alan, but he abruptly cancelled his plans.

The case was recently discussed on the Indo Daily podcast, where host Tabitha Monahan was joined by Pat Marry, former Garda detective and co-author of the new book The Ice House Murder: The Killing of Irene White, to recall the details of the case.

Pat said: 'The cold case unit received three anonymous calls from a lady in Australia who confided in them that a guy called Anthony Lambe had confessed to her that he had killed Irene White.

'Why he killed her, how he killed her and everything to do with it, she was at the time living in Ireland and he used to call into her every Christmas, she thought he was having her on but then he went onto show how he killed her and she got a bit of a fright.

'She couldn't wait to get him out of the house and she remembers watching the lights of his car go out the driveway and she was delighted that he was gone.'

During the investigation gardai found diaries Irene kept, including one which outlined her concerns about threats made to her life (pictured: Irene and husband Alan)

The mother-of-three had been stabbed 34 times in her kitchen at her home (pictured), known as Ice House in Dundalk, Co Louth, in broad daylight and her elderly mother Maureen McBride made the grim discovery

For eight years there was no significant breakthrough in the case, until an anonymous phone call from Australia in 2013 resulted in two people being convicted. Irene is pictured

Irene White, pictured in February 2005, just weeks before she was brutally murdered in her home

The woman told her parents about the man's admissions a year later and her father had remarked that a lot of what was mentioned by Anthony wasn't public knowledge.

At first her parents told her to go to the gardai, but they later advised her not to tell anyone about the confession because of fears for her safety.

Therefore, when she did decide to ring the police eight years after the confession, the anonymous caller decided to keep her identity a secret from police.

It turned out that gardai were very familiar with Anthony, who had previously come into the inquiry in the initial stages after his boss Niall, claimed he met him in Dundalk on the day of the murder to pay him an advance on his wages.

Niall claimed he met Anthony at Dundalk college within two hours of the murder taking place, to collect 400 in cash as a wages advance.

Gardai later established that the cash handover, which was actually 2,000, was for the murder of Irene.

Over the course of several months, gardai had also taken three statements from Anthony Lambe but there was never anything to indicate that he was involved in the murder.

However three days after the initial anonymous call, the woman called the detective back claiming she had some further information.

Former student and security worker Anthony Lambe, 43, is serving a life sentence for Irene's murder after confessing to her killing and pleading guilty in 2018

She claimed that after Anthony's initial confession he had again called at her house drunk in the late hours of the night while her parents were in bed.

He had told her that he 'knocked on the back door of Irene White's house' before re-enacting to her how he had attacked the housewife.

The anonymous caller said she had asked Anthony what he had done with the weapon, to which he replied: 'They should have found it.'

He also remarked that a 'job had to be done' and called the mother-of-three 'a bad b****'.

At the time of the murder Anthony was in a lot of debt and, owing to a severe drug addiction, he saw the murder as a great opportunity to pay off his debt.

Pat explained: 'At one stage Niall Power took Anthony up the Carindale Hotel and said Irene does classes in there and he gave him a knife and said "when she comes out you kill her", and he threw the knife away and said "no I'm not doing this".

'So that was the first failed attempt but he kept at him, Anthony was told "you know the plan, and if somebody else does it you are going to be a loose end, and god knows what's going to happen to you".

'He was afraid then, he thought "if I don't do it I'm going to be killed".

Pat revealed that when Anthony was brought into custody he was 'extremely remorseful' and he 'cried his eyes out'.

Meanwhile his boss Niall Power, 53, who was a business partner of Irene's estranged husband, Alan White, is also serving a life term after admitting he was the 'middle man' in the conspiracy, claiming he was acting on the orders of someone else who has never been convicted

He added: 'When he got it off his chest, and told what he needed to tell, he got up and hugged one of the detectives and said thanks for everything.'

'He regretted what he had done and understood the pain and hurt he had caused. Not only that but he had wrote a letter to the lady in Australia to say he was sorry for bringing her into it.'

Police were due to arrest Niall next and had planned to pick him up at his home the following day, when he presented himself at the gardai station.

Pat recalled: 'He said 'I'm here I want to tell you about my part in this', I said "are you sure you want to be here" and he said "yeah if I'm not coming here I was going to the river".

'He was was offered a solicitor and offered to ring anyone he wanted and he didn't want any of that, he said he wanted to tell his part.

'He made a statement saying yes he had got Anthony Lambe to kill Irene White, she had to be taken out and he was doing it under the instructions of someone else, that was it.'

Niall claimed in his gardai interviews that Alan had asked him to 'sort out' his wife in the months before the murder.

Irene's husband, Alan, was arrested in the early stages of the investigation for withholding information but he was released without charge as there wasn't evidence of his involvement.

Alan attended the court for Anthony's 2018 sentencing and afterwards claimed he was 'shocked' to learn someone else had ordered his wife's murder.

He said: 'I was shocked about all the information. I'm sure the Gardai are working on it. I was in shock. It's quite difficult to hear what goes on in court. But still, we got the result. This day has taken a long time to come. We were waiting for this stage to come.'

Speaking in Pat's book The Ice House Murder, which he co-wrote with Irish Independent journalist Robin Schiller, Alan said he had been 'numb' when he heard that his former business partner pleaded guilty to murdering his estranged wife.

He said: 'You're trying to gather information, much like yourselves, and you get bits and pieces.

Husband Alan White at the funeral of his wife Irene White leaving the cathedral in Dundalk

'Some fits into what you were thinking, and some is just outrageous, and you just dismiss it, but the amount of energy it takes, trying to process this. It is head-wrecking, like.'

He also claimed it was 'mad' that Niall claimed that he was the mastermind behind the killing, adding: 'I don't know what he's thinking, saying this.'

The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in Ireland evaluated if there was a third 'mastermind' in the murder but they said it would be very hard to prove.

However gardai have always suspected that both men were acting on the direction of a third man, who has never been brought to justice.

In 2022, once the DPP's decision had been made, investigators then informed Irene's brother-in-law Kenneth Delcassian, who vowed to continue his wife Anne's quest for justice after she passed away from cancer.

Speaking to the Irish Sun, Kenneth said: 'I am absolutely vibrating with rage at this decision - there is no justice for Irene.

'We are gobsmacked by this decision and we will certainly explore all avenues with regard to an appeal.

'I firmly believe the evidence was in front of them and yet they have made this decision not to prosecute.'

Irene's sister Anne (left) compiled an explosive file before her death into the killing which revealed her suspicions that the 'mastermind' worked for the police

Irene's sister Anne compiled an explosive file before her death into the killing which revealed her suspicions that the 'mastermind' worked for the police.

In 2019, a source told the Sun on Sunday: 'This man walks around without a care in the world and remains so brazen despite everyone suspecting him of his involvement in the murder of a completely innocent woman.

'The suspicion that he has been working for the Gardai has been around for a very long time because he was suspected of being involved in crime but kept getting away with things.

'It would come as no surprise to people living along the border that he was informing on other criminals because the only thing he cares about is himself and money.'

The court was previously told that Niall intends to appeal his conviction, despite his guilty plea, on the grounds that he was 'suffering a mental breakdown' at the time.
The cast members have put their party days behind them to focus on property

They made a name for themselves by documenting their antics in one of London's poshest postcodes, shooting weekends at stately homes and dinner parties in period mansions.

But now that many of the original stars of Made In Chelsea have put their party days behind them and settled down with families, their surroundings have gone from stately to suburban.

From Louise Thompson's Fulham townhouse to Tiffany Watson's Richmond home, all have settled in enviable properties.

However, according to an interiors expert, their very differing tastes separates the 'old money' from the 'new influencer'.

Liv Conlon, an interiors expert, runs ThePropertyStagers.co.uk - an award-winning staging company, and StagerBoss, which teaches women how to launch their own staging business.

She's analysed the properties belonging to MIC stars including Spencer Matthews, Binky Felstead and Mark Francis Vandelli, to see whose pad is truly the poshest.

While some are channeling traditional upper class style, others have veered into middle class stereotypes, while one rather 'bland' home screams 'Mrs Hinch circa 2019'.

Here Liv gives her verdict on who has the most luxury look and who has been tempted into shopping at Dunelm.

Binky Felstead

Binky is high on the list of poshest pads and her home is filled with glamorous features such as exposed beams

Having moved into her new pad - and given it an overhaul - just five months ago, it's safe to say Binky knows her way around a Farrow & Ball colour chart

Having moved into her new pad - and given it an overhaul - just five months ago, it's safe to say Binky knows her way around a Farrow & Ball colour chart.

From the outset, her property is what estate agents would call 'charmingly rural with a contemporary twist'.

It's Country Living meets Instagram-polish. She's put a modern spin on a very traditional country house - with a 'relocated to the Cotswolds but still shops in Knightsbridge' vibe.

Clearly Binky is oldish money, and her choice of decor throughout her home reflects that, with unmistakable Soho Farmhouse vibes.

Step inside and you're greeted by a palette of muted sages, soft neutrals and just enough texture to make beige-on-beige feel intentional rather than sterile.

It's the kind of place where every corner has been carefully curated, yet still feels inviting enough to kick off your wellies at the door (preferably Hunter, of course).

Binky's kitchen is the heart of her home and is unapologetically luxurious

Clearly Binky is oldish money, and her choice of decor throughout her home reflects that, with unmistakable Soho Farmhouse vibes

Her choice of terracotta paint warms up the living room (pictured)

The home is otherwise filled with soft neutrals and a palette of muted sages

From the outset, her property is what estate agents would call 'charmingly rural with a contemporary twist'

The kitchen is the heart of the home and unapologetically luxurious.

French blue lower cabinets anchor the space, paired with lighter units above and a serious expanse of stone worktops.

Hand-cut terracotta tiles warm up the floor, while gold hardware and taps add a whisper of glamour.

And we're not talking just any tap - this one delivers boiling, filtered and sparkling water on demand.

There's exposed beams, a butler sink, flickering candles - and a six-ring cooker, which looks like it's seen more Ottolenghi than oven chips.

A basket of fresh eggs sits charmingly on the counter - and you just know not one of them came from Tesco.

Millie Mackintosh

Millie Mackintosh's home isn't trying to be grand, or old money. It's not trying to impress the Tatler crowd

Millie's kitchen is also in a pink tone, named Presence, which gives off wholesome vibes

Millie Mackintosh has always curated her life with care - and her home is no exception.

It's a masterclass in 'soft luxury,' or what I'd call middle-class zen: a home that's been designed less for living, more for breathing deeply with a herbal tea in hand.

The bathroom sets the tone: a gold standalone bath, a walk-in shower big enough to host a yoga class, light grey cabinetry, and a double sink (because even wellness requires personal space).

There's a huge gold-rimmed mirror - not too flashy, but definitely a centrepiece; a perfect Instagram backdrop.

It's more 'affordable luxury' vibes than some of the others, but that is if, indeed, you're in a position to afford luxury.

It's more 'affordable luxury' vibes than some of the others, but that is if, indeed, you're in a position to afford luxury

It is elegant, warm, and well thought out - and that's exactly what makes it work

Millie has clearly curated her home with care, with thoughtful decorations all around

Now, the kitchen. A pale pink tone, named Presence. It's less 'statement kitchen', more 'I own at least one Nutribullet and host wine-and-wholesome-supper nights'. Then, there's the snug, which is blue.

The ceiling, doors, windowframes, skirting boards, are all the same colour. It's the kind of room you'd curl up in with a book, even if you're really just scrolling Pinterest for more storage solutions.

The home isn't trying to be grand, or old money. It's not trying to impress the Tatler crowd.

But it is elegant, warm, and well thought out - and that's exactly what makes it work.

Louise Thompson

Louise Thompson's home is, in many ways, the epitome of aspirational upper-middle-class London living

Liv Conlon says she would dub some of Louise's style choices 'Dunelm adjacent'

Louise is pictured with her fiance Ryan Libbey in their stunning outdoor space

Louise's stunning bathroom boasts double sinks and pink and gold detailing

Step through the front door and you're greeted with expanses of soft beige, which continue uninterrupted across her beautifully laid herringbone flooring

The home is quiet luxe - with touches that suggest family comes first

It might not scream old money, but Louise's house certainly whispers 'tasteful with a sensible mortgage'

Louise Thompson's home is, in many ways, the epitome of aspirational upper-middle-class London living: curated, considered, and what I'd politely call 'Dunelm-adjacent', with lots of shades of beiges and greys.

Step through the front door and you're greeted with expanses of soft beige, which continue uninterrupted across her beautifully laid herringbone flooring  a detail Louise is rightly proud of.

It runs from hallway to kitchen, adding that open, 'flowing' feel that all good renovations aim for.

Skylights pull natural light into every corner, bouncing off the creamy cabinetry and white-marble-look countertops in the kitchen, which is warmed up with brass pendant lighting and soft gold hardware.

It's quietly luxe without shouting too loudly. Louise's kitchen isn't sterile or overly styled - it's busy, lived-in, and full of touches that suggest family comes first, like the baby swing casually hung in the living room.

It might not scream old money, but Louise's house certainly whispers 'tasteful with a sensible mortgage'.

Spencer Matthews

Vogue Williams's living room shows a definite dial-up in sophistication. Two sculptural curved sofas create a chic, almost hotel-lounge layout

Vogue and Spencer even have a bold pink kitchen - but the colour is soft and dusky

There are arched alcoves painted in serene navy and dressed with curated artwork

Vogue Williams has always known how to make a statement - and her home, shared with her Made In Chelsea star husband Spencer Matthews, is no exception.

Think glam meets grown-up, with a side of Essex.

From the moment you step into their bold pink kitchen, it's clear subtlety wasn't invited to this particular party.

Now, I'm not against a pink kitchen - in fact, Vogue pulls it off with gusto.

The colour is soft and dusky enough to avoid feeling saccharine, but paired with the zebra-print dining table, there's undeniably a whiff of 'TOWIE goes coastal retreat'.

This isn't another beige box. It's fun, it's loud, it's... very them!

The kitchen itself is fairly classic in shape, with shaker-style cabinetry and clean, unfussy lines, but they've injected character through colour.

Into the living room, and there's a definite dial-up in sophistication. Two sculptural curved sofas create a chic, almost hotel-lounge layout.

There are arched alcoves painted in serene navy and dressed with curated artwork. Yes, it edges into glam territory at times, but it's never gaudy.

It's a home that says: 'We've graduated from Chelsea cocktails - now we'd like a zebra-print bench to rest our well-heeled feet on.'

Mark-Francis Vandelli

Mark-Francis's home in some ways looks more like a museum than a house

Mark-Francis Vandelli doesn't just live in a house. He resides in a museum - one curated with antiques, stories and serious style.

While the rest of the Made In Chelsea cast dabble in minimalism and beige interiors, Mark-Francis has taken a very different route - one filled with heritage, craftsmanship and old-school glamour (clearly thanks to some very old-school money).

Mark-Francis has joked before that he was 'basically born in the auction house' - with antiques and people being his two loves.

And from the decor of his home, that's plain to see.

Once said to be the site of Oscar Wilde's parties, the grand townhouse was in a bit of a state when he bought it.

One comprehensive renovation later, and it's packed with detail and drama.

His home is one filled with heritage, craftsmanship and old-school glamour (clearly thanks to some very old-school money)

Despite the uber-luxe look, Mark says many of his favourite pieces came from eBay or at estate sales

Reclaimed parquet flooring from Transylvania, gold-leaf walls, handmade plasterwork and velvet curtains you could get lost in.

All designed and curated by Mark-Francis - no architects, no decorators, just artisans and a highly trained eye.

Now four-metre-high ceilings once dropped and spaces poorly divided have been returned to grandeur.

Despite the uber-luxe look, he swears by a budget-friendly approach (probably a different level of budget to most).

Many of his favourite pieces were sourced on eBay or at estate sales.

His look is a mix of British eccentricity and Italian polish. He doesn't chase luxury - he lives it.

Tiffany Watson

Out of all the Made In Chelsea stars, Tiffany's home appears in many ways the most relatable to all of us

Has Tiff played it too safe with her home? The living room is a soft muted space with plush grey sofas

Of all the Made in Chelsea homes, Tiffany Watson's is the one closest to what most of us are living in - and I mean that in the best (and slightly beige) way possible.

While her co-stars go for Versailles vibes or West London maximalism, Tiffany's renovated Richmond home plays things refreshingly straight.

But I can't help but wonder - has she played it too safe? The living room is a soft, muted space with plush grey sofas, delicate built-ins and the occasional quirky accessory.

Her aim of a 'country feel with a modern twist' has been accomplished - but if her walls could speak, these ones would whisper politely and offer you a chamomile tea.

The kitchen is clean, open, and in keeping with the colour theme others in the MiC cast love - has a bright pink Aga.

It seems almost perfectly Pinterest - but is also crying out for a risk or two

The kitchen is clean, open, and in keeping with the colour theme others in the MiC cast love - has a bright pink Aga

Liv Conlon advises that Tiff needs a daring wallpaper or a vintage rug with attitude

The rest of the homes? Perfectly Pinterest, right down to the matching neutrals and obligatory double dishwasher (although she admits to having 'baby brain' when ordering this).

The bathroom is grey, efficient, and very on-trend Mrs Hinch circa 2019. A safe choice, but one that risks feeling more 'developer chic' than personality-driven.

Tiffany's home is a sanctuary for her growing family. But design-wise, it's crying out for a risk or two.

A daring wallpaper, a vintage rug with attitude - something to say: 'This is ME!'
A plus size travel influencer revealed she finds it more difficult to travel in certain countries as she gets awkward stares from locals who are not used to seeing larger bodies.

British-Maltese Emily Jones, who boasts more than 470,000 followers on her Instagram @miss___jones, opened up about the issues plus size travellers face while exploring different countries.

The blogger, who recently had gastric bypass surgery and lost weight was a size 20 at her largest. She says she has now seen 'both sides of the coin' and understands the 'privilege' that comes with travelling in a smaller body.

Despite her new smaller size, Emily explained that she is still an advocate for more inclusivity for travellers of all sizes and she is keen to share her experiences 'to raise up the voices of the plus-size community'.

The beauty revealed that travel can present some specific issues for plus-size people, such as small plane seats, small bathrobes and towels in certain hotels and awkward stares and comments from local communities, in particular Southeast Asia.

Speaking exclusively to FEMAIL, Emily said: 'The Maldives was definitely tricky and posed some particular issues as the seaplanes are really tiny!

'Having recently returned from a trip to Thailand and Vietnam, I can say that Southeast Asia is not very accommodating for plus-size travellers in general - not due to any fault of their own and not really a criticism but more of an observation.

British-Maltese Emily Jones, who boasts over 470,000 followers on her Instagram @miss___jones, revealed she finds it more difficult to travel in certain countries as she gets awkward stares from locals who are not used to seeing larger bodies

'It's due to the smaller average body size over there, which was reflected in the sizes of hotel robes, towels and so on, not to mention the many curious stares from locals.'

Emily revealed that in some countries where larger bodies are less common she often gets 'some awkward stares and curious reactions from locals.'

She recalled one very distressing experience during a massage in Thailand when the masseuse told her she should exercise.

The influencer revealed she suffers from Lipedema, which is a condition that results in painful fatty tissue buildup in the arms and legs.

She recalled: 'I have had a massive transformation with my weight in the last year or so which has also left me with a lot of loose skin, particularly on my arms.

'When I was most recently in Thailand and went for a massage, the masseuse started poking my arms and exclaiming that I had very big arms and that I needed to do some exercise.

'As you can imagine this turned what was meant to be a very relaxing experience into quite a distressing one.

'This hit home a little more for me as it was clear she couldn't understand why my body was shaped the way that it was.

Despite her new smaller size, Emily explained that she is still an advocate for better inclusivity for travellers of all sizes and she is keen to share her experiences 'to raise up the voices of the plus-size community'

The beauty revealed that travel can present some specific issues for plus-size people, such as small plane seats, small bathrobes and towels in certain hotels and awkward stares and comments from local communities, in particular Southeast Asia

'I'm a really confident person so whilst this did sting a little in the moment, and I was keen to share the raw experience with my followers, I could understand that it was probably more from a curiosity point rather than one of judgement.

'However you can see how that could be really upsetting to someone less secure in themselves and could trigger off a horrible emotional reaction which no one deserves to be subjected to, let alone on holiday or whilst travelling in a foreign country.'

After sharing her story on her TikTok account, which boasts over 20,000 followers, Emily said her experience resonated with a lot of other plus-size people.

The body positivity advocate also has some invisible disabilities such as rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness and she also suffered with fibromyalgia, which comes with widespread pain, fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues.

These health issues can also exacerbate the discomfort of travelling in small plane seats for the influencer.

She said: 'My most challenging experiences have been with US airlinesnot regarding my size, but related to my invisible disabilities.

'I live with rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, and there have been several occasions where I spotted empty seats that would have better accommodated my condition, but was denied permission to move to them despite explaining my medical needs.

'These situations were particularly frustrating because my disability wasn't being recognised or accommodated, even when solutions were readily available.'

Emily revealed there were easy adjustments that airlines and hotels could make to make travel more comfortable and inclusive for plus sized people.

Emily revealed that in some countries where larger bodies are less common she often gets 'some awkward stares and curious reactions from locals'

The influencer said her health issues can also exacerbate the discomfort of travelling in small plane seats

The blogger, who recently had gastric bypass surgery and lost a lot of weight over the last year, says she has now seen 'both sides of the coin' and understands the 'privilege' that comes with travelling in a smaller body

She said: 'One small adjustment that would make people feel more comfortable in hotels would be to offer larger towels and plus size bathrobes.

'Bathrooms should be accessible too - we all know the discomfort of a pokey hotel bathroom!

'It would be great if airlines could announce during boarding that if anyone needs a seatbelt extension, that they are available.

'From my experience and what people tell me in my messages online, asking for an extension is a big fear for plus-size people, I'd love to see this being de-stigmatised so people can travel comfortably and without the added anxiety.

'Airlines could also provide seat width and pitch measurements online during booking, this would make a lot of plus-size travellers more comfortable and confident with their upcoming journey, easing some of the unknown that can be such an anxiety for travellers.

'Plane seats are notoriously uncomfortable for most plus-size travellers - and often for average sized people too! So it can be a really restrictive experience.

'As a whole, it would also be impactful if plus-size passengers were included in comfort testing for new seating configurations too.

'Ultimately, I'd say the way to really implement change would involve consulting plus-size travellers themselves during planning and implementation stages, rather than just making assumptions about their needs.'

Elsewhere Emily claimed being able to see more diversity and representation in travel adverts could also help with stigma.

She added: 'More than anything I would like to see some more diversity in travel media - we're so used to seeing only one type of look in travel adverts and on Instagram, and I'd love to see a bit more representation, particularly in luxury travel.

She recalled one very distressing experience during a massage in Thailand when the masseuse told her she should exercise

The influencer revealed she suffers from Lipedema, which is a condition that results in painful fatty tissue buildup in the arms and legs

The body positivity advocate also has some invisible disabilities such as rheumatoid arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints, causing pain, swelling, and stiffness and she also suffered with fibromyalgia, which comes with widespread pain, fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues

Elsewhere Emily claimed being able to see more diversity and representation in travel adverts could also help with stigma

Emily claimed the debate about weighing passengers reflected a wider issue between 'operational concerns and passenger dignity'

Emily claimed the current narrative around plus-size travelers has become 'increasingly complex and often contentious'

Emily, who was unable to travel for a few years due to her mother's terminal illness, says she is embracing the opportunity to explore the world now and hasn't let her weight limit her experiences

'That's another reason why I am so passionate about sharing my travel content - I'd love to encourage people of all shapes and sizes not to let their insecurities hold them back, and to remind people that life is short and they deserve to be in these spaces just as much as those perfect-looking people on Instagram.'

Emily claimed the current narrative around plus-size travellers has become 'increasingly complex and often contentious'.

She added: 'I wish we'd approach things with more kindness, more understanding, and less cruel judgement.'

Last year Finnair, which services the UK with budget flights to and from Finland, revealed it will begin weighing passengers with their carry-on luggage in order to better estimate the plane's weight before take-off.

Social media users were left 'horrified by the announcement, which they argued would lead to embarrassment for overweight passengers, describing the plan as 'cruel'.

Emily claimed the debate about weighing passengers reflected a wider issue between 'operational concerns and passenger dignity.'

She said: 'The idea of weighing travellers alongside luggage feels completely dehumanising and stigmatising.

'I think it reduces people to numbers without considering the psychological impact or potential for public humiliation, which is rarely a route towards any kind of meaningful change!

'What's particularly concerning is how these discussions frequently devolve into judgement about individual bodies rather than focusing on systemic accommodation issues.

'The narrative tends to place responsibility on passengers to conform to spaces, rather than questioning why spaces aren't designed for diverse bodies in the first place.'

Emily, who was unable to travel for a few years due to her mother's terminal illness, says she is embracing the opportunity to explore the world now and hasn't let her weight limit her experiences.

She said: 'My weight-loss journey was never really about my looks - I've truly always believed that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes - but more about my personal health journey, and I've been left with a lot of loose skin and stretch marks which cause new issues and possible 'insecurities' that could challenge self-confidence.

'I will always continue to strive for ALL bodies to feel comfortable and confident in any situation, be it on home soil or whilst out exploring the world and taking on new adventures.'

'Hopefully I can inspire people to be less judgmental, more confident, and accepting that people come in all shapes and sizes.'
Walking on the school fields aged seven, I firmly clamped my mouth shut.

As I approached the group of older girls I ducked my head down to further hide my identity. But it was too late. I'd already caught the eye of ten-year-old Lorna, the pretty, freckled ringleader, and as I walked past, she led the jeering. 'Morning, Bugs Bunny!' 'Hey there, Goofy!'

Tears stung my eyes as I hastened to my classroom, escaping this familiar onslaught.

I thought of this distinctly unhappy memory  and the many others like it  following the recent furore over the brilliantly talented White Lotus actor Aimee Lou Wood's teeth.

Because during my childhood I was relentlessly teased about my own large, gappy and sticking-out front teeth. The sting still lingers. In spite of years of braces  first in my teens, then in my 30s  I am still reluctant to smile for the camera.

In the 1980s, there wasn't the daft expectation that everyone should have identikit pearly whites. So 31-year-old Aimee's refusal to get her own front teeth 'fixed', and her honesty and beauty, is refreshing.

Alice Smellie, pictured when she was a young girl, recalls being called 'Bugs Bunny' and 'Goofy' by bullies at school because of her teeth

Even today, at 52, Alice struggles to smile with her mouth open - but admits she barely thinks about them any more

But while many have praised her, last weekend a cruel parody on the US show Saturday Night Live saw the actor playing Aimee wearing large fake teeth and making a joke about not knowing what fluoride is.

In response, Aimee branded the skit 'mean and unfunny'. 'I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth,' she said on Instagram.

My own tribulations started aged six, when my family moved from Leicester to Felixstowe. My little sisters and I joined the local primary school where one group of older girls took against me. Children can be cruel and they always pinpoint the one thing that makes you  literally in my case  stick out.

So from six until nine, when we moved again to the Lake District, I vividly recall being called Bugs and Goofy, with people making carrot-munching noises.

Six seems pretty young to start loathing your appearance but I became very self-conscious. I remember crying in the school loo when comments were particularly barbed. Once, as I tried to scurry past her, Lorna pushed me over, causing me to graze my knee.

After we moved north, there were still comments, but far less so. I remained hyper conscious about my teeth, though.

Even though I'd become less of a target, the fear of being different and laughed at had been instilled at such a young age that it stayed with me throughout my childhood and teens. When I finally got braces, aged 13, I was overjoyed, welcoming the dull ache as my vast (in my mind) front teeth were gradually pulled straight and I could finally  as I thought  'fit in'. To me then, the thought of keeping my sticky-out teeth was unthinkable. I was desperate for them to be like everyone else's.

So when my braces were removed three years later, I felt I'd finally found my confidence and launched into an enthusiastic social life (my schoolwork certainly suffered according to my reports).

Actress Aimee Lou Wood wrote on Instagram 'I have big gap teeth, not bad teeth' in response to a cruel Saturday Night Live skit last weekend

However, teeth always shift, and because we weren't given retainers in the early 90s, mine gradually twisted inwards. In my late 30s  a time when I was perfectly confident with my appearance, or so I thought  I had a meeting with a group of Americans in Harvey Nicks.

As I gazed at their uniformly straight teeth, I felt the old insecurities again. I remember covering my mouth to conceal what I thought were my wonky teeth and I ended up paying for new braces shortly afterwards.

While none of my adult friends or colleagues would ever have teased me or, I suspect, even noticed my teeth, my fear was clearly still there.

Now, aged 52, I am still reluctant to show my teeth in pictures, even though I rarely think about them beyond daily cleaning and flossing. But every now and again I have a nightmare about them sticking out again and remember how exposed and upset I felt.

I'm far from the only person driven to change my appearance over childhood bullying; indeed, I recall my mum saying that one of my classmates, dubbed Big Ears, had an operation to pin them back because the teasing upset him so much.

So while the furore around Aimee's teeth will die down, I hope the message that nobody should be ridiculed for their appearance is a lasting one.

And hopefully, other little girls with sticky-out teeth won't be teased and feel compelled to 'correct' them as I did.
I'm in a busy supplements store in West Texas when a woman walks in coughing as she weaves through the shelves of vitamins.

A store clerk approached, and the two spoke in hushed, urgent tones about a 'very sick' child.

She was then quietly directed to a display of cod liver oil bottles labeled 'for kids' at the front of the store.

Despite her cough  a potential telltale sign of measles  no one batted an eye.

Customers kept browsing, seemingly unaware they may have just been exposed to the most infectious disease on Earth.

I'm in the rural town of Seminole  the epicenter of America's deadliest measles outbreak in a decade, one that has already claimed the lives of two young girls.

This town of 7,000 people, located in Gaines County near the New Mexico border, is a breeding ground for anti-vaccine conspiracy theories, reflected in the fact it has one of the lowest measles vaccination rates in the country.

Only around 82 percent of residents are immunized, well below the 95 percent needed to stop measles from spreading. Many here choose to rely instead on 'natural remedies' like those sold in this busy store.

Cod liver oil contains vitamin A, which some evidence suggests may help support the immune system as it fights a measles infection. The supplements have been promoted by vaccine skeptic and HHS Secretary, Robert F Kennedy Jr.

EPICENTER: A sign at the measles testing center in Seminole. The center is quietly getting busier as the reality of the outbreak sets in

BEHIND THE HEADLINES: I'm in the epicenter of America's deadliest measles outbreak in a decade, one that has already claimed the lives of two young girls

Official figures suggest 62 patients have been hospitalized with measles in West Texas and nearly 600 people have been sickened.

But having been here, on the ground, that number feels like a massive understatement.

It's nearly impossible to go anywhere in Seminole without meeting someone who personally knows someone affected by measles.

Over coffee in a local cafe, I met a woman who described how her neighbors  an entire family  had all come down with the disease.

Later, in a nearby parking lot, another woman told me how three different families she knew had all been sickened.

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Officials continue to stress that vaccination is the most effective way to prevent measles, but the message appears to be falling on deaf ears.

Seminole is home to a tight-knit community of Mennonites  a reserved and generally well-off Christian sect that often favors natural remedies over modern medicine.

While there is nothing in Mennonite scripture that explicitly forbids vaccines, many in the community choose to avoid them, swayed by local rumors of dangerous side effects and the belief that vaccines simply don't work.

At the same time, public health officials have urged those who are unvaccinated and exposed  or showing symptoms  to isolate.

But in practice, there's little evidence that this guidance is being widely followed.

ANTIVAX LOCALS: Judy (left) said her family hasn't got the MMR vaccine because they don't like the things in it. Joselyn doesn't want to get her children vaccinated despite the outbreak because she claims to know people who've had adverse reactions

One Mennonite woman in a blue-and-white dress, holding a bag of groceries, told me she believed measles was actually 'good for the immune system,' and that children could benefit from catching it.

Outside a gym, another woman said she preferred not to vaccinate her children because of 'all the potential side effects.'

Her fears about side effects are, of course, overblown.

One dose of the MMR vaccine is 93 percent effective against measles; two doses offer 97 percent protection  and drastically reduce the risk of serious complications or death.

Yes, there are side effects from the MMR vaccine  the most common being a sore arm, mild fever, or a light rash.

In rare cases, more serious reactions have been reported, including seizures in children under 23 months. But these occur in fewer than one in 10,000 cases.

Measles itself is far more dangerous.

According to CDC data, about one in five unvaccinated children infected with measles requires hospitalization. One in 20 develops pneumonia.

Around one in 1,000 suffers encephalitis  swelling of the brain that can lead to permanent damage and, sadly, often death.

In Seminole, that grim statistic has become a reality.

TRAGIC: Eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand is the second child to die in the escalating measles outbreak

Eight-year-old Daisy Hildebrand and six-year-old Kayley Fehr both lost their lives to measles complications

They mark not only a local tragedy, but also the first confirmed measles-related deaths in the US since 2015.

I met with Daisy's father outside a gas station, his eyes rimmed red and voice cracking with grief.

He was adamant she wasn't killed by measles.

'She did not die of the measles,' he said. 'If there's one thing you should know, it's that. She was failed.'

He was also opposed to the vaccine. 'The [MMR] vaccine ain't worth a damn,' he added.

'My brother's family got it and they all still got sick  worse than my unvaccinated kids. This isn't about the vaccine.'

Daisy and Kayley are buried both buried the Reinlander cemetery.

Their graves are modest, marked only with simple plaques  quiet reminders of the tragedy that has rocked this small town.

But even in mourning, misinformation is taking root.

Religion clearly plays a role in the opposition to vaccination in Seminole, but something dangerous is also happening.

The Children's Health Defense, an anti-vaccine group co-founded by RFK Jr, has been in contact with the families of the deceased and is now actively pushing the narrative that measles wasn't to blame.

That message is reverberating through the community.

Local rumor mills are spinning a different story  one where measles isn't nearly as dangerous as health officials claim.

'I got measles when I was young,' said Jake, a farmhand standing outside the Southern Rose cafe in the town's center, chewing on a toothpick.

Business as usual: Guests in Perikas, the main restaurant in Seminole. It was packed when I visited, and there wasn't a single sign warning about measles in sight

'It wasn't that bad, I remember I had to be at home for a bit, but I got lots of ice cream'.

To combat the outbreak, local health officials have opened a measles testing and vaccination center.

What began as a small operation in a parking lot has since expanded into a large, drive-thru facility  a sign perhaps that people are beginning to take the crisis seriously.

Workers at the drive-thru clinic told me that, in the early days of the outbreak, Seminole felt like a ghost town.

People were afraid  not of the virus, but of being seen at the testing site and judged by neighbors for engaging with public health services.

Like a lot of towns across the US, there has been an erosion of trust in public institutions which stem from lockdowns and vaccine mandates during Covid.

Now that the clinic has been moved to a shed, attendance has crept up.

STATE VISIT: Peter Hildebrand with his wife Eva and two of his children. They met with anti-vaccine crusader RFK Jr, health secretary, after the death of their daughter Daisy

Despite cooperation from the public slowly starting to creep up, not everyone is on board.

'Those two deaths, now they were tragic,' a farmer told me, before adding, 'but most of the time, measles really is a mild illness'.

Only about 82 percent of children entering kindergarten in Gaines County, where Seminole is located, are vaccinated against measles  well below the 95 percent threshold experts say is needed for herd immunity.

It's also below the national average of 91.6 percent coverage by 24 months of age.

Local officials have attempted to stem the spread by putting up posters warning of the outbreak and directing people to the testing center.

But the flyers are mostly confined to government buildings like the courthouse and county office.

I didn't see them in places that actually draw people in: restaurants, local stores, or even Walmart.

GROUND ZERO: The above map shows Gaines County (in dark orange) and the surrounding counties where measles cases have been diagnosed. It appears that this outbreak is very much just at the beginning

At the supplement store  a known hotspot for anti-vaccine sentiment and where symptomatic people continue to gather  staff told me they've had no visit from any public health department representatives.

While anti-vaccine rhetoric echoes loudly across Seminole, it's not the only voice.

Outside the Walmart, I met a Mennonite woman who told me she'd chosen to vaccinate all of her children.

'It's the right thing to do,' she said. 'To protect their health.'

Nationwide, the mesles crisis is growing.

As of mid-April, there have been almost 800 confirmed measles cases across 24 states  the highest number since 2019.

And if the current pace continues, 2025 could surpass that years total of 1,274 cases  making it the worst outbreak in the US since 1992.

The two deaths in Seminole are the only confirmed measles fatalities so far this year, but many fear there could be more.

Widespread federal health cuts  including about $12 billion slashed from health services under the Trump administration  have local health officials in Texas concerned.

But the vaccination site here remains open, for now.
A snacking staple could unknowingly be raising people's risk of cancer, experts warn.

Brazil nuts, common nuts chock full of antioxidants, contain beneficial minerals and nutrients. They are a good source of B vitamins, calcium, zinc, magnesium and vitamin E.

The nuts are high in fiber and low in monosaturated fats, helping to lower cholesterol and improve heart health, as well as reduce stroke risk. They are also said to ease inflammation in the body, strengthen bones and improve cognition.

One essential mineral in Brazil nuts, selenium, is believed to boost the immune system and support thyroid function, but too much of it could actually have the opposite effect and be harmful to your health.

People 14 and older are advised to get 55 micrograms (mcg) of selenium per day. The recommendations for babies, children and young teens range from 15 mcg and 40 mcg per day.

Selenium does have benefits, but it is easy to over consume this powerful mineral, and Brazil nuts contain a very high concentration of it - about 544mcg per 1oz portion, which is typically just six nuts.

Due to this high content, people are cautioned to not consume more than one to two nuts per day, as too much selenium has been linked to difficulty breathing, tremors, kidney failure and heart attacks.

And while previous research has suggested selenium has cancer preventative properties, newer studies actually suggest the opposite - it may increase the risk of developing the disease.

Brazil nuts contain a very high concentration of selenium - about 544micrograms per 1oz portion, which is typically just six nuts.

The daily recommended value of the mineral is also readily available in tuna, sardines, shrimp, beef, pork, turkey, eggs and spaghetti - but these can be enjoyed without worrying of overdosing on selenium.

Dr Steven Quay, a physician-scientist specializing in cancer research, called selenium a 'double-edged sword.'

He told DailyMail.com: 'On one hand, its a vital trace mineral your body uses for DNA synthesis, thyroid function, and immunity. On the other? Cross the 400 mcg/day line and youre flirting with selenosis  garlic breath, brittle nails, and worse.

'Some studies praise it for neutralizing mercurys toxicity, while others warn: Not a cancer shield, folks. The truth? Dose matters. Like all powerful tools, it's about balance  not abundance.'

While people only need a small amount of selenium, it does play an important role in the body. It is involved in the production and protection of DNA, and, according to the NIH has been shown to boost cognitive scores in older adults and improve sperm motility.

Dr Martina Ambardjieva, a urologist, told DailyMail.com: 'Selenium does have benefits when taken in limited, doctor-recommended amounts.'

However, consuming too much - the NIH says the upper safe limit for people over 14 years old is 400 mcg - can lead to selenium toxicity and cause a wide array of symptoms.

These, Dr Ambardjieva said, include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hair loss, diseased nails, rotting teeth, arthritis and inflammation.

It is not known how many cases of selenium toxicity are recorded each year.

Despite the dangers, because of selenium's DNA protective properties, the mineral has long been thought to play a role in the prevention of cancer.

But a comprehensive review on the matter found different.

A 2018 Cochrane review called Selenium for Preventing Cancer examined whether selenium intake or supplementation reduces cancer risk.

Analyzing data from 10 studies involving over 27,000 people, the review found there was no evidence that selenium supplements decrease cancer incidence.

Additionally, the researchers said some of the studies included in their review 'raised concerns' because they reported a higher occurrence of prostate cancer and type 2 diabetes in people taking a selenium supplement.

Not only does the mineral not prevent cancer, but other studies show it could actually increase risk.

The daily recommended value of selenium is also readily available in supplements, as well as foods like tuna, sardines, shrimp, beef, pork, turkey, eggs and spaghetti

Above is a graph showing the increase in cancer rates among people younger than 50 (the blue line represents women and the green line represents men)

A 2024 study published in the journal Nature found people with both the lowest and highest intake of selenium had a greater chance of developing cancer.

After analyzing nearly 3,000 people from a database in Vietnam, researchers found the 'safe' intake level of selenium was 111 mcg to 124 mcg per day.

People who consumed 28 mcg to 77 mcg and those who took in 169 mcg to 332 mcg both had an increased risk of developing cancer. The association was highest for stomach, colon, rectum and lung cancers.

For high-intake, the odds of developing cancer were 86 percent higher. While chances were three times higher in the low-intake group.

Research from 2002 found the group of people with the highest levels of selenium in their blood - 122 or higher ng/ml (nanograms per milliliter) - had a 20 percent elevated cancer incidence. People in the two low-dose groups - less than 122ng/ml - showed a 30 to 49 percent reduction in cancer incidence, however.

And a third separate study found selenium supplementation was associated with 'statistically significant' elevated risk - a 25 percent increase - of squamous cell carcinoma - the second most common type of skin cancer.

Additionally, health officials warn selenium can impair the effect of immunosuppressants, birth control and cholesterol medications, while exacerbating the effects of anticoagulants and sedatives.

Due to the wide range of results and, at times, contradictory conclusions, experts say more research is needed to examine the relationship between selenium and cancer.

Until then, it is recommended to only take the doctor-advised dosing.
A coroner has issued a warning to doctors following the death of a man whose life-threatening hernia was misdiagnosed as a stomach bug.

Earlier this month, Nigel Parsley ruled that there had been a 'missed opportunity' to save the life of Thomas Glover, who had been discharged from hospital with suspected gastroenteritis.

It was later discovered that the 71-year-old had suffered a strangulated hiatus hernia  a medical emergency where a portion of the stomach is trapped in the chest and the blood supply is cut off. He eventually suffered organ failure and a cardiac arrest.

Clinicians say this rare but potentially deadly problem is often missed, and they are now urging GPs to be alert to the warning signs.

Mr Glover, who lived in Suffolk, went into hospital on April 13 last year with persistent vomiting. He was admitted, but by the following evening was deemed 'clinically well enough for discharge'.

However, two days later he became acutely unwell and returned to hospital, where his hiatus hernia was discovered.

Suffolk senior coroner Mr Parsley concluded that Mr Glover died as a result of the 'naturally occurring strangulation of a hiatus hernia with delayed surgical intervention' following a 'missed opportunity' for diagnosis.

Earlier this month, Nigel Parsley ruled that there had been a 'missed opportunity' to save the life of Thomas Glover, 71, who had been discharged from hospital with suspected gastroenteritis

Krishna Moorthy, a gastro-intestinal surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London (pictured), said: 'Strangulated hernia is a very dangerous condition that is often overlooked'

The cause of death was confirmed as a rolling hiatus hernia  a less common but often more serious form of the condition.

It is not the first time that a coroner has sounded the alarm over misdiagnosed hernias  there have been three warnings in the past 12 months alone.

In February, Pamela Marking, 77, died after a physician associate mistook her strangulated hernia for a nosebleed.

Krishna Moorthy, a gastro-intestinal surgeon at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust in London, says: 'Strangulated hernia is a very dangerous condition that is often overlooked.'

About 60 per cent of people in middle and later life suffer from a hiatus hernia.

The hiatus is a small opening in the diaphragm  the sheet of muscle which separates the chest from the abdomen.

This opening allows the oesophagus  the tube which links the mouth and the stomach  to pass through the diaphragm and connect to the stomach.

In February, Pamela Marking, 77, (pictured) died after a physician associate mistook her strangulated hernia for a nosebleed

About 60 per cent of people in middle and later life suffer from a hiatus hernia. The hiatus is a small opening in the diaphragm  the sheet of muscle which separates the chest from the abdomen

Usually the muscles around the hiatus form a tight seal which keeps stomach acid from flowing back up into the oesophagus.

But if this area weakens  due to age, pressure in the abdomen or other factors  part of the stomach can push up through the hiatus, leading to a hiatus hernia.

There are two main types. The most common is a sliding hiatus hernia, where the upper part of the stomach and lower part of the oesophagus slides up through the hiatus into the chest cavity. Symptoms include acid reflux  also known as heartburn  bad breath and vomiting.

The NHS advises: 'It does not normally need treatment if it's not causing you problems.'

The other type, a paraoesophageal hernia  or a rolling hiatus  is less common and more serious.

In this, the lower part of the oesophagus and the junction with the stomach stay in their normal position, but a part of the stomach pushes up through the hiatus and sits next to the oesophagus in the chest cavity. The stomach can become trapped, or strangulated, cutting off its blood supply.

Between five and 15 per cent of hiatus hernias are paraoesophageal. They often require surgery and can be fatal if not treated.

Between five and 15 per cent of hiatus hernias are paraoesophageal. They often require surgery and can be fatal if not treated

Mr Moorthy says: 'Patients with a rolling hiatus hernia will often experience an enlarged stomach, breathlessness, chest pain. The stomach can also compress the food pipe and patients may often struggle to swallow.'

In his prevention of future deaths report, coroner Mr Parsley said: 'Many non-gastro specialist medical clinicians within the NHS are unaware of the difference in the two types of hiatus hernia and are therefore unaware of the additional risks.'

He stated that 'the NHS England guidance makes no distinction between the two types of hiatus hernias'.

Mr Moorthy adds: 'We see a lot of patients who have presented to their GP multiple times complaining of shortness of breath andthey are being treated for asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which includes emphysema and bronchitis, when in fact it is a hernia.

'If there is chest pain, with no underlying heart condition, doctors need to be aware that a hernia is a possible cause.'

He agrees that the NHS should look to update the advice on its website to distinguish between the types of hernia, saying: There definitely needs to be more awareness on this.
The NHS faces a dangerous shortage of dentists as research reveals there are only enough fully trained practitioners to fill one in 12 of the current vacancies.

Just one per cent of dentists surveyed said they were looking for work on the NHS, meaning only about 240 were available to fill the 3,000 needed across the country.

Dentists are in a long-running dispute with the Government over the amount they earn from the NHS for carrying out procedures on patients, which they insist is inadequate. As a result, many have been choosing to focus on private patients instead.

Previous research has suggested that nine out of ten NHS dentists are not taking on new clients.

The current shortage of dentists has been linked to a nearly 50 per cent rise in mouth cancer cases over the past decade, with many patients not being diagnosed until they arrive at hospital with severe symptoms.

Government figures suggest there are so few NHS dentists that, at most, only half of the population of England would be able to access an appointment over the next two years.

Just one per cent of dentists surveyed said they were looking for work on the NHS, meaning only about 240 were available to fill the 3,000 needed across the country

MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the public accounts committee, said: 'It is utterly disgraceful that, in the 21st century, some Britons have been forced to remove their own teeth'

Only four in ten adults have seen an NHS dentist since 2023.

Last year, the Conservative government announced a plan to fix the dentistry crisis, which included a 'golden hello' bonus payment of 20,000 for those who agreed to take on NHS work in areas with severe shortages.

But experts say the latest data, from a survey of almost 30,000 dentists by the General Dental Council, shows that this scheme was unsuccessful.

'Without the vacancies filled, we cannot hope to speed-track reform,' warns Neil Carmichael, the non-executive chairman of the Association of Dental Groups.

Earlier this month, MPs blasted the Conservative dentistry plan as a 'complete failure', with a growing number of patients going into debt paying for private dental care or even resorting to 'DIY' dentistry.

MP Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, chairman of the public accounts committee, said: 'It is utterly disgraceful that, in the 21st century, some Britons have been forced to remove their own teeth.'

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: 'This government inherited a broken NHS dental sector after years of neglect, but we are getting on with fixing it through our Plan for Change.

'Weve already begun the rollout of 700,000 extra urgent dental appointments, and a golden hello scheme is underway to recruit dentists to areas with most need  with hundreds of posts advertised.

'We will also reform the dental contract to make NHS work more appealing to dentists, and weve announced a national supervised toothbrushing programme to prevent tooth decay in young children.'
As a kid I loved sarsaparilla. Its a Caribbean soft drink, like a mixture between Ribena and Dr Pepper. I grew up in Camberwell, Southeast London, and Luke [Matts twin brother and former bandmate] and I would go down to East Street Market as eight-year-olds with my grandad. There was an old man with a huge barrel of sarsaparilla that you could get hot or cold. I remember the stall next door sold Thunderbirds toys and our grandad would only let us get one if we were really good, but we always got a sarsaparilla. For Southeast Londoners, that drink is a religious experience.

I havent had a caffeinated drink for 17 years. When I wake up, Ill have hot water, lemon, ginger and cayenne pepper oil, because it balances the bodys pH. It also has loads of health benefits. I am partial to a decaf latte, though. I go to this little chichi coffee shop down my road in Kensington, West London, but Im not saying where because I dont want it to get busy!

The first time I got drunk I was about 12 years old. It was with my grandad Harry, who was a gunner in the Second World War and a proper tough East End lad. We sat at home one day and he said I was allowed half a pint of beer. I drank it and I remember him looking at me and saying: Which ways the room spinning, son? It was so funny  we were both laughing our heads off. Looking back, Im glad we had that moment together.

The most famous person Ive ever shared a drink with is Frank Sinatra. It was at the Royal Albert Hall in 1992, when Liza Minnelli hosted a tribute to Sammy Davis Jr. I walked backstage and saw Sinatra drinking a Jack Daniels on the rocks. It was only a brief meeting, but he was every bit as cool as youd imagine. Hes an absolute hero of mine.

Matts favourite drink, Sarsaparilla, on sale At East Street Market, London.

On my first date with my partner Chantal [Brown], we had a bottle of Far Niente Cabernet Sauvignon. Far Niente, in Napa Valley, is one of my favourite vineyards. I once went to meet the team and its a tiny little place. Chantal and I met at a 2011 event at The Dorchester in London, and afterwards we didnt see each other for seven months because I was living in Las Vegas. When I eventually came back to London it was a few days before my birthday, so she showed up with balloons and cake and we shared a bottle of my favourite red.

My best-ever pint was a Guinness at Dockers in Dublin with the Edge from U2. It was the early 1990s and I was playing in Ireland. He kindly let me stay at his house for the weekend, which was very cool, since hes obviously a guitar legend. He took me on a bar crawl of his favourite Dublin spots and we had a lovely night.

Frank Sinatra, who Matt met at the Royal Albert Hall in 1992

If I could share a drink with anyone, Id pick Winston Churchill. Hes the best leader weve ever had. His quotes are inspiring but he was also a hilarious guy. Im a proud Englishman and he was a great man.

When I raise a glass, I always give the same toast: Have my back, behind my back. I think one of the most important things in life is to spend time with people who speak well of you. Im a very loyal person  Id say its my best quality.

At my funeral Id like everyone to raise a G&T. My favourite is Monkey 47, so people can have that with a slice of grapefruit and a quality tonic.

Matt Gosss charity single Not Forgotten, commemorating VE and VJ Day in association with The Not Forgotten charity, is out on 25 April
Dont Tell Dad is the latest hot place in North London. Half bakery, half restaurant. Punters queue for three hours at weekends for the fancy croissants; the kitchen doles out crab tarts and duck cassoulet and has already won rave reviews. When I visited recently,

I glanced at the tables around me and realised that every single person had ordered the same thing to start: a crumpet.

And not just any crumpet. These were crumpets fried in beef dripping, covered with slow-cooked oxtail and sprinkled with crispy crumbs made from the rendered oxtail fat. They werent huge; three or four mouthfuls at the most, and they cost 5 each. But the fat had sunk through the crumpet holes, and those three or four mouthfuls were gloriously fatty, beefy, soft and satisfying.

Artisan versions from London bakery Jones Crumpets

Forget hot cross buns this Easter. Its crumpets that are having a moment, and you wont just find them at trendy restaurants in Queens Park. Glasgows gastropub The Clarence serves them heaped with tandoori crab (14) and at new restaurant Starling in Esher, Surrey, youll find a truffled cheese version (7.50). At the private view for artist Gary Bunts recent Saatchi Gallery show, waiters carried around little silver trays upon which sat delicate mini parmesan crumpets the size of a 10p coin, topped with smoked creme fraiche and crispy leeks.

But why are they suddenly so popular? Dont Tell Dads head chef Luke Frankie puts it down to diners increasingly looking for nostalgia. Were craving what we grew up with, he tells me. Makes sense. When much of the world feels a little wobbly, what could be more comforting than a starchy, spongy snack, slick with butter? I wonder if it is also because the ingredients for a crumpet  flour, yeast, milk, salt, sugar depending on the recipe  are relatively cheap for restaurants at a time when staff, supply and energy costs are still soaring.

Food writer Felicity Cloake says theres also a high-low element at work. With a crumpet you have something relatively low, very comforting, very familiar. Then restaurants put something quite luxurious on top and it makes it almost decadent.

A bit ironic. Also, practically, theyre just such a great vehicle for anything fatty because of those holes. (According to Warburtons technical manager Luke Arnold, the perfect crumpet should be pockmarked with 250-300 holes.)

Sophias homemade batch was a big success

Following the cronut and the cruffin, crumpets are also big on social media. Tap crumpet into TikTok and youll find videos of users making Mini Eggs versions, air-fried chocolate ones, crumpet garlic bread and so on. This feels like a war crime, one user writes under a video of an American trying to decipher what a crumpet is, before attempting to toast it in a frying pan and eating it with a knife and fork.

In another, the 25-year-old American rapper Ice Spice gags when shes encouraged to try a crumpet with Marmite. That was disgusting, she drawls.

In 1382, John Wycliffe, a beardy theologian from Yorkshire, translated the Bible from Latin to English and in doing so mentioned a crompid cake  a thin cake, more like a pancake, made from flour, eggs and water and cooked on a griddle. The Old English word crump meant crooked, and its largely believed that this is how the crumpet got its name  the crompid was a misshapen thing with edges that curled up with the heat.

It wasnt until those canny Victorians came along and added yeast and baking powder to the recipe that the holes developed. The fermentation process creates bubbles in the batter, which rise and expand when cooked. Since the Victorians were also keen on order and propriety, they started using metal rings, so the crumpet became perfectly round. (A quick word on pikelets to avoid confusion: these originated in Wales and are smaller, flatter, often sweeter and less perfectly spherical than crumpets.)

If you want an artisan version, order them from Jones Crumpets, the London-based bakery that sells them for around 5 for a pack of four. Food writers often cite Jones crumpets as the very best  thick, with an excellent hole count, which means you can spread maximum butter across them. Warburtons (79p for a pack of six at Sainsburys) are pretty good too  just the right amount of crunch on the outside.

Crumpetoriums DIY kit

Alternatively, this summer, Claridges is opening a bakery in Mayfair and crumpets will be on the menu. The hotels restaurant already sells them as an 18 amuse-bouche before dinner (two small crumpets, covered with a thick, creamy, oniony sauce and thin flakes of truffle on top). A crumpet shouldnt be too dense, declares Claridges Bakery creative director and executive baker Richard Hart when I ask what makes the perfect one. It needs to be well toasted top and bottom, so it crisps on the outside and is unctuous and chewy inside. Hart prefers his with strawberry jam.

Or you could make your own. How hard can it be? Norwichs Crumpetorium bakery sells a Make Your Own kit for 15, but I bought metal rings from Lakeland and followed Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstalls recipe because Id read online that his was the most promising. When it comes to crumpets, theres great debate over whether to use plain flour or strong flour, bicarb or baking powder. What ratio of milk to water? How much salt? And do you need sugar? Much as with sourdough or marmalade recipes, everyone has a different view as to the best method.

Fearnley-Whittingstalls recipe uses plain flour and no sugar. I left the batter in a mixing bowl near a radiator for three hours, checking it like a sleeping baby every so often, then made several batches using the rings in a frying pan with plenty of butter. The joy I felt as holes formed during the cooking process was, honestly, tragic. A plate of them piled up beside me and, once they were all cooked, I covered one with (more) butter and a thick spoonful of apricot jam. It really was a lovely bit of crumpet.
Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews is under fire after drawing a controversial comparison between Donald Trump's deportation of a Salvadoran migrant and Adolf Hitler's actions during the Holocaust.

Appearing on The Jim Acosta Show on Friday, Matthews blasted the former president over the case of Kilmar Abrego Garcia  a 29-year-old man accidentally deported from the U.S. last month.

Garcia is now being held in El Salvador's CECOT prison, a massive facility condemned by human rights groups and likened by critics to a modern-day gulag.

The case has become a flashpoint in the legal battle over Trump's immigration enforcement policies.

While several U.S. courts have ruled Garcia was deported in error and called for his return, the Trump administration has held firm, alleging he is affiliated with the violent MS-13 gang  a claim Garcia strongly denies.

This is on top of 2019 deportation protection order Garcia had been placed under, after it was found he may be subject to persecution should he return to El Salvador.

During the interview, Matthews drew a direct line between Trump's actions and those of Nazi Germany.

'What did Hitler do in the Holocaust?' Matthews asked. 'He took people from Germany to other countries  where there was no German law, not even a pretense of German law. They took them to Poland or Hungary.'

Former MSNBC host Chris Matthews is under fire after drawing a controversial comparison between Donald Trump 's deportation of a Salvadoran migrant and Adolf Hitler's actions during the Holocaust

Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a Salvadoran migrant who lived in the U.S. legally with a work permit and was deported to El Salvador despite a court order protecting him from removal

Acosta followed up by referencing the CECOT facility's conditions: 'So when you see what's happening right now with this El Salvadoran gulag... he's basically taking a page out of that playbook, you think?'

'Well, it gets them out of the country,' Matthews replied, before shifting to what he believes journalists should be asking.

'If I were at CNN or MSNBC and I was in that Oval Office, I would have asked two questions,' he said.

'First question to the president of Salvador - 'If president Trump asked you to send this guy Garcia back to the United States, would you do it?''

'Then I'd go to president, then I'd go to Trump. Next question. 'Mr. President Trump, will you ask him to send them back?''

The longtime political commentator went on to accuse Trump of using cruelty as a tool of deterrence.

Matthews also took issue with Trump's often crass rhetoric, including foreign leaders and migrants. 'He wants to humiliate people,' he said. 'It's schoolyard stuff.'

Critics online were quick to condemn the comparison, accusing Matthews of trivializing the Holocaust by equating it to modern immigration enforcement.

The case has become a flashpoint in the legal battle over Trump's immigration enforcement policies

Abrego Garcia was detained in Maryland last month and expelled to El Salvador along with 238 Venezuelans and 22 fellow Salvadorans who were deported shortly after President Donald Trump invoked a rarely-used wartime authority (Pictured: Him meeting with Republican Senator Chris Van Hollen at a hotel in San Salvador, El Salvador)

Prisoners with MS-13 gang tattoos looks out of his cell as Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem tours the Terrorist Confinement Center in Tecoluca, El Salvador on March 26, 2025

'Please stop using the Holocaust as a comparison for anything. The Holocaust was singularly horrific,' one X user wrote in a post. 'Deporting undocumented immigrants does not compare, even to CECOT.'

'Acosta and Mathews do what Hitler did every day.eat, shower, walk, etc. You minimize the evil of Hitler with a this nonsense,' said another commenter .

'Seek help,' a third wrote.

'Hitler sent illegal alien wife beating Jewish gang members to concentration camps?' chimed another X user.

This isn't the first time Matthews has clashed with the Trump White House.

Earlier this month, the Trump administration mocked the former Hardball host after he railed against Trump's tariffs on Canadian lumber.

'What are we going to do? Have more lumber made in the United States now?!' Matthews shouted on air.

'What is our plan now? Oh we're not going to import wood so we're going to make more wood? Are we going to make more wood in this country because of our trade deal?! I don't think so!'

The White House swiftly fired back. 'Yes,' tweeted Principal Deputy Communications Director Alex Pfeiffer.

Trump's rapid response team followed up with a screenshot of the administration's plan to boost domestic timber production, writing: 'That's the idea.'
More than half a million low-income savers are in line to get a boost to their savings pot from the Government.

The 'Help to Save' scheme is now open to anyone working and receiving Universal Credit.

This means that the scheme will be open to 550,000 more people, HMRC announced today.

Help to Save is a type of savings account which was launched by the Government in 2018. It helps low-income people who receive certain benefits to build a savings pot by paying a bonus of 50p for every 1 they save over four years.

Savers can put away between 1 and 50 each month. They don't have to pay money into the account every month.

It means those tucking away the maximum 50 a month can get a 25 Government top-up, with bonuses paid in the second and fourth years of the account being opened.

Savings boost: More than half a million low-income savers are in line to get a bonus to their savings pot from the Government

Savers who deposit the maximum amount of 2,400 over four years will receive a bonus totalling 1,200 into their bank accounts, with payments coming at the end of the second and final year.

The scheme was due to end in September 2023 but was extended to April 2025 and has now been extended until April 2027.

One in five Britons has less than 100 in savings, newly released DWP data for 2023/2024 shows.

The scheme is one way those with very little income can begin to build up a savings pot and financial resilience.

It has seen 93 per cent of savers paying in the maximum 50 every month to their Help to Save account.

Some 516,000 Help to Save accounts were open at the end of April 2024 with the total value of deposits reaching 492.5million, amounting to an average of 953 each.

Looking at Britiain's biggest savers, by contrast, there is an astonishing gap between those who have the least in savings and those who have the biggest pots.

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Of Britain's biggest savers, 12 per cent have between 50,000 and 200,000 saved, 3 per cent have between 200,000 and 500,000 and two per cent have 500,000 or more in savings.

Other ideas have been mooted for how people who struggle to build even the most modest rainy day fund could be helped.

These include being auto-enrolled into a 1,000 rainy day easy-access cash fund alongside pensions.

It could be created from increased pension contributions, and as soon as it hit 1,000 any surplus would be diverted into people's retirement pots, as proposed by think tank the Resolution Foundation.

Or a Lifetime savings plan, as put forward by fund manager Schroders and the Pensions Management Institute.

This could build on workplace pension saving, helping people build an emergency savings pot as well as longer term goals like saving for a home deposit.

Economic Secretary Emma Reynolds said: 'We want more people to have a bit in the kitty for a rainy day, which is why we are giving hundreds of thousands more working families on tight budgets access to this support.'
British households are at risk of receiving higher energy bills this winter due to a row between the Government and the owners of British Gas over one of the country's key fuel storage hubs, The Mail on Sunday understands.

Energy group Centrica runs the Rough storage facility in the North Sea, 18 miles off the coast of East Yorkshire.

It provides half of the UK's storage capacity for natural gas, enough to power the energy grid for up to six days. But there are fears that the clash between the company and ministers could leave Britain without sufficient reserves for this winter.

The firm usually begins filling Rough with gas in early April in preparation for colder months.

But recent data shows Centrica has yet to begin injecting gas into the facility, giving rise to fears that by winter there may not be enough to meet the UK's needs.

In that case, Britain would be forced to pay for imported energy to power the electricity grid. That would leave households exposed to fluctuating natural gas prices on international markets and potentially higher bills. It could also push up costs and increase uncertainty for industry, including the UK's beleaguered steel sector.

Stalemate: Centrica chief executive Chris O'Shea pictured at the Rough site in the North Sea

The decision not to begin refilling Rough stems from a dispute between Centrica and the Government over the facility. The company says losses are unsustainable unless the Government agrees to a price-smoothing mechanism.

Centrica wants to invest 2 billion to expand Rough, which is ageing and unprofitable, and allow it to store hydrogen as well as methane, quadrupling its capacity.

In return, chief executive Chris O'Shea wants the Government to introduce what is known as a 'cap and floor' price system to make the site financially viable.

He argues this would provide good value for the country, estimating that if Rough had been at full capacity over the energy crisis, it would have saved UK consumers more than 5 billion over two years.

Cap and floor models operate by setting a minimum price at which energy is purchased. If the market price falls below this threshold, the Government tops it up with a subsidy. But profits are also capped, with any excess being used to reduce the cost of energy for households. The effect is to smooth out volatility in energy prices.

Without this model, Centrica has argued that Rough will be unsustainable. The company previously estimated the site would cost it between 50 million and 100 million this year.

'The company can't sustain a loss-making asset without this,' said a source close to Centrica.

The source added that if the site was not refilled now, it would be 'very, very difficult' for the UK's energy storage network to be ready for the winter months. If a deal cannot be reached, Centrica may close down Rough entirely.

The site was shut in 2017 when the Government refused it support. It was partially reopened in 2022 at the request of the Government when Russia's invasion of Ukraine caused global energy prices and household energy bills to spike.

Another rise in bills this winter would come at a difficult time for households already struggling with mounting energy costs. The Ofgem price cap was raised by 111 earlier this month, taking the average energy bill to 1,849 a year.

'With gas prices still volatile now is not the time to be gambling with our energy security,' said Simon Francis of the End Fuel Poverty Coalition. 'It is households who will suffer this winter if prices increase and supplies run low.'

Centrica said: 'We don't yet have the regulatory model we need to unlock the 2 billion investment, but we said in February we're having constructive conversations at the highest levels of Government. We have no formal update on the future of Rough at this time. It is our intention to update on our plans in the coming months.'
Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below.

J.M. writes: I retired after getting a final quote from Willis Towers Watson (WTW) for my Rockwell Automation pension.

It told me to expect a lump sum of 146,000 and an annual pension of 22,198. However, the lump sum I ended up receiving was about 5,000 less and my annual pension was only 21,685.

WTW has said that it is sorry, and that it had made a mistake, and has offered me 500 compensation.

Tony Hetherington replies: You contacted me after finding that in July I reported on an earlier mistake by this same huge international company  Willis Towers Watson  that administers the pension schemes for lots of UK companies.

Then, WTW had written to a Lloyds Bank pensioner who retired seven years earlier, claiming it had overpaid his lump sum and monthly pension and demanding 95,000.

Mistake: WTW's decision was that they are only obliged to pay the correct amounts and not any mistaken amounts

WTW wanted full details of his finances before it would make a compensation offer. It even suggested he could sell his car and give them the proceeds.

I asked why WTW's failure should not be regarded as negligence by a rich multi-national company that now expected a pensioner to foot the bill. And in the end it backed down and withdrew its claim completely.

Yet here we are in almost the same situation. And this time, WTW got its sums wrong repeatedly.

It first told you that your pension lump sum was 146,547, and you agreed to this and went ahead with your retirement.

WTW then cut this to 139,636. When you protested, it said it had made an error and would add 1,016 to the lump sum, only to admit just three days later that it had made another mistake, so the top-up was increased to 1,762. This made the final figure 141,398.

I questioned WTW about its incompetence, and you filed a formal appeal to the trustees of the Rockwell Automation pension scheme.

Their decision was that they are only obliged to pay the correct amounts and not any mistaken amounts, but trust chairman Brian Watson did say they would boost the compensation offer to 1,500.

And Watson took a swipe at WTW, saying: 'As a result of the errors encountered the trustees are undertaking a review of WTW's processes, and changes will be made with the aim of preventing similar errors in the future.'

I hope this means that the 1,500 would come out of WTW's pocket, and not from the pension fund.

You are now taking your complaint to the Pensions Ombudsman, so there is unlikely to be any fresh decision for some months.

Meanwhile, the scheme trustees told me: 'The trustees are very sorry that the service received by the member fell below the standard expected and normally provided by the scheme's administrator.'

This apology was given to me by David Booth, the Leeds-based secretary to the Rockwell pension trustees  though his real employer is actually WTW, the company paid to administer the pension scheme. So we have a WTW employee handing out an apology for poor service by his own employer.

If I were running Rockwell, I think I'd be looking for a new firm to run my pension scheme.

WE'RE WATCHING YOU: Rocket scientist who crashed and burned

The man behind an investment company in Nottinghamshire has been charged by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) with operating an unauthorised business and dishonestly misleading investors.

John Burford, from Mansfield, is the owner and sole director of Financial Trading Strategies Limited, which provided daily investment tips as well as offering three managed funds.

Finger on the pulse: John Burford has been charged by the Financial Conduct Authority

The FCA alleges that he recruited more than 100 investors and is suspected of generating over 1million. The regulator claims that he misrepresented the value of the funds he operated and the amount of investors' money lost.

I warned against Burford in August when I reported that, despite the FCA investigating him, his Tramline Traders website was still inviting new subscribers for his tips.

When I questioned him, he said nothing about where investors' funds had gone.

The 85-year-old, who has a PhD in physics and worked at Nasa, will appear in court in London on May 23.

If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 9 Derry Street, London W8 5HY or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned.
In the autumn of 2022, gold was trading at little more than $1,600 an ounce. It has more than doubled in price since then, topping $3,300 last week.

Investors spent more than 15 billion on gold funds in the first three months of this year, and central banks, from Poland to Qatar, are stocking up on bullion.

With President Donald Trump stoking global uncertainty, gold is the most obvious asset to buy. And the market is hot.

During the California Gold Rush, some miners prospered but the real money was made by suppliers and shopkeepers.

Today, many gold mining stocks are soaring but firms in related industries have yet to catch up  and they could deliver real long-term rewards.

Midas touch: Many gold mining stocks are soaring but firms in related industries have yet to catch up  and they could deliver real long-term rewards

H&T

Pawnbroking has been around almost as long as gold has been dug up from the ground, and H&T is the biggest of the breed in Britain, with 285 stores and a market valuation of almost 170 million.

Customers include not just individuals but, increasingly, small businesses which pawn family jewellery to buy stock or pay VAT.

Builders also use H&T to manage wage bills. Local traders rely on the group when they need cash. Loans can be as high as 5,000 or more but the process is simple, transactions are speedy and the money is repaid within a couple of months.

Alternative sources of cash are drying up too, with banks often reluctant to lend to small firms, and short-term lenders, from Wonga to Provident, leaving the market.

Their demise has fuelled demand for pawnbroking across the board. According to City broking firm Panmure Liberum, a third of UK adults cannot afford to pay 300 if their washing machine breaks down. Many visit local pawnbrokers for help. Half of H&T's loans are for 250 or less, with households pledging rings and chains in exchange for fast finance.

About 75 per cent of H&T's revenues come from pawnbroking but it also deals in foreign exchange, sells jewellery and buys gold, which it sells on to bullion dealers.

Chief executive Chris Gillespie is upbeat about the future. Profits for 2024 rose 10 per cent to 29 million and the pledge book grew 26 per cent to 127 million, evidence of that growing need for quick and easy borrowing.

Dividends rose 6 per cent to 18p and further gains should follow.

At 3.82, H&T shares have had a rocky ride in recent years but this is undeserved. With a 5 per cent yield and robust prospects, the stock should prove rewarding.

Traded on: Aim Ticker: HAT Contact: handt.co.uk or 0800 838 973

Ramsdens

Ramsdens is smaller than H&T and its business model is slightly different, but the outlook is equally bright.

Headquartered on Teesside, the company operates 169 shops and this year is shaping up well, fuelled by the strong gold price, smart management and growing demand for alternative lending.

Chief executive Peter Kenyon is expecting annual profits of at least 13 million, which is ahead of forecasts and up 14 per cent from 2024.

Like H&T, Ramsdens offers pawnbroking, gold buying, jewellery retail and holiday money. Unlike its big brother, however, revenues are almost equally split across all four divisions.

Ramsdens' gold business is making strides, as consumers with valuables at home opt to sell their wares and pocket the cash. Some are doing the reverse, fuelling growth in the jewellery business as customers opt to buy gold because prices are high.

Pawnbroking customers can also secure higher loans than in the past, driving higher interest payments for Ramsdens. Customers tend to be cautious, however, with borrowings of around 200 frequently paid back early.

Kenyon is cautious too. Lending terms are conservative and, last year, a store opening programme was put on hold while he assessed how a Labour government might affect trading. The decision was canny but Kenyon hopes to start expanding his portfolio again, and there is a growing online business for jewellery sales, pawn and foreign exchange.

Brokers expect an 8 per cent increase in sales to 104 million this year, with profits rising to just over 13 million and a 15 per cent hike in the dividend to 12.9p. Solid gains are forecast for next year.

Ramsdens shares have had a decent run but are still good value at 2.60, and with a generous 5 per cent yield they look attractive.

Traded on: Aim Ticker: RFX Contact: ramsdensplc.com, 01642 579957

Capital

Mining services group Capital generates about 80 per cent of its revenues from gold miners, so buoyant markets should have been a boon.

Last year, however, some contracts ended, some were hit by teething problems and some were delayed. Results fell short of expectations, the shares fell, chief executive Peter Stokes resigned and chairman Jamie Boyton is now in charge. A 17-year veteran of the business, Boyton is moving fast to put Capital back on track.

Customers include the world's biggest goldminers and the firm provides a full range of services, from exploration drilling and earthmoving to fleet maintenance and ore analysis.

In America, Capital is working with Barrick Gold and Newmont on Nevada Gold Mines, the largest gold mining complex in the world, collectively producing more than three million ounces of gold annually. Capital hit problems with labour last year but these are being ironed out.

Capital is winning contracts too, from a massive new mine in Pakistan to a major laboratory in Alaska. Revenues and profits are expected to slip back this year but a sharp recovery is forecast for 2026. Investors who buy now, at 66p, should reap the benefits.

Traded on: main market Ticker: CAPD Contact: capdrill.com or 020 3464 3250

Weir Group

Weir Group specialises in pumps and crushing equipment. With a facility less than 200km from every mine site in the world, the business, based in Glasgow, derives a quarter of revenues from making kit and the rest from servicing and maintaining it. Gold mines make up a large part of the customer base and the firm works with major miners across the globe.

Mining software is also on offer, to aid exploration and make sites more efficient.

The sector is growing and Weir chief executive Jon Stanton recently spent 650 million on Perth-based Micromine, a market-leading business which should fuel short- and long-term growth.

Brokers expect a 9 per cent increase in profits to 467 million this year, climbing steadily thereafter and accompanied by rising dividends. Weir's focus on maintenance offers a degree of resilience and rising gold prices are also helpful. At 21.48, the shares should gain ground.

Traded on: main market Ticker: WEIR Contact: global.weir or 0141 308 3617
A top MP has demanded Foreign Secretary David Lammy meet British nationals owed millions in pension savings by HSBC after an expose in The Mail on Sunday.

In a letter seen by this paper, Blair McDougall, a member of Parliament's Foreign Affairs Select Committee, called on Lammy to meet members of the British National (Overseas) community whose savings have been frozen by the banking giant.

He said Lammy must 'discuss how the UK Government could take further steps to address this matter' after we revealed last month that Lammy had raised the issue with HSBC chairman Mark Tucker at a meeting last year.

The bank is under growing pressure to face MPs and explain its refusal to pay out the savings, owed to people who fled Hong Kong to escape a crackdown by the authorities in Beijing.

Concern: David Lammy raised the issue with HSBC chairman Mark Tucker at a meeting last year

HSBC says it is following orders from the Chinese government. As a result it is sitting on 978 million of savings of tens of thousands of Hong Kongers in the UK, leaving them in a precarious state.

McDougall said this raised 'serious concerns' about the ability of UK financial institutions to 'operate independently' of Beijing, in line with British law.

The Foreign Office said: 'We continue to raise this issue with both the Hong Kong government and Chinese government and have discussed it with HSBC.'
Ministers have been accused of 'favouritism' and 'an appalling lack of transparency' after forcing two town hall pension funds covering the Tory shires of southern England to merge, while leaving Labour-dominated ones in the North and Wales as they are.

The Government wants to boost growth by creating a series of pension 'mega-funds' in the biggest overhaul of the 400 billion Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) in a decade.

The sprawling LGPS is divided into eight 'pools' but the Government wants them to consolidate so they have the economies of scale to invest, like public sector funds in Canada and Australia.

It has insisted all pools are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, the City watchdog.

But in a surprise move, ministers recently ordered two of them  Access, formed of 11 councils in South-East England, and Brunel, which covers South-West England  to merge with other funds.

Critics accused the Government of bulldozing through a decision without regard to merger costs, which Access told the Treasury could hit 150 million.

Planning ahead: The Government wants to boost growth by creating a series of pension 'mega-funds'

They pointed out that Brunel is already FCA-authorised, but has been told to merge anyway.

And while Access isn't regulated by the watchdog, neither is Northern LGPS, which covers Greater Manchester, West Yorkshire and Merseyside, nor the 25billion Wales Pension Partnership.

Both these pools, which have large Labour representation, escaped Government interference and can continue to set up their own authorised structures.

'The complete lack of objectivity and transparency is appalling. It is bound to fuel suspicion of favouritism,' said Kevin Hollinrake, shadow local government secretary. 'What have they got to hide?'

Access said it was 'extremely disappointed' with the decision.

It would be 'highly regrettable' if 'political considerations had influenced the Government's thinking', Mark Kemp-Gee, chairman of Access, told The Mail on Sunday.

Brunel said it would 'take some time to consider next steps'.

The LGPS  which is one of the biggest pension funds of its kind in the world  is spread across 86 councils. It manages investments in shares, bonds, property and other assets that pay the pensions of 6.7 million workers.

The scheme is estimated to have a surplus of 65 billion, according to pensions consultant Isio.

Ministers want to use some of that surplus to invest in infrastructure and other pet projects.

A government spokesperson said it completely rejected claims of favouritism and had assessed every pool by the same criteria.
Investing in art is often seen as an elite pursuit only affordable to the super-rich.

But today, the most successful area of the market is not multi-million-pound pieces by world famous artists  it's works that cost between 100 and 4,000 from relative unknowns.

Worldwide sales of pieces worth less than 4,400 (3,800) rose in value by 7 per cent last year and the number sold rose by 13 per cent, the Art Basel & UBS Art Market Report claims.

They bucked an overall decline, with the value of art sales falling by 12 per cent  totalling 50.5 billion (43.5 billion) globally last year.

The number of pieces sold at auction for more than 8.8 million (7.5 million) saw one of the largest drop-offs, too, falling by 39 per cent.

So what works can you buy on a budget that could prove to be a shrewd investment?

Growing popularity

There is no watertight formula for finding pieces that will attract buyers both now and when you come to sell.

Bold palette: Experts say it is wise to buy into signature styles that will stand out when it's time to sell

However, Jane Verity, of trading website Artfinder, suggests collectors look at the types of artists that are proving popular for inspiration. The price of pieces by Niki Hare have risen by 100 per cent over the past 12 months, for instance. Her bold, coloured letters style of artwork stands out  the piece Life After Cigarettes now sells for 7,000 compared with 3,500 a year ago.

Quirky humour can also help attract interest. For example, Thai artist Ta Byrne has seen values soar 70 per cent over the past year with her strange egg people designs. A painting such as Egg Girl In Green recently sold for 1,015. The same piece might have been 600 a year ago.

Another recent winner is the colourful cartoon artist Kev Munday, whose almost childlike style has risen by an average of 60 per cent over a year. Ties That Bind Us Together is available for 750; it cost 500 a year ago.

Lilia Orlova-Holmes, who creates more classical landscapes, has seen values leap by 50 per cent. A painting such as Spring Day sells for 9,900 but a year ago it may have fetched less than 7,000.

Finding a financial winner is not guaranteed  it is impossible to bank on future tastes, or be sure of securing a keen buyer when selling. The best gamble is likely to be locating works that you love and will enjoy owning. Then, if they rise in value, it is an added bonus.

Browse the dealers

A look around high street galleries will give you a feel for the types of pieces you like. Options are also growing online, with website such as Artfinder.com, Artsy.net and Artgallery.co.uk listing thousands of pieces to purchase.

Ms Verity says that the growth in online options is behind the rising interest in relatively affordable art. Buyers can browse and invest without feeling intimidated  and discover artists they might not otherwise have come across.

'The art world does have its fair share of snobs, and those elite galleries where you have to ask the price can be intimidating,' she adds. 'This is where we step in. Our average price for a one-off original is 500 and we list 300,000 pieces online. It enables everyone to get involved and buy what they love.

'It is hard to say what will do well, but artists with a signature style can stand out from others. But it is not a case of the more you spend, the more likely a piece becomes a great investment. You can budget from 100.'

For those seeking the most popular trends that might rise in value, it's worth noting that almost a third of purchases made on Artfinder are of landscapes, sea pictures or the sky.

People and portraits make up about 20 per cent while close to 15 per cent are of animals or birds.

The top animal is the cat, followed by horses and dogs.

Abstract art accounts for 13 per cent of purchases and still life 4 per cent.

View in person

An art fair is a convenient way to study the market.

Events are advertised in publications such as the Antiques Trade Gazette but there is also an Affordable Art Fair where more than 100 galleries across the country showcase thousands of paintings from 100 to 10,000. The next event is held on May 7 to 11 in Hampstead, north-west London. Entry is 14.

Hugo Barclay, the fair's director, says: 'There really is no substitute to seeing art in person. At a fair you speak to art dealers who provide the back stories behind an artist. This can help you better appreciate a piece and understand why it is worth collecting and putting on the wall.

'Over time we all want to see our art rise in value but, of course, there is no guarantee. However, every great artist has to start somewhere  so if you want to discover the next Banksy or [David] Hockney, you need to buy art.'

Another option is to visit an end-of-degree art college sale to potentially find a great creator of the future as they begin their careers.

These are held in the summer and venues to consider include the Royal College of Art in Kensington, west London, where Hockney studied, as well as the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, also in the capital.

Consider how to sell

Making a profit from art is challenging. Online dealers, trade fairs and galleries negotiate directly with artists, and are rarely interested in the secondary market.

If you want to sell, the best option might be to go to an auction house.

The Antiques Trade Gazette can provide detail of auctioneers in your area.

And Mallams, which has bases in Oxford, Cheltenham and Abingdon, holds regular art sales  the auctioneer provides free valuations and charges a 16.5 per cent fee of the hammer price for pieces worth up to 3,000. If the painting sells for more than 3,000, there is a charge of 11.5 per cent.

You must also consider the taxman when selling art as you may incur capital gains tax.

A basic-rate taxpayer pays 18 per cent, and higher and additional-rate taxpayers pay 24 per cent.

Everyone has a tax-free allowance of 3,000 for gains each year.
Do YOU have a story or tip?

The sister of a man whose deadly bladder cancer only reared its head when it was tragically too late has revealed the symptom he was plagued with for years before.

Childcare worker Gregory Mannings passed away in March aged just 36 from a heart attack induced by his rapidly worsening cancer, which caused him so much pain he was unable to go to the toilet without medical help.

Sitting in Gregory's flat in southwest London surrounded by his get well soon cards from earlier this year, his elder sister Stacey, 39, told MailOnline she simply couldn't believe her brother was gone.

The mother-of-two said: 'He was an angel on Earth. I thought my brother would be here until he was old.

'He wasn't expecting it at all. It was too quick.'

Asked what she would tell him if he could hear her, she replied in tears: 'I would tell him I love him and I would ask him not to leave.'

Now those close to him have revealed the symptoms Gregory had for years before he passed away.

Gregory was just a month away from his 37th birthday when he died on February 16, 2025, after a pulmonary embolism brought on by the cancer.

Sitting in Gregory's flat in southwest London surrounded by his get well soon cards from earlier this year, his elder sister Stacey, 39, (pictured) told MailOnline she simply couldn't believe her brother was gone

Gregory (pictured) was just a month away from his 37th birthday when he died on February 16, 2025, after a pulmonary embolism brought on by the cancer

Now those close to him have revealed the symptoms Gregory had for years before he passed away

The young man first went to doctors at Croydon University Hospital, formerly the Mayday, in 2017, after seeing blood in his pee.

Doctors diagnosed him as having a urinary tract infection in multiple appointments over seven years.

Although they said they tested for cancer in 2022, none was found, and it was another two years before a tumour was spotted.

By that point the cancer was extremely advanced and Gregory died just four months later.

Stacey said: 'He was in so much pain he couldn't pass urine.

'Blood in urine [could mean] bladder cancer.

'They just kept saying, ''He's young, he's fit.''

'This went on for years.

'He told me, ''I don't understand how it's taken this amount of time to realise what's been going on but now it's too late.'

His best friend David, who is a teacher and knew Gregory for 15 years, told MailOnline the childcare worker began experiencing pain while urinating and was going back and forth to hospital where doctors diagnosed him with a UTI.

For years he said Gregory was put on different antibiotics and medications - but nothing was working.

David said: 'It got to a point like in the last year or so that at one point he was saying to me, ''When [I'm passing urine] there's bits coming out in the blood, it feels like there's bits of body coming out, there's like lumps and stuff like that''.

'And then at one point, I don't know how other kind of more sensitive way to put this. But he said to me, ''Dave, my balls are solid, they're rock solid.''

'I was thinking like this is really serious.

His sister Stacey said: 'He was an angel on Earth. I thought my brother would be here until he was old'

Doctors diagnosed him as having a urinary tract infection in multiple appointments over seven years

Pictured: The get well soon cards in Gregory flat just a month after he tragically passed away

'In October [2024] he went in, and eventually he contacted us, and he had got a diagnosis, and it was cancerous.

'One night he was in absolute agony. And this tells you a lot about the kind of guy that he was - he didn't like to bother anyone, even though I've got a car.

He was in agony, got out in the middle of the night and waited for a night bus to go to Mayday Hospital.

'He waited and waited and waited, and it was a bit serendipitous. He was in so much pain and another bus came going in a different direction, and he got on that and went to Guy's Hospital.

'He'd never been there before. He just went in, and he was in agony, and obviously they took him in and immediately tested him.

'He was in agony and they gave him a bed, admitted him, and it was the best thing that could have happened, because they just reacted quickly.

'He had this massive operation and the care that he had in Guy's was amazing.'

After the operation, Gregory spent New Year's Eve with his friends and family.

Asked what she would tell him if he could hear her, Stacey replied in tears: 'I would tell him I love him and I would ask him not to leave'

Gregory, who was gay, had come to the UK from Jamaica when he was 11 and soon felt much more comfortable living in Britain

David added: 'He was obviously recovering. We had New Year's Eve. He loved fireworks on the Thames. He always go every year.

'We all walked down from the flat and watched the fireworks together, and it felt like this thing was being sorted.

'And then when he went into hospital and they said, ''No, it's come back. At this point, you've only got a year to live.'

Stacey added: 'Why did it have to get to the point where we've lost him?'

She said her brother was always a positive person and put everyone around him at ease.

'Gregory was always smiling,' she said. 'He was always trying to show the happy side.

'He always made sure everyone else was okay and put everyone's needs above his.'

When it got closer to the end, David went to visit him and Gregory revealed his last wishes.

Gregory, who was gay, had come to the UK from Jamaica when he was 11 and soon felt much more comfortable living in Britain.

David said: 'I had a book and we sat there all Sunday, and he told me where he wanted to be buried, how he wanted his funeral to be - he wanted it to be a party, like a celebration with vibrant colours.

'We talked all about that and the whole time, even when he was in pain, he would never share it.

'He was always like in good spirits. He never wanted to worry anybody else.

'Everything he did was for everybody else. I mean his whole job was about looking after children.'

'One of the things that he said to me for his wishes was, 'I want you to like, make a GoFundMe page and if it makes enough money he wanted a charity in his name for LGBT youth who are kicked out of home.'

'Throughout the whole process he had really good friends because he gave so much to everybody and he would hold these like really amazing dinner parties, people from all walks of life who probably wouldn't normally be together'.

After Gregory's pulmonary embolism, Gregory was in a coma on life support for his final moments.

Decsribing the moment his best friend passed away, David said: 'We had to turn everything off and say goodbye, and that was it'.

A spokeswoman for Croydon Health Services NHS Trust said: 'We extend our sincere condolences to the family and loved ones of Mr Mannings at this incredibly difficult time.

'During the time that Mr Mannings received care in Croydon, we carried out a wide range of investigations, including a cystoscopy, which did not detect any signs of cancer at that stage.

'As cancer was not identified during these tests, our clinical teams acted on the information available at the time and followed the appropriate clinical pathways in line with best practice.

'Sadly, following further illness two years later and a new attendance at the hospital, Mr Mannings was diagnosed with a rare form of bladder cancer in November 2024 and was offered surgery.'
A set of 12 Lizzie Borden crime scene photographs have been sold for a whopping $12,500.

The prints, dating back to the time of the infamous 1892 murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, were acquired by DeWolfe & Wood Rare Books of Maine from a private collector in New Jersey.

The gruesome images, taken by James A. Walsh, depict scenes of Andrew Borden slumped on a couch, Abby Borden sprawled on a bedroom floor and exteriors of the Second Street murder house.

The photos themselves are commonly known, according to Scott DeWolfe of DeWolfe & Wood Rare Books, who added that the rare images are especially known to true-crime enthusiasts and those familiar with the centuries-old Borden case.

The high-priced images however are not just photographs, but tangible connections to one of America's most perplexing criminal cases.

The Borden's mystifying case possesses an immense historical significance, offering a haunting glimpse into a mystery that has captivated the public's imagination for over a century.

DeWolfe said the images spent the last three decades in the possession of an elderly collector in New Jersey before selling this week at the 65th annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair.

The rare books aficionado said he obtained original images from the passionate collector in New Jersey, adding that the elderly collector had a love for acquiring items related to American crime history.

A set of 12 Lizzie Borden crime scene photographs was sold at the 65th annual New York International Antiquarian Book Fair for a whopping $12,500

The prints, dating back to the time of the infamous 1892 murders in Fall River, Massachusetts, were acquired by DeWolfe & Wood Rare Books of Maine from a private collector in New Jersey

The collector, who DeWolfe declined to name, began as a teenager, amassing a significant collection spanning from the 1600s in England to the 20th century.

'As a teenager he started to collect stuff related to American crime and also things like magic and a few other areas. He amassed this huge collection,' DeWolfe said.

'He ended up building one of the best collections of American and British crime material going from the 1600s in England into the 20th century.'

Michael Martins, curator of the Fall River Historical Society, noted that multiple sets of these images were printed around the time of the murders and distributed to those involved in the case.

'There were multiple sets of these images printed... contemporaneous to the period. They were distributed amongst people involved in the case in some manner,' Martins told The Herald News.

However, original copies remain exceedingly rare, making the acquisition particularly noteworthy.

'I do know of at least two families that have original images, and they're directly descended from principles involved in the case,' Martins said.

'And I have reference to a third set that I have never seen - but I know that these, sometime in the 1970s or '80s, were with a family in New Bedford.'

The gruesome images, taken by James A. Walsh, depict scenes of Andrew Borden slumped on a couch, Abby Borden sprawled on a bedroom floor and exteriors of the Second Street murder house

Borden was deemed innocent after a lengthy trial, and this murder case is one of the most famous in American criminal history

The DeWolfe set of Borden photos comes enclosed in two red slipcovers custom-made to hold the rare finds.

The unnamed collector originally purchased seven of the photos at auction from New York's prestigious Swann Galleries in April 1992.

A catalogue listing from the time describes them as 'the official photographs prepared by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the prosecution of its case against Lizzie Borden,' likely albumen-processed prints, and signed 'Walsh Photo' -for James A. Walsh, the original photographer.

As pieces of evidence in one of the world's most notorious unsolved crimes, the prints have incredible historical value.

'These photos were something that he really prized, and he decided that we should find a home for them,' DeWolfe said.

The sale has reignited public interest in the Borden case, prompting discussions about the ethical considerations of owning and displaying such graphic historical artifacts.

The axe - or rather, hatcher - murder that made Lizzie famous occurred on the morning of August 4, 1892.

Lizzie, then 32, alerted the maid when she found her father Andrew's dead body. He had been hacked to death in the parlor while sleeping on the sofa.

Lizzie Borden was put on trial for the brutal murder of her father and stepmother in 1892

The handle-less hatchet believed to be the murder weapon is shown on display at the Fall River Historical Society

A contemporary drawing of Lizzie Borden at her trial with her defense lawyer George D. Robinson

Abby Borden's body was discovered soon after in an upstairs bedroom. Investigators determined that Abby was killed first.

Policemen called to the scene suspected Lizzie immediately but did not arrest her until a week later.

During the week between the murders and her arrest, Lizzie's story changed several times.

The Sunday School teacher burned a dress that she claimed was stained with paint after household work.

Prosecutors alleged that the dress was stained with blood, and that Lizzie had burned the dress in order to cover up her crime.

She had also unsuccessfully attempted to purchase prussic acid, a highly poisonous liquid, in the days before the murders.

At the time there were rumors that the couple were killed because of Andrew's shady business dealings.

People also believed that Lizzie committed the murders because her father was so frugal that she and her sister, both considered spinsters by that point, didn't even have access to indoor plumbing.

Andrew and Abby Borden were murdered and mutilated with a hatchet on the morning of August 4, 1892. Their deaths remain a mystery to this day

Lizzie's trial was described as a circus. The prosecution even presented the hatchet-crushed skulls of Abby and Andrew in the courtroom.

Children even came up with a jump-rope rhyme that said it took 40 strokes to kill Abby and 41 to kill Andrew.

The home where the murder occurred has been turned into a bed and breakfast where murder-mystery buffs can sleep in the room where Lizzie grew up.

Maplecroft, the home where Lizzie Borden lived after she was acquitted, sat just minutes away from the home where the murders occurred. It was built in 1889 by Charles Allen.

While many homes of this size in the area have been split up into multiple-family dwellings, Maplecroft has stayed in tact and now operates as a guesthouse.
The wife and son of a 76-year-old man dying from heart disease, dementia and diabetes on the Gold Coast have been denied visas to visit him in Australia before he passes away.

Dhanarajan Chetty arrived in Australia on a visitor visa to see relatives but his health rapidly deteriorated to the point where he could not travel back home to South Africa.

Mr Chetty's distraught wife, Maya Dev Chetty, who has been with her husband for 58 years and rarely apart, wants to be with him in what may be his final days.

Mrs Chetty and their son Vinothan were initially going to travel with Mr Chetty but Vinothan fell ill with tuberculosis and they had to stay back home in KwaZulu-Natal province, which has a large population of ethnic Indians like the Chettys.

As Dhanarajan's health deteriorated, mother and son have made further visitor visa applications which have all been refused.

Now Mr Chetty is in a terminal state, and the family is desperate for one last reunion.

'Maya and Dhanarajan have been together for 58 years and have never been apart until the last few years,' their son-in-law Ruben Govender told Daily Mail Australia.

'It was only when he became too ill while visiting here to travel back home to South Africa that they have been forced apart, and Maya has been refused permission by immigration officials to come here and be with him for the last time.'

Dhanarajan Chetty, 76, (above in a Gold Coast hospital) was visiting Australian relatives when he fell ill and rapidly declined, becoming too sick to travel back home to South Africa

Mr Chetty's daughter, Saiann Govender, and her family know that Dhanarajan, 76, hasn't got much time left and sometimes he 'sits and cries' for his wife of 58 years, Maya, who he hasn't seen for almost three years

Dhanarajan with his wife Maya Chetty (left) and her sister (pink dress) back in South Africa before Mr Chetty visited family in Australia and fell gravely ill

The Gold Coast clinic where Mr Chetty has been treated said he 'was in good physical health when he arrived in Australia' but now is 'in terminal decline'.

Our Medical Home Gold Coast clinic said Mr Chetty suffers from heart disease, prostate disease, diabetes and significant dementia and 'has very poor cardiac status, is frail, immobile and suffering from depression'.

Mr Govender's son, a medical student, is caring for his grandfather, who is 'in and out of hospital, can't walk, and sometimes just sits and cries'.

Mr Chetty, who arrived on a visitor visa in 2022, was granted a medical visa by the Federal Government when he became to ill to return home. Since then, Mrs Chetty and her son have unsuccessfully applied for visitor visas.

On the most recent occasion when Mrs Chetty and her son made applications, they were rejected by the Federal Department of Home Affairs which claimed the applications had not included the required Form 1149 document.

Mr Shneider wrote to the department last month saying the forms in question were included and that 'even a cursory inspection by Blind Freddy ... would clearly show that (the forms) were in fact lodged'.

A Home Affairs official in Pretoria, South Africa's administrative capital, responded to Mr Shneider's letter saying 'I am concerned you chose to communicate ... in a disrespectful and discourteous manner including name calling.

'I would ask that in future you recognise under the principles of the Home Affairs Service Charter that such comments would not reflect an appropriate level of courtesy and respect to our staff.'

Mr Shneider told Daily Mail Australia that he believed the department staffer was complaining about the use of the words 'Blind Freddy'.

Saiann Govender's father Dhanarajan has been supported by her family on the Gold Coast since he arrived for a visit and his health rapidly deteriorated

The Chettys have a large family in South Africa. Pictured above is Maya Chetty (pink sari), Dhanarajan (cream suit with dark tie) and children including their daughter Saiann (with the pink flower)

The old saying, 'even Blind Freddy could see that' is an Australian idiom used to express that something is obvious or easily noticeable, and not a personal slur.

Mr Shneider told the department that in no way could his email be construed as disrespectful or discourteous or name calling.

'My dealings with departmental officers for more than the last twenty years have been well within the principles ... within appropriate levels of courtesy and respect, Mr Shneider said.

'Your unfounded last sentence is hurtful and totally unwarranted and therefore well outside the principles you claim to espouse.'

Mr Shneider has made a formal complaint to the Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke.

In another letter rejecting the visa requests, Home Affairs said it had to assess whether applicants were seeking 'a genuine visit' and to take into account their 'incentive to return home'.

'The likelihood of the applicant not abiding by the conditions of their visas, or seeking to remain in Australia, is also a matter that must be assessed.'

The Department said that 'support or guarantees given by family and friends in Australia ... is not sufficient evidence of a genuine visit.'

Migration agent Stan Shneider invokes 'Blind Freddy' to highlight the obviousness of a situation to migration officials

Maya and Dhanarajan Chetty have been together for 58 years and were rarely apart until he suddenly fell ill in Australia and became unfit to travel. Mrs Chetty has been denied a visa to visit her husband on his deathbed on the Gold Coast

The response to Mr Shneider's 'Blind Freddy' remark was a very huffy email accusing him of writing 'in a disrespectful and discourteous manner including name calling'

Mr Shneider said the Department should take into account that Mrs Chetty had not overstayed her visa on two previous visits.

'Maya Chetty has visited Australia twice before and returned both times back to South Africa where she has a large family, including twin children, grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

'She was always compliant with her visitor visa and would have been so again if she had made it here in 2022 when she was granted a visa to travel with Dhanarajan, but had to wait as Vinothan fell ill.

'He is completely well now, but the family is in limbo.

'They didn't want to overstep the terms of any previous visa. They have always been compliant. They hoped Dhanarajan would recover to the point that he could fly home.

'Instead he just deteriorated, and he is too fragile and can get infected easily which would be terminal for him.'

Mrs Chetty's daughter Saiann Govender and husband Ruben are Australian citizens and run a real estate business on the Gold Coast, where they have three grown children.

Mr Govender said it was ludicrous for migration officials to believe that 77-year-old Maya would come over here, overstay her visa, and 'disappear'.

Maya Chetty, above with her children, son Vinothan and daughter Devigee, in South Africa is anxious that she may never see her husband of 58 years before he dies

'She is depressed and anxious too because she has been unable to see the person she has been with for more than 50 years.'

Mr Shneider made a direct plea to the Assistant Minister for Immigration Matt Thistlethwaite but a response said 'the Australian Government is currently in caretaker mode' in the lead-up to the May 3 election.

Generally, policy shifts or reversals are not made in the time between the dissolving of the previous parliament, which happened on March 28, and the swearing-in of the next.

'Staffers have clearly not advised the minister of the Chetty's plight and of the urgency of the case,' Mr Shneider said.

'I believe both ministers Burke and Thistlethwaite are extremely compassionate people who would always do the right thing and I have personal knowledge of this, but I believe they don't know about the case and are being shielded by public servants.'
Insiders at Sydney's most notorious prisons say more needs to be done to prevent female correctional officers (COs) from forming inappropriate relationships with inmates.

Despite recent efforts to address corruption among prison staff across New South Wales, an inmate and former staff have told Daily Mail Australia the issue is not likely to go away.

Sunny Naidu, 26, spent a combined three months behind bars at Silverwater prison in Sydney's west and and Clarence Correctional Centre near Grafton before being granted an intensive corrections order in May last year.

Naidu recently went viral online after posting a video in which he claimed to have been aware of a number of female COs who smuggled contraband for inmates with whom they had formed intimate relationships with.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Mail Australia, Naidu said he never witnessed a 'drop' being made by a CO himself but said the practice was widely known.

'Every handful of pods would have at least one female prison guard doing this for the inmates,' he said.

Asked why he saw it as a problem, Naidu said it has a 'direct domino effect' on the dynamics between inmates.

'When there are certain female guards on duty inside the pod, testosterone-filled inmates turn everything into a contest and want to show [their] bravado.

Sunny Naidu (pictured) has amassed a large social media following since being released from jail where he posts personal fitness and prison culture videos

Naidu spent one month in maximum security at Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre Silverwater in Sydney and a further two months at Clarence Correctional Centre near Grafton

'Jealousy and envy also obviously runs rampant within the inmates when they see others receive this treatment. This leads to inevitable feuds.'

Veteran CO Domenic Pezzano disagreed the issue extended to 'every unit in every... jail,' but agreed it was an ongoing challenge.

'It certainly has been a problem over the last five years, definitely, where we've seen a number of incidents involving female officers,' he said.

After thirty years as an officer within the walls of Long Bay, Paramatta, and Silverwater correctional facilities, Mr Pezzano spent five years assessing candidates for Corrective Services NSW officers until 2019.

He said addressing the problem all comes down to picking the right candidates for the role.

While the assessment process for new officers is extensive, he said age and life experience are difficult factors to overcome when officers can begin from the age of 18.

'It's a detailed process they go through,' he said.

'They go through scenario questionnaires, police checks, medical checks... But what can you do when someone is fresh out of school, 18-years-old and they've only worked at Maccas?

Dominic Pezzano (pictured) served as a correctional officer in New South Wales for 30 years and advocates for more comprehensive integrity measures among officers

'Me, personally, I think they haven't got the life skills.'

Last year, Kassan Twitchin was sentenced to at least 11 months in prison for attempting to smuggle cannabis and prescription opioids to an inmate.

Twitchin, who was 18-years-old at the time, was working as an officer at Clarence Correctional Facility near Grafton.

On appeal, Justice Robert Newlinds of the District Court in January allowed her to serve a year in the community under an intensive corrections order.

In downgrading her sentence, Justice Newlinds accepted she had become romantically involved with inmate Zachary Ashscroft and had fallen under his psychological sway.

'It seems clear enough to me that [Ashcroft] had some sort of psychological hold over the offender because of their relationship and convinced her that it was a good idea for her to do what she did,' Justice Newlinds wrote.

In response to the case, Mr Pezzano wrote in a LinkedIn post: 'If there was any example as to why an individual with absolutely no life experience or trade qualifications and being under the age of 21 should not be employed as a correctional officer then this is the one.'

He said what often begins as innocent flirting or inappropriate remarks can quickly escalate into a situation where an inmate suddenly has leverage over a CO.

Kassan Twitchin (pictured), 19, was jailed and later released after twice being caught trying to smuggle drugs to her inmate boyfriend

A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW said staff who work with inmates are required to undergo training courses throughout their employment

'When we used to talk to people who want to become COs, we'd tell them, "They're wearing green and we're wearing blue",' he said.

'Once youve crossed that line theres no coming back.'

Mr Pezzano also said not enough is done to ensure COs have the necessary integrity not to succumb to the manipulations of inmates.

'I've raised this in reports... New officers go through integrity training but there's no reinforcement. After their initial training it should be done on a yearly basis.'

A spokesperson for Corrective Services NSW said all staff are required to complete training in 'maintaining professional boundaries and identifying grooming and manipulation tactics prior to gaining on-the-job experience.

'Staff who work with inmates are also required to complete mandatory training courses throughout their employment.

'This includes training in reporting and identifying sexual misconduct and training in the prevention and detection of contraband.'

Former resident psychologist at Paramatta Gaol Tim Watson-Munro said authorities were 'more alive' to the issue of CO manipulation as an issue, but said without more rigorous training, human nature will take its course.

Criminal psychologist Tim Watson-Munro (pictured) said inmates will use intimate relationships with staff as leverage to make illegal demands

'What tends to happen is they [female COs] get slowly groomed and seduced,' he said.

'It can start with flirtations, then it leads to sexual interactions.

'Once there has been this transgression of boundaries, officers become vulnerable to the inmates' demands.'

Mr Watson-Munro said the issue arises from a combination of 'people who shouldn't be in the job in the first place - they are dependent on others, they're easily manipulated - and prisoners who, if offered sexual interaction, will take it'.

He admitted that things had changed since he served at Parramatta Gaol in the early-1980s when female COs were barred from working in male facilities.

'What I observed was not so much prison officers but professional individuals becoming involved - journalists, lawyers and so on,' he said.

He said many such relationships would only become physical after the inmate had been released - sometimes assisted by the advocacy of those professionals.

'A number of them shacked up after they were released on the misguided belief they could save these people,' he said.

Disgraced former correctional officer Wayne Astill will spend at least 23 years behind bars for the abuse of at least 14 inmates of Dillwynia Correctional Centre

The criminal psychologist said the 'most troubling' example he was aware of involved a nun whose sexually-explicit letters to a notorious inmate were intercepted by an officer at Paramatta Gaol.

The prison officers decided to allow the meeting to proceed and only interrupted while the nun, he claimed, was performing oral sex on the inmate.

Mr Watson-Munro agreed the consequences went beyond the parties to the relationship and could upset the 'pecking order' among inmates.

'I don't condone any of it but I can understand [the rivalries] if a guy down in H-Block is getting favours - money in his account, all sorts of goodies and contraband,' he said.

In February, the NSW Government passed an outright prohibition on COs forming sexual relationships with inmates.

Previously, it would only rise to the level of a criminal offence when the relationships posed a risk to the safety and security of the prison.

This was one of many reforms passed following the publication of the 2023 Astill Inquiry report, triggered in response to the abuses of Dillwynia Correctional Centre officer Wayne Astill.

In 2022, Astill was found guilty of 27 charges including aggravated sexual assault of female inmates at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney's north-west and given a maximum sentence of 23 years in prison.
In order to sail the seven seas with the ultra-wealthy, crew members are expected to follow strict rules or risk being thrown overboard for silly mistakes.

For Josh Golder, who owns the 154-foot King Benji, having inexperienced staff is a no-no and something he'd never consider in a million years.

'I have fired people on my boat simply for saying the wrong sentence to me, because I knew it would piss off a charter guest as much as me,' he told the Wall Street Journal.

'I believe that if owners of big yachts hire crew that have never been on a yacht before, its a recipe for absolute failure.'

And he doesn't seem to be the only one in search of yacht crew with years of experience, as many job postings require a few years to even be considered for the job.

A little slip up here and there is intolerable when the ultra-wealthy are involved and looking for a lavish experience with zero blimps.

A captain position based in Mallorca, Spain, is looking for a person with three years experience on 80-foot yacht who has previously sailed the US' East Coast and the Caribbean.

'Also the crew must be experienced for Atlantic Ocean crossing with sail boats of similar sizes,' the job listing on The Crew Network read.

In order to sail the seven seas with the ultra-wealthy, crew members are expected to follow strict rules or risk being thrown overboard for silly mistakes (pictured: stock image)

'I have fired people on my boat simply for saying the wrong sentence to me, because I knew it would piss off a charter guest as much as me,' Josh Golder told WSJ (pictured: stock image)

All that just to share a bunk bed with other crew!

Another 80-foot yacht, also based in Spain, is looking for a chef, but they 'strictly' can't be a smoker and 'preferably no tattoos'.

A permanent captain position open on the West Coast requires three to five years experience, but at least the owner will pay for flights to and from the boat, The Crew Network posting said.

You'll just have to deal with 'two 25-year-old sons coming-and-going!'

The majority of crew on luxury yachts come from Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or Fort Lauderdale, Florida - the biggest hotspot for American yachting.

And they require a lot of training and safety certificates to be onboard these ships.

Kevin Norrish, 26, of Ohio, had to take courses in firefighting, first aid, and survival, he told WSJ.

He now works on a 118-foot private yacht after spending some time working as a deckhand on a boat in the Ohio River in 2023 before going to Fort Lauderdale, he told the outlet.

However, some think the show bringing in a new, younger crowd is a good thing, like Jason Chambers (pictured), who worked as a captain on Below Deck Down Under.

'Its not for everyone. But if you like routine and discipline, and you are highly detail-oriented, you will move up, and move up fast,' Golder said (pictured: Below Deck with Jason Chambers)

And reality shows like Below Deck have drawn a younger crowd like Norrish.

But the problem with that, Golder said, is that they don't understand how hard the job is and that it's not all partying.

'A lot of young people see Below Deck and a boats itinerary, and they get delusions of stardom,' he told WSJ.

'Its not for everyone. But if you like routine and discipline, and you are highly detail-oriented, you will move up, and move up fast.'

However, some think the show bringing in a new, younger crowd is a good thing, like Jason Chambers, who worked as a captain on Below Deck Down Under.

'If we get someone to get off their butt and go down to Florida and start looking for jobs, thats a bonus for the industry,' he told WSJ.

And yachting companies and private owners may need younger crews with the amount of ships that have hit that high seas in recent years.

A more than 30 percent jump in job registrations happened between 2023 and 2024. And with job demand comes higher pay, according to WSJ.

A captain position based in Mallorca, Spain, is looking for a person with three years experience on 80-foot yacht who has previously sailed the US' East Coast and in the Caribbean. But you'll have to share a bunk bed to get the job!

However, they don't want anyone. Like many jobs dealing with the ultra-wealthy, working at McDonald's or serving drinks in a bar isn't enough hospitality experience to serve caviar and champagne to those with bursting bank accounts.

One of the few downsides of the job is the constant need for positivity, but also the dangers that come with the job.

The ocean is a scary place and rough seas can cause unpredictable conditions for patrons and crew.

The $40million Bayesian sunk in 2024 after a storm hit off the coast of Italy. The yacht had previously been called 'unsinkable.'

The crew was blamed for the sinking as the boat had taken on water.

Giovanni Costantino, CEO of Italian Sea Group told Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera at the time that there were a long list of errors; the stern hatch was 'clearly' open; the ship's keel should have been lowered; people shouldn't have been in their cabins' and the crew should have known about the storm.

He said the tragedy was avoidable and said: 'Ask yourself - why were no fishermen from Porticello out that night? A fisherman reads the weather conditions and a ship doesn't?

'The storm was in all the weather charts. It couldn't have been ignored.'

Crew members of different boats also told WSJ that they had been hit by other boats while swimming and another lost a finger.

Injuries are common onboard these gorgeous ships, but the chance to travel the world on a yacht makes it worth the price for many sailors.
Millions of movie-goers have watched Captain Edward John Smith die a hero. But is that the truth?

In James Cameron's 1997 blockbuster film, the commander of the Titanic is at the helm as the ship plunges into the Atlantic, grappling in vain with instruments when a wall of water smashes through the wheelhouse windows.

That's a very different tale than was told eight decades earlier, on April 18, 1912 - three days after the sinking  when the Los Angeles Express declared on its front page: 'Captain E.J. Smith shot himself.'

The following day, Britain's Daily Mirror trumpeted on its cover: 'Captain Smith Shoots Himself on the Bridge'.

As official inquiries into the sea disaster were held in New York and London, survivors claimed they too had heard rumors of his ungallant behavior. And among those, dubiously-sourced reports of Captain Smith's drinking habits, the Titanic's reckless speed and even ignored warnings of icebergs ahead.

For Smith's widow Eleanor and their seven-year-old daughter Mel, the shame and scandal heaped insult on injury.

Seafarers of the time were honor-bound to go down with the ship. Could it be that 62-year-old Smith, the venerable commodore of the White Star Line, highest-paid captain in the world, had really ended his life in disgrace?

Now a new book claims to have settled the score. Author Dan E. Parkes is adamant that Smith did not take his own life, but rather drowned or froze to death in the icy waters, alongside 1,495 others.

Smith's death was contested by eyewitness reports - some claimed he died by a self-inflicted gunshot wound, while others recalled seeing the captain disappear beneath the waves. (Pictured: Captain E.J. Smith).

Newspapers declared at the time that Smith had committed suicide aboard the sinking vessel.

At the time of the tragedy, rumors circulated that Smith, portrayed here by Bernard Hill in the film 'Titanic,' did not drown, but rather shot himself.

And in his meticulously researched account, 'Titanic Legacy: The Captain, The Daughter and The Spy,' Parkes insists that the stains on Smith's reputation are unfair.

As proof of the proliferation of absurd stories, Parkes describes how three months after the sinking, a Baltimore man claimed Smith had survived and was living in disguise in Maryland.

Several years later, Life magazine reported that a 'down and out' in Ohio was also claiming to be the dead mariner.

Parkes also finds no evidence to prove that Smith was pushing the Titanic, on her maiden voyage, too fast, and was disregarding warnings. He rubbishes reports of Smith drinking, and of him being in a useless daze as the ship sank.

Parkes' new book details eyewitness accounts from Titanic wreck survivors, unveiling what he believes to be the final moments of the ill-fated captain.

But it is on the suicide rumors that Parkes spends much of his time - ending what he sees as a character assassination which devastated Smith's widow Eleanor, who died in 1931, and their only child Mel, who died in 1973, aged 75.

While there were many 'eyewitness accounts... that did report an officer shooting and suicide,' Parkes argues that the person was unnamed and, therefore, unlikely to be ill-fated mariner. Instead, Parkes suggests that traumatized passengers heard gunshots  likely fired to control the panicked crowds  and assumed, without evidence, that it was Smith killing himself.

The survivors, angry and astonished at the turn of events, looked for someone to blame  and seized on the captain, alleges Parkes.

In contrast to the suicide-story, Robert Williams Daniel, a 27-year-old banker and first-class passenger, said he 'saw Captain Smith on the bridge' as the Titanic went into the ocean. He told the New York Herald at the time that, after leaping from the deck, he watched the water slowly rise from the captain's feet to his waist and, eventually, swallow him.

'He died a hero,' Daniel declared.

Smith was hailed a hero by some survivors, who claimed he went down with his ship and even attempted to save an infant before succumbing to the freezing ocean waters.

Could it be that 62-year-old Smith, the venerable commodore of the White Star Line, highest-paid captain in the world, had really ended his life in disgrace?

According to Parkes, Titanic passengers likely heard a gunshot meant to control the crowds of people, assuming that it was Smith turning the weapon on himself.

Frederick Dent Ray, a 33-year-old first class saloon steward, testified before a US inquiry that Smith's personal steward, Arthur Paintin, was 'last seen on the bridge, standing by the captain.'

A Connecticut millionaire, Frederick Hoyt, described how he went to his room, removed his outer clothes - believing he stood a better chance of survival without the cumbersome garments - and then bumped into Smith while returning to the deck. He said he and Smith shared a stiff drink, to fortify themselves for the cold, before Hoyt jumped.

And Isaac Maynard, a 31-year-old cook, testified in New York that he 'saw the captain standing on the bridge' as he himself was washed overboard.

Maynard clung to a boat, and recalled: 'I saw Captain Smith washed from the bridge, and afterwards saw him swimming in the water. He was still fully dressed, with his peak cap on his head.

'One of the men clinging to the raft tried to save him by reaching out a hand, but he would not let him, and called out 'Look after yourselves, boys.' I do not know what became of the captain, for I could not see him at the time, but I suppose he sank.'

The handful of survivors who claimed to see Smith shoot himself were unreliable, Parkes argues, as they were on life rafts which set sail long before the final sinking.

Parkes cites other survivors who claimed that Smith went even further in his heroism, swimming towards a lifeboat with a baby held above the water and handing the child over, but refusing to get in the boat himself.

Frederick Harris, a fireman, told British newspaper The Western Daily Mercury that 'he saw the captain jump into the water and grasp a child, which he placed on one of the rafts, of which there were all too few. He did not see the captain afterwards.'

The scandals surrounding Smith's death only added insult to injury for his widow and young daughter (pictured).

Eyewitness accounts claim that Smith (right) 'died a hero.'

George Brereton, a gambler and con man who boarded the ship under an alias, intent on fleecing the wealthy passengers, told the Brooklyn Daily Eagle that he saw Smith surface, then swim towards the doomed Titanic, determined to go down with her.

'Fifteen yards away was the body of an infant which attracted the struggling sailor,' said Brereton. 'He caught hold of the child and then with his right arm made for a lifeboat. The little one was safely put aboard and the captain resumed his struggle for the sinking Titanic.'

Parkes argues that the heroic actions were entirely predictable for a man so in-demand among discerning travelers that he earned the nickname 'Millionaire's Captain'.

And, Parkes finds, Smith eerily forecasted his fate.

Worried about the seaworthiness of the Titanic, Ada Murdoch, whose husband, William Murdoch, was the first officer, warned Captain Smith of a 'prophecy' in a novella of such a ship sinking.

'Well,' Smith reportedly replied, according to the Chicago Tribune, 'if the largest liner in the world sinks, I shall go with it.'
Silverwater Maximum Security Correctional Complex has been home to some of Australia's most infamous female prisoners.

Hardened women with horrific histories, like knife-obsessed Katherine Knight, who butchered her husband and boiled his head in a stew before setting the table with place names for his children.

Or evil mother Rachel Pfitzner, who murdered her toddler Dean Shillingsworth by swinging the little boy by his hood until he choked.

She then carefully packed the two-year-old's body in a suitcase and tossed it in a pond.

Then there is the woman known only as SW, a cruel Valium addict who starved the youngest of her three daughters, seven-year-old Ebony, to death.

But despite the cells being full of deadly females whose crimes shocked Australia, there are two women so depraved they are banned from ever seeing each other again.

Jessica Camilleri, 37, who chopped off her own mother's head then paraded it down the street, and Rebecca Jane Butterfield, 50, who murdered her only friend by stabbing her 33 times, have become sworn enemies since meeting inside prison walls.

'They have a non-association order,' a jail insider tells Daily Mail Australia.

Jessica Camilleri decapitated her own mother before dumping her head in the street

Ever since Jessica killed Rita Camilleri (pictured), she has become notorious within the walls of Silverwater Correctional Complex for pulling out the hair of guards and other inmates

A non-association order is a court-imposed restriction that prohibits an offender from associating with specific individuals.

This can mean not being in the same place as that person or communicating with them in any way.

'They hate each other and Butterfield even claims that when Camilleri talks about chopping her mum's head off, which she frequently does, it sets her off on violent outbursts,' our source says.

Both women hail from respectable and loving families: Butterfield's father was a high-ranking detective and Camilleri's mother Rita was her full-time carer.

Their initial brushes with the law were relatively minor. Camilleri made prank phone calls and Butterfield was convicted at 21 of illicit drug use, malicious damage and assaulting police.

But over time both women's criminal behaviour escalated, until they each snapped, committing the grotesque acts for which they are notorious today.

Butterfield began her prison sentence as a low-risk inmate in 2000 for assaulting a neighbour who was trying to provide help with wounds after she'd self-harmed.

But since then, she has long been considered one of the most aggressive and unpredictable criminals in the prison system.

In 2003, she killed her fellow inmate and only friend Bluce Lim Ward, by stabbing her 33 times with industrial scissors before watching her bleed to death.

Rebecca Jane Butterfield murdered her only friend by stabbing her 33 times

Silverwater Correctional Complex has housed some of Australia's most notorious female prisoners, including Katherine Knight and Rachel Pfitzner

Filipina Lim Ward was nearing the end of her six-year sentence for fraud.

Butterfield's extensive Corrective Services NSW file contains reports on more than 110 disciplinary matters, including 40 assaults, as well as slitting her own throat and bashing her head against a wall 105 times until she cracked open her skull.

According to court documents, the high-risk offender used a variety of tactics to lure guards and prison staff to her cell throughout her almost a quarter-of-a-century stretch behind bars before attacking them.

During one violent episode, she stabbed a guard in the face, while on other occasions she threw her colostomy bag at prison officers, and also assaulted a nurse who was treating her.

In July 2020, she lunged at officers while wearing ankle bracelets and threatened to take their guns.

Later, in November that year, she pounced on a nurse who was trying to take her blood.

During one outburst, Butterfield screamed: 'I am going to kill again. I will kill when I get out.'

'Butterfield spirals with any mention of her stepmum which is probably why Camilleri talking about her mum triggers her,' adds the source.

'She gets moved every three to six months to give officers a break because she can be "nice as pie" to an officer and staff will think there is good rapport with her. Then the next minute she will hot water you.'

'Hot water' is a term used in prison to describe the act of throwing boiling hot water from a kettle into someone's face.

Camilleri is also considered one of the most dangerous women in prison - a ticking time bomb ready to explode.

She is serving 21 years and seven months for the manslaughter of her mother, whom she decapitated in July 2019 before carrying the head outside and dropping it on the footpath.

Just two years into her sentence, she violently attacked two prison guards, ripping the hair from their heads.

And her rap sheet is growing, with prison bosses at their wits' end.

'She has become an ongoing problem,' another prison insider tells Daily Mail Australia.

'She has to be monitored at all times because she will use any opportunity to cause harm.

'There has already been time added to her sentence for attacks involving extreme hair-pulling. She has scalped people with her bare hands and anything can set her off.'

Both women now have a strict non-association order against their names in regards to one another.

Butterfield was initially transferred from Silverwater Women's Correctional Centre, in Sydney's west, to Long Bay prison in 2024.

But on May 5, 2024, she was quietly released from jail and immediately admitted to a secure forensic hospital, where she will receive ongoing treatment for a range of severe mental health disorders as an involuntary patient.

Doctors at the facility are now responsible for deciding if and when the deranged killer will be allowed to re-enter the community.

The legal system has struggled to contend with how to manage the volatile inmate, who actually completed her full-term sentence almost eight years ago.

Camilleri is currently serving time at Dillwynia Correctional Centre in Sydney's west, where she allegedly ripped 'clumps of hair' from another female prisoner earlier this year.

Inmates reportedly gathered around Camilleri during the alleged altercation on February 15.

It's the sixth time Camilleri has been accused of pulling out hair of inmates or prison officers.
A single mother has hit back at online trolls who say she has subjected her son to a lifetime of 'hell' due to his name.

Abby Williams, 23, of South West England, always knew she wanted to call her child something unusual and considered naming him Mars or Comet, among other space-themed titles.

But halfway through her pregnancy she fell in love with the name Bambi, ultimately settling on Bambino 'Bambi' Blue.

Coincidentally, just a month later famous UK influencer Molly Mae gave birth to her first child, calling her little girl Bambi.

As a result, Ms Williams has been hit with a flood of claims she stole the name from the Love Island star - despite her baby being born first.

And Ms Williams, who posts content on TikTok, said she receives abuse from online trolls who claim she has 'ruined' Bambi's life and that he will go through 'hell' in school due to his name.

More than two years after his birth, Ms Williams insists she has 'no regrets' and still adores her son's name.

'I'm literally obsessed with it - I couldn't call him anything different. It would be so strange,' she told MailOnline. 'It's short for the word Bambino, which means baby in Italian. His name is Bambino but his birth certificate is just Bambi.

Abby Williams, 23, (pictured) called her baby boy Bambino 'Bambi' Blue and absolutely loves the name

More than two years after he was born, the mother says she has 'no regrets' and still adores her son's name

Love Island stars Molly Mae and Tommy Fury called their daughter Bambi (pictured together)

'People love it and it suits him because he's so petite and he's got the perfect little Bambi eyes with long lashes.'

Ms Williams said the majority of comments online slam her for her uncommon choice of name.

'The most common thing is I've ruined his life, he's going to go through hell in school...,' she said.

'I kind of expected not everyone to love it, but [...] they're literally picking on a small child, a baby.

'It's not nice to see.'

The mother added that her family were also not keen on the name at first, but many people love it now.

'They hated it at first. It was one of them where people either loved it or hated it,' she said.

Halfway through her pregnancy Ms Williams became obsessed with the name Bambi and it stuck

'I'm literally obsessed with it - I couldn't call him anything different. It would be so strange,' she told MailOnline

Bambi Blue is now more than two-years-old and his name is loved by many, his mother said

Meanwhile, Ms Williams still gets accused of copying Molly Mae, 25, who shares daughter Bambi with boxer and fellow Love Island star Tommy Fury.

The mother said she was shocked when she heard what the celebrity couple had called their baby, after only choosing the name herself about a month prior.

'I was more in shock than I was annoyed. I spent so long trying to find a name that nobody else would pick,' she said.

'There will never be any regrets with his name - I absolutely love it.'
An animal-loving vigilante who went viral for punching a man who was beating a donkey in Egypt says she would do it again despite receiving death threats.

Dutch expat Joke Van der Post was filmed attacking the animal's handler after she saw him repeatedly lashing it while it stood tethered to a wall on the outskirts of Cairo.

Footage shows the 47-year-old running at the man, striking him several times before chasing him with a whip as he tries to flee.

The video has since been widely circulated online and many have praised Ms Van der Post's actions, calling her a 'heroine'.

However, others were angry that she challenged a man - something Ms Van der Post says is 'unheard of' in Egypt - where women are still fighting for equality.

She told MailOnline: 'I've had a lot of threats on my life.

'The aftermath is much more dangerous because now there's this big hype, so people are quite mad.'

Footage taken just moments before her arrival shows the helpless donkey kicking out in agony each time it is struck.

Despite fearing for her life Ms Van der Post insists she has no regrets and 'will not stand by and watch an innocent animal being beat up'.

She claims she tried to warn the man to stop abusing the donkey before deciding to take matters into her own hands.

'When I yelled at him to stop, he just called me a wh***, started laughing and started beating the donkey harder', she said.

An animal-loving vigilante who went viral for punching a man who was beating a donkey in Egypt claims despite receiving death threats she would do it again

Dutch expat Joke Van der Post was filmed attacking the animal's handler after she saw him repeatedly lashing it while it stood tethered to a wall on the outskirts of Cairo

Appalled by the horrific cruelty, the 47-year-old runs at the man, striking him several times before chasing him with a whip as he tries to flee

Joke Van der Post claims she verbally tried to warn the man to stop abusing the donkey before deciding to take matters into her own hands and initiating her 'brutal response'. 'when I yelled him to stop, he just called me a w****, started laughing and started beating the donkey harder', she said

The comment prompted Ms Van der Post to 'respond brutally', by charging at the man and pinning him against the wall shouting: 'You think this is f***** normal? You piece of s***.'

Police later arrested Ms Van der Post before releasing her after the animal handler reported her for assault.

The handler was also arrested and has filed a complaint against Ms Van der Post, claiming the viral video has caused him 'psychological harm'.

She dismissed his complaint saying: 'He's embarrassed because he got hit by a woman'.

According to Ms Van der Post - who runs an rescue centre called the Good Karma Sanctuary near the Giza Pyramids - animal abuse is commonplace in Cairo.

She says the donkey abuse is a 'very soft and weak example' of the horrific cruelty she sees daily.

'I see it all the time and I always intervene. But, because I'm very well known in the area, normally when they see me, they will stop.'

'I will take their whip from them and hit you with the whip if I have to. You'll get an opportunity to stop and listen to reasoning. But if you don't listen to reasoning, then I will intervene.'

Ms Van der Post runs a veterinary clinic called the Good Karma Sanctuary near the Giza Pyramids in Cairo

She now faces a high fine but said she would rather go to jail than give money to an animal abuser.

Failure to pay up could result in deportation or a stint in a notoriously grisly Egyptian prison.

'The conditions in the jails in Egypt are horrific. It's like a stone floor where you are in with a bunch of other people. But these horses live through hell every day their entire life', Ms Van der Post said.

'For me, it would be a couple of months. If that means that the laws are changing and the change is coming for 20,000 horses if I sacrifice a couple months it'll be fine.'

The shocking clip has triggered outrage online and ignited a global discussion about the mistreatment of working animals in Egyptian tourist hotspots.

Many viewers supported Ms Van der Post and hailed her a 'total hero' for protecting the donkey from a 'cowardly disgrace'.

Ms Van der Post now faces a high fine but said she would rather go to jail than give money to an animal abuser. Failure to pay up could result in deportation or a stint in a notoriously grisly Egyptian prison

Many viewers supported Ms Van der Post and hailed her a 'total hero' for protecting the donkey from a 'cowardly disgrace'

One person said: 'she punished him for abusing the donkey, she did right. No animal cruelty is ever acceptable.'

Another added: 'Hopefully this will highlight the abuse of animals in that country and it will bring about a change , well done that lady for protecting the donkeys.'

However, others who watched the clip disagreed.

'Not a way to go about things. Silly woman. Should know better as she lives there. Try to educate, not bully. That gets you nowhere, except as you know arrested,' said one.

A second agreed writing: 'Whipping a boy instead of talking to them seems more abusive that whipping a donkey.'
The population of almost every part of England is going to grow over the next two decades, according to official projections.

Some areas may increase in size by 20 per cent, with immigration thought to be the driving force across many postcodes.

Another 23,400 people will be packed into North West Leicestershire by 2043, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimates.

Around 110,000 residents currently live in the district, home to the towns of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Castle Donington and Coalville.

It means its population is expected to increase by 20.5 per cent.

ONS bosses say their projections take into account fertility and death rates, age of the area's current population, and migration.

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Soaring populations heap even greater pressure on housing, schools and the ailing NHS.

Behind North West Leicestershire in terms of population increases come Stratford-Upon-Avon (17 per cent) and South Derbyshire (16.9 per cent)

Blaby (16.5 per cent) located in Leicestershire's south west region, and Tewkesbury (16.4 per cent) in Gloucestershire round out the top five.

The Isles of Scilly, by comparison, is likely to see a reduction of 264 people over the next 18 years  or nearly 15 per cent of its total population.

Parts of leafy outer London are also likely to see population regression, the estimate suggest.

Ealing, for example, is predicted to shrink by 0.03 per cent to approximately 338,000 residents.

Headcounts in four Surrey districts, Woking, Surrey Heath, Guildford and Elmbridge, are also expected to contract.

In total, 19 authorities are expected to see a population decrease.

The biggest shift backwards, in regards to raw numbers, is slated to be Luton. It will, under the estimates, lose 7,500 residents.

The ONS predicts England's population could jump from around 58million in 2025 to nearly 62million in 2043.

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Solely looking at raw numbers instead of rates, Birmingham is projected to see the biggest population boom.

An extra 78,000 extra people will end up calling the UK's second city home.

Cornwall is also expected to see another 67,000 people reside there.

Tower Hamlets, crowned Britain's most crowded borough, ranks just outside the top 10 for expected population growth.

Since the early 1990s to last year, the East London borough has seen its population double from 166,300 to just shy of 328,600.

The ONS expects another 55,000 people to be living there come 2043.

Experts claim Tower Hamlets' growth explosion lays bare the staggering reality of uncontrolled immigration.

Almost half of residents living there were born outside of the UK, 46.8 per cent, as per the last Census.

Immigration levels have since shot to all-time highs, meaning the true figure within Tower Hamlets now could be even higher.

In the year to June 2023, the ONS said 1.32m people immigrated here, mainly from India, Nigeria, Pakistan, China and Zimbabwe. Another 414,000 emigrated.

It meant around 906,000 people, the equivalent to Leicester-sized cities, settled in Britain.

Migration is expected to add around 600,000 people to Britain's headcount every year until around 2026.

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The government projects that by 2030, migration will be the only factor pushing up Britain's population year-on-year as the country's death rate overpowers the birth rate.

Dr Ben Brindle, from the Migration Observatory at Oxford University, said migrants could help address Britain's ageing population problem.

He told MailOnline: 'One of the key opportunities and questions around migrants and their role in Britain is whether they are net positive or negative to the economy and research suggests they are somewhat neutral.

'Potentially they could be filling vacancies within adult social care, which will be a key sector as Britain's population ages.'

Part of the reason why areas outside of London could see the biggest increases, Dr Brindle says, is down to the national picture of these types of roles, which tend to be focused away from the capital.

The analysis comes at a time when Sir Keir Starmer faces renewed pressure to make good on his party's manifesto promise to 'smash the gangs' behind illegal small boat migration to UK shores.

Since Labour's election win, more than 30,000 have made the crossing.

Soaring populations will pile pressure on ministers to build millions more homes.

Builders arent even hitting the current target of 300,000 homes a year.

In order to meet Labours building blitz pledge, some councils have been to build seven times as many houses.

Thousands more GPs will also be needed to keep up.

Under the widely accepted safe limit, one fully-qualified, full-time equivalent GP is needed for every 1,800 patients.

In February there were just 28,000 in England  well below the 35,500 needed by 2042 is current trends continue.
Surrounded by ornate clocks and mirrors sits an exhibition of collectable items, but among the display of unusual art and gothic furniture lies a dark secret that haunts its owners.

Wicked Wonderland, an independent shop based in Florida, holds an array of unique knickknacks displayed on purple painted furniture.

The spectacle of oddities placed carefully on draped white lace cloth is meant to transport customers into a vintage mystical realm.

Dazzling jewelry pieces of silver and gold, with gemstone charms and intricate designs, adorn the display shelves.

Dried flowers on wood carved tables display love potions 'intended for romantic love' in tall glass bottles with dried flower stoppers, while crystals of all colors and sizes brightly stand out against the black painted walls.

Reptile skeletons sit displayed by fancy vintage picture frames, and taxidermy animals stand in display cabinets and jars.

But among the displays of animal bones and artistic expression, this magical store has also hidden a few skeletons in its closet.

In fact, the dark side of the store has already led to an arrest of its owner, who professed she didn't know her grim act was wrong.

Wicked Wonderland, an independent shop based in Florida, holds an array of unique items displayed on purple painted furniture... as well as a dark secret

Kymberlee Schopper, 52, was arrested after allegedly buying and offering to sell genuine human bones from Wicked Wonderland, which she co-owns.

Schopper was charged with the purchase and sale of human organs and tissue on April 15 following a 15-month investigation.

Orange City Police began investigating after they received a complaint about the business listing human bones for sale on Facebook Marketplace, ABC Action News reported.

Police found a slew of bones listed for sale, totaling $850, on the Wicked Wonderland website.

Schopper had allegedly listed two human skull fragments for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib and vertebra for $35 each and a partial human skull priced at $600.

Schopper, however, told police the bones were educational models.

Five pieces of bone were seized and examined, including a skull fragment and a clavicle.

Forensic reports revealed that at least one of the remains fragments has archeological origins.

Kymberlee Schopper, 52, was arrested after allegedly buying and offering to sell genuine human bones from her shop Wicked Wonderland

Schopper had listed two human skull fragments for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib and vertebra for $35 each and a partial human skull priced at $600

'It's not every day that you find real human bones online,' Police Captain El-Shami told the Des Moines Register.

'I am just glad it has come to an end.'

According to Schopper's arrest affidavit, co-owner Ashley Lelesi said that 'the business had been selling human bones for several years and was unaware that it was prohibited in the State of Florida.'

Wicked Wonderland is described on its Facebook as an 'oddities and curiosities shop' that sells 'unusual art items and taxidermy/bone art, vintage and gothic decor, metaphysical and conjure items and supplies and much more.'

The business owners met with officers at the Orange City Police department, where they provided purchase documentation and requested more details about the case.

'Schopper and Lelesi then became upset when they were unable to recover the collected human bones or obtain a copy of the original police report,' the report stated.

The affidavit added that the bones were still being held as evidence and would not be released yet.

It was during this meeting that Schopper asserted to the officer that the pair were well acquainted with the law and understood that 'the wording of these laws specifically applies to viable tissues, which provides protection for educational models.'

Schopper then claimed to the officer that the bones being bought and sold were in fact educational models.

Wicked Wonderland is described on its Facebook as an 'oddities and curiosities shop' that sells 'unusual art items and taxidermy/bone art, vintage and gothic decor, metaphysical and conjure items and supplies and much more'

'It's not every day that you find real human bones online,' Police Captain El-Shami told Des Moines Register. 'I am just glad it has come to an end'

According to the affidavit, co-owner Ashley Lelesi (pictured) said that 'the business had been selling human bones for several years and was unaware that it was prohibited in the State of Florida'

On April 12, Wicked Wonderland posted to its Facebook page that they had been closed 'due to dedicating our time to the care of a beloved family member in their final moments.'

'Absolutely nothing more.'

The post, written by 'Kym and Ash', addressed that there were a 'whirlwind of misguiding information and horrendous assumptions' and that they were 'choosing to focus on... life, love, death and family.'

They added that business would 'resume as usual' on Friday, April 18.

Charges have also been filed against Lelesi and she faces arrest.

Schopper was released from the Volusia County Branch Jail on a $7,500 bail.
A Spanish tourist has been scolded by the King's Guard after she repeatedly flapped her umbrella to agitate his horse.

The young woman clad in a rain coat was seen turning to laugh with her friends after quickly opening and closing the umbrella in front the animal.

After provoking the animal, the King's Guard sitting on the horse then calls the emergency bell several times while trying to calm his horse.

He repeatedly strokes the animal and pats their back while he waits for two other guards to appear on foot.

The soldier then alerts them of the reckless tourist and after a few moments of identification, the guard walks over to the woman.

He then calmly tells her 'we'd appreciate it if you don't flap that in the horses faces'.

The sheepish tourist was then told her flapping 'can spark a reaction out of the horses and they're just doing their job'.

'They're nice to look at but please be respectful, they are doing a job,' the guard added.

The young woman with the black backpack - encouraged by her laughing friends - repeatedly flapped her umbrella in front of the horse

The guard then presses the emergency bell when the horse begins to get agitated

The sheepish tourist was then told by a guard her flapping 'can spark a reaction out of the horses and they're just doing their job'

This latest episode at the popular tourist destination follows a string of incidents where sightseers have got to close for comfort with the regal animals.

The horses - which have signs next to them saying 'Beware, horses may kick or bite. Don't touch the reins. Thank you.' - have been known to bite unfamiliar people when they get too close to them.

Last month, a female tourist was trying to pose for a photo outside the Household Cavalry Museum in London when she was forced to dodge the horse as it moved in to nip her in the face.

The woman, wearing a bright pink coat and hat, can be seen stroking the horse on the face, which appears to wind the animal up.

On this occasion, the horse tries to nip her on the shoulder, forcing her to step backwards.

Determined to connect with the horse, the woman then moves back towards the animal but gets more than she bargained for.

The horse is seen throwing its head up in the air before this time lunging at the tourist's face, leaving her stunned by the near miss.

And last summer, another female tourist was bitten on the arm by one of the King's Guard's horses and dragged her in closer.

The King's Guard horse could be seen lunging at the woman twice after she had been stroking it

Last summer, a female tourist was bitten on the arm by one of the King's Guard's horses while standing under the warning sign

The woman screamed as the horse bit her on the arm before she fell to the ground

Last May, a tourist could be seen putting her hand on the horse's neck while posing for a photo

But the horse reacted angrily, swinging its head around before clamping down on the woman's saree

The tourist stumbled back and very nearly fell over but grabbed the wall for support

The tourist let out a scream and was flung back towards a group of other holidaymakers filming the horse.

After being bitten, she fell to her knees and clutched her arm as other tourists surrounded her trying to help.

And in another incident, a tourist was thrown backwards by the force of a horse's bite on her chest as she posed for a photo.

Footage from May last year shows the woman putting her hand on the horse's neck while posing for a photograph.

The horse then swings its head towards the woman before clamping down on her saree.

She stumbles backwards in shock after being bitten and very nearly falls over, but steadies herself by putting her hands back on the stone wall.

Member's of the King's Guard are usually under strict instruction not to interact with tourists but they have become known in recent years for their furious commands for tourists to get out of the way or not get too close.

However in a video that went viral, a guard who is wearing his customary plumed helmet, salutes a blind boy by stamping his foot.

A King's Guard broke protocol to make a heart-warming gesture to an eight-year-old blind boy

In the video the boy walks over to the guard while guided by a voice off camera and stamps his foot to salute the guard

In the footage, the boy walks over to the guard while guided by a voice off-camera and stamps his foot to salute the guard.

The child can be heard saying 'have a good day' to the guard before leaving.

The King's Guard is made up of elite serving soldiers who guard Buckingham Palace and St James's Palace.
A brand new 1billion Tube-style transport system is finally set to launch in Wales  and it promises to transform travel across the South of the country.

Dubbed the 'Welsh Tube', the ambitious project  over 10 years in the making  will stretch a staggering 105 miles (170km), linking the capital Cardiff with outlying towns including Merthyr Tydfil, Treherbert and Aberdare.

And just like the London Underground, it'll see trains running as frequently as every five minutes in some areas.

The massive transport overhaul is expected to be completed by 2026, with 36 modern tram-style trains zipping across six major lines, all marked on a slick, colour coded map to help passengers plan their journey with ease.

The Welsh Government-backed scheme, part of the wider South Wales Metro, will also introduce a contactless payment system  similar to London's Oyster card  making hopping on and off a breeze.

The new Metro system will connect Cardiff, Aberdare, Coryton, Merthyr Tydfil, Rhymney and Treherbert.

Dubbed the 'Welsh Tube', the ambitious project  over 10 years in the making  will stretch a staggering 105 miles (170km), linking the capital Cardiff with outlying towns including Merthyr Tydfil, Treherbert and Aberdare

The massive transport overhaul is expected to be completed by 2026, with 36 modern tram-style trains zipping across six major lines, all marked on a slick, colour-coded map to help passengers plan their journey with ease

Although much of the network is overground  with just a handful of tunnels between Cardiff and Caerphilly  it's not dissimilar to London's Tube, where more than half of the network runs above ground.

For those living in Pontypridd, there's more good news  services will be ramped up to an impressive 12 trains an hour, meaning a train every five minutes.

Elsewhere, Cardiff to Caerphilly will see six trains an hour  one every 10 minutes  and four services per hour will run from Cardiff to the top of each valley line.

The massive revamp is being hailed as a once-in-a-generation transformation for Welsh transport, bringing faster journeys, better accessibility and more frequent services to thousands of commuters.

And it's not the only rail revolution on the cards

In a separate mega-proposal, plans are under way to launch a high-speed, cross-European rail network that could slash emissions by 95 percent and connect 424 major cities.

For those living in Pontypridd, there's more good news  services will be ramped up to an impressive 12 trains an hour, meaning a train every five minutes

The so-called Starline project would cover 22,000km of track across 39 stations, with stops in every country it passes through.

Trains will be 30 percent faster than cars, and journey times are expected to rival short-haul flights  which the system aims to reduce by 80 percent.

Meanwhile, Italy's national railway company, Ferrovie dello Stato Italiane, is preparing to launch a brand new London-Paris high-speed service by 2029 to rival Eurostar  with hopes of extending it to Marseilles, Lyon and Milan.

There's even talk of reopening Ashford International in Kent, which previously served Eurostar passengers, but has been shut since the pandemic.
It was the type of case that people tend to think happens only on TV and never in real life: A desperate husband, on the verge of a divorce he doesnt want, decides to terrorize his wife with a campaign of stalking and calculated subterfuge.

Pretending to be her ex-boyfriend  a man he knows for a fact has tried to reconnect with his wife in the past  he sends vulgar messages, threats and surveillance photos indicating she and her family are being watched.

His petrified wife starts practicing at the shooting range, buys a new gun and a purse to conceal it in. She hires a PI and reports the stalking to police.

But two and a half months later, shes fatally bludgeoned and stabbed in the heart in the garage of the family home, her keys still in her hand and her gun still in her purse.

On Friday, a Colorado judge sentenced that husband, 44-year-old Daniel Krug of Broomfield, Colorado, to life in prison without parole.

A jury found him guilty one day earlier of murder, criminal impersonation and two counts of stalking.

It could be easy to get lost in the intrigue and wtf elements of the stranger-than-fiction crime.

But when victim Kristil Krug herself appeared in video evidence during the trial  presenting a Colorado detective with a spreadsheet and dossier documenting every element of the stalking ordeal  the true reality and enormity of the tragedy sinks in.

Kristil Krug, 43, was brutally bludgeoned and stabbed in the heart by her husband in December 2023 - after he'd terrorized her for months with vile messages claiming to be from an ex she believed to be stalking her

Daniel Krug, 44, was sentenced on Friday to life in prison without parole after a Colorado jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, stalking and criminal impresonation

This was a woman with a biochemical engineering degree and a formidable career - a mind of 'intellectual and scientific brilliance,' her father noted Friday.

'She had this infectious laughter and a warm spirit that everybody could sense who was around her,' he said at a press conference immediately after sentencing. 'She was simply ... she was beautiful in every way.'

During the Broomfield detective's interview with Kristil shown in court, the investigator remarks that Kristil has essentially done his job for him  gathering possible license plates, addresses and phone numbers for the ex she believes is stalking her.

Detective Andrew Martinez is impressed  and its evident that the mother-of-three, fastidiously organized, has left no stone unturned.

This is exhausting, Kristil tells him in the footage shown in court, laying out the evidence shes compiled and speaking with clipped assurance  but her rapid speech belies her panic.

The contact, she says, comes from all directions at any time.

Its a lot, and it has definitely made me paranoid everywhere I go.

She tells the detective she is looking for a little bit of safety so I know where he is and what car hes driving.

But no one from the police department ever called that ex, Jack Anthony Holland. When Martinez drafted a search warrant to get to the bottom of the email addresses, he made a typo that rendered the search useless, the defense told jurors. It took him weeks to resubmit it. Krugs lawyers pointed to other missed opportunities to rule out Kristils stalker.

Kristil felt abandoned by police, jurors heard, and was becoming increasingly petrified in the weeks before her death. Her loved ones could see it on her face and hear it in the cadence of her voice.

She was getting scared, her brother, Lars Grimsrud, testified during the trial. She was really  stressed because she didnt know when another text was going to come in and what it was going to say.

She didnt know what [the stalker] was capable of.

Kristils mother, Linda Grimsrud, told the court about her daughter collapsing into tears in a parking lot.

I held her and there wasnt much else to do for her, because she was so upset and so troubled  I felt helpless, and she did too.

Kristil's stepmother family members hugged each other and cried after the verdict, including her father, far right, uncle, far left, and stepmother, pictured hugging a relative

Daniel Krug, far left, sits with his defense team during proceedings; he declined to testify in his own defense or speak at sentencing

The stalking disrupted almost everything in Kristils life, from the engineering job shed excelled at for 19 years to the schedules of her two daughters and son. She worked out a new pickup and dropoff plan for the children to keep them out of harms way. She and Krug had them practice drills for what to do if they identified a threat.

The kids had come up with a nickname for the stalker: Kickman - a reference to one of the email addresses, a.holland.kicks@gmail.com.

Kristil even stayed home from her daughters Nutcracker performance, an activity especially dear and bonding for the talented dancer and her child. But the dedicated mother made that sacrifice out of concern about her stalker.

The whole time, a jury decided on Wednesday, it had been her own husband orchestrating the campaign of terror.

His plan had been filled with intrigue and cunning from the start.

It all began in October 2023, when Kristil got a text from Holland, whod last contacted her years beforehand. Theyd dated as teenagers after meeting at JC Penney, where both Kristil and her brother had part-time jobs, before breaking up around 2000.

Holland had reached out a few times, including an exchange on Facebook several years before her murder - but the communication had never been anything to worry about, she told Martinez.

Holland testified during the trial that, during one early attempt, Kristil told him her boyfriend - believed to be Krug - would be angry with her for speaking with her ex.

Their final Facebook exchange was around 2016; Holland said on the witness stand that he wasn't sure what he'd said in those messages as he'd been drinking at the time.

But when asked by the prosecution whether hed declared his love for Kristil, he answered: Probably. He confirmed that the brilliant, generous victim had been his first love.

Kristil didn't immediately answer that first October 2023 text purportedly from Holland  which prosecutors argued had instead been sent by her husband from a burner phone.

Her failure to write back, Senior Deputy District Attorney Armstrong told jurors, prompted Krug to text his own cell phone number 'test' from the burner  and 'shortly after, he responded to the track phone: "yeah."'

It would be one of the more damning pieces of evidence at the trial.

Kristil never responded to any of the messages, and she wasnt overly concerned, at the start. But on Halloween, she received an email with a photo of Krug at his workplace and a threat to his safety.

She called police and had her first meeting with Martinez days later.

The messages would continue to escalate, and Kristil also began receiving unsolicited photos of male genitalia. She did her own detective work and figured out that someone had placed an ad on a hookup site referencing her birthday, inviting texted photos and seeking encounters.

Kristil's mother, left, and brother, right, look on during a press conference after they both testified during the murder trial; Broomfield County District Attorney Brian Mason, center, addressed reporters on Friday, noting: 'This was a brutal, calculated, premeditated murder, and in the months before he brutally murdered his wife, the defendant manipulated, deceived and terrorized both his wife and his children - and an innocent man who he tried to frame for the crime that he was about to commit'

On November 16, Martinez spoke to Krug, as well  and jurors watched the footage of that police department conversation, too.

Presenting himself as meek  moving and speaking gingerly  Krug acts deferential to the detectives  and seems to break down.

Im panicking and Im doing a s*** job of protecting my wife, Krug says, slumping over on the interview room couch.

Im sorry about this, he says haltingly to the detectives. I wear a mask around the kids.

Krug installed new security cameras at the house, and he acted scared around family members, too.

During a November family birthday party at an interactive game center, Krug asked his brother-in-law to stand watch with him outside the room where Kristil, the kids and other family members were celebrating.

Krug told Lars about striking a balance between vigilance and paranoia and, whenever a car would come by, he would stand up and look out the window, Lars testified  noting that his brother-in-law seemed on edge.

Despite that, however, Kristil complained to loved ones that he didnt seem to be taking the threat seriously.

The couple spent Thanksgiving apart, splitting up the kids, partially because Kristil felt safer at the home of her father, who was better armed, the court heard during testimony.

As all of this was going on, though, she was starting to suspect the all-but-estranged spouse living under the same roof.

Her stepmoms sister, Diana West, owns the store where Kristil bought the purse for her conceal-carry firearm.

She was very tense, anxious, nervous, she testified. She sat with her back against the wall so she could see the parking lot.

I remember her saying  The sad thing is, I cannot even rule out my husband as the stalker, Diana West testified Monday.

Kristil even confronted Dan and asked him; he denied being behind the stalking and recounted the conversation to police.

But prosecutors argued during his trial that Krug realized he was losing control of his family and that Kristil was gearing up for leaving him sooner rather than later.

He'd begun the stalking campaign with the hope that he would be able to bring her back to him and that, in that state, he could be her hero and protector, and they could come back together as a united front, the court heard during closings.

Then messages started getting weirder and more frantic, threatening to kidnap Kristil and get rid of her husband.

By December 2023, Armstrong said Wednesday, the walls are closing in on Dan Krug  [he] knows its only a matter of time before hes going to be in not only legal trouble for stalking but hes also going to be exposed to his friends and his family and everyone hes trying to present this picture [to] as this great family man and great father.

Kristil's father, Lars Grimsrud Sr, also spoke at the press conference Friday. 'Obviously, there's never enough justice for a life that has been so wrongfully and horrifically taken, but the legal process and the support and dedication of many people has now at least allowed some relief in knowing that Dan Krug has been held accountable for his actions in achieving some justice for Kristil,' he said

At this point in time, all hope of rekindling the relationship is over . His ruse has not worked, she said.

Then the only thing left to do was to end Kristils life, both to silence her and to punish her for not wanting to be with him.

The prosecution called another witness during the trial to testify about Krugs historical reaction to breakups: A girlfriend hed dated from the end of high school into college.

She told the court how, after the pair ended their relationship, Krug begged her to get back together  before she began receiving abusive and suspicious messages. Some claimed to be from Krugs roommate or other people, but she eventually came to believe each sender had really been him.

Krugs ex sought a protection order in 2001  and reached out independently to Broomfield PD when she became aware of Dans arrest on stalking and murder charges, the court heard.

On December 13, 2023, Krug went to lunch with colleagues in Glendale, came back to his office and made a number of google searches related to head trauma. They included what happens when you're knocked unconscious' and 'how hard for head trauma to go unconscious.'

The next morning, prosecutors said, he took one daughter to school and returned to the house, staying later than his usual departure time. He told investigators he had diarrhea. The garage camera pictured him leaving a few minutes before 8.30am.

Kristil returned home from dropping the two other children at 7.56. According to prosecutors, Dan killed her just minutes later after turning off all security cameras in the house except the one in the garage and putting blue tape over the front door ring camera.

They argued he surprised Kristil from behind because he knew that, if his tough wife spotted an attacker, she would fight  and that she was armed with both a gun and pepper spray.

He hit Kristil Krug in the back of the head so hard that it caused devastating injuries, the prosecutor said during closing arguments.

He did it from behind; she didnt even see him coming. He didnt even give her a fighting chance. He did it because he knew he had to do it in order to stab her. He wasnt going to get in that close without doing that.

After 'lying in wait for her, the prosecution told jurors, Krug assaulted her from behind, hitting her several times in the back of the head with a blunt object before stabbing her in the heart.

Then Krug manipulated her phone to send delayed text messages to himself, only one of which went through  telling him Kristil had a nonexistent meeting with Martinez and asking him to pick up their daughter from school.

He needed to craft a reason that she needed to reach out to him.

Krug then headed to work with ample gaps that wouldve given him time to dispose of the murder weapon and any evidence, the court heard - even stopping for a coffee and correcting the barista, knowing that interaction would be caught on surveillance cameras.

Krug had called police for a wellness check after being unable to reach his wife for several hours that morning. He also called her mother, who arrived as a responding officer attempted CPR on Kristil upon discovering her unconscious in a pool of blood, her car keys and purse  which held her recently purchased 9mm  still beside her.

Within hours, Utah police had approached a surprised Holland at his home, an eight-hour drive from the scene of the crime. Hed been buying a sweatshirt at Kohls on the morning of her murder.

On top of that, forensic IT experts with police had traced emails to the wifi at Dan Krugs workplace  and texts to a burner phone purchased with a gift card registered in his name.

Broomfield detectives confronted Krug with this damning information in the immediate aftermath of her death. As he sobbed and issued worried exclamations about his three children, they posited their theory that hed, in fact, been the one behind his wifes stalking.

Holland, they told him, had been ruled out. He could not have killed Kristil.

There must be somebody else, Krug protested.

But as it became clear that he was emerging as Suspect Number One, Krug threw his head back and rolled his eyes.

It has to be the husband, he sighed  referencing law enforcements tendency to look at victims spouses first.

He was arrested and charged two days after her murder.

Many of Kristil's loved ones gave victim impact statements, including one friend from dance, pictured, who pointedly quoted a Jewish proverb directed at the newly convicted killer, telling the court: 'The name of the righteous is used in blessings, but the name of the wicked will rot'

'Before Kristil's death, you stalked her. You terrorized her. You tortured her,' Judge Priscilla Loew told Krug on Friday while sentencing him to life on the murder charge, the maximum of four years each on two stalking charges and maximum 18 months on the charge of criminal impersonation.

'She lived in fear; it was evident through the evidence, her video statements, that the last months of her life were managed by you and your actions, through deceit and control.

'And not only did you manipulate her through the stalking ... you manipulated your family, impacting your own children, and you also manipulated law enforcement.'

Kristil's father, Lars Grimsrud, was the last in a bereft line of friends and family giving victim impact statements on Friday before Judge Loew. Those who spoke included Kristil's mother; aunts; uncles; cousin; stepsister; and friends from elementary school, college and adult dance classes.

Family members, prosecutors and even gathered media were crying throughout the verdict and the victim impact statements. The judge acknowledged her own respect for Kristil and the family, noting that it had been 'an honor' to get to know the murdered mother of three through proceedings and to preside over the case.

Following the sentencing, one of the prosecutors began to collapse during the press conference - the wide toll the trial had taken written on the faces of all involved.

'Our hearts are broken,' Lars Grimsrud Sr told those gathered.

'As we grieve this sad loss of a vibrant and such a talented soul that she was, we remember her for the joy that she brought into our lives and the beauty that she shared with us.

'The world is going to miss what she had yet to share.

'Obviously, there's never enough justice for a life that has been so wrongfully and horrifically taken, but the legal process and the support and dedication of many people has now at least allowed some relief in knowing that Dan Krug has been held accountable for his actions in achieving some justice for Kristil.'

The case, he said, had been 'convoluted.

'It's something you could see in a Hollywood movie that, you know, would be fiction,' he said. 'It can't be believable.'
He called himself the 'most trusted attorney in town'. But behind the courtroom charm, Christopher Reynolds was secretly draining his injured clients' settlement money - and blowing it on a staggering mix of luxury purchases, personal indulgences, and a $30,585.60 spree on OnlyFans.

Now, the disgraced Florida attorney, who operated out of Pinellas County, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison, after pleading guilty to multiple counts of grand theft and money laundering for stealing more than $800,000 from clients who had trusted him during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

From June 2020 through September 2022, Reynolds treated his law office trust account like a personal ATM.

According to court filings viewed by DailyMail.com, in addition to his OnlyFans spree, he spent approximately $74,154 on Amazon purchases, $24,542 on Uber rides, $164,349 paying off his Capital One account, and an astonishing $397,588 through PayPal - all using funds meant to pay his clients' medical bills or be returned to them directly.

And he had no issue flaunting his expensive hobbies on social media, posting his collection of several $8,000 Mondraker bikes and personalized merchandise that had 'Chris Reynolds Law' emblazoned across the front.

One of those victims was Daniel Beauchesne, 66, who hired Reynolds after another motorist crashed into the back of his car on Route 19 in St. Petersburg.

A friend had recommended the attorney, saying he'd had no issues.

But after months of vague updates and excuses, Beauchesne got a call in early 2023. A friend told him Reynolds had been arrested. Beauchesne would soon learn he was among the victims.

Christopher Reynolds, once a well-regarded personal injury attorney in Pinellas County, Florida, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison for stealing over $800,000 from his injured clients

He used the money to fund a lavish lifestyle, including nearly $75,000 on Amazon, $397,000 through PayPal, and over $30,000 on OnlyFans

He painted himself as a picture perfect family man before him and his wife split. Pictured: Reynolds and his family on the cover of Gulf Coast Family Newspaper back in January 2019

'He never paid the medical bills, never sent me any of the leftover settlement money,' Beauchesne told the Tampa Bay Times.

In reality, Reynolds had been forging signatures on settlement documents, cutting clients out of their own cases, and rerouting their payouts to himself.

Victims, many of whom were still physically recovering from their accidents, had no idea their claims had even been resolved.

Karen McConnell only discovered Reynolds had settled her case for $100,000 when she contacted AAA Insurance directly. Reynolds kept the full amount.

Another client, identified as D.G., found out through a new attorney that her 2020 car accident case had already been settled, and Reynolds had pocketed two checks totaling $95,000, leaving her with over $5,000 in unpaid medical expenses.

According to an affidavit filed by Detective Cindy Kakalow of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office, Reynolds' grift was exposed after multiple clients filed complaints when he stopped responding to calls and emails.

A deeper investigation revealed a disturbing paper trail of forged documents, misappropriated funds, and a lavish lifestyle he could never have afforded on an honest salary.

By mid-2022, Reynolds had abandoned his Seminole Boulevard law office and stopped paying rent.

His wife, Heather Reynolds, later revealed during their separation that he had admitted to being buried in debt due to mishandling client money.

Reynolds had no issue flaunting his expensive hobbies on social media, posting his collection of several $8,000 Mondraker bikes and personalized merchandise that had 'Chris Reynolds Law' across the front.

On April 9, 2025, Judge Philippe Matthey sentenced Reynolds to 15 years in prison with credit for time served, followed by five years of probation.

He was also ordered to repay $716,000 in restitution to 11 parties, including McConnell, Margaret Pearce ($148,750), Eileen Stoner ($140,000), Progressive Insurance, and the Florida Bar's client reimbursement fund.

Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney Bruce Bartlett said Reynolds' defense team had sought a reduced sentence, but prosecutors held firm.

'These people got injured by him,' Bartlett said. 'It's not like he's ever going to be able to pay anybody back any money.'
Father Ted creator Graham Linehan has praised the Supreme Court's decision to confirm that the word woman is based on biological sex, meaning trans women are legally not women.

Responsible for hit shows such as Father Ted, The IT Crowd and Black Books, the multiple Bafta and Emmy-award winner was previously cancelled after he defended single-sex spaces for women.

Linehan said trans women should be excluded from women's spaces as they were not women - a view that has now been backed up by the Supreme Court. But although he hailed the Supreme Court decision, he said the war on woke has only just begun.

On Wednesday, the Supreme Court announced that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex in a landmark judgement.

Lord Hodge said five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms ''woman'' and ''sex'' in the Equality Act refer to a biological woman and biological sex'.

In an 88-page ruling, the justices said: 'The definition of sex in the Equality Act 2010 makes clear that the concept of sex is binary, a person is either a woman or a man.' The decision could have far-reaching implications on how sex-based rights apply, including how women-only spaces are allowed to operate.

In his judgement, Lord Hodge recognised 'the strength of feeling on both sides' and cautioned against seeing the judgement as a triumph for one side over another, stressing that the law still gives trans people protection against discrimination.

Speaking to MailOnline, Linehan described the moment he realised the judge had ruled in favour of biology - and revealed his hopes for his own comedy comeback.

He said: 'I was in the courtroom. The judge said we had to respect the court and not have any reaction. When we heard it, you could feel the crackle go around the room. The moment the judge left, it just sunk in that we won after 10 years of fighting this nonsense. It's good news but this is only one issue in a lot of woke issues.

Graham Linehan (pictured) has praised the Supreme Court's transgender ruling as 'good news'

The television writer created hit classics such as Father Ted. Pictured: Dermot Morgan (left) and Ardal O'Hanlon in the Father Ted Christmas special

The judgement was celebrated by women's rights groups who opened a bottle of champagne. Pictured: Susan Smith (centre left), Marion Calder (centre right) and Helen Joyce (right)

'The big problem we have is with TV commissioners. The artists are still out there but they have to get past these people who don't really care about art. They care about imposing their beliefs on people.

'If you look back at the 90s with Britpop, British art was famous round all over the world and there was a real sense of excitement.

'But over the last 10 years there's been a dearth of notable stuff. Because these people have tied their hands and feet together.

'It's all very safe - almost trying not to get noticed.

'If you can't say that reality is real, then you can't do jokes about reality.

'That's what all artists do. If you deny the truth of the exterior world, they can't do that.

'But I don't think we will forever be able to stop funny people being funny. People will get sick of it.

Left to right: Michael McIntyre, Chris O'Dowd, Richard Boden, Matt Berry, Ash Atalla, Graham Linehan and Tess Daly after winning the Bafta for the best sitcom for the IT Crowd on April 26, 2009

Graham Linehan also wrote Black Books, starring Bill Bailey, Dylan Moran and Tamson Greig

The IT Crowd starred Richard Ayoade as Moss (left), Chris O'Dowd as Roy (centre) and Katherine Parkinson as Jen (right)

'There's going to be a fightback [against wokeness]. Young people are sick of the rules. I think it will naturally fade away and we will come back to freedom of speech.'

Even so, Linehan isn't sure he will ever be uncancelled.

He said: 'I don't know if that will ever happen. It's like becoming unpregnant. I don't know if it's possible.

'All of the people who have cancelled me either won't look me in the face or don't like me.

'I never say never, but I don't think I could ever see myself working for British television after what they did to me.

'There is a big part of me that will never see people in the same way again.

'It is what it is. I'm allowed to speak my mind.'

After he became more outspoken in support for women's rights, comedy organisers stated to cancel his gigs.

Yet he also lost out on something he had spent years writing: the Father Ted musical.

Campaigners Helen Joyce (left) and Maya Forstater of Sex Matters smile outside court after the landmark ruling

Marion Calder (centre), Helen Joyce (centre left) and Maya Forstater (left) celebrate outside the Supreme Court

Lord Hodge said that five Supreme Court justices had unanimously decided that 'the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act refer to a 'biological woman and biological sex'

Graham believes the show's production company Hat Trick, which co-owns the rights, shelved the musical because they didn't want his name associated with it.

Hat Trick Productions did not respond to MailOnline's questions.

Linehan said: 'I thought my colleagues would support would stand up for me.

'I don't care if they uncancel me. I don't want the affirmation because they so thoroughly betrayed me and the women in their lives.'

Yet there is still room for hope, the famed writer said.

Linehan added: 'I just think everything will eventually restore itself and they will start to ignore the gatekeepers.'

These days Graham is working on a new sitcom in Phoenix, Arizona. Although he doesn't want to release the name of the show until he and his colleagues have finished writing, he told MailOnline they had completed four episodes and he was excited about this latest project.

He said: 'Hopefully I might get one more sitcom before I pop my clogs.

'I'm having a lovely time in Phoenix. I'm far away from all this madness.

'It's a good time to be me, which is not something I thought I would be saying. With the stress I have been under, it's amazing I can get out of bed in the morning.'
Britain's churches have suffered a wave of crime in recent years, with crooks hitting places of worship on average eight times a day, as per new figures.

There were a whopping 9,148 records of theft, burglary, criminal damage, vandalism and assault in churches and other religious properties from January 2022 to December 2024.

That means that, on average, at least eight crimes per day were committed in churches in that period, according to numbers from the Countryside Alliance.

Some particularly egregious incidents included the overnight theft of a whopping 90,000 worth of solid silver from Sherborne Abbey in Dorset, in August last year.

And in June, a 140-year-old bronze eagle lectern worth 6,000 was stolen in broad daylight, at 11am on a Monday, from St Augustine's Church in Birmingham. Rev Matthew Tomlinson said at the time: 'Our hospitality has been abused.'

Just earlier this year, three teenagers were sentenced to a 12-month referral order for arson at the former Wesley Chapel in Hartlepool, County Durham, after smoking in the building. They caused more than 200,000 of damage.

The worst-affected area was West Yorkshire, were a terrifying 1,121 crimes were committed in churches, followed by Kent with 655 and Greater Manchester at 642.

Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, a leader of national police efforts against heritage crime, called the crimewave 'abhorrent': 'They are attacks on our national and local heritage, and can cause irreplaceable damage.'

In June, a 140-year-old bronze eagle lectern worth 6,000 was stolen in broad daylight (pictured), at 11am on a Monday, from St Augustine's Church in Birmingham

Just earlier this year, three teenagers were sentenced to a 12-month referral order for arson (pictured) at the former Wesley Chapel in Hartlepool, County Durham

Other particularly egregious incidents included the overnight theft of a whopping 90,000 worth of solid silver from Sherborne Abbey (pictured, file photo) in Dorset, in August last year

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The most common crime in Britain's churches across the three-year period was theft and burglary, with a huge 3,758 of these incidents recorded, when 34 of 43 provided figures in response to a Freedom of Information request.

Criminal damage, vandalism and arson also afflicted places of worship nationwide, with 3,237 instances reported.

There were also a staggering 1,974 cases of violence - which is something staff at St Augustine's Abbey in Ramsgate, Kent, sadly know too well.

Three masked, armed men broke into the historic place of worship in the early hours one night in July 2023 during a religious retreat taking place there.

Many of the visiting worshippers were asleep or saying prayers during the break-in -which saw three of them tied up with electrical cables.

The violent intruders, one of whom was brandishing a metal wrench, also pinned down a priest in his bed.

They made a father and son lie face down on the floor, sitting on them and threatening to kill them, and forced another man to lie on the floor, where they then kicked and punched him.

While they held the worshippers at ransom, the terrifying criminals caused 1,000 worth of damage to the Grade II-listed, 19th-century abbey, as they ransacked rooms and searched for cash money.

This is the shocking moment a shameless thief strolled into the deserted St Augustine's Church in Birmingham, before making off with a Victorian brass eagle worth 6,000

The crook removed the heavy lectern (pictured) from its column before draping a blanket over it and shamelessly carrying it out of the church

The former Wesley Chapel was devastated by a huge blaze (pictured) in November 2023

Career criminal George Mason, 29, of Margate, Kent, was sentenced to eight years in prison in October 2023 for the aggravated burglary.

The judge said it was 'fortunate for the interests of justice' Mr Mason had been caught, after he and his two accomplices - who had not been found - 'obliterated the peace and sanctuary' at the abbey.

It was the eighth time in fewer than ten years that the retreat had been targeted, the court heard.

Recent years mark a continuation of the high crime levels seen in British churches since 2017.

There have been a shocking 39,544 such crimes recorded in that eight-year period, with 15,506 thefts, 11,253 cases of criminal damage and arson and 4,568 instances of violence.

Shockingly, the crimes committed in churches and religious buildings in West Yorkshire - one of the country's worst-affected areas - included 11 incidents of rape, from 2022 to 2024.

They also included other sexual offences, a case of drug trafficking and nearly 100 instances of stalking and harassment in the same period.

Leader of efforts against heritage crime at the National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC), Assistant Chief Constable Rachel Nolan, said: 'Stealing from, or damaging any places of worship, historic buildings and cultural sites is abhorrent.

'Churches are important to many communities across the country and these crimes directly impact people who visit, worship and enjoy those spaces.

There were also a staggering 1,974 cases of violence - which is something staff at St Augustine's Abbey (pictured) in Ramsgate, Kent, sadly know too well

Three masked, armed men broke into the historic place of worship in the early hours one night in July 2023 during a religious retreat taking place there. Pictured: St Augustine's Abbey

Three teenagers admitted arson when they appeared in court in January this year. Pictured: The former Wesley Chapel on fire

Many of the visiting worshippers were asleep or saying prayers during the break-in -which saw three of them tied up with electrical cables. Pictured: St Augustine's Abbey

Career criminal George Mason (pictured), 29, of Margate, Kent, was sentenced to eight years in prison in October 2023 for the aggravated burglary

'They are attacks on our national and local heritage, and can cause irreplaceable damage.'

Staff at the medieval Sherborne Abbey in Dorset saw this for themselves in August last year, when 90,000 worth of silver was stolen in a 'devastating' overnight theft.

Rev Martin Lee told the BBC at the time the town had been left 'so upset' after items including a bishop's crook and a cross used in processions were taken.

He said he thought the culprits 'knew exactly what they had come for' - they left behind less valuable, silver-plated items and took solid silver ones instead.

He said: 'They are very important items - valuable but emotionally important to us as well - it's very sad. It was devastating to find they had been stolen.'

Of locals, the Reverend added: 'The abbey is theirs, it belongs to the whole of Sherborne. They feel aggrieved and angry as well.'

At the other end of the country, in Hartlepool, County Durham, another community was devastated by criminal activity at a local place of worship too.

Firefighters spent hours tackling the flames at the former Wesley Chapel in November 2023, after three teens smoking in the building accidentally set it on fire.

Firefighters spent hours tackling the flames (pictured) at the former Wesley Chapel In Hartlepool, County Durham, in November 2023, after three teens smoking in the building accidentally set it on fire

A 16-year-old and two 15-year-old boys admitted arson. Pictured: Firefighters tackling the blaze

They were sentenced to a 12-month referral order to work with the youth justice team and had to pay a 26 victim surcharge. Pictured: The fire at the former Wesley Chapel

The fire at the Grade II-listed building - built in 1873, which was being redeveloped into a boutique hotel at the time - caused more than 200,000 worth of damage. Pictured: Crowds gathered as the chapel burned

Sentencing, the judge said it was a very serious offence - but the boys had shown 'genuine' remorse. Pictured: Police attending the fire at the former chapel

Countryside Alliance's director of external affairs, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, said: 'Horrific attacks on churches and places of worship continue to happen all across the country'. Pictured: The former Wesley Chapel on fire

A 16-year-old and two 15-year-old boys admitted arson and were sentenced to a 12-month referral order to work with the youth justice team and had to pay a 26 victim surcharge.

The fire at the Grade II-listed building - built in 1873, which was being redeveloped into a boutique hotel at the time - caused more than 200,000 worth of damage.

Sentencing, the judge said it was a very serious offence - but the boys had shown 'genuine' remorse.

Countryside Alliance's director of external affairs, Mo Metcalf-Fisher, said: 'Horrific attacks on churches and places of worship continue to happen all across the country.

'Thieves and criminals treat them as easy targets, brazenly stealing from and causing criminal damage to these focal points of our communities.

'Churches and places of worship are the beating heart of many rural towns and villages. They are meant to be places of sanctity, solace, and refuge.

'Increasingly, however, they seem to be being subjected to awful acts of crime on a regular basis.

'We cannot allow these cherished places to continue to be unprotected against the machinations of criminals  it is vital that the public keep a watchful eye and report any issues to the police.'

Staff at the medieval Sherborne Abbey (pictured) in Dorset where shocked in August last year, after 90,000 worth of silver was stolen in a 'devastating' overnight theft

Rev Martin Lee (pictured) told the BBC at the time the town had been left 'so upset' after items including a bishop's crook and a cross used in processions were taken

He said he thought the culprits 'knew exactly what they had come for' - they left behind less valuable, silver-plated items and took solid silver ones (pictured) instead

Of locals, the Reverend added: 'The abbey is theirs, it belongs to the whole of Sherbourne. They feel aggrieved and angry as well'. Pictured: Solid silver items stolen from the abbey

There was one particularly horrifying incident at a 14th-century church in the historic market town of Baldock, Hertfordshire, in July last year.

Several gravestones were smashed or entirely destroyed - while all the windows and doors at the church hall were broken.

And the year before, in 2023, two thieves, mainly targeting lead on church roofs, were sentenced to a total of ten years in prison.

It came after they caused an eye-watering 1.25million worth of damage to 40 churches in just seven months.

Their crimes even went international. They fled the country after they were released on bail - but were then arrested on European Arrest Warrants and extradited.

Churches are currently protected by the Places of Worship Protective Security Scheme, for places of worship and community centres linked to them in England and Wales.

Under this initiative, centres can apply for physical security measures, like CCTV, alarms, gates and secure fencing, which are provided for free by the Home Office.

But the Countryside Alliance is pushing for the Government to 'extend and guarantee future funding and promotion' of the scheme.

A Church of England spokesperson said: 'Our churches play such a crucial role in providing spiritual, pastoral and practical support to their local communities, helped by our wonderful volunteers.

'A crime committed at a church is a real setback, not just for its congregation, but for all those who benefit from its presence in their community.'

Anyone who spots anything suspicious at their local church or place of worship is asked to report it online, via 101 or anonymously via Crimestoppers.

There are also Heritage Watch schemes nationwide, which are open to all.
Advertisement

Cancer is the only cause of death in dozens of neighbourhoods in England and Wales, analysis suggests.

MailOnline's investigation  presented below in an interactive map  analysed every fatality recorded in 2023.

It divides the two nations into 36,000 districts, allowing you to see exactly how many people died from cancer within your in your immediate vicinity.

Cancer was responsible for 100 per cent of deaths in 210 unique areas, technically called LSOAs.

These were scattered across parts of London, as well as Cardiff, and further afield in the likes of Wiltshire and Northamptonshire.

Each authority within England and Wales is separated into dozens of these neighbourhoods, typically home to around 1,500 people living within a few streets of each other.

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In total, there are around 36,000 LSOAs.

MailOnline found cancer was responsible for 50 per cent of deaths in 4,679 of the zones, or 13 per cent.

Helen Morgan, health and social care spokesperson for the Liberal Democrats, told MailOnline: 'A cancer diagnosis is one of the most difficult experiences someone can go through and we know that starting treatment as quickly as possible is vital to increase chances of survival.

'But in so many cases people are waiting far too long to be treated, at the mercy of a cancer care postcode lottery.'

She added that the party are calling on the government to publish a ten-year cancer plan to tackle treatment shortfalls.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) says there were 581,363 deaths logged in England and Wales in 2023.

Alzheimer's and dementia remained the biggest killers, followed by heart disease.

Covid was not in the top five causes of death for the second year in a row.

Cancer is split into different subtype because there are more than 200 different types of the disease, including bowel, skin, lung, prostate and breast.

One particular zone within the Newlands area of Castle Point, next to Canvey Island, recorded the highest raw number of deaths from cancer.

There, ONS figures show 29 of the 57 deaths that occurred in 2023 were from cancer.

The ONS statistics represent the number of deaths registered in the calendar year 2023.

Your browser does not support iframes.

Because late registrations are common, some data may be missing.

To protect the confidentiality of individuals, the ONS rounds small amounts per area.

It means counts of 0, 1, and 2 are always rounded to 0. Counts of 3, 4, and 5 are rounded to 5.

This could have skewed the findings.

Deaths registered are matched to where the person lived as opposed to where they died, meaning concentrations do not occur around hospitals and hospices.

One in two of us will get cancer at some point in our lives, figures suggest.

Experts have long demanded urgent action to tackle the unfolding catastrophe, calling for a 'seismic shift in our approach to cancer care' to save thousands from dying prematurely.

Last week experts warned cancer care in the UK is at 'breaking point' and lagging behind other nations because of 'gross mismanagement'.

Delayed cancer treatment has become 'the deadly norm', the leading doctors wrote in The Lancet Oncology. They said no improvements will be made without radical change.

Health Secretary Wes Streeting launched a consultation on a new National Cancer Plan earlier this year, inviting people to contribute their thoughts.

But this followed a similar call for evidence on a ten-year cancer plan by the then health secretary Sajid Javid in February 2022.
Daz Oaks was a 25-year-old barber who had dabbled with a few legal highs with friends when he first tried monkey dust.

But now, 10 years later, he's one of hundreds living in Stoke-on-Trent addicted to the the cheap, synthetic and very powerful, drug.

There isn't a road near the town centre without a dealer or clusters of people lying on the ground, arms covered in welts and crack pipes around their necks unable to move.

In fact, it's so popular in Stoke, local addicts have even nicknamed it 'Dust Central'.

Daz told MailOnline he spends most of his time battling voices inside his head, struggling to walk or control aggressive feelings while high on monkey dust.

He said: 'I take it every day whenever I can get my hand on it. I live in a hostel in Stoke, I call it dust central. I would say I love it but I don't, it makes me go paranoid. I've started thinking I'm being followed everywhere'.

'Hundreds of people here take the dust, it causes a lot of problems, it's ruined a lot of lives and a lot of good people.'

Monkey dust or MDPHP is a synthetic cathinone - a lab-made drug, originally 2 a 'hit' and is similar to MSMA and amphetamines.

While the drug is relatively unknown across the UK, it is extremely popular in specific drug markets in the West Midlands, specifically Stoke-on-Trent.

Every person in the area that MailOnline approached immediately recognised the highly addictive substance and were either dependent on it themselves or felt it had 'ruined' the livelihood of most people living in one of the country's most deprived areas.

The users gather in broad daylight in conspicuous areas, including the park, outside local cafes and in front of the main shopping centre - young children and teenagers casually walked passed them - unbothered by the regular high street fixtures.

Daz Oaks (pictured) spends most of his time battling voices inside his head, struggling to walk or control aggressive feelings while high on monkey dust

While the drug is relatively unknown across the UK, it is extremely popular in specific drug markets in the West Midlands, specifically Stoke-on-Trent

The users gather in broad daylight in conspicuous areas, including the park, outside local cafes and in front of the main shopping centre

There isn't a road in the area without a dealer or clusters of people lying on the ground, arms covered in welts and crack pipes around their necks (pictured)

Mr Oaks added: 'Monkey dust used to be cheaper, but now the cheapest is a tenner.

'Different dealers do different weights and amounts for certain colours. There's bright orange, grey, tan, white and there was a blue but that went

'Orange is the most expensive because it's the most extreme. It's super strong. Really intense when you're on it [and] if you put too much on the pipe it royally f***s you.

'You can't function or talk properly. It affects your memory [and] some people start forgetting their own names and their own families long term.'

Some of the most common side effects are intense aggression, states of psychosis, paranoia, and according to Mr Oaks, suicidal thoughts.

Monkey dust can be snorted, smoked or injected - smoking the drug through a pipe seemed to be the most popular option in Stoke, several users wear lanyards with pipes attached round their necks.

Every person in the area that MailOnline approached immediately recognised the highly addictive substance

Mr Oaks was a 25-year-old barber who had dabbled with a few legal highs with friends when he first tried monkey dust

According to locals it is not uncommon to see people with needles hanging out their arms in the doorway of Poundland (pictured)

Monkey dust was originally 2 a 'hit' but is now being sold from 10 and up, according to Mr Oaks (pictured, monkey dust seized by Staffordshire Police)

Shopkeepers also explained that some users 'shoot-up' in the back streets of the main town centre, Hope Street, and that it's not uncommon to spot someone passed out with a needle sticking out their arm.

'It's a stimulant, it's really f****** intense, it really kicks the living s*** out of my head,' Mr Oaks explained. 'The voices get terrifying, you don't eat on it, with me it has different reactions.'

'One pipe lasts about two to nine minutes some people choose to inject it but that is really really dangerous it's so intense it makes you lose your own breath I've only done it twice and never f***ing again f*** me I came very close to jumping in front of a train because of the voices in my head.'

The drug was first identified in Stoke-on-Trent in 2013 and has been an ongoing strain on emergency services across Staffordshire since then.

In a report from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) it was revealed that in 2023 and 2024, officers were called 15 times a day about monkey-dust related incidents.

Recent incidents relating to the drug in Stoke, include a 71-year-old man setting fire to his home while high and a baby dying from exposure to dust.

One of the more common side effects is intense aggression - something Mr Oaks is very familiar with.

In 2016, he was jailed for a year and a half for punching through the window of a Natwest while arguing with himself.

Monkey dust can be snorted, smoked or injected - smoking the drug through a pipe seemed to be the most popular option in Stoke

Mark Walker, (pictured) owner of Maw Fruit and Veg said the drug users are scaring the older generation, forcing them to hide in their homes

The drug was first identified in Stoke-on-Trent in 2013 and has been an ongoing strain on emergency services across Staffordshire since then

He felt so invigorated by the drug - as if he had 'super strength' it took 15 police officers and three tasers to detain him.

Mr Oaks added: 'About 15 is the youngest it's normal you get some of them skiving school and going down the park when all their mates and having a bag of dust between them all and thinking it's the best thing since sliced bread

'I would not recommend it.

'I started when I was 25. I do see a future and I want to get into rehab but I'm not ready just yet, it's very difficult especially when it's to do with dust.

'I wish if I could turn the clocks back I'd go back in time and I wouldn't have even put it my mouth. It's wrecked my life.

'I would like to go back to being a barber. I would have to leave Stoke. It's harder to get away from it when you're in Stoke.

'Every street has two dealers, it's f***ing diabolical.'

Monkey dust is currently classified as a Class B drug, meaning you can be sentenced to 14 years in prison for supply.

The Stoke-on-Trent community has been deeply impacted by the drug to the point where people are scared to go into the town centre

Steve Rolles (not pictured) a senior policy analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation explained that monkey dust has become 'entrenched' in the city

Staffordshire Police have made targeting drug distribution networks a strong priority to try and curb the usage of monkey dust

The chemical composition of monkey dust is constantly changing but it provides users with feelings of euphoria, making it highly addictive (pictured, a bag of monkey dust)

Several drug activists and researchers have been pushing for the drug to be reclassified as Class A.

Staffordshire commissioner for police, fire and rescue and crime, Ben Adams, said: 'A key priority for me is preventing the harm that synthetic cathinones cause to our communities.

'The impact of synthetic cathinones goes far beyond the significant damage to an individual's health and wellbeing in the absence of any proven treatments.

'Synthetic cathinones also harm those around them and blight our communities through anti-social behaviour and other issues, which is why I fully supported former MP Jack Brereton's campaign in 2022 to reclassify them as a Class A drug.'

The Stoke-on-Trent community has been deeply impacted by the drug to the point where people are scared to go into the town centre.

Mark Walker, owner of Maw Fruit and Veg said the drug users are scaring older customers, forcing them to hide in their homes.

He said: 'They're aggressive and there have been a couple of brawls, it's scaring the older generation away.

'A lot of the older generation, who I sell to, don't want to come out during the day.

MailOnline visited the dilapidated hotel (pictured) but owners refused to comment

Mitchell Hughes (pictured) the owner of Vellichor Books in Hanley described monkey dust users as 'zombies' - referring to the slumped effects of the drug

'The Crown Hotel is the biggest problem. It's where they stick all the people (on the dust). I would guess its got one hundred bedrooms plus you see people camping outside.'

MailOnline visited the hotel but owners refused to comment.

'I feel sorry for them,' Mr Walker added. 'Monkey dust is a massive issue in Stoke-on-Trent, someone's making millions and ruining peoples lives.'

Mr Walker also explained that just last week he found a user asleep in a cardboard box in the alleyway behind his shop alongside human faeces.

Steve Rolles, a senior policy analyst at the Transform Drug Policy Foundation explained that monkey dust has become 'entrenched' in the city.

He told MailOnline: 'Some people talk about this idea of drugs of despair and drugs like MDPHP, these are drugs which people are using to ease their physical or emotional pain in some way to escape from despair and trauma, it's not a happy story.

'It's that combination of the drug is cheap, there is a lot of economic vulnerability and marginalisation and it's the perfect storm in a city like Stoke where a market for a cheap drug was established and due to economic circumstances it seems to have become entrenched particularly in that city.

'In this case, it's essentially to do with social and economic margianlisation combined with the ability to get cheap drugs that meets the needs of that group.'

Several drug activists and researchers have been pushing for the drug to be reclassified as Class A

Shane Bradley, (pictured) who runs a flower stall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, told MailOnline he sees drug users in the area 'all day'

Mr Bradley said he saw once user slumped outside Poundland in the town centre (pictured)

From April 2022 to March 2024, as part of the National Drug Strategy to improve drug and alcohol treatment, the council was granted 5.3million from April 2022 to March 2024.

And Staffordshire Police have made targeting drug distribution networks a strong priority to try and curb the usage of monkey dust.

Chief Inspector Dave Barrow, from the Stoke South local policing team, said: 'Since May 2022, we have been working hard as part of a dedicated operation to take down the main suppliers of this drug and to work closely with partners to support those affected by drug addiction in Stoke-on-Trent.

'While May 2023 to April 2024 saw the highest volume of incidents reported involving synthetic cathinones since our operation was launched, we saw a significant decrease by around 180 incidents in September 2024, demonstrating the results from our work to support the vulnerable and to target those selling them.

'All of these combined efforts resulted in the lowest volume of recorded incidents linked to synthetic cathinones in December 2024 since we launched our dedicated operation.

'We've closed a number of problem properties linked to synthetic cathinones across the city and have carried out targeted enforcement against significant nominals, including one man who was jailed in November 2024 after he was caught with 20,000-worth of synthetic cathinones and cocaine.

'Two people were also charged in March this year after around 8,000-worth of synthetic cathinones was found.'

The chemical composition of monkey dust is constantly changing but it provides users with feelings of euphoria, making it highly addictive.

Frequent use of the drug can cause memory loss, kidney damage, heart attacks, and seizures

Mitchell Hughes the owner of Vellichor Books in Hanley described monkey dust users as 'zombies' - referring to the slumped effects of the drug.

While Shane Bradley, who runs a flower stall in Hanley, Stoke-on-Trent, told MailOnline he sees drug users in the area 'all day'.

'They're taking it in doorways, I saw a lad in the Poundland doorway with a needle stuck in his leg in day time', he exclaimed.

'Monkey dust is a big big one, they do it on a crackpipe in the doorways, they do it day time and night time.'

Mr Bradley pointed out several public spaces where monkey dust users take the drug without any regard for the police, giving the area the tile of Britain's 'monkey dust capital'.

Frequent use of the drug can cause memory loss, kidney damage, heart attacks, and seizures.

Vicki Nash, head of service delivery for CDAS (Stoke-on-Trent's Community Drug and Alcohol Service), explained: 'These synthetic drugs, sometimes called new or novel psychoactive substances, are designed to mimic the effects of other controlled substances.

'They can make people feel euphoric, alert, and talkative, but also anxious, paranoid or suicidal.

'Hundreds' live in Stoke-on-Trent spending most of their time battling voices inside his head, struggling to walk or control aggressive feelings while high on monkey dust

Vicki Nash, head of service delivery for CDAS, said monkey dust can make people feel 'euphoric, alert, and talkative, but also anxious, paranoid or suicidal'

'However, the chemical composition of these drugs varies, which means the behaviours associated with them change regularly.

'We deliver a range of treatment and support for people struggling with synthetic cathinones.

'Including: a specialist recovery worker who visits clients where they are, whether that's in their homes or on the streets; one to one and group sessions with recovery workers; and residential rehabilitation referrals.'

A spokesperson for the Home Office said: 'We understand the harms of synthetic drugs and the devastating impact they have on lives.

'That's why as part of our mission to make the nation's streets safer we will work across health, policing and wider public services to drive down drug use and stop those who profit from its supply.'
This week's Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman is the perfect opportunity to stop and take stock of the mad culture war that has been raging around this issue for the past decade or so.

In the battle of Trans v Terfs (trans-exclusionary radical feminists), it would appear for now, at least that the Terfs have scored a definitive victory. The judges have ruled that when the term 'woman' is used in the context of the 2010 Equality Act, it means a biological woman, and that 'sex' denotes biological sex.

This means that biological males  including physically intact ones  who 'identify' as female can no longer claim automatic entry to women-only spaces such as changing rooms, toilets and prisons. It also means that they cannot now participate in women's sports, something that many (including myself) have long argued gives them an unfair physical advantage.

Needless to say, this has prompted outrage, especially on social media, from LGBTQ-etc campaigners, who see it as a blow to their rights by a reactionary and bigoted judiciary and by a group of hardline Terfs who want to deny them their right to exist. This is not the case.

Of course, there is nothing wrong with being a trans woman. Or, for that matter a trans man, though this ruling will mainly affect trans women since trans men don't statistically pose a threat to biological males, whereas the same has not proven true of trans women.

Trans people  or those who feel themselves to be a different gender from their biological sex  have a history stretching back centuries and spanning many cultures. They are a small but steadfast minority, often vulnerable to the judgement of the mainstream. The vast majority pose no threat to anyone, and just want to get on with their lives like the rest of us.

One thinks of the late author and travel writer Jan Morris, the Olympian Caitlyn Jenner  even Armistead Maupin's wonderful fictional character, Anna Madrigal. All authentic, complex characters whose desire to live as women has no bearing on the dignity, safety and rights of biological females.

Trans women like these have always been welcome alongside biological women as far as I'm concerned, provided everyone concerned is comfortable with it. I, certainly, have never felt threatened by any of the trans ladies I occasionally sit next to or share a bathroom with at my hairdresser, who specialises in hair loss (a problem I share with many trans women).

Susan Smith and Marion Calder, campaigners with the group For Women Scotland, after the landmark Supreme Court ruling that declared 'women' refers to biological females

An activist celebrates the Supreme Court ruling by the statue of suffragist leader Millicent Fawcett in London

Trans women like Caitlin Jenner (pictured in 2022) have always been welcome alongside biological women as far as I'm concerned, says Sarah Vine

But this week's ruling has not been made necessary by these sorts of trans women. Instead, it is the result of the actions and aggressions of a different type of trans woman: those who claim to live as women but who in reality act like the worst kind of male bully, imposing their bodies and their sex on females. Who merely wear the mask of womanhood, not necessarily because that is who they want to be but because it suits their purpose, which has been shown, on occasion, to be criminal.

Some seem to delight in imposing their maleness on women in women-only spaces, others are clearly there for voyeuristic purposes.

It is neither the fault of trans women nor biological women that these people exist. But exist they do, and in recent years, as being trans has become a cause celebre, they have been able to take advantage. Biological women  always the first to bear the brunt of society's ills  have found their hard-won rights being whittled away and handed to a group of people  many of them, as I say, not truly trans women at all  who don't respect theirs.

There are countless examples of this. We simply cannot have a situation where a man accused of multiple rapes (Adam Graham) dons a wig and declares himself a woman (Isla Bryson) while awaiting trial and is indulged by the court, even serving part of his sentence in a women's prison.

Nor is it acceptable to have mediocre male athletes who possess all the inherent physical advantages of an adult male  superior strength and stamina  re-invent themselves as females to win women's medals.

Nor is it OK that women should have their jobs and livelihoods threatened  such as the nurse Sandie Peggie, suspended for refusing to share a room with a trans-identifying male doctor, or the eight Darlington nurses uncomfortable about sharing their changing room with a male-bodied colleague.

Women need private safe spaces in a way that men don't  because, simply, a man is far more likely to physically harm or take advantage of a woman than the other way round. Even if the male-bodied individuals involved have no bad intentions, some women just find that masculine energy oppressive and intimidating.

And with good reason. More than nine out of ten female murder victims are killed by men; and a woman is killed every three days by a man in the UK. Everywhere you look in the world, men are harming women. We are not making this up.

It's because of these men that women needed this Supreme Court ruling. Malicious individuals and all those who, for whatever reason  tribal politics, moral weakness, cowardice, laziness, deep-seated misogyny  have put the rights of male-bodied trans women above those of biological women.

It's these rogue elements who have pushed our patience, kindness and tolerance to its limits and left us biological women  as defined by the highest court in the land  with no choice but to defend ourselves.

True trans women understand this, or at least they ought to. For what else is a trans woman but a male who has rejected masculinity and embraced her feminine side? Like biological women, trans women often face daily prejudice, and are frequent victims of male violence  including or even especially sexual violence. And yet somehow the one-dimensional dogma of trans ideology  trans women ARE women, and anyone who questions that is evil  has pitted them against their sisters  when in fact all women, trans and biological, should be united against the same adversary.

JK Rowling celebrates with a cigar and a drink on her super-yacht after the court ruling. She posted on social media, 'I love when a plan comes together'

Tracey Hooper, Annice Grundy, Lisa Lockey and Bethany Hutchinson are four of the eight nurses who took legal action against their hospital, saying they felt uncomfortable sharing a changing room with a trans colleague

Adam Graham, a man accused of multiple rapes, donned a wig and declared himself a woman. He awaited trial and served part of his sentence in a women's prison

Put bluntly, you can't identify as a woman and be on the side of opportunistic male abusers. And yet that's all too often the case. Trans women will defend all biological males seeking to enter women's spaces  even when it's patently obvious that they're fakes. And it's in part this stubborn intransigence that has led us to this point  and now they stand to lose out.

Many trans celebrities  such as Married at First Sight star Ella Morgan, Ant Lexa from Sex Education and Bel Priestley, who has 1.4million followers on social media  have spoken out furiously against this ruling. Their anger is perfectly understandable. If I were in their position, I too would be upset.

But they're directing their rage at the wrong people. It's not the judges, JK Rowling or the campaigners from For Women Scotland (who took their case to the Supreme Court) who are the real enemy here. It's the zealots on their own side and the lazy, opportunistic politicians, institutions and commentators who allowed this to happen, who overstepped all reasonable and safe boundaries in a pathetic and cowardly attempt to paint themselves as 'progressive'.

Instead of pushing back when they should have done, and advocating for a more flexible, common-sense approach, these guilty parties doubled down on the side of the hardliners. In Scotland particularly, where the now-discredited Nicola Sturgeon was in thrall to this toxic ideology, women were left with very little choice but to fight back. If not for themselves, then for their daughters.

With this ruling, these knee-benders find themselves in a right old pickle. Labour's whole stance on women's rights seems to have descended into farce, with ministers seemingly unable to compute the result.

Health minister Karin Smyth struggled to clarify which changing room trans women should now use, saying only that it 'was important that a trans man or a trans woman also has dignity in their use of public spaces'.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves avoided giving a straightforward answer to the question of whether the Prime Minister should apologise to MP Rosie Duffield, who was hounded out of the party for her gender-critical views.

Meanwhile Steve North, president of the Unison union (which bankrolled Labour to the tune of more than 4million last year) said: 'I want to restate my solidarity with our trans members. This judgment does not change Unison policy in support of trans rights.'

So: denial, then, and plenty of it. In the same way that Labour refuses to instigate a national inquiry into the paedophile Pakistani rape gangs who destroyed the lives of thousands of young girls and their families in Labour-run councils, now they refuse to accept a Supreme Court ruling that will ensure the safety of similarly vulnerable women against similarly opportunistic and predatory men.

That is Labour for you. That is the woke Left, which cares only about people-pleasing, and not about what's right or wrong.

David Lammy saying that 'a man can grow a cervix' and our Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, saying that some women have penises: they are as much a part of the problem as biological males who cheat female athletes out of their achievements, or insert themselves into women's spaces for all the wrong reasons.

The sheer mendacity of Labour in the wake of this ruling is breathtaking. Rather than accept they made mistakes, they are trying to gaslight us all  when what they should really do is apologise, not just to women but to all those who have, like Duffield, been defenestrated for daring to speak out.

Women like Maggie Oliver  the whistleblowing former detective with Greater Manchester Police now leading the charge for a rape-gang inquiry  together with Trina Budge, Susan Smith and Marion Calder, directors of For Women Scotland, are cut from the same cloth. They are not afraid to make the difficult, unfashionable argument, they will not make excuses for bad people just because they happen to be minorities.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, too, belongs in that category. She has advocated for protecting women's spaces long before it became semi-acceptable to do so.

But it doesn't end here. There is one final frontier in the fightback against this dogma, and it affects both sexes. That is the scandal of children and young people being coerced into permanently altering their bodies via drugs or

surgery by zealots posing as medical professionals.

Gender ideology is rife in schools. Kids are not being made aware  nor equipped to understand  the long-term repercussions of the choices they are being guided towards making. They don't understand that transitioning is a serious, life-long commitment that requires permanent medication and may well lead to serious complications, from permanent infertility to weakened bones and cancer.

They find themselves unhappy or confused about life, and instead of being encouraged to explore their emotions, they are being told that the problem lies in the very essence of who they are.

The Cass review into gender services for children and young people in Britain has already led to an indefinite ban on the sale and supply of puberty blockers via private prescription in the UK  but even the most cursory glance at social media will reveal how far the rot has already spread. And this time it's not just about protecting women, it's about protecting the next generation.

That, sadly, is a battle that has yet to be won.
The defense team for Gilgo Beach serial suspect Rex Heuermann went on the attack as they tried to disprove the credibility of the prosecutions star witness in Thursday's Frye hearing.

Lead defense attorney Michael Brown questioned the validity of the work by Dr Richard Green, a professor of biomolecular engineering at the University of California in Santa Cruz.

Green's lab Astrea Forensics specializes in DNA extraction from old or difficult samples - such as ancient bones that are tens of thousands of years old or rootless hairs.

His company identified DNA on hairs found on some of the Gilgo Beach victims - hairs found on the victims bodies were traced back to Heuermanns wife Asa Ellerup, 62, daughter Victoria Heuermann, 27, and a third unnamed individual, according to investigators.

Green testified on Tuesday that his lab has become the go to for the specific DNA testing used in the case. He later created a software program called IBDGem that compares DNA from a known sample to an unknown sample.

The doctor of biomolecular engineering was the prosecution's star witness during the three-day Frye hearing held at Arthur M Cromarty Criminal Court Complex in Riverhead, Long Island.

During the cross-examination Brown probed Green on whether his work has been used in criminal prosecution casework and if his science has had an impact in the world of forensics.

'Anyone who does whole genome sequencing would use this program,' Green testified. 'IBDGem works on degraded samples from years ago.'

Rex Heuermann who was handcuffed and had his ankles shackled is escorted into Judge Timothy Mazzei's courtroom on Thursday for day three of this week's Frye hearing

Astrea Forensics founder Dr Richard Green (pictured) testified about the DNA technology used to tie Heuermann to the killings

The defense attempted to poke holes in a paper Green published on his IBDGem software by focusing on the number of times - less than 10 - it had been cited by others. They then pointed out that a previous paper he had published on Neanderthals was cited more than 1000 times.

The number of times an article is cited can be a factor in measuring the piece's importance or validity.

Green responded that his work on Neanderthals was an outlier, explaining that very few papers get cited thousands of times.

Brown also honed in an error in a mathematical equation that was published in the paper Green had wrote on his new cutting-edge technology.

Using a projector in the courtroom, Brown used a pen to circle the discrepancy in the bi-nominal equation in the paper that was flashed on three different screens in the courtroom.

'Is your IBDGem paper -wrong Brown asked Green.

'It was a typo,' Green said.

'Formulas need to be correct,' the defense shot back. 'Do you agree with that?'

Green replied, 'It is good when things are correct.'

'Equation one - to be wrong is a fatal error,' Brown remarked.

'It's embarrassing,' Green said, 'but it is a typo in the supplement of the paper.'

Brown also asked about a patent that Astrea Forensics is in the process of getting for the IBDGem software. Green explained the patent was submitted by the University of Santa Cruz.

When Brown asked if the mathematical error was ever corrected in the patent application, Green responded, 'No.'

He also asked Green if he ever alerted the journal about the error, Green said, 'I have not.'

Brown then asked him how his paper can be widely accepted in the scientific community if the formula is incorrect.

Green later stated when asked by the prosecution and reiterating that the math is correct in the (software) code.

Heuermann glanced at the courtroom before the start of Thursday's hearing. His ex-wife Asa Ellerup was in the courtroom but their daughter Victoria, 27, was not in attendance

Defense attorney Michael Brown speaking to the media after Thursday's Frye hearing

Brown also asked Green why no 'accredited crime labs' are using his software. Green told him that the lab is going through the accreditation process but confirmed that they are not accredited yet when asked.

'You are not an accredited lab?' Brown asked.

'That is right,' Green said.

'So all the testing you have done on this case was done in a non-accredited lab. Is that correct to say?

'Yes,' Green said.'

During the cross-examination, Brown further asked about permits to conduct DNA and forensic testing.

'As far as he is aware they have the required permits to run a business,' Green said.

When he asked if this was the first time he testified in a courtroom, Green told him that he testified in Suffolk County, San Diego, California, and in Idaho.

'You have not testified in a criminal setting up until Idaho last Spring last year, Brown countered.

Brown told the court that while Green's paper on his IBDGem software was getting critiques he was about to testify in Idaho.

Green replied that it was 'suspect timing.

'It was definitely something we had to think about and respond too,' he said.

Asa Ellerup, 62, pictured outside the courtroom on Thursday. The ex-wife of Heuermann has been at the court hearing all week listening intently to the testimony by the expert witness

Rex Heuermann's wife Asa Ellerup, daughter Victoria Heuermann and their attorneys attend a hearing for Rex Heuermann at the Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Courthouse in Riverhead, Long Island on Tuesday

Brown claimed that his testimony in Suffolk County did not apply since it was in front of a grand jury but Judge Timothy Mazzei jumped in and said to Brown, 'Let's not belabor the point.'

The defense went on to talk about the effectiveness of Green's 1000 Genomes Project, a reference pool of 2,500 to offer comparisons to the suspect DNA, and asked how it compared to the CODIS, Combined DNA Index System - a database used by the FBI - and if has been used in a criminal court.

Green said, 'I know it has been used in many forensic applications don't know if it has been used in a criminal court.'

Brown focused on 2,504 reference samples used in the 1000 Genomes Project claiming that a similar program in the UK has at least 500,000 samples. Green explained that it is a database of DNA.

Over the last few years, Greens DNA lab at the University of California and his company Astrea Forensics has helped solve cold cases and unsolved murders including, the notorious Zodiac Killer that was shared in a previous DailyMail.com story this week.

After the hearing, Brown spoke at a press conference explaining that Greens lab, Astrea Forensics was hired by Suffolk County to extract DNA to extract DNA and develop a profile from hairs that were found.

He referred to it as 'the first step in the process' but stated that 'it was somewhat disingenuous.

He referred to dates going back to 2020 when that the company started to bill them for their work.

Astrea is scurrying around to try and develop some time of program to give it a probability and statistical analysis and that is the problem that was rushed that is what we are attacking, Brown said.

I think that was clear - hes the star witness for the prosecution - coupled with the other witnesses this is not generally accepted in the relevant scientific community and this point in time it has no business being admitted in the court nor the state, he said.

When asked if he believes that Greens work is not used widely enough used, he said 'it is definitely a factor -a factor that it has only been accepted in one court.'

There is a host of things the court should consider and all of those things were brought out.'

This type - again they call it science we will call its magic- I dont think it should be admitted based on what we have heard to date. Clearly, I think it should not be admitted in our state, he repeated.

Judge Mazzei will determine what will ultimately be admissable as evidence, but Brown explained that there is a host of things that need to be considered.

When you have a new science you want the entire scientific community in that field - relevant scientific community - you want them to be able to scrutinize it, criticize it, to push it and, correct it and come out with a really good product - that hasnt been done here.

He brought up the  lack of scrutiny by scientists in this very field.'

There is literally two peer reviews on that article. The fact that there is no other publications on that particular article.

'The fact that it hasnt been cited to any significance - and even things like his paper that has a mathematical formula that is defective its problematic, he said.

He added, we are not asking- do you believe it or not believe it - because we are talking about science and we are talking about whether or not a court is going to admit this as science in order to help convict somebody.'

'That has to be really established and proven because otherwise it has no business in being in court.

Brown confirmed that the defense plans on calling two witnesses but a date has not been determined.

We know our witnesses have a lot to say they are anxious to get out into the public forum and express their opinions and show why this is wrong,' he said. 'We will wait to see what happens.'

It is unclear if the prosecution will be calling on additional witnesses. The attorney's have a meeting with Judge Mazzei on April 23.

Before the hearing began Rex Heuermann - dressed in dark suit, white shirt and navy blue tie - snuck a glance at the court room, including his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, who was sitting in the first few rows of the courtroom.

On Tuesday, Ellerup was with her daughter Victoria, but Victoria did not appear the remaining days with her mother.

On Thursday, she was accompanied by a female, but was is not clear who the person was, and her attorney Robert Macedonio, who has been by her side.

During the hearing, Heuermann sat quietly throughout the testimony flanked by his attorneys.

When Brown was asked how Heuermann was faring, he said, we speak all the time.

He has been incarcerated since day one. He has maintained his innocence on this case. He is doing the best he can, he said.

'He is grateful that the process is moving forward and we are getting to this point.

'As you can see it takes a lot of time and effort on all the players - the witnesses, the prosecution and the defense - so he is happy it is moving forward bc ultimately it will lead to his day in court.

Melissa Barthelemy, top left, Amber Costello, top right, Megan Waterman, bottom left, and Maureen Brainard-Barnes. Authorities on Long Island are vowing to continue investigating the Gilgo Beach murders

Valerie Mack (left) disappeared in 2000 and parts of her body were discovered in Long Island that November. Jessica Taylor (right) vanished in 2003 with some of her remains being found in Manorville that year

Sandra Costilla (left) was murdered in 1993, making her the earliest known victim. Karen Vergata's (right) remains were identified in 2023. Heuermann has not been charged in connection to her death

Heuermann, 61, an architect and married father of two, before his divorce was finalized earlier this week, is currently charged with the murders of seven women over a two-decade reign of horror running from 1993 to 2011.

The Gilgo Beach serial killer case had haunted the Long Island community for more than a decade, ever since the first of multiple bodies were discovered along Ocean Parkway in December 2010.

Alarm was first ignited back in May 2010 when Shannan Gilbert vanished in bizarre circumstances one night.

The 24-year-old, who was working as an escort, had gone to see a client in the Oak Beach Association community when she made a terrifying 911 call, saying that someone was trying to kill her.

During a search for Gilbert in December 2010, officers came across the body of Barthelemy in the marshes by Gilgo Beach.

The four victims, who became known as the Gilgo Four, had been dumped within a quarter mile of each other, some of them bound and wrapped in burlap.

Over the following months, the remains of seven other victims were found dumped along Ocean Parkway near Gilgo Beach.

Gilberts body was found last. Investigators maintain that she was not a victim, but died by accidental drowning after she fled into the dense thicket that night.

More than a decade later, in July 2023, Heuermann was dramatically arrested as he left his office in midtown Manhattan.

He was initially charged with the murders of three women: Costello, Barthelemy and Waterman.

Since then, he has been charged with the murders of four more victims: Maureen Brainard-Barnes, Sandra Costilla, Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack.

All the victims were working as sex workers when they vanished after going to meet a client.

Heuermann has not been charged in connection to the deaths of Karen Vergata and three still-unidentified victims, known only as Asian Doe, Peaches, and Peaches toddler daughter.

Costilla, meanwhile, had never been linked to the Gilgo Beach serial killer case until Heuermann was hit with charges for her murder in 2024.

Her murder expands the timeline that the accused serial killer is alleged to have been actively preying on victims.

Heuermann has pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
An astonishing number of Canadians want to strip Elon Musk of his citizenship, a new poll from DailyMail.com and J.L. Partners found.

A majority - 55 percent - want Musk's citizenship taken away from him with only 19 percent opposing such a move.

The poll also found most Canadians have a low opinion of Musk, describing the Tesla founder as 'rich' and 'arrogant.'

And those feelings have trickled over to his business empire as 7 million Canadians said they are less likely to purchase a Tesla because of him, the new polling data showed.

Tesla vehicles and dealerships in Canada have been subject to vandalism, as they have been in the United States.

The latest DailyMail.com/J.L. Partners Poll surveyed over 1,000 Canadian adults between April 9 and 11 and asked about a range of issues, including the upcoming election.

Canadians want Elon Musk's citizenship taken away

Musk was born in South Africa in 1971. His mother is Canadian, which allowed him to obtain Canadian citizenship in 1989.

He moved to the United States in 1992 to attend the University of Pennsylvania. He initially entered the country on an Exchange Visitor Visa before transitioning to a work visa. He became a U.S. citizen in 2002.

He is a citizen in all three countries.

The SpaceX founder has become a subject of controversy since he joined President Donald Trump in the administration's effort to cut the size and scope of the federal government.

Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has pushed mass firings across the bureaucracy, leading to lawsuits and questions about conflict of interest.

Trump did not endear himself to America's neighbor to the north by insisting Canada become the 51st state, a proposition that country has soundly rejected.

Democratic Rep. Jamie Raskin has a bizarre conspiracy theory about why the president is pushing that idea - and it's tied to Musk.

Raskin, a constitutional law professor, argued that if Trump brings Panama, Greenland and Canada into the United States it would require a new constitution - and that would allow Musk to run for president.

'They want to bring in Panama. They want to bring in Greenland. They want to bring in Canada, where Elon Musk is a citizen after he left his apartheid South Africa,' Raskin said.

'Why? Because they believe that this new consortium will require a new constitution that would allow Elon Musk to run for president.'

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Elon Musk's association with President Donald Trump has seen a lot of anger directed at him

Much of Canada's anger at Trump has been directed toward Musk.

Earlier this year, more than 250,000 Canadian citizens and residents signed a parliamentary petition urging the government to revoke Musk's citizenship and passport.

'He has used his wealth and power to influence our elections,' the petition claims. 'He has now become a member of a foreign government that is attempting to erase Canadian sovereignty.'

However, it would be hard to revoke his citizenship under Canadian law, which only allows that to be done if the citizenship was obtained via fraud or misrepresentation.

In a response to the petition, Musk had his own harsh words, writing on X that 'Canada is not a real country.'
A new crime wave is sweeping the UK and the crooks at the heart of it are brutally organised, disciplined and utterly ruthless.

They'll spend months planning a heist. Nurturing or placing a man on the inside. Learning every detail of how their target business operates  the supply chain, the distribution pattern. They might set up a fake company with a brilliantly authentic-looking website. Or perhaps clone an existing company. They have all the correct paperwork, the sales patter and the knowledge.

And after the actual theft  often of hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of goods  the getaway logistics are planned like a military operation: chilled vans, decoy cargoes and a convoluted journey across international borders ending in warehouses with vast walk-in fridges. Because, for once, we're not talking drugs. Or mobile phones. Or even cars.

But food. High end, luxury food. Think smoked salmon, artisan cheese, fine wine, single malt whisky. All stolen in vast quantities from some of the UK's top independent suppliers  and most of it destined for Russia.

Chris Swales, 55, founder of Chapel & Swan Smokehouse in Exning, Suffolk, was conned out of frozen smoked salmon worth 37,000 last October.

'I felt utterly idiotic that I'd been duped,' he says. 'And very, very angry that someone should take advantage of a small producer in this way.'

They'll spend months planning a heist, nurturing or placing a man on the inside and learning every detail of how their target business operates (Pictured: Stock Image)

950 wheels of some of Britain's most expensive cheeses was part of a 22-tonne fraudulent order that was prepared by Neal's Yard Dairy (pictured), delivered to a warehouse in London  and never seen again

The same month, dairy farmer Patrick Holden lost two tons of Hafod cheese  a specialist product bound in muslin cloth, sealed with lard and aged for at least 18 months.

Patrick's precious Hafod was part of a 22-tonne, 300,000 fraudulent order of 950 wheels of some of Britain's most expensive cheeses, including Westcombe and Pitchfork, that was prepared by Neal's Yard Dairy, delivered to a warehouse in London  and never seen again.

The story caused a big stir. Jamie Oliver warned his 10.5million Instagram followers: 'If anyone hears anything about posh cheese going for cheap, it's probably some wrong 'uns.'

The newspapers headlined it 'The Grate Cheese Robbery'. But not a mouse's nibble of it has been recovered.

Break-ins at Scottish whisky distilleries are also up, with thieves targeting bottles worth thousands of pounds. Live lobsters have been stolen from storage pens in Scotland. And freight hijackings are on the rise. Last December, two men were arrested when police discovered 70,000 worth of stolen Johnny Cree whisky in a lorry near Bradford. The previous December more than 50,000 worth of cheese was taken from a trailer in a service station on the M5 near Worcester.

Tuggy Meyer, who runs The Huntsworth Wine Company in Kensington, West London, tells me he's still picking up the pieces after losing 142 cases of fine wine, worth 200,000, stolen from a warehouse in 2019.

'It was all top Bordeaux  24 cases of Lynch-Bages, Yquem, Lafite, Mouton  all good years and mostly 2005. It was clearly stolen to order  they knew what they were doing,' he says.

Like all the victims, Tuggy knows he will never see it again. And like Chris's salmon and Patrick's cheese, it has almost certainly ended up on dining tables in Russia.

Following Vladimir Putin's first invasion of Ukraine in 2014, the West imposed a raft of sanctions on Moscow. In retaliation, President Putin banned the import of US and EU food, including fruit, vegetables, meat, fish, milk and other dairy produce. It led to acute shortages in the Russian supply chain. A large and lucrative black market grew as a result.

Of course, there has always been food theft in the UK. Often driven by need  from supermarkets, corner shops, farms, abattoirs. Though sometimes just opportunistic  a few legs of lamb for sale in a pub car park. A nice side of salmon swapping hands under the counter.

But lately, the figures have jumped massively. According to a report by the British Standards Institute, back in 2021, 18 per cent of supply chain thefts in the UK were related to food and drink. Two years later, this had increased to 24 per cent.

Chapel & Swan Smokehouse in Suffolk was conned out of frozen smoked salmon worth 37,000 last October (Pictured: Stock Image)

This was partly because the cost of food increased by a quarter between 2022 and 2024  fuelled by everything from the pandemic to the Ukraine war, the cost-of-living crisis and poor harvests.

But it is at the luxury level that prices have really gone bananas. A nice bottle of Rousseau Chambertin is up sixfold in recent years. A 25-year-old single malt whisky can cost as much as 1,500. Even a hunk of artisan cheddar has risen by more than 30 per cent.

Experts are convinced this has fuelled many of these recent high-profile, high-value thefts  all stolen to order. 'What we hear about is just the tip of a very dirty iceberg,' explains Professor Chris Elliott, honorary professor of food security at Queen's University, Belfast. 'This is a huge market and a lot of it will end up in Russia.'

Just a few days ago, there were reports of a glut of fake butter on sale in Russia. 'Bona fide brand names, but counterfeit,' says Professor Elliott. 'One third of butter tested in the Russian market has been adulterated in some way.' It is usually watered down, exposing a shortfall in the real thing. 'And that's just butter!'

While Russia has a big dairy industry, it is not self-sufficient. And it would never be able to satisfy the population's taste for British and European cheese.

Or wine. Professor Elliott says: 'Wine is a big commodity in Russia. Particularly European fine wine. Not many people will be asking many questions about storage and provenance. They just want the wine.'

One of many alarming aspects about this new culinary crimewave is how experienced the criminals are.

Many are veteran drug dealers who, tempted by the large profits and relatively low risks, have switched lanes to luxury food. 'They've done their homework. They know the industry, how we operate. They knew how to sound like a genuine buyer with a nice big order,' says Chris Swales.

He certainly didn't have any suspicions when 'Patrick Moulin' got in touch to suggest a collaboration with a French supermarket chain called Match and ordered 37,000-worth of frozen smoked salmon.

Yes, at nearly four tonnes, the order was bigger than some, and he had to rejig his cutting teams and arrange for frozen storage in Grimsby, but all Moulin's communications were trade-standard and there seemed nothing odd about it.

Until two weeks later, when he noticed that they hadn't paid. When he chased it up, they offered full payment on supply of another 55,000 of fish. Chris refused. When the line went dead, 'I knew immediately that something was very, very wrong,' he says.

He wasn't the only one. Since his story emerged, others who had also been scammed got in touch with him. A producer from Northern Ireland lost 126,000 of fish and had to remortgage his house, cash in his ISAs and will now have to work until he's at least 70 to make ends meet.

A haulage company, meanwhile, was left with unpaid invoices after shipping huge quantities of specialist Ukraine vodka to France last summer  again, 'Patrick Moulin' had been the contact.

'Whoever they are, they are really, really savvy,' says Chris. 'They don't care who they affect and their knowledge of food transport is incredible.'

Many have been smuggling drugs  usually in food shipments to distract sniffer dogs  and negotiating borders for years. They are used to transporting refrigerated goods  or 'cold chain' management  and have long had distribution networks up and running. Which is of course crucial, because much of this food is perishable and expensive to store.

So Professor Elliott thinks Patrick's lovely cheddar with its specialist rind would have disappeared into the Russian food chain in a flash. Along with Chris's smoked salmon  all 37,000 sides of it. 'I never saw a whisper of it again,' he says.

There seems little doubt it would have whizzed eastwards to Russia. 'It's a lot of salmon, seven and a half pallets  about 3.8 tons!' he says. 'So I'd have known if they tried to sell it here. And it would have been very difficult to sell it in the EU with all the paperwork.'

He even knows where it left from. Walthamstow docks. He tracked it himself. But he is frustrated by the police response. 'They're not even trying. I know where it went. I know it was delivered to Walthamstow, but they have literally made no attempt to take any of this forward.'

Perhaps because the minute stolen goods are in a lorry and heading to a UK port, they might as well be on the Moon. There is next to no checking of cargo on the way out of the UK and, even when it is Europe-bound, checks can be a hit and miss on arrival in Calais or Boulogne.

In any event, most food smugglers simply leapfrog Europe altogether, class their load as a 'trans-shipment' (not to be unloaded or sold within the EU) and send it on to Belarus, Hungary or Moldova  anywhere with a land bridge to, or cosy relations with, Russia.

This way, Chris's salmon, Patrick's cheese or Tuggy's wine will be waved straight through Europe, untouched, until it hits the Russian border, which tends to be rather leaky, particularly when the demand there is so hot.

Meanwhile, the impact on victims  most of whom run family businesses and have thrown everything into their product  can be catastrophic. Not least because insurance rarely covers this sort of scam.

'I'm insured for theft from my factory and vehicles,' says Chris. 'But as I hadn't contracted the transport, I wasn't covered. So it hit us very, very hard.'

Meanwhile, poor Tuggy is about half a million pounds down  considering the value of stolen wine and the wasted legal fees in trying, unsuccessfully, to claim reimbursement from the warehouse where the theft happened.

Professor Elliott says: 'These people don't care who they hurt, who gets damaged. What businesses go under. It's all about making money.'

Chris Swales certainly agrees: 'It didn't just hit us financially,

but psychologically. It has been very difficult.'

Not least because producers have had to change the way they operate  putting tracker tags on their goods, upping security budgets, changing the way they view their customers, demanding up-front payment, even from regular customers, and trusting no one. 'It's not how we've ever operated and it's not a nice way to do business, but we can't take any risks,' says Chris.

He and many others are learning the hard way that if an order looks too good to be true, then it almost certainly is.
An Italian teenager described as highly dangerous after he randomly attacked a female runner, stabbing her 23 times and leaving her for dead is living is now living unmonitored in the UK after being released in error.

The boy was just 13 when he repeatedly knifed Marta Novello, now 28, while she was out for a run in a local park in March 2021 near Venice.

At his trial he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years and eight months, later reduced on appeal to five because of his age and mental capacity  although he was still labelled by judges as socially dangerous.

But incredibly a bureaucratic bungle meant he was released early from an Italian youth institute after servicing less than a year and he moved to London with his mum who works here as a chef.

Following the mix up, current Italian PM Giorgia Meloni described the outcry that followed his release as "incredible" and an inquiry was launched but little could be done as he had arrived "legally" with his mother.

Earlier this week MailOnline was at Croydon Magistrates where the boy, who will be 17 in November, was in court after pleading guilty to three driving offences and heard his lawyer tell JPs he had 'arrived in England following a turbulent childhood'.

Later when approached and told of his background both the CPS prosecutor Joanna Sherman and his defence solicitor Sarah Moulange declined to comment.

The teen, who now lives in Croydon with his mother, was accused of three motoring offences and had pleaded guilty in January to driving a vehicle without a licence, without insurance and failure to surrender to police.

At his trial he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to six years and eight months

Marta Novello, was knifed while she was out for a run in a local park in March 2021 near Venice

Italian PM Giorgia Meloni described the outcry that followed his release as 'incredible'

Incredibly in mitigation Ms Moulange described him as being of previous good character and then read out references from youth workers describing how Tonelli works in a community kitchen and supports victims of violence.

She added that he had resettled in England from Italy after a turbulent childhood but made no mention of his conviction in Venice youth court for attempted murder.

He had pleaded guilty to attempted murder and apologised in court for what he had done in the first hearing in 2022 and was sentenced initially to six years and eight months, later reduced to five on appeal.

During the trial Marta told the court she was lucky to be alive and that she owed her life to two passers-by who had found her in a pool of blood and stayed with her until paramedics arrived.

He was then sent to a juvenile institute in the southern Italian city of Naples but a red tape mix up meant that he was freed in 2023 pending a third and final appeal and he moved to England with his mother.

At his trial judges had labelled him socially dangerous and when news of the bungle emerged, now Italian PM Giorgio Meloni described the episode as incredible while an investigation was launched by officials at the Ministry of Justice in Rome.

Speaking earlier this year for the first time since news of the error emerged, Marta, who is now an English teacher, said: To hear he had been released by mistake left me very upset. It hasnt been easy.

Fortunately, the justice system is still proceeding, and we hope that it will conclude as quickly as possible.

During the trial Marta told the court she was lucky to be alive and that she owed her life to two passers-by

Marta said hearing the teen had been released had left her 'very upset' and 'disheartened'

She added: 'Bureaucratic errors or carelessness of this type are unacceptable and incomprehensible, especially when it comes to the safety of a person and an entire community.

'It was destabilizing and disheartening to receive this news. The resulting psychological burden is immense and weighs on a long, difficult, tiring and expensive journey, through which I am trying to return to a normal lifestyle after the violence I suffered.

'The road to leaving that brutal episode behind is all uphill. And the current judicial mess is an additional obstacle. I perceive a lack of attention to the safety needs of us victims by the relevant offices.'

She added that 'the existence of a second-degree sentence that confirmed the dangerousness of the boy' already declared guilty in the first-degree sentence.

When told he had appeared in court in the UK, her lawyer Alberto Barbaro, said: This news doesnt really surprise me, and it was always our fear that he would commit further offences after being released by mistake.

I think it is important the UK authorities know his background and that he has been convicted of attempted murder and jailed for five years, he should not have been released and should be in detention pending the final decision.

What he did was particularly brutal, he stabbed my client all over her body 23 times and left her for dead, she is fortunate to be alive, he left his house armed with a knife with the intention to rob someone to buy drugs.

We had no doubt that there was a serious likelihood he would reoffend again, and I know motoring offences arent serious, but they are still crimes.

The teenager is living is now living unmonitored in the UK after being released in error

Croydon Magistrates Court, where the teen pleaded guilty to three driving offences

If the final appeal upholds the conviction, then we will ensure the authorities extradite him back to Italy so he can serve his sentence.

The boys mother - who did not attend court = is thought to have been living in the UK for several years and arrived before Brexit which has made it easier for her and her son to remain in the country.

Croydon magistrates fined him 120 for the driving offences and also ordered him to pay 48 surcharge and 85 costs.

His Italian lawyer Matteo Scussat was not immediately available for comment but when asked about the early release by Italian media he said:The idea of escape emerges from some political comments and that he somehow took advantage of the situation to get away.

I want to remind everyone that until there is a definitive sentence, there is a presumption of innocence, whether you like it or not, whether he confessed or not, we must deal with this since there is no definitive sentence, to date.

He did not run away because there is no sentence to serve - continues the lawyer - He was not notified of any measure, so we cannot speak of removal or escape.
A violent Tren de Aragua gangbanger was seen sobbing during his police interview after being collared by cops in Florida for robbing a liquor store.

Ramon Jesus Carpintero-Luna, 26, is one of a gang of thugs  dubbed the Scotch Bandits  busted for a string of three-dozen thefts across central Florida that saw stores rack up losses of more than $30,000 in recent months.

The tearful goon was snagged along with four other gangbangers last night and has since been charged with robbery, as well as having an immigration detainer placed on him.

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriffs Organized Retail Crime Unit say Carpintero-Luna was caught on camera stealing $3,200-worth of liquor from a Sams Club grocery store in Lakeland last month  an incident that left a female employee injured.

Along with Samuel Oglis David Anthony Charle, 25, Ildemaro Miguel Escalona Mendoza, 26, Alexis Jose Rodriguez-Benavides, 27, and Darwins Smith Vasquez Leon, 28, Carpintero-Luna was seen attempting to wheel a cart containing 14 cases of booze out of the store.

When the employee confronted them, they rammed her with the cart and made off with two of the cases before attempting to drive off in a silver Ford Focus.

But cops said they were foiled by their own bad driving and were eventually forced to run off on foot before making their getaway in an Uber.

Investigators who searched the car found the stolen liquor, as well as several cellphones and a passport.

Sobbing Ramon Jesus Carpintero-Luna, 26, is one of a gang of thugs  dubbed the Scotch Bandits  busted for a string of three-dozen thefts across central Florida that saw stores rack up losses of more than $30,000 in recent months.

Along with Samuel Oglis David Anthony Charle, 25, Ildemaro Miguel Escalona Mendoza, 26, Alexis Jose Rodriguez-Benavides, 27, and Darwins Smith Vasquez Leon, 28, Carpintero-Luna was seen attempting to wheel a cart containing 14 cases of booze out of the store

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com reveal the men were living high on the hog thanks to their ill-gotten gains with social media pictures showing the thugs partying, showing off bottles of high-end Buchanan Scotch whiskey and relaxing on the beach.

But the party is now over with two of the crooks apprehended in neighboring Osceola County and Carpintero-Luna, Leon and Rodriguez-Benavides picked up by Polk County detectives on Thursday night.

Police said they are now hoping to slap the quintet with further charges, including being part of an organized theft ring and are expecting them to be hit with counts related to the other robberies.

The thugs have also had their robbery charges upgraded to a first-degree felony after they were hit with gang enhancements.

According to cops, Benavides and Charle are known members of Tren de Aragua while the other three are gang associates, and said all five are in the US illegally from Venezuela.

Detectives also told DailyMail.com that the goons also have a lengthy list of priors, that includes drug possession, resisting arrest, robbery with a firearm, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and armed and dangerous domestic violence.

Although Carpintero-Luna was pictured smiling in his eventual mugshot, his tears may come back to haunt him as the Department of Homeland Security is also looking at charges.

His association with the violent Venezuelan gang could also see him handed a seat on one of the gangster-filled planes currently being sent to El Salvador by the Trump administration.

The thugs have also had their robbery charges upgraded to a first-degree felony after they were hit with gang enhancements.

Photos obtained by DailyMail.com reveal the men were living high on the hog thanks to their ill-gotten gains with social media pictures showing the thugs partying, showing off bottles of high-end Buchanan Scotch whiskey and relaxing on the beach

Five planeloads of gangbangers have already been sent to the Central American country with the men now locked up in notorious mega-prison.

The Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo [CECOT] was opened by Salvadoran president Nayib Bukele, 43, in January 2023 and can hold up to 40,000 prisoners.

The massive slammer is now home to around 20,000 men, all charged with being members of the notorious Barrio 18 and MS-13 crime gangs.

Last month, President Trump sent 238 alleged Tren de Aragua members to the prison as part of an agreement struck with Bukele that sees the Salvadorans lock up suspected foreign gang members in exchange for cash.

Detectives from the Polk County Sheriffs Organized Retail Crime Unit say Carpintero-Luna was caught on camera stealing $3,200-worth of liquor from a Sams Club grocery store in Lakeland last month  an incident that left a female employee injured.

Also on the initial trio of flights were 23 alleged MS-13 gangbangers. Video posted by the Salvadoran president showed the men being hauled off the planes by soldiers.

Taken to CECOT, they were seen being handed over to prison guards and having their heads shaved before being slung into cells.

The policy has proved controversial, with the Supreme Court ordering the Trump Administration to facilitate the return of one of the men  Kilmar Abrego Garcia, 29, who has since become a cause celebre on the left.

Bukele has said he will not send the Salvadoran national back to the US, instead saying Abrego Garcia will now have the honor of remaining in the custody of El Salvador in a post on X last night.
The Manchester Arena bomb plotter is understood to be held in the same secure unit as Southport killer Axel Rudakubana.

Terrorist Hashem Abedi, 28, was moved to Belmarsh, a high security prison in south London, after he allegedly attacked three prison guards with hot cooking oil at HMP Frankland in Durham last week.

Abedi - who helped his brother, suicide bomber Salman Abedi, plan the Manchester atrocity in 2017 - is believed to be in the segregation unit at the London jail, The Sun reported.

Rudakubana, 18, has been held there since he was sentenced to life behind bars for knifing three children to death while they attended a Taylor Swift-themed dance class in Southport last summer.

The Ministry of Justice declined to comment when approached by MailOnline.

It is understood that inmates held in segregation units are not able to interact with one another.

But their role has recently come under fire after Abedi, who had access to a 'self-cook kitchen', hurled hot oil on three officers before attacking them with makeshift blades he fashioned from a cooking tray.

Writing in the Daily Mail, Conservative justice spokesman Robert Jenrick said the appalling attack must be a 'turning point'.

Manchester Arena bomb plotter Hashem Abedi is reportedly being held in the same secure unit as Southport killer Axel Rudakubana

Rudakubana, 18, has been held in Belmarsh since he was sentenced to life behind bars for knifing three children to death last summer

He also warned that in Britain's high-security jails 'all too often, the ruthless Islamist extremists are in control, with prison officers left fearing for their lives'.

Prisons are 'no longer places of punishment, but of appeasement', he said, accusing officials of prioritising the 'welfare of wicked individuals' ahead of prison staff.

The Ministry of Justice announced a review on Sunday as gruesome details emerged of the attack at HMP Frankland, County Durham.

Abedi was known to be one of the most dangerous inmates in the UK, with a history of attacking officers.

He was ordered to serve a record 55-year minimum term for helping his brother murder 22 people, many of them children, at the Manchester Arena in 2017.

Yet he was given privileges including being allowed to cook for himself in a prison kitchen where he managed to create the blades.

Abedi is said to have dashed out of the kitchen just before lunchtime on Saturday clutching the weapons and a pan of boiling oil which he flung at the nearest three prison officers he encountered on a landing.

One male officer was then stabbed in the neck, with the blade coming close to severing an artery, reportedly leaving the victim 'just millimetres' from death.

Bebe King, Elsie Dot Stancombe and Alice da Silva Aguiar were killed in Southport last summer by Rabukana

Another male officer was stabbed at least five times in the back, puncturing a lung.

One of their female colleagues was also injured. The boiling oil is said to have left victims with third-degree burns.

Mark Fairhurst, chairman of the Prison Officers' Association (POA), has demanded an immediate ban on allowing serious terrorist inmates to use prison kitchens due to the risk they pose.

The attack took place in a separation centre, where Abedi has been a long-term inmate.

The centre, which holds fewer than ten prisoners, is used to contain those regarded as the most dangerous extremists  inmates who have refused attempts to deradicalise them.

Inspectors claim the facilities are an 'opportunity for social interaction and the ability to develop essential life skills', according to the latest report on HMP Frankland.

Months after he was jailed in August 2020, Abedi and two other inmates set upon two guards at Belmarsh Prison in south-east London, punching and kicking them like a 'pack of animals'.

He was later sent to Frankland, which has housed other notorious terrorists, including Michael Adebolajo, who killed Fusilier Lee Rigby in London in 2013.
China firmly opposes U.S. measures targeting its maritime, logistics, shipbuilding sectors

Xinhua) 09:16, April 19, 2025

BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday expressed strong opposition to the U.S. measures following its investigation into China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors.

China has repeatedly reaffirmed its views on the Section 301 investigation and presented the non-paper on its position, urging the United States to stop blaming China for its domestic industrial problems, said a spokesperson for China's Ministry of Commerce.

As a typical act of unilateralism and protectionism, the measures severely harm the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises, gravely disrupt the stability of global industrial and supply chains, blatantly violate WTO rules, and fundamentally undermine the rules-based multilateral trading system and international economic and trade order, the spokesperson stressed.

China urged the United States to respect the facts and multilateral rules and stop its wrongdoing, the spokesperson said, noting that China will closely monitor U.S. actions and resolutely take necessary measures to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests.

(Web editor: Chang Sha, Liang Jun)
Steve Bannon's right-hand woman is considered the favorite to add to archenemy Elon Musk's 'kid legion.'

Conservative influencer Ashley St. Clair told all about the deal she made to give birth to one of Musk's children, according to a bombshell report on the Wall Street Journal which the SpaceX CEO has slammed.

That included how Musk pursued her and other women for impregnation, asked her and their son to join his 'kid legion' on a compound in Texas and eventually offered her tens of millions to keep quiet.

Now, The Spectator magazine is asking the question on the minds of many: Who is Elon going to proposition next?

The piece's author suggests the favorite would be 24-year-old Natalie Winters, the executive editor of Steve Bannon's War Room podcast who has been labeled by the outlet 'Washington's most-eligible bachelorette'.

The writer notices a pattern between how Musk interacts with Winters and how he has with other conservative influencers in the past, like crypto journalist Tiffany Fong.

Elon 'regularly pops up in her replies' and Winters - who was slammed and denied membership in the National Press Club over her 'inappropriate' outfits - has been photographed in a DOGE cap at the White House.

Winters wonders: 'Maybe he just shares my stories because they're good?'

Steve Bannon's right-hand woman Natalie Winters (pictured) is considered the favorite to add to archenemy Elon Musk's 'kid legion'

It has one author asking the question on the minds of many: Who is Elon (pictured) going to proposition next?

However, she does still side with her boss over Musk in their feud over the H-1B immigration visas.

She added, 'No H-1Bs,' seemingly taking her boss's side in the feud that saw Bannon and Musk hash it out on X.

Other candidates humorously suggested include Spectator columnist Bridget Phetasy and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni - who Musk has been photographed appearing smitten with - as well as the AI chatbot Grok.

St. Clair, 26, revealed that she'd given birth to Musk's child in early February, the 14th of his offspring that is publicly known. She revealed Tuesday that the baby, a boy, is named Romulus.

Musk has never publicly admitted the child is his and the pair are currently locked in a legal battle that involved the 'First Buddy' and Tesla CEO taking the test to prove he's the father.

DailyMail.com spoke to St. Clair in March about the financial difficulties she was facing during her tussle in court with Musk, even going as far as selling her Tesla.

St. Clair then revealed Musk - who claimed he's provided her at least $2.5 million to date in March - offered her $15 million and $100,000 a month to not publicly disclose that he is the father of the child until he turns 21.

Jared Birchall, Musk's fixer, told St. Clair that this is similar to what Musk has agreed with the other mothers of his children, who include pop star Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.

Winters (pictured), the executive editor of Steve Bannon's War Room podcast who has been labeled 'Washington's most-eligible bachelorette'

Elon 'regularly pops up in her replies' and Winters (pictured) - who was slammed and denied membership in the National Press Club over her 'inappropriate' outfits - has been photographed in a DOGE cap at the White House

Musk, within hours, was bashing the Journal - touting it as worse than TMZ.

'TMZ >> WSJ,' the billionaire wrote.

It wasn't his first time panning the paper, which he branded as 'trash' back in January. The barb came in direct response to a separate report surrounding his alleged pervasive drug use and concerns it was causing his companies' directors.

The Wednesday report alleged the billionaire is building a massive brood ahead of a prospective population collapse - a clandestine campaign now creating 'harem drama'.

On paper, Musk has fathered at least 14 children by four women - but the Journal report suggests the true number is much higher.

Armed with a paternity test said to be '99.9999 percent' accurate, St. Clair claimed Musk allegedly offered her $15million and $100,000 a month to not disclose he is the father of her child - an arrangement she says is in place with several other women.

She said Musk strategically recruits 'candidates' like her through X - before hitting them with NDAs.

'The Tactics Elon Musk Uses to Manage His Legion of Babies - and Their Mothers,' the WSJ piece's headline blasted, bolstered by a portrait style photo of St. Clair and her son, Romulus.

One writer notices a pattern between how Musk interacts with Winters and how he has with other conservative influencers in the past, like crypto journalist Tiffany Fong (pictured)

Winters (pictured) wonders: 'Maybe he just shares my stories because they're good?'

'The worlds richest man juggles more than a dozen children and harem drama along with running his companies and advising Trump,' a subhead insisted as well.

'[Musk] recently took a paternity test in a battle with one woman over money and privacy.'

The report them jumps directly into St. Clair's perspective, and her efforts to get Musk, 53, to take a paternity test before giving birth.

That put her into contact with Musk's fixer, Jared Birchall, whom fielded her concerns during a two-hour phone call that took place in December, according to the Journal.

'I dont want my son to feel like hes a secret,' St. Clair told Birchall at the time

Birchall, Musk's longtime fixer, told the 26-year-old how his boss was a 'very big-hearted, kind and generous person,' but that her going 'the legal route', from his experience, 'always, always leads to a worse outcome for that woman'.

She went on to give birth the following February, before which Musk - whom helped name the child after some reservations as to whether it was actually his - reportedly offered her the $15 million and $100,000-a-month.

She nearly accepted, after being told the stipend was similar to what Musk has agreed with the known mothers of his children, such as the popular musician Grimes and Neuralink executive Shivon Zilis.

Spectator columnist Bridget Phetasy (pictured) is considered another likely favorite

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni (pictured left) - who Musk (pictured right) has been photographed appearing smitten with - is also considered a candidate

The article includes tidbits like Musk demanding she deliver the baby via a caesarian section - based on the belief that doing so allows for a baby to have a larger brain.

He also required he not undergo a circumcision. St. Clair is Jewish and wanted a natural birth so she rejected both, the Journal reported.

St. Clair did comply, however, with the request of leaving Musk's name off of Romulus' birth certificate - which Birchall made while she was inducing labor.

She did, however, prepare by hiring an attorney - a move that reportedly went against Birchall's wishes.

Birchall then demanded St. Clair sign papers that would keep Musk's parentage a secret in exchange for the aforementioned pay - and agreement that reportedly prevented her from ever saying anything negative about Musk.

The alleged document, however, did not stipulate the same for him about her, and Musk even tried to sway her decision by saying he was under threat of assassination due to his support of a now president Trump.

She refused to sign, allowing her the ability to speak out.

She recalled how she met Musk in spring 2023 when he reached out vie the website he bought for $44billion the year before to invited her to visit its offices then in San Francisco.

Ashley St. Clair (pictured), 26, revealed that she'd given birth to Musk's child in early February, the 14th of his offspring that is publicly known

St. Clair revealed Tuesday that the baby, a boy, is named Romulus

At the time, St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee.

He eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school, the Journal reported.

During and in between these meet ups, Musk spoke frequently about having children with St. Clair, even going as far to tell her to 'pick a name' after the first time they had sex, the Journal reported.

On a vacation over New Year's heading into 2024, St. Clair revealed she had been ovulating - an admission that allegedly led Musk to ask her: 'What are we waiting for?'

St. Clair said that they conceived Romulus soon after, after which Musk allegedly tried to get her to move to an Austin 'compound' to spend time with himself and an array of other women and children he is calling 'kid legion.'

She conceded she even experimented with becoming a part of the 'kid legion' during her pregnancy, arranging playdates between her son from a previous relationship and some of Musk's younger kids.

She says she has even met Musk's elusive mother Maye.

In November, she sent Musk a selfie, to which he reportedly responded: 'I want to knock you up again.'

At the time of her courtship with Musk, St. Clair was the operations manager and conservative humor site The Babylon Bee

Musk eventually invited her to a trip on his private plane to Rhode Island to visit one of his children at school

DailyMail.com spotted St. Clair handing over the keys to her black Model S outside her Manhattan apartment in late March.

She claimed Musk recently cut her child support by more than half, and was now selling her black Model S Tesla to make ends meet.

He addressed the rumors on X on X, before the Journal report published two days later.

'I dont know if the child is mine or not, but am not against finding out. No court order is needed,' Musk said at the time, before detailing the amount of money he claims to have sent the conservative influencer.

'Despite not knowing for sure, I have given Ashley $2.5M and am sending her $500k/year,' he said, spurring a response from St. Clair - on that branded him 'petulant man-child' who needed to take responsibility.

'Elon, we asked you to confirm paternity through a test before our child (who you named) was even born. You refused,' she said.

She also clarified that it wasn't sending her money but 'sending support for your child that you thought was necessary until you withdrew most of it to maintain control and punish me for disobedience. But youre really only punishing your son.'

She also referenced his most recent move in court - one she framed as an attempt to silence her, while he posts on X.

One of the mothers who lives in the gated community is Neuralink exec Shivon Zilis, seen as a 'steadying force' within the cult-esque compound, St. Clair claimed

Grimes - whom Musk never married but was met with a custody battle over their three kids - reportedly rejected the request. She is seen here with XAE-12 in Portofino in 2023

'Its ironic that your last effort in court was to try to gag me while you use a social media channel you literally own to distribute derogatory messages about me and our child to the entire world,' she wrote this week.

'Its all about control with you, and everyone can see it.'

Musk has yet to respond directly to St. Clair on social media.

St Clair first went public with her claims in February, claiming Musk first slid into [her] DMs' in May 2023.

At the time, she only named Romulus by his initials 'R.S.C.', saying he was conceived early January 2024 on a trip to the island of Saint Barthelemy in the Caribbean.

Musk, 53, has not publicly acknowledged the child as his own - only responded with characteristic cryptic emojis to posts on X about St. Clair's claims.

St. Clair filed a paternity and a custody lawsuit in a New York court on February 21, claiming Musk told her to keep the baby secret.

A source close to the case told DailyMail.com that since going public, Musk 'retaliated' by slashing her payments in half 'unilaterally', leaving St. Clair struggling.

She also has a three-year-old son from a previous partner, New York chiropractor Johnny Alexander.

She has been raising the toddler and baby with the help of a full-time nanny at her rented three-bed apartment in downtown Manhattan.
The cop stepmother of suspected FSU gunman Phoenix Ikner taught the alleged killer how to handle guns, her sheriff's office has revealed.

Ikner, 20, was identified as the stepson of Leon County Sheriffs Office Deputy Jessica Ikner hours after terror swept the FSU Tallahassee campus on Thursday.

Two people were shot dead and six more were injured in the spree, with shocking footage showing the gunman targeting students and faculty as they ran for their lives.

Shonda Knight, a spokesperson for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, told Fox News on Friday that Jessica Ikner was taking leave from law enforcement in response to her stepson's alleged murder spree while admitting her step-son was taught how to handle guns as a result of her position.

She said that as Phoenix was 'the son of a member of law enforcement, his family exposed him to safety as it relates to utilizing firearms.'

Knight said Ikner was taking time away to 'process this tragic situation', and insisted that she had done a 'tremendous job' as a deputy during her 18 years of service.

'This is a rough time for the Leon County Sheriff's Office, our entire community, and, of course, the victims and their families,' Knight continued.

The alleged killer's ties to the sheriff's department were revealed at a press conference, where officials said he was even a member of the office's Youth Advisory Council.

Knight explained that Ikner's group was created to be an 'opportunity for youth in our community to be able to express any concerns they had about crime prevention and safety and any of our initiatives, and for us to be to have an open dialog with youth in our community.'

Jessica Ikner (right), the cop stepmother of suspected FSU gunman Phoenix Ikner, taught the alleged killer how to handle guns, her sheriff's office has revealed

Phoenix Ikner, 20, was identified as the stepson of a Leon County Sheriffs Office Deputy hours after terror swept the FSU Tallahassee campus on Thursday

At the press conference on Thursday, Leon County Sheriff Walter McNeil said Ikner 'had access' to his sheriff's deputy stepmother's weapons, and 'that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.'

It was later clarified that the weapon was not in active service for law enforcement, and had been purchased by Jessica Ikner for her personal use after she received a newer gun from the sheriff's department.

Ikner was described by McNeil as 'steeped in the Leon County Sheriff's Office family.'

Knight insisted that Jessica was a devoted deputy who 'worked in various units, including our uniform patrol, our bailiff unit and school resource' teams.

She won the Leon County Sheriff's Office's Law Enforcement Employee of the Month in March 2024.

The investigation into Thursday's shooting is being led by the Tallahassee Police Department, and Knight said Leon County is cooperating.

'Our thoughts and prayers are with all of the victims of this horrific incident. We are, of course, a member of the law enforcement community. And we are grateful for all of our law enforcement partners who have practiced for days like yesterday, but always prayed that we never had to actually endure it,' she said.

Those that knew Ikner say he held 'white supremacist' beliefs and 'espoused far right rhetoric'

Ikner is allegedly seen in the above still stalking the campus with the firearm as the shooting unfolded on Thursday

Students gathered to pay their respects to the two lives lost and six injured Thursday night

'But our law-enforcement members responded swiftly, and lives were saved because of that.

'So we are grateful for all the partners who participated in ensuring the safety of our community. And we just ask for continuous thoughts and prayers as we all process the events of yesterday.'

It comes as officials identified the two victims who lost their lives in the attack as a dining manager and his boss who was in town for a visit.

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality regional vice president Tiru Chabba and FSU dining coordinator Robert Morales were gunned down at the Tallahassee campus.

Chabba, 45, lived in Simpsonville, South Carolina, and managed the South East region for the division of Aramark that provides catering to college campuses.

He was visiting FSU for meetings with staff and university officials and in the wrong place at the wrong time when Ikner opened fire.

Chabba worked for Aramark for more than 25 years, working his way up to his high-level position in October 2022. The father-of-two was mourned on social media by colleagues, some of whom described the chaotic scene.

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality regional vice president Tiru Chabba was killed in the Florida State University mass shooting on Thursday

Robert Morales was shot dead on the Tallahassee campus after 20-year-old student Phoenix Ikner allegedly opened fire

Phoenix Ikner, seen here, is currently in hospital while in custody after being shot by officers at the scene

'One of the victims who lost their life at FSU was my regional vice president of the company I work for,' FSU restaurant manager Anthony Cicatello wrote.

'I didn't know him well but the times I shook his hand in passing while visiting locations on campus I know he was great person and colleague.

'It's sad that we have to experience these things in our workplace let alone on a collegiate campus. We had a visiting group of 60 middle school kids touring campus and eating in our dining hall when this occurred.

'I can only imagine what those little kids were going through as they were underneath the chairs and tables in my dining hall fearing for their lives.'

Morales worked at the university as a dining coordinator for more than nine years, according to his LinkedIn profile.

'Today we lost my younger brother. He was one of the victims killed at FSU,' his older brother Ricardo said. 'He loved his job at FSU and his beautiful Wife and Daughter. I'm glad you were in my Life.'

The campus was locked down as gunfire erupted, with students ordered to shelter in place as first responders swarmed the site moments after the lunchtime shootings.

Ikner is in custody in hospital, after he was shot by officers at the scene.

One student prays with her hands clasped together as she paid respect to the victims of the tragic shooting

Witnesses spoke of chaos as people began running through the sprawling campus as shots rang out near the student union.

'Everyone just started running out of the student union,' a witness named Wayne told local news station WCTV.

'About a minute later, we heard about eight to 10 gunshots', he said he saw one man who appeared to have been shot in the midsection.

He added: 'The whole entire thing was just surreal. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing. Everything was really quiet, then all chaotic.

Former classmates of Ikner have since said that he held 'white supremacist' beliefs and 'espoused far right rhetoric'.

Speaking to NBC after the shooting, a student who was once part of a 'political round table' with Ikner revealed he harbored white supremacist views.

'Basically our only rule was no Nazis  colloquially speaking  and he espoused so much white supremacist rhetoric and far right rhetoric as well,' Reid Seybold said.

Seybold, who was president of the club, said he had to kick Ikner out of the group due to his beliefs and rhetoric.
Newly convicted killer Daniel Krug, shackled and clad in mustard prison scrubs, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday without the possibility of parole - one day after a Colorado jury found him guilty of stalking and murdering his wife while framing her ex-boyfriend.

'Before Kristil's death, you stalked her. You terrorized her. You tortured her,' 17th Judicial District Judge Priscilla Loew told Krug, 44, on Friday.

'She lived in fear; it was evident through the evidence, her video statements, that the last months of her life were managed by you and your actions, through deceit and control.

'And not only did you manipulate her through the stalking ... you manipulated your family, impacting your own children, and you also manipulated law enforcement.'

She sentenced him to life without parole on the murder charge, the maximum of four years each on two stalking charges and maximum 18 months on the charge of criminal impersonation.

'Unfathomable' and 'senseless' were the words that kept getting repeated as relatives and friends of Kristil, who'd been terrorized for months by a 'stalker' who turned out to be her husband, gave victim impact statements.

Newly convicted killer Daniel Krug, shackled and clad in mustard prison scrubs, was sentenced to life in prison on Friday without the possibility of parole - one day after a Colorado jury found him guilty of stalking and murdering his wife while framing her ex-boyfriend.

They struggled through tears as they described their inability to grasp the reality of the murder of the mother of three, who was found fatally bludgeoned and stabbed in the heart on December 14, 2023 in the garage of the home she shared with the children and Krug.

The couple had been sleeping in separate bedrooms for more than a year, and Kristil was planning to soon divorce her husband; the 43-year-old had told her brother she 'could not stand the man.'

The many loved ones giving victim impact statements included Kristil's mother, father, uncles, stepsister, friends and cousin - a former domestic violence prosecutor.

They described a brilliant, hilarious, generous woman equally skilled in dance and engineering. They called Krug 'pure evil,' a 'narcissistic sociopath' and an 'idiot.'

Kristil's father, Lars Grimsrud Sr, lamented how his daughter's 'wonderful, amazing life was tragically cut short through a horrific, brutal act of pure selfish evil.

'He violated, defiled, he mutilated and destroyed my lovely daughter - and in the process also forever altered ... the lives of his own children.

'Our entire family will never be the same again.'

Krug was found guilty of murdering wife Kristil after a terrifying stalking campaign where he posed as an ex-boyfriend she hadn't seen in two decades

Krug had tried to frame Kristil's distant ex, who lives in Utah and had occasionally attempted to reconnect over the years. But digital investigators tied the 'stalker's' emails and texts to her own husband.

'This was a brutal, calculated, premeditated murder, and in the months before he brutally murdered his wife, the defendant manipulated, deceived and terrorized both his wife and his children - and an innocent man who he tried to frame for the crime that he was about to commit,' Broomfield District Attorney Brian Mason said after sentencing at a press conference with police, prosecutors and Kristil's family.

Judge Loew asked Krug during sentencing whether he wanted to speak, but he declined.

After Kristil's family and friends finished giving victim impact statements, his brother, Jeremy Krug, addressed the court.

He said he felt it 'important to express the breadth of victims and victims' families involved in this case.'

Jeremy Krug recounted how he'd had to hold up his elderly mother the previous day when the verdict was read - then drove his grieving parents home, the two of them consoling each other in the back of the car.

Kristil Krug's family hug after her husband Daniel was found guilty of her gruesome murder

Kristil was found stabbed to death in the garage of her home in Broomfield, Colorado

Since his brother's arrest, he said, the Krug family 'only had hope that something was wrong, that something didn't add up, that there was truth to the statements' from the defendant.

'Dan, I think it's important for you to know that the victims of this extend beyond even what was voiced in the courtroom,' Jeremy Krug said Friday.

'In some ways, I think your parents, our parents, my parents, as among the last victims of all of this.

'They had no idea. They had inklings, they had suspicions, they were concerned ... but they held out hope. they held out belief, all this time ... [that] there was somebody else' responsible.'

At the press conference after sentencing, Lars Grimsrud Sr reiterated that 'there's never enough justice for a life that has been so wrongfully and horrifically taken.

'But the legal process and the support and dedication of so many people has now at least allowed some relief in knowing that Dan Krug has been held accountable for his actions in achieving some justice for Kristil.'
As the election campaign hits a brief pause for Easter, Labor has positioned itself as the protector of penalty rates for those working during the holiday period.

The government on Saturday announced it would enshrine penalty rates in law if re-elected.

That would prevent business groups, such as the Australian Retailers Association, from applying to the Fair Work Commission to cut the provisions from award agreements.

Industrial relations issues have worked in Labor's favour during the campaign, with polling showing Opposition Leader Peter Dutton's short-lived pledge to force public servants back into the office fared poorly with voters.

With cost-of-living concerns at the forefront of the campaign, more polling has shown how parties treat penalty rates could be a factor in how people vote.

The Essential Research polling, commissioned by Australian Unions, found 70 per cent of respondents said protecting penalty rates for workers would be an issue voters take into consideration at the ballot box.

The poll also said 44 per cent of people were more likely to vote for a party that had policies in place to protect penalty rates, compared with 10 per cent being less likely to support such a party.

Retail worker Pauline Lethborg said the extra money from penalty rates went a long way.

Labor announced on Saturday it would enshrine penalty rates in law if re-elected, protecting the beefed-up take-home pay of millions of holiday workers

The penalty rate protections would prevent industry groups from applying to the Fair Work Commission to cut the provisions from award agreements

'If we lose penalty rates, it doesn't just affect the older workers, it's the younger ones as well. That bonus money goes to pay rent and food,' she said.

'The cost of living these days is very hard, right across the board.

'It's not like we're being paid $100 an hour, a lot of retail workers are on $20 to $25 an hour... penalty rates is what gives them their supplement income.'

The Australian Retail Association earlier in 2025 submitted a proposal for some staff at large companies to opt out of penalty rates in exchange for a 25 per cent raise.

Employer lobby Australian Industry Group has backed a similar push for the clerks and banking awards, arguing the rise in working from home has made it impractical for employees to log their hours and compounds the regulatory burden on employers.

Labor had filed a submission to the Fair Work Commission opposing the changes, while also calling for the coalition to provide clarity on its penalty rate stance.

Around three million workers would be affected if Labor succeeds in legislating to protect penalty rates.

Workplace Relations Minister Murray Watt said employees deserved to be rewarded for giving up family time to work on weekends.

'We will always stand with workers to protect their wages so that we can help them deal with the pressures of today and get ahead in the future,' he said.
Australians are feeling the pinch of sky-high chocolate costs this Easter despite falling global cocoa prices, with some finding other ways to get their fix.

Easter bunnies and eggs are burning a bigger hole in Australian wallets than ever before and more chocolate pain could trickle down under US tariffs.

Global cocoa prices have dropped 21 per cent compared to last Easter, data analysis from trading and investing platform eToro shows, fuelled by sunnier production forecasts for 2025.

But prices for cocoa beans almost doubled from $6500 to $12,500 per tonne between March 2024 and January, and remain almost 200 per cent higher than Easter in 2023.

'In recent years, adverse weather conditions have affected crops in Africa, which we aren't seeing right now,' eToro market analyst Josh Gilbert told AAP.

'Record high cocoa prices through 2024 mean consumers globally will still be feeling the pinch when it comes to buying Easter treats this year, and Aussies are no exception.'

When combined with other market forces, it means Australians are paying up to $2 more for their favourite chocolate treats this Easter.

A 180g Cadbury Dairy Milk chocolate block cost $6 last Easter and is now $8 at full price, while Ferrero Rocher Easter eggs jumped from $8 to $10.

Even the Easter Bunny cannot hide from cost pressures after the price of a key ingredient soared

Prices for cocoa beans remain almost 200 per cent higher than Easter in 2023

Manufacturers have also turned to 'shrinkflation', with Cadbury not touching the price of its hunting Easter eggs but reducing the number of goodies from 12 to 11.

Mr Gilbert warned shelf prices could rise even higher beyond Easter as top cocoa growers Ivory Coast and Ghana have been hit by US President Donald Trump's 'reciprocal' tariffs, disrupting global trade flow.

'Both are looking to negotiate with President Trump,' he said.

'But if these tariffs stay, then this will undoubtedly have an effect on prices and thus Australian consumers too.'

Rabobank commodities analyst Paul Joules pointed out there was an uptick in cocoa prices when the tariffs were unveiled in early April, before quickly coming down.

'It just adds to the volatility and then at the same time you've got some genuine supply and production issues,' he told AAP.

'But the bottom line is we've been in a very tight supply picture for over a year now and that's going to take a while to fix itself.'

Ivory Coast and Ghana produce 70 per cent of the world's cocoa and growers are insulated from broader commodity volatility as their nation's governments set farmgate prices once or twice a year, Mr Joules said.

Shoppers have shared screenshots and videos of the exorbitant price tags on their favourite chocolate

'That's another element that suggests (prices) will be a bit slower to come down,' he added.

Australians are forecast to spend $4.8 billion on this year's Easter festivities, up from $4 billion in 2024, according to a survey by comparison site Finder.

The survey of 1004 people showed fewer intended to buy chocolate this Easter compared to last, down from 54 per cent to 49 per cent, and were bracing to spend more ($68 instead of $57).

Easter was continuing to put pressure on family budgets, prompting many to rethink their plans, Finder's Sarah Megginson said.

'A lot of families are giving homemade gifts like rocky road or lollies in small hampers instead this Easter, to save money while still enjoying the festivities,' she said.

Not only chocolate bunnies are causing headaches this Easter.

Farmers have reported paddocks in NSW's Riverina region are swarming with wild rabbits every night, ravaging crops and pastures.

In his Easter message, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher called for people to 'dare to hope' amid testing times across the world.

'Trade wars, military wars and cyber wars. Natural disasters and climate change. Cost of living, recession, political instability ... we can be short on reasons to hope,' he said.

'Yet as the great Martin Luther King Jr pointed out, it's only when its dark that we can see the stars.'
A South Carolina restaurant owner has been grilled over his response to a couple who complained about their pork chops.

Multiple videos posted to TikTok show Christopher Philip Wallman Jr., the owner and operator of 'The Grill', accusing the couple of refusing to pay the entire bill.

'I want everybody to hear this now,' Wallman Jr. announced to the entire restaurant of uncomfortable customers.

'This lovely couple has ordered $137 worth of food for the 35 minutes they've been here and they are refusing to pay,' he was heard saying in a video with more than 12 million views.

The husband cut in to say his wife's pork chops were 'fried hard' while the wife also attempted to clarify right away that they fully intended to pay the bill as long as the pork chops that weren't up to her standards were taken off the bill.

'My husband is a disabled veteran, he works a job as well, we've got plenty of money. We're not refusing to pay. We said we are refusing to pay for the pork chops we never got,' she yelled out to the other diners.

Wallman Jr. did not take kindly to this, telling the couple that 'I will not be bullied in my own restaurant' before telling them to 'walk out the door and don't ever come in this restaurant again.'

The viral videos have sparked a mountainous backlash, with many on social media accusing Wallman Jr. of being racist and advocating a boycott of his restaurant.

Christopher Philip Wallman Jr. was seen in the viral footage accusing the couple of not paying their entire bill (left). Both of them clarified that they were willing and able to pay, but not for pork chops that they said were overdone and were sent back. Wallman Jr. eventually gave the couple the bill with the pork chops taken off. The husband paid without issue

Pictured: The ribbon cutting ceremony in October 2024 for 'The Grill.' Wallman Jr. is seen on the right

Others went so far as to leave the business's name, address and phone number all over TikTok and Instagram.

The restaurant's Yelp page was flooded with so many negative reviews accusing the owner of racism to the couple who are bi-racial, alleging that was a factor in his response. The criticism got so bad that Yelp had to step in.

'This business recently received increased public attention resulting in an influx of people posting their views to this page, so we have temporarily disabled the ability to post here as we work to investigate the content,' read a public attention alert from Yelp.

'While racism has no place on Yelp and we unequivocally reject racism or discrimination in any form, all reviews on Yelp must reflect an actual first-hand consumer experience (even if that means disabling the ability for users to express points of view we might agree with).'

In the clip, an argument persisted as it became clear both sides weren't going to let this go.

The husband, in a calmer tone than his wife, reminded the owner that they hadn't got the pork chops after his wife sent them back.

'The pork chops, we never received,' he said. 'Just like anything else you don't receive, you wouldn't pay for it, right?'

The back-and-forth continued for some time until Wallman Jr. agreed to take the pork chops off, reducing the bill to $122.92. He then handed the check to the husband, who paid it without issue.

Wallman Jr. has apologized for how he reacted to the couple's objections but has also condemned people who are not letting go of a 'misunderstanding' that happened six months ago

A similarly-named restaurant in Virginia has also been getting phone calls and bad reviews from people who are confusing it with Wallman Jr.'s establishment. The co-owner of the Mill Street Grill (pictured) had to come out and tell people his restaurant isn't involved

Wallman Jr. has directly addressed the situation twice on his Facebook page, first offering an apology on April 12. He also explained that this 'misunderstanding' happened roughly six months ago, when his restaurant first opened.

'There is a video circulating again from when we first opened. I have said before. And I'll say again for everyone new - I apologize for reacting to that couple the way I did,' he said.

'There are several circumstances that occur before she started filming that ya'll don't see and that doesn't excuse my reaction at all but that does explain why it happened. It has nothing to do with race, color, creed, religion, nothing.

'To add - they were dissatisfied, doesn't really matter why but it wasn't handled correctly.'

Wallman Jr. made another post two days later on April 14, appearing to condemn people for allegedly harassing diners at a similarly named restaurant in Virginia. It's called the Mill Street Grill and is a six-hour drive away from his restaurant in South Carolina.

Ron Bishop, co-owner of the Mill Street Grill, told WHSV that this is a case of 'mistaken identity.'

'We are being associated with something that has nothing to do with us,' Bishop said.

'We are inclusive, we welcome everyone, and we dont want to be associated with the negativity coming from another Mill Street Grill.'

Without mentioning the Mill Street Grill by name, Wallman Jr. claimed that people were 'calling a place that has zero connection to me and screaming obscenities in front of little girls.'

There's no evidence that anyone has gone to the Virginia restaurant to disrupt customers, but Bishop did confirm he was receiving calls and getting bad reviews.

'Weve received phone calls where people hang up or leave bad reviews based on something we had no part in,' Bishop said. 'We just want our community and others to know that we are not the restaurant in that video.'
A boy who went missing from a playground in Victoria has been found after spending a night outdoors in the Dandenong Ranges bush.

Six-year-old Parfa, who is autistic and non-verbal, wandered away from the Olinda playground on Olinda-Monbulk Road around 4pm on Friday.

Located 41km east of Melbournes CBD, the town of Olinda sits high in the Dandenong Ranges and is known for its dense bush.

Friends and family immediately began searching for the boy before calling the police 30 minutes later who soon joined the search alongside the State Emergency Service and the Air Wing.

Six-year-old Parfa (pictured) has been found following a desperate search after the boy wandered off from a playground in Victoria's Dandenong Ranges

Friends and family immediately began searching for the boy after he went missing about 4pm on Friday before police amd SES joined the search

The desperate search continued into the early hours of Saturday morning before being called off until dawn.

Parfa spent the night alone in nearby bush, where temperatures dropped to 13.7C.

He was found within a few hours after the search resumed early Saturday.

Police confirmed the boy was being assessed by paramedics.
Britain's four biggest police forces are using drones made in China  despite security agencies warning them of potential spying risks two years ago.

The drones, produced by DJI Technology, help with surveillance and support investigations.

The Metropolitan Police, Greater Manchester Police, Police Scotland, and West Midlands Police all still use DJI drones, according to analysis of public documents by the i paper.

But in 2023, MI5 issued guidance against the use of uncrewed aerial systems (UAS), made in countries with 'coercive data sharing practices'. This was seen as a reference to China.

Security officials fear sensitive images and data collected by the drones could be obtained by the Chinese authorities. The US Department of Defense has blacklisted DJI due to alleged ties to the Chinese military.

DJI has denied its drones transmit sensitive data to any unauthorised parties and said its products have passed independent and government security checks that have certified them 'safe and secure'.

Earlier this week it emerged the Ministry of Defence has banned electric cars that may contain Chinese components from military bases.

In 2023 it was revealed that two thirds of drones operated by UK police forces were made by DJI. The findings prompted a government task force led by former Security Minister Tom Tugendhat to review the contracts.

Britain's four biggest police forces are using drones made in China  despite security agencies warning them of potential spying risks two years ago. The drones (like the one pictured above), produced by DJI Technology, help with surveillance and support investigations

The Metropolitan Police , Greater Manchester Police , Police Scotland, and West Midlands Police all still use DJI drones, according to analysis of public documents by the i paper

DJI has denied its drones transmit sensitive data to any unauthorised parties and said its products have passed independent and government security checks that have certified them 'safe and secure'

An arm of MI5 then warned organisations that some commercial UAS and associated software were made 'in countries with coercive data sharing practices that could lead to the loss of sensitive data'.

Luke De Pulford, executive director of the inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China, told the i: 'Government needs to act to protect sensitive UK data.'

A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'We are aware of the issues raised by the National Protective Security Authority and we continue to engage with the Scottish Government.'

The other police forces were contacted by the i for comment.
If you think ice cream is a bit, well, vanilla, and finding a delicious dessert is proving to be a rocky road, the latest online trend will tickle your tastebuds.

Popular ice cream flavours now include baked beans, soy sauce and cheese, as Generation Z 'melt down the norms of how it can be eaten', according to Waitrose. Gen Z, who are largely in their twenties, are buying 20 per cent more ice cream at the supermarket chain, adding to the 1 billion the dessert already generates for the UK economy.

Searches for 'ice cream' were up 95 per cent on TikTok last week, while '#icecream' has had more than two million views.

Every company worth their salt is transforming their offerings in response, with easyJet serving a range of bizarre new flavours in Southend to mark the opening of the new airport.

Each was designed to taste like the signature dish of a popular holiday destination and included the Italian pasta dish cacio e pepe, sangria, tagine, snails in garlic and pastel de nata, the Portuguese custard tarts.

In London's Belgravia, designer Anya Hindmarch has launched a range of new flavours and the sell-out, limited June-to-September run has customers queuing to try them. Flavours include Heinz Baked Beans, pictured, Kikkoman Soy Sauce and Bird's custard.

New flavours of ice cream loved by Gen Z include baked beans, salad cream and PG tips

Gen Z, who are largely in their twenties, are buying 20 per cent more ice cream Waitrose, adding to the 1 billion the dessert already generates for the UK economy

Designer Anya Hindmarch has launched a range of new flavours and the sell-out, limited June-to-September run has customers queuing to try them. Flavours include Heinz Baked Beans, pictured, Kikkoman Soy Sauce and Bird's custard

In Whitstable, Kent, Bears Ice Cream Imaginarium's products come in seasonal flavours including hot cross bun and scotch egg, as well as blueberry and lavender jam and brown butter popcorn and pumpkin seed. 'Since we launched, we've wanted to push the boundaries of ice cream creation,' says founder Phil Harrison, who has been described as a 'veritable Willy Wonka of ice cream' by fans.

'We wanted to come up with imaginative flavours and interactive desserts that transcend the ordinary,' he added.

The quirks don't stop at the flavours. Wasabi crunch or cornflakes are suggested toppings at Bears and a new range of ice cream sandwiches include a peanut butter, miso and caramel offering and another echoing a lemon meringue pie.
A smirking Donald Trump tonight shared 'proof' that a deported illegal migrant who has become a martyr to liberals is a member of the notorious MS-13 cartel.

Kilmar Abrego Garcia has become a flashpoint for polarized politics, with Republicans labeling him a terrorist and pointed out allegations made by his own wife of beating her who should never have been in the country in the first place.

Liberals, meanwhile, see him as a man both here legally and wrongly deported in their latest outrage toward Trump.

Trump seemed to offer a rebuttal to the left by posting what he said were photos of knuckle tattoos representing MS-13 and belonging to Abrego Garcia on Truth Social Friday night.

'This is the hand of the man that the Democrats feel should be brought back to the United States, because he is such 'a fine and innocent person,'' Trump wrote.

It features tattoos on his fingers that officials have previously described: a marijuana leaf, a smiley face, a cross, and a skull. 'MS-13' is now spelled across the knuckles in the photo Trump posted.

However, those letters and numbers are digitally added on and Pam Bondi made no mention of any tattoos representing the deadly gang in documents accusing Abrego Garcia of being a member.

Still, some have alleged that the tattoos are meant to be code, a marijuana leaf representing the letter M, a smiley face representing the letter S, a cross being a cover up for the number one and a skull meant to be covering up the number three.

Donald Trump showed a photograph he offered as proof that deported migrant El Salvadoran Kilmar Abrego Garcia is an MS-13 member

Conservatives shared AI memes mocking the Democrats for trying to free the alleged MS-13 gangster. The image shows Kamala Harris, Joe and Hunter Biden as MS-13 gangsters

A meme shared by a conservative showing Adam Schiff, Nancy Pelosi, Chuck Schumer, AOC and Gavin Newsom as MS-13 gangsters

Trump sees it as proof that he's found out Abrego Garcia as a member of the infamous gang.

'They said he is not a member of MS-13, even though he's got MS-13 tattooed onto his knuckles, and two Highly Respected Courts found that he was a member of MS-13, beat up his wife, etc.'

Liberals were furious at Trump on social media.

'This is why you dont send people to prison without due process. Unscrupulous politicians cannot be the final word,' wrote one.

Another wrote: 'This is the guy you want to trust to send people to a gulag without judicial review: a guy who tells blatant lies about the people he's doing that to.'

Abrego Garcia's lawyers have denied any links to MS-13, the notorious prison gang that Trump insists he is affiliated with, and stated he has no criminal convictions.

DailyMail.com did find Abrego Garcia's wife filled out a petition accusing her husband of domestic violence but never signed or submitted it.

Trump wrote: 'I was elected to take bad people out of the United States, among other things. I must be allowed to do my job. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!'

Abrego Garcia has become a flashpoint for polarized politics, with Republicans labeling him a terrorist who should never have been in the country in the first place

DailyMail.com has reached out to Senator Chris Van Hollen - who visited with Abrego Garcia in El Salvador - and representatives for Abrego Garcia for comment.

The post came as Trump got a legal victory Friday, with a divided appeals court in Washington halted Judge James Boasberg's contempt proceedings against the Trump administration for the deportation flights to El Salvador.

It is not a ruling on whether those proceedings should take place but gives the court a chance to hear the Trump administration's appeal against Boasberg's ruling.

Van Hollen met Thursday in El Salvador with Kilmar Abrego Garcia, a man who was sent there by the Trump administration in March despite an immigration court order preventing his deportation.

Van Hollen posted a photo of the meeting on X, saying he also called Abrego Garcia's wife 'to pass along his message of love.'

The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia, whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the U.S.

A spokesman for the Trump administration remained on message, claiming Van Hollen was worried more about a 'terrorist' illegal migrant than his own constituents.

'Chris Van Hollen has firmly established Democrats as the party whose top priority is the welfare of an illegal alien MS-13 terrorist. It is truly disgusting. President Trump will continue to stand on the side of law-abiding Americans,' Kush Desai told DailyMail.com

Photos show Abrego Garcia with the tattoos but the letters and numbers 'MS-13' appeared to be digitally altered

Still, some have alleged that the tattoos are meant to be code, a marijuana leaf representing the letter M, a smiley face representing the letter S, a cross being a cover up for the number one and a skull meant to be covering up the number three

El Salvadors Presidnet Nayib Bukele posted images of the meeting minutes before Van Hollen shared his post and took a more confrontational approach, decrying beliefs that Abrego Garcia was suffering.

Bukele wrote: 'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the `death camps & 'torture,' now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!'

The tweet ended with emojis of the U.S. and El Salvador flags, with a handshake emoji between them. A spokeswoman for El Salvadors presidency said she had no further information.

The meeting came hours after Van Hollen said he was denied entry into an high-security El Salvador prison Thursday while he was trying to check on Abrego Garcia's well-being and push for his release.

The Democratic senator said at a news conference in San Salvador that his car was stopped by soldiers at a checkpoint about two miles from the Terrorism Confinement Center, or CECOT, even as they let other cars go on.

'They stopped us because they are under orders not to allow us to proceed,' Van Hollen said.

Abrego Garcia entered the US illegally in 2011. A judge blocked his return to El Salvador in 2019, citing the fact that gangsters were after him, but said he could be deported elsewhere.

In court filings this week, the Trump administration said he was deported to El Salvador in error. The Supreme Court has since ordered the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US.

The Democrat senator who traveled to El Salvador to try and secure the release of a deported illegal migrant and alleged MS-13 member was able to meet him in person

The lawmaker did not provide an update on the status of Abrego Garcia (pictured), whose attorneys are fighting to force the Trump administration to facilitate his return to the US

Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.'

He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.'

Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador.

Additionally, a 2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez, which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years.

She told The Post she was 'acting out of caution after a disagreement with Kilmar  in case things escalated' after being abused 'in a previous relationship.'

'Things did not escalate, and I decided not to follow through with the civil court process. We were able to work through this situation privately as a family, including by going to counseling,' she added.

A2021 petition for protection from domestic violence filled out by Abrego Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez (pictured), which was obtained first by DailyMail.com, states that the alleged MS-13 member beat his wife multiple times over the years

'Our marriage only grew stronger in the years that followed. No one is perfect, and no marriage is perfect.'

Democrats, furious about his deportation, are up in arms, with Maryland Senator Chris Van Hollen traveling in an attempt to get answers.

Determined to save Garcia, he flew to El Salvador in an effort to get him out of jail and back in America.

But when he showed up asking for a meeting, he was denied.

He is now being mocked by Republicans and Conservative Americans, including the mother of a woman who was murdered by an illegal migrant.

'Senator Van Hollen has done more to bring a MS-13 gang member, human trafficker and illegal alien back to Maryland than he has to help keep his American constituents safe or advocate for the victims of these vicious gangs like MS-13.

'While Senator Van Hollen and the mainstream media peddle a sob story about a brutal MS-13 gang member, Secretary Noem stands with the victims of illegal alien crime, like Maryland mom Rachel Morin.

'We hear far too much about the gang members and criminals sob stories and not enough about their victims,' the Department of Homeland Security said in a post on X.

The efforts by Van Hollen have also been criticized by Morin's mother Patty who spoke about the lack of any correspondence from state officials when her daughter was murdered.

Speaking on Fox News with anchor Sean Hannity, she said: 'I'm very angry, I'm outraged. I'm too sad at the moment to show anger at the same time.

'He did not call our family, he did not give condolences. There was no action [from] the Democratic party in anyway.

'From Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, anyone here in Maryland, none of the Senators did anything to help search for the murderer of my daughter.'

Rachel Morin's illegal immigrant killer Victor Martinez-Hernandez was found guilty of first degree murder, first degree rape and kidnapping on Monday - and is now awaiting sentencing.

Abrego Garcia, who is a legal resident, arrived at the notorious supermax prison CECOT in El Salvador March 15 on one of three planes from the US.

He first entered the U.S. in 2011 but was granted permission to stay by a judge in 2019. He later settled down in Maryland and has an American wife and son.

The Trump administration deported Abrego Garcia on March 15 after files indicated that he had connections with MS-13, a vicious Salvadorian-American gang.

His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S.

The Trump administration initially said his removal was a mistake. The Supreme Court then ordered the facilitation of his return.

But the Trump administration is standing firm.

In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia.

Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: 'How can I return him to the United States?

'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it.

'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.'

Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them.

'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said.
Social media influencers such as Andrew Tate are fuelling an increase in misogyny and sexism in schools, teachers believe.

Nearly three in five (59 per cent) teachers said they believe social media use has contributed to a deterioration in pupils' behaviour in schools, according to a poll by the National Association of Schoolmasters Union of Women Teachers (NASUWT).

The survey, of more than 5,800 union members, suggests that teachers think social media is the number one cause of negative pupil behaviour.

The findings have been released as part of NASUWT's annual conference in Liverpool this weekend.

In the survey, one teacher said: 'We had some incidents in school with derogatory language towards female staff (e.g. boys barking at female staff and blocking doorways so they couldn't leave the classroom), as a direct result of Andrew Tate videos.'

Another said: 'In an all-boys school, low socio-economic area, the "Andrew Tate" phenomena had a huge impact on how they interacted with females and males they did not see as "masculine".'

Influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate has 10.7million followers on social media platform X, expressing views including that women are the 'property' of men

Influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate has 10.7million followers on social media platform X, expressing views including that women are the 'property' of men

The survey, of more than 5,800 union members, suggests that teachers think social media is the number one cause of negative pupil behaviour

Andrew Tate (right) faces allegations of sexual assault in the UK and of human trafficking in Romania, which he denies

Influencer and self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew Tate has 10.7million followers on social media platform X, expressing views including that women are the 'property' of men.

He faces allegations of sexual assault in the UK and of human trafficking in Romania, which he denies.

Delegates at the conference will debate a motion which suggests far-Right and populist movements have shifted the recruitment of pupils on to social media, messaging and online gaming platforms.

The motion calls on the union's executive to work with teachers 'to assess the risk that far-Right and populist movements pose to young people' and with the Government to support teachers in 'challenging far-Right and populist narratives.'

A Department for Education spokesman said: 'We are supporting the sector in their crucial role building young people's resilience to extremism.'
A new poll has revealed Labor is pulling ahead in the election campaign as support for the Coalition and Peter Dutton plunges.

The Redbridge Group - Accent Research poll conducted between April 9 - 15 showed there has been a 9 per cent drop in the Coalition's primary vote over the last two months - from 43 per cent down to 34 per cent.

Over the same period Labor's primary vote has risen from 33 per cent to 35 per cent.

The Coalition's attacks on Labor over the cost of living appear to have missed the mark with 36 per cent of respondents agreeing Anthony Albanese and the Labor Party had the best election promises for them.

While only 26 per cent said Mr Dutton and the Coalition had the best election promises.

Another 10 per cent of voters said they were about the same, while the remaining said neither or they were not sure.

The poll looked at 20 marginal seats and of those surveyed, 42 per cent agreed that 'Peter Dutton will cut Medicare if he is elected', while 26 per cent disagreed.

On a two-party preferred basis, respondents in the seats polled sided with Labor at 54.5 per cent ahead of the Coalition at 45.5 per cent.

Anthony Albanese can afford a relaxing walk as new polls show Labor is pulling ahead (pictured with his fiance Jodie Haydon, Labor member for Bennelong Jerome Laxale, his partner Jo Taranto and dogs Toto and Toby at Lane Cove West)

Peter Dutton is feeling the heat as the LNP lags in the polls (pictured as he helped cook some snags at the Royal Easter Show on Saturday)

The poll also showed that 56 per cent of those surveyed agreed with the ALP's claim that the Coalition's nuclear plants will cost $600billion and Mr Dutton will need to make cuts to pay for them.

Australians will head to the polls on May 3, with Mr Albanese and Mr Dutton on Saturday both taking the opportunity to visit Sydney's Royal Easter Show.

According to The Australian, Mr Albanese's top strategists are of the opinion he can claim a majority government as multiple seats in NSW and Victoria appear to be moving in Labor's favour.

Polls show some 20 per cent of voters remain undecided, with the remaining two weeks of the election campaign crucial for both parties.

Principal at Accent Research Shaun Ratcliff said Australians were not buying into the Coalition's attack point that 'Australia is poorer, less safe and more divided because of Anthony Albanese'.

'While the majority of voters who already intend to give the Coalition their first preference agree with this, most others do not, and it also resonates less well with soft voters than those who have already locked in their vote,' he said.

'Something that should ring alarm bells in the Coalition campaign is that soft and leaning voters in particular are turning on the Liberal and National parties, and Peter Dutton, and warming to Albanese and Labor.'

Meanwhile, the latest YouGov poll released yesterday showed the Coalition tied with Labor for first preferences after its primary vote fell to 33 per cent.

Leader of the Opposition Peter Dutton and wife Kirilly at the Sikh Games Festival at The Crest Reserve in Bass Hill on Friday

Projected seats from YouGov, based on daily vote intention data

If the poll results were replicated at the May 3 election, the Coalition would receive its lowest share of primary votes since the Liberal Party was formed in 1944.

YouGov's director of public data Paul Smith said a miracle was need by the opposition with the election just two weeks away.

'This is a dramatic fall from the Coalition's position only a few weeks ago in February from being in the box seat to win the election,' he said.

'It would take a historic turnaround for the Coalition to win ... given voters are already receiving their postal votes and pre-poll starts on Tuesday.'
Joe Rogan recently revealed he has decided to make a huge change to his lifestyle by giving up alcohol - a move which follows in the footsteps of Donald Trump.

The president has famously steered clear of booze after witnessing first-hand the dangers of alcohol through his brother Fred Jr. who battled with addiction issues.

Rogan appears to have found his own reasons to join Trump as a teetotaler, admitting on a recent episode of his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience that he quit drinking a month ago due to concerns around its impact on his health.

The UFC host and former Fear Factor star delved into the topic during a recent episode featuring comedian Ron White who opened up about his experience with addiction, revealing that quit drinking four years ago.

White admitted that he didn't know Rogan had given up alcohol, and Rogan replied, 'Yeah, I think I'm done.'

He continued: 'For no reason other than it's not good for you. No, I didn't have to. I enjoyed it.'

White joked that he knew Rogan 'had a good time' with alcohol, and Rogan confessed that the 'days after' a night of drinking was 'just too rough.'

'And I'm like - what kind of a moron who takes such good care of his body is poisoning himself a couple of days a week for fun, ya know, why am I doing that?' he added.

Comedian and podcaster Joe Rogan, 57, revealed on a recent episode of his podcast that he decided to quit drinking alcohol

Rogan may be taking a page out of Trump's playbook who candidly spoke about his decision not to drink, citing his brother Fred's addiction issues as one of the reasons

Rogan then laughed and admitted that he 'has the same amount of fun' without alcohol.

White then poked fun at Rogan, noting that 'there's more than one way to skin a cat,' pointing out that they haven't quit every substance.

The two comedians also discussed ayahuasca, a psychoactive substance that can be found in the Amazon which White credits to have helped him abandon the booze.

Trump revealed last summer on Theo Von's podcast that his older brother Fred Jr. had warned him against substances before he died at the age of 42 from a heart attack caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

The president feared that if he drank he would develop an addiction like Fred.

While devastated to lose his sibling, Trump confessed that he was shocked his brother lived as long as he did.

'I just tell people, "It's so tragic," just don't drink, don't drink and you're not going to have a problem,' Trump told Von.

The death of Trump's older brother is one of the signal events in the president's life, and coincided with his own ultimate rise to take over his father's business.

In a candid interview with Theo Von during his presidential campaign, Trump confessed he was shocked his brother lived as long as he did while he battled alcoholism

The president has famously steered clear of booze after witnessing first-hand the dangers of alcohol through his brother Fred Jr. (pictured) who battled with addiction issues

Trump, who made a point not to drink and cites his brother's death as a reason, previously said he fears a genetic link to a condition that is increasingly being studied as a disease.

'Let's say I started drinking, it's very possible I wouldn't be talking to you right now,' Trump said. 'There is something about the genetic effect.'

Trump said Fred Jr. went to rehab several times, but it isn't clear he went to the kind of long-term program that has become common today.

'I dont think it was necessarily a stay-over rehab because he lived in the house [in Queens]. I dont remember it as being a stay-over. But I spent a lot of times with Fred,' Trump said.

'I used to ask, "Is it the taste, or what is it?" He didn't know what to say about it because, frankly, it was just something that he liked.'

The pair's decision not to drink aligns with a growing trend of giving up alcohol.

A 2024 Gallup Poll found that 45 percent of Americans believe drinking daily is bad for your health - a six percentage point increase from 2023.

Rogan has discussed health issues frequently on his show, including in an episode last fall when he had Doctors Casey and Calley Means on his show.

The doctors said that America was leading the world in cancers in young people and that early-onset dementia had tripled since 2012.

They also discussed the potential harm of consuming food with pesticides that are banned in Europe but allowed in the US.
Top Labour advisers are putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to ditch the party's ban on new North Sea oil and gas drilling.

A handful of senior officials are understood to be quietly urging the PM to consider watering down or scrapping the manifesto pledge altogether to see off the growing threat from Reform UK.

Government sources last night played down the idea, saying the ban was a 'very long-held manifesto position which we won an election on'.

A spokesman also said ministers 'stand by' the manifesto pledge and doubled down on the Government's target to turn Britain into 'a clean energy superpower'.

However, Reform is looking to weaponise the issue and become the new party for 'working people' in Labour's traditional heartlands.

Reform leader Nigel Farage used a rally in Durham this week ahead of next month's local elections to warn that his insurgent party was 'parking our tanks on the Red Wall lawn' and that it wants to 'reindustrialise' Britain by ditching Net Zero targets and breathing new life into traditional industries such as oil and gas.

This comes amid expectations that Secretary for Net Zero Ed Miliband will again be humiliated by the Prime Minister, who is set to approve the Scottish Rosebank and Jackdaw oil and gas fields developments.

Both were given the green light by the previous Tory government but were challenged in the courts by environmental campaigners.

Top Labour advisers are putting pressure on Sir Keir Starmer to ditch the party's ban on new North Sea oil and gas drilling

In its manifesto, Labour pledged to double onshore wind, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind by 2030 and bring the target for removing fossil fuels from UK electricity production forward to 2030

They were ruled unlawful by the Court of Session in Edinburgh on the grounds that the Government did not properly consider the environmental impacts.

However, ministers will carry out a new assessment and are expected to approve the developments as early as this summer, despite Mr Miliband describing the Rosebank oil project as 'climate vandalism'.

Yesterday, The Times writer Patrick Maguire used his column to claim there were 'tentative conversations' about whether to ditch the ban on issuing new drilling licences in the North Sea.

While one Government source dismissed the report as 'unsolicited gossip', others said they believed it to be accurate but that discussions were not at an advanced stage and was instead 'just chatter'.

In its manifesto, Labour pledged to double onshore wind, triple solar power and quadruple offshore wind by 2030 and bring the target for removing fossil fuels from UK electricity production forward to 2030.

Union leader for GMB Gary Smith had warned that Labour's Net Zero targets are 'bonkers', will 'decimate' working communities and push up bills for the country's poorest.

He also dismissed Government claims that shifting to renewables will create 650,000 jobs by the end of the decade, saying roles would mostly be created offshore in countries such as China, where Labour's renewables infrastructure is largely built.

Union leader for GMB Gary Smith (pictured) had warned that Labour's Net Zero targets are 'bonkers', will ' decimate' working communities and push up bills for the country's poorest

In his pitch to voters, Mr Farage also said: '[Miliband] is determined to cover our agricultural land in Chinese, slave labour-made [wind] farms, solar farms, and to despoil as much of our coastline as he possibly can.'

His party is projected to win hundreds of council seats, meaning pressure will grow on Sir Keir for a Net Zero U-turn.

A Government spokesman said: 'We stand by our manifesto commitment to manage existing fields for the duration of their lifespan and ensure a phased and responsible transition in the North Sea that will protect jobs and investment in the long-term.'
A manhunt is underway after a police vehicle was rammed and shots were fired during a pursuit of a stolen car through Sydneys Eastern Suburbs early on Saturday morning.

The incident began around 4am. when police started following a dark-coloured Audi A1 along Old South Head Road in Rose Bay, before the pursuit was called off due to the car's excessive speed.

Shortly after, the Audi was spotted parked in a dead-end lane on Sir Thomas Mitchell Road in Bondi.

When an officer approached the vehicle on foot, the Audi moved towards him, prompting police to fire six shots.

The police vehicle was then rammed by the Audi, which fled the scene. The vehicle was later found abandoned on Murriverie Road in North Bondi.

No police officers were injured in either incident.

The car, which had been stolen from Double Bay the previous night, has been taken in for forensic examination.

Police inquiries are ongoing to identify the driver, who remains on the run.

A manhunt is underway after a police vehicle was rammed and shots were fired following the pursuit of a stolen car through Sydney's Eastern Suburbs

Police confirmed the vehicle, which has been preserved for forensic investigaton, was stolen from Double Bay on Friday night

Residents of the beachside suburb took to social media in the early hours of Saturday morning, confirming they had heard gunshots.

One resident, Etienne, told The Saturday Telegraph the scene felt 'really like a movie'.

'I heard something like a bang at the end of the street or something, and I heard a police officer screaming, "get on the ground, get on the ground" and then there were five, six pops, which I recognised as being gunshots,' he said.

'I believe that I heard the car just rushing through, like, back to the other side of the street, and I looked at the window and there were, five or six car police arriving within the next 15 minutes.'

Anyone who may have been in the vicinity of Old South Head Road, Rose Bay, Sir Thomas Mitchell Road, and Murriverie Road, North Bondi, between 4am and 6.30am and has relevant information, CCTV or dashcam vision which may assist investigators, is urged to call Eastern Suburbs Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
It would be 'very foolish' for Britain to disengage with China, Rachel Reeves has said as she attempts to draw a line in the sand with the US over their treatment of Beijing.

The Chancellor told The Telegraph she wanted to look for a deeper partnership with China, rather than creating new barriers.

She added that she would be happy to ride in Chinese-made electric vehicles and has backed fast fashion brand Shein floating on the London stock market.

It comes amid calls to block Chinese companies from running vital industries, after Chinese company Jingye moved to close two blast furnaces in Scunthorpe.

Instead of pushing China away, Ms Reeves is now determined to build bridges following the row that erupted after the government took control of British Steel.

The move puts the Chancellor at odds with the United States and President Trump, ahead of a trip to Washington next week for talks on a US-UK trade deal.

This week, the President announced that China's retaliatory actions over tariffs would see the country face a 245 per cent tariff on imports to the US.

This includes a 125 per cent reciprocal tariff, a 20 per cent tariff to address the fentanyl crisis, and Section 301 tariffs on specific goods, between 7.5 per cent and 100 per cent.

Rachel Reeves has called for closer ties with Beijing, despite calls from the US for allies to limit dealings with China

The Chancellor's visit, during which she met Chinese vice-premier He Lifeng, is the first high-level economic meeting between Britain and China since 2019

Labour have pinned hopes on improving economic ties with Beijing as part of Ms Reeves' scramble to kickstart the UK economy

The Trump administration plans to use the threat of tariffs to pressure trading partners to limit dealings with China, The Wall Street Journal reported.

Washington is also pushing allies not to allow Chinese firms to relocate to avoid tariffs and not to absorb cheap Beijing-made industrial goods.

Earlier this year, Ms Reeves was accused of making Britain a 'laughing stock' securing a pitiful 600million from her visit to China.

The Tories said the Chancellor had 'come back with next to nothing' from her trip.

Ms Reeves was still celebrating the deal and the money which would be used to boost the British economy.

She added: 'I was in China earlier this year as part of an economic and financial dialogue. I had with me some of the biggest UK financial services firms, so HSBC, the London Stock Exchange Group, Standard Chartered, Prudential.

'Those sorts of arrangements are clearly in the UK national interest and that's how I will approach trade talks or financial dialogues with any country in the world.'

Since Labour took office, Ms Reeves alongside Ed Miliband, David Lammy and Douglas Alexander have all visited China.

Sir Keir became the first Prime Minister in years to hold a phone call with Chinese premier Xi Jinping shortly after he took office and it is understood a visit by the Labour leader could be on the cards in the future.

US President Donald Trump has imposed 245 per cent tariffs on China

Rachel Reeves is set to meet US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington next week

A meeting between the two countries in January in Beijing, where it was agreed that Ms Reeves will host He Lifeng, the Chinese vice-premier, in London.

Attempts by Shein to float on the UK stock market have led to controversy, amid allegations the use of forced labour in its supply chain, which the company denies.

The Chancellor said it is for the Financial Conduct Authority to decide, but added that she did want to welcome new listings onto the London Stock Exchange

Asked whether she would back a float if signed off by regulators, Ms Reeves added: 'We have lost business and we have lost companies in recent years and we're working closely with the London Stock Exchange to make the UK a more vibrant place to list.'

Ms Reeves also said she would happily ride in a Chinese-made electric car, despite concerns about the risk of spying from Beijing.

She pointed out that London taxis are currently produced in Britain by a Chinese company.

Ms Reeves did clarify however that Chinese investment would be blocked from areas of critical national infrastructure.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves visiting the British Steel site in Scunthorpe

Chinese fashion company Shein has been criticised for using forced labour in its supply chain

Earlier this week the Chinese embassy criticised MPs for their 'arrogance and twisted mindset' over the move.

Another potential problem is plans by China for a new 'super embassy' near the Tower of London. President XI has lobbied for planning approval, however concerns about national security have but the project in doubt.

Next week, the Chancellor will be in Washington to meet G20 finance ministers and will have a face-to-face meeting with US trade secretary Scott Bessent.

Ms Reeves said she was still pushing the US to remove the 10 per cent blanket tariff on UK goods imports in the deal, despite speculation to the contrary.
From treats shaped like giant pistachio nuts to eggs that taste like tiramisu, this year's range of Easter chocolate is more tempting than ever.

But if you haven't yet stocked up, fear not. Not only are the shops still full of seasonal chocolate, but we're so close to Easter Sunday that you'll find prices slashed.

From artisan chocolatiers to hidden gems in the supermarket, we round up the best chocolate to buy today

FOR A SWEET TOOTH

Jumbo Marshmallow Cookie Egg, 37.99, Cutter & Squidge, London

Filled with velvety marshmallow fluff, oozy salted caramel and milk chocolate ganache, this filled half egg from London bakery Cutter & Squidge is one of the most indulgent

Filled with velvety marshmallow fluff, oozy salted caramel and milk chocolate ganache, this filled half egg from London bakery Cutter & Squidge is one of the most indulgent.

Each handcrafted milk chocolate shell is topped with white and dark chocolate caramel-filled mini eggs and cornflake clusters.

Caramel, Pretzel and Honeycomb Milk Chocolate Egg, 7.98, Asda

This has topped many an Easter taste test  and for good reason.

Made from thick, salted caramel-flavour Belgian chocolate, it's studded with chunky honeycomb and crunchy pretzel pieces. With 2 off the previous price, it's a steal.

Yoghurt and Berries Breton Egg, 62.99, Melt Chocolates, London

This whopper is the most striking on the shelves with its navy and white stripes in a French 'Breton' style.

The egg is made from blueberry-flavoured dark chocolate and raspberry-and-yoghurt-flavoured white chocolate. A sleek centrepiece for your Easter table.

At 62.99, this egg is described as a 'sleek centrepiece for your Easter table'

BEST DARK CHOCOLATE

Cox&Co Cacao Bee Pollen and Honey Dark Chocolate Egg, 13.60, Jarrolds, Norfolk

Containing 60 per cent Colombian cacao, this is made from ethically sourced chocolate and comes in plastic-free packaging.

The egg is blended with honey and sprinkled with bee pollen  which tastes like a Crunchie. Other flavours include miso and caramel or blood-orange crunch.

Evening Star Rum and Raisin Egg, 29.50, Salcombe Dairy, Devon

Technically made from 'dark milk' chocolate, this showstopper comes from bean-to-bar chocolatier Salcombe Dairy, which has four locations in Devon. The egg is thick, not too sweet and dotted with booze-soaked raisins.

Dark Chocolate and Nut Flat Florentine Egg, 10, Waitrose

Part of this year's trend for flat half eggs, this is made from Waitrose's No 1 dark chocolate (65 per cent cocoa solids) and flecked with crunchy hazelnut praline.

BEST WHITE CHOCOLATE

Nibbly White Chocolate Egg, 22.95, Hotel Chocolate

The Nibbly White Chocolate Egg is made by Hotel Chocolate

A feast of creamy white chocolate. Made from 36 per cent cocoa solids, this egg is buttery and divine.

It comes with six mini strawberries-and-cream eggs which add a fruity zing. Nutty granola gives it a pleasing crunch.

Salted Blonde and Milk Chocolate Caramel Double Indulgence Egg, 11.99, Aldi

Aldi's Salted Blonde and Milk Chocolate Caramel Double Indulgence Egg is a hit on social media

This egg  a hit on social media  is a hidden treasure. It comes in two halves: one of thick blonde chocolate, which is biscuity and sweet; the other, made of smooth milk chocolate, oozes caramel.

Jenny the Sheep White Chocolate Egg, 18, Bettys, Yorkshire

With its white chocolate eggshell, hand-piped swirly chocolate fleece and dark chocolate face, this treat is made by chocolatier Jenny Mills, after whom it is named, and is inspired by the Yorkshire Dales.

The white chocolate is mellow rather than too sweet.

Made up north, the Jenny the Sheep White Chocolate Egg is on sale for 18 in Yorkshire

BEST FOR KIDS

Milk Chocolate Unicorn Egg, 3, Thorntons

The Milk Chocolate Unicorn Egg from Thorntons can be purchased for 3

Support British chocolatier Thorntons by buying this milk chocolate unicorn egg. Its velvety texture and creamy flavour give it a quality taste.

There are dinosaur and bunny versions available, too.

Bunny in the Bath, 12.50, La Chocolatrice, Durham

One of the more expensive offers, the Bunny in the Bath sells for 12.50

This half milk chocolate egg is filled with salted caramel fudge, marshmallows, buttery shortbread and rainbow sprinkles  plus a chocolate bunny soaking in all the sweetness. Slice and serve with ice cream.

Hot Cross Bun Chicken and Eggs Box, 11.95, Pump Street Chocolate, Suffolk

The Hot Cross Bun Chicken and Eggs Box is described as 'delightfully' spiced

Made from single-origin Ecuadorian chocolate with hot cross bun flavouring, this is delicately spiced and fruity and sits on four chocolate eggs.

The package is decorated with watercolour flowers.

BEST FOR VEGANS

Plant-Based Chocolate Earth Egg, 16.50, Chococo (shops in Swanage, Exeter, Winchester and Horsham)

The plant-based Chococo egg is sold at stores in Swanage, Exeter, Winchester and Horsham

Made from 43 per cent Colombian-origin oat milk chocolate, this egg comes in two halves, each packed with luxurious plant-based chocolate and studded with oat milk hearts and flowers.

Made Without Chickita the Chicken, 7, Marks & Spencer

Made by Marks & Spencer, this egg is part of the store's vegan Easter range

Part of the supermarket's vegan Easter range, this fun chocolate chick tastes like Lindt's bunnies  but without the dairy, using cocoa butter instead.

You could try Charlie the Bunny or Lucy the Lamb, too.

Beehive Yourself Dark Chocolate Honeycomb Egg, 10.50, Montezuma's (shops in Chichester, Winchester, Guildford and Oxford)

Crafted from high-quality dark chocolate (70 per cent cocoa solids), you'll find golden nuggets of honeycomb inside.

A portion of every sale goes to the Bumblebee Conservation Trust, and there's a sunflower seed-growing kit inside.

You can pick up this honeycomb treat in Chichester, Winchester, Guildford and Oxford

BEST TO GIVE AS GIFTS

Chocolate Greenfinch Bird Eggs Filled With Smooth Praline, 14, Daylesford Organic, Oxfordshire

This punnet of 12 tiny speckled 'bird' eggs, which look real, would make a special gift. The crisp sugar shells contain velvety chocolate and a hazelnut praline centre. For ornithologists, there are also yellowhammer and common reed bunting versions.

Caramel Chocolate Filled Easter Egg, from 22.50, Hill St (shops in Saffron Walden and Cambridge)

Decorated with edible ladybirds and daisies, this comes in three sizes, each filled with ganache and caramel mini eggs, honey fingers and chocolate shapes.

Monty Bojangles Taste Adventures Easter Egg Gift Tin, 8.50, Sainsbury's

A pink tin contains a hollow milk chocolate egg and six cocoa-dusted truffles. The flavours are unusual but delicious: a combination of dark chocolate ganache, butterscotch and raspberry.

BEST FOR SHARING

Extra-Thick Patisserie Easter Egg, 34.95, Hotel Chocolate

This mega treat is the ultimate Easter sharing platter for chocoholics. The egg is half brownie-inspired pecan milk chocolate and salted caramel milk chocolate with a hint of cheesecake  a sensational combination. Inside there are patisserie-inspired chocolates in miniature.

Maxi Pistachio Chocolate Egg Box, 9.90, Eataly, London

This box of six mini eggs  imported from Italy in a realistic-looking carton  is inspired by the viral trend for Dubai chocolate. Each one has a chocolate shell bursting with pistachio cream.

Dulce de Leche Eggs, 16.95, Rumsey's Handmade Chocolates (shops in Thame and Wendover)

Quail-egg sized and encased in foil, these little chocolate eggs feel like a real treat. Comprising milk, dark, white and golden caramel chocolate shells, they're filled with delicious dulce de leche  thick, toffee-like caramel.
A one kilometre stretch of road may hold the secret to solving a mother-of-two's alleged murder, but police remain at an impasse despite reviewing more than 1000 hours of CCTV.

Authorities are renewing their appeal for information after 49-year-old Crystal Beale was found dead in the Brisbane River on February 22, as they release new CCTV footage showing her final hours.

She had left a family dinner at Sunnybank about 8.30pm the night before and was travelling with her son and former partner in a car to an Annerley address before continuing with the partner to Ryan Street in West End in Brisbane's inner south.

The last known footage of Ms Beale, dressed in a white dress and beige sandals, shows her at the Sunnybank restaurant.

Ms Beale's last confirmed sighting was by her former partner when she left the car at 9.30pm on Ryan Street.

Subsequent police investigations located one of Ms Beale's sandals in shrubbery on Ryan Street and several personal items at Orleigh Park near the Brisbane River

But the short distance between where she was last seen to where her items were found has left investigators scratching their heads.

Detectives have scoured through more than 1000 hours of CCTV footage and interviewed her former partner, family and friends, Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts.

'The piece of the puzzle we are trying to understand is how Crystal got from Ryan Street into the Brisbane River,' Det Insp Watts said.

Crystal Beale's belonging were found a kilometre from where she was last seen by her former partner

Police are appealing for witnesses or CCTV footage of Crystal Beale walking from her last location

'If Crystal had taken this route on foot, part of her journey should have been captured on CCTV, but we are yet to receive any eyewitness accounts or CCTV footage to confirm this.

'We don't know what's happened to her from that moment onwards.'

The detective inspector said there had been other people near the boat ramp and the Orleigh Park dog area, and it would have been unusual if no one had sighted her.

He stressed that those people were not suspects and encouraged them to come forward with any information.

'It may be that piece that we really need to pull this case together,' he said.

Police initially thought Ms Beale's death was not suspicious after her body was discovered by a rower in the early hours of February 22.

Detective Acting Inspector Rod Watts (pictured). Despite exhaustive inquiries, police remain in the dark about the final moments of Crystal Beales life

But a homicide investigation was launched following further investigations and a post-mortem.

Ms Beale is believed to have been in the water for about six hours.

Ms Beale was wearing a long, slim-fitting white dress with a brown leather shoulder satchel across her body before she went missing.

She is described as Caucasian in appearance, slim build, about 165cm tall, with long brown hair.

Her two children, aged 22 and 15, were struggling with their mother's traumatic death, and police have been combing through evidence for two months to solve the case and give her family closure.

'She was a well-loved mother in the Sunshine Coast community,' Det Insp Watt said.

'There is no reason why she has been a victim of an attack if, in fact, it is an attack.'
A Pennsylvania state senator has been slammed for asking a sixth-grade girl a question about pornography in what was supposed to be a test of her knowledge about civics.

David Argall, a Republican state senator since 2009, was one of the judges at the National Civics Bee competition at Penn State Schuylkill in Schuylkill Haven on Wednesday.

Students from sixth to eighth grade submitted essays on civics topics they cared about, while also explaining how they'd improve their community. The essays of the finalists were to be questioned by the judges.

Mary, a sixth grader, presented her essay about the danger of book bans, particularly when they target works with diverse views or characters from marginalized communities, PennLive reported.

Mary's mother, Erin Anderson, told the outlet that at one point, Argall asked her daughter, 'Do you think we should allow pornographic magazines in Kindergarten classrooms?'

'Mary looked confused and had to ask, "What does that mean?" Instead of rephrasing or redirecting the question, the senator explained to her, in front of the entire audience, that it meant "naked pictures of people in books and magazines,"' Anderson said.

In a now-deleted Facebook post, Anderson unloaded on Argall for asking her daughter a question that 'has no place at the Civics Bee.'

'I am further appalled and furious that I now have to explain pornography to my 4th grader who was there to cheer on her sister,' she wrote, according to WHTM.

Pennsylvania David Argall has been dragged for asking a sixth-grade girl competing in a civics bee about whether pornography should be handed out to kindergartners

Students from sixth to eighth grade submitted essays on civics topics they cared about, while also explaining how they'd improve their community

The reaction to Argall's porn question was swift and unforgiving, with critics calling him 'disgusting,' and 'a freak.'

'Lets be clear. You asked a 6th grade girl if it was appropriate to give pornographic magazines to a kindergartener. And this little girl had to ask you what that meant. And you told her,' one person said.

'Something really broken within these men that makes them think there is nothing wrong with doing this,' one person wrote on X.

'Not surprised. Im in Crawford County. You would not believe the things our electeds say to and about kids,' another said.

'Under no circumstances would your question have been appropriate,' vented one more.

Argall circulated a statement on the controversy to numerous media outlets and apologized to 'the young lady' he asked about porn.

'During last nights local round of the National Civics Bee, I posed a question as a volunteer judge to a participant that was not age-appropriate for this setting,' he said.

'I apologize to the young lady, her family, and all the participants who worked hard to get to this point, with excellent presentations by the students who submitted entries on book bans and many other important subjects.'

The state senator paired his apology with a defense of why he made porn his analogy of choice when it came to book bans.

'I was attempting to ask if some books and magazines are not appropriate for some age groups, a subject which has received considerable attention in the General Assembly in recent years,' he said.

'In hindsight, my obvious mistake was in citing an example that was itself not appropriate for this age group, a mistake which I will not make again.'

Anderson recalled that Argall didn't seem angry with her daughter while she was on stage but said that in her opinion, he was making a point that was wholly unrelated to Mary's essay.

'It felt like an attempt to undermine or discredit the ideas she had just presented  at the expense of a 12-year-old child on stage,' she said.

The ideas she presented were 'writing letters, partnering with librarians, and meeting with local leaders to raise awareness and protect access to literature in public and school libraries,' Anderson said.

Anderson said she was sitting with her husband, her younger daughter and Mary's grandmother when the question no one expected flew out of the state senator's mouth.

'We all looked at each other in disbelief,' she told PennLive. 'I couldnt believe that a state senator would ask that kind of question to a child in a public setting.'

'It was not only off-topic, but deeply inappropriate. Mary didnt even know what the word meant and had to ask, which made it even more upsetting when he chose to explain it instead of pivoting.'

Anderson said the room erupted into a mixture of gasps and yells, but no one interrupted. She believes people were too caught off guard and stunned to do so.

Anderson said she approached Argall after the event, and she claimed he defended his stance. She said he told her, 'the topics were one and the same.'

The Civics Bee where Argall asked the controversial question took place in an auditorium at Penn State Schuylkill

Argall didn't apologize to her or her daughter at that time, according to Anderson.

'I let him know I was very displeased that this was said to not only my 12-year-old, but that I also would have to explain this to my nine year old now as well,' she said.

'Senator Argall should know the law  it is already illegal to expose children to pornography, and it has nothing to do with the nuanced, thoughtful points Mary was making about censorship and representation,' she added.

Anderson believes Argall abused his power and should step down from his seat in the Pennsylvania Senate. Anderson mentioned that she herself is represented by Argall.

'If a public official cannot exercise good judgment and basic appropriateness when speaking to children, especially in a civic education setting, then it raises serious concerns about their ability to serve,' she said.
A coward who catcalled a mom from his vehicle was so furious she rejected his offensive advances that he opened fire and killed her.

James Johnson, 43, now faces life in prison after being found guilty this month of the murder of Nikki Loffredo, 42, in Des Moines, Iowa.

Loffredo was walking alone on the street in the early hours of a July 2024 morning when Johnson slowed down and yelled at her from his car.

He screamed at her from his GMC Yukon to 'come get high,' and Loffredo fired back, 'Who are you?' before yelling a profanity at him.

Johnson then shot at her multiple times, and Loffredo sustained wounds to both her thighs.

One of the bullets hit a critical artery, and she suffered extreme blood loss. She succumbed to her injuries a few days later in a local medical center from complications of a gunshot wound.

Before her death, Loffredo described her killer and his vehicle to investigators. Police pinned Johnson to her murder within hours.

Investigators also discovered horrific text messages where Johnson admitted to his girlfriend that he 'popped' someone.

Nikki Loffredo, 42, (pictured) died after sustaining gunshot wounds to her thighs last summer. Her killer shot her after she denied his request to 'get high' (picture credit: Facebook)

James Johnson, 43, was found guilty of first-degree murder for shooting Loffredo after she yelled at him for catcalling her on the street

Johnson was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm, which he had illegally.

Investigators learned that the murder weapon had his DNA on it, and a friend of Johnson's had pawned it for him.

After a weeks-long trial, Johnson was convicted on first-degree murder charges on April 9, the Polk County Attorney's Office confirmed.

During the trial, prosecutors argued that Johnson had gone out that night intending to use his gun against an unsuspecting individual.

'He was trolling the neighborhood looking for a reason to use that gun,' prosecutor Levi Groove said in his opening statement.

Groove argued that Loffredo was 'an innocent woman in the wrong place at the wrong time.'

The jury watched surveillance footage revealing the tragic moments when Johnson pulled up to Loffredo on the street and unloaded his gun.

He could be seen circling the area before pausing to catcall Loffredo. Jurors watched the horrifying footage of her falling to the ground after he unleashed the bullets.

Johnson's attorneys acknowledged that he had committed the crime, but argued that he didn't mean to kill her.

Loffredo had a daughter and two nephews. She was described in her obituary as 'kind and compassionate'

Johnson claimed that he meant to shoot the sidewalk and opened fire because he 'felt disrespected' after Loffredo denied his offensive advances

Johnson was the defense's sole witness and testified that he used marijuana and cocaine and had been smoking the night of Loffredo's death.

After an argument with his girlfriend, Johnson said he left his home to drive around the neighborhood.

Johnson said that when Loffredo yelled back at him it 'pissed' him off and he 'felt disrespected.'

He claimed that he meant to aim his gun at the sidewalk to scare Loffredo and didn't intend to shoot her.

'I never wanted to be responsible for something like that,' he said while crying.

'I feel bad, I feel terrible. I didn't mean to hurt her, I certainly didn't mean to kill her,' Johnson added.

Loffredo's friends praised her heart and opened up about the shock of her death in an interview with local news

Meanwhile, Loffredo's friends and family have been left to mourn her loss after her tragic death.

'Nikki had a huge heart, was very kind and compassionate, and was always willing to help anyone in need,' she was described in her obituary.

Loffredo was a mom to a daughter named Gia Marie and had two nephews whom she 'loved to spoil.'

Her roommate and friend, Austin Collins, told local CBS affiliate, KCCI, that Loffredo was a 'good loving-hearted person.'

'What was done was wrong,' he added. 'It took a life that shouldn't have been taken.'

'It's hard for me to even understand,' her friend, Dan Chutnicutt, told KCCI.

'It's hard for me to have a feeling about what I want or what I'd like to see done, but I feel like there's more to the story,' Chutnicutt added.

Johnson's sentencing is scheduled for June 20, where he could face up to life in prison for the crime.
A Tucson man's life was tragically cut short after a hatchet-wielding maniac randomly attacked him as he waited at a bus stop with his wife.

Jacob Couch, 32, was sitting with his wife, Kristen, around 10am on April 5 when Daniel Michael, 25, began yelling at them, according to court records.

Jacob attempted to say something to the attacker before he produced the hatchet and struck the father-of-two on the back of the neck, severing his carotid artery.

His distraught wife Kristen told KGUN 9: 'I told the man we were leaving, and I guess my husband bent down to get our stuff and he just came up behind him and just walked away... It was very traumatic, and there was a lot of blood.'

The couple, married 11 years, had been waiting for a bus to take them back to their hometown of hometown of Arab, Alabama. After spending 10 months in Los Angeles and still dealing with the grief of losing their son, they were ready to go home.

'He was stillborn,' Kristen said. 'You know, we felt like maybe, like moving, like, going somewhere different like would help us like grieve, but it didn't. And that's why we were coming home.'

Instead, Kristen has to now grieve the loss of both her son and her husband, who on Thursday died from his injuries after spending two weeks on life support. Jacob now also leaves behind two daughters, one who is 15 years old.

Police had already arrested suspect Michael at his apartment three days after the deranged attack. Michael now faces first degree murder charges.

Jacob Couch (pictured next to his wife of 11 years, Kristen) was hit in the back of the neck with a hatchet by a maniac on the street while they he and Kristen were waiting for a bus in Tucson to take them home to Alabama

Daniel Michael, 25, was arrested three days after the April 5 attack after police found a hatchet and clothes matching the description of the ones worn by Jacob's attacker

If convicted, Michael could receive the death penalty, as Arizona does allow capital punishment. He is currently being held on a $1 million bond, which could also go up now that his charges have been upgraded.

Jacob's sister-in-law Erica Sims confirmed he died at 8.58pm because his heart gave out, KGUN 9 reported. He had also developed pneumonia.

Residents of Tucson prayed together outside Banner  University Medical Center Tucson, where Jacob was fighting for his life, at around 7pm the day he died.

Luke Couch, Jacob's brother, was overwhelmed with all the community support.

'Just for a minute, I looked around and just to see all these people who have different lives, different jobs and they took the time out of their day to come out here and there,' he said. 'It's just amazing. Just, I'm at a loss for words.'

Kristen said she's received clothing, food, money and gift cards from various Tucsonans.

Luke also expressed guilt that he wasn't able to protect his brother.

'It hurts knowing that I couldn't be there to protect him because he protected me for my whole life,' he said.

In one heartbreaking post, Kristen wrote: 'Forever and for always'

Kristen and Luke Couch are trying to spread stories about Jacob's kind and giving nature in the wake of his tragic passing

Kristen said that one Christmas, Jacob took it upon himself to go out and hand $100 bills to homeless people

Sims also set up a GoFundMe to raise money in the wake of the tragedy. In just under two weeks, people have donated more than $70,000 to the family.

Investigators executed a search warrant on Michael's home three days after he allegedly attacked Jacob.

They reportedly found a hatchet and articles of clothing that matched what was worn during the attack.

Michael initially denied involvement but crumbled when he was shown surveillance video of the incident, according to police records.

He later told detectives that he had been drinking heavily and didn't remember much from that day. Then, he changed his story, saying he did recall confronting Jacob because he thought he was using drugs, according to police.

Michael said Jacob reached into his back pocket, which caused him to pull out the hatchet and swing it at his neck, police records show. He then admitted to walking away, police said.

Kristen and Luke Couch are trying to spread stories about Jacob's kind and giving nature.

Kristen said that one Christmas, Jacob took it upon himself to go out and hand $100 bills to homeless people.

'Just stuff like that made him happy,' she said. 'We're just both kind, very down-to-earth, nonconfrontational people.'

'He was such a sweet soul, such a good brother, such a good father and such a good husband,' Luke said. 'He didn't deserve this.'

Michael is due to appear in court later this month.
Russia has filed criminal charges against Australian man Oscar Jenkins, four months after he was captured by Vladimir Putin's forces while fighting for Ukraine.

Mr Jenkins, 32, a teacher from Melbourne, had travelled to the war zone and was serving with Ukraine's military when he was detained by Russian soldiers in December last year.

In a statement issued on Friday, Russian authorities confirmed Mr Jenkins would be tried for his alleged role with Ukrainian forces.

'The Prosecutor's Office of the Lugansk People's Republic approved the indictment in the criminal case against 33-year-old citizen of the Commonwealth of Australia Oscar Charles Augustus Jenkins,' Russian authorities said.

Mr Jenkins is accused of entering Ukraine in February 2024 and engaging in combat against Russian forces from March to December, during which he allegedly received monthly payments ranging from $11,000 to $15,000, according to the indictment cited by local media.

Once the indictment was signed off, the case was escalated to the Supreme Court of the Lugansk People's Republic.

If found guilty, Mr Jenkins could be jailed for up to 15 years.

'A citizen of Australia, on his own initiative, in order to receive material remuneration, arrived on the territory of Ukraine to participate as a mercenary in an armed conflict with the Russian Federation on the side of enemy troops,' local Russian authorities allege.

Oscar Jenkins, 32, faces up to 15 years in prison after allegedly fighting against Russian forces in Ukraine

Jenkins, a teacher from Melbourne, was captured in December 2024 while serving in Ukraine's military

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the Australian government would continue to push for Mr Jenkins' release.

'We'll continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin on behalf of Mr Jenkins,' Mr Albanese said.

'We will stand up and use whatever avenues we have at our disposal to continue to make those representations.'

Last month, British citizen James Scott Rhys Anderson was sentenced to 19 years in prison by a Russian court for fighting for Ukraine, after being captured in November in the Kursk region.

He was convicted on charges of terrorism and 'mercenary activities'.

Unlike prisoners of war, who are protected under the Geneva Convention, foreigners fighting for Ukraine are labeled 'mercenaries' by Moscow and can be prosecuted under Russian law.

The Albanese Government has renewed calls for Oscar Jenkins (pictured) to be released from Russian captivity

Russian authorities claim Jenkins received monthly payments of $11,000 to $15,000 for his involvement in combat

Government officials had 'grave concerns' for Mr Jenkins earlier this year following unconfirmed reports he had been executed, only for him to be reported as alive in Russian captivity a fortnight later.

That footage showed Mr Jenkins dressed in a heavy coat, beanie and army gear, answering questions - believed to be from a Russian captor.

He was asked to confirm his identity and the date in English, claiming it was January 17, 2025.

'Tell us about your health condition, about your mood. Are you okay?' the man filming asked.

'I would like more freedom,' Jenkins replied.

'I feel a bit weak. I've lost a lot of weight. I have a broken arm still, I think, and my hand is not good.'

The man behind the camera said Mr Jenkins was a prisoner of war from the 66th Mechanised Brigade of the armed forces of Ukraine.

'You are alive, so the information about your death is not right?' the cameraman asked.

'Correct,' Mr Jenkins answered.

In February, footage emerged that appeared to show Russian soldiers performing medical tests on Mr Jenkins' emaciated body and joking that he is 'not dead'.

The Russian jokes that Mr Jenkins' blood pressure would be 'zero' if he was dead, according to a translation by the ABC.

He was then instructed to remove his beanie.

'Everything is okay. He is alive and I think he will [be] better,' the cameraman said.

News of his prisoner status first made headlines in December after footage emerged of the Australian being paraded in front of a Russian soldier.

Mr Jenkins at the time told the camera he'd been fighting with Ukrainian forces in the Donbas region.
The Supreme Court has temporarily blocked Donald Trump from deporting alleged Venezuelan gangsters being held in Texas.

In a brief order made in the early hours of Saturday, the court directed the Trump administration not to remove the Venezuelans held in the Bluebonnet Detention Center 'until further order of this court.'

Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented.

The high court acted in an emergency appeal from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) contending that immigration authorities appeared to be moving to restart removals under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798.

The Supreme Court said earlier this month that deportations could proceed only if those about to be removed had a chance to argue their case in court and were given 'a reasonable time' to contest their pending removals.

The last-minute order came as the alleged thugs were recently moved to the detention center in Anson, around 200 miles north of the Mexico border, sparking panic from their lawyers.

Trump is trying to deport the alleged gangsters under the 18th century Alien Enemies Act which allows the president to deport enemies in times of war. It has only been used a few times in history and was last wielded against Japanese prisoners in WWII.

The Supreme Court's early hours order is the latest setback for Trump who was cautioned by Chief Justice John Roberts in a highly unusual intervention last month.

In a major setback for the Trump administration, the Supreme Court blocked all deportations of alleged Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798

Two conservative justices, Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito, dissented against the majority

Roberts, a conservative, warned Trump against threatening judges with impeachment after the president launched public attacks against James Boasberg.

Judge Boasberg had ordered halts on deportation flights of Venezuelans bound for El Salvador.

The latest dispute centers on dozens of Venezuelans held in Texas.

Lawyers for the ACLU filed urgent requests on Friday in multiple courts, including the Supreme Court, urging immediate action after reporting that some of the men had already been loaded onto buses and were told they were to be deported.

The ACLU said the rapid developments were not affording the men the a realistic opportunity to contest their removal as the Supreme Court had required.

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

During a hearing on Friday, a government lawyer said he was unaware of plans by the Department of Homeland Security to deport the men on Friday but there could be deportations on Saturday.

'I've spoken with DHS. They are not aware of any current plans for flights tomorrow but I have also been told to say they reserve the right to remove people tomorrow,' Justice Department attorney Drew Ensign told a district court in a separate but related case.

Tren de Aragua gangsters taking over a an apartment complex in Aurora, Colorado, last year. The notorious case was highlighted by Trump throughout his successful presidential campaign

Elected last year on a promise to crack down on migrants, Trump invoked the 1798 Alien Enemies Act in an attempt to swiftly deport accused members of Tren de Aragua, a criminal gang that his administration labels a terrorist group.

The president and his senior aides have asserted their executive power grants them wide authority on immigration matters, testing the balance of power between branches of government.

Trump scored one victory on Friday when an appeals court put on hold a threat by judge Boasberg of contempt charges.

Boasberg also denied an ACLU request to block Trump from deporting suspected members of Tren de Aragua, citing an April 7 Supreme Court ruling that allowed Trump to use the Alien Enemies Act, albeit with certain limits.

Boasberg said he was concerned the government would deport additional people as soon as Saturday but that, 'At this point I just don't think I have the power to do anything about it.'

While one hearing played out in Boasberg's court, the ACLU worked on a separate track to halt the deportations of Venezuelans held in Texas.

ACLU lawyers filed with the Supreme Court after failing to get a rapid response from earlier filings on Friday before U.S. District Judge James Hendrix in Abilene, Texas, and the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans to block any such deportations.

The ACLU said the men had been handed forms indicating they were classified as members of Tren de Aragua.

Inmates look on inside a jail during a media tour at the Terrorism Confinement Center (CECOT) prison, in Tecoluca, El Salvador April 4

At issue is whether the Trump administration has fulfilled the Supreme Court's standard for providing the detainees due process before sending them to another country - possibly to the notorious prison in El Salvador where others are jailed.

It was unclear on Friday how many people were potentially to be deported, and where they might be taken.

Their deportation would be the first since the Supreme Court's 5-4 ruling that allowed removals under the 1798 Act while specifying that 'the notice must be afforded within a reasonable time and in such a manner as will allow them to actually seek habeas relief in the proper venue before such removal occurs.'

Habeas corpus relief refers to the right of detainees to challenge the legality of their detention. It is considered a bedrock right under U.S. law.

The Supreme Court did not indicate how much notice should be provided. Lawyers around the country have asked that the migrants be given 30 days' notice to allow them to contest their deportations. The Trump administration has not said publicly how much notice it intends to give the migrants.

The ACLU filed a photo of one of the notices with the court.

'You have been determined to be an Alien Enemy subject to apprehension, restraint, and removal,' read the notice. The recipient's name was obscured, and it was noted that the migrant refused to sign it on April 18.

Asked about the planned deportations on Friday, Trump said he was unfamiliar with the particular case but added: 'If they're bad people, I would certainly authorize it.'

'That's why I was elected. A judge wasn't elected,' he told reporters at the White House.

Defense lawyers and Democrats in Congress have pressed the administration to demonstrate how it knows the Venezuelans are members of the gang, which is active in human trafficking and other crimes in South America but has a smaller U.S. presence.

'We are not going to reveal the details of counter terrorism operations, but we are complying with the Supreme Court's ruling,' Assistant Secretary for U.S. Homeland Security Tricia McLaughlin said in a statement on Friday.

On March 15, the Trump administration deported more than 130 alleged Tren de Aragua members to El Salvador. Many of the migrants' lawyers and family members say they were not gang members and had no chance to dispute the government's assertion that they were.
A TV personality has slammed the more than $9 cost of a cup of coffee at a Melbourne cafe, causing patrons to question the case for a public holiday surcharge.

Former Married at First Sight (MAFS) star and entrepreneur Samuel Levi started a lively debate over the surcharge when he posted an image of his $9.36 coffee order on Saturday morning.

He told Daily Mail Australia he purchased the coffee from Al Naturale, a popular cafe in St Kilda, in inner Melbourne.

The extra large coffee cost $8.00 alone, with an additional $0.16 for paying by card and a $1.20 public holiday surcharge.

'I didn't realise until after the order was placed and I sat down waiting for it,' he said.

'I mean, business is business and that I totally understand... With the economy we are in.

'But to pay nearly $10 for a cup of coffee, nothing else, and with no extras I must say, is a little bit of a WTF moment.'

Alongside the Instagram post, Levi wrote: 'Curious... Would you pay this much for a coffee?'

Former MAFS star Samuel Levi said realising he had paid nearly $10 for the coffee was 'a little bit of a WTF moment'

The TV personality posted an image of his outrageously expensive coffee receipt to Instagram on Saturday morning

'I mean, Melbourne coffee is great - but not this great.

'Today's not even a 'public holiday' either?'

The post was quickly inundated with comments as a number of his more than 100,000 followers agreed public holiday surcharges should be reserved for weekdays.

'Saturday and Sunday are not public holidays so they can't charge a 'public holiday' surcharge on those days,' one person wrote.

'They can charge a surcharge for any other reason however but because it is saying public holiday they are breaking the law.'

In reality, Business Victoria designated Saturday April 19 as a public holiday, along with the rest of the Easter long weekend.

While the surcharge may be legal, it certainly does not enjoy unanimous support among Australian consumers.

New research from point of sale platform Lightspeed found only 52 per cent of consumers found public holiday surcharges 'acceptable'.

Australians will spend $94.8million in public holiday surcharges over long weekends in April, according to research from Money.com.au

There is no legal limit on the amount businesses can charge as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission only requires it is clearly displayed on menus.

Research from Money.com.au estimated Australians will spend an extra $94.8million in public holiday surcharges this month alone.

Surcharge aside, Levi's $8.00 coffee price tag is certainly above average.

A survey conducted by the University of South Australia found the average price of a small takeaway flat white at specialty venues in capital cities was $4.78 in March, 2024.

Even without the additional $1.50 for making it an extra large, the coffee would have been well above average at $6.50.

Not to mention Levi was required to pay $1 for specialty milk he did not ask for.

'No syrup here or anything extra. Just a XL coffee at a coffee shop that doesnt allow you to do any milk alternatives apart from the one they supply,' he wrote.

Levi described the St Kilda cafe as 'beautiful' but said the hefty price was: 'Maybe something to think of when it comes to todays expectations for customers and consumers.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Al Naturale Cafe for comment.
Prince Harry and Meghan are in a 'crisis' as she has not achieved 'the status she craves', royal author warns.

British writer and former BBC journalist, Tom Bower has claimed he will reveal further bombshells about the couple in an upcoming book about the Sussexes'.

The author released his first book about the pair, 'Revenge: Meghan, Harry and the War Between Windsors' in 2022.

Discussing his 'new material' on the royal couple, he alleged the duo were constantly fighting for themselves, describing them as 'relentless' and 'restless'.

Now, he has revealed the pair are in 'a crisis' as Meghan desires to be a 'billionaire celebrity', while Harry has no understanding of the world of fame.

Detailing how the Prince has never had to worry about having a job or a car, Mr Bower claims Harry doesn't comprehend Meghan's perspective.

'He doesn't understand where she's coming from, which is that she worked phenomenally hard, struggled hard, and was constantly humiliated, and wants the security of finance and status,' Mr Bower told The Mirror.

'She hasn't got the status she craves, she hasn't got the pulling power. He's stuck in California clinging on to his royal status, as is she.

Prince Harry and Meghan are in a 'crisis' as she has not achieved 'the status she craves', royal author Tom Bower warns

Duke of Sussex for his appeal against a High Court ruling on his legal claim against the Home Office over the level of security he receives while he is in the UK on April 9, 2025

Bower claimed reconciliation between Harry and his family was 'totally unrealistic', adding: 'There is zero chance of reconciliation because there is irreconcilable anger on the part of William and Kate.'

The royal author also alleged that while the pair had been 'wounded', they continue to fight back, with their desire for survival continuing to grow.

MailOnline has approached Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's representatives for comment.

It comes after court documents revealed, Harry requested police protection after a threat was made against him by Al Qaeda.

Last week, his lawyer told a public hearing that the terror group had called for him to murdered after his tax-payer funded security arrangements were downgraded.

While several hours of the hearing were made public, part of the evidence was heard behind closed doors, with a summary released on Thursday.

It stated: The appellant confirmed that he had requested certain protection after a threat was made against him by al Qaeda.

Harry, 40, travelled from his home in Montecito, California, to attend the two-day hearing in London to challenge the decision to remove his automatic right to security when in the UK.

'There is zero chance of reconciliation because there is irreconcilable anger on the part of William and Kate,' Bower said of reconciliation between Harry and his family (Pictured: Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle at Windsor Castle)

Prince Harry and Prince William Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Windsor in 2018

His barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, said in a written submission to the court that Harrys security team were informed the terrorist group had published a document which stated his assassination would please the Muslim community.

An exact date for Al Qaedas assassination threat was not revealed in Harrys legal submission.

But in 2023 it was reported that he received death threats when he wrote in his tell-all autobiography Spare about killing 25 Taliban fighters while fighting in Afghanistan, comparing the victims to chess pieces.

He has appealed the decision to downgrade his security arrangements, which were changed in February 2020 after he and wife Meghan stopped being working royals.

The newly released court documents also revealed the princes claims his bespoke security arrangements were inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective.

It said: Since he stepped back in February 2020, the Appellant has still not been provided with a RMB [risk management board] analysis.

The protective security that until 2020 had been applied to him has changed and is inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective.

The Duke and his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, reportedly believed that establishing a happy life of their own would help thaw relations with the Royal Family.

The couple saw the removal of their police protection as a way of trying to strong arm them into returning to the UK - since they felt that without security, visiting Britain would paint a target on their back.

Dr Sophie Chandauka, pictured with Meghan and Harry at a polo event last year that sparked a row. A year on the trio have fallen out and the Duke of Sussex resigned from Sentebale

Prince Seeiso of Lesotho and Prince Harry at a children's centre in Lesotho in October 2024

Harry took the decision to take legal action against the Government to have his official security reinstated.

The Duke said that the case was even more significant than his legal battles against the tabloid press that he once called his 'life's work'.

Last month, Harry also stepped down from his Sentable charity, which was founded in honour of his mother, Diana the Princess of Wales, in 2006, with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho to help young people and children in southern Africa.

Harry last visited Lesotho in October 2024 but it was his first in six years. He had jetted over more frequently beforehand - making four trips between June 2010 and the end of 2015.
A private hospital group has launched an investigation into an acclaimed surgeon who trampled an MP's campaign sign in the tense run-up to the federal election.

Footage circulated this week on social media showed Melbourne-based Professor Greg Malham binning the board of teal Kooyong member Dr Monique Ryan and telling viewers to 'bury the body'.

Private hospital group Epworth HealthCare, with whom Professor Malham works at the Richmond branch, said they were launching an investigation on Saturday.

'Epworth HealthCare is deeply concerned by the unacceptable behaviour displayed by surgeon Professor Greg Malham in a video on social media,' the group's chief executive, Professor Andrew Stripp, told Daily Mail Australia.

'[The group] requested an explanation from Prof. Malham about the incident.

'As a result of those initial enquiries Epworth decided to commission an independent investigation to provide advice on appropriate action to be taken in this serious matter.'

Professor Malham has agreed to fully co-operate with the independent investigation. He has also agreed to take leave while the inquiries are made.

'He has advised Epworth he has self-reported to the Australian Health Practitioners Regulation Agency and will be fully accountable for his behaviour,' Professor Stripp said.

In the recording, the senior spinal neurosurgeon placed Dr Monique Ryan's campaign sign in his car in the middle of a dark street

Private hospital group Epworth HealthCare is investigating Professor Greg Malham, one of the neurosurgeons operating in their Richmond branch (pictured)

In the recording, the senior spinal neurosurgeon placed Dr Monique Ryan's campaign sign in his car in the middle of a dark street.

When an unidentified woman asked if he had anything to say, Professor Malham raised a fist and said 'Go Trump'.

The footage also included a shot at a different location where he removed the sign, stamped on it and addressed the camera.

'Just finishing the job, boys. Always gotta bury the body.

'Just remember these tutorials. It is all about technique, Nigel. Always remember guys, good technique, then dispose of the evidence.

'Always remember boys, bury the body under concrete.'

After the video was slammed by Dr Ryan and other politicians, Professor Malham released a statement apologising for his behaviour.

'I am deeply sorry and regret my actions in the video and fully understand the serious distress it has caused in the community,' he said.

Professor Malham (pictured) said he is fully cooperating with the investigation and has apologised for his 'lapse in judgement' during the video

'There is no excuse for my unacceptable behaviour and I will be fully cooperating with the independent investigation commissioned by Epworth HealthCare.

'I will be fully accountable for my actions.

'I sincerely and unreservedly apologise for this lapse in judgement that does not reflect my core values and beliefs.'

Professor Malham runs a private practice in neurosurgery in Melbourne and is an adjunct professor at Swinburne University.

His website refers to him as 'one of Australasia's premier spine surgeons'.

A spokesperson for Swinburne told Daily Mail Australia Professor Malham was appointed as an adjunct professor in 2020, 'an unpaid and honorary title'.

'He has no ongoing connection with the university, and has not for some time,' they said.

'The actions in the video are abhorrent and are completely at odds with Swinburnes values.'

Dr Ryan (pictured) has said her opponent, Liberal Candidate for Kooyong, Amelia Hamer, has experienced similar behaviour during the run-up to the federal election

Professor Malham also told The Age he had refunded the cost of the sign for Dr Ryan's campaign plus 'a bit extra'. The campaign said it rejected and refunded the money.

'We've seen groups from both within and outside Kooyong stoking division through aggressively negative advertising,' Dr Ryan told the Melbourne publication.

'It's creating a climate of hostility that is distressing to candidates, volunteers and the broader community.'

Dr Ryan said she is aware of similar incidents that affected her opponent.

'I unequivocally condemn this behaviour in all its forms. There's no place in Australian electoral campaigns or society for violence and aggression.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Dr Ryan for comment.

Other politicians have come out against Professor Malham's behaviour.

Independent Federal Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel called the video 'an apparent endorsement of violence against women'.

Independent Federal Member for Goldstein, Zoe Daniel called the video 'an apparent endorsement of violence against women'

Meanwhile, the Liberal candidate for Kooyong, Amelia Hamer, said there is no place for intimidation or destruction in politics.

The Kooyong election race, which could prove a vital seat for the Liberals in Victoria, has been particularly heated over the last few weeks.

Dr Ryan's husband was caught on film ripping down a poster of Ms Hamer, refusing several times to say who he was when confronted by a Liberal supporter.

Two days later a pair were captured on CCTV allegedly vandalising a Liberal poster hung on the front gate of a home in the upmarket suburb of Toorak.
Labour's plan to deport failed asylum seekers to the Balkans and lock them in 'detention centres' has won the endorsement of United Nations.

Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed sending asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia with the head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Under the proposals, the government would pay countries to accept migrants who have been rejected for asylum in the UK and have exhausted all avenues of appeals.

The plans, described as a 'safe and legal resettlement route', were drawn up by the government as part of Sir Keir Starmer's approach to stop small boat arrivals.

A total of 9,099 migrants in 162 boats have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel so far this year - 81 per cent more than by this time in 2023.

Now, in a major boost for the government, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has come up with its own proposals for what the return hubs should look like.

Government insiders have said the backing of the radical plans by the organisation was 'vital' given the UNHCR's objection to the Rwanda scheme.

The UN body previously intervened in the Conservative government's plan to tackle illegal migration leading it to being ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.

A total of 9,099 migrants in 162 boats have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel so far this year - 81 per cent more than by this time in 2023 (file photo)

Albania currently has two empty migrant detention centres after Italian plans to use them as asylum processing centres fell through

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One source told The Times: 'It could be a game changer because it will help give us the necessary legal cover against any legal challenge and will also help us politically with our left-wing MPs who may have reservations.'

Another added: 'Along with other countries, we are looking at how returns hubs could form a part of our commitment to rebuild confidence in the immigration and asylum system that was left in complete chaos by the Tories.

'We are in touch with UNHCR and welcome their work in this area.'

The UNHCR document stated there was a need for an 'effective returns system' and said it would offer support to countries wanting to establish return hubs.

It added, however, they would need to meet their legal standards and that it would continuously monitor the hubs to ensure that human rights standards were 'reliably met'.

The Netherlands is also currently in discussions with the Ugandan government about the possibility of a return hub for migrants.

Meanwhile, Albania currently has two empty migrant detention centres after Italian plans to use them as asylum processing centres fell through.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to a military base on March 20

Since last year's election 28,267 small boats have crossed the English Channel without permission

Last month, Yvette Cooper discussed sending asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia

Labour has faced criticism over its decision to scrap the Tories' Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter migrants from risking their lives in the Channel.

Their scheme would contrast from the Conservative's Rwanda plans because they would only remove asylum seekers after their case was rejected.

The Rwanda plan intended to send illegal migrants to the East African country before hearing their case.
A deadly new virus is sweeping through Europe, killing every rabbit it touches in a matter of hours.

An aggressive strain of the disease is now thought to be spreading across the UK countryside - sparking fears for Britain's bunnies.

The British Rabbit Council believes that a new strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), identified in France and the Netherlands last year, is responsible for a spate of sudden fatalities across the country.

While no cases of the new strain have been confirmed in Britain, rabbit population numbers have dramatically decreased in Suffolk, The Times reports.

The Wild Meat Company, a restaurant based in east Suffolk, had their rabbit supply cut short earlier this year after local hunters found so few of them.

RHD - which has more than a 90 per cent fatality rate - was first detected in China in the 1980s and has been endemic in Britain since the 1990s.

New strains of the virus have emerged in recent years and, in 2016, a variant called RHD-2 killed 400 pet rabbits in Britain within just 6 months.

It has posed the most serious threat to the rabbit population numbers in the UK since myxomatosis killed 99 per cent of the animals in the 1950s.

Hazel Elliott, the chair of animal health, welfare and legislation at the British Rabbit Council said: 'I know a breeder who lost a huge number of rabbits, so I suspect it is the new variant.'

A deadly new virus is sweeping through Europe, killing every rabbit it touches in a matter of hours (stock image)

An aggressive strain of the disease is now thought to be spreading across the UK countryside - sparking fears for Britain's bunnies (stock image)

The British Rabbit Council believes that a new strain of rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD), identified in France and the Netherlands last year, is responsible for a spate of sudden fatalities across the country (stock image)

She added that the illness works by targeting the rabbits' internal organs and will kill healthy animals within hours.

The expert also explained how the virus is extremely resistant and can live on surfaces for months - making it particularly problematic.

Elliott advised rabbit owners to get their pets vaccinated against the virus.

She added that if pets do succumb to the disease they should be cremated and not buried to avoid risk of contaminating the ground.

Matt Larsen-Daw, the chief executive of the Mammal Society, said he had previously hoped RHD levels were declining but now rabbits are 'disappearing across the country, and there's little evidence to suggest it could be anything else.'

There is limited recent data on rabbit numbers, but the population was already falling before this strain of the disease was identified, having declined by 43 per cent between 2008-18.

Larsen-Daw said the disease also infects hares and poses a threat to animals that hunt rabbits, such as foxes, pine martens, birds of prey and occasionally otters.

He said that nothing could be done to save wild rabbits except wait for resistance to build up in the population, and emphasised the importance of helping their predators by making space for their habitats.
An award winner whose face was seen by millions across the country in Sainsbury's and Morrisons adverts has died aged 77.

Farmer Bill Legge appeared on the back of Sainsbury's Taste The Difference crisp packets for years and was the well-known face of Morrisons Cafe adverts.

His family paid an emotional tribute to him, the East Anglian Daily Times reported: 'He will be missed for his sense of humour, his kindness, his love of his family and the Fens, his level-headedness and his ability to work with others.

'We would like to thank his many friends and everyone on the farm for their support, loyalty and kindness over his lifetime, especially in the last few weeks.'

Mr Legge passed away at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge on April 3 and his funeral took place on Thursday.

Born and bred in the village of Southery, Norfolk, he was at the helm of its Further Fen Farm for more than 25 years.

The champion grower sold more than a dozen different varieties of potatoes to supermarkets, crisp brands, fish and chip shops and packaged oven chip and roast potato brands.

An advocate of wildlife conservation and environmentally-friendly farming - often not though possible on a commercial farm - he was honoured with the annual Ian MacNicol Award at a county competition in 2012.

An award winner whose face was seen by millions across the country in Sainsbury's and Morrisons adverts has died aged 77. Pictured: File photo

Farmer Bill Legge (pictured) appeared on the back of Sainsbury's Taste The Difference crisp packets for years and was the well-known face of Morrisons Cafe adverts

His family paid an emotional tribute to him: 'He will be missed for his sense of humour, his kindness, his love of his family and the Fens, his level-headedness and his ability to work with others'

The prize, named for a beloved local farmer, is given out annually by Norfolk Farming and Wildlife Advisory Group (FWAG) for conservation work in farming.

He was also a champion wheat grower in competitions ran by the Agricultural Society in nearby village Stoke Ferry - and won a growers' contest run by international seed company Limagrain in 2014.

The Legge Farms business was started by Mr Legge's father Les in the 1940s, who set it up with just an acre of land, rented from a church.

Starting out by looking after other farmers' horses, he then became a farming innovator, buying one of the first self-propelled drills - at a time when much agricultural work was done with horse-drawn machines.

He built his business around working with the innovative tool on other people's land, drilling thousands of acres of vegetables.

His son Mr Legge joined him working on the farm in 1965 - and stepped up to take it over, when his father was tragically diagnosed with lung cancer, just eight years later in 1973. His own son Pete joined him in running the farm in 2000.

Mr Legge went on to work long beyond retirement age, only stopping to become a full-time carer to his beloved wife Judith in November 2021, after she had an accident with a forklift.

He always championed the use of modern machinery, did extensive work on other local farms and served on farming union committees.

Mr Legge (pictured with his wife Judith) passed away at Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge on April 3 and his funeral took place on Thursday

In his fifties, he began championing environmentally-friendly farming, unusual on a commercial farm, by creating a reservoir and wetland areas, as well as laying miles of hedges.

He was a valued member of his village community too, chairing the Southery School governing body.

Mr Legge and his wife Judith - who he married when he was just 19, celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary two years ago - ran their farm together. They had three children and loved becoming grandparents.
Supermarket giants have come under fire from an enraged Bob Katter for refusing to show a nativity scene during Easter.

In a video on Facebook on Saturday, the fiery politician and founder of Katters Australian Party said independent stores in Cairns accepted his 'pop-out' display of Jesus, Mary and Joseph.

However, he said Coles and Woolworths had declined to show the scene.

In an address to followers, he began by summarising the birth of Jesus Christ in a colloquial manner.

'Two thousand years ago, a baby was born in a shed out the back of a pub,' he said.

'This kid grew up and became pretty famous. He travelled around saying you should love your neighbour and make the world a better place.'

But the recording took a turn when Mr Katter addressed Woolworths and Coles, accusing them of making 'squillions' during Easter and Christmas.

'We had a beautiful little pop-out, a Nativity scene of Jesus, Mary and Joseph in the stable,' he said.

Federal MP Bob Katter (pictured) has issued a stern Easter message to Coles and Woolworths, saying they will 'burn in hell' after they refused to display a nativity scene

Mr Katter compared the supermarket giants to 'money changers' in a Bible story (stock image)

'We gave it out to all the supermarkets in Cairns and all the independents all put it up, and Woolworths and Coles refused to put it up,' Mr Katter said.

'So I'll tell you what happened to the money changers in the temple. They burnt in hell.

'And there's a message for the likes of Woolworths and Coles.'

Coles declined to comment when contacted by Daily Mail Australia. Woolworths has been contacted for a response.

Mr Katter closed his video saying he hoped followers could spend time with loved ones and 'reflect on what really matters in this life' over the Easter weekend.

'God bless all listeners,' he said.

The Federal MP is no stranger to criticising how supermarket giants work in Australia.

Mr Katter and Independent Member for Calare, Andrew Gee, protested with farmers outside a Woolworths in Bathurst, NSW, on Thursday.

Mr Katter (pictured) has been vocal about his views on major supermarket brands

The group were railing against 'supermarket duopoly' and markups on fresh produce.

He also introduced a government bill in March 2024 to reduce the market power of Australia's major chains.

Under the proposal, large brands' market power would be divested by 20 per cent within five years.

It would also create a commissioner for food retailing which would have powers to stop price gouging and other anti-competitive behaviour.
JD Vance has been snubbed by Pope Francis during his visit to the Vatican this weekend - amid a remarkable papal rebuke of the Trump administration's crackdown on migrants.

Vance, a Catholic convert, instead met with the Vatican secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, and the foreign minister, Archbishop Peter Gallagher, on Saturday.

There was speculation Vance might also briefly greet Pope Francis, who has begun resuming some official duties during his recovery from pneumonia - but the pair are yet to see each other.

The Holy See issued a statement after Vance's meeting with the Vatican's number two official, reaffirming good relations but noting 'an exchange of opinions' over international conflicts, migrants and prisoners.

Vance has been spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter's Basilica on Friday after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.

Francis and Vance have tangled sharply over migration and the Trump administration's plans to deport migrants en masse.

The Pontiff has made caring for migrants a hallmark of his papacy and his progressive views on social justice issues have often put him at odds with members of the more conservative US Catholic Church.

Vance, who converted in 2019, identifies with a small Catholic intellectual movement often called 'postliberal', which is viewed by some critics as having reactionary or authoritarian leanings.

US Vice President JD Vance, his wife second lady Usha Vance and their children attend Mass on Good Friday at St. Peter's Basilica on April 18

Pope Francis leaves after a private visit at the 'Regina Coeli' prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome

The convoy of US Vice President JD Vance arrives at the Vatican ahead of his meeting with the Vatican's Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin

Postliberals share some longstanding Catholic conservative views, such as opposition to abortion and LGBTQ+ rights.

They envision a counterrevolution in which they take over government bureaucracy and institutions like universities from within, replacing entrenched 'elites' with their own and acting upon their vision of the 'common good.'

Just days before he was hospitalized in February, Francis blasted the Trump administration's deportation plans, warning that they would deprive migrants of their inherent dignity.

In a letter to US bishops, Francis also appeared to respond to Vance directly for having claimed that Catholic doctrine justified such policies.

Vance had defended the administration's America-first crackdown by citing a concept from medieval Catholic theology known in Latin as 'ordo amoris.'

He has said the concept delineates a hierarchy of care - to family first, followed by neighbor, community, fellow citizens and lastly those elsewhere.

In his February 10 letter, Francis appeared to correct Vance's understanding of the concept.

'Christian love is not a concentric expansion of interests that little by little extends to other persons and groups,' he wrote.

JD Vance prays during the Good Friday Passion of the Lord service in Saint Peter's Basilica at the Vatican, April 18

Pope Francis during a private visit at the 'Regina Coeli' prison where he met around 70 inmates as part of the Holy Thursday celebrations in Rome

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of Pope Francis for the Diocese of Rome, leads the procession started inside the Colosseum during the Via Crucis

'The true ordo amoris that must be promoted is that which we discover by meditating constantly on the parable of the Good Samaritan, that is, by meditating on the love that builds a fraternity open to all, without exception.'

Those concerns were reflected in the Vatican's statement issued today which said the talks were cordial and expressed satisfaction with the Trump administration's commitment to protecting freedom of religion and conscience.

'There was an exchange of opinions on the international situation, especially regarding countries affected by war, political tensions and difficult humanitarian situations, with particular attention to migrants, refugees and prisoners,' the statement said.

'Finally, hope was expressed for serene collaboration between the state and the Catholic Church in the United States, whose valuable service to the most vulnerable people was acknowledged.'

The reference to 'serene collaboration' appeared to refer to Mr Vance's accusation that the US Conference of Catholic Bishops was resettling 'illegal immigrants' in order to get federal funding. Senior US cardinals have pushed back strongly against the claim.

Vance has acknowledged Francis' criticism but has said he would continue to defend his views.

Pope Francis meets with personnel from Gemelli hospital and Vatican medical staff, at the Vatican on April 16

Cardinal Baldassare Reina, Vicar General of Pope Francis for the Diocese of Rome, leads the procession started inside the Colosseum during the Via Crucis

During a February 28 appearance at the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, Vance didn't address the issue specifically but called himself a 'baby Catholic' and acknowledged there are 'things about the faith that I don't know.'

While he had criticized Francis on social media in the past, recently he has posted prayers for Francis' recovery.

On Friday, Vance, his wife and three young children had front-row seats at the Vatican's Good Friday service in St. Peter's, a two-hour solemn commemoration featuring Latin and Italian readings. Francis did not attend.

But the pope has begun receiving visitors, including King Charles III, and this week ventured out of the Vatican to meet with prisoners at Rome's central jail to keep a Holy Thursday appointment ministering to the most marginalized.

He has named other cardinals to preside over Easter services this weekend, but officials haven't ruled out a possible brief greeting with Vance.

'I'm grateful every day for this job, but particularly today where my official duties have brought me to Rome on Good Friday,' Vance posted on X.

'I wish all Christians all over the world, but particularly those back home in the US, a blessed Good Friday.'
Dozens of migrants sleeping rough outside Westminster Cathedral have been moved off for the second night in a row over the Easter weekend.

Pictures taken from the makeshift encampment this morning showed men urinating in public against walls and sleeping on cardboard boxes.

Some of the asylum seekers had erected small tents which they took with them. Others were seen disposing of their cardboard beds in nearby flowerbeds.

The men were dispersed by security guards shortly after 8am however disgruntled locals have told MailOnline it is now a regular occurence in the opulent Central London borough.

One man, who preferred to stay anonymous, told MailOnline locals were beginning to feel increasingly powerless over their situation.

He said: 'There were dozens of them sleeping there when I was walking around at 7am this morning.

'They were sleeping on cardboard and dirty mattresses - some had little tents. At 8am, some grumpy looking security arrived to move them away.

'The migrants dumped their bedding in the flower beds and left. They have been coming back every night - nobody seems able to stop them.

Dozens of migrants sleeping rough outside Westminster Cathedral have been moved

It is the second night over the Bank Holiday weekend an encampment has been set up in the area

Locals have said they feel powerless to stop the migrants turning up every night

Some of the men have been seen urinating in the street and against walls

Others have been seen washing themselves in public early in the morning

The migrants have been storing their cardboard beds in flowerbeds near the site

Security teams arrived at 8am this morning and forced the encampment to disperse

'Some of them were urinating in public against walls. It's not nice for local people or the cathedral.

'This is Easter weekend, there are constant services going on, it's not right.'

The sorry display is the latest migrant incident to overshadow the bank holiday following the death of an asylum seeker in the channel yesterday.

Officials brought a body ashore at the Port of Dover after Border Force and the RNLI responded to an incident aboard a migrant dinghy mid-crossing.

Police confirmed they had launched an investigation into the 'circumstances leading to the man's death'.

Last month, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper discussed sending asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia with the head of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Under the proposals, the government would pay countries to accept migrants who have been rejected for asylum in the UK and have exhausted all avenues of appeals.

The plans, described as a 'safe and legal resettlement route', were drawn up by the government as part of Sir Keir Starmer's approach to stop small boat arrivals.

A total of 9,099 migrants in 162 boats have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel so far this year - 81 per cent more than by this time in 2023.

Now, in a major boost for the government, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has come up with its own proposals for what the return hubs should look like.

Government insiders have said the backing of the radical plans by the organisation was 'vital' given the UNHCR's objection to the Rwanda scheme.

The UN body previously intervened in the Conservative government's plan to tackle illegal migration leading it to being ruled unlawful by the Supreme Court.

A total of 9,099 migrants in 162 boats have arrived in the UK by crossing the Channel so far this year - 81 per cent more than by this time in 2023 (file photo)

Albania currently has two empty migrant detention centres after Italian plans to use them as asylum processing centres fell through

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One source told The Times: 'It could be a game changer because it will help give us the necessary legal cover against any legal challenge and will also help us politically with our left-wing MPs who may have reservations.'

Another added: 'Along with other countries, we are looking at how returns hubs could form a part of our commitment to rebuild confidence in the immigration and asylum system that was left in complete chaos by the Tories.

'We are in touch with UNHCR and welcome their work in this area.'

The UNHCR document stated there was a need for an 'effective returns system' and said it would offer support to countries wanting to establish return hubs.

It added, however, they would need to meet their legal standards and that it would continuously monitor the hubs to ensure that human rights standards were 'reliably met'.

The Netherlands is also currently in discussions with the Ugandan government about the possibility of a return hub for migrants.

Meanwhile, Albania currently has two empty migrant detention centres after Italian plans to use them as asylum processing centres fell through.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer speaks during a visit to a military base on March 20

Since last year's election 28,267 small boats have crossed the English Channel without permission

Last month, Yvette Cooper discussed sending asylum seekers to 'return hubs' in Albania, Serbia, Bosnia and North Macedonia

Labour has faced criticism over its decision to scrap the Tories' Rwanda asylum deal, which was designed to deter migrants from risking their lives in the Channel.

Their scheme would contrast from the Conservative's Rwanda plans because they would only remove asylum seekers after their case was rejected.

The Rwanda plan intended to send illegal migrants to the East African country before hearing their case.
Three people died after a small plane crashed into a Nebraska river, killing everybody on board.

The aircraft had been flying along the Platte River, south of Fremont, when it crashed into the water just after 8 pm local time on Friday evening.

Footage taken at the scene shows rescue vessels scouring the pitch black river following the incident.

The Dodge County Sheriff's Office later confirmed the remains of the flight's three occupants had been recovered and confirmed they had all passed.

In a statement, authorities said: 'A small plane was traveling along the Platte River south of Fremont when it crashed into the river.

'The three occupants of the plane have been recovered and are confirmed deceased. Those identities will not be released at this time pending next of kin notification.

'The Federal Aviation Administration and National Transportation Safety Board will take over the investigation at this point.'

The crash is the latest in a string of horrific aviation disasters to hit the country since the start of the year.

The aircraft had been flying along the Platte River, south of Fremont, when in crashed into the water just after 8pm local time on Friday evening

The local sheriff's office later confirmed that the three occupants of the flight had been recovered and confirmed they had all passed

Just last week, a helicopter over New York City crashed into the Hudson River killing a family of five including three young children.

The sightseeing chopper plunged into the waters killing Agustin Escobar, Siemens exec from Spain, his wife Merce and their three kids, along with a 36-year-old pilot.

The family had just arrived from Barcelona and embarked on their first day touring the Big Apple.

They had been taking a scenic trip around the Statue of Liberty and up to the George Washington Bridge.

Experts believe the crash likely occurred because the main rotor blades separated from the aircraft, slicing the tail.

The aircraft was operated by New York Helicopter, a local tour company. The chopper appeared to be a N216MH - a Bell 206L-4, according to Flight Radar.

Heartbreaking photos showed the Escobar parents and their kids, aged four, five and 11, posing on the helipad and inside the aircraft before the crash.

The helicopter flew for approximately 16 minutes before going down into the water. It took off from the Wall Street Heliport and did a circle near the Statue of Liberty before flying up the Hudson River to the George Washington Bridge at about 1000 feet.

Agustin Escobar, a Siemens executive from Spain, his wife Merce Camprubi Montal and their three children, aged four, five and 11, took photos just before the crash

Dramatic video showed the helicopter sinking into the water as emergency crews rushed to the scene.

Witnesses said they saw the chopper 'split in half' before it went down near Pier 40, with one man reporting the stricken aircraft making what sounded like a 'sonic boom.'

'Oh my God. Oh my gosh. Oh my goodness. Oh my gosh,' said a terrified witness who watched the helicopter fall into the river.

The horrific incident came after an American Airlines jet collided with a army helicopter in January, killing 67 people.

Just days after that, a twin-engine jet plummeted to the ground and exploded in a large fireball in Pennsylvania, killing all six people onboard.

Less than a month later, on February 17, a Delta passenger plane crashed-landed upside down in chaotic scenes at Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada.

Miraculously, everyone on board survived after being suspended upside-down by their seatbelts for several minutes until they tentatively began evacuating.
This is the moment Russian police storm a gym before taking men away in a forced conscription drive to boost the number of soldiers in Ukraine.

Shocking footage shows officers rounding up gym-goers at Spirit Fitness, in south-east Moscow, before ordering them to drop to the ground.

Police were sent to the gym to hunt down illegal immigrants and military draft dodgers, according to The Telegraph.

It comes as the Kremlin cracks down on those not supporting the war effort and yesterday jailed an activist using poetry to protest the conflict.

Once the group were on the floor officers divided them into sets of citizens and non-citizens, according to witnesses.

Similar raids have been reported across multiple Russian cities for weeks, human rights campaigners say, even before Vladimir Putin signed an order to conscript 160,000 men in the country's biannual call-up in March.

Non-citizens are accused of immigration violations and are told they must chose between deportation, or enlistment in the army, according to Current Time, an independent Russian news platform.

Russians are taken to enlistment offices, where their military records are checked.

Once records are reviewed, some men are released. Others are handed military summons on the spot and detained.

This is the moment Russian police storm a gym before taking men away in a forced conscription drive to boost the number of soldiers in Ukraine

Shocking footage shows officers rounding up gym-goers at Spirit Fitness, in south-east Moscow, before ordering them to drop to the ground

Police had been sent to the gym to hunt down illegal immigrants and military draft dodgers, according to The Telegraph

It comes as the Kremlin cracks down on those not supporting the war effort and yesterday jailed an activist using poetry to protest the conflict. On Friday a Russian court handed down a prison sentence of nearly three years to 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva (pictured), an activist who used 19th-century poetry and graffiti to protest the conflict in Ukraine

A video of the March 30 raid at Spirit Fitness shows dozens of men and women lying face-down on the ground with their hands in the air.

Witnesses told the outlet that women were allowed to leave, while men were separated by ethnicity or nationality before being asked to produce documents.

'I was on the treadmill, watching [a show], minding my own business,' a gym-goer told the Telegram channel msk1_news. 'Suddenly someone taps my shoulder. I get off the treadmill and see everyone lying face-down on the floor.'

Another at the gym told Current Time that police demanded all men show their passports, which were immediately checked for military records.

'They'd check the passport, flip to the military service page. If it said you were obligated to serve, off you went to the enlistment office  no matter what, just for 'verification'.'

Spirit Fitness has not commented on the incident, but staff said raids were becoming more common.

According to lawyers similar sweeps were taking place roughly twice a month in Moscow, St Petersburg, Irkutsk and Yekaterinburg.

'My husband is in court now,' Anastasia, who lives in a city just outside Moscow, said.

Witnesses told local media that women were allowed to leave, while men were separated by ethnicity or nationality before being asked to produce documents

Valentina Chupik, a human-rights lawyer, said: 'They only detain people who aren't ethnically Russian. Then they separate citizens from non-citizens. 'For the non-citizens, they falsify petty hooliganism charges and deport them. Since Feb 5, that's all it takes  even if they've done nothing wrong. The citizens are taken straight to the enlistment office'

'They tried to issue him a summons illegally more than two years ago  even though he has an exemption. Now they've dragged him into the enlistment office again. I rushed over with documents, but they wouldn't let him go until the lawyer arrived,' she explained.

Valentina Chupik, a human-rights lawyer, said: 'They only detain people who aren't ethnically Russian. Then they separate citizens from non-citizens.

'For the non-citizens, they falsify petty hooliganism charges and deport them. Since Feb 5, that's all it takes  even if they've done nothing wrong. The citizens are taken straight to the enlistment office.'

On Friday a Russian court handed down a prison sentence of nearly three years to 19-year-old Darya Kozyreva, a young activist who used 19th-century poetry and graffiti to protest the conflict in Ukraine.

A Reuters witness in the court said Kozyreva was found guilty of repeatedly 'discrediting' the Russian army after she put up a poster with lines of Ukrainian verse on a public square and gave an interview to Sever.Realii, a Russian-language service of Radio Free Europe.

She pleaded not guilty, calling the case against her 'one big fabrication,' according to a trial transcript compiled by Mediazona, an independent news outlet.

She was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison.

A Reuters witness in the court said Kozyreva was found guilty of repeatedly 'discrediting' the Russian army after she put up a poster with lines of Ukrainian verse on a public square and gave an interview to Sever.Realii, a Russian-language service of Radio Free Europe

She pleaded not guilty, calling the case against her 'one big fabrication,' according to a trial transcript compiled by Mediazona, an independent news outlet

Kozyreva is one of an estimated 234 people imprisoned in Russia for their anti-war position, according to a tally by Memorial, a Nobel Prize-winning Russian human rights group.

In December 2022, aged just 17, Kozyreva sprayed 'Murderers, you bombed it. Judases' in black paint on a sculpture of two intertwined hearts, erected outside St Petersburg's Hermitage Museum and representing the city's links with Mariupol, a Ukrainian city largely razed to the ground during a siege that spring.

In early 2024, after being fined 30,000 roubles (280) for posting about Ukraine online, Kozyreva was expelled from the medical faculty of St Petersburg State University.

A month later, on the conflict's two-year anniversary, she taped a piece of paper containing a fragment of verse by Taras Shevchenko, a father of modern Ukrainian literature, onto a statue of him in a St Petersburg park:

'Oh bury me, then rise ye up / And break your heavy chains / And water with the tyrants' blood / The freedom you have gained.'

Kozyreva was swiftly arrested and held in pre-trial detention for nearly a year, until she was released this February to house arrest.

Addressing the court on Friday, Kozyreva said she believed she had committed no crime.

'I have no guilt, my conscience is clear,' she said, according to Mediazona's transcript.
A Trump staffer called Harvard University immediately after they received a letter of demands from the administration to say it had been sent in error.

In a letter issued last week from the White House's task force on anti-Semitism, the administration called for sweeping reforms at the Massachusetts institution.

According to a new report by The New York Times, the letter should not have been sent and was 'unauthorized', according to sources who spoke with the outlet.

The content of the letter was authentic, sources said, but there was differing accounts inside the administration of how it should be handled.

Some staffers believe it had been sent prematurely, while others thought it was to be circulated among task force members rather than sent to the school.

The White House stands by the contents of the letter, even after the university issued a blistering response to it.

The task force and Harvard had been in talks for two weeks when the letter came through, the school quickly concluded that the extreme demands meant a deal would be impossible.

After Harvard issued a takedown, the administration upped the ante and froze $2.2 billion in federal funding and warned their tax-exemption status was hanging in the balance.

In a letter issued last week from the White House 's task force on anti-Semitism, the administration called for broad government and leadership reforms

The task force and Harvard had been in talks for two weeks when the letter came through

'The University will not surrender its independence or relinquish its constitutional rights,' Harvard President Alan Garber wrote in a letter to the community on Monday.

'No government - regardless of which party is in power - should dictate what private universities can teach, whom they can admit and hire, and which areas of study and inquiry they can pursue.'

May Mailman, White House senior policy strategist, told the outlet: 'It was malpractice on the side of Harvards lawyers not to pick up the phone and call the members of the antisemitism task force who they had been talking to for weeks.

'Instead, Harvard went on a victimhood campaign.'

Mailman contended that there was a possible way to continue discussions, adding: 'The task force, and the entire Trump administration, is in lock step on ensuring that entities who receive taxpayer dollars are following all civil rights laws.'

Harvard meanwhile didn't buy that the letter was sent in error, saying in a statement that the letter was 'signed by three federal officials' and on official letterhead.

They said: 'Recipients of such correspondence from the U.S. government  even when it contains sweeping demands that are astonishing in their overreach  do not question its authenticity or seriousness.

'It remains unclear to us exactly what, among the governments recent words and deeds, were mistakes or what the government actually meant to do and say.

Harvard meanwhile didn't buy that the letter was sent in error, Alan Garber the president of the school is seen here

The letter called called for broad government and leadership reforms at the Massachusetts institute

'But even if the letter was a mistake, the actions the government took this week have real-life consequences on students and employees and the standing of American higher education in the world.'

The letter called called for broad government and leadership reforms, a requirement that Harvard institute what it calls 'merit-based' admissions and hiring policies as well as conduct an audit of the study body, faculty and leadership on their views about diversity.

The demands, which are an update from an earlier letter, also call for a ban on face masks - which appeared to target pro-Palestinian protesters.

They also pressure the university to stop recognizing or funding 'any student group or club that endorses or promotes criminal activity, illegal violence, or illegal harassment.'

The demands on Harvard are part of a broader push of using taxpayer dollars to pressure major academic institutions to comply with President Donald Trumps political agenda and to influence campus policy.

The administration has also argued that universities allowed what it considered to be antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza; the schools deny it.

The demand letter is similar to the one that prompted changes at Columbia University under the threat of billions of dollars in cuts.

The letter proved a shock to the school due to their lawyers going back and forth with Trump officials.

According to the Times the lawyers for the administration said they would send the school a letter that laid out specifically what they wanted.

When the letter arrived overnight, sent from general counsel of the Department of Health and Human Services Sean Keveney, the school was shocked at its contents, being far different from what was anticipated.

Garber responded with a letter (pictured) detailing ongoing efforts on campus to address anti-Semitism, including the implementation of new disciplinary measures for policy violations, the launch of programs aimed at combating bias and the enhancement of safety and security measures

The administration has also argued that universities allowed what it considered to be antisemitism to go unchecked at campus protests last year against Israel's war in Gaza

After that, lawyer Josh Gruenbaum, a top official at the General Services Administration, called one of Harvard's lawyers.

Sources said that he told the representatives that he had not authorized the sending of the letter.

He then allegedly changed his tune, saying it was supposed to have been sent at some point but just not on that day.

At the same time, a lawyer representing Columbia also received a call from Gruenbaum who had been in talks with the school.

Source again said that he told the New York institution that the letter to Harvard was 'unauthorized'.

His assertions convinced Harvard that the letter had been sent in mistake, leaving them shocked that such an error could even be made.

At that point, the university had already declared that they would be rebuffing the demands. The Trump administration did not withdraw it.

Harvard is one of several Ivy League schools targeted in a pressure campaign by the administration, which also has paused federal funding for the University of Pennsylvania, Brown, and Princeton to force compliance with its agenda.

As the administration continues to wage its war against the school, Kristi Noem also said this week that the school would lost its ability to enroll foreign students should it fail to comply with the demands.

Noem also announced on Wednesday the termination of two DHS grants totaling over $2.7 million to Harvard.

The former governor of South Dakota wrote a letter to Harvard demanding records on what she called the 'illegal and violent activities' of Harvard's foreign student visa holders by April 30.

'And if Harvard cannot verify it is in full compliance with its reporting requirements, the university will lose the privilege of enrolling foreign students,' Noem said in a statement.

In a statement to DailyMail.com, a spokesperson for the Ivy League university said they're not budging.

The school is also now pushing back against the freeze of over $2 billion in funding by turning to Wall Street to fill the gap.

Harvard has already issued $750 million in taxable bonds, a move aimed at cushioning the blow of potential federal funding cuts, The Wall Street Journal reported.

President Trump has since responded to Harvard in a post shared to Truth Social, claiming the Ivy League is 'supporting sickness'.
The Pentagon is reeling as Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth faces growing instability within his ranks following the sudden departure of his chief of staff - the fourth staffer exit amid the fallout of the disastrous Signal chat leak.

Joe Kasper, Hegseth's top aide and longtime ally, is expected to leave his role in the coming days, according to a senior administration official, marking the latest in a string of high-level personnel shifts that have thrown the Department of Defense into a state of uncertainty.

The top-ranking official's 'planned' departure comes on the heels of suspensions handed to Senior Advisor Dan Caldwell, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, who serves as Chief of Staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg.

All four had been swept up in an internal investigation into possible leaks of sensitive government information.

At the center of the ongoing controversy is a Signal group chat - a secure messaging app known for its privacy protections - created by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz to coordinate US military responses to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea.

However, the group inadvertently included editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, Jeffrey Goldberg, raising immediate concerns over the exposure of sensitive and potentially classified information.

Hegseth and others shared detailed operational plans within the chat, including timelines and specifics about US military assets.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth (pictured) faces growing instability within his ranks, following the sudden departure of his chief of staff and an escalating scandal over a controversial Signal chat involving senior Trump-era officials

Joe Kasper (pictured), Hegseth's top aide and longtime ally, is expected to leave his role in the coming days, according to a senior administration official

In response to the leak of sensitive and private intel, the Pentagon's acting inspector general launched a review to determine whether Hegseth and his staff followed proper procedures when using private messaging platforms for official communication.

The review will reportedly also assess whether they adhered to classification rules and records retention protocols.

However, Politico reported that Kasper had requested an investigation into Pentagon leaks back in March.

His request is said to have included military operational plans for the Panama Canal, a second carrier headed to the Red Sea, Elon Musk's controversial department visit and a pause in the collection of intelligence for Ukraine.

Still, internal friction may have contributed to the current upheaval as one defense official told Politico: 'Joe didn't like those guys,' referring to Caldwell and the other since-terminated officials.

'They just didn't get along. It was a personality clash,' the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said.

With the exits of Kasper, Caldwell, Selnick and Carroll, Hegseth is now without a chief of staff, deputy chief of staff or senior adviser in his front office.

'There's a complete meltdown in the building,' another senior official told Politico.

The top-ranking official's 'planned' departure comes on the heels of administrative suspensions handed to Senior Advisor Dan Caldwell, Deputy Chief of Staff Darin Selnick and Colin Carroll, who serves as Chief of Staff to Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg

At the center of the ongoing controversy is a Signal group chat - a secure messaging app known for its privacy protections - created by National Security Adviser Michael Waltz to coordinate US military responses to Houthi attacks in the Red Sea

The Signal chat fallout has amplified criticism of Hegseth's already embattled leadership, with some arguing it highlights a pattern of mismanagement. Pictured: The Pentagon in Washington DC

'This really reflects on the secretary's leadership. Pete Hegseth has surrounded himself with people who may not have his best interests at heart.'

The Signal chat fallout has amplified criticism of Hegseth's already embattled leadership, with some arguing it highlights a pattern of mismanagement.

'Everyone knew that Pete Hegseth did not possess the leadership qualities, background, or experience to be Secretary of Defense,' Chris Meagher, who served as assistant Defense secretary for public affairs during the Biden administration, told the outlet.

'Everything we've seen since then - the firing of several American heroes because of perceived lack of loyalty, the sloppiness of Signalgate, the complete lack of transparency, and now several political staff being shown the door - has only confirmed he doesn't have what it takes to lead.'

The chaos follows the controversial removal of Joint Chiefs Chair Gen. C.Q. Brown and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Lisa Franchetti earlier this year.

'There probably will be more chaos,' a third defense official added. 'It certainly reinforces the fear factor, awareness that no one's job is safe.'

'The front office has some really first-rate uniformed military staff, but there's only so much they can pick up in an organization that big,' a former Trump administration official said summing up the critical conflict. 'That kind of dysfunction compounds.'
A New York family cremated and mourned what they believed were the remains of their missing loved one, only to discover through a shocking text message that she was still alive.

Shanice Crews, a then-28-year-old from Rochester, was reported missing by her heartbroken family in 2021. Three years later, they were devastated by news that her remains had been found in an empty lot off of Hudson Avenue, WROC 8 News reported.

Because the body was severely decomposed, the family made the painful decision to have her remains swiftly cremated, followed by a memorial service to say their goodbyes.

However, in 2024, the family was rocked by a disturbing revelation - the person they had cremated was not Crews at all, but rather a complete stranger.

'We dealt with the ashes and stuff, we put them in necklaces and we mixed my mom with this stranger,' Shanita Hopkins, Crews' sister, told the outlet.

'You can't take back the moments where the cop came and told us Shanice Crews has been found dead outside, like trash,' she added.

'You can't take away them initial feelings... we can't get that back. We can't get them seven months back. We can't get them tears back.'

In July of 2024, the family filed a missing person's report for Crews after growing concerned when they hadn't heard from her, especially since she had cut off all communication with her two children.

Shanice Crews, a then-28-year-old from Rochester, New York, was reported missing in 2021 and declared dead in 2024, with her family cremating her body following the tragic discovery (pictured: Shanice Crews)

Things took an extremely disturbing turn in November of 2024 when Shanita Hopkins, Crews' sister, received a message from a complete stranger informing her that her sister was alive (pictured: the message attached with a recent photo of Crews)

Shanita Hopkins, Crews' sister, believed that the medical examiner couldn't identify the remains and instead wanted to close a missing person's case (pictured: Shanita Hopkins)

For three long years, they held onto hope - until police officers informed them that her remains had been found discarded in an empty lot, and that she had reportedly died back in February.

The autopsy report determined her cause of death as a drug overdose, citing an extremely high level of cocaine in her system.

However, Hopkins grew suspicious of the ruling, as her sister had never gotten herself involved with cocaine.

'Reading the autopsy was traumatic... It's one thing to hear it, but then it's another thing to actually read it, and then see her name attached to it,' Hopkins told WROC.

'So we're thinking, this is how she died,' she added. 'And then we're trying to think, did somebody lace her? It's so much that goes into it. Your mind just goes crazy.'

The family was unable to view what they were told were Crews' remains due to the advanced state of decomposition, and instead had her body cremated followed by a heartfelt memorial service.

Yet, things took an extremely disturbing turn in November 2024 when Hopkins received a message from a complete stranger.

'Ma'am I'm concerned, your sister is not dead,' the message said. 'She just volunteered at my event today.'

The family was left enraged upon finding out that Crews was alive, and the remains they had mourned, which had been mixed with their mother's and distributed between them in the form of jewelry, ultimately belonged to an unidentified stranger (pictured: the urn inside the family home)

In July of 2024, the family filed a missing person's report for Crews after growing concerned when they hadn't heard from her, especially since she had cut off all communication with her two children (pictured: Crews)

For three long years, they held onto hope - until police officers informed them that her remains had been found discarded in an empty lot, and that she had reportedly died back in February

The family was unable to view what they were told were Crews' remains due to the advanced state of decomposition, and instead had her body cremated followed by a heartfelt memorial service

Attached to the unexpected message was a recent photo of a smiling woman - the same woman they had been grieving for the past three years.

'My initial reaction was like... what the... what? What am I reading right now?!' Hopkins told the outlet. 'This is just a random message.'

Hopkins immediately contacted police, who then directed her to speak with the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office for answers.

However, the ME assured her that dental records of the body matched those of her sister.

Unconvinced, Hopkins showed the Medical Examiner's Office staff the pictures and text messages she had received, leading to an investigation.

'We went the next day. They wanted my youngest sister, because her and Shanice has the same mom and dad, and then they wanted her son,' Hopkins told the outlet.

'So both of them went and they did a DNA test, and when the results came back, they said it wasn't a match.'

DNA testing confirmed what the family had suspected - Crews was alive, and the remains they had mourned, which had been mixed with their mother's and distributed between them in the form of jewelry, ultimately belonged to an unidentified stranger.

The autopsy report determined her cause of death as a drug overdose, citing an extremely high level of cocaine in her system

Crews' was ultimately found to be living in Michigan - alive and well - and possibly unaware that her family believed she was dead (pictured: family at the memorial service for Crews)

Hopkins grew suspicious of the medical examiner's ruling, as her sister had never gotten herself involved with cocaine

Crews was ultimately found to be living in Michigan - alive and well.

'I almost feel like they couldn't find out who this was and they wanted to close a missing person's case,' Hopkins said.

Following the shocking discovery, the Medical Examiner's Office requested the return of the ashes and offered to compensate the family for the money spent on the memorial and the cremation - a total of $1,605.

Although the office has since retrieved the ashes, which had been sitting in a purple urn in the family's home, the family declined the offer of compensation and instead chose to seek legal representation.

'After I came and told you that my sister was alive and for you to tell me that her dental records are identical to the dental records y'all are looking at is just a lie - like you're lying to my face,' Hopkins expressed.

'My family was like, no, we need to get a lawyer... If it's for anything it's just really for pain and suffering, because this is crazy,' she added.

'Then my nephew is still going, we're all still dealing with this. And, you know, now we can't force her to talk to us... she's just still a missing person to us, but she's alive and well.'

The family ended up reaching out to the Detroit Police Department in an effort to track down Crews, yet they still haven't been able to make contact with her.

Hopkins immediately contacted police after receiving the message, who then directed her to speak with the Monroe County Medical Examiner's Office for answers - but the ME assured her that dental records of the body matched those of her sister (pictured: Crews)

Following the shocking discovery, the Medical Examiner's Office requested the return of the ashes and offered to compensate the family for the money spent on the memorial and the cremation - a total of $1,605

Although the medical examiner's office has since retrieved the ashes from the family home, the family declined the offer of compensation and instead chose to seek legal representation (pictured: Hopkins)

Hopkins shared that if she had the chance to speak with her sister now, she would simply say, 'I love her'.

'I've been angry for... I'm still angry,' Hopkins explained. 'I don't think I'm ever gonna get over the anger, but I know how it feels... I know how it feels to think she was dead, and that, I just want her to know that.'

'I just want her to know that whatever we had going on, it doesn't even matter,' she added. 'I love her, that's it. That's all I would want her to know.'

In response to the discovery, the Medical Examiner's Office said in a statement: 'The Monroe County Office of the Medical Examiner uses industry standard scientific methods to identify remains of deceased individuals in a timely manner and make appropriate notifications to families,' WROC reported.

'Due to restrictions on the disclosure of information contained in the records of the Office of the Medical Examiner, we are unable to comment on specific cases,' the statement added.

The Monroe County did not respond to the outlet's inquiry regarding the identity of the remains that were given to Crews' family.
A rural community has been rocked by the tragic death of a young girl after the e-scooter she was riding collided with a car.

Queensland Police's Forensic Crash Unit has launched an investigation after a 12-year-old girl died following the vehicle and e-scooter crash in Laidley, in the Lockyer Valley Region.

Initial inquiries by officers have indicated both vehicles were travelling south on Vaux Street at about 3pm on Saturday.

The young girl, who was riding her scooter, is believed to have fallen into the path of a grey Holden Barina on the main road.

The girl, who was from Laidley, was declared dead at the scene, police said.

The driver and passenger of the car were not physically injured.

The crash unit are looking into the circumstances of the incident and have appealed for anyone with relevant dashcam or CCTV footage to come forward.

Investigations are ongoing.

Queensland Police's initial inquiries suggested she fell off her scooter onto Vaux Street road

A 12-year-old girl from the rural town Laidley in Queensland died after a collision (stock image)

In February, father-to-be Stuart Jackson succumbed to head injuries after crashing his e-scooter in Highland Park on the Gold Coast.

Queensland emergency departments recorded 1,273 e-scooter injuries in 2023.

The research, compiled by Jamieson Trauma Institute, found hospitalisations arising from e-scooter incidents had doubled across the state in the two years leading.

Figures are believed to be even higher than reported due to differences in hospital reporting processes.
Teachers have threatened to take strike action if the Labour government offers a pay award that is 'not fully funded' - despite receiving a wage increase in September.

Delegates of the NASUWT teaching union today voted to 'step up' their campaigning to secure a fully funded, real-terms pay award for teachers next academic year.

A motion, passed at its conference in Liverpool, called on the union's national action committee 'to reject any pay award that is not fully funded and to move immediately to ballot members for industrial action'.

The vote comes after another teaching union, the National Education Union (NEU), said it would launch a formal ballot on strike action if the Government's final pay offer for teachers remained 'unacceptable'.

Teachers in England received a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise in September and the Department for Education has said a 2.8 per cent pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would be 'appropriate'.

It added this increase would 'maintain the competitiveness' of teachers' pay despite the 'challenging financial backdrop' the Government is facing.

The Government has yet to publish the recommendations of the teachers' pay review body, or its decision on whether to accept them.

The motion, which was carried at the NASUWT conference on Saturday, called on the Government to use the spending review in June to fully fund public services to ensure that schools 'can recruit and retain the staff needed'.

Protesters on a primary school teachers picket line outside Wellshot Primary School in Glasgow in January 2023

In December, the Department for Education said a 2.8 per cent pay rise for teachers in 2025/26 would be 'appropriate' (file photo)

Teachers in England received a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise in September last year after they threatened eight days of strike action in 2023 (photo shows picket line in 2023)

Delegate Dan Lister, junior vice president of the NASUWT, said: 'Let the message go out from this conference loud and clear, we will not accept another unfunded or partially funded pay offer.

'We will not settle for empty promises while our colleagues burn out and our students miss out.

'We call on the national executive to intensify its campaign, and we empower the national action committee to reject any pay deal that isn't fully funded and move swiftly to ballot for industrial action if necessary.

'The Government's recommendation to the STRB for a 2.8 per cent partially funded pay award is not acceptable.

'The Government's recommendation makes it clear that efficiencies will need to be made.

'We know what this means. It means restructures, it means redundancies, members losing their jobs and children losing their teachers.'

Delegate Julie Blogg, from North Yorkshire, said: 'If we really want to engender support from the public, we need to show them the fundamental problems with a lack of funding.

Protesters on a primary school teachers picket line outside Wellshot Primary School in Glasgow in January 2023

Pictured: Delegates at the NEU 2025 annual conference in Harrogate

Protesters on a primary school teachers picket line outside Wellshot Primary School in Glasgow in January 2023

'It isn't just about my wages. It is about the care I can give to my students.

'It is the reality of being there when they need us. They need to know that we are there because if they don't fund it, we're not going to be there.'

Patrick Roach, general secretary of the NASUWT, said: 'The NASUWT conference has today made it crystal clear that teachers deserve a real terms pay rise and that schools must be provided with the additional funding needed to pay for it.

'We are also clear that if the Government fails to fully fund the next pay award, the NASUWT will be left with no choice but to ballot our members for industrial action.

'We know that the Government has been handed the pay review body's latest report and we hope that the pay review body has been ambitious in putting forward recommendations that will address the ongoing recruitment and retention crisis.

'Any suggestion that teachers might be offered a real terms pay cut, or that the pay award will not be fully funded, or that any school or college will have to make further cuts to provision for pupils in order to pay teachers, would be wholly unacceptable.'

Earlier this week, Daniel Kebede, general secretary of the NEU, suggested that school strikes could be staged as early as the autumn if the Government's final pay and funding offer is not increased.

Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: 'With school staff, parents and young people working so hard to turn the tide on school attendance, any move towards industrial action by teaching unions would be indefensible.

NEU members protest outside the Department for Education in January 2025 over pay for sixth form teachers

Members of NASUWT the Teachers' Union, deliver a 'report card' outside the constituency office of Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow in January 2023

NEU members hold a rally in London in January 2025 to support strikes by 2,000 sixth form college teachers

'Following a 5.5 per cent pay award in a hugely challenging fiscal context, I would urge unions to put children first.'

Teachers in England received a fully funded 5.5 per cent pay rise in September last year.

NEU members staged eight days of strike action in state schools in England in 2023 in a long-running pay dispute.

In July 2023, the Government agreed to implement the STRB's recommendation of a 6.5 per cent increase for teachers in England, and coordinated strike action by four unions was called off.

The NASUWT teaching union is due to make an announcement next week on the nominations received for its next general secretary.

The national executive of the NASUWT endorsed Matt Wrack, former leader of the Fire Brigades Union, to replace Mr Roach as the union's general secretary after he announced in October that he was not seeking re-election.

But under the union's rules, local associations can nominate challengers and if a candidate gets endorsements from 25 associations there will be an election.

The deadline for submissions for any potential challengers for the position of general secretary was Saturday - the final day of the NASUWT's conference.

An NASUWT spokesperson said: 'Following the close of nominations, the union will undertake the required checks on the validity of all nominations received and an announcement will be made at the conclusion of this process next week.'
A mass shooting at Florida State University on Thursday left two people dead and six others injured  forcing survivors of a previous school massacre to once again relive their trauma.

Stephanie Horowitz, now a master's student at FSU, survived the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed.

On Thursday, she found herself caught in another horrifyingly similar scene  this time on her own college campus.

'I never thought it would happen to me for the first time, and here we are,' she told CBS Mornings. 'Unfortunately, this is America for you.'

Horowitz was teaching a one-credit class in a campus bowling alley when the shooting erupted. The music was so loud, no one heard the gunfire at first.

'We were lucky that some of my students looked out of the glass doors and saw everybody running,' she said.

What Horowitz saw when she stepped out from her desk stopped her cold: bags abandoned, laptops still open, total silence.

'Because of my past experience at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, I knew exactly what that meant,' she said.

Stephanie Horowitz, now a master's student at FSU, survived the 2018 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed

A mass shooting at Florida State University on Thursday left two people dead and six others injured  forcing survivors of a previous school massacre to once again relive their trauma

'I just started to direct everybody into the back room to safety until I got further information, but I had a feeling that it was an active shooter situation before I even heard.

'You looked out into that room and you knew there was an emergency. There was not anything there, no movement, dead silence and laptops, opened bags on the floor. I knew what that meant.'

Police say the shooter was 20-year-old Phoenix Ikner, an FSU student and stepson of a Leon County sheriff's deputy.

Officials noted he had 'access to one of her weapons, and that was one of the weapons that was found at the scene.'

The Florida State University dining manager Robert Morales and his visiting supervisor Tiru Chabba were both killed when Ikner allegedly opened fire on campus.

Two of the six injured in the shooting were expected to be discharged from Tallahassee Memorial hospital at some point on Friday.

Three other victims' conditions are said to be improving, a spokesperson said on Friday, while another remained 'in fair condition'.

The campus was locked down as gunfire erupted, with students ordered to shelter in place as first responders swarmed the site moments after the lunchtime shootings.

Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooter Nikolas Cruz sits at the defense table after his sentencing at the Broward County Courthouse November 2, 2022 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Phoenix Ikner (PICTURED) the 20-year-old alleged gunman who is said to have used his police mother's weapon in the fatal shooting at Florida State University

Horowitz, who was 15 and a freshman during the Parkland shooting, said the trauma changed how she lived her life.

'After that day, I kind of woke up every morning thinking that it could be my last,' she said. 'I was afraid for my life, every step that I took.'

Years later, she had finally started to feel safe again  until Thursday.

'I was able to walk around campus and feel safe, and here we are yet again and that was taken from me for a second time.'

Now, she's not ready to confront what just happened.

'I'm not ready to potentially go back to a place where I'm a little unsure and not feeling myself.'

Still, her first priority was making sure her students were protected.

'I was responsible for almost 30 students because I was the instructor. So I was looking out for their best interests and keeping them safe, and soon, I'll be able to process things myself.'

Aramark Collegiate Hospitality regional vice president Tiru Chabba was killed in the Florida State University mass shooting on Thursday

Robert Morales was shot dead on the Tallahassee campus after 20-year-old student Phoenix Ikner opened fire

Another FSU student, Robbie Alhadeff, also had his world shaken by the shooting. His younger sister Alyssa, just 14, was one of the 17 victims killed at Parkland.

He was walking home Thursday when messages about the gunfire started pouring in.

'I ran right back into my apartment because I was scared about the whole situation,' he told ABC News Live.

Alhadeff said many of his friends are fellow Parkland graduates  and all of them are traumatized again.

'A lot of the people I'm friends with are from Parkland and a lot of them go to FSU,' he said. 'This is the second time it's happened  and no one I know wants to go back to school.'

'You could end up being killed just going to learn,' he said. 'I thought this would never happen again, but it continuously keeps happening  and something has to change.'

Parkland parent Manuel Oliver, whose 17-year-old son Joaquin was murdered in 2018, said he's done being surprised by the headlines.

'I don't understand how anyone could be surprised' by another school shooting 'if we haven't done anything to stop it,' Oliver told ABC News Live.

Police officers walk past flowers left at the scene on Thursday afternoon

Ikner is seen in the above still stalking the campus with the firearm as the shooting unfolded

Now a vocal advocate for gun reform, Oliver said his activism will only grow.

'We will continue to fight  these kinds of events empower us to do more, different things, because whatever we've been trying is not enough,' he said.

'You don't want to be me ... so you better get involved. You better choose better leaders and ask and demand the safety of your kids.'

Fred Guttenberg, whose 14-year-old daughter Jaime also died in the Parkland massacre, said some of her former classmates were in the FSU student union when Thursday's shooting occurred.

'As a father, all I ever wanted after the Parkland shooting was to help our children be safe,' Guttenberg wrote on social media.

'Sadly, because of the many people who refuse to do the right things about reducing gun violence, I am not surprised by what happened today.'

Classes and campus events at FSU have been canceled through the weekend.

A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. as students and staff try to process a reality far too many have faced  more than once.
Constituents in Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's New York City district are asking the FBI to step in an clean up a large number of sex workers and drug dealers operating in the area.

Local leaders wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel urging him to put agents on the ground to tackle the issues plaguing Roosevelt Avenue in the Queens borough of the city.

The two-mile strip is frequently dotted with scantily-clad women on the sidewalks, with locals now claiming a ruthless gang has taken over operations on the street.

Following a police crackdown, the infamous Tren de Aragua was wiped out of the area - leading the 18th Street Gang to take over the turf, according to leaders.

The crackdown, dubbed 'Operation Restore Roosevelt', saw city and state officers flood the area.

NYPD officials told Fox that it resulted in a 37 percent drop in crime on the avenue, with over 1,800 arrests and 15,000 summonses.

Now, locals say it was short-lived with former Democrat state Senator Hiram Monserrate writing: 'The NYPDs Operation Restore Roosevelt did lead to arrests, but our street sources say the gangs replaced their foot soldiers within days.

'The money never stopped moving, the dance floors stayed open, and the prostitutes came back in full force.'

AOC is seen here speaking during a Fighting Oligarchy From Here rally alongside Bernie Sanders in Folsom, California, on Tuesday

The two-mile strip is frequently dotted with scantily-clad women on the sidewalks, with locals now claiming a ruthless gang has taken over operations on the street

It added: 'This isnt just a Queens problem, its a blueprint for how gangs, cartels, and traffickers can take over a community in plain sight.'

The seedy strip has been likened to a 'well-oiled machine', with Roosevelt being used as the main marketplace.

Monserrate and two local groups, Restore Roosevelt Ave. and Neighbors of the American Triangle, have asked Patel to investigate.

He told Fox that the gangs are involved in human trafficking, drug dealing, illegal gun sales, identity theft and for distributing fake Green Cards.

Sources close to Monserrrate say they have managed to identify 20 brothels in the area - some of which are near schools.

In a clip shared to his social media recently, he said there were 23 alleged sex workers on just one block.

Cortez was scheduled to hold a town hall meeting in the neighborhood this weekend but canceled due to sickness, she did not respond to DailyMail.com's request for comment.

Rep. Grace Meng, whose district includes the area, told Fox that she is working with the NYPD to improve public safety.

In a clip shared to his social media recently, he said there were 23 alleged sex workers on just one block

This can never be OK anywhere in the NYC! Broad daylight on a Sunday afternoon (April 07, 2025). Tomorrow we will call on the FBI and DEA to intervene on Roosevelt Avenue. We need to get serious about the cartels, street gangs and human traffickers operating flagrantly in our pic.twitter.com/ptMzyryqz8  Hiram Monserrate (@HiramMonserrate) April 7, 2025

Local leaders wrote to FBI Director Kash Patel, seen here, urging him to put agents on the ground to tackle the issues

She said: 'I have confidence in the NYPDs commitment and capability to address these challenges, and I commend their sustained presence and work in the community.

'As the top Democrat on the Appropriations subcommittee responsible for funding for law enforcement agencies such as the NYPD, I will continue to advocate for the resources they need to protect residents in Queens.'

Previous videos taken last year show the streets of Roosevelt Avenue lined with trash and make shift flea markets flogging items.

Prostitution is considered a Class B misdemeanor in New York, punishable by up to three months in jail and/or up to a $500 fine.

Patronizing a prostitute is a Class A misdemeanor and punishable by up to one year in prison and/or up to a $1,000 fine.

Last year, the New York Police Department raided six establishments allegedly engaging in prostitution in the area, with Mayor Eric Adams present.

At the time, Adams said: 'Sex trafficking is real  and were not going to sit idly by and pretend that it's not happening.'

It comes after polling guru Nate Silver predicted that the Democratic party will choose AOC as their 2029 presidential nominee.

Silver made the bold claim in a video for his Silver Bulletin Substack Wednesday alongside journalist Galen Druke, who actually brought up AOC as a viable contender first.

'That was going to be my f***ing pick!' Silver exclaimed. 'We both are on the AOC bus.'

Silver explained that he picked AOC 'because of some of the polling, because she has this kind of progressive lane, probably not to herself, because she is younger and media savvy.'

He pointed to polls that showed her leading Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer should she try to challenge him for his New York Senate seat.

Silver said he thought this could mean that she has appeal beyond the progressive left as New York Democrats are actually 'a pretty moderate lot.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine as an 'Easter truce'.

The Kremlin said all 'military operations will stop from 6pm today (4pm UK time) until Monday.

'We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions,' Putin said at a meeting with Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov, in a video shared by the Kremlin's Press Service.

Russia has said it hoped Ukraine 'will follow our example' however President Volodymyr Zelensky instead accused Putin of 'playing with human lives' in a cryptic response on X.

He said: 'Yet another attempt by Putin to play with human livesat this moment, air raid alerts are spreading across Ukraine.

'At 17:15, Russian attack drones were detected in our skies. Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us.

'Shahed drones in our skies reveal Putin's true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.'

Meanwhile, Britain today urged Russia to commit to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, 'not just a one-day pause'.

'Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same,' a British foreign ministry spokesperson said, adding that a pause would enable negotiations for a just and enduring peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine (pictured today with Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov)

A view of the aftermath of a Russian missile attack in Kharkiv yesterday

Firefighters work to extinguish a fire following an attack in Mykolaiv on Thursday

'Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion,' the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said in its statement.

Russia has claimed that Putin's actions were 'guided by humanitarian considerations.'

The truce offer came on the same day the two sides took part in the largest prisoner exchange of the war with 246 Russians returning home and 277 Ukrainians.

Yesterday, Putin's troops pushed Ukrainian forces from one of their last remaining footholds in Russia's Kursk region, officials said.

According to Russias Defense Ministry, its forces took control of the village of Oleshnya, on the border with Ukraine.

'Units of the `North military group have liberated the village of Oleshnya in the Kursk region during active offensive operations,' the ministry said in a statement. The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim and there was no immediate response from Ukrainian officials.

The truce came days after US President Donald Trump said he was ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official has warned.

If the president doesn't see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has 'other priorities' to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

'We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.

'If it is we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well,' Rubio said in Paris, after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders.

Rubio said Trump was still interested in a deal but was willing to move on if there were no immediate signs of progress.

'If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president's probably at a point where he's going to say, 'well, we're done', he said.

'The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it's not our war,' Rubio added.

Rubio was in the French capital on Thursday for talks with UK, EU and Ukrainian delegations and a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron.

Donald Trump is ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official warns

If the president doesn't see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has 'other priorities' to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday. Pictured: Marco Rubio meeting European and Ukrainian leaders in Paris

Pictured: Firefighters work at the site of a garment production factory hit by a Russian missile strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kharkiv, Ukraine April 18, 2025

Meanwhile the US and Ukraine signed a memorandum as a first step towards the stalled minerals deal, according to Ukraine's economy minister.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy said the conference underscored the 'shared commitment to global security'.

Trump promised during his election campaign to end the war within his first 24 hours in the White House.

He moderated that claim on taking office, suggesting a deal by April or May, as obstacles mounted.

Meanwhile, Russia's Defense Ministry said Saturday its forces pushed Ukrainian troops from the village of Oleshnya, one of their last remaining footholds in Russia's Kursk region where the Ukrainians staged a surprise incursion last year.

Gerasimov said Saturday in a report to Putin, quoted by Russian state media, that Russia had retaken nearly all of the territory from Ukrainian forces.

'The main part of the region's territory, where the invasion took place, has now been liberated. This is 1,260 square kilometers, 99.5%,' Gerasimov said.

Zelenskyy wrote on X that Ukrainian forces 'continued their activity on the territory of the Kursk region and are holding their positions.'

The Associated Press was unable to immediately verify the claim by Russia.

Russian and North Korean soldiers have nearly deprived Kyiv of a key bargaining chip by retaking most of the region.

According to Russian state news agency Tass, Russia is still fighting to push Ukrainian forces out of the village of Gornal, some 7 miles (11 kilometers) south of Oleshnya.

'The Russian military has yet to push the Ukrainian armed forces out of Gornal ... in order to completely liberate the Kursk region. Fierce fighting is underway in the settlement,' the agency reported, citing Russia security agencies.

In other developments, the Ukrainian air force reported that Russia fired 87 exploding drones and decoys in the latest wave of attacks overnight into Saturday. It said 33 of them were intercepted and another 36 were lost, likely having been electronically jammed.

Russian attacks damaged farms in the Odesa region and sparked fires in the Sumy region overnight, Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Saturday. Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.

Russia's Ministry of Defense, meanwhile, said its air defense systems shot down two Ukrainian drones overnight into Saturday.

As for Ukrainian soldiers on the front lines, there is no faith that the Kremlin leader will keep his word - or that any brief pause in the fighting will lead to a wider ceasefire.

Of course there's distrust,' said 40-year-old soldier, Dmitry, talking to AFP in the city of Kramatorsk, around 20 kilometres from the front in the eastern Donetsk region.

Even if Russia did hold off on attacks until Sunday night, it would only be for cynical reasons, he believed.

'I think this man (Putin) is evil, a murderer, but he can do it. He might do it to give some hope or to show his humanity. But either way, of course, we don't trust. These 30 hours will lead to nothing.

'The killings of our people, and theirs, will 100 percent continue,' he added.

Vitaly, 45, another soldier also on a break in Kramatorsk agreed.

'I think that there will be no ceasefire, the ones declaring this won't fulfil all those statements,' he told AFP from his car window.

'Perhaps they want to somehow reduce our vigilance,' he said.

Speaking about his fellow troops stationed in trenches on the front, he said: 'If there is an urgent need to open fire, they will open fire and destroy the enemy.'

If a pause in attacks really does materialise, it could offer Ukraine a chance to 'regroup', he said.
She has spent much of the past few months travelling the world promoting Oscar-winning film The Brutalist as well as her other filming commitments.

However, actress Emma Laird ditched the glitz and glam of the red carpet when she popped up in the tiny village of Luss

The unexpected sojourn came a matter of days after her co-star Adrien Brody picked up the Oscar for Best Actor with the film also taking home the coveted gongs for Best Cinematography and Best Film Score.

In a photo posted on her Instagram reel recently, the star posed in front of the Discover Luss tourist sign while wearing a blue hooded jumper, a red woollen hat and a fur-lined coat.

A subsequent image then made a jokey comparison between her surname and a section on the sign discussing a local laird in reference to Scotlands landed gentry.

Laird captioned the photo, which she posted on March 22, with the brief message: Having lots of fun.

Eight days later, the actress suggested she had stayed on in Scotland, sharing a photo taken at the entrance to the so-called Hidden Lane arts space in Glasgow.

However, a possible reason for Lairds trip emerged when the BBC this month announced she will star in a new drama called Mint  filmed in Glasgow.

Actress Emma Laird is a regular at glamorous events, such as this Luis Vuitton bash in 2023

The star joked around with friends as she enjoyed a trip to the quiet Scots village of Luss

The eight-part television series is described as a darkly comic and unconventional drama about a crime familys inner life.

Laird will play the central character Shannon - the daughter of the areas dominant crime family.

Meanwhile Scots actress Laura Fraser will play her mother Cat while Sam Riley takes on the role of her father Dylan.

Lairds new role in Mint will see her based in Glasgow for extended periods.

As such, it will be a departure from the more glamorous locations she has enjoyed recently.

For example, in September of last year Laird and her co-stars from The Brutalist attended the films world premiere at the 81st Venice International Film Festival.

At the time, she gushed: I am blown away and overwhelmed and so honoured to work with these people.

A week later she jetted to the States to promote the film at the New York Film Festival, walking the red carpet in a silver Louis Vuitton beaded dress and black leather knee-high boots by the fashion house.

Emma Laird and Adrien Brody in The Brutalist, which won Brody the Oscar for best actor

Last month (Mar), Laird attended the South by Southwest (SXSW) festival in Austin, Texas, to promote drama Satisfaction alongside the films writer-director Alex Burunova.

The movie itself had also required weeks of filming in another sun-drenched location - the idyllic island of Antiparos, in Greece.

In 2023, 26-year-old Laird made headlines after she was spotted in a clinch with ex-Doctor Who star Matt Smith, 42.

Lairds star has been on the rise, having landed parts in the Apple TV+ series The Crowded Room, and in Kenneth Branaghs A Haunting In Venice, her feature film debut.

The former model first came to prominence as an actress in American TV drama Mayor Of Kingstown, where she played the key role of an escort employed by the Russian mafia.

It was previously rumoured that she had been in a relationship with Taylor Swifts ex Joe Alwyn, after filming the The Brutalist with him in Hungary.

On Instagram, she posted a picture of the actor on a scooter during a night out, along with a caption that read: Moments in March, accompanied by a red heart emoji.
The Trump administration made a disastrous attempt to flatter their French hosts at the Ukraine peace summit this week by comparing the Elysee Palace to Mar-a-Lago.

Top officials from around the world travelled to Paris on Thursday to discuss the war with Russia and Kyiv's security.

It was the first time since Donald Trump's inauguration that American, Ukrainian and European representatives are known to have met together to discuss an end to the war.

However, the meeting quickly got off to the worst possible start after Steve Witkoff's attempts at some sweet talk quickly turned sour, The Times Diary has reported.

'This is beautiful,' the US Russia envoy said of the Elysee Palace, before adding: 'This actually looks like President Trump's club in Mar-a-Lago.'

The UK national security adviser Jonathan Powell was supposedly left baffled by the comparison of the neoclassical presidential palace to Trump's Florida resort.

Thursday's talks, which were also attended by Foreign Secretary David Lammy, were an opportunity for Mr Witkoff to brief European ministers on his recent five-hour meeting with Putin.

Mr Witkoff claimed he 'finally' got an answer to the Russian President's demands for a peace agreement in Ukraine during their 'compelling meeting' in Moscow.

Elysee Palace: Photo shows the outside of the presidential palace in France

Mar-a-Lago: The main building of the Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach, Florida on February 18, 2025

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff looks on during a diplomatic meeting with France's President

But Kyiv and other European capitals were left alarmed by Mr Witkoff's suggestion that Ukraine could hand over 'five territories' to Russia.

Macron previously described the talks as an important 'convergence' and came as concerns were growing about Trumps readiness to draw closer to Russia.

Until now, Trumps officials have pursued separate negotiating tracks between the United States and Ukraine, and between the US and Russia.

Senior US officials had also previously made comments suggesting European representatives would not be involved in ceasefire negotiations.

Meanwhile Putin today announced a temporary ceasefire with Ukraine as an 'Easter truce.'

The Kremlin said all 'military operations will stop from 6pm today (4pm UK time) until Monday.

Ukraine has not yet responded to Russia's offer but Russia has said it hopes it 'will follow our example.'

A statement read: 'Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18:00 to midnight from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.

'I order all military actions to be stopped for this period.

'At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive action.'

Top officials take part in a meeting at the Quai d'Orsay, France's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in Paris

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, listens to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during a meeting with French, Ukrainian, German and UK delegations at the Elysee Palace

France's Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs Jean-Noel Barrot speaks to the press

The truce came days after President Trump said he was ready to walk away from trying to negotiate a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless progress is made, a top US official has warned.

If the president doesn't see signs that an agreement is on the horizon he will call it a day because he has 'other priorities' to focus on, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Friday.

'We're not going to continue with this endeavor for weeks and months on end. So we need to determine very quickly now, and I'm talking about a matter of days whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks.

'If it is we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well,' Rubio said in Paris, after meeting European and Ukrainian leaders.

Rubio said Trump was still interested in a deal but was willing to move on if there were no immediate signs of progress.

'If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president's probably at a point where he's going to say, 'well, we're done', he said.

'The United States has been helping Ukraine over the last three years, and we want it to end, but it's not our war,' Rubio added.
Trump's love of gold is no secret. From the gilded splendor of Trump Tower to Mar-a-lago's gleaming ballroom, the president is known to revel in all that glitters.

But has a golden opportunity just arisen for Trump to take control of a tropical island complete with its own gold mine?

Bougainville, which is currently part of Papua New Guinea, voted overwhelmingly for independence in 2019, but the poll wasn't binding. Now a local leader says he is open to a deal for it to become part of the United States.

Given the island's strategic significance in any future war with China, it could be well worth its weight.

Bougainville's president, former rebel commander Ishmael Toroama, says: 'If the US comes and says, "Yes, we support Bougainville independence," then, I can say, "Well, the Panguna mine is here. It's up to you."'

'Bougainville is for independence. It is only a matter of time,' he told The World in October, setting 2027 as the target for full statehood.

At the center of the battle for independence lies Bougainville's immense natural wealth  particularly the dormant Panguna mine, once one of the world's biggest sources of copper and gold.

It's estimated to still hold 5.84 million tons of copper and nearly 20 million ounces of gold  worth around $60 billion today.

Bougainville, a resource-rich Pacific archipelago, could become the worlds newest countryand some believe Donald Trump might see it as the deal of the century.

The islands hold an estimated $60 billion in copper and gold, mainly in the shuttered Panguna mine, making them an economic and strategic prize

With its mineral riches and location just north of Australia, Bougainville is seen as a potential prize in the growing power struggle between the U.S. and China.

Australia's former High Commissioner to PNG, Ian Kemish, however, isn't convinced. 'I don't really believe that it's going to be of much interest,' he told The Sun. 'But from a geopolitical point of view, an independent Bougainville could be useful to either the U.S. or China.'

Despite 98 percent of voters backing the split, the path to full statehood remains stalled in political limbo, with PNG's parliament showing little appetite to let the mineral-rich region go.

'The simple fact is that the national parliament has no wish at all to see Bougainville go,' Kemish added. 'Both sides have been avoiding confrontation, but there's a lot of tension left in this.'

That tension is rooted in a bloody past. Bougainville declared independence once before in 1975  but was absorbed by PNG a year later, sparking a civil war that raged from 1988 to 1997, claiming thousands of lives.

A 2001 peace deal promised a future vote  delivered in 2019  but legal independence still requires PNG's approval.

With PNG missing a 2023 ratification deadline set in the Era Kone Covenant, doubts are growing. 'They feel the territorial integrity of the nation is at stake,' said Kemish. 'If they let one bit go, other bits will want to follow.'

Though shuttered since the civil war, the Panguna mine remains the cornerstone of Bougainville's dream for economic independence.

Pictured: The shuttered Panguna mine, that boasted enormous copper and gold reserves

Pictured: The main mine of C.R.A. at Panaguna, 20 miles from Kirta on Bougainville on October 3, 1969

President Ishmael Toroama has hinted at a bold offer, reportedly saying, 'Well, the Panguna mine is here. Its up to you,' suggesting Bougainville could welcome U.S. support in exchange for access (Pictured: Aerial view of copper mine from 1974)

'We have to unlock the economic potential of Bougainville,' Toroama added. 'No one will stop our people.'

Home to just over 300,000 people, Bougainville would be among the world's smallest nations, roughly the size of Cyprus.

Its closest neighbor, the Solomon Islands, has already leaned toward Beijingadding further intrigue to Bougainville's fate.

If it succeeds in gaining recognition, Bougainville would be the first new country admitted to the UN since South Sudan in 2011.

This is not the first time Trump has floated bold territorial ambitions.

Shortly after taking office, the former real estate mogul turned president stunned global leaders by expressing interest in purchasing Greenland, the vast Arctic island governed by Denmark.

In 2019, Trump confirmed reports that the U.S. was considering buying the territory, citing its strategic value, abundant natural resources, and potential for military expansion.

'Essentially, it's a large real estate deal,' he told reporters at the time, calling the proposal 'a great deal for the United States.'

The idea was swiftly rejected by Danish officials, who called the notion 'absurd.' Greenland's government also issued a firm statement: 'Greenland is not for sale.'

The diplomatic fallout escalated to the point where Trump canceled a planned state visit to Denmark after Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen rebuffed the offer.

Still, Trump never walked back the proposalsuggesting instead that it was a savvy move overlooked by other leaders. 'I just looked at it strategically. It would be nice,' he later said.

'We have to unlock the economic potential of Bougainville,' Toroama said earlier in October 2024. 'No one will stop our people'

Despite a 98 percent vote for independence in 2019, Papua New Guineas parliament hasnt ratified the result, fearing national fragmentation.

His Greenland bid marked one of the most audacious foreign policy suggestions of his presidency  until now.

Trump has also toyed with the idea of making Canada the 51st state.

He reportedly joked about former Prime Minister Justin Trudeau becoming a U.S. governor and questioned why the two countries werent just one, citing shared culture and trade ties.

Though likely tongue-in-cheek, he mentioned the idea more than once  hinting at using tariffs as leverage.

Canadian officials and the public have firmly rejected the notion, but it fits Trumps pattern of viewing geopolitics through the lens of a dealmaker.

The DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House for comment.
A US airstrike on a vital oil port held by Yemen's Houthi rebels has killed more than 70 people and wounded many others, the Iranian-backed rebel group announced yesterday.

Marking a major escalation in the military campaign launched by President Donald Trump last month, it is the deadliest known attack so far.

The overnight strike on the Ras Isa port, which reportedly killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others, sent massive fireballs billowing skyward and turned tanker trucks into burning wrecks.

Acting as the first American attack on a Houthi-controlled oil facility in the new US bombing campaign, it also came just before the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the US and Iran over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program, which Washington has linked to its attacks in Yemen.

It comes as UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres shared how he is 'gravely concerned' about air strikes conducted by the United States in Yemen following attacks by rebels that killed some 80 people and wounded 150.

A statement given by spokesman Stephane Dujarric on Saturday said: 'The Secretary-General is gravely concerned about the air strikes conducted by the United States over the course of 17 and 18 April in and around Yemen's port of Ras Issa, which reportedly resulted in scores of civilian casualties, including five humanitarian workers injured'.

The US is targeting the Houthis because of the group's attacks on shipping in the Red Sea, a crucial global trade route, and on Israel.

The overnight strike on the Ras Isa port (pictured), which reportedly killed at least 74 people and wounded 171 others, is the deadliest known attack by the US so far

Acting as the first American attack on a Houthi-controlled oil facility in the new US bombing campaign, it also came just before the resumption of negotiations in Rome between the US and Iran over Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program

US Central Command declined to answer any questions about possible civilian casualties but referred to a statement in which it said 'this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen'

Just last month, Trump ordered large-scale strike attacks by the US on areas controlled by the Houthis after redesignating the Houthis as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organisation'.

The Houthis are the last militant group in Iran's self-described 'Axis of Resistance' that is capable of regularly attacking Israel.

Serving as a major hub for incoming fuel shipments that power areas of Yemen held by the Houthis, analysts say the airstrike to the port could seriously affect daily life there.

The Houthis denounced the strike as a 'completely unjustified aggression' and aired graphic footage of the aftermath on their al-Masirah satellite news channel, showing corpses strewn about the port and smashed tanker trucks.

In a statement, the group said: 'It targets a vital civilian facility that has served the Yemeni people for decades'.

US Central Command declined to answer any questions about possible civilian casualties but referred to a statement in which it said 'this strike was not intended to harm the people of Yemen.'

The statement added: 'US forces took action to eliminate this source of fuel for the Iran-backed Houthi terrorists and deprive them of illegal revenue that has funded Houthi efforts to terrorize the entire region for over 10 years'.

An anonymous US official said the attack sent a message to those supplying fuel to the Houthis despite sanctions.

The Israeli military said that just hours after the US strike, the Houthis launched a missile toward Israel that was intercepted, with sirens sounding in Tel Aviv and elsewhere.

Meanwhile, the Houthis said they shot down another American MQ-9 Predator drone, which the US official acknowledged.

The Ras Isa port is a collection of oil tanks and equipment that sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea

The Ras Isa port is a collection of oil tanks and equipment that sits in Yemen's Hodeida governorate along the Red Sea. It is just off Kamaran Island, which has been targeted by intense US airstrikes in recent days.

Before the Houthis took control of Yemen's capital, Sanaa, in 2014 and sent the government into exile, oil from the country's energy-rich Marib governorate moved through Ras Isa for export.

But, since the Houthis don't control that region, the port now serves as an import hub for gasoline, diesel and liquefied petroleum gas that help power those parts of Yemen the Houthis control.

The new US operation against the Houthis under Trump started after the rebels threatened to begin targeting 'Israeli' ships again over Israel blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip.

From November 2023 until January 2024, the Houthis targeted more than 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two of them and killing four sailors.

It has resulted in a reduction in the flow of trade through the Red Sea corridor, which typically sees $1 trillion of goods move through it. The Houthis also launched attacks targeting American warships without success.

While the Ras Isa port airstrike is the deadliest known attack yet in the month-long campaign, the actual cost in lives is hard to assess, said Luca Nevola, the senior analyst for Yemen and the Gulf at the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project.

Mr Nevola said: 'Since they are targeting civilian areas, there's a lot more victims. But it's also difficult to assess how many because the Houthis are releasing these umbrella statements that cover all the victims or tend to stress only the civilian victims'.

Further complicating the situation is the US strikes hitting military targets, said Mohammed al-Basha, a Yemen expert at the Basha Report risk advisory firm. He pointed to an American attack that Trump highlighted online with black-and-white strike footage, which might have killed about 70 fighters.

'Although the Houthis claimed it was a tribal gathering, they neither released any footage nor named a single casualty, strongly suggesting the victims were not civilians but affiliated fighters,' al-Basha said.

He added: 'However, the overnight strike on the Ras Isa Fuel Port marks the first mass-casualty incident the Houthis have openly acknowledged and publicised'.

Just last month, Trump ordered large-scale strike attacks by the US on areas controlled by the Houthis after redesignating the Houthis as a 'Foreign Terrorist Organisation'

Wim Zwijnenburg, an analyst with the Dutch peace organization PAX, said it appeared at least three fuel storage tanks had been destroyed and that oil had leaked from mooring pipelines.

The US airstrikes continued overnight into early Saturday, with the Houthis reporting them in Yemen's al-Jawf, Sadaa and Sanaa governorates.

A US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, accused a Chinese commercial satellite image provider, Chang Guang Satellite Technology Co. Ltd., of 'directly supporting Iran-backed Houthi terrorist attacks on US interests.'

During a briefing with reporters, Ms Bruce did not elaborate in detail. However, she acknowledged a report by The Financial Times that quoted anonymous American officials saying the company linked to the People's Liberation Army has provided images allowing the rebels to target US warships and commercial vessels traveling through the Red Sea corridor.

Ms Bruce said 'Beijing's support' of the satellite company 'contradicts their claims of being peace supporters.'

Responding to a question about the allegation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Friday that he was 'not familiar with the situation you mentioned.'

However, he insisted China is seen as urging countries 'to make more efforts conducive to regional peace and stability.'

Mr Jian further remarked: 'Since the escalations in the Red Sea situation, China has been playing a positive role in de-escalating the situation'.

'Who is promoting talks for peace and deescalating the tensions, and who is imposing sanctions and pressure?'

The company did not respond to a request for comment. The US Treasury sanctioned it in 2023 for allegedly providing satellite images to the Russian mercenary force the Wagner Group as it fought in Ukraine.

It remains unclear whether Chang Guang is linked to the Chinese government. The US government in the past has used images taken by American commercial satellite companies to share with allies, like Ukraine, to avoid releasing its own top-secret pictures.
The SNPs failed gender row legal battle has cost the taxpayer at least 1million, The Mail can reveal.

Analysis of official records shows the huge amount of taxpayer money that successive SNP administrations have shelled out on court fees to fight the gender battle.

On Wednesday, the Scottish Government suffered its latest blow after the UKs Supreme Court ruled against it on the legal definition of a woman.

Five Supreme Court justices unanimously ruled biological sex is the decisive factor in what makes someone a man or a woman - and said the Scottish Governments argument that some males are legally women would create incoherent and unworkable situations in practice.

The ruling was welcomed bycritics of the Scottish Government's stance, including author JK Rowling, who even posted a photo of herself drinking champagne and smoking a cigar on her superyacht in celebration.

Now, new documents show the Scottish Government has spent at least 585,550 on legal fees to fight for its controversial gender policies via the justice system.

That is on top of its bill for Wednesdays hearing, which including costs for For Women Scotland, is set to come to around 500,000.

A breakdown of legal costs obtained by this newspaper shows its challenge to the UK Governments s35 block on Nicola Sturgeons gender recognition reform bill drained almost 365,000 from the public purse.

Marion Calder, right, and Susan Smith, left, from For Women Scotland, celebrate outside after the U.K. Supreme Court ruled that a woman is someone born biologically female

John Swinney's government has spent at least 1million on its failed gender row legal battle

Meanwhile it spent almost 220,000 on lawyers and court fees to fight two judicial reviews brought by For Women Scotland, which culminated in last weeks costly Supreme Court case.

Maya Forstater, CEO of human rights charity Sex Matters said Scottish taxpayers would be disgusted at the figures.

She said: Most Scottish people reject the bizarre, reality-denying claims of trans activists.

They will surely be disgusted that the Scottish Government has wasted more than 1million on trying to push through laws designed to overwrite the material reality of the two sexes with the fiction of gender identity in every aspect of public life.

Meanwhile For Women Scotland had to rely on the generosity of ordinary people, alongside a handful of wealthier donors.

Surely its well past time for the Scottish Government to abandon its unpopular and ideologically motivated drive towards gender self-ID, and stop squandering taxpayers money on seeking to destroy Scottish womens sex-based rights.

Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White MSP said: Hard-pressed Scots will be outraged that they are being asked to pick up the bill for the SNPs doomed gender crusade.

This squandering of taxpayers money is only happening because of Nicola Sturgeons flawed gender self-ID policy and the nationalists obsession with fringe issues.

They have put gender ideology before the rights of women and girls, but also before NHS waiting lists, before our childrens education and before justice for victims of crime.

Wednesdays ruling should be a wake-up call for John Swinney and his SNP colleagues. Its time they got back to the day job of delivering for the Scottish people.

Nicola Sturgeons divisive plans to allow transgender people to self-identify as the gender of their choice have caused controversy since their inception.

She was humiliated when hours before her Gender Recognition Reform Bill was passed in principle by the Scottish Parliament in 2022, a member of her own cabinet Ash Regan, now of the Alba party, resigned.

A total of seven SNP rebels also voted against the plans and two abstained for fear they could endanger womens single-sex spaces.

The legislation was then blocked by the UK Conservative Government from going to Royal Assent with the use of a section 35 veto power amid concerns the GRR would sit in conflict with UK-wide equalities law.

Enraged by the decision, Ms Sturgeon attempted to challenge the s35 via a judicial review, which according to new data obtained by this newspaper cost the taxpayer 363,705.24

Meanwhile the Scottish Government spent 159,916.50 and 61,928.80 on lawyers and court fees to fight two judicial reviews respectively, both brought by For Women Scotland.

A Scottish Government source last night confirmed final costs for the Supreme Court ruling would be published in due course.

JK Rowling posted a photo of her smoking a cigar and drinking champagne to celebrate the ruling. She captioned it: 'I love it when a plan comes together #SupremeCourt #WomensRights'

At the centre of the For Women Scotland cases was the question of whether a woman could include a trans women in law.

The feminist challenge was sparked by the Scottish Governments Gender Representation on Public Boards (Scotland) Act, which aimed to get more women onto public bodies, but also said that women could include those who had become women, but who were born men.

FWS ultimately went to the Supreme Court for a ruling on whether someone with a gender recognition certificate (GRC) stating they were female should be defined as a woman under the 2010 Equality Act.

Handing down the courts decision, Lord Hodge said the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 2010 refer to a biological woman and biological sex.

The ruling means it is legal to exclude trans people with a GRC from single-sex spaces if proportionate.

But the justices stressed that trans people were still protected from discrimination and harassment.

A Scottish Government spokesman said: The Scottish Government is necessarily involved in litigation given the range and importance of its responsibilities and outlays incurred  like all other costs  are subject to rules about public finance decision-making and accountability.
A tiny invader, no larger than a paperclip, is poised to unleash a multimillion-dollar plumbing nightmare across California's most exclusive waterfront communities.

First discovered last fall in the Port of Stockton, the golden mussle - native to southeast Asia - has since infiltrated the San Joaquin Delta and O'Neill Forebay, threatening to cause irreparable harm to the environment, agriculture and drinking water infrastructure.

Officials warn that the caramel-colored muscles could potentially choke water infrastructure serving two-thirds of California's population, including the affluent areas like Silicon Valley and Bay Area suburbs.

The mollusks are 'highly efficient filter feeders that can form dense colonies,' Krysten Kellum, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife, told SFGate.

The wildlife professional added that if the muscles were to spread to the Bay Area, it is possible that they could clog pipes, impede water flow and damage watercraft motors.

'These impacts necessitate ongoing, costly removal to maintain operational function,' Kellum said, which can lead to 'economic impacts to water conveyances, energy production, recreation, agriculture and ultimately, the public.'

The Golden State wildlife agency has since launched an emergency response plan to address the 'urgent invasive species threat'.

First discovered last fall in the Port of Stockton, the golden muscle has since infiltrated the San Joaquin Delta and O'Neill Forebay, threatening to cause irreperable harm to drinking water infrastructure. Pictured: The Sacramento San Joaquin River Delta

Officials warn that the caramel-colored muscles could potentially choke water infrastructure serving two-thirds of California's population

John Yarbrough, Deputy Director for the State Water Project, emphasized the importance of the response's framework.

'Using this new framework and close collaboration with partner agencies, DWR will implement strategies to address this invasive species and minimize impacts by monitoring for the mussels in SWP waters and developing a mitigation plan,' Yarbrough told ActionNewsNow.

The agency also plans to offer $1 million in grant funding to boating facility operators to help prevent any new introductions of the species and ensure the long-term ecological health of California's waterways.

In light of the suspected invasion, California has also imposed strict boat inspections and quarantines at key lakes, with some water bodies closed entirely to motorized vessels.

'Recreational boating is a significant contributor to California's economy, and California State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) is working diligently with allied industry and agency partners to provide outreach and educational information to boaters and waterbody managers on the importance of the Clean, Drain and Dry message to help protect the state's waterways from invasive species,' Ramona Fernandez, Deputy Director of the Division of Boating and Waterways, said.

Folsom Lake and Lake Clementine - both roughly 40 miles northeast from Sacramento - closed to all trailered and motorized vessels on Monday, according to California State Parks.

For those seeking to launch their boats at either destination will now be required to go through a mandatory 30-day quarantine, the state department said.

The mollusks are 'highly efficient filter feeders that can form dense colonies,' Krysten Kellum, a spokesperson for the California Department of Fish and Wildlife said

In light of the suspected invasion, California has imposed strict boat inspections and quarantines at key lakes, with some water bodies closed entirely to motorized vessels

After May 14, visitors will be 'required to have a quarantine, and/or decontamination seal intact and verified prior to entering the water,' officials wrote.

Lake Berryessa - 65 miles west of Sacramento - similarly, requires hot water decontamination or a 30-day quarantine.

Authorities suspect the invasive species hitched a ride to California via international shipping routes and now they're asking boaters to clean, drain and dry watercraft before moving between lakes to help curb the spread.

Golden mussels are an invasive species from China and Southeast Asia and were first identified outside of their native range in South America in the 1990s, SFGate reported.
A woman is born of woman, not certificated by bureaucrats. We should never have needed the most learned judges in the land to confirm that obvious fact.

Women have been saying it for years  only to be shouted down, ridiculed, and vilified.

I know. I was one of them.

The UK Supreme Court has now confirmed that, in the Equality Act 2010, sex means biological sex  not acquired gender via a certificate, and certainly not self-declared gender, as the Scottish Government originally argued.

The ruling, delivered in response to an appeal by the grassroots group For Women Scotland (FWS), was more than a legal win.

It marked the culmination of years of struggle, courage, and, at times, despair. For me, it was also deeply personal.

It has been more than six years since I first met Susan Smith and Marion Calder  whose jubilant smiles outside the Supreme Court lit up front pages last week.

I was then an SNP MSP. They were two mothers from Edinburgh, building a national campaign from their kitchen tables, juggling public meetings and crowdfunding with school runs, rugby practice, and full-time work.

Trina Budge, a farmer from Caithness joined them. They had no party machine behind them. Just facts, persistence and each other.

In December 2018, Susan gave evidence to the Culture Committee at Holyrood that I convened.

We were scrutinising a Bill that proposed redefining sex in the forthcoming National Census to include the nebulous concept of gender identity.

When the trans lobby heard FWS was giving evidence to parliament youd have thought we had invited The Mother of Demons herself.

Their tactic was to ostracise and deplatform. They knew the madness of their ideology would be exposed when subjected to reasoned scrutiny, as it was that day.

Susans clarity during that 2018 committee appearance left a mark. Soft spoken, calm, and grounded in law, she explained without theatrics how self-identified sex could mean a girl on a school trip might share overnight accommodation with an adult male who claimed to be a woman.

Joan McAlpine was the SNP MSP for the South of Scotland region but came up against fierce hostility to her gender critical views.

'The SNP I had devoted my life to was becoming unrecognisable,' Ms McAlpine says, reflecting on her final months in the party.

That such things were already happening  boys placed in girls dorms, male sex offenders transferred into womens prisons  stunned many MSPs. This was long before the case of Isla

Bryson, a rapist placed in the womens prison estate, shocked the rest of Scotland and contributed to then First Minister Nicola Sturgeons humiliation and resignation.

Our committee persuaded the government to drop the gender identity language from the actual Bill and abandon plans for a third sex option.

We believed data must be collected accurately and that allowing people to self-identify their sex would undermine vital statistics used to monitor inequality and shape public services.

Nonetheless, National Records of Scotland, the government agency behind the census, insisted on publishing guidance telling respondents they could answer the sex question based on how they felt.

Most of our committee disagreed with that decision.

Now, so has the Supreme Court.

In many ways those sessions in 2018 were a rehearsal of the debates to come  and a first step on the long road that led to last weeks historic judgement.

After months of evidence gathering, I posted a long Twitter thread in 2019 called Sex and the Census, explaining why biological sex mattered.

I focussed on data, but I was also concerned about the most vulnerable  for example women who were raped or women who required intimate care because they were very frail or disabled.

Could they refuse attendance by a man who claimed he was actually a woman?

I hoped for reasoned debate. Instead, I was targeted by activists in my own party.

One future SNP councillor posted a photo of me with a red circle target on my head.

Others called me trash, demanding I should be suspended or deselected.

A senior politicians male partner threatened to confront me at an SNP conference.

Others cheered on a notorious troll who posted violent, misogynist tweets and somehow ended up on the partys National Executive Committee.

My complaints were ignored or dismissed.

But I also received thousands of messages of support  many from women too afraid to speak publicly, including lifelong SNP members and feminists who felt politically homeless.

The front window of my Holyrood office was covered in beautiful cards from women all over the UK, thanking me for defending their rights. I have kept every one.

I raised my concerns in the Mail on Sunday that year. It was at a time that the government was planning to change the law to make sex a matter of mere self-declaration through the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.

I wrote that this would allow domestic abusers and sex offenders to change the sex on their birth certificates. I also told of the effect on all-women shortlists, designed to combat discrimination against women.

A man who had suffered no detriment and may have enjoyed a successful career, could take a womans place by declaring himself a woman.

Ironically it was this issue, the ability of men to take places on public boards reserved for females, that was the subject of the Supreme Court deliberations last week.

The Mail on Sunday story also highlighted the political fissures opened by the row.

The SNP I had devoted my life to was becoming unrecognisable.

But this wasnt unique to us. Labour, the Lib Dems, the Greens  they all embraced this same dogma. Alex Cole-Hamilton, leader of the Scottish Lib Dems, has even praised the campaigning of Beth Douglas  a biological male who identifies as a woman  who had called me trash and publicly defended violence against women.

It was a frightening time but I was determined to expose the madness. I spent 2019 working closely with FWS and asking questions in parliament.

I raised the fact that Police Scotland and the courts were allowing criminals, including rapists, to have their sex recorded as female.

I also voiced concerns about the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde policy which said men identifying as women could be placed in female wards  and patients who objected should be treated the same as racists.

There was a price to pay. The SNP under Sturgeon was determined to shut me up.

I was elected number one on the South of Scotland list by party members in 2021. But the partys ruling body introduced an affirmative action mechanism, against legal advice, which ensured another MSP took my place and was elected that year.

I have no regrets and in many ways am glad to have moved on.

Susan, Marion and Trina were an inspiration and I am privileged to have walked part of the road with them. Its time more politicians caught up.
An investigation has been launched into what officials believe to be a major immigration scam - based in Scotland - in which foreign fraudsters are using fake identities to try and trick their way into Britain.

The Scottish Mail on Sunday can reveal a significant number of linked cases are being probed where bogus birth certificates have been used by people submitting their claim to live in the UK.

The apparent plot centres on a single residential address in the town of Motherwell, in North Lanarkshire, which has been listed in all of the cases.

Under immigration rules, EU or British citizens legitimately living in the UK can become a sponsor to family members from overseas when they request a Family Permit to move to Britain.

But a series of cases in the immigration courts have highlighted what appears to be an organised attempt to exploit the system using fake documents.

In each case, a number of young men from Pakistan applied for Family Permits claiming to be the adult children, under the age of 21, of various named sponsors living in Scotland.

All provided birth certificates and other documents from Pakistan to support their case - which were then ruled not to be genuine.

In each case, the named sponsors failed to show up for scheduled hearings.

The apparent plot centres on a residential address in the town of Motherwell

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, above said the 'absurd scam must be subject to robust and thorough investigation'

The alarm was raised when a judge noticed that all of the sponsors in each of the different cases had listed exactly the same address in Motherwell.

And although in each case flagged up by the judge the application for a Family Permit was rejected, the suspected existence of an organised scam raises the possibility that any number of other cases could already have passed through the system undetected.

Last night the Home Office confirmed an investigation is underway into the highlighted cases - and also into any other previous cases potentially related to the same address.

And a Home Office spokesperson said: We will not tolerate abuse of our immigration system, and will use all possible powers to protect it against fraud and abuse.

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: This absurd scam must be subject to robust and thorough investigation.

It is critical for the authorities to crack down on crime gangs behind industrial-scale illegal migration into our country.

News of the investigation comes as the UKs immigration system is already under intense pressure - partly because of the record numbers of small boat migrants arriving in the UK to claim asylum after crossing from Europe over the English Channel.

The probe was triggered when immigration judge Jeremy Rintoul noticed a string of near-identical cases involving fake documents all linked to a single address.

In one case, Abdul Jabbar and Muhammad Tayyab Iqbal, living in Pakistan, requested Family Permits, claiming to be adult sons of a Mrs Nawida Iftikhar from Motherwell, who was named as the sponsor for their application.

Mrs Iftikhar was said to be an European Economic Area (EEA) national who had leave to remain in the UK under the EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) and who was exercising her right to sponsor an application for family members to join her in Britain.

In January 2022 the Secretary of State refused to issue a Family Permit, stating the mens Pakistani birth certificates - as well as a marriage certificate for Mrs Iftikhar - were found not to be genuine.

The Secretary of State concluded all the supporting evidence submitted to confirm the relationship between the men and their alleged mother had been confirmed to be fraudulent.

The men appealed to the First Tier Tribunal of the Immigration and Asylum Chamber but were rejected in October 2022 a judge confirming their documents were none-genuine and ruling: I am not satisfied they have established they are the sons of the relevant EEA citizen.

The men appealed again to the Upper Tribunal.

At a hearing in October 2024 in front of Judge Rintoul, the sponsor - Mrs Iftikhar - failed to appear.

In a written ruling, the judge rejected the mens latest appeal and said: Their request was refused by the Secretary of State on the basis that the birth and marriage certificates supplied by the sponsor and appellants in support of the application were not genuine. They appealed unsuccessfully to the First Tier Tribunal, then to the Upper Tier Tribunal. In this judgement, the latest appeal is also unsuccessful.

In a written ruling, the judge rejected the mens latest immigration and asylum appeal

And in is ruling, he also flagged up a number of other, very similar, cases in which sponsors - who all listed the same address - did not show up for hearings.

He said: Appeals were listed before me in which the sponsor did not attend. These were also appeals against the decision to refuse to issue Family Permits where, as here, there is a dispute as to the authenticity of birth certificates supplied... On considering the court files, I became aware that in those cases all the sponsors appeared to live at the same address in Motherwell as the sponsor in these appeals. Further, in all these cases there was no appearance by the sponsor. On making further enquiries it transpired that there were a significant number of appeals of a similar nature in which the sponsors were all resident at the same address in Motherwell.

None of the sponsors listed in the various cases appear on any publicly-available registers so could not be contacted for comment.

The Home Office last night pointed out that new immigration rules introduced in October last year give officials the power to strip any EU citizen of the right to remain in the UK if they are found to be helping other people falsely gain a Family Permit.

The spokesperson said: The new government introduced provisions under the Immigration Rules to remove EUSS status from those helping an individual to obtain EUSS leave or a Family Permit fraudulently. The government will continue to thoroughly investigate spurious EUSS Family Permit applications where such activity is suspected.
John Swinney still refused say what a woman is on Saturday despite the landmark ruling handed down by the Supreme Court.

The First Minister would not say if he believed a trans woman was a woman when asked by The Mail on Sunday at the launch of the SNPs by-election campaign in Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse.

Mr Swinney also could not confirm if NHS boards in Scotland or the public sector were operating within the Equality Act, as interpreted by the judgement.

On Wednesday, five justices unanimously ruled that biological sex is the decisive factor in what makes someone a man or a woman.

Yet, ahead of a Scottish Government statement on the ruling in the Scottish Parliament on Tuesday, the First Minister refused to say if he believed that a trans woman was a woman, saying: Well, the Supreme Court judgment has come out on that. So weve got the answer to that.

Asked: What did the Supreme Court judgment say about that?, he responded: You dont need me to spell that out to you.

Pushed further on why he might be concerned about saying trans women were not women in the wake of the ruling, he said: I dont have any concern about that, I am simply saying the Supreme Court judgement has been made.

And asked again if he believed trans women were not women, Mr Swinney said: I will simply say that the Supreme Court judgement has come out.

Probed over whether he accepted that some women would be upset to learn that he was unable to say trans women were not women, he said: Yeah, of course, I understand that.

Mr Swinney has refused to say what a woman is despite claiming he accepts the Supreme Court's ruling.

Mr Swinney was out campaigning in the former constituency of Christina McKelvie, the former SNP Minister for equalities, on Saturday.

Last night Scottish Conservative equalities spokeswoman Tess White MSP said: It is despicable that John Swinney is still refusing to respect womens rights despite the Supreme Courts landmark ruling.

His reluctance to scrap the SNPs dangerous gender policies is disgraceful and a betrayal of biological women across Scotland.

John Swinney now needs to drop his self-serving ideological obsession and ensure public bodies follow the law by providing single-sex spaces for women and girls.

Mr Swinney was out campaigning in the former constituency of Christina McKelvie, the former SNP Minister for equalities, who passed away earlier this month.

However, during a visit to a childrens shop and community space, Swaddle, in the centre of Hamilton, interest in Mr Swinneys MSP candidate Katy Louden was overshadowed by the fallout from the Supreme Court ruling.

The First Minister lamented the anxiety that will be felt by the trans community in Scotland as a result of the SNPs latest legal defeat, however failed to apologise to feminist campaigners who brought the case to the Supreme Court.

And, although he previously said he supports transgender employees being able to use the toilets and changing rooms they feel most comfortable with in the wake of the Sandie Peggie tribunal, Mr Swinney signalled that position might have to be clarified as a result of the judgement.

Asked if hospitals and the public sector in Scotland were operating in line with the Equality Act ruling, he said: Well, thats an issue that individual health boards have got to consider.

Obviously, weve had a definition of the approach from the Supreme Court. Public bodies have got to respond to that and it will be the subject of a statement by ministers to Parliament on Tuesday.

Mr Swinney repeated his assertion that the Scottish Government had acted in good faith when interpreting the Equality Act previously and said its approach was based on our assessment of the regulatory guidance.
Nicola Coughlan has taken a swipe at JK Rowling after the Harry Potter author celebrated this week's Supreme Court gender ruling with a self-congratulatory social media post.

A landmark Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday ruled that the definition of a woman is based on biological sex, meaning transgender women are no longer considered women in the eyes of the law.

Following the decision, Rowling, who has been unapologetically vocal with her views about gender in recent years, took to X to celebrate.

Captioning a picture of her sat smoking a cigar on a superyacht with a drink in-hand, the Harry Potter creator wrote: 'I love it when a plan comes together.'

Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left 'completely horrified' by Wednesday's ruling, hit back at Rowling's public celebration with a post on Instagram.

The actor shared an article headlined: 'This is a new low for JK Rowling' before taking a dig at HBO's new Harry Potter series, writing: 'Keep your new Harry Potter lads. Wouldn't touch it with a 10ft pole'.

Earlier this week, 38-year-old Coughlan also shared a video voicing her disgust at what she called a 'stomach-churning' Supreme Court ruling.

'To see an already marginalised community being further attacked and attacked in law is really stomach churning and disgusting, and to see people celebrate it is more stomach-churning and disgusting,' she said.

After the Supreme Court hearing on Wednesday, JK Rowling posted the above photo with the caption: 'I love it when a plan comes together'

Today however, Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan, who was left 'completely horrified' by Wednesday's ruling, hit back at Rowling's celebrations with a post on Instagram

'Make your voice heard and let your trans and non-binary friends and the community at large know that you are there for them and will keep fighting for them.'

The video was shared to announce the launch of a new fundraiser - which has already raised more than 100,000 - spearheaded by the actor in support of trans charity Not A Phase.

Wednesday's ruling that the words 'sex', 'man' and 'woman' in the Equality Act must mean 'biological sex' sparked jubilant scenes outside London's Supreme Court, with women's rights groups and MPs celebrating the 'common sense' decision.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also lauded what women's rights campaigners have dubbed a 'victory for women'.

'Saying "trans women are women" was never true in fact, and now isn't true in law either,' she said, adding: 'The era of Keir Starmer telling us women can have penises has come to an end.'

It means the legal definition of a 'woman' only applies to those who were born female, and trans women do not have the right to use single-sex women-only spaces such as toilets or changing rooms.

The ruling has caused much controversy amongst other groups, with transgender activists left furious.

Thousands of outraged campaigners took to the streets of London today to protest - waving flags and chanting throughout the afternoon.

Protestors targeted a number of statues in the capital. Notably, a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett was defaced with a banner reading 'F** rights'.

The Metropolitan Police said they are investigating the incidents as criminal damage after the statues were daubed with graffiti.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch also lauded the 'victory for women'

Campaigners gathered in London today to campaign against the Supreme Court ruling, with a significant police presence in place

Trans activists defaced a statue of the suffragette Millicent Fawcett as part of their protest against the Supreme Court ruling on the definition of a woman

At least two statues in Parliament Square were daubed with graffiti during the rally, with 'f** rights' and a heart painted on the banner held by suffragette Millicent Fawcett, and 'trans rights are human rights' sprayed on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader and statesman Jan Christian Smuts

Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual

In a long-awaited judgment delivered on Wednesday, the UK's highest court confirmed the terms 'woman' and 'sex' in the 2010 Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Pictured: Trans activists stand on a platform as they protest the Supreme Court ruling in London today

Pictured: A protestor holds a banner up supporting trans rights with Big Ben in the background

One protestor paraded a banner reading: 'Our existence is not up for debate'

A campaigner told the PA news agency that the protest has been organised to 'put pressure on the Government'

Chief Superintendent Stuart Bell, who was leading the policing operation for the protest, said: 'It is very disappointing to see damage to seven statues and property in the vicinity of the protest today.

'We support the public's right to protest but criminality like this is completely unacceptable.

'We are now investigating this criminal damage and urge anyone with any information to come forward - call 101 quoting 01/7396927/25.'

The 'emergency demonstration' has taken place in the capital's Parliament Square, which is home to 12 statues of political figures including Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln and Mahatma Gandhi.

Police are yet to have made any arrests, Scotland Yard said.

Activists demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now', with some waving flags and holding banners.

At least two statues in Parliament Square were vandalized during the rally, with 'trans rights are human rights' spray-painted on the pedestal bearing a memorial to South African military leader Jan Christian Smuts.

Among the groups supporting the London protest are Trans Kids Deserve Better, Pride in Labour, the Front for the Liberation of Intersex Non-binary and Transgender people (Flint) and TransActual.

Avery Greatorex, co-chair of Pride in Labour, told the PA news agency: 'Not a single trans person or trans organisation was represented in that case, and so we weren't given an opportunity to have a seat at the table, which is obviously a very concerning thing for our community when decisions are being made without us.

'So the protest was organised to put pressure on the Government, on the public to act.

'To be able to secure the rights of transgender people and to secure those protections, we need legislative power and we need lobbying power.'

The protest took place in the London sun this afternoon as protestors marched through Broadway

'I'm a human not an ideology' read one powerful banner

Activists demanded 'trans liberation' and 'trans rights now'

Pictured: Activists hold signs that read: 'Life feels like a black mirror episode right now' and 'Don't hate me because I'm beautiful'

Another banner paraded by protestors read: 'Feminism must include trans women'

'F*** the Supreme Court,' one read

Trans activists have been left furious by Wednesday's ruling, which a Labour spokesperson said was a 'common sense position'

A spokesperson for Trans Kids Deserve Better said: 'The transmisogyny that led to this court ruling is unacceptable.

'Though this ruling has brought another wave of fear to the trans community, we will continue to fight for our rights and freedoms.

'When you attack trans women you attack all trans people and all women. Our rights do not oppose each other, they go hand in hand, and we will keep fighting until we're all free.'

Thousands of trans rights protesters also took to the streets of Edinburgh this afternoon following the Supreme Court ruling.

Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House.

Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included 'Trans rights are human rights' and 'When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back'.

Protestors also took to the streets of Edinburgh this afternoon

Demonstrators waved flags and signs and chanted slogans as they gathered at the foot of the Mound, in the heart of the Scottish capital, before marching to the UK Government offices at Queen Elizabeth House

Speakers addressed the crowd using megaphones, and led the demonstrators in chants that included 'Trans rights are human rights' and 'When trans rights are under attack, what do we do? Fight back'

LGBTQ+ flags were also on-show in Edinburgh

Protestors brought drums to the march through the centre of the Scottish city this afternoon

Lauren Yeoman, 38, said she was taking part in the demonstration because she was 'disgusted' at what she said amounted to the removal of trans people's human rights.

Describing how she felt when she learned of the Supreme Court ruling she said: 'I felt sick to be honest. I think we're taking a lot of backward steps.

'It feels like every day women are being attacked, minorities are being attacked, and the real problem is being ignored, and we're pointing fingers at people who aren't harming anybody, such as trans people, while ignoring the real problems.'

Earlier this week, the Government said the unaninmous ruling made by five judges brought 'clarity and confidence' for women and service providers, while a Labour Party source said Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had brought the party to a 'common sense position' on the subject from an 'activist' stance.
Growing internet frenzy for Dubai's viral chocolate could be responsible for a global shortage of pistachios, with prices soaring as appetite continues to grow for the crunchy treat.

The popular milk chocolate bar is filled with crispy knafeh, pistachio cream and tahini spread and was initially launched in 2021 by a Dubai-based Fix Desert Chocolatier.

Inspired by her pregnancy cravings, the chocolate bars were originally designed by British-Egyptian entrepreneur Sarah Hamouda, alongside her husband Yezen Alani, to satisfy Ms Hamouda's sweet tooth, with 'FIX' standing for 'freaking incredible experience'.

But, it was a viral TikTok video in December 2023 by Maria Vehera, showing her sampling the treat, that sent its popularity skyrocketing worldwide.

Amassing more than 120million views, the clip led to a widespread obsession as avid foodies flocked to UK supermarkets to get their hands on dupes of the chocolate bar.

Some confectionaries, such as Waitrose, have even been forced to limit customers to only buying two bars each.

Since then, several users have taken to social media to share themselves slowly biting into the thick chocolate which makes a loud crack when broken.

However, Dubai chocolate does not come cheap, with even affordable options such as those available from Lidl, selling for 3.44 for just 122g of product.

As queues have reportedly began to form outside UK supermarkets for the viral Dubai chocolate bar, the growing popularity has even been blamed for a global shortage of pistachios

The popular milk chocolate bar is filled with crispy knafeh, pistachio cream and tahini spread, were launched in 2021 by Dubai-based Fix Desert Chocolatier (pictured: a pistachio tree)

The bar went viral after Maria Vehera (pictured) shared a video of herself sinking her teeth into the sweet treat, oozing with gooey green filling made from sweet filo and pistachio

Elsewhere, Nestle, Lidl and Lint have rushed to make their own versions, while Selfridges have had their shelves cleared after fans flocked to the department store in a desperate bid to score the crunchy treat, where prices range from 5 to 27.

The chocolate bars are even so popular that a number of sellers have had their entire stock sold almost instantly, with a Lindt version clearing within just 72 minutes on TikTok shop.

Now, as queues have reportedly began to form outside UK supermarkets, the growing popularity has even been blamed for a global shortage of pistachios.

Such depletion in stocks is even more concerning given that the pistachio market was already struggling in the aftermath of a disappointing harvest last year in the US, its leading exporter.

In California, the pistachio supply fell by up to 20 per cent in the 12 months up to February, according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios.

Speaking to the Financial Times, Giles Hacking of nut trader CG Hacking, said that the pistachio industry, had become 'tapped out' as a result of growing demand, with 'the rest of the world short' as a result of chocolatiers making mass purchases of the kernels.

The decline in pistachio has also been seen in Iran, the world's second-largest producer, who exported 40 per cent more pistachios to the UAE from September 2024 to March 2025, than they did over the course of the full 12 months before that, Iran's customs office has reported.

Nestle, Lidl and Lindt having rushed to made their own versions while, Selfridges have had their shelves cleared after fans flocked to the department store

In California, the pistachio supply fell by up to 20 per cent in the 12 months up to February, according to the Administrative Committee for Pistachios

Charles Jandreau, general manager for Prestat Group, owner of some of the UK's most luxurious chocolate brands, said that 'no one' had been 'ready' for the increased demand for procure kataifi, the shredded Middle Eastern pastry used in the cream.

Meanwhile, Johannes Laderach, chief executive of Swiss chocolatier Laderach, said that the company had become 'overwhelmed with the demand for Dubai chocolate'.

He told The Financial Times: 'We've launched them a few months ago, and its just not stopping, it's just going through the roof.'

As the frenzy for the bar continues across the internet, the makers behind the sensation have even complained about its viral success and slammed supermarkets and other brands for making dupes of their expensive and exclusive treat.

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Yezen said that the dupes are 'very frustrating because people are trying knockoffs, which damages our brand'.

He also explained that there is a key difference between their luxury dessert and the dupes being seen across dozens of UK supermarkets.

Notably, the original FIX bar should be kept in the fridge and has a short expiry date while UK versions are designed to have a longer shelf life.

The successful entrepreneur also added that his brand offers a luxury product and are committed to continuing to make it.

Mr Yezen told the BBC: 'It's all handmade, every single design is done by hand.

'We use premium ingredients and the process is not like making other bars - you've got the baking, moulding the chocolate to the design and with the filling itself, even the pistachios are hand-picked and processed'.
The Democratic Senator who visited the controversially deported Maryland man has been accused by some conservatives of violating a 200-year-old law by visiting El Salvador and lobbying for his release.

Chris Van Hollen, who also represents Maryland, flew out to El Salvador on Wednesday to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia urging for the deported migrants release, leading to accusations by angered Republicans that he violated The Logan Act.

The act, named for former Pennsylvania Senator George Logan, determines that any American corresponding with foreign officials 'with intent to influence the[ir] measures... in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States,' may face a fine or imprisonment.

While rarely enforced over the past two centuries, it has been called upon by Ronald Regan and has been threatened against Trump after appearing to encourage Russian spy agencies to hack Hillary Clinton's emails in 2016, The Independent reported.

Republican political adviser Roger Stone declared on X that the Maryland Senator should face prosecution and wrote: 'Pursuing your own individual foreign policy is a violation of the Logan Act. The FBI should arrest this senator the instant he returns to the country.'

The conservative watchdog American Accountability Foundation also wants the Senate to look into the visit over a potential Logan Act violation.

Trump previously accused both former Secretary of State John Kerry and Sen. Christopher Murphy, D-Conn., of violating the Logan Act via their contact with Iran in 2019 and 2020.

'It's literally my job to meet with foreign leaders,' Murphy said, Fox News reported.

Chris Van Hollen, who flew out to El Salvador on Wednesday to visit Kilmar Abrego Garcia urging for the deported migrants release, has been accused by angered Republicans of violating The Logan Act

Garcia, who lives in Maryland with his wife and children after arriving in the United States in 2011, was deported to a Salvadoran high-security prison in March accused of being an MS-13 gang member

The act determines that any American corresponding with foreign officials 'with intent to influence the[ir] measures... in relation to any disputes or controversies with the United States, or to defeat the measures of the United States,' may face a fine or imprisonment

No one has ever been successfully prosecuted under the Logan Act, and many legal scholars have questioned how constitutional the act is.

Daniel B. Rice of the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, School of Law said in a congressional report that the act is a 'dead letter,' an 'anachronism' and a 'curious federalist antique.'

Rice added that it was 'the most moribund [on the verge of extinction] of federal statutes,' and called it an 'eighteenth century relic.'

The act was last invoked by Trump critics following a book by Watergate journalist Bob Woodward who claimed Trump had several calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin between his terms in the White House, Fox reported.

The Maryland Senator's visit didn't come without fallout from both Democrats and Republicans, as he received backlash from sipping 'fake margaritas' with the deported man.

In what Van Hollen said was a 'set-up' by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, he and Garcia were pictured sipping what appeared to be margaritas during their meeting.

The photo was posted by Bukele after his government finally allowed Van Hollen to meet with Garcia.

'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the 'death camps' & 'torture', now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' Bukele captioned the images posted to X on Thursday.

While the White House initially admitted that he was deported by mistake leading, the Trump administration is adamant on Garcia's status as a gang member and stand firm on his deportation

The Maryland Senator's visit didn't come without fallout from both Democrats and Republicans, as he received backlash from sipping 'fake margaritas' with the deported man

But Van Hollen sought to set the record straight after returning to the U.S. on Friday, telling a throng of reporters at a Virginia airport that the drinks were set out by the country's president.

'So here's what happened, when I first sat down with Kilmar, we just had glasses of water, maybe some coffee, and as we were talking one of the government people came over and deposited two other glasses on the table with ice and I don't know if it was salt or sugar around the top, but they look like margaritas,' Van Hollen said.

'And if you look at the one, they put in front of Kilmar, it actually had a little less liquid than the one in me in front of me to try to make it look, I assumed, like he drank out of it.'

'Let me just be very clear, neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, and if you want to play a little Sherlock Holmes, I'll tell you how you can know that,' the senator explained.

He claimed that because of the salt- or sugar-covered rims, he could prove that neither he nor Kilmar imbibed during the welfare check Van Hollen had been demanding for days whilst on a highly publicized trip to advocate for Abrego Garcia's return to the U.S.

The lawmaker also addressed the more serious issue of being set up by Bukele.

'Nobody drank any margaritas or sugar water or whatever it is. But this is a lesson. It's the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about what's going on, and it's also shows the lengths that the Trump administration and the President will go to,' the Democrat charged.

Garcia, who lives in Maryland with his wife and children after arriving in the United States in 2011, was deported to a Salvadoran high-security prison in March accused of being an MS-13 gang member.

While the White House initially admitted that he was deported by mistake, the Trump administration is adamant on Garcia's status as a gang member and stand firm on his deportation.

His wife, US citizen Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S

Van Hollen holds a press conference as he returns from El Salvador where he met with Garcia who was deported to notorious CECOT prison at Dulles International Airport in Dulles VA

Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador

A 2019 immigration judge had placed a deportation protection ruling on Garcia, after it was found he may be subject to persecution should he return to El Salvador.

The Supreme Court told the administration that they needed to 'facilitate' Garcia's return.

Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

The Trump administration's claims it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday.

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.'

'The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done,' the filing added.

Wilkinson said he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.'

Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American, as claimed. They say he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador.

The Trump administration have claimed they now have no jurisdiction to return Garcia from El Salvador, and it remains in the hands of their President Bukele

A 2019 immigration judge had placed a deportation protection ruling on Garcia, after it was found he may be subject to persecution should he return to El Salvador

His wife and lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S.

In the Oval Office on Monday, Trump and Bukele led a united defense of their actions in the case of Abrego Garcia.

Bukele argued he couldn't return, saying: 'How can I return him to the United States?

'I smuggle him into the United States or what do I do? Of course, I'm not going to do it.

'The question is preposterous. How can I smuggle a terrorist into the United States? I don't have the power to return him to the United States.'

The Trump administration has been paying the country millions to send deported migrants to the maximum-security prison.

Trump supported Bukele's claim and went further, lobbying the El Salvadorian leader to take more migrants and build more prisons hold them.

'I just asked the president, you know, it's this massive complex that he built, a jail complex. I said, 'Can you build some more of them, please?'' Trump said.
An iconic British steam train featured in Paddington 2 and Top Gear has become the first ever to be 'future-proofed' amid a wider plot to remove much-loved traditional traffic signals.

The changes, set to be rolled out across the country in coming years, mean Britain will be following in the footsteps of Europe as it introduces the digital-only technology.

Network Rail has planned for some trains to run in digital-only mode from the end of 2025 and the historic "A1" No.60163 Tornado became the first steam engine in the world to operate with the new train control system earlier this month.

It means that Britain's beloved steam engines can continue operating well into the future - even as they become more antiquated.

The Hitachi Rail's European Train Control System (ETCS) is a digital signalling technology that replaces traditional trackside signals.

It works by transmitting signals and speed limits directly to the train cab, in an attempt to allow drivers to operate with greater precision.

The Peppercorn A1 Pacific class 60163 Tornado steam locomotive hauls a special train over the Ribblehead viaduct as it travels through the Yorkshire Dales on its journey from Preston to Carlisle (2021)

The Hitachi Rail's European Train Control System (ETCS) is a digital signalling technology that replaces traditional trackside signals (file image)

The cab of the 60163 Tornado with (top left) an electronic screen. The pioneering technology was fitted earlier this month

Network Rail says it has planned to remove the iconic lineside colour light signals in favour of the in-cab signalling systems along key routes to safeguard the future of some 500 steam trains currently running across the UK each year.

Until now, no cabs have ever been run with in-cab digital signalling - which was fitted in the Tornado train at a cost of about 9m.

The Tornado ran on ETCS - already widely used in Europe - for the first time west of Shrewsbury to Newtown and Welshpool overnight on a Monday earlier this month.

Amy Clouston, principal human factors specialist at engineering consultancy AtkinsRealis, which designed the fitment of the systems, told the Observer: 'We had to test whether or not you can even use a touchscreen while you're hurtling along at up to 75mph.

'We've had to think about vibrations, lighting, noise, coal dust, water and steam and grubby fingers.'

The news comes as last year Network Rail issued a 40m tender document for companies to bid to fit 24 main line steam and heritage diesel locomotives.

Bosses launched the ETCS technology in 2021.

AtkinsRealis's Clouston argued the project was vital to the future of the main line steam sector: 'Steam is part of the nation's engineering heritage so it would be such a shame if it were to only be contained to private, heritage railways.

The Tornado appeared on Top Gear (above) when Jeremy Clarkson was employed to shovel coal on a run from London to Edinburgh

It also appeared in beloved family film Paddington 2, in one of the film's climactic scenes

Engineers say they had to reinforce the system to ensure it could operate in a steam engine environment at 75mph

The Tornado's upgrades will ensure it can continue operating into the 21st century, protecting British steam

The iconic train has featured in both Paddington 2 and Top Gear (pictured in 2021)

'Having steam locomotives out there on the main line is a wonderful thing to see.'

Andy Bell, Vice President of Hitachi Rail UK, added: 'This very special project demonstrates not only the adaptability of our system but also what's possible when we combine engineering expertise with deep, trusted partnerships across the industry.

'This kind of collaborative progress, rooted in real-world testing and mutual trust, will continue to drive transformation across the railway sector.

'The insights we've gained here have created a valuable blueprint for what comes next.

'Carrying forward the relationships, lessons, and technical progress from this work will be essential to maintaining momentum for heritage integrations and wider applications across modern rolling stock.'

In an iconic Top Gear episode of 2009, the show's former frontman Jeremy Clarkson race the Tornado train against fellow presenters Richard Hammond and James May from London to Edinburgh.

The episode saw Mr Clarkson having to feed the boiler with a constant supply of coal, without which the whole train would grind to a halt.
Former President Bill Clinton returned to Oklahoma City on Saturday to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the bombing.

Clinton, 78, was president when 168 people including 19 children were murdered in what remains the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in US history.

Speaking at the memorial service, he honored the victims and survivors while also making comment on the current state of politics.

He said: 'I still remember as if it were 30 minutes ago, coming here with Hillary to that memorial service and saying: 'You have lost too much, but you have not lost everything.

''You have certainly not lost America, and we will be with you for as many tomorrows as it takes', I do think we've kept that commitment', he added.

He cautioned about the polarizing nature of modern-day politics and how such divisiveness can lead to violence, as it did 30 years ago.

Clinton said there the nation can learn from the 'Oklahoma Standard,' a term coined to reference the response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness.

'Today, Oklahoma City, America needs you,' he said. 'I wish to goodness every American could just see life unfold here, hearing these stories.'

Speaking at the memorial service, he honored the victims and survivors while also making comment on the current state of politics

Clinton was president when 168 people including 19 children were murdered in what remains the deadliest domestic terrorist attack in US history. He is seen here in 1995 after a prayer service

Clinton said there the nation can learn from the 'Oklahoma Standard'' a term coined to reference the response to the bombing by uniting in service, honor and kindness

Other speakers included former Oklahoma Gov. Frank Keating and former Oklahoma City Mayor Ron Norick, who were in office when the bombing occurred.

Family members of some of those killed in the bombing read the 168 names of those killed in the attack.

Saturday's ceremony was originally scheduled to take place on the grounds of the memorial but was moved inside an adjacent church because of heavy rains.

After the ceremony, a procession of bagpipe players from the Oklahoma City Fire Department those in attendance across the street to the outdoor memorial built on the grounds where the federal building once stood.

The memorial includes a museum, a reflecting pool and 168 empty chairs of glass, bronze and stone etched with the names of those killed.

Nineteen of the chairs are smaller than the others to represent the children killed.

Authorities had initially suspected that the attack was orchestrated by extremists outside the US, before the perpetrators turned out to be two former US soldiers.

Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols had met while serving in the Army, developing a deep hatred toward the government that was exacerbate by the 1993 Waco siege.

Authorities had initially suspected that the attack was orchestrated by extremists outside the US, before the perpetrators turned out to be two former US soldiers

Timothy McVeigh is seen here being lead out of the Noble County Courthouse in Perry, Oklahoma, in 1995 following the attack

Another standoff in the mountains of Ruby Ridge, Idaho, that left a 14-year-old boy, his mother and a federal agent dead also angered the pair.

The Oklahoma City bombing happened on the second anniversary of the fiery end to the 51-day Waco siege.

McVeigh drove the truck to the site and set the fuse to blow it up. He was convicted of 11 murder counts and executed by lethal injection in 2001.

Nichols is seen here in a January 2000 mug shot

Nichols helped McVeigh plan and build the bomb. He was convicted of conspiracy and involuntary manslaughter, and is serving life in prison.

The bombing exposed Americans to violent extremism and anti-government sentiment on home soil.

McVeigh and Nichols sympathized with right-wing militia movements that sprang up in the early 1990s and continue to this day.

In 1996, Clinton signed an 'antiterrorism' law that toughened penalties for a wide range of crimes and made it a crime to target federal workers performing their duties.

It also spent about $1 billion, most of it for the FBI, to expand counterterrorism efforts.

The memorial site is among Oklahomas most popular destinations, typically drawing more than 500,000 visitors each year.

School children arrive by the busload to learn about the dangers of political violence.
The body of missing Paria Veisi has been found - as two people are charged in connection with her disappearance last week.

South Wales Police said in a statement today that the 37-year-old's body was discovered at an address in Penylan, Cardiff.

Veisi, who vanished last weekend, was last seen leaving her place of work in the Canton area of the Welsh capital.

She was caught on CCTV driving her black Mercedes GLC 220, which was later found a couple of miles away on Dorchester Avenue, Penylan, on Tuesday evening.

Police put out a plea for information on the whereabouts of Paria on Wednesday, saying they had arrested two people believed to be known to her in connection with her disappearance.

The force said her disappearance was totally out of character and were concerned for her welfare.

A 41-year-old man from Penylan has been charged with her murder, preventing lawful and decent burial of a dead body and assaulting a person occasioning them actual bodily harm.

A 48-year-old woman from London has been charged with preventing a lawful and decent burial of a dead body and conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The body of missing Paria Veisi has been found after she was reported missing last week

A 41-year-old man and a 48-year-old woman, who are both known to Paria, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and remain in police custody

Ms Veisi, from the Cathays area of Cardiff was reported missing on Sunday, 13 April, after she was last seen at around 3pm a day earlier when she left her workplace in Canton

The pair appeared at Cardiff Magistrates' Court on Saturday.

Both have been remanded in custody and are scheduled to appear at Cardiff Crown Court on Tuesday April 22.

Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Matt Powell, said: 'This brings our search for Paria to a sad and tragic end.

'Paria's family, all those who knew her, and those in her local community, will be deeply saddened and shocked by these latest developments. Family liaison officers are continuing to support Paria's family.

'I would like to thank all those who have come forward so far with information since our appeal was launched.

'There will continue to be detectives and crime scene investigators working in the Penylan area over the next week, and I would encourage anyone with any information to talk to officers at the scene or to get in touch'.
Republican Rep. Mike Collins has trolled Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen after his trip to lobby for the deported 'Maryland man' with a plaque that says he represents El Salvador.

Collins posted on X a photo of the plaque outside of Van Hollen's office that reads 'El Salvador' to further criticize the senator's trip to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison.

'Hey @ChrisVanHollen, I went ahead and changed your office plaque for you,' Collins posted along with the picture.

Collins has been one of many critics of the senator's trip to see Garcia and advocate for his release.

Garcia, who lives in Maryland with his wife and children after arriving in the United States in 2011, was deported to a Salvadoran high-security prison in March accused of being an MS-13 gang member.

Van Hollen flew out to El Salvador on Wednesday to visit Garcia urging for the deported migrant's release.

Collins also posted upon Van Hollen's return a photo of him and Garcia sitting at a dining table and said: 'This is a sitting US Senator consoling an MS-13 gang member. Traitorous.'

When Van Hollen first announced he would be taking the trip to El Salvador in pursuit of justice for Garcia, Collins responded and said: 'If you're going to advocate harder for illegal gang members than you do American citizens, don't come back.'

Republican Rep. Mike Collins openly mocked Maryland Democrat Chris Van Hollen after his trip to lobby for the deported ' Maryland man' with a plaque that says he represents El Salvador

Van Hollen flew out to El Salvador on Wednesday to visit Garcia urging for the deported migrant's release

Collins posted on X with a photo of a plaque outside of his office to further criticize travelling to El Salvador to see Kilmar Abrego Garcia after he was mistakenly deported to a notorious El Salvador prison

The Maryland Senator's visit didn't come without fallout from both Democrats and Republicans, as he received backlash from sipping on 'fake margaritas' with the deported man.

In what Van Hollen said was a 'set-up' by El Salvador's President Nayib Bukele, he and Garcia were pictured sipping what appeared to be margaritas during their meeting.

The photo was posted by Bukele after his government finally allowed Van Hollen to meet with Garcia.

'Kilmar Abrego Garcia, miraculously risen from the 'death camps' & 'torture', now sipping margaritas with Sen. Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!' Bukele captioned the images posted to X on Thursday.

But Van Hollen sought to set the record straight after returning to the U.S. on Friday, telling a throng of reporters at a Virginia airport after returning from his trip that the drinks were set out by the country's president.

'So here's what happened, when I first sat down with Kilmar, we just had glasses of water, maybe some coffee, and as we were talking one of the government people came over and deposited two other glasses on the table with ice and I don't know if it was salt or sugar around the top, but they look like margaritas,' Van Hollen said.

'And if you look at the one, they put in front of Kilmar, it actually had a little less liquid than the one in me in front of me to try to make it look, I assumed, like he drank out of it.'

'Let me just be very clear, neither of us touched the drinks that were in front of us, and if you want to play a little Sherlock Holmes, I'll tell you how you can know that,' the senator explained.

The Maryland Senator's visit didn't come without fallout from both Democrats and Republicans, as he received backlash from sipping 'fake margaritas' with the deported man

Garcia, who lives in Maryland with his wife and children after arriving in the United States in 2011, was deported to a Salvadoran high-security prison in March accused of being an MS-13 gang member

He claimed that because of the salt- or sugar-covered rims, he could prove that neither he nor Kilmar imbibed during the welfare check Van Hollen had been demanding for days.

The lawmaker also addressed the more serious issue of being set up by Bukele.

'Nobody drank any margaritas or sugar water or whatever it is. But this is a lesson. It's the lengths that President Bukele will do to deceive people about what's going on, and it's also shows the lengths that the Trump administration and the President will go to,' the Democrat charged.

Garcia was deported to a Salvadoran high-security prison in March accused of being an MS-13 gang member.

While the White House initially admitted that he was deported by mistake leading, the Trump administration is adamant on Garcia's status as a gang member and has stood firm on his deportation.

A 2019 immigration judge had placed a deportation protection ruling on Garcia, after it was found he may be subject to persecution should he return to El Salvador.

The Supreme Court recently told the administration that they needed to 'facilitate' Garcia's return.

Late Thursday, a three-judge panel from the 4th US Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously refused to suspend a judge's decision to order sworn testimony by Trump administration officials to determine if they complied with the court's instruction to facilitate Abrego Garcia's return.

The Trump administrations claims that it can't do anything to free Garcia from an El Salvador prison or return him to the US 'should be shocking to the intuitive sense of liberty that Americans far removed from courthouses still hold dear,' the court said Thursday in a blistering order that ratchets up the escalating conflict between the government's executive and judicial branches.

Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and his lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S

While the White House initially admitted that he was deported by mistake leading, the Trump administration is adamant on Garcia's status as a gang member and stand firm on his deportation

Judge J. Harvie Wilkinson III, who was nominated by Republican President Ronald Reagan, said: 'It is difficult in some cases to get to the very heart of the matter. But in this case, it is not hard at all.'

'The government is asserting a right to stash away residents of this country in foreign prisons without the semblance of due process that is the foundation of our constitutional order. Further, it claims in essence that because it has rid itself of custody that there is nothing that can be done,' the filing furthered.

He added that he and his two colleagues 'cling to the hope that it is not naive to believe our good brethren in the Executive Branch perceive the rule of law as vital to the American ethos.'

Trump officials insist Garcia is not an innocent American and claim he's an MS-13 gangster who deserves to be sent back to El Salvador.

Garcia's wife, Jennifer Vasquez Sura, and his lawyer deny his gang affiliation and have sued the administration for improperly removing him from the U.S.
The rollout of free breakfast clubs in schools will begin this week, with the first 750 starting from Tuesday.

They are designed to give parents of primary school children 30 minutes of free childcare a day, or up to 95 hours a year.

The trial begins at the start of the new term and will run to July, ahead of an expected national rollout.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents' lives easier and more affordable.'

As schools reopen after the Easter holidays, 750 across England will offer the breakfast clubs.

However, critics have said the amount of funding is too low.

Shadow education minister Neil O'Brien has raised questions about 'the difference in the planned spend and the much larger benefits ministers are claiming'.

The Association of School and College Leaders said: 'We strongly urge the Government to be more realistic about the costs involved before it attempts to roll out this policy nationally.'

They are designed to give parents of primary school children 30 minutes of free childcare a day, or up to 95 hours a year. Pictured: Children at Cherry Fold Primary School's breakfast club enjoy their food before lessons start on March 22, 2024 in Burnley

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 'Free breakfast clubs are at the heart of our Plan for Change, making working parents' lives easier and more affordable'

The headteachers' union has welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but said education leaders involved in the pilot had suggested the funding 'just isn't sufficient'.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of NAHT, said: 'There is no doubt that a good breakfast can be positive for children's health and help them to focus on their learning.

'While we welcome the intentions behind the programme, the initial feedback we are hearing from many school leaders participating in the pilot is that the funding just isn't sufficient.

'At a time when school budgets are already stretched, most can ill-afford to subsidise this shortfall.'

He added: 'It's absolutely crucial that this is addressed before the scheme is rolled out nationally, and we have been encouraged to receive assurance from the

Under the pilot scheme, schools will be reimbursed by the Government based on attendance.

The trial was initially backed by funding of 7 million, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves announcing in the autumn budget that more than 30 million would be allocated overall for breakfast clubs in 2025-26.

Labour made a manifesto commitment to spend 315 million on the programme by 2028-29.

The headteachers' union has welcomed the expansion of breakfast clubs, which some schools already run, but said education leaders involved in the pilot had suggested the funding 'just isn't sufficient'. Pictured: Children eating breakfast at St Mark's Primary School in Glasgow

Department for Education that funding will be looked at carefully when this trial is being assessed.'

The Government has previously insisted the funding will be sufficient to deliver the programme.

NASUWT teaching union general secretary Patrick Roach said the rollout would make a 'significant contribution' to tackling child hunger but urged ministers to go 'much further'.

'The rollout of the new breakfast club provision should be monitored closely to ensure that any logistical and funding issues can be addressed without any adverse impact on other aspects of provision within schools,' he said.

'The two-child benefit cap continues to blight the lives and life chances of hundreds of thousands of children. The Government should prioritise the forthcoming spending review to lift more children out of a life in poverty.'

Announcing the launch next week, Ms Phillipson said: 'From Tyneside to Truro, England is one of the first countries in Europe to open universal free breakfast clubs, saving parents up to 450 per year and making sure every child starts school ready to learn.

'This Government is delivering on our promises to working parents, rolling out free breakfast clubs, school-based nurseries, and giving every child across the country the best start in life.'

The Government expects the funding rates for the programme to vary depending on up-take and pupil characteristics.

An average school with 50 per cen uptake on the early adopter scheme would receive around 23,000 for a full year, and all schools are set to receive 500 to cover initial set-up costs and a lump sum of at least 1,000 a term.
Benjamin Netanyahu said today Israel has 'no choice' but to continue fighting in Gaza and will not end the war before destroying Hamas, freeing the hostages and ensuring that the territory won't present a threat to Israel.

In his statement, the Israeli Prime Minister claimed that Hamas has rejected Israel's latest proposal to free half the hostages for a continued ceasefire.

Netanyahu spoke after Israeli strikes killed more than 90 people in 48 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday.

Israeli troops have been increasing their attacks to pressure Hamas to release the hostages and disarm.

Children and women were among the 15 people killed overnight, according to hospital staff.

At least 11 people were killed in the southern city of Khan Younis, several of them in a tent in the Muwasi area where hundreds of thousands of displaced people are staying, hospital workers said.

Palestinian health authorities said at least 50 Palestinians had been killed in strikes on Saturday.

The Israeli Prime Minister is under growing pressure at home not only from families of hostages and their supporters but also from reservist and retired Israeli soldiers who question the continuation of the war after Israel shattered a ceasefire last month.

Benjamin Netanyahu said today Israel has 'no choice' but to continue fighting in Gaza

The Israeli Prime Minister claimed that Hamas has rejected Israel's latest proposal to free half the hostages for a continued ceasefire

People mourn the death of Palestinians killed in Israeli strikes, at Nasser hospital, in Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip, April 19, 2025

Netanyahu's remarks come as Egyptian mediators have been working to restore the ceasefire, which Israel abandoned last month after seeking to extend a temporary truce that had seen 38 hostages released.

Hamas, whose militants carried out the October 7, 2023 attack on Israel that triggered the war, said it would only free the remaining hostages under a deal that ends the war.

Earlier on Saturday, Hamas said that it had recovered the body of a guard killed in an Israeli air strike this week and who was holding Edan Alexander, an Israeli dual national soldier believed to be the last American citizen held alive in Gaza.

The fate of Alexander was unknown, Hamas said. Netanyahu did not mention Alexander in his remarks.

President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff said in March that freeing Alexander, a 21-year-old New Jersey native who was serving in the Israeli army when he was captured during the Oct. 7, 2023 attacks, was a 'top priority'.

His release was at the centre of talks held between Hamas leaders and U.S. negotiator Adam Boehler last month.

Hamas had said on Tuesday that it had lost contact with the militants holding Alexander after their location was hit in an Israeli attack.

Fifty-nine hostages are still held in Gaza, fewer than half of them are believed to be still alive.

Since renewing its attacks, Israel has seized swathes of Gaza and ordered hundreds of thousands of residents to evacuate in what Palestinians fear is a step towards permanently depopulating swathes of land.

The Gaza health ministry says 1,600 people have been killed in the past month.

Netanyahu spoke after Israeli strikes killed more than 90 people in 48 hours, Gaza's Health Ministry said Saturday

Palestinians displaced by the Israeli air and ground offensive on the Gaza Strip walk in a makeshift tent camp in Gaza City, Saturday, April 19, 2025

A Palestinian youth walks around a large crater caused by an Israeli strike at a camp for displaced Palestinians in northern Khan Yunis in the southern Gaza Strip on April 19, 2025

Netanyahu's remarks come as Egyptian mediators have been working to restore the ceasefire, which Israel abandoned last month

The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023

On Friday, the Israeli military said it hit about 40 targets across the enclave over the past day. The military on Saturday announced that a 35-year-old soldier had died in combat in Gaza.

Late on Thursday Khalil Al-Hayya, Hamas' Gaza chief, said the movement was willing to swap all remaining 59 hostages for Palestinians jailed in Israel in return for an end to the war and reconstruction of Gaza.

He dismissed an Israeli offer, which includes a demand that Hamas lay down its arms, as imposing 'impossible conditions'.

Netanyahu spoke after a second indirect meeting between U.S. and Iranian officials where the sides agreed to start drawing up a framework for a potential nuclear deal.

Oman, which is mediating between the countries, stated that discussions aim to reach a binding agreement ensuring Iran is completely free of nuclear weapons and sanctions, while maintaining its ability to develop peaceful nuclear energy.

In his televised address, Netanyahu said he was committed to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons.

Hamas on Saturday also released an undated and edited video of Israeli hostage Elkana Bohbot.

The Israeli Prime Minister is under growing pressure at home not only from families of hostages and their supporters but also from reservist and retired Israeli soldiers who question the continuation of the war after Israel shattered a ceasefire last month

The terror group has released several videos over the course of the war of hostages begging to be released. Israeli officials have dismissed past videos as propaganda.

After the video was released, Bohbot's family said in a statement that they were 'deeply shocked and devastated,' and expressed concern for his mental and physical condition.

'How much longer will he be expected to wait and 'stay strong'?' the family asked, urging for all of the 59 hostages who are still held in Gaza to be brought home.

The war was triggered by Hamas' October 7 attack on southern Israel in 2023, in which 1,200 people were killed and 251 taken hostage to Gaza, according to Israeli tallies.

Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities.
Police are investigating astonishing claims that corrupt detectives working for Mohamed Al Fayed deceived one of his victims by staging an elaborate ruse involving a bogus MI5 officer and a bugged flat.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal the woman was urgently summoned to Scotland Yard on the pretext of a 'national security' matter.

Once there, the rogue detectives told her the security services needed to install covert surveillance equipment inside her London home and, she says, ordered her to sign what they claimed was the Official Secrets Act.

The detectives then instructed her to give her flat keys to an 'MI5 officer' and warned her never to discuss the matter or face criminal prosecution.

Only days earlier the woman had applied for a sensitive job within Fayed's inner circle. She was later assaulted by him.

For years she assumed the surveillance at her flat was somehow linked to a counter terrorism operation, but it was not until it was revealed last year that Fayed raped female staff, spied on employees and bribed detectives, that she connected it to his predatory behaviour.

'At the time I believed it was all legitimate,' said the woman. 'I grew up trusting the police. They were there to look after us.

'It never occurred to me  an educated, professional woman  that they might not be telling me the truth, that they might be in on it. Some might think me naive but part of this whole ruse took place inside Scotland Yard.'

Police are investigating astonishing claims that corrupt detectives working for Mohamed Al Fayed deceived one of his victims by staging an elaborate ruse involving a bogus MI5 officer and a bugged flat

Al Fayed, the former owner of Harrods, has been described as a 'thoroughly evil' man

Now in her 40s and a well-regarded businesswoman, she tells The Mail on Sunday in an interview that she believes the deception was designed to dissuade her from discussing Fayed in her home.

Others have described how the billionaire Harrods owner used similar tactics to control staff, and how he even liked them to know they were being watched and overheard.

It is known that Fayed's security chief established improper links with police, once boasting that it was 'amazing what they would do for a few readies'.

What is disturbing about the businesswoman's story, however, is that it suggests Fayed's malign influence extended much further than previously thought  to within the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police itself.

She has supplied police investigating the tycoon's complex criminal network with a compelling timeline of evidence, including text messages and other documentation.

Perhaps most revealing of all is a hotel invoice covering the three-day period when, she says, she was asked to vacate her flat while the surveillance equipment was installed. The MoS's own inquiries have established that MI5 had no involvement or knowledge of these events.

Sources insist that had the operation been genuine, it is likely she would have been moved into modest accommodation. But she was billeted in a 800-a-night junior suite at one of London's finest hotels, Grosvenor House on Park Lane, which just happens to be less than 200 metres away from Fayed's own residence.

Her evidence is now part of the wide-ranging inquiry by the Met's Complex Investigation Team into Fayed's offending and those who helped him. The inquiry also covers misconduct and corruption.

The Mail on Sunday can reveal the woman was urgently summoned to Scotland Yard on the pretext of a 'national security' matter

A Met source told us: 'Any information suggesting misconduct by serving or former officers will be referred to the Directorate of Professional Standards for further fact finding and assessment prior to any decision to investigate further.'

The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she was contacted out of the blue on February 28, 2011, by a man purporting to be an MI5 officer but who in reality she believes was working for Fayed. He used the name David Rutherford.

Obeying Rutherford's instructions, she went directly to Scotland Yard after work where she claims she gave a name he supplied to a receptionist.

After waiting in the foyer for several minutes two plain clothes officers 'wearing lanyards then came down and introduced themselves. They showed me their police badges in leather wallets'.

According to the woman they ushered her through a swipe-card security door to a small interview-style room off a corridor on the ground floor.

She said: 'The room was grey with a table in the middle. I sat one side and they were facing me.

'They said they needed the flat for surveillance but wouldn't say for what. They needed to install equipment but that it wouldn't be visible and MI5 agents would dress as builders so as not to arouse suspicion.

'They kept saying that they couldn't divulge what it was all about but that it was a matter of national security.

'I told them I was worried but they said something like, "You're going to have to trust us". I was given a copy of what they said was the Official Secrets Act. One of them pulled it out of a folder.

It was revealed last year that Fayed had raped and sexually assaulted female staff at his store.

'I remember being shocked by this as it wasn't what I expected. I was told I had to sign it, which I did. But I wasn't given a copy. The officers told me they would arrange for an MI5 agent to meet me in a few days and collect my keys and that I would be put up in a hotel while the surveillance equipment was installed.

'They said I'd never find what they installed and actually challenged me to try to find the bugs. I never did.'

Former Tory MP and security expert Dr Bob Seely told the MoS: 'I can't imagine any circumstances in which anyone genuinely representing the security services would have asked this lady to sign any official secrets act or behave in this way. We know that Fayed worked with corrupt former and possibly serving police officers and this may have been an example of him using them to fool a trusting female member of the public.'

The woman, in her twenties at the time, was told by the Scotland Yard officers to meet Rutherford at a Starbucks near the Embankment in London where she handed over 'a bunch of keys.'

He was around 30 with sandy coloured hair, swarthy, and with a Northern Irish accent, she said. He was wearing a leather bomber jacket. He told me I was being put up in the Grosvenor House. It felt like something out of the movies.

When I got to the hotel later, he was there with another guy and he gave me the room card.

I couldnt believe how grand it all was  a suite. Someone came in the day after I left and the account was settled in cash.

On the very same day of checking out of the hotel, I was emailed by the job recruitment agency to say I had an interview with my prospective employer. It was only later that I was told the job was with the Fayed family.

She was told by Rutherford that if she talked about the surveillance operation she would be in danger and that providing she never did she would be safe. Because of this she still fears being identified.

At the time, believing that cameras were installed in her flat, the woman was too scared to discuss anything personal and stuck instead to mundane conversations with others in the flat, including her boyfriend and other visitors. If we needed to say anything to each other, wed discuss it on a walk. Or we spoke in code, she said.

And in disturbing echoes of her experience, other Fayed victims also resorted to speaking to each other in code, which was eventually deciphered by his security staff who listened in on their conversations.

What is disturbing about the businesswoman's story, however, is that it suggests Fayed's malign influence extended much further than previously thought  to within the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police itself

Mohamed Al Fayed died on August 30, 2023, at the age of 94 - before any of the allegations against him were publicised

In many cases Fayed wanted his victims to know that they were being spied on  to prevent them discussing him. For the same reason, former female Harrods employees say they were forbidden from lunching with colleagues.

And one woman described how she was once on her bed talking on the phone to Fayed when to her horror he asked her why she was lying with her legs up against the wall. She knew instantly that there were cameras in the room.

The businesswoman worked for Fayed for nearly a year and continued to do so after being assaulted because she couldnt afford to lose her job. Like so many other women she was too fearful to complain.

Given that in common with other victims she was subjected to an internal medical examination, with the results sent to Fayed, it seems likely the attack was premeditated.

Because I was working directly for the family, it makes sense that Fayed would go to extreme lengths to silence me through fear and intimidation, she said.

She doesnt know for certain if cameras were installed  she never found them  only that she was led to believe they were. Either way, the ploy had the desired effect. The woman was too terrified to ever discuss her experiences working for Fayed.

It seems very plausible that those Scotland Yard police officers were in the pay of Fayed, she concludes. In 2016, the womans flat was put up for sale and another MI5 officer collected the keys. As before, the flat was vacated while the work was carried out.

Dr Seely added: Fayed was a thoroughly evil man, and it is appalling that he was able to effectively become above the law by corrupting those around him whilst targeting women.

A former Harrods employee, Rachael Louw, who claims she was assaulted by both Mohamed Fayed and his brother Salah, spoke of a similar experience.

A former employee at Harrods, Rachael Louw, alleges that Fayed and his brother, Salah, assaulted her in the 1990s

Salah told me that Fayeds head of security had bugged my rented flat and that he was ex-MI5, she said. I believed him. That was terrifying to hear. Now I know it was another way of keeping tabs on what people were talking about and making sure we werent talking about the family.

It seems this ruse [was] developed over the years to the point where Fayed security impersonated MI5 in order to achieve their nefarious goals. It is isolating, intimidating and achieves the effect of silencing victims. It makes you feel powerless, scared and constantly on edge.

Her sentiments are echoed by the anonymous woman.

I signed fake documents I believed to be genuine, thinking for 14 years I was bound by them. Id told no one in all that time. The assault was one thing, it should never have happened, but it is the surveillance side of things that keeps me up at night.

I am proof that he was offending after that. It is far more than the sexual assaults that police should be dealing with, it is the wider scale surveillance and intimidation that left so many of us terrified. The experience has left me paranoid and untrusting of people.

She now wants a public inquiry into state-sanctioned surveillance and police corruption.

The Met Police said in a statement: We continue to support all victims and we urge anyone with information, whether they were directly affected by Mohamed Al Fayeds actions or aware of others who may have been involved or committed offences, to come forward.

We are committed to thoroughly reviewing all information relating to historical allegations in the case of Mohamed Al Fayed, which includes our Directorate of Professional Standards assessing any indication of police misconduct.
Donald Trump intensified his diplomatic war with China yesterday by setting out in detail why the US government believes the Covid pandemic originated in a Wuhan laboratory.

The White House unveiled a new Covid-19 website  with a full-length image of President Trump and the banner 'The True Origins Of Covid-19  which pointed the finger at Beijing and previous US administration figures for promoting the false claim that the pandemic started naturally in an animal market.

The website said: 'Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill with Covid-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered in the animal market.

'The federal government demonised alternative treatments and disavowed narratives, such as the lab leak theory, in a shameful attempt to coerce and control the health decisions of the American people'.

Noting the 'virus possesses a biological characteristic that is not found in nature', the website concludes: 'By nearly all measures of science, if there were evidence of a natural origin, it would have already surfaced. But it hasn't.'

The White House also describes the response to the pandemic by the World Health Organisation as 'an abject failure' for caving to 'pressure from the Chinese Communist Party and placing China's political interests ahead of its international duties'.

This follows the CIA declaring in January that the pandemic was more likely to have emerged from a lab than from nature.

And it comes amid a deepening trade war between Washington and Beijing after Mr Trump slapped tariffs up to 145 per cent on imports from China.

Donald Trump intensified his diplomatic war with China yesterday by setting out in detail why the US government believes the Covid pandemic originated in a Wuhan laboratory

This follows the CIA declaring in January that the pandemic was more likely to have emerged from a lab than from nature

A new website unveiled by The White House read: 'Researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology became ill with Covid-like symptoms in the fall of 2019, months before Covid-19 was discovered in the animal market'

Earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that a former spy chief had sent a secret dossier to No 10 early in the pandemic saying the virus originated with a leak from a Wuhan facility. But Lord Vallance, now a science minister who was the Government's chief scientific adviser at the time, is said by sources to have ignored the report, possibly for fear of offending the Chinese or jeopardising research funding.

The dossier compiled by Sir Richard Dearlove, former head of MI6, was passed to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the start of the outbreak in March 2020.

It stated: 'It is now beyond reasonable doubt that Covid-19 was engineered in Wuhan Institute of Virology.' It said Beijing was pushing a fake narrative that the virus originated in an animal market.

The dossier, compiled by eminent academics and intelligence experts and seen by The Mail on Sunday, said China retrospectively manipulated viral samples to give credence to the deception.

Earlier this year, The Mail on Sunday revealed that a former spy chief had sent a secret dossier to No 10 early in the pandemic saying the virus originated with a leak from a Wuhan facility

A source close to Mr Johnson said: 'Boris repeatedly asked the [intelligence] agencies to do more work on the origins of Covid'

A source close to Mr Johnson said: 'Boris repeatedly asked the [intelligence] agencies to do more work on the origins of Covid. It struck him as too much of a coincidence that a mutant Covid virus appeared in a city that just happened to possess one of the only labs in the world that engineered mutant Covid viruses.

'He was very struck by the refusal of the scientists, especially Patrick Vallance, even to contemplate this possibility. He asked again after getting the Dearlove briefing, and again the agencies came back with the same answer and rubbished Dearlove.'

In April 2020, this newspaper revealed that the Government's secret Cobra committee had been told that Covid had leaked from a laboratory, only for this to then be dismissed as a 'conspiracy theory'.

In response to the White House, China yesterday accused Mr Trump of politicising the issue and said that there was no credibility to claims that a laboratory leak caused the pandemic.
It's enough to make you choke on your Devon cream tea.

Tourists and owners of holiday homes in swanky Salcombe have been hit by yet another financial penalty for supporting the town  the third in as many years.

Council chiefs already charge double council tax on second homes, which make up half the properties in the Devon resort, and they have enforced a principle residency rule preventing non-residents buying new-builds.

Now they are targeting motorists by introducing what is thought to be Britains first differential pricing scheme, with locals paying far less for a days parking than visitors or overnight guests.

And this time round, local business owners in so-called Chelsea-on-Sea are unhappy.

They think takings will be down this Easter, as holidaymakers opt for other West Country resorts.

They warn the latest tourist tax in Britains most expensive seaside property hotspot will hammer family budgets and deter visitors.

Tourists will pay up to 10 to park for a day  25 per cent more than locals. Residents pay 5 for an annual permit that lets them use the towns car parks for 8 a day.

Tourists and owners of holiday homes in swanky Salcombe have been hit by yet another financial penalty for supporting the town  the third in as many years. Pictured: Aerial view of Salcombe on the Kingsbridge Estuary, Devon

Tourists will pay up to 10 to park for a day  25 per cent more than locals. Residents pay 5 for an annual permit that lets them use the towns car parks for 8 a day

Beck Gordon, 51, (pictured) who owns the quayside Salcombe Yawl cafe and Normans Fishmonger, said: Theres a perception among visitors that locals are being looked after, while they are left to pay the price, yet visitors are the ones bringing money into the town

Shop and cafe owners in Salcombe say visitors feel fleeced by South Hams District Councils two-tier parking.

Beck Gordon, 51, who owns the quayside Salcombe Yawl cafe and Normans Fishmonger, said: Theres a perception among visitors that locals are being looked after, while they are left to pay the price, yet visitors are the ones bringing money into the town.

'Our businesses are 90 per cent dependent on the tourist trade. Theres this image of Salcombe as being only for the affluent, but its not true. We see lovely families for whom money is tight.

Paying 70 a week to park is bad enough, but to know youre paying more because youre not from here  thats unfair and wrong.

This Easter is already quieter than previous years, and you wonder whether visitors are already looking elsewhere.

In Captain Morgans Cafe, manager Emma Stevenson, 37, said the policy amounted to a parking tax on visitors, adding: The council is taxing tourists twice. Theyre paying more to stay here because second-home owners are passing on some double council-tax costs. Then they pay an extra premium to park in town. Its extortionate and an unfair hit on families.

Alan Spain, manager of The Bakehouse, described it as unfair and unacceptable. He said: Youre asking visitors to drive all the way to Salcombe for the privilege of paying more to park so locals can have a discount.

At Salcombe Gin distillery, sales manager Tonya McGauley, 38, said: No business wants to rely solely on summer trade, but for many in Salcombe that is the reality. We need to look after visitors

'Visitors understandably feel they are being fleeced.

Andrew Fowler, manager of Salcombe Coffee Company, said: Making visitors pay more than locals to park and charging second-home owners double council tax amount to a tourist tax, no question. We should be embracing tourism, not taxing it.

At Salcombe Gin distillery, sales manager Tonya McGauley, 38, said: No business wants to rely solely on summer trade, but for many in Salcombe that is the reality. We need to look after visitors.

The policy affects council parking across the district, including the holiday resorts of Dartmouth and Kingsbridge. South Hams District Council said: We are in the pre-election period and therefore unable to comment.
The mother of Sally Anne Bowman has spoken of the missed opportunities to catch her daughter's killer as a new probe in Australia revealed how he slipped through the net.

Mark Dixie brutally raped and murdered 18-year-old Sally Anne near her home in Croydon, south London, in September, 2005, in a crime that shocked Britain.

Sally Anne, a fashion student who dreamed of being a Vogue cover girl, was stabbed seven times and then raped by Dixie.

The father of three, who worked as a pub cook, finally admitted the killing to detectives in January 2015, seven years after he was jailed for a minimum of 34 years for the murder.

Dixie also confessed to two more London attacks which led to two more life sentences  raping a woman in 1986 when he was only 16, and bludgeoning a woman with a knife sharpener and threatening to kill her in 2002.

He also confessed to the rape of a woman in Spain in 2003, for which another man spent 12 years in prison.

But speaking ahead of the 20th anniversary of her daughter's death, Linda Bowman, 62, said Dixie should never have been free to carry out the brutal 2005 murder.

It comes as a new probe by the West Australian newspaper found that Dixie had been pictured by cops in Australia just moments after a woman was savagely assaulted while walking home in Victoria Park, near Perth.

Sally Anne Bowman, a fashion student who dreamed of being a Vogue cover girl, was stabbed seven times and then raped by Mark Dixie in 2005

Speaking ahead of the 20th anniversary of her daughter's death, Linda Bowman, 62, said Mark Dixie should never have been free to carry out the brutal 2005 murder

A newspaper cutting found by the West Australian newspaper reveals Australian police had quizzed Dixie and took his photo after an attack near Perth in 1997

But despite the image being printed in a local newspaper, he was never prosecuted because the victim was never able to positively identify him.

Speaking to the Mirror, Linda said: 'He is one of Britain's most depraved sex offenders. The police in Australia didn't care.

'The banged him back on a plane to let the UK deal with him even though he's a sex offender'.

The grieving mother added that had the Australian authorities warned British police about Dixon 'my daughter would still be alive'.

'Sally Anne died because the police did not do enough to stop him'.

Dixie, who had emigrated to Australia in 1993, was eventually deported in 1999 after he tried to rape a female jogger.

When the convicted murderer returned to the UK, British police were not alerted that he was a serial sex offender.

The shocking revelation by West Australian suggests that Dixie was suspected of carrying out a sex attack in Como, near Perth, in 1997, just weeks after he was pictured by police.

Mark Dixie, who is serving a life sentence for the 2005 rape and murder of teenage model Sally Anne Bowman

In that incident, a woman was grabbed by a man and taken to a construction site. She managed to get away, and Dixie was never formally questioned over the attack.

It also emerged an identikit image of a suspect alleged to have attacked a Thai student was created in 1998.

The student was stabbed eight times by a hooded attacker who broke into her home in Leederville, Perth, in 1999.

The woman, who was raped while unconscious, testified during Dixie's 2008 trial for Ms Bowman's murder that a man had broken into her home before the attack unfolded.

The trial was told Dixie's DNA matched a sample that was taken from the woman's underwear.
A member of British Airways cabin crew was found dead in his hotel room during an American stopover, the airline has confirmed.

The male crew member had flown out to San Francisco from the UK on Tuesday, and had been staying in the Californian city before a shift on the return flight.

However, he failed to report for duty on Thursday after staying at the crew hotel. sparking concern from his colleagues.

After failing to raise him on the phone, hotel managers then unlocked the room, where they found him dead in his bed.

The BA 284 flight from San Francisco International Airport to London Heathrow was then cancelled, after being due to depart at 4.20pm on April 17.

Passengers were not told why the flight was cancelled, and were given hotel rooms while alternative arrangements were made.

Crewmates were reportedly too upset to fly after the grim discovery was made.

It was unclear how long he had lain undiscovered - and may have been there for as long as two days.

British Airways has confirmed a member of crew has died in American during a stopover between flights

The flight was cancelled, as was a return leg from Heathrow, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium

Pilots who had gone on ahead to the airport to prepare for the flight also returned to the hotel to comfort colleagues.

British Airways has confirmed that the man was a member of crew.

In a statement to the Sun, it said: 'Our thoughts and condolences are with the family and friends of our colleague at this difficult time.'

Sources told the newspaper: 'There was no way the flight back from San Francisco could go ahead. Staff were in absolute bits at the sudden loss of their friend.

'The steward was a popular member of the team and this came as a bolt from the blue.'

The flight, BA 284, involved an Airbus A380-800, which the airline says can carry up to 469 passengers across four classes.

The return journey, BA 285, from London to SFO, was also cancelled the next day after being due to depart London at 10.45am, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.

BA, Marriott and local authorities in San Francisco were contacted for further comment.

Last year, a British Airways pilot aged 47 died during a stopover between flights on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

The Senior First Officer had collapsed at a luxury hotel in front of shocked guests, according to contemporary reports.

His death meant that BA had to cancel a flight from Vieux Fort to London Gatwick.
Easter travellers faced road and rail misery yesterday (SAT) while strike action and weather warnings added to bank holiday headaches.

The AA estimated that more than 18 million people took to the roads, with a similar number expected to make journeys on the remaining days of the Easter weekend.

The worst blackspots were on the M6 in Birmingham and further north near Blackpool; the south and western M25; the M5 around the Bristol area; and the A303 in Wiltshire.

Train passengers also faced a challenging day as Network Rail worked to complete a programme of more than 300 engineering projects across Britain this weekend which had forced the closure of a number of railway lines.

The most severe impact was felt at London Euston, with services halted and diversions in place to allow engineers to work on renewing overhead electric lines between London and Milton Keynes.

Striking drivers at Hull Trains continued a long-running Aslef dispute over the sacking of a colleague, bringing disruption to weekend services. The company operates trains between Hull and London King's Cross.

Air travellers planning on flying to Bank Holiday destinations from Gatwick were also facing disruption until Tuesday morning thanks to a strike by baggage handlers in a dispute over pensions.

The AA estimated that more than 18 million people took to the roads, with a similar number expected to make journeys on the remaining days of the Easter weekend

The worst blackspots were on the M6 in Birmingham and further north near Blackpool; the south and western M25; the M5 around the Bristol area; and the A303 in Wiltshire

A couple sitting in deckchairs onto beach wearing warm jackets as they make the most of the cold and overcast weather at the seaside resort of Lyme Regis in Dorset

The action, by more than 100 striking members of the Unite union working for ground handling firm Red Handling, was affecting passengers with Norwegian, Delta, TAP and Air Peace airlines. Roughly 50 flights are affected each day.

The Met Office issued warnings of potential flooding in the South West yesterday with drivers urged to take extra care in the worst-hit areas.

Meteorologist Honor Criswick said there was 'quite a wet start for many' yesterday (SAT) but that the rain was expected to fizzle out before a 'largely dry' Easter Sunday.

'There should be plenty of sunny spells around,' she added. 'Good news if you're heading out for an Easter egg hunt.'

Mark Garratt, flood duty manager at the Environment Agency, said: 'Environment Agency teams will be out on the ground and supporting local authorities in responding to surface water flooding.'

The Met Office issued warnings of potential flooding in the South West yesterday with drivers urged to take extra care in the worst-hit areas

Rivington Reservoir near Bolton (pictured), which normally attracts crowds of walkers over the Easter weekend, was closed after two Second World War grenades were found by a member of the public

Meanwhile a north west beauty spot which normally attracts crowds of walkers over the Easter weekend was closed after two Second World War grenades were found by a member of the public.

Rivington Reservoir near Bolton was cordoned off to allow bomb disposal officers to remove the deactivated grenades  used by the Army to teach soldiers how to use the real things  before being reopened to the public yesterday evening.

And retail chiefs at Asda were hoping to trigger an Easter rush to stores after slashing prices of bestselling chocolate eggs. The supermarket giant pledged to sell discounted eggs from major manufacturers until tomorrow (Monday).
Prince Harry and Meghan are in a 'crisis' and each want different things from their life in California, a biographer has claimed.

Tom Bower has teased bombshell material about the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in his planned second book on the couple  declaring they face a 'fight for survival' after quitting royal duties and moving to Montecito.

The author, whose first book, Revenge: Meghan, Harry And The War Between The Windsors came out in 2022, exclusively told The Mail on Sunday: 'They need each other. The real trouble is that they cannot come to terms with their own profiles. He is a prince who does not understand money-making; she is a failed actress who got lucky.'

Mr Bower said the couple's infamous 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview in which they aired a series of allegations about the Royal Family will continue to haunt them.

'Nobody can deny that she [Meghan] works hard but everything she tries suffers in large part from this self-inflicted wound, this dumping on her in-laws,' said Mr Bower.

'It frames everything she does.' The interview led to the late Queen's famous comment: 'Recollections may vary.' Mr Bower added: 'I find them, as a couple, infinitely fascinating. There is nobody else like them.'

He suggested the pair are in 'crisis' over their different goals, with Prince Harry, 40, reportedly keen to reconcile with the Royal Family, while Meghan, 43, is more focused on being famous and wealthy.

'Meghan wants to be a billionaire celebrity and Harry doesn't understand that world, other than [understanding] Meghan wants to be famous. He's spent his whole life never having a penny in his pocket. He's never had to worry about having a car or a job,' he said in a separate interview with the Daily Mirror.

Prince Harry and Meghan are in a 'crisis' and each want different things from their life in California, a biographer has claimed

'The real trouble is that they cannot come to terms with their own profiles,' a biographer told The Mail on Sunday

The duchess apparently believes that her slew of business initiatives will make her 'a billionaire'

'So he doesn't understand where she's coming from, which is that she worked phenomenally hard, struggled, was constantly humiliated, and wants the security of finance and status.

'She hasn't got the status she craves, she hasn't got the pulling power. He's stuck in California clinging on to his royal status, as is she.

'Harry's thinking is of reconciliation. That's just totally unrealistic. There is zero chance of reconciliation because there is irreconcilable anger on the part of William and Kate.

'It's an amazing story, an eye-wateringly unique story because it's unprecedented.

'This is such a famous couple who are fighting [for themselves] all the time. They are relentless and they are restless, and that's what makes it so interesting.'

The duchess apparently believes that her slew of business initiatives will make her 'a billionaire'. Last month Meghan began promoting products via the ShopMy website, a favourite among social media influencers that will earn her between 10 and 30 per cent commission on each item sold. Products range from a 1,070 dress to a 99 Uniqlo trenchcoat, as well as beauty products.

The Telegraph reported that a well-placed source said Meghan 'thinks she's going to be a billionaire' and that the team of executives she's hired can get her there. It came as a trailer was launched yesterday for her upcoming podcast, Confessions Of A Female Founder. In it she says: 'I'm building a business of my own and getting all sorts of practical advice along the way.'

The Duchess who, like her husband, is barred from nakedly cashing in on her royal links for business ventures, advertised her ShopMy venture on Instagram under her title, the Duchess of Sussex

It was her first podcast series since her and Harry's 18million deal with Spotify was axed in 2023 with the couple branded 'grifters' by a senior executive after only one series and a 'Christmas special' were released.

The Duchess who, like her husband, is barred from nakedly cashing in on her royal links for business ventures, advertised her ShopMy venture on Instagram under her title, the Duchess of Sussex. ShopMy claims that its top sellers can make in excess of 1million a year.

It came on top of the duchess's new lifestyle venture, As Ever, selling home and cookery products and follows her Netflix series, With Love, Meghan, which has earned a critical drubbing.

Meanwhile, Prince Harry has had his own headlines to deal with, including his visit to London to challenge the decision to axe his right to automatic security when in the UK.

He is also at the centre of controversy after quitting as patron of Sentebale  the charity he co-founded in 2006 with Prince Seeiso of Lesotho  after a breakdown in relations with the organisation's chairwoman Dr Sophie Chandauka. She accused the charity's board of harassment and bullying and claimed Harry tried to use the charity as 'an extension of the Sussex PR machine' to support his wife's public reputation. Mr Bower described the affair as a 'disaster for Harry'.

A representative for the Sussexes was contacted for comment.
In September 2022, Meghan Markle delivered her first speech in the UK since she and Prince Harry stepped back from the Royal Family and relocated to the US.

Speaking at the One Young World summit in Manchester, the Duchess of Sussex addressed an audience of around 2,000 people with a rather revealing message.

For the occasion, she wore a striking scarlet ensemble from Another Tomorrow, comprising the 'Bow' blouse and 'Classic' trousers.

She paired the outfit with matching Aquazzura heels and distinctive gold jewellery, while styling her hair in a sleek ponytail.

Meghan's choice of an all-red outfit - symbolising confidence and passion - complemented her affectionate remarks about her husband.

As she expressed her delight in having him by her side, she accompanied her words with long blinks, coy expressions and playful giggles.

According to body language expert Judi James: 'Meghan's 'love language' has always been about very public verbal and non-verbal declarations of the kind of coy and gushing responses that tend to normally define the wedding stage of a relationship.'

She told MailOnline: 'The Duchess' coyness rituals here are used as a nod or a knowing aside to the audience. Telling them she's 'thrilled' to welcome 'my husband' to the summit, she performs a secretive-looking smile.

In September 2022, Meghan Markle delivered her first speech in the UK since she and Prince Harry stepped back from the Royal Family and relocated to the US

'Her head dips slightly, her cheeks become the 'apple' shape of bashful coyness, her brows raise for emphasis and her smile involves a puckering of the lower lip as though she's trying to self-censor her own signals of being a woman besotted and in love.

'When she refers to 'my husband,' her facial movements imply she is momentarily overwhelmed by that love.

'She pauses and her eyes close and the pause seems timed to prompt the whoops and cheers of delight from the audience. When her eyes open again they appear to flick straight to Harry, who is himself sitting in the audience.'

However, the Duke of Sussex didn't appear to reciprocate Meghan's feelings as he adopted a 'frozen' pose while she 'giggled breathlessly into her mic'.

Before meeting Meghan, Harry was likely not used to such overt displays of affection in public.

'His upbringing in the royal family would have been all about emotional suppression in public,' Judi noted. 'His head is lowered and slightly tilted, and his mouth is clamped in an indulgent looking expression.

'When he moves it is to look further downward in a cut-off as though possibly feeling embarrassed, then there is a small tongue-poke to suggest the same before he raises his gaze upwards with what looks like a quick wince of possible discomfort.'

At the event, which brought together young leaders from more than 190 countries, Meghan, a counsellor for One Young World, gave an address on gender equality.

Meghan's choice of an all-red outfit - symbolising confidence and passion - complemented her affectionate remarks about her husband

As Meghan expressed her delight in having Harry by her side, she accompanied her words with long blinks, coy expressions and playful giggles

Harry and Meghan sat centre stage on a bench together as they joined One Young World counsellors to watch the flag bearers enthusiastically parading the flags of more than 200 countries during the opening ceremony

However, the Duke of Sussex didn't appear to reciprocate Meghan's feelings as he adopted a 'frozen' pose

Meghan smiled and held hands with her husband as they made their way through the auditorium ahead of taking to the stage

She smiled and held hands with the duke as they made their way through the auditorium ahead of taking to the stage.

Harry and Meghan sat centre stage on a bench together as they joined One Young World counsellors to watch the flag bearers enthusiastically parading the flags of more than 200 countries during the opening ceremony.

The Duchess then addressed the audience, telling young future world leaders: 'You are the future. You are the present. You are the ones driving the positive and necessary change across the globe now, in this very moment. And for that I am so grateful to be in your company today.'

Meghan also spoke about the first time she was asked to be a counsellor for One Young World in 2014 and having a 'pinch me moment'.

She recalled: 'And there I was, the girl from Suits. I was surrounded by world leaders, humanitarians, prime ministers and activists that I had such a deep and long-standing respect and admiration for. And I was allowed in, to pull up a seat at the table.

'I was so overwhelmed by this experience, I think, I think I even saved my little paper place-marker with my name on it. Just proof: proof that I was there, proof that I belonged, because the truth was, I wasn't sure that I belonged.'

She added: 'And I want to make that point because often times I speak to young girls about the years ahead. About what you will do, about what you will have to adopt to fix from previous generations and also what legacy you will leave.

'Too often in that, we neglect the point - you are doing it now. You, here, in this present moment, this is where it is all beginning.'
A disused water tower in Cambridgeshire is going up for auction on 30 May with a guide price of 275,000 before fees.

The property comprises a large 1950s former water tower together with surrounding land.

Perched on a generous plot near the shores of Grafham Water, Perry Water Tower is a landmark and now stands as a blank canvas for residential or potentially holiday let use.

Auction House London said it had been told by the seller that there had been a 'positive pre-application' on 2 October 2024 for the conversion of the decommissioned water tower into a residential home.

The tall stone building has a pair of green double doors, and inside features an old spiral staircase complete with glass brick windows, with the stairs allowing workers to access the tank.

The abandoned brutalist piece of infrastructure was previously auctioned off by Anglian Water Services in May 2023.

Unique: A disused water tower in Cambridgeshire is going up for auction on 30 May

It went to the highest bidder for 290,000, almost triple the original guide price of 90,000.

With East Anglia being famously flat, hundreds of water towers were built to service the area and Anglian Water still maintains around 392 towers and storage points.

Water towers used to provide water pressure during periods of high demand using gravity.

But with more modern technological advances, they have now fallen out of use.

Water towers have been the subject of some major renovations in recent years, including the transformation of an 80-year-old tower into a luxury home.

Rob Hunt spent two-and-a-half years on the incredible conversion of the concrete tank into a four-bedroom home at Clovelly Cross in Bideford, Devon.

And last month, England's largest municipal water tower received additional funding to help secure its future.

The 40 metre tall structure, known as 'Jumbo', has towered above Colchester High Street since 1883, but has been on the at-risk register for the last 30 years. Historic England announced the latest funding allocation of 550,000 in March.

Features: Perry Water Tower comes equipped with an old spiral staircase

Potential: Prospective buyers will need to get planning permission to convert the tower

Water towers used to provide water pressure during periods of high demand using gravity

Site plan: The site is a rectangle shape and measures approximately 0.32 acres

Wow factor: An artist's impression of what the former tower could look like if it was renovated

Impressive: The tower could be turned into a high-end home or even a holiday let

Setting: An artist's impression of stunning views from the water tower should it be restored

Buying at auction

Auctions are one area where good deals still come up. Properties sold this way can, in some cases, be substantially cheaper than on the open market.

According to Property Auction News, the average price properties sell at auction for is around 166,000.

Properties sold in this way often - though not always - come with added complexities for the buyer. It is therefore important to do as much research as possible before buying any property at auction.

Where possible, always visit the property in person before the auction. Read legal documents for the property carefully and, when possible, get advice from a solicitor before heading to the auction.

Sometimes, the legal pack includes 'special conditions' that mean you might also be liable to pay an additional three per cent fee to a sales agent.

Before submitting any bids, always check what sort of price similar properties in the area have sold for. This will, of course, be harder if it is a more unusual property like a water tower that you are after.

If you do bid, do not get carried away and bid more than you can afford.

Most properties bought via auction have a 28-day competition date and home loans for auction properties can be harder to get.
Newburgh has for years been synonymous with crime, having among the scariest rates of gangland killings, robberies, and home invasions in the state of New York.

Now, the historic city seeks to turn the page on violence and squalor, and revive its pretty architecture as a place to raise kids and a destination for weekend breakers from Manhattan that's just 60 miles away.

Bars and restaurants are opening downtown similar to what you might find in Brooklyn and renovators are busy on projects, such as the Philip Johnson-designed Wolfhouse that's on the market for $3million.

Police in February said the city's shocking crime rates were falling, with a 25 percent drop in violent and property crimes making it safer than at any time this decade.

But history casts a long shadow. Newburgh has more poor, minority households than nearby Hudson Valley towns, and its social problems are stubbornly persistent.

In a heinous example, a local man was caged for life last month for shooting and killing a Newburgh mom, dad and their nine-year-old son in their family home in 2020.

For some, Newburgh's current tension between violence and gentrification are an echo of the city's long record of political turbulence.

It is where George Washington commanded his forces at the end of the Revolutionary War, and where he famously rejected the idea of becoming America's first 'king'.

Property prices in Newburgh, New York, doubled between 2020 and this year

Boutiques and restaurants akin to what you would find in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, have popped up in Newburgh. Pictured: Looking south just below Broadway on Liberty Street in Newburgh's East End Historic District

But parts of the city are still blighted by violence. Pictured above: a site where two people were shot and killed

Local scholar Richard Ocejo says Newburgh is changing fast, but questions if it will wholesale gentrify into an idyll with $300-a-night hotels, like nearby hotspots Beacon or Hudson.

'It doesn't look like the real estate investment in Newburgh will go away,' Ocejo told the Daily Mail.

'But it also doesn't look like the conditions that give rise to these high crime rates are being addressed either.'

Newburgh was once a prosperous transport and industrial hub on the Hudson River, but many of its businesses migrated to reduce costs after 1960, and shops relocated to out-of-town malls.

By the early 2010s, its population was 80 percent non-white and the Bloods, Latin Kings and other gangs ruled the streets, selling drugs, racketeering, and robbing.

Gangsters killed more than a dozen people in just two years; New York Magazine dubbed Newburgh the 'murder capital of the US' in September 2011.

But with this macabre scourge came the opportunity of lower property prices.

Middle-class New York City residents who'd been priced out of the city started buying up spacious homes there for even cheaper than they were at other spots along the Hudson.

Savvy investors were snapping up historic Victorian, Italianate and villa style fixer-uppers on the cheap, says Ocejo, author of Sixty Miles Upriver, a book about Newburgh.

Many were renovated into Airbnb rentals to cater for New York City residents seeking weekend breaks on the river and a chance to go hiking and visit wineries in the Catskills.

Newburgh is just 60 miles from Manhattan and an easy weekend trip for New Yorkers

This mid-century Newburgh home was renovated and went on the market for $2.9million

Two New York City creatives bought it for $650,000 and spent $1 million on a four-year renovation

Luxury properties are often just blocks away from rows of boarded-up homes in Newburgh

The trend only accelerated in the pandemic, when work-from-home culture took hold.

Perhaps the jewel in the crown of Newburgh's reinvention is the Philip Johnson-designed Wolfhouse, a boxy, two-story house, perched atop a sloping hill by the river.

A pair of New York creatives bought the run-down property for $650,000, and spent four years and $1million on restoration before putting it on the market for $2.9million

Meanwhile, upscale restaurants such as Blu Pointe and Ms Fairfax have sprung up downtown and on the waterfront, charging $30-a-dish New York City prices to visiting foodies.

Property prices have soared. In 2000, the average Newburgh home sold for $200,000.

Five years later, they change hands for twice that amount.

'You can't really get any good deals any longer,' says Ocejo, a sociology professor at the City University of New York.

The changes have shaken up the city of 28,000 people, where incomes for most residents haven't kept pace with gentrification, he adds.

The average household brings in just $51,000 each year, far less than the $80,000 state average, 2023 US Census Bureau data show.

That doesn't go very far, now the average rent for a two-bedroom apartment is $26,600 a year, according to Zillow.

The average household brings in just $51,000 each year, far below the state average

Local scholar Richard Ocejo wrote about the rapid pace of gentrification in Newburgh

Savvy investors snapped up Newburgh's architectural gems for cheap in the early 2000s

Ocejo and other locals describe a 'tale of two cities' - well-heeled, educated newcomers live in refurbished mansions just blocks away from boarded up shopfronts and crime hotspots.

All the while, Newburgh continues to make headlines with its horrors, such as the fatal shooting of Jimmy and Shatavia 'Tati' Crisantos and their son Giovanni Tambino, nine, at their home.

The killer, Kaliek Goode-Ford, 35, deemed 'truly irredeemable' by prosecutors, will spend the rest of his life behind bars.

In another crime to shock the Hudson Valley, three young Newburgh men were indicted this week over the fatal shooting of a taxi driver in September 2021.

District Attorney David Hoovler released a press release about another 'horrific and senseless' attack in the city.

The violence on Newburgh's streets today recalls its turbulent history, as the place where Washington led the military campaign that ended British colonial rule in 1783.

There, Washington famously placated the 'Newburgh conspiracy' of mutinous, unpaid soldiers, and rejected suggestions in the 'Newburgh letter' that he become the newborn nation's king.

Newburgh, then just a hamlet, turned a corner after America's war of independence, as new sloop and turnpike routes opened it up to trade and visitors.

The city is again at a 'critical point' in its history, says Ocejo.

George Washington commanded the Continental Army from Newburgh in the last year and a half of the Revolutionary War

Washington delivered his 'Newburgh Address' there to placate unpaid officers in March 1783

This time, Newburgh's future hinges on attracting enough investment for new building at scale, and larger companies with enough white-collar jobs to support a population of skilled workers.

Even then, he says, officials must still grapple with the many residents being priced out of the shiny new city on the river.

'That's the part of the story that should never be left out,' he adds.
If you're desperate for a taste of the Dubai chocolate bar, experts warn to be on the lookout for scams cashing in on the craze.

Also known as Can't Get Knafeh of It, the Dubai chocolate bar contains a mix of pistachio and crispy kataifi pastry known as 'angel hair'.

Like Willy Wonka's golden ticket, chocolate fans around the world are clamouring to get their hands on the confection, which is made in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Unfortunately, greedy fraudsters are setting up fake websites which claim to sell the delectable creation.

The websites are impersonating FIX Dessert Chocolatier, the makers of the Dubai chocolate bar, and Deliveroo, which sells it in the UAE.

'Scammers are often quick to capitalize on trends, and the Dubai chocolate craze is a prime example of this,' said Olga Svistunova, expert at security firm Kaspersky.

'Using tactics that prey on consumer enthusiasm and trust in established brands is an effective way for cybercriminals to succeed.'

Here's how to spot the numerous dodgy sites  which are reportedly taking money without fulfilling orders.

The original Dubai chocolate bar, also known as Can't Get Knafeh of It, is made by FIX Dessert Chocolatier and is only available through Deliveroo in Dubai and Abu Dhabi

'Can't Get Knafeh Of It' (the original Dubai chocolate bar, pictured) is only available through Deliveroo in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. This is why manufacturers like Lindt have been making their own versions to cash in on the craze

The Dubai chocolate bar  which shot to fame on social media last year'  was created by Sarah Hamouda, a British-Egyptian Dubai-based chocolatier.

Her company, FIX Dessert Chocolatier, sell the sought-after treat for 14  but only through Deliveroo for customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, UAE.

'We dont currently offer international shipping or retail outside the region,' a FIX Dessert Chocolatier spokesperson told MailOnline.

As the company points out on its Facebook page, it does not have any authorised resellers, a physical store, or even a website.

So it is something of a concern that when you search 'Fix Dessert Chocolatier' on Google multiple websites appear at the top of the results.

The very top one  fixdessertchocolate.com  purports to sell the Dubai chocolate bar for $18 (13.50), plus $15 (11) for postage to the UK.

However, when customers go to check out on the site, they're told they 'must have an order with a minimum of $150' (113) to place the order.

Suspiciously, customers are also told: 'Order with crypto and get an extra chocolate bar!'

It may have a convincing-sounding URL, but fixdessertchocolate.com (pictured) makes visitors pay 113 for a batch of chocolate bars that don't arrive

Another scam site - fixdessertshop.com - claims to sell Dubai chocolate bars in UAE currency

Tips to avoid Dubai chocolate scams Verify website authenticity: Check URLs, domain names, and customer reviews before making purchases online. In this case, it advised to only purchase Fix Dessert Chocolatier from the official Deliveroo website. Be wary of unsolicited offers: Scammers often use pop-ups, ads, or phishing emails to direct users to fraudulent sites. Avoid sharing personal information: Only provide sensitive details on secure, verified platforms. Source: Kaspersky Advertisement

Unfortunately, the website is a 'well-known scam site' that has been reported for taking orders and not fulfilling them, the real FIX Dessert Chocolatier told MailOnline.

'They have no affiliation with us whatsoever, and we strongly advise against placing any orders through that platform,' a spokesperson said.

Another site  fixdessertshop.com  claims to sell the bars in UAE currency for the equivalent of 14 plus 23 in postage to the UK.

But similarly, when victims get to the checkout page, they're told they need to spend at least 81 to place their order.

One victim on Reddit said they'd paid via Apple Pay on fixdessertshop.com for Dubai chocolate  but said they'd had 'no response', calling it a 'scam'.

Yet another, orderfixchocolatier.shop, tells customers they need to order at least six bars  but even if people pay the extortionate amount there's no indication they'll receive anything in the mail.

Of course, some websites of authentic chocolatiers, such as Lindt, are selling their own version of the bar online.

But because of the craze surrounding the confection at the moment, it's safer not to take the risk with any website that you don't recognise.

According to Kaspersky, some fake e-commerce platforms are impersonating Deliveroo and other independent vendors from around the world.

It said: 'These fraudulent websites promise Dubais chocolate but vanish once payments are collected, leaving consumers empty-handed.'

Sarah Hamouda, founder of FIX Dessert Chocolatier, stresses that her original creation doesn't have any authorised resellers. Also, FIX Dessert Chocolatier doesn't have a website.

Experts at Kaspersky have identified a fraudulent campaign targeting consumers in the UAE - where cybercriminals created fake websites impersonating FIX Dessert Chocolatier, the makers of the Dubai chocolate bar, and Deliveroo, which sells it there. Pictured, an example of a scam chocolate store posing as Deliveroo

This site, orderfixchocolatier.shop, tells customers they need to order at least six bars but even if people pay the extortionate amount there's no indication they'll receive anything in the mail

'We frequently alert our customers about scammers through our social channels and urge them to report any unauthorized resellers or accounts,' she said.

'We hope they remain vigilant against scammers who might overcharge, offer different products, or improperly store FIX resulting in an unpleasant experience to our customers.'

If you're not in the UK and want the original Dubai chocolate bar, you may have to rely on a friend or family member there to bring one back for you in their luggage.

Alternatively, there are several imitation bars being sold in UK high street shops, including Lindt's 10 version sold in Waitrose and Sainsbury's.

There's also a 4.99 version branded 'J.D. Gross' sold in Lidl  although demand has been so intense that you'll be lucky to find one on the shelves.

MailOnline managed to get hold of one imitation bar sold in Istanbul, Turkey which cost a hefty 12.90 euros  just over 11.

The tiny bar  weighing just 70g but packaged to make it look much bigger  had a good crunch but lacked any substantial pistachio flavour.

It follows an investigation in Germany finding that some imitation Dubai chocolate bars contain dodgy additives and contaminants.

Among these are palm oil, green food dyes, toxins produced by moulds and even chemical compounds thought to be carcinogenic.
An anthropologist from California got more than he bargained for during a secret journey into the Nevada desert - coming face to face with the strange happenings taking place at Area 51.

Jerry Freeman wasn't looking for UFOs or secret government projects when he crossed onto the grounds of the forbidden military base in 1996, he was actually following the trail of the 1849 pioneers heading west in search of gold.

However, that path took Freeman through a part of Nevada restricted by the US Air Force, forcing him to travel at night to avoid security patrols.

During one night of this week-long mission, Freeman spotted an incredible scene near Papoose Lake - a dry lake bed located in Lincoln County that some have claimed conceals a secret alien spacecraft hangar known as 'S-4.'

Freeman told journalist and UFO researcher George Knapp that a doorway suddenly opened up in the middle of the air near Papoose Lake, emitting a bright blueish light before closing and completely disappearing into the desert landscape.

'It looked like a dry lake bed to me, nothing else, but at night it was a different story,' Freeman revealed.

'I could clearly see what were security lights on the perimeters and I could see lights that opened and closed near the center of the lake,' the anthropologist continued.

Freeman also revealed that he felt vibrations similar to an earthquake as he watched the strange scene unfold for about two minutes at the top secret base.

Jerry Freeman was an anthropologist from California who said he encountered a strange doorway of light while trespassing on the grounds of Area 51 in the 1990s

Above, a satellite view of Area 51. The United States Air Force facility is a remote detachment of Edwards Air Force Base, within the Nevada Test and Training Range

'It's something they're testing either directly underground or I was feeling vibrations completely from Groom Lake, I don't know,' Freeman told Knapp during a recorded interview before the anthropologist's death in 2001.

'I think if they'd have caught me in there that they'd have lit me up like a Roman candle,' he feared.

Freeman's desert trek originally intended to track down the lost inscriptions of a doomed group of gold prospectors who died while trying to find a shortcut to the gold fields of California.

These 1849 pioneers veered off the historic Spanish trail which was taking miners out west through Colorado, Utah, and Nevada.

However, this group is believed to have broken off from the trail in Utah and tried to make it to California quicker by cutting through the Nevada desert.

Unfortunately, they never made it, and the area would eventually gain its infamous name - Death Valley.

All that is left of the lost explorers were their journals, revealing that they had left behind seven inscriptions in the desert, marking their journey during the Gold Rush.

Unfortunately for Freeman, the journals revealed that some of these historic markers now sit within the boundary markers of the Air Force's Nevada testing site - where the secretive Area 51 sits.

Although Freeman received encouragement from the National Park Service and the Bureau of Land Management to find these lost pieces of history, the Air Force flatly denied him access to the area - leading the adventurer to make the journey at night without permission.

The US Air Force refused to allow Freeman access to their grounds in Nevada as he attempted to find markers left by a lost group of 1849 gold prospectors

Freeman's map revealed the shortcut the pioneers attempted to take, through an area which would later be called Death Valley after their doomed journey. However, it also took them through what is now Area 51

Making matters worse, S-4 had just become a public talking point thanks to a man named Bob Lazar.

Lazar claimed he was a former government physicist who worked at S-4, reverse-engineering alien spacecraft and extraterrestrial technology.

Lazar began making his claims that the US military was not only recovering UFOs but creating their own aircraft using modified alien hardware in 1989.

He continued to make television appearances revealing the existence of Area 51 and secret government projects taking place in the desert for years, including several interviews with Knapp.

Although the US government would not officially acknowledge that Area 51 really existed until 2013, the secret base was already becoming a cultural phenomenon in the 1990s.

Moreover, a 1996 lawsuit by a group who claimed they were stationed at Area 51 alleged that they were exposed to toxic chemicals while at the base.

That lawsuit was eventually dismissed based on national security concerns and President Bill Clinton would actually sign an executive order exempting the base from the nation's environmental laws.

However, the government avoid actually naming 'Area 51' in the court documents, instead referring to the site as 'Groom Lake' - right where Freeman said he encountered the strange door in the middle of the lake bed.

Although the exact details surrounding Area 51 are still largely a mystery, it's been widely speculated that the military uses the facility to test experimental aircraft.

The base sits in a roughly 60-square-mile tract that encompasses most of Groom Dry Lake, and it is believed to lie close to the northeast edge of a mountain, which stands between Groom and Papoose dry lakes.

Since Freeman's sighting near the end of 1996, Area 51 has continued to spark wild conspiracy theories tied to aliens and UFOs.

Area 51 sits in an area known as Groom Lake. The complex reportedly extends to Papoose Lake, a dry lake bed where Freeman said a mysterious doorway opened in the middle of the night in 1996

This month, a mysterious triangular tower at Area 51 was spotted on Google Maps, setting off widespread speculation that it is somehow involved in alien contact.

While it's still unclear what Freeman saw that night in the desert, the answers may be hiding in files which could soon be declassified by the Trump Administration.

Jim Goodall, an aviation journalist with firsthand sources who have worked at the classified base, gave an interview in the mid-1990s where he discussed top-secret technologies at the site that 'would make George Lucas envious.'

'One gentleman spent 12 of his 30 years in black programs at Groom Lake [as Area 51 is also known],' Goodall explained in the unearthed documentary interview.

'I asked him, 'Can you really tell me what's happening out there?'' he continued.

'And he said, 'Well, there's a lot of things going on there that I won't be able to tell you until the year 2025.''

The mention of '2025' could refer to an executive order by then-President Clinton, which established a 25-year timer for the 'automatic declassification' of government secrets.

Moreover, President Trump has publicly stated that his administration would be reviewing and releasing documents tied to several national mysteries over the year, including the decades of reports about extraterrestrial life.

Rep. Anna Paulina Luna of Florida was recently appointed to lead a new task force focused on declassifying 'government secrets.'

House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer said, 'Rep. Luna is committed to shining a light on the truth and ending the era of secrecy.'
For Christians around the world, Easter is a time to remember and celebrate the story of Jesus' crucifixion.

This cornerstone of the Christian faith maintains that Jesus died on the cross and then returned from the dead three days later.

In the critical moment of this story, Jesus' followers return to his tomb to find the heavy stone door rolled away and the grave lying empty.

However, some radical theories claim this could be possible without any supernatural explanations.

Some scientists even claim that Jesus never really died on the cross.

In what is known as the 'swoon theory', Jesus merely fainted before being taken down and being revived in the tomb.

Even if Jesus didn't survive, some believe that the stone still could have been rolled away from the tomb by natural causes such as an earthquake.

So, do you think these wild theories can stand up to scrutiny?

At Easter, Christians celebrate the story of Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection three days later. But some radical theories suggest that there could be a natural explanation behind the biblical story

The earthquake theory

So-called 'naturalistic' Christians want to avoid explanations which go beyond the established laws of physics but still find a way to fit the biblical story.

From this perspective, almost any natural explanation will always be more likely than a supernatural account, no matter how implausible it might seem.

In the gospel accounts Mary Magdalene went to the tomb where Jesus' body had been buried to find that the stone had been removed from the entrance.

To explain how this might have happened, some theories have pointed to the possibility of a large earthquake cracking open the tomb.

Surprisingly, this unusual theory does have some support from the gospels themselves.

According to the gospel of Matthew, there were two large earthquakes around the time of Jesus' death and resurrection.

Professor Lawrence Mykytiuk, an expert on the Hebrew Bible from Purdue University told MailOnline: 'You are correct in supposing that an earthquake could indeed break tombs open.'

The Bible reports that the stone of the tomb was rolled away in the morning. According to some, this could have been caused by an earthquake which is recorded in the Gospel of Mark. Pictured: A typical tomb from the time of Jesus' life, sealed by a large cork-shaped stone

What are the 'natural' explanations for the Bible's resurrection account? The earthquake theory To explain how the tomb was open when the disciples returned, some argue that it could have been moved by an earthquake.

We have evidence of an earthquake around the time of Jesus death but this doesn't explain how the body vanished. The stolen body theory Some argue that Jesus' body could have been stolen by the disciples.

But there is no way they could have got past the Roman guards. The swoon theory Scientists have suggested that Jesus might have fainted on the cross and then recovered after being removed.

However, medical experts say that Jesus definitely died on the cross. Advertisement

According to Matthew chapter 27:50, at the moment of Jesus' death, 'the earth shook, the rocks split and the tombs broke open'.

Professor Mykytiuk said: 'On Good Friday afternoon two millennia ago, there was a first earthquake when Jesus died, but his body was still nailed to the cross, so that first quake could not have affected his tomb.

'But there was indeed a second earthquake, a violent one, this time at dawn on Easter Sunday morning.'

Therefore, it is entirely compatible with the facts laid out in the Bible that it could have been an Earthquake which opened the tomb.

Even more surprisingly, we now have scientific evidence which supports the claim that there was an earthquake at this time.

Geologists from the German Research Center for Geophysics studied cores of soil taken from around the Dead Sea to look for historical seismic activity.

When the researchers examined these samples, they found evidence of a large earthquake in 31 BC and a smaller quake between 26 and 36 AD, the estimated date of Jesus' execution.

In their paper, the researchers claim one possible interpretation of this evidence is that 'the earthquake described in the Gospel of Matthew occurred more or less as reported.'

Geologists have found evidence in the sediment of the Dead Sea (pictured) which shows that there was an earthquake between 26 and 36 AD, believed to be the date of Jesus' death

The stolen body theory

However, attempts to explain the story laid out in the Bible do not always stick so closely to the historical and biblical evidence.

In particular, one especially bold claim suggests that the disciples themselves stole Jesus' body in an attempt to fake the resurrection.

This theory was first formally suggested in the fifth century by a Jewish anti-Christian work called the Toledoth Yethu, but it might date back even further.

The Gospel of Matthew, which records the time after Jesus' death, claims that the city priests had started the rumour that the body had been stolen.

However, compared with the few facts we do have about the crucifixion this story doesn't make a lot of sense.

The biblical account reports that a group of Roman soldiers were deployed to the tomb to prevent precisely this kind of outside interference.

Professor Mykytiuk said: 'Even if the disciples had remembered and believed Jesuss prediction that he would rise on the third day - which they certainly did not believe - they would have had to take on the Roman soldiers in order to steal the body. Good luck with that.'

According to some sceptics, it is more likely that some of Jesus' disciples opened the tomb and stole his body in the night. But this ignores the fact that the tomb was guarded by Romans. Pictured: Leonardo da Vinci's The Last Supper

Likewise, what we know about the character of the disciples suggests that they didn't understand or embrace the idea that Jesus would rise from the dead.

'Even when he saw that the tomb contained no body, Peter still didnt "get it",' says Professor Mykytiuk.

'Neither he nor the others were in any frame of mind to take on a detachment of Roman soldiers, who could easily have slaughtered them.'

The swoon theory

So far, these theories have tried to explain how the tomb might have been opened to remove Jesus' body after his death.

But some scientists have gone even further, arguing that Jesus never really died on the cross in the first place.

In a paper published in the International Journal for Philosophy of Religion, geologist Leonard Irwin Eisenberg argues for the so-called 'swoon theory'.

Mr Eisenberg claims that Jesus only fainted on the cross and was taken to the tomb after being mistakenly pronounced dead.

Some scientists believe that Jesus might have merely fainted on the cross and recovered while in the tomb. Pictured: An actor reenacts the crucifixion

What caused Jesus' death? The general medical consensus is that crucifixion caused death by asphyxiation. The theory is that the victim's body weight compresses their chest. As they become tired, it eventually becomes too hard to breathe. However, some doctors dispute this idea and argue death could have been caused by other factors such as blood loss, terminal arrhythmia, or shock. All crucifixion victims were also struck a fatal blow by a soldier with a spear or axe before their bodies were returned. Advertisement

Having survived his injuries, Jesus could have then recovered for long enough to escape the tomb - creating the illusion he had risen from the dead.

While this sounds extremely fanciful, we do have at least one relatively reliable historical record of someone surviving the crucifixion.

As Professor Mykytiuk points out, the Jewish historian Flavius Josephus who lived during the first century AD, reported seeing a friend of his survive this usually-deadly punishment.

In his autobiography, Josephus wrote that he rescued three of his companions from crucifixion, noting that 'two of them died under the physicians hands, while the third recovered'.

As for how Jesus himself might have survived, advocates of the swoon theory point to the particularly gruesome reason crucifixion was usually fatal.

Professor Gary Habermas, a leading theologian from Liberty University, says the medical consensus is that crucifixion kills by asphyxiation.

As the victim hangs, their body weight crushes the chest muscles and eventually makes it impossible to exhale - killing them over hours if not days of excruciating torture.

However, swoon theory advocate Douglas Keenan has argued that Jesus could actually survive for up to 20 minutes without breathing due to a physiological response called the 'dive reflex'.

Flavius Josephus (pictured) was a Jewish historian who wrote about 60 years after Jesus' death. In his autobiography, he records that someone he knew was able to survive crucifixion by being removed from the cross before their death

Just like a freediver (pictured), Jesus' dive reflex may have kicked in and allowed him to survive for up to 20 minutes without breathing. This would be enough time for the guards to assume he was dead and remove him from the cross

When the body senses it is at risk of drowning this reflex reduces the heart rate to about 10 beats per minute and reduces the flow of blood to the extremities.

This would have made Jesus seem cold to the touch and allowed him to survive for a long time without needing to breathe.

In a 2022 manuscript, Mr Keenan writes: 'We propose that Jesus remained alive, but non-breathing and with his diving response activated, from the time he seemingly died until the time his body was taken down from the cross.'

Once removed from the cross, the swoon theory claims Jesus would have been able to start breathing and recover enough to escape the tomb.

Why the swoon theory is incorrect

While it is certainly an entertaining idea, experts unanimously agree that the swoon theory is a pure fabrication.

Firstly, the swoon theory relies on the idea that it was only asphyxiation which could have killed Jesus - a fact many experts dispute.

Dr Thomas McGovern, a surgeon from Fort Wayne Indiana and author of a paper on the science of Jesus' death, told MailOnline that other causes likely played a part.

However, the abuse that Jesus suffered on his route to the crucifixion site and during his final days likely means that asphyxiation was not the only cause of death. That means he would have died regardless of whether his dive reflex allowed him to go without breathing or not

The most likely scenario is that Jesus died due to blood and fluid loss from the wounds inflicted during crucifixion which triggered terminal arrhythmia. The medical consensus is that Jesus certainly died on the cross. Pictured the heel of a crucifixion victim showing how the nail was driven through the bone

The true cause of death may have been a combination of terminal arrhythmia, abnormal heartbeats, and blood and fluid loss from brutal trauma known as traumatic hypovolemic shock.

If these were what killed Jesus, then his supposed dive reflex could not have possibly saved him.

Dr McGovern says: 'I do not believe it is within the realm of possibility that Jesus merely fainted.'

In any case, whether Jesus fainted or not, the Roman soldiers assigned to execute him certainly made sure their job was completed.

Professor Habermas says: 'After the victims were crucified, the dead body could be removed and given to family members to bury after a final blow was administered to the corpse with a military weapon such as a sword, spear, or axe to be positive of the death.'

In the Bible, the Gospel writers record that Jesus' side was pierced with a spear and that a mixture of blood and water flooded out.

Although the Gospel writers couldn't have known this at the time, that 'water' was likely a pleural effusion, fluid which builds up around the lung and heart in cases of extreme trauma.

The fact that this liquid was mixed with blood is good evidence that Jesus' lungs and heart were pierced by the spear.

If Jesus did survive the crucifixion his appearance would be almost unrecognisable due to his injuries. Experts say this would have made it unlikely for his appearance to inspire the idea of a resurrection

Professor Habermas says: 'Even if there is not total medical agreement on exactly how a person dies by crucifixion, by far the most important point is that the fact of Jesuss death would have been insured.'

Additionally, scholars point out that if Jesus did survive his time on the cross, he would hardly be in a fit state to escape the tomb or inspire his followers.

Professor Michale Licona, an expert on the New Testament from Houston Christian University, told MailOnline: 'If Jesus had survived crucifixion, what would he have looked like?

'Beaten, whipped to the bone, hands and feet pierced by nails, had neither eaten nor drank for at least two days, he would not have been able to convince his disciples in his pathetic and mutilated state that he was the risen prince of life. Alive? Yes. Risen? Not a chance.'
When you're expecting a little one, one of the most exciting parts is choosing the perfect name.

Most parents spend hours leafing through baby name books, speaking to friends and brainstorming ideas.

While some choices might raise a few eyebrows, most are usually pretty standard.

But some baby names have been seen as so controversial they've been banned in certain countries, according to experts from language learning marketplace Preply.

For several  such as the name 'Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116'  it's relatively obvious why.

But some don't seem too bad  for example Fraise or Lord.

And in one country, even the name Linda has been forbidden.

So, is your name banned in any countries?

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Linda is a common name here in the UK, but in Saudi Arabia it's off the cards.

The name was deemed to be 'non-Islamic' and culturally inappropriate, which led to it being banned completely in 2014.

In France, meanwhile, the name Fraise has been banned.

Meaning 'strawberry' in French, it may seem like a sweet, innocent baby name. But its slang connotations have led to it being forbidden.

The common French phrase 'ramene ta fraise' loosely translates to 'get your butt over here' and, because of this crude association, authorities deemed It problematic.

Authorities in France have also banned the name Nutella due to the risk of humiliation.

Further north, in Sweden, the name Metallica isn't allowed.

The metal band has millions of die-hard fans across the globe and, in 2007, one couple took their devotion to the next level.

Picking a baby name can be one of the biggest decision expectant parents can make, with almost endless options available

The Swedish government rejected the pair's request to name their daughter Metallica, citing that it was inappropriate due to trademark concerns and potential confusion.

All hope is not lost for Swedish metal-lovers, however, as names like Mayhem, Gojira, and Opeth are all above board.

A separate Swedish couple incurred a fine for failing to register a name for their child before their fifth birthday.

In protest they chose 'Brfxxccxxmnpcccclllmmnprxvclmnckssqlbb11116', supposedly pronounced 'Albin'.

The name was swiftly rejected by Swedish authorities in 1996 and has been on the no-go list ever since.

Here in the UK, the word 'rogue' might make you think of a charming rule-breaker or even a superhero.

But, as a baby name, it's off-limits.

British registrars previously rejected it on the grounds that it suggests unlawful or dangerous behaviour, which is an association they felt was inappropriate for a child's first impression.

Coldplay frontman Chris Martin, pictured with ex wife Gwyneth Paltrow (left), has a daughter named Apple (right). But in Malaysia, this fruity name is strictly off the table

The name 'Cyanide' is also banned here, because a court determined it would likely cause significant emotional harm to the child and it was unacceptable to name a child after a 'notorious poison'.

Over in Australia, both the name LOL and the name Spinach aren't allowed.

While naming your child after a leafy green might sound unique and health-conscious, it was blocked on the grounds it could cause ridicule.

The name LOL  short for 'laugh out loud'  was ruled out by authorities who said it could undermine the seriousness of legal documents and lead to identification issues.

Nearby, in New Zealand, officials had to step in to prevent parents naming their twins 'Fish and Chips' out of concern it could lead to taunting from their peers.

However, the country did allow a pair of twins to be named 'Benson and Hedges' after a popular cigarette brand.

In 2008, a nine-year-old girl whose parents called her Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii was put into court guardianship in New Zealand so that her name could be changed.

A family court judge, Rob Murfitt, gave the order after hearing that the child was embarrassed about her name and had refused to reveal it to friends.

Elon Musk's son's original name was X  A-12. However, they later changed it to X  A-Xii to comply with California laws, which do not allow numbers in legal names. The name is pronounced 'X Ash A Twelve' (pictured together in the Oval Office)

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In Malaysia, all fruit and vegetable names are banned, from Apple to Papaya.

Authorities there believe such names could invite teasing and are not in line with preserving the dignity of personal names.

Finally the name Akuma is banned in Japan, as it translates to 'devil', the name @ is banned in the USA, the name 'Burger King' isn't allowed in Mexico and the name BOChrVF260602 - which translates to 'biological human object of the Voronin-Frolov family born on June 26, 2002'  is outlawed in Russia.

Preply is an online language class platform that connects learners and tutors.
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Apple released its latest budget phone, the 599 iPhone 16e, back in February after months of feverish anticipation.

But not to be outdone, rival tech giant Google has released its own handset at an unbeatable price.

At 499, the Pixel 9a is 100 cheaper than Apples equivalent.

It's also described as a more accessible alternative to the firm's flagship Pixel 9 (799), which was released last year.

Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch display, two rear cameras and more than 30 hours of battery life on a single charge.

Its packed with helpful AI tools such as Gemini  Googles chatbot which was built to rival OpenAIs ChatGPT, now on Apple phones.

It comes in four colours and has a 'sleek design' made with recycled materials, inclduing aluminium, glass and plastic.

Google kindly sent MailOnline's Assistant Science and Technology Editor, Jonathan Chadwick, the device to test this week.

Google Pixel 9a Google's new Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch display, two rear cameras and more than 30 hours of battery life on a single charge

Google Pixel 9a: Key specs Display : 6.3-inch

: 6.3-inch Weight : 185.9g

: 185.9g Battery life : 30+ hours

: 30+ hours Cameras : 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide and 13MP selfie

: 48MP main, 13MP ultrawide and 13MP selfie Chip : Google Tensor G4

: Google Tensor G4 Operating system : Android 15

: Android 15 Colours : Pink, purple, white and black

: Pink, purple, white and black Cost : 499/$499 Advertisement

Rating:

Our verdict

It's difficult to think what Google could have done better with Pixel 9a, which packs pretty much everything you'd want from a budget device into a neat package.

Although I'm cautious about AI generally, Pixel 9a has some fun and engaging generative tools that give Apple Intelligence a run for its money.

Pixel 9a's mighty battery delays the most tedious part of owning a smartphone (charging it), it uses recycled materials, it has a top AI chip, plus the whole phone looks fabulous.

But it also makes me feel like we're entering an era where we don't have to pay the best part of a grand for a really good smartphone.

Of course, 499 is a lot of money, but it's economical in comparison with Apple's iPhone 16 and Samsung's Galaxy S25 (both starting from 799), although its not quite as cheap as the Phone 3a Pro from British firm Nothing, which is 449.

Whether you're an Samsung lover or an iPhone diehard, Pixel 9a makes a good case to make the switch to Google phones  budget or otherwise.

MailOnline tests out the new handset, described as a more accessible alternative to Googles flagship Pixel 9 (799)

Google Pixel 9a Google's new Pixel 9a has a 6.3-inch display, two rear cameras and more than 30 hours of battery life on a single charge Shop

How we test smartphones

When testing smartphones, we try them across multiple real-world settings, including the office, our homes, and out and about.

We evaluate the devices based on the quality of their hardware and software, testing everything from the camera to the battery life, design, and display.

Each smartphone goes through several days of hands-on testing, allowing us to provide an in-depth review to help consumers make informed decisions.

Why trust us

Jonathan Chadwick is the Assistant Science and Technology Editor at MailOnline and has been testing products and writing reviews for a decade. He studied at the universities of Reading and Sydney before completing his journalism training in Brighton. He's previously written for Laboratory News, Tech Monitor and ZDNet.

Google Pixel 9a review

Appearance

Pixel 9a is available in four colours  pink, purple, white and black, or if you speak Googles language, peony, iris, porcelain and obsidian.

I inadvertently opt for peony, which is a striking pink  enough to make me look like MailOnlines biggest Barbie fan.

To cut the cost, Google has used plastic instead of glass for the back of Pixel 9a (but life in plastic is, as they say, fantastic).

However, so as not to make it look too chintzy, there's pink recycled aluminum going around the frame.

The Google Pixel 9 (pictured) was released last year. Note the distinctive rectangular camera bar across the back housing the cameras

Display

Pixel 9a has a nice crisp, 6.3-inch display with 2,424 by 1,080 pixels (that's the tiny, light-emitting dots in the screen), which is the same as the more expensive Pixel 9.

It also has the brightest display on an A-series ever  35 per cent brighter than Pixel 8a released a year ago.

Noticeably, Pixel 9a has a pretty thick bezel  the space going around the edge of the display  and a front-facing punch hole camera for selfies.

Im switching from a Samsung Galaxy phone, which means it takes me a good few hours to get used to the Pixels different gesture-based navigation system (with no controllable icons at the bottom).

But this adds an extra little bit of space to the display  although not being able to move the Google search bar from the bottom to the top is annoying.

Cameras

Noticeably, the biggest change compared with the Pixel 9  which was released last August  is the absence of the distinctive rectangular camera bar on the back.

Pixel 9a has a nice crisp, 6.3-inch display with 2,424 by 1,080 pixels (that's the tiny, light-emitting dots in the screen)

Instead, Pixel 9a has a glass pill-shaped camera module that is almost flat  which is great because it sits flush with whatever surface I'm resting it on.

Removal of the camera bar is reportedly to give Pixel 9a its own distinctive minimalist design but it may also be related to cutting costs.

Regardless, it houses a dual rear camera system  a 48MP main camera and a 13MP ultrawide camera  as well as the 13MP selfie camera on the front.

The sharpness and colour accuracy of my photos are seriously good, even in low light  surprising from such a (relatively) cheap handset  but for me the best thing about the camera experience is the AI software.

AI tools

Pixel 9a has the same AI chip as the Pixel 9, Google Tensor 4, which means it's equipped for Google's AI photo editing tools such as Magic Eraser and Magic Editor.

I'm generally not a fan of Google's AI-powered image-editing  I think it undermines photography as a concept and can contribute to misinformation online.

However, Magic Editor  which makes more drastic changes to photos compared with Magic Eraser  is undeniably powerful technology.

Magic Editor, an AI-powered photo editing tool, makes complex edits like repositioning subjects and removing unwanted elements. It makes more drastic changes compared with Magic Eraser. This unedited image taken with Pixel 9a shows a historic street in Kent

With a few taps of the screen I can make all the buildings disappear replaced with wall, using data from the left-hand side of the original image

Magic Eraser and Magic Editor Magic Eraser and Magic Editor are two of Google's image-editing tools but they are slightly different. Magic Eraser works best for quick fixes on smaller portions of a photo, removing removing unwanted objects or distractions. Magic Editor is a more comprehensive tool that makes more complex edits, generative AI to reimagine photos, allowing you to move, resize, erase, and even change the appearance of objects and backgrounds. Source: Google Advertisement

With a few taps of the screen I can make entire buildings disappear, to be replaced by an AI-imagining of the surrounding environment.

And with Magic Eraser, my son has a great time watching me circle photobombers from our trip to the beach and seeing them vanish in a few seconds.

Pixel 9a also has a feature called Add Me, which combines two group photos into one, so everyone makes it into the photo  even the photographer.

As this is a Google phone, the tech giant's Gemini AI helper has a prominent place  accessible when I hold down the power button on the righthand side and verbally ask questions.

Gemini  which is already my chatbot of choice over ChatGPT  has a convincing, non-robotic AI voice with a southern English accent and gives me helpful news and weather updates.

But the Gemini experience on the Pixel 9a is different and less powerful than the one on the Pixel 9, due to the former's RAM limitations.

Battery

By far my favourite thing about the Pixel 9a is the beefy battery  5,100 milliampere-hour (mAh) which is an above-average amount of electrical capacity.

Pixel 9a is available in four colours - pink, purple, white and black, or if you speak Googles language, peony, iris, porcelain and obsidian

In the box: I inadvertently opt for peony, which is a striking pink - enough to make me look like MailOnlines biggest Barbie fan

This means it has more than 30 hours of running time with normal use, meaning I can go three days without having to plug it in.

For someone who's switching from an old Samsung which quickly bled power just from being on, this is a massive novelty.

Like any other lithium iron smartphone battery, Pixel 9as battery will degrade over time, although Google is introducing a software feature that should prolong its overall lifespan.

Known as battery health assistance, it will adjust the battery's maximum voltage in stages to manage battery performance to help maintain battery health.

This will result in small decreases in your batterys runtime as your battery ages as well as a slight change in battery charging performance.
Jacob Couch was killed after a hatchet-wielding maniac randomly attacked him as he waited at a bus stop in Arizona with his wife.

Jacob, 32, was sitting with wife Kristen around 10am on April 5 when 25-year-old Daniel Michael began yelling at them, according to court records.

The husband attempted to respond when the attacker produced the ax and struck the father-of-two at the back of the neck, almost decapitating him.

Tragedy: Jacob Couch (left) was almost decapitated by a maniac as he and wife Kristen (right) waited for a bus in Tucson to take them home to Alabama

Attacker: Daniel Michael, 25, was arrested three days after the April 5 attack after cops found a hatchet and clothes matching the description of the ones worn by the assailant

Kristen told KGUN 9: 'I told the man we were leaving, and I guess my husband bent down to get our stuff and he just came up behind him and walked away... It was very traumatic, and there was a lot of blood.'

The married couple had been waiting for a bus to take them home to Arab, Alabama, after they'd spent ten months in LA as they dealt with the grief of losing their son.

Kristen said: '[Our son] was stillborn. You know, we felt like maybe moving, going somewhere different, would help us grieve but it didn't. That's why we were coming home.'

Kristen's left grieving the loss of both her son and her husband who, on Thursday, died from his injuries after spending two weeks on life support.

The couple also had two daughters, aged 13 and 15.

Police arrested suspect Michael at his apartment three days after the deranged attack, and he's to face charges of first-degree murder.

Suffering: The married couple had been waiting for a bus to take them home to Arab, Alabama, after they'd spent ten months in LA grieving the loss of their their stillborn son

If convicted, Michael - who's being held on a $1 million bond - could receive the death penalty, as Arizona allows capital punishment.

Jacob's sister-in-law Erica Sims confirmed he died at 8.58pm because his heart gave out, KGUN 9 reported. He had also developed pneumonia.

Residents of Tucson prayed outside Banner University Medical Center Tucson, where Jacob was fighting for his life, at around 7pm on the day he died.

Luke Couch, Jacob's brother, was overwhelmed with all the community support: 'Just for a minute, I looked around and just to see all these people who have different lives, different jobs, and they took the time out of their day to come out here and there. It's just amazing. I'm at a loss for words.'

'It hurts knowing that I couldn't be there to protect him because he protected me for my whole life.'

Family man: Jacob and his wife also had two daughters

Relative matters: Jacob's brother said he wished he was able to be there for his sibling who had protected him his whole life

Investigators executed a search warrant on Michael's home three days after he allegedly attacked Jacob where they reportedly found a hatchet and articles of clothing that matched what was worn during the attack.

Michael initially denied involvement but crumbled when he was shown surveillance video of the incident, according to police records.

He later told detectives that he had been drinking heavily and didn't remember much from that day. Then, he changed his story, and said he recalled confronting Jacob because he thought he was using drugs, according to police.

Michael said Jacob reached into his back pocket, which caused him to pull out the hatchet and swing it at his neck, police records showed. He then admitted to walking away, police said.

The accused's due to appear in court later this month.
For most of us, the chance of sampling the luxury of first-class seats on a plane are slim.

But with this long-haul flight hack, as documented by travel influencers like Maddie Borge (@maddieborge) and Laureen Uy (@laureenmuy) you can experience the comfort of a first-class journey  at a fraction of the price.

How does it work?

Several airlines now offer neighbour-free seating options. These include Qantas, SriLankan Airlines, Etihad Airways, Lufthansa and Philippine Airlines.

The rules differ slightly for each airline, but the premise is the same: by reserving the additional seats next to you, the whole row can be yours for the length of your trip.

Etihad Airways

As London-based influencer Maddie Borge explains, for those wanting that extra room and comfort, Etihad Airways lets passengers bid on up to three extra empty seats adjacent to the booked seat.

If you win, the extra seats remain free for the entire length of your journey, giving you the whole row to yourself.

The bidding process begins up to 35 hours before the flight departs, starting at $45 for one seat, and $90 for two.

Etihad uses its own sliding scale, or bid meter to determine the likelihood of the bet winning, with a suggested target of around $65

However, other contributing factors include flight occupancy and demand. Bids are only accepted if the fight has available seats, and customers are not charged if the bid is unsuccessful.

Maddie Borge, who lives in London, embarked on a long overnight flight to Sydney in economy class with Etihad Airways last month

Maddie went up to an attendant who informed her that she did indeed win the row and confirmed it at the desk

Qantas

If your Qantas flight has sufficient empty seats available, and you are booked In Economy Class without any accompanying minors, you will be invited to purchase additional seats in your row 24-48 hours before flying.

For domestic flights, prices range between $30 and $65. For international journeys, you pay from $45.

If the seats end up being occupied, the customer is refunded the price of these additional spots.

SriLankan Airlines

Neighbour-free seats are offered to all passengers with Economy Class tickets on SriLankan Airlines.

Between 48 and 4 hours before departure, passengers are told via email whether these seats are available.

The price of these seats varies based on the route and flight demand, but passengers have reported paying approximately 50 for the additional comfort.

Philippine Airlines

All economy passengers flying with Philippine Airlines can book up to three adjacent seats, depending on the aircraft.

This can be requested via email, using the link sent with the flight confirmation, and should be done at least six days before departure.

These seats between $30 and $120, depending on route and demand, and are 90 per cent guaranteed  unless the flights are overbooked.

Travel and fashion influencer Laureen Uy shared a video of her Philippine Airlines flight, where she upgraded to the 'myPAL Seat Select Neighbor-Free' option to have the entire row to herself

Lufthansa

With Lufthansa, the neighbour-free seat option can be purchased on both continental and intercontinental routes, giving passengers more space and privacy when travelling.

You can reserve neighbour-free seats before your trip by contacting Lufthansas Service Centre. If there are any extra seats available on the day of your departure, these can be purchased at the check-in counter.

Prices start at 59 but vary based on the route and demand.
For many, the sight of a Greggs bakery brings with it a rush of comfort and even nostalgia. Not least thanks to the uplifting, school-dinner-style staples offered on the menu, including sausage rolls and floury baps.

Today, there are over 2,600 Greggs in the UK  a long way from the vision of the company's founder, John Gregg, who started out 80 years ago with a simple goal: to deliver fresh eggs and yeast by pushbike to the families of Newcastle.

Ten years later, he opened his first shop, Greggs of Gosforth, making, baking and selling fresh baked goods  and it's still there today.

'Greggs is just an iconic British brand', says Milo Fletcher, a huge fan of the bakery, who has made it his mission to visit as many branches as possible as part of his 'Greggs Pilgrimage'. 'It's accessible to everyone  you don't need loads of money, there's nothing fancy. You get people from all walks of life, and of different races, religions, genders, ages  going in with the same aim: to enjoy a hearty snack.'

But are all Greggs made equal? Apparently not. Despite the size of the chain, not only can the prices vary, but the same food can taste different depending on where you go and how well it is cooked.

So, with Milo's assistance, we bring you the UK's top 27 Greggs  an assessment that has been based, among other things, on a staple of the menu: the humble sausage roll.

'I just felt that if you are going to compare standards, you need something which is consistent', says Milo. 'And sausage rolls never go out of fashion.'

With that in mind, it's time to take a bite.

1. WESTMINSTER BRANCH

30 Palmer St, London, SW1H 0PH

Milo Fletcher, a huge fan of the bakery, has made it his mission to visit as many branches as possible as part of his 'Greggs Pilgrimage'

Having munched his way through a sausage roll, margarita pizza slice, and a chicken and bacon sandwich, Milo declared this branch a full 'all-rounder'.

He said: 'The sausage roll was hot and tender, leaving me feeling warm inside. Its sensitive flesh peeled away to reveal a soft tissue of balmy meat. Everything in this store was great, the food was the perfect temperature, the flavours were brilliant, and the staff were great.'

2. SOUTHFIELDS BRANCH

8 Replingham Road, London, SW18 5LS

'Cracking sausage roll! Absolutely top notch!' declares Milo enthusiastically. 'The pastry had that golden glow that made the sun shine delicately off of its perfectly baked outer shell.'

He was also impressed with the vegan sausage roll, which Greggs introduced in 2019, describing this plant-based alternative to the classic as 'a perfect mixture of herbal spices and flavours'.

He also notes that the store itself 'had lots of variety,' was 'well-stocked' and the staff, who, although busy, 'still seemed engaged'.

3. MONUMENT BRANCH

13-21 East Cheap, London, EC3M 1BU

According to Milo, this branch serves excellent food  though he was a little unsure about the Greggs' vegan sausage bean and cheese melt. However, this was redeemed by the sausage roll, which Milo said 'was delicious and warmed my belly'. The store itself, he said, was very busy, but the staff worked tirelessly to replenish the shelves and keep everyone smiling. There were lots of options and lots of food.

4. NORWICH BRANCH

18 White Lion Street, NR2 1PX

A small back door entrance leads to a large and busy store, though Milo points out that having more than one counter means you might not easily see all the products on offer. He found the bacon and cheese wrap 'gorgeous', while the spicy chicken and pepperoni bake 'caressed my palate'. There were no sausage rolls left on day he visited. However, Milo added: 'The staff were lovely, very helpful and very apologetic. Considering the amount of people they did not rush you through.'

5. FOLKESTONE BRANCH

336 Cheriton Rd, Folkestone CT19 4DP

Opened in 2023, this Greggs presented a pleasant visit for Milo. The sausage roll was 'moist and filling', if a little under-salted, and the chicken bake 'could have been warmer'. The steak bake, however, earned high praise.

6. BRIGHTON BRANCH

150 North St, Brighton BN1 1RE

The sausage rolls here are 'pretty decent', according to Milo. 'The pastry itself was nothing short of excellent, tightly hugging a succulent piece of meat that lavished on the tongue,' he says. He adds that the store was packed, despite the rain, 'which is always a good sign'.

7. CANNON STREET STATION BRANCH

Dowgate Hill, EC4N 6AD

This well-lit shop is located next to a Greggs recruitment centre, where Milo describes his sausage roll as 'warm, buttery, and well-cooked'. Another winner was the chicken caesar & bacon wrap, followed by a small fruit bowl. 'Lots of kind words and a welcoming atmosphere', he adds.

8. NORWICH BRANCH

U2, Harford Place, Hall Rd, Norwich NR4 6NF

'A pretty average selection,' says Milo, but items were fresh and everything seemed new and recently baked. The staff, he says, were eager to please  although the sausage roll had a little too much crunch. He also tried the cheese and onion bake: 'The insides were flavoursome and each bite filled me with both a whirlwind of cheese and a torrent of onion flavours.'

9. LEDBURY BRANCH

2 High St, Ledbury HR8 1DS

'The shop was pleasant and the staff friendly', says Milo, 'and largely, the food seemed fresh.'

The sausage roll was at a good temperature and the pastry was flaky yet oily. However a sausage, bean & cheese melt was slightly luke warm and dried out. That said, the chicken bake was, according to Milo, 'superb'.

He adds: 'The variety of other options in the shop was exceptional  the most I've ever seen and the price of a sausage roll was 90p, not 95p!'

10. WORTHING BRANCH

2 Worthing Chapel Road, BN11 1BJ

A decent variety on offer, although for Milo, the festive bake  despite being slightly too hot  made his trip. The sausage roll, however, was a 'perfect temperature: not too hot, not too chilly. A top-notch sausage roll!'

11. LEEDS BRANCH

Central Bus Station, St. Peter's St, LS2 7HU

'The staff smiled and were friendly,' says Milo. And while there was only one sausage roll available, the variety otherwise was good.

In addition to the sausage roll, he sampled the chicken bake, which wasn't too greasy: 'The innards were tasty, a great balance of creamy sauce and chicken,' although he adds there were some 'worrying black dots' inside.

12. FORTON M6 SERVICE STATION BRANCH

32 and 33 White Carr Ln, Lancaster, LA2 9DU

This is a typical motorway service station store, bustling with busy commuters. Though small, the shop was well stocked, reports Milo, with most items seeming fresh and tasty. He adds that the staff were nice, too, despite the busy rush.

The mature cheddar cheese ploughman's oval bite was made from soft bread, and was a 'good British sandwich'. The sausage roll was well-cooked, with soft and squishy meat.

13. NORWICH BRANCH

4-5 Anglia Square, NR3 1DY

'There was a decent variety on offer,' says Milo of this store, with the products (excluding the pizza!) seeming relatively fresh.

'The staff were a mixed bunch. Some members were friendly and interested, but others simply dismissed you as "another customer".'

He adds that the sausage roll was a tad soggy, although the meat was soft and well cooked.

14. SWINDON BRANCH

Marlborough Road, Chiseldon, Swindon, SN4 0NR

While the sausage roll was warm and clearly newly baked, Milo detected a slight issue with the cooking here: 'The cooker fan had unevenly distributed its inferno, causing one end to char more fervently. Inside, the meat was compact and flavoursome as it should be.' He does acknowledge, though, that the staff were very friendly.

15. CHEADLE BRANCH

67 High Street, Cheadle, SK8 1BJ

A busy, well stocked store with a decent sausage roll though there were issues with its temperature. But the crisp festive bake, redeemed this somewhat, says Milo.

16. OXFORD BRANCH

65 Cornmarket Street, Oxford, OX1 3HY

Built on two floors where staff were constantly restocking, which kept everything fresh, says Milo. The vegetable bake was brimming with vegetables, the pastry was slightly crisp, the innards were warm and had amalgamated nicely in the creamy cheese sauce. The sausage roll was well-cooked, warm and flaky.

'Nothing to write home about, but also nothing to write a scathing review about either,' he says.

17. SHEPHERD'S BUSH BRANCH

Shepherds Bush Tube, Uxbridge Rd, London W12 8ND

The staff were chirpy and friendly and seemed to be in control of the situation when a shop lifter was spotted, says Milo. 'The sausage roll had a good pastry which was not greasy yet also not dry.'

18. MALVERN LINK BRANCH

326 Worcester Road, Malvern, WR14 1BD

The freshness of the sausage roll and other items were clearly not in question. The variety on offer was pleasing, with the staff doing their jobs effectively, says Milo. He also sampled a vanilla slice, where the 'sheer quantity of custard compressed into the slice leaves one's mouth in danger of exploding like a Tom & Jerry cartoon. However, one can't overlook the magnitude of mush in the middle which over-crowded these delicate palates, leaving one with nothing but the taste of jellied custard.'

19. NEWMARKET HEATH BRANCH

Eastbound Services, Unit A14, Newmarket CB8 0XG

The staff were good natured and the food fresh, but the options average, according to Milo. The sausage roll, however, was 'warm, firm, and clearly baked to perfection'. The vegan sausage roll had a slightly floury texture and taste, but was well-cooked, tender, and immaculately seasoned. The chicken bake was piping hot with a punchy flavour matching the tenderness of the chicken.

20. SALISBURY BRANCH

2 Old George Mall, SP1 2AF

Not great food wise, but the staff were fantastic, enthused Milo. 'Both those who served me and who directed me safely through the store greeted me with smiles. They thanked me for coming and treated me as a king.' Sadly he reports that the sausage roll, though a good temperature, was greasy, and the three cheese pepperoni pizza was dry.

21. BRISTOL BRANCH

Asda Bedminster, East St, Bristol BS3 4JY

Squeezed into the corner of an Asda, this Greggs 'didn't have the greatest staff', says Milo, 'save for one exceptional team member who really brought the rest up.' He adds: 'The store items seemed fresh and it was relatively well-stocked. The steak bake was well-seasoned; its sauce coated the meat perfectly. The sausage roll was tasty, nothing to write home about. I would describe it as the standard.'

22. LONDON WATERLOO BRANCH

93 Lower Marsh Street, SE1 7AB

The items all seemed relatively fresh and the staff can only be described as 'kind' people. However the sausage roll 'was a bit of a disappointment'.

'The pastry was dried out and seemed to make my mouth feel like the Atacama Desert. The meat was a good flavour yet had an aftertaste of garlic which left one perplexed. Not the greatest roll.'

23. SALISBURY (THE MALTINGS) BRANCH

29 The Maltings, SP1 1BD

A good combo of polite staff and strong savouries. The sausage roll was well-cooked and tasty, the mature cheddar cheese ploughman's soft and fresh (though oddly sliced) says Milo. But the Greggs chilli tortilla chips? 'Bland and entirely kick-less. The sweet treats selection was also underwhelming.'

24. SALTASH BRANCH

Carkeel Roundabout, PL12 6LX

This branch, says Milo, 'is spacious, modern, and well-staffed and the queue moved swiftly. The chicken mayo sandwich was let down by a mayo-heavy sauce and oddly pureed meat. The sausage roll redeemed it; tender, well-balanced, not too greasy.'

25. HOLBORN BRANCH

60 Kingsway, WC2B 6DS

Helpful staff made up for mediocre variety on offer here, reports Milo. 'Hash browns were stale, and the ham and egg salad roll had overwhelming mayo as well as stale bread.' The sausage roll, warm and tasty, offered some redemption. But, says Milo, the smoky BBQ crunch crisps were, frankly, 'irresistible'.

26. PORTOBELLO ROAD BRANCH

238 Portobello Road, W11 1LJ

It starts well for Milo with a piping hot, golden pastry encrusted sausage roll. The vegan sausage, bean and cheese melt was also bursting with flavour. 'Sadly, variety was poor, and staff seemed lost in existential thought rather than restocking shelves,' he says.

27. CAMBRIDGE BRANCH

10 Fitzroy St, Cambridge, CB1 1EW

Despite the cheerful staff and good value, the sausage roll was 'lukewarm', and the pizza slice 'suffered from too much base, not enough topping'. That said, Milo did say the store should earn points for generous portion sizes.

WORST GREGGS EXPERIENCES...

1. PETERBOROUGH BRANCH

A47 Eastbound, Crowland Rd, Peterborough, PE6 7SZ

On his visit, Milo arrived seven minutes before closing  only to find 'no staff, no food, no explanation. [I was] stood alone in the silent shell of a Greggs. Even the Esso garage manager hadn't seen signs of life. Outrageous.'

2. BISHOP'S STORTFORD

2C South Street, CM23 3AT

'No sausage rolls. Not even a vegan one. Just porridge pots and disappointment. Even the cookie and chicken oval bite did little to lift spirits,' says Milo.

'It felt like a parallel universe where Greggs had lost its soul.'
Netflix fans have only just discovered an 'underrated' limited series and have gushed 'it's the best you'll ever watch'.

When They See Us, written, created and directed by Ava DuVernay, hit the streaming service back in 2019.

'Five teens from Harlem become trapped in a nightmare when they're falsely accused of a brutal attack in Central Park. Based on the true story,' Netflix's official synopsis reads.

And although the four-part crime drama was released six years ago, not many people have seen or heard about it.

But recently many have taken to the internet to share their positive reviews.

One person on TikTok said: 'This is the best limited series that you will ever watch on Netflix and you need to watch it immediately.

Netflix fans only just discovering 'underrated' limited series - gushing 'it's the best you'll ever watch' as they sob over tear-jerking scenes

When They See Us, written, created and directed by Ava DuVernay, hit the streaming service back in 2019

'I might be a little bit late to the party but I've had so many people tell me that I need to watch it. It is honestly one of the best things I have ever watched.'

The show has received a whopping 96 per cent on Rotten Tomatoes and many others have taken to IMB to share their thoughts.

Brilliant but very hard to watch. It made me so angry. Fantastic acting from start to finish.

'A must see!'

'This is one of the most beautiful and emotional mini series of the year so far. Well directed, excellent character building, amazing acting and well scripted. It touches your soul and cries out your heart. Thank you, Netflix!'

'Honestly one of the most beautiful and moving portrayals I've ever seen. The acting is spot on. Keeps your emotions going from start to end. Such a powerful series with a strong message. This is a must watch.'

'Watched every episode today & it literally has triggered every emotion except laughter in me. Thirty years has passed for me since this first happened and it reminded me of how scary it was to be a young black male in this country. And unfortunately, it still reminds me of how scary it can be.'

'I'm almost out of words. Absolutely a must watch. The story, the production, the actors. It's gonna be something I remember and discuss for the year or even years to come. '

Recently many have taken to the internet to share their positive reviews on When They See Us - which hit Netflix in 2019

'One of the best true stories I've ever watched. Couldn't fault it. Gripping.'

When They See Us stars the likes of Astrante Blackk, Caleel Harris, Jovan Adepo, Chris Chalk and Jharrel Jerome.

They are joined by Marsha Stephanie Blake, Kylie Bunbury, Vera Farmiga and Niecy Nash.

The show is based on rape of 28-year-old Trisha Melli who was assaulted and nearly beaten to death in Central Park.

Viewers sympathized with all five men but there was one specifically that tugged at the heartstrings for many watchers: Korey Wise.

At the time he was the eldest of the five at 16-years-old - he is portrayed by the talented Jharrel Jerome in the depiction- as he served more than 13 years in adult prisons.

He was not a suspect initially but was brought in for questioning by the NYPD and was eventually persuaded into producing four different statements - two written and two videotaped confessions - as he could be interrogated without a guardian present.

Wise was the only young man whom the investigators had unrestricted access to.

Of his story one user wrote: 'Korey Wise had the saddest part of the story on When They See Us... like I literally cried because even though they were all innocent he really was a good a** person & only got caught up in it tryna be a good friend and ended up getting the most time and worse experience.'

Though many binge shows on Netflix, filmmaker DuVernay thinks that audiences should watch her Central Park Five miniseries at their own pace.

The creator, writer, and director said the viewing experience will be different for everyone.

'I think it really is going to depend on where you are politically and culturally,' she said in an interview last month. 'For some people this is all going to be new, like, "Wait, what?" And for other people it's deeply felt because they've experienced it in their lives as people of color or people who faced injustice'

While many might choose to watch all five hours in one sitting, the Selma filmmaker knows that method might now work for all.

DuVernay said: 'I shared it with a bunch of people and some people really need to take breaks after and some people want to power through.'

When They See Us is currently streaming on Netflix.
BBC Breakfast was unexpectedly interrupted due to a technical problem during a live broadcast on Saturday morning.

Presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt were reading the morning's headlines when they handed over to reporter Oli Constable, who was live in Preston.

Oli was chatting to TikTok stars The SpudBros, brothers Jacob and Harley Nelson, who were in the middle of an event at Preston's Flag Market.

The pair are raising awareness for testicular cancer during Testicular Cancer Awareness Month with a catchy campaign called 'Check Your Spuds.'

But just as Oli began his interview with Jacob, the screen froze and the broadcast cut out.

Back in the studio, Naga told viewers: 'Okay Ollie, we're having some problems there with the technical gremlins in the room but we'll get back to Ollie Constable and Spud Bros, of course, to find out what they're doing.'

BBC Breakfast was unexpectedly interrupted due to a technical problem during a live broadcast on Saturday morning (pictured: Charlie Stayt and Naga Munchetty)

Presenters Naga Munchetty and Charlie Stayt were reading the morning's headlines when they handed over to reporter Oli Constable, who was live in Preston

She explained that the aim of the campaign was to get men to check themselves for signs of testicular cancer: 'In a way, 'check your spuds' kind of explains it all.'

Charlie joked: 'Meanwhile, they'll be checking the cables.'

Naga laughed and added: 'Yes, that's what they should have checked as well.'

Jacob and Harley have gained a big following online thanks to their funny and creative videos.

Their latest awareness campaign adds to a busy year, which has included launching a store in London, a pop-up in Manchester's MediaCity, a spud-themed fundraiser for Children in Need, and even a charity single for the Samaritans.

Despite the glitch, the message was clear: check your spuds, and maybe your cables too.

The technical glitch comes just days after viewers jeered 'she's not impressed' as Naga stared down a 'mansplaining' Charlie before an 'awkward' interview.

The two news anchors hosted Friday's instalment of the daily show on BBC One and fans watching seemed to notice some tension.

But as Oli began, the screen froze and the stream cut out. Back in the studio, Naga told viewers: 'Okay Ollie, we're having some problems there with the technical gremlins in the room'

On Thursday, Naga was photographed keeping her distance from her BBC Breakfast co-star Charlie and show editor as she left the studios in Manchester amid a rumoured feud and bulling row.

And during the most recent instalment, some viewers noticed Naga appeared unimpressed.

Someone sarcastically posted on X: 'As ever Naga looking impressed with Charlies mansplaining of the trivial news item slot.'

Another sensed more possible discomfort when Naga spoke to a woman discussing Trading Standards.

They commented: 'Naga being awkward as possible towards the Trading Standards lady #bbcbreakfast.'

While someone else claimed Charlie seemed tired and said: 'Charlie looks absolutely shattered. #BBCBreakfast.'

Though yesterday, some fans praised the hosts and one said: 'Love Naga Munchetty's sass and wit on BBC. Keep slaying, girl!'

The technical glitch comes just days after viewers jeered 'she's not impressed' as Naga stared down a 'mansplaining' Charlie before an 'awkward' interview

The two news anchors hosted Friday's instalment of the daily show on BBC One and fans watching seemed to notice some tension

And another complimented, 'Charlie is great'.

It comes after The Mail's Katie Hind revealed tensions between the show editor, Richard Frediani and Naga.

Some staff have shared their unhappiness with the show's editor, who has been accused by insiders of being on occasion 'aggressive' and 'belittling' towards his underlings.

Sources on the show say that Naga has expressed uneasiness about his behaviour to bosses at the corporation.
A Britain's Got Talent hopeful made a more dramatic impression than he anticipated when he accidentally fell off the stage during his audition.

Magician Manho Han had flown to the UK for his chance to audition with the hopes of winning and being able to perform in front of the Royal Family.

His unique act involved an unbelievably quick series of outfit changes and illusions including taking sunglasses and a watch straight out of magazine pages.

However, the audition took a disastrous turn when Manho suddenly careered off the edge of the stage while trying to magically change his shoes.

He tumbled straight off the stage and careered into a cameraman as the judges shared their shock and concern amid the accident.

KSI said: 'I can't believe that just happened,' as the audience also gasped in alarm.

A Britain's Got Talent hopeful made a more dramatic impression than he anticipated when he accidentally fell off the stage during his audition (pictured: judge Alesha Dixon)

Manho Han's act involved an unbelievably quick series of outfit changes and illusions, but the audition took a disastrous turn when he suddenly careered off the edge of the stage

However, Manho took the mishap in his stride and gathered up his props before quickly returning to the stage.

The audience, who were already impressed by Manho's act, were quick to cheer on his quick recovery from the fall while Simon Cowell gave him a thumbs-up.

'How good is he?' host Ant McPartlin proclaimed when he finished his magical outfit change like a pro despite the awkward gaffe.

The audience proceeded to give the South Korean magician a standing ovation as they too showed their support for him.

Commenting on the accident, Amanda Holden said: 'Manho, first of all can I say, what an absolute professional, you carried on.

'I really loved this, it was unique. We've had a lot of quick change artists come on the show before but never anything sort of as cool and as slick and as modern as this. I loved it.'

While Alesha Dixon added: 'The attention to detail in that act was absolutely superb. You're incredible. Well done.'

KSI said: 'I thought it was very very cool. I think you're slick, the changing was nice. I'm very excited to see what you come up with next.'

However, Manho took the mishap in his stride and gathered up his props before quickly returning to the stage

Despite crashing into a cameraman, all four of the judges gave him their seal of approval to progress to the next round of the competition

Simon said he thought the accident improved the act, adding: 'The fact it went wrong, sort of made the act better.

'Things do go wrong and that happens in life.'

Despite crashing into a cameraman, all four of the judges gave him their seal of approval to progress to the next round of the competition.
Staff at one of Las Vegas's most prominent gentleman's clubs have detailed the shocking behavior of Kanye West after he hired out the venue for a wild party.

The 47-year-old specifically demanded that management allow no women of color or Black women inside his private party room at the Sin City club, sources told Dailymail.com.

When West and his entourage were selecting dancers, he specified he didn't want 'any brown skin girls of any complexion or culture.'

Dailymail.com has reached out to West's estranged wife Bianca Censori and their rep Milo Yiannopoulos for further comment on this story.

Kanye West, 47, demanded no women of color be present at a private party he threw at a prominent Las Vegas gentleman's club last year. Pictured at a Milan Fashion Week event in February 23, 2024

In another bizarre move, an eyewitness said that the Bully artist at one point demanded the DJ play one of his tracks 15 times in a row.

The eyewitness said that the Flashing Lights artist had a 'cocky' attitude as he watched the DJ play his song repeatedly from an iPhone he provided.

'He kind of looked like, 'Oh, this is my s***,'" the eyewitness said.

Another source told Dailymail.com: 'Hes very conceited with those songs - he was making them play his whole album - he was back there for a couple hours.

'Kanye was a problem - I dont think hes allowed to come here anymore.'

In his trip to the venue, which took place at the end of 2024, the 24-time Grammy winner wore an all-black ensemble that included a balaclava, an eyewitness said.

West relaxed after a few drinks, and 'began getting chummy with security guards' at the venue.

The Paranoid vocalist's security staffers got into conflict with security at the club, one insider said.

In his trip to the venue, which took place late last year, the 24-time Grammy winner donned an all-black ensemble, including a black balaclava, an eyewitness said. Pictured in LA in 2024

A source said, 'Kanye was a problem - he was a problem - I dont think hes allowed to come here anymore.' Pictured at the Grammys February 2

The incident involving West came in the latter half of 2024, multiple sources said

Other prominent artists such as Drake, Swae Lee and Rae Sremmurd have also frequented the popular establishment, the source told Dailymail.com, adding that 'Everyone loves Drake - hes nice and kind of hospitable.'

West has been seen in Las Vegas on many previous occasions and referred to the gambling city in the hit song Good Life from his 2007 album Graduation.

In the collaboration with T-Pain, West rapped, 'I was splurgin' on trizz, but when I get my card back/Activated, I'm back to Vegas.'

His 2007 track Can't Tell Me Nothing was featured in a pivotal scene in the 2009 smash hit The Hangover, in which the four main characters headed into Las Vegas from Southern California.

While West has been outspoken about his disdain for Jewish people, his remarks have also rankled the Black community on occasion.

They included in 2018 when he said that slavery was a choice; and in 2022, when he and Candace Owens wore sweatshirts reading 'White Lives Matter' at a Paris Fashion Week event for his Yeezy label.

The Chicago native traveled to Tokyo earlier this month after days of frenetic tweeting in which he clashed with ex-wife Kim Kardashian about the co-parenting of their daughter, North.

The Power artist 'instantly calmed down after all of those controversial, offensive rants he spewed on social media,' multiple insiders told the outlet.

West can be in an erratic state of mind when in Los Angeles, insiders told the outlet, but feels peace when in Tokyo which sources described as 'completely disconnected and calm.'

West is father to four children with Kardashian, 44: daughters North, 11, and Chicago, seven; and sons Saint, nine, and Psalm, five.

West has remained in the crosshairs of controversy for much of 2025 amid a torrent of tweets propagating antisemitism.

West has been seen in Las Vegas on many previous occasions and referred to the gambling city in the hit song Good Life from his 2007 album Graduation

In the collaboration with T-Pain, West rapped, 'I was splurgin' on trizz, but when I get my card back/Activated, I'm back to Vegas'

West has been at odds with ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 44, in recent months

West and Bianca Censori arrived at Super Bowl 58 on February 11, 2024, in Las Vegas

On February 11, the shop on West's Yeezy Website - which he advertised with an expensive ad in Sunday's Super Bowl - was taken offline by Shopify after he was selling a white shirt with a black swastika in the center.

West spoke more about the controversy in a series of tweets February 20 - promising to wear the swastika shirt onstage at the Super Bowl.

'Next year Im performing at the superbowl wearing my wittle T shirt,' he said. 'People with money bought my wittle t shirt.'

West in a series of tweets last month promised to wear his infamous Yeezy swastika shirt onstage at the Super Bowl next year

The Anti-Defamation League stated their response to the shirt on X/Twitter in February

He added that Shopify 'gave [him his] account back' after taking down his store after controversy erupted over the shirts, but that he was 'not going to use it.'

The Anti-Defamation League said in a post on X/Twitter February 10: 'As if we needed further proof of Kanye's antisemitism, he chose to put a single item for sale on his website  a t-shirt emblazoned with a swastika.

'If that wasn't enough, the t-shirt is labeled on Kanye's website as "HH-01,"which is code for "Heil Hitler."

'Kanye was tweeting vile antisemitism nonstop since last week. There's no excuse for this kind of behavior.'

The organization added, 'Even worse, Kanye advertised his website during the Super Bowl, amplifying it beyond his already massive social media audience.'
Freddie Bentley has revealed how he proved his teachers wrong by achieving his TV dreams as he opened up about his 'hard times' and his council estate upbringing.

The TOWIE star, 27, told MailOnline that he was told to be realistic when he told everyone in high school that he was going to be a TV star when he grew up.

As a 'normal council kid', Freddie revealed that he 'did go through hard times', but he was always supported by his mother, who lives with bipolar disorder.

He explained that despite his upbringing, he had always aspired to be an entertainer and knew that he could never work a normal job.

Freddie told MailOnline: 'I have always been into my fashion since I was a little boy. I have always been stylish and even watched Gok Wan's How To Look Good Naked. I used to always love watching things like that.

'I have always been into my style. I have always made sure I looked presentable but I come from a very presentable family as well. And not necessarily in terms of privilege and wealth. I had a very normal upbringing and lived in a council house with my mum.'

Freddie Bentley, 27, has proved his teachers wrong, who shunned him for his TV star dream, as he opened up about his 'hard times' and his council estate upbringing

The TOWIE star told MailOnline that he was told to be realistic when he told everyone in high school that he was going to be a TV star when he grew up

He continued: 'I have a very normal background but we have always made sure we looked nice and tidy and presentable.

'I am just a normal council kid that had a dream and always been ambitious and always been a grafter. I feel I am an example of no matter where you come from, you can always achieve what you want to achieve in life.

'I have always been an entertainer. Since the age of four I was prancing around in a Snow White dress. And I remember being in school and in them senior ages I always loved Big Brother.

'And I remember telling everyone I am going to go on Big Brother when I am older and watch and it was time of Nikki Graham and Jade Goody - proper icons.

'I remember I was in a Spanish class once and we had to say what our dream job was in Spanish. But I told them I was going to be on the telly and my Spanish teacher said to me you have to have a realistic job.

'And I said to her "Sue, listen, whether I am going to be on TV in Spain or TV in the UK, I am going to be on it".

'And from that people telling me I cannot do something has given me the drive and ambition to do it.'

'When kids wanted to be around other kids, I always wanted to be around the adults. I think they always knew. It really isn't my mother's scene. The thought of her being in front of a camera, she would completely bottle it. I don't really know where I get it from.

As a 'normal council kid', Freddie revealed that he 'did go through hard times', but he was always supported by his mother (pictured), who lives with bipolar disorder

He explained that despite his upbringing, he had always aspired to be an entertainer and knew that he could never work a normal job

Freddie said: 'So my mum has bipolar so she doesn't work and is a stay at home mummy, which we call her. She is incredible and amazing. My dad has always been a builder - a proper geezer'

'My family are confident but none of my family have been on the telly or dreamed of being on the telly.

Speaking of his council estate upbringing and supporting his mother, Freddie said: 'I think my family have always known I was not going to be able to do a normal job.

'So my mum has bipolar so she doesn't work and is a stay at home mummy, which we call her. She is incredible and amazing. My dad has always been a builder - a proper geezer.

'Me and my mum are best friends. I love her to pieces. We are tight. I have always supported her and she is on such the right road at the moment and she is incredible and inspirational.

'You would never know, she takes her medication and she really does things to better herself like going on long walks.

'We got her a puppy last year, Queenie, my little dog. I feel the dog has helped her socialise and get out.

'I am here there and everywhere and though my mother would always want me to live my life and be the best version of me, I feel guilty that she may be lonely so I got her the dog and they're bestfriends.

'Times have been hard at times but now I feel that I am definitely in a privileged situation where I can help my mum and I would never let her go without.'

And after climbing the ladder to stardom, the glamour puss now enjoys a full life of luxury as last week he enjoyed a non-surgical Brazilian Butt Lift, salmon sperm filler and a touch of Botox.

Freddie's fame kicked off when he appeared on Netflix's The Circle in August 2018, which saw the star land second place after receiving a 2.67-star rating from his four other contestants - Kate, Sian and Dan.

The Circle is a social experiment and reality competition where contestants, isolated from each other, compete for popularity and a cash prize through online interactions.

Freddie's fame kicked off when he appeared on Netflix's The Circle in August 2018 (pictured), which saw the star land second place after receiving a 2.67-star rating

His fame then skyrocketed after he starred in season 31 of The Only Way Is Essex in 2023, where he and Big Brother's Ella Rae Wise (middle) saw a blossoming friendship

His appearance on the show kicked off his influencing career as he soon landed big brand deals from the likes of Pretty Little Thing.

He then started dabbling in modeling which saw him becoming a brand ambassador for companies such as Stone Valley Clothing.

Freddie then starred in smaller TV appearances, such as MTV's Celeb Ex In The City and even appeared on some podcasts.

His fame then skyrocketed after he starred in season 31 of The Only Way Is Essex in 2023, where he and Big Brother's Ella Rae Wise saw a blossoming friendship.
Hollywood tough guys Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme have finally ended their legendary feud in an unexpected twist after three decades.

Once mortal enemies, the two martial arts icons shocked fans after being seen posing together at Seagal's birthday dinner at a restaurant last week.

The bad blood between the action stars had run so deep, the photo of the sudden truce has sent fans into a frenzy, with some even crying AI.

At the height of his fame in the 90s, Seagal, 73, famously took every opportunity in interviews to call out Jean-Claude, 64, as a fake martial artist.

The actor and martial artist, famous for his hard-charging 90s action movies, Under Siege, Marked for Death, and On Deadly Ground, has previously boasted he would 'squash' Van Damme 'like an ant' in a fight.

He even threatened to laugh in the face of an interviewer who suggested Van Damme was a 'tough guy' and martial artist.

Yet in a video posted on Van Damme's Instagram on April 10, he put his arm around Seagal, called him his 'good friend' and wished him a happy birthday.

Once mortal enemies Steven Seagal and Jean-Claude Van Damme revealed they buried the hatchet after posting a photo together at Seagal's birthday dinner last week

In an Instagram video shared on April 10, Van Damme put his arm around Seagal, called him his 'good friend' and wished him a happy birthday

Fans couldn't believe it at first, questioning whether the footage was fabricated using AI.

Seagal's official account replied on the April 10 post, confirming the pictures were 'absolutely real'.

Seagal cryptically captioned the pictures of him and Van Damme: 'Another journey that some would strive to rise to legendary work.'

And Van Damme even hinted at some future collaboration, writing: 'Big announcement coming soon!' on his Instagram post.

In a compilation of past Seagal interviews posted on YouTube in 2017, the former action star said getting in a fight with Van Damme 'would be like me squashing an ant'.

'If he sees me he runs,' Seagal said in one clip.

The truce was so unexpected fans even questioned whether the footage was fake or generated by AI, prompting Seagal to reply

Seagal's official account replied on the April 10 post, confirming the pictures were 'absolutely real'

'I think that that's a matter of opinion that he was a champion anywhere,' Seagal said on one 1990s talk show.

'There are an awful number of people who say that's not true.

In an AXS TV interview, Seagal was asked on his 'thoughts on Van Damme' as a true 'Hollywood tough guy'.

Seagal replied: 'Can I laugh in your face?  Do I think Jean-Claude is a tough guy or a martial artist? No.'

Van Damme's loyal fans had not forgotten the critical comments.

Posting on his Facebook page under the photos of the two Hollywood hard men together, follower Randall Nadeau wrote: 'Wow! If I were you I wouldn't sit down with him regardless of what day it was after the things he has said about you.'

The two action stars rose to fame in the 90s, giving way to their rivalry. Pictured left is Van Damme in 1994 film Streetfighter; Seagal is seen right in 1997 film Fire Down Below

Seagal famously took every opportunity in interviews to call out Jean-Claude, 64, as a fake martial artist and fanned the flames with his comments on Arsenio Hall's talk show

'After all the crap Seagul [sic] said about JCVD throughout the years he proved who's the real grownup,' added another fan, Lucian Mihai. 'What an absolute legend is Van Damme!'

Seagal's reconnection with his Hollywood nemesis comes after he moved to Eastern Europe and Russia, following a years-long friendship with Putin.

Seagal has called Putin 'one of the greatest world leaders', and told the Moscow Times in 2014 he 'would like to consider [Putin] as a brother'.

DailyMail.com revealed last year the former action star took part in a 30-minute Russian propaganda documentary about the Ukraine war titled In The Name of Justice.

Footage revealed 6ft 4in Seagal's figure had ballooned to over 320lbs, and he was filmed barely able to wrap his arms around his burgeoning belly.

The documentary follows the portly Putin partisan wandering around Russian-occupied areas of Ukraine, between drone shots of rubble and bombed-out buildings.

Van Damme also hinted at some future collaboration, writing: 'Big announcement coming soon!' on his Instagram post

Seagal left his life in America behind after gaining Russian citizenship in 2016, which was granted after numerous requests according to a Kremlin spokesman.

His paternal grandparents had emigrated to the United States from Vladivostock in the country's far east.

Seagal's departure for Russia came after news broke that the Los Angeles District Attorney was reviewing a sex abuse case against him, after decades of allegations by women who worked with Seagal.

The office eventually declined to prosecute due to the statute of limitations running out.

It was far from the first time the Out for Justice star had been accused of sexual harassment and other misconduct by women including Portia de Rossi, Julianna Margulies, Jenny McCarthy, Katherine Heigl, Dutch model Faviola Dadis, and Inside Edition correspondent Lisa Guerrero.

On top of the sexual assault allegations, Seagal also has been accused of fostering hostile working environments on set.

Seagal's reconnection with his Hollywood nemesis comes after he moved to Eastern Europe and attained Russian citizenship in 2016

Seagal has had a years-long friendship with Russian President Vladimir Putin, and has even called him 'one of the greatest world leaders'

He had a reputation for allegedly punching stunt doubles that were on the sets of the movies he was working on.

Actor John Leguizamo called the marital artist a 'bully' on set from his experience working together on the 1996 film Executive Decision.

Leguizamo told the New York Post that no one had a good time working with him and that Seagal kept 'hitting the stuntmen on purpose' until the now-deceased Gene LeBell, highly regarded as one of the most famous stuntman in Hollywood, intervened by putting him in a chokehold.

Even Saturday Night Live were perturbed by Seagal's behavior after the martial artist starred in one of the most infamous episodes that have aired on the show in 1991.

The action star's unwillingness to go along with the show's plan and his horrendously bad ideas for skits almost led to SNL to consider replacing him as the host and do a cast show, according to former SNL actor David Spade in his book Live From New York: The Complete, Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live.
Mariah Carey has revealed what's bugged her most throughout her decades-long singing career.

The 56-year-old legendary music artist  who recently appeared on her son's livestream  celebrated the 20-year anniversary of her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi on April 12.

And speaking with People, she admitted that upon its release she felt 'annoyed' that it was referred to as a 'comeback album.'

'At the time, it annoyed me when they called it a comeback album,' she told the publication. 'But now I'm just like, "Oh yeah, my comeback album."'

The project  which featured collaborations with Snoop Dogg and Jermaine Dupri  was released just three years after 2002's Charmbracelet, which received mixed reviews and debuted at number three on the US Billboard 200 chart.

Despite the success of The Emancipation of Mimi's predecessor, she said the 'comeback' description is 'somewhat accurate.'

Mariah Carey has revealed what's bugged her most throughout her decades-long singing career; pictured in February 2024

The 56-year-old legendary music artist celebrated the 20-year anniversary of her 2005 album The Emancipation of Mimi on April 12. She's admitted that upon its release she felt 'annoyed' that it was referred to as a 'comeback album

Carey expressed her frustration as she asked rhetorically, 'It's like, how many comebacks do I have to have?'

She noted that if people 'know the album, then they usually are fans of the album.'

'But not everybody knows that album,' the entertainer explained. 'So people can discover various songs and kind of get to know the feeling of that album.'

Acknowledging the milestone anniversary on social media last week, Mariah wrote to her 14 million Instagram followers: 'Happy Mimi Anniversary!! Im excited to celebrate this one with you.'

A special edition 20th anniversary iteration of the LP will be released on May 30.

Mariah added in her Instagram caption, 'While working on #Mimi20, I got to relive all the memories from this pivotal moment in my personal and professional life.

'This album has some of my biggest hits to date, as well as some personal favorites that are very special to me. Let me know what your favorite Mimi lyric is and stay tuned for more surprises yet to come! Love, MC.'

Acknowledging the milestone anniversary on social media last week, Mariah wrote to her 14 million Instagram followers: 'Happy Mimi Anniversary!! Im excited to celebrate this one with you'

A special edition 20th anniversary iteration of the Emancipation of Mimi LP will be released on May 30

In a video shared by Spotify days ago, Mariah stated, 'The Emancipation of Mimi represents an incredible part of my life  obviously the music and the songs and just where it took me as an artist and as a person.'

She named Fly Like A Bird as one of her favorite tracks from the album, calling it 'the vocal take that I'm most proud of.'

'It was such a strong message that I was kind of writing to God, to myself, to my fans. It still feels that way to me,' Mariah said of the soft and uplifting R&B tune.

The album went on to sell 10 million albums worldwide, with six million purchased in the United States.

The star was married to Nick Cannon from 2008-2016 and they share 13-year-old fraternal twins Moroccan and Monroe.
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Emily Seebohm fanned the flames of split rumours with her fiance Ryan Gallagher on Friday.

The Olympian, 32, and former Married At First Sight star, 36, have been the target of break-up speculation in recent weeks after they unfollowed each other on Instagram and seemingly removed each other from their accounts.

Now, the competitive swimmer appears to have fuelled the rumours after she shared an Instagram post of herself and their son Sampson, one, which gives the tot her last name instead of Ryan's.

The original post, which contained heartwarming images of Emily cuddling up to her only child, were uploaded by the Australian Dolphins Swim Team which the retired athlete used to compete for.

The caption read: 'Adding to the long list of future stars who featured at Aussie Age Champs Sampson Seebohm. Already a 2x Nationals commentator before his second birthdaynow thats poolside talent.'

It is unclear if giving Sampson his famous mother's last name instead of his father's was a mere slip-up, but Emily appeared to have no issue with it as she happily re-shared the images to her own Instagram page.

Emily Seebohm, 32, fanned the flames of split rumours with her fiance Ryan Gallagher, 36, on Friday. Pictured: Emily with her son Sampson who she shares with Ryan

It came just a few days after Ryan enjoyed some quality father-son time with his son without Emily in sight, sharing a sweet photo of his toddler to social media on Thursday.

In the image, Ryan was seen beaming as he cradled the young tot during an outing in a leafy park.

He captioned the photo with some precious words: 'Dad's little best mate.'

The post came amid growing rumours Ryan and Emily have gone their separate ways.

The couple, who announced their engagement in early 2023 after meeting while filming The Challenge Australia, have recently unfollowed each other on Instagram.

Ryan, who starred in the 2018 season of Married At First Sight, has also seemingly removed Emily from his feed.

Emily's last appearance on Ryan's grid, at the time of publishing, was more than two years ago.

The post was a screenshot of the pair's appearance on The Challenge Australia.

The Olympian and former Married At First Sight star have been the target of break-up speculation in recent weeks after they unfollowed each other on Instagram and seemingly removed each other from their accounts

Now, the competitive swimmer appears to have fuelled the rumours after she shared an Instagram post of herself and their son Sampson, one, which gives the tot her last name instead of Ryan's

Even more telling, Ryan had also apparently removed a snapshot showing he and Emily with their son Sampson.

The photo captured the couple nestled together on a hospital bed, with their peacefully slumbering baby cradled in his father's embrace.

Meanwhile, Ryan's most recent appearance on Emily's feed came over the Christmas season when she shared a photo which showed her, Ryan and Sampson happily posing with Santa Claus.

The Olympic swimmer also sparked rumours of a split in her most recent Instagram photo.

The image showed Emily and Sampson enjoying a mum-and-son day out at Gold Coast theme park Dreamworld.

However, eagle-eyed followers were quick to point out Emily was not wearing her engagement ring in the photo.

'Where's Ryan?' one follower asked to which another replied: 'That's true. I hope they are okay.'

Emily also shared a clip from last month which showed her happily playing with Sampson.

The original post, which contained heartwarming images of Emily cuddling up to her only child, were uploaded by the Australian Dolphins Swim Team which gave Sampson his mother's last name in the caption

Her ring was also absent in this clip, further fuelling rumours of a split between the couple.

Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Ryan and Emily for comment.

They became engaged in December 2022, a mere four months after their initial meeting while filming The Challenge Australia, and went public in March 2023.

Ryan rose to fame on season five of MAFS when he was paired with controversial series 'villain' Davina Rankin.

Davina was portrayed in the series as having an affair with Dean Wells, who was paired with Tracey Jewell.

She bore the brunt of ire from MAFS viewers while Ryan engendered sympathy, becoming an instant fan favourite.

Emily, who made her Olympic debut at the age of 16 at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, failed to qualify for Paris in the 100m and 200m backstroke.
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Travis Fimmel looked worlds away from his glamorous modelling days on Monday as he stepped out at an FYC Event in Los Angeles to spruik his film Dune: Prophecy.

The Aussie star, 45, who now rocks a handsome rugged look, was once known for his clean shaven appearance when he modelled for Calvin Klein in 2002.

However, he proved this week just why he is still a hunky movie star as he flashed his pearly whites on-stage with his co-stars.

Travis opted for an all-black look at the speaking event, slipping into a button-up and slacks paired with some high-top converse shoes.

The new look is very different from his sleek modelling ads.

Travis was the Aussie hunk who once heated up billboards and magazines with his sultry underwear ads back in 2002.

Travis Fimmel, 45, looked worlds away from his glamorous modelling days on Monday as he stepped out at an FYC Event in Los Angeles to spruik his film Dune: Prophecy

The Aussie star, who now rocks a handsome rugged look, was once known for his clean shaven appearance when he modelled for Calvin Klein in 2002

The Victoria-born star made a name for himself as the first male model to land a six figure deal to pose exclusively for Calvin Klein for one year.

He appeared on dozens of billboards across LA, causing traffic jams in the area due to the raunchy nature of his images.

The character of Jerry 'Smith' Jarrod from Sex and the City is said to have been inspired by Travis, who also appeared on the covers of magazines like W.

Since then, Travis has turned his attention to acting.

The Hollywood star is currently the male lead in the Dune prequel series, portraying Desmond Hart alongside actress Emily Watson.

However, he first made waves in the acting world in 2003 after landing the leading role in Warner Bros. series Tarzan.

Though it wasn't until 2013 when Travis really hit the big time, scoring the iconic role of Ragnar Lothbrok in the hit TV series Vikings, which aired between 2013 and 2017.

He went on to appear as Anduin Lothar in Warcraft (2016) and starred in the science fiction series Raised by Wolves (2020).

However, he proved this week just why he is still a hunky movie star as he flashed his pearly whites on-stage with his co-stars

Travis opted for an all-black look at the speaking event, slipping into a button-up and slacks paired with some high-top converse shoes

In 2023, he appeared in two Stan Original seriesBlack Snow and Caught.

He shot back into the limelight recently when playing the role of drug dealer Lyle Orlik in the hit Netflix show Boy Swallows Universe.

While Travis is based in LA, he spends plenty of time in Australia and even recently launched his own Aussie lager brand Travla with MasterChef judge Andy Allen.

His latest project Boy Swallows Universe has earned rave reviews form audiences.
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Hugh Jackman has shared a heartwarming tribute to US billionaire hotel magnate Elaine Wynn following reports of her death on Wednesday.

The businesswoman, who is famed for masterminding some of the Las Vegas strip's most iconic tourist attractions with her ex-husband Steve Wynn, died at the age of 82.

Down Under star Hugh, 56, who is friends with Steve, 83, and lived in the US for many years, took to Instagram on Saturday to express his grief over her passing, saying she was the 'most generous' person he knew.

'On top of being a friend to me, Elaine Wynn was one of the classiest, warmest and most generous people I have ever known. I send my love to her whole family. Rest easy my friend,' he wrote on his Stories.

Hugh is a known friend of billionaire Steve Wynn, with the Hollywood actor, along with his then wife Deborra-Lee Furness, even attending the magnate's wedding to his British sweetheart Andrea Hissom in 2011.

Elaine and her former partner Steve operated an eponymous global collection of casinos and hotels synonymous with Sin City.

Hugh Jackman, 56, has shared a heartwarming tribute to US billionaire hotel magnate Elaine Wynn following reports of her death on Wednesday

The businesswoman, who is famed for masterminding some of the Las Vegas strip's most iconic tourist attractions with her ex-husband Steve Wynn, 83, died at the age of 82

They ran in the same circles as Donald Trump, who also established a Nevada resort chain in the 1990s.

Further details on Elaine's cause of death, or where and when she died have yet to emerge.

The Wall Street Journal, who broke news of Elaine's death, said she was the largest individual shareholder in Wynn Resorts, with a stake worth $2 billion in 2018.

Elaine signed away her voting rights in the company when she divorced Steve for the second time in 2010, but in June 2018 she returned to the board and amid sexual harassment complaints against Steve by former employees.

Steve sold his 12 percent share in the company after some staffers claimed he paid them off to keep quiet about the alleged harassment.

Steve has consistently denied sexual misconduct allegations.

The casino power couple, who share two daughters called Kevyn and Gillian, originally married in 1963 after meeting on a blind date, and they divorced for the first time in 1986.

They tied the knot again in 1991 but divorced for the last time 19 years later.

Down Under star Hugh, 56, who is friends with Steve and lived in the US for many years, took to Instagram on Saturday to express his grief over her passing, saying she was the 'most generous' person he knew

'On top of being a friend to me, Elaine Wynn was one of the classiest, warmest and most generous people I have ever known. I send my love to her whole family. Rest easy my friend,' he wrote in his Stories

They faced horrific trauma in 1993 when Kevyn was kidnapped. Stricken, Elaine paid a $1.45million ransom for the safe return of her daughter, with the blundering kidnappers caught when they tried to use the cash to buy a Ferrari.

Elaine was born to a middle-class family in New York and founded Vegas' iconic Mirage Resorts with Steve in 1976.

The couple went on to develop the famously glitzy Wynn resorts in 2000. Their combined efforts were credited with revitalising the Vegas Strip and helping the area shake off its seedy reputation.

Together they forged some of the most famous attractions on the strip, including the Mirage and its erupting volcano, and the Bellagio fountains.

Wynn Resorts issued a statement to the Las Vegas Review-Journal about Elaine's passing.

'We are all deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Elaine Wynn, and send our condolences to her daughters, grandchildren, and her many close friends,' the company said.

'As co-founder and one of the largest shareholders of Wynn Resorts, she helped to create and grow the company to become the most esteemed luxury resort brand in the world.

'Her many talents and special touches are indelibly imprinted on the company and still evident throughout our resorts. Elaine cared deeply about the employees of our resorts.

'The current and former employees who worked alongside her to create Wynn and Encore Las Vegas cherish the many fond memories they have of her, especially of when they opened Wynn Las Vegas with her 20 years ago this month.

'She was a tireless advocate for Las Vegas, for children and their education, and for the arts. We're grateful that the enduring sense of philanthropy she instilled in our company continues to this day.'
The saga of Kanye West and Bianca Censori's tumultuous marriage appears to have taken a new twist.

The 47-year-old rapper and his 30-year-old wife and muse may have patched up their differences after they were spotted reuniting during a trip to Spain.

The two were seen dining together at an Indian restaurant in the Balearic Islands on Friday in video obtained by DailyMail.com.

Although Kanye appeared to be bundled up in a baggy hoodie, Bianca was wearing one of her trademark curve-hugging bodysuits, suggesting the two weren't trying to keep their reunion under the radar.

The shocking reunion was a major reversal, as Kanye previously rapped about being 'dumped' by the Australian architect in a new song.

Prior to reuniting with Bianca, Kanye had been spotted on what appeared to be a solo trip to Japan, where he had been decompressing after fleeing Los Angeles again.

Kanye West and his estranged wife Bianca Censori may have patched up their differences after they were seen reuniting during a trip to Spain

The 47-year-old rapper and his 30-year-old wife and muse were seen dining together at an Indian restaurant in the Balearic Islands in video obtained by DailyMail.com; pictured February 2 in LA

Bianca wasn't seen with Kanye on that trip, which only intensified rumors that she had split from him.

But the two didn't show any signs of tension in the new video of their Indian meal.

They were seen apparently exiting the restaurant after dining, with Bianca strutting ahead in high heels while her husband could be seen lumbering behind her.

He was hunched over slightly and had his hood up, and he wore a chunky pair of boots with his characteristically casual all-black ensemble.

Bianca also appeared to be dressed head to toe in what appeared to be the kind of busty black bodysuit that she has often favored since marrying West  reportedly at his urging.

A fellow diner appears to have noticed the couple elsewhere in the restaurant and snagged a clip of them walking out of the dining room.

TMZ previously reported that the hitmaker had gone to Japan in March and noted that Bianca had checked out of LA's iconic Chateau Marmont, where she had been staying prior to his trip.

Earlier in April, Kanye released a new single, titled Bianca, in which he appeared to delve into the couple's split.

Although Kanye appeared to be bundled up in a baggy hoodie, Bianca was wearing one of her trademark curve-hugging bodysuits, suggesting the two weren't trying to keep their reunion under the radar

The shocking reunion was a major reversal, as Kanye previously rapped about being 'dumped' by the Australian architect in a new song

They were seen apparently exiting the restaurant after dining, with Bianca strutting ahead in high heels while her husband could be seen lumbering behind her

He was hunched over slightly and had his hood up, and he wore chunky black boots

A fellow diner appears to have noticed the couple elsewhere in the restaurant and snagged a clip of them walking out of the dining room

The lyrics seemed to indicate that Bianca had ended the marriage, and he rapped that she allegedly 'tried to get [him] committed' while they were together.

The track is expected to be featured on his upcoming album, reportedly titled WW3.

Although it hasn't been released yet, DJ Akademiks  who conducted an unhinged interview with the rapper last month  posted a sample of the tune.

In Bianca, Kanye claims in the lyrics that his wife began suffering panic attacks brought on by his offensive antisemitic posts on DOGE overseer Elon Musk's social media platform X (formerly Twitter).

Kanye  who has lately made shocking insults directed at Jay-Z and Beyonce's children  tied the knot with Bianca in January 2023.

At the time, the two were reported to still be legally single, as they didn't file a marriage certificate.

However, in October 2023, Us Weekly reported that the two had in fact gotten legally married the previous year due to 'religious reasons.'

In March, sources told DailyMail.com that Bianca had come up with a risky plan to save her marriage.

TMZ previously reported that the hitmaker had gone to Tokyo beginning in March, and Bianca wasn't spotted with him; seen February 2 in LA

In March, sources told DailyMail.com that Bianca had come up with a risky plan to save her marriage by trying to start a family. She was said to be considering divorcing the rapper; sen February 2 in LA

She was said to believe that starting a family with Kanye might help him tone down his controversial statements and behavior, while also strengthen their romantic bond.

Bianca is encouraging Kanye to have a baby, believing it will save their marriage and heal their relationship, the insider said.

At the time, she was said to be mulling the idea of divorce due to her husband's disturbing rants and offensive statements.

She was reportedly contemplating divorce again due to his shocking rants.

In last month's interview with DJ Akademiks, West vented about his custody arrangement with his ex-wife Kim Kardashian, 44, with whom he shares four children: North, 11; Saint, nine; Chicago, seven; and Psalm, five.

He shockingly claimed that he regretted having children with Kardashian

'That was my fault,' he said. 'I didn't want to have children with this person after the first two months of being with her, but that wasn't God's plan.'

Kanye also vented about their custody arrangement, and he seemed to conflate Kim reportedly trademarking their children's names and likeness with custody of them.

'I don't got the name and likeness ownership, or at least 50-50 with my kids,' he said at one point, referring to the 'nuclear' war between them over their two sons and two daughters. 'So how's it joint custody?

'My kids are celebrities and I don't have the say so,' he continued. 'So this white woman and this white family have the control of these highly influential black kids that are half the children of Ye.'
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Edwina Bartholomew has given a very hopeful health update about her recent heartbreaking cancer diagnosis.

The Sunrise star, 41, revealed she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)a type of blood and bone marrow cancerlive on air in September.

Now, in a joyful Instagram post on Thursday, the TV presenter has revealed she is nearing 'molecular remission', saying her leukaemia is 'almost undetectable now'.

'I am almost in what they call molecular remission,' she wrote.

'So that means, thanks to my daily medication and my incredible specialist, and also really the gift of time that I've been given by Seven, by working part-time here at Sunrise to focus on my health, the leukaemia has essentially been eradicated from my body to the point that it's almost undetectable now.'

Edwina went on to say she is still required to take medication for at least the 'next few years', but doesn't let that overshadow the 'fantastic news'.

Edwina Bartholomew, 41, has given a very hopeful health update about her recent heartbreaking cancer diagnosis

'I still need to take tablets for the next few years. But it is fantastic news, and I do share it this morning knowing lots of people are watching this going through their very own serious cancer battles, so it's not lost on me how extraordinarily lucky I have been,' she said.

It comes after Edwina revealed at Marie Claire's International Women's Day luncheon in Sydney last month just how much the cancer diagnosis has impacted her life.

'I was fortunate that I had a month where I knew about it before I told everyone. I had this experience without having to go through the trauma of chemotherapy,' Edwina began.

'[The cancer] was a gift, because it put things into perspective... I didn't have to go through a really intense experience of being "in" cancer and absorbed by it.'

Edwina added she was extremely grateful her symptoms were manageable and she was able to continue with most of the activities in her daily life.

'I had a meeting with my specialist this week and I forgot to go get my blood test. So, it is not front of mind for me,' she said.

'I am so conscious of what a gift that is, that I have been able to continue on semi-normal... I haven't had to tell my young kids, because I still look the same. It's been a real re-think in slowing myself down.'

Edwina's diagnosis is a 'mild' form of leukaemia and can often be managed without having to undergo chemotherapy and dealing with the disease's more severe symptoms.

The Sunrise star revealed she had been diagnosed with chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML)a type of blood and bone marrow cancerlive on air in September. Pictured with her husband Neil Varcoe and their children Molly, five, and Tom, three

Now, in a joyful Instagram post on Thursday, the TV presenter has revealed she is nearing 'molecular remission', saying her leukaemia is 'almost undetectable now'

The TV presenter shares two young childrenMolly, five, and Tom, threewith her husband Neil Varcoe.

In September, Edwina revealed live on-air she had been diagnosed with cancer in a tearful admission.

'I have been diagnosed with cancer. That's a shock and hard to say,' she told viewers.

'It is a really good kind. It is called chronic myeloid leukaemia. It can be treated with a daily tablet. If I can take care of myself, I will be completely fine.'

The veteran TV star then began to break down in tears before telling the audience: 'I thought I could keep it together.'

Edwina went on to reveal her co-star Natalie Barr was to thank for her getting diagnosed as quickly as she had been.

Nat, 57, had her own cancer scare in June, after a routine skin check uncovered skin cancer on her nose, which persuaded Edwina to undergo a full health check at her own doctors.

According to Mayo Clinic, CML is an uncommon type of cancer in the bone marrow and is very slow to progress.

Advances in treatment have improved the prognosis of people with CML and most people diagnosed with it can achieve remission and live for many years.
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Ada Nicodemou gave a heartwarming update on her relationship with co-star James Stewart on Saturday, just a few weeks after celebrating their one-year anniversary together.

The Home and Away star, 47, gushed over the couple's recent romantic connection, which blossomed after 25 years of friendship, in the latest issue of Stellar.

Revealing she is usually very private about their intimate life together, the actress said she couldn't help but post about their recent relationship milestone because she and James, 49, have had 'a really lovely year together'.

'It's been a really lovely year together,' she told the publication when asked about her rare social media post about the pair.

'I don't like to post a lot of stuff about us online but, at the same time, I'm really proud of the last year we've had, and wanted to share that.'

Ada shared a tribute to James earlier this month, as she took to Instagram to post a sweet collection of pictures celebrating their one year anniversary at Mimi's in Sydney.

Ada Nicodemou, 47, gave a heartwarming update on her relationship with co-star James Stewart, 49, on Saturday, just a few weeks after celebrating their one-year anniversary together

'Just perfect,' Ada captioned the post, which showed the happy couple enjoying a delicious meal of oysters, caviar and bubbles at the iconic eatery.

In the first picture, the happy couple could be seen with giant grins on their faces as they posed with a card congratulating them on their milestone moment.

In the snaps, Ada wore a maroon-coloured, strapless dress with her brunette locks falling over her shoulders.

She accessorised the ensemble with a $5,300 Chanel purse, a $19,300 Cartier Love Bracelet and a Rolex Datejust watch which retails for around $12,189.

James opted for a neutral toned suit and a white button-up shirt.

Ada recently revealed how her Home and Away co-stars discovered her off-screen relationship with James.

The soap opera stars, whose characters are married on the Channel Seven show, were first linked at the beginning of 2024 when they were seen sharing a kiss on Anzac Day before Ada confirmed their romance in an interview.

Speaking on Mamamia's No Filter podcast, the actress revealed she had only told a small group of people she was 'close with' on set before 'word got around' about the couple's off-screen relationship.

The Home and Away star gushed over the couple's recent romantic connection, which blossomed after 25 years of friendship, revealing they have had 'a really lovely year together'. Pictured filming their characters' TV marriage on Home and Away

'I figured I didn't need to tell anyone else. We didn't need a group email, people just worked it out,' she explained.

Elsewhere in the interview, Ada admitted growing feelings for her television co-star James was 'weird' at first.

'Jimmy and I have known each other for 25 to 30 years and there were no feelings for a really, really long time. So I was shocked when I started having feelings,' she said.

'There was this chemistry for the first timethis spark that happened that wasn't there before and it was weird.'

In July, Ada finally broke her silence on her romance with James after months of speculation.

She confirmed she was dating her longtime co-star James in a magazine interview, describing their romance as 'unexpected'.

'Jimmy and I are together, yes. It's only early days. It's very recent and unexpected. I'm super happy. It's really lovely,' she told Stellar Magazine.

But she insisted their Home And Away characters Leah Patterson and Justin Morgan getting married on-screen was not an early sign of their real-life romance.

The couple began dating after Ada split from her ex-partner Adam Rigby just before Christmas in 2023 and James finalised his divorce from Sarah Roberts in March 2024.
Lydia McLaughlin has been left 'devastated' after her brother Geoffrey Shyam Stirling was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop on Thursday night in Newport Beach.

Stirling, 45, had been riding a motorcycle along Pacific Coast Highway when he was pulled over by officers, law enforcement informed TMZ in an article published on Friday.

Sources claimed to the outlet that Geoffrey had been 'uncooperative' and was shot by one of the cops on the scene.

McLaughlin's older brother was then taken to a nearby hospital where he later passed away. No officers involved were injured.

An independent review is currently underway by the California Attorney General's Office in order to further look into the incident.

In a statement to TMZ, Lydia expressed: 'My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother.

Lydia McLaughlin, 44, has been left 'devastated' after her brother Geoffrey Shyam Stirling, 45, was fatally shot by police during a traffic stop on Thursday night in Newport Beach; seen in 2017

Sources told the outlet that Geoffrey had been 'uncooperative' and was shot by one of the cops on the scene

'We are grateful for the outpouring of love and support from friends, family, and the community. We kindly ask for privacy as we mourn.'

According to an official release by the California Attorney General's Office, the California Department of Justice (DOJ) is investigating the officer-involved-shooting (OIS).

'The OIS incident resulted in the death of one individual and involved personnel from the Newport Beach Police Department,' the release read.

Following the investigation, 'it will be turned over to DOJ's Special Prosecutions Section within the Criminal Law Division for independent review.'

Stirling was born in San Diego and at the age of 16, he was scouted by a modeling agency, according to the bio on his official IMDB page.

Along with a career in modeling, he also moved on to acting and appeared in projects such as the TV miniseries 30 Days Of Night: Blood Trails (2007) and also Vanquisher (2011).

He studied Communications while attending the University of San Diego where he also graduated Phi Beta Kappa.

Geoffrey pursued other endeavors over the years such as being a personal trainer, karate instructor, television producer, baker and stuntman.

In a statement to TMZ, Lydia expressed: 'My family and I are devastated by the loss of my brother'; seen on RHOC in 2013

Stirling was born in San Diego and at the age of 16, he was scouted by a modeling agency, according to his bio on his official IMDB page

Geoffrey pursued other endeavors over the years such as being a personal trainer, karate instructor, television producer, baker and stuntman

Stirling had also ran a production company called Shyam Bird Productions LLC.

The tragic death of her brother comes shortly after Lydia honored her late mother Judy earlier this month on the sixth month anniversary of her passing.

She uploaded throwback clips and photos of her mom alongside a caption that read: 'Today marks 6 months since my mom passed away.

'I have gone to a beautiful group called Grief Share which has helped me in my healing and processing my grief. It's a nationwide group if anyone needs support, I recommend them.'

McLaughlin then opened up about grief and wrote, 'Grief can make you better or bitter.

'I am putting in my whole heart to turn my sorrow into thanksgiving, for having the privilege to have such a beautiful mom. She will always be my hero, and my favorite.'

Late last year in October, Lydia announced the death of her mother Judy - who had also made appearances on RHOC with her daughter.

She starred on the Bravo reality series in 2013 for one season and then later returned for another one season stint in 2017.

The tragic death of her brother comes shortly after Lydia honored her late mother Judy earlier this month on the sixth month anniversary of her passing

She uploaded throwback clips and photos of her mom alongside a caption that read: 'Today marks 6 months since my mom passed away'

McLaughlin had taken to Instagram to share a photo of both her and her late mother flashing big smiles.

'My mom passed away last night,' the TV personality began. 'We are heart broken but we know she's dancing with Jesus.

'Fairdust, confetti bombs and crowns like heaven has never seen before. What's in the cat is in the kitten and I promise to continue to make you proud.'

Later that same month, a celebration of life was held for Judy - who passed away following a battle with breast cancer.

Along with sharing special moments from the memorial service, Lydia had added in the caption, 'I find it difficult to put into words my broken heart.

'I am thankful for the outpouring of love and support. I am grateful to not grieve alone. I am honored to be her daughter and will forever carry her in my spirit. .'

After her return to RHOC in 2017, she announced her exit from the show the next year by sharing a statement on her blog OC Lydia; seen in RHOC far right

After her return to RHOC in 2017, she announced her exit from the show the next year by sharing a statement on her blog OC Lydia.

'RHOC has given me a great platform and I'm grateful for that. However, I feel like I can only handle this show one season at a time. I need a break!'

She also added, 'There is a lot of good that comes from the show, but also a lot of negativity. After a family vote, it was unanimous that I should take a break. Sometimes the people who love us the most see things even we don't see...'

The star tied the knot with Doug McLaughlin back in 2006 and the couple share three children together.
Colin Farrell appeared downcast as he grabbed coffee in Los Feliz, California, on Friday, following his emotional revelation about the decision to place his son in a long-term care facility.

The actor, 48, who is currently filming Series 2 of his Apple TV+ show Sugar, was spotted picking up three coffees from a local cafe in his neighbourhood.

He kept things casual in a deep V-neck T-shirt and plaid trousers, teamed with Adidas trainers.

Colin finished the look with a camouflage headband and delicate gold and silver jewellery.

He appeared low in mood as he stood with his arms crossed, waiting by the coffee window before collecting his order.

His outing comes after Colin revealed the reason behind his decision to place his adult disabled son into care - explaining that he wants to ensure his sons care is properly managed while he and his ex-partner are still alive, and to provide him with a strong sense of community.

Colin Farrell appeared downcast as he was spotted grabbing coffee in Los Feliz, California, on Friday

His outing comes following his emotional revelation about the decision to place his son James (pictured) in a long-term care facility

The actor appeared low in mood as he stood with his arms crossed, waiting by the coffee window before collecting his order

The actor previously explained how son James, 21, was heartbreakingly misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy before doctors eventually confirmed he was suffering from Angelman syndrome.

Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, causes severe physical and intellectual disability.

Speaking to Candis Magazine, Colin revealed he and his ex Kim Bordenave have made a decision and plan to settle James into a long-term care facility.

He said: 'Its tricky, some parents will say: "I want to take care of my child myself." And I respect that.

'But my horror would be... What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James mother, Kim, has a car crash and shes taken too  and then James is on his own?

'Then hes a ward of the state and he goes where? Wed have no say in it.'

He and Kim are hoping to 'find somewhere we like where he can go now, while were still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes'.

Colin continued: 'We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.'

Angelman syndrome is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, and causes severe physical and intellectual disability (pictured: Colin and James)

Colin - who shares James with ex Kim Bordenave - explained many sufferers of the syndrome are often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to the conditions having similar symptoms

WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth. Symptoms are not typically obvious immediately after a child is born  but instead normally become noticeable after two or three years. They include delays in reaching development milestones, such as: not sitting by eight months;

not walking by 18 months;

appearing too stiff or too floppy;

walking on tip-toes;

weak arms or legs;

fidgety, jerky or clumsy movements;

random, uncontrolled movements; Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing  along with learning difficulties  can also be symptoms. Cerebral palsy symptoms can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily an indication of the condition, which can occur if a child's brain does not develop normally while in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth. Causes include bleeding in the baby's brain, reduced blood and oxygen supply, infection caught by the mother while pregnant, asphyxiation during a difficult birth, meningitis or a serious head injury - though the precise cause is often not clear. There is no cure currently, but physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and medication are often used as treatment. Each person living with the condition is affected in a different way, but generally speaking most children live into adult life and some can live for many decades. Advertisement

The Phone Booth actor previously discussed his first-born son's condition and said medical advice was sought after James missed developmental milestones and struggled to sit up or crawl as a baby.

Colin explained how many sufferers of the rare syndrome are often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to both conditions having similar symptoms.

He told People: '[James] couldn't sit up. He wasn't crawling. I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy.'

Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth.

Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing  along with learning difficulties  can also be symptoms.

Colin said: 'It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure.'

The Oscar nominee revealed that, when James was only about two and a half years old, a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome.

Recalling the moment he received the diagnosis, he shared: 'I remember the first two questions I asked were, "Whats the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?"

'And the doctor said, "Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no."'

A doctor had noticed an unusual symptom that prompted him to test for Angelman syndrome.

Colin explained: 'One of the characteristics of Angelman syndrome is outbreaks of laughter. And the doctor saw that James was laughing a lot and doing this movement [he waves his hands],' the father-of-two shared.

Angelman syndrome is also characterized by seizures, which Colin - who also shares son Henry Tadeusz, 15, with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus, 41 - said is 'one of the things that parents struggle with greatly'.

He added: 'Thankfully, James hasn't had a breakthrough seizure now in about 10 or 11 years, but I've been in the back of ambulances, I've been in the hospital with him.

He said: 'It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure' (pictured: James with his mother Kim)

The Oscar nominee (pictured, with younger son Henry in 2023) revealed that when James was only about two and a half years old, a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome

'Ive done Diastat [a sedative] up his rectum to get him out of a seizure that lasted longer than three minutes. Finding the right amount of medication that doesnt have adverse effects  thats all very tricky business.'

The actor is now launching the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support, education, and advocacy for adults with intellectual disabilities.

'This is the first time Ive spoken about it, and obviously the only reason Im speaking is I cant ask James if he wants to do this,' he said.

The proud dad stated that his eldest son 'has worked so hard all his life, so hard'.

He said: 'Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looks like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. Im proud of him every day, because I just think hes magic.'

Colin also described watching his son take his first steps just before his fourth birthday.

Detailing the 'profound' moment to People, Colin said: 'I knew they [James's carers] were working on walking. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me].

Colin and James's mother Kim, 52, (pictured, in 2003 in Los Angeles) dated from 2001 to 2003

He shares his younger son Henry with Ondine co-star, Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus (pictured, in 2010) whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010

'It was so profound. It was magic.

'Ill never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears.'

James's condition is severe enough that he is nonverbal and requires the help of a live-in caregiver to accomplish his day-to-day tasks.

When James was four, Colin went public with his Angelman Syndrome, saying his son had demonstrated 'amazing courage' in the face of his condition.

Shortly before James turned 18, Colin and Kim filed to obtain a conservatorship of him, noting he still needed help with tasks like getting dressed and making meals.

He later went on to reveal that he and James's mother make sure to share in the smallest victories and enjoy the milestones whatever age they happen - including James's first words aged six, being able to feed himself at 19, and getting his seizures under control.

Colin has maintained a very private life and has not spoken about his son in great detail until recently, although he told InStyle he first decided to 'talk publicly about the pride and joy I had in our son' while attending the 2007 Special Olympics.

He said: 'He has enriched my life, but I don't want to minimize the trials that so many families go through; the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain... When you're the parent of a child with special needs, it's important to feel that you're not alone.'

Discussing being a parent to a child with disabilities, the Hollywood star said that James was the main reason he was able to get sober.

Colin and James's mother Kim dated from 2001 to 2003. He later had Henry with his Ondine co-star Alicja, whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010.
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Dina Broadhurst left her fans stunned on Saturday when she shared a series of sultry shots which left little to the imagination.

In a gallery of provocative images shared to Instagram, the 48-year-old 'nude artist' used clever angles, shadows and mirrors to showcase her naked figure in an artistic way.

One standout image featured a surreal, layered shot of her nude silhouette in the reflection of a portrait on her wall.

Another showed Dina striking a sensual pose in a blue-framed mirror propped in a sun-dappled backyard, her toned legs and hip-baring ensemble making a striking statement.

Many of her followers took to the comment section to gush over the jaw-dropping photos.

'So good,' one person wrote and a second added: 'Shadows and light'.

Dina Broadhurst left her fans stunned on Saturday when she shared a series of sultry shots which left little to the imagination

It comes after Dina made things official with Belgian model Kengi Meert.

The couple struck up a romance during Dina's last holiday to Paris after she travelled to Chile with ex-partner John Winning Jr.

She shared pictures of Kengi to her Instagram account, which captured the pair visiting Centre Pompidou in Paris during the trip.

While perusing the collection of art in the gallery, Kengi captured several photos of Dina admiring the displays.

However, nestled deep in the reel of images, Dina managed to sneak in a window reflection selfie of herself and her new flame.

She also included a few frames of the very handsome wellness retreat founder turning away from the camera, ensuring she tagged him for her followers to find.

Dina shortly returned from her European holiday after enjoying a romantic getaway with her new lover.

She jetted to Paris after a sojourn in Chile with her ex John Winning Jr and spent the week rolling around five-star Hotel Costes with Kengi.

One standout image featured a surreal, layered shot of her nude silhouette in the reflection of a portrait

Another showed Dina striking a sensual pose in a blue-framed mirror propped in a sun-dappled backyard, her toned legs and hip-baring ensemble making a striking statement

Kengi won season four of Love Island Belgium but eventually ended things with his show partner Kimmy de Weerd.

The male model, 23, is only four years older than Dina's son.

They were trying to keep their relationship under wraps by not posting photos of one another on Instagram.

Dina's relationship with Kengi follows her brief reunion with appliances heir John Jr in South America.

The two of them had started dating in March last year but ended things on the day they were expected to both attend her friend's wedding.

Sources revealed at the time Dina had come to the realisation their lifestyles were not compatible after eight months together.
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Lisa Curry has revealed she has officially given up alcohol after suffering a terrifying health scare while holidaying in Fiji.

The retired Olympic swimmer, 62, shared a raw and deeply personal update to Instagram on Friday, posting a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed in Queensland, looking weary.

'Just a little overnight stay in hospital,' Lisa captioned the photo, before taking her followers on a sobering journey through her long battle with serious heart issues - and her decision to give up booze for good.

'Seventeen years ago... I had Myocarditis, 22,000 irregular heartbeats a day, a mitral valve prolapse (hereditary from my mum), a fractured sternum (from a chiropractic appointment),' Lisa began.

'Then a defibrillator, an infection, a month's stay in hospital on heavy antibiotics - and then finally home, living a different life.'

The legendary athlete revealed she had to permanently give up alcohol for her health.

Lisa Curry has revealed she has officially given up alcohol after suffering a terrifying health scare while holidaying in Fiji

'I decided to give up alcohol early last year. But while in Fiji last October I decided to have a cocktail on our last night. It was super syrupy and sugary and not 10 minutes later I went off with a bang!! Not a nice feeling,' she shared.

Her defibrillator was triggered after her heart rate spiked to a dangerous 270 beats per minute - a terrifying episode that cemented her decision to quit drinking entirely.

Lisa, who also revealed she now experiences atrial fibrillation (AF), urged her followers to always take heart symptoms seriously - even if they seem minor at the time.

'If you have any weird feelings in your chest, arms, back or if you think or know something just doesnt feel right, call 000,' she wrote.

'Don't worry about if it ends up being nothing - being checked out is more important.'

She ended her post on a positive note, reassuring fans she was now at home recovering.

'All is good. Slow recovery for two weeks now,' she wrote.

It comes after Lisa revealed she was in 'recovery' following the tragic death of her daughter Jaimi aged 33 in 2020.

The retired Olympic swimmer shared a raw and deeply personal update on Instagram on Friday, posting a photo of herself lying in a hospital bed in Queensland, looking weary

'Just a little overnight stay in hospital,' Lisa captioned the photo, before taking her followers on a sobering journey through her long battle with serious heart issues - and her decision to give up booze for good

In January last year, Lisa said she had finally gotten herself back to the gym after '3 1/2 years of sadness and grief'.

Her recent sessions with a personal trainer were necessitated by her hip replacement surgery last year.

Lisa injured herself in 2023 while husky dog sledding in Yukon, Canada.

She slipped on the ice which caused her to fall and break her hip.

Jaimi, who Lisa shared with ex-husband Grant Kenny, died in September 2020 after a long battle with alcoholism and an eating disorder.

Lisa and former Australian Ironman Grant Kenny wed in 1984, separated in 2009, and welcomed three children together: son Jett, and daughters Morgan and Jaimi.
Dame Prue Leith has said she 'hasn't got much longer' left in a frank admission about her age as she leans on beloved husband John Playfair for support.

The Great British Bake Off judge, 85, admitted that she is not as sprightly as she once was and 'pretty close' to needing a carer to help her busy schedule.

Thankfully it's her beloved husband, 77, who she wed in 2016, that is on hand to help and Prue said she wants to cherish every moment she has left with with him.

Speaking on the Holly Rubenstein on The Travel Diaries she said: 'I haven't got much longer, I'm 85, I want to spend as much time as I can with him.'

'And so, if we are filming abroad, or like next week, we're going to New York, because I've got to publicise the American baking show,'

'Then I'm now old enough for my agent to say "I'm sorry, but she has to ring her husband, because she's 85, she needs someone to carry the bags" she doesn't quite say "she needs a carer" but it's pretty close.'

Dame Prue Leith, 85, has said she 'hasn't got much longer' left in a frank admission about her age as she leans on husband John Playfair, 71, for support

The Great British Bake Off judge admitted that she is not as sprightly as she once was and is 'pretty close' to needing a carer to help her busy schedule (pictured with John in 2018)

Praising John she gushed: 'One of the wonderful things about him is that he is totally without ego, he doesn't feel threatened by the fact that I have a higher profile than he does,'

'When I introduce him [to people] he always just says "I'm the handbag carrier, I'm her chauffeur'"'.

Last year Prue and John shared the details of the start of their relationship in a sweet moment during their joint appearance on Loose Women.

The chef, who was married to her first husband nearly 30 years before his death in 2002, reveals she bolted from their first meeting at a dinner party.

Prue told how she was invited to a dinner party at a friend's house, but when she got there were two men and two women there, leaving her feeling like a gooseberry.

The TV personality said she made her excuses to leave her friend's dinner as quickly as she could and didn't anticipate what would happen next.

Prue revealed that the following day, John turned up on her doorstep as he admitted he instantly 'knew she was the one'.

The couple were quizzed on how they met by the panel and John playfully joked it was on the dating app, Tinder.

Thankfully it's her beloved husband, who she wed in 2016, that is on hand to help and Prue said she wants to cherish every moment she has left with with him (pictured last month)

She gushed: 'One of the wonderful things about him is that he is totally without ego, he doesn't feel threatened by the fact that I have a higher profile than he does,' (pictured 2024)

Revealing the real story, Prue said: 'No it was boring we met in a friend's house. I was coming back from Yorkshire and she said I need to get to this dinner party so I went with her and there were two guys and two girls there with champagne...

'It was an obvious set up and he was there and it was obvious what it was, I just wanted to leave. And then the next day John turned up on my doorstep.

John sweetly added: 'I new she was the one straight away', while Prue quipped:' 'I paid him to say that.'

Prue also said that her husband is the inspiration for some of her eye-catching outfits: 'Colour is influenced by you, we've been together for 12 years. I ask for John's advice and he always says no it's not enough bigger earrings or more colour.

'He [John] pushes me further. It's great because most women who hit 50 thing they have to wear grey and I think you need colour.'

When asked about their Valentine's Day plans, John coyly said he 'couldn't tell them about it'.

Prue previously spoke out about the 13-year affair she had with her late first husband, Rayne Kruger.

She revealed how their long marriage started out as an affair, after she fell for her mother's best friend's husband.

Speaking about the decision to speak out in her memoir, the TV star said she had no desire to be 'discreet' about her personal life, adding: 'If there are things in your life you're not exactly proud of, but they would be interesting to the reader, you should try to tackle them.

Speaking to Kate Thornton on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Prue said: 'I thought, 'You know, to skip it, when Rayne was the most important person in my life... how could I not tell his whole story?' So I did.'

Prue previously spoke out about the 13-year affair she had with her late ex-husband, Rayne Kruger

Prue, pictured at the age of 29, worked with Rayne while he was married to the late South African actress Nan Munro - Prue's mother's best friend

Prue worked with Rayne while he was married to the late South African actress Nan Munro - Prue's mother's best friend.

'I never asked him to leave his wife because I was very happy,' she explained of their affair.

'I had none of the duties of life and all of the pleasures of somebody who loved me. I wasn't pressing for marriage. We did have 13 secret years and nobody ever guessed because we were discreet.'

'But it was easier in a way because he was a family friend, chairman of my company, and he had helped me enormously and everyone knew we were great friends.'

Eventually Rayne left his wife, who was 17 years his senior, to start a life and a family with Prue. They have a son Danny and daughter, Li-Da.

The couple remained good friends with Nan who forgave them for the affair, with Prue calling her 'an extraordinary woman.'
Dancing with the Stars icon Julian Benson has died after a 'courageous' lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis.

The Australian choreographer, 54, made a name for himself as a judge on the Irish edition of the hit show thanks to his exceptional dancing and choreography skills.

Known for his flamboyant and glittering outfits, Julian - who was born in Adelaide to Irish parents before returning to Dublin - was affectionately called 'Captain Sparkle'.

Julian battled chronic lung condition cystic fibrosis for his entire life and his family announced the sad news of his death in a statement on Saturday.

They said: 'It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved Julian Benson.

'Julian passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family and closest friends, after a courageous battle with cystic fibrosis.

Dancing with the Stars icon Julian Benson (pictured in 2018) has died after a 'courageous' lifelong battle with cystic fibrosis

'His strength, warmth, and sparkle remained with him until the very end.

'A talent agent, dancer, and choreographer, Julian became a household name in 2017 when he joined the judging panel on RTEs Dancing with the Stars.

'Affectionately known as Captain Sparkle for his trademark sparkly, custom-made jackets, he quickly became a show favourite.

'He will be remembered not only for his quick witty one-liners but also for his unwavering kindness and encouragement towards the contestants.'

Julian's family also praised the late star for embracing life in spite of the challenges caused by his lung condition.

They added: 'Rather than let this challenge define him, Julian decided to embrace life fully.

'He began dancing at the age of four and embarked on a professional career at just 14  an incredible achievement for anyone, let alone someone living with a chronic lung condition.

'His determination and passion became the driving force behind everything he did.'

Julian (pictured in 2022) battled the chronic lung condition for his entire life and his family announced the sad news of his death in a statement on Saturday

Dancing with the Stars boss and Larry Bass and production company ShinAwiL said Julian will be 'forever missed'.

They said in a statement: 'His attitude and outlook on life was ever inspiring and will continue to be thanks to his constant effort to better the lives of people around him, especially with the creation of the Julian Benson CF Foundation - his legacy will live on forever.

'Julian was one of a kind, and will be forever missed. The world lost a bit of sparkle today.'

Cystic fibrosis is a chronic condition characterised by a buildup of mucus in the lungs.

Those with the illness currently have an average life expectancy of around 50 years  though treatment options are improving.

In 2018, Julian opened up about his struggles with cystic fibrosis after first being diagnosed at the age of two.

In an emotional episode of The Late Late Show, Julian said he wanted to set up a charity for those with the illness in Ireland, which he proceeded to make a reality in the form of the Julian Benson Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

Julian's family praised the late star for embracing life in spite of the challenges caused by his battle with cystic fibrosis

Since the news of his death, tributes have been flocking in with Dancing with the Stars judge Loraine Barry describing him as a 'beacon of joy and compassion'.

She said: 'Despite facing the challenges of cystic fibrosis from a young age, he lived with a heart full of love and an unyielding zest for life.

'His enthusiasm was truly contagious, inspiring everyone around him to embrace life with love and gratitude.

'Julian's spirit reminds us all to find joy in every moment and to live life to the fullest.'

Fellow judge Karen Byrne described Julian a 'true gentleman' on Instagram.

She wrote: 'So sad to hear the news of Julian's passing. He was a true gentleman and always there to give his advice in this crazy industry that we work in.

'Captain Sparkle will be truly missed.'
The Who's Zak Starkey has been welcomed back into the band following a dramatic U-turn by Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend.

The pair had reportedly sacked the drummer after a 'huge fall out' happened after the band's two recent gigs at the Royal Albert Hall last month.

However, the musicians have now confirmed Zak is firmly still in the band and hasn't been asked to leave.

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, with an official statement they penned: 'He's not being asked to step down from The Who.

'There have been some communication issues, personal and private on all sides, that needed to be dealt with, and these have been aired happily.'

Sources allegedly claimed that there were question marks over Zak's drumming at the shows last month.

The Who have issued a huge statement on Zak Starkey's future in the band as bandmates Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend admitted 'this blew up very quickly' after sacking reports

The pair had reportedly sacked the drummer after a 'huge fall out' with the bust-up having happened after the band's two recent gigs at the Royal Albert Hall last month

Addressing this, the statement continued: 'Roger and I would like Zak to tighten up his latest evolved drumming style to accommodate our non-orchestral line up and he has readily agreed. I take responsibility for some of the confusion.

'Our TCT [Teenage Cancer Trust] shows at the Royal Albert Hall were a little tricky for me. I thought that four and a half weeks would be enough time to recover completely from having a complete knee replacement. (Why did I ever think I could land on my knees?) Wrong!

'Maybe we didn't put enough time into sound checks, giving us problems on stage. The sound in the centre of the stage is always the most difficult to work with.

'Roger did nothing wrong but fiddle with his in-ear monitors. Zak made a few mistakes and he has apologised. Albeit with a rubber duck drummer.

'We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It's over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies.'

Addressing another rumour, Pete added: 'As for Roger, fans can enjoy his forthcoming solo shows with his fabulous drummer, Scott Devours, who it was rumoured might replace Zak in The Who and has always been supportive of the band.

'I owe Scott an apology for not crushing that rumour before it spread. He has been hurt by this. I promise to buy him a very long drink and give him a hug.'

Zak also responded to the post as he penned: 'V grateful to be a part of The Who family Thanks Roger and Pete xx.'

Earlier this week Zak broke his silence on his exit from the band after he was reportedly sacked following the 'huge fallout'.

However, now the musicians have confirmed Zak is firmly still in the band and hasn't been asked to leave

Pete penned: ''We are a family, this blew up very quickly and got too much oxygen. It's over. We move forward now with optimism and fire in our bellies'

A spokesperson for Zak this week hinted that when things settle down there would be 'light at the end of the tunnel' and described the row as a 'typical rock'n' roll fall out'

According to The Mirror, a spokesperson announced the news by saying: 'The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

'They have nothing but admiration for him and wish him the very best for his future.'

However a spokesperson for Zak then hinted that when things settle down there would be 'light at the end of the tunnel' and described the row as a 'typical rock'n' roll fall out'.

They said: 'Healing can take time! Zak is without doubt one of the UK's greatest drummers and to questions his drumming ability and performance, is in my mind a musical insult.

'He has exceptional timing, rhythmic drive, and had created a solid foundation for The Who and I feel his godfather Keith Moon would only be too proud of Zak taking his seat.

'I'm sure there will be some light at the end of the tunnel when things settle down. Hey, it's only rock'n'roll but we love it!'

Zak, who was planning to take 'much needed time off with his family', was said to be 'saddened and surprised' over the decision after his long career in the band.

According to The Mirror, Zak said in a statement: 'In January, I suffered a serious medical emergency with blood clots in my right bass drum calf. This is now completely healed and does not affect my drumming or running.

On Tuesday, a spokesperson announced: 'The band made a collective decision to part ways with Zak after this round of shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

'After playing those songs with the band for so many decades, I'm surprised and saddened anyone would have an issue with my performance that night, but what can you do?

'I plan to take some much needed time off with my family, and focus on the release of Domino Bones by Mantra Of The Cosmos with Noel Gallagher in May and finishing my autobiography written solely by me. Twenty-nine years at any job is a good old run, and I wish them the best.'

The insider went on to add: 'It's a little acrimonious to say the least.'

While fans were loving the shows, which were in honour of Roger's Teenage Cancer Trust charity, a source claimed there were a 'few issues with the drumming....and the standard wasn't as high as everyone wanted'.

However, a different source noted that 'extremely talented' Zak's departure was sure to rock the band, with his axing not making 'any sense'.

Zak is the son of Beatles legend Ringo Starr and Maureen Starkey Tigrett.

Back in January, Zak said he feared he would die as he spoke for the first time since he cancelled gigs after he was diagnosed with a blood clot.

Zak had been set to take the stage with his supergroup Mantra of the Cosmos - including Happy Mondays vocalist Shaun Ryder, 62, Oasis guitarist Andy Bell, 54, percussionist Mark 'Bez' Berry, 60, and Noel Gallagher, 57, - when he received the alarming health alert.

It lead to him to withdraw from a London gig, hours ahead of showtime.

He has since revealed that the blood clot in his right leg has forced him to rest for two weeks on doctors orders, and he has been prescribed blood thinners for the hazardous health condition.

Zak told MailOnline: 'At first I thought maybe I just pulled a hamstring or something because that's where the pain started on the knee and then the MRI scan showed nothing and then an ultrasound showed it the next day.

'So we had to pull the gig and I was told to go home straight away. I'm on blood thinners and that should move it you know but it wasn't ideal news.

'I am a little bit worried but they said a couple of weeks should be alright. It should be able to dissipate but there is a worry if you move it too much and it hits something major.

'If it hits your lungs or your heart or your brain you're in deep sh**. Or deep earth.'
Colin Farrell revealed on Friday that he is planning on putting his adult disabled son into a long-term care facility as he opened up about his condition.

After reinventing himself from his younger bad boy image, the actor has maintained a private family life and has not spoken about his son in great detail until recently.

He previously explained how son James, 21, was heartbreakingly misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy before doctors eventually confirmed he was suffering from Angelman syndrome.

Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that primarily affects the nervous system, causes severe physical and intellectual disability.

Colin shares James with his ex Kim Bordenave who he dated from 2001 until 2003.

He also shares son Henry, 15, with his Ondine co-star Alicja Bachleda-Curus, whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010.

After reinventing himself from younger wild bad boy image, the actor has maintained a private family life, but is father to two sons James, 21, (pictured) and Henry, 15

He shares son Henry, 15, with his Ondine co-star Alicja Bachleda-Curus, whom he dated from from approximately late 2008 to early 2010 (pictured at the Oscars in 2023)

And despite keeping his family out of the limelight, Colin has an active presence in both their lives.

Sharing key career moments with them, the star has brought Henry as a plus one to his premieres and his attendance at the Oscars in 2023.

Giving his sons a shoutout at the Golden Gloves that same year for his role in the Banshees of Inisherin, he called them the 'loves of his life'.

Discussing how his sons try to influence the roles he takes on he joked on The Ellen Degeneres Show: 'They're sick of me being a bad guy. Which apparently, reading between the lines, leads me to believe that they think I'm okay.'

Colin has also credited James for the reason behind him getting sober in 2006, calling fatherhood his 'greatest triumph'.

After James' birth in 2003, Colin checked himself into rehab in 2006 after filming Miami Vice.

James was a 'big, big part of me putting the bottle down,' Farrell previously told People magazine.

'I was in no condition to be a friend never mind the father of a child which such exacting needs. So if it wasn't for my sobriety, I wouldn't be able to be there for James and enjoy in the marvels of his life and support him in the way that I feel that can... '

Colin is planning on putting his adult disabled son James, 21, into a long-term care facility as he opened up about his condition Angelman syndrome

Shortly before James turned 18, Colin and Kim filed to obtain a conservatorship of him, noting he still needed help with tasks like getting dressed and making meals (pictured James & Kim)

Colin pictured with Alicja at the Golden Globes in 2010 shortly before they split

Colin shares James with his ex Kim Bordenave who he dated from 2001 until 2003 (pictured February 2003)

Describing his son as 'magic', Colin added he 'burst into tears' when James took his first steps when he was four years old.

The star spoke about his son's diagnosis for the first time at the 2007 Special Olympic Games in Shanghai, China.

He gushed: 'He has enriched my life but I don't want to minimise the trials that so many families go through; the fear, consternation, frustration, and pain...

'When you're the parent of a child with special needs, it's important to feel that you're not alone.'

He also added that he wanted the world to be 'kind' to his son.

Shortly before James turned 18, Colin and Kim filed to obtain a conservatorship of him, noting he still needed help with tasks like getting dressed and making meals.

He later went on to reveal that he and James's mother make sure to share in the smallest victories and enjoy the milestones whatever age they happen - including James's first words aged six, being able to feed himself at 19, and getting his seizures under control.

In 2024, the actor launched the Colin Farrell Foundation in honour of his son in California, with the goal to role it out across the US and eventually Ireland, where he is originally from.

The foundation aims to raise support for adult children with intellectual disabilities and aiding education and advocacy programmes.

While Colin leads the foundation, he is also supported by CEO Paula Evans, who previously established FAST - The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics.

Giving his sons a shoutout at the Golden Gloves that same year for his role in the Banshees of Inisherin, he called them the 'loves of his life'

Colin has also credited James for the reason behind him getting sober in 2006, calling fatherhood his 'greatest triumph'

On Friday, Colin explained his son will go into a long-term care facility in order to have control over his care while they are still alive and to give him a sense of community.

Speaking to Candis Magazine, Colin, 48, revealed he and his ex Kim Bordenave have made a decision and plan to settle James into a long-term care facility.

He said: 'Its tricky, some parents will say: "I want to take care of my child myself." And I respect that.

'But my horror would be... What if I have a heart attack tomorrow, and, God forbid, James mother, Kim, has a car crash and shes taken too  and then James is on his own?

'Then hes a ward of the state and he goes where? Wed have no say in it.'

He and Kim are hoping to 'find somewhere we like where he can go now, while were still alive and healthy, that we can go and visit, and we can take him out sometimes'.

Colin continued: 'We want him to find somewhere where he can have a full and happy life, where he feels connected.'

The Phone Booth actor previously discussed his first-born son's condition and said medical advice was sought after James missed developmental milestones and struggled to sit up or crawl as a baby.

Colin explained how many sufferers of the rare syndrome are often misdiagnosed with cerebral palsy due to both conditions having similar symptoms.

He told People: '[James] couldn't sit up. He wasn't crawling. I think he was a year and a half when we took him to get really checked out, and he was diagnosed as having cerebral palsy.'

Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth.

Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing  along with learning difficulties  can also be symptoms.

Colin said: 'It was a common misdiagnosis, because it shared a lot of the same characteristics. And that was a downer for sure.'

WHAT IS CEREBRAL PALSY? Cerebral palsy is the name for a set of conditions affecting movement and co-ordination stemming from a problem with the brain that takes place before, during or soon after birth. Symptoms are not typically obvious immediately after a child is born  but instead normally become noticeable after two or three years. They include delays in reaching development milestones, such as: not sitting by eight months;

not walking by 18 months;

appearing too stiff or too floppy;

walking on tip-toes;

weak arms or legs;

fidgety, jerky or clumsy movements;

random, uncontrolled movements; Difficulty speaking, swallowing or seeing  along with learning difficulties  can also be symptoms. Cerebral palsy symptoms can be caused by a number of things and are not necessarily an indication of the condition, which can occur if a child's brain does not develop normally while in the womb, or is damaged during or soon after birth. Causes include bleeding in the baby's brain, reduced blood and oxygen supply, infection caught by the mother while pregnant, asphyxiation during a difficult birth, meningitis or a serious head injury - though the precise cause is often not clear. There is no cure currently, but physiotherapy, speech therapy, occupational therapy and medication are often used as treatment. Each person living with the condition is affected in a different way, but generally speaking most children live into adult life and some can live for many decades. Advertisement

The Oscar nominee revealed that, when James was only about two and a half years old, a pediatric neurologist suggested he be tested for Angelman syndrome.

Recalling the moment he received the diagnosis, he shared: 'I remember the first two questions I asked were, "Whats the life expectancy and how much pain is involved?"

'And the doctor said, "Life expectancy, as far as we can tell, is the same for you and for me, and pain, no."'

A doctor had noticed an unusual symptom that prompted him to test for Angelman syndrome.

Colin explained: 'One of the characteristics of Angelman syndrome is outbreaks of laughter. And the doctor saw that James was laughing a lot and doing this movement [he waves his hands],' the father-of-two shared.

Angelman syndrome is also characterized by seizures, which Colin - who also shares son Henry Tadeusz, 15, with Polish actress Alicja Bachleda-Curus, 41 - said is 'one of the things that parents struggle with greatly'.

He added: 'Thankfully, James hasn't had a breakthrough seizure now in about 10 or 11 years, but I've been in the back of ambulances, I've been in the hospital with him.

'Ive done Diastat [a sedative] up his rectum to get him out of a seizure that lasted longer than three minutes. Finding the right amount of medication that doesnt have adverse effects  thats all very tricky business.'

The actor is now launching the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support, education, and advocacy for adults with intellectual disabilities.

'This is the first time Ive spoken about it, and obviously the only reason Im speaking is I cant ask James if he wants to do this,' he said.

The proud dad stated that his eldest son 'has worked so hard all his life, so hard'.

He said: 'Repetition, repetition, balance, his jerky gait. When he started feeding himself for the first time, his face looks like a Jackson Pollock by the end of it. But he gets it in, he feeds himself beautifully. Im proud of him every day, because I just think hes magic.'

Colin also described watching his son take his first steps just before his fourth birthday.

Detailing the 'profound' moment to People, Colin said: 'I knew they [James's carers] were working on walking. And I stood over there, and she let him go, and he just came to [me].

'It was so profound. It was magic.

'Ill never forget just the face of determination on him as he walked toward me. He took, like, six steps, and I burst into tears.'

James's condition is severe enough that he is nonverbal and requires the help of a live-in caregiver to accomplish his day-to-day tasks.

When James was four, Colin went public with his Angelman Syndrome, saying his son had demonstrated 'amazing courage' in the face of his condition.
Nick Owen has shared an emotional cancer update as he expressed his gratitude at 'hopefully being cancer free' after reflecting on the day of his diagnosis as the 'worst day of his life'.

The former TV-am host, 77, confirmed he was battling 'extensive' and 'aggressive' prostate cancer in August 2023 after being diagnosed four months prior in the April.

While the BBC presenter didn't have any symptoms a blood test revealed slightly elevated prostrate-specific antigen (PSA) results and his GP insisted he saw a specialist which led to diagnosis and surgery.

And now Nick has confessed 'hundreds' of men have told him his diagnosis made them decided to get tested as he opened up about raising awareness.

Speaking to The Mirror, Nick admitted: 'It was possibly the worst day of my life. But I'm still thriving, I'm still grateful. I'm feeling pretty well and glad to be where I am now. Hopefully I'm cancer free. I'm a lucky boy.'

Nick revealed his is constantly hearing from men telling him that him going public about his cancer battle has encouraged them to get tested and in some cases has helped catch their cancers early.

BBC presenter Nick Owen has shared an emotional cancer update as he admitted his diagnosis was the 'worst day of his life'

He confessed 'hundreds' of men have told him his diagnosis made them decided to get tested as he opened up about raising awareness (pictured receiving his MBE in October)

He explained: 'Every week someone is writing to me to say hearing my story made them get a PSA test, they were diagnosed and having the operation.'

He recounted one man in his village who told Nick he had a PSA test as a result of publicity and was also then diagnosed with prostate cancer despite having no symptoms.

Nick added: 'It's constant. It's happened hundreds of times. It's breathtaking and emotional. I'm glad some good has come out of this. It's vital that people get tested.'

The star previously revealed he struggled to tell his children of his cancer diagnosis, but admitted it was necessary for his immediate family to be 'on the case'.

Nick explained his first decision was to tell his four adult children, three of them boys, so they could be aware of the potentially hereditary illness and its warning signs.

He told the Deadly Silent Podcast: 'Ive been through the middle of it. And I realised that the sooner you get seen the better.

'We had an MRI, there was a hint there was something going on. Then I had a biopsy. And that would tell us that it was really nasty and aggressive. And we need to do something quickly.

'Telling my children was difficult. Ive got four children, three are our boys, two in their forties and one in their late thirties, and it was quite emotional.'

Nick previously explained his first decision was to tell his four adult children, three of them boys, so they could be aware of the potentially hereditary illness and its warning signs

Nick received his diagnosis just weeks after his former TV-am co-presenter Anne Diamond revealed she is battling breast cancer and has undergone a mastectomy

He added: 'Also, as far as the boys [Andy, Tim and Chris] are concerned, its a warning because it can be a hereditary thing.

'Im very keen for my boys to be extremely on the case. Ill work on them to go earlier than 50, to be honest, to have the PSA tests. And the message has to be if you have got any hint of a worry, get someone to look at it.'

Owen received his diagnosis just weeks after his former TV-am co-presenter Anne Diamond, 68, revealed she is battling breast cancer and has undergone a mastectomy.

Along with their stint on TV-am, the pair had their own current affairs morning programme on the BBC in the 1990s, Good Morning With Anne And Nick.

Speaking about the debilitating impact the condition has had on his life, he told BBC One's Midlands Today: BBC One's Midlands Today: 'I went to a specialist, he wasn't too worried because my figures weren't that high.

'But he decided I ought to have a scan, and then the scan said there's something dodgy going on, and then he sent me for a biopsy, which he did.

'And the results of that were the killer - on April the 13th, a date (which) will forever be imprinted on my mind.

The former breakfast TV presenter with wife Vicki Beevers, who he married in July 2020

'He told us that it was extensive, really, and aggressive, and I had prostate cancer full-on, and something needed to be done pretty fast.

'And that was probably the worst day of my life, or certainly one of them.'

He added: 'It was a very grim moment... driving home after that sort of news and ringing people, texting people, my phone went crazy for hours on end.

'And it was a very, very difficult time for me, and indeed for my wife Vicki, who was by my side all the time through this, you know.'